Your Authority in Christ

 
Your Authority in Christ 

Sermon at NLAG OMR centre on 8th of December 2024.

Sermon notes is updated separetly

The 7 Signs from the Gospel of John.

 

Moses and the Excuses he mad.

 

Moses and the Excuses He made.

     For the last two years I have completed reading the BIBLE end to end. During the course of last year, I got myself a new Bible which has extra margins for taking notes.  So, this year I have decided to meditate more closely on the word.  The following was highlighted to me while going through my morning routine of meditation on the word of God a week back.

    Before I get to that just a few quick pointers.
1 Moses was the great grandson of Levi       Exodus 2:1

2. Amram and Jochebed were his parents.  Amram married his father’s sister (aunt) Jochebed

3. Three children- Moses, Aaron and Miriam. What a privilege to have all your children working in the ministry.

4. Parents faith recounted in Hebrews 11:23

5. Shiprah and Puah, the two Egyptian midwives were blessed by God-because they feared God and did not obey Pharoah

 

 When we think about Moses the first things that come to our mind Is the mighty Man of God, standing at the red sea while it is being parted, Or Moses coming down with the Ten Commandments. Let us look now look at something else.

Moses lived 40 years with Pharoah and was being trained for a life of royalty. Somehow, he wanted to redeem the Israelites early and, in the process, ended up murdering someone. So, he had to flee and this brought him to become a shepherd. He was tending the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro. This also continued for 40 days.  So, he had decided to live his sedentary life of being a shepherd and taking care of his family, but God had plans for him when he was least expecting it.

 

One day he saw something strange – a burning bush, He might have passed that bush many times or even daily in the 40 years that he lived as a shepherd.  He turned aside to see what it was. I am sure if Moses lived today, he would be concentrating on his mobile phone and the social media and would not have looked at the bush.

 

The Bibe says that He was afraid to look at God and covered his face – Exodus 3:6 This is when God revealed who He was to Moses. God Explains to Moses that He has seen the oppression of His people and heard their cry and that He is going to bring them out of that slavery to a good and large land. Imagine Moses listening to this story being told to him from the bush. But he gets a rude awakening when God reveals to him “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10.

 
He suddenly gets to his senses and like many of us today when something is asked of us to do it- we refuse.

 

This leads to the FIRST EXCUSE by Moses

And Moses said unto God, who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?    Exodus 3 :11

 

Moses probably because of the earlier failure in his mind. Thought that he could do nothing significant. He probably did not believe in himself and had poor self-esteem.

 

The FIRST ANSWER from God “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Exodus 3 :12

The answer form God was very straight forward and short and a promise.

 

Moses then comes up with Excuse no 2   And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name?    Exodus 3 :13

Moses during his 80 years of life had not encountered God. He knew there was God, but did not know God on a personal level.  He was yet to see and hear about mighty things that God can do.

 

The Reply from God  And God said unto Moses, I AM WHO I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you….. Exodus 3:14-22

 

God’s reply was a statement of His name and also telling Moses in brief about what is going to happen till they are redeemed from Egypt.

 

While listening to God tell him in brief Moses thought about his next Excuse. - Moses disbelieved God's Word and said, “suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice” suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”   Exodus 4:1

 

Moses like most of us today was assuming the worst or had unnecessary imagination. What if they thought about me…? What if they don’t believe??  

The Answer So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod” …. Exodus 4: 2-9

God answered Moses with two miracles, Rod being turned into a snake and also his own hand becoming leprous when put into the cloak that is he wearing. And also, the reversal of the same.
God is also telling him that I will show the miracles you just need to go there and present yourself and speak what I am telling you to do.

 

Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So, Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.5“This,” said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

6Then theorised, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow….. Exodus 4:4-6

Excuse 4

Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”.. Exodus 4:10

Moses thought he did not have the ability

Answer

The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Exodus 4:11

Excuse 5

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”….Exodus 4:13

Moses did not want to go forward with this assignment -give up responsibility

Answer:

Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.   Exodus 4:14

Excuse 1   Did not believe in himself

Excuse 2   Did not know God

Excuse 3   Assumes the worst –unnecessary imagination

Excuse 4   Did not have the abilities or resources

Excuse 5   Shirk off responsibility

 

The bible later records Moses as being a transformed man.

