Rise & Build – Nehemiah – January 2022 Series

Posted on December 29, 2021 by dkoop

Series:  Rise & Build (Nehemiah)

Description:

Life can be described as a building project. We build upon our goals, dreams and calling. We build a career, a family, and a spiritual life.  The New Year serves as a time of evaluation. How’s my building? What changes should I make?  Join us at Upwards Church as we are building better lives.  Our study will center on the life (and Old Testament book) of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a regular person like you and me who caught a divine glimpse of what could be and then went after it with all his heart. Are you ready to rise and build?

Dates                      Titles                                          Scriptures              

Jan 2                       Seeing My Preferred Future         Nehemiah 1

Jan 9                      Getting Support                            Nehemiah 2

Jan 16                     Handling Opposition           Nehemiah 4

Jan 23                     Staying Focused                          Nehemiah 6

Jan 30                     Building God’s Way                      Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah Introduction

“What this church needs is…!” “I can’t believe our government officials. If I were there I would…!” “Our schools are really in bad shape. Someone ought to do something!”

Gripers, complainers, self-proclaimed prophets, and “armchair quarterbacks” abound. It is easy to analyze, scrutinize, and talk about all the problems in the world. But what we really need are people who will not just discuss a situation but who will do something about it! Nehemiah saw a problem and was distressed. Instead of complaining or wallowing in self-pity and grief, he took action. Nehemiah knew that God wanted him to motivate the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, so he left a responsible position in the Persian government to do what God wanted. Nehemiah knew God could use his talents to get the job done. From the moment he arrived in Jerusalem, everyone knew who was in charge. He organized, managed, supervised, encouraged, met opposition, confronted injustice, and kept going until the walls were built. Nehemiah was a man of action.

The story begins with Nehemiah talking with fellow Jews who reported that the walls and gates of Jerusalem were in disrepair. This was disturbing news, and rebuilding those walls became Nehemiah’s burden (chapter 1). At the appropriate time, Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes for permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild its fallen walls. The king approved (chapter 2).

Armed with royal letters, Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem. He organized the people into groups and assigned them to specific sections of the wall (chapter 3). The construction project was not without opposition, however. Sanballat, Tobiah, and others tried to halt the work with insults, ridicule, threats, and sabotage. Some of the workers became fearful; others became weary. In each case, Nehemiah employed a strategy to frustrate the enemies—prayer, encouragement, guard duty, consolidation (chapter 4). But a different problem arose—an internal one. Rich Jews were profiteering off the plight of their working countrymen. Hearing of their oppression and greed, Nehemiah confronted the extortioners face to face (chapter 5). Then, with the walls almost complete, Sanballat, Tobiah, and company tried one last time to stop Nehemiah. But Nehemiah stood firm, and the wall was finished in just 52 days. What a tremendous monument to God’s love and faithfulness. Enemies and friends alike knew that God had helped (chapter 6).

After building the walls, Nehemiah continued to organize the people, taking a registration and appointing gatekeepers, Levites, and other officials (chapter 7). Ezra led the city in worship and Bible instruction (chapters 8-9). This led to a reaffirmation of faith and religious revival as the people promised to serve God faithfully (chapters 10-11).

Nehemiah closes with the listing of the clans and their leaders, the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem, and the purging of sin from the land (chapters 12-13). As you read this book, watch Nehemiah in action—and determine to be a person on whom God can depend to act for him in the world.

I hope that you can join us for our new series and I pray that God will help you Rise and Build in 2022.

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

 

 

 

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The Light of the World – John 8:12

Posted on December 14, 2021 by dkoop

We live in a dark world. It seems be getting darker lately.  Into our sin-darkened world came Jesus Christ as “the Light [that] shines in the darkness” (1:5); “the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (v. 9).

We all have a great need. We are not always aware of it, but the need is still there.  We live in darkness and apart from Jesus:  We cannot see into the future nor into the next world. We cannot see God, who He is and what He is like.  We cannot see the real meaning, significance, and purpose in life.  We cannot save ourselves from our sin or gain eternal life.   We live in darkness morally and spiritually.

Our great need is to see “the Light of the world.”

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus was speaking in that part of the temple known as the treasury, where the offerings were collected (8:20) and huge torches or lamps burned to symbolize the pillar of fire that led the people of Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22). In this context, Jesus called himself the Light of the World. The pillar of fire in the wilderness had represented God’s presence, protection, and guidance.

In this modern age of electricity, we tend to take light for granted. We don’t realize how important it is until we have to do without it. How many of us have groped through ourhomes during a power outage as we tried to find candles or lanterns? Without light, it’s very difficult to find your way around. The Lord Jesus said He is “the Light of the world”.  That is, He is our guide through this world, and helps us avoid pitfalls along the way. In Christ, God became light personified. Jesus brought God’s presence, protection, and guidance into the world in an approachable way.

Jesus said we would not walk in darkness if we followed Him.

What does it mean to follow the Lord? This word has three different, but closely related meanings.

