Sermons 2008
Word of God
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APRIL 2008 |
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Hear God Speaks
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6Apr 08 |
Being Proactive
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| 13 Apr 08 | ||
| 20 Apr 08 |
Brother Danny |
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| 27 Apr 08 | ||
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6Apr 2008
BEING PROACTIVE
Who are you and why you become who you are ? As we grow up, we are fundamentally influenced to a different degree by the following conditions: 1. Genetic makeup; 2. Psychic and cognitive behavioural influence e.g parents; and 3. Environment- which we are born into. Researchers look at animals’ social behavior and look for semblance in humans in order to draw certain conclusions. However, unlike animals, human beings have the freedom to choose which implies : Behaviours =f(decisions) PRO-ACTIVE PEOPLE We say that we are responsible for our lives- taken apart- means response and ability- our ability to respond appropriately in the face of a decision and decision process. This response is linked to initiative and which over time develop into a habit taking initiative (of being pro-active). Proactive people do not blame others for their failure, rather on the contrary, they recognize that their state of affairs is the result of their choices and they look for answers in themselves first. For example, if relationship breakdown, they look at themselves if they have a problem in relating to others. For example, if they cannot hold on to a job or perform in their employment/job, they look for answers in the way they work. Many characters in the bible such as Noah of old have shown us that we need not be conditioned or controlled by our culture, racial divides and community. Noah build the ark in spite of ridicule. We can be different and not go with the flow. In this consumerism age, we can decide to live thriftily. We can expand beyond our limitations –we can be proactive and not limited physically, emotionally, spiritually. In the case of Joseph, he did not allow the prison to limit his ability. In real life, we also see in countries with the four seasons, the weather may have a psychological impact on people’s activities and situations- the gloomy autumn sky may lower the morale. If we choose to be proactive, however, we can decide to be the best we can be and refused to be hindered by our background and conditions in the past, in the present or in future. REACTIVE PEOPLE Reactive tended to be defensive and tended to be more affected by the environment to the extent of helplessness. We hear them saying - there is nothing I can do! This group of people need to be careful so as not to imagine/ exaggerate the problems as in Proverbs 26:13-15. Our tentative conclusion is that Proactive people have tended to utilize the Resource and Initiative ( R & I) more often and some studies have shown that initiative alone can have a marked 5000% on the results/ success. This brings us to the next issue of load vs burden. If people are not trained to carry their own loads, they will be a burden to others whether in the church, at work or even in the family, or vice versa, others load can become a burden to you. We need to teach people to be proactive to take initiative and carry their own loads thereby lightening the burdens on others.
13 Apr 2008 JEPHTHAH-FROM VICTIM TO VICTORY Bible also reflect failures of people. Out of such as these, there are lessons for us. The key verses are in Judges 11:1-11 where we look at the biblical character Jephthah. Judges 111 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family," they said, "because you are the son of another woman." 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him. 4 Some time later, when the Ammonites made war on Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 "Come," they said, "be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites." 7 Jephthah said to them, "Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house? Why do you come to me now, when you're in trouble?" 8 The elders of Gilead said to him, "Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over all who live in Gilead." 9 Jephthah answered, "Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me—will I really be your head?" 10 The elders of Gilead replied, "The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say." 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah. 1. Born or grow up in uncomfortable circumstances Jephthah speaks of people who are born into this world under very difficult circumstances like those with physical limitations and disabilities, health issues, orphans, in poverty, alcoholic parents, broken families, divorced parents, disgrace and other traumatic experiences. Jephthah was born out of a sinful relationship- in a certain sense illegitimate. Jephthah grew up with the stigma and sense of disgrace, very much beyond his control. Children cannot choose their parents and hence he could not change his circumstances. 2. Reaction of the world What would make situation worse is the way the world react. Besides the shame, it was tougher and harder for Jephthah, even the entire community treated him like a moral filth and drove him away. In our own lives, we do come across situation where we may be least favoured, rejected, felt least talented, depressed, lonely, felt pain and anguish, bitterness . Some even to the extent of being angry with God and questioning God. 3. How do we respond Instead of revenge- Jephthah choose to focus on other things. He refused to be controlled by the circumstances and in the end he rose above the situation. In spite of the stigma, he strive harder. Just like Jephthah, God can turn a situation around – our sadness into joy. But we must first learn to forgive, have faith and trust in God’s purpose. Throughout history, we have seen people born in and under adverse circumstances rising above their situation to excel, transforming form ordinary to extraordinary such as: Washington – slave background Thomas Edison- deaf Admiral Nelson- blind in one eye Lincoln- born of illiterate parents Robert Louise Stevenson- tuberculosis Julius Caesar - epilepsy Pope Alexander- hunchback Are we walled in? If so, we need to crush the walls and walk through the ruins. Life before us is like the sea, whilst everybody have their boats, we need to ask God for a boat or better still to part the sea and make a way for us. We need to trust God and be ready to forgive and respond like Jephthah 4. God can make it a success Helen Keller could not see and hear, and yet she was able to graduate with honours..etc. We see the grace of God in her life. Out of the study of 413 gifted people who achieve greatness, there is one thing common amongst 392 of them. They all have gone through obstacles in life and subject to ridicule and other people’s negative judgementse.g Fred Astaire..etc Success depends on how we overcome the obstacles. At times, God have to take us out of our comfort zones- in fact push us out, in order that we can bring glory to Him.
