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The Good Shepherd III (Psalm 23:3 & 1 Peter 1:3-9) – He restores my soul

“He restores our soul.” Why do we need restoring, how does He do this, and what is the purpose of our life? Pastor Ian Bayne tackles the big questions.

After our celebration of Easter, we return to our series on Psalm 23.

Our passage:  1 Peter 1:3-9 & Psalm 23:3. Preacher: Ian Bayne (19th April 2020).

Watch the Sermon

Recap

We are continuing our studies in Psalm 23, as the level 4 lockdown and uncertainty around the world continues. It is good to remind ourselves of familiar truths, and what better passage than Psalm 23.

Before Easter we looked at verses 1 and 2 together and found:

  • There is a shepherd in this life, we are not required to wander aimlessly
  • The Lord is our shepherd
  • He has a number of sheep
  • He has entered a covenant with his sheep such that “I shall not want”

Because of this we should have:

1. Dependence

God has made us to be dependent on Him. We are not made to be independent. We are called to live by faith and not by sight, so that we might magnify God’s glory.

2. Trust

We can trust because he knows us, he saved us and has given his life for us

He manages us, leads us and will bring us back if we go astray.

3. Security

We are in safe hands.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:28 ESV

We are safe standing on the rock of ages.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

Verse 2 looks back on verse 1 about rest.

4. Rest

We don’t have to establish our own test. We don’t have to work for our own salvation. The shepherd has done this for us.

Jesus himself is our righteousness. Therefore we can receive salvation with joy.

5. Preparation

When in a time of peace we can use these times wisely.

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

6. Rumination

As a sheep regurgitates its food for further digestion, the word of God should be something we think of. Meditation aids our appreciation, understanding and application of God’s word.

7. Restoration

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3 ESV

Today we’ll look closer at the first part of verse 3: “He restores my soul”

What is going on here, and what does this mean?

Explanation

If restoration is needed then things are not as they ought to be.

There are many things people get excited about today and spend their time on. During lockdown we have been watching TV, which reflects what society is interested in. There’s currently lots of TV on restoration: historic castles, junk and antiques to restore. People want to see things restored to their former glory.

The need for restoration

But why do things need restoring?

They get into this state because:

  1. of a disaster or tragedy: maybe weather or war
  2. wear and tear: for instance, metal might have rusted or worn out

We too are in need of restoration for the same reasons. Psalm 23:3 says “He restores our soul”. Let’s have a look at why we need this, and How He restores us.

We need restoring: because of a tragedy

We have experienced a tragedy: the fall. This happened when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-

Romans 5:12 ESV

It wasn’t just Adam’s sin, but the rebellion spread. We confirm this on a daily basis because we sin. This is the great tragedy – the consequence of Adam’s “original sin”

The curses in Genesis 3:14-19 lay out the consequences:

  • There are broken relations with God. We are hurting because of sin.
  • There are broken relations with each other because sin is in us.
  • There’s a broken ability for us to resist evil. We’re inclined to do wrong.
  • There’s a broken world we live in and broken bodies we die in.

This is why we need restoration and why the shepherd needs to help us. When He reconciles us He restores these things.

He restores our soul: after the tragedy

He gives us a heart “after which things are good”

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26

He restores our bodies through the promise of Resurrection.

While the resurrection has been completed, these promises are not completely fulfilled.

The process has begun. There is a downpayment for what is to come.

We need restoring: because of wear and tear due to time and conditions

Even when initial restoration is complete, rot and rust still occur. Our lives are fraught with difficulty and we feel sadness, loss, pain and trials of various kinds.

He restores our soul: from our wear and tear

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

This restoration of us is not just a one-off process, but is ongoing. The first part addresses the tragedy, the second part the wear and tear.

This is why we’re taught to forgive others.

Even though everything else has changed we’re still inclined to go back.

What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

2 Peter 2:22

Application

We’ll look at three words:

  • Potential
  • Purpose
  • Possibilities

Potential

The shepherd doesn’t look at what the sheep are currently, but their potential. Even though we were born in sin and weakness; even though we are just dust, with an inclination to sin; He looks past this.

He knows about wear and tear. If we have sinned, or been sinned against.

He knows we will continue to fail until we enter heaven.

Yet when the Lord looks on a sheep he doesn’t see what we are, but what we could become.

As the 70’s song goes: “Something beautiful, something good, all my confusion He understood. All I had to offer him was brokenness and strife, but he has something beautiful planned for my life”

This gives us purpose.

Purpose

Why do I exist? What is the purpose of my life and the significance of it.

If these things are left unanswered it’s a recipe for mental health issues. The answer is simple: our existence is to give glory and honour to God.

One of our great quests of life is to generally glorify God through our faith, but also to fulfil God’s specific plan for each of us.

When He becomes our shepherd He injects purpose into our lives.

Possibilities

Stuck as a slave to sin we have limited possibilities. He gives us the power to change.

He also doesn’t permit us to remain as we are, and we also desire to move on. As we rely and trust in him we gradually move away from sin and to become better Christians.

When our guard is down we revert. It’s our greatest desire to overcome these sins, but this isn’t enough: it’s the Lord who restores to us the power to change and overcome.

What was not thought possible now looks achievable.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Sheep farming in the South Island

On the South Island, everyone is either: a farmer, married to one, or supporting one. There’s a diverse bunch of farm and crop types: sheep, beef, crops, dairy.

At the top of the plains are the foothills. It’s hard hill country. There are severe winters and tough conditions. Many sheep grow up in these conditions.

At about 5 years of age the sheep are sold. A flat land farmer will then receive those sheep. They would be skinny and look like they’d endured a tragic event. But the nice conditions of the plains would make the sheep fat and healthy again. The change of environment makes all the difference. So it is with us as people.

All of us have experienced tragedy. The world is not a great place sometimes. But when we submit to the shepherd’s care we grow and become productive. We become members of the church of Jesus

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

Being “born again” is overcoming the tragedy. We are to become a living hope for each other and the world. This will release our potential and give us a purpose in life.

Praise be to Him who has caused us to be born again to a living hope and resurrection from the dead.

Resources

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

Song: Something beautiful



Three crosses silhouetted against the night sky

Easter – He is risen! (Matthew 28:6 & Psalm 22:22-31)

He is risen! Happy Easter day! Today we look at the resurrection of Jesus: the central miracle that all of Christianity is based on, including our hope of salvation. What happened, and why should we believe it really happened?

Our passage:  Matthew 28:6 & Psalm 22:22-31. Preacher: Ian Bayne (12th April 2020).

Watch the Sermon

Easter Sunday service 12/04/20 – Sermon starts at 12:35

The Crucifixion

We gathered on Good Friday to remember the crucifixion. As Jesus died on the cross he uttered the words in Psalm 22:

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

After he had died, before the end of the day the soldiers came round to break the legs of those not yet dead in order to make sure the sentence had been carried out. They pierced his side with a spear to confirm and blood and water came out. This gave them proof that he was dead, so they didn’t need to break his legs.

