It's great to see everyone here this morning and it's great to
be here and I'm so thankful to be back in Bakersfield.
I believe this is the second time I've preached in
Bakersfield, the first time was over at Brundage Lane, that was
about 15 years ago. I think that was when I was just
starting out preaching. And when I was first starting
out, Matt Trent was working in El Cajon, that's where I live
and work. So whenever I'd go to a meeting
or something. I'll go up to come up here to
the valley or go up to Sacramento area.
Matt would always call somebody. And I get a call and say, hey,
we want you to come speak and they had no idea who I was.
They never heard me before. I wasn't very, I wasn't good at
all, but they really wanted to encourage me to preach and to
get going. So I really appreciate you
inviting me. For those of you that don't know
me, I work with the congregation and El Cajon down in San Diego
area. The last, Ten Years.
Also, the last two years I've been working for a congregation
and Tecate Mexico, very thankful for that.
And of course, we have a three-week-old baby that we
decided to bring up here where our drive this morning, and she
did great, by the way, we were the ones running behind the baby
did find, but I'm so thankful to be here to worship god with you.
That's what we're doing. We came here as a church, the
body of Christ to worship. Our God, our savior I don't know
everyone here, I do know, there are some sports fans here and
I'll MIT in El Cajon. I gave a lot of sports
analogies, I've coached a played Sports, I try to limit them, but
the two lessons I brought I open with the sports analogy.
So, if you don't like sports, well, tell me later at maybe.
After I'm done, When I was in fifth grade in our area, we are
all really excited because the Chargers we're going to be in
the Super Bowl and that's a team that used to be in San Diego,
which I don't pay attention to them.
Now, they Traders, LA, but growing up in San Diego, in my
elementary school went to very small, M Elementary School, half
the kids or charger fans, it seemed like and half.
The kids were 49er fans, their bandwagon fans, of course, Is
there probably Patriots fans now.
Well, at that time, we were not getting cited for the Super
Bowl. We're getting ready for the big
game and that's cool. We were, you know, kind of going
back and forth who was going to win.
Of course, I was so confident the Chargers were going to beat
the 49ers not Super Bowl. So we got a good defense.
We got a good running back. I mean, Steve Young.
What has he ever done? You know, he's never won
anything. You don't have Joe Montana
anymore. We were so Confident that the
Chargers were going to win. And then of course, the game
started and it was over within the first five minutes of the
game. It was very clear.
The 49ers were a much better team and not only will we not
going to win? We were embarrassed.
And I remember thinking I do not want to go back to school on
Monday, the face, all my friends who were 49er fans well,
sometimes in life we're so confident that something's going
to happen. We're so confident in the way
that We think that we can't even comprehend that we could be
wrong. I'm sure every single one of you
here is confident that where you need to be is here part of the
Church of Christ that you understand, the scriptures that
you understand the Bible and that you are confident that you
are in the right place. Worshiping God today.
You know, there was, there have been people in the Bible who
felt that way and we're gonna learn about one of these
characters in The Apostle, Paul, the Apostle Paul lived his life
with complete confidence. Now we're going to talk a little
bit about before he became Paul and when he was solved, but when
he was Saul, He was completely confidence in his mind set now.
Paul was a zealous Jew, this is how he referred to himself in
scriptures. Now, Zeal is great energy or
enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective writing about
his own life and acts 22. And three has, I am a Jew born
in Tarsus. It's in Celia, but brought up in
the city educated at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the
strict manner of a law of our A father's being zealous for God,
as all you are this day. The Apostle Paul lived a
privileged life. He was educated in the Jewish
law. He says he was a Pharisee
Brothers. I am a Pharisee, a son of
Pharisees now, he's explaining to this to show is his
credentials. It says, I was, I was so
immersed in the law. I was zealous for God.
Not only that but I was educated in the way of the Greeks in
philosophy and Paul really saw himself, as kind of the bridge
between two worlds. Here is a man that says he was
zealous. For God.
Now, that's something that we, I think we talked about and
worship that were zealous. Well, In Jewish culture to say
that you were zealous, I think it has a greater meaning than we
actually understand today as Christians.
When Paul says that he was zealous, he was willing to use
violence on behalf of God, think about his persecution of the
church, it was an outward sign. It was a badge that you could be
zealous in this way. Now he had great influences in
being a Pharisee and his knowledge of the scriptures and
in my understanding of Jewish history There was a folk hero in
the Bible that as Christians we don't pay a lot of attention to
but Jews. They knew about him and when you
say you were zealous, you were kind of in the same mindset.
