18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
John 4:24 - "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
COME HOLY SPIRIT FALL ON ME NOW
Sung by: House of Heroes/GMF Netherlands & Myanmar Choir
Written by: Caroline Tjen (City Harvest Church)
Come Holy Spirit
Fall on me now
I need Your anointing
Come in Your power
I love You holy spirit
You're captivating my soul
And everyday I grow to love You more
I'm reaching for Your heart
You hold my life in Your hands
Drawing me closer to You
I feel Your power renew
Nothing compares to this place
Where I can see You face to face
I worship You in spirit and in truth
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues.11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment.
But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret?
31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. Love Is Indispensable
I suddenly noticed, as I was preparing and assembling this week’s material that the picture,
we have in Mark is similar to that of Acts.
As we saw last week Mark is eager to show us Jesus in action and after his brief
introductions with truncated accounts of some events, after the Baptism of Jesus and his
anointing with the Spirit, we see Jesus starts to preach Kingdom and repentance, calls his
disciples and then we have signs of the presence of the kingdom.
Acts 1 is Luke's link from his gospel to the current book and fills in a few details between
Jesus' Ascension and Pentecost.
At Pentecost we see the outpouring of the Spirit on those first followers, the Kingdom,
death and resurrection of Jesus being proclaimed, people repenting and being baptised.
What follows? Signs of the presence of the Kingdom!
How wonderful it would be if in our worship we listened to God, engaged with him, sought
his presence and the filling of the Spirit and then went out and showed signs of the
presence of the Kingdom!
I am not saying we don't but I think it is fair to say we are not showing the presence of the
Kingdom with the power we could or should. I am making a generalisation and issuing us
with a challenge.
Given where we are at and where the world is - back to the start - something needs to
happen! To that end we need real repentance and seeking God whole heartedly.
We are doing that today but what about in the 24 hours from midnight tonight in the
chaplaincy prayer vigil? I suggest we use that hour to look to the sovereign power of the
Lord to fall in an old but new way - here and elsewhere!
1. Calling the task force, part 1
- vv 16-19
[16] As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew
casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [17] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said,
“and I will send you out to fish for people.” [18] At once they left their nets and followed
him.
[19] When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John
in a boat, preparing their nets. [20] Without delay he called them, and they left their
father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
This passage has to be read in conjunction with John 1:35ff where we see the first
encounters Jesus has with some of the disciples, he calls formally now to follow him.
Interestingly as well, two of them, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, are described as having
been John's disciples!
So as Jesus calls them, these guys are already fired up at some level by the preaching of
John and have spent some time themselves with Jesus.
This then is not what we call 'cold calling' but something of an informed call to be disciples
of Jesus. They will discover they have a lot to change over the next three years
regarding their thinking and understanding of the mission of the Kingdom - shocks await
them.
There is also an immediate 'cost' in that they leave their employment in the hands of others
although I hastily add we see them fishing on later occasions and the last being in John 21
post resurrection.
So, as so often, we don't have a full picture - but then, it's not really
relevant, only interesting.
The reality then is that they have embarked on a three-year discipleship course which
maybe they part funded by doing some fishing now and again and, as it was a business,
hired men are mentioned in v 20, perhaps they had something from any profits the business
made!
Clearly there are changes; of a break from work and to some degree or other within family
life but the extent of it is never clear possibly because, again, it isn't that significant to the
message.
The message, for them, at this point is that they are going to have a change of
occupation - v 17.
What is your cost in following Jesus and what changes has it made to the way you shape, or
have shaped, your life, family, finances and career?
If little or nothing then what do we
mean by discipleship?
We note that later on Jesus is going to say that to follow him involves
taking up your cross to follow - that means sacrificial service!
2. Challenging the expected and confronting evil spirits - vv 21-28
[21] They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the
synagogue and began to teach. [22] The people were amazed at his teaching, because he
taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. [23] Just then a
man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, [24] “What do
you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—
the Holy One of God!”
[25] “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” [26] The impure spirit shook the
man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
[27] The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new
teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”
[28] News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
It's Saturday - the Sabbath, they are in Capernaum, they go to the synagogue and Jesus, an
untrained teacher, begins to teach. I say that because as far as we see Jesus has had no
formal training but given who he is establishes himself not just as a teacher but an
outstanding teacher!
He has a natural and apparent authority, v 22, and I suspect the folk actually understood
him not like the normal teachers of the law.
