 Welcome to week #2 of our July Series “SOAP”…
We are looking at how the Holy Spirit brings a cleansing to a dirty world and more specifically to sin stained people… If you are reading this you have experienced this cleansing or you are longing to experience it through Jesus and hopefully you have a desire for others out there to experience it as well… Psalm 51:7-13 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. All of this has to be going on in the life of a believer and then verse 13 says… 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You… The idea is that as we are washed and continue to be washed “then” we can teach others and see sinners converted to Christ and saved from eternal damnation… Luke 14:23 23 Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. I think the key words in this scripture from last week are “master” and “servant”… Those who have made Jesus master will serve in whatever capacity He calls them to serve in regardless of personal feelings or leanings and they will cry for further washing in the process… In 2 Corinthians 5:4 Paul says… 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. We don’t long for a lower standard or an easier call… We long for the old life to be washed away and the new life of power and adventure and joy to be further ushered in… Sincere = Genuine, real, transparent, honest Subjective = based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions Last week we talked about the importance of telling your story and it needing to be a true story and if we really want to lead people to the Lord we need to go deep into our story to describe the washing process… All true God stories are good stories and they contain the power to change lives… Romans 8:28 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. I thought about it this week and I realize that many of us may be in places where the current part of the story isn’t so good… Maybe we have been avoiding the shower and maybe we have not committed in certain areas to allowing Jesus to be Lord… Maybe we are not concerned really with those who are lost and dying in their sin and maybe we are even growing numb to the conviction of the Holy Spirit… I believe that God has commanded us to go and make disciples as a type of double edged sword that will cut to their hearts with the truth about them and their distance from God and also cut us to the heart with the truth about our continued rebellion against the One who saved us… Nobody wants to be a hypocrite so too many of us have chosen to do nothing instead of choosing to keep fighting the fight for change and transformation and further washing… Hebrews 10:36-39 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. It’s not by chance that this is the chapter where we are this Wednesday night in our bible study… We’ve seen a lot of people leave our church over the years and a lot of people stay but choose not to radically rebel against the enemy and his plans for their lives… We’ve also seen a lot of people try to push their agenda and ways forward in our church instead of submitting to authority and the vision God has ordained here… It is easy to begin to say “Lord maybe we should tone it down or lower the bar or let people do whatever they want to do”… “Does every ministry have to have such a high standard?”… Does the setup ministry have to understand the links between all the other ministries and use setup to help lead people to salvation?… Does the cleaning ministry need to focus on helping volunteers lives to be cleansed?… Does the children’s church ministry have to develop adults as much as it develops children?… This week a read a devotional titled “Visions Becoming Reality” and it reminded me that the vision God has given me for The Way is the vision He has for The Way and I cannot tone it down… July 6 We always have a vision of something before it actually becomes real to us. When we realize that the vision is real, but is not yet real in us, Satan comes to us with his temptations, and we are inclined to say that there is no point in even trying to continue. Instead of the vision becoming real to us, we have entered into a valley of humiliation. Life is not as idle ore, But iron dug from central gloom, And battered by the shocks of doom To shape and use. God gives us a vision, and then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of that vision. It is in the valley that so many of us give up and faint. Every God-given vision will become real if we will only have patience. I cannot lower the bar… I have to keep having tough conversations with people who are already laboring about how to labor better… Jesus said you feed them to disciples that had gathered a large group and labored already… I have to keep having tough conversations with those who are fighting about how to fight better… Jesus said put down the sword and turn the other cheek… I have to keep having tough conversations with those who are praying about how to pray better… Jesus said go into the closet… I have to keep having tough conversations with those who are giving about how to give better… Jesus said what about mercy and justice… This idea of continuing to pursue the vision is key for Week #2 of our SOAP series… If this is what God wants for this church it is what He wants for all churches… If salvation AND sanctification is what God wants for one person it is what He wants for every person… So last week we saw the “S” in SOAP which was “Sincerely Subjective” and this week we are going to look at the “O” which is about being “Obviously Objective”… Obviously = plain, manifest, clear, palpable, unmistakable. Objective = not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts Another way to look at being “Obviously Objective” is to be “Clearly Consistent”… We cannot change the word of God or the call of God or the will of God based on feelings or personal desires… This is so important not only for those who are in the church like we’ve touched on so far but it is also so important for those who are outside of the church… The gospel is “objective” in the sense that it is “one size fits all”… 2 apples + 2 apples = 4 apples… That is “objectivity” because the facts are not contingent upon personal feelings or opinions… I hate apples can be true for one person and I love apples can also be true for the next person because liking apples is “subjective” and based on personal opinion… There are a million things you will initially not like about the word of God