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Owl looking sleepy

Remaining Alert III: Remember the Cross

We continue our mini-series: making sure we’re awake and alert, especially as we enter 2021. It’s easy to get complacent. Today we’re looking at another antidote to Christian slumber: the Cross of Christ. How can we snooze at the foot of the most awful event in history: with blood, gore, and all of humanities sin laid on Jesus!

Our passages today Isaiah 53:3-12 & 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Preacher: Ian Bayne, 17th January 2021

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

1 Thessalonians 5:6

Recap

We can become sleepy Christians if we:

  1. doubt Christ’s return
  2. doubt the certainty of death
  3. live in comfortable and secure environments
  4. are constantly frivolous and feasting

Difficulty and troubles are part of our journey as Christians.

The antidotes are:

  1. Hold onto God’s Word: constant exposure to the light of God’s Word. Hang on to hope, anticipating with pleasure the gospel, and be assured of the power of the gospel.
  2. Gossip the gospel: not bad gossip, but we should share and talk about the gospel.

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

Proverbs 17:9 ESV

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 ESV

The gospel is instructive: it preserves us, instructs us and heals us.

We are stronger together:

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV


Today we’ll look at a further antidote:

The cross of Christ

To keep the cross of Christ before your eyes.

It’s impossible to go to sleep at the foot of the cross. It was a terrible place. Yet the disciples managed to snooze when Jesus was in danger:

And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

Matthew 26:43 ESV

Jesus was praying and sweating blood, and his disciples were asleep!
While they were snoozing them, they were not snoozing when Jesus was on the cross. There’s a sacrifice taking place.

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet-

Psalm 22:16 ESV

Jesus quotes:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

Psalm 22:1 ESV

Trust in Jesus. He died for our sins.

Trust in God and root out any idols that are competing with Christ.

Eddie Robinson, a soul singer said: “I give my all to you, all unto you my lord, because you gave all to me. You set my spirit free… If there’s more that I can give, show it to me…”

If you’re feeling sleepy or discouraged, do something for the Lord, do something for someone. You’ll be surprised at how quickly drowsiness is overcome.

See how Christ suffered and “let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”

Resources

If you have 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.

A difficult song to find online


Owl looking sleepy

Remaining alert II: How to practice Godly conversation

In our comfortably safe country, we can be tempted to become sleepy Christians. This week we’ll look at the second method to stay awake: having godly conversation. Why is this so important and what does this look like?

Our passages today: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 with a focus on verse 6.

Preacher: Ian Bayne, 10th Jan 2021

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

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Introduction

In 2020 New Zealand has done very well in managing covid and we’re grateful for the freedom this permits. We must be careful not to be smug and let our guard down.

Last time we looked at why our guard may be let down because we might:

  1. Doubt Christ’s return – because we don’t see it today we can think He’s not coming back, or that it doesn’t matter.
  2. Deny the certainty of death – especially given that medicine today is very good. The average age of 80 seems to be a long way off, but we will all die.
  3. Live in comfortable and secure environments – focussing on improving our own comfort
  4. Be tempted to feast and be frivolous all of the time – while feasting is fun, we must balance this as the writer of Ecclesiastes says:

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 ESV

Steps to avoid drowsiness

We need to keep ourselves from becoming drowsy Christians. How do we do this?

1. Allow the light of God’s Word to shine on us.

We hear, heed, harbour and hold fast to the gospel.

We anticipate the completion of the gospel and can be assured of our salvation, and feed our love for Him by having appreciation for His mercy and grace towards us.

Today we’ll look at the second point:

2. Practice the art of godly conversation to make sure we are alert and sober

Some people are good at getting to the core issues in our Christian journey.

We need to foster the art of godly conversation to be an encouragement for one and another. This is one of the main reasons to meet.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] 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 10:24-25 ESV

This is one of the great purposes of coming to church. Modern technology (e.g virtual meetings) can help but it isn’t a perfect substitute. What are the purposes of conversation?

Why have godly conversation?

Godly conversation…

1. Instructs us

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV
2. Preserves us

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4:6 ESV

Salt is a preservative and flavor enhancer.

3. Encourages

addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Ephesians 5:19 ESV

This sort of conversation encourages one another.

4. Heals us

There are words that hurt, and words that heal.

The old saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” is not correct.

Words can hurt.

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV

In the book ‘Pilgrims Progress,’ characters Christian and Hopeful are crossing enchanted planes quite late into their journey. These plains cause them to feel sleepy. In order to prevent sleep, they have good godly conversation to keep them alert and sober. Many Christians late in their journey, when life becomes comfortable, can be at risk of this.

In the book, they realise that they need to (and therefore we should) discuss the:

  1. foolishness of relying on self-righteousness and keeping the law for salvation.
  2. necessity of gaining the righteousness of Christ and how this is the only option for salvation.
  3. relief we experience as we are saved in Christ

Try this after church!

In New Zealand we are masters of the understatement. People say things differently in America – they’re typically more direct. The advantage this gives them is the art of testimony – they are more willing to share their Christian faith openly. This isn’t saying we need to become American, but to talk more about the Christian journey.

