Notes from my sermon on the 14th of October 2018 the value of Wisdom.

The value of wisdom

Ecclesiastes 10 verse 10 of the new living translation

“Using a dull axe requires great strength so sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom it helps you Succeed.”

Knowledge is not wisdom unless it is in applied in the godly way.

We all have access to various forms of knowledge whether its the internet or its books in a library.

These resources can give us well informed instructions on succeeding in the things we do in life.

But it's no use having knowledge if it is not understood and applied.

As Christians we can ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the meaning of scriptures we do not understand.

Having a Bible will not help us succeed if we leave it on the shelf do not read it or we do not do what it says we should do. It's like being a warrior who goes into the thick of battle with his with his sword in its scabbard Expecting to win a fight without a drawn sword.

It's also like expecting forgiveness without repentance.

Wisdom God's wisdom can seem foolishness to men even the gospel is foolishness to those not being saved. That's right God can ask you to do something that sounds ridiculous.

 He told Ezekiel to eat bread bake on human poo not just for one day but for 390 days whilst lying on its side in front of a model of the siege of Jerusalem. Fortunately, Ezekiel spoke to God and he said he could bake it with cow poo instead.

Ezekiel 4:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.

When David Faced Goliath with a sling and a stone the giant mocked him – yet it was David who succeeding by holding up the severed head of the Goliath removed with the giant’s sword.

1 Samuel 17:42-44 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴² sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. ⁴³ “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

Success is not having accumulated great wealth after all there are many self-confessed man and women who have sold their souls to the evil one. But even this is foolishness for you cannot sell something that does not belong to you in the 1st place since Jesus Christ was crucified and paid the Devils ransom for all the souls of men.

Success is not having the most beautiful wife beauty is only skin deep, but ugliness comes from the heart.

Success is not being president nor having the biggest company, we can't take our riches with us when we die nor, can we take our status because God is no respecter of persons.

But don't get me wrong God can surely make you rich if he wants too, give you a beautiful wife and make you president. But things are not the measure of success.

If we apply wisdom we will have treasure in heaven.

Matthew 6:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

 I remember having a job interview and the person interviewing me told me I just want to be successful at the time I did not give him the answer to my regret.

But that was then today I am here to Tell you what success is living in the will of God.

For example, look at Joseph he lived life by honouring God in obedience to his wisdom, he lived in the will of God, he walked the will of God, and spoke the will of God.

He was the best son some may think him a tell-tale and a boaster, but he was responsible he told his father the truth and did not hide the truth to his father but to his cost in respect of his brothers.

He was sold into slavery by his brothers, but he became the best Slave his master could have he ran the whole household Except his master's wife.

When he refused to sin, and as a result he was thrown in jail but despite that he became the best prisoner and ran affairs of the whole prison. When the time came he used his gift of interpretation and gave both a good report to one and bad report to another he was forgotten. But when the time came news of his gift reached pharaoh he became prime minister of Egypt his obedience to the will of God meant that his life was responsible for the deliverance of not just of Egypt but the whole region, his own family and nation.

Who wants to be a joseph?

Why is success so important well when you live in the will of God and do what he tells us today there are rewards in this life and the next. The cost of disobedience in the face of temptation with Potiphar’s wife would have meant the starvation and the collapse of a whole region.

Recently I paid the price for not listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit he told me in my heart I should manage my money better. But I didn't Obey I spent some money on buying a computer game and some cokes. The folly in this is I now have less money for my other responsibilities. So ignoring wisdom will cost you.

So, when God gives us knowledge it not only benefits us it benefits everyone. Receiving instructions from God can sound strange and carrying them out can be painful and difficult at the times – but in the long term and in eternity its more than worth it a million times over don’t let selfishness disappoint you so It’s better to obey God than fear or please man. 

I believe there are a few Josephs here today?

Many people don’t take risks and say its unwise, but faith is all about taking risks. Jesus did say I am going out into all the earth to preach the gospel no he commissioned us too. So, don’t think you are not a messenger of the Good news. Or its someone else’s job to speak the truth.

