Paul Benger continued our current series Miracles. This morning was called ‘A Miracle and a Muddy Eyewash’.
John 9:1-7
Sight is an incredible thing, and not just physical sight, but being able to see the right perspective of our lives and the world in which we live. To have good eyesight is a good thing...it changes your actions and attitudes when you get a new perspective and new vision. To see what God has for you.
Three things concerning improving our sight...
1) God wants us to see through our ‘obstacle’ illusions
When we face obstacles sometimes that creates a false or misleading impression of reality. (“One week God loves me, the next week he doesn’t!”) - This is an obstacle illusion.
Fear is a good example of this...False Evidence Appearing Real
We need the miracle of sight today. God wants us to see what he sees. The obstacles we face are not the end of the story because God will have the last word. His word is the key to our miracle - what he has said.
In our story today, the disciples were looking for a reason for the man’s blindness.
“Who sinned?” they asked Jesus. They were playing the blame game!
Jesus wasn’t looking for a reason he was looking for the solution. There may have been a reason for his blindness but Jesus wanted to bring the solution. Jesus said, “...this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”
2) God wants us to see our response to his obedience
Another key to miracles is the response of the people to God’s word.
When Jesus answered the disciples questioning of the man’s blindness silence fell and then Jesus spat on the ground, made some mud and put it on the man’s eyes.
Jesus then said ‘go’ and wash your eyes. He obeys Jesus’ command and is healed.
Miracles happen when we GO! When we move out on a word from God.
When Jesus says go it doesn’t always make sense. What has God asked you that doesn’t make sense? To give, to forgive etc. Miracles happen when I go!
3) God wants us to see passed our blind spots
John 9:13-16
Jesus is being mischievous again! Doing this miracle on the Sabbath on purpose, creating controversy with the Pharisees. He fulfilled the law of God and yet was a law breaker...the laws set by men.
The Pharisees later questioned the man about Jesus and his miracle. John 9:24 - A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. Give glory to God, they said. We know this man is a sinner.
His answer was spot on! John 9:25 - He replied, Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!
They threw him out, but Jesus went and found him! With Jesus it is always about relationship and not religion.
John 9:35-37 - Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, Do you believe in the Son of Man? Who is he, sir? the man asked. Tell me so that I may believe in him. Jesus said, You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you. Then the man said, Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him.
Jesus had healed him of his blindness, what was his response...he worshipped him.
When our focus is on Jesus, when we honour him, our blind spots disappear...things become clearer. We can know a deeper relationship with God.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Miracles I
Paul Benger began our new series today called Miracles. This morning was called ‘A Poolside Miracle’, talking about positional miracles.
John 5:1-9
"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me”
But it was the will of God that he would be made well. He had always been at the right place for a miracle but he had the wrong focus.
He had been at the pool for 38 years. The pool was at Bethesda which means ‘place of mercy’, or ‘flowing water’.
We can find ourselves in the right place today for a miracle, in the House of God, our time of worship, our connect group...places of refreshing and renewal.
The man is looking for angels, he is looking for the mystical – Jesus is stood right in front of him. We can find ourselves looking for the magical thing to happen like the stirring of the water, looking for the perfect conditions!
Everything we need starts in Jesus, but not just Jesus we need one another...we need community.
The tragedy is we can go through our lives with the wrong focus.
Jesus asked the man a great question, “Do you want to get well?” Why would he ask such a question when the answer would seem obvious?
- He had got used to his circumstances - his condition. We are creatures of habit, we get used to stuff.
- He had friends – when you are in need you find that there are a lot of people like that. We become part of a group, society – we can get comfortable.
- He enjoyed his status – you can get a status amongst the poor and needy. He’d been in the same place for 38 years!
- He had an income – from begging. When the benefits stop what’s going to happen?
- He had a suntan to die for – by the poolside for so long! Mr Ambre Solaire!
Jesus will only work with our will not against it.
Excuses he made...
No one to help me get into the pool
Others get there before me
He was not just bed-ridden he was also excuse-ridden! Jesus takes away our excuses. Heaven is on your side...all things are possible to him who believes!
Jesus was after his heart, he was not being judgmental.
What he needed was a word from God and to respond to it...
Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
God’s word to him and for us today...
1) Get up – arise. This required fresh vision. Don’t have the ‘one day’ syndrome. Make some movement towards your miracle. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water” – Jesus said, “come on then!”
2) Take up your mat. This required a new attitude. He gathered up the stuff that identified him. He gathered up 38 years of disappointment, of low self-esteem.
Gather up religion and move into a relationship with Jesus.
3) Walk. This required a different action. Did his ‘moving’ heal him? Become future minded. What state does my miracle put me in? Adopt some states, postures that our future puts us in.
What is God saying to you? The miracle is hearing God’s word and responding to it.
