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Fallen tree in Maryon Park

Psalm 2: rejoice with fear and trembling

No matter what goes on in the world this year, our Lord is sovereign. We should serve him with fear and trembling!

Our passage today: Psalm 2, preacher Ian Bayne, Sunday 7th January.

Last week we started the year with regrets and aspirations. This year there seems to be a lot more going on in the world that hasn’t previously been going on such as wars and rumours of wars.

Our fallen world

We are in moral decline in the west with Christian values being torn away. We’re disappointed also in ourselves when we participate in it.

The world is ruled more obviously by different tyrants who have got into power and lead by fear and persecution.

Neither socialism or capitalism can contain the true heart of man, which sees what we can get at the expense of others.

We see democracy dying as it carries the seeds of its destruction.

Our sovereign Lord

Growing up in the post Second World War: the Cold War. The button for nuclear war was ready to be pressed.

My dad took me aside and said: I believe God is sovereign over all the world and everything that happens is by his permission. I found this comforting.

The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.

Psalm 2:4 CSB

Some will say it’s the devil at work, but he’s also restricted by God.

Psalm 2 reminds us of God’s Son: Jesus. Jesus lived, died, rose again and was raised again. He commanded his disciples to go out:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:18-19 ESV

Jesus has all authority, which includes both giving life and judging others.

Worship him with fear and trembling

Our response should be to bow down and worship the Lord with reverence.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. [11] Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2:10-12 ESV

We’re to worship him with joy and with fear and trembling.

When I was in my teens I leased a large block of land and became a farmer. Canterbury in 1975 had a great storm, and almost every tree was broken or blown down. In those days farming didn’t make much money so to supplement my income I chopped wood.

There was a tree I was cutting down which was at a precarious angle and I needed to get underneath to cut it. I thought I could cut and get out of the way of it started moving. I was underneath and cutting it – I went all the way through and nothing happened. I stepped out and kicked the tree and out instantly fell – I felt the air around it – there was no way I’d have been able to run from under it. It was a narrow escape from death. I rejoiced with joy and trembling.

There’s wars and rumours of wars but we should take comfort that nothing happens without God’s express permission.

Resources

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Nativity scene

Luke 2:21-38: Merry Christmas

Our passage today: Luke 2:21-38, preacher Ian Bayne, Monday 25th December

Jesus is just 8 days old and met by the priest to be circumcised.

When they came there were two individuals that met them: Simeon who was waiting for the Lord.

Anna was 84 years old, also in prayer and connection with God. When Jesus is presented, she recognises Him as the messiah.

1. The Lord was looked for

Some who had read the Old Testament new the messiah was coming as a son of David who would redeem Israel (believers).

At our house Christmas isn’t really my thing, tripping over bears on stairs, but I do really enjoy watching the anticipation of the children.

Back when I was growing up there was an old sock and an orange in the bottom of it, things were more meagre, but still exciting. You didn’t know what would be in the sock.

There was an anticipation for Jesus.

2. The Lord was prepared for

Simeon and Anna were praying for Jesus. They receive encouragement and prayer.

Sometimes people ask me what I do and I say “I’m a pastor”. Sometimes people will then ask “But what do you really do?” I say “I prepare people to die well”

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21 ESV

It’s said that the two most certain things in the world are death and taxes.

3. The Lord came for a reason

He saves us from our sin. The Lord promises to save us from the penalty of our sin and the power of our sin. It can be a slow process, but through persistence and prayer he will help us overcome our sin that he pays the penalty for.

4. The Lord was spoken for

Simeon and Anna both speak about Jesus. Christians don’t want to stop talking about Jesus and want to share the good news with our families and friends.

In spite of what we’ve done and who we are we know and believe that Jesus came as a baby, lived, died and ascended into heaven, giving the Holy Spirit to us to help us live day by day to speak the word to others around us.

