I am who I am because He is who He is – Paul Black
SERMON NOTES
RECAP FROM 21ST MAY 2023 SERMON – WE ALL NEED OUR OWN PERSONAL CALL AND ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS.
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
I highlighted some of the hindrances to that happening – Our Fears; Not listening to God; and the way we can come with ‘Confirmation Bias’, only wanting to hear what we have decided we want to hear.
Last time I briefly spoke about NEAGATIVE THINKING – Most of us have used the phrase ‘what is the worst that can happen’ in relation to something we might be trying for the first time. Verity mentioned a few weeks ago at one of our Leadership Meetings, ‘what’s the best that can happen’.
I mentioned the game of bowls? Where the Bowling Ball – is not a perfect sphere – and has an inbuilt bias, which always turns away – like our thoughts seem to turn to worry and negativity. THE BIBLE’S ANSWER IS TO HAVE A POSITIVITY
Philippians 4:8 shows us the antidote to Negative Thinking – which FOCUSSES ON THE POSITIVE. – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
WE HAVE TO REALISE THAT OUR THINKING – POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE – AFFECTS OUR ACTIONS AND THE WAY WE BEHAVE.
We looked at the account of Peter Walking on the Water because Jesus told him to come. – Matthew 14:22-33 – Jesus Walks on Water – After the feeding of the 5,000 –
PETER WALKED ON WATER – THE CALL OF JESUS ‘PERSUADED HIM TO HAVE THE FAITH (BE PERSUADED TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT) – WHEN HE WAS NEAR TO JESUS BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT CAUSED HIM TO DOUBT.
(Matt 14:31) – SG1365 – distazo: (dis-tad’-zo) to waver, doubt; to hesitate (Verb) – –
1365 distázō (from 1364 /dís, “two, double” and 4714 /stásis, “stance, standing”) – properly, going two ways, shifting between positions; choosing “a double-stance” and so vacillate (waver) – fluctuate in opinion or resolution; (fig) uncertainty at a crossroads because refusing to choose one way over the other – to halt between two opinions (views, beliefs). (There are times when we just over think it)
SO HERE, PETER’S THINKING COMING BACK INTO PLAY – Is he going to continue in the faith imparted to him to get out of the boat in the first place, which has brought him this far, OR is he going to take into account the storm and wind blowing against him.
WHAT DID PETER DO – THE ONLY SENSIBLE THING HE COULD DO – HE CRIES OUT, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter.
WHY DID YOU DOUBT JESUS ASKED – IT WAS THE DOUBT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BEGIN TO SINK (even “beginning to sink was a miracle” OF Jesus Grace)
SO PETER WALKED ON THE WATER BECAUSE JESUS CALLED HIM TO DO IT – FAITH WAS IMPARTED TO HIM SO HE BELIEVED HE COULD – NOTICE NO OTHER DISCIPLE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT.
Watching a documentary on King Charles last Saturday – Coronation Day – 7th May 2023 – Charles, was I believe in Westminster Abbey, listening to the Choristers Singing. Music has very important place in his life and he said this:-
WE DO NOT THINK MUSIC; WE RESONATE WITH IT AND FEEL IT – IT SOMEHOW HARMONISES WITH OUR OWN HUMAN NATURE, SO WE FEEL SOMETHING IS MEANT BY IT.
I WAS MOVED BY THESE WORDS. THE THOUGHT CAME TO ME THAT THEY COULD BE DESCRIBING “FAITH”. – “WE DO NOT THINK FAITH; WE RESONATE WITH IT AND FEEL IT – IT SOMEHOW HARMONISES WITH OUR OWN SPIRIT”.
Do you know how a micro-wave oven works? Something called a magnetron inside it emits a very high frequency signal, which cause the water molecules in food to vibrate, resonate, which produces heat – that cooks the food.
Isaiah 64:2 (NIV) – As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before
James 2: 14; 17; 26 – What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action,is dead. 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Isaiah 55:9-11 (NIV) – “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
GOD INSPIRED/PERSUADED FAITH ALWAYS RESULTS IN ACTION
“WE DO NOT THINK FAITH; WE RESONATE WITH IT AND FEEL IT – IT SOMEHOW HARMONISES WITH OUR OWN SPIRIT”. ACTUALL WE ARE RESPONDING; WE RESONATING TO THE FAITH, WHICH GOD IMPARTS – WHICH SHOULD (this is where free-will comes in) LEAD US TO DO WHAT GOD IS INSPIRING US TO DO.
PETER’S WHOLE BEING RESONATED WITH THE FAITH IMPARTED TO HIM AND HE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT AND WALKED ON WATER.
