Great final message in our One Prayer series this morning in church. Andy Stanley spoke on the promise that in the midst of uncertainty God is still certain.
Mark 14:17-29
Was this not the darkest hour for the disciples? Yet in the midst of all that was happening God was still in control even when it looked liked all had deserted Jesus.
The perfect place to run to in times of uncertainty is the Bible…the word of God.
In the midst of uncertainty God is still certain. God is right there in the middle of everything that is happening.
Can you trust God when there appears to be no evidence of his activity in your life, in your culture, in your world? Our response to that question will determine our response to the uncertainty in our society today.
Even when the disciples were facing their darkest hours God was doing his greatest work at that exact moment in time.
The greatest things happen in the most difficult moments in time. Can we maintain our faith in those times?
Uncertain? God is still certain. He still has the whole world in his hands. There is a way to have peace even in the midst of a storm.
He has your entire world in his hands.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
One Prayer III
We heard a great message from Kevin Gerald yesterday morning in church. He spoke on ‘Fear not…God is’.
1 Kings 17:7-16
Elijah said to the woman ‘don’t be afraid’. (vs 13) This phrase is used again and again in the Bible.
There are ‘brooks’ drying up in our world today. Fear grips the world. Fear sabotages the progress you want to make. Economic collapse is not our greatest threat…but financial ‘fear’ is our greatest enemy.
Fear not…God is! God doesn’t change in poor economic times. Sometimes these are the best times for God to show up. There is the miracle provision that God wants to bring into our lives.
Are we acting as if ‘God is’ or as if ’God is not’? ‘God is to me who His word says He’ll be’
God is…
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble
Jehovah Shammah – God is present in my life! Ever-present!
Don’t look at life through the eyes of the media…your fear level will go up. Do a media fast! Look at life through the promises of God from His word.
God is my help! Lift up your eyes and put your confidence in God. Act as if God is present. He is right here right now!
Psalm 27:1-3 – The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
Jehovah Gibbor – God is strong in battle! When life is at its worst God is at his best. You are not alone when you go into battle…if you’re willing to go!
Get your heart anchored in this truth…act as if God is empowering you. Don’t act as if God is not…act as if God is! Don’t whine…praise! Don’t grumble…celebrate His goodness!
Lamentations 4:9 – Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine
Better to die in battle than to starve! God is strong in battle…fear not!
Jehovah Jireh – God is our provider. This is God’s description of himself. This was how he introduced himself. When we grasp this truth fear is driven out. Shifts us from fear and into confidence.
Look at who God is in your life. God is present, God is strong in battle and He is your provider – he will sustain you. Focus your thoughts and prayers on these truths. Don’t go backward but move forward. Stand up, rise up and get confident. Fight the good fight of FAITH!
1 Kings 17:7-16
Elijah said to the woman ‘don’t be afraid’. (vs 13) This phrase is used again and again in the Bible.
There are ‘brooks’ drying up in our world today. Fear grips the world. Fear sabotages the progress you want to make. Economic collapse is not our greatest threat…but financial ‘fear’ is our greatest enemy.
Fear not…God is! God doesn’t change in poor economic times. Sometimes these are the best times for God to show up. There is the miracle provision that God wants to bring into our lives.
Are we acting as if ‘God is’ or as if ’God is not’? ‘God is to me who His word says He’ll be’
God is…
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble
Jehovah Shammah – God is present in my life! Ever-present!
Don’t look at life through the eyes of the media…your fear level will go up. Do a media fast! Look at life through the promises of God from His word.
God is my help! Lift up your eyes and put your confidence in God. Act as if God is present. He is right here right now!
Psalm 27:1-3 – The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
Jehovah Gibbor – God is strong in battle! When life is at its worst God is at his best. You are not alone when you go into battle…if you’re willing to go!
Get your heart anchored in this truth…act as if God is empowering you. Don’t act as if God is not…act as if God is! Don’t whine…praise! Don’t grumble…celebrate His goodness!
Lamentations 4:9 – Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine
Better to die in battle than to starve! God is strong in battle…fear not!
Jehovah Jireh – God is our provider. This is God’s description of himself. This was how he introduced himself. When we grasp this truth fear is driven out. Shifts us from fear and into confidence.
Look at who God is in your life. God is present, God is strong in battle and He is your provider – he will sustain you. Focus your thoughts and prayers on these truths. Don’t go backward but move forward. Stand up, rise up and get confident. Fight the good fight of FAITH!
Monday, June 15, 2009
One Prayer II
Excellent message in church yesterday as we continued the One Prayer season. Paul Benger spoke about us being called to be God’s Apprentice.
God is saying to you – ‘You’re hired’.
God takes people of no experience and trains them into his apprentices. He has prepared a place for us right here, right now – we’re meant to be living here now for a great purpose.
Matthew 4:18-22 – As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him
Jesus gave people hope, purpose and life, and he’s still doing that today. His greatest focus during his ministry was making disciples because he understood the significance of that for building the kingdom.
John 14:12 – I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father
We, the church, have carried on that mission.
Disciple = Apprentice
I do – you watch; I do – you help; You do – I help; You do – I watch; We do – others watch.
Rabbis had disciples, so it was a common thing. Jesus, however, was completely different to normal Rabbis. Here are three of those differences:
1) It’s his call. Not everybody became a Rabbi’s apprentice. Those who did found a Rabbi to follow. But Jesus came to them.
Matthew 8:19-22 – Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
The call to follow him now extends to all people – it isn’t limited to a few and the benefits apply to all.
2) It’s a call to follow. Jesus taught by example not through knowing the scriptures. The call expects an immediate response. The disciples had to decide there and then. Jesus looks for a no reservations response from us too.
What is Jesus going to ask of CLC in the next 12 months? Jesus looks for something in our hearts that says ‘YES’
Matt 5:1; Matt 8:23; Matt 9:19; Matt 13:36
3) It’s Lifelong. The Rabbi’s discipleship was a means to an end – the disciple usually became a Rabbi themselves.
For Jesus it was to become an apprentice for life. Matthew 23:10 – Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ
We are the followers all the days of our lives – we never stop learning.
It’s all about our spirit and attitude.
In conclusion, even though we don’t graduate, we serve others and make other disciples.
John 13:13-14; Matthew 28:19-20
God is saying to you – ‘You’re hired’.
God takes people of no experience and trains them into his apprentices. He has prepared a place for us right here, right now – we’re meant to be living here now for a great purpose.
Matthew 4:18-22 – As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him
Jesus gave people hope, purpose and life, and he’s still doing that today. His greatest focus during his ministry was making disciples because he understood the significance of that for building the kingdom.
John 14:12 – I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father
We, the church, have carried on that mission.
Disciple = Apprentice
I do – you watch; I do – you help; You do – I help; You do – I watch; We do – others watch.
Rabbis had disciples, so it was a common thing. Jesus, however, was completely different to normal Rabbis. Here are three of those differences:
1) It’s his call. Not everybody became a Rabbi’s apprentice. Those who did found a Rabbi to follow. But Jesus came to them.
Matthew 8:19-22 – Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
The call to follow him now extends to all people – it isn’t limited to a few and the benefits apply to all.
2) It’s a call to follow. Jesus taught by example not through knowing the scriptures. The call expects an immediate response. The disciples had to decide there and then. Jesus looks for a no reservations response from us too.
What is Jesus going to ask of CLC in the next 12 months? Jesus looks for something in our hearts that says ‘YES’
Matt 5:1; Matt 8:23; Matt 9:19; Matt 13:36
3) It’s Lifelong. The Rabbi’s discipleship was a means to an end – the disciple usually became a Rabbi themselves.
For Jesus it was to become an apprentice for life. Matthew 23:10 – Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ
We are the followers all the days of our lives – we never stop learning.
It’s all about our spirit and attitude.
In conclusion, even though we don’t graduate, we serve others and make other disciples.
John 13:13-14; Matthew 28:19-20
Sunday, June 07, 2009
One Prayer I
June kicked off in church with our One Prayer series. The theme of this year is “God is…”. We heard an excellent message from Craig Groeschel on ‘God is LOVE’.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
We often so easily accept that God loves the world and that God loves someone else…but what about ME?
2 questions we may ask ourselves…
1) Why would God love someone as bad as me?
Have you ever felt unworthy? There are many in the bible that have felt like this at times.
Job 42:5-6 – “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job)
1 Corinthians 15:9 – “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (Paul)
2) Why would God love someone so insignificant?
Ever felt like that? All these billions of people on the planet…why me?
There are others we read about in the Bible who have had those same feelings.
Exodus 3:11 – But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Moses)
1 Chronicles 29:14 – "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (David)
GOD IS LOVE
God doesn’t just LOVE…God is LOVE!
1 John 4:8-10 – Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
This helps us know and accept God’s love for us today. LOVE is not just what God does, but LOVE is what God is.
There is nothing we can do to earn more of God’s love or even lose his love. Because He is love! It’s who he is. His love covers our sin. Jesus shed his blood for you and me so that we might know God’s forgiveness from our sin.
1 Peter 4:8 – Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins
Religion can often make us feel like we’re never good enough…it gets us trying to earn our salvation through works. It is because of his love, grace and mercy that we can know forgiveness and God’s salvation today.
Titus 3:4-5 – But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
GOD’S LOVE MAKES YOU SIGNIFICANT
Jeremiah 31:3 – The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness
Luke 15 – talks about the lost coin, the prodigal son and the lost sheep. The fact that God’s loving-kindness draws us back to Christ. He pursues us!
Fill in the space below with your name today…this is so true for each and everyone of us. Whoever we are and whatever our background is or what has happened to us in the past.
‘For God so loved ................... that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ – John 3:16
We love because he first loved us.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
We often so easily accept that God loves the world and that God loves someone else…but what about ME?
2 questions we may ask ourselves…
1) Why would God love someone as bad as me?
Have you ever felt unworthy? There are many in the bible that have felt like this at times.
Job 42:5-6 – “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job)
1 Corinthians 15:9 – “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (Paul)
2) Why would God love someone so insignificant?
Ever felt like that? All these billions of people on the planet…why me?
There are others we read about in the Bible who have had those same feelings.
