Ps Darin Browne brings life changing messages from Ignite Christian Church Woombye, Australia, packed with scripture and powerful teaching that will change your life forever!
Episodes
Thursday Oct 27, 2016
Thursday Oct 27, 2016
What a great morning we had at Coast Church with the YWAM Team from Toowoomba ministering for us. Here's a great recording of Gunnar's message and Alex's song which encouraged our people heaps in their walk with God.
Monday Oct 17, 2016
Monday Oct 17, 2016
Last week we started our series on faith discovering that, for many people, faith is flawed from the outset because they simply don't ask God for His will. People decide what they want, pray for it, expect God to do as He's told, then get mad at Him if He doesn't perform to our expectations. He gets blamed if what we've prayed for doesn't come true, even if He never promised us that!
Clearly faith is more complex than convincing yourself that something will happen. All the faith in the world you can muster won't work if what you are believing for is wrong. And a tiny, sliver of faith in an omnipotent God according to His perfect will is a sure bet!
Last week we learned that true Biblical faith depends not on you, not on circumstances and not even on the outcome, whether it comes true or not, it depends on the object of our faith, God Himself.
Today we're going to assume that you are close to the Lord, and that what you are believing for is His will. Even if your will aligns with His, there are still potentially fatal flaws to your faith, that can tear your faith apart and destroy the blessing God has for you.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
So what are the 4 fatal flaws to faith that can destroy your faith and rob you of the Lord’s blessing in your life?
1. FRET NOT
Psalms 37:1-2
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
MESSAGE
Psalms 37:1-2
Don't bother your head with braggarts
or wish you could succeed like the wicked.
In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings
and wilt like cut flowers in the sun.
Psalms 37:7-8
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Fretting is not faith, fretting, or worrying, is a faith killer! Yet we all do it!
Worry is wasting today's time to clutter up tomorrow's opportunities with yesterday's troubles. A dense fog that covers a seven-city-block area one hundred feet deep is composed of less than one glass of water divided into sixty thousand million drops.
Fretting or worrying is like a rocking horse… it keeps your mind occupied, but you don't get anywhere! You know it well, I'm sure, you go round and round, you expend loads of energy, you can't concentrate, you can't sleep, you wake up all through the night, and you profit… absolutely nothing!
There are many things we can fret or worry about. We can worry about whether God will do what we are believing for. Most of us agree that God is able to do everything, but would He withhold something from us for no reason? Does He really want the best for us? If the answer is yes, you forfeit the right to fret!
But one of the things we frequently fret about has no relation to our own situation with God. When we see evil in the world, we ought to feel a holy anger at sin (Eph. 4:26), but to envy the wicked only leads to fretting, and fretting leads to unrighteousness anger (v. 8).
The Hebrew word for fret is HARA, which literally means “to burn, to get heated up.” When we see evil people prospering, when we see the bad guys coming first and good, righteous people suffering, we get angry, we get heated up, especially if we are the aggrieved party. We often even feel jealous towards evil people we think are successful. We even feel upset when God heals someone else and not us, don't we?
But David starts this Psalm by saying fret not, or “Calm down, be cool, cool it guys!”
David says, why bother being envious or fretting about evil men prospering. His argument is that the wicked are temporary and will one day be gone (see vv. 9, 22, 28, 34, 38). They are like grass that either fades away or is cut down and burned.
In Israel, it rains and vegetation is abundant, but it quickly vanishes as soon as the moisture is gone.
We do not need to worry about or be jealous of others who seem to be getting away with doing wrong things. Their day in the sun is short; their moment of glory will be gone soon. Why envy that? The life we live is different, because we are called to live by faith, which means we must lead lives of lasting value—faithfully serving our God and helping the people around us.
The fretting heart is not a faithful heart. Why waste time, energy and faith worrying about how evil men seem to prosper, or worrying about why you're not prospering?
Dr. G.C. Robinson of John Hopkins Hospital said, “Personal worry is one of the principle causes of physical ailments which send people to hospitals.” He found that out of 174 patients, 140 were worrying patients.
So before we get all steamed and fired up (fretful) about how the wicked seem to be prospering, or how we don't seem to be prospering, remember that faith sees things God’s way, not man’s way. And God’s agenda is to develop character in you, not comfort. Money comes and goes, success comes and goes even health goes up and down, but character is permanent, and lack of character is extremely hard to ever overcome!
Matthew 6:31-34
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
A Christian who “frets” or is resentful is a poor testimony. By their constant worrying, they are sending out a message: “God is unable to cope with my problems; He’s not big enough or He’s big enough, but my faith is too small. I just can't trust Him.”
So how do you stop fretting?
1) Live one day at a time… remember, most of what we worry about never happens.
2) Lift someone else’s burden that day… take your eyes off your own worries, stop fretting about others doing better than you, and care for someone in need. Caring for others takes your eyes off you and your perceived needs.
3) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths (Prov.3:5,6)… don't try and understand everything, don't ask why all the time. Just have faith, trust God and shut up!
4) Delight in the Lord… Read His Word and believe in that, not the fruitless thoughts in your head! The closer you are to God, the less you will worry and fret.
2. FEAR NOT
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.
Fear is a close relative to fretting or worry. They both paralyse, they both can control your life and place your life in bondage.
Recognise that fear is a natural thing, and feeling fear is not wrong or bad. If I walk near a cliff, I fear getting too close to the edge. That's protective, and that fear is fine. The other day someone with a Chinese accent called asking me to invest in their company, turning $10,000 into $100,000 in a year. I feared this was a scam, and this is a good, safe fear.
Another good fear is Fearing God… the Bible calls this wisdom…
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Fear is not necessarily wrong. What is wrong is when any fear controls you rather than you controlling it. When it fills your thoughts and controls your actions, it's controlling you!
Many people today are living in bondage to fear, and this fear controls their lives and destroys any attempt at faith they may make. It might be fear of death, sickness, failure, poverty, loneliness or even something a bit more crazy!
Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people.
Aerophobia: fear of drafts.
Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple.
Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people.
Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body.
Graphophobia: fear of writing in public.
Phobophobia: fear of being afraid.
Fear is the great enemy of the human race. It inhibits, it reduces us and causes us to live as spiritual midgets. It paralyses us, and makes us do things we would never otherwise do.
Fear is also the great enemy of faith. Moody said that some folks went to heaven second class and some go first class. He said the second class people were those who said as David did in Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid I will trust.” The first class folks say with Isaiah in 12:12: “I will trust and not be afraid.”
Fear is the father of cruelty. The rattlesnake strikes, the dog bites and the cat scratches when they are in a panic of fear. The same is true when a man kills. It’s often because of the panic of fear. Fearful people lash out, say things they don't intend to say, often hurting those they love. Volatile, unpredictable, always pessimistic. They fear the worst.
Fear is the devil’s other name. Fear of ridicule by his peers causes the teenager to take up drinking and drugs. Fear causes us to miss opportunities, for ourselves and for God.
Fear robs the soul of sunshine. It turns the optimist into a pessimist.
To all of this Jesus says,
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
If you live in fear of something or someone. If this fear is controlling you, then you need to recognise that fear is the opposite of faith…
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. There was no one there! Do not fear, trust!
Fear is a fatal flaw to faith. You cannot be faith filled if your life is controlled by fear, and “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” - Jack Canfield
I've often heard that fear stands for F.E.A.R… False Evidence Appearing Real. At the height of the Great Depression FD Roosevelt put it this way.. We've nothing to fear except fear itself.
Isaiah 8:12-13
“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Overcoming fear is not easy, because it is the most powerful emotion. But you can start by naming your fears and giving each one to the Lord. Pray through them, and have someone stand with you and walk the journey with you. Having a friend share the road is a powerful antidote to the poison of fear. (Revisit the poisons series)
The solution is not alcohol, drugs, sex, movies, holidays or any other form of escape. When you come back down to earth, the fear is still there! The solution is handing it over to Jesus!
If fear controls you you will fall. If faith controls you, you will fly. Give your fear to Jesus, and let go of it. Look up not down, and let your faith fly!
3. FORGET NOT
We humans are a forgetful lot.
I remember thinking that when John Howard lost the prime ministership. We forgot the financial mess he rescued the country from, and apparently just felt like a change. We traded 10 years of stability and a surplus budget for a $400 billion dollar debt within 12 months, that we are still trying to pay off. We forgot, and paid the price.
It has been said that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Ambitious Napoleon was defeated but the Russian winter… so was Hitler. After the holocaust the world said never again… enter Rwanda, Kosovo and Cambodia, just to name a few.
Even in our personal lives, we often forget the good family times and remember only the bad. We forget the good times at church when facing a crisis. People leave churches when the dislike something, forgetting all the good things, love and support they've had for years!
But more importantly, we forget God… This is not new...
Jeremiah 2:32
Does a young woman forget her jewellery,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.
Listen to these verses…
Psalms 103:2-5
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Bible is full of stories about how God has prevailed for His people. Why read these? Why bother learning these? Because they build our faith.
When you face persecution, remember the 3 young mn in the furnace. When you face financial lack, remember God leading the people into a land flowing with milk and honey. When you face ill health, remember the blind man or the Leper being healed.
And even in your own life. Has God ever come through for you. Have you ever prayed in desperation and seen God prevail for you.
I remember having a tax bill one year of $50,000. I had nothing like that money in the business, so I prayed in desperation. I saved like crazy and managed to save $24,800, and the day before it was due an accountant came in as a patient and when I shared my dilemma with him, he asked to have a look at the bookwork overnight. He did not know what I had saved so far, but the next morning he informed me he could reduce the tax bill… to $24,700.
My life is filled with similar incredible miracles. Even this church, the generous giving and provision we have seen to buy this property. We must never forget, right?
Whatever we face, when we remember how God has come through for us in the past, our faith is built up. Forgetting is one of the great enemies of faith. Remembering, both Bible stories and our own experiences, is one of the great pillars of having faith in God.
So with whatever you face right now, can you think of a time when God has proven Himself faithful?
Lamentations 3:22-24
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
4. FAINT NOT
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Fainting faith is faith that starts well, but fades away and eventually gives up. Winston Churchill in his famous speech at Harrow, his old school, said, “Never give up! Never, never, never give up” and he is still right today.
Vince Lombardi said, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.”
How many of us have fainted just before the breakthrough? How many of us have believed for something, then given up? How many of us would have given up trying to discover the light globe after 9,900 attempts? Edison didn't!
Young William Wilberforce was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his 10 year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. It was a letter written by John Wesley shortly before his death. Wilberforce read it again:
"Unless the divine power has raised you up... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that (abominable practice of slavery), which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Oh, be not weary of well-doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might."
He kept fighting, and fighting, and years later saw the dream come true as slavery was outlawed in the British parliament.
William Carey labored for 7 years before he led one person to Christ in Burma. Noah Webster labored for 36 years writing his dictionary. Leonardo DaVinci worked on the painting of The Last Supper for 10 years, often so absorbed he forgot to eat for whole days.
Spurgeon: “The snail reached the ark by crawling one centimeter at a time.”
2 Chronicles 15:7
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
Some of you right now are facing things and you're weary, you're tired, you've been struggling on in pain for so long, and you are in the verge of giving up. This message is for you! Don't let this faith killer have its way in your life.
However, remember where we started this discussion? Remember we said not our will, but Yours, Lord. If your faith is for something you're not sure the Lord promised to you, then you will faint if you keep going.
But if God has said it, if He has specifically promised you a breakthrough, a healing, a provision, whatever it is, then faint not. If He has given you a verse, confirmation from Scripture, then you can take that to the bank! Faint not, but keep believing by faith!
THREE LITTLE WORDS BEAT FOUR FATAL FLAWS...
Now is not the time to give up! Now is not the time to fret, it is not the time to be controlled by fear, it is not the time to forget and it certainly is not the hour to faint and give up, regardless of how weary or discouraged you may feel.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
COME
This morning His hand is outstretched to you. Come, bring your burden to Him. Bring your faint hopes, your shattered dreams, bring them all to Him this morning.
TAKE
Take His hand, take his yoke, one that fits you, one that enables you to serve and go on in faith. Take the encouragement of believers around you. Take the eternal life He offers you. Take His provision, because you can trust Jesus. See Him hanging on a cross for you… laying His life down for you… You can trust the Good Shepherd this morning
LEARN
Growing in faith, defeating these fatal flaws of faith is not an instant thing, it is a journey of faith.
