How would the city of Corinth compare today with a modern city? Corinth was the first frontier outpost. It was a prosperous city. Caesar’s Roman army retirement community live there. It was located on a key east-west trade route. The poor got rich in Corinth! You might say all the lotto winners lived there. The displaced Jews lived there because Caesar kicked them out of Rome. Sexual perversion was rampant in Corinth. Somehow money and sex are always linked together? The Temple of Aprodita had 1000 temple prostitutes as part of their worship. The Temple of Apollos had nude statues of male prostitutes. Corinth was much like American culture today with sexual brokenness. When Paul walked into Corinth people were celebrating the Isthmian games which was the ancient Olympics. Corinth had athletic training centers much like Colorado Springs does today. The people of Corinth celebrated strength, independence, intellectualism, materialism and public debate. The Greek orator’s debated constantly. They all figured it out they did not need God! 1 Corinthians 2:3-5. Paul says I was not with you with enticing words of man’s wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power. That our Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God! Can God raise up people in a corrupt culture? America is becoming more secular. Heathenistic cultures trump pleasure over purpose. The message of the Crucified Christ is not popular in America just as it was not in Corinth 2000 years ago! But it is still really good news! Polite people did not talk about the Cross in the 1st. century. The worst criminals were crucified. How do you message people about the Cross? The cross was cruel and ugly punishment. Jesus was tortured, beaten, bloodied and murdered! He died the lowest kind of death. It goes to say the Cross is foolishness to the perishing. Why did God choose death to redeem? The wages of sin is death! To the saved the Cross is the power of God! Are you grateful for the Cross? The Cross is central to belief. The Cross is entry to everything. The Cross destroys the wisdom of the wise! Intelligent people say that if God cannot answer all my questions then I will not follow him! My adopted son Abram is a very intelligent little boy. His grandfather was a nuclear physics engineer! Sometimes Abram will ask me questions that are deep and thoughtful. Sometimes I do not know the answer to his question. God came to save us and not answer all our questions. Corinth had some of the best minds of that era. They were intellectuals, philosophers, Romans, Greeks and Jews. Preaching Christ was foolish to the gentiles. The Jews expected a military Messiah. What do you want to hear? I want to be skinny and rich! American and Corinth cultures say “Blessed are the smart and the strong, Blessed are the ambitious, God helps those who help themselves!” Superman has arrived! It is me! Jesus said,”Blessed are the poor in spirit,meek,merciful and kind.” The Roman government of Corinth ruled by fear and intimidation like many governments do today. Why did Jesus submit to the tyranny of the Roman government and the Jews and go to the Cross? To show the world a new way to use power! The world uses power to rule over people. Watch an NFL game. Hundreds of millions of dollars spent to try to dominate one another! Competition is to fight for power! Dominate others! Get power to defend yourself! Buy armies and men and women to rule over others. When Pilate had Jesus on trial he told Jesus he had power to condemn Him to death or release Him. Jesus told Pilate I lay my life down and unless my Father gives you power you cannot touch me. Christ goes to the Cross to use power in a new way. Christ gave His life for people and not to rule over people! God has given us power for people in service to people and care for them. Jesus became a nobody to save everybody. Jesus is calling the marginalized and the down and out. Not to manipulate them but release them from the bondages of sin. The nobodies are being invited in. Discover a new way of being powerful. Everyone can belong! No disenfranchised! The Cross is where you start and finish. No substitute for the Cross! All must come to the Cross and believe! Source; Sermon notes taken from message given by Pastor Brady Boyd at New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Message given on Sunday January 5, 2014.
