Title: Personal integrity
Date: October 17, 2008
Text: Daniel 3:17-18
Story
- "Some time ago there was a movie “Indecent Proposal” which starred Robert Redford and Demi Moore
- “A young couple very much in love are married and have started their respective careers, she as a real estate broker, he as an architect. She finds the perfect spot to build his dream house, and they get loans to finance it.
- When the recession hits, they stand to lose everything they own, so they go to Vegas to have one shot at winning the money they need.
- After losing at the tables, they are approached by a millionaire who offers them a million dollars for a night with the wife.
- Though the couple agrees that this is a way out of their financial dilemma, it threatens to destroy their relationship.”
- What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?
- Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following:
- Would abandon their entire family (25%)
- Would abandon their church (25%)
- Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)
- Would give up their American citizenships (16%)
- Would leave their spouses (16%)
- Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)
- Would kill a stranger (7%)
- Would put their children up for adoption (3%)" - James Patterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told the Truth, 1991.
Introduction
- In life there will be times when your integrity and honesty will be put to the test.
- How will you react?
- Where will you draw the line?
- For what price would you give up your integrity?
- This morning we will examine the example of three young men, who put their lives on the line for the sake of keeping their integrity
Definition of integrity
- Merriam Webster Dictionary
- 1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : Incorruptibility
- 2 : an unimpaired condition : Soundness
- 3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : Completeness
Daniel 3 – Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego
- they are first mentioned in Dan 1:7, companions of Daniel
- Idol – 90 feet high and 9 feet wide –
- Iraq, near present location of Baghdad
- They do not bow down before the idol
- Does not say that they made a lot of trouble about it
- No petitions or rebellion, but people accused them before the king
- They had opportunity to change their mind
They stood up for their beliefs
- verses 16-18
- examine what this means
- they are faced with being killed for their beliefs
- they preserved their integrity
- they refused to compromise their values
A choice to be made
- there is always a choice to be made
- will I stick to what I know is right or will I compromise?
- Acts 5:29 obey God rather than man
- God is more permanent than man
- Will I give up my reward for the sake of some cheap temporary thing?
- That kind of person is concerned about other people’s approval
- John 12:43 The Pharisees loved the praise of men more than their relationship with God
- We want to be more concerned about what God thinks of us
What does God think about us?
- God loves us, we are his children, he trusts us
- We cover all this in our classes
- We have been moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son – Col 1:13
- This is from the greek word “methistemi” meaning “to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another"
- We become changed inside
- Rom 2:29 – we no longer need to worry about what others think of us
- It is what God thinks about us that really counts
The end of the story
- Dan 3:16-18 – their response to the king
- They are thrown into the furnace
- But God delivers them
- He did so because they trusted in him – verse 28
- Psa 31:1 - In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Conclusion
- we may be going through situations
- we may be tempted to compromise
- but God says trust me and I will bring you through
- no matter what the mountain, he says he will make it flat as a pancake
- whatever our struggle, if we trust him he will come through for us
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The Power of Pentecost - Acts 1:4-8
Title: The Power of Pentecost
Date: May 27, 2007
Text: Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 37-39
INTRODUCTION
- The church today needs power.
- More churches close their doors each year than new ones that are started.
- Witchcraft is growing faster than mainline Christianity.
- The church has a task to witness to the power of the risen Christ but it seems to have lost the power of his resurrection.
- The same thing happens in personal lives.
- People hunger for something more, but seek it in New Age philosophy or eastern religions.
- The enemy is willing to give something that looks like power, but it is only a counterfeit, temporary, and instead of giving freedom it enslaves you.
- We want the power to be healed of our inner struggles, to be given peace and to live a meaningful and purposeful life.
- But because it seems impossible we give up and just allow ourselves to flop downstream like a dying fish, doing whatever seems to give us a good feeling for the moment.
- God knew we needed more.
- That is why he sent us the power of Pentecost.
- Someone once said the average person is so afraid of getting out on a limb they never even bother to climb up a tree.
- Over the years we have seen spiritual gifts and God’s power abused and misused.
- We are afraid of the excesses of people who go to extremes.
- But we cannot afford to allow these fears to scare us from the real thing!
- God knows we need the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit was sent for a reason.
- I am not talking about becoming Pentecostal or charismatic.
- This has nothing to do with denominations.
- I am talking about a need for power in our lives to overcome our addictions.
1. The Promise of Pentecost
- Acts 2:37-39
- This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was given for all ages, not only the early church.
- It is for all people who turn to God for forgiveness of their sins and direction in their lives.
- As many as the Lord our God shall call!
- So it is for today as well, today here in this chapel!
- Dr. John R. Rice, a well-known Baptist preacher, said, “There is an experience after Salvation, called the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. All Saved people do have the Holy Spirit. When someone is saved, the Holy Spirit puts him into the Body of Christ. But besides that, Christians ought to be filled with the Holy Spirit and special soul-winning power. Saved people are not always filled with the Holy Spirit, they ought to be, and can be, but many are not.”
- At Baylor University, a seminary professor said to ministerial students, “There is an experience subsequent to salvation, called the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, which is an enduement with power from on high…Don’t you dare go out and preach without it!”
- Dr. R.A. Torrey, a famous Bible Teacher, pastored the large Moody Bible Church and led the Moody Bible College in Chicago. He said, “The baptism in the Holy Spirit (the filling of the Spirit – not the work of the Holy Spirit at conversion to place us into the Body of Christ) is for every child of God in every age of the Church’s history. If it is not ours, it is because we have not taken what God has provided for us.”
2. What was the promise?
- Acts 1:4-8
- The promise was of the Holy Spirit coming in power into the lives of Christians.
- It relates to the promise in John 14:15-16.
- God would send us a Comforter, one to come alongside, to give us power to live the Christian life.
- This is what happened on Pentecost Sunday roughly 1977 years ago.
- And it continues to happen in the lives of believers who open their hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to come in all his fullness.
- Acts 2:1-4
- This is what happened.
- There was a sound of a rushing wind, and the disciples saw cloven flames of fire sitting on each of them, and they started speaking in tongues.
- People wondered what was going on.
- Then Peter preaches an awesome sermon, starting with the prophecy in Joel that God would in the future pour out of his Spirit on all flesh.
- People were convicted of their sins and cried out what can they do?
- Peter tells them that it is time to repent, and that when they do God has this free gift for them, the Holy Spirit.
- This was for them at that time, it has been for Christians for 2000 years, and it is for us today.
3. We will know when we receive this promise
- Dr. R.A. Torrey said, “The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a definite and distinct experience. A Christian will know whether he has received the Spirit or not. Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. If this were not a definite and distinct experience, the disciples would not know whether they had complied with Christ’s command.”
- When we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we will know.
- The power of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life will be evident.
- There will be fruits in their life which will show that they have received power from on high.
- Acts 1:8
4. How can we receive this filling with the Holy Spirit?
- Luke 11:9-13
- How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him.
- We need to ask God for it.
- There are examples in the book of Acts, showing how people received it.
- Some received it spontaneously.
- Others received prayer from Paul or Peter.
- In Acts 8 the people in Samaria heard the gospel and repented and were baptized. When the apostles laid hands on them they received the Holy Spirit.
- In Acts 9 Paul received Jesus during his Damascus Road experience, and when Ananias prayed for him 3 days later, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
- In Acts 10 Peter preached for the first time to Gentiles, and God spontaneously filled them with the Holy Spirit.
- In Acts 19 Paul finds disciples who had not heard about the Holy Spirit. He prays for them and they are filled with the Spirit.
- There is nothing weird about being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- But it is a promise and an important part of living the Christian life in power.
- If you want to receive this gift, ask God for it. Seek it. Keep knocking on heaven’s door till you receive it.
- You will know when you have received the answer to your prayer.
- Because the promise is “to you, to your children, and to all who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Date: May 27, 2007
Text: Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 37-39
INTRODUCTION
- The church today needs power.
- More churches close their doors each year than new ones that are started.
- Witchcraft is growing faster than mainline Christianity.
- The church has a task to witness to the power of the risen Christ but it seems to have lost the power of his resurrection.
- The same thing happens in personal lives.
- People hunger for something more, but seek it in New Age philosophy or eastern religions.
- The enemy is willing to give something that looks like power, but it is only a counterfeit, temporary, and instead of giving freedom it enslaves you.
- We want the power to be healed of our inner struggles, to be given peace and to live a meaningful and purposeful life.
- But because it seems impossible we give up and just allow ourselves to flop downstream like a dying fish, doing whatever seems to give us a good feeling for the moment.
- God knew we needed more.
- That is why he sent us the power of Pentecost.
- Someone once said the average person is so afraid of getting out on a limb they never even bother to climb up a tree.
- Over the years we have seen spiritual gifts and God’s power abused and misused.
- We are afraid of the excesses of people who go to extremes.
- But we cannot afford to allow these fears to scare us from the real thing!
- God knows we need the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit was sent for a reason.
- I am not talking about becoming Pentecostal or charismatic.
- This has nothing to do with denominations.
- I am talking about a need for power in our lives to overcome our addictions.
1. The Promise of Pentecost
- Acts 2:37-39
- This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was given for all ages, not only the early church.
- It is for all people who turn to God for forgiveness of their sins and direction in their lives.
- As many as the Lord our God shall call!
- So it is for today as well, today here in this chapel!
- Dr. John R. Rice, a well-known Baptist preacher, said, “There is an experience after Salvation, called the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. All Saved people do have the Holy Spirit. When someone is saved, the Holy Spirit puts him into the Body of Christ. But besides that, Christians ought to be filled with the Holy Spirit and special soul-winning power. Saved people are not always filled with the Holy Spirit, they ought to be, and can be, but many are not.”
- At Baylor University, a seminary professor said to ministerial students, “There is an experience subsequent to salvation, called the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, which is an enduement with power from on high…Don’t you dare go out and preach without it!”
- Dr. R.A. Torrey, a famous Bible Teacher, pastored the large Moody Bible Church and led the Moody Bible College in Chicago. He said, “The baptism in the Holy Spirit (the filling of the Spirit – not the work of the Holy Spirit at conversion to place us into the Body of Christ) is for every child of God in every age of the Church’s history. If it is not ours, it is because we have not taken what God has provided for us.”
2. What was the promise?
- Acts 1:4-8
- The promise was of the Holy Spirit coming in power into the lives of Christians.
- It relates to the promise in John 14:15-16.
- God would send us a Comforter, one to come alongside, to give us power to live the Christian life.
- This is what happened on Pentecost Sunday roughly 1977 years ago.
- And it continues to happen in the lives of believers who open their hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to come in all his fullness.
- Acts 2:1-4
- This is what happened.
- There was a sound of a rushing wind, and the disciples saw cloven flames of fire sitting on each of them, and they started speaking in tongues.
- People wondered what was going on.
- Then Peter preaches an awesome sermon, starting with the prophecy in Joel that God would in the future pour out of his Spirit on all flesh.
- People were convicted of their sins and cried out what can they do?
- Peter tells them that it is time to repent, and that when they do God has this free gift for them, the Holy Spirit.
- This was for them at that time, it has been for Christians for 2000 years, and it is for us today.
3. We will know when we receive this promise
- Dr. R.A. Torrey said, “The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a definite and distinct experience. A Christian will know whether he has received the Spirit or not. Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. If this were not a definite and distinct experience, the disciples would not know whether they had complied with Christ’s command.”
- When we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we will know.
- The power of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life will be evident.
- There will be fruits in their life which will show that they have received power from on high.
- Acts 1:8
4. How can we receive this filling with the Holy Spirit?
- Luke 11:9-13
- How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him.
- We need to ask God for it.
- There are examples in the book of Acts, showing how people received it.
- Some received it spontaneously.
- Others received prayer from Paul or Peter.
- In Acts 8 the people in Samaria heard the gospel and repented and were baptized. When the apostles laid hands on them they received the Holy Spirit.
- In Acts 9 Paul received Jesus during his Damascus Road experience, and when Ananias prayed for him 3 days later, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
- In Acts 10 Peter preached for the first time to Gentiles, and God spontaneously filled them with the Holy Spirit.
- In Acts 19 Paul finds disciples who had not heard about the Holy Spirit. He prays for them and they are filled with the Spirit.
- There is nothing weird about being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- But it is a promise and an important part of living the Christian life in power.
- If you want to receive this gift, ask God for it. Seek it. Keep knocking on heaven’s door till you receive it.
- You will know when you have received the answer to your prayer.
- Because the promise is “to you, to your children, and to all who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Sunday, May 6, 2007
A time to receive forgiveness - Psalm 51
Title: A time to receive forgiveness - Psalm 51
Date: May 5, 2007
Text: Psalm 51
Introduction
- Sometimes we do something and we feel consumed by guilt
- This happens particularly when we have been found out
- How could God ever forgive us?
- David once sinned in a big way, and he was punished for it
- 1 Samuel 11
- Notice that David seems to carry on with life in seeming ignorance
- David knew what was right and wrong, he was aware of his sin
- But each time that guilt cropped up, David crushed his conscience
- David was getting to be in a bad place where he thought he had covered his tracks pretty well
- But God does not give up on him
- 1 Samuel 12
- After 9 months, God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David with what he had done
- David wrote down his prayer asking for forgiveness
- This morning we are going to examine how David asked for forgiveness
1. David acknowledges his sin (v.1-6)
- Starts asking for mercy – his sin weighs heavily on him
- His sin is ever before him, he cannot forget about what he has done
- Knowledge of his sin torments him
- He acknowledges that God is loving and merciful
- He wants to be totally cleansed
- This was not just a sin against Bathsheba, Uriah and her son
- This was a sin against God, and a stumblingblock for the nation
2. David asks for restoration (v.7-12)
- He wants to be clean and pure again
- He wants to experience joy in his life again
- Joy is something that comes from being right with God
- When we carry around guilt it is impossible to feel joy
- He recognizes that it was God who made him face his guilt
- He asks for his sins to be blotted out
- He recognizes that he is unable to do this himself, God has to renew a right spirit within him
- He particularly wants a restoration of relationship with God
- He asks for a restoration of the joy of being saved
- He asks for God not to take the Holy Spirit away from him
- His biggest concern is that he needs God’s presence, and he wants that relationship restored
David moves on (v.13-19)
- Having been restored, he now thinks about others
- There are others who have sinned, and he wants to help them come to full restoration as well
- He wants to tell sinners about a God who is prepared to remove our guilt
- He can now speak from experience, God is good
- He has a testimony, he can tell of the grace and forgiveness God has given him personally
- He is restored to true worship again, he understands God’s heart
- God desires humility in us, which comes from seeing ourselves in the true perspective
– God is holy and sinless, we are the ones who mess up and sin
- When we recognize our place in the order of things, then we are able to worship in a way God can accept
- He does not want worship dripping in pride or doing our own thing
- He seeks worshippers who come to him in spirit and in truth – John 4:23
- David intercedes for Zion, the city of David, and asks for blessing for the people in front of whom he had placed a stumblingblock
- He prays that God would accept the worship of his people, that the breach between him and the people and God would now be healed and they can move on
Summary
- God is a merciful God
- He forgives our sins
- Our relationship with him can be restored
- If we want that relationship, we can accept our forgiveness
- this takes humility, and being prepared to say, "I was wrong" - 1 John 1:9
- God blots out our sins and no longer thinks about them - Psa 103:11-12
- However, we also need to move on - Philippians 3:13
- Despite David's sins, God still treasured him, because he desired relationship more than anything else
- God knew David could be trusted and his heart was right with him - Acts 13:22
Conclusion
- Each of us has the opportunity to come to God in sincerity and humility
- whenever we sin, the way is open for restoration
- no sin is too big, no crime is too great for God to forgive
Date: May 5, 2007
Text: Psalm 51
Introduction
- Sometimes we do something and we feel consumed by guilt
- This happens particularly when we have been found out
- How could God ever forgive us?
