tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53144580869223758892024-03-13T06:18:01.375-07:00Julian's Blogspotpastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-47852099456796930582024-01-02T02:56:00.000-08:002024-01-02T02:56:43.177-08:001 in 18 young adults in the US - gender fluid?<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica;">The title above comes from J M Twenges excellent book 'Generations' The full quote ... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"... 1 out of 18 young adults identified as something other than male or female in 2021 and 2022. With 39 million 18-26 year-olds in the U.S., about 2 million American young adults identified as trans or nonbinary, more tan the population of Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the country."</i> (p.352)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That one fact signals the rapid and bewildering rate of change in our world. It feels like, just as we land, we are tossed back up into the air, not knowing where or when we will land again. There was the recession, Trump troubles, Brexit troubles, the pandemic, the death of the Queen, now war in Europe, escalating troubles in the middle east. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stephen Fry gave an alternative to the King's speech </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I am Stephen Fry, and I am a Jew, ... The great Irish thinker and writer Conor Cruise-O'Brien once said that anti-semetism is a light sleeper. Well, it seems to have woken up of late ... whatever our opinions of what is happening (Israel v Palestine) there can be no excuse for the behaviour of some of our citizens. Since October 7th there have been 50 reported incidence of anti-semitism every single day in London alone, an increase of 1357% ... there is real fear stalking the Jewish neighbourhoods of Britain. ... So what is my message this Christmas? That we are all brothers and sisters ..."</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fry's message was met with much anger, outrage and hatred - showing just how sensitive, fractious and even dangerous our world is.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To many of us of the older generations, for good or bad it all seems a bit of a blurr. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We may wonder, "where is it all going?" and "What next?" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We may feel like singin the song of Wonka's Pleasure boat ride ... </span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">There's no earthly way of knowing</span></i></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Which direction we are going</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">There's no knowing where we're rowing</span></i></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Or which way the river's flowing</i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Is it raining, is it snowing?</i></div></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Is a hurricane a-blowing?</i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Not a speck of light is showing</i></div></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So the danger must be growing</i></div></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Are the fires of Hell a-glowing?</i></div></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Is the grisly Reaper mowing?</i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes! The danger must be growing</i></div></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For the rowers keep on rowing</i></div></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And they're certainly not showing</i></div></span><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Any signs that they are slowing</i></div></span></i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">However, unlike Stephen Fry, I am a Christian. If you too are a Christian, then you, like me, know where all things are heading. We can see the light and so we are not gripped by panic or fear. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you are not a Christian, if you don't yet know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you may well feel anxiety, an impending sense of doom in the face of so much uncertainty. Jesus is called "The Rock". Whatever you may think of Jesus, I have found Him to be the one solid rock, entirely dependable, trustworthy and in full, sovereign control, He is working in and through all things to bring them all to their inevitible end, that is His Kingdom and rule. Thankfully, as crazy as it so often seems, this world is not out of control.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">None of us knows exactly what 2024 holds. There will be surpsises, good and bad. But why not make 2024 the year you settled the question 'Who really is Jesus? And what difference does he really make?"</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p>pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-90791464199763557582020-04-02T06:09:00.003-07:002020-04-02T06:11:41.300-07:00<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Suffering </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Last Sunday I preached for the first time using Zoom - it was a strange experience for me. I am used to preaching - but to live and present congregations which tend to be a mixture of people of different kinds and at different places in their lives. I can lock eyes with them and speak to them.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I must admit that during preaching I struggled, it was intense and mentally exhausting. By the end I was not sure how I did - I was not concerned about the delivery etc - but rather the content - I was not confident I communicated what I intended. I listened to the message after and I was right - I miscommunicated on some important points. I think it was the challenge of the situation which meant that I did not choose my words and phrases well and so inadvertently miscommunited. I have been preaching for over 25 years and never felt the need to correct myself - this is a first, but I felt it was necessary. I do not want to misrepresent my Lord nor the Christian faith. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Here’s what I think I may have inadvertently and implicitly communicated…</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
1) That Jesus is only interested in His people and is indifferent towards unbelievers.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I think I may have communicated that notion by saying things positively and negatively in an unhelpful way. Eg, “If you trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour He is committed to always working good through your suffering, if you’re an unbeliever your suffering is just tragic.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It communicates, as noted above, an indifference towards unbelievers. This could not be further from the truth of scripture and the Christian faith. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“For God so loved the world He gave His only son …” (John 3:16). ‘The world’ means all people. God loves believers and unbelievers! That is crystal clear in scripture but it was not communicated through my message. In fact, God loves all people so much that He has done something about it - He has sent His Son Jesus who suffered “not only for our sins (Christians), but for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is true that God does not love believer and unbeleiver in the same way, and the differences are significant. But it is also true that God's love for an unbeliever is greater than any parent's love for their children.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">God arms are now wide open to all people. God makes His appeal through <i>His </i>people as they proclaim the gospel. Ino pther words, the proclamation iof the gospel is an expression of God's love to unbelievers. The gospel is a command and an invitation to everyone to come to God through Jesus for the total forgiveness of all sins made possible through Jesus death on the cross! Forgiveness is entirely free to all who believe because God Himself paid for it with the blood of His Son Jesus. God’s arms are wide open to all people so that whoever responds by turning back to Him via Jesus, Jesus will never drive away (John 6:37). </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Although it was not my intention to communicate those specifics, (I was preaching on another subject) what I did preach undermined those specifics because I was careless in my use of words. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Careless communication</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2) As noted above, I think I communicated something like, all suffering of unbelievers is only tragic whereas all suffering for believers counts for something worthwhile. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The truth of scripture is that there is an enormous amount of what theologians call ‘common grace’. That is, man, being made in God’s image, despite the fall, still reflect aspects of God’s image in countless good (though corrupted) ways. The upshot being, that unbelievers can suffer in such a way that is worth while, in a way that means something of great value. I certainly failed to communicate this. For example, the scriptures teach, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly die.’ (Romans 5:7). Paul is saying, such nobility is rare - but it does exist - of course Paul goes on to speak of how Jesus died for his enemies, his point is that Jesus love is greater than man’s greatest love, but the latter does not negate the former. People suffer and make sacrifices for others and there is great value and nobility in that and great good can come out of it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There were two points I attempted to make … </span></div>
<ol>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The unbeliever has no certainty, while she is suffering that her suffering is of value or worth. Often suffering seems pointless. Particularly at those times there is no reason to believe there was any point, purpose or good to come of it. This is tragic.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<ol start="2">
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Ultimately, all suffering for the unbeliever as an individual is futile. By ‘ultimately,’ I mean, in the final analysis. According to the scriptures, the unbeliever will finally be cut off from God, the source of all good forever. Their final and permenant state will be 'lost'. This is a terrible truth. There is no comfort in this, nor softening of the terrible blow. It is not that God sends people to what the Bible calls hell, but that people are heading there. That is why God sent Jesus, to pay the price and open the way back to God.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The difference, ultimately between a believer and an unbeliever is that the believer has turned back to God entered into a covenant with God Himself - what Jesus called, ‘The New Covenant’. </span>That covenant contains a vast host of promises to all that are within that covenant. It is a covenant that anyone can enter into, but it is by faith. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Luke 22:20</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-53190807883874945722018-12-21T05:59:00.002-08:002018-12-21T05:59:47.010-08:00<h2>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>Essential Aspects for Faith: Life under the board 2.</b></span></h2>
<h3>
<b>Coming to Faith</b></h3>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span>So we all start out living life under the board. But then some seem to crawl out from under the board. This blog continues the metaphor to explain the experience of coming to faith in Jesus. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Coming to faith begins with an encounter with someone who has somehow, already crawled out from under the board and discovered a whole new world. They start to tell us about this whole new world they have discovered. We are often a bit bewildered by them. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">They tell us about life outside of being under the board, metaphorical hills and mountains and sunshine and sunsets and warmth and beauty and colour and light. They talk about finding God, forgiveness, joy, peace, security, purpose and to quote Jesus himself, "Life in all its fullness" (John 10:10). </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">But we think, “but I see all the real colour and light and beauty there is in my own life - under the board”. But they say, “No, your eyes have just adjusted to the darkness under the board - there is so much more to it and you can see it for your self if you are willing”. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">They tell us about things we cannot really understand. It’s as though we have never seen a waterfall but they have seen Niagra falls and they sketch a picture of it with a dull pencil on scrappy paper - and they’re no artist. They’re trying to show us something that they are excited about, but what we see doesn’t look that impressive. They urge us to believe and crawl out from under the board ourselves, but though we can perhaps <i>see</i> a glimmer of the reality they speak of, and we cannot deny the impact of it on their own life, yet still, life under the board is all we know. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<br /><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">To crawl out from under the board is to leave behind all we know - and that’s the problem. All our security is right here under the board. As miserable as much of it is - most of the time we are able to cocoon ourselves from the worst of life’s horrors and live our little lives avoiding the worst of it - and as unsafe and insecure as we are, it is because of our insecurity we cannot let go of the meagre security life under the board offers us. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Not only that, but the moment we tell other people that we are interested in this life outside (Christianity) - they laugh at us and mock us and tell us that it is losers that crawl out from under the board. They tell us it is boring and rubbish and life under the board is better. They would never crawl out from under the board themselves and they don’t want you to either. They want to keep you under the board with them. They can see, just like you that those who do crawl out from under the board seem to have found something - but they don’t have the courage to crawl out themselves, or there’s just too much under the board they love and want to keep (because it is all they know), so they try to deter you from leaving. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">But there are other reasons why it’s easier to stay under the board. You see, as we begin to move toward the light outside, it begins to shine upon us - and we begin to see not only the good things outside - but we also see in ourselves what we could never see in the darkness under the board, we begin to see our own dirt. Embarrassment and shame and pride drive us back into hiding under the board - therefore many choose to remain under the board.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">But thankfully not all. Some feel compelled. They know they have to do this - they have to get out into the light, into the technicolored, 3D, vibrant, wonderful world outside the board. As they begin to climb out, for the first time they begin to see for themselves what their friends were telling them. They look at the black and white pencil sketches their friends sketched for them of Niagra falls, and at last they can see the actual Niagra falls and they can now see exactly how those poor sketches relate. Their hearts burst with excitement as they begin to discover wonder after wonder in the new world.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">There is so much more to life than all we know. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-39764014766211738752018-12-21T05:49:00.001-08:002018-12-22T03:33:46.709-08:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Essential Aspects for faith</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Life under the board 1</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Christianity, once a common part of community life in the UK is now very alien, so in order to help understand aspects of the faith I am using a metaphor - I hope it does help. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Metaphor: <b>Life under the board</b></span></h3>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When I was a small boy I used to love playing in our garden. It was a big garden, a neglected garden, it had a particular area which was overgrown and had various bits of wood, boards and panels trodden into the ground. This was my favourite area. I loved lifting the boards to see what lurked beneath. All kinds of creepy crawlies! The grass would be yellow and it was all slimily from the damp and lack of sunlight. White slugs, centipedes, wood louse, ants, beetle lava, many strange creatures all living their whole lives under the board. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It was like an alternative world under those boards. But outside of those boards was a big, wide, bright, colourful, warm and buzzing world outside. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When I came to faith I realised - it was as though I was like those creepy crawlies living under a board right up to the point of coming to faith. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">What we call life, with all its ups and downs, dramas, highs and lows - all the wonderful discoveries of science, advances in technologies, marriages, babies being born, deaths, wars, famines, art - all of it - it is all like life lived under the board once you come to faith in Christ. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This life under the board is all natural to us. We’re at home there - or as at home as we can be - this life is all we know - it is just 'life - until we cone to know Jesus - then we look back as see, all along it was like life under the board.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<h3>
Tell-tale signs</h3>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And yet as we live this life under the board, we know this is not <i>really</i> our home. That is - in our own world, we feel a sense of lostness. We instinctively know that home should be a place of comfort, security, safety, warmth, a safe place for family - a rock. But we feel unsettled. We look around at this completely normal world and we know - we have no real home here. There is no security. We are wanderers looking for shelter and safety, clutching at whatever we can get. This world of ours that should be home, is not the home it should be - something is wrong.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If we’re honest with ourselves we have to admit, something is very, very wrong. It’s bad enough that there are, what we might call ‘natural’ tragedies and disasters such as diseases and tsunamis etc - but it’s far worse than that - there is also inexplicable evil in the world and at every conceivable level. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Our fellow men</span></h3>
<h4>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At a global international level. </span></h4>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Consider that the richest 1% in the world own just over half the world’s wealth. To quote the Guardian “0.7% of the world’s adult population – control 46% of total global wealth …” At the same time, 70% of the world’s population (the poor) have to share 2.7% of the world’s wealth.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To break this down it means if there was just 200 people in the world, and all the world’s wealth equalled £100. Then one person has about £48 for their self. 59 people would have £0.77 each and 70 people would have £0.04 or 4p each. That is how the world’s wealth is distributed. If that 1% shared all their wealth equally with everyone in the world, we would all be upper middle class having £2 each! Literally, 99% of people in the world would be a lot better off! Only the 1% would be worse off - they would no longer be super-rich - just upper middle class like everyone else. This reality is wicked - it is an evil that well over 1 billion people live in absolute poverty.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Or consider this, one national ruler can command troops to launch missiles at another country and utterly devastate millions of people’s lives. Bt this is our world.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<h4>
At a local individual level</h4>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">From the big global international level right down to the individual there is terrible evil. Consider this; the most vile of atrocities you can possibly imagine - it’s probably happening somewhere right now. Rape, gang rape, mutilation, butchery, unimaginable abuse against babies and children - it’s all happening somewhere right now in our world.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">But there is more ‘domesticated’ evil too. Consider the wreckage caused by an unfaithful husband. I don’t just mean the dead-beat excuse of a man who cheats on his wife (or wife who cheats on her husband) but the pathetic excuse of a man who does not care for and look after and love his wife and children. That is an act of wickedness. It causes untold hurt and pain. But it all just seems normal and acceptable - except when we experience it, when we feel the pain of it and see the damage it does we realise - it is wicked. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">But none of us like to use terms like 'wicked' and 'evil' because it’s all a bit too close to home. How many men and women do you know who have abandoned their children or partners? There’s a good chance you the reader are guilty of it. How many of us have stuck the emotional knife into the people we are supposed to love? The problem with all this is, in the end we must all put our hands up and admit we are all part of the problem of evil, and if you think you are not part of the problem of evil, I guarantee you someone somewhere thinks you are.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Tragically, evil is rampant and normal, just watch the news.</span></div>
<h4>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">It's all just nature?</span></h4>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now let’s be straight about it all - If there is no God as many assert - it is all just ‘natural’ because ‘natural’ is all there is. There is no wrong or right - it’s all just natural. Everything that everyone does - it’s all just natural - nothing more, nothing less, because there is only nature. This is the view of Secular Humanists (Philosophical Naturalism). But we all know deep down - it is not just ‘natural’ - something is profoundly wrong - we just know it.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<h4>
Evidence for God</h4>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But we can only say that if there is God. Why? Because if there is a God, if there is an intelligent creator, then ‘natural’ is whatever He created us to do. So if we act in ways we were not created to act - <i>then</i> we act unnaturally. We are acting in ways we are not made for. If there is a God - only then can we say certain things are unnatural.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But what about evil? If there is a God some things are unnatural for sure - but how do we explain evil? Evil is the end of unnatural - it’s where it leads if left unchecked. Evil is the ‘natural’ but twisted and made perverse - that is evil. It is the opposite of what God created us for. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<h4>
