CityHill Waterfall Messages: Recent Episodes
Gerard
When life gets tough - really tough - will you still trust God?
Will you be able to keep everything in perspective - The Lord's perspective?
We are ALL called to lead by Christ-like example and to be lead into a deeper likeness of Christ
1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1
Romans 15:3
Philippians 3:8-21
1 Corinthians 4:16
1 Peter 2:21
1 Tim 4:12-16
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
Revelation 14:4
John 10:4-18
Matthew 1;18
John 4:24
Hebrews 13:1-13
John 1:1-14
Philippians 2:5-11
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus - fully God and fully man
First he'll show us, then he'll explain.
Matthew 2:1-12
Revelation 3:14-18
We believers, are called to emulate Christ to the world.
When we find our identity and position as Kings, prophets and priests {individually and collectively} then we will become effective in our ministry.
Matthew 27:1-7
Judas is seized with remorse after betraying Jesus because of his (Judas') unmet expectations.
You will be disappointed in your expectations, at some point. Take care, then, how you respond - do not give the devil a foothold.
God Calls God Equips and God Provides.
Daniel 2:44
Exodus 12:35-36
Ephesians 1:3
1 Corinthians 2:9
Matthew 6:33
The first part in the series from the gospel of Matthew.
A full understanding of who God is revolutionises our response to Him and therefore our values and behavior.
Isaiah 40 - whole chapter,
but especially vs 31 and
focus on the word Hope in the Lord or Wait on the Lord
Also
Acts 1:4 - the word wait again.
In Hebrew and Greek the word translated wait (or hope) is an active word.
We should wait on God in 2 ways - as a good waiter tends to the diner in a restaurant and as an athlete on the starting block after "take your marks, get set"...
As we wait for God we should be waiting like that athlete waits for the starting gun or buzzer
THEN will we rise up on wings like eagles, then will we run and not grow weary.
Please forgive the sound quality on the first minute and last 9 minutes - we had a recording problem so had to splice in plan 'B'!
The church (global) will have missed a golden opportunity if we just "go back to normal" after the virus.
The world needs hope and solutions and we can supply them with God's answers - if we choose.
4 POINTS to help us maximize our effectiveness:
1. Grasp and cling to the sovereignty of God
2. Stay flexible and open to the Holy Spirit - "seek the wind"
3. Church is not a church if there are no people in it - it is more than meetings, important as those are
4. Return the domain of prophecy to those who are hearing and obeying God - resist supporting/ endorsing the 'nuts and flakes' of the prophetic realm.
Why do we need the Holy Spirit, what is His purpose?
The God-head is 3 in one. God the father planned everything, Jesus revealed the plan to us and the Holy Spirit empowers us to live out that purpose
God die vader het alles beplan, Jesus het die plan aan ons geopenbaar en die Heilige Gees bemagtig ons om daardie doel uit te leef
God will not pour His new wine (the new thing he wants to do) into or through your life unless you are prepared to renew your wineskin.
Do not build a "tablenacle" (do not take up residence) where God moved in the past.
Look for the new thing He is doing in the new way.
What happens when we die?
When will we die?
What, then should be our response?
What is preventing you from the correct response?
Are you taking God's message and warning to the world or are you being silent?
There is an expectation and duty to faithfully transmit God's message.
It is time for the church - and especially the leaders in the church, to find and express their voice so that the world may know and not be consumed by fear
Hundreds of times, in the Bible, we are instructed or encouraged to "fear not".
Mostly because God is with us.
Live your life according to that truth.
The instruction / idea is not that you will never experience fear, but rather that you do not act out of that fear, but rather recognize it, reject it and replace it with the Truth that God is in control and He loves us - then proceed accordingly.
Do you take a look in the spiritual mirror? If you do what do you see? Jesus or someone-something else?
Is the Holy spirit driving your life, a passenger, a spare wheel or a piece of luggage?
Combine the inner sanctum (an active and faithful prayer life) and a firm grounding in The Word (keeping it on your lips and at the front of your mind) will help you navigate through life far more safely.
