The Object of Our Faith

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

It’s been said jokingly, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

In the Christian Life the main thing is our relationship with God.

Sometimes people erroneously have faith in their faith.

People who are optimistic can believe in the power of positive thinking.

I actually believe there is power in positive thinking. However if a lost person can activate this then it doesn’t come personally from the Lord, it’s an innate Earthly principle.

Sometimes People can erroneously place Faith in their Prayers.
Is your faith in your prayers or is your faith in the God who answers the prayers? If you faith is in your prayers you are really praying to yourself and could be practicing a form of witchcraft.

Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Sometimes we can put our faith erroneously into things Jesus/God did.
We don’t deny he did these things however our faith is in Him, not necessarily what he did.

Who Will Take the Son?
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out his package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.' The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?' There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.' But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!' But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?' Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting.' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. We have $10, who will bid $20?' 'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.' The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!' A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!' The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.' What about the paintings?' 'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?' Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

The Scriptural exception
Colossians 2:12
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Through faith in God’s resurrection power we have eternal life.

Romans 10:9,10
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Sometimes we can put our faith into things Jesus has. In a few instances this may be acceptable but the object of our faith according to the twenty-nine “faith in” scriptures in the Bible, is in the person of God the Son or the person of God the Father.

Thesis: Our faith is mis-directed if it’s in anything other than the person of Jesus Christ.

Outline

1. Faith in God causes supernatural signs to manifest
2. Faith in Jesus name causes healing to manifest
3. Jews and Greeks must put their faith in Jesus to be saved
4. Faith in the Lord Jesus causes righteousness to be imputed to the person in faith
5. Faith in the Lord Jesus causes justification to be imputed to the person in faith
6. We die to ourselves and put our faith in the Son of God
7. When our Faith is in Christ we can approach God with freedom and confidence

1. Faith in God causes a supernatural sign to manifest

Mark 11:21-23
21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.


2. Faith in Jesus Name Causes Healing to Manifest

Acts 3:16

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

3. Jews and Greeks must put their faith in Jesus

Acts 20:21
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

4. Faith in the Lord Jesus causes Righteousness to be Imputed to the person in faith

Romans 3:22
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

Philippians 3:9
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

5. Faith in the Lord Jesus causes Justification to be Imputed to the person in Faith

Romans 3:26

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.

Galatians 2:16
know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

6. We die to ourselves and put our faith in the Son of God

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

2 Corinthians 5:15
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

1 Peter 2:24a
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;

7. When our Faith is in Christ we can approach God with Freedom and Confidence

Ephesians 3:12
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Mark 15:38
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

• Mercy - Not getting the justice from God we do deserve
• Grace - Getting the power from God we don’t deserve
  
  
  

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

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If Jesus were a Pastor...

By Tony V. Hammack

… what would his Church look like?

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here.

Should we Copy Jesus?

* Is Jesus culturally relevant or should we omit some of his methodologies because they just don’t fit in America today?

* Should we conform to the Jesus culture?

Jesus Christ built men! This was his focus.

He Called out Twelve

John 6:70
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Jesus had a focus on a few with a vision for world evangelization. His ministry mission statement would contain this concept.

• Love everyone, commit everything to a few radically committed people with the emphasis on them committing everything to a few radically committed people. The network of people that forms is the fruit bearing Church.

Was Jesus trying to build a big church. YES!

How?

Through multiplication based discipleship ministry expressing the kingdom of God in power and character.

Things Jesus didn’t need or have

Multi-Media

Buildings

By not appealing to the flesh of people, Jesus at times was very “offensive”.

Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood
Many Disciples Desert Jesus

John 6:60-69
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Not every numerically large group of people validates the means by which they became numerically large.

There is nothing wrong with large Churches. I think they are great, however, how were they built? Why are they large? These are questions I don’t have to answer for any other pastor. I simply have to answer them for myself and this ministry.

Here in this Church I’d like to see a few radically committed people catch the spirit of Christ in the leadership of this ministry. Then pour out the life of Christ to their group of radically committed people.

The clearest administrative vehicle I see that supports this in our culture is the cell Church.

Was the Church Jesus birthed staffed with professionals?

Yes, they were professionals but not professionals in the eyes of the existing religious establishment.

What qualified them to be ministers?

Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Ephesians 4:11-13
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

So my job as a 5 fold man of God is not to necessarily do everything, but it’s to equip you all to do works of service.

What is the best way to equip you?

William Glasser once said,
“We Learn . . .