After he died, his body was released to Joseph of Arimathea who placed it in his personal tomb. Aware of what he thought of as a cult following the governor Pontius Pilate set a guard over the tomb.

The Resurrection

The passage we are looking at in Matthew 28 then runs through what happened next:

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. [2] And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. [4] And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. [5] But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:1-6 ESV

The cross was a means of sentencing people that the Romans didn’t like to death. The resurrection is incredible and miraculous – unlike anything else in history.

Think about it: Christians believe someone was:

  • proven to be dead.
  • dead for three days – by which time their body would have been decomposing
  • rose again.

Why believe Easter happened?

We as Christians, believe this happened, just as He said. This is what Easter is about.

Christians believe this is true for four main reasons.

We believe because of:

1. Who said it

When deciding whether to believe someone we look at the character of who said it. During this time of uncertainty, we are all looking at the source of information in order to avoid being taken in by fake news.

“Just as He said” refers to Jesus. According to scripture, it was impossible for Him to lie. He was fully man and fully God.

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20:28

Jesus was the lamb without blemish – He was sinless.

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

1 Peter 2:22

2. Who he said it to

We recognise his message because of who he gave the message to.

Those who understood the scriptures and were expecting a messiah

There were many around at the time of Jesus who remembered what the Old Testament prophets had foretold:

  • Simeon when Jesus is presented at the temple (Luke 2:25-35)
  • Anna also at the temple (Luke 2:36-38)
  • Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:67-79)
  • John the Baptist (John 1:29-34)

They recognised Jesus from what the Old Testament saints had written about him many years before Jesus came into the world.

Foretold by Scripture

Not everything written in the Old Testament is explicit but there is enough written to paint a clear picture of who Jesus would be and what he would be like, for those who read it carefully. Psalm 22 that we read is a great example of this. If you get time to read, the first half of the psalm runs through the events around the crucifixion; including details such as the dividing of his garments:

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet- [17] I can count all my bones- they stare and gloat over me; [18] they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Psalm 22:16-18 ESV

The portion we read in the second half (Psalm 22:22-31) speaks of the goodness of God and an enduring testimony arising from Jesus’s act. Similar acts of obedience and sacrifice have been witnessed throughout the Bible.

  • Enoch walked with God and was no more (Gen 5:21-24)
  • Abraham offered to sacrifice Isaac (Gen 22 & Hebrews 11:17-19)
  • Elijah was taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2)
  • Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days (Jonah 1:17)

Jonah’s experience is highlighted by Jesus as an example of what he had come to do:

But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Matthew 12:39 ESV

His enemies

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

John 2:19 ESV

He had nothing to hide.

His disciples

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.

Matthew 16:21 ESV

Paul repeats the narrative of the resurrection in his letters. There were over 500 witnesses.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV

3. As convicted by the Holy Spirit

The resurrection is something so profound that God has given us help to understand it.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:33 ESV

The crucifixion is like a burning bush: evidence of an event too important to ignore. We have to look into it and see for ourselves what has happened.

And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

Exodus 3:3 ESV

4. We have personal experience of fellowship and communion with the risen saviour

In the days following the resurrection, Jesus’s disciples physically experienced His presence as he ate and drank with them. His disciple Thomas famously doubted:

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

John 20:24-25 ESV

Jesus appears to Thomas specifically, and Thomas confirms that it is Him.

While we can’t have a physical relationship, Jesus is alive and Christians have an active relationship with him: sustaining and protecting the church. We see his sovereign control through answered prayer, world events and in creation itself.

Easter is still remembered

The book of Revelation speaks of a vision of the end times in the form of apocalyptic literature. In chapter 5 Jesus is depicted as a lamb.

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 5:6 ESV

Note that the lamb is standing as if it had been slain. It’s a striking figure to consider.

As you may remember from previous sermons I was a sheep farmer producing prime lamb for market. Speaking from experience, there is not one lamb who has stood after they have been slain.

Jesus was slain, but He was raised. Revelation 5 speaks of the lamb being sovereign over the land today, powerful and worshipped by all of creation. Today we have fellowship with a living saviour who was slain for us so that we may have a relationship with him.

What will you remember this Easter?

Part of my family’s Easter tradition was going with my father to visit my grandmother’s grave. We would give thanks to a mother who had prayed for him and nursed him during his early years of suffering when he couldn’t walk. Easter Sunday was his first day walking after suffering from Polio and we would give thanks that he was healed.

40 years ago I met Glenys at a Christian camp over Easter. While our wedding anniversary is later in the year, we think of Easter as our actual anniversary.

We may remember 2020 as the Easter of lockdown so that we don’t spread covid-19.

But whether a family event, the beginning of a relationship, or something like we’re going through now: it will be forgotten.

An event happened 2000 years ago that has not been forgotten. Christ has risen just as He said. In 2000 more years I can guarantee, people will still remember.

This is a savour who has risen from the dead and offers us a relationship with our God and eternal life. He cares for us so much that He died for us. He is a saviour we can trust in.

Resources

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



Three crosses silhouetted against the night sky

Easter – His gift to us on Good Friday (Galatians 6:14)

On Good Friday, we are reminded of the costly sacrifice Jesus made for each one of us to offer us a relationship with Him. But there are many alternative ideas floating in our society. How do we know which to trust? And what does Easter mean for us today?

Our passage:  Isaiah 53:4-12 & Galatians 6:14. Preacher: Ian Bayne (10th April 2020).

Watch the sermon

Good Friday Service – sermon starts at 13:00

The Crucifixion on Good Friday

What happened?

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians 6:14 ESV

We’re looking today at the first half of this verse written 2000 years ago by the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus in modern-day Turkey. Paul is writing about the very first Easter weekend, and the events that happened on Good Friday.

Good Friday is the traditional day when Christians give thanks to God for Jesus. He paid the penalty for our sin by being crucified on a cross by the Romans around the year 30AD.

Why does it matter?

Sin is the mental, moral and active disobedience to God’s requirements. It’s not just grievous sin like murder or theft, anything less than perfection is sin.

It’s not that some people do sin and some don’t, or even about who sins less than someone else. This is not relevant. No one can keep such a standard: everyone sins, and there is no distinction; no second prize for coming close.

For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:22b-23

Yet God requires each one of us to be holy and righteous. If we’re certain to fail, why would He ask us to do this? Put simply, His ask is not about our own capability, but His capability.

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Continuing on to Romans 3:24

This free gift given by Him is what frees us from sin and redeems us. In our verse in Galatians 6:14 Pauls shows that the Cross is a two-way exchange. Our sin is given to Christ, and His righteousness is given to us.

The cross is the meeting place for us and God.

God’s requirement for justice is satisfied – the punishment has been taken. And through this God’s love and forgiveness is fully expressed. He’s given us a way out of sin.

