Victoria Point Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
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Joy – Rom 14: 17-23
We can go thru life bored, glum and complaining or we can rejoice in the Lord. It is both our privilege and our duty to be joyful. To be joyless is to dishonor God and deny his Love in our lives. To be joyful is to experience the power of the Holy Spirit within us and say to a watching world, our God reigns.
Kindness and goodness are closely related. They both indicate a desire to recognize and meet the needs of others. Kindness is a sincere desire for the happiness of others, goodness is the activity to advance that happiness. Kindness is the work of the spirit, He enables us to be sensitive to those around us and goodness is that kindness in action, both word and deed.
What are some steps we can take to develop a gentle spirit?
First we must decide that this is a trait we really do want to develop. We have to decide to want to be mild and sensitive in our dealing with others, that we are willing to live without a rigid structure of black and white rules. We must really want to care about people.
Each of us will encounter suffering at some time, in somedegree. Psalm 130 is essential for us, for it convinces us that the big difference is not what people suffer, but more in the way we suffer. It is a powerful reminder that our suffering is not out of bounds for God. We are persuaded that God’s way with us is redemption and that redemption, not suffering, is ultimate.
Ps Sam Thom Psalm 28
Sunday 3 March 2024
Everyone wants to be happy and blessed. Sometimes we are tempted to think that this lies somewhere other than God. However, God’s ways and His presence is the only means of lasting happiness. There is a path to happiness. All you who fear God , how blessed you are, how happily you walk on this smooth straight road.
We have been extracted from the philosophy of this world. We have been removed from its purposes and plans as we are now set apart to be God’s church. Jesus has left and we have been sent in. So we are in this world, but no of this world. We exist in the world but we now have a new agenda. Our pleasure and purpose and our peace is not found within human thinking but now it comes from visibly revealing the love of God.
We are to draw near to God when we are at our worst, because His grace is up to it. He is patient and kind, long suffering and forgiving. James says He gives us grace and then gives even more. Whatever amount is needed, it Is available. So we are draw near to God. We intentional cultivate this relationship through faith and obedience. Then we enjoy the blessing of God as He draws near to us. His healing washes over us day by day by day We enjoy His grace day by day by day.
The Israelites knew of the power of God, they knew of His mercy and compassion. So when the cloud descended, they were reminded of the Greatness of God. They stood and worshipped. True worship is when we value nothing more than entering into the presence of God.
Humility and Obedience – Eccles 5:1-7
As we read about coming into the house of God – the principles we discover in these verses are ones that apply to life generally. We are to acknowledging God’s true worth or true value. It is the means by which we worship God with our lives every day. Solomon challenges our motives….. Why do we come into God’s house – why do we pray – why do we pursue God – is it for selfish reasons or are we genuinely humble in attitude before God, resting in Him, trusting Him and committed to obedience, His ways not ours.
What brings you here? Summary
Exodus 3:7-8, 19:3-11, 25:1-8
FOCUS: The coming of Jesus is big news. Life-changing news. World-changing news.
FUNCTION: That hearers will get a taste of the breadth and depth of God’s love for us in Christ
Exodus 25:1-8 John 1:14
FOCUS: God’s more than a rescuer and offers more than mountaintop moment/s, indeed, to share life with us.
FUNCTION: That hearers will 1) understand God’s desire for ongoing daily relationship, and 2) step into it.
What Brings You Here ? To CovenantExodus 19:3-11FOCUS: God ismore than a rescuer. The freedom he releases us into – is an intimate relationship with him.
FUNCTION: That hearers will 1) glimpse the depth of God’s love for us and 2) actively respond to it.
FOCUS: God is a great rescuing God, whogenuinely cares for us and comes to break us out of captivity.
FUNCTION: That hearers will 1) see God’scompassion and kindness and 2) seek his rescue and freedom
John 3:16-21
FOCUS: That God has drawn – and draws – near to us can be good news in theory but confronting in practice. When the God who sees all comes close, we can feel very exposed. But it can be the opportunity of a lifetime.
FUNCTION: 1) That hearers may understand that God is not merely a distant concept/possibility, but far more ‘up close and personal’. 2) That if we have the courage to turn and face rather than avoid him, it makes all the difference in the world
Invite friends in your circle along to a service, to a small group, to an Alpha Course or even just to a barbecue with your church people, and they will meet Jesus. Of course, finding people who like you, sharing your story with them, and inviting them to a gathering of God’s people isn’t enough. At some stage they must hear the specific good news and make a response to Jesus’ invitation to believe, be forgiven and “follow me.” But that may take longer than you think. To get started think, “Who has God already sent into my life right now and what can I invite them to?” It might be easier to start mission than you think
You probably won’t find yourself being tortured for sharing your story about what Jesus has done in your life or for inviting someone to church, but you may very well find it difficult or embarrassing. There is a guarantee about Christian mission:some way or another, it will be costly. It will cost you time, reputation, money and even relationships
Recent research has shown that average Australians who don’t follow Jesus are not all that impressed with celebrity Christians or strong arguments for Christianity.But they are very impacted by seeing people live out their faith and hearing genuine stories and testimonies from people they trust and respect. Much of the New Testament, especially the Gospels about Jesus, consists of those who encountered Jesus and had their lives changed by him sharing their story - what they had actually “seen and heard”
Ephesians 2:8-10
Salvation by grace is the beginning of our journey with God. God then calls every believer to a lifetime of good works accomplished in his strength. What are these 'good works' and how do we participate in them?
In any journey, there are times of intense struggle and a push to move forwards, balanced by periods of rest to regain our strength. Physical rest comes so easily to us but finding spiritual rest can be a real challenge. If we can allow ourselves to be led by Jesus into his rest we will find ourselves filled and ready to journey with him again.
Speaker: Stephen Beaumont
Bible reading: 1 Cor 12:14-20Paul's use of the body metaphor in one Corinthians reminds us of how much better we are together. As a local church we not only celebrate each one's
different gifts and abilities we rely upon it to function in a healthy way. Each one of us are special. No one is excluded . We are better together
It is easy to be offended when we are confronted by realities that we do not like or feel comfortable with. God doesn't just call us to an eternal destination; he calls us to radical transformation. God desires us to be changed, transformed and to take hold of his character, his values and his world view.
This message delves into the role of Godly discipline and how we respond to correction from God. When we realise and discover the character of God, we ought to desire correction and discipline, knowing that it is for our ultimate good and for those around us.
Following Jesus is like being a soldier. You just can’t do what you want. There is a war to be won and orders to obey. You don’t want to be distracted by nice stuff. You have tofocus on your job and that means significant sacrifice at times. It’s not that we can’t enjoy ourselves, but having a good time is not our purpose for existence. We serve ahigher and more significant cause. Following Jesus is like being an athlete . There’s a gold medal to be won, but you won’t get it by cutting corners or taking it easy.
There are a couple of things you need to know to make sense out of the future. First, God has always planned for his people to live with bodies. In the future, you will not be a ghost roaming around. You will be a real person with a new real body. Now I’m not sure exactly what that body will be like, but I suspect it will be much like what we have now, except so much better – more beautiful, more powerful, more holy, more complete. We will be whole, real people with our God. All this is for those who make it to the end, who persevere. God says to you : “You will inherit all this. And I will be your God and you will be my child.” Finishing well will be worth it a million times over
Like David, you will go through many different seasons in your life. Probably, most will be mundane but fine. Some will be extraordinary, and others will be extremely painful. This is God’s plan for you and me. What David emphasises in this song is that God is close and working in all your seasons. In the pasturelands, he’s guiding and caring for you. In the shadowlands, he’s comforting and protecting you. In the tablelands, he’s celebrating and partying with you. Your seasons will change and some will be very challenging for you. But remember God loves you deeply and is working for your good in all the seasons. Make sure you let him look after you, especially when life gets tough.
Paul says, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life,” you know things must have been really awful. He doesn’t tell us the exact circumstances, but even Paul was completely overwhelmed by the situation. There is no doubt about the choice Paul made when he was overwhelmed. He threw himself onto God and relied on God to deliver. And he did deliver, and Paul knew that he would continue to do so (1:10). What a courageous and powerful call by Paul. But it is a call that you too will probably have to make at times if you are to persevere as a follower of Jesus and finish well. May God give you strength as you need it.
Sadly, some people don’t make it. Lots of the big crowd following Jesus at this point weren’t there two years later. As Jesus predicted, the growing seed just withered away.You need to be aware of this. Satan will put pressure on you. He hates your trust in Jesus and wants to strangle your faith. It could be through disappointments or worries orsuccesses or hurt or failure. He’ll try. But there is a lot of good soil that produces an incredible spiritual harvest. Note that Jesus doesn’t describe these people as superstarsbut as having “noble and good hearts.” Ordinary Christians who persevere to the end. They’re the ones through whom God produces a great crop. Be one of them.