Exodus 3:11 – But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Moses)
1 Chronicles 29:14 – "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (David)
GOD IS LOVE
God doesn’t just LOVE…God is LOVE!
1 John 4:8-10 – Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
This helps us know and accept God’s love for us today. LOVE is not just what God does, but LOVE is what God is.
There is nothing we can do to earn more of God’s love or even lose his love. Because He is love! It’s who he is. His love covers our sin. Jesus shed his blood for you and me so that we might know God’s forgiveness from our sin.
1 Peter 4:8 – Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins
Religion can often make us feel like we’re never good enough…it gets us trying to earn our salvation through works. It is because of his love, grace and mercy that we can know forgiveness and God’s salvation today.
Titus 3:4-5 – But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
GOD’S LOVE MAKES YOU SIGNIFICANT
Jeremiah 31:3 – The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness
Luke 15 – talks about the lost coin, the prodigal son and the lost sheep. The fact that God’s loving-kindness draws us back to Christ. He pursues us!
Fill in the space below with your name today…this is so true for each and everyone of us. Whoever we are and whatever our background is or what has happened to us in the past.
‘For God so loved ................... that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ – John 3:16
We love because he first loved us.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Book of James - The Prayer of Faith
We finished our series on the book of James this morning in church. I spoke on the ‘Prayer of Faith’.
The prayer of faith I believe changes our position, our posture, our countenance!
A powerful and effective prayer life is available for all of God’s people.
James 5:13-18
Why do we pray?
We pray to know his will for our lives, believing that he will guide us. Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done...’
We pray to make a difference
We pray to change our attitude
We pray because there is always something to pray about
If we want to see incredible things happening we’ve got to strengthen it…seal it with prayer. All the best organisation skills, talent, gifting…we need all of that…but that on it’s own is not going to see the kind of things we want to see…the things that God wants to do in you and through you.
The Kingdom of God is all about PRAYER! His Kingdom coming when we pray…watch it grow…watch the impact that is has!
The great thing about Elijah for us today was that he was someone just like you and me who prayed to God and God heard and answered him.
When do we pray?
Elijah knew the answer to this…at all times. Whatever situation he was in he would pray.
James 5:13 - Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises
James says when we’re in trouble BUT also when things ‘are going well’…there’s still things to pray about. Sometimes we forget that fact!
How do we pray?
James is encouraging us to not only pray on all occasions…but he also encourages our praying to take on a certain feel/power!
PRAY WITH EARNEST (FERVENTLY)
James 5:16 - The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results
We can’t stay polite in our praying! We get into it…engage our heart/passion…there’s a fervency a determination that something is about to happen!
God is saying…when you pray, give me your heart! (Love the Lord you God with all your mind, soul, strength…and HEART) – it’s impossible to do something with your heart and keep it hidden away! He’s looking for passionate people…who get excited about what they’re doing for God.
PRAY WITH FAITH
James 5:15-16 - And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
James is saying, “Pray and believe God for an answer…he will answer you!” We all have faith - Some may say “I don’t have a lot of faith”…but you don’t need a lot! Mustard seed size!
Use it! It’s not whether we have faith or not it’s whether we are going to decide to use it!
Elijah knew that God was drawn to those who ASK. Jesus encouraged us to ASK…
Luke 11:9-10 - “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Elijah prayed with his face between his knees…as if in childbirth. Expectant…he knew the answer from God was coming! He did that for 7 times…he did it once and nothing happened…he did it a second time…nothing! He realises that he’s not just to pray once…but keep it going. Until he sees the breakthrough and the heavens open and the rain comes.
Matthew 21:21-22 - Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Through prayer and persistent determination…we can overcome and conquer any difficulty we face.
PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE
1 John 5:14-15 – And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for
Have confidence that GOD HEARS you! Even if we don’t get the answer we want or the answer is delayed…the promise is “He hears us”.
So we know when we pray, Your Kingdom Come Your Will be Done – we know God hears us and we can expect God to answer! Praying according to his will.
The Kingdom of Heaven advances through prayer. Would you believe that for this to happen the prayers needed are of a “violent nature”.
Matthew 11:12 - From the time of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing and the violent take hold of it.
Violent prayers are prayers of tenacity and persistence. An unwillingness to put up with situations and attitudes in our own lives and the lives of others will advance the Kingdom of God. Violent prayer means believing God will come through even when the opposite of what you’re believing for is hitting you right between the eyes. Violent prayer is refusing to accept the expected and expecting the unexpected. Violent prayer means OK is not OK. We’re going for great.
The prayer of faith I believe changes our position, our posture, our countenance!
A powerful and effective prayer life is available for all of God’s people.
James 5:13-18
Why do we pray?
We pray to know his will for our lives, believing that he will guide us. Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done...’
We pray to make a difference
We pray to change our attitude
We pray because there is always something to pray about
If we want to see incredible things happening we’ve got to strengthen it…seal it with prayer. All the best organisation skills, talent, gifting…we need all of that…but that on it’s own is not going to see the kind of things we want to see…the things that God wants to do in you and through you.
The Kingdom of God is all about PRAYER! His Kingdom coming when we pray…watch it grow…watch the impact that is has!
The great thing about Elijah for us today was that he was someone just like you and me who prayed to God and God heard and answered him.
When do we pray?
Elijah knew the answer to this…at all times. Whatever situation he was in he would pray.
James 5:13 - Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises
James says when we’re in trouble BUT also when things ‘are going well’…there’s still things to pray about. Sometimes we forget that fact!
How do we pray?
James is encouraging us to not only pray on all occasions…but he also encourages our praying to take on a certain feel/power!
PRAY WITH EARNEST (FERVENTLY)
James 5:16 - The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results
We can’t stay polite in our praying! We get into it…engage our heart/passion…there’s a fervency a determination that something is about to happen!
God is saying…when you pray, give me your heart! (Love the Lord you God with all your mind, soul, strength…and HEART) – it’s impossible to do something with your heart and keep it hidden away! He’s looking for passionate people…who get excited about what they’re doing for God.
PRAY WITH FAITH
James 5:15-16 - And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
James is saying, “Pray and believe God for an answer…he will answer you!” We all have faith - Some may say “I don’t have a lot of faith”…but you don’t need a lot! Mustard seed size!
Use it! It’s not whether we have faith or not it’s whether we are going to decide to use it!
Elijah knew that God was drawn to those who ASK. Jesus encouraged us to ASK…
Luke 11:9-10 - “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Elijah prayed with his face between his knees…as if in childbirth. Expectant…he knew the answer from God was coming! He did that for 7 times…he did it once and nothing happened…he did it a second time…nothing! He realises that he’s not just to pray once…but keep it going. Until he sees the breakthrough and the heavens open and the rain comes.
Matthew 21:21-22 - Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Through prayer and persistent determination…we can overcome and conquer any difficulty we face.
PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE
1 John 5:14-15 – And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for
Have confidence that GOD HEARS you! Even if we don’t get the answer we want or the answer is delayed…the promise is “He hears us”.
So we know when we pray, Your Kingdom Come Your Will be Done – we know God hears us and we can expect God to answer! Praying according to his will.
The Kingdom of Heaven advances through prayer. Would you believe that for this to happen the prayers needed are of a “violent nature”.
Matthew 11:12 - From the time of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing and the violent take hold of it.
Violent prayers are prayers of tenacity and persistence. An unwillingness to put up with situations and attitudes in our own lives and the lives of others will advance the Kingdom of God. Violent prayer means believing God will come through even when the opposite of what you’re believing for is hitting you right between the eyes. Violent prayer is refusing to accept the expected and expecting the unexpected. Violent prayer means OK is not OK. We’re going for great.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Book of James – Words Matter
We heard an excellent message in church this morning as Paul Benger continued our series on the book of James. This week it was all about the fact that ‘Words Matter’.
James 3:1-12
‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’. This old saying is simply not true. Our words are very powerful. We’ve all been hurt by words. Words matter.
Our lives can be ‘framed’ by the words spoken to us…words that have been said over and over again to us. ‘You’ll never make it’, ‘Useless’, ‘I’ve always done that’, because they’ve been told ‘they’ll always do that’. We’re framed by words.
God spoke words and the world was framed. We were created in His image because words were spoken. The words we speak therefore matter. James is teaching us this fact.
James 3:1-2 – Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check
We all stumble with our words.
James 4:11 – Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it
People will sometimes judge, condemn, slander, gossip, start rumours about us. The best thing to do is not to retaliate out of anger. I believe we will reap the rewards of refusing that kind of spirit in our lives. Our words should build one another up and ourselves.
James 5:12 – Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned
We need integrity in our speech. ‘I’ll be there’ means ‘I’ll be there’! Let’s fulfil our words; follow through on what we say.
WORDS MATTER – God expects us to keep our words
James 3:1 – Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly
Prohibitions and promises are they fulfilled with our kids? It can sometime be hard to follow through on them.
Matthew 12:36-37 – But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
Jesus knew how important our words were. Count the cost of our words…what we say, our promises. Negative words spoken can restrict our lives and hold us back, limiting us. Good positive words can free our lives.
Psalm 76:11 – Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfil them
WORDS MATTER – They set the course for our life
James tells that the tongue is like a rudder that sets the course of lives.
Proverbs 18:21 – The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
If our words control our direction then we need to control our words. Our words can take us places we don’t want to go. Negative miserable places as opposed to positive joyful places. Where will our words take us?
James 3:4-5 – Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark
The tongue, such a little member and yet so powerful.
Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
What a great way to use our words…to build others and to build you!
The 7-Day Challenge – everyday for the next 7 days give encouragement to 7 different people. By text, email, phone, twitter – send encouraging words.
Words set the course for our lives. Words give life to us.
WORDS MATTER – They flow from our heart
Guard your heart.
Matthew 12:34 – You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks
Luke 6:45 – The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks
Let God change our hearts. The Christian life is all about change and growth…to follow Jesus Christ to be his disciples – his apprentice. We will always be his apprentices – growing and learning new things.
James 3:1-12
‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’. This old saying is simply not true. Our words are very powerful. We’ve all been hurt by words. Words matter.
Our lives can be ‘framed’ by the words spoken to us…words that have been said over and over again to us. ‘You’ll never make it’, ‘Useless’, ‘I’ve always done that’, because they’ve been told ‘they’ll always do that’. We’re framed by words.