He was a breath of fresh air.
But then, what preachers and congregations dread, is an uninvited interruption.
On this
occasion it's not a little heckling or someone putting in their two penneth, this is rather
dramatic as a man enters and cries out . . .
We are told he has in impure spirit, the word also means, 'unclean'. There are three things
to note:
1. At that moment it has control of him
2. Jesus' presence is something of a threat to either the man or the spirit or both -
v 24a - have you come to destroy us?
3. The unclean spirit tells the truth - v 24b - I know who you are - the holy one of
God.
Without us going off on a tangent regarding demonisation I think what we need to see is
that this is disruptive and destructive. It stops Jesus teaching as he wishes and announces
truth in a way that is unhelpful.
Jesus, as we shall see a little later and in other passages, does not want his full identity
revealed yet - he has too much teaching to give to explain who he is before it is made more
public.
The latter actually only happens as the cross draws closer.
Jesus, v 25, rebukes the spirit and, with quite a do and a lot of noise, the spirit leaves him.
The result is amazement and explanation from all present - not criticism for healing on the
Sabbath, that's just around the corner!
What is significant is the question - v 27: what is this?
People are reacting and responding to
Jesus.
As Jesus had power and authority so does his name and preaching, praying and sharing in
his name. Beware and don't be shocked!
As we pray tomorrow in our prayer vigil let's pray for the power and authority of Jesus to be
manifest among us and through us - and more widely!
3. Caring and receiving care - vv 29-34
After Saturday worship and teaching off go the small group, more are yet to be called, to the
home of Simon and Andrew.
From drama in the synagogue we move to a domestic and homely setting but all is not well,
well, at least Simon's mother in law isn't - she has a fever and it's reported to Jesus who
heals her and before long lunch is on the table - so to speak!
Saved to serve - and the care Jesus showed enabled her to care for Jesus, her sons and
James and John.
This is a rare window of life amongst the disciples - Peter had a mother in law - I am told Les
Dawson used some of Peter's jokes - which means he was married and probably had
children.
This is an indicator of real life and what Peter was going to have to work and live
with as time goes on and he becomes a key leader.
This is true for others as probably all or most of the twelve would be married and families
and responsibilities. Jesus too, although single, had family responsibilities along with his
brothers and sisters for Mum Mary after Dad Joseph died.
Let's remember as we read this is
a real world with real people in everyday life with all its joys and complexities - just like you
and me!
When Sabbath ended, sunset, many in the village turn out to seek more of the healing care
of Jesus in all its ways for wholeness of life.
Perhaps the 'after sunset' reveals an unspoken fear the people held for those in authority
about work on the Sabbath an attitude Jesus will challenge in due course.
Jesus needs time to reflect and so . . . .
4. Communicating with 'base' and then further afield - vv 35-38
4. Communicating with 'base' and then further afield - vv 35-38
[35] Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and
went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. [36] Simon and his companions went to look
for him, [37] and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
[38] Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach
there also. That is why I have come.” [39] So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in
their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus isn't a super hero or lone ranger. He is the son of God and works in conjunction with
his Father in the power of the Spirit so, prayer and reflection were vital. Hence, a very early
start, still dark, and off he goes for solitude, refreshment and communication with Father
God.
What happens, his newly called disciples seek him out with a message, 'everyone is looking
for you'.
You're a hit and we can gain ground.
But no, no, no, his time of prayer has left him focused - we have to move on and keep on
doing so. I have to take the good news far and wide not just here and so the mission moved
out from Capernaum all round Galilee.
Two observations:
1. If the eternal son need time for prayer, refreshment in the spirit, to be kept
focused in Kingdom priorities, then so do we!
2. If our desire is to see people, communities and the world changed through
prayer then first and foremost we have to be changed through prayer and
respond accordingly.
God works as he pleases and it pleases him to work
through his children who act in faith. I add, sometimes he works without them
or despite them!
I will not tire of saying it 'your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven'.
That's what Jesus was probably praying that morning and maybe every morning. God gives
good things to those who ask but we are here for his glory, his kingdom and the honour of
his holy name.
5. Cleansing and containing
- vv 40-45
[40] A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you
can make me clean.”
[41] Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he
said. “Be clean!” [42] Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
[43] Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: [44] “See that you don't tell this
to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses
commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” [45] Instead he went out and
began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town
openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from
everywhere.