Tag: christ
Tribute To Captain David Lyons USAF 1985-2013
One of our very own Captain David Lyons was celebrated at the memorial service today in Colorado Springs at New Life Church. The military protocol was moving as hundreds of Air Force Academy Cadets and other military members attended the services along with New Life church members. Captain David Lyons was killed in action last month in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber. Other military members were killed and injured in the attack along with some NATO troops. David was a star athlete at the Air Force Academy and still holds the Idaho High School State record for the shot put throw. He was adopted and took on his adopted parents name. His wife Dana is also an Air Force Academy graduate and serves in the Air Force. It is so encouraging to see military members and church members support their fallen hero’s and their families. I want to give you a famous quote by Charles Province which was given at the memorial service. It reads as follows;” It is the Soldier, not the minister who gives us freedom of religion. It is the Soldier, not the reporter who gives us freedom of the press. It is the Soldier, not the poet who gives us freedom of speech. It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who gives us freedom to protest. it is the Soldier, not the lawyer who gives us the right to a fair trial. It is the Soldier, not the politician who has given us the right to vote. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, and Who’s coffin is draped by the flag!” Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, That a man lay down his life for his friends!” The word friends translates from the Greek as neighbor. Remember in Mark Chapter 12 the scribes asked Jesus which is the greatest Commandment? Jesus answered, “”Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. Then the second is to love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no greater Commandment than these!” David did lay down his life for his neighbor’s which represents millions of American’s and millions of people in Afghanistan! We must also recognize a distinction here. David laid down his life to save others! The suicide bomber laid down his life to destroy others! There are two separate eternities for each. There are two sides of the fence here. In one eternity David is joined with Christ the one he lived and died for! The suicide bomber who died to bring death to others is separated from God forever in the fires of hell! Two different outcomes created by two different choices! Choose this day who you will serve! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Who Can You Trust? Micah 7:5-7
These statements in verses 5 – 7 in Micah Chapter 7 made by Micah are reflected in the teaching of Christ to His disciples. (Matthew 10:35-37) Jesus was also showing how complete dedication to Him would bring about rejection from those close to you and even in your immediate family! The person who places family ahead of his or her service to Christ is called “unworthy.” (Matthew 10:38) The assurance is given by Micah that it is worthwhile to trust completely in God for salvation! Resting in Him is the only way to find peace, especially when a believer’s on family forsakes him or her. (Hebrews 13:5) A qualifier here is that you do not neglect, abuse or abandon your family in the Name of the Lord! I can remember when we left for India in 1984 for a 3 year commission I shared with my father that I heard from God and was sure of my calling and confirmed by other people. My father said you must have heard from the devil? I love my dad and he passed away about 4 years ago. I still love him. Point here is this comes with the calling of Christ in your life. People and family do not understand your calling and judge it prematurely! If you do not get resistance from family and others in ministry you are probably spiritually dead! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
2014 Prediction! Hebrews 13:8
The world changes! People change. Health changes. Finances change. Attitudes change. Economy changes. President’s change, Families change ( Divorce-remarriage). Weather changes. Pastor’s change. Church member’s change, Friends change. Laws change, Time changes. War changes. Taxes change, Technology changes, Nations change, ect. The News that never changes is the Good News as Paul says in Hebrews 13:8; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!” Christ is the only one who can give you stability and peace in this unpredictable world you live in! The God of 2013 is the same God of 2014 and on forever! Do not hang your hat on anything else but Him! He will never leave you or forsake you! Others will! Happiness depends on circumstances! Joy is a Gift given to us by God through His Son Jesus Christ! Have a Joyful New Year! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Micah Nails Down Place of His Birth! Micah 5: 1-2
Micah prophesized the Messiah’s birth place about 700 years before the event! The chief priest’s and scribes quoted it to Herod when they were asked where Christ was to be born. The prophet Isaiah had a lot of revelation about Christ hundreds of years before He came including birth, death and resurrection! It is interesting that the revelation of Christ was spread out among several old testament prophets. This is also true in the Body of Christ today! Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all prophecy! He is the Chief Prophet and it says in Revelation 19:10, “Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy!” Remember Christmas is more than about His birth! Remember that during the future tribulation period (7 years), the religious ruler of the world (false prophet), will force the inhabitant’s of earth to worship the anti-Christ (World political ruler). If you have rejected Christmas and Christ then you have chosen to follow the false prophet and worship the false Christ or anti-Christ! This will lead to your destruction! Micah a old testament prophet prophesized the coming righteous and Holy Prophet and Savior who pre-existed time and created all things both visible and invisible! Christmas is not just a point in time and a place in time but all time and all history past, present and future revolves around Him! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Prophet Amos Predicts Salvation Of Gentiles! Amos 9:11-12
Amos prophesized this event 765 years before the birth of Christ! He speaks of “The remnant of Edom” which refers to the future time when God would deal directly with the Gentiles and bring them to Salvation! James the New testament leader of the Jerusalem church quoted these verses to show how Amos prophecy was being fulfilled by the great number of Gentiles who were believing on Christ. (Acts 15:16-17.) Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Is It All About Food?
