The sermon for May 15th 2016 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on Acts 2:1-14, I talk about the importance of Pentecost now.
Click here to download the mp3.
We regret that following our web-site upgrade, we currently do not have the ability to let you listen direct in your web browser. We hope to fix that shortly.
Exciting new transport technology. I wonder if it will actually work in real life.
From the ABC.
Hyperloop One’s magnet-powered sled hits 160kph in breakthrough test of future train system
Updated
A car-sized sled powered by electromagnets has rocketed to more than 160 kilometres per hour through the Nevada desert in what the Los Angeles company developing the technology said was the first successful test of a futurist transit system called hyperloop.
Key points:
- Developers say system will transport passengers by 2021
- Sceptics say construction costs are underestimated
- Hyperloop One already has raised $80 million from backers
Hyperloop One is among several companies competing to bring to life a technical vision by Elon Musk, the founder of rocket maker SpaceX and electric car company Tesla Motors, who suggested sending pods holding passengers and cargo inside giant vacuum tubes between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
It is a matter of debate how soon — or whether — passengers and cargo will ride the system at velocities approaching 1,200 kilometres per hour, but Hyperloop One has already raised $80 million from backers including clean technology venture capitalist Khosla Ventures, high-speed railway SNCF, the French National Rail Company and GE Ventures.
Brogan BamBrogan, a former SpaceX engineer who co-founded Hyperloop One, called the test a major milestone.
“Technology development testing can be a tricky beast,” he said to a crowd of 300.
“You never know on a given day if things are going to work exactly like you want.”
The sled began on a train track and then was rocketed to 168 kilometres per hour by electromagnets as electricity was shot into copper coils. After a short ride, the sled ran into a sand trap, sending out silicon sprays. If all goes according to plan, sleds will levitate and carry pods in a test later this year.
Gigantic tubes are already scattered around the Las Vegas area test site.
Read the full story here
Read passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14.8-17
Scripture
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth.”
Observation
Philip says to Jesus, “Show us the Father.” Jesus replies, “”Whoever sees me sees the Father. The Father and I are one.”
Jesus then goes on to say that whoever believes in Him will also do the works that He does, and even greater things. Anything we ask for in His name, He will do it.
Jesus is going to send another Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The world cannot receive Him, but the disciples can. He abides with them and will be in them.
Application
Jesus promises to give them the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Advocate.
This promise is to all who follow Jesus. The miracle of Pentecost is that the Spirit is poured out on “all flesh,” to all who call on the name of the Lord.
One of the limitations in the contemporary church (actually all through history) is the ongoing desire for a priestly class. Even in Pentecostal or charismatic churches there is a veneration of the “Man of God” who alone has the anointing.
The Bible is clear that God calls and equips certain people to lead the church. But the Holy Spirit is poured out on all believers. All followers of Jesus must engage in the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Holy Spirit come and fill me. Give me faith today to do the “greater things” that Jesus promised I would. Amen.
Read passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8.12-15
Scripture
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Observation
We are debtors, not to the flesh, but to God’s Spirit. If we live by the works of our flesh (our unredeemed natural self) then we will die. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to put to death the sinful ways we will live.
Everyone who is led by the Spirit is a child of God. When we first believed we received the spirit of adoption that calls out “Abba Father.”
The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and therefore heirs with Christ.
Application
One of the great works of the Holy Spirit is to teach us that we are sons and daughters of God. We don’t have to prove how good we are to Him because He has adopted us into His family. He already loves us.
Many people have an orphan heart. That is, they have been badly hurt by the lack of a father in their life or by abuse by their father. This makes it hard for them to receive the love of the heavenly Father.
The Holy Spirit is given us to reveal to us how much we are loved by the Father.
Prayer
Father I thank you for your never-failing love. Help me to receive your love and to walk in it every day. Amen.
During our last Prayer Weekend, the Lord gave me this word for our church
Transition- a process of moving from one condition or state to another.
This is transition time, the butterfly is emerging. It is difficult, tough, confronting, uncomfortable and more.
There is a destination in view. That is the point of transition. It is not chaos for the sake of chaos.
The transition is not a change in structure, but a change in perception of the Lord. We are going to learn to hear the voice of the Lord, how to see what He is doing so that we can join in.
This is why it feels like there is so much passive resistance again. The enemy has amplified the chaos in people’s minds and blinded them to the destination.
