I Rest My Case

John Gray @ Lakewood Church

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2 KJV

Propitiation:(from Latin propitiāre, "to appease;" from propitius, "gracious")[1] is the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution.

Advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. (To one's aid)

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
John 19:30 KJV

Stopped by police.
- A warning
- A ticket
The law reminds you of your broken places.
The enemy wants to cause you to pay repeatedly.

There's an enemy who's trying to stop you when you're on the way to your final destination.
Get caught in  vulnerable moment.
Judges appreciate truth and humility.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Revelation 12:10 NIV
There's is an enemy keeping a case file on you.

The enemy wants to hold you hostage to your failures.

People hold yog hostage to the worse version of yourself. But who you used to be is not who you're going to be.

The enemy is going to have technical difficulties when he tries to put your mistskes on display.

Blood is an external change agent and an internal work.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
1 Peter 1:6 NIV

The Power of the Blood

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

1. Without the shedding of blood there was no remission of sin.
1. Day of Atonement
1. The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies on this day and offer sacrifices for everyone’s sins every year.
1. Holy of Holies
1. The inner chamber of the sanctuary in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, separated by a veil from the outer chamber. It was reserved for the presence of God.
2. Happened every year until Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice.
2. Jesus' blood did away with the temporary system.
1. John 1:29 NIV 
1. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
2. Hebrews 9:12 NIV
1. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
3. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
1. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 
3. The sacrifice won’t do any good if you don’t accept it.
1. Isaiah 44:22 NIV
1. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." 
2. Don't live life looking through the rear view mirror.
2. Quit remembering what God has already forgotten.
1. God is for me,  the enemy is against me and I get to cast the deciding vote.
4. When you accept the blood it can be a number of things in your life.
1. The blood can cause death (literal and figurative) to pass over you
1. Exodus 12:10-13
1. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord 's Passover.  "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord . The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 
2. The blood can become your attorney and speak out for you in injustice.
1. Genesis 4:10 NIV
1. The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 
3. The blood can stop negative seeds from taking root in your life. 
1. Genesis 4:11-12 NIV
1. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 
2. Things that should be able to grow in me can't because the blood is there.

The Day of Atonement

(Leviticus 23:27-28), also known as Yom Kippur, was the most solemn holy day of all the Israelite feasts and festivals, occurring once a year on the tenth day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. On that day, the high priest was to perform elaborate rituals to atone for the sins of the people. Described inLeviticus 16:1-34, the atonement ritual began with Aaron, or subsequent high priests of Israel, coming into the holy of holies. The solemnity of the day was underscored by God telling Moses to warn Aaron not to come into the Most Holy Place whenever he felt like it, only on this special day once a year, lest he die (v. 2).Before entering the tabernacle, Aaron was to bathe and put on special garments (v. 4), then sacrifice a bull for a sin offering for himself and his family (v. 6, 11). The blood of the bull was to be sprinkled on the ark of the covenant. Then Aaron was to bring two goats, one to be sacrificed "because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been" (v. 16), and its blood was sprinkled on the ark of the covenant. The other goat was used as a scapegoat. Aaron placed his hands on its head, confessed over it the rebellion and wickedness of the Israelites, and sent the goat out with an appointed man who released it into the wilderness (v. 21). The goat carried on itself all the sins of the people, which were forgiven for another year (v. 30).

Victoria Osteen at Lakewood Church

1. God speaks of us as what we already are; as a finished product.
1. Romans 8 (More than a Conqueror)
1. Anything that comes my way had already been defeated.
2. We're already called a champion.
2. Boxer worked with a world renowned trainer who believed in one of his boxers so much that he’d predict WHEN the boxer would win as  opposed to if the boxer would win
1. It wasn't a question of whether he would win but when.
2. Champions aren't born, they are made.
3. When God looks at me,  he knows who I am.