To many Christians, the cross is a powerful symbol that represents God putting right what is wrong.

The alternatives

In the world there are alternate ideas:

  1. Say sin doesn’t exist
  2. Accept sin exists, but deny it matters: Doing something wrong only matters if we’re caught and face consequences.
  3. Redefine right and wrong: much of our law and culture is based on Judeo-Christian ethics. Things such as abortion, euthanasia and marriage are being treated as political issues and re-defined.

If the law of the land is being changed to something that was previously considered wrong, does that make it right?

The majority can do so in parliament, or through a referendum. Society’s views are influenced and enforced by education through guilt and through thought police on social media. Freedom of speech does not always apply.

The consequences

Industrialisation also provides a challenge, when great dollar can be made at the expense of the planet and the most vulnerable in society. It’s not necessarily wrong for people to want to change this. Caring for the environment is a very Christan principle under our general stewardship mandate (Gen 2:15).

The problem is how it’s being dealt with: through social engineering and trying to make people feel guilty about what is being done to the planet, or how people are treated. A negative message rarely works.

Carbon emissions are an example. We’ve been given a lot of education over many years, but few have listened and even today (pre-March) progress was slow.

It’s ironic that one virus has done more to save the climate than all the actions taken over the last few years.

The problems our society and ecosystem face lie deeper than guilt education or social engineering can overcome. These methods are treating the symptoms rather than the cause.

The true answer to these challenges, wrongs and sin is the cross: a horrible instrument of torture and death which Jesus died on around 2000 years ago.

The challenge of Good Friday

The cross does not seek to deny there is sin in the world or the effect it has. It defines sin, and promises that wrong and sin can be overcome.

Paul says that he has nothing to boast in except the cross of Christ. What does he mean? What is he calling us to do?

1. To admit

I need to admit I am part of the problem. Jesus suffered and died for my sin. I ought to have been on the cross, but he died for me.

2. To accept

We accept and trust in Jesus alone to make us right with God. Our sin is placed on him, his righteousness is placed on us. No sin is too big.

He will forgive if you ask him.

3. To continue on

Go forward in his strength and power. True forgiveness begins with a change of heart. If we change the heart, the world will be changed as well.

Christians and the church don’t always get things right. This is not because the cross is not adequate, but because God’s followers have failed to understand and apply the commands contained in scripture.

If you have been hurt or discouraged by the Christian faith, or our poor communication of it, then I apologise for the past sin of the church, and my own part in it. But the truth and the cross is still the only true antidote to all that is wrong in the world, nothing can change this reality.

Forbid it that we should boast in anything else.

On Good Friday we remember our saviour. We pray that He will help us trust in him and become righteous to avoid judgement and receive his freely given gift of salvation.

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

John 3:16

Resources

Join us on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection.

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



Jesus with sheep

The Good Shepherd I (Psalm 23:1 & John 10:1-18) – The Lord is my shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want

Psalm 23:1

As the national restrictions continue during this troubling time, we continue our mini-series of encouragements. Psalm 23 is a great psalm many of us will be familiar with. In times of trouble, our hearts are full and our minds are confused. We need to remind ourselves of old truths and seek dependence, trust and security from God.

Our passage:  John 10:1-18 & Psalm 23. Preacher: Ian Bayne (29th March 2020).

Watch the Sermon

Sermon starts at -28:45

Introduction

The second reason for covering this today is a more personal one. Before called to ministry I was a sheep farmer, like my father and grandfather. My home was a loving and caring Christian home.

Every night, the last thing before going to bed would be to pray with my father, and he would get me to learn scripture by heart. The first Psalm I learned was Psalm 23 so it is very special.

Explanation

Even just looking at verse 1 in detail today, the psalmist wants us to know four things:

  1. There is a shepherd
  2. The shepherd is the LORD
  3. The LORD owns sheep
  4. The LORD takes care of His sheep

1. There is a shepherd

A flock of sheep needs a shepherd to stop them wandering, to lead, direct them and keep them safe from harm.

Shepherds are burdened to keep the sheep. There are two kinds of shepherd:

  • The hired hand – who is looking after the sheep for payment
  • The owner of the sheep – who has a vested interest in their welfare because it affects the amount of wool and lambs they will obtain.

2. Our shepherd is the LORD

Fortunately “the LORD is our shepherd”, and what a shepherd He is.

The word LORD used in our English translations is the Hebrew consonants: Y..H..W..H. It’s the Lord’s personal name. It’s a word so special that the ancients didn’t even want to write it in full or pronounce it. Some have guessed at the pronunciation, but we don’t know for sure.

In the New Testament Jesus proclaims his status by saying he’s the good shepherd (John 10) and the I AM:

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 8:58

This echos what God said to Moses when he revealed His name.

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”

Exodus 3: 14

Jesus is claiming to be God. (In John 8:59 the Jews attempt to stone him for blasphemy because of this)

3. The LORD owns His sheep

In John 10 we see how the LORD is not a hired hand, but an owner who cares for His sheep.

He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  13  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:12-15 ESV

Notice the passage says “the lord is MY shepherd” (Psalm 23:1 (emphasis added). He has entered into a deeply personal relationship with us. The Song of Solomon parallels something of the depth of this relationship:

My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.

Song of Solomon 2:16 ESV

He recognises his sheep to be his. As a sheep farmer by trade, I can say that a farmer really knows his sheep. Even with many thousand sheep, it’s possible to get to know many of them as you tend them regularly, and they have different personalities. If a neighbour’s sheep got in, I would know.

4. There’s a covenant agreement

There’s a promise made in this verse:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1 ESV

In the New Testament we see this again:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

There’s an agreement that he will supply all our needs. The rest of Psalm 23 is expanding on this point and showing us what this means.

Application

There are three applications we can take from this:

  1. dependency
  2. trust
  3. security

1. Dependency

It’s common to say that sheep are dumb. This saying seems to have originated from a misinterpretation of a passage in Isaiah. The passage prophesies about Jesus, where he’s likened to a sheep. The scene is when Jesus is before Pontious Pilate being questioned about the charges being brought against him.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:7 King James Version. The newer ESV uses “silent” instead of “dumb”.

Dumb has come to mean stupid. But it’s not the case, it simply means silent. Sheep are intelligent, but they are dependent.

The fall in Genesis 3 was a result of man’s quest for independence. When we’re dependent on God we will follow and trust in Him, and He will provide for us.

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

We must walk in humility according to God, even if this seems counter-cultural.

These are strange days. The covid-19 virus is something we can’t control and therefore we must depend on God. As we grow in dependence, we also grow in humility.

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

2 Corinthians 13:9 ESV

The smaller we become, the greater our appreciation of God. And what a God we have.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:16 ESV

He is providing for his children

2. Trust

He knows us and we can know him. He saved us by giving his life for us.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11 ESV

He cares for us.