Often its easy when trouble comes to say why me? The Holy spirit said to me’ why Joseph?

 Joseph's journey with destiny started by being sold as a slave for telling the truth yet that's not how his life ended with God.

Jesus had to become a man in order to pay our ransom and he had to be crucified to be glorified.

Joseph was a slave and slaves are expected 2 obey orders and whose slaves, are we? Are we not slaves to righteousness?

God has given us the tools of wisdom God has given us knowledge and he's given us the spirit of truth to guide us. The bible is a weapon of spiritual warfare designed to get men’s hearts to consider eternity.

But the truth is powerless if we do not apply to our lives and personally to the way we walk. But the truth will always be there to tell us I told you so.

God says live within your means, but I said no and wasted money on computer games and coke.

What do we think God will say if I claim I did not know the prices were going up this week?

He will say but my spirit warned you to be more responsible with your money, its now your fault you don’t have enough.

One day he will ask me and all of us, what did you do with what I gave you?

Did you read your Bible?

Did you do what it says?

Did you obey my spirit?

These are the questions we don't want to face. We who have knowledge the knowledge of God and of salvation have no excuse we will not be able to argue with God's judgment of not applying knowledge, that he has given us to succeed. God did not give us the bible to fail he gave us the bible to help us succeed.

Joshua 1:8-9

⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

So, what is the good news it's so distressing well if we apply the knowledge God will reward us he will say well done good and faithful son or daughter. I gave you $10 and you have returned $1,000,000. I saved your soul and I turned your heart and you turned the hearts of many.

Matthew 25:21

²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

You’re not alone God wants to help you succeed.

Bruce said at the beginning of the week that he spoke to a policeman he said “you know God loves you don’t you?”

Now who wouldn't want to hear that?

     We cannot Blame the evil one 4 giving into temptation we can only blame him for temptation. But if we sin we must take responsibility for our actions. What use is the word of God if we don't use it to fight the good fight.

 If we blame the devil for our sins, God will say it was not the devil's fault I gave you a sword to fight the devil and those who follow him did you not use it? and I gave you armour did you not wear it?  The armour of God Is putting on character of Jesus Christ The Lord.

Thankfully God will never put us through temptations trials or difficulties we cannot handle or overcome.

We cannot say it's OK for people to practice things that God has told us, he will not allow those who do them into his Kingdom. That is those who practice things like lying, adultery, fornication, Homosexuality, Witchcraft, Worshiping other Gods and Extortion.

We cannot do these things and expect God to give us the promised eternal life.

 God has faith in his people because he said in the old testament my people are perishing through lack of knowledge.

   God has now given us the knowledge that we need He knows we can be successful and be wise by applying that knowledge to our lives. So, lets fear God, be prepared to tell people the truth even if its uncomfortable and let’s not be foolish let’s apply the knowledge God has given us in our lives for this is the value of wisdom it brings us success. Let’s help each other by having the strength to tell truth to each other.

With God there is forgiveness of sin through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, that he paid our ransom in his blood by his crucifixion and the repentance of our sin.

The Bible says there is forgiveness with God that he may be feared.

So, if we humble ourselves and pray, repenting of our sins by confessing to God will forgive us, repentance is humbly accepting we have sinned and there by agreeing with God, saying sorry and turning our back on those things that offend him.

It's very clear in in the gospel what the fruits of repentance is, when Jesus visited the house of a tax collector the tax collector paid back all the money he stole and 4 times as much back to those he benefited from by extortion. Jesus said today Salvation has come to his home. When Jesus salvation is in your house then it is clear to everyone.

 The sad things is the people who said they were God’s servants were the very ones who put Jesus through an illegal trial and made sure he was executed, they were the people Jesus said didn’t practice what they preached.

Matthew 23:2-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

² “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.^{[a] 3} So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.

To benefit from knowledge and to be successful we must apply it to our lives, otherwise it just takes up space in our homes gathering dust can we cannot expect to be successful in living out Our fathers will for our lives if we don’t do what the truth says. True Prosperity is living in God's will, it’s not having all the richest things in the world. Wisdom is not effective unless it is applied.

