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

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

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