4/29/12

Jesus compares the Spirit to wind.  We cannot see it; we don’t know where it goes; we cannot even explain how it works; but we know it is there and we see, feel and experience its effects.  The wind is one of the most common symbols fo the Holy Spirit in the Bible. In both the Testaments, in the original languages, the word “spirit” is also translated as “wind” and “breath.”  The Kingdom of God is about the Spirit at work in us bringing new life, the life God intends for us which was lost through sin, and it is about the Spirit empowering us to live the life God intends for us and to do His work to advance His Kingdom in this world. As we look again at this prominent symbol of the Spirit, we learn three more important parallels between wind and the Holy Spirit that reveal to us the nature and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

4/22/12

When Jesus said, “You must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God,” Nicodemus did not understand. He was confined to think in terms of the material world. How can a man that is old enter his mothers womb? He was confused. So as Jesus explains in v8: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”   Though we often think of the point of this passage as dealing with salvation, it really deals with a much larger truth.  The focus is on the Kingdom of God.  Being born again is the entrance into the Kingdom, but there is much more to the Kingdom of God than salvation. That’s why we see the wind blowing again on the Day of Pentecost, empowering the church to live like Christ and minister as Christ in the world with signs and wonders. And as we consider the parallel between the wind and the Spirit, it reveals to us several important truths about the work of the Spirit.

4/15/12

Though it is true that His Church encompasses everyone who believes everywhere in the world, throughout time: it is also true that His Church is being built in specific places, among specific communities of people, throughout the world.  All of the epistles in the New Testament are addressed to churches or leaders of churches located in specific cities, such as: the church of Ephesus, the church of Colossae, or the church of Phillippi.  Today, this message is addressed to the church at Pembroke Pines.  New Life Assembly is the church that Jesus is building in this location at this time.

I believe that Jesus is speaking to New Life Assembly today through His words in Matt 16:18-19. This is Jesus’ own guarantee to us.  This is an absolute, 100% guarantee. No fine print. No exclusions. “I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” As I was praying over this passage of Scripture, Jesus spoke to me very clearly two words: invincible and indispensable.

Resurrection is the key, the guide, the power, the reason for living life now in this world.  The resurrection changes the way we live life on earth.  It makes a difference in our day to day life.

3/25/12

We live in the in between time, between the coming of His Kingdom and the completion of His Kingdom.  We are living in a time when a huge cosmic conflict is under way, a battle between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God, and as these two kingdoms confront one another the battle is for our hearts, for the heart of every person, for my heart and your heart, for the heart of the church.  The victory has been won, but the battle must be fought.

The battle that is wagging right now is the battle for Lordship.  Who will reign?  The choice is up to us.  In the garden, through disobedience, Adam and Eve rejected the rule of God, and embraced the rule of Satan. As we today, embrace the rule of God through faith and obedience, Satan and the kingdom of darkness is defeated, and God’s kingdom is established in our lives, and we become instruments to advance His kingdom in the world.

This kingdom parable that we are looking at this morning, reveals to us that until Christ’s return to consummate His Kingdom, He has entrusted the affairs of His kingdom here on earth into our hands. We are stewards of His Kingdom, and we need to understand what that means for us, because it will radically transform the way we live, even as the Kingdom of God is about radical transformation.

3/2/12

I noticed when watching the world cup last year, that the teams that kept on the offensive and kept the ball down at their opponents goal, were much more likely to win. If all a football team does is play defense, they will never score-all they are doing is protecting their end zone to keep the other team from scoring But to win a game you have to go on the offensive, you have to take the game to the other side of the field, to the opposing teams territory, to be able to score.

Today, I want us to recognize that the church that Jesus is building is not a church on the defense, it is a church on the offense. We are not a church that is just fighting to hold the devil back, but we are a church that is moving forward to take new territory for God.  As we look at this passage of Scripture, we need to see the church Jesus is building is a church that advances the Kingdom of God.

3/18/12

These two passage (Matt 16:13-18; 1 Pet 2:5, 9) both speak of the primary purpose of the church Jesus is building and that purpose is worship. In John 4:23, Jesus plainly declared that God is actively at work in the world seeking true worshipers. The purpose for which we, the church, have been called out of the world is to worship God. That is the primary job description of a Christian, and the chief purpose of His church. We should declare that God is worthy; worth more than everything else put together. Matt 16:13-18 teaches us several vital principles about being a church that connects to God in worship.