Ecclesiastes 12 verse 13 says,

“That's the whole story, this is my final conclusion, fear God and obey his commands for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing whether good or bad.”

The application of knowledge is the value of wisdom for it helps us succeed in short, I repeat;

Ecclesiastes 10 verse 10 of the new living translation

“Using a dull axe requires great strength so sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom it helps you Succeed.”

The Lord says,

The Axe Doesen’t sharpen itself.

As you can see I have not given you many scriptures this time its time to draw your swords or should I say dust of that bible, open it, read it and obey then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Good Day, and God bless you.

So, if today you feel like a blunt axe and you want us to pray for you please step up prayer is free.

Or if today you want to get some sin of your chest please step forward I know I need it too you can pray for me too; the bible says if we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Success is know the truth and knowing that the truth lives in you and is with you.

The account of Josephs life can be found in Genesis chapters 37-48.  

Good Day, and God bless you.

Potted or Planted – (Trusting, believing and having Faith in God).

Notes from Sermon 2^nd Sept 2018

Potted or Planted – (Trusting, believing and having Faith in God).

Psalm 1

“Oh, the Joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But delight in the law of the Lord meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the river bank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves will never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Did you know that the word planted appears many times in the bible and in fact potted is not mention at all?

Potted plants do look nice and they can be easily moved around but never really grow to their full potential because they are limited to the small spaces they are potted in.  Where as a planted tree is given space to grow and is given the best possible chance of success by being planted in the best place it can survive and thrive. It can then grow mighty in stature and produce plenty of fruit in season and weather many storms life throws at it. In Britain there are Oak trees and these trees can grow big, strong, and live for thousands of years.

If we allow ourselves to be planted by God, we will at first feel a little discomfort much like moving from a First world country to a third world country where there are less goods and services and are easily not at our finger tips.

Before we moved to Zimbabwe God told me through his prophets that he was going to plant us! Once in 2009 in a church full of Africans a prophet picked me out of a crowd and literally told me that God was going to plant that Gentlemen. And before we left the UK in 2016 a dear sister prophesised that God was moving us like a tree with its roots in a bag to plant in Zimbabwe. And when we first arrive the first thing I was given to plant by our neighbours was a tree.

The Key to being planted is trust!!! In fact, trusting God is the most important key to life that we can have trusting God will ensure our survival and our journey into the positive part of eternity.

Jerimiah 17:7-8

“But blessed are those whose trust is in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a river bank with roots that reach deep into the water such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

                The Holy spirit is speaking here about this trust he’s Says “Who have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

                Just take a pause ask yourself these questions

 “have I made the Lord my hope and confidence?”

Do I expect the God to help me? Even when no sign of help is visible.

Am I confident that he hears me when I pour my heart out to him?

What do you think the evidence is that someone has put their hope and confidence in the Lord other than just saying so?

I assure you if you do you will never be wasting your time or your effort.  But don’t trust my assurance, trust what the Holy Spirit is saying. I am a man I can let you down but God he will never let you down.

Its easy to see the signs of not trusting God – I find when I examine myself – I threat to do things rash things, I am short tempered, depressed and I believe the lies the enemy is whispering in my mind. I fight with my wife and I worry about life’s circumstances.

In these times are I find there are some things I can do to Help me to my hope and confidence firmly back in God.

1.       Feed on the Word day and Night.

The word of God is like the river that David in psalm 1 and Jerimiah chapter 17 are prophesising and testifying about. For example, the word of God can be a life line in discouragement - he says “fear not, I am with you” Isaiah 41:10. When we don’t know what’s the heck is going on he says “I have plans to prosper you and not to harm”. Jesus is the word becoming flesh, which means the written word is Jesus in words. A person who feeds on the word day and night is like that tree that has its roots deep in the water drinking it in all day and night continually feeding on life giving water.

2.       Trust God Not feelings.

Our emotions are not always a good guide and an emotional response can get us into a lot of unwanted trouble. There have been times in my marriage where I have said some terrible things and really wish I never said them and you know what once the words are out the damage has been done. But there has been times when I have held my tongue and been really glad I didn’t say what first came to mind in anger.

