“HealthyHope”Joel2:12-13a

July12,2020

INTRO: LetmeaskyouaLOADEDquestiontobegin…

Ø Whatkindofshapeareyouin?Ø Imean,justhow“healthy”areyou?Ø Don’tassumeanythinghere…letmeexplain…Ø Whatif“Ithink”and“Ifeel”don’treallymatter?

I’mgoingtoshowyoutoday,throughthetruthandloveofGod’sWord,HOW&whyyoushouldget

spirituallyhealthy:-)CONTEXT:

1. Series(patternsof&pointerstohope)

HopeisoneoftheBible’sgreatestpatterns-JDP

2. Sermons (previousHoly&Healinghope…)

3. Scripture (today’shopeisHEALTHYHope!)i. Joel’spattern:Realize,Remember,Respondii. BEready!“theDayoftheLORDisNEAR!”

BIGIDEA:Healthyhopeisthefruitoffaithfulobedience

ANDrighteous,repetitious,repentanceandrefinement!

PREVIEW:1. REALIZE2. REMEMBER3. RESPOND4. REND5. RETURN

I. REALIZE:HolyHope m

“Yet,evennow”

Ø GodissovereignØ GodisspeakingØ YouneedaMIRACLE…

HolyhopeisINtheCreator,NOTthecreated!HolyhopeisFORtheCreator…andNOTforthecreated…

Holyhopeisgreaterthanevery“even-if.”-JDP

Rememberholyhopeliesatthecenterofthebiblicalgospel1Corinthians13:13

II. REMEMBER:HealingHopem

NOTE: Healinghopebeginswithbiblicalhopelessness.-JDP

Ø Rememberwhosespeaking…Ø RememberwhoGodis&whatHedid/doesØ Rememberwhoyouare&whatyoucan’tdoØ RememberChristalonecangiveMIRACLES!

“Yet, even now…”

“Declares the LORD…

Faithgivesbirthtohope&hopenurturesfaith

Ezekiel36:26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;

I will remove your heart of stone and give you a (new) heart of flesh.

T/S: EverythinghingesonyourviewofScripture.EitherScripturewillbethelensthroughwhichyouviewtheworld,ortheworld(science,politics,worldview,etc)

willbethelensthroughwhichyouviewScripture.Ultimatelyoneortheotherwillbeyourauthority.

- Dustin Benge

III. RESPOND M

“Yet, even now…”

“Declares the LORD… Return to Me - with ALL your heart…with fasting,

with weeping, with mourning, and…”

A. Remorse B. Repent C. Return

1. Return with ALL your heart T/S: Here’s where we go from healing to healthy… HealthyHopeisthebiblicalchurchlivingout

themissionalGospel.

• DefineHealthy…“notdiseasedorinfected,”“sound”• DefineSick….“spirituallyormorallyunsoundorcorrupt,”&“affectedwithadiseaseorinfection”

• Sickhopedisobeys,disregards&disrespectsGod&HisWord,will,&ways…o Self-absorbedhopeo Self-preservinghopeo Self-gratifyinghopeo Self-aggrandizinghopeo Self-deceivinghopeo Self-affirminghope

TobeCLEAR...notallunhealthinessorsicknessislostness...Somepastheroesofthefaithhadhorrificseasonsofunhealthiness...Sicknessisoftensimplyasinfulstumble.

• Noahgotdrunk-naked• Mosesmurdered• Davidshackedup&wenttoZiklag• AbrahamgaveSarahtowrong-mindedking• JohntheBaptistaskedheart-sickquestions• Thomasdoubted• PeterdeniedChrist3X&thencavedinGalatia…• Pauldid&didn’tdostuff...perRomans7

2. Return with fasting a. intimacy, b. insight, c. inspiration d. instruction

3. Return with weeping a. actual, b. active, c. affectualremorse

4. Return with mourning a. teaching, b. training, c. transformativerepentance

5. Return with more… “and”

IV. REND m

“rend your heart,” “not your garments.”

A. Rend = rip open your heart before God!

a. Tare your core, not your clothes b. Break your heart down… to build it up. c. This is supernatural vs. superficial!!! d. This is a heartfelt want-to for sanctification!