Obtaining true faith isn’t a once-a-week hobby… it's not a Sunday pick me up! It is the daily discipline of a lifetime. But in this age of microwave ovens, fast foods, google searches and numerous “made easy” books, many people are out of the habit of daily investing time and energy in digging deep into Scripture and learning wisdom from the Lord.
Thanks to television and the internet, our attention span is now less than a goldfish. Thanks to consumer Christianity and religious entertainment that passes for worship, our spiritual appetite is feeble and spiritual knowledge isn’t “pleasant to [their] soul” (Prov. 2:10 NKJV). It’s no wonder fewer and fewer people “take time to be holy” and more and more people fall prey to the enemies of faith that lurk along the way.
Read the Word, and let us stand with you in faith!
Monday Oct 10, 2016
Monday Oct 10, 2016
Today I want to start a series on faith. There would be few more controversial topics in the Christian world than faith. I personally have been on this journey, and most of you will realise that faith is a journey we have to go on and learn about.
I am sure to offend some, and slay a few holy cows. But if you take offence, please hear me out because I am trying to discover what the Bible says about faith, not me, not Benny Hinn, not Donald Trump and not you!
While I will not claim to hold all the aces, I do want you to open your hearts and have a thorough, thoughtful and most importantly Biblical examination of faith.
I believe that many Christians have faith all wrong. We think that God’ s job is to make us happy, prosperous, healthy and content. It is not. His agenda is to develop character in you, not meet your list of demands, no matter how much faith you think you can muster.
Faith is not about bending God to your will, however just or noble you might think it is. Faith is about asking for God’s will, then living to bring His will about, no matter what the result. Biblical faith depends not on what faith we can muster but on the object of our faith!
And today I intend to show you that true Biblical faith depends not on your faith level or on the results, but faith solely depends on the One in whom you have faith!
Your faith, my faith, true faith, mountain moving, life changing, God honouring, earth shattering faith.
JOKE ABOUT THE MAN IN THE FLOOD… GOD SENT A CAR, A BOAT A HELICOPTER.
THE FAITH SPECTRUM
I have met committed Christians all over the world, and have encountered varies types of faith.
At one end of the spectrum is pseudo-faith, featuring pious and religious sounding words which drain true faith from believers in the name of religion. These people pray for something, but always caveat it with, “If it be your will, Lord.” They give God an out in case He doesn't come through for them.
At the other end is hyper-faith. These folks believe something so completely, despite facts, logic and sometimes even the Bible. If God does not perform as they have prayed, they get mad at Him and ultimately their faith suffers a devastating collapse.
Most of us, it is fair to say, are somewhere in the middle. We sense there is something wrong with both extremes. So what is faith, true faith, God faith, and how do we obtain it?
While faith is described and demonstrated throughout the Bible, any examination of faith is going to have to face Hebrews Chapter 11, so let's start there…
WHAT IS TRUE BIBLICAL FAITH?
Biblical faith is not so much defined as described… What is does and how it works.
True Bible faith is not blind optimism or a manufactured “Lord I hope-so” feeling. It is not an intellectual assent to a certain doctrine. It is certainly not believing something in spite of evidence! That would be superstition, not faith. I'd call that fake faith!
True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences. Let me repeat that and let it soak into your mind and heart.
This faith is not concocted, drummed up or faked… It operates on a simple premise…. God speaks and we hear His Word. We trust His Word and act on it no matter what the circumstances are or what the consequences may be.
The circumstances may be impossible, and the consequences frightening and unknown; but we obey God’s Word just the same no matter what and believe Him to do what is right and what is best, even if it is not our desired outcome.
The world does not understand true Biblical faith, in part because it hardly ever sees it in action in the church. We're either faithless, stale and powerless or raving, self deluded lunatics. H. L. Mencken mocked Christians when he defined faith as “illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable.”
Our church flies in the face of that. We have seen God move powerfully arranging nearly a quarter of a million dollars in one year to purchase this property. Our faith is being realised before our eyes, but it is rare among churches today.
What the world fails to realize that faith is only as good as its object, and the object of our faith is God Himself. Faith is not some “feeling” that we manufacture, some mind game that we brainwash ourselves into. It is our total response to what God has revealed in His Word.
And beware of faith based on a false premise, like it is always God will to heal everybody, or make everyone rich. It's not, but His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9)
CONFIDENCE, CONVICTION, COMMENDATION
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Three words here to describe faith are substance, evidence, and witness.
1. Confidence:
The word translated “substance, confidence or assurance” is HYPOSTASIS in Greek, and means literally “to stand under, to support, a foundation.”
Faith is to a Christian what a foundation is to a house: It gives confidence and assurance that you will stand. So you might say, “Faith is the confidence of things hoped for.” When a believer has faith, it is God’s way of giving him confidence and assurance that what is promised will be experienced.
And when the Bible says hope for, it doesn't mean, “Gee I hope things work out.” ELPIZO in Greek means “surety, expectation or absolute trust with joy and full confidence.”
So our foundation, the very thing that holds our lives up, is an unshakable belief and complete confidence in an absolute certainty.
2. Conviction
Conviction is ELEGCHOS in Greek which means proof or evidence. This is the inward conviction from God, not from ourselves, that what He has promised, He will do. The presence of this God-given faith in one’s heart is conviction enough that He will keep His Word. Even if we cannot see it, even if our eyes cannot perceive it, we choose to believe the evidence of God’s Word over what our senses can pick up.
3. Commendation
Verse 2 says, “received their commendation” and this word is MARTYREO in the Greek, from which we derive martyrdom. It literally means a Witness, or obtained a good report, and the same word occurs several times throughout this great chapter on faith. Verses 2, 4 and 39, as well as the “great cloud of witnesses” of Hebrews 12:1.
These great men and women of God we are about to study are witnesses. They have witnessed God move in their day, and they are watching us, cheering us on that we might rise to such faith in our generation.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Biblical faith is simple, substantial and practical, despite what unbelievers say. It lets us see what others cannot see, and therefor do what others cannot do. Do you have this type of faith, despite the circumstances, despite even the results? Can you trust God that much, even if things don't work out as you have planned or prayed?
The best way to grow in faith is to walk with the faithful. Let's look at some of the faithful mentioned from the Old Testament. In each case you need to recognise that faith displays the same elements…
j(1) God spoke to them through His Word;
(2) their inner selves were stirred in different ways;
(3) they obeyed God;
(4) He bore witness about them.
BEYOND THUNDERDOME
In Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Tina Turner sang, “We don't need another hero.” Well sorry Tina, but as 21st Century Christians, we do need our heroes...
1. WORSHIPPING FAITH
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous,
Cain was not a child of God (1 John 3:10-12), but Abel was. Cain was religious but not righteous. Abel worshipped by faith, and God accepted him, not because of what he offered, but because of the heart behind it… True, pure, righteous devotion.
Do you worship the Lord with that type of faith?
2. WALKING FAITH
Enoch we are told walked with God in a sinful world. Abel died a horrible death, but Enoch never died but was translated directly into heaven. He walked with God because he had the desire and the discipline to be in step with his Lord. This pleases God…
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Do you earnestly seek Him? Are you studying the Bible daily, praying, meditating on the Word, praying constantly to Him? Is being close to God such a priority that you discipline yourself to seek Him more and more? Do you truly walk with God?
3. WORKING FAITH
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Noah, believing the Word of God about impending disaster, a devastating flood when there had never even been rain before, stood strong in the face of opposition, ridicule and attack. Noah's faith saved his family and condemned the world.
He had faith in his God and worked hard to serve God.
4. WAITING FAITH
The next section deals with the Patriarchs, who waiting for the destiny of Israel. Waiting faith.
Waiting is one of the most difficult disciplines for me. True Biblical faith learns to wait patiently for God’s perfect timing, and I for one find this extremely difficult.
Abraham and Sarah had to wait. But waiting faith does so in obedience, not sitting around twiddling thumbs waiting for God to do the sensational. Before God does the supernatural, we must do the natural.
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Their waiting faith saw them step out and obey, it saw them trust God when they had no idea how He would work the miracle of a child,
And it saw Abraham trust God when he had to give up the dream and sacrifice his only son…
Hebrews 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
Joseph also had waiting faith, waiting for his bones to be carried to the Promised land.
Sometime, no make that most times, God’s timing doesn't fit with us, but we must learn waiting faith, waiting patiently for God, trusting Him to arrange perfect timing.
5. WARRING FAITH
Moses took some time to learn his faith, but it started with him refusing the enjoy the pleasures of sin but deciding to stand for what was right.
Hebrews 11:25
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Look, sin has pleasure, I would be lying if I said otherwise. Take a drug you get high and for a time it feels great. Drink enough and you'll get drunk and it feels pleasurable until the next morning. Have sex with someone outside of marriage, it's pleasurable, it's exciting, it's naughty.
True faith causes a believer to hold the right values and make the right decisions. The phrase “pleasures of sin” does not refer only to lust and other gross sins. The phrase describes a way of life that we today would call “successful”–position, prestige, power, wealth, and freedom from problems.
Warring faith fights and fights hard for what is right! And who do we war against?
Ephesians 6:12-13
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Moses then fought to deliver his people, and saw his warring faith fulfilled at the Red Sea and beyond. His faith saw him fighting for what was right.
6. WINNING FAITH
Next up we find winning faith, in Joshua and Rahab. Hebrews 11:30-31.
Joshua, who went into the Promised land 40 years previously and was one of only two out of 12 spies who believes even God, spent 40 years wandering in the desert and waiting. It wasn't his fault, but he had to wait just the same.
Then, all of a sudden, he's the leader of the nation, he is parting and crossing the river Jordan, marching around the walls of the city of Jericho and bang, he's a winner. His faith was winning faith.
Rahab on the other hand was a harlot, a prostitute, in the city of Jericho. But she believed God, helped the Israelite spies, protected her family and was saved. Her faith was a saving faith, despite her background. She was then made even more of a winner by including her in the lineage of the Messiah. For a woman in her situation this is the highest commendation.
Joshua and Rahab did not hide behind excuses like “I'm too bad” or “It looks impossible.” They had faith and won!
MORE HEROES OF FAITH
The writer of Hebrews then goes on to mention various Bible heroes, proving that Faith can operate in the life of any person who will dare to listen to God’s Word and surrender to God’s will. That's right, ANYONE!
Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel and others.
Hebrews 11:33-34
who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things because they had the faith! These passages prove that God can use anyone, including you and I if we read His Word, yield to His will and if we are careful to be obedient.
THE RESULTS OF TRUE, BIBLICAL FAITH
Now I am going to blow your fuses with the truth. This will offend some of you, but it is the truth…
From verse 35 on we are presented with a stark truth…
Not all men and women of faith experienced miraculous deliverance.
Some were tortured and died! Others had faith, but God did not see fit to deal with them in the same way he dealt with Moses, Gideon, and David. The world would look at them and say they were failures, but in God’s economy they are heroes.
Hebrews 11:35-39
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though commended through their faith
People pray for healing, they muster as much faith as they can, they believe and tell others and no healing comes. Is it their lack of faith? Is it God’s lack of power? Of course not!
Imagine people facing martyrdom… Stoned, sawn in two, murdered because of their lack of faith? No way! Hyper faith would tell us that if you just believe hard enough it will be done. That if you just ask and believe, God has no choice but to do what you want.
Matthew 18:19
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
However, they overlook some important words here. The Greek word for agree is SYMPHONEO, from which we get symphony, meaning all working together in perfect harmony… God, each other, the church… Perfect harmony.
John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
What's missing? When we decide that God is going to heal us, bless us, prosper us or anything else, then ask Him to bless us, we miss the vital first step…
ASK WHAT GOD’S WILL IS! Don't just tell Him what you want!
The heroes of faith show us that they are commended and celebrated by God, regardless of the outcome. Whether they live or die, get healed or suffer sickness, be poor or be rich, have wins or suffer losses, they are heroes because their faith was focussed on God, not on their desired outcome.
God is not your personal performing monkey! He's not there to be at your beck and call, however righteous you think your cause may be!. Do you have faith so deep that you will trust Him even if you don't get the desired result? Can you trust Him, even if you remain unhealed, in pain or in poverty?
