1 Corinthians 10:13

¹³No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

How many of you believe, in your heart of hearts, that this is true? Many nod their head. But, oftentimes, when we're in the heart of the flame of temptation or trial or hardship or suffering, it feels like too much to bear. During these times, we feel abandoned by God and helpless to help ourselves. If this is true, what is the way out?

"If there is one scrap of bread that you need, as God's child, in order to keep your faith (from) the dungeon of starvation, you will have it. God does not promise enough food for comfort or life--he promises enough so that you can trust him and do his will"-- John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life.

The way out is putting our faith in the One we can trust because by our strength alone, the burden is too much to bear. But, with the Holy Spirit empowering us, we will stand up!

Romans 8:35-39 says that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing.

So, remember, when you feel helpless, God's love for you will be your help. Let him help you. Moreover, your brothers and sisters will help you carry your burdens. Let them pray for you.

The Roadway Soil- Pastor Jeff Warda

Mark 4:1-20

The Soils represent the different hearts of people who have been exposed to the Word.

- "these are the ones"

a) roadway soil

b) rocky soil

c) thorny soil

d) good soil

- "hear the word"

* Proverbs 4:23- "Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life"

- What kind of fruit can grow from a heart that is not taken care of?

~ What is the condition of my heart today?

Four Characteristics of the Person with a Roadway Heart:

1) they have heard the Word of God

- hearers of the Word but not doers

2) they are hardened to the Word of God

- their heart cannot be penetrated by the Word because:

a) the effect of sin on the human heart

- the more one sins, the harder their heart becomes

b) failure to cultivate and prepare it for the seed of the Word

- how do you cultivate your heart?

i) requires initial work of God

- unless God prepares our hearts, we can't receive the Word

ii) requires our own responsibility

- as Christians, when we come to the Word, we should prepare our hearts as well

~ do you prepare your heart before Sunday/Friday worship?

what do you do on Saturday night?

- non-Christian is also responsible for his heart. if he adds to it worldly things, it will be hardened.

3) they allow the Word of God to be trampled underfoot

* Luke 8:5- "Some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up."

a) by mocking the Word of God

b) by dealing with the Word flippantly

c) by denying it, trying to disclaim it; by seeing it as ordinary words (and not as the Truth)

* Psalm 138: 2- God has magnified His word according to His name

4) they are easy prey to Satanic attack

- v. 15- "As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the Word that was sown in them."

- there is no resistance to the taking of the Word

- the devil has easy access to his heart because of his own vulnerability to the devil

- Satan is still active to steal the Word from churches

~ did you prepare yourself for spiritual warfare today?

Application

to Christians:

1) if it wasn't for the grace of God, your heart would be like this roadway soil-- be thankful!

- the credit goes to God. He gave you a new heart so you could receive the Word ant he devil wouldn't be able to take the Word away

2) cultivate and prepare your heart to receive the Word of God

- are you living in sin? are you filling your mind with the filth of the world? Then, you are not cultivating your heart!

"Don't let my heart grow cold. I'm calling out, light the fire again"

to non-Christians:

1) consider how dangerous it is to have a roadway heart, a heart that is hardened and unable to cultivate fruit

- you need to have a new heart and only God can give that heart to you. you cannot give it to yourself

2) the devil is more interested in the Word of God than you are

- the devil doesn't have the same kind of nonchalant attitude you have towards the Word of God

- even he sees that the Word of God ha power. this is why he tries to steal it away

The Wise and Foolish Builder (Matthew 7:24-27)- Pastor Jeff Warda

Hay everyone :) I actually wanted to share this message a long time ago, but I kept putting off posting it. But now I have. And maybe it comes at the perfect time in your life.

Pastor Jeff is my pastor at Harvest San Diego and his messages really rely on the Word of God. I'm not saying that they are without fault (sometimes I disagree with what he is saying), but I encourage you guys to look at the Scripture and test and approve what my pastor is saying in this message [Hopefully I'll be able to post the recording too].

This specific message was very convicting to me. It's a message that I have heard time and again, but it was a great reminder and came at a really good time at the beginning of our school year. As you read through my notes, I encourage you to question yourself and where you are at this moment your life. Are you merely a hearer of the Word, or do you do what God says? I think it's a danger to gain all this head knowledge about who God is and what He commands us to do, and yet, stand idly by while the world passes away and while we are running out of time. Be a good steward of what God has given you! Don't waste this life! When you build your life on Christ and you are put to the test, you will endure! Praise God that He is the Solid Rock!

