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Welcome to the Podcasts of Dalby Christian Family Church. Here you can find PodCasts of all the latest sermons preached at church.Join us as we learn, grow, laugh and live life together.
Episodes
Sunday Jul 04, 2021
Sunday Jul 04, 2021
Welcome and enjoy this amazing testimony by Joan Koskela.
Shows how God works to make things right.
Enjoy.
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
TROOP INSPECTION TIME 27-6-21
I felt like I heard God say a couple of weeks ago, “I’m about to carry out a troop inspection of My Church, in preparation for what is coming.”
While I’m on the subject of this prophetic image, quite a few years ago I saw a camp of soldiers who were caught unprepared as a sudden onslaught hit. They were scrambling wake up, to find their equipment, find their shoes, get dressed and so on.
I imagine it would be the same before any major project, harvest, planting or whatever. Equipment, staff, systems are checked to ensure we can do this without problems.
It is worth pointing out at this time that the use of the word, ‘troops’ does not represent aggression or any form of violence. The word tells us that our wrestle is not against flesh and blood (unless its our own!) but against spiritual powers. So we are not setting to win arguments with people.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
It also says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal…. But they are mighty!
2 Corinthians 10:4 ”For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”
The purpose of a troop inspection is to check
- uniforms
- equipment
- attitude
UNIFORM – HOW ARE WE CLOTHED?
Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Part of any ‘troop inspection’ is examining the uniform and the weapons. Here we find what the uniform of the troops of the Lord is… tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience!
No Power Dressing here… it’s aprons and servant clothing.
These troops are troops of love, humility who remember that it is the MEEK who inherit the earth, not the belligerent.
The two most important words in the Bible are God and people. God Himself is a fellowship of three, and the second half of the Great commandment is to love others as we love ourselves. As Jesus looks at us, does He see individualism or community?
There is the impossible dream of ‘the perfect church’…
America was founded on a group of people that wanted to establish the perfect church. A pure Church based on the New Testament.
A man named Roger Williams was a big part of this. When he arrived in America and discovered the Church wasn’t as perfect as he hoped he began a new one… then left it and began another one… and so on! He wound up being the solitary church of one….
“He was the first American who loved Jesus, but not the Church.”
But if we carefully look at the New Testament Church we see there were problems right at the beginning in Chapter 6, and then most of the New Testament was written to sort out problems! No wonder we need to be clothed with mercy, kindness, humility and patience!
EQUIPMENT
Ephesians 6:13-20 . 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[d] 19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[e] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”
Shoes – peace that comes from the Good News. The Good News is that Jesus is King and when turmoil hits, the fact that He is KING is something that brings peace.
Shield of faith – We need to hold up the shield of faith, but instead we sometimes hold up a shield of defensiveness and mistrust.
The Sword of The Spirit is the Word of God. Has it been woven into the fabric of our personhood so that The Word is our first response?
ATTITUDE
When a troop inspection takes place, occasionally the inspector will stop and talk. This would not be idle chatter, he’s INSPECTING attitude. Is this soldier ‘in’? Is he in sync with his troops, with his troop leader?
Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of Godabove all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
This means bringing Him as Lord into every situation, every relationship and every choice.
It means having our minds fixed on The Spirit Romans 8:5-8 (The Common English Bible) People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. 6 The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. 7 So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. 8 People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God.
If our minds are always on ourselves, we spiral downwards. If our minds are focused on God, as in Matt 6:33, we grow and live well.
Bringing it back to ‘troops’…. If someone is out of sync, constantly wanting their own way, things will not go well…. And in the heat of battle could result in chaos and defeat.
1 PETER 4:1-2 (NLT) So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.[a] 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.
ATTITUDE
Selfishness and slackness has no place in His ‘troops’. Imagine if Jesus had let his own nature and need for his own way usurp the purposes of God? Remember this is not an individual thing, we are part of His community.
Philippians 2:1-8 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had 6 Though he was God,[a] he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; he took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
How do we come to a place where we are an encouragement and comfort as a community? When each of us adopt the same attitude as Jesus.
I know we all sense that there is a major shift. I think Covid has been a catalyst, but there is more to come. We need to be ready, and if the troops are either asleep in their tents, or have the wrong mindset and uniform, or a blunt sword that we haven’t learned how to use, we will not be prepared!
As we stand on the brink of a new and different season, we need to be ready for whatever comes.
CONCLUSION.
Revelation 1:12-17 ‘Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
Daniel 10:6 “His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in colour, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.”
His eyes like a flame of fire tell us that His gaze is penetrating. Are we ready for His penetrating gaze?
Lets pray….
Sunday Jun 20, 2021
Sunday Jun 13, 2021
Sunday Jun 13, 2021
Scripture References for VIDEO:
MARK 10:13-16
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them;
but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit
the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these.
