The Resurrection and The Believer's Authority
Acts 4:5-12
The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
John 10:11-18
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Authority: what do you understand authority to mean/be?
Cf: what Jesus said that authority is for: to bring good and order to the world, not to rule over people and exercise control over them (some Christians use their authority manipulatively, to bend things their way, praying, not for things to be according to God’s will, but according to their perception of how things and people should be. Thus, if things or people don’t go our way, we imagine the judgment of God against such people, but looking at this example, as well as the many countless examples in the Scriptures where Jesus and his disciples were confronted about the use of authority, it was usually in the context of their sharing God’s love to make someone’s better, heal the sick, forgive sins, etc.. Why?
The things that keep people down are systemic, which means they are rooted in certain kinds of power dynamics. When sin has control, it rules us. That’s a power dynamic. When racism or sexism exists, that’s a power dynamic. It means a system that puts a certain race or gender in power and puts the other under it.
We see God’s power operating in Christ and through the disciples to remove people from under the power of anything that prevents them from living whole, fulfilled lives that manifest God’s glory. So when the disciples released a man from the systemic power of illness that ruled his body and in turn made him poor (because he couldn’t work) and therefore under the systemic authority of being in a lower economic and social class where he would be ruled over by those who passed him in the gate, some judging him for the cause of his disease, others pitying him, but none ever being in communion with him or seeing him as fit as being in communion with the rest of the Jewish community who were whole and fit and able to worship God because they fit the standards of the ruling norm, when the disciples did this, they broke across several power structures and turning the tables in ways that the world was unused to. This both perplexed and infuriated folks.
If there’s a power in town that suddenly makes lesser folks whole and equal with us, where do we fit in?
The believers’ authority is disturbing to many because it subverts worldly kingdoms and systems, just like our Master, Jesus’ authority did...When Jesus healed the paraplegics, the blind man, suddenly, he changed status quo, and rather than rejoice for those who were set free, many were offended.
Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus was the main liberator of the bound, the one who reset things in the order God made them in Genesis 1 & 2 - the order where they were good, where man and woman dwelled side by side in harmony, with all creation. Where there was no greater or lesser, no pride, no evil, no grief, no greed, no richer, no poorer. Everyone was the same, supplied with everything they needed and commissioned to continue God’s good work in the world - maintain the goodness and balance God effected in all creation in the beginning.
This is the God-ordained work of humans (Gen. 1:26-27) -maintenance of goodness and balance in all of creation) and this is what Jesus as the ‘true human’ did while he was on earth.
Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, humanity’s purpose was distorted. We couldn’t see clearly as to what and who we are and what our purpose in the world is. Through Jesus’ life, the disciples were able to see what it means to be truly human, i.e., live and operate as one who’s made in God’s image, but they did not still have the ability to live into that purpose. Not until Jesus’ death and resurrection. Why?
Because by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, a new power dynamic was effected in the worldly systems. This meant, Jesus was lord over both natural and supernatural laws, and that those who believed in him were under a different government - a different power dynamic - the dynamic of the Kingdom of God - the dynamic of restoring humans and the rest of creation to the place of their original goodness - in spirit, body and soul.
This power supercedes the powers in the world, and yes, just like in Jesus’ case, it also made the existing powers fear…
Who were they going to lord it over now, if everyone’s going to be free?
How would they feel important if there’s no one to feel better than???
Whenever and wherever inequity as created by a distorted humanity and creation is removed, it makes many unhappy.
The Pharisees were unhappy as Jesus’ inclusive messages removed barriers between them and people they previously lorded it over....
The council was upset as they saw Peter and the others heal chronically ill and disenfranchised people.
Peter’s actions bore witness to a new order, one in which the worldly power structures cannot participate because this order values everyone and not just some. In this order, there’s only one Lord and his name is Jesus. None other.
Nevertheless, this authority by its very origin and nature is available to all who believe in Jesus because it is what God intended for every human being from the beginning, but which was subverted by the power structure of sin. Now, that Jesus has set us (all humans) free from the power of sin, as long as we are IN Christ, we all have this authority to go in the world and press the reset button, first in our own lives and then in the lives of others around us.
How might we do this, you say? We don’t pray and get miracles anymore like the disciples do? Well, yes, you do. You just get a different kind of miracle. One of the things I love about God, is that He’s never boring, but always doing new things, new ways. No wonder He tells us in His word “I am doing a new thing. Do you not see it?”” God is always calling us to look and see what new ways He might be acting to bring about the things creation need.
As I look at the world around us, I see the many ways God is seeking to work miracles through us. The first, biggest way is that He wants us to realize that “we are the miracles!!!” This is why 2 Corinthians 5:17 would tell us, if any human is in Christ, he or she is a new creation!!! How can you be new when you are already born??? This was the complexing question Nicodemus asked Jesus in John 3:6, and which Jesus told him only through the Holy Spirit. And this is the same Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would come to all believers after his death and resurrection and which the commissioned the disciples with the power to act in Jesus name.
That same Spirit is at work now, quickening our mortal bodies to operate under the new regime of Jesus Christ in the world. Giving us authority to go and set things right wherever things are out of order and wrong...
That same Spirit is at work now, giving us authority to reject power structures that diminish the clarity of God’s will for humankind.
That same Spirit is at work now, giving us the authority to go across and eliminate boundaries that sin and the world have erected between humans, people and gender groups. As Galatians 3:26-29 tells us, it allows us to gather and see all of God’s creation in the light that God sees them: one human race, important to Him just like His one dear Son. Not two human races, but one, a fact firmly established by the fact that all, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, social, economic status, are united into the One Body of His Son Jesus Christ. One Lord, One faith, One humanity.
This contradicts human structures that operate by divisions and classes of more vs less, greater vs lesser. Thus, every time there’s a Christian in the room, and anywhere in the world structures there is a Christian, we should expect to see people being restored to goodness, mutuality and relationship with one another instead of perpetuating differences. And every time we see this, we should also expect to see pushback from the worldly systems that wish to perpetuate difference and alienation between God, humans and creation.
But the Cross and the Empty Tomb tell us we do not back down from this commission to be agents of restoration and reconciliation. Instead, we recognize we have been commissioned by another regime and we shouldn’t fear to let the world know what regime that is - the regime of Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords. The regime of Jesus Christ the King of kings.
Therefore, we walk and talk and act with new insight. We no longer pass by systems and structures of sin and oppression and turn a blind eye. Instead, we hear the cries against humanity and against God enacted by those power systems and we act to intentionally change them. That is the miracle - that certain humans are no longer comfortable with being the big pin at the top, but instead recognize they are but sheep like other sheep and join in identifying with the sheep to be led by the Good Shepherd into his care.
The miracle was that someone saw and responded to and did something about something everyone else had been walking by for years.
Our communities are full of the evidence of the power of sinful structures over humanity and creation: humans abusing themselves, one another and creation. Are we still walking by like and NOT SEEING & NOT RESPONDING like everyone else?
Prior to Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples walked by too, but after Jesus’ resurrection, proof that a higher dynamic and power exists, they no longer walked.
Perhaps, prior to today, we also walked by because we had no clue that by Jesus’ resurrection, we too, are now under a new regime, and equally authorized as Jesus’ disciples to effect restorative change to humanity and creation that better reflect God’s will for humankind and the rest of creation.
[So I want to challenge us today, between now and next Easter, what do you see in your community which God be calling you to see with resurrected eyes, places and spaces where God might be calling you to be agents of restoration to health and reconciliation?]
No matter how long that area of humanity has been out of order, remember Jesus is Lord over it. Take a step of faith (that starts in prayer) and obediently reach out and work for change. And most importantly, be ready to comfortably give the revolutionary answer to those who criticize/challenge/mock your efforts that you have been commissioned to be an agent of change and reconciliation by Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords and the King of kings, and press into the new order until you see it manifest.
Cf: what Jesus said that authority is for: to bring good and order to the world, not to rule over people and exercise control over them (some Christians use their authority manipulatively, to bend things their way, praying, not for things to be according to God’s will, but according to their perception of how things and people should be. Thus, if things or people don’t go our way, we imagine the judgment of God against such people, but looking at this example, as well as the many countless examples in the Scriptures where Jesus and his disciples were confronted about the use of authority, it was usually in the context of their sharing God’s love to make someone’s better, heal the sick, forgive sins, etc.. Why?
The things that keep people down are systemic, which means they are rooted in certain kinds of power dynamics. When sin has control, it rules us. That’s a power dynamic. When racism or sexism exists, that’s a power dynamic. It means a system that puts a certain race or gender in power and puts the other under it.
We see God’s power operating in Christ and through the disciples to remove people from under the power of anything that prevents them from living whole, fulfilled lives that manifest God’s glory. So when the disciples released a man from the systemic power of illness that ruled his body and in turn made him poor (because he couldn’t work) and therefore under the systemic authority of being in a lower economic and social class where he would be ruled over by those who passed him in the gate, some judging him for the cause of his disease, others pitying him, but none ever being in communion with him or seeing him as fit as being in communion with the rest of the Jewish community who were whole and fit and able to worship God because they fit the standards of the ruling norm, when the disciples did this, they broke across several power structures and turning the tables in ways that the world was unused to. This both perplexed and infuriated folks.
If there’s a power in town that suddenly makes lesser folks whole and equal with us, where do we fit in?
The believers’ authority is disturbing to many because it subverts worldly kingdoms and systems, just like our Master, Jesus’ authority did...When Jesus healed the paraplegics, the blind man, suddenly, he changed status quo, and rather than rejoice for those who were set free, many were offended.
Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus was the main liberator of the bound, the one who reset things in the order God made them in Genesis 1 & 2 - the order where they were good, where man and woman dwelled side by side in harmony, with all creation. Where there was no greater or lesser, no pride, no evil, no grief, no greed, no richer, no poorer. Everyone was the same, supplied with everything they needed and commissioned to continue God’s good work in the world - maintain the goodness and balance God effected in all creation in the beginning.
This is the God-ordained work of humans (Gen. 1:26-27) -maintenance of goodness and balance in all of creation) and this is what Jesus as the ‘true human’ did while he was on earth.
Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, humanity’s purpose was distorted. We couldn’t see clearly as to what and who we are and what our purpose in the world is. Through Jesus’ life, the disciples were able to see what it means to be truly human, i.e., live and operate as one who’s made in God’s image, but they did not still have the ability to live into that purpose. Not until Jesus’ death and resurrection. Why?
Because by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, a new power dynamic was effected in the worldly systems. This meant, Jesus was lord over both natural and supernatural laws, and that those who believed in him were under a different government - a different power dynamic - the dynamic of the Kingdom of God - the dynamic of restoring humans and the rest of creation to the place of their original goodness - in spirit, body and soul.
This power supercedes the powers in the world, and yes, just like in Jesus’ case, it also made the existing powers fear…
Who were they going to lord it over now, if everyone’s going to be free?
How would they feel important if there’s no one to feel better than???
Whenever and wherever inequity as created by a distorted humanity and creation is removed, it makes many unhappy.
The Pharisees were unhappy as Jesus’ inclusive messages removed barriers between them and people they previously lorded it over....
The council was upset as they saw Peter and the others heal chronically ill and disenfranchised people.
Peter’s actions bore witness to a new order, one in which the worldly power structures cannot participate because this order values everyone and not just some. In this order, there’s only one Lord and his name is Jesus. None other.
Nevertheless, this authority by its very origin and nature is available to all who believe in Jesus because it is what God intended for every human being from the beginning, but which was subverted by the power structure of sin. Now, that Jesus has set us (all humans) free from the power of sin, as long as we are IN Christ, we all have this authority to go in the world and press the reset button, first in our own lives and then in the lives of others around us.
How might we do this, you say? We don’t pray and get miracles anymore like the disciples do? Well, yes, you do. You just get a different kind of miracle. One of the things I love about God, is that He’s never boring, but always doing new things, new ways. No wonder He tells us in His word “I am doing a new thing. Do you not see it?”” God is always calling us to look and see what new ways He might be acting to bring about the things creation need.
As I look at the world around us, I see the many ways God is seeking to work miracles through us. The first, biggest way is that He wants us to realize that “we are the miracles!!!” This is why 2 Corinthians 5:17 would tell us, if any human is in Christ, he or she is a new creation!!! How can you be new when you are already born??? This was the complexing question Nicodemus asked Jesus in John 3:6, and which Jesus told him only through the Holy Spirit. And this is the same Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would come to all believers after his death and resurrection and which the commissioned the disciples with the power to act in Jesus name.
That same Spirit is at work now, quickening our mortal bodies to operate under the new regime of Jesus Christ in the world. Giving us authority to go and set things right wherever things are out of order and wrong...
That same Spirit is at work now, giving us authority to reject power structures that diminish the clarity of God’s will for humankind.
That same Spirit is at work now, giving us the authority to go across and eliminate boundaries that sin and the world have erected between humans, people and gender groups. As Galatians 3:26-29 tells us, it allows us to gather and see all of God’s creation in the light that God sees them: one human race, important to Him just like His one dear Son. Not two human races, but one, a fact firmly established by the fact that all, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, social, economic status, are united into the One Body of His Son Jesus Christ. One Lord, One faith, One humanity.
This contradicts human structures that operate by divisions and classes of more vs less, greater vs lesser. Thus, every time there’s a Christian in the room, and anywhere in the world structures there is a Christian, we should expect to see people being restored to goodness, mutuality and relationship with one another instead of perpetuating differences. And every time we see this, we should also expect to see pushback from the worldly systems that wish to perpetuate difference and alienation between God, humans and creation.
But the Cross and the Empty Tomb tell us we do not back down from this commission to be agents of restoration and reconciliation. Instead, we recognize we have been commissioned by another regime and we shouldn’t fear to let the world know what regime that is - the regime of Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords. The regime of Jesus Christ the King of kings.
Therefore, we walk and talk and act with new insight. We no longer pass by systems and structures of sin and oppression and turn a blind eye. Instead, we hear the cries against humanity and against God enacted by those power systems and we act to intentionally change them. That is the miracle - that certain humans are no longer comfortable with being the big pin at the top, but instead recognize they are but sheep like other sheep and join in identifying with the sheep to be led by the Good Shepherd into his care.
The miracle was that someone saw and responded to and did something about something everyone else had been walking by for years.
Our communities are full of the evidence of the power of sinful structures over humanity and creation: humans abusing themselves, one another and creation. Are we still walking by like and NOT SEEING & NOT RESPONDING like everyone else?
Prior to Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples walked by too, but after Jesus’ resurrection, proof that a higher dynamic and power exists, they no longer walked.
Perhaps, prior to today, we also walked by because we had no clue that by Jesus’ resurrection, we too, are now under a new regime, and equally authorized as Jesus’ disciples to effect restorative change to humanity and creation that better reflect God’s will for humankind and the rest of creation.
[So I want to challenge us today, between now and next Easter, what do you see in your community which God be calling you to see with resurrected eyes, places and spaces where God might be calling you to be agents of restoration to health and reconciliation?]
No matter how long that area of humanity has been out of order, remember Jesus is Lord over it. Take a step of faith (that starts in prayer) and obediently reach out and work for change. And most importantly, be ready to comfortably give the revolutionary answer to those who criticize/challenge/mock your efforts that you have been commissioned to be an agent of change and reconciliation by Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords and the King of kings, and press into the new order until you see it manifest.
GOD'S PROVISION FOR GAMBLERS & STOCKBROCKERS
By Pastor Tega Swann
Tue, September 16, 2008
Hello community of christian believers and non-believers alike. I have very good news for a different set of people today. I am calling all gamblers and stockbrockers alike!
I can almost feel all the eyebrows that are been raised in question right now. The gamblers' with surprise and a certain level of trepidation of what God might possibly have to say to them. The stockbrockers' with indignation that any one would dare to classify them together with gamblers! But rest easy stockbrockers and very soon you will see that this is not a derisive conjuction, rather one that will show you the way to greatly increase the value of your stocks.
Let us start with the first group: gamblers. What is gambling and what do gamblers do? Random House Webster's College Dictionary describes gambling as 1.to play at a game for money or other stakes 2.to stake or risk something of value, on the outcome of something involving chance. 3.to take a chance on, risk 4.any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty.
Now let us look at what stocks, stockbrokers and stock brokering mean. 'Stocks' refer to "a supply of goods kept on hand for sale to customers by a merchant, manufacturer, etc." or "a quantity of something accumulated as for future use" (Random House Webster's College Dictionary). And a stockbroker is a person who buys and sells these goods for the owners on a commission basis. What is interesting about stock brokering is that it is base on the assumption of acquiring profit and increasing one's capital either by buying or selling one's stocks. The decision whether to buy or sell is based on mathematical calculations and assessments, as well as presupposition based on existing facts. The latter more than anything else, is what connects stock brokering to gambling with the stockbroker taking the chance that the predicted outcome will prevail. Although these predictions that are as mathematically based as the probability of winning at the game of chance (gambling) are more or less successful, that is not always the case.
Another thing that is common to both groups is that both risk valuables in expectation of greater gain. And this is where God's good news comes in.
I bet as you started reading this article, you thought yourself excluded. But the truth is, the whole of life itself is one huge risk. And everyday people risk something of value in hope of increasing personal profit. Whether we are risking time with family and loved ones to put in more work hours or giving up immediate pleasures for work and training, or investing our money in purchases or business, loving or being loved, etc. Whatever it is and whenever we give and or take, it is all done with the hope and expectation of increasing and improving one's life, which in itself should be considered profit. So in this context, we are all constantly either gambling or brokering (or trading)other people's (like our children, spouses, friends, family, employers, etc.) and our stocks of time, money, affections, etc. in expectation of something better.
God has made it very clear in His word that He understands that making profit is the constant pursuit of the race. Hence He says in Luke 12.30 "For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." The preceding verses in 22-29, elaborate the goal of human pursuit, which we so diligently seek to fulfill through our daily trading and gambling .
But God who first gave us the task of striving to fulfil our desires (Genesis 3.19) tells us that the secret to attaining our goal is to "seek first His kingdom" and then all these things that we consider profitable, will be added to our lives, Luke 12:31.
But how do we seek God's kingdom you may ask? Simply by trading and gambling for the success of God's purposes. So now, instead of trading and gambling our time, money, affections, etc. for our own benefit, we do it primarily for God's cause. Another question you might ask is, "but how do we do this; does this mean we have to spend all our money, time and affections on God instead? And if so, how do we pay our bills, look after our families, study, work, etc?
Once again, the answer to that is very simple. Both gambling and stocktrading are done according to definite, set down rules. There is an acceptable and lawful process to trade and gamble by for profit. So it is with seeking profit, by trading and gambling away our resources for the benefit of God's kingdom. The simple lawful way that God has determined for all who love material success to profit by, is found in Malachi 3.10-12. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."
With the very first first injunction, God throws out the gauntlet and invites everyone to 'take a chance' on Him. He says bet on me, take a risk and stake your claim on me. But what kind of risk is He asking us to take? He is not asking us to go to the blackjack tables or Wall Street and stake our bets saying, "This one is for God's kingdom." Rather He says, "Bring your tithes and offerings into my house".
How gracious God is, that He asks no more of our giving or investing in His kingdom than our tithes and offerings. Our tithes, which constitute a tenth of all our income and our offerings, which are additional freewill gifts, are all that God asks of us.
