This week I've been reading Matthew, and one passage that has really challenged me here is Matthew 7:12:

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

In reading commentaries on this passage I found something interesting about the context in which Jesus delivered this command:

The negative way of stating this command was known long before Jesus. It had long been said, “You should not do to your neighbor what you would not want him to do to you.” But it is a significant advance for Jesus to put it in the positive, to say that we should do unto others what we want them to do unto us.

In so doing, Jesus makes the command much broader. It is the difference between not breaking traffic laws and in doing something positive like helping a stranded motorist. Under the negative form of the rule, the goats of Matthew 25:31-46 are found “not guilty.” Yet under the positive form of the Golden Rule – Jesus’ form – they are indeed found guilty.

This command that Jesus gives us must be significant if he also tells us that this statement is the summary of how to treat people according to the Law and the Prophets. This passage is one that is easy to read and gloss over, but to really understand the implications of this should result in a transformed view of our role as followers of Jesus. This passage raises the bar from a list of "what not to do", to endless possibilities of ways to serve and love those around us.

Take 5 minutes today to sit and reflect with a pen and piece of paper about what an ideal day would look like for you. How would others act toward you? How would they treat you? How would they speak to you? What would they do for you?

Got a good list? You now have in front of you a list of how Jesus calls us as his followers to treat everyone we come in contact with in our daily lives. If this is how you would like to be treated, then this is the way in which you are invited to partner with Jesus in your everyday life.

Challenging I know, but I can only imagine the possibilities if we as a community of believers were to take up this challenge in each of our lives. Behaviour like that is a light on a hill, and the salt that changes the flavour of our communities! Let's be that salt and that light.

Stay salty,

Stephen

Luke 15

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put iton him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

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

How many sons did you see?

Two? Did you see the third son?

Interpreting Scripture – there are layers and context, look at the beginning word..."Then he said". Jesus is telling the parable but he is also the hero of the story being told by Luke. In Luke's gospel narrative he is the third son...the son telling a story about sons.

Luke tells a story about Jesus telling a story about...

• The son who ran away with his inheritance and returned as a servant
• The son who stayed at home as a servant and didn’t enter his inheritance
• Jesus is the son who tells the story, who came as a servant in his inheritance

First son’s mistake was infatuation with the product of relationship – his inheritance – this led to breakdown in relationship with the Father.

• Father said “he was dead”
• One of the inheritances he neglected was relationship with the Father, his role as a son
• It’s about what we can get sometimes-
  • Even his return home was self-serving, he was hungry
• It abuses the goodness of God the Father
• We can easily fall into this as Christians, especially those in ministry:- become infatuated with gifting, ministry, position etc. and neglect the source - the Father
• Ultimately, without connection with the Father the "inheritance" dwindles - this Christian's testimony is ancient history. There is nothing fresh from the Father.

Second son’s mistake – maintained a servant relationship with the Father, but he didn't enter into the Fathers goodness as a son, he could not see the Goodness of the Father, and begrudged the son who did. The Father told you could have had a fatted calf at anytime..."all I have is your's". Yet for some reason wasn't able to live that reality.

• This son is loyal, faithful and great at service but had missed something crucial about the Fathers nature
• That’s the religious tendency of people - we only accept what we believe we deserve. And apply that to others
• There is no room for a generous, gracious, loving Father
• It denies the goodness of God the Father
• This Christin resents the testimony of others

The first one was a son who needed to learn servant-hood
The second was in servant-hood, need to learn son-ship

The Third son – Jesus - walked in and ministered (served) from God’s goodness (inheritance).
He maintained relationship with the Father, and out of this reality power flowed.

As the son Jesus became the servant. He changed the world.

Saved => Servant / Son

As we grow in our faith we first encounter Christ as Saviour and soon learn He is Lord too. We go from sin awareness to becoming aware that there is a plan and purpose to our lives. We move from salvation focus to service and ministry. But the is a catch. We don't serve as servant - we serve as sons and daughters of the King.

This is a key distinction which cannot be emphasised enough... 

• A son can serve, but a servant cannot earn son-ship
• The rules are different. Consider a servant having a bad dream vs a child. There is different access to Dad.
• A servant earns wages - this is the nature of their relationship. The nature of a son or daughters relationship is their identity to Dad.

Our call is to walk in a relationship with God the Father, in the inheritance of Jesus Christ.

The silent years of Jesus

Jesus grew from childhood to adult ministry - What was happening in the in between years? Why so long a silence?
This period is framed between Jesus being “in My Father’s house”, and His baptism with Father speaking from heaven “This is my Son…”
His identity comes from God the Father

• Jesus was growing in “favour” with God – relationship between son and father
• Jesus disciples us in “son-ship”, to relate to God as Father – “Our Father in Heaven…”
• In service Jesus does what I see My Father do

Abiding with the father is the end goal of Jesus ministry. This is what He wants to teach us all. The destination of His ministry

He didn't just make this stuff up on the day or as part of his ministry. He didn't pull it out of thin air – He is describing a reality he lived in. A real relationship.
His offer is to prepare us for, and usher us into the reality He walked in. As sons and daughters in relationship with God the Father.

These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.

John 16

And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword;
In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me,
And made Me a polished shaft;
In His quiver He has hidden Me.

Isaiah 49:2 

There is a hidden-ness where God makes his arrows. Jesus was hidden for much of His life. There is a process of making, preparation we also go through. This is a large part of God's work in our lives...