- David once sinned in a big way, and he was punished for it
- 1 Samuel 11
- Notice that David seems to carry on with life in seeming ignorance
- David knew what was right and wrong, he was aware of his sin
- But each time that guilt cropped up, David crushed his conscience
- David was getting to be in a bad place where he thought he had covered his tracks pretty well
- But God does not give up on him
- 1 Samuel 12
- After 9 months, God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David with what he had done
- David wrote down his prayer asking for forgiveness
- This morning we are going to examine how David asked for forgiveness
1. David acknowledges his sin (v.1-6)
- Starts asking for mercy – his sin weighs heavily on him
- His sin is ever before him, he cannot forget about what he has done
- Knowledge of his sin torments him
- He acknowledges that God is loving and merciful
- He wants to be totally cleansed
- This was not just a sin against Bathsheba, Uriah and her son
- This was a sin against God, and a stumblingblock for the nation
2. David asks for restoration (v.7-12)
- He wants to be clean and pure again
- He wants to experience joy in his life again
- Joy is something that comes from being right with God
- When we carry around guilt it is impossible to feel joy
- He recognizes that it was God who made him face his guilt
- He asks for his sins to be blotted out
- He recognizes that he is unable to do this himself, God has to renew a right spirit within him
- He particularly wants a restoration of relationship with God
- He asks for a restoration of the joy of being saved
- He asks for God not to take the Holy Spirit away from him
- His biggest concern is that he needs God’s presence, and he wants that relationship restored
David moves on (v.13-19)
- Having been restored, he now thinks about others
- There are others who have sinned, and he wants to help them come to full restoration as well
- He wants to tell sinners about a God who is prepared to remove our guilt
- He can now speak from experience, God is good
- He has a testimony, he can tell of the grace and forgiveness God has given him personally
- He is restored to true worship again, he understands God’s heart
- God desires humility in us, which comes from seeing ourselves in the true perspective
– God is holy and sinless, we are the ones who mess up and sin
- When we recognize our place in the order of things, then we are able to worship in a way God can accept
- He does not want worship dripping in pride or doing our own thing
- He seeks worshippers who come to him in spirit and in truth – John 4:23
- David intercedes for Zion, the city of David, and asks for blessing for the people in front of whom he had placed a stumblingblock
- He prays that God would accept the worship of his people, that the breach between him and the people and God would now be healed and they can move on
Summary
- God is a merciful God
- He forgives our sins
- Our relationship with him can be restored
- If we want that relationship, we can accept our forgiveness
- this takes humility, and being prepared to say, "I was wrong" - 1 John 1:9
- God blots out our sins and no longer thinks about them - Psa 103:11-12
- However, we also need to move on - Philippians 3:13
- Despite David's sins, God still treasured him, because he desired relationship more than anything else
- God knew David could be trusted and his heart was right with him - Acts 13:22
Conclusion
- Each of us has the opportunity to come to God in sincerity and humility
- whenever we sin, the way is open for restoration
- no sin is too big, no crime is too great for God to forgive
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Listening to God - Psalm 32:8
Title: Listening to God
Date: April 22, 2007
Text: Psalm 32:8
INTRODUCTION
- during the past week a number of people have asked about how we can hear God’s voice
- God is a God who wants relationship with us
- when we invite Jesus into our lives, we want relationship with him
- this relationship involves communication
- when we marry we need communication with each other
- if I spend all my time talking to my wife but only listen to her once or twice a year, I won't have much of a marriage
- it is the same way with God, he wants to speak to me, too
- he wants to have input in our lives
- Psalm 32:8
- we need communication with him, not only in praying to him but in listening to what he has to say
- this morning we are going to look at some aspects of listening to God
1. Why do we need communication with God?
- he tells us where we need to change our ways - John 16:8
- he gives us spiritual instruction - 1 Corinthians 2:12-14
- he tells us things he wants us to do - Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4), Moses (Ex:1-10)
- he gives us comfort - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
- he listens to our prayers and responds - Psalm 34:17-19
2. How does God communicate with us?
- he speaks to us through the Bible - Matthew 4:4
- both "logos" (the written words of the Bible) and "rhema" word (words in the Bible which the Holy Spirit gives life for our particular need)
- but there are other ways in which he speaks to us:
- he speaks to us through circumstances - Acts 16:6-7
- he speaks to us through dreams and visions - Matthew 2:12, 13, 19, 22, Acts 16:9
- he speaks to us quietly, sounding like our own thoughts - 1 Kings 19:12-13
- occasionally he speaks to us audibly - 1 Samuel 3:1-10
3. How do we know it is from God?
- the word can come from three sources, our own mind, the enemy, or from God
- this is why we must evaluate or discern, where the word is coming from
- is the word according to the Bible? - Isaiah 8:19-20, John 17:17
- does the word agree with previous guidance - 1 Cor 14:33
- does the Holy Spirit give us an uneasiness about it, or are we at peace? - 1 Cor 2:13, John 14:27
- have we checked the word with someone who has more spiritual insight? - Proverbs 11:14
4. What can stop us from hearing from God?
- we can be so involved with physical things that we cannot hear the spiritual - Colossians 3:2, Luke 10:39-41
- unconfessed sin can get in the way - Isaiah 59:2
- if we have not submitted to God, pride may keep us from hearing his voice - James 4:6-8
- unbelief will also stop us hearing from God, he wants us to walk in faith -Hebrews 11:6, 10:38
Conclusion
- God desires to be close to his children
- when we draw nigh to him, he will draw nigh to us
- he looks forward to our prayers, and he also looks forward to our listening to what he has to say to us
- remember that God is not the author of confusion, he will make things plain, he will enable us to reach his purpose for us
- stay close to God and he will be close to you
Date: April 22, 2007
Text: Psalm 32:8
INTRODUCTION
- during the past week a number of people have asked about how we can hear God’s voice
- God is a God who wants relationship with us
- when we invite Jesus into our lives, we want relationship with him
- this relationship involves communication
- when we marry we need communication with each other
- if I spend all my time talking to my wife but only listen to her once or twice a year, I won't have much of a marriage
- it is the same way with God, he wants to speak to me, too
- he wants to have input in our lives
- Psalm 32:8
- we need communication with him, not only in praying to him but in listening to what he has to say
- this morning we are going to look at some aspects of listening to God
1. Why do we need communication with God?
- he tells us where we need to change our ways - John 16:8
- he gives us spiritual instruction - 1 Corinthians 2:12-14
- he tells us things he wants us to do - Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4), Moses (Ex:1-10)
- he gives us comfort - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
- he listens to our prayers and responds - Psalm 34:17-19
2. How does God communicate with us?
- he speaks to us through the Bible - Matthew 4:4
- both "logos" (the written words of the Bible) and "rhema" word (words in the Bible which the Holy Spirit gives life for our particular need)
- but there are other ways in which he speaks to us:
- he speaks to us through circumstances - Acts 16:6-7
- he speaks to us through dreams and visions - Matthew 2:12, 13, 19, 22, Acts 16:9
- he speaks to us quietly, sounding like our own thoughts - 1 Kings 19:12-13
- occasionally he speaks to us audibly - 1 Samuel 3:1-10
3. How do we know it is from God?
- the word can come from three sources, our own mind, the enemy, or from God
- this is why we must evaluate or discern, where the word is coming from
- is the word according to the Bible? - Isaiah 8:19-20, John 17:17
- does the word agree with previous guidance - 1 Cor 14:33
- does the Holy Spirit give us an uneasiness about it, or are we at peace? - 1 Cor 2:13, John 14:27
- have we checked the word with someone who has more spiritual insight? - Proverbs 11:14
4. What can stop us from hearing from God?
- we can be so involved with physical things that we cannot hear the spiritual - Colossians 3:2, Luke 10:39-41
- unconfessed sin can get in the way - Isaiah 59:2
- if we have not submitted to God, pride may keep us from hearing his voice - James 4:6-8
- unbelief will also stop us hearing from God, he wants us to walk in faith -Hebrews 11:6, 10:38
Conclusion
- God desires to be close to his children
- when we draw nigh to him, he will draw nigh to us
- he looks forward to our prayers, and he also looks forward to our listening to what he has to say to us
- remember that God is not the author of confusion, he will make things plain, he will enable us to reach his purpose for us
- stay close to God and he will be close to you
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Our God is an Awesome God - Mark 16:1-8
Title: Our God is an Awesome God!
Date: April 8, 2007
Text: Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-18
Introduction
- This was written in an inter-office memo a few years ago
- “If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles; if you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time; If you can overlook when people take things out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong; If you can take criticism and blame without resentment; If you can relax without liquor, sleep without worry, then… then you are probably the family dog.”
- many of us have come here with problems
- some of our problems seem huge and insurmountable
- Jesus can relate to that
- you see, Friday was Good Friday
- we commemorated the mock trial, the scourging and the crucifixion of Jesus
- why was it that Jesus was killed?
- what was the purpose for him enduring pain, fear, rejection and mockery?
- why did he go though with it all?
- around 3pm on that terrible day, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, it is finished!
- a soldier plunged a spear into Jesus’ side, and out flowed water and blood
- Jesus died
- the centurion confirmed to Pontius Pilate that Jesus was dead
- Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb that had been cut out of the hillside
- a huge stone was rolled over the entrance to stop people from having access to the body
- it seemed that the phenomenon called Jesus had disappeared from the scene
- a movement that had seemed to have so much promise seemed to fizzle out like a wet firecracker
- Jerusalem started to get back to normal, people went back to work, no doubt talking about the events of the last couple of days
- but in the darkness of the tomb, somewhere between Saturday night and daybreak Sunday morning, something awesome happened
- Jesus’ body disappeared
- the body had been wrapped in bandages, like an Egyptian mummy
- but suddenly the bandages collapsed, the body vanished
1. Jesus was not held by the tomb
- Mark 16:1-8 – Mary Magdalene and Mary Jesus’ mother and Salome visit the tomb, and find that an angel has rolled the stone away from the entrance to the tomb
- he has risen! He is alive! He is no longer dead!
- the disciples were very human – they found it hard to believe that Jesus was alive
- they had to experience it for themselves
- aren’t we like that too?
- we find it hard to believe that Jesus is real, that he is alive and well
- we want to experience it for ourselves, we want to see a sign, we want to see some proof other than another person’s testimony
- we need to see a change from the status quo
- we can prove that God exists – each class that comes through the program discusses this question
- we can know logically that the Bible is God’s word, and that it has been faithfully preserved for our use
- but ultimately, the proof we are seeking is that our own life has been touched, that something has changed inside of us
- when Jesus walked and preached 2000 years ago, lives were changed
- people with sickness and physical disabilities were healed
- people with mental illnesses were given a sound and stable mind
- people who were dead were raised to life
- and Jesus himself walked out of the tomb
- there were many witnesses that this actually happened
- the Bible tells that over 500 people saw Jesus after his resurrection
- historians like Josephus and Tacitus recorded Jesus’ death and resurrection
2. Jesus is alive today
- but the Bible tells us that God does not change
- Mal 3:6 – “I am the Lord, I change not, therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed”
- God is a merciful God, as well as an awesome God
- Jesus is the one who created the earth, who keeps everything running in an orderly fashion
- there is no conflict between true science and God, many scientists believe in God
- on the other hand there are many who do not want God to interfere in their lives
- many of us may not be really interested in having God touch our lives
- that would mean changing the way we talk, the things we do, the way in which we relate to each other
- but Jesus has not changed
- he is alive today
- Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”
- the way Jesus was 2000 years ago, is the way he is today, we can depend on him
- the way he was 2000 years ago, is that he came to bring healing into people’s lives
- the blind saw, the lepers were cleansed and the dead were raised to life
- and he came to save men from the penalty for sins they have committed
3. Jesus has the power to forgive, to heal and to set things right in our lives
- Jesus was given the power to make change in people’s lives
- the people who were touched by Jesus were changed
- leprosy is a terrible disease
- on the island of Molokai in Hawaii, there used to be a leper colony
- Father Damien went there to serve the lepers, and to witness to the power of Jesus to change lives
- in Jesus’ day lepers were feared and rejected from society because of the risk of contagion
- there was nothing that could be done about their disease
- a leper came to Jesus in Matthew 8
- he knelt before Jesus and said “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean”
- Jesus said, “I am willing”, reached out his hand and touched him
- for decades no one had been willing to touch this man
- but Jesus did so, and his life changed forever
- when you have been rejected by all the people around you, because you have a contagious disease, it affects you deep inside
- you feel worthless, unworthy, a failure, nobody loves you, you are lonely and sinking in quicksand
- is that the way we feel?
- we feel powerless to get out of debt
- we feel powerless to break our addictions
- we feel powerless to save our relationships
- we feel powerless to change our situation
- to us, Jesus says “I am willing”
- he touches us and brings change
- no matter how tough things look, no matter how painful things may be right now, Jesus is able to take care of the situation
- not only is he able to take care of the situation, he is also willing to do so
- we are powerless
- but Jesus is powerful
- Jesus says to us today “Don’t give up, there is power available, and I am willing to touch you
- “I am not too proud or mighty to reach down into your personal and private situation
- “I am want to give you a meaningful, purposeful life, I am willing to change your life, just as I did for a leper 2000 years ago
- “because I have not changed”
- do we want Jesus to be the change maker in our life?
Conclusion
- the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, is available to bring change in our life
- God desires relationship with us – he offers us an eternity with him
- we may have been rejected by society, but God loves us, wherever we are at, whatever we have done
- we have sinned and broken the rules
- but Jesus died for us so that that barrier between us and him can be taken away
- he has the power to change our lives
- to bring order into chaos, to bring confidence where there is depression, to bring purpose where we have given up and lost our way
- do you want to ask Jesus into your life?
- all you need to do is get on your knees like the leper, and ask Jesus to forgive your sins, and come into your life
- we do not have the power to bring lasting change in our life
- but God does, he is an awesome God
Date: April 8, 2007
Text: Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-18
Introduction
- This was written in an inter-office memo a few years ago
- “If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles; if you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time; If you can overlook when people take things out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong; If you can take criticism and blame without resentment; If you can relax without liquor, sleep without worry, then… then you are probably the family dog.”
- many of us have come here with problems
- some of our problems seem huge and insurmountable
- Jesus can relate to that
- you see, Friday was Good Friday
- we commemorated the mock trial, the scourging and the crucifixion of Jesus
- why was it that Jesus was killed?
- what was the purpose for him enduring pain, fear, rejection and mockery?
- why did he go though with it all?
- around 3pm on that terrible day, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, it is finished!
- a soldier plunged a spear into Jesus’ side, and out flowed water and blood
- Jesus died
- the centurion confirmed to Pontius Pilate that Jesus was dead
- Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb that had been cut out of the hillside
- a huge stone was rolled over the entrance to stop people from having access to the body
- it seemed that the phenomenon called Jesus had disappeared from the scene
- a movement that had seemed to have so much promise seemed to fizzle out like a wet firecracker
- Jerusalem started to get back to normal, people went back to work, no doubt talking about the events of the last couple of days
- but in the darkness of the tomb, somewhere between Saturday night and daybreak Sunday morning, something awesome happened
- Jesus’ body disappeared
- the body had been wrapped in bandages, like an Egyptian mummy
- but suddenly the bandages collapsed, the body vanished
1. Jesus was not held by the tomb
- Mark 16:1-8 – Mary Magdalene and Mary Jesus’ mother and Salome visit the tomb, and find that an angel has rolled the stone away from the entrance to the tomb
- he has risen! He is alive! He is no longer dead!
- the disciples were very human – they found it hard to believe that Jesus was alive
- they had to experience it for themselves
- aren’t we like that too?
- we find it hard to believe that Jesus is real, that he is alive and well
- we want to experience it for ourselves, we want to see a sign, we want to see some proof other than another person’s testimony
- we need to see a change from the status quo
- we can prove that God exists – each class that comes through the program discusses this question
- we can know logically that the Bible is God’s word, and that it has been faithfully preserved for our use
- but ultimately, the proof we are seeking is that our own life has been touched, that something has changed inside of us
- when Jesus walked and preached 2000 years ago, lives were changed
- people with sickness and physical disabilities were healed
- people with mental illnesses were given a sound and stable mind
- people who were dead were raised to life
- and Jesus himself walked out of the tomb
- there were many witnesses that this actually happened
- the Bible tells that over 500 people saw Jesus after his resurrection
- historians like Josephus and Tacitus recorded Jesus’ death and resurrection
2. Jesus is alive today
- but the Bible tells us that God does not change
- Mal 3:6 – “I am the Lord, I change not, therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed”
- God is a merciful God, as well as an awesome God
- Jesus is the one who created the earth, who keeps everything running in an orderly fashion
- there is no conflict between true science and God, many scientists believe in God
- on the other hand there are many who do not want God to interfere in their lives
- many of us may not be really interested in having God touch our lives
- that would mean changing the way we talk, the things we do, the way in which we relate to each other
- but Jesus has not changed
- he is alive today
- Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”
- the way Jesus was 2000 years ago, is the way he is today, we can depend on him
- the way he was 2000 years ago, is that he came to bring healing into people’s lives
- the blind saw, the lepers were cleansed and the dead were raised to life
- and he came to save men from the penalty for sins they have committed
3. Jesus has the power to forgive, to heal and to set things right in our lives
- Jesus was given the power to make change in people’s lives
- the people who were touched by Jesus were changed
- leprosy is a terrible disease
- on the island of Molokai in Hawaii, there used to be a leper colony
- Father Damien went there to serve the lepers, and to witness to the power of Jesus to change lives
- in Jesus’ day lepers were feared and rejected from society because of the risk of contagion
- there was nothing that could be done about their disease
- a leper came to Jesus in Matthew 8
- he knelt before Jesus and said “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean”
- Jesus said, “I am willing”, reached out his hand and touched him
- for decades no one had been willing to touch this man
- but Jesus did so, and his life changed forever
- when you have been rejected by all the people around you, because you have a contagious disease, it affects you deep inside
- you feel worthless, unworthy, a failure, nobody loves you, you are lonely and sinking in quicksand
- is that the way we feel?
- we feel powerless to get out of debt
- we feel powerless to break our addictions
- we feel powerless to save our relationships
- we feel powerless to change our situation
- to us, Jesus says “I am willing”
- he touches us and brings change
- no matter how tough things look, no matter how painful things may be right now, Jesus is able to take care of the situation
- not only is he able to take care of the situation, he is also willing to do so
- we are powerless
- but Jesus is powerful
- Jesus says to us today “Don’t give up, there is power available, and I am willing to touch you
- “I am not too proud or mighty to reach down into your personal and private situation
- “I am want to give you a meaningful, purposeful life, I am willing to change your life, just as I did for a leper 2000 years ago
- “because I have not changed”
- do we want Jesus to be the change maker in our life?
Conclusion
- the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, is available to bring change in our life
- God desires relationship with us – he offers us an eternity with him
- we may have been rejected by society, but God loves us, wherever we are at, whatever we have done
- we have sinned and broken the rules
- but Jesus died for us so that that barrier between us and him can be taken away
- he has the power to change our lives
- to bring order into chaos, to bring confidence where there is depression, to bring purpose where we have given up and lost our way
- do you want to ask Jesus into your life?