But the price we receive in return is a jackpot, irrespective of how little or how much your stake is (because of varied income, every one's ten percent varies). For example the person who earns $800.00 (eight hundred dollars) per pay period has to give a tithe of $80 (eighty dollars) per pay period. Whereas the $3,000.00 (three thousand dollars), income earner has a tithe of $300.00 (three hundred dollars) to give to God. Both are expected to give their respective tithes in addition to any other amount (offering) that they choose. And just as jesus illustrated with the widow's mite, God does not consider any offering too small.
But the guaranteed jackpot return for every one who stakes their bet of ten percent and offering on God, is 1. Divinely orchestrated abundance. 2. Aversion of disasters and loss of profit in the person's pursuit (business or other concerns). 3.Maintainance of one's profits. 4.Guaranteed good return for one's labors 5. Evident prosperity.
I recognize the skepticism and unbelief with which a lot of Christians and non-Christians display towards God's call to tithe and give of our material resources to the church. For such people I ask, "have you tried it and it failed?" I know by reason of application that it has never failed me. I have observed and applied these principles in my own life for over a decade. And my journey has been strewn with God's abundance, divine provision, protection and visible progress. So much so that those who know me, call me 'blessed'.
I invite you to take God's challenge today and gamble on Him. Although you might have thought you were no gambler, today you know better. All of life is a gamble and we each gamble for profit at the table we feel most comfortable with or believe in. But God calls us in His word to gamble at only one table "Him." The result is always bigger and better than the results at all the other tables at which we gamble (whether work, play, home,etc.)
So stake your ten percent and free will offerings on Him and watch yourself win the jackpot every time!
Remain blessed!
©2008
By Pastor Tega Swann
Tue, September 16, 2008
Hello community of christian believers and non-believers alike. I have very good news for a different set of people today. I am calling all gamblers and stockbrockers alike!
I can almost feel all the eyebrows that are been raised in question right now. The gamblers' with surprise and a certain level of trepidation of what God might possibly have to say to them. The stockbrockers' with indignation that any one would dare to classify them together with gamblers! But rest easy stockbrockers and very soon you will see that this is not a derisive conjuction, rather one that will show you the way to greatly increase the value of your stocks.
Let us start with the first group: gamblers. What is gambling and what do gamblers do? Random House Webster's College Dictionary describes gambling as 1.to play at a game for money or other stakes 2.to stake or risk something of value, on the outcome of something involving chance. 3.to take a chance on, risk 4.any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty.
Now let us look at what stocks, stockbrokers and stock brokering mean. 'Stocks' refer to "a supply of goods kept on hand for sale to customers by a merchant, manufacturer, etc." or "a quantity of something accumulated as for future use" (Random House Webster's College Dictionary). And a stockbroker is a person who buys and sells these goods for the owners on a commission basis. What is interesting about stock brokering is that it is base on the assumption of acquiring profit and increasing one's capital either by buying or selling one's stocks. The decision whether to buy or sell is based on mathematical calculations and assessments, as well as presupposition based on existing facts. The latter more than anything else, is what connects stock brokering to gambling with the stockbroker taking the chance that the predicted outcome will prevail. Although these predictions that are as mathematically based as the probability of winning at the game of chance (gambling) are more or less successful, that is not always the case.
Another thing that is common to both groups is that both risk valuables in expectation of greater gain. And this is where God's good news comes in.
I bet as you started reading this article, you thought yourself excluded. But the truth is, the whole of life itself is one huge risk. And everyday people risk something of value in hope of increasing personal profit. Whether we are risking time with family and loved ones to put in more work hours or giving up immediate pleasures for work and training, or investing our money in purchases or business, loving or being loved, etc. Whatever it is and whenever we give and or take, it is all done with the hope and expectation of increasing and improving one's life, which in itself should be considered profit. So in this context, we are all constantly either gambling or brokering (or trading)other people's (like our children, spouses, friends, family, employers, etc.) and our stocks of time, money, affections, etc. in expectation of something better.
God has made it very clear in His word that He understands that making profit is the constant pursuit of the race. Hence He says in Luke 12.30 "For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." The preceding verses in 22-29, elaborate the goal of human pursuit, which we so diligently seek to fulfill through our daily trading and gambling .
But God who first gave us the task of striving to fulfil our desires (Genesis 3.19) tells us that the secret to attaining our goal is to "seek first His kingdom" and then all these things that we consider profitable, will be added to our lives, Luke 12:31.
But how do we seek God's kingdom you may ask? Simply by trading and gambling for the success of God's purposes. So now, instead of trading and gambling our time, money, affections, etc. for our own benefit, we do it primarily for God's cause. Another question you might ask is, "but how do we do this; does this mean we have to spend all our money, time and affections on God instead? And if so, how do we pay our bills, look after our families, study, work, etc?
Once again, the answer to that is very simple. Both gambling and stocktrading are done according to definite, set down rules. There is an acceptable and lawful process to trade and gamble by for profit. So it is with seeking profit, by trading and gambling away our resources for the benefit of God's kingdom. The simple lawful way that God has determined for all who love material success to profit by, is found in Malachi 3.10-12. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."
With the very first first injunction, God throws out the gauntlet and invites everyone to 'take a chance' on Him. He says bet on me, take a risk and stake your claim on me. But what kind of risk is He asking us to take? He is not asking us to go to the blackjack tables or Wall Street and stake our bets saying, "This one is for God's kingdom." Rather He says, "Bring your tithes and offerings into my house".
How gracious God is, that He asks no more of our giving or investing in His kingdom than our tithes and offerings. Our tithes, which constitute a tenth of all our income and our offerings, which are additional freewill gifts, are all that God asks of us.
But the price we receive in return is a jackpot, irrespective of how little or how much your stake is (because of varied income, every one's ten percent varies). For example the person who earns $800.00 (eight hundred dollars) per pay period has to give a tithe of $80 (eighty dollars) per pay period. Whereas the $3,000.00 (three thousand dollars), income earner has a tithe of $300.00 (three hundred dollars) to give to God. Both are expected to give their respective tithes in addition to any other amount (offering) that they choose. And just as jesus illustrated with the widow's mite, God does not consider any offering too small.
But the guaranteed jackpot return for every one who stakes their bet of ten percent and offering on God, is 1. Divinely orchestrated abundance. 2. Aversion of disasters and loss of profit in the person's pursuit (business or other concerns). 3.Maintainance of one's profits. 4.Guaranteed good return for one's labors 5. Evident prosperity.
I recognize the skepticism and unbelief with which a lot of Christians and non-Christians display towards God's call to tithe and give of our material resources to the church. For such people I ask, "have you tried it and it failed?" I know by reason of application that it has never failed me. I have observed and applied these principles in my own life for over a decade. And my journey has been strewn with God's abundance, divine provision, protection and visible progress. So much so that those who know me, call me 'blessed'.
I invite you to take God's challenge today and gamble on Him. Although you might have thought you were no gambler, today you know better. All of life is a gamble and we each gamble for profit at the table we feel most comfortable with or believe in. But God calls us in His word to gamble at only one table "Him." The result is always bigger and better than the results at all the other tables at which we gamble (whether work, play, home,etc.)
So stake your ten percent and free will offerings on Him and watch yourself win the jackpot every time!
Remain blessed!
©2008
A NEW BEGINNING
By Pastor Tega Swann
Sun, January 07, 2007
OPENING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we welcome You into our midst in the mighty name of Jesus. We ask for a manifestation of your presence in this our worship to as many as are gathered on the web right now on our web service in Jesus name. Amen.
Please join us as we lift our voices to sing:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, How great thou art, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee,. How great thou art, how great thou art.
verse.
O Lord my God, when I awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hands have made. I see the stars I hear the roaring thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee.; how great thou art, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee. How great thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior to thee. How great thou art, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee. How great thou art. How gre-a-t thou art!
CALL TO WORSHIP
As this song still echoes in our hearts, let this be your moment of reflection. Reflect on all the wonderful things, oppurtunities, blessings, in this world of ours. All the marvellous things that God has done, that we cannot explain. The re-assurance of His love towards us in so many ways and most importantly, that we made it into this new year.
Pause a take a few minutes to give Him praise, for sparing your life into this new year. Praise Him, yes praise Him, for He could have chosen for you not to be here,but He chose instead for you to be here.
Begin to ask the Lord to give you a revelation and understanding about His purpose for your life on earth here. Take some time right now to pray passionately about this: for this is one of the most important requests you could ever make for yourself.
Finally let us pray together as the Psalmist prayed "Lord teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, in Jesus name. Amen"
THE SERMON: A NEW BEGINNING by Pastor Tega Swann
SERMON TEXT: ISAIAH 65:17-25
Happy New Year once again all! I heartily welcome you to this first service on the web, you are welcome in Jesus name. Amen.
It gives me great joy to welcome you to this service, as we have equally waited and longed for this experience. And more so that it has pleased the Lord to make it happen at the beginning of this new year. Amen and "thank you Lord".
It is a wonderful thing when what we have hoped for, prayed for and waited for, finally comes to pass. It gives one that feeling of having succeeded at something; because you have crossed into a place of positive change from the former situation. Praise God! Hallelujah.
This brings me to the Lord's message to us as we start the new year; " A New Beginning".
Let us open to our text in the book of Isaiah (old testament), chapter 65, from verse 17 to 25.
As we read, may the Lord bless the reading of His holy word in Jesus name. Amen. And may our hearts open to receive His word and bring us understanding ad enlightenment for our lives in Jesus name. Amen.
THE WORD:
"For behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD".
May the Lord bless the reading of His holy word in Jesus name, amen.
Hallelujah! The Lord wastes no time in informing us about His plans for us. In verse 17, He calls us to note what He is doing: making our new heaven and new earth. What does this call to mind?