  1. A soldier following his commander. Wherever the commander leads, the soldier follows him whether it is into battle, strange places, or on long marches. The believer is in the Lord’s army and is a soldier whose commander is the Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. A servant following his master. The servant was on call all the time to serve their master. Or today, people say, “I have to work late or overtime this week, the boss says.” Christ followers are servants to Christ, he is our boss. We are to be devoted to doing God’s will in our lives and following Him.
  3. A student following his Teacher’s instructions. The Christ follower is a person who follows the teaching of Jesus Christ after he has been saved. The believer receives His Word and puts it into practice in his life. He yields to the Lord in his body, soul, and spirit.

In claiming to be the light of the world, Jesus defined his unique position as the one true light for all people, not just the Jews. Isaiah wrote, “I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6 nkjv).

Death brings eternal darkness; but to follow Jesus means to never walk in darkness, but . . . have the light of life. When we follow Jesus—accepting him as Savior and Lord and following him—we are walking in his light. We no longer walk blindly in our sin, rather his light shows us our sin and our need of forgiveness, guides us along life’s pathway, and leads us into eternal life with him.

After Jesus said this, the Pharisees challenged him, John 8:13 “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.“NIV Jesus did not disagree with the Jewish law instead, he claimed that his testimony was true even if no one else bore witness: “for I know where I came from and where I am going.“NIV Jesus knew his origin and his destiny. In other words, Jesus knows God the Father, and the words that Jesus spoke were from the Father himself. Therefore when Jesus spoke, not only was he testifying for himself, but because he spoke the words of God, God was testifying for him as well. Countless believers have discovered that their consistent exposure and memorization of the words of Jesus have deepened their awareness of his divinity. His words ring true. Not knowing or obeying Christ’s words is our fault, not a reflection on their truthfulness.

People today are very willing to acknowledge the greatness of Jesus as a man but not to acknowledge him as God. By human standards, Jesus was the greatest man who ever lived. Yet human standards are not enough to portray all of Jesus’ true identity. Calling Jesus “great” is faint praise in light of his identity as God. Mere admiration of Jesus as a great leader or teacher falls short. Our response should be to acknowledge the darkness of our sin, accept Christ into our life that we may see the light.

A woman named Mrs. Crawford had been blind for fifty years. “I just can’t believe it!” she gasped as the doctor lifted the bandages from her eyes after her recovery from delicate surgery in an Ontario hospital. She wept for joy when for the first time in her life a dazzling and beautiful world of form and color greeted eyes that now were able to see.

The amazing thing about the story, however, is that twenty years of her blindness had been unnecessary. She didn’t know that surgical techniques had been developed, and that an operation could have restored her vision at the age of thirty. The doctor said, “She just figured there was nothing that could be done about her condition. Much of her life could have been different.” Why did she continue to assume that her situation was hopeless? Had no one told her about the wonderful advances in eye surgery? Is this not the plight of those who reject Christ? How many will go on living in moral blindness unless we tell them about the Savior? Many will never know anything but spiritual darkness because no one has shared with them the Light that has come into the world.

Have you accepted Christ, the Light of the world?

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Sources:

John MacArthur, MacArthur New Testament Commentary – John 1-11, (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2006), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 332.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible – John, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “B. Man’s Need: The Light of the World, 8:12-20”.
Bruce B. Barton et al., Life Application Bible Commentary – John, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1993), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 172.
Rod Mattoon, Mattoon’s Treasures – Treasures from John, Volume 1, (Springfield, IL: Lincoln Land Baptist Church, n.d.), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 241-242.

 

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Eternal Light – John 1

Posted on December 8, 2021 by dkoop

He spoke, and galaxies whirled into place, stars burned the heavens, and planets began orbiting their suns—words of awesome, unlimited, unleashed power. He spoke again, and the waters and lands were filled with plants and creatures, running, swimming, growing, and multiplying—words of animating, breathing, pulsing life. Again he spoke, and man and woman were formed, thinking, speaking, and loving—words of personal and creative glory. Eternal, infinite, unlimited—he was, is, and always will be the Maker and Lord of all that exists.

And then he came in the flesh to a speck in the universe called planet Earth. The mighty Creator became a part of the creation, limited by time and space and susceptible to aging, sickness, and death. But love propelled him, and so he came to rescue and save those who were lost and to give them the gift of eternity. He is the Word; he is Jesus, the Messiah.

John discloses Jesus’ identity with his very first words, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God” (1:1, 2);

Each of the Gospel writers chose a different starting point for their accounts of the life of Jesus. Matthew began with Abraham, showing how Jesus came from Abraham’s family and was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Mark skipped most of the preliminaries and moved right to the action, beginning with the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke began with a review of his research method and rooted Jesus’ life in the wider historical events of his time. But John presented the largest perspective of all, describing Jesus as the very source of everything we understand as beginning.

