#423 The Jesus Trip, Kissing Frogs

Jesus Trip — “Kissing Frogs”
By: D. Karl Thomas

(Sermon notes, PowerPoint Slides & Group Discussion Questions at the bottom of the page)

What do princesses kissing frogs, Cinderella, and ugly ducklings have in common?
They all describe a transformation from ugliness to beauty.
Everyone likes a happy ending!

Malachi 4:4-6 “Remember to obey the Law of Moses, my servant—all the decrees and regulations … sending you the prophet Elijah … His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Cherim

Three returns led by three different leaders:
1. Zerubbabel 2. Ezra 3. Nehemiah
Same pattern and result: Hopeful beginning – Opposition – Disappointing end.

Nehemiah 13:25, 31 “So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, … Remember me, O my God, for good!”

Malachi 1:2 “‘I have always loved you,’ says the Lord. But you retort, ‘Really? How have you loved us?’”
After being back in the land 100 years it was back to the apathy and corruption.
God we expected so much more.

Great Promises:
Mal 3:1-4 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
Have faith in my promise … It will come to pass!!!

Romans 3:21-22 “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.”

Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Galatians 5:4 “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
Glorified (dox-ad’-zo):—to make glorious, to impart glory to something, render it excellent.
Look in the mirror!

John 14:18, 26 “No, I will not abandon you as orphans —I will come to you … But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

Ezra — The temple had been built and worship restored, but the people were still “in great trouble and reproach.” Nehemiah 1:3
Nehemiah:—Divine Comforter
Vs 4 “…wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, … gates …destroyed by fire.’ … I sat down and wept.”

“…it becomes the devil’s business to keep the Christian’s spirit imprisoned. He knows that the believing and justified Christian has been raised up out of the grave of his sins … Satan works that much harder to keep us bound and gagged, actually imprisoned in our own grave clothes. He knows that if we continue in this kind of bondage, we will never be able to claim our rightful spiritual heritage.” A.W. Tozer

Liberty, wholeness and dominion is ours first by the promise of the Father. The promise is activated by the believers faith and is helped by the activity of the Holy Spirit.

1. He Comes To You
Nehemiah 2:1-10

a. Authority (7) “may I have letters to the governors”
b. Abundance (8) “so he will give me timber”
c. Angels (9) “officers and cavalry with me.”

2. He’s At Work For You
Nehemiah. 2:12-17

a. He’s at work before you call. “Three days later, I slipped out during the night…” (11, 12)
b. He has a plan. “…said anything to anyone about my plans.” (16)
c. He take it personally. “…what trouble we are in.” (17)

3. He Engages Your Faith
“Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, ‘Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!’ So they began the good work.” (18)

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Romans 6:14 “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

The Jesus Trip, Kissing Frogs, notes to print, PDF

The Jesus Trip, Kissing Frogs, PowerPoint Slides, PDF

The Jesus Trip, Kissing Frogs, Group Discussion Questions – Week #2, to print, PDF