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

And gently leads us to pastures new and through difficult times

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

He is still seeking and saving those who are lost. He goes out of His way to look after each one of us individually.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. [12] What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? [13] And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. [14] So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:10,12-14 ESV

We will all take wrong turns in life. He will take us back to the safety of the fold.

3. Security

When I was growing up, every boy played Rugby Union. Didn’t play anything else, not the round ball game, the hockey ball game or the other rugby ball game; just Rugby Union.

One player in my team was chosen to be full-back for every game because this player would always catch and would never drop the ball. He had a “safe pair of hands”.

Are we not in safe hands? We “shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.”

John 10:29-30 ESV

Our security in him doesn’t depend on our ability to have faith or belief. Our faith is in the good shepherd who seeks us when we are lost.

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

The good shepherd comes for us, not for us to simply have life, but to have life abundantly.

Who do you want to be your shepherd? A thief? A hired hand? Or the good shepherd with a life of ultimate peace and security?

Our text

The LORD Is My Shepherd

A psalm of David

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
    for ever.[g]

Psalm 23:1-6 ESVUK (C)2001 Crossway Bibles

Resources

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

We didn’t sing this due to livestreaming restrictions, but here it is!


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The Kingdom Parables 4 & 5 – Part 6 (Matthew 13:44-46)

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Building on our series about the Kingdom of God, that is so keenly displayed in our two familiar parables, this week we’re looking at ways to maintain our zeal for God’s kingdom, in a challenging, sinful world. It brings us back to the central point in our faith: the cross of Christ.

Our passage:  Galatians 3:24 and Matthew 13:44-46 (OT Reading: Isaiah 6:1-5). Preacher: Ian Bayne (8th March 2020).

Recap

We have been looking at the twin parables of the treasure without measure in Matthew 13:44-46 over the last few weeks: the awesome Kingdom of God has come, and we are called to be a part of it.

As Christians, we are citizens of the Kingdom and have gained the treasure. Wherever Christians meet, Jesus promises to be in our midst, to grow us, and to love us.

This is a kingdom worth looking for, liquidating for and loving with all our hearts.

We’re expanding on what it means in practice to be a lover of the kingdom: to share it, care for it and adhere to it.

To accept the Kingdom is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. It can be tempting to divide lordship from salvation, but that’s not what the Bible says. If we want to show love by adhering to God’s word then we will accept Jesus as Lord of our lives.

since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:16 (Peter is quoting from the OT, e.g. Leviticus 11:45b)

We are not made holy through our own ability, but through God’s.

Last week, we looked at maintaining a zeal for the kingdom: to keep going to the end. We can get ground down and absorbed into the principles and ways of the world. The Bible is full of examples of people who have fallen in this way and we looked at a few last week.

Today we face challenges both specific to our times, yet similar to those faced throughout Christian history. How do we maintain our zeal for the kingdom in relation to our surroundings? How do we sustain a sensitive conscience while living in a fallen world?

Further implications: sustaining a sensitive conscience while living in a fallen world

The world is full of temptation. It can almost feel like we are required to live different lives: one around Christians, and one that helps us blend into the world and avoid being persecuted.

Even in the earliest days of the world, such temptation has been common. In the times of Genesis, Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was living in Sodom – a city described as wicked, and having committed “grave sin” (Gen 18:19).

and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked [8] (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);

2 Peter 2:7-8 ESV

In Peter’s letter, he describes Lot as being a believer, tormented by the state of his city.

Today we watch as we see the laws of our nation gradually move away from God’s word, and laws and policies being brought in that make it more difficult to be a practising Christian. We can see a glimpse of what Lot experienced in our own lives.

Another example of a righteous man who was aware of the state of the world around him is Isaiah. In Isaiah 6 he receives a vision of God. Isaiah is transported into the presence of God to receive his instructions. The angels are singing “holy, holy, holy” around the presence of God, and Isaiah is in awe.

And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

Isaiah 6:5 ESV

He becomes acutely aware of two things:

  1. His own sinfulness
  2. He’s dwelling amongst a sinful people

Application: sustaining ourselves in the world

Let’s look at two ways we can sustain a heart longing after God in an unclean world.

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

Galatians 3:24 ESV

We can think of this verse in terms of conversion, in that the law convicts us of our sin. When unbelievers come to realise they can’t meet the standards of the law they turn to Christ.

But there’s something more here. The verse does not apply to unbelievers coming to faith, it applies to Christians every day.

If we miss this meaning, there is a danger that we can think becoming a Christan and having the free grace of God is a licence to do whatever we like, and can distract us from our ongoing battle with sin. We need forgiveness every day, and the law helps us realise this.

Such realisations help in the way we believe in God. We are interested in the whole of the scripture.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The law describes the standard of God’s holiness. If you are not a believer then see God’s law and come to Christ for forgiveness. But believers keep on sinning. We need to be alert for this, but ultimately God is working through us for our sanctification from sin. He grants us forgiveness, and he gives us the strength to resist temptation.

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians 6:14

It brings us back to there centrality of the cross.

1) as believers, we must resist the temptation to redefine what sin is

When we see God’s law we typically either:

  1. Admit our sin
  2. Redefine right and wrong to not be sinful

Our hearts can be deceitful. They would like to redefine right and wrong rather than admit we do wrong. We have been given a new heart, but we are not yet sanctified and still prone to sin, so must be wary of our desires.

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Psalm 119:160

He is right and holy. We are not.

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

Romans 6:23

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

Proverbs 21:2 ESV

Sin leads to death, and God has already defined what that is. Regardless of what we think, God will judge us according to His law.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8 ESV

We are all sinners, without exception. Only Jesus has ever lived a sinless life.

2) allow God’s mercy to sensitise our consciousness every day

Through His kindness, mercy and grace

Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. [3] For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. [5] I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Psalm 32:2-3,5 ESV

Psalm 32 is the twin Psalm to Psalm 51, which is the famous Psalm David wrote after his sin with Bathsheba. Silence brings pain. We need to acknowledge our sins before God in order to be forgiven.

As the song based on Romans 2 goes: “It’s Your kindness that leads us to the repentance, O Lord”. It is a great act of kindness to forgive us, who so often break His commands and don’t give Him the love and praise our creator deserves.

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 2:4-5 ESV

The song is exalting the fact that God’s kindness is reaching out to us, which is a great motivator. Why wouldn’t we want to live a life that’s zealous for God if he’s reaching out to us?

Through His law, judgement and wrath

We must also allow the law of God to speak to us.

We read the requirements in the law and know he is a holy and just God. Every person deserves the holy wrath of God for even one sin, and we are all sinners.

The law is our schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24), we should allow God’s law to sanitise our conscience.

Some churches advocate reading the 10 commandments each week to remind us of our sinfulness.

