Luke 2:8-21 & Hebrews 10:5-7Joseph Damien was a Belgian priest who went in 1873 to minister to leopards on the land of Molokai, Hawaii. As soon as he arrived, he began trying to build friendships with the residence of the leprechaun colony but they rejected him. He poured himself into this ministry, building a small chapel and holding worship services. But hardly anyone came. After 12 long hard years he was about to give up. While standing on the pier about to border ship that would take him back to Belgium, he looked down at his hands. The white spots he saw could me and only one thing. He had contracted leprosy. So instead of going home, he returned to his work in the leper colony. The news of his disease spread throughout the community within hours. The following Sunday when he arrived at the chapel, the small building was filled to overflowing. He had always started his sermon with the words my fellow believers. But this morning he began my fellow lepers. Those three words express the ultimate sacrifice and love of a man not only willing to live among the outcast but also to become like them. The wonder of Jesus is coming into our world is that He knew all it would mean and yet He still chose to come. His birth meant becoming a man not only for 33 years but forever. We are told in the book of Hebrews 10:5-7 that a body was prepared for Him. ‘Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ Here we come face-to-face with a mystery so deep that wonder and worship can be our only response. Imagine the moment in heaven and the son of God depart. God becoming a foetus. God has a new born baby. God as a child. When Kings and world leaders travel to engage in greater affairs of state, they dress themselves in their finest apparel and surround themselves with all the trapping of their wealth and status. When the Queen visited America a number of years ago her £4000 of luggage included two outfits for every occasion. A mourning outfit in case someone died, 40 pints of plasma and white kid leather toilet seat covers. She took her own hairdresser, two valets and a host of other attendance. When Jesus, the king of Kings came to this earth, He clothed Himself with dust. John Henry Jowett, tried to capture the moment and meaning when he said ‘Who would have had sufficient daring of imagination to conceive that God Almighty would have appeared among men as a little child? We should have conceived something sensational, phenomenal, catastrophic but, He became as a little child. God emptied Himself, He let in the light as our eyes were able to bear it’. The Christian writer and theologian JB Phillips once wrote a story of an angel describing the splendours of the universe to a junior. The whirling galaxies in blazing Suns, they crossed the infinite distances of space to a galaxy of 500 billion stars. The senior angel pointed to a small sphere turning slow slowly on its axis. It looked as dull as a dirty tennis ball to the little angel, whose mind had been filled with the immensity and glory of what he had just seen. ‘Watch that one particularly’, said the higher ranking angel pointing with his finger. ‘It looks very small to me said the little angel. What so special about that one?’ He listened in stunned disbelief as the senior angel told him that this planet, small and insignificant was the renowned visited planet. ‘Do you mean that our glorious prince stooped down so low as to become one of those creeping, crawling creatures of that floating ball?’ ‘I do and I don’t think he would like you to call them creeping, crawling creatures. For strange as it may seem to us, He loves them. He went down to visit them to lift them up to become like Him.’ The little angel looked blank. Such a thought was almost beyond his comprehension. We live in a universe of parallel world. One consists of lakes, mountains and temples and ends with shepherds watching their flocks by night. The other of Angels and supernatural forces and places called heaven and hell. One night in the cold, dark and starlit sky those two worlds came together. Little wonder a choir of Angels broke out in spontaneous song, disturbing not only a few shepherds but the entire universe. The world would never be the same again. Let the Wonder of His coming capture You Again As we consider the wonder of Jesus coming… Let your heart bow in worship. Let your soul rise in gratitude. Let your life be filled with praise. He came for you. He came to save you. He came to lift you. He came to make you His own. What a Saviour. What a King. What a wonder.
five simple ways to help us host the presence of God to greater measure in our lives.
