Quote from Last Sunday's Teaching

Last Sunday we were looking at Christmas in a message entitled Christmas Revisited. In the message I quoted Napoleon from memory which means, I got the meaning right but the wording all wrong. Here is the actual quote:

“I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”(1)

It is amazing the weakness of man to try to control others by force. Jesus using true power won His followers by His love!

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

(1) McDowell, J. (1999). The new evidence that demands a verdict. "Evidence that demands a verdict, volumes 1 & 2, now together in one volume." (317). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

`°º¤ø,¸,ø¤º°` Finding Christmas `°º¤ø,¸,ø¤º°`

Ah, December. Hmm, there is a nostalgia about this time of year. Winter sets in, Christmas lights go up, work parties, dinner parties, gift exchanges, decorating Christmas tree, decking the halls with baughs of holly... All these pleasant traditional roots embraced and held onto coupled with the absolute stress of maxing out credit cards, waiting in staggering queues, stalking people to their cars so you can be first to snatch their parking space!

But is all this what Christmas is about? Christmas has been hijacked. However there is one thing that people do at Christmas that does have at least a root of merit. Gift-giving. But what we miss is that God is the Gift-Giver! As this season marches on and the temptation to go another year with the true meaning of Christmas being lost in the blizzard of materialism and narcicism, I would encourage you to listen to the message here entitled "To You Is Born A Savoiur". This is the glory of Christmas!

• To You Is Born A Saviour (mp3)

May you be blessed as you see the Christ in CHRISTmas.

We will be having a family service on Christmas Day from 10am-11am, click here for more information.

Inside-Out Evangelism

This past Saturday we hosted a 1/2 day seminar on Evangelism. Our speaker was Joey Rozek, a pastor/teacher who is planting a church in Cambridge (Calvary Chapel Cambridge).

Joey taught evangelism from a fresh perspective capturing the ethos, pathos, and the divine Logos of evangelism.

Evangelism is not about modes and methods but about walking close to Jesus and being intimately acquainted with the greatness of His salvation.

Joey reminded all those present that a faith worth having is a faith worth sharing. It is not about fulfilling a commandment, rather introducing others to your best friend, the One whom Creation longs to worship.

There was a great reminder given that Evangelism is about bragging. Bragging about Jesus (Gal 6:14)! It is the result of who we are more than what we do.

For those who were not there, I would highly recommend downloading and listening to the three messages given. You can download them here:

• Inside-Out Evangelism #1 - Jesus Our Master
• Inside-Out Evangelism #2 - Jesus Our Message
• Inside-Out Evangelism #3 - Jesus Our Mission

Be blessed as your share this great salvation to a dying world. I will close this post with a few words from a puritan prayer in The Valley of Vision.

You will not mark my mountains of sin, for He levelled all, and His beauty covers my deformities. O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to His cross, hiding in His wounds, and sheltering in His side.

A great Saviour worth telling the world about!

Definition

Thursday night during our study in Esther 4 (click here to listen) we examined the fact that Esther had one of those all important defining moments. Esther identified with God and His people when she said, "If I perish, I perish" (4:16). Esther was faced with a question: Who defines me? Is it King Jesus or King Xerxes (Ahasuerus)?

In the study I shared the following statement given by an African pastor who was martyred in Zimbabwe for his faith. He echoes Esther's statement, "If I perish, I perish".

My Colours Will Be Clear
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, with slight walking, with small planning, with smooth knees, with colourless dreams, with tamed visions, with mundane talking, with chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labour by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my compassions few, my Guide reliable, my missions clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go ‘til He comes, give ‘til I drop, proclaim ‘til all know, and work ‘til he stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me – for my colours will be clear.

Evangelism Seminar This Saturday

I am excited about the evangelism seminar we are hosting on Saturday. For those who are unaware, click here to download the flyer.

It will be from 10am to 1pm, to help equip and train the body of Christ (not just our church) to share the gospel. A popular question that is asked is, how much does it cost? Let's just say that for the receiver it is the same price as the Gospel: FREE.

We want to see the Body built up in the faith as they share the wonderful news of the gospel.

Now in preparation to the seminar, I would like to recommend a teaching I did this past summer called "The Harvest". I would especially like to recommend this to those who are not planning on attending. After hearing this, you may change your mind.

• Click here to listen to "The Harvest" (mp3).

May the Lord bless you in your service of Him!

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Purpose and Grace Before the Beginning of Time

2 Timothy 1:9 [Our Lord], who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

This is the first post on Calvary Chapel Leatherhead's new blog. As I was considering what should be the first post, this verse came to mind.

Our Lord's work in our lives is utterly amazing. Jesus has saved us and called us. This is something we must retain in our hearts and minds. As many as put their faith in Jesus are saved and called.

What are we called to? A holy life. But following those words lies the key to His salvation and calling. It's "not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace" (italics mine). Our being saved to a holy (or set apart) life is not dependent on our performance. It is not according to our works. It is does not rely on my ability. The key here is after the contrast (but).

But according to HIS own purpose and grace. The strength and enabling does not come from my works but rather His purpose and grace. The word according to means "in proportion to". In other words, His purpose and grace is in proportion to the Infinite One. That means there is no limit to His purpose and grace.

As much as we yield ourselves to His purpose for our lives, there is ample grace to carry us. In following Him, our need will never exceed His grace. For every step of our salvation and calling, God has purpose and God gives grace. There is no need to fear as His supply is more than enough. His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We are sufficiently supplied to live a holy life, not because of us, but because of Him.

So when do His purpose and grace kick in? Well, we read here that it is "given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" (italics mine). God has purpose and grace for you since before time began. He did not withhold purpose and grace until we were able to show ourselves worthy. Here we see that it was given independent of our worthiness, and it was given before needs arise.

He has tended to us perfectly. All our need is satisfied in Him before time began!