(Note we can also be tempted to redefine right and wrong here, by saying “I haven’t murdered, or committed adultery”. But Jesus says: that even becoming angry with a brother, or looking with lustful intent breaks these commandments and makes us liable for judgement (Matthew 5:17-18, Matthew 5:21-22))

3) we need to hold both grace and wrath in balance

If someone is just concerned about God’s grace and not with his wrath then we water down God’s love to a weak love without discipline. But His love is perfect and it includes righteous wrath.

We live in troubling times. Christianity is being diluted or persecuted. In these days, the law of God is still valuable to believers to show us our daily sins, and remind us to head to the cross, where our treasure and citizenship of the Kingdom comes from.

That’s how we can maintain a sensitive conscience when we live in an unclean world.

Resources

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

This Leslie Phillips song, referred to above, is based on Romas 2:4, speaking of God’s kindness leading us to repentance.



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The Kingdom Parables 4 & 5 – Part 5 (Matthew 13:44-46)

This week builds on our previous studies into these two rich parables, by asking: how do we look after and guard our access to the Kingdom? How do we keep it up? How do we maintain our love and ‘zeal’ for the treasure so we keep it for eternity? We’ll use examples from the life of King Asa to show how.

Our passage:  Matthew 13:44-46 and Revelation 2:1-7  (OT Readings: 2 Chronicles 14:1-8).

Recap

Lookers, liquidators and lovers of the Kingdom

We have been spending some time looking at the twin parables in Matthew 13 about the great treasure that is the Kingdom of God.

We’ve looked at how the parables show a need for us to be lookers, liquidators, and lovers; we’ve looked at what this means in practice and how we can do this. Our treasure is the awesome Kingdom of Heaven – which includes a relationship with God and eternal life with Him.

Christians are by definition, seekers of the treasure. But as we’ve seen, we can’t look for it on our own terms for material gain, friendships or respect. We have to love God and give the authority over all of our life to Him. When we call Christ “Lord” we are acknowledging his authority over us.

If He is our Saviour, He is our Lord. The two cannot be separated. Those who love the Kingdom and the pearl of great price accept the treasure of salvation, and Jesus as Lord of their life.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14:21 ESV

We do so not because we are inclined to do so ourselves, but because we are affected by God’s Word (John 1:1). We know something is innately wrong with the world as-is (sin and death), and we anticipate better things that the Kingdom offers.

Responding to the Kingdom

Our response to this amazing salvation is to share the treasure, care for it (by making sure our understanding is good and that we are worthy of it (cf. Ephesians 4:13-14), and adhere to it (by following God’s commands).

We have something wonderful. We want to share and care for it.

Until we reach the end times, we are still growing into what we will be. We still sin, we still face difficulties in life (see 1 Peter 1:6-7). We need to care for the Kingdom throughout our lifetime, and be obedient to His word regardless of what happens. This is tough.

Today we’ll look at maintaining the treasure as we run the race of life.

Further implications: Zeal for the Kingdom

Having been motivated to look for the treasure, having given all we have and now loving it, would we let it slip from our grasp, or be taken away? How do we keep hold of the treasure? How do we maintain our zeal for it?

Zeal: great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

Definition: Zeal (noun)

This is harder than we think, even for people we would look to as having “great faith”.

Last time we looked at 2 Chronicles 16, about Asa, a king of Judah in Old Testament times; leader of a nation of God’s people.

2 Chronicles 16 describes Asa’s later years when had strayed from God, and the narrative is all too familiar for Old Testament kings; most of whom “did evil in the sight of the Lord”. But in our passage today from the beginning of his reign, we read that Asa is commended for doing good:

And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 14:2 ESV

What has happened? What has gone wrong?

How Asa guarded his kingdom

We’ll look at 6 things he did right and 4 things he did wrong through his life (it is worth reading 2 Chronicles 14-16 if you have time). By looking at such an individual, Lord willing, we might be better able to avoid his mistakes.

1. Asa cleaned the temple

He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim

2 Chronicles 14:3 ESV

We should remove the things that would want us to worship them instead of God.

2) Asa commands the people to seek after God and follow his commands

As king, he used his position to point to God, which was the correct response of an Old Testament king; remembering that God was the reason he was king, having rescued, established and protected his kingdom.

and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.

2 Chronicles 14:4 ESV

We also have opportunities to use our position to point people to God. How can we do this?

3) Asa uses the peace during his kingship to prepare for war

And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars…

2 Chronicles 14:7a

There’s a saying: “You’re either coming from trouble, are in trouble, or are heading into trouble.”

It is important to prepare for trouble and “mend the roof while the sun shines”.

When things are going well is when we need to prepare for the inevitable onslaught of the fallen world around us, by fortifying ourselves.

One method for this is to learn passages from scripture and creeds (human summaries of key truths) by heart. Whilst creeds and recitals can be overused, their value is that we can recall them quickly in times of trouble, and they can give us something to anchor ourselves to when all seems to be going wrong and we can’t think clearly. Hence it’s important to have a memory-bank of these.

Psalm 18: My God is a rock is a great devotional to help us with this.

4) Asa admitted his own capability

“…The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered.

2 Chronicles 14:7b ESV

As we discussed in point 2, everything Asa has is from God. Everything we have, including the great treasure of the Kingdom is from God. Admitting this is the first step to overcoming pride in ourselves.

5) Asa worshipped God

Throughout 2 Chronicles 14-15, Asa and the people worship God in a number of ways:

[11a] They sacrificed to the Lord on that day from the spoil that they had brought…[12a] they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord…[14a] They swore an oath to the Lord…[15]And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all round.

2 Chronicles 11a, 12a, 14a & 15

There’s no particular place or way to worship God. Worshipping God is simply the only reasonable response to who He is and what He has done for us.

nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Luke 17:21

6) Asa disciplined his own mother because of her worship of pagan gods

Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

2 Chronicles 15:16 ESV

The Kingdom is more important than a title given to Asa’s mother.

The bond between Christians is greater than family. Not saying we shouldn’t love our families (see Ephesians 6:2), but we should love the Lord more.

When Jesus started his ministry, his family came to him. The context of the below passage was that they were coming to speak with him, and possibly to take him home. It is likely they thought he was mad.

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. [48] But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” [49] And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12:46,48-50 ESV

Our family can be well-meaning, but when family want you to do something that is not right in the eyes of God, perhaps doing something else on a Sunday morning instead of worshipping Him – our Christian family is more important.

How we can guard the Kingdom better than Asa did

1) watch out for the noon day snooze.

Success in life is often followed by sleep.

  • King David was victorious, then committed adultery with Bathsheba.
  • Solomon was the wisest man in the world. He married for political alliances, and his wives led him astray.
  • Asa started trusting in human alliances with pagans, despite all the victories God had brought him

A life in Christ is filled with zeal, but the world wants to grind us down. Don’t ignore the scriptures: allow them to convict us and work through us in our lives. The process can be painful, but the scriptures are there to protect us.