It can be hard for others to hear all the time and we hope that one day they will receive the words of Jesus as we received them.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 5:24 ESV

Resources

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Nativity scene

Luke 2: A message from God – will you follow?

Today in our classical carol service, we heard about shepherds witnessing a miraculous message from angels proclaiming the birth of Christ the messiah. They were terrified! Their faith led them to leave their fields go and witness this miracle for themselves.

Our passage today: Luke 2:8-14, Preacher Ian Bayne, Sunday 17th Dec

Our passage explained

Normally shepherds would be keeping their flocks. Tonight something special happened: the angels proclaimed Christ as the messiah. The shepherds were “terribly terrified”.

Having proclaimed that Jesus had been born and was in a stable, the shepherds then travelled to see Him. It was an extraordinary event!

1. We find comfort in things that we know.

When we create traditions it’s hard to stop, as we like the comfort. When things happen out of the ordinary things are frightening, especially in the spiritual realm as described in our passage.

Our spirituality has been damaged in the fall (Gen 3), so what we are sometimes afraid of can actually be a message of hope. As an example, we can look to Manoah in Judges; the father of Samson.

There was a certain man from Zorah, from the family of Dan, whose name was Manoah; his wife was unable to conceive and had no children. [3] The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Although you are unable to conceive and have no children, you will conceive and give birth to a son. [4] Now please be careful not to drink wine or beer, or to eat anything unclean; [5] for indeed, you will conceive and give birth to a son. You must never cut his hair, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth, and he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.”

Judges 13:2-5 CSB

We know a lot about Samson killing Philistines with a jawbone, and bringing down a great house. Manoah is only mentioned briefly in a passage strikingly similar to our passage today. His father thought he would die from seeing an angel, it was an extraordinary event.

2. What’s irregular can sometimes be a message from God.

Moses was raised up to lead Israel from being a simple shepherd passing a burning bush.

Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. [2] Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. [3] So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?” [4] When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

Exodus 3:1-4 CSB

This was highly irregular and God used it to get Moses’s attention.

3. Joy and praise are natural to the believer

Christmas is like every day for believers. The world celebrates on a day, but Christmas is every day for believers. Every day we remember as John recounts from Jesus’s teachings:

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 CSB

Joy supersedes every situation, overriding life’s situations. The praise we offer to God provides focus to our situation: that Jesus was born to die, to be raised again and to ascend to heaven for all enemies to be made a footstool for his feet.

If you don’t have joy from Christ the you may have taken a wrong turning, and hence we need to retrace our steps and find that joy again.

In Pilgrims Progress they get captured but escape through the “key of promise” and retrace their steps back to where they went wrong, and further: put a sign up to warn others.

We remember the faith the shepherds had, to go and see Jesus. They had both faith and works which are necessary for salvation:

Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?

James 2:20 CSB

4. Faith makes Jesus smile.

Two instances made Jesus smile: first the Roman Centurion:

“Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” [10] Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith.

Matthew 8:8-10 CSB

And again to the Gentile woman:

But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!” [26] He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.

Matthew 15:25-28 CSB

We need to be reminded of this daily. True faith makes Jesus smile, and offer his salvation to us.

Jesus was born over 2000 years ago and your life will be transformed if you believe in him.

Resources

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Sheep herded in a pen

Romans 3:27-31 Boast in the Lord

Is boasting always sinful? Paul tells us that it’s not – not when it’s in our Lord and Saviour!

Our passages today Psalm 20 and Romans 3:27-31. Preacher Ian Bayne Sunday 10th December.

Recap

We are all affected by depravity of man which is tainted by sin. The great conundrum is a sinful condition we all share that means we fall short of God’s standard.

Paul has spent the last couple of chapters rounding everyone up so everyone understands they are sinners.

We can’t work our way out. Nothing we can do will save us. Religious duties, sacraments: the Lords supper and baptism, church membership won’t make any difference.

Explanation

There’s one way to escape from the situation: Jesus. The one name given amongst men is the name of the Lord Jesus, son of God.