'NEW', indicates change. According to Radom House Webster's College Dictionary, "new" "describes things that have not existed or have not been known or seen before. NEW refers to something recently made, grown, or built, or recently found, invented, or discovered: a new car; new techniques". In this sermon, our heaven I will refer to as our concept of , understanding of and relationship with God ; and our earth, our life as we know it and live it here on earth . Therefore the Lord is saying to us that in this new year, He will make our concept and understanding and relationship with Himself new; also He will make our lives as we have both known and lived it on earth new.
I am gettting all excited already, because I know of lots of areas in my heaven and my earth that I would greatly appreciate change in.
He further punctuates His plan by saying that the former or the things of the past shall neither be remembered no come to our minds in the face of the newness which He will create.
Wow! Is this creating as much of an anticipation in you right now, as it is doing in me? It better be, because, I am very certain that just like me, a lot of us (if not all of us) have things and situations in our lives that we would prefer to leave behind and not remember; or things that have been in our lives that we would prefer not to have in our lives anymore. Hallelujah! For if you are in such a place (as I am) please join in shouting hallelujah to the Lord, because what we have preferred but cannot do, He is, in His new year message to us, promising to do. Wow! I am ready to be made new! Are you?
However, we encounter a 'but' in verse 18. "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy".
The word 'but' in the dictionary indicates something to the contrary. Why would the Lord use the word 'but' in a situation that clearly promises positive change. (Jerusalem by the way refers to the dwelling place of the Lord (I Kings 11:36) and which is now represented by you).
The use of the word 'but'in verse 18, gives the indication that what we might see as this new beginning is created, might provoke in us something other than joy. Hence the use of that word. But why?
The answer lies in the body of this sermon. The Lord gave me to understand something that happens in the process of making new. He shed light on my understanding by referring me to something that happens when we either build new from the beginning or from something that was already in existence. In both instances, the first step always almost involves either preparing the ground to lay the foundation for the new building by removing and pulling down of all the previous structures on that ground, which may include but not limited to trees, shrubs, grass, buildings and whatever else might be upon that portion of land that we want to build upon.
Thereafter, comes the process of digging and laying the foundation o what we plan to build on tha portion of land. And although our blue-prints created for us by our architect, give the picture of the beautiful structure we are trying to build, at this stage the place looks nothing like the finished structure.
All we can see at the first and second stages of our building, is rubble and a lot of mess.
Hence the caution "but". The Lord is warning us that although He is building this beautiful new structure that is bound to create joy in us, what we initially see as the evidence of this change will resemble the rubble of clearing the land and will in no way look like the finished work which He promises in verses 18-25. He is teaching us this right now, so that we do not become the people who cry out as the year progresses "God you have promised me ........., but why is so and so happening? This looks nothing like what you promised me" .
Before you are finally in the finished product of your promised change, you will experience changes that will at times seem like disorder. When you are in this stage, please stop and either visit or picture a construction site and remind yourself that just as the builders end result is not the rubble you see at the site, so the finished picture of your situation is not chaos but somethng of beauty and good purpose; and wait with the joy that the Lrod advocates in verse 18 for the finished product.
For He promises that the finished product will be
I would like to remind us that thiis word is to the children of God - those who have accepted the Lord Jesus into their lives. For those who have not, you cannot recieve this blessing. In order to recieve the lord Jeusus into your life, you must believe and accept that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23) in need of His grace and invite the Lord Jesus into your life to be your life to be your Lord and Savior. If you do this, you have automatically been added to the lists of recipients of this His blessing. But it does not stop there. Continue in your decision by identifying and aligning yourself by membership in a church where you can build on the decision you have taken today and continue the process to be changed into the image of who God wants you to be - the image of Christ ( 2 Corinthian 5:17). For any one who made this decision to work with the Lord this year, we are willing to be your partners in your walk, please write to us and let us pray with you. May God bless you in Jesus name. Amen.
By Pastor Tega Swann
Sun, January 07, 2007
OPENING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we welcome You into our midst in the mighty name of Jesus. We ask for a manifestation of your presence in this our worship to as many as are gathered on the web right now on our web service in Jesus name. Amen.
Please join us as we lift our voices to sing:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, How great thou art, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee,. How great thou art, how great thou art.
verse.
O Lord my God, when I awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hands have made. I see the stars I hear the roaring thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee.; how great thou art, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee. How great thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior to thee. How great thou art, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee. How great thou art. How gre-a-t thou art!
CALL TO WORSHIP
As this song still echoes in our hearts, let this be your moment of reflection. Reflect on all the wonderful things, oppurtunities, blessings, in this world of ours. All the marvellous things that God has done, that we cannot explain. The re-assurance of His love towards us in so many ways and most importantly, that we made it into this new year.
Pause a take a few minutes to give Him praise, for sparing your life into this new year. Praise Him, yes praise Him, for He could have chosen for you not to be here,but He chose instead for you to be here.
Begin to ask the Lord to give you a revelation and understanding about His purpose for your life on earth here. Take some time right now to pray passionately about this: for this is one of the most important requests you could ever make for yourself.
Finally let us pray together as the Psalmist prayed "Lord teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, in Jesus name. Amen"
THE SERMON: A NEW BEGINNING by Pastor Tega Swann
SERMON TEXT: ISAIAH 65:17-25
Happy New Year once again all! I heartily welcome you to this first service on the web, you are welcome in Jesus name. Amen.
It gives me great joy to welcome you to this service, as we have equally waited and longed for this experience. And more so that it has pleased the Lord to make it happen at the beginning of this new year. Amen and "thank you Lord".
It is a wonderful thing when what we have hoped for, prayed for and waited for, finally comes to pass. It gives one that feeling of having succeeded at something; because you have crossed into a place of positive change from the former situation. Praise God! Hallelujah.
This brings me to the Lord's message to us as we start the new year; " A New Beginning".
Let us open to our text in the book of Isaiah (old testament), chapter 65, from verse 17 to 25.
As we read, may the Lord bless the reading of His holy word in Jesus name. Amen. And may our hearts open to receive His word and bring us understanding ad enlightenment for our lives in Jesus name. Amen.
THE WORD:
"For behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD".
May the Lord bless the reading of His holy word in Jesus name, amen.
Hallelujah! The Lord wastes no time in informing us about His plans for us. In verse 17, He calls us to note what He is doing: making our new heaven and new earth. What does this call to mind?
'NEW', indicates change. According to Radom House Webster's College Dictionary, "new" "describes things that have not existed or have not been known or seen before. NEW refers to something recently made, grown, or built, or recently found, invented, or discovered: a new car; new techniques". In this sermon, our heaven I will refer to as our concept of , understanding of and relationship with God ; and our earth, our life as we know it and live it here on earth . Therefore the Lord is saying to us that in this new year, He will make our concept and understanding and relationship with Himself new; also He will make our lives as we have both known and lived it on earth new.
I am gettting all excited already, because I know of lots of areas in my heaven and my earth that I would greatly appreciate change in.
He further punctuates His plan by saying that the former or the things of the past shall neither be remembered no come to our minds in the face of the newness which He will create.
Wow! Is this creating as much of an anticipation in you right now, as it is doing in me? It better be, because, I am very certain that just like me, a lot of us (if not all of us) have things and situations in our lives that we would prefer to leave behind and not remember; or things that have been in our lives that we would prefer not to have in our lives anymore. Hallelujah! For if you are in such a place (as I am) please join in shouting hallelujah to the Lord, because what we have preferred but cannot do, He is, in His new year message to us, promising to do. Wow! I am ready to be made new! Are you?
However, we encounter a 'but' in verse 18. "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy".
The word 'but' in the dictionary indicates something to the contrary. Why would the Lord use the word 'but' in a situation that clearly promises positive change. (Jerusalem by the way refers to the dwelling place of the Lord (I Kings 11:36) and which is now represented by you).
The use of the word 'but'in verse 18, gives the indication that what we might see as this new beginning is created, might provoke in us something other than joy. Hence the use of that word. But why?
The answer lies in the body of this sermon. The Lord gave me to understand something that happens in the process of making new. He shed light on my understanding by referring me to something that happens when we either build new from the beginning or from something that was already in existence. In both instances, the first step always almost involves either preparing the ground to lay the foundation for the new building by removing and pulling down of all the previous structures on that ground, which may include but not limited to trees, shrubs, grass, buildings and whatever else might be upon that portion of land that we want to build upon.
Thereafter, comes the process of digging and laying the foundation o what we plan to build on tha portion of land. And although our blue-prints created for us by our architect, give the picture of the beautiful structure we are trying to build, at this stage the place looks nothing like the finished structure.
All we can see at the first and second stages of our building, is rubble and a lot of mess.
Hence the caution "but". The Lord is warning us that although He is building this beautiful new structure that is bound to create joy in us, what we initially see as the evidence of this change will resemble the rubble of clearing the land and will in no way look like the finished work which He promises in verses 18-25. He is teaching us this right now, so that we do not become the people who cry out as the year progresses "God you have promised me ........., but why is so and so happening? This looks nothing like what you promised me" .
Before you are finally in the finished product of your promised change, you will experience changes that will at times seem like disorder. When you are in this stage, please stop and either visit or picture a construction site and remind yourself that just as the builders end result is not the rubble you see at the site, so the finished picture of your situation is not chaos but somethng of beauty and good purpose; and wait with the joy that the Lrod advocates in verse 18 for the finished product.
