Always Reforming

I.                   Introduction a.      There are many things that we read in the Bible that we view as outdated or optional—one of these things is fasting b.     When we think of fasting, we might think that it was an Old Testament thing, or maybe that it’s something that Catholics do during Lent or that Muslims do during Ramadan c.      Fasting is, however, a very powerful tool in our relationship with God d.     Arthur Wallis: “Fasting is important, more important perhaps, than many of us have supposed…when exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where other keys have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world; a spiritual weapon of God’s provision, mighty, to the pulling down of strongholds.” e.      Tertullian: “Fasting possesses great power.  If practiced with the right intention, it makes man a friend of God.  The demons are aware of that.” f.       St. Clement: “Fasting is better than pra

                              Proverbs 29:23 "One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."     It’s a sin that goes back all the way to the Garden of Eden.  I’m talking, of course, about pride.  I’d like to take a quick look at pride and see three basic things: 1) why pride is so heinous; 2) how to identify it in our hearts; and 3) what the cure is.     Pride is one of those sins that is mentioned throughout the Bible.  The book of Proverbs especially condemns it.  Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”  Proverbs 16:5 tells us, “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” And yet again, Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”  Pride is the first sin mentioned in the 7 deadly sins of Proverbs 6:16ff.     In contrast to the condemnation of pride we see throu

Joshua 23 (take 3 minutes to read this passage)     Have you ever had a friend who just couldn’t break free something or someone, even though he (or she) knew it was bad for them?  Maybe it was an addiction, or perhaps it was an ungodly friend or romantic relationship? Whatever it may have been, he (or she) knew it was spiritually harmful, but they just couldn't break free from it.          In Joshua 23 we see how the Israelites were like this. We also see how important it is for us break free from these types of situations and to dedicate ourselves wholly to God.     Verses 1-2 give us our context.   The Israelites have conquered much of the land, but there remains some occupied by various Canaanite people groups.  Meanwhile,  Joshua is old and dying.  His days of leading the people in battle are over, so he calls the leaders together and he  gives them a final charge.  This charge comprises the final two chapters of Joshua.            This charge includes three b

Grace I.                    Introduction a.      Taking time off from Titus b.      Why are we gathered here today?                                                        i.       Grace—baptism                                                     ii.       Grace—because God has saved us and set us apart c.      But what is grace? d.      Grace, like love and faith, is a word that is often misunderstood and misconstrued e.      It’s important to understand grace because “The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.” J. Gresham Machen.  f.       “Grace is the basis for our Christian identity.” Christianty.com. g.      Today we’re going to define grace, see why it’s so important, how we receive it, what happens when we don’t receive it, and how we should react to receiving it h.      Pray II.                 What is grace? a.      Grace is not a mystical substance—fairy dust b.      The most common and succinct answer—unmerit