a.       2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

b.      Matthew 12:34b, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

2.      Worships (Both as a part of the body of Christ and through an obedient life)

a.       John 4:23, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

b.      Deuteronomy 6:5-6, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.”

3.      Supports Local Church (Commits wholeheartedly & gives—time, talent, treasures

a.       Romans 12:5, “so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

b.      1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

4.      Servant (Lives sacrificially for Christ, His Church and the Lost He died for)

a.       Philippians 2 (5, 7), “5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,”

b.      Ephesians 6:7, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,”

5.      Uses Spiritual Gifts (Knows who they are and how God created them)

a.       1 Corinthians 14:1, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.”

b.      2 Corinthians 5:5, “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

6.      A Warrior (Champion for the oppressed, poor, orphans, sick, widows and lost)

a.       Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

b.      Psalm 82:3, “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.”

7.      Evangelistic (Is passionate about sharing Jesus and senses the urgency to do so)

a.       Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

b.      Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”

Fasting & Simplicity

Study & Guidance

Solitude & Silence

Confession & Fellowship

Worship & Celebration

Submission & Service

Meditation

• This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8 ESV)
• I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. (Psalms 143:5 ESV)
• Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)

Prayer

Definition
Fasting means to “to go without” or “deny ourselves” something precious or necessary.

I.      History
     A.    Public         

          1.  Proclaimed by prophets and monarchs as a sign of national mourning (1 Samuel 7:6, 1 Kings 21:9-12, 2 Chronicles 20:3, Ezra 8:21)           2.  Always accompanied by Prayer

We have started a new Sunday Series on what it means to follow Jesus as our Messiah and Rabbi.  The Way of Jesus is the life we live in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is the life Jesus demonstrated while He came to fulfill His Father’s mission.  His offer of Salvation is more than the forgiveness of sins.  It is also a new life here on Earth leading into eternity.

The first factor for a Christ-follower seeking to live the Way of Jesus is Meditation and Prayer.  The outline below is a guideline to our discussion and is offered as a starting point to adopting a lifestyle of meditation and prayer.

I.    Introduction to the Way of Jesus (Colossians 3:12-14)
II.   First Garment of the Way: Mediation and Prayer
      A.  Misconception of Christian Meditation
          1.  Emptying the Mind
          2.  Attaining some higher state or holiness
          3.  For other religions
      B.  Misconceptions of Christian Prayer
          1.  One Way Communications
          2.  Christmas list
          3.  Has to be boring or monotonous
III.    Meditation and Prayer
       A.  Meditation (Joshua 1:8, Psalms 143:5, Philippians 4:8)
          1.  What is Meditation?
               a)  Hearing God through His Word (Psalm 119)
               b)  Places God’s Word as central and primary to our spiritual growth and development with Him.
       B.  Prayer
          1.  What is Prayer?
               a)  God’s chosen means of communication
               b)  A Response to Meditation and relationship
          2.  What the Bible Says
               a)  Psalms 32:6a, Matthew 6:5-14, 1 Thess. 5:17
       C.  What is your Church known for?
          1.  Programs, Music, Preaching, Kids, Teens, etc…
          2.  Being known by prayer
IV.    Time of Prayer:
         A.   Becoming a people of Prayer in the Way of Jesus
         B.   Mark 11:20-25.  
        C.   Gather at altar for prayer, James 5:13-16

In the Aramaic language (which Jesus spoke on many occasions) the word for rejoice is the same word for dance.  To rejoice is to dance!  While this can be a stretch for some it is found throughout the Bible as a way of expressing one’s gratitude and thanks to the Lord.  I’ve listed below the passages we examined this week in hope that it will inspire you to be more expressive in your thanks to God and to see the joy we have in the awesome God we serve.

Matthew 11:16-19
16″To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17″ ‘We played the flute for you,
      and you did not dance;
      we sang a dirge
      and you did not mourn.’   18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

Exodus 15:19-21
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:
       “Sing to the LORD,
       for he is highly exalted.
       The horse and its rider
       he has hurled into the sea.”