2 Cor 9: 6-15
Money is actually seed to be planted. The more you plant, the greater your crop. When you get your head around this biblical concept, it will revolutionise your approach to money. God has given us resources. We are not to see these resources as our personal reward and therefore to horde them or spend them on ourselves, but to invest them in the needs of others.
A lot of serving is just seeing a need and meeting it. You don’t need special abilities to clean up after dinner or sit with someone in pain or take blankets to homeless people or wash feet (how did that come up again?). It’s just a matter of putting your own needs aside and choosing to serve others. But that’s not the whole story. There are actually some things that you can do better than other people, and it would be such a waste if you didn’t do them. These abilities have been specially given to you by God and he expects that you will use them to serve others
It’s easy to live out our faith as a series of religious activities, but is that what God really wants? Micah 6 addresses the condition of our hearts, and how we can live the life our Father desires for us.
Jesus made two things very clear about his ministry. First, he was going to prioritise the poor and needy and struggling. He hadn’t come to tell religious people how to be more godly, but to set free the poor and imprisoned and blind and oppressed. But what really upset a number was that Jesus went on to say that there would be no favourites. This good news was for everyone.
What are we supposed to be doing on earth? God has given us work to do and has uniquely equipped us to do it. At its most basic, that work comes down to one word, SERVE. But God is looking for a particular type of serving. There are a whole lot of selfish motivations that can drive serving. We see this in the workplace, or in politics, or in our own lives. But for Christians there is only one valid motivation – caring deeply about the needs of others. That’s what drove Jesus.
People didn’t like foot washing in Jesus’ day but it had nothing to do with their concerns about touching people. Their problem was that feet were regarded as disgusting and only the least important person in the room, usually a slave, would do the necessary washing of dusty and sweaty feet. When the disciples gathered for their last meal with Jesus before his death, there was no slave present, so their feet just didn’t get washed. No-one was keen to stoop to do such a job.
Let's take a breath and take stock of our discipleship challenge with a reminder that it's all from relationship and love for our heavenly father, and love for our
Christian brothers and sisters, and then love for the lost out of that
The transformative power of the good news of Jesus in our lives makes us different and stand out. This is not a IF but a WHEN. It’s not a maybe. When we faithfully follow Jesus, and subscribe to his spirits leading, we discover the uniqueness of ourselves and the calling to bring our unique skills, gifts and talents to the collective goal of glorifying God and encouraging people to encounter this reality in a daily lives. One of the challenges of this transformation is that often we resist being different, or standing out.
Learning to be OK with being different is vital to faithfully following Jesus.
The Disciples changed. They were courageous. They were strong. They were outspoken. They were faith-filled. And the world began to be turned upside down through the gospel of Jesus. Ordinary people saturated in the power of the Spirit are spiritually unstoppable. The same Spirit is living in you. You are no longer a slave to fear or weakness or sin or shame or condemnation. You are not trapped by your past or your personality. Like these early disciples of Jesus, you are baptised in the Spirit and you have his power to change, love unconditionally, share this wonderful good news, and impact your world.
Bearing Fruit
You are in the process of change from doing your own thing to following Jesus. It’s sometimes called “sanctification” or being made holy like Jesus. It takes a lifetime. As God’sSpirit works in your life, change does happen. He brings beautiful fruit to your life - you become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. Give God’s Spirit time and space in your life and this is what he always does. He makes you more like Jesus. That’s his job. Be patient. It is happening through God’s Spirit in you.
Giving Life
Romans 8 is an incredible passage of Scripture. We’ve already looked at some readings from this great chapter. When you get a chance, read the whole thing. In this section, Paul (the author) is outlining the ways in which God’s Spirit, who lives in all believers, brings them life. We have a dad who welcomes us with open arms and promises us all that he gives Jesus. The Spirit (who is God of course) whispers away in our hearts until we begin to appreciate this incredible family life we have through Christ
Bringing Truth You may have already experienced this work of the Spirit in coming to faith in Jesus. But particularly, he guides Christians into truth. He helps us understand what God is saying. We don’t have to work it all out ourselves. This doesn’t mean that every time you get an idea or feeling it’s from the Holy Spirit. It could just be an overactive imagination or indigestion. But you will find that as you read Scripture, or listen to a sermon, or worship God, something suddenly grabs your mind or heart and you recognise that this is God speaking specially to you. This is your Helper doing his job.
So now all believers have God’s Spirit living in them. That includes you. God breathed on you when you believed and gave you his Spirit to fill you and helpyou. You are never alone. God is living in you. You may or may not have seen fire or heard a mighty wind or be able to speak in other languages, but this has happened to you. God’s Spirit has been poured into your life to help you do all that God wants you to do and become all that God wants you to be. From now on it’s the Holy Spirit and you together. It makes all the difference, as it did for these new believers in Acts 2
ChurchThe New Testament never tolerates the idea of a Christian without a church family. It’s together that Christians are forged into the likeness of Jesus. It’s together that Christians impact their world. It’s together that Christians are able to use their gifts collaboratively. If you want a picture of this - Christians are meant to be like a choir, they are not soloists. You may not always like the church services or get on well with every church member or agree with everything that goes on. But you are the church and apart from this group of God’s people, you are destined for the spiritual scrapheap.
Mediocrity does not produce Christian growth. Significant effort is required. Effort to trust God when the chips are down. Effort to loves others when they treat you badly.Effort to keep serving when no-one cares. Effort to read your Bible and pray when God doesn’t seem close. Effort to resist temptation when your old nature is crying out forsatisfaction. Effort to focus on God and his future when the world demands your attention.
Prayer
God wants your prayer to be directed to him and filled with trust in him. Notice that the first half of Jesus’ prayer is all about God and his power and plans. Ultimately prayer is not about our dreams and desires but about God’s plans. We’re looking for God to be honoured and God’s will to be done. We want what he wants. We long for God to be pleased and obeyed. Our honour of him and trust in him comes first.
2 Tim 3:10-17
Scripture
You may have had a long history learning about the Bible (like Timothy), or this may all be brand new to you. Whichever way, the Bible is going to become your guide forChristian growth. Reading the Bible will help you to understand God and to learn how God relates to his people and his broken creation. Scripture will be vital for yourcontinuing spiritual growth, and its promises and advice will help you persevere when it gets tough.
Legacy of Faith – Joshua Ch 4
It is important for us to remember God’s faithfulness in the past, because it gives us the confidence to face the future. It’s good for us to go back to the riverbedoccasionally and remember how God delivered us. For that mental memorial will be a great encouragement the next time we have to cross a river. God doesn’tchange. God cannot change. Therefore, just as he has been faithful in the past, so He will continue to be faithful today & tomorrow & next week. God wantedthe Israelites to build a memorial so they wouldn’t forget.
Like Joshua, we too live out the experience of faith. As an act of obedience, humility and total dependence we live in the joy of the empty tomb.
Good Friday – Like Joshua, we too believe and exercise faith and rest in God. We rest on the promises that were empowered by the cross.
The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God. Thus God was asking them to commit to these things. Be obedient, be humble and be totallydependent on me. Things of importance require attention to detail If we want God’s touch upon our life in a significant way, our focus must be entirely on Him.If God is to bring positive changes in my life, then it will never happen according to what I think or believe. It requires obedience, humility and total dependence.If we are open to God, if like the Israelites we are willing to be obedient, humble and dependant – God will give us the land. God will lead us in a way that thosethings that we seek after will become a reality in our life.
When we take steps of faith, we can be assured that God will go before us preparing the way. Often in ways that we could never imagine but He alwaysprovides for us according to our need. In this way God carries us. We are never meant to be heroes in our own strength, but rather, we rest in God, trusting thatHe goes ahead of us and sorts’ things out before we even get there. By faith we believe this to be true. By faith we rest in Him. Like Joshua, we maybe a littlenervous, but we do need to be willing to have a go. These experiences are vital to our growth. It is important that we are open to new challenges.
Most Jewish people presumed that they were right with God because they were Jews. But John’s message was that God was about to do a new thing (“the kingdom of heaven is near”) and that “having Abraham as your father” (making you an ethnic Jew) was not enough.
Jesus’ baptism was not about repentance. He had nothing to repent of. But it was about commencement and inauguration. It was like the appointing of a new prime minister after an election. They have a new role; a new calling. By being baptised, Jesus was indicating his availability to God to do whatever was needed. Through his baptism, Jesus indicated that he was committed to bring in God’s new kingdom
The bad news is that you are still going to fight against sin while you live in this world. One day when God finally intervenes, this will not be the case. However, while God will continue to shape you and grow you here, you won’t completely escape the temptation and pressure of your broken human condition. It will feel like a battle at times, but every Christian is in the same boat. But when we come to Jesus, admit our sin we receive the forgiveness of Jesus that comes through his sacrificial death. That’s grace! You will continually be forgiven.