• 10% of what we read
• 20% of what we hear
• 30% of what we see
• 50% of what we see and hear
• 70% of what we discuss
• 80% of what we experience
• 95% of what we teach others.”

Reflect on Jesus calling his disciples again. “Come follow me”.

Jesus had a classroom and it was everywhere he was.

How about Paul?

1 Cor. 11:1
1PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).

I find the Hebraic ministry model very rare in the American Church. So much of what the average Church does is based on the Greek educational model. This model is in our public schools.

The Greek model of education shapes our modern American educational theories.
Our philosophy will dictate our methodology. Our methodology will affect our outcome. We need to develop a culture and educational methodology that distinctively reflects the ministry model of Jesus Christ.

Hebrew vs. Greek Educational Model

1. Hebrew education focused on relationship
2. Hebrew teachers tried to shape students' hearts
3. Hebrew students were to become what their teacher was
4. Greek education focused on content
5. Greek teachers tried to shape students' minds
6. Greek students were to learn what their teacher knew
   

Our Vision

• Win
• Consolidate
• Disciple
• Send

I see a network of small groups across the region with anointed equipped and trained leaders. These leaders have my heart in them and the Spirit of Christ working through them. They love Jesus & me and I love them. They trust me and I trust them. These leaders are loyal to me and I am loyal to them. The main vision of these small groups is to raise up and train leaders to lead more small groups.

My emphasis as a pastor is on training you to do the work of the ministry. There is no better trainer than “doing the work of the ministry”. I realize fear, lack of revelation and lack of training can hinder a person from getting involved. However I am available to work with you and train you if the Lord is drawing you into this type of fruit bearing ministry. Let’s walk together for a while.

For this reason I’m trying to “decentralize” ministry. I would be happier with 10 groups with 10 people in them than with a single group with 100 people in it.
Nothing will grow without leaders willing to lay down their lives for the gospel.
When Jesus left the Earth in bodily form the Church grew. His ministry and leadership model is the proper way to do things.

We have to shake off the bands of culture and embrace what Jesus did as a very practical reality for our lives.
Who wants to lay down their life for another? Who wants to pray and cry and teach someone else? We must move beyond the bless me club mentality and begin to show our maturity as we make sacrifices for Christ’s body, the Church.

2 Timothy 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.

In considering all that Jesus gave to us, looking to the cross, isn’t it reasonable that out of love for him we could commit to help a small group of people grow in their relationship with Christ? Maybe out of this group there would come another like minded person willing to lay down some of their personal agenda who would also help others.

I can see these groups filling every area in our region taking the gospel into people’s homes. Instead of having one man declare healing over the sick we have 15. Instead of one teacher we have 20. If persecution were to strike the Church we wouldn’t skip a beat. Going underground would be very easy with this culture. Even if you kill the head the body lives with this culture established.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

Our Ability Comes from God

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

God’s kingdom can be expressed to and through your life.

No matter what enemy you are facing today

- Sin
- Fear
- Apathy
- Feelings of inferiority
- Ignorance
- God’s kingdom can be expressed to and through your life.

The Kingdom of God is a conquering kingdom and can easily conquer all the kingdoms of our hearts. Walking in obedience to God’s kingdom is more rewarding, powerful and desirable than any other activity on the planet.

Ephesians 1:18-21
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked,

Ephesians 2:6
God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

We need our eyes enlightened in order to know what we’ve been called to

• The hope, that we’ve been called to
• The riches of His glorious inheritance
• His incomparably great power
  

The Hope That We' ve Been Called To

Romans 8:24
hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
The Riches of His Glorious Inheritance
a. Eternal Life
b. Victorious Life
c. Kingdom Life

A. Inherit Eternal Life


Matthew 25:31-36
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.’


B. Inherit Victorious Life


Titus 2:11,12
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,

Grace is power to do the will of God and it’s freely available to the humble follower of Christ.
James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Luke 10:19
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.


C. Inherit Kingdom Life

Luke 12:32
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

At the center of any kingdom is a King. The kingdom life we’re promised causes the kingdoms of this life to come down and the kingdom of God to be established in newly conquered hearts.

His Incomparably Great Power
Acts 1:8 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.”

Luke 11:9-13
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 3:34
God gives the Holy Spirit without limit.

The Holy Spirit is an active agent of the God head moving through the body of Christ today. The Holy Spirit moves through obedient people.

