Category: Sermons

The ALL consuming call of Jesus

May 26, 2024

Bible reading: Matthew 28:16-20

The title of this message is the ALL Consuming Call of Jesus. I want to look at Jesus’ last words before He returned to heaven. This is known as the Great Commission. As we work through the passage from Matthew 28, I want to take special notice of the word ALL.

1. ALL authority belonged to Jesus

Matthew 28:18 – Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

Jesus has all authority on heaven and earth. That is a big statement. It means no-one has more authority than Jesus. But as we look at the Scriptures we see this is true and undeniable.

In Matthew chapters 8&9 we see that Jesus had authority on earth. He had authority over sickness and disease, demonic forces and demons, the forces of nature, life and death.

Not only did Jesus say He had all authority, but He clearly demonstrated in the way He lived and ministered to the people He came in contact with. No demon, sickness, storm or death could disobey His command and authority.

2. Jesus said to go to ALL the world and make disciples

Matthew 28:19a – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…

In the last point we see Jesus has all authority. With this authority and His final words to His followers He said, “Go into all the world and make disciples”. It is a compelling command. It is an all-consuming call that can’t be ignored.

All of us here all called to the mission field too. Though not all of us are called to go abroad. We have a mission right outside this church. One church I went to once had the sign over the exit, “Mission starts here”. People would often reach up and touch as they left church.

People here is our region need to hear about God’s love for them, how Jesus came to show us what God is like, that Jesus died to pay the price for our sin and He rose again to life. And by putting our faith and trust in Him we have abundant life now, and live for eternity with Him when we die.

3. Jesus told us to teach them to obey ALL His teachings

Matthew 28:20a – Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.

I have been a Christian for 35 of my 57 years on earth. The first 15 years of being a Christian I was really good at going into the world and preaching the good news. I was able to talk to people, share my faith, give them tracts and people would come to Christ. So, I was being obedient to the first part of the Great Commission.

However, I found that while people were getting saved, I would lose track of people and not know if they were growing or not. One day I felt God speak to me and say, “I told you to make disciples, not just Christian converts”.

This got me thinking what sort of things did Jesus teach? If we look at the sermon of the mount in Matthew 5-7, we see that Jesus talked about being salt and light, loving one another, giving to the needy, loving our enemies, not talking revenge, praying and fasting, money and possessions, the golden rule, being true disciples and producing good fruit.

Matthew 7:24 says, “Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock”. We need to help people build their house on the solid rock of Jesus’ teachings.

4. Jesus promises to be ALL-ways with us

Matthew 28:20b – And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Jesus promises to be with us always. He says, “Be sure of this!” So, He really wants is to get it.

Jesus’ presence is with you by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He is with you when you are alone. He is always with us when we meet together. He is our God and we are His people.

Knowing that Jesus is always with me by the presence of His Indwelling Spirit gives me courage and strength. Courage when I am afraid to share my faith or step out and pray for someone. And strength to know His power is with me to enable to share my faith, disciple others and allow God power to flow through me.

The key thought here is Jesus promises to never leave us until He calls us home individually or He comes back for us all. He does not expect us to fulfil the Great Commission alone.

Closing summary

Today we have looked at the passage known as the Great Commission of Jesus. His last words on earth to His followers before returning to heaven. In the message we saw.

  1. Jesus has ALL Authority in heaven and on earth
  2. Jesus told us to go into ALL the world and make disciples
  3. Jesus told us to teach them to obey ALL His teachings
  4. Jesus promises to be ALL-ways with us

In these passages Jesus bookend His commands. He says all authority is with Him and He promises to be all-ways with us. In the middle He says to go and make disciples and teach them to obey all His teachings.

Five reasons why we needed Pentecost

May 19, 2024

Bible readings: Acts 2:1-11, Galatians 5:16-25

Today is Pentecost Sunday on the Church calendar. It is when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first followers of Jesus. 

As we saw in our first reading the disciples were meeting in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came. It made so much a commotion that people came from all around.

Bible scholars tell us this was the beginning of the church age. The age when the Holy Spirit would fill and empower Christians to love one another and fulfil the Great Commission. The last words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20.

Today I want to look at five reasons why we needed Pentecost to happen. Five reasons why we need the Holy Spirit today.

1. We need the Holy Spirit because Jesus promised to send another one like Him

In John chapters 15 and 16 we see that Jesus told the disciples that after He returned to the Father He would send another Counsellor (John 15:26, John 16:5-7). 

When Jesus said that He would send ‘another counsellor’, the word ‘another’ here means ‘another of the same kind’. Jesus was saying that all that He had been to them the Spirit would continue to be once he had returned to the Father. I believe it is important for us as Christians to understand this role of the Holy Spirit. 