Prayer in the private place gets you close to God and this will bring the victory that should mark a Christian life
Hear some of these questions and add to them or answer them - Jurgen or Gerard, ladies, run your ideas past Charlotte or Charmaine, please.
Your security in troubled times rests fully on a well rounded understanding of God and self - which comes from quality time spent together.
2 Kings 6:18-23, Romans 8:31-32, James1:6-8, Psalm 91 and 34
The altar of incense in the tabernacle is a shadow for us Christ followers. It speaks to our ministry to God in prayer
Truth is perspective until it is proven one way or the other.
Jesus claimed that he was THE way, THE truth and THE life - this remained a relative truth until the resurrection - at this point it became absolute truth - and one that is not shared by any other faith.
Gethsemane means olive press. The night he was betrayed Jesus certainly felt pressure.
When we are feeling that life is 'grinding' on us what can we learn from God in those moments?
Christ on the cross: my sin is put to death, the way to God is now unobstructed - am I approaching Him?
The show (or shew) bread of the tabernacle represents (foreshadowed) Christ. Once a week the priests had to eat the bread (one loaf per tribe).
New covenant lessons for believers to take away from old covenant ordinances.
As we move deeper into the holy place we come to the table of shew bread.
We believers are ALL called to be priests, to draw others to God and to serve God.
One of the ways we do this is by proclaiming the praises of God.
Since we are have been justified by Christ we all have equal access to God
But not many of us take advantage of that opportunity.
1 Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 6:23, Exodus 28:1-3, Romans 5:1-2, Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8.
Priests were already 'holy' yet still had to wash their hands and feet before offering sacrifices on our behalf - on pain of death! What was THAT about?
The altar was the first thing that caught your eye as you entered the outser court of the tabernacle. It symbolized sin and the need for restitution, or death without restitution.
Now we who are in Christ can move boldly toward, and past the altar as he was the perfect sacrifice for our sin, past, present and future.
Christian, don't be content to remain at the altar, repenting of your sin and thanking God for His forgiveness. He has so much more he desires for us. Stay tuned on Cityhill Waterfall Facebook each evening at 7pm Johannesburg time as we unpack this idea and 'put some handles' on it.
Matthew 5:13-16, Colossians 4:2, Genesis 1:1- 19, Ephesians 5:1, Philippians 2: 14, Luke 11:33, 1 John 1:5, John 8:12, John9:5, John12: 36, Revelation 21: 23
Bring me an offering, willingly (of yourself). Make me a sanctuary/tabernacle that I may dwell among them. We are the tabernacle. Exodus 25:1-9,
Have an expectation that you will prosper. He gives gifts so that I may build
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, John 14:27, Romans 14:17-19, Colossians 3:1-2, Matthew 6:6, Matthew 6:33
Zephaniah 3:14, Hebrews 4:16, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 3:3, Isaiah 55:10-11, 1 John 4:14, Colossians 1:27, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 3:33, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4, Colossians 3:1, Colossians 2:12, Romans 8:11, Ephesians 2:4-6, Philippians 2:5-7, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Romans 8:16-17, 1 Corinthians 3:9, Hebrews 10:12, 2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Romans 2:11, Galatians 3:25-29, Matthew 25:14-30, John15:16, Luke 9:23-24, Ephesians 4:11-12, John3:16, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:3-8, Romans 11:29
Start of 3 part series on the Lord's vision for our fellowship for 2020.
John 16:7, Hebrews 12:1-2, Proverbs 29:18, Matthew 28:18
Each of us is on a spiritual and life journey. Many of the guides and rules that apply to navigation in this physical realm, also apply to the spiritual realm.
- What direction should you be going?
- Are you moving?
- In what direction are you going?
- Are you on track?
- Are you making good time?
- Who are your champions?
Our navigation tools are these:
- Truth is an actual thing, not an abstract concept – and God is that truth.
- The word of God provides clear guidelines of various elements of that Truth.
- The Holy spirit guides us in the discovery and application of that Truth, in our own lives and in the lives of those that God has placed us amongst.
