Building Ourselves Up

On Our Most Holy Faith

Jude 20

Meeting 1 – The Prophecy of the First Coming of Christ

1.       Our Faith

a.       Most holy – Jude 20

b.      Precious – 2 Pet. 1:1

c.       Unexplainable, not analytical – 1 Pet. 1:8

d.      Unshakeable

e.       Faith is living – not only a mental acceptance, but causing us to have a positive reaction to what God has accomplished and given us – 1 Pet. 1:3-12

2.       Our belief

a.       The Bible is the word of God – 2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-16

i.         1500+ years to write by 40+ writers

ii.       39 books in the Old Testament, 27 books in the New Testament

b.      Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, who came to be our Savior

i.         Many will say that they are the Christ – Matt. 24:5

ii.       We must come to the word – 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Luke 24:27

c.       The church is God’s purpose today to fulfill His eternal purpose – Eph. 3:8-11

3.       The prophecies of the first coming of Jesus Christ as the Messiah

a.       The first prophecy of the coming of Christ came in Genesis due to the fall of man – Gen. 3:15

b.      The exact time of the coming Christ – Daniel 9:24-26

i.         Each week equals 7 prophetic years (contains 360 days)

ii.       49 years to rebuild Jerusalem

iii.      434 years later came the Messiah

iv.     Total of 483 prophetic years, for a total of 173,880 days

v.       Start date was when the decree was given by King Artaxerxes, King of Persia –  Neh. 2:1, 7-8

a)       His reign was from 465BC-425BC

b)      Mar 5, 444BC – 20^th year of his reign in the month of Nisan

vi.     Jerusalem was built during much opposition

vii.    End date was when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on a donkey being proclaimed as the King of Israel – Zech. 9:9; John 12:12-16

a)       He was approximately 30 years old on August 19, 28AD – Luke 3:1, 23

1)       Tiberius began his reign the day Augustus died on Aug 19 14AD – Luke 3:1

2)       In his 15^th year marks Aug 19, 28AD

3)       He was about 30 years old – Luke 3:23

4)       His ministry was 3½ years, placing us into the Passover in 33AD

b)      The day Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey 5 days before the Passover – John 12:1, 12

1)       Six days before the feast – March 29^th, 33AD – John 12:1

2)       The next day Jesus came – March 30^h, 33AD

c.       The birthplace of Christ

i.         Micah 5:2

ii.       Matt. 2:1-6 – Jesus born in Bethlehem

iii.      Luke 2:4-5 – Roman census brought them back to Bethlehem

d.      Born of a virgin

i.         Isa. 7:14 – prophecy

ii.       Luke 1:27, 31, 34-35 – fulfillment

e.       Christ’s death on the cross

i.         Messiah was crucified – Daniel 9:26; Gen 3:16

ii.       How He was crucified

a)       Pierced in both hands and feet – no such thing as crucifixion during King David time – Psa. 22:16-17

b)      Forsaken on the cross – Psa 22:1; Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34

c)       What He went through while hanging on the cross – Psa. 22:1-20; Matt. 27:33-44

d)      His garments divided – Psa. 22:18; John 19:24

e)       His bones would not be broken – Psa. 34:20; Exo. 12:40; Num. 9:12; John 19:31-36

f)        Pierced in His side – Zech. 12:10; John 19:34

4.       The purpose of Christ’s first coming

a.       For the salvation of man – Zech. 9:9

b.      Finish transgressions, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity – Dan. 9:24

c.       Establish His kingdom on earth – Isa. 9:6-7; Dan 9:24, Zech. 14:9

5.       His only requirement is to believe in Him

a.       The main sin is not to believe – John 16:8-9

b.      You believe to receive – Rom. 10:9, 13

c.       How can we not believe with such proof in the Word of God

Meeting 2 – Christ’s Accomplishment for Our Salvation and Our Life

1.       Christ’s humanity – His human living

a.       His appearance – Isa. 52:14; 53:2-3

b.      His obedience to do the Father’s will – Phil. 2:5-8; Heb 10:5-7

i.         Christ as the burnt offering – He is the only one who satisfied God – Psalms 40:6-10; 1 Sam 15:22-23

