Impact Church London

Series: “Open House”. Sermon:  “We Carry Mats”

Proverbs 9:1 

“Wisdom has built her house,

Matthew 16:18

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Hebrews 3:6 (NLT)

“But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, …”

Galatians 6:10

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Ephesians 3:10

“God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

You must find companions or make them. The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.

                        John Wesley

Mark 1:37

“Everyone is looking for You.”

Mark 2:1-12

“And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. …

1. A Place Where Crowds Gather

His presence is important at Impact Church!

He draws a crowd.

We want to remove obstacles to people encountering Jesus.

And He preached the word to them.

2. A Place Where Word Is Preached

An anointed proclamation of the Word is the same as a personal encounter with Jesus.

E.B.I. Pulpit … “Sir, we Would See Jesus.” John 12:21

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 

3. A Place Where You Bring Friends

Thankfully this person had friends.

In a culture that would have believed he was cursed. 

He deserved what he was experiencing.

Sadly brokenness causes isolation and avoidance.

Luke 24:46-47

“Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, 

beginning at Jerusalem.”

I’m here today because someone picked up a corner of my mat.

People were wiling to engage my brokenness.

People saw God’s purpose in my life.

My wife carries my mat everyday.

And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith,…

4. A Place Faith Is Expressed

I just know if I remove the barriers to getting people in the house they will experience breakthrough.

Willing to go to extremes!!!

He called it FAITH!

I call the police!

He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

(Friends: Not quite what we were expecting)

5. A Place Of Good News 

God is good. He forgives you.

He’s not mad at you.

He’s always been on a loving pursuit .

Forgiveness is not something God does, it’s something He has done.

Marghanita Laski, a well known secular humanist and novelist,

not long before she died in 1988, in television interview said:

“What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.”

And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, …

He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’

6. A Place Religious Barriers Are Exposed 

False motives and faulty belief systems get exposed.

What matters most? 

You’re Forgiven!!!

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

7. A Place Where The Miraculous Is Manifest

We see people carrying what they used to lie on. Now it’s a testimony!

Amazed (existēmi):— to throw out of position, to astonish, throw into wonderment, to be out of one’s mind.

Luke 7:16-17 (Message)

“They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, ‘God is back, looking to the needs of his people!’ The news of Jesus spread all through the country.”

At Impact Church we carry mats.

We do circles and rows.

1. Get Connected 

2. Stay Connected

3. Make Connections

John 1:17-18 

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”  Jesus Is God!!!

Fans Or Followers

MAKE.   Attenders.   DISCIPLES

Matthew 4:19 “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

Matthew 28:18-19 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, …”

We are not waiting to get to heaven. We are living now with His life. HIS POWER HIS KINGDOM

Church — Not a place you gather on Sunday but a family you belong to 24/7

Circle The Most Important To God:

     Pasto    Carpenter    Lawyer    Truck Driver    Evangelist       Teacher.     Waitress      Doctor

Martin Luther “A cobbler, a smith, a farmer, each has the work in the office of his trade, consecrated Priests and Bishops.”

Your vocation is a Holy calling. WORK = WORSHIP. LIFE = WORSHIP

1 Corinthians 7:20 “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.” 

“Usually a person should keep on with the work he was doing when God called him.” (LB) 

“Each one should remain in the condition in which he was [when he was] called.” (AMP) 

Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)  “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”    Full maturity only happens together.

Romans 16:3-4 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me.”

2 Corinthians 6:1  “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

Sunergos (With and to Labour / work) Synergy:— the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”   Michael Jordan 

Draught Horses can go from pulling 8,000lbs to 50,000lbs when trained to collaborate.

The powerful lessons that these magnificent draft horses can teach us involves not only teamwork but coordinated and trained collaboration.

A great church is not built on the talent of a few but on the dedication and sacrifice of many.

It will take a growing team to transform this city and beyond.

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)“But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, ‘We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.  And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).

These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

1 Peter 4:10   “As each one has received a gift,(SHAPE) minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 

We are  committed to realising your SHAPE!

    S piritual Gifts    

    H eart    

    A bilities     

    P ersonality   

    E xperiences 

We want to serve your shape.  Our desire is that you become everything God created you to be. 

Ephesians 2:10  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  

Workmanship (Poiema):—that which is made or done; a work, workmanship. creation,  His PEOM!!!! 