Jesus has already taken our sin and he keeps reminding God of this, so there is just no charge to consider, the case has already been thrown out of court. Jesus just keeps on loving us. We go through some very difficult times. Jesus keeps loving us. We are weak and broken, Jesus keeps loving us. We are worried about the future. Jesus keeps loving us. We feel worthless. Jesus keeps loving us. No matter what happens in our life, Jesus keeps loving us. Nothing, nothing can separate us from the love of our gracious big Brother (and our loving Father). It’s a family thing.
Nothing about you comes as a surprise to him. You are an open book. He knows every weakness, every flaw, every attitude, every fear, every insecurity. And still he has decided to adopt you into his family. Out of all the people in the world, in his grace he has chosen you. This really is incredible and so reassuring. No wonder Paul (the author of Romans) says that we are no longer slaves to fear (8:15). We’re in the family forever.
The grace of God is incredible, isn’t it? God loved you so profoundly that despite your deeply entrenched rebellion which was killing you and spoiling everything, he brought you to spiritual life through Jesus and gave you a significant place in his coming rule. He saved you. And you didn’t have to do anything good or right or godly. This new life in Jesus has come as a surprising and wonderful gift
The Gospel message is a wonderful reality check that enables us to overcome pride and arrogance, it helps us to be eternally grateful. The Good News controls our lives and our thinking, and in so doing, we just want to pour out our love for God. He has forgiven us and saved us and all this as a gift of grace, as a result of faith and faith alone. All this, given without any obligation, an amazing gift of love to his children.
It’s a simple message known to everyone. Love your enemies. What does that look like for you and me ? It isn’t easy following the example of Jesus but it’s a huge blessing when we get it right. However, Jesus encourages to go the extra mile to really enjoy life to the full.
We can learn a number of great principles from Jesus be tempted in the wilderness. One key thing for us to learn is that even though Jesus was exactly where God wanted Him, it was also a place of great testing. We will encounter difficulty and pain even when we are in the centre of God’s will. But God is our provision. Jesus is with us at all times.
Before this encounter with God, Mary was an unknown, just like you and me. But her life changed forever when God broke into her circumstances and she became a significant player in God’s plan and purposes. However, when we talk about God’s plan and his purposes, you and I can rightfully say it’s “Mary and me” For in the same way God called Mary out of a seemingly ordinary existence to be a player in his plan, so God calls you, God calls me.
Committed to Surrender – Jeremiah 10:23-25
Time on the potter’s wheel is often the means of changing who we are, rather than what we do It’s about me saying yes to God. Not My way of thinkin,but God’s way. Not my purposes, but God’s. Not My way of doing things, but God’s. Not my values, but God’s. Saying Yes to God is not always about activity, its availability. It’s not just our actions but time on the potter’s wheel is about changing our attitudes.
Committed to God’s Wisdom – 1 Cor 2: 6-16
God’s wisdom and earthly wisdom are at different ends of the scale. Although we see ourselves as wise, although we think we are able to capture knowledge and make good decisions, in reality, it is beyond us. If we live our life based on human wisdom alone our life investment will come to nothing. The gospel doesn’t make any sense according to human wisdom. Now that shouldn’t be a surprise. Human wisdom and Godly wisdom are not in any way closely connected. So when the Bible says the gospel is an offense to some people, it is simply because human wisdom cannot understand it. One of the big mistakes we make is to put too much trust in human understanding. We always over estimate our own ability.
The focus of our love will have first option to our time, energy and thinking. There is a limit to what we can do, but the question we have to consider is this, which voice has priority in my life? Whose purpose am I’m committed to ? I believe God understands our battle. I believe He is patient. I believe He is a realist ! He knows the struggle we have in keeping our priorities in place. But his offer, come work with me, is not legalistic offer. Rather it is one that brings life and joy and hope and contentment. His offer, come work with me is founded in his love for us. This is the bestest way to live.
This is an incredible truth. God chose you. It was always his intention to make it personal. Now it’s easy for us to make it general, God saved us or God saves those that call on his name. But today I want us to leave here with one clear thought. Our relationship with God is meant to be real and personal. God chose you. God chose to forgive your sin. God chose to adopt you into his family. God chose to initiate this process by reaching out to you. God wants the relationship we share with Him to be real and personal. In fact, unless it is, we are all wasting our time.
The church in Ephesus sounds pretty decent to me. They had been through some rough times but they had worked hard, stayed true to Jesus, dealt well with sin in their midst, and persevered despite the challenges. What a solid church. Good theology, committed, faithful, robust, stable. Like us, they were difficult to fault in any major way. There were no obvious “wicked ways” from which to turn. Yet Jesus is so unhappy with this church that he threatens to finish their work completely, to wipe them out. What? Their problem was that they did not love Jesus the way they did at first and it showed in their actions.
Seek God’s Face – Ps 24:1-10
The Bible says that David was both angry with and afraid of God, and he cried, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God to me?” (1 Chron. 13:12). So he left the Ark close by and returned to Jerusalem. Because of what happened, David was too afraid to bring the Ark into Jerusalem. He did not feel worthy or able to live close to God. God was too frightening, too dangerous, too holy. It was another three months before he was ready to try again. David did a lot of soul searching during this time and realised how he could seek God’s face and live close to a holy, all-powerful God.
We need to join Jesus in praying for unity. A divided church will never see revival. It cannot be a clear witness to the world. It cannot reflect the love and grace of the gospel. It cannot show the reality and beauty of Jesus. It will be stuck with its judgements and disagreements and arguments and splits. It will be clear evidence to the lost that the church is no different from the world. With Jesus, we need to pray and pray for unity among believers in preparation for revival. “May we be one.”
Harvest Worker – Matt 9:35-38
Jesus called on his disciples to pray for God to send out more harvest workers. The opportunities to serve and reap were great, but there were not enough workers to meet the need. This must be our prayer as well. It involves praying for more Christians to share their faith and serve their communities (both here and overseas). It also means praying for God to raise up more leaders who will be good shepherds pastoring and supporting their people well. As we prepare for revival and a great harvest, we need to ask God to increase the harvest workers. We just do not have enough to meet the need now.
Humble Submission – James 4: 4-10
When we read a challenge like this, we can justify and protect ourselves. We can conclude that we are better
than these people James is calling out. Maybe our friendship with the world is not as entrenched as theirs. Maybe we are closer to God than they were.
Or we can humble ourselves. We can admit our friendship with the world. We can confess our adulterous ways. We can repent of our sin. We can grieve over our unfaithfulness. We can humble ourselves and wait for God to lift us up. This is how we prepare for revival.
Desperate for God – 2 Chronicles 7:11-16
As God’s people humble themselves, pray like crazy, desperately seek God, and desert their disobedience, God promises to see and hear and forgive and pour out his blessing. So that is the way we prepare for revival. Why didn’t Israel use this pathway to God’s blessing more frequently? Why did they suffer so much? Because they were not desperate enough. They thought they had other options. They believed that somehow they could solve their own problems. It is desperation that drives us to God.
We have to make another mind shift. The Christian lifestyle is not built on rules & regulations. It’s not about being busy. The Christian experience is about relationships. People are more important than programs, people are more important than rules. People are more important to God than any of these things. It is not only believing, it is also about belonging. A church is measured by the love within the family. If we wanted to check with Jesus that our lives pleased him, this is what He would say. Just love one another as I have loved you.
If we truly want to be God’s people and God’s church, we have to move away from what is often commonly accepted & popular to that which is really the way God intended it to be. Today we will try to come to terms with another shift in our thinking. For it is not so much being members of God’s church or members of His family, but it is being ministers. We worship God with our lives and as members of his family we minister to those around us.
Compassion is the key. If we are to break free of past traditions within the church and present Christ to people in a relevant way, it will depend entirely how we think of those that don’t have a relationship with God. Unless we care more for people than tradition, we’ll never support change. If Jesus looked out into a large crowd of people, he wouldn’t be thinking of why they don’t go to church or how he might teach them a lesson. No, Jesus in fact, would have a very heavy heart. Jesus would be greatly distressed by the lack of real purpose in many of those lives. Do we share His pain ?