15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like
a child will not enter it at all.”
16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His
hands on them.
Psalm 50:10-11
For every beast of the forest is Mine,
And the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the mountains,
And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
Haggai 2:6-9
6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I
will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake
all nations, and they shall come to the [c]Desire of All Nations, and I
will fill this [d]temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The
silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The
glory of this latter [e]temple shall be greater than the former,’ says
the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord
of hosts.”
Proverbs 17:6
Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
Luke 22:31-34
31 [d]And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you,
that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your
faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your
brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison
and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day
before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you
desire, and it shall be done for you.
Hebrew 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Sunday Jun 06, 2021
Sunday Jun 06, 2021
LIVING WITH TEMPTATION
Temptations are Your Desires Gone Astray
STORY:- Tell the story of the Wise Old Pastor walking in the Shopping Mall, with a young man who told him that he was hoping to Live a Holy Life.
None of us will ever be free of Temptations until our life on earth is finally over. Until then, temptations may be the largest threat you and I face. SO …… How big of a Sin are Our Temptations? Well ……….
1, Temptations are not sinful, or anything you should be ashamed of.
And this is probably the Reason Most People, (ALMOST NO ONE) ever speaks about their temptations, because we’re mostly ashamed of them.
Hebrews 4:15, (NKJV) Tells Us………
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. SO IF Temptations were a SIN, then JESUS Sinned; because HE ALSO felt HIS Normal God Given Desires that were Seeking to Trespass Over GOD’S Boundaries. Yes HE was tempted just like we are, But Never Gave In to Them. Temptations Grow like Weeds in Our Lives. We Don’t Plant them, but they just keep coming up in our Lives. Temptations are as NORMAL as Living and Breathing. You’ll Never be free of them, SO We need to LEARN HOW to OVERCOME them. They ARE NOT SIN, but They DO SEEK to Entice You and I, TOO Embrace SIN.
JESUS HIMSELF WAS TEMPTED
In Matthew 4:1-11, we see Jesus was Led up By the Spirit into the Wilderness to be Tempted by the devil. Matthew 26:41. Watch and Pray lest you Enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh (your lower carnal nature, sarx,) is weak.
Matt 26:41, The Message Bible,
Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
1, Like Jesus, the Devil will Attack your IDENTITY.
IF you are The Son of God. (Matt 3:17, But Jesus Had Heard. This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well Pleased) Satan is Seeking TO ROB You of YOUR Confidence In GOD. He’s a THIEF !!!
2, The Devil will try to get You ADDICTED to Your Natural Fleshly Desires. YOUR HUNGRY, So Turn These STONES INTO BREAD. HE WANT’S YOU TO SELF DESTRUCT, through your Natural Fleshly Desires.
That’s why Fasting can Help Break Strong Fleshly ADDICTIONS, FOOD, DRINK, SEX, SHOPPING. Etc
3, Satan will seek to Nurture and Feed Your EGO and Your PRIDE, so that You Presume Upon GOD, and Jump off the Temple, Hoping You can get GOD to Dance to your Tune. (Or You Agenda) [But He is NOT Your SERVANT. HE IS LORD, And Not You]
1 John 3:5, (NLT)
5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.
JESUS was Succesfull in Dealing with Temptation, And wants to Help US in Our Temptations, So That we Won’t Choose to Sin. We Just need to Come to Him and ask for His help. JESUS Give me a Strategy.
JESUS was tempted in all points like WE ARE, But HE Never Sinned. Temptations for Us all are as Normal as living and breathing. JESUS FELT the Desire for Sin, just like you and I DO, But HE Chose NOT to FEED that Desire. Like Matthew 4 and Luke 4, HE used the SWORD, the WORD, against the Devil.
2 Corinthians 5:21, (NKJV) Tells Us…..
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2, Temptations are experienced By Every Single Human Being.
NO ONE Escapes the Onslaught of Temptations. NO ONE. Not a Single Person.
Hebrews 4:15, (NKJV) Reveals that Everyone is Tempted.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Did you see the Words…… AS WE ARE?
YOU are Tempted, SHE is Tempted, HE is Tempted, THEY are Tempted, I AM Tempted.
3, Temptations Come To Everyone, NO Matter How Godly They Are. Far too many of Us are tragically misinformed about the Truth of Temptations. People Assume that the More Godly a Person becomes, the Less temptations that person will Face. Yet the most Godly of All Humans who ever lived, Jesus Christ, was in ALL Points tempted as we are!! Jesus wasn’t just Tempted a Little, but in ALL WAYS.
Shocking, isn’t IT. Godliness does NOT in ANY WAY limit the Number of Temptations we may receive.
In fact, when you read many of the Famous Christian Classics written by Saints from across History, they all lament about the NUMBER and STRENGTH of their Temptations. Temptations can be conquered the More we walk with the Lord, But they remain present in our lives until we cross
OVER to the other Side.