Honouring God’s Presence 2 Samuel 6:5-11 From the beginning of time, our God has always wanted to be with His people. In the Garden of Eden, He walked with Adam in the cool of the day. In the wilderness, He dwelled among Israel in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. In the temple, His glory filled the Holy of Holies. What the Ark represented in the Old Testament, Christ Jesus is to us in the New He is Emmanuel — God with us! And through the power of the Holy Spirit, He is God in us! When we learn to honour His presence, to host His glory we will see His blessing, His power and His transformation in every part of our lives. 1.The Presence of God Is Holy In 2 Samuel 6, David was bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem. The Ark represented the throne, the covenant and the glory of God. But along the way, Uzzah reached out and touched the Ark and he died. Why? Because God’s presence is holy. We live in a time where people have become too casual with the presence of God. But let me remind you He is still the same holy God. Hebrews 12:28–29 says: ‘Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.’ When we consciously become aware of His presence, it’s not time to scroll, chat or spectate it’s time to bow. To listen, To yield. Because the King of Glory is in the room! Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and cried, ‘Woe is me!’ John saw Him in Revelation and fell at His feet as though dead. When God shows up, everything unclean has to bow down. Holiness attracts His presence but pride repels it. The presence of God is not a stage performance, it’s sacred ground. That’s why Moses took off his shoes in front of the burning bush because God said, “The place where you stand is holy ground.” If we want His presence to dwell with us, we must honour His holiness. Purity prepares the way for His glory! 2. The Presence of God Brings Blessing Look again at v.11: And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. When the presence of God came in, everything changed! Peace replaced confusion. Prosperity replaced lack. Healing came to the sick. Joy came to the sorrowful. That’s what happens when you make room for the presence of God He blesses everything connected to you! Psalm 16:11 says: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. The blessings aren’t in the music or the preacher they’re in His presence. Too many people chase blessings but forget the Blesser. If you chase His presence, blessings will chase you! Jesus said in John 14:23 “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. When you honour Jesus, He makes your heart His home. He doesn’t just visit on Sunday He dwells with you daily! When you host His presence, He will do in moments what your efforts couldn’t do in years! 3. Jesus, the Living Ark of God’s Presence In the Old Testament, the presence of God was carried in the Ark a box of acacia wood overlaid with gold, with cherubim on top and the mercy seat in between. But in the New Testament, the presence of God took on flesh and walked among us. John 1:14 says: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ Jesus is the living Ark of God’s presence. In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form Colossians 2:9. He carried the glory. He revealed the Father. And now, through the Holy Spirit, He lives in us!** John 14:16–17 says: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. Conclusion That means the same presence that blessed Obed-Edom now lives inside you! You don’t have to wait for the Ark to come down the street you carry the presence of Jesus everywhere you go! Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, When you lift your hands in worship, Heaven meets earth because His glory flows through you. That’s why the enemy fights to distract you, to discourage you, to defile you — because if he can silence a carrier of the presence, he can stop revival! You are not empty vessels, you are carriers of the presence of God. When you honour His presence, when you keep your heart pure and your spirit open, God can move through you to heal, to deliver and to set captives free!
Jesus — The Cornerstone of Our Strength Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”.- 1 Peter 2:6 We all know what it’s like to be shaken, to have the proverbial rug pulled out from under our feet. The fear that comes with instability and in those moments we wonder where our help will come from?The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 Every one of us will face storms and times of trial, testing, and tribulation. But I want to remind you that our strength does not come from what we have, who we know, or what we can do. Our strength comes from Christ Jesus. The solid rock on which we stand when everything else is shaking! When the winds of life howl, when the storms rage, when your faith is tested in the fire — Jesus is still the foundation that holds you steady. 1. Strength in the Midst of Fear God says in Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. The presence of trouble does not mean the absence of God. He says, ‘I am with you.’ That means when we walk through the valley, He’s walking beside us. When we feel weak, He’s the One sustaining and holding us. You may feel surrounded by trouble but you are more surrounded by God! He is the unshakable Cornerstone holding you together when everything else falls apart. He is our Rock when the ground beneath us gives way. He is our Light when the darkness presses in. He is our Fortress when the battle rages. Jesus, the Cornerstone is not shaken when the world shakes. Build your life on Him, and you’ll stand when others fall. 2. Strength in Contentment Philippians 4:11–13 The Apostle Paul says,… for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. This isn’t the boast of human power — this is the cry of Christ-dependence! When Paul was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned and hungry he didn’t crumble because his strength was not his own. When Christ is your cornerstone, your strength does not rise and fall with your situation. You can face plenty or poverty, sickness or health, because His strength is constant even when your circumstances change! 3. Strength from the Inner Man Ephesians 3:16 Paul prays : ‘…according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being’ ,Hallelujah! The Spirit of God strengthens us from the inside out. When the world says, ‘You look tired’, God says, ‘You’re being renewed’. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. You may be worn in the flesh but Holy Spirit is pouring power into your spirit! That’s why Pentecostal believers shout in the fire because the fire doesn’t consume our faith, it consolidates it. it doesn’t smother it , it solidifies faith and shapes our character. 4. Strength in Surrender • Paul declared Galatians 2:20, ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’ Listen church, the secret to strength is not trying harder, it’s surrendering deeper. When we stop fighting in our own strength and let Christ live through us, we tap in and find a supernatural endurance that the world can’t understand. That’s why 2 Corinthians 12:10 says: ‘For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ • Our weakness becomes the doorway for the strength of Christ to walk in. 5. Strength Anchored in Hope Trials may shake you but hope anchors you. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain Hebrews 6:19 When life feels uncertain, when your prayers seem unanswered, hope keeps you grounded. Jesus is the anchor that grips the Rock of Ages. The waves may roar but the anchor holds! – A modern hymn (We have Hope) We have prayed, When faced with fear When heavy days, Have turned to years We still believe, Your kingdom come God with us, Your will be done Your will be done. We have hope there is life beyond the grave Heaven waits, Our Saviour made a way Raised with Him, we will live forevermore We have hope in Jesus Christ, our Lord 6. Strength Through Victory Paul declares: ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.’ Romans 8:37 God has equipped us to not just survive but thrive, not to be overwhelmed but be an overcomer. Not to concede but to conquer. Trials don’t define you; they refine you. Testing doesn’t destroy you; it displays the glory of God through you. Through the blood of Jesus, you don’t fight for victory, you fight from victory. The Cornerstone already conquered death, hell and the grave. – Glory to God. 7. Strength in Tribulation (Distress, Suffering, Trials) John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Jesus didn’t promise a storm-free life, He promised victory in the storm! The same Jesus who slept in the boat during the storm, is the same One who rebuked the wind. • He is both peace in the storm and power over the storm! 8. Strength in Perseverance Child of God, don’t be surprised when the fire comes. It’s the mark of faithful people. …all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12 • But every flame only forges stronger faith. The enemy’s attacks are proof that you are a threat to his kingdom! • Keep standing on the Cornerstone — He won’t let you fall. 9. Strength from Trust “You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:11 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! Psalm 40:4 Trust turns trials into triumph. When our heart is fixed on God, no weapon formed against us can prosper. • When we trust Him, we stop worrying about how the story ends because you know who holds the pen and is writing our story. Conclusion: Trials may test you, but they cannot topple you when your foundation is Jesus Christ. When you feel weak, remember, He is your strength. When you feel lost, remember, He is your light. When you feel broken — remember, He is your Rock. Lift up your hands and declare: ‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!’
Key Text: 2 Corinthians 5:14 -21 We’re living in a time where particularly Gen Z and Alpha are interested in identity. Gender identity, Sexual orientation Identity, Racial Identity, Political identity, Social identity. People now often identify themselves by these groups, characteristics or preferences. Question: Let me ask you about your identity, how do you feel are you comfortable with it? Do you know who you are and how you identify yourself? This is a great question to answer because until you know who you are, you will be plagued by fears, insecurities, anxiety, lack of direction and you can inadvertently find yourself on a road to nowhere. But the good news is there a sovereign, almighty God who anticipated the questions of the heart and so provided answers to these significant questions of life. One of the greatest lies told to those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus relates to our old and new natures. So many believers live under the oppression of the lie that God in His grace may see us as clean, but at our core we’re really not. We live as if redemption in Jesus is like clean clothes covering up the dirt and filth that will always remain, and as if redemption is our get-to-heaven-free card. We hold fast to a belief that salvation was more of an illusion of redemption, than an actual transformation. And those lies act like weights dragging us back to the ways and sins of our former selves. Scripture however, could not speak more clearly of the opposite reality. Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 If you are in Christ today—if you are saved—then you are a new creation. The old hasn’t stuck around until you die; ‘The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.’ You see, the fact that you have been transformed into a new creation doesn’t have anything to do with your sins, failures and beliefs. Transformation in Jesus is based on His power, not ours. Truth is based on His sacrifice, not our actions. You are a new creation totally and completely by the grace of God, apart from any of your works—as righteous or sinful as they may be. ‘For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.’ Our history does not define us and our sins are not final. Don’t live today with our experience as our truth. Don’t see yourself based on your works but rather on the truth of what Scripture says about you. If you will begin to believe that God truly has already transformed you into a new creation and reconciled you to Himself simply by grace, then you will live and act on a foundation that births freedom and righteousness. If However, you set your mind on the things of the flesh, which is in opposition to the reality of transformation already worked in you at the cross, then you will live chained to the ways of your former self Romans 8:6 For to set your mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Take time today to refect on the new nature in Jesus. Allow Scripture and the Holy Spirit to help you see yourself as one transformed and set free by grace. Commit yourself to live with grace as your source rather than your own strength. And experience freedom today that comes from living with a renewed mind. Where does your life not line up with the truth that you are a new creation? What is entangling you to the things of the world? Where are you not experiencing the life of the Spirit? For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[a] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4 Confess any sin to Go and ask for His help in living by the Spirit. Ask Holy Spirit for a revelation of what it looks like to live with him as your source rather than your own strength. Ask Him for a heart-level revelation of your new nature. Foundational to living a life that lines up with the truth of who God says you are, is living by grace. In our own strength we can accomplish nothing. We have no power over sin in and of ourselves. We have no power to live free from the ways of the world when we try to live based on our works. That’s why Romans 8:3 says, “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.” He fulfilled the requirement of the law that we might live by grace. He set us free from living in our own strength by filling us with Holy Spirit, our great Helper. Stop living in your own strength and learn to live by grace. Learn to feel, think, and act on the foundation of grace. Our heavenly Father who loves us has given us allow need to live as a new creation. 2 Peter 1:3 ‘His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.’ He has done it all. So take hold of who you are in Jesus and experience a life transformed by the reality of God’s power and love. It’s not enough just to know what Scripture says. It’s not enough to be able to recite verses like 1 John 3:1 ‘See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are’ Until in our heart of hearts we believe the truth of Scripture, we will base our entire life on whatever it is we value most. If we value the opinion of man over God’s word, our identity will be founded on the fleeting ad fickle opinions of others. If we look to our circumstances to define us, then our identity will change with the passing of seasons. But if the identity we believe in our heart is founded on God’s truth, then our self-worth, perspectives, decisions and beliefs will be unshakable and yield an abundant life. Take time today to assess your own heart. Look honestly at what you believe about self. Where are you looking for your identity? Place your trust in the truth of God’s word that the identity held in your heart would come from your loving Creator.
To show that Jesus is the cornerstone and the firm foundation, the unshakeable rock of our faith
David Lucas delivers a clear message about how salvation is received through Christ Jesus alone.