A Renewed Heart Brings a Renewed Lifestyle : Acts 2:42-47
It may appear that the early Christians lived in idyllic Christian communities. New Testament letters addressed the many tensions and problems that existed. But this description of lifestyle in the early Jerusalem church does give us some clues as to how our lifestyle might change as God moves in revival. First, there will be a greater passion to spend time with God and grow in relationship with him. Second, we will want to be together more to encourage and disciple and serve and share with and pray with each other. Third, we will have a much stronger awareness of the presence and power of God. Where will all this fit into our present daily routines? There will be significant sacrifices along with wonderful new experiences of God.
In this Scripture we see some of the marks of community revival. God’s Spirit fills the lives of believers and they are empowered. Ordinary people become miracle workers. Regular Christians hear God and speak boldly on his behalf. Revival is not something for the spiritual elite. It is not for the particularly holy. It is for us all. Everyone. And many are saved as they call on God. The power and love of God are seen through the lives of common people and the wonders God does through them. And many are drawn to the freedom and deliverance of Jesus. This is getting exciting Lord. Thanks that you have given me your Spirit to live in me and empower me
The coming of God’s Spirit was a unique and special event. Here we see that many are drawn to Jesus. Many hear the convicting voice of God’s Spirit. Many prodigals come home. It is not that Peter had no contribution to the work of God’s Spirit in revival. He warned and pleaded with the crowd to believe in Jesus. He was bold and convincing. But this was the Spirit’s work not Peter’s work. God’s Spirit was opening eyes and cutting open hearts in powerful new ways. We need to rest in what we need to do, understanding that it is God at work.
Repentance is vital in times of revival and renewal. But God does not stop there. The dominant emotion of revival is not grief but joy. The joy of coming close to God. The joy of living God’s way. The joy of following God together. The joy of delighting in God. The joy of seeing God work in power. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength. In revival there will be more joy than you could ever dream of. This is a joy that we long to see restored in our community.
How could our community come alive spiritually? Well the Jews that had been exiled wondered the same thing. They were defeated, downtrodden and banished. How on earth could God restore Israel? Both ancient Israel and modern Christians are faced with the same dilemma – spiritually dry bones everywhere. But Ezekiel the prophet told Israel what God would do. And his message is the same for us. These dry bones can become a vast army of God. God does the work, but our role is to believe in God’s power to bring new life into our community.
A renewed heart now yearns for a fresh season in which God shows himself in greater glory. It may be the return of Jesus which we expect at any time. That would be the ultimate answer to our prayers. But it may also be a season of revival. During revival people sense the presence of God powerfully. Conviction, contrition, repentance and prayer grow. People thirst for God and his word. Lukewarm Christians come alive. Many non-believers are saved. “The rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed”
When we are close to God, our heart is in sync with His. God’s heart is that all people would be introduced to Jesus. As this desire stirs up in us, we have this deep desire to pray. A deep commitment to pray for those in our community who needs God’s touch. As God restores life to our hearts, he will create as passion within us for the lost. This flows over into our desire to earnestly pray that they might come to the knowledge of Christ.
God’s promise is not just for Abram and his family, but it was God’s intention that the whole world would be blessed through Abram. “All peoples on earth” God says. This is the way God works. He blesses his people because he loves us, but the blessing is not just for us but for everyone – our friends, our family, our neighbours, our community. We are blessed so that we will be a blessing to our world.
God’s promise is not just for Abram and his family, but it was God’s intention that the whole world would be blessed through Abram. “All peoples on earth” God says. This is the way God works. He blesses his people because he loves us, but the blessing is not just for us but for everyone – our friends, our family, our neighbours, our community. We are blessed so that we will be a blessing to our world.
This church’s problem is probably true of much of the Western church. We have so much materially and so little spiritually. We are lukewarm. But God has not given up on us and he hasn’t given up on you. Jesus stands at the door of your heart and is knocking. He is appealing for you to listen for his voice and let him take over. He wants to bring personal revival to you.
Christians have a strong foundation in God’s love The gospel is saturated with God’s love for us and his grace in sending Jesus to live, die and rise for us. We do not become Christians by doing good stuff, but by receiving God’s love in Jesus. Saving love is our foundation. But it is only the start. There is so much more to grasp about God’s love.
Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus was a great tragedy. After he boasted that he would never fall away, he denies Jesus publically. But Peter’s tears were not merely tears of remorse—they indicated a true sorrow and turning from sin. It was not until he saw Christ’s face and remembered His words that Peter grasped the seriousness of his sin and repented.
You cannot separate repentance and revival. Because personal revival brings a new holiness and closeness with God, it is always preceded by repentance and maintained by repentance. As James said, “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (Jam. 4:4). So we can’t be close friends with God and allow the world into our lives. The only way to stop sin getting a grip and destroying our friendship with God is continual repentance.
The more we stay connected with Jesus, the more fruit we will see. What does it mean to remain in Jesus? It is staying closely connected with Jesus so that we hear and obey his voice (15:7). It is having Jesus as an intimate friend. It is staying right with God and loving to follow him. These are the foundational elements of personal revival. We need to remain in Jesus. God empowers us as we remain in the Jesus vine. It is not just that we have a pleasant relationship with Jesus and are kept safe from the fire. We will bear “much fruit” and find that whatever we ask for will be answered.
I wonder what Moses looked like after spending time with God. His appearance changed so much that people were afraid to come too close to him. But Moses’ radiant face was merely a symbol of the beauty and power and holiness of God that rubbed off on him as he talked with God his friend. He was transformed by the presence of God and his followers could plainly see it.
Adam and Eve enjoyed a special relationship with God. They would walk in the Garden and they would share and chat with him. These were special times. This was always God’s plan. To have a deep, open, unashamed, loving relationship with his children. In many ways this is a glimpse of what happens in revival. God restores the intimacy and tenderness of the Garden. We want to be close to God. We want to share with him. We want to walk by his side.
If we only believe that God can do anything, we will try to press him into our agenda. What we think is best. If we only believe that God does what is best, we will not bother to believe for his miraculous power and we’ll miss out on moving mountains. But if we believe with all our heart that Jesus will do more than we could ever imagine and also that Jesus will always do what is best for us and his kingdom, then our prayers are answered, and mountains end up in the sea
By this point in Jesus’ ministry, there were a lot of critics in the mob. Some were religious leaders who were jealous of Jesus. Others were ordinary people who were not satisfied with Jesus’ trajectory. To Jesus, the crowd was typical of this generation of Jews. They completely lacked faith in him. But according to Jesus, the size of your faith doesn’t matter. What matters is whether it’s placed in the authority of Jesus and doesn’t waver. Small but steady faith in the authority and power of Jesus
Jesus was, even while in human flesh, completely dominant over the forces of nature. Imagine him waltzing over the top of the raging water to help out his friends stuck in a boat in the storm. Jesus blows my mind. I take heart in the fact that the disciples who had just seen Jesus feed 5000 plus people from 5 bread rolls and two sardines, felt the same way. They were terrified. They had no idea what was going on.
Overcoming FamiliarityBut just because Jesus’ hometown marvelled at his wisdom and power, didn’t mean that they believed in him. In fact, their familiarity with Jesus and his family seemed to be their major barrier to faith. They were impressed by his teaching and reputation, but they couldn’t get around his local roots. His family was as ordinary as everyone else in town. How could Jesus be anyone special.
This woman would just not give up. The woman employed every tool at her disposal. She kept crying out so that she could not be ignored. She used the Jewish title, “Son of David,” for Jesus showing that she understood his Messianic role. She humbly knelt before Jesus in obeisance and called him “Lord.” She parried his seeming dismissive words with the theological insight that God’s intention was also to bless the Gentiles (the dogs that eat the crumbs). This was a persistent and insightful and godly Canaanite woman and Jesus knew it. He marvelled at her great faith in him. He could not resist it. And he miraculously healed her daughter.
When it comes to the lordship of Jesus, we either believe that he has complete authority, or we don’t. We either believe that he can save our family, or heal the sick, or renew our church, or bring revival, or transform our nation, or we don’t. This is not to say that Jesus will necessarily do all these things. But the question here is, “Do I believe that he has complete authority or not?” That’s how big faith begins. Jesus himself said, “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me”
It’s How you Decide to Look at It ! Is life a burden or a blessing – a gift or a curse. If we see ourselves as the highest power – the most qualified – If we see ourselves as having control – life will always be a burden – it will always be a curse. However, if we acknowledge our lack of control – and in so doing we put our trust in God to provide – life can be a blessing – we can see it as a wonderful gift.
Simeon was man of God. He couldn’t wait for Jesus to come. But what was happening ? Had God changed his mind ? What’s taking so long. But what sustained Simeon was a promise God gave him. He wouldn’t die before the messiah came. Suddenly the waiting was over and it all came together just as God had said. Simeon was ta peace and he was happy to leave this world full of peace. Sometimes we have to wait on God. We can choose to be anxious or we can choose to trust. We too will have our, it all good now moment.