Application

Therefore we should concentrate on godly conversation which:

1. Builds up rather than tears down.

The name Barnabas means encourager.

2. Causes our hearts to burn within us

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Luke 24:32 ESV

This will happen when we speak the scriptures and express what the Lord has done for us.

3. Remembers the value of others

If we walk alone we are vulnerable.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. [10] For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV

Whatever we are, we need to practice how to use godly conversation – it might just save someone’s faith!

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 I: Drifting away from God

Do you find yourself drifting away from God? Have you realised that you are drifting? It’s easy for mature Christians to become drowsy: distracted and focussing on other things – we don’t realise the danger until it’s too late!

In this series we’ll look at the danger the Bible is trying to warn us of, and seek practical tips to remain alert. In our comfortable surroundings, Christian snooziness is an ever-present danger. Drifting away from God is not to be taken lightly – our very salvation is at stake!

Our passages today: Jeremiah 6:9-15 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

Preacher: Ian Bayne, Sunday 27th December 2020

Introduction

2020 has been a year we will remember. I had to preach to a teddy bear during the lockdown! It’s nice to be back in front of the congregation.

We must be thankful: New Zealand is doing pretty well. There’s not as much unemployment and the economy is doing ok. For the most part we’re blessed and have roofs over our head.

But when we come through testing times, the temptation is to relax.

Jeremiah is a prophet of doom, with not much encouragement in his book. Yet, in contrast, the false prophets at the time we’re prophecying that everything would be ok. Even though things at the time were going well – disaster did come. The people were lulled into a false sense of security by their surroundings and the false prophets.

We should take warning from this – these are not days we should relax, despite the common sentiment on social media: 2021 may be a lot harder than 2020.

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

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV

When things have gone well, when we’ve had a win in life, we can fall into complacency: feasting, partying and not being awake to the dangers and opportunities.

While it’s been a strange year, there are certain conditions causing Christians to be rather drowsy, especially in New Zealand.

Temptation to drowsiness

We become drowsy and drift away from God because we:

1. Doubt the promise of Christ’s return

Jesus has come once, but the promise is that he’ll come again as the judge of the living and the dead. As believers, we’re able to look forward to that: Jesus will return.

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 16:27 ESV

and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11 ESV

But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:23 ESV

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

If we live with this in the centre of our mind then it will have an effect on whether we will will be sleepy or awake.

God has always kept his promises therefore we can be certain Jesus will return.

2. Deny the certainty of death

Death is inevitable: everyone will die. Even if we don’t talk about it much in society.

A pastor’s job description could be said to be to prepare a bunch of people to die well.

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ [18] And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”‘ [20] But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:16-21 ESV

What’s the point of storing up treasure on earth and worrying?

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 3:19 ESV

3. Comfortable and secure environments

On the surface things were going well in Jeremiah’s time. Yet there was no real peace because Israel had rebelled against God.

Is Jesus coming? Where is He? It’s an event that can seem so far off in our comfortable and secure world where it seems as though nothing will change. (Though perhaps covid has taught us that this cannot be correct)

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV

Things will not continue as they were. There’s more change coming, and we are warned:

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

The church in first century Sardis is told to wake up! This warning applies to us too.

Laodecia was a wealthy church that thought it had no needs.

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!…So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15 ESV

The Laodecians get one of the strongest rebukes from Jesus in this chapter. Do we count our lukewarm attitude to God as serious sin?

4. Times of feasting and frivolity

There is a time to eat dinner: good food and a little wine. Especially, Christmas and New year are good times. They can also make us drowsy though.

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 ESV

Charles Spurgeon said that little good can often come from a feast.

As examples: feasting is used in the days of Noah and Moses to show an indifference towards God.

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Matthew 24:38 ESV

When Moses came back to Egypt the Israelites were feasting.

Job’s children were feasting when trouble came upon them:

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, [19] and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job 1:18-19 ESV

Wine causes dissipation: to be over indulgent in sensual matters. We are not saying don’t drink, but don’t get drunk.

Application

If you see any of the above in your life, and feel like you’re drifting away from God: open the curtains and let the light in!

In days gone by we’ve had rental accommodation. You’re not supposed to have mould or damp in the house, but (especially in Wellington) it’s very hard to keep the mould and damp out. We need to open the curtains and let the light shine in.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 ESV

We need to hear the good news, heed the good news, harbor the hood news, hold fast to the good news.

Faith comes by hearing the word:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8 ESV

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11 ESV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

2 Timothy 3:14 ESV

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV

These are days to be alert and sober – we must see that we don’t become drowsy and drift away from God.

Over the coming weeks we’ll look at further practical steps we can take to avoid this.

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.



Cross with Nails

Marks of a Christian I – Convicted of Sin (Psalm 51)

A few weeks ago we finished up on Psalm 23 asking: how can the children of God be identified. We saw how we are marked with the Holy Spirit.