This man, his name is Phineas, he was a folk hero among Jewish
people. Now the story of finit Phineas
not a long story, but it begins and numbers 25.
We find ourselves and course God's people.
The children of Israel have. Taking upon false gods, they're
not living the right way. They're not living a lightweight
all, and Phineas the son of Aaron now says, while Israel or
main that shit on the people began to play the Harlot with
the daughters of Moab for they invited the people to the
sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to
their gods. So Israel joined themselves to
Baal peor and the Lord was angry against Israel.
The Lord said to Moses, take all the leaders of the people.
People and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so
that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.
So Moses had the judges of Israel.
Each of you slay, his men who have joined themselves to bail.
Pure God is mad, he's not happy. He told Moses you have all
straight, you know, I want all these men to be executed.
We see here in verse 6. Then behold, one of the sons of
Israel came in brought to his relatives, a midianite woman and
a side of Moses in the sight of all the congregation of the son
of the real sons of Israel, while they were Weeping at the
doorway of the tent meeting. What, what is he saying?
While this Proclamation was being made, that there's going
to be Mass execution. Everyone's crying, everyone's in
tears, they're all weeping. And here.
A man takes a woman into his tent.
Right in front of everyone that I don't know if you've ever been
in the situation like this. Usually I can think of with my
kids where the boldness to disobey in front of everybody
maybe in school, you seen some lesser at work but everyone's
about to get executed and The reason why is because of their
fornication and they're serving false gods.
And here is a man that does the act right in front of everybody,
right? When this is happening, now I
don't think I can put myself in Moses, his shoes, but I tried to
and as a preacher I think you would just be shocked.
Just be speechless, you wouldn't even know what to say, like, the
audacity like people are not going to die, and you're going
to disobey God right in front of everybody.
Well, it doesn't say what everyone was thinking, but
obviously, everyone knew this was wrong but one man had enough
he had enough and that was Phineas says verse 7.
When it's finding a son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the
priest saw it. He hurt a Euros for the midst of
the congregation took a spear in his hand and he went after the
man of Israel into the tent and Pierce both of them through the
man of Israel and the woman through the body.
So the plagues of the sons of Israel was checked.
Those who died by the plague with 24,000, the Lord spoke to
Moses saying, phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron,
the priest has turned away, my wrath and the sons of Israel in
that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I
did not destroy the sons of Israel in my jealousy.
Phineas was a man of zeal. he saw what needed to be done, and
he in a violent way, stood up for God, and because of that,
God relented, we read about this occasion.
In Psalm 106. 28 to 31, says the psalmist writes.
Then they yoke themselves Avail of P or 1/8 sacrifices.
Offered to the dead, they provoked, the Lord to anger with
their deeds and a plague broke out broke out among them.
Then Phineas stood up and intervened and the plague was
stayed and that was counted to him as righteousness from
generation to generation forever.
Phineas is essentially a minor character in The Bible, but to a
Jewish person, he was a hero the same language.
That is talked about, Ibrahim, as mentioned here, but Phineas
the, someone who was counted to him as righteousness.
When you hear that, in your Jewish person, your ears perk
up. You know what that means and
Everlasting Covenant with God. We see another example, someone
has such as Elijah and just real quickly in First Kings, chapter
18. Of course he had a prophets of
Baal slaughtered and he says, later in Spurs Kings chapter, 19
kind of reflecting on his past, I have been very zealous for the
Lord God Almighty, These people fought for God and people die
because of it. Well, the Apostle Paul looked
upon the Zeal of Phineas and Elijah and others in his
persecution of the church. This is why I'm telling you
about this. It may not seem why we talking
about Phineas and Elijah thought were talking about Paul.
Well, This is the pasta. Paul's influence.
Why did he persecute the church? He saw himself like Elijah.
He saw himself like Phineas that hears, these false prophets
rising up and they're defiling God.
Paul sighs. Paul says, I'm gonna stand up,
I'm going to stop this. He was zealous in.
Paul's defense of King Agrippa and x26 inverse.
Starting in verse 9, he says I myself was Inst they got to do
many things in opposition, the name of Jesus of Nazareth and I
did. So in Jerusalem, I not only
locked up. Many of the Saints in prison
after receiving Authority from the chief priests.
But when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them and
I punished them often and all the synagogues and tried to make
them blaspheme and in Raging Fury against them.