And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.”

Genesis 3:15 NASB

I will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him.

Deuteronomy 18:18 NASB

Jesus is the fulfilment of the old Gospel. Jesus has achieved everything. Only through faith set alight through God’s revelation

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:5 NASB

He took the penalty for us. Only Jesus could be the just and the justifier.

Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Romans 3:27 NASB

What can we boast about? Not our works, but our faith in Christ. Boasting is not bad, but it’s what we boast about.

God is a God of everyone. All people, believers and unbelievers will be accountable to him. Faith doesn’t take away from the law and our responsibility to follow his commands. Off we are in him then we ought to do that.

He will grant answers to our prayers and give us victory over our enemies. He will cause us to rejoice. He is sovereign over his creation. There’s no such thing as a Christian without joy.

We’re not always going to be happy: there will be difficult times. He will be our sacrifice and saviour. We may boast in God but not in the world’s currency.

Resources

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Sheep herded in a pen

Romans 1-3: Recap

A recap of Paul’s narrative so far – we are all sinners and fall short. A summary of Romans 1-3 is in the PowerPoint below.

Our passage in focus: Romans 1-3, Preacher Ian Bayne, Sunday 3rd December.

Romans-1-3-Recap Summary Presentation_23_12Download

Resources

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Speed limit sign

Romans 2:12-29 No excuses!

How can humans who don’t know God’s law be held to God’s standard? In this passage Paul explores how ignorance is no excuse and attempting to deflect blame is futile.

Our passages today: 1 Samuel 15:17-23 and Romans 2:12-29. Preacher: Ian Bayne, Sunday 19th November.

Recap

In Romans 1 there were 29 charges levelled at those who reject the truth of the gospel.

This has consequences: a result borne out of those who reject Christ.

We then looked at different types of hypocrites: Paul is gathering in all kinds of sinners and preaching the true gospel to the church at Rome; it’s like an avalanche.

Psalm 139 tells us that God knows our situation and our hearts. This should give us a sense of wonder and inadequacy.

Our passage explored

This week I was at the farm gathering my sheep into a pen to invite volunteers to go the abattoir. There were a few holes in the fences, so I wondered if they might sneak out of the pen. I fixed the holes in the fences first! Sure enough, some of the sheep were looking at the previous holes and would have escaped.

Paul starts on the obvious sins, then covers hypocrisy, and now he’s trying to fill in the holes that sinners may try and slip through.

Some years ago we were going to see my sister and heading down in the car. I was getting tired and handed over the driving. The police came up behind and said we were going a bit fast. We thought we were doing the speed limit and didn’t see the sign. But did we still get a ticket: yes we did.

Not seeing the speed restriction sign is not an excuse.

Paul’s point here is addressing the question of how people who don’t know the law need to follow the law. His response is that everyone should know by nature.

Possible responses

  • “My foot is naturally heavy” the other response is that by nature we are not capable. But God’s law is.
  • “Im genetically disposed” our race and human state make no difference to God’s law
  • “Do you know who I am? I’m a son of Abraham” – being a Jew makes no difference, whether we are one race or another or bear the sign of circumcision – it’s not a get out of jail free card.
  • “It was the woman” – there’s no deflecting to someone else. Adam was held responsible by God.

Ps 139 is about how God sees us. Paul is concerned that we see ourselves as guilty before God and that God is right. As we see here our human condition will always seek ways to avoid responsibility. Paul is trying to help us die to self and put on Christ.



Ephesus with tourists

A Christian’s Life: Ephesians 1:15-23 – A church family prayer

We’re picking up our series in Ephesians again looking at what it means to be a Christian. In the second half of Ephesians Chapter 1, Paul prays for the church family. This is a model for mature Christian prayer.

Our passages today: Ephesians 1:15-23 and 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Preacher: Ian Bayne, 21st February 2021

Recap

Let’s recap verses 1-14 that we looked at before Christmas.