“You will be called Peter” John 1:35-42
What an encouragement to us is Peter. Jesus gave him his name and it was a significant moment. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Peter got so much wrong so many times. Yet he was foundation to what Go was doing. God can use us to usher in His kingdom, even though we will often fall short of the mark. How good is that !
The future of the world changed when Jesus was born. We read that Mary treasured up all things and pondered them in her heart. Everything was just as he had been told. God has this. He is breaking into history and now mankind can win the battle that was set before them when God’s Kingdom was lost through Adam. The second Adam has come and He will restore was ruined. The second Adam, He will be named Jesus.
“ Today in the town of David a saviour has been born” Joseph Luke 2:1-11If anyone had reason to be confused it was Joseph. What the heck is going on here God ? Most of us have asked that same question. So much to do, so much that’s hard to understand. Joseph was a key player in God’s plan and as such had a great responsibility. But it couldn’t have been easy for him. Big picture helps us to overcome confusion. We can always rest in God’s Kingdom plan.
Today in the town of David a saviour has been born” Joseph Luke 2:1-11If anyone had reason to be confused it was Joseph. What the heck is going on here God ? Most of us have asked that same question. So much to do, so much that’s hard to understand. Joseph was a key player in God’s plan and as such had a great responsibility. But it couldn’t have been easy for him. Big picture helps us to overcome confusion. We can always rest in God’s Kingdom plan.
Overcoming a Lack of Purpose : “No He will be called John” John- Luke 1 59-66Elizabeth was well aware that her son was part of God’s plan. He was to declare the way of Jesus. But Elisabeth was also aware that her child was a gift from God. John means God is gracious. She was not going to overlook God’s power in her life. “No, He will be called John”. We too are called by God, we are set us aside to achieve his purposes. When we commit to God’s kingdom we are never have a lack of purpose.
As Christians life is not always fair and just. There are circumstances that can overwhelm us. We simply feel sad. Elizabeth had experienced sadness but when Mary greeted her she became aware that God keeps His promises. Within her womb, the baby leapt for joy. When we understand that the King who rules in our lives always keeps his promises, we too can have an amazing experience of great joy
We live in a world where fear and anxiety is always calling out our name. When the angel appeared to Mary she was overcome with fear. What’s this all about. No doubt the more she heard the more she was terrified. But the angel’s words to her are important words to you and me today. This is how it is within the Kingdom of God. “Do not be afraid”
Zechariah and his wife were righteous people in the eyes of God. They lived a life that pleased Him. However, they had remained childless and they were getting old. It seemed like they would always be disappointed. But God had another plan in mind. They were told “Your prayer has been answered” In God’s kingdom there is great hope. God is able to help us overcome our disappointment and despair.
We need to grasp the gravity of the situation and not be indifferent to the great need before us. You cannot say you love Jesus and be indifferent to the plight of people. Like God we need a passion for compassion! In response to the need and the shortage of labour, Jesus calls us to an unlikely action. As first priority he doesn’t say: start planning and doing missional things, get out as fast as you can and do the job, or organise some great programs. His first instruction is to pray! Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.
Jesus is a good King. Jesus is a powerful King. Jesus is an eternal King. There will be a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but it will be too late for some. We are praying that the Kingdom of God will keep breaking into this broken world to bring healing to the broken and salvation to the lost. It begins with His Church surrendering to His will. Start to pray today, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ Take some time to surrender and say, not my will but Your will be done.
We are facing a challenging new normal from the global pandemic, rising political tension and many challenges in our nation to our Christian worldview. How the church responds in this season is crucial for the future of the church in this nation. There are many things that we must do to respond at this time but none more important than to pray. God is awakening His church to the power of prayer.
The Lord’s prayer is a model given to the disciples when they asked Jesus how to pray. Honouring God should be our first priority when we pray. Before we consider our own needs, Jesus taught his disciples that God’s Kingdom needs to be key. One of the biggest challenges we face is to prefer God’s will over our own. Christ’ spirit of is evidenced in our prayer as we demonstrate love, obedience and trust.
God welcomes our desire to pray. However, what makes our prayer acceptable is also worth our consideration. Are there barriers to praying effectively ? Faith and obedience form an important foundation to effective prayer. We are called to live a holy life as we respect God’s authority, living humble lives. There needs to be a consistency to our prayer with regular frequency. Importantly our motives also need to be pure.
Though as Christians we don’t even know how to pray and the things we are to pray for, the New Testament does identify a number of things which we can petition God. We can ask God for wisdom so we can make good choices in life. We can seek God for these things that we need. We can pray for protection, we can pray over our health, and we can pray for the power to overcome temptation. Not only can we pray in line with our own concerns, but in a significant way we can love others as we pray for them.
There is great power in prayer. The Bible demonstrates this act of power as it brings blessing to the lives of God’s children. God is a loving Father who is not only willing but also anxious to grant our requests and supply our needs. Prayer blesses us with peace, wisdom, healing and a measure of many good things.
We pray because we hold to a number of beliefs that support our intentions to communicate with God. Obviously we believe that God exists and that He has within His heart a love for His creation. So we pray because we understand we need Him. We find hope and peace because we believe that God both hears and answers our prayers.
What elements make our prayer conversation with God ? Prayer is an important aspect of our worship. We bring our adoration and praise as we recognise the greatness of God. Our prayer life should also be dominated by thankfulness. King David demonstrated the importance of confession as a means of restoring our relationship with God. Intercession is also foundational to our prayer life as we seek God, as we pray for others.
How do we define prayer ? The Bible sets out a number of principles. In general terms it is how we address God. We ask God for His influence in our life. We seek answers to life’s problems as we seek to live out the abundant life we have in Christ. So it is the means by which we pour out our hearts before Father God.
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbours. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honourable behaviour, and they will give honour to God when he judges the world.”1 Peter 2:9-12 NLT Philippians 3:20 Before Jesus came into our lives we identified solely with the Adam life, we wouldn’t articulate it like this, we would say we were just of the world, and chasing after the things of this world. But all of this changed when We responded to Christ’s invitation to belong to His family. We were given a new identity the moment we believed. But what does this look like, how do we live out of this identity and not the old one.. well, our identity is tied to our roots, our family linage, and our citizenship. A passport is the most accurate form of identity, its proof of who you are and the country you belong to, your citizenship. The world is no longer our home, we have been given a new passport, we belong to the kingdom of heaven, now, today. We are citizens of heaven now and as we identify with the the Christ life, we become more and more aware that we are also living in our new country. This world is no longer our home, we are foreigners of the world and what it has to offer, we are simply passing through, spiritually speaking this world has no legal hold on us, because Jesus made us legal residents of His kingdom.
Elijah is broken. He has had enough. In fact he feels that he cannot go on. God understands and offers him some great advice. Eat and rest for the journey is too much for you. But we don’t drop out of the game altogether. God wants Elijah to get back to where he was, faithfully serving Him.
“But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.”Colossians 1:23 NLT We are saved and brought into the kingdom of God by grace alone.. this means that we cannot boast in our effort in anyway, as we played no part in this saving grace. Unfortunately, once saved, we have the tendency to ‘work’ to maintain our place in Gods kingdom. When we struggle with failure, we can be eaten up by guilt, shame and condemnation and begin to doubt where it is we are with God. And so we can ‘do more’, ‘pray more’ and be much more devoted in order to show that we are Christian and that we will have eternal life. The truth is when we believed in Christ and his finished work on the cross, he gave us an assurance of our place in The family. We never have to doubt whether we are ‘in’ the family any more. The same gospel that saved us, however long ago that was, is the same gospel that keeps us today. Yes, saved by grace through faith in Christ, but also kept by grace through Christ.
Rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ”Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV Hebrews 4:9-10 When Jesus re-established The kingdom of God here on earth, everything that was true before the fall, is true now. In this passage above Jesus was speaking to the people of Israel who were burdened, overwhelmed and weighed down with their outward form of religion and the legal do’s and don’ts of the Pharisees, along with the burden of the consequences, the guilt, the frustration, and unsatisfied inner life that goes along with this. Right in the middle of this religious setting, Jesus, in His grace invites us to experience true rest, inner rest, not free from work, but free to work from rest, Not for it.
“But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.”Colossians 1:23 NLT We are saved and brought into the kingdom of God by grace alone.. this means that we cannot boast in our effort in anyway, as we played no part in this saving grace. Unfortunately, once saved, we have the tendency to ‘work’ to maintain our place in Gods kingdom. When we struggle with failure, we can be eaten up by guilt, shame and condemnation and begin to doubt where it is we are with God. And so we can ‘do more’, ‘pray more’ and be much more devoted in order to show that we are Christian and that we will have eternal life. The truth is when we believed in Christ and his finished work on the cross, he gave us an assurance of our place in The family. We never have to doubt whether we are ‘in’ the family any more. The same gospel that saved us, however long ago that was, is the same gospel that keeps us today. Yes, saved by grace through faith in Christ, but also kept by grace through Christ.