2) start with the little things and build up

Like with building a fire we need to start small. This links in with our discussion of Matthew 31-33 on the parable of the mustard seed: don’t despise small beginnings.

Evie Tornquist, a gospel singer from the 1970’s, sings “it only takes a spark to get a fire going, then soon all around us will be burning” (not a recommendation, but the example springs to mind).

3) don’t dwell on the past

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 ESV

We need to remember as believers we have been redeemed. As God has rescued us in the past He will rescue us again “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 3:4).

The same also applies to dwelling on pain and suffering. God is doing His work through us and sanctifying us.

4) take opportunities our failure presents, and praise God for his mercy

Even our sins are an opportunity to praise God:

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

He has atoned for our sinfulness. This gives us cause to rejoice in Him. Take the opportunities to do this.

There are perhaps more opportunities to learn from God during our trials. As James wastes no time in saying in James 1:3:

Count it all [pure] joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:2-3

Wisdom for how to overcome trials is always on offer to those who ask in faith (James 1:4-5). The book of Proverbs is another useful resource.

A warning from Jesus: zeal for the Kingdom is essential

We must guard the treasure with zeal and not let go of it. Jesus says to the church in Ephesus:

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Revelation 2:4 ESV

You can go to the city of Ephesus and see the theatre where they shouted for the god of the city for two hours. The church today is a ruin. They were commended for not being tolerant of evil and testing their leaders, but in the end, they were ground down.

We should heed Jesus’s advice to them:

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation 2:5 ESV

Remember his mercy, grace and love. Live the life we are called to.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 

2 Timothy 1:6 ESV

We have a great treasure. Let us guard it and finish the race.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

Resources

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

P.S. The song referred to above is below.



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The Kingdom Parables 4 & 5 – Part 4 (Matthew 13:44-46)

Today we’re continuing our study into what it means to love the buried treasure and pearl of great price Jesus refers to in Matthew 13:44-46, when He is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Our passage: Matthew 13:44-46 (OT Readings:  2 Chronicles 16:7-10).

GCW Sermon – Preacher: Ian Bayne, 09/02/2020.

Recap

So far we have reduced these two short parables on the buried treasure and pearl of great price into three words: lookers, liquidators and lovers.

We need to look to find God’s kingdom, and then liquidate everything we have to God to gain it – this is not to deprive ourselves, but allow Jesus to direct it. Jesus is the king of the kingdom of heaven.

Last week we saw how people who gain the kingdom do so because they love the kingdom. There is an affection for it, an unexplained irresistibility towards it, an admiration for it and an appreciation for it. We saw how Psalm 18:1-2 gives 10 reasons why we should appreciate God. We anticipate the Kingdom of God and want more.

As JD Rockefeller said in response to being asked what would make him happy: “just a little bit more”. We’re talking about a kingdom that is so much more than wealth and earthly treasure.

Further implications

How big a deal is the Kingdom?

Let’s spend some more time thinking about the love that we have for the “pearl of great price” the amazing treasure that has been discovered by those who have entered into the kingdom.

Winning the lottery is a big deal – it’s a 1 in 35 million odds, and a life-changing sum of money. Those who win the lottery don’t need to work to support their family. But the kingdom is way better than winning the lottery (see also Matthew 6:19-21) – we have the pearl of eternal life; and it’s free to obtain. We don’t even need a ticket.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:5 ESV

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

Romans 6:23 ESV

We have done nothing to deserve a prize greater than winning the lottery jackpot.

What do we need to do?

1) Claim the Kingdom

What do we need to do in order to be part of the Kingdom? Jesus was asked this very question by His disciples.

Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” [29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:28-29 ESV

Jesus calls us to believe in Him. Paul gives us the reason for why we are called to do this in his letter to the Ephesian church:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

We are created in Jesus to complete good works that we’re prepared for beforehand. Our faith never stands alone, but is manifested, or displayed in our works. It is important to remember that our works are not to obtain our salvation, but because of our salvation. They are a response to the great treasure we have received. He’s given us such winnings that we can never imagine.

to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

1 Peter 1:4 ESV

2) Look after the Kingdom

Now finding ourselves in the kingdom, we must look after it and steward it well, looking after the deposit entrusted to us (2 Timothy 1:14).
Given that we’ve liquidated all we have to obtain the kingdom, it makes sense that we look after it.

So, how do we look after it:

1) Share the kingdom
With others

The treasure is wonderful and precious. Think of museums. Their purpose is to keep treasures and precious artefacts to share with everyone. Likewise we are called to share the Kingdom, as Paul did in the early days of the church:

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV

We need to let others interact with the kingdom, building relationships with others so that they can experience it.

With our family

We also need to bequeath the treasure, as we do with all other good things we want to pass on to our children, because we want to give them a good legacy to support them.

This is a positive command that we’re given. Most of the ten commandments in Exodus 20:1-16, are negative: instructing us in what not to do. However, there are two exceptions that come with a promise:

  1. the first is keeping the Lord’s day holy (Ex 20:11) for rest and to enjoy God’s blessing
  2. the other is to honour one’s parents (Ex 20:12) so that our “days may be long in the land the Lord has given to you”

This is mirrored in a summary of the commandments given in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 which further emphasises how important it is to spend time with the Lord and our family going about the work of His kingdom, “so that your days may be long” (v2).

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

When Abraham was called, and given a promise that he would be the father of a great nation blessed by God, the promise was ultimately for his children.

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Acts 2:39 ESV

Our children may not come to faith, but our job is to share the Kingdom in order to bequeath it to them.

2) Care for the kingdom

We need to maintain the Kingdom. This week’s Old Testament reading (2 Chronicles 16:7-10) is about the later years of King Asa. He strayed from God’s teachings, so that a prophet had been sent to warn him that he had trusted in men rather than God.

But he started off as a good man (2 Chronicles 14). He listened to the first prophet who came to him (2 Chronicles 15), but on the second occasion in Chapter 16 he doesn’t; becoming angry at the prophet. He didn’t maintain his faith that God had given to him.

The church at Ephesus gets a similar rebuke from Jesus in His letters to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3.

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. [5] Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation 2:4-5 ESV

Don’t let up. It is those that endured in the end that will be saved.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV
3) Guard the kingdom

Someone wants to steal the treasure we have for their own purposes. They want to use it for their own glory. Both Satan and worldly influences are motivated to steal the treasure.

We guard the treasure by adhering to the Kingdom, by following God’s commands and rejoicing in them. For example: we need to watch that our motives for attending church and seeking the treasure are for the glory of the Lord and not for us as individuals.

True Christian faith never stands alone. We are challenged to live the perfect life that Christ lived, and that our deeds in life reflect the treasure that we have.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14:21 ESV

Without such a testimony, no-one will believe that we have such a treasure.