• Arrows are bent, needs heat and a process to straighten them out
• There is a time where He draws the arrow out to shoot it
• Before Jesus walked in His inheritance he grew in son-ship. From Son-ship He entered servanthood.
• No matter how much you mow my lawns etc it doesn't make you family
• No matter if my child does or doesn't mow the lawns doesn't’t change the family reality
• A mature son will walk in the Fathers authority and have responsibility

REASONS FOR RBC MEMBERSHIP
Commitment is a Biblical principle: When reading about the New Testament Church, especially Acts Chapter 2 verses 42-47, we see that the experience of the believers was one of deep commitment.

Committed relationships are God’s ideal for us. Whilst formal membership is never directly mentioned in the scriptures, the biblical message is consistent in its call to a deep level of commitment to God and to His people.

Kingdom growth in both depth and numbers is a consequence of being “joined and held together” as the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:16) Membership is a way of affirming your commitment to the body of Chirst.

Privileges and responsibilities: We see that membership is a privilege and has responsibilities with it. Members add to the church and make it more complete. Our Christian service isn’t restricted to the church’s premises, it’s to be part of our lifestyle at home, at work, at school, at play. Looking for the best in others, not engaging in gossip, accepting others in their uniqueness, and encouraging other believers is our responsibility.
Personal reading and studying the Bible is vital to our walk with Christ, as is personal and corporate prayer. We need to learn about the vision and ministries of the church, and where possible support and pray for the church mission and leaders. Worshiping with the church community regularly and being a part of a Life Group (small group) also help us to grow and experience God at work. The scriptures speak of tithing and giving of our monetary resources as well as our gifts and time to further Gods kingdom through the local church. Our possessions, skills, abilities and gifts are not just our own, we are to use them to bless others.
Above all, we are to keep growing in our relationship with Christ, living in a manner which is right and true - showing the love of Jesus through all our dealings with people and passing that truth onto others.

Decision – making: 

Members are able to vote on matters brought before a congregational meeting, such as the appointment of a pastor, the appointment of elders, the purchase of land or buildings, and other important decisions that the church may want to make. Non members are not able to vote (although they are welcome to attend congregational meetings).

Your ability to vote and make decisions with other believers form a sound foundation for the direction we take as a church.

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A last thought, You don't become a member just because you signed a document or a piece of paper. You are a member of the church because of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. An active Christian choose to be part of the church when they give their life to Christ, accepting to be part of His body the Church. To Share, care love and belong.

Our belonging somewhere establishes a base from which we can reliably care for others. There are two sides to church membership, and we can’t keep others accountable for their good to a covenant we ourselves haven’t taken.

True love is not only manifest in affection and action, but also allegiance. We do not fully love our brothers and sisters in Christ if we withhold pledging our allegiance to them by covenanting with them in local-church life. Love doesn’t say, “I love these people and don’t need to covenant with them.” Rather, it says, “I love these people enough to covenant with them.”

Living the Christian life in community is more than just loose associations, but committing to each other to be there for each other when life is hard, in sickness and in sorrow.

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TAKE THE NEXT STEP
If you wish to become a member, talk to one of our pastoral staff. It’s a very simple process!

Complete this easy form - CLICK HERE

or email us - pastors@rbc.net.nz

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realizing his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make the arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he was reading, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words... "PAID IN FULL".

How many times do we miss blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

A TRUE STORY By Helen Roseveare, Missionary to Africa

One night, in Central Africa, I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all that we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying, two-year-old daughter.

We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive. We had no incubator. We had no electricity to run an incubator, and no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts.

A student-midwife went for the box we had for such babies and for the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly, in distress, to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "...and it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk; so, in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over a burst water bottle. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can; sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with many of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chilled. I also told them about the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt consciousness of our African children.

"Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, the baby'll be dead; so, please send it this afternoon."

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of corollary, " ...And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything: The Bible says so, but there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time that I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel! I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone; so, I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out.

Then, there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children began to look a little bored. Next, came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - - that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. As I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be? I grasped it, and pulled it out. Yes, "A brand-new rubber, hot water bottle!" I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone: She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday School class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. One of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child -- five months earlier in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "That afternoon!"

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

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Helen Roseveare, a missionary from Northern Ireland, included this true story in her book "Living Faith." She has written about the revival that took place in the 1950's in what was then the Belgian Congo. She has been associated with WEC (World Evangelization for Christ) at www.wec-int.org/

Brief History: Nebobongo Evangelical Hospital, was started in the 1950's by British missionary, Helen Roseveare, under WEC-Int'l (Worldwide Evangel for Christ). In 1964, rebels attacked the hospital, and Dr. Roseveare was arrested and brutally raped. Years later, she was able to return to DRC and forgive those who physically violated her, without touching her soul.

Preparation of Ourselves:

Preparing ourselves before God is an essential but often overlooked aspect of our life in the Spirit. It happens in secret.
It is the life of repentance and surrender – surrender of our will to the will of God - as revealed in Jesus.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3

Picture this:
Pharisees walk through a crowd of people – taking care not to be defiled. Their focus is to not sin.
Jesus walks through the same crowd. What is His focus? The glory of God.