2 Questions To Help You Engage:

1. What makes you tick?      Brings you joy makes you feel fulfilled and satisfied.

2. What ticks you off?           Annoys me and could be done better.

Romans 12:1 (MESSAGE) “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” 

Sermon Series: “Drop The Stone”  Sermon:  “Don’t Screen The Guest List”

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.   Mother Terresa

Luke 15:1-3 “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:’”

Luke 15:4-7 Lost Sheep “… and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”   Leave the 99 for 1

Luke 15:8-10 Lost Coin “… light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? …she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me,…”

Forensic thorough search for coin.

Luke 15:11-24  Lost Son “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.”

Culturally:— you are dead to me

“And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” 

Prodigal:—Waster

This chapter is the Gospel within the Gospel.

We can trust what these stories represent because they come from the only one who comes from the Father. JESUS!

“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”  (Over and over with tender love TPT)

The Father covered him with his love. Bore his shame.

“And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said…” 

Enough of your nonsense!

“‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;…” Righteousness — Worth — Sonship

“…for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” Please don’t misunderstand your Heavenly Father. He’s never not loved you.

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

“…And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.”   Leaves the party for his son.      The Father goes after his lost son! 

“So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.”

(NIV) “‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.’”

Despises his brother and insults the compassion of his Father.    I’ve earned so can he.

Pharisees and scribes had the wrong approach to Repentance:

You must clean up your act to come to a Holy God.

Jesus had Good News.  The Father loves and accepts you.

“…But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’”

The father wants children not slaves. The older son spent his life as a slave.

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”   

Story comes to an abrupt ending.

Two Possible Outcomes:      1. The Son Comes Inside       2. The Son Rejects His Father

Sadly we do know the outcome!

John 8:40, 44 “But now you seek to kill Me … You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.”

Luke 23:34 (TPT) “While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, he prayed over and over, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.’”

Titus 3:3 TPT “For it wasn’t that long ago that we behaved foolishly in our stubborn disobedience. We were easily led astray as slaves to worldly passions and pleasures. We wasted our lives in doing evil, and with hateful jealousy we hated others.”

Ephesians 2:1-2 (NLT) “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.”

Ephesians 2:8 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”

Acts 5:31 (AMP) “God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior and Deliverer, in order to grant repentance to Israel, and [to grant] forgiveness of sins.”

Luke 19:10  “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

You can’ t screen or edit the guest list.

Are you:   “Grace A Lot”     OR       “Grace Alone”

Sermon Series: “Drop The Stone”  Sermon:  “It’s Safe To Come Home”

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.   Mother Terresa

Matthew 7:1 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

Suffering is built into the structure of being self-righteous.

The Sin of Judgement will always make its way back to you.

It’s not someone else or the system that needs to be fixed. (JUDGED or ATTACKED)

The only solution is sacrificial love, ascribing unsurpassable worth to others.

In an October 2022 Barna survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, three out of four (74%) say they want to grow spiritually. Additionally, the same proportion (77%) say they believe in a higher power. Nearly half (44%) say they are more open to God today than before the pandemic.

It’s Safe To Come Home

Luke 15:1-3 “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:’”

Hebrews 1:2-3 “…spoken to us by His Son, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”

The religious leaders and guides of the day had a poor concept of God. 

They were great rule keepers. You would hire them.

Jesus came to represent God. He tried to correct their understanding of the Father.

Mathew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

Luke 15:4-7 Lost Sheep “… and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”    Leave the 99 for 1

Luke 15:8-10. Lost Coin “… light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? …she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me,…”.  Forensic thorough search for coin.

Luke 15:11-24  “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.”    Culturally:— you are dead to me

“And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.”     Prodigal:—Waster

“…joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. …and no one gave him anything.”  An unnamed character who will take everything you have.

“But when he came to himself,” “When he finally came to his senses,…”  (NLT)

“That brought him to his senses.” (The Message)

This is the A.H.A. moment.

1. Awakened — What am I doing?  2. Honesty — I’ve screwed up!  3. Action — Time for a change.

Tell the devil; “I changed my mind.”

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”   The three part speech.

“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”   (Over and over with tender love TPT)

The Father covered him with his love. Bore his shame.

“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said…”     Enough of your nonsense!

“‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;…” Righteousness — Worth — Sonship

“…for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”

Please don’t misunderstand your Heavenly Father. He’s never not loved you.

Just how long did it take for that son to get out of his pig stink and get on the dance floor?