- Trusted spiritual advisors / mentors to help tweak, guide and encourage us with the personal vision that God has laid on our heart
But I cannot just hear this stuff as I go about my daily business – this takes personal time and undivided attention and probably more prayer than most of us have been giving it.
We have to set time aside – a day, at-least, preferably two or even three where you remove all distractions, and spend time praying, slowly reading Gods word – whilst looking for a personal application of what you seen and more prayer – which, remember, involves both talking to God and then listening for His response.
Galatians 5:7-8, 2 Timothy 4, 1 Peter 1:13–22, 1 Peter 2:9-19, Romans 7:15-20, Matthew 12:36-37, Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 2 :15,
This is not a once-off exercise. As times change and my life moves on, I need to check that all my life remains correctly calibrated. Once a year, preferably, take a day off to repeat this exercise – spending time away from all distractions, prayerfully wait on God, spend time in the word – actively listen for His personal guidance and instruction to you.
If you are married – your spouse must do the same, once you have each spent your own time with God, get together and compare notes. If there are significant clashes – repeat the exercise with those points that you differ on being the focus of your questions to God. NOT that He changes the other one’s mind but that He brings you both into agreement on the matter.
Stuart, we are One Body, Jason, play your role, Sherridan, we need to serve together
1 Corinthians 12:12-19, John 12:26, Mark 10:35, Matthew 8:5-20, Romans 12:12, Acts 2, Romans 6:22
Baptism of repentance
Matthew 3:1-10, Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-5, Matthew 26:26, 1 Corinthians 11:20-29
Communion is to celebrate our partnership with Christ and our community but as it acknowledges our sin – do not participate if you do not believe that Christ died for you.
We believe in The resurrection of Christ, that it was a sign that we, too, may participate in both his death and resurrection.
That our own resurrection bodies – like Jesus’ - will be physical and recognisable but transformed into something perfect, powerful, glorious and eternal.
That The resurrection of the dead will occur to usher in God’s final judgement on mankind.
That it should be the encouragement we need to stay the course in the face of adversity as we encourage people to exchange an eternity in hell for an eternity in the presence of The Almighty.
Matthew 11:2-12, John 2:13-22, John 11:25-26,
Jesus said resurrection proved his claims of Messiah-ship, proved that he had authority from God and He also said that he was THE resurrection and THE life – of which we can partake if we believe.
More than 10 accounts of people being raised from the dead in scripture:
{1 Kings 17:17:24, 2 Kings 4:18:37, 2 Kings 13:20-21, Luke 7:11-17, Luke 8:52-56, John 11:25-12:10, Matthew 27:50-53, Acts 9:36-43, Acts 20:7-12},
Note – some were only recently dead, but other long time buried. All were temporary resuscitations until Christ’s own resurrection:
Mark 16:1-8,
Our belief in Christ makes our own resurrection possible - 1 Corinthians 15:20, Romans 4:25, John 14:19
Scripture (that was only old testament back then) predicted the resurrection long before it happened:
John 20:8-9, Acts 26:22-23, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
1 Corinthians chapter 15 speaks extensively to our resurrection
Our resurrection bodies will be similar to Christ’s see also Philippians 3:20-21, 1 John 3:2,
Some things scripture says about our resurrection bodies: Revelation 21:4, Luke 24:36-43, Luke 24:30-31, John 20:19-20,
Revelation 5:9, 7:9, Exodus 34:29, Luke 9:28-30,
1 Corinthians 15:58
Revelation 20:6, 20:12-13,
If you do not understand sin, you will not rejoice in Christ, and you will not warn people about hell.
John 16:7-11, Ephesians 1:19-23, 2 Corinthians 7:1
Honour God by honouring your faith and beliefs.
Live out your faith and values, unashamedly as this is how you bring your salt and light to the world.
This is what should attract people to Christ.
Romans 6:1-10, Hebrews 11:6, James 1:1-8, Hebrews 11:1, Matthew 17:20
We are called to repent of dead works. This is no less pertinent for today's Christian than it was for the 1st century Jewish convert.
Hebrews 6:1, Galatians 2:3-14, Hebrews 9:11-15, Ephesians 2:4-10
Child of God, do you know His voice?
