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Posts Tagged ‘jesus’

ARE YOU GOIN’ WHERE I’M GOIN’?

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, Soul Winning, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 6, 2014| Leave a Comment »

LOVE REACHES OUT #1AMreaches out

In this life, how do you see yourself? As a pilgrim? As a foreigner journeying through to a better and eternal future? a Or does this world so fill your vista that you hardly think of eternity? Listen to this amazing verse: Eccles 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Ultimately what matters is people. Everything else is temporary. 2 Cor 4:18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. All your stuff that you worked so hard for, all the possessions, the house, the cars, the clothes etc. will all vanish in a puff of smoke one day; and all you have left is you and your loved ones.

What will you be doing in a million years from now? Seriously! If you say, “I’ll be in heaven.”, then how glad are you about that? You could be in the other place. Eternity is such a long time!! It’s all a bit hard for the human mind to comprehend; right?

What we have been learning in the messages preached all year is that God loves you so much and His magnificent loving kindness has come and rescued you, redeemed you and set you free. It’s a natural step to see that God loves each and every person on the planet and some know that and some don’t know that yet. John 3:16  For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.(AMP)

All around us are precious people who are perishing. In Australia, we are an especially heathen bunch. Although 61% write on the census that their religion is Christian, only 13% attend any kind of church monthly or more often and of those we can only guess the percentage that is born again. Some estimates of the Born Again population are as low as 5%. Perhaps attending church is a poor measure of whether a person is born again. We should rather choose the measure that one of the greatest preachers in history used: “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you’re not saved yourself, be sure of that!” ― Charles H. Spurgeon. What’s our percentage now?

As you look around at your loved ones, work mates, neighbours, do you consider their eternal destiny? Does it drive you to prayer and cause you to consider how to share the answer to life with them? If not, then let’s look at the scriptures and see the convincing reality of what lies before us in heaven and hell.

Hell is real

Luke 6:19-31

19 There was a certain rich man who [habitually] clothed himself in purple and fine linen and [m]revelled and feasted and made merry in splendour every day.

20 And at his gate there [n]was [carelessly] dropped down and left a certain [o]utterly destitute man named Lazarus, [reduced to begging alms and] covered with [[p]ulcerated] sores.

21 He [eagerly] desired to be satisfied with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover, the dogs even came and licked his sores.

22 And it occurred that the man [reduced to] begging died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

23 And in Hades (the realm of the dead), being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity and mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in your lifetime fully received [what is due you in] comforts and delights, and Lazarus in like manner the discomforts and distresses; but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.

26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who want to pass from this [place] to you may not be able, and no one may pass from there to us.

27 And [the man] said, Then, father, I beseech you to send him to my father’s house—

28 For I have five brothers—so that he may give [solemn] testimony and warn them, lest they too come into this place of torment.

29 But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear and listen to them.

30 But he answered, No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent ([q]change their minds for the better and heartily amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins).

31 He said to him, If they do not hear and listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded and convinced and believe [even] if someone should rise from the dead.

Rev 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.(NIV)

Matt 13:49-50 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (NIV)

Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no respite (no pause, no intermission, no rest, no peace) day or night—these who pay homage to the beast and to his image and whoever receives the stamp of his name upon him.

All these verses clearly show that eternity without salvation is horrifying and inconceivably worse due to the fact that it goes on for ever and ever without respite.

General William Booth founder of the Salvation Army church movement was quoted as saying as he trained his preachers and Christian workers. “If I could, I would dangle you over hell for 5 minutes to see the cries of the damned.”   People without a Knowledge of God and even some Christians find this truth so shocking that they fall into wrong believing saying that God could not be as cruel as to send people there forever, or that God will give people a second chance. Some have believed in a purgatory, where people work off their sins and eventually make it to heaven; but all these ideas are false.

Listen again to William Booth – “Not called!” did you say? “Not heard the call,” I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”

When you hear these pleading words, do you think that’s how they spoke in an era long ago, or do you think that’s outdated language and form that doesn’t work today; or is it just that we have fallen so far from biblical truth in our generation that we fall for soft wishy washy beliefs about God that are not supported by scripture?

Heaven

Heaven on the other hand is awesomely wonderful. Imagine infinite joy! Life with a capital L.

Rev 21:4-5 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Rev 22:3-4 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

John 14: 2-3 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Matt  25:20-21 And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.

21 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [c]blessedness) which your master enjoys.

Convinced that people without Christ are going there?

One error I find many Christians fall into is that somehow good people will get into heaven. They believe that most people around them are going to make it somehow because God is loving and merciful. This view is dangerous especially to those around them who are not born again yet. Let me ask you a very simple question. If there was any way at all that a person could make it to heaven on their own, did Jesus need to come and die on the cross?

Jesus Himself stated very clearly: John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.(AMP)

Jesus was moved by the plight of broken people. His heart for lost people will become our heart too if we walk with Him. Look at His reaction in the gospels Matt 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity. 36 When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust laborers into His harvest.

What should be our reaction? Perhaps some may be so deeply concerned that they become a certified bible carrying, tract giving, bible bashing preacher to everyone around them, and it isn’t very fruitful. That’s overboard and that’s not love in action. The sad thing is that many Christians are the opposite, there’s almost no evidence of witness in their lives, it’s like they want to enjoy the benefits of salvation and not care that all manner of people around them are perishing.

So how are we to live?

  • Recognise the truth that faith in Christ alone saves a person from eternity in hell.
  • Decide to pray for those people in your world who do not know Jesus yet, that God will have mercy on them and show them the truth.
  • Love people, serve them and share your heart with them at every opportunity.
  • Trust that the Holy Spirit will lead you to people and will give you the words to say.
  • Share your testimony and the God stories that give evidence of God at work among us.
  • Invite as many people as you can to join you church or UC group or a family picnic or a night at the movies or the church trivia night etc. etc.

