28th February 2010

Psalm 23
1-3 God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows; you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. 4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. 5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. 6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

God created us in his own image. He is a God who works and then rests. When we rest we therefore honour the way God made us.

What is your alternative to work?
Work is the thing you do – the office you go to, the street you work on, the children you look after. When you rest do you just change what you are doing, clean, sort out?

Be honest what exhausts you or takes you beyond your limits?

Where and when do you rest and how?

When and how do you play, do something just for leisure?

Matthew 11
28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

FAITH

Genesis 22
Abraham Tested

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied."The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!""Here I am," he replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

“Here I am” is a powerful statement. When did we say “Here I am” to God and in what circumstances?

“Worship”, is it significant that Abraham worshipped God before he offered a sacrifice? Today do we need to worship God before we offer him our lives? Do we need to realize who he is?

“God will provide” we all know it is true with our lips, it is easy to say, do we believe it and can we remember times in our lives when it has been true?

Finally would we give up everything to follow Jesus, the old chorus says, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back?

I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!

Psalm 23

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Remember that whatever today throws at you, you are safe in the hands of God. He loves you, you are precious to him. He will always be thee for you!

Self Denial 2010 - Giving to support mission.

Thanks for Their Gifts
Philippians 4:10-19
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Describe a time when you have supported a fellow Christian (financially or otherwise). How did it feel?
Paul is writing to the believers in Philppi, thanking them for a gift, he refers to their giving in verse 18 as “An acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” These are words taken from the old testament sacrificial laws, which were part of their worship.

Do you see your giving as an act of worship, something that gives glory to God.
Paul goes further and says by means of encouragement that “My God will meet all of your needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ.”

Are these just nice words or a true experience of what happens when people give sacrificially?
In verse 17 Paul says that “he is looking for what may be credited to their account.” This was more than just a financial transaction, Paul looks beyond the gift he had received, to see the effect of sacrificial giving on the Philippian church.

How has sacrificial giving effected us?

2 Corinthians 8 verses 1 to 7

Generosity Encouraged

"And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

We see that the Macedonian believers are held up as an example. These two passages of scripture possibly refer to the same event as Philippi is in Macedonia (see map)

If Paul was writing today what would he have to say about the example of the believers in Clapton?

Kingdom Living - How to get it!

Galatians 5:19-26
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.


The first thing that was shared was that “those who belong to Christ” have crucified their sinful nature. This was expressed in terms of dying to the old habits and lifestyle that we had before coming to Christ. A decisive event. An event in the past.
Is this a past event (when we became Christians) or something we need to do every day.
Have we chosen to crucify all that doesn’t please God in our lives.
What do you think about John Stott’s quote “The first great secret of holiness lies in the degree and the decisiveness of our repentance,”

The second step suggested was to “keep in step with the Spirit.”
What do you think this means?
Think of the idea of an army on the march. Doing the right thing in the right place at the right time. How easy do you find this in your Christian walk.
Do you rush a head of God, or do you lag behind, do you try and be close enough to hear what the Holy Spirit wants to say then obey Him immediately.

How easy is it to live for God’s glory alone. Holy living is about giving glory to God not being seen by others as a great or Godly person. However we must continually build each other up and encourage each other.

Go out into this week and live lives that glorify God!

Galatians 5: 22-25 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Yesterday, today, forever you remain the same. Those others leave me, you will never, you are with me all the way. And though my faithfulness may falter you remain the same. Unchanging and true, dependable God where would I be without you.

Sometimes we sing those words in church, today, this week are you living in step with the Spirit of Jesus, trust him, learn to rely on him totally and he will never let you down. As you do others around you will see Jesus as the fruit of the Spirit is seen in your life.

Live this week in step with Jesus, spend time with him, read his word and then share his love with those around you!