Listen to the sermon Life and Death (Genesis 5:1-32)

I haven’t come across anyone who’d prefer their friends to keep troubling matters to themselves. We often want a person to feel comfortable in confiding with us; opening up their hearts to let us know their deepest hurts. And many times it may be something that we ourselves are going through or went through. But what if it’s not? What if your friend comes to you and says they lived in an abusive home, drink to sleep because of the grief caused from the past; what do we say then? Sometimes, there’s nothing we can say. If a friend is telling us of a loved one who has passed away, sometimes it’s just best to listen. But many other times, that friend is looking for answers, and we ourselves better be open to what God wants us to say to that person.

What I’ve noticed is that often times we tend to try to give solutions to the symptoms without listening to God for a solution to the core problem. So let’s say you have a friend who says they want this and they are not going to be happy if the particular want doesn’t come to pass. What do we say then? Do we offer books or guides on how to be content with not getting that particular want? I think that’s giving a “solution” to a symptom of a greater problem. If we listen to that person carefully, they’ll reveal things to us about their relationship with someone else, often someone from the past, like a mother, father, and other relatives or maybe even a close friend. Either way you can be sure that this great desire to fill up a void was intensified due to some broken relationship. So we don’t offer the person solutions to the symptoms. Let me give a real life scenario. Say a friend says he wants to find a girl and get married. He says he will not be happy if he doesn’t have a wife to call his own, he has been praying to God but “no answer”. Let’s not be quick to offer “be content while single” guide books. Let’s not only say: “Trust in God, He loves you, He’s there for you”. While that is the truth, it’s hardly helpful if the person thinks that they are doing just that. Keep listening, that friend will surely reveal the underlying reason for this “I will not be happy without it” want. Almost always it is because of a want to feel loved, accepted. And that desire to be loved is now stressed as a result of something painful from their past or possibly, present life. Let me say that we all want to feel loved, but when we start thinking that “we must have and will not be happy without” we’re setting ourselves up for hurt and disappointment. So when our friends start talking like this, know that what they think they want is hardly the issue. We know it’s God they really need, but there is something that’s preventing that relationship from happening or blooming. So find out if this friend has any grudges towards anyone who might have hurt them. Let the person know that we must forgive and let go; that true forgiveness comes without condition. It doesn’t give the offender licence to continue hurting us, but it frees us and allows us also to be forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14-15). Depending on what was said, we’ll also want to let the person know that God is NOT a vending machine; that we can’t expect Him to do things on our terms and in our time. Remind the friend that we don’t get Jesus to have as a personal genie, we get Jesus because we are in need of a saviour, because we need His righteousness to wash us clean from sin (all rebellious actions against God; fornication (sex before marriage), homosexuality, lying, stealing, cheating, adultery, prostitution, murder, covetousness, drunkenness, slander, blasphemy (like using God’s name as a curse when trying to express disgust) and the list goes on). Also, that we need to seek Him, and the other godly desires of our hearts will be given us. Of course, in everything we do we petition to God in prayer. We can offer to pray for the person, and ask God to reveal things to that person, but I think we should also offer ourselves to be even more used by God on behalf of that individual. Here’s why. As a believer, if I’m going through a particular struggle often times I’m too consumed in the problem to actually realise that God has already answered me. I often need another brother or sister in Christ to bring me revelation from God. It will then occur to me that this was actually shown to me already.

So let’s be a lot more there for each other. There are times when we talk to God, He answers us and we know He answered. But when someone’s too consumed with the present problem, they often miss out on the answer from God. So at times we really need to get as involved as the Spirit will allow us to. Let us also get to the problem and not give solutions to symptoms of. The symptoms help to confirm our Spirit given suspicious of the real problem. May we pray that God gives us the wisdom and discernment to speak words that the Holy Spirit will use to get to the person’s heart.

We want to be used by the Spirit to get to the problem of heart; we want to be used by the Spirit to speak the Word to the heart. We need to get there, we need to be there.

Visit their website: http://juststopandthink.com

I myself for the past two days was down in my spirit. I was broken hearted by the actions of a friend and was just not my usual “up to beat” self. We all have these kinds of days, and though the Good LORD does not cause them to happen, He can and will use them for good. All we have to be is ready for Him to do so. In the past two days I have been crying out to God for strength, crying out to Him to give me a forgiving heart and asking Him to bless the friend that had hurt me. The latter of my prayer was not easy, but it’s necessary and I trust God to bring forth a good harvest having humbly petitioning it. It’s always necessary to call out the name of anyone we may have a conflict with. No one likes mentioning the name of someone that they are in some way or another not pleased with. You will even notice parents, even though they love their children dearly, will say to the other spouse “your daughter/your son did this or said that…”. During the easy days it’d sound more like “our daughter Jane/son John… ”. There’s more intimacy when things are good, but often a disconnection otherwise. So with that being said, when we pray for someone who has hurt us in some way or another, it is best to mention the person’s name or at least petition the matter with words like “God, please bless my friend”. This in no way gives the person license to what they may or may not have done, but it’s an effective “system” that harvests good character. Spending time with God in prayer is something we need to do daily, good days or not. The Bible records many times when our Lord Jesus prayed. If God the Son prayed, then we too should see this as pertinent in our lives. Don’t go another day without talking to your God, better said: don’t go any day without talking to your God, our God. Just like today my buddies and I harvested corn with an effective system which kept us on target, so too do we need to commune daily with God in order that we too remain on target, which is in His will. Praying in spirit and in truth keeps us geared towards the will of our LORD. Praying and believing that God will answer any prayer within His will, is simply known as trusting God, hoping in Him or waiting upon Him. We know what the Word says about this:

