Impact Church London

Series: “WIJD” — Sermon #2 “Jesus Is Serving Drinks”

“I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires.But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love, and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”   — Napoleon Bonaparte

Hebrews 4:3 (TPT) “For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest!”    It’s Done!!!

Hebrews 4:11 (TPT) “So then we must be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief.”

INCREDIBLE CONTRAST OF TWO INDIVIDUAL LIVES:

John 3. Jesus meets at night with a religious leader. Thirsty individual but too proud and stuck in his religious constricts too meet with Jesus openly. Desperately empty and in need of life.

John 4. Samaritan Woman. Heat of the day. Alone. Broken life. Desperately empty and in need of a drink. Comes in the middles of the day so she doesn’t have to encounter people. Real tragic life. Once a little girl with hopes and dreams but life and culture have been cruel to her.

Religious leaders of Jesus day did not go through Samaria.   MAP

BACKGROUND TO JOHN 4

The hatred between continue to grow over the years… AND – in the year 128 B.C… when the Jews had gained enough power they stormed Mt Gerizim and destroyed the alternate temple that had been built there. AGAIN – the relationship between Jews and Samaritans at the time of Christ was one of deep running hatred.

UNDERSTAND – the women of Jesus’ day and time – whether Jewish, Samaritan, or full-fledged Gentile – were for the most part deemed unworthy of respect, education, and religious training.

W. Wiersbe — Commentary:  “So intense was their dislike of the Samaritans that some of the Pharisees prayed that no Samaritan would be raised in the resurrection!”

Jesus took these Jewish young men down a road they had never traveled before.                                This Divine detour was designed to confront their learned culture of generational bigotry.   

3 Results Of Following Jesus:

1. We find ourselves moveing toward things we usually avoid.                                                                                                                                  2. We have our world view challenged.                                                                                                                                                                            3. We will gain a greater capacity to express His unconditional LOVE!

John 4:4-30, 39-42

She sees the well … a man sitting on it … a jewish man … a rabbi … I have to get water … I’ll face the abuse.

Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

He speaks to the woman and then asks her a very intimate question … WHAT!!!!!

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

If you only knew who I AM!!!

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

sounds good … I’ll have some … this is the best news I’ve heard … HOPE RISING 

JESUS THEN MEDDLES A BIT   WHY???   lets not just give you a future lets heal you of all your hurtful past

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

OUCH … I better change the subject … lets just say I attend a different church …ideology … beliefs

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

WHERE IS GOD? 

Jesus … yes … I have found a thirsty one … His countenance brightens!!!

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Its not about what you believe but who you believe in … its about a relationship with the living God

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

This could be the hope we have all been waiting for!!!

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”

28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Turned her tragedy into triumph … MY PAST IS NOT A PROBLEM … I DON’T HAVE TO HIDE ANY MORE … MY STORY IS A VEHICLE TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS …

30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.  So powerfully set free that those who despised her were made thirsty as well … I want what she has!!!

IF YOU ONLY KNEW … WHO WAS SPEAKING TO YOU!!!!!

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word.

Your freedom is a platform for manifesting the city-transforming power of the Grace of God.               Jesus encounter with this broken woman pain results in a city-wide revival.  Power of your testimony!!

Acts 1:8  “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses (Martus) to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  

W.I.J.D.  —  We are dispensers of living water.   Spring up o well within my soul!!

Series: “WIJD” — Sermon #1 “The Realm Of Confident Rest”

“I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love, and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”   — Napoleon Bonaparte

Hebrews 4:3 (TPT). “For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest!”    It’s Done!!!

PICTURE OF BOAT IN STORM

Mark 4:11 “He said to them, ‘The privilege of intimately knowing the mystery of God’s kingdom realm has been granted to you, but not to the others, where everything is revealed in parables.’”

Mark 4:35-41. “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. …

And a great (Mega) windstorm (Violent, furious gusts with flood rains) arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’

“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

I’m here because of obedience.

I have been faithful. Why This!!!

He didn’t say let’s go die in the lake.

He said let’s crossover.  HIS WORD

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace (HUSH involuntary command), be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great (Mega) calm. (All at once.)  But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 

Not a gradual settling down.  “Dead calm” (RSV)

“Winds and waves synchronise in the sublime symphony of a solemn silence”

Hendricks Bible Commentary 

And they feared exceedingly, (Mega Fear Terror)  and said to one another, “Who can this be, (What kind of man is this.) that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Jesus calmed the natural storm but now He stirred up a spiritual storm within His followers.