It's lovely, to see how this man comes and addresses Jesus in v 40. He is humble and certain
in his request to Jesus. There are no doubts in his mind - if you are willing, you can. Plain and
simple and bristling with faith.
Jesus' response is equally lovely and loving too and, equally brief - I am, be clean - and he is.
Like met with like.
No drama and no fuss but then it all goes pear shaped because this man does the opposite
of what Jesus asked - vv 43-44.
A sign of his delight and joy which is
understandable. From being outcast he was now able to be included in life but Jesus was
keen for it to be official and appropriate in accord with the law. Jesus, we see, upholds the
law but when necessary he challenges how the priests etc. used or misused the law. Subtle
difference.
The final verse demonstrates how his disobedience threw a spanner in the works for Jesus.
Jesus now had to avoid the crowds because the demand for a 'wonder worker' was growing
and we can understand but, we also have to understand that there is a whole agenda, for
Jesus, not just a healing one.
Jesus cared and cares for whole people.
Yes, he heals, yes, he calls for justice and care for
the marginalised but he also has a message of the Kingdom which has to be heard, and, be
heard it will.
Balance is needed and I say similar to what I said last week and that is that we, which
includes the church as a whole, can easily get out of balance with what we do and say.
Perhaps its back to prayer that is Kingdom focused!
Conclusion
If what we have seen over two weeks in Mark 1 is, more or less, plain sailing, Mark 2 brings
change and the start of Jesus being questioned, albeit silently, about who he is and his
authority. The intensity and opposition will grow.
In ministry we have times of plain sailing when all goes well and there is interest and growth
- we need to pray for these.
However, there are also times when we face opposition and
attack from 'unclean spirits' and opposition from within and outside the fellowships we
belong to.
I say it again - prayer and this time add, spiritual warfare, Ephesians 6:1ff.
Remember: who is reigning and has won the undefeatable victory and that therefore, in him
we are more than conquerors.
A little bit of a different track today and I am going to start with some pointers to refresh
our understanding of what is going on in the road out of Egypt (the Exodus).
Matters which
remain relevant though the OT and in not to dissimilar ways today! so
A foundation - this is God's world, he created it and loves it and through Jesus has opened
the only way for salvation and redemption of people and creation.
Personal response to
that love shown on the cross and commitment to live as part of God's plan and within his
kingdom are essential.
I also remind us that God judges sin and evil and the total victory over them is complete.
For
those in Christ there is no condemnation only salvation.
For those not in him there is danger
of condemnation. Thankfully neither you nor I have any say in the latter!!
Some 3500 years ago as God prepared to rescue the Children of Israel from Egypt where
they had become slaves over a good 400 year period he 'worked' in that world as he had to.
Let's also remember that although between then and now many things have changed in
unrecognisable ways, others remain very similar.
The ancient world of the middle east, and I am going nowhere else as that is the setting in
OT times, was full of spiritualities, deities and religions with all sorts of practices some /
many of which are around today! Included in those practices were human sacrifice and
fertility rites with prostitutes at the local shrine!
I also note, many in the modern western world do not take the forces of spiritual powers
seriously and dismiss evil spirits, demons and Satan - the Accuser. I am quick to add there is
a rise in a whole host of spiritualities and so called new age practices that take spiritual
power seriously and as such they should come with a spiritual health warning because there
is only one spirit who we should want influencing, guiding, healing us etc and that is the
Holy Spiritfrom God the Father sent in the name of Jesus.
Last week I read the first 4 of the 10 commandments about our relationship with God. These
were given months after leaving Egypt and are explicit in ruling out any and all other deities
or gods or graven images!
Considering this will, I hope, enable us to understand a little better what is going on as God
takes Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh with the statement - 'let my people go'.
1. Exodus 4:27-31 - The Lord keeps his word
[27] The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at
the mountain of God and kissed him. [28] Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD
had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.
[29] Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, [30] and Aaron told
them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the
people, [31] and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about
them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
2. Exodus 5:1-9 - Confrontation begins and life is made tougher
[5:1] Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the
God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the
wilderness.' ”
[2] Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not
know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”
[3] Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day
journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us
with plagues or with the sword.”
[4] But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away
from their labour? Get back to your work!” [5] Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of
the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.”
[6] That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of
the people: [7] “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let
them go and gather their own straw. [8] But require them to make the same number of
bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out,
‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' [9] Make the work harder for the people so that they
keep working and pay no attention to lies.”
