A message to fathers

(Songs that fit this message: 1. Turn your eyes upon Jesus)

A message to the man of the house

Reading

Heb 12:1-15

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." {6 Prov. 3:11,12}

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

13 "Make level paths for your feet," {13 Prov. 4:26} so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Most men become fathers.

Fatherhood is not an easy part of a marriage. To be a father demands responsibility, physical, and moral strength. And, of course, to be a father is to be a husband which also requires leadership skills and love.

God has given us fathers, guidelines wherein we will find all that is necessary to live up to a standard that pleases the One who created us. God is the Author of the most wonderful Book in the entire world. The Bible is a handbook; a manual for every task that we, the greatest of His creation, can have.

In our Scripture for today, “Fathers’ Day” we will see what and how our heavenly Father deals with His children which could serve as an example for human fatherhood.

The examples of essential faith (in ch 11)

Those whose exemplary faith is displayed.


ch 11 ends with the promise that these whom God recognised as Heroes of faith will be made perfect only together with the NT heroes of faith.


Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.


Let us get rid of everything and anything that can cause us to sin. Including that particular sin that we find difficult to resist. Let us be done with it now and forevermore.

If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If your eyes cause you to sin pluck them out.

Whatever victory we accomplish will be done by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ.

Then let us continue the race that God has marked out for you and me. Persevere, don’t ever give up.


2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


Jesus is the Pioneer or Leader of our faith ie He set the pace for us; He demonstrated the meaning of faith for us to follow in His footsteps. He was focused on the final outcome of his faith. Let us concentrate on Jesus with regard to our faith and our faithfulness


3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.


So that. . . . If we could get just one glimpse of the joy that awaits us; if we could get just one moment in heaven, we would put everything else out of the way; we would aim at the one and only goal waiting for the faithful ones.


Are you experiencing opposition and discouragement from “sinful people” ? Do they succeed in causing you to give up and to lose heart? Then you haven’t got that glimpse of heaven. Fix your eyes upon Jesus.


4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.


What is meant here is - how would you react if your faith was challenged with being under threat of giving up your life because you are a Christian?

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

God is our Father; the Father of fathers.


5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

Discipline (Disciple)

A Disciple is a disciplined child of God. Self-control is the aim of discipline.


The nature of Christian discipline

6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." {6 Prov. 3:11,12}


Discipline comes from a father teaching his son / daughter self-control.

The application of discipline sometimes seem to be harsh and like punishment.

In military training, discipline is a major subject. An undisciplined soldier can become a life-threat to his companions.

Likewise an undisciplined Christian can cause disruption and destruction in the Body(Church). So also, is an undisciplined child an embarrassment to his family.


The apostle, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, No test (temptation) has taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not let you but will, with each temptation make a way of escape ….. so that you may be able to bear it.

b. The Necessity for Chastening.

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 

8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.


9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

Respectful for past corrections

When we become mature as adults, we look back to the severity and harshness of what our fathers did to discipline us but we look back with gladness and rejoice in the fact that without his disciplining us, we would not be the kind of people we are. What would we be if dad did not discipline us?

Sometimes, the burden of applying discipline is left to the widowed mother. However it is done, discipline is essential and is best done by the father.


An undisciplined man has a hard time being disciplined by God when his earthly father never applied discipline.


Sadly, many criminals are in jail because they were not disciplined by their fathers when they were young.

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Rom 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.

Stop making excuses

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

13 "Make level paths for your feet," {13 Prov. 4:26} so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.


Fathers…

Let us be role model for those who are weaker than us. Become active in your spiritual life. Bring to life, the domestic role of family altars and family prayers as regular occasions.

So that the weaker ones may be enabled. . .

The church is God’s chosen vessel wherein the manifold witnesses of God’s wisdom is displayed. Watch out for habits, coming from repetitious absence, or lack of interest becoming your comfort zone. Become the role model for your friends and family.

14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord

Do whatever it takes to be holy.

The importance of caring for the souls of others

15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

We have celebrated Mothers on Mother’s Day.

She is the one who cares for the children in a soft, loving way. Remember that the children will one day be mothers and fathers. The boys will become men. And men become husbands and husbands become fathers – like you ?

