Apostolic Living: The Foundation of Faith

good to be here tonight so glad to see each and every one of you teaching is a we're going to continue it say when I started reading over it it's not it's not something that we always think about our relationship with God is based upon so many things that kind of have to just peel back the layers in order to get and to find the foundation of what we truly believe you know throughout civilizations and we find that every people they believe in some sort of God it doesn't matter there's there's something within mankind that says there's a void like I mean I don't remember anything before I was born I don't I don't remember in fact I probably for the first three or four years of my life I have no memory of that but I know that there was something there I know that I didn't just all of a sudden start remembering things I didn't just there was a process and there was a creation of me and of you each one of us in and so that's that's kind of our basis for searching for where we came from right there is always we know that we didn't just poof you know and there we are there there was something right and so when when we base our when our thought patterns get to go on we get to in I don't I don't think they've changed very much with the centuries and over over the course of mankind but that question is always asked it starts as a little kid why or where or why or in how and this question is asked over and over and over and over again and that that's that's the way it's been for all civilizations researchers haven't been able to find a civilization that did not have a belief in God and so but sadly you know they many of them evidence has shown that many started with a one God like they believed in one Supreme Being but then as human nature is they realized that hey I can't directly contact a Supreme Being per se I mean I say his nature because it's my nature somewhat and I imagine it's our nature to look at and think of an Almighty God and think of how small we are in comparison and so from that they invented demigods or or mediators or things that came in between and then people would start to identify with this think think of Greek mythology and like Zeus and then you have leaves and there's just there's just so many and in in it spreads so then someone's like well I identify I like I believe in Hercules or I believe in facade and I don't anymore and so on and so forth and and that's how there's multiplication or the proliferate proliferation or multiplication of religion comes about so if if we came from something we came from something we don't know we came from just we have no recollection of it how did we come to be how did creation come to be and so that question starts to ask and any any answer to this question is going to be based on sort of faith a belief so the definition of a belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or trust faith are confident in someone or something so that just belief it doesn't matter if you believe in in the Big Bang or if you believe in creationism there is a belief there is a certain amount of faith that is involved every day that I mean in every day and almost everything there is a certain amount of faith involved in everything we do whether it goes to I mean the the old but the oldie but goodie example of turning on the light switch you know you believe it's going to turn on or yes you wouldn't flip the switch it would just be kind of dumb and so that that is the start of our belief we think it's going to happen we take the most probable occurrence and we go with it I believe I'm going to get to work going this route so I'm going this route or if I think Trevor it's going to be bad I'm gonna go around and I may be wrong I may be right I don't know it just depends and I take I take a look at a ways and it tells me that yeah that's the best route and so I believe that that's gonna be the best route and so we do that when we start to ask the question of does God really exist there there are three there are three explanations for the existence of the universe I mean just very broad general explanations is it's always existed so the eternal universe either the universe has always existed that that's that's that's one two is it came to existence by its own power so it was a self creating universe so nothing came with nothing and then boom and bam now we have something all right and then the other one the third one is God created it so if you choose any of these three options you're going to base it on faith there there there it's going to be faith based you have to which one is more probable which one has more like leanness to it which one has more evidence to support it okay you can look at your ways and see if it you know which way it's gonna route you here and the evidence of an ordered creation so if we look at our genes if we look at our another blue jeans I'm not talking about those genes but if we look at our genetics if we look at a tree or the rain system or anything the the complexity of this of just of just the Sun heating up and in wind heating up water taking it up into a cloud at moving it and then dropping it as simple as that sounds it's it's one of the most complex things to happen I mean man couldn't recreate that on its own like it's it's insane and so with that you you have to think about the design behind this things the the design of our bodies to self-heal design of our bodies to to adapt to different situations all this is done for a purpose and for reason and so that would go on that it can't be done on accident you're not just gonna have something and or nothing and nothing and then boom you've got something it just I don't know you can if you find some evidence of things something like that happen because that's pretty cool but anyway so if we know that a God exists we established the foundation that we know there is a God how do we get to know that God I mean if we know something something somewhere how do we get how do we get there if I know there's a really cool hiking trail up on a mountain I'm gonna try and figure out how to get there so I pull out ways right or or a map and so the map that we have is I would say the Bible I mean you can you can look at different ways in different things you can but the most I don't once again looking at evidence if you look at the evidence of what's laid out you can look at you can look at the the Holy Bible you can look at the Quran or you can look at Confucianism or Hinduism or in all these books and all those sayings and