Jerusalem is presented as both the political capital of Israel and the spiritual capital of the Jewish people, while also being a holy city for Christians and Muslims. The focus is not on politics but on a biblical perspective, noting that Jerusalem is mentioned over 800 times across Scripture, from the law and prophets to the gospels, epistles, and Revelation. This establishes Jerusalem as a central theme in God’s redemptive plan—past, present, and future. The foundation of the teaching begins with Isaiah 62, which speaks of God’s commitment to Jerusalem: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent… till her righteousness shines out like the dawn” (Isaiah 62:1).

Jerusalem in Biblical and Prophetic Perspective

Jerusalem’s importance is rooted not in natural or strategic reasons but in God’s sovereign choice. Historically, the city has been attacked and conquered many times despite lacking obvious military or economic advantage. It has only intermittently served as an administrative capital, yet remains central because God has tied His purposes for humanity to this place. Psalm 122:6 commands, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may those who love you prosper,” revealing that prayer for the city is both obedience and participation in God’s plan. Jerusalem is portrayed as the intersection between heaven and earth, where key biblical events unfolded.

Spiritual Significance and Ongoing Conflict

Because of its spiritual significance, Jerusalem remains a focal point of global tension and conflict. It is sacred to multiple faiths, yet its biblical identity is unique, deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments. Despite centuries of limited development under various empires, the city has gained renewed global attention in modern times, particularly since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The ongoing disputes surrounding the city highlight the tension between natural realities and spiritual truths. Jerusalem’s prominence is not accidental but reflects its role in God’s unfolding plan for the nations.

The teaching emphasises that the command to pray for Jerusalem is not merely symbolic. It is rooted in the understanding that peace in the world is connected to peace in this city. God’s purposes for Israel and the nations converge here, and believers are invited to align with those purposes through prayer.

Restoration and the Work of God Through History

The restoration of Jerusalem is illustrated through both prophecy and historical developments. Isaiah 62 promises that the city will no longer be desolate but restored and rejoiced over by God. This restoration is seen in part through the establishment of Christ Church in the 19th century, initiated by the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People. Completed in 1841, it became the first Protestant church in the Middle East. Leaders such as Michael Solomon Alexander played a role in re-establishing a Christian presence in Jerusalem.

This movement contributed not only spiritually but also practically to the rebuilding of the city through hospitals, schools, and economic development. Over time, it helped lay foundations for a renewed church in Israel, with many congregations tracing their roots back to this early work.

Conclusion: A Call to Prayer and Participation

Jerusalem stands at the centre of God’s redemptive plan, from Abraham to the return of Christ, and from ancient prophecy to modern restoration. Isaiah 62 calls believers to persistent, watchful prayer, while Psalm 122:6 commands prayer for its peace. The city’s past, present, and future reveal that it is not just historically important but prophetically essential. Peace in Jerusalem is linked to peace in the world, and its future is intertwined with the future of humanity.

There is an invitation to participate in God’s purposes through prayer, recognising that when God calls His people to intercede, it is both a privilege and a responsibility. The promise remains that God will establish Jerusalem as a praise in the earth, and those who respond in faith align themselves with His unfolding plan.

capacity women have to be fruitful in many areas of life. For a long time, that chapter felt

overwhelming to me, but I’ve come to realise it actually reveals the fullness of what God

created us to be. We are designed with the ability to bear fruit in multiple roles and seasons.

Fruitfulness, however, is always the result of a process over time. Just like in nature—some

fruits grow quickly, while others take years—there is always a growing season. In the same

way, the Bible compares the Word of God to a seed. The promise is the seed, and the fruit is

when that promise becomes reality.

1. Be in the right place to receive the promise from God

In Genesis 18:9–14, Sarah receives a promise from God: “Sarah your wife will have a son.”

What stands out is that this word was personal and specific—God called her by name.

The text says Sarah was listening from the entrance of the tent. She didn’t plan the moment,

but she was in the right place when God spoke.

This teaches us an important principle:

We must position ourselves to hear from God.

Being “in the tent” represents spending time in His presence. Too often, we expect God to

speak into rushed, distracted moments, but He calls us to intentional time with Him. The

question is: Where are you spending your time?

God still has promises to speak over your life—but you need to be present to receive them.

2. Believing in the promise while in the waiting room

When Sarah hears the promise, her immediate response is laughter. Not joy—but disbelief.

From her perspective, it was impossible.

And honestly, many of us respond the same way. We know our limitations, our past, and our

circumstances—so when God speaks something beyond that, it doesn’t make sense.

But that’s exactly what makes it a promise.

If it fit within your ability, it wouldn’t require God. Just like a seed must be planted in the soil before it grows, the promise must go through a

hidden process. Jesus explains this in Matthew 13, where the seed falls on different types of

soil. The condition of the soil—the heart—determines the outcome.

During the waiting season, we often:

●Try to “help” God

●Lose hope and give up

●Redefine the promise according to our own expectations

Sarah experienced this too. Yet God didn’t disqualify her—He worked in her heart.

Your past, your doubts, or your circumstances do not cancel God’s promise. But your

response in the waiting season shapes who you become.

Hebrews 11:11 says:

“By faith even Sarah… was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful

who had made the promise.”

3. Persevere in the promise of God

Waiting is not passive—it is a place where something is being formed in you.

Perseverance means refusing to give up, even when nothing seems to be happening. As it

says in Hebrews 11:1,

“faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what

we do not see.”

During the waiting, Sarah didn’t just receive a promise—she came to know the God who

made the promise.

This is the beauty of the process. You cannot rush it, but you can grow through it.

Romans 5:3–5 explains this progression:

Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

The waiting room is not wasted. It produces something in you that prepares you to carry the

promise

The question is: What is the waiting season producing in you?

4. Rejoice in the promise of God

In Genesis 21:1–7, the promise is fulfilled. Sarah gives birth to Isaac exactly as God had

said.

The same woman who once laughed in disbelief now laughs with joy. She says,

brought me laughter.”

“God has Her story becomes a testimony. What was once personal becomes something that

encourages others.

What if, instead of doubting in the waiting, we choose to trust and rejoice in the God who

promises?

Conclusion

We are created to be fruitful—but fruit always comes through a process.

Like Sarah, we are called to:

●Be in the right place to receive God’s Word

●Believe His promise, even when it seems impossible

●Persevere through the waiting season

●And rejoice when He fulfills what He has spoken

Hebrews 12:1–2 reminds us to run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus—the authorand perfecter of our faith.

Final Declaration

“I am created to be fruitful.”

“I will trust God in the waiting room.”

“Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

moment we celebrate and then move on from. When you truly understand what happened at 

the resurrection, nothing can remain the same.  

1. Experiencing the risen Christ restores great joy 

After Jesus’ death, the disciples were in a place of confusion, fear, and grief. In John 

20:11–16, Mary Magdalene is standing outside the tomb crying. Even after seeing angels, 

her sorrow does not lift—because pain can cloud our vision. 

We see that: 

● Jesus meets us in our pain 

● Jesus calls us by name 

2. Experiencing the risen Christ changes fear into peace 

In John 20:19, the disciples are gathered behind locked doors because they are afraid. Fear 

caused them to hide, isolate, and protect themselves—something we still do today. 

But suddenly, Jesus stands among them and says, “Peace be with you.” 

This shows us a powerful truth: 

● Locked doors cannot keep Jesus out 

Even the places we’ve shut off—emotionally or spiritually—are not closed to Him. 

● His peace is different 

In John 14:27, Jesus promised a peace not based on circumstances, but on His 

presence. 

And in Philippians 4:6–7, we are reminded that His peace guards our hearts and 

minds even in uncertainty. 

● Peace comes with a mission 

In John 20:21, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 

He doesn’t just calm their fear—He commissions them. 

We receive peace not just to feel better, but to go and bring that peace to others. 

3. Experiencing the risen Christ opens your eyes to new hope 

In Luke 24, two disciples are walking to Emmaus, discouraged and disappointed. They say, 

“We had hoped…”—their expectations had been shattered.  Jesus walks with them, but they don’t recognise Him at first. This shows us: 

● Jesus walks with us even when we don’t see Him 

He doesn’t avoid our confusion or disappointment—He enters into it. 

● He restores perspective through truth 

As He explains the Scriptures, their understanding begins to change. 

● Encounter brings revelation 

In Luke 24:30–32, when Jesus breaks bread, their eyes are opened and they say, 

“Were not our hearts burning within us?” 

Real change happens not just through information, but through encounter and intimacy 

with Jesus. He turns disappointment into renewed hope. 

4. Experiencing the risen Christ gives you a new chance after failure 

Peter is a powerful example of failure. After denying Jesus three times, he is filled with guilt 

and returns to his old life. 

But in Mark 16:7, the angel says, “Go, tell his disciples and Peter.” 

Peter is specifically mentioned—showing that Jesus had not given up on him. 

In John 21:1–14, Jesus meets Peter while fishing. He repeats the miracle of the catch, 

invites him to eat, and restores him. 

We see that: 

● Jesus meets us even when we go back to old patterns 

● He restores relationship before responsibility 

● Failure is not the end of your story 

Peter goes on to boldly lead and preach to thousands. His failure became the starting point 

of his calling. 

This is what happens when we truly encounter the risen Christ: 

He meets us in our pain and restores our joy. 

He steps into our fear and fills us with His peace. 

He walks with us in confusion and restores our hope. 

And He redeems our failures and gives us a new future. 

The question is not whether Jesus is alive—we know He is. 

The real question is: Have you encountered Him personally? 

Because when Jesus steps into your life, nothing remains the same. 

Revelation 1:17–18 says:

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’”

In these words, we find three powerful truths that have changed the world—and still change lives today.

1. JESUS DIED

Jesus says, “I was dead.” These simple words carry incredible weight. Jesus truly died. His death was not symbolic or exaggerated—it was real, physical, and brutal. The Gospel accounts make this very clear.

Mark 15:37 tells us, “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.”

John 19:34 describes how a soldier pierced His side, and blood and water flowed out.

Luke 23:46 records His final words, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”

These are eyewitness accounts. Jesus really died. But the deeper question is: Why did He die?

The Bible tells us that Jesus came as a sacrifice for sin. From the beginning, this was His purpose—to take upon Himself the punishment that we deserved.

Isaiah 53:4–5 says: “He was pierced for our transgressions… the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

His death was not an accident. It was an act of love.

1 John 3:16 says: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.”

Romans 5:8 adds: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The cross is the greatest demonstration of God’s love. Jesus went through suffering and death so that we could be forgiven, restored, and brought back into relationship with God.

2. JESUS IS ALIVE

But the story does not end with death. Jesus goes on to say, “I am the Living One… I am alive forever and ever!”

This is the foundation of the Christian faith—Jesus did not stay in the grave.

There is a powerful story of a young man working in a newspaper archive. The files were divided into “living” and “dead” people. One day he found a file labeled “Jesus Christ” in the dead section. Looking around carefully, he moved it into the living section—because he knew it was in the wrong place. And he was right.

Luke 24:5–6 declares: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!”

The resurrection is not a side message—it is central.

1 Corinthians 15:14 says: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

But Jesus appeared to many after His resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:5–7 tells us He appeared to Peter, the disciples, and over 500 people at one time. There were too many witnesses for this to be dismissed as myth or legend. Even in modern times, people have investigated the evidence. Journalist Lee Strobel set out to disprove Christianity, but instead became convinced that the resurrection is true.

Today, millions of people across the world still testify to the same reality: Jesus is alive. He is not just a figure in history—He is present, active, and real.

3. JESUS HAS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY

Jesus declares, “I hold the keys of death and Hades,” revealing His ultimate authority over life, death, and eternity. Just as keys represent ownership and control, Jesus is showing that He alone determines what happens beyond this life. Through His death and resurrection, the power of death—once the greatest weapon of darkness—has been completely broken. As Acts 2:24 says, “it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him,” and Colossians 2:15 reminds us that Christ has “disarmed the powers and authorities… triumphing over them by the cross.” What looked like defeat became the greatest victory—death itself was defeated.

Because of this, fear no longer has the final word. Hebrews 2:14–15 tells us that Jesus has freed us from the fear of death, and His promises in John 11:25–26 and John 14:19 assure us that those who believe in Him will live, even after death. While loss is still painful, for a Christian it is not the end but the beginning of eternal life with Christ. The resurrection gives us hope not only for eternity but also for today—we can experience freedom, healing, restoration, and purpose because Jesus is alive and reigning.

Today is an opportunity to respond—to open our lives to Christ, receive His forgiveness, and step into the new life He offers. This is what it means to become one of God’s “Easter people”—living in the reality that Jesus has conquered death and offers life forever.

when Jesus entered Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. The crowds welcomed Him with 

joy—waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna” (“save us now”). 

At first, it looked like a victory celebration. But Jesus arrives not on a war horse, but on a 

donkey—revealing a Kingdom built on peace, humility, and sacrifice. 

Palm Sunday is full of paradox: 

● A King enters, yet rides a donkey 

● He is praised, yet heading to the cross 

● The crowd shouts “Hosanna,” yet later cries “crucify Him” 

● Victory looks like defeat 

Matthew 21:1–11 “Jesus enters Jerusalem fulfilling prophecy as the humble King, and the 

crowds respond with praise, asking, “Who is this?” 

1. Conquer with Obedience 

Before entering the city, Jesus gives His disciples specific and unusual instructions—to go and fetch a donkey. It may not have made sense, but they obeyed, and everything happened exactly as Jesus

said. This shows that breakthrough often begins with simple obedience. 

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight.” 

Romans 1:5 “…the obedience that comes from faith…” 

Obedience doesn’t always feel logical. The disciples could have questioned or delayed, but instead 

they trusted Jesus—and their obedience became part of fulfilling God’s plan. Conquering in God’s 

Kingdom starts with trusting His voice over your understanding. 

2. Conquer with Humility 

Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, not a war horse, fulfilling prophecy and challenging 

expectations. 

Zechariah 9:9 “See, your king comes to you… gentle and riding on a donkey.” 

In a world that defines power as dominance, Jesus shows that true authority is expressed through 

humility. 

Philippians 2:6–8 Jesus humbled Himself, taking the nature of a servant and becoming obedient to 

death—even death on a cross. 

Humility is not weakness—it is strength under control. Jesus didn’t lose power by humbling Himself; 

He revealed His true nature. 

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” 

In God’s Kingdom, you rise by going low. 

3. Conquer by Surrender, Not Force 

Palm Sunday looks like victory, but it leads to the cross. Jesus did not come to take power—He came to give His life. 

Matthew 16:25 “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it…” The world teaches us to hold on and 

fight for control, but Jesus shows that true victory comes through surrender. 

Luke 9:23 “Take up their cross daily and follow me.” The cross, which looked like defeat, became the greatest victory in history. The Apostle Paul expressed this surrender powerfully: 

Philippians 3:7–9 “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ…” 

Philippians 3:13–14 “Forgetting what is behind… I press on toward the goal…” 

Paul had status, influence, and success, yet chose to surrender everything to gain Christ. 

You don’t conquer by holding on—you conquer by surrendering. 

4. Conquer by Recognising the King 

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd celebrated—but many misunderstood who He truly was. They saw a prophet, but not all recognised Him as the Saviour King. 

John 1:10–11 “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” It is possible to 

be close to Jesus and still misunderstand Him. 

A. W. Tozer said: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing 

about us.” 

Matthew 16:15 “But what about you?… Who do you say I am?” 

Recognition is more than excitement—it is revelation. We must see Jesus for who He truly is, not just for what we want Him to do. Palm Sunday reminds us that God’s way of victory looks different from the world. 

We conquer by: 

● Obedience → Trusting God’s voice 

● Humility → Choosing to go low 

● Surrender → Letting go of control 

● Revelation → Recognising Jesus as King 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good

news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that

captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn

that the time of the Lord’s favour has come

These verses, first spoken to people coming out of Babylonian captivity, were fulfilled in Jesus and still apply to us today.

1. We Need to Be Liberated

Isaiah 61:1 “…to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”

Isaiah was declaring a new future of freedom. This connects to the Jubilee year, where debts were cancelled and slaves were set free.

Leviticus 25:8 “Proclaim liberty throughout the land…”

Jesus fulfilled this promise:

John 8:34–36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

The gospel is a message of power where people can be truly set free from whatever is holding them—sin, fear, pain, addiction, and brokenness. God wants to bring freedom not only spiritually, but in every area of life: body, mind, heart, and spirit. Today is the day to receive that freedom. When we are set free, we are able to follow Jesus, live as His disciples, and enjoy His kingdom.

Key Truth: We must first experience freedom before we can bring it to others.

2. We Need to Be Mobilised

Isaiah 61:1–2 “…to bring good news… to comfort… to proclaim freedom…”

Jesus didn’t just announce the good news—He sent His followers to carry it.

Luke 9:1–2 “He gave them power and authority… and sent them out…”

Luke 9:6 “They went… preaching the Good News and healing everywhere.”

Jesus focused especially on the poor, the hurting, and the overlooked. Every movement of

revival has reached those people first. John Wesley observed that ordinary, working people

are often the most open to the gospel. This means stepping out of our comfort zones. We are called to go to the broken-hearted, the forgotten, the prisoners, and those in need—not just with words, but with compassion, listening, prayer, and love.

We are not just saved from something—we are sent to someone.

3. We Need the Holy Spirit

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me… because He has anointed me…”

The Holy Spirit is the one who empowers true freedom. Jesus Himself ministered in the power of the Spirit, and the early church transformed the world because they were filled with Him.

Many Christians live only in the “natural” relying on logic and human effort. But Christianity is supernatural. We are not just physical beings—we are spiritual, and we are called to live in relationship with God through His Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, ministry becomes effort. With the Holy Spirit, there is power, transformation, and real freedom.

Key Truth: The same Spirit that empowered Jesus is available to us today.

Conclusion

Isaiah 61:1“The Lord has anointed me…”

God wants to bring freedom to the world through His people.

Three Keys:

● Be liberated → Receive freedom in Christ

● Be mobilised → Go and bring freedom to others

● Be empowered → Depend on the Holy Spirit

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The prophet Isaiah spoke to a people who had experienced deep national collapse during the Babylonian captivity. Yet God promised them restoration and a new future. Isaiah 60 describes the glory of God overcoming darkness and the rebuilding of what had been broken.  From this chapter, we see what it will take to rebuild Christian foundations in homes, communities, and nations.

1. It Will Take Action

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

Rebuilding requires movement. God calls His people not to remain passive but to arise and shine. Jesus gave a similar command in:

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Christians are called to influence the world around them. Rebuilding begins when people take action.

2. It Will Take Vision

Isaiah 60:2 “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”

Rebuilding requires spiritual vision.

Proverbs 29:18 teaches: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Isaiah calls God’s people to see several realities.

A Vision of the Darkness Around Us

A Vision of the Glory of God

A Vision of Nations Encountering God

A Vision of Leaders Encountering God

A Vision of Families Being Restored

A Vision of Joy

3. It Will Take Financial Provision

Rebuilding requires resources. The Israelites returning from Babylon faced enormous costs—travel, labour, and rebuilding cities and the temple.

Yet God promised provision.

Isaiah 60:5 “The wealth on the seas will be brought to you; to you the riches of the nations will come.”

Isaiah 60:6–7 describes caravans bringing gold, incense, and offerings for God’s temple.

Isaiah 60:17 “Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron.”

God promised not scarcity but abundance for the work ahead.

4. It Will Take Focus and Dependence on Jesus

Isaiah 60:19–20 “The Lord will be your everlasting light… your sun will never set again.”

The ultimate source of light is not human effort but God Himself.

Jesus declared:

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Rebuilding Christian foundations requires continual dependence on Christ. His presence, His truth, and His power guide and sustain His people.

Conclusion

God often begins great movements with small beginnings.

Isaiah 60:22 “The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.”

God specialises in taking what seems small or insignificant and turning it into something powerful and influential.

Even when the situation appears dark, believers can arise and shine. By taking action, receiving vision, trusting God for provision, and remaining focused on Christ, it is possible to rebuild Christian foundations in homes, communities, and nations.

The call remains clear:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

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When World War II ended in 1945, much of London lay in ruins. The Nazi Blitz of 1940–41, followed by V1 flying bombs and V2 rocket attacks in 1944, caused devastating destruction. Nearly 30,000 civilians were killed, more than one million homes were destroyed or damaged, and 1.5 million people were left homeless. It took decades for London to be rebuilt into the great international city it is today.

Today, however, another kind of rebuilding is urgently needed. Across our societies there is a moral, social, and spiritual breakdown. Individuals need rebuilding. Families weakened by tension and divorce need rebuilding. Integrity in public life must be restored. Divided communities and nations must be rebuilt.

God is the great builder and rebuilder. No matter how far gone a person, family, or nation may seem, God can bring transformation. This is a central theme in the final chapters of Isaiah.

Isaiah 58:12“ Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”

This verse speaks powerfully about rebuilding societies that have lost their foundations.

1. IT IS TIME TO RAISE UP OLD FOUNDATIONS (Isaiah 58:12)

For many decades, cultural and political forces have attempted to remove Christian influence from public life. Yet the foundations remain. Britain and many nations in the Western world were built on the values of the Bible and the Christian faith.

Throughout history, courageous believers helped shape society:

* Celtic Christian leaders such as Cuthbert spread the gospel across Britain.

* Reformers like Ridley, Latimer, and John Knox called nations back to biblical truth.

* Social reformers including William Wilberforce, Lord Shaftesbury, Elizabeth Fry, and William and Catherine Booth transformed society through Christian conviction.

* Great preachers such as John Wesley, George Whitefield, and Charles Spurgeon brought spiritual renewal to entire nations.

* Missionaries like William Carey, David Livingstone, Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward, and C.T. Studd carried the gospel to the nations. These men and women laid spiritual foundations that shaped societies. Their example shows how Christianity can influence every area of life and culture.  Those ancient foundations still exist, and they must be raised up again.

2. IT IS TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY (Isaiah 58:12)

The rebuilding will not happen automatically. God calls His people to take responsibility.

History shows that change often begins with individuals who respond to God’s call. When Jerusalem lay in ruins, God stirred the heart of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 1:4 “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept… for some days I mourned and fasted and prayed.”

Nehemiah mobilised others, and despite great opposition the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in only 52 days.

Throughout the Bible, individuals responded to God’s call in public life—Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Esther, and Deborah. Today there is also a need for Christians to serve faithfully in every sphere of society: In politics and public leadership, In business and employment, In education, law, healthcare, and media In ministry as pastors, evangelists, teachers, and missionaries

When believers shine the light of Christ in every area of life, society begins to change. Families Must Take Responsibility Rebuilding also begins in the home.

Ezra 1:5 “Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin… everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord.”

Strong Christian families influence communities and nations. When homes are filled with faith, unity, and discipleship, they become powerful centres of spiritual influence.

The Church Must Take Responsibility

The church is not primarily buildings or institutions but communities of committed followers of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:18 “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

When the church lives as a holy community—pursuing righteousness, justice, and mercy—it becomes a powerful force for transformation.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers that spiritual battles are real: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood… but against the spiritual forces of evil.”

Every member matters in God’s work—men and women, young and old, families, singles, new believers and mature Christians. Each person has a role in rebuilding what has been broken.

3. IT IS TIME TO HAVE FAITH REBUILDING WILL HAPPEN (Isaiah 61:4)

This promise is not uncertain—it declares that restoration will come. Even when societies seem spiritually devastated, God can raise up a new generation filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to rebuild what has been broken. The situation may be dark, but Christ is the light. Society may seem broken, but God is still able to restore. Generations may have drifted from truth, yet the ancient foundations of God’s Word remain. God’s promises and His power have not changed.

Conclusion

The foundations are still there. The call now is to rebuild.

By aligning our lives with God, strengthening our families, and living as the church in the world, believers can help restore what has been damaged and raise up new generations built on biblical truth.

God still calls His people to be “Repairers of Broken Walls” and “Restorers of Streets with Dwellings.”

The time has come to rebuild.

One Saturday night he disguised himself as a homeless man—old clothes smeared in grime, hair and face dirty—and early Sunday morning he sat on the church lawn as members arrived. No one recognised him. Many avoided him. The evangelism bus drove past. Only one elderly church leader knelt beside him and asked how he could help.

Later that morning, freshly showered and dressed, he preached about showing God’s love. The congregation fell silent when he asked who had helped the vagrant outside. Then he revealed: “It was me.” Conviction swept the church. Tears flowed. That day marked a turning point. The church became known not for its size, but for its love and compassion.

Real caring Christianity is one of the greatest needs of our time. God has no time for fake religion that majors on outward appearance but neglects inward reality. Jesus warned: Matthew 16:6 “Watch out for and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Isaiah was fierce in confronting false religion, especially in Isaiah 58, where people expected God to answer them simply because they fasted. Isaiah 58:2–3 They appeared eager for God, yet their lives told a different story.

1. Real Christianity Is Totally Different From Hypocritical Religion

Isaiah 58:5 “Is this the kind of fast I have chosen… only a day for people to humble themselves?”

Outward rituals cannot compensate for inward rebellion. Isaiah exposes the contradiction:

● You can’t do whatever you want

Verse 3: “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please.”

● You can’t exploit people

Verse 3: “And exploit all your workers.”

● You can’t be angry and violent

Verse 4: “Your fasting ends in quarrelling & strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.”

● You can’t be judgmental and critical

Verse 9: “Do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk.”

Verse 4 concludes: “You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”

It is useless to appear holy while living selfishly, exploiting others, or harbouring bitterness.

True faith must be consistent in private and public. Children and grandchildren must see

authentic Christianity lived out daily.

2. Real Christianity Means Caring For People In Great Need

Isaiah 58:6–7 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen…”

True spirituality expresses itself in practical compassion.

● Opposing injustice

“To loose the chains of injustice… set the oppressed free.”

Speak against exploitation, trafficking, racial hatred and antisemitism. Stand against

systems that crush people.

● Feeding the hungry; “Is it not to share your food with the hungry…” Support famine relief abroad and practical care at home.

● Helping the homeless; “Provide the poor wanderer with shelter…” Care about those without stability or refuge.

● Clothing the naked; “When you see the naked, to clothe them.” Give generously and thoughtfully.

● Looking after your own family; “And not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.” Christianity begins at home—caring for young and old, not abandoning the weak.

Jesus reaffirmed this in: Matthew 25:37–40 “Whatever you did for one of the least of these

brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Christianity is not an over-spiritualised faith detached from real needs. Jesus said: John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world.” And also declared: “You are the light of the world… You are the salt of the earth.”

The gospel includes salvation, forgiveness, healing, deliverance, the power of the Holy Spirit—and compassionate action.

History proves this. Evangelical believers transformed society:

● John Wesley helped restore moral and social conscience in Britain.

● William Wilberforce led the fight against slavery and championed reform.

● William and Catherine Booth and the Salvation Army confronted child exploitation and human trafficking, helping bring legislative change.

Real Christianity has always been both spiritual and practical—prophetic and compassionate.

3. Real Christianity Brings Many Blessings

Isaiah 58:8–11 “Then your light will break forth like the dawn… The Lord will guide you always… You will be

like a well-watered garden.”

When faith is authentic and compassionate:

● Light breaks forth in darkness

● Healing comes

● God answers prayer

● Guidance is given

● Strength is renewed

● Satisfaction replaces emptiness

● Flourishing follows

“The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”

Great blessing follows right living and right doing.

Real Christian faith is not “bless me and mine,” but “Lord, bless me that I may bless the world”—beginning with family, church and community.

It is not about merely attending meetings, but meeting needs.

Not just turning up for church—but being the church.

Not empty religion—but loving God and loving people in truth and action

“Sing, barren woman… burst into song… Enlarge the place of your tent… do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left…”

These words were spoken to a people who saw themselves as captives and victims. Jerusalem had been destroyed, the temple ruined, and the nation scattered. Yet God declared that restoration and multiplication were coming. They were not to prepare for survival—but for growth.

History shows what can happen when this word is taken seriously. In 1792, a young shoemaker, William Carey, preached from this very passage and ended with the now-famous challenge: “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” From that moment the modern missionary movement was launched. What began small grew to impact nations. God still calls His people to move from limitation into expansion.

1. It’s Time To Sing

Isaiah 54:1 “Sing, barren woman… burst into song…”

The command to sing was given to the barren, the fruitless, the disappointed and the hurting. Before they saw change, before fruit appeared, they were told to rejoice.

Captivity had stolen their song. God was restoring it.

Singing represents a mindset shift—from despair to faith, from victim to victor. Revival always carries a sound of praise because it reflects confidence that the Redeemer lives.

Isaiah 54 continues with promises of: Growth, Dignity, Restoration, Everlasting love, Prosperity, Family blessing, Protection

The season of barrenness does not define the future. The first step into new growth is choosing praise before the breakthrough appears.

2. It’s Time To Stretch Isaiah 54:2–3

“Enlarge the place of your tent… do not hold back… For you will spread out to the right and to the left.”

The exiles had developed a survival mentality. When people face hardship, the instinct is often to withdraw, conserve, and protect what remains. But God commands the opposite: Do not hold back.

The imagery is of a Bedouin tent being expanded—new skins added, cords lengthened, territory extended. Growth requires stretching beyond comfort.

This is the mission of the Church:

Acts 1:8 – “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 28:19 – “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Growth means moving outward—into communities, workplaces, campuses and neighbourhoods. It means sharing the gospel intentionally and believing for multiplication.

Stretching requires faith. It requires stepping up to lead, to serve, to speak, to invite. Fear shrinks back; faith expands forward.

3. It’s Time To Strengthen

Isaiah 54:2 “…strengthen your stakes.”

Expansion without strengthening leads to collapse. As growth increases, foundations must deepen.

• Strengthen Yourself In The Word

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed… so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped.”

The Word equips, corrects, trains and guides. Growth demands daily discipline in Scripture. Strong tents require strong stakes.

• Strengthen Yourself In The Holy Spirit

John 3:34 – “God gives the Spirit without limit.”

Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1). Effective witness flows from spiritual empowerment. Stretching cannot happen in human strength. Dependence on the Holy Spirit must deepen daily.

• Strengthen Yourself Organisationally

Growth also requires order. Time, habits, finances, priorities and family life must align with purpose. Capacity must increase to sustain expansion.

Organisation creates room for multiplication.

In Conclusion

God is preparing His people for new levels of growth. The word is clear:

Sing – shift the mindset from barrenness to fruitfulness.

Stretch – refuse to hold back; expand in faith.

Strengthen – deepen foundations in the Word, the Spirit and disciplined living.

Isaiah 54:4 declares:

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.”

This is not a season of retreat, but of advance. Not survival, but multiplication. Not limitation, but expansion.

Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.

This passage has shaped Jewish hope, Christian faith, and the honest searching of countless people across generations. In the early church, it was Isaiah 53 that led a high-ranking official to faith in Jesus when Philip “told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:35).

Today, Isaiah 53 still confronts every person with the same question:

Who is Jesus, and how will I respond to Him?

Key Passage: Isaiah 52:14–53:12

1. Recognise That Jesus Suffered Greatly

Isaiah 52:14–53:3

“His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being… He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.”

Isaiah foretells a Messiah who would suffer extreme physical, emotional, and relational pain. Jesus was beaten beyond recognition, mocked, rejected, and abandoned—despite being completely innocent.

He is described as a “tender shoot”—someone gentle, humble, and without earthly power or status. He did nothing to deserve suffering; it came because of who He was and the mission He accepted.

Jesus was not only familiar with pain—He entered into it fully. Because He suffered, He understands human suffering at its deepest level.

Isaiah 43:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”

Jesus does not stand distant from our pain. He walks through it with us.

2. Recognise That Jesus Is the Greatest Substitute for Every Sinner

Isaiah 53:6

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray… and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

This is the heart of the gospel. Humanity has gone its own way, yet Jesus stepped in as our substitute. He took upon Himself what belonged to us—our sin, guilt, and separation from God.

Isaiah 53:5

“He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.”

Jesus did not suffer for His own wrongdoing. He suffered for us. Like a substitute in a match, He willingly took our place—but at the ultimate cost of His life.

Our sin was nailed to the cross, dealt with once and for all. Because of Jesus, forgiveness is complete, and freedom is possible.

3. Recognise That Jesus Gives Us the Greatest Strength

Isaiah 53:4

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering…”

Jesus not only carried our sin—He carried our grief, sorrow, and pain. The cross was a divine exchange: what crushed us was placed upon Him.

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

You do not have to carry what Jesus has already carried. Grief, loss, fear, and sorrow can be laid at His feet. In our weakness, His strength becomes real and sustaining.

4. Recognise That Jesus Achieved the Greatest Success

Isaiah 53:10

“Though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring… and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”

The cross was not a tragedy—it was a triumph. Jesus’ suffering fulfilled God’s deliberate plan of salvation.

Acts 2:23

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge…”

Jesus endured the cross willingly, knowing that through it, many would be saved.

Revelation 7:9

“A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language…”

The resurrection proves that suffering was not the end. Jesus’ obedience brought victory, salvation, and a redeemed people from every nation.

Conclusion

Isaiah 53 leaves no room for indifference. Jesus cannot be reduced to merely a good teacher or moral example. He is the promised Messiah—the suffering servant who stood in our place, carried our pain, and secured our salvation.

The question is not who Jesus is—Scripture makes that clear.

The question is how will we respond?

Ministry

Today is an invitation to recognise Jesus personally:

If you do not yet know Him, you can receive forgiveness, freedom, and new life by trusting in what He has done for you.

If you do know Him, take time to reflect on the cost of the cross and worship Him with renewed gratitude and surrender.

Jesus suffered for you.

Jesus stood in your place.

Jesus offers you life.

Let us respond with faith, worship, and wholehearted devotion.

In the second part of Isaiah, God’s people were facing harsh and painful realities. Captured by the Babylonian army, they lived in exile, far from home. Yet Isaiah suddenly speaks words of hope, beauty, and restoration. In the midst of devastation, God announces freedom, joy, and salvation.

Isaiah 52:7

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good news, who announces peace, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

In Scripture, feet represent action—how faith is lived out on earth.

* Feet symbolise service and humility (John 13:14–15)

* Feet represent stability and standing firm in faith

* Feet point to direction in daily life—walking in God’s will

* Feet represent dominion and victory, with the enemy under our feet

* Feet represent the spread of the gospel

Isaiah pictures messengers running across the mountains to announce joyful news to a broken and hopeless people. God would defeat Babylon through King Cyrus and restore Jerusalem and the temple. What looked impossible was about to become reality.

This same image appears again in Nahum 1:15, pointing to victory over Assyria, and later in Romans 10:14–15, where Paul applies Isaiah’s words to the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s people are called to be bearers of beautiful news in a world full of pain.

If a beautiful life is desired, the priority must be to become a messenger of good news in a bad-news world.

1. The Beautiful Privilege of Bringing Peace

Isaiah 52:7

Peace is something every heart longs for—peace in minds, families, workplaces, communities, and nations. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and through Him, peace with God and peace within becomes possible.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”

The peace of Jesus calms the storms of life. When peace with God is established, fear, panic, despair, and anxiety lose their grip. This is a beautiful message in a troubled world.

2. The Beautiful Privilege of Proclaiming God’s Rule

Isaiah 52:7 “…who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

Zion represents Jerusalem, but also the Church—the people among whom God dwells. This declaration reminds God’s people that no earthly power is ultimate. Babylon was not in control. Persia was not in control. God reigns.

The kingdom of God speaks of His sovereign rule, established through Jesus Christ and lasting forever.

Mark 1:15 “The kingdom of God has come near.”

Because God reigns, no one needs to remain captive to fear, sin, darkness, or the past. God’s authority brings freedom and hope. Proclaiming His rule is a powerful and beautiful privilege.

3. The Beautiful Privilege of Sharing God’s Comfort

Isaiah 52:9 “Break forth together into joy… for the LORD has comforted His people.”

This continues the message that opens the second half of Isaiah:

Isaiah 40:1–2 “Comfort, comfort my people… Speak tenderly to Jerusalem…”

God sees human fragility. He knows when hearts are breaking and strength is gone. He comes alongside His people to heal, steady, and restore. This is why the Holy Spirit is known as the Comforter. Sharing God’s comfort brings beauty to lives marked by pain and loss.

4. The Beautiful Privilege of Proclaiming Salvation

Isaiah 52:8–10 “All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”

The ultimate good news is salvation. God rescues, restores, and redeems. Jesus is the Saviour of the world.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus taught that heaven rejoices when what is lost is found (Luke 15). A soul is of greater value than any success, wealth, or position.

Mark 8:35–36 “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

True beauty, joy, and fulfilment come from living for the salvation of others.

The calling to bring good news requires a response.

Romans 10:14–15 “How can they hear without someone preaching? … How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Pastor Adriana shared how the verse in Isaiah 6:8—“Here am I. Send me!”—changed her life. Saying yes to God led her into difficult places, nations, and new opportunities to proclaim Jesus. Her feet were not just for comfort or personal ambition, but for God’s purpose.

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, captured this calling when he wrote:

“Some men’s ambition is art. Some men’s ambition is fame. Some men’s ambition is gold. My ambition is the souls of men.”

Conclusion

A beautiful life in an ugly world is not built on illusion, success, or comfort. It is found in carrying the beautiful message of Jesus—His peace, His rule, His comfort, and His salvation—into a hurting world.

This is the calling and DNA of God’s people: to speak up, to go out, and to bring His kingdom into homes, communities, and nations. The Holy Spirit empowers this calling and brings joy, purpose, and lasting beauty to those who say, “Here am I. Send me.”

Recent world events have shown how quickly the “old order” can shift. As global leaders gathered in Davos, assumptions and alliances were disrupted. Whatever people think about political leaders, one thing is clear: some people move and shake. Yet above every human agenda stands the Lord, who rules over history, nations, and the future.

God declares His power to shake the world throughout Scripture: Haggai 2:6–7, Haggai 2:21, Hebrews 12:26–27

God has shaken nations before, and the world order is shaking again. Revival has always brought both a wake-up and a shake-up—what historian Paul Johnson called “profound seismic movements.” When the early Church prayed, even the place around them shook: Acts 4:31

In Isaiah 52, God calls His people not only to wake up, but to move. Being awake is not the same as being up. Many people wake up, but still live in the heaviness and lethargy of yesterday. God’s people are called to be movers and shakers—not settlers and observers.

Key Verse

Isaiah 52:2–3

“Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion… You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”

This passage gives three clear calls for how to live in a shaking world.

1. Shake Up

“Shake off your dust” (Isaiah 52:2)

The Israelites were told that although the world around them was shaking, they also needed to shake things off. Dust represents dirt, mess, and accumulation—what builds up when something stays still too long. Dust in Scripture often points to spiritual uncleanness, defeat, sorrow, and death. A life can be alive, yet still covered in dust. The Holy Spirit exposes where dust has gathered so it can be shaken off.

Shake off sin

Sin may start small, but undealt with it accumulates and entangles. Hebrews 12:1

Compromise becomes normalised when sin is hidden or justified. Wrong attitudes, offence, bitterness, unforgiveness, dishonour, secret habits, and unclean influences must be shaken off. Sin must go, because it becomes a doorway for the enemy.

Shake off doubt and cynicism

Doubt undermines faith, and cynicism destroys joy and expectation.

John 20:27 “Stop doubting and believe.”

Shake off laziness and apathy

Dust settles where things stagnate. Comfort and compromise can replace passion for God and love for people. Laziness and apathy are dangerous, and they often lead to spiritual vulnerability—just as David’s downfall began when he stayed back instead of doing what he should have done.

Shake off rejection

Rejection must not be carried or allowed to shape identity.

Mark 6:11 “…leave that place and shake the dust off your feet…”

Shake off wrong relationships

Some relationships are no longer life-giving and can hinder, control, or destroy. It is not wisdom to blindly continue what pulls the heart away from God’s will.

Shake off old ways of thinking

God is always doing something new, and old mindsets must not keep people stuck in old limitations.

Isaiah 43:19

“See, I am doing a new thing… do you not perceive it?”

2. Rise Up

“…rise up, sit enthroned…” (Isaiah 52:2)

God’s people are called to rise up from negativity, self-pity, and settling. The throne represents honour, identity, and authority. There is always a choice: stay in the dust, or rise into what God says is true.

Even in hardship, there is a choice of attitude and response. Captivity does not have to define the future.

Galatians 5:1

Isaiah’s instruction is clear:

Isaiah 52:2 “Free yourself from the chains on your neck…”

Chains can look like legalism, religiousness, negativity, self-reliance, a victim mindset, sickness, or even debt. Freedom requires both faith and action—trusting God for breakthrough while also doing what is wise and practical. When God’s people rise up, they stop living as victims and start living as those with authority.

3. Look Up

“Without money you will be redeemed” (Isaiah 52:3)

God reminds His people that redemption is not earned—it is given by His power and promise. The Lord foretells what He will do so that when it happens, His people will recognise His hand and trust His name.

Isaiah 52:6 “My people will know my name… they will know that it is I…”

In a world that is shaking, faith must stay fixed on God’s reliability.

Hebrews 10:23 (AMP)

“Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful…”

So there is no need to fear when nations shake. God is in control. The call is to shake off the dust, rise up into freedom, and look up to the God who redeems and restores.

Application

God desires to bring people from captivity into freedom. Jesus declared His mission clearly:

Luke 4:18–19

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me… to proclaim freedom for the prisoners… to set the oppressed free…”

For those who feel captive, Jesus offers a new beginning through relationship with the Father. And for believers, the challenge is urgent: shake off sin, doubt, laziness, rejection, wrong relationships, and old mindsets. Choose today to rise up and walk in freedom. When God’s people do what they can, God does what only He can.

In the same way, spiritual warfare is raging today between the powers of darkness and light. At such defining moments in history, the Church — and especially its leaders — must be fully awake. More than ever, the world needs another national and international Great Awakening, like those that transformed hearts, nations, and cultures in the past.

In the 18th century, the Methodist revival came at a time when, according to Bishop J.C. Ryle, “the spirit of slumber was over the land.” Yet when John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and others awakened spiritually, the nation followed. Many were convicted of sin, many were converted, and communities were transformed.

One of Satan’s most effective strategies is to lull believers into spiritual sleep when vigilance is required. Scripture repeatedly warns of the danger of sleeping through moments of destiny.

Matthew 26:40–41

“Could you not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

At Jesus’ darkest hour, His disciples slept. Later, Jesus taught that while people were sleeping, the enemy sowed weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:25). And in Matthew 25, all ten bridesmaids fell asleep and were caught off guard when the bridegroom arrived.

R.T. Kendall observed that the parable of the ten virgins reflects the Church today — asleep, unaware of its condition, and resistant to being awakened.

Against this backdrop, Isaiah’s prophetic call resounds with urgency.

Key Verse

Isaiah 52:1–2

“Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendour, Jerusalem, the holy city.”

From this passage flow three vital calls for the Church today.

1. Wake Up to Who You Are

Zion is both a place and a people. Historically, it referred to Jerusalem and the dwelling place of God’s presence. Spiritually, it represents the people of God — redeemed, chosen, and destined for the heavenly Jerusalem.

The call to awaken is a summons to reclaim identity after humiliation and exile. God’s people are not captives of Babylon but citizens of Zion. Though God’s people may endure hardship or cultural decline, God never forgets them.

Isaiah 49:15

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast? … I will not forget you!”

Even when society appears hostile to faith, God’s purposes for His people remain intact. Awakening begins when believers rediscover who they are.

1 Peter 2:9

“A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”

God intends to reveal His wisdom to the powers of heaven through the Church.

Ephesians 3:10–11

Jesus promised that His Church would prevail.

Matthew 16:18

“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

When the Church awakens to its identity, everything can change.

2. Wake Up to the Authority You Have

“Clothe yourself with strength” is a call to rise out of weakness and into God-given authority. This is not a time for fear or apology, but for confidence rooted in Christ’s victory.

2 Peter 1:3

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.”

Believers have authority to overcome spiritual strongholds.

Luke 10:19

“I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy.”

1 John 4:4

“The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”

Believers also carry authority to bring the life of Jesus to a dying world.

Matthew 28:18–20

Acts 1:8

A clear sign of spiritual awakening is urgency for the lost. Keith Green captured this burden in his song Asleep in the Light, confronting a well-fed but unmoved Church while the world perishes in darkness.

3. Wake Up to How You Must Live as God’s Holy People

Isaiah calls Jerusalem “the holy city.” Awakening is inseparable from holiness. God restores His people not only to strength, but to purity.

Romans 13:11–14

“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber… put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.”

1 Thessalonians 5:5–6

“You are all sons of the light… let us be alert and self-controlled.”

True awakening always begins with repentance and renewed obedience.

Conclusion

The prophet’s call rings out across history: Awake, awake!

Every revival and reformation has begun when God’s people were awakened first — before nations changed, before cultures shifted. Today, the Church is invited to respond again.

- Repent and renounce sin

- Choose obedience

- Fast

- Pray

- Stand together in God-given authority

Ephesians 3:20–21

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine… to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

through focused prayer and fasting. At the start of 2026, the church commits to ten days of

prayer and fasting, believing in new levels of spiritual breakthrough. Every church that

desires a continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit must be a praying church.

Acts 1:14

“They all joined together constantly in prayer.”

Matthew Henry said, “When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does

is to set them praying.”

Pastor David Yonggi Cho taught that prayer releases the supernatural anointing of God,

fuels the church, and brings change to lives, families, circumstances, and even whole

nations.

Jesus commanded prayer for the nations:

Mark 11:17

“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Prayer for the nations is a central calling of the Church. Scripture consistently points God’s

people beyond self-focused prayers to bold, faith-filled prayers for the world.

1. Pray with Passion for All Nations

Evan Roberts, one of the leaders of the Welsh Revival, prayed for revival for eleven years

before it came. He wrote, “There was never a day when I did not fling myself before God and

cry out to Him to send the Holy Spirit to my native land.”

Persistent, heartfelt prayer has always preceded spiritual awakening.

2. Pray with Faith for All Nations

Isaiah 40:15 “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket.”

Isaiah 40:23 “He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.”

God raises up nations and brings them down. Nothing is beyond His authority.

Habakkuk 1:5

“Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in

your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

Though the world can appear dark and unstable, God loves the nations. His saving,

protecting, and healing power can be released everywhere through prayer.

Patrick Johnstone wrote that prayer gives authority to pull down strongholds, release

captives, open and close doors, raise up and remove leaders, and extend the Kingdom of

Jesus Christ. Through prayer, believers can influence the course of history.

Why We Fast

Fasting means abstaining from food and can take different forms depending on health and

circumstances. Some may fast meals, certain foods, or follow a Daniel fast. Others may fast

from distractions such as television or social media. Fasting should always be done wisely

and prayerfully.

Matthew 4:4

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Fasting is a God-given means of grace. It is not a ritual to earn favour or a hunger strike to

force God’s hand. Fasting changes the one who fasts and aligns the heart with God’s

purposes.

Psalm 42:1

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”

Fasting expresses hunger and thirst for God and reorients the heart from earthly

dependence to divine dependence.

Fasting and Spiritual Sensitivity

Acts 13:2

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…”

Fasting heightens sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and creates space to hear God clearly.

Fasting and Humility

Fasting is an act of humility, often accompanied by repentance, acknowledging the need for

God’s mercy and grace.

1 Corinthians 9:27

“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.”

Fasting disciplines the flesh, strengthens self-control, and reminds believers that the body is

a servant, not a master.

Fasting for Direction and Breakthrough

Judges 20:26

“They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to

the Lord.”

Joel 2:12

“Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Daniel 9:3

“I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting…”

Throughout Scripture, fasting is closely linked with prayer when seeking guidance,

breakthrough, repentance, and the advance of God’s Kingdom. Daniel understood that

prayer and fasting were essential to seeing God’s purposes fulfilled among the nations.

Conclusion

Prayer and fasting are both a privilege and a responsibility. God calls His people to simplify

their lives, pray faithfully, and pray boldly — for their lives, families, churches, communities,

and the nations of the world. As the church prays and fasts together, faith is stirred to believe

for miracles, direction, and spiritual breakthrough in 2026 and beyond

creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17). For those

whose lives are built on faith in Jesus, the future is always filled with hope. No matter the

difficulties of the past or the challenges of the present, God offers new favour and fresh

opportunities.

Every year — and every day — must begin with God. The Bible opens with the words, “In

the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). When God is placed first, His creative power is

released. Jesus promised that when the Kingdom of God is prioritised, everything else finds

its proper place (Matthew 6:33). God has greater things prepared than can be imagined.

This year is an invitation to receive His dreams and to see them fulfilled.

Dreams are powerful. They help turn impossibilities into realities. Scripture shows that

dreams and visions are part of how God speaks. Joel prophesied a time when God’s Spirit

would be poured out, and people of every generation would dream and see visions (Acts

2:17). Abraham was shown a vision as vast as the stars and believed God’s promise

(Genesis 15:5–6). Joseph was given dreams as a teenager that later shaped nations. God

has always worked through dreams, and He continues to do so today.

Key Verse: Habakkuk 2:2

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that he may run who reads it.”

This verse captures the heart of God’s desire: that His people would receive His vision

clearly and live it out with purpose.

1. Receiving God’s Dreams

Not every dream is from God. Some dreams are driven by selfish ambition or destructive

motives. God’s dreams are always rooted in His Word and aligned with His character.

Abraham first received a word from God before he saw the fulfilment of the promise

(Genesis 12:2–3).

God continues to speak today, and Scripture reminds us that He has given “very great and

precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4). A new year is not primarily about personal plans, but about

seeking God’s plans through prayer, fasting, and attentiveness to His voice.

2. Acting in Faith Toward the Dream

Faith is never passive. Abraham obeyed God and stepped forward, even without knowing

the full outcome (Hebrews 11:8–9). Scripture is clear that faith without action is dead

(James 2:17).

Action may look different for each person — aligning more closely with God, developing new

habits, leaving harmful ones behind, gaining skills, studying, preparing financially, or

stepping into new responsibilities. When faith moves, God responds.

3. Persevering Until the Promise Is Fulfilled

The greater the dream, the greater the need for perseverance. Abraham believed against all

hope, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised (Romans 4:18–21).

Scripture encourages perseverance so that God’s promises may be received (Hebrews

10:36).

Delay is not denial. Prayer, declaration of God’s Word, and steadfast faith must continue until

fulfilment comes. Often breakthroughs are closer than they appear.

4. Writing Down God’s Dreams

God instructs His people to write the vision and make it clear (Habakkuk 2:2). Writing brings

focus, clarity, and endurance. Throughout Scripture, God emphasises the importance of

recording what He has spoken (Jeremiah 30:2–3; Revelation 1:19).

Writing down dreams, goals, and promises keeps faith active and aligned with God’s

purpose. When God’s Word is written and declared, it projects a future that trusts Him to do

far more than imagined. Dreams can be written across key areas of life:

Dreams with God:

Deepening relationship through prayer, Scripture, and devotion.

Personal dreams:

Health, emotional restoration, character, habits, and growth, trusting God’s plans to prosper

and give hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

Family dreams:

Restoration, peace, strong marriages, and a legacy of faith.

Ministry dreams:

Serving, leading, worshipping, discipling, and building the church as a light to the world.

Dreams for the world:

Career, finances, leadership, stewardship, generosity, and growth in wisdom.

Conclusion

A new year is an invitation to move forward with faith and confidence. God calls His people

to receive His dreams, act with obedience, persevere through challenges, and write the

vision clearly. He is faithful to fulfil every promise and to lead His people into a future filled

with hope

”Written in 1847, the carol has an extraordinary history and has been sung in moments of suffering, injustice, and hope across generations. From abolitionists during the American Civil War to the first-ever radio broadcast in 1906, the song

has endured because it expresses the beauty and wonder of the night when Christ was born.

Christmas proclaims that Jesus was not just a special child, but the unique Son of God—God come to earth in human form. This truth was foretold centuries earlier by the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This verse reveals three profound truths about God.

1. The Generosity of God

“…to us a son is given” God is a giver. John 3:16 declares that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. God the Father gave what was most precious to Him. God the Son gave Himself, bearing human suffering and ultimately giving His life to save people from sin.

God is not distant or withholding. He offers love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, power, and His

presence. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Christmas announces new beginnings and the possibility of a restored life, both now and forever.

2. The Majesty of God

“…and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

”Each title reveals the greatness of who Jesus is:

Wonderful Counselor – One with perfect wisdom and insight, able to accomplish His purposes.

Mighty God – All-powerful, with limitless resources; nothing is impossible with Him.

Everlasting Father – A loving, compassionate Father who remains forever.

Prince of Peace – The only one who can bring true peace to human hearts and relationships.

When Jesus enters a life, peace replaces anger, bitterness, and fear. His peace guards

hearts and minds, even through life’s storms.

3. The Humility of God

“…unto us a child is born.”

God came to humanity not with overwhelming power, but as a vulnerable child. John 1:14

says the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Jesus was born into poverty

and obscurity, choosing the path of humility.

Philippians 2:5–8 describes how Christ, though fully God, made Himself nothing and took the

nature of a servant. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the broken, and served

those overlooked by society. Though exalted, He stooped low to meet human need. God gives grace to the humble and invites people to know Him by coming with humility and a willingness to serve others.

Conclusion

Christmas is an invitation to respond—to fall on our knees, to listen for heaven’s voice, and

to draw close to Jesus. The weary world can rejoice because the King has come. He brings

generosity, majesty, humility, and hope—and He desires to come into every heart, today and always.

At the heart of the Christmas story is the name given to Jesus — Immanuel, meaning God with us. Matthew 1:23 records the angel’s words to Joseph, quoting Isaiah 7:14, a prophecy spoken 700 years before Jesus’ birth. These three words, God with us, offer hope not only at Christmas but in every season of life.

1. God with us shows that God wants to come close personally

The Bible presents God as the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1), the sustainer of everything that exists (Colossians 1:17), the Ruler over nations (Isaiah 40:15; Psalm 95:3), and the Holy God who dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:15–16).

Yet this same holy and eternal God chose to enter human history through Jesus Christ. John 1:14 declares that the Word became flesh and lived among us. God did not remain distant; He made Himself visible, vulnerable, and accessible. Jesus could be seen, heard, and touched (John 20:27).

Humanity could not reach up to God, so God came down to reach humanity. The almighty God humbled Himself so that people could know Him personally.

2. God with us means that He wants to help us

Jesus entered the world to walk alongside people in real life. He attended weddings, visited homes, shared meals, and built relationships. He showed how to live by loving the overlooked, forgiving enemies, living with mercy, integrity, and purity, and caring for the poor and broken.

Jesus also understands suffering. Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as a man of sorrows, familiar with pain. John 11:35 shows Jesus weeping with those who mourn. He comforts the grieving and binds up broken hearts.

Above all, Jesus came to save. The angel announced His birth as the arrival of a Saviour (Luke 2). Matthew 1:21 explains that Jesus came to save people from their sins. Humanity’s deepest problem is separation from God, and Jesus came on a rescue mission. At the cross, He gave His life in place of sinners so that forgiveness and restoration could be possible.

3. God with us means that He will never leave us

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus promised, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). God’s presence is not limited to a moment but extends through every stage of life — youth, adulthood, family life, old age, and even death.

Psalm 23:4–6 declares that God is present in the darkest valley and brings comfort, protection, and eternal hope. Hebrews 13:5 affirms God’s promise: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

God has been with people in their past, even through pain and loss. He is present now, and He will remain faithful in the future, no matter how uncertain it may seem.

Conclusion

God invites people to draw near, promising that He will draw near in return (James 4:8). Forgiveness, healing, and a personal experience of God’s presence are available through Jesus Christ.

Those who respond in faith begin a new relationship with God, marked by forgiveness, peace, and hope. As Scripture promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us” (1 John 1:9).

God is with us — and because of that, there is hope this Christmas and always.

1. God has a purpose for you even before you were born

Isaiah 45:1-4 speaks of King Cyrus, whose name is mentioned 150 years before his birth:

“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of… For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honour.”

God had a plan for Cyrus far beyond his own understanding, faith, or awareness. Similarly, God forms each person with a purpose before birth (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5). Circumstances, background, or perceived limitations do not change God’s plan. Even those who seem unimportant or overlooked have a destiny that is part of a larger divine story.

2. God has a specific purpose to bring deliverance and blessing through you

Isaiah 45:1 says: “To Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of… I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”

Cyrus was called to subdue nations, open doors, and rebuild God’s city.

This principle continues today: people are called to be agents of deliverance and blessing. Communities, cities, and families can experience freedom through God’s work in people’s lives. Jesus came to bring freedom to captives (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19). Individuals are raised up to be a blessing, bringing light into dark places, hope to the broken, and healing where there is pain.

3. God has a purpose that will be fulfilled

Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1 show that Cyrus would become king and rebuild Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:1-4 records God moving Cyrus’ heart to fulfil His prophecy:

“The Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm… to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.”

God’s promises may take years, even decades, to unfold. Abraham waited 25 years for God’s promise that he would have a son to be fulfilled. Paul faced shipwrecks and trials before reaching Rome (Acts 27:23-24). Yet God fulfils every purpose and promise He makes. The Jewish people returned to their homeland despite centuries of exile. The Church continues to grow despite persecution (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:17).

APPLICATION

You have a purpose: God created you intentionally with a plan (Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 1:5).

You are called to bless and deliver: Communities, families, and nations experience God’s goodness through His people (Isaiah 45:1; Matthew 5:14).

God will fulfil His plans: No obstacle is too great. Every God-given promise, prophecy, and calling will come to pass (Isaiah 41:10; Acts 2:17).

God’s Spirit brings cleansing, revival, fulfilment and fruitfulness (Titus 3:5-6; Galatians 5:22-23; John 7:37-39). He has prepared a greater future for you, your family, this church and this nation than you can imagine and He is ready to pour life into every dry place.

Isaiah 44:3–4

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My

Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.”

God can see places in our lives that might feel empty or barren, but He promises to bring life,

refreshing, and generational blessing.

1. You Can Be Confident You’re Not Limited by Your Present Condition

Even “dry ground” is not a problem for God — it’s the exact place where He works.

● Dryness can look like disappointment, lack of direction, fear, or emotional exhaustion.

● Psalm 107:35 reminds us that God turns desert places into pools of water.

● Many people today are thirsty — for love, acceptance, hope, and purpose — and

God can satisfy that thirst by pouring out His Spirit.

● Your condition is not your conclusion. God can bring renewal where things look

impossible.

2. You Can Be Confident in the Work of the Holy Spirit

True transformation comes from the Spirit working in us.

The Spirit brings:

● Cleansing — Titus 3:5–6: We are washed and renewed.

● Reviving — God breathes life into what seems dead or stuck.

● Sustaining — John 7:37–39: Streams of living water flow from within us.

● Growth — Galatians 5:22–23: The Spirit produces lasting fruit (love, joy, peace, etc.).

Our confidence will grow when we rely on the Spirit daily — through prayer, the Word, worship, and remaining in God’s presence.

3. You Can Be Confident Because God’s Promise Is Generational

God’s work in your life is not meant to stop with you.

● Isaiah 44:3–4 shows that God pours out His Spirit on your children and descendants.

● Acts 2:38–39: The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off.

● Acts 2:17: God pours out His Spirit on every generation.

● God desires revival in families — restoration of relationships, unity, and for spiritual

blessing to be passed down.

You can trust that what God starts in your life can mark your whole family line.

APPLICATION

● Believe that God is working right now, even where things feel dry or difficult.

● Welcome the Holy Spirit into every area of your life — He renews, restores, and

strengthens you.

● Pray for generational blessing. Ask God to move in your family, children, and future

descendants.

● Expect renewal, not just survival. God wants you to flourish, not just endure.

● Let the dry places become places of testimony. They are where God can pour out His

Spirit most powerfully.

God has new plans for you personally, in your marriage and your church. Every day we can expect something new from God (Lamentations 3:22-23). When you have difficulties, sadness and negativity it can be hard to believe that things can change. This was exactly the situation for the Jewish people after they were taken from their country and saw everything destroyed. But from Isaiah chapter 40 onwards, the prophet shows them that new days are ahead. 

Isaiah 43:18-19: 18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 

1.To Take Hold of a New Future You Must Leave the Past Behind 

Change your mindset. (Philippians 3:13–14; Revelation 21:5). When God says: “do not dwell on the past” He is saying I gave you those experiences to draw from, not to dwell in. We must learn and move forward.  

Apply: Make a decision to not dwell in the past anymore, to not mourn for what did or did not happen in your life. Release and detached from the comfort zone and step into the new. 

2.To Take Hold of a New Future You Must Receive a New Vision 

Isaiah 43:19a: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  

(2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 12:2; Genesis 17: 1-2; Psalm 84:7) 

You must receive a new Vision 

Apply: Lift your eyes and see the new, a new beginning is not always quitting your job and looking for a new one, sometimes a new beginning is a new attitude towards the people at your workplace, or taking the hands of your family and praying with them. 

3.To Take Hold of a New Future You Must Expect Miracles 

God works through us to bring healing to people, we can see miracles of healing, deliverance, financial provision and miracles of restoration in broken families. 

Apply: What do you consider to be a wilderness area in your life? In your relationship with God, your personal life, your family and your ministry? 

The Bible has much to say about overcoming fear by knowing and trusting God. In Isaiah chapters 40-66, for the Jewish people it seemed like their whole world had collapsed around them after their nation was invaded, Jerusalem was destroyed and they were taken as prisoners to a foreign land. But from chapter 40 onwards, God comforts His people through the prophet Isaiah by promising them a better life and future than they had imagined was possible and He told them there was no need to fear (Isaiah 41:9-10). 

There are powerful and encouraging words in Isaiah 43:1-7 which start with a reminder that God is not only the creator of the heavens and the earth but He is the one who has created the Israelite people and formed them. He is intimately and personally connected to them. In these verses we see how they then, and we also today, have no need to fear. We can: 

1. Live a fear free life because we are redeemed by God (Isaiah 43:1-4 NIV & MSG; John 8:34-36 MSG) 

2. Live a fear free life because we are personally called by God (Isaiah 43:1) 

3. Live a fear free life because we belong to God (Isaiah 43:1b) 

4. Live a fear free life because are precious to God (Isaiah 43:4; Zechariah 2:8) 

5. Live a fear free life because we are loved by God (Isaiah 43:4; Jeremiah 31:3) 

6. Live a fear free life because God is with us even in difficult times (Isaiah 53:5; Hebrews 4:15-16) 

7. Live a fear free life because God has a good plan for our children as well as us (Acts 2:39; Isaiah 43:5-7) 

Apply  

1. Live a fear free life because we are redeemed by God. Redeemed is a biblical word which means to buy back. As Christians we have been bought out of the slave market of sin because Jesus paid the price of our sins with His blood (Isaiah 43:1-4 NIV & MSG). Before we were Christians we used to live a life of pain being slaves to sin and perhaps you think what your living now is a consequence of your own sin, your own decisions but when you’re in Christ, when you believe in Him and follow Him, the price is paid and you are no longer a slave to sin. You have been forgiven and freed from the kingdom of darkness (John 8:34-36 MSG). 

2. Live a fear free life because we are personally called by God (Isaiah 43:1). Why were these people of Israel afraid? Because they feared they had been abandoned by God due to their own rebellion and sin, leading to a sense of hopelessness. They needed to be reminded that God had a personal claim on them and that’s why He starts reminding them I created you, I formed you. In those moments we can feel that fear is taking control over our life, but I would like to take this moment to remind you that today, you can live a fear free life He has called you by name just like Jesus called His disciples. Imagine that! God Himself knows your name. You are on His radar.  

3. Live a fear free life because we belong to God (Isaiah 43:1b). When someone has paid for something, it means it is theirs. That's who we are to the Lord, because He was the one who paid the price for our ransom. When we were slaves to sin we were not His, but at this point it is a clear declaration of belonging. Everyone wants to belong and the Lord wants you to know that you belong to Him, you do not need to live a life of orphan. We are sons and daughters of God.   

4. Live a fear free life because are precious to God (Isaiah 43:4). You matter to God. God said of the Israelites who felt so unwanted that they were the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). Referring to the pupil of the eye, this is the most delicate and guarded part of the body, which means you feel anything that touches your eye. God is sensitive to everything that touches us. God says you are precious to Him. 

5. Live a fear free life because we are loved by God (Isaiah 43:4). It is one thing to say ‘I love you’, it is another is to show love. These words here are so meaningful. God doesn't change, doesn't lie, whose words are irrevocable is saying “I love you” (Jeremiah 31:3). His love for you is real and everlasting. More than any other thing in life, in God's love for you is unchanging.   

6. Live a fear free life because God is with us even in difficult times (Isaiah 53:5). The Israelites were captured, far from home, hopeless, it was one of the most difficult situations someone could be. It all seemed too overwhelming. But the Lord wanted them to know He would always help them. The verse doesn’t says “if” you pass through the waters or the rivers, or the fire, it says “when.” But what could these waters, rivers and fire represent for us today? Are you going through a situation that makes you think it is bigger than you? That you can’t handle or is overwhelming? There are situations in life where you feel pushed by a strong river without even strength to hold onto anything to get out. Well the promise here is that God says ‘don’t fear. You will not drown. You will not be burnt. You will come through. And that is true for you and for our families, churches and nations. There is a big difference between believers and non-believers. We both go through tests and difficulties but when we are with Christ we are never alone in life, the heaviness of the tests is not on us, we can be helped but someone who not only knows the circumstances but who has gone through the same in victory (Hebrews 4:15-16). 

7. Live a fear free life because God has a good plan for our children as well as us. When the world seems dark it's easy to worry about your children, but like the parents of Moses we need to have faith that God will protect and use our children to lead their generation and not be overcome by the pressures around them. The Holy Spirit is promised to be poured out on the young as well as the old; your sons and your daughters (Acts 2:39). Here there is a promise that the children of Israel will be regathered from far and wide (Isaiah 43:5-7). This literally happened when the Jews were able to return home and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. And it happened in May 1948 and since then, when the Jews after 1900 years of being scattered around the world, returned to the ancient homeland. God is also interested in your children, and He will gather them to himself and fulfil the plans He has for them. So don’t fear about your children. Trust God.  

So how can you cope and conquer when you experience times when you may feel physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually fatigued; when you feel you have little or nothing more to give? Well, as always, the Bible has answers for us. There are many references to weariness in the Bible (1 Samuel 30:10; Galatians 6:9; Matthew 11:28-30 NIV and MSG). 

In Isaiah 40:28-31, the prophet Isaiah shows us how to overcome weariness, saying: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” We see some key points from these verses: 

1. We all need strength (Psalm 31:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 11:27-28; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9)  

2. God can give us the strength we all need (Isaiah 40:26-31; Psalms 28:7, 46:1, 59:16-17, 73:26, 118:14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Philippians 4:13).  

3. God can give us Strength for new conquests (Isaiah 40:31b; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 4:1; 1 John 1:7) 

Apply  

1. We all need strength. As human beings who have a body, a soul and spirit, which means we need physical strength, emotional or mental strength and spiritual strength. But the fact is that everyone at different times lack strength. Here says “even youths”! Can you imagine if even those who should have the most strength because they are young feel tired, how much more tired and weary must everyone else be? Everyone can experience weakness. Even the great king David, winner of many battles, who defeated the giant Goliath, often felt cornered and about to be destroyed by his enemies. Often in the Psalms he reveals his sense of vulnerability (Psalm 31:9-10). The great apostle Paul wrote of his many weaknesses, despair, and challenges (1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 11:27-28; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9). If spiritual giants like King David and the apostle Paul experienced weakness, we should not be surprised when we also may face struggles in our personal lives or health, with our families, at work, in your career or finances, perhaps even in our romantic relationships. Maybe right now you feel yourself becoming weary, tired, and weak maybe you feel exhausted or perhaps overwhelmed. Remember younger as well as older can feel this way which is why you need to learn what the Bible teaches here.  

2. God can give us the strength we all need (Isaiah 40:28-31). Last week, from earlier verses in this same chapter, we learnt about the awesomeness of God, the Holy One who is greater than all nations and idols, the creator of the heavens and all the earth, of the constellations and all the stars to which He has given names (Isaiah 40:26). Our God has no equal; He cannot be compared to anyone. The Lord is the everlasting God. You need to understand who God is and that He will never grow tired or weary. Because of who He is, He is more than able to help you when you are weary. When you put your trust and hope in the Lord you will have a strength transfusion. Your weakness, your weariness is not a problem to God. You just have to connect with His strength. You need to stop trying to fight your own way out of every situation. You need to start relying on God. As Jesus directed, you need to come to Him in your weariness and get yoked to Him. This is what men and women of God throughout the Bible and church history have learned, including king David and the apostle Paul. Scripture speaks of singing about God's strength and steadfast love, acknowledging Him as a fortress and refuge, and being able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Psalms 28:7, 46:1, 59:16-17, 73:26, 118:14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Philippians 4:13). We too daily need to learn this secret that the Lord is the source of our strength and also, we need to see how many possibilities there are when we receive His strength.  

3. God can give us Strength for new conquests (Isaiah 40:31b). Soaring like eagles speaks of rising to a higher level. Eagles look down from a high position and a different perspective. You too can rise above your problems, your anxieties, or weaknesses. With God you can go higher in life than you ever imagined. Today God is giving you this promise: that when you rely on His strength “you will soar on wings like eagles.” You can also run without stopping. The prophet Isaiah says “they will run and not grow weary.” Running speaks of speed and acceleration. God can help you not just to start running the race as a Christian but to keep running all through your life. The Lord can lift the weight of our sins and anything that hinders us from running successfully toward the eternal reward. And you can walk without fainting. Walking speaks of consistent and steady progress. The Bible tells us about Enoch who walked faithfully with God for 300 years through every season and circumstance. The Bible says a lot about how we should walk as Christians. We must "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7), "walk in a manner worthy of the calling" (Ephesians 4:1), and "walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1 John 1:7). Other verses encourage us to walk with wisdom, walk humbly, and walk in love. Our walk to heaven may take many years like Nelson Mandela’s "Long walk to freedom." But we can keep on walking, even if sometimes we feel tired, when we look to the Lord for strength. Today no matter how tired or weary you may feel take time to come to the Lord for your strength and to rest secure in all His plans and promises. For when you do you too will find that He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. You too ‘will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’  

Today many of us may be busy, discouraged and depressed. Looking at ourselves, looking down, comparing ourselves to others. Busy with our to do lists, our work, the piles of laundry, or discouraged by the state of the nation and of society. But everything changes when we get a new perspective of the greatness of God. What is so big to us is so small to Him. What has impressed, impacted and impeded our lives so far is as nothing to Him.  

We’ve seen in Isaiah 40:1-5 that God is a God of consolation who wants to comfort us. He’s a God of preparation – He wants to get us ready and shape us up for the best lives. And He wants us to have a revelation of His glory to come. But the rest of this opening chapter of the second part of Isaiah lays the foundation of who God really is. We see: 

1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28) 

2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20; Romans 1:25; Genesis 1:31) 

3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14,27; 1 Corinthians 1:27) 

4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17) 

5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24,28; Daniel 7:14; Isaiah 6-11)

Apply  

1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28). We are told to ‘lift your eyes and look to the heavens…’ The more we know about our world and its relationship to entities beyond our world makes us realise how much we don’t know. Even though we can travel quickly around our world there is no disguising that the oceans and deserts and continents of our world are simply vast. Even bigger is the universe. So how much greater is the God who made them? The Bible is clear that there is a God and that He is the Creator of all we know. (See: Bill Bryson ‘A short History of nearly everything’; Olivier Bonnaissies and Michel-Yves Bolloré ‘God: Science, the Evidence’; Lee Strobel ‘The Case For A Creator’). If you want to study the arguments in more depth, you can read the books, but basically their conclusions are very much in line with the vision of the prophet Isaiah who gives us a picture of the almighty creator of a vast creation.  

2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20). Almost half of Isaiah chapters 40 to 55 talk about rival gods and the idol of the people had turned to worship. Here Isaiah compares how ridiculous it is for someone to worship a lump of wood with some gold or silver attached to it over the greatness of the one true God. The apostle Paul also highlighted this (Romans 1:25). Of course God ‘saw all that he had made, and it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31) but that does not mean we should exchange our worship of God to worship things created by Him or for His glory – such as looking to the stars for guidance through horoscopes, instead of looking to God who created the stars. Idols can topple. And when we put anything in place of our God, those things will eventually fall. Only our God endures forever. 

3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14, 27). The mind of God is far beyond the intelligence of any human cleverness (1 Corinthians 1:27). No-one can understand the mind of the Lord, except the Lord reveals a portion of His thinking to us through His word the Bible.  The most qualified academic, or the most convinced rationalist, the most so-called ‘enlightened’ spiritualist, may be publicly celebrated for the brilliance of their intellect. But compared to God they are nothing.  

4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17). Nations are nothing that will make a difference in the big picture. This gives us a good perspective! Through history nations and empires have arisen in great power. The Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans etc. Yet walk around the Acropolis or the Coliseum today and they are ruins. The Romans thought they could persecute Jesus and Paul and the early Christians in such violent ways as they saw fit, but pagan Rome is gone and Christianity survives today. Even the British Empire ‘where the sun never set’ seemed impossible to change, yet now look at what humbled and humiliated state our nation is in. Look at the nations today and it’s still the same – India and its 1.46 billion people, China and its more than 1.4 billion people,… it might sound big to us, but to God it’s all just a drop.  

5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24). So many rulers of this world have been so proud and arrogant. Alexander the Great, Napolean, Stalin, Hitler who boasted of a 1000 year Reich that lasted little more than a decade. Hitler committed suicide in a bunker. Mussolini was strung up by his own countrymen. Ceausescu of Romania seemed an all-powerful dictator but saw his rule collapse in days. Everybody, even the great Queen Elizabeth II, has a limited reign. Only God is eternal (Isaiah 40:28). Daniel had a great vision of the God whose rule was eternal (Daniel 7:14). So do not be so impressed with the powers of this world. They will all pass away.  

Our God is far above natural creation, all idols, and all human understanding, He is far above the nations and above human rulers. But what does this mean for us? Well Isaiah says to the people that this God is your God. He is bigger than your sad history of captivity. He is bigger than your sadness and depression. He is bigger than your worries. He is bigger than your debt. This is why God is good news (Isaiah 40:6-11). God is with you, God is for you. This great and almighty God gently wants to lead you and keep you close to His heart. So decide to put your confidence is this great God today and every day.  

At this current moment in history where so many seek to destroy those foundations, it is the unchanging truths of the Bible that hold the keys to our future destiny. The Bible declares itself to be the very Word of God which can rescue and restore us as individuals, as families and whole societies.  

In the coming weeks we will be looking afresh at some parts of scripture that provide great light and hope when we face darkness and uncertainty from the second part of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is one of the greatest prophets in the Bible if not the greatest, well known to both Jews and Christians. His name means ‘God is salvation’ and he lived in the 8th Century BC. The traditional view is that all 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah were written by one man, Isaiah, possibly in two periods around 700 BC and around 681 BC.  

The book of Isaiah has been described as the Bible in miniature. There are 66 books of the Bible and 66 chapters in Isaiah. As the Bible is divided into two Testaments, so Isaiah may be divided in two parts. The first 39 chapters correspond to the Old Testament’s 39 books and cover similar themes. The last 27 chapters correspond to the New Testament’s 27 books and also contain material crucial to our understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus.    

The first part of Isaiah, in 39 mainly depressing chapters, deals with God’s judgement of persistent sin and rebellion against God and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews into captivity in Babylon. In Babylon the people of God would be depressed, dispirited and despairing of anything ever going right again. They would seem to have lost everything: their culture, their temple, their spiritual focus, their national identity, their hope. Hostile foreign forces had conquered.  

But all was not lost…just as all is not lost for you, for your family, for the Christian church and for this nation and the nations of the world. For in Isaiah chapters 40-66 there is a dramatic change. Against all expectations, the prophet begins to speak words of hope that promised a great reversal of fortunes. The exile would end. The Persians would overthrow the Babylonians. Cyrus, the Persian leader of a world power, would look favourably on them. He would help the Jews return to their homeland and assist in the re-building of the Temple…a temple that would, in fact see greater glory than the previous one.  

So, despite their bleak past and uncertain present, their future was bright. They would know recovery and restoration. God had not abandoned them. He was for them, and though it seemed hard to believe, He would work an amazing turnaround for them.  

These chapters then in this second part of Isaiah point forward not only to a new hope for the Jews, but to the future hope for the whole world through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and ultimately an eternal new Messianic age of righteousness and peace. For us living in the times that we do the powerful prophecies of Messiah could not be more relevant or applicable. We see from Isaiah 40:1-5 that: 

1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2; Lamentations 1:2,16; John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26) 

2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4; Luke 3:2-3) 

3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 60:1-3) 

Apply  

1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2). Both God and His prophet knew that the people were shaken by their tough experiences. They were carrying great pain and hurt. They were anxious and uncertain (Lamentations 1:2,16). They couldn’t have taken any more hits. It would have finished them off. They needed comfort and help. That is like so many people today. Millions of people are hurting. Life has been hard and harsh. Today, behind many a composed outward appearance, are people who feel inwardly ripped apart, whose smiles and varied attempts to find some happiness disguise an aching heart. Maybe you identify with this. Life has not been easy. Your family has all kinds of problems and complications. Your marriage has not worked out. You have been bereaved of loved ones. You have been badly treated by others. You have been let down and you have let yourself down. Maybe you have made some big mistakes, and you have taken wrong turns that have been very painful. Maybe you acutely feel a sense of guilt for sins you have committed. God’s attitude here is that He wants to comfort you. He wants to speak tenderly not harshly to you. He wants to declare forgiveness to you. The comfort we can receive stems from the message that “her sin has been paid for.” This is the heart of the gospel. God loves you so much He didn’t just feel something for you, He did something for you. Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay the price of your sin, to bring you out of exile and free you from whatever has held you captive. The comfort we can receive stems from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew his followers would face a hostile world, but He promised them He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26). Today if you need to be comforted, you can be comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can feel the love of Jesus that drives out fear. You can know an inner peace because you know that God is with you.  

2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4). In the harshest of circumstances when even whole nations can think that they are in a barren wilderness, God prepares a way for people to receive Him, just as John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus (Luke 3:2-3). So often God prepares individuals and even nations to know Him through wilderness times of great difficulty and even tragedy. He wants to prepare us for what He plans to do to restore us. In some cases, preparation means being lifted up. You may be down in life, but you are not out. God wants you to stop seeing yourself as a victim, a nobody, a failure. He wants to show you how much you are loved and valued and how much you can accomplish in life with His help. He wants to raise you up to be blessed and a blessing in your generation. In some cases, preparation means being brought low. The Bible says God resists the proud. To be truly blessed and used by God you need to stop being so independent and self-sufficient and learn to submit to and rely on the Lord. Since every mountain and hill needs to be made low without exception, everyone needs to take care to humble yourself rather than having to be brought low by God. In some cases preparation means being healed and made whole. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life, you will be amazed how much He can heal your heart and smooth out your circumstances. Whatever you and your family, or even whole nations, are going through, be sure that God is at work preparing the way of the Lord.  

3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5). God’s glory and manifest presence have been experienced in many revivals. But the greatest displays of His glory are ahead for the church and the world. It will happen and it will affect everyone. His supernatural glory will totally surpass any human glory. And it can happen in a moment as the shepherds in Bethlehem’s fields discovered when the ‘glory of the Lord’ so suddenly shone around them. God’s glory will be seen in our very dark world and we must arise and shine that light for all to see (Isaiah 60:1-3). You may have been in captivity, but you don’t have to stay there. God has a destiny for you, to rescue you and restore you. You may feel very bruised and tender, but His love is toward you. You may need to be built up in your self-esteem or brought down in your pride or healed in your heart, but God wants to prepare you to know His glory, goodness and grace. Today, open your life fully to the Lord. Ask for and receive His forgiveness. Seek and receive comfort through the presence of The Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 

Something that we see in theses verse is that church was part of their daily lives and that the church community grew daily. Church was about constantly living together as a family rather than just pitching up for an event on one day a week. Church is God’s great idea, not just for individuals to be saved in isolation, but to bring every believer into a united body that reflects His character and carries out His mission on earth. Church is what Jesus loved so much that He died that the church may live. Church is what Jesus promised to build through all generations and despite all forms of opposition and persecution (Matthew 16:18). We see some important points on why everybody needs to be an active member of a local church: 

1. Being committed to the church is obeying the commands of scripture (Hebrews 10:25; John 13:35; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 1:22; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5; Romans 12:10; Romans 14:13; James 4:11; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:32; Hebrews 3:13) 

2. Being committed to being part the church shows that there is power in unity (Acts 2:1; Acts 4:32; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Psalm 133:1) 

3. Being committed to the church will help you grow in your faith (Ephesians 4:12-13; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-8) 

4. Being committed to the church will bring great conquest (Ephesians 3:10-11; Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 7:9; Ephesians 3:20-21) 

Apply  

1. Being committed to the church is obeying the commands of scripture (Hebrews 10:25). This isn’t just about attending services, it’s about belonging and participating in a community where we encourage, serve, and grow together. The New Testament has many commands about how to treat one , another as fellow members of the church, i.e. “Love one another” (John 13:35); “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13); “Love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22); “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21); Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5); “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10); “Stop passing judgment on one another” (Romans 14:13); “Do not slander one another” (James 4:11); “Be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2); “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32); “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13). If you asked ChatGPT “If you were the devil what would you do to keep people away from Church?” it says:  

- Encourage a constant “too busy” culture — work, kids’ activities, side-projects — so skipping worship is normalised and feels responsible.  

- Emphasise “I can pray/read at home — I don’t need church” until community atrophy is normal.  

- Amplify stories of hypocrisy, hurt, or abuse so people assume church always harms.  

- Allow services to become routine, bland, or like an obligation—no discipleship, no engagement, just “attendance.”  

- Promote entertainment, friendship networks, or causes that substitute for church belonging.  

- Spread half-truths or relativism that dilute core gospel truths so church seems unnecessary or irrelevant.  

- Make faith seem like a rules game — either you’re perfect or you don’t belong — causing people to avoid church rather than confess.  

- Encourage small compromises that add up — one missed Sunday, then two, then a season — until leaving is easy 

So, then we all need to obey the many commands of Scripture about being part of the church.  

2. Being committed to being part the church shows that there is power in unity. The Holy Spirit was poured out with great power on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were all in one place (Acts 2:1; Acts 4:32). All this was an answer to the prayer of Jesus (John 17:20-23). We all have our part to play in keeping unity in the church at all levels and between all individuals and groups (1 Corinthians 1:10). When we each take responsibility to be part of the answer and not a creator of divisions, we will discover the power of unity (Psalm 133:1). 

3. Being committed to the church will help you grow in your faith. We need to be built up in our faith and developed to be a fruitful disciple. The apostle Paul makes clear the work of God-called leaders (Ephesians 4:12-13). There are so many benefits of belonging to a church family as it helps you to: focus on God; face life problems with support; strength your faith; find your place to make a difference; fulfil your life mission; build the church. Every Christian has something to give to the church to help others (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-8). Each believer has unique gifts that build up the rest. When you separate from the body, you lose both the strength of others and the opportunity to strengthen them.  

4. Being committed to the church will bring great conquest. What we can achieve together is far more powerful than what we can achieve on our own (Ephesians 3:10-11). The Kingdom of darkness will be brought down when the church of Christ stands up in unity and Christ given authority. Being a committed part of the church is one of the greatest opportunities for us to live purpose driven lives together in local church families and to be part of a vast company of fellow followers of Christ around the world in each nation and locality. Together we can model and advance the Kingdom of God on earth. We can be confident that God is at work (Ephesians 5:27). One day Jesus is coming back for such a beautiful church. One day we will see in heaven what God has accomplished (Revelation 7:9). What a privilege it will be, to be with the church from all nations and generations in heaven. But equally it is a privilege, and a responsibility, to be part of the greatest society on earth (Ephesians 3:20-21).  

One of the greatest churches in the New Testament was the church at Antioch and it grew rapidly because of the power of encouragement (Acts 11:23). Antioch was the third biggest city in the Roman Empire with a population of around half a million people. It was a melting pot of Western and Eastern cultures, and a centre of the arts, superstition and immorality. Yet it was here that a few Christians started a very large church that was to become a new base for the rapid, global expansion of Christianity. This was a church that experienced great growth. They had exceptional leaders and really knew how to pray and fast. Yet it was the ministry of encouragement and the experience of encouragement that helped this great church to get established. In this story we can learn what it means to encourage people. 

1. Encourage people by making the effort to connect with people (Acts 11:19-24; 4:36) 

2. Encourage people by recognising what God is already doing (Acts 11:23; Galatians 5:6) 

3. Encourage people by ministering to their hearts (Acts 11:23) 

4. Encourage people by helping them look to beyond their past and release them into their future (Acts 9:27; Acts 11:25-26) 

5. Encourage people by continually sharing God’s word with them (Acts 11:26) 

Apply  

1. Encourage people by making the effort to connect with people (Acts 11:19-24). In a very bad time of persecution, some very good things were happening, which put great responsibility on the leaders of the Jerusalem church to respond well. The leaders were very wise. They knew that the new believers in Christ would have much to learn, but that what they needed above all was to be encouraged in their faith. They needed established Christians who would lead them forward with kindness and love. This is a significant issue for every church today. Many people who decided to attend church for the first time never returned because of the lack of warmth shown to them. Yet the love and acceptance shown in a church to a group of hippies in the 1960s started the Jesus Movement impacting America and beyond. That kind of character was needed in Antioch, and the apostles knew Barnabas was the right man to send to represent them. Barnabas was well named (Acts 4:36) as Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” Although Jerusalem was 300 miles away from Antioch, the church leaders knew they needed to send an ambassador of encouragement to establish personal contact. If we also want to encourage people, we must draw close to them, visit them at home or in the hospital, or go for a coffee. In an age where we can text, make phone calls and Zoom, there’s nothing more encouraging than making direct contact with people and giving them the gift of your presence. 

2. Encourage people by recognising what God is already doing (Acts 11:23). God’s grace had been seen in the numbers of people who had truly received the good news of Jesus as Saviour and Messiah. They had much to learn but they had already discovered a lot about God’s mercy and love. When Barnabas first arrived, he focussed on what God had already done, not on what was yet to be done. That’s a very big lesson to learn if you want to encourage people. Don’t focus on how far you still must go in your development as a Christian; recognise how far you have already come. Legalistic people always focus on what you still must achieve; you must pray more, do more, give more, always more…But grace people focus on what has already been done through Jesus at the Cross and in His dealings with you to date. New Christians especially need to hear this message. It’s so easy to be discouraged by failure and feelings of inadequacy. In the early church there were false teachers who said that to be a true Christian you had to keep all the Old Testament rules which were very heavy. But as Paul later wrote to, it’s all about relationship with God and one another, about real godly love and grace (Galatians 5:6). People were encouraged by Barnabas because he focussed on the positive not the negative.  

3. Encourage people by ministering to their hearts (Acts 11:23). We must reach people’s hearts not just their heads. What’s the point in just knowing truths about God’s love and mercy, if you have never personally experienced this? John Wesley was an Oxford University don and a preacher, but it was only when ‘his heart was strangely moved’ within him that change came to his life. It’s only when our hearts have been touched that we can truly minister to the hearts of others and encourage them. Barnabas emphasised to these new Christians that Christianity is all about knowing more of the love of God in their hearts and to stay true to that love. Let’s be more concerned to touch the hearts of people rather than winning arguments with people.  

4. Encourage people by helping them look to beyond their past and release them into their future (Acts 9:27; Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas played a major role in the development of the man who was to become the outstanding leader of the early church, the apostle Paul. As Saul he had led the persecution of the first Christians. He was a nasty man with a violent past and plenty to feel guilty about. He even described himself as the chief of sinners. No wonder that some Christians felt suspicious about him. But Barnabas was the man who believed that Saul had really changed. He saw great potential in him. Not only did he introduce him to the apostles, but he went looking for him to bring him as a main speaker to this big new church in Antioch. We too need to receive new Christians and encourage them that their past will not determine their future. No matter what mistakes you have made, no matter how colourful your past, God has a plan to bless you and to bless many people through you. God specialises in taking great opponents of the gospel and making them great ambassadors of the gospel. 

5. Encourage people by continually sharing God’s word with them (Acts 11:26). Barnabas and Saul both knew the Scriptures and they spent a whole year making sure that the new Christians understood them too. If you also want to stand strong in life, you must become strong through daily reading and focus on the Word of God. We should give much more attention to God’s words than people’s words. There’s nothing more powerful to challenge your lifestyle and a contemporary, pride-centred worldview. There’s nothing like God’s word direct you, protect you, build you and comfort you. Encouragement can take many forms. Today you can be encouraged to know that God loves you and wants to bless you. And in turn you can become a blessing to many by becoming a great encourager like Barnabas. 

Jesus commanded His disciples to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. And He promised them that the Holy Spirit would give them the power to fulfil this great task. The Holy Spirit was given not just for personal fellowship but for the purpose of helping the disciples be effective witnesses for Christ (Luke 4:18-19).  

Today, with an estimated 2.3 billion Christians around the globe, the world can be changed if each believer speaks up and refused to be silenced like the first century disciples would not stop talking about Jesus despite being arrested and threatened (Acts 4:13). We see:  

1. Christians who share their faith effectively are bold in their witness (Acts 4:9-12; John 14:6) 

2. Christians who share their faith effectively are ordinary people (Acts 4:13 MSG) 

3. Christians who share their faith effectively are people who have experienced Jesus  

Apply  

1. Christians who share their faith effectively are bold in their witness. J.A. Alexander in his commentary on the Acts writes: ‘the word translated boldness…signifies not merely…bravery or courage, but freedom and readiness of speech, as opposed to hesitation and reserve.’ The disciples weren’t tongue tied, embarrassed or shy. They were free of fear and inhibitions to speak what was in their heart. They were bold in the face of opposition: They were speaking to the religious rulers of their nation who, only weeks before, had conspired together to have Jesus arrested and crucified. Now they had the disciples in their sights. Yet the disciples refused to be intimidated by them: When they asked by what power or name they had healed the man and thereby caused many to be interested in the gospel, Peter answered them straight (Acts 4:10). Today Christians face hostility, ridicule, peer pressure and bullying and it can cause a defensive reaction. How reluctant are we to say we are Christians or speak about our faith? To see change in our nation we are all going to have to step out of our fears and face down the intimidation through bold and clear witness. The disciples refused to be manipulated by them: What had happened through Peter and John was good, but the rulers were ‘greatly disturbed’ by the effective witness of the apostles and tried to infer that something wrong was taking place. This healing was politically incorrect. But Peter cut through the manipulation and turned it back on them (Acts 4:9). People today would like to manipulate the church into silence by suggesting that Christianity is backward and negative rather than recognising all the good that is being done by countless Christians, Christian communities, and Christian agencies. They were bold in the declaration of their message (Acts 4:12): In a society that promotes multi-culturalism there is great temptation to play down the core truth of Christianity that only through Jesus can people be saved. Christians must not back off from repeating the claim of Jesus that ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through me’ (John 14:6). If this claim is true and Christians believe it is, then we must lift Jesus up if people are to be drawn to Him. We owe it to people to declare the message that the apostles declared.  

2. Christians who share their faith effectively are ordinary people. In the New Testament the growth of the early church was rapid because the Christians spread the good news as a normal part of their life. They did not keep quiet about their faith. They shared the good news of the gospel at any and every opportunity (Acts 4:13 MSG). Peter and John were uneducated in the schools of the day. They were not elite theological scholars nor professionals with official knowledge. They were just a couple of down to earth, ordinary guys and they were speaking with great authority. The early church was known for gossiping the gospel everywhere they went. The spread of Christianity through so called ordinary believers is also what happened with the 18th Century Methodists, the 19th Century Salvation Army, and the 20th Century Pentecostals. When all church gets involved in talking about Jesus to all they meet then all the world feels the impact.   

3. Christians who share their faith effectively are people who have experienced Jesus. Peter and John had not been trained in the schools and colleges of the day, but they had been trained as disciples of Jesus. They were practicing what they had first seen. They had seen how Jesus spoke and acted which was always with authority - whether with religious rulers, demons, or in calming a storm. They had learned that when Jesus is with you, there is no need to fear anything or anyone. They knew Jesus personally and they knew that He had given them authority to carry on the work He had started to preach the good news of the kingdom and heal the sick and release those oppressed by the devil. The best and only way to learn is always from people who have modelled what they are teaching. Also, they had been in the presence of Jesus. So, we too must spend time with Christ. We need to fellowship with Him through prayer. We need to let His Word - the Bible - saturate our spirits. We need to live in daily partnership with the Holy Spirit who makes Christ real to us. We will see people and situations differently when we have seen Jesus. We will not look at how people appear outwardly even if they are aggressive. We will have a Christ-like love for all people. Today our world, with all its hatreds and divisions, can change not from the top down but from the bottom up, when each ordinary Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit and accepts the challenge to share the good news of Jesus, as wisely and courageously as possible, to everyone that we can influence. 

1. Christianity is about recognising our condition (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:2; Proverbs 30:12) 

2. Christianity is about recognising The Good News (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 6:2; John 15:13–15) 

3. Christianity is recognising the need for repentance (Luke 3:8a; John 8:31-32; Acts 3:19) 

4. Christianity is about receiving a new life (John 14:6; Romans: 6:23; Galatians 2:20) 

Apply  

1. Christianity is about recognising our condition. We can’t talk about forgiveness and reconciliation if we don’t see that something wrong was done that needs forgiveness or punishment (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God. We have all made mistakes and deserve God's justice. Our moral standards are so far from God’s: we indulge in and accept sin, we stop looking to the Word of God to set the standard for our lives, and even classify sin into categories of scandalous (e.g. sexual immorality, robbery, idolatry, drunkenness, greed, lust etc) and others which we see as not so harmful (e.g. gossip, envy, ego, hatred, arrogance or disobedience). But the Bible doesn’t classify sins; it tells us that all our sins have separated us from God. What is separating you from God (Isaiah 59:2)? What have you accepted in your life that is not according to God’s word? Many people call themselves a Christian but don’t act like a real, New Testament Christian (Proverbs 30:12). Today come before Christ and lay the secrets of your heart before Him. Once we understand our condition, we can discover what Christianity is about.  

2. Christianity is about recognising The Good News. Our God is amazing: He is not only just, but He also provided the sacrifice to cover our debt. There are no human efforts, no good thoughts or deeds, good enough to reach heaven. Nothing is enough except the Good News of Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus took our place of condemnation, guilt and shame, and exchanged it for His freedom (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9). The good news is that there is a way to enjoy eternal life, there is hope. The Gospel never says tomorrow is the day of salvation, it says it is today (2 Corinthians 6:2)! Today, there is hope for you, for your family, and for whatever your current situation is. This hope is found at the Cross of Jesus. Christianity isn’t about rules, rituals, or trying harder to be perfect. It’s about relationship, knowing Jesus for yourself, walking with Him, and hearing His voice. Today you can one step to get to know Jesus, then take another to develop friendship with Him, and you will be on the road to the greatest decision of your life: to walk with Him for the rest of your life (John 15:13–15). Jesus calls you friend, and Jesus laid down His life for you. It means that He became the bridge between you and God the Father. A real friend is honest with you and confronts you in love. Someone who lifts you up in difficult moments and someone who challenges you to be better person. That real friend is Jesus.  

3. Christianity is recognising the need for repentance. This is when the Gospel comes to life. We can see that we haven’t done good, and that there is Good News, but this is still not discovering real Christianity unless you accept, embrace and believe this good news - and it starts with your repentance. To repent means “To change one’s mind”, which means: taking personal responsibility for your sins; acknowledging that sin is first and foremost against God; realising that sin is at the core of who we are as humans; and knowing that we offer nothing that can excuse or offset our sin. Repentance is a turning point. If you repent of your sins, it means that from today you will bear different fruit, change your habits, decide to stop living a certain way and to turn back to God (Luke 3:8a). When you understand Jesus’ teaching and hold onto it, you will be set free (John 8:31-32). Repentance is taking the step to recognise and seek God, like the prodigal Son, who we read in the Bible decided to repent and turn back to the father when he was living a life of sin (Acts 3:19).  