4, Temptations are Normal
God-Given desires that Seek to Trespass God’s Boundaries.
What exactly are Temptations? The answer may surprise you, because Temptations are based on the Normal Desires that God gave to all of Us, but with one thing out of place.
Those desires Seek to trespass the Boundaries God Established for Us.
In other words, a Temptation is simply a Good Desire …. Gone Bad! Gone Astray!
Our God-given desire become temptations, when we desire Too Much, or go Too Far, or seek to fulfill them in the Wrong Place, or with the Wrong Person. Breaking Boundaries.
Temptations are simply the inner push of our Normal Desires to overstep Gods Boundaries.
Often the Bible calls our Sins a Trespass, which means….. to go Beyond a Clear Boundary into Forbidden or Into OFF Limits Territory.
Every single temptation is rooted in a normal desire. God Himself gave Us our Desires, and
wants us to LEARN THROUGH EXPERIENCE to Honour and Obey His Stated Boundaries. Temptations are simply Desires that Entice Us to Go Beyond the Safe Boundaries that God has established for all of Us. When you Don’t Allow your Desires to go Too Far or Too Fast, you Don’t Sin.
Since Temptations are simply God-Given Desires, they AREN’T SINFUL, but are Normal
What you and I DO with Our Desires, will Determine if we Walk in Obedience, or Stray into Disobedience.
5, Temptations Precede every single Sin; so if you Overcome Temptations, You Won’t Sin.
Every Sin we have ever Committed OR will Commit IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS….. Preceded by a TEMPTATION. [ A Straying Desire ]
Temptations Precede Every SIN.
Hebrews 4:15, connects temptation to sin
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus was tempted, (He felt the desire) but
He just chose not to allow those desires to Stray and Give Birth to sin.
Maybe there IS a Secret or Key in this verse For Us. Jesus focused on defeating the Straying DESIRE, or Temptation, then defeating the Sins.
1 2 3
Desire Temptation Sin
IF YOU Tone Down the Intensity of Your Wrongful Desire, …… then Temptations flee into the darkness, powerless and defeated.
When you defeat a temptation, you no longer have to struggle with that particular desire to sin because you exercised your SELF DISCIPLINE, and SAID NO to that Straying Desire. It’s a bit like Training a Straying Puppy.
Sunday May 30, 2021
Sunday May 30, 2021
WALKING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT 30-5-21
WE LIVE IN AMAZING DAYS!
Joel 2:28-29 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
(New Covenant outpouring -v- Old Covenant moments)
Let me talk a little about how to walk with The Holy Spirit and remain filled with The Holy Spirit…
- Understand that He is a gift. Gal 3:2 “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
He cannot be bought, manipulated or ‘conjured up’
Simon Acts 8:17-20 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!”
Elijah on Mt Carmel. (1 Kings 18)
He is not a badge of our amazingness – He’s our seal of grace.
- Understand that He is a Person … and He is GOD.
John 14:15-23 “If you love me, obeymy commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you…….
” 23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.”
- Person not force…. How do we walk/live with people? We don’t buy our friends, our spouses, our family… we don’t manipulate and play games…. We love them, we walk with them. In the same way we WALK with God.
- God and Lord…. The Holy Spirit is part of the Holy Trinity… as much God as The Father & The Son.
SO HOW DO WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT HE IS TRULY AT HOME??
Don’t grieve Him. Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [a] commotion, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Let’s look at the things that grieve Him…
- bitterness, - ROOT OF
- anger, -
- commotion, - DO WE BRING PEACE OR ENDLESS STRIFE?
- evil speaking, - THE KIDS
God has one thing to say to us. - “Love me – love my kids”
Don’t Shut Him down. 1 Thess 5:15-22 “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.”
We quench or shut him down… we become a wet blanket to the fire of The Holy Spirit when we
- Take revenge
- Are consumed with self interest
- Are miserable and morose
- Stop praying
- Are unthankful
- Despise prophecies
This really is referring to that supernatural prophetic word, particularly as declared by those in the office of a prophet, but would also, I believe refer to devaluing the preaching and teaching of The Word –
To despise is to set at nothing, least esteem, treat as contemptible (distasteful, shameful)
So let’s be people that are thankful, prayerful and treasure the moving of The Holy Spirit, particularly prophetic.
THAT’S WHAT NOT TO DO – NOW WHAT SHOULD WE DO??
Every relationship needs maintenance!
Keep Full of Him Ephesians 5:18-21 “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing (speaking) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Let me ask you…
- Do you sing?
- What do you talk about? Malachi 3:16-17 talks about how God listens in to our conversations…. Is He on our lips?
- Be thankful… in everything
- Mutual submission….