Father, you are God’s instrument in producing a godly offspring. God has given us, as men, the strength and whatever else is needed to raise a family for God. 

We must do whatever it takes to get ourselves prepared for THAT DAY, so that we can also bring our personal offspring to the same destiny we are aiming at.

By Pastor Ron Roux

THE PRESENCE OF GOD Trinity Sunday

Today is Trinity Sunday. For some that means a Sunday that's a bit of a puzzle, with a subject that cannot be easily explained. For all of us this should mean a reality of great mystery, but one that is to be very practically experienced and understood in our daily living. We have our being in the God who is Creator. We have been redeemed by the Son who is our Saviour. We are renewed and empowered by the Spirit within us. That is what eternal life means. It is life given by the Father, lIved in the Son by the Spirit who makes him real in our hearts by faith.

As one teacher simply taught: The Father is God above us; the Son is God beside us; the Spirit is God within us. A good theologian like Nazarene Tom Noble warns: "We have so often (or, too often, my addition) taken the trinitarian heart of the Christian faith forgranted in order to get on with what is thought to be more practical and relevant."^[1] This sermon today is to say that there is nothing more practical and relevant than the core Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

Why? Because Godliness in human life flows out of the central Christian belief in the atonement of Jesus, the incarnation of the Son of God, and the Trinity, which makes living union with God in Christ by his Spirit possible and real. Our shorthand summary above states this: God is the Father above us, our Creator and Life-giver; Jesus is the Son of God beside us, our redeemer and Saviour; the Spirit is God within us, renewer and sanctifier. That is how we live: by experiencing the reality of all three aspects, by sharing in the hilarity and hospitality of fellowship with God in Christ by his Spirit.

     

Down through time different people have tried to explain the Trinity by using mental pictures like metaphors: the Trinity is like Parent, sibling, child; or, the Trinity is like H20, that is water, steam and ice; or, the Trinity is like a threefold cord or even a triangle with three equal sides making up one whole.  The real question is: Who exactly is God? How does God make himself known? What happens when God shows up? What does this look like, what does this feel like? These are some of the questions our scriptures and our topic present to us this morning. Who is this God? And, who will go for him?

     

Artists and musicians have tried to answer this question down through the centuries. Scientists and architects have tried to draw diagrams to portray or explain him. Johannes van Eyck, in the Altar piece of the Cathedral of St. Bavo, in the town of Ghent, Belgium, done in 1426-7, used a triptych to do this.^[2] On the right hand panel there are performing angels gathered round an organ. But the organ has 21 pipes (not the normal 15 of those times) making up three octaves. Then he has the organist playing three notes, C and G with the left hand, and F with the right hand, to form two sets of thirds in harmony. All of this is to try to portray, with the middle panel of God the Father crowned as King with a three-tiered crown, God as Trinity, a God who brings and creates harmony, that is agreement, peace, and unity.

     

200 years later Kircher, in 1650, created a diagram to explain God through an artifact called "Harmony of the Birth of the World."   In this he shows the order of creation. Six circles above show six days of creation. At the bottom "Trinity" is portrayed by an organ console where the black keys are all in threes (not twos or threes as normal) and three levers or stops are shown at the side. And he concludes: "Thus God's eternal wisdom plays in the sphere of the worlds." I find the following scientific analogy helpful: just like the periodic table of the elements provides a way of understanding the nature of matter, that is the material world, (like Uranium = 238, atomic number, 92, etc.) so does the Trinity offer a way of understanding the whole cosmos in its connected whole. It is comprehended and understood from a non-material point of view as related to the Trinity. It is a connected community in which the basic unit is triune, like a father, mother, and child. But also like two friends meeting a stranger where they learn to understand each other better by crossing a boundary into another world and they begin to transcend themselves in order to truly understand who they are in relationships with an Other. Most of all the Trinity is reflecy

     