While we trust Jesus for our salvation, it is the Holy Spirit who is our ever present help, comfort and counsellor today in the same way Jesus was to the disciples two thousand years ago.

2. We need the Holy Spirit because He teaches us and illuminates Scripture

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit teaches us and reveals the truth of Scripture (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10-14). This teaching and revealing work of the Holy Spirit is often described as Illumination. 

Bible scholars tell us that Illumination does not concern the impartation of new knowledge, but a clarification of the text as it stands revealed and inspired by God. I believe that it is especially important for the Christian to understand this teaching and illumination role of the Holy Spirit. 

The Bible makes it clear to understand the “deep things of God” we need the wisdom, teaching and illumination of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:6-16).

3. We need the Holy Spirit because He assures us we belong to God

The Bible tells us that as soon as we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). 

A seal is a symbol of a finished transaction, of ownership and of security. Because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, we can be assured of our salvation. In Romans 8:16 we see that the Holy Spirit also testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children and Ephesians 4:30 assures us that we are sealed until the day of redemption. 

Understanding that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and assured of our salvation is very important for the Christian, especially the new Christian, as they are often prone to doubts and uncertainty about the decision they have made.

4. We need the Holy Spirit because He makes us more Christ-like

The Bible tells us that as Christians we are being transformed into likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

When a person becomes born again, he is sanctified or set apart for God. This happens only once, but sanctification is also a daily process for the rest of one’s life. To achieve this work the Holy Spirit indwells the believer (Romans 8:11) and works in their life to produce the fruit of the Spirit as we saw in our second reading (Galatians 5:22-23). 

I believe as Christians it important to realise that as we submit every area of our lives to the indwelling Holy Spirit, we allow Him to work in us to progressively reflect the character of Christ. This is what God intended for humankind when He originally created us.

5. We need the Holy Spirit because He equips us for service

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit equips us for service with gifts and empowers us to be Christ’s witnesses (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit equips us to serve God by imparting His gifts, directing our ministry and anointing us with His power. 

For the Christian it is vital to understand that while we have been called to serve God and be Christ’s witnesses, we have not been called to do this alone. We have been equipped by the Holy Spirit with gifts to undertake God’s work and we are empowered with the Holy Spirit’s power to be Christ’s witnesses.

Closing summary

Today we looked at five reasons why we needed the Holy Spirit to come at Pentecost. We saw…

1. We need the Holy Spirit because Jesus promised to send another one like Him

2. We need the Holy Spirit because He teaches us and illuminates Scripture

3. We need the Holy Spirit because He assures us we belong to God

4. We need the Holy Spirit because He makes us more Christ-like

5. We need the Holy Spirit because He equips us for service

Let us pray

The Prayer Jesus Prayed

April 5, 2024

The title of this message is “The prayer that Jesus prayed”. Some have called this the greatest prayer of all time. Why would they call it this? Because of who prayed it – Jesus. And because what He prayed.

In the preceding chapter before Jesus prayed, He was telling the disciples about how He would be leaving them soon, the work of the Holy Spirit, and how He had overcome the world. He was preparing them for a time when they would scatter and they would not see Him any more. Jesus prayed for Himself, He prayed for the disciples and He prayed for all His future followers…including us.

Bible Reading: John 17:1-26

Point 1 – Jesus prayed for Himself (V1-5)

John 17:1 – After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

I used to think that praying for yourself was a selfish thing. As a new Christian, when I listened to people pray in a group I used to critique their prayers and I would judge if they were others centred or self-centred. I would give them a score out of 10 and judge them. You will be pleased to know I don’t do that anymore!

Praying for yourself is not selfish, we all need God’s help. One of my most prayed prayers is “Help me Lord”. Jesus as the Son of God, the Alpha and the Omega, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the one who performed many miracles including raising people to life… And He prayed for Himself. If Jesus did this, we need to too!

So, what did Jesus pray for Himself?

V1 – Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify the Son that the Son may glorify the Father

V5 – Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify the Son with the glory He had in eternity.

These two things were the bookends to Jesus’ prayer. In verse 2, 3 and 4 He reminded the Father of the authority He gave Jesus to bring people eternal life, that eternal life is found in knowing the Father and the Son, and that Jesus finished His work that the Father gave Him.

So, while Jesus prayed for Himself, it was all about bringing glory to the Father and asking that He would be restored to His former glory He had in heaven. In many ways it was about finishing all He had to do on earth.

Point 2 – Jesus prayed for His disciples (v6-19)

John 17:6-7 – “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.

In the next section of today’s text Jesus switches His focus to the disciples or followers. Jesus said that He revealed truths from the Father to His followers. He describes them as the ones who belonged to the Father but were given to the Son (v6-8).

