Church in the Peak

Lesley spoke from Mark 4 and 5 about Jesus calming the storm and delivering the man from Legion.

Richard spoke about the Great Commission in Matthew 28.

Phil spoke about how God's way of measuring success is different from ours.

Vicki spoke about square watermelons at our baptism service this morning. 

For Dave's notes (in PDF format), click here.

School reports - Has Potential
Moses - Has Potential
Exodus 3+4 - The beginning of the story of Moses
3:1-15, 19-22, 4:1-17
What I love about this story is that God sees potential in Moses – even though Moses doesn’t see it in himself at this point!
FIVE times he argues with God about being sent
3:11 – Who am I to do this?
3:13 – What do I say when they ask who sent you?
4:1 – What if they don’t believe me/listen to me?
4:10 – I am not good with words – I get tongue tied and my words get tangled
4:13 – Lord please send someone else!
Finally is v14 The Lord gets angry with Moses – You know if this was me I would have got angry earlier and I would be like – Don’t worry I’ll do it myself – If you want something done properly do it yourself – You obviously don’t want to do this so I will find someone who can! Gods patience is so wonderful here towards Moses and he can work with people who are not full of themselves and need help – who are unsure of their own abilities and calling – that’s us by the way! God does not give up on Moses but declares he will be with him and give him the words to say. God says the same to us!
Often the Lord has more faith in us that we have in ourselves! We are quick to write ourselves off but God sees potential in us for him to work with.
Are we not exactly the same as Moses when God asks us to step out for him, at group, at work, in the street and at Church?
What is our first response so often?
Please use someone else!
Who am I to do this?
What do I say – Help!
What if they don’t listen?
I am no good with words!
These so often are the cries of our heart which stop us from stepping out with God and yet he wants to work with us in partnership to bring his truth and glory to the Church.
We must also remember that the enemy knows our concerns and will try to stop us stepping out with God – he will say all of these things and more to keep you quiet!
Examples in my own life
Singing – Starling and Nightingales
Catalyst – Interpretation
Quiet times – I can’t say that – who am I to say that? What if its wrong? What if I look stupid?
I am sure you can all think of examples in your own lives – I had a prophetic word/scripture/ tongue or interpretation at group or on Sunday but I didn’t bring it.
God could have defeated the Egyptians by himself without any bother – and yet he chooses to work in partnership with us to do his work on earth – what an amazing truth this is – just think about this for a moment! 
You are invited into partnership with God to see his purposes fulfilled in the Church, in the community and in the earth – Just as he partnered with Moses to set his people free in Egypt. This is not just for elders – it’s for the whole church, the spirit gives gifts not us! 
1 Corinthains 12:11
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
2 Corinthians 5:18
Ambassadors – Explain – Embassy – Same as homeland – The rights of the sending country stay the same at the Embassy in a different country.
Italians – Guns, Cigarettes and mobile in meetings! How? Because they are ambassadors in a foreign country. This is our calling – we are Christ’s ambassadors in this foreign county with all the rights of the sending country at our fingertips – and where is the sending country – Heaven – 
Phillippians 3:20
To Finish
Matthew 10:19-20
Don’t let your spiritual report say “Has potential” let it say “Have fulfilled their potential”
Questions for groups:
1.Can you relate to Moses and the excuses that he gives to God – aren’t we just the same sometimes?
2.What stops us from stepping out – It may be different for each person?
3.Have you ever thought of yourself as an ambassador for Christ? Does the understanding of an ambassadors role help in realizing our potential in Christ?
4.Fear verses faith – this affects our live so much – what can we do to increase our faith and decrease our f

Ray spoke from God's letter to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2 about recovering your first love.

Mike used the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to remind us that God Is Able.

The Ten Bridesmaids
Matthew 25:1-13 NLT
[1] “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. [3] The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, [4] but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. [5] When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. [6] “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ [7] “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. [8] Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ [9] “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ [10] “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. [11] Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ [12] “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ [13] “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Don’t Live on Borrowed Oil verse 7-9

We have to find God for ourselves

When I was 14 - had to find God for myself, let the church my parents were in to find God and not be influenced by them. They had may stories of being filled and experiencing God's presence powerfully. I could not live of their infilling or experience. I needed that for myself.

We only get fresh oil from spending time with God

We cannot get it by consumer church

We have to go to him and after him for it we cannot get it from our parents, friends, our leaders we have to go to God ourselves and get oil from him. Others help direct us lead us show us the way,

Jesus gave the invitation to go to him - if anyone is thirsty come to me.

John 7:37-39 NLT
[37] On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! [38] Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” [39] (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) 

We might try and fill ourselves with counterfeit oil.

Just as synthetic oils are counterfeit of the real crude Oil we need the crude oil of the Spirit. The genuine oil

There's nowhere else we can get this oil only from him

In the presence of God we find everything we need and so much more

There’s no lack in God he is all sufficient for all the oil you need

Questions
●Are you trying to fill your life with counterfeit oil? Or trying to life of someone else’s oil?
●Has your oil become dirty and in need of replacing?
●Have you run out of oil ?
●If you feel you are already full, God wants to give you more. Ask and you will receive pressed down and running over.

Neal spoke on giving.

To view Neal's full notes, click here.

Matthew 6 vs 21 vs 24-33

Two key verses here

Vs 21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be”

We will come back to this verse a little later

Vs 30 “ Why do you have so little faith?”

I want to look at four areas that we need to be aware of when we are talking about giving:

1.Faith vs Fear.
2.Your treasure – where is it?
3.Pride
4.The Enemy.

Thoughts to close:

Be motivated by faith not fear and see what God can do!

You cannot out give God. He owns all the doughnuts!!

Questions and discussion points

1.How do you feel about giving after this talk?
2.Has anything helped in understanding the biblical principals involved here?
3.How do you feel about praying and asking God if he wants to use any of your money this week?
4.What is your fear when it comes to money and finance and why do we struggle to have faith in this particular area of our lives?