If you haven’t already, it might be worth spending some time reading the 10 commandments in full in Exodus 20:1-17, and the summary: Deuteronomy 6:1-9, and then praying through them with the Lord.

Resources

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



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The Kingdom Parables 4 & 5 – Part 3 (Matthew 13:44-46)

Our passage: Matthew 13:44-46 (OT Readings: Exodus 20:4-6, Psalm 18:1-2).

GCW Sermon – Preacher: Ian Bayne, 02/02/2020.

Recap

This is the third week of application regarding these two short, but profound parables. We have been using three words to focus our application by giving different perspectives on the passage: Lookers (or seekers), liquidators (or sellers), lovers (or storers).

Over the last two weeks we have looked at lookers and liquidators:

1. Lookers (or seekers) – in both parables there is someone who is searching for something

  • only those who seek will find
  • our search must have the right motive
  • our search is in response to God. We love Him because He first loved us.
  • they are successful because they search for the right thing
  • they persist until they find it
  • true searchers give utmost priority to the search. The kingdom is the most important treasure to seek in this life.

2. Liquidators (or sellers) – in both parables, the seeker is willing to give all they have to secure the treasure

  • in terms of goals such as: leisure, treasure and pleasure
  • in terms of aspects such as our: opportunities, access, possibility and existability

We still engage in these things during our search for the kingdom, but we liquidate and cede them to God.

Further application

Today we’ll look at the passage from the perspective of lovers (or storers), and see what motivates us to seek the kingdom.

3. Lovers (storers)

The word storers comes from Jesus’ sermon on the mount.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:19-20 ESV

We need to be a lover of the treasure that is the kingdom. We will use four words to aid our application:

Affection

When we see something really beautiful we have an affection for it. For example: those who have visited the Tower of London will have seen that the crown jewels in the UK have a beauty to them.

We can’t necessarily explain how our treasure is so beautiful. The phenomenon of ‘love at first sight’ is similar. Despite the name, this is more infatuation than love because we don’t know the person, but we know there is something special about them. There’s an irresistible pull.

The kingdom is amazing and we’re attracted to it. Like the storer in each of our parable characters, we are drawn to something beautiful in it.

Admiration

There is also an admiration of what the Kingdom offers.

Some people like the taste of fine wine. If you have seen them in action, you will know that expert wine tasters take their time over tasting: they admire the look and smell before they think about tasting.

We love to look at what God has done: in Christ we have every blessing. Isn’t this amazing!

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 can smell the stench of our sin and the sweet forgiveness of Christ as we take part in Communion, where we drink red wine as a symbol to remind us of Christ’s blood. Others see the ‘aroma’ of God’s Word preached, and our deeds as we put our faith into action.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

2 Corinthians 2:15 ESV

But we don’t just look and see the effects of God’s Kingdom – we can experience it for ourselves.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:8 ESV

We can discover the intricacy of the kingdom through our relationship with God through His Word, prayer and fellowship with other believers.

There is nothing cheap about the kingdom. Once we have tasted it, there’s no going back. We will never be happy to settle for anything less again.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was eventually killed by the SS in Nazi Germany. He observed that much of what was being practised in religious circles was a “cheap grace” that cost nothing because it was an academic belief in some far off God that requires little response and changes nothing. We don’t want this.

We need to draw deeper into the Lord, admire Him, and never settle for skimming the surface.

Jesus, Lord of all created, invites us to have fellowship with Him – how amazing is this offer?

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 14:2 ESV

Appreciation

In most instances in the Bible, the word ‘love’ is a verb (doing something), however it is occasionally a passive word: an appreciative love. An example is found in Psalm 18. In two short verses we’re given 10 different reasons why we should appreciate God.

I love you, O LORD, my strength. [2] The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:1-2 ESV

For each one of these we can say: “I love you Lord because you are my…

… strength, rock (anchor), fortress (safety), deliverer (rescuer), God, refuge (rest), shield (defence), salvation (made the way to Him), horn (power), stronghold (puts a fence around us to protect us).”

These verses are just some of the reasons why we should appreciate our God.

Application

So if we have affection, admiration and appreciation for something, then wouldn’t we want more of it? Like our parable protagonists seeking and selling as much as they can to store as much as possible of it?

But we normally talk about wanting more in the negative: more money? more status? more friends? If we are seeking these things of themselves then we will always need “just a little more” and will never be satisfied.

Fellowship with Jesus? In this context, surely wanting more is good? We should never be satisfied with what we have, and earnestly seek more of His Kingdom.

A lover is a collector. Some may collect trains, wine, stamps, memories with loved ones, eventually hoarding what is most precious. Most of the time hoarding is negative, because we are hoarding created things: e.g. money, possessions. However, hoarding the Kingdom of God is a good thing.

One way we can do this is by studying His Word.

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

Psalm 119:11 ESV

Don’t be satisfied with a little of the Kingdom. Get a lot: pursue it. Want more fellowship with God. We have found something of such great value; way beyond anything this world can offer. Why would we want anything else?

Resources

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



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The Kingdom Parables 4 & 5 – Part 2 (Matthew 13:44-46)

Our passage: Matthew 13:44-46 (OT Reading: Exodus 20:4-6).

GCW Sermon – Preacher: Ian Bayne, 02/02/2020.

Recap

We can make applications for this passage in three ways: applications to lookers, liquidators and lovers (or seekers, sellers and storers if you prefer).

Last week we were looking at the first application around looking or seeking: only those who seek will find. We have to search for the right things, for the right reason, and prioritise the search.

For example:

  • If you’re looking for wealth, don’t follow Jesus: He died a poor man
  • If you’re looking for health, don’t follow Jesus: He was killed at age 33.

Having found true treasure, our passage shows that seekers will readily liquidate all they have for God’s kingdom. To liquidate means to convert an asset into something that can easily be sold or given away, in this case: to God.

Last week we looked at Ecclesiastes 2 which tells us about Solomon seeking leisure, treasure (wealth) and pleasure – he failed to find meaning in any of these things. These things prevent us from obtaining the Kingdom of God; not because there’s anything wrong with leisure, pleasure and wealth in of themselves. But for us as believers having liquidated these things, they are no longer our ultimate aim.

  • Leisure allows us to recharge so we have energy to serve God
  • Treasure allows us to direct resources for God’s work
  • Pleasure is a gift of God, giving us a taste of heaven

Ultimately what are we seeking: the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:44-46) or idols (Exodus 20:4-6)?

Further implications

Whilst we can draw parallels between the time of Solomon and people today idolising these same aims of leisure, treasure and pleasure, there are also circumstances unique to the times we live in that affect us differently from previous generations.

Having looked through the aims of our life which are forward-looking, describing what we’re ultimately seeking from life, today we’ll look through 4 more immediate aspects of our lives:

  • Opportunity – what opportunities are available to our generation?
  • Accessibility – which of these opportunities are actually available to us?
  • Possibility – what choices and options do we have?
  • Existability – what is our timeframe for success?

