This message from Pastor Jon Cathie continues the series on holy living and focusses on keys to developing holy relationships.

Main points:

1 Peter 2:13 to 17 - Holiness shows itself in respect and submission to authority.

1 Peter 2:18 to 25 - Holiness allows us to endure through suffering.

1 Peter 3:1 to 2 - Holiness helps win people to Christ.

1 Peter 3:3 to 6 - Holiness is a work from the inside out.

1 Peter 3:7 to 12 - Holiness is the foundation of true equality.

Pastor Jon Cathie lays the foundation for a message series on holy living.

Main points:

Striving withing ourselves to live a holy life focusses us to live under law rather than under grace. Striving is not the answer to holy living. Neither is taking a dive to the lowest point where we live a life as we choose. Thriving is the answer through love, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. Holiness is the outworking of the Holy Spirit in us, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Holiness results in obedience, assurance in salvation and trust in adversity. If we live a holy life, these will be dealt with. Our faith needs to remain steadfast. There will be trials and suffering.

Do not confirm to the evil desires you had when living in ignorance. The world expects us to be different. People chased after Jesus because of who he was.  Be like Jesus.

God accepts you as you are but loves you too much much to leave you as you are. 

Scripture:

1 Peter 1:1 to 17 Foundations

Isaiah 64:6

Romans 7:15 to 25

Romans 3:10

Romans 8:7

Romans 12:1

Job 13:15

Deu7:6

Ecclesia. The church is a group of people chosen by God. 1Pe2:9-10. Royal priesthood. Qualified by the blood of Jesus. A holy nation. To be set apart. 

The identity of the church. You and I have been set apart by God. Exclusive. No other Gods. We bow down to many things. Luke10. He was not seeker sensitive. We need the whole counsel of God. Biggest challenge is relationships having bigger influence than Him. 

We are set apart to proclaim the excellence of God. Unbelievers are hungry for Jesus. You need to really know Him. We know of God but we don't really know Him. The NT reveals this. Intimacy. You are the face of Jesus. 

Mk1:14-15. The KoG is made manifest. Matt4:23-25. Ro15:18-19. The church is the appointed agent to demonstrate and reveal the KoG. The church is not an organisation but an organism. Ro 14:17. Power to desire righteousness. To poses supernatural peace. Acts12. 

When the KoG comes it will dethrone Satans influence and authority. Matt12:28. Satan has blinded the minds of the unbeliever. 

 

Lk10:9. The KoG is manifested in healing. It is in His nature. He is love. Matt:16. These signs will follow those who believe. The greatest harvest will happen outside the 4 walls of the church. Go into the gates of influence to permanently alter. Dan5. When you fear God you don't fear man.

The Triumphant Church Pt 2

Acts2:41-47

We are not quite there yet. What made the early church triumphant. 

They came from many different lands for the Passover. Peter preaches with such conviction. 3000 people are baptized. 

5 words of triumph: 

1) Devoted. They continued on steadfastly. There was so much more to learn. Press on anyway in spite of persecution. They had been so radically saved. They had discovered abundant life. They were devoted to the apostles teaching. Devoted to fellowship. Devoted to the Lords Supper. It was a feast where they partook together.  Devoted to prayer. Spirit directed prayer. 

2) Awe. Amazed at the wonders of God. They kept their sense of wonder. No same old same old. Return to our first love. 

3) All. All the believers met together. Everyone was involved. They did life together. Everyone is invited and accepted. We belong. We need to get back to being a family. 

4) Shared. Everything they had. With those in need. Ep6:2. Sharing is a part of the nature of all who follow Jesus Christ. Bear for the sake of each other. 

 

5) Daily. Not just on Sunday. They lived life in Christ. Central to their day. Relationally Christian. Sold out every day. Allow me to be a part of your plan today.

This is not just an organized institution but Gods plan. 

We get the opportunity to be part of His plan for planet earth. 

Ep4:11-16. The church at large is walking with a limp. In Australia churches are in decline. Only half of church attendees read their bible. Maybe the reason for this is pain as with a limp. Maybe stiffness has set in or they have a bad posture. Maybe they are carrying a few extra Kilos. Thing are happening it is a far cry from the triumphant church. 

How does the limping church stand tall. 

1) We need to restore the biblical patterns. Not one superstar but a team that is complimentary. Christ ordained tasks that give right balance and perspective. 

2) We need to realign with scripture. The Word ofGod is the only authority we can realign too. Don't be swayed by popular opinion. It is Gods Word. There is the risk of biblical illiteracy. 2Ti3:16-17. The bible equips us for every good work. 2Ti2:15. Heb4:12. Get back to the Word. Don't let truth become what's relevant to me.  1Thes5:20-21. 1Jn4:1. 

3) We need to reinforce the foundational truths. Coming together on the foundation of sound doctrine. True unity is ground on correct theology. 

4) We need to return to the centrality of Jesus Christ. Jesus has to be the centre of it all. Rev2:1+. Everything else is worthless. 2Pe1:3. 