4. Christianity is about receiving a new life. If you have recognised your sins, you recognise the good news, and repent, you are ready to start a new life. Jesus is the only one who was born without sin. When you come to Him you are clothed in righteousness, He cleanses your sins, and He changes your life (John 14:6; Romans: 6:23). There is the power in encountering Jesus. You can be free from the burden of sin and receive eternal life in Jesus. When we receive this new life, it transforms us, changing us from the inside, and it will allow us to love others, including our enemies. It gives us hope for the future, and means we can change the course of history (Galatians 2:20). Enjoy this new opportunity and share the good news with others, including you family, colleagues, and neighbours. 

That reaction exposed the clear divide between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. And this is significant. The enemy would love to silence that kind of passion, to dim the light of courage. But we mustn’t let that happen. This is our moment, let this be a wake-up call. We cannot stay silent nor comfortable. When darkness gets louder, the light must shine brighter. If the enemy is bold, then God’s people must be bolder. We are called to rise up, to speak truth without fear, to love without compromise, and to carry the Gospel with urgency like never before. This is not a time to shrink back, this is a time to stand up.  

Last week, we honoured the life of Pastor Terry, and Pastor Wes referenced from Isaiah 6, that “In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord.” When one generation had passed it was time for another generation to come through. As the long-time King had finished his reign, it was the moment for Isaiah to start his ministry.  

This theme was very much on the mind of the apostle Paul when he was coming to the end of his life. Paul had had an amazing ministry spreading the gospel in a hostile culture and establishing great churches all over the Roman empire. The Roman Empire was powerful, brutal, sensual, and antichrist to its core. And yet the Christianity spread like wildfire across the world, with passion and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, once a great enemy of the church until he had a life-changing encounter, was at the heart of it. But he realised his time was coming to an end. 2 Timothy 4:6-7: ‘the time for my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’  

Now his big focus was to see that his spiritual descendants, like Timothy who was a true spiritual son, would take up the baton and pass the faith onto many others. And so he laid out instructions of what Timothy would have to now focus on (2 Timothy 4:1-6). Paul’s words are not just historical, they are a challenge to us today and to everyone, especially younger people, who are called to step up in our generation. But how do we do it? How do we pick up the baton and carry the Gospel forward with courage and conviction? 

1. We need to preach boldly (2 Timothy 4:2; Mark 16:15; 1 Timothy 4:13,16) 

2. We need to always be ready (2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6) 

3. We need to train up disciples (2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 28:20) 

4. We need to teach patiently (2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 11; 2 Timothy 2:24-25; Proverbs 22:6) 

5. We need to keep calm in all circumstances (2 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV) 

6. We need to endure (2 Timothy 4:5; Philippians 1:21) 

7. We need to complete the work we are given (2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:58) 

Apply  

1. We need to preach boldly (2 Timothy 4:2). This was Jesus’ call to His disciples as He sent them out (Mark 16:15). It’s the same instruction Paul gave to Timothy, and it is the same call for every believer, to go far and wide and share the good news: that through Jesus, the Son of God, we can be forgiven of our sin and that there is eternal life for those to choose to believe in Him. The world doesn’t need us to teach opinions; people not only need our testimony of what God has done in our life, but they need The Word of God too. This is what Charlie Kirk did so boldly going to campuses to share the gospel, to debate issues, to challenge ungodly indoctrination and to answer questions. Firstly we must focus on the Bible ourselves (1 Timothy 4:13,16). Each one of us must know the word at a new level, we must go deeper. We must go deeper. We must hunger to learn more in our devotional time with God every day so that we can teach the word effectively to those in our community. Then don’t just store up knowledge for ourselves, rather we are called to preach to gospel and give witness.  

2. We need to always be ready (2 Timothy 4:2). Whatever the weather Timothy had to be ready to share the word of God: in the highs, lows, moments of convenience and inconvenience. Sharing the word isn’t just for a Sunday or a Life Group meeting. Opportunities to speak life come at unexpected times: lunch breaks, coffee shops, even on social media. At late night and early morning people are crying out for help. We are in a world where so many people are plagued by depression and under the hold of darkness, and Jesus is the answer. The enemy is trying everything he can to spread lies. We need to stand up and speak the truth (1 Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6). Christians in our nation have been silent for too long, living in the comfort of their own beliefs, but it is time to break out from our comfort zones where the enemy wants to keep us, and go out boldly with God’s word in our mouths to make the most of every opportunity.  

3. We need to train up disciples (2 Timothy 4:2). Few like correction but it is necessary for growth. Timothy had to learn to disciple others through the word of God, and true discipleship includes correction and rebuke, but always with love (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations, and that people needed to be trained to obey Him (Matthew 28:20). We have to disciple people lovingly, training them in the word and helping them to develop a strong, enduring faith so they will have the character of Jesus, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, have conviction of right from wrong, confess their sins, and live in humility under God’s authority.  

4. We need to teach patiently (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul knew a lot about patience. When the first Christians were won in Antioch, in Acts 11 we read he spent a year there with Barnabas teaching a great number of people. They invested a whole year training the people in the word and about the principles of the God. Paul showed patience with Timothy, mentoring him over time, encouraging him despite his youth and his fears. He gave Timothy careful instructions and reminders, trusting him with responsibility and strengthening his confidence in ministry. We must be like the farmer, sowing the seed of the truth of God and patiently tending the soil so that in time our hearers blossom and become mature in their understanding. Jesus showed patience with His disciples by teaching and correcting them even when they doubted or failed. He used their mistakes as lessons and continued to guide them with love, preparing them to carry His message. And they were prepared (2 Timothy 2:24-25; Proverbs 22:6). In the same way, we must be patient to train new baby Christians so that through every situation they shall have steadfast faith in God.  

5. We need to keep calm in all circumstances (2 Timothy 4:5). Paul was urging Timothy to stay calm and steady in his faith, even when challenges came. Opposition, lies, and challenges will come - but stay steady. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your mission (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). We need the wisdom and council of the Holy Spirit to keep us on track and sweet. To see beneath the depths of others resistance to the root at the heart.  

6. We need to endure (2 Timothy 4:5). Paul’s life was a living example to Timothy of keeping going in all circumstances. He stayed steady in faith through shipwrecks, beatings, and prison, never letting hardship stop him. He devoted himself to spreading the gospel everywhere he went, and he faithfully carried out the mission God gave him right to the end of his life. Paul was totally sold out to being a faithful witness for Christ whatever the troubles and pressures (Philippians 1:21). Have you given yourself fully to God? 

7. We need to complete the work we are given (2 Timothy 4:5). We need to complete the work God has called us to do. We need to evangelise, to disciple new believers, and serve His ministry. This nation will change when we let our light shine. It is time to take the lamp out from under a bowl and tell this nation what Jesus has done for us (1 Corinthians 15:58). God is calling us to a new level of commitment. Go deeper in the Word, win souls, train disciples, endure hardships, and fully commit to the mission. Every believer has a role. So let us rise, shine, and proclaim Jesus boldly to a world in desperate need. Now is the time to pick up the baton.

Only this week we in King’s Church International have faced a moment of irreversible transition with the passing of one of our well-loved and most faithful pastors. A former atheist, Pastor Terry Beasley served in countless roles for over six decades since becoming a Christian at the age of 16 until his death this week at the age of 79. For so many people, both locally and in other nations, he was part of the ever-dependable fabric of our lives, always willing to help people spiritually, practically and emotionally. He was a wonderful husband to his equally faithful wife Margaret for almost 57 years. He was a devoted father and grandfather, a wise community and church leader and not least he was our Senior Pastor’s closest friend since school days and an ever-dependable supporter who helped him through many seasons of life and ministry.  

When we lose such sincere, life enhancing people like this, when we see the state of the world around us, it’s like experiencing an earthquake when the very ground we have stood on is being shaken. And yet it is at such times that we can find a sure foundation and hope for the future by discovering God and His unshakable kingdom.  

Isaiah 6:1-8 begins ‘In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord.’ Uzziah, also known as Azariah, was one of Judah’s greatest Kings who reigned for 52 years. In the earlier part of his kingship, under the influence of his godly advisor Zechariah, Uzziah was faithful to God and did right in the Lord’s eyes. However, Uzziah’s success made him proud leading to his downfall and death around 740 BC.  

`Pastor Terry in contrast remained faithful to the Lord all his life but now he too has suddenly gone. Yet we, like Isaiah in the time of the removal of someone who had always been part of his life, can also experience what happened to Isaiah. For it was in the very season that the old had ended, something new was happening. In a season of death, new life was emerging. In the time of great darkness, there came new light. What Isaiah experienced in a year of major change gave him a whole new perception of the condition of his own life and about the future direction of his life. 

1. He had a new vision of God (Isaiah 6:1; Job 26:9; Psalm 9:4-7; Lamentations 5:19; Ezekiel 1:26; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:1-11; Isaiah 6:2-4) 

2. He had a life changing encounter with God (Isaiah 6:5-7; John 16:8; 1 John 1:9) 

3. He received and obeyed a strong call from God (Isaiah 6:8-9) 

Apply  

1. He had a new vision of God. He had a vision of God who is high above everything (Isaiah 6:1). The God of the Bible is far above every other power and ruler. He is God Almighty, the ‘great God’ that Handel said he glimpsed as he wrote The Messiah. This awesome God is the ultimate and eternal authority over all creation: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like Isaiah, many people in the Bible who had a vision of God in heaven spoke of God’s throne (Job 26:9; David in Psalm 9:4-7; Jeremiah in Lamentations 5:19; Ezekiel 1:26; Daniel 7:9; & the Apostle John in Revelation 4:1-11). Isaiah may have been depressed or discouraged because a great leader of Judah was no longer on the throne. But then Isaiah had a vision of God in heaven. Despite Uzziah no longer being on his throne, God was still on His. And that remains true today in every changing circumstance of life. For always the Lord reigns over all. He also had a vision of a Holy God (Isaiah 6:2-4). Isaiah had a revelation of heavenly beings who constantly spoke of the holiness and glory of God. The name seraphim means “burning ones.” Holiness means that God is set apart from any other being by His perfection and purity. Holiness in the Bible refers to a majestic God whose character is without any flaw and whose awesome presence changes everything and everyone who experiences it. Just one experience, even one glimpse of a holy God, will change your whole life and perspective, just as it changed Isaiah’s. 

2. He had a life changing encounter with God. He saw what a sinner he was (Isaiah 6:5-7). When Isaiah saw the intense brightness of a holy God, he suddenly felt very dirty. Any self-righteousness he may have had was immediately stripped away. He felt that he was ruined because he was so unclean and living among people who were so unclean. This awareness and confession of sin is essential if we are to find God, and is one of the roles of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). You cannot find God when you try to make out how good you are, but only when you recognise how bad you are and how great is your need of God to make you clean. In the same moment Isaiah admitted how sinful he was, he discovered how God could remove his sin, and experienced great forgiveness and cleansing (Isaiah 6:6-7). Isaiah had a powerful experience of being forgiven and freed from guilt. He discovered what the Bible calls grace. That’s why Jesus, God in human form, came to shed His pure blood so that we could all be cleaned up on the inside and come to know friendship and fellowship with a holy God (1 John 1:9). Not only can we be washed clean by the blood of Jesus, we can also be touched in our lives and the words of our lips by the fire of the Holy Spirit just as the first disciples experienced on the Day of Pentecost. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, prayed ‘God of burning cleansing fire’ give us ‘strength to ever do the right and power to walk the world in white.’ The Salvation Army logo has long been Blood and Fire. Every one of us needs a pivotal encounter with God that William Booth and Isaiah experienced. 

3. He received and obeyed a strong call from God. He heard God calling for people to represent Him (Isaiah 6:8). God was looking to recruit Isaiah to represent Him and to go and speak to his generation for Him. Isaiah was given the clear and tough task of proclaiming coming judgement to a rebellious and God-rejecting nation. It was a far from popular message, but God wanted to give every opportunity to those who would listen and repent. Isaiah’s response to this great challenge was positive, deciding to obey the call of God on his life (Isaiah 6:8-9). Isaiah made himself totally available to God, committing to be sent, to go, do and say what God wanted. Today in this turbulent moment of history in our nation and in the nations, God is calling to every one of His followers to be fully dedicated to Him. Will you be a man or woman to answer the call of God? Will you as young people become unashamed ambassadors to your generation? Will you stand in the gap to carry the gospel torch that Pastor Terry has now laid down? Will you faithfully tell the good news of Jesus? Will you be a preacher, teacher, pastor or evangelist? Will you be His representative in your home, neighbourhood, workplace and society? Will you say ‘Lord here I am, send me’? 

Over the past weeks we have looked at different areas where we need to grow up. Now we conclude this series focusing on some more key ways in which we all need to grow up. These final 3 points bring us to a total of 18 areas of maturity which we will have covered in this series, in keeping with 18 being the age when you are considered an adult in the eyes of the law. Whether you or your parents like it or whether you feel ready for it, there very quickly comes a point when you can be entrusted with many opportunities and responsibilities, so you had better grow up. So, let’s see these further points on what it means to be a mature Christian.  

1. A mature Christian will serve others (Mark 10:43-45; Philippians 2:3) 

2. A mature Christian takes responsibility for his decisions (Romans 14:12) 

3. A mature Christian understands the role of parents (3 John 4:4; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Corinthians 13: 11) 

Apply  

1. A mature Christian will serve others (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus taught in contradiction to the teaching of this world which says that you live to satisfy your desires and dreams. When we come to Jesus, we find we are to focus on how we can serve and help others. 

Immaturity - self-serving and self-indulgent: The "gimme, gimme, gimme" philosophy is more prevalent in the Western community than we would care to imagine. We pray "God bless me, my family, bless my church, my group, my leaders, my job. God help me through this problem, this crisis, God use me.” It’s all me, me, me…Many Christians approach God like a genie who will fulfil your wishes. However, Jesus was very specific in saying that the ways of the Kingdom of God are different. He taught His disciples to be servants, to help others first, support those in need, and to build God’s house first. 

Maturity - serves others: In contrast to this, a mature Christian does “...nothing out of selfish ambition, vain conceit, but in humility considers others to be better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). A mature Christian prays for and thinks about others first and tries to bless other people's families and groups. You look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others. We shouldn’t be waiting for the other person to act first: mature Christians don’t wait to be served but look for the opportunity to serve others. When was the last time you served someone close to you, like your family, your leader or your neighbour? You can make the way in the busyness of home life to surprise someone with an act of service: don’t wait until Christmas to help in the house with the big clean up or to prepare a nice meal for your family, or until your leader’s birthday to say some words of appreciation. Don’t wait until you’ve been asked to do something: excel with your attitude of service and your desire to help. Take time to pray for others, to share a word of encouragement with others. Charles Spurgeon said: “Hard work will do almost everything; but in God's service it must not only be hard work, but hot work. The heart must be on fire" To serve as Jesus did, our hearts must be in fire for Him. 

2. A mature Christian takes responsibility for his decisions. 

Immaturity - someone else makes the big decisions: A baby, infant, or even an adolescent will not make major decisions on housing, finance or holidays. Those decisions are made by others. Someone else pays the rent or the mortgage, someone else decides where to go on holiday, where to stay. They simply go along for the ride. Someone else pays for the ticket. Some people's idea of discipleship would lead to the same situation. Many Christians make their decisions, but come to the pastor when the consequences hit, saying “pray for me, help me.” We need to know that we can chose our own decisions and must accept the consequences of our decisions (Romans 14:12). E.g. Lot in the Bible chose to leave his uncle Abram, a man of God, to pursue worldly wealth by moving his tents to the well-watered plain near the city of Sodom. But in the end, he got into big trouble and very bad company and had to be rescued by Abram. 

Maturity - you make the big decisions: Maturity means that as you grow up you take responsibility. You make decisions, you take risks, you face challenges, you launch out into the deep. You pioneer new ventures, not just looking to others to do so. You believe God for finance, not believing that others will supply it for you. You launch out in praying for the sick, praying for miracles, starting to use the gifts of the spirit that God has given you, and discover the ways the Lord wants to use you. Sometimes we haven’t unlocked the next level in our spiritual life because of the fear of making mistakes. Start to trust God and get launched today. You can get your answers from God on the major issues in your life. There is safety and wisdom in counsel, but you yourself must hear from God. 

3. A mature Christian understands the role of parents 

Immaturity - limited understanding of parent's role: A child can know the love of their parents, but know very little about them as people: their hurts, hopes, motivations, battles and victories. Dad and Mum are simply just there as dad and mum, or not there as the case may be, but parents are people too. Children think of parents as bosses, annoying people, useful sometimes (for car rides and as a piggy bank). Sometimes children think of them as enemies, or people who don’t understand them nor see the world as they do. Something similar often happens with Pastors and leaders. But no good parents wish for their children to do badly or to make big mistakes. Every parent’s desire for their children is to do good and to prosper, to see fruit in every area of their lives. Good Pastors and leaders only want to see every disciple prosper (3 John 4:4; Colossians 1:9-10). 

Maturity - close relationship with parents: As children grow up, they should grow to appreciate how much the parents have loved and sacrificed for them. They will discover that their parents don't just want to rule them, but to have a relationship with them, not just to feed them but to have fellowship with them. When children grow out of adolescence, a healthy parent relationship will mean that you see your parents clearly for who they are and you can get to know them as people. A mature person would understand that what we are made for is not just to function for God, but to be friends with God. Man's chief aim is to know God and glorify Him forever. More than that, God wants to know us and have fellowship with us. A mature Christian’s life is therefore not characterised by rules, but relationship. We will reflect a heart of our father. A mature Christian will reflect his father in heaven, and his life will be lived to the father's pleasure and glory.  

So here we come then after all these weeks to reflect on how mature we really are. It’s time as put childish ways behind us (1 Corinthians 13: 11). So, stop acting like a version of Peter Pan. Grow up! God does not want us individually or collectively to be insecure, divided, competitive, disobedient or unruly. God wants a fully grown up, matured family. People who have come to wholeness in their relationship with God and one another. Where there was weakness there will now be strength. Where there were temperamental tantrums, there will be self-control and kindness and gentleness. Where we were exclusive, we can become inclusive. Where we were gullible, we will become wise. Jesus showed He can take hold of a bunch of immature young disciples and make them into a powerful apostolic company. So too God is raising up a church family in every locality and nation which He intends to be fully matured. And you can play your part in building and in being an ever-increasing blessing.  

Over the past few weeks we have been learning about how to be a grown-up Christian, how to mature in our faith, and move to a new level of understanding (James 1:2-5). Through the Bible we find many characters that experienced this theme of patience in their lives, like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, and of course Jesus.  

1. A grown-up Christian will learn to be patient (Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 6:12; James 1:3; Hebrews 12:1-2; Romans 12:12) 

2. A grown-up Christian will practice discernment (Ephesians 4:14 NLV; Acts 17:11) 

3. A grown-up Christian will persist (Philippians 2:12; Colossians 1:23; Acts 13:43, 28:14) 

Apply  

1. A grown-up Christian will learn to be patient 

Immaturity – impatient: An immature Christian will be impatient, they like instant answers to their prayers. Everything must be done immediately. Many people say: "God, you told me you are going to bless me, I want everything you have shown me to happen today.” Charles Spurgeon said: “The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes.” When we look at the Bible, the translation of the word Patience from the original Hebrew means: slow to anger. So, patience is not only waiting, it is waiting with a good attitude (Galatians 6:9). Can you imagine a farmer sowing seeds and then checking the ground that same hour for the fruit? It’s not logical. In the same way, we need to develop patience. We need to be slow to anger and to practice self-control. Patience is trusting God’s timing, enduring trials without bitterness, and responding to others with grace (Hebrews 6:12). 

Maturity – patient: What are the testings in your life producing today (James 1:3)? It may be anger, frustration, sadness, hopelessness, disappointment, indifference, or even a sense of “I deserve this” which is condemnation. However, a Mature Christian will say “God, this is temporary, my eyes are fixed on you” (Hebrews 12:1-2). A mature Christian will see that patience is not just passive waiting, it is active endurance (Romans 12:12). Jesus was patient with His disciples when they didn’t get it. Also, He was patient with sinners when they were lost and broken. The disciples were told to wait for the Holy Spirit. There were many questions, but as they waited and prayed, the Holy Spirit came.  

2. A grown-up Christian will practice discernment 

Immaturity - easily influenced and a sucker for the spectacular: Immature Christians can be like children who are open to strangers, especially strangers who smile and gave sweets. That is why we tell our children "Don't talk to strangers". Why? Because they can easily be led astray. This is not new; this was a constant problem in the New Testament. False teachers arose who led the spiritually immature away. Today we see many people following the same pattern, looking for the next big trend, the next big event, the excitement. Children like noise and bright colours. Some Christians only really come alive when the circus comes to town. The bigger the build ups, the greater the hype, the more outrageous the claims, the happier some people are. All that glitters, however, is not necessary gold. 

Maturity - can discern between good and evil: Discernment is not human cleverness, it is Holy Spirit-given. It is distinguishing the voice of Christ from the voices of culture. When we become a mature Christian “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth” (Ephesians 4:14 NLV). With countless YouTube sermons, TikTok reels, and Spotify podcasts, it’s easy to believe whatever sounds inspiring. But be watchful of what you feed your mind with, be careful of what you see, hear and believe. This is very important. We read that the Bereans were eager to learn and were discerning so they opened the scrolls, compared the apostle Paul’s teaching with the Old Testament, and checked carefully (Acts 17:11). Not to contradict what Paul was teaching, but they did this because of their desire to grow in faith and to be rooted in the Word of God. Discernment is not about being clever; it’s about being close to Christ, the Good Shepherd, whose sheep know His voice. When you spend time in His Word, you learn to recognise His voice above the noise. 

3. A grown-up Christian will persist 

Immaturity - easily discouraged and put down: Sometimes we can be discouraged when we don't see the fruit we dream of. Perseverance is not a virtue always seen in young children.  

Maturity - not just consistent but persistent: One of the big words to the early church was 'continue' (Philippians 2:12; Colossians 1:23; Acts 13:43; Acts 28:14). Sometimes growth feels slow, but in Christ, every step of endurance is moving us toward maturity and victory (see William Wilberforce, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale). As mature Christians, we need the determination and to make the decision to not turn back, but to persist, insist and resist for the cause of Christ.  

1. We need to grow up in our relationships (Proverbs 12:26, 17:17, 19:11; Colossians 3:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:58 AMP). 

2. We need to grow up in our responsiveness (Ecclesiastes 1:14; Proverbs 26:12, 3:7; Matthew 11:29;1 Peter 5:5; Matthew 7:24) 

3. We need to grow in our reaction to discipline (Proverbs 12:1, 15:5, 3:11-12, 13:24, Proverbs 10:17; Hebrews 12:6) 

Apply  

1. We need to grow up in our relationships  

Immaturity – temperamental: Children are often very quick to both make and break friendships. They can go from having a best friend one day to not being friends with them the next. For a while, a friend is new and exciting, the 'flavour of the month' then they disappear. They can both make and drop friends easily, and be enticed by wealth, charisma and charm – how a person appears, rather than who they really are (Proverbs 12:26). For the immature Christian, there is no emotional balance or stability in relationships. They go all into the friendship, spending lots of time together and sometimes becoming inseparable, and then the total opposite happens when offence and unforgiveness enters and the friendship suddenly ends. Being temperamental isn’t good for the person nor the people around them. 

Maturity – faithful: A mature Christian is faithful and consistent. They don’t fly off the handle or cut off a relationship when someone says or does something they don’t like or agree with. It’s not that there are never any issues in their friendships, but rather that they know and put the word of God into practice on how to be a faithful person in their relationships (Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 19:11). A mature Christian stays together in covenant relationship, even if disappointed by friends. They would rather overlook an offense than forsake the friendship (Colossians 3:13-14). Mature Christians are quick to forgive, valuing covenant friendship over any temporary grievance. They want to keep unity in the church family and enjoy the blessing of real, stable friendships, which is so different to how friendships often operate in the world. Covenant friendship is steadfast and enduring. You can count on a mature person to be faithful in a relationship and also to be faithful in whatever they put their hand to do – not just doing the minimum, but going above and beyond because it’s the mature attitude of the heart (1 Corinthians 15:58 AMP). Are you consistent and faithful, or temperamental, being quick to make and break off friendships? Do you give your best to people, or try to get away with the minimum? 

2. We need to grow up in our responsiveness 

Immaturity - needs repeated telling: Repeatedly having to tell a child reveals something deeper going on in the attitude of that child. Essentially they are not valuing the instruction of the parent and sees that what they’re doing is more important. Often, immature Christians can be like the children in these scenarios being “wise in our own eyes”. We think of ourselves as being very busy, filling our lives with many activities but neither feel we have time to nor really value following the instructions God gives us. At the end of King Solomon’s life, he recognised the fruitlessness of doing things other than God’s will or direction (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Many times people want the overall direction of God for their life and future, but do not choose to follow the instructions in the Bible that God gives for how to we are to live every day. Even though we may have heard and read the 10 commandments so many times, do we ever lie, or want what others have, or put something or someone in first place of our lives instead of God? For the immature Christian, just because they know something doesn’t mean they are actually putting it into practice – they’d rather do what they want (Proverbs 26:12). Immature Christians look around judgmentally at others without recognising their need to grow in obeying the word of God. There is a blindness to hard heartedness, which often makes them harder to work with than anyone else, yet they are more in need than anyone else (Proverbs 3:7).

Maturity - eager to learn: In stark contrast to the immature Christian who needs repeated telling because “they are wise in their own eyes” The mature Christian recognises that Jesus said we are to learn from Him (Matthew 11:29). They don’t need constant persuading but are ready to learn from the Lord, from their pastors, their spiritual leaders, and from anywhere and everywhere that builds them up in their faith and in spiritual maturity. A mature person can say, without choking, "I was wrong, please show me, please help me". They don’t need repeated telling before they listen and obey. And they also don’t pick and choose the scriptures they want to obey, rather they take the all the instruction of the Bible, not only the promises of blessing and help. They know that following God’s instruction leads to life (1 Peter 5:5; Matthew 7:24) It’s not that this always come naturally. It’s a decision to be humble and not just dismiss things that might be challenging or uncomfortable but will grow us in our faith merely as ‘suggestions’ or ‘opinions’ - but to listen attentively and be responsive, to take it on board and be quick to apply it. So how eager to learn are you? Do you listen to the word of God quickly put it into practice?  

3. We need to grow in our reaction to discipline 

Immaturity - fights shy of discipline: An infant or adolescent will often push to find their limits, seeing how far they can risk their way to prove themselves right or reassure themselves that “everything will still work out ok” to minimise any bad outcomes. An immature Christian knows there must be an oversight in their life, but wants to keep it to minimum – which can lead them even to present half truths or to conceal things. They want to get away with minimum accountability and maximum independence in case they are told something they don’t want to hear. Immaturity means that if they can get away with something, they will, and if called to account, they will resent it (Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 15:5). Rather than proactively seeking out spiritual cover themselves, for fear of being corrected or challenged, they will wait to be sought out by their leader. Even if a good and Godly leader gets too close for comfort, they are often quick to shout that it’s "heavy shepherding" or the leader is being controlling, in order to take the pressure off themselves.  

Maturity - loves discipline: A mature Christian loves discipline because they understand that Discipline is for our good and is a way of God showing His love for us as His children. They don’t skim over the scriptures that teach us on how important discipline is for our lives, nor do they get offended when they are corrected because they know it’s essential for them to be able to grow in maturity and Godly character (Proverbs 3:11-12; Proverbs 13:24; Hebrews 12:6). A mature Christian wants to build safeguards into their life. Contrary to what the world teaches, they seek out accountability from pastors, leaders and fellow Christians, and see correction as positive and not negative.  

Would you say you are a faithful person or temperamental? Do you need repeated telling or are you eager to learn? Do you fight against discipline or do you love being corrected? These are not all easy things to hear, and our flesh doesn’t love being challenged in this way, but understanding and applying this will not only help us to grow up, but will be a blessing to many others (Proverbs 10:17). As we grow up in the Lord, we will help many others encounter the love, life and liberty of Jesus as well. 

You can be a Christian for decades and still be immature, still battling with unrepentance, insecurity, comparison, or pride. But God’s desire is for you to grow, to become steady, humble, wise, and fruitful. If we stay spiritually immature, we miss out. But even more than that, the world around us misses out too. So how do we actually grow up in our faith? How do we leave behind childish ways and become the mature Christians God is calling us to be? 

1. A grown-up Christian moves from competing with one another to working together (Genesis 4:5; Luke 22:24; Mark 9:33–34; Romans 12:10,12:15; James 1:2-4) 

2. A grown-up Christian moves from living as if they know it all to receiving wisdom and instruction (Matthew 11:29; 1 Corinthians 12:21; 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 1:1-3; Proverbs 12:15) 

3. A grown up Christian goes from building cliques to opening their hearts to the whole body of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:9–10; Ephesians 4:14-15) 

Apply  

1. A grown-up Christian moves from competing with one another to working together.

Immaturity - constantly compares themselves to others and competes: You see this behaviour clearly in young children, especially siblings arguing and fighting. When one succeeds, the other might feel pressure to catch up or sulk because they feel they don’t measure up. These dynamics are often quiet, but they can run deep. We read about this spirit of competitiveness when Cain compared his offering to Abel’s (Genesis 4:5). Rather than learning from his brother, he let jealousy consume him. Even Jesus’ disciples weren’t immune (Luke 22:24; Mark 9:33–34). Just like siblings, they were still caught up in status. This same immature spirit can creep into the church, e.g. “My church / denomination / life group / family is better / bigger / more committed…” An immature Christian is threatened by the success of others, feeling insecure when others are celebrated. They sulk when others receive what they’ve been praying for. They care too much about how they’re perceived in comparison to others. If you’re single and someone else enters a relationship, if someone else gets promoted while you’re still applying, or waiting for fruit in your ministry while others seem to be thriving, do you celebrate them, silently compare, or does envy creep in? The enemy wants to sow bitterness, insecurity, and division, and to crush your faith by preying on the seed of competitiveness. 

Maturity - moves beyond comparison and competition: They value the work of others, don’t get insecure when someone else succeeds, and are not ruled by emotion, but instead learn from others, and rejoice with them. They don’t see their brothers and sisters as rivals, they see them as partners (Romans 12:10). Stop trying to outdo each other, and start trying to outlove one another. This is maturity: Choosing faith and joy over jealousy and despair (Romans 12:15; James 1:2-4). A mature Christian is secure in their calling. They are not driven by comparison or public approval, they are driven by God’s purpose. 

2. A grown-up Christian moves from living as if they know it all to receiving wisdom and instruction.  

Immaturity - acts like they know it all, they’ve done it all, they’ve got it all: They know the Bible better than anyone else, they understand praise and worship more than anyone else, they’ve seen more miracles, and they think they have more insight into what’s going on than anyone else. They love to talk, but don’t love to listen. Before you even finish speaking, they’ve cut you off! When Jesus invites us to learn from Him, He is calling us to a lifetime of humility and growth (Matthew 11:29). True maturity means remaining a learner for life. We can never take the ‘L plates’ off as Christians. Yet many live contrary to this. They prefer to rely on their own knowledge, taking matters into their own hands and convincing themselves they’ve got it all figured out. Many Christians are building their lives ignoring instruction, ignoring the word of God, ignoring spiritual wisdom, confident they know better. Immature Christians have read the Bible, heard the sermons, attended the conferences, and now they believe no one can teach them anything new. They become uncorrectable, unteachable, the “spiritual expert” in every room they walk into. This attitude is deadly to growth. Many Christians live as if they are the only part of the body that matters (1 Corinthians 12:21). 

Maturity – gets wisdom and instruction to learn how to build the best life: 

A mature Christian hungers to spend time studying the Bible, applying its truths to their life (2 Timothy 3:16). You may read the Word, but do you know the Word? You may have read or heard it before, but is it inscribed on your heart? We must desire to unlock more knowledge from His Word, which is alive and active (Psalm 1:1-3). A mature Christian is eager to learn. They stay teachable. They receive correction from the Word and from spiritual authorities. They do not choke on the words, “I was wrong” or “Please show/help me.” They don’t rely on old stories or past experiences to validate their present faith. They walk in humility and stay open to growth (Proverbs 12:15). We need to humble ourselves to be trained and to ask for advice. Remain teachable, living as a lifelong learner of Christ. 

3. A grown up Christian goes from building cliques to opening their hearts to the whole body of Christ.  

Immaturity - builds cliques: This is the type of thing you see in playgrounds and in schools, but it is even more damaging when it shows up in the church. It makes the church smaller and colder. It creates walls instead of bridges. Paul confronted the Corinthians for this and rebuked them strongly, saying they were acting like infants in the faith (1 Corinthians 3:4). We must not attach ourselves to one personality or one group and quietly shut out others. Immature Christians become so focused on their own ideologies and traditions and rules that it divides them from others. They say, “These are my people,” and close the door behind them. But in doing so, they divide the body that God has made one. An immature Christian cares more about who they are socially compatible with, who they can invite round, and who they can do different social events with, rather than reaching out to all types of people, supporting and loving them just as Christ loved us. 

Maturity - opens their hearts to the whole body of Christ: A grown-up Christian not only loves those who are easy to love, they value unity across differences and celebrate what God is doing in other groups, streams, and networks. Juan Carlos Ortiz, in his book Disciple, says, “God has only two groups, those who love one another and those who don’t.” This is the heart of maturity: loving widely, well, and beyond preference or comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:9–10). We need to open our hearts to those we’ve kept at a distance. We must tear down the walls of cliques, favouritism, and exclusivity. We are called to love the whole church just as Christ loved us. We must not be the blockage when there are so many people who need to be part of the family. 

Now is the time to put away childish things. Now is the time to grow up in love, in humility, in unity (Ephesians 4:14-15). No more competing. No more pretending. No more excluding. Stop trying to win every argument. Stop trying to prove yourself. You don’t need to compare yourself to others, God has His own plan for your life. He wants you to live in harmony with your brothers and sisters. Learn to work together. Be humble and teachable: If we are to be fully mature in Christ, we must be open to training and correction, eager to learn from the word of God and our pastors, with humility, taking off the pride that resists God. Pray for a teachable spirit. That you will be a new vessel. That you will walk with the Lord, not dependent on logic or past experiences, but following his voice as he leads you. And be inclusive, breaking down exclusive groups that exclude others from joining in. Be open-hearted, living in brotherhood and partnership with those who are also in Christ. How much more can God do through us when we are more warm-hearted to others 

1. We need to grow up in our behaviour (Philippians 4:5; Hebrews 12:14; Numbers 12:3; Matthew 18:15-17, 5:23-24) 

2. We need to grow up in the way we speak (Psalm 19:14; 141:3; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 3:15) 

3. We need to grow in our humility (3 John 9; Matthew 23:5-7; 2 Samuel 15:1-6; Philippians 4:11-12; Matthrew 20:28) 

Apply  

1. We need to grow up in our behaviour. Whilst it is normal for children to have tantrums, we do not expect them from adults. Yet, although they may look different to childhood tantrums, we can have tantrums as adults in different forms. 

Immaturity - throws tantrums if can't have own way: Every child can throw tantrums including shouting, throwing, stamping, sulking, withdrawing etc. In church life tantrums may also take the same forms and also include quitting a position of responsibility in protest at a perceived wrong or slight, refusing to go to meeting, or withdrawing tithes and offerings. We see this behaviour in the Bible: Cain was “very angry” and sulked rather than address his emotions, ultimately murdering his brother Abel. King Saul regularly threw spears at David out of jealousy. The Israelites in the wilderness demanded food and water, blaming Moses for all their problems and hardship. The prophet Jonah became angry and resentful, wishing to die because God showed mercy on Nineveh. So how do we receive correction from God and even from our spiritual leaders? Do we have a teachable heart that wants to learn and grow, or is there an independent or argumentative attitude? Has this changed over the years or are we still the same? Have we matured and learnt over time? You can easily recognise if you or others have conquered tantrums. A tantrum thrower gives off a disgruntled air and makes sure that you understand that they are like a simmering pot ready to boil over thinking you may give into their demands. When a parent holds the line, it is because they want to teach, correct and train the child. It can be the same when God allows us to go through a particular circumstance. Do we have spiritual maturity to see and learn from it, secure in our faith that God turns everything to good for those who love Him? 

Maturity - retains a gentle and quiet spirit: The contrast is seen when you have a gentle and submissive spirit, displaying the character of Jesus and showing mature trust in God (Philippians 4:5; Hebrews 12:14). Moses was known for his strong leadership, but was also described as being very meek (Numbers 12:3). Maturity means you can entrust your case to God and rest secure in His plans. If necessary, you will get others to help sort an issue out (Matthew 18:15-17). But a mature person will not be robbed of tranquillity just because everything is not going their way, rather they will seek the Lord for guidance and His wisdom to deal with conflict or difficult situations to ensure resolution and reconciliation is achieved (Matthew 5:23-24). Spiritual maturity means that we trust our leaders because we know their heart. We may not always understand every decision, but we know that they are for us not against us, and that our development is their priority.  

2. We need to grow up in the way we speak. Whilst we know and expect limited vocabulary from children, we need to mature in how we use our words and speech.  

Immaturity - limited vocabulary: For babies, it’s saying ‘mama, dada’. In church life, it takes the form of the same prayers, the same basic words in evangelism, the same arguments about why you can’t do something or move on. It can be self-centred rather than focussing on God’s will for your life. The same prophecies, the same preaching year after year.  

Maturity - developed speech: Mature Christians can be specific about what you are thanking the Lord for. We all have so much to be grateful for and the Lord loves to see us be thankful in all circumstances. The Psalms are a great example of this, and Paul’s letters often overflow with expressions of gratitude to God for the churches and individuals serving the Lord. And our prophecy will develop into something more specific and well rounded. It is a great privilege to speak into people's lives, and we need to grow in faith and prayer to ensure we are speaking God’s word and not words based on our own knowledge or opinion. When you speak in tongues, it is important to move beyond the repetitive or familiar patterns. Let there be variety and depth in your speaking, preaching, praying, and communicating. As you grow, move beyond the basic utterances and early beginnings, progressing into deeper and more mature expressions led by the Holy Spirit. Maturity of speech means that we think before we speak. We don’t rush in but open our mouths with wisdom; this is pleasing to the Lord (Psalm 19:14; 141:3). How and what we speak is so important not only to our loved ones but to everyone (Ephesians 4:15). Mature speech means that we can more clearly communicate why you are a Christian, developing how best to share our testimony (1 Peter 3:15). 

3. We need to grow in our humility. That means that we move on from being so self-centred and focussed on our own ego. 

Immaturity - attention seeking: An immature person always needs to be the centre of attention, where significance and security comes from your position. An immature person is only happy when all eyes are on them or will think up some stunt or tantrum to get attention focused on them (3 John 9; Matthew 23:5-7; 2 Samuel 15:1-6). Attention seeking can also manifest in being disruptive, bursting into tears, storming out, or always arriving late. Attention seekers place too much importance on being popular, fitting in with others, and having their ego stroked.  

Maturity - able to be content in obscurity: We may not always understand the situation or circumstance we find ourselves in but we can always trust the Lord (Philippians 4:11-12). To trust is a decision and one that demonstrates our maturity in faith where you can work away from the limelight and your security does not depend on what profile you have. You can take your place in the body, however insignificant that place may seem. You do not feel the need to dominate nor to have the final word; your security is in God and His plan and protection. You truly follow the Lord’s example. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, yet he came to serve not to be served (Matthrew 20:28). You do not expect special privilege because of who you or your family are, but you have a humble attitude. Jesus was the awaited Messiah, yet he rode on a donkey, ate with sinners, and loved to be with ordinary people. Jesus didn’t hang out with just the wealthy, rather He loved each person the same and showed no favouritism. And we must always give God the Glory. Even when we have played our part, it is only because the Lord has given gifts and talents that we can do anything. Whatever role you have as part of the body of Christ, work hard at it and follow Jesus’ example. We all need to come to this new level of maturity in our faith to move forward as individuals, as families and as a church. Not to look at the past, not to carry the arguments, disappointments or the same old ways of doing and dealing with things. To do God’s will and walk in His ways, we need this renewing of our minds, to surrender our will and become obedient to Him in everything. To move from immaturity to maturity is not only a learning and a development but a decision. 

The New Testament Epistles are full of exhortations to help us grow up in Christ, and the apostle Paul described this as the whole purpose of his ministry (Colossians 1:28). He understood that the various leadership roles in the church were to equip and mature the church (Ephesians 4:12-14; 1 Corinthians 13:11). Every Christian needs to grow up in our knowledge of God, in love, in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in perseverance and in becoming more like Jesus. Of course, newly born-again Christians need a lot of care, attention, encouragement, protection, and direction. That’s why we need mature disciples, both older and younger, to act like a spiritual mum and dad to help those new to faith. New believers often have a lot of questions as so much is so different to anything they have known before. They need established Christians to accept them, be patient with them and give all the answers that they can. We should never put heavy burdens and unrealistic expectations and goals on new Christians. But we can and should expect every true Christian to grow up from spiritual infancy. We see three practical areas where every Christian needs to move from immaturity to maturity: 

1. We need to grow up from being unable to walk to be being able to stand strong (Ephesians 4:14; James 4:7; Ephesians 6:12-13; 1 John 2:14).  

2. We need to grow up from being fed milk to be able to receive meat (1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-14,6:1-3)

3. We need to grow up from being out of control to becoming self-controlled (Galatians 5:23; Titus 2:11-12; Psalm 34:12-13; James 3:5, James 1:26) 

Apply  

1. We need to grow up from being unable to walk to be being able to stand strong.

Immaturity - unable to walk: A baby can’t hold themselves up. A toddler keeps falling over. Baby Christians too stumble over the same problems and temptations (Ephesians 4:14). Immature Christians are unstable and prone to falling over. A new immature Christian can be easily confused and disorientated. So we must train each Christian to know how to stand.

Maturity - able to stand: It’s amazing how quickly a baby learns to stand. It’s equally wonderful to see new Christians rapidly becoming secure in their faith in Jesus. A mature Christian trusts in Christ not in themselves, is one who can resist the Devil and see him flee from you (James 4:7). A mature Christian has learned to stand their ground during trials and temptations (Ephesians 6:12-13). You know you are growing in your faith when you are no longer ruled by your feelings and circumstances. You no longer worry when people criticise you since they only have power over you if you accept their negativity. You don’t panic when Satan sends noisy thunder and dramatic lightning your way. Why? Because You know how to find your refuge, your safe place, in the promises of God’s word that He will never leave you or forsake you, and that the Lord will always hear your cry. You don’t have to be old or a long-time Christian to develop an ability to stand strong in your confidence in Jesus who has conquered sin, Satan, death, and hell at the Cross (1 John 2:14).  

2. We need to grow up from being fed milk to be able to receive meat 

Immaturity - must be fed milk: (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). Spiritual babies only want what they can easily digest. They only eat small portions of the word of God, only texts that make them feel good. Baby Christians want to be comforted not challenged, entertained rather than enlightened. They want only to receive the good promises of prosperity and good life without much of God’s life and the challenges of denial, discipline, and discipleship. They don’t want in depth Bible teaching (Hebrews 5:12,6:1-3). One of the key signs of an immature Christian is incomplete repentance. A Christian may keep getting into trouble because they have never truly, totally, and thoroughly repented with tears and a conviction that only Jesus can give the cleansing and forgiveness that they need. 

Maturity - able to nourish self on meat: (Hebrews 5:13-14). Being mature is understanding that God is righteous, and that we need to be made righteous through the blood of His son Jesus Christ and our faith in Christ alone. By ourselves we cannot live right as we should (Romans 3:10). A mature Christian, however, can discern the difference between good and evil. A mature Christian has a keen sense of what is right and wrong, not simply saying ‘well everyone has their own opinion’. A mature Christian is upright in their business dealings and in the way they treat others and is someone who seeks first Christ’s kingdom and His righteousness. If you are living right, doing right, and are not living self-righteously but righteously through Christ, then you are for sure maturing in your faith. 

3. We need to grow up from being out of control to becoming self-controlled 

Immaturity - little self-control: In real life babies are not noted for their self-control, especially regarding the bladder! They don’t care. They are babies. And if they feel sick then they just go and throw up. Such behaviour, although clearly objectionable and messy, is considered permissible simply because babies do what babies do. But these are not endearing traits when babies grow older. Yet in the church, many Christians have never been potty trained. They just do what they want, say what they want to whom they want, when they want, and are not much bothered what mess they cause. There is little evidence of restraint in their lives. Lack of self-control may be seen in that they do not control their tongue, their temper, their passions, or their spending. This is nothing but immaturity. 

Maturity - modelling self-control: Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). A Spirit filled mature Christian is someone who has learnt to control his passions (Titus 2:11-12). To be a grown-up Christian you can’t sleep around but must control your sexual appetites. To be a grown-up Christian you must rule your money, not spend it just by impulse. To be a grown-up Christian you can’t lose your temper because someone or something displeases you. You must rule your actions and reactions. And not least to be a grown-up Christian you must control your mouth (Psalm 34:12-13). An uncontrolled tongue can cause great damage (James 3:5, James 1:26).  

So having considered three practical areas where we need to grow up, we need to stand strong, learn to receive meat, and live self-controlled lives. So how are you doing and what do you need to change to become a grown-up Christian? Pray asking for the Lord’s forgiveness and the help of the Holy Spirit. 

In the Christian church both, locally and universally, God wants the church to multiply numerically, but He also wants every Christian to grow up in their faith, in their character, in their ministry and in every stage of life (Psalm 92:12-14). Our new series focusses on how we can develop from spiritual infancy into mature and fruitful disciples of Jesus and how in turn we can train others also to become grown up disciples. 

One of the root problems of modern Christianity is what Juan Carlos Ortiz in his classic book “Disciple” (see also Warren Wiersbe "Be Mature" and Arthur Wallis "On To Maturity"). Sadly, today there are Christians who seem to have stopped growing in their Christian lives. Despite years of teaching, fellowship, prayer, conferences and meetings, they remain childish in the way they talk, think, act and react. What they want is to be constantly pampered, spoon fed, consoled, cosseted, and cleaned up when they have made a mess. What they need however, as opposed to what they want, is not prayer or deliverance or counselling but simply this: they need to grow up! 

This issue of spiritual maturity is nothing new. The Epistles are full of exhortations to help us grow up in Christ (Colossians 1:28). Paul aimed for more than the maturity of individual believers: He wanted to see the entire church mature. He understood that the various leadership roles in the church were to equip and mature the church (Ephesians 4:12-14). Over the coming weeks we will be looking at some of the practical ways that God intends for us to mature both individually and collectively, but first we see some major areas we need to grow in: 

1. Grow in our understanding of God (Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:18) 

2. Grow in love (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Ephesians 4:15-16; Ephesians 4:2,31-32; 1 Thessalonians 3:12) 

3. Grow in the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18 

4. Grow in perseverance (James 1:2-4; 2 Peter 1:5-8) 

5. Grow in Christ likeness (Exodus 34:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18) 

Apply  

1. Grow in our understanding of God (Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:18). As new Christians we may know very little about God. But as we read His Word and experience His grace, we learn so much more about God. We grow in our understanding of the righteous and loving character of God; we discover that God is for us and not against us; we learn that we don’t have to be shaped by the storms and circumstances of life but that we can rest secure that God is faithful to all His promises and that He works everything for the good of those who love Him; and we become more aware that Jesus is not just a figure of history but a living reality who we can know as our saviour from sin, our best friend, our greatest guardian and guide. And as we grow in our knowledge of God, we lose our fear and grow in faith. That’s what God wants for every Christian. We are not to stay as infants with little understanding but to continually grow in our knowledge of our good and great God. 

2. Grow in love. Love is the central message of Christianity. God is love and He so loved the world that He gave His only son Jesus to save us from sin and destruction. Today He wants to show His love through His body on earth. The church is called to model love in a world of hate. Sadly, many times people have been turned off church because they have encountered nastiness, judgmentalism and harshness in the church. However, Jesus told His disciples that they needed to work through their differences and work at loving one another (John 13:35). Love is not just an emotion (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Paul certainly believed in the importance of spiritual gifts like prophecies and the necessity of helping the poor, but he said that without love, he would gain nothing. As Christians we all have a responsibility to speak with love and build the church up with love (Ephesians 4:15-16). What does this mean in practice? See Ephesians 4:2,31-32. We each have to move on from being a me centred baby to being a grown-up carer for others (1 Thessalonians 3:12). 

3. Grow in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes Jesus real to us and equips us to serve God. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles received the powerful anointing of the Holy spirit but that was just a beginning. The book of Acts of the Apostles shows how they grew in their anointing of the Holy spirit as they boldly preached the gospel and saw miracles of healing and deliverance. It is not sufficient just to start out in Christian life and ministry with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, being continually filled (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18). The Greek verb tense used indicates a present continuous action, rather than a one-time event. So are we growing in our fellowship with the Holy Spirit? Are we exercising spiritual gifts with more authority? Is there a noticeable increase of the anointing of the Holy spirit in our lives and on our ministries? Every day we must value the anointing of the Holy Spirit, not grieving the Spirit by our words and actions so that God can increasingly move in power through us. 

4. Grow in perseverance (James 1:2-4). Few people like to go through tough times, yet it is in such seasons that we are forced to choose whether to grow up in our faith or give up. Trials, where we learn to depend on God and not on ourselves or our emotions, help us to develop in our spiritual maturity. When we persevere and remain steadfast in the face of strong winds we learn, as an old hymn says, to ‘trust in Jesus and to take Him at His word.’ We develop an inner spiritual and emotional toughness and an ability to endure in all situations. Instead of crying like babies in distress, we become confident that the Lord will give us peace and grace for every situation (2 Peter 1:5-8). 

5. Grow in Christ likeness (Exodus 34:29). The more we spent time developing our relationship with the Lord through worship, prayer, knowing God’s word and seeking to live holy lives, the more we will become like the Lord. There will come a greater transparency, a greater serenity, a greater beauty. People will literally be able to see and sense more of Jesus in us (2 Corinthians 3:18). So how are you doing in your Christian development? How much are you growing in your knowledge of God, in love, in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in perseverance and in becoming more like Jesus? Well don’t be worried or discouraged. God who has begun a good work in you plans to bring it to completion. You too can become a far more mature and fruitful Christian than you may have ever imagined. 

From the beginning this was God’s plan for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The blessing of God on these three generations paved the way for generations to come, notably through the 12 tribes of Jacob and the nation of Israel. But each generation must encounter and serve God in their generations. It’s not guaranteed that every succeeding generation will serve the Lord. The fires of revival and Christian influence can go out if not attended to. That has happened time and again in history and in many churches and nations. Many colleges, including universities in the United States, started out as Christian institutions to train young people for ministry and Christian service. Schools like Harvard (Puritan), William and Mary (Anglican), Yale (Congregational), and Princeton (Presbyterian) were created for Christian higher education. The Great Awakening led to the founding of Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth in the mid-eighteenth century. Over time, however, the revival spirit that founded these institutions was lost, and most of these former Christian colleges and universities became secular universities with little or no religious affiliation. 

Generational blessings can be lost very quickly if the next generations do not walk in the godly ways of those who have gone before them. After the years of amazing leadership from Moses and Joshua we read these sobering verses in Judges 2:10-12: ‘After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord…. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them.’ 

Subsequently, we read in Israel’s history of ongoing battles for godly legacy to continue in each generation. Specifically, we are focussing on three Bible Kings: David, his son Solomon and his son Rehoboam, for they serve as a warning and a challenge to us about how much can be lost, as well as gained, in just three generations. 

1. David started well and finished well despite his failures (1 Kings 15:5) 

2. Solomon started well and finished badly (2 Samuel 7:11-16; 1 Kings 11:1-12)  

3. Rehoboam started badly and finished worse (1 Kings 12:12-16; 1 Kings 14:21-24; Revelation 22:16; Luke 1:30-33; Psalm 78:4-7) 

Apply  

1. David started well and finished well despite his failures. David was just an ordinary shepherd boy, the youngest of eight brothers, seven of whom each seemed more impressive than him. But he was chosen by God to become the great shepherd king who united warring tribes and led Israel to many conquests. He killed a giant who was intimidating a whole nation. He escaped death many times from countless internal and external enemies including Saul, Israel’s first king who became obsessively jealous of him. David was not without his faults. He had times of great depression and shockingly he had killed the innocent husband of a beautiful woman that he had a secret affair with. Yet God loved Him and helped him and forgave him because He knew that David had a heart after God. He loved God, worshipped God, honoured God and depended on God. David’s heart was fully devoted to God (1 Kings 15:5). All his life David stayed humble in his walk with God, even when the prophet Nathan publicly rebuked him. David was a first-generation revivalist of sorts, a rugged and down-to-earth pioneer who had learned to depend on God and trust Him in all circumstances. It is this kind of raw and real relationship with the Lord that will sustain you if you will pick up the baton to keep the fires of God burning in your generation.  

2. Solomon started well and finished badly. David had wanted his descendants to follow in the ways of the Lord and the Lord had made some powerful promises to him for his generations (2 Samuel 7:11-16). When David died, Solomon, his son by Bathsheba, began so well when he ascended the throne. He was careful to walk in obedience to the Lord, he built a great temple in Jerusalem and consecrated himself to God with a powerful prayer. He pleased God by asking above all for wisdom, not wealth or long life or the death of his enemies. But as the years passed and the leadership of his father became more distant, Solomon proved not to have the same passionate heart for the Lord that David had. He became proud and unfaithful. He lost his discipline, his focus and his heart especially to lots of women. He became obsessed with sex, pleasure and an easy life (1 Kings 11:1-12). An incredible spiritual decline took place in Solomon’s reign. He didn’t just cool in his relationship with God but he opened the nation to the worship of many detestable false gods. Chemosh and Molek were gods associated with practices involving child sacrifice. And it all came about because Solomon let godly standards slip in his time because his own heart was not right with God. In the UK as in other nations, so much paganism, ungodly practices and social disintegration has come about in our generation because of the spiritual disintegration in the hearts of so many church leaders and their unwillingness to preach and model Christian standards. It’s no use first attacking the sins of society, when repentance needs to start in the church. And in how many Christian homes have Christian parents failed to teach and train their children in the ways of the Lord and have just gone along with children as they have grown up and walked in rebellion to God? If we want to see the continuation of legacy in each succeeding generation then our own hearts must be fully committed to God. We must always take stock of how we are walking with God today not how well we may have done in times past. For as Solomon’s story shows it is possible to have a wonderful heritage, a great beginning. But it’s not enough to start well but end up badly because we have allowed the pleasures of this world to gain our hearts. We must continue faithfully in the ways of the Lord. We must daily seek to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. We must pray with hunger for the Holy Spirit to help us. We must remain as humble and teachable disciples. We must unashamedly share the good news of Jesus. We must serve sacrificially and give generously to prioritise the building the house of the Lord, the church. Let’s never become like Solomon who once was so wise but threw it all away. Don’t let the passing years cool your fire for God. 

3. Rehoboam started badly and finished worse. Rehoboam didn’t inherit the best situation, but he still had the opportunity to be a wise and just king. But he preferred to listen to his young contemporaries who talked tough but had none of the wisdom of the older leaders who were trying to help him (1 Kings 12:12-16). And so began a great national division that lasted for centuries with ten of the 12 tribes following Jeroboam and calling their new nation Israel (the northern kingdom) and just two tribes remaining loyal to Rehoboam and calling their nation Judah (the southern kingdom). But even with his much-reduced Kingdom, Rehoboam totally lost his spiritual legacy (1 Kings 14:21-24). Terrible decline in just three generations had taken place because Solomon and Rehoboam did not value or continue their spiritual legacy. Fortunately, despite more bad kings, there were eight good kings in the Kingdom of Judah who were said to have pleased the Lord: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Azariah (Uzziah), Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Through all the contrasting reigns of good and evil however, the Lord remained faithful to His promise to David through Jesus, despite whole generations turning away from God (Revelation 22:16; Luke 1:30-33). The purposes and promises of God can never be stopped but we are called to play our part so that we keep the fires of God burning in each generation. To be faithful to God in our times means that: 

- We must love and serve the Lord whole heartedly. 

- We must put away all foreign gods and the idols of sex, money, pride, power and position 

- We must stay humble and teachable so that this can be reproduced in every generation. 

- We must spread the gospel of Jesus far and wide to generations who have not heard it (Psalm 78:4-7). 

This is how we will develop the Christian legacy of this church and this nation. Today decide to give everything to taking on the baton to serving God in your generation. 

As Christians we are encouraged to be faithful, just as God is faithful in all His ways. We live in a world of much pain and insecurity because of so much unfaithfulness. People are unfaithful in marriage, in business and in every aspect of life. To be unfaithful is to be unreliable, inconsistent and self-serving. To be faithful however means to keep faith and to be steadfast in your commitments and beliefs no matter what temptations or trials you may face. A faithful person is a person who starts out, keeps going and completes the course. One of the greatest keys to true success in life is learning to become a faithful and completely reliable and loyal person. We learn some important lessons from the teaching of Jesus in Luke 16:1-12.  

1. Be faithful in the little before the large (Luke 16:10; Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Timothy 3:4) 

2. Be faithful in the handling of money before being entrusted with spiritual ‘riches’ (Luke 16:11; Luke 19:12-26; Malachi 3:8-10) 

3. Be faithful in serving another’s ‘ministry’ before you have your own (Luke 16:12) 

Apply  

1. Be faithful in the little before the large (Luke 16:10). Jesus emphasised how it is so important to use well the little that you may have (Matthew 25:14-30). Learning to be faithful in small matters is the first step to growth in faithfulness. When someone becomes a Christian, they do not automatically become faithful. Sometimes poor training, lazy habits and bad role models can make a person irresponsible, unpredictable, and undependable. So just as children need to be trained up in such little basics as washing or cleaning your teeth, so disciples need to first learn the basics of Christian behaviour of learning: to follow the standards of the Bible not the world; the disciplines of daily prayer and Bible reading; to receive direction and correction without anger or resentment; to listen as well as to talk; and to consider and care for others not just focussing on yourself. Long before the disciples were preaching to multitudes, they had to learn the basics of getting them organised into smaller groups that they could feed. They then had to learn such practical matters as avoiding waste and collecting the leftovers. In the same way good disciples are developed by first helping their families with such details as helping with carrying the shopping, helping with the washing up and setting up a table for a meeting. Applying yourself to help in small practical matters even when no one is watching is all part of developing faithfulness for greater responsibilities (e.g. Daniel Kolenda with Reinhard Bonkke). How can you do whatever you can to help in the ministry of the church? You can get up early and join the set up team, help stack chairs, serve coffee. Take an opportunity to look after a few people in a small life group by calling and visiting them. Grow a bigger group by doing a great job of caring for the one or few that you already have. And if you want to pastor a big spiritual family well, first learn how to develop your own family (1 Timothy 3:4). 

2. Be faithful in the handling of money before being entrusted with spiritual ‘riches’ (Luke 16:11). What Jesus is saying is that if you can’t look after money well how can you take care of people’s souls? Or as Luke 19:12-26 says in the parable of ten servants, it was the ones who wisely used the money they were given who were then given the rule over whole cities. The Bible says a lot about money: how we gain money, how money can be our master or servant, how money can seduce us and ruin us, how money can be withheld or given generously, both to God and to people. Early in Bible history and before the Law, tithes (tenths of earnings) were given by Abraham to Melchizedek. As Abraham was faithful with money, God gave him true eternal wealth: The covenant, descendants, and numerous other blessings. We too can be blessed when we are faithful in our giving of tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10). Tithes and offerings should be given faithfully so that the work of God can move forward without interruption. The faithful giving of core people here through the years has been a major factor in the continuing ministry of the church. Be committed in your giving first with your entire tithe to your local church - the storehouse - and then through the local church with offerings to others. Faithfulness must also be seen in our wise handling of money. We need to pay attention to the creation and acquisition of money. We need to save, to plan, to budget, to invest and to spend money on what the Scriptures emphasise. The Bible tells us to take care of our own families, to give to those who are in need, and to use our money in such a way that it represents an investment in the kingdom of heaven and matters of eternal value. If you want to assess how you are developing in faithfulness, consider carefully how faithful you are in your handling of finance and temporal matters so that you can be entrusted with matters of eternal importance.  

3. Be faithful in serving another’s ‘ministry’ before you have your own (Luke 16:12). In other words, before you launch out in your own ministry, you need to learn from a more experienced person in ministry. This is called apprenticeship or discipleship. As a Christian you are not meant to be proud and ambitious self-made person full of your own ambition, but a God-made person who needs to humbly learn before you can teach. In the Bible Joshua was able to succeed Moses because he had been closely trained by him in proximity over many years. Similarly, Elisha was able to learn from Elijah and Timothy owed his spiritual formation to his spiritual father Paul. The disciples were trained up over three years not just by the teaching of Jesus but by close relationship, constant observation and being willing to be challenged and corrected. The goal of discipleship is never to make a disciple dependent on the mentor but to form them to be able to develop their own ministries with the same faithfulness that they have had to learn. This then is the way we will multiply many faithful leaders in this church. Faithfulness is one of the greatest ways we can develop the best legacy for every generation. So be faithful in the small before the big, be faithful with your money and be faithful in learning to serve as a godly disciple. Great things will happen when we are faithful.

Then in a moment everything changed. Surprisingly Jesus did not go on to read the next phrase from Isaiah 61 that spoke of the day of vengeance of our God. That day of God’s ultimate judgement was yet to come. But at this moment in time, Jesus declared that they were living in a special season of mercy and favour.  

And today is the day for us too. For sure we should not forget all the blessings and moves of God in the past and we should look forward with faith for what He will do in the future. But we must focus on today; literally this day but also the day and age we are living in. We must be fully spiritually awakened to what God is saying and to what He is calling us to be and do today, now in this moment. We must not be like the foolish virgins who had become sleepy and were not prepared for the sudden arrival of the bridegroom. Nor should we be like those to whom Jesus said ‘you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you’ (Luke 19:44). Rather we must ‘understand the present time’ (Romans 13:11-12).  

Understanding the present time means we must have our eyes open to what is presently happening in our nation. For sure we live in serious and rapidly changing times and as British Christians we must be awake to the realities of the day we are living in. We must not live in little religious bubbles. But more importantly, we must wake up to the great responsibilities and possibilities that the church has right now. The church of Jesus Christ can be the decisive agency in bringing hope and healing to our nation. No matter how many people despise the church, God is always at work in His church and Jesus promised that He would build His church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.  

So today is no time to be discouraged in our spirits or distracted from our calling as ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a moment when the greater light of the gospel can overcome great darkness as we align with what Jesus said in these verses from Isaiah. 

1. Today is a day of liberation (Luke 4:19; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Leviticus 25:8; John 8:36; Acts 26:17) 

2. Today is a day of mobilisation (Luke 4:18; Matthew 4:23) 

3. Today is a day of impartation (Luke 4:18) 

Apply  

1. Today is a day of liberation (Luke 4:19). On Jesus’ arrival He proclaimed, ‘the year of the Lord’s favour.’ Today then is a day favour, not judgement; of good news in a bad news world; of salvation not damnation (2 Corinthians 6:2). The “year of favour” Jesus spoke about was a reference to a Jubilee Year in the Hebrew tradition. The year of Jubilee, every fifty years, was a special year in which everyone’s debts were written off, lands were restored to their original owners, and all slaves were set free. The trumpet would be sounded to proclaim liberty throughout the land (Leviticus 25:8). And that’s what we must do throughout the UK. When Jesus came, He was sounding the trumpet proclaiming that He had come to set people free from captivity of many kinds (John 8:36). The gospel of Jesus is the gospel of power where people can be truly set free in every way. That’s why Jesus is called the Saviour. Salvation comes from the Greek word Sozo, found in the New Testament more than 110 times. It means to be saved, delivered from evil powers and to be healed. Jesus came to break the rule of Satan off people’s lives (Acts 26:17). The powerful and positive message of the gospel is that people can be set free from all the dark works of Satan and everything that enslaves them in their emotions, relationships, minds and bodies. In other words, there’s hope when everything seems hopeless. You don’t have to stay trapped as you are. God can make a way out for you. Jesus can do for you what others can’t do for you and what you can’t do yourself. Jesus can lift you out of your pit of sin and shame and fear and failure. Jesus can free you from all oppression and depression. Jesus can change everything in your life for the better. That’s the essential message of the gospel. And that’s the very good news that we must share. 

2. Today is a day of mobilisation (Luke 4:18). It’s not enough to have the best and most positive message on earth; we must go and preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom. When Jesus came on a rescue mission to earth, He began by going out into all the areas in Galilee (Matthew 4:23). Jesus also sent out His disciples on a mission to preach the full gospel of salvation in their home areas and then into all the world where they were to train up real disciples. Jesus insisted in these verses that that the primary focus must be on preaching the good news to the poor. Jesus went to the literal poor, the hurting and the marginalised, the ordinary people that usually no one cared for. And that’s where every movement of revival has found its greatest success. Going to the poor and hurting means going to prisoners, to the captives, literally to prisons. God is concerned for the prisoners. Many prisons are seeing powerful conversions. Go to the abused, the down and outs. The blind and the lame. Go to the people and places no one else is interested in. In Britain today there are vast areas where the church needs to go. In the large cities, the sprawling housing estates, the new towns, a Christian presence is often negligible. We must advance the gospel by going to the people that nobody usually goes to. Today the Lord is calling us to go and confidently declare the good news to our families, friends, neighbours, colleagues, contacts and to have a systematic plan to spread the gospel personally and through multiplying small groups in every neighbourhood, town and city. 

3. Today is a day of impartation (Luke 4:18). It’s not enough to have compassion or goals and strategies and depend on human wisdom and resources. We must receive the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit to be effective in our lives and ministries. Jesus needed this anointing. The apostles needed this anointing which is why they had to seek God for ten days in Jerusalem before the Day of Pentecost. All the great Christians in history have needed to know the Holy Spirit as their source of authority. We also need the anointing of the power of the Holy Spirit. All of us need to be FULL of the Holy Spirit just like they were in the early church. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can we expect to see great spiritual change in this nation. Today is a day of liberation. Today is a day of mobilisation. Today is a day of Impartation. This is how the U.K. can change. And it starts with each one of us today. 

Many in our society today feel a sense of loneliness and worthlessness. Maybe you too have felt that you are not good enough and struggle to see where your life is going. Well, you are not useless. The apostle Paul writes a letter - a one-chapter book with just 25 verses - to Philemon who was a wealthy merchant in the city of Collosae, modern western Turkey, regarding a man they both knew well, Philemon’s slave, Onesimus. And in just a few verses here we can see how God can completely turn lives around. And that includes you. You are not useless, you are not insignificant, and even with a sketchy past, just like Onesimus, your life can change when you encounter Jesus Christ. 

1. Your past does not have to define your future (Philemon 1:11,18; Acts 9:3-4) 

2. Your identity can be changed through Jesus (Philemon 1:10,16; 2 Corinthians 5:17) 

3. Your life can be a blessing to others (Philemon 1:13,21) 

Apply  

1. Your past does not have to define your future. In the Roman Empire, up to a third of the population were enslaved in some areas. Slavery was not the same as the slavery of the Deep South in America, for example, slavery wasn’t based on race and slaves might be well-treated as part of the extended household. But slaves had no rights or freedom under Roman law and if they ran away, they faced death. Runaways were often crucified as a deterrent to other slaves. Even with this, Onesimus decided to run away risking everything, almost certainly stealing a substantial amount of money from Philemon to fund his new life (Philemon 1:18). In human eyes, Onesimus was someone to be punished and discarded for what he had done. But when Paul met Onesimus somehow in AD60 or 61 when he was a prisoner, Paul shared the gospel with him. Out of all the people he could have met, he encounters Paul, a close friend of the master he had run away from. His cover was blown! But in being found in this moment, God found him. So, Paul writes a message of mercy to Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf (Philemon 1:11). The apostle Paul, formerly Saul, knew all about how encountering Jesus could change direction of your life. He was not expecting what happened to him when he was involved in violently persecuting Christians. He was on his way to Damascus when his whole life changed (Acts 9:3-4). At that moment he realised that Jesus was real and alive. From then on instead of being the greatest opponent of Christianity, he became the apostle Paul, one of its greatest promoters. Many couldn’t believe such a transformation could happen and were in fear of Paul because of his reputation, but they soon saw that he was a completely different person. No matter the failures you may have had, God sees potential in you. What people call wasted, God can call chosen. You are not useless, your past is not your prison. You can turn around. 

2. Your identity can be changed through Jesus. Onesimus didn’t just change roles, he changed status. No longer deemed a servant but now a brother in Christ (Philemon 1:10,16). Onesimus may have been a slave but now he realised he was a son, a son with a spiritual father, and a son of God. His identity had changed. This was one of the big characteristics of the life of the apostle Paul, he was a spiritual father to many and it was one of the big emphases of his teaching. Christ doesn’t just give you a new job, He gives you a new identity and value in the family of God (2 Corinthians 5:17 and see testimony of Alice Cooper). You are not your job, your past title, or your mistakes. In Christ, you are a son, a daughter, a co-heir. You are not useless, you are reborn with worth. 

3. Your life can be a blessing to others (Philemon 1:13). Onesimus had formerly worked as a slave because he had to; now he served from his heart and he became a very useful person to have around. Actually, Paul came to rely on him. Paul saw Onesimus as useful for ministry, even while in chains. The man once seen as a burden was now a blessing. God was at work in the life of Onesimus to do far greater things than he could ever imagine. Paul sent him back and he was sure that Philemon would receive him back (Philemon 1:21). The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened to the former slave Onesimus, but Christian tradition states that he became the overseer of the church in Ephesus. Ignatius described him as a ‘bishop whose love is beyond words. My prayer is that you should love him in the spirit of Jesus Christ and all be like him’. When God transforms you, He doesn’t just restore you He repositions you to be a source of hope, help, and healing. God doesn’t just save you for heaven. He empowers you to impact lives on earth. You are not useless, you are a vessel of purpose. It begins when you receive the good news of Jesus Christ. That God sent his one and only son into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world. Just like Onesimus, maybe you have been in such a mess and whatever you have tried to bring order to your life has brought more problems. No matter what your past, how others have labelled you, or even how you’ve viewed yourself, God sees usefulness in you. Like Onesimus, your story can be redeemed, your identity can be restored, and your life can carry great purpose. 

D-Day for the launch of the Christian church happened 2000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost which we celebrate this Pentecost Sunday. It took place in Jerusalem which was packed with visitors from all over the world to celebrate the Jewish festival known as the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks. Within a few moments a small group of followers of Jesus were born into a new dimension of supernatural power and authority. The disciples who had previously been full of fear became fearless ambassadors of Christ.  

In one day, a small group of 120 disciples grew to a church of thousands. On this day and after this day they became an unstoppable force. Within weeks the whole of Jerusalem knew all about Jesus and within one generation, despite much hostility and persecution Christianity had spread throughout the Roman Empire.  

Today there are more than two billion Christians in the world and well over half a billion of them would describe themselves as Charismatic or Pentecostal. Pentecostalism has been labelled the third great force in Christianity alongside Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. But now all branches of the Christian church are experiencing a new work of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals/Charismatics are found in 9,000 ethnolinguistic cultures, speaking 8,000 languages covering 95 per cent of the world’s total population.  

Although the coming of the Holy Spirit had been promised centuries before by the prophet Joel, the events of the day of Pentecost, ten days after the return of Jesus to heaven, were sudden and dramatic.  

Acts 2:1-4 says: ‘When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ We see some simple lessons about the Day of Pentecost: 

1. The day of Pentecost was a day of great Power (Acts 2:4; 10:45-46; 4:31-33; 5:12) 

2. The day of Pentecost was a day of great purpose (2 Peter 1:3; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:17) 

3. The day of Pentecost was a day of blessing for all people (Acts 2:17-18,38-39; Luke 11:11-13) 

Apply  

1. The day of Pentecost was a day of great Power. D Day was an awesome display of military power. D Day for the church, however, was an awesome display of the power of God. It was supernatural power: When the Holy Spirit came there was a sound which came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Everybody was aware of an awesome power they had never known before. It was not of earthly origin. It was undeniable power. There were signs that God was at work, including the blowing of a violent wind, tongues of fire resting on the disciples which were visible to all and speaking in languages that they had never learnt (Acts 2:4). The gift of speaking in tongues was also present when Peter went to the Gentiles (Acts 10:45-46). The Holy Spirit literally loosened people tongues, to talk in languages they had never spoken before. It was revolutionary power. From the moment the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they shared the good news of Jesus with great boldness. They no longer were intimidated by anything or anyone even the authorities who tried to stop them (Acts 4:31-33). What’s more the disciples worked supernatural healings and miracles in Jesus’ name (Acts 5:12). Even the building that they were meeting in was shaken after they prayed (Acts 4:31). What the day of Pentecost clearly shows us is that the greatest power in all the world is not political power or military power or financial power; it is the power of God. Today, it is only this supernatural demonstration of God’s power that is going to bring about fundamental change in the church and to our society. It is only when we realise that God alone is our greatest need and we seriously seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that this change begins. It doesn’t take many people for a new movement of the Holy Spirit to gather momentum. The world transformative movement of Methodism began when the Holy Spirit came on John Wesley and 60 others on Jan 1, 1739. One participant said ‘About three in the morning, as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground.’ The fires of the Holy Spirit spread rapidly. In February 1739, George Whitefield started preaching to the Kingswood coal miners in the open fields near Bristol. He preached outside because many churches opposed him, accusing him and other evangelicals of “enthusiasm.” When he started the meetings in February, about 200 attended. By March, 20,000 attended. Christians through the ages have recognised the need for the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives and ministries (see C.H. Spurgeon and Dr D. Martyn Lloyd- Jones). We must be confident that God has this power today and we must begin to plead and yearn for it.  

2. The day of Pentecost was a day of great purpose. D Day had a supreme goal; the liberation of Europe from the evil rule of the Nazis. France would be liberated; the occupied countries of Europe would be liberated. The survivors of the Holocaust in Belsen and other concentration camps would be liberated. So too the coming of the Holy Spirit liberates us from the captivity of the kingdom of darkness and enables us to live as free born sons and daughters in the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit can free you from sin, self-centredness and evil powers. You can live free from fears and addictions, freed up to live the way God wants us to live (2 Peter 1:3). You can be freed up to extend the Kingdom of God everywhere (Acts 1:8). When you know the power and presence of the Holy Spirit you will be freed up to worship the Lord without religious inhibitions or personal hangups (2 Corinthians 3:17). So Pentecost means you will receive power and you will live in great freedom. 

3. The day of Pentecost was a day of blessing for all people. Huge numbers of people were involved in the events of D Day and even more were affected by them. In time hundreds of millions of people felt the impact of D Day. So too the Holy Spirit wants to affect people everywhere (Acts 2:17-18). The prophecy of Joel includes young people: sons and daughters. Your children too also need to experience God in a supernatural way. Old people: you're not too old to have a new encounter from God and to receive new dreams Men: the Holy Spirit wants to help and equip you. Women: you can be greatly used by God. All ethnic groups; Jews and non-Jews. And this promise of the Holy Spirit is still open for every generation and for you also (Acts 2:38-39). Others have been blessed. Now you can you be too. God is interested in you. God wants to help you. God is for you. You may not have a church background. You may be new to all this but if you are hungry for God He will meet you. The Holy Spirit will change you. The Holy Spirit will comfort you. The Holy Spirit will guide you. The Holy Spirit will give you all the authority you need to conquer in every situation. You can be filled with the Holy Spirit just as happened to ALL the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. Today you can pray this ancient and simple prayer of the Christian church: ‘Come Holy Spirit.’  

If you want to be filled with the Spirit then repent of sin and wrong doing. Have you grieved the Holy Spirit by your words, attitudes, actions and relationships? Have you quenched the Spirit by not obeying Him when you should and despising His gifts and His people? Repent and be baptised. Then you need to hunger and ask for the Holy Spirit and you will receive Him (Luke 11:11-13). 

Acts 10 is where the life changing and world changing good news of Jesus moves from the world of Jewish believers to Gentile or non-Jewish believers, when Christianity broke out from being a sub-culture of Judaism to becoming a world faith. Acts 10 is the tipping point where everything changed in the growth and momentum of the church. And it all starts because of one man and takes place in his home.  

This chapter begins by detailing the spiritual hunger of a wealthy military man called Cornelius. He was a Roman centurion, whose responsibilities were more like those of a modern army captain. It ends with him and all his network of family and friends transformed totally by the Holy Spirit and the disciples somewhat shell-shocked by all that had taken place so quickly.  

The apostle Peter, who was used so decisively in all that transpired, was at first in ignorance of the spiritual search of Cornelius, in much the same way many Christians today fail to realise what spiritual hunger exists in millions of people outside of church contact, including those closest to us – our neighbours, family and friends. We see from this story how we too can see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit with your family and friends.

1. Live right (Acts 10:1-2; Job 1:8; Genesis 6:9). 

2. Listen to God (Acts 10:2,4-6,9,19-20; James 5:16 AMP; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2)

3. Follow the Leading of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:1-23,34-35; Mark 7:19; Acts 16:9) 

4. Let the Holy Spirit work (Acts 10:19-23,27,44-48; 2 Corinthians 6:2) 

Apply  

1. Live right (Acts 10:1-2). It says that Cornelius was a God-fearing man who gave generously to the poor and was doing his best to raise his family in the same righteous ways. Instead of making excuses or hiding behind Roman culture or his military career, Cornelius chose to live right and to live a God-centred lifestyle. God always sees and honours when you live right (Job 1:8; Genesis 6:9). Your faithfulness, your devotion to Him, your generous giving all please Him and are seen by Him and prepare an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can work. However, living right alone is not enough.  

2. Listen to God. Both the Roman centurion Cornelius and the apostle Peter were men of prayer. They did not just pray occasionally. They lived a prayer lifestyle (Acts 10:2,9). And that is significant. For when righteous - or right-living - people pray, then great things happen (James 5:16 AMP). It is no use just praying if you are not living right. But when righteous people get serious about prayer, great things happen. The teaching on prayer in the Bible is not on haphazard prayer but continual prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2). To Cornelius, God not only told him his prayers had been answered and his faithful lifestyle noted. He also told him specifically that Peter was the man he needed to meet, who he was staying with, and how to find the house (Acts 10:4-6)! He told Peter three men were looking for him and he had better go and meet them (Acts 10:19-20). Both men had a vision from God, and both had to listen to it. If you are serious about seeing an outpouring of the Holy Spirit with your family and friends, will you give yourself to prayer and to praying specifically for each of them? Make no mistake. God always listens when righteous people pray. But God also speaks, and we must listen to Him. Prayer is a two-way conversation, and we can miss so much if we simply download what we want to say and then go off in a rush. If you will take time to pray and really listen to God, in one way or another through a vision, the Holy Spirit within you, and of course always the Scriptures, He will stir you to move out of your comfort zone into new territory.  

3. Follow the Leading of the Holy Spirit. At every age and stage of life and ministry we each must decide whether or not to take a step of faith to see what lies on the other side of a door that God may be opening up to you. In this story, God was up to something, and both Peter and Cornelius had to pay attention and respond. God was working supernaturally: He spoke to both Cornelius and Peter through visions (Acts 10:1-16). The visions were specific and detailed. God was at work. God was working simultaneously (Acts 10:17-23). Without either of them knowing it, God was putting people together from very different backgrounds who had never even heard of each other. And you may not see what God is doing and all the ways He is at work in your life and in the lives of your friends and family, but you can be sure that God is working in them for your good. Just go where the Holy Spirit is leading you. It was the apostle Peter, the committed disciple, who needed to change rather than Cornelius. Peter was locked into his own tradition and upbringing more than he realised. And he needed unlocking pretty quickly. When Peter was told to kill and eat the animals he saw in the vision, he resisted (Acts 10:14-15). As a good Jewish boy Peter would have been steeped in Old Testament teaching that certain foods were unfit for eating and prohibited. But Jesus had declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). Jesus abolished distinction between clean and unclean food and clean and unclean people. Peter knew in his head that the kingdom of God was not about special rules and religious practices, yet he instinctively responded in a traditional way. To follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, he had to quickly lose his old ideas and prejudices, which thankfully he did (Acts 10:34-35). When Peter changed, everything changed and it opened a way for many to come to know Jesus personally. Change starts in the church, not in the world. In each one of us. Like Peter you must really follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, which means you may need to think and act differently towards others if you’re going to reach people you haven’t reached before and see things you haven’t seen before. The big question that we all face, and which Peter faced, is whether we are going to be fixed and stuck in our old ways or flexible and obedient in following the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must be sensitive to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit so that you know His leading and direction. Maybe He’s been leading you to share encouragement with someone or to invite them into your home or life group - don’t miss the opportunity. God is setting us up more than we know, but we must be spiritually awake to step in and share our faith with them. God wants us to be quick to respond to what He is saying and doing. The responsiveness of Paul was key to the gospel coming to mainland Europe (Acts 16:9). We too must go where God is leading us, whether it is down the street, across the corridor in the office, 30 miles like Peter to Cornelius, or across the world. God has gone ahead of you.  

4. Let the Holy Spirit work. Cornelius decided to send a group to meet a man that he had never met before who was staying at an address he had only just learned of. And Peter decided to welcome this group and go with them to the home of Cornelius (Acts 10:19-23). Neither Cornelius nor Peter knew all that was about to unfold but from the moment that they decided to act in faith and obedience and to let the Holy Spirit work, they opened a greater door for change than they could have ever imagined. And the same thing will happen for you when you decide to let the Holy Spirit work. Stop playing safe. Launch out into the new. When Cornelius took the risk of contacting Peter and Peter stepped out to go where he had never gone before, everything moved to another level. There was a new group of people to minister to, family and friends of Cornelius, who were hungry for God (Acts 10:27). Today so many people groups, so many families, so many in your neighbourhood and circle of influence are far more open to the good news of the gospel than you may know. And they will be more willing to listen to you than you may imagine. And in our story there was also a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Peter’s sermon on the good news of Jesus was cut short for the Holy Spirit moved (Acts 10:44-48). It says that all of Cornelius’s family and friends gathered at his house experienced an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. From this moment the Christian church accelerated in new ways. Today great things can happen in your personal life, in your family life and ministry when you live right and listen to God, following the leading of the Holy Spirit and let Him work. As you get out of your comfort zone to obey His call, you can be confident you will see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit with your family and friends (2 Corinthians 6:2). 

Being a Christian is so much fun: hopefully this is not a fresh revelation to you but to some it may be (John 10:10). One of Jesus’ 12 disciples, Matthew, threw a party to connect all his friends to Jesus (Matthew 9:10-12; Mark 2:14-17; Luke 5:27-32). Matthew had been a tax collector, and tax collectors were hated and vilified by Jewish society, often more disliked than the Roman occupiers. In essence, Publicans were men who had bought tax franchises from the Roman Emperor and then extorted money from the people of Israel. They often used force by hiring thugs to physically take money and were considered vile and unprincipled. This is the kind of man Matthew would have been, but then his life changed. 

1. Matthew was connected with Jesus (Luke 5:28) 

2. Matthew was connected to people (Matthew 9:37-38) 

3. Matthew connected people to Jesus (Matthew 9:10-13; Luke 5:32) 

Apply  

1. Matthew was connected with Jesus. Firstly, he encountered Jesus himself. When Jesus said to Matthew ‘follow me’, he got up, left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:28). Matthew was clearly a smart guy who would have been well organised, hard-working and focussed on making money. However, something was clearly missing from his life. All his power, position, wealth and possessions were obviously not filling the void. Although a man of the world, Matthew was also a Jew and would have been raised and educated knowing something of the Messiah and His promised coming to save Israel. So when Jesus, believed to be the Messiah, said ‘come’, Matthew dropped everything, got up and followed Jesus. As with so many people in the world today, there is an emptiness and longing for something more. Something to make us feel fulfilled, to give purpose, ease the pressure, guilt, anxiety or shame. This something of course is someone: Jesus! When Matthew encountered Jesus, the promised one, his life was so impacted he was never the same again. He discovered what he was looking and longing for, and wanted to share it with his friends. 

2. Matthew was connected to people. Matthew then held a dinner party and invited “a large crowd of tax collectors”. Not just one or two friends, but everyone he knew. Matthew, so despised by the Jews, would have been connected with people like him, ‘sinners’ and other colourful characters not held in high regard. These were very much people of the world, and he was connected with them, so he made sure to invite everyone to the party. Everyone was welcome. He invited them and they came. So, who are you connected to? Family, friends, colleagues, the person at the checkout or someone at your local store. We all have a sphere of influence. You can write the names of all the people you have contact with (Matthew 9:37-38). Think about people in your workplace, school, gym, your or your kids sports club, and other places you visit: people are everywhere. As Christians we need to be friendly. Now this may sound obvious but it’s true! We need to like people, to interact with them, smile, and talk etc. It is so important we connect with people and demonstrate the love of God (i.e. do you know your neighbours?). People are ripe for harvest. 

3. Matthew connected people to Jesus. Mathew didn’t just have another dinner party; he invited people to come and meet with Jesus. He was intentional. This wasn’t just another social gathering, it had purpose. Matthew created a safe environment to invite people into; he wanted people to meet Jesus and not religion, to feel welcomed and accepted, not judged or condemned. As Christians we may feel confident enough to invite non-Christian friends for a social with us, but we must do more than that: we must put Jesus at the centre and create opportunities to share our faith (e.g. alpha suppers where a brief talk would be given and then two testimonies, whilst sharing food). Many churches around the world now host “Matthew parties” to reach out to the community. These informal gatherings with friends are intentional to focus on Jesus (Matthew 9:10-13). Jesus’ disciples attended Matthew’s party, and we need to introduce our Christian friends to our non-Christian friends as there is real strength in community. When people see the unity and love we have for one another, it is incredibly powerful. This isn’t often seen in secular society. You can have different ideas for your party, such as a BBQ or anything else that you feel will connect people. It’s not about the food; it’s about the time together the building of relationship and introducing Jesus to our friends. Jesus was criticised for spending time with the tax collectors and sinners, but He was quick to correct this wrong thinking of the Pharisees (Luke 5:32). Jesus was all about the relationship with people, not religion. He desired people’s hearts, for them to know Him, His grace and mercy. Matthew knew that if Jesus could be friends with him, He could be the friend of all these other people as well. Mathew the tax collector is a great example to us in so many ways. We need to encounter Jesus for ourselves, to spend time in His presence every day. We need to surrender every area of our lives to Him and ask Him to help us to live right. Let’s bring Jesus into our world at every opportunity, being the salt and light in our circle of influence and sharing the good news of what Jesus has done for us and how He can and wants to help everyone. And choose to put Jesus at the centre of all that we do. 

An entire community turned to God because of the connections of just one woman who had a very colourful background. She was a very new believer in Jesus but straight away her words and story had a big impact. In John’s gospel she is known as the Samaritan woman and her story shows how the most unlikely people can experience grace and spread the good news of Jesus. 

In John chapter 4, Jesus was heading back from Judea to the beautiful shores of Galilee when He took a shortcut through a place Jews often avoided: Samaria. Historically Jews despised Samaritans. The division between them was like the generational conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians. The Jews who regarded themselves as a pure race didn’t want anything to do with a people they despised and who represented betrayal for their nation. They would do anything to avoid travelling through Samaria and having any social contact with the Samaritans.  

And then Jesus did something even more surprising; He got into conversation with a lady with a sinful lifestyle. It began with Jesus sitting by a well and asking her for a drink from some of the water she was drawing from it. This was a radical act, for Jesus was a Jew and she was a Samaritan, and it greatly surprised the Samaritan woman. 

1. She had an unexpected connection with Jesus (John 4:6,13-14,25-26) 

2. She connected everyone she knew with Jesus (John 4:28-30; Matthew 20:19-20)  

3. Jesus touched a whole community through this woman (John 4:39-42; Acts 8:4-8) 

Apply  

1. She had an unexpected connection with Jesus (John 4:6). It was about noon, not the normal morning or evening time women used to go to the well. Because of the midday heat, this woman was probably there by herself. The story tells us she had had 5 husbands and the one she was with now was not her husband. So, she was rejected in her society and didn’t want to be surrounded by the other women of the town, so she went to the well at the time nobody else would go. It wasn’t the expected time to meet someone but that day she met Jesus and He started a conversation with her. Jesus knew everything about this woman. He knew she wasn’t being real with Him. He knew that she had big issues with sexual relationships. He knew what was going on in her life at that moment and told her ‘and the man you now have is not your husband’. Yet Jesus unconditionally accepted this woman, despite her race and national history, and He accepted her despite the cultural prejudices against women, and despite her sinful lifestyle. More than that Jesus gave new life to this woman, offering her living water (John 4:13-14). He revealed Himself to her that He was the promised Messiah (John 4:25-26). Jesus taught that the only way to truly know satisfaction is to know God and that He Himself is God. Everything changes when we discover that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the only way to God. Everything changed for this woman as she slowly began to realise who she was talking to. It wasn’t what she was expecting but this was her moment to know Jesus. You don’t have to wait for the “ideal” time to meet Jesus. Some people receive the teaching in their home and from young age they have a personal experience with Him. Others hear about Him later in life and, after trying many ways and failing to find the love and satisfaction they were looking for, they come to Jesus and find their lives changed for ever. You could be young or old, going through difficulties or just living a normal life. But whatever your situation this is your moment to have an appointment with Jesus that could change everything in you and around you. Just as this Samaritan woman discovered that Jesus was ready to meet her and help her, so He wants to sit with you and offer you new life. Jesus knows what you have been going through, and He is here with you. He wants to give you all the love, care, joy and peace that you have lost, and He wants to meet all your needs. He is everything that we need, no matter our background. We have all failed, we are all lost sheep the Bible says, like the black sheep of the family, but He is a good shepherd and is here to meet you. And when we have that kind of encounter with Jesus, we want to tell others what happened. 

2. She connected everyone she knew with Jesus (John 4:28-30). When we know the Lord, we should do all we can to tell as many people as we can what the Lord has done for us and who He is. When we start sharing the gospel, God starts to work in the lives of others. God wants to use you to bring the good news to multitudes. Even before the disciples were commanded to ‘go and make disciples’ (Matthew 20:19-20) this woman became the first evangelist, based on a real encounter and revelation of Jesus. Without formal preparation or education, just with an experience of a real encounter with Jesus, she decided to share her story. We must be prepared to share the gospel at any time and in any place, when we encounter The One this world needs. The call to become witnesses is not only for a select group in the church, for the pastors, preachers, or professional communicators, it is for everyone. You might have been Christian for long time and think you haven’t discovered your call, but we are all called to be witnesses, even if you are a new Christian. When you have had a real encounter with Jesus you will want to share it. We don’t need to be professionals because this flows from a personal connection, not from our knowledge. Jesus crossed every social, cultural and political barrier to share the gospel and change the life of this woman, and so we are called to do the same. We need to become like the Samaritan woman to our relatives, and those we have contact with in our daily lives. You might think you are very new in your walk with the Lord but that must not stop you just like it didn’t stop this woman. Start where you are, with the people around you. You can be the connection point between your family, your colleagues, your friends at school, college or university. Just be a witness and tell what you have experienced: it will have a big impact.  

3. Jesus touched a whole community through this woman. She led many people to Jesus (John 4:39-42). Many people in the town received what she received at first because she didn’t stay quiet. A great revival can come to whole estates, villages, towns and cities because of the words and witness of what God does in just one person. There is power in our words. Our words can bring great change: she just opened her mouth, and the town was changed from idolatry to a real worship. And this was just the start of a great work of God in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). We never know what the Lord can do with one seed, with one word, with one person. Today the Lord wants to use you just as He used this Samaritan woman. Now is the moment for all of us to open our mouths to tell of Jesus and see great joy in our cities.

Pastor Wes Richards’ first book called ‘Hope and a Future: a story of love, loss and living again’ tells how his family was restored after grieving the loss of a much-loved wife and mother. It’s been translated into Spanish and Portuguese and the feedback received shows that hope is a universal need. Everybody needs hope, from the least to the greatest.  

This week in the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, Winston Churchill’s inspiring words of hope have once more been broadcast to millions. Yet as he grew older and again became Prime Minister, the great man was himself in need of great hope as he faced the post-war years of new domestic and global social, economic and political challenges. In 1954 he invited Billy Graham to Downing Street for a 20-minute meeting after hearing of the great crowds that had gathered to listen to the evangelist in Wembley and other stadiums. Although they overran their allotted time, Churchill told Graham to keep speaking, and the evangelist affirmed that God was the only hope for the world and for us individually.  

You don’t have to be a Billy Graham, however, to spread the good news as a remarkable Bible story in 2 Kings 6:24-7:6 shows us. In 2 Kings 7:9, four outcast lepers: ‘said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.”’ This is a story that has many applications for us today: 

1. People desperately need hope (2 Kings 6:28-30) 

2. Today is a day of hope (2 Kings 7:1-9; Luke 2:10-11; John 6:35; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 103:3; 1 John 1:9; John 14:6; John 8:12,36; Luke 4:18-19; John 11:25) 

3. We have a responsibility to share the good news of hope (2 Kings 7:9-16; 2 Corinthians 5:20 & 6:2) 

Apply  

1. People desperately need hope. They were people who had been through extremely tough circumstances. This story is set in the 9th century before Christ and, not for the first time, Israel was a nation under attack. An entire city, Samaria, was under siege. Ben-Hadad king of Aram to the north of Israel wanted to starve them into submission. The siege lasted so long that ‘there was a great famine in the city.’ The economy was shattered, and inflation rocketed, like it has done in many failed states. As food was so scarce they were people who had lost their way morally and spiritually. They were desperate and moral values were thrown out. Anything went and the people resorted to cannibalism (2 Kings 6:28), just like in World War 2, particularly during the long siege of Leningrad. All kinds of things happen when moral values collapse. They were people who saw no way out of their pain, where death and despair stalked the city and those in authority had no answer (2 Kings 6:30). The King tore his clothes, his close advisors were depressed and cynical, declaring not even God could help them. Today there is a great famine in many developed nations as well as literal famines in other nations. People are starved of Love: family break up is at record levels. So many suffer abuse, cruelty, pain and heartache in their homes. People are starved of Direction: they don’t know where their lives are headed. They too lack a moral or spiritual compass. People are starved of Meaning: suicides are up, particularly amongst the young, because of a sense that life has no meaning or purpose. People are starved of Hope: they are worried and depressed about the future. Many people indeed lead lives of quiet desperation. However, there is hope! 

2. Today is a day of hope. The answer to the hopeless situation did not come from a political ruler but from a prophet of God. Elisha was a man who knew the character of God and the reality of the power of God. And he had a word from God that there was about to come a big turnaround in the economy because there would very quickly be a big change in their circumstances (2 Kings 7:1). Sky high prices would drop because there would be more than enough supplies for everyone, the famine would end, and people would suddenly have real reason to hope. So these four desperate lepers wandered into enemy lines only to find the enemy forces had fled leaving food and provision everywhere (2 Kings 7:3-9). They couldn’t believe it, but it was true. Their famine was over! Today also is ‘a day of good news.’ And that good news is not coming from the politicians or the press but from those who understand what Christianity is all about. For good news is at the heart of Christianity. When Jesus came into the world it was a cause for celebration (Luke 2:10-11). The good news of Christianity is that when everything seems lost and hopeless we can be rescued. You don’t have to just exist. You don’t have to be so empty. You don’t have to be trapped by your circumstances. You don’t have to stay depressed. Your famine can end (John 6:35). Instead of emptiness and sadness, you can be filled with love, joy, peace when you have an encounter with the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real to us. You can have a new start (2 Corinthians 5:17). God can make all things new by changing you from the inside out. You can be forgiven for your wrongdoing, even if you have some big regrets in your life (Psalm 103:3; 1 John 1:9). You can find meaning and direction (John 14:6; John 8:12). You can discover a whole new life of freedom (John 8:36). No habit, addiction, problem or sin needs to hold you captive. You can be free from fear and guilt and shame, freed to be all that God meant you to be. You can experience great favour (Luke 4:18-19). God wants to bless you with His goodness and mercy all the days of your life. You can be blessed in your emotions, your body, your spirit, your finances, your family and in every area of life. You can be confident of a secure future (John 11:25), with hope for this life and the next. So how are people going to get to know that they have hope and a future? That’s up to you and me. 