Jude 1:20 “But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in The Holy Spirit”
CONCLUSION
We are defined as His people, by His Presence. – Let us honour that by making our lives places where He is fully welcome, fully at home, not grieved or shut down.
Remember, HE is a person, and HE is GOD. Let me wrap up with a beautiful little story….
Sophie’s Sermons, or Scrub & Preach….
“How many in your family?”…. “Four, The Father, Son, Holy Spirit … and me!”
Invitation
Can you say you know Him like this? Today, if you would like to be able to say you are part of this ‘foursome’, you would like to know that , . My Father will love you, and we will come and make our home with you.” Then today you can begin that journey…
Text ‘yes’ to the number on the screen, or contact us and we will assist you in that journey.
Let me pray….
Sunday May 23, 2021
Sunday May 23, 2021
1 James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve dispersed tribes.
The Christian can even welcome trouble
2-8 When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him. But he must ask in sincere faith without secret doubts as to whether he really wants God’s help or not. The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations, is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next. That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from God, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn.
9 The brother who is poor may be glad because God has called him to the true riches.
10-11 The rich may be glad that God has shown him his spiritual poverty. For the rich man, as such, will wither away as surely as summer flowers. One day the sunrise brings a scorching wind; the grass withers at once and so do all the flowers—all that lovely sight is destroyed. Just as surely will the rich man and all his extravagant ways fall into the blight of decay.
No temptation comes from God, only highest good
12 The man who patiently endures the temptations and trials that come to him is the truly happy man. For once his testing is complete he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to all who love him.
13-16 A man must not say when he is tempted, “God is tempting me.” For God has no dealings with evil, and does not himself tempt anyone. No, a man’s temptation is due to the pull of his own inward desires, which can be enormously attractive. His own desire takes hold of him, and that produces sin. And sin in the long run means death—make no mistake about that, brothers of mine!
Sunday May 16, 2021
Sunday May 16, 2021
JAMES No 4. Embracing Difficulty in Order to Build Character
(In Your Marriage)
James 1:2-8 NKJ Version (Read)
J.B. Phillips Modern English Version James 1: 2-8,
2, When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends. [They’ll be the making of you]
3, Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance.
4, But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. 5, And if in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.
Recently we have been Learning from James Chapter One, verses 1-8, about handling TRIALS when they come into our lives. Our Trials come to POLISH US not DEMOLISH US. God controls the Walls around Your life and Mine. He can either Build Up the Wall or Lift Up the Wall. [We See this in, Job Chap 1 & 2] We have discovered that Life has the ability to serve up trials of various types, at various times in All of our Lives.
1
Jesus teaching in Matthew 7:24-29 about 2 [The Two Houses] teaches us that Storms and Trials Will Come to us all. In Luke 22:31-34 Jesus Warned Peter of an Impending Trial or Attack from Satan that was coming his way. Luke 22:31-34, And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you; that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Jesus was giving Peter the “HEADS UP”, with You’re Gonna Be Tested. “BUT FAILURE IS NOT FINAL” The comforting thing for ALL of us is; that in the cases of BOTH Job and Peter, GOD was fully aware of the impending trial that was about to engulf their lives. And to Peter He said..............”BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT FAIL.” WOW! God NEVER Intends for Trials or Temptations to be our DOWNFALL. They are intended to Strengthen Us, and Teach Us, and Mature Us. 2
Some people could say to me.....”Pastor 3 Murray, you have been talking about Trials and Struggles in Your life that Came and Went, as you pressed through them.
Today I want to Focus IN ON The Challenges that MANY of Us Experience, IN what WE would CALL the SACRED STRUGGLE in our Marriages. MAYBE SOME HERE TODAY COULD SAY,
“I AM MARRIED TO MY TRIAL.” My greatest Trial, I Live With, Day after Day, after Day. Most of us are NOT SO Naive to think that Marriage will be without TRIAL.
SHANE WILLARDS Comments, Singles say,
I want to get Married
I want to get Married……… But Marrieds say
I want to get Divorced, I want to get Divorced I think that for most of us we are AWARE that to say “I DO,” on our Wedding Day, is FAR MORE than to agree to never have sex with anyone else as long as we both shall live. Marriage points to A GIFT OF SELF that goes well beyond Sexual Fidelity. 3 Getting Married is agreeing to GROW UP 4 TOGETHER, into each other, to virtually
Co-mingle our souls, so that we share a unique and rare bond. When we stop doing that, we have committed FRAUD against our partner; ....... we have made a commitment that we’re NOW NOT WILLING to live up too. This refusal to GIVE the GIFT OF SELF can sometimes be malicious. At other times this “withholding” may NOT be done consciously. We just wake up one day and realise that we have MADE NO EFFORT to keep GROWING and MOVING toward our spouse, physically, emotionally, & spiritually.