1 He was humble.

 

Numbers 12:3     3Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.

 

2 He talked with God like a friend.

3 The glory of God was reflected on his face so much that he had to cover his face in front of the Israelite community

4 He used to intercede regularly for the people.

 

All this happened when he stopped giving further excuses and submitted to the PLAN OF GOD.

 

Are you today working up EXCUSES?

Are you today Shirking away from the plans that God has for your life?

God Bless you and guide you in thinking through the solutions for your life.

 

Email:  crowngeorgekoshy@gmail.com

 

 

Learning from the Book of James

 

Learning from the book of James

 

This is an attempt to just give in bullet points what the book of James is teaching us to follow. To the best of my ability, I have written it as the book progresses from Chapter 1 to 5

1.    Some temptations are to help us to develop patience.

2.    Ask God in faith and He will give it liberally.

3.    Temptation comes by our own desires- when we allow it to birth in us it leads to death

4.    Be swift to hear

5.    Be slow to anger

6.    Do what you learn from the word. – do not be hearers only.  

7.    Do not keep preaching religion-

8.    Do it by visiting the orphans, widows in their times of trouble.

9.    Keep away from the blemishes of the word

10. Do not show partiality

11. Poor are rich in faith

12. Faith without works is dead

13. Even demons believe in God and tremble at His word

14. Abraham’s faith was justified in his actions- hence it was accounted to him for righteousness

15. Teachers receive stricter punishment

16. Tame your tongue. Learn to control what comes from it.

17. Boasting and Lying come from the evil- sensuous and demonic forces

18. Wisdom is from God

19. You do not have because you do not ask- if you ask you are asking for your pleasure and hence you do no receive it

20. God resists the proud

21. God gives grace to the humble

22. Resist the devil

23. Draw near to God

24. Humble yourselves before God and He will lift you up

25. Do not judge another

26. God is the lawgiver – has the power to save and to destroy

27. You do not know what will happen tomorrow

28. All boasting is evil

29. Sin - is also know something and not doing it – sin of omission

30. Rich be careful of how you are making your wealth- are you oppressing the poor in the process?

31. Wait patiently for the coming of the Lord

32. Do not grumble

33. Job – see his perseverance

34. God is compassionate and merciful

35. Do not swear

36. Pray for your suffering

37. Sing psalms

38. Call the elders, lay hands, anoint with oil when you are sick

39. Confess your sins to one another

40. Prayers of the righteous man avails much

41. Bring back the wanderer – God will forgive him


I hope this will enable you to read the book of James and make your own learning notes. 

BEING CHILDLIKE

 

Jesus calls us to become like a little child if we ever hope to enter the kingdom of God.

Being  Childlike 

Mark 10:13-16

The background of this sermon is when Jesus is when Jesus is moving to the region of Judea and multitudes are following Jesus, Healing teaching etc all going on while Jesus is moving in the region. The portion above this is when Jesus is asked about Marriage and divorce. This story appears in all three synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke

It looks like the Disciples were monitoring the crowd that were trying to reach to Jesus and have answers to their questions or be healed. The Disciples were sort of the modern day even organisers and they were controlling the crowds That is probably when Jesus sees them turn back a few children.  He becomes very angry is what the word says. He calls the little children to himself and then says. In fact, Jesus was so upset that Mark describes him as “indignant.” Other English translations say he was “much displeased,” “incensed,” or even “angry

 

“Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of Such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it”

 

Jesus doesn’t call people to be childish, but he does call people to be childlike. In fact, he says you won’t get to heaven without becoming like a little child. So, what does he mean? How can you and I be more childlike without being childish? And why is it so important to become like a little child that Jesus would make it a requirement to get to heaven?

 And in this interaction, Jesus tells us three things that are absolutely required to enter heaven.  To enter the kingdom of God, you must:

1. Have faith like a little child

In verse 14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” “Such as these.” You don’t have to be a little child to enter the kingdom of God, but you do need to be like a little child.