- all you need to do is get on your knees like the leper, and ask Jesus to forgive your sins, and come into your life
- we do not have the power to bring lasting change in our life
- but God does, he is an awesome God
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Tears For Jerusalem - Luke 19:29-44
Title: Tears for Jerusalem
Date: April 1, 2007
Text: Luke 19:29-44
Introduction
- The nation of Israel was born in slavery
- the Israelites were descendants of Abraham, a nomad from Chaldea
- his descendants grew up ostracised from the rest of the Egyptians, and as time progressed they turned them into slaves
- they built treasure cities for Pharaoh, and served with hard labor
- The cry of the Israelites rose up before God and he rescued them and brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey
- they had a fresh start, and for a time they were obedient
- then they relapsed and left the Lord
- the Jewish nation went into captivity and were transported to prison in Babylon, modernday Iraq
- the king Nebuchadnezzar was a tough ruler and once again there were people praying for a return to Jerusalem
- the Jewish captives were taken over by the Medo-Persian empire, and under Cyrus a number of them were allowed to return to Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple
- then the Romans invaded Judea and once again the Jews were oppressed by a foreign warlord
- the Jews wanted freedom! They looked for their Messiah who had been promised!
- it was in this environment that Jesus approaches Jerusalem on the final part of his journey
- Luke 19:29-40
1. The Messiah is Here!
- prophets had foretold about the coming of the Messiah
- Is 35:5-6 - Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy
- Is 61:1-2 - The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn
- Zech 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey
- they were seeing the fulfilment of these prophecies before their very eyes
- Luke 7:22 - the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor
- Jesus preaches about his fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 61 - read in Luke 4:18
- and for 3 1/2 years they had seen the miracles, they had heard his message of hope, just a short while before Lazarus had been raised from the dead!
- here indeed was the Messiah!
- here was the Messiah, riding a young donkey, coming into Jerusalem, just as had been prophesied
- so they welcome him! They welcome this King, their Messiah!
- they are shouting "blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
2. The Messiah weeps
- Luke 19:41-44
- this particular morning Jesus climbs the road over the south side of the mount of Olives, and as he descends he looks toward the west where he sees a magnificent view of the temple
- it is built with huge white stones, the doors of the temple were overlaid with gold and they must have shone in his eyes, reflecting the morning sun
- and while the people around him are shouting out "Hosanna, blessed be the King, the son of David, the Messiah", Jesus weeps
- while the people are excited and shouting and jubilant, Jesus is crying
- while the crowds are celebrating, tears are falling
- why was Jesus crying?
- because this was the first coming of the Messiah, a coming which was marked by meekness, the coming of the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53, the one who would be crucified and killed, unrecognized for who he was
- the Messianic prophecies spoke of a conquering king, but also a suffering servant
- they spoke of one who would be their deliverer who would restore them to greatness, and also about a Messiah who would be humble and compassionate and close to his people
- these people were looking for the conquering king, and they thought that this triumphal entry would be the start of that rise to greatness
- but it was not to happen the way they wanted
- they were looking for a King who would immediately, miraculously, rid them of their oppressors
- but Jesus does not raise an army, he does not march up to the governor Pontius Pilate saying "Let my people go"
- instead, Jesus weeps, he goes into the temple and makes a stand for pure worship
- just a couple of days later, these crowds who were now welcoming him as their Messiah, would be shouting just as loudly, Crucify him, crucify him
- why was Jesus crying?
- because they had turned away from God and their worship had turned into ritual
- because he was the answer to their oppression but they did not recognize it
- and because they rejected him, Jerusalem would be destroyed and the temple would be demolished
- verses 41-44
3. Is the King still weeping?
- Israel was given many opportunities to repent
- God sent prophet after prophet, but they were beaten and killed and rejected
- finally he sent his son Jesus to show them the way out of their oppression
- but they did not recognise him
- Jesus wept because they did not recognize him as being the answer to their problems
- how about us?
- are we looking for a Messiah who will come as a conquering king, suddenly changing our life, taking away our anger and addiction with one fell swoop?
- one who miraculously and instantly solves all the problems we have spent 20, 30, 40 or 50 years getting into?
- will we recognize the Messiah who knocks at the door of our heart asking for a welcome, who introduces us to a new way of life, a way of overcoming, of fighting battles, a way of learning to gradually overcome our issues
- he partners with us in changing our lives, he is not into the quick fix mentality
- will we recognize him?
- Jesus wept about the destruction of Jerusalem that was just around the corner
- will he weep because we are not ready for his kind of deliverance?
- the choice is ours
Date: April 1, 2007
Text: Luke 19:29-44
Introduction
- The nation of Israel was born in slavery
- the Israelites were descendants of Abraham, a nomad from Chaldea
- his descendants grew up ostracised from the rest of the Egyptians, and as time progressed they turned them into slaves
- they built treasure cities for Pharaoh, and served with hard labor
- The cry of the Israelites rose up before God and he rescued them and brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey
- they had a fresh start, and for a time they were obedient
- then they relapsed and left the Lord
- the Jewish nation went into captivity and were transported to prison in Babylon, modernday Iraq
- the king Nebuchadnezzar was a tough ruler and once again there were people praying for a return to Jerusalem
- the Jewish captives were taken over by the Medo-Persian empire, and under Cyrus a number of them were allowed to return to Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple
- then the Romans invaded Judea and once again the Jews were oppressed by a foreign warlord
- the Jews wanted freedom! They looked for their Messiah who had been promised!
- it was in this environment that Jesus approaches Jerusalem on the final part of his journey
- Luke 19:29-40
1. The Messiah is Here!
- prophets had foretold about the coming of the Messiah
- Is 35:5-6 - Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy
- Is 61:1-2 - The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn
- Zech 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey
- they were seeing the fulfilment of these prophecies before their very eyes
- Luke 7:22 - the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor
- Jesus preaches about his fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 61 - read in Luke 4:18
- and for 3 1/2 years they had seen the miracles, they had heard his message of hope, just a short while before Lazarus had been raised from the dead!
- here indeed was the Messiah!
- here was the Messiah, riding a young donkey, coming into Jerusalem, just as had been prophesied
- so they welcome him! They welcome this King, their Messiah!
- they are shouting "blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
2. The Messiah weeps
- Luke 19:41-44
- this particular morning Jesus climbs the road over the south side of the mount of Olives, and as he descends he looks toward the west where he sees a magnificent view of the temple
- it is built with huge white stones, the doors of the temple were overlaid with gold and they must have shone in his eyes, reflecting the morning sun
- and while the people around him are shouting out "Hosanna, blessed be the King, the son of David, the Messiah", Jesus weeps
- while the people are excited and shouting and jubilant, Jesus is crying
- while the crowds are celebrating, tears are falling
- why was Jesus crying?
- because this was the first coming of the Messiah, a coming which was marked by meekness, the coming of the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53, the one who would be crucified and killed, unrecognized for who he was
- the Messianic prophecies spoke of a conquering king, but also a suffering servant
- they spoke of one who would be their deliverer who would restore them to greatness, and also about a Messiah who would be humble and compassionate and close to his people
- these people were looking for the conquering king, and they thought that this triumphal entry would be the start of that rise to greatness
- but it was not to happen the way they wanted
- they were looking for a King who would immediately, miraculously, rid them of their oppressors
- but Jesus does not raise an army, he does not march up to the governor Pontius Pilate saying "Let my people go"
- instead, Jesus weeps, he goes into the temple and makes a stand for pure worship
- just a couple of days later, these crowds who were now welcoming him as their Messiah, would be shouting just as loudly, Crucify him, crucify him
- why was Jesus crying?
- because they had turned away from God and their worship had turned into ritual
- because he was the answer to their oppression but they did not recognize it
- and because they rejected him, Jerusalem would be destroyed and the temple would be demolished
- verses 41-44
3. Is the King still weeping?
- Israel was given many opportunities to repent
- God sent prophet after prophet, but they were beaten and killed and rejected
- finally he sent his son Jesus to show them the way out of their oppression
- but they did not recognise him
- Jesus wept because they did not recognize him as being the answer to their problems
- how about us?
- are we looking for a Messiah who will come as a conquering king, suddenly changing our life, taking away our anger and addiction with one fell swoop?
- one who miraculously and instantly solves all the problems we have spent 20, 30, 40 or 50 years getting into?
- will we recognize the Messiah who knocks at the door of our heart asking for a welcome, who introduces us to a new way of life, a way of overcoming, of fighting battles, a way of learning to gradually overcome our issues
- he partners with us in changing our lives, he is not into the quick fix mentality
- will we recognize him?
- Jesus wept about the destruction of Jerusalem that was just around the corner
- will he weep because we are not ready for his kind of deliverance?
- the choice is ours
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Washing each other's feet - John 13:1-17
Title: Washing each other's feet
Date: March 25, 2007
Text: John 13:1-17
Introduction
- last week we looked at an event that happened in Bethany
- Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed Jesus feet and head with spikenard
- this was a very precious ointment, and cost her roughly a year's wages
- Jesus says that she anointed him for burial, ahead of the event that would happen 6 days later
- in that event, Jesus would die for mankind, and become a sacrifice for us
- in his death he would become the fulfillment of all the sacrifices that had been made for 4000 years since Abel offered a lamb in sacrifice
- the evening before he was taken captive, Jesus celebrated Passover with the disciples, just like Jews still do today
- at the end of the Passover meal, Jesus did something unusual
- he got up, laid aside his outer robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist
- the next thing Jesus did, has huge significance for your life
- it will change the way in which you see yourself, and is essential for your recovery
- John 13:1-17
1. Jesus washed the disciples' feet
- roads were dusty
- example of working at temple mount excavation
- it was the role of a servant to wash the feet of visiting travellers
- Luke 7:44 - Jesus rebukes Simon the Leper that his feet had not been washed
- remember they were probably lying on cushions, rather than sitting at a table
- smelly feet were as embarrassing as today!
- yet Jesus here sets an example for the disciples
- he took on this menial, not very nice job, for the disciples
- he was not too good, or too holy to take on this task
2. Jesus set an example of being a servant
- this Passover evening was not unique for Jesus
- this was not the first time Jesus had served people
- his mission was to serve others, not himself
- his first act of service was to empty himself of his divine attributes and humble himself to become a man, born as a helpless baby
- he provided dinner for 5000 people, and then another time for 3000
- he listened to the hurt and pain of a broken humanity, and brought healing and comfort
- it seems he had a house in Capernaum, yet he lived most of his ministry on the road, sleeping wherever he could
- he was called to be the Messiah, yet he did not serve himself but the people around him
- when he was attacked, he did not respond in kind
- when he was hanging on the cross, struggling to breathe, his mind was on others
- he made arrangements for John to take care of Mary his mother
- he led the thief hanging on a cross next to him, to salvation
- he prayed for those who were killing him, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"
- and on his shoulders he carried the sins of the world, taking our burden upon himself
- in his final act in this life, his life was poured out for every man who has ever lived
- he had died to his own will, his own desires for an easy life
- instead, Jesus lived as a servant, he lived for others
- Jesus lived as a living sacrifice
3. We too have been called to be living sacrifices
- Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service
- Philippians 2:3 - esteem others better than self
- Mark 9:41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward"
- John 14:12 - we have been called to do the works that Jesus did
- Philippians 2:5 - we have been called to live, and think and act and breathe the way that Jesus did
- Luke 9:1-2 - go and preach the gospel, heal the sick, and set the captives free
- Matthew 6:33 - seek first the kingdom of God, not money, God will supply your needs
- we have been called to live for others, to be living sacrifices
- v.14-15 - we should follow Jesus' example in washing each others feet
- in today's culture, we wear shoes and socks and our feet don't become dusty, dirty and smelly like in Jesus' day
- but Jesus is telling us, if he as our Lord and Master, conducts himself as our servant, we should serve each other too
- that service extends far beyond kneeling in front of each other, and washing each other's feet
- it extends to how we treat each other, from day to day
- it means turning the other cheek when someone offends us, rather than getting our own back
- it means taking on what seem to be menial tasks in order to serve our friends
- it means laying down our life for others, both in our family and outside
4. Jesus offers to wash our feet today
- notice the short conversation Jesus has with Peter, while washing his feet
- v. 6-13
- Jesus says, if he does not wash our feet, we are not part of him
- there is a particular significance to this washing
- Peter then wants his hands and his head washed as well, but Jesus says the feet is sufficient, the symbolism is complete
- 1 Cor 6:11 "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God"
- Heb 10:22 - "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water"
- Rev 1:5-6 - "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen"
- Psa 51:1-2, 7 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow"
- Isa 1:18 - "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool"
- Jesus is saying to us, come to me all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest
- he is saying, I came to be a servant and I am still your servant
- he invites us saying, allow me to come and wash your feet, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white and pure as the driven snow
Conclusion
- Jesus came to be a servant to humanity
- he was a servant to the disciples, and washed their feet
- he did this as an example to us, that we too should be each other's servant
- finally, Jesus offers us a cleansing which is permanent, a parole which wipes out our record, a forgiveness that leaves us as white as snow
- are we ready to accept his offer?
Date: March 25, 2007
Text: John 13:1-17
Introduction
- last week we looked at an event that happened in Bethany
- Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed Jesus feet and head with spikenard
- this was a very precious ointment, and cost her roughly a year's wages
- Jesus says that she anointed him for burial, ahead of the event that would happen 6 days later
- in that event, Jesus would die for mankind, and become a sacrifice for us
- in his death he would become the fulfillment of all the sacrifices that had been made for 4000 years since Abel offered a lamb in sacrifice
- the evening before he was taken captive, Jesus celebrated Passover with the disciples, just like Jews still do today
- at the end of the Passover meal, Jesus did something unusual
- he got up, laid aside his outer robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist
- the next thing Jesus did, has huge significance for your life
- it will change the way in which you see yourself, and is essential for your recovery
- John 13:1-17
1. Jesus washed the disciples' feet
- roads were dusty
- example of working at temple mount excavation
- it was the role of a servant to wash the feet of visiting travellers
- Luke 7:44 - Jesus rebukes Simon the Leper that his feet had not been washed
- remember they were probably lying on cushions, rather than sitting at a table
- smelly feet were as embarrassing as today!
- yet Jesus here sets an example for the disciples
- he took on this menial, not very nice job, for the disciples
- he was not too good, or too holy to take on this task
2. Jesus set an example of being a servant
- this Passover evening was not unique for Jesus
- this was not the first time Jesus had served people
- his mission was to serve others, not himself
- his first act of service was to empty himself of his divine attributes and humble himself to become a man, born as a helpless baby
- he provided dinner for 5000 people, and then another time for 3000
- he listened to the hurt and pain of a broken humanity, and brought healing and comfort
- it seems he had a house in Capernaum, yet he lived most of his ministry on the road, sleeping wherever he could
- he was called to be the Messiah, yet he did not serve himself but the people around him
- when he was attacked, he did not respond in kind
- when he was hanging on the cross, struggling to breathe, his mind was on others
- he made arrangements for John to take care of Mary his mother
- he led the thief hanging on a cross next to him, to salvation
- he prayed for those who were killing him, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"
- and on his shoulders he carried the sins of the world, taking our burden upon himself
- in his final act in this life, his life was poured out for every man who has ever lived
- he had died to his own will, his own desires for an easy life
- instead, Jesus lived as a servant, he lived for others
- Jesus lived as a living sacrifice
3. We too have been called to be living sacrifices
- Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service
- Philippians 2:3 - esteem others better than self
- Mark 9:41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward"
- John 14:12 - we have been called to do the works that Jesus did
- Philippians 2:5 - we have been called to live, and think and act and breathe the way that Jesus did
- Luke 9:1-2 - go and preach the gospel, heal the sick, and set the captives free
- Matthew 6:33 - seek first the kingdom of God, not money, God will supply your needs
- we have been called to live for others, to be living sacrifices
- v.14-15 - we should follow Jesus' example in washing each others feet
- in today's culture, we wear shoes and socks and our feet don't become dusty, dirty and smelly like in Jesus' day
- but Jesus is telling us, if he as our Lord and Master, conducts himself as our servant, we should serve each other too
- that service extends far beyond kneeling in front of each other, and washing each other's feet
- it extends to how we treat each other, from day to day
- it means turning the other cheek when someone offends us, rather than getting our own back
- it means taking on what seem to be menial tasks in order to serve our friends
- it means laying down our life for others, both in our family and outside
4. Jesus offers to wash our feet today
- notice the short conversation Jesus has with Peter, while washing his feet
- v. 6-13
- Jesus says, if he does not wash our feet, we are not part of him
- there is a particular significance to this washing
- Peter then wants his hands and his head washed as well, but Jesus says the feet is sufficient, the symbolism is complete
- 1 Cor 6:11 "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God"
- Heb 10:22 - "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water"
- Rev 1:5-6 - "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen"
- Psa 51:1-2, 7 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow"
- Isa 1:18 - "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool"
- Jesus is saying to us, come to me all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest
- he is saying, I came to be a servant and I am still your servant
- he invites us saying, allow me to come and wash your feet, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white and pure as the driven snow
Conclusion
- Jesus came to be a servant to humanity
- he was a servant to the disciples, and washed their feet
- he did this as an example to us, that we too should be each other's servant
- finally, Jesus offers us a cleansing which is permanent, a parole which wipes out our record, a forgiveness that leaves us as white as snow
- are we ready to accept his offer?