3/11/12

Any time you set out to build something you need a blue print, a set of plans. Those blue prints not only define the shape and structure of the building, but they allow everyone involved in the project, to know exactly what to do.  Jesus, as the master designer, architect and builder of His church has provided just such a blue print in His word for the building of His church.

Something we see clearly in this passage, as well as others, is that Jesus is building people who will build His church. Here in Eph 4, God provides the plan and pattern for building believers who will build His church. As we look at this passage, God reveals to us several vital truths that will build our lives, and build His church.  He reveals the gifts of ministry, the goals of ministry, and the growth process of ministry.

2/19/12

Peter reveals the two fold meaning of Jesus’ statement “Upon this rock I will build my church.”  First, Peter calls us “living stones.” We are the building materials that Jesus is using to build His church. Secondly, Jesus is the chief cornerstone that God has laid. A cornerstone was originally the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation.  It was very important since all other stones would be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position and strength of the entire structure.

Jesus is the foundation upon which the church is built, that means that the church is shaped and defined by the character and mission of Christ. And that means that New Life must be shaped and defined by the character and mission of Christ.

What does that look like?  What does it mean to be the church?  What are we suppose to doing as the church?  Why do are we to do it? These are all questions that we need to consider the morning, because we must understand our identity if we are to function properly.

Series: I will Build My Church

2/12/12

It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks, it doesn’t matter what opposition may be encountered, it doesn’t matter what things may look like at the moment, Jesus declares “I will build my church!”  He believes so much in the church, he was willing to lay it all on the line for the church – Acts 20:28 says He purchased the church with His own blood.  He places great value on the church, He is completely committed to its success.

He entrusted it to an unlikely band of disciples, a bunch of imperfect people, whom he defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel. To outsiders they (and we) might seem weak, inadequate, and even foolish. But Jesus, the architect of the church, that it is destined for greatness and it will stand throughout time, and it will prevail over all opposition. This applies to His Church universally and it applies to His church locally.  New Life, Pembroke Pines, was included in that statement, when Jesus declared it.

As we consider this powerful declaration of Jesus, it reveals to us three truths that should give us great confidence as we move forward as a church, to the fulfillment of the vision that God has given us.

3/4/12

1 Pet 2:9-10 tells us that the church Jesus is building centers upon the formation of a new people that did not previously exist.  The church is not a host of individual Christians independently following God who happen to gather together one or two times a week around an activity of singing or hearing a message.  No, when we get saved not only are we brought into relationship with God, but we are brought into relationship with those who also have a relationship with God to demonstrate to the world what Kingdom life looks like. The church is  people engaged in relationship with one another.  We are a community of faith.

As we look at this passage of Scripture, we want to hear what God is saying to us about being the church.

1/29/12

The church is the central focus in the outworking of God’s eternal purpose in the world. The church is the agent of God’s Kingdom, to defeat the works of darkness in the lives of individuals, in communities and the world, and to establish the righteous reign of God. Jesus said it this way:  I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18). That is what He is doing. That’s where His focus lies.

So as we begin our vision series this year, our focus is on the church Christ is building. God’s eternal purpose centers on Christ and His Church. If we want our lives to count for eternity; if we want our lives to make a difference for God; we’ve got to get a hold of God’s vision and purpose for His church and live accordingly. So today we are going to be looking at the church Christ is building.

1/22/12

Fire fell from heaven upon the altar in the OT Tabernacle, when the people of God gathered at the altar to offer sacrifices in worship to God. That fire still falls today when God’s people gather around the altar to worship Him. It is a holy fire, a supernatural fire; a fire that sets our souls ablaze for God and His purposes. It consecrates us to devote ourselves fully to God and His work. That fire is ignited by God, but God’s command to us is to keep the fire burning, to never let the fire on the altar go out!!! This was a corporate altar where all of Israel gathered to worship, and God is calling us to keep the flame of our corporate altar burning and never let it go out. When the fire fell in Leviticus it was a corporate time of worship, and when the fire fell on Pentecost it was a corporate time of prayer and worship.  Keeping the fire of the altar burning is the key to the power and presence of God in our midst.   It is the key to us becoming a light to the nations. It is the key to the church operating in power to see impact in our community and the world.

1/15/12

A family altar transforms marriages, transforms children, transforms churches and transforms communities.  Yet it is amazing how few Christian families take this seriously and actually practice it regularly, thought it is the best guarantee: to have a godly and lasting marriage; to have children that will serve the Lord through their teen years and into adulthood; to have a family that is a testimony for Christ; and to have a family that is growing and vibrant spiritually, and is healthy enough to dedicate themselves to serving the Lord and making a difference for His Kingdom, rather than just surviving their struggles.