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

We should delight in the LORD always, in this way He will harvest His good character in us.

Trust God, and say no to any doubt that will cause you to sin against Him!

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”  Jesus left us with this work. If it were just for the people of that time He would have probably said to make disciples of these nations. Instead Jesus said all nations which we can see to mean as all people, all generations. I remember not too long ago my own self feeling drained out in my walk; I then prayed to God to draw me closer to Him. He sent one of His servants that has brought me to know the same thing. The Great Commission still very much applies to all believers today. We must do the work of Him who sent us, while it is still day, for the night cometh when no man can work. Do not be like that wicked servant that hide his mina in a piece of cloth, God has given each believer a gift. Put your gift to use and seek after the lost sheep. The Father is not willing that any one soul be lost (Matthew 18:14). Currently, there are billions still not reconciled through the blood of Jesus. Be a witness for Jesus today; the rich man begged Abraham that Lazarus would return to his father’s house to warn his 5 brothers of what is yet to come, the eternal fellowship with God in heaven or the eternal torment in hell with the devil and his demons. Abraham said no, they have Moses and the Prophets. Today, we are the ones whom this applies to. How can the lost believe in Christ without having heard the Gospel (Romans 10:14-15)? God’s word must be fulfilled, He said that His word shall be preached to all nations and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

Worried that you will face persecution? Well, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16). We have to be willing to lay down our lives. To die preaching this Gospel of Christ is one that we must all be prepared to face. There are no buts, ifs and exceptions about it, Jesus said to go! So go!

We want to be like Jesus? Here’s what Jesus said: “I must do the work of Him who sent Me while it is day, for the night cometh where no man can work.” –  John 9:4. We ought to have the same attitude towards sharing the Gospel with others. Anything otherwise is just plain disobedience. I now know this, you now know this. No excuses.

James 4:17 “To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

May the Holy Spirit continue to convict our hearts, may the church wake up, there’s work to be done; the Great Commission.

This version of the Sermon on the Mount is taken from the movie King of Kings. (It is highly recommended that Scripture is first sought  before viewing.)

I am ashamed; I do not do everything in love.
My anger gets the better of me.
But what is the better of me?
If I act out of the love of God,
Is there any good in me?
Certainly not!
For goodness out of God, “goodness” where there is no Him, is like filthy rags.
And more so, whatever I have but lack love, I am nothing.

I hate you sin, your haughtiness, your selfish ways
For you are not of God and lead me astray.

Leave me sin, let me reside with my God, let me be to follow His ways.
For in my sweet God, my wonderful Jesus alone will I dwell in safety.

In this moment of remorse, I consider:

Romans 7: 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Psalm 51: 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:. 2 Peter 1:3

But He said to me, “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.. 2 Corinthians 12:9

If we’ve come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we have everything we need for living a godly life.  Too often we, I’m very guilty of this, feel discontented with what God has already given us. We want more; we almost gnash our teeth when we don’t see things going our way. Guess what? It’s not about us (Genesis 1:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31), it’s not about what we want, but what God thinks is best for us, or what He thinks is best for us at a particular time. I don’t believe anything is wrong with asking God for a life partner, asking Him for a better job, these things might all very well be in His plan for us. I just hope that we do not sink into a trench of bitterness and serving God with an attitude of resentment. So may we serve the Lord with gladness, for we have been blessed enough.

What a wonderful Easter Sunday! Today at service three young folks publicly proclaimed Jesus as their Lord. The three were baptised and shared their testimonies with the congregation. Such wonderful testimonies. Gabriel, one of the three, said that his testimony was not boring. That his testimony begun 2000 years ago on the cross of Jesus. Amen brother! I’m sure the Lord is using these testimonies to stir the hearts of others, to draw others to Him. Our Lord desires not that any live without Him or that anyone to perish, but that everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) I was surely moved by the service today. I remember my own baptism…memories of joy. God is not done with us yet. More work to be done, more people to love. Let us draw our strength from the one who rose from the grave!

Jesus the Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

Matthew 28:6 “..I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for He has been raised, just as He said.” Romans 1:4 “and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”