The Gifts Of Advent

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on December 12th  2021 by Navaz D via zoom. For the audio & video please click here.  To listen to the worship please click here.

them.

 

Luke 8:14 NIV - The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature.

 

We should not let life’s worries, riches and pleasures choke the word we receive from the Lord. We should be doers of the Word and not just hearers of Word.

 Luke 6:46-49 NIV - 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

 

Luke 8:4 NIV - While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:

 Luke 8:9 NIV - His disciples asked him what this parable meant

 Disciples received the meaning of the parable because they sought it.

Everything in the bible is not plainly revealed to everyone. Many of the things are revealed when we seek its meaning diligently with the help of Holy Spirit.

 Proverbs 25:2 TPT - God conceals the revelation of his word in the hiding place of his glory. But the honor of kings is revealed by how they thoroughly search out the deeper meaning of all that God says.

 God is pleased when we diligently seek and find the deep things hidden in His word. God wants us to value His word and do them. He does not want to give pearls to pigs. Mary treasured the words that God spoke about Jesus through Angel to Shepherds.

 

Luke 2:18-19 NIV - 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

 We should value God’s word. Not only His words from the bible. But also, when God speaks through dreams, visions, and prophetic words of other believers provided you feel it is from God and does not contradict His written word.

 Application - Words written in the Bible doesn’t have power unless we open them, read them, understand them, do them and persevere. We should be diligent seekers of God’s word.

Remember – Seekers Finders. Finders Keepers.

 

2. Seek God’s presence.

 John 1:38 NKJV - 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

 These disciples wanted to know Jesus and to fellowship with Him. They were seeking His presence.

 Psalms 105:4 AMP - Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.

 1 Corinthians 3:16 says Spirit of God dwells inside us. Then why should a new testament believer seek God’s presence?

It is the manifested presence of God that we are seeking. If we say we love God and does not seek His presence, then there is something wrong.

 James 4:8a NIV - Come near to God and He will come near to you.

 Application - We should have intimate alone time with Him seeking His presence, hearing His voice, Adoring Him, Thanking Him, Praising Him, Worshiping Him. Not as a religious duty. Not to receive something. But because we are a people whom He loves so much and has already blessed so much.

 

3. Seek God’s church.

 When we diligently seek God’s word and God’s presence, we will become people after God’s heart. God’s heart is for His church.

 Matthew 16:18 NIV - And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

 Jesus came to build His church. Church is not a building we go to. Church is not a club or an organisation where we take membership. The Greek of the word ‘Church’ used here means ‘Assembly’, ‘Congregation’. We, the body of Christ are actually His Church (Col 1:18, 1 Cor 12:27).

 How do we seek God’s church?

 (i)                 By assembling

 We are an assembly. So, we should assemble. We should meet together and build each other.

 Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV - 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 Application – We should not give up meeting together. We should attend Sunday meetings and at least MicroGYM meetings if not other meetings during the week and encourage one another.

 (ii)               By joining.

 Assembling is not enough. There should be a joining of minds.

 1 Corinthians 11:17 NIV  - In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 

Paul said the meetings of Corinthians do more harm than good.

 We should seek to build relationship with each other. We should love one another, help one another, encourage one another, forgive one another, comfort one another, bear one another’s burden and do all the other [one another]’s in the bible. These are the true expressions of loving one another. We should seek joining of minds.

 God wants His children to live together in unity. This is what gives the Father immense joy, and this is where His blessings flow.

Psalms 133:1-3 NIV - 1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

 If we do not live together then there is no question of unity. Unity is not tested when we don’t live together. Unity is not absence of conflicts or disagreement. Unity is when we manage conflicts in godly way agreeing to disagree for the kingdom purpose loving one another forgiving each other having one mind. When arguments or fights do happen see what you have to change instead of seeing what others have to change.

 Application – Call people if you cannot meet them because of COVID especially those who live alone, offer help to those who are in trouble. Send food to those who are sick. Forgive others when they hurt you. Give to others what you would like to receive from others.

 (iii)             By witnessing.

 We should partner with God in expansion of His church by sharing Gospel.