I met Joni Erickson Tada at Amsterdam in 2000 at the Billy Graham Conference. She has been in a wheelchair, made a paraplegic by an accident at the age of 17. I saw a visiting African pastor pray for her, then scream at her to get out of the chair. She sweetly said should still could not. He then told her that it was her lack of faith that she was not healed. She gently replied that she had the faith, perhaps it was his lack of faith.
Joni has the faith, even if she never gets out of her wheelchair. She has the faith that God will use her, even if He chooses to never heal her.
BUT IF NOT?
Listen to this, one of the greatest examples of true Biblical faith, regardless of the outcome
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
As Christians, we believe God is faithful even during our most difficult situations. Where we struggle is in figuring out what that faithfulness looks like. We want to believe it looks like a rescue mission through which God saves us from danger. Or we want it to look like an act of justice in which the bad guys get what they deserve and the good guys prevail.
That’s where this story of the blazing furnace has something to teach us. It’s not really about what happened to the men in the furnace; it’s about what put them there.
These guys held on to their faith even when it meant certain death. They willingly faced the consequences of their actions because they believed God was with them regardless of what happened next. They spoke with the conviction of those who hoped for rescue and the faith of those who knew it didn’t matter if rescue came.
True Biblical faith focusses not on the outcome, not on the results and not on the blessings, but on the Lord Himself.
Kaileigh our granddaughter was born miraculously, not Breathing for 7 minutes. It's a miracle, and we praise God for her survival and safety. When God does this, it's easy to praise Him. Yet the Lord spoke to me from a Max LUCADO book and said, “If I had chose to take her home, would you still be praising me?”
What a question! Would my faith in God still be there if she died? Could I still trust God even if it wasn't the outcome we prayed for? That is true, Biblical faith!
I have prayed, believed God and seen healing. I have prayed and believed God and seen no healing. I proclaim now that I will trust God, no matter what the outcome, whether He answers my prayer or not, whether I see it or not. I have faith in God, no matter the circumstances, no matter the success. I must believe God and have faith to the point that, if He chooses a different path, I will keep the faith!
1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
True faith is in God, plus nothing, no matter what.
Some of you face trials and tests of your faith right now. Some struggle on the journey of faith, but you need not struggle alone.
Ephesians 6:16
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
The shield of faith is far more powerful when joined with others. Come and let us join with you to stand in true Biblical faith.
Monday Sep 26, 2016
Monday Sep 26, 2016
Two men were called on, in a large classroom, to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. One was a professional actor, trained in speech technique and drama. He repeated the psalm in a powerful way.
Psalms 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
When he finished, the audience cheered and even asked for an encore that they might hear his wonderful voice again. "Then the other man, who was much older, repeated the same words--'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...' But when he finished, no sound came from the large class. Instead, people sat silently in a deep mood of devotion and prayer.
"Then the first man, the orator, stood to his feet. He said. 'The difference between what you have just heard from my old friend, and what you heard from me is this: I know the Psalm, my friend knows the Shepherd.'"
You probably know the Psalm… But do you really know the Shepherd?
This morning I want to look at Jesus the Good Shepherd…
John 10:2-6
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Throughout the Bible leaders were frequently described as Shepherds. Kings, prophets and holy men were considered shepherds. In Ezekiel 34, the Lord condemns selfish shepherds who exploited the flock for their own ends, who abuse and mistreat them and who scattered them leaving them open to attack. He says He will remove them, and replace the, with Good shepherd, who will lead with integrity and honour, caring for the sheep, laying his life down for them. David was the expression of this shepherd, pastors should also be that type of shepherd, and of course, the ultimate expression is Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:31
You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
WHY SHEEP, HE SAYS SHEEPISHLY
1 Peter 2:25
For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Why would God call us sheep? I use to have sheep, so I can tell you how stupid they really are. No child pretending to be an animal ever chooses to be a sheep. Can you think of a sporting team mascot of a sheep?
Let's face it, calling us sheep is not exactly romantic or complimentary is it? So why would God liken us to sheep? Think about what sheep really are…
1. Stupid and stubborn-
I mean, have you ever seen a trained sheep at a circus? They are simple-hearted, not the brightest bulb in the box, and if you try and lead them anywhere, they stubbornly stop.
2. Dirty and Wayward-
They easily wander away, do their own thing, get lost and never learn from their mistakes. The follow the crowd, like a sheepish mob mentality, and will blindly follow their leader, even if they are being led to certain death.
3. Easily frightened and confused-
Easily led astray, known to panic and be irrational, known to plunge off cliffs in their fear and confusion. They stubbornly wait and resist, then panic and freak out.
4. They are well known for clinging to habits, often walking the same track until it becomes a rut, or staying in the same paddock even when all food has disappeared.
5. Desperately need guidance and protection.
They do not fend well for themselves. They don't find good pastures, they don't fight off predators.
Hang on, did I say sheep were stubborn, stupid, irrational, confused, wayward, fearful and in need of guidance and protection? Does that sound anything like human beings?
Ok maybe calling us sheep is not too far from the mark! We are all those things, and while the illustration may not be too complimentary, I think we can agree that we share many of the stubborn, foolish, pig headed traits of sheep.
So enough about the sheep, what about the shepherd? Let's look at those chapters in John to learn more…
ABOUT THE GOOD SHEPHERD
In ancient Israel, caring for sheep was a lot different compared with shepherding today. Back then, they did not have sheep dogs to round up sheep. They didn't bark and scare the sheep and drive them. Back then, they called, and the sheep knew the voice of the shepherd and they came running.
So what is the Good Shepherd actually like?
1. THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS THE ONLY DOOR OR GATE
John 10:1-3
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeepers opens.
In ancient Israel, they would often house the sheep in a natural pen. So they might have a gully, for example, where they build a fence at one end, and then the shepherd would lie across the opening like a door to protect the sheep.
Jesus says that if someone is a bad guy, they will not try and get in via the shepherd but will try and sneak in, and when they do this they are bent on destruction. The only way to get into the pen legitimately is through the gate guarded by the shepherd.
John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
No great philosophy , no other religion, not being nice to people, or kind, or not sinning very much is enough. Only Jesus can save you. Only a relationship with the shepherd can lead to eternal salvation. You can't earn it, you can't fake it, you can't get it pushing a plow… Matter of fact… You need to come to Jesus now!
So Pastor Darin, are you saying that Muslims, Buddhists, Charity leaders and nice people don't get to heaven? YES! But I'm not saying it, Jesus said it, and that's good enough for me.
If you've never asked Jesus into your life, today the Good Shepherd calls you to enter into the gate of eternal life!
2. THE GOOD SHEPHERD KNOWS THE SHEEP WELL
Ancient shepherds were born into the job, which means they grew up with the sheep and knew them, with all of their little eccentricities and odd ways, intimately. The young shepherd trained for the position all his life, so it wasn't just a job, it was a passion.
That's why the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Obviously Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but there are other shepherds or leaders who should show the same dedication.
Bill Newman often talks to pastors and says, “Jesus Christ did not die on the cross to give you a job.” So as your pastor, I need to model myself on the true Good Shepherd and work hard, love lots and lay my life down for you.
The Good Shepherd know his sheep. He knows them by name, He knows their faces, their habits, good and bad, their characters, their natures. And they know Him, and His voice…
John 10:3-5
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”
In ancient Israel, shepherds would often join several flocks together in the pen for the night. Have you ever joined a bunch of sheep together. We use to have a small flock, and they would just huddle together, shaking and non responsive! They are almost impossible to separate in any kind of ordered fashion!
All the Good Shepherd does is call. No matter what other sheep are there, they recognise His voice and He recognises them. Strangers they run from, the Good Shepherd they run to!
Do you know His voice. Are you reading His word every day?
"I can find ten men who will die for the Bible for every one who will read it!" --Charles Spurgeon
Can you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd? Will you run to Him this morning? This very morning the Good Shepherd is gently calling you. That still small voice in the heart, that word of a sermon or song, that Bible reading that leapt off the page at you… All these are the voice of the Shepherd. And this morning He is saying His favourite word… Come!
3. THE GOOD SHEPHERD KNOWS THE NEEDS OF THE SHEEP
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Life abundantly, that's what the Good Shepherd promises, and He know exactly what you need each and every day!
Matthew 6:31-33
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Why worry about the things of this life? Do you worry about the next dollar coming in? About what someone thinks of you? About paying bills, fighting for your rights or arguing with family members?
The Good Shepherd knows, He understands, He is listening and willing to care for you. He knows what you need, that's why The psalmist says,
Psalms 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The Hebrew word for “not want” is HASER, which means I shall not be in need, I shall lack nothing or I shall not decrease. He know the needs, can you trust the Good Shepherd to care for you and provide for you?
We've seen it in this church in recent days. I cannot believe that the God who prospers us as a church family will let me or you down. We stand testimony to the love and care of the Good Shepherd!
4. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LEADS THE SHEEP
Psalms 23:2-3
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
The Good Shepherd is a leader, and He will lead you if you will let Him.
At times He leads you into battle, and He leads you to triumph. At other times He knows you're tired and weary, in pain and in distress, and He leads you in these moments to lie down in green pastures. Green pastures are lush, they have abundant food, they are cool, they are soft. The Hebrew word used here means fresh shoots.
He also leads you beside the still waters… Waters of peace, of gentle not turbulent flow. Why gentle waters?
Did you know that sheep cannot drink from noisy, running water? A sheep’s nostrils are so close to its mouth that if it starts to drink and the water is moving, it will choke and could perhaps drown.
To provide for the sheep, it is necessary for the shepherd to dam the stream until a quiet pool is formed, and the moving water becomes still. Then the animal can put its muzzle into the water and drink without choking and gasping for air.
“He leads me beside the still waters.”
Some of you here need to find the still waters this morning. You love the Good Shepherd, you hear Him, you trust Him, but you need to find the peace that passes all understanding. You need this morning to sit a while at the still waters.
5. THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS THE SHEEP
The Good Shepherd values every single one of you. In John 15, He leaves the 99 sheep to look for the one who has strayed. Is that you this morning? If you have strayed, if you have sinned, if you don't know the Shepherd are have walked away, this morning the shepherd is calling your name. He's out looking for you. Don't run, don't hide, come.
Psalms 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
We all face valleys of darkness like this at times. When all seems hopeless, when everything seems lost, when everyone and everything seems to conspire against you. When you're hurt, discouraged, let down, lonely, miserable, on the verge of giving up.
The Good Shepherd walks with you through these times.
The rod was an instrument of authority that was also used by shepherds for counting, guiding, rescuing and protecting sheep. The staff was an instrument of support.
The ancient shepherd also used his staff to guide the sheep, directing them and setting boundaries for them. He also used his rod as a weapon against predators. By guiding them into safe places and by fighting enemies, the shepherd’s rod and staff were a comfort and protection for the sheep.
Whatever you face in life right now, the Good Shepherd walks with you. He doesn't transport you over or around the valley, He walks it's you thought the darkest vales, protecting and comforting you, caring for you.
Do you need the Good Shepherds comfort and protection today?
6. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP
John 10:11-13
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
If I am to shepherd you, I must lay my life down and pay a price. The Good Shepherd laid His life down for you. He didn't run. You're His, so He fought for you, and died in your place.
Jesus chose to die in your place because He loves you. He is the Good Shepherd, and you are the ones He loves. He hung on nails for 6 hours one Friday to pay for your sin and mine. He suffered unspeakable agony to purchase our souls back, that we might spend eternity with the Father.
He gave up the riches of Heaven to come to earth and die a criminal’s death. Nails did not hold Him to the tree… It was the love of the Good Shepherd. He laid His life down for you.
7. THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROVIDES A HOME FOR THE SHEEP
Psalms 23:6
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Yes, heaven awaits. Eternity with the Good Shepherd beckons us.
John 14:2-3
My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that 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.
Heaven awaits those of us who follow the Good Shepherd, but why wait? Why pray for pie in the sky when we die by and by when we can experience life to the full and a taste of heaven right now?
Today, the Shepherd calls you out. Today, He leads you in paths of righteousness. Today, He walks with you no matter how dark and terrifying the road you face. Today He protects and cares for your needs. Today He prepares a table in the presence of your enemies. Today His arms are open to invite you to His eternal home.