They took Him in the boat “as He was” but now “Who can this be?”

Mark 5:1-3 “Then they came to the other side of the sea, …  And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, …”

Lesson is not he can calm your storm. Though He can.

The lesson is that he is majestic, he is king, he is ruler of elemental nature.

Now, what does that demand of you!

Romans 4:17-18 (The Message)  “We call Abraham ‘father’ not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do.”

Romans 4:19-21  “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,  and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Promise is a gift not an assignment or a challenge to do something to realise it!

Gods promise is initiated by Him and fulfilled by Him. 

Your part is to REST!!! 

Genesis 17:17 “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’” 

Abraham and Sarah laughed at the promise of God.

God uses people who laugh at the impossibility of the situation.

Are you in a laughable place?

WIJD

Ephesians 2:5-6 “…made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,…” 

Hebrews 4:1  (NLT)  “God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.”

Hebrews 4:11 (TPT) “So then we must be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief.”

You are never the starting point.

We will manifest WIJD everyday as we live and operate out of the finished work of Christ.  REST

It’s your turn – speak to the storm!

Put God First!

People have embraces phrases that become slogans for the way the approach life:

YOLO — Carpe Diem — Keep On Trucking — One Day At A Time — Just Win Baby

Just Do It — It is what It Is — It’s All Good — PUT GOD FIRST — WIJD

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” 

What an amazing verse. Put God First and he will be sure that things will be provided.

What would you ask for if you found a lamp with a Genie inside: What would you ask?

His Righteousness:— You have entered into a realm where God is dealing with you based on Jesus behaviour and not your own behaviour.     “Dressed in His righteousness alone …”

You can and should pursue many things — but not FIRST!

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”

Luke 14:26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.”

Mark 10:29-30 “So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Philippians 3:12-13 “but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. … but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 4:6-8   “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith …the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,…”

Psalm 27:4   “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

You Put God First By Honouring Him With Your:

1. Time.     2. Talent.     3. Treasure

Ephesians 5:11 (The Message) “Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are….Wake up from your sleep,…  So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get.”

1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.”

Please don’t give to God to get.

But know this, when you give to God you get.

Series “Summer Playlist”  Sermon #6 “Dancing In The Streets”

Dancing In The Streets —  Martha and the Vandellas

“Callin’ out around the world. Are you ready for a brand new beat. Summer’s here and the time is right For dancing in the street.”

1 Thessalonians 1:10 “When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.”

2 Timothy 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

When we meet Christ at his second coming we will enter into his indestructible joy.

Matthew 25:23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. . . . Enter into the joy of your master.’”

Jesus is coming. We must be ready.  Our readiness hastens His return. 

He is returning for a bride, a wedding feast, to consummate a marriage. 

He is returning to fulfil His eternal purpose of a redeemed community in complete union with Himself!

This We Are Convinced Of:  JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!!!

Revelation 22:7   “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Acts 3:19-21 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,  and that He may send Jesus Christ,…

… who was preached to you before,  whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

Prophecies of the second coming out number those of the incarnation 8-1.   1845

260 chapters in the New Testament and the second coming is mentioned 318x’s. 1 in 30 verses.

Before the King of Glory comes the manifest Glory of the King will fill all the earth.

Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 40:5 “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

I want to answer these three questions.

When Will He Come?    How Will He Come?    What Should I Do Now?

How Will He Come?

A. In Person    Acts 1:11  “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

B. Publicly      Luke 17:24  “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.”

C. Unexpected Suddenly    Matthew 24:44  “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Luke 17:26-27 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”

When Will He Come?

A. No One Knows.      Matthew 24:36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”

Acts 1:7-8  “He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

B. A Long Time      Matthew 25:19 “After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”

C. Not Until:      1. Decay Of World Systems       2. His Kingdom Has Influence

Haggai 2:6-9 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, …

 … and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory, … ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,…”

Prophetic of the Church!!!

What Should I Do Now?

A. Accept The Good News      John 3:3 “Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,  you cannot see the Kingdom of God.’”

B. Preach The Good News Mark 16:15 “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’”

C. Extend His Kingdom   Luke 19:13 (KJV)  “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” 

D. Demonstrate His Life

1 John 3:1-3   “…when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” 

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9   “…when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,  in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.  They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Romans 10:9-10    “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

IS GOD OPPOSED TO PLEASURE/ENJOYMENT/FUN

Todays Best Hit. Sly and The Family Stone

That’s when I had Most of my fun, back Hi, hi, hi, hi there Them summer days Those summer days

Hot fun in the summertime Hot fun in the summertime Hot fun in the summertime Hot fun in the summertime

Summertime especially for Canadians is the season for having fun:

Holidays, camping, beach time, BBQ’s, golfing, late night campfires, windows down in the car and the wind blowing through your hair, late night treks to Dairy Queen for Hot Fudge Sundaes.