In verse 9 Jesus says that He prays specifically for His disciples. He is not praying for the world now, but the ones who belong to the Father and the Son. He is interceding for them because He is concerned for them. Why is He concerned? Because He is going away. Verse 11 says He is going back to the Father and they will still be in the world.

So, what did Jesus pray for His disciples?

a. V11 – To keep them in unity.

Jesus is concerned for the disciples for when He goes. He is worried that they will not stick together. Sometimes when a leader leaves, or hard times come, or when persecution happen, the people scatter and go their own way or divisions take place. Sometimes they get off track. We only have to look at Moses and the people of Israel when Moses went up the mountain to be with God. They were electing new leaders and making golden calves. Jesus wanted them to be strong and stick together. It was vital for them in their new faith and vital for their mission.

b. V15 – To keep them safe from the devil.

Jesus prayed that the Father would not take them out of the world. They were required to stay behind and continue Jesus’ mission of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10), so Jesus prayed for protection. He knew the devil would come knocking and try to get them off course. We know that 1 Peter 5:8 says the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. They would be an easy target without Jesus, so He lifted them up to the Father.

c. V17 – To sanctify them.

In verse 17 Jesus prays “Sanctify them, sanctify them by Your Word, Your Word is truth”. To sanctify means to set apart for Holy use. Jesus wanted His followers to be sanctified by the Father, so they could be used mightily in Kingdom work. As we see after the resurrection and ascension, they did some pretty amazing things. I find it interesting that Jesus said to sanctify them by Your Word. For us today the Word of God or the Bible is the key way we are sanctified. The Word and Spirit work together to make us more like Christ.

Jesus prayed out His concern for the disciples. He prayed that God would keep them unified, protect them from the devil and sanctify for them Holy use.

Point 3 – Jesus prayed for His future disciples (20-26)

John 17:20 – “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.

Jesus now focuses His attention to the future believers. The ones who came to faith through the Apostles, right down through the ages, to us and those who come to faith after us.

Again, what did Jesus pray in this last part of His prayer? What did He think was important for us today?

a. That we would be one like the Father and the Son are one.

Jesus wanted us to be unified and one with the Father and Son. In verse 23a Jesus says, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Why did Jesus want us to be completely unified with each other and with the Father? So, the world may believe. There is something about being unified and loving one another that grabs people’s attention. They generally don’t see it in politics, they don’t see it in the workplace or sporting club. Church is the place where people should see true unity and love in action. When they do see true love and unity that is not of this world, Christ is revealed.

b. That we may know Jesus’ eternal glory

Verse 24 says, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” Jesus wanted the Father to reveal His true glory to us. He wanted us to see Him as the Alpha and the Omega, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He wanted us to see Him and the Creator who is eternal. All the things we looked at several weeks ago when we focused in on Jesus. We saw the difference seeing Jesus in His glory did to Peter who said he did not know Jesus prior to the crucifixion and then post resurrection gave his life for Jesus and His kingdom. We all need that Peter type of revelation of Jesus’ glory.

c. That we may know the love of the Father for the Son

In verse 26 it says, “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” If we get a glimpse of the love the Father has for the Son, there will be no doubt of Jesus’ true identity and we will love Jesus the same way too. The Pharisees and the religious leaders of the day accused Jesus of blasphemy because He called Himself the Son of God. They needed a revelation that Peter had in John 11:27, “”I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” We all need this revelation.

Jesus prayed for us and all believers down the ages. He wanted us to stay strong. He prayed that we truly understand and believe that He and the Father are one, that we would see His glory and know the love of the Father and the Son.

Closing summary

Today we looked at one of the greatest prayers of all time. We saw that Jesus prayed for three main things in John 17.

  1. Jesus prayed for Himself – He prayed that He would bring glory to the Father and the Father would restore the glory Jesus had in eternity.
  2. Jesus prayed for His disciples – He prayed that they would be unified, protected and that the Father would sanctify them.
  3. Jesus prayed for all believers – He prayed that we would be with the Father and Son, that we would know Jesus glory and we would know the love the Father has for the son.

Amen

Jesus surrendered three times

March 29, 2024

Today is Good Friday. It is the day that we remember Jesus dying on the cross for us. He died to take the punishment for our sin and bring us salvation. As I reflect today I think of the way Jesus surrendered His life for us. I was reminded that Jesus surrendered three things for us.

Jesus surrendered His will at Gethsamane

Matthew 26:36-39 – Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” [37] He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. [38] He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” [39] He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Jesus surrendered His will to the will of the Father. He was so stressed and beside Himself with grief that He prayed to His heavenly Father to take away His task. But Jesus also knew what needed to be done and He surrendered His will so He could purchase our salvation. At this moment Jesus knew His Father’s will and our salvation was more important than His will. Jesus surrendered His will in Gethsemane.

