Reaching the lost, equipping the Saints
The Walls Coming Down from Worldwide Mission Fellowship on Vimeo.
Pastor Dennis Greenidge Preaches about the walls coming down at the Filadelfia Kristiansands Summer Conference 2015
Pastor Dennis Greenidge talte på kveldsmøtet søndag 9. august 2015 under Filadelfia Kristiansands sommerkonferanse
Dont Worry from Worldwide Mission Fellowship on Vimeo.
Revd. Rosemary Taylor teaches the liberating truth that we do not need to worry, encouraging us to instead put our trust in God and His word.
Today’s Reading: Isa 17:1–19:25, Luke 7:1–35, Job 5:1–7
Today’s Theme: God’s Global Mission
Today’s theme is about God’s global mission to save the nations, to bring healing and glorify His name.
In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.” Isaiah 19:24–25 (ESV)
Today we read a lengthy passage where God declares His victory over the idols, His judgement of the nations and the salvation of the nations.
When God called Abraham and made covenant with him, it was so that all families and nations of the earth would be blessed, he was blessed to be a blessing. Genesis 12:3
God’s global purpose has always been the salvation of the nations. God is not a racist.
God declares that Egypt are His people, Assyria the work of His hands and Israel His inheritance. This reminds us that all mankind has been created in the image of God and God desires to save people from all nations.
This should have served as encouragement for Israel, to be the light of the world, pointing the nations to God and not compromising by trusting in the nations.
The great commission is global in its scope, Jesus told us to go to all nations in Matthew 28:19-20. We must continue to work and pray that the mission will be finished because Jesus also told us that this Gospel must be preached to all nations (ethnic groups), and then the end will come, in Matthew 24:14.
Keep an eye on the Joshua Project where you can find out about unreached people groups and how you can work and pray, to see them receive the gospel.
When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” Luke 7:9 (ESV)
Here we see Jesus express genuine human emotion, He marvelled or was amazed by this Gentile’s faith. The faith He was amazed by, was the centurion’s recognition of Jesus’ authority and the power of His words, to bring healing without the need to physically be there.
Jesus’ response to the man’s faith and His action of turning and addressing the crowd, should be taken in the context that Jesus is saying; learn from this man’s faith, I am pleased with it and it is the kind of faith that I want you to have.
We should trust in God’s ability to speak a word for our healing and to meet our needs, knowing that God has angels under His authority that go and do His will.
This passage is one of the key scriptures in the narratives, about the life and ministry of Jesus, that points to our theme which is, God’s desire is that all nations (people groups) would be saved.
Many of us reading this today are Gentiles like the centurion, thank God for His magnanimity and mercy in saving us for His glory.
“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? Job 5:1 (ESV)
Yes, God will answer. We do not turn to saints, angels or Mary, the only one we turn to is God.
All nations can today turn to God in response to the Gospel, and cry out to God who answers our prayers, in the name of Jesus.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
The Gospel Coalition on Luke 7
Today’s Reading: Isa 14:24–16:14, Luke 6:1–49, Job 4:12–21
Today’s Theme: God’s Decrees and Commands
Today’s theme looks at God’s decreed will and his commanded will. Each of these are quite different, the decreed will of God is that which absolutely will come to pass and no one can stop it. On the other hand, the commanded will of God are the things God desires but does not force, with this will our compliance is required.
For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? Isaiah 14:27 (ESV)
When God decides to do something no one can stop Him. God is unstoppable.
When God decrees something it cannot be undone, He is the King and when he makes an official decree it stands forever.
One of the things that God has decreed is His choice of you as one of His elect. He decreed it before the creation of the world, with this mind you can be encouraged to persevere.
Thank God for his unstoppable decrees over your life today. 1 Corinthians 2:6.
And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Luke 6:13 (ESV)
Jesus spent all night praying and then chose twelve from His company of disciples to have a special ministry as Apostles.
These Apostles were unique in that they were the only ones to be closely discipled by Jesus as an incarnated man. They were commissioned to be witnesses and authors of the writings of the New Testament, no apostle today is an apostle like this as Jesus is not here physically and the Bible has already been written.