This month we are focusing on the “How To” of sharing your faith. We will be equipping you with practical help to know how to share your faith, what to say to people who are far from God and how to begin a great conversation about your testimony and how God loves the person you’re speaking to. In all our Urban Connect groups we will be helping you to learn skills about sharing your testimony, and what the gospel message is that we need to share with people.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Do you think Spurgeon’s measure of whether a person is born again or not is a fair one? (Whether you care that others are lost)

2. How do you see non Christians?

3. What about people of other faiths, are they lost too? (Acts 4:12)

4. If Jesus really is the only way to heaven, why do so many other faiths exist?

5. If Jesus really is the only way to heaven how should we live?

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GOD’S OUT TO GET YOU… WITH LOVE

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2014| 1 Comment »

LOVE UNCONDITIONAL #3AMchesed_etymology

God’s insatiable desire to love you in spite of you can never be quenched.

If I could ask anything of God today it would be that He would reveal to you His mighty loving kindness.

Psalm 69:16

Hear and answer me, O Lord, for Your loving–kindness is sweet and comforting; according to Your plenteous tender mercy and steadfast love turn to me.

Today I want to reveal to you a secret in the word of God – the revelation of God’s Chesed – His loving kindness, and how it is His everlasting passion to do good to those who are in covenant with Him in spite of their faults and failings.

King David knew and understood God’s loving kindness and how it was there for him as part of God’s covenant promise to him.

Ps 18:50 – strong deliverance came to David through God’s loving kindness.  Vs50  He gives great [a]deliverance to His king, and shows loving kindness to His anointed,
To David and his [b]descendants forever.(NASB)

Ps 31:7 – When in great trouble and adversity, David rejoices in God’s loving kindness. Vs7 I will rejoice and be glad in Your loving kindness, Because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul (NASB)

Ps 51:1 – After great failure, deal with me according to your loving kindness. Vs 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.(NKJV)

King David deeply understood the loving kindness of God. 127 times loving kindness is mentioned just in Psalms alone. The phrase “Your mercy and loving kindness endures forever is mentioned 43 times.

Chesed is a Hebrew word commonly translated as “loving-kindness,” “kindness” or “love.” Chesed is central to Jewish ethics and Jewish theology. Many Jewish thinkers view chesed as the primary virtue. Chesed is valued by religious Jews of all denominations. It is considered a virtue on its own, and also for its contribution to tikkun olam (repairing the world)

“Loving-kindness” is used as an English translation of chesed, originating with the Coverdale Bible of 1535. Although some consider it to be a somewhat archaic translation,[1] it remains one of the most common translations.[2] “Love” is often used as a shorter English translation. Daniel Elazar has suggested the translation of “covenant-love.”[8] “Grace“[9] and “compassion“[10] are also occasionally used as translations of chesed. In Greek Eleos (often understood as mercy or pity) is the word used by the Septuagint to translate “chesed” into Greek. Chesed has also been understood as linked with the Greek word agape and its Latin   equivalent, caritas (charity).

Chesed is the core ethical virtue ascribed to God.

A statement by Rabbi Simlai in the Talmud claims that “The Torah (The first 5 books of the bible) begins with chesed and ends with chesed.” This may be understood to mean that “the entire Torah is characterized by chesed, i.e. it sets forth a vision of the ideal life whose goals are behaviour characterized by mercy and compassion.” Alternatively, it may allude to the idea that the giving of the Torah itself is the quintessential act of chesed.[12] The following are actions undertaken in imitation of the qualities of Chesed:[13]

  • love God so completely that one will never forsake His service for any reason
  • provide a child with all the necessities of his sustenance
  • leading a child into covenant relationship with God
  • visiting and healing the sick
  • giving charity to the poor
  • offering hospitality to strangers
  • attending to the dead
  • bringing a bride to the chuppah marriage ceremony
  • making peace between a man and his fellow

In the Torah loving kindness is epitomised by Exodus 34:6-7  And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.(AMP)

 

When Miles Coverdale, translated the bible in 1535 it is one of the words he used in the Psalms to translate the Hebrew chesed into loving kindness when it refers to God’s love for his people Israel.

The theological importance of the word chesed is that it stands more than any other word for the attitude which both parties to a covenant ought to maintain towards each other. It combines the twin ideas of love and loyalty, both of which are essential. Yet it must convey the idea of the steadfastness and persistence of God’s sure love for his covenant-people. The etymological core of the word is ‘eagerness, keenness,’ God’s loving-kindness is that sure love which will not let Israel go. Not all Israel’s persistent waywardness could ever destroy it. Though Israel be faithless, yet God remains faithful still. The continual waywardness of Israel has made it inevitable that, if God is never going to let Israel go, then his relation to his people must in the main be one of loving-kindness, mercy, and goodness, all of it entirely undeserved. For this reason the predominant use of the word comes to include mercy and forgiveness as a main constituent in God’s determined faithfulness to his part of the bargain. It is obvious, time and again, from the context that if God is to maintain the covenant he must exercise mercy to an unprecedented degree. The loving-kindness of God towards Israel is therefore wholly undeserved on Israel’s part. If Israel received the proper treatment for her stubborn refusal to walk in God’s way, there would be no prospect for her of anything but destruction, since God’s demand for right action never wavers one whit. Strict, however, as the demands for righteousness are, the prophets were sure that God’s yearnings for the people of his choice are stronger still. Here is the great dilemma of the prophets, and indeed the dilemma of us all to this day. But this much is clear: when we try to estimate the depth and the persistence of God’s loving-kindness and mercy, we must first remember his passion for righteousness. His passion for righteousness is so strong that he could not be more insistent in his demand for it, but God’s persistent love for his people is more insistent still. The story of God’s people throughout the centuries is that their waywardness has been so persistent that, if even a remnant is to be preserved, God has had to show mercy more than anything else. It is important to realize that though the Hebrew chesed can be translated by loving-kindness and mercy without doing violence to the context, yet we must always beware lest we think that God is content with less than righteousness. There is no reference to any sentimental kindness, and no suggestion of mercy apart from repentance, in any case where the Hebrew original is chesed. His demand for righteousness is insistent, and it is always at the maximum intensity. The loving-kindness of God means that his mercy is greater even than that. The word stands for the wonder of his unfailing love for the people of his choice, and the solving of the problem of the relation between his righteousness and his loving-kindness passes beyond human comprehension. One may describe His loving kindness as aggressive kindness, goodness and mercy toward us.

Excerpts from – Bibliography: N.H. Snaith, Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament, London (1944).

An example of God’s pursuit of Israel is in Hosea.