There in the quiet, everything is put into focus through God’s greater, eternal perspective. My soul, my mind and my whole body all acknowledge that I am frail, flawed and finite – and still a precious child of my God and my King. There in the quiet, I am safe to come honestly and humbly, with all my limitations before my God who knows me and loves me with no limits at all.
“Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].”Matthew 5:3 AMP Mark 9:34-35 AMP The poor in spirit is a picture of a Blind street begger, on his knees, holding his money collection tin in both hands, crying out in desperation to those that walk past.. ‘please, I have nothing’. Jesus, in the greatest sermon ever preached, reveals to us the attitude of one who is impacted by the good news of the kingdom. We are spiritually bankrupt, and in great need of the grace of God every single moment. Many stories Jesus told and much wisdom the apostles imparted was about the truth that those that recognise the great need for God’s grace in every moment and in every area of life take hold of a kingdom that is for such people. In this world, degrees, doctorates and dollars are the thinks that qualify us and prove our success, but in the upside down kingdom, our success is only because of what Christ accomplished for us, and we are qualified by the grace of God alone.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ”Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV Hebrews 4:9-10 When Jesus re-established The kingdom of God here on earth, everything that was true before the fall, is true now. In this passage above Jesus was speaking to the people of Israel who were burdened, overwhelmed and weighed down with their outward form of religion and the legal do’s and don’ts of the Pharisees, along with the burden of the consequences, the guilt, the frustration, and unsatisfied inner life that goes along with this. Right in the middle of this religious setting, Jesus, in His grace invites us to experience true rest, inner rest, not free from work, but free to work from rest, Not for it.
The NOW Kingdom of God calls people into God’s service now, for them to be on mission and fulfilling God’s purposes wherever they are. We by extension simply continue the mission Jesus started. The NOW kingdom thinking clearly portrays the kingdom as a reality that seeks to transform the world NOW, which takes effect as an individual undergoes a transformation within one’s own life. The conduit of God’s mission for His people is to genuinely and authentically love people. All people. No questions asked, no conditions given. CHOOSING OTHERS always. The WHY is – God Is love and wants all humanity to enter into this love. The HOW its done is by ridiculous, unchecked, unregulated, undeserved love. 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
As we begin to realise the reality of the NOW kingdom, we are left with seeming paradox’s in our faith. Impossibilities that we simply cannot reconcile with our finite minds. God is fully man and yet fully God. One of the important realities we need to accept is that it is ok to not understand the mind of God. We need to move beyond trying to understand our infinite God by our finite minds and simply accept His Truth and Reality. His kingdom is Something we cannot build, and yet God chooses to build it through us. We strive and yet we rest in him. The Paradox is incredible, but both realities exist together. The choice we must make is even though we cannot always understand, we can choose to be content and simply respond as the Holy Spirit leads. Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
One of the realities of God’s kingdom is that God longs for it to take hold in all areas of our lives. We initially relate with God from either more an intellectual capacity or from an experiential approach. As we mature in our faith, we need to cross over and engage and allow God to speak to all areas of our life. We need to experience God actively in our lives as well as dwelling in our thought-life in an intellectual capacity. There is a danger in limiting our experience of God to either only an emotional experience – which leaves us in a state of mysticism, or the other extreme of intellectualising our faith – which leaves us knowledgeable but dry and within intimacy. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
The choice to get muddy. Application of God’s kingdom now is for us to choose to enter into the brokenness of others. Jesus touched the leper – He could have just spoken healing but he valued the body, the wholeness of the person and chose to enter into this reality. Incarnate Vs Excarnate Word made flesh. John 1:1 – Word made Flesh – Jesus came into our lives, so we could enter into broken world. Too often, we shoot ‘truth’ from the safety of our comfort space, missing the incarnate reality of the Kingdom of God, that God calls us to enter into the mess, and pain of our broken world and bring His truth.
One of the active functions of God’s kingdom is that it draws people together. People are naturally called together to worship, serve, teach and guide one another. As we allow the Kingdom of God to take hold of our thinking, it leads us to understand the beauty of community that God births in our midst. But we must choose to actively participate in it. Those who grow the most are often the ones that serve the most. God doesn’t force community on us, but he draws us and calls us to belong, knowing that it is often the hardest place, but the most rewarding, developing and ultimately fulfilling place to be. Hebrews 10:25, NIV: "not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Jesus sent out the disciples to preach the kingdom of God: To preach simply means to proclaim, to tell others in the sense of announcing news to them. The disciples were sent with the work of proclaiming that the kingdom of God was present, and what the character of that kingdom was like. If we embrace the Kingdom we must also embrace the need for proclamation in a similar way.
In view of the tremendous blessings that the Philippians have received in Christ, Paul urges them to be united in harmony. Paul calls for this unity in our minds to flow over into practical love for each other. For God’s Kingdom to be established there must be unity and love. We are fooling ourselves to think that we can genuinely represent God without having this commitment. On the other hand, if we do express His harmony we bring great joy to the King.
Authenticity is key when it comes to establishing God’s Kingdom. Holiness is the practical outworking of God’s rule in our heart. If we are to serve as His divine representation in this world, we need to be holy as He is holy. Paul exhorts us in light of the manifold mercy of God. Our obedience is the product of what God has done in our lives, not something we can manufacture on our own.
Last week we reflected upon our restored purpose. We have been recommissioned to establish the kingdom of God on earth. We are to extend God’s rulership, will and nature from heaven to earth. In doing so, we considered the Lord’s prayer, His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. But How does that actually flow over into our daily existence ? This week we again consider prayer and specifically how it can lead and guide us. Prayer connects us to heart of God and this daily discipline enables us to keep in step with King and come under His rule day after day.
Our true purpose and calling is now restored. Man was created to represent the kingdom government of God on earth. Mankind is intended to embody the nature of God on earth and serve as his divine representative in the physical world. We have been recommissioned to establish the kingdom of God on earth. We are to extend God’s rulership, will and nature from heaven to earth. His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
Kingdom lost meant that the kingdom needed to be restored. God responded to this need by promising a messiah. The second Adam would restore and redeem and set in place the process by which God would re-establish his kingdom on earth. Instead of allowing us to waste our time trying to reach up, He came down to take hold of us. His desire was to bring us back into relationship with him and to return to us the lost kingdom.
Genesis 3:17-24
The fall of man was not just a personal act of disobedience, but was an act of treason. Adam and his decedents committed the ultimate act of betrayal. Adam declared independence from his kingdom government. In so doing severed his relationship with the King of Heaven, abandoned his position as ambassador. And lost his dominion over the earth. The devil’s goal was to drive man from the garden of relationship with God. The result, the loss of the Kingdom of heaven on earth.
Genesis 3:17-24
The fall of man was not just a personal act of disobedience, but was an act of treason. Adam and his decedents committed the ultimate act of betrayal. Adam declared independence from his kingdom government. In so doing severed his relationship with the King of Heaven, abandoned his position as ambassador. And lost his dominion over the earth. The devil’s goal was to drive man from the garden of relationship with God. The result, the loss of the Kingdom of heaven on earth.
The Bible teaches the eternity of God. This means that God has always existed. His existence extends endlessly in the past and in the future. There was not a time when He did not exist. He never came into being and He will never cease to exist. We often look at God through human eyes and as a result we bring Him down to our level. It is important that with a sense of great awe and wonder we understand has always been The King and has always ruled over all things.
God may well do things differently, for he is not limited in any way, but His character cannot change. He cannot stop being God. He cannot improve or decline. He simply cannot change. You can count on Him to be the same today as he was in eternity past, or as he will be in a million years’ time. Therefore God’s promises to us will never change either. They are promises you can always count on. In today’s world that is something very unique.
When Jesus walked on this earth, sinners of all backgrounds went to Him. The worse a person felt, the more likely they saw Jesus as a refuge. Sometimes the down-and-out, who flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth, no longer feel welcome among his followers. I wonder why ? When we relate what we do as earning God’s support and love, we place a great emphasis on doing the right thing. Therefore we invent a system of rules. Before long we become the spiritual police of the church. Now it’s true, God has given us a list of things to live by. Our behaviour is still important to Him. But He doesn’t love us because we keep all the rules. We are not adopted into His family because we act correctly. God’s unconditional love sets us all free. However, that same freedom is to be gifted to those around us.