Proverbs 12:16 says this “A fool is quick tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.” Furthermore proverbs 12:18 says “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”

My wife is really good at cutting remarks and when I sit back and think about what she is saying I know she is right and it comes mostly from wisdom when I’ve done something, or my behaviour has been stupid. So I shouldn’t get angry about that.

3.       Remember the crowd of witness in the Storm.

Jonah was thrown overboard in a storm and when he repented in the belly of the Whale and decided he would do what was asked of him he was put back on track. If God is asking you to do something and you’re in trouble because you haven’t done it, decide to do it. Daniel was in the lion’s den and the angel of the lord closed the mouths of the lions.

 The disciples were in a boat in the midst of a violent storm and then Jesus woke up, he stood, spoke “be still” and all was still.

Peter in Acts was on death row and the saints prayed for him day and night and an angel of the Lord was sent to release him from his bonds and the pray in the saints meeting stopped when it was discovered God has answered with Peter was knocking on the door.

With such a huge crowd of witness as an example and a witness and even our own experiences of God Calming the storm in our lives we can easily see that we can trust Jesus.

It’s easy I know to feel despair in a storm and I have learned from my own shipwrecks that’s not literal, but my own failures and faithlessness God has been Faithful.

So in the Storm Trust Jesus even in a ship wreck Paul trusted what God was telling him that no one would die and only the ship and its cargo would be lost we know this because he told the whole crew the same.

Psalm 107:43 says “Those who are wise will take all this to heart they will see in out history the faithful love of the Lord”.

The Bible is not Just a guide or Jesus in word it is also our history book, it reminds us that God loves us and is faithful.

4.       God does Love You, he loves me and loves US.

Trusting that God loves us, God doesn’t send his messengers in vain in fact we are all called to be his messengers of his gospel of peace. He does not favour Black or White or status nor even prefer Jew over Gentile.

Galatians 3:28 says;

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, Slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ.”

God loves it when we put our roots deeply into this truth – we will always remember to run God even when we were amid our troubles. After all the scriptures say if we confess our sins God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and even the prodigal son who said to himself when eating with pigs I will return to my father’s house and be his servant. The Moment he decided to return was the moment his father saw him coming home and went out to meet him on the way. Psalm 107 gives us examples of how God delivers people who call on his name.

The enemy can not separate us from Gods love. Romans 8:38 “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from Gods love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from Gods Love.”

5.       Trust God not Mere Humans

Humans can and will let you down, even I can let you down.

Jerimiah 17:5-7 says “This is what the Lord says, cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like shrubs in a desert, with no hope for a future. They will live in a barren wilderness, in an uninhabited Salty Land. But blessed are those who trust the Lord and have made the Lord their confidence.”

Men can let you down – find out what God is saying you should do people have offer all sorts of advice and recommendations just look at politics.

       Last year I laid aside my political persuasion and asked God who I should vote and I hade peace about voting for the other guy, I don’t even like the other guy.  But I was humble and voted for him. Could you vote for the other guy if God asked you too against your own political convictions?

Ask God who he has chosen to be president?

Ask God who he has chosen to be your wife or husband, you may be shocked!?

I asked God to give me a specific sign to help me know who my wife was and now I am married to her. If I look over the hill and see greener grass I am reminded that God picked my wife for me and she is Gods best, and if I go an eat greener grass he will say plainly to me that I rejected his best because I fancied greener grass. But God doesn’t look at the outward appearance of things he looks at the heart. He knows who is best for me he found her led me to her and gave me the specific sign I asked for. She is the best one who can endure my troubles and stand by me and I her.

1 Samuel 16:6-7 “When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Trust Gods choices he gives you peace about because he knows the heart of the person despite the outward appearance of how handsome they are or eloquent they speak.

6.       Shield yourself with your faith

     Faith is like a force field it is designed to stop the fear darts of the enemy. We have to raise our shield, or those darts are going to hit our hearts. A child of God who have effectively learnt to raise their shield of faith in God, his word, his promises and the pattern of his character can storm the gates of hell, liberating nations, cities, worlds and tearing down demonic strongholds.

