We Preach Christ
April 25, 2021      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Teaching through two of the final verses in the book of Hebrews, Jonathan explains not only ‘what’ pleases God but more importantly ‘who’ pleases God. We are being equipped for good works through Him working in us! Jonathan finishes with the four-step process of recreation and “God’s Benefit Package” in Psalms 103.

1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (NIV)
22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

2 Corinthians 1:19 (NIV)
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”

2 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)
5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Colossians 1:28 (NIV)
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV)
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

EQUIP - FOR - DOING His will
HOW?
WORKING IN US - THROUGH - JESUS

“God works IN to get our good works OUT”

WHAT is pleasing to God?
—> Good Works and/or Doing His Will

Hebrews 13:16 - Praise, sharing, giving
Romans 12:1 - Offering your body as a living sacrifice
Colossians 3:20 - Children obeying parents
1 John 3:2-23 - Keeping his commands
Colossians 1:10 - Walking worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit
Philippians 4:18 - Tithes and offerings

2 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV)
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Cain wanted to be Pleasing to God

Genesis 4:7 (NIV)
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

“Cannot" - Romans 8:8
“Impossible" - Hebrews 11:4-6

Romans 8:8 (NIV)
8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Hebrews 11:4-6 (NIV)
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

God might appreciate the effort, but it CANNOT mean anything.

Post Fall = New way to worship God (Sacrifice, Confession, Forgiveness by Bloodshed)

Two Types of Worshippers:
1) Faith
2) Formality
Atonement vs Acknowledgment

HOW can we be pleasing to God?

WHO can be pleasing to God?
JESUS!

(in the River)
Matthew 3:17 (NIV)
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

(in Isaiah)
Matthew 12:18-21 (NIV)
18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”

(on the Mountaintop)
Matthew 17:5 (NIV)
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Jesus is ALWAYS Pleasing to God (John 8:29)

John 8:29 (NIV)
29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Christ is ALL

Colossians 3:4 (NIV)
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

1) Fact - old man was put to death
2) Reckon yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ
3) Don’t let sin reign / don’t offer any part to sin anymore
4) Walk in the “new way” of the Spirit

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

God’s Benefits Package: Psalms 103:1-5
- Forgiveness
- Healing
- Redemption
- Crowning
- Satisfaction

Psalms 103:1-5 (NIV)
1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Christ IS the benefits package!