Sunday, January 27, 2013

With All My Heart - Psa 86:12

With All My Heart ...
January 27, 2013
Psalms 86:12

Introduction
  • Last week we talked about the river of healing that flows from God's throne
  • This river flows continually, it proceeds from the Father, in the person of the Holy Spirit
  • John 14:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"KJV- (NIV doesn't really give the sense of the Greek, which is of going forth, of flowing, like a river)
    • - 1607 ekporeuomai {ek-por-yoo'-om-ahee} AV - proceed 10, go out 6, go 5, come 4, depart 3, go forth 2, misc 4, vr go forth 1; 35 - 1) to go forth, go out, depart 2) metaph. 2a) to come forth, to issue, to proceed 2a1) of feelings, affections, deeds, sayings 2b) to flow forth 2b1) of a river 2c) to project, from the mouth of one 2d) to spread abroad, of a rumour
  • The Holy Spirit flows into us, and then flows through us to impact other peoples lives
  • John 7:37-39
  • Are we going to be working totally in synch with the Holy Spirit, or are we gong to be holding out in certain parts of our lives?
  • Today we are going to look at the subject of total surrender

Why is total surrender so difficult?
  • Part of the reason is that we live in a fallen world
  • People hurt us and as a result, there is a breach of trust
  • We often seem to keep a reserve about us, not wanting to fully commit
  • That breach of trust is a big deal, and of course it is usually compounded as further breaches of trust happen in our lives
  • The problem with our relationship with God is that we project the frailties of man on God who is totally different
  • The central issue is trust

So how do we develop trust?
  • Trust is something which is a quality we develop in our life
  • It is something we learn, whether in our relationships with people, or in our relationship with God
  • It is hard to trust one person and not another
  • I know that we need to protect ourselves from human failings
  • And we need to take steps to create boundaries others do not cross
  • But God is different and we need to learn to trust Him
  • Building trust starts with little steps
  • One step at a time
  • We trust Him for something, we see that he comes through for us, and this builds a bit of trust
  • Mal 3:8-12
  • We trust him for something else, and see he comes through, and we trust him some more
  • As we see that God is dependable, our trust starts to mature
  • We find out that we dont think the same way he does, but we know he comes through for us
  • So we start to trust him even when the answer is not immediate
  • Rom 8:28 all things work together for good
  • Because we know he is on our side and whatever he does for us will be good in the long run
  • He has good plans for us, this is his heart speaking
  • Jer 29:11

Now we learn to surrender to him
  • Initially, we trusted God to forgive us for our sins
  • We believe that he has done so, because he said so in his word
  • 1 John 1:9
  • In our relationship with him, he never changes
  • There is no shadow of turning with Him
  • James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
  • Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
  • Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
  • So he does not change in how he sees us and loves us and cherishes us, just like Samantha with her brand new baby boy
  • What happens is that we drift away from him
  • We get our eyes focused on the material things of life, and off our heavenly father
  • Then we drift into the material realm, and our trust evaporates, as we comp[are God to our human friendships

The cure
  • The cure is to draw back to God
  • He is calling our name continually
  • We are constantly on God's mind, he cant forget us
  • Like the story of the prodigal son
  • Luke 15:11
  • The father was looking out for him, even from a distance
  • Nothing we have done or omitted is so great that we cannot return to the Father
  • He has never stopped loving us
  • We can surrender everything to Him
  • He is totally trustworthy
  • He will never hurt us or abandon us or let us down

Peace
  • When we surrender all things to him and live in his love, there is a peace that comes in our life
  • It's like your elder brother is fighting your battles
  • like the Israelites, don't worry, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord
  • Ex 14:14
  • You have put your trust in me, I will not let you down
  • Psalms 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
  • Surrender all things to Him

Conclusion
  • If there are things in outr life which prevent us surrendering everything to him, deal with them
  • Come forward at the end of the service and we can remove these things which block our growth
  • We can move forward, not held back by issues, but running freely in his grace