and the government of the church but that has nothing to do with their truth and validity which are true and valid whether you like them or not… Over time we come to love the truth and the truth sets us free if we will submit to it… When we go out into the world to evangelize and bring people to Jesus we must do it with an understanding that everyone we meet who has not repented of their sins and turned to Jesus for salvation is going to hell… Their only hope is for the Holy Spirit to awaken their dead souls to the truth about the life giving power of Jesus Christ and lead them to repentance… It’s “Objective”… Anyone - Jesus = Dead… You may not like this and they definitely don’t like it because liking it is “subjective” but it’s true whether anyone likes it or not… Sin can only be washed away with SOAP made of the blood of Jesus… Revelation 7:14 he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. I really just want to look at one chapter and see the church from the inside and the lost who are outside within this chapter… This chapter is where the church was birthed and where the church begins its ongoing crashing into the world… The chapter like this series shows us how God’s church is always built for the building up of those inside AND for the calling of those who are outside… Acts 2:1-47 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.' 22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.' 29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Verses 1-2 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. The church is called to gather and when we do we are filled with the Holy Spirit in a special way that is different then the way we are filled individually… Verses 3-13 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine.” So in the church the Spirit begins to move and the word of God is literally coming out of the people and this is where we see what is happening in the church begin to crash into those who are outside of the church… Those outside were trying to figure out how people they would not and could not previously connect with are speaking directly to them now?… The objectivity of the will and word of God is already on display… It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from the Spirit and the Word of God is “one size fits all”… We do a Friday night praying in the Spirit service and we pray before service in certain rooms and then during certain times like the altar call because we believe that the church is still crashing into the world… We believe that worship and teaching and preaching times is when the world needs to hear God being worshipped and when they need to hear the word of God and nothing else… We know that we need to blanket the service in prayer and blanket the new comers in prayer but we do that without them necessarily knowing about it… We hope that those with a gift in prayer will hear a specific word from God that may show a non-believer that God speaks to His people and that God sees and loves them personally… It’s interesting that they seem to be speaking in tongues but the people are understanding in their own language and to me I see the separation between what we do when its just us and what we do when we are bringing in non-believers… We want them to understand every word whether they agree with it or not yet… So look at the next verses… Verses 14-21 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’ Peter proclaims explains to those who are outside what is happening on the inside… He tells them that this is exactly what God said would happen rather than making excuses for it or trying to make them feel better about it… This challenges those who are outside and it should encourage those who are inside… Explanation is such an important part of leading people to Christ and growing those that are already a part of the church… Verses 22-36 22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.' 29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” This is the “Obviously Objective” part of the passage… It doesn’t matter where the people came from or what cultural issues they had has obstacles or what individual sins they had each committed… The word that was spoken to everyone was… God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ… It’s “Obviously Objective” isn’t it… Let’s see what happens following the "Obviously Objective" truth that was proclaimed… Verses 37-41 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. See we don’t have to be what the church world has convinced us great evangelist are we just need to be the church that Jesus has called us to be… They gathered together and they received the promised gifts of God… They showed that they were truly filled with the Spirit by being able to speak to all kinds of people from all walks of life and cultures in a way that they understood… And they spoke the truth of “anyone - Jesus = dead”… Those who heard were cut to the heart and repented and were baptized and that is how the church grew… Verses 42-43 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. It is so hard to humble ourselves and follow the doctrine and vision of the church we call home but I believe it is the will of God for the each church and for each individual within that church… This goes without saying for those who are in ministry because they are the pillars and builders within that house… Moses heard from God and gave the dimensions to the builders and they built accordingly… The majority of the people just gave and waited for it to be built but imagine if the builders built according to their own vision instead of the vision God gave Moses… This doesn’t mean that Moses was the best builder it just meant God established Moses as the one the blueprint would come through… A boat was destined to sink unless the people listened to Paul instead of the captain of the ship who had much more sailing experience… I long for this to be the way of The Way and I believe God has given us that vision and the vision will come to pass… The chapter ends with the testimony I believe we will have more and more as more and more of us taste and see of the goodness of God’s “Obviously Objective” ways… Verses 44-46 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Pray for those who are inside already and for those who are still outside waiting for the “Obviously Objective” truth that there is only one name by which we can and must be saved… JESUS!
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