Understanding the author helps us to understand the intent of the book. We looked at the apostle Paul and how he was converted from a self-righteous persecutor of the church to a transformed individual.

The recipients of the letter were at Ephesus – they were recognised as the church of God. When I was growing up there was a backlash against organised religion and an emphasis on personal faith. Actually, scripture says there’s a mix of both. Elders and Deacons are organised and recognised. But we all have a part to play:

Q. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Westministher Shorter Catechism

1. We are to worshop God

All Christians are saints: called to worship God. We’re saved by faith.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:8

It’s not because of what we do, though what we do should follow. Have you ever been disappointed because you aren’t as you want to be? Even despite your best efforts? It’s a comfort that we are both saved by faith and called to live by faith.

2. We are a family

We have faith in Jesus. This means we become incorporated into His body, a family, a Church of Christians. This is why the family aspect of church is so important.

3. We are blessed

We have a huge amount of blessings stored up for us in eternal life, and we can draw down on some of this now. Some of the trials we go through in life are only bearable because of faith.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

When we look at our lives we can only see the past and present as it relates to us.

4. We are predestined

he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Ephesians 1:5 ESV

We did not choose God, before He chose us. We need to be born again to enter the Kingdom.

Our passage explained

Our passage starts with an apostolic prayer. There are two of these (the other is in Ephesians 3). This is the Church Family Prayer if we want to give it a name.

When someone asks “how can I pray for you?” we tend to think of something mundane, but here we see the better answers we can give!

When we’re young believers we may pray in a child-like way. God loves this, but we do need to grow, and we can use the apostles’ prayers to model ourselves on.

The previous verses are talking about the status of believers. We did a very brief recap, but look how this flows from talking about the church to praying for the church.

  • The preparation of the prayer
  • The growing of the prayer
  • The sowing of the prayer

1. Preparing

Firstly Paul gives thanks for fellow believers:

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

Ephesians 1:15 ESV

What is he giving thanks for? He’s giving thanks for their faith and their love for one another. This prepares our heart.

2. Sowing

Paul prays for knowledge for the church and for the ability to use it well (wisdom).

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Ephesians 1:17 ESV

3. Growing

He also prays that we would be enlightened to know more about God’s calling. It’s for the Church to pray for one another to know God’s calling.

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Ephesians 1:18 ESV

This calling is an inheritance for believers, and Paul wants us to understand it.

It’s amazes me how much God loves us – He gave His life for us, he wants us to understand more about Him, and He grants us power to get us out of tricky situations.

Application

1. Give thanks first and supplicate second

We can treat God as a supermarket, with a list of demands.

fools rush in where angels fear to tread

An essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope (1711)

When we cook meat, we let it rest for tender results. Season your prayers with thanksgiving.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Thanksgiving helps us to focus on what’s important and puts everything in perspective.

2. Have patience

Back in the day, long car journeys with children were challenging as they would always ask “are we there yet?”. We didn’t have screens to keep them entertained for hours – we had to play games.

We can be like this as Christians. Even mature Christians are not there yet.

We don’t really understand the attributes of God.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

3. Pray for each other

If we pray these things for each other all the detail will fade into insignificance.

Christian counselling is quite different from secular counselling. The counseller has all of the answers before knowing the problem. It’s helping the counsellee understand the answers.

Pray for one another as Paul did: with thanksgiving for knowledge and wisdom so that we can understand God’s plan for us.

Resources

Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.



Owl looking sleepy

Remain alert VI: a heavenly perspective

As we round off our series, it’s important to keep our life in perspective. Specifically: a heavenly one – our life is temporary. In our struggle to remain alert we need to focus on heaven and life to come.

Our passage today: Acts 7:55, Pastor Ian Bayne, 7th February 2021.

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Acts 7:55 CSB

Last week we looked at striving each day for the Holy Spirit; working out out salvation with fear and trembling.