Psalm 57:10

For Your mercy and loving–kindness are great, reaching to the heavens, and Your truth and faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 59:16

But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving–kindness in the morning; for You have been to me a defense (a fortress and a high tower) and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Psalm 63:3

Because Your loving–kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

Psalm 66:20

Blessed be God, Who has not rejected my prayer nor removed His mercy and loving–kindness from being [as it always is] with me.

Psalm 69:13

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable and opportune time, O God, in the multitude of Your mercy and the abundance of Your loving–kindness hear me, and in the truth and faithfulness of Your salvation answer me.

Psalm 85:10

Mercy and loving–kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalm 86:5

For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving–kindness to all those who call upon You.

Psalm 86:15

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving–kindness and truth.

Psalm 89:2

For I have said, Mercy and loving–kindness shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness will You establish in the very heavens [unchangeable and perpetual].

Psalm 103:4

Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving–kindness and tender mercy;

Psalm 103:11

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving–kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.

Psalm 106:7

Our fathers in Egypt understood not nor appreciated Your miracles; they did not [earnestly] remember the multitude of Your mercies nor imprint Your loving–kindness [on their hearts], but they were rebellious and provoked the Lord at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

Psalm 106:45

And He [earnestly] remembered for their sake His covenant and relented their sentence of evil [comforting and easing Himself] according to the abundance of His mercy and loving–kindness[when they cried out to Him].

Psalm 107:8

Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving–kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!

God’s loving kindness is everlasting. He is persistent in desiring your ultimate good. He longs for righteousness but as soon as we turn to Him, He abundantly pardons and then goes into overdrive with mercy, protection, provision, deliverance, peace and life. As you read the Psalms from now on; every time you read loving kindness, stop for a moment and recognise God’s intense desire to love you and show you mercy and kindness.

Never again feel lost, abandoned, alone or without hope. Remember God’s loving kindness. Remember His intense desire to bless you with kindness. As you turn your heart to Him he will abundantly provide for you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.  Describe in your own words what you think the Hebrew word Chesed means.

2. So often Christians think that God has abandoned them, or doesn’t care about them because trouble has come their way. Why would that be?

3. But nothing could be further from the truth. God longs to show kindness to those He is in covenant with. List all the ways God shows kindness to us.

4. What qualifies us to receive this kindness?

5. Compare Ephesians 2:4 (AMP)  with this idea of Chesed or covenant love and it’s persistence.

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BROKEN LIVES MADE WHOLE

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

LOVE UNCONDITIONAL  #2AMLove Unconditional

WHEN YOU TRULY KNOW GOD LOVES YOU TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY, YOU ENTER INTO A LIFE OF STRENGTH AND VICTORY WHERE YOU EXPERIENCE HIS GRACE AND PROVISION AND ABUNDANT LIFE.

Humanity is broken.

We live in the lucky country, but many struggle with low self-esteem, depression, loneliness, rejection, sickness, financial trouble and substance abuse.

Jesus is the answer, He is the hope of every person who puts their trust in Him. Yet we often see God as far away, aloof, non-caring, too busy running His vast universe to ever notice me let alone care for me. Yes, they have heard that Jesus loves them, but does that cliché answer their current pain? Often as I talk to people who have not met Jesus yet they see God as a judge who will punish them for their wrongs. They see God as the rule maker and the fun taker. While 70% of Australians believe there is a God, most have never experienced His powerful healing and rescuing love.

How do you see God? Deep down in your heart where your inner thoughts reside, how do you think God sees you? I once saw God as if He were a person busy at His desk and with piles of papers on the desk and He seemed oblivious to my presence. Or does He seem like a loving Father with arms outstretched waiting for you to jump right up onto His lap?

Mental illness is very common. One in five (20%) Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year. The most common mental illnesses are depressive, anxiety and substance use disorder. These three types of mental illnesses often occur in combination. Almost half (45%) Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime [1].

Suicide in Australia

Every day, at least six Australians die from suicide and a further thirty people will attempt to take their own life [5]. While suicide accounts for only a relatively small proportion (1.6%) of all deaths in Australia, it does account for a greater proportion of deaths from all causes within specific age groups. For example, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 [6]. Australians are more likely to die by suicide than skin cancer.

Men are at greatest risk of suicide but least likely to seek help. Attempted suicide is also an important issue with estimates that in Australia over 60,000 people a year attempt to take their own lives, the majority being women.

Depression

Depression has a high lifetime prevalence – one in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime [1]. Depression has the third highest burden of all diseases in Australia (13.3%) [3] and also third globally [8]. Burden of disease refers to the total impact of a disease measured by financial cost, mortality, morbidity and other indicators. The World Health Organisation estimates that depression will be the number one health concern in both the developed and developing nations by 2030 [8].

Rates of depression are slightly higher in women with depression, affecting one in six (17%) compared to one in 10 (10%) men experiencing depression in their lifetime. http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/Factsandfiguresaboutmentalhealthandmooddisorders.pdf

God loves everyone equally. His love is complete. He is a loving heavenly Father. However you must receive it to experience it.

WHEN YOU TRULY KNOW GOD LOVES YOU TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY, YOU ENTER INTO A LIFE OF STRENGTH AND VICTORY WHERE YOU EXPERIENCE HIS GRACE AND PROVISION AND ABUNDANT LIFE.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (ESV)

1 John 4:9-11 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. (NLT)

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect ([a]free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. (AMP)

 

If He put His Spirit inside us what does that say?

I stood at the altar 35 years ago and said to Chris, I choose to live with you until one of us dies. It’s a big deal to live with someone. You probably couldn’t live with just anyone! However God says, I want to make my home within you!

John 14:23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. (NLT) AGAPE love. The love that gives expecting nothing in return. This love not conditional from God’s point of view, but it is from ours.

1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, (NCV)

See God as the perfect parent.

Matt 7:11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!(AMP)

God’s first priority is for us to receive His love. If someone truly knows that they are loved by God then insecurity, fear, unbelief is smashed. God is on your side, He has made provision for your every need through the cross.

As you receive His love you will be set free from insecurity, low self image, fear, low expectation etc by receiving a revelation that God’s love so big and so complete!   John 10:10 I have come that they will have life and life abundant. Deut 28:13 I will make you the head and not the tail. Above and not beneath. Ps 17:8 You are the apple of His eye. Rom 8:31 If God be for you who can be against you?