Thank God for goodness!</h4>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">But that’s not the whole story. There are also the heights of human nobility. People everywhere express love and selflessness in a million ways. We all take things for granted, but every now and then we see the beauty of the so-called ‘milk of human kindness’. I think of Tyson Fury the boxer, he has many critics and haters - perhaps deservedly so - but after fighting his latest bout donated all his £7m winnings to charity! Then there are all the men and women that selflessly work hard to provide for their families. The response of millions to a sudden world disaster in giving aid. The person who stops in the street to talk to the homeless and buy them a hot chocolate. In the midst of evil and war - people giving their lives to protect those they love. As well as the depths of depravity - our hearts are warmed by the heights of human nobility. What conflicted creatures we are!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This is all 'life under the board.' But there is more...</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-6916427490488561562018-08-27T10:09:00.001-07:002018-08-27T10:09:58.651-07:00The Holy Spirit<div style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px;">(1) The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. (2) He is freely given to every true believer according to the promise of God the Father. (3) The Holy is given to every believer (4) to give them full assurance of faith, so that they can know they are truly forgiven, saved and belong to God as a child of God, and (5) to equip them with gifts and power to </span><span style="color: #0b9315; font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 17px;">preach the gospel, build up the church and overcome sin. Most importantly, (6) the Holy Spirit reveals to our understanding the glory and wonder of Jesus.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(1) The Holy Spirit is the third <i><u>Person</u></i> of the Trinity.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The word trinity was invented to sum up the teaching of the Bible about God. It teaches that there is only One true God, but that God is also Three distinct persons.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This diagram illustrates the teaching of the Bible, the Trinity.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/049ac458-0498-4d72-a3c4-9b1f334df1bc" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Holy Spirit is not a mere power or force, He is not an 'it'.He is a person. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>The Holy Spirit is given personal pronouns like ‘He’ just as is Jesus and the Father</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 14:15-17</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>15 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“If you love me, keep my commands. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>16 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>17 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept <b><i>him</i></b>, because it neither sees <b><i>him</i></b> nor knows <b><i>him</i></b>. But you know <b><i>him</i></b>, for he lives with you and will be in you.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>The Holy Spirit is alive - He lives</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 14:15-17</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>15 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“If you love me, keep my commands. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>16 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>17 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for <b><i>he lives with you</i></b> and will be in you.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>We can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we can know Him.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 14:15-17</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>15 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“If you love me, keep my commands. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>16 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>17 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. <b><i>But you know him</i></b>, for he lives with you and will be in you.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>The Holy Spirit has a ‘will’ and makes choices and He is a giver of gifts.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 Corinthians 12:4,11</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are different kinds of gifts, but <b><i>the same Spirit distributes them</i></b>. …</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>11 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and <b><i>he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>The Holy Spirit has emotions like a person and so can be grieved</i></b> (and is referred to as ‘whom’).</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ephesians 4:30</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>30 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And <b><i>do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God</i></b>, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>The Holy Spirit can be lied to</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 5:3</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>3 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that <b><i>you have lied to the Holy Spirit</i></b> and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>The Holy Spirit speaks</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 13:2</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>2 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, <b><i>the Holy Spirit said</i></b>, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129;">”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So the Holy Spirit is clearly a person and not just God’s powerful force or energy as the cults claim. We have seen he has all the traits of an intelligent person. We have seen that …</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">The Bible uses personal pronouns such as He, Him, His and He is a ‘Whom. You would not say that about nuclear or electrical energy etc. He is not just a powerful force. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">The Holy Spirit gives gifts - machines and energy and power does not give gifts. and makes decisions about who gets what gift. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">The Holy Spirit has emotions and can be grieved</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Can be known</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Is alive</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">He can be lied to </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">He speaks.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The seven points above show us that the Holy Spirit is alive, can be known, is a ‘He’, has intelligence and power of will (to make decisions), has feelings, can be lied to, and speaks. The Holy Spirit is clearly a person and not an ‘it’.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>The Holy Spirit is not the Father</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Holy Spirit is <b>the gift</b> that was <b><i>promised by the Father </i></b>and so cannot be the Father.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Luke 24</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>49 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I am going to send you <b><i>what my Father has promised</i></b>; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for <b><i>the gift my Father promised</i></b>, which you have heard me speak about. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>5 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For John baptized with water, but in a few days <b><i>you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.</i></b>”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>The Holy Spirit is not the Son</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the Luke 24:49 above Jesus says </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); color: #2840ff;">“I am going to send you what the Father promised”</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> - He is talking about the Holy Spirit so Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>The Holy Spirit is God</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the verses below Annanias pretends (lies) that he is giving all the money but is really keeping back some for himself. Peter confronts him and accuses him of lying to the Holy Spirit. Then he tells Annaias that he has not lied to men but to God. To lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God Himself. So The Holy Spirit, like the Father and the Son is God.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 5</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>3 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that <b><i>you have lied to the Holy Spirit</i></b> and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? <b><i>You have</i></b> not <b><i>lied</i></b> just <b><i>to</i></b> human beings but to <b><i>God</i></b>.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Bible also teaches clearly that the Father is God and the Son is God. But it also teaches emphatically there is only one God. So God is three distinct persons, each persons relates to the other, each equally God, yet there is only One God. This is a mystery in that we know it is what the Bible teaches but it is also beyond our understanding. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised since this is God!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(2) The Holy Spirit is <i>freely</i> given.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is very important to understand that the Holy Spirit is freely given. Something that is feely given is called a gift. It is different to a payment since a payment is owed, a payment has been earned. A payment rightfully belongs to the person who earned it. It is their right. However, a gift is not earned, not even deserved. It is given freely. It is not given as a payment, nor is it deserved. It is a fee gift. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for <b><i>the gift my Father promised</i></b>, which you have heard me speak about. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>5 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For John baptized with water, but in a few days <b><i>you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.</i></b>”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 2</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>38 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive <b><i>the gift of the Holy Spirit</i></b>. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">God the Father gives the gift of the Holy Spirit entirely freely - just because He wants to.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(3) The Holy Spirit is guaranteed to every true believer</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Holy Spirit is the promise of the father for every true believe. Since the Holy Spirit is the promise of the father, the Holy Spirit is guaranteed because the Father will never, ever break a promise - NEVER! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for <b><i>the gift my Father promised</i></b>, which you have heard me speak about. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>5 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For John baptized with water, but in a few days <b><i>you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.</i></b>”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 2</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>38 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b><i>every one of you</i></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. <b><i>And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit</i></b>. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>39 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>The promise is</i></b> for you and your children and for all who are far off—<b><i>for all whom the Lord our God will call.”</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the verse, Peter was speaking to literally thousands of hearers. About three thousand people became Christians that day so there must have been a lot more than three thousand there. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Peter tells this massive crowd - the vast majority of whom he could not have known, he tells them that if they repent and are baptised, and then next comes the key statement “EVERY ONE OF YOU” - he goes on to say “And </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b><i>you</i></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> will receive the gift of there Holy Spirit.” But who is the “</span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b><i>you</i></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">” that Peter is speaking about? It is everyone who repents and gets baptised. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The great Apostle Peter is telling us, assuring us that every single person who believes and is baptised will receive this amazing gift. That is the gift of God the Holy Spirit. Peter layers on the assurance calling it “The Promise” and He also assures us that this promise applies to all who are called - that is all who believe. There is no question, no doubt - every true believer is given the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(4) The Holy Spirit gives full assurance of faith</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Holy Spirit is given to true believers so that they can be assured they are truly God’s children, loved and accepted by Him, part of His amazing new family.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When a person repents and believes they are both born again into God’s family as Children of God and full heirs with an inheritance, but they are also adopted by God into His family. As a a guarantee so that we never need doubt, He gives us His Holy Spirit. So we are both born into the family and adopted. This means we are more secure than any other child in any other family. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Adopted children are often told by their adoptive parents “parents who have children naturally get what they get, but we chose you”. Well, in God’s family we are chosen for adoption and born into the family! How cool is that!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>11 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>12 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Yet to all who did receive him, <b><i>to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God</i></b>— </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>13 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but <b><i>born of God.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ephesians 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In love </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>5 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">he predestined us for <b><i>adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ</i></b>, in accordance with his pleasure and will— </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>6 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>13 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. <b><i>When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, </i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>14 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance</i></b> until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Romans 8</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>16 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(5) The Holy Spirit equips true believers with gifts and power to preach the gospel, build up the church and and overcome sin in our lives.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Preach the Gospel</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The last time Jesus saw the disciples before returning to heaven he gave them their marching orders … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Matthew 28</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>19 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>20 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">With all His power and authority He sent those first disciples out into the world that crucified Him. And He sent them out to tell people that they are sinners and need to repent and obey all Jesus commands so that they too become followers of Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This was a daunting task. They saw what happened to Jesus. Peter denied ever knowing Jesus three times to a girl! Now they are to go out without Jesus and publicly call people to repentance and faith in Jesus! This was their mission and it is the mission of every true believer. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If we are to teach people to obey everything Jesus commanded, then we must teach them to obey the command to go and make disciples! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That is one reason we are given the Holy Spirit. To empower and embolden us where we would otherwise be timid and fearful.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2 Timothy 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>7 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Luke 24</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>49 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed <b><i>with power from on high</i></b>.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>8 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit is poured out upon all the believers, about 120 in all (Acts 1:15). Peter was chief among them. Before the Spirit was given, Peter talked the talk, on the night of Jesus betrayal Jesus warned Peter that Satan was going to try to “sift” him and that Peter’s faith would fail but not completely - that Peter would turn back. It is also clear from Jesus words that Peter’s turning back to Jesus was because Jesus prayed for Him. These verses are taken from Luke 22 </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>31 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>32 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">However, Peter is having none of it. He is so sure of himself. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>33 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>34 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It was later than night - or the early hours of the next morning that Peter denied all knowledge of Jesus to a mere slave girl. While Jesus was being accused, Peter was far too scared to speak up. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But in Acts 2 the Holy Spirit falls upon Peter - see the totally transformed Peter … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 2</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>1 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>2 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>3 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Peter was among that number, and this happened in front of thousands of people. They’re all wondering what’s going on, then the previously timid Peter … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>14 …</b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now he is speaking to the very crowd that 49 days earlier crucified Jesus. Here are some of the things he says … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 2); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #000002; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>22 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>23 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">[d]</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> put him to death by nailing him to the cross. … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>32 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>33 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>36 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>37 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>38 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>39 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>40 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Holy Spirit totally transformed Peter! The Holy Spirit empowers all believers for the mission Jesus has given us all.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Build up the Church</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 Corinthians 12</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them</i></b>. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>5 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>6 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>7 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is <b><i>given for the common good</i></b>.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 Corinthians 14</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1</b> Follow the way of love and <b><i>eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit</i></b>, especially prophecy. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>2 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>3 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort</i></b>. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><i>4 </i></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church</i></b>. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>5 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, <b><i>so that the church may be edified. … </i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>12 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">So it is with you. Since you are eager for <b><i>gifts of the Spirit</i></b>, try to excel in <b><i>those that build up the church.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ephesians 4</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>11 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>12 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up </i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>13 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Overcome Sin</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">A true believer has been born of God. That means God’s spirit of new life now lives in us. It is like a new heart. Before, like everyone else, we were spiritually dead.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ephesians 2</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">2 </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">3 </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">[a]</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">4 </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">5 </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But God made us alive by putting His life in us.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ezekiel 26</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>26 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I will give you <b><i>a new heart</i></b> and put <b><i>a new spirit in you</i></b>; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>27 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And <b><i>I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees</i></b> and be careful to keep my laws. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Before we were born again we didn’t want to please God - we wanted to please other people or our self or probably both. Now we have this new heart and spirit we really love the Lord and want to please Him. So now we can live to please Him which means saying ‘no’ to our sinful self and following God’s Holy Spirit.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Galatians 5</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>16 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>17 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">[c]</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> you want. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>18 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>19 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>20 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>21 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(40, 64, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #2840ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>22 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>23 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>24 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>25 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>26 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.</span></div>
<div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); caret-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); caret-color: rgb(11, 147, 21); color: #0b9315; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: large;">(6) The Holy reveals to us the glory and wonder of Jesus</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Before </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The Holy Spirit does so much more that covered in this study. He gives spiritual discernment and understanding that we could not possible see or understand without His Spirit. </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">1 Corinthians 2</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text 1Cor-2-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-2-11" id="en-NIV-28406" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>For who knows a person’s thoughts<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28406S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28406S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> except their own spirit<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28406T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28406T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-2-12" id="en-NIV-28407" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>What we have received is not the spirit<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28407U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28407U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of the world,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28407V" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28407V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-2-13" id="en-NIV-28408" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28408W" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28408W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-2-14" id="en-NIV-28409" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28409X" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28409X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but considers them foolishness,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28409Y" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28409Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-2-15" id="en-NIV-28410" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>The person with the Spirit<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28410Z" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28410Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-2-16" id="en-NIV-28411" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>for,</span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text 1Cor-2-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">“Who has known the mind of the Lord</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-2-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">so as to instruct him?”<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28411AA" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28411AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="first-line-none top-05" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: -0.5em;">
<span class="text 1Cor-2-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But we have the mind of Christ.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: x-small;">John 16</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text John-16-12" id="en-NIV-26739" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26739Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26739Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="text John-16-13" id="en-NIV-26740" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>But when he, the Spirit of truth,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26740R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26740R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> comes, he will guide you into all the truth.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26740S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26740S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span class="text John-16-14" id="en-NIV-26741" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="text John-16-15" id="en-NIV-26742" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>All that belongs to the Father is mine.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26742T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26742T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">These last verses tell us that the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus - or brings glory to Jesus. He does this by revealing Jesus and His amazing truths to us. </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">When it says that he brings glory to Jesus, it means that as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see Jesus and to know him, our response is one of worship. This is when we are </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">humans are our most fulfilled. To worship Jesus is to find our greatest joy and pleasure in Him. Greater than any joy a spouse of child or parent can give, greater joy than any beautiful landscape or anything else. All these other things are creature - created by God or mad by men from God's creation - but Jesus is above all of that and supremely more glorious and satisfying - and so that is why we worship Him. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-25284906699263995022018-02-26T09:20:00.001-08:002018-02-26T09:20:38.097-08:00MississippiOn February 10th I flew out to Mississippi with my wife Georgie, daughter Gemma and a church member Jess.<br />