Prayer

Sunday, January 20, 2013

There is Healing in the River - Rev 22:1-5

There is Healing in the River
January 20, 2013
Rev 22:1-5

Introduction
  • Last week on Yahoo I saw a picture of Hindus washing themselves in the Ganges
  • They did this to renew their belief in their gods
  • But did you know that Satan often counterfeits something that is of God and uses it to draw people away from the faith
  • Satan is the devil who deceives the whole world - Rev 12:9
  • he comes and appears as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14) but inside his disguise he is a dragon
  • While Hindus may bathe themselves in the Ganges, a counterfeit, there is a far bigger meaning behind water, in the Bible
  • God uses the picture of water in the Bible, as a symbol; or representation of the Holy Spirit
  • John 7:37-39 - streams of living water
  • So the Holy Spirit filling us and overflowing to others as streams of living water, is a picture of how God spreads his healing work
  • Today we are going to speak about the healing the Holy Spirit brings into our life

Reading
  • Rev 22:1-5

Example of Naaman
  • 2 Kings 5:1-19
  • We see in the first verse, that God had already been working in Naaman's life
  • Naaman was someone God could do something with
  • His name meant pleasantness, and Naaman was not a bad person.
  • His wife had a Hebrew slave girl, and it was she who told her mistress about the prophet Elisha in Samaria
  • She knew that God heals
  • So Naaman goes to the king and shares this information with the king
  • The kings says, by all means, go!
  • In ancient times, people were open to going to someone for help with stuff that was happening in their lives

Naaman is humbled
  • Elisha sends his servant to tell him to was in Jordan seven times
  • This was not social etiquette
  • Naaman was an important person, and he had an issue with pride
  • He felt slighted by Elisha not doing the usual prophet thing he expected
  • And he was prejudiced against Israel, and even Israel's natural features, like the River Jordan
  • So he gets angry and doesn't want to listen

What was God doing?
  • God wanted His name to be glorified
  • God did not want Elisha to get the glory, or anyone else
  • This was to be a witness to Naaman, that it isn't the messenger that brings healing, only God Himself
  • So Naaman has to swallow his pride
  • But then also, God wanted Naaman to take a step of faith
  • He had to wash himself in Jordan, seven times
  • Why not once?
  • It was to see if Naaman would be obedient, and would go the whole way
  • He was obedient, and God healed him
  • As a result, Naaman became a believer

The lesson for us
  • The lesson for us goes beyond healing, and obedience
  • The river for us is the ongoing flow of God's grace toward us and through us, to others
  • Steps of faith are expected of us
  • And total obedience is required of us
  • This is radical Christianity
  • People like to keep a bit of control over their lives
  • They may want healing in some way
  • But they are not always ready to throw all caution to the winds, and go radically for God
  • God will give us steps to take, steps of faith
  • He will be watching the state of our heart, how far will we go in obedience
  • Ezekiel 47:1-12
  • A river flows from God's throne, which flows into our heart and from us to others
  • Wherever this river flows, it brings healing
  • Are we ready to throw everything to the winds, so that this river will flow through us unimpeded
  • Are we ready to give God our dignity, are we ready to give him our finances, our time
  • Are we ready to give Him total control, who gave u[p everything for us including his own life?
  • Today, we can turn to him and say, I surrender all
  • Lets sing it
  • "I surrender all"

Prayer

Sunday, January 13, 2013

God loves you! - 2 Thes 2:16-17

Here are notes to this evening's first Freedom Fellowship meeting!  Was awesome! 

God loves you!
January 13, 2013
2 Thes 2:16-17

Introduction
  • Book "The Secret Life of the Unborn Child"
  • In this book it explains and shows how responsive the unborn child is
  • The way in which the unborn child is treated impacts the child's personality and its future life as an adult
  • What would it be like to be born without love from our parents!
  • And yet, many children do grow up that way
  • What are the results of growing up without love?
  • An inability to show love, because it has not been modeled to them
  • A view of themselves that they are less than they should be
  • A basic insecurity and lack of foundations
  • An insatiable search for love
  • Looking for love in all the wrong places
  • So many of us know what I am talking about, from personal experience
  • I do as well
  • I grew up in a family where love was a rare commodity
  • Love was expressed through correction, shouting and pain rather than by praise and closeness
  • Bad stuff happened in our home
  • I grew up in terror of the next beating and I grew up knowing deep down inside myself that I was not good enough, that I would never measure up and that I would never amount to anything
  • Sure enough, that is the way my life went, until God stepped in, and changed me

