“Confident Sufficiency in Christ Alone” - 2 CORINTHIANS 3

~ by James Fire

2 CORINTHIANS 3 “Confident Sufficiency in Christ Alone”

Watch the TWO PART Facebook video - PART ONE and PART TWO.

INTRODUCTION: The church at Corinth, founded as you know, by the apostle Paul is a perfect example of how corruption found in any culture wrongly infects the body of Christ. We aren’t to have fellowship with the works of corruption, sin, and darkness (EPH 5:11), because this will adversely affect us. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 COR 5:6). Whereas the LORD Jesus ate, drank, and regularly fellowshipped with sinners, these children of darkness (MT 11:19). Is this a contradiction? Not at all!

We’re called of GOD to be salt and light and have a godly influence among the lost. We can follow our LORD’s example and minister to the lost; but we’re not to come under the influence of ungodliness.

Of all of Paul’s epistles, 1st and 2nd CORINTHIANS have the most corrections, admonitions, and rebukes. This demonstrates the apostle’s unswerving love and devotion to the saints in this fellowship (2 COR 12:15), just as the LORD Himself rebukes and chastens those He loves (REV 3:19).

Last week pastor Kevin spoke about biblical hope: it’s not wishful thinking; rather it’s a confident expectation; a confident expectation of the truth of GOD’s Word that fulfills all of His promises. In this chapter, we’ll continue this theme of biblical hope found only in Christ Jesus and nowhere else, and thus the title for this sermon “Confident Sufficiency in Christ Alone”.

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 18

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Numbers by pastor Chuck Smith

NUMBERS 18: “PROTECT THE WORK OF THE LORD AND GIVE TO THE WORK OF THE LORD” – by Sonny Islas, For the full message, watch it on the Facebook video or on SHINE BRIGHT Church YouTube channel!

INTRODUCTION: We are now in Numbers 18. Before we read, let me remind you of chapter 18’s backdrop and setting.

In NUMBERS 16, Korah and 250 other top Israelite leaders (from the Twelve Tribes), came against Moses and Aaron – really, they came against God because they wanted (lusted after) what wasn’t given to them and that was the priesthood. They were unhappy with their lesser roles and God’s choice of men regarding the priesthood which was Aaron and his sons.

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The GREAT DIVIDE COMING - by special guest writer, Lambert Dolphin

I believe I am among a sizeable subset of Christians in this country who believes that the United States is now on the fast track to judgment. Down through history the Bible shows that God periodically judges individual nations for their bad conduct. He chastens by lowering a nation's position, status, wealth, and power among the other nations. He destroys by war, by famine, plague, or natural disasters.

God judges individuals, both those who believe and those who do not. "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." (1 COR 11:31,32).

Many once-great nations are now completely extinct (see the series by Ray Stedman, "Behind History,"). There has never yet been a "Christian nation" on earth. It is the spiritual vitality of Christian churches within a nation that makes the difference. Human beings are fallen, and nations are fallen. 

"Fallen" speaks of a departure from righteousness, justice, and truth. Nations are often led by corrupt dictators--and the entire world system is ruled over by Satan. Nations with large numbers of professing Christians may not be more righteous than nations with a relatively few Christians who are mostly Philadelphian in their church leadership style. This is the reality of the world we were born into.

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 17

NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 17

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Numbers by pastor Chuck Smith

NUMBERS 17: “THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROD” – by Albert Lopez

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever been on the wrong side of something? Like if you’re playing basketball or football and your team loses. You probably don’t like the feeling of losing specially if maybe you had a chance to win if you had only done this or maybe not this. Passed the ball at this time or shot the ball at this time. Many scenarios might play out, but the outcome was still the same you were on the wrong side of the scoreboard. You lost.

Then there is another outcome you are on the winning side at times. You end up on the right side of something. You followed the game plan. You stuck to it and so did your team. Everything turned out the way you planned, and you got the win.

Some of you may not be able to relate to sports but maybe you can remember a time when you and your siblings did something wrong or disobedient. Travesuras and you were the one who got in trouble or got the worst of the punishment. You were probably supposed to be the example if you are the oldest but instead failed miserably and went along with this misbehavior. You got into mischief, and you paid for it. You were on the wrong side or picked the wrong side

Then there were times maybe you can remember where you remember watching your sibling get into trouble and were witness to the punishment that was handed out. You were on the right side, and you hoped there was something that you can do to get them out of the punishment, but it was too late the chancla or the cinto was out and it was going to be used.

Not exactly the same thing but we can say that Aaron experienced what it was to be on the losing or disobedient side even rebellious side. He probably remembered the disappointment in Moses his brother’s eyes.

Most of all he probably also remembered how he helped in the corruption or defilement of the people when he made them a Golden Calf. If that wasn’t enough, he made them an altar for the Golden Calf. Then made a foolish proclamation saying that “tomorrow shall be the feast for the Lord”.

It was foolish because the people had been referring to the Golden Calf as their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt. This was the beginnings of the Idolatry that would follow God’s people and God would discipline them as we read throughout the bible. This was an example of how Aaron was on the wrong side of the rod and was witness to God disciplining the people’s disobedience that he was a part of. He however was spared, and we can see that God sparing him allowed him to be on the right side of the rod later on.

The time that Aaron ended up on the right side of the rod he took godly council which came from his brother Moses.

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THE CHRIST OF GOD - PART TWO Of TWO

Watch the SHINE BRIGHT Facebook video of this teaching here or on the YouTube page here.

