Christmas Destruction: He came to destroy the Devil!

November 25, 2012
Christmas Destruction: He came to destroy the Devil
1 John 2:28-3:10
Scott Howard

"And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.  If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  Everyone who as this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.  Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.  But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.  And in him is no sin.  No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.  No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.  Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.  He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  No one who is born of God will continue  to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not called a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother."  ---1 John 2:28-3:10

The Reality of Sin...
John defines sin...

• Sin's scope:  sin is universal --> 1 John 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks the law..."
• Sin's nature:  it is lawlessness --> 1John 3:4 "...in fact, sin is lawlessness."
• Sin's origin:  it is in the devil himself --> 1 John 3:8 "...the devil has been sinning from the beginning."

When we sin we are making a choice not to follow God's law, but to follow the devil.  We are basically looking into the face of God and saying "Your law does not apply to me and I will not submit to it."  It is a direct violation of the law of God.

The Reason Christ Came...
John focuses on...

• Christ's Essence:  He is without Sin. --> 1 John 3:5 "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin."
• Christ's Mission:  To destroy Sin. --> 1 John 3:8b "...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." and 1 John 2:2 "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

The Result for Christians...

• Our belief in Christ makes persistent sin inconceivable. --> 1 John 3:6 "No one who lives in him keeps on sinning."
• Our new birth in Christ makes persistent sin impossible. --> 1 John 3:9 "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God."

This doesn't mean that it is not possible for a Christian to sin now and then.  What it does mean is that if you truly know God, and truly live as a new life in Christ, it would be impossible for you to continue to live a sinful life, to live in persistent sin.  It just doesn't make sense that when God puts new life in you, when you become "born again", you would continue living the same old sinful way.  There must be a change, from a sinful life to a life lived for Christ; a striving toward righteousness.

This is what Jesus came to do for us.  He came to destroy sin, the devil's work, and to give us an opportunity to live without sin in a new life.  But it is our choice to accept this gift, or to reject it.  Either way, the gift is available to all, the gift of Christmas destruction of sin.

Announcements 11-25

Salvation Army Bell Ringning- Would you like to give a special gift to our community this Christmas? Consider taking a few moments to Ring The Bell for the Salvation Army. If you would like to help there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

WeeSing - The next Children's Choir/ Christmas Play practice will be Sunday, December 2nd @ 5 PM.

Spud and Salad Night - The SRWC Youth are sponsoring a "Spud & Salad" Night this Wednesday, November 28th at 6:00 PM. Come enjoy a baked potato and a salad with lots of toppings. The cost is on a donation basis and all the funds raised will go to send one of our teens to the International Youth Convention in Kentucky.

The Remnant

November 18, 2012
The Remnant
Youth Service
Drew Ward
1 John 1:5-7 ; 2:3-6

God makes sure there is a "Remnant" of people who walk in His light so that we, and others, may come to know Him, even if it seems like there is no one left who truly loves God and walks in His truth.  These people bring the message of God's hope and the Good News of the Gospel to those who are lost.

"But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage." 
--Ezra 9:8

Has God ever placed a "remnant" in your life?  Has He called you to be a "remnant" in another's life? 

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin....We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."   ---1 John 1:5-7 and 2:3-6

• God is Light
• Light represents: truth, goodness, hope
• Darkness represents: lies, corruption, evil, dispair

In the dark good and evil may not be as discernible as in the light.  Things are hidden in the dark.  It is much better to live in the light, and by the light, so that all the evil and sin in our lives can be forgiven.  The passage above says that then we can have fellowship with one another.  It also says that we must walk as Jesus walked.  This is best described by Jesus himself in Matthew:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.'"   ---Matthew 16:24-25

This is a requirement for following Him.  So what does it look like to "lose" our life for Christ?

• Denying ourselves -- denying selfishness
• Denying our own goals or dreams for those God has for us
• Denying our own wishes or desires for God's best for us
• Denying our bad habits because God has delivered us

This is what we must do to find ultimate fulfillment in Christ; it's how we begin to trust him as sovereign Lord of our lives.  This is faith.

Our faith can cost more than just denying ourselves.  It can cost relationships with family or friends, it can cost our job or profession.  Those living in darkness or in the world believe our faith puts a strain on their relationship with us because there's "too much God" in our lives.  They may not be comfortable and may not want to associate with us. 

Regardless of where we walk---in the light or in the dark---we make sacrifices.  The sacrifices for living in the light we already discussed above.  However, living in the dark will cause one to sacrifice pure joy, fulfillment of life, unconditional love, forgiveness, and a never-ending life in God's presence.  Would you not rather sacrifice selfishness and the desires of this world in order to gain the presence of God?

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"   ---Matthew 16:26

God is calling us to walk in His Light.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  Be the Light, live in the Light.  God will use you (whether you know it or not!) to touch other lives.  Maybe family, friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, or even strangers.  You are the "Remnant" for today. 