For He promises that the finished product will be
- one of joy and not of sorrow
- one in which He will rejoice in you (and not be displeased with you)
- one in which your children live to fulfil their purpose and not die prematurely
- one in which you will prosper to own your house and not lose it to foreclosure or anything else
- one in which you will reap success in your career and not frustration
- one in which you will not be usurped, but will eat the fruit of your labor
- one in which all of these blessings will last for all time and shall not be terminal
- one in which you will not work in vain
- one in which your efforts will be appreciated and not be cause for trouble
- one in which both you and your children will continually bring forth the blessings of God, because you are a blessing
- one in which your prayers are readily answered
- one in which h the Lord pays attention to what you say
- one in which you will be safe in every dangerous situation
- one in which the devil will be restored to his rightful place: having no power over you and under your foot and eating dust
- one in which the devil will be unable to hurt or destroy you
I would like to remind us that thiis word is to the children of God - those who have accepted the Lord Jesus into their lives. For those who have not, you cannot recieve this blessing. In order to recieve the lord Jeusus into your life, you must believe and accept that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23) in need of His grace and invite the Lord Jesus into your life to be your life to be your Lord and Savior. If you do this, you have automatically been added to the lists of recipients of this His blessing. But it does not stop there. Continue in your decision by identifying and aligning yourself by membership in a church where you can build on the decision you have taken today and continue the process to be changed into the image of who God wants you to be - the image of Christ ( 2 Corinthian 5:17). For any one who made this decision to work with the Lord this year, we are willing to be your partners in your walk, please write to us and let us pray with you. May God bless you in Jesus name. Amen.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
By Lois Rader
Sat, June 20, 2009
I would like to talk to you today about fruit. How many of you like fresh fruit? What is your favorite fruit?
Fruit is most often sweet which can satisfy our craving for sweets, but it’s also nutritious unlike cakes, cookies, or candy bars. So fruit is a good thing right?
Jesus often used fruit as an example to teach his followers who they were in Him and how the fruit that we produce affects us.
Let’s look at Gal. 5:22-23. I’m going to use the amplified version because I think it explains these verses a little more thoroughly without changing the meaning. Here we go: “But the fruit of the Holy Spirit [that is the work which His presence within us accomplishes] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness [which is benevolence], faithfulness, gentleness [or humility], and self-control. Against such there is no law [that can bring a charge against us].
Wow! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have all of these attributes in our life? We can, and some do, but most of us just sit around and hope the Holy Spirit will drop these fruits into us when we get good enough to receive them. There is no place in the Bible that says we should just sit around and wait for the Holy Spirit to move on us. It’s as we get moving that the Holy Spirit steps in and helps us. That’s His job. To lead, not drag, and bring to remembrance Jesus word’s so WE can act on them. Faith is a partnership not a dictatorship. So, if we want the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we need to first desire it and then go after it.
If you want love, you need to start loving people. The Holy Spirit will help you from there, but you need to take the first step. If you want peace, the best way to get it is to spend time with the Lord. If you want patience, humility, or self-control, you must ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome your impatience, your pride, and your indulgences. He will because the Bible says He will. If you want to be kind, helpful, or faithful, you just need to practice. It’s when you practice these fruits that the Holy Spirit will come along and multiply what you have started. If you want Joy, you need to choose it. It’s easy to whine and fuss when things aren’t going our way, but if you choose joy instead, the Holy Spirit will help you through those tough times with joy. Larnell Harris wrote a song called, “I choose joy.” In the song, it says, “I choose joy, I’ll never let the problems keep me down, For I know the Lord will work things out for my good, I choose joy.” We just need to remember that WE, not God, are the initiators to receive the fruit of the Spirit. Then the Trinity steps in and helps make it happen. It’s actually teamwork.
John 15 describes best how this works. READ vs. 1. “I, (meaning Jesus), am the True vine and My Father is the vinedresser.” What does that mean? Well, God is the expert who plants and tends to the vine. Jesus, who is the vine, provides the link from God to us by becoming the vine from which we grow spiritually!
If you are familiar with grapevines, you will understand this principle. Before a grapevine is planted, a trellis is set up, usually a series of posts with two rows of wires connecting them. The vines grow up near the post for support and then the branches that grow from the vine are gently curled around the wire by the vinedresser. The vinedresser, (which is God) then ties the branches to the wire so when the fruit comes, the weight of it doesn’t pull the vine to the ground where it would rot.
Do you understand the principle here? God planted the vine, by sending Jesus to be our link with God the Father, then being connected to Jesus, The Father trains us or curls us around the supporting wire, which is a picture of the Holy Spirit, and finally ties us to the wire (the Holy Spirit), so we don’t fall from the weight of the fruit and rot. Is there any other way that we would want this to happen? God, the Father, brings us to Jesus, invites us to receive Him as Lord and Savior, then guides our growth. He even supports us by tying or drawing us closer to Him in preparation for the fruit that we will bear. In other words, He’s got us covered! There’s one more element this Scripture doesn’t cover and that’s our free will. The choice to bear fruit is always ours.
Let’s look at vs. 2 of John 15. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He cuts off, and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” So every branch in Jesus that doesn’t bear fruit, God cuts off, and every branch that bears fruit, God prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Ouch! But, this is very important and we need to understand this! If we refuse to bear fruit, God will cut us off. Now there are two ways to look at this. Vinedressers prune during the winter months. They cut off any old vines that are no longer producing or have never produced. Which category do you fit in? Have you produced much fruit and the Lord is now giving you rest, or did you never produce. I’m hoping that the season in which I stop producing fruit is the season God takes me to heaven, but to never produce fruit is certainly sad indeed. God will cut your branch off if you exercise your free will and choose not to produce fruit. In other words, He can’t use you to further His kingdom.
Let’s look at this another way. A branch grows from the vine (that means you have asked Jesus into your heart), but you never do anything with it. You don’t read your Bible, you don’t pray, you don’t worship Him, so guess what? You never grow and your branch doesn’t produce fruit. God comes along and says I can’t use you and He snaps you off the vine and throws you away. This is not a place where we ever want to be. We were created for God’s purpose so that He may be glorified and we need to be about His business. Get exited about being used by God because if you are born again, He has already called you to His service of bearing much fruit!
The next thing is the pruning. This also can be painful, but so worth the pain. We are all born with impurities. Some come from the sins of our family, yet others from our connection to the evil in the world around us, and these all need to be dealt with before we can produce much fruit. As we allow our Father to prune us, we grow richer and stronger after every pruning season. Our fruit gets bigger and sweeter.
Vs 4 and 5 are very important in this process. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
I looked up the ‘abide’ in my dictionary and it means, to stand fast, or remain. But my favorite explanation here is to submit to or endure. As we submit to and endure God’s pruning, we will bear much fruit but only if we are abiding in Him. How do we stand fast, remain, or endure? We read the Word of God, we pray, and we worship. These will all help us to endure the pruning process and make us stronger plants connected to the vine of Christ.
One last thing before I close, vs. 8-9 tells us why this is all necessary. It reads, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” My friends, there is nothing more rewarding than the feel of Jesus love. Jesus then goes on in vs. 10-12 to say, “If you keep my commandments, you WILL abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in HIS love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
This growth process is so easy if we just submit or abide in Jesus and do what the Bible says completely. I want to give you an opportunity this morning to ask Jesus into your heart if you have never done that before. You can not be grafted into the vine if you don’t know Jesus and have never asked Him to be your Lord and Savior.
©2009
By Lois Rader
Sat, June 20, 2009
I would like to talk to you today about fruit. How many of you like fresh fruit? What is your favorite fruit?
Fruit is most often sweet which can satisfy our craving for sweets, but it’s also nutritious unlike cakes, cookies, or candy bars. So fruit is a good thing right?
Jesus often used fruit as an example to teach his followers who they were in Him and how the fruit that we produce affects us.
Let’s look at Gal. 5:22-23. I’m going to use the amplified version because I think it explains these verses a little more thoroughly without changing the meaning. Here we go: “But the fruit of the Holy Spirit [that is the work which His presence within us accomplishes] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness [which is benevolence], faithfulness, gentleness [or humility], and self-control. Against such there is no law [that can bring a charge against us].
Wow! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have all of these attributes in our life? We can, and some do, but most of us just sit around and hope the Holy Spirit will drop these fruits into us when we get good enough to receive them. There is no place in the Bible that says we should just sit around and wait for the Holy Spirit to move on us. It’s as we get moving that the Holy Spirit steps in and helps us. That’s His job. To lead, not drag, and bring to remembrance Jesus word’s so WE can act on them. Faith is a partnership not a dictatorship. So, if we want the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we need to first desire it and then go after it.
If you want love, you need to start loving people. The Holy Spirit will help you from there, but you need to take the first step. If you want peace, the best way to get it is to spend time with the Lord. If you want patience, humility, or self-control, you must ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome your impatience, your pride, and your indulgences. He will because the Bible says He will. If you want to be kind, helpful, or faithful, you just need to practice. It’s when you practice these fruits that the Holy Spirit will come along and multiply what you have started. If you want Joy, you need to choose it. It’s easy to whine and fuss when things aren’t going our way, but if you choose joy instead, the Holy Spirit will help you through those tough times with joy. Larnell Harris wrote a song called, “I choose joy.” In the song, it says, “I choose joy, I’ll never let the problems keep me down, For I know the Lord will work things out for my good, I choose joy.” We just need to remember that WE, not God, are the initiators to receive the fruit of the Spirit. Then the Trinity steps in and helps make it happen. It’s actually teamwork.
John 15 describes best how this works. READ vs. 1. “I, (meaning Jesus), am the True vine and My Father is the vinedresser.” What does that mean? Well, God is the expert who plants and tends to the vine. Jesus, who is the vine, provides the link from God to us by becoming the vine from which we grow spiritually!
If you are familiar with grapevines, you will understand this principle. Before a grapevine is planted, a trellis is set up, usually a series of posts with two rows of wires connecting them. The vines grow up near the post for support and then the branches that grow from the vine are gently curled around the wire by the vinedresser. The vinedresser, (which is God) then ties the branches to the wire so when the fruit comes, the weight of it doesn’t pull the vine to the ground where it would rot.
