Major on the Majors and Minor on the Minors

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

 Romans 14 is talking about Christian people who make a big deal out of days of the week and dietary issues. The thesis of the Chapter is to do everything unto the Lord and be true to these personal convictions without pressing these convictions on others in regard to special days and diet. This chapter could further be boiled down to “Major on the majors and minor on the minors.”

The Majors are:

• Righteousness 
• Peace 
• Joy 
• The Holy Spirit 

1. Righteousness

Positional and Practical Positional Righteousness is the gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God. This righteousness is unattainable by obedience to any law, or by any merit of man's own, or any other condition than that of faith in Christ.

As we trust in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:21. says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

Because Abraham believed God, it was credited to him as righteousness. Rom. 4:3. 

Practical Righteousness – This faith thus exercised brings the soul into vital union with God in Christ, and inevitably produces righteousness of life, that is, conformity to the will of God. 

The righteousness God reckons to us causes us to become in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself. 

2. Peace 

That tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is. 

Peace with God 

Romans 5:1 

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Peace with God opens the way of love and true spiritual growth. 

1 John 4:18 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

God’s kindness leads to repentance 

Romans 2:4 

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 

Peace with this life 

1 Timothy 6:6-10 

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

Peace Comes through Prayer 

Philippians 4:6,7 (Amplified) 

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace 

Colossians 3:15 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

3. Joy 

to experience great pleasure or delight, a state of happiness, the emotion evoked by well-being. 

I am very small, but I can change your life. I can make you immune to worry and strife. When you have me you leap like a little boy. But I never come from getting the latest toy. I can cure your heart when you’re
feeling blue. No one can destroy me, except for you. What am I? 

Joy 

Joy is different from happiness in that the word "happy" comes from the same root word as "happen": "hap." "Hap" includes the ideas of chance or fate. The feeling of happiness comes from what happens to a person by chance, but joy is a source of delight, it is what lies underneath all emotions, no matter what happens to a person. If Joy is there it’s separate from circumstances. 

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. When our root’s are connected to the Holy Spirit we will bear His fruit. 

Apple trees don’t have to try to bear apples, they just do. In the same way when we’re rooted in him we’ll bear his fruit. 

4. The Holy Spirit 

The third person of the God head, co-equal and co-eternal, one in essence, nature, power, action, and will with God the Father and Jesus the son. 

The Holy Spirit in the Beginning 

Genesis 1:2 

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 

Luke 24:49 

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 

Acts 1:8 

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Pentecost 

Acts 2:1-4 

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 

Acts 10:44-46 

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. 

Acts 19:6 

6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 

Let’s check our priorities this morning. Let’s be sure to major on the majors and minor on the minors. 

Let’s also seek God for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Maybe today you’d like to be filled for the first time. Maybe you want a fresh touch from Heaven or a refilling.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124
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Encourage the Next Generation

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio.

 

We must lead the next generation by example if they are to catch the Spirit of Christ that is on us and transmit it to a time we will never experience.

Deuteronomy 3:28
But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Noah went religious on the people striking the rock (Numbers 20:8-11) when he was supposed to speak to it. Therefore God raised up another man to take them into what God was going to do in their time.

You can’t pour new wine into old wineskins. (Luke 5:37) We must pray for new wineskins if we’re to receive what God is going to do in our time and in our generation. The message is timeless however some of our methods are subject to change with culture.

Martin Luther brought the pipe organ into the Church which had previously been associated with some of the less desirable elements of society. His intent wasn’t to be scandalous or controversial he simply wanted the common man to be able to not only read the Word of God but to also be able to worship.

There is some debate out there but some in the modern Lutheran Church state that, “Luther needed to find music that a congregation could sing, when they had no musical training and no resources for printing music. Some of the first music he chose was the music from taverns. Although the lyrics were sometimes scandalous and thus changed, the melodies were recognizable and reproducible. ‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God’ is one of these such tunes, stolen from a tavern song. And today it is probably one of the most beloved and reverent songs in the Lutheran Church. ~Jenna Pederson

I heard a story about a tribe in Africa that lived in round huts. A group came in that built the tribe a Church and they made it rectangular. For 2 years no one would enter the church. The leadership had the building torn down and then built a round Church which is now flourishing today.

