DON’T WORRY
DON’T WORRY
24 January 2010 (pm)
Past. Melody vd Merwe
Matthew 6:25-34
Aim: Encouragement to do what we’ve been commanded to do.
1. The time we live in poses many problems and challenges.
2. Monster of worry robs us of faith, peace (sanity) and joy (strength).
3. Importance of Jesus’ teaching and commands = interesting how often He repeats “DO NOT WORRY” – 3 x in this portion.
· Book of commands and not suggestions.
What are we not to worry about?
a. Don’t worry about needs of this life… e.g. food, clothing – worth more than the birds of the air (v25-32).
b. Don’t worry about the future (v34) and Jer. 29:11 … thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope..
c. Don’t worry about anything. Phil 4:6 (+LB). People think you’re irresponsible.
Why are we not to worry?
a. We have a heavenly Father who cares for us. (v26) Matt 18:3 …be converted and become as little children…
b. We have promises in the Word – What God says He will do, He does.
Ps. 55:22 … He shall “sustain” you. {WW}
Ps. 37:3-5
Heb 13:5+6…never leave us and the Lord is my helper {WW}.
Phil 4:19… and my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Is. 41:10+13
Is. 43:2
Rom 8:31 …if God is for us, who can be against us?
1 Pet 5:7 (+LB) “CARE” {WW}
Ps. 23:6…goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever…
c. We shouldn’t worry because worry chokes the Word Matt 13:22
Rom 10:13… whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…
d. We shouldn’t worry because worry is SIN. Luke 21:34
James 4:17 …to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
e. We shouldn’t worry because worry doesn’t help. (v27)
Most things you worry about never happen!
Doesn’t Change ANYTHING.
CONDITION NOT TO WORRY?! – You MUST be His Child!
LOVE IN ACTION
LOVE IN ACTION
= Word in Action
24 January 2010 (am)
Past. Melody vd Merwe
James 1:19-2:25
Aim: To motivate to exalt and to rebuke us to get doing the Word. Acting like Jesus. Touching people’s lives. Expanding the Kingdom of God.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak! Allow your life to be shaped and changed by God’s Word.
Act on what you hear!!
James 1:19
Real religion is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world (NKJ: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble…).
Royal Rule of The Scriptures. (NKJ Royal Law)
LOVE OTHERS AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF
James 2:12 …talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly.
v13. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgement every time.
God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense.
James 2:14-17 WHAT DOES IS PROFIT?
You cannot profess to believe in God and sit back complacently (v19).
BELIEVING IS A VERB – ACTION!! If you believe you must do.
The unity of believing and doing (v21-26)
v26. The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.
HOW DO I ACTIVATE THAT LOVE?
Jesus our example. Prayer and fellowship with the Father.
Notice in the Gospels how much time Jesus spent alone with the Father.
It caused Jesus to feel what God feels about the suffering of mankind.
FOLLOW JESUS’ EXAMPLE
Spend time in fellowship with our Father. Meditate on the Word until His compassion rises up on the inside of you.
In conclusion:
1 Pet 3:8+9 (MSG) Summing up; be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation, no sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless – that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Compassion: a feeling of pity that makes one want to help or show mercy.
Sympathy: a feeling of pity or tenderness towards one suffering pain or grief or trouble.
Compassion is a deep yearning that responds to the needs of people. It’s much deeper than sympathy.
Sympathy can just sit around feeling sorry for people (not God-like).
Compassion has to do something for them.
We are like God – His life, nature and ability.
John 3:16. Compassion motivated God – He gave.
Jesus’ life on earth – compassion in action. (Phil 2:5-7) …emptied himself – became a man.
On the earth – Jesus was moved with compassion.