A Dedicated Life Romans 6:1-14• The word ‘present’ or ‘yield’ is mentioned two times by Paul in Romans 6:13, which are commands concerning dedication. • The first one is a prohibition command: ‘Do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness.’ The second ‘present’ is a positive command: ‘but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life…’ • The Apostle Paul also makes mention here of to whom we offer our lives because there are two different objects. The first is to sin and the other is to God. • Jesus in John 8:34 is recorded as saying, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.’ • We should no longer be slaves to sin, don’t let sin take possession of us but let God own us, influence us, let God use us and show His glory through us. • It’s a choice we make in every every moment, whether to give ourselves to sin or to God. We cannot be neutral. • In fact the Bible tells us that our natural state is that of sin Romans 3:23 ‘…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ so because we all start from a place of sin, we all need rescuing and saving from the power and effects of sin. • Again the writer of Ecclesiastes 7:20 says: ‘Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.’ • We each have one life, two choices (live to the flesh or live for Jesus) and one chance. Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. • Jesus Christ rescued us from the master of sin. However, we must continue to dedicate ourselves and our bodies to God to serve God. This is a deliberate and determined commitment, to serve God and it is also a choice of our will. • So Let’s Talk About the Dedicated Life. • Firstly, when we dedicate our lives to God we count ourselves dead to sin. Because a person who dedicates themselves to God is a person who has died to sin. Romans 6:10-11 gives us the context For the death He died He died to sin (Jesus), once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. • That is, sin has no power in our bodies, no work, no right and is no longer the primary driver/motivator in our daily living. • Sin still wants to work in us and have dominion over us but through the life of Christ Jesus working in us through Holy Spirit, that is no longer possible. • We die to sin because we, who belong to Jesus Christ, know the value of our own lives, so we don't allow sin to defile our new lives, neither do we need to seek spiritual satisfaction from sin. • No longer interested in worldly sins because of the glorious joyful life that comes from God and through Jesus. • What does it mean to count ourselves dead to sin? In fact, we are already dead to sin. The words ‘consider yourselves’ v.11 is actually a kind of reminder. • We should always remind ourselves that we are people who have died to sin and should no longer be controlled by sin. • We need to actively see ourselves dead to sin. Otherwise, even when we are willing to do everything that pleases God, we are still plagued by sin. • Romans 7:15 ‘For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want but do the very thing I hate.’ Romans 7:19 ‘For I do not do the good I want but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.’ • The passage describes the deep internal struggle between Paul’s spiritual desire to obey God and his sinful nature still working out of law. • Law is good but it cannot save us from sin • God right at the beginning of His relationship with us told us the principle Genesis 4:7 speaking to Cain ‘…if you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you and you must rule over it.(Dominate it)” • Secondly, when we dedicate our lives to God, we see ourselves live for God in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus means that we live a life that is in union, cooperation, harmony, concert with Christ, as v.8 says: ‘If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him’ • It describes the fundamental reality of salvation, that we are united to Christ. Our union with the living Christ is the essential truth of our new and eternal existence. • We see ourselves live for God because Christ lives in us. Just as Paul said in Galatians 2:20: ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’ • Our new life in Christ translates/moves us out of a self-centered world into a God-centered world. Our first thought is not what pleases us, but what would please God. • The Method of Dedicating Our Lives. • The way we dedicate our lives is to offer any part of ourselves to God. A person who does not consecrate their life to God by default, gives their body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, and gives permission rights for sin to dominate their body. Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. • The Christian who dedicates their body to God will no longer be ruled by sin, but led by Holy Spirit and covered by the grace of God. • To dedicate ourselves to God is to say that every part of us is completely in God's hands, and we will with increased measure do those things that are pleasing to Him. • Our tongue are a great example, as James 3:9-10 said: With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers these things ought not to be so.’ The tongue dedicated to God should only used to praise God and not to curse others. • The Result of Our Dedication • When our body is dedicated to God, it’s like matching up the outside with who we really are on the inside. Instead of focusing on pleasing ourselves with our bodies, we are focused on pleasing God. • Conclusion • If you want to experience the fullness of your new life offered in Christ, you need to offer to God your whole. Because offering ourselves & life to God is the evidence that we have really been transformed by Christ Jesus.
Paul Matthews brings the series 'Equipping The Saints' based on the gifts of Ephesians 4:11-12 to a conclusion. In this message he looks at the grace gift of the teacher.