Do you understand the principle here? God planted the vine, by sending Jesus to be our link with God the Father, then being connected to Jesus, The Father trains us or curls us around the supporting wire, which is a picture of the Holy Spirit, and finally ties us to the wire (the Holy Spirit), so we don’t fall from the weight of the fruit and rot. Is there any other way that we would want this to happen? God, the Father, brings us to Jesus, invites us to receive Him as Lord and Savior, then guides our growth. He even supports us by tying or drawing us closer to Him in preparation for the fruit that we will bear. In other words, He’s got us covered! There’s one more element this Scripture doesn’t cover and that’s our free will. The choice to bear fruit is always ours.
Let’s look at vs. 2 of John 15. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He cuts off, and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” So every branch in Jesus that doesn’t bear fruit, God cuts off, and every branch that bears fruit, God prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Ouch! But, this is very important and we need to understand this! If we refuse to bear fruit, God will cut us off. Now there are two ways to look at this. Vinedressers prune during the winter months. They cut off any old vines that are no longer producing or have never produced. Which category do you fit in? Have you produced much fruit and the Lord is now giving you rest, or did you never produce. I’m hoping that the season in which I stop producing fruit is the season God takes me to heaven, but to never produce fruit is certainly sad indeed. God will cut your branch off if you exercise your free will and choose not to produce fruit. In other words, He can’t use you to further His kingdom.
Let’s look at this another way. A branch grows from the vine (that means you have asked Jesus into your heart), but you never do anything with it. You don’t read your Bible, you don’t pray, you don’t worship Him, so guess what? You never grow and your branch doesn’t produce fruit. God comes along and says I can’t use you and He snaps you off the vine and throws you away. This is not a place where we ever want to be. We were created for God’s purpose so that He may be glorified and we need to be about His business. Get exited about being used by God because if you are born again, He has already called you to His service of bearing much fruit!
The next thing is the pruning. This also can be painful, but so worth the pain. We are all born with impurities. Some come from the sins of our family, yet others from our connection to the evil in the world around us, and these all need to be dealt with before we can produce much fruit. As we allow our Father to prune us, we grow richer and stronger after every pruning season. Our fruit gets bigger and sweeter.
Vs 4 and 5 are very important in this process. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
I looked up the ‘abide’ in my dictionary and it means, to stand fast, or remain. But my favorite explanation here is to submit to or endure. As we submit to and endure God’s pruning, we will bear much fruit but only if we are abiding in Him. How do we stand fast, remain, or endure? We read the Word of God, we pray, and we worship. These will all help us to endure the pruning process and make us stronger plants connected to the vine of Christ.
One last thing before I close, vs. 8-9 tells us why this is all necessary. It reads, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” My friends, there is nothing more rewarding than the feel of Jesus love. Jesus then goes on in vs. 10-12 to say, “If you keep my commandments, you WILL abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in HIS love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
This growth process is so easy if we just submit or abide in Jesus and do what the Bible says completely. I want to give you an opportunity this morning to ask Jesus into your heart if you have never done that before. You can not be grafted into the vine if you don’t know Jesus and have never asked Him to be your Lord and Savior.
©2009
SERMON: BEING THANKFUL FOR MANNA
SERMON TEXT: EXODUS 15:27; 16:1-18, 35. NUMBERS 11:4-10,16A-20,31-34
CALL TO WORSHIP:
"How great is our God". This is a call to think and reflect on how great God has been in your life. At the birth of your child (children), in the getting of that wonderful job or promotion. How in the little ditties of life, He manages to let you know that He loves you and that He is there for you. How many countless breaks have you had of His pardon, mercy, grace and love. How often have you stopped to think how He much He must care for you.
David did - he often stopped to reflect on the evidence of God's love and care for him. It caused him to proclaim "who am I, that you care so much for me", Psalm 8:4 (paraphrase mine).
Acknowledging the greatness of God in your life, opens the doors to experiencing His greatness in a very personal way. Make a committment today, to be committed to recognising God's hands in everything and acknowledge His greatness in all things, even the simple things.
PRAYER:
"The entrance of your word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple". Lord please prepare our hearts to receive and understand your words, that we might be fruitful doers of your word and not hearerss only, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
EXODUS 15:27
And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
EXODUS 16:1-18
And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: (emphasis mine)
And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD
And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.
And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. (emphasis mine).
This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
EXODUS 16:35
And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. (emphasis mine)
NUMBERS 11:4-10
And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:
But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
NUMBERS 11:16A-20
And the LORD said unto Moses, .......................
And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
NUMBERS 11:31-34
And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
MAY THE LORD BLESS THE READING OF HIS HOLY WORD.AMEN
SERMON BY PASTOR TEGA SWANN
Our text this morning, takes us back to the sojourn of the Israelites through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. Their journey was directed by God and often, He would cause them to remain at one location for a period of time (so it was not that they were walking everyday, for forty years to the Promise Land).
At this particular point in time, the Lord had led them to Elim, a place surrounded by twelve springs and seventy palm trees! Wow! What a vacation! I wonder what the Travel Agencies of today would charge for a vacation at such a location.
This was typical of the Lord to cause the Israelites to camp near natural resources and if there were no natural resources for their survival, He supernaturally provided for their needs (e.g. making bitter waters, sweet (Exodus 15:22-25) and water from the rock (Exodus 17:1-6)). This gives us an insight into God's nature - that of caring for what He has made. This aspect of His nature was also confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 6:25-32. Even way back at the beginning of creation, He made sure that everything which He had created had what it needs to survive (Genesis 1:29-30; 2:5-6).
I am painting us this picture so that we might have a good understanding about the God we are talking about and the situation of the Israelites, which we are reviewing.
God had taken care of them so far; they lacked nothing.
However we come to this point in time, when the Israelites stirred themselves up to a state of discontent. They began to lament and crave the 'goodies' found in Egypt, which were lacking in the desert. Duh! Who expects to find a grocery store or a Lord's in the desert? Or which soldier goes to war with a bag of his best clothing and an expectation to wine and dine and live life as he did on his homeland? None, because in the process of transition, before you get to the final stage, most things are, if not everything is makeshift, i.e. temporary.
Apparently, the children of Israel had very little knowledge of this, because they expected to dine and wine and live as they had in Egypt, slavery and all.
Even though the Lord found them at fault in this, He went on to provide for them the necessary parts of their cravings. Notice that He did not fulfill their requests for olives and spices, etc. He did not pander to their childish request (childish, because they were not thinking strategically like grown men in their situation).
These people became the only people to have eaten bread that was from heaven! And it is amazing to note that whenever their needs were supernaturally met, the Israelites never stopped to marvel at it all. They just went ahead to fulfill their need without a thought for the God who made it possible. This trait of 'self-absorption' and 'selfishness', caused them not to grow in their understanding and knowledge of God and therefore, they were never able to act right towards God.
How would you react today if God met one of your needs in a super-natural way? Would you just happily take your gift and then be on your way? This should not be our only reaction, but we should also take the time to ponder the wonder of the provision. In so doing we are seeking to understand God and His response will be, to make more of Himself known to us and this will result in a better relationship between us and God.
We could and should even bring this home to our relationships with our fellow human beings. When someone does something for you or gives you a gift, letting our response go beyond a 'thank you', to dwelling on the character and nature of the person who has done this to/for you, will provoke a desire to know this person better and lead to a (n) improved relationship; with strangers becoming friends and friends becoming even closer friends. To do any less would be criminal because, just having our desires gratified and then be on our ways, would make us just as self-absorbed and selfish (as the Israelites were at this time) and destroy any relationship bonds and any opportunities there might have been for good relationships to form.
Therefore lacking the right response to the awesome provision of God in their lives, the Israelites hit yet another hurdle. The non-Israelites in the midst of them stirred them up to rebellion against God and Moses, because although they had necessities, they lacked luxuries. (Now bear in mind where they were physically. Were they in a situation where lacking luxuries should have been an issue?)
Again, we must consider the basis for this new development. The first time, they rose up a cry by themselves. This time, the strangers in their midst incited them to it. How typical, when one does not know nor understand with whom they deal - it will always be easy for outsiders (people outside of the relationship) to create problems in the relationship. They will easily help you point out all what is lacking in your relationship (either without an understanding or a complete disregard for what point you are at in the relationship). And sadly, because you also have not bothered to know the person with whom you deal, beyond what you get from them, you will foolishly fall prey to this incitement and commit actions and or develop attitudes that lead to destructive results between you and whomever.
What was so terrible about 'the bread from heaven’, which they ate? It was completely filling without leading to either obesity or under-nourishment (Genesis 16:18). We can imagine also what other effect it would have had on their bodies, considering that there are not ugly pictures of heavenly bodies! Would that we could find such a food for our 'diets' these days. It would probably cost the earth! But no! Those who have become our friends and companions have ignorantly compared to what we have to what they used to have and have told us that we have been short-changed and should not accept this. Therefore we will not! However, what both you and your companions have missed out on, is the stage which you are at in your journey. Have you arrived yet or are you still in transition?
The answer to this matters, because, if you are still on your journey, you need the wisdom the Lord shared with us last week in the sermon "A NEW BEGINNING". Get wise so that you might live longer and get yet some more blessings from the Lord!
For the Israelites, their foolish behavior provoked God to grant them their desire for meat, but the Bible says that "And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague" (Numbers 11:33).
What a terrible repercussion! Does it remind you of the adage "be careful what you wish for"? I would like to add to that by saying, "think carefully before you make your wish". Is what you are wishing for really necessary, especially for the point that you are right now? Are you at your final destination for this situation, or is there still more road to travel before you get there? Also think about the possible outcomes that might occur as a result of your wish. If you are not at your final destination and or, if there are negative possibilities, you may want hold off on making that wish or request.