During my life I have done some things which now I really regret. But, even though that is the case, I know I have people that still love me. In fact, I could do almost anything and they would still be committed to me. Yes they may be hurt, disappointed or even ashamed, but in the end, they would still stand by me. We all need people who will show that sort of commitment. No-one is more committed to us than God. His promises bring amazing security and hope. We just need to build our lives around them.
Making choices is something we do every day. Some of these decisions will have an ongoing effect on our life, so we feel the pressure of getting it right. We often find ourselves standing at the crossroads. Will I go this way or that? Will I study these subjects, will I take this new job, should I marry this person, should I invest in this company. The list is endless. God wants us to make good choices and He is willing to guide us if we are willing to listen.
God is not like a company executive who demands that we show up and perform, but rather, He seeks that we might understand what He is like. Nothing is News to Him. He knows everything. He sees everything. He knows what we need. He knows all our secrets. He knows all our scars. God’s eyes are never off us. But rather than being fearful of God’s constant gaze, we should be thankful. God knows us. He created us. He cares for us. It is always a delight to Him when we seek Him out and take hold of His hand.
God put so much of the fear of Mordecai into the hearts of the people that the very people who were ordered to kill the Jews, helped Mordecai to defeat those who would have killed them! This is God's doing. God made Mordecai and object of dread to the enemies of the Jews. He put His fear into the life of this once simple, humble gatekeeper, then He placed him in second of command in the kingdom and the people reverenced him greatly. This is God's doing
Esther wasn’t lucky to be queen; Mordecai wasn’t lucky to have overheard the assassination plot; it wasn’t luck or chance that made Haman enter the royal courts at this time with this heart. All of these events were orchestrated by God and not by luck.. This becomes difficult, of course,when bad things happen to us. It is easy to see God’s management of all things when we see good things happen. But what about the bad? Even then, we must trust God’s total plan. Any one event, taken in isolation may seem to make no sense, but when we see all things working together we then see the ultimate wisdom of God’s plan.
Esther Ch 6
God gives us our position in life. Many times we are blinded by circumstances and cannot see it, but God gives us our position in life. He gives it tous that we may use it for His Cause, for the spread of His Gospel in this day in which we live. We have tremendous advantages given to us by God!
God has conferred them on us for a Divine Purpose.In every human life runs that Divine Purpose. Nobody is without value. Everyone is of tremendous value, and God places you in the position where you are that you might glorify Him and be a blessing to those around you in His Name, to bring God into their lives.
Mordecai refused to reverence Haman. He would not bow himself down to the ground to satisfy Haman's self-seeking idolatry. Bear in mind that theorder to bow before Haman came from the king. Everyone bowed, except Mordecai. He refused to be a part of this worship of Haman.
It is now that the heroine of our book walks on the stage. She enters into the narrative here and God begins to move in a very special way in her
life. God has been preparing her. God has been getting her ready. She is brought up as an orphan girl in the home of this man named Mordecai.
God was preparing her. God had a work for her to do.
A historical book of the Old Testament that shows how God preserved His Chosen People. The book is named for its main personality, Queen
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for withoutMe you can do nothing." John 15:5
As Jesus spoke, the vines hung heavy with ripened fruit throughout the region. His listeners understood the significance of the vine and the dependency the branches had to the source of nutrition and water..... Jesus, as the Vine, is our Source of life—life today and everlasting life.
The Gospel of John records this repeated phrase “I am” seven times. Each repetition adds another layer of understanding of His character until we see His form perfectly.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except throughMe." John 14:6
Thomas and the rest of Jesus’ disciples could not comprehend His leaving them. He warned them—on multiple occasions—but they could not seem to accept it. As they struggled with this, Jesus helped them to see the Father and to understand that they were one.....Jesus, as the Way, the Truth and the Life, is God, and is our only Source of salvation.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, heshall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" -John 11:25, 26
Jesus’ friends, Mary and Martha, are distraught. Jesus has arrived too late—their brother Lazarus is dead. The grieving Martha hears Him say, “Your brother will rise again,” and she responds in faith, affirming that he will rise in the last days. But Jesus has other, more immediate plans for Lazarus......Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, will raise all who believe in the last days, just as He raised Lazarus.
"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." - John 10:9
How does God describe Himself to His creation? In John 10, Jesus tapped into something familiar to each of His listeners—shepherding. Likely, the bleats of nearby sheep echoed behind Him as He spoke. Anyone sneaking into a sheepfold by any means than the door was not there legitimately. The only legitimate access to the sheep was through the door..........Jesus is that Door and He alone offers the true path to salvation.
Jesus uttered these words to a group that witnessed an incredible scene. Teaching in the temple, a woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus. As the accusers attempted to trick Jesus by asking if He thought the woman should be stoned, Jesus mutely wrote in the sand. The accusers evaporated and the embarrassed woman was set free with forgiveness and the admonition to turn away from the darkness. Now, turning to the remaining assembled people, Jesus tells them that He is the Light of the world...........Jesus, as the Light of the world, offers a choice between the darkness of sin and the glistening light of a life in His presence.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:11
Jesus is the Door and so much more. He is the Shepherd—the One whose voice the sheep know and trust. The Shepherd will protect and save the sheep at any cost...........Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, died to save each of us.
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he whobelieves in Me shall never thirst." John 6:35
Jesus spoke these words after a quiet night alone in the wilderness. He fled to this wilderness after the miracle of feeding the 5,000 men (and more women and children) with just five loaves and two fish. Following this miracle and these words, the people, somehow, still asked for a sign that they could believe in Him. After all, they argued, their ancestors had manna. Jesus assured them that although their ancestors were given manna, they were dead. He offered the kind of Bread that those who ate would never die.....................Jesus, as the Bread of Life, offers each of us life everlasting.
Introduction to the I AM series. "“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58
One of the reasons I worry is because I look at life through human eyes. What will I possibly do if that happens ! We soon see ourselves in deep trouble. We are in way over our heads. Fear takes over and worry reduces us to a blob of anxiety. Now last week I said most things we worry about never actually happen and that’s often the case. But if what we fear most does occur- then we need to defeat worry by leaving it to God. He is actually able to do much more than we can ask or even imagine. The character of God – His faithfulness and His power - is the means by which we defeat worry. Jesus tells us not to worry because “Abba Father” has got it covered. I don’t have the capacity to fully understand God. He is so much greater than the boundaries of my mind. But by faith I can believe that He has it covered – He has my back. By faith I can stop worrying because God has the answer- even if in my limited thinking I cannot see it.
Ephesians 3:20 - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
We often stress and worry about things that really don’t matter. I have good neighbours and they are no problem to me at all. That is except for the way they do some things. When they clean their cars, they do the outside first and then they clean the inside. This is the wrong way round. Likewise they mow the lawn and then they whipper snipper the edges. Not the right way to do it. Now these things don’t really worry me – well to be honest they do. I don’t get too stressed or lose any sleep over it, it just irks me a little when I see it. I know – who really cares – they can do as they want. Who am I to say I am right anyway. Sometimes we worry about things that don’t really matter in the light of eternity. We need to focus on what God gives high priority to.And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11
Romans Chapter 8 is full of well-known verses that enable us to be extremely positive about our lives even in the midst of great challenge. Without a doubt this chapter is rich with deep theological truth. Yet if we were to simplify an important theme of the latter verses we could summarise Paul’s words in this way. God is on our side. His love continually flows over us. He is always at work in our lives to bless us. The wonderful promises of God bring us to a place in our thinking where we can declare a key and life changing truth. If God is for us, who can be against us!We all know that God is real. He is always there with us. But sometimes we forget that He is for us. He is on our side. We are His precious children. Paul goes on to say that He did not even spare His own son so that we could be brought back into the family of God. We can overcome worry with a simple and clear mindset. If God is for us who can be against us! Take in the great encouragement that God’s promises create as you read these verses.RO 8:31-39 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is no greater blessing from God than the promise of His peace. To be content with life and all that we encounter is such a wonderful existence. The opposite of this of course, is to be overwhelmed with worry. Rather than being relaxed, we are on edge, rather than feeling an inner calm, we are overcome with butterflies invading our stomachs. So it’s easy to see why we much prefer living in a state of peace.
In Isaiah we read that if our eyes are on God and we trust Him, then we are blessed with perfect peace. Perfect meaning complete, not lacking in anyway. So God is able to bless us with a peace that is beyond all human understanding, a depth of calm and contentment that only He can provide. Overcoming worry means we are to look to God and trust Him, for then we are kept in perfect peace.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever,for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4
It is said that most things we worry about, never actually happen. From my experience I think that is probably true. A lot of emotional energy can be needlessly invested. God tries to spare us this unnecessary pain by simply saying - please don’t worry ! Firstly, worry cannot change the circumstances; secondly I will look after you.Now it is almost impossible to stop that first emotional response to a perceived problem. However, what we do with that initial concern is what makes the difference. I have never won a mind game battle in my whole life. In fact – it just gets worse and worse and everything spirals down even further. Much better to hand it over straight away. Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?]