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Anointing at Bethany - Matthew 26:6-13
Title: The Anointing at Bethany
Date: March 18, 2007
Text: Matt 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8
Introduction
- as Jesus travels to Jerusalem, he passes through Bethany, about 2 miles from his destination
- during this week before his crucifixion, he uses Bethany as a base and walks to and from Jerusalem each day
- Jesus had acquaintances who lived in Bethany- Lazarus, Martha, Mary and Simon the Leper
- Lazarus was the person Jesus had raised from the dead
- Simon the Leper was probably one of the lepers Jesus had healed
- today, Jesus is staying at Simon the Lepers home, it is evening and they are sitting down for dinner
- something happens at dinner, which shows us two important lessons
1. Mary anoints Jesus' head and feet
- Matthew 26:6-13
- they are at the house of Simon the Leper
- Martha was there, serving as usual, Lazarus was there at the table, and Mary his sister was there as well - John 12:1-3
- it seems that the Mary who anoints Jesus' feet was Lazarus' sister
- Matthew and Mark record that she anointed Jesus head
- John records that she anointed and wiped his feet with her hair
- when we examine the whole pictures she must have anointed both his head and his feet, or the ointment dripped onto his feet - each writer looks at the event from the way he saw it happen
- the ointment was very expensive, and was in an alabaster container, a translucent semi-precious stone
- the disciples valued it at 300 denarii, around a year's wages - some say that the spikenard came all the way from the Himalayas
- Mary brings what is probably her most precious possession, to anoint Jesus
- she breaks the container in the process, it will not be used again
- she does this in faith, having believed what Jesus was saying, that he would be taken and killed by the religious leaders in Jerusalem
- she has anointed him for burial, and he was very precious to her
- the disciples on the other hand seem to have only looked at the value of the ointment and considered it a waste, and Judas says why did we not give this to the poor
2. Stay with Jesus, keep your focus
- the disciples had been with Jesus for three years, and listened to his teachings
- they had been involved in ministry, daily, they baptized people and they were sent out to preach and to heal the sick
- Jesus had told that he was going up to Jerusalem to be killed
- they did not seem to comprehend what Jesus was doing, nor the significance of Mary's act
- the disciples were all involved in doing things, they had no attention for what Jesus was saying
- Mary, however, had an awareness of what was important
- on a previous occasion, Martha had complained that she was having to do all the kitchen work on her own, but Jesus commended Mary for recognizing what was important - listening to Jesus' words
- we too can be all involved in God's work and yet not quite get it
- I can be so involved with doing the work of a chaplain, that I miss out on the important thing that God is doing
- we can all be so involved in the physical, that we cannot see or hear the spiritual
- we can be close to the Word physically, involved in religious activity and works, and still be far, far away spiritually
- what is important is listening for what he is saying, keeping focussed on what God is doing and where he is active
3. Mary was grateful for the gift of Jesus
- Mary gave her most precious possession to prepare Jesus for burial
- she was listening to Jesus' words, and she heard the pain in Jesus' voice as he told he was going to be killed
- she had been close to Jesus for a long time, he had brought her brother back to life after he had succumbed to some illness
- she had learned from Jesus about the resurrection, she had learned about the good news of another kingdom that was coming, which would never pass away
- she believed Jesus' words
- and she was grateful
- her life had been empty, but now it had purpose
- she was single, just like her brother and sister
- but her life had a purpose and she was grateful for all Jesus had given her
- what about us?
- how grateful are we for all Jesus has done in our life?
- he has set us free and given us a new beginning, a fresh start
- he has given us a reason to live and a purpose
- do we live our life as a prayer of gratitude to him?
- Jesus commends Mary for her act of devotion
- but he rebukes the disciples for only looking at the physical aspects of ministry, Jesus himself needed ministering to at this awful time in his life
Summary
- there are two lessons for us in this story
- firstly that we should keep our focus on God and what he is doing, and not be so bogged down in things we are doing that we do not hear what he is saying to us
- secondly, we need to express our gratitude to the one who called us by name, forgave our past, and gave us a fresh start
- let's concentrate this week on deepening our relationship with God - let's set ourselves to each day consciously stop and listen to what he is doing and saying to us
- let's be thankful for all he has done for us, and show our gratitude
- Jesus gave us his all, he held nothing back
- we can do nothing in return, but offer him our most precious possession, by being a living sacrifice, dedicated to his use
Date: March 18, 2007
Text: Matt 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8
Introduction
- as Jesus travels to Jerusalem, he passes through Bethany, about 2 miles from his destination
- during this week before his crucifixion, he uses Bethany as a base and walks to and from Jerusalem each day
- Jesus had acquaintances who lived in Bethany- Lazarus, Martha, Mary and Simon the Leper
- Lazarus was the person Jesus had raised from the dead
- Simon the Leper was probably one of the lepers Jesus had healed
- today, Jesus is staying at Simon the Lepers home, it is evening and they are sitting down for dinner
- something happens at dinner, which shows us two important lessons
1. Mary anoints Jesus' head and feet
- Matthew 26:6-13
- they are at the house of Simon the Leper
- Martha was there, serving as usual, Lazarus was there at the table, and Mary his sister was there as well - John 12:1-3
- it seems that the Mary who anoints Jesus' feet was Lazarus' sister
- Matthew and Mark record that she anointed Jesus head
- John records that she anointed and wiped his feet with her hair
- when we examine the whole pictures she must have anointed both his head and his feet, or the ointment dripped onto his feet - each writer looks at the event from the way he saw it happen
- the ointment was very expensive, and was in an alabaster container, a translucent semi-precious stone
- the disciples valued it at 300 denarii, around a year's wages - some say that the spikenard came all the way from the Himalayas
- Mary brings what is probably her most precious possession, to anoint Jesus
- she breaks the container in the process, it will not be used again
- she does this in faith, having believed what Jesus was saying, that he would be taken and killed by the religious leaders in Jerusalem
- she has anointed him for burial, and he was very precious to her
- the disciples on the other hand seem to have only looked at the value of the ointment and considered it a waste, and Judas says why did we not give this to the poor
2. Stay with Jesus, keep your focus
- the disciples had been with Jesus for three years, and listened to his teachings
- they had been involved in ministry, daily, they baptized people and they were sent out to preach and to heal the sick
- Jesus had told that he was going up to Jerusalem to be killed
- they did not seem to comprehend what Jesus was doing, nor the significance of Mary's act
- the disciples were all involved in doing things, they had no attention for what Jesus was saying
- Mary, however, had an awareness of what was important
- on a previous occasion, Martha had complained that she was having to do all the kitchen work on her own, but Jesus commended Mary for recognizing what was important - listening to Jesus' words
- we too can be all involved in God's work and yet not quite get it
- I can be so involved with doing the work of a chaplain, that I miss out on the important thing that God is doing
- we can all be so involved in the physical, that we cannot see or hear the spiritual
- we can be close to the Word physically, involved in religious activity and works, and still be far, far away spiritually
- what is important is listening for what he is saying, keeping focussed on what God is doing and where he is active
3. Mary was grateful for the gift of Jesus
- Mary gave her most precious possession to prepare Jesus for burial
- she was listening to Jesus' words, and she heard the pain in Jesus' voice as he told he was going to be killed
- she had been close to Jesus for a long time, he had brought her brother back to life after he had succumbed to some illness
- she had learned from Jesus about the resurrection, she had learned about the good news of another kingdom that was coming, which would never pass away
- she believed Jesus' words
- and she was grateful
- her life had been empty, but now it had purpose
- she was single, just like her brother and sister
- but her life had a purpose and she was grateful for all Jesus had given her
- what about us?
- how grateful are we for all Jesus has done in our life?
- he has set us free and given us a new beginning, a fresh start
- he has given us a reason to live and a purpose
- do we live our life as a prayer of gratitude to him?
- Jesus commends Mary for her act of devotion
- but he rebukes the disciples for only looking at the physical aspects of ministry, Jesus himself needed ministering to at this awful time in his life
Summary
- there are two lessons for us in this story
- firstly that we should keep our focus on God and what he is doing, and not be so bogged down in things we are doing that we do not hear what he is saying to us
- secondly, we need to express our gratitude to the one who called us by name, forgave our past, and gave us a fresh start
- let's concentrate this week on deepening our relationship with God - let's set ourselves to each day consciously stop and listen to what he is doing and saying to us
- let's be thankful for all he has done for us, and show our gratitude
- Jesus gave us his all, he held nothing back
- we can do nothing in return, but offer him our most precious possession, by being a living sacrifice, dedicated to his use
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Parable of the Ten Pounds - Luke 19:11-27
Title: The Parable of the Ten Pounds
Date: March 13, 2007
Text: Luke 19:11-27
- The triumphal entry into Jerusalem is about to happen.
- Jesus has left Jericho behind and is on the road to Jerusalem and is now approaching the city.
Background
- When Herod the Great died, he left his reign in the hands of three people: Philip, Herod and Archelaus.
- Archelaus was to rule over Judea.
- There were a group of Jews that did not want Archelaus to rule because of his wickedness, ego, etc.
- Before Archelaus could take the throne, he had to be confirmed in Rome by Caesar that it was his right to rule in Judah, so he had to make a trip to Rome - 4 BC.
- There was a group of Jews that went to Rome to see Caesar to complain about Archelaus.
- Caesar let Archelaus go ahead and take his throne and when Archelaus went back to Judah, he killed all those who had complained.
- He reigned in Judea from 4 BC to 18 AD
- That is the historical background of this story.
1. Purpose of the Parable - verse 11
- people thought Jesus was the Messiah and that he was about to become king
- the Archelaus story was still fresh in people's minds, so Jesus bases his parable on this historical event
- his reign as Messiah was not immediate but would be delayed for some time
- the delay means an interval of time, so the question is, what happens during that period?
- the purpose of the parable is to refocus people's thinking away from an immediate kingdom, and more onto how they need to be living in the meantime until the king returns
2. What do the pounds represent?
- there are various measures referred to as pounds or minas, so it is hard to quantify exactly how much these pounds were worth in today's money
- my Bible margin notes that the mina weighed 12.5 ounces of silver - today's price of silver is $12.95 per ounce, so on that basis the mina may have been worth $160 in today's money
- it was enough to be able to do something with, but not a vast fortune by any means
- this agrees with verse 17 where the mina is described as being very little
- the reward that the nobleman gives for wisely using the silver, is out of all proportion to the value of the original mina
- the 10 servants all received an equal amount with which to work
- each servant, however, varied in how much they had accomplished in developing this investment
- so what does this mina represent?
- when we came to Jesus, each of us has been given the Holy Spirit, with the fruits of the Spirit as well as spiritual gifts
- we all receive a down payment of the Holy Spirit, a promise of more to come in the future when we receive our inheritance
- Eph 1:14 - the Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, a guarantee - we are all the same in this
- in that sense we all receive the same investment over which to be stewards
- the question is, how have we done with developing and using the gift of the holy Spirit in our lives?
- how have we used these gifts to develop in our ability to serve in the kingdom?
- one day the king will return and will ask how we have done in using the spiritual gifts God has given us.
3. The king will return - verse 15
- Jesus will return, there is no doubt about that
- when he returns, there will be an accounting of how we have used the gifts he has given us
- one person will have grown enormously, and he will be rewarded accordingly
- another person may not have done all that much in developing his gifts, and he also will be rewarded according to the effort he has put into his Christian walk
- we are all going to appear before the Bema judgment seat of Christ
- 2 Cor 5:10
- this is not a place where we will be told we are going to heaven or hell - that is decided when we accept Jesus into our life
- instead, this is a place where we will be rewarded for how we have developed in using the gifts God has given us
- this reward will be out of all proportion to what we have been given to work with
- in the parable, for having dealt wisely with $160 we receive rulership over 10 or 5 cities!
- we don't know exactly what God has planned for us when he returns and it is not spelled out exactly in scripture
- but I am sure we will be surprised at God's generosity!
- some people will have done little or nothing in developing their kingdom potential
- God says their gifts will be given to others to develop
- it does not mean they will not be in the kingdom with Jesus - they will be there, thanks to the blood of Jesus
- but they will not be rewarded the same as someone who has spent his whole life in the Lord's service, developing in his spiritual walk
4. There will be others who will not be in the kingdom - verse 27
- there is another group of people, who do not want to the Lord to reign over them
- these represent people who refuse to submit to the Lord, and accept Jesus in their life
- God will not force these people to exist forever in some kind of inner struggle, having to submit but rebelling against it inside, for all eternity
- these people have chosen not to want Jesus in their life, so they will be sent to hell and receive the fruits of their choice
Summary
- Jesus is returning, and he will return with a kingdom
- when he returns, he will bring a reward with him, which he will give to each of us, depending on how we have grown in using the gifts he has given us
- this will happen at the Bema judgment, when all believers give an account of how they have done with what God has given them
- this is not a judgment of condemnation, but a rewarding of the faithful
- believers will be rewarded according to how open they have been to allowing themselves to be molded by Jesus, and according to how much they have done in using the Holy Spirit for kingdom purposes
- there will however be another judgment, at the end of the Millenneum, when all those who have chosen not to submit to Jesus, will be granted their wish - they will be sent to hell
- this life is the playingfield upon which our eternity is being determined
- what we decide today will affect the rest of our life
Date: March 13, 2007
Text: Luke 19:11-27
- The triumphal entry into Jerusalem is about to happen.
- Jesus has left Jericho behind and is on the road to Jerusalem and is now approaching the city.
Background
- When Herod the Great died, he left his reign in the hands of three people: Philip, Herod and Archelaus.
- Archelaus was to rule over Judea.
- There were a group of Jews that did not want Archelaus to rule because of his wickedness, ego, etc.
- Before Archelaus could take the throne, he had to be confirmed in Rome by Caesar that it was his right to rule in Judah, so he had to make a trip to Rome - 4 BC.
- There was a group of Jews that went to Rome to see Caesar to complain about Archelaus.
- Caesar let Archelaus go ahead and take his throne and when Archelaus went back to Judah, he killed all those who had complained.
- He reigned in Judea from 4 BC to 18 AD
- That is the historical background of this story.
1. Purpose of the Parable - verse 11
- people thought Jesus was the Messiah and that he was about to become king
- the Archelaus story was still fresh in people's minds, so Jesus bases his parable on this historical event
- his reign as Messiah was not immediate but would be delayed for some time
- the delay means an interval of time, so the question is, what happens during that period?
- the purpose of the parable is to refocus people's thinking away from an immediate kingdom, and more onto how they need to be living in the meantime until the king returns
2. What do the pounds represent?
- there are various measures referred to as pounds or minas, so it is hard to quantify exactly how much these pounds were worth in today's money
- my Bible margin notes that the mina weighed 12.5 ounces of silver - today's price of silver is $12.95 per ounce, so on that basis the mina may have been worth $160 in today's money
- it was enough to be able to do something with, but not a vast fortune by any means
- this agrees with verse 17 where the mina is described as being very little
- the reward that the nobleman gives for wisely using the silver, is out of all proportion to the value of the original mina
- the 10 servants all received an equal amount with which to work
- each servant, however, varied in how much they had accomplished in developing this investment
- so what does this mina represent?
- when we came to Jesus, each of us has been given the Holy Spirit, with the fruits of the Spirit as well as spiritual gifts
- we all receive a down payment of the Holy Spirit, a promise of more to come in the future when we receive our inheritance
- Eph 1:14 - the Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, a guarantee - we are all the same in this
- in that sense we all receive the same investment over which to be stewards
- the question is, how have we done with developing and using the gift of the holy Spirit in our lives?
- how have we used these gifts to develop in our ability to serve in the kingdom?
- one day the king will return and will ask how we have done in using the spiritual gifts God has given us.
3. The king will return - verse 15
- Jesus will return, there is no doubt about that
- when he returns, there will be an accounting of how we have used the gifts he has given us
- one person will have grown enormously, and he will be rewarded accordingly
- another person may not have done all that much in developing his gifts, and he also will be rewarded according to the effort he has put into his Christian walk
- we are all going to appear before the Bema judgment seat of Christ
- 2 Cor 5:10
- this is not a place where we will be told we are going to heaven or hell - that is decided when we accept Jesus into our life
- instead, this is a place where we will be rewarded for how we have developed in using the gifts God has given us
- this reward will be out of all proportion to what we have been given to work with
- in the parable, for having dealt wisely with $160 we receive rulership over 10 or 5 cities!
- we don't know exactly what God has planned for us when he returns and it is not spelled out exactly in scripture
- but I am sure we will be surprised at God's generosity!
- some people will have done little or nothing in developing their kingdom potential
- God says their gifts will be given to others to develop
- it does not mean they will not be in the kingdom with Jesus - they will be there, thanks to the blood of Jesus
- but they will not be rewarded the same as someone who has spent his whole life in the Lord's service, developing in his spiritual walk
4. There will be others who will not be in the kingdom - verse 27
- there is another group of people, who do not want to the Lord to reign over them
- these represent people who refuse to submit to the Lord, and accept Jesus in their life
- God will not force these people to exist forever in some kind of inner struggle, having to submit but rebelling against it inside, for all eternity
- these people have chosen not to want Jesus in their life, so they will be sent to hell and receive the fruits of their choice
Summary
- Jesus is returning, and he will return with a kingdom
- when he returns, he will bring a reward with him, which he will give to each of us, depending on how we have grown in using the gifts he has given us
- this will happen at the Bema judgment, when all believers give an account of how they have done with what God has given them
- this is not a judgment of condemnation, but a rewarding of the faithful
- believers will be rewarded according to how open they have been to allowing themselves to be molded by Jesus, and according to how much they have done in using the Holy Spirit for kingdom purposes
- there will however be another judgment, at the end of the Millenneum, when all those who have chosen not to submit to Jesus, will be granted their wish - they will be sent to hell
- this life is the playingfield upon which our eternity is being determined
- what we decide today will affect the rest of our life
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Jesus and the IRS - Luke 19:1-10
Title: Jesus and the IRS
Date: March 11, 2007
Text: Luke 19:1-10
Introduction
- Jesus on his last journey to Jerusalem, on way to be crucified
- earlier this day had met Bartimaeus
- Bartimaeus was blind and only known by his last name
- Jesus healed him and everyone heard about it!
