City Conf Msg #1 - Refusing Rival Devotions

Kim Kira

"Single": A biblical designation more so than "career" or "professional."

Some steward their singleness well. Some ruin the time.

WASTED: Pursuit of "self" since there's no Christ-centered focus in it.

HATED: Struggling with loneliness; behind on the timeline of life; Pity from others. 

"Singleness is not to be hated/wasted... but treasured and stewarded"

"Be content with where God has placed you" ~ Gist of what Paul teaches.

1 Corinthians 7:25-35
25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

#1. Singleness is a gift that everyone has until they are married.

#2. The gift of singleness is the practical blessing of undivided interests.
Paul here is addressing anyone who are NOT MARRIED.
Singleness is not listed as a spiritual gift... not a gift unto itself...If you have the gift of teaching, you teach well. If you have the gift of singleness, do you SINGLE well? NO!!! INSTEAD, use the time of singleness to focus your other gifts. 
"A practical gift of time and focus" - Kim Kira

Marriage and Singleness are BOTH gifts.

Singleness is a gift from God for the purpose of serving God.

v33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 

- Biblical Math. If you get married, your time is then DIVIDED.

#3. The call for singles is "undivided devotion to the Lord."

As a single person, you should be able to commit yourself to these things more than others.

[[1. Gospel investment in people. 2. Faithful stewardship of time/resources for God. 3. An extra-active involvement in the life in the church. 4. A commitment to commission ministries. 5. Person of Prayer.]]

"We focus on single because we want to be Biblical. You're not defined by your singleness. But understand that although you're not defined by your singleness, but it does direct you in how you are supposed to be living in this SEASON of life." - Kim Kira.

"The danger of not embracing your singleness is that you're NOT embracing what God is calling you to do as a SINGLE." - Kim Kira.

"BEING BLUNT: You should embrace your singleness for what it means to living out the gospel. The sooner you do this, the sooner you'll be living as God intended; pursing His glory, with undivided interest. Embrace it. As you do this, you'll know the joy of living wholeheartedly and passionately for God." - Kim Kira

--Introduction Over.

The gospel is central to Paul.

The gospel is transforming.

Paul is talking to transformed believers.

Paul is saying: “You won’t “get” your singleness, until you understand the transient nature of this world”

“The greatest weakness of the western church today is arguable our failure to think of the long tomorrow—to take seriously the reality that Heaven is our home. Out of this springs our love affair with this world and our failure to live now in light of eternity. [In light of Eternity, Randy Alcorn. Page 6]

Think about your last week/month. 

Did you live with UNDIVIDED DEVOTION to God? 

Did you use your time/resources for the Lord?

Realize that what you do in this life matters in the next.

Why? A: Because we will all stand before Christ.

What if you lived for eternity? 

What if you were convinced that you lived for not this life but for the next?

If you want to reorient your worldview: Think about the LONG TOMORROW. It will change everything.

The PERMANANCE of time [time being single].
Think Short, Think Long.

Shorter: Just worry about getting through today.

Longer: Look to eternity. Look past this life and into the next.

I. The Gospel reorients our Worldview.

II. The Gospel reorients our Hearts.

Are we wholly devoted to SELF?

Be aware of your rival devotions. 

IDOLS: (1) If you sin because you don’t get it; If you sin to get it; (2) Is it leading to a lack of trust in God? (3) Is it robbing me of joy?

For Christian Singles: You have been given a new trajectory for Christ.

We were created with both the capacity and the compulsion to LOVE WELL.

But then there was the sin. It’s now part of our sin nature.

Sin also affects how we live our lives.

It turns our love inward until we ultimately live for ourselves.

We become the objects of our own affections. We love rival devotions.

Grace of the Gospel: We’re not stuck that way!

Sin is slavery. But in Christ, we can love and live free as we were made to live. 

We can serve Him in unique and with unrivaled devotions.

Practical Application to battling Rival Devotions

1. Know what your unrivaled devotions are.

2. Repent. Sanctification comes to a screeching halt when there is no repentance.

3. Grow in Faith.

--End

Sunday Morning IBC. 12/20/2015. Titus 2:11-14.

Why God's Grace is So Amazing. Titus 2:11-14.
Bryant Huang.