                Remember the goodness of God toward those who love him, you love him You are no longer a slave to fear. Perfect love casts out all fear. And God loves you perfectly he must do because he sent Jesus to pay our ransom in his blood and broken body on the cross.

7.       Don’t take offence at Correction or instruction.

                To be mature – we to be willing to receive instruction, instruction is what makes us grow and its important to value the more mature members of the church they have been in similar places in their youth and have walked with God listen to the instruction he gives through the elders to grow to be where they are.

                In fact we need to recognise that taking offence is exactly what the enemy wants us to do in order to cripple us and get us to his will and bidding.

Proverbs 27:5 says: “The rebuke of a friend is better than secret love.”

You can not fulfil your purpose in life or in church if you remain offended at receiving rebuke. Rebuke is designed to put you back on the way of the Lord. If someone rebukes you its to save your life not to hurt you.

Being able to hear the rebuke of a wise person will put you back on track and instruction will help you grow in your faith. This is why fellowship with the saints (all believers) is so important.

And if a fool is someone who says there is no God, how wise therefore is someone who confesses that Jesus is Lord the only way to the Father and obeys his teachings.

8.       Obedience to the word – This is controversial among the disobedient.

Obedience to the word is the outward physical evidence of signs that we follow Jesus its not enough for someone to just say they are a Christian.

Do I have to feed on Gods word Day and night?

Does a baby need its mothers’ milk? Or a young man his sudza and stew?

Jesus said “The truth that you know will set you free!” We won’t know the truth is the truth if we don’t obey it. But If we obey and read it for ourselves the truth will set us free. If we seek God, we will find him in his word and he will set us free.

The first place to be familiar with Jesus is in his word, be acquainted to Jesus in his words. Then you will know the truth and it will set you free from the lies.

Obedience to the word will be evident by the fruit in our lives trusting to do what God wants us to do in difficult circumstance and they do indeed come.

Samuel 1 15:22 says “Obedience is better than sacrifice”.

If we obey God we will touch his heart!?!

I can remember at least three times I have touched Gods heart 1. When I was saved. 2. When my integrity in difficult circumstances delivered someone. 3. When I stood in the Gap by humbling myself turning from my wicked ways and seeking his face and praying.

I will expand on no 2, when I was in the army I was going to a local fellowship for British commonwealth soldiers and our pastor was always emphasising the importance of integrity we must be integral. Integrity is simple terms is just being honest.

 Anyway, our RSM wanted some of us to get a Mountain biking instructors certificate under our belts but to do that he asked me and two of my peers to lie about our training and falsify our documents. Although I wanted to do the course and get the certificate I couldn’t lie about it so I said” I am sorry sir I can’t lie about it.” He didn’t get angry he was a bit shocked but couldn’t punish me as one of the values of the British army is integrity he was annoyed and just said “Ok you can go!” he probably thought Blood Cpl Winyard wasting my time. Anyway, the RSM is the closest man from the ranks to the Commanding Officer and the news of my integrity must of reached her ears (this is important to note for later in my testimony). Needless to say, they all knew I was a confessing born again Christian.

A year later we were deployed on operations in Afghanistan and one of the Chefs had injured his back and was hospitalised my boss who was also his boss went to see him and after he had seen him he came out of the hospital and said that chef is faking it I am going to write his report and get him done for cowardice. He was mean about it and at the time the gossip around the chefs return to the UK with an injury was based on him being a coward. When I got back people were gossiping and talking about the chef behind his back as he was off on sick leave with depression.

I myself went on leave and didn’t return until after Christmas nearly four months later when I returned the chef was still on sick leave, he offered to give me a lift in his car to the doctors surgery on the way he talked about his problems how he thought our ex-boss was up to no Good he said I think he’s doing XYZ. When we stopped in the car park he asked me did I know what was going on… I PAUSED… I knew that even though God was not making himself felt present that he would know what my response would be, and although I fear my ex-boss but God that’s a whole new level of fear… So I said ”You know what chef I fear God Your XYZ is exactly what our ex-boss said he was going to do after he saw you in hospital that day in Bastian.” “The chef said “I won’t mention your name to the CO” but I said “No you must mention my name or it won’t carry any weight and I am only doing what I am supposed to do. After all I thought you were a coward but who am I to argue with medical experts!”.