Transition Weekend

It’s the beginning of spring and the beginning of a new era as Pastor Robert Emmit of Community Bible Church has handed the ranks to Pastor Ed Newton, officially naming him Lead Pastor. Pastor Robert will still serve with Community Bible Church as Pastor Emeritus. Robert and Ed spoke to the congregation about what all this means!

Transition Weekend

tran·si·tion

tranˈziSH(ə)n,tranˈsiSH(ə)n/

noun

noun: transition; plural noun: transitions

1 1.
the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another."students in transition from one program to another"

2 synonyms:

3 change, passage, move, transformation, conversion, metamorphosis

1. A transition requires one to pass the baton successfully.
1. 4 × 400m Relay
1. The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap.
2. Relay race runners typically carry a relay baton which they must transfer between teammates. Runners have a 20 m box (usually marked with blue lines) in which to transfer the baton…
1. This prevents confusion and collisions during transfer.
2. The 1st runner doesn't leave after his lap, he stays in the stadium and cheers his teammates on.
3. The first guy has to let go.
4. The next guy has to take hold.
2. Successful Transitions in the Bible
1. John to Jesus
1. Matthew 3:13-17 MSG
1. Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you !" But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it. The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." 
3. Jesus to the Disciples
1. Matthew 28:18-20 MSG
1. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." 
4. Elijah to Elisha
1. Summary
1. This is one of the best examples of intentional mentoring.
2. It tells us much about both the role of the protégé and the mentor.
3. In his first encounter with Elijah, Elisha is willing to let go of his occupation, his family, and the life he had built thus far in order to follow after a man offering his mentorship.
4. Elisha went everywhere with Elijah even when Elijah told him that he didn’t have to.
5. Elisha was patient during the transition
2. 2 Kings 2:15
1. The guild of prophets from Jericho saw the whole thing from where they were standing. They said, "The spirit of Elijah lives in Elisha!" They welcomed and honored him. 
3. Key Points
1. These two men were not alike.
1. Organizational Profit vs. People Profit
2. Don't compare people.
5. Legacy
1. Robert is trusting Ed with his Legacy
6. Pastor Emeritus
1. Depending upon the particular church, the title may have some duties such as serving in an advisory role to the leadership group or to the current pastor.
1. There are no biblically set guidelines other than those of the by-laws of the organization or church conferring the honor. 
2. 1 Timothy 5:17
1. “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching”
7.  Ed’s Tribute to Pastor Robert
1. Righteous
2. Obedient
3. Bold
4. Endurance
5. Reputation
6. Teacher
8.  Paul's Transition
1. Pastor Ed mentioned this scripture and I though it was interesting since he was a “Traveling Evangelist” and now he has a home base
1. Romans 15:20-22
1. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:“Those who were not told about him will see,    and those who have not heard will understand.” This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,  I plan to do so…

Peaceful on Purpose

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

• God never said that we wouldn't have storms, he promised peace in the midst of the storm.
• You have to protect your peace.
• You weren't created to be worried. Your mind needs a break
• 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
• Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
• Psalms 23:1-2 KJV
• The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
• Worry is a thief.
• Peace helps you to have the right perspective.
• Take the worry off of the thrown. Use the energy you use to worry to thank God. Let worry be a reminder to praise God.
• Guard your mind.
• Your life will follow your thoughts.
• I'm not designed to carry a heavy load.
• Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 
• Matthew 6:27 KJV
• Worrying doesn't add an inch to your life.
• Speed hump story with the worry tree.
• Pastor Joel and his neighbors lobbied to have a speed bump installed on their street but Pastor Joel got worried that the speed bump warning sign would be installed in front of his house. So he measured to the spot where speed bumps signs were usually installed and planted a tree. When the sign was finally installed, it was installed on the other side of the street no where near his house.
• Matthew 6:34 AMP
• So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. 
• God has given me grace for today.
• What-ifs will depress you.
• Armed with strength for every battle.
• Don't waste today worried about tomorrow.
• For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 
• Hebrews 4:3 KJV
• Enter into God's rest.
• "Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. 
• Matthew 10:16 MSG
• Sheep count on the shepherd to guide and protect them.
• Be at rest.
• Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.  And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.  And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 
• Acts 12:5-7 KJV
• Worry weakens the immune system.
• Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us." 
• Acts 9:13-14 MSG
• Saul had already been changed on the road to Damascus.
• God has already solved many problems that I'm worried about.
• Have you ever felt like your hands were tied thinking that something out of your control needs to change.  The good thing is that God had all control! God asked me to walk by faith not by sight. Don't limit your options by what you see.
• The Children of Israel limited Gods power in their lives. 
• Psalm 78
• Joshua's and Caleb's reports (Numbers 25-34):
• But Caleb tried to quiet the (people's negative report) as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!"
• Get your eyes off of yourself and focus on the limitless God.
• Joshua 1:7
• Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