Today, the Good Shepherd says come! Come to me you who are weary and burdened. Come to me those who hurt. Come to me those in need of encouragement. Come to me those who need a Saviour.
Sunday Sep 18, 2016
Sunday Sep 18, 2016
Kairos Moments in a Chronos World?
Do you know what I am talking about?
Let’s pretend that your banker phoned you late last Friday and said he had some very good news. He told you that an anonymous donor who loves you very much has decided to deposit 86,400 pennies into your account each morning, starting the following Monday morning. That’s $864 a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year.
He adds, “But there’s one stipulation; you must spend all that money that same day. No balance will be carried over to the next day. Each evening the bank must cancel whatever sum you failed to use.”
With a big smile, you thank your banker and hang up. Over that weekend you have time to plan. You grab a pencil and start figuring; $864 times seven equals over $6,000 a week times fifty-two. That’s almost $315,000 a year that you have available to you if you’re diligent to spend it all each day. Remember, whatever you don’t spend is forfeited.
So much for “Let’s Pretend”.
Now let’s play “Let’s Get Serious.” Every morning Someone who loves you very much deposits into your bank of time 86,400 seconds of time—which represent 1,440 minutes—which, of course, equal twenty-four hours each day.
Now you’ve got to remember the same stipulation applies, because God gives you this amount of time for you to use each day. Nothing is ever carried over on credit to the next day. There is no such thing as a twenty-six hour day (though some of us wish there were). From today’s dawn until tomorrow’s dawn, you have a precisely determined amount of time. As someone has put it, “Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you want to, but you can spend it only once.”
Time is something we feel we never have enough of, yet we give it away so easily. Someone once said, “Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”
Time is a precious commodity… We all want more, and we all get the same amount. It's how we use it that really becomes the precious commodity, isn't it? It's what we achieve with it.
So what does the Bible say about time, and how can that impact our lives and cause us to use our time more effectively in our modern, it,e poor society?
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING!
There are 3 Greek words for time and each holds a different meaning.
CHRONOS
CHRONOS time is what we mainly consider to be time… Hours, minutes, seconds. Hence we talk about a specific time or time frame, such as in
Acts 1:6-7
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
God set this type of time up. It is governed by the rotation of the earth around the sun, and it's something we measure, and we keep to.
We live in a time based world. We live in a CHRONOS world. You have appointments, planes to catch, bills to pay, TV shows to watch, church to attend… And all of this is the time based CHRONOS.
AION
AION is used to refer to an age, a cycle or a season, a span of time, for example a man’s lifespan. It particularly has reference to eternity or forever…
Matthew 12:32
And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
KAIROS
KAIROS time is probably the most interesting use of the word for time. It refers not to hours, minutes, days and years, but to a specific time when something significant happens. For example, 9-11 is a KAIROS moment in our history. Germany invading Poland in 1939. Roe vs Wade which opened abortions up. Not hours, minutes and days but times of significance, where history is made, destiny is determined and life is not the same afterwards.
In the Bible, this word is used of the occasions when God steps into time and space and does something incredible. The Red Sea, Jericho, Paul’s conversion experience, the cross. These moments can happen in history, in a nation, in a church or an individual’s life.
It is without doubt the most exciting time to live in. Obtaining this building is a KAIROS moment for our church, and there are more to come! But how can you Kairos Moments in a Chronos World?
Finding Kairos Moments in a Chronos World
In a CHRONOS world, the seconds tick by, and we cannot reverse it, slow it or stop it. The seconds become hours, the hours days, the days weeks, then months, then years then decades.
One day you're studying at college, and before you know it the kids have grown up and gone their own way. You're muddling along in a career, just making a living, just existing out of habit more than anything.
What does your life look like? Has it passed you by, or is it passing you by? If you had your time over again, what would you do differently?
KAIROS was the different meaning of time, and it refers to specific, God ordained times throughout history, sometimes called the right time or the right season. These are times of significance.
Titus 1:3
and which now at his appointed season (KAIROS) he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
KAIROS time has no past, present or future… It is based around significance.
So the real question is, “How do you find these KAIROS times in a CHRONOS world? How do you find God ordained significant when you live in minutes, hours and days?
SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE...
Can You Find Kairos Moments in a Chronos World
Time marches on, and you cannot stop it, reverse it or even slow it.
How do you usually spend your CHRONOS time, and can you Kairos Moments in a Chronos World?
According to a study in US News from 1988, In a lifetime the average American will spend:
Six months sitting at stoplights
Eight months opening junk mail/email
One year looking for misplaced objects
2 years unsuccessfully returning phone calls or waiting “on hold”
4 years doing housework
5 years waiting in line- Centrelink
6 years eating
18 years working
23 years sleeping
9 years watching TV or videos
The Bible describes time in this way…
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance, etc.
Everything has a time, and time is important to us because we are so locked into it. The farmer plants in season, the football season is preset, church is on Sunday, Tuesday night is Masterchef. Yet the God we serve transcends what we call time.
2 Peter 3:8
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
The thing is, if you transcend time, what does time even matter? When you are stuck in time, in CHRONOS time like we are, we are measuring, we are worrying and we are impatient for things to happen.
But God isn't, because He is far above time. We get impatient, His timing is perfect. We live bound by schedules, appointments and time management issues, He exists above it all.
That's why the all knowing, all present, all powerful God of all creation can just flow into our lives when we least expect it, and why He sometimes takes longer than we expect also.
IT’S ABOUT TIME WE FIGURED IT OUT!
KAIROS time is not about schedules and appointments, it's about significant moments in time. It's when God decides to invade our lives, and he creates Kairos Moments in a Chronos World. In the Bible, John the Baptist proclaimed the moment when the Messiah was coming, using the word KAIROS,
Mark 1:15
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The cross was another KAIROS moment,
Romans 5:6
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
KAIROS times are special times when God steps in and does something extraordinary. It can happen once in our lifetime, or it can happen every day if you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit. You can find Kairos Moments in a Chronos World.
In John 11:6, Jesus is told that his friend Lazarus is sick, but He delays going to heal him for 2 days. Why? The CHRONOS time delay saw Lazarus’ death and allowed a KAIROS moment of Jesus raising his friend back to life!
And He can do it in your life too... He can create Kairos Moments in a Chronos World. Never despise the times when God does not seem to meet your time frame, because He may just be setting something extraordinary up for you!
He can orchestrate great things and include you if you listen to Him and Walk with Him. He can step in and do the miraculous. He can use you to do the miraculous in another person’s life. Today this KAIROS God is calling you to step out of your CHRONOS life to join Him in KAIROS moments.
Look at Esther. A young lady whose beauty placed her in the position of royalty which enabled her to save her people.
Esther 4:14
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
But if you live in a CHRONOS world, how can you find these incredible Kairos Moments in a Chronos World? How can you dissociate yourself from the mundane, day by day, drudgery of life and become part of something great, something significant, something eternal? We should always live our days looking for those moments, those inexplicable times when His will and His way intersect with our daily walks… But most often that's not how we live, right?
Perception is a huge part of discovering these incredible Kairos Moments in a Chronos World, the right times… the opportunities to be used incredibly by God to touch people’s lives are all around, but we don't even see them! We fail to perceive them! Listen to this true account…
Charles Francis Adams, son of President John Quincy Adams and grandson of President John Adams, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted.”
His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!” The father thought he was wasting time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time.
Same time observed from 2 different perspectives. One saw a waste, the other saw something significant. One saw CHRONOS, the loss of hours, minutes and seconds, while the other saw KAIROS, something far beyond, something special!
So how can you set about finding these significant KAIROS moments in a CHRONOS World?
They can happen anytime! A friend calls you out of the blue and you get the chance to speak an amazing word in season. A child's innocent joy pierces a long, hard day of struggle. A coworker takes a moment to lend a hand. God is always surprising us with His perfect, KAIROS timing.
Habakkuk 2:3
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.
STEPS TO LIVING KAIROS MOMENTS in a CHRONOS WORLD…
So how can we find and live these special Kairos Moments in a Chronos World?
STAY CLOSE TO GOD
Read the Bible daily, pray, seek the Lord, because these incredible, inspiring moments are all around us, if only we will walk every moment with Jesus. It might be a phone call from a friend, or a chance meeting where you say the right words at the right moment.
Acts 17:28
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’
BE SENSITIVELY LISTENING AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES
Be alert. Be sensitive. Sometimes things you may not even want to do can open the door for the Lord to use you to impact the life of another! You can discover these Kairos Moments in a Chronos World...
John Egglen had never preached a sermon in his life. Never.
Wasn’t that he didn’t want to, just never needed to. But then one morning he did. The snow left his town of Colchester, England, buried in white. When he awoke on that January Sunday in 1850, he thought of staying home. Who would go to church in such weather?
But he reconsidered. He was, after all, a deacon. And if the deacons didn’t go, who would? So he put on his boots, hat, and coat and walked the six miles to the Methodist Church.
He wasn’t the only member who considered staying home. In fact, he was one of the few who came. Only thirteen people were present. Twelve members and one visitor. Even the minister was snowed in.
Someone suggested they go home. Egglen would hear none of that. They’d come this far; they would have a service. Besides, they had a visitor. A thirteen-year-old boy.
But who would preach? Egglen was the only deacon. It fell to him.
And so he did. His sermon lasted only ten minutes. It didn't make a lot of sense, he struggled to make any point at all, but in the end, a strange courage stirred him and He lifted his eyes and looked straight at the boy and challenged: “Young man, look to Jesus. Look! Look! Look!”
Did the challenge make a difference? This boy grew into a man who said,. “I did look, and then and there the cloud on my heart lifted, the darkness rolled away, and at that moment I saw the sun.”
The boy’s name? Charles Haddon Spurgeon. England’s prince of preachers.
BE OBEDIENT
2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
If you do not obey, why would God open the way for you to do incredible things? You need to covenant with Him to obey, and keep obeying, no matter what. Why else would He open up Kairos Moments in a Chronos World for you?
Being obedient turns the Holy Spirit’s prompting into action. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
I remember sitting next to a guy on a plane. He wasn't talkative, he looked sad. I felt led to talk to him, and he told me he was returning home after years away living a sinful life, to his wife and now older children. He was terrified, and before we left the plane I was able to pray for him and lead him to Christ, and pray for this visit. A KAIROS moment indeed.
FAITHFULLY PERSIST, NEVER GIVE UP
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Don't give up! Don't stop short! If you experience a KAIROS moment, keep going until the Lord releases you. Greatness is never obtained by giving up or giving in. Purchasing this building has been a struggle from day 1, but I'm glad I decided not to give up, and so did you!
GIVE SACRIFICIALLY, NO MATTER HOW SMALL
Luke 21:1-3
The Widow's Offering
21:1-4pp — Mk 12:41-44
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
Here's an account from Dr Yonggi Cho, pastor of the largest church in the world...
Seeing that only a miraculous intervention of God would deliver us from a catastrophe, I joined the intercessors at Prayer Mountain. One evening while we were meeting to pray on the ground floor of our unfinished church, several hundred joined me in prayer. An old woman walked slowly in my direction. As she approached the platform, I noticed that tears were filling her eyes. She bowed and said, “Pastor, I want to give these items to you so that you may sell them for a few pennies to help with our building fund.”
I looked down, and in her hands were an old rice bowl and a pair of chopsticks. I said to her, “Sister, I can’t take these necessities from you!”
“But, Pastor, I am an old woman. I have nothing of value to give to my Lord; yet, Jesus has graciously saved me. These items are the only things in the world I possess!” she exclaimed, tears now flowing freely down her wrinkled cheeks. “You must let me give these to Jesus. I can place my rice on old newspapers, and I can use my hands to feed myself. I know that I will die soon, so I don’t want to meet Jesus without giving Him something on this earth.” As she finished speaking, everyone there began to weep openly. The Holy Spirit’s presence filled the place, and we all began to pray in the Spirit.
A businessman in the back of the group was deeply moved and said, “Pastor Cho, I want to buy that rice bowl and chopsticks for one thousand dollars!” With that, everyone started to pledge their possessions. My wife and I sold our small home and gave the money to the church. This spirit of giving saved us from financial ruin.
When you find yourself part of something great, some incredible KAIROS moment in time, rejoice and give all you have! You are blessed to be a part of what God is doing to touch the lives of men and women.
TODAY, WE STAND ON THE BRINK OF GREATNESS!