Let's make a practical start by opening the Scriptures and finding three strikingly different word pictures of how people saw how God showed up in the past. We have these scriptures before us today: The first one is Psalm 29, about God in a storm.  The psalmist describes vividly the Voice of God breaking great trees like cedars, God shaking the wilderness, making Lebanon skip like a young calf. When he speaks his voice flashes forth flames of fire, he causes oak trees to whirl and strips the forest bare. When we read this like a meteorologist today, we might smile and say: we can explain all that without God. But to the Psalmist God was like a mighty storm: untamed and untamable. He is like an untamable storm, like an unconsumed fire, and like an unshakeable, unfailing friend. When he shows up beware, be aware, be still, and know that he is God.  For us to understand God in nature we need to see this through the lens of Jesus in the New Testament. How did Jesus view a storm on the Sea of Galilee? He slept through it, and when the terrified disciples woke him, he rebuked them and the storm, and said "Peace! Be still!

     

The next picture is Isaiah chapter six. This offers us another window into the Presence of God: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and lifted up, and the door posts of the temple shivered and shook, and the whole earth was filled with his glory," so the prophet describes his awesome Presence. Serapis cover their faces and yell, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts!" And Isaiah the prophet groans, "I am done for!" This time it is not a storm in nature but a political upheaval caused by the death of a good King, maybe not unlike the passing of Nelson Mandela last year. What is the nation to do? Who will stand up and lead? Who will go and do God's work in a new day? Must we look to the political leader to do this? Isaiah was shaken to his roots by this vision of God and cried out desperately, "I am done for. i am undone. I am imploding. My rock of strength has been removed. I live in the midst of a people who are  unacceptable in God's sight. What am I to do?"

     

So we have these three windows through which to look and see God present: the first  one is God in the storm (in nature); the second one is Isaiah, in the temple (where most of us expect to find God); and the third is face to face across the table where Jesus the Teacher teaches the great teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, how to find God in his heart. That is the supreme dwelling place for God: in the heart of his people. Let's listen one more time to Tom Noble right at the start: Jesus in the heart religion in isolation doesn't work. "The doctrine of the Christian life, including sanctification, cannot be articulated in isolation as a separate doctrine. If it is, the danger is that it will become an individualistic, introverted, subjectivist, and spiritually self-centered quest. The sanctifying of the Christian can only be understood in the context of the sanctifying of human relationships within the church, the people of God. And the sanctifying of human relationships among those who are drawn into the church can only be understood in turn by seeing that the fellowship enjoyed within the church is the mutual fellowship of the Father with the Son, which is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit."^[3]

     

Whether we smile or frown or laugh at these efforts, can we see that down through the ages people have struggled to discover that the God who is Creator of Heaven and Earth is also intimately and practically present to his creatures everywhere. He is triune, and it takes three faces, as it were, to describe him: that of Parent, child, and inner advocate and friend. And this God sends his Son to say, "I have not come to condemn the world, I have not come to declare you a sinner, I have come to tell you that you are adopted into the family of God. You are precious and you belong to me. I would rather die than live without you."

     

Nicodemus is puzzled by this kind of message. The Gospel writer in John says, "No one has seen God at any time; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." And how does Jesus make God known? Jesus makes the bold and blunt truth clear: "Nicodemus, unless you are utterly transformed from above, unless you are born again, that is, not by a fleshly re-entry into your mother's womb, but you must. Be born of water and the Spirit. Then you will be ushered into the kingdom of God. Here I am, Nicodemus, standing right before you to say to you that we have come to make our abode in you. The God who created you, the Son who has come to redeem you, and the Spirit who is like the wind that breathes in the trees, will breathe into you the breath of life, that you may live and know eternal life. We will come and make our abode in your heart, Nicodemus!"i

     

On this Trinity Sunday may we not be as puzzled as Nicodemus, and as preoccupied with little diagrams and pictures or ways to describe the Trinity. May we come to grasp that God is not "the Big Man upstairs" nor the "Big Buddy and Friend" who chums up to me, nor some wild and exotic emotion that zaps me, but God is an awesome and gracious host who entertains me by welcoming me into the hospitality of the kingdom, what some have called the hilarity of the kingdom, where God regales the whole household with his generosity and laughter. This begins in a new reality right within the domain of my own heart, here and now.