I persecuted them even to foreign cities Starting to make
sense, isn't it? Apostle Paul saw the church
Jesus as the enemy of God. Now.
There are many people in this world who are like, Paul.
Or who were like, Paul. Fully convinced what they were
doing was right there, people out there who are fully
convinced that there's no God. They're fully convinced that
their religion is correct. They're fully convinced of that,
their understanding of the scriptures is right.
Paul support all the before he became Paul, when he was solved,
he felt this way and not just as well.
I'm excited about my religion and I talk.
No, he was willing to persecute people.
Throw them in prison, do whatever it takes just like
Phineas just like Elijah. But that all changed one day,
didn't it that all changed his eyes were opened and acts 22.
He says, I persecuted this way to the death binding and
delivering to prison, both men and women as the high priest, in
the whole Council of Elders, can bear me witness from then I
received letters to the brothers and I journey toward Damascus to
take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to
Jerusalem to be punished. As I was on my way and Drew
near. To Damascus about noon, a great
light from Heaven. Suddenly Shone around me and I
fell to the ground. Heard a Voice saying to me, Saul
Saul, why are you persecuting me?
And I answered, who are you? Lord and said to me, I am Jesus
of Nazareth whom you are persecuting Saul's life was
forever changed. when he met Jesus Christ, Course, Jesus had
instructions for him to go speak to ananias, skipping ahead here
in verse 12 and one and I said devout man, according to the
law, well spoken, while the Jews and lived there who lived, there
came to me standing by me, said to me, brother Saul, receive
your sight and that very I received my sight and saw him
and he said the god of our fathers appointed, you to know,
his will to see the righteous one and to hear a voice from his
mouth. For you will be a witness for
him to every one of whom you have seen and heard.
And now why are you wait? Why do you wait arise, and be
baptized and wash away? Your sins calling on his name?
The Apostle Paul met Jesus Christ.
And, of course, we're just getting abbreviated version but
we see the transformation. He got baptized into Christ that
day. Underline.
This passage right here, it says and you will be a witness for
him. The other.
What do you want to do? You ever wonder why some people
in the Bible? Get more things written about
them than other people. I often think about that is
that, you know, like to know more about this person.
I like to know more about this person.
Why is there so much about Paul, is that Paul wrote so many of
the books? And why is he so important?
Obviously, he's not as important as Jesus.
We understand that, but why is so much written about him?
The life of the Apostle, Paul was to be a testimony for all
people. He was the bridge of Two Worlds.
He was a Jew who fought for the Jewish way.
Even to put people to death, starting us.
Teaming, the Stephen, the Apostle Paul was there holding
their clothes watching over everything?
That's what he was. Well, not only was the Apostle
Paul converted. God how to use for him, and he
became one of the most prolific preachers in the church.
What a powerful testimony? What a powerful testimony from
Jesus? In 1st Timothy 1:15, this is a
faithful saying and who were they accepted that?
Jesus Christ came to the world to save Sinners of whom.
I am chief Paul said I was against the church, I was the
worst sinner. What are we supposed to do with
that information? It's like, well, that's
interesting. That's good thing to know.
God's telling us. you know, those people out there who think
they're lost, Well, many of them of course are lost.
They think that, you know, what the Christian life is just too
hard. I can't overcome my sins.
I don't think I can change. Have you ever heard those words
from somebody? I know I have.
I know people in the church that have told me that they don't
think they're going to heaven. Because they can't overcome the
things that they struggle with. Paul says.
I was the worst sinner, but Jesus Christ, changed me.
And I use that Zeal that I had against the church to be zealous
for the Lord in Jesus Christ. the point of this is, Do not
lose hope do not lose. Hope on yourself on your family,
on your friends, to those you meet.
The gospel can change your life and can change the life of
others. In Colossians chapter 3 verses 1
through 4. If you if then you have been
raised with Christ seek, the things that are above where
Christ is sitting, at the right hand of God, say your mind on
things that are above not on things on the earth for you have
died, and your life is hidden with Christ, in God.
When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory God knew that we were going to need
a savior that we were weak. That we could not do this on her
own. That's why he sent Jesus to die
on the cross for our sins. That's the thing.
We're not strong enough. If you feel that you do on this,
not strong enough to be a Christian, you're actually at a
good starting point because once you feel like that I am strong,
I can do I can do anything on my own.
Well, that's your kind of starting off on the wrong foot.
Well, starting out Paul realize that he had sinned.
