Hanging out with Dave Rolph
Favor With Men
Introduction-
Church as a body, Eph. 4:14-21, Jn. 17
I. Jesus attracted people, and still does
A. Multitudes everywhere He went
B. He has attracted people ever since. (2.2 billion Christians in the world today. (third of world population) Around five billion in history) (Even non-Christians respect)
II. How He treated people
A. Not ambitious
1. Didn’t try to build a following (Luke 8:38-39- demoniac sent home)
2. Told people not to tell what He did, and who He was.
3. Not competitive- Mk. 9:38-41 (Not against us, on our side)
B. Not engaging in debate
1. Usual theological and political arena in their culture
2. Deflected debate- Mt. 21:23-27 (answered question with a question)
C. Treated people with respect
1. John 3- Jewish ruler (cf. Mk. 3:1-6)
2. John 4- Samaritan divorcee
3. John 8- woman caught in adultery
D. Cared about people
1. Looked on lost with compassion Mt. 9:35-36- sheep without shepherd
2. Touched people, including lepers and dead people
3. Needs of people more important than His own. Mark 6:30-44
E. Had a heart to save and forgive
1. Wanted to save, not destroy, Samaritan village. Lk. 9:51-56
2. Spent time with notorious sinners. Lk. 5:27-32
3. Sinful woman who anointed Him. Lk. 7:36-50
F. Patient
1. Doubting Thomas- Jn. 20:24-29
2. Restoration of Peter- Jn. 21:15-23
3. Parables explained privately- Mk. 4:33-34
G. Kept His cool- Lk. 8:22-25 (asleep in the boat)
H. He was all about love
1. New commandment- Jn. 13:31-35
2. Loved those who rejected Him. Mk. 10:17-22
III. Ultimately about grace.
“Favor with men” means “Grace with men”
IV. Self Assessment Questions
A. Are your arguments worth what they cost you?
B. Do people who encounter you know you care?
C. How many friends do you have, not counting relatives?
D. Do you have any non-Christian friends who aren’t your relatives?
E. Do you care about people getting saved? (Jesus never met a Christian)
F. Are you known for your love?
Conclusion- Summary on balance
Jesus grew in an amazing integration of mental, physical, spiritual and social health, balanced in each area, and between the four areas. If we are growing to be more like Him, His Word will bring the same balanced health into our lives and our church.
Balance hinges on choices.
(Lk. 5:15-16- Multitudes followed SO He often withdrew to wilderness)
Introduction- We have been examining the maturation process of Jesus, as it is outlined in Luke 2:52, which says Jesus increased (or grew) in wisdom, stature, favor with God and favor with men. This provides a blueprint for our own maturity. If we are studying the Bible properly we should expect our lives and our church to become more balanced and healthy mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. We have looked at the area of wisdom, as we examine the effectiveness and creativity of our decision-making. Last week we looked at the implications of the fact that our physical bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Today we will turn our attention to spiritual health, and what it means to grow in favor with God.