God spoke words and the world was framed. We were created in His image because words were spoken. The words we speak therefore matter. James is teaching us this fact.
James 3:1-2 – Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check
We all stumble with our words.
James 4:11 – Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it
People will sometimes judge, condemn, slander, gossip, start rumours about us. The best thing to do is not to retaliate out of anger. I believe we will reap the rewards of refusing that kind of spirit in our lives. Our words should build one another up and ourselves.
James 5:12 – Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned
We need integrity in our speech. ‘I’ll be there’ means ‘I’ll be there’! Let’s fulfil our words; follow through on what we say.
WORDS MATTER – God expects us to keep our words
James 3:1 – Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly
Prohibitions and promises are they fulfilled with our kids? It can sometime be hard to follow through on them.
Matthew 12:36-37 – But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
Jesus knew how important our words were. Count the cost of our words…what we say, our promises. Negative words spoken can restrict our lives and hold us back, limiting us. Good positive words can free our lives.
Psalm 76:11 – Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfil them
WORDS MATTER – They set the course for our life
James tells that the tongue is like a rudder that sets the course of lives.
Proverbs 18:21 – The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
If our words control our direction then we need to control our words. Our words can take us places we don’t want to go. Negative miserable places as opposed to positive joyful places. Where will our words take us?
James 3:4-5 – Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark
The tongue, such a little member and yet so powerful.
Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
What a great way to use our words…to build others and to build you!
The 7-Day Challenge – everyday for the next 7 days give encouragement to 7 different people. By text, email, phone, twitter – send encouraging words.
Words set the course for our lives. Words give life to us.
WORDS MATTER – They flow from our heart
Guard your heart.
Matthew 12:34 – You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks
Luke 6:45 – The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks
Let God change our hearts. The Christian life is all about change and growth…to follow Jesus Christ to be his disciples – his apprentice. We will always be his apprentices – growing and learning new things.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Book of James - Faith Works
We continued our current series in church today based on the book of James. Paul Benger brought a great message entitled ‘Faith Works’.
James 2:14-26
You can read the statement ‘faith works’ as it achieves, it accomplishes or it gets the job done. Living a life of faith works, it produces results.
But also we can read it as ‘faith works’ – faith acts, it has accompanying action.
People desire the ‘real thing’ - some will even pay a lot to have it! James here is talking to us about being the ‘real thing’. God wants the real thing and not a poor imitation. ‘When faith is real it acts’.
People like Abraham and Rahab their actions proved that their faith was real. We also need to act on our faith.
The Bible is written to real people in real situations. James was talking to Christians whose faith had wavered encouraging them that faith has corresponding actions.
We can’t say ‘I believe God will do this’ and then stand back and do nothing. We have to get involved, put our faith and our actions into practice. Marry action with faith.
Faith Works – In Actions that Match our Words
Let our actions match our words. James 2:14 – What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Today when we say that God can do, do our actions reflect our belief?
Proverbs 18:21 – The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
Sometimes we just have to change our speech. Be positive, speak of the good things that God will do. Positive confession is important. Speak faith over our lives – it’s not ‘spin’…but speak of the positive future that God has for us. Prophecy it!
‘Our words need to have corresponding actions’. What are you believing God for? Trust him – it’s not all down to us!
Faith Works – in a Spirit of Generosity
James 2:15-16 – Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
2 Corinthians 8:1-4 – And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints
Generosity is one of the great expressions of our faith. What can you do? Decide what you will give and have that spirit of generosity. Generosity is more than money – it is acts of kindness, it’s praise. Be specific in your praise as well.
Faith Works – Right Here Right Now!
James 2:18 – But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do
Hebrews 11:1-2 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for
I’m going to live in today in the light of tomorrow! We are people of the future living in today. Bringing the Kingdom of Heaven into today.
CLC – What does that mean for us? Structure today for the church of tomorrow! Build for tomorrow. Speak the language of largeness not smallness. Remove small from our vocabulary. Believe for leaders today for the church of tomorrow. For our future building, plan for it today!
James 2:14-26
You can read the statement ‘faith works’ as it achieves, it accomplishes or it gets the job done. Living a life of faith works, it produces results.
But also we can read it as ‘faith works’ – faith acts, it has accompanying action.
People desire the ‘real thing’ - some will even pay a lot to have it! James here is talking to us about being the ‘real thing’. God wants the real thing and not a poor imitation. ‘When faith is real it acts’.
People like Abraham and Rahab their actions proved that their faith was real. We also need to act on our faith.
The Bible is written to real people in real situations. James was talking to Christians whose faith had wavered encouraging them that faith has corresponding actions.
We can’t say ‘I believe God will do this’ and then stand back and do nothing. We have to get involved, put our faith and our actions into practice. Marry action with faith.
Faith Works – In Actions that Match our Words
Let our actions match our words. James 2:14 – What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Today when we say that God can do, do our actions reflect our belief?
Proverbs 18:21 – The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
Sometimes we just have to change our speech. Be positive, speak of the good things that God will do. Positive confession is important. Speak faith over our lives – it’s not ‘spin’…but speak of the positive future that God has for us. Prophecy it!
‘Our words need to have corresponding actions’. What are you believing God for? Trust him – it’s not all down to us!
Faith Works – in a Spirit of Generosity
James 2:15-16 – Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
2 Corinthians 8:1-4 – And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints
Generosity is one of the great expressions of our faith. What can you do? Decide what you will give and have that spirit of generosity. Generosity is more than money – it is acts of kindness, it’s praise. Be specific in your praise as well.
Faith Works – Right Here Right Now!
James 2:18 – But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do
Hebrews 11:1-2 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for
I’m going to live in today in the light of tomorrow! We are people of the future living in today. Bringing the Kingdom of Heaven into today.
CLC – What does that mean for us? Structure today for the church of tomorrow! Build for tomorrow. Speak the language of largeness not smallness. Remove small from our vocabulary. Believe for leaders today for the church of tomorrow. For our future building, plan for it today!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Book of James – Trials Can Make You Better
We began our brand new series in church today based on the book of James. Paul Benger brought an excellent message entitled ‘Trials Can Make You Better’.
James writes his book to believers encouraging us not to live the double-life. Don’t keep your true identity hidden by living the double-life.
James has been compared to the book of Proverbs – the Proverbs of the New Testament. It’s practical and shows us what the Christian life looks like.
This book was not written to a church but James was writing to individual Christians - he’s writing to you! He’s encouraging us that even in persecution don’t live the double-life.
James 1:1-8
James is telling us to ‘mind the gap’. Watch out for the gaps that can exist between the lives that we should live and the lives that we actually live.
Trials can make you better and make you stronger. ‘Make you circumstances your university’.
James 1:2 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds
What a way to start a letter! There is a purpose…God is at work in this trial. He is going to bring goodness. We have evil present in this world and we have choices to make. It’s not a prefect world but we know that God is at work and will use any trial we face for good.
James 1:3-4 – because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
What a vision God has for us! He wants to equip us for life now and the future. Even when we give up on ourselves…God doesn’t!
Perseverance is waiting patiently knowing that God will keep his word. It’s about us being tenacious, having stickability. ‘Success is doing the right thing long enough’.
When we are lacking God will use anything he can to give us what we need to do the work. Trials can make us better…not bitter.
Keys to trials making us better…
A Good Attitude is Required
James 1:2 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds
Keep a right attitude. Don’t let negativity, cynicism, hurt – attitudes that grab hold of us and keep us down.
God will use the situations we face to develop things in our life. God is at work – stay positive.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
Wisdom is Required
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him
Ask for God’s wisdom when we face trials. He knows more than us. Don’t choose our wisdom over God’s.
Faith is Required
James 1:6-8 – But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Believe that God has said and stand your ground. Faith isn’t feelings. Faith is believing that God is faithful…no matter what is happening around me.
Being double-minded is floating between the two thoughts - believing God and doubting God.
James offers us four bits of practical advice in allowing trials to make us better…
1) Don’t get angry
James 1:19-20 – My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires
2) Stay pure
James 1:21 – Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you
3) Be a doer of the word not just a listener
James 1:22-25 – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
4) Bless others
James 1:27 – Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world
James writes his book to believers encouraging us not to live the double-life. Don’t keep your true identity hidden by living the double-life.
James has been compared to the book of Proverbs – the Proverbs of the New Testament. It’s practical and shows us what the Christian life looks like.
This book was not written to a church but James was writing to individual Christians - he’s writing to you! He’s encouraging us that even in persecution don’t live the double-life.
James 1:1-8
James is telling us to ‘mind the gap’. Watch out for the gaps that can exist between the lives that we should live and the lives that we actually live.
Trials can make you better and make you stronger. ‘Make you circumstances your university’.
James 1:2 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds
What a way to start a letter! There is a purpose…God is at work in this trial. He is going to bring goodness. We have evil present in this world and we have choices to make. It’s not a prefect world but we know that God is at work and will use any trial we face for good.
James 1:3-4 – because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
What a vision God has for us! He wants to equip us for life now and the future. Even when we give up on ourselves…God doesn’t!
Perseverance is waiting patiently knowing that God will keep his word. It’s about us being tenacious, having stickability. ‘Success is doing the right thing long enough’.
When we are lacking God will use anything he can to give us what we need to do the work. Trials can make us better…not bitter.
Keys to trials making us better…
A Good Attitude is Required
James 1:2 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds
Keep a right attitude. Don’t let negativity, cynicism, hurt – attitudes that grab hold of us and keep us down.
God will use the situations we face to develop things in our life. God is at work – stay positive.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
Wisdom is Required
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him
Ask for God’s wisdom when we face trials. He knows more than us. Don’t choose our wisdom over God’s.
Faith is Required
James 1:6-8 – But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Believe that God has said and stand your ground. Faith isn’t feelings. Faith is believing that God is faithful…no matter what is happening around me.
Being double-minded is floating between the two thoughts - believing God and doubting God.