- later this day Jesus is passing through Jericho, and the IRS finds out!
- today we will examine the story of Zacchaeus the tax-collector
1. Who was Zacchaeus? - verse 2-3
- Zacchaeus means "pure"
- when he was born his mother gave him a name that reflected how she viewed her son
- she saw him as being pure, someone she could be proud of
- but Zacchaeus was "little of stature"
- often short people feel inferior and as a result get a complex of wanting to control people around them
- the way Zacchaeus did this was to become a tax collector for the Romans
- tax collectors were not liked - they were seen as traitors, as working for the enemy
- he excelled at his occupation and became the top tax collector in Jericho
- so Zacchaeus was not popular, he was firstly disowned because of his job
- another reason that tax collectors were not liked is that they would collect more taxes than necessary, and then skim off the profits for their own use
- Zacchaeus had done this too, and had become rich at the expense of his friends, so people hated him and shunned him
- we have a picture of a short guy, who was very unpopular, with a lot of skeletons hidden in the closet
- his mom had believed in him, but he had basically betrayed her and his friends, and had become a part of the Roman oppression of the Jews
- Zacchaeus must not have felt very good about all this, he must have walked around with a burden of guilt and shame
2. Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus - verse 3-4
- all his life Zacchaeus had been trapped in the bad choices he had made
- he had not wanted to oppress his friends
- he did not want to be a traitor, rejected by his countrymen
- but how was he to shed his past? - how could he turn the clock back?
- Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming so he hurried down to the road to see him
- he had known Bartimaeus and in some way he felt closer to him than to the rest
- their similarity was that both of them were rejected by society, one because of being blind and poor, the other because of being a traitor
- he heard that Bartimaeus had been healed and was now spreading the word about Jesus!
- so Zacchaeus wanted to see this man who had changed Bartimaeus' life
- maybe, just maybe, he would be able to help me
- Zacchaeus tries to get through the crowd to meet Jesus, but people won't let him through
- women are able to get through, people who are sick are able to get to Jesus
- but Zacchaeus is hated and people block his way
- this rich tax collector then runs ahead - this is undignified!
- he wraps his garment around him and runs ahead of the crowd till he sees a sycamore tree
- this rich tax collector then climbs up in this tree to be able to see Jesus when he comes by
- he sits there for a while, till Jesus comes around the corner and they see each other
3. Jesus stays with Zacchaeus - verse 5-7
- Jesus looks at this short, overweight tax collector who is clinging to the branches of this tree, and calls him by name
- he says "Zacchaeus, come down from there, I want to stay at your place tonight"
- he couldn't believe his ears - the only people who wanted to visit him were fellow tax collectors - he was rejected by the rest
- But if Jesus knew his name, he knew that mom had believed in him, and that he had betrayed her
- he was totally unworthy, he had sinned and cheated and betrayed his friends till today he had no friends any more
- knowing all this, Jesus still wanted to spend time with him, and was not ashamed to be seen with him
- so he came down from the tree, brought Jesus home and received him joyfully!
- Zacchaeus asked for forgiveness, made amends for his sins, and was saved!
4. Salvation is available to everyone - verse 9-10
- Zacchaeus was eligible to be saved, despite the way in which he had let down his parents and betrayed and stolen from his friends
- he too had the opprtunity of making a fresh start
- this day, Zacchaeus was able to leave his past behind him, he paid back what he had stolen and he started a new walk of life
- the reason Jesus came was to save the lost!
- where are you at today?
- have you spent your years, doing things that do not really want to see the light of day?
- have you a past of which you are ashamed? do you want to make a fresh start, today?
- Jesus came to save those that are lost
- unless you turn to Jesus, and ask him to forgive your sins, and welcome him into your house, you are lost and will die in your sins
- but you can accept Jesus and God will forgive your sins
- if you want to ask Jesus into your life today, he is ready to give you a fresh start, you can leave the past behind you, it can happen today!
Date: March 11, 2007
Text: Luke 19:1-10
Introduction
- Jesus on his last journey to Jerusalem, on way to be crucified
- earlier this day had met Bartimaeus
- Bartimaeus was blind and only known by his last name
- Jesus healed him and everyone heard about it!
- later this day Jesus is passing through Jericho, and the IRS finds out!
- today we will examine the story of Zacchaeus the tax-collector
1. Who was Zacchaeus? - verse 2-3
- Zacchaeus means "pure"
- when he was born his mother gave him a name that reflected how she viewed her son
- she saw him as being pure, someone she could be proud of
- but Zacchaeus was "little of stature"
- often short people feel inferior and as a result get a complex of wanting to control people around them
- the way Zacchaeus did this was to become a tax collector for the Romans
- tax collectors were not liked - they were seen as traitors, as working for the enemy
- he excelled at his occupation and became the top tax collector in Jericho
- so Zacchaeus was not popular, he was firstly disowned because of his job
- another reason that tax collectors were not liked is that they would collect more taxes than necessary, and then skim off the profits for their own use
- Zacchaeus had done this too, and had become rich at the expense of his friends, so people hated him and shunned him
- we have a picture of a short guy, who was very unpopular, with a lot of skeletons hidden in the closet
- his mom had believed in him, but he had basically betrayed her and his friends, and had become a part of the Roman oppression of the Jews
- Zacchaeus must not have felt very good about all this, he must have walked around with a burden of guilt and shame
2. Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus - verse 3-4
- all his life Zacchaeus had been trapped in the bad choices he had made
- he had not wanted to oppress his friends
- he did not want to be a traitor, rejected by his countrymen
- but how was he to shed his past? - how could he turn the clock back?
- Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming so he hurried down to the road to see him
- he had known Bartimaeus and in some way he felt closer to him than to the rest
- their similarity was that both of them were rejected by society, one because of being blind and poor, the other because of being a traitor
- he heard that Bartimaeus had been healed and was now spreading the word about Jesus!
- so Zacchaeus wanted to see this man who had changed Bartimaeus' life
- maybe, just maybe, he would be able to help me
- Zacchaeus tries to get through the crowd to meet Jesus, but people won't let him through
- women are able to get through, people who are sick are able to get to Jesus
- but Zacchaeus is hated and people block his way
- this rich tax collector then runs ahead - this is undignified!
- he wraps his garment around him and runs ahead of the crowd till he sees a sycamore tree
- this rich tax collector then climbs up in this tree to be able to see Jesus when he comes by
- he sits there for a while, till Jesus comes around the corner and they see each other
3. Jesus stays with Zacchaeus - verse 5-7
- Jesus looks at this short, overweight tax collector who is clinging to the branches of this tree, and calls him by name
- he says "Zacchaeus, come down from there, I want to stay at your place tonight"
- he couldn't believe his ears - the only people who wanted to visit him were fellow tax collectors - he was rejected by the rest
- But if Jesus knew his name, he knew that mom had believed in him, and that he had betrayed her
- he was totally unworthy, he had sinned and cheated and betrayed his friends till today he had no friends any more
- knowing all this, Jesus still wanted to spend time with him, and was not ashamed to be seen with him
- so he came down from the tree, brought Jesus home and received him joyfully!
- Zacchaeus asked for forgiveness, made amends for his sins, and was saved!
4. Salvation is available to everyone - verse 9-10
- Zacchaeus was eligible to be saved, despite the way in which he had let down his parents and betrayed and stolen from his friends
- he too had the opprtunity of making a fresh start
- this day, Zacchaeus was able to leave his past behind him, he paid back what he had stolen and he started a new walk of life
- the reason Jesus came was to save the lost!
- where are you at today?
- have you spent your years, doing things that do not really want to see the light of day?
- have you a past of which you are ashamed? do you want to make a fresh start, today?
- Jesus came to save those that are lost
- unless you turn to Jesus, and ask him to forgive your sins, and welcome him into your house, you are lost and will die in your sins
- but you can accept Jesus and God will forgive your sins
- if you want to ask Jesus into your life today, he is ready to give you a fresh start, you can leave the past behind you, it can happen today!
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Let The Walls Come Down - Joshua 6:1-21
Title: Let The Walls Come Down
Date: March 4, 2007
Text: Joshua 6:1-21
Introduction
The new pastor of a rural church dropped into a Sunday-school class and began quizzing the students to test the effectiveness of the teacher.
"Who knocked down the walls of Jericho?" he demanded of one boy.
"It sure weren't me, Reverend," the boy said.
Turning to the embarrassed teacher, the pastor exclaimed, "I suppose that's a sample of the kind of class you maintain!"
"Now, Reverend, Timmy's a good boy and doesn't tell lies. If he said he didn't to it, I believe him."
Thoroughly upset, the pastor took the matter to the chuch's board of deacons. After due consideration, the board sent the following message to the minister: "We see no point in making an issue of this incident. The board will pay for the damages to the wall and charge it off to vandalism."
- we have an example in the book of Joshua, of how God fought Israel's battles and actually demolished the walls of a city called Jericho
- many of us are facing challenges in our lives
- they seem like walls we cannot overcome
- this morning we will examine how the walls of Jericho came down, and learn how we can be successful in our own battles too
1. Israel had a problem - v.1
- Israel had been marching in circles in the desert for 40 years
- this was the first city they had seen
- the city of Jericho was immensely fortified
- it was surrounded by an inner and an outer wall
- the inner wall was 12 ft thick, and the outer wall was 6 foot thick - the walls were between 20 and 30 feet high
- there was a 15 foot wide walkway that ran along the top of the walls, and some apartments had been built there
- Israel had a problem - how to break down those walls
- we too have problems
- for one of us, it may be how to get our marriage back together, or have a relationship with our kids
- for another it may be a financial burden that we do not see a solution to
- most of us struggle with sins that keep on popping up and tempt us to give up
- Israel faced its problems in the form of the walls of Jericho
- we face our problems in the shape of things that steal our joy, that stop us from living life the way God intended for us
- so how can we tackle these things, so that our walls fall down?
2. Israel had a promise - v.2
- God tells the Israelites that he has already won the battle for them
- it was already as good as done
- Romans 4:17b - "God who calls those things which be not as though they were"
- God gives us many promises:
- a. our weapons are adequate to pull down strongholds - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
- b. God has already determined the outcome of our battles - Rom 8:28, 2 Cor 4:17
- c. our ability to win is limited only by our faith - Phil 4:13, Eph 3:20
- d. we are promised power to win our battle - Eph 6:10,13
- e. we are promised victory - 1 Cor 15:57
- f. we are promised we will never fight alone - Heb 13:5, Matt 28:20
- g. when the war is finished and the battles won, we will celebrate the victory with Jesus - John 14:1-3
- as we face the walled cities in our lives, we can trust God to come through on these promises - Rom 4:21, 2 Cor 1:20
- we have been saved for the purpose of winning, not to go down in defeat!
- there will be trials in our life, but there will also be victory
3. Israel had a partner who told how to fight the battle - Josh 5:13-15, 6:2-5
- as we fight our battles, the same one who pulled down the walls of Jericho, is fighting on our side - Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
- God gives us weapons
- a. The Word of God - God has given us the Word (the logos) which is a vast armory of weapons for our use
- for example, Jesus quoted scripture at the enemy "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (rhema)
- this is a specific verse for a specific situation - the exactly right weapon for a particular battle we are facing
- each time the enemy threw a temptation at him, Jesus picked exactly the right sword for the purpose, we can do the same
- this requires that we know the appropriate verses, that is why the spiritual growth plans include verses we can use for our major issues
- b. Prayer
- God promised to hear our prayers - Isa 65:24
- God promised to answer our prayers - John 14:13-14, 1 John 5:14-15
- God promised to help us pray according to his will - Rom 8:26-27
4. Israel won the battle - v.6-21
- there are reasons why Israel experienced victory at Jericho
- a. they had a Word from God - (v.2-6) 2 Tim. 2:15; John 16:13
- b. they believed God - (v.8-20) Mark 11:22; Matt. 21:21-22
- c. they acted in faith - (Heb 11:30) I John 5:14-15
- d. they did it God's way - Isa. 55:8-9
- e. God gave them the victory - (v.20-21)
- whatever situation you are in, you can win the battle - 1 John 5:4
Summary
1. There was a problem - v.1
2. There was a promise - v.2
3. They had a partner who told how to fight the battle - Josh 5:13-15, 6:2-5
4. They were able to win the battle - v.6-21
Conclusion
- what things are you facing today? - God says he is able to fight your battle for you - Ex 14:14
- do the walls look too high for you to make a dent? - God says he has given us weapons for the pulling down of strongholds - 2 Cor 10:4
- if you are marching around your walls today, have faith that God will give you victory - Mark 9:23 "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
- persist in marching till the answer comes - Heb 12:1 "let us run with patience the race that is set before us"
- your walls can fall down just as surely as Jesus pulled them down in Jericho
- are you going to come to him with your need, will you bring it to Jesus right now?
- Jesus is still a miracle working God today!
- he is greater than any obstacle, he is able to move any mountain, he is stronger than any wall you may be facing
- bring it to Him and watch Him work it out!
Date: March 4, 2007
Text: Joshua 6:1-21
Introduction
The new pastor of a rural church dropped into a Sunday-school class and began quizzing the students to test the effectiveness of the teacher.
"Who knocked down the walls of Jericho?" he demanded of one boy.
"It sure weren't me, Reverend," the boy said.
Turning to the embarrassed teacher, the pastor exclaimed, "I suppose that's a sample of the kind of class you maintain!"
"Now, Reverend, Timmy's a good boy and doesn't tell lies. If he said he didn't to it, I believe him."
Thoroughly upset, the pastor took the matter to the chuch's board of deacons. After due consideration, the board sent the following message to the minister: "We see no point in making an issue of this incident. The board will pay for the damages to the wall and charge it off to vandalism."
- we have an example in the book of Joshua, of how God fought Israel's battles and actually demolished the walls of a city called Jericho
- many of us are facing challenges in our lives
- they seem like walls we cannot overcome
- this morning we will examine how the walls of Jericho came down, and learn how we can be successful in our own battles too
1. Israel had a problem - v.1
- Israel had been marching in circles in the desert for 40 years
- this was the first city they had seen
- the city of Jericho was immensely fortified
- it was surrounded by an inner and an outer wall
- the inner wall was 12 ft thick, and the outer wall was 6 foot thick - the walls were between 20 and 30 feet high
- there was a 15 foot wide walkway that ran along the top of the walls, and some apartments had been built there
- Israel had a problem - how to break down those walls
- we too have problems
- for one of us, it may be how to get our marriage back together, or have a relationship with our kids
- for another it may be a financial burden that we do not see a solution to
- most of us struggle with sins that keep on popping up and tempt us to give up
- Israel faced its problems in the form of the walls of Jericho
- we face our problems in the shape of things that steal our joy, that stop us from living life the way God intended for us
- so how can we tackle these things, so that our walls fall down?
2. Israel had a promise - v.2
- God tells the Israelites that he has already won the battle for them
- it was already as good as done
- Romans 4:17b - "God who calls those things which be not as though they were"
- God gives us many promises:
- a. our weapons are adequate to pull down strongholds - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
- b. God has already determined the outcome of our battles - Rom 8:28, 2 Cor 4:17
- c. our ability to win is limited only by our faith - Phil 4:13, Eph 3:20
- d. we are promised power to win our battle - Eph 6:10,13
- e. we are promised victory - 1 Cor 15:57
- f. we are promised we will never fight alone - Heb 13:5, Matt 28:20
- g. when the war is finished and the battles won, we will celebrate the victory with Jesus - John 14:1-3
- as we face the walled cities in our lives, we can trust God to come through on these promises - Rom 4:21, 2 Cor 1:20
- we have been saved for the purpose of winning, not to go down in defeat!
- there will be trials in our life, but there will also be victory
3. Israel had a partner who told how to fight the battle - Josh 5:13-15, 6:2-5
- as we fight our battles, the same one who pulled down the walls of Jericho, is fighting on our side - Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
- God gives us weapons
- a. The Word of God - God has given us the Word (the logos) which is a vast armory of weapons for our use
- for example, Jesus quoted scripture at the enemy "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (rhema)
- this is a specific verse for a specific situation - the exactly right weapon for a particular battle we are facing
- each time the enemy threw a temptation at him, Jesus picked exactly the right sword for the purpose, we can do the same
- this requires that we know the appropriate verses, that is why the spiritual growth plans include verses we can use for our major issues
- b. Prayer
- God promised to hear our prayers - Isa 65:24
- God promised to answer our prayers - John 14:13-14, 1 John 5:14-15
- God promised to help us pray according to his will - Rom 8:26-27
4. Israel won the battle - v.6-21
- there are reasons why Israel experienced victory at Jericho
- a. they had a Word from God - (v.2-6) 2 Tim. 2:15; John 16:13
- b. they believed God - (v.8-20) Mark 11:22; Matt. 21:21-22
- c. they acted in faith - (Heb 11:30) I John 5:14-15
- d. they did it God's way - Isa. 55:8-9
- e. God gave them the victory - (v.20-21)
- whatever situation you are in, you can win the battle - 1 John 5:4
Summary
1. There was a problem - v.1
2. There was a promise - v.2
3. They had a partner who told how to fight the battle - Josh 5:13-15, 6:2-5
4. They were able to win the battle - v.6-21
Conclusion
- what things are you facing today? - God says he is able to fight your battle for you - Ex 14:14
- do the walls look too high for you to make a dent? - God says he has given us weapons for the pulling down of strongholds - 2 Cor 10:4
- if you are marching around your walls today, have faith that God will give you victory - Mark 9:23 "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
- persist in marching till the answer comes - Heb 12:1 "let us run with patience the race that is set before us"
- your walls can fall down just as surely as Jesus pulled them down in Jericho
- are you going to come to him with your need, will you bring it to Jesus right now?
