This concept of a righteous man, known in Hebrew as a tzaddik, dying in the place of the guilty was established in the rabbinic mind long before the New Testament was written. Kirt Schneider
Quote for the Day
Author: newlifenarrabri
Today’s Bike Ride
First frost of the year this morning with temperatures outside town dropping to as low as – 3 C. Despite the cold, it was a nice ride out to the Australia Telescope. #cycling #Narrabri #radioastronomy
Today’s Sermon
Another New Search Engine
There have been many complaints lately about the way Google searches are far less informative than a decade ago. A number of new search engines have emerged to overcome this.
One of the best is Tusk which aims to stop censorship in search. It even has its own AI, Gippr, a throw back to Ronald Reagan.
I had a play with Gippr this morning , and had this amusing response to “What is the Uniting Church in Australia?
I have made Tusk my default search engine to see how it compares to Duck Duck Go
Quote for the Day
The rabbinic teaching is that before the binding of Isaac, God’s grace was largely shut off from the earth. But Abraham’s act of obedience and Isaac’s act of radical surrender opened up a channel for the grace of God to come upon the nation of Israel, and through Israel to flood the entire world. The faithful sacrifice of the one (Isaac) opened up floodgates of mercy for the many. Kirt Schneider
Today’s Bike Ride
Lovely but cold morning. Nice ride on Yarrie Lake Rd. #cycling #Narrabri
Quote for the Day
When we understand that Isaac was an adult who willingly offered himself as a sacrifice in obedience unto his father, we see in him a type of Messiah Yeshua in the clearest terms. While no sacrifice would be comparable to the one Jesus made when He gave Himself up for the sin of the world, Isaac, like Yeshua, knowingly offered up his own life on that altar, fully expecting to die there. Kirt Schneider
Today’s Bike Ride
A chilly 3 degrees this morning. We might get the first frost of the year on the weekend. An enjoyable ride along Culgoora Road to this property where the welcome is as cool as the weather. #cycling #Narrabri
How To Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
People often get hung up about how to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Here are 4 simple steps. Follow these steps in a posture of humbly receiving from God.
1. Ask
It is obvious that the Lord delights to give good gifts to His children. Often, all you have to do is ask. In Luke 11:11-13, Jesus says:
“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
If you have never received the Holy Spirit, then ask your Father in heaven who will gladly give Him to you.
2. Believe
Faith is the key to every part of the Christian life. We receive when we believe.
Take hold of promises like Luke 11:11-13, and the other places where Jess promises the Holy Spirit. Read the book of Acts. Take hold of the promise that God wants you to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. Speak
The gift of speaking in tongues requires that you open your mouth and say something.
Some people really stumble over this. God will give you words to speak in your heavenly prayer language, but you have to speak them out. You might only get one word to start with but as you speak it by faith, more will come.
Some people see words in their mind, others hear words, yet others just speak fluently. God deals with each of us differently and according to our faith. So leet God give you the words to say.
To open your mouth and say something might involve a giant leap of faith, but do it anyway.
4. Listen
Our ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit is a two way street.
God is wanting to speak to us, and we need to listen. The voice of God often comes to us as a whisper that is so easily overwhelmed by the noise of the world and our own thoughts. We need to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Take time to tune into the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection on Matthew 10: 1-10
Scripture
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received.”
Observation
Jesus Calls together the Twelve, and he gives them authority to heal every kind of sickness and to cast out demons.
He sends them out to Israel. They are not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans. Their mission is to announce that the Kingdom of Heaven is here. They are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the lepers, and cast out demons.
Application
First Jesus passes on authority to the disciples. Then He sends them out to exercise that authority to demonstrate that the Kingdom of God really is here.
The signs of the kingdom are very powerful miracles. They are to:
* heal the sick. They have authority over every kind of sickness, so this is will not be a problem.
* raise the dead. This is a very powerful miracle, not seen everyday, a sure sign that God is with them.
* cure lepers. Leprosy was not just a physical sickness, but it caused social isolation as well.
* cast out demons. The Kingdom of God is much stronger than the kingdom of the Devil
This commission is still for Christians today. We are to tell people about the Kingdom of God, and the message is to be backed up by signs of God’s power
Prayer
Holy Spirit come and fill me with your power. May I experience your miracles in my daily life. Amen.
New Life Narrabri 