2019 Homecoming - The Truth and the Lies About the Lord Jesus Christ

Class Outline:

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Welcome To 

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Evening!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a small and intimate Christian Church with a worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We make a difference by teaching the Word of God from God’s perspective, and not from man’s perspective. 

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Truth and the Lies About the Lord Jesus Christ

 

Is Jesus Christ really God? Is the bible really the Word of God…God’s exact thinking?  Does Satan really exist?  How do we know who’s telling us the truth and who is lying to us?  These are just a few of the things we’ll be investigating this weekend.  Welcome to a place where you can learn the truth and the lies concerning the Supreme Being of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Welcome home to the non-resident members of the Barah Ministries congregation…people who study with us on the internet.  I’m not sure whose idea this Homecoming was…but it is a great idea and it is a delight to see all of you.

 

It is not at all unusual at all, even when there was no internet, that some people would be non-resident in a church.  In First Peter, Chapter 1, Verses 1 and 2, the apostle made it clear in his introduction…

 

FIRST PETER 1:1

Peter…an apostle of Jesus Christ…to those who reside as aliens…scattered

throughout Pontus…Galatia…Cappadocia…Asia…and Bithynia…those who are chosen (of God)…

 

FIRST PETER 1:2 

…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…by the sanctifying work of God the Holy Spirit…to obey Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood…may grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

 

I sincerely pass along the same greetings as I say to you…welcome home!

Here’s a song to welcome all of you…HOME by Phillip Phillips.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

HOME

Phillip Phillips

 

We have gathered to hear the truth.  Here is Casting Crowns to tell us the value of listening to the truth in their song VOICE OF TRUTH.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

VOICE OF TRUTH

Casting Crowns

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Almighty God and Father…thank you for the unity into which you have placed all believers in Christ…and when we are away from each other, thank you for reminding us that we are one…in union with Your Son…the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…thank you for providing us with the resources to come together…to be in fellowship with each other…thank you for this tight knit group of believers in Christ you’ve surrounded us with as a preview of what it’s like in heaven…thank you for our enemies who push us ever closer to you…

 

…open our spiritual eyes to the truth you intend to teach us over the next three days…open our eyes to the deceptions of your enemy, Satan…makes us aware of his schemes designer to do something they cannot do…which is rob us of the victory you have already given us…help us to use the power and the weapons you have given us to know the truth and the lies concerning you…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s

name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Truth and the Lies About the Lord Jesus Christ

 

It’s a pleasure to welcome Pastor John Farley and his son Jack back to Barah Ministries.  As you know Pastor John ordained me a little over eleven years ago.  Without question he is my best friend.  Frankly, there is no one I trust with your souls more than I trust Pastor John Farley, and it’s a pleasure for me to make room in this pulpit for him to teach you this weekend.    

 

INTRO PASTOR FARLEY
 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND

James Taylor

 

Let’s welcome up Pastor John Farley.

 

INSERT OPENING LESSON PJF PART 1 HERE

 

When we return from the break...

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Donna Summers

 

INSERT OPENING LESSON PJF PART 2 HERE

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

BLANK

Blank

 

In Isaiah, Chapter 55, Verse 9 the Lord tells us...

 

ISAIAH 55:9

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth...so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” 

 

...therefore we count on the Lord to transform our thoughts into conformity with his thoughts.  We hear about it in song with LORD RENEW MY MIND.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

LORD RENEW MY MIND

Bart de Krigjer

 

Where do the lies about Jesus Christ come from?

 

The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise written by Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. The book has thirteen chapters, with each chapter devoted to an aspect of warfare and how it applies to military strategy and tactics. For years it has been the most influential work on the strategy of warfare.  It has influenced the thinking of some of the greatest military leaders in history.

 

A central premise of warfare, as outlined by Sun Tzu, is this… 

 

THE ART OF WAR

Sun Tzu

 

If you know the enemy and you know yourself…you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

 

THE ART OF WAR

Sun Tzu

 

If you know yourself but do not know your enemy…for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

 

THE ART OF WAR

Sun Tzu

 

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself…you will lose every battle.

 

These are interesting thoughts when applied to the spiritual life.  The bible makes it clear that the spiritual life is warfare.  First Timothy, Chapter 1, Verse 18…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 1:18

This command (to be a Pastor) I (Paul) entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you (and your call to the ministry)…that by them you fight the good fight…

 

The spiritual life is a fight…and in First Timothy, Chapter 6, Verse 12, believers in Christ are instructed to…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 6:12

Keep on fighting the good fight of faith…keep on taking hold of the (remembrance that you have) eternal life (a resurrection life) to which you were called by God, and to which you made the good confession (by the baptism of the Spirit) in the presence of many witnesses.

