MOVING FORWARD IN THE CHRISTIAN WALK

Nehemiah 2:13-16

Introduction: 

To be able to move forward in his walk with God, a believer needs to know:

1.  Where he stands with God in Christ (The Valley Gate)

2.  That he has been given dominion over the devil in Jesus’ Name (The    Serpent Well)

I.  DEALING WITH SIN (The Refuse or Dung Gate)

A.  A picture of a daily purging and cleansing process

B.  Being sensitive to sin, obedient in life, and conscientious to confess    

1 John 1:7, 9

The Holy Spirit does not point out sin to us to condemn us; He reveals it so we will repent, confess and be brought to a new place in the light. Where sin is surfaced, confession is required.

Confession means “to speak the same thing.”

Daily purging is no shame; it’s healthy. When we confess, the position we have gained in Christ is not threatened.

II. BEING IN THE WORD (The Fountain Gate)

  

A.  This gate depicts the Word of God.

*John 15:3

The Bible describes itself as: bread, milk, gold, honey, mirror, hammer and water.

B.  The believer feeds daily on the Word

*Colossians 3:16

*Joshua 1:8

As the people needed daily to get fresh, life-sustaining water at the Fountain Gate, so it is impossible for a believer to survive apart from continuous feeding on the Word.

III.           WALKING IN THE SPIRIT (The King’s Pool)

A.  Hezekiah’s water system in history

About 300 years before Nehemiah, Hezekiah built a tunnel that served as Jerusalem’s water supply system. The source was Gihon Spring; the reservoir was the King’s Pool. Workers started at opposite ends and cut their way through the rock to within one foot of a precise contact.

B.  A continuous supply of life-sustaining water was now within the city of Jerusalem

*Ephesians 5:18

C.  In N.T. times, the King’s Pool was known as the Pool of Siloam

*John 9:7

Conclusion:

At the Refuse/Dung and Fountain Gates, we learn of the analogies of confession and growth in the Word.   At the King’s Pool, we need to discover  the flowing streams of living water.

*John 7:37

*Revelation 22:17

The Holy Spirit is a miracle supply of power, flowing from a source that never ends. With praise in your heart and on your lips, come into His presence and by faith receive His promise. The become an overflow to others.

Questions for Home/Care Group Sharing & Discussion:

1.  Read Psalms 32:1-5.  Let members of the group share what happens when sin is confessed.

What are some of the effects of unconfessed sin?

2.  “You can only give out what you have taken in.”  How is this saying applicable to Bible

Reading?

3.  Share a testimony on how the Holy Spirit has brought a refreshing in your own life.

PITONG HULING WIKA

1.  [Sinabi ni Jesus, “Ama, patawarin mo sila, sapagkat hindi nila nalalaman ang kanilang ginagawa.”]  at nagsapalaran sila upang malaman kung alin sa kanyang kautusan ang mapupunta sa isa’t isa. 

Lucas 23:34

2.  Sumagot si Jesus, “Sinasabi ko sa iyo:  ngayon di’y isasama kita sa Paraiso. 

Lucas 23:43

3.  Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanyang ina, at ang minamahal niyang alagad sa tabi nito, kanyang sinabi, “Ginang narito ang iyong anak!” At sinabi sa alagad, “Narito ang iyong ina!”  Mula noon, siya’y pinatira ng alagad na ito sa kanyang bahay. 

Juan 19:26-27

4.  Nang mag-ikatlo ng hapon, sumigaw si Jesus, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”  Ibig sabihi’y “Diyos ko, Diyos ko, bakit mo ako pinabayaan? 

Mateo 27:46/Marcos 15:34

5.  Pagkatapos nito, alam ni Jesus na naganap na ang lahat ng bagay; at bilang katuparan ng Kasulatan ay sinabi niya, “Nauuhaw ako!” 

Juan 19:28

6.  Nang masipsip ni Jesus ang alak ay kanyang sinabi, “Naganap na!”  iniyukayok niya ang kanyang ulo at nalagot ang kanyang hininga.

Juan 19:30

7.  Sumigaw ng malakas si Jesus, “Ama, sa mga kamay mo’y ipinagtatagubilin ko ang aking espiritu!”  At pagkasabi nito, nalagot ang kanyang hininga.

 Lucas 23:46

The  Wounded Shepherd

Text: Rev.7: 17

Introduction

From Psalms 23: 1 this shepherd reminds me until l now, He is with us in heaven.

1. The lamb

a.  Things that remind us the Lamb of God, John says, here comes the lamb that’s takes 

away the sins of this world.

b. The lamb that is ready for slaughter, dinala sa patayan.