 Jesus asked us to ‘GO’ and make disciples (Matthew 28:19 NIV)

 

We ‘GO’ when we understand the great commission from His word and seek to do it. We ‘GO’ with His great power when we spend quality time in His presence.

 Application – Invite your non-believer friends and family to Christmas Carols evening. Do not worry whether they will accept. Inviting is your part. Leave rest to God. Seek for opportunity to share Gospel with others. Pray for opening of doors.

Conclusion

When we seek God’s word and His presence, we get to know Kingdom values and Kingdom purpose. Advent like I said in the beginning means coming. Jesus came first time 2000 years on a Christmas night for us. But Jesus is also coming second time on a day we don’t know. But He is coming for sure with our rewards that matter in eternity. So, let’s not be people with myopic vision. But people who has a vision of eternity.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

CREATING A COUNTERCULTURE PART 8. CONCLUDING PART

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on December 5th  2021 by Navaz D via zoom. For the audio & video please click here.  To listen to the worship please click here.

CREATING A COUNTERCULTURE PART 8. CONCLUDING PART

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:10

 

1. INTRODUCTION

Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at how Jesus came to usher in the Father's Kingdom-We called it an upside-down, inside out Kingdom.

 

Actually, Jesus came to turn his Kingdom from the right side up and lived from the inside -out. The Pharisees had turned it upside down and corrupted the beautiful law of the Lord.

I was thinking about this. How did David love the law of the Lord so much that he wrote amazing psalms around it? In fact, the longest Psalm 119, is a tribute to the Law of God. Surely it could not have been so bad!!! It was the interpretation and practice of it that was messed up.

It’s like someone using a Ferrari as a waggon being pulled by 2 bulls. It is a complete misuse and abuse of a beautiful car. Till the maker of the car comes along and shows you how to use it. He unhinges the car and shows them its proper use.

So, let’s dive into today’s concluding verse in this series. And it is a timely word given the season in which we are living.

Remember we said the Beatitudes cannot be understood nor practised in isolation of each other. They build upon each one another.

Notice that the beatitudes have a progression. We first need to be poor in spirit, recognizing your spiritual bankruptcy, which leads us to mourn over our condition, and then we are meek and humble because of that condition and realize we need to hunger and thirst for His kingdom. From that place, we can grant mercy to others because we have experienced it first. Those who seek righteousness will cultivate a pure heart and want to bring peace in every situation.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.

True happiness, the blessing of God and favour come from living in the right relationship with Him and in the right manner with people. When we fulfil the law of God we are truly blessed.

The first 7 are about what is expected of a Christian who is living our Kingdom culture.

The last one tells you what will happen to you when you want to be Christ-like!!! Any takers? This is the litmus test. If we are living up to the other 7, the eighth one will follow. Will we give up the standard of Kingdom culture to avoid being persecuted?

Blessed are the persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

I like the way Jesus is not careless with His words. HE is very clear who is blessed and why.

2. WHAT PERSECUTION IS NOT.

·       Now if we do something foolish we are not blessed. Even if it is a Christian thing. We are to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

We must be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks. And our speech needs to be seasoned with salt. Our deeds must speak more than our words. Let your love provoke the questions asking about the hope you enjoy.

·       Do not be offensive in your language toward other people’s faith.

·       Do not force people to do things against their conviction.

·       Do not provoke the authorities by being brash or obnoxious. The church in China and South Korea survived and flourished because they learned to be wise as serpents. If you are living the beatitudes right, trust me you will face persecution. Why? Am I not living a good life?

Exactly for that reason. Light and darkness have nothing in common. We come from not only two different but opposing kingdoms. Our new nature in Christ is offensive and a stench in the nostrils of some.

As Paul warned in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Peter told his readers, “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you . . . as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Remember is it persecuted because of Christ i.e when we live like Him and do what He tell us to do.

 

3.     WHAT IS RIGHTEOUS LIVING?

It is living according to the Word of God.  There is a difference between being self-righteous and righteous for Christ’s sake. Self-righteous is when we think we are right and feel we need to defend our convictions.