"How can these things be?" is the way we typically respond. We want to believe but this all sounds stupendous and out of reach. One way is to become ready to say, "Here I am Lord! What is it you want me to do?" This is to rethink how we think about God. Ask yourself these questions? Is God a King or a Lover? Is God a Friend or a Judge? Is God a warrior or a shepherd? Is God a Loving Spouse or an accusing Critic? Or, in some strange way, all of these and more?

     

Our answers will tell us a lot about ourselves. And a lot of the time we are really doing nothing more than excusing ourselves and rationalizing our behavior. One glimpse of God radically changes everything.

Isaiah had pinned his hopes for the kingdom of God on an earthly King and good ruler, King Uzziah. When he died, the young prophet was devastated. He lost faith. His hopes were crushed. Was that why he could see the Lord as if for the first time, in the temple which was supposed to be the dwelling place of Almighty God.

     

"I saw the Lord, high and lifted up," he says. The foundations of the temple shook. The sanctuary was filled with smoke. That is how the young man described the scene. He saw his whole life shaking and being consumed. He saw himself and he was devastated. "I am lost. I am undone. I am disintegrating," he cried. "I have been taken apart piece by piece." I am imploding.

     

This is not the Gospel declared by many modern preachers: "Come to find yourself. Come to find peace and joy. Come to discover Jesus as a wonderful Buddy for the rest of your life." Nor is it the Gospel of fire and brimstone declared by many other preachers: God will judge you. God will send you to hell if you do not repent. When God in Jesus stands in front of you,and the Spirit of God whispers in your heart, this God our Creator is saying, imperiously, "Surrender! Give us your heart. Open up to the One who created you and who speaks to you by His word made flesh in Jesus. Allow the Spirit to whisper in your inner heart the assurance that you belong in the family of God."

     

Yield to the King who is the supreme Lover of your life. Bow before the Judge who is the great advocate for your freedom. Listen to the Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption whereby you are enabled to cry, "Abba, Father!" God's Spirit will bear witness with your Spirit that you are a child of God."

Conclusion

Now is the time to Listen to the Voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8)

Then I said, "Here I am! Send me."

And the Lord will say, "Go" but do not expect easy results and quick responses. Go, and speak in my Name, but be prepared for people to hear and not understand, to see and not perceive, to be consumed, but not with love.

But go, and I will be with you.

And who is this God?

My grandmother answered for me when I was about three years old:

     

Absolutely tender, absolutely true

Understanding all things, understanding you,

Infinitely loving, exquisitely near,
This is God our Father, what have we to fear?

Amen

By Prof. David P. Whitelaw

---

^[1] Page 5 of 224, Tom A. Noble, Holy Trinity: Holy People, The Theology of the Doctrine of Christian Perfecting.  (Didsbury Lecture Series) Eugene, OR:2013.

^[2] Done with his elder brother Hubert, and reputed to be one of ten most famous works of art To survive in the modern world. Wikipedia: Johannes van Eyck.

^[3] Noble, ibid. page 20 of 224

The essential additions to our faith

In the previous chapter, Peter briefly described the false teachers of that time.

The same principle exists in the present era. We are constantly warned about being led astray.

In this chapter of Peter’s letter, he points out the urgency and the importance of the truth that secures our Christian salvation doctrine and protects us from falling foul with false teachers.

It is more difficult to deal with false doctrine within than outside of the church.

Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified

2Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:  2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The only way we can recognise the cleverly disguised and camouflaged spiritual poison of the modern false teachers is when we respond to God’s offer of everything we need for life and godliness. 

8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Author of Peter’s Letter.

2Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,. . . .

Peter identifies himself so that his readers will be confident of the origin and authenticity of the Word being what God had inspired him to write.

Peter was deeply concerned for the maturity of the flock of God.

Maturity is spiritual adulthood; the ability to use self-control concerning obedience to the leading by the Word of God.  

Heb 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

A Precious Faith

.. . . .To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

What Is Your Excuse For Lack Of Growth Into Maturity?

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Jesus, in His Gethsemane prayer, referred to the fact that we are in the world but we don’t have to be part of the world.  Paul wrote in Rom 12:1,2  that we must not conform to the world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.  He went on to say, “THEN you will know what is the will of God.”