By Sonny Islas 

INTRODUCTION: Today, we are going to take a magnifying-glass-look at Peter’s great confession regarding Jesus’ identity, where Jesus asked, “who do you say that I am?” And Peter replied, “You are the Christ of God (In Luke’s Gospel).”

We’re going to discover how this majestic title, “Christ,” connects to the Old Testament scriptures and Old Testament prophecy. This will help us to better understand what Peter was thinking when he replied in this awesome way.

To start, Christ is not Jesus’ last name – Christ is a Messianic title.

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PONDERING THE PARABLES – Part Seven

~ by James Fire

INTRODUCTION: We are nearing the completion of this series on the parables – though this is probably not exhaustive in that I haven’t addressed every parable listed in the Scripture, nor have I mined the bottom most depths of any one of them.
Nevertheless, my prayer and hope is that readers will examine these articles and be encouraged to launch out on a study of their own!

While parables are allegorical, they expound on spiritual truth that is absolute, and in many, if not most of them there are prophetic elements that address the kingdom of heaven throughout the church age, the Second Coming of Christ, the inauguration of the Millennial reign – and all that these entail. Such is the first of several that we have before us in today’s segment.

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WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?’ PART ONE Of TWO

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?’ PART ONE Of This TWO PART Article

~ by Sonny Islas
Watch the SHINE BRIGHT Facebook video of this teaching here or on the Youtube page here 

Today, we will focus on Peter’s great confession regarding Jesus’ identity – where for the first time, Peter boldly declares Jesus as “The Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter’s spiritual eyesight is becoming a bit clearer as Jesus draws closer to the cross.

This is a high point in Jesus’ ministry because Peter and the bunch MUST have a divine understating of Jesus’ true identity if they will be saved from hell and if they would be the co-founders of the Church (EPH 2:20) and co-authors of the New Testament Scriptures.

MARK 8:27-30
27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?" 28 So they answered, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." 29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ." 30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 16

NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 16

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Numbers by pastor Chuck Smith

NUMBERS 16: “A FIGHT FOR HIGH POSITION” – by Sonny Islas, For the full message, watch it on the Facebook video or on SHINE BRIGHT Church YouTube channel!

INTRODUCTION: At this point in the story, we’re going to read about a very envious and self-centered man by the name of Korah, (his name means bald, possibly pointing to his hairless body as a newborn baby, and like Moses and Aaron, he too was Levite). This man led a great rebellion against Moses and Aaron. He and his followers wanted to take Moses and Aaron’s God-given positions. But as we will soon see, Korah and his conspirators will get a rude awakening from the LORD Himself!

The Book of Jude calls Korah’s actions “the rebellion of Korah” (JUDE 1:11).

Korah went down in history as a rebel towards God and God’s men.

We can also view this sad scene as A GIANT OLD TESTAMENT CHURCH SPLIT. This was one massive division. It’s a picture of what one discontented megalomaniac guy can do. “A little leaven (the sin of pride) can in fact leaven (affect and influence) the whole lump (in Korah’s case – thousands of discontented Israelites)” (GAL 5:9).

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 15

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Numbers by pastor Chuck Smith

NUMBERS 15: “DESIRE the FIRE for the LORD” – by James Fire, For the full message, watch it on the Facebook video!

INTRODUCTION: From EXODUS to LEVITICUS and now in NUMBERS we have been learning about sacrifices, more sacrifices and still more sacrifices. The LORD in this chapter is reminding His people that once they enter into the Promised Land, that they were to offer up sacrifices in the spirit of praise and a heart of thanksgiving: It reminds me of an old church song we used to sing in my young days as a Christian:
“We bring the sacrifice of praise unto the house of the LORD. We bring the sacrifice of praise unto the house of the LORD. And we offer up to You, the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and we offer up to You the sacrifices of joy!”

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THE KEY TO GENUINE HAPPINESS - Wisdom Wednesday in PROVERBS with pastor Sonny

THE KEY TO GENUINE HAPPINESS by Sonny Islas                                                               

Today’s mini lesson/devotional is titled: THE KEY TO GENUINE HAPPINESS (Check out the FB Video here. Or on the SHINE BRIGHT YouTube Channel here).

Here’s a simple and secular definition of the word happy: "feeling or showing pleasure or contentment". 

 But the word happy in the Bible is always connected to being blessed, which then has a higher meaning in the sense that the biblical idea of happiness is always connected to the way in which we respond to God and the way in which God responds to us. Your happiness is then connected to the way you respond to God. We’ll look at this a little more in a minute.

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 14

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Numbers by pastor Chuck Smith

NUMBERS 14: “CONQUERORS & CRYBABIES” – by Sonny Islas, For the full message, watch it on the Facebook video or on SHINE BRIGHT Church YouTube channel!

INTRODUCTION: Let’s pick up where we left off last Wednesday in NUMBERS 13; this and NUMBERS 14 are one story line.

At this point in the narrative, we can categorize the people of Israel into two distinct groups – Conquerors and Crybabies or Believers and Unbelievers. Caleb and Joshua are among the courageous and faithful, the rest (except for Moses, Aaron, and few others) were among the cowardice and faithless.

And in every local Evangelical church today, you will find these two types of people. Those who take God at His Word and those who dismiss His Word, to their own eternal peril. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 7:24-27 (and I paraphrase) Those who obey God’s Word are the wise ones who built their house on the rock and those who don’t obey God’s Word are the foolish ones who built their house on the sand. The Day of Judgment will reveal everyone’s foundation – made up of either solid rock or sinking sand.

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