C. the lamb for sacrifice

Why? He is our sacrifice, mediator and intercessor with out him there is no remission of sins.

             He is our substitute. Instead of us he offer and give himself freely for us.

2. The center of the throne

What does it mean to be the center of the throne?

A. Focus   of attraction, interest and attention   power and authority

B. reminds me when Jesus crucified he is in   between of the thieves in the middle of the crowd.

Why?

a. He wants to show himself to all and He deserves to   that possession.

b. In every situation He can mediate us and intercede for us.

3. Lead them to springs   of living water

What signifies spring of living waters?

A. picture of abundance and satisfaction of our life even our whole being   

b. Freshness    and wellness wholeness of life, Shalom

c. Healing and cleansing.

Why?

a. He is the only source of living waters, He says come, to those who are thirsty come and drink and you will be filled.

Ill. The Samaritan woman at Jacobs well.

Note. The promising word of God, through Him, the Lamb

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Sorrows and pain will gone sickness and diseases even death will not be remembered

Conclusion

 He   is wounded. Of our transgression   and sins but he forgives us, and even   is strife we are healed

Ptr. Leo P. Magayon

Chubitabitabz

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THE SECRET OF ENDURANCE

2 Corinthians 4:7-15

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from

us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not

abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so

that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over

to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in

us, but life is at work in you. It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of

faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from

the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit,

so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory

of God. 

Introduction:     

There is a course marked out for every follower of Christ

(Hebrews 12:1, 2)

  

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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 perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before himendured

the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

She/He can run the race with perseverance and finish well.

I. THE POWER OF GOD IS IN JARS OF CLAY, 7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is  from God and

not from us.

The unadorned clay pots are our ordinary lives; we’re not much to look at- fragile, transient, weak

and mortal. The closer we live to Christ, the more we are conscious of our own inadequacy.

A.  Know where the treasure is from

This all-surpassing power is from God. Privilege could lead to pride. We dare not confuse

God’s incomparable power with us.

B.  Realize whom the treasure is for.

II.   GIVE UP IN ORDER TO GO UP, 8-9

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,

but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

We have to give up to go up. Each time we give up something, we move forward and honor God.

A.  The paradox of the Christian life

Whatever condition the children of God may be in, they have a but-not that gives them

strength.

hard pressed                     but not                     crushed

perplexed                           but not                 in despair

persecuted                         but not                 abandoned

struck down                       but not                 destroyed

Battered and surrounded by troubles- but we’re not demoralized;

We’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do;

We’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side;

We’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken.

  

B.  God’s triumph over human weakness

The trademark of the Christian is not that he does not fall, but that everytime he falls, he rises

again! He is sometimes beaten, but never ultimately defeated (fall down 7 times, get up 8).

The power of God triumphs through our weakness: “When I am weak, then I am strong. . .”

   

III.   THE SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN THE MASTER , 10-12

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be

revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake,

so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at

work in you.

A.      Dying in order to live

Early Christian martyrs- In the midst of their most painful and difficult times, they had their

sweetest communion with Christ.

If a man wished to live with Christ, he must be ready to die with Him. If he wished to share

the life of Christ, he must share His risks too.

B.      No stranger to sacrifice

We learn the hardest lesson of all: Getsemane- accepting what we cannot understand and still

be able to say- “God, I know you love me; I will build my faith on that.”

He who refuses to bleed can never hope to bless.

IV.            STEADFASTNESS IS DIVINELY SUSTAINED, 13-15

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe

and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will

also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so

that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the

glory of God.

A.      Faith in God’s promises (Declaration)

Ps. 116- “I believed it, so I said it.”

B.      Service for the sake of others (Donation)

It is all for the sake of others, so that as God’s grace is extended to more and more people, it

may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.

C. Hope of the resurrection (Destination)

Face everything in life in the power of God.

Conclusion:

Finishing well may seem humanly difficult, but God has made arrangements for the journey.  The key is

knowing that the cross comes before the crown.

QUESTIONS FOR HOME/ECARE GROUP SHARING/DISCUSSION:

1.       How is human pride dealt with by the truth that divine power/presence dwells in jars of clay?

2.  Is anyone in the group going through any of the struggles in the paradox (verses 8-9)? Share how

you are dealing with the process.  What lessons have you learned from the Lord?

3.   Why is sacrifice contrary to the human spirit?  If the death of Christ earned for us our salvation,

in what way can our sacrifice benefit others?  Cite practical examples. Pray for a persevering

spirit, for faithfulness, and for consistency in our Christian life.

Ptr. Leo  P. Magayon

Chubitabitabz