James offers us four bits of practical advice in allowing trials to make us better…
1) Don’t get angry
James 1:19-20 – My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires
2) Stay pure
James 1:21 – Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you
3) Be a doer of the word not just a listener
James 1:22-25 – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
4) Bless others
James 1:27 – Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world
Monday, May 04, 2009
The Wind and the Waves
Church was amazing yesterday. Two great messages both morning and evening. Nathan Benger spoke in the morning about ‘the Wind and the Waves’.
Mark 6:45-50 – (45) Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. (46) After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. (47) When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. (48) He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, (49) but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, (50) because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
All of us have faced storms out of our control. Things out of our control can distract us. Sometimes we try to control them in our own strength, but its too much effort.
Rumours are so easy to start. We can’t control what people say about us. But bad things can be good because they lead us to a place where we should be.
Vs 45 – Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd
When the disciples got in the boat there was no storm. Jesus also made the disciples get in the boat even though he knew there was a storm coming. He knew that he could deliver them.
Some of us were called in the ‘calm’ and now we find ourselves in the ‘chaos’. Our lives and faith are proved through the storms.
Vs 47 – When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land
They find themselves in the middle of the lake and they think of turning back. But its harder to turn back than it is to carry on.
The enemy often whispers to us to ‘turn back – look at the mess’. But don’t get out of the boat.
The wind is like the enemy, we can’t see it but it causes the waves. Waves are like the tangible problems caused by people.
When we get in the boat with faith the enemy gets agitated. But Jesus is always in control. He is our protector. Don’t abandon the ship!
The storms happen to the best of us. The disciples had great destiny and yet they faced a storm. They kept moving forwards and Jesus walked towards them.
Gods timing is perfect.
Mark 6:45-50 – (45) Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. (46) After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. (47) When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. (48) He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, (49) but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, (50) because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
All of us have faced storms out of our control. Things out of our control can distract us. Sometimes we try to control them in our own strength, but its too much effort.
Rumours are so easy to start. We can’t control what people say about us. But bad things can be good because they lead us to a place where we should be.
Vs 45 – Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd
When the disciples got in the boat there was no storm. Jesus also made the disciples get in the boat even though he knew there was a storm coming. He knew that he could deliver them.
Some of us were called in the ‘calm’ and now we find ourselves in the ‘chaos’. Our lives and faith are proved through the storms.
Vs 47 – When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land
They find themselves in the middle of the lake and they think of turning back. But its harder to turn back than it is to carry on.
The enemy often whispers to us to ‘turn back – look at the mess’. But don’t get out of the boat.
The wind is like the enemy, we can’t see it but it causes the waves. Waves are like the tangible problems caused by people.
When we get in the boat with faith the enemy gets agitated. But Jesus is always in control. He is our protector. Don’t abandon the ship!
The storms happen to the best of us. The disciples had great destiny and yet they faced a storm. They kept moving forwards and Jesus walked towards them.
Gods timing is perfect.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
You are a Shining Light
Church was excellent this morning Simon Wood shared a great message about us being a shining light.
We’re here to magnify God’s light through our lives. What we say to people will stay with them as seed sown…we may see the fruit now or in many years to come.
Matthew 5:14-15 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house
God wants us to be like that…as a city on a hill shining our light to the world. Attracting people to follow Christ.
We do this by making friends, connections…taking time out for people. We have a great message of Hope.
People need Hope!
“Man can live 40 days without food
3 days without water
8 minutes with out air
But only seconds with HOPE”
‘Hope gives us blessed assurance that despite circumstantial evidence to the contrary our future is well cared for in God’s hands’
When opportunities come our way to share our faith…take them!
God has given us hope when we needed it the most.
Hebrews 6:19 – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure
As we have found hope and the strength for our soul let us be that strength for other people and show them the way to Christ and to Hope.
What keeps us hopeful? Knowing that He is always there our shield and our rock.
Ephesians 1:18 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints
Let us make sure that Jesus is our reference point…that keeps us on track…even when we go through a rough patch we will find the way.
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful
No matter what darkness comes against us He is faithful and shines brightly. We can therefore still find Life no matter what we face!
John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full
We’re here to magnify God’s light through our lives. What we say to people will stay with them as seed sown…we may see the fruit now or in many years to come.
Matthew 5:14-15 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house
God wants us to be like that…as a city on a hill shining our light to the world. Attracting people to follow Christ.
We do this by making friends, connections…taking time out for people. We have a great message of Hope.
People need Hope!
“Man can live 40 days without food
3 days without water
8 minutes with out air
But only seconds with HOPE”
‘Hope gives us blessed assurance that despite circumstantial evidence to the contrary our future is well cared for in God’s hands’
When opportunities come our way to share our faith…take them!
God has given us hope when we needed it the most.
Hebrews 6:19 – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure
As we have found hope and the strength for our soul let us be that strength for other people and show them the way to Christ and to Hope.
What keeps us hopeful? Knowing that He is always there our shield and our rock.
Ephesians 1:18 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints
Let us make sure that Jesus is our reference point…that keeps us on track…even when we go through a rough patch we will find the way.
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful
No matter what darkness comes against us He is faithful and shines brightly. We can therefore still find Life no matter what we face!
John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full
Monday, April 20, 2009
Shame Off You
Another incredible day in church yesterday. Paul Benger spoke a great message in the morning, 'Shame Off You'.
Very often people want to put shame upon us, but Jesus wants to lift shame off our lives.
John 8:1-11
The Pharisees set this woman up for a stoning to catch Jesus out. But Jesus faces up to their intimidation.
Religion tries to make us feel small, but Jesus wants to set us free.
Sin besets all of us – we all fall short and miss the mark (Greek interpretation of word for sin = missing the mark)
Things happen in our lives that attach shame to our lives. But Jesus came to lift that shame off our lives for the whole of our lifetime – not just for a day.
Whatever our past we can know God’s complete forgiveness and shame is lifted from us. Shame can be a cycle for us if we don’t allow God’s grace to transform us. When we are weak, God’s strength steps in and the power of his spirit can make us strong.
Every person can hit God’s will for their life. God believes that you can do it – you can have a positive God-filled future.
We are made holy in God’s sight through the blood of Jesus – we are righteous through him.
Shame is one of the biggest causes of low self-esteem.
It causes people to be aggressive/abusive.
Shame can be the reason that stops people from stepping into church.
Shame often stays longer than it should – way after we’ve received God’s forgiveness.
Conviction will bring us closer to God, whereas shame or condemnation will drive us away from him.
How do we overcome shame?
Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
• We don’t get what we deserve, we get what God has provided : compassion, mercy through the cross. The woman in the story got amazing grace.
• God’s opinion is not based on what people think of us. He sees us from his own unique perspective. God is for us and with us and we shouldn’t be crippled by what others think. Don’t be trapped either by a snapshot of your life that is no longer you.
• God doesn’t condemn us, he wants to clear our conscience.
• God doesn’t abandon us, he stays in relationship with us.
Remember God loves you and has a purpose for your life.
Very often people want to put shame upon us, but Jesus wants to lift shame off our lives.
John 8:1-11
The Pharisees set this woman up for a stoning to catch Jesus out. But Jesus faces up to their intimidation.
Religion tries to make us feel small, but Jesus wants to set us free.
Sin besets all of us – we all fall short and miss the mark (Greek interpretation of word for sin = missing the mark)
Things happen in our lives that attach shame to our lives. But Jesus came to lift that shame off our lives for the whole of our lifetime – not just for a day.
Whatever our past we can know God’s complete forgiveness and shame is lifted from us. Shame can be a cycle for us if we don’t allow God’s grace to transform us. When we are weak, God’s strength steps in and the power of his spirit can make us strong.
Every person can hit God’s will for their life. God believes that you can do it – you can have a positive God-filled future.
We are made holy in God’s sight through the blood of Jesus – we are righteous through him.
Shame is one of the biggest causes of low self-esteem.
It causes people to be aggressive/abusive.
Shame can be the reason that stops people from stepping into church.
Shame often stays longer than it should – way after we’ve received God’s forgiveness.
Conviction will bring us closer to God, whereas shame or condemnation will drive us away from him.
How do we overcome shame?
Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
• We don’t get what we deserve, we get what God has provided : compassion, mercy through the cross. The woman in the story got amazing grace.
• God’s opinion is not based on what people think of us. He sees us from his own unique perspective. God is for us and with us and we shouldn’t be crippled by what others think. Don’t be trapped either by a snapshot of your life that is no longer you.
• God doesn’t condemn us, he wants to clear our conscience.
• God doesn’t abandon us, he stays in relationship with us.
Remember God loves you and has a purpose for your life.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Rebels Guide to Humility
A packed morning in church…we heard a great message from Paul Benger entitled ‘The Rebels Guide to Humility’.
Philippians 2:5-11 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is our great example of humility. Humility is not a negative thing…he is the name above all names, not puny…but at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
‘Let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ We get the choice in life; we’re not forced.
The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, he provokes us, challenges us, then He says, ‘Let your attitude’. We get to choose what attitude we have. Will we let him lead us? Can Jesus be your Lord and speak into every area of your life? We are encouraged to let his attitude be inside of us.
What will you do with that word, that promise, that challenge? Which ‘you’ will you be?
Humility is not weakness…we’re not downtrodden. What I am today is not enough for what I can be tomorrow. Humility allows us to move forward…who I am in Christ even though my life is flawed…I am going to live out the life of Christ in me!
Humility says this is what God wants and prays ‘Your Kingdom come Your will be done’. Where does God’s Kingdom need to appear in my life?…this is rebellious humility!
‘Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped’
Humility starts when grasping stops. This was in contrast to the Roman Empire at that time who were trying to grasp all they could…seeking to rule the World!
We’re not striving to conquer, we ‘rule’ by being who God has called us to be. We get the choice to be the person I want to be or to be the person God chooses me to be.
Having an attitude of thankfulness of praise is the real power behind humility. Thanksgiving for the work of God in my life.
When we get anywhere in our strength we’ll only stay there in our strength. Humility is recognising in who we are in Christ. Who I am in relation to who He is!
Ephesians 1:19-21 – That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come
Ephesians 2:4-6 – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
You’re sat in heavenly places! When we’re seated in heavenly realms it changes our view on things. What ‘Vistas’ are there in the light of this? Maybe it’s a view about you or your circumstances; a view about your ability or skill; your future. But when you’re sat in the right place, heavenly perspective, you see things differently…you change you view!