This kind of Unconscious APATHY can be killing off our relationship. We often say that the opposite to LOVE is HATE; but in fact IT IS “APATHY” [this withholding of love, this refusal to meaningfully engage, and [GIVE the GIFT OF OURSELF] that can be far more damaging.Our best Default should Be, “if Christ is LORD to You and Christ is LORD 4
to Me, then, We can Work This Out, …. 5
But if I am LORD TO ME, OR You are LORD to You, then WE are in BIG Trouble.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN Two weeks ago we shared the story of Abraham Lincoln. He was a great President of the USA. His marriage to Mary Todd in 1836 is probably recorded as one of the most difficult marriages of all the American Presidents. Mary had horrific bouts of temper which made retaining hired help extremely difficult. Lincoln would respond by giving the girls an extra weekly dollar, to keep them to stay on. After one particular forceful eruption between Mary and a Maid, Lincoln quietly patted the girl on the shoulder and said, “Stay with her, Maria. Stay with her.”
When a salesman called on the White House and was treated to Mary’s fervid verbal assault, He marched up to the Oval Office...... and proceeded to complain to President Lincoln about how the First Lady had treated him. Lincoln listened calmly, then stood, and gently said, “You can endure for fifteen minutes what I have endured for fifteen years. Lincoln suffered many indignities at the hand of his wife; from throwing Coffee Publicly in His face. ++
PERHAPS LINCOLNS EXAMPLE can deliver US ... 6 from the Oppression of an empty pursuit of happiness. PERHAPS his Example can set us free from the notion that a difficult marriage will hold us back rather than prepare us for our LIFE’S WORK.
DIVORCE
This last month we’ve had the NEWS about BILL and MELINDA GATES, of Microsoft Fame (who was the world’s Richest Man) are now getting a divorce.
They said they could NO LONGER SEE a Future of Growing together Going Forward. They Lost Hope for a Better Future.
AMAZON FOUNDER, JEFF BEZOS and his wife MACKENZIE SCOTT, are ALSO getting a divorce. MONEY in Itself, IS NOT THE GLUE or Cure-All for a Good MARRIAGE.
Divorce is Not just caused by Infidelity, Abuse, or Neglect. Mostly when it’s all boiled down, the FACT is that Divorce is Caused by HOPLESNESS. When one or both members of the marriage lose the belief that they will be happy with each other in the future, the 7 desire to leave the marriage grows stronger and stronger.
SUCCESSFUL COUPLES, Learn How to Establish HOPE in their Marriages, It’s the Oxygen in a growing Marriage.
They realise they BOTH need to Be Emotionally HEALTHY People. It’s Like Air in the TYRES of your Marriage. Emotional Dwarfs or Cripples don’t make Good Marriage Partners. They are still stuck in their “ME.”
SUCCESSFUL COUPLES Have Dreams they share together Of What they Want their Marriage to Look Like in the Future.
They Build TRUST and Protect that Trust.
They work on their Chemistry to Maximise Passion and Romance.
They Seek to Encourage each other in their Walk with GOD, and Get Spiritually Healthy.
Christ becomes a Partner in their Personal Lives and their Marriage.
They ASK Each Other Questions about their Hopes and Dreams and Share them together, establishing a desired Future together.
TWELVE QUESTIONS To Discuss with Your Spouse.
1, What are three to five things about me that you really like?
2, What are two things I do which you wish I would stop doing or change?
3, Where are you on your spiritual pilgrimage?
4, What do you think is the purpose of your life?
5, What is something we could do together in our spare time?
6, What is a trip you’ve always dreamed of taking?
7, What are your greatest regrets about your life?
8, What has been your biggest disappointment?
9, How do you feel about how the kids are turning (have turned) out?
10, If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
11, If you had no one else to answer to, what would you like to be doing in five years? Ten years? In retirement?
12, What is one tangible way I can better express my love for you?
Spend 20 minutes daily for 30 days, (form a habit)
Marriage is a bit like a Vege Garden. If you want to enjoy it and its produce, you have to work at it.
You Prepare the Soil, Have some depth to it, For 9 Carrots. Potatoes etc. to grow well.
Good Well drained soil is important. And Keep the nutrients up to it with fertiliser, and regular water.
Get the Weeds Out, and Keep them Out. Daily Weeding works best. My dad would say 5 Min Daily.
Protect your garden from Intruders. Insects, Birds, Cats, Pigs, Bats, the Weather and (People-PNG.) (Water It) Shade Etc.
Gardens don’t look after themselves and neither do Marriages.
Marriage Fertiliser…. Is Date Nights, and Walks together. Etc etc.
