This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on January 28th 2024  by Karan Thomas. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here. 

IN THE PRESENCE OF POWER - Understanding Submission

 

If you were the President what three things would you do in your first year of rule?

We are all torn between two desires. We want a leader who will protect and serve us etc., and on the other hand, we want independence where we don’t want anyone to tell us what to do!

We sing a lot of songs about Christ being King because it’s a fulfilment of Messianic prophecies.

Is 9 He shall be callee…Micah 5 The regal nature of the king.

Jeremiah 23 King who will reign.

Zechariah Riding on a donkey

In the Old Testament, people struggled to come to terms with God as King starting from the garden of Eden. Gen 3 Adam and Eve rebelled. Then people did not God as King, but they wanted a man as King. Then they substituted this King for other Kings and idolatry.

In the New Testament, people struggle with Jesus coming as King. The authorities did not like it: the Pharisees and Sadducees did not like it.

WHAT KIND OF A KING WAS JESUS?

Mark 5:1-20

Jesus’ kingdom is not about compliance with rules etc. He came as a healer and liberator. Until then there is no record of a king coming as a healer, or liberator casting our demons and evil spirits!

Jesus permitted the demons to go somewhere.

We see His authority or higher power to which He appeals.

The demons begged Jesus.

The townspeople begged Jesus.

The demoniac begged Jesus.

Cultural Beliefs about Demons

 In those days people did believe in people being possessed by demons and having an influence on them (v2-5).

2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. - Mark 5:2-5

The demon-possessed man lived in isolation amongst the Tombs. Tombs are considered unclean places even today. People avoided him because of fear of his spiritual uncleanness. He was often chained, and he would break those chains. He would self-harm – he would cut himself with stones. People in those days would cut themselves to appease the spirits.

So historically and culturally it was a deep issue that could not be resolved.

THREE CONVERSATIONS

1. Demons and Jesus v7-13

What do you want with me, Jesus, son of God? These demons have good theology. They recognized Jesus for who He was but still chose not to submit to Him. We need to have a faith that moves beyond just knowing about Jesus! Even the demons know and shudder!! These demons preferred to be with the pigs than with Jesus and begged Him to send them there.

2. Townsmen v 14-17

They realize Jesus’ power and beg Him to leave! They don’t challenge His power. They acknowledge it but they do not want him in their lives! They realize that they would have to lose control over their lives.

To love with Jesus and the presence of His power is to accept that it means to give up or lose control.

Faith in Jesus is to give up control.

3. The demon-possessed man v18-20

The demon-possessed man is cured, and he is begging Jesus to allow him to follow Him. But Jesus does not allow him and tells him to go to his town instead and tell them what God has done for him. And the man obeys!!

This was his calling, and he did it gladly.

This is a glimpse of what it means to be in the presence of power. In the face of unanswer3ed prayer, he obeys!!

The shape of this person’s response is obedience.

Jesus did not do what the demoniac asked and yet he obeyed,

Jesus is a King who is involved in our lives.

 

The “formal principle” of faith is thinking and committing to the evidence, but the “material principle” of faith is resting in the love and work of Christ. Tim Keller

Submission requires faith and material evidence.

Do we believe that though the storms rage He is a King who cares for us?

How can we imitate the cured demoniac’s response to Jesus? By accepting His agenda even if it differs from our expectations

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 part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

Focus 2024 - Part 3 - Who are you living for?

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on January 21st 2024  by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here. ( Sorry there is no sermon recording for this message)

WHO ARE YOU LIVING FOR – Part 3

Matt 16:13 - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. This is the greatest question you can be asked, and your answer will determine your future. This answer can only come by revelation.

1.  The Greatest Question and the Greatest Confession

Matt16:17 - 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

At the end of time ( Rev20:7-10) we see the destiny of Satan and all who follow him.

Rev20:7-10 - 7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

V11. When Jesus came on the Earth there was no place for Him to be born. But at the end of time, we are told that Earth and sky will flee from His presence and both the great and small will stand before Him.

Revelation 20:11 - Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

Today in our courts evil people can get away with murder but NOT on that Day. We are all guilty. Only those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be thrown in the lake of fire. But those who have put their trust in Jesus will have their names written in the Lambs Book of Life! We cannot guarantee the number of days we live therefore today is the day of salvation!