Let’s think for a minute what characteristics little children possess when it comes to faith.

They are 

 Innocent and Sincere.        Eager to learn.       Teachable,        Humble,        Trusting,  Open minded          Inquisitive       Simple,       Spontaneous         Lovable   Unpretentious. (trying not to appear special)      No Ego.        Forgiving   
( the list can go on.......) 

Before going forward. Let us take a minute to check how many of these childlike qualities do we possess?  What does apply to us and our relationship to God. We need to Ask the Holy Spirit to help you approach God like a little child. Sometimes we make faith too hard, too difficult, too complex, too...adulterated! Sometimes, it’s just coming to God as we are, like a little child in need of a loving and good and powerful Heavenly Father.

Sometimes we just need to keep it simple. Become like a little child. Have faith like a little child.

As parents we have all held on to children and when you throw them up in the air. They are still laughing. They know fully well that their DAD will hold them in the arms and not allow them to fall to the ground. Today as adults if any of us are going to be thrown up in the air. We will all be worried even if there is a net underneath to hold us. We will not enjoy it like a little child. We will be worried.
We need to have CHILD LIKE FAITH.

 

And #2,

2. Become dependent like a little child.

Little children don’t have much to offer. Sure, they’re fun to look at and play with and dress up and hold and kiss.  They don’t earn a pay check. Nor cook a meal, or wash clothes. They can’t help around the home.  Little children really are pretty useless when it comes to doing anything. Everything has to be done for them!

Little children are dependent upon others for their very survival. They have no autonomy. They have no self-security. They have no self-sufficiency. They really cannot make it on their own.

We must come before God with our insignificance, and our lack of ultimate security, and our total dependence upon him, and throw ourselves at his mercy. He is the potter and we are the clay. He is the creator and we are the created. He is the perfect one and we are the sinful ones. He is the forgiver and we are the ones in great need of forgiveness.

 

The next story after this portion is about Jesus meeting a rich young man. This guy wanted to know what he had to do to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus mentioned the commandments and they guy said, “Best I know, I’ve kept them all.” Jesus said, “You only lack one thing: you need to give all your money to the poor and follow me.” And the guy couldn’t do it. He walked away sad.   He was not willing to submit himself fully to God. He wanted to depend on his riches.

 

You must be totally dependent upon God to enter his kingdom. The Reformation Study Bible says, “Small children model true believers who know they have nothing to bring and everything to receive.” And that brings us to the third and last point. To enter the kingdom of God, you must...

 

3. Receive the kingdom as a gift of God

In verse 15, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not RECEIVE the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” How does a little child receive? With nothing to give in return. And that’s the way we must receive the kingdom of heaven. We have absolutely nothing to give in return. It is a free gift.

It’s called “mercy.” It’s called “grace.” We cannot earn God’s love, because we already have it. We cannot earn God’s forgiveness, but God is more than ready to grant it. If you could buy your way to heaven with good deeds, what a lousy place heaven would be! It would be full of proud, pretentious people! No, the only way to heaven is to admit that you could never make it there without God’s grace, without God’s forgiveness, without God’s unmerited favour freely given, freely bestowed upon you.

 

Look at these two verses:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

 

Karl Barth was one of the great theologians of the twentieth century. Towards the end of his life, Barth was asked for the greatest insight he had ever gained throughout his long years of study and scholarship. Everyone leaned in to listen to what pearl of wisdom he might share. His reply was beautifully simple: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” To finish the verse of the song, “Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.”

Become like a little child in God’s eyes. Climb up on Jesus’ lap. And receive a blessing of eternal life

To sum up Childlike Faith

1 Faith like a little child,

2 Become dependent like a little child, and

3 Receive the kingdom as a gift of God.

 

 Abba Father, we thank you that you will help us to become like Little children, to have complete faith in you, to be dependent on you always and for all things and also to receive the gift of grace, wisdom and forgiveness. Teach us to be more dependant on you daily. In the matchless name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

 

GOD HAS A MASTER PLAN