The Shepherding Grace Ephesians 4:7-16 • Jesus is our perfect example of a shepherd, more than that not just ‘a good shepherd’ as others may be but He is ‘the good shepherd’ totally unique in character. Read: John 10:1-6 • The shepherd would be the door into the sheepfold and this tells us two things: • First the shepherd would give His life for the sheep because any intruder would literally have to go through Him. • Secondly, If you are going to get in you must go through him, there is no other legitimate way of getting in. John 14:6 I am the way , the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. • Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, • 1 Peter 2:25 gives us some clue to understanding why we need a shepherd For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer (Bishop) (Episkopos/Episcopol) of your souls. • A bishop is someone charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others, are done right. • Paul’s pastoral letter to Titus demonstrates this. It was intended to offer encouragement and wisdom to Titus whilst he endured opposition from ungodly people and legalism within his congregations. Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. • While Paul was in Miletus (Turkey) he wrote to the Christians in Ephesus region Acts 20:28 with this charge, …Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (Bishops), to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. • Jesus uses the analogy of shepherds and sheep again, talking about His church when He meets Peter for breakfast after the resurrection John 21:15-17 and charges Peter to feed His sheep. • Notice the sheep are not Peter’s however, he is commissioned to help the shepherd. • And that’s the role of Pastors, the church is not ours but we are commissioned by Jesus Himself through Holy Spirit, to help look after some of the sheep. • 1 Peter 5:1-4 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion (By force), but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering (bring under my power, conform to my will) over those in your charge (God’s heritage), but being examples (image formed by a blow, imprint, a seal) to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. • The church has defaulted into calling anyone in any kind of church leadership pastor whether they have a shepherding grace or heart, we call them pastor. • What Does A Shepherding Grace look like? • Shepherds create an environment for the love, care and needs of the body. Strong sense of communal and relational well-being. • But can become risk adverse, co-dependent, exclusive, over protective and highly cautious. • Shepherd knows His sheep by name John 10:3 • Leads them out, no sense of being driven gentle encouragement. • Restore and find lost sheep – an isolated sheep is a vulnerable sheep (no sense of direction) Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, everyone to his own way. Luke 15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ • The Shepherding grace is there in time of need. • The shepherding grace protects the sheep. • Ephesians 4:12 equipping - making fit, preparing, training, perfecting, making fully qualified for service. • Slide: Peacemaker, protector, helper, Caregiver, reconciler, nurturing. • We look at others through the lens of our own grace gifts. Don’t measure someone else by your grace.
This is an introduction to the Evangelistic grace in Ephesians 4
Pastor Ian brings an introduction to the five grave gifts of Ephesians 4 and looks at the idea that for the church to function properly and be healthy. All the gifts should be evident through the body of Christ.
Sarah Whittleston Elim's National Director of Prayer brings a practical message encouraging us to pray, listen and act .
Key Text: Mark 6:30-34 The proverb ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ – Welsh writer and historian James Howells 1659 All work and no play makes jack: Heart attack material, makes jack prone to anxiety, makes Jack work harder and less productive. Makes Jack’s relationships prone to stress. Makes Jack a ticking time bomb. Makes Jack a pain in the neck to others. Makes Jack’s children dislike him. Makes Jack miserable. We live in a world increasingly driven by deadlines and moving with increased momentum to a 24/7 mentality. You may argue that it is more convenient - but is it natural? is it normal? is it necessary? God wants us to burn well but He does not want us to burn out. Burning well looks like a burning bush that is bright and attractive but does not consume the carrier. Exodus 3:2 Burning well is ‘a light shining before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’ Matthew 5:16 If we are going to enjoy the journey, having discovered the meaning for life, then we must learn to play. Our meaning is truly only found in Christ and is a mixture of purpose (Why am I here?) and significance (I want my life to count). We become much better people when we discover the power of God’s rest in our lives. Rest & Relaxation is Spiritual…Come Away with me Jesus did not tell His disciples how to rest, He showed them, He takes them to a place rest. This is what he does Psalm 23:2 He leads me to waters of rest. When we walk with Jesus, rest should be part of our understanding, thinking and practice. Rest is a normal expression of spirituality but more than that it’s learning to rest with Him. If we only see rest as a physical thing, we will struggle to connect with the potential power of rest. Because rest does not start with our body, it starts in our spirit and works to every other area of our lives. From the beginning in Eden God established the principle of learning to live out of rest and work out of wholeness. The crowds can wait but rest can’t ‘Come away with me.’ Rest & Relaxation is Relational… by yourselves There are moments when we need solitude, to be alone to rest and relax and there is nothing wrong with this. There is a dynamic of rest to be found in the context of relationships that cannot be found alone. Jesus shows us that it is possible to relax with others, not just including them but showing that our relationship with them is actually part of rest. There is power and healing in the company of good friends and family. Their presence, reassurance and commitment is part of the rejuvenating process of rest and relaxation. When God came down in the cool of the day. He came to walk with Adam and Eve. They would learn together to walk with Him. Enjoy Him and live in the power of rest with each other. Rest and Relaxation is Emotional…to a quiet place Jesus was saying, Let’s go somewhere where your mind and emotions can unwind and have moments without demand. We all need this. In our modern world with improved communications there is the possibility of always being on call. text messages, social media, emails. Without discernment we buy into the idea that we cannot live without all these things…we can. If I’m busy it means I’m important, even if that were true (and it isn’t) we cannot be busy all the time. Holidays, rest days, times away from the demands allow our emotions to heal, rest and recover. Stepping away serves to remind us that our identity is not in what we do. Because the message of the gospel tells us that our identity is received not achieved. What can we do to continue to burn well and not burn out? A change of Pace – Slow down a little. A change of Place – Coffee out instead of at home encourages mental & physical enjoyment of rest. A change of Practice – Be intentional in your rhythms of rest. A change of Purpose – Save ourselves not the world. A healthy you, gives the world a better chance. First and foremost Jesus says 'Come away with me...'