For that reason, today we want to consider the precedence (importance) of the family altar, the power of the family altar, and the practice of the family altar (how to establish a family altar).

1/8/12

Anyone who neglects to build an altar, anyone who neglects to daily meet with God, to worship and seek Him, is walking on a dangerous road. For Abraham, building an altar was a lifestyle. He teaches us the importance of building a personal altar in our lives. I am not speaking of constructing some type of religious structure in your home to display crosses or icons. I am talking about daily dedicating a specific time and place as sacred, for you to seek the Lord.

Abraham’s life was characterized by 4 altars, each of which reveals a different dimension of what is involved in building a personal altar, or establishing a time of daily personal devotions.

12/18/11

How should we respond to the One who has given so much for us, and to us?  Today as we look at the life of a woman who welcomed Jesus to this earth 2000 years ago, her response reveals to us the perfect gift to give Jesus.  Her name is Anna.

If there is one word that could describe Anna’s life, it is the word faithful.  From her life, we discover that the perfect gift to give Jesus, is the Gift of Faithfulness.  It is easy to be dedicated at doing something for a short time, it is easy to be excited at the beginning of thing, but it takes great devotion to stay committed and fervent over the long haul - that’s faithfulness.

Will you give to Jesus the gift of faithfulness - faithfulness in integrity, faithfulness in ministry, and faithfulness in spirituality?

12/11/11

When Joseph first heard the news of Mary’s pregnancy, he struggled with the decision of what to do.  As a righteous man, he must have prayed for God’s guidance, because he wanted to do the right thing.  In his mind, he came to the conclusion that he would quietly divorce her.  He would show her mercy. However, God had other plans, and that night Joseph received his own angelic appearance in a dream, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Now Joseph has another decision to make: will he obey God or will he follow his own decision. The gift that Joseph gave that first Christmas is the gift of obedience. It is the gift that God desires from each of us. Joseph obeyed in taking Mary as his wife. Joseph obeyed in naming the child Jesus. Joseph later obeyed another angelic visitation in taking his family to Egypt for the safety of the child (Mt 2:13). Joseph obeyed in raising Jesus as his son every day.

As we look at the story of Joseph, it teaches us several vital truths of the obedience that God desires from us.

12/3/11

The Christmas season is here, and everyone is making their list and checking it twice, racking their minds and running from store to store in pursuit of the perfect gift for each person.  Gift giving and Christmas have become synonymous, and it should be no surprise, as the practice of Christmas gift giving actually started 2000 years ago. The first Christmas gift ever, was given by God himself. The Scripture says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).

The question that I want us to ask this morning is: after He has given us so much, what do we give Him in return. What is our gift to Him?  What is the gift that He would desire from us?  What is the gift that would most please Him?

In this Christmas series, we are going to be looking at the story of several people in Scripture and the gifts that they gave to Jesus at His birth. Today we are going to look at the story of Mary, a woman who offered to Jesus the gift of Her life.

11/27/11

God made repeated promises to prosper his people.  However, we often want to claim God’s promises with no regard for how we are living, or if we are living in obedience to His will.  The fact is that God’s promises are conditional. There is an “If…then” formula to every promise of God: ”if you will do this, then I will bless you and I will prosper you….”  The “if” generally involves not just a momentary act of obedience, but a lifestyle that obeys and pleases God.

Today, as we consider this passage, it teaches us 3 essentials of living a life that God prospers.

Series:  A Prosperous Life

God promises prosperity to His people, but with every promise there is a condition.  These verses reveal the conditions: God prospers those who are serving Him in careful obedience to all that He has commanded.  That’s not perfection, but it is a delighting in His law, a desire to obey and please Him.  If we are doing that, we can claim His promises of prosperity, realizing as we see in 3 John 2 and elsewhere prosperity is not merely financial.  God’s desire for His people is to prosper in every area of life: spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially.  The word prosper means to excel in all areas of life, to advance, to make progress.  It means to thrive, succeed, or do well. In Hebrew it literally means “to have a pleasant fulfilling journey.” God will is for us to prosper no matter how tough the times may be, as we see how God blessed his people through Joseph even when the region was experiencing one of the most dire economic crises of the time.

I pray that as we study this principle of Scripture, it will encourage our faith in an unshakable God, and call us to a deeper obedience to God’s unshakable Word.