Rending=aboutworship,work,warfare,&witnessing

B. Rend is NOT bend, mend, or pretend!

VitaminsforVictory(InspiredbyDr.DavidSlamp’s“SpiritualGrowthSurvey”)

1. CONSISTENTBIBLICALWORSHIP Hebrews10:24-25

a. Consistentcontributingofholisticpraise&worshipwithinyourlocalchurchb. Consistent,personal,passionate-worshipexpressedvertically&horizontallyc. ConsistentBE-ingfromtheinsideout;walkingyourworshipdayin&dayout

2. TRANSFORMATIVEBIBLESTUDY2Timothy3:16-17a. UnderstandingtheBible’sSource&structure,purpose&promisesb. LearninghowtoreadtheBibleforimpact&faith-strengtheningc. GrowinginyourunderstandingoftheBible’scontext,content&commandsd. Reading&meditatingmore&morein/ontheBible’smicro&macrotruthse. BecomingaBible-studyingdisciple…whodisciplesothersinBible-studying

3. SPIRIT-LEADINTERNAL-DISCIPLESHIPEphesians5:15a. MaturinginPrayer&Gracethroughfaith-filledobedienceb. MaturinginPurity&Repentancethroughfaith-filledobediencec. MaturinginPower&Forgivenessthroughfaith-filledobedienced. MaturinginProclaiming&Ambassadorshipthroughfaith-filledobediencee. MaturinginCompassion&Cross-carryingthroughfaith-filledobediencef. MaturinginPassion&Discernmentthroughfaith-filledobedienceg. MaturinginPerseverance&SpiritualWarfarethroughfaith-filledobedienceh. MaturinginLove&Joythroughfaith-filledobediencei. MaturinginPeace&Patiencethroughfaith-filledobediencej. MaturinginKindness&Goodnessthroughfaith-filledobediencek. MaturinginGentleness&Faithfulnessthroughfaith-filledobediencel. MaturinginSelf-control&Humilitythroughfaith-filledobedience

4. BIBLICALSTEWARDSHIPMatthew6:33a. First&foremost,yourtimeisfaithfullysurrenderedtotheLord’scallingb. First&foremost,yourtalentisfaithfullysurrenderedtotheLord’scallingc. First&foremost,yourtreasureisfaithfullysurrenderedtotheLord’scallingd. First&foremost,yourLIFEisfaithfullysurrenderedtotheLord’scalling

5. MISSION-COMMITTEDLIVING/LIFESTYLEActs1:8a. Youpersonallysubmit&committoALLGod’sWord,God’swill,&God’swaysb. Youpersonallysubmit&committotheGreatCommandments&Commissionc. Youpersonallysubmit&committocontributinglocally,regionally&globallyd. Youpersonallysubmit&committoperpetuallysubmitting&committing…e. Youarelearning,loving&livingwho&howtheLordhascalledyoutoBEf. Youareacceptingtheprivilege&responsibilityforyourpersonalministriesg. Youareinvestingyourselfdeeplyintothecalling/missionGodhasgivenyou

6. BE-INGTHECHURCH(EKKLESSIAinKOINONIA)Acts2:41-47

a. BE-ingthebiblicalChurchcallsforbothbelieving&behavingbiblically…b. BE-ingekklessiameans“BE-ingtheChurch”–themiraculous,familyofGodc. BE-inginkoinoniameans“BE-ingsupernaturallyunified”in&forChristd. BE-ingekklessiainkoinoniaisyourbiblicalblessing,mission,&ministrye. BE-ingekklessiainkoinoniaissummarizedin:“together/homothoomadon”

7. ACTIVEPASSIONATEWITNESSINGMatthew28:18-20

a. Youprayforopportunitiestosharethegospelwithadiversityofpeopleb. Youempatheticallyrefusetoseeortreatpeoplelikeinferiorsor“projects”c. Youlookfor&maximizeyourpotentialopportunitiestogofishingformend. Youintentionallyimproveyourcapabilitiestosharethegospelwithotherse. Youinvestinthestarting&buildingofGod-honoring,missionalrelationships