<br />
We went to spend time with a partner church, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClearyBaptistChurch/">Cleary Baptist Church</a> and to encourage them and network. The Pastor and his wife, plus two teams have visited us and helped us with mission and a bit of local community social action. We went to serve them and came back overwhelmed by their grace to us.<br />
<br />
I learned a lot from there Pastor Kevin, more than anything from his faithfulness to God's word, and his humility and servant-heartedness. It was humbling to hear church members speak so highly of him in terms of their appreciation. With reference to our church, their church members often used the phrase, "we wanna love on y'all". I could tell that this is what Kevin has done in that church along with his wife and family.<br />
<br />
During my time there I preached <a href="https://livestream.com/cleary/events/3739190">five times</a>, two on a Sunday morning and the rest in the midweek evenings. Here I was again humbled by the turnout. Almost all the church turned out. Couples with children took turns to come along and from conversations I had it was clear the half that came relayed with the other half the messages I'd preached the night before.<br />
<br />
We (the team from New Life) were also humbled to learn the church had effectively saved for our visit, so that they covered all the costs of our stay with them.<br />
<br />
We visited <a href="http://www.discoverychristianschool.org/">a local school where</a> my wife George spoke to about eighty 6-11 year olds about Jesus while I addressed a gymnasium of about one hundred 12-18 yr olds, speaking to them about Paul's mission in Lystra.<br />
<br />
I met with Mike Ray the Southern Baptist Missions Director for Mississippi. He listened with keen interest to the vision for Brighton I shared, and was very supportive. He encouraged Kevin to send long term workers and assured him of the support of the BU where possible.<br />
<br />
I met with a handful of like minded Pastors from the region. We talked about church membership, its importance and some of the challenges they face. We prayed together and they again took keen interest in the work here in Brighton. I was again struck by their warm welcome ad hospitality.<br />
<br />
We visited a couple of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/julian.rebera/videos/10155041721721734/">Day Care</a> centres for children where we shared testimonies and they asked many questions about the life in the UK and why we were visiting.<br />
<br />
We spent some time with one young woman - Erin - and her family. Erin (22) is considering working with us long term as a missionary. She is a conscientious and godly young woman, clearly gifted and able with a heart to give her life to serve Jesus. Please ask the Lord to guide her in this, and that we will be able, between us to raise all the necessary funds should she come.<br />
<br />
We also had free time, on one occasion they took us to New Orleans and introduced us to Bubba-Gump restaurant, the home of the shrimp 'Bubba' fisherman from Forest Gump. There I also got to taste alligator sausage! We visited the Civil Rights and the Agricultural Museums in Jackson. Kevin took us on a tour of some of the most dangerous places in Jackson where he dreams of doing mission in the future. The highlight in terms of experiencing their culture was a day shooting targets and eating crawfish.<br />
<br />
However, the best part of the whole experience was the sense of love and acceptance, the feeling that we really are family. We did some great things, had a lot of fun together, but at the end of the day it was the people who made it great. Precious people who love the Lord Jesus.<br />
<br />
Our mission I believe was fully accomplished in laying down a foundation, built on God's word and a commitment to love and support one another for the sake of the gospel.<br />
<br />
I look forward to seeing how the Lord continues to use this partnership for their good and ours!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-64268933011167565982017-10-31T01:34:00.001-07:002017-10-31T01:34:51.989-07:00<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
The Truth about Halloween - A Christian perspective</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="color: #ffd27f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4126410337857187091" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 518px;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">What is Halloween really all about?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<b>Halloween Brightens up the long dark winter</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
To many people Halloween is just a bit of fun. The winter is a long, dark and cold season. Imagine there was no Guy Fawkes night with bonfire and fireworks, no Halloween with parties, dressing up, trick or treat, no Christmas with family get-togethers, feasts and celebration - imagine how dull and dreary winter would be. It would be horrible!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Halloween is one of the three main winter celebrations that brightens our winter and makes it far more bearable. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<b>But isn’t it evil?</b></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">For most people, probably for you it really is just a fun time. There is nothing sinister about it at all. Maybe a few kids go too far with their 'tricks', maybe some people wake up the next morning </span>hung<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> over, but that is usually as bad as it gets.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Halloween tends to </span><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">caricature</span></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><b> evil</b>. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Evil is made out to be </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">little</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"> red devils with </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">goat feet</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"> and pitched forks, or witches with green faces, crooked noses and pointed hats or monstrous gh</span><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">ouls. These are all like cartoon characters, and cartoon characters do not exist in real life do they? So by making evil into cartoon characters (caricatures) evil becomes trivialised, a bit of fun, not real. R</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">ight? Wrong!</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
We would be naive to imagine there is nothing sinister about it at all. The truth is, many people have morbid inclinations. A fascination with death and real evil. Halloween feeds that morbidity with horror movies. Horror movies are sinister, they entertain using the most horrible, sick, disgusting and evil ideas and images they can concoct, and the more evil and graphic - the better! Why do people find it entertaining seeing others getting torn to pieces and horrifically tortured or eaten alive etc? Without pressing the point too hard, I think it is fair to say, there is at least <i>something</i> sinister about that.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<b>Real Evil Exists</b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">As we will see, real Evil really does exist, b</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">ut rather than face up to the real evil, we trivialise it, caricature it as something it is not and then fail to recognise it's true face - even when we look it in the face, as we all do.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The truth is, whatever terrible, sick and evil act you can possibly imagine - if it is possible to do, then you can be sure, somebody somewhere is probably doing it - right? Remember Fred West? Surely an embodiment of real evil - and he was far worse than the movies! Fred West still exists, he has different names, we might even know one and not realise it - just as many people knew Fred West but had no idea what he and his wife were doing. Maybe your next door neighbour is a Fred West - probably not - but there are Fred Wests out there - of that you can be sure. Sooner or later one of them will be found out again and we will all be truly horrified. There are Fred Wests out there who do not do what he did - but only because they are afraid of the consequences - but if they knew they could get away with it - they'd do it. There is real evil in the world. Consider the following as expressions of real evil ... </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- A act of suicide bomber who blows himself and others up! EVIL.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- A act of a nation that rises up against another in war. Pressing a button and sending a missile, dropping a bomb on people and blowing them up. This is evil - legal mass Evil! (I know that sometimes it is necessary - but that just proves the reality of evil, that such terrible measures become necessary). </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- The evil of the calloused husband who rips out the heart of his wife by cheating on her (and visa-versa) with all the devastation it brings. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- The evil of people left to live and die on the streets.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- The evil of the drugs trade. The evil act of the smart looking young man who sells heroin to the young lad and sets him on a path of total misery that ends in tragic death.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- The act of </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">pedophilia</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- The act of an acid attack</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- The act of rape. Approximately 85,000 women and 12,000 men were raped last year in the uk, that's an average of 11 rapes per hour, and that is just adults! ( </span></span>https://rapecrisis.org.uk/statistics.php<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">- )</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">These things are truly wicked, sinister, they are evil. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">We live in a broken, messed up, dark and mad world that is crying out for salvation from the tyranny of evil that we have all become far too accustomed to.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><b>Not all is evil</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">It may sound like I am saying the whole world is just an evil place. Certainly not. There is also, so much good in the world. So many acts of kindness. It would be very easy to do a list of acts of kindness - but that would make this even longer. The point I am making is just that real evil exists, and notwithstanding the good in the world, evil is still rampant, that's the point.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">Now for the Surprise</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Having said all that, the surprising thing is that Halloween is in fact a Christian Celebration, like Guy Fawkes and Christmas.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Now there may be a few druids out there who would argue: “Actually Halloween was originally an ancient celtic festival Samhain”. But the truth is nobody today celebrates Samhain (maybe a few tree-huggers in Lewes), we celebrate HALLOWEEN'.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Halloween comes from ‘Hallows Eve’. You can easily see the similarity. Hallows Eve was celebrated by Christians long, long before Samhain. So what is “Hallows Eve”? Well we know what ‘Eve’ means. Think ‘Christmas Eve’. Christmas Eve is the evening before Christmas Day. Eve means ‘The evening before’. So Hallows Eve is ‘The Evening before Hallows Day”.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
So what is ‘Hallows Day?’ Hallows means ‘Saints’. Hallows Eve, or Halloween is the night before ‘Hallows Day’ or ‘All Saints Day’. Many churches around the country, especially Anglican churches still celebrate ‘All Saints Day’. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
So what are 'saints'? ‘Saints’ are simply <i>Christians</i>. All Saints Day is the day that Christians celebrate their champion Jesus’s victory over all the powers of hell, darkness and evil. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
So the Bible tells us concerning Jesus …</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>15 </b></span>And having disarmed the [evil] powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> (Colossians 2). </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Christians used to celebrate this event by dressing their children up to make a mockery of the devil and His demons. It was a way of saying, “We have no fear of you at all, you are powerless”. It was a time to mock and scorn the powers of darkness and celebrate the victory of Jesus, it was not a celebration of evil. It was an </span>expression of<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> faith that, no matter how dark the world gets, the day will drive the night away, one day, forever, all evil will cease, and all because of Jesus.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Can you imagine a world without evil? Where you never need to worry about your children? Where you don't need locks on your doors? Where nobody </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">ever hurts anyone else physically, emotionally etc. That is what All Hallows Day is all about. The celebration of Good over Evil, of Jesus Victory over all the powers of darkness at work in our world and all our relationships etc. It was a celebration that anticipates the coming final victory of Christ.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Hallows Eve is the night before that celebration. It was believed that the night before All Saints Day, the powers of evil would do their worst knowing that the coming day would drive them and their darkness away.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Darkness must always give way to light!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Sadly, Christianity is as real to people today as Halloween. However, just as there is real evil in the world, so there is real christianity and the real Jesus who really has defeated the powers of evil. Jesus really does set people free and brings true light to their dark world. In the darkness - without Jesus people are lost in life, many people feel this ‘lostness’, not knowing who they really are or why they exist or what is the point of it all. But nobody needs to be lost. This Halloween could become not only a time for fun and parties, but a time when Jesus the Light of the world comes into your life to bring light to your world. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: normal;">
Wanna know more? Inbox me.</div>
</div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-65012737937909763552017-01-31T05:47:00.001-08:002017-01-31T05:47:17.405-08:00Trump?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Trump - the current epicentre of the world?</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The blast of the Trump is being felt everywhere - or is it? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It seems to me that whatever Trump says or does is trumpeted by others as fodder for hatred. He is hated even more than Thatcher. But whereas Thatcher had her supporters, it seems Trump has none. But that is an illusion created by the media and the noisy minority joined by the mob with their mob mentality.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The media and elite are in control of the public voice and are distorting and construing reality for their own ends. The propaganda is obvious.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>A word about the elite in America (The political establishment, Media, Hollywood etc). </b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I think a big part of the problem is they were so high on arrogance that they never took seriously the possibility that Trump could actually be elected. And it really was the height of utter arrogance. They laughed and chortled at him, mocked him and refused to take him seriously - they thought they were in control. The idea of ‘President Trump’ was unthinkable - that they could be beaten by him was impossible - but beat they have been, the unthinkable and impossible has happened and along with the establishment, the media and Hollywood and the Liberal left have all been displaced in some way - and they feel it, and are desperately trying to claw their way back to ‘the world as it should be’, that is, with them and theirs in control.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Trump is Disqualified</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I agree with most, it really is quite unbelievable that Trump is now the President of the United States - I remember seeing how he acted in wrestling - he really does not strike me as ‘president material.’ Trump is, to quote John Piper, disqualified as a leader. He is disqualified on a number of grounds … by his morals, eg, consider what he has said (and done) concerning women. I can understand people’s distaste. But it is a double standard when compared to, say, Bill Clinton the womaniser. Or consider Trumps plan to build a wall to keep the Mexicans out - and the temporary ban on Muslims from particular countries - these measured could suggest xenophobia - and if that is the case, it has rightly outraged millions. But it does not necessarily follow that Trump is a xenophobe. It may be that there really is a problem of Mexicans illegally crossing the border, and it may be that Trump genuinely thinks there needs to be a vetting system in place for Muslims from certain countries. These measures are extreme and certainly seem draconian, but that means they are bad solutions, not evidence of xenophobia. However damaging these policies - he is not breaking any laws. Unlike the illegal ward against Iraq - with utterly catastrophic and devastating consequences to millions of lives and the infrastructure of a whole nation leading to its descent into utter chaos and misery - Blair and Bush seem to have acted with total impunity.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, since I believe he is disqualified, I have no desire to defend Trump or his policies - but I do want to question the outrage against him. I don’t believe it is about his policies, his womanising, his anti-Islamism. I just don’t buy it at all.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But before I am berated for slamming the anti-trumpets, let put on record a word to the silent supporting majority - particularly in the US - you are walking on dangerous ground. Particularly the Church in the US. It seems many see Trump as a kind of Christian Champion. He may identify himself as a Christian and profess faith, but that does not make him a Christian any more than if I call myself a pumpkin makes me a pumpkin. I’ve seen no reason at all to believe Trump is a Christian and I have seen many reasons to believe he is not a Christian - even if he really thinks he is. That is not to say he is not a Christian - the Lord knows - but I am not at all persuaded. Hailing Trump as a Champion of the faith could be the biggest mistake the church has made this century so far. He may end up being impeached - or put out of office in four years time - and if the church is seen as being pro-trump the man, it too will be put further out of society.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Here is what I do know … </b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is the God of the universe who has seen fit to appoint Trump to the presidency of the USA. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That does not make Trump a Christian or a good man - but God does not make mistakes - ever. God will use Trump to accomplish His sovereign will in the world. It may be to bring judgment, or favour, or both - that is to be seen.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">For those of us throwing up our hands up in shock and dismay and who seem terrified by Trump - my question is, where is your faith? Were you relying on Hilary Clinton to maintain world stability and promote good Christian ethics? Really? What if God intends to disrupt world stability and with it our cosy lifestyles for the sake of the gospel? Trump, Clinton & Clinton, Bush, May, Blair, Cameron et al are splintered staffs - all of them - none to be relied upon. But Jesus is in control of world affairs - we must look beyond Trump and the current, divisive, manipulative hysteria to the God who reigns.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I am worried about Trump, and what he is doing and will do. I feel great uncertainty about him. But still, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">let us all climb down from the sheer arrogance of disbelief and refusal to accept the democratically elected and divinely appointed President. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Rather, it would be better to pray … </span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Against division</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Against hatred of both the minority of far right haters who are pleased about Trump, and the hatred of the anti-trump brigade.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Against the obvious attempt to demonise Trump and anyone who voted for him, so as to make them feel ashamed.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Against the self-righteousness of people who actually think they are better than Trump</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For Trump to repent, become genuinely penitent and find forgiveness and faith in Jesus</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For the American political system to temper the policies that will be bad for the US and the world.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For Trump to defy all expectations and actually do amazing good under the sovereign hand of God</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For God to work for the sake of the Gospel in our world.</span></li>