3. Exodus 5:22-6:11 - The Lord reiterates his words of promise again
[22] Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on
this people? Is this why you sent me? [23] Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your
name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at
all.”
[6:1] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because
of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out
of his country.”
[2] God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. [3] I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to
Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to
them. [4] I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan,
where they resided as foreigners. [5] Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the
Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.
[6] “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under
the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you
with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. [7] I will take you as my own
people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who
brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. [8] And I will bring you to the land I
swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as
a possession. I am the LORD.' ”
[9] Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their
discouragement and harsh labour.
[10] Then the LORD said to Moses, [11] “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites
go out of his country.”
4. Exodus 7:8-18 - The Lord starts to fulfil his word
[8] The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, [9] “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a
miracle,' then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' and it will
become a snake.”
[10] So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron
threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. [11]
Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the
same things by their secret arts: [12] Each one threw down his staff and it became a
snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. [13] Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard
and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
[14] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh's heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the
people go. [15] Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront him on
the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. [16]
Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my
people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not
listened. [17] This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With
the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into
blood. [18] The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be
able to drink its water.' ”
5. Observations
Moses returned to Egypt with two massive revelations from God:
That he will set the suffering children of Israel free from Egypt - 3:7-8
His name YHWH, I am who I am - 3:14
A key trait with Pharaoh, like many, is he is stubborn and has a hard heart which will not
soften despite all that happens.
Pharaohs thought they were gods but this one is encountering the one true and eternal God
- the great I am - YHWH
Egypt, as with many other nations, had more gods than you could count!
As such much of Egyptian life was dominated by sorcery, astronomy, magic and many practices
which we would describe as occult - belonging to the darkness. New age may be apt
description except nothing is new.
Egyptology may be fascinating and their knowledge and skill astounding but every aspect of
life was dominated by the gods, superstition and the other things I have just mentioned.
The plagues which are not pleasant or comfortable reading, demonstrate that the Lord is
revealing the total impotence of the Egyptian gods, were unable to do anything, and the last
part of Numbers 33:4 says it was against them:
for the LORD had brought judgment on their gods.
A little detour is needed:
• Remember - God judges sin and evil - think the cross!
• We may not like what we see or read in this account and it isn't easy -think the cross!
• All the evil we see in the world now - think the cross!
Also, Pharaoh is being shown unable to do anything other than keep changing his mind - go -
you can't go!
At plague 4, gnats, the court magicians back off and tell Pharaoh, Exodus 8:19
“This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as
the LORD had said.
He is then left alone in his own stubbornness and hardness of heart for another 6 plagues
which cause misery and devastation!
When God says he will act, he does and the God who loves and cares is also one who judges
evil and sin - more of that next week with the final plague and the Passover.
It is clear here, and in the rest of scripture, that the powers of darkness cannot overcome
the Lord and on the cross they are finally and utterly defeated and what we see now is their
final death throws.
Through this and on into the wilderness God is showing to the Israelites, step by step, who
he is and His power and authority. They see and they don't see!
Jesus had a similar journey with the 12 where they couldn't see where he was guiding them
and kept going off with their own ideas even though they could see his power and
authority! Take heart.
6. Considerations
There is a rise in the use of astrology, tarot cards and involvement in new age spirituality
and some of it is seen as fun or means for healing, guidance and the like.
Think - If God
through his word and Holy Spirit is not pulling our strings then what or who is?
We must look to see what comes between us and God in all aspects of life: guidance /
wisdom / world-view / hopes and aspirations. The word of God is to be our lamp and light
for guidance, wisdom, our source of hope and encouragement.
What are we being 'sold and told' be it in the press, TV, adverts or social media.
We need
questioning and discerning lives and minds. The gods of this age?
Question me and others who deliver messages on the word of God - there is no infallibility -
I, and others, will get it wrong but . . .
Be careful in weighing up scripture as we have to be
or should be.
In all this is a warning not to automatically except the mind and status quo of the day - it
keeps changing and can be far from right.
Scripture brings us a consistent approach to life
and in calling a man, Abraham, and in forming a nation with a land and his word, all suggests
God was moulding and trying to model a way of life which would be the best. Sin and
wandering away kept interfering, so ultimately and at the right time, God, through the true
and faithful one acted to change it all -think the cross!