I. Some preliminary questions-
A. What does “favor” mean? (Greek word “charis”)
B. How could Jesus possibly increase in favor with God? (Experiential, relational)
C. How did Jesus describe His relationship with God? (Father/Son)
1. Mt. 3:17, Mt. 17:5 (Bookends of ministry)
2. Jn. 3:16- heart of the Gospel
D. Challenges to seeing God as our Father (Father issues)
II. What does Jesus want us to know about the Father?
A. He is perfect. Mt. 5:48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
B. He forgives. Mt. 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
C. He gives good gifts. Mt. 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
D. He is merciful. Lk. 6:36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”
E. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. Mt. 18:14 “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
F. Everything is possible with Him. Mark 14:36 “And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
G. He knows what you need before you ask. Mt. 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
H. He sees in secret and rewards openly. Mt. 6:4 “that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”
I. He takes care of birds, and you. Mt. 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
J. He is compassionate to lost children. Lk. 15:20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”
K. He raises the dead. Jn. 5:21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”
L. He loves you. Jn. 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
M. He gives bread from heaven. Jn. 6:32 “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”
N. He wants to live with you. Jn. 14:23 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
O. He won’t leave you alone. Jn. 8:29 “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
P. He draws you to Jesus. Jn. 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Q. He answers prayers. Jn. 16:23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”
R. You are safe in His hand. Jn. 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
S. He is a teacher. Jn. 8:28 “Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.”
T. He is a vinedresser. Jn. 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
U. He qualifies us for an inheritance. Colossians 1:12 “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”
V. Gives everlasting hope and comfort. 2 Thes. 2:16 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,”
W. Gives grace, mercy and peace. 2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, a beloved son:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
X. He makes us His children. 1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!* Therefore the world does not know us,* because it did not know Him.”
Y. He is the Father of mercies and God of comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”
Z. He doesn’t change. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
III. How did Jesus grow in closeness to God?
P
A. Obedience- Jn. 8:29 “I always do those things that please Him.”
B. Submission- Lk. 22:42 “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Lk. 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ”
C. Spent time with Him. (Like any relationship.)
Mt. 14:23 “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”
Mt. 26:36 “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
Mark 6:46 “And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.”
Mark 14:32 “Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
Luke 6:12 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
Luke 9:28 “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.”
Luke 11:1 “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
Turn to Mark 1:35- Read.
IV. Jesus desires for us to grow in favor with God.
A. Don’t settle for distance with God just because you are used to distance.
B. The Father wants to be your daddy. Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
C. Requires obedience, submission and time.
V. Self assessment questions.
A. How have your “father issues” affected your closeness to God?
B. Do you really want to be close to God?
C. Is there anything in the way that keeps you from being closer to God?
D. Are you spending quality time with God?
Here are the notes from the third message in the Balanced Living series, based on Luke 2:52. This was taught on 8/28/11 and was called Physical Balance.
I. Physical vs. Spiritual
A. Gnosticism- physical bad, spiritual good
B. Biblical emphasis on physical
1. Majority of Law was about the body.
2. Care for body after death (Jacob, Joseph, Saul, Moses, Jesus)
3. Genealogies, promises “from your own body”
C. Integration of physical and spiritual
1. Mt. 26:26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed* and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
2. Romans 8:23 “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
3. 2 Cor 4:10 “always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
II. Body as Temple of HS- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
A. Not brought under power of anything. V. 12
B. Body for Lord, Lord for body. V. 13-18
C. Body is temple of HS. Not yours. V. 19
D. Glorify God in body and spirit. They are His. V. 20
III. Balanced Physical Life Implications
A. Not vanity- Don’t worry about what you eat, drink or wear. Mt. 6
B. Godliness is the priority- 1 Tim. 4:8- bodily exercise cf Godliness
C. Body is valuable, and must be treated as such
1. Discipline my body- 1 Cor. 9:27*
2. Eat balanced diet- Prov. 23:1-3*
3. Don’t neglect the body- Col. 2:23
4. Present your body- Rom. 12:1-2
IV. How did Jesus increase physically?
A. Hard work (carpentry)
B. His diet
1. Simple (fish, fruit, vegetables) Like Daniel and friends Dan. 1
2. Fasted (40 days)
C. Exercise program (Walked)
1. Estimated 3,125 miles in last three years
2. 200 muscles used to take a step (1/4 of bones are in the foot)
D. Results- most incredible feat of endurance ever (for us)
IV. Self Assessment Questions
A. Why do I eat the way I eat?
B. How far do I walk in a week?
C. Am I abusing my body in any way? (sin, neglect, lack of sleep, overweight)
D. How can I more effectively glorify God in my body?
Here are my notes from 8/21/11. This was part two in the series on Balanced Living from Luke 2:52. It was called Balanced Wisdom.