Today we have the opportunity to give again towards the purchase of our building. It has been a long, hard road to get here, but today we stand on the brink of this noble achievement.
This is our Kairos Moments in a Chronos World!
When I took office a year ago, the purchase of this property was by any measure humanly impossible. Our small body of believers would have to give more than 4 times what they had given over 7 years, in the space of only one year to even come close.
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Today, we stand on the brink of the impossible. This our Kairos Moments in a Chronos World!
Yet I want you to know that, as Winston Churchill said after the first allied victory of the war in Africa, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but perhaps it is the end of the beginning. The chance to close a chapter and move on to something greater,greater KAIROS moments.
Purchasing this building is not the end game, it is simply the first major victory we faced, and by God's grace and your generosity, we stand on the brink of that victory to today. Coming up, there will be more challenges, more tests and therefore more KAIROS moments, more opportunities to stand together shoulder to shoulder in faith, to believe our God and to see Him shine His blessing and prosperity upon our service for Him.
Malachi 3:10, talking about giving says,
Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Today we stand on the brink of greatness, on the cusp of passing this first great test with distinction. There is much more to do, so much more that God has called us to, and I have nothing to offer you but all my efforts and an undying faith and unshakable belief that God has called and empowered us to win this area and this nation to Christ.
Last offering God challenged Fiona and I to double what we gave the previous time. This was painful and sacrificial, yet I trusted God then as I do now. Today, He has once again challenged us to double even that figure, and so we shall be faithful in trusting Him again.
In addition, you may know that I basically work for free as the pastor of this church. Today, I want to also announce that I will commit myself to working in the same capacity for at least the next year. So your pastor stands before you this day ready to lay his life, his family and his finances down to serve the Lord in this place.
Right now I challenge you to join me. I challenge you to step into this KAIROS moment and and be a part of something great in God. I challenge you to join us, for today you do not give towards a building, or a man… Today you sow into your destiny and your children's destiny.
Today is your chance to shine! This is your Kairos Moments in a Chronos World, so step up and follow God into your destiny!
Monday Sep 12, 2016
Monday Sep 12, 2016
This week we net unconditional to buy the building we meet in. It has been a labour of love, but we are now in a position to move ahead.
Question is, move ahead to what?
I was doing the Bible reading program this week, and was struck with the similarities between our saga and that of Nehemiah. So today I want to talk about building for the future, and how we as a body of believers can move into our God ordained destiny as a church, and as individuals.
THE STORY SO FAR
After years of the nation of Israel and Judah rebelling against God, they went into exile, The northern kingdom of Israel first in 722BC, and the southern kingdom of Judah in 587BC. The best people in the land were carted off to Babylon, which is where we read of Daniel in the lion’s den and the 3 young men in the furnace.
Then Babylon is defeated by Persia.
After 70 years we read this in 2 Chronicles 36:23
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’”
After 70 years of exile, as prophesied earlier, a team was sent back to Jerusalem under Ezra the priest. They decided to rebuild the temple, but the walls of the city lay in ruins. There had been 2 attempts to rebuild, but things were not going well.
In ancient days, a city without walls was a weak city, easy to invade, easy to exploit. It was imperative that those walls be rebuilt, lest the city never reach its destiny and greatness.
Nehemiah was not just about building walls, he was about building the future of his people.
So we pick up the story in Nehemiah chapter 1… Nehemiah was asking after the returning exiles, while he was till in Babylon serving a Persian King Artaxerxes as cupbearer (and taste tester, a very important and trusted position the court).
Let me try and put this into modern terms…
Your dad, who lives in another state, calls to tell you the factory that’s always served as the main source of employment in your family’s hometown has been sold. The new owners are closing down the plant and moving production overseas. Many family members and friends will endure unemployment. Your hometown faces a severe economic depression as other businesses inevitably shut down.
Coincidentally, you work as a vice president in the same industry, and you know your company is exploring options for expansion.
What would you do? Where would you start? How can you be sure of what God wants you to do?
1. IDENTIFY THE NEED
In the book of Nehemiah, the first things he did was to identify exactly what the need was…
Nehemiah 1:3
And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
The wall, the protection for the city had been burnt down. Nehemiah was a cup bearer to the King, what could he do? He saw the need, and his heart was deeply moved, but helping his people was not within the scope of his current job.
This was how I felt facing taking on Coast Church. I had not been a pastor before, and did not know the intricacies of the job, but I knew my God and I knew His voice and the need and the challenge stirred my heart. And I Covenanted to be obedient to His Word. Much of what God said at time time came from this very book!
So I saw the need. You see the need today in and around this church. There are millions of needs paraded before us, orphans, drugs, conflict, World Vision, Compassion, etc. I'm sure Nehemiah could see needs in the city where he served, called Susa. So why would the needs of people he didn't know a thousand miles away be the ones that moved him?
Because God was stirring his heart, just as God is stirring your heart to be here. These are your people, this is your future and destiny, but what exactly are you to do? Ask God to help you see specific needs and roles right here where you can serve and help.
Our time and resources are limited, we cannot assist every worthy cause. How, then, can we know which goals God is calling us to work on? Like Nehemiah, consider what most pricks your conscience, stirs your emotions and makes the best use of your abilities. That is often the sign you need to move forward. Do the Coastal Journey.
And Coast Church is the perfect vehicle to serve the Lord.
2. PRAY, DON’T BE MR FIX IT!
Nehemiah didn't sit down and figure out how he could fix it, he turned to the Lord in prayer…
Nehemiah 1:4
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
After hearing the news about Jerusalem, Nehemiah did not merely rush to implement his grand plan of action. Instead, he turned to the spiritual disciplines… Fasting and praying.
In preparation for any significant undertaking, our first step should be the same as Nehemiah, who “fasted and prayed before the God of heaven”.
As a guy, I'm your classic all action hero. I make decisions fast, and furious, and follow through on them. That's a typically bloke thing to do. But it's not God.
So often even godly people make decisions then ask God to bless them. It's the wrong way around.
We need to pray, ask God what He wants us to do, and then obey. So guys, with the church, don't try and fix it… Pray first and ask God what He wants to change, and what your involvement could and should be.
3. ASK GOD FOR HIS VISION
Destiny is not something vague that smashes you in a certain direction… It is a series of choices, and making God’s choices is the greatest destiny ever.
So ask God for clear, concrete visions and objectives—
Nehemiah 2:4-5
Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.”
When King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah, “What is it you want?” (v. 4), the servant didn’t give a vague, abstract answer, such as “to save and protect the Jewish remnant.” Or “To grow a big church.”
So often we want our church to grow, and that's fine but that’s not what we should be about. Having a vague idea we want to be successful gets you absolutely nowhere!
Instead Nehemiah provided a clear and concrete objective: to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. God gave him a plan, and he shared that.
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: KJV
Proverbs 29:18 MESSAGE
If people can't see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
Some versions say without vision the people cast off restraint, or self destruct. If I offer you as a church no vision, then the church self destructs.
Last week, in the midst of all the distractions of trying to get the loan for this building, I attended a pastor Masterclass and God laid out a plan in my heart for the future of this church. I am not flying blind, I am not stumbling in the dark hoping God does something miraculous. I asked for His blueprint to grow the church going forward, and as He promised, He laid it out for me.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person's heart,
but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Make your own plans at your own peril! God is in the house, and God has a plan and a purpose for this church, and your part in this church. So pause, ask Him His perfect plan, His objectives, His will, and follow Him. Don't just make some crazy thing up, order Him to meet your wishes then get mad at Him when it doesn't come to pass!
I stand before you with a vision for this church, and your role in it. God has already shown me where many of you fit in, so if you want to follow the Lord into your destiny, pray and step up… There I nothing greater in the Christian life than serving where you are destined to serve!
4. ASK GOD FOR HIS TIMING
Nehemiah 2:6
And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.
First thing the King asked was, “What's your time frame.”
When King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall, he also asked him how long his journey would take and when he would return.
Nehemiah could have easily answered—as many of us would today—that never having built a wall before, he had no idea, or that because God had given him the goal, only God knew how long it would take.
Instead, he immediately “gave him a time” (Ne 2:6).
When setting our own goals, we can follow Nehemiah and “set a time.” For instance, rather than setting a nonspecific goal to “memorise Scripture” we can make time-bound objectives, such as “I will memorise four verses in 30 days.”
A vision without a time frame is just a wish, nothing more.
Saying we want to be a big, successful church is not a proper plan. Having the right plan and implementing it sometime when we get around to it will still not achieve the result. You need to have a vision, a plan and a time frame.
For us, God has laid out a plan which we will run with once I have shared it one on one with key people over the next few weeks. Within 1 month, I believe things should be in place!
We then set our sights on achieving the plan. Step one, we want to fill this building in a Sunday morning. Step 2, we flip to multiple services, and so on.
We are not floating in a soup of maybes and wannabes, God is speaking to my heart daily and I have a vision for the future, and a structure He has given me. Coast Church is moving ahead, and we have a destiny together to serve the Lord and reach out to our community for Jesus.
Even better... I have a plan and a timetable!
5. GATHER TEAMS TOGETHER AND INSPIRE THEM
When I first stepped up to become senior pastor I was told that this church will never be led by a team. Today, we are led by a great team, and our entire structure is about to be changed so that everything about our church family, all work, all ministry and everything, is going to be team driven.
Why? Because Jesus did it, and that's good enough for me!
He wasn't a one man band, He trained and inspired his team… The inner 3, the 12, the 70, the 120 and so on.
Nehemiah did it too… he assessed the situation, formulated a plan and then gathered team members…
Nehemiah 2:11-12
So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.
Nehemiah 2:16
And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
But then this is the very next verse…
Nehemiah 2:17-18
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
It is pointless recruiting others when you don't have plans, or if you have plans other than God plans. As your pastor, I have to develop a plan before recruiting and inspiring you!
Arriving at Jerusalem, Nehemiah initially did not inform anyone of his plans (see 2:16). It was only when he had adequately assessed the situation for himself, when he knew what was needing to be done, that he began to tell others and recruit them in completing his God given objectives.
But even when he knew what was to be done, how could he inspire these good but tired and downtrodden, discouraged people? By connecting them with the vision.
An old traveler met two stonemasons who were chipping chunks of granite from large blocks. The first seemed unhappy at his job, for he frequently looked at his watch while he worked. When the traveler asked what he was doing, the first mason responded, “I’m hammering this rock—and I can’t wait til I can stop.”
The second mason was hammering at his block fervently, taking time to stand back and admire his work. He chipped off small pieces until he was satisfied that it was the best he could do. When he was questioned about his task he stopped, gazed skyward and proudly proclaimed, “I’m building a cathedral!”
I stand before you today with what I know is God’s plan for our church in my heart. I've written it down, and spoken to many leaders, all of who, are on board and excited. I'm not a deaf, blind and drunk sailor steering a rudderless ship! I know I have God's plan in my heart, and the next many months are going to be exciting and something you just won't want to miss!
If you want to be part of something incredible, if you want to join a winning team, this is your moment! The lure is not going to be chipping rocks, you have the opportunity to join me and others building a cathedral!
If you want to serve the Lord, if you want to discover your gifts and find a place to serve Jesus that you love, you're in the right spot… Whatever your gift is, welcome home to Coast Church. You have a destiny here!
6. EXPECT OPPOSITION FROM OUTSIDE
Not everyone is in synch with my heart for this church. Everyone wants to be part of a successful church, but not everyone will agree with everything.
There will be opposition, sometimes from those we love most! Sometimes it will be from outside, and sometimes from people who were here and no longer attend this church.
Nehemiah 2:19-20
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
Notice how they attack? They falsely accuse you of things you have not done.
Nehemiah 4:1
Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
They get angry and jeer you, insult you, try to ruin your reputation.
Nehemiah 4:8
And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.
They plot and try to undermine the work of God.
Nehemiah 6:2-3
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
They arrange pointless meetings, they interrupt what you are doing, but we need to say,
“Sorry, I don't have time to meet with you, I am doing the work of the Lord!”
7. EXPECT OPPOSITION FROM WITHIN
Even within our own ranks some people just want a nice little local church. Some just want to turn up and do their thing and that's it.
Nehemiah faced not only attacks from outside, but from the very people he was serving. In a time of economic downturn, well to do Christians not only failed to give, but they exploited their poorer brothers, even into selling their children into slavery. The work on the building stopped because people got greedy and ceased being generous.