We looked at John 16 and how the Holy Spirit provides:

  1. Conviction of sin
  2. Convincing of the cross
  3. Comforting by the victory of Christ
  4. Confirming the sovereignty of Christ

In this mini series, we’ll look at each of these points as they relate to the fundamental Christian experience. What do each of these points mean?

Our passages:  Psalm 51, John 16:5-11. Preacher: Ian Bayne (16th July 2020).

Convicted of Sin

Conviction from sin needs to be genuine. How do we discern whether our conviction is genuine?

It’s more than just feeling guilty about something, or a little melancholy. It’s not a chemical imbalance. It is worth remembering that we live in a fallen world and sometimes we might be feeling guilty through no fault of our own due to clinical depression etc. Some people have a personality which makes them more susceptible to feeling convicted. Even the weather sometimes affects the way we feel.

But true conviction falls outside of this. We need to think biblically about what it means to be truly convicted.

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

John 16:8 ESV

Truely convicted of sin

Most people don’t believe in Jesus therefore they will be convicted. A true consequence of sin is about being confronted with by God’s word.

Psalm 51 is special because it confronts us with God’s word as Christians – no matter how outwardly godly we may look. It’s special because of the context: written shortly after King David’s affair with Bathsheba.

In 2 Samuel 11 we read that David was on the rooftop looking down on Bathsheba with the lust of the eyes, flesh and the boastful pride of life. He found out she was the wife of Uzaiah the Hittite. She became pregnant and this was an embarrassment for David, so he brought Uzaiah back so he could become the legitimate father for the child.

We could speculate that his relationship wasn’t great given that Uzaiah slept in the servants quarters, but it’s not stated in the passage. David tried to ply him with wine, but that didn’t work, so he sent him back to the front line with express orders for the troops to withdraw and allow Uzaiah to be killed. Uzaiah was killed; notice along with a lot of other troops – this is an example of sin affecting others.

The Lord told Nathan the prophet what was going on, and he confronted David with the Word of God in 2 Samuel 12. David was convicted of his sin and Psalm 51 records this genuine conviction of sin.

Spiritual pain

True conviction of sin is from being exposed to and convicted by God’s word. It’s the spiritual equivalent of pain and leads us to look for a remedy.

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:24 ESV

The law is there so we can recognise the problem and seek a solution. Ignore the pain and explain it away to your detriment: redefining it can never explain it.

However, true conviction goes deeper than dealing with the individual sins.

Owning our sinfulness

The big emphasis in evangelical circles recently had been: believe in Jesus and you will be saved. But the Gospel is much bigger than this: it’s about the glory of God.

True conviction is to understand that if we were put into hell for an eternity God would be justified.

We like to think that Christianity is all about me, but the point of God sending Jesus to die for us was to glorify him. Yet, it’s not about what God can do for us, but how we can glorify Him.

Eli has two sons who were disobedient.

Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. [21] Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:12,21 ESV

The word of the Lord came to Samuel, about the time Israel took the ark to war without God’s blessing.

A messenger came back (1 Sam 4:12-20) bringing three messages:

  1. the Israelites were defeated
  2. his sons were killed
  3. the ark had been captured

On the mention of the ark Eli died. Raging against sin is not the same as owning my own sinfulness.

Rejoicing in our conviction

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Psalm 51:3 ESV

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 51:5 ESV

It begins us on the path of true conviction for life.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 ESV

Even though being convicted of sin is painful, please embrace it. True conviction is not a result of darkness but of light being shone into our lives.

Rejoice in it even though it’s painful: It teaches us that we’re His children.

Resources

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

Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.



Jesus with sheep

The Good Shepherd Finale (Psalm 23:6, Deuteronomy 15:12-18 & John 16:5-11) – Am I a Christian?

In this series, we’ve seen how the Good Shepherd protects and lays down his life for his flock; providing protection, blessings and eternal life. But how can we know if we are part of that flock? In this series finale, we’ll look at how to tell if you’re a Christian.

Our passages:  Psalm 23, Deuteronomy 15:12-18 & John 16:5-11. Preacher: Ian Bayne (26th July 2020).

Watch the sermon

Further reflections

This is a supplementary sermon on Psalm 23:6. We’ve covered a lot over the series, and have come to know the Good Shepherd and all that he promises. The Good Shepherd has a covenant (or set of promises) made to his sheep. Those sheep are Christians.

The questions that then spring to mind are:

  • How does God recognise his sheep?
  • How are we supposed to recognise God’s sheep?
  • And perhaps most importantly: How can we know if we are one of God’s sheep? (i.e. are saved?)

1. How does God recognise His sheep?

On the farm we have a system of marks for livestock, using ear tags. In Deuteronomy 15 there was a similar idea of a ring ear for bond-slave.

then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever.

Deuteronomy 15:7a

Slavery carries many pre-conceptions in the media. The Bible talks about slavery as a way for someone who had fallen on hard times to pay off their debt by selling their services to a brother for a period of time. Because they are a brother they would be set free after 6 years with decent provision for them to start again.

It is interesting to note that the slave had the option to continue the arrangement for life if they wished.