We have heard how much God loves us and the gifts He still wants us to have.  However, in order to be capable of receiving all that God wants to impart, we have to prepare ourselves according to what God told Peter to write.

God Has Provided

Through these = everything we need that He has potentially given us.

What is God’s expectation of His creation?

(this is one of the many questions that we deal with in the “POWER Hours”)

Whatever we need, to live up to the expectations of our Holy, Awesome Creator, is provided by the grace of God.  

5. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith

These seven virtues to be added to our faith is the responsibility of the Child of God, It is not a once-off experience, but a skilful constant cultivation, on a daily basis.  These qualities are essential components to our very salvation. 

Virtues Of The Highest Value (Note the Seven in number).

God will do nothing for you that you can do yourself. But whatever you cannot do God will do for you. Growth in grace is our personal responsibility.

1. GOODNESS;

Doing to others what you would have them do to you. Only, you do it better!

Being available to help others, especially your own spiritual brothers and sisters. Also defined as moral integrity.

Aim at righteousness (obedience leads to righteousness Rom 6:15)

Matt 6:1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

 …and to goodness,

2. KNOWLEDGE;

Get to know God as much as you can through the study of the Bible.

Develop your ability in spiritual and practical discernment and sensitivity.  

. . .and to knowledge,

3. SELF-CONTROL;

This component is featured in Gal 5;23 as part of the Fruit Of The Spirit.

The control of spirit over body. It amounts to personal disciplines to concentrate on that which is good and beneficial against self-gratification and evil desires.

. . . and to self-control,

4. PERSEVERANCE;

The brave and courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to us, and the transmitting of even the worst event into another step on the upward way (Barclay)

. . . and to perseverance,

5.GODLINESS;

Piety and devotion to be whatever God wants us to be. To visibly reflect the beauty of Jesus.

. . .v 7 and to godliness,

6. BROTHERLY KINDNESS;

Brothers and sisters will always look after each other even though they may differ on certain issues.

. . .and to brotherly kindness,

7.  LOVE.

This kind of love is what Jesus mentioned when He said, you must love your enemies, etc

Do you know someone whom you don’t like; someone who has hurt your feelings; someone who owes you something or other?  That’s the person who will test your spiritual strength. Can you love someone you don’t like?

 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,

 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Easter – the greatest event in human history

Ecc 12:7 So at death, our spirits return to God who gave it

The most important and wonderful significance of Easter Sunday: Jesus rose from the dead.

Rom 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

“He’s alive!” These words came from every believer in the first months after Jesus risen from the dead. This became the way they greeted one another.

Now, in the modern era, since that first Pentecost, “He lives within my heart!”

Jn 14:19 Because I live, you also shall live.

Death – the separation of the soul from the body

The soul is that essential part of man that will never perish. Man, according to the Bible is “a living soul”. Man is nowhere mentioned to as a spirit. He has a spirit but he is a soul.

We inherit our spirit, soul and body from our parents. Our inheritance is passed onto our offspring in the same way that our parents and their parents, right down to Adam, received their natures.

Our eternal life begins from the moment of conception.

Sin is the cause of the death of our spirits even though we are alive and well in this world.

Only a miracle from God can revive that spirit in what the Bible refers to as being born again.

God said, “. . . . .You will surely die!”

Satan said “you will surely not die!” the deception, his weapon of Mass Destruction.

In 1Cor 2:14, the word of God through the Apostle Paul, “the man without the Spirit” as being incapable of comprehending spiritual things,

There is a death penalty for those who reject God’s offer of salvation. Rom 6:23

But by the wonderful grace of God, there is a free gift on offer, an offer of deliverance from sin and death (Jn 3:16) “Redemption”.

Redemption
Jesus became the only recognised sacrifice for sin. The OT rituals had served their purpose in pointing to the coming Messiah, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

After His resurrection from the grave. Jesus paid the price for every person; for every human being coming into this world as well as for those of the OT who believed in the prophetic future. They believed through the religious rituals and the prophetic announcements of God’s Word.

(Heb 11:39,40). “Only together with us will they be made perfect”

Rom 8:3-4 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

The same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is living in those who have received Jesus as their Saviour. 

“IF…” The spirit is living in you

He will also give life to your mortal body while you are waiting.