How then can one experience such love and acceptance and favour?

  • Meditate on these scriptures. (Also read 1 John 3 & 4)
  • Imagine the cross and see His love poured out for you as He died for you.
  • Watch the face of the heavenly Father as He turns away from Jesus when He became Sin for us. Jesus complete rejection and judgment that was meant for us.
  • Thank Him for this love.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever prayed for a revelation of God’s love? – Why not do it right now?

2. Love means doing the highest good for another. Describe what God did for us through Jesus Christ.

3. There are 5 love languages; Touch, words, gifts, acts of service and time. What’s your love language?

4. Do you feel loved if the love expressed to you is not in your love language?

5. Can you acknowledge God’s love for you even if you may not be feeling loved?

 

 

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DO YOU LOVE ME?

Posted in Church, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 23, 2014| Leave a Comment »

LOVE ROMANCES # 4 PM pay_the_price

Do you love me?

When your significant other asks you the question, “Do you really love me?” We cringe and think – “Yes, well of course I do, but where is this leading?”  “What do you want?” “Well…” They answer sheepishly, “You know that diamond ring I’ve been looking at in the Michael Hill jewellers store lately? Well, it’s on sale at half price!”

Now we pit the depth of love for the little lady against the depth of love we have for the three thousand dollars we have saved up; and all the different things that money could do instead of buying a diamond ring. Life is full of choices like that.

“Do you love me?” Your mother says to you. “Then you’ll be home by 11 o’clock tonight.”

“Do you love me?” Your husband says to you. “Then you’ll let me go on this fishing trip with the boys to wolf creek.”

“Do you love me?” Your work colleague says to you in the corridor at work? “Then cover for me doing this extra shift, so I can go to a wedding interstate.”

“Do you love me?” Your old school friend says to you. “Then you’ll let me stash this stolen property in your garage for a couple of days while I find a place to stay then I’ll move it back.”

There’s the love commitment; and there’s always the cost.

Jesus said to Peter the disciple, “Do you love me?”

What a question! Loaded with so many expectations. When Jesus asks do you love Him, that’s totally different to anyone else in this world asking, do you love me? What’s more difficult is that Peter had just let Jesus down big time. Like, really let him down! Like betrayal at the big moment in Jesus’ life when He really needed support.

No pressure Peter, but “do you love me?”

There’s a cost, there’s always a cost. Peter was waiting for the cost. What would it be?

  • Confess my sin to all the disciples?
  • Give away all my money and possessions like Jesus asked of the rich young ruler?
  • Go back and tell the Roman guards that, Yes. I was the one who was with Jesus.

No; the cost was just this, Feed my sheep. – is that it? Is that all? Is that your best shot?

That is a statement of purpose. Jesus is always on purpose. Not a “make-you-feel-good” purpose, a kingdom purpose.

So I’ll ask you this same question tonight. Do you love Jesus?

Yes there is a cost. Will you baulk at it? Will you say yes now, and walk away later? Will you genuinely and sincerely mean yes now, but just never pay the price and have endless excuses as to why it was too hard for you?

Do you love me Peter, was followed by the next two times Jesus asked the same question. Peter was wondering why that was necessary. Didn’t Jesus believe him the first time? As usual Jesus had a reason for asking the same thing three times, and whether it was because Peter denied Him three times or not; it worked! Peter was restored and not just one of the boys but the lead preacher and top disciple in Jesus band of unlikely world changers.

You see Jesus prepared Peter for the kind of cost that he would later be asked to when He goes on to say, John 21:18 “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” There was going to be a cost for Peter to pay, and it was more than any of us will ever pay.

Are you ready for the question? Do you love Jesus? Sure there’s a price to pay when you answer that Question. So, will you answer it?

Paul talks about the price of that question when he says, Phil 3:7-8 7 But whatever former things I had, that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [[a]one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.

8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

This is why we read the bible…. This kind of statement is loaded with so much truth and value as to what it means to follow Jesus. Do you love Him? It will cost you everything.

Teeny price I have paid, left well paid career, abused for following Christ, punched twice, endured hardship. What price will you pay to follow Jesus?

Jesus is asking you, “Do you love me?” The answer is in your heart. And if you want to know whether you do already love Him here’s the test….

John 14:15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. (AMP)

The story of Brother Yun in China shows pretty much the ultimate price a man could pay to follow Jesus. (Read the book) If you love Jesus in Australia today there may come some ridicule or maybe even some workplace bullying or persecution, but we get it pretty easy. Still there is a price to pay and that’s “Not my will but yours be done” – It’s all the things you want to do in your life but it isn’t what Jesus wants for you.

Sometimes obeying Jesus commands is dead easy, other times it takes every bit of courage and strength you’ve got. So what’ll it be? Do you love Him or not?

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ARE YOU IN LOVE?

Posted in Equip the Saints, Preaching messages, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

LOVE ROMANCES # 1 PM – Sunday night preach 2Feb14  love quotes-a-true-love-store11

ARE YOU IN LOVE?

MY STORY – When Chris and I first dated in (dare I say it) Year 11 at school, I can remember four hour long phone calls. Whatever did we speak about? I could never manage it now!

Love has no beginning. God is love. In the beginning God chose to create a love creature. You. The act of a father was to bring children into the world. Children upon whom He can lavish His love, and if they choose, to love Him back.

Love is, at the same time, the most wonderful life giving experience and also the most painful experience. Love is painful when it’s lost or when it’s not returned. If love was unimportant then it would not be worth having. Love is essential to every person. A life without love is unthinkable! Love demands all of you, or else you are short changed! You have been ripped off if you choose a love that only shares part of you.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Love seeks to give it’s all.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Isaac Watts wrote a hymn in 1707, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

  1. When I survey the wondrous cross
    On which the Prince of glory died,
    My richest gain I count but loss,
    And pour contempt on all my pride.
  2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
    Save in the death of Christ my God!
    All the vain things that charm me most,
    I sacrifice them to His blood.
  3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
    Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
    Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
  4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Love demands my all. Love, if it is true love, is incomplete if I only give part of me.

When your heart is ruined by love, you are changed and you are better for it.