ANYWAY

If you haven’t guessed by now today’s message is about pleasure/enjoyment…HAVING FUN,

which the Cambridge dictionary defines as enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure.

“ Most non Christians view Christianity as a religion consisting of a bunch of enjoyable actions to avoid.”

Jeremy Jernigan

But having fun, is an experience of liberating engagement- because it requires two things active involvement (immersion into an activity) and a sense of liberation (a release from internal and external restrictions)

What are the benefits of fun?

Stress Reduction: Fun activities serve as a natural stress reliever.

FUN IS IMPORTANT

What I know today is that God created pleasure/fun not Satan, that our having fun is not a threat to God, and it doesn’t disgust God.

I propose if Christianity is not fun it is not pleasing to God nor man.

SO Today I want to answer three questions: 1. Is God opposed to Fun?

Incorporating fun into your life isn’t just about short-lived enjoyment; it’s a pathway to improved

physical and mental health, stronger relationships, and a more vibrant and fulfilling life overall.

So, why would we consider God to be against something that is good for us? We are His children, and He

wants the best for us.

Is God opposed to pleasure/enjoyment/fun,

Some people imagine God as a cruel task master opposed to all fun or pleasure, he serious or he is the God of rules, but this is not an accurate picture of God.

Think about God’s Design for Joy:

1. He put us in a garden called “pleasure.”

The name Eden means “place of pleasure and delight.” According to the bible, the Garden of Eden was God’s gift to the first humans.

Daily he was filled with delight in me as I playfully rejoiced before him. I laughed

and played, so happy with what he had made, while finding my delight in the children of men.”

• “Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

The call for Israel was to live ‘large’ in the land and enjoy the land and all it produced, it was a sign of God’s Covenant blessing and to be a sign to the surrounding nations of God’s favor.

Here more scriptures that highlight the enjoyment of God and life:

1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV):

James 1:17 (NIV):

Psalm 104:14-15 (NIV):

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV):

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (NIV):

God gives us life as a gift the desire of God’s heart is for us to enjoy the gift of life.

SELAH PAUSE AND THINK ABOUT THAT!

“Now God may have created boundaries around pleasure not to keep us from enjoying life but to show us how to get the fullest experience.” JJ

To answer our initial question. God is not anti-fun. He is the complete opposite.

How do we know God created us for enjoyment?

God created us with the ability to experience pleasure. The beauty of creation and the diversity of humanity show us God’s creative palette.

Our physical being provides several indications that God designed us to enjoy life:

When you have

eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.”

Senses and Pleasure: Our bodies are equipped with senses that allow us to experience the world around us, the ability to

• See

These senses are not just functional but are designed for experiencing pleasure.

Neurobiology of Pleasure:

• Our brains are wired to respond to pleasurable stimuli. Endorphins and Well-being:

• Physical activities, such as exercise, dancing, and sports, release endorphins—natural chemicals that promote feelings of happiness and reduce pain.

Sensual Experiences:

So how should we do fun?

Sagely advice from a wise King

The book of Ecclesiastes, which roughly translated means, The Preacher, was most probably written by King Solomon the wise. he ruled the ancient Kingdom of Israel from approximately 970 to 931 BCE.

The variety of tastes, colors, sounds, and textures in the world point to a Creator who designed our

sensory experiences to bring delight and enjoyment.

King Solomon was known for his wisdom, wealth, prosperity, cultural advancement, and his literary contributions. (Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes.)

He is also known for his challenges and downfalls, lavish lifestyle led to high taxes and labor burdens on the people, which contributed to discontent.

.

Failed Succession and Divided Kingdom: After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam became king, the kingdom was divided into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This marked the beginning of a tumultuous period in Israel’s history.

The book of ECC was written later in Solomon’s life as he looked back to apply wisdom to the human experience.

As he does, he realizes that many of life’s situations just defy explanation and therefore he the repeated words, “Vanity, Vanity” or “Meaningless, Meaningless.”

It is a book that doesn’t pull any punches, yet it weighs both good and bad… It starts off kind of despondent and hopeless but ends with sage advice reverence God.