1. One Hour    2. Two Hours.  3. Three Hours

Jesus loves a wild party!

Series: “Drop The Stone:  Sermon:  “The Root Cause”

“A study of people ages 16–29 in the United States found that nearly 90 percent of respondents articulated the opinion that Christians are Judgemental.”  Barna Research 

In an October 2022 Barna survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, three out of four (74%) say they want to grow spiritually. Additionally, the same proportion (77%) say they believe in a higher power. Nearly half (44%) say they are more open to God today than before the pandemic.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.   Mother Terresa

Matthew 7:1 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

Suffering is built into the structure of being self-righteous.

The Sin of Judgement will always make its way back to you.

It’s not someone else or the system that needs to be fixed. (JUDGED or ATTACKED)

The only solution is sacrificial love, ascribing unsurpassable worth to others.

Katakrino:— against and judge, casting down, placing below, esteeming yourself better than.

Unhealthy comparison. Pride

In the privacy of our own mind or with a group we look down on others by feeding off the contrast.

Love:— ascribing worth to another at the cost to oneself.

Judgement:— ascribing worth to yourself at the cost of another.

John 13:34  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you,…”

L  – Listen Intently.  O – Offer Support.    V  – Voice Honesty.     E  – Esteem Greater

Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Diakrisis:— to discern or distinguish not for the purpose of passing judgment on opinions, but as to which one is to be preferred as the more correct.

The meat sauce or the marinara.

TWO TREES. —  In Christ or In Adam. — Law or Grace

Genesis 1:28  NKJV “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

TLV “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the land, and conquer it.”    (Kawbash)

Genesis 2:15 “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”

Shamar:— to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life and protect … 

What are they guarding against?  God’s Enemies.  Talking snakes!

Mankind is a part of the eternal purpose of God to once and for all put the KIBOSH on all evil and guard against it’s intrusion!!!

The devil wasn’t going to just sit back and let this happen. He attacked God’s plan right away.

Genesis 2:16-17  “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:4 “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”

“Original sin” was eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

The sin of pursuing LIFE (our identity, worth, significance and security) for ourselves, apart from God.  An attempt to know what only God can rightly know.   

Satan’s challenge to Adam and Eve was, don’t you want to be Godly, knowing right and wrong?

The fruit of self was introduced to mankind. INDEPENDENCE 

We have the ability to now determine what is right and wrong. We will self govern!  MORALISM

Genesis 3:7-8 “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day,…”

“…and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

Fallen mindset: God is going to kill us!

They instead became accusers of God, themselves and each other.

Authentic Christianity is about union and communion with God.

Knowledge of Good and Evil was prohibited: They didn’t have it! They didn’t need it! They were corrupted by it! Religion is a moralistic way of living and viewing life.

God did not in any way change because they ate of the Tree of Knowledge.

Man Changed!!!

His View Of Himself Changed

His View Of Others Changed

His View Of God Changed

Genesis 3:10 “‘Where are you?’ So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’” 

F ear  — I don’t trust you.    I  gnorance — I don’t know you.    G uilt — I’m no good.  

Victimisation / Condemnation / Blame 

Genesis 3:22,24 “‘… man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever’ … So He drove out the man; …and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”

It is not a power figure imposing punishment on a subordinate for misbehaviour.

It is a loving Father desribing the natural consequences of eating the prohibited fruit.

The choice remains for every person:  Who do I trust? Who is in CONTROL?

1 Corinthians 6:17 “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

Moralism:— the belief that the Gospel can be reduced to improvements in behaviour.

Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Morgan Guyton. “So we should not be pursuing the knowledge of good and evil when we read the Bible; that’s eating the same fruit that Adam and Eve ate. Instead we should be reading the Bible to discover the love of God that makes us more loving.

Sadly, too many Christians want knowledge rather than love because knowledge gives us a feeling of power. It makes us think we can be like God, exactly what the serpent tricked Eve into believing.

But knowledge itself, even perfect knowledge of good and evil, has no power to make us like God at all. It is love that makes us like God, and only God can be the origin of love; we can only be its recipients and conduits.”

Luke 8:9-14 “Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: … justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Study with group connected to and MRI 

Presented with things that you believe and agree with and  Pleasure centre is activated.

Presented with things that you disagree with and don’t believe and Amygdela flight or fight centre is activated.

Frontal lob becomes inactive.  Reason is gone.  Tribal emotionalism.

