Where Can I Find Stability?
Pastor Ed Riddick - Sunday, February 15th, 2009Download MP3
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2 Corinthians 1:20-22 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, “set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” NIV
Introduction:InstabilityThe Liberté was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the French Navy
The Liberté was commanded by capitaine de vaisseau Louis Jaurès.
On 25 September 1911, as the Liberté was moored in Toulon harbour, an accidental explosion at the bow at starboard started a fire in the 194 mm magazines, which quickly spread to the rest of the ship, in spite of the efforts of the crew and attempts at flooding the magazines. At 5:53 PM, the main magazines detonated, destroying the ship and killing 200 of her crew. People on the neighbouring ships and in the port were also killed and maimed, yielding a total count of around 300 killed.
The loss hit the French opinion particularly harshly because of the high human toll, of the large military value of the Liberté, and because it was the latest of a long series of accidental fires due to chemical instability of the ammunition, which had culminated four years earlier with the explosion of the Iéna.
The wreck was raised on 25 February 1925 and scrapped.
Chemical stability when used in the technical sense in chemistry, means thermodynamic stability of a chemical system.[1]
Thermodynamic stability occurs when a system is in its lowest energy state, or chemical equilibrium with its environment. This may be a dynamic equilibrium, where individual atoms or molecules change form, but their overall number in a particular form is conserved.
In everyday language, and often in materials science, a chemical substance is said to be “stable” if it is not particularly reactive in the environment or during normal use, and retains its useful properties on the timescale of its expected usefulness. In particular, the usefulness is retained in the presence of air, moisture or heat, and under the expected conditions of application. In this meaning, the material is said to be unstable if it can corrode, decompose, polymerize, burn or explode under the conditions of anticipated use or normal environmental conditions.
Vs…vacillation, heming and hawing!Not to mention economic stability! Physical health stability!I. From Where Do I Get Stability?Accusation: Paul says one thing and does another. He vacillates between “yes, I’m coming” and “No, I’m not.”
Paul’s Corinthian Contacts
Found ing visit His ‘former’ letter Corinthian letter to Paul 1stCor Paul’s painfulvisit Paul’s severe letter 2ndCor Anti cipated visit
2 Corinthians 1:21 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.”
Jude 24 “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—”
James 1:19-20 “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” NIV
Galatians 5:19-20 “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions”
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” NIV
Vs Intermittent Explosive Disorder which is characterized by discrete episodes of failure to resist aggressive impulses resulting in serious outbursts of anger, assaults or destruction of property!
James 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” NIV
Am I safe with you? Could I tell you a secret? I am spontaneous. You say, “That’s good.”But with that “I am impulsive, easily distracted”Skiing: Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe
How does that play out in my life…~ Don’t give me two choices! Very difficult!~ Have to learn and relearn to pray…and trust his answers!~ Learn to depend on others who are not so adventurous!
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” NIV
Psalm 118:14 “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” NIV
II. The Work of the Holy Spirit
Ecclesiastes 12:11 “The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.” NIV
Goads – to prod the sluggish to action!Well driven nails Firmly embedded nailsON WHICH YOU CAN HAND YOUR LIFE! BEDROCK! FIRM FOUNDATION
TrinityMatthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” Not 3 stages of one God Not 3 successive steps in God’s existence
One God in 3 co-equal, co-eternal persons One nature, yet 3 distinct persons.
2 Corinthians 13:14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” NIV
To whom do we pray? The F or S or HS!Ephesians 2:17-18 “He (Christ) came and preached peace to you who were far away (from God) and peace to those who were near (Jews). For through him (Christ) we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” NIV
And do you see it?2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ” Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” NIV
A. God anointed us with His Spirit1 John 2:20, 27 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth…As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” NIV
1 Samuel 16:7, 11-13 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.” NIV
Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” NIV
Stories:1. Pastor on Call prayer meeting2. Conflict Resolution class – conflict role play College roommates…both apply…1 gets job…coffee Behind One has experienced shame One has never experienced the approval of a parent
Conflict coach: Use Psalm 103:11-12 removed sins…has compassion.
We can’t affort 1 moment not depending on Christ.We can’t affort 1 moment of independence from Christ!
B. Sealed with the Holy SpiritEphesians 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” NIV
Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” NIV
Roman seal on the tomb of Christ: ownership, authentication, security
Letter sealed with wax!Like branding!God’s stamps his own invisible mark on every believer and guarantees the protection and preservation of his children.
C. Received the Holy Spirit as a down payment“Pledge” – earnest money put down as a deposit that guarantees more to come / consummation of the deal!
Engagement ring from God!
Romans 5:5 “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” NIV
Romans 8:11, 23 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you….Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” NIV
Titus 3:6 “whom (the Holy Spirit) he (God the Father) poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,” NIV
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” NIV
1 Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” NIV
John 7:37-39 “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” NIV
Results: security; assurance (Rom 8:15-16; understanding (1 Cor 2:7-8, 10-12); help in weakness (Ro 8:26-27)
Relationships: Blind Spots and New Perspectives, 2 Corinthians 2:1-11
2 Corinthians 2:1-4 “So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. “For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? “I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. “For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.” NIV