…It is a book of ‘difficult questions’ much like the ones we will be deal with every day.

the book of Ecclesiastes.

He said, “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat, drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.” Ecc.8:15

So back to the question, How do we do fun?

1. Embracing the Moment:

Life is comprised of moments, in Ecc 3:1-13 the Solomon gives us a list of moments

13

Solomon concludes, embrace life and enjoy.

Additionally, his accumulation of wealth led to alliances through marriages with foreign wives, which

introduced foreign religious practices into the kingdom

It may appear the Solomon is advocating hedonism, or license but if you consider the phrase

against the backdrop of his collective writings one can find profound lesson about the balance

between enjoying life and seeking a meaningful existence.

So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.

And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

2. Contentment Ecc 5:10-

Eat, drink and be merry isn’t contingent upon money…

While we know that every good thing is from God and that he gives us all things for our enjoyment… enjoyment doesn’t solely come from accumulating and consuming material pursuits. True happiness/ pleasure/ fun is not found in the quantity of our possessions but in the quality of our experiences.

3. Finding Joy in Relationships:

Ecc 9:7-9 MSG Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!

“Eat, drink, and be merry” is an invitation to cultivate relationships and community. In Ecclesiastes 9:7-9, we’re encouraged to enjoy the company of our loved ones. Sharing a meal, laughter, and conversation are acts of connection that enrich our lives and remind us of the importance of relationships.

4. A Balanced Approach:

While “eat, drink, and be merry” encourages us to relish life’s pleasures, Ecclesiastes also calls for balance.

Ecc. 7:16-18 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? 17 On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? 18 Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.

Plenty of scriptures about self- control

5. Eternity in Perspective:

Even as we revel in life’s moments, Ecclesiastes reminds us of life’s transience. While “eat, drink, and be merry” speaks of the present, we must also consider our eternal perspective.

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his

income; this also is vanity.

In Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, we learn that enjoyment comes from the hand of God. Balancing

our pursuit of joy with responsibility and mindfulness enables us to live purposefully.

1 Corinthians 3:12-14 NIV

Our actions should reflect our reverence for God and His commandments, as emphasized in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

“Eat, drink, and be merry” is more than a license to indulge; it’s an invitation to find joy, meaning, and

balance in the tapestry of life.

Live fully, embracing the present moment while keeping our eyes fixed on eternity. So, let us go

forth with gratitude, sharing life’s simple pleasures with a heart full of joy.

When we have the right focus about pleasure, it compels us to not only enjoy the

moment, but to praise the provider of that moment.

That perspective makes all the difference in lifting the eating and drinking and merriment from sin to

blessing, so that we enjoy both the gift and the Giver.

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see,

is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

LAST SLIDE

“Religion should never be used as an excuse to exclude joy and laughter from our lives. True spirituality

Series “Summer Playlist”  Sermon #5 “The Power Of Prayer”

“The Power Of Prayer” — Bruce Springsteen

Summer nights, summer’s in the air … They say that love of comes and goes

But darling what, what do they know I’m reaching for heaven, we’ll make it there Darling, 

it’s just the power of prayer.

If we don’t pray, we serve no purpose in God’s framework of eternity.   Charles Stanley

God has no greater controversy with His people today than this, that with boundless promises to believing prayer, there are so few who actually give themselves unto intercession     A.T. Pierson

The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but un-offered prayer.    F. B. Meyer

Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom. If you may have everything by asking in His name and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is.           Charles Spurgeon

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

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing form our prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.     Samuel Chadwick 

God does nothing on earth save in answer to believing prayer.   John Wesley

Luke 18:1-8 TPT

“One day Jesus taught the apostles to keep praying and never stop or lose hope. He shared with them this illustration: “In a certain town there was a judge, a thick-skinned and godless man who had no fearof others’ opinions.

And in the same town there was a poor widow who kept pleading with the judge, ‘Grant me justice and protect me from my oppressor!’ “He ignored her pleas for quite some time, but she kept asking. Eventually he said to himself, 

‘This widow keeps annoying me, demanding her rights, and I’m tired of listening to her. Even though I’m not a religious man, and I don’t care about the opinions of others, I’ll get her off my back by answering her claims for justice and I’ll rule in her favor. Then she’ll leave me alone.

Jesus continued, ‘Did you hear what the godless judge said—that he would answer her persistent request? Don’t you know that God, the true judge, will grant justice to all his chosen ones who cry out to him night and day? 