</ul>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-77818895492766426382017-01-17T06:55:00.000-08:002017-01-17T06:55:13.723-08:00Renewed Energy and Joy in Service<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A positive, intriguing, convicting, challenging, encouraging and liberating perspective … <i>I hope!</i></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Church gathers to worship God, hear His word and hang out together as a family. But all that requires behind the scenes work.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is the tidying up of the hall, often the floor has to be swept and sometimes even mopped. Equipment dragged out of the Hall Store, speakers lugged, gear set-up, songs practised, Projector and computer set up with songs added for everyone to sing. Tables to be put in place, chairs set out, Refreshements set up, Sunday School prepared, Sermon prepared, creche set up, etc, etc, etc. Hours upon hours in total go into each Sunday gathering.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Serving for the Sake of Christ</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why do we do it? The answer is, we do it to serve one another. An important aspect of Christian identity is that of a humble servant. As Servants, we are called to <i>be</i> servants of one another. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That does not mean that everyone else is your boss because you are their servant. But as Jesus' servants, with Him as our Lord, for Him, to please Him, because it is His will we serve one another. This is what the Apostle Paul means when he writes ... </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 4</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-5" id="en-NIV-28865" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>For what we preach is not ourselves,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28865N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28865N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but Jesus Christ as Lord,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28865O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28865O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and ourselves as your servants<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28865P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28865P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> for Jesus’ sake.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">'For Jesus' sake' means, for His purposes, for His benefit, to accomplish His will and agenda for us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes it's a struggle.</b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving can be hard, wearisome, tiring and even become a crushing burden. But this is usually not the weight of the burden itself, but symptomatic of other things. Consider this … </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from the preacher (who has usually been released from normal work to prepare to preach), nobody in the church spends more than about 120 minutes per month serving the Church out of the 44,640 minutes per month the Lord has given to each one of us. That is less than 1% of our time given up to serve the Church for the sake of Christ - in fact for most it is less than 0.333r % of your time per month.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you teach Sunday School or lead worship it may be as much as about 0.666r% of your time per month.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want the math: 60 mins x 24hrs per day, x 31 days per month = 44,640.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving on Sunday = Total max in Sunday school, leading worship, serving tea, doing creche etc - about 60 mins. Most people do two acts of service per month = max 120 mins. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is arguably, a tiny amount of service, yet somehow it becomes so hard and draining at times. Why?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not so many minutes?</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">44,640 sounds like a lot - but in fact, those minutes get filled with an enormous amount of responsibilities and demands, many of which we have no choice about.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We might be time poor.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The poor soul in the picture below illustrates the point for us. We can be like him. Imagine our life is made up of books. Now imagine, on the spine of each book is a word representing our various responsibilities and necessary activities such as 'Work', 'School runs' etc. Now imagine the size of each book corresponds with the size of the task and amount of minutes and energy it consumes. So the book called 'WORK' uses a lot of energy and time and so is a very big book compared to say 'cleaning the car', which for me is a flier at most!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time all the various books of life have been stacked upon us - we feel just like the man below! We're already carrying so much right? We just don't need more books! I think that is how it is for all of us at least sometimes.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgoE0hYxzv0/WH4XiptinxI/AAAAAAAAAso/LQgL-wc_TbU-QezfGlZbFWsqZ7KlYxZTgCK4B/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgoE0hYxzv0/WH4XiptinxI/AAAAAAAAAso/LQgL-wc_TbU-QezfGlZbFWsqZ7KlYxZTgCK4B/s400/images.jpeg" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now, you get the church rota, it is like we are giving you, 'yet another book!'. It's not the size of the book - it's just you really don't want anymore. You instinctively know you really ought to carry it - everyone else does, but you really don't want to - but it's just one of those things you have to do because you're a Christian, and it's only fair.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think About it</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the truth is, it really is all a matter of perspective. Think about each point below, and if you agree, put a mental 'check' next to the point - see how far we track together. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) We are all carrying some really big, hefty tomes. Check?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Sleep is an odd one, it is a big book simply because it takes up a lot of our precious minutes. Not only is it big, but it is non-negotiable - so it also comes first in the stack of life - or at least it is near the bottom of the stack - it goes on before a lot of other books. Check?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Then there is Work - this is a hefty tome and it is essential to most of us and so also comes before most other things - that means it too is somewhere near the bottom of the pile. Check?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) Other 'first things' near the bottom of the stack are a daily shower / personal hygiene routine, for ladies - make-up and personal appearance. These vary in size but being essential, go near the bottom. Check?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) The next books likely to come on top of that stuff are cleaning the children, changing nappies, shopping, maintenance around the home, family time, school runs, hoovering, housework, social time, me time, it's a bit difficult to decide exactly where in the pile they come - but they certainly do. Check?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6) Perhaps you'd order the stack differently, but whatever, by now the pile is getting very high, we're probably already carrying more than we would like. Check?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7) So now a church responsibility is placed right at the top of the pile - teetering! And so we easily see this as the thing that is too much. Check?</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem with the above perspective.</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is a real perspective - if we choose to see it that way. I believe we see it that way because we are all, naturally and fundamentally selfish. Pretty much everything else we do is primarily for our 'self', and by 'self' I include our immediate family too as they are a kind of extension of our 'self'.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving in the church is an act of service for others - and that we find difficult. Selfishness is our fundamental problem. That is why we would like a situation where we could go to church and not have to serve - just sit back and lap it up, and then go, encouraged and inspired to go out to live our largely selfish lives.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To feel a bit offended at this is understandable, it is a truth of the gospel which is offensive to all human pride. Selfishness is what we do easily, naturally and best. The problem is, you don't have to put selfishness to death in order to serve the church. We might reason, "If I want a church service, I have to take my turn." Although that is true - it is not a good motivation as it is selfish. And if at heart we are serving out of selfishness, it will be reluctant, joyless, too much, perhaps with a bit of moaning, murmuring, complaining. Worst of all, we will do it but get no reward for it from the Lord at all. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An Alternative Perspective</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine you throw the whole pile of books down, you open your arms, but this time the Lord Jesus places each book upon you. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matthew 11</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Matt-11-28" id="en-NIV-23488" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">28 </span>“Come to me,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23488AG" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23488AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23488AH" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23488AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-NIV-23489" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">29 </span>Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23489AI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23489AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23489AJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23489AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-11-30" id="en-NIV-23490" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first book he places on you is your 'serving the church for His sake', and it is not heavy at all! It never was!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then he places other books on you, one at a time. If you're a mum, perhaps he'll put the Book 'Sleep' on next, and maybe it is bigger than the last sleep book. But how? Well maybe he will give you a smaller 'Soap opera' book, or a smaller 'House-work' book - "you don't need to polish everything every day" - he says. so that is where he wants you to catch some zzz's. He places the next book, 'Work', for some of you, it might be bigger - because you've been a bit lazy, for others it might be smaller, "you don't need all that money", or "you are a workaholic". </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The point is, Jesus will probably put many of the same books on you, but different sizes. He certainly wouldn't give you more than you can carry, and he certainly doesn't see church service as coming last - teetering on the top of the pile. Serving Jesus is the number #1 priority for every believer when it comes to 'serving'.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With 'serving the church for Christ sake' at the bottom of the stack, and a lighter load on top from the Lord, we will still likely find we take on more and more, things that Jesus has not given us, until the stack gets so high it will grind us down again. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But because 'serving the church for Christ sake' is at the bottom of the stack, and not teetering on the top, it is not the thing we have a desire to rid ourselves of to ease our load - given the chance. It is other things. We just won't see 'serving the church' the way we once did. We will see other things as unneccessary burdens - and rightly so.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let us give that tiny percentage of our time, which is ’serving the Church (one another) for Christ’s sake’, willingly, joyfully, energetically, and let’s give that tiny little bit of time the best we can, let it never be the last priority that gets the dregs of our energy etc. If serving tea and coffee - as if for the King! If serving in Sunday School - as if for the King etc, etc, because, in fact it is for the King! To do it willingly and joyfully for the King carries a reward and brings joy to the King - he is very easy to please.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-26617982575899072252017-01-16T06:45:00.000-08:002017-01-16T06:45:40.434-08:00"Sir, we would like to see Jesus" ... Jesus Replied (4)<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 12</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div style="color: #0433ff;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: normal;"><b>23 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">... “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: normal;"><b>24 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
In our last blog we considered Jesus power in weakness and wisdom in folly. Here we apply that to ourselves and the church.<br />
<div style="color: #0433ff;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reigning in Glory - but veiled</b></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If in His own death Jesus defeated the unholy trinity of sin, evil and death, what now? Now that He is risen and clothed with immortality? What now that He reigns in power and glory? There is no stopping King Jesus now. Nothing can stand in His way. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But not only that, in his death he demonstrated the perfect Justice of God, he took all the punishment for sin, he drank every last drop from the bowl of God’s fury.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Perhaps, most important to us personally, as individuals, in His death he demonstrated His love for us. As my old Pastor from years ago once said, “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 144, 81); color: #009051;">Some say it with chocolates, some say it with flowers, but Jesus said it with nails in His hands!</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">” </span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But we must not forget, it was not just for us as individuals that he died and rose again, but it was for His precious Church.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ephesians 5</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>25 </b>Husbands, love your wives, just as <b><i>Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her</i></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As we press on into 2017, we, both as individuals, but also together as the Church, have many, many great challenges. But as we fix our eyes on Jesus, crucified, and behold His limitless glory, we will constantly see His jaw-dropping, breath-taking, confounding love for us. Love that overcomes fear and doubt. Love that wins our trust and stirs our affection. We can be absolutely certain of His love for His Church - and that includes New Life! We will see His matchless power in weakness, but know, now He reigns in glory! We will see His justice as we look on at this wicked world. We will see His wisdom - wisdom that He promises to give to us … </span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">James 1</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>5 </b>If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The more we focus on Him, the more confident we will be.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">With all the work that needs to be done - it would be easy to lose our focus. The moment we take our eyes from Him, we begin to rely on our self, on other people, on money and on all manner of splintered staffs. Then we will lose energy, motivation, fire, passion, and joy. Our love for Him and one another will grow cold and our love for every other unworthy contender will increase - dishonouring the one who is worthy. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Brothers and sisters, we must fix our eyes on Christ Crucified. Wise people know that in life, we must choose our battles carefully. There are some battles that should take priority over others. We cannot win all battles, we don't even have to fight them all - that is foolish. So let's choose battles carefully. In choosing our battles, let us be clear, the battle to keep our eyes fixed on Christ Crucified, of all battles, is the one we must never give up on - and we can be sure, in that battle, we have the might of heaven to help us.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 Corinthians 2</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>2 </b>For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.</span></div>
</div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-39318780137443594382017-01-16T06:34:00.002-08:002017-01-16T06:37:37.205-08:00Sir, we would like to see Jesus" ... Jesus Replied ... (3)<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span class="text John-12-23" id="en-NIV-26604" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>... <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“The hour<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26604Z" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26604Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26604AA" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26604AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text John-12-24" id="en-NIV-26605" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span>Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26605AB" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26605AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps click this link and get this song going in the background as you read ... </span><br />
<br />
https://youtu.be/TqCMTkSqv4I<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gospel Rediscovered (Part 3)</span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">As we continue considering the second point of our New Years Message, we think today of the power of God in Jesus in His weakness. We think of the wisdom of God in what appears to be great foolishness.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">In Weakness and folly ... </span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So we considered yesterday that Jesus was handed over to Satan and all evil without restriction. He was stripped naked, mocked, spat upon, a crown of thorns rammed upon his head, he was beaten, flogged and nailed to the cross which was lifted p and dropped in its stand, thereby dislocating his bones. Then began the slow, tortrous death, until he breathed his last. Even then they were not finished - a spear driven up under his rib cage. Jesus was dead! How weak is that?</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Then, when He was as weak as could be, (for when are we weaker than in death?) it was then, that all the power of the evil one was broken. It was then that sin was rendered powerless. It was then that death itself was defeated. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Satan doubtless thought he hit the jackpot when God the Father handed Jesus over to him with no restrictions at all. “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 143, 0); color: #008f00;">Very well Satan, take Him, my precious Son, and do your worst</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">”. Satan must have thought, "<span style="color: #38761d;">at last, God is having a senior moment! A moment of weakness and folly</span>".</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Satan must have rubbed His hands in glee as he watched Jesus utterly humiliated and ultimately tortured to death in the most shameful way possible. But three days later when the earth quaked and the stone rolled away - Satan realized - his worst was no match for Jesus weakest! In that moment He knew he had nothing! He was utterly defeated by God’s great wisdom!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Such is the greatness of God! In weakness - he is strong beyond imagination! In foolishness, He is wise beyond comprehension.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Having accomplished everything in His utter weakness, He burst forth from the grave in power! He ascended to rule and reign.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He is our King, He is the one in whom we trust right? Often we lose faith and trust in this and that - hoping other things will meet our need - whatever that may be. How foolish we are. In His death he has proven His great love for us. In His resurrection victory He has proven, absolutely nothing is impossible with Him.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If in His weakness and foolishness He could accomplish so much, how foolish and irrational of us to trust in other things.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But often we are confused because we feel abandoned. We feel God is not doing anything! We perhaps think perhaps we need to try harder to win His favour, that we need to be holier etc, or that, in spite of all our talk of faith, really we are on our own - it is up to us.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I wonder if this state of affairs is because of one simple, fundamental mistake we easily make. Now that we are believers, loved by Jesus, forgiven, we think it means Jesus should be on our side. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Brothers and sisters, this is not so. He is not on our side, it is us who are to be on His side!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Let's pray, not that He help us do our will, but that He help us do His will.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Jesus be the center</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Be my source be my light Jesus</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Jesus be the center</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Be my song Jesus</div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Be the fire in my heart</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Be the wind in my sails</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Be the reason that I live</div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Jesus Jesus</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Jesus be my vision</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Be my help</div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Be my guide Jesus</span> </span></div>
</div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-42098870752386490682017-01-16T06:12:00.002-08:002017-01-16T06:55:41.375-08:00"Sir, we would like to see Jesus." ... Jesus replied .... (2)<div style="line-height: normal;">
<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">23 ... 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is what Jesus did on the cross that sets Jesus apart.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gospel Rediscovered (Part 2) </span></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: helvetica;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything else Jesus did - others have done … </span></b></h2>
</div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">As Jesus raided the dead, so did others, Elijah, Elisha the Apostle Peter and Paul to name four. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">As Jesus multiplied bread in feeding the five thousand, so, Elijah multiplied the oil and flour for the widow at Zarephath.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">As Jesus exercised power of the elements, so Moses parted the waters and Elijah prayed for rain and it rained. </span>And so we could go on.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">There are many great men and women through history, but however great they all are, they all had feet of clay, and in the end, all sinned and were defeated by the great enemy - death. The greatest of all God’s warriors, Samson, David and all his fighting men, Gideon - were all, to a man, sinners defeated by death.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">Jesus is greater than Moses, Elijah, David or anyone else that can be named.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;">In His life and death, Jesus accomplished (for me and for you and for all believe, for all the church and for New Life Church), what no-one else could ever accomplish. He has done for us that which no-one else could or would.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;"><b>Jesus was willingly Handed Over to Satan, Evil and Darkness</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">He did not retaliate when they spat upon him, punched Him, stripped Him naked, rammed a crown of thorns on His brow, whipped Him so that His naked body was completely lacerated, he never lifted a muscle when they spread Him naked, bleeding, humiliated upon the cross and drove the nails through, when they lifted the cross and dropped it in its stand so that all His bones dislocated.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">At His arrest, He made it clear that He was voluntarily laying down His life.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Matthew 26</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>53 </b>Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">At any time Jesus could have vanquished all His foes with a great army of celestial angels. Jesus gave up His life willingly - he was never defeated. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">John 10</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-10-17" id="en-NIV-26499" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>The reason my Father loves me is that <i>I lay down my life</i><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26499Y" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26499Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>—only to take it up again.</span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span class="text John-10-18" id="en-NIV-26500" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span><i>No one takes it from me</i>, but <i>I lay it down of my own accord.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26500Z" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26500Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></i> I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<span style="color: #444444;">God the Father handed Jesus over to Satan on a plate - and Jesus willingly submitted to the Father's will. This was the hour when darkness had its way … </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Luke 22</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: normal;"><b>53 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. <i>But this is your hour—when darkness reigns</i>.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">Remember Job? (excuse the paraphrase) Satan said, “let me at him”. God said, “very well, you can touch all he has and loves - <i>but you must not touch him</i>.” After doing his worst, Satan told God that Job would deny God if Satan is allowed to touch Job’s flesh. Again God gave Job over to Satan, <i>but with the restriction</i>, that Satan cannot take Job’s life. Thus far Satan was granted - no further dare he step.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">But Jesus was handed over to darkness without restrictions …. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“This is your hour, <b><i>when darkness reigns</i></b>!”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-kerning: none;">Jesus knew it was the will of His father to be given over to Satan and darkness. And so, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Philippians 2:8</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“<i>He humbled Himself</i> by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444;">It is hard for us to imagine the faith required by Jesus to go through with the cross. To allow Himself to be given over to evil, darkness and Satan. To the apostles, everything had gone wrong. It seemed utterly hopeless. But we are talking about Jesus! The kernel of wheat must fall to the ground and be buried in order to produce many seeds.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="color: #444444;">Let us meditate on the wonder of the cross. That Jesus gave Himself up to Satan! Let Him do His worst - no restrictions at all. And let us praise God, that He will never hand us over to Satan without restriction! Only Jesus - in our place.</span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-21722882405345164872017-01-16T04:48:00.000-08:002017-01-16T06:37:53.598-08:00"Sir, we would like to see Jesus" ... Jesus replied ... (1)<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div style="color: #0433ff; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 12</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: normal;"><b>23 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">... “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: normal;"><b>24 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In our last blog we considered the great request of the Greeks. Below we consider the even greater Reply of Jesus! Let's consider the second point from our New Years message ... </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Gospel Rediscoverd (Part 1)</b></span></h2>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is not enough to just see Jesus in His earthly ministry. Jesus could never be fully known in the casting out of demons, healing the sick, stilling the storms, flattening the seas, feeding the thousands, even raising the dead, defeating his foes as they tried to outwit Him. None of that could reveal the infinite glory of the eternal God in Jesus. His glory was and is far greater, far brighter, far more wonderful than is earthly ministry, as awesome as it was, could ever disply.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The time for His eternal glory to be revealed for all to see had come. And when gazing at the glory, what would we see? Something like a kernel of wheat, falling to the ground and dying, and in its death producing many seeds. Jesus spoke of His death.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If we really want to see Jesus, we must see Him in His death.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This is why Jesus commanded us to break bread, in memory of Him in His death on the cross! Communion is Jesus provision to bring us back, again and again and again, to behold, Christ crucified. We can never see Christ crucified too much - only not enough!</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Two simple applications for us to draw from this ... </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;">1) Pray ... </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Let us ask God to reveal Christ crucified to us in deeper life transforming ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;">As the hymn goes ... </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-kerning: none;">For us He was made sin</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-kerning: none;">O help me take it in</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br />