3. We have a responsibility to share the good news of hope. The four lepers in the story had their own needs met and were really enjoying themselves. But then they thought of all the starving people back in the city (2 Kings 7:9-16). They told them an amazing message of hope. At first people were skeptical, as many are today. But then they decided to investigate for themselves, and they found out it was all true. There was good news after all. The whole city was saved because a few people were bold enough to share the good news. In the New Testament Jesus commanded his disciples to spread the good news to everyone everywhere. Every Christian has a responsibility to communicate this message of hope (2 Corinthians 5:20). We need to do this personally, spreading the word to your friends, family and contacts. We need to do this urgently like the lepers who knew how desperate people were for hope, so they reported the news 'at once’. There is no time to lose in giving people hope (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today you can discover the good news of the hope that Jesus offers and then you need to become an ambassador of hope.  

All of us need friends, not just so-called Facebook friends or Instagram friends but true friends that really care for us and want the best for us. So many people today are lonely and need real friends to help them. As Christians we can be great friends to people and the best thing we can do is to introduce our friends to Jesus.  

We read in Luke 5:17-20 about four outstanding friends who did everything they could to help a friend in great need. Jesus was likely staying at Peter's house in Capernaum during this time. Capernaum was an ancient city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel which you can still visit. It was the operational centre for Jesus’ ministry, and where great crowds gathered from near and far to listen to the teaching of Jesus and seek miracles of healing. So many people packed into the house that the four friends who desperately wanted to help a sick friend could not get in. In those days, people relied on charity for their needs. Moreover, illness was often associated with sin, leading to social stigma. In this case, the paralysed man's condition not only caused physical pain but also added to his sense of isolation and helplessness. He definitely needed friends around. In this story we see: 

1. Friends will carry you when you cannot carry yourself (Luke 5:18; Galatians 6:2) 

2. Friends with real faith who believe in Jesus (Luke 5:18-20) 

3. Friends who are determined to find a way to connect with Jesus (Luke 5:19; Mark 2:4) 

4. Friends who will bring you great blessings (Luke 5:20; Luke 5:25-26; Hebrews 13:8) 

Apply  

1. Friends will carry you when you cannot carry yourself (Luke 5:18). This paralysed man could not walk on his own. Often there are moments in life where is difficult to stand, to move and we need friends around us, people who will lift us up (Galatians 6:2). Carrying means much more than saying kind words or “I am praying for you.” It means going to them, lifting them up with encouragement, carrying the weight with them, pitching up to their house in a time of need, being available, helping them to stand strong. Maybe you feel like you are paralysed in some areas in your life. Well, today you can count on your church family. You are not alone, you are not friendless. Today we can lift each other up.  

2. Friends with real faith who believe in Jesus (Luke 5:18). There are different kinds of friends: friends who can lead you in wrong ways and friends who can help you in the best ways, so we must choose friends with real faith who believe in Jesus. Real friends will not carry you just anywhere, say to the pub or sports ground. Real friends will carry you to the presence of Jesus. Real friends will take you to the right place, a place of hope, miracles and where you can encounter the one answer to your real need. Real friends can have faith for you even if you struggle to have faith for yourself. Real faith means real action. These friends were putting their faith into action. These 4 friends were determined to help their friend (e.g. when you invite someone to Life Class, you are being that good friend trying to carry your friends to the right place to encounter Jesus). Each one of us should take care to surround ourselves with people filled with faith, not people of doubts and negativity. Jesus was impressed by the faith of these four friends (Luke 5:20). Jesus immediately reacted to not only the faith of the paralysed man but especially to the faith of his four friends. This is the power of teamwork, the power of friends working together.  

3. Friends who are determined to find a way to connect with Jesus (Luke 5:19). When these friends saw that there was no way in, they must have considered their options. The doors are blocked. People are spilling out everywhere. So, what now? Then one of them probably suggested ‘ok let’s make a hole in the roof. We’ll get him in some way, even if it means smashing in someone’s roof and getting into trouble’. How happy would you be if someone suddenly knocked a hole in your ceiling? Well, the four friends managed to get their paralysed friend to the roof. Then they started pulling or digging or banging. The NIV study notes on Mark 2:4 say: “The roof was often made of a thick layer of clay (packed with a stone roller), supported by mats of branches across wood beams.” The friends even had to remove tiles (Luke 5:19). Whatever mess they were creating with falling debris, they somehow managed to create a big enough hole to lower their friend down so that he ended up right in front of Jesus. These four friends exhibited extraordinary compassion and sensitivity towards their paralysed companion. But they were also so determined to overcome every obstacle stopping their friend getting to Jesus. We too must not be easily put off by difficulties in seeing a friend come to hear the gospel and see Jesus work in their lives. Maybe your friends are paralysed with work or social commitments. Maybe other friends want to keep them from Jesus. Maybe your friend has lost hope. Well, make a plan to help get your friends close to Jesus. Just do what it takes.  

 4. Friends who will bring you great blessings (Luke 5:20). The first reply of Jesus was not to heal, it was to forgive his sins. Jesus was interested in something much deeper than the physical aspect. A healing is for a limited amount of time. Forgiveness of sins is forever. So, what does it mean to be forgiven? Well maybe you live all the time with a guilty conscience, you may have done wrong, made many mistakes in your life and feel like you are spiritually paralysed. Forgiveness means that your relationship with God is restored and that you can be washed clean through the blood that Jesus shed at the cross. It means you can live a life of friendship with God. This man received the great gift of forgiveness. He was no longer paralysed by sin. But he also received physical healing (Luke 5:25-26). He came in paralysed through the roof but was able to walk out through the door. No wonder everyone was amazed. The same Jesus who healed this man is still the healer and saviour today (Hebrews 13:8). You can be healed in your body. You can be healed from whatever paralyses you. You can be healed in your mental health, your emotions and from traumatic past experiences. Wouldn’t you like to be forgiven and healed also? Wouldn’t you like to have friends like this? And wouldn’t you like to be friends like this and bring your friends to Jesus?  

For the very good news of the Easter message is that Jesus certainly was dead but that He didn’t stay dead. In other words, the Easter story is fact not fiction (see Lee Strobel’s best-selling book ‘The Case for Christ’ and theologian N.T. Wright). The conquest of Easter, so long ago, could not be more needed or more relevant today for every one of us. 

1. The conquest of Easter is the triumph of love over hate (1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:10; Romans 5:7-8; John 3:16) 

2. The conquest of Easter is the triumph over light over darkness (Luke 24:44) 

3. The conquest of Easter is the triumph of life over death (Acts: 2:24; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 1:17-18; Hebrews 2:14-15; John 11:25-26; John 14:19; Ephesians 1:18-20) 

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1. The conquest of Easter is the triumph of love over hate. We live in a world full of hate. Hatred in Russia and Ukraine. Hatred in the Middle East. Hatred against the Jews. Hatred against Christians. Hatred against Muslims. Hatred in our politics. Hatred paraded on our streets and in our schools and colleges. Hatred on social media. Hatred in countless broken relationships. Where can you find any love when you are surrounded by hate? Well, the best answer is the crucifixion of Jesus. For just outside of Jerusalem, human hatred and the anger of the mob manifested in all its ugliness. Corrupt politics condemned an innocent man to die. Religious intolerance was revealed with awful viciousness and violence. Jesus was beaten, bullied and brutalised. He was stripped and lashed with a whip designed to tear His flesh open down to the bone. A crowd of thorns was hammered on his head. His hands and feet were nailed to a wooden cross. He was spat on, repeatedly punched and relentlessly mocked. And yet for all this Jesus, who had spent his life doing nothing but good, did not let the hate get to Him. He did not become embittered and vengeful. Rather, as He had taught, He prayed for His enemies in his final moments ‘Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’ And when He died, He showed the full extent of His love for the world giving His pure blood so that everyone could be cleansed from sin (1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:10). The story of Calvary is the greatest love story ever told. It shows the lengths God was prepared to go to, to rescue people lost in their guilt and sin and rebellion. Jesus went through hell that we could make it to heaven (Romans 5:7-8). One of the most famous verses in the Bible shows us why we can be confident that God does not hate us but wants to show us His love (John 3:16). God’s amazing, unconditional love is for people of every class, colour, culture, country and continent. And it is this love of Jesus and this love alone that can drive out hatred in our hearts and in others.  

2. The conquest of Easter is the triumph over light over darkness. Easter tells us the awful darkness of Good Friday was followed by the bright new dawn of Easter Sunday. On Friday everything was as dark as could be. On Friday things got so bad that from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, ‘darkness came over the whole land’ (Luke 24:44). All light was extinguished. All dreams were shattered. All hope was dashed. Evil seemed to have triumphed. It was as dark a day as you could imagine. Maybe you too have known very dark days, days of pain, suffering, bereavement, break-up, betrayal, abandonment, rejection, regret and remorse. You have searched for light, some rays of hope, but couldn’t find any. Maybe even today you can’t see a way forward in your life. You think it’s all over for you. But it isn’t when you let Jesus into your life. God can turn your dark Friday into a bright new Sunday. On Easter Sunday the disciples found that a new and unexpected day of discovery had dawned for them. There would come great light after great darkness. There would come great comfort after great sadness. There would come great joy after great depression. They were not alone: the Lord Himself was with them. So too you can also have new hope beyond your hopelessness and despair. That’s the hope that comes from knowing that Jesus is alive.  

3. The conquest of Easter is the triumph of life over death. Death, the final enemy was put to death, through Christ’s death and resurrection. Death, the ultimate weapon of Satan’s dark kingdom, could not keep Jesus in the tomb (Acts: 2:24; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 1:17-18). Through the death and resurrection of Christ, the curse and power of death has been broken. You don’t have to fear death anymore (Hebrews 2:14-15). For sure death is painful but the sting has been taken out. When you die and are buried or cremated it’s not the end. For the Christian death it’s the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ’s presence (John 11:25-26; John 14:19). The incredible power of God that raised Christ from the dead can also work great change in your life (Ephesians 1:18-20). God’s power can raise us from spiritual death and bring us into fellowship with the living Christ. God’s power can free you from fear, guilt, worry, or the power of sinful behaviour, habits and addictions. God’s power can help you overcome any trial or temptation. To know that truth brings great joy and confidence through the passing years. So, you have every reason to celebrate the truth of the Easter message. Whatever your situation or the state of your life today, there is a great future for your tomorrow. This is the great hope of the Easter message. You can know love instead of hate, light instead of darkness and life instead of death, both now and forever. This Easter Sunday, you too can meet the risen Christ for yourself. He is real. He is alive. He loves you and He offers you a new beginning. Just believe in Him and ask Him to come into your life.  

All four gospels tell how the ancient city of David was packed for the great Jewish celebration of Passover. As Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, no one could fail to know something very big was happening. It was a major public event (John 12:19). Matthew 21:10-11 says: ‘When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred’ and asked, “Who is this?” 

Who indeed? This is the question everyone needs to answer. Who was and who is Jesus? That there was an historical Jesus is clear. But who He was a cause of great dispute then, just as it is today. Some of the crowds who followed him were quick with their reply: ‘The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee”’ (Matthew 21:11). 

Others, including many of the cheering crowds, regarded him as not just a prophet but as someone far more; the very Son of God who He had so boldly claimed to be. The gospel writers give us a very clear picture of who Jesus is.  

1. Jesus is the promised Messiah (Matthew 21:1-5; Mark 11:10; Luke 19:38; John 12:13; Zechariah 9:9) 

2. Jesus is the humble King (Matthew 21:5; Matthew 11:28-30) 

3. Jesus is the great divider (Luke 19:36-39; Psalm 96:2; Psalm 103:1-5; Luke 11:23,39-43; John 1:11-12). 

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1. Jesus is the promised Messiah. The symbolism of the occasion and actions of the people shows He was the Messiah. Palm branches, for example, had a specific symbolic meaning. It was used to celebrate the Maccabean victory less than two centuries before, when the Jewish Maccabees militarily conquered and retook Jerusalem from pagans. Now Palm branches were waved to honour Jesus. All four gospel writers make clear this aspect of Jesus as King (Matthew 21:1-5; Mark 11:10; Luke 19:38; John 12:13). Matthew records specific quotations from Zechariah 9:9 from hundreds of years before shows that the gospel writers identified Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. What the gospel writers are united in saying is very significant, namely that the events they are describing of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem were a fulfilment of what had long been promised in the Bible. God’s word had come to pass right before their eyes. For centuries it was only God’s Word that sustained the people of God as they looked forward to a day when God would personally intervene in their history. All through the Bible, we see that as God’s people we must keep our focus on what God has promised in His word not on the circumstances all around you (Psalm 145:13). Today you are one day nearer than you were yesterday to seeing God’s promises being fulfilled. And today may be the day, when what you have believed for and prayed for, for so long will come to pass. 

2. Jesus is the humble King. Jesus did not enter Jerusalem with violence and great shows of power, as so many conquerors of the city have done over the centuries (Matthew 21:5). Jesus entered humbly on a baby donkey. The Jesus of the Gospels shows us that the Great God and creator of the heavens and earth sent His son to this world to be born to a very ordinary young lady in the poorest surroundings. Jesus lived most of His life in obscurity working as a carpenter. And in His ministry, He didn’t try to shock and awe, to intimidate people and to force them to submit. Of course, Islamists demand submission by the power of the sword and urges a holy war against infidels. This, however, is not the way of Jesus, even though some like the Crusaders have tragically and blasphemously done this to Muslims and others in His name. Jesus Himself was very compassionate and gentle with people (Matthew 11:28-30). Some in Jerusalem had hoped that Jesus would come as King to overthrow the Roman oppressors. But Jesus renounced violence telling His disciples to love their enemies and when one disciple tried to defend Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, He told him to put away the sword. Yes, Jesus is King but He is the servant King who stoops to conquer, the Master who knelt down to wash His disciples' feet and told them to follow His example of service. And all through the ages He has won countless followers who once were proud and aggressive, because they have discovered that Jesus is both meek and majestic, humble and gentle. 

3. Jesus is the great divider. The Gospel accounts of the Easter story show that many welcomed Jesus. People praised Jesus great energy and enthusiasm for they believed God Himself was among them (Luke 19:36-38). Praise is the natural overflow of appreciation of who God is and all He has done. That’s why the Psalms are full of praises to God (Psalm 96:2; Psalm 103:1-5). Many of the crowd had come from Galilee and they were praising God for the many miracles they had witnessed: the blind receiving their sight, lepers being healed, demonised people delivered, and even the dead, like Lazarus, being raised to life. You might imagine that such wonderful developments would have resulted in an overwhelmingly grateful response. But it was just the opposite, for others wanted to kill Jesus. Religious people who are more focussed on themselves and their traditions don’t like praise being given to God. And they get particularly upset when people praise God with great joy and shouting. At root we see in the gospels that both political and religious leaders regarded Jesus as a huge threat to their power and position. At the time of His birth, Herod tried to kill Him all the while pretending he wanted to worship Him. The more the ministry of Jesus progressed, the more the religious leaders were critical of Him (Luke 19:39). The religious leaders were jealous of His success. They were incensed by His claim to be God. They hated the way He exposed their double standards and unreality. And for sure Jesus didn’t hold back on calling them hypocrites (Luke 11:39-43). After lots of private plotting against Jesus, His enemies finally made their move and carried out their plans to falsely accuse Jesus and have Him executed. And so, in such a short time after so many crowds had joyfully celebrated Him, another huge crowd gathered and this time it was a blood thirsty mob shouting and demanding that He must be crucified. Then and now, Jesus polarises people. Today Jesus Christ is honoured by Christians, yet these two words are commonly used as swear words in anger or frustration. When it comes down to it, each person is either for Jesus or against Jesus (Luke 11:23). So where do you stand in relation to Jesus? Do you reject Him, or will you welcome Him into your life as God who came to earth in human form, to live the perfect life, to die for your sins and to rise again to give new life? This is the challenge to us on this Palm Sunday. We have to make up our minds about Jesus and how we react to Him. Will we turn our backs on Him and reject Him? Or will we celebrate Him as the Promised King who can bring peace and power to our lives and who is worthy of our praise? ‭‭Today you can choose to joyfully welcome Jesus and become a child of God (John 1:11-12). 

There was a lady who has been called the most unloved person in the Bible. She experienced many sad moments in life but in the end, she left an amazing legacy of hope. Her name is Leah which is a name of Hebrew origin meaning ‘tired’ or ‘fatigued’ which is not the most exciting name. And she was married to a man who didn’t have a great name either. He was Jacob which means ‘deceiver’.  

But Jacob only married Leah because he himself was deceived by his father-in-law, a scheming guy called Laban. Jacob worked 7 long years for the love of his life which was not Leah but her younger sister Rachel. Jacob was very happy to marry Rachel and to spend his honeymoon night with her. Only that didn’t happen. For the next morning Jacob discovered that the woman he had married was not Rachel but her older sister Leah (Genesis 29:25-30). 

1. She knew she wasn’t loved (Genesis 29:28-31) 

2. She tried so hard to earn love (Genesis 29:17; Genesis 29:31-34) 

3. She found that she was greatly loved by God (Genesis 29:35; Ruth 4:11; Isaiah 53:5) 

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1. She knew she wasn’t loved. Leah had a dad who didn’t love her. He was very focused on just getting her married off even if it meant tricking her and Jacob into a marriage neither of them wanted. It was just a business deal to Laban. He was not thinking how Jacob would feel and more than that, how his oldest daughter Leah would feel. And then as soon as they married, her husband Jacob quickly made clear who he really loved and quickly married Rachel straight after (Genesis 29:28-30). How devastating for Leah that the Bible says ‘his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah’. What did she feel like when she learned that Jacob was willing to work another seven years, 14 years in total, just to marry Rachel? The Bible tells us simply that the Lord saw Leah was not loved (Genesis 29:31). How terrible. Many people feel like that. Many experiences in life can cause us to feel unloved. Maybe you have experienced this in your own life: Rejection: a baby her parents thought to abort, or a husband who left home; Lack of recognition or affirmation when you did something good; Disapproval; Betrayal by friends, colleagues or others; Verbal or physical Abuse, maybe from parents or from a person in a relationship in the past; Difficult experiences such as sickness; Family breakdown is one of the worst experiences when children don’t grow up with that unconditional love. Maybe also they have a sense of Abandonment, because of a father or mother or the person that represented that in your life left you. All this can lead to lead many problems. Perhaps making bad choices in your relationships, wanting to attach to someone because you feel the need of someone next to you. Maybe you try to find love in sex. Or in rebellion, being contrary and always against something or someone. We find it in the form of liberalism, feminism, and people being exhibitionist, or where they are shy and insecure, sadness, no purpose, or suffering depression. Well life can become difficult in so many ways when you are like Leah who wasn’t loved. And that can lead to other problems.  

2. She tried so hard to earn love. Leah always knew that she had imperfections and that she was always second best compared to her beautiful sister (Genesis 29:17). Maybe you can also identify with Leah here. We are often very aware of our imperfections and compare ourselves with others. And then your negative feelings can get even worse if you have a sibling or friend who always is better than you, more beautiful or more successful. And it certainly doesn’t help if parents often compare you to your brother or sister in a negative way. Well Leah had to live with all this, plus understanding as life went on that she really was not loved. So, she tried to earn love in the only way she knew how: by staying at home and having babies. It pulls at the heart to read how desperately Leah hoped her husband would love her by not only having babies, but much valued sons (Genesis 29:31-34). Maybe you too have tried so hard to earn someone’s love but like Leah you still don’t feel loved. On the face of it, Leah’s life was just so sad, but her story didn’t end badly. 

3. She found that she was greatly loved by God. Leah’s moment of breakthrough came not at the first birth or second, or third but the 4th time (Genesis 29:35). Leah decided to give a new name to her generations. Judah means literally “thanksgiving" or "praise." The moment she looked up and put her focus on God and not her problems she was full of thanks to God. She became joyful. She didn’t have to keep having babies to be of value. For it was because the Lord had loved her that He helped her to conceive, and He had greater plans for her than she had imagined. Though she didn’t realise it at the time she was helping lay the foundations of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ruth 4:11). And of course it was from the clan of Judah that came David, Israel’s greatest King, who wrote most of the Psalms, which are full of praises to the Lord in all circumstances. And from that same clan of Judah, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came to this earth. Though Jesus all our sins and all our wounds can be healed (Isaiah 53:5). Today is a day for you to know how great the love of God for you is. Let Jesus engrave His love in your heart today. Let His love heal every wound. Look to Him. Thank Him for His kindness and compassion and the plan He has for your life and for your descendants after you. Your decision today will change the course of negativity, or depression, dysfunction and division in your family. Put your sadness behind you. Start to praise Him that you will now have a new legacy of hope and love. You also can receive a great healing, and you could have a better future than you imagine. You can come today into a new line of blessing and receive a great legacy of God’s love and mercy.  

These were issues faced by one of the most famous characters in the Bible. There was a moment in Jacob’s life where he came to a great crisis and feared for his life and for his family. But this moment became the turning point where he moved with freedom and restoration into his God-given destiny (Read Genesis 32:22-32). We see some powerful lessons from this story. 

1. You need to overcome your past (Genesis 25; Genesis 27:36-41; Genesis 32:22; Luke 5:5) 

2. You need to learn how to call out to God in your time of great need (Genesis 32:7; Genesis 32:9-12,24-26; Luke 18) 

3. You need to change (Genesis 32:25,31; Genesis 32:28; Genesis 33:4) 

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1. You need to overcome your past. Every one of us has a past. And at some point, unless we have overcome all the things in our past, these will catch up with us and hinder us from stepping into all God has for our future. Jacob was a deceiver by nature, who twice deceived his older brother Esau. He took advantage of his brother when he was very vulnerable, and took his birthright as the firstborn (Genesis 25). And again, with the help of his mother, Jacob deceived his father Isaac into giving him the blessing due to Esau before their father died (Genesis 27:36,41). As a result, Jacob lived 20 years on the run. He knew that Esau was coming for him. Over time, Jacob acquired wives, many children and possessions, and although he had managed to overcome many challenges in his own life, the one thing he couldn't run away from was his broken relationship with his brother. To go forward he had to overcome the past. And there came a moment when he was confronted with his past (Genesis 32:22), hearing that his brother and 400 men are coming to meet him. Jacob was petrified. Have you been fully set free from your past? What words or experiences have shaped you and made you see yourself as you do? So many people have suffered many things in their lives, including abuse, dysfunctional families and broken families, or bullying. People can be successful, but they can carry the sense of being a victim because they have been marked in their spirit by being bullied/ They can feel, however successful they are or how other people see them, that they are a fraud. So many live with imposter syndrome, just waiting to be found out that you aren’t as good as people think you are. Maybe you can relate to this. What is your fear? Do you live with the fear of failure, of not making it? There may be something in your past that today you have to overcome. Because you have to overcome your past to move forward in life. Just as when Jesus told his first disciples to launch out and prepare for a big catch of fish, Peter had to overcome his mindset of past failure before he could move into his future (Luke 5:5). Many of the world’s greatest inventors didn’t see their failures as failures. They saw them as stepping stones for how to succeed. You can’t run away from your past, and you can’t let the past keep hanging around in your present. If you don’t overcome your past, it will overcome and rule you. Maybe you need to be healed from the pain of grief. Unless you’re healed then you will be set back. Time is not a healer, you just get better at dealing with things. But the Lord can heal your past. No matter the past financial position of your family, or past addictions or unfaithfulness in your family, you can overcome it. You can overcome the mindset of it being inevitable that certain things will just keep repeating in your family line forever. So, no matter your past, just like Jacob, you need to overcome to have a new future. 

2. You need to learn how to call out to God in your time of great need. Jacob was in a time of great need, and he knew that the only God’s miraculous intervention in this situation could rescue him, nothing and no one else would do (Genesis 32:7). So, Jacob prayed (Genesis 32:9-12, 24-26). Jacob called out to the God of his fathers, and reminded God of all the promises he’d received despite his unworthiness. But more than that, Jacob called on God to come and save him. Jacob wrestled with the man and refused to let him go. As far as Jacob was concerned, he was wrestling with God Himself. Jacob knew the promises of God over his life, but he was worried. And that night, he had his encounter alone. You cannot rely on your husband or wife, your parents or anyone else for the encounter that only you can receive. You have to cry out to God, and keep on until you know you have broken through. Like Jacob, it might mean a whole night in prayer, wrestling with the Lord to overcome. It may mean that you take some time off or clear your diary so that you can just pray and call out to God so that you can receive a life changing breakthrough (see story of Billy Graham and Stephen Olford). The call of God is one thing. The anointing of God is quite another. And the anointing of God comes when you say to God, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’. Jesus taught a parable in Luke 18 about a persistent widow who would not stop bothering the unjust judge until she received her breakthrough. We too need to have that kind of persistent faith. Decide that whatever your situation, you will call out to God with absolute determination.  

3. You need to change. To overcome and walk in the way God wants us to, we have to change. Jacob had a call on his life but wasn’t ready for what was to come. He needed to change. Something had to give. Something had to change. And that was Jacob himself. There were changes in 2 main areas of change. Firstly, Jacob had to be weakened to depend on God (Genesis 32:25,31). God was opening up new opportunities. But he no longer walked so self-confidently or with his previous swagger. His encounter with God had changed him. Secondly, Jacob was given a new name. Names in the Bible signify identity. So by being given a new name, God was giving him a new identity. Before he was called Jacob which meant ‘deceiver’ Now he was to be known as Israel, an overcomer (Genesis 32:28). He'd broken through to another level with God and with people. And God blessed him. And God wants to do the same for you. But first God wants to change you and remove things in your nature, your past, your reactions of anger, harshness, bitterness, negative speaking or living by your emotions. When you encounter God, you will be changed, and it will be evident to others. It was a new day of change for Jacob. And it was evident to everyone afterward that Jacob had encountered the Lord and been changed because he walked with a limp afterwards, and he had a new name and new nature. He'd broken through. God had made the way for him not only to be saved, but for him to see reconciliation in his family and a new future (Genesis 33:4). Today, you can overcome your past. You can call out to God in your time of great need, and you can be changed, ready for the great future the Lord has ahead of you. 

John writes about many ‘anti-Christs who have come’ (1 John 2:18) so he wants people to know how to recognise and know the real Jesus, outlining several key truths about Jesus. 

1. Jesus is God who came to Earth (John 1:1-2,14; 1 John 1:1-3; 1 John 4:2-3). 

2. Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:31; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:15; 1 John 5:5) 

3. Jesus is the saviour of the world (1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 3:16; John 3:16) 

4. Jesus is coming again (1 John 2:28; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 22:12) 

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1. Jesus is God who came to Earth. Christianity is rooted in real history in real time. Jesus is a real person who was born in Israel 2000 years ago in the time of Roman rule. He was an observant Jew who became a well-known rabbi for His healing and teaching ministry in the region of Galilee. He suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate and His resurrection caused an explosion of Christian belief throughout the Roman empire. These are the facts of history, but who was Jesus? That’s the question that caused great debate in the first century and continues to do so today. So, the apostle John wanted everybody to be clear who Jesus was (John 1:1-2,14; 1 John 1:1-3). The Greek word for Word refers to Jesus Christ, the eternally existing second person of the Trinity. In other words, John was not only saying that Jesus was God in human form walking on this earth, but also that he and the other disciples had firsthand experience of the eternal God being with them at a particular moment in time. They had seen Him and touched Him. To know Jesus is first to understand that God is great and Almighty way up in the heavens, and also that He came down to earth. He is called Emmanuel which means ‘God with us’. Knowing that Jesus came in the flesh is a sign of a real Christian (1 John 4:2-3). 

2. Jesus is the Son of God. John explained that he wrote his gospel so people would believe in Jesus and have life through Him. (John 20:31). In his first epistle John states that it is a God given command to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that this is a sure sign that someone is truly connected to God (1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:15; 1 John 5:5). Of course, other religions may believe and proclaim that Jesus was a prophet but as Christians we believe and proclaim what the first apostles proclaimed, and that Jesus was more than a prophet: He was and is the Son of the God (see: CS Lewis ‘Mere Christianity’ and Bono from U2 references on Jesus being the Son of God). 

3. Jesus is the saviour of the world (1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 3:16; John 3:16). What John is saying is that God loves all people, of all colours, from all cultures, all nations and all religious backgrounds. He loves Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, atheists and Christians. He loves you and He loves me. Jesus died on the cross to pay the sins of the whole world. John here is giving us reassurance that Jesus is in our corner petitioning for us to the Father. He is our advocate. So don’t allow yourself to feel guilty for your sins but come and confess your sins and receive the forgiveness that Christ offers to us when we trust and believe in Him.  

4. Jesus is coming again (1 John 2:28). There are many references in the New Testament to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, all promising that He will return to earth with great power and glory. John was with the disciples when Jesus ascended to Heaven and was promised to return (Acts 1:9-11). Today the return of Jesus is much closer than we know so we need to get ready (Revelation 22:12). So how confident are you that you will be ready to meet Jesus on that day? How confident are you that your sins are washed away? Today we must ask ourselves, do we really know Jesus? Well, if you are not sure, this your moment to get to know Him personally. Right now, you can have an encounter with Jesus.

In our world today where we have so many challenges, we should know that we can live confident lives as a Christian. John, the last surviving disciple of Jesus who had lived through persecutions and problems, gives some very important keys to being confident. And this applies to everyone at every stage. We see from the word of God that it is God’s plan and purpose for each one of us to live confidently and overcome challenges through Him (1 John 2:13-14). So, what has John got to teach us about confidence? 

1. A real Christian has confidence from knowing God’s love (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:16-18; Romans 5:8; Acts 4:13; Daniel 11:32; John 10:14) 

2. A real Christian has confidence from knowing God’s word (Hebrews 4:12; Romans 10:17; Romans 12:2; Matthew 4:4; Ephesians 6:17; Psalm 23:4; John 15:7) 

3. A real Christian has confidence by living free of condemnation (1 John 3:19-22) 

4. A real Christian has confidence to overcome the world (1 John 4:4; 1 John 4:17-18; Matthew 16:25; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4-5) 

5. A real Christian has confidence that their prayers will be answered (1 John 5:14-15; Romans 12:1-2) 

Apply  

1. A real Christian has confidence from knowing God’s love. To know God is to know His love. His love is unconditional, overwhelming and overflowing (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:16-18). God is your friend, there is no fear in love. There’s confidence when we are not hiding anything from God, when we are forgiven, and He has taken away our shame. You can know you are in a safe place with people who love the Lord and are not out to make judgements about you. Where love is unconditional. It gives you confidence to speak openly without fear. That is how it is when we come into a relationship with God, but immeasurably more so than any human ever could give. God hasn’t called us just to know about Him, to become outwardly religious, to just have good morals in life (which we must have), but to know Him up close and personally. He wants us to know we can be open and honest with Him about everything - the good, the bad and the ugly. He sees it all and still He loves us (Romans 5:8). The apostle John knew Jesus as His friend - he is called ‘the disciple Jesus loved’. Of all the apostles, John is considered the closest in relationship to Jesus. John was one of the first 2 disciples to follow Jesus of the 12. He was the only one at the foot of the cross when Jesus said His last words as He was being crucified. Knowing the love of Jesus changed the apostles dramatically, especially after His resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:13). It’s been said that ‘it’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know that matters’. A real Christian has direct access to God who controls everything, but not all Christians realise this (Daniel 11:32). The more we know Jesus, the greater our confidence will be. You can come to know Jesus better by keeping lines of communication open all through your daily life, and by quickly obeying His commands. Invite God the Holy Spirit into every part of your life 24/7. You’ll become the best employee, parent, leader, and the best version of you (John 10:14). 

2. A real Christian has confidence from knowing God’s word. John says ‘I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.’ This means you have taken God’s word to your heart and not just to your head (Hebrews 4:12). It gives you faith for miracles in your life (Romans 10:17). It is transformative for your thinking (Romans 12:2). It enables you to do life (Matthew 4:4). It makes you strong to overcome evil (Ephesians 6:17). It comforts you when you are in danger or loss (Psalm 23:4). Jesus gave us a promise that John wrote down wrote down and from His confident writing He clearly believed and practiced (John 15:7). Confidence from the word of God changes how we speak. To be confident, we must leave the language of failure behind us completely. There is no place for it in God’s Kingdom. Declare to God ‘I am who You say I am’, ‘I will do what You say I can do’, ‘I will be what You say I can be’. Knowing the truth about who God says you really are and what it means to have Christ living in you makes you confident. Christians must speak up with confidence about the God they know personally and through the word of God, and call people everywhere into a relationship with Him through Jesus.  

3. A real Christian has confidence by living free of condemnation. As Christians we are far from perfect, but God is changing us. We are not to judge ourselves harshly as we can do at times as that can lead to loss of confidence (1 John 3:19-22). This tells us that we are not the final judge of our own hearts, it says ‘God is greater than our hearts’. He convicts us of sin and leads sinners to repentance. When we have fully repented of sin, turned our back on it and left that lifestyle behind by the strength of God, we must not allow our hearts to condemn us. He is greater than our hearts. We are not to struggle and strive to prove anything about ourselves: He has paid the price for us to make us His own.  

4. A real Christian has confidence to overcome the world (1 John 4:4; 1 John 4:17-18). Part of our growing up in Jesus is the realisation that ‘the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’. When you embrace this truth, you will begin to face and overcome challenges with God’s strength, not your own. Jesus living in us is greater than any weakness we have. He is greater than any fear because He overcame fear at the cross. He did all that as a man, without sinning. Jesus wants us to go further than just giving our lives to Him and then trying to work the rest out ourselves by being religious and failing. He wants to transform us from the inside out into overcomers like Jesus. By letting God love us we will live the way Jesus did in the world, and because of that, have confidence on the day of final judgement. But before we can overcome the world, we must first overcome ourselves! We must stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God in everything. We cannot be like Jesus in this world and like our old self at the same time. We must repent of our own willfulness to go our own way, surrender our pride, our ego. This is not reformation, it is transformation. Jesus taught that the way to find your real life begins with surrendering the one you have right now (Matthew 16:25). A real Christian had their old life buried with Christ at His death. The new life God wants you to live every day looks nothing like the old, it looks like Jesus. Water baptism is just the start of your transformation journey. God wants to show you that your new self that is capable of thinking and acting like Jesus. He wants to grow Jesus in you from the inside out of your life. Let him do it! He doesn’t need your help, He needs your cooperation. You will have confidence in this life and on the day of judgement when you acknowledge that ‘...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’ (1 John 4:4). Then let God love you and love through you. It is Christ in us, not our willpower, that overcomes the world. It is our faith in Him. He is the overcomer. He is the one who fights our battles. Some of us have been to the bottom in life. Through sadness, through the loss of someone close to you, or disappointment, or betrayal by close friends. When you can ignore what your flesh wants to do and believe that Christ in you is stronger, and trust Him to strengthen you, you will find Jesus in your lowest valley and be strengthened by Him (1 John 5:4-5) 

5. A real Christian has confidence that their prayers will be answered (1 John 5:14-15). God wants us to be confident that we can know His will; we can know that He hears us; and we can know we have what we asked for. A true Christian knows that following Jesus is a 2-way relationship: us to God and God to us, as well as horizontally to others. God wants us to know His will so that we can be confident in prayer. But doing so means change so we know what His will is and then pray that will (Romans 12:1-2). He will answer every prayer if we will live in union with Him. When we know Him, we will know His will for us because He’ll make it known. When we are seeking Him for who He really is, we will find ourselves praying ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ all the time. That is a prayer God will answer.  

Now many people are confused about this word sin, but the Bible teaches that everyone has sinned in some way. We have all done wrong and become separated from God. And because of our sins Jesus needed to die on the Cross so that we can be forgiven for our sins and live a new life of purity after we have turned from our sins. 

Of course, a Christian may fail and sin, but a real Christian cannot continue to deliberately pursue a life of sin. Once we are forgiven, we are to live differently to the sinful life we lived before (John 8:10-11). Jesus, like his disciple John, was very clear: a real Christian leaves the old life of sin to live a new life. 

A real Christian cannot follow God and the devil. There is no middle way (1 John 3:7-8). In other words, it is not possible to live with one foot in the kingdom of God and one in the devil’s kingdom. You can’t play with sin and expect God’s blessing.  

In the Old Testament we read about one great man who had the anointing of God. He was blessed by God. He had great strength. In fact, he was the leader of his country for a while. His name was Samson. But he had a fatal weakness for women. He had sexual relationships with different women, who were certainly were not followers of God. Although they tempted him and betrayed him to his enemies, Samson kept on sinning. He thought God’s anointing would always get him out of trouble. But one day he discovered that his enemies conquered him because ‘he did not know that the Lord had left him’ (Judges 16:20). This has been described as one of the scariest verses in the bible. “He did not know that the Lord had left him.’ 

Whether younger or older you cannot presume on the mercy of God if you keep on sinning. Or as John says here: you can’t keep sinning. A real Christian not only has faith in Jesus but turns from their sin to pursue a life of purity. We see some core reasons from John’s epistle explaining why we can’t continue to sin.  

1. We must not continue to sin because of the price Jesus paid to cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:1-2; Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 10:26-27; Romans 6:1-2) 

2. We must not continue to sin because God calls us to confess our sins (1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9).‬‬‬ 

3. We must not continue to sin because God wants to set us free from the power of sin (1 John 3:8) 

4. We must not continue to sin because it is contrary to the new life that God has given us (1 John 3:9; Psalm 51:1-2,10-12; 1 John 5:18; 2 Peter 1:3). 

Apply  

1. We must not continue to sin because of the price Jesus paid to cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:1-2). Never take for granted the sacrifice Jesus made because of His love for you. We should turn from sin because our salvation came at a price. That price was the blood of Jesus (Isaiah 53:5). Through His sacrifice on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sin. Our sinful behaviour that separated us from the holy, almighty God was paid in full by the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:8). To keep deliberately sinning is to devalue and disrespect what Jesus did on the cross and comes with a warning (Hebrews 10:26-27). Our appreciation of Christ’s death on the cross should mean that we die to sin (Romans 6:1-2). 

2. We must not continue to sin because God calls us to confess our sins. Light and darkness cannot coexist. We must come out of the darkness and into God’s light and we do that when we bring our sins out into the light (1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9).‬‬‬‬ Confession means that we get real with God and come into fellowship with God. So always confess any sin, that way you will stay in the light and live free from sin. 

3. We must not continue to sin because God wants to set us free from the power of sin (1 John 3:8). Jesus doesn’t want His children to be held prisoner in any way. He doesn’t want you to live a life of guilt and condemnation. You don’t have to be a slave to anything: sexual sins, addictions, depression. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. And He wants you to keep living in freedom. He doesn’t want you to go back into the slave-world of sin. 

4. We must not continue to sin because it is contrary to the new life that God has given us (1 John 3:9). What does this mean in real life? Well, if you are someone who says you have given their life to the Lord, you can’t continue to sleep with your boyfriend or girlfriend outside of marriage. Or if you’ve been stealing; you can't do that anymore. If you have been negative or bitter, spoken badly about others, you must change. You can’t hang out any longer with so called friends who have no time or respect for God. A true Christian knows that God has put a new nature within us. He has planted a seed of holiness. He has changed our DNA. When a sinner sins it is because that it the natural outcome of a sinful nature. When a Christian, sins it is against the new nature of a child of God. A Christian feels bad. A Christian knows this is against how they want to live. A Christian says like King David, ‘I have sinned, but I want to get back to living right’ (Psalm 51:1-2,10-12). That is the prayer of someone who has the heart of God. You don’t want to sin but if you do you want to put things right. Why? because you have the seed of God’s life in you. And you can be sure that God wants to help you and protect you in an unclean and dark world (1 John 5:18). In other words, the Devil is out to get you, but you CAN resist and overcome the Devil. He has given the Holy Spirit to strengthen you (2 Peter 1:3). Every day, instead of sinning more and more, you can conquer more and more. You can become more and more like Jesus. Like Moses who spent so much time in God’s presence, even your face can shine with the glory of God. 

This then is one very clear way to spot a real Christian. If you are a real Christian, you will change from living a life of sin. You will confess your sins and be cleansed from your sins. You will decide to leave your old sinful way of life. You will learn to conquer sin. You will continue to grow in purity and have a longing to live a holy life. And you can be sure that the Holy Spirit will help you. What is the true state of your life and relationship with God? The religious like to appear that they’re living right but they’re not. So, what is the condition of your life? Have you been living in guilt? Have you been living a double life? Is there hidden sin? Today cry out for the spirit of God to help us and to give us the will to live a holy life. 

Unity is a sign of the real love for fellow Christians that Jesus declared was a mark of true discipleship, saying ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another’ (John 13:35). In other words, you can’t call yourself a Christian if you hate or hurt a fellow Christian. You can’t speak in tongues on Sunday and oppress people on every other day. It’s just not possible if you are a true follower of Jesus (see story of South Arican pastor Frank Chikane).  

One of the greatest pieces of evidence that you are a Christian is that you will love your fellow Christians whoever they are…black, white, brown, older or younger, male or female. The love mentioned here is not romantic love but love at its highest and most caring that reveals and reflects God’s heart of love.  

In the first epistle of John, which we are studying, the last surviving disciple of Jesus repeatedly emphasised that that love for fellow Christians was one of the clearest ways to spot a real Christian. And he is very direct as he explains what this means.  

1. Love for your fellow Christians is a commandment (1 John 3:23-24; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 5:1-2; John 13:34; John 15:12; John 15:17) 

2. Love for your fellow Christians is a sign that you have left the kingdom of darkness for the kingdom of light (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10-15) 

3. Love for your fellow Christians means practically caring for one another (1 John 3:17-18; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 25:35-36; Galatians 6:10) 

4. Love for your fellow Christians means being friends with one another (John 15:14-15; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7) 

5. Love for your fellow Christians means being open and transparent with one another (1 John 1:7) 

6. Love for your fellow Christians means being sacrificial for one another (1 John 3:16; John 15:13; Acts 2:44-47; Ephesians 4:2,32) 

7. Love for fellow Christians means first experiencing God’s love (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 4:16; John 15:10) 

Apply  

1. Love for your fellow Christians is a commandment. Love for fellow Christians is essential, not optional, for a real disciple of Jesus. It’s a clear command (1 John 3:23-24; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 5:1-2). You thought there were just 10 commandments? Well, Jesus says: ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another’ (John 13:34; John 15:12; John 15:17).  

2. Love for your fellow Christians is a sign that you have left the kingdom of darkness for the kingdom of light. The opposite to love is hate and if you have hate in your heart towards a brother or sister, it is proof that you are still living in darkness. If you have hatred and anger in your heart, you may not be the Christian that you think you are or appear to be (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10-15). So passing from death to life means that you have passed out of living with hate to living with love. Real Christians can’t be hate-filled, cruel, critical, bitter, hard-hearted, judgemental and unforgiving towards one another. None of us can afford to have a wrong attitude toward anyone else or badmouth anyone. You must love the person next to you (and if that’s a family member, that’s even more the case) and you must love the person you may not want to sit next to. It doesn’t matter whether you are young or old, man or woman or from different social, economic and racial backgrounds we are called to love one another.  

3. Love for your fellow Christians means practically caring for one another (1 John 3:17-18). Jesus loved people and looked out to meet their needs, spiritually and practically. He fed the multitudes with the word of God and with actual bread and fish. Jesus cared for people's souls, and He cared for their physical well-being (Matthew 15:32). Jesus taught His followers to care for the poor, oppressed and marginalised (Matthew 25:35-36). A real Christians must: Feed the hungry; Give water to the thirsty; Welcome the stranger or the foreigner; Clothe the naked and poor; Look after the sick; and Visit the prisoner. So, loving one another means we have a tender heart towards others that moves us to do something to help people in any way we can locally and globally, on a big scale and in our personal interactions. The apostle Paul shows us that practical care starts at home and in the church family (Galatians 6:10). To help the world, first model it in the Christian community.  

4. Love for your fellow Christians means being friends with one another (John 15:14-15; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7). Now this is, in fact, a very necessary teaching because people have often been Christians for many years but have no real friends. Many leaders are lonely because they have been taught not to get too close to people. But God does not want a church composed of people who are lonely, formal and insecure but people who are at ease with one another, who can laugh and cry and pray and play together. The disciples were once a bunch of individuals and rivals who had their own agendas and ambitions. But Jesus formed them into a team of friends. The Bible says that to have friends you must be friendly. We have to reach out to another and be faithful to one another. Each one of us should aim not just to have good friends but to be good friends with our fellow Christians, especially in core group of committed disciples.  

5. Love for your fellow Christians means being open and transparent with one another (1 John 1:7). Fellowship comes when we walk in the light. So many people are bound because of hidden sins, festering resentments, petty jealousies, judgemental attitudes and so on. All these things must go to move forward in loving one another. Jesus modelled that relationships must be transparent (John 15:15). So too we should be open and not to put up barriers and defences of unreality. Friendship means that we don’t just share meetings, but that we meet in sharing heart and life.  

6. Love for your fellow Christians means being sacrificial for one another (1 John 3:16). Here John is emphasising what he learned from Jesus directly (John 15:13). True love is not about you and me and what we can receive. But it’s about what we will give to others. All genuine love costs something. It may cost us money to help others. The first century church was a very large congregation of thousands of people but it was also a caring sharing community (Acts 2:44-45). It may cost us time to be with others (Acts 2:46-47. It may cost us position to love another. King Saul’s son Jonathan was faithful to David when he was wrongly accused, even though it cost his crown. He was prepared to risk opposition and misunderstanding rather than betray David and see a good man destroyed. It may cost us our pride to love one another. You must be prepared to take the initiative to say sorry and be vulnerable (Ephesians 4:2,32). It may cost us our lives. Jesus was prepared to give everything to show His love for His disciples. How far would we go to save our brothers and sisters from harm and danger? 

7. Love for fellow Christians means first experiencing God’s love. John described himself as the disciple Jesus loved and was totally confident in the love of God (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 4:16). The reason John and the other disciples could love their fellow disciples and believers was because they each knew how much Jesus loved them. They had seen how Jesus prayed for them. They had discovered just how much Jesus believed in them despite their faults and failures and arguments among themselves. They had seen how Jesus loved them enough to challenge and correct them but had always stuck with them. They had seen how Jesus restored them after they had quit on Him. They had seen and felt how Jesus never stopped loving them. Today maybe your greatest need is to truly experience the love of God for yourself. Maybe you find it hard to show much grace and mercy because you haven’t experienced much grace and mercy. Maybe you struggle to forgive because you don’t know what it is to be fully forgiven. You still carry guilt and condemnation. Maybe you are too hard on others because your own heart needs to be softened by the love of God. Well the good news is that Jesus loves you totally and unconditionally. You may have a hard heart, but He still loves you. You may have lost your way and your passion for God, but He still loves you. You may have a lot of bitterness and anger deep inside you, but He still loves you. And today if you will open your heart to the Holy Spirit, you can receive this love. Today decide to obey Jesus and live a life of love. Ask Him to forgive you, to cleanse you and heal your heart so that you can forgive others and bring healing and restoration of damaged relationships (John 15:10). 

1 John 2:15-17 says: ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.’ (See also The Message translation). 

As ever, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. This passage is clearly not against us loving people in the world, but it’s a direct warning against us loving the world more than God. It all starts with the state of our hearts and being real about what we love most. This is so important, as these verses teach how it affects everything in our lives, both in this world and for eternity. We see some simple lessons we can apply to our lives from these verses. 

1. A real Christian has love for the Father in them (1 John 2:15; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 22:37-38; 2 Timothy 4:10; John 14:15-16) 

2. A real Christian does not love what the world offers (1 John 2:16; Luke 8:4) 

2.a. The lusts of the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:16-17; Mark 1:35) 

2.b. The lusts of the eyes (Matthew 5:27-28; Matthew 6:20-24; 1 Timothy 6:12) 

2.c. The pride of life (Matthew 23:5-7; 3 John 9; Matthew 20:26-28; Matthew 6:1) 

3. A real Christian is focussed on doing the will of God (1 John 2:17; Matthew 26:39; John 6:40; John 14:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; 1 John 5:2) 

Apply  

1. A real Christian has love for the Father in them (1 John 2:15). The Apostle John, writing to the church, sets out a warning about loving the world and goes so far as to say that if anyone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in them. Put simply, you cannot love God and love the world. Just as Joshua explained to the Israelites who had entered the promised land, there is a choice we each have to make about who or what we will love and live for (Joshua 24:15). And here, John gives the believers a clear distinction between God and “the world”. You cannot love both (Matthew 22:37-38). A real Christian is wholeheartedly in love with God, and gives the best of every part of their lives for Him. Of course you can enjoy things in this world. But at the end of the day, do you live for sport, for pleasure, for advancement: what are you living for? Love for God is everything, and it directly impacts how we live. Love for anything and everything else is a lesser love which will never satisfy. Love for the Father will be shown in our enduring faithfulness to God and to His people (2 Timothy 4:10). Jesus prayed for His disciples to be in the world but not of the world (John 14:15-16). Are you distinctive as in the world but not of the world? Are you recognisable as a real Christian because of your love for God instead of the world, or are you quick to trade time with God for what the world is offering you? We are recognisable as a real Christian when, whilst we live in the world, we really have love for the Father in our hearts which is seen in how we live.  

2. A real Christian does not love what the world offers (1 John 2:16). John details three areas which can overtake our love for God. Jesus also warned us of these in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4), teaching that even people who hear or know God’s word can be ‘choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature’.  

2.a. The lusts of the flesh: This is all about satisfying our physical wants such as food, drink, and sexual desires (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:16-17). What things does your flesh want you to do that you know are contrary to God’s spirit? Do you desire to eat or drink too much, to take drugs, or watch pornography or violent films? Maybe it’s the desire to stay in bed rather than to do as Jesus modelled and get up early to pray (Mark 1:35). We must change living by ‘I want, I feel...’ to living according to the power of God’s Holy Spirit who helps us resist doing just what our flesh wants us to.  

2.b. The lusts of the eyes: In the Bible, the lust of the eyes is the sinful desire to possess things that are visually appealing. It's a temptation that can lead people to stray from God's Word in pursuit of material possessions and wrong relationships. Just as King David saw Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop and then took action to sleep with this married woman, so too our desire, our will, thoughts. time and plans can all chase after what our eyes have even just briefly glimpsed, and can lead to terrible, heartbreaking consequences. Jesus also taught His disciples this (Matthew 5:27-28). It comes back to the state of our hearts. What are you looking at? Why are you looking at it? Scrolling on social media and websites, especially late at night, can be very dangerous, for what you see can impact the desires of your heart. Jesus also taught that you must choose in your heart between loving God or loving money (Matthew 6:20-24). There is no ban on possessions or making money, but we can’t love these things more than God (1 Timothy 6:12). The lust of the eyes can pull strongly on our heart if we have not decided that our treasure is first and foremost our relationship with God, and can lead to much suffering for ourselves and those around us too. So we must be careful to fix our eyes on what comes from God and not of the world. 

2.c. The pride of life: This is where we focus on our social status and achievements, positions, titles, and qualifications. John saw Jesus directly challenge the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, on their prideful, hypocritical behaviour that went against everything they were teaching from the word of God (Matthew 23:5-7). The Bible says the Pharisees loved these things, and John wrote to his friend Gaius of his own experience of such people (3 John 9). Do you love to be first? To be recognised with titles, rewards and praise? Does it matter what position you hold or what people think of you? Even when serving the Lord, is it truly out of love for Him, or to be seen and approved by others? For all those of us who are parents, or even grandparents, how much pride do we take in our children and grandchildren? It’s good to want them to do well but are we actually proud of their achievements as some reflected glory on us? The ‘pride of life’ is something that we all must be alert to. For Jesus taught His disciples that they weren’t to live this way (Matthew 20:26-28; Matthew 6:1). Everything the religious people did was a show. A real Christian loves their real relationship with God far more than the fleeting praise the world offers.  

3. A real Christian is focussed on doing the will of God (1 John 2:17). This will affect us in this life and for all eternity. We show our love for the Father by doing the will of God. To do the Father’s will is a choice, and it can cost us, but we have the promise of eternity with God as we do His will here on earth. The choice Jesus made in the Garden of Gethsemane to do God’s will has assured our eternity (Matthew 26:39). One day this world and everything in it will end, and then there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where we will live forever with Jesus (John 6:40; John 14:2-3). The apostle Paul wrote ‘...the time is short...For this world in its present form is passing away’ (1 Corinthians 7:29-31). So we must make use of the time we have here ‘by loving God and carrying out his commands’ (1 John 5:2). Doing the will of God means sacrificially giving the time, money, and all that we are to build the kingdom of God and meet others’ needs. Doing the Father’s will shows us to be real Christians. We all have big choices to make. A real Christian has love for the Father in them. A real Christian does not love what the world offers, and a real Christian is focussed on doing the will of God. Today decide that you will love God and not the world. 

Obedience brings blessings. Disobedience brings pain, separation from God, and curses, just as Adam and Eve experienced. Living a life of disobedience to God is very clear evidence that you are not a Christian. Living a life of obedience to God is one of the surest proofs that you are a Christian (1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 5:3).  

John learnt all about the importance of obedience from his first-hand experience of Jesus. Jesus taught that obedience was necessary to be a disciple (John 14:15). Jesus modelled a life of obedience to His Heavenly Father. Even though it is not always easy, obedience brings blessings to our lives. In the book of 1 John, this disciple of Jesus explains what obedience means in practice. 

1. Obedience means doing what Jesus says (1 John 5:3; John 14:23; John 15:14; Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 6:9-15; Matthew 25:35-36,40) 

2. Obedience means living like Jesus lived (1 John 2:6; Romans 12:2; Mark 16:15; Matthew 9:36; Mark 10:45; John 13:14) 

3. Obedience means conquering like Jesus conquered (1 John 5:3-4) 

Apply  

1. Obedience means doing what Jesus says (1 John 5:3; John 14:23; John 15:14). So, what are these teachings of Jesus that we are to be obey? Briefly, let’s look at a few: 

 - Love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40)  

- Forgive others (Matthew 6:9-15) 

- Care for the needy (Matthew 25:35-36,40)  

How much are we obeying these particular commands? 

2. Obedience means living like Jesus lived (1 John 2:6). Jesus showed real obedience to doing the will of God. You can spot a real Christian when you see them living in obedience to God, which is totally contrary to the culture of today. We live in a culture of disobedience but we as Christians must not conform to today’s culture, rather to what the Word of God teaches (Romans 12:2). Jesus lived His life focussed on spreading the good news of the kingdom of heaven, not focussed on the things of this world. And He tells us to do the same (Mark 16:15). Jesus lived a life of compassion (Matthew 9:36) and a life of service (Mark 10:45; John 13:14). Is this the way we are living? If we are obedient to Jesus, we too will be focussed on the mission of winning people to Christ, showing compassion to the multitudes and having humble, serving heart. 

3. Obedience means conquering like Jesus conquered. It’s not all hard work being obedient. In fact, it’s the way to succeed in life and ministry (1 John 5:3-4). One of the true signs that someone is a Christian is that they will turn from disobedience to obedience, from living their own way to living God’s way. Are you a rebel at heart? Or have you decided not to be self-willed any longer and submitted your will and all your life to truly becoming a follower of Jesus. This is the moment you can do so. 

The disciple John, the longest serving disciple of Jesus, gave some major characteristics of real Christianity in this book of five chapters. Many believe that John, the son of Zebedee, wrote his three New Testament letters no later than the 90s A.D. He wrote from Ephesus against of heresies that were threatening the purity, peace, and mission of the church. There were many false doctrines going around, not dissimilar to our day and the culture infiltrating in the church. We must stand against the abundance of deception and defend biblically the deity of Christ. We stand for the truth of the gospel, not relativism which affirms ‘your truth’ verses ‘my truth’. We don’t accept the concept of cheap Grace, with the idea that we can go on intentionally sinning because God will give His grace no matter what. We cannot redefine who Christ is, only partially believe the Bible, or believe all will go to heaven when the Bible clearly tell us who will go to heaven. 

So, the letter of 1 John is a great reminder that calls readers back to the three basics of Christian life: true doctrine, obedient living, and faithful devotion. It challenges followers of Jesus to stay true to what they already believe. Here in chapter 1, John starts with some important statements of what a real Christian is. 

1. A real Christian is one who believes that Jesus really existed (1 John 1:1-4)  

2. A real Christian knows that God is light and walks in His light (1 John 1:5-6)  

3. A real Christian can only have real fellowship with other Christians by walking in the light (1 John 1:7) 

4. A real Christian will be purified from their sins through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7)  

5. A real Christian will recognise and confess their sins (1 John 1:8-10; Hebrew 12:16-17; Exodus 9:27-35; Luke 13:1-3) 

Apply  

1. A real Christian is one who believes that Jesus really existed (1 John 1:1-4). The coming of Jesus to this earth is fact not fiction. John said he personally experienced the eternal God of creation, The Word who became flesh. That they saw Him, heard Him, touched Him. This is real stuff (see atheist scholar Bart Ehrman affirmation of the Gospels validity). We can’t believe in Jesus if we are not sure He is real. 

2. A real Christian knows that God is light and walks in His light (1 John 1:5-6). Everything about God is light. Jesus claimed: ‘I am the light of the world’. When we experience Jesus, all darkness in our life must go. We can’t sin in secret. We can’t pretend to be a Christian when we are not living right, e.g. with anger, hate, sexual sin, pride and ego. A Christian is someone who has left the kingdom of darkness to live in the light of God’s truth. If you feel there is darkness in any area of your life, today you can step into the light of God.  

3. A real Christian can only have real fellowship with other Christians by walking in the light (1 John 1:7). True Christians can only have real friendship and fellowship with each other if there is a common experience of living with Jesus’ light. The beauty of the church is that we become like a family, we break the bread and have communion together, we are bound by the greatest gifts of all, Jesus Christ. We should find our best friends in the church, people that help us grow in the Faith, in the Word, people that will encourage and many times correct us, with the goal of walking in the light of Jesus. If you could choose where to be and who to be with, what would you choose? Where does your heart desire to be? 

3. A real Christian will be purified from their sins through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7). To be a Christian you cannot ignore the blood of Jesus. You must understand that you can’t be a Christian just by good works but by personally encountering the power of the blood of Jesus. Only the blood of Jesus can make someone clean. Only the blood of Jesus can pay the price of our sins. Only the blood of Jesus can open the door of heaven to us (See Pastor César Castellanos books “The Revelation of the Cross” and “Just One Drop Of The Blood Of Jesus”). The price Jesus paid when He shed His blood was an undeserved gift so we could be free. The power of a real Christian begins when we accept that only the blood of Jesus can give us a new beginning Have you experienced the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus? 

4. A real Christian will recognise and confess their sins (1 John 1:8-10) A true Christian can never be religious and self righteous. We tend to justify our sins and compare them with the wrong standards, to look around and say “well, I’m not that bad… at least I am not doing X, Y or Z.’ That’s what the Pharisees were like. They always wanted to look good and to appear holy. Our standard should always be the Word of God. You will be surprised how much we need to run the Cross and confess to be cleanse. A real Christian is someone who doesn’t pretend to be better than anyone else. A real Christian can’t look down on others. A real Christian says: ‘yes, me too. I have sinned. I am a sinner just like anyone else and I too need forgiveness.’ A real Christian will be absolutely real and confess their sins, and if you do that then you will discover that you can be forgiven. There are few things that seem like repentance but actually are not. 

- Esau (Hebrew 12:16-17): Esau cried, but his tears were not enough. Repentance is more than just crying. 

- Pharoah (Exodus 9:27-35): Pharaoh confessed his sin, but didn’t change. Repentance is 

not only confessing your sin, but also changing your ways. 

- The Galileans (Luke 13:1-3): Jesus said that salvation is not through suffering nor religious ritual, but rather through repentance. 

Today are you a real Christian? Do you believe in the reality of Jesus? Are you walking in the light or living in the darkness of sin? Do you have fellowship with real Christians? Have you been made clean through the blood of Jesus? Have you actually honestly and truly recognised your sinful state and confessed your sins to God? Well if you do, you will know for sure that God is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you. 

We read in Matthew 9:35-38 and Matthew 10:1 how Jesus did this, and the example we are to follow: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” 

1. Focus on the mission of Jesus (Matthew 9:35; Acts 1:8) 

2. Receive the vision of Jesus for the multitudes (Matthew 9:36; John 4:35) 

3. Have the love of Jesus for lost and hurting people (Matthew 9:36) 

4. Pray for more workers as Jesus instructed (Matthew 9:38) 

5. Build a team of 12 as Jesus modelled (Matthew 10:1) 

Apply  

1. Focus on the mission of Jesus. The mission that Jesus has called us to is simply massive. Jesus has commanded us to make disciples of all nations. God sent His only Son Jesus on a mission to save the whole world from Satan, sin and all the destructive powers of darkness. The sheer scope of our mission requires us to think bigger and beyond what our minds usually process. Our mission in life is to win the world for Jesus. And to conquer globally we must follow the example of Jesus being focussed locally. Jesus went about His mission in a very strategic way by starting in His home region of Galilee (Matthew 9:35). He was very specific and very diligent in going from town to town and even from village to village. Later Jesus gave specific directions on focussing on different locations for the spread of the gospel throughout the world (Acts 1:8). The mission then requires that the Christian gospel is spread systematically from area to area. We must be sure that we are focussed not simply on running our churches but on reaching our communities with a very clear strategy. Like Jesus, we must have a big mission to reach ‘all the towns and villages’ in the areas that God has called us to. We have to all play our part in spreading the gospel of the kingdom to all peoples in all nations starting in all the towns and villages where we are.  

2. Receive the vision of Jesus for the multitudes (Matthew 9:36). Jesus didn’t just see individuals; He saw vast numbers of people in great need, and He wanted His disciples also to have their eyes open to seeing the multitudes (John 4:35). How much do we really notice people? God wants to open our eyes to see the multitudes all around us and to believe as Abraham believed that we can have limitless spiritual offspring. Ministry begins with vision. We need a vision of what is possible for large numbers of people to be brought to Christ in our churches and our nations. We must perceive it and believe it before we can receive it.   

3. Have the love of Jesus for lost and hurting people (Matthew 9:36 MSG). Love is what Christianity is all about. Jesus came because God so loved the world. Love is what drew the multitudes to Jesus. They knew that, unlike the hard-hearted, self-seeking religious leaders, Jesus truly cared for them. They could see His compassion, especially for the outcasts and despised. And it was because of Jesus’ love for lost sinners that He suffered and bled and died. It is this sacrificial, unconditional, patient, kind and enduring love that we must have in our hearts if we are going to keep our children and grandchildren in the church. So many children and young people have wandered away, often with great bitterness in their hearts, because they have experienced the law but never the love of God. It’s this love and compassion in our hearts, our actions and in our eyes that will draw people to Christ and establish them in their faith. So how do we get this love? Only by asking for the Holy Spirit to come and change us. For us to see people turn to God, we must have this love.   

4. Pray for more workers as Jesus instructed (Matthew 9:38). The mission is so big and the challenge so great that many more people must be involved in sharing the good news of Christ and His kingdom. If we are serious about re-evangelising our nations, we must seek to mobilise ALL the people of God to share their faith. The so-called professionals or paid ministers cannot do it on their own. We must really pray that great numbers of Christians who are busy doing their jobs and caring for their families, will share their faith wherever they are and integrate disciple-making into their lives. It is a matter of great urgency to pray for more workers if we want to see our nations turn around.   

5. Build a team of 12 as Jesus modelled. After calling for prayer for more workers, Jesus formed a team of disciples (Matthew 10:1). These 12 were ordinary people and far from perfect. One on the list of the chosen 12 betrayed Jesus and had to be replaced, and the other 11 all ran away at one point. But they were to become the foundation of the church, because Jesus never gave up on His simple plan to focus on gathering, training and releasing the few to reach the many. Today the G12 vision is a re-emergence of a biblical vision for making and multiplying disciples by taking them through every stage from new birth to maturity, to become leaders and multipliers themselves. The 12 can develop 12 who can have 12 who can have 12, and so on. We just need to do this right and continually. And as we follow the example of Jesus in doing these 5 steps, we will see another grassroots transformational Christian movement in our nations and in our day and generation. 

It should be our goal and priority this year to make the word of God the foundation in our lives, in our marriages, in our families and in our church. It shouldn’t be a part of our lives, but rather central to our lives.  

In Nehemiah 8 we see that, after experiencing many challenges, there was a turning back of the people to the Word and instructions of God (Nehemiah 8:8-9,18). In 445BC-432BC was when Nehemiah was appointed Governor of Jerusalem by King Artaxerxes, and oversaw the re-building of the city’s the walls in just 52 days. He held joint assemblies with Ezra, who was the priest and scribe at that time (a scribe’s role being to study, interpret and teach scriptures), for public scripture reading. People confessed their sins and renewed their covenant with God, and they implemented social reforms.  

Ezra and Nehemiah thought having the temple and the security of the rebuilt walls weren’t good enough. They wanted to re-build the people. It was important that God’s people were where God wanted them to be, both physically and spiritually. So, what did they do? They wanted the people to put the word of God in the centre of their lives. They built a wooden stage in the centre of the public square, so that everyone could gather and see Ezra and the Levites with him. Everyone in the community who could understand gathered in the square to hear the public reading of the Word of God (Nehemiah 8:3). There were 14 Levites on either side of Ezra explaining and unpacking the word of God to the people. And the people wept, not with tears of joy, but because they were convicted of their sin. They wept repentant tears of sorrow. And to build back, they had to start somewhere. We see: 

1. They opened the book (Nehemiah 8:5) 

2. They read the book (Nehemiah 8:8; 1 Timothy 4:13,16; Psalm 1:2-3; Nehemiah 8:5; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 119:11) 

3. They explained the book (Nehemiah 8:8; Hebrews 4:12) 

4. They were moved by the book (Nehemiah 8:9b) 

5. They obeyed the book (Nehemiah 10:29) 

Apply   

1. They opened the book (Nehemiah 8:5). Do we actually open the Bible? Do we read it? That’s where it begins. Or is it gathering dust in a shelf somewhere? The Bible app makes it convenient to read on your phone. But having a physical Bible is very helpful as there are no distractions, no messages or social media notifications popping up and dividing our attention.  

2. They read the book (Nehemiah 8:8). It is important that we read the Bible in public and in private. As we see in Nehemiah 8, there was public reading of the scripture. The apostle Paul encouraged his disciple Timothy in this too (1 Timothy 4:13,16). They read the book every day (Nehemiah 8:18). It is important we read the Bible daily, delighting in and meditating on God’s word. Then we will flourish, being fruitful, being youthful, and whatever we do: your work, family, marriage, business, studies, sports etc will prosper (Psalm 1:2-3). And they read the book from a central place (Nehemiah 8:5). The word of God was central to re-build the people, and it should be central to us to re-build ourselves, our marriages, families and church. We need to use the word in challenging situations, overcoming obstacles, for wisdom, daily decision making, encouraging and correcting, resisting temptations, and for seeing breakthroughs including in our finances (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 119:11). The word of God should always be central in our lives. 

3. They explained the book (Nehemiah 8:8). We need to unpack the word of God and break it down to understand deep truths in the Bible. God’s Holy Spirit helps us in this. It’s good to read different versions like the KJV, NKJV, MSG, Amplified version. The Bible says that the word of God is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). It’s not dead, rather it’s so sharp that it can cut through like a surgeon’s scalpel to reach between soul and the spirit. It can help us to discern between what is worldly and what is spiritual. You will be able to discern a situation, a decision you need to make, or the advice you need to give to your children. The word of God has the power to go deep within us, to heal and restore us.  

4. They were moved by the book (Nehemiah 8:9b). People were moved because they were convicted of their sin and their disobedience, and their previous lack of attention to the word of God. They were crying repentant tears. We need to be convicted for looking for instruction elsewhere, when God had made a life manual, a living and powerful life-transforming book for us. We had a great role model in the late Queen Elizabeth of devotion to Jesus and the Word of God.   

5. They obeyed the book (Nehemiah 10:29). We need to make a conscious decision and a real commitment to obey the word of God. We read from the book of Nehemiah, how the leaders at that time thought that having the temple worship and the physical security of the rebuilt walls weren’t good enough. They wanted to re-build the people, and the word of God was central to it all. Today let us all make the Bible central to our lives. For as we do, we will live lives of conquest and see great blessing in our marriages, in our families, in the church and in our nation.

We live in a world today that is so self-centred, and even Christians and churches can become very me-centred. The idea that families matter is constantly ridiculed as old fashioned, yet it is the very break up of families that is at the root of so many problems in society, whether in the form of depression, crime, or social and economic disadvantages.  

Of course, God loves each individual and has personal blessings and plans for each one of us. But we must understand how much the Bible focuses on a much bigger picture of building the best families and family lines in every generation, even in the face of so much previous family dysfunction and trouble.  

The God of the Bible is often known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because He is a God who made great family promises to them and to their descendants: promises that also apply to us when we follow Jesus. Galatians 3:29 says: ‘If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.’ So, what does this mean for your family, whether you are a two parent or one parent or even a no parent family?  

1. Your family can be blessed in every generation (Genesis 12:1-2; Genesis 17:6-8; Genesis 26:24; Genesis 28:12-14; Genesis 20; Genesis 26:7; Matthew 1) 

2. Your family must choose to serve God in in every generation (Genesis 15:5-6; Genesis 17:1,9; Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 26:4-5; Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Joshua 24:15) 

3. Your family can be a great blessing in every generation (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 28:14; Nehemiah 3:12; Ezra 1:5) 

Apply   

1. Your family can be blessed in every generation. The first and foundational book of the Bible is Genesis where we read of God making and repeating His promises of continued family blessing to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-2; Genesis 17:6-8; Genesis 26:24; Genesis 28:12-14). In short God wants to bless your family no matter how much trouble or dysfunction there has been in your family. If you doubt this, consider some of the problems encountered in Abraham’s family and line. Abraham was willing to risk other men sleeping with his wife to save his own life (Genesis 20:2) and his son Isaac did the same (Genesis 26:7). Also, Abraham’s wife Sarah told her husband he should sleep with the family maid to have a surrogate child for her, then Isaac’s wife deceived him so that her favourite son would get his blessing, and the deceived son Esau was so made he vowed to kill his brother Jacob. Jacob fled for his life and proceeded to deceive pretty much everyone he came in contact with. Two of his sons killed the man who had raped their sister and then wiped out all the men of his town. Ten of Jacob’s 12 sons were so jealous of their brother Joseph that they beat him up and sold as a slave. Violence, sexual sin, lying and cheating - this was what this family was like. Yet God had mercy on this family. God helped and blessed this family. From this family Joseph grew up to save his family and nation and many other nations from a great famine. From this family came Israel’s greatest King, David, who himself was an adulterer and murderer, and if you read Matthew 1 you will see that it was from this family that One came who would bless all families on earth: the Messiah Jesus Christ. This tells us that God can rescue and restore any family. God can raise up great and godly leaders even if the rest of the family is far from God. There is hope for you. There is hope for your family. It’s not too late. It’s not too far gone. Even in families which have been dysfunctional for generations, God can suddenly raise up great leaders like Joseph and Josiah in Abraham’s family line. Also the Bible shows that although you may have come from a far from Christian family, and you may have messed up yourself, God can get you married into a line of blessing. This is what happened with Rahab the former prostitute and Ruth from a family of idol worshippers.  

2. Your family must choose to serve God in in every generation. God wants to bless families but each family needs to be shaped by those who choose to follow the Lord (Genesis 15:5-6; Genesis 17:1,9). This means that we must believe God’s word. You need to believe as Abram believed that your family has a destiny. You must live in faith, not fear, for your family, your children and grandchildren, or great grandchildren (Hebrews 11:21). Today there are so many forces at work to pervert, undermine and destroy people, particularly vulnerable children and young people, yet despite all this we must not give way to worry and doubt. For God has another way for us to live, and that is the way of faith. By faith in God’s word, we will see a new generation raised up for God: a generation that will experience great deliverance. Also, you need to live in obedience to God’s word (Genesis 26:4-5). We need to choose to obey God by training our children in the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). Basically, parents, or a parent, have to train and shape children and decide what goes and what doesn’t go in your family even if it is acceptable with other families. When the Israelites were faced with idol worship in Canaan, Joshua made his own position very clear (Joshua 24:15). This was a decision and a determination. If you want your children to be given fully to God, make sure that you lead the way. It is important that children are dedicated to the Lord at an early age. This marks them for God from the beginning of their lives. If you have not done this, you need to do it. As the children grow older renew your vows of dedication as a whole family. Great things can flow from this decision.  

3. Your family can be a great blessing in every generation (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 28:14). All through the history of the Israelites, we see that it was through dedicated families that the blessings flowed. Families helped to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:12). Families helped rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:5). Families were at the core of the small group that Christianity was founded on - there were three sets of brothers in the 12 of Jesus: Peter and Andrew, James and John, Matthew and James. Matthew and James may also have been cousins of Jesus. Families have shaped the church and history: the Wesley family in the 18th century; William and Catherine Booth in the 19th century. And families are at the forefront of Christian advance today. God is touching nations through families such as the Castellanos family, the Joel Osteen family, and many others here today. And who knows what God will do when you and your family are fully committed to Him? Today we need more distinctively Christian families. Today choose to believe that God wants to make your family and every family great. For this is how we can strengthen the church and shape the world. 

Dreams help us see how impossibilities can become realities. Dreams and visions are very biblical. God showed Abraham a vast vision of the future (Genesis 15:5-6). God showed a teenager called Joseph that he would one day become a very powerful ruler. His brothers called him ‘that dreamer’ and one day they all saw the amazing fulfilment of Joseph’s dreams (Genesis 37-50). The Hebrew prophets had dreams of a godly world, the kingdom of God, where justice would ‘roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream’ (Amos 5:24).  

‘Dreams and visions are the language of the Holy Spirit,’ wrote David Yonggi Cho who visualised that one day he would become the pastor of the world’s biggest church. Cesar Castellanos, the senior pastor of MCI Bogota, wrote a book called ‘Dream and you will win the world.’  

The founder of this church, Billy Richards, an ex-Welsh coalminer who had no money and no human support, came to Slough with a dream to establish a strong gospel church to touch the world. Pastor Wes has for decades has continued with a dream to develop a strong multi-ethnic church of great disciples and leaders that will be a light to nations and generations. Today, dream for yourself, your family, your church and for God’s plans for nations and generations. 

1. Receive God’s dreams (Genesis 12:2-3; 2 Peter 1:4; Jeremiah 29:11) 

2. Write down God’s dreams (Habakkuk 2:2; Jeremiah 30:2-3; Revelation 1:19) 

3. Persevere to receive God’s dreams (Hebrews 10:36; Genesis 12:4-5; James 2:17; Romans 4:18-21; Hebrews 6:15) 

Apply 

1. Receive God’s dreams. Not all dreams are from God. Dreams can be very selfish or even demonic. For example, Hitler had terrible dreams to destroy the Jewish people. In the musical ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ there is a song that says, ‘any dream will do.’ Well, that’s not true and may even be dangerous. For the best dreams you must have the dreams of God based on His Word, the Bible. Abraham first received a word from God (Genesis 12:2-3). There is always a word from God for you (2 Peter 1:4). God has dreams for you personally. Just as God had great plans for the young Joseph and the older Abraham so God has plans for you. You matter to God. You are not a nothing or a nobody. God rates you. God knows about you (Jeremiah 29:11). God loves each one of us more than we realise and wants to bless us and make us a blessing to others. You can succeed in your life, in your studies, in your career and ministry. You can be more than you think you can be. God has dreams for your family. God is well able to create and re-create families. He can bring families together who have drifted apart. He can bring peace where there were only rows. He can change your hearts so that you all get on together and your home becomes like heaven instead of hell. God has dreams for your leadership. You can be a great leader in the community, in business, in politics, in your chosen career and in the church. The church is one of the greatest training grounds for leadership in any walk of life. If you can lead in the church, you can lead anyone anywhere. When Jesus trained 12 young disciples it was because He had a dream that their lives would one day impact billions of people with the message of His love and righteousness. So, at the start of this year and every day, you must receive God’s dreams by reading and studying on His Word. And from the Bible, the Holy Spirit will show you special verses for every part of your life.  

2. Write down God’s dreams (Habakkuk 2:2). When you write out the dreams and visions God gives, you will be able to remember the vision and keep running with these goals in mind. How often do we forget things simply because we don’t write them down? In different places in the Bible, we read of the importance of writing down what God has said (Jeremiah 30:2-3; Revelation 1:19). Keeping a journal of what God speaks to you from the Bible in your devotionals is very important, and so is writing down dreams and goals for a year. Write down your dreams, make your poster or your dream book and paste photos or images. You also could do this on your laptop. Write out your dreams under five main headings: my dreams with God, my personal dreams, my dreams for my family, my dreams in ministry (for example starting or growing a group) and my dreams for my world (education, career, finances). 

3. Persevere to receive God’s dreams. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what was promised (Hebrews 10:36). This means that you must take action to move towards your dream. You can’t just wait for God to do everything; there are some things we must do. Abram did something in response to God’s word (Genesis 12:4-5). Abraham had to leave his country and people and father’s household to receive God’s promises of blessings that had no limit. Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (James 2:17). Hold on to your dream (Romans 4:18-21). Naturally there was no hope for Abraham to receive his dream, but he refused to stop believing God’s promise to him. He didn’t waver in his faith. So too you must never give up on your dream. Be determined not to lose your dream because things are taking longer than you wanted. Sometimes you must be very patient for some dreams to happen. But God has His perfect time to fulfil His promise. Never stop believing and working towards your dream. You must stick with your dreams. You must hold your ground when you feel like giving up. You must pray on for your kids, your parents, your partner. And in this way, you will receive the promised dream. This finally happened to Abraham in old age (Hebrews 6:15). Joseph saw how much God blessed him personally. God brought him to a great position of leadership. God gave him great provision. Joseph saw how God blessed his family. He was reconciled with his brothers who had betrayed him. He saw his dad again after many years and wept all over him. Joseph saw how God used him to be a blessing to multitudes who faced starvation. Today be sure that God intends for His every dream for your life to come to pass. Never dream too little and never give up on your dreams.  

No matter how many fireworks parties we may have attended in the countdown to another year, and no matter how many good resolutions we may make, by far the best way to start this year, is to be full of thanks to God and to praise His name. 

- Praising God is one of the greatest secrets of success in any year 

- Praising God will raise your spirits 

- Praising God will release hope 

- Praising God will build your faith 

- Praising God will change the atmosphere 

- Praising God will open prison doors (just as happened for Paul and Silas when they sang hymns at midnight after they were beaten in Philippi) 

- Praising and thanking God will bring you into a lifestyle of freedom and joy. 

The Bible teaches us that thankfulness is more than just good manners: it's a very big part of our relationship with God. When we are really grateful to God, we align our hearts with God's will, and we open ourselves up to His many blessings. Gratitude helps us shift our focus from what we don’t have to all the amazing things God has already given us. 

Today so many people are down and depressed because they fail to recognise the many blessings that they should be thankful for. Others spend their time praising the gods of this world: entertainment, sport, fashion, financial success, fame…. only to find that they do not bring lasting satisfaction. 

When you praise God, however you are recognising who and what is most important in life no matter what circumstances may look like in a particular moment (2 Chronicles 20-22). The Bible teaches us, in both Old and New Testaments and particularly in the book of Psalms, that we should always be full of thanks to God. We should praise the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1 (NLT); Acts 2:46-47; Ephesians 5:20). We should praise the Lord in all circumstances (Philippians 4:6-7).We should praise the Lord in all places (Psalm 150:1). We should praise the Lord for all reasons (Psalm 150:2). We should praise the Lord by all means (Psalm 150:3-5). 

So, who should praise the Lord? All people (Psalm 150:6; Psalm 100:1). And if you still want to know why we should praise the Lord and give thanks to Him, Psalm 100 is very clear. We should praise the Lord because: 

1. The Lord is God (Psalm 100:3; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Samuel 2:2) 

2. The Lord is our creator (Psalm 100:3) 

3. The Lord is our shepherd (Psalm 100:3) 

4. The Lord has made the way for us to come into His presence (Psalm 100:4; Hebrews 10:22) 

5. The Lord is good (Psalm 100:5) 

6. The Lord’s love endures forever (Psalm 100:5; Psalm 136) 

7. The Lord’s faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5; Deuteronomy 7:9-16; Acts 2:38-39) 

Apply 

1. The Lord is God (Psalm 100:3). The God of the Bible is the God of gods, King of kings and Lord of lords (Hebrews 11:6; 1 Samuel 2:2). 

2. The Lord is our creator (Psalm 100:3). We didn’t get here by accident or some unproved evolutionary process. We are the products of a great Creator who can recreate our lives when we have messed up and come to God in repentance. 

3. The Lord is our shepherd (Psalm 100:3). Jesus is the great shepherd who comes looking for us and looks after us forever when we receive Him. He leads us gently to places of rest and refreshment. He walks with us in times of darkness. He provides for us even when enemies attack. He causes His anointing to overflow on us. He always shows us His goodness and mercy. 

4. The Lord has made the way for us to come into His presence (Psalm 100:4). He invites us to enter His gates and His courts. We cannot enter God’s courts by our own righteousness, but through Jesus’ shed blood for unclean sinners we can draw near to God (Hebrews 10:22). 

5. The Lord is good (Psalm 100:5). The Lord is good. His character is totally good, there is nothing bad about Him. He is king and generous and willing to bless you with his goodness. 

6. The Lord’s love endures forever (Psalm 100:5). His unconditional mercy never fails. Psalm 136 repeats that His steadfast love endures forever. His love never runs out.  

7. The Lord’s faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5). The God who made covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their natural and spiritual descendants, keeps His word to all who follow Him (Deuteronomy 7:9-16; Acts 2:38-39). Many have seen God’s blessing in past generations in their families, but even if we have not, you can receive Him and His blessings in your life and generation, and so also can your children and grandchildren and every generation to come. 

Here are so many great reasons to enter this year with thanksgiving. Decide that from this day forward, every day you will be thankful to God and will always praise His name. At the start of this year, make these declarations today and anticipate what God will do in your life this year: 

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because this is the day that the Lord has made, and His mercies are new every morning 

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because I can trust him to guard my heart and mind in every situation. 

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because the Lord is my Saviour, shepherd, my strength and my shield 

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because my Heavenly Father knows my needs and is able to bless me abundantly.  

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because I will see miracles in my life because nothing is impossible to God  

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God for in every circumstance because I will be more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who gives me strength 

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God for every blessing to me and to my family because I believe that the Lord is good and his love endures forever; and that his faithfulness continues through all generations.  

There’s so much to be thankful for! Watch the online service to receive personal encouragement, and a blessing from Senior Pastors Wes and Adriana Richards for the new year.

Jesus came to light up the world. Jesus proclaimed in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world.” No matter how much moral and spiritual darkness there is in the world or how much depression you may experience in life, there is light and hope for everyone and for you personally. And it is all because of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus brings light through the example of his life. Jesus lived a morally perfect life. Jesus was good and He went about doing good, ministering to the poor, healing the sick and bringing hope to the hopeless. Jesus brings light by the authority of his teachings. Jesus focussed on what is really going on in our hearts and lives, not about what we look like on the outside. He taught us to love God, love our neighbours and even to love our enemies.  

Jesus brings us light through His sacrificial death, the awesome power of resurrection from the dead and the promise of His second coming. And Jesus brings us light through the experience of his presence through the help of the Holy Spirit. Whenever people have an encounter with Jesus, everything changes: it’s like a massive light is switched on. His light affects us in so many ways.  

1. The light of Jesus is a light of life (John 8:12; John 1:14; Isaiah 9:6; John 10:10; John 14:6; John 11:25-26)  

2. The light of Jesus is the light of liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17) 

3. The light of Jesus is the light of love (1 John 4:16; 1 John 3:1; Romans 5:8) 

Apply 

1. The light of Jesus is a light of life. Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12). You never need to walk in darkness in any day of your life if you follow Jesus. He will always light up your life (John 1:14). The Christmas story tells us of the gift of the life of the Son of God (Isaiah 9:6). All who have children or grandchildren, or even great grandchildren, will know that the gift of a baby is one of the greatest and most amazing gifts anyone can receive. A life that wasn’t there, is suddenly here. The Bible teaches that God is the great life-giver. He is the source of life and the sustainer of life. God is totally and eternally pro-life. He wants people to live and not to die. The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish. In the Christmas story we see both the wonder of the life of the newborn Christ, and the wickedness of evil that wanted to destroy that life. King Herod who slaughtered Bethlehem’s children represents all those who would take away innocent life, whether it is life in the womb, or victims of gang culture, warfare, or the genocide facing Christians and many others in the Middle East. Jesus made very clear that a major reason for his coming to the world was that he was for life and against death (John 10:10). So many people think that if you really want to enjoy life, you need to keep God out of your life. But Jesus said the complete opposite. If you really want to feel alive, then God needs to be at the centre of your life. If you truly want to live life of deep satisfaction and meaning the full, then you need to have a personal experience of God through an encounter with Jesus (John 14:6). Jesus is the most alive person you can ever know. He promises us fullness of life in this life AND the hope of eternal life. Death, the final enemy was put to death, through Christ’s death and resurrection (John 11:25-26). As Christians we should love life, celebrate life, defend life, and live life to the full and make the most of every day and every opportunity.  

2. The light of Jesus is the light of liberty. When Jesus was on earth He proclaimed ‘freedom for the prisoners’ and stated ‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’ (John 8:36). Jesus came to liberate humanity from the power of sin and hell and darkness and free us from everything that has held us captive. The apostle Paul declared the great Magna Carta of the Christian gospel, that: ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free’ (Galatians 5:1). Freedom is central to Christianity (2 Corinthians 3:17). Wherever the light of true Christianity shines, as opposed to the darkness of dead religion, there is always great liberation, for individuals and for communities and nations. It was the great evangelical movement that played such a decisive role in the ending of slavery. It was a great spiritual revival that led to America becoming a free nation under God. Dr Martin Luther King Jnr and many pastors and black churches led the fight for desegregation in the United States. It was the churches that were such a major force in bringing down the wicked Apartheid regime in South Africa. Today, in the UK and Europe and America as well as SA, there are many in the media, politics and universities who wish to deny and marginalise Christianity, but in reality, it is Christianity which is foundational to political, religious and personal freedoms. All true freedom is rooted in God. Without God as the final authority, men and women make their own self-serving rules and set themselves up as gods with disastrous results. That’s how we end up with tyrants like Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot and countless criminal warlords, drug barons and people traffickers who hold people captive. And that’s how we end up with political elites that want to deny votes on key issues and accrue ever greater power to themselves (see Charles Colson, ‘Against the Night: Living in the New Dark Ages’). The greatest guarantor of freedom is Jesus Christ, whose light liberates from darkness in all its forms, not least the darkness of sin in every heart which is at the root of all captivity. True freedom always begins in our hearts. Today Jesus can set you free from anger, bitterness, pride, fear, sexual sin, addictions and the pain of your past.  

3. The light of Jesus is the light of love. Love is one of the greatest human needs and it is a defining characteristic of God (1 John 4:16). Love was the reason Jesus was sent to us (John 3:16-17). The Bible shows us that God’s love is personal: God knows us by name and loves every individual. It’s lavish and extravagant (1 John 3:1). When the Prodigal Son returned home, the father gave him gifts and threw a party for him. The love of God is also unconditional (Romans 5:8). Even though we have messed up and gone our own way, God loves us anyway. God does not approve of our sins, but He wants to save us from the destructiveness of our own wrong decisions and self-centred behaviour. Jesus came to save us from our sins and bring us into close relationship with God and people. God is not out to put us down but to lift us up. No-one is beyond the love of God. God loves you despite your past. God loves you with all that you face in the present. God loves you with an everlasting love that will never fail you in the future. Others may have despised or rejected you, but God does not. You are significant. You are uniquely loved and valued by God. You matter to God far more than you may know. He wants to help you and heal you, to cleanse you and forgive you. He wants to lift you up out of guilt and shame and fear and pain. He can banish all the darkness and depression in your life and flood you with His light. He can bless you greatly and make you a force for good to the whole world. In the words of the great carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, today you too can have a second birth, a total new beginning through Jesus Christ who offers you the light of life, liberty and love. 

Even when there is so much gloom all around, you can discover the glory of the Lord in your own life. When everyone is feeling down, you can get up and experience great blessings. This is what the prophet Isaiah makes clear in Isaiah 60:1-2 which says: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” 

These words were originally addressed to the Jewish people who were sad and depressed after seeing their nation and Temple destroyed by the Babylonians. But in their encircling gloom, the words of the prophet Isaiah assured them that God had a bright future after their time of Babylonian captivity. And that is in fact what happened when they were able to return to their homeland and see their temple rebuilt. What the prophet is saying in these verses is very applicable to us today. This is a time for us to: 

1. Cheer up (Isaiah 60:1; John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:9) 

2. Light up (Isaiah 60:1-2; John 8:12; Matthew 5:14-15; Romans 13:12-13; Ephesians 5:8; Psalm 119:105; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:9; Matthew 5:16) 

3. Get up (Isaiah 60:1) 

Apply 

1. Cheer up. In so many ways, the words of Isaiah resonate with our current uncertain world as we witness so much darkness in the form of despair, division, and depression. Today it can seem as if the world is becoming increasingly dark. As we look out at a world full of problems and many forms of moral and spiritual darkness, you could be depressed. But you must not be depressed, and you will not be if you understand the power of the light of God to pierce the darkness. For this is the very clear promise that the prophet speaks of: “Your light has come.” Even though it is dark outside, you can personally experience great light. Isaiah was very clear that even though ‘darkness covers the earth and that thick darkness is over the people’… ‘the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you’. The light that has come into our world is Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world who was born in Bethlehem’s stable 2000 years ago. All the light and hope the world would ever need was wrapped up in this baby. Light comes into our lives when we decide to follow Jesus (John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:9). When we truly know Christ has come to us, we no longer have to walk in darkness. We don’t have to stumble about in our decisions and relationships. We don’t have to be fearful and insecure. We don’t have to be trapped in dark circumstances. There is a way out and that way is through Jesus who came to rescue us from sin and all forms of evil. The closer we draw near to Christ, the clearer we can see where we are going. His light shows us how to act and react in life and how experience more of His glory and presence. So cheer up; your light has come, the glory of the Lord will rise upon you. 

2. Light up (Isaiah 60:1). Christians are to be people who not only have light; we are also to be people who transmit light (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14-15). Christians are the answer the world is waiting for. The real hope of the world does not lie with the leaders and wisdom of this world but with followers of Christ, according to what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:14. It is real Christian people who uniquely have the light that can penetrate personal, religious and cultural darkness. This is of course a radical and controversial statement. This means that an ordinary person who knows Christ has more light than the most brilliant person who does not. Christians individually and corporately as the church have responsibility to bring light into the world because of our relationship with Christ. So how do we do this? We shine the light of Jesus by living holy lives (Romans 13:12-13; Ephesians 5:8). We shine the light of Jesus by being illuminated by the Word of God (Psalm 119:105). We must daily read and meditate on God’s word to see where we are going. We shine the light of Jesus by being in right relationship with your Christian brothers and sisters (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:9). We shine the light of Jesus by living under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. We must have the insights and direction of the Holy Spirit. We shine the light of Jesus by speaking positively and sharing the good news about Jesus. Jesus is the hope that people need. He’s the one who can bring them out of the dark and the gloom of depression. We shine the light of Jesus by your good deeds (Matthew 5:16). We are to care for one another, especially the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, the neglected and despised. Our sincere hearts of compassion and simple acts of kindness can reveal the light of Christ to those who most need it. In all the ways we can, help all the people we can. 

3. Get up. If you are going to shine the light of Jesus, then you have to arise. When it is dark and cold outside, it’s tempting to retreat into your own little cosy world and tuck up asleep and not get up. But if you, and also every Christian church family, are going to help people then you have to get up, even if you don’t feel like it. This is the moment for you to get up: from the pain of your past; from the pressures of the present; get up and face into the destiny God has for you. With the light of Jesus in your life can decide to: Arise from your failure; Arise from your grief; Arise from your low self-esteem; Arise from your doubt; Arise from your fear; Arise in faith; Arise with the revelation that your light has come; Arise because you have a role to play in this world; Arise because He is going to position you and use you; Arise because God is with you and is glory is upon you. Here’s how to celebrate Christmas and to live every day with hope. Because Jesus has come into our world, we no longer need to live in darkness. His light can shine bright in our hearts and homes and in the nations of the world. We are not alone. Jesus, Emmanuel, is with us, in whatever circumstances we face. He will never leave us or forsake us. His light will always guide us. Let’s arise and shine because our light has come. Let’s cheer up, light up and get up and receive and share every blessing God has for you.  

Bright lights are associated with Christmas because it was a radiant bright light that startled the shepherds when the angel announced the birth of Jesus to them. And it was also a bright star that rose to lead the wise men to the stable where Jesus was born in Bethlehem so they could worship Him. And today it is the great hope of the Christmas message that can light up our world that is dark in so many ways.  

This Christmas is an opportunity for us to understand how Jesus can light up our world which is so often dark and gloomy. The prophet Isaiah put it like this in Isaiah 9:2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” We can see why this verse is so relevant to us all today: 

1. People need the light of the Lord (Isaiah 9:2; John 3:19; Ephesians 4:18) 

2. People can have the light of hope (Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 61:1; John 8:12) 

3. People can experience the light of Jesus (Isaiah 9:2; Ephesians 5:8; Acts 9:3-4) 

Apply 

1. People need the light of the Lord. It says here that people are walking in darkness, “living in the land of deep darkness” (Isaiah 9:2). The Jewish people had known many dark times in their history, especially when their nation was destroyed by the Babylonians. They were scared alone and without hope for the future. We can see many similarities in our world today. This Christmas is the time to see the light because our world is not only economically and politically gloomy but there is also widespread moral and spiritual darkness. We see this around the world with the war in Ukraine, with the rise of anti-semitism against the Jewish people, the persecution of Christians, and so much instability focused on the Middle East. But there can be darkness at a more personal level. It can be in us, in our minds and hearts. Many people are depressed. Life and circumstances seem dark because what they have experienced has been dark. Depression is growing rapidly in the UK. Reports last year show that 1 in 6 adults feel chronic loneliness, anxiety, stress and even suicidal thoughts. These statistics rank highest in young people. In the workplace health report, 61% of 16–24-year-olds in employment admit to feeling depressed. Darkness can also come in the form of sin with so many people bound by habits, addictions, and powers beyond their control (John 3:19). The Apostle Paul explains how people are living when they are separate from God (Ephesians 4:18). For darkness to be removed in the world it must be removed in our heart, so we do not walk in darkness but walk in the light.  

2. People can have the light of hope. Isaiah 9:2 says “a light has dawned.” 2000 years ago a light came into the world. That light was Jesus! This is the good news, that God didn’t leave us in darkness but sent His son Jesus to break the power of darkness and to destroy the works of the enemy (Isaiah 61:1). Nobody has the power to bring the light into our homes, our lives, and our thinking like Jesus (John 8:12). He came into this world to show the heart of God, to take away sin, and He shared how if anyone turns to Him and repents, they can be set free from all the works of the enemy. Whether people want to recognise it or not, the only hope to remove darkness in the world is Jesus. When people turn away from God all darkness descends into the world. Whatever darkness the world may be in, no matter how many dark and gloomy circumstances you may be facing, Jesus can light up your life. For He is the saviour of all. This is why the angels announced to the shepherds the good news that “A saviour has been born to you”.  

3. People can experience the light of Jesus. Isaiah 9:2 says “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light”. When people experience Christ personally it's like a bright light has come on (Ephesians 5:8). Devout Jewish religious leader Saul was not expecting what happened to him when he was involved in violently persecuting Christians. He was on his way to Damascus when his whole life changed (Acts 9:3-4). At that moment he realised that Jesus was real and alive. From then on instead of being the greatest opponent of Christianity, he became the apostle Paul, one of its greatest promoters. His life completely turned around for good. And today you too can experience the light of God.  