• In Eden – Sin is defined two ways – transgression of the command and separation from God. The first people were thrown out of Eden, out of God’s glory – this is our reality
• Sin apart from the Law is defined by “the glory of God”. It is not what we have done wrong necessecarily. It is defined by the glory of what God intends, it is something I am still lacking
• Repentance is continually bringing our weakness and lack before our creator to be healed and remade, and to seek His glory
• Preparing ourselves to move in the power of the Spirit for God’s glory requires our willfulness to be surrendered
• Jesus agonised in the garden to surrender to the Father’s will

Important reflection points:

• How does God want to be glorified in and through your life
• Ask Him to speak to you about this
• What things are holding you back

Understanding the Spirit of Prophecy

To move in the power of the Holy Spirit it is crucial to understand who He is, what His role is and how we position ourselves. When Jesus was baptized a positional change occurred between HS and Jesus.
Prior to the baptism HS was active in creation and setting the stage – dreams, visions, prophecies etc. Jesus is learning obedience.
When Jesus was baptized the Father spoke “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him”
At that point God the Father delegates His authority to Jesus, endorsing Jesus word as His own.

That marks a shift in Jesus relationship with the HS. HS now backs up Jesus’ word and action with His power.
Jesus speaks in God’s authority, HS moves.
His power now supports the ministry and authority of Jesus. We enter into the ministry of Jesus, in submission to the Father empowered by the Holy Spirit.

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Rev 19

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into

1 Peter 1

Key Points:

• HS reveals Jesus
• Our desire to know Jesus unlocks revelation – get the order right 
• That revelation will be centred on Jesus, His person and His ministry
• Rom 12 – we present ourselves to be moved by the Holy Spirit, first must be surrendered (not our will, God’s glory)
• Only HS can reveal Jesus – Angles are limited in their knowledge and cannot be the source of intimacy with God

Application:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Eph 2

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

2 Cor 3

See also Gal 4 – Christ formed in you

Key Points:

• Prophecy – is the revelation of Jesus, and His work in and through people
• The character of Jesus is really central

Exercise:

1. Present yourself before the Father, submitting your will
2. Ask for Jesus to be revealed – wait there as long as it takes – we can/must only “see” in His light
3. Present yourself to the HS to be moved by Him in the prophetic. Again wait.
4. See the person in the light of Jesus:
   • What do you recognise?
   • Where is He building – Bless it
   • What holds them back – Healing prayer

Note: Spiritual power can be very dangerous and it is important to get some basics right

• Spiritual power without surrender to Christ is a spirit of rebellion and ultimately witchcraft. Whose will is being served?
• Spiritual knowledge outside of Jesus and His Spirit is occult knowledge. Example: seeking revelation from angelic or spiritual beings, astral travel, listening to the dead, horoscopes, omens etc etc.
• The Holy Spirit is identified by the revelation of Jesus, and the power of the resurrection. In a surrendered life His presence manifests in human character through an inner transformation into the likeness of Jesus' character. We call this the fruit of the Spirit. 

Jeremiah 11:20 tells us that God tests our hearts, emotions and thinking powers.

But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.

When we want to test something we put it under pressure to see if it will do what it says it will do. We look to see if it will hold up under stress.

James 1:2-4 says that tests bring out what is in us. In times of trial we become best acquainted with ourselves and with what we are capable of doing.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

God is not impressed with what we say we will do . He is impressed with what we prove we can do under pressure. Sadly many people do not make it past the testing point , and they go around the same proverbial mountain.

But as per Psalm 23:4 We never have to worry or fear the tests of life because our Lord and Father will always be with us.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

1. Make very sure that your heart is clean before GOd by having given the Holy Spirit time to convict, should there be any unconfessed sin. 
   "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me" Psalm 66:18, 139:23-24
    
2. Acknowledge that you cannot really pray without the direction and energy of the Holy Spirit.
   "The Spirit helps us in our weakness for we know not how to pray as we ought" Romans 8:26
    
3. Die to your own imaginations, desires, and burdens for what you feel you should pray
   "Lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:4-6
    
4. Ask God to utterly control you by His Holy Spirit
   "Be filled with the Spirit" Ephesians 5:18
   Then thank Him for doing so
   "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" Hebrews 11:6
    
5. Praise Him now in faith for the remarkable prayer experience you are going to have. He is a remarkable God and will do something consistent with His character
    
6. Deal aggressively with the enemy. Come against him in the all-powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the "Sword of the Spirit" - the Word of God.
   "Submit yourself therefore to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you" James 4:7
    
7. Wait in the silent expectancy. Then in obedience and faith, utter what God brings to your mind believing, 
   "My sheep hear My voice...and they follow Me" John 10:27
   
   Be sure not to move on to the next subject until you have given God sufficient time to discharge all He wants to say to you regarding this particular burden; especially when praying in a group
    
8. Always have your Bible with you should God want to give you directions or confirmation from it.
   "You Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" Psalm 119:105
    
9. When God ceases to bring things to your mind for prayer, finish by praising and thanking Him for what He has done.
   "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever" Romans 11:36
    

A warning:

God knows the great weakness of the human heart toward pride, and if we speak of what God has revealed and done in prayer or intercession, it may lead to our committing this sin against God.
"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" James 4:6

God shares His secrets and burdens with those who are able to keep them. There may come a time when He will definitely prompt us to share, but unless this happens, we should remain silent!
"And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen" Luke 9:35

"But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart" ​​​​​​​Luke 2:19
 

God’s creative word

When Jesus commissioned the disciples He sent them out and "gave them authority". The Gospel accounts, and especially the book of Acts record the ministry of Jesus and of the disciples as they moved in authority, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Where did the authority of Jesus come from?

In essence all legitimate authority proceeds from God the Father.
Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, as a result His activities reflect the Father's will.
The Holy Spirit is also in submission to the will of the Father; At creation the Father spoke, the Spirit created. 
The Father is not more powerful than God the Son or God the Holy Spirit. They are not coerced or subjugated in anyway. They exist in unity and choose to submit one to the other.