In order to raise up the next generation we will have to make some changes ourselves.

• Have Vision to do it
• Sacrifice Time, your most important asset
• Believe that you have something good to impart
• Relate with someone outside your normal circle
• Have Vision to do it

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Jesus spent the most important part of his ministry raising up others to carry on the work he was doing.

In John Maxwell’s book, the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership the law of the legacy states, “A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.”

How many amazing ministries, have ended with the death of the “head” minister. It’s unfortunate that more in leadership today aren’t more focused on raising up disciples, especially since it’s so central to the ministry of Jesus.

Timothy, Paul’s ‘Son’

1 Corinthians 4:16-17
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Sacrifice Time, your most important asset

In order to encourage the next generation it’s going to take time. It would seem that many today in the modern Church want to do anything but fulfill the great commission.

Believe that you have something good to impart!

Many of us may feel like we are not equipped or we don’t have anything to offer but this is all a matter of perspective.

The person you are reaching out to on a one to ten scale when it comes to family modeling may be a 3 and you are an 8. You would therefore have a lot to offer this person. They may be able to solve complex algebraic equations but without your influence they will have a hard time holding their future marriage together.

In the previous example it will be next to impossible to measure the impact your influence had on this person but we don’t serve to be recognized. We serve to be faithful and obedient to God’s word.

Matthew 6:1-4
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Relate with someone outside your normal circle

Sometimes we’re creatures of habit and we have a routine that we get very uncomfortable changing. It would seem rather obvious however but to reach out to someone else, we’re going to have to make some subtle changes in our lives until we make the connection(s) with the people we want to encourage.

1 Corinthians 14:3
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Romans 14:19
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

The neat thing about building these relationship is your intent is to give but very often there is some give and take that goes on and the person from the next generation that you are encouraging can have a way of enriching your life.

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. ~ Greek Proverb

Lord give us opportunities to encourage someone in the upcoming generation so we can leave a lasting legacy for your glory.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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The Works of the Believer

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.  

Our righteousness comes from God and is the result of our faith in Christ’s work on the Cross.

True saving faith will spur the believer onto good works as this sanctifying work of the Cross begins to express itself practically through the life of the person of faith.

Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.   34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Many believe this judgment will occur at the beginning of the earthly millennial kingdom. It’s purpose will be to determine who will be allowed to enter the kingdom.

Ultimately, how one treats the brethren of Jesus reveals whether or not one is saved.

It’s mind boggling in light of this section of scripture how some can teach that there is no eternal judgment.

We have to be careful that we don’t believe what we want to believe. We must allow the scriptures to speak for themselves.

Outline:

• Jesus is coming back in glory to rule.
• All nations will be judged and people will be separated based on righteousness. 
• The righteous do things for Jesus; the evil do not. 

Jesus is coming back in Glory to rule

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Daniel 2:44,45

44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

John 14:28

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. The Blessed Hope of the Church

Titus 2:11-13

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Revelation 19:11-16

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:    KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

All nations will be judged and people will be separated based on righteousness.

How to be a Sheep, not a goat!

Romans 1:17

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 3:21-26

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Now in the message of the Cross, where a person puts true faith into the work of Christ there, there comes a flow of power from heaven that starts by faith and comes in the form of grace. This grace gives us life changing power to live differently, having different priorities, different dreams, different vision and a different focus.

Grace gives power to overcome all forms of ungodliness.

The righteous do things for Jesus; The evil do not

How do we do things for Jesus?

Mt. 25:40

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

The work of the Righteous

• Feeding the Hungry
• Relieving the Thirsty
• Comforting a stranger
• Clothing the needy
• Looking after the sick
• Visiting those in prison

I believe one of the ultimate purposes of our work is to lead people to Christ through soul winning and then discipleship. Service is a proven strategy that softens the heart of the one being served; making a way for the good news about Jesus. Our motive is love; our goal is soul winning.

Conclusion

Our righteousness comes from God and is the result of our faith in Christ’s work on the Cross. However, true saving faith will spur the believer onto good works as this sanctifying work of the Cross begins to express itself practically through the life of the person of faith.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124






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