Let’s have a look at each of these:

Opportunity

Moreso than previous generations, we have a huge number of options created for us by wealth and innovation. In New Zealand, Wellington, we have the highest income per capita in NZ, and live in the 9th wealthiest country in the world.

We can travel, we can choose how and when we work, we can learn whatever we like. Technology and connectivity has enabled these things. It has also made it harder than ever to unplug.

With the opportunities out there, we must remember that we have been called to not be of the world (John 17:14-19), and to flee from sinful opportunities.

Accessibility

Not all opportunities are available to everyone. We’re fortunate that we have access to more than most. What, of these opportunities can we actually get our hands-on? What opportunities are we praying for God to give us access to?

It can be tempting to be disheartened that we don’t have abundant wealth, or health, or time and envious of others. Our circumstances are unique and God-given.

Possibility

Possibilities describes the choices available for a given, accessible opportunity. In previous day’s choices tended to be simpler and less frequent: what to work on or eat that day. Life-changing decisions were mostly made for us, for instance children carried on in the family-run business. Contrast this to today’s gig economy with micro contracts for even just an hour’s work.

Some choices have got easier thanks to technology advances: a hundred years ago brave people would spend months on a sailing boat to get to New Zealand – they would have to pay for their passage and food for months with little possibility of earning. Nowadays we can fly anywhere in a couple of days, so it’s not such a big decision to come.

It’s a privilege to have so many choices, but the reality is that it clogs our lives and too many choices can be a real burden. How do we know we have made the right one? How much time do we need to spend researching and understanding each option?

The most successful people in our society are the ones who can adapt to change quickly, and this is becoming more difficult. Is it a wonder that there are more challenges with mental health when we’re faced with such complex lives? The first sign of depression is an inability to make choices. Given how frequently we need to make choices, this can be self-perpetuating.

An understanding of the Bible and Godly wisdom helps us narrow down choices to those that are pleasing to God. Prayer helps us see His way through them.

Existability

The vast majority of people have an expectation we have a very long life ahead of us. Death is foreign to us and we have a lot of faith in modern medicine. We don’t typically expect ourselves, or anyone in our family to die soon. We are not exposed to death as much as in days gone by: infants in our community don’t typically die.

This can make God seem distant and unnecessary to society. The opportunities and choices can keep us away from God and the reality of our eternal existence with Him.

We need to trust each breath we take to God, and thank Him for giving us life. This should give us purpose as we look at our opportunities and choices.

Application

How do we examine our opportunities and choices?

This year is an election year in New Zealand, and so we’ll use a political example: that of an inquiry or royal commission.

What are our aims? Leisure, pleasure and treasure have a purpose: we have been given them and need to use them for the sake of the Lord.

When we liquidate these things from being fixed sinful assets, to being freely given to God for His use (like the man and the merchant do in Matthew 13:44-45), we enable His work to be done. We are not saying that we’ll throw these things away, but that we’ll seek to use them for the glory of God.

The aspects of our life: our opportunities, our possibilities/choices, our existability, should likewise be aligned to His will: choices are no longer our choices, we should trust God for every breath we take.

In New Zealand, a royal commission inquiry is the highest form of public inquiry for when something bad or corrupt happens, where the matter cannot be trusted to the government to investigate, so is instead investigated by the Governor-General outside of the government. We are essentially sinful: bad and corrupt. We cannot be trusted to investigate ourselves, therefore should hold our own royal commission by inviting Jesus to look into the church of New Zealand and our own lives.

When you concede defeat you give the winner the right to rule over what has been conceded. We should give Jesus the mandate to rule in our lives.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17 ESV

He is the king and the ruler of the world. If we liquidate all we have, concede defeat and hand it over to Him, both in our lives and in the church, then we can be free of the worldly anchors that prevent us from accessing Him.

What are we holding on to?

Resources

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



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The Kingdom Parables 4 & 5 – Part 1 (Matthew 13:44-46)

Our passage: Matthew 13:44-46 (OT Reading: Exodus 20:4-6).

GCW Sermon – Preacher: Ian Bayne, 26/01/2020.

The notes below were taken live during the sermon, and have been adapted for the website; they should not be considered an accurate transcript.

Recap

We are continuing our series in kingdom parables. Last week we learned that the Lord uses small beginnings, and sometimes progress can be slow in growing His Kingdom. We should not be discouraged. The sinfulness that remains in us slows down our ability to follow Jesus, but even Paul had these challenges.

Explanation

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

[45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, [46] who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:44-46 ESV

We come today to two more parables in Matthew 13:44-46, that both have a number of similarities:

  1. The thing being searched for is of great value (e.g. pearls and treasure)
  2. There is successful discovery in each case
  3. All that the searcher had before was given away in order to acquire the treasure

Application

Despite these verses being short there is a lot to say:

  1. The only people who will find anything are those that seek
  2. Every generation must rise up to acknowledge Christ’s lordship
  3. This generation in particular must surrender to the call of Christ

We’ll look at point 1 this week, and make three applications:

1. We must seek in order to find

Everyone is searching for something that gives meaning to their life; their “treasure”. When searching and seeking, there are some that say that they have no interest in searching. But deep down everyone is seeking something.

“If a man doesn’t believe in God, they don’t believe in nothing, they believe in anything.”

GK Chesterton

Such people have replaced a search for God with a search for something else to fulfil their lives.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

Psalm 14:1 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

Hebrews sets out the criteria for finding God: that we believe He exists and seek him.

2. Not everyone has the right motivations

There are others who are searching, but are searching for searching’s sake; seeking to justify their own theories on where fulfilment is found. Some philosophers fall into this category.

In Ecclesiastes 2: King Solomon is looking back over his life and how he sought meaning in lots of different things, but everything was ultimately “vanity” and “like the wind”; fleeting and not fulfilling.

He sought:

  • mind-altering substances.
  • style in gardens.
  • riches
  • pleasure from orchestras, dancing women and concubines

He was searching for pleasure. The Epicurean school of thinking follows this path. What we are really searching for is something we’ve lost: a relationship, a relationship with our Creator.

As believers, we are fortunate that we didn’t initiate the search. God started it by looking for us. He stirs us up to seek Him in the first instance, and then He finds us.

3. A search for the right treasure is wonderful

A true search is a good and wonderful search when we’re searching for the right thing; that is: God, His Son and His Plan

Unlike searching after pleasure and worldly things which are quickly found to be insufficient, a search for God persists until the object of the search is found.

We must give priority to seeking the kingdom.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

What are we aiming for? What is most important to us? What are we prepared to sacrificed to get what we want?

There are a number of examples we can look to in the Bible:

  • Woman washing Jesus’s feet (Luke 7:36-50)
  • Lowering a paralytic through the roof (Mark 2:1-12)

These people put seeking God before social norms. How can we do likewise?

Resources

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