This is similar to the position we find ourselves in. In our lives we have fallen on hard times: we are sinners. After a period of time having been chosen, we realise that we’re better off continuing to serve our master: the great shepherd and elect to continue the arrangement.

Bond servant (or slave) is one of the New Testament’s favourite description of being a Christian. We bond itself for life to Christ.

A bond slave to the Lord is what Christians are.

2. How can we recognise God’s sheep?

God doesn’t need ear tags as he knows who belong to him as Christians. However, there is a problem when one sheep needs to recognise another because there are no visual signs. We must recognise one another through the way we speak and act.

Sheep speak to each other using “baa-codes”. They have several baa’s for communicating.

  • community action: such as seeing a gate to escape through and they will follow.
  • finding each other: this week there was a ewe that didn’t recognise she had a lamb and the two had been separated. The lamb was doing its best to communicate by baa’ing at the top of its voice.
  • communicating affectionately with one another.

The way we speak, our kindness and affection to one another indicates who we are.

There is also an idea of being sealed. In the old days to make an official letter people would have a signet ring. Today we sign documents.

Our faith, as Christians, also has a seal: Ephesians 1 talks about the seal of our faith: the holy spirit.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV

3. How can we know if we’re saved?

If we’re saved, we’re “sealed with the Holy Spirit”. What does this mean?

This is important: both to know who fellow Christians are, and also that we are a Christian. If we’re not a Christian then we need to know so we can get there.

Am I a Christian?

We should all ask: am I a Christian?

John 16 teaches four things we can look for. If you are a Christian, you will have the marks of God:

  1. Convicted of sin; our sin
  2. Convinced of Christ
  3. Comforted concerning our salvation
  4. Confirmed
1. Convicted of sin

In our modern world when people do something bad, the social media “Pharisees” come out and condemn them.

In John 8:1-11, John recounts the time a woman caught in act of adultery was brought before Jesus. The Pharisees demanded she be stoned, but calmly Jesus said that whoever was without sin should cast the stone. No one did. Jesus then let her go.

When people judge on social media today, they don’t consider their own lives. If they did, they may not be so quick to judge,

Really, it’s not about other people’s sin. As a pastor I hear quite a lot: “I wish so and so was here to hear that sermon”. It’s surprising, but it’s not right to think like that. Each of my sermons is not meant for other people, but the people who are here. God’s word and his salvation are for all of us individually: here and now.

2. Convincing us of Christ

Through the Holy Spirit we are convinced that God has sent his Son to die for us.

In his goodness God sent Jesus to live a life of righteousness, die, and be raised to life again.

We are convinced of this through the Holy Spirit.

3. Comforted concerning our salvation

Jesus achieved a victory over sin and death: the devil is defeated. Sentence is yet to be passed, but judgement has occurred.

And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Luke 10:18 ESV

If we are convicted of our sins and convinced that Christ has dealt with it, then we can be comforted that through Christ we are saved.

4. Confirmed

There is a confirming aspect of the Holy Spirit.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:7 ESV

That the Holy Spirit is our guide and helper is proof that Jesus has ascended to heaven and completed his task.

Imagine being in a film. You’re in an army platoon under attack, surrounded, and realise the end is coming. We need to send for help, so select the best person to get past enemy lines and send a message for help; trusting in them for their salvation. As time goes on, the platoon is still waiting for help and getting desperate, but at the last moment the cavalry comes.

We know that Jesus died and was raised. Through the Holy Spirit coming we can know he made it to God’s right side and that our rescue is secure.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:18 ESV

Marked by God, or by the Devil?

These are the seals that we are the sheep of God.

In Revelation, we’re told that while God is marking his flock, the devil has also put marks on his people.

saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Revelation 7:3 ESV

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, [10] he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Revelation 14:9-10 ESV

We either have the mark of God or the mark of the Devil. From these two descriptions, who do you want to be marking you today?

Despite the number of religions, the bible teaches there are only two possible positions people can take: we are either part of the Lord’s flock are not.

Which path will you choose?

Resources

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

Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.



Jesus with sheep

The Good Shepherd XIII (Psalm 23:6 & Heb 13:20-21) – I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:6

One sermon can’t do this great verse justice! What does it mean to dwell with the Lord? How do we experience this today? This verse sums up Psalm 23 and the experience on offer to every Christian.

Our passages:  Psalm 23:6 & Hebrews 13:20-21. Preacher: Ian Bayne (12th July 2020).

Watch the sermon

Recap

Last time we considered that this verse can be thought of as a recap of one of the greatest psalms in scripture.

We reflected on:

  • How the shepherd is good to us
  • His loving kindness towards us
  • His promise to always be present with his sheep
  • The promise made to us (his sheep)

We can see Jesus being the fulfillment off the Good Shepherd psalm.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:20b ESV

And we can be confident in His rest.

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:7 ESV

Further explanation

One sermon was never going to be enough for this verse. There’s still questions to answer. For instance what does it mean for God to always be in our presence?

We want to go a little deeper to answer two questions that arise:

  1. How is it that the sheep may come into God’s presence?
  2. What are the consequences and benefits of dwelling in God’s presence, now and forever?