John 5:1-9
"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me”
But it was the will of God that he would be made well. He had always been at the right place for a miracle but he had the wrong focus.
He had been at the pool for 38 years. The pool was at Bethesda which means ‘place of mercy’, or ‘flowing water’.
We can find ourselves in the right place today for a miracle, in the House of God, our time of worship, our connect group...places of refreshing and renewal.
The man is looking for angels, he is looking for the mystical – Jesus is stood right in front of him. We can find ourselves looking for the magical thing to happen like the stirring of the water, looking for the perfect conditions!
Everything we need starts in Jesus, but not just Jesus we need one another...we need community.
The tragedy is we can go through our lives with the wrong focus.
Jesus asked the man a great question, “Do you want to get well?” Why would he ask such a question when the answer would seem obvious?
- He had got used to his circumstances - his condition. We are creatures of habit, we get used to stuff.
- He had friends – when you are in need you find that there are a lot of people like that. We become part of a group, society – we can get comfortable.
- He enjoyed his status – you can get a status amongst the poor and needy. He’d been in the same place for 38 years!
- He had an income – from begging. When the benefits stop what’s going to happen?
- He had a suntan to die for – by the poolside for so long! Mr Ambre Solaire!
Jesus will only work with our will not against it.
Excuses he made...
No one to help me get into the pool
Others get there before me
He was not just bed-ridden he was also excuse-ridden! Jesus takes away our excuses. Heaven is on your side...all things are possible to him who believes!
Jesus was after his heart, he was not being judgmental.
What he needed was a word from God and to respond to it...
Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
God’s word to him and for us today...
1) Get up – arise. This required fresh vision. Don’t have the ‘one day’ syndrome. Make some movement towards your miracle. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water” – Jesus said, “come on then!”
2) Take up your mat. This required a new attitude. He gathered up the stuff that identified him. He gathered up 38 years of disappointment, of low self-esteem.
Gather up religion and move into a relationship with Jesus.
3) Walk. This required a different action. Did his ‘moving’ heal him? Become future minded. What state does my miracle put me in? Adopt some states, postures that our future puts us in.
What is God saying to you? The miracle is hearing God’s word and responding to it.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
For this Cause...
I spoke in church this morning on the subject of the Cause of Christ.
John 18:37 – Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”
We fall in love with the person of Christ…do we fall in love with His Cause?
There is a Cause we are called to. God’s grace and favour poured into our lives – grace is to be passed on!
John 15:12-13 - My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Greatest Love – it is what focused Jesus on his purpose/His cause. Love for the world. Live for Him – love for the world.
Some people have such a commanding personality it radiates from them. Just being in their presence makes you feel caught up in their cause. Jesus must have been a person like this.
Matthew 4:19-20 - Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed him"
People are always drawn to those with a sense of purpose and direction. Jesus knew He was born for a Cause, and everything He did fulfilled that purpose.
For THIS CAUSE, Jesus said I come into this world. What was this cause?
1) For this Cause...is more than Vision
• A vision is personal, but a cause is bigger than any one person is
• People generally won’t die for a vision, but they die for a cause everyday around the world.
• Vision is something a person can possess, but a cause possesses the person.
• Vision leaves you with options. But a cause leaves you with no options
• You can ignore a vision but you can’t ignore a cause.
• Vision lasts for a lifetime, but a cause’s last forever.
• You can change a vision - but the cause never changes.
• A vision will generate excitement, but a cause generates power
You and I also were born for a cause, and our connection to the world is that same cause, and it’s the cause of the King and of His Kingdom.
It’s great when people understand and catch the vision of our church but I know it is far more powerful when people get switched on to the Cause of Christ!
2) For this Cause...the Message has never changed!
In fact Jesus has never changed. Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
The message is still the message of transformation, forgiveness and salvation! It is a story about the grace and mercy of God being poured out upon a people so undeserving!
Though this message has never changed – the packaging this message comes in has got to change for each successive generation, for every culture.
The Church has been guilty of living in the past, traditions that have become irrelevant. They have lived with the Jesus of yesterday forgetting that the Jesus of today is out constantly seeking and saving that which was lost.
Change (for some) is a dangerous idea to live with. The moment you mention change people get frightened. Most of us like it the way it was and love our memories of past days! Vision changes…the Cause never changes!
3) For this Cause...Remain Externally Focused (Missional)
Luke 19: 1-10
Luke 19:9-10 “Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house” For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
I love the way Jesus dealt with people. The outcast, downtrodden, the sinner...I love the priority he gave them?
Notice three main people – Zacchaeus, Jesus and the crowd
The hunger in the heart of Zacchaeus - So much so he climbed a tree to see Jesus
There is a spiritual hunger in the hearts of every person we see on the streets – it is the eternity in our hearts that draws people to Christ – we are part of that process!
Notice with Jesus there was no condemnation – not one word of judgement. Jesus was missional.