We might be ‘down there’ fighting but we’re ‘up here’ reigning! You’re a King’s kid! Seated in the heavenly realms…God has got good things for you! We will see more in our future from ‘up here!’
(Philippians 2) Humility leads us into…
Change
‘And being found in appearance as a man’. Humility changed Him. Humility changes us. Constant change is here to stay. We’re following him allowing him to change us.
Service
‘Taking the very nature of a servant’. On fire Christians are servants. We have great servants at CLC…let’s see what greater things are ahead – looking from you heavenly realms view!
Obedience
‘He humbled himself and became obedient’. We get to choose. Let us be the person that God has called us to be. Let us obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
God Exalting Us
‘Therefore God exalted him to the highest place’. God does the same for us…he lifts our lives. We don’t do this in our own effort alone but coupled with God he brings the increase as we partner with him.
Our grasping fails us but our humility exalts us.
Philippians 2:5-11 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is our great example of humility. Humility is not a negative thing…he is the name above all names, not puny…but at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
‘Let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ We get the choice in life; we’re not forced.
The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, he provokes us, challenges us, then He says, ‘Let your attitude’. We get to choose what attitude we have. Will we let him lead us? Can Jesus be your Lord and speak into every area of your life? We are encouraged to let his attitude be inside of us.
What will you do with that word, that promise, that challenge? Which ‘you’ will you be?
Humility is not weakness…we’re not downtrodden. What I am today is not enough for what I can be tomorrow. Humility allows us to move forward…who I am in Christ even though my life is flawed…I am going to live out the life of Christ in me!
Humility says this is what God wants and prays ‘Your Kingdom come Your will be done’. Where does God’s Kingdom need to appear in my life?…this is rebellious humility!
‘Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped’
Humility starts when grasping stops. This was in contrast to the Roman Empire at that time who were trying to grasp all they could…seeking to rule the World!
We’re not striving to conquer, we ‘rule’ by being who God has called us to be. We get the choice to be the person I want to be or to be the person God chooses me to be.
Having an attitude of thankfulness of praise is the real power behind humility. Thanksgiving for the work of God in my life.
When we get anywhere in our strength we’ll only stay there in our strength. Humility is recognising in who we are in Christ. Who I am in relation to who He is!
Ephesians 1:19-21 – That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come
Ephesians 2:4-6 – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
You’re sat in heavenly places! When we’re seated in heavenly realms it changes our view on things. What ‘Vistas’ are there in the light of this? Maybe it’s a view about you or your circumstances; a view about your ability or skill; your future. But when you’re sat in the right place, heavenly perspective, you see things differently…you change you view!
We might be ‘down there’ fighting but we’re ‘up here’ reigning! You’re a King’s kid! Seated in the heavenly realms…God has got good things for you! We will see more in our future from ‘up here!’
(Philippians 2) Humility leads us into…
Change
‘And being found in appearance as a man’. Humility changed Him. Humility changes us. Constant change is here to stay. We’re following him allowing him to change us.
Service
‘Taking the very nature of a servant’. On fire Christians are servants. We have great servants at CLC…let’s see what greater things are ahead – looking from you heavenly realms view!
Obedience
‘He humbled himself and became obedient’. We get to choose. Let us be the person that God has called us to be. Let us obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
God Exalting Us
‘Therefore God exalted him to the highest place’. God does the same for us…he lifts our lives. We don’t do this in our own effort alone but coupled with God he brings the increase as we partner with him.
Our grasping fails us but our humility exalts us.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Dreams
Great day in Church yesterday, in the morning Jeannie Benger spoke about dreaming big dreams.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message) – God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us
We often live with low (or no) expectations. What are you expecting? What are your plans/dreams? We often drop in our thinking to the lowest common denominator, but we should expect big things from a big God!
Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart
Desire is creative. We need to be creative visionaries who desire to see others come to know him. Our task here on the earth as God’s people is to reach the world – let’s not be passive in this! If we desire nothing, nothing will happen. We are intelligent, redemptive sons & daughters of God.
2 Corinthians 10:13 – We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you
We need to move into our sphere of influence and make a difference. (Domino effect – if we only influence one person, we can in turn influence a multitude)
God has appointed jobs for you to do. There may be obstacles in your way, but God is greater than those obstacles. God has called us to influence other people’s lives and as we do that God will extend the borders in our realm of influence. People should be drawn to us because of what he is doing in our lives – our lives should be magnetic.
1 Timothy 4:12 – Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity
God gives us boundaries but sometimes we can restrict those boundaries and limit ourselves. We all have limiting factors in our lives and we need to learn to overcome them e.g. others’ opinions, education, our past, our status. Do not allow them to hold you back from the calling God has for you.
Nothing is impossible with God. If we choose not to obey him, he has a clever way of bringing us back to the same place and reminding us. At those times we need to rekindle those dreams that he gave us.
As a church we have a vision to be large and influential and we all have a part to play in that – it’s not just down to the leadership.
Acts 2:17 – In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams
God wants you to believe that he has called you, and our calling will be something that we are talented in so that we do not have to strive.
All around us dreams are being dashed but God wants to see your dreams being fulfilled. He wants us to have the faith that he can do amazing things through us.
Proverbs 16:9 – In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps
Declare that God has great plans and good things for us his children. Have faith in God and live a faith-filled life.
“Faith itself is a feeling…faith is a feeling of absolute confidence. It is David – running, laughing, to meet the giant. He is fully assured that God is with him. He is not trying to believe, or pretend to be bold hoping that God is with him; neither is he confessing the word to himself hopefully to build up his faith. No he is full of confidence. He feels great….faith is an attitude you have within you…” (Phil Pringle)
All of us need to look beyond what’s in front of us. Are we seeing God-given opportunities? Learn to listen to God’s whisper, which is meant just for you.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
When we stay faithful to God’s calling he will do amazing things. Stir up the passion within you that leads to compassion for people and look for the reconciliation of the lost.
Dream big!…Don’t doubt – live with expectation.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message) – God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us
We often live with low (or no) expectations. What are you expecting? What are your plans/dreams? We often drop in our thinking to the lowest common denominator, but we should expect big things from a big God!
Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart
Desire is creative. We need to be creative visionaries who desire to see others come to know him. Our task here on the earth as God’s people is to reach the world – let’s not be passive in this! If we desire nothing, nothing will happen. We are intelligent, redemptive sons & daughters of God.
2 Corinthians 10:13 – We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you
We need to move into our sphere of influence and make a difference. (Domino effect – if we only influence one person, we can in turn influence a multitude)
God has appointed jobs for you to do. There may be obstacles in your way, but God is greater than those obstacles. God has called us to influence other people’s lives and as we do that God will extend the borders in our realm of influence. People should be drawn to us because of what he is doing in our lives – our lives should be magnetic.
1 Timothy 4:12 – Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity
God gives us boundaries but sometimes we can restrict those boundaries and limit ourselves. We all have limiting factors in our lives and we need to learn to overcome them e.g. others’ opinions, education, our past, our status. Do not allow them to hold you back from the calling God has for you.
Nothing is impossible with God. If we choose not to obey him, he has a clever way of bringing us back to the same place and reminding us. At those times we need to rekindle those dreams that he gave us.
As a church we have a vision to be large and influential and we all have a part to play in that – it’s not just down to the leadership.
Acts 2:17 – In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams
God wants you to believe that he has called you, and our calling will be something that we are talented in so that we do not have to strive.
All around us dreams are being dashed but God wants to see your dreams being fulfilled. He wants us to have the faith that he can do amazing things through us.
Proverbs 16:9 – In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps
Declare that God has great plans and good things for us his children. Have faith in God and live a faith-filled life.
“Faith itself is a feeling…faith is a feeling of absolute confidence. It is David – running, laughing, to meet the giant. He is fully assured that God is with him. He is not trying to believe, or pretend to be bold hoping that God is with him; neither is he confessing the word to himself hopefully to build up his faith. No he is full of confidence. He feels great….faith is an attitude you have within you…” (Phil Pringle)
All of us need to look beyond what’s in front of us. Are we seeing God-given opportunities? Learn to listen to God’s whisper, which is meant just for you.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
When we stay faithful to God’s calling he will do amazing things. Stir up the passion within you that leads to compassion for people and look for the reconciliation of the lost.
Dream big!…Don’t doubt – live with expectation.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Finding Joy – Together
Better late than never! Church was amazing on Sunday, two great services. Paul Benger brought an excellent message in the morning entitled, ‘Finding Joy Together’.
Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near
Philippians 2:18 – So you too should be glad and rejoice with me
Philippians is a book full of ‘joy’, the word joy and rejoice appears seven times. It’s a letter from Paul written to a people who not in the prefect of circumstances but a people under Roman rule.
This is a letter of encouragement and partnership. ‘Share my joy…we’re in this together!’
People in life are desperate to find joy.
Philippians 1:3-7 – I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me
So much of modern life revolves around ‘ME’. Today’s gadgets, iPhone, iPod and social networking sites, facebook, twitter - they connect us together ‘virtually’. When we connect together for real (the church) is where life flows. Iron sharpens iron.
We make a way for one another, we spur one another on. There is no way I would be the person I am today without others. Those that challenge me, encourage me and spur me on.
Joy is not just for my personal circumstances but in community, together. Joy is found in partnership together not in isolation.
Philippians 2:2 – then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose
Strife is a joy killer. But joy is made complete when we are together, one mind, one purpose, thinking the same way (we don’t have to always agree on everything!)
One spirit, great attitudes towards one another, generous hearts…we’re in this together building a great church with Jesus!
Three ways of finding joy ‘together’…
1) We find joy together when we partner with God’s vision
Many churches are dead because they are divided. We’re in this together not separate groups doing their own thing.
We find joy when we are in partnership together. Each of us playing our part…we’re in this together. This us our culture, as that grows our joy will grow!
‘The purpose of our salvation is for God to lavish his grace on us and spend forever doing it’ (John Piper) - This is true, what is also true…
‘The purpose of our salvation is to position and equip us to partner with God in His redemptive rescue mission for the planet’. (Paul Benger)
We celebrate with one another, lifting people’s lives!
