Providence Baptist Church

Dr. Jim Kelly

The State of the Church

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Acts 2

The DNA of the Church

The whole call upon the church is to present the presence of God – to present life.

Acts 2:42

The Spiritual Call of God for the Church

4 Things

  1. They continued in the WORD OF GOD.  3 things to give yourself to the Word.

I.  Study
II.  Submit
III.  Conform

We will be transformed by the word of God.  Acts 12:24 – The Word of God Spreads

Acts 13:43, Acts 19:20

2.  Fellowship – “in common”

3.  Worship – lifestyle leading to praise

Praise –
1. an antibody
2.  Praise is the spiritual pulse of your life.
3.  Praise is a method of thanksgiving.

True praise is that you praise him when he’s done, what he is doing and what you are praying and believing Him for.

4.  Desperation of Prayer – genuine prayer.  Acts 4:31

  1.  Pray until something shakes.
  2. Pray until the Holy Spirit comes.
  3. Pray until you’re ready to preach.

Abiding

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1 Corinthians 13:13

1 John 2:17

What can we do to establish something that will last 100 years?  What in our life are we doing so that we can abide?

If we are going to abide it must be build upon faith, hope, and love.

In order for something to abide it must be for others and done to the glory of God.  Our lives are implosive when everything is about us.

Faith – power for the present.

Hope – anointing for the future.

Love – action that produces fruit.

Love is not an emotion.  Your emotions fluctuate with your feelings.  Love is a choice.

To establish true love:

  1.  give without expecting – Proverbs 21:26
  2. trust without wavering – 1 Corinthians 13:7
  3. forgive without punishment – Colossians 3:13
  4. listen without interrupting – Proverbs 18
  5. enjoy without complaint – Philippians 2:14
  6. answer without arguing – Proverbs 17:1
  7. promise without forgetting – Matthew 5:37
  8. speak without accusing – James 1:19
  9. be patient – 1 Corinthians 13:4
  10. learn to let go – Ephesians 4:31

What will my life be like in 2030?

 

 

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Christmas: A Family Affair

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Luke 1:26 – Luke 2

Matthew 1:18

It is no accident that God chose Mary.  Mary’s father worked in the synagogue.

Mary’s parents raised her in a home where God’s word was a priority.

Christmas is all about a family that knows the heart of giving.  Christmas is not about receiving. It’s all about God giving us His son.

Mary gave up her future and her own desires.  God’s word shaped her spiritually sensitive.

Mary was raised to believe to obey God according to what God revealed to her without any exception.

Mary had been intentionally prepared by her parents for the service of God.

Dedicate your children to the service of God.  Coming to church must never be an option, but a requirement.

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The Holy Night

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Jesus came to know what it is like to suffer.  He had no advantages.

Luke 2:6-7

Phil 2:6-7

Hebrews 4:15

Words from these verses

Firstborn – 1st fact concerning Jesus

-the first of other children

-Jesus had at least 7 siblings

Swaddling clothes – bandages or strips of material for wrapping the legs of a lamb.

Manger – a feeding trough

Room– place

The place Jesus was born was a divine set-up by God.  No one was born any lowlier.

It doesn’t matter how difficult it may appear. God has a plan.

Form – Jesus took on the form of a man in outward form – He was God.  He chose to take upon Himself flesh.

Jesus had no advantages. He did this so He would be tempted at every point as we are. We could never know God’s love if we never knew suffering.

Servant – Jesus became a servant.  One who does the bidding of His owner.

Fashioned – “put on”

Even – an emphasizing term. To expand understanding.

 

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God is Holy

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Revelation 4
Leviticus 20:26

We are called to Him and therefore we are Holy unto the Lord.  Holiness is of the heart.

Heaven – the place of its origin.

Other – other than everything else

Living – twice dead and forever alive when you are God’s

Yolk – We are yoked to Him.  Forever with a partnership.

1 Peter 2:9 there is no other

Holy is the only way into God’s presence.

If you do not belong to him you do not come to Him and do not spend eternity with him.

Holy is like faith. There are degrees of faith and there are degrees of holiness.  You can have as much faith as you want and you can be as holy as you want.

Isaiah 29:13

People try to draw near to God with lip service.

Things, Places & People

God is not for our purpose, we are for His purpose.  The first thing that became holy was in the Garden of Eden.  It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The ground can become holy – Moses & the burning bush.

God made Abraham holy.  He separated him from everybody.  The family became holy and then a nation.  From that nation, Jesus was born.

Times become holy. The Sabbath Day is a Holy day.  God made part of our income, our tithe holy.  Places of meetings became Holy – the tabernacle.

1 Peter 2:9

2 Corinthians 6:17

1 Corinthians 6:17

2 Timothhy 2:19

Holiness is a chore. You make a choice.

Romans 12:1

Holiness in God exceeds his love.

God’s holiness demanded that God turn from his own Son on the cross because He became sin.

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