He told the Commanding Officer what I had testified to him about, she didn’t even interview me because the reputation of being Honest was enough for the chef to just mention my name to know that I was speaking the truth. She interviewed the Master Chef afterwards and the set up unravelled itself all the liars ended up speaking the truth about what had happened. The chef was upgraded medically from his depression and was vindicated. And our Ex-Boss was made to write a letter of apology.

Literally if we obey God by being honest he will use us to rescue people from depression and persecution. Shortly after his vindication the Chef was baptised in the Garrison church.

There is a great lot of positive fuss in heaven made for those who obey the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus said” If you love me you will obey my commandments” (Teachings).

               

9.       Hope.

Hope is the expectation of the Positive things we expect that they cannot see yet?

Trust God he will deliver you in the storm.

He will never forsake you.

He will be with you in trouble.

He has and will plant you where you need to be.

If you receive rebuke you will be back on track.

Faith will be your impenetrable shield.

If you receive instruction you will grow.

Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of the things we cannot see.”

Put your hope in God alone. Hope is the expectation that God lives up to his character of being Good.

10.   Confidence

The Truth gives us Confidence.

Titus 1:2 says “The truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God – who does not Lie promised them before the world began.”

We have confidence those of us who are born again, we have eternal life through Jesus Christ don’t cast it off or throw it away. God has given us eternal life not because we deserve it but because he infinitely loves us like a father his prized daughter!!

Remember God loves you, Obedience if better than sacrifice and God the father will be with you don’t throw away your confidence of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Final Prayer and conclusion

Father for Jesus name sake lead and feed us in your word Day and night, remind us to trust you in difficult situations, circumstances and conversations.

Remind us during life’s storms that the whole host of heaven has been delivered by you in their storms and if we have been disobedient if we confess and repent we will return to you. You will come to meet us on the way. Your word is not just a guide it is our history and in our history as a people you have proven yourself faithful to all those who love you and live according to your spirit.

  Help us to know for ourselves the truth that you love all of us equally from the least to the Greatest from the First to the last you have been with each of us and nothing can separate us from your love. Remind us not to put our trust in mere humans but in you God. Remind us in to raise our shield of faith to quench the fear darts of the evil one. For you have said perfect love casts out all fear.

Help remind us not to take offence but listen to the correction that puts us back on the pathway to you and let us heed instruction, so we can grow in grace like a tree planted by the waters that continually bears fruit in season and leaves that wither not. Remind us that suffering teaches us obedience and the truth that we know set us free and hope that does not ever disappoint us! For you have never lied. Lead us to where we have confidence as you haven’t given us a spirit of fear but of confidence and a sound mind. Let us go out and preach your good news to this broken world for your Glory and Jesus name Sake, Amen.

Visit to Worphan update 09 08 2018

The Cross

The Cross (my notes and some expansion from my sermon on the 22 July 18). 

Why is the cross important why do we need to know about it?

The cross is important as it pertains to eternal life and where we spend eternity when our bodies die. It should not be overlooked not lightly or spitefully as that I believe along with millions of Christians who can testify that Jesus is alive would be extreme folly spiritually.

Isaiah 53 King James Version (KJV)

53 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

² For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

¹² Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

                As a young man I remember saying to my mum “What is the big deal with the cross? why do we Christians get so hung up on the cross of Jesus. Surely it is merely the door to the kingdom of God shouldn’t we be going deeper into the things of God.”

                I couldn’t have been more wrong if I tried. But when we refer to the Cross what we should really be saying is Christ crucified. So why is the Crucifixion of Jesus so important? A question every Christian should be able to answer without a doubt in my mind.

1.       LOVE

God sent his Son to pay the price for our sins, so we may be saved by believing in him (that is actively trusting Christ Jesus by obeying his teachings).