those sayings may have some points and good things that they rely upon but when you when you look at them holistically and you look at them from beginning to end and you check them and you fact check and you and you notice the history the the implications the direction of them the prophecies then you can start to measure this out why why is this used as a medium because I mean a written word would be what the most accurate is too much easily to to hand down we didn't have videos until like 100 less than a hundred years ago probably so you know videos weren't really I don't think they were a thing back in the day so we don't have videos so so riding has been the the norm of record so if we know that we have riding then we can we we look at the Word of God and then we have to establish why it's true why is the word of God true it has has a lot of unique stuff to it I know I know many of us our Bible studies and and dear Lord I would you know you should be teaching tonight okay but you must have not made pastor mad but when you look at it and you compare from beginning to end the Bible it covers from creation till you know I guess the last writings were well 80 90 or so John the Revelator something like that so for several thousand years it's covered but then it's applicable today it's it's it's testimonies of the apostles and prophets it's integrity of Jesus Christ who then he endorsed the Old Testament so we take in the Old Testament and then he commissioned the writing of the New Testament so we take in the New Testament it's the testament of him and then the nature and the quality of the Bible's content you can you can look far and wide and especially on historical context and you're not going to find a piece of literature that is going to be reputable and disagree with the Bible so if if you can you can just write it down Hisss Doralee speaking you can build a timeline of events across the world based upon the Bible and and tie them in and it fits like like a hand in glove it just works together there is a lack of credible alternative there's there's not a Bible or a book that covers extensively nor and in-depth anything like the Bible does the fulfilled promises and miracles one of my favorite is the when Daniels riding and he's talking about a Greek who's going to come through and he gives like some very explicit details and then you read they're like wow this guy's he's onto something and he's given a prophecy and then you read history that's a completely different source and it's like it's like he drew a picture of Alexander the Great I mean it's it's amazing he'd done this on different occasions but there's no way that Daniel could have done this on his own he had to have some sort of supernatural influence and so this these these things alone can and and many more not just these things can establish the Word of God as a true thing so so we know there's a God and if we establish that the Word of God is the true Word of God we've got two founding principles upon which to base our argument to based our religion to base our life upon so when we get these principles set then this we we look to the word to know how to use to know what to do we look to the word to goddess and direct us and so one of the very first principles the word established is Doudna Romney six and four it says hear o Israel the Lord our God is one Lord it establishes that I mean it's it's there one Lord it goes on in Deuteronomy 13 and 13 and 133 says if there's a arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams and give it the assign or a wonder and the sign I wanted to come to pass whereof he spake these things saying let us go after other gods which thou has not known and let us serve them thou shalt not hearken the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams for the Lord your God prove with you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your so even if someone does foretell the future even even if they knew all the lottery numbers it doesn't and but then they say hey let's serve someone else let's serve whoever you can think of just make up something you know abracadabra here here is here's you six new gods and even that is not proof that there's other God this let this be established there is but one God so we've established that there is a God that his word is true and that is Word declares there is but one God and so we go on there's there many many more scriptures to to establish this in Isaiah it says it says there is no god beside me no not one I know not any there is no other God and so it it established it over and over again so as we know that that's a principle upon that's something we can go back we can rely on we can walk on in 2nd Timothy 3 and 15 the Bible it contains the instructions that we need to be saved in the level of godly life so when we're looking at there is a God we know it's true we know he's got his word so what does his word tell us to do so if someone could read let's start with verse 15 someone could read verse 15 anyone in 16 so the word is there to guide us it's there to direct us it's there to instruct us it for everything in righteousness that's that's just simply that's what their scriptures give us in in 2nd Peter we find that the word is sufficient and complete it says 2nd Peter 1 and 3 says according as his divine power has given unto all us unto all things that pertain earth unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that he has called us to his glory and virtue so he is he supplied unto us all things say like he didn't leave something out this is the place where to look for answer so in our quest to define humanity's relationship with God we've got a pretty solid foundation we know his words true we know there's we know there's God we know his words true we know there's just one God and so now we know that his word will give us the direction that we need to go and but there's there's a warning that goes along with this we're not to take away we're not to to act as God ourself right we're not to take away we're not to add to God's Word in Revelations 22 and 18 in 19 it says for I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto Him the plagues that are written in this book and then 19 says it's the only man shall take away from the word words of this book of this prophecy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written into this book so there is there is a results or a reaction to our actions like if we trying to add things to the Word of God if we trying to change the things of the Word of