The cross of Jesus utterly destroys every self-righteous presumption. There is no greater intimidation to the knowledge of good and evil than the cross.      Rick Joyner

Series: “Drop The Stone”  Sermon: “Help With Consequences” 

“A study of people ages 16–29 in the United States found that nearly 90 percent of respondents articulated the opinion that Christians are Judgemental.”  Barna Research 

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.  Mother Terresa

What is Jesus agenda for sinners?

Not to harm but to help.   Not to judge but to justify.   Not to condemn but to convert

Matthew 7:1 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

John 8:10-11 “So he stood back up and said to her, ‘Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?’ Looking around, she replied, ‘I see no one, Lord (BELIEF – FAITH).’

Jesus said, ‘Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.’” 

Is he glorified in the stoning of a sinner or in the salvation of a sinner?

The only one qualified to throw a stone doesn’t .. why would you? 

Accusation doesn’t stop people from sinning it keeps them from church!

Condemnation (katakrinō):—  to give judgment against, to judge worthy of punishment, to condemn.

Condemned:— prove or show to be guilty or unsatisfactory; officially declare (something) to be unfit for use; sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, especially death

A dwelling unfit for occupation.

“If you get condemnation out of the Gospel, you put the condemnation into it yourselves! It is not the Gospel” 

                Charles Spurgeon 

“The Law and the Gospel are two keys. The Law is the key that shutteth up all men under condemnation, and the Gospel is the key which opens the door and lets them out.”    William Tyndale

Pastor Cheryl said:  “Romans 8 Paul begins his case with there is no condemnation and closes it with nothing can separate us from the love of God. Perfect book ends!”

Romans 8:1-4 (TPT)  “So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. …

For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us from the “law” of sin and death. For God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature. …

Yet God sent us his Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave his body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin. …

So now every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living his life in us. And we are free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit!”

Guilt:— I regret what I did.       Shame:—  I regret who I am.

“Condemnation has to do with identity, but consequences have to do with behavior.” 

1 John 2:1-2  “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

1 John 3:20-22 “My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. (for others and ourselves) This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.”

You are forgiven past, present and future. That’s permanent!

But the consequences of sin … That’s persistent!

Proverbs 26:11  “As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.”

Grace is Jesus. 

He is the ongoing sacred place where we encounter a Holy God.  

I don’t have to earn or qualify for my forgiveness nor do I battle the consequences of sin on my own.

Psalm 103 10-12 “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Isaiah 57:18  (AMP) “I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him [also] and will restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him,”

Psalm 38:1,22 “Take a deep breath, God; calm down— don’t be so hasty with your punishing rod. … Hurry and help me; I want some wide-open space in my life!”

Titus 2:11-12 (TPT). “God’s marvelous grace has manifested in person, bringing salvation for everyone. This same grace teaches us how to live each day as we turn our backs on ungodliness and indulgent lifestyles, and it equips us to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in this present age.”

Mattew 11:28-30 (Message) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Hebrerws 4:16  (AMP) “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].”

You’re not Justified because you behaved right.

You behave right because you’re Justified.

Identity always precedes behaviour.

Lamentations 3:20-23 “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Series : Drop the Stones “Case Dismissed”

Spending the past couple of weeks looking at the story of the woman caught in

We are addressing the idea of Judgement… and a call to drop the Stones.

“A study of people ages 16–29 in the United States found that nearly 90 percent of

Where does that impression find its source?

We cannot blame it on the Media they only report what they see, here

Intentionally or unintentionally, we have communicated to the world, that

Wayne Dyer said, “When we judge another, we do not define them, we define

Mother Terresa, “If we judge people, we have no time to love them.”

Week One- We see how Jesus responds when we are caught… We learn that

Week Two- We learn about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

In this story John exposes the Pharisee’s motive. They were not really concerned

They wanted to trap Jesus by creating a situation where He would have to choose

Just as this adulterous woman had been used by her lovers for selfish reasons, these

Let me just say, using someone else’s failures or mistakes to promote oneself is

Leveraging another person’s shortcomings for personal gain diminishes trust, and

The voices of critics condemn, criticize, destroy, mock, and humiliate. Their

We ought not be those voices that judge others by the color of their skin, the brand

This story is not suggesting that we ignore sin and its damaging affects upon

But as we learned last week there is help for the Hypocrite

Even if you are a hypocrite Jesus still loves you and there is help.

Today I want to focus Jesus words, “Neither do I condemn you.”