Making decisions can often cause us to feel quite anxious. We worry about making the right choice because we don’t want to suffer the consequences of a bad one. We can easily overcome this form of worry by seeking out what God is saying. The bible tells us if we need wisdom all we need to do is ask.However, we don’t need to get all stressed about this. Just be open and honest before God and allow Him to guide your decision process. He will use people or circumstances to open and close doors. He is a good Father and He wants you to make the right choices, so it won’t be complicated.If after seeking God you still feel a little unsure, simply pray, God this is what I sense you are saying but please close the door if I’m out of step with you. It’s also important to understand that there are times when God doesn’t mind whether we choose the steak or the curry – He is just happy for us to enjoy the moment. May we rest in God and trust His leading. May we also relax in Him, if it’s important, He’ll make his way clear to us.My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favour and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:1-8
Worry can have such so a strong hold over us, that it dominates and influences almost our entire thinking process. We easily lose perspective and things can seem really dark. As a result we often feel like we are on our own. Such isolation only increases our anxiety.
One clear and effective way of winning this battle, is to remember each day, the faithfulness of God. Then we will naturally hand over our fears and concerns to Him. And because worry is often connected to what might happen to us in the future, we can now rest in Him and wait on God for all of life’s outcomes.
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” Lamentations 3:21-25
Paul sets out how we should live as followers of Christ. He reminds us that we are no longer controlled by our sinful nature. Therefore we want our lives to honour God. Now we can help each other do this by speaking the truth in love. However, this can go very badly if both parties have the wrong attitude. The one speaking needs to be gracious and gentle. The one receiving has to be open to instruction for God’s glory. A lot can be gained but a lot can be lost if this isn’t done in a Godly way.
The greatest tool that the devil holds is pride. So much damage can be done and often we are unaware of the problem. We can easily justify our sense of superiority. Peter,however talks about caring for people in humility. He says don’t care because you must - but only because you are willing. Humility is the key. Unless we value people the way God does - we will never be able to love one another with true integrity.
In this well-known chapter, Paul talks about the transforming of our minds. This is our spiritual act of worship. He then goes on to talk about a life of service. Then in these verses he gives us some wonderful practical ways of how we love one another. To honour God - we honour each other with acts of service and love.
Peter encourages us to use the gifts God has given us. One of the key ones within the church is hospitality.With some creative thinking and the right attitude, this is something we can all do. No one is perfect but you will be a huge blessing to others, because hospitality covers a multitude of sins.
When we are doing it tough and things seem to be going against us – James tells us to be patient and stand firm in our faith. He understands that when we are suffering we often take it out on those around us. So he warns us against grumbling and blaming others. We need other people when we are experiencing hardship – so it’s not wise to push them away. We find our rest in God as we enjoy the people he puts in our life.
As we draw near to God we come to understand the importance of our church family. God wants for us to encourage each other in our walk with Him. Meeting together at church or life group is a wonderful way to spur each other on to achieve God’s purposes. We are always better together.
When we live in the light - we are open to God’s leading. We are in step with his purposes. However, there are many challenges and distractions. May we encourage each other to make the most of the life that Christ died to give us.
We must resist the temptation to repay evil with evil. Why be a victim twice. Rather ask God to bring about an amazing transformation where you actually want the offender to be blessed. Now this isn’t easy and it is beyond all human compassion. But God can do a work in us where rather than wanting them to suffer, we pray for their blessing. Now this not just a huge win for those we pray for, but it is a huge blessing to us as well. Vengeance is like a cancer and it eats away our soul. This is God’s love in action through us. Love Does.
Sometimes we are easily annoyed. At other times people around us can be very annoying. Either way anger is lurking close by. Love Does means an action where we give each other room to fail. We also understand that often our own frustration means we react rather unfairly to those who get in the way. We need to be patient and show compassion.
We are set free in Christ. Free from our sinful behaviour and its terrible consequences. But we are not free to exploit those around us. At its worst, human behaviour can drive us to destroy people. However, Christ in us, means we can be vessels of His love. Therefore the best of human behaviour, inspired by obedience to the spirit, enables us to love, serve and protect.
The thought of Jew and Gentile inheriting the kingdom of God together was offensive to many Jews. But Paul encourages total acceptance because then they can worship God in one voice. God loves that ! After all just as Christ accepts us, so we must accept others. We don’t have to agree on everything but we are the one and same family. Jesus took the imitative to reconcile us both to God and to each other. Love Does means we invest in this great opportunity to be blessed and be a blessing.
Paul teaches us to put on Love and Compassion. For this is the way that God’s children should “dress” Compassion is the motivation behind our love for others. Yet it doesn’t just take place in our minds but it is always evidenced in action. We can have a compassionate heart but it will always be reflected in our lifestyle. Compassion is displayed in and through who we are and what we do. Love is a choice. Compassion makes that choice easier. Therefore it would make sense that we would seek God so that we might put it on.
Being in harmony with our God and King is key to a life of joy and peace. We are forever His children by faith in Jesus, but there is ongoing growth and maturity that takes places within our heart as we journey with Him day by day. As our relationship develops God creates an integrity within us that draws us to desire a pure heart. It can be a difficult journey with some pain, but the joy that comes is beyond words.
Heaven is not something that we probably reflect on as much as we should. However, we do need to be balanced. On one hand our eternal home is the only thing that makes sense of this life on earth. The Bible tells us we are aliens here, our eternal home is our true destination. Yet the reality is, that while we are on this earth we make the most of it. We may only have a loose grip on this life, but we are still to take everything opportunity to serve God faithfully while we can.
We worship God with our lives every day. We come together in fellowship and offer our worship. Worship isn’t limited to music and singing but is evident whenever we declare God’s greatness – His limitless worth. Sometimes we get confused and consider worship through our own eyes. However, worship is to God and for God. If we build on that understanding our worship will be balanced.
Prayer is key to our Christian journey. Sometimes we don’t always understand fully the characteristics of a healthy prayer life. Once we do, we might find ourselves enjoying a spiritual discipline that we often neglected. Who better to listen to than Jesus when he teaches us about prayer. We need to be both excited and expectant about what transformation will take place when we find the sweet spot of prayer in our life.
It is important for us to understand that we don’t create Christian unity. We don’t get to decide. We only maintain what Jesus put in place. In someone is in Christ they are in. Healthy unity is an appreciation of our differences but all the time acknowledging that we belong to the one family with the one and the same Lord.
John is not identifying a quality which God possesses; it is not simply that God loves, but that he is love Therefore, to imagine that God does not love us is to deny his true nature, to repudiate his character. This Divine love cannot be earned; it cannot be deserved. It is love for our fellow believers that John puts forward as irrefutable evidence of the new birth. Its absence, whatever a person’s pretensions may be, indicates that he has no true personal knowledge of God. So we are dependent upon God to love others. v7 clarifies for us where our source lies - Love comes from God. He is as much its source as he is the source of all true light.
Every Christian has a new destiny. We have passed from death to life. The reason we know it is that we love our brothers. This life is eternal not only in that it is everlasting, but in that it is the life of God within us. God is the only source of life, light and love and this is to be the obvious outworking of His spirit within us. The reality of my gratitude for my deliverance from this death is evidenced by how much I love my brothers and sisters. This is not something we just talk about but it by its nature is something we do.
The woman’s love and gratitude is evidence of how great her ‘debt’ has been, and how in turn, how great the Lord’s forgiveness is. The formal religion of the Pharisees had no real answer to the problem of sin, and could only respond with disapproval and condemnation. But Jesus could actually do away with sin, and in this deepest sense bring salvation and peace. Here in lies our motivation to love deeply.
Luke Chapter 6 challenges us to live a life according to our calling. Loving not just our neighbour, but also to love our enemies. Further to that we are not to judge others but to forgive. This is what is to come out from a heart given over to God. Obedience is the key. We are called to obey the leading of God spirit in all these things and make them a part of our daily lifestyle.
Enjoying the presence of Jesus is a natural response as an act of love. But it’s more than just coming to Him as an act of trust, we are to keep journeying with Him as an act of Faith ! His desire is for us to grow. Jesus wants us to gather around Him but in so doing, it’s just a matter of time before He starts to challenge our thinking.
Jesus shares his mission. He will bring about a message of Good News. We are called to a life of freedom, joy, hope and love. You would imagine that this is good news for all people; however, some decide to turn their back on Jesus. We are first to receive the message and then proclaim it in word and deed.