This will we continue looking at living every day with a heavenly perspective.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit means our eyes are automatically starting to lift to heaven.

1. Put the world in is place

As the song goes: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace”

We need to get the balance right. This world is temporary, yet heaven is eternal. Even if science can extend our lives, we’ll never reach eternity

As sung in Amazing Grace: “There’s no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun”

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:18 CSB

And Paul also says:

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21 CSB

This helps us put our lives in perspective.

2. Find meaning in hardship

We will experience trials and suffering. Especially as Christians we should expect this.

But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.

John 15:25 CSB

James says:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

James 1:2 ESV

3. Know that God sees everything

We can think that because we can’t see God, he can’t see us. But He sees everything.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:3 ESV

He has witnessed all since creation:

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

Revelation 3:14 ESV

If we know God sees everything then we want to do right so we can please him. Lol heavenward more often and know God sees everything.

4. You have an eternal future with Christ

In our passage today, Stephen sees his deliverance: Jesus was raised, therefore He can raise us as well.

We’re looking forward to a place where:

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4 ESV

As Emmylou Harris sings: “It don’t matter where you bury me I’ll be home and I’ll be free It don’t matter where I lay All my tears be washed away.”

Series summary

We’ve been looking at:

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV

We looked at the reasons we might snooze

  1. Doubt the promise of God’s return
  2. Denial of the certainty of death
  3. Comfortable and secure environment
  4. Times of feasting and frivolity

And we looked at antidotes found in scripture:

  1. Hear the gospel
  2. Gossip the gospel
  3. Keep the cross constantly before your eyes
  4. Keep a watch out for the enemy
  5. Strive to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit (Phi 2:12)
  6. Seek to live every day with a heavenly perspective

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Revelation 3:2 ESV

Resources

We hope you’ve enjoyed this series. If you have any comments or questions, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out the contact us form.

Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.

Referenced songs

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Amazing grace
All my tears be washed away



Owl looking sleepy

Remain alert V: filled with the Holy Spirit

Perhaps remaining alert feels too much? We have an important ally in our struggle: the Holy Spirit. Today we’ll look at how to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Our passages today: Genesis 32:24-30 and 1 Thessalonians 5:6.

Preacher: Ian Bayne, 31st January 2021

Recap

We’ve been looking at antidotes to spiritual snooziness.

Last week we looked at keeping one eye on the devil. Our enemy is looking to exploit us. Don’t give him more attention than he deserves, or enter conversation with him, but keep an eye on him.

The Holy Spirit

We have an important ally to help us in this spiritual battle: the Holy Spirit. We ought to strive to be daily filled with the Holy Spirit.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

The Holy Spirit is promised to all believers.

I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 1:8 ESV

We’re talking about receiving a special anointing of the Holy Spirit to achieve miraculous results.

Let’s look at some scriptural examples:

for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:15 ESV

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:4

People were filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to complete a task.

Every Christian has the Holy Spirit within them, but from time to time we get extra help and power from the Holy Spirit. This is referred to as being “filled with the Holy Spirit”.

If we desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit on a regular basis, how do we do this?

1. Ask Him

In Luke 11 the disciples ask Jesus how to pray. He gives them the Lord’s prayer, followed by a story about a woman who petitions a judge until she gets justice. He finishes up with the following:

10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for[d] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:10-13

He teaches us prayer, persistence and what we should ask for.

Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. Persist on praying for the Holy Spirit, so that we can do what the Lord wants us to do.

2. Struggle

It’s not just asking, we need to struggle:

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Luke 13:24 ESV

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

In our passage in Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with the angel until he was blessed.

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.

Genesis 32:24

All these require us to be alert. It’s impossible to spiritually snooze if we’re engaged in such combat. There’s no snoozing here!

Application

We should ask ourselves three questions:

1. What do you really want as a Christian in your life?

Do you want to be a servant of God? To be enabled to do great things for God’s glory?