Judges 11:34
34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 

1 Samuel 18:6-7
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang:
       “Saul has slain his thousands,
       and David his tens of thousands.”

1 Samuel 21:11
11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances:
       ” ‘Saul has slain his thousands,
       and David his tens of thousands’?”

1 Samuel 29:5
5 Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances:
       ” ‘Saul has slain his thousands,
       and David his tens of thousands’?”

2 Samuel 6:14-16
14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
 16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

Jeremiah 31:4
4 I will build you up again
       and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.
       Again you will take up your tambourines
       and go out to dance with the joyful.

Jeremiah 31:13
13 Then maidens will dance and be glad,
       young men and old as well.
       I will turn their mourning into gladness;
       I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

Psalm 30:11-12
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
       you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,                                     12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
       O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalm 149:3-4
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
       and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;
       he crowns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 150

 1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary;
       praise him in his mighty heavens.
 2 Praise him for his acts of power;
       praise him for his surpassing greatness.
 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
       praise him with the harp and lyre,
 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
       praise him with the strings and flute,
 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
       praise him with resounding cymbals.
 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
       Praise the LORD.

Lamentations 5:15 (The opposite of rejoicing/dancing is mourning)
15 Joy is gone from our hearts;
       our dancing has turned to mourning.

Luke 15:25-26
25″Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

21 ἀγαλλιάω [agalliao /ag·al·lee·ah·o/] v. From agan (much) and 242; TDNT 1:19; GK 22; 11 occurrences; AV translates as “rejoice” seven times, “be exceeding glad” once, “be glad” once, “greatly rejoice” once, and “with exceeding joy” once.  to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad

25.132 ἀγαλλίασις, εως f: a state of intensive joy and gladness, often implying verbal expression and body movement (for example, jumping, leaping, dancing)—‘to be extremely joyful, to rejoice greatly, extreme gladness.’ ἐσκίρτησεν ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου ‘my yet unborn child jumped with great gladness’ Lk 1.44.

25.133 ἀγαλλιάω: to experience a state of great joy and gladness, often involving verbal expression and appropriate body movement—‘to be extremely joyful, to be overjoyed, to rejoice greatly.’ ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου ‘my soul rejoices greatly because of God my Savior’ Lk 1.47; In Ac 2.26 it may be impossible to say ‘my tongue rejoices.’ One may, however, translate in some language

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]]> http://blog.cpnaz.org/?feed=rss2&p=8 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=7 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=7#comments Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:51:33 +0000 pastor http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=7 Here are the notes and scriptures from last weeks message.  Be sure to make comments below if you are interested in more details or creating a dialogue with others.

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Proverbs 12:8
A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.Psalm 119:113
I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.

2 Timothy 3:8 
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

Romans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

Acts 14:2
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Romans 16:17-18
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.  

Jeremiah 17:10  “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

Psalm 26:2
Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

1 Chronicles 28:9
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” 

 

 

]]> http://blog.cpnaz.org/?feed=rss2&p=7 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=6 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=6#comments Tue, 16 Jan 2007 02:00:20 +0000 pastor http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=6 Luke chapter 7 records the request of John the Baptist as he faces certain death.  He sends messengers to Jesus to ask whether or not He was the One.  Despite an earlier acknowledgement of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, John is still undecided.  Why is he undecided?  Most likely it was his circumstance and the coming separation of his body and head.  This beheading has a way of putting things into perspective.  So, John wanted to know is Jesus was the Messiah, the King, and the One who is able to bring forth the Kingdom. This past Sunday we examined the various thoughts or struggles John had with his situation in life.  Like John, we often find ourselves in difficult situations and painful times that cause us to question God’s goodness or control over the world.  We cry out at the perceived injustice and place the challenge to God to do something about it.  All of this has an appearance of legitimacy considering our “faithful” observance of the Bible.  We cannot understand why God would allow His own children to experience such hardships.  It seems like God’s love is insufficient for our world. 