God the Son submits to God the Father, and the Father gives authority to the Son. Read Phil 2.
The authority of God is transmitted through His word. God speaks...Jesus authority comes from God the Father - Jesus fostered an intimacy, and submissiveness to God's will. That will is transmitted through God speaking and those words carry authority.

Where did the Power of Jesus come from?

A significant event in which authority was transmitted was the baptism of Jesus: 

"This is my beloved Son in whom I am pleased. Listen to Him"

There were many witnesses to God the Father speaking on behalf of His Son at the river that day. All of them were authorized to act in obedience to Jesus word as if God the Father had spoken.
Authority was delegated...everyone who heard that voice was pointed to Jesus as God the Father's delegated authority...including the Holy Spirit.

Prior to that the HS has been orchestrating events and preparing the scene, now the Holy Spirit is authorized to act in power at the word of Jesus. 

Think about how authority and power now flows through Jesus. Jesus spends time in intimate fellowship with the Father who speaks and reveals His will. Jesus acts and speaks in accordance with the Father's will, and Holy Spirit backs Jesus up with power.

We would consider all of the elements of this dynamic process part of our prayer life and prayer ministry. From this we take two key prayer positions...

1. Prayer of submission toward the Father as revealed through Jesus - receiving His word and authority
2. Prayer of proclamation from the position of Jesus authority, endorsed by the Holy Spirit's power

Background: Creation is made from God’s words…

• In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth…God said “Let there be…”
• Spiritual and Physical world are both constructed from God's word
• The point of overlap of both realms is words. Things can be spoken in the spiritual realm which effect the physical, and words spoken in the physical can carry a spiritual authority. But must originate in God's word to be legitimate.

The hebrew word Davar mean "word" it also means "a thing". It comes from the understanding that God created everything by His words. Things are made from words. 

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

• God’s words not a vibration of air, precede the existence of air. It's the stuff of creation
• God cannot lie – His word make reality exist
• The implications are when He speaks reality is effected. God speaks, God does

Romans 4:17 Calls things that don’t exist as though they did.

God uses the perfect tense in addressing Abraham. “I have made you the father…”

The Holy Spirit is the "doer", the one who exercises creative power 

At creation: Father Spoke, HS made real – hovering over the deep (brooding)

• Word became flesh (HS will over shadow you). Angel delivered the word of God, HS responded with a creative act.
• Jesus “does what He see Father doing” – Jesus follows the Father's will, HS works, provides the power
  • “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word…”
• Jesus speaks the creative word of God– HS acts
  • There are many example of Jesus “healing with a word”

Our words

• Words – language an important part of the “image of God”
• Our capacity to hear and speak God’s creative word
• Judgment at Babel – words stripped of power
• Pentecost – tongues of fire. Words empowered again

1 Peter 3:9 “repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called…”

Imagine everything you spoke became real and released power. What would the effect of your words be?
Do we really believe our words carry power? When we speak without considering what we are saying we are acknowledging that we do not believe our words matter. We doubt the power of our own words. 

Matthew 5:22 “whoever says fool will be in danger of hell fire”

Jesus takes words very seriously.

• Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit
• James 3:9-12 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessings and curses…no spring yields both salt and fresh” 
• We must have faith in the power of our own words. Take reasonability for what we speak. Little wonder our prayer and proclamation becomes powerless if we disbelieve ourselves don't believe the power of what we say.

Very important to realise the relationship between our words and HS activity…we partake of the ministry of Jesus to the Father, empowered by the HS. Jesus (the word)

The Holy Spirit expects us to speak in the name of Jesus with God's for Him to act creatively on.

Notice the context of a grieved Holy Spirit. The miss-use or abuse of words.

Ephesians 4

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another...Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

lupeó: to distress, to grieve

Cognate: 3076 lypéō (from 3077 /lýpē, "deep grief") – to experience deep, emotional pain (sadness), i.e. severe sorrow (grief). 3076 (lypéō) is very intense and hence even used of the pain of childbirth (see Gen 3:16, LXX). See 3077 (lypē).

Our conduct, especially our words are crucial…

Exercise:

• Approach the Father in "the name of Jesus" and submit to His will.
• Repent and renounce negative words spoken, especially any that come to mind
• Ask the Father to speak, and release a blessing through you.
• Speak the blessing over others as they come to mind
• Especially bless those who may have wronged you!

Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.

Psalm 85:6-7 

O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2

It is time for intentional intercession and prayer for church and community

• Forgiveness for the unintentional sins of the people
• Many prodigals living in a far country
• Many sheep wandering in the wilderness

Our praying must be specific

• Need to keep crying for souls
• Earnest specific prayer for:
  • Pastors and elders and ministry leaders
  • The spiritual and physical needs in the congregation
  • Hope community trust targets
  • Outreach endeavors into North Canterbury
  • Rangiora High School pupils and teachers
  • Outreach into the NC schools
     
• Pray that we will not be afraid to share our faith, but will boldly proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ and His longing for people to come to Him and follow Him all their lives. Ask God to fill us with the faith to speak what He is saying; not to fear the world, the flesh or the devil, but to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of our testimony (that is, what we confess).
• Pray for all who are seeking God and whose hearts are crying out for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit - bringing revival, renewed power, enthusiam for God and what He is doing and wants to do in the world today; Church growth; an increase in righteousness, holiness, love for God and other people; and many, many more people coming onto the Kingdom of God.