2) We find joy together when we find confidence in God’s purpose
Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
Confident! This was not written to individuals it was written to the church. At CLC we’re confident that He who began a good work…he’ll finish what he has started.
There are seasons in our lives and in the life of the church. Whatever season we are in let us not be laid low by S.A.D. (seasonal affected disorder). God wants us confident in any season we find ourselves in.
Joy is in our church. We’re not a SAD church!
3) We find joy together when we share together in God’s grace
Philippians 1:7 – It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me
We know the grace of God together; we share in it together and not just as individuals.
God is for us…we’re sharing the grace the favour of God together! I’m not good on my own left to my own devices. The church does me good!
We find joy together when share the grace of God together.
Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near
Philippians 2:18 – So you too should be glad and rejoice with me
Philippians is a book full of ‘joy’, the word joy and rejoice appears seven times. It’s a letter from Paul written to a people who not in the prefect of circumstances but a people under Roman rule.
This is a letter of encouragement and partnership. ‘Share my joy…we’re in this together!’
People in life are desperate to find joy.
Philippians 1:3-7 – I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me
So much of modern life revolves around ‘ME’. Today’s gadgets, iPhone, iPod and social networking sites, facebook, twitter - they connect us together ‘virtually’. When we connect together for real (the church) is where life flows. Iron sharpens iron.
We make a way for one another, we spur one another on. There is no way I would be the person I am today without others. Those that challenge me, encourage me and spur me on.
Joy is not just for my personal circumstances but in community, together. Joy is found in partnership together not in isolation.
Philippians 2:2 – then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose
Strife is a joy killer. But joy is made complete when we are together, one mind, one purpose, thinking the same way (we don’t have to always agree on everything!)
One spirit, great attitudes towards one another, generous hearts…we’re in this together building a great church with Jesus!
Three ways of finding joy ‘together’…
1) We find joy together when we partner with God’s vision
Many churches are dead because they are divided. We’re in this together not separate groups doing their own thing.
We find joy when we are in partnership together. Each of us playing our part…we’re in this together. This us our culture, as that grows our joy will grow!
‘The purpose of our salvation is for God to lavish his grace on us and spend forever doing it’ (John Piper) - This is true, what is also true…
‘The purpose of our salvation is to position and equip us to partner with God in His redemptive rescue mission for the planet’. (Paul Benger)
We celebrate with one another, lifting people’s lives!
2) We find joy together when we find confidence in God’s purpose
Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
Confident! This was not written to individuals it was written to the church. At CLC we’re confident that He who began a good work…he’ll finish what he has started.
There are seasons in our lives and in the life of the church. Whatever season we are in let us not be laid low by S.A.D. (seasonal affected disorder). God wants us confident in any season we find ourselves in.
Joy is in our church. We’re not a SAD church!
3) We find joy together when we share together in God’s grace
Philippians 1:7 – It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me
We know the grace of God together; we share in it together and not just as individuals.
God is for us…we’re sharing the grace the favour of God together! I’m not good on my own left to my own devices. The church does me good!
We find joy together when share the grace of God together.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
To Boldly Go
Church was excellent this morning. Andy Marsh was speaking for the first time at CLC and brought a great message entitled ‘To Boldly Go’.
John 4:1-42 (The Message)
Jesus was travelling from Jerusalem to Galilee. He took the shortest route and went through Samaria. The Jews would have normally taken the long route around Samaria to get to Galilee.
What was wrong with Samaria? The Jews and Samaritans did not get on. The Jews despised the Samaritans, looked down at them because they were of mixed race.
Why go through Samaria? He was taking the shortest route to save time. He may have been taking the safest route to avoid the Jewish leaders who were looking to oppose him. The main reason though is that Jesus was on a mission, today was the day he would meet with the Samaritan woman at the well.
What was the reason for John recording this event? 4 reasons,
- The importance of the route Jesus had chosen
- The personal message that Jesus had for the Samaritan woman
- The consequences of this message
- The importance of this meeting in contrast to his meeting with Nicodemus in the previous chapter
What so special about this meeting? Jesus was meeting with a woman, culturally not the done thing. She was not just any woman though, she was going to the well at noon the heat of the day and she was alone (the norm would be that the women would all go together to draw water). Maybe this was because of her reputation. She may have been an outcast, alienated from her people as well as the Jews.
Why did Jesus want to speak to her? It was her appointment with the Lord. Jesus wanted to meet her need. He had compassion for her. He has compassion for you also no matter who you are or what your past is.
Here Jesus met with a woman, of a hated mix race, of questionable morals and in a public place. A woman with no self-worth, no love, and yet she was about to have a life changing experience and not just her but her whole village as well!
She found hope and a future. Her past and her present were not going to determine her future as she surrendered her life to Jesus. This was true for her and it is true for you today!
What happened in the meeting? We see her needs both spiritual and physical were identified by Jesus and met. Her physical need was to get water and Jesus knew there was something more. He used other needs to meet the real need!
Jesus knew the issues he knew everything about her. Never worry about not being good enough…Jesus knows all about you and wants you to have a ‘full’ relationship with him. Let us not allow barriers to go up to prevent that happening.
The woman tried to avoid the issue at first by talking about religion. Don’t let us get distracted by religion.
Then came the revelation of who Jesus was. John 4:25-26 - The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
Then the acceptance of who he was. She accepts him for who he is. She receives the ‘free gift’ of salvation, so often we can have difficulty valuing something that is free.
The extremes - Jesus is for all! He meets with Nicodemus, the religious ruler in the previous chapter, and then with the Samaritan woman shortly afterwards.
God finds us worthy whoever we are. He seeks us out. He wants a relationship with us…not religion.
Jesus saw the value on her life even though she couldn’t. Grace says…you count, you matter, you important!
The consequences of the meeting
John 4:39-42 – Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world."
She went from her meeting with Jesus and back into her town…many believed because of what she said. What an incredible change must have happened in her life. They were amazed at her transformation!
We need to recognise the compassion Jesus showed to the Samaritan woman and to many others.
‘Evangelism with out Compassion is just Expansionism’ – Jeff Lucas
We make a difference in people’s lives as we show love and compassion. Never despise the small things that we do for people…we may not realise it straight away but those small things will make a huge impact in their future!
John 4:1-42 (The Message)
Jesus was travelling from Jerusalem to Galilee. He took the shortest route and went through Samaria. The Jews would have normally taken the long route around Samaria to get to Galilee.
What was wrong with Samaria? The Jews and Samaritans did not get on. The Jews despised the Samaritans, looked down at them because they were of mixed race.
Why go through Samaria? He was taking the shortest route to save time. He may have been taking the safest route to avoid the Jewish leaders who were looking to oppose him. The main reason though is that Jesus was on a mission, today was the day he would meet with the Samaritan woman at the well.
What was the reason for John recording this event? 4 reasons,
- The importance of the route Jesus had chosen
- The personal message that Jesus had for the Samaritan woman
- The consequences of this message
- The importance of this meeting in contrast to his meeting with Nicodemus in the previous chapter
What so special about this meeting? Jesus was meeting with a woman, culturally not the done thing. She was not just any woman though, she was going to the well at noon the heat of the day and she was alone (the norm would be that the women would all go together to draw water). Maybe this was because of her reputation. She may have been an outcast, alienated from her people as well as the Jews.
Why did Jesus want to speak to her? It was her appointment with the Lord. Jesus wanted to meet her need. He had compassion for her. He has compassion for you also no matter who you are or what your past is.
Here Jesus met with a woman, of a hated mix race, of questionable morals and in a public place. A woman with no self-worth, no love, and yet she was about to have a life changing experience and not just her but her whole village as well!
She found hope and a future. Her past and her present were not going to determine her future as she surrendered her life to Jesus. This was true for her and it is true for you today!
What happened in the meeting? We see her needs both spiritual and physical were identified by Jesus and met. Her physical need was to get water and Jesus knew there was something more. He used other needs to meet the real need!
Jesus knew the issues he knew everything about her. Never worry about not being good enough…Jesus knows all about you and wants you to have a ‘full’ relationship with him. Let us not allow barriers to go up to prevent that happening.
The woman tried to avoid the issue at first by talking about religion. Don’t let us get distracted by religion.
Then came the revelation of who Jesus was. John 4:25-26 - The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
Then the acceptance of who he was. She accepts him for who he is. She receives the ‘free gift’ of salvation, so often we can have difficulty valuing something that is free.
The extremes - Jesus is for all! He meets with Nicodemus, the religious ruler in the previous chapter, and then with the Samaritan woman shortly afterwards.
God finds us worthy whoever we are. He seeks us out. He wants a relationship with us…not religion.
Jesus saw the value on her life even though she couldn’t. Grace says…you count, you matter, you important!
The consequences of the meeting
John 4:39-42 – Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world."
She went from her meeting with Jesus and back into her town…many believed because of what she said. What an incredible change must have happened in her life. They were amazed at her transformation!
We need to recognise the compassion Jesus showed to the Samaritan woman and to many others.
‘Evangelism with out Compassion is just Expansionism’ – Jeff Lucas
We make a difference in people’s lives as we show love and compassion. Never despise the small things that we do for people…we may not realise it straight away but those small things will make a huge impact in their future!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Missions Sunday
Great time in church today. It was our Missions Sunday where we shared about our Missions giving in the past year and also presented the church with our commitment to missions giving over the next year.
It was great to have our friends with us from City Hearts House (Sheffield) and Betel.
We also continue to support the Ground Level Network Overseas Missions, Links International and Compassion.
We also heard a great message from Duane White (Beyond These Shores) about what it is to have a Missions Addiction! To be addicted to Jesus and His Cause.
Three things that will be effected by our Missions Addiction...
It will change your speech.
How we pray, how we communicate with others. Make us more outward thinking...it's not about 'me'.
It will change where you Go!
What moves you? What gets you going? We will be compelled by the Holy Spirit to go. Get a vision for the world.
It will change what you do with your money.
Refocuses our thinking when it comes to how we give, where we give etc. See opportunities and take them!
It was great to have our friends with us from City Hearts House (Sheffield) and Betel.
We also continue to support the Ground Level Network Overseas Missions, Links International and Compassion.
