Sunday Morning IBC. 11/22/2015.

Pending.

Sunday Morning IBC. 11/15/2015. Luke 22.

Pending.

Sunday Morning IBC. 11/8/2015. James 1:26-27. Testing Our Religion.

Testing Our Religion. James 1:26-27.
Pastor Nam Park.

James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

When we look at "worship," we might naturally thing of the outward look of it. Singing. Yet, scripture would call us to something MUCH more careful than the act. It's the HEART behind the action. It's not just about what we DO. It's about what is happening within.

Is our religion worthless or is it PURE? 

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Our Outline:
v.26 WORTHLESS RELIGION.
v.27 PURE RELIGION 
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Praxis: A Marx term. Taking a theory and making it practice.

v.26 "IF" is a linear conditional in English. Here this is an argument from the greater to the lesser. "Anyone"... There is HIGH PROBABILITY that it could be YOU! Consider yourself here. "A self-deceived religionist," watch out, there is a danger that you are thinking of yourself as a religious person.
The result of giving offering and singing worship... Self-convinced that we are doing our religious duty.

Contrasted to v.27, the religion in v.26 is IMPURE and DEFILED. Word used is "FUTILITY/VANITY of RELIGION." It speaks of the FUTILITY of their minds. It's empty b/c it's an issue of the idolatry of heart.

There are many religions. Some cults. 
What is it that makes Christianity so unique?
A: It's our gospel. It's not how "religious" you act that brings you closer to God. You CAN NOT earn salvation. The natural man is DEAD to things spiritual. Completely incapable to find anything within God worthwhile.

We can commit vows of celibacy, vows of poverty... we can sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice, but unless we our hearts are transformed, then our sacrifices are EMPTY in the eyes of the Lord.

A warning from our Lord:
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
- NEVER knew you...
- "you who practice lawlessness"... this isn't the focus. The focus is the "I NEVER KNEW YOU"
- It's not about doing because you have to... it's about doing because you WANT TO.

We're all looking for worthwhile relationships.
- When there is no element of the WANT TO, then things get old really fast.
- Something not satisfying about it.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 
- Seriously, all this from "not bridle his tongue"? A: well, no, in addition to the heart...
- It's able religious activity without self-control. What this individual lets out of his heart.
- Not bridle his tongue (bit in a horse's mouth; lead by the bit). The true test of a man's religion is his ABILITY to control his tongue.

Movie: CHAMP.
They're just actors. They're not even related. How does the written work affect us so much? A: We were created in the image of God. We were created differently than the animals.

Sticks and Stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me... That's a lie from the pit! We were created in the image of God.

v.26 "but deceives his own heart"
- It is a revelation of his soul that comes through his mouth.

Matthew 12:33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

- v.36 One of Nam's most terrified verses. 
- The tongue reveals the deception of our own hearts.

Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Human Beings can only focus on one thing at a time.

Dangerous: How will we let ourselves churn over bitterness and wrong things.
It will ultimately be impossible for us to suppress the speech.
It is an issue of the soul.
Are we working on THINKING Rightly so that we are SPEAKING Rightly.

Worthless Religion has One Test:
1. What comes out of the mouth.

TRUE = PURE.
v.27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
- When you hear of "pure" and "undefiled" what word comes to mind? A: Sacrifice. The exercise of religious practice.

Parable of the Good Samaritan
That was a parable to teach about love, not about being "pure and undefiled." The Lord is concerned about the heart. The Act of the Samaritan was the good act of love.

v.27 [in the sight of our] "Father"
- mentioned since the next line brings up the Father-less. The Husband-less.

Exodus 22:22 You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23 If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

- Our Lord avenges the weak.

Isaiah 1:16 

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.

Cease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good;

Seek justice,

Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.

- Our Father's heart cares for those who are destitute.

- Our God is a Father who would adopt the most worthless of children.

Pure Religion has two tests:
1. Charity for the Helpless. (LOVE)
2. Holiness to the World. (Without Conformity to the World.)

Application:
1. Take SIN Seriously.
2. Pray Seriously.