Our passage in Hebrews helps us to understand this:

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, [21] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV

Interpreting the Old Testament

When interpreting the Old Testament, it’s good to remember that it’s all fulfilled in the New Testament. The gospel is veiled in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV

The writer of Hebrews recognises that the New Testament helps reveal more of the Old.

In the person and nature of Jesus we can see God:

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 14:8-9 ESV

How can we come to dwell in the House of the Lord?

1. As Christians we experience peace

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 ESV

This peace is both:

  1. with God (the fall (when humans sinned in Gen 3) caused a rift with God that needs healing)
  2. with each other

Peace with each other

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

Ephesians 2:17 ESV

We are all familiar with the phrase “Black Lives Matter” – there is a great truth to this. The gospel goes further saying that every life matters.

Paul describes how the great racial divide in the Old Testament between Jew and Gentiles no longer applies. The barrier has been broken.

Last time I checked there were 16 different ethnicities in our church, which demonstrates this point: the gospel is for everyone. We don’t look at what colour people’s skin is, what language they speak or where they come from.

A peace exists between us all. The barriers are broken: every life matters to God.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Revelation 7:9 ESV

2. We participate in Christ’s victory

He’s taken our sin and given his righteousness.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV

Death is just the start of an eternity in the true presence of God for believers.

3. We have become beneficiaries of the eternal covenant

In the first line we looked at “The Lord is my shepherd”. He enters into a covenant with us to supply all we need. As we come into his presence we participate in his covenant: he is our shepherd and we are his sheep.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Genesis 3:15 ESV

This is brought together in the last chapters of Revelation.

4. As we dwell in his presence we are being changed

We’re not static: we don’t want to be as we are. Even Paul considered his righteousness was worth nothing; and I find that scary. I don’t have part of the righteousness Paul had.

When we dwell in the house of the Lord, we hear the word of God spoken. Meeting together is part of this: when we keep the company of God and dwell in his house we are changed.

Summary

From amazement to intimacy

A few weeks back we saw how half-way through the psalmist changes the language from soaking to another person (“He guides me”), to speaking to God (“You are with me”).

This is the transition we want to see in our lives.

Firstly the psalmist wants to tell everyone about God, then he moves on to declare an intimate relationship. It’s a wonderful privilege to be able to know and speak to God. Do you know him? Is it personal?

From metaphor to actuality

There’s also another shift: from metaphor to actuality.

At the beginning, the psalmist begins with a picture of the shepherd and the sheep, but the psalmist doesn’t leave us with the metaphor, he brings to an actuality.

“I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23:6b

We’re taking about believers: about actual Christian experience.

In our studies we looked at Christ – the lamb standing as if slain. We know that no lamb stands after being slain: only Jesus can stand because he’s been raised.

When we make a sacrifice we take a lamb from the flock and sacrifice it, but in the New Testament, it’s the other way around: we sacrifice the shepherd for the lambs!

A freely given gift

The Christan gospel turns our life view on its head: the Christan faith is not about working to please God. Jesus’s sacrifice is a freely given gift which allows us to come into God’s presence: the holy of holies.

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28 ESV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29 ESV

From now to forever

To close, we can see the theme of Psalm 23 played out in the book of Revelation:

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” [14] I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [15] “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. [16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. [17] For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:13-17 ESV

How amazing!

Resources

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



Jesus with sheep

The Good Shepherd XII (Psalm 23:6 & John 14:8-17) – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:6 ESV

The last verse of Psalm 23 seems clear, but is of immense meaning. How can we be sure of God’s goodness and mercy? What does dwelling in the house of the Lord look like? As we close Psalm 23, we see the riches of the Good Shepherd and an eternal dwelling place.

Our passages:  Psalm 23:6 & John 14:8-17. Preacher: Ian Bayne (4th July 2020).

Watch the sermon

Recap

Verse 5 and 6 belong together. We were invited to the table that was prepared in the midst of our enemies:

  • a table of compassion,
  • a table of fellowship, communion and intimacy with our shepherd
  • and a table of celebration for the risen king.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 ESV

It’s difficult to explain the joy that ought to be in our hearts. Thankfully God didn’t wait for us to be good before being good to us. Only a believer can really understand what this means.

God uses us for his service even though we’re not as we ought to be. If he’d waited for us to be perfect, he would still be waiting. Don’t wait for a “commissioning”. God has given us a sphere of influence for us to take the gospel to.

The table is also a warning of difficulties and a challenge to individual responsibility.

The Shepherd loves us and anoints or head with oil so that our experience will be unforgettable. Over time we get ground down. The Lord wouldn’t have us like this.

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

We are richer than everyone, with the Lord of Glory as our father. How can we not be excited by this? Yet we can be sucked into the ordinary and godlessness that surrounds us.

When we come into the presence of the Lord and our heads are anointed with oil we should be in awe. We have plenty, so we need to be watchful and use what we have in service.

Explanation

Goodness and mercy

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:6 ESV

We’ve eaten, we’re full. We have drunk, and we’re satisfied. We’ve been anointed and spoiled.