And Nehemiah got mad…
Nehemiah 5:6
I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
Nehemiah 5:9-10
So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.
If you are blessed with finances, now is not the time to abandon the work of the Lord. We still need money to complete the purchase, and later to expand. Make a convenient in your heart to give and bless others, and not only will God bless you in return, but you will know that you've been part of something great.
It's not my church, it's yours. Let's join together to work hard and see God prosper us!
8. LOOK TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AS AN EXAMPLE
Nehemiah 5:15-16
The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
I know many of you have been hurt in the past. I recognise that leaders have often taken advantage of you and your generosity, and your hard work. But as Nehemiah did, I stand before you as your leader willing to lay my life down for you and this church. Jesus said,
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
That's my role. I work full time, and I pastor full time. I make no wage demands on this church, although you now give me a small amount off my house loan. Essentially, I work full time for income and I pastor full time for free. I also am committed enough to give to the point of pain in offerings we have for the building.
I'm not saying this to big note myself. I'm not saying this to force your hand. I want to live as an example before you, giving my all, laying my life down, that you might be inspired to join the destiny of this church. As the leadership, so go the people, so I am figuring that if I serve you and encourage you, that you will do the same for others.
Nehemiah did not take what was due him as governor, and neither do I. Nehemiah gave of what he had and worked hard side by side with the people, and that too is my solemn pledge to you. Nehemiah was generous with his time, his skills, his money and his resources, and that is what I intend to do also.
God has challenged me and shown me that this church is destined for greatness, and I intent to give everything I have, finances, blood, sweat and tears to fulfil what God has called us to do.
As I read yesterday in my quiet time from Amy Carmichael, "If the Leader bears the brunt of the battle the soldiers can follow."
I intend to serve hard, love hard, give hard, work hard and above all trust hard in the Lord!
So what about you? You can float along, you can just attend church, that's fine. But I am betting some of you want to join a winning team. In fact, I challenge you to join me. I challenge you to stand side by side with me and the leadership and I challenge you to see what God will do in and through you at Coast Church.
THE CALL
God called Nehemiah to rebuild the city and provide a home and a destiny for the people. God has called me to do the same. To rebuild this church, to restore it to the path of destiny God has for it, to follow Him with a pure heart and to lay my life down for the people I love.
Next week, we will have an offering and I charge you to seek God and give as He calls you to give. This week, I challenge you to stand with me, shoulder to shoulder, to pledge to join me in the work of the Lord and to share the great destiny He has ahead for us.
Nehemiah 2:18
And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Monday Sep 05, 2016
Monday Sep 05, 2016
Remember Darth Vader's famous words, "Luke, I am your father?"
Father’s Day for me is an interesting mix of emotions. My girls always tell me how much they love me and what I have meant in their lives, even though I feel hopelessly inadequate as a dad. In addition, Father's Day also hurts because I was very close to my dad. But he has been dead for 18 months now, so for me it is a mixture of emotions.
Sometimes Father's Day does that to you. Imagine what it would be like for Luke Skywalker…
This iconic quote from the Star Wars series of movies is actually a misquote. The true quote actually reads like this…
Darth Vader: Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.
Luke Skywalker: He told me enough! He told me you killed him!
Darth Vader: No. I am your father
Imagine Father's Day for Luke, when he discovers that the man he's been fighting against, the man who stands for everything he hates, the man who has killed his friends and is trying to kill him, is actually his father!
You don't choose your father, good or bad, you just get him when he begets you. You had no influence over what he did for a living, how he treated people, the hang ups he had, the things he did to you, the influences he tried to bring into your life.
Maybe your dad wasn't ideal, maybe he abused you, disappointed you or never said kind words to you. Perhaps the only fatherly advice he gave you was…
“You cannot escape the dark side, Luke!”
Well I'm here to tell you that is not true! You can escape the dark side, you can be set free of anything your father did or didn't do, said or didn't say, wanted or didn't want for you.
Today, Father's Day, I am going to show you how to forgive and love your father, even if he is imperfect, and how you can break the power of his words and influence over your life.
DADS- THE GOOD,THE BAD AND THE UGLY
When it comes to father's, there's a whole variety out there, good, bad and ugly.
I think I fall into the latter bracket!
Now I don't know what type of father you had, but mine was awesome. He was strong, dependable, kind, loving and godly. He was an example and an inspiration, and when he died 18 months ago I felt like I had lost not only a father but a friend, and a mentor.
But not every person is as blessed as I am. For many the word father conjures up horror, anger and shame.
So whether you had, or have a good father or a shocker, this message is for you…
Ephesians 6:2
“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),
And what was the promise? From Exodus 20:12, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. A long and prosperous life is the reward of honouring your parents.
If you hold onto bitterness towards you parents you will shorten your life!
So today is the day to forgive your father, whether he was a good dad or a bad dad, because every father is imperfect.
But how can you honour your parents when they were horrible parents? How can you honour your dad if he was a source of so much pain in your life?
You start by forgiving your father this Father's Day…
I bet that most of your father's loved you. They may not have demonstrated it the right way, or may have made decisions that failed to show you love, they may have even Abused you or your mother, or left you for whatever reason. Yet still, almost all of your father's tried to love you.
There's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.
Today you can forgive your dad as the ultimate Father's Day gift, whether the finds out about it or not.
We all have things we can forgive our fathers for, some more than others. No one has had a perfect father, although mine came close.
STEPS TO FORGIVE YOUR FATHER
So many of us have poor memories of our fathers. They hurt us, disappointed us, we're never there for us. Maybe they left us and our mum. Maybe they were never there in the first place. Maybe there were always busy working or reading the paper when we wanted them.
Australia is the land of the absent father. Traditionally the kids are women's business, while we blokes work hard, play hard or drink hard.
How can you forgive such a great travesty against you? You were young. Maybe you were innocent. Maybe you were a teenager reacting. Maybe you were a primary kid disappointed and missing out on dads’ time.
1. RECOGNISE ALL DADS ARE IMPERFECT
No earthly father is going to be perfect. I'm certainly not. We all have bad days, bad moods or make less than stellar decisions.
So the first step towards forgiving your father is to recognise that, like every other dad in the world, yours is not perfect. He may be great, he may have always tried his hardest, he may love you with an undying love, but each of us falls short at some point…
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Don't be mad at your father's shortcomings, recognise that he has them and love him anyway, warts and all, the good times and the bad. You were loved despite your fallibilities.
2. FORGIVENESS STARTS WITH A DECISION
Fatherhood is one of the basic ingredients of character development. Statistically the vast majority of prison inmates have had poor or no relationship with their fathers. Your father should have been there for you, and good fathers are a critical part of the Fabric which shapes your life.
But the reality is that your dad is human. He had failings when you were young, and he probably has the same failings right now. He's a sinner, just like you! When you hurt someone, when you disappoint someone you care about, when you let God down and sin, don't you want to be forgiven?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins
The Apostle Paul put it this way
Colossians 3:13:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
If you refuse to forgive, it's like drinking poison hoping the other guy dies. You are only hurting yourself, not your dad if you fail to forgive him. In fact, many times dads are completely oblivious, and while you think you are punishing them, often times they don't even realise! Typical guys right?
So in order for you to forgive your father, the first thing you need to do is make a decision. Whether you have feelings about this or not, the first thing is to decide to forgive your father.
If you make the conscious decision to forgive your dad, no matter how hard and no matter what it is that he did or said, then this is a great starting point!
3. FORGIVENESS MEANS SURRENDERING YOUR RIGHT TO GET EVEN
As human beings we have an inbuilt desire to get even. We think it's our right. He hurt me, now God, I want you to sort him out for me. I have the right to be treated well by my parents. I have the right to carry a grudge if I'm not.
No you don't! When you become a Christian, you surrender your right to be treated right. You have no rights, only to serve.
Our world bangs on about rights all the time…
Human rights, aboriginal land rights, women’s right, children’s right, gay rights, now transgender rights, we've got save the koalas, save the whales… Why not just join them all together and have land rights for gay, transgender whales and be done with it?
Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Listen to how the message puts it...
Romans 12:19
Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
Forgiveness means letting God sort it out and dropping the so called right to get even!
4. FORGIVENESS MEANS EVEN IF THERE ARE NO FEELINGS
We are creatures of feelings, we usually wear our hearts on our sleeves. We expect the right feelings when we do something. Yet often feelings and emotions crowd out and distort the truth.
We might think when we feel the right feelings we will forgive our fathers. But we shouldn't be led by our feelings…
Many people marry based on feelings of love, or lust, or infatuation. The trouble is, feelings come and go, but the decisions we make determine our destiny. The Bible says…
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
So if we rely on feelings of the heart we are in trouble, and you'll find yourself changing your mind every few minutes. If you are waiting for feelings of forgiveness before you forgive anyone, you'll be waiting for a long time.
So after you have decided to forgive your dad as an act of the will, you need to recognise that you must follow through, regardless of your feelings for him.
My experience is that, if we make a decision to love someone, to forgive them, then even if we feel like an unemotional droid, at some stage in the future the feelings will follow.
5. FORGIVENESS DOES NOT MEAN APPROVAL
This is vitally important… Forgiveness does not mean approval!
Forgiving someone is not your sanctioning their actions. If you have been hurt, let down, abandoned or attacked by your dad, forgiving him is not a mark of your approval for what he has done.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If God the Father forgives our sin, does that mean He condones it? Of course not! God never condones your sin, in fact He hates it!
Proverbs 6:16
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
So forgiving your father does not for one second mean that you approve of what he has done, to you or anyone else. What it means is that you forgive him, that's it, pure and simple.
6. FORGIVENESS MEANS KEEPING ON FORGIVING
Let it go as Elsa sings. The is is easy to say, and hard to live. Especially true when the person involved has never apologised, or maybe is not even aware of what they have done.
If your father has hurt you in the past, it's time this Father's Day to finally let it go… Let the past be past at last!
Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Ok God, I can forgive him, but what if he hurts me again? I mean, if you have been carrying hurts from your father, you might notice that you are super sensitive to almost everything he says and does, right?
Heres the reality, you are going to be hurt again… And again… And again.
Now does this mean you should open yourself to continued and ongoing abuse? No, you must protect yourself, that's a given, but also recognise that pain is still going to be a part of life, and indeed any relationship.
Only God can give you the power to forgive again and again. Only God can deal with the pain, the super sensitivity, the injustice and anger that you feel.
If you ask Him, He will give you the power.
7. FORGIVENESS RECOGNISES HE WILL PROBABLY NEVER MEASURE UP
OK, here is the reality of forgiving your father. He most likely is not going to change. Whether you tell him of of your forgiveness or not, he probably isn't about to change who he is.
Manage your expectations. High expectations will lead to constant disappointment. If you tie your joy to getting the right response from someone else, then you are in real trouble.
You can forgive your father this Father's Day, be set free, release him, see your relationship improve and find yourself full of joy, even though you know he will probably never measure up. Why?
Nehemiah 8:10b
And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Not how he reacts, not what he does, or says, or even believes about you. Find your joy in the Lord, and you have the strength to forgive your father, no matter if he never changes!
Before I share my final point, let me make this absolutely clear. Forgiveness is you, forgiving your imperfect father this Father's Day. But let me tell you what forgiveness is not…
It does not mean approving of or justifying what your dad did.
It does not mean pretending that evil never took place.
It does not mean making excuses for your dad’s bad behaviour.
It does not mean overlooking abuse.
It does not mean denying that you have been hurt repeatedly.
It does not mean letting dad or mum walk all over you.
It does not mean forgetting the wrong that was done.
It does not mean pretending that you were never hurt.
It does not mean that you must restore the relationship to what it was before.
It does not mean that you open yourself up to more hurt again.
It does not mean there must be a total reconciliation as if nothing ever happened.
It does not mean that you must tell the person that you have forgiven them.
It does not mean that all negative consequences of your or their sin is canceled.
Forgiveness is letting it go, whatever has been done or said in the past, and releasing your father from any anger, bitterness or hurt you feel towards him. It liberates not him, but you, and leads nicely into my final point…
I'm going to pause and pray right now with you. If you feel there is something you need to forgive your dad for, maybe for the first time or the 77th time, I'm going to ask you to stand where you are.