Introduction-
I. Wisdom defined- Applied knowledge, creative decision making, knowing how to put things together, seeing the big picture
II. Wisdom Exemplified
A. God in creation- Proverbs 3:19
B. Artisans- Exodus
C. Solomon- 1 Kings 3, 10 (Sheba)
D. Jesus- Mt. 12- Sabbath, John 8- adulterous woman
III. What wisdom looks like-James 3
A. Negatively described- selfishness crushes wisdom
B. Positively described
IV. How to become wise
A. Fear God- Proverbs 9:10
B. Pray- James 1:5
C. Study the Bible carefully and freshly. Jesus with Satan- Mt. 4, Lk. 4
D. Look at the big picture
1. Be patient- no quick answers
2. Eliminate selfishness
3. Listen and observe (don’t stop learning)
V. Wisdom and balance- Self Assessment Questions
A. How many people ask for my advice? (Not how many people do I voluntarily give advice to)
B. How have my recent choices, and my major life choices, worked out?
C. Do I think before I act or answer?
D. Am I happy? Proverbs 3:13ff
Tongues mentioned-
Mark 16 (prophesied)
Acts 2 (Day of Pentecost), Acts 10 (Cornelius’ house), Acts 19 (Ephesus)
1 Corinthians 12-14 (14 times in 12 verses)
We will focus our attention on Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians concerning Tongues
Not everyone has the gift of tongues. (ch. 12:30)
Tongues without love are worthless. (ch. 13:1) (side note- ch. 13:1 does not teach that tongues are an angelic language.)
Tongues will cease, when the perfect comes. (ch. 13:8-10)
One speaking in tongues speaks to God. (ch. 14:2)
Tongues is self-edifying, whereas prophecy edifies the church. (ch. 14:4)
Tongues with interpretation is roughly equivalent to prophecy. (ch. 14:5,13)
Paul wished they all could speak in tongues. (ch. 14:5)
Prophecy is better for the church than tongues. (ch. 14:5ff.)
Speaking in tongues doesn’t benefit the body, because it makes no sense. (ch. 14:6-17)
It is not either/or. It is both/and. (ch. 14:15)
Paul wouldn’t speak in tongues in church. (ch. 14:19)
People who misuse tongues need to grow up. (ch. 14:20-21)
Tongues are a sign for unbelievers, not believers. (ch. 14:22) (Implies hearing their native tongue.)
Consider the effect of tongues and prophecy on unbelievers. (ch. 14:23-25)
Every use of all gifts in the church, including tongues, is for edification. (ch. 14:26)
When tongues are used in church, only two or three, in turn, and only with interpretation. (ch. 14:27-28)
The gift is under the control and discipline of the person using it. (ch. 14:30-33)
Women should keep silent in the church. (Context of prophecy and tongues.) (ch. 14:34-35)
Don’t forbid to speak with tongues. (ch. 14:39)
Summary- Three distinct uses of the gift of tongues. 1) Speaking a foreign language so an unbeliever hears it in his native tongue. 2) Speaking in tongues, then interpreting, as a substitute for prophecy. 3) Praying in tongues in private, to communicate with God, and edify yourself. The first use was only seen once, in Acts 2, but was perhaps used in the early evangelistic efforts, and any modern usage would be very rare, if real. The second use could perhaps be useful, if Biblical guidelines are adhered to, in cases where there are not people with the gift of prophecy. Obviously these uses are also rare, if they exist at all today. The third use is how Paul used the gift of tongues, and he did it more than anyone. As long as we have the need to communicate with God, and to be edified personally by Him, this should be a consideration for us. But we shouldn’t forget everything else he tells us about the gifts, and the need for humility and diversity.
Dave Rolph is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Pacific Hills in Aliso Viejo, California, and is the Bible teacher for the radio program The Balanced Word. He has been at CC Pacific Hills for seven years, and prior to that he was an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa for 25 years.