ii.       As a Child, He listening to his parents – Luke 2:41-52

iii.      His baptism demonstrated the obedience He had to the Father, being put in a position of death – Matt. 3:14-17

iv.     Tempted by the Devil – Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13

v.       Lord’s prayer at Gethsemane – Luke 22:39-46; Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42

c.       His ministry

i.         Preach the good tidings (the gospel) – Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:17-21

ii.       The salvation of the Gentiles – Isa. 42:1-3

d.      Christ human living as our meal offering – Lev. 16:14-23

i.         Fine flour signifying a perfect human life

ii.       Mixed with oil signifying filled with the Holy Spirit

iii.      Sweet aroma – to satisfy God

2.       Christ’s crucifixion

a.       Christ as our sin offering – Isa. 53:4-12

b.      Christ as our servant-slave

i.         Betrayed by His own disciple – Psa. 41:9; 55:12-13; Mark 14:43-50

ii.       Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver – Zech. 11:12-13; Matt. 27:3-10

iii.      30 pieces to buy a slave – Exo. 21:32

c.       Detailed time table of His crucifixion – Passover lamb – Exo. 12:1-6

d.      Time in the tomb – Jonah 1:17; Matt. 12:40

e.       We have been crucified with Christ – Gal. 2:20

i.         Being dead to sin – Rom. 6:1-14

ii.       We live by faith in the Song of God

3.       Christ’s resurrection

a.       He would not see corruption – Psa. 16:10; Acts 13:30-37

b.      Firstborn in the new creation – Psa. 2:7-9; Acts 13:33; Heb 1:5; Rom 8:29

c.       Christ became the life-giving Spirit – 1 Cor. 15:45b

4.       Christ’s ascension

a.       He ascended on high – Psa. 68:18; Eph. 4:8; Acts 1:9

b.      Seated at the right hand of God – Psa. 110:1; Heb 1:13

5.       2^nd coming as the King to rule over the earth – Zech. 14:9; Heb. 1:6

Meeting 3 – The Ultimate Goal of God’s Purpose – the Church

1.       God’s desire

a.       To reveal

i.         The mystery of God – Christ – Eph 3:3-6

ii.       The mystery of Christ – the church – Eph. 3:8-11

b.      The church is what He desires – Eph. 5:32

2.       The Lord is to build His church – Matt. 16:16-19

a.       God is the Architect – Eph. 2:20-22; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9

b.      Christ must lead us in building – Psa. 127:1-2

c.       Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone – Eph. 2:19-22

d.      Christ is also the foundation – 1 Cor. 3:11

e.       Take heed on how we build God’s house – 1 Cor. 3:9-17

3.       The reality of the normal Christian church life

a.       The Body of Christ – Eph. 1:22-23

i.         Growing into the head - Christ - Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18

ii.       Being the expression – the fullness of Christ – Eph. 1:23; 3: 18-19

iii.      Coming into our function – to fulfill God’s purpose – Rom. 12:1-2, 4-8

iv.     Receiving the nourishment and care from the Lord – Eph. 5:29

v.       Picture of the body – 1 Cor. 12:12-27

vi.     We all are needed for the growth in the body of Christ – Eph. 4:16

b.      The Kingdom of God – Eph. 1:19-23; 2:19

i.         Letting Christ rule over all things in and through the church – Eph. 1:22

ii.       Pursuing righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – Rom. 14:17

iii.      Serving as a royal priesthood – 1. Pet. 2:9

c.       Household (family) of God – Eph. 2:19; John 1:12

d.      God’s building (house) – Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Tim 3:15-16

i.         Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone – Eph. 2:20

ii.       God’s dwelling place – Eph. 2:22

iii.      A spiritual house – 1 Pet.  2:5, 9

iv.     A house of prayer – Mark 11:17; Isa. 56:7

v.       Our body is the temple of God – 1 Cor. 6:17-20; Phil. 1:20

e.       One new man – Eph. 4:22-24

i.         Putting off the old man – former conduct of growing corrupt according to the deceitful lusts – Eph. 4:22