Fortunately the Scriptures provide us with some insight into this problem.  We see in Jesus’ unconventional response that we are called to a life that includes facing life’s troubles.  Jesus offers a statement and prayer for us to not fall away on account of Him.  This odd statement is in reference to His abilities and power to change our circumstance.  We should not consider his lack healing or fixing power in our situation as a lack in concern for our well being and health.  Instead He wants us to know He will struggle right along with us, teaching us, helping us and providing us opportunities to use the pain or hardship to serve in His Kingdom.  This is not an easy teaching to receive but does require our trust in His goodness and love for us. 

Do you have a hard time with this teaching?  What steps can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and strength to overcome hardships?  What difficult times have you faced in life that later on became a blessing or ministry opportunity to serve someone else?  Did this experience give you a different outlook on your hardship?  How can you structure your life better in order to be a person more apt to overcome life’s tough times?

]]> http://blog.cpnaz.org/?feed=rss2&p=6 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=5 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=5#comments Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:48:45 +0000 pastor http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=5 This was the message Jesus repeated over and over again and even taught His disciples to teach as they traveled spreading the good news about the Kingdom (Mt. 4:17, 10:7).  This past Sunday we took a glance a the meaning of the Kingdom according to those of the 1st century Israel.  We must understand that the Kingdom of God is not like anything we have on Earth.  Nations have risen and empires expanded to greatness, only to fall at the hands of another.  The Kingdom of God is rivaled by none, causing those who seek to destroy it–defeated.  As a part of our study this week try to find all the times Jesus and His Church use the terminology, “Kingdom of…” as the sharing of the Gospel.  Ask yourself or group the following questions: 

1. How often is this message of the Kingdom used throughout the New Testament?

2. What are some of the examples or parables Jesus uses to illustrate the Kingdom of God?  Which ones have the most impact on your life?

3. Using the stories or examples given in the Bible, decribe in your own words, what is the Kingdom of God?

]]> http://blog.cpnaz.org/?feed=rss2&p=5 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=4 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=4#comments Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:26:35 +0000 pastor http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=4 As we close out 2006 and welcome 2007 what is your expectation for the New Year?  Are you resolutions person, or better yet a resolutions maker and in two weeks a resolution breaker?  Either way the New Year can bring about a time of reflection and resolution.  This week we will be examining what one should do to close one year and welcome in a new year.  In the meantime I want to offer a few thoughts about the closing of the past year.

How do you close out 2006? 

Almost everyone has made New Year resolutions or commitments of what they will or will not be doing for the next year.  We reflect on the past year, seeking to correct and improve the well being of our life for the next.  So, we make decisions to add to or subtract from our lives those activities that keep us from progressing.  One thing we fail to do though is to make closure of our past year, especially those areas that may have been painful or difficult.  This usually falls into the realm of the intellect or emotions but still requires a definitive closure process. 

By not closing out the past year we allow painful experiences, emotions, and situations to creep back up in the New Year.  This affects our ability to carryout our resolutions and commitments because of the influence these life experiences have on out lives.  The Bible mentions this struggle,

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).”

Notice how Paul was concerned for the people of Corinth that demonstrated a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.  Even sincere people can be led astray.  This is often how Satan works.  He uses a little bit of truth wrapped up in a huge lie to confuse and distract the sincere believer.  This is often the case with New Year’s resolutions and the closing out of the year.  We fail to see our reflection time as a means to clean out the deceptions and harmful memories of the past year.  Ephesians 4:22-24 makes a great response to this struggle,

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

As you consider the New Year and the possibility of resolutions, remember to set aside time to close out the past year.  Seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit as you do so because the Bible gives us wisdom and guidance in this area.  “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

Pastor Jerome

]]> http://blog.cpnaz.org/?feed=rss2&p=4 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=3 http://blog.cpnaz.org/?p=3#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:40:50 +0000 pastor http://cpnaz.org/?p=3 New sermon series.  New focus.  New website. And now a new blog.  With all of the new things happening at Crosspoint we are striving to increase communication and dialogue between one another.  This blog will be a great tool to open the doors for conversations and involvement from within our community and from outside as well.  More to come soon.

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