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Gamalial’s address to the Sanhedrin
Acts 5:38,39
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Romans 8:31,32
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Philippians 4:13
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.


If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos on the page.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

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The Anatomy of an Encourager

By Tony V. Hammack


Podcast: Play in New Window | Download

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To watch the video, click here.
Lessons from the life of Barnabas

Son of Encouragement

Encourage - to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.

Thesis - The Body of Christ needs encouragers.


Acts 4:36-37
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 9:26-27
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 11:23,24
23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Acts 11:29,30
29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 12:25
When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

Acts 13:1
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas,

Outline

1. Barnabas was an extravagant giver (Acts 4:36-37)
2. Barnabas believed in people, he trusted them, networking Paul successfully in with the other apostles and later with the new Grecian believers at Antioch (Acts 9:26,27)(Acts 11:25,26)
3. Barnabas was an encourager (Acts 11:23,24)

• He rejoiced with the will of God being accomplished
• He was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord
• He was considered a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith.
• He played a role in successful outreach
• Barnabas was a conduit for financial blessing (Acts 11:29,30)
  

4. Enter John Mark (Acts 12:25)
5. Barnabas is Considered a Prophet and Teacher (Acts 13:1)
6. Barnabas’ belief in people causes a rift between he and Paul in regard to John Mark (Acts 15:37,38)

Body

1. Barnabas was an extravagant giver (Acts 4:36-37)
Barnabas sold some land and laid it at the Apostles feet. Barnabas had land and possibly some wealth. Perhaps he gave out of his abundance. Maybe that was his primary land?

2. Barnabas believed in people, he trusted them, networking Paul successfully in with the other apostles. (Acts 9:26,27)
When all the apostles were afraid of Paul because of his reputation Barnabas took a chance on him. Believing his story to be true. He then confirmed the truth for himself before introducing him to the other Apostles.

3. Barnabas was an encourager (Acts 11:23,24)
a. He rejoiced with the will of God being accomplished

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Barnabas rejoiced with God’s will being accomplished

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

b. Barnabas was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

c. He was considered a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith.
1. Good
2. Filled with the Holy Spirit
3. Filled with Faith

d. He played a role in successful outreach

I believe when it comes to outreach…

Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
We’re called to be faithful

Isaiah 55:11
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

e. Barnabas was a conduit for financial blessing (Acts 11:29,30)

Barnabas was used in this way to bring relief to part of the body of Christ sent from another part. Here again he’s networking resources to a need.

4. Enter John Mark (Acts 12:25)
Was John Mark the rich young ruler who fled Naked?

A rich young ruler questioned Christ about what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Mark's Gospel includes a detail that Matthew and Luke failed to mention: "And Jesus looking upon him loved him..." This hints at the possibility that young John Mark himself may have been that rich young man. An early church tradition also suggests that it was this same Mark who was "the certain young man" who followed Christ right up to His entry into the house of the high priest and then, when the guards tried to lay hold of him, left the linen cloth that he was clothed with in their hands and fled naked! (Mark 14:52; was the only one who included this incident.)

5. Barnabas is Considered a Prophet and Teacher (Acts 13:1)
Often when thinking about Barnabas I don’t really give him much credit for anything. He however was a very foundational pillar in the early Church.

6. Barnabas’ belief in people causes a rift between he and Paul in regard to John Mark (Acts 15:37,38)

Paul being more principled in his approach to the ministry brought him into conflict with Barnabas who seems to have a mercy gifting.

Fortunately, Paul and Mark later reconciled when Paul was in prison in Rome. Mark served as his aide and then as a delegate on an important mission to Asia Minor. Later Paul asked Timothy to bring Mark back with him to Rome because he was useful in service. (2 Tim 4:11) When Peter was writing 1st Peter, he affectionately called Mark "his son.“ (1 Peter 5:13)

Conclusion: We need encouragers in the body of Christ. Encouragers are used by God to breathe life into us when we’re feeling flat.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

View Larger Map

Where is Your Hope?

By Tony V. Hammack

Titus 2:13b the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Thesis: We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.