This Christmas is a new day to sing ‘Joy to the world’ because the Lord has come. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. You can be delivered from every dark and evil power holding you captive. You can be set free from depression. You can be rescued out of the land of deep darkness. At the cross, Jesus came to rescue you from everything that can ruin our lives. He came to forgive and to set you free. Have you been walking in deep darkness: negative thoughts, worry, loneliness, addiction, grief? Have you been searching for life in the wrong and dark places? This Christmas is your opportunity to step out of the darkness into the wonderful light of Jesus. 

Last week we learned about the older brother who had been faithful and responsible but had also become very harsh, self-righteous and judgemental. He had a bad attitude towards his younger brother who had been so unfaithful and irresponsible. So, when he saw him being blessed by their father, he was angry. The older brother saw himself as a servant of his Dad, rather than a son. He needed to discover the love of the Father (representing God) just as much as his misbehaving brother did.  

The younger, prodigal son was somebody who had really messed up, like so many people have in life. He made wrong decisions and got in with the wrong crowd, blew his money and ended up losing virtually everything. He was down but this story shows, he was not out. He was about to receive unexpected and undeserved mercy and a future of more blessings than he could have ever dreamed of. What happened to him can happen to you, especially if you are at a very low point in your life right now. Your paradise is not lost. God still has a paradise for you. This story shows how you can experience great turnaround in your life. 

1. The Prodigal Son recognised how far he had gone from his father (Luke 15:11-17) 

2. The Prodigal Son decided to return to his father (Luke 15:18-20; James 4:6-7)  

3. The Prodigal Son experienced the amazing grace of his father  

- Instead of rejection, he received the father’s embrace (Luke 15:20) 

- Instead of condemnation, he received a big celebration (Luke 15:22-24,32) 

Apply  

1. The Prodigal Son recognised how far he had gone from his father (Luke 15:11-17). The prodigal son clearly recognised what mess he had made of his life. He'd had money and he’d done everything he wanted, but he got into big trouble because of his own ego, selfishness, and because of his false values. He had failed to recognise all the blessings he had received through being close with his father. Instead, he thought he would be happy if he could have money, sex, and the party life with many cool friends. But despite doing everything he wanted and spending his inheritance on ‘wild living’, he was not happy. In fact, his friends were not his friends, abandoning him when the money ran out. He had been used. He came to an awful situation where he just begged for a job, and got the absolute lowest, most degrading job for a Jew, of looking after the despised, unclean pigs. He was desperately trying to survive, even if that meant eating the food the pigs were getting. But then he got real and recognised the true state of his life. He came to his senses. He recognised how low he had sunk and how far from the father he had gone. That’s what we must do if we want to see restoration in our lives. But how low do we have to go in life before we come to our senses? How low does a family have to go? How low does a nation have to go before we recognise something is wrong? A road to recovery begins with this recognition of our need of help and of God the Father Himself.  

2. The Prodigal Son decided to return to his father. Life is all about making decisions. Not to make decisions is a decision. The greatest decision is to return to God and turn away from living our lives our way. This is something which the Bible calls repentance. Repentance means to turn right around (Luke 15:18-20). After recognising how far he had gone from the father, the prodigal son decided to repent and return to him. He determined that he was going to go back to the father, and that he was going to go humbly. He felt he was no longer worthy to be called the father’s son. He was ready to just plead to see if there was any chance that he would be allowed back as a lowly servant. And this is how we too should come to God, with honesty and humility when we recognise how much we need Him. So often in our culture today, we act as if we're God, and He's got to come on our terms. But if we're going to know God, we must come on His terms. We need to get real with God and acknowledge how we really need to turn around. We must repent of having gone our way and not God’s way (James 4:6-7). Then you can receive the revelation of the Father’s love mercy and grace for all who believe in Jesus Christ.  

3. The Prodigal Son experienced the amazing grace of his father. Grace means undeserved favour. Grace cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given. Our world longs for grace. It’s no coincidence that Amazing Grace’ is the world’s best-known and most popular hymn sung in churches and non-religious events all over the world. The hymn writer, John Newton, the former vicious slave trader who became a pastor and leading opponent of slavery, knew first-hand it was only God’s grace that ‘saved a wretch like me.’ We see what true grace looks like in the response of the father when his broken son returned home.  

- Instead of rejection, he received the father’s embrace (Luke 15:20). The Father had been looking for lost son all the time. He had never given up on him. While he was a great way off, the father saw this bedraggled, poor, hungry, skinny figure, coming towards him. And he was so excited that he ran towards him and warmly embraced him, hugging and kissing him. The Prodigal had made big mistakes, but the father was more concerned about him than the mistakes he had made. He just wanted to have his son close with him. This is what God our Heavenly Father is like. He’s the best father. God is full of compassion for you and wants you to receive His embrace today.  

- Instead of condemnation, he received a big celebration. Instead of telling him off, punishing him and accepting the son’s offer to keep him as a servant, the father went over the top in his celebrations (Luke 15:22-24). The father gave him the best new clothes, new shoes and a ring of new authority. He threw a huge party for him. The Father was so happy because his missing son had come home. And when his older son complained, the dad explained why they could not contain their joy (Luke 15:32). Today, if you have got into trouble and gone far from God, it’s time to recognise your mess and return to your heavenly father who wants to welcome you home. He wants to clean you up and give you new clothes of righteousness. He wants to bless you as a son or daughter. He wants to embrace you with his unconditional and never-failing love. This is why Jesus came into the world: to seek and to save those who are lost. God is not out to beat, humiliate you or turn you away. 

Right now, is your opportunity to come home to God and to receive his amazing grace and mercy. (See hymn: ‘Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling’, that was sung at the funeral of Dr Martin Luther King Jnr.) 

There is much about this story of the elder brother that many churchgoers and good and faithful Christians may find that they can identify with. For it is more than possible to serve God without really experiencing the love of God and the many blessings that we can enjoy each day. As we read Luke 15:25-32 we can learn from the older brother’s story after the return of his Prodigal brother because, although he seemed to be good and responsible, he had some big issues that needed changing in his life. 

1. The older brother was angry and resentful at the blessing being given to his brother (Luke 15:25-28) 

2. The older brother had the mentality of a slave not a son (Luke 15:28-29) 

3. The older brother was judgmental (Luke 15:30; Matthew 9:10-13; John 8:3-7) 

- The father tried to make him see that he was a son not a servant (Luke 15:31; Galatians 4:7; 1 John 3:1) 

- The father tried to show him that he was missing out on the blessings he had already been given (Luke 15:31) 

- The father tried to get him to celebrate mercy over judgement (Luke 15:32) 

Apply  

1. The older brother was angry and resentful at the blessing being given to his brother (Luke 15:25-28). When the younger brother left home and wasted his life and family money, it was the dependable older brother who faithfully continued working to help keep everything going. So, when he heard that his younger brother who had caused so much disruption and trouble had come back home, he was not pleased. And when he heard that his dad had put on a special party for him, he was very angry. The older brother decided not to celebrate with his family and missed out on this amazing moment of restoration with his brother because he was carrying so many negative feelings in his heart. Perhaps you too have carried on faithfully serving in your family and in the church but in your heart a lot of anger has built up. Maybe you feel put upon and taken for granted. Inside there is a lot of resentment bubbling away. And maybe that’s why churchgoers can sometimes seem so bitter and miserable to those outside of the church. They have unresolved bitterness of heart. Do you have some anger issues in your heart that needs dealing with?  

2. The older brother had the mentality of a slave not a son (Luke 15:28-29). The brother’s first response was very telling of their relationship. He saw himself more as a servant of the father than his son. He saw himself as a slave who never once disobeyed or did anything wrong. And he felt totally unappreciated. He had what we could call a victim mentality and had a lot of self-pity. He tried to earn is his father’s love, blessings, rewards and acceptance by working hard. He did not realise that his father loved him unconditionally, regardless of the way he was “slaving” away. Maybe that is something you can relate to.  

3. The older brother was judgmental (Luke 15:30). The bitterness that the older brother had in his heart resulted in a lot of judgement and criticism towards his younger brother. He could see his brother’s sins, but he could not see how hard his own heart had become. He felt that he was justified in looking down on him. Jesus encountered this condemning attitude at different times in his ministry (Matthew 9:10-13; John 8:3-7). Religious people can be very critical and mean spirited. They are like the elder brother in this story who don’t have an experience of God’s grace. But the father wanted him to discover this just as much as he wanted the younger and seemingly worse son to receive his mercy and forgiveness. 

Having seen these three bad attitudes of the elder brother let’s see how the Father dealt with him: 

- The father tried to make him see that he was a son not a servant (Luke 15:31). There was a big difference in perceptions. The father perceived the elder brother as his son, but the eldest son perceived himself as a servant. The older dutiful brother constantly did his best to please his dad, but he didn’t understand how much his dad loved him anyway. Because he saw himself as a servant, he perceived his dad as a boss. But his dad was not his demanding boss but his father who viewed his son with great pleasure and unconditional affection. In the same way we cannot earn God’s love, and He doesn’t expect if of us either. If we accept Jesus into our hearts, we are part of God’s family. We are adopted as God’s children (Galatians 4:7; 1 John 3:1).  

- The father tried to show him that he was missing out on the blessings he had already been given (Luke 15:31). The older brother was so focused on what his brother received that he did not realise how much he already had. All the time the prodigal brother was away from the father and blowing his inheritance, the older brother already had constant access both to his father and to his inheritance. He was already blessed, but he couldn’t enjoy it because of his servant mentality. Just like the older brother missed out on having a close relationship with his father, we need to be careful that we are not to be so busy serving God that we miss out on enjoying a daily relationship with the Lord Himself and what it means to truly be a son or a daughter of God our Father. We can enjoy daily blessings by walking close with the Lord as well as being confident of blessings to come on earth and in heaven. 

- The father tried to get him to celebrate mercy over judgement (Luke 15:32). If the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents, how much more should we be happy when others are blessed, particularly those close to us? We should not compete, compare or criticise natural or spiritual brothers and sisters. Rather when we are secure in God’s great love for us, we should celebrate when others can receive God’s goodness and mercy and join the party. Are you like the elder brother who needed to come into close relationship with God the father? You may have been dutiful and faithful, but do you know you are loved? Do you know you don’t have to perform to be accepted? Do you know that God wants you to daily enjoy every blessing He has provided for you? Pray today to have a softened heart and enjoy God’s grace. 

The apostle Paul outlines the big differences between religion, which is based in rules and practices, and true Christianity, which is based in relationship with God, and we understand that we are not slaves, but sons and daughters of God through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Real Christianity is about having a changed heart, and love for God and people. We see in Galatians 6 what every true Christian should always do.  

1. Always care for people (James 2:15-17; Galatians 6:1-6,10) 

2. Always be confident to reap the best harvest (Galatians 6:7-9)  

3. Always keep Jesus at the centre of your faith (Galatians 6:15-18) 

Apply  

1. Always care for people. Care is love, and love is at the heart of real Christianity. God is love, God loves the whole world, and this love was showed through Jesus caring for people. Jesus taught that His true followers must care for people, not only believe in Him. In the New Testament, James teaches that faith without action is dead, and this includes caring for people and their practical needs (James 2:15-17). If we are merely religious, we will always have a hard heart towards people. The apostle Paul outlines very practical ways to care for people (Galatians 6:1-6,10). We must look to restore people. People sin and people mess up. When that happens, you must not look to condemn nor criticise them, but rather see how we can get them back to the best place. Do it gently because people are hurting. Nobody is perfect, and we can fail too. But our job is to help people go to a new level in life. Look to help lighten the burdens of people. Whether you are young or old, a new Christian or experienced leader, we all need to support one another. The question we must ask is ‘How can I help others?’. We should look after our Christian brothers and sisters. It’s great to reach people who don’t know Christ yet, but we must first look after our brothers and sisters locally and globally. In many nations our Christian brothers need practical support (i.e. consider giving into the KCI Care Fund to support people struggling this Christmas).  

2. Always be confident to reap the best harvest (Galatians 6:7-9). Be sure of the law of sowing and reaping. There is no escaping this principle: if you live in sin, living for yourself, you will reap the bad consequences that brings (e.g. someone who neglects or mistreats their family will not reap the blessing of God-centred family life). But if you live for God, you will reap the best rewards. What you put in, you will get out of life, so therefore be sure to sow the seeds of the Holy Spirit. Last week we heard about the fruit of the Spirit, such as being kind to people, being patient, treating others well, being gentle, prayerful, studying the word of God and serving Him. God will honour you for how you speak, act and all your faithful service. Be sure that you will reap a great harvest if you don’t give up. Too many people give up and lose the great reward that God has, but if you keep on faithfully, God will bless you more than you can imagine. Every Christian should be confident that we will reap a great harvest if we stay close to the Lord.  

3. Always keep Jesus at the centre of your faith. There can't be true Christianity without Christ. As Paul has been saying through this book of Galatians, religious activities and religious practices like circumcision are all irrelevant. The only thing that matters is that you fully identify with Jesus, even if that means persecution. It means that we are not ashamed of the Cross of Jesus. He was crucified and because of that we also need to be crucified to the world, dead to the world, so that we can pass from death to life (Galatians 6:15). What counts is the new creation, the new life Jesus gives us and the person He makes us. The challenge is: are you a religious person? Are you a legalist who follows the rules but doesn't have the relationship? Has your heart been changed? Are your life and lifestyle different because you have encountered Jesus Christ? Are you living the old way and following what this world says and does, or have you been changed and become a son/daughter of God? Paul was changed by the Lord and was prepared to suffer for Christ (Galatians 6:17-18). This is what it takes to live as a real Christian. Every true Christian should always care for people, be confident to reap the best harvest, and keep Jesus at the centre of your faith. 

The book of Galatians, which has often been described as the Magna Carta of Christianity, proclaims that all true freedom is rooted in Jesus Christ, through following His teachings and by knowing Him. That freedom, which begins with us experiencing personal spiritual freedom, leads to many other freedoms in life and in society. But it is within the church, the Christian family, that the battles of freedom must first be won. To set others free, we ourselves must first be free. We can only share what we have experienced. 

In the first four chapters of this book the apostle Paul highlights a major killer of freedom, namely so-called religious Christianity or legalism. In the early church there were powerful religious groups who insisted on following Jewish traditions and practices like circumcision. Paul however even more strongly insisted that all true faith is based on Christ alone. Only though Christ’s death and resurrection we can be forgiven for all our sins and freed to live a new life as sons and daughters of God, rather than as slaves. That’s God’s plan and vision for every Christian. But how do we live in the freedom that Christ has provided for us? How can we avoid the big trap of always trying to live right through our own actions and strength? The answer is that we need to recognise our need for the help of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can help you live in freedom. 

Galatians 5 continually emphasises the importance of living in the Spirit, because no Christian and no church can live in freedom without the Holy Spirit. The church is a spiritual entity. The church is engaged in spiritual battle. Every Christian and every church must therefore be filled with the spirit. Everything that will be achieved will be achieved through the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Human gifting, logical thinking, natural resources and religious traditions will accomplish nothing without the Spirit. On the other hand, we may feel weak and lacking in many areas, but with the Spirit we can accomplish great things. That’s why the apostle Paul says we must ‘live by the Spirit.” In this chapter we see some big lessons about the importance of the Holy Spirit. 

1. Only by living by the Holy Spirit can you overcome sin (Galatians 5:16-21)  

2. Only by living by the Holy Spirit can you become more Christlike (Galatians 5:22-24 NIV & AMP)  

3. Only by living by the Holy Spirit can you keep in step with the direction of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25-26). 

Apply  

1. Only by living by the Holy Spirit can you overcome sin (Galatians 5:16-21). We are called to live by the Spirit turning your back on a lifestyle that is contrary to a lifestyle of the Spirit. Martin Luther spoke of a three-fold battle in the Christian life. The Christian is locked in mortal combat with the world, the flesh and the devil. The Apostle Paul makes clear the total contrast between living life by the Spirit of God or one according to the sinful nature. He clearly outlines the ugly works of the flesh. Uncontrolled sexual and physical appetites: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, drunkenness, orgies and the like; Uncontrolled ambitions: selfish ambition, jealousy, envy, factions; Uncontrolled temper: hatred, discord, fits of rage, dissension; Uncontrolled spiritual rebellion: idolatry and witchcraft. Remember when Paul writes about these sins, he is writing to a Christian church and telling them that they can’t have sexual sin in their lives, they can’t have hate and anger in their lives, they can’t be rebellious, and they can’t be doing the work of the Devil. Someone may claim to be a Christian or a good religious individual. They may have been on the church board or sung in the church choir but in reality, the person who continually practices these sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. The Bible could not be clearer on this. You cannot and must not live in contradiction to the Word of God.  

2. Only by living by the Holy Spirit can you become more Christlike (Galatians 5:22-24 NIV & AMP). When the Apostle Paul says, ‘live by the Spirit,’ He is outlining an alternative way to live. The Christian disciple, and the Christian leader, is to live a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. If we want to live free as children of God, we need to have the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It’s not enough to say we are Christians; the fruit of the Spirit means that we must have Christlike characteristics in our lives. Every day people must see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, especially our families, close friends and colleagues. We cannot just be religious by simply talking about Jesus, saying that we will pray for people or serving in the church. It must be increasingly obvious every day that we have the good fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Ask yourself, am I becoming more: Loving, Joyful, Peaceful, Patient, Kindness, Full of goodness, Faithful, Gentle, and Self-controlled. If you are struggling in any of these areas, then you cannot accept that this is normal behaviour for a Christian. It’s a sign you haven’t died to your flesh, so you need to come to the cross and crucify or put to death your passions and desires and your ego and image and live a new life with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to help us in our weaknesses and He is the only one who can help you change even in the areas that seem impossible for you to change. For when you live close to the Holy Spirit all this beautiful fruit will be seen in your life. 

3. Only by living by the Holy Spirit can you keep in step with the direction of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25-26). The Holy Spirit, like the wind, is always moving. He is always wanting to guide us and direct us just like He directed the apostle Paul to city after city. The Holy Spirit wants to continually lead us so that we never fall back into old ways of pride and provoking and being jealous of one another. Living in the Spirit means that you begin to know the Lord more and more as you read His word and listen and obey the voice of God. When you keep in step with the Holy Spirit you will no longer make decisions based on emotions or on what you think or what you feel or what the media or your friends say. Living in the Spirit means that you are no longer independent of God's will for your life, doing what you want. Rather you will be confident in your growing relationship with the Holy Spirit to walk close to Him in every situation and circumstance, especially when making significant decisions. Dr Yonggi Cho, founding pastor of the world’s biggest church, described the Holy Spirit as his ‘senior partner’, saying ‘without fellowship with the Holy Spirit there can be no spiritual life, no faith with power and victory.’ We too need to constantly develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit, listening to His voice, being sensitive to His direction and moving in step with Him. The Holy Spirit wants to come and be a key friend and partner to you. As you learn to live by the Spirit you will become a great disciple and a great leader. Maybe you are still struggling with the desires of your flesh or struggling to leave old habits. Today repent of your sins, fully surrender your life to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to help you. 

In life everyone has mountain top experiences in one way and another. But how you think of yourself and how you act will determine whether you are on top of the mountain, or the mountain is on top of you. Every day you have a choice to be a victim or a victor, to be an overcomer or to let your problems and pressures overcome you. Whether you are younger or older, a new believer or a long time Christian, how you see yourself will greatly affect how you act and react, especially when you face trials and temptations.  

Many people struggle with low self-image and maybe that includes you. Maybe that’s because of how others view you or have criticised you. Maybe you have accepted a narrative that you are not important, and you are not loved. If that is the case, you are challenged to change the whole way you think, and act based on what God thinks and says about you. For God wants to raise you up in your life and calling and not let you get pulled down by negativity and the lies of Satan.  

The apostle Paul was so passionate about Christian believers living with faith and freedom that he wrote this very hard-hitting letter to the Christians in Galatia. He saw that they were being fiercely attacked by a traditional group of Jewish zealots who wanted to make all Christians follow Jewish laws and practices like circumcision. Paul was not happy about this (Galatians 5:12), insisting nothing must change the gospel message that salvation is through faith in Christ alone.  

In Galatians 4 he outlines in the most inspiring way how to live free as a child of God (Galatians 4:7). We see how you can be confident and clear in your identity as a Christian. 

1. Being a Christian means being freed from the slavery of your past (Galatians 4:7-11,22-31; Galatians 5:1) 

2. Being a Christian means that your present status is adoption as a child of God (Galatians 4:4-6; Romans 8:15; John 14:18) 

3. Being a Christian means that we have a powerful future inheritance (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; Genesis 12:2-3; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:3-4; Luke 4:18; Ephesians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 3:17) 

Apply  

1. Being a Christian means being freed from the slavery of your past. This chapter is full of references to slavery and in particular the dangers of Christians living as slaves by becoming bound again by religious laws and festivals (Galatians 4:8-11). Living by the Old Covenant is like being slaves where you must strictly observe religious events. In the New however we are free through Christ to know God through inward personal experience. The apostle Paul highlights the differences between Ismael who was born to a slave woman and Isaac who was born to a free woman (Galatians 4:22-31). Are you trying to live under the old covenant with all its rules and regulations? Is your life overshadowed by guilt or grace? Are you constantly down on yourself and never feeling good enough or do you realise that Christ is with you, for you and has provided everything for you to conquer in life? Are you bound up in yourself or are you walking in the freedom, forgiveness and fullness that Jesus has purchased for you on the Cross? Well, here’s how you should be living: through Christ you have been set free from sin and from the fear and finality of death. So, you do not have to be enslaved in any way: not to fear, guilt, shame, addictions, despair, depression. Jesus is the saviour who forgives all sins and redeems from all bondage. And also He is the great shepherd who wants to guard us and guide us through every difficulty and danger in life. Just like the Israelites who were delivered out of the slavery of Egypt, you who have put your trust in Christ are no longer slaves but a free born-again men and women. Make sure then that you are not like those Israelites in the desert who wanted to return to Egypt. Don’t lose your freedom (Galatians 5:1).  

2. Being a Christian means that your present status is adoption as a child of God. Far from being slaves, God has brought us into his family as sons and daughters (Galatians 4:4-6; Romans 8:15). Best-selling author Warren Wiersbe says in his book ‘Be free’: ‘we do not enter God’s family by the way a homeless child would enter a loving family in our own society. The only way to get into God’s family is by being born again. We are spiritual babes who need to grow....the New Testament word for adoption means to place as an adult son. We are not little children but adult sons with all the privileges of sonship.’ Paul’s language about slavery, adoption and inheritance would have been entirely familiar to his readers. The difference is that most early Christians were of low birth, servants and slaves, who would never have dreamed of being adopted into a great Roman family. But Paul tells us that we can be “children of God, and of children, then heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ.” Through Christ you too have been adopted into the family of God. You are no longer outsiders and orphans (John 14:18). Because God in his love has adopted you into His family, you can live confidently with ready access to your heavenly father and every blessing He has for you.  

3. Being a Christian means that we have a powerful future inheritance. The apostle Paul says that we share in the sufferings of Christ now and will share in the glory of Christ later as His “co-heirs” or “joint heirs” (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29). The original promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 was not just for Abraham’s physical descendants but for all believers. This means that we will be blessed and become a great blessing and ‘all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ As heirs of the promise, we can also experience great multiplication and see our descendants blessed. Above all we can enjoy every blessing and inheritance that Christ has promised for us both in this life and the life to come (1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:3-4). This is your moment to understand who you really are because of God’s great love and mercy to you. Don’t let anybody or anything rob you of your identity in Christ. You are not a slave any more so stop living like one. You are adopted into God’s family as beloved sons and daughters, not through your good works but your faith in Christ. You are heirs of every blessing through Jesus. You have a great future ahead of you both in this life and in the life to come. Today step into your freedom and never step out (Luke 4:18; Ephesians 3:12). Give your life to Christ and be forgiven and freed. Thank God for the freedom Christ has bought for you and receive His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). 

In our current series on ‘Living in Freedom’ from the book of Galatians we come to powerful declarations in Galatians 3:26-27. We have all become children of God through faith in Christ, by being baptised as identified with Christ and being clothed with the new nature of Christ. This means all of us have come into God’s kingdom, not because of our own efforts, talents or religious works but because of our faith in Jesus who loved us unconditionally and gave His life’s blood to save us from our sins and free us from Satan’s dark rule. 

We have all been born again into God’s family the same way. We are all on the same level. And the consequences of this are literally revolutionary for our thinking and behaviour. For as Galatians 3:28 goes on to say ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ 

Previous divisions are swept away by our new shared identity and faith in Christ. We have all become one in Christ Jesus. Through Jesus we are reconciled not only to God but also to one another. Man-made works-based religion does not accept this, which is why throughout history traditional churches have often re-enforced divisions and have in fact been leading agencies of oppression (e.g. the Dutch Reformed church and other denominations in apartheid South Africa; German churches supporting the Nazis in WWII). 

However, both these examples have everything to do with human religion and nothing to do with the reconciling vision a true Christ centred church that the apostle Paul outlines in these verses. We see the main barriers that are overcome when we understand what it means to be united through Christ. 

1. Shared faith in Jesus breaks down barriers between Jews and non-Jews (Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34; Romans 11:11-36) 

2. Shared faith in Jesus breaks down social and economic barriers (Acts 2:45; 1 Corinthians 12) 

3. Shared faith in Jesus breaks down barriers between men and women (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:18; John 13:34-35) 

Apply  

1. Shared faith in Jesus breaks down barriers between Jews and non-Jews (Galatians 3:28). In the beginnings of the early church there was a strong majority Jewish presence. Jesus was a Jew. The first disciples were Jews. The church grew rapidly amongst the Jews in Jerusalem, but it was not long before the Holy Spirit was poured out on many non-Jews which totally astonished the Jews who witnessed it in the home of the Roman Centurion Cornelius. Peter himself had needed a complete reset of his previously Jewish mindset (Acts 10:34). So at first the church grew with Jews and non-Jews united in a common faith in Christ. They stood together against attempts by Jewish traditionalists to make non-Jewish believers follow Jewish customs, something that Paul opposes in this book of Galatians. However, such was the speed and the scale of the acceptance of the gospel amongst Greeks and other Gentiles, that the Jewish believers not only quickly became a minority but a persecuted minority. Soon the teaching emerged that the Jews were Christ killers and that the gospel, and the church had now replaced the Jews. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that God loves the Jewish people with an everlasting love and will fulfil all His promises towards them both regarding the Promised Land and their descendants. But their blessings and the blessings of Gentile believers will greatly increase when both Jewish and Gentile believers come into a new level of unity in their love of God and obedience to Christ (Romans 11:11-36). What this means practically is that there must not be any trace of antisemitism amongst Christians. We must not ignore or have any hostility towards the Jews. Rather Christians need to unconditionally honour and love the Jewish people wherever they are and be sure to develop fellowship with the increasing number of Messianic believers in Yeshua (Jesus). Our awakening to the importance of our Jewish brothers and sisters will be of great blessing to all concerned and bring great strength to the body of Christ on earth.  

2. Shared faith in Jesus breaks down social and economic barriers. Slavery was commonly practised throughout the Roman Empire, but it was only in the community of believers that slaves and slave owners met and worshipped together as equals before God. Because of their shared faith in Christ, those from the lowest and the highest in society, both slaves and slave owners treated one another with mutual love and respect. Onesimus for example was a runaway slave of Philemon, who came to view him as ‘a dear brother.’ Later in history it was the strong efforts of evangelical campaigners who helped abolish the transatlantic slave trade. Their famous image and motto was of an enslaved African, kneeling, manacled hands outstretched, with the title 'Am I not a man and a brother.' In the early church there was also a great concern to help the poor and vulnerable, especially by those who had the means to do so (Acts 2:45). The apostle’s Paul’s reference to neither slave nor free was in keeping with the teaching of James to give an equal welcome to rich and poor and not to give special attention to the rich. And as Paul outlined there can be no room for either inferiority or superiority in the church (1 Corinthians 12). No one is more special than another. True Christianity is no respecter of class and status. God has no favourites. We are all one in Christ.  

3. Shared faith in Jesus breaks down barriers between men and women. Put simply there is no room for a macho culture or an ultra-feminist, anti-man culture in the kingdom of God. Men should never view themselves as first class, while they treat the women as second class. Equally women should not resent and despise men. Everyone must highly value both men and women as brothers and sisters. The Bible teaches that God created us in the image of God, both male and female. But because both were disobedient to God, the beautiful image that God had for them was ruined. They became divided and in tension with one another. But when Christ shed His blood, He gave the possibility of a new self-image for both men and women. Jesus of course restored the image of countless women who flocked to hear Him. In a male dominated culture, He broke patronising and oppressive traditions which treated women as inferior. He shocked a Samaritan woman by talking with her, something most Jewish men regarded as beneath them, especially as she was from a despised culture. He was protective of the woman taken in the act of adultery and showed her great love and respect when she was so vulnerable. So different was Jesus' reaction from all the other male chauvinistic religious leaders that He saved her from being stoned to death. Women saw in Jesus great compassion, kindness and wisdom and became His devoted followers. In the early church there was great unity between men and women (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:18). Today so many women have not been valued or treated well. But you can receive healing in your heart. You can be forgiven for your sins. You can have a new identity in Christ as a much-loved daughter of God. When the Holy Spirit comes to you, He makes you like a new person. Women need to know this. But also, many men need to know that they are loved and valued, despite their troubles and their sins. It’s been said ‘most men lead lives of quiet desperation.’ That’s why both men and women need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Both men and women can be changed. God can change the heart of the abusive husband, He can change the man who abandoned his family, He can heal the man who was himself mistreated. Through the work of the Holy Spirit men and women, fathers and daughters, sons and mothers, brothers and sisters can be reconciled and restored in their relationships. Instead of hurting the opposite sex, you can help them.  

The church God is building is a revolutionary new society, the kingdom of heaven on earth, free from deep divisions and discrimination which have no place. The church is to be a family and community where all can know God’s love and where all members are of equal value. So what does this mean? 

• We must all know that we are all equally loved and valued by God our Father 

• We must all respect one another as of equal value 

• We must all humble ourselves and repent of any form of discrimination, pride, judgement, bitterness in our hearts or any harsh words or behaviours 

• We must work together in our marriages, families and communities to build greater unity across all previous divisions and above all 

• We must truly love one another (John 13:34-35) 

By equating the smooth arguments of the false teachers with the imagery of their hypnotic magic, Paul grabbed the attention of the Galatian church. Paul wanted to shock them as to the state of their real spiritual condition because he himself was shocked at how it has been so easy for them to fall away from the truth, as if someone had put a spell on them. 

This passage shows how easy it is to drift in our faith. Maybe you were once were passionate for Jesus but now you are more casual about your relationship with Him and in reading and studying God’s word. Maybe you were once a generous giver but now you’re mean with your money and no longer give tithes and offerings. Maybe you were once an active participant in prayer meetings, in person or online, but now not so much or not at all. Maybe you were once careful about what programs you watched or things you searched on the internet but now you mindlessly scroll through the tv menu or web pages. Maybe you once were passionate about winning people to Jesus but now it’s been a long time since you have led someone to Christ because you are passionate about other activities.  

This passage should make us all take stock of our lives. Have you lost your sense of purpose? Are you in a good place emotionally, mentally and spiritually? Have you drifted in your faith? You can avoid the dangers of drifting away from all the blessings and freedoms God has in store for you. We must always be focussed on staying on course for the rest of our lives. In Galatians 3 we discover some keys to making sure that we don’t drift in our faith. 

1. Faith is in Christ alone (Galatians 3:1-5) 

2. Faith in Christ means receiving the promises of God (Galatians 3:6-9; Genesis 15:6)  

3. Faith in Christ means being freed from condemnation (Galatians 3:10-14,19) 

Apply  

1. Faith is in Christ alone. It’s not the result of anything we can do (Galatians 3:1-5). Paul argued that just as they began their Christian lives in the power of the Spirit, they should also grow by the Spirit’s power. Why would they suddenly abandon the Holy Spirit and try to live by the flesh which had done nothing to make them Christians? The Galatians had taken a massive and unnecessary step backwards when they decided to insist on keeping the Jewish laws. For we grow spiritually because of God’s work in us by His Spirit, not by human effort of by following special programs and rules. The false teachers who advocated for salvation by works and denied the power of the cross had infiltrated the Galatian churches at the time of Paul’s writing. They were jealous of the Galatian believers’ freedom in Christ and were attempting to force them back into slavery by the law. So Paul had to remind them of the foundations of their faith. Their faith rested in Jesus as their saviour. The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘God saves’. Jesus is the Son of God who is the only means for saving us. His title ‘Christ’ means ‘anointed one’, the prophesied and promised King who would rescue and redeem Israel from their oppression and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords across the whole world. The word ‘crucified’, referring to the execution of Jesus on a criminal’s cross, made no sense to many of the Jews but it was God’s plan to rescue the world. The Galatian disciples had heard the truth that Christ was crucified and died for sinners. They heard this truth, believed it, and obeyed it; and as a result were born into the family of God. They received God the Holy Spirit: the big evidence of conversion is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The Spirit came into the Galatians’ lives because they trusted Jesus Christ. They experienced miracles from God the Father: the same Holy Spirit who came into them at conversion continued to work in them and through them to build up the church. These miracles would therefore include wonderful changes within the lives of Christians, as well as signs and wonders within the church fellowship. These are the core truths that distinguish a religious person from a real Christian. Have you received and experience a revelation of Jesus Christ crucified? Have you experienced the Holy Spirit? Do you believe the miracles in the Bible? Salvation is through Christ alone.  

2. Faith in Christ means receiving the promises of God (Galatians 3:6-9). Paul exposed the flaw in the argument that Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be Christians. He showed that the real children of Abraham, who they called their father, are those who have faith. It’s not those who keep the law. Abraham himself was saved by his faith. It had nothing to do with his work (Genesis 15:6). Abraham’s fruitfulness came because he was totally dependant on his faith in God’s promises not on how hard he worked. This is something we too need to learn when we are believing to multiplication in our lives and ministries. Yes we need to go out to reach people but it is God who gives the increase according to His promise that those who ‘remain’ close to Jesus will bear much fruit. Your fruitfulness will come according to your faith in God’s promises. You must believe to receive. The promises that God gave to Abraham apply to all believers in every age and from every nation. The promise is that God will be with you and at work in you. 

3. Faith in Christ means being freed from condemnation. The law had an important role to play (Galatians 3:19 (GNT)). What Paul is saying here is that the law was given to clearly teach right from wrong: not so that we could be made right through following the law, but that we’d recognise we are sinners in need of saving. The law then condemns us and shows our guilt. But our faith in Christ brings great understanding and freedom (Galatians 3:10-14). In short the law curses and condemns us but Jesus who paid the price of our sins frees us from every curse and all condemnation (See Charles Wesley hymn: And can it be?). Through Jesus shedding His blood for sinners, all the chains of religion and guilt were broken and we are now free to know and enjoy fellowship with a Holy God. Are you free from sin and guilt and condemnation? Well the reality is that you will never be free as long as you are relying on your own efforts to please God. Religion and good works can’t save you. The law will only show you where you have gone wrong. It won’t help you get right. Circumcision won't save you. Observing religious rules and regulations won't save you. Be careful never to drift into that trap. Instead understand that faith must be in Christ alone; faith means receiving the Promises of God and faith means to be freed from condemnation. Today is your day to choose to live in the freedom that Christ offers you. Come to Him now repenting of your sins and of where you’ve drifted from Him, and receive His forgiveness, love and the power of the Holy Spirit for yourself. 

 Few people like conflict and most of us would just like a quiet life but many times we must fight in some way or other whether we like it not. For if we do not fight, we may lose our freedoms, our blessings and even our families and children.  

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. One of the biggest battles we must win, is the fight for the truth of the gospel in our lives and in the life of the church. In fact, the church is often one of the biggest battle grounds for truth because if the gospel is watered down or corrupted then worldly culture will conquer the church rather than the church being a light of hope in the surrounding darkness.  

In our current series on Galatians, we learn about Paul’s battle to preserve the truth of the gospel against powerful religious opposition and human thinking. Although the first century church was growing so fast amongst the Gentiles or non-Jews, the apostle Paul saw that there were powerful groups who were insisting that new believers had to strictly follow old Jewish traditions and practices, including the practice of circumcision (Galatians 2:4-5). 

So, what is this truth, and why is it worth fighting for? Let’s explore how the truth of the gospel is revealed, how it confronts us, and how it transforms us.  

1. Revelation of the truth of the gospel (Galatians 1:12; Galatians 2:16) 

2. Confrontation for the truth of the gospel. After revelation comes confrontation (Galatians 2:11-15) 

3. Transformation through the truth of the gospel (Galatians 2:19-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17) 

Apply  

1. Revelation of the truth of the gospel. Paul’s revelation of the gospel didn’t come from human teaching but from a direct encounter with Jesus (Galatians 1:12). This revelation was that knowing God comes simply through faith in Jesus Christ and not by following religion (Galatians 2:16). This revelation was the catalyst that changed everything for Paul, transforming him from a religious man and persecutor of Christians to a passionate leader giving his life for the freedom of the gospel. Paul, who been highly trained as a Jewish leader, understood that real Christianity centred solely on faith in Christ alone and that meant a radical change of mind and behaviour from old ways of thinking and religious tradition. Everyone, Jew or non-Jew, can now enjoy the grace of God because it is the free gift of God and not the works of man which leads to religious slavery. To this day one of the most dangerous enemies to freedom in Christ is being trapped in a religious mindset and behaviour. Many people may go to church regularly, but this does not necessarily mean that they have had a revelation of salvation through faith in Christ alone. We need to real about this. What is Christianity to you? Is it following rules and judging others? Is it just duty and expectation to carry? Is it all outward? Or is it freedom, love, joy peace? When you have a revelation of freedom and relationship with Jesus, everything changes. Revelation brings excitement, passion and purpose! Paul was driven by the conviction that God had entrusted him with a mission to spread the good news of freedom in Christ and that was something he was prepared to stand for and fight for. 

2. Confrontation for the truth of the gospel. After revelation comes confrontation (Galatians 2:11-15). This was a defining moment for the early chair, for Cephas is none other than Peter, the main disciple of Jesus, and the most prominent leader in the early church before Paul had even become a follower of Jesus. Peter had seen how the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius and accepted that the non-Jews did not need Jewish laws forced on them. Yet now as Paul writes in Galatians 2 he had needed to directly confront Peter (Cephas) for acting in a way that contradicted the truth of the gospel. Peter had allowed cultural and peer pressure to influence his actions, which led to hypocrisy and confusion among other believers. Even Barnabas, the much loved and respected leader in the early church, who had in fact launched Paul into ministry in Antioch, had been taken off track. Religion was creeping in to corrupt the life of the early church. This is quite a challenging passage as it shows us even those who walk closely with God can be swayed by cultural pressures, past upbringing or fear of what others think. Sometimes people you have previously looked up to or even your whole group of people you have known, can get off track and compromise. But you must not be shaped by the behaviour of the group or the herd. You must test everything by God’s word. You must be led by the Spirit of God not by social or historic relationships. You must not fall into the trap of automatically doing the same thing as everyone else does. You must focus on your own relationship with God and in bringing your family up in obedience to God and not worry what other families are thinking or doing. The truth of the gospel will confront our wrong thinking and behaviour. It confronts our past. It confronts the culture we live in, which constantly pressures us to conform to worldly and materialistic standards rather than biblical ones. Not only will the gospel confront us, but we must be willing to confront and challenge others who are going off track. That’s not easy if there is strong pressure from a whole group of people who are self-righteous and insisting that you must conform to old ways which is what the apostle Paul had to do. And it will take a lot of courage to stand for truth especially if it involves people that you know well, maybe even family members something Jesus Himself had to face. However, the future of the gospel and the church and also your family depends on us being willing to engage in confrontation and to stand up for the truth of the gospel. How often do you allow fear to dictate your behaviour, to push you away from standing firmly in the truth of the gospel? How much do you conform to the standards of the world or empty religious traditions? How often do you compromise your beliefs to avoid conflict or to fit in with your friends and the world around us? How much are you living fully in the freedom and grace of Christ, or are you still trying to earn God’s favour through your own efforts? Today, like Paul, you too may need to stand up for grace particularly if you come from a religious background or culture. The control of religion doesn’t let go easily! When we make a stand, it is then that we can live a life of real freedom in Christ. When we do this that we can protect and bless our families and can step into the future of generational blessings and inheritance that God has for us.  

3. Transformation through the truth of the gospel. The truth of the gospel doesn’t just involve revelation and confrontation: it brings profound transformation (Galatians 2:19-21). This isn’t just a poetic statement, it’s the reality of the gospel’s transforming power. When we accept the gospel, we die to our old selves, to the law, to the need to prove ourselves through our own works. We are crucified with Christ, and in exchange, we receive new life through Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). The gospel doesn’t just change a few behaviours here and there; it completely transforms our identity. We are no longer slaves to sin, no longer bound by the law, no longer defined by our past mistakes or failures. We are new creations in Christ. This transformation affects every part of who we are: our spirit, speech, thinking, emotions, purpose, values, and behaviour. The gospel isn’t about working our way to God, it’s about accepting the grace of God and allowing that grace to transform us. This transformation is ongoing as we continue to walk with Christ. Take up this challenge to fight for the truth of the gospel in your life. Don’t give in to the pressures of the world or the fears that hold you back. Don’t settle for a watered-down version of the gospel. Stand firm, as Paul did, and preserve the truth of the gospel for yourself, your family, and your future. Let the truth of God’s amazing grace guide you, confront you, and transform you as you live in the freedom that only Christ can give. 

Christianity is about being saved by the grace of God, nothing about what we do or religion: it’s all to do with Jesus Christ. Paul emphasised this by telling his own story in Galatians 1:11-24. 

1. Paul was convinced of the truth of the gospel (Galatians 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 1:16) 

2. Paul was totally changed by the gospel (Galatians 1:13-15; Acts 9:1-7; Galatians 1:23) 

3. Paul had a clear call to spread the gospel (Galatians 1:15-24; Matthew 28:19-20) 

Apply  

1. Paul was convinced of the truth of the gospel (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul is saying that the gospel is from God and not man. It is from heaven not earth (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 1:16). Paul understood that the gospel wasn’t a dream, myth, or human construct based on religion, but a divine revelation from God. The gospel reveals the grace and the love of God through Jesus Christ. The gospel was made real to Paul personally. 

2. Paul was totally changed by the gospel (Galatians 1:13-15; Acts 9:1-7). Paul was a Jewish zealot whose religious background had been a great source of pride (Philippians 3:5). Before his encounter with Jesus, Paul was so sucked into religion it turned him into a persecutor of Christians (Galatians 1:23). He saw Christianity as a big problem, a major threat and very dangerous. Paul had a plan to eradicate Christianity. However, God had a different plan. Paul encountered Jesus and was transformed from a religious terrorist to an evangelist. He became an ambassador of grace. Paul realised that it wasn’t about knowing and keeping all the laws, rules, or festivals that he had been brought up in, but it was about God’s love and His amazing grace in Christ Jesus. We do not earn God’s love. Rather it is freely given to us by God. Paul also became an apostle and leader in the church. An apostle generally means a sent one. It also means specifically to be a major part in the ministry of church planting and laying the right foundations for church life, teaching and behaviour. In Paul’s case, this former enemy of the church, became one of the greatest leaders of the church along with Peter, John and James. Paul was transformed by God’s grace into one of the most influential Christians ever. Paul’s impact on Christianity is profound. However just like Paul, God can turn anyone around, including you. He can turn outspoken atheists around. He can turn radical Islamists around. God can turn around those who oppose you and the church. Jesus can bring about divine turnaround in every life. 

3. Paul had a clear call to spread the gospel (Galatians 1:15-24). After his amazing encounter with Jesus, Jesus sent Paul to preach the gospel to those that had never heard the good news. Paul now understood that before he was even born, he was set apart to be used by God. Paul refers to this as God’s kindness and grace. God created each one of us for a purpose. We have been given a great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Specifically, Paul’s call was to the gentiles. Although Paul was a Jew, loved the Jews and always went first to synagogues to preach to the Jews, his main calling was to spread the gospel to gentiles or non-Jews. He knew that the promises of God, first made to Abraham and revealed through Jesus, were to bless all people of every nation. Therefore, his focus was on reaching those who had never heard the gospel, and that should be our focus too. Reach out to the great numbers of people who have never heard the good news of Jesus. Go to the streets, neighbourhoods and groups that most churches never contact. Also we see that his call required preparation. Paul spent 3 years in training before starting his ministry. If you believe you have a calling then you need to be trained up (e.g. Nicky Gumbel was a barrister who then spent 3 years in theology training before being ordained as a priest). Jesus also took 3 years training His disciples. If you believe you have a call and you want to be a disciple and leader, you need to be trained up (see: Life Class and Destiny Training courses run by KCI). Plus of course you need personal mentoring, for example through your life group leader. Additionally, Paul’s call was recognised by other leaders and Christians. The leaders and Christians in the early church heard about Paul’s amazing transformation and gave thanks to God that this man who wanted to destroy the church was now preaching the good news of gospel. Paul’s calling was recognised because it was a calling given to him by God. God had a great story for the apostle Paul, a life story that he never imagined, and God has a future story for you. God wants to give you the best story and to change your life, whatever state it is in: religious or unreligious; whether your life is in a mess; whether you seem to have it together but really you have an emptiness inside. God can change your life. He can turn you around and give you a great calling to serve Him with great success. Today, give your life fully to the Lord. 

Jesus came to liberate everyone from the slavery of sin and condemnation so that each one of us can live lives enjoying the grace of God. He came to free us from guilt and shame, free us from fears, addictions and all forms of oppression. He came to free us in our worship, and to free us from legalism and being bound up with religious rules and regulations. 

Spiritual freedom leads to many other kinds of freedoms in society. In the 18th Century revival, those Christians who had experienced personal freedom in Christ were the main supporters of the American Independence movement and who were united on both sides of the Atlantic to abolish slavery and promote movements for social reform.  

In the 20th Century, Communist regimes oppressed the church because they knew it stood for freedom. The peace prayer movement in Nicholai Kirche in Leipzig started the chain of events leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the freedom of East Germany. 

Studying this book of Galatians over the coming weeks will show us just how important it is to understand what freedom in Christ really means and how we can live our lives, not as slaves but as sons and daughters of God. We start by looking at Galatians 1:1-10 where we see 3 things Paul is telling us, and then 3 applications to our lives. 

The Apostle Paul says he was: 

1. Sent by God (Galatians 5:1-2,11; Acts 13 and 14) 

2. Saved by Jesus (Galatians 1:3-5) 

3. Shocked by the church (Galatians 1:6-9, 2:11-14, 4:10, 2, 5 & 6) 

Applications to us – we are saved: 

1. By faith in Jesus (Galatians 2:16) 

2. Not by observing rules (Galatians 2:21 & 3:1-3) 

3. Keep your focus on Jesus (Matthew 23:4 & 11:28–30; Galatians 1:10) 

Apply  

1. Sent by God (Galatians 5:1-2). It's important that we too as Christians know that we are God-sent. Our mission is not one we've set ourselves but if you are a Christian, you have been called and commissioned by Jesus: by God himself. Paul's commissioning was as an apostle; a church planter, an overseer of churches (Galatians 1:11). Paul tells us he is sent by God to the churches in Galatia, and that's who Paul is writing to: it's a letter to a group of churches and chapter 4 makes it clear these are churches he founded. Galatia is an area where Turkey is nowadays. Paul went there on his first missionary journey starting churches in Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (Acts 13 and 14). 

2. Saved by Jesus (Galatians 1:3-5). Paul says we are living in an evil age. Bad things are done all around us: there is evil in this world. And the wrong we have all done - our sin - deserves punishment. But Paul says Jesus gave himself for our sins and that Jesus' followers have been rescued from this evil age. 

3. Shocked by the church (Galatians 1:6-9). Why was he shocked? What had gone so seriously wrong with the Galatian church? The problem was, over time, they had become legalistic: got into rules. The first Christians had been Jews: Jesus' disciples in fact. Then very soon non-Jews (or Gentiles) had started to become Christians, including the people in Galatia that Paul evangelised and they were full of joy to know God. But some Jewish Christians then came to Galatia and said that as well as believing in Jesus, they also had to follow Jewish religious rules. A look ahead at the coming chapters shows us then: 

• Rules about food (Galatians 2:11-14) - it says the apostle Peter had led people to follow Jewish food laws and Paul had had to correct him. 

• Rules about religious festivals (Galatians 4:10) - it says some taught they had to observe special days and months. Paul says we should not be bound by these traditions. 

• Rules about getting circumcised (Galatians 2, 5 & 6) - it says people were teaching that to be a Christian you had to be circumcised and Paul writes 'no'. 

Paul says this is a big issue. Why was he so strongly opposed to these rules? Because the Gospel sets people free from legalism, and that freedom was under threat. Traditional religion laid burdens on people that they couldn’t fulfil. Jesus had transformed that with the good news of grace. But now people had come in and pushed the Galatians back to legalistic religion; and Paul said 'no: that's not the gospel' If you add in extra requirements so that the Gospel becomes 'believe in Jesus AND do certain things' then actually in Paul's words this is "a different gospel" or "no gospel at all." So what does all this mean for us? 

In Galatians 2:16 Paul writes: "a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." There are 3 application points.  

1. By faith in Jesus: Know that God accepts you, just because you believe in Jesus. Putting your trust in Jesus and telling Him 'I will follow you' is all that is needed. 

2. Not by observing rules: Know that you don't have to do things to win God's approval. For thousands of years people tried to keep the laws of the Old Testament, and everyone failed. That's why we needed Jesus (Galatians 2:21). No-one gets right with God by following rules, Jewish customs or other religious laws.  

 Law - or introducing Rules - has been a big issue not just in the early church but through history. In the Middle Ages there were lots of rules in the church. People were told to earn merits by going on pilgrimages, repeating set prayers and doing other things, like getting merits in school. If you got enough merits, you got to heaven. God brought the Reformation to the church. Luther and others taught 'sola gratia': "by grace alone". It's not by following rules. Today too we need to know it's not by keeping rules. Going to all the right meetings doesn't make someone a Christian, or more of a Christian. Repeating all the right prayers doesn't make God accept you. If we try to do and say all the right things, if we try to be good enough, we will fail. God accepts you not because of your efforts but just because of your faith in Jesus (Galatians 3:1-3). We must not just start, but also stay walking in faith. It's not by observing rules. Know that you don't have to do things to win God's approval. God accepts you: just as you are. 

3. Keep your focus on Jesus. Examine ourselves: am I living by grace? It's faith in Jesus that counts: putting our trust in Him. Paul was shocked because the Galatians had changed. We should examine ourselves and make sure we haven't changed or drifted away from grace and aren't imposing rules on ourselves or others. If we're helping other Christians, we want them to do all the right things so it's easy to get legalistic: laying requirements on them: do this, do that, you must read this, pray that. It's easy for rules to creep in about what clothes are acceptable, what music you should listen to, what you should watch. There is wisdom to be had in all these things: but no rules. If you walk by the Spirit, you will have wisdom. But there should be no laying down rules. Even Peter had to be rebuked by Paul for following rules. It's the same rebuke Jesus gave the religious leaders of his day, saying they'd got it wrong by putting heavy burdens on the people (Matthew 23:4) and that “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30) So, we must resist legalism, not lay a burden on ourselves or others - the expectation that you have to do this list of things - because that is to change the Gospel.  

If we are trying to please people that can be a pressure. Paul makes it clear (Galatians 1:10): stop trying to please people. Just serve God. Paul wasn't trying to please people when he wrote this letter, he was writing to them because he loved them and wanted them to get back to the heart of the Gospel. Let's keep our focus on Jesus and his grace: not on keeping rules. It's about having a relationship with God who loves and accepts you (Galatians 5:1). Freedom is God's plan for you. Freedom has always been God's plan for His people. The Israelites were set free from slavery in Egypt, the great exodus when oppression ended. Today can be your exodus from an old world of religion into a new life of freedom in Jesus. 

But, as we see from the story of Jesus calming a very big and dangerous storm that He and His disciples were facing in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus has already given you great promises and assures you that He is with you no matter what storms you personally are facing. Jesus had told the disciples they would cross over in a boat to the other side, but He hadn’t told them there would be storms along the way. Yes Jesus’s promises were still true, regardless of the storm facing them. We can learn, just as Jesus’s first disciples had to, how to block out the noises that stop us always focussing on Jesus and living for Him and in His perfect peace. 

1. Remember who Jesus is: The Son of God 

2. Remember all that Jesus has done: He has healed you 

3. Remember what Jesus can do: all that He promises He will do in your life 

Apply  

Jeus spoke to the storm the disciples were facing and brought a peace that totally surpassed all understanding. You can understand that in spite of the storms, Jesus is with you. Tell the Lord about the storms you are experiencing, but understand that in the midst of that storm Jesus is there. Understand that what Jesus did in the past, He will do again in this present storm. He has the power to speak to sickness and transform it into healing. He has the power to speak to the curse and transform it into blessing. Jesus has the power to speak to death and transform it into life. But you have to remember and declare that, despite the great storm you are facing, that Jesus has promised you will make it through. Believe that this storm is forming your character and taking you to a greater level of faith. Remember that you are not alone, you have the Lord, you have the church, you have the pastors, and you are going to get through to the other side. There is going to come a calm where you are going to experience miracles.  

Tell Jesus the storms that you are experiencing, e.g. family, personal, financial, emotional, sickness, pain, a child who has relapsed, etc. But understand that in spite of that storm, you are not alone. You have not been abandoned. Jesus the Son of God, the One who shed His blood seven times for you at the Cross of Calvary, is right there with you. From today, ask the Lord that you will no longer hear those noises, and that from today you will understand that Jesus is saying ‘I am with you and we will pass over to the other side’. Jesus has the power to calm and remove your storm and to silence all the noise. Declare that you will make it through the other side of your storm and that Jesus is with you and you will see a miracle. Thank the Lord that you will see His promises become a reality in your life.  

In the first days of June 1967 Israel faced the prospect of another holocaust. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nassar, leader of the Arab world, mobilised vast armies for war, declaring ‘our basic objective will be to destroy Israel.’ Only 19 years after the state of Israel was established, the Jewish population of less than three million people prepared for the worst. Rabbis across the country cordoned off areas for mass graves. Hotels were cleared in readiness for use as emergency hospitals and schools were converted into bomb shelters. At the same time the Israeli military was also busy preparing. 

Early on June 5, 200 low flying Israeli jet fighters launched a surprise attack on the Egyptian air force with such precision and power that it ceased to exist within 3 hours. From that moment, the six-day war was effectively won and Israel, instead of being wiped from the map, more than trebled in size. It captured the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank of the Jordan River (or the biblical Judea and Samaria) and the strategic Golan Heights. What’s more, after 2000 years, it was back in control of Jerusalem, the Western wall and the Temple Mount. 

Just six years later however, in 1973 Israel’s military were nowhere near as prepared for a full-scale enemy attack. Having become overconfident, they were caught off guard when Arab fighter planes and armies attacked Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, when so many Jews were in their synagogues. Israel’s army was outnumbered six to one. 1,400 Syrian tanks made their way down the Golan Heights towards Galilee ready to slice into Israel’s heartland. For five days Israel fought a desperate defensive war before recovering to massively defeat Arab armies in a costly 16-day conflict. In both wars preparation, or lack of preparation, played a crucial role. 

Preparation in any area of life is one of the great keys to success, whether in business, finances, sport or education. The best preparation will also bring significant blessing in your personal life, family life and in church life. 

As we start a new season of church and school life, we continue our focus on how God told Joshua and the people of God to prepare to conquer the Promised Land, after more than four centuries of slavery in Egypt and 40 years of wandering in the desert. First, God spoke to Joshua saying, ‘Now then YOU get ready’ (Joshua 1:2-3). Last week we looked at how Joshua personally had to step up to a new level of leadership. Moses, to whom he had been such a faithful assistant, was now dead and gone. Now was the time for Joshua to accept the baton of leadership and rise up with vision and faith. This was time for him now to look forwards, not backwards, and to be strong and courageous in his leadership. And today it is also time for each one of us individually to do the same.  

But there was something else that God said here. It was not just Joshua who had to prepare for new challenges and conquest. All the people of God had to move to a new level. Joshua 1:2 says: ‘Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.’ The ways they got ready to inherit the Promised Land shows us how we too as church communities need to prepare for a new move of God and victories that we have not seen before. 

1. Get your own house in order (Joshua 1:10-11)  

2. Decide to obey God given leadership (Joshua 1:16-18; Hebrews 13:17) 

3. Focus on following the presence of God (Joshua 3:2-4; Exodus 13:21-22) 

4. Cross over from the old to the new (Joshua 3:16-17) 

5. Separate yourself fully to God (Joshua 3:5; Joshua 5:2-7) 

6. Receive healing before you minister (Joshua 5:8) 

7. Celebrate the conquest of the Cross (Joshua 5:10-12) 

Apply  

1. Get your own house in order (Joshua 1:10-11). Joshua couldn’t sort out everyone’s supplies; the people themselves had to do that. They had to pay attention to the basics to move on to bigger things (see Admiral William McRaven’s book ‘Make your Bed’). For sure as Christians and churches we need to have an increasing influence in the public world, but first we must put our private world in order. It’s great you want to clean up the world with preaching, teaching and outreach, but first clean up your own home, kitchen and office. Pay attention to getting your finances structured. Deal with your bills. Put things in files that you can easily access. You will be amazed how much this decluttering will also clear your head and free you up to serve the Lord. So get your supplies ready and do it all in three days! 

2. Decide to obey God given leadership (Joshua 1:16-18). ‘Just as we fully obeyed Moses’: maybe they were just speaking for their generation because their parents rarely if ever obeyed. Moses faced constant, vicious and unfounded criticism and it was one of the key reasons a whole negative and rebellious generation died out in the desert. But now a new generation decided to change to a culture of faithful support for their spiritual leader. Any church will be blessed where there is a culture of honour and obedience towards God-given faithful leaders (Hebrews 13:17). If you want to see the church of Jesus, locally and globally, stand with authority in the world, be sure to honour authority within the church, whether from the pastors or team of 12. Be positive not negative towards spiritual leaders and pray always for them. If you want to conquer rebellion in society, first conquer it in the church. 

3. Focus on following the presence of God (Joshua 3:2-4). The Ark of the Covenant was Israel’s most sacred treasure and a symbol of God’s presence and power. The people of God needed to stay close to God and value His presence. This was a lesson that they had learned through their escape from Egypt (Exodus 13:21-22). Just as the Israelites needed to stay very close to the Ark, so we need to stay close to the Lord and be sensitive to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, especially when ‘you have never been this way before.’  

4. Cross over from the old to the new. To get into the Promised Land the Israelites had to cross the Jordan river (Joshua 3:16-17). The people had excellent leadership, but they needed to all take steps of faith to cross the Jordan at a time it was in full flood. And that’s what a whole nation did. As churches we need to cross over from old patterns of unbelief and step into new realms of faith, from limited blessing to believing for limitless blessing, and from survival mode to conquering new land and multitudes of people for Christ.  

5. Separate yourself fully to God (Joshua 3:5). To consecrate means to set apart from sin and to give yourself to wholeheartedly following a holy God. Joshua, like Moses, insisted to the Israelites that if they wanted to conquer the land, they had to live in a radically different way from the people of the land who followed other gods and had corrupt moral and sexual standards. Joshua took particular action to literally mark a new generation for God (Joshua 5:2-7). This rite of circumcision marked Israel’s identity as a people wholly committed to God. When God first made a covenant with Abraham, He required that each male be circumcised as a sign of cutting off the old life and beginning a new life. Now Joshua made the decision to circumcise a whole generation who had not previously been marked out as belonging to God. Today, while circumcision is not necessary to becoming a Christian, we must nonetheless separate ourselves from sin and the world, however painful that may be and clearly identify ourselves as belonging to God. 

6. Receive healing before you minister (Joshua 5:8). Clearly this mass circumcision was a painful event and people needed time to heal. Today many Christians want to minister to others but first they must receive healing in their hearts and minds and know for sure that all shame and captivity of the past has been rolled off them. This is why it is so important to spend time at encounter weekends that we run. When you have an encounter with God, often deep hurts of the past come to the surface and you can feel very vulnerable. But if you will let the Holy Spirit come close to you, He will comfort you and heal every wound. So you must stay in protective environment of the church with loving leaders to help you, while God is taking you through this process of restoration and reconstruction. 

7. Celebrate the conquest of the Cross (Joshua 5:10-12). Passover represented the saving from death and judgement through the blood of lambs that were applied to the doorframes of Israelite homes in Egypt. Today as Christians we celebrate deliverance from sin and death because Jesus, the Lamb of God, took away the sin of the world when He shed His blood at the Cross. And now, because of this we are no longer slaves or desert wanderers. Instead, we have entered God’s new kingdom and can enjoy His blessings every day. These seven keys will get us ready for great conquest, both individually and as the chosen people of God. Those who want to move to a new level of conquest, write down and apply each of these teachings starting with putting your own heart and house in order. 

We live in an increasingly voice-activated universe. Phones and tablets, cars and gadgets are increasingly being programmed to recognise and respond to what we say. But voice-activation is not so original and innovative as you might think. This was the same means God used to create the physical universe and the laws that govern it, as well as inputting the same operating system into His most precious creations – human beings (Genesis 1:3,9,26-28; Hebrews 4:12 ESV). Your words have power and influence in the spiritual realm (Proverbs 18:21; Job 22:27-28 NKJV).  

When it comes to the spiritual realm, the reality is that the enemy can use anything you say against you, to oppose your prayers. So we have to be so careful with our words. We were created to rule and reign with our voices. The problem is, many of us have learned how to use our tongues more from the world than the Word.  

We see three core principles from a story recorded in Mark 5:22-42 that will help you to see healing miracles in your life and the lives of those around you. These lessons come from a man who knew that Jesus was the only hope for a precious member of his family, and was able to take great care in the words he spoke and the words he left unspoken.  

1. Speak words of life over your circumstances (Mark 5:23 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 4:13; 1 John 5:14; Mark 9:22; Isaiah 53:5)   

2. Refuse to utter a declaration of despair (Mark 5:35-40; Mark 11:24; Proverbs 18:7 NKJV) 

3. Keep hope alive in your heart (Proverbs 17:22; Proverbs 18:14; Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV) 

Apply  

1. Speak words of life over your circumstances (Mark 5:23 NKJV). Speak with faith: Jairus’ daughter was in a critical condition, but he knew Jesus had power to heal her. He spoke out his faith clearly. As a synagogue leader he would have known that bowing down and declaring trust in Jesus publicly could put his job at risk, but he was more concerned about his daughter’s life than the opinions of his peers or the potential consequences, so he spoke up. Speaking aloud with faith is the first step to the miracle. You may feel intimidated but remember that you have been created in the image of God to rule with your voice in the same way He does (2 Corinthians 4:13). Whatever miracle you think you need, one important step that needs to precede declaring things with faith is to ask God what His will is (1 John 5:14). Jairus pleaded with Jesus to heal his daughter. Once Jesus had agreed, he had all the reason in the world to stand in faith. When you know Jesus is saying ‘yes’ to your miracle, then you need to pray with authority, not like the man who Jesus had to correct for saying “…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22). You must also speak the truth. Sometimes Christians get confused about this. Having faith does not mean denying the existence of a real problem, but it does mean being careful with what you declare. Jairus was explicit about what the problem was, and Jesus didn’t have any problem with that. But Jairus was also careful not to make a negative declaration about her future. The only thing he said about her future was that Jesus’ ministry would heal her. Then you must speak in line with the Word of God. You can declare the Word of God over your situation, or you can declare in line with it – the key thing is to know the Bible promise you need and speak it out. Regarding healing, the clearest promise in the Word is written in Isaiah 53:5. Forgiveness and healing are part of the same promise. 

2. Refuse to utter a declaration of despair. Jairus faced a delay in Jesus coming to heal his daughter. Then came a spiritual attack of intimidation (Mark 5:35). He was confronted not just by one messenger but several, and told his daughter was already dead. They advised him not to bother Jesus any more, even referring to Jesus as just a ‘teacher’. How do you react when faced with bad news? Jairus must have been tempted to vent his grief and frustration, to abandon or contradict his faith declaration, or just hang his head and walk away. But in the moment of temptation Jesus was right there (Mark 5:36). Jesus didn’t need Jairus to say anything more, only to hold onto his faith. Like Jairus, sometimes we’ve prayed and received a healing touch, but the problem has not disappeared. The trouble may even intensify. How do we respond? David Yonggi Cho in ‘The Holy Spirit, my Senior Partner’ explains that healings can come via two routes: “When the gift of the working of miracles works, the disease departs in a moment and the person immediately begins to recover health. When the gift of healing works, the cause of the disease is removed slowly and the effect of treatment starts to work, leading to recovery.” If it’s a ‘miracle’ you tend to notice straight away, but if it’s a ‘healing’ you receive that you are healed in your spirit by faith, but you must keep persevering in faith until the completion (Mark 11:24). Derek Prince talks about this in his book ‘Secrets of a Prayer Warrior’, explaining that if you’ve asked for and ‘received’ healing in prayer, then you stop asking for it and move to thanking God for it. He writes “Now you’re plugged into God’s supernatural power. Keep the plug in.” Any time you feel a twinge of pain or see a symptom, don’t fear, just believe, and declare “Thank you Lord. Your supernatural power is at work in my body.” It’s not just a matter of speaking words of faith in the high moments but holding your tongue from venting negative declarations in our lowest moments (Proverbs 18:7 NKJV). The final lesson from Jairus came as he reached the threshold of his home where his daughter lay dead (Mark 5:38-40). Jesus was determined to get rid of the professional mourners because He recognised the effect it was having on the family’s home. They needed an atmosphere of faith, not sadness.  

3. Keep hope alive in your heart. It would be difficult for Jairus to hold onto his faith in an atmosphere of loud grieving and wailing. This is a major factor in every battle of faith. It is vital to keep hope alive in your heart through the time of testing (Proverbs 17:22). The joy of the Lord is not only your strength but like medicine for your body (Proverbs 18:14).There are some practical things you can do to nurture hope and joy through a time of trial, including: not keeping company with people who drag your spirit down; being sensitive to what music you are listening to and what you are watching and how these influence your heart and mind (Isaiah 61:3); raising your voice in praise, thanks and worship to find the presence of God (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV). If you have been facing a battle of faith for your miracle, be it health, family, financial or ministry, just like Jairus who faced waves of opposition and intimidation, choose to speak words of life and not death. We need to develop a culture of positive speaking and declaring the promises of God in every area of life. Our words bring life or death, and that applies in relationships, emotions, and in supernatural healing. This is a moment to decide to change the way that we speak and to speak words of life and faith. 

In our convenience culture, there is a danger that we try to reduce the miraculous to a convenient formula. Faith is not an impersonal force, not a principle or a method. As we see from examples in the Bible, faith rests on the person of Jesus Christ. Our faith needs to be activated. Different times in the gospel we read Jesus saying ‘your faith has healed you’ (Matthew 9:22 ESV; Mark 5:34 ESV; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42).  

The word used in the original language of the New Testament to describe healing is ‘Sozo’. It means “to preserve, rescue, save from death, or keep alive.” Sometimes, ‘Sozo’ refers to spiritual salvation, resulting from a person’s faith. For example, when a repentant prostitute washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, He told her: “Your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:50). When Jesus said to certain people, “Your faith has made you well,” He was saying that their faith (their confidence in Him) caused God to bring their restoration. The power of Christ brought about the cure, but His power was applied in connection with their faith. 

So, the value of one’s faith does not come from the one who expresses it but from the one on whom it depends (Mark 10:52, Mark 11:22). In the case of a paralysed man at the pool of Bethesda where multitudes gathered to be healed (John 5:1-11). Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be made well. But he really didn’t really understand the question. He thought the only way to be healed was to get into the pool at the right moment, but he couldn’t do that. Jesus healed him anyway! This confused and needy man was healed by God’s grace. He had no faith in Jesus at the time; he didn’t even know it was Jesus who had healed him until later (John 5:12–13). 

That is how Jesus dealt with the sick in many cases. He separated their physical problems from their spiritual needs. Everyone whom Jesus willed to be healed was healed. Sometimes Jesus emphasised the faith they had, other times, in His great mercy, He healed those who had no faith and later drew them to Himself. So, what did Jesus mean when He told people, “Your faith has made you well”? 

1. Faith in the authority of Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13) 

2. Have faith to call on the name of Jesus (Mark 10:46-52; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:4-5; Mark 10:48; Exodus 15:26) 

3. Faith to reach out to Jesus (Mark 5:24-34) 

Apply  

1. Faith in the authority of Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). The story of the centurion whose servant was healed by Jesus appears both in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This centurion recognised that Jesus had authority and power in an area that he himself did not, that is physical healing. His own power and authority, great as it was, could not make his servant well again. His great faith on its own could not change the situation either. He needed the person and authority of Jesus. He activated his faith by finding Jesus and submitting to His authority. He had no doubt that sickness itself is under the authority of Jesus to command. Amazingly, Jesus would have willingly gone to the centurion’s house out of compassion but responded according to his great faith instead. If you think of faith as a currency, it can only make a difference when you take it out of your purse or wallet! Similarly, when you activate your faith in God and allow yourself to believe in Him, the possibilities are endless. This means you act and talk like you have faith, you make decisions based on it, and you’re not ashamed of it just like this centurion. The lesson here is that God alone is the miracle worker. So, come to Him, submitting to His authority in every area, just like this centurion. If you ask Him to work out His plans in your life as He sees fit, without pre-conditions, you will see miracles. Ask yourself: is it possible that you are limiting the size of your miracle because you have not put your faith in the authority of Jesus in your life? Make that decision, give Him first place to work as He sees fit without fear. 

2. Have faith to call on the name of Jesus. In the story of Jesus’s encounter with blind Bartimaeus, Jesus was leaving the city of Jerico with a large crowd following Him (Mark 10:46-52). Bartimaeus activated his faith by calling on the name of Jesus. He most likely knew who Jesus was through the scriptures that were read publicly, and by the many miraculous things Jesus was doing all around him. He called Jesus ‘Son of David’, which showed that he believed Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah, the King sent as the Saviour of the world, starting with Israel (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:4-5). Knowing who Jesus was and hearing about the miracles He was doing, Bartimaeus could hardly contain himself! Even in the face of discouragement Bartimaeus would not be silenced (Mark 10:48). This kind of faith caused Jesus to stop. He Jesus responded to the faith Bartimaeus had in His name, His reputation and person. Being blind, he had never seen Jesus, but that did not stop him believing Jesus. The same is true today. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. One of the names of God is ‘Jehovah Rapha’ which means ‘The Lord who heals’. There’s healing in His name (Exodus 15:26). Cry out to Jesus for mercy in your need and like Bartimaeus you will be saved, healed and delivered. 

3. Faith to reach out to Jesus (Mark 5:24-34). In this final example, a woman’s faith moved her to reach out and touch the garment of Jesus so she could be healed. This example illustrates powerfully that genuine faith relies on the person of Jesus. There were many who touched Jesus in that crowd, but only one had reached out to touch Him because of her faith in Him. Having to explain her bleeding in a crowded place would have been a great embarrassment to her, but she had faith in the divinity of Jesus, and in the compassion of Jesus. For her, Jesus was not just a good man, He is ‘Emmanuel’, God with us in our pain, in our suffering. Her faith led her to believe that just taking hold of His garment would be sufficient for her healing. It is not the healing ministers that heal, it is not the longest, loudest prayer, it is Jesus and only Jesus who heals. If you reach out to Him now, He will answer you as He has promised. It is time like never before to activate our faith in the authority of Jesus, in the name Jesus, and to reach out to touch Jesus in our lives. Refuse to be held back by limitations and the discouragement of others. Go after God! If you draw near to God, He promises that He will draw near to you. 

Miracles come in many forms. There may be miracles of financial provision or miracles of children being born, without medical help, despite previous infertility. There may be miracles of reconciliation between enemies of many years. And of course, there can be miracles of healing.  

Such miracles happened many times in the ministry of Jesus and are recorded in the gospels. The blind regained their sight. The lame were able to walk. The lepers were made clean. But for all the miracles recorded in the gospel, this list is not complete. For John 21:25 said that ‘Jesus did many other things as well’ ….in fact way too many to be recorded.  

 But Jesus not only healed people’s bodies, but he also delivered them from evil power (Acts 10:38). Deliverance from demons is one of the key features of the ministry of Jesus and later the early church. And it is a subject many either don’t want to face up to or, on the other hand, may get wrongly focussed on. So, we need to get a true Bible view of demons and deliverance. For the Bible shows us that the world is not just a logical, rational world. Our world is a battle ground between the kingdoms of light and the kingdom of darkness, between good and evil, between God and the Devil (Ephesians 6:12). 

Demonic activity is real in the world which is why there is so much trouble in the world. Sometimes it is obvious when you see evils such as genocide or people who are devil worshippers. Other times the Bible says that the Devil hides himself as ‘an angel of light.’  

Well Jesus came to destroy all the works of the Devil which he did through the cross and in delivering people in His ministry. He cast demons out of a man in a synagogue. He delivered Mary called Magdalene, ‘out of whom went seven devils” (Luke 8:2). He set free a wild man living in a graveyard who had many demons. And you too can see miracles of deliverance.  

We read a story in Mark 9:14-29 (KJV) that shows us the miraculous power of Jesus against evil spirits that were attacking the life of a boy. 

1. People are in great need (Mark 9:17-24) 

2. Jesus is the miracle worker (Mark 9:25-27) 

3. The disciples of Jesus needed to learn to move to a new level of supernatural ministry (Mark 9:28-29; Luke 9:1-2; Mark 6:13; Joel 2:12-13) 

Apply  

1. People are in great need (Mark 9:17-24). Here we see a desperate father who knew that there was something very wrong with his son. His son would suddenly be thrown to the ground and start foaming at the mouth. He would grind his teeth and go rigid. These distressing experiences had been going on since childhood. Sometimes things got so bad his life was at risk when it seemed like he was being thrown into a fire or water. He could die if he continued like this. The father reached his conclusion that the reason for all this was that his son had an evil spirit that was controlling his son and causing great worry for him. He knew that he needed a miracle to deliver his son. Today many people need deliverance: they may be oppressed by the devil, by fears, or invisible limitations, or they in more extreme cases being possessed by the devil. Either way they need to be freed from the power of the enemy. How many of you are in a desperate situation? Maybe you have been involved with the occult. Maybe you have experienced evil power, maybe you feel there are evil spirits that rise up in you to pull you down. Maybe you feel that you or your family is living under a curse. Are you in anyway are not free in your life because of drugs, or alcohol or pornography or depression? Well, this story tells us that there is hope for you. 

2. Jesus is the miracle worker (Mark 9:25-27). Jesus had so much authority that even the demons submitted to Him as soon as they heard Him. Although this demon had ruined the life of this boy for so long, in one encounter with Jesus he was completely freed. At first there was a spiritual struggle and there was shouting and shaking in the boy’s body. Then it looked as if he was dead. But then Jesus took hold of him and lifted him up. He was now full of life and free from the tormenting demon. Sometimes deliverances can seem scary but when Jesus is on the scene you don’t have to worry because that person is being delivered out of bondage into freedom. And this is why Jesus the son of God came to this earth: to save us, to free us from all the power of evil. Today in the name of Jesus you too can be set free from every evil spirit that has troubled you. And when we have Jesus in us as His disciples, we also can work miracles.  

3. The disciples of Jesus needed to learn to move to a new level of supernatural ministry (Mark 9:28-29). Now the disciples already had experience of delivering people from demons (Luke 9:1-2), and they had been able to cast out demons (Mark 6:13). But here they were at a stage in their development where they needed to have a greater authority. So, Jesus told them how they could be more effective when faced with bigger challenges. First, by prayer. There is no substitute for prayer. Deliverance is not a formula. Jesus was not just talking about just praying now and again but living a life of prayer that He Himself lived. It’s when you are constantly so close to God that His authority is always on you. We must learn to live a life of prayer, a life of intimacy with our Heavenly Father and a life of knowing Him more and experiencing His power. Intense demonic opposition is only overcome when you know what it is to struggle and overcome in prayer with your intercession and fellowship with God. For us to see greater conquest in spiritual warfare prayer must be at the very heart of our lives and families and in this church. As Oswald Smith, a great evangelist said simply ‘when we work, we work. When we pray, God works.’ But prayer can and should be accompanied by fasting. Some manuscripts add ‘this kind goes out by prayer and fasting’. Fasting brings us to new levels of spiritual focus and authority. We may be weak physically, but the Holy Spirit gives us new spiritual strength. Throughout the Bible and church history we see that miracles and moves of God can be traced back to people who prayed and fasted. So, let’s see fasting not as a duty or a struggle but as a blessing and a delight (Joel 2:12-13). Today can be a new day of freedom when you experience the Lord’s deliverance. Today you can see breakthrough in every area of your life when you have an encounter with God. You can go direct to the Lord. But if you need prayer, please ask for it. And if you are a Christian leader who needs to minister in the authority of the spirit, know that you have authority when you are under authority. Give yourselves to prayer and fasting and you and all of us will move to new levels of miracles of deliverance.  

We see in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 a well-known prayer from someone whose very life was marked by pain. This was Jabez, his mother had named him saying “I gave birth to him in pain” so all his life was associated with pain. But he came to the point where he’d had enough, and he prayed in desperation to the Lord.  

Perhaps you can’t see how your life can change. But today God wants to show you that no matter your past, your future can be one of blessing, healing, protection, provision and free from pain. We can learn a lot from how Jabez prayed to the Lord despite his painful past and present circumstances.  

1. He prayed for God’s blessing (1 Chronicles 4:10) 

2. He prayed for increase (1 Chronicles 4:10; Ephesians 3:20)  

3. He prayed for the presence and favour of God (1 Chronicles 4:10; Exodus 33:14; Joshua 1:5; Nehemiah 9:19-20; John 14:26)  

4. He prayed he would be kept free from pain (1 Chronicles 4:10; Luke 8; Isaiah 53:5; Psalm 37:4) 

Apply  

1. He prayed for God’s blessing (1 Chronicles 4:10). He took his desperation for a different life to God. He cried out to God for his breakthrough. Jabez was desperate. When you are desperate, you know that it’s not your own abilities, strength or power that can change the situation. When you are desperate, you know that you are all out of options other than to go to someone who has the power bring change. Jabez cried out to God and believed that it was God who had the power to bless him. He believed that God could do the changes needed to bring blessing in his life and that God is the source where all blessing comes from. There is nothing wrong with asking for personal blessing! Today you can call out to God in desperation like Jabez did, assured He wants to bless you.  

2. He prayed for increase (1 Chronicles 4:10). Jabez wasn’t content with the limited prosperity and small portion of blessing he had experienced in his life so far - he knew God had more to give him and he cried out for it. It’s time to stop small living and small thinking. Now is the time to start praying bigger prayers. You may be feeling stuck in a small, overcrowded house, thinking how can I possibly move into a bigger house? You may be feeling powerless by thinking about mortgage rates increasing, living costs rising and lots of other limits in your thinking. There may be a problem in having children and you want to see increase in your family. You might have only a small salary and limited responsibility at work. There is hope! It’s time to pray that God will increase the size your living accommodation. It’s time to pray that God will increase your salary. It’s time to pray that God will increase the size of your family and it’s time to pray that God will increase the size of your ministry. Do you believe God for miracles and to prosper you in every area of your life? God has BIG things in store for you (Ephesians 3:20). 

3. He prayed for the presence and favour of God (1 Chronicles 4:10). Jabez was desperate for the presence of God to be with him. He knew that it was essential to do life with God if he wanted to see his personal circumstances change. The Israelites experienced guidance and favour when they sought and followed the Presence of God (Exodus 33:14; Joshua 1:5). Do you take time every morning to welcome the presence of the living God, your Heavenly Father, as it says in the Hebrew El Shaddai - God Almighty, and seek His hand to be with you? Just as the Israelites were clearly guided by God’s presence in the wilderness, so we can be guided by the hand of God in every part of our everyday lives (Nehemiah 9:19-20). God wants you to be guided by His Holy Spirit in everything you do, every day (John 14:26). There is hope! We have not been left alone to struggle in a desperate state, or to try and figure everything out on our own: God’s presence can be with us if we cry out to Him for it. As we have more of the Presence of God in our personal lives, we will see how God guides us into the right places at the right time, with the right people and with His ease and blessing. This ushers us into His favour in every other area of our lives.  

4. He prayed he would be kept free from pain (1 Chronicles 4:10). Pain is such a familiar reality to many people. And many are very good at hiding it. Maybe you’ve been harmed by a toxic relationship. Maybe you have pain from repeated disappointments, or experienced pain from bad financial deals and debt. Possibly even in pain over losing a loved one. And of course, there are so many who live with very real physical pain on a daily basis. Maybe you are one of them. Well, many people in the Bible also lived with great pain as the norm in their life. In the New Testament we see the woman with the issue of blood who, as Luke 8 tells us, had lived with this painful and socially crippling condition for 12 years, spending all she had on doctors who couldn’t cure her. Yet when she cried out to Jesus, she received her miracle and was instantly healed. Despite his tough start in life, where pain and suffering had been his norm, Jabez knew that the Lord alone could keep him from harm and give him a life that was free from pain. It was God who could change Jabez’s very nature and remove pain from his identity. And God can and wants to do it for you too. Perhaps suffering physical and emotional pain has been normal in your life up to now, but through Jesus being wounded at the cross in our place, we can be healed (Isaiah 53:5). There is hope! It is only with God that we can experience freedom from harm and pain. God’s love is greater than any love you might have experienced in your life, and He promises you a different future as you depend on Him. Like Jabez, it’s time to cry out and to step out in faith that God is doing a new thing in your life, and that the old experiences of pain, harm and suffering and sorrow are in your past - not your future. God granted Jabez’s request (1 Chronicles 4:10), and He is ready to grant yours too (Psalm 37:4). Today, whatever your situation, whatever your need, however much pain you’re in, you can cry out to the Lord. 

You can be more than you think you can be. When you are close to God and walking in obedience to Him you are destined to be a winner. Just like we see from the life of Joseph, it's time to start dreaming! 

In Colombia we have seen how one of the greatest churches in the world with a membership of 300,000 has grown up against a background of poverty, drug cartels and war. Today MCI church is a beacon of light to the nation and Presidents come to seek endorsement. It all began with a dream in the heart of Pastor Cesar Castellanos that one day he, like Abraham before him, would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (see Pastor Cesar Castellanos book: Dream and You Will Win the World’). 

Dreams are powerful. Stay awake but start dreaming! We see from the life of Joseph: 

1. God has great dreams for you (Genesis 37; Jeremiah 29:11) 

2. God wants you to hold onto to your dreams (Genesis 37:19-20; Genesis 39:2&23)  

3. God wants you to see His dreams for your life come to pass (Genesis 41-43) 

Apply  

1. God has great dreams for you. Although he was young and did not have much of a past Joseph could see that he had a great future. In some way or other he knew that one day he would be in a position of great influence. Even his many big brothers would bow down before him. God clearly had a plan for his life and that is true also for you. You matter to God. You are not a nothing or a nobody. God rates you. God knows about you. The Bible says He even knows about how many hairs we have on our head! God loves each one of us more than we realise and wants to bless us and make us a blessing to others (Jeremiah. 29:11). You are not a failure. You can succeed in your life, in your studies, in your career and ministry. You can be more than you think you can be. When you are close to God and walking in obedience to Him you are destined to be a winner. He has a dream of what you can be and also what your family can be. God is into creating and re-creating families. He can bring families together who have drifted apart. He can bring peace where there were only rows. He can change your hearts so that you all get on together and your home becomes like heaven instead of hell. God had this dream for Joseph and his family, despite the division, and He brought them altogether. Do not give up on your family. Do not quit on your marriage. God has great plans for you all. He also has great plans for your leadership. You can be a great leader in business, in politics, in your chosen career and in the church. The church is one of the greatest training grounds for leadership in any walk of life. If you can lead in the church you can lead anyone anywhere. The church has great potential to bring healing, hope and reconciliation between old and young, men and women and across racial and ethnic barriers. When Jesus trained 12 young guys it was because He had a dream that their lives would one day impact billions of people with the message of His love and righteousness. Today, despite centuries of persecution and ridicule, the dream lives on and amazing churches are growing up on every continent. This is what happened through Joseph and can happen through us as we become light in the darkness and voices of reason in amid chaos. We are agents of the kingdom of God that is characterised by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And this is an everlasting kingdom that will touch every area of life in every nation. It’s a kingdom that will get stronger and stronger - the man-made kingdoms of this world come to nothing. Today recognise that God has great dreams for you personally, for your family, and leadership. Start to see the great possibilities.  

2. God wants you to hold onto to your dreams. Dreams can be shattered in many ways and this could have easily happened with Joseph. He had to hold on to his dreams despite pain. His brothers were so jealous of him that they were ready to kill him (Genesis 37:19-20). Instead they sold him as a slave, and it was 20 years before he would see his family again. Joseph experienced betrayal and rejection big time and it caused him great sadness. When the pain came out in later life, he cried so much everybody around could hear him. Maybe you have had the same experience. People you were close to walked out on you your husband, wife, parents, close friends and colleagues. Life has been hard and dealt you some heavy blows. But this does not mean that your dream is finished. You must do what Joseph did and hold on despite the pain and despite difficult circumstances. Joseph was jailed for rape on a totally false charge of a bitter woman who couldn’t get him into bed with her. Then he spent some of the best years of his life in prison when he was innocent. And finally a friend who he thought could use his influence to get him out of jail forgot all about him. But depressing as things were there was one thing Joseph could not forget and that was his dream, even despite the years. Thirteen years went by but in everything Joseph kept his focus on God. He realised God was over everything. He kept his eyes on the Lord. He was faithful to the Lord and the Lord was faithful to him. How do you cope with creeping cynicism and disillusionment that would descend on you? Here’s how: Be faithful to God and serve wherever you are; Be secure in God’s faithfulness to you (Genesis 39:2&23); Be confident in God’s timing and dealings - God will work in His way in his good time. To see any dream come to pass you have to decide to hold on to your dream and stick with your dreams. You must hold your ground when you feel like giving up. You must pray on for your kids, your parents, your partner. Once you have had an image from God of what can be hold on to it until it comes to pass.  

3. God wants you to see His dreams for your life come to pass (Genesis 41). This happened to Joseph in the most amazing way. Genesis Chapter 41 is the great turn-around chapter. Joseph went from prisoner to Prime Minister in no time. From being forgotten to public favour. From rags to riches. From wondering what is happening to seeing clearly God’s plan. Joseph Saw His Personal Destiny Come to Pass: God blessed him personally. God brought him to a position of great prominence (Genesis 41) in charge of the whole end of Egypt. God gave him great provision (Genesis 42) dressed in robes of fine linen and a gold chain around his neck. He had a new name and then a wife and later children to comfort him. God brought great healing to him. He was reconciled with his brothers in some very tearful scenes. He saw his dad again and wept all over him. He saw nephews, nieces, and in-laws for the first time. Destiny Was Fulfilled for His People: His dad, his brothers, their families – all were saved from the famine that ravaged their land. More than that, they were all prospered in their own part of Egypt in Goshen. Destiny was fulfilled for the World: God had a plan here and it was to save not just the Israelites but the Egyptians and other nations from starvation. God raised Joseph up as a saviour and deliverer. So too God intends for His dreams for your life to come to pass. He will help you to see a dream for your life. He will help rebuild broken dreams. If you have lost sight of your dream, His Word and His Holy Spirit will help you to focus and rebuild. And He will help you to achieve them. Joseph recognised that in everything God had been with Him. And God is with you too!  

God has great dreams for you. The Lord is with you. Hold on to the dreams God has given you. Don’t give way to disillusionment. Serve him faithfully wherever you are. Trust him totally for he is a faithful God. Be confident: you have a destiny, and His time for fulfilment will surely come to pass. Whatever bad has happened in your life, God can turn it to good. Put your life in God’s hands. Stop trying to do everything your way and come His way. Follow Jesus Christ and let Him make something of your life. Co-operate with His plans. Dare to dream big dreams. And believe that you are going to see them fulfilled. Your greatest days are ahead of you! Today give your life fully to the Lord. Get hold of the dreams God has for you and together with God’s help maximise the potential of your life. 

And so people many are crying out for real change to come in their own lives. When we consider the impact of family breakdown, loneliness, greed, and self-centred living it is abundantly clear that new beginnings are necessary for people, and God can bring this about in your life today. 

1. New beginnings are necessary (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23-24) 

2. New beginnings are possible (Jeremiah 18:4; Ezekiel 18:31; Psalm 40:3; Acts 5:20; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 3:18; Acts 2:24; John 8:45-47; 1 Timothy 1:16) 

3. New beginnings are personal (2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:1-5; John 19:39; Romans 9:9) 

Apply  

1. New beginnings are necessary. There’s a disease that has infected humanity. It is at the root of all that is wrong in the world around us. The Bible calls it sin and it affects every one of us. Sin separates us from a God who loves us. It is because of that separation from Him and His love for us, that we see so much chaos and evil in the world (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23-24). Despite our sins, new beginnings are possible. 

2. New beginnings are possible. The good news is that new beginnings are what the Christian gospel offers. Not religion, but a restored relationship with God where we are reborn, changed from the inside out by God. It shows up in changed actions and motives (Jeremiah 18:4). Like that pot, we are all marred. The root problem in the world is inside every one of us, and God alone has the cure. The Bible talks of how we can have a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31), a new song (Psalm 40:3), a new life (Acts 5:20), and new birth (1 Peter 1:3). New beginnings have been made possible for everyone through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son (2 Corinthians 5:17). 2000 years ago, God sent His son Jesus to be born here and live among us. Because of His love for us, He took full responsibility for all our sins, past, present and future (1 Peter 3:18). He suffered the death penalty on a cross in our place to bring us to God. Through His death for our sins, He purchased a new beginning for every one of us. The Bible tells us that death could not keep its hold on Jesus (Acts 2:24). Because Jesus lived a sinless life, God raised Him from death to give new life to all who will repent of their sins and put their trust in Him (John 8:45-47). All through history people have experienced powerful changes in their lives because of their trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection. When the apostle Paul wrote, ‘the old has gone the new has come’ he spoke from personal experience. For he was once a violent enemy of Christianity. He approved the stoning of to death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He carried out murderous threats against the early disciples. But one day, he had an encounter with the risen Christ that changed his life. He was literally a new man. So dramatic was the change that even the first Christians had a hard time at first believing it (1 Timothy 1:16).  

3. New beginnings are personal (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! This is something that happens when God meets with us personally by His Spirit. (See the story of Nicodemus in John 3:1-5). Nicodemus became a truth seeker. That’s one of the first step to a new beginning. You must seek out the truth about Jesus. This was a new beginning for Nicodemus and he helped take care of the body of Jesus and prepared it for burial (John 19:39). This put him at risk when you consider his fellow religious leaders had handed Jesus over to be crucified. What Jesus said to Nicodemus, He says to every generation: ‘You must be born again’. Your new beginning is necessary, your new beginning is possible, and your new beginning is personal. Today you are offered the real of hope of a new beginning no matter what ugliness or mess has marred your life. Jesus Christ came into this world to bring you new life. It is not too late. You are not ‘too far g one.’ By turning to God now, you too can become ‘new creation’ and know that ‘the old has gone, the new has come.’ It is only when we ‘repent’, that is to turn from living our way and come back to God, that we can know forgiveness and a new beginning (Romans 9:9).  

One of the most well-known stories in the Bible that underlines this truth is found in the gospel of John 4:1-30 and 39-42. It still carries a significant message for us today. Jesus was a much-in-demand preacher and miracle worker in the first century in what we know today as Israel and the West Bank. Huge crowds followed Him. But some of His most powerful ministry was in one-to-one personal encounters and conversations. 

Jesus was heading back to Galilee and took a shortcut through a place which Jews often avoided, called Samaria. This was a purposeful and fairly radical act for reasons that we’ll see soon. But he did something even more surprising; he got into conversation with a lady with a pretty bad reputation. 

But this conversation was to change the life of this woman and her community. It began with Jesus sitting by a well and asking her for a drink of the water that she was drawing from the well (John 4:4-10). We can learn some simple and powerful lessons from this story: 

1. Jesus came to show us God’s love is for all people (John 4:9; John 3:16; Acts 10:34; John 4:16-18) 

2. Jesus came to satisfy us (John 4:10-15; John 6:35; John 7:37-38; John 4:25-26) 

3. Jesus came to save us (John 4:28-30) 

Apply  

1. Jesus came to show us God’s love is for all people. He loves people of every race (John 4:9). Historically Jews despised Samaritans. There were longstanding prejudices and often deep hatred between Jews and Samaritans. When the Assyrian empire captured Samaria, which had been the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, they deported many Jews, and foreigners were brought into the land. So the Jews didn’t want anything to do with a people they despised and who represented betrayal for their nation. They would do anything to avoid travelling through Samaria and having social contact. That’s why this woman was so startled and questioned Him. She was really saying: Don’t you know about the realities of ethnic, tribal and racial differences?’ It didn’t matter to Jesus, all he saw was the person. He loved people no matter what country or culture they came from (John 3:16; Acts 10:34). And today God is for you and loves you no matter what the colour of your skin or whether you are part of a majority or minority ethnic group. You matter to God. He loves people of every social status. Women in those times were regarded as inferior and given lowly jobs to do, much as what happens in many parts of the world today. But Jesus treated women the same way he treated men. He brought dignity, compassion and hope to women and that’s why so many women followed Him. And that’s why wherever today there is a revival of real New Testament Christianity, women play a leading role. Jesus was blind to social distinctions whether between men or women, rich or poor, powerful or powerless. And Jesus loves people despite their sins (John 4:16-18). Jesus knew her past, but He did not hold it against her. The whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth was to bring salvation, not condemnation to people. There’s a core problem in the world and it’s called sin. In rugby if there’s foul play, then you are sent to the sin bin. People know what’s a sin and what’s not, even though they don’t want to face it or even want to redefine it. Sin is independence from God and rebellion towards God. The Bible says when we live in sin or turn from sin there are consequences: life or death. Sin leads to separation from God. But Jesus came to take the burdens of our sins, to forgive us and give us new beginnings. He knew this woman was a sinner, and He quickly showed her that He cared about her. He knew that she was a lost soul who was empty on the inside. And that’s why Jesus came to earth, for people just like her. This story tells us very clearly that Jesus came to show God’s love for all people, no matter what they had done. He wants to remove that barrier between them and God.  

2. Jesus came to satisfy us. You don’t have to be a Rolling Stones fan to know that the words of their world-famous song is the experience of so many people ‘I can’t get no satisfaction.’ So many rock stars and celebrities have seemingly got it all: money, adoration, fame, yet there is still a deep inner emptiness. And this woman at the well had lived a bit too, but there was something missing in her life. That something was someone, and He was standing right beside her. He told her how her thirst for life could be truly satisfied (John 4:10-15). Jesus promised her satisfying, eternal water. He didn’t promise temporary nourishment, but a new lease of life would well up inside her. No more chasing after momentary pleasures to bring purpose, happiness or relief. In life we can look for satisfaction in many places, like shopping, the next holiday or pursuing our career. For others satisfaction may come through addictions and momentary highs. Well, Jesus repeated His claim and promise that He alone could satisfy the deepest longings of the human spirit (John 6:35; John 7:37-38; John 4:25-26). Jesus taught that the only way to truly know satisfaction is to know God and that He Himself was God. 

3. Jesus came to save us. The conversation with this woman changed her life. She was no longer lost but found. She had been empty but now she felt full and fulfilled. She had gone to get some ordinary water but she had found living water that she could feel bubbling up within her. And it bubbled over so much that she couldn’t keep the good news to herself (John 4:28-30). The Bible then says that Jesus stayed with the Samaritans for a few days and they knew that He was their saviour. Jesus came to seek and save all who were lost. He came to save us from our sins, to forgive us and give us new beginnings. He came to rescue us from all the evil power of the Kingdom of darkness and death and hell. He came not just to save some people but all people. People from all racial and ethnic groups. People from all levels of society. People who have messed up and who need to be cleaned up. The love of Jesus is for everyone. Today you need to know that God loves you unconditionally no matter who you are, where you come from or what you have done. Do you want to know that love? Do you want to know an end to restlessness in your heart and the emptiness in your soul? Do you long for living waters that will satisfy you for time and eternity? There is no job, person, or accomplishment that can fill that place inside of you. You need to come near to Jesus and let Him speak to your heart like this Samaritan woman. Read His Words. Study His life. See what He has done in so many lives. Commit your life to Him in simple prayer. And believe that as you trust Him and follow Him, you Saviour, He can change you too. 