Announcements 11-18

Coat Drive - Thank You to all who contributed to our Coat Drive. You gave 50 coats which was enough to share with other schools. Thank you for caring and participating.

Salvation Army Bell Ringning- Would you like to give a special gift to our community this Christmas? Consider taking a few moments to Ring The Bell for the Salvation Army. If you would like to help there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Parents Meeting - There will be a parent's meeting NEXT Sunday, November 25th for all parents of our youth.

WeeSing - The next Children's Choir/ Christmas Play practice will be Sunday, December 2nd @ 5 PM.

Unedited thoughts on the sermon

"I want to experience the presence of God and to dwell with God." Sermon on 11-11-12.



If I never have another child, do I love him?
If he called for my life, do I love him?
If he called for Ben's life, do I love him?
If he called for Drew's life, do I love him?
If we lost our home, do I love him?
If I am in physical pain, do I love him?

Do I trust him to be useful? What if I had to trust him to be useful?

What if there was not going to be a place without suffering, and pain? Is He enough even with pain and suffering?

Psalms 27:4 - If I was facing New Testament Saul, would I still say this - "I want to dwell with God."? Do I mean it that much? Would I love him if he ordained it? Even as enemies surround me? Literally?

What makes me happiest? Doing the will of God.
Why? Because it makes him happy.
And? Because he is proud of me? Because he would love me more?

Because I love him!

Is doing the will of God similar to wanting the presence of God?

In doing His will, we are IN His presence!!!

David said, "I don't want to be delivered from this. I just want you."
Would I say that?

"This One Thing" / Part 2

This One Thing / Part 2
Psalm 27:4
Scott Howard
November 11, 2012

A Brutal Assessment:

• David sees...Devastation / v. 10; Desertion / v. 12; Danger / v. 2-3
• Believers see...Conflict in our lives; Sin in the world; An adversary in Scripture

--> How do we navigate this fallen world?

A Single-Minded Appeal: The "One Thing" David Asks:

• David asked first for: God
• I want to experience the presence of God & to dwell with God.

The Benefits of the Appeal:

• God is Absolutely Sovereign...He is in charge, and He does not ever get caught off guard.  The word Sovereign is defined as this: having supreme pwer or authority; supreme, preeminent, indisputable (Webster's dictionary)
• God is Incomparably Beautiful...He is unparallelled, all beauty that we know comes from His beauty. 

These truths that David saw in shadow, we see in Jesus (the Light of the world).

The Relevance of the Appeal:

• What is Our "one thing"?
• Do we find God merely useful?
• Or Do we find God Beautiful?

Is He beautiful to us all the time?  His Beauty is always evident, but do we really want God, or just the things he can give us?

A Confident Assertion:

• We obtain our "one thing" not based on naive predictions, rather, we obtain our "one thing" based on rock solid promises.
• The Promise is through the sacrifice of Jesus so that we can have access to God and dwell with Him forever.

Psalm 27:13-14--- "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

What we can take away from this message is that no matter what kind of trouble or hardship befalls us, we can rely on God because he is sovereign and He is sufficient.  Don't focus on the trouble or the circumstances, focus on God and His sovereignty. 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  ---John 16:33 

Never Cease Praising

We are such a blessed people! Just the simple fact that we can worship our Lord freely without fear, is an amazing blessing. However in my life I know that I sometimes take it for granted. I often wonder what it would be like if we didn't have the freedoms we have today. Many people in the world live this way every day. They have to hide or go underground just to gather and worship. They face prison or the ultimate price, their lives.

Sometimes we think that worship only happens at church, but I believe that we can worship wherever we may be. Whether riding in the car, while we are at work or whatever we may be doing, we should be in a constant attitude of praise. Psalms 113:3 says, "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of our LORD is to be praise." The praise of the Lord should always be on our lips, and in our hearts.

Many times we may not feel like worshiping. We are tired, had a bad day or maybe just don't feel well. We think it doesn't make sense to praise Him. You see, when you begin to worship the Lord you change focus from your situation to Him and this is when He can begin to work in your life. I believe this is best shown in Acts 16:25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. You see Paul and Silas were in prison at this time. They had been stripped down and beaten and thrown in a cold, dark prison, but still were singing and praising the Lord. Satan loves for us to focus on how bad things are, and how we have failed, and especially when we haven't done something that the Lord has told us to do. Simply put, when we worship the Lord, we give Satan a black eye and he must flee!

Again, we have such a wonderful privilege to worship the Lord in complete freedom, and to be able to lift Him up at any time. There is no right or wrong way to worship. Some lift their hands; other say amen, while others quietly lift their hearts to the Lord without saying or visibly doing anything. Let us constantly be in an attitude of worship and praise to our Lord. To quote the words of a powerful song, "Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him, Praise the Lord. For our God inhabits praise. Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you, serve only to remind you. That they drop, powerless behind you,; when you Praise the Lord!" May Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church always be a place of true worship and praise to the one who has saved our souls, cleansed our hearts, and given us an eternal home in Heaven! His Name is Jesus!

Worshiping with you,

Gene Collins