July 12 2015 Renewing The Inner Passion

Renewing The Inner Passion

2 Kings 2:19-22 – The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look our Lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.” “Bring me a new bowl, he said, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.  Then he went to the spring and threw salt in it saying, “That is what the Lord says,” I have healed the water.  Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive and the water has remained whole to this day.

THREE STEPS TO INNER PASSION

1. Notice the condition.

Verse 19 – This town is well situated, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.

The people were confronted with what Jericho could be and what it was.  (This is sometimes symbolic of our lives.)

Matthew 23:25-26 – Jesus said, “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You clean the    outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. First clean the inside of the cup and dish and then the outside also will be clean.”

Matthew 15:9 –“These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.”

2. Notice the cure.

Verse 20 – Bring me a new bowl, he said, and put salt in it, so they brought it to him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and Perfector of our faith.  

3. Notice the conclusion.

Verse 21 – Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive and the water has remained wholesome to this day.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 – I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them.  I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  Then they will follow my decrees.

Acts 15:9 – Peter said, “He made no distinction between us and them (Gentiles) for He purified their heart by faith”.  

John 7:37-39 – If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink, and out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

March 13 2011 The Word Of Assurance

THE WORD OF ASSURANCE

(Luke 23:39-43 - One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.")

(Luke 23:43 – Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

(Isa. 53:12 – He was numbered with the transgressors.)

1. This Promise Includes a true confession

(Verse 42 – Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.)

(John 1:29 – Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.)

Paul – He became sin for us on the cross.

2. We see a Promise Of conversion.

(Verse 43: - Today you will be with Me in Paradise.)

(Isa. 53:12 – He bore the sin of many.)

3. The Promise sees A change.

(Verse 42 – Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.)

(Acts 26:17 & 18 – I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God.)

4. Promise Of a hopeful conclusion.

(Verse 43 – You will be with Me in Paradise.)

John 14: 1-3 – Let not your heart be troubled, if you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions, and I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am there you may be also.

Four Important Truths:

• It is Immediate
• It is Certain
• It is A relationship
• It is A place

(Romans 10:13 – Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.)