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Apr 2008 Brother DannyLike drinking water needs pipe to bring it to where it needs to be and the faucet to open its flow. God’s living water also requires vessels and God uses different vessels - human vessels and sometimes God work through the most unlikely vessels. In the study of the bible, you can name and describe all the unlikely characters that God uses at different times. Moses cannot speak and has no patience, David’s armor did not fit him, Jacob the liar, Abraham too old, Jonah ran away form God, Elijah was burnt out, Jeremiah was depressed, Noah was drunk..etc. In the work of God, there is no interview and often no financial gain. The appointment by God is not on hire and fire. Drift as known to children is a driving technique in PC game like Need for Speed. As an example of drift, there are 2 fishermen fishing in a part of the river, they are so absorbed in their activity, that the next thing they realized is that their boat have drifted close to a dangerous spot where the water flows over the dam, it was too late. They lost their lives because they were not vigilant and drifted to tragedy. Drift is also mentioned in the bible in Hebrews 2:1 1We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Are you drifting- we want to look at several things concerning drifting: Danger of drifting away from the Lord; Things to do about drifting; Signs common to drifting; and Remedies against drifting. ========================== Danger of drifting Drifting requires no effort, it may be unconscious and we are unaware. By doing nothing, we can drift also. We can understand this by looking at the waves and its undercurrents. Beneath the calm on the surface of the sea, there may be strong undercurrents below it ( especially at night). We can also understand drifting by looking at rivers/streams in the mountains, the water always drift downstream. Going against the tide requires effort and going upstream is like growing in faithfulness as in 2nd Peter 1:5 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; When we do nothing, as in drifting, there is a danger that we will fall back, go downwards and the speed downstream always increases as much as the dangers. Before long, we hear the noises and sound of the waterfall or the gushing water of the dam and there is no return. To avoid drifting, we need to anchor ourselves and have a reference such as rocks lest we drift into the open waters where we become disoriented and the dangers increase. Even boats drifting in the open seas can be a hazard to other vessels at sea. Just as when we lose sight of the Lord, we risk drifting further away from the Lord, when we start to care less about what we do. Even parents have the spiritual responsibility, 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The danger of drifting is real and this lead us to the next point- how do we escape from its danger, as warned in the bible in Heb 2 :1-3: 1We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. Common signs of drifting We must first assess and check ourselves in several areas where we may succumb to drifting: 1. Diminishing Desire to study God’s word We must study God’s word, study God ‘s word. We can understand the origin, purpose, direction for a joyful and useful life and also our destiny in the Word of God. Psalm 1
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Blessed is the man
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But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
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He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
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Not so the wicked!
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Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
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For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, We may drift when we lapsed in our prayer life. Mark 1 :35 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 6:46 46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 2. Diminishing Desire to be with God’s people When the desire is not there to be in the presence of brethren and fellowship in the house of God. Instead, they prefer to be in the companionship of the people of the world. Psalm 122:1
1 I rejoiced with those who said to
me, In our fellowship, we need to do more - edify one another and be of service to another in the church. Heb 3:13 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 3. Diminishing Desire to share the gospel Once we were on fire for Christ, after many years, this desire to share the joy dies out. We need to be provoked, check and self assess. Are we increasing our desire for worldly things and not giving importance to spiritual matters. Paul warns us against worldly focus and loving the world- by renewing the mind be transformed. The consequences of drifting Our consciousness becomes numb and suffers paralysis. We are no longer sensitive. We step out of God’s will and plan for us and we lose the ability to listen to him and heed the Word. We also suffer internally (ourselves) and externally ( those close to us)- affects our spouse, children, your work, negative impact on others. It grieves God’s heart when we are on the shipwreck of life. Remedies for avoiding drift Being close to God is applicable to our living and is the best remedy against drift. 1. Keep rowing. Be diligent and keep abounding in the Lord. As Paul says, forgetting the past and keep pressing forward. 2nd Peter 1:5-8 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Peter 1:10 10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall. 2. Watch for undercurrents Currents of time Time is always an issue and doing God’s work also put pressure on time availability.. Gal 6:9 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Currents of familiarity We are too familiar and there is no more excitement in God’s work that we are called to do. Currents of society We faced the tides of modern society, plastic Christianity, distractions, materiality, and we need to go back to the simplicity of the Lord. Currents of daily concerns We faced constant pressure of modern living, paying the bills, feeding the families, children’s education, spouses needs..etc. Just like the seed amongst the thorns. Luke
8 :14 3. Expect to go against the tide The tide carries us away. Hence, we have to be ever watchful of the following lest we get carried away: Popularity- our intention is wrong Peer Pressure- we go with the world Praise- our motives becomes blurred Weariness- Having no time and no energy Neglect – not to neglect the Word and the Work Indifference- could care for the things of God 4. Having strong anchors We need to be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love, anchored by the 4 cables – of love, hope, faith and service.
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