Adam and Eve were given all the food in the garden except one tree! They had a vegetarian dish of everything except for one dish! Could they follow instructions? No! Israel ate the Passover mean with unleavened bread before leaving Egypt. No time to ferment the bread they had to get out of Dodge(town). Moses got complaints about the food in the wilderness. The Jews told him they wish they could go back to Egypt and eat the garlic and onions! God wanted to kill them all but Moses pleaded with God and they got frosted flakes in the wilderness. Just a note here I have a bowl of Luckey Charms every morning for breakfast. Then the most significant event in all of history happened! In an obscure village named Bethlehem God prepared another Table for us! The name Bethlehem means house of bread. Then we have the last supper. We have the Lord’s table or Thanksgiving meal. This meal is also called the Communion Table where we receive Christ’s Body(Broken Bread), and His Blood(Wine) as atonement for our sin. On the resurrection day we will all be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! The point here is God has prepared a Table for us simply by His Grace over us! We did not earn this but a gift to us! God has prepared a table for us both past, present and future! As we sit around a table this Holiday season think on these things and The Table He by His great sacrifice has provided to you! Source; Sermon notes taken from Pastor Brady Boyd at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Message given on December 8, 2013. Thankyou. James Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Great Leaders Absorb Pain!
Whether it be Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela much pain was applied to achieve their dreams! They did not seek revenge but forgave their enemies! However the ultimate example is God Himself in sacrificing His Son Jesus Christ for our sin! Jesus absorbed all the pain of the entire world with all our sin forever! Source; Pastor Rick Warren.
Can Wealth Cause Us To Forget God?
Amos was a prophet who made pleas to his people and made some predictions of the destruction of Israel ! He was unpopular because he ministered at the peak of Israel’s material and political success. Israel was enjoying a prosperous reign under Jeroboam II, who had expanded Israel’s territory and secured it from external threats. However as Hosea observed and Moses predicted (Deut. 6:4-10, Hosea 2:5-13), this prosperity caused the people to forget God! Amos strongly denounced the rich and privileged classes who were using their power to exploit the poor. He also condemned the false religion practiced at the altar of Bethel. As a result, Amaziah, the false high priest of Bethel opposed him. Some how false religion and materialism are linked together! These are two beasts that work together to consume the poor. America today faces the same problem as did Israel then as false religion promotes materialism. Prosperity preaching sells big in America! The books, CD’s, ect, rake in hundreds of millions of dollars every year. All want to get on the band wagon by producing more books for profit! We have one Bible that covers all our needs! What would happen if millions of Christian’s in America just went out and took their hundreds of millions of dollars and went out individually and helped the poor? One thing that would diminish is the anti-Christian bias in America. Make no mistake there are many ministries in America doing a great work. The problem is too many live a wealthy lifestyle with airplanes, mansions, luxury cars, ect, that oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not want America to end up in judgment as Israel did in the days of Amos the prophet! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Do American’s Trust Obama?
Since Obama has taken office American’s have purchased a total of 65.4 million weapons! This is 91 percent more than President Bush first term total. Have you tried to buy a weapon lately? Our Constitutional rights in America give law abiding citizens right to own a weapon. However this right is being eroded in a back door way by President Obama. The first red flag I saw was when Obama wanted a civilian defense force during his first term. My first question then was why compete with our regular military? Then my history memory about Hitler and his brown shirts came to mind. These armed youth of Germany became the S.S. troops who worked independent of the regular military forces. The brown shirts got rid of any who opposed Hitler. When any high ranking regular military officer opposed what Hitler was doing they were assassinated by the S.S. The Department of Home Land Security has purchased 1.5 Billion rounds of ammunition. Why? This is more ammo than our military requires. These are not target practice rounds but killer rounds. Other federal agencies that have never been armed in our history are being armed by Obama? This is Obama’s growing civil defense force! Why? America has been weakened by Obama since taking office in almost every category. It does not matter whether health care, employment,income,ect. We are viewed by the world as weak and indecisive! When you go on-line to purchase a weapon you will notice a thirty five dollar pistol just a few years ago is going for six hundred dollars. You will notice that hundreds of ads for handguns are listed as; “Out of Stock.” Go to your local Walmart and notice the empty shelves in the ammunition department? If your government is buying up all the ammunition you may have the right to own but no ammo or guns to buy? This is the back door policy of Obama to disarm civilians. His gun control efforts are also producing the opposite effect. Has Obama planned a takeover? I saw moves early in his first term for planned failures of America. If you have not read history you may think it cannot happen here. I hope I am wrong but next three years will prove or disprove me. I see the hand writing on the wall! I trust my God and He has always given me discernment to coming future events. I had a vision of 9-11 months before the event. In the vision I was walking down a street in New York city and this white powder was everywhere? When I told my Pastor in Macon Georgia he thought I was crazy? After 9-11 he looked the other way when I passed him. Prepare your hearts for very difficult things coming to America. Your faith in God will be tested beyond all your imaginations! When you have a leader who wants us to fail only Christ can rescue you from the disaster to come! God Bless! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com