Does sin really matter?
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness

Conclusion

The whole purpose of Easter Sunday, is to draw our attention to the powerful Word of God regarding our salvation.

1. Out of His love for you and me, and every other sinner in this world, God gave us a way out though the death of His only begotten Son.

There was a penalty that had to be paid for God to allow the greatest of His creation, the offspring of Adam, into His holy presence. Jesus, the ultimate Lamb of God, paid the price that we could not pay.

2. Now, because He took our sins to the grave so that we can, through faith, know that we are forgiven when we acknowledge that our sins are taken away.

3. But not only can we believe in being pardoned but we can now receive the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit to live within us because Jesus rose from the dead and has given us His Spirit of holiness so that we can have intimate relationship with our Creator, our Holy Father in heaven.

4. Easter Sunday is Resurrection Day; the Day that brought about the potential for us to enjoy intimate relationship with our awesome, almighty Father in heaven; the Day when Jesus finally defeated death and made it possible for us to live without the fear of tomorrow or the guilt of the past

The Last Encounter

Calvary is the place where God dealt conclusively with the human problem of sin.

Jesus came into the world to usher in the New Dispensation of Grace. No longer would man be bound to the legal system of the OT. In fact, Jesus would prove that He was the fulfilment of everything portrayed in the OT and that He would ultimately take human sin to the grave. He would defeat death on the cross.

THE LAST WEEK OF HIS INCARNATION:

1. A Growing Storm

Jn 11:55,57 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.

They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?"

But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

A. The Passover

Springtime. About 2 million tourist-like pilgrims. Tents and camping sites all over the Mount of Olives. Homes and hotels were all fully booked.

Pontius Pilate, cruel and reckless Roman authority of Judea (AD 26-36) came up with a reinforced military guard from Caesarea in case of trouble.

Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee (4BC - AD 39), was there with his courtiers and mercenaries.


From the noisy Temple area there arose constant smoke of sacrifices, the noise of bartering of hawkers of animals for sacrifice.

Jesus’ greatest miracle had just been performed and the fame of Lazarus was spreading like wildfire, in fact

Jn 12: 9:

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,

11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

The stage was being set for the greatest event in human history.
2. The Triumphal Entry

Jn 12:

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" {13 A Hebrew expression meaning "Save!" which became an exclamation of praise} "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" {13 Psalm 118:25, 26} "Blessed is the King of Israel!"


By this action of Jesus, He proclaimed in the very heart of Israel that He was the Messiah.

The enthusiasm of the crowd soon faded when their false expectations were not realised. Jesus had no intention to erect a throne in Jerusalem.
3. The Cleansing Of The Temple

After leaving the temple He headed again for Bethany where He spent the night (Matt 21;11).

Monday morning

He travelled the 2 miles back to the city from Bethany, the home of Mary, and Martha and their brother, Lazarus.

On the way, He cursed the fig tree which had no fruit (symbolic of fruitless Israel).

Upon His return to the Temple, He set about driving out the sellers and their animals and overturned the tables of the fraudulent money-changers. While doing so, He quoted portions of Isa 56:7 and Jer 7;11.

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations (Matt 11:17)

Tuesday morning.

The disciples remarked about the fig tree which had withered to the roots. On His arrival in Jerusalem, our Lord began immediately to teach the people. For the rest of the day, He discussed four leading questions.
a. Whose authority?

(Luk 20:1-8) by what authority are you doing these things?

Jesus responded by telling them the parable of the wicked tenants and they knew that He was directing the accusation at them and that He was that only son and heir.
b. The question about taxes

A clever trap coming from the Herodians and the Pharisees.
c. The question about Resurrection

(Luk 20:27-40)
d. The question about the greatest commandment

Jesus exposed their hypocrisy, corruption, their inattention to the Word and the will of God.

On His way out of Jerusalem (Matt 24:4-36) Jesus appealed to His disciples to be prepared and watch and pray for His return. 

4. The Last Supper

Jesus reminded His disciples that His death, symbolised in the broken bread and the poured-out wine was the divinely appointed means for establishing a new covenant between God and man. 

