The Place of God's Presence

Verde Valley Christian Church
Apr 25, 2021
Title: "The Place of God's Presence"
Series:  His Presence
Speaker: Jim Hammond

1 Chronicles 16:11

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

I.     His Presence in the PROTOTYPE

Exodus 25:8

“They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:9

You must make it according to all that I show you — the pattern of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings.

Hebrews 9:24

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.

II.     His Presence in JESUS

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 2:18-22

So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

III.     His Presence in YOU

John 16:7

Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.

1 Corinthians 3:16

Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19

Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.

Weights and Sins

 Verde Valley Christian Church

Apr 18, 2021

Title: "Weights and Sins"

Speaker: Derek Beauchamp

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Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...

...let us also lay aside every weight…

1.     Does this help me run toward Jesus?

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

...and sin which clings so closely...

2.     What sin is in my life that I have not addressed?

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith...

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

3.     What am I focused on? 

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Know With Certainty

Verde Valley Christian Church

Apr 11, 2021

Title: "Know With Certainty"

Series: The Certainty

Speaker: Jim Hammond

Acts 2:12

They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Acts 2:36-37

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Acts 2:22

“Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know.

I.     God ENDORSED Jesus PUBLICLY

Acts 2:31-32

Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay. “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.

Luke 12:8-9

“And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

II.     God RAISED Jesus

Acts 2:32

“God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.

Acts 2:36

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

III.     “What SHOULD We DO”?

Acts 2:37

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Hearing - Believing - Living - Knowing 

Acts 2:38

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

A.     Repent

B.     Be Baptized 

C.     Receive The Gift 

Acts 2:39

For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Their Eyes Were Opened

Verde Valley Christian Church

Apr 4, 2021

Title: "Their Eyes Were Opened"

Series: The Certainty

Speaker: Jim Hammond

Luke 24:13-24

Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. But they were prevented from recognizing him. Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked them. So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

I.     An accurate description is NOT ENOUGH

II.     They were still DISCOURAGED

Luke 24:17

Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.

III.     How were their eyes opened?

Luke 24:26-27

Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

Luke 24:31-32

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”

Their eyes were opened because Jesus opened the scriptures to them; but their eyes did not open until they pursued Him!

Luke 24:28-29

They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

Theory:  People have as much of God as they want.  If we don’t have any more of God than we have, it is not because we don’t have what we want, it is because we don’t want any more of God than we have.

Genesis 18:3

and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant.

Luke 24:30-31

It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.