- Jesus is still a miracle working God today!
- he is greater than any obstacle, he is able to move any mountain, he is stronger than any wall you may be facing
- bring it to Him and watch Him work it out!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
There is Hope for the Future - 2 Chronicles 33:1-20
Title: There is Hope for the Future
Date: February 20, 2007
Text: 2 Chronicles 33:1-20
Introduction
- when we enter the mission, we first of all go through an introductory phase where we are taught the basics of the Christian walk
- however, just as we were often told by our parents, you are never going to amount to anything, we often think that we can never become anything good spiritually either
- we think, my sins have been too bad, how could God want me for his purposes
- we remember the people we have stolen from, the people we sold drugs to
- we think about the people we have killed, either wilfully or by accident
- we think about the broken promises and vows, the children who are suffering or whom we cannot see, because of our neglect and abuse
- and because our sin weighs heavily upon us, we think that God could never forgive me, he has a plan for others but our unworthiness causes us to give up before we start
- today we are going to look at two examples of people whom God used, despite their past life
1. Manasseh - King of Judah
- 2 Chronicles 33:1-20
- Manasseh was a preacher's kid - his dad Hezekiah had led the Kingdom of Judah in a revival, and was enormously used by God
- but so often preacher's kids rebel against their parents ways, and do their own thing - they often seem to go way to the other extreme in making a mess of their lives
- Manasseh was like that
- Manasseh got involved in magic and witchcraft, he went to fortune tellers and astrologers, he had a guiding spirit, a demon - v.6
- he thumbed his nose at God and even placed a pagan idol in the temple, the house of God - v.7
- he turned the clock back, to do even worse than the heathen who had been in the land before Israel arrived - v.2, 9
- God sent prophets to Manasseh to warn him and the Israelites, but they would not listen - v.10
- so God sends the armies of the Assyrian empire to capture Manasseh, put him in chains and keep him in prison in Babylon - v. 11
- in chains, in prison with hard labor, Manasseh has a chance to think about the error pof his ways
- he humbled himself, he prayed to God, and received forgiveness
- Jesus had not yet come to die for our sins, but Manasseh received forgiveness looking forwarfd to that sacrifice
- God released Manasseh from prison and reinstated him as king in Judah! Manasseh discovered that God was real!
- in repentance, Manasseh then took away all the idols he had brought into the land and led people to worship the Lord instead
- though this man started bad, very bad, God was able to redeem his life and make him a force for good
2. George Mueller - a man of faith
- 2,600 years later, another reprobate came on the scene
- George Müller was born in Kroppenstaedt, a Prussian village, on the 27th September 1805.
- despite kindness and generosity continually shown by his father, George Müller was an habitual thief, an inveterate liar
- he regularly stole money from his father, invariably when collecting debts on his father's behalf by handing over much less than he had collected. His father often had to make up missing money and on one occasion a successfully laid trap caused George Müller to be punished, but he was unrepentant.
- he was a cheat, devising cunning and devious methods to fulfil his evil desires
- besides his immoral ways it was George Müller's need for alcoholic drink that caused many of his problems. Even when his mother lay dying he was found roaming the streets in a drunken state.
- His stealing became more compulsive and on one occasion he had the audacity to steal most of his confirmation fees which his father had given him for confirmation classes, when he became a confirmed Lutheran
- he went from one hotel to another, often in the company of a woman, living a 'playboy' life, but with no money
- the law caught up with him and he ended up in prison. Even in prison George Müller told the most unbelievable lies to impress a fellow prisoner.
- The last sinful escapade came when he was at Halle University studying theology. With three fellow students they forged papers and documents so that they could go on a vacation of worldly pleasure in Switzerland. George Müller even then managed to cheat his friends by having charge of the money and, through devious means, only paid two thirds of that paid by the others.
- he later said there was almost no sin into which he had not fallen
- George Müller's conversion in November 1825 was dramatic and his whole direction, purpose and way of life changed immediately.
- "He was introduced to the prayer meeting by his friend Beta and upon arrival was greeted with 'Come as often as you please; house and heart are open to you.' This welcome touched George Müller very much. The singing of hymns, study of the Bible and reading of a printed sermon made a deep impression and he felt this night he would find 'something' for which he had been searching all his life. The genuine love, great joy and deep humility in the hearts of the members of that group had a profound effect on George Müller but perhaps the turning point was when they all knelt to pray. He had never seen this before, let alone knelt to pray himself, and the whole meeting breathed such a spiritual atmosphere that he entered upon an entirely new experience! He was born again! No longer an idle and lazy character, but a disciple of the Living God. "
- this was the the turning point for a remarkable man of faith
- his life became dedicated to following the Lord's will
- he finished his seminary education, and moved to Teignmouth in Devon, to preach the gospel
- a fellow preacher asked him to join him in Bristol, England, where he started as the pastor of 6 people - the church grew as God blessed his service and faith
- he set up a foundation called the Scriptural Knowledge Institute
- then a cholera epidemic caused a lot of children to lose their parents, and he and his wife took thirty of these kids into their own home.
- they added another home, and another, till there were 5 homes taking care of 2,000 children
- they never once advertised a need for money or property or food - they consistently prayed to God for him to supply what was needed
- later, they sold the homes and took care of the children in group homes of 10 to 12 children per home, with a married couple as house parents
- when he was 70, he commenced evangelizing and preaching all over the world, covering 200,000 miles in 17 years
- the work he started continues to this day through the Scriptural Knowledge Institute and Dr Barnardo's Homes
- George Mueller passed away at the age of 92, in 1898
3. There is hope for the future
- wherever we have come from, whatever we have done, all is not lost
- Manasseh led his people to put away their witchcraft and idolatry, and was instrumental in turning a nation in relapse, back to God
- George Mueller left a wicked and utterly sinful life, to become a man of faith, through whose testimony many thousands have come to the Lord
- there is hope for the future
- we can come to the foot of the cross and leave our burden of guilt and shame there
- no sin is so bad that it cannot be forgiven
- we may feel like a Manasseh or a George Mueller in their early days
- but God was able to redeem their past and use them for his own purposes
- and he can do the same for you
Date: February 20, 2007
Text: 2 Chronicles 33:1-20
Introduction
- when we enter the mission, we first of all go through an introductory phase where we are taught the basics of the Christian walk
- however, just as we were often told by our parents, you are never going to amount to anything, we often think that we can never become anything good spiritually either
- we think, my sins have been too bad, how could God want me for his purposes
- we remember the people we have stolen from, the people we sold drugs to
- we think about the people we have killed, either wilfully or by accident
- we think about the broken promises and vows, the children who are suffering or whom we cannot see, because of our neglect and abuse
- and because our sin weighs heavily upon us, we think that God could never forgive me, he has a plan for others but our unworthiness causes us to give up before we start
- today we are going to look at two examples of people whom God used, despite their past life
1. Manasseh - King of Judah
- 2 Chronicles 33:1-20
- Manasseh was a preacher's kid - his dad Hezekiah had led the Kingdom of Judah in a revival, and was enormously used by God
- but so often preacher's kids rebel against their parents ways, and do their own thing - they often seem to go way to the other extreme in making a mess of their lives
- Manasseh was like that
- Manasseh got involved in magic and witchcraft, he went to fortune tellers and astrologers, he had a guiding spirit, a demon - v.6
- he thumbed his nose at God and even placed a pagan idol in the temple, the house of God - v.7
- he turned the clock back, to do even worse than the heathen who had been in the land before Israel arrived - v.2, 9
- God sent prophets to Manasseh to warn him and the Israelites, but they would not listen - v.10
- so God sends the armies of the Assyrian empire to capture Manasseh, put him in chains and keep him in prison in Babylon - v. 11
- in chains, in prison with hard labor, Manasseh has a chance to think about the error pof his ways
- he humbled himself, he prayed to God, and received forgiveness
- Jesus had not yet come to die for our sins, but Manasseh received forgiveness looking forwarfd to that sacrifice
- God released Manasseh from prison and reinstated him as king in Judah! Manasseh discovered that God was real!
- in repentance, Manasseh then took away all the idols he had brought into the land and led people to worship the Lord instead
- though this man started bad, very bad, God was able to redeem his life and make him a force for good
2. George Mueller - a man of faith
- 2,600 years later, another reprobate came on the scene
- George Müller was born in Kroppenstaedt, a Prussian village, on the 27th September 1805.
- despite kindness and generosity continually shown by his father, George Müller was an habitual thief, an inveterate liar
- he regularly stole money from his father, invariably when collecting debts on his father's behalf by handing over much less than he had collected. His father often had to make up missing money and on one occasion a successfully laid trap caused George Müller to be punished, but he was unrepentant.
- he was a cheat, devising cunning and devious methods to fulfil his evil desires
- besides his immoral ways it was George Müller's need for alcoholic drink that caused many of his problems. Even when his mother lay dying he was found roaming the streets in a drunken state.
- His stealing became more compulsive and on one occasion he had the audacity to steal most of his confirmation fees which his father had given him for confirmation classes, when he became a confirmed Lutheran
- he went from one hotel to another, often in the company of a woman, living a 'playboy' life, but with no money
- the law caught up with him and he ended up in prison. Even in prison George Müller told the most unbelievable lies to impress a fellow prisoner.
- The last sinful escapade came when he was at Halle University studying theology. With three fellow students they forged papers and documents so that they could go on a vacation of worldly pleasure in Switzerland. George Müller even then managed to cheat his friends by having charge of the money and, through devious means, only paid two thirds of that paid by the others.
- he later said there was almost no sin into which he had not fallen
- George Müller's conversion in November 1825 was dramatic and his whole direction, purpose and way of life changed immediately.
- "He was introduced to the prayer meeting by his friend Beta and upon arrival was greeted with 'Come as often as you please; house and heart are open to you.' This welcome touched George Müller very much. The singing of hymns, study of the Bible and reading of a printed sermon made a deep impression and he felt this night he would find 'something' for which he had been searching all his life. The genuine love, great joy and deep humility in the hearts of the members of that group had a profound effect on George Müller but perhaps the turning point was when they all knelt to pray. He had never seen this before, let alone knelt to pray himself, and the whole meeting breathed such a spiritual atmosphere that he entered upon an entirely new experience! He was born again! No longer an idle and lazy character, but a disciple of the Living God. "
- this was the the turning point for a remarkable man of faith
- his life became dedicated to following the Lord's will
- he finished his seminary education, and moved to Teignmouth in Devon, to preach the gospel
- a fellow preacher asked him to join him in Bristol, England, where he started as the pastor of 6 people - the church grew as God blessed his service and faith
- he set up a foundation called the Scriptural Knowledge Institute
- then a cholera epidemic caused a lot of children to lose their parents, and he and his wife took thirty of these kids into their own home.
- they added another home, and another, till there were 5 homes taking care of 2,000 children
- they never once advertised a need for money or property or food - they consistently prayed to God for him to supply what was needed
- later, they sold the homes and took care of the children in group homes of 10 to 12 children per home, with a married couple as house parents
- when he was 70, he commenced evangelizing and preaching all over the world, covering 200,000 miles in 17 years
- the work he started continues to this day through the Scriptural Knowledge Institute and Dr Barnardo's Homes
- George Mueller passed away at the age of 92, in 1898
3. There is hope for the future
- wherever we have come from, whatever we have done, all is not lost
- Manasseh led his people to put away their witchcraft and idolatry, and was instrumental in turning a nation in relapse, back to God
- George Mueller left a wicked and utterly sinful life, to become a man of faith, through whose testimony many thousands have come to the Lord
- there is hope for the future
- we can come to the foot of the cross and leave our burden of guilt and shame there
- no sin is so bad that it cannot be forgiven
- we may feel like a Manasseh or a George Mueller in their early days
- but God was able to redeem their past and use them for his own purposes
- and he can do the same for you
Sunday, February 18, 2007
A Key To Answered Prayer - Luke 11:5-10
Title: A Key to Answered Prayer
Date: February 18, 2007
Text: Luke 11:5-10
Introduction
- sometimes, and maybe often, we feel that God does not hear our prayers
- we are in trouble, physically, emotionally, and maybe spiritually
- we expect that God should respond, and when he does not seem to do so, we become discouraged
- we know however, that God does answer prayer
- George Mueller faith homes - orphanages built totally upon prayer
- we have seen healings here at the mission, cancer has gone, heart and circulatory problems have been made well
- people have prayed for help at court in impossible situations and God has granted them favor
- but this has not happened everytime
- today we are going to look at a key to receiving answers to our prayers
- Luke 11:5-10
1. Pray with persistence
- context is of when Jesus tells the disciples about how to pray, in what we know as the Lord's prayer
- Jesus is saying, persist in your requests, till you receive an answer
- this week I received an answer to a question I have been asking God about for many months
- sometimes God does not give an immediate answer
- this means that we need to be careful of what we ask of God
- ask him for anything, by all means, but do so with deliberation, consciously, not just flapping out a request for God to bless so and so
- do so deliberately, and then persist till he responds
- when we ask according to God's will, in Jesus' name, with faith, and with persistence, he will respond
2. Why does God want us to be persistent?
- verse 8 - Amplified Bible - "his shameless persistence and insistence"
- NIV -"the man's boldness"
- there is a boldness, a persistence that will not give up, that God wants us to exercise when we pray to him
- like when Jacob wrestled with God all night, to receive a blessing
- God does not want wimps who give up immediately when things don't go their way
- God wants us to be persistent, knowing what is needed, and making those needs known to him
- sometimes he waits for us to change his mind, to show him we really care
- for example, when we pray for a friend or a relative to come to the Lord - sometimes we have to pray for years for that to happen
- my wife and I prayed for many years for her niece's husband to come to the Lord - there never seemed to be an appropriate opportunity to talk to him about it
- my wife eventually passed away, and then one night I dreamed that Joke, Arend and their daughter would come to Jesus
- I visited them one evening after Arend had fallen from the roof and had a twisted ankle - he was in pain and we prayed that Jesus would remove the pain - immediately afterwards he accepted Jesus - suddenly it was so easy - it was God's moment to open the way for him - but we had to persist in prayer
- a major reason why God does not always respond immediately is that he is developing faith in us - persisting in prayer when the answer is not obvious, requires faith
- but God is faithful and he will respond
3. Express your thankfulness
- so often we forget to thank God for the prayers he has already answered
- how would you feel if your child did not seem to appreciate what you have done for him?
- God has feelings too, though he is motivated by a love so pure that we cannot imagine it
- we need to thank him for his intervention in situations, people's lives etc.
- when we thank him we acknowledge that the blessing or answered prayer was not a chance thing, but his personal intervention
- it makes God pleased to see that we recognize that all good things come from him
- Jesus said without God he could do nothing - he recognized his dependence on the Father
- we too need to express our dependence on God, and our thanks for his involvement in our life
Summary
- so don't be ashamed of coming to God persistently
- he is developing faith in us, and that is one reason why we sometimes do not receive an immediate answer
- we live in an instant society, God has a different perspective
- and when God does respond, thank him for his answer - appreciate him
Date: February 18, 2007
Text: Luke 11:5-10
Introduction
- sometimes, and maybe often, we feel that God does not hear our prayers
- we are in trouble, physically, emotionally, and maybe spiritually
- we expect that God should respond, and when he does not seem to do so, we become discouraged
- we know however, that God does answer prayer
- George Mueller faith homes - orphanages built totally upon prayer
- we have seen healings here at the mission, cancer has gone, heart and circulatory problems have been made well
- people have prayed for help at court in impossible situations and God has granted them favor
- but this has not happened everytime
- today we are going to look at a key to receiving answers to our prayers
- Luke 11:5-10
1. Pray with persistence
- context is of when Jesus tells the disciples about how to pray, in what we know as the Lord's prayer
- Jesus is saying, persist in your requests, till you receive an answer
- this week I received an answer to a question I have been asking God about for many months
- sometimes God does not give an immediate answer
- this means that we need to be careful of what we ask of God
- ask him for anything, by all means, but do so with deliberation, consciously, not just flapping out a request for God to bless so and so
- do so deliberately, and then persist till he responds
- when we ask according to God's will, in Jesus' name, with faith, and with persistence, he will respond
2. Why does God want us to be persistent?
- verse 8 - Amplified Bible - "his shameless persistence and insistence"
- NIV -"the man's boldness"
- there is a boldness, a persistence that will not give up, that God wants us to exercise when we pray to him
- like when Jacob wrestled with God all night, to receive a blessing
- God does not want wimps who give up immediately when things don't go their way
- God wants us to be persistent, knowing what is needed, and making those needs known to him
- sometimes he waits for us to change his mind, to show him we really care
- for example, when we pray for a friend or a relative to come to the Lord - sometimes we have to pray for years for that to happen
- my wife and I prayed for many years for her niece's husband to come to the Lord - there never seemed to be an appropriate opportunity to talk to him about it
- my wife eventually passed away, and then one night I dreamed that Joke, Arend and their daughter would come to Jesus
- I visited them one evening after Arend had fallen from the roof and had a twisted ankle - he was in pain and we prayed that Jesus would remove the pain - immediately afterwards he accepted Jesus - suddenly it was so easy - it was God's moment to open the way for him - but we had to persist in prayer
- a major reason why God does not always respond immediately is that he is developing faith in us - persisting in prayer when the answer is not obvious, requires faith
- but God is faithful and he will respond
3. Express your thankfulness
- so often we forget to thank God for the prayers he has already answered
- how would you feel if your child did not seem to appreciate what you have done for him?