Consider the work of God;
For who can make straight what He has made crooked?

Ecclesiastes 7:13

I love nature. Mountains, the bush, wilderness areas, gnarly old trees. All of it. It is messy but so beautiful.
God made all this, He created exactly that way -  It is an ordered chaos, He made it all.

I look around the room I am sitting in - you know what I see? 

Straight lines

People love straight lines. Obsessed with them even. It is like everything we do and make is made from straight lines.
I go to an art museum and admire abstract paintings - imprisoned in square frames...our world is made from straight lines.

God’s nature is very different from ours...the dimensions we inhabit are a creation of His, the rules and limits we follow just don't apply to Him.

It is little wonder He will not comply with my nice straight lines. Creation is the more majestic for it. 
God is unconstrained, He is wild, and on the loose, untamable. 

What we should expect when relating to Him?

He is the creator, there is purpose...
Part of that purpose is to get to a destination, but most of it is about the journey and our encounter with God along the way. This is the one who "walked in the cool of the evening" in the garden. He takes pleasure from His work, His creation. That includes us.
We find before too long that His way is rather different from ours...

I often find I Prepare for one way, but God takes me another.
He didn't change His mind, but I make the mistake of drawing a line between the few dots I see. I want to walk in a straight line from here to there. 
Well, those lines were of my creation, a product of my limits in understanding and nature.

Acts 17:24-28. The purpose of our limits is so we encounter God, and walk with Him

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being"

As we get to know Him, and seek to understand His will for our lives our human-ness immediately draws a straight line from here to there.  We must understand that God rarely draws a straight line in our lives. He delights to create from chaos.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

There is a difference between the lamp of God and the Light of God. God give vision and make promises, milestones to aspire to. That is the light to your path. It is distant.

But it is rarely a straight line to get there...the lamp is required to illuminate the next step. 
That is where we find Him. In the intimate place of our daily decisions, our daily walk.

Scripture tells us how to walk with God…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Walking this way requires trust. It doesn't discount understanding but simply acknowledges we cannot lean on it. Why? Our understanding is always incomplete, dependent on straight lines. 

Expect God to direct you and trust His hand and ability to use each and every situation

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Our preoccupation with straightness can cause us to overlook where He may be working…,

So this is what I do, this is how my plans look now:

Plan B: This is my planing, based on what I understand. Nice and tidy.

Plan A: God interrupts plan B!

Kintsukuroi is a ancient art of repairing broken pottery with gold.

These repaired pieces became more valuable than when they were new.

The artist would carefully take the pottery and piece by piece mend them together and join the seams between the fractures and breaks with gold, Collectors became so enamored with the new art that some were accused of deliberately smashing valuable pottery so it could be repaired with the gold seams of kintsugi.

Kintsukuroi means ‘to repair with gold’ in Japanese, and understanding that the piece is the more beautiful for having been broken.

Such restoration creates a gorgeous piece of art and makes a philosophical statement as well. Kintsukuroi asserts that breakage and repair is part of the unique history of an object, rather than something to deny or disguise.

Each of us needs more golden repair in our lives, because we so often hide our brokenness. A friend hurts us deeply, and we retreat inside ourselves. We lose a job or suffer a pay cut, and pretend like everything is really okay. A spouse abuses us, but we never speak up. We sense that we have a drinking problem, but feel too embarrassed to ask for help. A marriage begins with intimacy and anticipation, and ends with alienation and anger. We can all probably add many more of our own life breakages to the list.

In Acts, Paul traveled to Ephesus in Asia Minor – He found twelve disciples there, and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they became believers. They replied, “We’ve not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:2)

These disciples might not be broken, but they clearly have some cracks. Not only had they not received the Holy Spirit, they didn’t even know that it existed!

Paul was perplexed. He asked, “What baptism did you receive, then?” They answered, “John’s baptism.” Paul then understood that they needed some golden repair, some “kintsukuroi” (Acts 19:3)

The disciples were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul laid hands on them the Holy Spirit entered them. Immediately, they spoke in tongues and prophesied, just like the first Christians on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 19:6)

The gift of the Holy Spirit – that’s pure gold! Suddenly, the gaps in the lives of these disciples were filled, and they were made whole as disciples of Jesus. But notice that there was no attempt to deny or disguise their deficiencies.

Instead, God filled their cracks with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, making them stronger and more beautiful in the broken places. That’s golden repair.

It reminds me of the song by Bill Gaither that went:

Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life

If there ever were dreams
That were lofty and noble
They were my dreams at the start
And hope for life's best were the hopes
That I harbor down deep in my heart
But my dreams turned to ashes
And my castles all crumbled, my fortune turned to loss
So I wrapped it all in the rags of life
And laid it at the cross.

May our Lord Jesus Christ make something beautiful out of the brokenness of your life.

Blessings

Jan

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Fear is a funny thing.
It can drive us to do things or act in ways which are harmful and destructive, yet on the other hand keep us from danger, like prevent us stepping to close to cliff edges or in front of busses, thus saving us. It is fear which keeps us alive much of the time.
There are two edges to this sword.

The Psalmist acknowledges the inevitable, the shadow of death, something to be feared. Dangers and threats are part of life as is our natural reaction to fear these dangers. Acknowledging the threat and being afraid in a situation is not wrong, it is in itself a form of truth.

However there is a distinction to be made;

"I will fear no evil, for You are with me"
 

What does your fear tell you about the faithfulness of God? Is fear telling you the truth or lying to you?