The Holy Spirit can act on and through you without you being a believer – but can only indwell you if you are a believer.
Do you live as if the distinct, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Spirit of God indwells you?
Mat 6:33, John 14:15-31, John 16:13-15, 1 Cor 2:7, John16:8, John14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27
Understanding Christ is vital to seeing God as Abba, Father
Exodus 3:11, John 14:1, Matthew 6:1-8, Hebrews 12:3
Jesus, fully God, fully man, the essence of God made visible to.
Revelation 1:9-15, John 1:1-14, 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, John 4:6-9, Acts4:12
Some points of doctrine we hold firmly to and others lightly.
Hermeneutics is the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts. This is important as the prevailing norms of 1st century society may be different to the 21st – thus the interpretation of Biblical Hebrew and Greek texts may change and so application or weight of certain scriptures may no longer be relevant (whilst others may remain relevant).
Many faiths agree with elements of Christianity – however depart from agreement at the concept of a triune God.
Hebrews 5:9-14, Psalm 1, 2 Tim 3:16-17, Corinthians ?:? Genesis 1:20-27
New series part one
What we believe:
Over the next weeks we will unpack the “what?” and the “how?” of what we do.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint
1 Cor 3:9 For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building
Mark 16:15-20 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Is this life all there is, if not how to we get and keep the other?
Romans 3:20, Colossians 1:13, Ephesians 2:6, John 10, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 11
I used 4 videos from YouTube as visual aids - their links are below:
Romans chapter 12:1-2
Romans 8:28
Ephesians 2:10
Philippians 2:13
Video 01 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gnBW_nI_Kc
Video 02 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Sen1HTu5o
Video 03 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGQmdoK_ZfY
Video 04 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JONMYxaZ_s
Matthew 17:2
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
1 Peter 3:17
Understanding Reconciles whilst misunderstanding breaks relationships.
So how is your relationship with God Almighty?
Proverbs 2:1-5, John 10:10, Hebrews 4:9-10, Colossians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 4:9-11, John3:16, Luke 23:34, Eph 1:6
If you make the effort to be close to God in your personal prayer life, then you will see God's blessing on your life. This blessing is not for your personal benefit but as a witness to those around you of God's presence in your life:
1st in the home, 2nd in the church and 3rd in the world.
Duet 28:6 / Matt 9:35-38 / James 4:3 / John 3:16 / Luke4:18
The almighty lives in you, with all that He is - so LIVE like it! The power, the authority, the wisdom, the courage...
Message ends at 42 minutes but I kept the prayers and confirmation word that followed.
Psalm 46, Matthew 7:7, 2 Chronicles 20.
When you look in you "faith mirror" do you see you or do you see God?
Why - moments after his resounding victory late in chapter 14 of Genesis - do we see God say to Abram: After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."
Check your motives - make sure that what you do and say next represents God more than it represents you.
God is with us, all the time - we must not let our circumstances dictate our concept of God but, instead, allow our perception of God to change our perspective of our situation.
Are you aware of God, everywhere, all the time, in every situation?
Start to look for Him - He IS there!
The sword is both defensive and offensive weapon.
The passage in Ephesians 6:17 assumes battle conditions when it advises us to put on the helmet and take up the sword.
The Word of God is both logos (written) - and the Rhema (applied to particular situations by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit).
As a soldier drills in peacetime so that he or she is able to act instinctively in a battle situation, and to intimately know their weapon - so too must we believers.
Also - know that you personal comfort comes second to the collective good, every soldier know this and is comfortable with it.
Romans 10, Heb 4:12, 2 Cor 10:3, Rev 19:15 / Gen 1:3, Acts 19:11 & 20 then 16-18
The helmet (galea) protects the mind (thoughts} as well as the ears and jaw. Guard your thinking, what you listen to and what you speak.
Know who God is, who you are and what your response should, then be.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-10, Luke 8:11, Prov 23:7, Prov 4:23, James 1:6-8.
(On a personal note: I was struck by that neck protection - it seems to me that the past and betrayal are things that we should trust salvation to protect us from also. Gerard.)