The Wise and Foolish Builder

(Matthew 7:24-27)

- God commands us to be doers of the word, not merely hearers (James 1:22)
* Matthew 5:29-30~ there are radical steps to removing temptation
Galations 6:7~ a man reaps what he sows, receives the consequences of his actions
- and the root of our problems is a failure to act upon Christ's teaching

similarities between the wise man and the foolish man:

1. both heard the Word of Christ

- "everyone who hears these words of mine" (v. 24, 26)

2. both built themselves a house

- "built his house" (v. 24, 26)

--> symbol for man's life. 'build a life'

3. each of their houses would be put to the test

- "the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house"

(v. 25, 27)

--> storms of life. godly men/wise men & ungodly/unwise men would experience difficulties

~ tests from God to refine him

~ tests from Devil to destroy him

~ tests from man himself; consequences of his actions

* Job 5:7 -- "man is born for trouble"

differences between the wise man and the foolish man:

1. wise man acts on Word of Jesus, foolish man does not

2. wise built house on rock, foolish did not

- "on the rock" vs. "on the sand" (v. 24, 26)

--> rock symbolizes strength, security, something that will stand the test of time = Christ and

the teachings of Christ

--> sand symbolizes uncertainty, instability, something that is always shifting/moving =

everything outside of Christ, human philosophy & wisdom

~ ie. emotionalism, science

3. wise endured trials of life, foolish did not

- "did not fall" vs. "fell with great crash" (v. 25, 27)

So, which one are you? Are you the wise or foolish builder? Are you acting on the Word of Jesus or not? Have you built your life on Christ and his teaching, or on something that shifts like sand? Are you enduring the trials of this life, or are you struggling?

Don't Let the Beanbag Get You

Proverbs 3:7 says, "Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil." Joshua Harris uses a beanbag chair to illustrate how we often fail to "turn away from evil.

My discipler sent me this youtube video. I don't know why she did it, but I'm glad she did. How many times do we remind ourselves of the dangers of sin and why we need to turn away from it?

It's so easy for us humans to be caught up in the things of this world. Before we know it, sin can deceive us, Satan can deceive us and tell us that the sins that we do are "not so evil" and we start forgetting who God is and why we have become so distant from Him. What does it mean to you to flee from your sin? How can we flee from sin daily?

Yes; we Christians need to turn away from evil. But we also need to arm ourselves with God's Word, the sword of the Spirit, to fight evil in our lives.

The Bridge

Hay brothers and sisters,

I just wanted to share this video with you because I was truly blessed from having seen it: http://youtu.be/6gjMx1drNWs


Oh, how the Gospel replenishes my soul and gives me greater perspective on the life I am living! Oh, how necessary is it for me to see that I never saved my self, was never able to choose God! Faith is a gift from God. His Holy Spirit worked in me; it was ALL His doing that reconciled me to Him.

Naturally, I despised my Savior, spit at His wounds, and nailed Him to the cross.
And still He saved me.
Naturally, I committed adultery against our relationship, finding pleasures in other activities, in other people.
And still He saved me.
Naturally, I chose to follow the ways of this world, fell to temptation even when the Word told me otherwise.
And still He saved me.

How, then, can we be prideful in our salvation? How, then, can we say "I am better than an unbeliever"? Woe to me, a sinner, to think those thoughts! Without Christ, I am the same, if not worse, than every sinner. Without His saving grace, I could have never ensured my own salvation. It is not by works; it is only through faith. I did not choose faith, I did not choose to believe in God. God revealed Himself to me so that I had the ability to choose Him.



Please post your thoughts about this video. Let us bless each other to see how God can use something so simple to stir our hearts to worship Him.

Jesus the Great High Priest-- Chris Wu (Hebrews 4:14-16)

hay capstone!

it's been awhile since i posted on here. i just wanted to share this message because i was really blessed by it. here are my notes:

Three Reasons Why The Sufficiency of Jesus Christ Will Satisfy You

1. Christ is the perfect High Priest
- v.14~ Jesus is the Great High Priest
* Heb 1:3, 2:17, 3:1, 4:14
- what does it mean to be a high priest?
--> a mediator between God Himself and the people
* Lev 16~ role of the high priest in Holy of Holies
- Christ made the ultimate sacrifice
- Jesus passed through the inner and outer sanctuary to dwell in Heaven, at the right hand of God
* Heb 9:12-- "entered the Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption"
- He holds His priesthood permanently and continously intercedes for you, on your behalf
* Heb 7:24-25-- "permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely...because he always lives to
intercede"
- only Jesus Christ can solve your sin. only Jesus Christ can sanctify you

2. Christ is the perfect person
- v. 15-- "yet without sin"
- He sympathizes with our weaknesses. He experienced every type of temptation <-- was immeasurably harder
than when we experience temptation because it is a full assault from Satan
* Mt 4~ tempted with food after fasting 40 days & nights <= full attack to disobey God
- He understands you perfectly, and to a greater extent
--> loneliness: abandoned/forsaken by God, only one of His kind
--> pain: crucifixion, separation from His Father
--> guilt: bore sin of all that were to come to believe
~ are you struggling with sin? go to Jesus! go to the One who can sanctify you. Christ is your hope.

