River Church Sermons Lewis Marsh

Let Freedom Ring
Part 3: Free to Live By Faith
By Louie Marsh, 6-16-2024
 
Believing the Gospel means two things:
 
1)  I must choose one of two ways to live.
 
“1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians 3:1–2, BSB)
 
·       Law – PERFORMANCE for acceptance
 
·       The Spirit – living by the SPIRIT’S power
 
Let’s explore this – choosing to walk by the Spirit is a lot like this - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable.
 
2) If I choose to live by faith then…
 
·       I need to learn to work in the SPIRIT.
 
“3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? 5Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?” (Galatians 3:3–5, BSB)
 
·       UNDERSTAND that God has always worked this way.
 
“6So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Galatians 3:6–9, BSB)
 
·       NEVER FORGET the results of this choice!
 
“10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:10–14, BSB)
 
o   Living by Law brings spiritual DEATH!
 
 
o   Living by faith brings God’s PROMISE.
 
 
PUT MY FAITH in Jesus who is the promised blessing!  
“15Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.” (Galatians 3:15–18, BSB) 

Let Freedom Ring
Part Two: Free to Follow God’s Call, Gal. 1:11-2:10
By Louie Marsh, 6-9-2024
 
Called: In 2014 the Selective Service System mistakenly sent notices to more than 14,000 Pennsylvania men born between 1893 and 1897, ordering them to register for the nation's military draft and warning that failure to do so is "punishable by a fine and imprisonment."
The agency realized the error when it began receiving calls from bewildered relatives last week.
Chuck Huey, 73, of Kingston, said he got a notice addressed to his late grandfather Bert Huey, a World War I veteran who was born in 1894 and died in 1995 at age 100.
"I said, `Geez, what is this about?' It said he was subject to heavy fines and imprisonment if he didn't sign up for the draft board," he said. "We were just totally dumbfounded."
God’s Call – farmer comes in excited, saw GPC in the sky, says to wife, God’s calling to preach the gospel, she says no it means go plow corn!
1) respond to GOD’S CALL – not man’s call!
 
“11For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11–12, BSB)
 
2) dedicate myself WHOLEHEARTEDLY to Jesus!
 
“13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” (Galatians 1:13–14, BSB)
 
3) Remember two things:
 
Jesus has a plan for MY LIFE.  
“15But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased” (Galatians 1:15, BSB)
 
“4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love” (Ephesians 1:4, BSB)
 
I must STAY focused on Him.  
“16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.” (Galatians 1:16–17, BSB)
 
4) Practice proper INDEPENDENCE.
 
“18Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie. 21Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me.” (Galatians 1:18–24, BSB)
 
5) Practice real ACCOUNTABILITY.
 
“1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain. 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.” (Galatians 2:1–5, BSB)
 
Real accountability isn’t CONTROL  
“6But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism —those leaders added nothing to me.” (Galatians 2:6, BSB)
 
It’s being responsive with an OPEN HEART.  
6) Serve God out of MY CALLING!
 
“7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gosp

Let Freedom Ring
Part One: Free to Serve Jesus, Gal. 1:1-10
By Louie Marsh, 6-2-2024
 
Intro – New Bible Trans – Map of Galatia,
 To be free to serve Jesus I need to know 4 things:
 
1) Know  WHERE  my loyalties lie.
 
“1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:” (Galatians 1:1–2, BSB)
 
I serve GOD not MAN.  
This gives me…
AUTHORITY  
1Paul, an Apostle, not from man or through men’s authority but directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father, the One who raised Him from among the corpses.  2And everyone with me, to the congregations in Galatia. Galatians 1:1-2 (LIV)
 
Not a translation or a paraphrase – but a Paralation!
CONFIDENCE POWER PURPOSE  
2) Know THE GOSPEL
 
“3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3–5, BSB)
 
“3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. 6After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–7, BSB)
 
3) Know the COUNTERFEITS
 
“6I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!” (Galatians 1:6–9, BSB)
 
 
“4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.” (2 Corinthians 11:4, BSB)
 
4) Know that I can’t please EVERYONE.
 