For all the challenges we face, we should never be discouraged. For as both the Bible and revival history shows us, it is in times of great darkness and desperation that God so often turns everything around.  

We see how this can happen by looking at the story of man who lived all his life in darkness. He was a blind man, a desperate man, a man for whom it seemed impossible that anything could change. But in just one moment in time everything changed for him. The power of God was released on him and multitudes marvelled at what had happened so quickly.   

This man was called Bartimaeus, and his story is in Luke 18:35-43. Matthew’s gospel records that there were two blind men begging but Mark and Luke’s gospels singled out the most vocal of the two. Mark tells us his name was Bartimaeus and that he not only knew the name of Jesus, but he also recognised Him as the Son of David, the Promised Messiah.  

We see some simple lessons from this story of how the church can be revitalised as agents of great and sudden change in the UK. We must: 

1. Focus on people in great need (Luke 18:35; Luke 4:18) 

2. Cry out to God for mercy (Luke 18:36-39; Exodus 2:23-25; Judges 6:2-6; Psalms 18:6; 34:17) 

3. Have big dreams (Luke 18:40-41) 

4. Expect to experience miracles (Luke 18:42-43) 

5. Let the new followers of Jesus influence many others (Luke 18:43; John 4:39) 

Apply  

1. Focus on people in great need (Luke 18:35). Bartimaeus was in a desperate condition as a blind man who had to beg to get any money. He couldn’t see anything, and crowds of people just passed him by. He was, like so many in our world, left behind to look after himself, just trying to get a few coins to keep him going. But Jesus built His ministry on people like Bartimaeus: the blind, the deaf, the dumb, the grieving widow, the sick and suffering. This is why the anointing of the Holy Spirit had come on Him (Luke 4:18). We should focus on the hurting, the poor, the despised, the lonely, overlooked, and grieving. People everywhere are in pain, including the rich and famous and outwardly happy. And we need eyes to see who is struggling by the roadside of life and not just be part of the crowd that rushes on past. To turn this nation around, we will need Christians and churches that truly love people no matter who they are or from what background they come.  

2. Cry out to God for mercy (Luke 18:36-39). When Bartimaeus heard Jesus was coming near, he recognised this was his moment that everything could change if he could somehow connect with Him. So amidst all the noise of the crowd he shouted out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This wasn’t a polite, quiet prayer; it was an urgent call for help. His shouting was so loud that many people told him to shut up. But we read this caused him to “shout all the more. Son of David, have mercy on me!” This was a man who really knew how much he needed the mercy of God. He was desperate to seize the moment to connect with Jesus. So often God permits individuals, families, church and even nations to come to a place of desperation where we realise our only hope is to ask God to show us His mercy. That was the case in 1940 when literally millions of Britons answered the King’s call to prayer that this nation would be saved from tyranny. With no other hope of help, they cried to God for mercy. This was what happened with the Israelites (Exodus 2:23-25; Judges 6:2-6). This was the tipping point when God raised up Gideon and his 300 dedicated men who overcame a vast army. King David knew how to effectively call for the mercy of God (Psalms 18:6, 34:17). Real prayer is when we are desperate enough to truly cry out to God for mercy knowing that we have no other options. Today in the UK we are being brought to a point where we need to cry out to God for our own answers, to cry out to God for our families, for greater purity, power and fruitfulness in our churches. And for sure we need His intervention in our nation. Without doubt we deserve judgement for so many reasons, in a nation and former empire that has been in such rebellion towards God and for breaking firm promises to the Jewish people and Israel. But we can still cry out to the great God of mercy for our generation and those to come that the fires of God in this nation will never go out.  

3. Have big dreams (Luke 18:40-41). Bartimaeus knew exactly what he wanted; it was a big miracle to receive his sight but he was clear what he wanted. Everything would change when he could see. We too should ask God to give us clear vision to see what we have not seen before, to have the scales removed from our eyes so that we can visualise changes in our lives, in our self-perception, and in families and churches. When the Lord touches our eyes, we will perceive that we can and will minister to multitudes. 

4. Expect to experience miracles (Luke 18:42-43). Healing is central to the gospel. Healing miracles are part and parcel of New Testament Christianity and commonly seen in Christian revivals. Healings are signs that the kingdom of God has come on earth and are connected to faith. Jesus told Bartimaeus ‘your faith has healed you.’ Bartimaeus had lived all his life as a blind man. He could have been resigned to his fate but when he knew that Jesus was nearby, he had faith for healing. He called Jesus ‘the son of David’ because he believed He was the promised Messiah and that when he connected with Him nothing was impossible. And that remains true today. For Jesus Christ is indeed the same yesterday, today and forever. He’s still the healer and the Lord over every disease and sickness. He is still the miracle worker. We need to put our faith in Jesus. ‘Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t see.’ Today we need a new dimension of supernatural ministry to move forward in the face of so much satanic opposition and confusion. Let’s believe that all things are possible with God, and to pray for and heal the sick.  

5. Let the new followers of Jesus influence many others (Luke 18:43). When new believers share their testimonies, many people can come to Christ (John 4:39). Billy Graham’s ministry took off not just because of his anointed evangelistic preaching but because of the conversions of a well-known gang boss and famous radio personality in his 1949 Los Angeles campaign. Whenever people come to Christ, be quick to let them spread the good news and you will be amazed at the great harvest of their families and friends. Let’s go forward together with new faith and focus and see a great spiritual turnaround throughout our nation. Let’s cry out to God for His mercy in our lives, in our families and churches and in this nation. 

Today we have before us a fresh opportunity to play our part in the re-evangelism of this nation and other nations. Each one of us, each individual, couple, family, and church, can make a big difference for God in this generation and for the good of generations to come.  

This is a time for us to unblock the wells and discover once more the life-giving waters of the Holy Spirit, which have so often flowed in revival power in this country. Each of these 5 keys are themes of the G12 Vision and have been central to the growth of one of the world’s largest churches in Bogota, Colombia.  

We see these keys in Matthew 9:35-37 and Matthew 10:1: Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  

1. Focus on the mission of Jesus (Matthew 9:35; Acts 1:8) 

2. Receive the Vision of Jesus for the multitudes (Matthew 9:36; John 4:35) 

3. Have the love of Jesus for lost and hurting people (Matthew 9:36) 

4. Pray for more workers as Jesus instructed (Matthew 9:38) 

5. Build a team of 12 as Jesus modelled (Matthew 10:1) 

Apply  

1. Focus on the mission of Jesus. The mission that Jesus has called us to is simply massive. Jesus has commanded us to make disciples of all nations. God sent His only Son Jesus on a mission to save the whole world from Satan, sin and all the destructive powers of darkness. The sheer scope of our mission requires us to think bigger and beyond what our minds usually process. Our mission in life is to win the world for Jesus. And to conquer globally we must follow the example of Jesus being focussed locally. Jesus went about His mission in a very strategic way by starting in His home region of Galilee (Matthew 9:35). He was very specific and very diligent in going from town to town and even from village to village. Later Jesus gave specific directions on focussing on different locations for the spread of the gospel throughout the world (Acts 1:8). The mission then requires that the Christian gospel is spread systematically from area to area. We must be sure that we are focussed not simply on running our churches but on reaching our communities with a very clear strategy. Like Jesus must have a big mission to reach ‘all the towns and villages’ in the areas that God has called us to. We have to all play our part in spreading the gospel of the kingdom to all peoples in all nations starting in all the towns and villages where we are.  

2. Receive the Vision of Jesus for the multitudes (Matthew 9:36). Jesus didn’t just see individuals; He saw vast numbers of people in great need, and He wanted His disciples also to have their eyes open to seeing the multitudes (John 4:35). How much do we really notice people? God wants to open our eyes to see the multitudes all around us and to believe as Abraham believed that we can have limitless spiritual offspring. Ministry begins with vision. We need a vision of what is possible for large numbers of people to be brought to Christ in our churches and our nations. We have to perceive it and believe it before we can receive it.   

3. Have the love of Jesus for lost and hurting people (Matthew 9:36 MSG). Love is what Christianity is all about. Jesus came because God so loved the world. Love is what drew the multitudes to Jesus. They knew that, unlike the hard-hearted, self-seeking religious leaders, Jesus truly cared for them. They could see His compassion especially for those who were outcasts and despised. And it was love for lost sinners that Jesus suffered and bled and died. It is this sacrificial, unconditional, patient, kind and enduring love that we must have in our hearts if we are going to keep our children and grandchildren in the church. So many children and young people have wandered away, often with great bitterness in their hearts, because they have experienced the law but never the love of God. And it’s this love and compassion in our hearts and in our actions and in our eyes that will draw people to Christ and establish them in their faith. The G12 vision is not some clinical method but an expression of the heart of God and a powerful means of bringing God’s love to masses of people and to train them as disciples. So how do we get this love? Only by asking for the Holy Spirit to come and change us. For us to see people turn to God, we must have this love.   

4. Pray for more workers as Jesus instructed (Matthew 9:38). The mission is so big and the challenge is so great that we must have many more people involved in sharing the good news of Christ and His kingdom. If we are serious about re-evangelising this nation, we must seek to mobilise ALL the people of God to share their faith. The so-called professionals or paid ministers can never cope on their own. There are about 30,000 clergy of all types in the UK and more than 80,000 registered witches and fortune tellers. Today we must really pray that great numbers of Christians who are busy doing their jobs and caring for their families, will share their faith wherever they are and integrate disciple-making into their lives. It is a matter of great urgency to pray for more workers if we want to see this nation turn around.   

5. Build a team of 12 as Jesus modelled. After calling for prayer for more workers, Jesus formed a team of disciples (Matthew 10:1). These 12 were ordinary people and far from perfect. One on the list of the chosen betrayed Jesus and had to be replaced, and the other 11 all ran away at one point. But they were to become the foundation of the church, because Jesus never gave up on His simple plan to focus on gathering, training and releasing the few to reach many. Today the G12 Vision is a re-emergence of a biblical vision for making and multiplying disciples by taking them through every stage from new birth to maturity to become leaders and multipliers themselves. The 12 can develop 12 who can have 12 who can have 12, and so on. We just need to do this right and continually. And if we will take hold of these five keys, we will see another grassroots transformational Christian movement in this country and in our day and generation. Are you up for it?! 

Just as with William Wilberforce who had sowed so many good seeds, it was only by persevering that he was able to finally come to a great moment of reaping. (See the story of William Wilberforce from the podcast/online programme). 

In Galatians 6:9, the apostle Paul emphasises that persevering is one of the great secrets of reaping. You must never ever give up, no matter how hard or discouraging are the trials you face, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

1. The Certainty of Reaping (Galatians 6:7-8; Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 8:6; 2 Corinthians 6:9-11) 

2. The Timing of Reaping (Galatians 6:9; Ecclesiastes 3:1; James 5:7-8; Romans 4:18-21) 

3. The Terms and Conditions of Reaping (Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:35-36 and 12:1-3) 

Apply  

1. The Certainty of Reaping. The Bible teaches that whatever we sow in life we will reap (Galatians 6:7-8). The apostle Paul is making the point that that for every action there will be a consequence. What you sow, you will reap. This principle applies in every area of our lives. You cannot live without consequences. Just as a farmer knows that if they sow potatoes, they’ll reap potatoes, as verse 8 says: Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction (Galatians 5:19-21). If you have hatred, anger, jealousy, selfishness, sexual impurity in your life, you will suffer the consequences. That is not just about judgement from God, it’s a law of life. How many marriages have been destroyed because of a spouse wanting to please their flesh through adultery. How many homes broken through a parent wanting to take the easy way out and walk away? If you don’t want to see bad results in your life, then stop now living the wrong way and sowing bad seeds. But if you are sowing to please God then you should be very encouraged, for this verse also says that whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. And you will also reap many good blessings in this life (Romans 8:6). When you live in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit you will enjoy life and have great peace of mind. When we give generously, we will reap generously (2 Corinthians 6:9-11). When you have faithfully shared your faith and prayed with tears you can be sure that you will reap joy (Psalm 126:5-6). Many have sown so much good seed in so many ways over so many years. Now you must expect to reap many blessings, in your finances, in your family, in your ministry, in this church. This is a time of reaping. This verse is very clear: we will reap a harvest. 

2. The Timing of Reaping (Galatians 6:9). We want everything in our time. But there is a time for harvest. There is a moment to receive your blessings (Ecclesiastes 3:1; James 5:7-8). Patience is one of the great keys to perseverance. To reap you must accept God’s timing and give up your impatience. In the Old Testament Abraham demonstrates what it means to persevere (Romans 4:18-21). No matter how negative the circumstances looked, Abraham was patiently waiting for God’s time to fulfil His word. And we must always do the same. 

3. The Terms and Conditions of Reaping (Galatians 6:9-10). Our blessings will come in the right moment, but we must not miss out by getting tired and giving up. To reap you must never give up (Hebrews 10:35-36; Hebrews 12:1-3). We too need to follow the example of Jesus. He went through far more than we will ever be called to endure. He never lost heart. He focused on the joy of blessings to come. We also must throw off everything that would stop us reaping all that God has for us. Throw off discouragement, self-pity, worry and weariness. Don’t give up after all you have sown. Don’t give up because you are struggling right now. Don’t give up when so many blessings are coming your way. As Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb said, ‘Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.’ The apostle Paul, a man who himself went through so many troubles, encourages with these verses to not focus just on what you are going through, but help others with all they are facing, starting with your own Christian brothers and sisters. This is how you will make it through every challenge. Just keep going then. Never, ever give up. For you who have sown much good seed are going to reap much good fruit. Your harvest is coming. And this church’s harvest is coming. Get ready for a lot of reaping.  

If you’re praying for a financial breakthrough, there’s no better place to turn than to God’s wisdom, spoken out through His Word. God’s Word is life and when we place it at the centre of our lives it brings life to every area - life to our bodies, life to our spirit, life to our relationships and life to our finances. 

In order to reap the promised great harvest we read of in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, we need to first sow: 

1. Sow with generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6,13; Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 14) 

2. Sow with obedience (2 Corinthians 9:1-5,13 

3. Sow with joy (2 Corinthians 6:7; Matthew 19:16-22) 

4. Reap in provision (2 Corinthians 6:10; Psalm 65:9-11; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19) 

5. Reap in righteousness (2 Corinthians 6:10; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 5:6) 

6. Reap in every way (2 Corinthians 6:11) 

Apply  

1. Sow with generosity. The Bible teaches us that when we sow generously, we will reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6). This is true in so many aspects of life e.g. when we are generous with our time, our friendships and relationships flourish. But the Bible is also telling us, specifically, that it is true in the area of our finances (Proverbs 3:9-10). The word clearly says that first, we are called to be generous to the Lord, to honour God with our wealth, to present to Him our first fruits. Not the dregs of what’s left over, but generously out of the cream of the crop. However, we are also called to more widely be generous on every occasion, to all people (2 Corinthians 6:13). Are you living a life of financial generosity? To your family, to your friends, to God? Or are you content to withhold, to focus on blessing yourself first and foremost. Generosity shows the heart of Jesus to people, and we see here how other believers were encouraged by the acts of generosity by the church in Corinth. Jesus was the ultimate model of generosity. When King Herod beheaded Jesus’s cousin John the Baptist, Jesus still had compassion and generously ministered to the needs of the people (Matthew 14). Jesus never withheld anything from us, all the way to the cross where he paid the ultimate cost on our behalf. We need to be people who sow generously. Break out of any me-centred thinking. How can you instead look to bless others, your spouse, family, disciples, and the Lord. 

2. Sow with obedience. This chapter talks about how the Church in Corinth had pledged a generous gift, and their enthusiasm had encouraged and stirred many others to do likewise (2 Corinthians 9:1-5). However, the gift had not yet been fulfilled and Paul was writing to encourage the believers not just to boast of their perceived generosity, but to be ready and to fulfil it (2 Corinthians 9:13). Their sacrifice and faithfulness provided for the needs of many. Many people, often in great need, can be blessed through our obedience. As a church we tithe a tenth of our income and give to missions and grants all over the world, often in some of the poorest countries, to very practically support the people and the see the gospel advanced as an overflow of that generosity. We are taught time and again that obedience brings blessing. This is true in many areas, but also particularly true with obedience in our finances. When there is financial disobedience it will block you from receiving the blessing God has in store for you. This can take many forms: maybe you’ve been withholding tithes, unfulfilled pledges, unpaid loans or taxes? Maybe there’s something that needs to be put in order today. Young people, tackle this now. You may feel it is insignificant, tithing your Saturday job money, but it instils a spirit of faithfulness, and you will be reaping for decades to come out of your obedience to God. 

3. Sow with joy. It is not just the act of sowing financially, but on the attitude we need to sow with (2 Corinthians 6:7). We can’t just be cheerful reapers! We read in Matthew 19:16-22 the story of a very rich man who was keeping all the commandments but still felt a lack in his life. He asked Jesus what he still lacked, and Jesus told him to sell everything and come and follow Him. But instead the man went away sad, because he had great wealth. Thinking back to our series last year on the 12 disciples, many incredible ministries began by answering the call of Jesus to leave everything and follow Him. This rich man walked away from a destiny with the Lord because he could not freely give his wealth. Money grips people and society. They cannot truly experience the fullness of the joy of the Lord whilst they are still under its control. Don’t allow money to rule you. So often thinking about money can bring fear or anxiety. Or it can even lead us to the opposite end of the spectrum: looking to it for happiness or hope. We need to have our lives in the right order, no other gods in our lives. Follow Jesus and not money. When you get this right, it will release you into a new freedom to give cheerfully, freely and with great joy. Sowing can be hard work, it can even be frustrating at times, but sowing is not the end. It is the preparation phase to receive the harvest. When we sow our finances in accordance with the word, we are promised to reap a harvest in many ways: 

4. Reap in provision. We will not just reap in the basics of provision, but in many ways (2 Corinthians 6:10). We see 3 key elements here to Gods provision here: He promises to provide for our natural needs. One of the ways we can expect to reap is in our most basic needs. There are many examples throughout the Bible where God is revealed as the ultimate provider (Psalm 65:9-11; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19). As His children, we are not called to lack in any way. Be confident He can and will supply for all your needs. Secondly He promises to provide the means for opportunity: verse 10 doesn’t just say He provides bread, but He also supplies seed for the sower. In other words, God doesn’t just provide physical stuff, but He provides the means, the opportunity, to be productive and increase in prosperity. God can provide this in many ways, e.g. in new business ideas, new clients, new jobs or investment. He wants to multiply what we have in our hands. Then He promises to enlarge our territory: lastly, Verse 10 says He will supply and increase your store of seed. In other words, we see that God provides an increase in our territory. Maybe you need provision in your savings; for medical bills, pensions, kids education/uni. Maybe you need to see your house enlarged. God is willing and able to increase your store! We are not called to be hoarders’ wealth but to steward it wisely. John Wesley famously taught to earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can. When we faithfully sow, we will reap a great harvest of provision and see our territory enlarged. 

5. Reap in righteousness (2 Corinthians 6:10). When we have things in the right order, when money is in its right place as a tool and not as a master, we enable ourselves to be right before God. We live in a world where people tend to believe their ways are right in their own eyes, where true or false becomes relative, and many believe they can do whatever they think, or feel is right. But we cannot allow ourselves to be deceived, there is an absolute standard of righteousness. The importance of pursuing it is commanded by Jesus (Matthew 6:33). There is God’s favour for those who live for His righteousness (Matthew 5:6). The root to satisfaction therefore is to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be hungry to be right with God. This is why Paul is teaching us that as we obey God’s rule in respect of our finances, we will see our relationship with God flourish. 

6. Reap in every way (2 Corinthians 6:11). The blessing promised here is for the quality of every area of our lives to be enhanced. You might be thinking that God has been faithful in my finances, we are comfortable, and although more would be nice, there isn’t a desperate need. But the promise extends beyond your money: your marriage, your children, your health, your ministry. They will all be enriched when you sow your finances into the kingdom and people of God. God wants to enrich us materially and spiritually, not for our own riches or lavish lifestyles, but so, as it says in verse 11, that we can be a great blessing to people and bring glory and thanksgiving to God. If we want to reap this great harvest, we have got to sow into the kingdom of God. 

Like Angus Buchan (see ‘Faith Like Potatoes), we too can discover how everything can change when you really have faith in the Word of God. In the Bible, Jesus told a parable (a story) which illustrates this (Matthew 13:3-23).  

Jesus told how the sower scattered seed but had mixed results. Some seed was quickly snatched away. Some fell on rocky ground and didn’t take root. Some seed got choked with thorns. In all cases we see there was nothing wrong with the seed being sown - the Word of God - but the difference in outcome was caused by the place onto which it fell.  

If you want to be a person who - as the Message version puts it - ‘produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams’ then first we need to make sure we do as this word says and are ‘someone who hears the word and understands it’ (Matthew 13:23). 

We see some very simple points that will help us reap this great harvest by discovering the power of the Word of God: 

1. Listen to the Word of God (Matthew 13:23; Matthew 13:34; 1 Samuel 3:10; Proverbs 19:20; Psalm 81:8,11; James 1:19) 

2. Understand the Word of God (Matthew 13:23; John 12:16, Luke 18:34; Acts 8:30-31)  

3. Retain the Word of God (Luke 8:15; James 1:22-25; Matthew 7:24-29). 

4. Expect the harvest according to the Word of God (Matthew 23:13b; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Ephesians 3:20) 

Apply  

1. Listen to the Word of God (Matthew 13:23). Many times, when Jesus was teaching His followers, He said 'He who has ears, let him hear’ (e.g. Matthew 13:34). Now of course we all have ears, but let’s be real: are we listening to the Word of God? Whilst we might hear the Word at church, in our life groups, at the prayer meetings, are we just letting it wash over us, or are we really listening to what God is saying to us as individuals, as families and as a church each time? In the Old Testament, God called the young boy Samuel. Three times Samuel heard the voice but at first he wasn’t attuned to listening to God’s voice. It was only when Samuel said “Speak, for your servant is listening” that he received what God wanted to say to him (1 Samuel 3:10). We must learn to listen (Proverbs 19:20; Psalm 81:8,11; James 1:19). God will speak through His word, the Bible. He will speak to you as you pray. He will speak to you through your pastors and leaders. So how good are you at listening? What's your attitude when your boss gives you areas to improve on at work? How do you react when your life group leader highlights something in your character or habits that needs to change? What about when the Bible gives instructions we find hard to follow, like how husbands and wives, parents and children, should treat one another. We might not always like it, but we but we should always listen. You have a Father in heaven who wants to speak to you. Do you speak more than you listen? To God, to your spouse, to others? One of the main obstacles to being a person who listens is pride. We need to get rid of pride. We need to be humble. To not just hear, but to attentively listen to the Word of God. We must create a culture of listening more than we speak.  

2. Understand the Word of God (Matthew 13:23). We start by hearing the word, but then we also need to understand it, to know what it means. Time and again the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them (John 12:16, Luke 18:34). Whilst you might be listening, trying to hear what Jesus is saying, do you understand (Acts 8:30-31)? In the gospels, the disciples sometimes asked Jesus: “Explain to us the parable”. We too can go to our pastors, our life group leaders and ask questions. We all need to understand the Bible. You can’t just read one part. You can’t expect to understand the New Testament if you don’t understand the Old Testament. You can’t understand grace until you understand the law. You can’t understand the greatest commandment to love one another unless you understand the 10 commandments. We need to read the Bible so we can then move to understanding it. So, if you aren’t reading your Bible, make that commitment that from today you will. But not religiously reading it because you must, and quickly ticking it off your to do list - we need to meditate on the word of God, to study and pay attention to it. This takes time and diligence to search the scriptures, to think about what they mean, to reflect on them. Of course, all Scripture is God-breathed and we can ask the Holy Spirit - Spirit of truth - to guide us and give us revelation. How a married couple should treat one another, how a family should be ordered, how to keep a right attitude in all circumstances. And there are many excellent study guides which are simple to use and can help you grow in your understanding of the Word of God. Contact us or ask your life group leader if you want some recommendations. 

3. Retain the Word of God (Luke 8:15). This parable of the sower is also recorded in the gospels of Luke and Mark. Retaining the Word means that it goes down deep into the soil. The seed didn’t go deep enough in the first 3 places it was sown, on the path, the rocky ground and amongst the thorns. It was snatched away, choked, or withered and couldn't produce a harvest. But when the seed hit the good soil, it went down deep. That’s what needs to happen when we hear the word of God. It has to really become part of us. We need to retain it. Only then can it really grow (James 1:22-25). Retaining the word means knowing how to apply it in our lives. In another parable Jesus told, he taught that we should all be like the wise man who built his house on the rock, who ‘hears these words of mine and puts them into practice’ (Matthew 7:24-29). It’s not about us just being able to quote and recite scripture: that’s simply head knowledge, academia. Whilst of course that’s useful, it only becomes life changing when it goes down into our spirit. 

4. Expect the harvest according to the Word of God (Matthew 23:13b). What are you expecting? If the seed of God is in you, it’s not that we just have the right to expect a harvest, but that we will see it anyway because the seed sown will produce a bumper crop. The vision of God is a vision of multiplication (2 Corinthians 6:2; Ephesians 3:20). We can expect the harvest to come as we really listen to, understand and retain the Word of God. That’s the key to this great reaping. It is how we move from small results to big results. We move from coping to conquering, from enduring to enjoying life. It’s how we move from hundreds to thousands. So are you a good listener? Do you seek to understand God's word? Are you retaining God’s word in your heart in every circumstance? Are you expecting great things from God? If we do all this, then we will for sure discover the power of God’s word and reap the phenomenal harvest.  

A report by the Pulitzer Centre shows that every day 35,000 people come to Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. According to Operation World, Iran a country once closed to the gospel, now has the fastest-growing evangelical movement in the world. It is estimated that over 1 million have accepted Christ in the last 20 years. 
 

Everything changed when the Holy Spirit came suddenly upon a group of 120 disciples. They testified boldly about Jesus to thousands who had gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost and the church greatly accelerated (Acts 2:41,47; Acts 4:2; Acts 5:13; Acts 6:7; Acts 11:21,24). 

Many churches around the world today are not meeting in small halls, but in stadiums. We too must pivot into seeing that happen in our nation. So, we are starting a new series on how it’s time to reap the harvest. We see some simple lessons from the great example Jesus gave us as He preached to multitudes about this very topic (Matthew 9:35-38).  

1. We must have vision (Matthew 9:36; Genesis 15:5) 

2. We must have compassion (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 4:24,12:15; Luke 6:19; Matthew 8:1-4; Matthew 9:10-17; Luke 7:47; John 8; Romans 5:5) 

3. We must pray for workers (Matthew 9:38; Philippians 2:10-11; Mark 1:35-37; Acts 13:2; Matthew 6:10; Genesis 32; Colossians 4:12) 

4. We need to recruit teams (Matthew 10:1; Matthew 4:19; John 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:10; John 15:8; Daniel 12:3; Romans 4:17; Luke 5:8,10-11; Nehemiah 4:6; 2 Timothy 4:5) 

Apply  

1. We must have vision (Matthew 9:36). Jesus saw the crowds, and He often ministered to crowds by the power of the Holy Spirit all at once. To see a great harvest into the Kingdom of God, we must have the same vision and focus as Jesus (Genesis 15:5). You need to have a big vision of the spiritual descendants who God is sending to us to fulfil His promise. When you receive it, instead of seeing a whole heap of trouble in the crowds, you’ll start seeing how God will change the lives of millions of people who don’t yet know Jesus.  

2. We must have compassion (Matthew 9:36). Jesus looked on the crowds with eyes of compassion. He saw them as ‘harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’. ‘Helpless’ means that, like so many today, they were unable to handle the challenges life in daily life, and there was no-one to help them. At that time, apart from rampant sickness, poverty, disease and demonic oppression, Roman occupation of Israel brought its own challenges. Jesus didn’t just see faces, He didn’t just see problems: even in a crowd, He saw each individual, He knew their pain and addressed it with the power of God. Many times we read in the gospels that Jesus healed everyone that came to Him (Matthew 4:24,12:15; Luke 6:19).We too can show compassion by not hesitating to pray for the sick, asking Jesus to continue His work as we lay hands on them. Jesus ministered to the crowds but also individuals and to children. He ministered to despised people. He touched lepers with His unprotected hands, re-admitting them to society (Matthew 8:1-4). He ate with the tax collectors who were so hated by many (Matthew 9:10-17). He forgave the many sins of a prostitute (Luke 7:47) and saved a woman caught in the act of adultery from being stoned to death (John 8). What do you see when you look at a crowd? Are you filled with compassion?
Just like Jesus, you too can have God’s heart of compassion (Romans 5:5). God wants to give you His heart, but you must be willing to receive it. Ask God for His heart of compassion. 

3. We must pray for workers (Matthew 9:38). Everything begins with our recognition that there is a Lord of the harvest. That means we are not in charge: He is. He is Lord of our hearts, Lord of our lives, Lord of His church, and Lord of everything (Philippians 2:10-11). When we are submitted both to God and to leaders in the church, we can participate in His mission of sharing the good news of the gospel. His mission begins in the place of prayer, not in the place of busyness and activity. Prayer is how Jesus set His priorities for His work (Mark 1:35-37). When we pray, God calls people into His service (Acts 13:2). Our prayer can and will produce great change, and is where the real battle for people’s the souls takes place. Sadly, many who are meant to be giving their best for God have sold themselves instead to their employer or their business, so God doesn’t have first place and isn’t Lord of their hearts. We must win a victory in the spiritual realm through prayer to release people into service for God (Matthew 6:10). Jacob wrestled with God in prayer to receive the blessing of God over his life and family. As a result of his all night encounter, his name was changed from Jacob to Israel and God blessed him (Genesis 32). We see this pattern of prayer in the New Testament church as they sought to not only win people to the Lord, but to see them established in Christ, standing firm (Colossians 4:12). Pray that God will call people out of darkness and into God’s service, that He will establish them to stand firm and give them a repentant, good and noble heart that multiplies disciples. 

4. We need to recruit teams. Jesus didn’t just see the crowd, He saw what it would take to minister to them effectively. He would need to gather, train, commission, and release a team so that more people could be reached. After a night of prayer, He appointed His team of 12 disciples and sent them to do what He had been doing, giving them authority and equipping them (Matthew 10:1). This is what we must do if we are to be at full capacity for a great harvest. Jesus wants us to ask the Lord to send people who are willing to do the real work of evangelism, ministering where people are. Jesus called his team of 12 not just to stay with Him, but to go with Him, then go ahead of Him, to do what they saw him doing in public. God wants all of us to work for Him (Matthew 4:19; John 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:10). Proof that we are disciples of Jesus is that we bear fruit of love in our character by what we do and in winning people to the Lord (John 15:8; Daniel 12:3). We must each be intentional in telling our story of what God has done in us whenever the opportunity arises. Together, like a combine harvester, we will reap as each one does their work. While some are winning people, others will be establishing people in the Lord, others will shaping and forming people as disciples so they too can serve, others will inspire and encourage people to become influencers, but all work together. Wherever we are employed, we are all first to be servants of God 24/7. Let's not allow ourselves any excuses. We have grace from God to overcome fear, to be patient and kind to people, to show mercy, to endure hardship. We may not think we can do evangelism, but God calls the things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17). When we surrender to Him, He will help us. God is looking for workers who are available and God fearing (Luke 5:8,10-11). The first disciples were God fearing. There was no greater purpose in life for them than being with and working for Jesus, the Son of God. What’s it going to take for you to be available to God right where you are? Don’t hesitate to make the changes in your life so you can be ready for a great harvest. Make it a daily habit to tell God you are available to Him at any time to share your testimony. Then actively look for opportunities and take them. We must also be surrendered. Have you surrendered all to Jesus yet? Then we must be humble and anointed. Will you remain humble for God? Will you keep His anointing by being holy? We are to be persistent and hard-working team players (Nehemiah 4:6). Every one of us is called to ‘do the work of an evangelist’ (2 Timothy 4:5). 

So to see a great harvest, we need vision to minister to multitudes of people, we need God’s heart of compassion, more prayer, and more teams. Let us pray that God will send forth many workers who will lead many people to know his son Jesus, to the glory of God! This is a momentous time where we all need to become full time servants of God in our attitude of mind. Wherever we are employed, it is time to start living on God’s terms and not our own. It’s time to receive Jesus as Lord, not just saviour. Lord of your time, money ambitions, hopes, dreams. Then you’ll be able to serve Him wholeheartedly. 

At many times in world history and in British history, Christianity has been written off as dead or dying. That’s what people think is happening right now. But its not true. Reports of the death of Christianity, including in the UK, are greatly exaggerated.  

While it’s true that many liberal and traditional churches are in terminal decline, many others are growing and starting other churches. What’s more, young people are often the biggest grouping in these churches. Today there are an estimated 650 million Christians around the world who would describe themselves as Charismatic or Pentecostal meaning that they have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit (See ‘Fire from heaven; the rise of Pentecostal Spirituality and the Reshaping of Religion in the 21st century’). 

Yet for all these many encouraging developments, we also live in a time when there is widespread resistance to God and where paganism and militant Islam are on the march. A greater demonstration of God’s power is urgently needed. 

On Pentecost Sunday, we must realise that it is only a spiritual revival that is going to bring about large-scale repentance and fundamental change to our society. Revival has been well described as an ‘inrush of the Spirit into a body that threatens to become a corpse.’  

The word Pentecost, meaning 50, refers to the momentous day when the first disciples experienced the Holy Spirit at the time of the Jewish Feast of Weeks or Shavuot in Hebrew. This took place 50 days from the Feast of Firstfruits held at the time of Passover. It’s also called ‘the feast of harvest’ and the ‘day of the first fruits.’  

All these names show that the Day of Pentecost came at a time of great significance when Jews from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem. Although the coming of the Holy Spirit had been promised centuries before by the prophet Joel, the events of the day of Pentecost, ten days after the return of Jesus to heaven, changed everything for the previously nervous disciples and for the Christian church which grew immediately with 3000 new believers.  

From this day onwards the early Christians became an unstoppable force. Within weeks the whole of Jerusalem knew all about Jesus and within one generation, despite much hostility and, Christianity had spread throughout the Roman Empire. Pentecost was an amazing moment. Acts 2:7 says that people were ‘utterly amazed’. 

Whenever there is a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit comes everything changes both in the church and in the world. Time and again in history, when everything has so looked bleak in society, a new outpouring of Holy Spirit has produced what historian Paul Johnson called ‘profound seismic movements.’ 

We see in Acts chapter 2 some key developments that took place on the Day of Pentecost. 

1. The Holy Spirit came suddenly to them (Acts 2:1-2; Malachi 3:1; Luke 2:8,13-14; Acts 9:3; Acts 16:25-26 

2. The Holy Spirit came supernaturally on them (Acts 2:2-3; Luke 4:18; John 3:8) 

3. The Holy Spirit spoke powerfully through them (Acts 2:4-6,11-18,38-39; 1 Corinthians 14) 

Apply  

1. The Holy Spirit came suddenly to them. The disciples, who had been continuously praying and preparing to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, turned up for yet another daily prayer meeting only to quickly discover that this day was like no other (Acts 2:1-2). God is the God who acts suddenly (Malachi 3:1). After so many prophecies and centuries of waiting for the Messiah, Jesus/Yeshua suddenly appeared. At His birth, in one moment the shepherds were doing their usual boring work guarding the sheep, then out of nowhere heaven suddenly burst in on them (Luke 2:8,13-14). In another moment in time the Jewish zealot Saul was going about his daily business of persecuting followers of Jesus when his whole life and future suddenly changed (Acts 9:3). And when he himself was persecuted as a follower of Jesus, he again experienced how out of nowhere God could turn everything around in a moment (Acts 16:25-26). This sudden coming of God has been experienced by many in past UK revivals (i.e. George Whitefield, the Wesley brothers; Duncan Campbell). David Matthew in ‘Revive Us Again’, describes revivals like these as God’s purpose going into ‘Turbo Mode’, saying ‘the everyday progress of the church, slowed down by apathy, tradition, mixture and division, suddenly enjoys a surge of power, as the Holy Spirit releases the brake, barriers come down, God’s people glow with life and the lost are gathered into the Kingdom in huge numbers. That kind of suddenly is what we all need today. 

2. The Holy Spirit came supernaturally on them. The coming of the Holy Spirit was not just something that was stirred within them but a power that came on them from heaven above (Acts 2:2-3; Luke 4:18; and see 20th Century Azuza St. revival). Have you had this experience of God’s power coming on you? When the disciples experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, there was a loud noise because of a powerful wind. Now anyone who has experienced a hurricane, a tornado or a typhoon knows just how powerful nature can be. You cannot ignore it. The Holy Spirit is also like the wind. In the New Testament, the word for “spirit” is “pneuma”, which can also mean “wind” or “breath.” Like the wind, the Holy Spirit comes in suddenly and seemingly from nowhere, transforming the atmosphere and changing everything. The Holy Spirit, like the wind, moves wherever He want (John 3:8). Also, there were tongues of fire that could be seen. Fire symbolises the purity, presence and power of God which Moses, Elijah and now the disciples experienced (see also T.B. Barratt baptism in the Holy Spirit on October 7th 1906).  

3. The Holy Spirit spoke powerfully through them (Acts 2:4-6). It’s important to note that although we can speak in unknown God given languages that 1 Corinthians 14 speaks of, here we see that the disciples spoke in languages that could be clearly recognised by visitors from all over the Roman world (Acts 2:11-12). Speaking in tongues in languages, both known and unrecognised, have been experienced by many Christians since then and can be your experience also when you are filled with the Holy Spirit. But also, you can have a new confidence and authority in speaking of Jesus in your own language. When the Holy Spirit came on them Peter and the disciples lost all their fears and spoke boldly of Jesus (Acts 2:14-18). And he ended with a declaration that the Holy Spirit can be experienced by all people in all generations. (Acts 2:38-39). In other words, every day can be a day of Pentecost. So let’s get right will God and receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. For this is the way that we will be changed, our families will be changed, our churches, and our cities and nations will be changed. Everything changes when the Holy spirit comes in power. 

As we sense God is preparing us for a move of God that we have never seen before in our church and in our nation, it is helpful to see how the first disciples were prepared for the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. The coming of the Holy Spirit did not happen out of nowhere. It followed a process of preparation.  

Acts 1 tells us that a lot happened in the 50 days between the resurrection of Jesus and the Day of Pentecost. For 40 of those days, they were in a period of accelerated teaching from Jesus. Then for the next days they had to take some actions. It took just over seven weeks for them to be positioned for what was to come. So much can happen in a short space of time. We see some significant factors in the preparation for the Day of Pentecost: 

1. We need to clearly understand God’s plan to establish His kingdom (Acts 1:3; Matthew 4:23; Luke 5:43) 

2. We need to stay focussed on receiving the promised Holy Spirit (Acts‬ 1:4-8) 

3. We need to unite in continuous prayer (Acts 1:12-14) 

4. We need to strengthen teams of 12 leaders (Acts 1:15-26) 

Apply  

1. We need to clearly understand God’s plan to establish His kingdom (Acts 1:3). Jesus made sure His disciples were thoroughly grounded in their understanding of the Kingdom of God - God’s new society. Throughout His ministry Jesus had repeatedly taught about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:23; Luke 5:43). In a kind of revision school before He returned to heaven, Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that He never came to start a new religious order. He came to announce a new whole new world order known as the kingdom of God. That is why He taught His disciples to pray, ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.’ Christianity is not just a matter of personal faith. Kingdom Christianity will affect every area of life and shape our vision, values and how we act and react. To truly be a subject of the Kingdom of God means that God rules over every area of our lives and that He wants us to advance His kingdom in every area of life: home life, business life, political life, cultural life, educational life etc. So we must understand the big vision that we are part of. 

2. We need to stay focussed on receiving the promised Holy Spirit (Acts‬ 1:4-8). Jesus was trying to impress on His disciples the need to be focussed on the Holy Spirit, but they were distracted by earthly and political matters. As Christians we too can easily focus too much on this life and the state of the world around us or even get caught up in trying to figure out when Jesus will return. Of course it is important to do our best as Jesus taught to be salt and light in the world. But the first thing is to be sure that we receive the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:7-8). Jesus knew the disciples needed the power of God in their lives and ministries and so do we. Just as we need to be baptised in water, so we also need to be immersed with the Holy Spirit. We need to receive a new dimension of spiritual authority when we know God’s power has come on us. Only when this happens can we be energised to be witnesses for Jesus in cities and nations. That’s why we must wait for the promise and not rush off in our own strength. So let’s get real: how much power of the Holy Spirit do you have? If you need the Holy Spirit, then you need to really hunger and thirst for this happen. You must no longer live in defeat, allowing the devourer of your finances to steal from you, you cannot accept that the enemy steals your home, your health, your love. You must cry out to God for His power. This is how you get ready for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  

3. We need to unite in continuous prayer (Acts 1:12-14). They all joined together constantly in prayer. They didn’t just pray now and again. They prayed constantly. They kept on praying towards the fulfilment of their goal. And it was not some of them who prayed but all of them. Here was a group of people joined together with a common desire to seek God. This included:  

- The disciples: All of the disciples in every life group should pray together. 

- The women: These were not just ladies who lunched together but faithful women who prayed together.  

- The family of Jesus: His mother and brothers all joined in the prayer. It’s so powerful when families pray together. 

Every move of the Holy Spirit can be traced to small groups of people getting serious about prayer (i.e.: 18th Century and John Wesley; Welsh Revival and Evan Roberts; Berkshire with Thomas Russell and John Ride). Such zealous praying is what is needed today at every level of the church and in every home and family. Revivals grow in ground that has been well prepared through prayer. 

4. We need to strengthen teams of 12 leaders (Acts 1:15-26). Why was this so important? Because 12 represents governance. In the Old Testament when God wanted to establish the kingdom of Israel He chose 12 Tribes. When Jesus wanted to establish His Church, He chose 12 disciples and when one betrayed Him, they did not just keep going with the 11 faithful disciples. Peter said in Acts 1:21 that it was ‘necessary’ to replace him, so they considered those who had proved faithful in following Jesus. Then they chose Matthias to take the place of Judas. Now the 12 were back to full strength and soon they would stand together on the Day of Pentecost when 3000 people became believers. You need a strong team in place to deal with that kind of harvest. If we are to be ready for many new people to come to Christ and into the church, we too need to develop strong teams of 12 faithful people. So first be part of a team and then build a team of 12. Together we can be prepared to move forward when the Holy Spirit brings great growth and acceleration. Make the most of the time we have to get ready for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit, is not an ‘it’ but a person: He is a He. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, but often described as the neglected person of the Trinity. Many have heard and know about the Father and the Son, but need to know a bit more about the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and He made incredible promises about Him which are as life-changing for us today as when they were first given: 

1. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer (Joel 2:28-29; Numbers 11:25; Mark 1:8; John 16:6-7) 

2. The promise of the Holy Spirit brings new life (Ezekiel 36:25-27; Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1,4-5; John 16:8; John 3:6) 

3. The Holy Spirit brings the presence of God to live inside us (John 14:16-18; John 15:9-10; Ephesians 3:14-19; John 14:27; John 15:11; Acts 16) 

4. The Holy Spirit will be your teacher (John 14:26; Jeremiah 31:33-34; John 16:13) 

5. The Holy Spirit gives us power to share our faith (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; John 7:37-38) 

Apply  

1. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. Several centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet Joel recorded a great promise from God about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28-29). This is an astonishing promise that every Christian can take hold of. This promise is available for all people: it is equally for men and for women, and no-one is too young or too old to receive it. It is especially for those who serve in low positions. It is for the servants, slaves and handmaids. It is for ex-prisoners, those in debt, distress or discontented. No one is discounted. All are precious in God’s sight. In the Old Testament, there were just over a hundred people who are recorded as receiving the Holy Spirit, and that includes the seventy elders who received a share of Moses power at the same time (Numbers 11:25). The anointing of the Holy Spirit came upon roughly one person every 120 years. But at the day of Pentecost, Joel’s prophetic promise was fulfilled and about 120 people were filled with the Holy Spirit in one go. That’s more people in one day than the previous four thousand years combined! And that was just the start. We are living in a time that has seen the largest number of spirit-filled Christians in the whole of history. John the Baptist knew Jesus would usher in the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). Jesus Himself declared it to His disciples too (John 16:6-7). We are very fortunate that the invitation to receive the Holy Spirit is so generously offered to us, and we must never devalue it.  

2. The promise of the Holy Spirit brings new life. 600 years before the Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the prophet Ezekiel also received a great promise from God about the life-changing work of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:25-27). This means we can be cleansed from bad attitudes and sin, have our hard hearts softened with compassion, be restored to life and relationship with our Father in Heaven. The Bible makes it clear that we are all dead men walking until we receive Jesus’ death for us. It’s not just that we’ve committed sins, but our human hearts have turned completely away from the God who created us, feeling we are free to do anything we want (Romans 3:10-12). Jesus told His disciples he had to be handed over to death to pay our ransom (Ephesians 2:1,4-5). Now, while it was Jesus’ death on the cross that brings the payment for salvation, it is the Holy Spirit who comes alongside us to soften our hearts, urging and appealing to us to turn back to God (John 16:8): 

- He convinces the world of sin: awakening your conscience to recognise how you have rebelled and done wrong;  

- He convicts the world of righteousness: to see that your self-righteousness is filthy compared to the righteousness of God; 

- He convicts the world of judgement: that you’re under a death sentence unless you surrender your life at the cross. But when you surrender to Jesus, you can freely receive His Spirit (John 3:6). When the Holy Spirit gives life to your spirit you are ‘born again’ – no longer cut off from God because of sin, but restored into a spiritual relationship with Him.  

3. The Holy Spirit brings the presence of God to live inside us. Jesus promises that you don’t need to go it alone, for the Holy Spirit will always be with You (John 14:16). This brings great hope for anyone struggling in the battles of life. Whenever you feel overwhelmed or afraid you can just invite Him, “Come Holy Spirit”, and experience His presence. This is more than a feeling, it’s a relationship you experience in your spirit (John 14:17). The presence of the Holy Spirit brings comfort (John 14:18). No matter who or what you might lose in this life, there’s One person who can never die and you can never be separated from. For many, the grief of losing your parents is one of the toughest of times in life. But when the Holy Spirit lives inside us we know we have been adopted by a Heavenly Father, and this is such an anchor of comfort. The presence of the Holy Spirit brings love (John 15:9-10). This is not just a nice-to-have, it’s actually an instruction! God is love and we need to experience it. If you’re a born again Christian but you’re feeling distant from the love of God, there’s an important detail in this command from Jesus: we need to keep His commands to remain in His love. Are you living in obedience to His commands? The Apostle Paul wrote extensively about love (e.g. Ephesians 3:14-19). The presence of the Holy Spirit brings peace (John 14:27). The peace that the Holy Spirit brings is not dependant on calm and tranquil circumstances but there to take hold of by faith, no matter what is going on around us. This is not a practice of mind over matter, it is about being filled with and surrendered to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:6). The presence of the Holy Spirit brings joy (John 15:11) Paul and Silas, having just been wrongfully accused, arrested, severely flogged and locked in a dungeon, decided to sing their hearts out to God in a midnight praise party (Acts 16). Their joy was irrepressible! 

4. The Holy Spirit will be your teacher (John 14:26). This is another promise that was also given through the prophets hundreds of years before Jesus was born (Jeremiah 31:33-34). As our Teacher, the Holy Spirit helps us to know God’s character, to deeply understand the words of the Bible, and for His laws to become ingrained in our hearts and minds as a natural part of who we are. He is the “Spirit of Truth” who will never lie to you (John 16:13). You can trust what He says. As we learn to stay humble and submitted to Him, we can listen to and hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, and be so helped. He is our guide but we must always remember He is God. When we sense His prompting in our spirit we must choose to quickly obey. This is the gift of intuition. When we recognise Him speaking to us, we must trust and obey, not over-analyse and assess what He says or we can miss it.  

5. The Holy Spirit gives us power to share our faith (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit gives powerful, spiritual gifts to his children to make us effective in telling other people about this good news we’ve received in Jesus. But there’s a clause here: you can’t expect power if you don’t want to be His witness! If we’ve got the same spirit as Jesus, and an obedient heart to serve His purposes, we can expect Him to help us minister with many of the same gifts as He did. We just need to stick close to and treasure the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today you can receive the Holy Spirit in a personal way to make God real to you at a level you’ve never known before. It may be that you have heard about the Holy Spirit but need to know Him in a personal way or want to know Him more. If that’s your desire, the Bible promises that you will receive Him, just ask right now (Acts 2:38-39; John 7:37-38). 

2000 years ago, an expert in the law asked Jesus: “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). Whilst this question may have seemed well meaning, the Bible says he was actually a lawyer testing Jesus (Luke 10:26-29). The legal expert gave the right theological answer but had entirely missed the real heart of these commands to love God and love others with everything we are - no excuses. 

Jesus’ next answer was brilliant, and it deals with the heart of Christianity. For your and my neighbour is anyone and everyone. To illustrate this, Jesus told a famous story about a man travelling on one of the most notorious roads in Israel. Many people had been attacked on this 17-mile road from Jerusalem to Jericho. 

Everyone knew this road. Everyone knew it was best to take an alternative road. But one guy was on this road and was badly beaten up, left for dead (Luke 10:30-37). This story brought home what it really means to love your neighbour and who your neighbour is. In a few sentences Jesus showed how we must never become too busy or self-absorbed to care for one another as we go about our own business in life. Everyone is our neighbour, no matter what race, creed or colour. 

We see some simple lessons which will help us show God’s love to our neighbours too: 

1. He saw the man and took pity on him (Luke 10:33) 

2. He stopped what he was doing and went to the man (Luke 10:31-34) 

3. He bandaged the man’s wounds (Luke 10:34; Isaiah 40:1)  

4. He poured on oil and wine (Luke 10:34; Matthew 26:27-28) 

5. He brought the man to safety and looked after him (Luke 10:34) 

6. He sacrificed to care for the man (Luke 10:35; Matthew 25:40) 

7. He made a plan to look after him in future (Luke 10:35-37; James 2:15-17; Acts 4:34; 1 John 4:20-21 MSG) 

Apply  

1. He saw the man and took pity on him (Luke 10:33). He saw a human being who was attacked by robbers: so many people today have suffered physical violence and been robbed not only of possessions but of their hope and peace of mind; Stripped of his clothes: To be stripped is to be humiliated. Maybe you have been stripped of your dignity and self-image by being abused or by wrong actions of others; beaten: means you have lost the battle. You’ve been overpowered by enemies, addictions or circumstances; abandoned: means you are on your own, rejected and cast aside; left to die: means you are in such a bad way that it’s all over unless someone helps you. Of course this describes the experiences of Jesus, who gave His life so that we can have life. But it also describes the experiences of so many people and maybe also where you are at right now. Do we see the pain in people’s eyes? Do we see evil that is ruining people right before our eyes? So often we don’t see the need. We need to stop and look in people’s eyes. For example the growing incidents of sex trafficking involving people working in public places has been called ‘human slavery hidden in plain sight.’ Often the need is not hidden, we just aren’t seeing it. The Good Samaritan is a wonderful example of love that begins with really seeing the needs of others.  

2. He stopped what he was doing and went to the man (Luke 10:34). The Good Samaritan stopped, and we need to stop too. Stop what we’re doing. Stop our plans. See the need in front of us and actually do something about it! How often do we make excuses? There were two others in this story who also saw this victim (Luke 10:31-32). Not one but two religious leaders found the man, one after the other. When he saw them, the man must have thought his rescue had come! But both chose to distance themselves and continued walking by. Maybe they were too busy. Maybe they didn’t want to get dirty. Maybe they thought the whole situation was just too risky. For whatever reason, they didn’t stop and go to him. But then a sworn enemy of the Jews came: a Samaritan. Yet this enemy, from a race despised by the Jews, came to the rescue. Both priest and Levite here show how it is possible to have a religious identity without really having a love for people in need. 

Before we condemn them, it would be better to examine our own hearts: how much need do we see without doing anything about it? How easy is it for you to focus on your own life when actually you could be helping a lot more people? If we really see a need it should lead us to stop and go to people.  

3. He bandaged the man’s wounds (Luke 10:34). So many people have wounds in their hearts: wounds of abuse, wounds caused by cruel words, wounds from rejection, betrayal and broken relationships. He put bandages on the man to stop the bleeding. How can we put bandages on and minister to people’s hearts? We can do what God said to the Jewish people and speak words of comfort, words of hope (Isaiah 40:1). Speak kindly to people. Show them the love of Jesus. Let them see it in your eyes, words and actions. 

4. He poured on oil and wine (Luke 10:34). The Good Samaritan used oil and wine to sooth and disinfect the wounds. We always need to be sensitive and gentle with people whose wounds may or may not be obvious. The oil is widely understood to symbolise the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, priests, prophets and kings were anointed with oil and the Holy Spirit would come upon them. We receive the Holy Spirit when we give our lives to Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, and accepting Him as our Lord. The Holy Spirit compels us to see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Through the power of the Holy Spirit working through us we can see people’s lives transformed. The wine symbolises the blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:27-28). Derek Prince writes of the Divine Exchange that we can receive: forgiveness for punishment; healing instead of wounds; righteousness for sinfulness; life for death; glory for shame; poverty for riches; and acceptance instead of rejection. The blood of Jesus has power to transform lives and situations.  

5. He brought the man to safety and looked after him (Luke 10:34). The Good Samaritan did everything he could to look after the person in need in front of him and take him out of that dangerous place. Would you use your nice car to get a bleeding, dirty person to hospital, or call a taxi? In that moment, his own needs and comfort took second place. The early days of a person’s recovery or new life as a Christian need careful oversight. He changed his plans, his priorities, and was willing to personally commit to caring for the other man, to ensure he was out of danger and could make a full recovery. 

6. He sacrificed to care for the man (Luke 10:35). Real care requires real sacrifice. He paid a significant sum of money – 2 days’ wages - to ensure this total stranger was well cared for. Jesus said we must go out of our way to care for the people that no one else cares for. It will always cost us something to care. It will cost us time, effort and maybe cash to do what Jesus said we must: feed the hungry, give the thirsty a drink, look after the homeless, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit those in prison (Matthew 25:40). As a church we’ve always given generously to people in need (e.g. support during the pandemic in South Africa; 40 years+ supporting schools and projects like clean water wells in Burkina Faso). Are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, your plans or ‘quiet night in’, or your comfort to really care for those in need?  

7. He made a plan to look after him in future (Luke 10:35). He consolidates him, showing him aftercare. The Good Samaritan doesn’t just leave him. He intended to return to help his recovery. We too must be faithful in ministering to people at all stages of their development. This is real Christianity. Every action of the Good Samaritan showed that he really loved and cared. And Jesus said ‘Go and do likewise’. Real Christianity then is for sure about words, but it is also shown by our actions (James 2:15-17). Thank God that the early church modelled this all-round care for people (Acts 4:34). All through history and still today, many of the greatest social care projects and humanitarian reforms have been led and supported by Christians. Great movements like the Salvation Army were started by Christians and continue to be supported by those who care for people’s bodies as well as their souls. Today, God wants you to know that you are cared for. But He wants to make us also His agents of care to show in every way His compassion for the world. Our first love for God must spread to all people - beyond the bounds of age, race, and social status (1 John 4:20-21 MSG).  

Right back in Genesis 3:15 God said: ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; It will crush your head, and you will strike its heel.’ God was saying that the seed of woman would crush the head of Satan. This is a promise that was fulfilled when Christ came into the world, born of a woman, to defeat Satan. 

Mary, who was just a poor young woman, knew that she was highly favoured to give birth to the Messiah. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, we see that He gave high value to women and treated them with great kindness. As a result, many women followed Jesus and supported his ministry financially. Women were last to stay at the Cross and the first to the empty tomb. All through history women have been some of the strongest and most faithful followers of Jesus. You too can be a Christian who can make a big difference in the lives of many people, starting with your own family. 

Rahab was a woman with a bad past who gave her family a great future (Joshua 2:2-6). The Bible says that she was a prostitute. Her life was not very pretty and she was socially worthless. But although her past was bad her future was bright, and she is mentioned as one of the great examples of faith in Hebrews 11.  

She was a woman who was not from God's people. She was part of one of the people that the Lord had told the Israelites that they would conquer. In fact they were a people that was going to disappear, that was her destiny along with her people in Jericho. But her story’s ending was totally different because of the decisions she made. So what led her to make completely out of the ordinary decisions? What led her to prefer God's people over her own people? 

1. She feared God (Joshua 2:8-11; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 31:30)  

2. She asked for the mercy of God (Joshua 2:12-16; Hebrews 4:16)  

3. She chose to obey and trust God (Joshua 2:17-21; James 2:24-26; Hebrews 11:31) 

4. She saved her whole family because of her obedience to God (Joshua 6:22-25) 

Apply  

1. She feared God (Joshua 2:8-11). This woman knew that God was real. She knew that the Israelites had seen God’s awesome power at the Red Sea and when they destroyed other cities. Rahab and her people were so fearful that they were now coming towards Jericho. What really scared them was they understood that the God of the Israelites was ‘God in heaven above and on the earth below.’ Rahab had supreme respect and submission to Jehovah, the God of the Israelites, above the gods of her people. We too should have a proper respect for God (Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 31:30). Rahab’s destiny started to change from the moment she recognised the greatness and power of God. The new value that was coming to her life started when she valued God. 

2. She asked for the mercy of God (Joshua 2:12-16). Rahab feared God but she also believed that she could receive kindness from these Israelite spies. She probably didn’t receive a lot of kindness in her life, but she still hoped for kindness for herself and her family. She knew that her only hope was to plead for mercy and that’s what the spies promised. This is a great picture of how we should come to God because He is a God of love and mercy. He is full of love who wants to forgive us of our sins and save us from destruction (Hebrews 4:16). 

3. She chose to obey and trust God. Rahab decided to completely come on to God’s side. She did what she had been told to do (Joshua 2:17-21). Her trust in God caused her to take action to obey God. Rahab’s faith did not remain just a thought because that would be a dead faith; it would only be an illusion (James 2:24-26). Her faith was seen by her actions. She hid the spies. She made an agreement with them. She tied the red cord to the window. She didn't wait for the spies to go back and give their report. She didn't delay until she knew that the Israelites were about to invade Jericho. She believed and acted immediately. And that’s what we must do: we don’t have to put a red cord in our windows, but we do have to believe that the red blood that Jesus shed at the cross can save us from our sins. We need to identify with Christ now. We need to start immediately to live a new life as a believer. Rahab, despite her terrible past, understood that this was her moment of decision and from that day on she lived accordingly. Her faith changed her value and that took her off the list of prostitutes and onto the list of Bible heroes (Hebrews 11:31). Many of us have heard the word of God and may have been coming to church for a long time. Maybe you have heard many promises from God but you have to come to the moment when you really believe them yourself and take action to follow Jesus and to live differently for Him. That is what Rahab experienced; her moment of decision arrived and so has yours.  

4. She saved her whole family because of her obedience to God. In the moment when the walls of Jericho were falling and everyone around them were being killed, Rahab and all her family were rescued (Joshua 6:22-25). Because of Rahab’s faith and actions, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters, and anyone closely connected to her were saved. Today not only can you be saved but you can be the one person who changes the future of all your family and friends. It doesn’t matter if you had a bad background. When you believe in Jesus and obey Him, you will see God’s goodness and mercy in your own life and in the lives of all your loved ones. What the Lord did for Rahab, He can do for you and your family. Just put your faith in Jesus. And do it today. 

Peter said in Acts 2:17, “God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” All through history young people have been key to spiritual revolutions in their generation (e.g. the story of Billy Graham; the ‘Jesus Revolution’ film).  

In China, they are experiencing perhaps the greatest growth in the Christian faith. According to a recent estimate, more than half of China's one billion population are under 20. China is a nation of young people, so it is not surprising that the house churches have a preponderance of people in their 20's and 30's. Some sources estimate over 72,000 people a day are being converted in China. 

Across the world there are indications of a significant move of the Holy Spirit in our generation. In the UK the time is ripe for many young people to discover the new life and hope that Jesus promised. A BBC news report suggested nearly three-quarters of young Brits identify as having no religion.  

So how can today’s generation of young people both inside and outside of the church receive a spiritual awakening? We can find some answers by considering a dramatic story recorded in Acts 20.  

After leaving the great city of Ephesus where the gospel made a big impact, the apostle Paul and his companions had travelled in Greece and modern-day Turkey, encouraging many people. Then they came to a place called Troas, a Greek port city, where one young man called Eutychus, probably aged between 8 and 14, was saved from what could have been a tragic and early end to his life (Acts 20:7-11). 

The great apostle Paul was preaching on a short visit where crowds came in to hear him. He had so much to share and, as Luke writes, he talked on and on! The young Eutychus became very sleepy and fell out of an upstairs window to his death. Panic arose, but the Apostle Paul did not worry, he knew that this was not the end for this young man. And the difficult situations that many young people find themselves in today are not terminal either. God has a great love and purpose for each young person and is ready to bring a great spiritual awakening to this generation of young people. Let’s look at some lessons here: 

1. Young people are often in great danger (Acts 20:8-9; 1 Peter 5:8 MSG; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6) 

2. Young people need to be brought back to life (Acts 20:9-10) 

3. Young people need to be looked after by the family of God (Acts 20:11-12) 

Apply 

1. Young people are often in great danger. Your surroundings can make you spiritually sleepy (Acts 20:8-9). Most likely the combination of heat from the candles and the people crowded into an upstairs room, created an atmosphere to make you feel drowsy. Today the constant bombardment of sexual images, bad language, rebelliousness, peer pressure, anti-Christian media bias can slowly cause you to go to sleep. You may be in a more dangerous position than you imagine (Acts 20:9) Eutychus was in the room with everyone else hearing great teaching. Eutychus was in the right place, right? He was present in this church meeting, but he wasn’t completely in the room, he was sat on the edge of a window. The edge is a dangerous place to be, in this instance practically and physically. But when we read the Word, we see that God doesn’t want us to be half in and half out. Unhealthy influences and relationships, a love for self, materialism, stubbornness: These are just a few areas where we can find ourselves not sitting where God wants us to be. We have to be aware there is a great spiritual battle for every life (1 Peter 5:8 MSG; 1 Corinthians 16:13). Are you spiritually on guard? Are you aware of where you are positioned right now? If you want to experience the move into the purpose of God, you must come off the ledge. You may have been troubled, you may feel like you have fallen away. But today is the day where you can come alive again in the spirit and receive great things from God (1 Thessalonians 5:6). If you are spiritually asleep you can fall. It’s time to wake up.  

2. Young people need to be brought back to life (Acts 20:9-10). Eutychus fell and he fell a long way, all looked lost. As they went down to find him, they picked him up dead - he was lifeless. But when the people of faith are in the building what seems lost - dead and gone - can be brought back to life. Paul came down from ministering to the crowd of people upstairs and threw himself on this young man here before him, and he embraced him. This was similar to the story of Elisha bringing a boy back to life in the Old Testament. He didn’t care that his message was interrupted and wasn’t intimidated by the circumstance, he had great faith and did not accept that this young man was dead. Where others saw death, Paul saw life. He spoke faith over him. Don’t just see people as they are, but what they can be. We as a church need to see what the youth can be. Don’t just leave it to others. Declare life over the youth. If you have fallen asleep, if you feel spiritually dead, God wants to bring you back to life. God is not finished with you. Just like He had compassion and grace for Eutychus, He sees where you are and has the same for you too. He wants to embrace you and bring you back to life. 

3. Young people need to be looked after by the family of God. They must be brought into fellowship with people who are focused on Jesus (Acts 20:11). They must also be brought home (Acts 20:12). For those of you that are standing for your friends, your children, your family; after all of this had happened, Eutychus’ family were blown away at how Eutychus had been brought back to life. Have faith for your children and be confident that God has a plan for them. Don’t stop interceding for them, don’t give up encouraging and supporting them. Eutychus was revived because he had the right people around him. We need to bring the young people back into the house of God. Now is the time, now is your time. 

For the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ shifted forever the world’s moral and spiritual axis and opened a whole new age of freedom and hope. The darkness of Good Friday was replaced by the bright new dawn of Easter Sunday. Sadness was replaced by joy. Life had conquered death. 

The big truth of Christianity is that Jesus certainly was dead but that he didn’t stay dead (Matthew 28:5-6). In other words, the Easter story is fact not fiction (see: Lee Strobel, ‘The Case for Christ’). 

The most compelling reasons for belief, however, are so often not through intellectual arguments, but by seeing the power of Christ at work in real people which literally billions of people have experienced. Easter changes everything and can give us all new life. 

1. Easter changes our past (1 Corinthians 15:14-22; Matthew 27:51; Romans 5:7-8; 1 John 4:10; Ephesians 1:7; Isaiah 53:4-5; Psalm 34:18) 

2. Easter changes our present (Matthew 28:20; John 20:25; John 20:29; Luke 24:13-16,32) 

3. Easter changes everything about our future (Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:18; Revelation 1:17-18; John 11:25-26; John 14:19) 

Apply 

1. Easter changes our past. The great writer CS Lewis, in his parable the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, said that when the lion Aslan, representing Christ died, death started ‘working backward.’ In other words, God can reverse our history and cause us to be justified with God ‘just as if I’d never sinned.’ Through the shedding of the pure blood of Jesus and His resurrection, our hearts can be cleansed from past sins and healed from past hurts. We can be forgiven for past sins (1 Corinthians 15:14-22). When Jesus died, He made possible access to God which had previously been impossible. The 90-foot-high thick curtain blocking access to the most Holy Place in Jerusalem’s temple was miraculously ripped in two from top to bottom symbolising the removal of the barrier between a Holy God and sinful humanity (Matthew 27:51). At the Cross Jesus Christ paid the full price of sin and made a way for repentant former sinners to come into fellowship with a holy God (Hebrews 10:19-22). Jesus took on Himself the punishment due for our sins (Romans 5:7-8; 1 John 4:10; Ephesians 1:7). Because of God’s grace and love for every person, Jesus made it possible for us to be totally forgiven. The good news of Easter is that whatever sins you have committed, whatever mistakes you have made, you can be forgiven by God for every sin and washed clean and made a new person from the inside out. Your past will no longer define you. You can be made new in Christ. You can also be healed from past griefs (Isaiah 53:4-5). On the cross Jesus bore our sorrows as well as our sins and He wants to carry yours and comfort you (Psalm 34:18). Today give your grief to God and open your heart to receive His healing. You do not have to live any longer with the pain of your past.  

2. Easter changes our present. The big shock for the first disciples was that Jesus was no longer dead. They were not alone as they had imagined. Jesus was with them, and He promises to be with us (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is with us despite our failures. Peter was full of guilt for how he had panicked and denied the Lord. But he found that the Lord was looking out for him. In Galilee Jesus had breakfast with Peter and recommissioned him to be one of the great leaders of the first century church. Jesus is with us when we doubt. Thomas wasn’t there where Jesus first appeared to his fellow disciples, and he was cynical about their report (John 20:25). But his doubts disappeared when Jesus appeared before him and invited Thomas to see for himself that He was real (John 20:29). Jesus is with us when we don’t realise it (Luke 24:13-16, 32). Today you may or may not feel the presence of God, but you can. For He is nearer to you than you think. He is the good shepherd who doesn’t want us to walk alone through life. That’s why we need to reach out to Him and always ask the Holy Spirit to let you know that He is always with you and in all situations.  

3. Easter changes everything about our future. As the song says: ‘Because He lives, I can face tomorrow/Because He lives, all fear is gone/Because I know He holds the future/And life is worth the living/Just because He lives!’ Jesus has gone ahead of you in life (Matthew 28:7). Just like a good shepherd goes ahead of his sheep, so we can have joy in our lives by knowing that Christ has gone ahead of us in life. Jesus came to earth to experience what we experience and show us how to conquer over all that life can throw at us (Hebrews 2:18). There is nothing on life’s road that God is unfamiliar with and He can guide us through all troubles and trials, highs and lows. God’s grace is available for every situation because He knows the ways we take. Jesus has also gone ahead of you in death. Death, the final enemy was put to death, through Christ’s death and resurrection (Revelation 1:17-18). Through the death and resurrection of Christ, the curse and power of death have been broken. You don’t have to fear death anymore. When you die and are buried or cremated it’s not the end. For the Christian, death is the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ’s presence. To know that truth brings great joy and confidence through the passing years. On earth Jesus showed his authority over sickness, evil spirits and even storms. But it was in his death that he showed his ultimate authority (John 11:25-26; John 14:19). 

Billy Graham said: ‘The Christian has it all ways, abundant life now and eternal life to come.’ 

As his time of death drew near at the age of 99 he said: ‘I know I'm going to heaven. I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation because of what Jesus did on that cross. He died for us and was raised by God. When you read I am dead don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.’  

Jesus’ death and resurrection then has big implications for our past, present, and future. Since Jesus came back from death we also can come back in life. We can all have a total new start in life. We can have a new identity as a Christian. We can have a brand-new history and a very different destiny. Easter changes everything and Jesus can change you from this Easter Sunday.  

Many times in the Bible we see that great breakthroughs and blessings come when people decide to stop fighting on their own and let God take charge of every challenge and every crisis (e.g. Esther 4:16; Luke 22:42). 

As we conclude our series on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we see it was only when Jacob finally gave up what was most precious to him that he unlocked great and wonderful blessings for himself and for all his family. As we have already learned in our series on God of each generation, Jacob was a man who liked to be in control. And if he wasn’t in control, he would do whatever he could to be the boss of his own destiny, even if that meant deceiving his brother, his father-in-law and his ageing father.  

Important as it is for us to decide to take responsibility for our lives, ultimately we are not the masters of our fate. However much you may consider yourself a self-made man or woman, there are experiences and events that are beyond your control. 

Jacob experienced one such moment when his brother who had vowed to kill him for deceiving him, was heading his way with 400 men. This was why Jacob had his night of prayer and wrestling with God. But despite the blessing he received in that encounter, and the powerful promises that God had given him in a dream, there was still one area of his life that he wanted to keep control of. And it is to this part of Jacob’s life that we now turn to learn some important lessons about letting go to let God have full control of your life.  

1. Jacob found it so hard to let go (Genesis 42:33-38; Genesis 29:20)  

2. Jacob finally decided to let go (Genesis 43:14) 

3. Jacob was stunned by God’s blessings when he let go (Genesis 39-45; Genesis 45:25-28; Romans 8:28) 

Apply 

1. Jacob found it so hard to let go. Jacob’s family had been saved from starving when 10 of his 12 sons went to Egypt to buy grain. They had personally met with the powerful ruler who controlled all the food supplies, but he questioned them about their family and accused them of spying. When they returned to Jacob, they told their father how harsh he had been with them (Genesis 42:33-36). Jacob’s reaction to this news was immediately negative. No matter what this powerful figure in Egypt was saying, this was a total no go area for Jacob. Jacob was blaming his sons for Simeon being kept as a hostage in Egypt and for the loss of his favourite son Joseph who they had led him to believe had been killed by a wild animal. And now they wanted him to let go of his second favourite son, Joseph’s younger brother Benjamin. In all Jacob had 12 sons through four different mothers, but it was the two who were born to him and his wife Rachel that were closest to his heart (Genesis 29:20). Joseph and Benjamin were results of Jacob’s love for Rachel but tragically she died giving birth to Benjamin and Jacob was devastated. Benjamin was the last surviving link to his lovely Rachel and an enduring comfort after losing Joseph. He had loved and lost Rachel. He had loved and lost Joseph. He did not intend to lose his last surviving great love, Benjamin (Genesis 42:38). Jacob struggled so much to let go. And maybe you do too. So, what or who do you find it is so hard to let go of? Is it a child, a parent, a loved one you have lost? Is it the pain of grief? Is it anger at the way you have been treated? Is it a grudge, a resentment, an argument? Is it an image and reputation? Is it money, comfort, a hobby, a sport, a friendship? What are you holding on to deep in your heart? You must not hold on if you want to be opened to all the new things that God has for you.  

2. Jacob finally decided to let go. Jacob resisted for as long as he could, even though a long time passed, and Simeon was still in an Egyptian prison. By now a return to Egypt was now urgently needed for more grain. That meant Benjamin had to go on the trip with them as the Egyptian ruler had insisted. It was Judah, the fourth born son, who tried to persuade his aged Dad to make the decision that he so feared. This was the same Judah to who had convinced his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave rather than kill him. Although his dad knew nothing about this, Jacob finally accepted the promise of Judah to take personal responsibility for Benjamin. Here at last is Jacob’s moment of surrender where he finally threw himself on to God’s mercy and he gave in to let events take their course (Genesis 43:14). And that’s what you need to do also. There comes a time when you must let go of your pain, your fear and defensiveness. The point of your breakthrough is the moment you fully put yourself in the hands of the Lord. This is the time when you must stop struggling and let God be God in your life. You need to decide to surrender everything to the Lord: your sins, your sorrows, your fears, pain, hopes dreams, and your control. This is how you will find peace and open the door to God’s purposes for you. 

3. Jacob was stunned by God’s blessings when he let go. The 11 brothers went back to Egypt for food and to face the wrath of the ruler who had kept their brother in prison, but they made the most incredible discovery in the most dramatic circumstances (Genesis 39-45). For the powerful ruler of Egypt who controlled the food supply for millions, the man they so feared, was in fact their brother Joseph who they had sold into Egypt years before. When he revealed himself to them the first question he asked was ‘is dad still alive?’. At first, they were shocked and feared for their lives, but they found that Joseph had forgiven them. They spent a lot of time crying over each other and finally Joseph asked them to go back to his dad and tell him that the son who he thought had died long ago was still very much alive. Meanwhile Jacob who had been waiting and hoping for the return of his sons, especially Benjamin, was about to have the greatest shock of his life (Genesis 45:25-28) No wonder the Bible says that ‘Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.’ How could this possibly be true? How could there still be hope after so much pain? How could circumstances that had been so negative turn out so positive? How could God turn around such a mess? Yet after more than 22 years of not knowing what had happened to each other, father and son were reunited (Genesis 46:29). As soon as Joseph appeared before Jacob, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. Years after Jacob thought everything was finished, he discovered that God was still at work when everything seemed lost; he hadn’t known it but all through his pain and grief God was always still faithfully continuing with His plans. God was at work in ways that He could never have imagined; not only was Joseph alive, but he was the ruler of all Egypt. Only God could have orchestrated such a turn of events. God brought great healing to hurting hearts, both his and Joseph’s. God brought great reconciliation in his family and prospered them greatly. God worked to save multitudes from starvation and prepared Jacob to bless future generations. Jacob blessed Pharaoh, his own sons and blessed his grandsons. God fulfilled everything He had promised. When Jacob died, after 17 years in Egypt it was not only Joseph who wept over him, but all the high officials of Egypt accompanied him and his brothers to bury Jacob in a field bought by his grandfather Abraham back in the land of Canaan that God had repeatedly promised to him and his descendants. And so the faithfulness of God, throughout all the twists and turns of Jacob’s life, continued through each generation, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to Joseph and beyond and it continues to this moment.  

Today you need to know that the God of Jacob can be your God too. You may have thought your purpose in life is over or that you can never recover from your pain. But God is not finished with you. God has had His hand on you through every season of life. God has much better things in store for you than you can imagine. Today put your full trust in the Lord, leave your fear, give up your control, get rid of your arguments, and let God work out his perfect purposes for you and in you and through you. For just as Jacob saw God’s good plans unfold in his life, so we who are followers of Jesus will too (Romans 8:28). And that’s why we can do no better than to fully surrender our lives to God and always trust Him. 

God warns against praying with vain repetition, saying the words but they’re not from the heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Jacob was a man who got God’s attention with a breakthrough prayer and in doing so got his life, family and future back on track (Genesis 32:24-28). 

This is a message of hope for you and for your family. You might be ‘on the run’ from God, ducking and diving, putting on a brave face to cover your desperation or wondering if there’s a future for you. Well God has not forgotten you. God loves you, He still has a plan for your life, and He wants to introduce you to the new life He has for you, just like He did for Jacob. Jacob didn’t assume God’s blessing on his life was automatic. To receive his blessing, we see some key points from Jacob’s life: 

1. Jacob had to be brought to a place of desperation (Genesis 25:22-23; Genesis 5:24; Genesis 25:29-33; Genesis 27; Genesis 31; Genesis 32:7-8; Ephesians 2:8) 

2. Jacob had to cry out in his desperation (Psalm 34:17; Genesis 32:24; Psalm 145:19) 

3. Jacob had to push through (Genesis 32:25-28) 

4. Jacob was changed forever (Genesis 32:27-32) 

Apply 

1. Jacob had to be brought to a place of desperation. Jacob had a past that had caught up with him. He had been a deceiver and he had been deceived. After a long time of barrenness, his mother Rebekah became pregnant with twins (Genesis 25:22-23).
Being born first meant that Esau was entitled to the birthright - the inheritance, wealth and blessings from his father. The name Jacob means deceiver/supplanted/heel grabber (be careful how you name your children!) - and Jacob went on to live up to this name (Genesis 5:24). To get ahead of his older brother, Jacob tricked Esau into selling him his birthright (Genesis 25:29-33). Then, when his father Isaac was at his life’s end, he wanted to bless his firstborn son, but Jacob and his mother plotted to steal the blessing from Esau. Jacob successfully conned his father into giving him Esau’s blessing, which enraged Esau (Genesis 27). Jacob had become a deceiver and got what he wanted. But sure enough, when he was forced to leave the family home, he began to reap what he had sown. Whilst working for his uncle Laban, Jacob was deceived into marrying the wrong woman after a 7 year wait, and then had to work another 7 years to get the wife he had been promised (Genesis 29). Additionally, his uncle Laban changed his wages 10 times (Genesis 31). It was at this time he decided to return to his father’s household and face up to his past that was catching up with him. So Jacob sent a message to his brother along with some gifts to pacify him.

The message came back to him that Esau was on his way to meet him with 400 men, and Jacob was terrified. Desperation brings us to a place where we acknowledge our deep need for the Lord. For Jacob that was after his brother had vowed to kill him, forcing him to run for his life. Trouble drives us to our knees (Genesis 32:7-8). Jacob prepared for the worst and tried to put things right by sending gifts ahead of himself. Spiritual death comes when we think we have everything under control. When you are brought to a place of desperation, you realise your breakthrough isn’t going to come from your own efforts. You realise that something bigger than you is needed. God is not looking for our performance, He’s looking for our surrender, our admission that we’re undone without Him. Jacob had to come to a new humility. God is not out to humiliate us, but to bring us to reality so that He can give us a brand new life (Ephesians 2:8). What matters in your crisis is who you turn to. If that person is Jesus, your life will start from the moment you invite Him in and totally surrender to Him. Turn to Jesus in your desperation today.  

2. Jacob had to cry out in his desperation. Alone in the wilderness, after he had sent all his family ahead of him, Jacob had the ultimate restless night. There is nothing that will develop your prayer life like being under pressure. We have to get to the place where we cry out to God (Psalm 34:17). That night the Lord visited Jacob and the Bible says that Jacob wrestled with him until daybreak. Jacob, in his weakness and fear, finally faced God (Genesis 32:24). Some things must be settled between just you and God. Deep things about you that only He knows, when you settle who you really are with God and where you’re going in your life. Don’t settle for second hand faith when you can get your own.
God is inviting you to take Him at His word and prove His promises for your own life. It starts when you cry out (Psalm 145:19).  

3. Jacob had to push through (Genesis 32:25-28). Jacob remembered the promise God gave him about his life and family to keep him safe if he returned to his father’s household. Jacob refused to let anything stand in the way of its fulfilment in his life. He remembered what his grandfather Abraham stood for, and how Isaac prayed for his wife so she could bear children. So all though the long night till daybreak, Jacob insisted “I will not let you go unless you bless me”. What mattered, was not that he was fighting with God, it’s that he was turning to God. He was learning how to get past his pride, his self-sufficiency, scheming instead of trusting. He learned to pray through to a place of intimacy with God, a place of reality before God, a place of peace and assurance that God had this all under His control. God never wants us to go through fears, battles, stress on our own: He wants to meet us right in the middle of them. It is through Him that we receive freedom, endurance, faith, courage, miracles. 

4. Jacob was changed forever (Genesis 32:27-32). From this time forward, whenever Jacob acted according to his new nature with confidence and strength, he is called Israel. The thing that Jacob feared most didn’t ever happen. Instead of fighting him, Esau then came and embraced him and Jacob was saved. But he continued to walk with a limp from his fight to remind him all his life that it is better to trust in God than to rely on yourself. Maybe you’ve been fighting and struggling for your blessings, you may have received a calling from the Lord or a great promise that is not yet fulfilled. Like Jacob, you might have taken some short cuts, compromised yourself, maybe putting on a show of religion, keeping a brave smiley face on but deep down knowing you’re living well below what God has for you. God is looking for your surrender, not your performance. Breakthrough is when God breaks through because you let Him into every area in whatever way He wants and you agree with it. When you encounter God everything changes. Now is the time for you to have a change of nature – where you’re no longer in the driving seat, where you surrender all to Jesus. 

As we have already discovered in our current series on the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God wants to bless every generation. 

He greatly blessed Abraham, with a long-promised son, with great wealth and promises of limitless descendants. He also blessed Isaac in so many ways and He would later greatly bless Jacob and his descendants. But to keep the blessing flowing, there were obstacles to overcome, as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all discovered. 

Genesis 26:18 talks of how Isaac unblocked his blessings, saying: ‘Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.’ 

Isaac was in big trouble. In a time of famine, he had gone to the land of the Philistines and God has blessed him greatly - so much so that locals became envious, and he had to move on. He did so - to Gerar, approximately 11 miles southeast of Gaza. 

But he and his family had a very urgent need - not of land but of water. Wells that you could access water from were essential to their survival and prosperity. This is something our brothers and sisters in Burkina Faso also know which is why we have supported different projects over the years to sink wells in the world’s third poorest country. 

A well represents life, blocking up a well represents death. Now just as access to natural water is of the highest importance, so too the spiritual water of the Holy Spirit is vital to the health and growth of the Christian church. 

As Christians we constantly need the streams of living water (the Holy Spirit, the life giver) that Jesus promised (John 7:38). Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we will remain thirsty and fruitless. As individuals and churches, we need to always remove anything that would block us from finding water from God. 

This passage is very relevant to where we are today in the Christian church in the U.K and other nations as well as to many of us are personally. We see some key points: 

1. Generations that have gone before us have dug life giving wells (Hebrews 12:1-3) 

2. Enemies have blocked up the wells of a previous generation (Matthew 13:24-43)  

3. Each generation needs to unblock old wells (Jeremiah 29:13; Hebrews 11:6; Isaiah 12:3) 

Apply 

1. Generations that have gone before us have dug life giving wells. Father Abraham had dug wells. Isaac had no need to re-invent the wheel, to dig fresh wells. Excellent wells had already been dug. In one sense much of the hard work had been done. Others had been this way before him. His father had learnt how to sink wells. Today we need to realise much ground has already been won. Battles for biblical truth, for political freedom of worship, for recognition of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. A century ago Pentecostal Christians were ridiculed for their emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Now today Spirit filled Christians and churches are at the forefront of global Christianity. For sure many great men and women of God gone before us: 

- John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, William Wilberforce, William and Catherine Booth, Corrie Ten Boom, Billy Graham…The list is endless: 

- Gladys Alyward, the pioneer missionary to China, Smith Wiggleworth, the Bradford plumber, Teddy Hodgson, who was martyred in Congo and our own pioneer founder, W.T.H. ‘Billy’ Richards. 

They have shown the way forward by faith, vision and action. In one sense they knew how to sink wells, they knew what worked, they knew how to tap into the blessing of God. We are part of a long line of heroes of faith and their lives and ministries should be a source of instruction and inspiration (Hebrews 12:1-3). In the UK and elsewhere, there are many families, churches, communities and institutions that continue to this day because of previous godly generations, including generations of believers in this church. You too personally may have a rich spiritual history where you can point to many times where you have experienced the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The wells of God have been sunk deep in your life. But the question is: what is the state of the wells today?  

2. Enemies have blocked up the wells of a previous generation. Since Abraham died, enemies with hostile intent, moved in to block what had been conquered. This is the similar scenario that Jesus described in the parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:24-43). Today we can see much evidence of the work of the enemies of God, and of the arch enemy Satan, in countless lives and maybe also in our own lives and families. In Britain, we can see that after many great revivals, Christianity has been under sustained attack for a long time and today faces many challenges to our national Christian identity. Forces hostile to Christianity include: 

- Aggressive secular humanists who deny the reality of any absolute truths or standards and who legislate morality as seems best to them 

- Evolutionists who ridicule the possibility of any creator  

- Growing numbers of Paganists who literally worship the devil 

- Radical Islamists who are anti-democracy, anti-Jewish and who are intent on making Britain submit to Islam 

- Militant transgender activists who violently oppose the concept of biological genders and traditional morality 

Just as in the parable that Jesus told, much of this has happened while the church has been spiritually asleep, divided and often pre-occupied with its own concerns. It is time to wake up and see the big spiritual picture but also for to take immediate actions to first face up to what is causing what any blockage in any areas of our lives. It may be one thing or many things: 

- Hidden and unconfessed sin 

- Bitterness of spirit 

- Pride 

- Judgmentalism 

- Criticism of leaders and fellow believers: Don’t be like the generation who always criticised Moses and failed to get into the promised land. Or like those who wouldn’t recognise Jesus even as a prophet as they had known him for many years which blocked him from working miracles in his home town 

- Withholding of tithes and offerings 

- Unbelief and cynicism 

- Love of money and this world more than God 

- Neglect of your spiritual life and family life 

- Overbusyness 

All these things and others also can, and maybe have, brought great blockage in your life. And they need to be removed by a decision to get real and repent in order to once more access the life-giving water of God’s grace and anointing.  

3. Each generation needs to unblock old wells. Our political and cultural elite have turned their backs on this country’s spiritual heritage - the old wells. Many church leaders, including evangelical leaders, have also turned away from many of the emphases of our spiritual forefathers. But we can be among those who re-open the wells of blessing in our generation. Now of course every generation needs to communicate in a way that can cause the gospel to be understood by each generation. But what we need at root is a return to true spiritual roots. Back to what is tested and proven and sure. This means that we must: 

- Unblock the Wells of Christ centred Christianity: Christianity is primarily about Christ. We need to put Jesus at the centre of our lives and share boldly the good news of his saving love through his death and resurrection. 

- Unblock the wells of holy living: It’s the pure in heart who will see God. Holiness is how close I can get to God, not how much can I get away with. Holiness means running from sexual immorality and unclean thoughts and words and relationships. Holiness means treating people right in life and business and caring for the poor. 

- Unblock the wells of sacrificial service: Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice, but we too are called to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow him. The great stories of the advance of the gospel and Christian mission are stories of individuals who have sacrificed time, money, sleep, careers, health and sometimes life itself. 

- Unblock the wells of Prayer: Prayer is essential to spiritual life and vitality. It is time once again to seek the Lord (Jeremiah 29:13). 

- Unblock the wells of Bible study: The Bible is a book of life. There is power, protection and prosperity when we are focussed on the Word of God. We should constantly read the Word of God, meditate on it, study it and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate it.  

- Unblock the wells of forgiveness: It’s time to let go of grudges and arguments and to be reconciled like the Prodigal was with His father and Joseph was with his brothers. 

- Unblock the wells of honour for leadership authority: Break with an old culture of dishonour and disrespect. 

- Unblock the wells of generous giving: Bring all the tithes into the storehouse and give your best offerings. 

- Unblock the wells of faith in God: Unbelief, doubt and negative speech and thought patterns must go for the blessing to flow. Start to believe God’s word and step out. Faith is not faith until it is an act (Hebrews 11:6). 

- Unblock the wells of praise and worship: It’s time for you to sing again.  

- Unblock the wells of evangelism and Salvation: Go out to the multitudes and share the good news of Jesus at every opportunity. 

- Unblock the wells of dependence on the anointing of the Holy Spirit 

That’s quite a lot of unblocking to do. But it is totally worth doing. For when you do, ‘with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation’ (Isaiah 12:3). Isaac discovered the blessings of re-opening old wells and he learnt also how to sink new wells as this chapter also reveals. He was blessed in his life and generation. By following his example, you also will know great life and blessing for yourselves and for your generations. 

As we continue looking at the life of Isaac, we see a time where Isaac came into a year of unprecedented favour from God. He went through tough times and faced difficulties, including similar situations to his father Abraham, but when he stayed in the right place with God, put Him first in everything and obeyed Him, the Bible tells us that Isaac reaped a hundredfold in one year.  

Genesis 26:12-14 tells us: ‘Then Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants.’ 

As a church, our theme for this year is ‘The Great Harvest'. This can be a year like no other year for you, your family and the church as we learn some key lessons from Isaac's life.  

1. We have to sow in order to reap (Galatians 6:7-8; Matthew 6:33; Hosea 10:12; Psalm 24:3-4; Romans 12:2; Psalm 126:5-6; Matthew 22:9; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 9:6)  

2. We can see blessings on a scale that we never imagined (Genesis 26:12; Genesis 15:5; Luke 5:4-7)  

3. We need to understand that the source of blessing is God Himself (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19) 

Apply 

1. We have to sow in order to reap. Isaac planted. We have to sow. We cannot expect to reap a great harvest if we do not sow. As much as a farmer prepares the soil and the ground for his harvest, we too need to do the same to see people come to Christ (Galatians 6:7-8). If we sow in the flesh, we shall reap in the flesh but if we sow with the Lord and into His kingdom, we shall reap not only in this life but for eternity. So, what are you sowing into? Are you sowing more into your career, your business, your social life more than your spiritual life? These are only questions that you can answer, maybe the Lord is revealing things to you right now. Maybe it's time for you to readdress your priorities. To seek the God life, not just the good life. We need to trust the Lord to provide and bless us, as we seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). We can be sure that He will pour out His blessing on us as He did for Isaac. We need to ensure that we sow the right things in order to reap a great harvest in our families and in our church.  

- Sow by living right with God and man: To know the blessing of God we need to live the right way and to have a right relationship with the Lord. We need to live right in every area of our lives, to treat each person with respect in how we speak and in our actions towards them. We need to ensure that everything we do is ‘above board’ in our business lives and our personal lives. We must not just be saints on Sundays but treat people right every day (Hosea 10:12). Everything in life stems from our relationship with the Lord. We need to come into the right relationship with Him each day. Just as we need fresh food and water each day, we need fresh spiritual food from the Lord every day. Each day we need to start by asking the Holy Spirit to come into our lives afresh, to cleanse and purify us, to lead and guide us, to train and correct us (Psalm 24:3-4). Whilst we live in the world it is important that we stay close to the Holy Spirit, that we are sensitive to His voice and prompting. That we put our trust in Him alone and not the things that the world tries to get us to focus on like power, fame, success. Abandon the chase for pleasure, possessions and status, and stop living like everyone else (Romans 12:2). 

- Sow in tears with prayer: If you need a change in your situation you need to cry out to the Lord in tears and prayer (Psalm 126:5-6). Hannah sowed in tears for a child and the Lord heard her. Cry out to the Lord. If you have spiritual, physical, or financial barrenness then now is your time to cry out to the Lord and we will reap. Prayer is essential to our life as Christians. Martin Luther said: ‘To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.’ Before we do anything, we must pray. Pray for the great harvest to come. We need to learn and develop this more, to sow in passion for our loved ones and the lost of the world.  

- Sow in evangelism: We need to invite people to share in the good news of the Lord Jesus, to invite them to our life groups and church services. All we need to do is invite them; the Lord will work the rest out. If we never invite anyone, how will we expect them to come? To share the good news is a fundamental part of being a Christian a follower of Christ (Matthew 22:9). One of Jesus’ last requests to His disciples which is known as the Great Commission to ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’ (Matthew 28:19-20). This was not a suggestion but an instruction from God Himself.  

- Sow in giving: We will reap according to what we sow (2 Corinthians 9:6). We can expect that God will honour us if we sow into His kingdom. If we invest in God, He will invest In is. What is your attitude to giving? Do you give freely? Is your attitude ‘freely I have received so freely I give’ or do we struggle with this? Are we happy to sow generously with our time but not our finances? or perhaps our finances but not our time. When we sacrifice to the Lord by giving to Him, we are not only saying we trust you Lord, but we are putting a spiritual stake in the ground for our families and our generations to come. Today we can ask the Lord to help us to give freely. He wants each of us to give Him first place in every area, and to sow generously with our time and our finances.  

2. We can see blessings on a scale that we never imagined. We can see a great harvest. Isaac reaped a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). You may think of it as he reaped 100 times what he had sown but in fact it is much greater than this. A hundredfold return means simply the greatest possible return on any particular seed sown. When we sow with the Lord and according to His will and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can see far more than we ever imagined possible. God can totally expand all possibilities and every horizon in our lives, just as he did for Isaac’s father Abraham (Genesis 15:5). The blessing came quickly for Isaac - in one year. In one season of time, he went from a little to a lot. This is the year when we can see abundance. With Jesus by our side, we can achieve great things. Just like the disciples who had fished all night and caught nothing saw a complete turnaround when they partnered with Jesus (Luke 5:4-7), or Joseph who went from prison to parliament in one day, God can quickly bring changes. Isaac reaped a great harvest in the year that he sowed - it didn't take a long time. We can be sure that the same God who blessed Isaac a hundredfold wants to bless you and your family too.  

3. We need to understand that the source of blessing is God Himself. Isaac prospered because the Lord blessed Him. The Bible tells us he became very wealthy. We need the blessing of God in our lives, and we can receive it when we line up with the purposes of God. The blessing of the Lord kept coming to Isaac and also for the generations beyond him. We can know God's blessing in our lives too: blessings in our finance, business, family, and ministry. God wants to do greater things with you than you can ever imagine. The blessing was not Isaac's making, it was because the Lord blessed him according to the promise. God has given us the vision for the Great Harvest so we must believe this and work in the areas that God shows us, but also, we need to allow God to work where He needs to. He wants to bless you and your family. When we receive the Lord's blessing, it's not only for us but for our family and future generations. He wants to give you abundance in every area of your life (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19). If we want to see God's abundant blessing poured out, we need to be full of the Holy Spirit. God wants to bless us but what is our focus? What are you sowing into? Don’t waste your life by sowing into the wrong things. When we sow according to God’s will, look what happens: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were all blessed, and we can be too. 

The line of blessing started with Abraham, but Abraham’s son Isaac was key to keeping that going in his generation. Isaac’s life was the result of great faith:
He was the believed for child, when the dream of Abraham and Sarah having a child of their own seemed impossible due to their age (Hebrews 11:11-12).  

Isaac was a source of great joy: 
his name means ‘laughter’. People would have seen that he was a living embodiment of how God can do miracles can bring great joy to us, no matter our age and stage of life or the challenges we have experienced. And Isaac is also seen to represent a Christ-like figure in the Old Testament, because, when God tested Abraham, it looked like Isaac was going to be sacrificed and then he was received back to life (Hebrews 11:17-19). 