We need to grow to incorporate into both our spiritual and earthly living, the attitude of being grateful for what we have now, even while looking forward and or hoping for what we do not have. We should be careful in how we go about hankering after what we do not have, lest it not only cost us the good that we already have, but also deprive us of the opportunity to ever get to our finish line.
In order to 'arrive' therefore:
"Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). Without wisdom, you cannot make it spiritually or physically (Matthew 25:1-12). Wisdom is the key to avoiding the pitfalls of the Israelites (and any of your own!). But how do you get wisdom? You ask God for it! (James 1:5) And you get in return not only wisdom but also Jesus Christ (“who of God is made unto us wisdom..." (I Corinthians 1:30b; consider also the "Three Wise Men". Their wisdom caused them to seek Jesus through 'thick and thin').
Know this though, anything outside of God's wisdom, still counts as foolishness and leads you back to the destructive pit (I Corinthians 1:20-24; 3:19; James 3:13-17)).
The second thing to have for your journey is ‘CONTENTMENT’. In I Timothy 6:8 we counseled thus, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content”. Again, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:5.
The Lord not only knows where you are trying to get to: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11), but He is well over and able to get you there "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." (Ephesians 3:20, emphasis mine). Again, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19. Talk about heavenly supply!
Do not allow what you do not have today, blind you to what you already have. Wealth and comfort and all that comes with it is good, but do not make that your priority or your goal because as the Bible says “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” I Timothy 6:9. Riches should be a blessing from the Lord (Matthew 6:33) and not our reason for being!
Make the commitment today to start to appreciate both the givers and the gifts in your life and watch how your relationship both with God and with man blossom and rise altogether to a new sublime level.
PRAYER:
Father we ask your forgiveness in any way in which we have not honored the gifts that either your or our fellow men, have given unto us. Create in us today, a right response to what we receive and have already in our lives and give us the wisdom to wait like the wise virgins for the fulfillment or your word and our hopes and dreams, in Jesus name, amen.
SERMON TEXT: EXODUS 15:27; 16:1-18, 35. NUMBERS 11:4-10,16A-20,31-34
CALL TO WORSHIP:
"How great is our God". This is a call to think and reflect on how great God has been in your life. At the birth of your child (children), in the getting of that wonderful job or promotion. How in the little ditties of life, He manages to let you know that He loves you and that He is there for you. How many countless breaks have you had of His pardon, mercy, grace and love. How often have you stopped to think how He much He must care for you.
David did - he often stopped to reflect on the evidence of God's love and care for him. It caused him to proclaim "who am I, that you care so much for me", Psalm 8:4 (paraphrase mine).
Acknowledging the greatness of God in your life, opens the doors to experiencing His greatness in a very personal way. Make a committment today, to be committed to recognising God's hands in everything and acknowledge His greatness in all things, even the simple things.
PRAYER:
"The entrance of your word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple". Lord please prepare our hearts to receive and understand your words, that we might be fruitful doers of your word and not hearerss only, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
EXODUS 15:27
And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
EXODUS 16:1-18
And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: (emphasis mine)
And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD
And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.
And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. (emphasis mine).
This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
EXODUS 16:35
And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. (emphasis mine)
NUMBERS 11:4-10
And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:
But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
NUMBERS 11:16A-20
And the LORD said unto Moses, .......................
And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
NUMBERS 11:31-34
And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
MAY THE LORD BLESS THE READING OF HIS HOLY WORD.AMEN
SERMON BY PASTOR TEGA SWANN
Our text this morning, takes us back to the sojourn of the Israelites through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. Their journey was directed by God and often, He would cause them to remain at one location for a period of time (so it was not that they were walking everyday, for forty years to the Promise Land).
At this particular point in time, the Lord had led them to Elim, a place surrounded by twelve springs and seventy palm trees! Wow! What a vacation! I wonder what the Travel Agencies of today would charge for a vacation at such a location.
This was typical of the Lord to cause the Israelites to camp near natural resources and if there were no natural resources for their survival, He supernaturally provided for their needs (e.g. making bitter waters, sweet (Exodus 15:22-25) and water from the rock (Exodus 17:1-6)). This gives us an insight into God's nature - that of caring for what He has made. This aspect of His nature was also confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 6:25-32. Even way back at the beginning of creation, He made sure that everything which He had created had what it needs to survive (Genesis 1:29-30; 2:5-6).
I am painting us this picture so that we might have a good understanding about the God we are talking about and the situation of the Israelites, which we are reviewing.
God had taken care of them so far; they lacked nothing.
However we come to this point in time, when the Israelites stirred themselves up to a state of discontent. They began to lament and crave the 'goodies' found in Egypt, which were lacking in the desert. Duh! Who expects to find a grocery store or a Lord's in the desert? Or which soldier goes to war with a bag of his best clothing and an expectation to wine and dine and live life as he did on his homeland? None, because in the process of transition, before you get to the final stage, most things are, if not everything is makeshift, i.e. temporary.
Apparently, the children of Israel had very little knowledge of this, because they expected to dine and wine and live as they had in Egypt, slavery and all.
Even though the Lord found them at fault in this, He went on to provide for them the necessary parts of their cravings. Notice that He did not fulfill their requests for olives and spices, etc. He did not pander to their childish request (childish, because they were not thinking strategically like grown men in their situation).
These people became the only people to have eaten bread that was from heaven! And it is amazing to note that whenever their needs were supernaturally met, the Israelites never stopped to marvel at it all. They just went ahead to fulfill their need without a thought for the God who made it possible. This trait of 'self-absorption' and 'selfishness', caused them not to grow in their understanding and knowledge of God and therefore, they were never able to act right towards God.
How would you react today if God met one of your needs in a super-natural way? Would you just happily take your gift and then be on your way? This should not be our only reaction, but we should also take the time to ponder the wonder of the provision. In so doing we are seeking to understand God and His response will be, to make more of Himself known to us and this will result in a better relationship between us and God.
We could and should even bring this home to our relationships with our fellow human beings. When someone does something for you or gives you a gift, letting our response go beyond a 'thank you', to dwelling on the character and nature of the person who has done this to/for you, will provoke a desire to know this person better and lead to a (n) improved relationship; with strangers becoming friends and friends becoming even closer friends. To do any less would be criminal because, just having our desires gratified and then be on our ways, would make us just as self-absorbed and selfish (as the Israelites were at this time) and destroy any relationship bonds and any opportunities there might have been for good relationships to form.
Therefore lacking the right response to the awesome provision of God in their lives, the Israelites hit yet another hurdle. The non-Israelites in the midst of them stirred them up to rebellion against God and Moses, because although they had necessities, they lacked luxuries. (Now bear in mind where they were physically. Were they in a situation where lacking luxuries should have been an issue?)
Again, we must consider the basis for this new development. The first time, they rose up a cry by themselves. This time, the strangers in their midst incited them to it. How typical, when one does not know nor understand with whom they deal - it will always be easy for outsiders (people outside of the relationship) to create problems in the relationship. They will easily help you point out all what is lacking in your relationship (either without an understanding or a complete disregard for what point you are at in the relationship). And sadly, because you also have not bothered to know the person with whom you deal, beyond what you get from them, you will foolishly fall prey to this incitement and commit actions and or develop attitudes that lead to destructive results between you and whomever.
What was so terrible about 'the bread from heaven’, which they ate? It was completely filling without leading to either obesity or under-nourishment (Genesis 16:18). We can imagine also what other effect it would have had on their bodies, considering that there are not ugly pictures of heavenly bodies! Would that we could find such a food for our 'diets' these days. It would probably cost the earth! But no! Those who have become our friends and companions have ignorantly compared to what we have to what they used to have and have told us that we have been short-changed and should not accept this. Therefore we will not! However, what both you and your companions have missed out on, is the stage which you are at in your journey. Have you arrived yet or are you still in transition?
The answer to this matters, because, if you are still on your journey, you need the wisdom the Lord shared with us last week in the sermon "A NEW BEGINNING". Get wise so that you might live longer and get yet some more blessings from the Lord!
For the Israelites, their foolish behavior provoked God to grant them their desire for meat, but the Bible says that "And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague" (Numbers 11:33).
What a terrible repercussion! Does it remind you of the adage "be careful what you wish for"? I would like to add to that by saying, "think carefully before you make your wish". Is what you are wishing for really necessary, especially for the point that you are right now? Are you at your final destination for this situation, or is there still more road to travel before you get there? Also think about the possible outcomes that might occur as a result of your wish. If you are not at your final destination and or, if there are negative possibilities, you may want hold off on making that wish or request.
We need to grow to incorporate into both our spiritual and earthly living, the attitude of being grateful for what we have now, even while looking forward and or hoping for what we do not have. We should be careful in how we go about hankering after what we do not have, lest it not only cost us the good that we already have, but also deprive us of the opportunity to ever get to our finish line.
In order to 'arrive' therefore:
"Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). Without wisdom, you cannot make it spiritually or physically (Matthew 25:1-12). Wisdom is the key to avoiding the pitfalls of the Israelites (and any of your own!). But how do you get wisdom? You ask God for it! (James 1:5) And you get in return not only wisdom but also Jesus Christ (“who of God is made unto us wisdom..." (I Corinthians 1:30b; consider also the "Three Wise Men". Their wisdom caused them to seek Jesus through 'thick and thin').
Know this though, anything outside of God's wisdom, still counts as foolishness and leads you back to the destructive pit (I Corinthians 1:20-24; 3:19; James 3:13-17)).
The second thing to have for your journey is ‘CONTENTMENT’. In I Timothy 6:8 we counseled thus, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content”. Again, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:5.