“10Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, BSB)
 
And I shouldn’t even be TRYING TOO.  
So I must choose to please either…
 
GOD  or MAN.  
 

The Gospel of Mark 1-8
Part 8: Lose the Leaven!
By Louie Marsh, 5-26-2024
 
Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.
 
The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are.  We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.'
 
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.
 
The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are No problem. You don't need a ticket.  I'm sure you bought one.'
 
Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"
 
1) To be like Jesus I must learn to THINK!
 
“14Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. (Mark 8:14–16, ESV)
 
They aren’t thinking, their reacting.
 
·       Jesus rebukes them for not using the BRAINS God gave them.
 
 17And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:17–18, ESV)
 
2) Then they understood SUBTLY change happens.
 
“12Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:12, ESV)
 
“33He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”” (Matthew 13:33, ESV)
 
3) The bad leaven also leads to HYPOCRISY.
 
“1In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:1–2, ESV)
 
The man-made teachings of the Pharisees were as pervasive as yeast in a loaf of bread. Their corruption advanced in hardly perceptible ways, but it was extensive. The Pharisees displayed an outward conformity to the law, but their hearts were full of unbelief and sinfulness (Mark 7:6–13).
 
“27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27–28, ESV)
 
What does this lead to – Drag Video
 
4) I must beware of what often seems like Godly LOVE.
 
“31And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Mark 8:31–33, ESV)
 
·       Love is good – but it is not ENOUGH.
 
“17He said to h

The Gospel of Mark 1-8
Part 7: Tradition!
By Louie Marsh, 5-19-2024
 
Last Slide – defining tradition.
 
1) Jesus didn’t CARE for mindless tradition.
 
“1Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.)” (Mark 7:1–4, ESV)
 
·       This was done to be RITUALLY clean, no germaphobes!
 
·       Washing is just one of Jewish 1st Century traditions.
 
2) Traditions aren’t necessarily GOOD OR BAD.
 
“8You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 9And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”” (Mark 7:8–13, ESV)
 
·       Only God’s Word can be my AUTHORITY not tradition!
 
·       Never use tradition as an EXCUSE to disobey God.
 
·       The traditions I keep expose the true state of my HEART.
 
3) What comes out not what goes into me that DEFILES.
 
“17And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”” (Mark 7:17–23, ESV)
 
·       This means my heart is INCLINED to evil without God.
 
·       The natural state of the human heart is SELFISH.
 
4) There are COMMANDS from God, that are also called traditions.
 
“15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15, ESV)
 
·       These “traditions” aren’t COMPARABLE to pot lucks.
 
5) I must dare to BREAK traditions & follow Jesus.
 
“26Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”” (Mark 7:26–29, ESV)
 
·       A Gentile woman asks Jesus to deliver her daughter -  non-traditional.
·       Jesus speaks to her – non-traditional, calls her a dog which is traditional.
·       She accepts her Gentile status – and still asks for deliverance – non-traditional.

The Gospel of Mark 1-8
Pt. 6: Being a Follower of Jesus
By Louie Marsh, 5-12-2024
 
Last slide – become what they want followers to become.
 
1) If I want to advance I’ve got to RETREAT.
 
“30The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.” (Mark 6:30–32, ESV)
 
Divert daily, withdraw weekly, Abandon annually
 
2) When I have a chance to minister – I should  TAKE IT.
 
“33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:33–34, ESV)
 
3) I must never trust in MYSELF.
 
“35And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” (Mark 6:35–37, ESV)
 
4) Don’t put God in a human sized BOX.
 
38And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”” “39Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.” (Mark 6:38–41, ESV)
 
Jesus DID MIRACLES in many different ways…
 
·       He used CREATED materials.
 
“6Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” (John 9:6–7, ESV)
 
“23And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” (Mark 8:23–25, ESV)
 
·       He simply SPOKE and a miracle happened.
 
“50Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.” (John 4:50, ESV)
 
5) Trust God not only for today but for the FUTURE
 
“42And they all ate and were satisfied. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.” (Mark 6:42–44, ESV)