God then we're cursed per se in dear Lord I would hate to get into all the the plagues written in the book I mean I just that would be rough so good luck with that guys tell me how that works out right but it doesn't matter where it comes from we all will we we may or may not be familiar with when Paul stay she says if I are an angel coming to you preaching any other gospel don't it doesn't matter this is the gospel so when we when we understand the Word of God when we understand how to serve God then that's when we need to be set in steadfast in the course in his word there is there is but one way to truly know the Word of God okay now we all we all make mistakes we all do or you know like this we're not alone in this and so it's up to us to know to learn to read to pray to rotli divide the word and so that that leaves us at a at a point in our in our relationship with God we know there's a God we know that his words true we know that well we need to do something with this His Word tells us to do something but what are we to do and that void even though the not there is a knowledge of God that void is still not filled there is still avoided it regardless well I know there's a god yeah congratulations that's the first step you know there's a God but what do we do with that knowledge we will learn that in Romans 3 and 23 says for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God we've all sinned we've all messed up and we've all just I mean it's it's human nature that's what we've done since since Adam and Eve and well I think man man was responsible for the first sin so since Adam messed all that up he got us kicked out of the garden and well we're here right and so when he done all of that we got to the point of where we could not commune with God like God walked with Adam he taught with him but when when we got separated from God there that's where that void was introduced and so how do we overcome that void we know by Romans 6 and 23 says that for the wages of sin is death so we know that death is guaranteed it says but the gift of God is eternal life Jesus Christ our Lord so when they're in other parts of the biome okay I'm not gonna pull that part out but it teaches that what that God is holy and that he will not what he will not commune with unholiness or with sin and so we're at that separation point and it mentions says but it turn the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ so so we're establishing our relationship with God we're we're setting in into motion this walk with God we know he's real we know he's got he's got his word for us and now we're baby steps on figuring out what weird to do what is our personal responsibility and so there was there was this problem a holy God and a known holy man it's a problem every day right it's not just was a problem it's it's a problem every day a holy God and unholy man so the the the solution was presented some 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ he acted as what he was a man he was he was God in flesh he was manifest in flesh so he was the son of God but he was actually God manifest in flesh so that was just a role that he stepped into and said I will act as the mediator I was act as to come between between this unholy and this holy and this is established and this is reaffirmed many different times but one in particular is John 20:28 thus when Thomas was the disciple Thomas we can know him as doubting Thomas he said he said Jesus presented himself unto Him he said I don't know what - he's like I don't believe you this this is there's no way that you rose you've risen from the dead and Jesus said fill up my hands fulfilling my side and Thomas he said something very important here and Thomas answered and said unto him my Lord and my god he wasn't seeing was just a man he wasn't seeing him as just Jesus wrote he was seeing him as his Lord has gone so this is a very important transition in Thomas's life because he was more than just a man he was God manifest in flesh first Timothy first Timothy 3 and 16 and if somebody if somebody can read down they give me a break this right here sums up the life of Jesus right it it it puts us into seeing what he went through he he was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit and then he was preached unto all the world and received up in the heaven as when he acted as the the ransom for our sins okay so so this this concept of ransom is established over and over and over in the scripture he told the children visual he said Egypt have I ransomed for thee Egypt Egypt was a rich land he said I've I'll turn my back on Egypt as long as I can have you so he done that for us here an summed his life for us he turned his back on all the pleasures of sin all the pleasures of flesh he turned his back on on just living and he said I'll give it to you and and when he done this he'd laid down his life but but this is not where he stopped thee I've heard I've heard it mention as the principal proof of Christianity is the resurrection so any religion you look at will have a have a good basis for for what they do I mean we've had you know there's Confucius Confucianism Daoism there's Judaism and please please don't don't hate me for mispronouncing these okay there's Islam there's I mean there's basically anything under the Sun I think there's even the Church of spaghetti okay I don't know if they have a very good foundation I don't know but in in you'll see these they each have their own merits as as far as ordering life so so some people they need that peace and tranquility that Buddhism or Hinduism like promotes or something and they're like man I feel so great I'm just so piece of it mmm you know and that's that's where they're at that lifestyle order it it resonates with them or with Islam there there are certain things that will speak to them and that will that they they think well this is this is the way to order a society or in in each one is based upon principles that may not be all bad but they're based upon manmade principles which are not they may not be all bad but they're not there to save your soul those are things that may help you live but those are not things to give you eternal life the principle proof of Christianity is when Jesus laid down his life but then he took it back up because when when there what well there are two things that are constant right that's what they say there's death and taxes so Jesus paid his taxes he said render unto Caesar what is Caesar's he's like pay his taxes but he looked at death and was like no I'm out