He will pour out his Spirit upon them. He will not delay to answer you and give you what you ask for. God will give swift justice to those who don’t give up. So be ever praying, ever expecting, in the same way as the widow. 

Even so, when the Son of Man comes back, will he find this kind of undying faith on earth?’”

ara:— an interrogative particle [“implying anxiety or impatience on the part of the questioner.”]

The Lesson Is Not:   We have to wear God out to get results.

The lesson Is:  When you need justice don’t lose hope. Engage God! He will without delay give you swift justice!

Pray (merriam-webster) 

: to speak to God especially in order to give thanks or to ask for something

: to hope or wish very much for something to happen

: to seriously ask (someone) to do something

Pray:— 4336 proseúxomai (from 4314 /prós, “towards, exchange” and 2172/euxomai, “to wish, pray”) – properly, to exchange wishes. literally, to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes (ideas) for His wishes as He imparts faith (“divine persuasion”).

John 15:7. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

John 15:7. (TPT)  “But if you live in life-union with me and if my words (Rhema) live powerfully within you—then you can ask (Demand or Insist) whatever you desire and it will be done.”

My Definition Of Prayer:

Prayer is constantly ABIDING in Him and ASKING for the things He reveals to come into manifestation with great ASSURANCE that it will come to pass because you have AUTHORITY in His Name to execute each of His ASSIGNMENTS.

1. Abide 

1st Condition “IF” — Recognize your place in God is secure. He put you in Christ!

In the Greek, the “if” indicates an assumption of truth.

“Since you abide in Him.”

2. Ask 

Whatever you will. The Creator willingly limits himself to your requests.

John 14:13-14 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

 3. Assurance 

1John 5:14-15  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

4. Authority 

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

When you listen to people pray you quickly find out who they believe is in charge. 

Beggars don’t know who they are.

Commanders have revelation and they call His will into manifestation. 

5. Assignments

Peter was in prayer — got assignment: 

Acts 10:9-19 “Peter went up on the housetop to pray, …While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you.’”

“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

Series: “Summer Playlist”  Sermon: “Greater Glory”

“Summer Of 69”. Oh, when I look back now That summer seemed to last forever And if I had the choice Yeah, I’d always wanna be there Those were the best days of my life

Events in 69:

Apollo11 Moon Landing July 20

Woodstock Festival August 15-18

Charles Manson Murders August 9-10

Canada Official Languages Act July 9

Winnipeg Jest join NHL

Mike Wier – Jenifer Aniston – Jay Z

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”

Zechariah 9:11-12 “As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.”

Romans 15:13 (Message) “Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Hope:– To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.

(elpis) :– joyful and confident expectation of good.

Romans 4:17-18 “… in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

Romans 4:17-18 (The Message) “We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody … When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do.”

Abraham crossed over into a realm where no man had gone before. Creative Glory Realm

A less than perfect man began to operate out of the same life force as God. A man lifted up in the sight of God doing the God sort of stuff.

Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Heart is your believing mechanism.

2 Corinthians 4:13 “Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak,…”

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Climate Of A Heart Of Faith … You determine your climate

1 Peter 1:8-9

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

2. Heart That Is Always Dreaming

3. Heart That Is Always Determined

God is good!  God has only good plans for me!  God wants to give me good things!  God wants me to enjoy life!

4. Heart That Is Decisive

Make up your mind. Get yourself in gear. Get your foot in the air and God will bring it down.

5. Heart That Is Always Demanding 

Luke 11:8  “…he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

Isaiah 45:11 “…and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.” 

God wants you to ask and keep on asking!

6. Heart That Is Always Declaring 

1 Samuel 16:36 “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them,…”

Job 22:28 “You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on you ways.”

7. Heart That Is Always Daring

2 Samuel 23:11

Take a risk … stand in your field!

Donkey fell in the well … can’t get Him out … have to bury him

Donkey … great Idea 

He shook it off and stamped it down … until he stepped right out of the well

Use you difficulties as a platform to manifest freedom!!!

Shake it off … step up!!!

Series: “Summer Play List” Sermon#2: “Cure For The Summertime Blues”

Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.

                     Eddie Cochran

Reason for the BLUES:

No Money To Date My Girl  /  Boss Makes Me Work Too Late /. Parents Won’t Give Me Car / Too Young To Vote

Reasons For Summertime Blues Now:

People take less vacation time today.               In 20 Years down from 20 Days to 15.