This is a good prayer, if I could humbly adjust just one word, the 'me' to 'us'. Again. let's be praying this for us as a Church. Let's be praying for one another.<br />
<br />
2) Make the most of every opportunity<br />
When we come to communion, let's make the most of the opportunity. Let's be thankful that the Lord has called us in this way to keep coming back to Christ Crucified. And let's take joy in the knowledge that as we do share together - He is present and takes joy in our faith filled obedience.</div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-34240034625769545472017-01-12T08:29:00.001-08:002017-01-16T05:01:32.871-08:00Keeping our Eyes on the Christ Crucified<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Brothers and Sisters</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Today I want to remind you again of our first point from the New Years Message, a ...</span><br />
<b style="text-align: center;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Gospel Request</span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Greeks came to Jesus with what is arguably the wisest, greatest of all requests … </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 12:21</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“we would like to see Jesus.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To see Jesus - that is really all of our need. </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Consider these questions and the testimony of the church through the ages song ...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Are you facing temptation?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I need The every hour</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Stay thou nearby</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Temptations lose their power</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When Thou art nigh</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Do you struggle to worship?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">‘When I see Thee as Thou art </span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’ll praise Thee as I ought</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Are you in a spiritual battle?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We rest on Thee, our shield and our defender</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We go not fourth, alone against the foe</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go.</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We rest on thee, our shield and our defender</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When passing through, the gates of pearly splendour</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Victors we rest, with Thee through endless days.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Are you in need, emotionally, materially, spiritually or in any other way?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Fear not that thy need shall exhaust His provision</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Our God ever yearns His resources to share</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing</span></div>
<div style="color: #009051; font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Father, both thee and thy load will upbear</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Much more can be said to speak of the all-sufficiency of Jesus. The Beetles were not far off the mark when they sang, “All you need is love”. Better though, <i>All you need is Jesus - for in Him are all the riches of wisdom and grace!</i>” </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That really is no exaggeration. In Christ are all things, grace, justice, wisdom. power, strength, the church … </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Whatever our need, there is nothing more powerful or transforming than to see Jesus Himself.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Consider his great verse from 1 John 3:2</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But we know that <i>when Christ appears, we shall be like him</i>, <i>for we shall see him as he is.</i> <b>3 </b>All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To just see Him as He is, is all that is needed for our final, full and complete transformation. When we see Him as He is - we will never be the same again, we will be utterly changed.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But … </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 Corinthians 13</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>12 </b><i><u>For</u> <u>now</u> we see only a reflection as in a mirror darkly</i>; then we shall see face to face.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Right now we all struggle to see Him - but we do see Him - admittedly dimly - as in the faint reflection of a Roman mirror - not clear like ours. But we can see, we do see something of Him - and He reveals all we need for now.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This is why the writer to the Hebrews exhorts us … </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Hebrews 12:2</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; line-height: normal;"><b>2 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus … ,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">King David knew a good thing when He saw it …</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Psalm 27</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: arial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>4 </b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">One thing I ask from the Lord,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">this only do I seek:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">that I may dwell in the house of the Lord</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">all the days of my life,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>to gaze on the beauty of the Lord</i></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and to seek him in his temple.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-73239747492675135512017-01-10T01:18:00.001-08:002017-01-16T04:57:58.614-08:00We would like to see Jesus - A-men!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>John 12:21 “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #222222;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br />
Today we will consider the first point of our New Years Message, 'a ...<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Gospel Request</b></h2>
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Seeing and Savouring Jesus!</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To my church family,</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>The Story of Joshua Bell</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Joshua Bell is a world-class, brilliant concert violinist. He fills great auditoriums with cultured and very wealthy people. You pay big bucks to see and hear him perform.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">One day he picked up his $4,000,000 violin, changed his general appearance, unshaved etc, and played on the Metro DC train station - like a common basker. As this brilliant violinist played people hurried by, most not even making eye contact, a few stopped and listened for a few moments, some tossed 50 cents or $1 into his hat - most just rushed by. Only one lady recognised him and stopped to savour the glorious experience.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He played a full and magnificent concert - but the people had no idea they were in the presence of greatness, recipients of grace - they didn’t even acknowledge him! They failed completely, to take in and enjoy the wonder.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Here is a link to the episode on youtube. <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(17, 85, 204); color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://youtu.be/UM21gPmkDpI">https://youtu.be/UM21gPmkDpI</a> </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br />
It is worth clicking the 'Show More' link below the video as it tells the full story of how he played for 45 minutes and collected $32 from about 11000 passers by.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If you want to know how good he is - check this out: </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">https://youtu.be/1h88cW8Kuzl</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>So what?</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We are like those people. We are in the presence of Jesus. He is ‘playing for us!’ Pouring out His extraordinary gift of grace, a gift no money could buy, serving it to us freely, moment by moment and day by day. He really wants us to see Him, to savour Him, to hear Him, to be awed by Him, to have our affections stirred by and set upon Him. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That is why this request of the Greeks is arguably the greatest, wisest, most worthy request any of us can make … to see Jesus! …</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Solomon asked for wisdom - we ask for Christ who is the wisdom of God!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This request corresponds directly to the greatest of all our needs. It is your great need today - it is my great need today. To See and Savour Jesus!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If we do not feel the need to see Him, (as is the case with me virtually all the time!) if the desire to see Jesus is faint and our passion to see Jesus is cold, that is all evidence of our spiritual lethargy, complacency, and the deadness of our soul. If we fail to recognise His presence today - it is not that He is not present, or is not pouring out grace, it is that we need revival of soul - we need to see Jesus, to catch a glimpse of Him!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This year, let us all, together, determine to behold Jesus like we have never beheld Him. That He might fill our gaze. Let’s pray this not only for ourselves, but for one another too. Let’s ask God for stories to tell to each other of how our eyes have been opened afresh, stories that will encourage one another, and let’s ask the Lord to give stories to others in the church to share with us for our encouragement. Lets pray that we see Him in some wonderful way today!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Be Thou My Vision O Lord of my Heart</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Be all else but naught to me save that Thou art</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Both waking or sleeping</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thy presence my light.</span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-64269877855542192212016-12-02T01:30:00.001-08:002016-12-02T01:30:22.891-08:00Acts 2:42 - An analysis of the word 'Devoted'.<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Acts 2:42-47 is an awesome picture of the early church. It is telling of the dynamic nature, enthusiasm, energy and zeal of the first disciples of the church.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Key to this picture is verse 42. Verse 42 is the engine behind verses 43-47. It can be argued that the word ‘devotion’ is the key dynamic that produces the engines power.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, what does the word ‘devoted’ literally mean? The answer is really quite simple, it simply means ‘devoted’. It is a word loaded with passion, enthusiasm, energy, loyalty, priority, affection.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Greek word behind the word ‘Devotion’ in Acts 2:42 is </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>Proskarterio</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Th word </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>Proskarterio</i></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> is translated in various ways in the New Testament. By looking at the different ways it is translated in different contexts we get a sense of the flavour of what is being described.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Below are all the instances where the word </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>Proskarterio</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> is used n the Greek. Wherever you see the pink text, behind that word or combination of words is the word </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>Proskarterio. </i></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are nine instances in all.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #ff2f92; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #ff2f92; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #ff2f92; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>42 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">They </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>devoted</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>43 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>44 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">All the believers were together and had everything in common. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>45 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>46 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Every day they <b><i>continued</i></b> to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>47 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Romans 12</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>12 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>faithful</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">in prayer. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>13 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Romans 13</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>6 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>give their full time</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to governing.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #ff2f92; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">ESV: </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>attend to this very thing</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #ff2f92; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">NASB: </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>Devoting themselves to this very thing</i></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Mark 3</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>9 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>ready</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">for him, to keep the people from crowding him.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 1</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>14 </b>All these with one accord were</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>devoting themselves</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 6</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>3 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and will</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>give our attention</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to prayer and the ministry of the word.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">NASB / ESV: </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">We will</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>Devote ourselves </i></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">to prayer and the ministry of the word</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 8</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>13 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>followed</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Philip</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>everywhere</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">, </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">NASB: </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">he</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>continued on</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">with Philip</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">ESV: </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">he</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>continued</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">with Philip</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Acts 10</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>7 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>attendants</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Colossians 4</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><b>2 </b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 47, 146); color: #ff2f92;"><b><i>Devote yourselves</i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">to prayer, being watchful and thankful.</span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-44356324499043759352016-11-24T03:06:00.000-08:002016-11-24T03:06:08.308-08:00The Kite, by John Newton<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4415270218621934311" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 518px;">
<div class="" id="mb-email-wrapper" style="-webkit-transition: height 0.4s ease-in-out; cursor: pointer; transition: height 0.4s ease-in-out;">
<span style="cursor: pointer;"><div style="cursor: pointer;">
<span style="cursor: pointer;"><div style="cursor: pointer;">
<blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(1, 51, 177) !important; border-left-style: solid !important; border-left-width: 2px !important; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px !important; padding: 0px 0px 0px 6px !important;" type="cite">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://gospelpastor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/th-kite-by-john-newton.html" style="color: #cca866; text-decoration: none;">The Kite, by John Newton</a></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Once upon a time a paper kite </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">mounted to a wondrous height,<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Where, giddy with its elevation, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">it thus expressed self admiration:<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">“See how yon crowds of gazing people </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">admire my flight above the steeple;<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">How they would wonder if they knew </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">all that a kite like me could do!<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Were I but free, I’d take a flight </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">and pierce the clouds beyond their sight;<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">But, ah, like a poor prisoner bound,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"> my string confines me to the ground.<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">I’d brave the eagle’s towering wing </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">might I but fly without a string.”<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">It tugged and pulled, while thus it spoke, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">to snap the string.<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<br style="cursor: pointer;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">At last it broke.<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<br style="cursor: pointer;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Deprived at once of all its stay, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">in vain it tried to soar away.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Unable its own weight to bear, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">it fluttered downward through the air.<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Unable its own course to guide, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">the winds soon plunged it in the tide.<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Ah, foolish kite, thou hadst no wing, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">how couldst thou fly without a string?<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<br style="cursor: pointer;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<br style="cursor: pointer;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Oh, Lord, I see</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"> how much this kite resembles me!<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Forgetful that by Thee I stand, </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">impatient of Thy ruling hand;<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">How oft I’ve wished to break the lines </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">Thy wisdom for my lot assigns.<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">How oft indulged a vain desire</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"> for something more, or something higher.<u style="cursor: pointer;"></u><u style="cursor: pointer;"></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;"><br style="cursor: pointer;" /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">But for Thy grace and love divine ,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="cursor: pointer;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="cursor: pointer;"><i style="cursor: pointer;">a fall thus dreadful had been mine!</i></span></div>
</span></blockquote>
</div>
</span></div>
</span></div>
</div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-26108447078205123522016-11-11T02:15:00.000-08:002016-11-11T09:27:26.706-08:00Become Strong in Faith"Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power!" So says the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10. Very well - but how? Can you decide to just 'be strong'? Can you go to the gymn - see a body builder lifting huge weights and say, "Hmmm, I think I will be strong like him" and then go fourth and lift those weights? The answer is 'no'. At least physically you cannot just be strong. Why? The answer is obvious - if you don't have it, you don't have it!<br />
<br />
<b>But is that true spiritually?</b><br />
Well there are parallels but they don't go very far. So being strong spiritually is similar to being strong physically in that the result is, you are not easily defeated. The strong in competition are not easily beaten. They can stand and prevail where the weak cave in. But that is as far as the paralells go.<br />
<br />
Those who are strong in the Lord cannot be easily shaken - or they may be shaken - but not moved. They have the power and strength to overcome and prevail whatever comes against them. They are overcomers, victors!<br />
<br />
Paul tells <i><u><span style="color: blue;">us</span></u></i> to <i>be strong</i>. Strong in the Lord <i>so that</i> <i><u><span style="color: blue;">we</span></u> can "take <u><span style="color: blue;">our</span></u> stand"</i> against the devil and His schemes" (Ephesians 6:11). Christian, every day <span style="color: blue;">you</span> can be strong, <span style="color: blue;">you</span> will have your designated stand that <span style="color: blue;">you</span> must take.<br />
<br />
Paul goes on in Ephesians 6 to depict a valiant soldier in battle. Think Shammah ...<br />
<br />
"<i>But</i> Shammah <i>took <u><span style="color: blue;">his</span></u> stand</i> in the middle of the field. <i><span style="color: blue;">He</span> defended it</i> and <i>struck</i> the Phillistines <i>down</i>, and <b><i>the Lord brought about a great victory</i>.</b>"<br />
2 Samuel 23:12<br />
<br />
Or Eleazer who, in the same chapter stood and fought like Shammah so that "His hand froze to his sword!" (Verse 9).<br />
<br />
So Paul tells little, humble, insignificant <span style="color: blue;">you</span> and <span style="color: blue;">me</span> that <span style="color: blue;">we</span> must be like Shammah and Eleazer. God wants <span style="color: blue;">you</span> and <span style="color: blue;">me</span> to be heroes of faith. He wants <span style="color: blue;">you</span> and <span style="color: blue;">me</span> to be valiant, mighty warriors.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>But how can we? "Who am I?" we may well ask.</b></h3>