Matt 9:35-38 …saw the multitudes…
Matt 14:14
Matt 15:32 …feeding the multitude (4000)…
Matt 20:34 … touched their eyes (2 blind men)…
Mark 1:41 … leper – if you are willing you can make me clean. Jesus moved with compassion said “I am willing be cleansed…
Mark 6:34 …taught the multitudes – Sheep having no shepherd – then fed 5000…
Luke 7:13-15 …compassion on mother, raised her son…
Every time Jesus was moved with compassion, it always resulted in a healing, deliverance, resurrection, supernatural provision, or some action that changed someone’s life.
You see compassion (love) ALWAYS produces action.
Be Committed to Your Church
BE COMMITTED TO YOUR CHURCH
17 January 2010 (am)
Past. Melody vd Merwe
Eph. 2:19-22
Mobilized – Motivated by love. Rom 12:1b (MSG) “…when you think of what He has done for you. Is this too much to ask?”
- Look at the importance of being committed to your church.
To be successful in anything, we must follow God’s way of doing things.
Matt 6:33 …but seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you…
Prov 3:3-6 (LIV) … do you want favour with both God and man and a reputation of good judgement, then trust the Lord completely, don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first then He will direct you, and crown your efforts with success…
Boils down to obedience to God’s word.
2 Tim 3:16 …ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God.
All scripture is God-breathed. Prov 18:1
Eph 2:19-22
God expects me to be a member of a church family – it’s not optional!
Jesus says those who do the will of My Father are my family.
Eph 2:19 (LIV) …but you are members of God’s very own family; citizens of God’s country, and you belong God’s household with every other Christian.
The Church is a family – it says “God’s household”.
It doesn’t say the church is like a family. It says the church IS a family. It’s a spiritual family.
READ: Our spiritual family is for eternity (Rick Warren).
God expects me to be a member of a church family – It’s not optional. Every Christian needs a church family. A Christian without a church family if like a person who says, “I want to play Springbok rugby, but I don’t want to be part of any team. Or I want to be a bee but don’t want to be part of a hive. Or I want to play an instrument but not be in an orchestra.
The fact is, we need each other to be strong in fulfilling our great commission.
We must be committed to a church:
Eph 5:25 (Christ was committed to The Church) Christ loved The Church and gave His life for The Church.
David loved The Church – Man after God’s heart.
Committed to our church.
WHAT MUST WE DO?
1. Protect the unity of our church. Phil 2:1+2 (LB)
How?
a. By Acting in Love (90% unity isn’t unity)
Rom 15:5 (LB),
Rom 14:19 (Phillips trans) agree to disagree in love,
1 Pet 1:22 (MSG)
b. By refusing to gossip and resolving conflicts using Matt 18:15-17 (MSG), Eph 4:29 (GN)
c. By following the leader (Amos 3:3 NIV/MSG)
Bus – destination – 1 driver
Rom 13:1–2 (NIV) Rebellion is as the sin of witch-craft.
1 Sam 15:23 (MSG) 1 Heb 13:17 (LB)
2. Share in the responsibility of my church. 1 Cor 12:25-26 (NKJ)
How?
- By praying for its growth. 1 Thes 1:2 (LB)
- By inviting the un-churched to attend. Luke 14:23 (MSG)
- Warmly welcome those who attend. Rom 15:17 (LB)
3. Serve the ministry of my church. Eph 4:16 (LB)
How?
1. Discover my gifts and talents and use them. 1 Pet 4:10 (Phillips)
- Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren.
2. By being equipped to serve (using gifts) Eph 4:11+12 (MSG)
3. By developing a servant’s heart. Phil 2:4,5+7 (NIV)
Gal 5:13 (John Fisher bul. 8 July ’07) Free to serve
4. Support the testimony of my church. Phil 2:15 (NIV)
How?
- Attending faithfully. Heb 10:25 (LB)
- By living a godly life. Phil 1:27 (MSG / PHIL) Eph 5:8 (Liv / NIV)
- By giving regularly. 1 Cor 16:2 (LB), Lev 27:30 (LB)
(Equal Giving) Mal 3:8-12 (LB), 2 Cor 9:6-8 (LB)
LET LOVE COMPEL YOU!!
BECAUSE OF ALL HE’S DONE FOR ME.
|
