GOOD MORNING!

I’m Bill Morehouse

Men’s Bible Study – August 4, 2022

Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers?

Our Covenant Inheritance in God’s Eternal Kingdom

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Our Hebrew Messiah

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and some modern counterparts…

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A colorful and informative summary of the Biblical Festivals mandated in Leviticus 23, their fulfillment in Christ, and how to celebrate them in today’s world.

Preparing for the Lord’s Second Coming (return) by honoring His Word to His First Covenant people, learning to observe His Appointed Times, and looking forward to celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in the Millennial Kingdom.

The Cultivated Olive Tree

If some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

see Romans 11

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Read Romans 9-11

Then read Paul’s conclusion of these three chapters in the passage that immediately follows:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

In the first few centuries, however, the Roman Church separated itself from the “cultivated olive tree” that it had been grafted into and styled itself as the “New Israel.” Hebrew names, promises, and Holy Days were replaced:

• Jerusalem replaced by Rome
• Miriam and Yeshua replaced by Mary and Jesus
• Covenant promises replaced with Platonic mysteries
• Sabbath moved from Saturday to Sunday
• Passover changed into Easter
• Shavuot into Pentecost, etc. etc.

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Paul’s

letter

to the

Romans

FINDERS KEEPERS

LOSERS WEEPERS?

Appointment

It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.

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Hebrews 9:27

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Bypassing Judgment

Ask, and it will be

given to you;

seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be opened to you.

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Matthew 7:7

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Priorities

But seek first the

Kingdom of God

and His righteousness,

and all these things

will be added to you.

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Matthew 6:33

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Finding the Precious Kingdom

• The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
• Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:44-4

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Three Ways to Lose the Kingdom of God

1. Ignorance: I never heard much about the Kingdom of God, cared about it, or even looked for it.
2. Neglect: I had a loose hold on the Kingdom for a while but got distracted by the world and let go of it.*
3. Pride: I hold the keys to the Kingdom but don’t need to use them and haven’t shared them with others.

*(Arminian perspective vs. Calvinistic never had it)

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1.

IGNORANCE

Losing by default

Evangelism

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?

And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?

And how are they to hear without someone sharing the Good News?

Romans 10:14

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Lack of Vision

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Romans 10:14

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2.

NEGLECT

Losing by failure

Failed Discipleship

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:19-20

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Failed Diligence

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

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3.

PRIDE

Losing by deception

American Dream

…endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Declaration of Independence

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Conversion needed?

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God…

… unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

John 3:3,5

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Conversion needed

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

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UNDERSTANDING WHAT KIND OF FAITH YOU HAVE

FAITH IN THE SACRAMENTAL CHURCH

1. Be properly initiated by undergoing ritual “baptism” (replaces circumcision) as an infant.
2. Study catechism and be confirmed (rep. bar mitzvah).
3. Receive communion (or equivalent) regularly to maintain your spiritual tie to your faith community.
4. Ask for and receive input from religious leaders to participate in other sacraments like marriage.
5. Grow in knowledge and skills necessary to be a good person and productive member of society.
6. Seek your own happiness and welfare.
7. Share some of what you’ve earned and learned with others when it seems like the right thing to do.

FAITH IN GOD AND HIS WORD

1. Seek God, receive conviction of sin, enter repentance, receive God’s forgiveness.
2. Be baptized for the remission of your sins.
3. Receive Christ’s offer on behalf of God the Father to become an adopted child of God.
4. Ask for and receive fullness of the Holy Spirit to empower spiritual adoption and new life.
5. Grow in grace, discipleship, and knowledge of God’s Word and will in fellowship with others.
6. Seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness.
7. Freely share the Good News and your God-given abundance with others.

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The Greatest Sacrifice – Agape Love

• For God so loved* the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him* should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

* His part and our part:

“loved” from Hebrew agapaó = divine, sacrificial love

“believes” from Hebrew pisteuó = to believe, have faith in, trust in

(heartfelt, not impersonal or simply Platonic or intellectual)

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Faith

Love

Hope

Faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Son

Father

Holy Spirit

Insight, Wisdom

Understanding

Attachment

Commitment

Door Way Truth Life

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…

John 3:16

And the Father… shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever.

John 14:16

The Two Greatest Commandments – Agape Love

• You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
• And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 22:37-40

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The Main Enemies of Our Faith

• The World: The incessant demands of the world around us competing for out attention and loyalty.
• The flesh: Our human urges, lusts, desires, feelings and pride, especially having to do with sex, money, power and prestige.
• The devil: Deceptions, rationalizations, grievances, victimhood, principalities and powers that promulgate false gospels and ideologies to compete with God’s Word.

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Encouragement

The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4

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Celebrate

Salvation!

How to find the door

to God’s Kingdom,

use the keys to get in,

get cleaned up,

and stay forever.

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https://celebratesalvation.org

Small group study material for your church

Being born again, pursuing God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, and sharing with others

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Celebrate Salvation!

Celebrate Salvation!

Being awakened in community, living in God’s Kingdom, and envisioning our ultimate destiny

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THANKS!

Any questions?

You can reach me at wmorehouse@gmail.com

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