Remember Gideon, (Judges 6) he was the least man in the least of God's clans. The equivilent is like being in the smallest and weakest of churches and being the weakest in that church! Gideon had never fought a battle in his life. In fact, he was faced by the enemy countless times, he'd had ample opportunity to take <i><span style="color: blue;">his</span></i> stand but never did. For years the Mideonites (read enemy) plundered him, his family and people, and Gideon's practice, without fail, was to hide in caves, lurk behind bushes, fearfully and passively watching on while the enemy plundered him, his family and his people! That was Gideon's practise. That was Gideon's history. That was Gideons identity.<br />
<br />
What a surprise then when God catches up with him. Of all things, God addresses him thus ...<br />
<br />
"The LORD is with <span style="color: blue;">you, <i>Mighty warrior</i></span>" (Judges 6:12)<br />
<br />
Mighty warrior! Hardly. Are you having a laugh!<br />
<br />
I Love Gideon's immediate reply ...<br />
<br />
"Pardon me my Lord". (Judges 6:13)<br />
<br />
He's like, "urmmm, are you to talking to me? Do you know anything about me? You must be confusing me with someone else". But the Lord was not mistaken.<br />
<br />
God says to <span style="color: blue;">you</span> (and me), "The Lord is with you Julian, Mighty warrior" (You put in your name!) Yes - <span style="color: blue;">YOU</span> too!<br />
<br />
This is what the Apostle Paul is saying when he says to <span style="color: blue;">you</span> and <span style="color: blue;">me</span>, "Be strong in the Lord, put on the full armour ... be like Shammar and Eleazer - mighty warriors - now <span style="color: blue;">you</span> take <span style="color: blue;">your</span> stand in your field".<br />
<br />
<h3>
But How? How can I be a mighty warrior?<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></h3>
<br />
Consider this verse from Psalm 57:3b<br />
"God sends fourth His love and faithfulness".<br />
<br />
Just think about that for a moment. God sends fourth <i>His</i> love and faithfulness. Consider that in the light of Shammar above, what does it say? "<i>And the LORD brought about a great victory</i>". Hang on a moment! Where was the Lord when Shammar was wielding his sword and holding up his shield getting covered in blood and sweat, straining, battling for hous on end?<br />
<br />
<h3>
Where is the Lord?</h3>
That is a good question to ask. But the scripture is clear. Shammar did the work, but it was the Lord Himself that won the victory. That is what scripture says. But also - although it is clear, the Lord won the victory, it is also clear that credit goes to Shammar who exerted Himself courageously in the battle. Shammar is a mighty warrior! But the Lord sent fourth His love and faithfulness. He poured out his love on His son Shammah and was faithful to Him - faithful in battle and gave him all he needed for victory.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>When we reach the end of our hoarded resources</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the Father's full love's just begun,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>He gives, He gives, He gives, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>limitless love, grace without measure</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>He gives, He gives, He gives</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Abundantly.</i></div>
<br />
And what does Paul say above? Not, "Be strong" but "Be strong <i>in the Lord</i> and <i>in His</i> mighty power"<br />
<br />
So, we are not to be strong in our "self", but in the Lord!<br />
<br />
So we may have no strength - but we place ourselves in His hands, trusting Him - even when it is really hard, even when we are surrounded by things that threaten us, even when fears arise. We hold our nerve - keep faith, keep trusting HIM keep exerting ourselves - He, in His love will be faithful!<br />
<br />
Here is how it works.<br />
<br />
1) Every day, we begin by coming to God believing we cannot stand without His mighty power. We really cannot.<br />
2) We confess or admit our weakness to Him - perhaps we need to admit it to ourselves too. We really must come to terms with our utter weakness. Yes we can go day after day without meaningfully praying, but all the while our hearts are becoming colder.<br />
3) We must ask Him for strength. "Lord, please help me by giving me all the strength I need, to deal with todays challenges, whatever they may be, give me resolve, give me a spirit to fight and not give in".<br />
4) We then go fourth, bracing ourselves, ready, trusting He is faithful and will absolutely, 100% do it.<br />
5) When the moment comes, temptation, fears etc, we give ourselves fully to the battle. We struggle and strain and resist and stand and fight. Like Eleazer with sword frozen in hand, never giving up we keep fighting. We fight in every situation to be faithful to God, to please Him with out hearts, attitudes, words, deeds, responses. When we have no strength left we keep fighting - never, ever giving up.<br />
<br />
As we do that, we will overcome, without fail.<br />
<br />
OBJECTION<br />
But if I battle like that, then I did it!<br />
<br />
ANSWER<br />
Yes and no. Yes you did. It took all your strength. But even as you exerted yourself and battled, and somehow managed to keep on, even when you had nothing left, the Lord was your strength! When you was fighting, God Himself was at work in your members! That was God! It was His victory and yours.<br />
<br />
OBJECTION<br />
But I did'n't feel strong at all, I didn't feel a boost of power or strength at any time.<br />
<br />
ANSWER<br />
God gave you all the strength you needed - not more. But if you needed more - He would have given more. In fact, when you think you have nothing left - you could still battle on for hours, days, months, years! Like the widows oil - God will keep supplying! He won't make it easy, but He will give just enough power and strength into your weakness.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>He sends fourth His love and His faithfulness</b></i>.</div>
<br />
6) When we have fought the good fight, and look back at the victory, we must give thanks. Admitting, it was because of Him we previaled.<br />
<br />
The result is, with all life's battles, all life's knocks, disappointments, discouragements, heart-aches and sorrows, with all that would get us down and make us cynical and despondent, our heart will be at peace, it will be soft, we will be full of faith, we will know great and deep joy and our love will keep on growing. That is the victory!<br />
<br />
Our testimony will be, "He does indeed send fourth His love and His faithfulness."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And needing more, each day thy grace to know</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yet from our hearts, a song of triumph peeling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We rest on thee, and in Thy name we go.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-67792996921135573742016-10-31T06:35:00.000-07:002016-11-08T04:03:29.905-08:00Encouragement ans Spiritual Attack<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brothers and Sisters, </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you know we face challenging times. It's good to remember Peter, when walking on water, all the time his eyes were fixed on Jesus he was able to do what he couldn't possibly do otherwise, no matter how the tempest around him raged he defied all odds, all the rules of physics and nature and did what was not possible for him to do - he walked on water! But the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and focussed on the waves, crashing in around him on all sides, he began to sink, fear, hopelessness, and despair, the impossibility of the situation overtook him. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God gave us all great encouragement on Sunday, I hope you all took it and took it to heart where it belongs. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>We have an Enemy</b></span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, we are wise to remember, we have a cruel and wicked enemy who is relentlessly and zealously opposed to us. He wants to rob us all of any strength God supplied and supplies. What's more, he has allies, as I found out. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About an hour after the service I got a very long, text, telling me how I am failing, comparing me to Eric and Giles (whom I love and appreciate) essentially questioning my fitness to be a Pastor etc. On it went. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is not often I am so personally attacked, and the reason I share it is because I fear that perhaps you may also be subject to Satan's attack. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Three things to Remember when under Attack</span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I read the text, All the encouragement disaappeared - I realised I was in a spiritual battle. Three thoughts prevailed. (1) the temptation to defend my 'self' under attack would prevent me from seeing any truth in their tirade. (2) Even if they are wrong, I am in fact far worse and less deserving for countless other reasons that they know nothing about - nor would they be concerned about - but God is, so only in my pride would I take offence. (3) Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, this person is not my enemy, but is both a victim and instrument of the enemy. They are eaperiencing anger, anguish, confusion and turmoil. Their attack should provoke compassion - that is what it means to love our enemies.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Satan's other Ally</span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly, Satan not only has allies in broken-hearted, misdirected hurting pawns like my poor critic, but also within. And <i>that</i>, or more precisely '<i>I</i>' am by far my biggest problem, not my attacker, but my <i>natural</i> defender, my <i>natural</i> justifier - ME! My own pride and sinfulness vies for prominence and victory over my critic. I want to prove myself right, righteous - and my oppnent wrong - unjustified.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A False Choice</span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It so often seems that we must either "overcome" by our self-righteousness or give in and be defeated and crushed by discouragement, doubt and failure. Either they / he / she is right and I am wrong, or they / he / she is wrong and I am right! Right? Wrong! Things are rarely black and white.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To justify myself and accuse my critic, pointing out how wrong he is, how he has no room to talk and to <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>judge him (self righteously) would be very easy, that comes naturally. To take criticism to heart and feel a defeated failure comes easily. But you cannot fight fire with fire. Either would have consumed me even as it consumed my critic. To stand against a spiritual attack is demanding - it does require time and energy, discipline and faith.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A time for everything under the sun</span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So my first battle was to commit it to the Lord to weigh up later, 'now' was not the time to deal with it - I had my family around me - a source of love and strength to encourage me and me them. Instead, I rested in the knowledge that, if I have done wrong, the Lord will show me my sin, and I have a solution, the gospel, which alone justifies the faith-filled repentant. So I concentrated instead on enjoying my family around me during the afternoon and evening, I'd deal with it before the Lord tomorrow (Monday).</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Satan is an intruder - and we must not let him have his terms. Yes it needed dealing with, but for now, God has given me my family to enjoy, and by faith, that is what I did.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Standing Firm</span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then later I went to bed with the criticism at the back of my mind. George and I read together and then it was time to sleep. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was then again the battle began. My tired mind drifted to the accusations, I kept reminding myself, "now is not the time to deal with this but to sleep". In the end I put my earphones in my ears and launched Bible gateway, listening to Revelation being read. It was some time after chapter 10 I drifted off (note to self, Don't listen to revelation to help you sleep!). </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it was better to go to sleep fighting, persevering, than defeated, that is God's grace. I woke up, as if '<i>from the battle and to the battle</i>', and began to read again. Even as I read and focus on Jesus, I had to drag my mind to focus on what I was reading and not allow my 'self' to drag me back to the criticism and all manner of connected but undisciplined trains of thought - and that was a battle! If I allowed that to happen, I would again be robbed of whatever strength, encouragement, and blessing the Lord had for me - and He knows I need it.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Thankful Heart</span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After saying my goodbyes to Georgie and Gemma, I set off on my walk to the Moulsecoomb station to get the train to East Anglia for the FIEC Leader's conference. As I walked and prayed the battle continued again. But now I found it somewhat easier to count my blessings. I thanked God for all the blessings of having John and Tessa stay with us, how they loved and encouraged us. I thanked God for His presence during the worship and especially the clear gospel message so richly preached by John. The Lord decked us with glorious gospel jewels! I thanked God for how you all served us as you worked together, cooking, serving tea and coffee, washing up, sweeping floors, putting out tables, watching children, talking to visitors etc. I thanked God that he blessed me with family and despite his efforts, Satan never robbed me of that joy. I thanked God that on top of all that I was off to a conference where God wants to strengthen and encourage me so that I can serve you better - which I really want to do. I thanked God that despite a few issues that cropped up in the morning, I left my wife and daughter in peace. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I thanked God for all His blessings, God established His peace and joy again in my heart.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How easily <i><u>all the blessings</u></i> mentioned above (and more besides) - could have been robbed by the thief! He tried to snatch them out of my hands but I held on! He may well be doing the same to you.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have I got what it takes to overcome? No and Yes! </span></span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is only as we stand our ground, resisting the devil that we find out how strong is the devil and our own natural rebelliousness. When we give in to negativity, defeat, dounbt, lies etc - we don't know how hard it is to overcome. Just as when you try to undo the lid of a jam jar; you put <i>all</i> your strength into it - finally, it pops off! But the person who had a quick, half-hearted try and gave up will never know how tight it was - how hard it was - but you do because you did it. But in reality, you did not use <i>all</i> your strength <i>because</i> you did it. Were it a little harder, you might still have done it. Of course we all have our limit, but when it comes to spiritual battle, we will never reach a limit because, at some point, God's strength kicks in! </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"When we reach the end </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>of our hoarded resources </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>the Father's full love's just begun!"</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where we end and He begins we cannot know. I suspect our strength ends and His begins much sooner than we imagine. But the flip side is, when we don't give in, we <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>realise how God's grace really is always sufficient for us to be overcomers, which is what we are saved to be! Saints! Set apart - different, persevering in the strength God gives. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you under attack?</span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So perhaps you too have been under attack. Yesterday God was at work to bless, encourage, strengthen and empower you because of His special love for you! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not because you (or I) are big shots, but (as John reminded us) because of His covenant with His Son, our Jesus! </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have been under attack it will most likely be in the realm of your thoughts that is where the battle is, </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"We demolish every <i>argument and pretension</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that sets itself up against the (true)</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">knowledge of God". </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">Have you been under spiritual attack? Perhaps it was an outright, obvious attack like mine? Usually it is more subtle, Satan the father of lies whispering in your ear, </span><i><span style="color: blue;">"none of this makes a difference", "Look at that hypocrite", "They're only serving because ..." , "they never normally come, they'll not be here next week", "It's all fake"</span></i><span style="color: #454545;">. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">Identifying the enemy</span></span></span></h3>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">Sometimes it is hard to tell If the criticism arises from the enemy within (a critical kind of spirit) or from demons whispering subtle lies in our ears. I'm no expert, but I think if we find these thoughts 'getting into our minds' <i>against our will</i>, (That is, we know they are wrong and try to resist them - but they keep coming), I suspect that to be a demonic spiritual attack. Satan and his demons don't want you to enjoy God's abundant grace in the midst of battle but God deos ... </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 23</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the midst of my enemies</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You prepare a table for me</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My cup overflows</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They don't want your eyes to be on Jesus and His truths, the ones that really matter, that edify both you and others. </span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, if you find yourself </span><i style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">defending</i><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> negative, critical thoughts, eg, saying to yourself, "but it is true, all those criticisms are valid because they are true facts!", I suspect it arises from your own critical spirit (even if it is true). Either way, it is going to strangle the spiritual life out of you. Some truths are not edifying or helpful to you or anyone else. Remember - we are not justified by a particular truth - we are justified by Jesus death on the cross. So even if something is true - it does not justify a critical spirit. We must recognise it, confess it to the Lord and repent, trusting His full forgiveness - walking in it - and He will help us overcome.</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Satan knows we are weak and vulnerable. He will attack each of us in whatever way he can. He will attack you - especially if you have influence. But God's grace is greater - and he wants to help us all overcome, and as Luther put it ... </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For us fights the proper man</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">whom God Himself hath bidden</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ask me "who is this same?"</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ Jesus is His name!</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him and no other one</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shall conquer in the battle!</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's each be repentant, and love one another more than ever, not less. Let's "fight the good fight of the faith!"</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under intense attack, God instructs us "Resist the devil and he will flee from you". He tempted Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days - Jesus resisted Him and Satan left Him. We may need to resist intense spiritual attack for a little while yet, but let's not give up - do not let Satan rob you of your crown or diminish it at all! He will leave us when he sees he cannot win.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are experiencing spiritual attack - tell a brother or sister who will help you, encourage you and pray for you.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-44760117870293315252016-10-25T03:24:00.001-07:002016-10-25T03:24:24.681-07:00Hope for this World?<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Introduction</span></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Many people, understandably are concerned for this world. It is a real mixture. On the one hand, we see the heights of nobility, goodness and love, but on the other, we see the depths of depravity, evil and unthinkable wickedness. Political movements want to save the world, save various species etc. There are ideologies that look forward to a utopia - a world that mankind achieves that is without suffering etc. Many people give their lives to this cause. What do the scriptures tell us?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Understanding 2 Peter 3:3-15. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">God's word could not be clearer. There is no hope of saving our world - God has already spoken. But that does not mean His people do not have a hope or purpose and mission - we do - the Apostle Peter spells it all out. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>God's Promise</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Basically, thousands of years ago, God judged this world by sending a devastating flood, saving His own people through Noah. He promised Noah and all subsequent mankind back then, never again will He destroy the earth with a flood and made the rainbow a reminder of that unbreakable promise. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Genesis 9</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>God's Judgment</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But He has also made it clear - <i><b>He will judge the earth again</b></i> - this time, not by water (As he has promised) - but <i><b>by fire</b></i>. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<i><span style="color: blue;">2 Peter 3:10</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." </i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">There is no man, no people, no army, no force or power, no movement of people - nothing that can save the world from this coming judgment of fire that will, once for all cleanse the earth of all wickedness, evil, sin, and rebellion against God.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>God's Patience Mercy</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The only reason He has not already judged the earth by fire, is because of His kind patience and love, to quote 2 Peter 3:9 </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">2 Peter 3:9</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Lord wants the maximum number of people to repent, turning to Jesus as King to be part of <i>His</i> new kingdom which <i>He</i> is establishing right now. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>God's Purpose for us now</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But what then is our purpose and mission in life? Peter tells us in the next verse ... </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<i><span style="color: blue;">2 Peter 3:11-13</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. </span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This tells us <i>how</i> we should live now, we should live <i>godly lives</i>. Jesus is our supreme example of a godly life, and He showed us that a Godly life is to live out the will of God in our lives and live to please God. Jesus said ... </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>John 4:34</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>John 6</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>John 8</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>A New Earth</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">But also - surprisingly - it tells us that we should actually “</span><span style="color: blue;"><i>look forward</i></span><span style="color: #1d2129;">” (2 Peter 3: 2) to this judgment! Why? Because it is only God's judgment that will bring an end to the misery, pain, suffering, destruction and abuse in this world that we long to see ended - and only then will the </span><span style="color: blue;"><i>new heavens and new earth</i></span><span style="color: #1d2129;"> be established, where </span><i><span style="color: blue;">righteousness dwells</span></i><span style="color: #1d2129;"> (Verse 13).</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I love the picture of the new heavens and new earth given in Revelation 21</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But back to 2 Peter 3 - he goes on to tell us … </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>Peace with God</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">2 Peter 3</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. </span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This tells us a number of key things we should now be concentrating on … </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1) We should first be <span style="color: blue;"><i>looking forward</i></span> to this '<span style="color: blue;"><i>new heavens and new earth</i></span>'. Our eye is not on this world - as long as this world endures, pain and misery, wickedness and evil will continue. But a better world is coming. And I want to be in that world to come forever. And I want my children and family there with me. By God’s grace I will be - I hope you will be too. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2) We must “<span style="color: blue;"><i>make every effort</i></span>” to be found “<span style="color: blue;"><i>spotless, blameless and at peace with Him</i></span>”. Two important points from this are (a) it requires <i><span style="color: blue;">every effort</span></i>. This means work, energy, time. “<span style="color: blue;"><i>Every effort</i></span>” is demanding. In other words, we should be devoted to this. Devoted to what exactly? (b) Being found <span style="color: blue;"><i>spotless and blameless and at Peace with Him</i></span>. This means, we are not trying to be <i>righteous in our own eyes,</i> that is, <i>self-righteous</i>, nor in the eyes of other people - that will make us people-pleasers. But we are to make every effort to be found spotless and blameless in <i>God’s</i> eyes. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ultimately, He is going to judge us all. His piercing eye sees everything that is hidden, even in the crevices of our imaginations - nothing at all is hidden from Him - and on the day of judgment, it is what He thinks of us that matters. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> What good is it to say on the day of judgment, “Well, although I am spending eternity in hell, at least I thought I was ok, and so did other people”. What we think of ourselves and what other people think of us will not matter at all on that day - all that will matter is what God thinks - how He judges us. And now is the time to <span style="color: blue;"><i>make every effort</i></span> to be found at “<span style="color: blue;"><i>peace</i></span>” with God. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The word <i><span style="color: blue;">Peace</span></i> here does not merely mean an inner feeling of peace, it is far more important than that. It is ‘<span style="color: blue;"><i>peace</i></span>’ as in ‘<i>peace and war</i>’. Basically - people are in rebellion against God - at war with Him - like two nations at war with each other. But the sides are not equal - at any moment, God could smite all His enemies. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>God's Patience revisited</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">2 Peter 3</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">A lot of people say, "but why doesn't God destroy all evil now?" This is a good question - but the answer cautions us. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