So he he received the Forgiveness of his sins and he
rebuilt his life in Christ, that's what God wants to do said
once he been raised with Christ, now we're getting Seekers of
things. Above set, our mind on things,
not on the Earth, but things in heaven.
Many times you hear a lesson and course, that ends with an
invitation to be baptized to have your sins washed away,
prayers of the church. And for many of us here, I'm
sure many of us are not all the adults.
At least are probably baptized. And you here you here versus
like this and you think well you know I was raised a long time
ago in Christ, I was baptized a long time ago.
And that renewal Port of that, renewal part of my life is over.
But that's not true. We need to be renewed in Christ
each and every day, we have to work on putting the old self
off. It's not a one-time thing where
we get baptized and say, okay? I got rid of all the ways of the
world and now I'm just going to start, you know, living the life
perfectly. Yes, that's a great mindset, but
that's not reality. We're going to continually
struggle with things, it's gonna be a continual renewal.
If you look at Colossians chapter 3 verses 5 through 13,
we're told that put off the old self and it I just kind of broke
this down in a list form, sexual immorality, impurity evil,
desire covetousness, Going back to.
The people that we had talked to that feel that, you know, these
things, these things are just too strong.
They can't be overcome. You know, Paul was here right
now. He would say, you know what,
it's not true. I overcame the world.
I was 100% confident in the way, in which I thought, I did a 180.
Because his eyes were open to the scriptures.
We continually put on the new self, compassionate Hearts,
kindness humility, meekness patients forgiveness.
You know, it's it can be overwhelming.
Sometimes, look at the fruit of the spirit or or look at Peter,
or look at passages here where it says, you know, we need to
add all these things to our faith.
We need to be accomplished all these things.
But it's a lifelong journey. It's a daily process.
We can we can look at these and say where can I grow today?
How can I be kinds? Now I'm a, I'm a I'm a list
person. I like to write things out.
I did a lesson recently about having a vision, not going to
preach you a sermon within a sermon.
However, What do you visualize yourself?
Being, let's say three years from now.
That's a good amount of time. You know, you may not be able to
improve all these things tomorrow.
What about three years from now? What do you, how do you envision
visualize yourself or three years from now?
I see myself having memorized parts of the Bible.
Maybe I've read it three years in a row from here and then And
I've learned to become more kind and compassionate.
When I see someone that needs help along the road, you know,
I'm going to stop and help them. I used to not be that way, but
I'm going to do that. When I'm at the grocery store
and I'm really, this is I'm talking to myself here.
I'm at the grocery store, I'm focused.
I got my all my gross, I used to work at the grocery store.
So I got all the items separated from cold too Frozen to dry.
I got the heavy stuff in the back.
I'm ready to go the cashiers at how you doing, like, good throw
my things across, get my bags and go.
So you know what? The new improved Andrew.
I'm going to make conversation with the cashier.
I'm going to ask her. Hey how's your day going?
No, it's look a little down. Is everything, okay?
The we can make subtle changes each and every day of our life.
We understand the Apostle. Paul wrote about this is that we
are saved by God's grace. We're not saying because we're
strong people, it's because God was willing to save us in
Galatians, chapter 1, verse 11, through 16 for, I would have
never have, you know, brothers that the gospel that was
preached by me is not man's gospel.
Far, did not receive from any man, nor was I taught it.
But I received it through the revelation of Jesus Christ for
you have heard from my former life in Judaism.
How Oh, I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to
destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism
Beyond many of my own age among my people, so, extremely
zealous. Was I from the traditions of my
father's, but when he who had set me apart before I was born
and he who called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his
son to me in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles
Paul saying my upbringing, really did it matter.
I knew all these things about the Jewish way, but really, it
was God's grace that saved me that let me come to god.
Notice here in Ephesians 2, but God being rich in Mercy because
of the great love of which he loved us.
Even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive
together. With Christ by Grace, you have
been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in
Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So here in the coming ages, he
might Might show the immeasurable Riches of his grace
and kindness toward us and Jesus Christ for by Grace, you have
been saved through faith and this is not your own doing.
It is the gift of God. Not a result of works so that no
one may boast. Paul knew this better than
anyone, he follow the law perfectly, he understood that I
know all this the statutes of the Old Testament.
I know all the the Commandments. he says, even knowing all that,
and following that I had sinned, That's why it took God's grace
for me to be saved. I realize in the church,
sometimes we can be a little reactor reactionary and of
course, I understand. Why is that someone will come to
us and say, you're saved by faith only or your only saved by
God's grace that you can't do anything to earn your salvation.