Shouldn't we confess our sin to the Lord because we believe that the Lord is worth it?
A: It's ultimately about WHO GOD IS.
Pursuing the things of the Lord from the heart.

Sunday Morning IBC. 11/1/2015. Luke 22:47-53. Hour of Darkness.

Hour of Darkness. Luke 22:47-53.
Pastor Nam Park.

The first part of Gethsemane was Jesus Praying.

Jesus isn't afraid of dying. It's spiritual; drinking the cup.

Jesus was anxious about the cup.

Today we look at the second part of Gethsemane.

In the midst of darkness, He stands as courageous, as fearless, as determined as we will ever know Him. He stands strong.

Luke 22:47 While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.51 But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? 53 While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”

Three Groups (Human-beings try to take matters into their own hands):
- Judas' group
- Jesus' disciples: Desire to Defend
- Pharisees: Determined Hypocrisy. It is their time.

GROUP 1: Judas' Group
Dozens of armed men. All led by Judas.
Luke 22:47 "the one called Judas, one of the twelve, "
- This stresses the relationship Judas has with Jesus. You can only betray someone you're close to. This betrayal is going to hurt.

Luke 22:27 "he approached Jesus to kiss Him."
- A way to recognize Jesus in the dark. Diabolical.
- The physical expression of Phileo.

1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

- A greeting of friendship/affection.

Luke 22:48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

- The Son of Man has the power to forgive sins.
- Do you know WHO you are betraying??? How outrageous.
- Striking at the conscious of Judas.
- He's betraying the HOPE of all mankind.

GROUP 2: The Disciples 
They're intentions were good. Their methods were off.
They are acting wrongly in the moment from what they knew of the Lord.
"Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 
It's Passion without wisdom.
All these things are happening EXACTLY how Jesus described.

Luke 9:22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”
- There's no question of what Jesus is alluding to.

As they left the passover meal, they would have been singing the Halal songs.

Psalms 118:22 
The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief corner stone.

John 18:10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.
- Peter reaches for weapons. He was probably not aiming for the ear; rather aiming to kill?
- Why is Malchus named? A: Maybe he becomes a Christian later.

If Christ doesn't heal Malchus, then Jesus' enemies would find this as evidence against Jesus. He's about to appear before Ponticus Pilate.

John 18: 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” 
- If Jesus had let that violent act by Peter stand, it would have been ruinous.
- It would give the leaders cause to think that Jesus is a violent revolutionary.
- Obviously Jesus' prophetic word said he would be here to suffer.

The connection.
It's the PRAYER of SUBMISSION that gives Jesus the courage to do these things.

Our church fathers often equate wrestling with prayer.
Here in the garden, Jesus is about to take on the sins of the world.
The worst that we can imagine in way of MY SINGULAR SIN; but Christ would take on ALL the sins of the world. Jesus was anxious but did not lose control. That wrestling and struggling in prayer... this makes Jesus as strong as He is. He was clear and open with the Father in prayer. He let all OPENLY lay before the Father; Trusting that the Father knows BEST.

GROUP 2: The Pharisees
The plain hypocrites.

Luke 22:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? 53 While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”

- The chief priests, officers of the temple, and elders.
- They came out with torches and clubs.
- Are you afraid that I am a "murderous robber"? That's absurd b/c of v.53
- Cowardly, they were afraid of the people.
- Hypocrisy isn't just knowing what you are doing is EVIL and still doing it. YET at the beginning of it, it's trying to do "good", by whatever means necessary. "Thank God that I am not a dog, woman, or Gentile, because then I couldn't read the Torah."
- These are helping the power of darkness.
- Even in this moment of darkness, the Savior is STILL in control. He delivered Himself into their hands.

John 18:4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, “Whom do you seek?”5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 
- A guess: when saying "I am," just His words are sufficient to make armed men crumble backwards.
- Who is in charge? A: Not men. It is Jesus: Lord of All. He has never lost control of the circumstances of His death. 

He is our Lord.
He is in absolute control.
Even in this moment of darkness, OUR SAVIOR REIGNS.
All your weaknesses/sins. Even when you have no hope, you can turn to the Savior and He will save you.
We should praise the Savior, because He is Sovereign Lord of Everything.