Most Christmas cards... "Is there something/someone missing?"
Can you imagine if you planned a birthday for a friend... then never invited

Let's examine why Christ means everything to us.
The Grace of God was constantly on the lips of the Apostle Paul.
May these words of Paul's help us be captivated by God's grace.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Titus was very dear to Paul's heart.
Titus is on the island of Crete. Crete is huge; and it's NOT an easy place to minister.
Titus, I want you to #1 put things in order... and #2 appoint ministers.
Hopefully Titus was encouraged to receive this letter from Paul.
BIG THEMES in Titus: Good Works (x10)... Soundness (x10)... Salvation (x10)... 
The heart and soul of the whole epistle can be fit into these few verses.

3 Blessings of God's Grace:
#1. God's Grace Saves. 
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men
- The "For" tells us that verses 1-10 comes before this verse 11. And verse 11 follows from these verses 1-10.
- This list of verses 1-10 is a long list/ a high calling. If the book ended here, one could be discouraged. BUT verses 1-10 are possible "For the grace of God has appeared"
- Undeserved grace from God. Paul loves the idea of grace. Paul begins and ends his epistles with "grace"
- Jump ahead to...
Titus 3:3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived,enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

A commentator says: God's grace is His act of favor; bestowing the greatest gift upon those who have deserved the greatest punishment.

- "has appeared" hints in the past. Revealed to us when Christ was born in a manger. It was revealed was he taught. It was revealed when he hung on the cross. It was revealed when he rose from the dead.

Praise God that the apostles also wrote it down... so that it would be disclosed to us: the prophetic writings. 

v.11 "...bringing salvation to all men," 
Is Paul teaching universal salvation?
1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
- The invitation goes out to ALL but not everyone accepts that invitation.
- Judas Iscariot wasn't saved. 
- Wide vs. narrow gate.

#2. God's Grace Trains.
After salvation, the grace of God continues to makes changes in the believer's life.
Titus 2:12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
- Yet, NOT JUST training/instructing... Greek root "pedagog"... a rich parent who hires a slave/tutor to train their child. Guiding correction and training. Being able to reason and make new decisions after being trained.
- Not just the WHAT, but also the WHY... feedback.
- First, the negative... RENOUNCING two vices: #1 ungodliness and #2 worldly desires (pleasure, power, possessions).
- Second, the positive... #3 self-controlled (self-mastery so as not to sin); #4 uprightly (honestly with integrity); #5 godly (living in a manner that is in reverence to Him). AKA a good way to remember these... (INWARDLY LIVING, HORIZONTAL LIVING AMONGST OTHERS, VERTICAL LIVING before God).

Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

- Our primary training is the Word of God.

- The Holy Spirit will help train.

- God will also train us with interaction with other believers. 
- This training will also be continuous. Training will not be done this side of Heaven.

Possible Applications:
Regular times in prayers.
Regular times with others in the faith.Training is on-going. Constant analyzing of how we live out our faith.

#3. God's grace Encourages. Gives believers HOPE beyond this life.
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus
- In order live properly in this age, we must set our longings forward.
- The HOPE of Jesus returning is absolute certainty, but it's still HOPE.
- His appearing won't be a puny one, it will be glorious.

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
2 Thessalonians 1:10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 

This is such a glorious hope.The hope of eternal life.
Who is this Jesus that we're waiting for?
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Why would our God give himself up in exchange for us?
- Reason #1: to redeem us from every lawless deed (He was our ransom). Romans 6:23.

Psalms 130:8 And He will redeem Israel

From all his iniquities.

Romans 6:17-18 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

- Reason #2: to purify His people for His own possession. God chose ONE people to be His.
What is the cleaning agent... A: the blood of Christ.

How do we distinguish the people of God?  A: These people are zealous for good works. As believers, we don't just do good works b/c we have to, we do these good works because WE WANT TO!!!  They are so committed to this cause... Just like those who zealously wanted to see "Star Wars VII" this weekend. 

Christians have good works that are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Aligned to Biblical teaching. 