John 3:16-17

But we often leave out, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the

John 10:10

One of the things that makes this so powerful is that it illustrates the normative

We don’t see this only here in John 8

Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus moving toward sinners in ways that shock

• In Luke 7, When the woman of the city (likely a prostitute) poured ointment

He will not break us. He will not put us out. He was broken for us. He was put

William Tyndale said, “The Law and the Gospel are two keys. The Law is the key

J. I. Packer, “God’s love is an exercise of his goodness toward sinners who merit

Condemnation doesn’t keep us from sinning, it robs us of our faith and confidence

Titus- It is grace that teaches us to say no to ungodliness and yes to God.

When you are caught and are guilty nothing can be more liberating than an

Project Rachel… Confession with priest face to face…I absolve you…( I release,

However, on any given day we can experience the voices of the critics accusing

1. The Law- It can’t condemn you … Jesus fulfilled it on your behalf…

Colossians 2:13 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of

3. And the loudest voice of all ourselves – In my experience self-condemnation

By the way you don’t have to be an adulterer to experience the cutting edge of

BAG AND STONES

But make no mistake self-condemnation poisons our soul.

A Caveat… we are talking about dealing with condemnation today but make no

“Condemnation has to do with identity, but consequences have to do with

Self-Condemnation Attacks my Identity

There may be truth in Satan’s accusations. There may be truth to what I say

None the less, Self-Condemnation is debilitating…So what is the answer?

Know that God is greater than your heart, and he knows everything…

1 John 3:20-22 “My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice

o Remedy Number ONE- Live in Love

Romans 8 is a rhetorical masterpiece, in which Paul employs several

For our purposes today let’s look at Romans 8 as a courtroom drama, where

In general elements of a courtroom setting include the accused, charges,

The accused the self- condemned is charged with, being a

PAUL BEGINS WITH AN OPENING STATEMENT- (members of the court)

Immediately with his opening statement Paul proffers relief for any

Now for the next 38 verses Paul makes the case… “There is therefore now no

BTW- Spoiler Alert the key witnesses are none other than the Son and Holy

Paul argues the case that we are not guilty or condemned by illustrating that the

Paul calls on his first key witness Jesus who is our greatest advocate.

1. The Role of Jesus Christ as Witness:

2 Cor. 5:21 “He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf,

Jesus is our advocate… backer, supporter, stand in. He did this to make us RIGHT.

HE CONDEMNED IN HIS FLESH SIN…NOT THE SINNER

JESUS ADVOCAY WAS NOT A ONE TIME EVENT BUT HE SITS AT

Jesus not only died and was raised but also continually intercedes for believers at

Next Paul calls on the Holy Spirit- who provides superb evidence to the life of

2. The Role of Holy Spirit as witness- witnesses that:

Two intercessors working on our behalf…The Son and The Holy

IN THAT GOD IS COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO A PARTICULAR

Romans 8:3 tells us it was God who sent The Son to deal with our sin problem

God Adopted us as His Children (Romans 8:15-16):

God has Purposes and Plans for Us (Romans 8:28-30): He is committed to

Notice there is no mention of God predestinating some to heaven and others to

If God gave us His best so we could be free, surely, he will continue to give us

God the Father is unequivocally partial.

• THE VERDICT- NOT GUILTY

It is an Open and Closed Case

In Romans 8 we see the unified and comprehensive work of the Trinity assuring

Therefore, there is now no condemnation: The Case Against Us is Dismissed”

Series: “Drop The Stone”  Sermon: “Help! I’m A Hypocrite”

“A study of people ages 16–29 in the United States found that nearly 90 percent of respondents articulated the opinion that Christians are Judgemental.”  Barna Research 

When you Judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.   Wayne Dyer

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.  Mother Terresa

Matthew 7:1 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

In trying to trap Jesus they ended up doing me a great favour. Their abuse was turned to freedom. 

Vs. 10-11“‘Dear woman, where are your accusers?’ Looking around, she replied, ‘I see no one, Lord (FAITH).’”

John 8:12 “Then Jesus said, ‘I am light to the world, and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.’”

John 8:1-11  (TPT) “Jesus walked up the Mount of Olives near the city where he spent the night. Then at dawn Jesus appeared in the temple courts again, and soon all the people gathered around to listen to his words, so he sat down and taught them.

Then in the middle of his teaching, the religious scholars and the Pharisees broke through the crowd and brought a woman who had been caught in the act of committing adultery and made her stand in the middle of everyone.