Whatever we think of ourselves and one another, Romans 3:10-18 reveals God's damning judgment on all mankind</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">10 As it is written:</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">“There is no one righteous, not even one;</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">11 there is no one who understands;</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;"> there is no one who seeks God.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">12 All have turned away,</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;"> they have together become worthless;</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">there is no one who does good,</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;"> not even one.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">13 “Their throats are open graves;</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;"> their tongues practice deceit.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">16 ruin and misery mark their ways,</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">17 and the way of peace they do not know.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="color: blue;">18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The ultimate evil is not child abuse, murder, rape, war etc - the ultimate evil is the ultimate crime against God Himself, that is the rejection of God as God of our lives - and by our actions, we have all committed this ultimate crime against God, countless times in countless ways. We say, "nobody is perfect' which is true - but it is just the same as saying "All are sinners". </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Why is it the ultimate crime so bad? It is because it is the crime of rejecting God that has opened the gate to all sin, misery, wickedness and evil in the world. Had we not committed that one crime - there would be no suffering, pain, misery, wickedness and evil. But we have all - to a man committed this crime - we are all guilty before God.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">All that is to say - if God destroys all evil now - He would have to destroy us all.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
But<i><span style="color: blue;"> Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation; </span></i>He is <span style="color: blue;"><i>patient</i></span> - <i><span style="color: blue;">not wanting any to perish</span></i> (2 Peter 3:9). When He judges, He effectively ends His patience and wars against His enemies. Now is the time for us to make peace with Him, that is, find the <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">salvation </span>God wants for us all. But we must <i><span style="color: blue;">make every effort</span></i> to make <span style="color: blue;"><i>peace with God </i></span>before the judgment comes. That is what these verses are telling us.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>Conclusion</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
So God is being patient right now - not judging us right now - so that we might be saved. In other words, this world cannot be saved - <i>but we can</i>. This world will be destroyed and a new earth will be established - but only those who are saved will live forever on it. The reason you live and have not been destroyed already is because God wants you to make your peace with Him and be saved. He wants this more than you can know - that is why He sent Jesus into the world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i>John 3:16-18</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.</i></span> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Want to know more, message or phone me - I’d love to share and help you understand the good news of the gospel.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-88478393545396078902016-10-21T06:10:00.002-07:002016-10-21T06:10:51.488-07:00Spiritual Gifts 101 #3 <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Weighing and Testing</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Remember the verse from the last blog? </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 Thessalonians 5</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">19 "Do not quench the spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecy with contempt 21 but test them all. Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil."</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Below I have attempted to weigh the prophetic elements of last Sunday’s service. My hope is that as you read, it will give you an idea of how we go about weighing / testing prophecy.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<b>What does that mean?</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">However, a quick definition of terms is in order. The definitions are more for our working purposes at this point, rather than technical, biblical definitions - important as they are.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">By ‘Prophecy’ I mean to use the term in its broadest sense. So for our purposes, the term ‘prophecy’ includes all the following … </span></div>
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The verbal articulation of an impression of what a believer feels convicted, that God is saying, to the church for the churches edification. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">It is a message to the Church from God - but could be for an individual within the church. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">(1 Corinthians 12: </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">26<b> </b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.) </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">It follows that if one part is edified, the every part is edified. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">It needs to be weighed because it may or may not be of the Lord or may be a mixture.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">By ‘Prophesy’ (Spelt with an ’s’ instead of a ‘c’) I mean the actual act of <i>bringing the</i> ‘prophecy’, the person is ‘prophesying’. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is important to understand, the we say a person is ‘prophesying’, we are saying, the person is <i>acting in faith</i> in bringing what s/he believes to be a message from God, impressed upon them by the Holy Spirit. We are not saying that their actual prophesying is God speaking, but the person is articulating as best they can what they believe the Lord has impressed upon them for the churches encouragement, and so they are submitting it to the church to be tested / weighed.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span>Context and Flow</span></b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Point 1</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is important to see prophecy in the context within which it was given. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So it is good to consider, what is the general flow of the service? What was the preach on? Does the prophesy encourage in that direction? Or is the prophecy completely disconnect from the whole service - a curve ball - distraction? It is less likely to be of the Lord if it seems to be a distraction from what was preached.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, in light of the above we should bear in mind the following ...</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The service on the whole, was an expression of ...</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">A desire to see God at working in greater measure during our time together, both during the service and in the future.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">A desire to open our hearts to hear anything God wants to say to us</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">A desire to open our hearts for God to work in us in any way he pleases.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Trust in God as our loving father. This is important because it expresses a child-like trust, one that says, </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>"Lord we know we are vulnerable in this, but it is to you we want to be vulnerable and so we are trusting that as we do so, you will protect us, guide us and do us good.”</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> In other words, we are trusting in God's character, as Jesus Himself said, "</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Which of you father's, if your child asks for an egg will give them a scorpion?</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">” We know that if we are asking our Father for good, He will not do us bad. As we make ourselves vulnerable to God our Father, He will not say, "</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Oh you suckers, now you have become vulnerable to me and are relying on me to be faithful and protect you and do you good, I will let Satan come and deceive you and let you think it is me</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">". We trust Him, He will not do that.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That all means, even if we got lots of details wrong (and I am conscious of some things), essentially - what happened was an act of genuine faith and trust in God - and Jesus loves that. But that is why we test and weigh it. Not because we are suspiscious, cynical and critical, but because we know Jesus loves it when we act in faith and He often responds - but we also know details etc could be wrong, so we just want to spit out any bones. So we can affirm God’s pleasure in His church in stepping out in faith for Jesus’ sake and the good of the church, but recognising our fallibility we test and weigh. It is all good so far!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Point 2</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The four sub-points under Point 1 above are good. But, if we are to not quench the spirit, we must (a) not despise what happened, (b) we must test it </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">all</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> (c) we must hold on to what is good and (d) reject what is evil. I think we can add to that (e) ignore what is neither good nor bad - just a bit of man’s thoughts getting mixed up in it all.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, however we felt about the service, 'if we liked it or not' is not so important, but ‘what we do’ following the service is important.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Below I have tried to tease out the actual core - the things I think we can all heartily agree on, that is the main things. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Also you will see, not only the actual prophecy is being weighed - but all contributions - since I’m sure all who contributed felt compelled by Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There were four particular elements I felt came out of the service.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Grenville’s message: God expresses His love to us by giving gifts and abilities. He gives us these gifts and abilities so that we can use them, to express God’s love through us, to one another, in order to edify the church. It is wrong to use gifts for self edification and it is wrong to not use the gifts he has given to edify others because we are shy or cannot be bothered etc. We can use the word ‘gifts’ but in reality they are more like ‘tools for the trade’ - the trade being, edifying one another. They are given to us to use for His purposes. They are not like gifts we give at Christmas - where the gift is given, not only to, but also for the person we give the gift to. They are more like tools given to get a job done. This we can and should take to heart.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Hannah’s testimony: Hannah encouraged the church with a personal testimony. She told us how God used someone in the church to speak into a specific situation in her life, and how it was definitely from God and she really needed to hear it. She wanted to encourage people that if they think God may have given them a word for someone in the church, to be bold and go for it. Hannah’s exhortation was ‘Be bold, be courageous, take those steps of faith, take a risk - don’t let the opportunity pass you by, the Lord will use us to edify one another in remarkable ways and it can make a real difference to people. Without question, we can take to heart that we should be willing to take steps of faith to edify one another - stepping out of our comfort zone and acting in faith and with a clear conscience for the common good. This will mean different things for different people. And it is in keeping with what Grenville brought to us.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Dave’s prophetic word: </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>“The Lord says; “What do you want me to do for you, ask and I will do it”</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. This was brought as a prophecy. Which again is consistent with Grenville’s message and Hannah’s encouragment. The prophecy itself is consistent with Bible verses such as Matthew 7:7 “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>Ask and you will receive</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">”. However, there are many other verses that modify this verse. So just as we would with Matthew 7 - we want to allow God’s wider word inform our understanding. Clearly, the Lord does not give us all our ‘</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>wants</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">’. But often, as James tells us “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>You don’t have </i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff; text-decoration: underline;"><i>because</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i> you don’t ask God</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">’ (James 4:2). So we can certainly take this as a timely exhortation from the Lord to get asking for the things we really want - the deep, enduring and godly desires of our heart. Since this was addressed to the church, we should ask, ‘what is it the church wants?’ Now we are all aware of a very current issue for us as a church - that is our concern for our future. And we have <i>all</i> expressed a desire, a want, to see the church continue and not close. It would seem to me, the Lord is encouraging us to ask Him. Tell Him - we want this church to continue. He wants us to be <i>asking Him</i>. Don’t just <i>want</i> the church to continue - ask God for what we want. Wouldn’t it be terrible if the church closed even though we wanted it to continue, planned for it etc. Then imagine that God told us when we finally see Him, “I know you wanted the church to continue, you worked harder than ever, made and carried out plans, asked churches for money - but you never actually asked me. “Lord, please make the Church continue, please provide all we need, please sustain us. One or two of you did - but not the whole church”. So, let’s reply to the Lord’s question by saying, “we want you to provide all we need to continue”. And tell Him what those things are. Now I don’t want to limit Dave’s prophecy to that, but since it was given to ‘the church’ and not an individual, this is the one thing right now ‘the church wants’. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Jade’s exhortation </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>“Posture is important. I believe the Lord would have us get on our knees and pray”</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. This exhortation seems to challenge us to reflect on our praying, to consider the urgency of our situation - now is not the time for being reserved and conservative - but to cry out to God - to throw ourselves upon Him. To overcome pride etc and humble ourselves before Him. To get down on our knees. We will do that for what we really want, for what is really important to us. And since we know the Church is really important to God - it seems fitting that we acquire the kind of posture in our praying at this time. This seems to fit with all the above. It tells us how God wants to ask. Earnestly. Seriously. Passionately. He wants us to really want it so that we are driven to our knees. It reminds me of the famous prayer of the great Scottish preacher John Knox, “Lord, Give me Scotland or I die!” Let’s lay hold of God. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">George exhorted us to read a specific book in light of her experience at Soul Survivor. She expressed that she feels we are too minimalistic. Without wanting to read too much into it, there is a positive and a negative exhortation in what George said - something to do and something not to do. ‘’<i>Do</i> read’ and ‘<i>Do not</i> be minimalistic’. Of course, the real issue is ‘Does the Lord want us to read that book?’ and ‘Was George serving the Lord in telling us we are minimalistic and that it is a problem?’ Or is that just George’s perspective.?</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So I have cannot say I have any conviction from God to read the book - perhaps he does and perhaps I will see that when I read it - I certainly intend to read it just because George is raving about it - it sounds like a good book. That we are too minimalistic - I can certainly see what George sees there - but that does not mean it is God’s view. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">However - remember, we must see what good there is and hold on to it - and I think there is good for us.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As I have prayed and examined what George said, I would say - let’s hear George’s heart behind the words - I think there we will hear God’s heart too.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">George clearly experienced something of a personal revival at Soul Survivor (Which I can testify to). Now she wants others to experience personal revival. George has been stirred by God and wants others to be stirred too. And God did not re-invigorate Georges faith for her to keep to herself - but God wants George’s fire to spread. Her desire is that we read the book in the hope we will be encouraged and instructed as she has been. It seems to me her heart is that we all experience spiritual renewal, personal spiritual revival - which I believe is also the heart of God.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">However, she knows we won’t even bother reading the book if we are minimalistic. Whatever the case, it is true that if we are minimalistic in our faith - we must repent. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Consider Paul’s similar exhortation: </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>Romans 12:</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b><i>11 </i></b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> We must take responsibility to do the things that will fan into flame our love and passion for God and His church. The book George suggests may well help. But it is not a magic wand - we must continually pour upon the flickering wick of our faith the combustive fuel that God provides through His servants, within New Life but also others too, like George Verwer who you all missed :-( </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To this end I have heard several people speak of feeling ‘weary’. But the scriptures tell us “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"><i>Do not grow weary</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">”. We are weary when we fail to maintain our zeal and fervour in the Lord. The `lord is always willing to energise and strengthen us, and He always makes provision for us - it is we who fail to avail ourselves of God’s provision to energise and strengthen us. If we are minimalistic and want God to do it for us while we are passive. We must repent. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">All the above from Grenville, and the other contributions are at least consistent with Revelation 3 - the Lord’s words to the church in Sardis which I find to be striking for us … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>2 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The rest of the verse is negative and I don’t want to apply it to us as it may not be appropriate. But I would say that, if all the above is correct, then there is positive Change the Lord is speaking to us about. In terms of stepping out in faith in acts of love and service. In terms of praying and actually asking God for this Church. In terms of being passionate, earnest, relentless about it - getting on our knees. In terms off ‘shake off any minimalism, passivity, spiritual slumber - be ‘go-getters’ - reading the book, getting to see the George Verwers. The Lord wants us to be that kind of people - which we can be excited about - it is a good plan He has for us. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If that is all the kind of stuff the Lord is after - if my ‘weighing’ is on track with God, then to fail to do those things, to fall short of them would mean the negative elements of the verse above would apply … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But, rather than ‘fall short’, let’s do the exact opposite and ‘excel’. Let’s love more than is required, give more than is required, pray more and more earnestly than is required, do more than the minimum to maintain our zeal. Let’s excel.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What about you?</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The exhortation to weigh and test prophecy is given to the Church - not just the Church leader. Where do you think I have missed something the Lord is saying, where do you think I have interpreted incorrectly and why? What would you affirm? What would you add? What would you take away?</span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-63563830865573145102016-10-20T12:10:00.004-07:002016-10-20T12:10:33.685-07:00Spiritual Gifts 101 #2<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Last Sunday</b> <b>16th October</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I wanted to comment on the service yesterday because, apart from anything else, it was, (a) unconventional as our services go and (b) included some prophetic words and the exercise of spiritual gifts - which demand comment.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Second I’d like to make a personal comment.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Regarding being unconventional, perhaps like me, you prefer conventional. Personally I really don't like anything I cannot see is explicitly biblical, and I was a bit uncomfortable with how the service went - perhaps you feel the same? Or maybe you really appreciated the sense of freedom and openness? Perhaps you really felt that God is among us and we are ‘getting real’ with God? How we feel is not unimportant, but there are certainly more important things. Eg, never mind if Julian is pleased, are we pleasing the Lord? Wherever you are on that scale, I want to reassure and encourage us all in what follows. I hope that what I write will be helpful to us all.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There are three responses we can have to the Sunday’s service.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">RESPONSES</span></div>