5) We need to reflect Jesus in everything we do. A triumphant church imitates Christ. Are we becoming more like Jesus? Have we replaced Him? 2Cor5:20. We are His representatives. The more we are around Him the more like Him we become.  

6) We need to be released for service. Each of us uses the gifts for His glory. Don't let them be dormant. It brings health and wholeness to the body of Christ. 

1) Do you want to be released?

2) What are my gifts?

3) Have I told leadership about these gifts?

 

4) What can I do to grow my gift?

Reaching our World

Scratching where it itches. 

1Co9:20-23. Paul is stating all we can to adapt to all cultures and be relevant. He is not supporting compromise but putting the message is such a way so it it relevant. The message doesn't change but the approach should. We need to know the pervading culture so that we can deliver the message with more relevance. We are in a Post Modern society. There is no single defining truth. Everything is subjective. There is a general lack of trust in institutions including the church. Also anything associated with the church such as marriage. We are the most connected yet the most lonely. In this age people value connectedness. We struggle to connect at a meaningful level. People are much more likely to live for the present. Are we scratching where it's not itching. Find out about your world. 

How do I present this:

1) Truth needs to be presented with love and grace. Argument will not win the lost. Col3:11. We need to be the mercy seat. We need to treat the whole world this way. Rom5:8. Acceptance was offered before we even pleaded for mercy. God is love not rules. God is hope not harsh. God makes a way. 

2) Acceptance for all needs to be our catch cry. None should perish. EVERYONE who will reach out and accept Him. 

3) Build relationships with the unsaved. Relationships is vital in a Post Modern society. It's not about a sales pitch. People will convert to a community before they commit. People need to belong before believing. 

4) The spoken Gospel needs to be clear which is backed up by the way we live our life. Jesus needs to be the centre. The message needs to be relevant to real life. The message doesn't come any simpler. 

5) The message of Jesus needs to be presented with creative diversity. There are so many ways to share the message. 

 

6) Let people know that life's purpose is found in Jesus Christ. There are many confused about purpose and struggle for the meaning of there existence. Not just about how Jesus meets my needs but that He saved. Jer29:11. Ep1:5. Ps139:16. He has a plan. Jesus equals purpose.

Pastor Anthony Peterson's message is about Jesus and the world's perception of Jesus. A lot of movies include an unlikely hero who may be reluctant hero or a stranger who walks into town. As the character of the hero is developed most of these have an underlying story that says "Who am I?"

Today the world is still spiritually thirsty. Our hearts will always be thirsty until filled. People will try or believe anything to belong to something, they will even believe or follow a lie. What the world gives is a poor substitute for the truth.

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. We can't fix our broken hearts, only Jesus can and only if we believe in him. We do not need to clean up our life before we come to Christ, Jesus meets us just as we are.

Jesus met the pharisees just as they were but they were not willing to relinquish their power and in not believing they were unable to receive and know the truth.

God is the only one in a position to condemn, and he doesn't.

Scripture:

John 7:37

John 7:45 to 53

John 3:16 to 18

Isaiah 9:1 to 2

John 8:2 to 11

John 14:6

Visiting Pastor Jack Hanes takes us back to the foundations of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How would you feel if your only hope to hear the Gospel was from someone who for some personal reason was not willing to risk sharing? We need to get the message of the Gospel, that was entrusted to us by God, out into the world where the lost live.

The master key to abundant living. This isn't the game, it's the tryouts. 

 

OTHERS is the key. A life lived focused on others. Mk10:42. The focus of a servant is not self. Those who will be great will have a focus on others. The most fulfilled living. Narrow shallow living is about self. People who live for self never succeed in satisfying self. Our lives are like a grain of wheat. An unplanted grain is insignificant and it dies. It was never meant to be held onto. God is not boring, you are. If this is the deal, plant me. It's His idea. What comes up is so much larger and it can grow and multiply. We live in the age of self. Jesus is our example. Mk10:45. He came to serve others. Ph2:5. We need to break free from self. Let's get this right. It's not about me but God flowing through me. You are one heartbeat away from eternity. There are so many opportunities. How insecure are you. God must be your source then you can live to give. Ro12:2. Don't let the world squeeze you into its mould. The world is not happy. How about going to work tomorrow and it wasn't about you. What is the measure of your blessing. We must lose our life to find it. Ph4:19.

This message from Allan Davis concerns our commission to reach the world for Christ.

As christians we have a different view of the world. We live in the world, we don't 'close the door and light the lights'.We follow Christ because someone reached into our world with the gospel.Only Christ can change people.You can be salt and light in our world.People may not appear to be interested in your message but they will always watch you.Christ has no body but yours. No hands and feet but yours.God gave us the Holy Spirit to reach our world.With God's Spirit in us we can be Jesus to the lost.It only takes one generation to go from a people that believes in God to a people that doesn't believe God.

God is love and God loves you.Scripture:

John 3:16

Romans 1:16