Then they said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we caught this woman in the very act of adultery. Doesn’t Moses’ law command us to stone to death a woman like this? Tell us, what do you say we should do with her?’ They were only testing Jesus because they hoped to trap him with his own words and accuse him of breaking the laws of Moses.

When they should have been in church they were out creeping on the bedrooms of desperate housewives. Where is the dude? 

Was he a fast runner or did he change his clothes and join the team?

But Jesus didn’t answer them. Instead he simply bent down and wrote in the dust with his finger. Angry, they kept insisting that he answer their question, so Jesus stood up and looked at them and said, ‘Let’s have the man who has never had a sinful desire throw the first stone at her.’

“Wrote” (katagraphein):— a compound word, to write against, as in framing an indictment. 

Just used once in the NT.

Jeremiah 17:13 “O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. ‘Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the Lord, The fountain of living waters.

John 7:37 “Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds—‘All you thirsty ones, come to me! Come to me and drink! Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!’”

Jesus had become a real problem to the religious system of the day.

He was completely undermining their weaponising of the Law.

He manifest a forgiving and loving Father, a friend of sinners.

And then he bent over again and wrote some more words in the dust. Upon hearing that, her accusers slowly left the crowd one at a time, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, with a convicted conscience. Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him.

There is hope for the self-righteous. If they have a functioning conscience they can still express enough self-awareness to drop the stones.    You got stones?

1 Timothy 4:2 “These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.”

So he stood back up and said to her, ‘Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?’  Looking around, she replied, ‘I see no one, Lord (BELIEF – FAITH).’

Jesus said, ‘Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.’” 

1 John 2:1-2  “You are my dear children, and I write these things to you so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we continually have a forgiving Redeemer who is face-to-face with the Father: Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Galatians 6:1-2 (TPT) “My beloved friends, if you see a believer who is overtaken with a fault, the one who is in the Spirit should seek to restore him in the Spirit of gentleness. But keep watch over your own heart so that you won’t be tempted to exalt yourself over him. Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles.”

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you,…”

What is Jesus agenda for sinners?

Not to harm but to help

Not to judge but to justify

Not to condemn but to convert

Is he glorified in the stoning of a sinner or in the salvation of a sinner?

The only one qualified to throw a stone doesn’t .. why would you? 

Accusation doesn’t stop people from sinning it keeps them from church!

         L  – Listen Intently

         O – Offer Support

         V  – Voice Honesty

         E  – Esteem Greater

Jesus in that face-to-face encounter throws mercy, grace and the transformational power of unconditional love.    “Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.”

John 1:17-18  “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”  Jesus Is God!!!

Series: “Drop The Stone”  Sermon: “Set Free From Sin”

“A substantial majority of Millennials (1981- 96) who don’t go to church say they see Christians as judgmental (87%), hypocritical (85%), anti-homosexual (91%) and insensitive to others (70%).”

“A study of people ages 16–29 in the United States found that nearly 90 percent of respondents articulated the opinion that Christians are Judgemental.”  Barna Research 

When you Judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.   Wayne Dyer

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.    Mother Terresa

Matthew 7:1 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

That person is ugly!                     I’m ugly.

That person is so stupid?            I’m stupid.

That person is so wrong!             I’m wrong.

That person is so annoying!        I’m annoying.

(Psychology Today)

People judge others to avoid reckoning with potential feelings of inferiority and shame.

Since judging others can never give a person what they really need, they feel like they have to keep doing it.

One can choose not to perpetuate the cycle of judgment.

John 8:1-11  (TPT) “Jesus walked up the Mount of Olives near the city where he spent the night. Then at dawn Jesus appeared in the temple courts again, and soon all the people gathered around to listen to his words, so he sat down and taught them.

Then in the middle of his teaching, the religious scholars and the Pharisees broke through the crowd and brought a woman who had been caught in the act of committing adultery and made her stand in the middle of everyone.

Then they said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we caught this woman in the very act of adultery. Doesn’t Moses’ law command us to stone to death a woman like this? Tell us, what do you say we should do with her?’ They were only testing Jesus because they hoped to trap him with his own words and accuse him of breaking the laws of Moses.

But Jesus didn’t answer them. Instead he simply bent down and wrote in the dust with his finger. Angry, they kept insisting that he answer their question, so Jesus stood up and looked at them and said, ‘Let’s have the man who has never had a sinful desire throw the first stone at her.’