Note not because were perfect. (pride)

Not because we were righteous (for all have sinned).
Not because we worth it. (puffed up).
Not because were beautiful. (vanity)
But because the father loves us.

“For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son…”.  John 3:16

 John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2.       The BLOOD.

Without the crucifixion of Christ Jesus there would be no blood shed for the remission of sin for our forgiveness or to pay our ransom.

a.       Forgiveness 

           Matthew 26:28 King James Version (KJV)

²⁸ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

          The remission of sin applies to the old legal requirements of blood being shed for forgiveness in the religious law. 

b.      Ransom

Matthew 20:28 King James Version (KJV)

          ²⁸ Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Ransom who was holding humans to ransom now there isn’t really a short explanation to this. But this is do with the fall of Lucifer and the fall of man. When Adam and Eve fell in the garden of Eden having been deceived by the devil man subsequently as a race we all fell into sin and separation from God or death not just physical but death being separation from eternal life. This separation left us hostages of Satan (formerly lucifer). 

Now the enemy is very clever (although we could question the wisdom of someone rejecting an all loving benevolent father in the first place), he may of thought it was impossible for someone with undefiled blood from the line of Adam to pay the price for our sins either that or he wanted to put God to the test.

But you see there was someone from Adams line that did have undefiled blood but it wasn’t one of Adam descendants it was his creator The Father (Yahwah, Jahovah, God). The Bible is very clear it says that God made man male and female in his image. You could say the blueprint where do we find our blue print in our DNA. We all have DNA and it’s our DNA our genic code that defines what we look like. Our bloods contain our unique DNA code. 

The devil held us to ransom and God did not spare the blood of his son to pay that ransom they say the blood of a baby does not normally mix with the blood of the mother whilst the baby is in the womb, so the blood of Jesus would not have been defiled by someone else’s blood.

Revelation 12:10-11 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

So, the fact God paid the ransom gives the devil No legal basis to anyone, he has been paid IN FULL for the race of men. We have been bought at a price, so we are no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness. The only power the devil has now is deception he only wins souls to hell by deceiving them.  The Earth is currently in a spiritual battlefield where the kingdom of God and the forces of darkness are locked in a battle for the souls of men and women. The Kingdom of God uses the truth and the kingdom of darkness employs lies to win people to their cause.

3.      DEATH no longer has its sting.

John 11:25-26 King James Version (KJV)

²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

 Death no longer separates a believer’s spirit and soul from God. As believers we no longer have anything to fear in death because we have been washed in the blood of the lamb.

Revelation 7:14

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

As Jesus approached John the Baptist, John declared to his disciples “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. 1 John 1:29.

Passover. 

This is also to do with the blood. Jesus was crucified on the Jewish Passover this was the exact time year God had told them to celebrate they deliverance from the final plague of death that God sent on the firstborn of Egypt. God gave the Israelites specific instructions to kill a lamb and dip hyssop in its blood and paint the door posts of their houses in the lambs blood. This would mean the angel of death would pass over their house and not take the life of the firstborn.

4.       “And with his stripes we have been healed.”

There is healing in for the sake of Jesus name because he went to the cross. By his stripes there is spiritual provision for all our healing. Isaiah 53 is about the suffering of the Messiah.

5.       Peace.

Because Jesus was crucified to pay the price for our sins we now can have peace when we believe in him.

^“5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him”

6.       Justification.

The crucifixion of Jesus justified us- there is no other way of being justified before God. Certainly not by works because we would be subject to the same trap the devil fell in thinking he was like God if not better than God deceiving himself.

So because Jesus was crucified we having faith (trusting him in obedience) are made righteous by God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 King James Version (KJV)

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

7.       The crucifixion of Jesus sets the Bar for how we should judge others when we are offended.

No one has an excuse to stay angry or bitter.