In fine dining, the last course is cheese and fortified wine. This is the picture here: our psalmist has spoken of the table and cup, and is now reflecting on the goodness and loving-kindness of our shepherd.

This reminds me of the song: surely goodness, surely mercy.

Mercy is probably better translated as lovingkindness, but it’s understandable why mercy was chosen. Mercy is the opposite of condemnation.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1 ESV

The Lord’s dwelling place

He is promising us that these blessings will last forever. This is not just referring to a physical temple (which hadn’t been built in David’s time), but an eternal house.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! [2] My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Psalm 84:1-2 ESV

This reminds me of the song from Psalm 84: You are my king and my God. We can see a glimpse of this dwelling place in the psalm, and note the following aspects:

  • It’s lovely: God has made it
  • It’s to be longed for: we want to be close to God with nothing standing between us and God. In this world we may experience a shadow of God’s presence, but there we’ll be able to meet with him. There we’ll be able to see him in all his glory.
  • It’s to be rejoiced in: our God is a living God.
  • It’s our refuge: God defends us with His shield and glory.

Application

Three words: Reflection, Redemption and Reformation.

1. Redemption

After the feast, our psalmist is reflecting. When we reflect, we remember, we appreciate, and we anticipate.

The psalmist reflects on God’s mercy and lovingkindness. How does he know this? As you may recall this psalm is believed to be written when David was on the run from his son Absalom. He wasn’t in a good place, yet he remembered that God has been faithful to him.

The lesson here is to be content whatever situation we are in. It’s one thing to be content in times of plenty, and quite another to be content in the midst of trouble. Paul provides an example of contentment of times of trouble:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11,13 ESV

With experience I have found that contentment has very little to do with the situation we find ourselves in, and much more about the relationship we’re in. The days might get better or worse, but: Remember the past. Appreciate the present. Anticipate the future.

2. Redemption

Remember the great rescue that God has performed for us.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

When we reflect, we need to remember our redemption as this is the centre of our faith and hope.

3. Reformation

We’re undergoing an ongoing reformation to become more holy, however as Proverbs teaches: the company that you keep most will have the greatest influence on you.

my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, [16] for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:15-16 ESV

Our company is the Lord’s. His company changes us and we want to start doing what he’s down us. The early church leaders were uneducated, but had spent time with Jesus:

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 ESV

The only way to me equipped is to spend time with the shepherd.

Singing Change my Heart O God reminds me of this. We can seek to be changed, to be like Him, and to dwell with him. This is our Shepherd’s promise. This is his goodness.

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:7 ESV

Resources

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

Songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbgxBvLFErg
Surely goodness, surely mercy shall folow me
Psalm 84


Water droplet

Baptism (1 Cor 1:10-17 & Isa 44:1-8)

What is baptism and what does it represent? There is much discussion on this divisive topic within the Church. Today, as we witness a baptism, we’ll look at what Baptism is intended to represent.

Our passages: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 & Isaiah 44:1-8. Preacher: Ian Bayne (28th June 2020).

Watch the Sermon

Introduction

On the occasion of Oliver’s baptism, you might think it’s peculiar for a text to be chosen that contains this:

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,”

1 Corinthians 1:17a ESV

We want to understand what has been done and want to explain it for those brothers and sisters who have come from different traditions.

We can’t get to the bottom of the topic of baptism as it’s huge, but want to cover part of it today for our encouragement.

Context

The first letter to the Corinthians dealt with difficulties they were facing as a young church. The first six chapters apparently deal with issues from a report to Paul from Chloe.

The second half (Ch 7-16) deals with questions that the Corinthians had for Paul about various issues. Specifically our passage today is dealing with the issue of divisions in the church about who they would follow. They were forming little groups around different teachers.

Divisions on Baptism

Paul asks three rhetorical questions to show them this isn’t right:

  • It’s Christ divided?
  • Was Paul crucified for you?
  • Were you baptised in the name of Paul?

The answer to each of these questions is obviously ‘no’. Paul goes on to say he is thankful that he’s only baptised a few people.

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

He’s not saying baptism is unimportant, after all Jesus commands it:

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 28:19 ESV

Paul is saying that the preaching of the gospel holds precedence over baptism (is more important). Baptism is just a ‘sacrament’ – a sign, which merely points to the gospel. It is not the gospel.

A sacrament is an outward sign that demonstrates an inward state. for instance: a sign that says “Foxton 96km” points you in the right direction, but it’s just a sign. You’re not in Foxton yet, and could still get lost on the way.

There’s a great tragedy in the church that divisions have arisen around something that ought to have united the church. Even today some churches say that people baptising in the wrong way aren’t really Christians.

Baptism in its right place should be a unifying sacrament. Both infant and believer’s baptism are recorded in the bible: Gaius and Stephanus were believers, but the household of Stephanus would have included a mixture of children.

What is the sign of Baptism pointing us to?

1. A promise to believers and their families

Baptism is a promise of God to all believers and their children, as well as people from non-Christian families who are welcomed and ‘grafted’ into the church.

