Another fine morning in Narrabri.
Today’s Bike Ride
Month: October 2022
Quote for the Day
Yet in the midst of these circumstances, a revival burst forth which came in the form of Pietism. This took place under the pastoral leadership of Philipp Jakob Spener, who introduced small home meetings in 1670, and wrote his seminal work Pia Desideria in 1675. Pietism helped believers recover a personal, experiential relationship with Jesus Christ, and the inward life of the Spirit that Luther had originally known. Jason Hubbard
Today’s Bike Ride
It was very cool and breezy first thing, and I had to go for blood tests. Later in the morning it was warmer and my body was desperate for some physical activity. Beautiful weather now the rain has cleared.
Lay Your Burden Down
“Stop worrying,” says the Lord.
Do not be anxious. Lay your burdens of worry, anxiety, fear – lay them down at my feet.
What does all your anxiety do for you? You stress about things you have no control over. You work out plans, strategies and contingencies as if that gives you a measure of control.
Lay it down.
Don’t you see that I have it al in my hands? Don’t you see that I care for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field?
How much more is my love for you?
How much more will I provide what you need?
Lay it down.
Do not worship these things that concern you by making them the focus of your thoughts. Worship me instead. I am the one who gives you peace.
Lay it all down.
Today’s Sermon
Quote for the Day
Dating from 1722, the Moravian story is the fruit of three converging factors. The first was a religious revival in Germany called Pietism, which brought about the Christ-centred awakening of a dogma-driven church that was desperately in need of renewal. The second factor was the pressure of religious persecution and increasing division amongst God’s people on the continent of Europe. The third was the personality and call of a man by the name of Nikolaus von Zinzendorf. Jason Hubbard
Revival Vision
I saw hundreds of people lining up for baptism. People of all ages, from Primary School age through teenagers, families, even older people in their 80’s and 90’s.
The Lord is coming in revival power. Many, many people are going to come into the Kingdom.
No longer will you be praying, “Lord send revival.” No, revival will come to you, and you will pray, “Hallelujah!”
At that time it will be easy for people to be saved, for the power of the Evil One to hold people in bondage will be dissipated.
People will find their eyes opened in an instant, and they will ask in amazement, “How could we have been blind so that we could not see the Lord?”
There will be joy in the church and joy in the town.
The strongholds are coming down!
There is a flood coming – flood of my Spirit. I will come in like a flood with power and cleansing. “I will be the water for baptism,” says the Lord.
Reflection on Hebrews 10:26-39
Scripture
Just think how much more the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which makes us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and having insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us .
Observation
If we deliberately and will fully keep sinning after we come into the way of truth, then there is no other sacrifice available to us. Under the law of Moses, those who refused to obey were put to death. How much worse then is the punishment for those who trample on the Lord Jesus.
God has told us that he will take revenge. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
T he people addressed in this letter were ridiculed, beaten, and imprisoned. but they accepted this suffering with joy. They should endure, remembering the great joy that comes when we remain steadfast.
Application
This passage is not about christians who continue to sin after they are saved. Everybody falls, and as we grow in maturity of faith, we learn how to live according to God’s standards for holiness.
This passage is about people who turn their backs on the way of salvation. They once believed but no longer do so. In the context of the letter, it is directly about those who caved in to pressure from the Jews and returned to obeying the law, thus denying salvation by faith in Christ.
It is sad when anybody turns away from the Lord. It is even worse when they are high profile leaders in the christian community. How often have we heard the phrase, “I no longer identify as a christian.”
Jesus himself said that anyone who denies him in this life will find that He denies them at the Judgement.
This is not to say that there is no chance of redemption for such people. But it is very hard to walk away from Jesus and then to try to come back.
Prayer
Lord, please help me to stay true to you all of my life. Amen.
Quote for the Day
On August 13th, 1727, the Moravians experienced a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit during a communion service. It was described as a ‘baptism of love’, where God’s love was shed abroad in their hearts and poured out in love for one another (cf. Romans 5:5). Following this, the Holy Spirit compelled them to build a canopy of united, strategic and sustainable prayer that continued for a hundred years. Jason Hubbard
Reflection on Hebrews 10:19-25
Scripture
And let us not neglect meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is near.
Observation
We can boldly enter the Most Holy place of Heaven because of the blood of Jesus. His death opened a way through the curtain that separated us from God. Let us go then right into God’s presence.
We must hold tightly to hope, encourage one another in love, and keep on meeting together to build one another up.
Application
Meeting together with our brothers and sisters in the Lord is a basic part of Christian living.
God has called us to be a community of faith, a people who witness together and worship together.
How can we love one another, encourage one another, bear one another’s burdens and so on, unless we actually meet together?
The church functions best when all of its members meet together in large groups and small groups. Meeting is great for worship and instruction. The smaller group is best suited for personal ministry, exhortation and fellowship.
Jesus did not minister as a “Lone Ranger” but through a band of followers whom he trained into ministry.
It is in exploring life together that we become mature in our walk with the Lord.
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for your body, the church. Thank you for all of those brothers and sisters who encourage me regularly. Amen.
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