FAITH IS PERSONAL – PETER HAD A PERSONAL CALL FROM JESUS AND RESPONDED TO IT – WE ALSO MUST HAVE A PERSONAL CALL – A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
TESTIMONIES ARE GOOD AND ENCOURAGING BUT WE CANNOT LIVE ON OTHER PEOPLE’S STORIES – WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR OWN PERSONAL STORY – WE CANNOT WALK IN OTHER’S SHOES – WE MUST WALK IN OUR OWN SHOES – WITH JESUS.
John 4:42 – THE WOMAN AT THE WELL WAS TOLD BY THE VILLAGERS – “We now believe not only because of your words; WE HAVE HEARD FOR OURSELVES AND WE KNOW (to have experiential knowledge) THAT THIS MAN TRULY IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.”
PETER HAD A PERSONAL CALL – TO COME TO JESUS – AND SO MUST WE – TRUSTING THAT THE REQUIRED “FAITH” WILL BE IMPARTED.
I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH A DISCUSSION JESUS HAD WITH PETER ON ANOTHER OCCASION.
Peter’s Confession of Christ – Matthew 16:13-18 – When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Matt 16:18 – And I also say to you that you are Peter (a rock), and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades not will prevail against it.
Peter – SG4074 – Petros – (pet’-ros) – “a stone” or “a boulder,” (Noun, Masculine) -Peter, a Greek name meaning rock. – properly, such as a small rock found along a pathway then stands in contrast to 4073 /pétra (“cliff, boulder,” Abbott-Smith).
And on this rock – SG4073 – Petra – (pet’-ra) – Noun, Feminine – 4073 pétra (a feminine noun) – “a mass of connected rock,” which is distinct from 4074 (Pétros) which is “a detached stone or boulder” (A-S). 4073 (pétra) is a “solid rock, rising up through the earth” (Souter) – a huge mass of rock (a boulder), such as a projecting cliff.
Psalm 18:2 – The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (is my rock, – Strong’s Hebrew 5553: 1) crag, cliff, rock 1a) crag, cliff )
BUILD YOUR LIFE ON ‘THE ROCK’- JESUS – WHO is connected to the foundations of the universe – God Himself – AND NOT ON THE ROCK OF PEOPLE –ONLY JESUS IS THE SOLID FOUNDATION UPOM WHICH TO BUILD YOUR LIFE; ONLY JESUS IS THE REFUGE IN THE STORM; ONLY JESUS CAN SAVE YOU; NO MATTER HOW ATTRACTIVE THE ALTERNATIVES MIGHT APPEAR. ONLY JESUS – THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER
The House on the Rock – Matt 7:24-27 – 24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”
(Acting on Jesus words is operating in faith – so building your life on THE ROCK – BUT Not doing what He says is not acting in faith – so building your life on sand.
EACH PERSON NEEDS TO KNOW JESUS – THE SOLID ROCK – THE FIRM FOUNDATION – FOR THEMSELVES.
WE ARE NOT ONLY ANCHORED TO THE ROCK – FOR WE ARE TOLD – THE LORD LIVES IN US – OUR ROCK; OUR FORTRESS; OUR DELIVERER – LIVES IN US.
IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS – JESUS IN ME – JESUS IN YOU.
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD – ONLY – BECAUSE JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD LIVES IN YOU. – JESUS IN US – OUR LIGHT; OUR FAITH; HE IS THE LIVING WATER FLOWING THROUGH US; HE IS OUR HOPE; HE IS OUR PEACE – THAT AMAZING SHALOM OF GOD; OUR TRUTH; OUR WAY; OUR LIFE
WE DO NOT CREATE THESE THINGS OF OURSELVES – BUT WE CARRY THEM IN OUR LIVES – BECAUSE JESUS LIVES IN US – THIS MOST HEAVENLY OF TREASURES LIVING IN THESE EARTHEN VESSELS.
HAVING SAID THAT WE DO NOT CREATE THESE THINGS OF OURSELVES BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS IN US – HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND
PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD – Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the full armour of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Strong’s Greek 1746: Enduo (en-doo’-o) – To put on, clothe (another). From en and duno; to invest with clothing. From en and duno – to enter, to sink into (in the sense of sinking into a garment) (Not struggling to put it on but sinking into it)
Psalm 3:3 – But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. (SH1157 – baad: behind, round about, – behind, about, on behalf of;
PUT ON THE NEW SELF – Col 3:9-10 – Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Strong’s Greek 1746: To put on, clothe (another). From en and duno; to invest with clothing. (in the sense of sinking into a garment) (Not struggling to put it on but sinking into it)
Eph 4:22-24 – to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
WHY CAN WE SINK BACK INTO – BECAUSE – UNDER NEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS TO CARRY; TO SURROUND; TO UPHOLD US.
Deuteronomy 33:27-29 – The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’ So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with dew.
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.”
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