Your joy is to spend time with the one you love. Just being together feels replenishing. You focus is another, your focus is not self anymore. Just imagine what this looks like between you and Jesus.

When you’re in love you want to be with the one you love. Love romances, it says the kindest words, it makes the time to be there, it does the things that show the love in action. Can you love Jesus when you can’t see Him?

How do you love someone you cannot see? People do it all the time. Simple, as the wife of a serviceman writes to her husband who is away on assignment.

“Letters that were written during his time at Basic Training when we had no choice but to communicate through written word. They are beautiful and heartfelt, filled with love and longing. Our letters to each other during that time expressed our feelings for each other…feelings that many times went unspoken. Sometimes they were apologies for past mistakes, or promises for the future. I remember daily taking time to sit and write him a letter, filled with what the kids were doing and how things were at home, but also to tell him that I loved him, missed him and appreciated him. When writing a letter, the sender isn’t talking directly to the recipient and does not face immediate response to what they have said. While many times I want the quick response to a question or comment, there are times when I want to express my thoughts or feelings without worrying how the other person will respond.”

Are you in love?

Are you in love with Jesus?

WHAT NOW?

Love Romances. Love demands that time is spent with the one of our affection.

Would you spend a few precious moments with Jesus every day?

Ps 18:1-2 (MESS)

1-2 I love you, God—
    you make me strong.
God is bedrock under my feet,
    the castle in which I live,
    my rescuing knight.
My God—the high crag
    where I run for dear life,
    hiding behind the boulders,
    safe in the granite hideout.

Ps 36:5-9 (MESS)

God’s love is meteoric,
    his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
    his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
    nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
    slips through the cracks.

7-9 How exquisite your love, O God!
    How eager we are to run under your wings,
To eat our fill at the banquet you spread
    as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water.
You’re a fountain of cascading light,
    and you open our eyes to light.

 

If you’re deeply in love with Jesus, you will delight to spend time with Him reading His word and talking to Him. If the feelings aren’t there for Him; meditate on the cross, think deeply on what a happened at the cross and how it affects you.

Either open your day or close your day (or both) with time alone with God.

Ps 5:3  In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].

Love the one you’re with!

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LOVE SEEKS 1

Posted in Church, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 4, 2014| 1 Comment »

LOVE SEEKS #1AMMain Love Image 2014

INTRODUCING THE THEME FOR THE YEAR

This year we have a theme running through the entire year. The theme is Love.

I believe God has spoken to me over the last six months and given me the inspiration to lead our church on a love revolution. I am inviting you to join me in being changed by a deeper revelation of the love of God.

Here is our Key Verse for the year.

1 John 3:1

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 See what [[a]an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

God is love and to say that love is the answer seems trite and over simplified, yet I believe that for us as Christians the extent to which we understand that we are loved by God is the measure to which we have real life and can become whole and further, we can be an answer for other people.

Listen to this very important quote from a preacher called Graham Cooke –

“Our goal in this life is primarily to be radically loved by God and everything comes out of that place of love. So your goal is to let yourself be loved radically. Just as the Father has loved the Son, so He has every intention of loving you exactly like He loves Jesus. No more, no less. Jesus said, “Just as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you, abide in my love. Stay, dwell, remain. Don’t leave that place of being radically loved.” So whatever the Father is to Jesus, He is to you also. That’s favour.”

This will be a signature message to introduce the theme of Love for this year. I intend to give an overview and a panorama of the subject of Love so that it can be the basis of all our messages and our direction for this year.

When we say the word love, we are using a word with so many different meanings. We can use it in contexts like:

  • I love icecream.
  • A teenage girl says I love Harry from One Direction!
  • A Hollywood movie called “Love Actually” deals with all kinds of human love relationships.
  • The Beatles sang: Love, Love, Love, All ya need is love.
  • The bible says: Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church.
  • A mother loves her baby or her children.
  • The love of a dad for his kids is very important.
  • At the end of a phone call to my family I will say, “Love ya.”
  • For Christians we are called to love one another.
  • A slogan on a bill board when I was a teenager said “Make love not war”
  • A couple engaging in sex are said to be making love.
  • The love of the Father God is the subject of the whole bible.

All these different uses of the word love are legitimate, so what are we talking about this year? The love we are going to focus on this year is God’s love toward us and our love for one another and for the lost. Primarily the revelation of God’s love toward us is the revelation that can most radically change us and set us free to walk into the complete victory and place of sonship that God has ordained for us to walk in.

THE NEED

In my 36 years as a born again Christian and now 33 years full time ministry, I have seen the big picture of humanity and how messed up we are as human beings. Over the years we have counselled, loved and ministered to thousands of people who have needed real help to cope with life. You will not find a person who is completely 100% whole in their life, their soul, their inner world. You will not find a person who never fears, who never feels the tinge of failure, or is completely free from selfishness. Even those fortunate enough to be raised by Godly parents can have struggles with depression, or low self-esteem. So many struggle with illness, allergies, learning difficulties.

To say that life is all doom and gloom is far from the truth and most of us live out of a great sense of optimism and hope for the future and recognise that the world is not perfect and we make the best of every day. However, my point is that we are a people who have needs. We have a need to be saved, healed, set free and made whole. None of us can honestly say we have no needs, or that we don’t need God, that we are living in a victorious life always.

Now, our ability to receive the answers we need from God is so often blocked by our wrong believing about God’s love for us. Too often we see troubles as being punishment from God. At other times we think God doesn’t care about us and maybe He’s too busy to worry about little ol’ me.

If you could see the love God has for you and have a complete revelation of that love; you would receive answers from God, hear His voice, walk in trust and faith and rise to a wholeness that defines what a true believer is.

Let’s look at this key verse together:

1 John 3:1 – See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.(NIV)

1 John 1:3 – What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.(MESS)

Imagine being in an orphanage and waiting to be chosen by new prospective parents!

WIIFM – If you open your heart to receive revelation from God and seek Him for an understanding of His real love for you, then you will be radically transformed. You will enter into wholeness and sonship as a Christian believer.

THIS MONTH WE ARE SHARING THE SUB-THEME, LOVE SEEKS

God is seeking out lost people who He can save, heal and set free. He loves you unconditionally and He is seeking you out to find you. Look at this very important verse with me…

Luke 19:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

STORY

In 1989, an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. Surprisingly, such tragedies often bring out the best in people. Let me show you the loving heart of a father.