And then he bent over again and wrote some more words in the dust. Upon hearing that, her accusers slowly left the crowd one at a time, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, with a convicted conscience. Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him.

Look what Jesus wrote in the sand!

Jeremiah 17:13  “O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. ‘Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the Lord, The fountain of living waters.

John 7:37 “Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds—‘All you thirsty ones, come to me! Come to me and drink! Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!’”

They refused to believe Jesus was The Lord, the hope of Isreal.

So he stood back up and said to her, ‘Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?’ Looking around, she replied, ‘I see no one, Lord.’

Jesus said, ‘Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.’” 

Numbers 32:23 “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

2 Kings 5:26 “But Elisha said to him, ‘Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes…”

Proverbs 15:3 NLT “The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.”

In trying to trap Jesus they ended up doing me a great favour.

There abuse was turned to freedom. 

Vs. 10-11“‘Dear woman, where are your accusers?’ Looking around, she replied, ‘I see no one, Lord.’”

Psalm 32:1-5 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.

Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 

Finally, I confessed (yada) all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” 

2 Corinthians 5:19 (NLT) “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.”

Romans 3:21-25  (NLT) “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.  We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.

And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.”

Sermon:  “Canada, God Has A Question”

Canadian Facts:

The official phone number for Canada is 1-800-o-canada.

10% of the world’s forests are in Canada.

Sam Panopoulos Canadian creator of the Hawaiian Pizza

Longest street Young — 2,000 km.    Longest coastline — 202,000 km

The United States has invaded Canada twice. Lost both times.

Wasaga – Canada has the longest freshwater beach in the world.

Canada eats more doughnuts than any other country in the world.

Basketball was invented by a Canadian — Dr James Naismith

Superman was co-created by Jerry Siegal and Canadian Joe Shuster.

Canada is the most educated country in the world

More than 50% of the Canadian population has a post-secondary education qualification. And Canada’s literacy rate is 99%.

Psalm 33:12 “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”

Psalm 72:8 “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.”

Dominion:– dominance or power through legal authority; Sovereign or supreme authority.

“He shall have dominion…”

“…Canada and the Canadian church is going to rise up once again and go to the four corners of the world and bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to pave the way for His second coming.”  CHO

The Bible is about a King, a Kingdom, and a royal family of children. 

A message about the desire of a King to extend His Kingdom  through His royal family. 

Matthew 13:33  (NLT) “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”      Quietly — Progressively — Inevitably     His Kingdom fills every thing every way!

Man rejected heaven’s government, when he chose independence.

The result was manmade attempts to govern God’s creation.

The root of the problems that plague mankind are primarily fallen government and religion.

1 Peter 2:9   “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

“Prayer is essentially a partnership of the redeemed child with God. Working hand in hand with God towards the realization of His redemptive purposes in the earth.”     Jack Hayford

“What a man is on his knees before God, that he is, and nothing more.”  R M McCheyne

“The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.”  Andrew Murray

Acts 2:18-19  “I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy: I will show…” 

Isaiah 48:6-7  “I show you specified new things from this time forth, even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known.They are created now [called into being by the prophetic word], and not long ago; and before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, Behold, I knew them.” 

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”    Two-edged (Distomos):— two mouthes 

Jeremiah 1:9-10 “Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.’” 

Jeremiah 1:12 (AMP)  “Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.” 

When God wants to change the world he touches someones mouth. 

Isaiah 6:6-8   “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, … Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I!  Send me.’”

Ezekiel 37 BACKGROUND

Those not taken into captivity revolted and Babylon returned, razed Jerusalem and the temple. 

Ezekiel in the first group taken into Babylon. 

People broken and hopeless. 

Ezekiel 37:1-14  “The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.”

THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD — HOPELESS!!!  

And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.’ So I prophesied as I was commanded;…

and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.  Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.    

Also He said to me, Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 

1. Position Yourself For Vision 

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

No fresh vision and you fall for nonsense, abuse your purpose.

“I didn’t move.”  D. Karl Thomas

2. Speak His Word To The Dry Bones

Don’t speak for them speak to them. What does God Say?

Can God trust you to speak that word.

A Prophetic voice will cause NOISE!

Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Proverbs 11:11 “A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked.”

3. Command The Army To Breathe

 2 Timothy 3:5 “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Ezekiel 47:12 “Look, I am about to open your graves and will raise you from your graves, my people. I will bring you to the land…”