- God has feelings too, though he is motivated by a love so pure that we cannot imagine it
- we need to thank him for his intervention in situations, people's lives etc.
- when we thank him we acknowledge that the blessing or answered prayer was not a chance thing, but his personal intervention
- it makes God pleased to see that we recognize that all good things come from him
- Jesus said without God he could do nothing - he recognized his dependence on the Father
- we too need to express our dependence on God, and our thanks for his involvement in our life
Summary
- so don't be ashamed of coming to God persistently
- he is developing faith in us, and that is one reason why we sometimes do not receive an immediate answer
- we live in an instant society, God has a different perspective
- and when God does respond, thank him for his answer - appreciate him
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Unwrapping Our Presents- Romans 12:3-8
Title: Unwrapping Our Presents
Date: February 13, 2007
Text: Romans 12:3-8
Introduction
- Here are some gifts you should not buy your wife (from Readers Digest):
1. Don't buy anything that plugs in. Anything that requires electricity is seen as utilitarian.
2. Don't buy clothing that involves sizes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get her size right, and your wife will be offended the other 6999 times. "Do I look like a size 16?" she'll say. Too small a size doesn't cut it either: "I haven't worn a size 8 in 20 years!"
3. Avoid all things useful. The new silver polish advertised to save hundreds of hours is not going to win you any brownie points.
4. Don't buy anything that involves weight loss or self-improvement. She'll perceive a six-month membership to a diet center as a suggestion that's she's overweight.
5. Don't buy jewelry. The jewelry your wife wants, you can't afford. And the jewelry you can afford, she doesn't want.
7. Finally, don't spend too much. "How do you think we're going to afford that?" she'll ask. But don't spend too little. She won't say anything, but she'll think, "Is that all I'm worth?"
- giving gifts is a dangerous business :-)
- but there is One who gives us gifts, whom we can trust implicitly
- these gifts will not blow up in our face, or hurt us or lead us down the garden path
1. Why does God give gifts?
- God is generous, not a taker
- John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"
- his purpose is to give people an abundant life
- he wants us to share in that purpose so he gives us gifts
- Ephesians 4:7-13 "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift . . . for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"
- purpose of gifts is not to feel good or have power or for selfish pursuits
- purpose is to build each other up
- so that each person may become all that God intended them to be
2. What kinds of gifts does God give?
- there are many examples of gifts God gives - read Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4
- but there are many more
- For example, God gifted Bezalel and Aholiab
- Exodus 35:30-34 "He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of . . . artistic workmanship. And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
- notice that this gifting was for a purpose, for building the tabernacle
- it was not for a feel-good purpose
- what gifts has God given us personally?
- are we skilled at selling? are we teachers? are we compassionate? are we encouragers?
- Romans 12 lists the following gifts: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy - do any of these relate to you?
- each of these gifts is given for a reason, it has been particularly selected for you - it has your name on it!
- it will determine how you deal in situations
- for example, say I were to trip in the warehouse and fall flat on my face, and drop all the books I was carrying
- there are 7 of you standing around, exemplifying the 7 gifts in Romans 12
- the person with the gift of mercy will come around and say "Are you ok Gerry? Did you hurt yourself? It's not your fault you tripped, that sofa was sitting in the wrong place" - he is trying to help me not feel so stupid
- the leader person gets up and says "Okay Val, you go and get a box to put all those books in, Ward, you move that sofa out of the way" - he is just trying to get things done efficiently and smoothly
- the person with the gift of giving comes up and says "I see you tore your jeans, I think I have a pair your size, let me get them for you"
- someone with the gift of exhortation sees the same thing happen and says "Please be careful. Guys if you see a problem like this point it out in advance because we will do something about it."
- the teacher will get up and say "there are two reasons why this happened. First, the sofa was in the wrong place. Second, Gerry was not watching where he was going. If we watch this in future we will have a less painful experience in the warehouse"
- someone with the gift of service collects all the books, puts them in a box for me, and brings me the first aid kit
- the person with the gift of prophecy says "all these things happen for a reason, we can learn a lesson from this. Sin can trip us and when it does, all kinds of things mess up in our lives. But if we change our ways, God will make it all work out for good".
- each person approached the incident in a different manner, depending on the gifts they had been given
- different gifts work together in particular ways - personality determines how we use these abilities
- there is no one exactly like you
- Romans 12:3-5 "many members in one body" - we are all needed
3. We need to use the gifts
- first, discover what gifts God has given to you - do a test, ask others what they think of you, see how you react in situations
- a gift is no use up on the shelf - a present needs to be unwrapped and then used
- second, learn to develop those gifts - learn about them, find others with the same gifts and see how they deal with them - keep your eye open for oportunities to learn about the gift
- third, find ways in which to use that gift, which are appropriate to your situation
- in all of this, involve the Holy Spirit - he is the one who gives the gifts to us, and he knows God's purpose in giving them to you
- remember, there is a responsibility attached to receiving these gifts
- to whom much is given of him will much be required
- Luke 12:48 ". . . For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more"
- but God also promises blessing for those who use the gifts he gives to them, faithfully
Summary
- we have all received gifts, each of us is unique
- these gifts are for the benefit of the people around us
- we need to identify, develop and use these gifts
- this will benefit not only ourselves but more importantly, it will help us all to work together like Jesus intended
Date: February 13, 2007
Text: Romans 12:3-8
Introduction
- Here are some gifts you should not buy your wife (from Readers Digest):
1. Don't buy anything that plugs in. Anything that requires electricity is seen as utilitarian.
2. Don't buy clothing that involves sizes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get her size right, and your wife will be offended the other 6999 times. "Do I look like a size 16?" she'll say. Too small a size doesn't cut it either: "I haven't worn a size 8 in 20 years!"
3. Avoid all things useful. The new silver polish advertised to save hundreds of hours is not going to win you any brownie points.
4. Don't buy anything that involves weight loss or self-improvement. She'll perceive a six-month membership to a diet center as a suggestion that's she's overweight.
5. Don't buy jewelry. The jewelry your wife wants, you can't afford. And the jewelry you can afford, she doesn't want.
7. Finally, don't spend too much. "How do you think we're going to afford that?" she'll ask. But don't spend too little. She won't say anything, but she'll think, "Is that all I'm worth?"
- giving gifts is a dangerous business :-)
- but there is One who gives us gifts, whom we can trust implicitly
- these gifts will not blow up in our face, or hurt us or lead us down the garden path
1. Why does God give gifts?
- God is generous, not a taker
- John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"
- his purpose is to give people an abundant life
- he wants us to share in that purpose so he gives us gifts
- Ephesians 4:7-13 "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift . . . for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"
- purpose of gifts is not to feel good or have power or for selfish pursuits
- purpose is to build each other up
- so that each person may become all that God intended them to be
2. What kinds of gifts does God give?
- there are many examples of gifts God gives - read Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4
- but there are many more
- For example, God gifted Bezalel and Aholiab
- Exodus 35:30-34 "He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of . . . artistic workmanship. And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
- notice that this gifting was for a purpose, for building the tabernacle
- it was not for a feel-good purpose
- what gifts has God given us personally?
- are we skilled at selling? are we teachers? are we compassionate? are we encouragers?
- Romans 12 lists the following gifts: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy - do any of these relate to you?
- each of these gifts is given for a reason, it has been particularly selected for you - it has your name on it!
- it will determine how you deal in situations
- for example, say I were to trip in the warehouse and fall flat on my face, and drop all the books I was carrying
- there are 7 of you standing around, exemplifying the 7 gifts in Romans 12
- the person with the gift of mercy will come around and say "Are you ok Gerry? Did you hurt yourself? It's not your fault you tripped, that sofa was sitting in the wrong place" - he is trying to help me not feel so stupid
- the leader person gets up and says "Okay Val, you go and get a box to put all those books in, Ward, you move that sofa out of the way" - he is just trying to get things done efficiently and smoothly
- the person with the gift of giving comes up and says "I see you tore your jeans, I think I have a pair your size, let me get them for you"
- someone with the gift of exhortation sees the same thing happen and says "Please be careful. Guys if you see a problem like this point it out in advance because we will do something about it."
- the teacher will get up and say "there are two reasons why this happened. First, the sofa was in the wrong place. Second, Gerry was not watching where he was going. If we watch this in future we will have a less painful experience in the warehouse"
- someone with the gift of service collects all the books, puts them in a box for me, and brings me the first aid kit
- the person with the gift of prophecy says "all these things happen for a reason, we can learn a lesson from this. Sin can trip us and when it does, all kinds of things mess up in our lives. But if we change our ways, God will make it all work out for good".
- each person approached the incident in a different manner, depending on the gifts they had been given
- different gifts work together in particular ways - personality determines how we use these abilities
- there is no one exactly like you
- Romans 12:3-5 "many members in one body" - we are all needed
3. We need to use the gifts
- first, discover what gifts God has given to you - do a test, ask others what they think of you, see how you react in situations
- a gift is no use up on the shelf - a present needs to be unwrapped and then used
- second, learn to develop those gifts - learn about them, find others with the same gifts and see how they deal with them - keep your eye open for oportunities to learn about the gift
- third, find ways in which to use that gift, which are appropriate to your situation
- in all of this, involve the Holy Spirit - he is the one who gives the gifts to us, and he knows God's purpose in giving them to you
- remember, there is a responsibility attached to receiving these gifts
- to whom much is given of him will much be required
- Luke 12:48 ". . . For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more"
- but God also promises blessing for those who use the gifts he gives to them, faithfully
Summary
- we have all received gifts, each of us is unique
- these gifts are for the benefit of the people around us
- we need to identify, develop and use these gifts
- this will benefit not only ourselves but more importantly, it will help us all to work together like Jesus intended
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-11
Title: Ananias and Sapphira
Date: February 4, 2007
Text: Acts 5:1-11
Introduction
- early church - rapid growth
- a lame man had been healed by Peter and John, trusting in Jesus' name
- persecution by authorities
- the disciples pray for boldness to witness in spite of threatened jail sentences
- the Holy Spirit came and filled them all with boldness
- the church was united in its purpose, and members shared their possessions
- the apostles witnessed powerfully about the resurrected Jesus
- people sold their personal property, to provide a fund from which the needy could be supported
- Barnabas gives a solid example of this generosity, in a united church
- this is the context in which the story of Ananias and Sapphira unfolds
- Acts 5:1-11
- let's examine what went wrong with Ananias and his wife
1. The Sin
- in the previous chapter, we read of Barnabus who sold some land and brought it to the church for distribution to those in need
- that Barnabus had taken this action was known by the church, it was recorded here for us
- there is a contrast here between Barnabas and Ananias - the word "but" in verse 1
- Barnabas willingly and voluntarily came and brought his offering, in the spirit of unity that we read about when this church period is described
- his offering was sincere, his motives were pure, he was known by the apostles for his encouraging attitude
- "but" - when Ananias brought his offering, he wanted to make it appear as though he were just as generous as Barnabas
- in actuality, he sold a piece of land for $5,000 but only brought $2,500 to the church
- the money was his, he could give as much or as little as he wanted
- the problem was in the deceit and in the hypocrisy
- Ananias presented himself as a fine, upstanding, generous church member who wanted to help the needy
- in fact, Ananias was selfish, a hypocrite, who wanted only to build his own ego at the cost of truth.
2. The Penalty
- we read that God took a dim view of this hypocrisy
- The Holy Spirit makes Peter aware of what has happened, and Peter tackles Ananias about it
- he says that it was not about the money, but about the lying and deceptive attitude with which Ananias made his offering
- God is always more concerned about the integity of our heart than about the numbers of dollars and cents
- he wants us to be pure before him, not compromising our integrity for the sake of looking good
- if we are deceptive in one part of our life, we cannot be trusted
- how can we then be supportive and unified with the rest of the body
- the church at this time was "of one heart and one soul, neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common"
- Ananias chose not to subscribe to this attitude of love and self-lessness
- he allowed a spirit of greed and selfishness to take hold, and this then led him to lie to the church and to God
- the result of this was that God allowed him to die - he probably had a heart attack about what he had done and that he had been found out
- his wife Sapphira was in on the deal too, and she suffered the same fate
3. Grace
- why does God seem to be so harsh here in punishing Ananias and Sapphira
- after all, haven't we all lied or misrepresented ourselves at times?
- we were not immediately hit by a lightning bolt
- we have all tried to make ourselves look good while our inside did not match our external appearance
- but God has not suddenly zapped us
- so why did he punish Ananias and his wife so severely?
- part of the reason is stated as being because they had lied to God
- God was making an example of them, for our benefit
- it says that great fear came upon the church as a result of this event
- it would have had the effect of encouraging people to be honest in their dealings with God
- God does not want hypocrites, Jesus describes them in Matthew 23, read it some time
- God wants us to be real with him
- notice though, that Sapphira had an opportunity to repent
- Peter asked her for how much the land had been sold
- she could at that moment have repented and told the truth - then she would have received grace
- she had a chance to change her ways, but she did not take the opportunity
- the result was that she suffered the same fate as her husband
- this does not necessarily mean that they went to hell, assuming they had truly accepted Jesus
- but a penalty had to be paid
4. All we like sheep have gone astray
- we have all sinned, we have all misrepresented ourselves, we have all lied and cheated
- but God is aware of that, he knows our hearts and the thoughts we are thinking
- God gives each of us an opportunity to repent
- Paul says to the Corinthians, "now is the day of salvation"
- we don't know how many opportunities to repent will be given to us
- let's make use of the day we have been given, and turn to God and ask him to forgive our sins
- 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
- grace is available for the asking, we have only to repent and set our heart to do things right in the future, and ask Jesus into our heart
Date: February 4, 2007
Text: Acts 5:1-11
Introduction
- early church - rapid growth
- a lame man had been healed by Peter and John, trusting in Jesus' name
- persecution by authorities
- the disciples pray for boldness to witness in spite of threatened jail sentences
- the Holy Spirit came and filled them all with boldness
- the church was united in its purpose, and members shared their possessions
- the apostles witnessed powerfully about the resurrected Jesus
- people sold their personal property, to provide a fund from which the needy could be supported
- Barnabas gives a solid example of this generosity, in a united church
- this is the context in which the story of Ananias and Sapphira unfolds
- Acts 5:1-11
- let's examine what went wrong with Ananias and his wife
1. The Sin
- in the previous chapter, we read of Barnabus who sold some land and brought it to the church for distribution to those in need
- that Barnabus had taken this action was known by the church, it was recorded here for us
- there is a contrast here between Barnabas and Ananias - the word "but" in verse 1
- Barnabas willingly and voluntarily came and brought his offering, in the spirit of unity that we read about when this church period is described
- his offering was sincere, his motives were pure, he was known by the apostles for his encouraging attitude
- "but" - when Ananias brought his offering, he wanted to make it appear as though he were just as generous as Barnabas
- in actuality, he sold a piece of land for $5,000 but only brought $2,500 to the church
- the money was his, he could give as much or as little as he wanted
- the problem was in the deceit and in the hypocrisy
- Ananias presented himself as a fine, upstanding, generous church member who wanted to help the needy
- in fact, Ananias was selfish, a hypocrite, who wanted only to build his own ego at the cost of truth.
2. The Penalty
- we read that God took a dim view of this hypocrisy
- The Holy Spirit makes Peter aware of what has happened, and Peter tackles Ananias about it
- he says that it was not about the money, but about the lying and deceptive attitude with which Ananias made his offering
- God is always more concerned about the integity of our heart than about the numbers of dollars and cents
- he wants us to be pure before him, not compromising our integrity for the sake of looking good
- if we are deceptive in one part of our life, we cannot be trusted
- how can we then be supportive and unified with the rest of the body
- the church at this time was "of one heart and one soul, neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common"
- Ananias chose not to subscribe to this attitude of love and self-lessness
- he allowed a spirit of greed and selfishness to take hold, and this then led him to lie to the church and to God
- the result of this was that God allowed him to die - he probably had a heart attack about what he had done and that he had been found out
- his wife Sapphira was in on the deal too, and she suffered the same fate
3. Grace
- why does God seem to be so harsh here in punishing Ananias and Sapphira
- after all, haven't we all lied or misrepresented ourselves at times?
- we were not immediately hit by a lightning bolt
- we have all tried to make ourselves look good while our inside did not match our external appearance
- but God has not suddenly zapped us
- so why did he punish Ananias and his wife so severely?