In the midst of chaos and destruction, he rushed to his son’s school. But instead of a school, he found a shapeless heap of rubble. Imagine what went through his mind. In the case of this father, the sight of rubble and ruin made him spring into action. He ran to the back corner of the building where his son’s class used to be and began to dig. Why? What real hope did he have? What were the chances that his son could have survived such destruction? All he knew was that he had made a promise to always be there for his boy. It was this promise that animated his hands and motivated his heart.

As he began to dig, well-meaning parents tried to pull him out of the rubble saying: “It’s too late!” “They’re dead!” “You can’t help!” “Go home!” “There’s nothing you can do!” Then the fire chief tried to pull him off the rubble by saying, “Fires and explosions are happening everywhere. You’re in danger. Go home!” Finally, the police came and said, “It’s over. You’re endangering others. Go home. We’ll handle it!”

But this father continued to dig for eight … 12 … 24 … 36 hours. Then, in the 38th hour, he pulled back a boulder and heard his son’s voice. Immediately, he screamed, “ARMAND!” Back came the words, “Dad!? I told them! I told the other kids that if you were still alive, you’d save me! You promised me, you’d always be here for me! You did it, Dad!” (Taken from Max Lucado’s book, “He Still Moves Stones”)

Obviously God sees all and knows all right? So for Jesus to be seeking the lost is not that He doesn’t know where they are. The truth is He knows where you’re at and He just wants to attract your attention. To seek to break into your hard shell of unbelief, or hurt or disappointment and make Himself known to you. To seek out the person’s attention and willingness to let God in. Love Seeks. Love is going out of its way to find the one who is truly valuable. Love will never give up, love will never quit. Love will continue until the end to seek and save the one that is of great value. God so loved and dearly prized the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

Love seeks.

In this month of January, we will be holding a prayer and fasting time. It’s a time to seek God for His blessing and favour to be upon our lives and our church this year.

If we give him the best part of our year, the first fruits, then we are honouring Him, putting Him first. This prayer and fasting time is a season to seek God for His blessing and favour upon your life and your family and your church. It is also a time to pray for the lost broken hurting and lonely people in our community who need to meet Jesus. I am seeking God for a revelation about His love and also for the blessing and favour of God to be upon my life and upon this church.

Next week I will give you resources to assist you in seeking God. Also there will be special times of prayer and seeking God at the church building. Make sure you set some time aside to seek God in prayer and try some fasting.

The result of God’s people seeking Him in prayer and fasting will be the revelation we receive. Our lives will be changed and the changed lives of others who hear the good news from us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

WHAT NOW

Decide to engage in the process. Decide to come next week and receive resources for the fasting time. Stay linked into the facebook page and emails from the church to receive special resources. Please respond and share what God is showing you as you seek Him through that three week period. Prepare your heart to seek God and determine that this year you will find the love of God in a powerful way.

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JESUS – WHAT IS HE DOING NOW?

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

INTRODUCING JESUS – RISEN AND LIVING – DEC 22, 2013 AM Introducing Jesus

Have you met Jesus? Yes? – Do you really know Him? Is there a desire in your heart to meet Him if you haven’t yet, or to get to know Him more if you have? Why wouldn’t you want to meet the most influential person in all of Human history, (http://tinyurl.com/n6bn3xz) especially when you consider His public life spanned a mere three and a half years!

Can I introduce Him to you? If you have met Him, can I show you more of Him than you know at present? To know Jesus is to have a complete life change. Actually there’s no way to meet Jesus and not have a life impacting experience!

This month we have spoken about Jesus to introduce Him to you and deepen your understanding of who He really is.

Week 1 – Born for pain – Jesus’ plan from the beginning was to suffer and die for the whole of mankind. He was born to die.

Week 2 – A life lived for others – The incredible passion of Jesus to love, serve and give to others.

Week 3 – The other side of Jesus – His dedication to purpose, a steely eyed determination to go to the cross.

Week 4 – Risen and Living – This week we see what is Jesus doing now. What has been His activity since He ascended up into heaven? Do you know what Jesus is doing right now?

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most well established events in history (see here http://tinyurl.com/n5kbad) having risen from the dead, of course Jesus is still alive and He is interacting with people’s lives all over the world. If you have religion – you have a dead founder such as Mohammed or Buddha and a set of rules to follow or learn. When you meet Jesus you begin a relationship with a living person. You begin a conversation with a person who is both fully God and fully man.

Think of the wonder of this reality. Before the moment of Jesus being conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary, He pre-existed in heaven from eternity. (By the way, humans do not pre-exist before birth, Humans begin their eternal life at conception and pass on into eternity at the death of our physical bodies.) He was in spirit form, infinite, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent. Then in one moment of time He was contracted to a span as the hymn writer says (http://tinyurl.com/krdwz6w ) and He became in the form of a human being.

Phil  2:6-7  Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [[b]possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not [c]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped [d]or retained,

7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and [e]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. (AMP)

Jesus had a body exactly like yours and mine. He had a body that felt pain, needed food, was subject to tiredness, every human emotion and function. That body of Jesus ascended into heaven after the resurrection. He is now seated on the right hand of the Father in heaven for eternity. Think about this – humanity has entered the Godhead! When we see Jesus at His second coming or if we pass before then, we will see, and meet and behold that same Jesus who ascended. He will still, and for eternity, have the nail scars in His hands and feet and the deep wound in His side.

Imagine the wonder and the gratitude of seeing those hands and feet. No wonder the angels fall before him and those who have gathered at His throne cast their crowns before Him.

Rev 4:9-10  And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (ESV)

So what is Jesus doing now that He has risen from the dead? Has He been in the Bahamas since then taking it easy, having accomplished all He purposed to do? Is there a holiday home in heaven where He relaxes until the time of His second coming? Let me fill you in on what He is doing now and every day until His coming again.  (You realise He’s coming back again, right?)

Sending the Holy Spirit

His very first task when He ascended was to send the Holy Spirit into the earth: John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. (NKJV) The work of the Holy Spirit is to help the church complete the call to take the gospel to the whole world and make disciples in every nation.  The work is not complete yet. Of the approximately 210 nations on earth only a few yet remain to be impacted by the gospel. Still there are many ethnic groups on earth who need to be reached with the gospel. Speaking of His second coming Jesus says, Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Build the church.