Jesus loves you
  • I asked the Lord what to speak about this evening
  • The word he gave me was "Tell them that I love them"
  • So, that is the word for you tonight - God loves you
  • What does it mean that God loves us?
  • 1John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

How does God love us?
  • God loves us in many ways
  • What does God's love look like
  • God is a parent who loves his children
  • We are his children when we have allowed him the key to our heart
  • 1Jo 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
  • God showed incredible love to us, by making us His children
  • God did not need us
  • He is not a needy God, who needs kids to have a sense of control and self-worth
  • He is not a God who takes advantage of his kids and robs them of their childhood
  • Instead, God is a God who nurtures and protects
  • God provides for his children, in this life and in the life to come
  • Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
  • Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
  • Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
  • Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
  • God loves you

He loved you so much that he drew you back to him
  • While we were without knowledge of God, we sinned just like every other person who has ever lived, besides Jesus
  • Each sin we committed was like a nail in Jesus hands and feet
  • God knew right from the beginning, that Jesus would have to die
  • There was no getting around it
  • But God loved us enough, right from the beginning, that he set everything in place so we could return to him
  • That is true love
  • We may have had parents who disowned us and wrote us off like black sheep
  • But God never wrote you off, to Him, you are his precious child
  • No matter where we have been, or what we have done, he never stopped loving us
  • God wants you to know that He loves you



Conclusion

  • Why is it that God wanted you to know that he loves you?
  • I think it is because love is the basic building block of relationship
  • God is is love
  • "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." - 1 Jn 4:16
  • God's love is purely outgoing, gracious love
  • He just wants to love us
  • Whatever he does in our life, comes as a result of His love
  • That love is the foundation of our eternal existence
  • That love will be the building block of our healing and recovery

How did Jesus witness? - Luke 19:1-10

Title: How did Jesus witness?
Date: January 13, 2013
Text: Luke 19:1-10

Introduction
  • Last week I posted on facebook
  • If each Christian in Susanville led just one person to Jesus each year, in three years Susanville could be totally Christian!
  • This is an achievable target
  • I know not everyone will accept Jesus, that is their choice. But if we do it right we will increase the chances of them making the right chopoice
  • Down through history, there have been times when the church was asleep, and there have been times when the church was on fire
  • We have been called to preach the gospel to all nations and make disciples of them and teach them all Jesus has taught us
  • This is not just for pastors, it is for all Christians
  • We as Grace Fellowship have this charge, as well! So during this next year let's do our part to bring this to fulfillment!
  • But how do we go about this?
  • How did Jesus witness and share the gospel?
  • Today we will look at the story of Zacchaeus and see some things that made a difference for Zacchaeus

Reading
  • Luke 19:1-10

Who was Zacchaeus?
  • Verses 2-3 - Zacchaeus means "pure"
  • This was how his mom saw him
  • But he was short
  • Short people sometimes get an inferiority complex, and consequently try to make up for it by manipulating and controlling others
  • Zacchaeus dealt with this inferiority by becoming a tax collector, he joined the IRS
  • Not only that, he was collecting taxes not for the Jews, but for the Romans
  • He was seen as a traitor, working for the enemy
  • He basically betrayed his mom, he betrayed his friends, and he betrayed his fellow Jews
  • He had robbed his friends by exacting more than was necessary, and lined his own pockets
  • Zacchaeus must not have felt very good about himself
  • He was hated by his former friends and his family
  • He is at a low point in his life
  • He doesnt know how to turn the clock back
  • His only option is Jesus

How does Jesus approach Zacchaeus?
  • Jesus comes around the corner, and sees Zacchaeus up a tree on the edge of the crowd
  • He sees that short little Zacchaeus is in need
  • He has compassion on him
  • Jesus calls out to Zacchaeus to come down from that tree
  • This day Jesus the holy rabbi is going to have dinner with Zacchaeus the unloveable, and is going to stay in his house
  • Jesus did not look down on Zachaeus
  • He does not ask him, are you going to repent and make amends?
  • You have done all this bad stuff, how are you going to set things straight?
  • Instead, Jesus accepts Zacchaeus and shows him love
  • Zacchaus the betrayer, the thief, the traitor, the failure suddenly experiences love
  • The love Jesus offers changes Zacchaues and he responds by repenting and changing his ways