8. HOLISTICCHRIST-LIKEATTITUDESPhilippians1:27a. Youaimtotakeeverythoughtcaptive&allowGod’sWordtofilterit/themb. Youaimtoalignyourattitudes&actionswithGod’swill…perGod’sWordc. Youaimtothinkthru&processeverycircumstance&challengeGod’sway

9. LIVINGDISTINCTFROMTHEWORLDJames4:4

a. Youknowthe“world”iswhereSatan&thefleshfightagainstGod’swaysb. YouknowthatGod’sholy,biblical-standards&definitionsarenowyourstooc. YouknowthatGodwantsyoutoliveasacontrastingwitnessinthisworldd. YouknowthatChrististobeseenin&atthecoreofyourculturalcontraste. Youknowthatlivingdistinctfromtheworldwillcomeataveryrealcost

10. JOYFULLYSERVINGTHEWORLDMark10:45

a. YourgoalinChrist-likeserviceisthegloryofGod&theadvanceofHisgospelb. YourepitomizingofChrist-likenessisinyourloving,joyful,selfless-servicec. Yourmethodsofservicewillbebiblically-affirmedintheiraim&application

11. MISSIONAL&RELATIONAL-DISCIPLESHIPJohn20:21

a. Yourmissionisapersonal,life-longjourneytomatureinChrist-likenessb. YourmissionistobringGodglorybyfinding&growingmoreglorifiersc. Yourmissionistoinvestinrelationshipsthatinform,inspect&inspire!d. YourmissionsharesGod’struthinlovelocally,regionally,&globallye. Yourmissionistomakediscipleswhomakediscipleswhomakedisciplesf. Yourmissionislivedoutingrace-based,loving,life-on-liferelationshipsg. Yourmissionistomakediscipled-warriorswhilewinningspiritualwarfare

V. RETURN m

“Return to the LORD your God…” Here’sthekeytohealthyhope:refiningrepetition!Returning(again)=purging,purifying,empowering

Ø SeethePATTERN:o Returno Rendo Return

BIGIDEA:

HealthyhopeisthefruitoffaithfulobedienceANDrighteous,repetitious,repentance

andrefinement!

HealthyhopeLIVESperpetuallybetweenfaithandlove...

it’sstreetnameisobedience.-JDP

Healthyhopelivesout:

• Beatitudes:o Poorinspirito Mourno Meeko Hunger&thirstafterrighteousnesso Mercifulo Pureinhearto Peace-makerso Persecutedforrighteousness(3X)o

• ArmorofGod:

o HelmetofSalvationo BreastplateofRighteousnesso BeltofTrutho ShieldofFaitho CleatsofPeaceo SwordoftheSpirito CleatsofPeaceo SpiritempoweredPrayer

• 5foldEphesians4Leadershipo Apostleo Prophetso Evangelistso Shepherdso Teachers

• FruitoftheSpirito Loveo Joyo Peaceo Patienceo Kindnesso Goodnesso Gentlenesso Faithfulnesso Self-control

• 5GreatC’so GreatCommandmentso GreatCommissiono GreatCombato GreatChristiano GreatChurch

HealthyHopelivesinkey,koinoniarelationships:• Personal• Partnership• Pods(peers&progressive)• Posey• Platoon• Peoples

Healthyhope,likeallaspectsofChrist-likelove,isNOTmechanical...Thismayblesssomeofyouinalifechangingway...Makenomistake,whilehealthyhope(andloveforthatmatter)include&involvesomemechanics(choicesandactions),theyarebothso,somuchmorethanmerelygoingthruthemotions.Thinkaboutit...alovewithoutheartisalie.Inthesameway,hopewithoutChrist-likenessis

heresy...BTW...unhealthy,hope-pervertingheresiesbreedallkindsofbrokenness&

hypocrisies.–JDP

HealthyhopeisNOTperfect...butitispassionate...HealthyhopeISsharinghope...inlifeonliferelationships.Healthyhopelivesinactive,ongoing,anddailyrepentance!

HealthyhopeisBE-ingyourselfinChrist!

HealthyhopeliterallyLIVESwithaChrist-likeperspective&POWER!