2. How much do you want to seek the Holy Spirit for this?

Once a week or once a month?

We say we want to be effective, but are we prepared to work at it?

If you are, then you will seek and strive for this.

3. What are you prepared to sacrifice for the Holy Spirit?

If we’re seeking the Holy Spirit on a daily basis then we’ll avoid snooziness.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

If I want to drink a glass of wine a day, then surely I want more of the Holy Spirit than wine!

Resources

If you have any comments or questions, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out the contact us form.

Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.



Owl looking sleepy

Remaining Alert IV: Satan’s snare

We are continuing our series looking at antidotes to bring snoozy or lukewarm Christians. How can we hold fast to the gospel and not focus on our comfort? Today there’s one more dimension we must consider: Satan’s snare: the devil, and his plan to dull our senses.

Our passages today: 2 Kings 6:11-18 ESV and 1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV. Preacher: Ian Bayne 24/01/21

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV

Recap

We can be snoozy Christians. Feasting and frivolity can make us forget our calling.

We looked at antidotes previously:

  1. God’s Word – we need constant immersion
  2. One another
  3. Living holy lives

We must encourage one another, both in word and action:

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 ESV

We may not always feel like doing this – we’re too tired or put our comfort first. But if we’re living lives in spiritual obedience then it helps us overcome snooziness:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Satan’s snare

Today we’re looking at the devil’s involvement in our snooziness, and how he seeks to dull our senses and cause us to drift from God into sin.

After last week’s sermon, I was discussing the series with my grandson, who wisely pointed out: if you have two eyes on Jesus, how can you keep one eye on the devil?

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

He’s right – we need to watch out because we have an enemy. We can be tempted to ignore this as we are very physical or materialistic, and don’t see anything of the spiritual world.

In our passage 2 Kings 6:11-18, Elisha’s servant only saw the enemy army, but Elisha knew there were spiritual forces around them.

Of course, there’s a danger we can become too spiritual. CS Lewis is quoted as saying: “the devil is pleased with both”.

We don’t want to give more than we ought to the devil:

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Jude 1:9 ESV

Michael kept his involvement with the devil to a minimum.

When we see what’s going on in the world, we can get disappointed with certain political decisions. We can be disappointed with the people who make them, but that’s not the real battle. Satan is weaving his plan behind human actions. Satan’s snare is set for us.

We should keep an eye on the devil because:

1. He’s sneaky

He wants to blend in in the world and also in the church. Darkness is within them.

As Bob Dillan’s song goes: “the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency”

2. He looks for and exploits our weaknesses

He knows when you are vulnerable:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

There’s nothing wrong with addiction when it’s focused on the right thing, for example: being addicted to scripture is a good thing. When focussed on the wrong things – addiction can destroy our life, and our soul!

3. He’s tricky

Our strengths can also be used as our weaknesses. For instance, intellectual argument.

In this example, the disciple Peter, is using what seems like common sense, but Jesus rebukes him.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” [23] But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Matthew 16:21-23 ESV

After Jesus says He’s going to die and be resurrected, Peter doesn’t believe him. The others may be thinking it, but Peter says it, and so the first disciple becomes an agent of Satan trying to prevent Jesus’s rescue.

But it seems like Peter is speaking common sense, under the guidance of concern and friendship. We need to be wary and keep focussed on God.

4. He’s a liar

If you’re going to tell a lie, tell a big one because people will believe it

Adolf Hitler (paraphrased)

Some people are very convincing.

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44 ESV

While Jesus came to save, the devil came to destroy.

Application

We can make application:

  1. Know your enemy – test the spirits
  2. Be forewarned and armed
  3. Satan is defeated but he’s still active (he’s bound)

The scriptures don’t divide humanity into body and soul. This has come from Greek philosophy.

Today we know that physical and mental well-being can go together.

Likewise: we need to fix both eyes on Jesus but keep one eye on the devil. This is spiritual multi-tasking!

Resources

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