Crowd - Notice the “what-about-me” spirit of the people around – they muttered or murmured – It was consistent sound made across the crowd. Jesus had shocked them, by inviting himself to be the guest of this tax collector and notorious sinner who had robbed nearly everybody in the city by exorbitant taxes. This is the heart of the religious mind – they wanted Jesus’ attention.
Matthew 9:11-12 says, “When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
Jesus is building a Church with a heart for the lost.
Ephesians 1:23 (Message) says it all; “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
The church is about living in today, acting inside today and more than that it’s about tomorrow – being prophetic, building a future, and creating a future for our church and town, our communities.
Acts 20: 24 - “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”
Our mission in life is reach people and to introduce them to Christ and get them connected with His church – people connect people.
For this Cause...
Jesus puts it like this in Matthew 5:14-16 - "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
John 18:37 – Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”
We fall in love with the person of Christ…do we fall in love with His Cause?
There is a Cause we are called to. God’s grace and favour poured into our lives – grace is to be passed on!
John 15:12-13 - My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Greatest Love – it is what focused Jesus on his purpose/His cause. Love for the world. Live for Him – love for the world.
Some people have such a commanding personality it radiates from them. Just being in their presence makes you feel caught up in their cause. Jesus must have been a person like this.
Matthew 4:19-20 - Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed him"
People are always drawn to those with a sense of purpose and direction. Jesus knew He was born for a Cause, and everything He did fulfilled that purpose.
For THIS CAUSE, Jesus said I come into this world. What was this cause?
1) For this Cause...is more than Vision
• A vision is personal, but a cause is bigger than any one person is
• People generally won’t die for a vision, but they die for a cause everyday around the world.
• Vision is something a person can possess, but a cause possesses the person.
• Vision leaves you with options. But a cause leaves you with no options
• You can ignore a vision but you can’t ignore a cause.
• Vision lasts for a lifetime, but a cause’s last forever.
• You can change a vision - but the cause never changes.
• A vision will generate excitement, but a cause generates power
You and I also were born for a cause, and our connection to the world is that same cause, and it’s the cause of the King and of His Kingdom.
It’s great when people understand and catch the vision of our church but I know it is far more powerful when people get switched on to the Cause of Christ!
2) For this Cause...the Message has never changed!
In fact Jesus has never changed. Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
The message is still the message of transformation, forgiveness and salvation! It is a story about the grace and mercy of God being poured out upon a people so undeserving!
Though this message has never changed – the packaging this message comes in has got to change for each successive generation, for every culture.
The Church has been guilty of living in the past, traditions that have become irrelevant. They have lived with the Jesus of yesterday forgetting that the Jesus of today is out constantly seeking and saving that which was lost.
Change (for some) is a dangerous idea to live with. The moment you mention change people get frightened. Most of us like it the way it was and love our memories of past days! Vision changes…the Cause never changes!
3) For this Cause...Remain Externally Focused (Missional)
Luke 19: 1-10
Luke 19:9-10 “Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house” For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
I love the way Jesus dealt with people. The outcast, downtrodden, the sinner...I love the priority he gave them?
Notice three main people – Zacchaeus, Jesus and the crowd
The hunger in the heart of Zacchaeus - So much so he climbed a tree to see Jesus
There is a spiritual hunger in the hearts of every person we see on the streets – it is the eternity in our hearts that draws people to Christ – we are part of that process!
Notice with Jesus there was no condemnation – not one word of judgement. Jesus was missional.
Crowd - Notice the “what-about-me” spirit of the people around – they muttered or murmured – It was consistent sound made across the crowd. Jesus had shocked them, by inviting himself to be the guest of this tax collector and notorious sinner who had robbed nearly everybody in the city by exorbitant taxes. This is the heart of the religious mind – they wanted Jesus’ attention.
Matthew 9:11-12 says, “When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
Jesus is building a Church with a heart for the lost.
Ephesians 1:23 (Message) says it all; “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
The church is about living in today, acting inside today and more than that it’s about tomorrow – being prophetic, building a future, and creating a future for our church and town, our communities.
Acts 20: 24 - “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”
Our mission in life is reach people and to introduce them to Christ and get them connected with His church – people connect people.
For this Cause...
Jesus puts it like this in Matthew 5:14-16 - "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Grace and Favour IV
Mark Wilkins completed our Grace and Favour series this morning. A great finale to an excellent series.
Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Condemnation – critiscm that can stay with us forever. Condemned Buildings – that are not safe, useless, dangerous. Food – gone bad, poisonous.
We’re no longer in that place of condemnation because of God’s grace. However some people still live in that place, they can wear it as a badge. But GRACE is the interrupter of our lives, changes how we feel about ourselves.
Grace interrupts and changes the rules. You can change your situation – you are good enough.
Here are several things that should be interrupted by grace...