 Righteousness for Christ’s sake is the qualifier. Not every moral person who is persecuted is blessed in this manner. Righteousness for Christ’s sake may sometimes mean letting go of your ego or the issue because in that situation love is the greater motive. That is why we need to always walk in step with the Holy Spirit and abide in His Word to understand what the will of the Lord is.

Putting the sermon on the mount into practice is not easy. We are asked to love our enemy, to pray for those who hate us and to bless those who curse us. This is counterculture. The Kingdom of God is not about entitlement, my rights etc. It is about laying down your life.

 

WHAT DOES PERSECUTION LOOK LIKE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?

Not everyone will be called to be a martyr or go to jail etc. Yet our convictions are challenged daily. And we need to learn to grow strong in our convictions by taking a stand in small steps.

·       At work –Doing what is asked without fudging anything even if team members are pressurizing you to do it. What will you do?

·       Those white lies you are asked to tell to cover up for deadlines missed

·       When the boss has it in for you when you work hard but want to establish a work life balance and log off on time so you can spend time with your family. Your promotion is denied.

·       When family taunt you for your faith or threaten to disown you.

“If you have run with men on foot and they have made you tired, then how can you run as fast as horses? ( Jer 12:5)

 

4. WHY DO YOU GET PERSECUTED?

Why would anyone have something against a meek person? Against someone who shows mercy, or the pure in heart or for that matter a peacemaker? It does not make sense.

Two responses to righteous living –

It can provoke someone to want to know the hope to which you are called.

Or

It can provoke persecution because they cannot deal with their guilty conscience. So, they blame you for making them feel the way they do.

When people love their evil lifestyle or choices or something false, they need to justify that love. And then they need to demonize you because unless they do that, they can’t hate you. So, they begin to believe false things about you to justify their hate. This is the root cause of persecution.

In church when you confront sin, people lash out at you. Don’t expect everyone to applaud your sacrifice. You did not do it for them. If you live for the praises of men, you will die by their criticism.

I would ask this question today – Have you been persecuted for righteousness’s sake. Be careful how you answer this? Sometimes we can be right, but our actions are so wrong that it invites brickbats. But if people have never noticed that you are different then you need to examine yourself. We are in this World but not of its values and systems.

God has given us His holy spirit to strengthen us, encourage and comfort us, guide and lead us into all truth. His Holy Spirit is the divine power that gives us the strength to say no to sin and yes to ungodly choices.

Examples of righteous living that got persecuted

·       Abel was killed by Cain

·       David was hunted by Saul

·       Uriah was murdered by David

·       Elijah by Jezebel

·       Daniel and his friends

·       The apostles

·       Foxes Book of Martyrs

·       Chinse church and elsewhere.

·        

5.  CONCLUSION: HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO PERSECUTION?

How do we display our kingdom culture? Firstly, do not go seeking persecution.

V11 says we are blessed when people falsely accuse us and slander us. We need to rejoice and be glad because we suffer the same fate as Jesus. No servant is greater than his Master.

We must bless them, pray for them, do good to them.

Remind yourself that these troubles are but for a while. (2 Cor 4:17) There is a crown that awaits all those who persevere till the end. We do not stand alone. We have 1000s stand beside us cheering us on – the great cloud of witnesses. (Heb 12:1)

The promise is the Kingdom of heaven – here and now and in the age to come.

 There is persecution at the individual level and then as the church. If you have been reading the posts Colin sends now and then you will see that the kind of persecution the early church faced is not unknown to us. Many churches and pastors are being persecuted for their faith here in our country and around the world.

Let’s pray for the persecuted church now.

By being salt and light (v13) We preserve society and prevent its decay

We are asked to rejoice and be exceedingly glad because we have a reward in heaven waiting for us.

 The Christian calling is a great one. It is the highest and the most challenging one you will ever have to live up to.

 All of us have a Christian calling – to live to glorify Jesus. And if we are children then we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. ( Rom 8:17)

Kingdom culture is God’s will for the earth. Your kingdom comes you will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is what we are asked to pray for. And it will come as you and I usher it in by our lifestyle and our practice.

Over the last few weeks, we took you through what it is to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thrust for righteousness, to be merciful, to be pure in heart, to be a peacemaker.