 

The bible warns believers in Christ to know their enemy.  Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verse 11…

 

EPHESIANS 6:11

Pick up and put on the full armor of God (the panoply…an impressive array of spiritual weapons provided by God)…so that you believers in Christ will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

 

God has an enemy.  The bible calls him by many names, but his primary name is Satan…the devil.  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christhave the same enemy.  DO YOU KNOW THE ENEMY?  Remember Sun Tzu’s words…

 

THE ART OF WAR

Sun Tzu

 

If you know the enemy and you know yourself…you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

 

George Barna, author of nearly four-dozen books detailing his research concerning America’s faith, suggests that Americans are constantly trying to figure out how to make sense of biblical teachings in light of their daily experiences. Figuring out things concerning God’s enemy is no exception.

Barna’s company, The Barna Group, has been doing surveys for years to determine what people think about their faith.  A recent Barna study found that individuals who consider themselves Christians have a diverse set of beliefs.  Some of these views are pretty astonishing.  Here are some of the results of the survey…

 

THE BARNA GROUP

Survey Results

 

About ten percent of self-described Christians surveyed were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan.

 

THE BARNA GROUP

Survey Results
 

Believe it or not, most Christians…and you heard that right…MOST CHRISTIANS…do not believe that Satan exists.

 

THE BARNA GROUP

Survey Results
 

Four out of ten Christians strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being…but he is a ‘symbol’ of evil.”

 

 

 

 

THE BARNA GROUP

Survey Results

 

A majority of Christians believe that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces, such as demons or evil spirits.

 

THE BARNA GROUP

Survey Results

 

More than one-fifth of self-described Christians strongly agreed that Jesus Christ sinned when He lived on earth.

 

Some of these thoughts are lies…but many Christians surveyed believe these things to be true…even though some of them are not.

 

If the truth is absolute, how can Christians have diverse views concerning what is true about God?   More importantly, how can Christians have diverse views concerning what is true about God’s enemy, Satan?  If in God’s plan everything is simple and singular, and it is, how is it that Christians choose to believe many different things?  God’s enemy is a deceiver, and most Christians are all too willing believe the lies he tells.

 

As you listen to the teaching of the two Pastors teaching you this weekend, rest assured that you’ll be learning from two men who are not going to mince words about this topic.  Satan definitely exists.  He HATES God…he HATES you… HE WANTS TO DESTROY YOU…and HE WANTS TO DESTROY EVERYTHING that is IMPORTANT TO YOU.  Satan is your enemy.  The bible makes it clear that Satan is your enemy…Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verse 12…

 

EPHESIANS 6:12

For our struggle (as believers in Christ) is not against flesh and blood (against other human beings)…but our struggle is against the rulers…against the powers of this dark world (Satan’s kingdom…planet earth)…against the world forces…against the spiritual forces of evil (active) in the heavenly places.

 

Once the shock of this reality that IS your reality…the realization that you have an enemy…the knowledge that there is a warfare that involves YOU going on in the spiritual realm…once this idea settles in as your reality…then maybe you can see what God has done for you so that you won’t be the constant victim of this reality.  You see, everything that goes on in your life isn’t your fault even though it is your circumstance.  The nice thing is God is always willing to arm you for battle…to go to battle for you…if you’ll just give him permission to work on your behalf. 

 

When we come back from the break we’ll see where the lies about Jesus Christ come from.  Take a five minute break.

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

I JUST WANT TO BE WHERE YOU ARE

Don Moen

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Truth and the Lies About the Lord Jesus Christ

 

Welcome back!  

 

Let’s see what there is to learn from the bible about God’s enemy…your enemy…and what having an enemy means for your life.

 

Who is Satan?  Speaking to a group of unbelieving Jews, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself describes Satan in John, Chapter 8, Verse 44…

 

JOHN 8:44

You are of your father the devil (Satan)…and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning…and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature (from his identity…from who he is, not just from what he does)…for Satan is a liar and he is the one who keeps on fathering lies.

 

When Satan and his demon army seek to influence your thoughts…there is a very simple remedy…negative thoughts do not come from our God…as a result, we KNOW they are lies. Refuse to believe what the liar says about you!  Do you find yourself getting down on yourself when that little voice in your head starts getting down on you.  Those thoughts are coming from the SOURCE of lies…don’t listen!  If you listen, don’t believe it.  Satan…the source of those thoughts…is a liar.

 

There are two categories of people in the human race…BELIEVERS in Christ…those who are saved through faith in Christ…and unbelievers… those who reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  What is Satan’s objective, both with believers and unbelievers?  Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 2 warns us about Satan’s objective with all mankind…

 

ROMANS 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world…but keep on being transformed by God through the renewing of your mind (biblical study)…so that you may prove what the will of God is…that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

What is Satan’s objective?

 

SATAN’S OBJECTIVE

In every interaction, Satan seeks to conform your thoughts to be in line with his thoughts, with the thoughts of his world system, and with the thoughts originating from the flesh inside of you.