They Crucified Jesus- They falsely accused him- they mocked him – they stuck a crown of thorns on his head, the whipped him with a three spiked whip until he was unrecognisable, they ripped his beard out, they then made him carry his cross, they then nailed him to it, the very people who were meant to recognise him and show the most compassion, even the high priest mocked him and said if you really are the son of God come down from your cross. The very people he came to save mocked him and instigated his crucifixion with false accusations, torture and brutal execution.

YET JESUS Said from that very crucifixion “Father forgive them for they know not what they Do!”.

Let that sink in…

Putting it another way it was with Jesus’s power to call on legions of angels to cleanse the whole scene and remove the wicked people from the face of the earth, yet he chose to die to pay our ransom and intercede for the transgressors being counted and crucified with two sinners on cross’s to his left hand and right.

8.       The crucifixion is the Centre peace of God’s Love for the race of Man.

The crowning achievement of Gods work and literally on the seventh day he rested. All of Jesus ministry had built up to his crucifixion for our redemption, it was literally Gods way of demonstrating that he practices what he preached when Jesus said;

“No greater love has no man than to give his life up for his friends.”

John 10:11 King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

9.       The Crucifixion of Jesus is a complete work!

-          The eternal law is satisfied.

-          The devil is paid IN FULL he no longer can claim anyone truthfully.

-          God made himself an example of how to love others.

Jesus said “IT IS FINISHED”

We cannot add or take away to the redemptive work of God. There is only one thing left for us to do and that is BELIEVE.

1   God looks at the cross when we confess,

 So, when we repent of sin and the punishment for our sin fell on Christ at his crucifixion. It’s like we plead guilty to sin in court and the judge gets up and takes the electric chair for us.

 Conclusion.

There would be no way to the father if Christ was not crucified, in fact God would have not made this world if he was not prepared to send his son out of love for us to redeem us to himself.
John 1 says nothing that was made, was not made through the word, and Jesus is the word.

John 1:1-5 King James Version (KJV) 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

² The same was in the beginning with God.

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

This Universe would not exist if it were not for the crucifixion of Jesus.

The cross of Jesus is the centre piece of Gods redemptive work for humanity. And I apologise if I missed anything out.

God sent his son. Because he loves us.

His son was crucified. – So that we can have everlasting life.

God raised him from the dead. – So we could enjoy him forever.

The messiah.

HE CAME, HE WAS CRUCIFIED, HE ROSE AGAIN, AND HE LIVES.

The Cross of Jesus is not just a symbol it is the very example of God’s love for us – It silences every Judge!

No one can say God Doesen’t love me, He will simple say look at the cross. I sent my son to die for you.

 And Jesus was very clear that the Son and the Father are ONE.

Jesus did not die for sin he died to save you and I because he Loves us he showed this; by paying the legal price for our sins - death, and to pay our ransom to the devil in FULL. You can no longer sell what isn't yours to sell.. Satan is a liar since you have been bought with the blood of the lamb he can't touch you since you now legally belong to Jesus. So, Death and devil are defeated all of which happened by their own hands when they crucified God.

 The Bible clearly states there is only one way to the father and one way into paradise and that's through trusting Jesus Christ (believing him proven by obeying his teachings and commandments).

 The cross is an extravagant show of love through humility the father did not even spare his only begotten son the journey of the cross to save all his sons and daughters. The crucifixion of Jesus fulfilled all of Jesus work and ministry it proves God practices what he preaches. It paid the terrorist the ransom of an entire race. It was the price paid for the healing of the nations and of every disease, peace and eternal life.

 Love - the cross is the ultimate expression of Love and an example of true love - That the creator with all the power to create matter and universes out of nothing by just speaking would humble himself out of love and be crucified to pay for the ransom and redemption of the whole of mankind. So that whoever believes in Jesus could be saved.

It is the express will of the Creator that everyone comes into the saving knowledge of Salvation through trusting and obeying Jesus Christ (believing in him). It is not his will any should perish.

 Just think how unjust it would be to conceal the ultimate expression of true love it’s not for us to keep to ourselves as not knowing about the redemptive work of God or rejecting it  comes at too high a price.

 So, the Good news is God loves us that's why Jesus was crucified to save us it should never be taken lightly or rejected, and even hidden as if it were a secret.