Ephesians 6:16 - "In ALL circumstances, take up the shield of faith (assumes that it is always near you) so that you may extinguish ALL the flaming arrow (darts) {assumes that these will always come at you}.
Matthew 8:26
Matthew 8:10
Matthew 21:21
1 Corinthians 2:5
Hebrews 11:1
Romans 10:5, 6, 8,17
"God will not share his glory..." where am I "hedging my bets" in my faith?
Like the Roman scutum - my faith requires daily maintenance with the oil of the Holy Spirit
God wants people who are ready to step up for him - willing and able are both implied in that.
As with Truth - Righteousness should be a defining trait of Christians - without these our testimony about God is void.
The Menorah - the only source of light in the inner places of the tabernacle and temple.
7 Lights - Christ being the center and man the outer 6 branches.
The oil in the lamp - the Holy Spirit.
Each of us has a role to play in bringing light to out local fellowship - and to the world. We do this by being connected to Christ and by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.
John 18:37 Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.
Pilate asks a great question there: What is truth?
And it is a question that millions still ask today – anywhere on the planet.
What is it? Why is it important and why should it be a distinguishing mark of a Christ follower?
John 8:44, John 8:32, John 5:33, John 1:14, John 1:17, John 14:6, John 17:17, John 14:17, John 15:26, John 16:13, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:2
Ephesians 6:10-13
"10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
1 John 10:9-10
1 Peter 5:8
Acts 6:10
Matthew 10:16-20
Matthew 5:15-16
Matthew 5:43-48
Firstfruits: give to God the 1st of everything as a statement of faith that He is the owner of everything and He will provide the rest. This principle should extend to every area of our lives.
Gen 4:1
,Leviticus 23:1 ,Hebrews 1:1 ,Psalm 24:1 ,Job 41:11 ,Psalm 50:10 ,Genesis 49 ,Jeremiah 2:3 ,1 Corinthians 15:20 ,2 Thessalonians 2:13 ,Romans 8:23 ,Genesis 14:17 ,Hebrews 7:1 ,Genesis28:10 ,Matthew 6:25
Are you, as a believer, living a redeemed life? You should be - so what does it look like and what might be stopping you from getting there?
Colossians 1:13-14
Romans 3:23-26
Hebrews 9:12-14
1 Corinthians 1:30
1 Corinthians 6:19
Revelation 2:4-5
Psalm 72: 12-14
Mark 16:9-18
The Resurrection of Christ. What does it mean for you and me?
How does it fit with Original Sin, The Law and Sacrifice, Christ's death on the cross?
Genesis 2:16-17
1 Cor 15:12-19
Romans 11 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
What does Christ's death on the cross mean for you and me? How does it relate to Original Sin and The Law and Sacrifice (previous 2 messages).
Exodus 12:1-19
Why did God give us the Law if he knew it was not going to save us and we cannot keep it anyway?
The law has direct, material, benefit to us when we keep it.
Sacrifice, although empty, served as an example of what was to come in Christ.
Many people know that they need salvation - but many more do not know why, or what they need salvation from...
Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
How do we reconcile this instruction with a call to bring God's system of living to the world?
Also with the many places where scripture calls on us to stand fast or to overcome.?
Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Part 3 of a 3 part series
Romans 14:17 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Where does the peace of God come from, what does it look like and what are its fruits?
Part 2 of a 3 part series
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
Luke 4:17, It is by grace that you have been saved - therefore you may approach God with confidence.
As a follower of Christ, your works, or lack of works, does not affect God's distance from you. Neither do they affect His approach-ability, and certainly not His father love for you.
So relax you grip on yourself - you may be more concerned about works than you think - walk with God, closely and in freedom.
Part 1 of a 3 part series
1 Peter 2:9
Recording cuts off a couple of minutes early: here is what the recording misses:
- Gently deal with those who are ignorant and are going astray
- Remembering your own weakness.
- Offer up prayers and petitions
- Learn obedience through your suffering (training) at God’s hand.
Folks, we are God’s adopted children!
Now get out there and act like it – follow his example
and remember:
You can and should look the world (any situation) in the eye without blinking and say:
“I AM A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD!”