Bob Josey - Thriving in Jesus Chapter 8 - A New Paradigm - Apr 24, 2022

SLIDES

Thriving in Jesus

Chapter 8

A New Paradigm

Introduction

Today’s lesson is entitled a New Paradigm. What is a paradigm? (pronounced para-dime) A paradigm is defined as a model, pattern, or framework to be followed.

From 1607 until July 4, 1776 the 13 original colonies were under the authority and the laws of England. This was their model or paradigm. But on July 4, 1776 the 13 colonies declared their independence from England and things in the colonies would never be the same. After declaring their independence, the colonies began the process of becoming self-governing and began to design and make new laws that were applicable to the new independent nation. It finally culminated in a document that was ratified by the states in 1789. It was simply called the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the United States was a document that the founders believed and has proven to be a superior governing model. The paradigm for governing for the colonies, now called states, had changed from what it was under English rule to the Constitution of the United States. There was a new model or framework of government and laws to follow. This is what is called a paradigm shift.

In approximately 29 AD things also changed for Israel who had lived under the Law of Moses for 1500 years. When Jesus died on the cross, He ratified the New Covenant that God had promised Israel through Jeremiah. This New Covenant, promised in Jeremiah 31, replaced the Law of Moses. There was a new model or paradigm from God concerning Jesus as Messiah and Savior for worship, for living, and having a relationship with Him. Hebrews 5:8-9 quotes Jeremiah 31concerning the New Covenant.

8 For finding fault with them, He says,

“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,

When I will effect a new covenant

With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

9Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers

On the day when I took them by the hand

To lead them out of the land of Egypt;

For they did not continue in My covenant,

And I did not care for them, says the Lord.

Hebrews 8:6

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 8:13

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete.

The New Covenant was made with Israel and Judah, not with Gentiles or the church. However, Gentiles who trust in Jesus are able to participate in the blessings of the New Covenant because they are in Christ. A Gentile believer also had a new paradigm or model to follow. Instead of following Satan and worshipping idols, they would now have a relationship with God and worship Him.

Ephesians 2:11-13

11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—

12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

So the Jews and the Gentiles who trust in Jesus have a new model or paradigm to follow.

Let me mention Just a few things that happened as a result of Jesus sacrificial death and the ratification of the New Covenant.

1. Believers have access to the Father.

The Temple Curtin or veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy place split into two pieces.

Matthew 27:51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;

The veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place where God had dwelt with Israel that split in two is very significant. It was huge and beautiful, made of the very finest materials. It was sixty feet long and 30 feet high. The fact that this occurred from top to bottom signified that God is the One who ripped the thick curtain. It was not torn from the bottom by men ripping it. God was showing that the way of access into His presence was now available for everyone, not simply the Old Testament high priest (Heb. 4:14–16; 10:19–22). The tearing happened at 3:00 p.m., the time of the evening incense offering. A priest would normally have been standing in the holy place offering incense when it tore.

The tearing or ripping of the veil symbolizes the Jews and Gentiles who trust in Jesus as Savior now have direct access to God (He. 6:19; 9:3–12, 24; 10:19–23). It was the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. Up until this time, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies; and He could enter only one day a year one the Day of Atonement (Ex. 26:33). Now through the body of Christ, any believer can enter the presence of God. He can enter God’s presence and pray any time as we see in Hebrews 4:16.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace (to God Himself), so that (purpose) we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

2. Believers have two advocates or intercessors with the Father.

John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (the Holy Spirit), that He may be with you forever;

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you

may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus

Christ the righteous;

Both of the words advocate and intercessor come from the same Greek word that means a helper that comes along side us in time of need.

3. Believers are children of God and as a result are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son

into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

4. Believers have a mediator between us and the Father.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Under the Mosiac Law, Israel had a High Priest who was their Advocate, Mediator, and Intercessor. Today believers don’t need frail and temporal human being to be a mediator for us. An important part of Jesus becoming our advocate, intercessor and mediator is that He is eternal. Under the New Covenant, Jesus who is sitting next to the Father is our eternal and all-powerful Mediator.

Because all that I have just discussed, as well as the many other blessing that are associated with the New Covenant, we find that we have a new paradigm or model to follow. A Jewish believer is not under the authority of the Mosaic Law and a Gentile believer is not enslaved to Satan or has to worship idols any longer. So, how has this new paradigm or model given to us by God practically impacted your daily life as a believer? Let’s discuss some of these.

Questions and Comments

Prayer Life - Before the New Covenant, Gentiles had no standing with God as we read in Ephesians 2. The Jewish people under the Mosiac Law were able to pray to God because the priests of Isarel made daily sacrifices for them. The High Priest of Israel was their advocate and intercessor to God. Also Daniel tells us in 9:18 that we are able to pray to God because of His great compassion. When Jesus was on the earth, He prayed to the Father on behalf of the disciples and other believers because He was God and was one with Him. He had a direct line to the Father. Under the New Covenant things changed. Since Jesus has ascended to heaven and is now our High Priest, advocate, and intercessor, we have a new model or paradigm for prayer. The model now is that we pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Also, because we are children of God, we can call Him Abba or Father. God was never called Father in the Old Testament. The word Abba or Father is a personal title and a term of endearmenmt. Being able to call God our Father should denote to the believer a childlike intimacy and trust with HIm.