Introduction: Many theologians disagree on how things will unfold in regard to the end of days.  The activities aren't as contested as the time line or sequence of events.  I therefore have what some may consider a "different" end times escatological position.  I've simply decided not to take a dogmatic stance in regard to the sequence of events in the end times.  I feel like I have a decent grip on the various positions and supporting scriptural support.   I am not sure how much tribulation (whether it's the great tribulation or not) the believer will have to endure.  I encourage people to be ready to endure difficulties based on the scriptural and historic fact that the Church has over the last centuries been at times severely persecuted.  This doesn't mean I've ruled out a pre-tribulational rapture possibility I've simply chosen to consider other options and take sensible steps to prepare for possible trouble.  The pre-tribulational rapture position has some scriptural support and obvious appeal to the heart of man.  I however am not entrenched into believing this due to other scripture and history.  Why history?  Well, I've decided that if I'm going through some tribulation that includes things like (getting eaten by lions in the coliseum) and someone comes up to me and says, as the lion is getting ready to strike, "Hey brother, don't worry, this isn't the GREAT tribulation." it won't matter very much to me if it's the great tribulation or just my personal tribulation.  So how much tribulation will we have to go through?  I don't know but to sensibly prepare is a logical conclusion.  What I believe about the rapture doesn't change if I get raptured or not so I've placed my faith in Jesus Christ to save me.  My faith is not in my escatological position on end time events.  If Jesus is going to catch us up before the tribulation, as a great man of God once said, "I have my 'ticket'".

2 Peter 3:10-13
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Outline
I.   The day of the Lord will come like a thief
II.  Everything will change
III.These changes, if they are real to us, will prioritize how we live, prompting holiness, godliness and effective outreach.
IV. We should be looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.


I.  The day of the Lord will come like a thief

A thief comes without being noticed and announced. A thief is trying to catch his victim by surprise. Most robberies happen when the victim is not at home.

Matthew 24:42-44
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

We must stay prophetically sharp if we’re to be on guard for the return of the Lord.

John 16:13
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing    without revealing his plan    to his servants the prophets.

Mark 13:32,33
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

II.  Everything will change
     A.  Heavens will disappear with a roar
     B.  Elements will be destroyed by fire
     C.  The earth and everything done in it will be laid bare

A. The heavens disappear
1. The stars stop shining on the earth
2. The stars literally disappear leaving the earth alone in the universe

This will most likely be the first scenario. Cloud cover that will prohibit an earthly perception of heavenly bodies. Clouds? Dust? Something supernatural?

Elements destroyed by fire.
In nature, new elements are created by adding protons and neutrons to hydrogen atoms within the nuclear reactor of a star, producing increasingly heavier elements, up to iron (atomic number 26). This process is called nucleosynthesis.

The possible scenarios that cause this kind of elemental shift are nuclear. There may also be other ways (particle accelerators, nuclear reactors) to change elements however in a roaring destructive scenario including fire, nuclear seems like a likely option.

We can also consider a hit from a cosmic object.

Matthew 24:29
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

All this is before… v. 30-31 they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Revelation 8 gives 3 different events that happen from the heavens to the earth.

Rev. 8:7 1st Trumpet; Hail and fire mixed with blood. 1/3 of the earth, 1/3 of all the trees and all the grass is burned up.

Rev. 8:7-9 2nd Trumpet; something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Rev. 8:10,11 Third Trumpet; a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.  A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

A collision with an asteroid large enough to make the Yucatán crater would have sent so much dust and gas into the atmosphere that sunlight would have been blocked for months or years, killing much of Earth’s vegetation and interrupting the food chain many animals depended on.

The asteroid that created the Chicxulub Crater
was approximately 2.7-6.8 miles in diameter.

The earth and everything done in it will be laid bare
This passage 2 Peter 3:10 seems to indicate that human activity is brought very low by this intense destructive fire. This renovates the earth and prepares it to become the new earth.

III. These changes being real will prioritize how we live, prompting holiness, godliness and effective outreach.


When we know these to be true realities why would we want to invest the majority of our time energy and effort into building temporal things. I think it’s important that we give some attention to temporal things however these end times realities should cause us to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

Holy – Set apart unto God and set apart from sin.
Godly- Being imitators of our heavenly father.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

If the good news of the kingdom is not preached to all nations will the end come?

The preaching serves as a testimony giving them a chance to make a decision for Christ.
Can we speed up or slow down the return of the Lord?

The gospel of the kingdom is all about surrendering to the King of the kingdom, and taking on his life and direction of service. With this surrender comes all the privileges, rights and persecution of a kingdom citizen.
Kingdom citizens are empowered by God’s grace to disposes the kingdoms of darkness leading people to Christ.

The Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Cor. 5:17,18
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

IV. We should be looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.

God’s Dream Ultimately Fulfilled
Revelation 21:1-4
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Conclusion: We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

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