Jesus main focus through the Holy Spirit is to build the church. He said Matt 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[a] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b]shall not prevail against it. Jesus is overseeing the building of a church that will reach the whole earth. He is at work through the work of the Holy Spirit to raise up leaders who will preach the gospel, plant churches and pray for the will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Make intercession for us.

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. (AMP) Jesus who is seated in heaven Ephes 1:20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], ever lives to make intercession for us, pleading our case before the Father. As our advocate or Lawyer He makes a case for our redemption and deliverance, declaring that the faith with which we appropriate our salvation is sufficient to obtain the promises and enter into His family. Our prayer come up to heaven Rev 5:8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God’s people (the saints).

So when you need an answer or some help from above, and you call on Jesus, He is ready to make intercession for you at the throne of the Father. You are never alone. He is with you always even until the end of the world. (Matt  28:20)

We serve a loving Saviour and one who is always active to be with you and strengthen you every day you live in Him. So don’t do life alone. Invite Jesus into your life. Pray this prayer right now…

“Dear Lord Jesus, please come into my life, I turn away from my sinful lifestyle and I turn to you. Forgive all my sins and set me free. I chose to follow you for the rest of my life. I believe that you died on the cross for me and I believe that you rose again from the dead. Thank you Jesus. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer for the first time and you want to walk with Jesus please contact me via the comment box below.

Blessings,

Ps Craig Anderson.

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THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 15, 2013| 1 Comment »

INTRODUCING JESUS – THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL – SUNDAY 15TH DEC 2013 AM Introducing Jesus

Choose someone you would like to meet. Who would you choose? In all of human history, if you could choose to meet anyone, who would it be? Many of us have met Jesus, and we feel we know Him. But how well do you know Him? Would you like to know Him better? Listen as I share about the other side of Jesus.

What was Jesus like?

What was it like to meet Him and know Him? Can we get an insight into the experience that the 12 disciples of Jesus had as they met and travelled with Jesus for three and half years? He was, and is, the greatest figure in human history, He and His followers have made a bigger impact than any other person in history. Especially when you consider that he only walked the stage of life publically for three and a half years.

There was the people-person Jesus who preached simple but powerful messages, healed countless people and gathered the little children in His arms to bless them. This approachable Jesus, who healed foreigners even when He said He was called to Israel primarily, raised children to life from the dead, and gave a son back to his mother from the dead; had another side to His persona.

Jesus was incredibly focussed.

He had a mindset to that was unrelentingly pointed to one great purpose. His death.

The story began before the earth was formed.

Rev 13:8 And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice][a]from the foundation of the world.

In the beginning before time; the conversation may have gone something like this… The father says to the Son, Let us make man in our own image, male and female shall we create them. And they shall have dominion and rule the earth that we have made. Our love for them shall be complete. It is a love that shall cost us. What price shall we be prepared to pay for them? They shall need redemption. They shall need restoration and these things shall come at a cost, but whatever is of great value, our offspring, shall be bought with a price; and the price shall be that of blood. Jesus accepted the call and the charge pre-empting the words of Isaiah centuries later when asked who shall go for them?

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Then that which was written before the beginning of time but recorded by John was established: John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

The die was cast; the purpose set; the life of Jesus was destined for death and separation from the father for a time. He was now a man with a mission. And so He said:

Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Luke 9:51 Now when the time was almost come for Jesus to be received up [to heaven], He steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem.

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Even when His well-meaning disciples were reticent to accept is impending death, He spoke strongly against their opposition:

Matt 16:21-23 21 From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised [k]from death.

22 Then Peter took Him aside [l]to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and [m]charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!

23 But Jesus turned [n]away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are [o]minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.

Jesus single minded in His pursuit of His purpose was unassailable. He was a man born for purpose and nothing was going to dissuade Him from that purpose. Tell me if you can, what man is bent on death and the sacrifice of His life for others from the moment of His birth? Who in human history has determined to give His life for others as a long standing goal for their life? Can you think of one?

But this man, this God-man, who came from heaven was single minded and fixed in His purpose, so that the reason He came was clear and he remained unflinching to the end. His reason to live was that he may die, and not just die but die as a substitute, a ransom for many. There was the people-person side of Jesus but then there was this focussed, unflinching side of Jesus concerning His purpose. Every minute of every day He thought about why he came and He thought about what lay ahead of Him in Jerusalem at the last Passover.

Matt 16:21 21 From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised [a]from death.

Was He focussed? Yes. Was He intense? No, because even at His moment of death He gave a criminal on the cross beside Him the answer for eternal life. No power on earth or in heaven would be able to dissuade Him from the grand purpose of His life and that grand purpose was death.

What now?

Do you know Him?

And more than that what is the purpose of your life?

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LIVE FOR OTHERS

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »

INTRODUCING JESUS – A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS – SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2013 AMIntroducing Jesus

I know you know Him. You’ve read about Him. Almost everyone “knows” Him here in Australia. In fact 40% of Australians claim to be a Christian; although only 40% of those go to church regularly.  http://mccrindle.com.au/resources/Australian-Communities-Report_McCrindle-Research.pdf   and   http://www.ncls.org.au/default.aspx?sitemapid=2260

But do you really know Him? What is Jesus like? What would He say to you if you met Him today? How would He react to the world we now live in?

Really today’s world, although vastly different in terms of technology and how we spend our time and what knowledge is available, is actually just the same as the world in Jesus day when you consider the problems people face.

For example sickness, relationship breakdown, stress and anxiety, and poverty are all real problems today just like they were 2000 years ago. His answers and approach to your needs and your concerns is the same as His approach to people in every age.

So why would anyone want to know Jesus? – Wouldn’t you want to know the greatest figure in human history? If He rose from the dead as the bible says, He is still alive and can meet you and have an impact in your life today. Why be put off by the crowd. If others don’t want to know Him does that mean you have to follow suit?