3. Christ is the perfect giver
- v. 16-- "receive grace and mercy to help us in our time of need"
- persevere in your confession of Christ. don't go back!
- "approach his throne with confidence"
--> throne of grace vs. throne of judgement
--> come to the throne with joy :D
- denying salvation leads to death. receiving salvation leads to eternal life
* 1 Jn 2:12-14~ exhortation to 'come to the throne'
- cultivate a relationship with your Lord and Savior
~ why woudl you find satisfaction in anything else?
--> satisfied in relationships? your relationship with God is so much greater!
=> dont' be satisfied in soup! be satisfied in the richness of God, the Living Bread of Christ!

Jesus: The Bread of Life-- Justin Eric Chan (John 6:22-35)

At Harvest church, one of my brothers named Justin Chan speaks for Friday Night Fellowship sometimes. I believe this brother truly has a great understanding of the condition of the heart ["The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9]. I am always truly blessed to hear Justin speak because they make me examine my heart and where I stand before God. This quarter, Harvest is learning about Jesus Christ because the whole theme this year is Behold Your God (last quarter was about God the Father). So, what do you think it means for Jesus to be the Bread of Life?

v.27~ one command: seek true Bread, seek Jesus who is the only One who can meet our needs

What hindered the Jews from seeking true bread? What hinders us from seeking Jesus?
1) self-sufficiency
v.28~ their response should have been dependence on God instead of their own pride
* we must come to place where we need Him
* active obedience to God is a result of growing dependence on God
v.29--Mal 3:1~ Jesus' response: depend on CHrist
* self-sufficiency is the root of all sin, equals independence from God

2) forgetting God
v.30-31~ what they really wanted wasn't a sign but wanted bread, would serve God if He served them
v.32-33~ Jesus pointed them to God
* manna wasn't meant to prove God exists but to prove man cannot exist without God, that man is in need of God
- to remind us that we need Him daily
> Deut 8:1-3~ the purpose of the manna was "to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord"
* saying "grace"- God's grace to provide food to sustain you
> Deut 8:18; Ps 42:6, 77:11-13, 105:4-5
* you need Jesus. without Him, you're dead. this is Truth.
* when I forget God is holy, I forget that I'm a sinner

3) blindness to our needs
v.34~ they were blind to what they truly needed
> John 4:14-18~ Jesus confronted the woman's sins and revealed her needs
v.36- "But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe"
* when do people cling to God?
- when they have needs!
--> how much more should we cling to God because we're sinners!!
v.41, 60, 66~ when Jesus revaled their sins, they ran away from Him instead of clinging to Him
* SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES-- Bible reading and prayer are hard work/discipline but they're a discipline of grace
- it's not service to God when i read my Bible/pray but service to me and my needs

Our motivation for true Bread is the invitation to Christ
v.35- "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty"
- invitation for sinners, the desperate who begged for mercy
> Lk 5:31-32~ Jesus is concerned w/ sinners
> Jn 7:37, Mt 11:28

> Is 55:1-3~ benefits of invitation
1) it's completely free
2) there is abundance of good things
* what satisfies vs. what doesn't satisfy
- buying something and not getting what you want
v.2- 'why spend money on what is not bread'
3) these things are eternal
* will never run out

God doesn't want to hurt you, but heal you
v.53-56~ the cross was the greatest demonstration of man's desperate need for God

After hearing Justin's message, I knew I was guilty of all three hindrances. But, although I was burdened with these things, it greatly revealed to me the Truth of salvation--that I am not saved through what I do. I am in need of God, and of Jesus Christ my Savior, to save me from this body of death and the condemnation of sin. There is no condemnation with Christ. I have assurance of salvation. Sometimes I may want to be self-sufficient, may forget who God is, and may be blind to my own needs, but God will continually draw me back through His Word, reminding me that I am a sinful man in need of new mercies everyday and ultimately, in need of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on my behalf. Jesus fully satisfied God's wrath; therefore, God's justice and mercy were both completely filled.

I have realized lately that no matter how many times I preach the Gospel to myself, there is still so much to learn about it. God is AWESOME.