The Lord not only knows where you are trying to get to: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11), but He is well over and able to get you there "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." (Ephesians 3:20, emphasis mine). Again, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19. Talk about heavenly supply!
Do not allow what you do not have today, blind you to what you already have. Wealth and comfort and all that comes with it is good, but do not make that your priority or your goal because as the Bible says “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” I Timothy 6:9. Riches should be a blessing from the Lord (Matthew 6:33) and not our reason for being!
Make the commitment today to start to appreciate both the givers and the gifts in your life and watch how your relationship both with God and with man blossom and rise altogether to a new sublime level.
PRAYER:
Father we ask your forgiveness in any way in which we have not honored the gifts that either your or our fellow men, have given unto us. Create in us today, a right response to what we receive and have already in our lives and give us the wisdom to wait like the wise virgins for the fulfillment or your word and our hopes and dreams, in Jesus name, amen.
A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
By PASTOR TEGA SWANNSun, May 13, 2007
SERMON: “A VIRTUOS WOMAN WHO CAN FIND: LOOK! SHE IS ALL AROUND YOU, EVERYWHERE!”
OPENING WORSHIP: Today, in honor of ‘mother’s day’, you will pick out a song and sing it or play it to your either your wife and or your mother!
BIBLICAL TEXT: PROVERBS 31:1, 10-31
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
SERMON
Praise the Lord! Welcome all and a very “happy mother’s day” to all the mothers and wives.
Praise the Lord! Amen!
Today’s sermon is in honor of all mothers and wives, however, we shall deal with the sermon in two parts: part A will address all children and husbands and part B will address all mothers.
I am certain that most if not all are well acquainted with the above passage from Proverbs. I am also almost certain that for everyone who has read this passage, both male and female, they have approached it as an unattainable goal, something more like a heaven-like state or utopia: something desirable which is unattainable.
In reality, the reverse is the case! Today, society is stumped by the multitudes of the ‘virtuous woman’ described in Proverbs 31! The problem is, we (men, women, children) do not see it, because we do not believe neither were taught that this was something to be found in an ordinary life. Many have attributed the verse, “her price is far above rubies” that mean that it is rare to find such a woman.
What many have missed is the introductory verse, verse 1 which alerts us to the fact that this passage is a prophecy! It is something which had not yethappened at the time of the prophecy, but which was going to happen! When? It did not say, but the King’s mother was alerting him and all others, to the attributes of a certain kind of woman that was to come in the future and because what was described literally makes that woman “superwoman or super-wife and super-mom”, all have relegated this prophecy to the same place as that of Superman; a fable, a myth; not real.
And while the passage does not tell us how that virtuous woman came to be in existence, we will find today that the multitudes (!) of virtuous women all around have been created out of dire and the most undesirable of circumstances. And yet everyday these everyday virtuous women are being ignored and are almost invisible and unrecognized in their roles as “virtuous women”, even as Herculean as the task is of being a virtuous woman!
What and who exactly is the ‘virtuous woman’? Let us interpret the Biblical prophecy to find out.
Basically, the king’s mother starts out by saying, “such a woman is priceless, go on to treat her as such” (verse 10) and goes to explain why:
And to you mothers and wives out there, I say this, there is a great and joyful reward for your role, there is a great reward for your commitment to your husbands and children, never give up! Do not rue the circumstances that have made you into this super-being, rejoice in it for the prophecy also foretells your rejoicing for your role in all of this. Continue in your strength towards looking after your family and do not relent even in your reaching out to others in unfortunate circumstances. For such a time as this have you been made and in due season you will enjoy the reward that is promised. Finally, do not neglect to look after yourself in the midst of all this, but take the time to still look good as always. Read and re-read these verses that describe who and what you are, because sometimes you will be the only one to remind yourself of your worth. Remember that you are strong and honorable; therefore hold on to that honor no matter what your circumstances are. God bless and “Happy Mother’s Day!”
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are a ministry that greatly celebrates and appreciates women. If you know a woman, she can use some appreciation, so send us her name and address and we will send her a little gift as a sign of appreciation from you. International readers please include a phone number for you and her, so we can contact both of you for confirmation.
Contact us at [email protected] and we will work with you to appreciate.
CLOSING PRAYER
Great and wise God, we thank you, that in your wisdom, you have given us women to be to us a part of what you are to us and to do for us, a part of what you do for us. We sincerely appreciate you and women that you have given unto us. We pray that you give us hearts that understand what they mean to us in this day and age and honor them according to your word in Jesus name we pray, amen.
By PASTOR TEGA SWANNSun, May 13, 2007
SERMON: “A VIRTUOS WOMAN WHO CAN FIND: LOOK! SHE IS ALL AROUND YOU, EVERYWHERE!”
OPENING WORSHIP: Today, in honor of ‘mother’s day’, you will pick out a song and sing it or play it to your either your wife and or your mother!
BIBLICAL TEXT: PROVERBS 31:1, 10-31
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
SERMON
Praise the Lord! Welcome all and a very “happy mother’s day” to all the mothers and wives.
Praise the Lord! Amen!
Today’s sermon is in honor of all mothers and wives, however, we shall deal with the sermon in two parts: part A will address all children and husbands and part B will address all mothers.
I am certain that most if not all are well acquainted with the above passage from Proverbs. I am also almost certain that for everyone who has read this passage, both male and female, they have approached it as an unattainable goal, something more like a heaven-like state or utopia: something desirable which is unattainable.
In reality, the reverse is the case! Today, society is stumped by the multitudes of the ‘virtuous woman’ described in Proverbs 31! The problem is, we (men, women, children) do not see it, because we do not believe neither were taught that this was something to be found in an ordinary life. Many have attributed the verse, “her price is far above rubies” that mean that it is rare to find such a woman.
What many have missed is the introductory verse, verse 1 which alerts us to the fact that this passage is a prophecy! It is something which had not yethappened at the time of the prophecy, but which was going to happen! When? It did not say, but the King’s mother was alerting him and all others, to the attributes of a certain kind of woman that was to come in the future and because what was described literally makes that woman “superwoman or super-wife and super-mom”, all have relegated this prophecy to the same place as that of Superman; a fable, a myth; not real.
And while the passage does not tell us how that virtuous woman came to be in existence, we will find today that the multitudes (!) of virtuous women all around have been created out of dire and the most undesirable of circumstances. And yet everyday these everyday virtuous women are being ignored and are almost invisible and unrecognized in their roles as “virtuous women”, even as Herculean as the task is of being a virtuous woman!
What and who exactly is the ‘virtuous woman’? Let us interpret the Biblical prophecy to find out.
Basically, the king’s mother starts out by saying, “such a woman is priceless, go on to treat her as such” (verse 10) and goes to explain why:
- The husband of such a woman knows that he has nothing to fear from her, she will not bring him to ruin and therefore he should trust her, because, she will always be inclined towards good for him and not evil.
- She seeks productivity and does not despise earning a living. There is no end to the things she imagines and makes herself capable of doing, to earn a living.
- While others are resting, she concerns herself with the future of her family and all who live under her roof and seeks their security.
- She is business minded and profit oriented, never missing out an oppurtunity for enterprise.
- She rises up to every occasion and challenge that life throws at her and meets it with courage and fortitude. She bears even the load that was not hers to bear and adapts to it successfully.
- She sees and knows her worth even when others don’t and therefore she never gives up trying to succeed at her goals and what she does.
- She commits herself to earn a living and creates a profession for herself.
- Still, she is compassionate and reaches out to others in unfortunate circumstances.
- She plans ahead for her family and provides what they need.
- Still, she is able to look after herself and make herself look nice and presentable.
- Her husband publicly identifies with what is honorable.
- She is creative and always has a business proposition.
- She is very strong and honorable even while waiting and looking forward to her great reward.
- She is knowledgeable and is kindly inclined.
- She never takes a break from looking after her family and constantly juggles all her roles, whilst maintaining the balance in her home.
- Therefore, the children of such a woman should respect and honor her and
- The husband of such a woman should think well of her and highly esteem her, because no matter what women have been known and esteemed for in the past, this ‘new’ woman’s attributes surpasses them all.
- She should be praised and highly regarded, because above all these other attributes, she loves, serves and honors the Lord in all she does!
- And finally we are told, O men and children of the future which is now, “treat such a woman in such a way that acknowledges all her efforts give her praise and recognition for all her efforts and input, amen!
And to you mothers and wives out there, I say this, there is a great and joyful reward for your role, there is a great reward for your commitment to your husbands and children, never give up! Do not rue the circumstances that have made you into this super-being, rejoice in it for the prophecy also foretells your rejoicing for your role in all of this. Continue in your strength towards looking after your family and do not relent even in your reaching out to others in unfortunate circumstances. For such a time as this have you been made and in due season you will enjoy the reward that is promised. Finally, do not neglect to look after yourself in the midst of all this, but take the time to still look good as always. Read and re-read these verses that describe who and what you are, because sometimes you will be the only one to remind yourself of your worth. Remember that you are strong and honorable; therefore hold on to that honor no matter what your circumstances are. God bless and “Happy Mother’s Day!”
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are a ministry that greatly celebrates and appreciates women. If you know a woman, she can use some appreciation, so send us her name and address and we will send her a little gift as a sign of appreciation from you. International readers please include a phone number for you and her, so we can contact both of you for confirmation.
Contact us at [email protected] and we will work with you to appreciate.
CLOSING PRAYER
Great and wise God, we thank you, that in your wisdom, you have given us women to be to us a part of what you are to us and to do for us, a part of what you do for us. We sincerely appreciate you and women that you have given unto us. We pray that you give us hearts that understand what they mean to us in this day and age and honor them according to your word in Jesus name we pray, amen.