That these good works would ultimately point others to praise our Father in Heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

2015 has been quite tumultuous.
Our hope is in 6 words: "The Grace of God has appeared."
Look beyond this life with ANTICIPATION... no matter how bad this life, our rescue is coming soon.
Let's praise God for the amazing Grace that He has shown us.

Sunday Morning IBC. 12/13/2015. John 4. Seeking the Lost and the Thirsty.

Seeking the Lost and the Thirsty. John 4.
The Samaritan Woman and the Offer of Water.
Pastor Nam Park.

So many reasons to worship Jesus:
#1. He is God, very God; took on human form to die for us on the cross.
#2. He is not just powerful but He is gracious; he chose to lay down His life.
#3. He is patient; merciful
#4. He lived a perfect and sinless life so that He would be a sacrifice for us.

Today, let's FOCUS on this: Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- Reason why we should glory in the Son of God: BECAUSE HE might seek out and save the lost.

John 4. Favorite of Nam's. A story that Jesus literally comes to seek and save the lost. Using the idea of THIRST that Christ seeks and saves the lost.

John 4:6 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

The Woman of Samaria

7 There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away intothe city to buy food. 9 Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 

- She is surprised that Jesus would ask her. Jews and Samaritans don't deal with each other. Samaritans are a half breed in blood and by faith. An excellent Jewish person would avoid a Samaritan at ALL COST.
- Jesus expresses "lost-ness" by way of "thirst". Everyone from all cultures understands thirst. This craving/spiritual desired; like the "deer that panteth for the water".

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 

- "living water" is equivalent to flowing water. Flowing water is the freshest.
- She is trying to test out the source of it. "greater than our father Jacob"?
- The physical reality is that thirst never ends. There are things that we desire/delight/crave.. Yet these things will not satisfy unto eternity...

John 4:11 She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? 12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

- There will be a well-spring. It takes the natural craving and satisfy; more than satisfy.

John 4:15 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” 

- The material realities will crowd out the more important.
- "I will not be thirsty": maybe she understands Jesus.
- "nor come all the way here to draw": no, she doesn't understand. This isn't physical.

John 4:16 He *said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” 

- Jesus rearranges her reply. "A HUSBAND you do not have."
- This lady's life is broken.
- Jesus lays out her sinfulness in front of her.
- Nam: "The reason why I LOVE this story is because this is us..."
- She made a series of choices. And while her life may be messed up, her life is not much different than our own lives.
- She was probably just living with the brokenness and thirst within her.

John 4:19 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 

- We are tempted to think that she's trying to evade the issue.
- The emphasis of the writing... "A PROPHET, you must be". 
- She has virtually confessed her sin. She's saying... "how do you know the truth...?"
- She is NOT an evasive type of individual.
- She is in a desperate stage of life.
- She has a question that is not just theological, but that is important to her...

John 4:20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 

- Her thirst is evident. She is dying of thirst.
- How do I worship? She is wondering/curious about how to worship.

John 4:21 Jesus *said to her,“Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 

- It sounds harsh.
- BUT Jesus is about sincerity and clarity. 
- Most people in our generation think that "God is love."
- The ONLY chance they have can come "from the Jews"... aka through the OT.

John 4:23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

- This issue of WORSHIP has become what she is thirsty for.
- God actively seeks out those whose heart is completely His.
- Worship must be in SPIRT and TRUTH. SPIRIT aka it must be PERSONAL worship.
- God takes WORSHIP and SIN very seriously. We are persons just like God is personal.

John 4:25 The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

- She now understands what Jesus is saying... She knows of the hope of Messiah.
- This is one of few times that Jesus is so clear about His Messiah-ship. He reveals it to this Samaritan woman by this well. She understands that she's THIRSTY.
- God sent Christ at Christmas so that He would SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.
- Maybe she has been seeking the wrong things. Love in the wrong places. She isn't evil but has just been hopeful of finding something right.
- Take some time this Christmas season to help SEEK THE LOST.
- We might think we're not that sinful... 

Isaiah 53:6

All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all

To fall on Him.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

May we give thanks for Jesus Christ.

Sunday Morning IBC. 12/6/2015. Luke

Pending.

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? 

----------------------------------------

Our Outline:
v.26 WORTHLESS RELIGION.
v.27 PURE RELIGION 
----------------------------------------

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.