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO FIND A NEW, PERFECT FATHER
My dad was a great dad, but he wasn't perfect. He hurt me at times by what he said. He worked hard and often was not there for me. He tried his best, and was to me a far better father than I ever could be to my kids, but he wasn't perfect.
But God is!
My dad one day did the most incredible thing for me that illustrated what a perfect father is like.
On a holiday at Lake Cathai I walked out along a sand bank into the lake, stepped of and began to drown. I was 4. My dad didn't remove his heavy clothing, but dived in to save me, and once he had deposited me safely on the shore, had a heart attack.
My dad laid his life down for me. Your Heavenly Father did the same for you, sending heaven’s best to a cross to die for you. To save you.
Galatians 4:6-7
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
This Father's Day, celebrate, bless, encourage and forgive your father, by all means. But even better still, choose this Father's Day to turn to your perfect father, your abba father, your dad…
Today your father in heaven’s arms are open wide to you. Have you ever run into His arms?
Monday Aug 22, 2016
Monday Aug 22, 2016
Fiona is running anincredible seminar next Saturday that you do not want to miss. It started as trainingfor our care bears, but we wanted to open it up to everyone because theinformation about how to help another person going through hard times anddifficulties is valuable to all of us.
As preparation, I wantto look at how to be the best best friend…
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better thanone, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one willlift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has notanother to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how canone keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone,two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
James Taylor sang it,but we all need to believe it… There is nothing as good as having a friend. Welive in the age of social media, yet people have never been so lonely! You canhave 500 friends on Facebook, yet be the loneliest guy in the world.
So what is the bigdeal about friendship, why do we desire it so much and how can we be the bestfriend of somebody else?
WHAT REALLY MAKES USHAPPY?
A recent study by researchers looked the age-old mystery of what makes people happy,and their answer is not what might be expected. Consistently at the top of thecharts is not success, good looks, or money. Money doesn't buy happiness, it just means you can bemiserable in comfort!
The clear winner inevery culture is relationships- especially closerelationships.
What can be done to build goodrelationships? To be honest, the answer is “not much.” We cannot do a whole lotto cultivate healthy relationships. Techniques do not work.
Relationships are moreabout being than doing.
Real relationships evolve out of being acertain kind of person. We must focus on who we are in relationships ratherthan what we do. We need to target“being” the right person in order to foster the right relationships. So how canwe be the best person we can find for each other?
Proverbs 12:26
The righteous choosetheir friends carefully,
but the way of thewicked leads them astray.
Today I want to lookat what being a best friend truly is, how you can be the best of best friendsto those you love, and how to attract the very best friends around your life tohelp you become everything that God wants you to be.
Here’s some thingsthat you need to be to be the best of best friends…
1. BE SOMEONE WHO LISTENS
At the heart of every good relationship isthe ability to listen and understand what another person is saying. Withoutaccurate listening, a good relationship can never be built.
Job’s so calledfriends lacked a little in this department. Job’s life was in tatters, so theycame and sat with him, and let him talk… Full marks for that so far… They lethim talk, but doesn't mean they listened, right?
Job 2:11
Now when Job's threefriends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from hisown place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.
But they didn't listen!
Job 13:4-6
As for you, youwhitewash with lies;
worthless physiciansare you all.
Oh that you would keepsilent,
and it would be yourwisdom!
Hear now my argument
and listen to thepleadings of my lips.
People who have good relationships take thetime to hear what the other person is saying. They don’t have a habit ofinterrupting or jumping to conclusions. They listen to the feelings the personis expressing, and they know how to respond appropriately. They not only hear, they listen and try tounderstand the other party.
We need to practicereflective listening. Like a mirror reflects an image,we can reflect the person’s message by saying something like, “What I hear yousaying is . . . ” This kind of a reflection lets the person know we are reallyinterested in accurately understanding them and their issues.
Like many husbands, Iam good at hearing without listening, especially when the football is on. Itdrives Fiona nuts!
It also does wonders for building goodrelationships. Listening is not arguing every point, orexpressing your views on everything, it is listening, understanding and lettingyour friend know that they are getting a hearing.
The best best friendis someone who listens.
2. BE SOMEONE WHO IS SAFE
In a sticky situationDavid found himself the object of King Saul’s wrath, but David had a closefriend in Saul’s son, Jonathon…
1 Samuel 18:1
After David hadfinished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he lovedhim as himself.
A close relationship is built on feelingsof security. If people do not feel safe, there is no hope of them ever openingup and being authentic. People who keep their word create a sense of securityfor people in a relationship. They follow through on the promises they make. Ifwe promise to keep a secret, we must keep it. We must keep our word. Once wehave earned a person’s trust, our relationship will flourish.
The best best friendis always safe.
3. BE SOMEONE WHO IS HONEST
Most people look forfriends that agree with them… even if they are wrong! If their friend neverchallenges them, they feel comfortable around them, and that is what manypeople look for.
Listen, being a goodfriend is not empowering someone to ruin their life! Many friends are likethis… They just support you even if you are destroying yourself. Drugs friends,friends who encourage you to sleep around, drinking buddies… So many choosetheir friends based on them agreeing with their lifestyle.
I've had friends moveaway from me because I do not agree it's their lifestyle. Friends don't have tosee eye to eye, but they can walk hand in hand!
Or they can say, “Here,I'm your best friend, let me help you ruin your life!”
Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friendcan be trusted,
but an enemymultiplies kisses.
This is where thevalue of a mentor is found. EveryTimothy needs a Paul and every Paul needs a mentor too.
A mentor is someonewho speaks into your life, whether it's good or bad!
In my position as apastor, I urn to people I can trust… Dr Bill Newman, Ps Marie Cartledge, Ps RodJobe, and many others.
My friend does me a favourwhen he finds me in error or shows me a fault that my blind spot doesn’t allowme to see. That’s the value of a closefriend. He or she loves you enough totell you the truth. Fiona does this wellfor me.
I would rather havethe wounds of a friend because they cut in order to heal, but “the kisses of anenemy” only flatter me and may inflate my ego increasing my pride and stunting myspiritual growth.
The best best friendis somebody who is honest, even if the truth hurts a bit.
4. BE SOMEONE WHO LENDS A HAND
John 15:13
Greater love has noone than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
In rewarding relationships, people not onlyhave feelings of security, they also help each other out. Sometimes that helpmay be seen in tangible ways - a liftto church, for example.
And sometimes it may be through givingreassurance before you take a big exam or have that critical interview.
Thepoint is that we should help them because we want to, not because we have to.As the saying goes, “That’s what friends are for.”
Once there were twomen who were trapped in a cabin on a mountain during a blizzard. The drifts were so high that there was no waythat they could go for help. Obviously,this was before cell phones so there was nothing much they could do but try andwait it out and hope that help would come. As the days passed and the snow continued to fall, the two men becausedesperate as they scrounged for anything that they could find to eat. The cabin that they had borrowed didn’t havemuch of anything to eat. After about thetenth day, it appeared that they weren’t going to make it because they wererunning out of food.
That was when one ofthe men said that he was going to go out and try to find help. He went into the upper portion of thesplit-level cabin, found some snow shoes, and went through the upper window ofthe cabin. He never came back. After a few days, his friend went up into theattic to try and look out the window to see if he could see his friend. Therehe found a note that said, “I know that there wasn’t enough food for the bothof us to live much longer and I couldn’t bear to see us both die of starvationso I thought that you should be the one to survive. I love you my brother.”
True love, true friendshipinvolves a valid expression of your love. In other words, demonstrate yourlove, live it out and be practical in your friendship
My uncle Eric use towalk to church every Sunday, and wave to a guy who was always sitting on thefront porch. He wondered how he could reach out to him, and they exchangedgreetings every Sunday. This went on for several years.
Then one day, Eric noticedthe man shovelling in a hole. He asked what had happened, and was told that thegrease trap was broken. Have you ever smelled a grease trap. Possibly the mustpungent smell ever.
Eric said nothing, butturned and went home. He got changed out of his Sunday best and into overalls,went back and joined the man digging in the sewer.
Next week the man wentto church. A few weeks later he came to Christ!
The best best friend isalways there for you lending a hand when it's needed.
5. BE SOMEONE WHO IS EMPATHETIC
To build good relationships, people have tostop seeing only their point ofview and learn to see the world from another person’sperspective.
Selfishness does not fostergood relationships. To become the best best friend, you need to start seeing thingsnot from your point of view, but from the viewpoint of your friend.
The fancy word for this is “empathy”. Oncewe put ourselves in other people’s shoes, we begin to understand why they mightreact, feel, and think the way they do. Of course, empathy does not comenaturally; it takes work. It takes a decision to see life as another personsees it.
Nobody cares how muchyou know, until they know how much you care. Theodore Roosevelt.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another'sburdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
“Before you criticisea man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticise him,my you'llbe a mile away and wearing his shoes.” Steve Martin
A best best friend bearsanother's burdens. He doesn't just criticise, he empathises.
6. BE SOMEONE WHO CAN RECEIVE
This is a hard one forme, and many of you. I find it easy to be generous to others, but not so easyto receive in my hour of need.
If a relationship isall running one direction, you'll soon tire of it. When the scales of arelationship are unbalanced-when one is always receiving and one is alwaysgiving-both people will eventually feel cheated.
In healthy relationships, people meet eachother’s needs. There is a give and take that keeps both sides in balance.
We must learn to allow people to care for us asmuch as we care for them. We must not fall into the trap of thinking that inorder to be a good friend we have to do all the giving.
Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God'schosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaintagainst another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so youalso must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everythingtogether in perfect harmony.
A best best friendknows how to give and receive in a relationship.
7. BE SOMEONE WHO WEATHERSTURBULENCE
Fair weather friends are worth very little, because a truefriend stands by you in your darkest hour… Even if you are the cause of it!
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at alltimes,
and a brother is bornfor adversity.
A true friend evensticks by you if there is conflict between them and you. Every relationshipexperiences conflict at some point, and when this happens you might feel liketaking your bat and ball and going home.
You need to recognisethat every good relationship eventually encounters arough spot, a time when one or both people feel like giving up. It happens in marriages, it happens in friendships.
Itis a scary phase in relationships, butbe encouraged because it usually indicates that both parties aregoing beneath the surface to talk about their true feelings, their likes anddislikes, the good and the bad. Openingup may bring turbulence, but ultimately your friendship will be stronger forit, if you let it.
Bill Newman describesmarriage as two rivers flowing together… Initially there is a time ofturbulence, but soon they combine to be more powerful than before. The same canbe said of true friendship.
But if we are mature enough, and if wepersevere, the time of relational turbulence can lead to a deeper, moregenuine, and more authentic relationship than before.
Conflict is often the temporary price wepay for deepening intimacy in relationships.
A best best friendweathers the turbulence of the relationship.
8. BE SOMEONE WHO BRINGS THE BESTOUT IN ANOTHER
Henry Ford said, “Mybest friend is the one who brings the best out in me.”
This is so true abouta truly best friend. They encourage, invest in and spur on you and your growth.If you are a friend who brings people down rather than builds them up, you areno friend at all!
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpensanother.
I have discovered thisverse to be true time and time again. I always choose to hang out with thosewho challenge and inspire me, rather than those who deflate and depress me. Andthat is the friend that I want to be too!
So the best best friendsare those that inspire, challenge and bring the best out in others. They causeyou to lift your eyes to the hills, to strive for excellence and encourage youin your walk with God. If you want to be a great friend, inspire others.
9. BE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHEN TO CALL IT QUITS
Ouch, this one isgoing to hurt!
Sometimes you need tobe big enough and brave enough to walk away.
Frankly, there aresome people you do not need to be friends with. I’m not saying get nasty, throwthings or spread gossip about them, but some people are so toxic, sodestructive and drain you so much that you have to be brave enough to walkaway!
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived:“Bad company ruins good morals.”
Some friendships aretoxic. If you are close friends with someone who drags you down, especiallyspiritually, if they are the reason why you fall back into sin, then you needto distance yourself from them.
There are some relationships that are notworth the work. Of course, every relationship needs nurturing, but somerelationships, no matter how hard people try to make them work, are doomed todisaster.
Maybe the other partyis a taker, and all you do is give. Maybe they tempt you back into your old,sinful ways. Maybe they mock and attack your faith.