- part of the reason is stated as being because they had lied to God
- God was making an example of them, for our benefit
- it says that great fear came upon the church as a result of this event
- it would have had the effect of encouraging people to be honest in their dealings with God
- God does not want hypocrites, Jesus describes them in Matthew 23, read it some time
- God wants us to be real with him
- notice though, that Sapphira had an opportunity to repent
- Peter asked her for how much the land had been sold
- she could at that moment have repented and told the truth - then she would have received grace
- she had a chance to change her ways, but she did not take the opportunity
- the result was that she suffered the same fate as her husband
- this does not necessarily mean that they went to hell, assuming they had truly accepted Jesus
- but a penalty had to be paid
4. All we like sheep have gone astray
- we have all sinned, we have all misrepresented ourselves, we have all lied and cheated
- but God is aware of that, he knows our hearts and the thoughts we are thinking
- God gives each of us an opportunity to repent
- Paul says to the Corinthians, "now is the day of salvation"
- we don't know how many opportunities to repent will be given to us
- let's make use of the day we have been given, and turn to God and ask him to forgive our sins
- 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
- grace is available for the asking, we have only to repent and set our heart to do things right in the future, and ask Jesus into our heart
Sunday, January 28, 2007
A Woman Who Cared - Luke 8:1-3
Title: A Woman Who Cared
Date: January 28, 2007
Text: Luke 8:1-3, Mark 15:40, 47, John 20:1, 18
Introduction
- Mary was from the town of Magdala (meaning "tower"), about 3 miles from Tiberias on the west side of the Sea of Galilee - the town had a location called the "tower of dyers" where cloth was dyed, using the indigo plant
- Mary was a woman of substance, who helped to finance Jesus' ministry
- she was probably self-employed
- she travelled with other women who had received healing from Jesus, as a part of his ministry
- she had good connections and one of her friends was Joanna, the wife of King Herod's steward
1. Mary needed Jesus - Luke 8:1-3
- before God intervened in her life, Mary had had a problem
- there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute
- what the Bible does say is that seven demons had come out of her as a result of Jesus' ministry
- we are not told what the specifics of her problem were, but only that she had been set free
- Mary had a need that could not be met by doctors or other professionals
- Mary's problem was huge to her, it was affecting her life in a big way
- her need was deeper than anything she could meet in the physical realm, this was a spiritual issue
- Mary needed Jesus to bring healing to this spiritual problem
- Jesus came through for Mary, she was set free
- we are not told the dramatic details, just that the demons had left her
- the same Greek word sozo is used for healing as is used for salvation
- Mary needed Jesus to bring healing to her whole person, not just to some physical condition
- just like Mary, we all need Jesus
- we have all been in bondage to evil, slaves to sin
- Jeremiah says: "the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it" - Jer 17:9
- Isaiah tells us: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" - Isaiah 53:6
- we are all in bondage to sin and we are powerless to rid ourselves of this oppression
- it is only through Jesus entering our life that we can be freed from that bondage
- Jesus came with the power to save, and the power to heal
- Jesus is entirely adequate to the task of cleaning up our life, he has the power
2. Mary was devoted to Jesus - Mark 15:40, 47
- as a result of the healing she had received, Mary could now live in freedom
- while her life before had been like living in an emotional or mental cloud, now the sun had broken through for her
- Mary was totally grateful to Jesus for what he had done
- her life had been turned right side up as a result of the freedom he had given her
- so Mary had devoted her life to serving Jesus
- it was her love and gratitude toward Jesus that moved her to follow him in his travels
- this was not in some sexual relationship like is told in the movie called "the Da Vinci Code"
- our dirty minds may want us to debase an act of pure love and gratitude into something sordid
- no, her service to the Master was in the sense of using her financial resources to support Christ's ministry
- and it was not just Mary - as we read, there were other women who had joined Christ's ministry as well, with the same motivation
- Mary recognized that she was not the only one who needed Jesus
- she wanted to help make it possible for others to receive the same freedom she had been given
- and so that is why Mary and other women who had been set free and healed, joined Jesus' ministry
- they were devoted followers, and they stuck with him to the end
- Mark 15:40, 47 ". . . women looking on from afar . . . many other women . . . Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of Joses observed where he was laid"
- they stayed with Jesus to the end, they were there when he breathed his last breath, and they stayed with him till the tomb was sealed
- are we as devoted to the cause of the kingdom, as Mary was?
- we each have a role to play in what Jesus is doing on this earth, today
- Jesus offers us a part in the ministry he is doing
- are we ready to foresake all and follow him, just as Mary did?
- so that others may be saved and healed, just as we were?
3. Mary was the first to tell of Jesus' resurrection - John 20:1, 18
- Mary was the first person to come to the tomb that Sunday morning
- to her horror, she saw that the huge boulder that sealed the tomb had been rolled away
- she raced back to the disciples and told them what she had seen
- then Mary went back and lingered at the tomb, crying
- in just 72 hours, the One she had been devoted to, had been taken away, and now even his body had gone!
- Mary was grieving her loss
- while she is in the midst of her tears, Jesus calls her by name: "Mary"
- she recognizes Jesus and he then sends her to the disciples to tell that he is not dead, but is alive, and going to His Father and their Father, his God and their God!
- Mary goes back to the disciples and tells them what Jesus had sent her to say
- Mary was the first person to tell that Jesus was not dead, but alive
- those words have resounded down through the centuries that Jesus is not dead, but alive!
- we have a Savior who is not lying in a tomb, but is alive and well, glorified, with the power to save and to heal today, just as he did 2000 years ago
- Hebrews tells us: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" - Hebrews 13:8
Conclusion
- the Jesus who released Mary Magdalen from seven demons can also release you from the bondage that enslaves you
- the Jesus who welcomed a grateful and devoted Mary Magdalene into the company of the disciples also welcomes you into the body of believers
- the Jesus who sent Mary with a message to the disciples, sends us with a message to all the nations
- Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"
- Mary stayed with Jesus to the end, but Jesus says he will never leave us or forsake us
- He is alive and well, and just as ready to provide healing for us today as he was for Mary Magdalene, a woman who needed help, who expressed her gratitude, and who was obedient to her calling
Date: January 28, 2007
Text: Luke 8:1-3, Mark 15:40, 47, John 20:1, 18
Introduction
- Mary was from the town of Magdala (meaning "tower"), about 3 miles from Tiberias on the west side of the Sea of Galilee - the town had a location called the "tower of dyers" where cloth was dyed, using the indigo plant
- Mary was a woman of substance, who helped to finance Jesus' ministry
- she was probably self-employed
- she travelled with other women who had received healing from Jesus, as a part of his ministry
- she had good connections and one of her friends was Joanna, the wife of King Herod's steward
1. Mary needed Jesus - Luke 8:1-3
- before God intervened in her life, Mary had had a problem
- there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute
- what the Bible does say is that seven demons had come out of her as a result of Jesus' ministry
- we are not told what the specifics of her problem were, but only that she had been set free
- Mary had a need that could not be met by doctors or other professionals
- Mary's problem was huge to her, it was affecting her life in a big way
- her need was deeper than anything she could meet in the physical realm, this was a spiritual issue
- Mary needed Jesus to bring healing to this spiritual problem
- Jesus came through for Mary, she was set free
- we are not told the dramatic details, just that the demons had left her
- the same Greek word sozo is used for healing as is used for salvation
- Mary needed Jesus to bring healing to her whole person, not just to some physical condition
- just like Mary, we all need Jesus
- we have all been in bondage to evil, slaves to sin
- Jeremiah says: "the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it" - Jer 17:9
- Isaiah tells us: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" - Isaiah 53:6
- we are all in bondage to sin and we are powerless to rid ourselves of this oppression
- it is only through Jesus entering our life that we can be freed from that bondage
- Jesus came with the power to save, and the power to heal
- Jesus is entirely adequate to the task of cleaning up our life, he has the power
2. Mary was devoted to Jesus - Mark 15:40, 47
- as a result of the healing she had received, Mary could now live in freedom
- while her life before had been like living in an emotional or mental cloud, now the sun had broken through for her
- Mary was totally grateful to Jesus for what he had done
- her life had been turned right side up as a result of the freedom he had given her
- so Mary had devoted her life to serving Jesus
- it was her love and gratitude toward Jesus that moved her to follow him in his travels
- this was not in some sexual relationship like is told in the movie called "the Da Vinci Code"
- our dirty minds may want us to debase an act of pure love and gratitude into something sordid
- no, her service to the Master was in the sense of using her financial resources to support Christ's ministry
- and it was not just Mary - as we read, there were other women who had joined Christ's ministry as well, with the same motivation
- Mary recognized that she was not the only one who needed Jesus
- she wanted to help make it possible for others to receive the same freedom she had been given
- and so that is why Mary and other women who had been set free and healed, joined Jesus' ministry
- they were devoted followers, and they stuck with him to the end
- Mark 15:40, 47 ". . . women looking on from afar . . . many other women . . . Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of Joses observed where he was laid"
- they stayed with Jesus to the end, they were there when he breathed his last breath, and they stayed with him till the tomb was sealed
- are we as devoted to the cause of the kingdom, as Mary was?
- we each have a role to play in what Jesus is doing on this earth, today
- Jesus offers us a part in the ministry he is doing
- are we ready to foresake all and follow him, just as Mary did?
- so that others may be saved and healed, just as we were?
3. Mary was the first to tell of Jesus' resurrection - John 20:1, 18
- Mary was the first person to come to the tomb that Sunday morning
- to her horror, she saw that the huge boulder that sealed the tomb had been rolled away
- she raced back to the disciples and told them what she had seen
- then Mary went back and lingered at the tomb, crying
- in just 72 hours, the One she had been devoted to, had been taken away, and now even his body had gone!
- Mary was grieving her loss
- while she is in the midst of her tears, Jesus calls her by name: "Mary"
- she recognizes Jesus and he then sends her to the disciples to tell that he is not dead, but is alive, and going to His Father and their Father, his God and their God!
- Mary goes back to the disciples and tells them what Jesus had sent her to say
- Mary was the first person to tell that Jesus was not dead, but alive
- those words have resounded down through the centuries that Jesus is not dead, but alive!
- we have a Savior who is not lying in a tomb, but is alive and well, glorified, with the power to save and to heal today, just as he did 2000 years ago
- Hebrews tells us: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" - Hebrews 13:8
Conclusion
- the Jesus who released Mary Magdalen from seven demons can also release you from the bondage that enslaves you
- the Jesus who welcomed a grateful and devoted Mary Magdalene into the company of the disciples also welcomes you into the body of believers
- the Jesus who sent Mary with a message to the disciples, sends us with a message to all the nations
- Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"
- Mary stayed with Jesus to the end, but Jesus says he will never leave us or forsake us
- He is alive and well, and just as ready to provide healing for us today as he was for Mary Magdalene, a woman who needed help, who expressed her gratitude, and who was obedient to her calling
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Taming the Tongue - James 3:1-18
Title: Taming the Tongue
Date: January 23, 2007
Text: James 3:1-18
Introduction
- Churchgoer to pastor, "Your sermon reminded me of the love of God. I thought it would endure forever. "
- Charles H. Spurgeon was emphasizing to his class the importance of making the facial expression harmonize with the speech. "When you speak of Heaven," he said, "let your face light up, let it be irradiated with a heavenly gleam, let your eyes shine with reflected glory. But when you speak of Hell--well, then your ordinary face will do."
- Samuel Johnson once said "Your manuscript is both original and good. But the parts that are original are not good, and the parts that are good are not original."
- Bessie Braddock, M.P.: "Winston, you're drunk." Churchill: "Bessie, you're ugly, and tomorrow morning I'll be sober."
- our words get out of control
- we may start a conversation with good intentions, but it can often go directions we don't want it to go.
- people get hurt
- great power in the tongue
- the words we speak can encourage and edify the people around us
- or they can hurt and cause irreparable damage
1. Speak from a pure heart (verse 7-12)
- Psalm 24:3-5 "Who shall ascend . . . he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart . . ."
- God looks for people who live with clean hands and a pure heart - these will be welcomed into his presence
- this means our outward actions, including the things we say, mirror our pure heart
- a pure heart is one that seeks God wholeheartedly, and where sin is dealt with by asking for forgiveness and applying the blood of Jesus
- Hebrews 10:22 "let us draw near with a true heart . . . hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water"
- when our hearts are pure, the words we speak will reflect that
- Matthew 12:33-37 "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks . . . for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned"
- so if we want to have our speech cleansed, we have to start with dealing with our inside thinking
2. Speak words consistent with our actions (verse 13-16)
- Verse 13 - conversation = Gr anastrophe = "manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment "
- let your speech and the way you live, be consistent with each other
- we have been taught: "do as I say, not as I do" but the truth is that "actions speak louder than words"
- "it is easier to preach 10 sermons than it is to live one "
- our lives need to become totally consistent with who we say we are
- Pharisees were hypocrites, looked good on the outside but inside were a rotten mess
- when our actions do not match what we are thinking or saying, we will end up in a mess
- Verse 14-16
- this is deceitful and living a lie, with bad results for our thinking
- it may seem as though just allowing ourselves to say what we like gives some satisfaction
- but it leads to confusion and every evil work
- God's purpose for us is that we live a pure, clean, healthy life
- 1 Timothy 1:5 "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith"
3. Speak in love (verse 17-18)
- Verse 17-18
- when we live a pure life, forgiven, cleansed from our sins by Jesus' blood shed on our behalf, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell with us
- the Holy Spirit exhibits all the attributes of God: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
- these fruits of the Spirit will be evident in our lives too
- we won't be cutting each other down verbally, destroying each other's reputation, gossiping, or falsely accusing
- instead because we are pure and clean on the inside, we will be building others up, we will be supporting them and speaking with a positive intention
- instead of envying and strife and confusion, there will be peace and unity
Conclusion
- our words are powerful
- our words can cause incredible hurt and pain, the damage can last a lifetime
- often our words will come back to bite us
- someone said "Make your words sweet; you may have to eat them."
- on the other hand, our words can also be a tremendous power for good
- speaking positively out of a pure heart will give peace and stability, both in our life and that of the others who hear our words
- people will be blessed by our encouragement and support
- this will have good results for all involved
- for ourselves:
- Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones"
- and for our environment
- James 3:18 "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace"
- in other words, we will be peacemakers, living in a peaceful environment
Date: January 23, 2007
Text: James 3:1-18
Introduction
- Churchgoer to pastor, "Your sermon reminded me of the love of God. I thought it would endure forever. "
- Charles H. Spurgeon was emphasizing to his class the importance of making the facial expression harmonize with the speech. "When you speak of Heaven," he said, "let your face light up, let it be irradiated with a heavenly gleam, let your eyes shine with reflected glory. But when you speak of Hell--well, then your ordinary face will do."
- Samuel Johnson once said "Your manuscript is both original and good. But the parts that are original are not good, and the parts that are good are not original."
- Bessie Braddock, M.P.: "Winston, you're drunk." Churchill: "Bessie, you're ugly, and tomorrow morning I'll be sober."
- our words get out of control
- we may start a conversation with good intentions, but it can often go directions we don't want it to go.
- people get hurt
- great power in the tongue
- the words we speak can encourage and edify the people around us
- or they can hurt and cause irreparable damage
1. Speak from a pure heart (verse 7-12)
- Psalm 24:3-5 "Who shall ascend . . . he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart . . ."
- God looks for people who live with clean hands and a pure heart - these will be welcomed into his presence
- this means our outward actions, including the things we say, mirror our pure heart
- a pure heart is one that seeks God wholeheartedly, and where sin is dealt with by asking for forgiveness and applying the blood of Jesus
- Hebrews 10:22 "let us draw near with a true heart . . . hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water"
- when our hearts are pure, the words we speak will reflect that
- Matthew 12:33-37 "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks . . . for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned"
- so if we want to have our speech cleansed, we have to start with dealing with our inside thinking
2. Speak words consistent with our actions (verse 13-16)
- Verse 13 - conversation = Gr anastrophe = "manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment "
- let your speech and the way you live, be consistent with each other
- we have been taught: "do as I say, not as I do" but the truth is that "actions speak louder than words"
- "it is easier to preach 10 sermons than it is to live one "
- our lives need to become totally consistent with who we say we are
- Pharisees were hypocrites, looked good on the outside but inside were a rotten mess
- when our actions do not match what we are thinking or saying, we will end up in a mess
- Verse 14-16
- this is deceitful and living a lie, with bad results for our thinking
- it may seem as though just allowing ourselves to say what we like gives some satisfaction
- but it leads to confusion and every evil work
- God's purpose for us is that we live a pure, clean, healthy life
- 1 Timothy 1:5 "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith"
3. Speak in love (verse 17-18)
- Verse 17-18
- when we live a pure life, forgiven, cleansed from our sins by Jesus' blood shed on our behalf, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell with us
- the Holy Spirit exhibits all the attributes of God: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
- these fruits of the Spirit will be evident in our lives too
- we won't be cutting each other down verbally, destroying each other's reputation, gossiping, or falsely accusing
- instead because we are pure and clean on the inside, we will be building others up, we will be supporting them and speaking with a positive intention
- instead of envying and strife and confusion, there will be peace and unity
Conclusion
- our words are powerful
- our words can cause incredible hurt and pain, the damage can last a lifetime
- often our words will come back to bite us
- someone said "Make your words sweet; you may have to eat them."
- on the other hand, our words can also be a tremendous power for good
- speaking positively out of a pure heart will give peace and stability, both in our life and that of the others who hear our words
- people will be blessed by our encouragement and support
- this will have good results for all involved
- for ourselves:
- Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones"
- and for our environment
- James 3:18 "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace"
- in other words, we will be peacemakers, living in a peaceful environment
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