Asking Big

Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church

• God is a god of more than enough.
• He wants you to have leftovers.
• Mathew 14:15-20
• Jesus had just finished ministering when the disciples urged him to dismiss everyone so that they could go home and eat. Jesus assigned that job to the disciples. The only person who had a lunch was a young kid whose mother packed him 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
• After feeding EVERYONE with the child’s lunch there were 12 basketfuls of leftovers.
• He wants your cup to run over
• Psalm 23:5
• You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
• God wants to deliver you.
• Exodus 5
• The Israelites were praying for TIME OFF of slavery so that they could worship God.
• They were praying to be BETTER SLAVES?!?!?
• God DOES NOT want you to function in your dysfunction!
• Sometimes we get conditioned to not having enough.
• Grandmother with grandkids in private school.
• Matthew 20
• Jesus wanted to hear what they were believing for.  Asking from a limited mentally can limit your destiny.
• James 4:3
• Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
• Ask in spite of what the circumstances look like and what people say about you.
• 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
• Jabez was a better man than his brothers, a man of honor. His mother had named him Jabez (Oh, the pain!), saying, "A painful birth! I bore him in great pain!" Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: "Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don't let evil hurt me." God gave him what he asked.
• Despite his unfortunate beginning and his mom didn’t believe in him,  Jabez believed that GOd's nature was to bless.
• He decided to ask big
• Psalm 2:7-9
• Let me tell you what God said next. He said, "You're my son, And today is your birthday. What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? Continents as a prize? You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow's trash."
• On your birthday you have a boldness and feel entitled to ask big. Don't be shy.
• Luke 11:11-13
• Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
• How much MORE will your heavenly father give!??!
• Luke 12:32
• Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
• Psalm 72
• Solomon prayed for notoriety and influence to advance God's kingdom.

Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church

• Psalm 12:1
• I lift up my eyes to the mountains—    where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,    the Maker of heaven and earth.
• Proverbs 24:16
• …for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
• Where I am now is not my final destination.
• I need to walk through life with lifted eyes.
• When you lift your eyes you'll see:
• God's provision
• Matthew 6:25-34
• “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 
• God's promise
• 1 Peter 5:6-7
• And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand 7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.
• God's power
• Philippians 4:13
•  I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.
• Don't look at the dirt in your life.

The King Is Looking For You

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

It's easy to live guilty sitting on the sidelines in self pity. God is not in the condemning business, he's in the restoration business.