Recently I underwent a surgical procedure to remove a lump behind my jaw.
Leading up I was afraid - very afraid. I have always had a fear of hospitals and doctors, dentists and anyone who wanted to poke me with sharp metal objects, and the dark question in the back of my mind was "is this the beginning of the end?"

There were all kinds of scary possible scenarios: the chemicals could kill me, it could be cancer, I may be paralyzed on that side of my face. Fear was telling the truth about the reality of danger.
However I was not afraid that God had abandoned me, that would be a lie.  Afraid as I was, the knowledge of God's faithful presence gave me courage to overcome fear. In fact it was in this time His presence became known in a very special way...

"Your rod and Your staff they comfort me"

A rod or staff is an object that is held in the hand and used for a purpose - to ward off danger and help support the weight of a weary traveler. In season of fear and danger God uses what is in His hands as a rod and staff. I believe at times this is His people. He is present through us. Though acts of kindness and love, through prayer.

I knew many of you in our church family had committed to pray as I went under the knife, and let me tell you I had such peace and assurance as I went into theater. The prayers of you all were tangible, I was carried by them. In God's hands you were a staff when I really needed one.
All the tests have come back clear and surgery successful, thank you family for your love, support and prayers.

Last Sunday Esther brought a word which was so seasonal for me and I know has blessed many of you also. I would like to quote it here.

Love and blessings,

~Johno

==

"I want to calm the storms in lives today. Anxiety is not of me.
Whatever the circumstances My people face today there is no call to be anxious.
Faith touches every situation with peace and triumphs over every problem.
You may not understand what I am doing but I know what is best for you and what will develop your character and build you up to be strong for these days are difficult and getting worse.
So rest in Me for I am strong enough to carry you through"

Lowliness - Greek word - tapeinophrosune, Phonetic Spelling - tap-i-nof-ros-oo'-nay - meaning humble in attitude, behavior, or spirit; meek.

In Ephesians 4:2-3, Paul writes: "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Unity in church is critical (our unity with Christ and each other) By showing lowliness we build unity. The Greek tapeinophrosune (5012) pictures modesty, humility, and lowliness of mind, having a humble opinion of oneself, a deep sense of one's littleness.

Lets think about that for a second.

It's not a false humility such as, "Oh shucks, I'm not all that great," but rather a deep sense of how little we really are.

God is building a body, a temple. He has reconciled Jews and Gentiles to Himself in Christ.

The oneness of believers in Christ is already a spiritual reality.Our responsibility is to guard, protect, and preserve the unity.

To do this, we must understand this important fact, called the Grace of Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Unity is not uniformity. - Unity comes from within and is a spiritual grace, while conformity is the result of pressure from the world around and outside us.

I we are going to preserve the “unity of the Spirit,” we must possess the necessary Christian graces, and there are six of them listed below...

1. Lowliness or humility (putting Christ first, others second, and self last) - (Read - Romans 12:3 - For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.)

2. Meekness (not weakness) - It is power under control - Read - (Matthew 11:29 - Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.)

3. Long suffering (long - tempered) The ability to endure discomfort without fighting back

4. Forbearance (a grace that cannot be experienced apart from love. (Read - 1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;)

5. Endeavor (“being eager to maintain, or guard, the unity of the Spirit”) The spiritual unity of a home, a marriage, or a church is the responsibility of each person involved, and the job never ends.

6. The final grace is peace “the bond of peace”

   1. (Read -  James 3:13-4:10) This is the most vivid picture of war and peace in the New Testament

   2. Note: The reason for war on the outside is war on the inside If a believer cannot have a peaceable relationship with God, he cannot have one with other believers.

7. When “the peace of God” rules in our hearts, then we build unity (Read - Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.)

On this wonderful night of prayer we will have a dedicated service to worship our Lord and pray for our world, our country and our community.

If you have a heart for the things of God and the saving of the lost in our community, come join us.

The Theme of the Night will be JESUS - The bread of life.

We will have 6 Stations in the auditorium where you can pray,  be quiet  or just thank the Lord for the following.

1) Our World - 2) Our Country - 3) North Canterbury - 4) Our Community - 5) Our Church - 6) Your own life, at the cross.

Me and the saving grace of our Lord Jesus

Remember this? - Thanks to Tini Lawry for sharing

One of the expectation of the messiah is the he would be a servant…

Isaiah 42:1

• Christ “The Servant”. One of the most important things to understand about Jesus, he came as a servant.
• It is a title, but also – and very importantly - a part of his character

How does that look?

Jesus was born a baby and had to grow and learn. Just like everyone else.

Hebrews 5:5-10

Hebrews 5:8

• Learned obedience
• Perfected
  • Obedience, servanthood is what moulds us, shapes our character
  • Jesus did His apprenticeship before receiving the Kingdom

Hebrews 9:12-14

Jesus wasn’t passive, he presented himself to God in a certain way.

• Jesus offered himself to the eternal Spirit (to the HS)
  • It begins as an attitude, a way of positioning ourselves spirituality but has practical implications
• Jesus in the Garden. “Not my will but your will be done”
• Example: Couldn’t stop swearing and blaspheming, tried so hard. So ashamed I would feel sick.
  I began to seek God about His purpose and present myself as a servant, and invest in where I believed He was leading scripture began to come alive and it changed my thoughts, and my words too.
  The two are connected. Service and character build on each other

Servanthood also releases us into our calling and gifts.

2 Tim 2:2 Faithful men – faithful in what? I suppose faithful in service, servant hearted people not people with superstar gifting.