The overall heading, Evil Confronts God's Salvation and Deliverance,
7. Mark 3:22-30 - Jesus Spells it out
[22] And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by
Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
[23] So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can
Satan drive out Satan? [24] If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot
stand. [25] If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. [26] And if Satan
opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. [27] In fact, no one can
enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong
man's house. [28] Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander
they utter, [29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven;
they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
[30] He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
This is a salutary passage.
Jesus who on the cross will pay the price of sin, defeat death and accomplish the defeat of
evil and all spiritually powers and dominions is accused of being the head devil by the
official religious leaders from Jerusalem.
His tone is strict and belies the ultimate insult they have given. Later at his trial he is accused
of blasphemy which is not much different.
Jesus' claim here is that he is the strong man and is going to demonstrate that, by way of the
cross although he doesn't state that.
When they crucified him they thought they were doing God's work by getting rid of him.
When he rose from the dead, he shows that he has done God's work of dealing with sin and
death.
Evil cannot, could not and will not stand in the way of God's salvation and deliverance!
Conclusion
I realise I have fed out complex and intertwined thoughts - ring me for clarification if needed.
Also, pray, look again - notes on line - and ask the Lord to show you the things I might have
left hazy! He's better at it than me!
I add, I have been looking at these matters for years and still struggle, I guess others would
say the same, fine and no problem.
See that God works with consistency and we need to
live in honesty before him.
In and through all we see God is sovereign and he will complete what he has begun, sorry,
which he began at creation. It will all pan out under his good and perfect plan of salvation.
Trust him and walk in faith in what you know and understand, reshape it as needed. All that
our heavenly Father asks is that we live in faith with him. Faithfulness, not success or
perfection of understanding
[16] “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: [17] “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.' [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” [20] Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. [23] And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. [24] But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” [25] At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [26] Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. [27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. [28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Talk
Roof Raising Rhetoric
Matthew 11:16-30 Introduction
Title = Straight, strong and convincing talk - but mine is 3 R's!
There is a tendency by us and others to have Jesus fit our understanding and preconceived ideas of who he is and what he is like and that doesn't really work well. When we look and listen, we must hold in our thinking the he is the eternal son of God, Lord, creator, saviour and king of eternity - and of course a friend we are on first name terms with - Jesus!
1. Reflection on society - vv 16-19 [16] “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: [17] “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.' [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
In this case the critics of the message of the Kingdom first spoken of by John The Baptist and now being taught more fully and comprehensively by Jesus. He says they are like children in a playground and setting up a 'loose, loose, can't get it right and please' scenario. The music is bright, you won't dance. The tune is sombre and you won't mourn. - no winning.
John the Baptist had a frugal lifestyle and he was deemed as demonic; Jesus goes and joins in feasts and banquets and is called a glutton and drunkard. - no winning / no pleasing some, at least.
Has anything changed?
If and when people are against the good news of Jesus and the kingdom there is nothing you can say and do that will get you / us anywhere.
They'll knock the church / Christians / the bible etc with anything that's disparaging and usually far from the truth. Fault finding rather than truth seeking! I am sure you have come across it and in the next section we see it from another angle altogether.
2. Rough on the locals - vv 20-24 [20] Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. [23] And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. [24] But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.
I note that this section is not included in the cycle of readings, only what comes before and after - the compilers don't want you thinking about tough words from Jesus on a Sunday morning - well, we are going to!
Jesus said it and it is important on 2 counts:
• Jesus calls people to repent and follow him and that those who reject are under condemnation - Romans 8:1 states the reverse Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, And the passage goes on to say how we are being changed as we live in the sovereignty of God and the Holy Spirit who adopts us a his children.
• It is good for us to remember when people don't want to hear or know about Jesus that he was rejected too and actually by some of those who were the closest to him. He lived in Capernaum for a time and had healed people - they had known the power, presence and love of God but even then didn't want to know! We looked at Jesus prayer in John 17 a few weeks ago, I go back to v 14: I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. And a little earlier the same evening there in the upper room on the night before the cross John 15:19: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. I also recall that the three parables of Luke 15 - lost coin / sheep / son were told because his critics (Pharisees and teachers of the law) accused him of eating with eating with tax collectors and sinners!
Jesus can speak a little bit 'rough and tough' - so let's get away from 'gentle Jesus meek and mild' because he isn't in the way we often use those words!
Back to these verses and what he says about the places where he has been ministering and that his words are uncomfortable, we can also remember that love and justice are two sides of the coin which reflects the image of God.
Finally on this section: when it came to the cross Jesus bore in his body, once and for all, our sin so we can be called to repentance and faith, receive purification from sin and be deemed righteous and therefore able to enter the presence of God now and in eternity.