2 Corinthians 6:14
The Temple of theLiving God
Do not be unequallyyoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness withlawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Ifwe are in a relationship that leads us to do things that we do not want to do,the relationship is not healthy and mayneed to be stopped.
If we are in a relationship where we areconstantly trying to win the person’s approval or never feel accepted, therelationship is probably not a good one. When that is the case, we need to callit quits before the other person’s rejection damages us and limits ourusefulness to God.
10. BE SOMEONE WHO REFLECTS CHRIST
Relationships are complex and require certain fundamentalelements plus, of course, time. In buildingrelationships, it is more profitable to examine ourselves to determine the typeof person we are, rather than focusing on chasing down the friends we want.
As a believer, we arecalled to reflect Christ. In fact, we are called to be like Him. If you want totruly be the best friend you can possibly be, and thereby attract the bestfriends ever, then reflecting Christ in all you do and say is the best way todo it!
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, withunveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into thesame image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lordwho is the Spirit.
Are you beingtransformed daily into the image of Christ? Are you living for yourself or areyou a living, breathing reflection of Jesus. Do you act to gratify yourself, ordo you want to serve the Lord and those around you.
This morning, I amasking you to commit to being the best best friend. And I'm going to ask thatif you have a feeling of estrangement or separation that is causing you pain,that you stand up and let us pray for you. In particular, if you have a toxicfriendship we need to pray and ask for wisdom.
Tuesday Aug 16, 2016
Tuesday Aug 16, 2016
When you come toChrist you are also enrolled in the University of Adversity, and you have theincredible opportunity to learn and grow through any situation, good or bad,high or low, mountain top or Valley… And trust me you will learn more in thevalleys than on the mountain tops.
Life is full of upsand downs, a roller coaster of experiences, emotions and relationships. Sogiven the variety of terrain you face, where is your education at Uni-Adversitygoing to be most effective?
We lean more in ourvalley experiences than in our mountaintop experiences. My may not enjoy themas much, but we definitely learn more from them.
James 5:10-11
Brothers and sisters,as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spokein the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who havepersevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lordfinally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
By any standards, Jobgot a raw deal! Faithful, righteous,caring and successful, God boasted of him and thereby lined him up for a fontalattack by Satan. Job had to go through some very dark, excruciating days, butJames reminds us that God never abandoned Him. It always helps to rememberGod’s unchanging compassion and mercy when we suffer.
In this message I’mgoing to address some of the common questions all of us have when we thinkabout suffering, hard times and adversity. But before we address these questions, let me remind you what you areabout to learn in adversity…
So what do we learn inour suffering?
1. ADVERSITY REVEALS OUR STRENGTHS AND OUR WEAKNESSES
In we can only see oursituation and circumstances, we often do not have a true understanding of ourpotential. But God does! ConsiderGideon’s call to greatness…
Judges 6:11-16
When the angel of theLord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
“Pardon me, my lord,”Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Didnot the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us andgiven us into the hand of Midian.”
The Lord turned to himand said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. AmI not sending you?”
“Pardon me, my lord,”Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh,and I am the least in my family.”
The Lord answered, “Iwill be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving nonealive.”
The Lord’s estimationof us often differs from our own. God saw Gideon as a “valiant warrior” becauseHe knew what He was going to accomplish through him. God saw the potential thatGideon never saw in himself for a moment!
Gideon saw himself asweak and little because his focus was on his circumstances rather than on the LordWhen we believe God and depend on Him to empower us, we become who He says weare—His beloved children through whom He overcomes the world…
1 John 5:4
for everyone born ofGod overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, evenour faith.
Remember, when we are weak,He is strong!
2. ADVERSITY IS OUR CHANCE TO SHINE
Funny how yousometimes misfit a key and it reveals a truth. I mishit the S, so this headingread “Adversity is our chance to whine.” This is a Fraudian slip but probablymore true for us.Most of us whine long before we shine, don't we?
When a freak storm hitthe boat the disciples and Jesus travelled in, the true extent of their faithwas revealed…
When hardships comeour way, do we respond, “God, I trust You to bring me through this”? Or do wetend to say, “I’m doomed, and there’s nothing anybody can do”? Or maybe we say,“Why me Lord, don't You care?”
Mark 4:38-40
Jesus was in thestern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher,don't you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked thewind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and itwas completely calm.
He said to hisdisciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
How often do we saythings like this to our Lord? When we get into some trouble, we question Hislove, not His ability. And yet despite our lack of faith, He reaches out Hishand and saves us. Guess He really does care after all.
When the storm hit,Jesus was fast asleep in the stern of the boat, and the disciples cried, “Teacher,do You not care that we are perishing?”
How many times haveyou felt the same way? Life turns stormy, adversity comes against us, and wedon't see an opportunity to grow, we see disaster! We cry out: “Don’t You care, Lord, that thisis happening to me? God, don’t You love me enough to do something about thishardship?”
The disciples wokeJesus and immediately He rebuked the wind and a great calm settled on the lake.Then He turned to His disciples and said, “Why are you afraid? Do you stillhave no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
Faith is a gift, and Godhas given to each one of us the ability to trust Him. He expects us to use thisfaith to overcome doubt, fear, and anxiety. Many times, these negative feelingsaccompany adversity.
When we hit the valleyof our trials, we are tempted to thinkthe worst and wonder if we will ever recover. Satan loves to tell us that allhope is lost, that we will never achieve our goals. Our situation hopeless, ourfaith worthless.
Where can you turn? ToScripture, where we read
Romans 8:28
And we know that inall things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been calledaccording to his purpose.
All things? Evenadversity? That's what the Bible says!
So,, we must stay thecourse, continue to trust, and know that because Christ is with us, we willmake it to the other side. No matter how serious the difficulty, we willrecover, and our final state will be better than anything we have experiencedin the past.
This is your moment toshine!
Allow adversity tospur your faith to action rather than into question. When you do, you will findthat it reveals areas in which you need to act in confidence rather than fear.When hard times come, instead of running for cover, make a commitment to trustGod. Because the more you depend upon Him, the greater your faith will grow.
Then the moretriumphant you will be! You will shine brightly when others expect you to fadeaway!
Yet inevitably youwill have questions. That's ok, just don't let them steal your faith. Let'sconsider a few questions many people have in the School of Hard Knocks atUni-Adversity.
MOUNTAINHIGH, VALLEY WHY... Questions about Adversity?
So why do we even haveto face valleys, and what are some of the questions you face when you get rightdown in the valley of adversity?
1. WHY AM I CRITICISED DURINGTIMES OF ADVERSITY?
Often as we strugglewith adversity, we find ourselves being criticised, often by those who areclosest to us…
Job 2:9-10
His wife said to him,“Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He replied, “You aretalking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job didnot sin in what he said.
When you facedifficult circumstances and then have to endure negative opinions and commentsfrom others, you need a special kind of courage to stay positive—despite theirwords, you must continue to believe that the Lord is with you.
Just because you're inUni-Adversity and facing tough times, it does not make hope and faith automatedresponses. You have to make a choice, and this requires an act of your will anda fair slice of courage!
And the comments ofothers often don't help, right?
That's why here atCoast Church, we want to be encouraging you in the trials you face. We want to speaklife and faith to you.
But if no one elsedoes it, you may need to speak faith to yourself! Use scriptures like Psalm 23,or Psalm 42. Tell yourself that your loving Heavenly Father has a purpose inyour pain!
Whatever they say, findout what God says and choose to believe that!
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goesbefore you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Donot be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
2. WHERE IS GOD WHEN I’M IN PAIN?
As a child, I oftenhad to have needles for my asthma. The doctor and my mum would have to chase mearound the surgery. As far as I could tell, the doctor was assaulting me and mymum was an accomplice! I could not see as a child the greater good thoseinjections would result in.
Isaiah 63:9
In all their distresshe too was distressed,
and the angel of hispresence saved them.
In his love and mercyhe redeemed them;
he lifted them up andcarried them
all the days of old.
So where is God whenyou are hurting? He's right there it's you, hurting with you, just as my mumwas when I faced those injections. Now I am a father I get that… But I didn't as a child!
Isaiah 56:5
But he was pierced forour transgressions;
he was crushed for ouriniquities;
upon him was the chastisementthat brought us peace,
and with his wounds weare healed.
God does not leave us tosuffer when the hard times come; instead, He is right there with us, ever mindfulof the pain we endure, not only watching and giving moral support, but also actingon our behalf so we don't suffer a moment longer than we can bear!
3. HOW CAN A GOOD GOD ALLOWSUFFERING IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE?
A frequent question ishow can a good God allow suffering for those who love Him? If you ask this,you're not the first…
Psalms 10:1
Psalm 10
Why, Lord, do youstand far off?
Why do you hideyourself in times of trouble?
Or how about Moses
Exodus 5:22
Moses returned to theLord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is thiswhy you sent me?
Adversity that goes beyondyour ability to control it simply proves that God is God, and we are not! When we consider the suffering we face, webecome acutely aware of our need for Him and His intervention to save us. Weneed His grace and love, and we need it now!
Satan makes mileageout of this question, especially if you have been told that God will neverallow adversity in your life. Again, this shallow theology concentrates on yougetting your way, not God having his way with you to develop character.
I love how Spurgeonputs it…
“God knows thatsoldiers are to be made only in battle; they are not to be grown in peacefultimes. Warriors are really educated by the smell of powder, in the midst ofwhizzing bullets and roaring cannonades…Is He not developing in you thequalities of the soldier by throwing you into the heat of battle, and shouldyou not use every application to come off conqueror?”
4. WHAT THE POINT OF ADVERSITY IFIT MAKES ME FEEL WEAK?
If you face adversity,chances are you feel overwhelmed or weak at some point. Most of us know what it feels like to bedisappointed in ourselves, embarrassed by our failures, rejected but those wethought we could count on, overwhelmed by adversity.
What is it that youface today that is overwhelming you!
Regardless of how youfeel, whatever brings you to your kneesin weakness carries the greatest potential for the greatest spiritual victory.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “Mygrace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so thatChrist's power may rest on me.
If you feel weak,rejoice, you're ready to truly trust God now!
5. HOW DO I DEAL WITH FEELINGSTHAT PLUNGE FROM STRUGGLING TO DISCOURAGED TO HOPELESS?
Since stepping up tobecome pastor of this church, I've had my fair share of adversity. I met with aleader of our denomination who told me I had face more adversity and personalattack in my first 6 months than mostpastors face in 20 years.
At times I've feltdiscouraged and yes, even hopeless! Then the Lord gave me this…
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig treedoes not bud
and there are nograpes on the vines,
though the olive cropfails
and the fields produceno food,
though there are no sheepin the pen
and no cattle in thestalls,
yet I will rejoice inthe Lord,
I will be joyful inGod my Savior.
If you feel hopeless,helpless, or powerless—unable to deal with people or problems and on the vergeof exhaustion—take heart from that passage!
When everything lookedthe worst, no food, no livestock, everything up to mud, somehow Habakkuk didn'tjust say he had faith, he actually rejoiced!
So how could he findsuch hope in the face of unmitigated disaster?
He got a revelationfrom God. Habakkuk 2:2-3. He spent time pressing into Him, reading His Word,seeking His heart and His purposes. He asked God, and frankly didn't like theanswer he got! But he saw the vision, wrote it down and waited, fully confidentthat God would come through for him. He learned from the University ofAdversity.
That's why herejoiced. That's why James said, “Count it all joy when you face trials of manykinds.”
Not that its fun, butthat God is working a greater work within you.
The pain isn’t fun,the hurt isn’t pleasant and the feelings of discouragement and hopelessness arealmost debilitating, but God is working in and through these adversities tobring about something special within you!
Do you need that revelation, that joy today asyou attend Uni-Adversity? Have you had arevelation of God’s love for you and purpose in your time of adversity? First,read His Word, but also, let us pray with you …
If you feel hopeless,if you feel like you’ll never triumph, then this morning is for you.
Your feelings arevalid, they’re normal. When. You walk through the valley of the shadow ofdeath, you’re entitled to feel discouraged. But keep walking, don’t camp there!
If you arestruggling with feelings of hopelessnessthis morning, let us pray and stand with you.
Monday Aug 01, 2016
Monday Aug 01, 2016
Fiona takes our member through the Safer Churches teaching, including the Coast Church Code of Conduct.