5. Gethsemane

Here was the place where Jesus faced the greatest soul-tormenting experience that any human being could ever face. He persevered through the valley of extreme agony and finally submitted to the will of God. 

6. The Saviour On Trial

Friday. (Luke 22:41-65)

The next 12 hours moved with incredible speed.

Judas. His idea of salvation was based on political freedom. His unrealised expectation resulted in disappointment and eventually his suicidal death.

Peter. .His rash personality reflected his weakness (lack of self-control)

The religious trial. (Luke 22:54-71)

Many irregularities in the procedure of the trial proved the prejudice of the entire trial. It was totally illegal according to the system.

The civil trial. (Luke 23:2-25)

Pilate could find no fault in Jesus who also freely admitted that He was the King of the Jews. Pilate passed the responsibility on to Herod. Jesus never answered any of the questions put to Him by Herod.

Jesus then had to suffer more torture and humiliation before being sent back to Pilate.

The crowds, motivated by the Pharisees, called out aloud, “Crucify Him . . . .”

Pilate was very confused, trying to find a way out of his dilemma. He was convinced of the innocence of Jesus. But he was overwhelmed by the persistence of the Pharisaically inspired mob. He even tried their ritual of washing of the hands to prove his own innocence in the murder of an innocent person. He ordered the soldiers to scourge Jesus once more and surrendered Jesus into the hands of the chief priests and scribes and the uncontrollable crowd.

Conclusion

The rest of that historical event is well known.

The questions about the purpose and the consequences of the event are answered in what the Gospels tell us.

Did it really happen the way the Bible tells us?

Why did Jesus allow Himself to be treated in this way?

Why did He not avoid that terrible cross? He could have called 10,000 angels

What purpose was there in Jesus being put to death? Or allowing the world to witness such a barbaric and viciously cruel way of punishing such a good Man.

Faith in the storms of life

Mark4:35-41

40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Mark4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Faith Hope and . . . the greatest of these is LOVE –

However, Faith and Hope also have an important place in our salvation.

What is faith? It is probably the most difficult component of our spiritual makeup.

“Religious faith is what we believe that agrees with the truth of the Bible and of the events and doctrines contained in it. . . .”

By grace you are saved though faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,

Without faith there can be no forgiveness of sins, and no holiness of life; and they who are justified by faith, live and walk by faith throughout their lives here in this world.”

Heaven is something to die for. .

Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Mark gives us a rapid view of the teaching ministry of Jesus as He used parables to help His followers to comprehend, but especially to His disciples to exercise the element of faith in their spiritual development.

Mark deals with some of the fiercest enemies of the soul: the storms of life, demonic activity and, death. Here we will look at THE STORMS OF LIFE 

1 “That day. . .”

Mark 4:34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."

His disciples had the advantage of being personally instructed in everything necessary for salvation.

That same day their understanding of faith would be put to the test.

A. Where Is Jesus When We Face Our Storms?

Jesus was asleep; he slept through a serious and life-threatening storm.

37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped

The hardened fishermen became alarmed at the fury of the storm.

Meanwhile. . .

38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher,. . .

“Teacher”? How slow they were to learn what the Word of God says concerning the very situation that they were facing! (The greatest teacher we have is the Word of God.)

. don't you care if we drown?"

Put yourself in their shoes!

And what about the other boats? There were also other boats with him.

B. We Are Never Alone

When we face our storms, there are other people watching us and listening to us. What do they think about our “faith”?


Even as the moon has no light of its own; what we see from the moon is a reflection of the sun.

We are like a mirror-reflection of what is in our hearts When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are a reflection of the holiness of God.

What people see in God’s people is their concept of the kind of God the Christians believe in.

Living in close proximity to other residents in our communities makes it important for us to be alert to the distractions and the reactions caused by our storms.

“What you are speaks so loud – they’re looking at your walk, not listening to your talk” Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2. To the rescue!

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

There is no doubt that everyone of us here today, is facing a storm of some kind.

Do you believe that Jesus can calm your storm?.

He gave His disciples many parables to help them to understand what faith is and how to put faith to work.

40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Faith has to be put to the test. You will only know how strong or weak your faith is when you go through the storms of life. The greater the storm, the stronger the lesson and the better your faith will grow.