We also heard a great message from Duane White (Beyond These Shores) about what it is to have a Missions Addiction! To be addicted to Jesus and His Cause.
Three things that will be effected by our Missions Addiction...
It will change your speech.
How we pray, how we communicate with others. Make us more outward thinking...it's not about 'me'.
It will change where you Go!
What moves you? What gets you going? We will be compelled by the Holy Spirit to go. Get a vision for the world.
It will change what you do with your money.
Refocuses our thinking when it comes to how we give, where we give etc. See opportunities and take them!
Sunday, March 08, 2009
God in HD - The Scandalous Love of God
Paul Benger completed our series “God in HD” today in church with an excellent message entitled The Scandalous Love of God.
Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven
When we look at Jesus we see what God is like. Jesus reveals God in high definition.
We’ve seen in the news recently about the scandal of ex RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin and the pension he is to receive - £693,000 per annum despite RBS poor performance…£25 billion deficit.
There is an even bigger scandal than that…Jesus is involved and we are involved. Our debt was much bigger than £25 billion! God stepped in and didn’t leave us in a position where we couldn’t pay. Through Jesus Christ his son he gave us life…eternal life…forgiveness…this was the scandal of the cross.
Romans 5:7-8 – Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
This was the price that was paid to purchase our lives so that we could live the life we were meant to live. It cost the Father his only son.
God saw you and me…he saw a future, he saw a hope…he gave his life so that we might live.
This is the Grace of God giving us what we don’t deserve. We think about this everyday that we are living the life we don’t deserve…the gift of eternal life.
We’ve had a debt wiped out, one we could never pay.
The cross of Jesus was the scandal. In his last few days he says these words,
John 12:27-28 – “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again”
He doesn’t draw back from his calling. Showing us the love of God…the scandal…God in high definition as clear as you can get it.
“You loved a people undeserving”
1 John 4:10 – This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins
Three qualities of this Scandalous Love of God…
God’s love is scandalous because it is ‘undeserved’
We could never earn God’s love. Imagine a father saying to his child, “manage to keep all of these rules then I will love you”. He just loves his children anyway! No matter what we do God keeps on loving us.
Our love is so often ‘conditional’, and yet God loves us ‘unconditionally’. Don’t spend energy and effort to earn God’s love…he wants to show us the futility of trying to earn his love. This doesn’t eliminate hard work…but accept his love and don’t try to earn it.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It’s a gift!
Remember the Samaritan woman at the well. She was ‘undeserving’ and she knew it…she must have told it so many times. Yet Jesus comes and says to her, ‘Ask me and I will give you living water’.
God’s love is scandalous because it is ‘unchanging’
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
He didn’t wait until we deserved it…he just loved us! He doesn’t change now that we know him. It isn’t God who opts-out, we’re the ones that opt-out.
We waver, we change…God’s love never changes. The glory of God can be seen in your life as you accept his unchanging love for you and be all you were meant to be!
Malachi 3:6 – I the LORD do not change
God’s love is scandalous because it is ‘unrestricted’
It can be difficult as a parent to know what to do in bringing our children up. When to step in and help or when to let them grow and find things out for themselves.
Because of God’s unrestricted love for us…
Romans 8:31-39
If God is for us who can be against us?
It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Let us stop condemning ourselves and carrying the weight around with us.
We are more than conquerors through him who loved us!
Nothing shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus - There is no ceiling to what God wants to do in our lives…He’s lifting it off of you!
We can struggle with this truth about the grace of God. The love of God reaches the places where we think it never will.
Jesus spoke to the criminal on the cross beside him, ‘today you will be with me in paradise!’
His love can reach us at any time, any point, any place…it is never too late.
1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed
Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven
When we look at Jesus we see what God is like. Jesus reveals God in high definition.
We’ve seen in the news recently about the scandal of ex RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin and the pension he is to receive - £693,000 per annum despite RBS poor performance…£25 billion deficit.
There is an even bigger scandal than that…Jesus is involved and we are involved. Our debt was much bigger than £25 billion! God stepped in and didn’t leave us in a position where we couldn’t pay. Through Jesus Christ his son he gave us life…eternal life…forgiveness…this was the scandal of the cross.
Romans 5:7-8 – Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
This was the price that was paid to purchase our lives so that we could live the life we were meant to live. It cost the Father his only son.
God saw you and me…he saw a future, he saw a hope…he gave his life so that we might live.
This is the Grace of God giving us what we don’t deserve. We think about this everyday that we are living the life we don’t deserve…the gift of eternal life.
We’ve had a debt wiped out, one we could never pay.
The cross of Jesus was the scandal. In his last few days he says these words,
John 12:27-28 – “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again”
He doesn’t draw back from his calling. Showing us the love of God…the scandal…God in high definition as clear as you can get it.
“You loved a people undeserving”
1 John 4:10 – This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins
Three qualities of this Scandalous Love of God…
God’s love is scandalous because it is ‘undeserved’
We could never earn God’s love. Imagine a father saying to his child, “manage to keep all of these rules then I will love you”. He just loves his children anyway! No matter what we do God keeps on loving us.
Our love is so often ‘conditional’, and yet God loves us ‘unconditionally’. Don’t spend energy and effort to earn God’s love…he wants to show us the futility of trying to earn his love. This doesn’t eliminate hard work…but accept his love and don’t try to earn it.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It’s a gift!
Remember the Samaritan woman at the well. She was ‘undeserving’ and she knew it…she must have told it so many times. Yet Jesus comes and says to her, ‘Ask me and I will give you living water’.
God’s love is scandalous because it is ‘unchanging’
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
He didn’t wait until we deserved it…he just loved us! He doesn’t change now that we know him. It isn’t God who opts-out, we’re the ones that opt-out.
We waver, we change…God’s love never changes. The glory of God can be seen in your life as you accept his unchanging love for you and be all you were meant to be!
Malachi 3:6 – I the LORD do not change
God’s love is scandalous because it is ‘unrestricted’
It can be difficult as a parent to know what to do in bringing our children up. When to step in and help or when to let them grow and find things out for themselves.
Because of God’s unrestricted love for us…
Romans 8:31-39
If God is for us who can be against us?
It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Let us stop condemning ourselves and carrying the weight around with us.
We are more than conquerors through him who loved us!
Nothing shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus - There is no ceiling to what God wants to do in our lives…He’s lifting it off of you!
We can struggle with this truth about the grace of God. The love of God reaches the places where we think it never will.
Jesus spoke to the criminal on the cross beside him, ‘today you will be with me in paradise!’
His love can reach us at any time, any point, any place…it is never too late.
1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed
Sunday, March 01, 2009
God in HD - Messiah
We continued this excellent series “God in HD” today in church. Mark Wilkins brought a great message on Jesus being the Messiah.
‘I believe in God revealed in Jesus of Nazareth’ – Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham
Messiah = Anointed One = Christ
Judaism believed that the Messiah would be the coming king to liberate Israel and rebuild the temple. They believed he would be a military leader to free them of their occupiers. Yet it was Jesus Christ stood before them who was their Messiah.
Matthew 5:17-18 - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”
Luke 24:25-27 - He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Within the Old Testament there is 322 verses about the coming Messiah. Isaiah wrote 700 years BC about the kind of Messiah he would be.
Isaiah 53:4-7 - Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
They believed that the Romans were their true oppressors and that the Messiah would liberated them from them. Yet Jesus revealed the true oppressor was their sin and that is what he wanted to free them from.
Romans 8:2-5 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Sin is the oppressor and Jesus the Messiah comes to save us from our sin. God’s heart has always been to intervene and save his people. We see throughout the Old and New Testaments…this has always been his plan. Today people can still miss that. That Christ wants to save us from our sin, we may feel we’re not good enough, and yet Jesus has made a way. A way possible for us to have a relationship with God, to find freedom in Christ!
What motivated the Apostle Paul? Romans 9:2-4 - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises
It grieved Paul immensely…for the people to know Christ and the freedom he gave. It weighed heavy upon him.
We’re so grateful for what God has done for us and yet it breaks our heart to see those around us in need of a Saviour. Just like the Apostle Paul, let us get close to God’s heart and be broken for those around us.
Ephesians 5:1 – Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Imitate God - Capture his heart for the people who are lost and far from him.
God has saved us, to be all that he wants us to be today…and not just the future. Salvation is not just getting your ticket out of here! He wants us to be all that Jesus was to people.
Matthew 20:1-16
The Parable of the workers in the vineyard…
- It’s never too late
- Even the unwanted are welcome
- The reward is the same
- It’s never about work
- Be gracious (don’t write people off who God hasn’t)
The Messiah…God’s heart is to save people whoever they are…even if they are 5 o’clock people. Let us have the same heart for people.
‘I believe in God revealed in Jesus of Nazareth’ – Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham
Messiah = Anointed One = Christ
Judaism believed that the Messiah would be the coming king to liberate Israel and rebuild the temple. They believed he would be a military leader to free them of their occupiers. Yet it was Jesus Christ stood before them who was their Messiah.
Matthew 5:17-18 - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”
Luke 24:25-27 - He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Within the Old Testament there is 322 verses about the coming Messiah. Isaiah wrote 700 years BC about the kind of Messiah he would be.
Isaiah 53:4-7 - Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
They believed that the Romans were their true oppressors and that the Messiah would liberated them from them. Yet Jesus revealed the true oppressor was their sin and that is what he wanted to free them from.
Romans 8:2-5 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Sin is the oppressor and Jesus the Messiah comes to save us from our sin. God’s heart has always been to intervene and save his people. We see throughout the Old and New Testaments…this has always been his plan. Today people can still miss that. That Christ wants to save us from our sin, we may feel we’re not good enough, and yet Jesus has made a way. A way possible for us to have a relationship with God, to find freedom in Christ!
What motivated the Apostle Paul? Romans 9:2-4 - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises
It grieved Paul immensely…for the people to know Christ and the freedom he gave. It weighed heavy upon him.
We’re so grateful for what God has done for us and yet it breaks our heart to see those around us in need of a Saviour. Just like the Apostle Paul, let us get close to God’s heart and be broken for those around us.
Ephesians 5:1 – Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Imitate God - Capture his heart for the people who are lost and far from him.