MARRIAGE Every one of us who enters the marriage relationship will come to a point where the marriage starts to “RUB” somewhat adversely. It is in these times that we remember Our Word of Commitment of “till death do us part.” It is in this struggle we become Nobler People. If there is one thing young engaged couples need to hear IS; that a GOOD MARRIAGE is NOT something you FIND, it’s something YOU WORK for. It takes Some effort & struggle, WE must crucify Our selfishness. WE must at times confront each other, and at other times WE must confess to each other. The Practise of Forgiveness is essential. And it 10 Can Be undeniably HARD WORK. But Eventually it Pays Off. Eventually, it Creates a Relationship of beauty, trust, and mutual support. But the tendency to avoid difficulty is a Grave Spiritual Failing that OFTEN keeps our Marriages, and our Christianity, IN INFANCY. This struggle makes us stronger; because it stretches US and deepens our FAITH.
GOD doesn’t protect Christians from their problems........ He helps them walk victoriously THROUGH their problems. FIGHT….. FLIGHT…... or FACE Ourselves.
I Must OWN my past in Order to Live well in my Present. [Skeletons in Cupboards]
The impact of MY Past does affect my present. The Home I grew up in sets the TONE of what I think is normal.
Gender Roles, the handling of Anger, & Conflict & Shame. How we define Success, Our View of Family, Children, Recreation, Pleasure, Sexuality, 11 Grieving, and our relationships with friends, has all been shaped by our Families, of Origin and Our Cultures.
IF YOUR MARRIAGE IS TOUGH, get down on your knees and thank God that He has given you an opportunity for unparalleled Spiritual Growth. You have the PRIME POTENTIAL to excel in Christian Character and Obedience. In Mark 9:49, [Jesus promised us] “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” GRACE…. GRACE…. MORE GRACE. The desire for Ease, Comfort, and Stress-free living, is an indirect desire to remain an “unseasoned, tasteless,” immature Christian. Struggles makes us stronger; They build us up and deepens our faith. FACE OURSELVES, and OWN WHO and WHAT WE ARE, It forces us to MAKE QUALITY DECISIONS 12 that cause us to CHANGE and give up our Childish, Selfish ways, To Crucify Our FLESH, AND Begin to GROW UP. [Gender Roles, Conflict, Anger etc] If GOD designed Marriage, to HELP US GROW UP (Emotionally, Relationally, Mentally, and Spiritually)......... Then DON”T RUN from the PRESSURES of Marriage. In Marriage we ALL have to FACE Our Weaknesses and Flaws, &
EMBRACE them, and GROW in them, & Draw nearer to GOD because of them. SO, No More Tantrums, Sulking or Pouting.
We say GOD, Give Me Grace to Grow UP, Let your Spirit Rest Upon Me that there Might Be Some FRUIT to my account. Because I CHOOSE Emotional Maturity, where I don’t have to Be the Centre of my Universe.
Thank GOD that He has placed you in a situation where Your spirit CAN be perfected From Sulking and Pouting, AND WE Choose Emotionally Mature Marriages. “I’M Manning UP…. I’M Womaning UP, to be the Best” “Husband or Wife, anyone would ever want to be married too.”
13
Very few of us come from families in which conflicts were resolved in a mature, healthy way. Most people tend to simply bury their tensions and move on.
Ask yourself this question: Would I rather live a life of ease and comfort, and remain immature in Christ, OR AM I WILLING to be seasoned with some Challenges, [if by doing so], I can be conformed to
the Image of Christ?
READ STORY OF ANNE MORROW LINDBERGH to CHARLES LINDBERGH The Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas Page 138. Thru to top of page 147.
What causes people to ENDURE and GROW & MATURE through the difficult seasons of life?
Hebrews 11:27, NLTrans. Gives us the secret to Moses endurance:- “Through faith he left Egypt, not being frightened by the king’s anger; for he held on his course as seeing the unseen One.
Hebrews 12: 2, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Where you’re Looking Determines How you finish.
If we live Without an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE, Our Earthly Trials become Larger than Life. Without the HOPE of heaven, OR the sense of the importance of a Growing Character and Refinement, there is nothing to prepare FOR, nothing to look forward TO; it is like practicing and practicing, but NEVER getting to actually play the game. Life then becomes boring, tedious and tiresome. IF we are seeking Glory, Honor, and Immortality, before God, THEN daily and quiet Persistence, Faithfulness, and Obedience is the road to get there. PEOPLE MAGAZINE may not Notice....... BUT Heaven WILL notice. And Matthew 20:16, says:- So the Last will be First, and the First Last. For many are Called, but FEW Chosen, Will come true for you. Christianity doesn’t make much sense without the reality of heaven, and HOPE that it holds for US. PAUL Himself said in 1Corinth15:19, If in this life only, we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. There Is A Hereafter…. I feel sorry for Christians who try to live Obedient lives without keeping HEAVEN firmly in their sights.