My story. When I was invited to church (That’s where you meet Jesus, right?) in 1977 by my best friend at uni, I decided that I was curious to find out who this Jesus was and see what His claims were. I argued with myself (or maybe the devil) and said, “I’ve got an open mind, I can look and see what Jesus is doing and saying and make up my own mind.” At the time God was planning an encounter for me to meet Jesus, and I am so glad that happened!

So what is Jesus really like? – The New Testament tells of His birth to a virgin, growing up as a carpenter’s son, and living in Egypt for the first few years of His life. Stunning the religious leaders at age 13 with His knowledge and wisdom, He only surfaced as a public figure at age 30 for three and half short years, until his torturous death on a cross at 33. It would be difficult to find one individual in any sphere of life who had such a world-wide impact and long lasting impact after only three and a half years of public life.

In the New Testament there are recorded many of His sermons and sayings together with 25 particular healing miracles, eight miracles in nature, five reports of multitudes being healed and three people raised from the dead. His messages are the most impacting things recorded, and how He treated people is what we will focus on today.

Jesus lived a life focussed on others.

Read with me this passage: Luke 8:40-56 (ESV)

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,[e] she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter[f] said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Jesus went among the people. You could touch Him. Today people who are famous or have megastar status seldom go among the crowds for fear of being accosted or injured. Royalty cautiously shake hands across a fence erected for crowd control. These people have fame, notoriety or entertainment value but Jesus topped all that by being able to heal absolutely anything on the spot. Can you imagine the crowd attraction? With celebrities today there’s a distance from the crowd but with Jesus He was in the midst of the crowd all the time. Jesus allowed this and moved among the people.

  1. Jesus was pressed on every side. The crowd pressure was enormous. Imagine the clamour to get healed! I saw what this was like in Ballarat when I was assisting a well know healing ministry person John Mellor to pray for people. JESUS LIVED FOR OTHERS
  2. Jesus made time for a needy person. This woman came to Jesus and she was essentially unclean according to the Jewish law, when a woman had an issue of blood she could not come out among people. JESUS LIVED FOR OTHERS.
  3. Jesus met Jairus, he was a member of the group that had so radically opposed Jesus because they did not like Him. Jesus showed mercy to him and raised his daughter from the dead. JESUS LIVED FOR OTHERS.

Jesus lived His whole life focussed on others. He made such a huge impact on this world, not just because He said really wise things, and not just because He healed people miraculously and raised them from the dead; but He was God and He had power to transform a life from sinful and broken to clean and righteous.

His miracles and lifestyle give evidence to his claims that He is God and He does have the power to transform a life. While His life is miraculous and amazing, it’s His death that we focus on because everything that you need is accomplished by His death. Jesus died for you. He was perfect and without sin and yet He took the punishment for sin that every one of us rightly deserve. For everything you and I have ever done wrong in our lives, we will give account. God knows everything, and sees everything. Because He is righteous, He must judge all sin; but the good news is Jesus choose to take the rap for you. That’s love! Your response? Knowing about Jesus is one thing but knowing Him is entirely different. You can read all about a famous person and know their facts and history but only when you have met them and become friends do you actually know them. You must know Jesus before you can see the reality of what He has done for you. You need an encounter. You need to meet Him. Jesus loves you. He lived for others to show His motive is love. But most importantly, He died for you.

What to do now. Jesus showed His great love for people all through His life and even more so by dying for them at the cross. He asked them for response, He said if you believe in me, you would have everlasting life. John 3:16.

If you’re already a Christian, then live this life like He did. Live it for others. Let his example of Jesus life be your pattern of living. What does that look like for you?

 

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BORN FOR PAIN

Posted in Church, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 30, 2013| 1 Comment »

INTRODUCING JESUS – DECEMBER 2013, 1ST – BORN FOR PAIN

 

What were you born for?

Every mother holding her baby in her arms dreams for her child – destiny, purpose and greatness.

Baby-sleeping-in-mothers-arms

JESUS WAS BORN FOR PAIN

The very purpose of His birth, His coming was to be destined for pain.

Luke 2:17-19 (AMP) – The shepherds who heard the angels announce the birth of Jesus visited His parents Joseph and Mary.

17 And when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child,

18 And all who heard it were astounded and marvelled at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary was keeping [h]within herself all these things ([i]sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart.

However Isaiah records the purpose of His life like this…

The message bible puts the colour into the story…

Isaiah 53:2-6 (MESS)

2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
on him, on him.

Jesus Himself said of His purpose…

John 12:27 (AMP)

27 Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]? But it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it].

JESUS WAS BORN FOR PAIN

And on that day when Jesus was crucified on the cross, right there stood His mother, Mary. We cannot imagine the pain that pierced her heart that day. The agony of watching her son suffer an unimaginable torture of crucifixion. How much more the agony knowing His innocence and His glorious compassion for others. The monstrous injustice of His suffering would have ripped her heart out in that very hour.

Jesus had a heavenly father too.

At that moment His heavenly father turned His back on His only begotten son. And we read

Mark 15:33-34 (AMP)

33 And when the sixth hour (about midday) had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour (about three o’clock).

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?—which means, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me [[a]deserting Me and leaving Me helpless and abandoned]?

All of this was His destiny – Jesus, born for pain so that He could bring many sons home to glory.

Heb 2:10 (AMP)

10 For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.

WHY?

We had become sons of shame.

Gal 5:19-21(AMP)

19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),

21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

What became of us? We were born for destiny purpose and greatness, yet sin created a detour for our path and we ended up broken, wounded and filled withal manner of wrong thoughts and actions.

Jesus was born for pain.

He was born for this one great purpose.

Matt 20:28 (AMP)

28 Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free].

He died to pay the price of our redemption. To buy us back form the porn broker; to redeem us from an eternity of separation from our rightful owner.

Jesus eternal in the heavens before time began came to earth, born of a virgin and became a man. He was and is fully God and at the same time fully man. The hymn writer Charles Wesley wrote of this when he wrote…

Let earth and Heaven combine,
Angels and men agree,
To praise in songs divine
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made Man.

He laid His glory by,
He wrapped Him in our clay;
Unmarked by human eye,
The latent Godhead lay;
Infant of days He here became,
And bore the mild Immanuel’s Name.

JESUS, BORN FOR PAIN – He died for you. To lift you out of sickness, corruption and death, to give you new life; because you were…

BORN FOR MORE!

kid and plane no inc

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