3. Revelation to his followers - vv 25-26 [25] At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [26] Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. It follows on and brings us to something that I think we'll be looking at next week from another angle and of course the phrase 'little children' are those who humble themselves, whatever their background, and listen to and receive Jesus.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law thought they knew it all and that only they got it 'really right' - Jesus begs to differ and is on and continuing on his disciple training course. We saw last week in Acts 4:13 that when Peter and John were cross examined after the healing of the lame man by these self-same critics and opponents of Jesus When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Jesus did a good job and do you know what? He still does!
4. Reality of the Father and the Son- v 27 [27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Again, it follows on and these words are a bold declaration but fully in accord with the message of Jesus in the Gospels. I go back again to the upper room and to another passage we looked at a while back, John 14:6: [6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” No wonder so many people wriggle and squirm and will throw out anything to discredit all things Christian because once you start to acknowledge statements like this to be true, well, atheism, agnosticism, cynicism start to collapse and fall apart.
5. Refreshment for life and service - vv 28-30 [28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I haven't said this for a bit but now seems a good time to do so as it is all through this passage and that is that so much, if not all, of what Jesus says centres on him and the Father through him! Come to me . . . And I will . . . . 7 occurrences of I / me / my in just 3 verses!
Next, I wonder how these verses are seen. Is Jesus saying - when everything is bad and falling apart come to me and I give you some rest? I certainly think that is all part of it but not all of it.
The 'more' is that this is a general invitation to all in all circumstances and like all that Jesus says it is about our starting and ongoing relationship with him. He seems to be saying with me you'll be in a better state all round and we'll keep tweaking it when it goes out of shape!
Observe the following: • The world and life without Jesus is wearying and we get loaded with a lot of unnecessary baggage - burdens. • At the heart Jesus says learn from me, take on who I am and what I give for life, caring and service in the Kingdom then we receive not just rest, but rest and refreshment so we can continue. • Then there is the phrase by which I suggest we get misled - I am gentle and humble in heart. The word for gentle is that which was used for an animal that had been tamed and with reference to humble, Jesus humbles himself - see Philippians 2:5-11.
In his book 'Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' C S Lewis casts Jesus as the lion called Aslan. When asked by Lucy if he is safe she gets the answer, “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” Jesus is the King and he is all loving but as we saw earlier not to be trifled with.
• Then we have the other part about Jesus' yoke and his burden. If you have your bible look at v 30 - easy and light - now that sounds good, we can just chill. No! • Remember what a yoke is. It is used to carry whatever and go round you neck and shoulders. Jesus the carpenter says it is well fitting. It won’t rub and cause sores and blisters it's carved and moulded to fit. Light means well balanced. Not 5kg and 10kg but 7.5kg on each side!
Boats, planes, ships and lots of other things have to be well balanced or they sink, crash or wear out. Even car wheels are balanced to maximize tyre wear!
• Jesus 'burden' is that of the good news about him and the Kingdom with focal point at the cross and resurrection. Then, with all our other cares / anxieties / burdens whatever, we listen to Peter's encouragement: 1 Peter 5:6-7 [6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
[7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Then, in response to the invitation from Jesus we follow and keep on following him: your kingdom come, your will be done . . . . Conclusion No messing with Jesus. He's the best friend we can have and so much more. Many have been using this time of lockdown, and now by many of us more reserved freedom, as a time to get closer to Jesus and understand a bit better all we are when we are in him and our prayer is that we continue in that. Trusting, following, receiving at the gracious and loving hand of our Heavenly Father. Refreshed and renewed to continue from where we are to wherever we end up through it all. He sustains - bread / water / vine / light / good shepherd etc. And we shall conclude our time this morning reflecting on John 15:1-17 - below
With the Good Shepherd passage ringing in our ears we may also be scratching our heads thinking 'that's a bit fishy, or rather woolly, as it doesn't sound quite right with our usual understanding of sheep. A shepherd may think something else but often we consider sheep to be rather silly creatures and that doesn't quite match the picture in John 10.
Remember - the sheep in the passage are middle eastern and somewhat different to those we are more familiar with and I speak as a Brit!
Back then - no enclosed fields, completely different breeds and unlike ours they are not driven but led and will wander along behind the shepherd and only now and again, wander off! I remember being on a beach in N Africa and a shepherd with his flock all happily wandering along.