We are walking through sand like in a desert. It is hard going, but we must keep going until the journey is done and we get to the green fertile valley.
Don’t be afraid. My rod and staff will comfort you in the journey.
Read passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2.1-21
Scripture
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability.
Observation
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples are together in the one place when the Holy Spirit comes with a noise like a violent wind and the sight of flames like tongues. The Holy Spirit fills all of them and they begin to speak in tongues.
At the commotion, people from around rush to see what is happening. They are amazed to hear these uneducated Galileans praising God in various languages. They are amazed, but some of them sneer saying, “They are drunk.”
Peter stands up and preaches, showing how this is the promise of the Spirit prophesied by Joel.
Application
The Holy Spirit is power- the mighty rushing wind that disrupts our comfortable existence.
The Holy Spirit is fire- burning away the sin and vain lifestyles of sinful people.
The Holy Spirit is language- prayer language bringing us into the throne room of the Father.
The Holy Spirit is confidence to preach with conviction and power to bring people to salvation.
Prayer
Come Holy Spirit. Come and fill me so that every action, every word, every minute speaks of the glory of Jesus. Amen.
This morning I was studying John 17:20-26 and I was struck by an interesting chain of logic in this section of Jesus’ prayer.
The logic runs like this:
A similar thread runs around the word glory. In John’s gospel it is on the cross that Jesus is glorified, and this is happening right before the crucifixion.
When christians argue and refuse to love one another it is a sign that they don’t love God enough and have not seen His glory. If you do a search on almost any well-known Christian leader you will quickly find a thousand or more pages about why that person is a heretic or not even saved.
Those pages betray a problem with their authors- they don’t love God enough.
The positive side of this is that if we pursue God with pure passion, then He will give us a greater love for His people. I have seen that in my own life. Each morning as I pray for the people in my church, the Lord gives me a deeper appreciation and love for each one. Lately He has directed me to pray for the other pastors in the town and I am finding the same process at work. I actually like these men and women!
If we want to see our town and our nation turn to Christ we first must learn to love one another more. But to do that we must love God more. The starting place has to be worship, both personal and corporate, reading the Scriptures and praying for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. As we do these things, He will show us people to pray for and give us the love to serve them.
In the midst of all these things, if I read John 17 correctly, we will start to see the glory of God released and flowing out from us to the world.
That is how revival starts.
Read passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17.20-26
Scripture
“The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
Observation
Jesus prays for His disciples- those He already has and those yet to come.
He asks that they will have the same kind of unity with Himself and the Father that He and the Father have with one another so that they will be one with one another.
The world does not know the Father, but the disciples do. As they understand the Father they will grow in love and in Him.
Application
Everything comes down to our oneness with Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. They are one and they invite us to one in Him.
As we go deeper into relationship with the Three-in-One God, we will discover a deeper love for those who also seek a deeper walk in Him. Love for God transfers into love for God’s people.
Unity in God is not about agreement on doctrine of worship styles. It’s not aobut a structural unity. No, this is about love for one another, a genuine affection based onj mutual love for the Lord.
Prayer
To grow in love, Lord, I need to go deeper with you. May I become one with you, so that your love and holiness grow in me and flow out into the world through me. Amen.
Read passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22:12-21
Scripture
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come”
And let everyone who hears say, “Come”
And let everyone who is thirsty come
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
Observation
Jesus is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, and He is coming.
Those who wash their robes can freely enter the city and access the tree of life. Those who love sin remain outside.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come Lord Jesus”, and everyone who is thirsty may come to Him.
Application
The Bible ends with two invitations to come. First there is the request, the passionate call for Jesus to come and take full possession of the earth. Paul tells us all things must be put under Him.
Perhaps surprisingly there is also the invitation for everyone who is thirsty to come and drink. Right at the end of the Bible, at the conclusion of the end of the created order, there is sill an invitation to come. The New Jerusalem is a place of welcome and fulfilment for all who thirst for Jesus.
The work of the gospel never stops. The Lord is not willing for any to perish. The invitation to “come” must keep going forth.
If you are thirsty for the Lord, for justice, for righteousness, for forgiveness, for LIFE- then come and drink the living water.
Prayer
Lord I look forward to your return. Come Lord Jesus. But I look forward also to seeing your glory being shown in more and more people turning to you. May they say “Yes” to your invitation to come. Amen.