 

Some examples of Satan’s lies…God works in mysterious ways…it’s all good!  Anything in moderation!  Marijuana is harmless!  There’s nothing wrong with getting drunk every once in a while.  I could go on.  These seemingly harmless thoughts inspired by Satan are not harmless.  They are insidious.  What does insidious mean?

 

INSIDIOUS

Things intended to entrap you or to beguile you…things that are stealthily treacherous and deceitful…things operating in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless ways which actually have a grave and negative effect.

 

Make no mistake about it…Satan…your enemy…WANTS TO HURT YOU badly.  What is Satan’s strategy?

 

SATAN’S STRATEGY

Deception

 

His strategy directed toward the human race began in the Garden of Eden…Genesis, Chapter 3, Verse 1…

 

GENESIS 3:1

Now the serpent was more crafty (shrewd…slippery like a snake) than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’”

 

God said something completely different than Satan’s “conforming” thought suggested…Genesis, Chapter 2, Verses 16 and 17…

 

GENESIS 2:16

The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From ANY TREE of the garden YOU MAY EAT FREELY…”

 

GENESIS 2:17 

“…but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

 

Satan’s “conforming” suggestion is that God was “holding out” on the man and the woman.  An inspection of what God actually said reveals a completely different picture.

 

When we are inspecting Satan’s lies, it is best to inspect them in writing, as if we were inspecting a contract…it is only then that we can see the deception…the insidious “left turn” that is inherent in every lie.  

 

The best way to deceive you is to tell a lie that is mostly true.  The lie is so true as to get you to let your guard down, so that you miss the real implication of the lie.  Look at this…

 

A COMPARISON

 

GENESIS 3:1

…the serpent said, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’”

 

versus

 

GENESIS 2:16

The Lord God (said), “From ANY TREE of the garden you may eat freely (except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil …”

 

In other words, eat from ALL trees except one.  That’s very different from “you shall not eat from any tree.”  Insidiousness.  Twisting words to deceive.

Revelation, Chapter 12, Verse 9…

 

REVELATION 12:9

And the great dragon was thrown down…the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan…WHO DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD…he was thrown down to the earth…and his (fallen) angels were thrown down with him.

 

As we continue our study of the liar and the lies, we’ll investigate how Satan deceives the whole world with his lies by looking at his lies in writing.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

The closing moments of our study are for anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU.  

 

What is going to happen to you when you close your eyes in this life?  Will you go to heaven or will you go to hell?

 

Many think the key to getting to heaven is to be a good person.  According to this standard, “bad people” go to hell. The bible obliterates this delusion.  Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23 says…

 

ROMANS 3:23

…all creatures have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

 

We’re all bad people! Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 10…

 

ROMANS 3:10

…it is written “There is no creature who is righteous, not even one…”

 

First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22 says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:22a

…all in union with Adam at physical birth (and that is every human being) are set to die the second death in the Lake of Fire…

 

That’s not your fault, but it is your circumstance.  

 

The good news is that the Lord Jesus Christ did something about the problem because He doesn’t want anyone to go to hell…Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9 says…

 

SECOND PETER 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of, but instead He is patient toward unbelievers…not wishing for any to perish (in the Lake of Fire) but for all to come to repentance (a change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

The Lord provides human beings with the bible to illuminate the path to heaven…John, Chapter 20, Verses 30 and 31…

 

JOHN 20:30

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book (the bible)…

 

JOHN 20:31 

…but these things written here have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (The Messiah)…the Son of God (in human form)… and that by believing in Him you may have the resurrection life in Hisname.

 

How can you get to heaven? Right where you sit, RIGHT NOW, you can tell God the Father that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the moment of eternal life for you.  Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

ACTS 16:31 

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

Believing in Jesus Christ is your acknowledgement that you can’t do a thing

to get to heaven on your own.  Being a “good person” does not cut it.  Even being a “bad person” does not cut it.  You can’t work your way into heaven.  Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 6 says…  

 

ROMANS 11:6

But if salvation is by grace, and of course it is, it is no longer on the basis of works…otherwise grace is no longer grace.

 

If you have to work for a free gift then the work makes you deserve the gift.  In salvation, there is no work you could do that is impressive to God. The Lord would never allow you to save yourself!  The one way…the ONLY way to get to heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ…John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to the doubting apostle, Thomas, “I am the way (to salvation), and I am the truth (through the Word of God), and I am the resurrection life…and no one comes to God the Father (in heaven) but through believing in Me.”

 

The apostle Paul describes the amazing Messiah…the Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4… 

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (Paul) delivered to you as of first importance what I also received… that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4 

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Scriptures…

 

It’s wise to let God save you, because once God does something He never changes His mind.  So heed the warning in John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment… but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

 

Are you ready to join me in heaven when you close your eyes in this life?

                  

We are saved by God’s amazing grace...here’s June Murphy to sing about it in her song…

         

CLOSING SONG

I STAND AMAZED

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

         THANKS- INTERCESSION- PETITION

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

www.barahministries.com