Sheep were often named and at night they might well be in a small enclosure and again, sometimes, the shepherd would sleep across the entrance so he was effectively the gate as well as the shepherd!
2. The Shepherd and the Leaders
There are 62 references to shepherd and 60 to shepherds in the Bible and the majority of them are to do with the Lord or the leaders of the people!
Leaders in terms of: the king and his associates from Saul onwards, and also, the Priests in the Old Testament and, them and the Pharisees and other religious leaders in New Testament times.
The very first reference to shepherd is in relation to God in Genesis 48.
Biblically Shepherd is a huge and significant picture and this morning we have read two important OT passages on this theme:
Psalm 23 - The Lord's my shepherd
Ezekiel 34 where God castigates the leaders for gross dereliction of duty and care for the people & there is a parallel passages in Jeremiah
But in Ezekiel 34 we hear that The Lord will, once again, one day, take the role of the shepherd of His people.
3. The Shepherd and Jesus
When Jesus stands there with the Pharisees listening along with the rest of the crowd, and declares in John 10:11 that he is The Good Shepherd, he isn't picking up a quaint and familiar notion about shepherds and sheep, although he is doing that, he is drawing on a then 2000 year old theme involving God and his people.
He is declaring that this is who he is, the Good Shepherd, the rightful leader of the people of God and, the Lord himself.
Every time he says 'I am' it is emphatic: I, I am . . .
Let's consider briefly the following ideas from the passage in John 10:
- I am the gate - the only way into the fold and as such am also guardian of my flock
- The rest are false and charlatans, thieves and robbers - they are up to no good
- I know my sheep, they know me, I know there names, they hear me and follow my voice - it is a relationship
- They will not follow a stranger but run away - to be in Christ and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit is the best place to be - flee anything else
- I have come so you can have life to the full, actually, overflowing - this is what the shepherd and guardian of our lives wants for us, life that overflows with good things.
- Jesus, the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep and it becomes more powerful a few verses later on in John 10:18 where he says of his life:
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up againHis death is sacrificed for us and taken up, again, for us!
4. The Shepherd and us
Before the final and direct considerations I want to raise a link to something key in scripture, and not least the teaching of Jesus' which we have been considering, the Kingdom of God and the Kingship of Jesus. It lies under and alongside much we have thought about his morning and has bubbled up. Reflect on the lines of: the Shepherd King and the sheep that form the flock and the Kingdom.
Going more directly to this morning's theme, consider:
- How we, you and I relate to the Shepherd? Do we drop our levels of independence to depend more on him?
- How He provides for our every need - this governs our view and outlook on life and our lives
- How we stay true to him in all we are and do
- Staying away from that which damages our relationship with him and cause us to stray
- How we share in the role of shepherding and growing the flock: care / invitation / encouragement
Morning all, it's a lovely new day today in Civray, south of Poitiers in France and we praise the Lord for it!
I hope you managed to watch the Worship on line yesterday morning. We enjoyed it very much and it felt as if we were all together as the children of God exalting His holy name.
There was no technical problems either phew!
If you have missed it, these were the readings followed by Steven's notes.
Psalm 98:1-9 Psalm 116:1-19 Luke 24:13-35 Acts 2:36-42
1 Peter 2:1-9
The Beginning of the New Era of the last Days Acts 2:36-42
Introduction
I have chosen to look at the Acts reading this week because herein we see what is effectively the birth of the Christian Church and the advent of the Kingdom of God breaking in and reaching out to all nations. Possible only because of: Passion / Resurrection / outpouring of the Holy Spirit This passage is part of public declaration of the good news of the Kingdom and brings us to the first part of the responses to it.
Currently church is functioning in a different mode and beyond the lockdown, as with many other things, we may find ourselves making changes - who knows? Going back to day 1 and just beyond, takes us to a very different place and not one we can go back to, but, we see principles that are still relevant and of which we need frequent and good reminders, so, under each of my 5 headings. I am going to list 5 reminders!
1. What God Did - v 36
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." 1st reminder - God has to be in what we do and say and we should allow His voice to be heard through 'us'. Lord and Messiah - the truth but highly subversive in the then political setting and for the next 250 + years Caesar - was solely lord in the Roman Empire and later would be worshipped as such Messiah - another king - see above and remember at the trial of Jesus 'we have no king but Caesar' Today the message of Jesus, if not subversive, is certainly a serious challenge to people's allegiances: is Jesus King in our lives? To call Him Lord, biblically, is declaring Him to share the divinity of God!