• Don’t ever give up, you’re on the brink of a miracle
• Don’t give up remember God is still on the throne 
• Don’t give up, remember you are not alone. 
• Jesus may be sleeping, but while He is with you in your boat, your boat will not sink.

When you call on Him, He will answer you and He will calm your storm.

3. No Faith!?

The importance of faith cannot be overstressed.

A living or saving faith not only believes the great doctrines of Christianity as true, but embraces them with the whole personality; will, emotions and intellect; and it becomes the source of sincere obedience to the divine will, displayed in life.

41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

How do we face the storms of life?

A. “Who Is This?”. . .

We are much more educated about who Jesus is and what He is capable of doing than what His disciples were.

I can understand their terrifying experience even when and while Jesus was with them in the boat. But . . .

By being filled with the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God, we, being the temple of the Holy Spirit have every reason to believe that BY FAITH in His Word, we can face every storm of life because God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you’.

No matter how fierce the storm, he will be there for you.

But you have to go through some trials to prove to yourself that your faith is getting stronger so that you can believe that whatever you ask in the name of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour; . . . Listen to how Jesus puts it:

John 15:7-8 IF you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The question is: How’s your faith? Do you believe that Jesus means what He says?

“I BELIEVE LORD, PLEASE HELP MY UNBELIEF”


By Pastor Ron Roux

Keys to unlock the doors of opportunity

Acts 16: 16-34

“Pleasure in the job leads to perfection in the work”(Aristotle)

Paul was a “mentally talented” /intelligent man.

He was a learned man in Greek Philosophy & Jewish Law, but he found Someone far greater than Philosophical Reasoning and Religious Rituals.

He met Jesus Christ and his life was turned up-side-down.

People have a misconception that spirituality and intelligence cannot blend together-it’s either or.

The mental and spiritual aspects are separate entities of the human body, but they can co-exist.

Paul is a classic example that it can.

He devoted his life, time, energy, mental talents to spreading the Gospel.

He was able to explain deep Theological truths in simple layman’s language, so that people can understand and implement it.

Even though the Gospel was simplified, some still found reason to argue and to be skeptical.

You must have a spirit of discernment-some are trying to win you over to their beliefs, it’s not that they want to know the truth.

 3 Keys to unlock the doors of opportunity

•         Prayer
•         Praise
•         Persecution

Prayer- Verse 25

Be faithful in the gathering of prayer sessions with other believers and by yourself

Jesus will make His Presence known (

Be  intentional-if there are no prayer groups in your workplace/neighborhood/family –start one!

Divine act-supernatural things happen when we pray

Praise –Verse 26

It lifts up the down-cast spirit/burdens

It opens the door for God to visit with us (He resides in the praises of His people)

It breaks yokes and sets people free

It creates opportunities for miracles

Persecution

Mathew 5:10-12

There are Cost implications to serving Jesus, but the rewards outweigh it .

Persecution is a cost you must pay if you want to be His disciple; some are paying with their lives/die, but they count it a joy

It prepares the way for miracles-as in the case of Paul

It prepares the way for provision-as in the case of Joseph

It prepares the Way for expansion-as in the case of the early church

It prepared the way for salvation-as in the case of Jesus

Don’t sit on the ash heap when you are persecuted at your workplace, in the family, neighborhood-

Start praying for them

Start praising God in the midst of the difficulties

Paul & Silas were imprisoned not for any wrong-doing, but for rebuking /reprimanding the slave-girl.

Her owners had them arrested because it messed up their finances

Why did Paul rebuke her when she spoke the truth?

Her heart did not agree with what her mouth was confessing (Romans 10:8-10**)

If she did she would not have been a fortune-teller

Conclusion

A great door for ministry is opening. Therefore:       

• Guard yourselves
• Be Steadfast in faith
• Be courageous
• Serve and do everything with love for God and His creation
• Endure persecution by changing your perception about the circumstances & situations to it
• Stay positive by committing your feelings/emotions to the Lord. Don’t become weighed down by it stand up and stand out in the midst of the persecution.

Paul took pleasure in His work as a servant of the Gospel. How about you?

By: Pastor Alicia Lawrence