Yet Isaac was not simply a product of his upbringing with his best days in the past. Like each one of us, he needed to take action to ensure he and his family continued to receive the promised generational blessings. We see from Isaac’s life how each one of us can keep the blessing of God flowing in our generation: 

1. Isaac prayed for the continuation of God’s purposes in his generation (Genesis 25:19-21; Genesis 25:21, 26; Luke 18:1) 

2. Isaac had his own encounter where he received the promises of God for his generation (Genesis 17:8; Genesis 26:24; 2 Kings 2:14; Joshua 1:3-5; Genesis 17:17; Genesis 25:2-5; 35:12; Deuteronomy 4:37)  

3. Isaac prioritised obeying God’s will over his own comfort for the sake of his generations (Genesis 26:1-6; Ruth 1:6) 

Apply 

1. Isaac prayed for the continuation of God’s purposes in his generation. While Isaac was a child of promise whose very life was a miracle from God, that alone was not enough to guarantee the continuation of God’s blessings down the generations. Isaac had to take his own stand and conquer for his generation and the generations to come (Genesis 25:19-21). Isaac had been blessed with a godly wife, just as Abraham was blessed with Sarah. But like Abraham, Isaac faced the reality of natural and spiritual barrenness. While there was a promise of generational blessings to come, there was a very real and naturally unsurmountable challenge to seeing the line of blessing continue: Rebekah was barren. Maybe you are confronted with barrenness. Maybe the issues you face have also been a challenge to your parents or previous generations. Perhaps it is natural barrenness, of wanting your own children but not yet seeing that answer. Maybe it’s spiritual barrenness, where you’ve invested in people but haven’t yet started your life group or been able to develop in the ministry. It might be financial barrenness and debt. Or maybe you are looking at the state of your nation and seeing how desperate it looks. Unlike his father, Isaac did not take matters into his own hands, but he ‘prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife’. Isaac prayed and waited for 20 years for a child (Genesis 25:21, 26). The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. Despite the waiting, there came a double blessing of twins, Jacob and Esau. There comes a time for every Christian to make a stand of faith for their generation. However impossible the situation looks, God cares for you and wants to bless you, your family, your ministry and your nation. So each of us must pray for God’s purposes to continue in our generation, just as Isaac did. We cannot assume that the blessings of God for you and your generation are going to come easily and be handed to you. You must pray for your generation, for fruitfulness both naturally and spiritually. Pray for your marriage, pray for your children, both those you have and those you long to have, at every stage. Pray your family though every challenge. Pray that everything God has purposed for you and your generations will come to pass. Determine today that you are going to do as Jesus said, and ‘pray and not give up’ (Luke 18:1). We are told to ‘watch and pray’ (Matthew 26:41): don’t let the enemy come and rob you and your kids, both natural and spiritual descendants, at any stage. You started well, don’t stop now! Pray, pray, pray!  

2. Isaac had his own encounter where he received the promises of God for his generation. Isaac didn’t just hear about the old stories of God’s promises to the previous generation (Genesis 17:8): Isaac received the same promises from God for his generation as Abraham received (Genesis 26:2-5). In fact God repeated these promises to Isaac (Genesis 26:24). The promises of God are for all generations, but we must have our own encounter with God. Isaac knew he’d had good parents who had themselves experienced big battles and seen great victories in their lives, of which he was a living example. But now Isaac had to have his own encounter with God. This is what happened with the prophet Elisha when his mentor, the prophet Elijah, went to heaven (2 Kings 2:14). After the death of Moses, Joshua had to know that God was with him. It wasn’t enough to have been close to Moses and hear the promises he had received. Joshua needed a personal encounter with God for himself and to receive the promises for his generation (Joshua 1:3-5). You have to know that God is with you, to know the promises of God for yourself and the promises of God for your family and your descendants after you. The God of the Bible is the multi-generational, covenant keeping God (Genesis 17:17; Genesis 25:2-5; 35:12; Deuteronomy 4:37). Yet we won’t see the line of blessing continue to flow if we just live with handed down convictions. Each of us must live being confident in the promises of God for us and our descendants after us, promises that are impressed on your heart, that are your own personal convictions. Have you had the promises of God for yourself? Our Senior Pastor, Wes Richards, has had to know that the God of his father, the founding pastor of this church, Billy Richards, was also his God when his father died at a young age and Pastor Wes became Senior Pastor aged just 27. We have the living example of how the Lord has been with him and his family. Do you not only know the promises to be able to recite them, but are they truly rock solid promises your life is built on, part of your very being that no matter what anyone else says or does, what your circumstances look like and whichever generations come and go, that you are secure in your call and know that you know God’s promises for yourself? Every one of us needs that encounter with God to know the promises for ourselves, and for our marriage, for our family, for the church and our nation. 

3. Isaac prioritised obeying God’s will over his own comfort for the sake of his generations. It's very important to stay where we have been planted by God. Isaac made it a priority to obey God over his own will, comfort and desires. He paid the price in staying where God had placed him to ensure the continuation of God's blessing. (Genesis 26:1-6). Isaac was clearly thinking about moving on and was tempted to go down to Egypt. On the surface, the prospects probably looked better for Isaac and his family there. Isaac wanted to go, but God told him to stay. How often do we want to go and pursue our own goals and, the vision we have for our life? Isaac had to pioneer something for his generation. Abraham’s act of faith had been to obey God’s command to ‘go’; now Isaac’s was to obey the command to ‘stay’ (Genesis 26:6). Gerar was a place where the Philistines were in charge. But this was Canaan. Isaac was in Canaan, in the Promised Land. He was in the place of blessing, even though it might not have looked that way at the time. Many times people move from the place of blessing. That's what happened with Naomi, whose family moved away from Bethlehem when famine came, yet experienced more hardships as a result of going away from the place of God's blessing. Naomi lost her husband and two sons, and came back in bitterness and distress when she saw how ‘the Lord had come to the aid of his people’ (Ruth 1:6). When God has placed you somewhere, that is where you need to stay. Are you committed to pay the price to be obedient? Maybe this is something you must face right now - you’ve been unsettled and you’re looking somewhere else, the grass is looking greener elsewhere and you think you should move. Be very careful what you’re looking at and not to entertain any doubts and temptations in your thoughts and feelings which can ultimately rob you and your generations from God’s blessings and His best for your life. Whether that be in your marriage, your family, or this church - when God has placed you, that’s where you need to stay, where you have to work and be committed to pay the price to see the blessing. Like Isaac, when you determine to stay where God has put you, both you and your descendants will be blessed. God has the best plans for your generation and for every generation, so don’t miss out! 

Abraham did all he could to pursue the blessing of God not just for his generation but for the generations to come. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were all determined to live differently to the culture around them. In particular we see this in how Abraham advanced and protected his family line in finding a wife for Isaac.  

This is a very important decision, and we are defined by the choice we make in this area. Who you marry and choose to partner with in life will either help you and build you up in your life and spiritual walk with God, or they will ultimately pull you down and away from God’s plans for you.  

Whether you need to find God’s will in this area of finding the right partner, choosing your future career, a decision in your family, a business decision, or in your ministry, we can understand very practically through Genesis chapter 24 how we can seek God’s will. 

1. You must want to find the will of God (Isaiah 55:9; Genesis 24:1-4) 

2. Receive the best help you can (Genesis 24:2) 

3. You must seek God's will through prayer (Genesis 24:12-14; Matthew 6:10) 

4. You must be patient as you look for God's confirmation (Genesis 24:15-21)  

5. You need to stay focused and avoid distraction (Genesis 24:54-56) 

6. You must be prepared to act on God’s direction (Genesis 24:58) 

7. You will receive God’s best for you (Genesis 24:66-67) 

Apply 

1. You must want to find the will of God. You must want to do things God’s way and not your way. Many people believe that getting your own way is what will bring happiness and a life well lived. But we must be clear that God’s ways are better than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). Jesus both knew and exemplified this, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane 'not my will but Yours be done’. We see how Abraham wanted God's best for his son Isaac. He wanted him to have a wife who shared a common faith in God and who was faithful to God (Genesis 24:1-4). Abraham didn’t want Isaac’s wife to come from the people living around them, those who were serving other gods and had completely different values. This was a decision that was going to impact generations to come. He was devoted to obeying God and he would not compromise on the direction and promise from God that he had received. Do we seriously want to find God's will, or do we just want him to support us in our own will? You need to make that choice and settle it in your heart, like Abraham and like Jesus did, that you want to seek the will of God for your life over your own will.  

2. Receive the best help you can. Abraham chose a senior servant who he trusted with all he had (Genesis 24:2). He wasn’t acting alone in trying to seek the will of God, he knew he needed the help of others, so he made a plan and sent his servant. Although Abraham couldn’t physically go, he wanted someone who he knew was faithful to fulfil this mission. We too need help if we are to find God's will for our lives. People who naturally and spiritually have proved to be faithful, e.g. our leaders, our parents, not just because they have authority, but because they are people who have been faithful to you. Often asking for help like this takes a lot of humility. If we want to find the will of God – be it when finding a spouse, or maybe trying to decide what to study, or which career to accept or pursue – we need to be prepared to ask for help.  

3. You must seek God's will through prayer (Genesis 24:12-14). Before the servant started searching for Isaac's wife, before he did anything, he was very specific in his prayers. Maybe in the past you have been guilty of diving into things before first seeking God in prayer? Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we unlock when we become a Christian. But how can we pray effectively? How can we pray in a way that reveals the will of God to us? Jesus taught us to pray in teaching us the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:10). To see the purposes of God fulfilled in our lives, to see Him answer our prayers, we have to be in a place of submission where God’s will always wins over our own. Maybe today you need to start praying for God to direct you in a situation where you have been trying to figure it out on your own or making decisions based on your own ideas of what would be best. Today choose to pray and ask what God's will in your circumstance is.  

4. You must be patient as you look for God's confirmation (Genesis 24:15-21). The servant didn’t interfere or try to force anything to happen. We read how Rebekah approached the well and started to fulfil many of the signs that the servant had prayed for. It would have been easy for him to jump in and approach Rebekah as she’d ticked so many of the boxes already, she must be the one! But he ensured he followed God's lead and waited. It says he watched closely. We can’t just look for signs that look to back up what we want. We need to be very prudent and open. When you are seeking the will of God, you have got to lay down your own desires and wait. Do not rush into anything: check, watch and wait for confirmation.  

5. You need to stay focused and avoid distraction. Reading on, we see God confirm Rebekah was the one, before the servant revealed all this to her and her family. They agreed this plan was from the Lord and for her to marry Isaac (Genesis 24:54-56). Abraham’s servant stayed faithful to his mission. He didn’t just sit back after seeming to find success when the breakthrough from God to provide the perfect wife for Isaac had come. How easy it would have been for the servant to give himself a pat on the back for a job well done and stay feasting with the family for 10 days instead of a long, hot, camel ride home! But he stayed focused and alert. When we are pursuing God’s will for our lives, temptations can come at any stage; temptation to take matters into your own hands, to do it your way and not God's way, or to give up altogether. When God has confirmed His will to you, you need to focus on its fulfilment. Put these dreams into your dream book, in your devotional journal. Keep praying, stay focused.  

6. You must be prepared to act on God’s direction (Genesis 24:58). Rebekah was faithful in answering the call of God. This whole experience would have been a whirlwind for her, but she was spiritually alert and could see this was the will of God. She did not hesitate or delay in answering the call to action and to leave for her new life. It’s one thing to know something is the will of God, but it’s another to do something about it. Faith without works is fruitless. Maybe God has confirmed His will for you in an area of your life already e.g. that you should share your faith with a friend or colleague, launch a life group, take a new job, start a family. You need to be quick to answer, go in faith with the knowledge that God is with you and will be for you!  

7. You will receive God’s best for you (Genesis 24:66-67). Through faithfully pursuing the will of God, God’s best was released over this family: Rebekah very quickly had a husband who loved her deeply; Isaac was comforted and found peace; and Abraham ensured the blessing and promise he had received would pass to the next generation. God’s best wasn’t just individual - it wasn’t just God's best for Isaac, for Rebekah, for Abraham - it was God's best for the future and how He would ultimately bless the whole world. So, we must pay attention and be sure that if we turn away from independence and start doing things God's way instead of our way, we too are going to be blessed and so will our decedents after us. When we walk in God's will for our lives, not just in His will for a partner, but also His will for a career, for our purpose, we too will receive His best. Today you can make that decision to say like Jesus, God ‘not my will but Yours be done’.  

Abraham travelled extensively throughout his lifetime. He travelled 700 miles from Ur to the borders of present-day Iraq, then 700 miles into Syria, another 800 miles to Egypt, and then back into Canaan which is part of present-day Israel. Just as he travelled up and down mountains and valleys, his life was full of highs and lows. But he always put God first. How do we know this? Because we read many times in the Bible that ‘he built an altar’. An altar is a place to meet with God. Where are your altars? Where do you meet with God?   

Abraham was going into a land of vision, of promise, of discovery, with great promises, but the reality was that he would be in a hostile culture and environment. He would need to really put a stake in the ground wherever he went. That stake was called building an altar. This was all about his devotion to God. Abraham knew that building an altar was not an add-on or something that can be dropped in times of pressure. It was his priority; it was essential and foundational.  

Each altar was a declaration that ‘I am going to put first things first. I am going to seek God first for me and my house by building an altar.’ In Genesis we read about four altars that Abraham built and we can learn from each one of them. Abraham built: 

1. An Altar of Praise (Genesis 12:2-3,7; Job 1:21b) 

2. An Altar of Prayer (Genesis 12:8; Jeremiah 33:3; Genesis 12:13) 

3. An Altar of Peace (Genesis 13:8-9; Philippians 4:7) 

4. An Altar of Provision (Genesis 22:7-9; Hebrews 11:19; Genesis 22:14; Matthew 6:33)  

Apply 

1. An Altar of Praise. Abraham built this altar to honour the Lord as a response to God’s promises to him (Genesis 12:2-3,7). Abraham praised God before he did anything else, and he thanked God for His promises. Praising God should be the first thing we do every day and by thanking Him for His promises to us, we remind ourselves that it is only through the power of the blood of Jesus that we will conquer in every situation. Abraham had just been given huge promises from God, so of course he felt like praising Him. But what about when things are not going well? Recent neuroscience studies have discovered it’s impossible for the human brain to experience feelings of anxiety and gratitude at the same time. When Job was told that his family were killed, he still worshipped God (Job 1:21b). Worshipping God is a choice, and the best choice we'll ever make. Whatever you are going through, remember that praising God is your weapon. When you praise God, you gain His perspective and you will receive your breakthrough. The altar Abraham built would have been a simple stone structure which would have remained standing for generations to come. Every time Abraham saw it, he would have been reminded of God’s promises to him. There will come a day when that test you’re going through right now will become your testimony of God’s faithfulness and goodness to you. This is why it is so good to keep a prayer diary or create an annual dream board which you can look back on to remind yourself of the promises God has spoken to you and the answers He has given you.  

2. An Altar of Prayer. Abram moved on from the lowlands of Canaan to a mountain (Genesis 12:8). Just as a phone call is a two-way conversation, so It’s the same with prayer. When Abram ‘called on the name of the Lord’, he would have been expecting answers. When we pray, we need to allow time for God to speak back to us. He often does this through the scriptures which is why our daily Bible readings are so important (see the free KCI App). We need to make prayer our number one priority. Are you taking time every day to meet with God by reading the Bible and praying? We read in the Gospels how Jesus frequently withdrew to be on His own with God because He knew this was the source of His strength. When you pray, it’s important to ask God what His plans are for you that day, not to use your prayer time to present your plans to God and ask Him to bless them (Jeremiah 33:3). Abram left the mountain to go down to Egypt to escape the famine, where he made the mistake of putting his wife in danger (Genesis 12:13). God was merciful and overruled Abram’s mistake, releasing him and his wife from Pharaoh. Abram then went back to where he had pitched his tent before and saw the stone altar he had made earlier. This caused him to call on the Lord in prayer again, but this time most likely in repentance. Whenever you make mistakes, it is only through prayer that you can be restored to the Lord.  

3. An Altar of Peace. What causes you to lose your peace? Busyness, stress, conflict? Arguing and division broke out between Abraham’s herdsmen and his nephew Lot’s, and it got so bad that they could no longer live together (Genesis 13). Division in the home can affect every area of life. It can be totally consuming and remove all peace. Abraham took the lead firstly bringing rule and then offering a solution (Genesis 13:8-9). So, now he was free of conflict and able to experience complete security. It was here, that he pitched his tent, built an altar, and enjoyed the peace and presence of God. To keep your peace, you must seek to experience the presence of God daily and be touched by His presence every day. You do this by finding a place at home, your altar, where you can start every day in the presence of God. You must also have a family altar – a weekly time where you pray together as a family. Then you will live with the peace of God (Philippians 4:7).  

4. An Altar of Provision. Provision and sacrifice are very much linked. Abraham, now over 100 years old, travelled almost 60 miles over 3 days with his son Isaac to the mountain in the region of Moriah. Abraham obeyed but also trusted God for provision (Genesis 22:7-9). When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there, arranged the wood on it, bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar. Take note of the emotional weight in the situation. As Abraham constructed the altar on Mount Moriah, his heart likely experienced intense anguish. He was on the verge of presenting his only cherished son as a sacrifice to God, not just for slaughter but to be consumed by flames as a burnt offering. Despite Isaac being the promised heir, Abraham understood that God required this sacrifice, leading him to lift the sacrificial knife (Hebrews 11:19). However, what was anticipated as a moment of death transformed into a moment of victory. A substitute, a provision, emerged, and Isaac was spared. Abraham's faith had undergone a rigorous test, was ultimately rewarded, and God did indeed provide the lamb for the burnt offering. Nicky Gumbel said in his Bible in One Year commentary: "God sometimes allows us to be tested. Personally, I don’t think God ever intended for a moment that Abraham should actually sacrifice his son Isaac. The sacrifice of children was always an abomination to the Lord. But he wanted to establish Abraham’s priorities." It was here that God was first called Jehovah Jireh: God will provide (Genesis 22:14). Is God’s work your number one priority? When you sacrifice in your giving to God, He will provide (Matthew 6:33). God calls us to obey Him, and the blessings come out of the obedience. If you want your life to count, if you want to have an influence, then you and your house, like Abraham and his house, must say that 'we are going to give our absolute best’. Of course, the biggest sacrifice was made at the Cross by God who didn't spare His own Son but gave Him up so that we can not only be saved from our sins, but also come into a new line of blessing. Today, the challenge is to build an altar in our hearts to God, in our marriages and in our homes. Put God first wherever we are. Don't let God and the things of God get choked out. Put Him first and you will see every blessing.   

Whatever the state of your family, God has great plans for your family. This is the foundation of our new series, and we continue by going into more detail with the first generation which is Abraham. One of the key characteristics of Abraham was that he was a man of faith (Hebrews 11:8-9,12). So we see that: 

1. Faith to leave the familiar (Genesis 12:1-5; Hebrews 11:8; Hebrews 11:1 CEV; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 12:4-5)  

2. Faith to embrace the future (Genesis 13; Genesis 15:1-6; Galatians 3:29 NLT; John 15:5) 

3. Faith to remain faithful (Philippians 1:6; Romans 4:20-21; Hebrews 6:12; Genesis 17:1-6; 15-16; Genesis 21:1-5; Romans 10:17) 

Apply 

1. Faith to leave the familiar. The Bible tells us that Abraham’s story begins with an encounter with God (Genesis 12:1-5). God made huge promises to Abram that would impact his life, his family, and all people on earth! Prior to this, Abram’s father Terah had settled the family in Harran, which is where Abram was when God spoke to him. Terah had been on his way to Canaan but had stopped short of his destination. God told Abraham to go further than the previous generation of his family. To not be a settler like his father, but to be a pioneer. God’s command was clear: God wanted him to leave the familiar, the country and people that he knew well and had become accustomed to, and all his relatives. God wanted him to make a clean break with his past so he could take hold of his promised future. Wherever you were born, whatever your background, wherever you are living right now, God wants you to know that your past does not have to define your future. Your future can be defined by Him. He has a plan for you and your family and for generations of your family. You might be trapped in overpowering addictions you can’t shake off, bad habits that have been in your family for generations, like a foul temper, or alcohol and drug addiction. But God is offering each one of us and our families a new beginning that can start the moment you decide to follow Him. Aged 75, Abraham decided to believe what God had said and do what God had told him (Hebrews 11:8). He first had to become fully convinced that this was the right decision, before trying to convince his family. So where did his certainty come from? The Bible tells us that it was faith (Hebrews 11:1 CEV). When God is speaking to our hearts, He gives us the assurance and conviction we need to do whatever He asks us to do. When it comes to making major decisions, it is wise to recognise and be grateful for those God has given to us as shepherds who can advise us and help us. We need not be fearful and just do things entirely on our own. Husbands and wives can bring godly wisdom and help each other too. Like Abraham, you might not have all the details worked out, but when God speaks to your heart, you must go in obedience with the confidence and certainty He provides and work out the specifics as you go. The danger is when we over complicate and over analyse things. God wants us to be people who know how to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). It’s time to set aside business as usual. We can’t stand still when there is so much at stake, when there is so much promised by God that we haven’t seen yet. Don’t let the past define your future, believe that God has a better future for you with your name on it, a future you haven’t met yet. Leave the past behind you and cut ties with it. Resolve fear, resolve bitterness, remove the roadblocks you’ve been putting up that prevent you from moving forward (Genesis 12:4-5).  

2. Faith to embrace the future. For the next 10 years, Abraham enjoyed the land of Canaan, he walked the length and breadth of it (Genesis 13) and travelled further afield. He received a reminder of the rest of God’s vision for his life (Genesis 15:1-6). Incredible as it might seem, God still speaks to people today in the way that He spoke to Abraham. Through Jesus we inherit all promises made to Abraham so we too can have big dreams (see ‘Dream And You Will Win The World’ by Pastor Cesar Castellanos). God has big dreams and He is still fulfilling His promise to Abraham to this very day through ordinary people who discover and remain in His perfect will for their lives. Abraham had to realise that God intended his life would have a big impact. He realised he needed to embrace this promise and let it change the way he thought, the decisions he made, and the way he conducted himself towards other people. He realised God had made him the seed of a great nation that God was raising up to bless all nations. Can you visualise that God will do something in your life? Yes (Galatians 3:29 NLT)! God wants us to be fruitful and to reproduce the character of Jesus in others by letting God change us first (John 15:5). Abraham realised that God’s vision required miracles: his wife could not and had not given birth to children before. Can you believe that God wants to do miracles in you and through you? Well, He does and He will if you will remain in Him and let His words remain in you. Make the decision that you too are going to become a person of faith who expects miracles to fulfil God’s promises for you and for generations after you.  

3. Faith to remain faithful. It is one thing to start on a journey of faith and take hold of some things God has promised, but it also takes faith in God to remain faithful to the end (Philippians 1:6). You can have confidence that God will bring to completion what He has started in you, if you will remain faithful and continue to obey Him. Aged 99, 24 years later, Abraham remained faithful and did not stop believing God would keep His promise (Romans 4:20-21). We need to realise that God’s timing is perfect! Remaining faithful is part of what it takes to make us into the people who can handle what God wants to give us (Hebrews 6:12). We see how God rewarded Abraham and Sarah’s faithfulness (Genesis 17:1-6; 15-16). Because they had remained faithful to God, continuing to believe His promise would come to pass, God gave them new names to more accurately describe the people they had become. If we continue to do this, we can be sure that at the right time, just as He did with Abraham and Sarah, God will fulfil his promises to us to give us many spiritual descendants. Don’t waste your waiting. Use it to learn all you can, make course corrections and learn from mistakes. Finally, as a 100th birthday year gift, Isaac was born to Sarah the wife of Abraham (Genesis 21:1-5). God gives us grace for every challenge when we choose to trust Him and act on that trust. So how can you become a person of faith?   

- By listening to God: God spoke to Abraham because He knew he would listen to Him (Romans 10:17). Faith comes to you as a free gift from God when He speaks to your heart. This can happen as you go about your day quite naturally as Abraham did, and when reading the Bible, or in daily prayer  

- By believing in the God of the Bible: Decide to believe that God is good. Believe that His words are true and He will do what He has said.  

- By obeying God’s word: Abraham’s life changed when he obeyed God, left the past and embraced the future God had for him. You too can do the same.  

- By remaining faithful to God: This means waiting patiently for God to answer in His time and way, not going your own way (Philippians 1:6). 

Perhaps you have been drifting off course or you are far from God and you want to come close again. It is never too late to return to God and rebuild your life again differently, this time with friendship and obedience to God. God wants to change your nature so you naturally begin taking every opportunity to speak to people wherever you go. We are human beings not human doings. Perhaps it will mean obeying the Holy Spirit’s prompting to go and speak to someone you’ve never spoken to before, starting your life group with the help of your leader, or serving by faith in a capacity you’ve never had before. 

Today most people are living shortsightedly, whether or not they are physically short sighted. They are focussed only on the immediate, the here and now, the short term and whatever will provide instant gratification.  

As Christians, we certainly need to have a short-term vision where we live for God every day and receive our daily bread from heaven. But we also need to have a very clear long-term vision of God’s plans and purpose. Every Christian needs a multi-generational vision. Just as naturally short-sighted people need help to have a longer distant vision, whether with glasses, contact lenses or laser surgery, so most of us need help in adjusting to a longer-term Biblical vision.  

With this is in mind, we start this new series based on one of the most significant descriptions of God in the Scriptures that reveal his purposes to all generations. Time and again in the Bible, God is referred to as the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob. This phrase is mentioned at key moments in both Old and New Testaments, and it speaks of God whose promises continue throughout all generations.  

The great figures of the Bible were confident to serve God in their generation because they knew that they were part of a long line of spiritual descendants from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6; Exodus 3:16; 1 Kings 18:36; Matthew 22:3; Acts 3:13; Acts 7:8). This description of God is foundational to understanding who God is. He is not some vague and unknowable cosmic force. He is not a god made of wood, stone or metal. He is not one god among many. He is the one true God, creator of the heavens and the earth, who is clearly identifiable by the eternal promises He has to specific historic individuals, namely Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and who is finally and fully revealed in his only Son Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham. 

Coming to an understanding of the importance of this description of God will greatly help you to value your spiritual history. It will shape your identity and it will enable you to step into your destiny as part of the long-established people of God. At the start of this series, we see: 

1. God is committed to bless families (Genesis 12:1-5) 

2. God wants to bless every generation of families (Genesis 17:7; Genesis 26:3-4; Genesis 28:13-14; Psalm 105:8-10; Galatians 3:29; Psalm 103:17-18) 

2a. You need to train your descendant in the ways of the Lord from a young age (Deuteronomy 6:4-7) 

2b. You need to do all you can to ensure that your child marries a fellow believer (Genesis 24:3-4; Genesis 28:2) 

2c. You need to stay in faith and pray that there will be fruitfulness not barrenness in each generation (Genesis 25:21; Genesis 30:1; Genesis 30:22-24) 

3. God promises to multiply the influence of families (Genesis 15) 

Apply 

1. God is committed to bless families. Real Biblical Christianity is rooted in family life, not buildings. It begins in the heart and is nurtured in the home. If you want to see strong churches and strong nations, then you must prioritise the development of strong families. In the Bible we see that God entrusted one family with the responsibility to bless the families and nations of the world: the family of Abraham. God chose Abraham and made binding and eternal promises to him which is called a covenant (Genesis 12:1-5). God started a new family line after Abram left his father’s household. At first it was just him, Sarah and his nephew Lot, but later along came his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob. Even so they were just a small family and, as the Bible makes clear, they were far from perfect. Lot was a selfish, me-first character. When Abram gave him the choice of land, Lot selected the best well-watered land for himself rather than his uncle who always looked out for him. Abram himself was also not without faults. Once he was so scared that foreigners would kill him on account of his beautiful wife that he made her pretend she was his sister. Consequently, a King took her and very nearly slept with her before God warned him in a dream and saved Sarah. Imagine what that would have done for Sarah’s feelings towards a husband who was prepared to sacrifice her to protect his own life. The same thing happened when later Isaac also pretended that his beautiful wife Rebekah was his sister, which resulted in her being at the mercy of other men. This is what is known as iniquity, a particular area of family weakness or sin. Further down the family line you find Jacob who was a serial deceiver especially towards his brother who in turn wanted to murder him. Despite their imperfections, God had his hand on this family, and He made great promises to Abraham and his family. And God can do great things in your family, whatever problems you have. For when someone in the family starts to really believe and obey God, whole families can be changed. God can heal broken families. God can take hold of imperfect families and use them greatly. Church history is full of such examples (i.e. the Wesley, Booth, Graham and Castellanos families). 

2. God wants to bless every generation of families (Genesis 17:7; Genesis 26:3-4; Genesis 28:13-14). God confirms to three foundational generations, His eternal promises of land (which Israel today still takes as their mandate from God), many descendants, and continuing blessings. Many who do not accept the authority of the Bible or the God of the Bible dispute all of the above. But for all who do accept the Bible as God’s word then we see that God is not just focussed on one present generation but that He also has plans for generations to come. He is the God of Abraham’s generation, of Isaac’s generation, of Jacob’s generations and every succeeding generation, including ours (Psalm 105:8-10). The New Testament makes clear that through our faith in Christ, we also come into the line of blessing (Galatians 3:29). So, God wants to bless you and all your descendants after you. That’s the dream, that’s the plan of God, and that’s why God gives so many promises about children and children’s children (e.g. Psalm 103:17-18). But such blessings do not go uncontested. There are battles to win and strategies of Satan to be overcome, as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all experienced. You are going to have to watch and pray and believe and play your part in seeing faith in God effectively passed on from one generation to another. 

- You need to train your descendant in the ways of the Lord from a young age (Deuteronomy 6:4-7) 

- You need to do all you can to ensure that your child marries a fellow believer (Genesis 24:3-4): Through their history the Jewish people were warned of the dangers of inter-marriage with those who followed other gods. This was such an important issue that there are 61 verses detailing how Isaac ended up with a beautiful and godly wife. Later Isaac blessed Jacob and commanded to do the same (Genesis 28:2). His rebellious brother Esau did just the opposite, marrying a woman from the corrupt and immoral Canaanite culture and consequently caused a lot of grief. In today’s independent Western culture, many people sneer at the idea of such parental involvement in the choice of a partner. Of course you need to marry someone you love, but you would be wise to listen to the counsel of godly parents. And parents should not passively accept a developing relationship but pray hard and talk wisely with your spiritual descendant. Be in a place of faith that the person your son or daughter will marry will be wholeheartedly committed to the Lord so they can be a powerful team for God.  

- You need to stay in faith and pray that there will be fruitfulness not barrenness in each generation: Barrenness is a basic way of stopping the reproduction of godly seed. Abraham’s wife Sarah, Isaac’s wife Rebekah, and Jacob’s wife Rachel each had difficulty conceiving. Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time for their promised baby, so did Isaac and Rachel (Genesis 25:21). The blockage to continuing the line of blessing into the third generation was revealed (Genesis 30:1), and happily, Rachel later had a baby, Joseph, who was to become one of Israel’s greatest figures (Genesis 30:22-24). 

Maybe you can identify with some or all these challenges to continuing a godly family line but as we zoom out and see the big picture, we see that God helped each generation to overcome every obstacle and ensure that the line of blessing continued for the next generation. And we to can experience the same conquests. 

3. God promises to multiply the influence of families. The limitless multitudes that God promised Abraham in Genesis 15 became a reality. After the three generations conquered their destiny, the 12 tribes of Jacob became the take off point for a great nation and huge numbers of natural and spiritual descendants that continues to this day. Similarly, you see great strength in a family with godly grandparents, parents and children. The same is also true when one person can form a second-generation team of 12 disciples and they, in turn, each form a third-generation team of 12 disciples. Then the 144 becomes the point of take-off, of acceleration and multiplication. Today when we receive a multi-generational vision, we can see great transformation in our lives, families, churches and even nations. For the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wants to bless our generation and all generations to come.  

Today is no ordinary day to be alive. Today is a day for the church to shine the light of Jesus into our dark world. Today we are living in a moment where we expect to see a great harvest of people into the kingdom of God. Today is the day of God’s favour. 

This is a phrase that Jesus used right at the start of His earthly ministry. In His home synagogue, He read some familiar scriptures from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. 

Luke 4:18-19 says He read: “The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 

What happened next was not so familiar. Suddenly, unexpectantly He stopped. Surprisingly He did not go on to read the next phrase from Isaiah 61 that spoke of the day of vengeance of our God. That day of God’s ultimate judgement was yet to come. But at this moment in time, Jesus declared that they were living in a special season of mercy and favour. 

He said in verse 21: ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ Jesus was declaring that the age of the Promised Messiah was now here. Jesus was Himself that Messiah who was announcing the start of the new age of the kingdom of God. 

What this means to us today is that while a day of judgement is coming for the whole world, at this moment we are still living in a time of grace and mercy. The apostle Paul also emphasised this in 2 Corinthians 6:2, saying “I tell you now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation”. Favour means goodwill, approval and blessing (Psalm 84:11).  

1. This is a day and year of liberation (Luke 4:18; Leviticus 25:8; John 8:34-36; Acts 26:17) 

2. This is a day and year of mobilisation (Luke 4:18; Matthew 4:23; Luke 9:1-2, 6)  

3. Today is a day and year of impartation (Luke 4:18) 

Apply 

1. This is a day and year of liberation (Luke 4:18). The ‘year of favour’ that Jesus spoke about that day in Nazareth was a reference to a Jubilee Year in the Hebrew tradition. The year of Jubilee, every fifty years, was a special year in which everyone’s debts were written off, lands were restored to their original owners, and all slaves were set free. The trumpet must be sounded to proclaim liberty throughout the land (Leviticus 25:8). Jesus here was sounding the trumpet proclaiming that He had come to set people free from captivity of many kinds (John 8:34-36). The gospel of Jesus is the gospel of power where real people can be truly set free. That’s why Jesus is called the Saviour.
Salvation comes from the Greek word Sozo. It’s found in the New Testament more than 110 times. It means to be saved, to be delivered from evil powers and to be healed. Jesus came to break the rule of Satan off people’s lives. The Apostle Paul said that God told him, ‘I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…’ (Acts 26:17). Being a Christian starts with you being forgiven, but continues with you being set free in your life. The Lord will deliver you today in your body (from every pain, from illnesses). He will deliver you in your mind, in your emotions, in your heart, in your spirit. He will free you from all fear, from every lie that you have heard and that has contaminated your ears, your thoughts, your heart and your spirit. He is going to free you from the prison of fear. He will free you from the addictions to those pills, to alcohol, to cigarettes, He is going to free you from the addiction to pornography, He is going to cleanse your vision, you are going to have a true vision of the spiritual world. God is going to deliver your mind from all the distractions and of all doubt that have prevented you from reading and understanding the word of God. The Lord will deliver you from your terrible pride, from anger and sadness. The Lord will free you from every incorrect path and you will enter into the purpose of God. Now you will be free to follow Jesus, to be His disciple, to serve Him and enjoy His kingdom on this earth. You will be free to reap the great harvest that is ready for this time, for this year 2024. 

2. This is a day and year of mobilisation (Luke 4:18). Jesus came on a rescue mission to earth and He began by going out into all the areas in Galilee (Matthew 4:23). And Jesus also sent out His disciples on a mission to preach the full gospel of salvation (Luke 9:1-2, 6). Jesus insisted that first there must be focus on preaching the good news to the poor. Jesus went to the literal poor, the hurting and the marginalised, the ordinary people that usually no one cared for. And that’s where every movement of revival has found its greatest success.
 John Wesley said in 1771, ‘Everywhere we find the labouring part of mankind the readiest to receive the Gospel’. Going to the poor and hurting means go to prisoners – go to the captives, literally to prisons. Our prisons are full. But God is concerned for the prisoners. Many prisons are seeing powerful conversions. Go to the abused, the down and outs. The blind and the lame. Go to the people and the places that no one else is interested in. God is sending you ‘to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners’. Jesus wants all His followers mobilised to go out and share the good news of Jesus and minister healing and deliverance. That means He is recruiting you! As a church the Lord is calling us to share the good news all over this area, in every village, every neighbourhood, every town and every city. It’s a big task and we can’t do it on our own. It’s a team challenge and the good news is that Holy Spirit is part of the team. 

3. Today is a day and year of impartation (Luke 4:18). The anointing of the Lord makes all the difference. The early disciples filled Jerusalem and the first century world with the good news of the gospel as they were constantly filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself knew that ‘he was anointed by the Spirit of God.’ Today God wants to pour out His spirit on you so that all of us can say, “The Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Do you need to be set free from sin or in other ways? Well take a moment to repent of your sins or unbelief and ask God to show His favour to you. Today God wants to mobilise you to share the good news of Jesus in word and ministry to the hurting. Choose to accept this calling and that you will always depend on the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit. 

And that’s why we should always seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We each have one life and we must be careful not to waste our days and years. Jesus was very clear about the importance investing our lives in what really matters in life. 

To maximise our time on earth we should live with a constant perspective of heaven as well as praying for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. That, of course, requires that we have some idea of what heaven is like. Thankfully, the Bible tells us a lot about heaven.  

For example, in the last book of the Bible the apostle John describes a remarkable vision of heaven. It is an amazing world that is the destiny of everyone who gains access through the blood of Jesus.  

Revelation‬ 22:1-2 says: ‘Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” 

We see in these verses some lessons that will help us maximise every day and help us live more effectively on earth this year and every year we have: 

1. Stay filled with the life of God (Revelation 22:1-2; John 14:6; John 7:37-38 NLT) 

2. Stay fruitful (Revelation 22:2; Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1; John 15:5,8; Ezekiel 47:2-12) 

3. Stay focussed (Revelation 2:22; Ezekiel 47:12; Matthew 28:19; Psalm 147:3) 

Apply 

1. Stay filled with the life of God. The images here are all about life (Revelation 22:1-2). A river of the water of life flowing from God’s throne and the Lamb. A tree of life. In other words, all life finds its source in God. God is the giver of life. He is the sustainer of life. He is the re-creator of life. In every way God is totally pro-life. With the description of the tree of life, the Bible comes full circle. Human history started out with the tree of life in the centre of the Garden of Eden. But when Adam and Eve sinned, they and their descendants were barred from accessing that tree. They were doomed to death both naturally and spiritually. Then Christ came to save sinners so that those who trust in Him will be granted full access to the tree of life once again. Today people are looking for life in all kinds of places and in all kinds of ways but without God you will not discover what you are looking for. And the basic reason that you can’t know what it is to be truly alive, is because without God you are what the Bible calls ‘dead in your transgressions and sins.’ Only Christ can make us spiritually alive (John 14:6). Becoming a Christian is much more than simply repenting of our sins, it involves receiving new life from God, what the Bible calls being ‘born again’ or ‘born from above.’ Many people may be religious, even regular churchgoers, but they can still be spiritually dead. If you are not lit up by the word of God or have no impulse to worship, maybe here’s is the basic reason. You need to be born again, and you can be today. But coming to Christ is only a beginning. For God wants you to overflow with His life (John 7:37-38 NLT). Here’s these pictures of rivers of flowing water that are essential to life. Without water we dry up and could soon die. God doesn’t want that to happen to you. There’s only one way to avoid that. Stay full of the Holy Spirit. Get into the river of God and stay there. This river, as John saw, is always a life-giving river, a river that is totally pure, clear as crystal and it comes only from God. At the start of this year and every day be sure to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  

2. Stay fruitful (Revelation 22:2). From the beginning God wanted everything to be alive and to multiply (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1). Jesus told His disciples that if they stayed close to Him, they would have very fruitful lives and experience great growth (John 15:5,8). And that’s what happened as the first century church rapidly accelerated in numbers both on and after the Day of Pentecost. In the book of Ezekiel there is a very similar picture of fruitfulness to what John described in Revelation (Ezekiel 47:2-12). We too need to believe for many churches in many nations teeming with many thousands of people enjoying the life of God. This is a year for us both as churches and individuals to see overflowing growth and blessing. Also we see that Ezekiel and John’s visions both emphasise monthly fruitfulness, in other words a continual harvest. As Ezekiel observed the banks of the river, he saw many fruitful trees (Ezekiel 47:12). Again, we too should expect to continually grow in the quality of our characters - what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit - but also in our influence and in winning people to Christ. And we would be wise to check our progress every month. Every month should be a month of harvest in our lives, our groups, and throughout the church.  

3. Stay focussed. To maximise our time on earth we must not just focus on ourselves, our families, our church but on the peoples and nations of the world that God so loves (Revelation 2:22; Ezekiel 47:12; Matthew 28:19). That requires that we Christians become agents of God’s healing in the world. Healing is central to the gospel. Jesus healed many sick people, and He sent His disciples out to heal as well as preach. The good news is that people can still be healed in their bodies. And people can be healed in their hearts (Psalm 147:3). Broken families can also be healed and so can divided communities and nations. Our job as Christians is not to analyse the sorry state of the world, but to be full of the life of God and bring the healing mercies of Jesus to our generation. Call on the Lord now to fill you up with His Holy Spirit so that you can come to a new level of fruitfulness and focus. Pray for new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And receive a new anointing of fresh life that will overflow to others. 

1. Listen to God (Genesis 15:1) 

2. Look to God (Genesis 15:5, Joel 2:23-24) 

3. Live by faith (Genesis 15:6) 

Apply 

Genesis 15:1, 5-6: After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. 

5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 

1. Listen to God (Genesis 15:1). We need to hear the Word of the Lord, not simply listen to the opinions of others. We need to read the word of God and let God light up His word to us. Of course, God can speak to us in dreams and visions as well, but is always consistent with His word, the Bible. 

2. Look to God (Genesis 15:5). This is when Abram needed to see the possibilities and began to visualise something much greater that he had never seen before. He was one man, but he was promised a limitless inheritance. We need to dream big, much bigger in this coming year. Believe what God can do in you. You are more than you think you are. You can achieve more than you think you can. God has brought you, families, life groups and churches together with a great purpose. Big things are happening in the world, and we need to ask the Lord to do bigger things still as He is well able to. Do not look at just what you currently see. Look to what God can do. We need to see many people rising up with faith. He can provide total turnaround in your life. He can bring many to know Him. We get this vision not just by dreaming of what we want, but by looking at His Word and listening to the promises of God (i.e. Joel 2:23-24). We need to look not with natural eyes but with God-given vision. 

3. Live by faith (Genesis 15:6). You may have a dream which does not seem possible to accomplish naturally. But as you surrender to the Lord, declaring that you believe Him no matter your age, your stage of life, your situation, the state of your bank account or anything else, God will do amazing things. What happened in the last year is paving the way for all God wants to do in 2024. 

Since then, a brutal war has raged with great devastation, resulting in great upheaval in Israel, thousands of deaths in Gaza and protests around the world. At the same time the brutal war in the Ukraine grinds on relentlessly having already claimed many thousands of lives. 

Peace, without doubt, is one of the greatest needs of our world today. We need peace between nations and within nations. We need peace in communities, families and in countless individuals. 

So many people are stressed and agitated today. You see it on the roads. You see it in shopping centres. You see it in schools. You see it in the workplace.  

Bestselling author and pastor Rick Warren said: “I talk to thousands of people. I meet people who are active, who are busy, who are stressed, who are tired, who are ambitious and have great dreams, …I rarely meet people who are totally at peace... people who at peace with themselves, at peace with the world, ...people who are literally walking in peace. It’s a rare quality.” 

Are one of those rare people who are walking in peace or whether you are in serious need of peace. Is your mind overloaded right now? Can you ever switch off from thinking about problems and responsibilities? Is there stillness or a storm on the inside of you? Do you need God’s Christmas gift of peace? 

The good news is that that through Jesus you can have peace in all situations. 700 years before He was born, Jesus was described by the prophet Isaiah as ‘the Prince of Peace, Prince of Peace, of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end’ (Isaiah 9:6-7). 

When Jesus was born, the angels praised the Saviour who would bring peace to all who received Him (Luke 2:13). One of the central messages of Christmas and of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of all true peace. Only He can bring real peace on earth. Because of the Prince of Peace: 

1. You can know peace with yourself (John 14:27; Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:6-7) 

2. You can know peace with others (Hebrews 12:14; Galatians 3:26,28) 

3. You can know peace with God (Romans 5:1, 6-9) 

Apply 

1. You can know peace with yourself. The peace of God is a peace that is strong and enduring. It stops our hearts being troubled and removes our fears (John 14:27). The Jewish word for peace is ‘shalom’. Shalom means well-being, harmony and serenity. The apostle Paul, who himself survived shipwreck and many other negative experiences, discovered how to have inner peace in all circumstances (Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:6-7). How is this possible? Well the peace of God is not like a temporary and fragile human peace. It is a supernatural peace which defies logic and circumstances. It’s a peace that literally stands guard like a soldier and it is interesting what it guards: your hearts and your minds. When our minds are attacked and our hearts are wounded we must learn to be quick to come to the Lord and receive His peace that steadies us and protects us. The Prince of Peace stands ready to give us peace within ourselves. Today whatever it is that is bringing unrest to your heart and mind, you need to know too that you can have peace with yourself. 

2. You can know peace with others. You can know peace in every relationship (Hebrews 12:14).  

- You can know peace in your marriage: A study has shown that January 8th is the busiest day of the year for divorce lawyers when up to one in five couples will enquire about divorce after the pressures of Christmas. But it doesn’t have to be this way. When the Prince of peace come into your marriage, His presence will cause anger and bitterness to melt away. Instead of rows and tensions, you will come closer together with a new gentleness and love towards each other.  

- You can know peace in your home: Sadly, today the home, instead of being a haven of peace, is more like a battle ground with visible or hidden conflict between children, parents and partners. Some families are so used to shouting, arguing and backchat that they think this is normal life. But this isn’t God’s plan for your home. You can all learn to appreciate each other. You can know new joy and peace in your family. You can laugh together and cry together and be there for one another. If your family is struggling right now, don’t give up. God’s peace can come to any home and it takes just one member of the home to have the peace and to speak peacefully for that peace to spread. 

- You can know peace with all people: The nearer we come to God the closer we can come to one another. All division and discrimination can be broken down when we have the peace and love of Christ hearts. 

As Christians we are called to live differently in a world of agitation, sexism, racism, and anti-Semitism and social, economic and political divisions. We are to have love and respect for all people. Everyone matters. Everyone is loved by God even though they may not walk with God (Galatians 3:26,28). So this is all very good news: when we discover the Prince of Peace, we ourselves can personally experience new peace. 

3. You can know peace with God. Peace with God is the foundation for peace in every area of life. When you don’t have peace with God it affects everything else. When your relationship with God is right everything else can line up right. When you get your relationship with God in order, all other relationships fall into place. One man who led a very wild and immoral life later became one of the great leaders and thinkers of the Christian church after turning from his sin and committing to follow Jesus. His name was Augustine and he told how he had hungered for inner peace. He finally concluded that: “our heart is restless until it rests in You." You too may have a God sized gap in your life. Maybe you never realised it or maybe you did and ran away from it. But either way making your peace with God is the biggest and best decision you will ever make in your life. The Bible teaches that not only that there is a God but also that Jesus alone can bring us into fellowship with God. Jesus came to restore peace between us and God. When He died the heavy curtain in the Temple in Jerusalem which separated unholy people from a holy God was torn in two from top to bottom. We have peace with God because of what Jesus has done for us (Romans 5:1). We can’t make peace. He is the ultimate peacemaker. Jesus came to give his life to pay the price of our sins that separate us from God (Romans 5:6-9). Today is a moment for you to discover the Prince of Peace. Make your peace with God and enjoy the peace of God in your heart and mind and in every experience in life. 

How much peace is there in your life? Do you need to have peace with yourself? Do you need to be more peaceful towards your husband, wife, family and others? Do you need to make your peace with God? You can when you ask the Prince of Peace to still every storm in your life and let His peace rule your heart and mind. Today receive the greatest gift of peace.  

This message to ‘not be afraid’ was given to Zechariah, a faithful but childless priest, who was told that he would become the father of John the Baptist, even though he and his wife were very old (Luke 1:12-13). It was repeated to Mary, a young unmarried woman at the other end of the age scale who suddenly discovered that she would become a mother-the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:30-32). And we see that same message was given to a very frightened group of shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-15).  

Let’s look a little closer at these words from Luke 2:10-11: But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” 

There are some great truths contained in these few words that show us how we can live without fear: 

1. Don’t be afraid because you can experience great joy (Luke 2:10; Matthew 2:10; Hebrews.1:9; Romans 14:17; Luke 15:7; Isaiah 61:3; Nehemiah 8:10) 

2. Don’t be afraid because you can be saved (Luke 2:11; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:4-6) 

3. Don’t be afraid because you can live confidently under the rule of Jesus (Luke2:11) 

Apply 

1. Don’t be afraid because you can experience great joy. Joy is one of the greatest needs of our world today. Happily, joy is a recurring word throughout the Christmas story and throughout the Bible. The message of Christianity and of Christmas is good news in a bad news world (Luke 2:10). When Mary met Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist, Elisabeth said ‘As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy’ (Luke 1:43). When the wise men saw the star, they were overjoyed (Matthew 2:10). The life and ministry of Jesus was marked by joy, especially from the crowds who witnessed His teaching, miracles and compassion. Jesus Himself was anointed with the oil of joy (Hebrews.1:9). His disciples became known for their joy, even when they were persecuted and imprisoned (Romans 14:17). Joy, in C.S. Lewis’s memorable phrase, is ‘the serious business of heaven.’ Real Christianity is a joyful faith. In the story of the Prodigal Son, the Father (representing God) throws a big party when His son turns back to him. There is ‘rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents’ (Luke 15:7).  When the spirit of the Lord is on us, we will ‘receive the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair’ (Isaiah 61:3). So then, the good news of Christianity is that when you come to know the Lord, you will not be sad and depressed. You don’t have to despair or be defined by your circumstances, experiences or what people say think or say about you. Instead you can have an inner joy even in the most difficult of times. As Nehemiah 8:10 says: “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." You can experience great joy in your life when you experience Jesus.  

2. Don’t be afraid because you can be saved (Luke 2:11). What is a saviour? A saviour is someone who rescues people from danger, from trouble, from oppression, fears and enemies. Now God can do all that for you, but Jesus came specifically to save us from the greatest the problem every person on earth faces: the problem of sin. The Bible teaches that everyone has sinned and needs rescuing from the power and pain of living independently from God. Sin is a root in every human heart that first incites us to do wrong and then captures us and finally destroys us. That’s why everyone needs saving and that’s why Jesus came (Matthew 1:21). The famous Christmas song from Boney M puts it like this: “Oh my Lord/You sent Your son to save us/Oh my Lord/Your very self You gave us/Oh my Lord/That sin may not enslave us/And love may reign once more.” Jesus was born to die as He came to earth on a rescue mission for all humanity. At the Cross He would lay down His life, the pure for the impure, the innocent to for the guilty to save us from our sins by His shed blood (Isaiah 53:4-6). The good news is that Jesus came to save us from everything destructive, both internally and externally. This means that you can be forgiven for your sins. You can be free from whatever holds you captive. You can have your heart cleansed and healed. You can a live or purity and purpose and be sure and so that’s you will spend eternity with God. When you know that you certainly don’t have to fear. 

3. Don’t be afraid because you can live confidently under the rule of Jesus (Luke 2:11). Christ is not Jesus’ second name. Christ is a title which means Messiah, the anointed one, chosen to sit on that eternal throne and to usher in the peace and security that this world needs. Lord means that He is ruler, the sovereign, the Lord of the universe. In other words, this Messiah who was born is God Himself. And we too can be part of His kingdom living under His authority. Many today want the nations to be ruled by sharia law or communist dictatorship but the best way to live is by recognising that Jesus is the head over everything. His reign always brings freedom from fear. For as the famous carol “Joy to the World” proclaims: “He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness. And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love.” You will never regret it when you receive Jesus as you saviour and Lord. Today you can experience the love of Jesus that drives out fear. The Christmas message is a universal message, for all people at all times. No one is excluded. It is for the poor shepherds and the rich and educated wise men. It is for men and women. It is for single and married. It is for young and old. It is for black and brown and white and olive skinned. The Christmas message is a personal message: It’s good news for you: a Saviour has been born to you. For sure God loves the world but He also loves you personally. You matter to Him. He knows you by name. He lived for you, died for you, rose from the dead for you. The Christmas message is an ever-relevant message. It’s good news for today (Luke 2:11). The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. While He is not physically here on earth, we can still know His love, His joy His peace, His comfort, His power by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today pray and draw near to Jesus. 

But the Christmas story tells us that we do not have to fear. Instead, we can confidently put our trust in God who is real and completely reliable. We can know His peace and comfort in our minds and in our emotions.  

The phrase ‘do not be afraid’ occurs 365 times throughout the Bible-one for every day of the year - and is repeated at different moments in the Christmas story, including with Zechariah as we heard last week (Luke 1:12-13). This same command, ‘do not fear’ was repeated to someone at the other end of the age scale: a young unmarried woman who suddenly discovered that she would become a mother - the mother of Jesus, the saviour of the world (Luke 1:26-38). 

The story of the virgin birth of Jesus is reported in the Bible as fact, not fiction. Many cynics and comedians have dismissed the origin of Christ as a myth and make believe. But the Scriptures clearly declare that Jesus was conceived in the womb of his mother Mary by a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit and without a human father. 

Since this story really happened at one moment in history, can you imagine how Mary would have felt hearing this news? She was not married, and she was going to be pregnant but not by her future husband who was so faithful with her. What would she say to him? What would he say? How would people in their small community react? And how would she explain that her baby was actually the long-awaited Messiah?  

No wonder the Bible says she was ‘greatly troubled’ and asked "How will this be since I am a virgin?" But in this moment the angel said to her “do not be afraid”. These are words from God that we all need to hear from God and receive in our hearts. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be fearful. Stop being anxious. The Bible shows us how we can live without fear. In this story we see strong reasons why Mary moved from fear to faith-reasons that apply to us all.

1. You do not have to fear because you can know God’s favour (Luke 1:28; Luke 4:18-19) 

2. You do not have to fear because God can do the impossible (Luke 1:37) 

3. You do not have to fear because God can change your life for ever (Luke 1:38) 

Apply 

1. You do not have to fear because you can know God’s favour. Mary was young, poor, and a female with few rights. She was living in the middle of nowhere. She did not seem significant, just a name on a census form. Her education and her ambitions were limited. But the angel of the Lord said that she was highly favoured (Luke 1:28). Favour is one of the great themes of the Christmas story and of Christianity (Luke 4:18-19). Favour means that God is for you not against you. He wants to bless you and come close to you. Maybe that is a big surprise to you but God is for you. Jesus came not to condemn but to save you from your own sins and from all forms of evil. Right from the beginning of time we read that everything that God created was good. God is good and He wants to do good things in your life. God wants to help you and show you His favour. God’s favour can take many forms. He can bless you in your marriage and in your family. He can bless you in your health and in your finances. He can bless you by bringing good out of bad situations. He can bless you with His protection and providential guidance. He can bless you with peace and prosperity in your career. Above all He can bless you with His presence. You can know God as your friend, your deliverer from guilt and fear and shame. You can experience the spiritual favour of forgiveness, of new life, where you come to know and trust God. You can know Him as your strength and support in times of trouble. You can know that you are precious to Him. Even in the everyday things in life you can find favour: favour for a job, in finding a parking space in a crowded area, favour in your shopping when something you wanted for Christmas is still available with a big discount in the January sales. Seriously our heavenly father can give us more favour than we might imagine. You can find favour, both in big and small matters, not because you deserve it but simply because of God’s love, mercy and amazing grace. Never mind how afraid or uncertain you may be right now, when you know the Lord your best days and greatest joys are ahead. 

2. You do not have to fear because God can do the impossible. God is a great God who can work miracles (Luke 1:37). He can do what is not naturally possible. Miracles were a common part of the life and ministry of Jesus. He healed the lepers. He gave sight to the blind. He made the deaf hear and the mute speak. He caused the paralysed to get up and walk. He delivered the demonised. He Himself was raised back to life after the most terrible death. In our reading all this was to come, but Mary, despite her fears and uncertainty, chose to believe that nothing is impossible with God and that when God is on your case all options are open. Of course, sometimes it is difficult to have faith especially if you have had a tough life and have been waiting a long time for your miracle. But God can do miracles. Nothing is impossible with God.  

3. You do not have to fear because God can change your life for ever. Mary let go of her fears and submitted herself to God’s will (Luke 1:38). From that point on this ordinary and unknown young woman would become revered throughout history. Although that was a unique miracle, your life too will be different, for time and eternity, when you discover the God of favour and surrender your life to Him.  

- Change comes in you: In Mary’s case a baby was conceived through supernatural intervention. Long before the days of IVF treatment she believed that God could cause a seed of life to be implanted within her. When people have a close encounter with God it is like a new birth. The life of God is like a seed that is planted within you. You have new desires and ambitions. You want to please God and live right.  

- Change comes through you: For sure God wanted to show his favour to Mary. But through her he wanted to bless everyone who would ever walk on planet earth. So it is also that when you come to a new experience of God’s favour and love, you will then be a blessing to your family, your colleagues, your community and the world. 

Today is your moment to leave your fear and put your trust in God. His favour and love is towards you. He can do what seems impossible for you. He can bring wonderful change to you and through you. Today His Holy Spirit is making Jesus real to you. He is calling you by name and saying to you ‘don’t be afraid.’ 

Fear is a universal human experience. We may have fears about our health, our families, our finances and our future. We may fear failure, we may fear what others think of us. And of course, we may fear many things that we see happening in the world around us whether it is increasing antisemitism, the rise of artificial intelligence, or wars such as we are witnessing in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza.  

It is no wonder that in 2020, as the world faced into the fears, lockdowns and hardships of the global Covid-19 pandemic, that the most shared, bookmarked, and highlighted verse on the YouVersion Bible App was Isaiah 41:10. In this verse God encourages us, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  

As we reread the familiar Christmas story, we can see different individuals who are told not to fear. One of the very first scenes of the Christmas story found in Luke chapter 1 is about the dramatic encounter a priest named Zechariah had with the angel Gabriel in the temple in Jerusalem.  

Zechariah was a religious and observant man. He was a priest who served regularly in the temple in Jerusalem. He was also from a respectable family line. Luke 1:6 says that Zechariah and Elizabeth, “Were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”  

Zechariah was routinely performing his regular priestly duties inside the temple when he had a supernatural encounter that resulted in him moving from being very fearful to living a life of faith. Can you imagine what a shock he had when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared and announced that late in life he’s about to start a family? 

Luke 1:12-13 tells us, “When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.”  

Well, maybe you too are gripped with fears in life. But through this teaching, God wants to break all fear off you and speak his words of promise and hope to you. Zechariah's experience teaches us that we can encounter God in unexpected ways and when we least expect it! So, what can we learn from Zechariah’s encounter?: 

1. You can live without fear even when you don’t understand everything that is going on in life  

2. You can live without fear even when you feel you are too old  

3. You can live without fear because God hears your prayers  

4. You can live without fear because you have a greater future than you have imagined 

Apply 

1. You can live without fear even when you don’t understand everything that is going on in life. Zechariah found himself in a disorientating situation and he immediately tried to make sense of what was going on (Luke 1:18). Instead of immediately being excited, he responds with a question focussed on His circumstances. This shows how strong our fears and doubts can be when we are challenged to live our lives with faith. Notice also, his language. He manages to make it about himself and not God, saying “How can I?”, “I am old.” His religious confidence had drained, and he had been reduced to the bare bones human reality of his doubts. If we’re honest, this is a question we ask a lot in life: How can I be sure of this? We ask a lot of questions that are often fear driven: Why is my life like this? How can I keep going? How can I see things change in my life? If you want to leave your fears behind you need to silence your doubts and be more comfortable in the uncomfortable life of faith. God’s promises and plans are bigger and more powerful than your questions (Isaiah 55:8-9). Zechariah had to learn this lesson quickly to see the promise come to fruition. For Zechariah to see the miracle he had to stop speaking out his doubts and know God had already answered his prayers and start believing God’s promise (Luke 1:19-20). Think about your life and your words. How quick are you to voice your questions and doubts? Questions are part of the journey of faith but if we want to move in faith and see the miracles, we need to stop speaking out our doubts and start trusting the Word of God. Once Zechariah stopped voicing his doubts and became obedient to the promise, the miracle happened (Luke 1:23-24). This Christmas is time to silence the doubts and live without fear even when you don’t understand everything that is going on in your life. Zechariah had to be patient to see the miracle. He had to be still and trust God. Often it is in the time of waiting where we truly learn to trust God, it’s where we come to a new level of humility and learn to rest in Him, His ways and His timing (Luke 1:57-58). Zechariah learned his lesson about the power of coming into agreement with God. Previously, when he had received God’s word, he responded with questions. Now he responded with faith and lined up with the promise he had received (Luke 1:59-64). When we come into agreement with God, we come into a new season of freedom where we can witness God’s miracles and can testify to the great things God can do and has done in our lives. So this is one very big lesson to learn that you can live without fear even when you don’t need to understand everything in life. Just learn to trust God, believe His promise and see how God will move powerfully in your life.  

2. You can live without fear even when you feel you are too old. Zechariah and Elizabeth were old. Actually, not just old, they were very old (Luke 1:6-7). Things in life hadn’t worked out as they’d planned but God still wanted them to live by faith and not fear. Are you old or do you feel old? As David Cameron said in his final Prime Minister’s questions “I was the future once.” Maybe that’s how you feel! Well in today’s youth culture, people can feel old even in their 20s and 30s. Life goes by very quickly. But you are not too old. However old or young you are, God has a purpose for your life and every day is a gift to live and not fear (Psalms 92:14-15). Sometimes we set very clear expectations of what should happen when in life and when it doesn’t work like that we get discouraged and think life has passed us by. But we cannot let circumstance or age be our cage. We need to live with faith and not fear! You may be just going about your business, going through the motions, feeling like things have passed you by but God still wants to do great miracles in your life. This Christmas whatever your age or stage of life, be encouraged by Zechariah’s story and live a life of faith and not fear.  

3. You can live without fear because God hears your prayers. This was the case with Zechariah. The Bible describes him as a righteous man and encourages him that God has heard his prayers (James 5:16). God hears us when we are broken, He hears us when we are lost in our sin and crying for help and He hears when we are doing our best trying to follow Him (Luke 1:13). Maybe you need to hear these same words this Christmas: “Do not be afraid; your prayer has been heard.” This story speaks to us about God’s faithfulness and how when God is with us, we do not to be full of fear and can rest in the knowledge that He hears and answers our prayers. This Christmas be encouraged that prayer is powerful. You may feel lost, intimidated or alone but when you open your heart to God and share from your heart, He hears you (Psalm 145:18; John 14:13-14). Make time to pray this Christmas. Spend time with God. Learn to cherish your prayer time and nourish yourself in the Word of God. Trust Him. He is with you, He is working. Rest in Him and know God is faithful. Be confident in God’s promise. Be confident that He is listening to you when you prayerfully seek Him. 

4. You can live without fear because you have a greater future than you have imagined. Zechariah never imagined what was coming when he stepped inside the temple (Luke 1 :11-13). He had no idea that not only was he going to have a son, but his son was going to be John the Baptist anointed to prepare the way for Jesus the promised Messiah. The account parallels and sets the stage for the subsequent announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary, also by the angel Gabriel. We then see how Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and a spirit of praise and thanksgiving (Luke 1:68-79). He thanks God that He is with them (v68); he thanks God for salvation (v69-71); he thanks God for HIs faithfulness (v72-73); he thanks God for protection (v74-75); he starts to look at his future with faith and realises great things are ahead (v76-79). God also wants you to experience his goodness, so you too can live full of praise and thanks in your life, your family, your finances, your health! You can live without fear because it is true you can have a greater future than you have imagined! Today is your day to be free from fear and come into every blessing God has for you. 

In church history it was a group of talented and dedicated U.K. Christians known as the Clapham sect who united to successfully campaign for the abolition of slavery and the promotion of global missions. The world’s most famous evangelist, Billy Graham, was a highly charismatic personality, but he freely admitted that he owed everything to God, his wife and a close team of associates who stayed together and supported him throughout their long lives.  

Yet for all the effectiveness of so many great teams there is one that stands out above all others. John Maxwell wrote: ‘one could argue that Jesus constructed the most important team ever assembled. In less than one generation, the disciples of Jesus progressed from ignorant labourers to bold spiritual leaders in what is now the largest organisation in the world.’ 

The team that Jesus chose and trained to become history makers were a very mixed group of characters as we have been discovering over these past months. We have seen how easy it is to identify with them as they were very ordinary people just like us, each with their particular strengths and weaknesses. 

For all the differences in their personalities and roles, these disciples who became the world’s most successful team, were united in key areas. They have much to teach us if we want to grow in our faith and as members of teams of disciples. 

1. They had a personal encounter with Jesus (John 1:43-45; John 1:1-4, 14-16; Matthew 16; John 6:68-69; Colossians 2:7) 

2. They committed to fully follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 19:27) 

3. They needed to be developed as trained disciples of Jesus  

4. They continued to be faithful witnesses of Jesus throughout their lives (Acts 12:2; Revelation 1:17-18; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 1:5-7) 

Apply 

1. They had a personal encounter with Jesus. Four fishermen, Andrew, Peter, James and John, all met Jesus along the shores of Lake Galilee. Matthew was called by Jesus while sitting at his booth as a tax collector. Philip and Nathanael also came into contact with Jesus (John 1:43-45). In one way and another Jesus entered the lives of each of the disciples and developed a close relationship with them over a three-year period. Jesus called this band of brothers ‘friends’, but they clearly understood that that Jesus was no mere man, but the Promised Messiah, God in human form (John 1:45; John 1:1-4). John went on to clarify that Jesus was the Word He was speaking of (John 1:14). When Jesus asked the disciples who they really thought He was, Peter stated he believed Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 16). As opposition increased towards Jesus, many left him, but not his core disciples (John 6:68-69). What held them together was they were ‘rooted and built up’ in their personal faith in Christ (Colossians 2:7). That’s why they weren’t being blown all over the place. They knew Jesus for themselves. Being a true disciple then means far more than knowing about Jesus or even merely believing in Him at an intellectual level; it means that you must have a personal experience of knowing Jesus. Even if you would say that you are a Christian: do you really know the Lord in a personal way? Do you feel His presence? Do you know Him as your best friend who is always close by you? Are you confident to daily walk with Him because you are sure your sins have been forgiven because of your repentance and through Christ’s blood? Well this is what the Lord wants for you. 

2. They committed to fully follow Jesus. They decided to wholeheartedly follow Jesus from the start (Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 19:27). Peter and his brother and colleagues left their fishing careers, Mathew gave up tax collecting for the Romans, Simon the Zealot split from the terrorist group that focused on killing Romans. Each disciple left their old way of life behind. And that is what every true follower of Jesus must do. You cannot continue with an old sinful lifestyle, with old attitudes, with old forms of behaviour and friendships with those who mock God. You have to make a clean break to follow Jesus. God’s call on your life may also involve you changing from a previous career. But whether or not you stay or leave your chosen profession, what matters is that you die to an old way of life and that you choose to live God’s way and to be a faithful ambassador for Christ. A true disciple is much more than someone who attends church but someone who has consciously decided to prioritise following the example and teachings of Jesus. That's what the first disciples did but that was only the start of their story.   

3. They needed to be developed as trained disciples of Jesus. Once Jesus had called individual disciples, He then brought them together as a team to form them in their characters and capabilities. And that’s what He did patiently, consistently, directly and ultimately very effectively. His training meant that the team of disciples: needed to stay close to their mentor and rabbi even when others had arguments and left; had to be prepared to accept correction, they weren’t too proud to learn and change; and needed to be ready to respond to new challenges. At first, Jesus sent them out to spread the good news of the kingdom of God in their home areas but finally he sent them out to make disciples throughout the whole world. Everything depended on them succeeding as a team. The responsibility for the whole future of the church and the growth of Christianity rested with this small, imperfect team that Jesus had raised up. There was no plan B. Today also the numerical and spiritual growth of the Christian church, locally and globally, primarily depends not on big events and public services, but with the training of groups of small groups of committed disciples who will in turn multiply faithful and fruitful disciples.  

4. They continued to be faithful witnesses of Jesus throughout their lives. They obediently carried out their commission to spread the gospel wherever they went, no matter what difficulties they faced. And they were prepared to pay the ultimate price. We know of the fate of Judas who betrayed Jesus and hung himself, while the faithful James, the son of Zebedee, was executed by Herod in 44AD (Acts 12:2). Even though Peter was miraculously saved at that time from a similar execution and the Bible doesn’t give the details, numerous writers of the time (or shortly after) described his death as having occurred in Rome during the reign of the mad Emperor Nero in 64AD. According to tradition, St. Peter was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. Although there are unreliable legends about the other disciples, there are strong traditions about their laying down of their lives for Christ. Russian Christians believe that Andrew was the first to bring the gospel to their land. Andrew also preached in modern-day Turkey, Asia Minor, and Greece, where it’s believed he was crucified. Tradition says that Thomas preached as far as India, where he was killed. Many churches in the Middle East and southern Asia, including Sri Lanka, also mention Apostle Thomas in their historical traditions as being the first evangelist to establish their churches. Philip likely had a powerful ministry in Asia Minor and in North Africa, where he was put to death. Matthew ministered in Persia and Ethiopia, where some believe he was killed. Of the other disciples who were reportedly martyred, Bartholomew had extensive missionary travels to Ethiopia, India with Thomas and to Armenia and Southern Arabia. James the son of Alpheus is believed to have ministered in Syria. Simon the Zealot ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to a sun god and Matthias, the replacement for Judas, went to Syria. John is one of the only disciples who’s commonly thought to have died a natural death from old age. He was a church leader in Ephesus and is believed to have cared for Mary, Jesus’ mother, in his home. During a time of persecution under Emperor Domitian, John was exiled to the island of Patmos, off the coast of Asia where he wrote the last book of the New Testament. At the end of his life, John had many revelations of Jesus in heaven. He had a vision of: 

- The conquering Christ: an awesome figure Revelation 1:17-18) 

- The compassionate Christ: He saw a vast crowd of people gathered (Revelation 5:9; Revelation 1:5-6) 

- The coming Christ: He foresaw that Jesus will return to earth in power and glory, overthrowing all evil, establishing His eternal kingdom and making all things new (Revelation 1:7). 

For John the past, present and future was all about Jesus. Jesus was the centre and meaning and hope of everything. That’s why he and all the disciples had first followed Jesus and why they worked so effectively together as a team to shine his light in a dark world. We too need to encounter Jesus and live and work together as teams of real disciples to see Christ’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. 

The famous anthropologist, Margaret Mead said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’  

In our series on the 12 disciples of Jesus, we can see how Jesus chose very down to earth people to carry on His mission and become world changers. Some of them are very familiar to us like Peter, James and John or Matthew or Thomas. Others however are not so well known. Yet they were an essential part of the team of Jesus.  

Three of the least-known disciples are mentioned in Luke 6:15-16 and Mark 3:18. These disciples are: James son of Alphaeus (referred to as James the Lesser), Simon (referred to as Simon the Zealot) and Judas, not Iscariot, who was the son of James (also known as Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus). The lives of these men can teach us some important lessons. 

1. You can be part of a great team even if you are not well known (1 Samuel 16:6-13; John 14:21-22; Nehemiah 3:1-4; Romans 16)  

2. You need to be prepared to be a team player (Romans 12:4-8) 

3. You can help with great change when you are a team player (2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Corinthians 12:1) 

Apply 

1. You can be part of a great team even if you are not well known. If we base these men entirely on what was written about them in the Bible, they may come across as insignificant. However, they were chosen by Jesus Christ, so they had value beyond what may have been recorded about them and they gave up everything to follow Jesus. Although this last listed group of apostles has little written about them, they each have their own distinctions.  

a. James (also known by his nickname, “the Lesser”): The Greek word for ‘less’ which is used could mean that he was small in stature i.e. he was a little guy that people could literally look down on. It could also mean younger and may have been how to distinguish him from the other James (James son of Zebedee or one of the “sons of thunder”). Little is written about James. But Mark and Luke make clear that he was a son of Alphaeus. Matthew also was a son of Alphaeus, so if they were the same man then Matthew and little James were brothers. That’s quite possible and it’s also possible that he was a cousin of Jesus. None of this however caused him to stand out or give him a special status. What mattered was that he was chosen by Jesus and that he was a faithful disciple of Jesus. Throughout the Bible we can read of how God chose the most insignificant people or places to demonstrate His magnificent love and ability to transform anyone into something of immense value. King David’s story is a fitting example of how God asked the Prophet Samuel to choose the youngest son of Jesse to anoint as King of Israel, even though many of David’s older brothers appeared more “kinglike” (1 Samuel 16:6-13). Remember also that our Lord and saviour did not come into this world as a great celebrity. He was not born in a lavish palace but in a humble stable.  

b. Simon the Zealot: Zealots were a highly feared group of Jews that fiercely believed nobody but God had the right to rule the Jews. They hated the Romans and there are several accounts of intense battles with the Romans. The Zealots eventually became a band of assassins known to carry out targeted hits. In today’s world we might describe them as extremists. Yes, Jesus recruited an extremist! Jesus choosing Simon as one of His disciples is a great testimony of how someone with a deep self-righteous hatred can, by God’s grace, be transformed to an Apostle for Jesus.  

c. Judas Lebbaeus Thaddaeus (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus): His other names are often thought to be nick names based on aspects of his personality. Thaddeus means breast child, almost implying he may have been either a mother’s favourite or a baby of the family. Lebbaeus means “heart child.” Both nicknames allude to the assumption that Judas might have been a gentle and tender person. Someone with a childlike heart, and vastly different from Simon the Zealot. Just like the other two, little is written about Judas. However, there is a record of a brief dialogue with Jesus (John 14:21-22). The way Judas asks the question “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us and not to the world?” reveals a man with humility, tenderness, but also a compassion for all people. He doesn’t understand why Jesus will reveal Himself to this rag-a-tag group of men and not the whole world. Afterall, Jesus was the saviour of the world – the King of kings and Lord of lords.  

So here are three very different characters from way down the list in the lineup of Jesus’ disciples. Yet they were all called by Jesus to be part of a team. Without them there would not have been a team of 12. To be part of the team you do not have to be a celebrity. You just need to be called and committed. We see this principle all through the Scriptures: e.g. Nehemiah 3:1-4 - they aren’t famous figures of history, but they are people whose hearts had been touched by God and who decided to work together to help make history by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down for over 100 years; the same with the pioneers who rebuilt the temple - they are unknown to us, but they were history makers nonetheless because they had a passion to work for God without needing recognition or fame; the same in the early church where the Apostle Paul gives account of some people we know little or nothing about but who were key figures in the growth of the first century church and who were a great support to him (Romans 16). So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a public leader or natural speaker with lots of charisma. What matters is that Jesus has called you to be part of a team, part of His church. You don’t need special recognition or be concerned if you aren’t particularly well known. All that matters is that you love and follow Jesus and are willing to help build His Church. Thank God for the many people who serve like this in this church. 

2. You need to be prepared to be a team player. Just like our bodies have so many connected parts, so does the church of Christ. We don't know all the roles these 3 disciples had specifically. What we do know is they were part of the team. They lived with Jesus. They worked with Jesus. They were sent on a mission for Jesus to extend his kingdom and to make and multiply disciples. They were part of a team and gave their best efforts to serve the Lord and people. Whatever your role, whether it's setting up the chairs, visiting the sick - your being part of a team makes a difference (Romans 12:4-8).

3. You can help with great change when you are a team player. These lesser-known disciples went through everything the other disciples experienced. They were there at the last supper. They were there when Judas betrayed Jesus. They were there at Jesus’s crucifixion. They were witnesses when Jesus rose again. They were part of the team of 12 who stood together on the day of Pentecost. Conquest comes through a team. Moses needed a team. His father-in-law told him he wasn’t doing right to take all the responsibilities of leadership. He needed to share the load by recognising faithful and capable people and make them leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Jesus needed a team. The early church needed teams in every local church (2 Timothy 2:2) the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy instructing him “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” Today as we see so many people uniting in opposition to God, we need to all be part of teams who will serve God together in local churches. We need to stop being focused on me, but to focus more on we. No part of the body is more important than the other (1 Corinthians 12:1). There should be no sense of inferiority or superiority. Everyone is important whether you are well known or little known like the three disciples we have looked at today. Whether famous or anonymous, we should all seek be faithful disciples and heroes for God. Decide today to be such a faithful person!  

Betrayal is nothing new in history, but it is at epic levels in today’s world, whether in politics, business, in romantic relationships, in friendships, in families and even in churches. For example: 

 Countless men and women who thought they had good marriages have been shattered when they discover a partner has been unfaithful to them  

 So many children and young adults have been scarred and traumatised by abusers who should have been the very people protecting them  

Families, even like the Royal family, have been rocked to their foundations because one angry son has demonised his father, stepmother, brother and sister-in-law before the whole world.  

And so it goes on…businesses ruined and wealth lost because a supposedly loyal employee has disclosed or used confidential information. Governments undermined by leaks and hidden agendas. Good churches and leaders vilified by resentful and revengeful former members... 

No wonder Proverbs 20:6 says: ‘many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?’ 

As Jesus discovered with Judas the greatest damage and pain comes from those who were once close to you. Judas, one of the supposed 12 disciples of Jesus, was in fact revealed to be a disciple of Satan. He was working for the other side. He was the ultimate traitor. 

His life and death stand as an enduring warning against the evils of unfaithfulness. We should not quickly skip over this awful story (2 Timothy 3:16). Let’s consider some important lessons we can learn from the story of Judas. 

1. Judas was given the best opportunity (Luke 10:1) 

2. Judas was one thing in private and another thing in public (John 13:10-11; 1 Samuel 16:7; John 12:1-5; John 12:6; John 13:29; Matthew 26:14-16; 1 Timothy 6:10-11; Hebrews 13:5; John 13:2;27-30)  

3. Judas went through a process of betrayal (Mark 14:10-11; Mark 14:11; John 18:1-3; Matthew 26:47; Matthew 26:48-50)  

4. Judas never recovered from his actions (Matthew 27:3-5)  

5. Judas was replaced (Acts 1:15-22; Psalm 51:10-11) 

Apply 

1. Judas was given the best opportunity. He was privileged to be invited to be part of the team of 12 of Jesus. Jesus had many followers and even had a specially commissioned extended team of 72 disciples (Luke 10:1). But Judas was in the core team of 12, along with Peter, James, John, Matthew and all the others that we have been learning about. That meant he was up close and personal to hear the amazing teachings of Jesus and to witness and be part of his miracles. For example, Judas was one of the disciples who picked up 12 baskets of bread after the feeding of the 5000. Judas had ready access to Jesus and remained with him even when Jesus and the disciples withdrew from the crowds for rest and time to fellowship together as a band of friends and brothers. But like many others in the Bible, he was chosen but he threw everything away. Esau was the first born but he despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob. Saul was the first king of Israel but he became proud and independent, and a shepherd boy called David replaced him. Solomon, David’s once wise son, had so many privileges, but he turned away from God and made disastrous decisions that brought lasting trouble for his people. Issues at work in the heart can later surface and result in people going far from God, His purpose and His people. That’s what happened to Judas and that’s why you should never be a Judas.  

2. Judas was one thing in private and another thing in public. The disciples looked like they were all happily united. But on one historic evening when they were having a meal together with the Lord, Jesus came out with a startling statement that one of them would betray Him (John 13:10-11). Judas projected an image that he was part of the team of 12 but in his heart, he was far from Jesus and his fellow brothers (1 Samuel 16:7). We can see a number of negative things that were going on with Judas. Judas was:  

- Critical: Judas had a judging heart and attitude. He even felt qualified to criticise Jesus (John 12:1-5). Now Judas sounded very righteous which is what critical people usually want to appear as. But his self-righteousness masked what was really going on in his heart (John 12:6).  

- Money was an idol in his life: He was on the make for himself. Judas was the man who held the purse strings (John 13:29). Judas kept a close eye on what went in and what went out. And when Judas betrayed Jesus, he did it for money (Matthew 26:14-16). Money was a major unresolved root issue with Judas. And it is a root that leads to trouble (1 Timothy 6:10-11; Hebrews 13:5). Judas loved money more than Jesus. Jesus made it clear that you can’t serve God and money. So what’s most important to you when it comes down to it - money or the Lord?  

So here are two very clear evidences that all was not right in the heart of Jesus. He was judgmental and focussed on money. Maybe there were other things going on in his heart and mind that we don’t know about. Maybe he carried grudges. Judas was an outsider. His surname Iscariot means ‘Man of Kerioth’ which was a humble town in the south of Judea. He was the only disciple who didn’t come from Galilee up north. He did not share the close connections as brothers and friends that the other disciples had. AB Bruce in his classic book ‘The Training of the 12’ suggests that such ties of regional and personal networks may have caused Judas to feel that he would never be truly accepted by the other disciples (p374). Maybe he felt resentful and discriminated against and that embittered him and made him feel revengeful. 

- The Devil took control of his heart: the apostle John highlights this twice (John 13:2;27-30). So how did it all come to this?  

3. Judas went through a process of betrayal. Unfaithfulness rarely happens out of nowhere. Husbands and wives normally do not suddenly leave one another. People don’t leave their churches overnight. Usually there’s a lot been going on in the run up to betrayal. Foundations have been eroded over time (John MacArthur, Twelve Ordinary Men (p193): ‘Judas did not act in a moment of insanity. This was not a sudden impulse. This dark deed was deliberately planned and premeditated. He had been planning this for days, if not weeks or even months.’) Let’s look briefly at the descent of Judas: 

 - His negative attitudes continued: even though he heard the teachings of Jesus about humility, serving, forgiveness and putting God first. He looked to see what he could get out of his association with Jesus (Mark 14:10-11). 

- He plotted to take out Jesus: He was just waiting for his moment to attack Jesus (Mark 14:11). That’s what unfaithful people do. They want to take you down. He worked with enemies of Jesus to remove Him. Judas allied himself to some very vicious and violent people. Such was his hardness of heart to Jesus he was prepared to do anything to bring down the one who had chosen him and helped him. So he used his private knowledge of the private places where Jesus and the disciples prayed to uncover Him and capture Him (John 18:1-3; Matthew 26:47). - Betrayed Jesus while still pretending to be his disciple: With a hypocritical act Judas betrayed his fellow disciples (Matthew 26:48-50). He betrayed the trust that had been placed in him. Above all he betrayed Jesus to the cruellest death of all: crucifixion. Yet as the events of the resurrection were to show it was not the end for Jesus, but it was for Judas.  

4. Judas never recovered from his actions. When Judas who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders (Matthew 27:3-5). Judas came to a tragic end. Who would have thought it? He was one of the main leaders with Jesus. He’d been so close to everything that was going on. He had been given a great opportunity. But he blew everything. Judas had passed the point of no return. Don’t make the same mistake. God gives so many opportunities for people to return from their sins and to put things right before it is too late. But there comes a moment that if you harden your heart continually, there is no way back for you. That is why you need to hear the voice of God, repent of all your sins and reconcile with those you have betrayed.  

5. Judas was replaced. After the resurrection and before Pentecost Peter faced into the whole issue of the betrayal of Judas (Acts 1:15-22). So that was the past, but they needed to move forward. So they chose a replacement. The 12 was completed and it was they who stood in unity together as the Holy Spirit was poured out in great power on the Day of Pentecost. Judas was history. Now a new group were going to make a new history. For all those of you who have experienced betrayal, there is a time to mourn and be comforted by God. But there is also a moment you must decide to move forward. And now that moment has arrived for you. It’s time to get up and go again. God has a new future for you. There are so many lessons from Judas’ life to stop you from ruining your life. Today examine the state of your heart, confess your sins and decide to never be a Judas. this is your opportunity to repent of unfaithfulness in your life: unfaithfulness in your thoughts, words, attitudes and action. It’s time to get real with God and others. It’s not too late to be blessed by God but you must repent and change now. No more hidden sin. No more betrayal. Today ask the Holy Spirit to come and help you (Psalm 51:10-11). Pray for healing and new beginnings. For those who have been betrayed, today ask the Holy Spirit to heal your heart. Start to believe the promises of God to give you a new life. Forgive those who have wounded you. Move on from them and step into a new future.  

Today we come to Thomas, perhaps one of the most well-known disciples, but for the wrong reasons, and commonly known as “Doubting Thomas”. If you didn’t know anything more about Thomas, you would associate him with doubt and pessimism. Thomas was a man who was very real, who had his struggles in life, in his faith and in his spiritual walk. Yet he became a great disciple and a very strong believer. 

AB Bruce in ‘The Training of the Twelve’ describes him as a ‘…man of gloomy temperament, prone to look upon the dark side of things, living in the pensive moonlight rather than in the cheerful sunlight.' 

John MacArthur in ‘Twelve Ordinary Men’ writes ‘He is usually nicknamed “Doubting Thomas” but that may not be the most fitting label for him…. It is probably fair... to say that Thomas was a somewhat negative person…. He was like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh…. Pessimism, rather than doubt, seems to have been his besetting sin…. He always seemed to anticipate the worst of everything.’ 

The Gospel of John gives three accounts featuring Thomas that we can learn from. 

1. Jesus wants you to live with optimism, not die with pessimism (John 10:40-42; John 11:8-16; John 8:12; Isaiah 42:3; Proverbs 22:17-18 NKJV; Philippians 4:8) 

2. Jesus wants to show you the way forward when you can’t see one (John 14; John 14:1-5; John 11:16; John 14:6; John 14:16-18; John 16:7) 

3. Jesus wants you to stop doubting and declare your faith in Him (John 20:25-28; Hebrews 4:15; John 20:28; Romans 10:9-10; John 20:29) 

Apply 

1. Jesus wants you to live with optimism, not die with pessimism. We first read about Thomas during a prosperous period of Jesus’ ministry (John 10:40-42). The gospel was bearing fruit unhindered. Then came news that Jesus’ friend Lazarus was seriously ill, and Jesus decided to go back to Judea, where the religious leaders had recently tried to stone and seize Jesus. When He announced this decision to His disciples, none of them were keen (John 11:8-16, John 8:12). So, when Jesus announced his decision to return to Judea, the disciples were naturally worried. To reassure them he was effectively saying: ‘yes, we’re heading back into dangerous territory, but if you walk with me you’ve got nothing to be afraid of. Lazarus, is dead but you’re going to be amazed by what I do there.’ Unfortunately, it sounds like only words Thomas had heard were ‘dead’ and ‘go’. How did he miss all Jesus’ words of encouragement? He was paying too much attention to his own heavy thoughts instead of giving full attention to Jesus’ words. Pessimism didn’t just subdue Thomas’ mood, it robbed him of belief in the words of his rabbi. Maybe you are struggling with doubts. Well Jesus dealt gently with him (Isaiah 42:3). If you need to overcome pessimism, you need to come close to Jesus. Don’t try to figure things out by yourself: open your heart to Him. And if you want to live with optimism, there are two simple, practical things you need to do with your thought life. You must listen more to the words of Jesus that you listen to your thoughts of doubt (Proverbs 22:17-18 NKJV) and meditate on the good rather than the bad (Philippians 4:8). 

2. Jesus wants to show you the way forward when you can’t see one. The next time we read about Thomas is during Jesus’ last supper with His disciples (John 14). Jesus had just revealed that one of the twelve was about to betray Him, that He was going away somewhere that they couldn’t follow, and that Peter was going to disown Him. The shock in the room must have been written on all their faces (John 14:1-5). The heaviness in Thomas’ heart was clear through his words in verse 5: Jesus was about to leave them, and he felt lost. He was a man in despair, not asking Jesus for guidance, just lamenting the impossibility of the task. These words reveal Thomas’ negativity again, but they also show the depth of his devotion to Jesus. Thomas would have rather died with Jesus than live without Him (John 11:16). Thomas didn’t know how to carry on without the personal guidance of Jesus in his life every day. When you can’t see the way forward, you need to stick with Jesus every day (John 14:6). He is the Way; you need to keep walking and talking with Him. He is the Truth; you need to keep reading His Words. He is the Life; you need His presence and power inside you. For Thomas this probably wasn’t making much sense. How could he rely on Jesus if He wasn’t going to be there any more? Well, if like Thomas you can’t see the way forward, come to Jesus and let him send you the Holy Spirit to be your guiding presence every day (John 14:16-18; John 16:7). 

3. Jesus wants you to stop doubting and declare your faith in Him. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, we find Thomas at his very lowest. He was so deep in grief and despair that he had started to withdraw from the other disciples. He’d missed out on Jesus’ first appearance to the rest of them. Now he just couldn’t take in what they were all trying to tell him (John 20:25-28). John MacArthur (Twelve Ordinary Men) writes that Thomas’ unbelief “…was provoked by grief, brokenheartedness, uncertainty, and the pain of loneliness. No one could feel the way Thomas felt unless he loved Jesus the way Thomas loved Him.” So Jesus was tender with him. He understands our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). So He understands our doubt. He sympathises with our uncertainty. He is patient with our pessimism.” We see the amazing mercy of Jesus in this and the response it drew from Thomas (John 20:28). This was the moment of turnaround in Thomas’ life, when he opened his mouth and declared his faith. Thomas looked upon the One who had announced that He had the authority to lay down His life and take it up again, and now He’d done it. They’d all seen that Jesus was not just a powerful prophet or miracle-worker but much more. Stood before Thomas was the true and living God over whom death held no power. As Thomas beheld Him, all doubt and despair evaporated. Now his heart leaped, his faith soared, and his lips exploded with praise (Romans 10:9-10). Blessed are those who haven’t seen and yet believed (John 20:29). Today you can be blessed. Whatever your doubts, whatever setbacks you’ve had, however pessimistic things may look in life. No matter what darkness you walk through, believe in Jesus. Believe and declare that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Believe in His words. Believe His love. Believe He hears you when you call to Him. Believe in Him. So then this day, if that’s what you say, declare it. And if you’ve never yet come to that, now is your moment: leave your doubts and fears aside, come to the Lord who is tender, kind, and understands us. We’re all different but get out of doubt. Doubt will kill you; it will kill your spirit. But when you believe in the Lord and you put your trust in Him, you will be saved. Today is the day to leave your doubts aside and put your full trust in the Lord who will never let you down. 

One of these ordinary men was Matthew. He was not someone you may expect to be chosen by Jesus. In fact, he would have possibly been near the bottom of the list, certainly if popularity was one of the criteria. Matthew is also known by his Jewish name, Levi, in both the gospels of Mark and Luke, and was one of the most notorious of the 12 as he was a tax collector or ‘publican’ as they were known.  

Not only was Matthew from Galilee - a poor a rural community not known for its education or sophistication - but he was also a tax collector! Tax collectors were regarded as the lowest of the low during the days of the Roman occupation. They were hated and vilified by Jewish society and were often more disliked than the Roman occupiers.

Publicans were men who had bought tax franchises from the Roman Emperor, then extorted money from the people of Israel. They often used force by hiring thugs to physically take money and were considered vile and unprincipled. This was the kind of man Matthew would have been.  

Despite all this, Jesus saw how He could use such a man to serve God and His Kingdom and become one of the great leaders who would go on to teach the world of God’s love. Matthew is the author of the Gospel which bears his name, and we might expect therefore to have a lot of detail about him. In fact there is very little written about him. He appears to have become a humble man because he only mentions himself twice in his own writings. He doesn’t self-promote but rather appears in the background despite being one of Jesus’s chosen 12 disciples.  

1. He was a man of the world  

2. He brought Jesus into his world (Matthew 9:9-10)  

3. He changed the world (Matthew 9:11-13; Matthew 6:33) 

Apply 

1. He was a man of the world. It is evident that Matthew was a man of the world. He was prepared to do whatever it took - including being despised by his own people, even his own family - to get what he wanted. He was probably very wealthy, living a comfortable life with many possessions. His focus was on himself and certainly not God. Selfish, ambitious and proud are all traits you would associate with a person like Matthew. But God is interested in everyone. Everyone is important to God and the gospel is relevant for all, whether we are in business, at home or school, God sees our potential and wants to use us. He wants to use people of influence, but he wants us to have the right focus. Christianity is a lifestyle and covers every area of our lives, not just something to do on a Sunday. God sees the potential for business leaders and wants to take that passion, ambition and the gifts and talents they use for business success, and use it for His business and the Kingdom of God. We are “to be in the world but not of the world”. 

2. He brought Jesus into his world. If you have been following this series, you will note a common theme: how the disciples reacted/responded to the call from Jesus. Matthew was sitting at work, Jesus saw him and said, “follow me” (Matthew 9:9). Why would Matthew leave his job, his wealth, his position to obey and step out into the unknown? Although a man of the world, Matthew was also a Jew and would have been raised and educated knowing something of the Messiah and the promise of His coming to save Israel. Mathew was familiar with the Old Testament as he quotes it many times throughout his Gospel, much more that the other 3 gospels combined. He would have been intrigued. Perhaps he had a deep longing for a better life and believed that maybe this man Jesus was the promised Messiah. Perhaps you relate to this spiritual hunger for a more fulfilled life, to know the promised One for yourself. If you do, you can know Him today just as Matthew did by following Jesus immediately. Matthew had encountered Jesus, the Messiah, and was so impacted by this that he then went and told all his friends (Matthew 9:10). Matthew brought everyone he knew to eat with Jesus at his house. He knew the state of his own life and that Jesus could bring the same turnaround to the lives of all his friends who were probably in the same situation. The Bible says “many” tax collectors and sinners came. Do we want to tell all our friends the good news of Jesus and invite them to come and meet with Him? Matthew’s encounter with Jesus changed everything. His character, his old nature, his ways of thinking were gone. Now he wanted to tell everyone. His new world was all about Jesus and he wanted everyone in his old world to know about it, so he invited Jesus into his world. Do we sometimes struggle with this? We can think we “aren’t allowed to talk about God at work” or “don’t want to impose our views on people”. This is a lie from the enemy to cause fear and uncertainty in you. People talk about whatever they like at work including political ideologies and religious views, and we too can and should share our faith and offer to pray for people when they are need. People are trying to push God out of our society, and we need to be like Matthew and bring Jesus into our world.  

3. He changed the world. Matthew was one of the great leaders and world changes of his time, and still is today. The Bible is still the best-selling book in the world and his testimony is read and shared over and over. Mathew started with his circle of influence, and it is where we should all start too. Matthew would probably have remained an anonymous person all his life but when he encountered Jesus it changed everything. His life, his personality, outlook and future were completely changed (Matthew 9:11-13). Matthew was listening to Jesus speaking to the religious elite whilst at his house and took it to heart because he knew that he had been one of ‘the sick’ Jesus came to heal. He had a new level of compassion for the people around him and realised there was a great need amongst his people. Matthew went from being self-reliant to becoming completely submitted to Jesus and reliant upon the Holy Spirit once Jesus ascended to heaven. He would have lived by faith rather than fear and ministered to the Jewish people for many years before eventually being martyred for his faith. He was prepared to give up a life of wealth and a lucrative career without hesitation to follow Jesus. So, how can we change the world? Look at all the people we know in every area our lives. What is our circle of influence? You may be the only Gospel, the only good news, these individuals in your circle ever hear. Do not underestimate how important your roll is as a friend, family member, colleague, neighbour or business leader. Matthew is a great example to us in so many ways. If you are in business and your focus is on your work and career, all this is good, but life is more than this. Jesus said ‘come follow me’ and gave Matthew the opportunity for something far bigger than money, possessions or even making friends. Jesus wanted to show him something greater and more significant than he had known or could possibly imagine. He wanted to show him real wealth, real value, real priorities in life. You need to evaluate what are you focusing on, where your time is spent and what is your priority (Matthew 6:33). Bring Jesus into your world at every opportunity. Be the salt and light in your circle of influence and share the good news of what Jesus has done for you and how He can and wants to help everyone. If God can use Matthew, he can use you! 

You may think of yourself as a very ordinary person, but there is far more potential in your life than you realise.  

Today we are going to unlock the keys to truly seeking and finding God, through the example of another of the disciples – Nathanael. Nathanael was Philip’s close friend and is actually listed as Bartholomew in all four lists of the Twelve. Bartholomew is a Hebrew surname meaning “son of Tolmai”, so he is Nathanael, son of Tolmai, or Nathanael Bar-Tolmai.   

There is very little written about Nathanael in the Bible. The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, as well as the book of Acts, each mention him only once: when they list all 12 disciples. However, it is in John 1:45-51, where we read about the call he received from Jesus. 