of here bro I'm done and so when he done this he established there is power in the name of Jesus there is there is more than just what we're looking at there's more than more than just a ordered life there's more than just a good way to live but there is power there is a point there is a reason and so with this we understand that we need to find salvation we're still we're still separated and so even though he acted as a mediator and He shed his blood for us we're still on the other side of that and personally you know you know what I'm saying before salvation there is we're unsaved and so we find that it's by grace we're saved it's through faith all right so once again we're basing something on faith but it's not just merely belief because belief would have us just believing but it's when we act when we believe something we obey it and when we obey it we believe it that is that is a principle that is established over and over and over again of when when God asked us - what repent what do we do we don't just well I believe no we put our belief into action we repent when he says to be baptized we say okay well I'm baptized no I believe I'm baptized no I I put my faith into action and I'm baptized and then there is when I when he says and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost that means what does that mean that doesn't mean just well I've got the Holy Ghost no it means putting our self or our belief our faith we'll put our heart in the right place to receive the gift from God that and in I can a when they're establishing a proof okay they say a man with an argument has no is no comparison to a man with an experience right so if if I'm talking with Logan and I'm looking at a diagram on how to work on something all right I'm like all right man I think the car will come off this way cuz when it comes to me doing mechanic work I basically have to youtube it look at something like it did just you know it's not me like it's I'm out of this I'm out just burn it we'll get a new one and so he's like over there he's fiddling with it he's got it off and I'm still looking at my youtube video or no that's not the way to do it and it's often changed by the time I'm done with the five minute video and he's like but he's got an experience he knows how to do that I have no clue I'm just like hanging out okay and I can argue I can argue with a with a stop sign like I'll argue both sides of the argument and the middle just for fun but it doesn't mean I'm right I mean that's Lauren okay it's it's the most fun I've ever had I loved I can I'll argue you I promise you present me with something and I'll argue it but I couldn't tell I couldn't argue with Logan on how to fix a car because he knows and I could sit there and argue people are okay and just walk off okay you know the same goes when you receive the gift of the holy the Holy Ghost is an experience between you and God when you receive the Holy Ghost someone that says well that doesn't exist you're like okay what are they going to say to it you have the experience and I'm coming to an end tonight and if you would would you stand with me but this these proofs in these principles are established and they should be established in our mind there the question why God's not scared of wine now asking in faith asking and right in the right spirit he is not scared of why or how because when we search for truth when we search for the the absolute truth we'll find God regardless of of what we're asking when we get to the bottom of it you'll find God there he's that he's the Creator he's the beginning and the end the first to last and he gave us a he gave us an opportunity to receive salvation thanks to in 38 says Peter said unto them repent be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of Holy Ghost he doesn't stop he just says and it's for what it's a promise unto you and your children and to all that are afar off even as a meeting of the Lord our God shall call this plan that God from the very beginning he knew that man would fail he knew that Adam and Eve wouldn't be able to resist that tree of knowledge of good and evil he knew that there would be that that space between the holy and unholy but he had a plan he said I don't want I don't want my children to just walk around in darkness but I don't want to be the father of light I want to be there to lead to God and a direct owner if we can if we can just lift up our hands and let's just thank him for just a moment god I thank you Lord for the gift of the Holy Ghost it's good I thank you Lord for the opportunity salvation but I thank you so much for your work for your your sacrifice for your ransoming my soul God where would I be without you Lord what would I do without you Jesus but I think you gotta praise you gonna worship you tonight there's no one like you God there's no other God besides you are my god and you are my lord you're my great I am God you are my Savior you're my way maker you are my Lord Lord I think you gonna praise you I thank you for grace I thank you for mercy I thank you for love thank you for kindness lord I thank you Jesus jeez can we give the Lord a hand clap a praise church aren't you thankful aren't you thankful I thank you God I thank you I want to say I thank you so much for being attentive tonight for listening I noticed a beautiful day we probably should have had church outside you know but now I thank you so much for coming tonight I do have one announcement in the foyer have a sign-up sheet we have Memorial Day picnic coming up okay and it's on it's on Monday so May of the 27th Memorial Day will be going to Chester frost Park it's I think it gesture from state park shelter3 it's see it's over in hits an area it's really pretty area right there on the river and bring your fishing rods just please don't look anybody and that could get bad real quick but there's a sign-up sheet where the church would be providing the meat like the hamburgers and hotdogs but won't eat bread and and drinks and ice and things like that and you'll see on the sheet if you don't mind to put your name buy something that you can bring it's like there's like four slots on it and just whatever you think and we want to prepare for around approximately 50 people so just keep that in mind on and I think sister Whitney she's going if you have any questions and want to bring and just get with her and she may or may not be here they hadn't decided yet or they hadn't but in the meantime get with her and that way because but thank you so much you're dismissed in Jesus name