HealthyHopeisChrist-centered,gospel-driven,others-

saturated,obedience-delivering,andfaithfullydisplayed...allinanActs1:8postureofSpirit-ledtruthinlove!–JDP

Healthyhopeliveslookingforpersonsofpeace.Healthyhopelivesloving&servingtheleastoftheseHealthyhopeliveslikeChrist,makingdiscipleswhomakediscipleswhomakedisciples...Healthyhopeliveslikeasoldier...anOlympicathlete...adedicatedfarmer...(2Timothy2:1-6)Healthyhopedeclares,exhorts,rebukes,andliveswithsuchChrist-givenauthoritythatnoonecandisregardthem(Titus2:15)Healthyhopelives...takingeverythoughtcaptive.Healthyhopelivesrejoicing&prayingalways…HealthyHopehasadegreeofpuritythatpracticality&pragmaticsdonotunderstand,norsubmitto...Inotherwords...perGOD’sWord,will,andways,thereareagreatmanythingsthatunhealthypragmatismoftendoes…thathealthyChrist-likenesswillnotdo.–JDP

Healthyhopecanhandlethehurt...

Unhealthyhopeislivingwithafalsesenseofconfidence…itislikeswimminginacrocinfestedriver!

HealthyhopewantsChristtoworship…Unhealthyhopewantsachurchfor“fellowship.”Whenyourfellowshipdefinesyourworship,you’resick.Whenyourworshipdefinesourfellowshipyou’rehealthy!HealthyHopebringscompassionateconfrontation...

HealthyHopeIS:

• Miraculous• Messianic• Missional• Biblical• Bold• Beautiful• Christ-like• Cross-carrying• Compassionate• Selfless• Serving• Sacrificial• Humble• Help-filled• Holistic• Hearty

• Learning• Loving• Living

HealthyHopeisunifiedANDunifyinghope...seeJohn17Howimportantisyourchurch?

1.It/theyteachyouthetruth.2.It/theyholdyouaccountable.3.It/theyprovidesweetfellowship.4.It/theyhelpyouprofessyourfaith.5.It/theyacceptyouasfamily.6.It/theyaidyoursanctification.7.It/theyconfrontyoursin.8.It/theykeepyouGod-focused.-DustinBenge

HealthyHopeisasupernaturalwitness,whereasworldlywishingreflects&revealsasuperficialcancer.

!!

One!FAITH.!!!!!!One!FAMILY.!!!!!!!One!FOCUS.!

“But you wil l receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you wil l BE My witnesses (locally,

regionally, and globally).” !!– Acts 1 :8

!!

One!Question:! ! What do you want?

One!Offer:! ! ! !!!!!!!!Come and see.

One!Promise:! ! !!!!!!!!Truth in love! !

!!

Our$Truth(in(Love$Distinctives:$$$$$We$are…$$

1. Responding!to!grace!&!repenting!of!sin…!2. Trusting!the!Bible!&!obeying!God’s!Word…!3. Growing!in=Christ!&!living!Spirit=led…!4. Praying!for!guidance!&!following!by!faith…!5. Dying!to!self!&!carrying!our!cross…!6. BE=ing!the!Church!&!loving!one!another…(truly!loving!one!another)!7. Equipping!the!saints!&!exemplifying!supernatural!unity…!8. Ministering!as!ambassadors!&!discerning!matters!shrewdly…!!9. Worshipping!God!vertically!&!experiencing!Him!horizontally…!10. Proclaiming!the!Gospel!(no)matter)what)!&!fishing!for!men…!11. Making!discipled=warriors!&!winning!spiritual=warfare…!12. Loving!our!King!&!serving!His!kingdom!!

HealthyHopeisasupernaturalwitness,whereasworldlywishingreflects&revealsasuperficialcancer.HealthyhopecompelswithTheGospel...Unhealthyhopeattractswithworldlywishes.

HopeHappensHere!CLOSE:

Closingcheckonconviction...Howspirituallyhealthyistheheartofyour

Time,Talent,

andTreasure?

Let’sPRAY!

VIDEO:“RackofGlory”(IrishElk–Ludy)