Jesus surrendered His rights at Gabbatha

John 19:13-16 – When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). [14] It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!” [15] “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back. [16] Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away.

When Jesus was before Pilate being questioned He surrendered His right to defend Himself. He chose not to speak or answer Pilate’s questions. Even when Pilate said I have the power to put you to death, He only said he had no power but that which was given by His Father. Jesus was so committed to His Father’s will that He gave up His rights at Gabbatha.

Jesus gave up His life at Golgotha

John 19:17-20 – Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). [18] There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. [19] And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” [20] The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

Jesus surrendered His life on the cross at Golgotha. In John 19:30 Jesus said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Jesus had finished His task of dying on the cross for our sin. He had completed the will of the Father. The price had been paid in full. With His last words and breath He declared it is finished and He gave up His life at Golgotha.

Closing reflection

As I reflect today on Good Friday I am both sad and joyous. Sad that my sin caused Jesus to die a horrific death on the cross for me. But joyous that the way of salvation is now open to me. Jesus paid the price for my sin. By faith and belief in Him and what He did on the cross I have salvation. My eternal destiny is secure because of His death for me and my trust in Him.

It is my hope and prayer that you have put your faith and trust in Jesus too. He died for your sin. He died for your freedom. He died so you could be forgiven, set free and so you could live forever with Him in eternity. Look to Jesus on this Good Friday. Look to His love that held Him to that cross. Look to His willingness to save you at any price. Look to One who gave up His will, His rights and His life for you.

Having the attitude of Christ

March 23, 2024

Bible readings: Philippians 2:1-11

The tile of my message today is, “Having the attitude of Christ”. It contains a number of ideas that can encourage us to live right in God’s eyes and have the right attitude that pleases Him. As Christians, this should be our goal.

1. Be unified in Christ

Paul urges the believers to be unified in Christ. He asks them to make him happy by “agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (v2).

Being unified is about loving and caring for each other, putting differences aside and working together in our joint Kingdom purpose. Our goal should be to love God, to love one another and to share God’s love with others. This is God’s Great Commandment from Mark 12:30-31 and Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20.

In John 17 we see that Jesus prayed for His followers. He prayed that we might be one as He and the Father are one. He prayed for both His followers at the time and also His followers that would believe in the future. He prayed for us! Of all the things that Jesus could have prayed for just days before His crucifixion, He prayed for the unity of His followers. That is how important unity is to Him.

2. Be interested in others like Christ

Verses 3 says, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too”.

Life is not just about you and me as individuals. It is about all of us. I think this is a key thing that separates us from the world. I know when I fall into selfish patterns I don’t look out for others. I can become concerned about my interests only. For me this is a red flag. It shows me my attitude is slipping and I need to repent.

Jesus lived in a constant mission of the Father. His goal was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). We see throughout the Gospels He spent time with His Father in prayer and then did what His Father wanted. He went from place to place helping people. Preaching, teaching and healing (Matthew 4:23).

One of my favourite memory verses is Matthew 9:36. It tells us that, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus is our perfect example to strive for. His life and His interest in others needs to be our inspiration.

3. Be humble like Christ

Verses 6-8 says, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross”.

Christ left the glories of heaven to live in this world. He took a lowly place of a servant and even died a “criminals death” for our sin. His humility paved the way for our salvation. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If Christ showed that humility, I need to show this humility too. I need to know my place before Him and serve Him with the right attitude. The truth is we all need to know our place before Him. As verse 3 of our text says, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” This is the attitude of Christ.

4. Be assured in Christ

Verses 9-11 tell us, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Because of Christ’s humility and obedience, God has elevated Him to the highest place in the universe. There is no higher place than being seated at the right hand of the Father. Our readings tell us that everyone who has ever lived will bow before Jesus and declare Him as Lord. Some willingly, sadly some will realise after it is too late. No-one will be absent. No-one will miss out. Be assured God will bring all His plans to pass.

Jesus is the one true Lord and Saviour. He is the King of kings and the Lord of all lords. As our reading from Isaiah said, “Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.” Jesus is the one we all need to look to. He is the way, the truth and the life (John14:6). There is no other name under heaven where we can find salvation (Acts 4:12). Be assured that if you trust Jesus for your salvation, He will save you.

Closing summary

Today we looked at at great passage from Philippians 2. We got a glimpse of what it is to have the attitude of Christ. We saw four things we need to strive for…

1. Be unified in Christ

2. Be interested in other like Christ

3. Be humble like Christ

4. Be assured in Christ

Let us pray