“In the beginning the Word.. John 1:1

What does John mean by “the Word”? Theologians and philosophers, both Jews and Greeks, used the term word in a variety of ways. The Greek term is logos. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, “the Word” is described as an agent of creation (Psalm 33:6), the source of God’s message to his people through the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3

The Greeks used “the Word”  logos to convey the rational principle that governed the universe, even the creative energy that generated the universe.

In both the Jewish and Greek conceptions, logos conveyed the idea of beginnings—the world began through the Word (see Genesis 1:3ff., where the expression “God said” occurs repeatedly).

John is unique in his powerful presentation of Jesus as the great Creator-God of the universe. His massive vision of Christ has been used countless times to open the eyes of unbelievers to who Jesus is and the way of redemption.

This Gospel’s continuing effect on Christians is equally profound because in John’s account believers find an ongoing source for expanding their concept of the Savior’s greatness.  I hope that each time we return to John’s Gospel, Christ will be a little bigger—something like Lucy’s experience with the lion Aslan (the Christ symbol in C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia) as she again gazed into his large, wise face.

“Welcome, child,” he said.

“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”

“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.

“Not because you are?”

“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

As we work our way through the wonders of John’s writings this Holiday season, may we will find Christ bigger!

John continues…”Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:2-3)

 Jesus is the Creator of the universe.  The fact of Christ’s Creatorship is the consistent witness of the New Testament. Col. 1:16-17 says: “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Hebrews 1:2-3 adds: “…in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Rev. 4:11 states: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

In verses 4-13 the metaphor of Christ as light stresses the revelation, rejection, and reception of his love as it came to the world.

Light Revealed 

In clearest terms, Christ is described as light: “In him was life; and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:4-5).

The thought of our Lord being spiritual light gives us a heartening insight into his loving attempt to reach the world. Where light goes, darkness is dispelled, revealing the true nature of life. No place with the slightest crack can withhold its presence. “The light shines in the darkness.” Literally, this means it shines continually in the darkness, meaning that Christ is continually bombarding every corner of our hearts of darkness through the work of his Holy Spirit in nature, conscience, and the Scriptures.

Whether you are with or without Christ, meditate upon Christ being light, and you will better understand how much he loves you.

But how was our Lord’s loving light received?

Light Rejected

Sadly, the majority of mankind rejected the light. Verse 5 concludes, “…but the darkness has not understood it.” Or as some translations more accurately read, the darkness did not “overpower” it. The light met with tremendous resistance. Verses 10-11 round out the description in terms that are tragically absurd as we bear in mind the immense description of Christ that has gone before: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

Think of it! The One who said, “Let there be light,”  the One who clothed his light in a human body so that he might bring light to all, the One who set aside a special people for himself to be a light to the nations, was rejected!

And though many reject him, some respond.

Light Received

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)

To believe” parallels “receive” as another aspect of our relationship with Christ. It leaves no doubt that we need to make a conscious personal response. Receiving and believing indicate informed awareness, not blind or empty faith. Receiving and believing have a personal object—Jesus Christ. The object of our faith is not a system, tradition, or organization. When we receive and believe in Jesus Christ, he gives us the privilege of becoming children of God.

Apparently John never got over it because when he was an old man he wrote, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). This should  be the refrain of our lives if we have believed in him.

Oh, the greatness of Christ and his love. Receive it now if you have not done so before.

Sources: Life Application Study Bible   (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1988), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 1745.
R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word – John: That You May Believe , (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), WORD search CROSS e-book, 15-21.
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“Light Has Come” – John’s Writings About Jesus

Posted on December 8, 2021 by dkoop

Description:  Don’t you love all the beautiful Christmas lights that brightly adorn houses and trees during holiday season?  As we celebrate the coming of Christ at Christmas, we are reminded by the apostle John who writes so poetically that Jesus is the Light that has come into the world!  Join us as we open John’s writings in the New Testament to provide a fresh look at the Light of the World invading our darkness to bring us salvation, the best gift of all.

 The Light Has Come (John) 5 weeks

Dates           Titles  (Scriptures)                               Events

Dec. 5 – Eternal Light (John 1)                                     

Dec. 12 – Light of the World (John 8)

Dec. 19 – Believe in the Light (John 12)

Dec. 24- The Light Has Come (John 3)                        Christmas Eve

Dec. 26 – Walk in the Light (1 John 1-2)                      New Year’s week

Here are the “Light” Scriptures in John’s writings that we will explore: 

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 (NKJV)

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5 (NKJV)

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. John 1:7 (NKJV)

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. John 1:8 (NKJV)

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. John 1:9 (NKJV)

19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 (NKJV)

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:20 (NKJV)

21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:21 (NKJV)

35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. John 5:35 (NKJV)

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NKJV)

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5 (NKJV)

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. John 11:9 (NKJV)

10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” John 11:10 (NKJV)

35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. John 12:35 (NKJV)

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. John 12:36 (NKJV)

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46 (NKJV)

1 John: 

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 (NKJV)

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NKJV)

8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:8 (NKJV)

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 1 John 2:9 (NKJV)

10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 1 John 2:10 (NKJV)

I hope that you can join us for our series, “Light Has Come.”

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

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