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Archive for September, 2016

THE MISSION

Posted in Church, DNA of this church, Equip the Saints, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE  – It seems impossible!mission-impossible2

Have you ever prayed for something and it seems so impossible? I did. My uncle Norm was so hard against the gospel. He said to me after I received Jesus in my twenties, don’t ever talk about Jesus in my house or to me. Wow, he was adamant!. Not long after, his wife Marge watched the TV program that our church had shown on Sunday mornings, and she gave her heart to the Lord. We were overjoyed, but how to reach Norm? Not too long after that Norm has a massive stroke and was in hospital paralised down one side. We visited him to care for him and cheer him up. Two days later his wife Marge dies in her sleep. Wow, we know that he had nothing else to live for, when we tell him she gone, he will have no will to live! My family all voted I should be the one to tell him. Thanks! They figured I was a pastor so it was my job! I said yes I would but I want to be alone with him. They all said their goodbyes and left the room. I told my uncle his wife had died. He was visibly shaken.  I explained that God was real and that Marge had received Jesus as her saviour through watching the TV program. Norm, I said, “the only way you can see Marge again is if you surrender your life to Jesus. If you want to do that please squeeze my hand – he squeezed my hand.” I prayed a prayer of surrender and asking forgiveness for a life of rejecting God.  He died 10 hours later!

Sometimes the task seems impossible – but god has other plans!

Our Mission as a church meeting in two locations is – Introducing Melbourne to Jesus.

What is your Mission as a part of that?

Acts 7:23,30-34 AMP

23 But when he reached the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.

30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount [a]Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush.31 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight; but as he went near to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came [to him, saying]: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground [worthy of reverence and respect]. 34 I have most certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, and I will send you to Egypt [as My messenger].’

THE CALL OF GOD IS THE MISSION OF GOD  Our mission as a local church meeting in may locations is – Introducing Melbourne to Jesus. If there is one thing I would live you to know it will be this: – YOU ARE CALLED BY GOD INTO HIS MISSION

Moses was 80 when this call came. It seemed too late. It seemed like an impossible task. Moses was very reluctant, but God persuaded him! – You’re never too old, it’s never too late to be released into your mission! You enter into a partnership with God on His mission. For Moses the mission was deliver my people, this was the heart of God. It’s a picture of salvation. Moses task was clear, for every Israelite –

  • Must have the blood over the door. – Passover
  • Must go through the water – Red Sea – Water baptism 1 Corinthians 10:2 (AMP) And all [of them] were baptized into Moses [into his safekeeping as their leader] in the cloud and in the sea;

Moses had history – It was a history of failure, regret,  a picture of humility. Yet God chose to use him. We are starting over with a compelling mission – Introducing Melbourne to Jesus. Will you partner with God and with us in this glorious task? It may seem impossible but God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond our highest dreams and prayers! What is your mission? How do you find it? You find it at the Burning Bush – God is speaking. Will you seek Him?, take off your shoes? Obey His command? I invite you to attend a DNA Class at the church one Sunday morning. Do a gift survey – discover your gift – seek God find your passion and call.  If there is o
ne thing I would love you to do it’s this – engage in the call of God for your life. His mission is your mission. It may seem impossible but God has other plans!

  1. What is the purpose of your life – your calling?
  2. Are you aware that God called you to be a part of His family from before the foundations of the world? (Ephes 1:4,9-11)
  3. God has a mission – what is that mission in your own words?
  4. You are called to partner with God in His mission – what will you choose?
  5. How will you discover your unique calling within this divine overall purpose of God?

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THE FATHER’S HEART

Posted in Church, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , on September 4, 2016| Leave a Comment »

WATCH THIS VIDEO FIRSTgreat families

The heart of Dick Hoyt was to do something so amazing for his son. The key thought that motivated this dad was that his son felt that when he was in the race with his dad, he felt like he had no disability. To do this for his son was to do something hard that cost him a lot but what it gave him back was the joy of doing something amazing for his son. This is the Heart of the father. Dick Hoyt has inspired millions of people around the world with his feat of super human endurance motivated by love. (Now over 91 marathons or triathlons)

1 John 3:1 (AMP)  See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

This morning I am inviting you on a journey to discover the heart of the Father. What is God’s heart like? Our God is a Father, how He loves and How He treats us is a revelation every person needs. Secondly, as a Father I hope that with His help I can become like Him.

Jesus came to reveal the Father, in the Old Testament God is only referred to as Father one time, by King David, a man ahead of his time in terms of relationship with God. God was always referred to as Elohim (God) or Yawey (Covenant God)

When Jesus came he revealed God as Father.

Romans 8:15 (AMP)

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “[a]Abba! Father!”

Footnotes:

Romans 8:15 An Aramaic word used by young children when addressing their fathers, but not used by Jews in prayer because it implies a sense of familiarity. Jesus’ use of the word emphasized his Father-Son relationship with God.

Jesus referred to God as “Your Father” 31 times in the gospels, giving His disciples a new revelation that God was their Father not just His.

But what is the heart of the Father?

Three pictures.

  1. He desired to have children.

Genesis 1:26 (AMP)

Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”

Abraham longed for a son, someone to whom he could leave everything. He was passionate about having a son, yet he was well advanced in years. He called on God to provide a son, and in so doing set up a picture of the Son of God being sacrificed by the Father.

When we decided to have children as a young couple I can remember thinking, Jesus will be coming back soon, is it responsible to have children? Another reason for hesitancy was the fact that my father and grandfather had died young and I wondered if the same fate awaited me. Would I leave these children without a father?  What if I die? Can I provide financially for them? In the end we choose to have children because we longed to have children of our own.

Some fathers gave a wrong message to their kids, I never wanted you. I wish you had never been born! You were a mistake! NO – You’re not a mistake, God knew you before you were born. God planned for you to come to Him and know Him and be restored. Let the love of the father restore you today.

  1. He desires the best for His children.

Luke 12:32 AMP  Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Ezekiel 39:25-29 (MSG)

25-29 “But now I will return Jacob back from exile, I’ll be compassionate with all the people of Israel, and I’ll be zealous for my holy name. Eventually the memory will fade, the memory of their shame over their betrayals of me when they lived securely in their own land, safe and unafraid. Once I’ve brought them back from foreign parts, gathered them in from enemy territories, I’ll use them to demonstrate my holiness with all the nations watching. Then they’ll realize for sure that I am their God, for even though I sent them off into exile, I will gather them back to their own land, leaving not one soul behind. After I’ve poured my Spirit on Israel, filled them with my life, I’ll no longer turn away. I’ll look them full in the face. Decree of God, the Master.”

Cheering them on from the sidelines. The basketball story.

Sometimes our fathers have failed us, perhaps as a father I have failed my kids. God restores. He restores the hearts of the fathers to the children and hearts of the children to the fathers. Mal 4:6 In God there is healing and forgiveness.

  1. He loves and forgives and restores.

Matthew 23:37 (AMP)

“[a]O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who murders the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I wanted to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

The picture of the prodigal son is a beautiful picture of God forgiving and restoring a son.

Over the years there have been broken relationships with people who have served under my leadership. Sometimes it deeply hurts when people walk away. But we hold an open door policy. Restoration is always possible. Humility love and forgiveness on both sides makes restoration possible.

Have you walked away from God? Have you walked away from a father? Come back to God today. If your father is still alive call him today, restore relationship.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. When you picture the heavenly Father, what pictures come to mind?
  2. What pictures of the Father does Jesus give us in the gospels?
  3. Does your perception of the heavenly Father need to change at all?
  4. Has your own father created pain in your life?
  5. Can you allow your heavenly Father to restore and heal you?

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