Meditating on the AFTERLIFE is one of the best spiritual exercises I know of. Personally I find it strengthens me, like few other spiritual disciples do.
“I CAN ENDURE THIS,” I say to myself, “because it will not always be this way.”
Sunday May 09, 2021
Sunday May 09, 2021
Mother's Day special with Dorothy Muller.
Trust is a must.
Enjoy the message.
Sunday May 02, 2021
Sunday May 02, 2021
JAMES No 4. Embracing Difficulty in Order to Build Character
(In Your Marriage)
James 1:2-8 NKJ Version (Read)
J.B. Phillips Modern English Version James 1: 2-8,
2, When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends. [They’ll be the making of you] 3, Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance.
4, But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. 5, And if in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him. 6, But he must ask in sincere faith without secret doubts. For the man who doubts is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next. [He is tossed about by his own doubts] 7, That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from the Lord,
8, and the life of a man of divided loyalty (double minded)[Looking in two directions for help] will reveal instability at every turn.
Recently we have been Learning from James Chapter One, verses 1-8, about handling TRIALS when they come into our lives. Our Trials come to POLISH US not DEMOLISH US. God controls the Walls around Your life and Mine. He can either Build Up the Wall or Lift Up the Wall. [We See this in, Job Chap 1 & 2] We have discovered that Life has the ability to serve up trials of various types, at various times in All of our Lives.
Jesus teaching in Matthew 7:24-29 about [The Two Houses] teaches us that Storms and Trials Will Come to us all. In Luke 22:31-34 Jesus Warned Peter of an Impending Trial or Attack from Satan that was coming his way. Luke 22:31-34, And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you; that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Jesus was giving Peter the “HEADS UP”, with You’re Gonna Be Tested. “BUT FAILURE IS NOT FINAL” The comforting thing for ALL of us is; that in the cases of BOTH Job and Peter, GOD was fully aware of the impending trial that was about to engulf their lives. And to Peter He said..............”BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT FAIL.” WOW! God NEVER Intends for Trials or Temptations to be our DOWNFALL. They are intended to Strengthen Us, and Teach Us, and Mature Us.
Some people could say to me.....”Pastor Murray, you have been talking about Trials and Struggles in Your life that Came and Went, as you pressed through them.
Today I want to Focus IN ON The Challenges that MANY of Us Experience, IN what WE would CALL the SACRED STRUGGLE in our Marriages. MAYBE SOME HERE TODAY COULD SAY,
“I AM MARRIED TO MY TRIAL.” My greatest Trial, I Live With, Day after Day, after Day. Most of us are NOT SO Naive to think that Marriage will be without TRIAL.
SHANE WILLARDS Comments, Singles say,
I want to get Married
I want to get Married……… But Marrieds say
I want to get Divorced, I want to get Divorced. I think that for most of us we are AWARE that to say “I DO,” on our Wedding Day, is FAR MORE than to agree to never have sex with anyone else as long as we both shall live. Marriage points to A GIFT OF SELF that goes well beyond Sexual Fidelity. Getting Married is agreeing to GROW TOGETHER, into each other, to virtually
Co-mingle our souls, so that we share a unique and rare bond. When we stop doing that, we have committed FRAUD against our partner; ....... we have made a commitment that we’re NOW NOT WILLING to live up too. This refusal to GIVE the GIFT OF SELF can sometimes be malicious. At other times this “withholding” may NOT be done consciously. We just wake up one day and realise that we have MADE NO EFFORT to keep moving toward our spouse, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
This kind of Unconscious APATHY can be killing off our relationship. We often say that the opposite to LOVE is HATE; but in fact IT IS “APATHY” [this withholding of love, this refusal to meaningfully engage, and [GIVE the GIFT OF OURSELF] that can be far more damaging.
Our best Default should Be, “if Christ is LORD to You and Christ is LORD to Me, then We can Work This Out, ……. But if I am LORD TO ME, OR You are LORD to You, then WE are in BIG Trouble.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN Most of us have heard of Abraham Lincoln. He was a great President of the USA. His marriage to Mary Todd in 1836 is probably recorded as one of the most difficult marriages of all the American Presidents. Mary had horrific bouts of temper which made retaining hired help extremely difficult. Lincoln would respond by giving the girls an extra weekly dollar, to keep them to stay on. After one particular forceful eruption between Mary and a Maid, Lincoln quietly patted the girl on the shoulder and said, “Stay with her, Maria. Stay with her.”
When a salesman called on the White House and was treated to Mary’s fervid verbal assault, He marched up to the Oval Office...... and proceeded to complain to President Lincoln about how the First Lady had treated him. Lincoln listened calmly, then stood, and gently said, “You can endure for fifteen minutes what I have endured for fifteen years. Lincoln suffered numerous indignities at the hand of his wife; From Mary’s Public throwing of Coffee in his face, to her prolific spending. Mary would go on bizarre spending binges, during one stretch buying hundreds of pairs of gloves.