• MEPHIBOSHETH
• 2 Samuel 4
• Son of Jonathan, David's best friend. She dropped him and he became cripple.
• Sometimes in life well-meaning people can put you at a disadvantage.
• They tripped but we have to pay for their mistake.
• It's easy to make excuses especially when it wasn't your fault.  But you have to take the hand that you were dealt and make the best of it.
• A lot of times people aren't giving you something because they don't have it.
• Mephibosheth ended up living in poverty.
• Your location doesn't change your identity.
• When you gave your life to Christ you were made royalty.
• Revelation 1:6 NIV 
• ...and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 
• 2 Samuel 9
• Years later David (the King) went looking for Jonathan's son.
• Luke 15: Parable About the Lost Sheep
• Jesus's parable about the lost sheep.
• In the natural you're lost but the shepherd will leave the 99 to come looking for you.
• David gave all of the land back to Mephibosheth
• He was restored.
• Religion can make God mean but God is not looking for you to condemn you,  but to restore you.
• Luke 4:18
• “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,    because he has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners    and recovery of sight for the blind,to set the oppressed free....
• Mephibosheth had settled in Lo Debar
• It's easy to settle in place of no pasture and/or communication.
• Mercy is all about God not giving us what we deserve.  God doesn't write us off when we make mistakes.
• Prodigal Son
• The younger son asks for his inheritance before the father dies, and the father agrees. The younger son, after wasting his fortune (the word "prodigal" means "wastefully extravagant"), goes hungry during a famine, and becomes so destitute he longs to eat the same food given to hogs, unclean animals in Jewish culture.
• He then returns home with the intention of repenting and begging his father to be one of his hired servants, expecting his relationship with his father is likely severed. Regardless, the father finds him on the road and immediately welcomes him back as his son and holds a feast to celebrate his return, which includes killing a fattened calf usually reserved for special occasions. 
• John Osteen's first marriage didn't work out and his church wrote him off so he left the ministry for 2 years.
• Romans 11:29
• God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
• God knows where you are and he's not going to stop until he puts you back where you're supposed to be.
• Psalm 147:3 NIV 
• He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 

Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood Church

On the phone with son who thanked her for something that she did for him and then shared something that he did because it would make her happy. He thanked her with his actions.

• Hebrews 13:15-16
• Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
• The closest thing to God is helping hurting people. That's how we express our gratitude with our actions.
• Let's show God that we want to please him.

• We're blessed to be a blessing.

Jentzen Franklin @ Lakewood Church

The Gates

• Acts 3:2 NIV
• Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 
• http://bible.com/111/act.3.2.NIV
• The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. 
• Psalm 87:2 NIV 
• http://bible.com/111/psa.87.2.NIV 
• A wall keeps people out but a gate is on henges to let people in.
• The henges represent a choice.
• Joshua 24:15
• But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord ." 
• The Tree of Life
• Genesis 2:9
• The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
• The tree of life could have been put outside because he wanted them to decide for themselves.
• God will always provide a place of refuge.
• Numbers 35
• City of Refuge
• v 6. "Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 
• v.9-15 When you cross the River Jordan into the country of Canaan, designate your asylum-cities, towns to which a person who accidentally kills someone can flee for asylum.
• Psalm 91:1-2
• Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord , "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 
• Psalm 37:7
• Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
• Don't let someone talk you out of the King's protection
• 2 Samuel 3:6-38
• Abner had crossed the River Jordan into the city of refuge
• David negotiated a treaty with Abner via messenger.
• Even when negotiating, Abner did not leave Asylum until an agreement was reached.
• David sent Abner safely on his way
• v. 22-26 But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid and found out about the treaty
• v. 27 When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.
• v. 33 Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? 34 Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered— the victim of a wicked plot.”
• All Abner had to do was stay in the city of refuge and he could have lived.
• He removed himself from the King's protection
• Don't be lured through the gate away from God's protection.
• Cecil the Lion
• He was lured out of refuge with a dead deer.
• He took the bait.
• Cecil's brother, Jericho went looking for Cecil.
• This speaks to the phenomenon of influence.
• It doesn't take long to mess your life up.
• Heaven, Hell, and God's Presence all have gaits.
• Psalm 100:4-5
• Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
• Revelations 21:21
• The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
• Matthew 16:17-19
• ...“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
• The praise that costs the most counts the most.
• You have to get victory over your personal enemies before you can fight God's enemies. David fought the lion and the bear before he defeated Goliath
• Whatever it is that gives you entrance into the place that God has delivered you from is a gate that needs to be removed.
• The music, the internet, alcohol, etc. There's no joy with one foot in the city of refuge and one foot out. Quit explaining it and get rid of it.
• Judges 16:3
• But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. 
• You make your choices and your choices make you.