How has this teaching challenged and changed you? Ask God to show you how. He will strengthen you, guide you and lead you.

 

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

Creating A Counterculture Part 7

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on Nov 21st 2021 by Lasya please click here.  To listen to the worship please click here.

 Creating a Counterculture: Part 7 - Blessed are the Peacemakers 

Close your eyes and imagine the most peaceful place on earth. What comes to mind? How many of you just thought of a place with a lot of people? None, I'm sure! Why is that? Because people disrupt peace. In continuation of our series on creating a counterculture, we are going to study not only how to get peace but how to make peace. Peacemaking is a divine assignment very different from peacekeeping.. Peacemaking is a completely different approach. It is much more involved and countercultural. Peacekeeping involves cover-up and control but peacemaking exposes the truth. 

Our verse for today is Matthew 5:9 - “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”

Let’s pray

Martin Luther King Jr said, “Peace is not simply the absence of tension, it is the presence of Justice”. The Bible actually takes it a step further. The word for peace in the Greek - Eirene comes from the root word eírō meaning “to join”. The word Eirene/ Shalom in Hebrew means one, peace, quietness, rest. It is a part of the High Priestly blessing, it is a greeting in the Jewish culture… but Jesus says, not only is it blessed to have peace but it is blessed to be a peacemaker. So that is what we are going to look at today. 

1. The person of peace 

1. Know Jesus: Peace is the person and the presence of Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Luke 2: 13-14 “13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

He restored ultimate peace between man and God, and to be a peacemaker, we need to know the prince of peace. We cannot have the peace of God without peace with God.  How can you be assured that you know the Prince of Peace? Romans 10: 9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

2. Receives His peace John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ” What are the keys of peace? 

1. Set our mind: Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you”; Romans 8:6 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” Action Point (AP)- When anxious thoughts and cares to take over you, stop and listen for the voice of God by setting aside time for it, set your mind on him at random points in the day by reading the Word of God or reminding yourselves of the nature of God. Think about how you can practically incorporate this into your daily life.  

2. Pray - Philippians 4:6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God which surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and minds” When you feel troubled or anxious, do you gravitate towards praying or something else? Watchman Nee wrote, ‘Our prayers lay the track down which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.’

3. Practice what you have heard - Phil 4:9 “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”. Faith may come from hearing, but peace comes with practice. AP - Obey the things you understand. Do the things you already know to do. If you want to stop stressing out about your to-do list, do the list. Don't wait for peace to do what God has called you to do.  The peace of God is hiding in our obedience.

3. Pursues His peace - Psalm 34: 14 repeated in 1 Peter 3:11 “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”; Ephesians 4:3 “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” Romans 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” We cannot be neutral about peace - we are called to pursue it. Romans 12:18 says as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all. Is that you can not go any further or you’re not willing to? 

However, the pursuit of peace must not precede the pursuit of purity. There is a reason for the sequence of these beatitudes. Righteousness and then mercy. Purity and then peace. James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving,” Any pursuit of peace over purity is unwise. Eg: of Aaron. It is in this context that Jesus says I’ve not come to bring peace but a sword. If you just dont want to ruffle any feathers, you’ll have a tough time truly following Jesus. We all need to carry our cross in order to follow Jesus. 

1. The product of peace

1. For us - shall be called sons of God. The word for shall be called in this means to call in a loud voice or to bear a name or title. We see this happen in Matthew 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This is what God does with peacemakers. 

2. For the world - Romans 8:19-21 “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” The rising up of the peacemakers is freedom to the whole world. 

3. For God - Ephesians 2 :22 “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Peace and oneness is to his ultimate glory. 1 Peter 2:5 “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”When peacemakers arise, the dwelling place of God is built and he is glorified! That is why we pursue peace. 

So I have been reconsidering some of my own relationships … with friends, with family… and saying maybe I will pursue peace in this relationship a bit more. Maybe there is more peace in store than we think is possible… beyond our understanding. Until we attain that eternal peace - when we will be face to face with God - let’s pursue peace on earth because it glorifies God and it pleases him. Let’s pray.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.