It’s the greatest expression of love in existence.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1

2. God’s choice to save

We’re not Christians because we’re good; we’re called because he chose us out of love (see also Isaiah 44:1-8).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 ESV

This is what the gospel teaches us and what Baptism points us to.

3. Jesus’s sacrifice

Jesus sacrified so much for us, both:

  • In living – He put off his heavenly robes and privilege that he enjoys, to be a humble child to live a life of perfection; showing us how it’s done; and
  • In dying – there needed to be a sacrifice to bring us to God. The righteous died to save the unrighteous.

4. Holy spirit

Baptism reminds us of the promise of the Holy Spirit. One of the main acts of the Holy Spirit is to communicate the gospel to our hearts. The Bible is just words. The Holy Spirit helps us understand those words and be comforted.

5. The victory over sin

Through Baptism and the symbol of passing through water, we’re reminded that we’ve broken free of the powers of darkness thanks to Jesus defeating death.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV

6. Our Sovereign’s oversight

God is sovereign and has control over everything at all times.

He uses this to help His people and strengthen them. Jesus said to his disciples:

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Luke 10:19 ESV

Yet, while we may not have or need the same physical protection, the spiritual protection provided to us is still strong.

Summary

The gospel is the greatest expression of love God could have given us. Baptism is the sign and the seal of the gospel of grace: a gift of God.

It’s telling that in heaven there will be no Presbyterian, Lutherans, Baptists or other denominations. There will be just those saved by faith through grace, and this should humble us as we come before the gospel.

As we’ve witnessed a baptism today, it’s for us today to pray for them and care for them, now hopefully appreciating a little more of what Baptism represents.

Resources

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



Jesus with sheep

The Good Shepherd XI (Psalm 23:5 & Mat 18:23-25) – My cup overflows

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5 ESV

Anointed with oil, our cup overflows. Such abundance from our Lord. What should we look out for? How should we respond?

Our passages:  Psalm 23:5 & Matthew 18:23-35. Preacher: Ian Bayne (28th June 2020).

Watch the Sermon

Recap

There is a feast going on! The shepherd has prepared a feast for us: a table of compassion, communion and celebration.

Last week we were understanding what it means to be an honoured guest, valued by the shepherd. He wants us to be at our best and not to forget such an experience.

Coming to the table of the Lord is not something we can forget. What amazing grace! He gave his life for us so that we might join this feast.

Explanation

At the end of the feast there is a toast and our glasses need to be charged, so that we can toast. We need full glasses for this and the shepherd himself is going round and filling our cups with the best vintage, so much that they overflow. What a picture!

We also see this when Jesus was at the wedding in Cana and the wine had run out. He changed approximately 650 litres of water into wine in today’s measure: he’s not stingy.

and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

John 2:10 ESV

He gives us more than is necessary and more than we ask for.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10 ESV

Better still: the drink he gives means we’ll never be thirsty again.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

John 4:10 ESV

The drink is free as the cost has been paid for by the Lord Jesus, it’s totally satisfying on every way, and it’s transforming:

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'”

John 7:37-38 ESV

How to deal with an overflowing cup

We need to deal with a surplus. If our cup is overflowing what do we do?

1. Comfort others

who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:4 ESV

2. Give to others what we’ve been given

3. Forgive others as we have been forgiven

4. Have compassion on others as he does for us

Compassion is feeling the pain of others.

5. Be patient as he is patient with us

Even though we fall and don’t make the progress we ought He is still patient with us.

As the old song (Herbert the Snail) goes: “Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry, remember, remember, that God is patient too…so thank the Lord that he waits for you.”

6. Sacrifice for others as he’s done for us

Application

Today we’ll look at 4 things to be when we sense our cup overflowing most in the good times of life.

1. Be watchful

Pride is never far from plenty. When our cup is running over and we have so much, we can be proud of this and think it’s somehow because we’re good and that God blesses us for this reason.

We’re often actually worse than others. We’re not here for the crutch of faith: we need the whole wheelchair!

Our guard is most down when success is being celebrated. The memory of God’s goodness is easily forgotten after victory has been established.

2. Be not wasteful

Am overflowing vessel is no excuse not to be wasteful.

We’re not to throw pearls before swine (Mat 7:6). We are not to flaunt and waste what we have, but to use it for the glory of God himself.

3. Be waiting

Think about a waiter attending in service, not waiting for something. What does a good waiter do?

  1. Enquires on the needs of others: We need to look around and identify the needs of others around us. This is contrary to our instinct which is to be self-centred and inward focussed. We can be inward focused not outward.
  2. Is proactive: the Christan mandate is not to wait for something to happen, but to go. We need to look at where we might be needed and effective.
  3. Recommends gastronomic remedies: A good restaurant will recommend dishes and wines
  4. Fetches and serve guests, because they need food: others need the same food and water that we’ve eaten and drunk.
  5. Remembers their guests: We need to pray for those who are not in Christ. Others are waiting on us to offer God prayers for them.

4. Be worshipful

We should give credit where credit is due: our salvation depends on God’s mercy, so let’s be thankful to Him who gives all good things.

