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Lawrence Kirby shared a message titled,
'The Cause of Jesus' Sometimes we look at the world and say 'God, do something!' but He turns back to us with an invitation for US to step into our cause and do something. Something like inviting those around us into our homes to eat a meal, to taste and see that God is good and there is saving grace for all! The invitation of Jesus is 'Come'. Our cause is the same, to invite people to come and know Jesus. As followers of Jesus our cause is not to be comfortable in our own blessings. Our cause is that none should perish but that all should come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. It is our privilege to invite others in to share this Good News. The cause of Jesus should underpin everything in our lives. Philippians 1:12-14 NLT And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. Can we say that everything that has happened to us has furthered the message of Jesus to those around us? The cause of Christ can so consume us that every experience we have can further the message of Jesus. Questions to respond: How important is the cause of Christ to you? How do you live your life to fulfill the mission of the Kingdom? What consumes your prayer life - Your own needs? Or the needs of others? Where do you spend your money? What's the most important factor in your decision making?
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Lawrence Kirby shared a message titled,
'Saying Yes to the Call' Transformation happens from the inside - from your core. Sanctification is about continually becoming like Christ Proverbs 4:23 NIV “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” The call of God can hold us in our faith. We are all called. We need to get that call solid in our hearts If we don’t know our call we’ll flip flop all over the place when things get hard.
1 Corinthians 1:24-31 NLT “But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”” No matter who we are God wants to draw us to Salvation - Union with Christ. Romans 8:28-30 NLT “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”
Some people become more like Jesus even before they’ve trusted and believed in Him or been able to name Him because the Spirit is always at work!
2 Timothy 1:9 NLT “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” Holiness isn’t about behaviour it’s about being set apart for a purpose. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NLT “So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3 NLT “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” The Church is called out to live a life separate or set apart from “the world”. We’re called into the Kingdom of God. You need to give yourself to the call that God has given you faith for. Say YES to it. Your core qualification comes from God and no one else. The equipping for your call comes from the Spirit of God within you. When you’re living in the call God has given you, yes you bring glory to God but as we do that He also shares His honour with us. We don’t do it for that honour, we do it for Jesus. Philippa Kirby shared a message titled,
'Living with an Open Hand' God's hands completely hold KIC Are you choosing to live with an open hand? An open hand and open heart toward others To have a willing generous openness to serve others An open hand portrays many things: Surrender Giving Receiving To be the opposite is to be tightfisted, clutching, holding on Why might we be living like this? Unaddressed offence? Desires and wants Holding onto “needs” Clinging to survive Do we have a broken or hurt heart Have a poverty mindset or victim mentality Are there lies we believe that hold us back? Who do we need to forgive? John 14:26 NIV “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” We find freedom when we hand things over to God Sometimes we have to put things down in order to free up our hands to do what’s needed Openhanded living looks like: Awareness Openness Submissiveness Willingness Forgiveness Being able to bless Living generous When we learn the concept of what it is to have more, it makes it difficult to be generous Struggle and openhandedness can co exist Love self and love others John 13:34-35 NIV ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” It is more blessed to give than to receive Live with an attitude of what can I learn If we are willing, He can teach us and we can grow! Questions to respond: How can I choose to open my hand? God what do you want me to hold? What do you want to free me from? How can I live with an open hand today, God? Lawrence Kirby shared a message titled,
'Core, Call & Cause' Galatians 2:20 NIV “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” We need to move from just belief in Jesus to having an experience of him that impacts the way we live! When you have an encounter with Jesus, it transforms your… Core - the center of your being Call - what you do on planet earth Cause - that which you live for Adam and Eve weren’t called to just stay in the garden, but to carry the message of connection with God into everywhere they went. You are a child of God, a minister of life, a conqueror! That’s the core of who you are. Water will flow out of you to everyone else when you are in Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 NIV “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” This is what we are to be about doing (it’s our call!) We are to represent Christ to everyone we meet. A huge challenge for us is that our faith has become all about us! The more we give ourselves to the call and the cause of God, the more we have to deal with our core. Matthew 6:31-34 NLT ““So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” As a believer these things shouldn’t dominate our thoughts. There’s something greater than just you, me, or this church. We don’t put up with the things that stop the Kingdom of God advancing! In other words, an encounter with Jesus transforms your: Who What Why Give yourself to what God’s called you to. The Kingdom of God is the greatest cause we can live for. I am bought at a price for a cause that is greater than me. If you’ve never had that encounter, ask God for it. |
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