Vacations too expensive — Average $3000.     People experience FOMO

SAD – Too hot! Too much rain!                           Unrealistic Expectations

Book Of James:

Brother of Jesus — Pastor of 1st Church Of Jerusalem

Believers experiencing incredible persecution by authorities. — Wants to encourage the church.

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

James 1:24 (TPT)  “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested …

 … it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

“… you fall into various trials,”

Unavoidable — Encounter. Trails come to everyone.

Unpredictable — Various. Often sudden and random.

Uncomfortable — Trials.  Testing or proving of your faith.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NRSV). “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

“… count it all joy…”

Count It (hēgeomai) :— Rule, Command, Govern, Engage in leadership, Take charge.

2 Timothy 1:11-12 “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

Colossians 1:11 (MSG). “We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy,”

Hebrews 12:1-2 “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,…”

Joy is more relational than it is emotional.

John 15:11   “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Romans 15:13  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Trials Don’t take something from you, they manifest the richness of God’s provision in you!!!

“…it stirs up in you the power of endurance…”.  Trials PROVE your FAITH!

Philippians 4:13 (AMPC) “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

Romans 8:37 (NLT) “No, despite (IN) all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

James 1:24 (TPT) “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested … 

… it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

Series: “Summer Playlist” Sermon: “Soak Up The Son”

“I’m gonna soak up the SON, Gonna tell every one to lighten up.”   Sheryl Crow

“Preaching grace is dangerous. It is dangerous because unlike overqualified human-centred preaching, it might actually stir a heart to be captivated by the abundant grace of God and lead to radical transformation!”    Peter Mead

“The church, or I should say, church people, must quit adding the word “but” to the end of our sentences about grace. Grace plus is no longer grace. Grace minus is no longer grace. We are afraid people will abuse grace if presented in its purest form. We need not fear that, we should assume that.

“Religious people crucified grace personified. Of course grace will be abused. But grace is a powerful dynamic. Grace wins out in the end. It is not our responsibility to qualify it. It is our responsibility to proclaim it and model it.”   Andy Stanley

Jude 2  (MSG). “Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!”

Jude 24  “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless

Jesus teachings are __________.

Jesus teachings are EASY.

Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28 (MSG) “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.”

Matthew 5:43-44, 48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,…

… Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

That’s easy!!!

The Response Jesus Expects:

1. That’s Impossible.         2. I Surrender

3. I Trust You.                    4. I Rest In Your Abiding Presence

Romans 4:1b-3 “What did he discover about being made right with God?  If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.  For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’”

Romans 4:4 “When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.  But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”

Stay Free From The Yoke Of Religious Performance!

Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  “… don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”  (NLT)

Acts 15:10 (NLT) “So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?:”

Acts 15:10 (MSG) “So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too?”

Stay Free From The Yoke Of Humanistic Philosophies!

2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

Rest is Grace personified.

Rest comes by Faith.

Rest says the work is finished.

Rest says put the tools down.

Rest says come away with me.

Titus 2:11-12 (ESV) “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”

You can’t resist the will of God and receive the grace of God at the same time.   Andy Stanley 

Jude 2.  (MSG) “Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!”

Series: “The Kingdom” Sermon #12 “Kingdom And Government”

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, (60lbs) it permeated every part of the dough.”  

Quietly — Progressively — Inevitably   His Kingdom fills every thing every way!

Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Genesis 1:28  “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.’”

Observations:

1. Government Is God’s Idea

2. Wrong Governing Brings Chaos

3. God’s Remedy For Chaos And Disorder Is Correct Government.

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 fallen government and religion.

Feudalism  — power of ownership. Landlord

Dictatorship — The concept of “divine authority” 

Communism —  Authoritarian control of land and people

Socialism — State control to benefit society.

Democracy — “Mob Rules” The fundamental problem is at its very foundation, power, and authority by majority vote. 

Types Of Church Government:

Congregational – The people

Presbytery – The elders

Episcopacy – The bishopric

Autocracy – Self appointed

Theocracy – Divine Government 

Acts 3:19-21 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

RESTORATION:— (apokatastasis) the restoration not only of the true theocracy but also of that more perfect state of (even physical) things which existed before the fall,

Romans 8:19-21 “The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters! For against its will the universe itself has had to endure the empty futility resulting from the consequences of human sin. 

…But now, with eager expectation, all creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God’s children.”

Colossians 1:15-18  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. …

 … All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Ephesians 2:19-21   “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on …

… the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,”

Ephesians 4:11-13 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,  …

…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

Government by corporate leadership! The theocratic order of a King over kings as partners in governing!    Dr. Myles Munroe 

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”