A heart of praise seldom goes hand in hand with a hard heart.

For me, this has been a pretty bad week. I’ve had to deal with water leaks caused by a rat eating a pipe, the roof was blown off my shed and I realised that I’m getting older. So reaching this passage today is ironic.

I was reminded of the city of Edinburgh around the time of Greyfriars Bobby who stood by his owner’s grave for 14 years until the dog himself died. Whilst a touching story, I thought of this example because covenanters were executed at the grass market in Edinburgh nearby.

Just above this, there’s a prison. It’s not like one of our prison with rooms. This just had walls. There was no roof. They had to sit there to wait to be released or executed.

One covenanter’s son was executed and his head was brought to him. He said “God has never done anything bad to me so why should I say anything bad about him”. His response was similar to Job after he has everything taken from him.

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job 1:21

Regardless of our earthly circumstances, we can have joy in our cup overflowing, from the good times in this life, to the joys of the eternal life with God to come.

Resources

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

Patience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kn6Z2Mop5I
Remember that God is patient too…


Jesus with sheep

The Good Shepherd X (Psalm 23:5 & Luke 7:40-50) – You anoint my head with oil

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5 ESV

Possibly one of the strangest parts of the psalm, and often overlooked; anointing with oil at a feast was reserved for the most honoured of guests. Why would our Lord honour us like this? How do we see God’s blessing?

Our passages:  Psalm 23:5 & Luke 7:40-50. Preacher: Ian Bayne (14th June 2020).

Watch the sermon

Recap

Last week we looked at:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

Psalm 23:5a ESV

We noted a transition between verses 1-3 and 4-6. He is now addressing the shepherd of the sheep on a very personal basis.

We noticed that the table is prepared in a future tense. We look forward to the table that Jesus is preparing for us.

Jesus is preparing a table of:

  1. compassion – tending our physical needs (e.g. feeding the 5,000)
  2. communion – providing fellowship, remembrance and intimacy (eg the last supper)
  3. celebration – celebrating the resurrection, commissioning Peter, and reminding us of our personal responsibility

Even though we love amongst enemies (as sinners ourselves) he still prepares a table for us.

Explanation

You anoint my head with oil.

Psalm 23:5b

I’ve been meditating on this passage a lot this week, but like new wine, feel this meditation needs a bit longer to mature and to get the depth out of it.

This Hebrew word for ‘anoint’ is to grow fat – it’s not the usual word in Hebrew that’s translated as ‘anoint’: it’s the only time this Hebrew word is translated in this way.

Honouring our Lord

The only time we see a scenario comparable is in Luke 7. Simon (a Pharisee), receives Peter into his home, but doesn’t treat him as an honoured guest. A sinful woman honours Jesus instead; doing what Simon should have done.

A woman is taking one of her assets – her hair, and is using her tears to wet Jesus’s feet and kissing them continually. This is difficult behaviour for us to understand today, but the point is that she’s showing an active humility.

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Luke 7:46 ESV

As a great act of hospitality for an honoured guest, the host would anoint their head with oil. Lipo is the Greek word for fat or oil. It would make them shine and feel good.

She has anointed his feet with perfume. Oil was costly, but perfume even more so: it was the best gift she had.

The sinful woman is doing this for Jesus because he’s the Lord of glory and the most important guest.

If this is right there is something perculiar about the psalm.

Our Lord honouring us!

In our Psalm it’s the shepherd annointing the sheep. It’s the other way around. This is the difference with Christianity.

Typically people try and please God, but God sent Jesus to serve and please us.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45 ESV

It should be the shepherd who is honoured. Yet he is preparing the table to serve and feed us and also honouring us by anointing our heads with oil.

The sheep are the guests of honour!

Examples from today

Even today we use this language in farming terms. As a sheep farmer, I would buy skinny sheep and fatten them up.

When I go to buy lambing stock that are thin, we call them ‘stores’ – lambs that have potential but are not as they ought to be. We call those that are not thin: ‘fats’. We want them to grow with the right amount of food for them to get the right amount of fat.

Today we think of fat as bad because we live sedentary lives. We look at fat as the enemy, however, fat can be good: fat gives you energy; fat is where the taste is. We like it, for instance, pork crackling.

A fat lamb gives both energy and taste. Hence we want to take a a store lamb, raise it to become a fat lamb, and then eventually a prime lamb which has reached its potential.

Application

Our shepherd anoints our head with oil because:

1) we’re worth it

We are the objects to be honoured by Him because he sees potential in us. He created us and loves us.

2) He wants us to be at our very best

We’ve gone from being lost to being found. We’ve received every spiritual blessing:

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

We are anointed to shine a light and demonstrate the best of our Lord to all around us.

3) we should never forget

If we’re taken round to someone’s house and given great hospitality we remember it. Hospitality is seen as a genuine mark of faith.

This is one of the reasons we try to make sure that those who come to our homes know we care for them, love them, and don’t just give empty platitude and encouragement, but follow through with action.

The Lord has invited us to his table and marked us as special guests. How wonderful to be invited to our shepherd’s home.

Resources

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