Sermons 2008
Word of God
| MAY 2008 |
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Hear God Speaks
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4 May 08 | |
| 11 May 08 | ||
| 18 May 08 | ||
| 25 May 08 | ||
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4May 2008 Suffering as a blessing in disguise Pastor Phillip Lee What is suffering ? All of us will avoid suffering, we dread and will retaliate against suffering. No one will choose the path of suffering. All of us want the path of happiness and prosperity . The results of suffering, however, sometimes help us to discover our human nature. We can start to focus on this issue of suffering by looking at Christ and how his suffering precisely reveal to us how suffering can be a blessing in disguise . Confession of Judas Judas have allowed money to control his life. In modern living, very often, we are working harder, seeking higher standards and more material wealth. Are we like Judas? When the materialistic nature of Judas was exposed, Judas realized and confessed to the betrayal of Jesus with his life. We are also faced with the multitudes of uncertainties, that even our wealth fluctuates with currency, pricing and commodities and the changes in the economic conditions. Take heed in the Word of God be restraint on money and do not hope on riches: Matt 27:4
4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." 5So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Psalms 62:10
10
Do not trust in extortion Proverbs 23:4
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Do not wear yourself out to get rich; 1st Timothy 6:17 17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Peter’s denial of Christ and confession Sometimes we are not as strong as we think we are. In Peter’s case, we can see that circumstances have a tendency to evoke certain responses. Peter is ruled by the circumstances of the time and environment- changing with it. Hence Christ suffering is a real test for Peter. In the same way, when we are faced with problems and trials, where do we stand and how firm do we stand against the tides and the currents of change? We can, however stand firm, by making a positive confession for Christ and be blessed. Peter acknowledged Christ in Matt 16:15-16 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[b] the Son of the living God." Peter re- affirmed his commitment to Christ Matt 26:33-35 33Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." 34"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." 35But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. But in the last part, at the time of testing Peter succumb to lying and denial to save his own skin. Peter Disowns Jesus Luke 22:57-61 57But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
58A
little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." 59About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." 60Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62And he went outside and wept bitterly. Suffering brings false accusations We can be swayed by popular opinion and do what is popular instead of what is right in God’s sight. Just as Pilate yields to the multitudes instead of defending Jesus even he knew Him to be the truth. It takes Pilate’s wife and her troubled conscience and torments to reveal the truth to him. Luke 23:4 4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." Matt 27:19 19While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." Suffering brings reconciliation Very often, in times of sufferings and common tragedies, families and even country are brought closer together. In times of sickness and death, many relationships that we take for granted or that have been ignored due to our active and busy schedule are brought to the focus. In the case of Christ’s suffering, Herod and Pilate became friends. Luke 23:12 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. Suffering leads to freedom We need to analyse suffering constructively and do not hate the situation, blaming the government, the system for our sufferings. We need to bear and forebear- love our family, love one another for the glory of God. Just like Jesus took the place of sinner Barrabas, indirectly giving freedom to another /other prisoners on the cross. Suffering should not lead us to hate but to freedom instead. 1st John 3:15 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. Luke 23:43 43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Suffering reveals covetousness In the suffering of Christ, the true nature and human character i.e soldiers are revealed and confirmed. The true character of the soldiers’ covetousness and the centurion’s spiritual awakening are the 2 extreme response towards the suffering of Christ. Luke 3:14
14Then
some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" John 19:24
24"Let's
not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get
it." Luke 23:34 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[e] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Luke
23:47
11 May 2008 Demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God Pastor Tom / New Life Church Philippines 11 May 2008 As we step into the last days, it is time to lift up our eyes and look towards God. He will supply everything that we need. 1st Corinthians 2:4-5 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Some people thinks that being rich, would solve their problems, but we know that even all the money in the world cannot bring you the joy, and on the contrary , your problems may multiply. In some singles, they think that by being married, their spouse will be the solution to their need. However, we see families struggling to give time and meeting needs. What are you anxious about?- we see cyclone in Mymmar in 2008 and tsunami in Aceh in 2004 killed many. God is not glad with the death of His saints who are precious in His sight. God is equally sad with the loss of lives (without knowing God) in calamities. So looking at the church today, we have to ask ourselves the question- have we preach/evangelise to the lost? We are stepping into a time for the demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God, even in the secular media. Demonstration of the spirit in healing and in deliverance. But we must first start from where we are and wherever we maybe- from our world -be it where we live, the marketplace, where we work, for students the campus ..etc. We look at the saints of God in the past, David Livingstone…, their preaching have make a difference to the world for Jesus Christ today. We must allow the spirit of God to move through us. We are not here for ourselves and we must have the heartbeat of God. When people are dying without knowing God- we should move out of our convenience zone into a new area of reaching out, preaching, teaching and demonstrating the Spirit and Power of God. By our own, we are limited but we must remember who make us and who call us and who anoint us. Our faith should be on God and not on us. We have seen revival in US in Florida recently Apr 2008 where they minister to people in wheelchairs in Starbucks and Walmart- also scars removed, people with oxygen dependent lungs breathing freely again , people with back problems/ metal plates able to bend again. We are seeing the secular media showing the sick healed and demon possessed people set free. In Luke 4:18, the spirit of God is upon us. 14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16He
went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he
went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
17The
scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the
place where it is written: One thing that is missing is the power of God. Like Paul of old, he is not ashamed of the Word of God and the power of God to salvation. Christians means to be like Christ so we have to do what Jesus do. Be not just hearers but doers. Jesus was a teacher, healer and He did miracles as recorded in the gospels. His acts and presence demonstrated his love for his disciples even as He seldom uttered I love you to them. We have to bring the presence of God to the highway, the bye-ways and marketplace. Jesus have said the works that I do you will also do and greater works than this will you do. John 14:12 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God can be achieved when we focus on the 3 Ps: Presence of God Power of God Provision of God Presence of God You know without a shadow of a doubt that in the presence of God there is fullness of joy. In Psalms 16:11.
11 You have made known to me the path of life; As a church, we must desire the presence of God, and not be just a civic or social club meeting week after week. We must step into the presence of God and bring joy to others. When the presence of God comes – it overtakes our lives and all our other priorities. As a church we should wait upon the presence of God to come and linger in his presence. One day in the House of the Lord is like a thousand years. Nothing I desire more than to dwell in the House of the lord all the days of my life.
Power of God The Power of God grants us freedom. Binding up wounds and pulling down strongholds. As in Jesus times, most of His miracles were done outside the church – woman with issue of blood, Bartholomew, 10 lepers, turning water into wine, walking on water, multiply bread and fish. Our struggle is also against Satan and we should know that the devil also come to church with motives of distraction and evil intentions. Sometimes, it is controversial to speak in tongues and it may not be easy for some , but it is not impossible. We should not be confined. God created all living creatures but He have never specifically created sickness and diseases. God desire to bless us. John says I pray about all things that you may prosper and in Galatians, we have the power to be rich in Him. God delights in prosperity. El Shadaai – remember you are not bless until you bless others. Provision of God God is going to turn things around- happiness depends on the circumstances but joy comes from an inner reality. This joy is the hope of glory. We cannot withhold because everything belongs to Him. God wants to fix your lives, enlarge your hearts, anoint you and use you, set you free if you are bound. And through you, to touch hearts and set other free. As God has anointed each one of us to pray for others, laying of hand and also in other ministry- so do not wait- go forth. So if there are areas in your life that you are struggling- business, marriage, children and extended family, you need to see a demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God. We are entering a new season of signs of miracles, healing and we need to empower the Spirit of God and His Power to do great exploits and see God’s provision.
25 May 2008 TBA
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