• Old All Blacks mantra – A Champion team will always beat a team of champions
• Likewise servant hearted people will always be the last ones standing in faith. Especially when sacrifice is called for
• Example: Training work dogs. Some of the most intelegant and skilled animals. The worst thing which can happen is the dog abandons the farmer at a critical time when moving stock. I had one which would chase rabbits, never used him for important tasks.
  Servanthood must be faithful to be responsible.

Romans 12:1-2

• Offering ourselves living sacrifices. This is also an essential part of our calling,
  • Reasonable service, not demanded. It’s an invitation.
• Transformation and responsability is the effect

It is not about productivity or filling a role, it is about the transformation that the HS can do in the lives of people when their hearts are set on cultivating a servant nature.  

• This doesn’t mean we become mindless robots, doing everything we are told. I do not want to set you up for abuse here:
  • In fact as you become a servant of Christ you become less available to the demands of people.
  • Jesus “must be about my Father’s business” really sets the tone. People were always looking for Him and placing demands on Him. He was frequently disappointing people’s expectation. The Father set His agenda.

• Hear me carefully – I am not asking you to volunteer somewhere. Let’s put aside for a moment the work and activity which needs doing
  • What I am asking you is don’t give up. Don’t grow weary of offering ourselves to Christ because this is the vehicle which unlocks His grace and applies His transformation and resurrection to our lives…
  • Acts of service directed at Christ and not for attention etc. He takes notice. He is looking for people like this

Servanthood, really is Jesus’ love language.  

==

In the Old Testament there is the account of Elijah and Elisha, as we follow these two men and watch the impartation of a prophetic office we see the dynamic of servanthood unlocking the calling…

1 Kings 19:16,19-21 The Call of Elisha

• The mantle – a symbolic gesture.
• Elisha became the servant…

Later when Elijah is going to die, they walked through an amazing process.

2 Kings 2:1-14 Account of Elijah taken up in Chariot

Remember these are two very accomplished prophets now. Elisha is ready to assume the ministry and position of Elijah.

They both understand the protocols of the Holy Spirit.

• Vs 9,10 What do you want – double portion given to the heir.
  • If you see me – what do we look for? A true servant won’t lose sight of the master
  • Elijah is doing his best to distract of discourage Elisha
  • They are enacting something, a prophetic journey perhaps?
• Stay in Gilgal – The place of circumcision. Sanctification.  Keeps eyes on the master
• Stay in Bethel – “House of God” where visions of angels happen. Keeps eyes on the master
• Stay in Jericho – Battle where the walls fell down. Spiritual warfare. Keeps eyes on the master
• On to across the Jorden, chariot of fire and whirlwinds. Keeps eyes on the master
  • Then nothing happens until…
  • “My father, My father…”
  • He goes from his role of servant to Son. The mantle falls, the inheritance released.
• The religious leaders at the cross are confused when Jesus cried “Eli Eli, Lama Sabacthani”
  • They know this story and think he is calling Elijah, an interesting connection when you consider Jesus the servant at death is about to claim His kingdom.
  • Fostering a servant heart is what unlocks your calling, and makes it a reality.
• Elisha as a servant kept his eyes fixed on the master, not distracted even by good things, and the Spirit of God rested on him as it was with Elijah
• Jesus at the cross – the suffering servant, undistracted remains focused on the Father 

Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho are all places we might visit in our Christian journey, but the place of transformation is at the Jorden with the master. Keeping our eyes on Him, undistracted

It may mean dramatic sanctification, dreams and visions, or spiritual warfare and power.  It is easy to get caught up in that and become blinded – dazzled by it, and in the Elisha account there were prophets who stayed there.

Surely signs and wonders are more important, what I am doing is far too important…

Even really good things can be a distraction

• Jesus is a person. Always remember the call is from a person to another person
• When someone calls to you, the voice leads to the person doing the calling. Jesus calls us to follow
  • Hide and seek – kids giggling. The sound leads to the person
• Following Jesus the servant certainly means servanthood and acts of service, because that is who Jesus is. This is where we inevitably find Him

John 13:12-17 Here Jesus is washing feet – a very low servant position

2 Kings 3:11 Elisha “poured water on the hands” – a very low servant position

Jesus says: “In as much as you did it to the least of these My Brethren you did it to me”

• JC may have ascended to heaven, but His body is here. We find him present in each other
• While Jesus is the object of our service, it does impact our relationship.
  • Do we treat each other as the hands and feet of Christ?
  • Our servanthood is how we honour Christ in our midst, it is how we partner with the HS activity among us. One of the key ways grace is transmitted.
  • I am convinced, before we can be the hands and feet of Jesus, we must learn to wash the hands and feet
• I hope we can build this into our life together as a faith community

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naRCfl8oCos

• The profound effect of that simple act of service. “Treat others as you want to be treated”
• Everyone else was focus on one thing – winning
  • His willingness to take a servant position, that young man had his agenda set by Christ and saw the opportunity nobody else did
• He acted as a servant: By washing hands and feet he became Jesus hands and feet

Mark 9:35 Be a servant of all

John 3:1-17

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Nicodemus must have thought that's a crazy story really. Again we see Jesus messing with the our understanding of the natural order of things - just to make a make a point. We cannot physically be born again, everyone knows that; the Mothers everywhere can breath a sigh of relief!

This isn’t purely allegory though – He is referring to something which is soon to happen in Jesus world, and for us through the action of Jesus. 

Through Jesus the Kingdom of God is breaking into human history. Into God’s creation He is establishing something which has been anticipate for many centuries:- The New Creation.

