Have reproduced last Sunday's sermon notes, mostly unedited.  Went home, typed it up and looked up the biblical references.  The choice of versions was mostly my personal preference though Pastor Josh did refer once to Living Translation.

13 July 2008 (Sunday - 3^rd service)

Pastor Joshua

 

Christianity is not about shunning evil and doing good; it’s about receiving the life of Christ.

When you want to be a better person, you put yourself under the knowledge of good and evil – it’s very subtle.  Understand that in your flesh dwells no good thing.

We have a choice everyday – to eat from the knowledge of good and evil or from the tree of life.

Satan’s hangout place is in the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Where are you eating your fruit from?

Romans 7:12 – 8:4 (NLT)

But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.

 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.  I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

  I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Romans 8

  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

The law is proclaiming that you can’t do it.

When you will to do good, in your strength, you can’t.

When you are angry, you are mentally insane for a few minutes.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

God can use a cracked vessel.  You don’t need to have it altogether before God can use you.  His power is made perfect in weakness.

Many times we try to overcome our weakness by doing good.  But this approach is wrong, it should be by His life. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT))

 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 When you acknowledge you are weak in yourself, “for when I am weak, then He is strong” (God’s power shows up best when you are weak and not full of yourself)

When you see flesh, don’t react with flesh (or you’ll get more flesh)

See people as “under construction” Main contractor -God; Subcontractor – Holy Spirit

We are also “under construction”

Hebrews 10:15-23 (NKJV)

But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

   
 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.3 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

The “help” is not in knowing.  It’s not in knowing you’re forgiven.. (this is head knowledge); it’s about going to Jesus.  From Him will come your strength and life.

Boldness to enter into His presence

Even the most demon possessed man (ref “Legion”) had a will.  Use your will to run to Jesus.  (You cannot overcome sin by your will  - ref Romans 7 above)

God is the one who increases strength in us.

Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.  (the reverse is also true: quick to anger, quick to speak, slow to hear)

The choice is not the things we do with our good intentions, it is to choose Jesus.

Eg. When we are angry, it is not in counting to 10, it is in going to Him, “Jesus, You are my patience”

We were blessed with Terry Mize as our guest speaker in our church yesterday. 3 points in the message that got me thinking.  Terry Mize was preaching on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. 

Matthew 16:13-17

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"  

(God isn't interested about who other people say He is.  He is more interested in how we see Him. Because His power in our lives rest on how we see Him.  If we see Him as our healer, He is our healer.  When we see Him as provider, El-Shaddai, the all abundant One,  He is able to the abundant blessings in our lives.  When we see Him as our righteousness,then He is that to us.  Our perception of God determines our response and the manifestation of His power in our lives.)

 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

John 6:5-9

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, hesaid to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Jesus has been telling people about God, about Himself, the Son of God.  And He asked Philip this question and Philip's response was a very natural one - he checked the money bag. 

When God asks you to do something, do you check your bag or do you look to God?

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Terry Mize made an interesting and (tome), a painful observation.  He said that if Jesus had asked anathetist, how should we feed these people?  Well, the athetist would reasonably reply, "it depends on how much you've got to pay for the food." 

It is reasonable response from an athetist.  But for a disciple of Jesus to respond the same way...

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

1.  Don't look into the bag!

Encouraging for me.  My pastors included a stutterer, a bankrupt and analmost school dropout.  I ran away from the calling on my life 'cos I thought I sucked at what I did.  The thing about God is He wants us to take that step of faith and believe Him rather than our own eyes.  Rely on Him rather than our own talents.  Depend on Him rather than on wha twe have.

2.  Who do you say I am?

I've seen God as Abba, Jesus as my friend and Beloved.  I've confessed that He is my righteousness.  I've taken the Holy Communion and remembered the finished work on the cross; that He is my healer.

But He is EVERYTHING isn't He?  (To live IS Christ!) God introduced Himself to Moses as I AM.  Basically, that's like a blank cheque. I AM your Healer, Provider, Teacher, Friend, Father, Spouse, Righteousness, Wisdom, Redemption, Sanctification, Sacrifice.. Reminds me of Ephesians 3:20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

3.  Are you responding like an athetist?

Man, that was THE question to ask.  To me, it struck a chord.  What'sthe main difference between a believer and an athetist?  It's that Ihave accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.  So am I behaving like I am orphaned?

I recall the song "We exult thee We exult thee We exult thee O Lord"and Pastor telling us, "We don't have to make God big, He's very big already.  It is about us making Him big in our lives."  So this song to me, is an invitation, a plea...Lord I exult You in my life.  Be lifted in my life.  I see You in my Life.  You are in my life.  O Lord, be magnified in my life.

We are children of the most High, beloved of the Lord, whom God has chosen... He has created us, fearfully and wonderfully and when He wentto the cross, He saw me and counted it as joy.. my name is inscribed inthe palm of His hands...

When Terry Mize posed that question, in light of all I know about whatJesus has done for me, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.  It was as if I've slapped the hand that stoop to help me and behaved like a beggar child throwing a pity party when God gave everything for me.

But you know what, even when I blame myself and my 'weakness', myFather does not respond like me.  When I am faithless, He remains faithful.  He comes down to my level and comfort me.  Like a wailing child that cannot see reason, He may be exasperated but is infinitely patient with me.  Love's like that.  Takes your nonsense and still remains.

Love you Jesus. :)

You're faced with a decision and you don't know what to do.  You prayed. But the skies have not opened, and God's voice is not heard.  You keep very quiet.  Nope, no still silent voice either.  So you made your decision and hoped for the best.

Few weeks, months, years later, you realised things did not turn out as you hoped, expected, desired.  And you think to yourself, "I must have missed God then.  If only I had..."

What does the bible say about hearing God's voice?


The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice... My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  (John 10:3,4,27)

Two interesting observations:-

i)  We determine whether we heard God's voice by the results of our actions.  It is an indication, not that we did not hear Him, but that we have not obeyed.  He speaks though the Word, in the service, through Godly counsel.  And you'll know that it is Him speaking to you because when it is an external voice regardless of source, your spirit, which is one with the Holy Spirit, will bear witness.

ii)  Sometimes, God lets us choose.  Challenges does not mean that we are out of God's will but an opportunity to rely on Him.

Regardless, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28)

I liked an illustration that Philip Yancey used in his book of an amateur playing chess against an expert.  The amateur can make any moves that he wants.  He has free choice.  Yet the result is already determined from the start.  The expert will win regardless of the choices that amateur makes during the game.

Our relationship with God is very much like that.  Aren't you glad that God is in control and that He is for you?