2. What the People asked - v 37
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 2nd reminder - we need to be drawing a response from people, not provoking but drawing a response. Too many will either stay where they are or go with the flow.
I think it was the revivalist preacher 'George Whitfield' who asked, after his evangelist students returned from preaching assignments, something like 'Were any converted? - did any react against you?' If they answered 'no' to both questions then he told them they hadn't preached the gospel! We are called to be catalysts - people, who in the name of Jesus, bring forth responses from others! So, they asked what they should do!
3. What Peter told them - v 38-39
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." 3rd reminder - we need to guide people clearly. I think at times we soften matters too much.
Peter mentions three things to glance at
1. Repent for forgiveness of sin which comes in the name of Jesus and of course through what he did on the cross 2. Be baptised - a sign of belonging and identifying with Jesus and what he did on the cross and through resurrection - so, in baptism we die to sin and self going into the water, and rise to new life as we come up and out. 3. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who: a. is God's mark of ownership on us, b. the one through whom we are adopted as God's children c. brings the presence of Jesus to us d. enables us to be the people we are called to be in Christ
There are scriptures behind all of those and if you would like them so you can think more about that, then please email me.
4. What Peter warned them - v 40
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
Peter's sermon wasn't short or quite as we have in Acts 2!
4th reminder - we all need to be realistic about society in general and the world at large. We need to see what is good and wholesome but we must also see what is bad, corrupt and down right evil.
5. What happened - vv 41-42
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
5th reminder - when God is at work through his people, lives and ministry should be changing as we go along.
The first part reminds us of the huge response on the day of Pentecost - a massive start to the new era of the Kingdom. The second, reminds us it isn't just about 'bottoms on pews' as the saying goes. There was an 'active' response from those people They involved themselves in a host of activities which would inform and energise them in their faith and living of the Christian life Being mature in Christ is not automatic but takes input, effort and output!
Conclusion
Someone wrote a parody based on the 1st verse of the hymn, 'Onward Christian soldiers'. I picked it up through David Watson:
"Like a mighty tortoise Moves the church of God Brothers we are treading Where we always trod"
And I'll stop there as that was the relevant part of the quote. Right now we are not! That is, treading where we've always trod!
The matters to consider are, amongst others: 1. How are we moving and changing 2. What you and I are doing so we grow in our faith and then can contribute more to the life of the people of God 3. The new paths we have to tread now and along the way and, 4. right now how we can use this different mode of gathering to invite people who may now enter a building! This is a new and different opportunity , so, invite family, friends and whoever - share the posts and videos - let's see what God does and says as we move on and out. In the end we are here to glorify Him as was on that first day when Peter preached the gospel.
You are all welcome to watch the service LIVE and here is the link
My bible reading notes brought a new explanation to the passage in Matthew 8:23-27.
1- I just thought it was a normal storm, it wasn't because: 'the language used indicates that the lake was being stirred into a frenzy, threatening to overwhelm them totally'
2 - I learnt a new cultural element, 'to the Jews, the sea represented primeval forces of chaos, the home of monsters, and it was only the saving power of God that could bring calm.'
3 - A new idea is offered, Jesus told his disciples off. How could they lose their faith in Him, after all He has done (many healings and he'd just resurrected a widow's son in Nain)? Jesus could not have died in a storm in the middle of his messianic work. However it takes discipline to ban fear in my life and I don't think that I have managed to get it right. I know that Jesus says 'Do not worry'... when I hear bad news or reports, I tend to worry first and then I'll give my worries to Jesus, on the foot of his cross. A prayer for this time of turmoil
Father God, You are Love.
We know through your Word that you are in charge and we put our trust in you.
We thank you for Jesus, our Saviour who walked on the earth to let us know about your awesome plan of redemption for us, your creatures.
Father, Jesus obeyed you and died an awful death on the cross for us even though He was sinless.
Father, we repent of our sins and we declare that the body and blood of Jesus made a sacrifice that satisfied God once and for all. Thank you that our sins are forgiven and blotted out forever. Keep us on the right path, guided by the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, help us in this time of turmoil! Save the lost sheep and the rebellious ones. We call on You, our King and we ask you to heal all those who are ill or wounded, and heal our Land and the nations.
Give wisdom to all the leaders of the countries and open the eyes of their hearts that they may hear your voice and see your Glory.