<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“What a load of rubbish - let’s hope that doesn’t happen again - I really didn’t like that”.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“That was wonderful - at last we are moving in the Spirit! God was at work!”</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">We virtually ignore it.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">None of those responses would be quite right. Certainly, alone they will quench the Holy Spirit. Paul’s instruction makes this point clear and gives us specific instruction on how we should respond … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1 Thessalonians 5</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>19</b> "Do not quench the spirit. <b>20</b> Do not treat prophecy with contempt 21 but test them all. Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil."</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There are five imperatives (commands) listed in that verse … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">1) </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff;">Do not quench the Spirit.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This means we <i>can</i> quench the Spirit - and if we do not want to, we must obey what follows, and to disobey what follows will result in quenching the Spirit.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2) Do not treat prophecy with contempt.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Remember, Paul is writing to a church. This suggests that prophecy was taking place in the church and at least some people didn’t like it, they were dismissive, contemptuous of it. So Paul corrects this attitude “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Do not treat prophecy with contempt</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">”. We will quench the Spirit if we allow such attitudes to prevail - therefore we must resist that temptation or repent if necessary. This shows us that RESPONSE 1 above is wrong.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">3) Test them all!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This tells us, we will quench the spirit if we allow people to prophesy but fail to ‘</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">test them all</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">’. Sadly, where prophecy is practised, it is seldom tested. We must not just ‘accept it’. Prophecy should be scrutinised and weighed. This shows us RESPONSE 2 above is naive and presumptuous. It may have been good and of the Lord - but we don’t declare the results of the test before we have carried out the test - that is presumptuous. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">4) Hold on to what is good</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This means, do not throw the baby out with the bath-water. That is, if while testing prophecy we find stuff that is clearly not of the Lord - or inconsequential - still we should not reject the whole thing. The implication is, that there is likely some good in it somewhere. This shouldn’t surprise us when contributions are born out of a desire to love and serve the church and God. We should look for any good and grab hold of it and hold onto it. Not forgetting it, not letting it go.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">5) Reject every kind of evil</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This means that in any prophecy - or anything else that is allegedly ‘of God’, there is the potential for evil to be in it. Any evil must be identified and outright rejected. However, it is also obvious that it is not just a question of good and evil. Imagine that pure good is ‘white’ and pure evil (you know what I mean) is black. In a prophecy, there could be both - not to mention ‘grey’ - stuff that is not evil - but also is not of the Lord - a bit of human ideas mixed in. Again, this is why prophecy etc must be tested. I suggest, though, that our expectation is that any prophecy a church member might bring is not likely to be ‘evil’.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If the above is true - whatever was or was not of God in the service yesterday will not quench the Spirit - but failure to reflect on it in a biblical way will quench the Spirit - and I don’t want to do that. In my next blog on ‘The Gifts of the Spirit, we’ll test/weigh the prophecy.</span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-52760661978134548272016-10-20T08:44:00.000-07:002016-10-20T08:45:05.561-07:00New Life Brighton - Hot, Cold, Lukewarm? #1<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Dear brothers and sisters,</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Point 1 - Our situation</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As a church, you will now be aware, we are in a ‘sticky’ situation to say the least. If all continues as things are, the church will close in less than six months because we will have run out of money.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Point 2 - Jesus is with us</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>However, there is every reason to believe</i></b> the Lord is, absolutely, 100% with us … </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Conversions</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">A genuine sense of His presence during Sunday services</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Additions to the church (Bob and Lou, Most recently Mary (if she continues with us - for our encouragement, she text me the Sunday before last saying … “Hello Pastor, I am going to London today so will not be at Church. I had an amazing time last Sunday. Stay blessed.”)) </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">A will from other churches to support us. Eg, I got an email from Jon Hobbs at Grace Community Church, telling us how encouraged they were to hear most recently about how the Lord has worked, and that they will be increasing their support of us from next Sept from 2k to 3k per year, and that they may be able to do more as they grow, but cannot commit to more at the present time. The subtext here is, “we believe God is with you, we recognise the huge value of NLC and we are rooting for you and want to do what we can to help!”</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Two members from Grace Church have also volunteered to serve us when John Gillespie comes. Again, a tangible expression of God being with us.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">More could be said - the point is, Jesus unquestionably loves us and values our church. He has no desire to close us down at all. He has plans and a future for us without doubt. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Therefore … with all that follows, please take hold of, and do not let go of the unshakeable truth, Jesus is with us, is for us and has a glorious future for us.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Point 3 - Money is not our problem</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>However, we have every reason to believe</i></b> that Jesus is not in a flap because he doesn’t have any money left for us. If Jesus cannot raise the funds we need to save the church - He really is not much of a Saviour - in fact, if that were the case - He is no Saviour! Money may be Hi mechanism for closing us, but it is not the reason.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Point 4 - ‘<i>Something</i>’ needs to change.</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Therefore, we have good reason to believe that, if we do run out of money, it is because Jesus has chosen to shut us down. He wasn’t trying to save us because He thinks we are worthwhile but couldn’t. Jesus does not fail - ever. We can all see Jesus’ proverbial writing on the wall, in our plain sight which reads, “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">You have 5-6 months, and if ‘<b><i>something</i></b>’ does not change, I will shut you down</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">”. That much we know.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Perhaps the ‘<b><i>something</i></b>’ that changes is, a sudden influx of external financial donors that meets our financial deficit. That would certainly cause the writing on the wall to disappear. Or perhaps the ‘<b><i>something</i></b>’ that changes is something to do with our church - perhaps we just need to change our strategy? Or perhaps the ‘<b><i>something</i></b>’ is that there is an Achan in the church (Joshua 7), and the ‘<b><i>something</i></b>’ that changes is that the ‘Achan' repents, or the Lord exposes their sin so that we put them out of the church. Or perhaps the ‘<b><i>something</i></b>’ that changes is something about us as a church - a lukewarmness is changed to a ‘hotness’.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The question for us is, “What is the ‘something’ that needs to change?” If nothing changes, we will close. Is the ‘something’, something to do with us as a church or is it something else? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-62113295561303314962016-10-18T10:43:00.002-07:002016-10-18T11:00:09.021-07:00Facing the Unthinkable<div style="font-family: arial; line-height: normal;">
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">It is highly likely that New Life Church will die within the next six months. It is likely, but it is not a foregone conclusion. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">It is really important that as you read below, you adopt a humble, non-defensive attitude. Please remember - the Lord holds leaders and teachers in the church more accountable - so I will be diligently going through this myself. Our aim is that, if the Lord has something against us - that He would show us and bring us to repentance and the church be saved and more alive than ever. There is no other motivation, no condemnation, no finger pointing, but a deep concern for our little church. I want us to be a tough, loving, faithful, faith-filled and humble little church - that grows.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The church is in a critical state. It is running out of money. However, as I have said before I repeat - if the church dies, it is not because Jesus couldn't get any more money for us. What kind of a Lord and Saviour would that make Him? Whatever the reason - we must all be settled in our mind - money may be the Lord's mechanism for closing the church - it is definitely not the reason.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Secondly, we must be clear, if the church dies - it is the Lord who has closed it. Jesus created the church, He sustains the church. If He determines the church will continue - the gates of hell cannot stand against it. If He chooses to close it - no-one can keep it open. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Churches close because of intense persecution (In Syria churches have been obliterated). But that is not our problem. Churches close because populations move away. We are surrounded by 10,000 people - that is certainly not our problem.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The only other reasons for closure the Lord gives in the scriptures are significant faults within the church. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">There may be other reasons for church closure other than a fault in the church - but if there are - the Lord has not revealed them to us. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> Therefore, we must face the unthinkable. It is possible that I, Julian are the Achan in the camp (Joshua 7-9). If I am, I really want to know and repent. Maybe you are. Or maybe we all, to some degree are. We must face the unthinkable. I could be the reason - part of the reason the church is closing". Only if we humble ourselves and genuinely accept the possibility (that only pride would prevent) that we are the problem, can we receive from the Lord, repent and be restored.</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Please prayerfully consider Jesus words to churches threatened with closure below, asking the Lord to show you if it applies to you or us as a church.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Revelation 2</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>4 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>5 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Jesus has much to praise the church in Ephesus for, but for all their good - and there is much good - it is sunk by thier loss of love. And this is as much about love for brothers and sisters within the local church as for God Himself.</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Consider - do you love your brothers and sisters more now than ever before? If your answer is 'yes', then answer this ... How is that love expressed in your words, your time and your money, your actions? Get concrete about this. Love is active. If you answer 'no', then will you repent?</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Do you think the church has grown in love? The Lord's problem with the Church in Ephesus was not with one or two individuals - but with many in the church - so that the church was characterised by a growing coldness of heart toward God and each other. Is this the case for us? What do you think?</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Revelation 3</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2 I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>2 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>3 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Imagine I interviewed people who know of our church - people you know and I know, from outside of our church and asked -"what is New Life Church like? Is it a good church? What is good about them? What is not so good?" What do you think their answers would be? That is our reputation. But now imagine I interviewed God and asked Him what He thinks of us. Do you think his report would match our reputation? The question here is, are we a fake church. Look good to others - but God sees something different?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">What about for yourself. What do you think others in the church think of you? Do you have a reputation for being spiritually alive? What would the report of others say about you? Your integrity, your love for God and others, your diligence, your sacrificial love etc? Imagine I then interview God about you - would His report match your reputation? </span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Do you / we as a church. need to 'wake up!" Do we need to 'repent of deadness' and strengthen what remains?'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Revelation 3</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>15 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>16 </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;">Do you think that in reality, you are luke warm as a Christian? Or are you on fire for God? What would your spouse say about you? What do you think others would think you are most passionate about? Would they need to think about it? Is it possible they could get it wrong? Or would they answer in a heartbeat "they are passionate about Jesus and His church". </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;">What about the Church - do you think we are / have been lukewarm? If the church is lukewarm, that is because the members are lukewarm. Do we need to repent?</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;">Please be prayerful about this. If we all conclude that we can have a clear conscience before the Lord, then we have self-examined ourselves, trusting the Spirit to convict us and bring us to repentance. Then we can move on. If after self-examination we conclude we need to repent - then we can do that - and move on in confident faith. But we must not leave this out.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Remember also, the Lord loves us with an everlasting love. The Lord wrote to the churches in Revelation because of His great love for them. As we consider them for ourselves, we must keep in mind His great love for us. Jesus is rooting for our church!</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-small;">Thank you all so much for your grace and willingness to face the unthinkable.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5314458086922375889.post-56548666286389518442016-10-17T09:56:00.002-07:002016-10-18T06:59:28.479-07:00Spiritual Gifts 101 #1<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Spiritual Gifts #1</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">During our Sunday gathering (Church) one of our leaders, Grenville preached on the gifts of the Spirit. The sermon was followed by an opportunity for people to respond - and people did respond. It was encouraging to see people wanting to encourage one another! There seemed to be a recognition that we all ought to use our gifts for the common good more than we do.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">However, this is fairly new territory for us, and there is a great deal of confusion surrounding spiritual gifts - hence, I decided to do a series of blogs on the subject to help bring clarity. There are two important elements to consider ...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">1) The main thrust, emphasis and teaching of the Bible on the subject</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2) How the local church handles and manages those things practically.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">For example, the Bible teaches that prophecy must be weighed and tested - but it does not tell us how. There for, that we must weigh and test prophecy is clear, but we as a local church must work out 'how' to do that. It is for leadership to decide under God what the 'house rule' (The way we do things) are to be. We will get to (2) above in a future blog.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>What are Spiritual Gifts?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Spiritual gifts are given specifically by the Holy Spirit to a Christian so that the Christian can more effectively serve the church by building up believers. However, it is important from the outset to bring into focus natural gifts. Natural gifts are gifts we have naturally - that is, gifts we had before we were Christians. God wants us to use those gifts to build up the church too.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Spiritual vs Natural gifts</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The term 'spiritual' has an air of superiority about it compared with 'natural'. People often think spiritual gifts are superior to natural gifts. However, that is not true. In fact, there is clear overlap. Consider the gifts listed in the following verse ...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Romans 12</span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>7 </b>if it is <i>serving</i>, then serve; if it is <i>teaching</i>, then teach; <b>8 </b>if it is to <i>encourage</i>, then give encouragement; if it is <i>giving</i>, then give generously; if it is to <i>lead</i>, do it diligently; if it is to show <i>mercy</i>, do it cheerfully.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Are those gifts spiritual or natural? The answer is, they could be either. There are many unbelievers who are naturally servant-hearted. I have an aunt who is not a Christian, but she loves to have people in her home, she will spend a whole day cooking in prep. Then she loves to treat people really well. She is naturally gifted with a servant heart and hospitality. The same is true for all the other gifts. eg, you may remember particularly gifted school teachers. They may have been gifted teachers or leaders and encouragers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If those people become Christians, they can then use those gifts in God's strength, empowered by the Spirit for God's purposes. Like King David who transferred His skills as a shepherd protecting his flock from lions and bears to slaying Goliath for God!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">On the other hand, they can all be spiritual gifts. An unbeliever may not be a natural leader, but then after conversion, he finds a passion, fire and desire to see a church make progress, as he gives himself to the task he finds he is able to enthuse and lead others. His is a spiritual gift of leadership. The same can be said for all those other gifts.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">However, it is important to underline that, when we speak of spiritual gifts and natural gifts, we don't mean 'spiritual' gifts and 'unspiritual' gifts. We simply mean, one is given post-conversion by God's spirit, the other is given naturally </span>from birth, and we naturally begin exercising it as we grow. But notice, the difference and emphasis, is on the giver and the time of giving of the gift. One is of the spirit and is given subsequent to faith, the other is given by God before we come to faith, but in practice, they may be exactly the same. A spiritual gift, is a gift given specifically by the Spirit to a Christian to build up the church. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Then there are spiritual gifts that are exclusive to Christians. Eg, prophecy, tongues and faith (in Jesus).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">But the distinctions between natural, spiritual and exclusively Christian gifts are not important. What is important is that they are all used in the strength of God for the edification of the church.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Objection</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If it is true that natural gifts are as important as spiritual gifts, why does Paul exhort us '</span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-kerning: none;">eagerly desire the spiritual gifts</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">' (1 Corinthians 14:1). 'Spiritual gifts' are <i>in addition</i> to our natural gifts. We already have all our natural gifts - there is no need to desire or ask for what we already have - but spiritual gifts are gifts we don't naturally have, so we should desire them as they will help us build up the church - in addition to the gifts we already have. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Some important bullet points ... </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> • All spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the church and its members</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> • Edification means, building up, strengthening, encouraging (encourage means ‘to give courage / strength to’), for the good of the church (the common good, 1 Corinthians 12:7) and God’s purposes.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> • The lists of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 1:6-8, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:10,11 are not at all exhaustive, they are examples of the more obvious, spiritual / common gifts. The Lord can give any gift he chooses.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"> • </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The ‘gifts’ are in fact, expressions of God’s grace, given to us, that we might express that grace to others. <i style="color: #0433ff;">(1 Peter 4:10</i><b style="color: #0433ff;"><i> </i></b><i style="color: #0433ff;">Each of you should use whatever gift you have received </i></span><span style="color: #0433ff; text-decoration: underline;"><i>to serve others</i></span><span style="color: #0433ff;"><i>, as faithful </i></span><span style="color: #0433ff; text-decoration: underline;"><i>stewards of God’s grace</i></span><span style="color: #0433ff;"><i> in its various forms.)</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>The Corinthian Trap</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We read more about spiritual gifts in Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 12-14) than anywhere else. But the reason is because the church at Corinth was abusing the gifts. Paul writes to instruct and correct, their abuse. The church in Corinth was mad on tongues. To them, it seems to have been a badge of honour they used to show off how spiritual they are.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To correct this abuse Paul tells them that, in fact, tongues are the least of the gifts. This was a direct punch on the nose of their boasting. So they are not so spiritual after all! Paul tells them that the person who prophesies is greater because prophecy builds others up rather than just self. In other words, prophecy is about serving others. It is not a status symbol. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Another possible motive of Paul's may be that a person with the gift of tongues can speak in tongues at will, but a person cannot authentically prophesy at will. If they would pursue prophecy, the church would be built up and there would not be such an over-use of the gift. It is sad then, that some people pursue prophecy because they want to be great! Their real motive is not to prophesy to build up the church, but to prophecy to build up their own status for their own pleasure! They want to be someone important. This is a wrong motive. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0433ff; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">James 4 <b>3 </b>When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The result of such a motive will be a 'no' from God at best, worse, inauthentic and carnal prophesying, at worst - outright false prophesying.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The important thing to learn from all this is to be humble. Be a genuine servant. Always seek the good of others. If you are already a servant and so humbly serving others, to build them up, and praying about how you can serve more effectively to do even more people, even more good, then ask God to give gifts to help you help others - He is likely to say ‘yes'.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>The most important thing</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So remember, God has already given you gifts, natural ones - use them. You don't need to worry about what they are or if you can name them - that is not important. What is important is to give yourself fully as a servant, serving to build others up in love. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As a servant, wouldn't you love to be able to serve your brothers and sisters even more effectively? Then ask God for the necessary gifts to do so. But watch out for that wretched pride, remember, gifts are not given by God to catapult us to celebrity status. Crush that desire under foot. Ask God to help you repent if that motive keeps creeping into your praying. It may help to repent if you keep telling yourself, "That motive, of pride, is destroying my chances of serving God more effectively". </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">So in conclusion, first be a servant, then ask God to help you serve by giving you the necessary gifts required for the common good of the church.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36px; text-indent: -36px;">
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
pastor.blogspothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06672542471326569303noreply@blogger.com0