1. We must learn to be sincere people (John 1:47) 

2. We must be people who conquer our pride (John 1:46; John 7:52; Galatians 3:28; 1 Peter 5:5) 

3. We must be people who seriously seek for the Messiah (John 1:45; Matthew 7:11; John 1:50-51; Jeremiah 29:13; John 5:39) 

Apply 

1. We must learn to be sincere people. Although this is only a short window into Nathanael’s life, it shows us a lot about his character. Philip and Nathanael were close friends. Immediately after himself being called by Christ, Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus. The most important part of Nathanael’s character is revealed to us in John 1:47: “When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” What a compliment! Before Nathanael had said a word to Jesus, Jesus shows us the type of man Nathanael was: pure hearted from the very beginning. Now of course he had his faults, as we all do, but his love for God and his desire to see the Messiah was genuine. How easy is it these days for us have our hearts tainted? To allow the busyness of life and distractions to take away this characteristic to seek God with all our hearts? We need to learn to be sincere people. Being sincere is all about being genuine, with nothing hidden, no masks on. For the most part, the Israelites of Jesus’ day lived life under an appearance of religion and spirituality, but were hypocritical in their faith and worship of God. In contrast, Nathanael was authentic. Today we also live in a world that is highly cynical. Are we living authentic lives or are we living with masks, with one attitude and heart on a Sunday, but a completely different persona as soon as we step foot into the office or school? Nathanael’s example shows us the condition our hearts need to be in to be used by God. We need to let go of hypocrisy and embrace reality. Like the Pharisees of Nathanael’s time, have you allowed tradition, or religious routine to take over? How much do you need to get rid of unreality, of deceit in your life? God has really spoken to me through this preach about my own need to examine and guard my heart. All pride, deceit, stubbornness, bitterness, and dishonesty must go and be replaced with the all-consuming love of the Father. We need to come to a new level of reality about what are hearts are really coveting. Do we have sincere hearts like Nathanael?    

2. We must be people who conquer our pride. Nathanael’s initial reaction to Philip’s invitation to meet Jesus revealed that his stumbling block to meeting Jesus was his own prejudice, his pride (John 1:46). His reaction was not a rational, or biblically based objection; it was based on simple emotion and bigotry. Nazareth was not a particularly wealthy, or well-connected town – and Nathanael was probably just echoing the Galilean people’s general contempt for the area. But here we see again how God takes pleasure in using the common, the ordinary and the lowly things of the world to bring great change, just like the 12 ordinary men we are looking at in this series! Pride is ugly. Pride cuts a lot of people off from the truth. In fact much of the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah because of pride (John 7:52). They were prejudiced against Jesus and looked down on Him because of where He came from and His uneducated background. Ultimately their pride against Jesus shut them off from the gospel. Now we might say we are Christians today, and that we believe Jesus was the Messiah, however, there are still so many sources of pride in our world and in the church that continue to close our hearts and prevent us receiving the gospel. Do we feel superior in any way because of our economic status, or social background; our ethnicity or even our generation (Galatians 3:28)? In our world today there is so much division along so many different lines. People look down on others based on what school or university you went to, what job you have. The Bible says that God resists the proud (1 Peter 5:5). Dealing with our pride is a big thing that God requires us to do before we can be used by Him. Any feeling of superiority in us has to go. The gospel is radical in this regard, Nathanael had to lose his pride and sense of superiority if Jesus was truly to be revealed to him. Whether your pride is rooted in social standing, or economic success, or even intellectual ability – today is the day to repent and open your heart to all peoples, just as the Bible instructs us.   

3. We must be people who seriously seek for the Messiah. How Philip announced finding Jesus to Nathanael shows us that the truth of the scripture and Old Testament prophecies were of deep importance to Nathanael (John 1:45). Before Jesus had began working on Nathanael as a disciple there was already that spirit within him seeking for the truth, studying the scriptures for the promised Messiah who was missing from his life. Maybe today you find yourself in a similar circumstance, seeing the world around you and wondering where to find truth in a world that photoshops every picture, and news is increasingly tainted by opinion? Like Nathanael, if we too want to know God, we have to be sincere and we have to search. People are quick to ask where God is in the world today, but are we really seeking Him (Matthew 7:11)? We need to be real about how much effort we put into searching for God. Are we really asking and knocking, eg in prayers and in our devotion to studying God’s word? Are you fully seeking God in every area? In your devotional, in your Life Group, in serving on a Sunday, in your family, your business, are you giving your absolute best? Nathanael was never one of the half-committed followers of Jesus, he came to a full understanding and total commitment from day one of meeting Jesus. From that day on, he moved into a new dimension and a new destiny (John 1:50-51). That’s all we know about Nathanael from scripture. Early church records suggest he ministered in Persia and spread the gospel as far as India, and by all accounts he was eventually martyred for his faith. God is there to be known and found by those who seek Him with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Search for yourself. It doesn’t matter whether you are younger, or older, or even if you think you’re an atheist. Don’t just believe the propaganda against Jesus and against the church, find out for yourself. Get a Bible, read the Bible, go through the gospels, and read for yourself who Jesus was and what He stands for. The scriptures testify of Jesus (John 5:39). CS Lewis, Nicky Gumbel and many others came to the place where they had to find out for themselves. They needed to see whether Jesus really was the son of God. Just like these men, Nathanael found the Lord and he discovered a greater future with the Lord. So today, do not hold back, be real before God as to the state of your heart, how authentic your faith really is. Renounce every proud attitude and allow Him to transform your life and launch you into the extraordinary calling He has for you. If you seek him with all your heart, he will be found. 

It may appear the breakthrough you need is not possible by logic, but it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Jesus had to teach this truth to one of His most experienced followers. The disciple Philip was a studious reader of the Bible, he was mentored by John the Baptist who prepared the way for Jesus. Philip needed no convincing when Jesus invited him to follow Him because he was looking for Jesus himself. And he was so excited to be a new disciple of Jesus that his first thought was to grab his close friend and so he could come and follow Jesus too.  

Philip was a good man and at this point was one of Jesus’s most experienced disciples. Yet the Bible shows us that Philip needed a lot of training from Jesus to not live by thinking logically through situations, but to start living by faith.  

As John McArthur says in ‘Twelve Ordinary Men’, “Philip was a facts and figures guy - a by the book, practical-minded, non-forward-thinking type of individual. He was the kind who tends to be a corporate killjoy, pessimistic, narrowly focused, sometimes missing the big picture, often obsessed with identifying reasons things can’t be done, rather than finding ways to do them.” 

Do any of these traits seem familiar? You can be a Christian for a long time, know the Bible, and go to church. But living by focusing only on what you can see in front of you can still prevent you from having faith to see the power of God at work in your life.  

For Philip to become a true disciple he required personal mentoring and for Jesus to spotlight areas where he needed to grow. 

1. Natural vision clouds spiritual vision (John 6:5-9; Proverbs 29:18; Hebrews 11:6; Mark 11:24; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Mark 9:23) 

2. Your heart needs to be open to all people (John 12:20-22; Matthew 10:5-6) 

3. Have a true revelation of who Jesus is (John 14:6-11) 

Apply 

1. Natural vision clouds spiritual vision. Philip had to learn how to trust what Jesus could do, and not rely on the natural situation before him. When Jesus fed the 5000, He blessed the five small barley loaves and two small fish and multiplied it until every person ate as much as they wanted (John 6:5-9). Why did Jesus turn and ask Philip for his opinion about how the people could be fed? He was teaching him a very important lesson. As the disciples travelled, Philip was a logistics guy and played a role in the arranging of food. He had a particular mindset that needed to be challenged. Philip’s response to Jesus was a well-thought, reasonable one as he added up how much they earned collectively in wages and how much disposable income they had to buy food. And this led to a pessimistic ‘no! It can’t be done’ attitude. He’d looked at it across every angle analytically and logic defied any solution. Philip didn’t visualise in faith that God could do a miracle (Proverbs 29:18). He didn’t think about what Jesus was trying to show him here or if Jesus was able to do what He had done before. He lacked vision. When we try to work out problems or challenges with natural vision, and we only look at the situation as it is, it stops us from seeing and believing what God can do. If you lack faith and you lack the vision you may find yourself challenged. Jesus wants you to trust Him. Throughout the Bible, we see how our way of thinking needs to be challenged (Hebrews 11:6; Mark 11:24; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Mark 9:23). When you have a difficult situation in your finances, do you stop giving or do you have faith that amid the trial, God will reward your faith? When you are needing to see a miracle in your marriage, with your family, in your job, in your ministry, health…don’t give up or lose heart and think ‘well this is impossible, I’ll never see a breakthrough here’. Open your spiritual eyes! Have a vision beyond the natural to see that God can do immense things in your life if you press into the dimension of faith. Bring the situation to Jesus, pray and ask for him to provide and to lead you through. We must learn from Philip here not to forget what God has done before, what He has rescued you from in the past. If He did it before He can do it again. Remember what God has done before in your life and through His word and have confidence in what He wants to do for the future.  

2. Your heart needs to be open to all people. Philip knew that Jesus had a heart for the multitudes. Jesus was found among those that society despised: the sinful, the sick, the rich, the poor. Yet Philip had scepticism in his heart about who to bring to Jesus because of his limited thinking. His mindset overruled his heart. He needed to learn how to open his heart like Jesus did. It was at a festival on the way to Jerusalem, that we meet Philip in his clouded judgment (John 12:20-22). It was a great opportunity to welcome the Greeks who were so interested in Jesus, to step out in faith and bring them to Jesus. But Philip didn’t take the opportunity, instead telling Andrew. In the pressure of the situation Philip went back to his methods and protocols, he lacked boldness and missed the opportunity again to step out in faith. He applied Jesus’s previous instructions to the disciples about ministering first to the Jews and was so structured in his thinking that instead of having being open towards others, he was locked in rigid protocol (Matthew 10:5-6). Yet Jesus welcomed the Greeks, ministered to them and invited them to follow Him. There was no barrier, but Philip created one in his mind. This should challenge us. We mustn’t limit who we bring to Jesus because we are fearful, unsure or concerned. When people are in need, we need to have a heart like Jesus of compassion and acceptance of all people. Our priority should always be to bring people to Jesus whenever the opportunity arises. It’s important that we have a sensitivity to the spirit so we can do this.  

3. Have a true revelation of who Jesus is. The final place we read about Philip is in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, just before Jesus would be taken away and crucified. During the supper, Jesus shared some final wisdom and understanding of what lay ahead for His disciples. This was one of their final moments to be around the table with the son of God, a precious time, and Philip had a question (John 14:6-11). Philip had walked with Jesus for a long time at this point. Yet He still needed a revelation of who Jesus was. He needed to stop telling Jesus he needed to know God, but instead listen and receive from Jesus directly. Jesus showed grace and patience with Philip but made it clear that he needed to stop questioning and start trusting. How often do we tell Jesus what we need and how we need it? We need to instead listen to His word, his authority and allow Him to reveal Himself to us. Philip had very important lessons to learn. He grew in faith, confidence, and in conviction and was shaped into the man Jesus called him to be. This is discipleship. He stopped trying to work things out in his own efforts and methods, and received the power of the Holy Spirit. History tells us that Philip went on to become a great preacher of the good news of Jesus and gave his life for the gospel. Where do you need to lay down your own way of thinking and start trusting in God’s hand over your life? Where do you need to allow God to shape you and challenge your mindset? 

No matter our faults or failures, there is hope for every one of us. We have greater potential than we may imagine. Your past doesn’t determine your future. You can lead a life of great fulfilment when you become a disciple of Jesus and in turn help train others to be His disciples. 

Already we have seen how Peter, the impulsive fisherman who often spoke before he thought, became "the Rock" upon which Christ built His Church. Last week we saw how James, a fiery character, became one of the most well-known of Jesus’s disciples and the first of the team of 12 to die because of his commitment to Christ.  

Now we look at the life of the brother he left behind and that was the disciple, John. Along with James and Peter, John was part of the inner group of 3 of the 12 disciples of Jesus. And eventually he was the last surviving member of the 12 carrying a big responsibility to pass on the good news of Jesus to succeeding generations.  

A true follower of Jesus knows the truth and speaks it in love. We see some simple lessons we can apply from the transformation of John’s life: 

1. John teaches the importance of truth (John 1:1-2,14; John 1:29; John 6:35; John 8:12; John 10:9; John 10:11,14; John 11:25; John 14:6; John 15:1,5; John 20:30-31; John 8:32) 

2. John teaches the importance of love (John 13:23; John 3:16-17; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:19-21; 1 John 3:16) 

3. John teaches the importance of always elevating Jesus (John 3:30; John 8:58; Revelation 7:9-10; 1 John 3:1) 

Apply 

1. John teaches the importance of truth: From the beginning of His writings, John is clear on the truth of who Jesus is (John 1:1,2,14). John the disciple started out as seeker of the truth from a very young age. He clearly was looking for more than the life of a Jewish fisherman since he had already been following John the Baptist and listening to his teachings about the coming Messiah. When John the Baptist declared Jesus was the Messiah, John the disciple started to follow Jesus (John 1:29). And as such, he had a ringside seat for much of Jesus’ teachings and ministry on earth. Along with Andrew, he was one of the first two disciples Jesus called, so was with Jesus for longer than the other disciples. John discovered that by following Jesus, he had found the truth he had been seeking. And just like Andrew did with Peter, having found the truth, he too went and shared it with his brother James. John recognised and accepted Jesus for who He truly is: the Son of God. And it was John who wrote down the 7 ‘I Am’ statements, where Jesus said that He is the: Bread of Life (John 6:35); Light of the World (John 8:12); Gate (John 10:9); Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14); Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25); the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6); and the Vine (John 15:1,5). John was passionate about recording the truth he heard and witnessed, not as a historical record of Jesus’ time on earth, but with the clear purpose that others might encounter the truth of Jesus for themselves and be saved (John 20:30-31). By devotedly following Jesus, John witnessed and recorded the truth that Jesus is the only way to God the Father. Just as John discovered, truth is not something but rather someone that we know, and that person is Jesus Christ (John 8:32). Do you know the truth of Jesus? Have you experienced the freedom that only He can bring to your life? There is no truth apart from Jesus; there is no other way to truth and fulfilment.  

2. John teaches the importance of love: It was clear that knowing the truth of who Jesus is was not enough to change John. Three years spent personally with Jesus was what moved this man, who, along with his brother James, had been nicknamed the ‘Sons of Thunder’, toward later being known as the ‘Apostle of love’. It was Jesus’ transforming ministry and model of living which eventually turned John into a man who could confidently claim that he was the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). John slowly learned to trust Jesus, whilst himself earning Jesus’ trust. It may seem amazing that Jesus loved a man who wanted to burn up a group of Samaritans with fire from heaven. Jesus loved John, who forsook Him and fled rather than suffering for His sake. But in loving John despite and during all his flaws and failures, Jesus transformed him into a different man - a disciple who later modelled the same kind of love Jesus had shown him. John experienced salvation, not condemnation, with Jesus (John 3:16-17). The love that John received from Jesus changed his heart, so he was able to teach the love of Jesus to others. This love that Jesus taught John transformed him into a person who would even be trusted with looking after Jesus’ own mother! The love that Jesus showed John, strengthened him to stand at the cross that Jesus hung on and to see Him crucified and it was the love of Jesus that sustained John into old age when he had outlived all his martyred fellow disciples (John 13:34-35). It was the love of Jesus that had changed John so much that His writings were not just full of the truth but were full of love and the importance of having love (1 John 4:19-21). The love that John had received and taught out of was not a mystical love, it was a strong, sustaining, enduring, sacrificial love. The love that Jesus modelled to him (1 John 3:16). By following Jesus and learning from Him we can receive His love and let His love change us. Have you experienced that life-changing love of Jesus? John knew the love of God personally, wants you to know it and wants you share it. So that you can be a real disciple and make real disciples.  

3. John teaches the importance of always elevating Jesus: Just like the other disciples, this truth seeker needed shaping. He displayed a lot of selfishness and anger, constantly looking for ways to get ahead or gain a favoured position. He was rugged and hard-edged, just like the rest of the fishermen-disciples. And he was every bit as intolerant, ambitious, zealous and explosive as his elder brother. However, across John’s writings we can see that through witnessing the love, authority and power of Jesus, his identity was transformed. He went from wanting to elevate himself, including fighting about who would get to sit on the throne next to Jesus in heaven, and arguing who the greatest disciple was, to wanting only to elevate Jesus in his writings, not even writing his own name in his gospel account - only referring to himself as ‘the disciples whom Jesus loved’. John’s identity was now found in reference to Jesus, not seeking power, position or privilege for himself. John learnt humility through the ministry of Jesus and so throughout his writings he elevated Jesus (John 3:30; John 8:58). John knew that Jesus is God, and He is the God of Israel. John also recorded the 7 signs or miracles confirming the divine or Godly nature of Jesus. Later, whilst exiled for his faith on the Island of Patmos, God gave John visions of what would still come (Revelation 7:9-10). John had encountered Jesus, the experience had utterly transformed him. His life changed from fighting for position to devoting his life and writings to testifying to the truth, love and glory of Jesus Christ. Today, maybe you’ve heard about Jesus, but do you personally know the truth of who Jesus is? Have you experienced the life-changing love of Jesus to heal your heart and transform your life? Do you take time to experience this love on a daily basis? Once we are consumed by the love of God for us, we will be able to share the good news of Jesus confidently with others (1 John 3:1). 

It's worth mentioning that there are several men named ‘James’ in the New Testament. There's James, the son of Alphaeus, another disciple, and then there's James, the brother of Jesus who wasn’t in the team of 12, who is thought to have authored the Book of James and who was a significant leader in the early Christian church in Jerusalem. 

But we’re focusing on James, the son of Zebedee, who was also part of Jesus’ inner circle along with Peter and his own brother, John. 

1. James was quick to respond to Jesus (Mark 1:19-20)  

2. James became a powerful witness for Jesus (Mark 5:37; Matthew 17:1; Mark 13:3; Mark 14:33; Acts 1:8) 

3. James was passionate about Jesus (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:55-56; Mark 12:30-31; Romans 12:11) 

4. James had to humbly learn what it meant to follow Jesus (Mark 10:35-45) 

5. James gave his life for Jesus (Acts 12:1-2; Philippians 1:2) 

Apply 

1. James was quick to respond to Jesus: We first meet James by the Sea of Galilee, mending nets with his father and his brother John. When Jesus calls him, James doesn’t hesitate. He and his brother John leave their nets and their father to follow Jesus (Mark 1:19-20). Let's not underestimate the significance of this moment. James was responsive to the call of Jesus, despite not knowing fully what lay ahead. He wasn’t just leaving his job, this potentially was his livelihood, his family, and everything familiar to him. Yet he made an immediate decision. He knew this was the right way to go. He simply trusted Jesus, responded and went for it! James’ instantaneous decision to follow Jesus teaches us the urgency and commitment required when answering God's call. James teaches us that God's calling on our life is often disruptive, immediate, and warrants our full attention and action! His immediate "Yes" to Jesus is a powerful example that we need to be responsive in our spirit to the words of Jesus. When we respond, our lives are changed forever. James’ example raises some big questions: Are we willing to make changes in our lives? Are we willing to leave our comfort zones? Are we willing to simply trust, follow and live by faith?  

2. James became a powerful witness for Jesus: James was not a background character; he was a witness to significant events in Jesus' ministry as part of Jesus’ close inner circle of three. He, Peter, and John were the only ones Jesus permitted to go with Him when He raised Jairus's daughter from the dead (Mark 5:37). The same group of three witnessed Jesus' glory on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1). James was among four disciples who questioned Jesus privately on the Mount of Olives (Mark 13:3). And he was included again with John and Peter when the Lord urged those three to pray with Him privately in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). So as a member of the small inner circle, he was privileged to witness Jesus' power in the raising of the dead, he saw His glory when Jesus was transfigured, he saw Christ's sovereignty in the way the Lord unfolded the future to them on the Mount of Olives, and he saw the Saviour's agony in the garden. Being a Christian is about having a personal encounter with Jesus. It is not about religion or just knowing about God. It is about a personal experience of the transforming power of Christ and how he shapes and guides our lives. Going all in for Jesus means being a powerful witness for Jesus just like the disciple James (Acts 1:8). 

3. James was passionate about Jesus: James was filled with zeal for Jesus although his passion and approach needed shaping. His zeal was such that James and his brother even earned a nickname from Jesus: He called them the ‘sons of thunder’ (Mark 3:17). Perhaps, unlike Peter’s name change that was intended to shape his character and mark his life, this nickname was a nod to their passionate temperaments whilst offering a humorous and gentle correction. James even wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village for refusing Jesus a place to stay (Luke 9:55-56). His passion needed refinement, but it was there and it was at root a passion for Jesus. This is a powerful example to us. The life of a believer is meant to be a life of love, passion and a fire that burns within our spirit and soul (Mark 12:30-31; Romans 12:11). These verses show the kind of love and passion we are called to have for living for God and for people. They show the kind of spirit and experience we should have when we’re building our relationship with Jesus and following after Him in life. 

4. James had to humbly learn what it meant to follow Jesus: This meant dealing with his pride and selfish ambition. He once famously sought the greatest seat of honour in Jesus' Kingdom along with his brother John, much to the annoyance of the disciples. They were still arguing about this all the way up to the last supper (Mark 10:35-45). Jesus led James on a journey to see that true greatness is found in serving one another. If James was to truly follow Jesus, he had to be willing to lay down his life to lift others up. Going all in for Jesus isn’t about our glory but about becoming more like Him in love, service and sacrifice. 

5. James gave his life for Jesus: The only time James is mentioned by himself outside of the core group is in the book of Acts where his martyrdom is recorded. He had the distinction of being the first apostle to give his life for Jesus. He was "all in" to the point of giving his life for the sake of the Gospel (Acts 12:1-2). James didn't just talk the talk; he walked the walk, even if that walk led him to the point of death. His martyrdom stands as a testament to his unswerving faith and devotion. He was "all in," fully committed, not holding back anything from the Lord. For most of us, our devotion to Christ may never be tested in such an extreme manner. Yet, James' life challenges us to consider: What are we willing to give up for Jesus? It may not be our physical lives, but are we willing to die to our desires, our ambitions, our comfort zones, for the sake of His Kingdom? All of us have one life to live. None of us will be here forever. What matters is how we live our lives (Philippians 1:2). We too can follow in James’ example and truly give our whole lives to Jesus (see also Jim Elliot following God’s call to reach the people of Ecuador). Be quick to respond to Jesus. Follow after Him. Become a powerful witness for Jesus. Be passionate about Him. Humbly learn what it means to let Him shape your character. Give everything for Jesus. When we do, we will witness the amazing things He will do shaping our lives and guiding us in every season.  

Jesus ministered to great multitudes of people and saw many healings and miracles. But He spent most of his time forming the character and developing the capacities of a diverse group of personalities. The training of His team of 12 ordinary men was central to His mission and essential to the continuation of His ministry. 

Although one betrayed him and was replaced, it was this team of 12 who stood together on the Day of Pentecost when the Christian community began its rapid expansion in the first century. And it was a former fisherman called Peter who was the spokesman and leader of the group. 

Peter was brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew (Matthew 4:18-20). Soon he was not only part of an inner core group of the 12, but was also regarded as the leader of the group. In each list of the disciples in the gospels and in Acts 1:13, Peter is always mentioned first. We know more of Peter than any other disciple in the different gospel accounts. 

And it is from these accounts that we get a very clear example of how Jesus trained His disciples. We need to understand this because Jesus called His first disciples, as He calls us as Christians today, to ‘go and make disciples in all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Now we need to understand Christians are born or born again by the Spirit of God working in our lives, but disciples are formed. Jesus made this clear when He called Peter and Andrew to leave their fishing nets and follow Him. Matthew 4:19 records that Jesus said, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of people.” Being made into fishers of people meant developing them through an intentional process to become what God intended them to become. 

Training is essential in any walk of life, and it is just the same if you are serious about growing in your Christian life and leadership. That’s why the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11: ‘follow me as I follow Christ.’ And that’s why he was able to form people like Timothy and Titus into great leaders. 

To help us excel as disciples and disciple makers we should be wise to learn from how Jesus trained his team of 12 and more specifically by focussing on how Jesus formed Peter into a great disciple and leader. 

1. Jesus was prepared to shape someone who needed a lot of shaping (Matthew 17:3-5; Luke 5:5; Matthew 16:21-22) 

2. Jesus gave Peter a strong vision for his life (Luke 6:14; Matthew 16:18) 

3. Jesus constantly challenged and confronted Peter (Matthew 16:23; Hebrews 12:11) 

4. Jesus prayed for Peter (John 17:6-19; Luke 22:31-32) 

5. Jesus restored Peter (John 21) 

Apply 

1. Jesus was prepared to shape someone who needed a lot of shaping: Why did Jesus spend so much time and effort with Peter? One reason was because Peter needed a lot of help. Peter was a strong character, a very rough diamond. His character flaws were many and often clear for all to see. 

- He was impulsive: He was quick to jump out of the boat on the stormy sea of Galilee and try to walk on water like Jesus. 

- He often spoke without thinking: On the mount of transfiguration when the great figures of Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus, he just thought he would weigh in with some helpful comments, so Father God had to tell him to stop speaking (Matthew 17:3-5). 

- He was blunt and direct: When Jesus told the disciples to throw their nets on the other side of the boat, Peter wanted to make it clear to Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, they were only doing it because he was asking them to (Luke 5:5). In other words he felt free to verbalise his scepticism and reluctance. 

- He was arrogant and rude: He saw himself as superior to the other disciples declaring that if everyone left Jesus for sure he would remain. He felt at liberty to opening disagree with Jesus and even giving him a telling off (Matthew 16:21-22). Here was a man who didn’t know how to respect boundaries.  

- He was aggressive: In the garden of Gethsemane where Judas had arrived with a group of soldiers and officials to arrest Jesus, Peter was quick to pull out his sword and took a swing at the head of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. He missed decapitating him but managed to cut off his ear, which Jesus quickly healed.  

- He failed totally at the moment when he should have stepped up: Despite his big boasts, Peter’s weakness and fear overcame him when Jesus was arrested. He used some very bad language as he denied the Lord three times and then wept bitterly over his failure. 

Peter was in his time of formation, a very rough, outspoken and erratic character, not your ideal candidate for Christian leadership, you may think. He had many good points, but his failures seemed to outnumber them. How many of these traits can you identify with? Your failures and mistakes need not disqualify you from being raised up to serve the Lord. Just as Jesus determined to form this far from perfect man into a great leader, so He wants you to be formed into His likeness. And he wants every disciple maker to accept the challenge of shaping up disciples who may need a lot of shaping.  

2. Jesus gave Peter a strong vision for his life: From the beginning, Jesus spoke strong words of affirmation over Peter. He wanted him to visualize his future, not focus on his past. He wanted him to know that he was being trained up to have a far more fulfilling and fruitful life than just catching fish. He would bring many men and women into the kingdom of God. And Jesus wanted him to have a very strong and positive perception of his own identity in the kingdom of God. His name was Simon but Jesus also named him Peter (Luke 6:14). It was like a nickname. Coming from the Greek word petros (or the Aramaic word “Cephas”), the name Peter means “Rock” or “Stone.” Although Peter at times seemed to be all over the place in his emotions, actions and reactions, he knew that the Lord had marked him out as a rock who could be depended on (Matthew 16:18). He would become a bedrock of the church and an unshakeable, immovable leader. In time He became what Jesus had declared his identity to be. Whether you are forming someone in your family or the church family, always speak possibilities over your disciples. Always cast vision for what they can be. Always declare God has great dreams for them and encourage them to discover them. 

3. Jesus constantly challenged and confronted Peter: No other disciple was as corrected as much as Peter and it was often done in the context of the group. Peter so often said the wrong thing at the wrong time, notably when he tried out of sentiment and personal affection to stop Jesus going to the cross. This earned a fierce rebuke from Jesus, as it conflicted with the whole reason Jesus had come into the world (Matthew 16:23). Now it is not recommended to use such language in forming disciples but for anyone to be trained,  the trainer or parent must be caring and courageous enough to correct and the trainee/ apprentice/disciple must be prepared to accept correction with a humble attitude. By definition, to be a disciple means to be a learner. So be willing to accept correction and move forward (Hebrews 12:11). 

4. Jesus prayed for Peter: Of course, Jesus prayed for all his disciples (John 17:6-19). He prayed for their protection and their unity that they would be filled with joy and kept holy through the truth of God’s word. But Jesus also prayed specifically for Peter, who He knew would be targeted by Satan and tempted to give up (Luke 22:31-32). How we need to pray for everyone we are trying to help and form for Christ, especially our family members and disciples. And such prayers will be answered as it was in the case of Peter.  

5. Jesus restored Peter: Jesus never gave up on Peter. Even after his failures, when Peter had gone back fishing after his denials and all the dark events of the crucifixion, Jesus came looking for him. John 21 tells how he invited him to a memorable talk over breakfast by the Lake of Galilee. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him, giving him the opportunity to cancel out his three denials, and then Jesus recommissioned him three times instructing him ‘to feed my sheep.’ And then, not long after Jesus returned to heaven and left them to carry on his work. Soon everyone saw that the investment of Jesus in Peter was far from wasted. Weeks later on the Day of Pentecost, Peter, with the 11 other disciples standing side by side in strong support, preached a powerful message of repentance and restoration. Three thousand people were added to the church that very day. Peter then led the way in working miracles just as Jesus had. He slept peacefully in prison the night before he was due to be executed just as he had seen Jesus sleep in the storm. He opened up the good news of the gospel to the Gentiles when he went to the home of the roman centurion Cornelius. Above all Peter was a changed man. John MacArthur in his book ‘Twelve Ordinary Men’ highlights how Peter had learned to be submissive, humble and teachable. He became self-controlled and full of love, as his later letters made clear. And he lost his fear, courageously preaching the gospel and finally, according to the records of early church history, asking to be crucified upside down as he wasn’t worthy to die as his Lord had died. 

If you are an unreconstructed Peter, so conscious of your faults and failings, there is hope for you. And if you are a disciple maker, don’t ever give up with people, even if they are very difficult customers. For your investment in them may well prove to be the most fulfilling and far-reaching thing you have ever done. 

In many ways Andrew is a great example of what it means to be a disciple and a leader. Although he was one of the first to be chosen by Jesus, very little is said about what he did. But what we do know is that he had a profound effect on a lot of people. He was an unschooled, ordinary Jewish man, a fisherman by trade like his brother Simon. He lived under Roman occupation and will have experienced all the pressures that brought on the nation of Israel. 

Like many in his generation, Andrew looked forward to a time spoken of by Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 9, Micah 5:2, Daniel 9 and Zecheriah 9:12) when a saviour king would rescue the nation of Israel from oppression and bring in an everlasting Kingdom. So when John the Baptist appeared in the desert calling people to repentance in preparation for the Messiah who was soon to come, Andrew became one of his disciples. He understood that John the Baptist wasn’t the one he would ultimately be following, but he knew that John could point him in the right direction. 

Andrew knew his life had a greater purpose than catching fish to provide for his family. So in spite of all the inconveniences being a disciple of John would bring, he was willing to pay the price because John would help him to find that purpose. 

1. Andrew became a convinced follower of Jesus (Proverbs 13:20; John 1:37-39; John 14:6; Matthew 7:7) 

2. Andrew introduced people to Jesus (John 1:41-42, John 12:20-22) 

3. Andrew saw a great miracle through his testimony (John 6:5-11) 

Apply 

1. Andrew became a convinced follower of Jesus. We are encouraged to ‘Walk with the wise and become wise…’ (Proverbs 13:20). Andrew understood and applied this principle and so should we. Andrew had learned a lot from John the Baptist and had been faithfully following and serving John, but then he realised John was pointing to One greater than himself. Andrew came to see that Jesus was the Messiah, the one he had been looking for. When John said ‘look, the lamb of God!’, Andrew knew the next stage of his journey to find the Messiah had begun. He and his fellow disciple started following Jesus (John 1:37). They weren't being rude or dismissive of John; following Jesus was the logical next step. They had heard much about the Messiah from John but wanted to check Him out for themselves (John 1:38-39). To become a convinced follower of Jesus, you need to know Jesus is real: that He really lived, He really died, and really rose again from the dead. The more you find out about Jesus, the more you will see He really is who he said He is (John 14:6). That very afternoon in the home of Jesus, Andrew became convinced this is the one they were looking for, this is the Messiah! Just like Andrew, you too have the potential to be convinced about Christ (see CS Lewis, JR Tolkien, Lee Strobel). Strobel, an atheist journalist, came to his own conclusion based on the evidence he found that Jesus is in fact real. So many people have gone on a journey, and as you go and find out more about Jesus, you will not be disappointed (Matthew 7:7). At Andrew’s first encounter with Jesus, Jesus lit a fire in his heart that was contagious. You and I can have as much of Jesus as we want! We decide if we will just do a tick box devotional time squeezed in around other priorities, or if we will leave that well-worn path of ‘business as usual’ and pursue a daily encounter with Jesus that will bless His heart and enlarge ours. You can make that choice from today and every day. The great revival preacher John Wesley was asked, “What is your secret? Why do so many people come to hear you preach?” Wesley answered “I get alone with God in prayer. He sets me on fire. The people come out to watch me burn.” As a result of this meeting with Jesus, Andrew went on to become a pioneer in personal evangelism by following the example that had been set by John the Baptist, and by Jesus, who had invited Him to His home to see how He lived.  

2. Andrew introduced people to Jesus. Andrew’s meeting with Jesus that day changed him forever. He had great news to tell. And that is the responsibility of every Christian, not to just keep what we have, but to share the good news, to impart, introduce others. And who do we introduce? Well the first person Andrew introduced was one of his closest family members, his brother Simon (John 1:41-42). As Andrew spoke of his life changing encounter with Jesus the Messiah, his testimony motivated Simon to go with him to meet Jesus. Simon Peter would later become a hugely influential leader in the church after Jesus had ascended back to heaven. But it doesn’t stop there; we share the good news around with all our family; with brothers, with sisters, with fathers and mothers, this is where a whole family can be transformed when you share your story with them.  Also you can share the gospel with your closest friends, that is always how Christianity spreads. We must all learn how to be like Andrew, introducing people to Jesus in person. Leading them to repentance, helping them to join the family of God. If you are thinking of opening up your home to lead or host a Life Group, just think about the chain of events that took place beginning with Andrew’s decision to be a disciple: 

- Andrew was introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist 

- Andrew introduced his brother Simon to Jesus 

- Jesus gave Simon a new life, a new name (Peter) and a new purpose 

- Peter became the dominant leader in Jesus’ team of 12 

- 3000 men responded to the preaching of Peter by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost! 

And Andrew didn’t stop there! He became recognised as one who could bring people to Jesus from other cultures (John 12:20-22). Philip knew Andrew was the best person to introduce people to Jesus, so he brought them to him. As a Christian, are you trustworthy with new people who are looking for Jesus? Are you committed to bring them to Him, and not just to events? Will you help to bring them into the family of God by bringing them to an open Life Group or start one yourself? Andrew was really good at this. He would minister to the few. He saw how small things can have a huge impact. 

3. Andrew saw a great miracle through his testimony. Andrew learned how to depend on God, to use every available resource to the glory of God. When Jesus gave His disciples an opportunity to solve a big problem, it was Andrew who responded with faith (John 6:5-11). Andrew learned that normal rules of logic do not apply when you have Jesus on your side. He had his doubts, but Andrew recognised the potential in the small boy and his lunch to be the seed for a great miracle, so Andrew spoke up in faith and brought them to Jesus. That day over 5000 people were fed from the 5 loaves and 2 fish Andrew had placed at the disposal of Jesus in expectation of a miracle. When we do what we can to share, and when we see the potential in people and situations, God can work miracles. When we bring what we have to Jesus, however little it may be, miracles can happen. Today miracles can happen in your life. What do you have? Do you say ‘I don’t have much in the way of money or education’? When you give you what you have fully to Jesus, He can work miracles. And so it goes on and on just like Andrew influenced this situation so the multitudes had their fill. Because of this Andrew was a key figure. We often think of Peter, his more famous brother but he was absolutely pivotal. The formation of the 12 starts with Andrew, his influence had great effect. What started in Andrew can start in your life today, what can be done through you if you just have faith and say I need to know Jesus, I need an encounter with him, God help me to share my faith in a convincing way in a real in a genuine way with my friends and family and then I can look at every opportunity. There may be hunger, there may be problems, there may be needs bigger than we can handle, but if we can just bring people to Jesus, and put them in his hands, he can work miracles. ‘I am Andrew’, ‘You are Andrew’, that is what Billy Graham and his son Franklin Graham used for many years as their motto ‘be an Andrew, be an Andrew’ and bring people to Jesus. Let’s make that decision today. 

These people remain famous today because they are known as The Chosen (see The Chosen tv series which allows us to see Jesus through the eyes of those who knew Him: the 12 Disciples). In this preaching series, we will look in detail at each individual disciple, their particular characteristics and how Jesus trained them, beginning by discovering what we can learn from the disciples’ response to the call to follow Jesus. 

Over 3 years, Jesus shaped His disciples in His own image. Nicky Gumbel said “People gaze at celebrities and reproduce their mannerisms and appearance. If you are captivated by Jesus, you will be transformed into His image.” Jesus transformed His disciples:  

- transformed mind: to believe what Jesus believed; 

- transformed character: to live the way Jesus lived;  

- transformed relationships: to love as Jesus loved; 

- transformed habits: to train as Jesus trained; 

- transformed service: to minister as Jesus ministered; 

- transformed influence: to lead the way Jesus led.  

What does it mean to be a disciple? 

1. There is a call to discipleship (Matthew 4:18-22; John 1:42; John 1:47-49; Luke 23:34; Luke 24:49) 

2. There is a cost of discipleship (Matthew 16:24; Matthew 6:21; Matthew 6:33) 

3. There are consequences of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9) 

Apply 

1. There is a call to discipleship. All 4 gospels tell how Jesus called His first disciples (Matthew 4:18-22). If Jesus could call you on your phone, would you be like the disciples and answer immediately? Peter and Andrew, James and John left their nets at once and immediately followed Jesus when He called them. They were fishermen, they would have been very messy and smelly! They didn’t say ‘hang on, I need to change, to look my best. I just need to sort a few things out first.’ Perhaps you’d rather Jesus sent you an email instead of a video call so you could spend time thinking about your answer, and answer Him in your timing and when you’re ready. Well, that’s not how Jesus works. He is calling you to come as you are, right now. Jesus already knows all about you. He already knew a lot about His disciples before they first met Him. In Jesus' first meeting with Peter, Jesus told him that He was going to change Peter’s name (John 1:42). In accepting that, Peter recognised Jesus’ authority and demonstrated his openness and willingness to be formed by Him. Jesus also showed He already knew Nathanael’s character (John 1:47-49). Jesus’ word of knowledge about Nathanael convinced him that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus called the disciples to Him, not so He could get to know them, but so that the disciples could get to know Him. He already knew them and knew why He wanted each one of them in His team. They needed to find out why they had to follow Him. This call was a call to discipleship; a call to be trained and transformed by being committed to the ministry of Jesus. “Come, follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.”  

In what ways do we follow Jesus? 

Follow Jesus in His teachings. We need to know what Jesus taught because it was profound and shaped the world. He taught about love; we must love and seek God before anything else, we must love our neighbours, and not just love our friends but also our enemies.  

Follow Jesus in His example. Even when He had been tortured and was being crucified, Jesus forgave (Luke 23:34). If you have this attitude of Jesus in both big and small things, you will have much more peace. Have you forgiven people who have hurt you, or perhaps are continually hurting you? Do you pray they would know the love of their Heavenly Father? That’s what Jesus would do. 

Follow Jesus personally. This is what the disciples did. They didn’t hear Jesus’ teachings via a friend of a friend. They spent time with Him and learnt from Him directly. When we know the Holy Spirit, He can help us every day to follow and be more like Jesus (Luke 24:49 NLT). 

2. There is a cost of discipleship. Jesus made it very clear from the beginning that it is no easy thing to be a follower of His (Matthew 16:24). Pastor Francis Schaeffer said, “This is not an age to be a soft Christian”. We are in a world where there is an increasing contrast between light and darkness. As a Christian you can’t be one foot in the world and one foot with Jesus. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” We must die to ourselves, die to our ambitions and our way of thinking, to be a follower of Jesus. Following Jesus will cost you: 

- Time: Your focus needs to be on Jesus, not just on worldly goals and the values of this world. 

- Money: The rich young ruler proved he was following money more than he was following God. We need to give everything to Jesus. It will affect your pocket; Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

- Energy: What are you spending your energy on that informs your decisions? Do you give the best part of your day to Jesus (Matthew 6:33)? 

- Social acceptance: When you align yourself with Christ, there may be people who are anti-Christ and reject you. Many Christians have lost friends and family.  

There may be decisions you have to make to live 100% for Jesus, and there may be things that God is calling you to turn away from, but it will be worth it!  

3. There are consequences of discipleship. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you will be matured in your character. You will be changed. You will be different. You will be developed in your capabilities and ministry because you are learning from the best mentor & teacher. You will become a team player because you will move from ‘me’ to ‘we’. Not least, you will know that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace, Almighty God, is always with you (Matthew 28:19-20). When you answer the call of Jesus to follow him as a disciple that there will be costs, but there will also be consequences and blessings beyond what you can imagine in this life and great blessings in the life to come. And the best thing you can possibly do is to give your life wholly to Christ. It’s the disciples who are really committed who have the most fulfilled lives. 1 Peter 2:9 sums this up beautifully, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 

In a world where everything seems to be constantly changing, transient and disposable, is there anything that really stays the same? Anything of permanence that can provide security? Well, the Bible also declares that one thing is completely unshakable, unchangeable and constant: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). 

1. His claims are the same (John 8:12; John 1:4-9; John 14:6; John 10:10; James 1:17) 

2. His love is the same (Luke 17; Mark 10:13-16; John 4; John 8:11; Galatians 2:20; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:37-39) 

3. His power is the same (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 4:20; Mathew 4:23; Luke 8:24; John 19:30) 

Apply 

1. His Claims are the same: Jesus Christ is like no one else who ever lived. He is the central personality of history dividing it into the time before Christ and after Christ. Today of course plenty of people know about Jesus, but do we really know who Jesus is? Jesus Himself promised that we can have light: Jesus declared “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). There is so much darkness in the world. Maybe you have battled with the darkness of depression, addiction or dark thoughts about yourself and others. When His light shines on us and in us, we really begin to experience and enjoy life. But we must choose to receive this light and not live lives of moral and spiritual darkness (John 1:4-9). And when we do, we can know God: Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus said no one comes to God except through Him. He alone is the way. And He has made the way to the Father open for us. Jesus goes on to explain in the following verses of John chapter 14 how, when we accept Him into our lives, God will hear and answer our prayers. But these three points that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, are the keys which every person must first know for themselves. So many people have lost their way in life. Maybe you feel you’ve lost your direction. You don’t know what to do, what decision to take. But Jesus shows us the way to live and which direction we should go in. Rather than being the killjoy that many people imagine, Jesus is in fact the way to living an abundant, joyful, blessed life (John 10:10). Real life that satisfies is found only in Him. Jesus alone can remove all darkness from your life, replacing it with His light, and He alone can bring you into an amazing personal relationship with God, ‘the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows’ (James 1:17).  

2. His Love is the same: God’s intention is for us to know His love at all times and in every situation. Jesus showed this unchanging love to all people: the old and the young; the rich and the poor; the sick and the healthy; religious elites and those rejected by society. Jesus loved those who were sick, diseased and tormented. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John detail many accounts of where Jesus made time for the blind, the lame, those who were demonised and distressed, and how He healed and restored them. Jesus also loved those rejected by society. Jesus broke down societal barriers based on race, age and sex, speaking with and teaching those despised by His culture at the time. He cleansed the lepers who were outcast and regarded as unclean (Luke 17). He accepted the rejected and much-hated tax collectors like Matthew and Zaccheus, and spent time eating with and teaching them. Jesus rebuked His disciples who were stopping the people bringing their children to Him, saying ‘“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them...” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them’ (Mark 10:13-16). Jesus first revealed Himself to be the Messiah to a Samaritan woman He met at the well – a woman from a people despised by His own (John 4). And Jesus loved those who did wrong. A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus by the religious authorities to trap Him in saying something against their laws. They wanted to stone this woman to death, but instead of judging her Jesus first took all the attention off her. Then, when all her accusers had gone, He lovingly and directly said: “neither do I condemn you...Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). Instead of judgement, this woman received mercy and the opportunity of a new life. The apostle Paul, who described himself as a violent man and ‘the worst of sinners’ for all he had done before knowing Jesus, experienced the unshakeable and life-changing love of Jesus for himself (Galatians 2:20). And so can you (John 3:16-17). Many people have a negative view of God, thinking He’s all out to punish people for their wrongdoing, but Jesus died for you and me, not because we deserved or earned it, but because of His love for us (Romans 5:8). So, no matter your background, no matter your past actions or mistakes, no matter your current circumstances or what your future looks like at this moment in time – Jesus loves you! And His love is an unchanging, unending, unconditional love (Romans 8:37-39). You are loved. And just like so many people have, you can experience complete restoration in your own life and with God through the warmth of Jesus’s love that extends to you.  

3. His Power is the same: The apostle Paul lived under the great power and oppression of the Roman Empire and wrote to those Christians living in Rome who experienced this directly. Yet through his ministry, Paul had seen firsthand how God’s power accompanied his preaching of the good news of Jesus (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 4:20). And as hundreds of millions of people around the world can testify today, Christ’s power is still the same as we read about in the Bible: power to heal, and power to save. Jesus who went around ‘healing every disease and sickness among the people’ is the same Jesus who has the power to heal you today (Mathew 4:23). Jesus who, when in a boat with his disciples in a big storm, ‘got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm’, has the same power today to calm every storm in your life (Luke 8:24). And Jesus who declared on the cross that ‘It is finished’, has the power today to break all power of sin, and remove any darkness, addiction, anger, bitterness, grief, jealousy and unforgiveness and in your life (John 19:30). In a constantly changing world, Jesus Christ is unchanging, and you can know His love, power and discover His light. 

Many of us don’t like to think about evil, let alone that we need to be delivered from it or that it can consume us. But there is a reason Jesus told us to pray these words every day. There is a fight against us that we are not strong enough to face by ourselves. We need to be aware of this so we know how to go to the Lord and ask for His strength to overcome.  

It is very important to be real and face the facts however difficult that may be. Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones says that “the teaching of the Bible throughout is that this world in which we live is a battle ground, is a place in which we literally have to fight for our souls, to fight for our eternal welfare. There is a tremendous power working against you.”  

Thankfully we have a God who is working for us. And He is far greater than any scheme of the enemy! But how do we come under His covering and oppose anything that tries to bring us down?  

1. Know that there is real evil in the world (Mark 7:21-22; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10; John 8:44) 

2. Know that we all need to be delivered from evil (Mark 5; Mark 9; John 8:36) 

3. Know that you can be delivered (Psalm 34:17; Psalm 107:6; Colossians 1:13; Galatians 2:20) 

Apply 

The Bible teaches that there is an evil ruler called Satan, an evil kingdom of darkness and many demons. There is a reason Jesus, the son of God, said that we need to be delivered from evil. C. S. Lewis famously said “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them, and the other is to disbelieve in their existence.” Jesus taught His disciples that if you want to make it through life you’ve got to acknowledge that there is a powerful enemy in the world and that there is evil at work in each individual (Mark 7:21-22). All around we see lust for power, for money, for exploitation of others. People have been corrupted and desensitised to what is right and wrong. We see this in so many ways, e.g. the growing human trafficking industry. There are nearly 50 million victims trapped in modern day slavery; people exploiting the vulnerable for their own personal gain. This is so sinister and wrong. We see this in dictatorship, and the exploitation of the poor, and the misuse and destruction of resources. But we also see this in families, in relationships, the abuse that husbands, or wives go through, that children witness or experience, violence or harsh words that are spoken in the home - it’s evil. Evil sometimes appears to be very obvious, but other times the attacks are very subtle. In ‘The Screw Tape Letters’, C.S. Lewis fictitiously writes about a senior demon who addresses a junior demon on how to trap Christians. And he illustrates about the inner works of their schemes. In one of the letters, the senior demon writes “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts” - he is saying to gradually bring people down. Sometimes we can’t see the enemy at work because the devil is a manipulator (2 Corinthians 11:14). As Christians, as we saw on our recent series on the armour of God, we must always be on guard, as we realise we are in an ongoing spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12). To summarise, you have an evil enemy (1 Peter 5:8). The Bible describes the devil as a thief. He comes to steal, kill and destroy and is called the Father of Lies (John 10:10; John 8:44). So we must be awake, face the facts, we are at war with evil in all its forms!  

The Lord’s Prayer says “deliver us”. This means to save us. To get us out of the heat. You need to be taken out of what is consuming you. In Germany in the 1930s, the Jewish people knew that evil was coming on them. They were banned from position and banned from making money until they were eventually taken to the camps. They were aware that there was an evil out to get them and they needed to be delivered. Some were more aware than others and took action. But millions more didn’t. And so they were trapped. We mustn’t turn a blind eye to what is happening in our own lives. We need to get out of our trap. The Bible has many examples of people who were trapped in some way. Mark 5 tells the story of a man who was demonised. His life was a wreck. He wasn’t able to live at his home, which meant he lost his family, had no friends, he lived away from society, no one could help him, he was tortured by the evil spirit inside him. It’s a sad thing to see people who are consumed by this darkness and need deliverance. But in everything that had gone on in this man’s life, somehow he heard about Jesus and when he saw Him coming, he cried out to Jesus and Jesus set him free; the evil in his life was gone. The Word says that the people were amazed. Again in Mark 9 a desperate father runs to Jesus, his son is being tormented and he says “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us”. Jesus said “everything is possible for the one who believes”. He rebuked the spirit and the boy was freed. The Bible says whom the sons set freed is freed indeed (John 8:36). Where do you need to be set free? Are you trapped in any way? Trapped by financial problems, addictions, anger, by fear, sickness, depression, by unforgiveness? What strongholds are in your life? God is a much higher authority than the devil and He can overrule and remove that sentence, that imprisonment, the captivity the devil has marked you with. God can overrule, reverse and break any curse. Jesus took your punishment so that you can be free. 

There is the possibility of help. You can come out of this. When Jesus said in His model prayer “deliver us from evil”, He clearly wanted us to understand that deliverance was possible. It’s available. You can come to God because Jesus conquered. Notice that both the possessed man and the son who was tormented were set free when they ran and cried out to Jesus. When they were desperate to be free from the work of the enemy. You can be delivered from the hurts you’re carrying, you can be forgiven for the mistakes you’ve made. You can let go of that heaviness, that guilt, that shame, that anger that you are holding on to because Jesus overcame evil (Psalm 34:17; Psalm 107:6; Colossians 1:13). Jesus absorbed all of our iniquity, all of our sin, every word spoken against us and all power of the enemy upon that cross. He broke every curse that has been assigned to our lives, every curse that have been over families destroying them once and for all! Just like this man, who was desperate not to be tormented anymore, when we call out to Jesus, when we ask him for help we receive that freedom, we receive a new nature (Galatians 2:20). That is why in many versions of this prayer, it ends with “yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory!” His kingdom, His eternal kingdom, His glory will shine and outshine the darkness. His power is greater than any other power. He has delivered us and he will deliver us.  

The Lord’s Prayer has the potential to transform the way we pray and live. Matthew 6:13 reads, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Every day the Spirit is on a mission to give us fullness of life, but also every day there is an enemy opposing this (1 Peter 5:8; Proverbs 4:23).  

In Matthew 26:41 Jesus challenges us, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The Christian life is meant to be a blessed life but there are many temptations that try to entice us from the path. The path to blessing and conquest can be hard, and you will be tested and tempted daily and in different seasons. This is why the Lord’s Prayer is so powerful.   

When we pray Matthew 6:13, we are asking for God to guide us and deliver us so that we can experience the best of life. When you pray, God helps you resist the temptations along the way and delivers you from evil. Let’s look at three things we can learn from this part of the Lord’s Prayer: 

1. You will face temptation (Ephesians 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4; 1 John 2:16) 

- The lust of the flesh (Luke 4:3; Ephesians 4:19) 

- The lust of the eyes (Luke 4:5-7; Ephesians 4:19; Mark 10:21-22; 1 Timothy 6:9) 

- The pride of life (Luke 4:9-11; Ephesians 4:17-18) 

2. You can overcome temptation (James 4:7) 

- By knowing and declaring the Word (Luke 4:4,8,12; Psalm 119:105) 

- By spiritual discernment (Luke 4:9-11) 

- By following the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1-2,14; Galatians 5:25; Proverbs 4:18) 

3. You can live above temptation through prayer (Matthew 20:39-44; Proverbs 1:14-15; John 14:6) 

Apply 

1. You will face temptation. The Bible makes clear that each of us will face temptation. Temptation is to live according to the world and not the word (Ephesians 2:1-3). It’s where we settle for less than God’s best in life. Simply put, temptation is when we give into sin. Sometimes there are certain seasons of acute temptation and other times there are daily subtle temptations that the enemy may use to take us off track and divert us from God’s plan for our lives. This can be day to day things like eating that donut on your diet, losing your temper with your kids or being on social media too long or bigger things like being unfaithful in marriage, stealing from your place of work or making an idol of your career. Even Jesus faced temptation (Hebrews 4:15). We read about the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4, Mark 1 and Luke 4 and how he was tested in the wilderness for 40 days by the devil. Scripture groups temptation in three areas (1 John 2:16), and Rick Warren frames these in another way, “Passions, possessions and pride; sex, salary and success; hedonism, materialism, secularism.” These are the common sins that will trip you up in life if you are not wise to them. Jesus was tempted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 

 - The lust of the flesh: This temptation is the distortion of desire. How did the enemy use the lust of the flesh to tempt Jesus? He used food! Jesus was fasting for 40 days and because of this had not eaten anything and was hungry (Luke 4:3). The enemy tried to test Jesus’ natural desires. The enemy will test your flesh and natural instincts, trying to distort your natural desires. This may be through sex, or food or laziness, emotion or a lack of self control. Tempted to look at what you shouldn’t, to listen to what you shouldn’t, to be negative, to gossip, to eat too much, to give up or give in, to live jealous. The lust of the flesh defines our culture. Our culture champions a ‘flesh-based framework’ for living rather than a ‘faith based and faithful framework for living’ (Ephesians 4:19). Which lusts of the flesh tempt you? Are you living by any of these? 

- The lust of the eyes: This temptation is the distortion of direction and vision (Luke 4:5-7). The enemy tried to tempt Jesus by offering him the world. The highest places, position, power and possessions the world had to offer (Ephesians 4:19). People who have given into this temptation are greedy for the things of the world. Their vision is for material gain, power, position and prominence. The lust of the eyes leads us to pursue idols rather than God and it is an alluring temptation that robs us of our destiny (Mark 10:21-22; 1 Timothy 6:9). How does the lust of the eyes impact you? Is your vision God’s vision? Do you seek Him first? Do you keep your eyes fixed on Him?  

- The pride of life: This temptation is the distortion of decision making. It is thinking we know better than God. It’s where pride makes us make bad decisions. It’s where we prioritise our will over following God’s will. The enemy tries to tempt Jesus with the pride of life (Luke 4:9-11; Ephesians 4:17-18). You might think you know what you are doing or be confident in your own thinking, but the Bible counters and says that your pride makes your thinking futile, your understanding darkened and that you operate out of ignorance because of your hardened heart. Does there need to be a new level of humility in your prayer life?  

 2. You can overcome temptation (James 4:7). Jesus shows how you can overcome temptation: 

- By knowing and declaring the Word: Each time Jesus was tempted He responded with the truth. He knew the scriptures. He knew how to apply them to the situation he was facing and He spoke the word with power (Luke 4:4,8,12). When we know and speak the Word of God, we can overcome temptation (Psalm 119:105). 

- By spiritual discernment: The enemy even tried to manipulate scripture in order to tempt Jesus (Luke 4:9-11). This was the same trick he used with Adam and Eve in the garden. But Jesus didn’t fall for this. Replying, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Resisting temptation requires Spiritual discernment in how to apply the word of God to your everyday challenges. This is why you must pray.  

- By following the Holy Spirit: Jesus models this to us through his times of testing and the apostle Paul taught this too (Luke 4:1-2; Luke 4:14; Galatians 5:25). So when you pray, ‘lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil,’ know God is faithful. The Holy Spirit will help you, guide you and deliver you. As you face temptation God will give you wisdom, build your character and guide your steps (Proverbs 4:18). 

3. You can live above temptation through prayer. Jesus conquered temptation because He prayed and was one with His Father. To beat temptation you must be persistent and determined in prayer, like Jesus praying three times in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 20:39-44). The enemy was persistent in tempting Jesus, but Jesus did not back down or give in. He won the battle through prayer. You cannot back down in prayer. Keep praying until you are living above temptation. Pray that you will be able to identify the temptations you are facing. Pray that God will give you the Word and the wisdom to combat the lies. Pray that the Lord will strengthen you so you can resist temptation. Do not give in (Proverbs 1:14-16). Build your spiritual muscles through prayer and refuse to give in to temptation. Pray that the Lord will help you beat temptation and deliver you from evil. If we follow Jesus, we will live above temptation and walk on the path of blessing, promise and victory (John 14:6). After facing and conquering temptation, Jesus moved in a new season of power, purpose and prophetic clarity (Luke 4:14). He was launched into ministry teaching in the synagogues and announcing his mission to bring salvation, healing and deliverance. When you live above temptation, you also come into a new season of life. You are able to live by the power of the Spirit, walk in blessing and your destiny. Decide to live the Word’s way, not the world’s way. Don’t give in to temptation and settle for counterfeit blessing. Don’t gamble with the consequences of temptation (Hebrews 12:1), “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.” You will face temptation, but when you pray and when you follow the Lord’s example and pray, you can overcome it. God will protect you and guide you and help you be an overcomer in every circumstance of life. 

So many people are so poisoned by unforgiveness and carry around with them the effects of past experiences which have wounded them deeply: breakups, family trauma, or different forms of betrayal.  

It can seem an unimaginably hard task to choose to let go of past hurts and pain. Yet forgiveness is something that everyone who prays the Lord’s prayer must practice every day. For immediately after praying for daily bread, Jesus teaches us next in Matthew 6:12 to pray ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.’ Or as the old King James Version says: ‘And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’  

Jesus was insistent that we must both ask God for forgiveness and to pray that we will forgive those who have hurt us. Let’s look at this teaching with some simple points: 

1. We all need to be forgiven (James 4:6; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) 

2. We can be forgiven (Psalm 103:10–12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) 

3. We all must forgive (Matthew 6:14-15; Colossians 3:13) 

Apply 

1. We all need to be forgiven: Implicit in this instruction from Jesus is the reality that we have things in our lives that we need to be forgiven for. In other words, recognising that we have done wrong. Today, more and more, we see that less and less people are willing to admit their faults, let alone confessing that in Biblical terms that they have sinned in any way. People, whether individually or in pressure groups and political parties, are happy to highlight and oppose what they define as the wrongdoing of others, whether real or imagined. But they are very reluctant to admit that they have done anything wrong. So often today people and organisations totally refuse to apologise for wrong behaviour, or if they do so, they issue a non-apology apology saying ‘I am sorry if you have been offended by anything I said or did’ but not ‘I am sorry for having been offensive or spoken offensively.’ This is of course stubbornness and pride. Pride is something that we are encouraged to promote today with the idea that you don’t have to be forgiven for anything. This is how many people rationalise their actions: ‘I have nothing whatsoever to be forgiven for. I have the right to what I decide what I am. I can do whatever I want to do. Since I decide what’s right, I am always right, and therefore I have nothing to apologise for. Certainly, I don’t need to be forgiven by God or anyone else.’ Well of course all this is a very self-serving and subjective approach to life and is the complete opposite to what the Bible teaches (James 4:6). God lays out in the Scripture what is right and what is wrong, what is bad and what is good (Romans 3:23). Everyone, all of us, needs to be forgiven for our sins and wrongdoing (1 John 1:8-10). We need to look into our hearts and face up to what we need to be forgiven for, whether it is pride, anger, bitterness, sexual sin or unforgiveness. Are you prepared to do that? 

2. We can be forgiven: The bad news is that sin is bad. But the good news is that sin, even terrible sin, can be forgiven (Psalm 103:10–12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9). The apostle Paul was very clear not only of the need for forgiveness for sins but also the possibilities of forgiveness and change, no matter what your previous sins, relationships or lifestyles (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Now this is not hate language, as some would like to assert, but love language about how Jesus can make anyone clean and new from the inside out and have a new and secure identity as a citizen of the kingdom of God. Today you can be forgiven when you accept that Jesus paid the price of your sin at the cross.  

3. We all must forgive: We each must forgive and not least because it is key to us also being forgiven. (Matthew 6:14-15; Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness may be a problem for you but the consequences of not forgiving are far worse. 

In 1944 Simon Wiesenthal was a young Polish prisoner of the Nazis. He had looked on helpless, as Nazi soldiers killed his grandmother on the stairs of her home. In total 89 of his Jewish relatives would die at the hand of the Nazis. One day in prison a nurse approached him and asked if he were a Jew. She led him to a dark room where a terribly wounded lone soldier lay, an SS officer who wanted to make a deathbed confession. He told Wiesenthal how he and his men had rounded up three hundred Jews, herded them into a house and then fired grenades at it. They shot people as they ran burning from the house, including a mother and her small child. Three times Wiesenthal tried to leave the man as he told of further atrocities. Each time the German soldier begged him to stay. He said: ‘I am left here with my guilt. In the last hours of my life you are with me. I do not know who you are. I know only that you are a Jew and that is enough. I know that what I have told you is terrible…I have longed to talk about it to a Jew and beg forgiveness from him. Only I didn’t know if there were any Jews left. I know what I am asking is almost too much for you but without your answer I cannot die in peace.’ 

Wiesenthal stared at the helpless man. ‘At last I made up my mind,’ Wiesenthal wrote later, ‘and, without a word, I left the room.’ The SS officer soon died, unforgiven, and Wiesenthal lived on to be liberated from the death camp. But the scene in the hospital room haunted him like a ghost. He was trapped by his own unforgiveness. After the war Wiesenthal visited the mother of the officer, hoping to somehow exorcise his feelings. But the visit only made the officer more human as she spoke of his early childhood Christian faith which he lost in the Hitler youth corps. Wiesenthal could not bear to tell the mother how her son ended up. For decades Wiesenthal, who had himself had suffered such pain from his enemies, continued to be plagued by his refusal to forgive his enemy. In the end he wrote his story in The Sunflower and sent it to the brightest ethical minds he knew, including rabbis and priests and asked them this question: ‘what would you have done in my place?’3 Of all the people who replied to Wiesenthal, all but six agreed with what he had done. One respondent said: ‘you should have strangled him in his bed.’ What would you have done in my place? Asked the anguished Wiesenthal. And it is a question for everyone to consider. 

Well what would you have done if you had lost 89 of your relatives? What would your reaction be when faced with a man who had slaughtered so many innocent people? 

One Jew answered this question with a very different response to that of the anguished Simon Wiesenthal, as he hung dying on a Roman cross 2000 years ago. He Himself had suffered unbelievable and undeserved cruelty. He was battered beyond recognition and abused, betrayed and tortured. A crown of thorns was rammed on his head and his hands and feet were pieced by nails. Yet as he looked down at his enemies who gloated at the awfulness of his final moments, He did not snarl at them and curse at them. There was no anger or all-consuming bitterness. Instead God’s only Son prayed a prayer for them. ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’ Jesus wanted the best for those who treated him the worst. His enemies wanted to harm Him but He wanted to help them. They wanted to destroy him; He wanted to rescue them. He wanted them to be forgiven. And He wants us to do the same for all who have hurt us or sinned against us. Only in this way can we too be liberated and receive the forgiveness that God extends to us. 

To get the most out of life we must live in the present not the past or the future. Jesus said in Matt 6: 34 ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.’ Every day is a gift and since we are not promised tomorrow, we need to have the strength and wisdom to overcome the challenges of each day. And we need to make the most of the opportunities and blessings of each day. 

Now of course it is good to plan ahead wherever you can in your personal life, your finances, your education, your careers and so on. But we need to understand that the same God who promises to be with us through the years and ages, is a God who measures life by days (Psalm 90:12). God is the God of days. When God created the world, the Bible says He created it in 6 days with a specific purpose for each day and then on the 7th day He rested. Jesus knew his future destiny, but He took each step one day at a time (Luke 13:32). In the Acts we read how the disciples lived out their faith each day (Acts 2:42, 46-47). 

Christianity is to be a daily lifestyle. To be a Christian means much more than to going to church services once or twice a week. We can know God on the daily basis. Life is to be lived on a daily basis which is why we should pray on a daily basis. This is a core part of the Lord’s prayer which we are studying. After teaching us to focus on the bigger picture of praying for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven, Jesus now teaches his disciples to pray at a more personal level to our Father in Heaven ‘give us today our daily bread’ (Matthew 6:11). You need to receive God’s bread every day of your life. 

1. When we pray for daily bread we are praying for God to meet our physical needs each day (Exodus 16:15, 20, 31-32; Matthew 6:25-27,31-34; Philippians 4:19) 

2. When we pray for daily bread we are praying for us to know God each day (John 6:35) 

3. When we pray for daily bread we are praying for God’s grace for every day (Lamentations 3:22-23; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Isaiah 41:10; Philippiaƒns 4:6; Deuteronomy 35:33) 

Apply 

When we pray for daily bread, we are praying for God to meet our physical needs each day. Bread represents the necessities of life. In the Old Testament we can see that God supplied bread to the whole nation of Israel when they were out in the desert (Exodus 16:15, 31-32). Not only did God supply bread for His people but he did it daily, not with weekly deliveries. They could gather as much as they needed but they were commanded by Moses not to store it for future days. God wanted them to depend on Him daily for their food and always have fresh supplies. But we read in Exodus 16:20 ‘some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of magots and began to smell.’ That’s what happens when we ignore God and just focussing doing things our way and store up treasures on earth. Rather we should put our trust in God for our ultimate source of supply, whether it is through a job we have, or help in some other way. Jesus taught that we should focus on putting God first in our lives and then expect God’s daily provision (Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34). Many people have a battle in their minds because they do not believe that God can supply all their needs. They think that in order to prosper, they have to work really hard. Today you may be having financial struggles and wonder how you can survive. Well you need to break everything down into days and every day pray this prayer: give us today our daily bread. The Lord knows what we need even before we ask for something and He wants to provide for each one of our needs. We must understand that provision and prosperity were already conquered through the death of Jesus on the Cross and have our eyes opened that we can enjoy God’s riches (Philippians 4:19). So start to pray daily, declaring God’s promises and living with expectation that God will meet your needs. The more we learn to do this, the more we will receive many miracles in our finances. God has so many blessings in store for His children, far more than we can ask or even imagine.  

When we pray for daily bread, we are praying for us to know God each day. When we pray for bread we can also pray to know more of Jesus, the bread of life (John 6:35). Jesus was always interested in feeding people physically as we see in the miracles of the feeding of the four thousand and five thousand. But He also came to this earth so that we would be spiritually fed. He is the only one who can fulfil the deepest needs of our hearts. He is the only one who can bring true and lasting contentment. He alone that stop you being spiritually hungry and thirsty. So every day we need to come close to him that we can experience Him, the bread of life, in a new way. Every day we can have a fresh and greater experience of the love and presence of Jesus. Every day we can be nourished by Him as we read and meditate on the Bible that speaks of Him. When we do this we will never feel empty and unfilled. So let’s come daily and say ‘today Lord I want to know you more.’  

When we pray for daily bread, we are praying for God’s grace for every day. We do not know what challenges lie ahead of us each day: that’s why we need to pray for His mercy and help at the start of each day. And we can do so with great confidence (Lamentations 3:22-23). Every morning the Lord has new strength for you. Every day He can sustain you. Every day He has all you need to get you through each day. Every day He is ready and willing and able to fulfil His promises to you (1 Chronicles 16:11). There is no need to fear (Isaiah 41:10; Philippians 4:6; Deuteronomy 35:33). So let’s take one day at a time and let’s put more trust in the Lord to help us every day. Not every day is an easy day. Not every day is a problem free day. Not every day is a sunny day. But every day can be a day to discover more of the Lord’s provision, more of the Lord’s presence and never-failing goodness and mercy as we pray ‘give us today our daily bread.’ 

God’s kingdom has already come in the lives of all who recognise Christ as King. But God’s kingdom is yet to come when His rule will be established on earth as it is in heaven and all evil will be banished.  

When we pray this part of the Lord’s prayer, we are petitioning God to advance His kingdom, inviting His glory, majesty, and purposes to be seen here on earth as they are currently seen in Heaven. God wants us not just to pray, but to pray big, bold prayers for His kingdom to come, as He is well able to answer them! We see 4 different areas where this applies. 

1. Pray for God’s kingdom to come in you and your family (Luke 22:42; Acts 21:14; Genesis 17:7) 

2. Pray for God’s kingdom to come in the church (Matthew 16:18; Luke 10:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Colossians 4:2; John 4:24; Romans 1:16; Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 9:37-38; John 17:11) 

3. Pray for God’s kingdom to come in your network of friends and circles of influence (Matthew 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:2) 

4. Pray for God’s kingdom to come in each nation (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Psalm 122:6) 

Apply 

When you pray ‘Your will be done’ it means that you accept the will of God over and above your own. Our model for this prayer is Jesus on His journey to the crucifixion (Luke 22:42). To pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in your own life and in your family means that we surrender our rights, we surrender our will. We cry out for God to do what He wants. Our plans, desires, will and wishes no longer take first place and we are effectively praying, “Lord if Your will and my will are not in agreement, then I renounce my will and ask that Your will be done.” Often we believe the lie that to do the will of God will mean some sort of missing out and suffering. But God’s will is always best both for us and others (Acts 21:14). To see the awesome purposes of God come to pass in our lives, to see Him answer our prayers, we have to be in a place of submission where God’s will always prevails over our own. Our prayers should focus on seeing God work out His purposes in our lives and families so that honour and glory goes to Him. We are to pray for the members of our family, especially for those who are not yet Christians. God loves families; He wants whole families to be united, to be blessed. God wants to heal hurts in families and bring his love, joy and peace into every home. His plan is to bless every generation of family life. God made promises of family blessing to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:7). God can do great things when families serve the Lord together. Just as Joshua took his stand, so you can take a prayerful stand for your family (Joshua 24:15). So pray that the kingdom of God comes in your family, and that all are saved and serve Him together. 

By praying for God’s kingdom to come in the church, we are not talking about buildings but the community of all believers locally and globally. We are to pray for all people in the church: the leaders, fellow members, those in your life group. We should pray for the advance of the gospel through churches across the nation. And we pray that the church is not hindered in doing God’s will here on earth but does all that God desires. We can pray in line with different Bible verses which show us God’s will for His church: 

- Pray for the church to advance (
Matthew 16:18) 

- Pray for the church to love God and love others (Luke 10:27)  

- Pray for church leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)  

- Pray for the church to boldly teach the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:2)  

- Pray that the church would be devoted to prayer (
Colossians 4:2)  

- Pray the church worships in spirit and in truth
 (John 4:24) 

- Pray the church will proclaim the gospel (Romans 1:16) 

- Pray that the church fulfils Jesus’ command to make and multiply disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) 

- Pray that more workers step up to play their part (Matthew 9:37-38)  

- Pray for protection and unity in the church (John 17:11)  

You should pray for God’s kingdom to come in your network of friends and circles of influence too. Sociologists tell us that even the most introverted individual will influence ten thousand other people in their lifetime! Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. God has placed you where you are. You have a sphere of influence. Pray for non-Christian friends with whom you have contact. Pray for a turnaround in old friendships, where maybe things have been a certain way for years (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you are at work, pray for your boss and colleagues. Wherever you are, God can use you to bring His light, His kingdom, here on earth through the contacts you make and how you pray for those individuals. And if you don’t have many non-Christian friends, pray that God gives you more. You have more influence than you probably realise. And your prayers are more powerful than you realise too! Don’t be content with how things look right now: pray for God’s Kingdom to come where you are and in all the people you know. 

Finally we are to pray for God’s kingdom to come in each nation. The Bible tells us to pray for all in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Here Paul says that we must pray first of all for those in authority, for all areas of our lives, families and society will be impacted by whether or not we have good government and people in positions of authority. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we are permitted to criticise those in authority. We are however urged in scripture to pray. So, pray for the national and local Government, the Royal Family, and those in positions of authority and responsibility in business, law, the media, the arts, education, the police, the medical profession, social services…for all in authority! Pray for people of God to be in places of authority. For people of good character, passionate for justice, full of compassion. Pray for rulers who lead through serving, just as Jesus did, and that you will be like this in the positions of authority you hold too. Your prayers will bring about social transformation as God’s kingdom comes in each nation. So pray for your own nation. Pray also for your home nation if it is not the one you live in now. And pray for specific nations such as others we are connected with like South Africa and Colombia. Pray also for Christians who are being persecuted in nations such as Iraq, Iran and China. And do not forget to pray for Israel (Psalm 122:6). So today, broaden your prayers and broaden your vision by praying ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done’. 

But what does it mean to ‘hallow’ the names of God? Names are important because they mark identities. In the Bible we see God often changed a person’s name, like Saul to Paul, Abram to Abraham. So names are significant. People’s names may change, but God’s names are unchanging, because His nature is unchanging (Psalm 9:10; Proverbs 18:10).  

Jesus taught us to honour the name of God as we pray (Judges 6:24) There more than 300 names for God in the Bible! Each one gives a greater understanding of His nature. There are many examples in the Bible where the name Jehovah is linked to an aspect of God’s character. It is good to have a grasp of at least some names and how they apply to our lives. 

1. Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:10-14; Romans 8:32) 

2. Jehovah Rapha (Exodus 15:22-26) 

3. Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:15; 1 Corinthians 15:57)  

4. Jehovah Mekoddishkem (Exodus 31:13; Hebrews 13:12) 

5. Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:24) 

6. Jehovah Roeh (Psalm 23:1; Matthew 6:8) 

7. Jehovah Tsidkenu (Jeremiah 23:6) 

8. Jehovah Shammah (Ezekiel in 48:35; 1 Corinthians 3:15) 

Apply 

1. Jehovah Jireh (Jee-reh) (Genesis 22:14) means ‘The Lord Will Provide’ and teaches us that God can meet our deepest needs. In Genesis 22 Abraham was going through the toughest trial of his life, preparing to sacrifice the most precious thing in his life, to the God he devotedly trusted. Here we see that God Himself provided the sacrificial lamb, and Abraham encountered God who ‘will provide’. We too can declare the name of Jehovah Jireh in prayer, confident that “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).  

2. Jehovah Rapha (ra-fa) (Exodus 15:26) means ‘The Lord That Heals’ and teaches us that God has the power to heal and restore us. God declared this as his name (Exodus 15:22-26) promising that if His people were faithful to Him, He would save them from diseases and heal them. This story reminds that we have a God with the power to remove physical diseases as well as the contamination of our hearts, such as bitterness and grumbling. When we pray Jehovah Rapha, the LORD, who heals you, we are declaring he is cleansing and healing us both physically and emotionally.  

3. Jehovah Nissi (Ni-si) (Exodus 17:15) means ‘The Lord Is My Banner’ and teaches us that God gives victories in our battles. When the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites, Moses held his staff and hands up over the battlefield. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.” So when Moses hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur came and held them up until the battle was won. In v15 we read “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.” Moses’s staff was like a military banner strengthening the troops. As long as his staff was raised, the Israelites were able to fight victoriously. In prayer we can remember and lift up this name of the Lord – Jehovah Nissi – finding confidence that no matter what battle we fight, no matter how overwhelming the enemy, we have victory. His banner of us is love, favour and conquest (1 Corinthians 15:57). 

4. Jehovah Mekoddishkem (Me-ka-dish-ghem) (Exodus 31:13) means ‘the name Jehovah sanctifies you’ and teaches us that God makes us holy. This name of God was linked to the Sabbath, where the Jews were taught to cease from their striving and rest in God. We cannot make ourselves holy, but God can make us holy, He sanctifies us (Hebrews 13:12). Through the blood of Jesus we are separated from sin, set apart to God, made holy with God’s holiness When we declare the name of Jehovah Mekoddishkem we remind ourselves that we can find rest in the God who sanctifies us.  

5. Jehovah Shalom (Shah-lom) (Judges 6:24) means ‘The Lord Is Peace’ and teaches us that God provides peace in all that we face. An angel approached Gideon and commissioned him to save Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. In that encounter Gideon experienced a revelation of both the awe and the mercy of God, who had proclaimed peace and protection over him. It moved him to build an altar and called it “The Lord Is Peace”. In the Hebrew language the word Shalom derives from a word that means to "be complete" or "sound". It is translated as "peace" or "absence from strife." You can declare that God is Jehovah Shalom. He is your Peace.  

6. Jehovah Roeh (Row-eh) (Psalm 23:1) means ‘The Lord My Shepherd’ and teaches us that God cares for us and guides, like a shepherd. In Hebrew the word Roeh means “shepherd”, but also translates as “friend” or “companion”, showing the intimacy that God desires between Himself and us. A shepherd is someone who feeds you, leads you, and cares completely for you. God knows what we need before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8). When we pray Jehovah Roeh, The Lord is my shepherd, it reminds us we have no need to fear – even in the darkest and direst of situations – because He is with us, guiding us.  

 7. Jehovah Tsidkenu (Tsid-kay-noo) (Jeremiah 23:6) means ‘The Lord Our Righteousness’ and teaches us that it is not our own works that make us right before God – GOD Himself makes us right before Him. Jesus is our Jehovah Tsikdkenu, our righteousness. Declaring this name reminds us that He is righteous and has made us right before Him.  

8. Jehovah Shammah (sham-muh) (Ezekiel in 48:35) means ‘The Lord Is There’ and teaches us that God is always with us. The last nine chapters of the book of Ezekiel describe a vision of the restoration of the temple, priesthood and nation of Israel, with the glory of God’s presence returning to His temple and a river of life flowing out from within it. This vision reassured Israel that God would one day restore all things, and physically dwell among them. When we declare Jehovah Shammah, that ‘The Lord Is There’, we have that hope and remind ourselves that God dwells with us now too (1 Corinthians 3:15). 

But how can you learn to pray effectively? How can you pray in a way that will bring change to you and your circumstances and to the world around? Prayer can be just a matter of saying prayers, vain repetitions that Jesus criticized the Pharisees for. But Jesus also taught that real prayer would get answers (Matthew 6:6-8). What Jesus was saying is that there is a wrong way to approach prayer and a right way. And the right way is outlined in a prayer that is familiar to people all over the world. 

It is called The Lord’s prayer. This is the answer he gave to the disciples’ request ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ The Lord’s Prayer can be used as a prayer in its own right. But clearly something more is involved in developing fellowship with God than merely saying a prayer which can be got through very quickly. The Lord’s Prayer is in fact a model prayer, a kind of scaffolding on which we construct our prayer life. Jesus was giving a list of themes that would bring structure to our prayer life. The words of the Lord’s Prayer are an outline of topics that summarise the types of things we should pray about, and the order with which we should approach them.  

It is an inspired ‘pattern’ that helps us plan our prayer and to pray about things that we can easily forget. Often people say ‘I don’t know what to pray for’ or ‘I start to pray but my thoughts wander all over the place.’ One second you are trying to talk and listen to God and the next you are compiling shopping lists or imagining where to go on holiday. The Lord’s Prayer will help focus you. It will give you direction and momentum in prayer. Praying the Lord’s Prayer each day will help you to develop a consistent prayer life. This approach to pray will open you up to the presence of God and His blessings and purposes in your life. If we are in a real hurry, we can use the outline for a few minutes, or at other times we can spend longer, an hour or more, considering each section that Jesus spoke about. 

The opening words, ‘Our Father in Heaven’ show we should start to pray by focussing on our father in heaven, rather than our needs or current circumstances. This is what Jesus constantly did throughout his time and ministry on earth. He knew that his identity, security and destiny were each totally and inseparably linked to his father. He always prayed to His father. He continually talked about His father. He honoured His Father above himself. And He lived and died to obey His Father (John 14:31). 

One of the most amazing truths about being a Christian is that we also can know Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, as our Father. Many people can accept God as great and powerful being, but they struggle to understand that they can be his son or daughter. Coming to terms with God as father requires a big adjustment for many people - just as it was with the Jews who saw Jehovah as awesome yet somehow unreachable. 

For some people of course the image of what a father is like may be far from positive because of their past experiences. So many people feel like orphans. Countless people have had either no father, through abandonment or bereavement, or an abusive, poor or non-existent relationship with their father. This may be a direct result of the lack of fathering that their own fathers experienced. Millions have little experience of love and affirmation from their father. Consequently, they carry many emotional and spiritual scars that can blight their lives and relationships.  

Well whatever experience you may have had of an earthly Father, everything changes when you understand what our father in heaven is really like and come into a personal relationship with Him, through Jesus. There are many aspects of our Heavenly Father that we could mention but we will focus on just a small number: 

1. He is a loving Father (1 John 3:1; 1 John 4: 9-10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Ephesians 3:17-20) 

2. He is a righteous Father (John 17:25; Matthew 5:48; Deuteronomy 32:4) 

3. He is a Father who comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) 

4. He is a generous Father  

a. Your heavenly father wants to provide for your physical needs (Matthew 6:31-33) 

b. Your heavenly Father also wants to provide for your spiritual and emotional needs (Luke 11:13; Romans 8:15) 

Apply 

God is a loving Father (1 John 3:1). The very nature of God is love and God the Father wants us to know and feel His love. Our heavenly father is the greatest and best Dad of all (1 John 4:9-10). The apostle Paul, who had such a strict religious background, came to a profound and transforming revelation of the love of God to him. He knew that he had been a terrible sinner and violent persecutor of Christians but because of God’s grace and mercy he discovered ‘In love he predestined us to be adopted as sons’ (Ephesians 2:4-5). It was so great a love that Paul wanted everyone to experience it for themselves (Ephesians 3:17-20). Today many need to become convinced about God’s love to them personally. Maybe this includes you. Many people have head knowledge but not heart knowledge of God’s love. That’s why there is so much insecurity, striving and competitiveness. It’s time to get rooted in the Father’s love. This revelation of God as a loving heavenly father will literally revolutionise your life, your attitudes, actions, decisions...everything!   

Jesus refers His Father God in His prayers as a righteous and perfect Father (John 17:25; Matthew 5:48; Deuteronomy 32:4). In other words, there is no darkness, trickery or manipulation with God. Human fathers may let you down or put you down, but God your Father is utterly reliable and trustworthy. He wants the best for you.  

God is a Father who comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). We often associate comfort with mothers but comfort can also come from the presence and care of a father, and most notably with God our father. He knows how to bring healing and strength to us in our times of greatest need.  

And God is a generous Father. God is a giver who wants to give you more blessings than you can imagine. Your heavenly father wants to provide for your physical needs (Matthew 6:31-33). Your heavenly Father also wants to provide for your spiritual and emotional needs (Luke 11:13). So how can this wonderful Father become ‘our Father’? To know God as our father requires that we must be adopted as His sons and daughters. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, gave His life’s blood to make this possible for you. When we commit our lives to God we can be free to enjoy fellowship with our heavenly father without fear of condemnation (Romans 8:15). So then this is how we should begin our daily prayer times, with a true appreciation of a loving, righteous, comforting and generous God, our Father in heaven. 

Today you may have been born in this country or you may have moved to this country. You may be from a nation that is a Christian nation or not a Christian nation. You may have been brought up in a particular religion or with no religion. But none of this is important because there comes a moment when God wants to connect you to Him through Jesus. 

God can bring you out of a very different background into a whole new family and give you a whole new destiny. In the Bible there was a lady who came from a culture where her people believed in many gods and worshipped many idols. They were a cruel people who even practised human sacrifice. They often attacked the people of Israel. And yet this lady became one of the greatest people in the Bible because there came a moment when she was adopted into the family of God. 

Her name was Ruth and her mother-in-law was Naomi, and we read about them in the book of Ruth. Together they had experienced great sadness in the land of Moab, which today is called Jordan. Their husbands had died, and they decided to go back to Naomi’s home in Bethlehem, where many years later Jesus was born. 

That one decision changed everything. For when they arrived in Bethlehem or Bet Lechem, which in Hebrew means the house of bread, many blessings opened to them. Similarly, when we connect with Jesus who is the Bread of Life, we can have a whole new life and come out of a kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of light, moving from curses to blessings. 

This happened to Ruth, who came from a dark and difficult background, and it can happen to you. We see from this story three particular blessings: 

. 

1. God wants to bless you personally (Ruth 2:2-3) 

a. The blessing of provision (Ruth 2:3; Philippians 4:19) 

b.The blessing of protection (Ruth 2:8-9,12) 

2. God wants to bless in your family 

a. She was blessed with a great mother in law 

b. She was blessed with a loving husband 

c. She was blessed with a beautiful baby (Ruth 4:13) 

3. God wants to bless your future (Ruth 1:16-17) 

Apply 

In this story there were blessings for Ruth personally. Like many people arriving from a foreign country, Ruth and Naomi were on their own and needed to survive, so Ruth went looking for work (Ruth 2:2-3). And this is when she started to experience the blessing of provision (Ruth 2:3). Ruth happened to go to a field connected with the family of her late father-in-law. And once Boaz, who owned the field, realised who this stranger was, he gave an order for her to gather as much as she wanted. He made sure that she had food and water while she worked. Ruth was amazed at the favour that had been shown to her. The Bible says that God is our provider and that we can experience financial blessings from God, sometimes when we least expect it. Many immigrants, when they come to this country, have no job. Maybe they don't even have a visa, but God sees them, and God has a purpose for them. God can help them. And He can help you today when you ask Him and trust Him. He wants to look after you. And this promise is for people of every nation because the Bible says that God knows what you have need of and promises He will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Our God wants to look after you. And we see that Ruth received the blessing of protection (Ruth 2:8-9). As a single woman working in a foreign country Ruth was vulnerable but she found that God was looking after her. Even Boaz recognised this (Ruth 2:12). Today God is also watching over you to guard you, to guide you and to provide for you. 

God wants to bless in your family. Ruth had experienced a lot of pain in her family life. Maybe you have too. We don’t know about her Moabite family, but we can imagine that they weren’t pleased when she married into a Jewish family. But we do know that Ruth experienced a lot of sadness when her husband died and also her father-in-law and brother-in-law died. Her whole life seemed very uncertain and insecure. But God had more family blessings for her than she imagined. She was blessed with a great mother-in-law. Mothers in law receive a lot of jokes but Naomi was the best mother-in-law. Naomi really cared for Ruth. She gave her great advice and was an excellent matchmaker for Ruth. She was blessed with a loving husband. This is one of the most romantic stories in the Bible. It tells how this faithful man Boaz, who was older, saw her heart, and he saw that she was a good woman. He went to great trouble to look after her. This man organized everything to be able to marry her, he trusted God and put this relationship in His hands. Boaz thought she would marry somebody else, someone younger, but she didn't. And then best of all he married her. And suddenly she was not just a foreigner. She was literally married into a new family. God has blessings for you also in family life. Maybe you are looking for a husband or a wife, but you need to have the one that God provides for you, not just anyone. Don't be desperate to get married. Find the right person. Take care in the process like Boaz and Ruth. Be sure that God has blessed you with this person. Also we see that she was blessed with a beautiful baby (Ruth 4:13). Not only was the baby a blessing to Ruth and Boaz but also this baby was a great joy and comfort to the bereaved mother-in-law Naomi who ‘was sustained and renewed in old age.’ How amazing it was for Ruth to have a new family. You too can be blessed with a restored family.  

God wants to bless your future. Ruth who had been a foreigner was adopted into the family of God and used to expand the purposes of God throughout history. For the baby of Ruth and Boaz was called Obed and he was to become the grandfather of the great King David. And it was from David’s line that Jesus, the saviour of the world, was born. And today millions around the world have had their lives changed by experiencing the love of Jesus for all people. When God changes you, everything changes. When He turns your life around you can be used to bless so many people in different nations and generations, both now and in the future. God has a great destiny for you to step into. All these blessings came about because Ruth made a decision and a declaration that has become famous. She chose not to go back to her own people and their gods but to serve the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ruth 1:16T17). Today, when you leave your past behind you, and decide to follow Jesus, you will be accepted into the family of God and you will be blessed in every way…personally, in your family and in your future. 

Happily, we have different examples of three and four living generations represented in the church. Some families can trace a five-generation legacy in the church. God is a God who keeps His promises in all generations to those who follow Him. Psalm 119:90 says: ‘Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.’ 

God’s name is closely associated with generational blessings. The Bible continually refers to the one true God of heaven and earth as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The blessing of God on these three generations paved the way for generations to come, notably through the 12 tribes of Jacob and the nation of Israel. 

In a modern-day culture that is so often me-centred and focused on the instant and here and now, the many generational teachings of the Bible help us to zoom out and see a much bigger picture of God’s ongoing plans for the world. When we understand that we are all part of a much bigger story we can gain a new humility, a clearer identity of who we are and have new hope and confidence for the future, no matter what may be experiencing in the present. Here are some keys to discovering the power of generational blessings: 

1. Each generation can know the blessings of God who has blessed past generations (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 17:7; Psalm 105:8-10; Galatians 3:29) 

2. Each generation has to overcome challenges to receive their blessings 

3. Each generation needs to focus on ensuring the flow of blessing to the next generation (Judges 2:10-12; Psalm 145:4; Psalm 145:6-7; Psalm 22:30-31; Psalm 78:4-7; Psalm 71:18; Matthew 6:33; Acts 2:38-39) 

Apply 

Each generation can know the blessings of God who has blessed past generations. Abraham knew the blessing of God (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 17:7). And that’s what happened to Isaac and Jacob who also received the same promises from God about their descendants. What this means for us today is that any generation who commits to following the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can also know the blessings of God’s promises, no matter how many generations we are removed from them (Psalm 105:8-10; Galatians 3:29). 

Each generation has to overcome challenges to receive their blessings. Abraham’s wife Sarah, Isaac’s wife Rebekah and Jacob’s wife Rachel were all very beautiful women-interestingly that seemed to be part of the generational blessings- but they had great difficulty and delay in having children. There was a lot of sadness to overcome. There was a lot of pain in the journey. They had to learn to endure and to move past their problems. Abraham had to wait 25 years for the fulfilment of what God had promised but He persevered in faith even though his dream seemed to have died. Isaac had to overcome a lot of opposition from enemies who wanted to block him in any way they could. Conquests of his father in the previous generation were being lost in much the same way that the legacy of our Christian forefathers in this nation has been eroded over the past generation. He had to learn to rediscover the life-giving blessings of his dad. Jacob had to wrestle with God to come into his blessing and endure a lot of trouble and sadness. He was on the run from his brother and he was overcome with grief when his favourite son seemed to have been killed. Yet later he was stunned at how God worked things out for good in his life. God has many blessings for every generation, but you have to hold on to your dreams and persevere in faith to receive them. You must press on and pray on for your loved ones and for the fulfilment of all God has promised you. 

Each generation needs to focus on ensuring the flow of blessing to the next generation. It’s not guaranteed that every succeeding generation will serve the Lord. The fires of revival and Christian influence can go out if not attended to. That has happened time and again in history and in many churches. Not every generation in the Bible served the Lord. Some deliberately and defiantly turned away from the Lord. After the years of amazing godly leadership from Moses and Joshua, ‘another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel’ (Judges 2:10-12). Subsequently, we read in Israel’s history of ongoing generational battles. Many generations decided to abandon God and served sex, money and power often leading to great violence, depravity and social disintegration. And then seemingly out of nowhere godly leaders appear who lead their generations back to God and rebuilt what was broken. The actions then of one generation have huge potential to shape generations that come after them…for good or bad. Today there are many who want to shape the future generations for various causes, religions and philosophies. As Christians and as churches such as King’s Church International we have a great responsibility to shape our generation and generations to come for Christ and His Kingdom. We, as a church, as parents and leaders, must pass on what we know and equip children and young people to be morally, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually strong. We must train the present and future generations in the way of the Lord. The Psalms particularly emphasise how we must be dedicated to doing this (Psalm 145:4; Psalm 145:6-7; Psalm 22:30-31; Psalm 78:4-7). What a responsibility and privilege we have then to shape the character and destiny of generations by the loving and faithful example of our lives, the power of our prayers and the consistent Bible teaching and training in how to live God’s way. We must never stop doing this in our homes, schools, life groups and churches (Psalm 71:18). As the founder pastor of KCI, Pastor WTH ‘Billy Richards would say, ‘no matter what anyone says or does always keep a sweet spirit and always keep on keeping on.’ Truly generational blessings are powerful. And each one of you and your families can be part of this when you full commit yourselves to the Lord (Matthew 6:33). For we can take hold of the promise that was made generations ago on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38:39). 

For the first Christians, what was to become known as Pentecost, from the Greek word “pentekostos,” meaning 50, this day was to be the beginning of a great harvest of people into the Kingdom of God. 

Fifty days after Easter, at the Jewish festival of Shavuot (‘the festival of the harvest’) when the disciples were praying together, there were supernatural manifestations of wind and fire and people speaking in tongues that were impossible to ignore. People came running from everywhere to see what was happening. By the end of the day the church had grown from a small group to over 3000 committed believers. 

Acts 2:1-4 famously recounts: “When the Day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” 

From this moment, the church was launched rocket like, into global mission as the disciples were transformed into fearless ambassadors of Christ. 

Just as everything changed when the fire of God came on the first Pentecost, we too can experience a spiritual revolution in our lives, families and in the church. Today it is estimated that around the world there are over 800,000 Holy Spirit Christians and you can be one of them if you are not already. 

For the Holy Spirit is not just for a special few but for every Christian who has turned from their sins to follow Jesus. To see how this can happen and keep happening we need to learn some simple lessons from what happened to and with the early disciples. 

1. They needed the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4) 

2. They prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14) 

3. They received the power of the Holy Spirit (Malachi 3:1; Acts:2 16-18) 

4. They changed the world in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:13-14; Acts 5:28; Acts 2:38-39) 

Apply 

They needed the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them to wait because they were not equipped to face the challenges of the evil world around them. They were weak and fearful. Peter had denied Jesus. The disciples had run away in panic as the events of the crucifixion unfolded. Afterwards they were meeting behind closed doors ‘for fear of what the hostile Jewish religious authorities would do to them.’ The disciples knew from first-hand experience that Jesus had the power of God, but they didn’t have so much. They knew they needed a lot more spiritual authority. They were not ready yet to go and change the world hence Jesus commanded them to wait for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). They were totally on the defensive like many Christians and declining churches today. That’s why Jesus told them that when the Holy Spirit came to them, they wouldn’t feel like abandoned orphans. They would discover that the Holy Spirit was willing and able to help them. For He would come alongside them. He would befriend them. He would stand by them. He would be their comforter, counsellor, guide, advocate, encourager. These are all meanings of the Greek word for the Holy Spirit ‘parakletos’. When they came into partnership with Him, no more would they feel lonely and afraid. Through the Holy Spirit they would know the presence of Jesus in a close way. They would have the power to live as a Christian and be an effective witness for Christ. Now it is this presence and power that we need today. For the Holy Spirit to come we must first recognise this. 

- We need to know God in a deeper and personal way 

- We need the help of the Holy Spirit every day 

- We need to know his love, his joy and peace and so many other characteristics 

- We need to have His gifts to discern spirits and to work miracles. 

- We need a new boldness to speak for Christ 

- We need to see Him work in power in our world to convince people of sin, righteousness and judgement and bring them to a place of humility and repentance. 

They prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). This wasn’t a mere saying of prayers but a calling on God to receive what they were promised. They were focussed on receiving the Holy Spirit. Every revival in history can be traced back to small groups of people, hungering and thirsting for a move of the Holy Spirit in their day and generation. It was true with the Wesley brothers and about 60 others in 1739 when Britain was in a place of huge moral and spiritual collapse. It happened with Evan Roberts and a group of young people prayed for years before the great Welsh revival of 1904. The Salvation Army’s General William Booth was so aware of his need for the Pentecostal experience of the Holy Spirit that he wrote a hymn ‘Send The Fire’ which is also a prayer.  

