Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sunday Re Cap (21st Sept 2008)

Rediscovering the Plot
Ps Samuel Hari

Introduction

Gen 1:28

Be fruitful and multiply...

John15:16

You did not choose me...to bear fruit and that your fruit shall remain...

But our life hardly seems like it? Still struggling to pay the bills, health issues, etc. Why?

Could it be that we have lost the plot somewhere along the way? Let's take a look at some examples and see if some of these reflect our own lives...

Case 1

Num 21: 4Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

Loathes-despise, disgust, find repugnant.

  1. The children of Israel were eating manna day in and day out and began to despise it. They were bored with it to the point that it became disgusting. They were looking for something new!

  2. We know that manna is a reflection of the word of God in our lives and sometimes, we can come to the point that we can say that we know it all and there's nothing new. We begin to seek out the sensational and even pastors, ministers are pressured into producing “new” revelations. Christians go seeking after “revelations” and “signs and wonders” like looking for the next great fix. The Bible talks about this in the end times...2 Tim 3:5,7; 2 Tim 4:3,4. We've had cycle after cycle of this and what do we get at the end of every cycle? Ministers falling, people disillusioned, etc.

  3. Sometimes, we have lost the plot just like the children of Israel.

  4. The wilderness is like our day to day lives. We face heat all day long from work, school, business, family...if we're not careful, our soul can get discouraged and we begin to despise the word! The last thing we look for when we're in trouble is the manna I.e. when we/our children fall sick what is the first thing we do? Look for doctor or do we get together and pray? Even if someone comes and tells us to pray or read the word when we are going through a tough time, we kind of nod but are disgusted on the inside...

  5. Nothing takes the place of a personal or simple bible study of 2-3 people blocks...manna! Low immune system...

  6. Manna is so basic! We want more! In our physical body we need the basic building blocks; we may not get in in our daily diet so we have food supplements that have what our body needs daily. If our body lacks the basic nutrients, our immune system will weaken or breakdown. Then we are prone to infections, disease, critical illnesses. Same thing on the spiritual basic building blocks...


To be continued....

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Sunday Re Cap (14th Sept 2008)

The Final Judgment Matt 25:31-46

This chapter begins with the importance of preparedness (prayer/Holy Spirit) to the importance of using our talents (training, discovery) & ends with action!

How can we summarize what is being said here by Jesus?

These are real events that will come to pass & it's important that we as believers are aware of what Scripture says:

  1. Sheep & goat often grazed together at the same field but at the time of shearing they would be separated. Ez 34:17-24

  2. There will come a time where God will separate the true followers & the pretenders & unbelievers. Explain:

    1. how do we know which category we fall in?

    2. The real intention of this scripture is not to condemn us but to alert us now & regularly where we stand.

  3. Inward righteousness will & must produce outward obedience (fruit of the spirit) Phil 2:13; The fruit of the spirit is produced. The fruit is the character/nature of God, the gifts are the personality of God. One thing to confess “We are the righteousness of God, a new creation”, etc. Luke 4:18-19

  4. The real evidence of what we believe is the way we act. How?

    1. Treat every person we meet as if they were Jesus. Receive GRACE show MERCY? Parable of the unforgiving servant. Mt 18:23-25. The only way is to walk in the spirit.

    2. How was Ananias able to go and pray for Paul? In the natural he struggled!

  1. What we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus.
  2. 1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
  3. Feed hungry, house the homeless, look after the sick. How well do our actions differentiate us from pretenders & unbelievers?
  4. These are acts of mercy we can all do. Does not depend on wealth, ability, intelligence, simple acts freely given & freely received.
  5. We don't have to quit our jobs, wait for retirement, go to Bible school before God can use us.
  6. We have no excuse to neglect those in deep need.
  7. Cannot handover to church, government, Jesus demands our personal involvement. Is 58:7
  8. V 40: Who are brothers & sisters? Who is my neighbor? Luk 10:27-29
Love for those in need (love & serve) glorifies God by reflecting our love for Him & our conviction of the finished atoning work of Christ on the cross.

v46: When Jesus' warns us against unbelief, He is trying to save us fr agonizing punishment.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Sunday Re Cap (7th Sept 2008)

When we are PROPERLY RELATED to God we are BLESSED
by David Lai

Haggai 2:19
Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, the vine, and the fig-tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive-tree have not brought forth; from this day will I bless [you].


When we are properly related to God, blessing is our portion.

Lk 24:50
50 And he led them out until [they were] over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.


Points To Note:
  • Mt 5:3-12: The Beatitudes Blessings
  • Mal 2:2: What happens if we are not properly related
  • Hag 1:7: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.
  • Ezra 1:1: The commission to build the house of the LORD
  • Ezra 3:10-13: The foundation laid.

THE THREE THINGS THAT CAUSED THE PEOPLE TO LOSE THE BLESSING DURING THE TIME OF HAGGAI:

1. OPPOSITION

  • Hag 1:4-5: opposition-may cause us to lose sight of the blessing. Don't stop walking in the spirit.
  • Neh 2:19-20: Opposition
  • Ezra 6:15: temple completed in 4yrs. However, They were there for a total 17yrs.

We are here to build the temple. Put God's interests first. 1 Pet 2:5 we are living stones being built into a spiritual house.

2. COMPARISON-impossible?

  • Hag 2:1-5
  • v3:when we compare we never get started.
  • Do not despise small beginnings, days of youth. More importantly how do we look in the eyes of God?
  • v6-9: the future church. The greater glory.

3. UNCLEANNESS

  • v10-14: We cannot hide from God. No pretensions, hypocrisy. Receive the new life/mind/creation through the atoning work of Christ on the cross.

Conclusion
Let us examine our hearts to see if any one or all three of the things listed above are preventing us from being properly related to God. Let us enter into the BLESSING!


Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Sunday Re Cap (31st August 2008)

5 FACTS ABOUT GREAT OPPORTUNITIES by Luis Cabral

1 Cor 16:9

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
  1. Great Opportunities are better than little problems. 1 Cor 16:9 (adversaries-little problems)
  1. Great Opportunities need to be discerned. Eph 5:14-17
  1. Sometimes Great Opportunities come in small packages. Only 12 men in all! As a result, ALL in Asia heard the gospel Acts 19:7, 10
  1. There is a great God behind Great Opportunities. Let God take your “except” and make it exceptional I.e. “I don't have anything to offer “except”....Acts 19:11-12
  1. Great Opportunities require great prayers. Adversaries, enemies, etc. Acts 19:23-