2.  The Greatest Example

Jesus was the greatest example that ever lived! Heaven is an amazing place and that is what He left to come to Earth to identify with us. He came poor, homeless and then served and suffered a cruel death. At the CROSS he defeated Satan.

Heb 2:14-15 tells us how he defeated Satan

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Col2:14 tells us that He cancelled our debts and our sins were paid for.

 14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

2 Cor 5:21 His good deeds have been credited to us. His righteousness has been given to us.

God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

3.  The Greatest Commitment

Jesus asks each of us to make a choice. 

Matt 16:24 - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 

Luke 14:25-26 - 25 Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

Jesus is not impressed with the crowds. He turns to them and challenges them to become His disciples. This is outworked in practical ways. The following must be worked out in practical ways.

Deny: refuse to associate with. Deny is to disassociate with our needs, wants desires and selfishness.

Jim Elliot: He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

What are we willing to give up for the sake of the gospel? To see the great salvation of many will require a great commitment on our part.

4.  The Greatest Community – The church

Jesus came for His church, His bride. He died for His church.

Matt16:18 - 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. 

One day everything will fade but the Church of Jesus will go on forever. It is a privilege to be a part of the church.

Every community has a code of conduct. Heb 10:25 – Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. We are here to be the Light of the World.

5.  The Greatest Return

Matt 16:27 Jesus will come back to reward each one according to what they have done. We live with this hope!

 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Matt 24:30-31 He will come with power and glory to gather His elect.

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1Thes 4:16-18 The dead in Christ will rise first. We will be with the Lord forever.

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Rom 8:18 -  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Rev 22:12 God is coming with His reward.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

What is my answer to the greatest question?

What is our response in the face of suffering? Can we look to Jesus and say His grace is sufficient? Am I putting Christ first and do I value the church?

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 part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

Focus 2024 - Part 2 - Who are you living for?

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on January 14th 2024  by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here. ( Sorry there is no sermon recording for this message)

What are you living for? People live for different things, comfort, riches, fame, etc. our purpose in life can go off like a magnetised compass. But we need to look at the word of God to know what we are living for. 

”Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Who is Jesus? Some people think he’s a prophet, or one of many Gods, or Lucifer's brother or a created angel like Michael. 

The answer to the question of who is Jesus is the most important question you’ll ever be asked. The right answer is a gateway to eternal life. The wrong answer is a road to eternal judgment. 

”He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Peter gets the right answer. But Jesus is not. I’m ending Peter, but responds like this: 

”And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Unless God's spirit comes and opens our eyes, whatever the word says might not make much sense. 

”And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is the first time the church is mentioned in the Bible. And he is going to build it. Jesus himself is the cornerstone. But it’s also the truth that Jesus is the son of the living God. 

The Great Commitment:

”Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Language changes over time and means different things at different times. The meanings of words like sick, wicked, friend, like, follow, etc.

What does it mean to follow Jesus? 

These verses are mentioned in every one of the gospels. 

Come after me - it is a choice, no one is forced into it. There is no such thing as forceable Conversion into Christianity. The decision has to be yours. God opens our hearts and eyes to enable us to make that decision. 

Deny himself - Jesus did not say you have to end yourself things.

”Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭69‬-‭70‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Denying means to disassociate with someone or something. It’s not about giving up things. It is to reject self-importance and find fulfilment in Jesus. What Jesus wants is preeminent. When you buy a car you have an RC book with all your details. When you sell the car, your details are changed and the RC book is handed over with the details of the new owner. That is what it is to give up your life to Jesus. The new owner is Jesus. 

”Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.“

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.“

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Deny himself therefore means that we are not our own, but belong to Jesus. Following Jesus is not just insurance against hell, it is a complete change of ownership. Jesus is not your underwriter, he is your owner. 

Another version says to deny yourself daily. 

Take up his cross- in Jesus’ day, the cross was the most cruel form of punishing someone. Jesus suffered horribly for our sins. On the cross, Jesus took all our sins and paid the price for them. Why was it necessary for Jesus to live 33 years if the cross was the only point of his life? Because he lived a sinless life. On the cross, there was a great exchange where his right to living was credited to us as he bore the punishment for our sins. 

If you saw a man carrying a cross in the time of Jesus, it means he is going to his death. That is the commitment that Jesus is calling us into. 