1) Burden Carrying
When issues have already been dealt with, healed, complete, finished, because of what Christ has done – don’t pick those things up again.
Put down the burdens and let grace interrupt!
2) Shame
Ashamed of who we are, of what we’ve done. But God has set you free. He’s not ashamed of you, he’s exactly the opposite.
Shame can be taken from us as we allow his grace to interrupt our lives.
Woman caught in adultery – Jesus interrupts her life with grace. He removed the shame. She was forgiven.
3) Having a ‘work-like’ theology
When we’re constantly working to please God. Striving to make him love us more. We’ve forgotten what grace is all about.
Grace is not a loophole in your relationship with God. It’s the only way! Yes work for God, but from the position of Grace. Relational.
Grace is not just a one-off but a constant daily thing.
Some symptoms of us allowing these three areas to govern our lives...
We fail to show grace to others – we find ourselves condemning other people.
They sap our ability, our energy and life. We become harder, less giving, less fun. Cold and religious. We feel like we’ve lost control, no longer in charge of our lives.
There is another way to live, where we’ve stopped thinking we’re no longer fit for purpose.
We are loved. Inhabited by the Holy Spirit. God lives in us.
Romans 8:2 - because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death
The opposite of being condemned and feeling condemned – we now have a life-giving spirit. Not striving in our own strength. Able to boast about what God has done for us. We give life to others as a result of this. We remain teachable – we learn and grow.
Romans 8:6 - The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace
Let the Holy Spirit control our lives – not allowing sin to reign. Let him be our compass. So when we stray from the map He guides us back onto the right track.
How do we ensure we live an uncondemned life? Knowing grace on a daily basis.
Be constantly thinking of grace. Grace is at the forefront of the Apostle Paul’s thoughts. “Grace and Peace to You…” - Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 1:2
Grace was his starting point, his default position. Grace was the reason for everything he did. Made it his mission to share the good news of God’s grace.
Let all of our words and actions be shaped by grace.
This is our life assignment, to live in his grace and to share this with others – the reason for being.
What would a review of our grace life reveal? Our grace map?
Let his grace be visible in our lives and in every area. Let it be the forefront of our lives, our mission in life. As we live lives full of grace we will bear good fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law
Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Condemnation – critiscm that can stay with us forever. Condemned Buildings – that are not safe, useless, dangerous. Food – gone bad, poisonous.
We’re no longer in that place of condemnation because of God’s grace. However some people still live in that place, they can wear it as a badge. But GRACE is the interrupter of our lives, changes how we feel about ourselves.
Grace interrupts and changes the rules. You can change your situation – you are good enough.
Here are several things that should be interrupted by grace...
1) Burden Carrying
When issues have already been dealt with, healed, complete, finished, because of what Christ has done – don’t pick those things up again.
Put down the burdens and let grace interrupt!
2) Shame
Ashamed of who we are, of what we’ve done. But God has set you free. He’s not ashamed of you, he’s exactly the opposite.
Shame can be taken from us as we allow his grace to interrupt our lives.
Woman caught in adultery – Jesus interrupts her life with grace. He removed the shame. She was forgiven.
3) Having a ‘work-like’ theology
When we’re constantly working to please God. Striving to make him love us more. We’ve forgotten what grace is all about.
Grace is not a loophole in your relationship with God. It’s the only way! Yes work for God, but from the position of Grace. Relational.
Grace is not just a one-off but a constant daily thing.
Some symptoms of us allowing these three areas to govern our lives...
We fail to show grace to others – we find ourselves condemning other people.
They sap our ability, our energy and life. We become harder, less giving, less fun. Cold and religious. We feel like we’ve lost control, no longer in charge of our lives.
There is another way to live, where we’ve stopped thinking we’re no longer fit for purpose.
We are loved. Inhabited by the Holy Spirit. God lives in us.
Romans 8:2 - because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death
The opposite of being condemned and feeling condemned – we now have a life-giving spirit. Not striving in our own strength. Able to boast about what God has done for us. We give life to others as a result of this. We remain teachable – we learn and grow.
Romans 8:6 - The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace
Let the Holy Spirit control our lives – not allowing sin to reign. Let him be our compass. So when we stray from the map He guides us back onto the right track.
How do we ensure we live an uncondemned life? Knowing grace on a daily basis.
Be constantly thinking of grace. Grace is at the forefront of the Apostle Paul’s thoughts. “Grace and Peace to You…” - Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 1:2
Grace was his starting point, his default position. Grace was the reason for everything he did. Made it his mission to share the good news of God’s grace.
Let all of our words and actions be shaped by grace.
This is our life assignment, to live in his grace and to share this with others – the reason for being.
What would a review of our grace life reveal? Our grace map?
Let his grace be visible in our lives and in every area. Let it be the forefront of our lives, our mission in life. As we live lives full of grace we will bear good fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law
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