God has saved us, to be all that he wants us to be today…and not just the future. Salvation is not just getting your ticket out of here! He wants us to be all that Jesus was to people.
Matthew 20:1-16
The Parable of the workers in the vineyard…
- It’s never too late
- Even the unwanted are welcome
- The reward is the same
- It’s never about work
- Be gracious (don’t write people off who God hasn’t)
The Messiah…God’s heart is to save people whoever they are…even if they are 5 o’clock people. Let us have the same heart for people.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
God in HD - God Hates Religion
We continued our God in HD series this morning in church. Paul Benger spoke a great message about the fact that ‘God Hates Religion’.
Hebrews 1:1-3
To know what God is like we’ve got to look at Jesus. He is the exact representation of God.
As we read scripture we can see that God loves people, even religious people – but he hates religion.
As we read the Gospels we see the stark reality of Jesus’ relationship with the religious people, the Pharisees.
Matthew 23:1-4 – Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Faith” and not “keeping rules” is the only righteousness that works. Jesus on a number of occasions challenged this about the religious leaders. Accused them of being blind, in fact ‘the blind leading the blind’. Their approach was legalistic and they would prefer to see the sick stay sick rather than see them healed on the Sabbath.
Matthew 15:8-9 – 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.
Why does this matter? It is easy to step from relationship into religion. It is easy to step from humility and step into pride…to trust in our own strength.
Jesus doesn’t want to make you religious. He longs for a personal relationship…it’s all about Him and not about our good works.
Religion doesn’t work and ends in despair. Religion and faith can look very similar. What are we trusting to save us? To rely on and to follow.
We can either fall into despair or we fall into pride. We try hard in our own strength to please God. Yet we need to rely on the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and all that he has done. He paid the price for our sin. Relax and rely on him and his strength.
2 Corinthians 3:6 – He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The letter kills. It kills the activity of the Holy Spirit in your life. When we step into religion our actions can look like they’re God honouring and yet our heart is far from him.
God hates religion and loves relationship. Religion kills and snuffs out the life of the Spirit. Do we want the life and activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Three things that come from a relationship with Jesus Christ and not born out of religion…
1) Humility
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
Jesus goes to sinners and they acknowledge they’re sinners. He goes to the religious people and they try to kill him.
Humility recognises the need for a Saviour, the need for a Lord, a King, a Shepherd. We need Him. Make him your Lord and Saviour.
Humility is not beating yourself up. Religion does this, i.e. the more we suffer the more closer to God we will be.
Relationship says no matter how much I beat myself up I can’t get closer to God. Jesus was beaten so that we can now be close to God…he was even crucified for us.
Don’t live like slaves but live like sons! Religion never leads to humility. God wants to do so much in us and through us. We can’t do it in our own we need Him…that’s humility.
2) Confidence
Religion destroys confidence. We can live with a Godly confidence as a child of God. Imagine what confidence we can live with as God as our father.
Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Are you confident that God is going to do a good work in you? Christian Life Church is a church dedicated to building champions, over-achievers.
See breakthrough in areas of your life, confident that God is at work in you. He will use you and yet religion wants to stop that.
Humans intrinsically believe in ‘progress’. We were made to believe in progress, Hope – the best is yet to come!
We were made to know significance and value. We were made in God’s image – don’t get your value from your works (religion)…get it from God’s value on you! (relationship)
3) Joy
Religion doesn’t get Joy. Fun and freedom in Christ! Love God, love people and love life!
Joy is not dependent on our circumstances…on everything going well. Joy is what is going off on the inside, our relationship with Jesus, effecting my outside world.
Nehemiah 8:10 – …for the joy of the LORD is your strength
Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
Hebrews 1:1-3
To know what God is like we’ve got to look at Jesus. He is the exact representation of God.
As we read scripture we can see that God loves people, even religious people – but he hates religion.
As we read the Gospels we see the stark reality of Jesus’ relationship with the religious people, the Pharisees.
Matthew 23:1-4 – Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Faith” and not “keeping rules” is the only righteousness that works. Jesus on a number of occasions challenged this about the religious leaders. Accused them of being blind, in fact ‘the blind leading the blind’. Their approach was legalistic and they would prefer to see the sick stay sick rather than see them healed on the Sabbath.
Matthew 15:8-9 – 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.
Why does this matter? It is easy to step from relationship into religion. It is easy to step from humility and step into pride…to trust in our own strength.
Jesus doesn’t want to make you religious. He longs for a personal relationship…it’s all about Him and not about our good works.
Religion doesn’t work and ends in despair. Religion and faith can look very similar. What are we trusting to save us? To rely on and to follow.
We can either fall into despair or we fall into pride. We try hard in our own strength to please God. Yet we need to rely on the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and all that he has done. He paid the price for our sin. Relax and rely on him and his strength.
2 Corinthians 3:6 – He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The letter kills. It kills the activity of the Holy Spirit in your life. When we step into religion our actions can look like they’re God honouring and yet our heart is far from him.
God hates religion and loves relationship. Religion kills and snuffs out the life of the Spirit. Do we want the life and activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Three things that come from a relationship with Jesus Christ and not born out of religion…
1) Humility
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
Jesus goes to sinners and they acknowledge they’re sinners. He goes to the religious people and they try to kill him.
Humility recognises the need for a Saviour, the need for a Lord, a King, a Shepherd. We need Him. Make him your Lord and Saviour.
Humility is not beating yourself up. Religion does this, i.e. the more we suffer the more closer to God we will be.
Relationship says no matter how much I beat myself up I can’t get closer to God. Jesus was beaten so that we can now be close to God…he was even crucified for us.
Don’t live like slaves but live like sons! Religion never leads to humility. God wants to do so much in us and through us. We can’t do it in our own we need Him…that’s humility.
2) Confidence
Religion destroys confidence. We can live with a Godly confidence as a child of God. Imagine what confidence we can live with as God as our father.
Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Are you confident that God is going to do a good work in you? Christian Life Church is a church dedicated to building champions, over-achievers.
See breakthrough in areas of your life, confident that God is at work in you. He will use you and yet religion wants to stop that.
Humans intrinsically believe in ‘progress’. We were made to believe in progress, Hope – the best is yet to come!
We were made to know significance and value. We were made in God’s image – don’t get your value from your works (religion)…get it from God’s value on you! (relationship)
3) Joy
Religion doesn’t get Joy. Fun and freedom in Christ! Love God, love people and love life!
Joy is not dependent on our circumstances…on everything going well. Joy is what is going off on the inside, our relationship with Jesus, effecting my outside world.
Nehemiah 8:10 – …for the joy of the LORD is your strength
Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
Sunday, February 15, 2009
God in HD - Servant King
We began our new series this morning, God in HD, looking at who Jesus is. I spoke on the subject of Jesus our Servant King.
Philippians 2:1-11
If we are to be like Jesus, somehow we have to "let go of things" so they will lose their hold on us!
Jesus is the “Servant King” - a paradox or oxymoron? An apparent contradiction but in it there contains a great truth!
Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it
And Here in Philippians 2 - There is an exalted way that leads downward and a humble way that leads to exaltation.
Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
Jesus Christ also came to give his life so that we might live. As The Message puts it, Jesus came, “to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”
Jesus not only came to serve…he came to be the Suffering Servant. Jesus is not only the Suffering Servant…he is sovereign! The Paradox!
Jesus is never out of control of events and their consequences. The Son of God has power over sickness, disease and death, and the cross does not take him by surprise!
The cross is not a moment of failure for Jesus, but the defining event of his sovereignty. Even that level of hatred and suffering does not diminish the power of a Saviour who came to serve and give his life so that you and I might live!
Mark 10:43-45 - 'Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'
Jesus is the ultimate example of service, and he died on our behalf. This, indeed, is the great paradox of the gospel: By giving up our lives in service to our Lord and Master, we gain eternal life through him.
One of the things it seems that Jesus is always doing is this, he radically redefines our understanding of something. His definitions of such things as success, power, leadership, service is the very opposite of how it is defined in our society.
John 13:1-17
What if Jesus had said, ‘I have washed your feet – now it is your turn to wash my feet’.
There would have been a race to get the basin and the towel. They would have been pushing each other out of the way. But that is not what Jesus says – his response is that we have to do to one another what he has done for us.
(15) I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
STEPPING INTO SERVANTHOOD REDEFINES POWER
Luke 22:24 - “A dispute arose among the disciples as to which of them was considered to be the greatest.”
The entire life of Jesus redefined power – in fact this was in his character and his attitude even before he came to earth.
Isaiah 52:13 & 53
These verses introduces us to Jesus some 600 years before Bethlehem and it invites us to meet him as the servant king. Servant and King moulded into one. This title is designed to introduce Jesus to us – to set the stage for his life.
The final demonstration of his servant life was when he went to die on the cross, as he laid aside his robe so he also laid aside his life.
In our society power usually comes from the top down. But in the Kingdom of God – true spiritual power starts with a basin and a towel.
STEPPING INTO SERVANTHOOD REMOVES PRIDE
Pride can damage the soul. It is at the heart of so many of the problems we have and the silly games we play with each other.
This incident in John 13 gives us tremendous insight into the human heart. It teaches us that there are two different kinds of pride.
1. There is the pride that will not give
None of the disciples would get up…then Jesus gets up to serve. There is a special grace needed which is the grace to give – and to serve graciously.
2. There is the pride that will not receive
Peter’s initial outburst to Jesus was that he would not let Jesus wash his feet. That was a different kind of pride – it is the pride that will not receive. It also denies community because it does not allow someone else to give.
STEPPING SERVANTHOOD RE-ALIGNS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR POSITION
When we use the gifts God has given us for his glory – we are serving. We do not own our gifts – we are simply stewards of them.
Servanthood is integral to God’s plan - “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
He became a servant to serve God’s plan so we could grasp the understanding of who God was and what he wanted to do. Jesus exemplifies the heart of a servant and places a premium on others.
Church was never meant to be a spectator sport – but an arena for all of God’s people to serve in works of service! Church becomes the place where we come and serve. How do we serve?
John 10:11-13 makes these amazing comments about Jesus, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
True Servanthood is serving the purpose of God serving others with the love of Christ – whatever your hand finds to do – do it with all your might.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