We may have to endure suffering on this earth for our faith. Many have gone to their death because of their faith where they shared in the shame and reproach of Jesus. But one day he will return. The evil we see in the world is not final. It will come to an end when Jesus returns. 

When you die, it doesn’t matter how much wealth you’ve accumulated, it matters where you will spend eternity. Jesus called himself God. Is he a liar, a lunatic or is he Lord? That is a decision we must make for ourselves. 

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 part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

Focus 2024 - Part 1 - Who are you living for?

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on January 7th 2024  by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

Who are you living for?

When we meet someone after introducing ourselves, what is the first question we ask them?

It is, “What do you do?”. Instead try asking them, “What are you living for? Ask the same question to yourself, what am I living for?

Some live for money, some live to retire and have a relaxed life and some live for fame want their name to be up in the lights. Today, it is not about lights, but it is about likes and followers.

Some live for approval, some for comfort, some for travel and holidays and some for food. What am I living for? We may say, I’m living for Jesus and maybe you are.

In the movie, “The Pirates of the Caribbean”, Jack Sparrow has a compass which points to Black Pearl. What is our compass pointing to? Sometimes, our compass can get demagnetized. If that is true, this new year, we must get our compass re-magnetized. We must truly live for Jesus.

Recently when we were clearing stuff at our home, we found a pile of journals. I encourage you to maintain a journal, take down notes and write down what God speaks to you.

This morning, let us see how we can re-magnetize so that we point to Jesus. Today, we are alive not because of different kinds of diet and exercise, but because it is Jesus who kept us alive. Let us look at,

Matthew 16:13-28 to find out the true purpose of our lives.

Matthew 16:13-14 - 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Even though the disciples saw Jesus doing amazing things, they still had a faulty understanding.

Caesarea is a place which is centre for Roman and Greek idolatry. A huge temple was built for Emperor Augustus. Amid idolatry and false Gods, Jesus asked this question. Who do people say I am?

People said that Jesus was John, the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah.

Matthew 16:15-16 - 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

When Jesus asked the disciples who they thought Jesus was, Simon Peter answered, “Christ, the Son of the Living God”. Some people think Christ is the surname. Christ means Messiah or The Anointed One.

John 5:17-18 - 17 In his defence Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Several times, Jesus claimed equality with God. Jesus, Son of the Living God, is the greatest confession of the Church. To align our compass, this is the first thing. Jesus is the Messiah, Savior, the Anointed One.

John 20:28 - 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 6:68 - 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 

We are a bunch of people who come together not to hear a motivational talk, but to declare, confess and agree that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 Tim 3:15 - 15 If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 

God’s household is the Church. In the world today, there is confusion about God. Even the most intelligent people may not understand the spiritual truth. A high IQ does not necessarily translate to a high SQ (Spiritual Quotient).

1 Tim 3:16 - 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit,[d] was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Appeared in the flesh – born in the human body, vindicated by the Spirit – filled with Spirit, seen by angels at the time of resurrection.

Gospel needs to be proclaimed to every people group. Only then the end will come.

How did Simon come to know who Jesus was?

Matthew 16:17 - 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood but by my Father in heaven.

The truth was revealed to Simon by the Father in Heaven. The great confession comes with revelation but not with the human eye. The supernatural revelation comes as we read God’s word. Scriptures are essential.

Luke 24:27 -  27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus explained many things about himself from the scriptures.

John Calvin says, “If the Church doesn’t have sound doctrine, exposition of scripture, Church discipline, baptisms, Lord’s table, then it is not a Church.

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

God has to touch a person’s heart so that they see who Jesus is. We are in darkness till Jesus opens our eyes. Many people get confused with the above verse. They think the Church will be built on Peter. The truth is the name Peter comes from Petrus, which means Stone. But the verse talks about a Rock. The rock is very huge.

Matt 7:24 - 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

A house can be built on a very huge rock. So, Jesus said that he would build his church on the truth that Jesus is the son of God. One of the principles of studying God's word is to interpret the scripture, by comparing it to another scripture.

What are we living for?

This is seen in the next few verses.

Matt 16:24 - 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.

I encourage you to read this verse and meditate upon it in the coming week.

Let us establish this –

1.      Jesus says, I will build my Church.

2.      The Church is built on the revelation of who Jesus is – The Son of the Living God.

3.      We can only get this revelation by supernatural touch from God himself.

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 part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.