Does anyone have any thoughs or comments about the ramificatons of being able to have an intimate relationship with God and be able to pray to Him as our heavenly Father as well as to hear from Him? Do you pray to God with the view that you have an intimate relationship with Him and feel you can go to Him day or night with any problem you have? Do you pray to Him as a Father who not only created you but loves and cares for you much more than an earthly could ever love you or care for you. Does any of this give you a new perspective on prayer as it relates to your hevenly Father? Does any of this encourage you to pray more and to be less formal and more intimate with God when you pray? Any comments or questions?

Ministry - Pastor Stroud in his book said that we are “no longer to be obervers and helpers, but coworkers with Jesus.” Then he quoted John 14:12.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

Is anyone here doing greater works than Jesus did while on the earth? How in the world is that in any way possible? Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, and Dwight L, Moody, etc did greater works that Jesus did. We also think of missionary David Livingston in Africa in the 19^th century, and David Brainard missionary to the American Indians during the 18 century and Hudson Taylor in China.

George Muller of Bristol, England stands out for doing greater works than Jesus. He was a Christian evangelist and the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol. He was one of the founders of the Plymouth Brethren movement. During his lifetime, He cared for 10,024 orphans during his lifetime, and provided food, shelter, and education to them. We find this in Wikipedia. “Through all this, Müller never made requests for financial support, nor did he go into debt, even though the five homes cost more than £100,000 to build. Many times, he received unsolicited food donations only hours before they were needed to feed the children, further strengthening his faith in God. Müller was in constant prayer that God touched the hearts of donors to make provisions for the orphans. For example, on one well-documented occasion, thanks was given for breakfast when all the children were sitting at the table even though there was nothing to eat in the house. As they finished praying, the baker knocked on the door with sufficient fresh bread to feed everyone, and the milkman gave them plenty of fresh milk because his cart had broken down in front of the orphanage.”

If you are not doing greater works than Jesus? Notice the first thing Jesus emphasized was the importance of being a believer that was designed to have enormous consequences in relation to Him being the divine Messiah. Jesus said that believers would do "greater works," than He did after He went to the Father. Keep in mind that the first thing Jesus did after Jesus ascended into heaven the Father sent the Holy Spirit to indwell every believer. Even though we did not see this much from many believers, the Christian life is supposed to be a supernatural life i.e. a life of living in the supernatural strength of the Lord and wisdom from Him. Most believers choose live in their own strength with their own wisdom, not His. Except for being saved, their lives in are not much different than the life of an unbeliever.

This divine enablement by the Holy Spriit empowered believers to do miracles that only Jesus Himself could do previously. The Book of Acts records the apostles doing many of the same miracles that Jesus had done in the Gospels. The disciples would do even greater works than Jesus had done in the sense that their works would have greater numerical results than His total works had accomplished. During Jesus ‘earthly ministry relatively few people believed on Him, but after His ascension many more did. The miracle of regeneration multiplied after Jesus ascended to heaven and the Father sent the Holy Spirit. Three thousand people became believers in Jesus on the day of Pentecost alone (Acts 2:41). They started in Jerusalem, went to Judeah and Samaria and them to the ends of the known earth at that time. The church thoroughly permeated the Roman Empire during the apostolic age, whereas Jesus' personal ministry did not extend much beyond the land of Israel. The whole Book of Acts is proof that what Jesus predicted here happened (cf. Acts 1:1-2, 8). The mighty works of conversion are more in view here than a few miracles that the disciples did in Acts. Jesus probably did not mean that His disciples would do more stupendous miracles than He did. Also, today we have greater technology that would allow us to do greater works than Jesus did . We have faster transportation, TV, radio, the internet, the printing press, etc.

We should never assume, either, that Jesus meant that these miracles would continue throughout church history like they occurred in the Book of Acts which is a transitional book. Church history has shown that they died out almost entirely after the apostles died. The New Testament, while it did not specifically predict that, implied that they would (1 Cor. 13:8; Eph. 2:20; Heb. 2:3-4).

Let’s take a minute a define works. The works Jesus was talking about are not the works anyone could have done, but the works the Father gave Jesus to accomplish and then gave Him the power and to do them. Yes, part of the works the Father wanted Jesus to do were miracles, but many other things He did would not be classified as miracles. In John 17:4 Jesus said, I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

How does this apply to us today? Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works of the flesh. But then in verse 10 to follow 8-9 he writes, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

So, one reason God saved us was for the purpose of accomplishing works that He designed specifically for each believer. These are works that the Father has given to each one of us specifically that we cannot do in our own strength or abilities. They are works that God the Father has informed us that He wants us to do. Many times they will involve the spiritual gifts He has given us. He would never expect anyone to teach the Bible without the spiritual gift of teaching although many have tried without success.

Have you been involved in ministry during your life, or maybe involved now, that you could not have accomplished in your own strength or resources and can’t now? Even though you may be retired from you secular job, you should not be retired from the Lord’s ministry. The Lord wants us to continue to minister for Him as long as our bodies and minds will allow us. Are you making any type of impact for the Lord? To put in another way, are you making any ripples for Jesus?

Questions and Comments