God’s call to the ministry is not a decree but a command that we need to respond to. Judas was chosen to be a minister but he turned his back on his office and was replaced.
If God has called you to ministry you need to choose to respond to the calling, do it and bring glory to God.
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20 (ESV)
The beatitudes contain a mixture of decree (statements of fact) and commands (things you need to chose to do).
As an exercise, see if you can read through them today and identity the commands. When you do, form a list and meditate on them asking God to help you obey the commands by His Holy Spirit.
For example this verse is a decree that the kingdom of God belongs to the poor where as verse 27 commands us to love our enemies.
Try to find time to hunt for these treasures today, happy hunting.
A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up. Job 4:15 (ESV)
This was a demonic encounter, perhaps the scenario is that a lying spirit was sent out to Job’s friend to feed him false perspectives and information which he would in turn regurgitate to Job. This would cause Job more emotional and spiritual distress and of course disrupt Job’s purer view of God.
We must all recognise that if we have encounters like this they are mostly from demonic spirits that have an agenda to tell us lies. Note the fear Eliphaz said and then the lies and blatant ill content towards both God and man (made from the dust jibe).
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
The Gospel Coalition on Luke 6
Today’s Reading: Isa 13:1–14:23, Luke 5:1–39, Job 4:1–11
Today’s Theme: God’s Judgement and Mercy
Today’s theme is about God’s just judgment, focusing on the punishment God will deal out and the mercy He shows to us through Jesus. Without the coming judgement there is no backdrop for the Gospel.
I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11 (ESV)
Punishment is a word that has fallen on hard times. Often if the word is used we tend to think of remedial punishment which is not final and seeks to reform the one punished. However the scriptures clearly teach that God will justly bring final punitive judgement on the wicked leading to their final death and eternal condemnation in hell.
God promises that a day of global punishment is coming where the wicked will be judged. This is actually the backdrop to the Gospel we proclaim. God has made a way of escape from the judgement to come through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
The word translated as punish here is the Hebrew word pāqad. While pāqad has a wide range of meaning, it basically expresses the action of overseeing an individual for a particular purpose. God who oversees us often “visits” to bring divine judgment in response to human sin. In these instances, pāqad is translated as “to punish.”
The Gospel makes a way for God to pass over us when He visits to bring judgement.
For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. Isaiah 14:1 (ESV)
God declares that He will show compassion on His chosen people Israel. We can take comfort that God is merciful and compassionate and seeks to show us compassion.
We should not have an image of God as an angry, unapproachable and blood thirsty monarch. He is a compassionate, serving, loving creator who actively seeks to bless and restore His people.
But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Isaiah 14:15 (ESV)
Jesus told us in John 16:11 “concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” when he told us about the coming of the Holy Spirit convicting the word of judgement to come.
The Devil’s judgement has already been declared, he is a defeated enemy.
This passage gives us unique insight into the original sin of Satan which was pride, vanity and rebellion. This insight comes from the spirit behind Babylon in the passage.
Satan was so enamoured with himself that he lost sight of the basic truth that he was only a created being while God is eternal.
Satan is not even close to God in power. It was a lost cause the moment he chose to rebel. Despite his warped desires and proud words he will be brought down to the pit.
Don’t fear the devil, his judgement is set, we win!
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:11 (ESV)
We like the first disciples must commit to follow Jesus, leaving everything else we were following or dedicated to, to live our lives in allegiance to Him alone.
Jesus is the only escape from judgement, follow Him to find life.
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Luke 5:31 (ESV)
Take time to consider the life of Jesus. In v14 He shows humility, v16 shows the priority of private prayer in His life, v17 shows He spent his days teaching the truth and would be used by the Lord to heal the sick, in v20 He forgives sin.
Now in this verse we see that the purpose of His life was to bring sinners to repentance. This is the great mercy of God and should be our purpose as well, to the glory of God.
Live like Jesus
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. Job 4:8 (ESV)
This may be true but the absolute blanket application takes the principle out of context, making it a central controlling principle with no room for love, mercy or the active personality of God. Thankfully God is merciful and offers grace through Jesus.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
The Gospel Coalition on Luke 5