This is how we evangelize
  • We don't evangelize by reading scripture to people, though we should be ready to answer questions
  • We evangelize by being ourselves and just loving people
  • When we love people and don't show judgment or criticism, they will respond
  • This is what is meant by shining our light
  • People see the difference because the world is a dark place with not a lot of love around

Conclusion
  • So during this year, show love to someone
  • Allow your love for them to seep down inside of them and melt the icicles of distrust
  • Show yourself to be a true friend
  • The love you show will lead to questions which gives you a chance to tell about the difference Jesus makes in your life
  • Focus on one person, and show you truly care about them.
  • God will do the rest.

Prayer

Sunday, January 6, 2013

A Vision for 2013 - Gen 1:1-3

A Vision for 2013
January 6, 2013
Genesis 1:1-3

Introduction
  • Gen 1:1-3
  • God separates the light from the darkness
  • God is not wishy washy
  • God makes it clear what is right and what is wrong
  • John 1 - Jesus comes as the light of the world
  • Darkness is without hope, light brings hope
  • God dwells in light, and in him is no darkness at all
  • His creation was created in light
  • But it became darkness
  • How did this happen
Rebellion in heaven
  • Ezekiel 28:11-17, Isaiah 14:12-15
  • Lucifer was created a beautiful angel
  • Lucifer means "light-bringer"
  • Lucifer was intended to share God's light with the creation
  • But Lucifer allowed pride to enter his heart, and he was no longer able to see reality
  • When we become proud, this usually happens to us too, we lose perspective
  • Rev 12:1-9 speaks of a war in heaven, the dragon (Satan) is cast down to the earth
  • A war usually brings destruction to the area where it is waged
  • He was cast down to the earth - Luke 10:18 - Jesus witnessed it
The fall of man
  • We are told Lucifer was in the garden of Eden - Ezekiel 28:13
  • This must have been as the serpent, Satan
  • Instead of obeying God's instructions, man listens to the devil's deception, and sides with Satan
  • While God offered man the fruit of the tree of life, man now loses access to life as God intended it
  • Because of his rebellion, man now has no hope
  • Man is unable to get himself out of this situation
  • This is known as the "depravity of man"
  • Man walks in darkness
  • Every baby that is born, has this nature which rebels against God - Romans 8:7, 3:23
Mankind needs a Savior
  • The consequences of this rebellion, is separation from the tree of life
  • Hell is a real place
  • In the gospels, Jesus repeatedly speaks of a place of torment, of outer darkness, of eternal punishment, of fire that burns without going out
  • If hell is not a real place in your thinking, ask God to make it clear to you!
  • He will!
  • But Jesus came to restore all things - Acts 3:19-21
  • Life comes through Jesus - John 1:4
  • Man can now become a new creation - 1 Cor 5:17
  • This speaks of once again having relationship with God
  • Jesus quickens our dead bodies (Eph 2:1-2) and gives us life
Reaching Susanville
  • 90% of Susanville is bound for hell!
  • The reason we are here as Christians in Susanville, is to be used by God to reconcile all these people, to Jesus
  • If during the next 12 months, each Susanville Christian brought just one person to Jesus, in 2014 we would have twice as many Christians 
  • So if today say 10% of the population of Susanville was Christian, at the end of 2013 that percentage would be 20%
  • If during the following year we did the same again, there would now be 4 times as many as now, in other words 40% would now be Christian at the end of 2014
  • If we kept up the practice of each Christian leading one person to Jesus each year, by the end of 2015 all of Susanville could be Christian!
  • Of course some will reject the gospel, but that is their choice, but this would then not be because we did not do our job
  • Susanville today is in darkness, but this could be radically transformed if we as Christians performed the task to which God has called us
Conclusion
  • As a church, God has called us to do our part in evangelizing the hell-bound!
  • We can make a difference!
  • Jesus in us wants to restore all things, to rescue our neighbors from darkness and bring them to the light
  • Will we take up this challenge?