The Bible exhorts us not to come before God with empty hands. God is sovereign, Lord over all things in heaven and earth, the almighty Holy one, awesome in splendour and so we should definitely be prepared bring gifts when we come before Him. This is the traditional way that you would honour someone, by bringing gifts. And it’s the background context of Exodus 34:20, when the Lord says, ‘No one shall appear before me empty-handed.’ It was a covenant act, remembering how God had brought them out of slavery, redeemed the nation of Israel. Jesus had much to say about what and how we carry things Matthew 11:28-30 ‘Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ 1.We Are Not Carrying Anything More Than We Need. Anxiety, Fear, Guilt, Regret, Shame, Unforgiveness Colossians 2:13-15. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. Nailing it to the cross’ tells us that Jesus took away the charges and debts of sin against humanity by being crucified. It tells us about the cancellation of the legal demands put upon us by sin and tells us that there is true, final, once for all forgiveness of sins. – Hallelujah! Tells us we no longer have to carry the things we were carrying, before we met Jesus. 1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 2.God Can Fill Them ‘God gives where He finds empty hands.’ In our walks of faith, at times instead of encountering Jesus, we encounter feelings of insecurity, loneliness, inadequacy. We nurse a spiritual longing for the reassurance of God’s presence, in the emptiness. In these moments, we find that God not only sees our struggles but is right there beside us, ready to fill those empty spaces with His unfailing love. Understanding that He is with us, helps us to confront our insecurities and inadequacies. Filling us instead with renewed faith, hope and strength to keep going. Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. 3.Lift Up Holy Hands Our hands are so expressive and when we bring our fingers into play well there’s not limits to what we can communicate. Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice 4.Posture NOT Position Ourselves to Receive. Not about where we position ourselves geographically but where our hearts are postured toward Him. Posture because it speaks to the personal Not the peripheral. The internal not the external. Psalm 143:8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 5.Posture Ourselves to Surrender In every scenario of surrender, the victor always tells the one surrendering to ‘drop whatever is in their hands’ Concern is that whatever is in their hands may cause harm. God has a concern that if we continue to hold onto somethings when He calls us to surrender, we’re going to harm ourselves. Our empty hands signals our humility and dependence upon a sovereign God. The Bible teaches that surrender involves submitting to God's will and trusting Him completely. It encourages us to surrender our will to His, take up our cross and follow Christ. Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane postured Himself Luke 22:41And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, Biblical surrender emphasises that true life is found in dying to self for His sake. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me 6.Pick Up What We Need At the Right Time (Not the same all the time sword, shield, incense of prayer, others, tools to reap the harvest, tools to prune, strengthen) Different season, times, cycles of our lives means that we will put some things down in order that we might pick up something different and necessary for the season we are in. Prophecy, teaching, encouraging, giving, mercy, wisdom, faith, discernment, helps, administration, Intercession. Wilderness, Waiting Psalm 37:7, Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him… Busy, Tests & Trials, Warfare, HappyJames 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 7.Leads Us to Worship God When we become aware of the poverty/ lack of our position before a Holy God. We see with renewed eyes the gift of Christ Jesus. Renewed revelation leads us into a place of worshipping Him. Psalm 63:4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Just as Moses lifted his hands in Exodus 17:11 during Israel’s battle with the Amalekites that resulted in victory when his hands were raised. So too today, we can lift our hands in expectation of divine help and encounter. Conclusion To be poor in spirit, to have empty hands is the first mark of a person who walks with God.
In this message Mandla Dube shares about the God who delights in rewarding His people who are obedient to His voice, call and direction.
