ICFG Workshop March 19, 2016

Transcription

1 ICFG Workshop March 19, 2016

2 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12 Worldviews Deceptions/Lies Cultural Norms Carnality Apathy/indifference Exalting self Idolatry Fears

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4 What is a counter culture? Def n: A culture with values, lifestyles or customs that are very different from and usually in opposition to those accepted by most of society. The world says everything revolves around you protect yourself, promote yourself, pleasure yourself, preserve yourself, praise yourself, prefer yourself A biblical counterculture says mortify yourself, deny yourself, take up your cross, esteem others higher than yourself, consider one another, bear one another s burdens, love one another, stand up for the weak/oppressed/needy/exploited, sacrifice

5 HOMOSEXUALITY MARRIAGE PORNOGRAPHY ABORTION ORPHANS & WIDOWS POVERTY SLAVERY SEX TRAFFICKING RACISM PERSECUTION Consistently, Compassionately, and Courageously For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise from another place. Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:13-14

6 Whose rights? Over 47,000,000 abortions occur every year That s 130,000 abortions every day Over 45,000,000 abortions in U.S. since 1973 That s 1,400,000 abortions/year; 3000 abortions/day Who s right? For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:13-16

7 Look around Learn the facts about abortion Listen/read the stories of survivors & victims of abortion Reach Out Through giving to pro-life causes & ministries Through serving unwed & under-age mothers Through volunteering at pregnancy centers Through supporting abortion alternatives Through fostering or adopting unwanted children

8 KNOW POVERTY Over 1,000,000,000 people in the world live in poverty 700,000,000 in slums; 500,000,000 on the verge of starvation 93,000,000 beggars; 200,000,000 children exploited for labour Over 18,000 children die/day from starvation/preventable disease Almost 50,000,000 people in the U.S. live in poverty Almost 600,000 people experience homelessness 17,400,000 households live with food insecurity 15,000,000 children face hunger

9 KNOW POVERTY Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs 21:13 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. Proverbs 28:27 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves. 2 Cor. 8:2-3 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. 1 Timothy 6:17-18 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:15-17)

10 Look around Learn the facts about poverty (pick a city/country/local) Search for organizations with integrity, reliability, ministry Reach Out Give to ministries fighting poverty or to homeless shelter Serve at a local food bank or homeless shelter Support a local school breakfast/lunch program Connect with the people through personal ministry Simplify your life & donate to second-hand/thrift stores

11 W.W.J.S. The world preaches nationalism, loyalty to the state and hatred of governments that oppose ours What is required in order to kill? Extreme anger, hatred, self-righteousness, self-justification In the guise of religion, we declare the enemy is evil and under the control of the devil, while at the same time claiming that God is with us Beware of the human logic used by the opponents of pacifism Pacifism is evil it s a refusal to take responsibility for the necessary use of violence to stop evil people. We need to place an emphasis on a demand for justice Pacifism is old-school; let s call it non-violent resistance Pacifism is passive Pacifism is anti-patriotic Rom. 13:1-5; Matt. 10:34; Luke 22:36 (context???)

12 Who Would Jesus Save? What is pacifism? Def n: the conviction that the commitment to peace stands higher than any justification for the use of violence Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18:36 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:9,38-45). Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another (Rom. 14:19)

13 Liberty Lasciviousness Lasciviousness means excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; debauchery; provoking or exciting lust; given to or expressing lust The most important revolution of the twentieth century [was] the sexual revolution. Contraception replaced conception. Pleasure was separated from responsibility. It was as if a license was given out, legitimizing the bending of every part of our lives around serving ourselves. Since that time, divorce, remarriage, abortion, premarital sex, and extramarital sex, as well as homosexuality have been accepted by increasing percentages of the public. Pornography is huge business. [And] this is not just a problem with society out there. Many churches have found their members plagued by failed marriages and illicit affairs, by socalled private sins that turn into public disgraces, some of which are known, some of which are not yet known. Mark Dever

14 Flight Fight Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:18-20) Flee sex outside of marriage Flee homosexuality Flee sexual deviance Flee sexual lust Fight sex trafficking Fight prostitution Fight pornography Fight sexual exploitation

15 Flight Fight Flee sexual immodesty (provoking wrong sexual desires in others) Teach the young women to be discreet, chaste (Titus 2:5) Flee sexual allurement (including inappropriate emotional attachment) And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. (Prov. 7:5-27) Flee sexual looking & touching I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? (Job 31:1) When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets: Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her (Deut. 25:11-12) Flee sexual entertainment & joking But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. (Eph. 5:3-5)

16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

17 Pray Give ComMISSIONed what are we praying for, how often do we pray, who do we pray for How much do we give, how often do we give, who do we give to Serve Where do we serve (local/foreign), how long do we commit, what kind of work (church, community, neighbourhood, reached, unreached) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. Rom. 10:15

18 God Almighty Today My commitment to the Kingdom Me (All of me) The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matt. 9:37-38 I will pray however You want me to pray I will give whatever You want me to give I will go whenever and wherever You want me to go No matter what it costs If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luke 9:23-24

19 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (v. 2-3)

20 What are the purposes of the Kingdom? The spread of the Gospel (evangelism) Expanding the kingdom (planting churches) Training citizens to become soldiers (growth/maturity) Equipping of new Christians (discipleship) Development of new leaders (mentoring) Meeting the needs of the community (ministry) Humanitarian efforts (missional) Battle the evil forces of Satan (spiritual warfare) Be a courageous bastion of truth (apologetics)

21 The Kingdom calls are you ready?