And immediately, you say, well, that's not true.
You have to get Sized. Well, yes, you have to get
baptized but we shouldn't be afraid to say that we are saved
by grace. The means is, yes, the process
is we get baptized, that's where we have our sins forgiven, but
it's because of God's grace that's been possible.
I think sometimes we kind of overthink it and I know I have
in the past as where where someone says we are saved by
grace, you say absolutely. But when were your sins
forgiven? Well, my sins were forgiven when
I got baptized into Christ, that's what it says in the
scriptures. But the point is, if you feel
weak, that's okay. We all feel weak Paul was weak
but God is strong. The last thing we want to
mention very briefly, this morning is that we want to be
like Paul here. Is that once we realized the
riches that God has poured out on us that that he has given us
the tools and the ability to not only saved for us to be saved.
The other people can be saved as well.
In Philippians chapter 3, verse starting at risk for, if anyone
else thinks, he has reason for confidence in the flesh.
I have more circumcised on the eighth day of the people of
Israel of The Tribe of Benjamin. A Hebrew of Hebrews asked, Allah
Pharisee. As to Zeal persecuting.
Either the church as to righteousness under the law
blameless. This is his credentials, isn't
it? But whatever gain I had I
counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Indeed, I count everything a loss because of the surpassing
worth of knowing Christ. Jesus, my Lord for his sake, I
have suffered the loss of all things and count them as
rubbish. In order that I may gain Christ
and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that
comes from the law. But that of which comes through
faith, in Christ, the righteousness from God, that
depends on faith, that I may know him and the power of his
resurrection. And they share his sufferings
becoming like him in his death, that any, by any means possible
by May attain the resurrection from the dead.
I realize that's a long passage, but it's important to
understand, Apostle, Paul's mindset when he's preaching.
This past. It's just trash to him.
That's what it means to him. Now, now that he's in Christ He
realizes what he was missing out on.
And this is where it comes back to us.
The Paul had an understanding of zeal.
Was that mean a violence? That's was the way that he
learned through Phineas Elijah through Samson.
All these people that stood up for God and led the armies into
battle King David Saul. That's what they pulse.
Appalled, thought he needed to do.
But then he met Christ and realize that Zealand Christ was
something different Zealand Christ.
Meant it was through love and patience.
Not ref. Do you realize that?
You have a different way of thinking and probably 95% of the
rest of the world. Now, I'm not saying that to Puff
anybody up here. But people think that we're weak
because we're not willing to fight, we're not willing to take
up arms, we're not willing to destroy the enemies of the
world. People look down on us for that.
Say, you're leaving that up to someone else.
But that's not the way his Christ.
We are to love our enemies zealous.
For Christ means to put others ahead of ourselves.
Even our enemies in the Paul realized that that was actually
more powerful. That was much more powerful than
running a spear through somebody.
It says, no, he allowed himself to be persecuted and he saw the
church grow because of it. And people were inspired by
that. Romans 12 verses 1721 repay.
No one evil for evil, but give thought to what is Honorable in
all in the sight of all if possible as so far as.
It depends upon, you live peaceably with all beloved never
avenge ourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God for his
written vengeance. Is mine?
I will repay says the Lord to the Contrary, if your enemy is
hungry, feed him if he is thirsty give him some drink for
by doing. So you will Heap.
Burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but
overcome evil with good. This world.
There's depression. There's sadness.
There's loneliness. Who better than us to bring a
light of Christ to them people that were without hope to give
them the hope to the scriptures. Never think that someone is a
lost cause Apostle Paul, to Testament to that Christ can
change. Anyone who's willing to submit
and come to him through faith. Paul says, for I am not ashamed
of the gospel for it is the power of God, for salvation, for
everyone, who believes to the Jew first, and also, to the
Greek for in it, the righteousness of God revealed
from Faith to Faith as written, the righteous shall live by
faith, when Paul says, I am not ashamed of the Gospel, he's
actually being a little sarcastic and this was custom to
Jewish culture. He was willing to sacrifice his
life for God and he was, he was very zealous.
So I would even say I'm not ashamed of the Gospel.
He's being sarcastic. How well why would I be ashamed?
Of the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone,
everyone who believes. Do you believe the scriptures
are powerful? Do you believe that today that
the scriptures can change people's lives?
That someone who is addicted to drugs and abuse?
ER, who is just completely lost can come to Christ and be
changed. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
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