Unless the Lord… Of the 1 005 songs of Solomon, only this psalm and Psalm 72 are attributed to him in the book of psalms. It’s a psalm that is neither prayer or praise addressed to God but instead is an observation about godly living, more like the book of proverbs. In the first verse right from the get go, we see ‘The Lord’ and the ‘House’ brought together. These two things should lead us to think about the temple because the temple is the dwelling place, the house of God. And it speaks directly to us. Apostle Paul reminds us 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy and you are that temple. Unlike the proverbs that predominantly sets before us, good and bad behaviour. This Psalm very quickly brings us back to the main focus reflected in Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. – 1 of this psalm Unless the Lord builds the house those who build it labour in vain. Solomon says, all the honest hard work in the world is in vain, Unless the Lord builds… rather than you, yourself being the person you rely on. These verses are a condensed version of what Jesus Himself says in Matthew 6:25 34 Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or drink. Don’t be anxious. Don’t try and ‘make it happen’ Instead trust that Jesus has got it, that He through Holy Spirit will work things out for your good and to your advantage. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 2 Samuel 6:6 You will remember David returning the Ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem after recovering it from the Philistines ...And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. In that moment it seemed the right thing to do. - You too maybe in a moment where in your own understanding it seems the right thing to do. But there is a warning 2 Samuel 6:3 …Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart. The Lord never ‘drives’ instead He ‘Leads’ us beside waters of rest Psalm 23:2 v.3 ‘Behold children are a heritage from the Lord…’ This is speaking to us spiritually, propheticly, not just naturally. A man’s offspring would join him in his defence of the city’s gates. His children were seen not for the now but with the understanding he was creating a legacy for a future generation. Philippians 2:19-22 What we do today, will not just be of benefit to us in this moment but we are creating a legacy for a future generation. The decision you make today will have a ripple effect down through the generations. Unless the Lord builds…because only that will stand strong and bless.
Stillness, Sensitivity & The Spirit 040525 The New Testament emphasises the importance of listening to Holy Spirit, as He is the Spirit of Truth. The seven churches in Revelation faced problems due to their neglect of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. By listening and obeying the Holy Spirit, Christians can overcome challenges and live in accordance with God’s will. In the N. T. Jesus is very clear on teaching us of the need to be listening to the voice of Holy Spirit, because He is the ‘Spirit of Truth’ John 14:15-17; John 16:12-15 16 times the words ‘He that has an ear, let him hear’ is stated in the N.T. In the Revelation of Jesus the Christ it adds: ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’. For a statement to be repeated 16 times in Scripture means it’s extremely important. Our Christian life stands or falls on our ability to recognise how and when God is speaking to us. Easter reminds us that Jesus is alive and speaks to those who are listening. The Bible tells us that God’s true sons and daughters are those who are ‘led by the Spirit of God’ Romans 8:14 Jesus gave clear teaching and instruction to His followers, emphasising the importance of being empowered by Holy Spirit. When Jesus left this earth, He sent the promised Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit came powerfully on the Day of Pentecost, filling the waiting believers with a power they had never experienced before Luke 24:49 Behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4 Christianity without Holy Spirit is a powerless faith . ‘He that has an ear, let him hear’ Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:3 The word ‘hear’ comes from the Greek word “akouo” and means: ‘to hear’, to have the faculty of hearing; to hear, perceive with the ears; to give ear, listen; to learn by hearing, be informed” And Jesus instructed His followers that they must be filled with the Holy Spirit of Truth. He has been sent to ‘guide us into all truth’ John 16:13 Every problem in those seven churches was the direct result of their not hearing ~ or not heeding ~ what the Holy Spirit was saying to them! Every one of those problems can be avoided in our lives and churches today if we will listen to, and obey, the voice of the Holy Spirit of Truth! He (Holy Spirit) does not lead us into sin and neglect. How important it is that we know the voice of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives and churches today! Knowing the principles of the Scriptures is vitally important, because Holy Spirit does not contradict the Scriptures. It is also important that we develop a sensitive heart and ear to listening, by taking time to ‘be still and know that He is God’ Psalm 46:10 Jesus’ sheep hear and know His voice John 10 When He speaks our responsibility is to obey; to step out and do what He has spoken to us. That is what faith is: obedience to the voice of the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit of Truth! Romans 10:17 ‘so faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of God.’ Are you listening? Are you hearing? For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10