Restore The Temple

2 Corinthians 6: 2-18

Haggai 1: 3-15, 2: 4-9

Who’s Your Daddy?
John 8:31-48 NASB

• This portion of Scripture refers to three Fathers, three sources of life and identity:
  
  • God the Father, Abraham, and the devil
    
    • God, the Father of the Lord Jesus
      
    • Abraham, the father of the faithful
      
    • Satan, the father of evil doers

I Am the Truth!

For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.
John 18:37b

Weary In Weakness

• We must be careful not to strengthen the layers surrounding our weakness!
  
  • Weary in Shame
    
  • Wicked in Sin
    
  • Wounded in Situations
    
  • Weakness in Self
    
• Our weakness, then, can be distinguished from our shame, our sin, and our wounds.

John 8:31-32

• “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
  
• We are people of the Word! We need Scriptural revelation.
  
• The Word of God has an all-dominating authority.

The critical analysis and the application of critical solvent to the Scriptures that has continued through the modern era and now has a new thrust of doubt encouraged in the post-modern era is the same as abandoning Christianity all together!
- Pastor Jeff

I Am the Truth!

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6

Before the Fall of man, in the garden of Eden, there were no Scriptures and there will be no need for further written revelation following the resurrection.
- Abraham Kuyper

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. I John 3:2-3

John 8:33

• Religious Arrogance
  
• Abraham’s children had been in bondage on at least two occasions.
  
  • They were slaves in Egypt and in Babylon
    
  • More potent still was the simple fact that even as the leaders spoke, their land was occupied by the Roman legions.
    
  • In a deeper and more tragic sense, they were in bondage and had become bondsmen to sin.

John 8:34-38

• The New Testament uses three vital words to describe the condition of an unregenerate person:
  
  • Amartolos means “a sinner”
    
    • I Timothy 1:15
      
  • Doulos means “a slave”
    
    • II Peter 2:19
      
  • Exthros has been translated “an enemy”
    
    • Romans 5:10

John 8:39-41

• Abraham had taken to him the servant girl Hagar, and that she had given birth to Ishmael.
  
  • He was indisputably the seed of Abraham
    
  • But Ishmael was not the son of promise
    
  • This distinction is emphasized in Romans 9: 6-8
    
  • Romans 4:11 – Abraham was “the father of all them that believe”

John 8:42-45

• These Jews were seen as slaves; now they are revealed as enemies serving under God’s greatest opponent, Satan.
  
  • Lucifer, the son of the morning
    
  • Ezekiel 28:11–15 and Isaiah 14:12–15
    
• Jesus inferred that like their father these people had been in the position of privilege, but this was being forfeited.
  
• They were falling, and were now in danger of being cast down to hell.

John 8:46-48

• We are so needy in our arrogant, self-reliant religion.
  
• Jesus had explained the truth of their own Scriptures.
  
• His conduct was above reproach.
  
• If these things were untrue, the opportunity was provided to say so publicly.

The Barriers of our Faith

• We must break through the three barriers of faith:
  
  • Cynicism
    
  • Ignorance
    
  • Empiricism
    
• We can believe in our hearts and still doubt in our heads.
  
  • Doubt your doubts!

Stumbling In The Darkness
John 8:12-30 NLT

Stumbling In The Dark?
Walk In The Light!

• Light Reveals
  
• Light Encourages
  
• Light Energizes
  
• Light Warns
  
• Light Blinds

Weary In Weakness

• We must be careful not to strengthen the layers surrounding our weakness!
  
  • Weary in Shame
    
  • Wicked in Sin
    
  • Wounded in Situations
    
  • Weakness in Self
    
• Our weakness, then, can be distinguished from our shame, our sin, and our wounds.

“I Am”

• I Am the bread of life. John 6:35
  
• I Am the light of the world John 8:12
  
• I Am the Good Shepherd John 10:7-11
  
• I Am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25,26
  
• I Am the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6-9
  
• I Am the true vine. John 15:1-5
  
• Before Abraham was, I Am. John 8:58

The Barriers of our Faith

• We must break through the three barriers of faith:
  
  • Cynicism
    
  • Ignorance
    
  • Empiricism
    
• We can believe in our hearts and still doubt in our heads.
  
  • Doubt your doubts!

John 8: 21-22

• Three strong suggestions:
  
  • Opportunities do not last indefinitely!
    
  • Opportunities, lost, seldom return.
    
  • Opportunities denied mean eternal tragedy.

Verse 25 – He is the Light of the World!

• Jesus revealed:
  
  • The sinfulness of sin
    
  • The shallowness of legalism
    
  • The insufficiency of traditional religion
    
  • The holiness of the Father
    
  • The dangers of eternal damnation
    
  • The only way by which sinners could escape.
    
• “I am exactly that which I have told you from the beginning.”

False Spiritual Expressions:

• Traditionalism = paying homage to sect that built their traditions around sayings and laws.
  
• Legalism = A strict conformity to a religious or moral code. (Living by the Law)
  
• Superstition = controlling millions of people by fear.

What Life Are You Waiting For?
John 8:1-12 NLT

Weary In Weakness

• We must be careful not to strengthen the layers surrounding our weakness!
  
  • Weary in Shame
    
  • Wicked in Sin
    
  • Wounded in Situations
    
  • Weakness in Self
    
• Our weakness, then, can be distinguished from our shame, our sin, and our wounds.

Writing On The Ground

• Speculations abound!
  
• Three possibilities:
  
  • The accusers law – Deuteronomy 22:22
    
  • The accusers sins – Their fear of secrets exposed.
    
  • God’s Word revealed!
    
    • Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 111:4
      
• Possibly all three!

‘The LORD is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’. Numbers 14:18

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our LORD!
Psalm 111:4

Are You Thirsty?
John 7:37-39 NKJV

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 
John 7:37-38

But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:39

Weary In Weakness

• We must be careful not to strengthen the layers surrounding our weakness!
  
  • Weary in Shame
    
  • Wicked in Sin
    
  • Wounded in Situations
    
  • Weakness in Self
    
• Our weakness, then, can be distinguished from our shame, our sin, and our wounds.

Truth is the thread that separates true spirituality from false spirituality.

Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6

The Question Jesus Asked

• Matthew 16
  
  • Jesus’ question to His disciples
    
  • Surrounded by worldly influences
    
• John 7
  
  • Jesus proclamation to the nation of Israel
    
  • In the city of God at the Feast of Booths

“Jesus” choruses:

• Jesus In The Morning
  
• Praise The Name of Jesus
  
• Jesus, Name Above All Names
  
• Your Name Is As Ointment Poured Forth
  
• There’s Just Something About That Name