ii.       Putting on the new man – Christ

a)       Christ is our all and in all - no distinction of race, status, religion or class – Col. 3:10-11

b)      Christ is our peace - no separation and no enmity – Eph. 2:14-15

c)       Renewed in the spirit of your mind – Eph. 4:23; Rom 8:29; 12:2

d)      True righteousness and holiness – Eph. 4:24

iii.      Our living as a proper testimony – 1 Tim 4:12

f.        Bride of Christ – Eph. 5:25-27

i.         Christ loves the church – Eph. 5:25

ii.       We need to prepare for the bridegroom – Eph. 5:26-27

a)       Sanctified and cleansed by the word

b)      Holy and without blemish

g.      Warrior of Christ – Eph. 6:10-18

i.         We are not fighting one another – Eph. 6:12

ii.       We are fighting God’s enemies – Eph. 6:12

4.       The church is most precious to Christ – Eph. 5:32

Meeting 4 – The Practical Oneness of the Church – Essential For Bringing In the Kingdom Age

1.       God’s way in partitioning His saints in the church practically

a.       Testimony of oneness – Eph. 4:1-6

b.      We are called

i.         Christians – no other designation for who we are– Acts 11:26

ii.       Saints – every member is sanctified in Christ Jesus– 1 Cor. 1:2

c.       God’s principle of 1 church in 1 city – Acts 8:1; 11:22; 13:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; Rev. 1:11; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14

2.       Man’s opinion in dividing the Lord’s church

a.       Spiritual leaders, spiritual fathers – 1. Cor. 1:12-17; 3:3-7

b.      Culture, religion, social classes – 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Col. 3:11

c.       Our personal preference – Deu. 12:8

d.      Division is the works of the flesh – Gal. 5:19-20

e.       Church divided will not stand – Matt. 12:25

3.       Satan’s strategy to destroy the church

a.       Mixture and darkness – destroyed the church by creating a terrible organization

i.         The loveless church – Rev. 2:1-7

ii.       The persecuted church – Rev. 2:8-11

iii.      The compromising church – Rev. 2:12-17

a)       State church of the Roman Empire

iv.     The corrupted church – Rev. 2:18-29

a)       Roman Catholic System

b.      Division – as the Lord recovers His church, saints come out of darkness, but the church remains divided

i.         The dead church – Rev. 3:1-6

a)       Reformation – recovery of the truth

b)      Led to divisions

ii.       The faithful church – Rev. 3:7-13

a)       Recovery of the proper church life

iii.      The lukewarm church – Rev. 3:14-22

a)       Opinion of the people

4.       The Lord will make His church ready

a.       Marriage supper of the Lamb – Rev. 19:9

b.      One with the Lord in His battle against Anti-Christ and the armies – Rev. 19:14

c.       Reigning with Christ as co-kings and priests in the coming kingdom age – Rev. 20:4, 6

Meeting 5 – The Word of God as Spiritual Nourishment Leading to Personal Experience

1.       The word has to become our experience, and cause a change in our lives – Rom 15:18

2.       The problem in approaching the word

a.       Addicted to knowledge – Gen. 2:16

b.      Life verses knowledge

i.         Life leads to the true knowledge of God

ii.       Knowledge leads to death

c.       Natural man without the Spirit – 1 Cor. 2:14

d.      Search the scripture but we do not come to Him; like the Pharisees – John 5:38-40

e.       Unbelieving heart – John 5:45-47

f.        Most serious sin, the sin of unbelief – John 16:9

g.      We are not patient to wait on the Lord for His appearing

3.       The word is for the salvation of our soul

a.       The word as food for us to be nourished to grow in salvation – 1 Pet. 2:1-3