Had Lincoln been obsessed with happiness, he wouldn’t have mustered the strength to put up with Mary, OR to hold the Nation together. One of the greatest Presidents was without question married to the most difficult first lady. Lincoln certainly had a Great Challenge on his hands with Mary. BUT He had an Even Greater Challenge of Keeping all the States together, AND Saving the Union, to become THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. What better training ground than the difficult marriage that required such tenacity from him? Lincoln’s Tenacity and Character were tested and refined on a daily Basis; so that when THE TRUE TEST CAME, He was able to STAND STRONG. The First was a Training ground for the Second. PERHAPS LINCOLNS EXAMPLE can deliver US ....... from the Oppression of an empty pursuit of happiness. PERHAPS his Example can set us free from the notion that a difficult marriage will hold us back ............rather than prepare us for our LIFE’S WORK.
MARRIAGE Every one of us who enters the marriage relationship will come to a point where the marriage starts to “RUB” somewhat adversely. It is in these times that we remember our Word of Commitment of “till death do us part.” It is in this struggle we become Nobler People. If there is one thing young engaged couples need to hear IS; that a GOOD MARRIAGE is NOT something you FIND, it’s something YOU WORK for. It takes struggle. You must crucify your selfishness. You must at times confront, and at other times You must confess. The Practise of Forgiveness is essential. And it Can Be undeniably HARD WORK. But Eventually it Pays Off. Eventually, it Creates a Relationship of beauty, trust, and mutual support. This tendency to avoid difficulty is a grave spiritual failing, that OFTEN keeps our Marriages, and our Christianity, IN INFANCY. This struggle makes us stronger; it builds us up and deepens our faith. But this result is achieved ONLY when we face the struggle head-on, NOT when we Run From It.
GOD doesn’t protect Christians from their problems........ He helps them walk victoriously THROUGH their problems. IF YOUR MARRIAGE IS TOUGH, get down on your knees and thank God that He has given you an opportunity for unparalleled Spiritual Growth. You have the PRIME POTENTIAL to excel in Christian Character and Obedience. In Mark 9:49, [Jesus promised us] “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” GRACE…. GRACE…. MORE GRACE. The desire for ease, comfort, and stress-free living, is an indirect desire to remain an “unseasoned, tasteless,” immature Christian. Struggle makes us stronger; it builds us up and deepens our faith. It forces us to MAKE QUALITY DECISIONS that cause us to give up our Childish, Selfish ways, To Crucify our FLESH, AND Begin to GROW UP. If GOD designed Marriage, to HELP US GROW UP ......... then DON”T RUN from the STRUGGLES of Marriage. EMBRACE them. GROW in them. Draw nearer to GOD because of them. Through them you will reflect MORE and MORE the Spirit of JESUS. And Thank GOD that He has placed you in a situation where your spirit can be perfected.
Ask yourself the question: Would I rather live a life of ease and comfort, and remain immature in Christ, OR AM I WILLING to be seasoned with some suffering, [if by doing so], I can be conformed to the Image of Christ? TOUGH QUESTION EH?
READ STORY OF ANNE MORROW LINDBERGH to CHARLES LINDBERGH The Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas Page 138. Thru to top of page 147.
What causes people to ENDURE and GROW & MATURE through the difficult seasons of life?
Hebrews 11:27, Gives us the secret to Moses endurance:- By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. [NT in Modern Speech], Through faith he left Egypt, not being frightened by the king’s anger; for he held on his course as seeing the unseen One.
Hebrews 12: 2, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 2:6-8, speaks of GOD rewarding each of US according to our DEEDS, and Giving eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality;
but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
If we live Without an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE, earthly Trials become Larger than Life. Without the HOPE of heaven, OR the sense of the importance of a Growing Character and Refinement, there is nothing to prepare for, nothing to look forward to; it is like practicing and practicing, but NEVER getting to actually play the game. Life gets boring, tedious and tiresome. If we are seeking Glory, Honor, and Immortality, before God, THEN daily and quiet persistence, faithfulness, and obedience is the road to get there. PEOPLE MAGAZINE may not Notice....... BUT Heaven WILL notice. And Matthew 20:16, So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” will come true for you. Christianity doesn’t make much sense without the reality of heaven, and HOPE that it holds for us. PAUL Himself said in 1Corinth15:19, If in this life only, we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
There Is A Hereafter…. I feel sorry for Christians who try to live Obedient lives without keeping HEAVEN firmly in their sights. Meditating on the AFTERLIFE is one of the best spiritual exercises I know of. Personally I find it strengthens me, like few other spiritual disciples do. “I CAN ENDURE THIS,” I say to myself, “because it will not always be this way.”