They received the power of the Holy Spirit. After their time of waiting, suddenly the Spirit of God came on them. God is the God of suddenly. There are many Bible verses that speaks of this (e.g. Malachi 3:1). God has his time for everything. Often that involves His people waiting for many years. But there comes a moment when suddenly everything accelerates. On the day of Pentecost all the church community was suddenly changed. They were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit. Think about that: Peter, who had denied the Lord, was filled with the Holy Spirit. Thomas, the doubter was filled with the Holy Spirit. Mathew who had wasted so much of his life just focussed on money was filled with the Holy Spirit. Simon the Zealot, formerly part of a violent revolutionary group, was filled with the Holy Spirit. The ambitious brothers James and John were filled with the Holy Spirit. The new recruit Matthias was filled with the Holy Spirit. The women who had followed Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit. The family of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit. Not one seeking disciple, irrespective of their past hurts or failures, was left out. Everyone was affected by the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy (Acts 2:16-18). When the Holy Spirit comes, old divisions have to go. Women as well as men are empowered. Young people as well as older people are energised and mobilised. People of all nations and races are united as one family. As one expert theologian stated: ‘non racism is one of the clearest signs that someone is filled with the Holy Spirit.’ From the moment the disciples were baptised with the Holy Spirit, Christianity came out of the private sphere and became a public, unstoppable force for God.    

They changed the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. The authorities were forced to recognise the disciples’ boldness in proclaiming the message of Salvation through Jesus alone and the healing of a poor man who had been unable to walk since birth. They, like everyone around, could see that something fundamental and undeniable had happened to the first disciples (Acts 4:13-14). Within weeks Jerusalem was a different place (Acts 5:28). Within a generation major cities all over the Roman world were changed as large Christian communities of many thousands of disciples established. From then on throughout the centuries, history was changed through the spread of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today our cities can change. Our nations can change. Our families can change. We can change as we are all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39). This promise is for you and me and each one of us. Today then is your moment when you and your families can receive the promise of the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The messages, the music, the prayers and the worship were Christ-centred and Bible-based. And in the key moments of his coronation, the need for the help of the Holy Spirit was recognised as the King was anointed, consecrated and blessed, as well as crowned. You do not have to be members of the established Church of England, and as many of us in so called Free Churches are not, to find reasons to thank God for this Coronation.

1. The coronation shows that the United Kingdom is legally a Christian nation 

2. The Coronation shows that temporal authority is dependent on God’s authority (Colossians 1:15-17) 

3. The Coronation shows that God is a God of mercy and love who deserves our praise and worship (Psalm 103) 

Apply 

The coronation shows that the United Kingdom is legally a Christian nation. Our laws and our freedoms are rooted in our Christian history and beliefs. Though many have different visions of what they would like the UK to be, we are legally and officially a Christian nation. That doesn’t mean that the country lives like we are Christians, but the facts remain that Christianity continues to be our official national identity, despite the determination of so many to destroy it. Hard as so many have tried, they have not been able to airbrush Christianity from our history or culture. Ever since Roman times and particularly since Augustine in the 6th Century, Christianity has shaped our laws, our politics, our education, our hospitals, our culture, our freedoms and countless individuals. Despite many periods in our long island history where there was great turmoil and social disintegration, it has repeatedly been Christian movements of revival and reformation that have brought great hope and healing.  

Famously the Methodist movement of John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield is said to have ‘powerfully influenced an eighteenth-century England that was rife with corruption, drunkenness, crime and religious apathy.’ It spread out to take the gospel to all parts of the nation, particularly the poor and working classes and according to historian GM Trevelyan ‘deeply moved a vast mass of human beings hitherto neglected by church and state.’ This movement led in turn to the great evangelical advance in the 19th century which not only saw the rise of great preachers and missionaries but Christian reformers like Lord Shaftesbury and William Wilberforce and the Clapham group who tirelessly campaigned for and finally achieved the abolition of slavery. William and Catherine Booth’s war against poverty and their passion to save lost souls, staring in London’s destitute East End, became a global movement within 15 years and continues to this day. Today you can visit the Salvation Army’s international headquarters just by the river near St Paul’s to learn of its lasting impact. Similarly just along by the Thames in the Victoria Embankment Gardens you can see the imposing statue of Robert Raikes, who founded a Sunday school movement attended by five million children and which helped in the training up of MPs and the formation of famous football clubs like Everton, Aston Villa and Fulham.

The extent of Christian influence in the UK remained clear in the darkest days of World War 2 when the nation stood alone against the imminent threat of Nazi invasion. Huge crowds flocked to churches in answer to an urgent national call to prayer from King George VI. These prayers, crucial to the future of our nation, were spectacularly answered in what Winston Churchill called ‘a miracle of deliverance’. Over a third of a million soldiers were rescued from Dunkirk after a freak storm appeared in Northern France which grounded most of the German air force while amazingly, just 100 kilometres away, there were ideal calm weather conditions in the English Channel that made it possible for the evacuation to take place. Despite many attacks on its values and freedoms, the United Kingdom has a rich Christian history and a robust Christian identity that the Coronation so clearly confirmed. 

Today, although less people than a decade before identify as Christians, a significant 60% of the population still do. And despite gloomy media reports, the drop in traditional churchgoers is more than offset by the growth of new churches, Pentecostal churches, and majority African or Hispanic or Filipino churches, many of whose members are a key support to our National Health Service. Since the pandemic there are now 1,500 online Alpha courses running in the UK, with 7000 churches running Alpha and guest attendance tripling. New research by the Evangelical Alliance revealed that evangelical churches in the UK have seen an increase in attendance for both in-person and online services and church attendance has increased in the nation’s capital city of London. 

As Christians in the UK we should seize this moment of history to build on our Christian foundations and spread the good news of Jesus by word, deed and example amongst all peoples and age groups. And we should particularly focus on making known to young people our strong Christian roots that have so long nourished this nation, particularly reaching out to the so-called Generation Z aged between eight and 23 years old who will take the lead in a few decades. So we should thank God for the coronation because it has served to remind us of the UK’s Christian identity.  

The Coronation also shows that temporal authority is dependent on God’s authority. Ultimately, Christian monarchy points beyond itself to the majesty of God, as our late Queen Elizabeth II clearly recognised. The final hymn she selected for her funeral was 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling', written by the well-known Methodist leader Charles Wesley. The concluding words present the image of a temporal monarch worshipping Christ the eternal King of Kings. In the Coronation service of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Christ’s position as King of all was made clear in the reading from Colossians 1:15-17. So we should be thankful for this very public recognition of God’s authority.   

The Coronation shows that God is a God of mercy and love who deserves our praise and worship. The final hymn of yesterday’s Coronation clearly has significant meaning for our new King and Queen. It was also sung at their wedding blessing service of prayer and dedication in St Georges Chapel, Windsor, 18 years ago. ‘Praise my soul the King of Heaven’ draws from Psalm 103 and speaks of God’s grace. God’s grace is the great need of every nation and every heart. For, as the Bible teaches:  

- All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory  

- All of us need cleansing from our sins through the blood of Jesus shed for all people at the Cross of Calvary  

- All of us need the love of God the Father who is slow to tell us off and quick to bless us 

- All of us need to be ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.  

And today you can be as you too dedicate your life to Jesus Christ and crown Him as King of your life. Also pray prayers of blessing for our new King and Queen in obedience to the teaching of the Bible, in 1 Timothy 2:2 that we should ‘pray for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ 

Immediately after admonishing the Ephesians to take up the sword of the Spirit, Paul wastes no time in mentioning the final weapon (Ephesians 6:18-19). 

Jesus is the ultimate example of a prayer warrior. During His time on earth, He lived a life of prayer. He prayed to do the will of His father so that God’s glory could be demonstrated through His life. He never ministered without first seeking His father in prayer. His power was prayer. The battles were won in prayer. And we read of so many miracles and of how Jesus’ ministry developed through prayer. 

His life of prayer did not stop with His death. In Hebrews 7:24 we read “but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.” The role of the priests in the Bible was to intercede for people, but of course they could only do that whilst alive on earth, after which their ministry ended. Jesus is the eternal, forever high priest who continues His priestly ministry of intercession in Heaven. It is amazing to think that since He ascended to heaven, Jesus has been interceding on our behalf for the perfect will of the Father to be done. 

Let us look more closely at what Paul teaches us about prayer in this specific context of prayer as a weapon. 

1. Pray at all times (James 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 15:16-18; ) 

2. Pray in the Spirit (Romans 8:26; Ephesians 6:12) 

3. Pray in different ways (Philippians 4:6) 

4. Pray for people (Esther 4:17) 

Apply 

Paul says here “pray in the Spirit on all occasions...” No matter what you are going through, pray! There is nothing too big or too small to discuss with the Lord (James 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 15:16-18). Through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus, God removed the blockage of sin that was between man and God, opening the way for us to live in the presence of God. Praying on all occasions means continually welcoming His presence in our lives, confident that we will be heard by our Father God as we pray in all circumstances because the barrier has been removed. 

The passage also says how we should “pray in the Spirit” The Holy Spirit lives in us and we should not only walk and live with the Holy Spirit’s guidance; we should also pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. A person truly dependent on the Holy Spirit can pray in the Spirit (Romans 8:26). We need the Holy Spirit. We are all called to be prayer warriors. We cannot fight our own battles; we instead fight in the Spirit. We win in the spiritual realm and then we see change manifested on earth. When we understand this, we will see many breakthroughs (Ephesians 6:12). 

In this passage, Paul encourages us to pray “with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Imagine a quiver full of arrows, ready to fight the enemy and to be victorious. Well there are different kinds of arrows we can draw from our quiver. In his book ‘Secrets of a Prayer Warrior’, Derek Prince outlines 12 distinct kinds of prayer. These are “praise, thanksgiving, worship, petition, intercession, supplication, command, commitment, dedication, persistence, blessing and cursing.” There are more but this gives us a good idea of the different kinds of prayers we can pray. Paul teaches on prayer all through his books (Philippians 4:6). Prayer can be personal. We can ask for the salvation of a family member, ask for a breakthrough in your finances, ask for wisdom. Or we can pray publicly in groups for the community or the church. We can pray in many different ways. 

Finally, we must pray for people. a) You can pray for yourself and your family, for protection, provision and more of the Lord’s presence, and applying the blood of Jesus. For every need in our lives, the cross represents a great exchange. b) We can pray for the church, our towns, our cities, nations and for other nations, that God will extend His kingdom and that many lives will be touched. Esther in the Bible is an amazing example of someone who offered up prayers and interceded because she wanted to see her people, her nation’s future changes. It was not easy; a lot was at risk. But she knew that the power to overcome the evil intents of Hamman was to pray. Like Charles Spurgeon said, “Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Turn to sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication.” Even when we are weak, you can use the weapon of prayer (Esther 4:17). God can move in your home, in your workplace, your community and nation through your prayers. The future of a nation is in the hands of the people who pray. c) We must pray for our spiritual leaders. Paul goes on to say to ask for prayer for himself, that he will continue to minister. These are the people that God sets as the covering over our lives. We are to uphold their arms in prayer, so that they can continue the work of God. And if Paul could ask for prayer as a leader, we need to keep praying for our own leaders as well. This passage about prayer is a key that all of us can apply. Paul asks that God’s people pray for boldness and fearlessness. We can boldly approach God's throne and ask with big expectation in our hearts and with no condemnation, for we are heirs and coheirs with Christ. Let’s put these final verses into practice so we can truly Live in Victory! 

When the Roman soldier entered the battlefield they would have on their belt, breastplate, footwear, shield and helmet, readied for defence. The only offensive weapon they would have was the sword. In the same way, of the six pieces of spiritual armour the apostle Paul teaches about in Ephesians 6, the only offensive weapon we have to attack the enemy with is the Word of God. 

Before Jesus began his earthly ministry, he went away for 40 days to fast and pray, and here He taught us how to wield the sword of the spirit against the enemy. 

1. Hunger for the word of God (Matthew 4:2-4; Deuteronomy 8:3; James 1:5; 1 Corinthians 1:25)

2. Know the word of God (Matthew 4:5-7; Proverbs 13:20)

3. Overcome by applying the word of God (Matthew 4:8-11; Psalm 37:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Isaiah 40:29; 2 Chronicles 15:7; Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 23:1; Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 40:31; Revelation 12:11; Joshua 24:15)

Apply

During 40 days of fasting, Jesus was hungry. But as his body became weaker, He was becoming stronger in the spirit, so the enemy tempts Jesus to give up (Matthew 4:2-4). The devil came to test him offering him some seemingly harmless bread to satisfy His desire, but Jesus knew the deceit of the devil, and declared the written word of God to joust back the manipulative words of Satan. Each word was like a sword blow to the enemy's head. He declared the words from Deuteronomy 8:3, that bread alone doesn’t satisfy, but it's the word of God we need to fill us, strengthen us, and nourish our soul. Without His word within us, we are limiting our Christian life. We mustn't settle into being passive or just going with the wind. No, hunger for the word that will transform your faith. So many Christians miss out and neglect the power of the word of God when they don’t read their Bibles daily. Who is guiding you and what are you feeding your spirit with? It is not enough to know the Bible as an overview or be familiar with some of its themes. This word is alive, and within it are the keys to breakthroughs in your life (1 Corinthians 1:25). Our wisdom should not come from the world. People think life experiences and knowledge are what help us overcome, but it is God’s wisdom that gives us strength. We need to hunger for it more than anything else (James 1:5). Are you desperate to read the word of God (you can use the daily devotional plan in the KCI app) or are you desperate to read your emails, your WhatsApp, to go on social media first thing when you wake up? We have an enemy who seeks to ‘steal, kill and destroy’. He doesn't play fair, every word he speaks is a lie, he twists things. But we have to hunger for the truth which is the word of God. 

When Jesus was in the desert being tested by the enemy, the enemy couldn’t tempt Jesus with food so he attempted the next assault (Matthew 4:5-7). The next trick of the devil was to twist the word of God using it to make Jesus submit to his authority. But Jesus knew the truth of the word of God, so did not succumb to lies of the enemy who tried to twist the word. To know the word we need to study the Bible. Invest time every morning to spend with the Lord and let Him speak to you: note down what God is communicating to you through the Bible each day; expound the word, know what it is saying, know the context, understand its relevance and make sure we are reading out of the word itself - not reading our own interpretation into it. Meditate (dwell) on the word (Joshua 1:8). Allow the word to shape your thinking as you dwell on what God is showing you and write it on your heart. Know the promises that are relevant to your circumstances and memorise them. In the desert Jesus had the word in Him; His sword was with Him and that was why He was able to take it up. Ask God for a Rhema word each day - a passage you read that specifically speaks to you and the situation you are in. When the enemy attacks in your thoughts, health, finances etc, we must have the word of God ready. You can’t fight back if you have no sword to fight with. God goes ahead of you and will give you the right word in season (Proverbs 13:20). 

Jesus overcame the enemy by repeatedly declaring the word of God (Matthew 4:8-11). God has given us the same authority as Jesus to use His words because the word says we are heirs of God and co-heirs of Christ. Because He conquered, so can we! The enemy didn’t flee after the first time. It was after the third attack and third rebuttal that Jesus overcame. What if we give up on the second or third attack that we go through? Perseverance with the word of God, knowing that it is powerful and effective, is key. You can use the sword but sometimes it can take a few blows to defeat your enemy. The Bible says that the power of the tongue brings life or death, so make sure you’re using the word of God instead of saying negative words. Declare the promises of God for you in every circumstance, no matter what you face there is a word for you (e.g. Psalm 37:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Isaiah 40:29; 2 Chronicles 15:7; Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 23:1; Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 40:31; Revelation 12:11; Joshua 24:15). When you are declaring the promises of God, you are speaking faith into action, the forces of darkness are brought down, God fights for you. Your sword is at work! The word of God is the most powerful weapon. This life is a battlefield, and we must be ready to live in victory, so put on the full armour of God.

So today be honest with yourself. Are you actually reading the Bible? Decide that you are first and foremost going to hunger for the word of God. That you are not going to be satisfied until you have the word of God in you and know His promises.

Ephesians 6:17 says: ‘Take the helmet of salvation.’ In other words, we must do something to make sure that our heads, minds, intellects, thoughts are properly protected. The helmet of salvation protects the head, where all thought and knowledge reside. And this is why the enemy is so keen to strike the head. 

One of the most intense spiritual battlefields is in your mind. Negative, depressive thoughts can come out of nowhere. We often focus on the need to guard our hearts but also we need to understand how important it is to protect our minds. What is the state of your mind right now? How positive or negative are your thoughts? We see so much of the world now suffers with fear, anxiety, and depression. Like the shield of faith, we must take up the Helmet of Salvation and put it on!   

The enemy does not want us to know truth or be set free from his lies and deceit (John 8:31-32). This helmet is not just any Helmet but is described as the ‘hope of salvation’ (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Without hope we have nothing. When people lose hope the situation seems hopeless and they feel like they lose everything. Hope and Faith are closely linked. If we have a foundation of faith, we can have hope for the future, and this is why the enemy wants to attack our faith.  

Salvation is the big theme of the bible. In the Old Testament we see this with Moses delivering the Israelites from the slavery and captivity of the Egyptians. We see the Psalmist writing how God delivered him from his enemies. Jesus is the ultimate Saviour. He wants to deliver us, for us to be free from sin and all the works of the enemy. Jesus of course came to this world to ‘seek and to save what was lost.’  

We have hope when we understand what Salvation involves. The great preacher Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones stated: “There are steps and stages in salvation: “I am saved, I am being saved, I will be ultimately saved.” Whatever the strength and power of the enemy in this fight, the Lord’s is greater and ultimately triumphant and that is the final hope.” Let’s look at the 3 aspects here mentioned by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Joness: 

1. We have hope because we have been saved (1 John 1:9; Acts 16:31; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13; Romans 8:17) 

2. We have hope because we are being saved (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 3:20) 

3. We have hope because we will be saved (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:13) 

Apply 

We have hope because as Christians we have been saved. The Bible tells us we can be sure of our salvation (1 John 1:9; Acts 16:31; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). No more sin, no longer under the domination. There is a change in us, God has said it. When you put your trust in him, when you believe in him you will be saved. When you are right with God, your sins have been forgiven. You have access as a son and a daughter into the presence of God (Romans 8:17). Salvation is to be saved, to be set free, to be redeemed, and we know that Jesus went to the Cross for each of us so that we can be free from sin and fear. We are redeemed by the precious blood that He poured out for us on the cross. He paid the price for us to bring us salvation. When you are sure of your identity in Christ, you will be full of hope. So if any doubts come to your mind, put on your hope of salvation. 

We have hope because we are being saved. Every day we need God to save us. Yes, we know that we have been saved from our sin but there are so many things we need to be saved from. Dangers seen and unseen. We need to be saved from fears, from wrong decisions in every area. God is here to help us in everything, in every age and stage of life (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 3:20). We need to continually be in communion with God. We have to live in a right relationship with him every day and if we do that, there is no need for fear or anxiety about the future because He is guaranteeing us our inheritance through the Holy Spirit. Putting on the helmet does not cause your salvation. You put it on as a result of your salvation. Every time you put on the helmet of salvation, it should be a reminder of who you are and whose you are. In his book ‘Spiritual Warfare’, Derek Prince shares about his own experience that, despite being a Christian, he still suffered with depression. It wasn’t until he had a new revelation of how the Helmet of Salvation was about hope that he could overcome this. You too need to have this hope that God will save and deliver you in every trial and temptation that you face.  

We have hope because we will be saved (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We have a sure and certain hope of resurrection to life immortal through Jesus Christ. We can be sure that he will get us our heavenly Home. We will be like the Pilgrim in ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ who, having gone through all kinds of things along the journey, then sees the Celestial City and makes it home. You are going to make it home it home as a Christian. Heaven is our home, and we are going to get there. We are not going to allow the enemy to rob us: we are going to make it home to heaven (Matthew 24:13)! This is a vital piece of the armour which we need every day. Whatever is happening, put your hope in the Lord and put your helmet of salvation on and be full of hope and live your life in hope. 

The fourth piece of armour that every Christian must put on to live a life of victory is the shield of faith. Throughout history, shields have been of great importance, determining whether a soldier or even whole armies survived a battle and whether victory is ultimately won. Centuries ago, Roman soldiers had a long, rectangular, knees-to-chin shield which protected them from arrows and spears and could be knelt behind during an incoming barrage of arrows. 

The great 19th Century preacher Charles Spurgeon said “Like the Spartans, every Christian is born a warrior. It is his destiny to be assaulted; it is his duty to attack. Part of his life will be occupied with defensive warfare.” 

The apostle Paul helps us to visualise the shield that we must carry to defend ourselves in Ephesians 6:16, saying: “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The Living Bible puts it like this: ‘In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.’ 

1. Take up your Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16; Psalm 20:7; Psalm 28:7; Hebrews 11)

2. Carry your shield of faith wherever you go (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 Peter 4:12; Genesis 15:1; Hebrews 11:6)

3. See the shield of faith bring total victory (Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4; John 16:33; 1 John 4:4)

Apply

The shield of faith represents the next part of the armour which is needed “in addition” to the first three parts. It’s not strapped onto us, so it needs to be actively “taken up” in reaction to attack. Everybody has faith in something, even if they believe in nothing! Every day people choose in whom or in what they put their faith to shield them from the realities of life. Every day, people put their faith in doctors, dentists and drivers without ever having inspected any qualification papers, and in everyday things such as chairs and planes, trains and automobiles despite not having checked them for faults. Others put faith in ideologies such as communism, capitalism, secularism, etc. Even atheists have faith in what they believe! We too must choose in whom we will put our faith (Psalm 20:7). The faith that the Bible speaks of is not faith in natural things, but faith in God for salvation, deliverance, healing, direction, protection, revelation and provision. The Christian life is to be a life of ever-increasing faith in God, where doubt, fear, negativity and anxiety are banished, and we are strengthened and joy filled as our hearts trust in Him as our help (Psalm 28:7). We may put our faith in many things: money, health, intellect, motivational speakers, logic, science, your own wisdom or even a hard heart, distance or defensiveness to protect ourselves. We need to place our faith in God. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Gideon and many more saw great conquests (Hebrews 11). All of them had this is common: they overcame by faith. Our faith in God is the most powerful shield of protection around our lives and families. Faith is the confidence and assurance we have in the crucified and risen Christ. Faith is lifting our eyes up to God and relying on the greater One in us to see us through: Through our storms, through our hardships, through every attack, being fully surrendered to God’s will and maintaining complete confidence in Him. Determination alone will never get you to heaven and through trials. Only faith will. You can pray nonstop from now till next week Sunday but you will see no answers to your prayer if you don’t have the faith to receive it (Hebrews 11:1). Having all the other pieces of armour, but without the shield of faith, we won’t be able to live in the promises of God.

Carry your shield of faith wherever you go: Ephesians 6:16 (ESV) says ‘In all circumstances...’. This means we must always be ready with the shield of faith. A Roman soldier’s shield was no good to him when on the battlefield if he had left it at home! In the same way we too need to take our shield of faith wherever we go so we can be confident of protection from the enemy’s flaming arrows of attack, whenever and wherever they come at us. You can experience times where there seem to be no attacks, and then quickly it seems there are flaming arrows flying at you from all directions (1 Peter 5:8-9). For attacks can come at us in many ways. The enemy often tries to attack individuals in their thoughts, with doubts, fear, even questioning God and our own salvation. What are your first thoughts in the morning or last thoughts at night? Negative, fearful, anxious thoughts are some of the flaming arrows thrown by the enemy, with the intention of us thinking they have just come from within us. Other fiery arrows come in our imagination, leading us into temptations, deceiving us that it is something we want, rather than being an enemy attack. And of course, you may find that the attack is what the apostle Peter called a ‘fiery ordeal’, such as in your health, family, finances or other area of life (1 Peter 4:12). Faith is being able to quickly apply what you believe to neutralise everything the enemy intends to do to you. Faith is not simply having the knowledge or belief; it’s then being able to practically apply it in the moment of attack. Just as a shield must point towards its object to be effective, so our faith points towards God and therefore provides effective protection against every attack we face. As you carry your shield with you wherever you go, you will be able to live a fearless life (Genesis 15:1). And just as Abraham experienced when he believed God, so you will also see that when you have faith God will do what He has promised. God’s promises are sure, but you must have faith to believe in them (Hebrews 11:6). We need to let our character, lifestyle and expectations be governed by our faith in God. Faith is not something we do and say in church only. If you believe in God you will tell others about your faith. Share your Christian lifestyle with your family and friends. Step out for God and see him step into your life at a new level. We can’t be passive in spiritual warfare. As you take up your shield of faith and carry it with you wherever you go, your emotions, your thoughts, your whole life will be protected.

See the shield of faith bring total victory: Faith is the key to conquest. Ephesians 6:16 does not say some of the arrows will be extinguished but that ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one. That means total victory, total conquest. Faith can never be overcome. It can only overcome (1 John 5:4). To see protection and victory that faith brings, it must be exercised and applied to every aspect of our lives and ministry. The world is a battleground of kingdoms but by faith we can always look ahead to total victory (John 16:33). Total victory is your portion (1 John 4:4). Are you in faith for your family to be saved and restored? For a miracle in your finances? For a turnaround in any health issues? For growth in the ministry? For your future? Today whatever attacks you may be facing, make your decision to take up the shield of faith’ so that ‘you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’

Ephesians 6:13-15: ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.’ 

Peace doesn’t come automatically. We have to be ready to live in peace. We must make sure that we are not caught off guard when trouble hits. Preparation is so important. Staying in an attitude of peace in all situations will give us stability so that we don’t slip and slide all over the places in our emotions, words and actions and reactions. The image the apostle Paul uses here is focussed on having the right footwear. 

You can’t be barefoot going into battle. A Roman soldier’s battle shoes were studded with nails or spikes to help him keep his balance in combat and have a firm footing. A soldier would know that if he lost his footing and went down, it wouldn’t matter how great the rest of his armour was, the enemy had him. We need to make sure that we are ready with our spiritual shoes on and fitted, knowing God’s peace at work in our lives so that we do not slip in our battles. 

Having the right shoes on then means that we are grounded in the gospel of peace. The New Living Translation words it this way: ‘For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared’ (Ephesians 6:15). When we are ready with the gospel of peace, we live with the understanding that although we are continually under attack, we will always stand firm. 

1. You can know the peace of God (John 14:27; Psalm 23; Psalm 23:1-4; Luke 1:79; Psalm 121:1-3; Psalm 91:9-13; Philippians 4:7) 

2. You can be an ambassador for the good news of peace (Isaiah 52:7) 

3. You can have peace with God (Colossians 1:20; Psalm 40:2) 

Apply 

You can know the peace of God. There is only one source of real peace and that source is Jesus Christ the son of God. Only He can calm the storms that can rage in our hearts in our minds, in nations and communities (John 14:27; Psalm 23; Psalm 23:1-4; Luke 1:79). The Bible makes clear that at all times God wants you to walk a peaceful path of life, not one of uncertainty and fear (Psalm 121:1-3; Psalm 91:9-13). Standing firm is being confident God in the midst of any battle. Being prepared is knowing that you cannot be shaken or moved because you know that God is with you. We cannot slip in our faith or panic when the storm comes. God wants to bring you peace in the time of bereavement, peace in your health challenges, peace in your marriage, peace in the worry about your children, peace in financial struggles, peace in a mind of chaos, peace in your work, peace when facing mental health challenges. The list goes on but there is no limit to the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Whatever storms and stress you are experiencing right now you can know the peace and presence of God in your hearts and homes. And when we experience God’s peace we should be ready to tell others about this good news. 

You can be an ambassador for the good news of peace. Having our feet fitted with the shoes of the gospel of peace allows us to be ready to always share God with others (Isaiah 52:7). As Christians, we should always be prepared as we never know when an opportunity may arise to share the good news of the gospel with someone else. It is a good thing to tell someone about Jesus, no matter how you think they will react and how well it will be received - maybe you will change someone’s life and their generations. 

You can have peace with God. Everything starts by coming into a right relationship with God. Lasting inner peace does not come through pleasure, power, possessions or drink or drugs. The Bible teaches that not only that there is a God but also that Jesus alone can bring us into fellowship with God (Colossians 1:20). Making your peace with God is the biggest and best decision you will ever make in your life. Whatever wrong you have been guilty of in word or thought or deed or relationship, you can be sorted out when you seek God for His mercy and forgiveness. When you get your relationship with God in order, all other relationships fall into place. This gives you a firm foundation (Psalm 40:2).  

So here’s how to stay grounded and secure in the battles of life. Today you can know the peace of God. You can become an ambassador of peace for God and you can make your peace with God. So put on your shoes of the gospel of peace and stand firm at all times. 

The Apostle Paul talks about how we can stand firm in the evil day of attack. You will face many kinds of battles in life. You may face battles over your mental health, your family, your finances, your health, there may be spiritual battles and cultural battles. This armour of God that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6 details how you can stand against each type of attack on your life.  

Last week we heard how important it is to have the Belt of Truth. This week we see the next piece of armour, the Breastplate of Righteousness. Ephesians 6:14 says “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”  

A breastplate in Roman times was made of bronze and iron that covered the whole torso. It was designed to protect the soldier’s vital organs, such as the heart and lungs, from sword attacks when in battle. A modern equivalent is body armour. The Christian’s body armour is a breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is a word the Bible uses a lot, but what does it mean? 

Nicky Gumbel, the pioneer of the Alpha Course and former Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton church in London said, “The word ‘righteous’ is often associated with the ‘self-righteous’, and has almost become a term of abuse. However, ‘righteous’ in the Bible is a wonderful word and extremely important for our understanding of the whole Bible.” 

How is this relevant to us when we are attacked? Because this is to do with a full-on attack where Satan wants to take you out because he is going for your heart, your lungs and your vital organs. If he can damage your heart – your emotions with fear, rejection or shame, he can take you out, unless you are protected (Proverbs 10:25,28,30). Nicky Gumbel goes on to say, “’Righteousness’ is ultimately about right relationships – a right relationship with God and right relationships with others. In the New Testament, we come to understand that this righteousness is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ.” 

A Roman soldier had faith that the blacksmith had designed his metal breastplate to stop any sword attacks reaching his heart. How can you have faith the breastplate of righteousness will protect you from spiritual attacks to our hearts and emotions? 

1. The Breastplate of Righteousness shows God’s AFFECTION for you (1 John 4:9-10; 1 Peter 3:19; Romans 5:6-8) 

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness removes all ACCUSATION against you (John 8:44; Revelation 12:10-11; Isaiah 61:10) 

3. The Breastplate of Righteous grants you ACCESS to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16; Romans 5:2; Isaiah 1:18 

Apply 

The Breastplate of Righteousness shows God’s affection for you. When we understand righteousness, we understand how much we are loved by God (1 John 4:9-10; 1 Peter 3:18). So, righteousness speaks to us of God’s love – because God who was totally righteous made plans to save the unrighteous. He knows the unrighteous will perish if you are not right with God (Romans 5:6-8). Think about it: while you were still a sinner, still in unrighteousness, were not right with God, were rebelling against God, He gave His life for you. The breastplate of righteous is God’s love for you. There’s nothing you can do to stop Jesus loving you. There’s nothing in your past that can stop Jesus loving you today. It is not the breastplate of your own righteousness, but the breastplate of the righteousness of God. You can’t trust in your own righteousness as we have all done wrong. But the Lord loves us and He showed that at the Cross. Whatever you are going through, know you are loved by God.  

The Breastplate of Righteousness removes all accusation against you. Satan is the accuser. He will do anything to try to discourage you, to convince you that you are not worthy of being in the presence of God. Jesus speaks of the devil in John 8:44. Whenever you feel any accusations come upon you, whenever you face these thoughts and doubts, whenever you think you are not worthy enough, you need to “Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist and the breastplate of righteousness in place.” Revelation 12:10-11 teaches us how the battle will be won. This is such important foundational teaching of the Christian faith, and it is why our Life Class course for people who are new to the Christian faith teaches these 5 confessions from scripture: 

- By the blood of Jesus, I have been redeemed from the power of the enemy. Satan has no power over my life because I have been brought into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

- By the blood of Jesus all my sins have been forgiven. 

- Because I walk in the light and have fellowship with other Christians, the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses me now and continually from all sin. 

- By the blood of Jesus, I have been justified and God sees me as if I had never sinned. 

- By the blood of Christ, I have been sanctified and set apart for God.  

This is truly something to celebrate! Through Christ you have been cleaned up and are given new robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Do you deserve it? No! The Prodigal Son parable in Luke 15 gives a picture of the robe of righteousness God gave to you when you gave your life to Jesus. It’s a free gift. You cannot earn it and you cannot work for it. When the father welcomed the Prodigal Son home, it was a picture of our Heavenly Father’s amazing love and grace. John Newton the former slave trader became convicted of how much God loved him, despite his dark past, when he wrote the famous song ‘Amazing Grace’. 

The Breastplate of Righteous grants you access to the throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16 teaches that we can come boldly. Our faith in Jesus qualifies us to gain access to the throne of grace. Theologian Derek Prince said, "It is not the righteousness of works, it is not the righteousness of a religious law, but it is a righteousness that comes only by faith." We have in our own righteousness, no possibility of access to God. When we understand what Christ has done at the Cross for us, then we can come “boldly to the throne of grace” knowing that Jesus knows you by name and is waiting for you. Also we can come continually. The King of Kings’ throne of grace on which Jesus continually sits can be accessed by anyone who has faith in Him (Romans 5:2). And we can come to the throne of grace now (Hebrews 4:16). Don’t accept wrong thoughts such as ‘I can’t come now because I’ve mucked up. I need to sort myself out first’. Jesus tells us to put on His breastplate of righteousness and come now (Isaiah 1:18). 

The breastplate of righteousness is another big key of how to stand firm in times of trouble and attack. It is vital to put on that breastplate of righteousness to guard our hearts and emotions, knowing that we are accepted by God as the object of his affection, that we are not facing accusation, but we have acceptance, and we have access to the Lord. So, stand firm in whatever you are facing, and you will resist every attack that is coming. 

Series: Living In Victory

Title: It's Time For You To Belt Up!

Key Text: Ephesians 6:10-18

Every day everyone faces battles and challenges that need to be conquered. But you can be what the Bible calls an overcomer. You can come over your problems and pressures. You don’t have to be a victim in life: you can be a victor. The Bible is very clear that this world is a battleground between the kingdoms of Darkness and Light. But we can stand strong and overcome all opposition with God’s help. But we also must play our part and put on our spiritual armour (Ephesians 6:13). 

The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:14: ‘Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…’ A belt may not seem to be that important but in fact it is highly significant. In certain circumstances wearing or not wearing a belt can literally be a matter of life and death. Similarly, the belt of truth is armour to protect us.

The Roman soldier‘s belt was wrapped tightly round his waist, fixing his tunic breastplate in place. In the same way, knowing the truth holds you together, supports you, and guards you from the danger of deceptions that could come from any direction. The riveted leather steps at the front are a flexible form of armour that provides vital protection against attacks that come from an enemy attacking you below the belt. Knowing the truth brings protection. The belt held all a soldier’s weapons and loose equipment close to hand. When you’re under attack, you need to know truth already to be able to respond readily. Each time Jesus was attacked by the devil, He responded: ‘it is written…’. And this belt would not be comfortable to sleep in, so like a soldier you need to be in the habit of consciously putting it on again every morning in readiness for the day. That means a daily habit of reading and living by the truth of God’s word.

So truth is something that must be literally wrapped tightly around you. It’s absolutely essential that you develop the habit to always buckle up your spiritual seatbelt. Today there is a great battle for truth. But truth is objective: if something is true, it is true for everyone, whether they agree with it or not. You may believe that you can fly out of a window, but if you jump you will find there is a truth about the law of gravity. 

We need to know the truth, especially about the purpose of life on earth and the One who gave it to us. Knowing the truth about God was one of the key focuses in the early church. The apostles’ teaching and doctrine was fundamental. So we’ve got to get our thinking straight.

Like the Roman Governor Pilate, many people are asking ‘what is truth?’ But there IS truth. The Bible is the truth - it is a revelation of God’s truth (2 Tim 3:16-17). Jesus said ‘I am the truth’ (John 14:6) and the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth (John 16:13). Here are some truths that we need to keep around us:

1. The truth of Christ’s victory through the cross and resurrection (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:14; Acts 2:22-24)

2. The truth of who you are in Christ (Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 John 3:1; Isaiah 43:25; Genesis 1:26-27; Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 2:10; Genesis 12:2)

3. The truth about the promises of God (Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 32:8; Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; Ephesians 4:14)

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We must live with the truth of Christ’s victory through the cross and resurrection. These are the foundation truths of Christianity. They are not make believe. They are truths that hold us secure. Jesus’ death on the cross was the centre point of history. The whole way through the Bible there are prophetic revelations and allegories pointing to Jesus’s death as the biggest event in time. Right from the moment of the fall of man, when sin entered the world, God had a redemption plan. Jesus’ death on the cross is known as the divine exchange. He paid the price of our sin so that we can enjoy eternity in heaven (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Acts 4:12). Jesus’s death was followed three days later by his resurrection to indestructible life. Paul said that “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). But Christ was raised from the dead and because of that we can have newness of life (Acts 2:22-24). Christianity is based on fact not fiction. Jesus is unlike any other person in history and unlike any other political or religious leader. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, the prophets and priests, Mohammed, Buddha and Jesus all lived and all died. But Jesus came back to life and is alive today to help us and guide us in every area of life and assure us of eternal life. You will live in victory in life when you buckle up daily with this truth.

You must also know the truth of who you are in Christ: 

- You are not a mistake. You are precious to God (Psalm 139:16)

- You are not rejected by God. You are chosen (Ephesians 1:4-5)

- You are not hated. You are dearly loved and adopted (1 John 3:1)

- You are completely forgiven and a new creation through the blood of Jesus (Isaiah 43:25)

- You are made in the image of God and given authority (Genesis 1:26-27) 

- You have a purpose (Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 2:10)

- You have great potential to be a blessing in this world (Genesis 12:2)  

Knowing your true identity will protect you from always selling yourself short, from living under a constant weight of condemnation and from wasting your life on empty pursuits. 

And you must live with the truth of the promises of God. Did you know that there are 7,487 promises in the Bible made by God personally? For example:

- He will be with you at all times (Hebrews 13:5)

- He will give you peace (Isaiah 26:3) 

- He will guide you (Psalm 32:8) 

- He will fulfil your dreams (Psalm 37:4)

- He will renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31) 

When we wrap such truths as these around us then we will not be at the mercy of our feelings or emotions; we will not be battered by circumstances when we put His belt and wrap ourselves round us (Ephesians 4:14). With His belt of truth we will stand firm in the day of battle. So get ready and buckle up right now.

The Bible is very clear that this world is a battleground between the kingdoms of Darkness and Light. But it also prepares us for how we can not only survive but live lives of victory when we can overcome all the problems and pressures that we face (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4-5). 

The apostle Paul, who experienced intense opposition, trials and hardships, wrote in Romans 8:37 that in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. And in his letter to the church in the great city of Ephesus he outlined how we can live a life of victory in Ephesians 6: 10-13: 

We must recognise the realities of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 10:10) 

We need to understand the enemy we face (Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 5:44) 

We can stand strong with God’s help (Ephesians 6:10,13; 1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15; Matthew 16:18) 

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We must recognise the realities of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11). Now the very idea of there actually being a devil who is always plotting evil is often ridiculed. However such mockery is spectacularly misplaced. For evil is seen in countless way all around us.  Many Hollywood films for example recognize this in good versus evil movies like Star Wars, Transformers, The Avengers and Lord of the Rings. Sometimes evil in the world is very obvious such as in the Holocaust or currently in the Ukraine and elsewhere. But many times, it hides beneath an image of social respectability and sophistication. To be a Christian then is not to have an escapist mentality but to have a totally realistic view of the world. And that worldview is a spiritual warfare worldview. Satan is said to be the “god” of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) which means that everything the world promotes with all its focus on sex, power and money has its origin in Satan.  Whether we like it or not, in one way or another, we all live in a theatre of war. We must be fully awake to that reality for us to be able to live a life of victory (John 10:10). You need to realise that there is an ongoing battle for the good not only of your souls, but for your families and for every area of your life. You must not ignore this or ever be relaxed about this.   

We need to understand the enemy we face (Ephesians 6:12). Knowing your enemy is one of the critical elements in military warfare strategy. And it is the same with spiritual warfare. Now we need to note what it says here: those who we imagine are our human enemies are not in fact our real enemies. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Ultimately your enemies are not those individuals who oppose you but spiritual powers. Of course, people are responsible for their actions but hurtful as they may be, we must not hate our enemies. Rather as Jesus said in Matthew 5:44‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ For at work in our enemies and behind them are what are called here the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. In other words, we have against us the kingdom of darkness that is a well organised hierarchy of demons and demonic powers who conspire together to stop the kingdom of God (see also CS Lewis ‘The Screwtape Letters’). For sure, there are individuals who are clearly demonised and who need to be delivered. But also, there are spiritual strongholds that exercise malign influence in different locations and areas of society whether it is in politics, business, education or religion, racism, violence and sexual exploitation.  

We can stand strong with God’s help (Ephesians 6:10,13). The good news is that because Jesus Christ has overcome Satan and all his hosts through His death and resurrection, we too can resist and overcome the Devil (1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15). All through history Christians have learnt that no matter what comes against them, they can stand strong (Matthew 16:18). Today we too can stand firm and resilient both as individuals and as the Christian community, both locally and globally. We don’t do so by our own resources but by discovering as it says in verse 10 to ‘be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Our God is indeed a mighty and powerful God. He is: 

- the God who created the heavens and the earth 

- the God who raises up and destroys empires 

- the God who works miracles 

- the God who can open the Sea and shut the mouth of lions 

- the God who raised Christ from the dead to defeat death for all time 

- the God whose kingdom is an everlasting, indestructible Kingdom 

- the God who will one day finally overthrow Satan and all his evil works. 

That day is nearer than we may imagine. Meanwhile we need to avail ourselves of the power of the blood of Jesus and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And as we will learn in the coming weeks that we must, as verse 13 says: ‘put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.’ 

You may be down right now, but you are not out. You are going to get up and stand up in the strength God has for you. The light of Christ that is in you will overcome the darkness that is against you. Today and every day be determined to live a life of victory. 

The Easter message is the ultimate message of hope for it shows us how we can experience the new beginnings of Easter Sunday after the darkness of Good Friday. The disciples of Jesus knew the resurrection really happened because they were eye witnesses. They were there. They had seen Jesus crucified and buried in a guarded tomb. They were in deep grief and totally disorientated by an evil turn of events that they did not expect. They thought that everything was all over and that Jesus was just like every other person who lives and eventually dies. But then they actually saw Christ up and walking again and they and hundreds of others knew then for sure that He was like no other man. This was no myth or make believe, as countless people through the ages have discovered for themselves.  

One of those disciples was a man who was convinced he had messed up after he had denied that he even knew Jesus. Maybe you can identify with Peter. One moment of failure, one moment where you lost concentration when driving, one moment of unfaithfulness, one angry conversation can leave a mark on a person that is hard to erase. People may even have forgiven you, but you can’t forgive yourself. You carry a feeling of self-condemnation.  

Yet amidst his sense of hopelessness, the risen Jesus appeared to Peter and he was totally forgiven and restored, just as you can be. Many years later, after Peter had first discovered the empty grave of the crucified Jesus, he was still overwhelmed by the reality of the resurrection. And he wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-4 to a rapidly growing Christian church that was facing great persecution: 

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.’ From these words we can see that:

1. We can hope again because of God’s great love (Ephesians 2:4-7)

2. We can hope again because God can give you a new start (Romans 4:24-25; Romans 6:4; Psalm 30:3; Isaiah 62:2; Ezekiel 18:31; Matthew 9:17; John 13:34; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

3. We can hope again because the hope of God is for all times 

3.1 We can have hope in this life

3.2. We can have hope for the life to come (Colossians 2:14-15; Revelation 1:17-18; John 14:19; John 11:25-26)

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Peter, like all the apostles, was overwhelmed by the love and mercy of God. This is also known as grace; the receiving of favour that we do not deserve. The apostle Paul, who once was a blaspheming and violent enemy of Christians, also wrote of this great grace (Ephesians 2:4-7). Many imagine that God is against people. But it says He ‘is rich in mercy.’ In fact, the riches of God’s grace are ‘incomparable.’ God is full of kindness towards us because there is nothing that we can do to earn his favour. God’s love is love is for all people everywhere, no matter what you have done. God’s mercy was extended to Peter, to Paul and to the ex-slave trader John Newton, who called it Amazing Grace in his famous hymn. And God’s grace, mercy and love is extended also to you and to me. God never writes us off. He never gives up on us. As Jesus showed in the story of the rebellious Prodigal son, God has the most incredible patience. God has not given up on you. It’s not too late to come home to Him and receive the free gift of God’s great love. 

 As Jesus said to the religious leader Nicodemus we can and must be born again in our hearts and spirits. That can happen because Jesus died so that we can live. On the Cross he paid the price of our sin (Romans 4:24-25; Romans 6:4). This means you can have a fresh start. Through Jesus’ death God’s only son took all our past, our sin, our guilt, our shame on the cross. And through our faith in his resurrection, we too can receive the power to live a new and better life. All through the Bible we see God is a God of the new (Psalm 30:3; Isaiah 62:2; Ezekiel 18:31; Matthew 9:17; John 13:34; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Today God can make things new in your life. You really can see total turnaround in your life. You can be radically changed from the inside out. Your self-image can change. Your depression can leave. Your attitude to life can change. Your family can change. You can change. 

This living hope is always available to you in any situation. It will never wear out. 

- We can have hope in this life: Jesus experienced betrayal, violent attacks, abandonment, injustice, suffering, pain and death. Jesus experienced every form of bitter human experience, which is why the Bible says He is able to understand us and help us. How many husbands and wives have also been betrayed? How many children and families have been abandoned? How many have been unjustly treated in life and suffered sickness, pain and loss? Well you are not without hope because we can know the presence and power of Jesus to help us and heal us. 

- We can have hope for the life to come: This ‘living hope’ is ‘through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. On earth Jesus showed his authority over sickness, evil spirits and even storms. But it was in his death that he showed his ultimate authority. Death, the final enemy, was put to death through Christ’s death and resurrection. The death of Christ was the moment that the thick curtain in Jerusalem’s temple separating sinful people from a holy God was miraculously torn in two from top to bottom. In the very moment when Satan’s kingdom of evil had done it worst, Christ completed what He came to do, giving sinful people access to a holy God through the shedding of His blood. The Cross was where Christ took on the powers of evil & undid their power for all time (Colossians 2:14-15; Revelation 1:17-18). For sure death is painful but the sting as the apostle Paul wrote has been taken out. Death has been swallowed up in victory. So, you don’t have to fear death anymore. You can have a genuine confidence over your future (John 14:19; John 11:25-26). For sure death is painful but the sting has been taken out. When you die and are buried or cremated it’s not the end. For the Christian, death it’s the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ’s presence. What happened 2000 years ago with the resurrection of Jesus then has real-time, real-life consequences for us today. 

Simply put, since Jesus came back from death you also can come back in life. Your suffering and sadness do not have to determine the rest of your life. Your past failure and sin does not have to define your future. We can all have a total new start in life. We can have a new identity as a Christian. No matter what holds you back, no matter how you have failed, no matter who or what has messed you up, you can have a second chance through the truth and triumph of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It really is time for you to hope again. Jesus said (John 11:25–26). ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" Today everyone has an opportunity to say I believe.

The significant events of Palm Sunday are recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12. As Jesus came into Jerusalem his arrival on a donkey caused a great commotion. There was so much shouting and celebration that no one could fail to know something very big was happening. It was a major public event. Matthew 21:10-11 says ‘When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred’ and asked, “Who is this?”’ This is the question everyone needs to answer. Who was and who is Jesus? That there was a historical Jesus is clear. But who he was was the cause of much dispute then, as it is today.

It was evident from the joyful reaction and shouts of the crowds that many accepted him as not just a prophet but as their long-awaited King. Palm Sunday should be a day of celebration for each of us too, for it's a day where we can experience the coming of the King into our lives and circumstances. 

Jesus is the humble King (John 12:14-15; Philippians 2:5-8; James 5:6; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 23:12; Mark 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:8)

Jesus is the children’s King (Matthew 21:15-16; Mark 10:13-16; Mark 10:15; Matthew 18:4)

Jesus is the King of all (John 12:13; Luke 2:10; John 3:16; Matthew 11:29)

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Where they had thought the Messiah would be a triumphant military hero liberating them from the oppression of the Roman Empire, Jesus came lowly and riding on a donkey, making time for the lowest of the low (John 12:14-15). This was so offensive to them that it was actually these religious elites who crucified him. Their pride blinded them to seeing the reality of the Messiah before them. Jesus was the King of all, but he humbled Himself in so many ways on earth (Philippians 2:5-8). The Bible has many references to the awfulness of pride and the awesomeness of humility (James 5:6; Proverbs 6). When people turn from their pride, ego and self-justification and humbly call on God, He will always bring great healing and salvation (2 Chronicles 7:14). Jesus was the perfect model of humility: born in the humblest of circumstances; He came as a vulnerable baby; He subjected Himself to all the limitations of a human body; He taught that the least valued, like children and the poor in spirit, would become the greatest in the kingdom of God (Matthew 23:12); teaching His disciples not to be preoccupied with their own position and image but to be ready and willing to serve; and finally to save and serve all humanity, He renounced all His rights and endured the humiliation of crucifixion. Rather than preoccupying himself with earthly positions, privileges and power, he spent his time with the vulnerable, the rejected, the down and outs (Mark 2:16-17). Jesus showed how the Kingdom of God was not what the intellectuals and religious elites were expecting (1 Corinthians 2:8). Jesus gave up everything so that no matter who we are, and no matter what our background, age, ethnicity, social status, bank balance, education, qualifications or circumstances are today, we can experience every blessing, especially the blessing of knowing him. To really know Jesus for ourselves, we need to come humbly to him. To bow before him. To receive him with humility like he modelled here on the earth. Are you willing to do that today?

Jesus made a special point of caring for those despised by society, in particular, children (Matthew 21:15-16). In the events of the first Palm Sunday, the little children really stood out for they saw that this was the real Messiah come to them. And this made the chief priests very angry because they looked down on children. They were upset that Jesus would not put the children in their place. But Jesus has no intention of putting the children down, rather showing how God works in the lives and lips of children (Psalm 8:2). Jesus was saying that the children were clearly recognising what was happening and praising God in response, even though the religious leaders and many adults couldn’t see it (Mark 10:13-16). So what do we learn here about children? 

 - God loves and cares for children: His kingdom cares for those who adults often despise, abuse or neglect. 

- Every child matters to God:

The kingdom of God is where people, including the young and vulnerable, can be safe, innocent and happy. The children recognised God’s love in Jesus. Today God cares for every child and for everyone who may feel like a little child - the vulnerable, ordinary, despised, the least, the smallest - you matter to God.

- Children can know the love of God for themselves: They can have a personal experience of salvation and know the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Many of the greatest preachers in history came to know Jesus at young ages.  

- Children show us the way to God: (Mark 10: 15; Matthew 18:4). It’s not that the Lord wants us to be childish. It’s that God wants us to have a child-like faith and trust in who he is. No pretence - just be real. Just as the children simply accepted Him that first Palm Sunday, so he invites you to today. 

Jesus was clearly recognised as the King of Israel (John 12:13). Within a week he would be crucified on a Roman cross with the title written above him ‘King of the Jews’. Jesus was a Jew and the Bible says that He was the Messiah that the Jews were looking for. He loved the Jewish people then and He loves them today. But right from His birth the Bible makes clear that Jesus was the king who came for all people (Luke 2:10; John 3:16). Jesus was on his way to shed his blood to save us all from all our sins and free us from the power of evil. To give each one of us real hope and a future.

Here then is a picture of what King Jesus is really like. He came as the humble King who invites us to come humbly into relationship with him. He is the children’s King and He’s the king for all. At first many wondered what to make of Jesus. In the end it came down to two reactions. Those who were against Jesus and tried to get rid of Him: religious elites, Roman rulers and others would not accept Jesus as having any claim to their lives or right to challenge their behaviour and control. They would not change. And so they set in process the events that led to Jesus suffering and being cruelly crucified. But others made the decision to be for Jesus and worship Him. Many understood who Jesus was and gladly worshipped Him. They saw that in Him lay the fulfilment of all their deepest hopes and desires. Despite being crucified, Jesus would not go away for the grave could not hold Him. He came back from the dead and one day He will come to earth to rule and reign for ever.  

Until he comes again, there is a choice to make: to receive Christ as King or to reject Him. Today, Palm Sunday, can be a day of complete change and transformation in your life, if you become a follower and worshipper of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:29). So today, do you take the decision to reject Jesus or receive Him?

It is said that the most common sin in our modern world is covetousness. But what is coveting? Covetousness is defined as an intense desire for anything (usually belonging to someone else) no matter what the cost. We see some simple points to further unpack this commandment.

1. Coveting Is Strictly Forbidden By God (Luke 12:15; Exodus 20:17)

2. Coveting Is Dangerous (James 1:14-15; James 4:1-2; Joshua 7:21; 2 Kings 5:20-27; 2 Samuel 11:1-4)

3. Coveting Must Be Conquered (Ecclesiastes 3:13 and 5:19; James 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; Philippians 4:11-13; Psalm 136:1; Proverbs 22:9; Psalm 51:10)

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1) Coveting Is Strictly Forbidden By God

This theme of greed is something that Jesus also warned about (Luke 12:15). The 10th commandment in Exodus 20:17 is very specific on things we should not covet: 

• Property: “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house.” Do you feel dissatisfied when you look at your neighbour’s bigger and more luxurious house? It used to be called “Keeping up with the Joneses”. It’s ok to want the best house for you and your family but when will you have enough and be satisfied? Are you always restless to have bigger and better property?

 • People: “You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant.” This is a very specific instruction: don’t desire your neighbour's wife, children or family. You must not do this. Don’t compare your family to others!  

 • Possessions: “…his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” Don’t desire your neighbour’s possessions: cars, latest phones, fancy gadgets, clothing, holidays - the list can go on. Today on social media, people are showcasing their possessions, holidays, food etc. When you spend a lot of time on these platforms, you start to compare your life to these supposedly “amazing” lives and feelings of dissatisfaction with your own life kick in. You get in a downward spiral of a constant desire to improve your body, experiences and possessions. This is serious stuff and a major contributor to mental health today - not just in young people but all ages. The fear of missing out (FOMO) is a widely recognized psychological phenomenon and can contribute to feelings of anxiety, stress, and dissatisfaction. This is what this commandment is warning us against.

2) Coveting Is Dangerous

Coveting develops into being a destructive force and start conflicts (James 1:14-15; James 4:1-2). The Bible shows us many different examples of the destructive nature of covetousness. When they entered Canaan, the Israelites were instructed not to take any plunder of the land for themselves. They successfully conquered the well-guarded city of Jericho. But then not long after they were totally beaten when they came to a much smaller place which they should have easily overcome, God told Joshua this was because some Israelites had sinned. Finally a man named Achan was found to be responsible. He admitted that in Jericho he saw a beautiful Babylonian robe, 200 shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold 50 shekels in weight that he “coveted,” took it all and hid it within his tent (Joshua 7:21). As Achan confesses his sin, he relates the process that led to his destruction: “I saw . . . I coveted . . . and took.” This is the same process that leads to many sins today. Other examples include Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:20-27 which resulted in him being struck with leprosy, and the great King David who caused himself, his family and nation great trouble which began when he coveted another man’s wife (2 Samuel 11:1-4). So as you can see in all these examples, covetousness has very real effects. It's highly destructive to individuals, to relationships and to our spiritual condition. It's very dangerous and this is why it is strictly forbidden by God.

3. Coveting Must Be Conquered

Coveting must be conquered, and it can be conquered. How? God gives us different remedies against covetousness in His word. 

- Understand what is really important: What’s important in life is not striving for things of this world. They are meant to help us live but are not to be the reason for living. We should understand that God will reward you as you live and work for Him. What we are and have are gifts from God Himself (Ecclesiastes 3:13, and 5:19).

- By being content: To appreciate what we have and be content, we must remember that all that we have and all that we are comes from God (James 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:6-11). The apostle Paul suffered and went without the comforts of life more than most people could imagine yet he knew the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:11-13). Contentment can exist no matter what circumstance you are facing, but just like Paul you must learn to be content whether you have a lot or a little.

- By always thanking God for what you have: Be grateful to God for what you have and find satisfaction in those blessings. Be thankful to God for His constant goodness and everlasting love (Psalm 136:1). Thankfulness moves our focus moves off selfish desires and helps us remember that God is in control. 

- By being a generous giver: Another way to avoid covetousness is to be a generous giver. That way money and possessions don’t stick to us. We hold them lightly and are prepared to part with them. The Bible is clear that the generous are remembered and rewarded (Proverbs 22:9). God is generous and expects us to follow His example, showing generosity to everyone as we have opportunity.

- By having a clean heart: If you have a covetous heart, today you can repent (Psalm 51:10). God makes our hearts clean. At the cross, the power that sin and rebellion had over us was broken and by the blood of Jesus and His blood carries constant purification and sanctification.

Today decide to ask for God’s help and not to ruin your life because of this sin of coveting. Decide to stop comparing, stop competing, stop striving and get your priorities right. Have a godly attitude to life. Don’t keep all the other commandments and fall down on this last one. With God’s help, you can keep all the commandments. And when you daily commit to living God’s way, which has been the big theme of this series, you will have the best life.

Series: Living God’s Way

Key Text: Exodus 20:16

Britain’s Prince Harry has written a new memoir called ‘Spare’ which will likely rank among the bestselling memoirs of all time. One of the reasons for this is that he spills the dirt, as they say, on Britain’s royal family. He makes many accusations that may or may not be true since, as the late Queen said, ‘recollections may vary.’ Consequently, and unsurprisingly, his negative words have caused great hurt and division and may have damaged family relationships beyond repair.

Words matter and they have great power to build or destroy, whether they come from the lips of a prince or from our own mouths. For we too each have to choose whether we will speak in a way that builds up or tears down. The Bible has a great deal to say about guarding our mouths and telling the truth (Proverbs 18:21; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 21:23).

As we continue our series on the Ten Commandments, we come to the ninth commandment which focusses on how we speak. We read in Exodus 20:16 that God commands that ‘you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.’ This is often shortened to, ‘You shall not lie.’ While this is true, it does not give the full picture of what this commandment is saying. For it covers a wider application of not speaking falsely about anyone. 

Not speaking falsely means that you must not give a false account. You must not lie about another person, you must not speak in such a way that you that gives an incorrect and damaging picture of another person, you must not gossip about another person, you must tell the truth (Exodus 23:1-3). The Bible contains several warnings against false witnesses who lie and spread false reports. Speaking in an untrue way against someone is a big deal.

1. God Hates Lying And False Testimony (John 8:44; Revelation 10:12; Proverbs 12:22; Proverbs 6:16-19)

2. Lying And False Testimony Are Very Destructive (Psalm 101:7; Psalm 24:2-3; Exodus 16:2-3)

3. Lying And False Testimony Will Be Judged By God (1 Kings 21; Acts 5; Proverbs 19:9; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:14-15; Colossians 3:9-10; Matthew 18:15-16; 1 Timothy 5:19; Ephesians 4:25,29; 1 Peter 3:10; Psalm 19:14)

Apply

1) God Hates Lying And False Testimony

God is a holy God. He is a God of truth and justice. It is impossible for Him to lie. There is nothing devious, dark or underhanded about Him. Satan, however, is the complete opposite (John 8:44; Revelation 10:12 AMP). Lying therefore is a work of the Devil. So, if you lie or speak falsely about someone you are actually doing the Devil’s work. When you unjustly accuse someone and damage their good name, you have become a spokesman or woman for the kingdom of darkness. Some religious people may think that to badmouth someone really isn’t so important when compared with other sins. But you would be very wrong. For God is not indifferent to any of this. In fact, He hates it (Proverbs 12:22; Proverbs 6:16-19 MSG). So if you have lied or gossiped about anyone or listened to negative talk behind people’s back, you need to understand just how displeasing this is to the Lord. 

2) Lying And False Testimony Are Very Destructive

- It’s destructive to individuals: starting with you personally. For lying and false testimony will erode your conscience since the more you do it the less you will worry about it. Lying and false testimony will ruin your character since you will become a more unfaithful person who doesn’t care about doing right. Not least lying and false testimony will block your relationship with God (Psalm 101:7; Psalm 24:2-3). Not only is false speech damaging to the person who gossips, it also poisons those who listen to it which is why you should distance yourself from those who are full of accusation and criticism. And it is destructive to the one on the receiving end of the negative words. Sadly, significant numbers of people have suffered depression or taken their lives because they could not take any more verbal assaults.

- It’s destructive to leaders: The kingdom of darkness does not want any kind of authority so that there can be disorder and chaos. Criticism and negative speech is one of the most commonly used weapons in Satan’s armoury against leaders. So many leaders, both political and spiritual, have suffered because of non-stop criticism (e.g. Margaret Thatcher). Moses, one of the greatest figures of history who led Israel from the slavery of Egypt, conquered the plagues of Egypt, but had a very tough job trying to overcome the plague of constant gossip against him (Exodus 16:2-3). Even Moses’s family, in particular his brother and sister, were criticising him. They knew that Moses was called and anointed by God, but they also felt that they were qualified to criticise him. That became very destructive. 

- It’s destructive to churches: A church remains strong when there is faithful speech towards the pastors, leaders and members. But it is weakened when a culture of criticism comes in. Sir Fred Catherwood wrote: ‘gossip is the curse of most churches.’ Gossip about other people is aimed to reduce their reputation and raise our own. When Pastor Billy Richards started this church, he insisted from the beginning that one of the values would be to have no gossip. All these years later let’s continue to be a church that always aims for the highest standards of speech and has zero tolerance for dishonouring words. 

- It’s destructive to communities and nations: So many people throughout history have suffered violence and death because of people telling lies (e.g. Emmett Till; the division of India/Pakistan; 14th century European Jews during the Black death; Hitler’s Holocaust; the whisper campaign towards the Arab’s before Israel’s War of Independence). Words matter, truth matters. Christians of all people should know just how important it is not to bear false witness. For it was because of false witnesses that the case was made to crucify Jesus. He who was the way, the truth and the life, was put to death on the basis of lies….lies that so called religious people were happy to spread.

3. Lying And False Testimony Will Be Judged By God

We see different examples of this in the Bible (1 Kings 21; Acts 5; Proverbs 19:9; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:14-15). All in pretty serious stuff showing us why we should be careful to obey the ninth commandment, for sooner or later God will judge those who lie and bear false witness. So if you are guilty of breaking this commandment you must:

- Repent: Stop lying. Stop gossiping about people and painting them in a bad light. Apologise to the Lord and where possible to the people you have damaged. Turn your back on this sinful way of speaking (Colossians 3:9-10).

- Resolve any issues in a godly way: If you have a problem with someone don’t talk about them, go and talk to them with a good attitude (Matthew 18:15-16) If you have a problem with a leader, then go to the leadership group responsible for the spiritual oversight of the church (1 Timothy 5:19). 

- Decide to speak positively not negatively: (Ephesians 4:25,29). If we live and speak this way, for sure we will have a blessed life (1 Peter 3:10; Psalm 19:14).

Not only is physical adultery condemned in the Bible, but throughout scriptures, the Bible warns against spiritual adultery. It is easy to be self-righteous and say that we have not committed adultery. But Jesus said in Matthew 5:27, “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” God wants us to avoid all forms of adultery so that we can live faithful lives and live with the security that we will not be betrayed. 

1. Guard Your Thoughts (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Corinthians 10:13)  

2. Guard Your Heart (Proverbs 4:23; John 8:1-11; Matthew 5:5) 

3. Guard Your Actions (Genesis 39:6-12; 1 Corinthians 6:18) 

Apply 

1. Guard Your Thoughts 

It is true that temptation is not a sin, but how we allow it to take root in our minds is of our own free will (Romans 12:2). As Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” Our thoughts grow, they come from our will and they determine our actions. King David’s affair with Bathsheba started from him not guarding his mind. He allowed his mind to wander. Intrigue and temptation got the better of him. King David - this strong, faithful, admired, honourable man - was weak in his mind. He had Bathsheba brought to him and he slept with her. From here stemmed many difficulties for King David. Our thoughts can lead to decisions that can bring blessing or destruction. Adultery begins to play itself on the stage of imagination before it occurs in real life. So, take action to guard your mind. If you want to be someone who lives in happiness and blessing and under God’s protection, it is important to chase purity and run from disaster. This means: Be careful of the things you look at; Don’t just watch anything on TV, even if it’s popular a lot of shows can be highly sexualised and crude; Think carefully about how you use social media. Ask God to show you if there is anything you have allowed into your mind that you shouldn’t have (2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Decide to guard your eyes, guard your conversations and guard your thoughts. 

2. Guard Your Heart 

There must be a higher level of purity because there is so much opposition to God’s perfect plan (Proverbs 4:23). Children are taught in school from a young age to act upon how they feel, instead of protecting their hearts and bodies. High profile people are loudly advocating for more sexual freedom and liberation, which can affect the views and standards of relationships. So called sexual freedom where no one gets hurt has resulted in great numbers getting hurt. Families are broken, hearts are broken, trust in other people is broken. So do not let your heart start loving what is not right to love. Samson in the Bible was a great man of God with the anointing of the spirit of God, but his heart was all over the place! He gave his heart to any women he fancied which resulted in him losing his favour, his strength, and ultimately his life. When King David acted upon the desires of his heart, instead of following God’s plan and direction, he allowed his heart to become hard and corrupt. He became desensitised to what was right and wrong. Instead of stopping at one bad act, after he slept with her, he then tried to cover his mistake with lies which led to Bathsheba’s husband dying, an unwanted pregnancy and a ripple effect of bad consequences. Once your heart is unprotected, it is hard to recover. The good news of the gospel however is that if you have made mistakes, whether big or small, God is a God of love and mercy. Jesus showed this when a woman who was caught in adultery was brought before him. When the teachers of the law expected him to punish her and condemn her, He showed compassion. When they all left, He did not condemn her but protected her and said “Go, and from now on do not sin any more” (Luke 8:1-11). Our actions have consequences. For this can bring about heavy pain, shame, humiliation, they can bring ruin to our future and our families. But there is a way out. When we really repent, God will show His grace and forgiveness. He can give us a new heart. Purity of heart is what we should all aim to have (Matthew 5:5). 

3. Guard Your Actions 

When somebody commits adultery, they decide that they’re going to act on their temptations, but you must decide that you will never commit the act of adultery (e.g. Joseph in Genesis 39:6-12). Joseph made the decision to continually say no. He had made it clear to Potiphar’s wife that sleeping with her would be wrong, but he had to act before an idea planted in the mind would resort to falling into sin. Joseph literally ran. He was clear on God’s standards for his life (1 Corinthians 6:18). Today, in this seventh commandment, God challenges us to decide to not commit adultery. Adultery is destructive in so many ways. God wants us to avoid pain, and to live lives of security and faithfulness. Today is the day to take action to guard your mind, heart and actions, and to live a faithful life. 

Title: Never Take Life 

Key Text: Exodus 20:13 

The 6th Command to not take life is very relevant in our world when there are so many killings in many ways. From the beginning, murder was one of the biggest marks against humanity when Cain murdered his brother. Taking life is a big issue that many people have experienced in one way or another. 

We may not think of ourselves as murderers, but Jesus defined it clearly in Matthew 5:21-22. Over time, the religious leaders had reduced the commandment to a mere technicality so they could say they were not guilty of it. In this verse Jesus makes it clear that God is not just looking at our outward actions, but also the condition of our hearts. In restoring the spirit of the sixth commandment, Jesus is telling us that the act of murder is rooted in unrighteous anger and deserves the same punishment.
 Jesus taught that the path to murder starts when you let anger grow in your heart.  And as Jesus points out, that kind of anger deserves judgement! Then there's unrighteous anger where we diminish others by calling them names or trash people by destroying their reputation. God is saying that all of those things are the same as taking someone's life. The murder weapon here is not an object, but words from our own mouths. God wants us to know that all life is precious to Him. 

1. Killing Is Absolutely Forbidden By God (Matthew 5:21-22; Genesis 4:3-8)  

2. Killing Will Be Judged By God (Romans 6:23; Numbers 35:6-34; Exodus 21:12; 1 Timothy 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:10) 

3. Killing Must Be Repented Before God (Ephesians 4:26-27; James 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:22-24,31) 

Apply 

1) Killing Is Absolutely Forbidden By God 

He is a God of life who commands that no one can take another’s life. It is because we have removed God’s law that life has been devalued, with killing even becoming part of our  entertainment. Pope John Paul II spoke of the emergence of a ‘culture of death’ in our society.
 That might sound extreme, until you look closely at what is happening in the world today in many areas: 

Euthanasia: There is increasing pressure for what is termed mercy killing (euthanasia). The current situation in the UK is that both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal under English law. 
Recently the Christian MP Danny Kruger has spoken out in the UK Parliament, warning the government not to go down the same road as Cannada, which has come under much criticism over horror stories emerging as a result of their government policies, including: plans to euthanise people with mental health conditions; cases where people have been euthanised as they have chosen death rather than go into poverty; and people with disabilities coming under pressure to choose assisted suicide, including a Paralympian being offered it rather than having a stairlift installed in their home. 

You can read more about this on the care.org.uk website: https://care.org.uk/news/2023/02/christian-mp-speaks-out-against-assisted-suicide 

It is so important that we as believers are awake to what is happening in our world so that people can be held accountable before God for these actions. 

Suicides: 5,583 suicides were registered in 2021 in England and Wales. You do not have the right to take your own life. It is a gift to be cherished. To take your own life is effectively self-murder. As believers we have a huge responsibility to be the light in a dark world so people can know that Jesus is there for them.  

Wars: Obviously wars cause many deaths which is why wars must be avoided wherever possible. It is disturbing that in the war in Ukraine, ordinary civilians are being killed as though they were military targets. 

Abortions: Abortion is a very difficult subject, and we have no wish to bring condemnation. But the facts are that in the years since the Abortion Act came into effect in 1968, up to April 2022, an estimated 9,900,961 unborn babies have lost their lives to abortion in England, Wales and Scotland. 
Nearly 10 million babies have lost the opportunity to be alive with us. That represents lost generations. In 2020, at least one baby was lost every two and a half minutes, or 25 lives every hour. It has been said that the most unsafe place to be in this world is the womb. It is a matter of great concern for Christians to not just see the facts but to see that we have got to represent a different culture. 

Crime: One of the tragedies in London right now is that so many young people are being killed. In 2022, 106 teenagers were murdered, with black people in London 3 times more likely to be murdered than other ethnic groups. 

Increasingly life is being devalued. As Christians we have a responsibility to value life and to share these values in society. They are based on the absolute and unchanging standards of God. 

2) Killing Will Be Judged By God 

God is a just judge (Romans 6:23). In the Old Testament there were cities of refuge for those who accidentally took life. That was to protect the life of the innocent and avoid revenge killings (Numbers 35:6-34). But God will judge where there has been deliberate killing whether pre- meditated in cold blood or in an argument or temporary anger e.g. through drunkenness or road rage (Exodus 21:12; 1 Timothy 1:9). Sometimes murderers seem to get away with it. Maybe they were never found or brought to trial. Maybe the law courts didn’t deliver justice. Maybe, like so many Nazis who ran death camps, they hid and were never prosecuted. But be sure of this: ALL will one day be judged by God (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

3) Killing Must Be Repented Before God 

This includes both actual killing and unrighteous anger. Maybe you need to repent of actual killing. Murder is such a destructive awful experience. We must repent of murder in all its forms. If it applies to you, you must repent of this sin and turn to Christ. You can do that today and he will receive you. Jesus was put to death, falsely accused, and died in our place so that you could be forgiven and healed. Jesus took the judgement deserved by the whole world upon himself so for that reason he can give us a new heart and mind that is free of this sin if we ask for his forgiveness and turn from it. But for most people, the big issue is to get rid of your anger. You can’t be angry in your marriage, family, workplace or in the community. Are you easily tempted to strike back when offended or seek revenge? 
Have we genuinely forgiven everyone that has offended us from the heart? Is there anger in your home? When you keep anger in your heart, you give the enemy a foothold from which he can use you to attack those close to you. You need to repent, to let go of your anger and seek God’s forgiveness for it (Ephesians 4:22-31; James 1:19-20). God has given every believer a new nature through the cross, but we must each make the decision to stand in that nature
. This means we are empowered to be different. It means that every day we’re going to put off our old self and put on our new self and not make excuses for our bad behaviour. Anger is at the root of murder, where we say we’re going to destroy people, put them down and get even with them (Ephesians 4:31). One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control, so if there’s anger, it needs to be rooted out by repentance, where we cry out to God so we can live in our new nature free of the control of anger. When we repent, God can make us softer and more loving towards people.  

Title: Honour Your Father and Mother 

Key Text: Deuteronomy 5:16 

The fifth commandment is an unambiguous order about how we should treat our parents. To honour someone means to regard them with great respect. Honouring is in the very nature of God, and we see that in the family-like structure of the Trinity, with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, we have the great example of Jesus who whole-heartedly obeyed and did the will of His father, and did only what He saw his father do (John 6:38). Jesus also honoured Mary and Joseph, His parents on earth (Luke 2:51). At the end of His life, He committed his whole life and His spirit into the hands of His father God. Jesus, powerful as He was, always had this submissive, gentle, and humble attitude. The apostle Paul also teaches in the New Testament about the importance of honouring the spiritual authority over our lives (1 Corinthians 4:15). 

In our world today, this is certainly a controversial topic, but this law has been contested and struggled with by every generation since the birth of mankind. We as Christians need to ensure that we continue to maintain God's order by obeying His commandments.  

Honouring Is God’s Design (Matthew 19:17-19; Matthew 15:4) 

Honouring Bring Blessing To Your Life (Ruth 1:16) 

Honouring Blesses Generations Of Families (1 Timothy 3:4-5; Malachi 4:5-6) 

Apply 

1) Honouring Is God’s Design  

Honouring your mother and father is not a human idea or optional opinion. It is the will of God for every son and daughter to respect and honour their parents. Our parents are the people who gave us life: without them, we would not be here. In some cultures, there is a high value placed on respecting one’s parents and elders. But in many cultures, this principle is treated like a tradition that is no longer relevant. In society today, we see many children unashamedly defying their parents, showing no respect, and rebelling against them. This command applies to young children but also to adults. As Christians, it is in our Christian culture to love and honour our parents and we should not neglect this command. It is the heart of God to restore families where there is disunity. Jesus said: “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments… Honour your father and mother and love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 19:17-19; Matthew 15:4). We can honour our parents by: telling them we love them showing appreciation for the sacrifices many parents have made; speak well of your parents; doing a chore for them; showing love to your siblings; and by being teachable and humble and ask them for their opinion or advice. As we get older, the relationship between parents and children changes and at a later stage, children have the privilege of supporting and taking care of their parents in their old age. Honouring keeps families together and connected. 

2) Honouring Brings Blessing To Your Life 

This is the first commandment that comes with a promise: “...so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” The prior 4 commandments are just commands. This one contains an amazing promise of prosperity and longevity! Through the principle of honouring, God pours out favour, blessing and wisdom. But this is difficult to do if someone has had a traumatic or upset childhood. It is a choice to decide to live God’s way, despite our feelings or experiences. Honouring our parents is not conditional. We don’t always have to like or agree with what our parents do, but honouring is a spiritual state of trusting God for the authority He has placed in your life. This means that we really love and obey God, and this is shown in our respect for our parents. The opposite is dishonouring, when we disrespect our parents, don’t acknowledge them as the ascendants God has put in our lives and when we choose to disobey . Of course, no child should ever be coerced or made victim to wrong things like abuse or neglect: children should be protected. But what we are talking about today is an attitude of the heart. We see this promise come true in the life of Ruth, who chose to follow and honour her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:16). There are many biblical examples to show how God always honours those who honour. 

3) Honouring Blesses Generations Of Families 

This commandment not only teaches us to honour our parents as children; it also suggests that a mother and father are honourable. This command sets the standard for children, and it also calls each one of us to a higher level of righteousness to live a respectable life. This is a great challenge for us as parents. In everything we do, we are modelling how to live. We set an example to our children, which becomes a culture and a legacy that is passed on. In the Bible we see how blessings and curses continue through generations. One generation that honours their parents and obeys God’s commands grows up and teaches their children the same values (1 Timothy 3:4-5). We cannot force honour; we are all called to act “in a manner worthy of full respect.” And this is the starting point to build leaders for the kingdom of God, families set apart for the Lord and generations that walk in His purposes. It all starts in the home family (Malachi 4:5-6). This teaching, when applied, can bring great revival, and can bring a great move of God. There is such a breakdown of society but when generations start to come together, when fathers love their children and the hearts of the fathers, which may be very hard, turn back to the children and the children to the fathers and mothers, then we can really see great restoration. Today let’s examine our hearts, seeing where we need to change and where we need to show more honour. 

We are continuing our series “Living God’s Way” looking at the 4th commandment which God gave Moses, telling him to ‘Keep the Sabbath Day Holy’. Both the principle and the practice of resting comes directly from God as part of His 10 Commandments, modelling to us how to live the best life. The Sabbath day is not something as a killjoy command here, but something commanded because God has our best interests at heart and wants to bless us in every way. Rest is at the heart of Christianity. 

In a world where we are constantly busy and running from one task to the next, the Sabbath provides us with an opportunity to slow down, recharge, and refocus our hearts and minds on God. Perhaps we feel we are too busy or have too many needs to take a day off and rest. Yet as we do, we will see how we flourish spiritually and in every other way, and in turn can be a blessing to others too. 

1. God Shows Us How To Rest (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 31:17; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 127:2; Mark 2:27-28) 

2. God Wants Us To Rest In Him (Exodus 20:10; Exodus 33:14; Jeremiah 31:25; Matthew 11:28-29) 

3. We Will Be Blessed And Bless Others As We Rest (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Samuel 2:30) 

Apply

1) God Shows Us How To Rest 

It’s quite something to think that the Lord God Almighty Himself took a day off (Genesis 2:2-3)! But that’s what the Bible teaches: God stopped and took a day to rest and enjoy all He had made (Exodus 31:17). Where we see that God worked then rested, we should too (Genesis 1:27). In our modern society of constant drivenness for further productivity, greater wealth, more efficiencies and maximising our time, it is important that we have one day a week where we change our normal routines to rest and refocus on God (Psalm 127:2). We need the Sabbath otherwise God would not have made it for us (Mark 2:27-28). Maybe for you the Sabbath is rest from paid employment. Or maybe if you’re working hard to maintain a home and look after the kids all week, it’s a day where you don’t do as many chores but prioritise family time together and with the Lord instead. Whatever your individual circumstances, the principle God sets for us is that first we work, then we rest. 

2) God Wants Us To Rest In Him 

Both Christians and non-Christians would agree that it’s important to rest. And as Christians, we see God commanded it and we should partake in it. The way Christians and non-Christians live most days of the week may not outwardly appear too different. But on the seventh day, there should be a noticeable difference (Exodus 20:10). The Sabbath isn’t a day to just fill with our leisure pursuits, but a day set apart as holy to the Lord so we can be fully refreshed in spirit as well as physically. Keeping the Sabbath holy is a way of demonstrating our love and obedience to God. It is a way of putting Him first and acknowledging that He is the source of all blessings we enjoy. Now we mustn’t fall into the trap that the Pharisees and religious Jewish leaders did of making this command to rest equate to a list of rules and regulations. Out of this one command, they made 1521 further rules of what you weren’t allowed to do on the Sabbath! But whilst our recreations can become distractions from the pressures and problems of life, they become like gods to us when we value them over time with the Lord. For some, like those in the emergency services, sometimes the Sabbath day cannot be a Sunday, but then it is important to take another day in the week to also set apart. But for those who can, and that is the majority of us, we should do all we can to enjoy the Sabbath as a holy day, a day set apart to worship God. In the Bible, God repeatedly told His people thatreal refreshing comes from Him (Exodus 33:14; Jeremiah 31:25; Matthew 11:28-29). So how important is it for you to experience refreshing, worship and fellowship in the presence of God as part of your Sabbath rest each week? Is there anything that stops you, or matters more to you than having the sabbath as a holy day set apart to God? It is in the presence of God where you can find real rest: body, soul and spirit. More than simply distracting us from our reality, there is nothing and no one else who can revitalise our whole being, minister to every need and permanently remove every burden like God can. 

3) We Will Be Blessed And Bless Others As We Rest 

When we follow God’s instructions through the Ten Commandments, we help bring the Kingdom of heaven on earth. Whether or not people choose to follow the Ten Commandments, they still exist, including this command to rest, because God wants to bring His Kingdom here on earth as we live God’s way (Hebrews 10:24-25). We come to church to worship God, to be renewed in our perspectives and helped to take the God-given view of ourselves and the world. It’s where we can be reminded that we are spiritual beings, made in the image of God the Creator, and be encouraged and stimulated in our faith. It’s an opportunity where, no matter your home and personal circumstances, on this one day a week we can come together across all the different generations, backgrounds and ethnicities to worship and fellowship with our church family. And as we fellowship with one another, we are refreshed and we in turn refresh others. As well as enjoying time as a church family, it’s so important to also take time to enjoy in your own families as well.  When did you last have a leisurely meal together as a family at the table, no phones or devices, just enjoying one another’s company? Maybe today could be that day! Obeying the Lord’s command means we will set an example of enjoying a healthy work/life balance, of not being stressed and burned out but flourishing in life by living God’s way. Would you be a kinder, more generous individual if you had a little more rest in your life? You and your family, colleagues, neighbours and even complete strangers would all be blessed if you really encountered the Lord as part of your rest time each week! So what’s stopping you? Is there fear of missing out: in your finances by not working, of promotion in your sports team by choosing church over a match? Or maybe have you just not prioritised taking time out. Just as with Olympian Eric Liddell, so too the Lord will honour us when we keep to His principles (1 Samuel 2:30). So what adjustments do we need to make so we have one day which is different? Where we don’t go into business, but where we focus on fellowship with God, where we focus on restoration of our spirit and time with the family. Let’s make this a priority in our lives and we will find we have much more energy for the six other days. And God will give us His grace to do it.  Let’s line up with Him to see His best. 

Series: Living Gods Way 

Title: Respect God’s Name (You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in Vain) 

Key Text: Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21 

As we continue our series called “Living Gods Way” we will be looking at the 3rd of the 10 Commandments which is that ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in Vain.’ This commandment, which can be found in both in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, is far more significant and relevant than we may imagine. For names matter. They speak of identity, value and reputation. It is a serious business when someone trashes another person’s reputation and tries to give them a bad name. But that’s exactly what so many people do in relation to God’s name, which is why this commandment insists that we should not take the name of the Lord in Vain. 

Today, taking the name of Jesus Christ a word of cursing, has become an epidemic.  The word vain (as it’s rendered in the ESV) can mean “empty,” “nothing,” “worthless,” or “to no good purpose.” We are forbidden, therefore, from taking the name of God (or taking up the name or bearing the name, as the phrase could be translated) in a manner that is wicked, worthless, or for wrong purposes. Let’s look at some key lessons to learn in regard to this commandment.  

Be Sure To Respect God’s Name (Jeremiah 10) 

Be Sure To Use God’s Name Correctly (Exodus 20:5, Isaiah 42:8, Matthew 6:24) 

Be sure to understand the power of God’s name (Psalm 139, Joshua 24:23) 

Apply 

1) Be Sure To Respect God’s Name 

This applies to both Christians and non-Christians. Don’t use the name of Jesus or Christ for no good purpose. Some people may say, it’s just a saying I don’t mean any harm by it. Well, it may not always be the intent for people to offend God, but our words matter. They have power. They show how great or otherwise is our respect for God. Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

We should have absolute reverence for the name of God. Throughout the bible the name of the Lord is exalted in the highest possible terms. Philippians 2:9 says: “His name is a name above all names.” Psalm 1:8 says “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”. Deuteronomy 28:58 it says, “You must respect the glorious and wonderful name of the Lord.” And of course, in the first part of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6: 9 Jesus teaches us to begin with “Hallowed (or greatly revered/honoured) be your name”  

2) Be sure to use God’s name carefully 

The Old Testament identifies several ways in which the third commandment can be violated. Most obvious is to blaspheme or curse the name of God. The third commandment also forbids empty or false oaths: Leviticus 19:12: “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord” In the New Testament Jesus tells us in Matthew 5: But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. 

Now there is another way when we may be guilty of using God’s in a careless way…for giving false visions and false claims to speak on God’s behalf. Such prophets, says Jeremiah 23:25 “prophesy lies in my name”. Unfortunately, many False prophets/preachers have claimed that they have a word from God in order to extort money, gain power, fame etc. We should be careful in our own speech and not just lightly say ‘God told me.’ So many times, people use God’s name to try to give credibility to their own views and opinions. 

3) Be sure to understand the power of God’s name 

There is such power in the Name of Jesus and the more we realize the authority of the name we will see many more salvations and miracles. Acts 4:12 says: there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”. Paul states in Romans 10:13 that ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Miracles happen when we understand the power of the name of Jesus. Jesus said in Mark 16:17 says: These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 

A great miracle happened to a man who had been unable to walk when Peter declared as recorded in Acts 3:6 “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”. Yes, there is great power in the name of Jesus but there is great danger if you misuse His name. Acts 19:-16 says: “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 

4) Be sure to promote the good name of God 

Never be ashamed of the name of Jesus. Don’t just talk generally about the Christian faith, talk about Jesus. Do what the early disciples did. In Acts 5 it tells us how the apostles even having been persecuted, imprisoned and set free by the Lord continued to speak of and exalt the name of Jesus.  

The religious complained to the disciples in Acts 5:28: “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.’ 

Declare the name of Jesus everywhere. In a world where the name of Jesus is dragged down lift up His name by declaring the good news of Jesus, the Saviour, the deliverer, the Lord of all, the light and hope of the world. The Holy Spirit will work with us as we do this and be sure of this that the day in soon coming when as Philippians 2:10-11 says: at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’  

Series: Living Gods Way 

Title: Don’t be an Idol Worshipper (You shall make no idols) 

Key Text: Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 4:15 

The commandments, far from being negative and destructive, actually provide the strongest foundation for living for individuals, families and nations. As has been seen so many times in history, they guard our freedoms and save us from pain and oppression. 

This is what it says in Exodus 20:4-5: 4 ‘You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them…’ 

In Deuteronomy 4 Moses expands on it. You might imagine that having seen the power of the one true God of Israel deliver them from Egypt and bring them through the Red Sea, that of course God’s people wouldn’t have any other gods or make any images of other gods. But incredibly the Israelites so quickly turned from worshipping God to worshiping idols. The early Christian scholar Origen (of Alexandria) described idolatry like this: “What each one honours before all else, what before all things he admires and loves, this for him is God.” 

So many things in life that can be a blessing, can also take the place of God in our hearts and replace him as our priority in life. 

This command to have no idols was not given to spoil our freedom of choice, but to protect us from devoting our lives and focussing our lives on anything that ultimately replaces God. 

I want to share three reasons why you mustn’t worship idols. 

1. The one true God is a living being not a created thing (Jeremiah 10) 

2. The one true God has no rival or equal (Exodus 20:5, Isaiah 42:8, Matthew 6:24) 

3. Only the one true God can satisfy your heart (Psalm 139 , Joshua 24:23) 

Apply 

J John explained in his book ‘God’s Top Ten’ that when something becomes your reason for living, you have effectively bowed down to it. It could be an object, but it might be something 

quite different. Is there something you are always pursuing: a perfect home, the latest car, your next promotion? 

He writes: “those deep desires … show what really is the most important thing in our lives. And that is the place where God should be, the most important, most all-consuming passion. Anything that is there instead of him is an idol.” 

1. The one true God is a living being not a created thing 

There’s a big difference between God and idols. God is alive but idols are lifeless. Idols are literally dumb! Listen to contrast between God and idols. The prophet Jeremiah warned Israel time and again to throw away idols that are blind, deaf, mute and so worthless that they have to be nailed down to stop them from toppling over. (Jeremiah 10) These verses highlight the utter foolishness of worshipping an idol. Idols are no comparison to God. 

We have invited much cleverer and more entertaining idols to look at than a carved block of wood – for example smart phones, smart TVs, tablets, and games consoles. They may seem a lot more useful than a statue, but that doesn’t stop them from being idols. 

So what are you looking at? Seriously. Are you watching anything that you shouldn’t be? 

How much of your time and relationship with God have you short-changed for social media, news, games, images? You’re here now, watching this, so it can’t be all bad, but what draws your heart and where are you trying to find your satisfaction? 

• Do you put church on hold every time there’s a busy period in your academic studies, because getting the best grades and academic accolades is always the highest priority in your life? 

• Do you work all hours to pursue bonuses and promotions because money and power are the two things that always make you feel most fulfilled? 

• Do you chase endlessly after possessions, property, relationships or social events for a buzz of contentment and satisfaction? 

2. The one true God has no rival or equal 

Exodus 20:5 (GNT) says: “Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals.” 

Isaiah 42:8: "I alone am the LORD your God. No other god may share my glory; I will not let idols share my praise.” 

There is nothing and no-one that has any right or authority to take his place in your life. It’s not that God’s insecure about power-sharing. God is holy and the only being worthy of worship. But also, He is supremely faithful and to have a relationship with him demands that we are also faithful. 

Marriage gives us a good illustration of this. Good marriages are based on exclusive commitment to one another. It is the same with God. Worshipping idols is like taking other lovers and betraying your relationship with God. 

Jesus specifically mentioned money as one of the biggest potential rivals to loving God. Money must never be an idol in your life. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 

3. Only the one true God can truly satisfy your heart 

Blaise Pascal described it like this: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” 

The most important reason we must not allow any idols to take first place in our lives, is that they rob and distract us from the most perfect relationship imaginable. 

There is a God in heaven who knows you by name. He created you for relationship with himself and loves you more than anyone on earth. 

Psalm 139 describe how deeply he knows and cares for us, saying 

… you know me. 

… you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

… you are familiar with all my ways. 

There is no relationship in the universe that can compare to a relationship with your Father in Heaven. Don’t want to waste your life on things that don’t matter. Make a decision to get rid of them of any idols in your life. As Joshua said in Joshua 24:23 NLT ‘Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”’ 

And then commit to obeying this commandment and to knowing the living God who loves you and who has the power to save you just as he delivered the Israelites from Egypt. Let’s pray. 

If you want to know the one true God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, then you can today. Please pray with me: Lord Jesus thank you for your great love for me. Thank you that because you suffered and died on the cross, I can be saved from all my sins. So please cleanse me and help me to follow you always and love you with all my heart. Amen. 

Series: Living God’s Way 

Title: You Shall Have No Other God's Before Me

Key Text: Exodus 20:1-3 

We begin our new preaching series called ‘Living God’s Way’ as we learn how to ‘Build on the best foundation’. Over the coming week’s we will be focusing on the most famous rules God has given to guard and guide the world. They are known as the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments have shaped history and formed the very basis of western civilisation. They represent the core Biblical principles on ethics and worship in Judaism and Christianity. 

The text of the Ten Commandments, given by God on stone tablets and handed to Moses in the Sinai desert, appears twice in the Bible in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. God regarded these laws are so fundamental for his people to grasp, that he personally inscribed them onto stone tablets – signifying their importance as an unchanging truth that will endure forever. 

God Sets The Rules (Exodus 20:1) 

God's Rules Are For Good (Exodus 3; Exodus 2:1-2) 

God Calls Us To Live By His Rules (Deuteronomy 5:1-7; Matthew 22:37-38) 

Apply 

The Ten Commandments are very relevant for each and every one of us. 

They apply to Christians: Just because they appear in the Old Testament doesn’t mean that they have been abolished because of the New Testament. To receive the grace of God doesn’t mean that we should not follow the moral laws of God. Jesus emphasised the importance of the Ten Commandments (Matthew 5:17). God’s law sets the standard for us to live by and shows us how much we need His help when we fail.  

They apply to non-Christians: God chose Israel to be ‘a light to the nations.’ In other words, they were to be the standard bearers of God’s righteous principles showing all peoples how to live in good relationship with God and one another. John Wesley, along with a great many other Bible based Christians, understood that Old Testament ceremonial law was abolished through Christ. But he declared that the moral law, which is contained in the Ten Commandments, still stands for all times. In Wesley's Sermons, Vol. I, Sermon 25 he said: Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind in all ages, as not depending either on time or place, nor on any other circumstances liable to change.’  

Today, however, all over the world there is a great spiritual battle being fought over the importance and relevance of the Ten Commandments. This battle, one way or another, will affect every one of us whether young or old and every part of life and society. So, in cultures and nations, where so many now reject all rules and restraints, we should be clear on what the Bible actually teaches about the Ten commandments. 

God sets the rules  

Exodus 20:1 says ‘…and God spoke all these words. 

The Bible teaches that there is a God and He has spoken to human being about how to live. He gave Ten Commandments. He did not make ten suggestions. He set absolute standards that are not to be changed by anyone and for anyone’s person interest. He did this because he is far superior in His wisdom, character and power to any man or woman. He called and He calls the shots because He is the ultimate authority overall over the heavens and the earth. He sees the big picture. So do you accept there being a supreme God who has the authority who declares what is right and wrong about morality? Or do you, in effect want to become god and do whatever you want and make up your own laws?  

As Charles Colson points out in his book Against the Night/living in the New Dark ages that if there is no God and no absolute standards then ‘ethical judgements become merely expressions of feeling or preference. Murder is wrong must be translated ‘I hate murder or I prefer that you not murder. Thus moral claims are reduced to the level of opinion.’1 

One He decided to reject the Commandments, he felt free to do whatever he wanted. He set himself up as god and was worshipped as such for a time. 

As Christians we need to see the importance of the teaching of the Ten Commandments for the wellbeing of individuals, families and nations. With them they form a sure foundation for society. Without them trouble, division and collapse will inevitably follow. 

Gods rules are for our good 

Well who is this God who sets the rules? Is He some mean and nasty tyrant who wants to enslave you? Actually, it is the complete opposite. He is the God who wants you to live in freedom. When human beings set themselves as God and refuse to be accountable to any absolute standards, they become self-interested oppressors and exploiters. 

But they the Bible says that God saw the great misery of the Hebrews slaves under the Egyptian tyrant Pharaoh. He told Moses (Exodus 3:7). And that is what God reminds them of as an introduction to the 10 Commandments. Exodus 20:1-2 says: And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

Before he lays out the Ten Commandments God reminds them of His great compassion and faithfulness towards them. When no one else cared for them in Egypt, the Lord did. When no one else could help them, the Lord intervened on their behalf. When they could see no way out of their captivity, He set them free. 

The Lord wanted them to remember that all He had done for them. All that He is going to say to them with the commandments is because He, like no one else has their best interests at heart. Particularly for people who have experienced a negative religious background it is so important to understand the context of the rules God sets out for His people and the world. It all flows from a heart of amazing love. 

Billy Graham stated: "God didn't give us the Ten Commandments … because He hates us and wants to make our lives miserable, God loves us, and just as a loving parent won't let their child wander into the traffic, so God loves us too much to sit back and watch us destroy ourselves." 

God calls us to live by his rules 

Deuteronomy 5: 1-7 says: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. Let’s just look at what we must do in relation to the Ten Commandments. We must… 

Know the commandments….hear what God has said.  

Learn them….memorise them 

Put them into practice: obey.  

And the first and greatest commandment is this…. ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ Every other commandment flows from this commandment. 

In Egypt there had been many gods, gods worshipping the sun, the earth, the sky and animals of kinds. But all of them were false gods, empty gods, gods who were powerless against the intervention of the one true God. And the Lord was saying to the Israelites don’t have anything to do with any other so called god. Don’t put your trust in them. Break totally with the culture of Egypt. Just stay focussed on me. Stay dependant on me. I am your hope. I am your deliverer. I have been faithful to you now be sure to be faithful to me. 

Today that challenge still rings out for every Christian. Don’t let your lives be ruled by the gods of today: sport, money, fame, sex, work, status, science, education etc. All these are false gods that will fail you. Just come close to me. (Matthew 22:37-38)