b.      Obeying the truth through the Spirit – 1 Pet. 1:22

c.       The goal is the salvation of our souls – 1 Pet. 1:9

4.       How to come to the word of God

a.       Need the Holy Spirit as our source – John 4:23-24; 6:63

b.      In prayer – Eph. 6:17-18

c.       Christ must appear to us – Gal. 1:15-16

d.      Word dwells in our hearts richly – Col. 3:16

e.       Let the word operate in us – Heb. 4:12

f.        We need to keep the word – Rev. 1:3

g.      Be the doers of the word – James 1:22

h.       Word needs to be accomplished in us – Rom 15:18

5.       Word accomplished in us is for

a.       Preaching of the gospel – Rom. 15:18; 1 Cor. 14:24-25; 2 Tim. 4:1-2

b.      Changing our lives – Luke 24:13-16, 25-33

c.       Building up of the body of Christ through the ministry of life – 1 Cor. 14:26, 31; 1 Tim. 4:6

d.      Defending the hope in you – 1 Pet. 3:15

Meeting 6 – Our Consecration – Our Response to the Lord

1.       The meaning of consecration – 2 Cor. 5:14-15

a.       Our dedication to serve Him – the consecration is for the priesthood as shown in the Old Testament with Aaron and his sons – Lev. 8:22-23

b.      Our free choice and our love for Him – Exo. 21:5-6; Deu. 15:16-17

c.       Filling of our hands with Christ Lev. 8:25-28

2.       The basis of consecration

a.       Christ loved us – 2 Cor. 5:14-15

b.      Christ purchased us; we belong to Him – 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Eph 2:19

3.       The results of consecration

a.       Placing Christ as our top priority – seek first the kingdom of God – Matt 6:33

b.      Where our treasures are laid – Matt. 6:19-21

c.       Competition for our souls

i.         Corrupted from simplicity of Christ – 2 Cor. 11:3

ii.       Becoming a slave to sin – Rom. 6:17, 20

d.      The world’s destiny – total destruction of all that man has worked for – Rev. 18:9-19

4.       Living a consecrated life – Lev. 8:22-23

a.       Our ears are His – we listen and obey the Lord

b.      Our hands are His – we do what the Lord commands

c.       Our feet are His – we walk in the Lord’s way

5.       Our response to the Lord

a.       Paul’s testimony – Phil. 3:5-11, 14

b.      David’s Testimony – he would not sleep until the Lord had His house – Psa. 132:1-3

c.       Our priority – Not focused on building our paneled homes while God’s house lay waste – Haggai 1:2-10

d.      Our body – Presenting them to the Lord in a practical way – Rom 12:1-2

e.       Denying our soul lives – Rev 12:11

f.        Being the faithful servant – Matt. 25:14-30

g.      Our faith overcomes the world – 1 John 5:4

6.       Practical application of a consecrated life

a.       Consider our cost – Luke 14:25-30, 31-33

b.      Not withholding anything from the Lord – Exo. 10:26;

c.       Not seeking the Lord in making decisions leads to compromise – Josh. 9:9-15

d.      The Lord will provide everything for you, if we give ourselves to His purpose – Psa. 132; Gen 22:14; Matt. 6:32

Meeting 7 – Maintaining Our Faith – Practice It

1.       Our attitude

a.       Do all in the name of the Lord – Col. 3:17

b.      Walk by the Spirit – Gal. 5:16, 24-25

c.       Pursing holiness – Heb. 12:10, 14

d.      Beholding and reflecting the glory of the Lord – 2 Cor. 3:16-18

e.       Having the willingness to suffer – 1 Pet. 1:7; 4:12-14, 19; Gal. 4:19

f.        Being built up together into a spiritual house – 1 Pet. 2:25

2.       Our responsibility – practical matters we should do – Eph 4:16

a.       Praying for one another

i.         The Lord’s way to prayer – Matt. 6:7-13

ii.       Constant prayer offered to God by the church – Acts 12:5

b.      Let the word of God dwell in your richly – Col. 3:16

c.       Experience of the Lord according to the word – Rom. 15:18; James 1:22-25

d.      Share you experiences of the Lord to unbelievers and to one another – Mal. 3:16; Acts 14:22

e.       Go to and participate in the church meetings – 1 Cor. 14:26

i.         Lord’s Table – 1 Cor. 11:23-26

ii.       Prayer Meeting – Matt. 18:18-20

a)       Be persistent – Luke 18:1-8

iii.      Fellowship Meeting – Eph 4:19

3.       Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith – Heb. 12:2; Jude 3