Another kingdom, an alternate order and authority, is about to be established.

But for us to be part of this a miracle – an act of the HS must happen. We must be born again.
We enter God’s creation through our birth, likewise we enter the new creation through the new birth.

Example: Grandad's farm - looking and sounding like something like a Christian doesn't make us one, any more than standing in a garage makes us a car.
We are born or created something. To be a Christian we must be born again into God's kingdom, born of the Spirit.

For this New Kingdom to be establish the old powers must be conquered and dealt with. 

The Passover War

We celebrate what happened at that Passover feast – what we call Easter these days. But do we understand what was happening?

We celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus…what about the three days in between?

The disciples mourned. The ladies made preparation to attend to the body of Jesus when they were allowed. Peter was in deep shame at denying Jesus three times. The leaders rested easy thinking they had successfully put down a difficult problem.

What about Jesus - Jesus, wasn’t idle for those three days. In a state of death he was active – there was a war raging.

You see there is heaven, earth and “under the earth”. Jesus had gone down to under the earth. The place of death.

And there were three enemies to defeat. Sin, Satan and Death itself.

Lets look at how Jesus was victorious over these enemies:

Sin defeated…

Sin in essence is disobedience to God which leads to a breakdown in relationship. For a creature that means being cut off from the creator – the very source of life.

Death is the consequence of this which is our current state. That is what we know, what we all expect.

But Jesus didn’t disobey. Through perfect obedience Jesus overcame temptation and sin. Jesus was obedient unto death – even death on the cross. (Phil 2)

• In the Garden of Gethsemane the full weight of sin, the pressure of temptation was on Jesus to disobey.

• You see Jesus faced sin in a way we never can. We always succumb to temptation eventually and at some point we all have, and the weight of temptation stops there.
  But Jesus resisting temptation fully also had to face the full weight of sin, He sweated blood in the process – but was obedient. 
• At his death the temptation to sin, and therefore sin itself was beaten, forever. You cannot tempt a dead person any more.

Philippians 2:8-10

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,...

Jesus’ perfect obedience made His death unjust – remember death is a result of being cut off from the source of life through sin. Jesus did not sin so was not cut off from the source of life.

He descended into death – he submitted to that – but he had the right to life.

One man had overcome sin and through a sinless death had access to the place of death – yet death had no power over him.

Through death Jesus gained access to the place of the dead. He picked the lock if you like...

Revelation 1:16-18

He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

He has the keys of death and hades, now death has no power over him

But entering death is only the start, He is not coming back just yet – he has work to do in the place of death

The War of Kingdoms...

He has gone there to start a war, one Kingdom is invading others.

A one man army is invading Satan’s kingdom and stronghold, For three days he fought – completely alone.  Since Eden Satan has been active in the physical world wrecking destruction on Humans, and we are powerless. 

But Jesus as a sinless Human has taken the fight from the physical into the spiritual realm – He has taken the fight into Satan’s kingdom, Jesus is hunting, Sin, Satan and Death is His prey. 

He fights through the hordes and legions, the principalities and powers. He fights to the very throne of Satan. Grabs that snake, throws him to the ground, places his foot on Satan’s throat, looks him in the eyes and says:

“Satan you are defeated. I have conquered you. Every temptation I have resisted, every accusation is a lie and I have paid for these captives with my own blood"

For the first time in history a dead man can testify against his killer:

"Satan you are a murderer. My blood proves your guilt"

Jesus then declares

“I will take your captives as tribute, everything you stole now belongs to me”

Hebrews 2:14-15

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

1 Peter 3:18-20

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

Ephesians 4:8-10

Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Satan's kingdom is defeated, His captives taken from Him.

Death Defeated...

There was one more fight, one more enemy. He’s hunting again - Death:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When death takes a life it is legal – the soul who sins shall die. Death was unjustified in taking Jesus’ life when he was without sin. Death had no right to keep keep him or take him in the first place.

He rose in victory. He rose victorious over sin, over Satan, over death itself. With the plunder from each kingdom. The souls of people.

Romans 6:7-10

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Death no-longer has dominion (kingdom). We are transferred as captives of one kingdom to another. From death to life.

Born of the Spirit...

As he rose from death Jesus was creating – he rose into something new.

He didn’t rise to an old creation which needed fixing he arose as the beginning of a whole new creation. He resurrected body wasn't going to die again.

The tomb opened, and Jesus rose as a victorious King, and opened to gates to the kingdom of God – the new creation..

Colossians 1:15-19

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

The firstborn over the new creation. All things – that statement excludes Jesus. Jesus is not created, He is a participant of God's creative activity.

His captives are not thrown into prisons of the new King, they are given a choice. Stay where you are or follow me.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

In Christ we born again into a new creation. That is what Jesus was referring to in His conversation with Nicodemus.

That’s what Jesus was doing during those three days of death. That is why we celebrate! What an astonishing victory – what a reason to rejoice!

Like Jesus with Lazarus – he stands at the door to the tombs of our lives and calls us out by name. He has the keys, he has the right, he has the power. He calls us to step forward from death into his Kingdom. He calls us to be reborn into his new creation. Into eternal life which begins now by the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 1:17-25

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,because

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

This is the Gospel. Jesus did all that in just a few days.

Are you alive in Christ today, or are we pretending to be - are you born again? It is a miracle of grace – an invitation from Jesus we must all accept.

Today, if you have never accepted Jesus invitation to life please respond and ask Him into your life, accept His invitation to be a new creation.