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Reflection on Romans 6:12-23

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Scripture

No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.

Observation
We have died in Christ and therefore sin no longer has dominion. We must not make our bodies instruments of sin.
We were once slaves of sin, but in Christ we are now slaves to righteousness. When we were slaves to sin, there was no advantage or benefit, but now we are slaves to righteousness we gain holiness.
Sin pays its wages in the form of death, but God’s free gift in Christ is eternal life.

Application
We have freedom in Christ to sin or not sin. Previously we had no choice at all, but now we have the grace to live holy lives.
Sin holds its false rewards. It tantalises us to draw us in. But the real payment with sin is death and separation from God.
Why would we choose sin when there is so much to lose? Knowing that we have the choice and the help of the Holy Spirit to choose life makes it possible to escape sin’s clutches.

Prayer
Father you know the sins that continue to entangle me. Please give me the grace to break free and to walk in your righteousness. Amen.

Reflection on Genesis 21:1-21

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Scripture

“Come lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand for I will make a great nation of him.”

Observation

Sarah bears a son for Abraham in their old age. Isaac grows and Sarah becomes jealous of Hagar and Ishmael. She demands that Abraham sends them away. Abraham is reluctant to do this, but God tells him not to be worried. Although Isaac is the child of promise, Ishmael will also father a nation.

Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away with some food and water. They wander in the wilderness near Beersheba. When the water is gone, Hagar places Ishmael under a bush and goes some distance away. God opens her eyes to see a well.

God is with the boy and he grows up in the wilderness.

Application

Sometimes we act outside of God’s perfect will. Abraham had tried to make God’s promises come true by sleeping with his wife’s servant. Trouble arose later but it didn’t mean that God would wash his hands of Ishmael.

God keeps His promises to us despite our sinfulness.

He also brings unexpected blessings out of our mistakes. That’s not to say that there are no consequences- Ishmael’s descendants continue to fight against Isaac’s to this day.

God takes our high points of faith and our monumental catastrophic failings and weaves them together to achieve His purposes.

Our sins don’t have the last word.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the story of Ishmael and your provision for him in the desert. Please help me to be faithful to you all the time, and when I fall redeem my mistakes and forgive my sin. Amen.

Today’s Sermon

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Pentecost-of-many-tongues

The sermon for June 15th 2014 is now available on the New Life web-site.

In this sermon, which is based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, I talk about the unity in the Body of Christ.

Click here to listen.

Margaret Baxter’s sermon from the 8th June is also available here.

Reflection on Matthew 28:16-20

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Scripture

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”

Observation

The eleven disciples go to Galilee to the place Jesus had directed them. He appears, and they worship, though some doubt.

Jesus tells them He has been given all authority and therefore they must go and make disciples of all nations. They are to baptise them and teach them to obey everything He has commanded.

Application

Of the eleven apostles, the ones closest to Jesus, some initially doubted the resurrection. It was too big for hem to get their heads around.

Jesus ignores their doubt and tells them to get on with the job- making disciples of all nations.

All of us doubt at times. The critical thing is to move onwards, to keep following even in periods when it doesn’t make sense.. The fog will lift and we will see Christ again.

The awesome task of making disciples will not end until the end of the age. Wherever the Lord plants us, we are to look for opportunities to preach the gospel and train up those who seek to follow Jesus.

Prayer

Help me Lord to invest my life in disciple making. Show me who to share with and how to do this. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 13:1-13

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xamine_yourselves

Scripture

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Observation

Paul will be coming to Corinth for the third time, and he warns them he will not be lenient with the people who continue to live in persistent sin.

Christ is not weak in dealing with sin. Although He was crucified in weakness, He now lives in the power of God.

We must test ourselves to see whether we are living in faith. We must examine ourselves to see if Christ is in us and that we are living in the truth.

Finally Paul encourages the Corinthians to love one another and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with them.

Application

It is very easy to fall prey to deception, to think we are doing well when we are not. Sin creeps in so easily.

We need to regularly ask ourselves, “Am I really living in Christ, and He in me?”

Our hearts and minds must continue to be open to correction by the Holy Spirit so that sin, wrong motives and the tricks of the enemy can be rooted out. Only then can we walk in the full measure of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and examine my heart. Reveal to me anything that is not of you and give me grace to get rid of it. Amen.

Reflection on Genesis 1:1-2:4

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Scripture

God saw everything he had made and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Observation

In the beginning is God, and He commences His work of creation. What starts off as being formless and chaotic becomes ordered and productive.

Over a period of six days, by His creative word, God commands all things into existence, including people.

God’s verdict at the end of His work is that it is very good.

Finally God rests, and in doing so, He creates the Sabbath.

Application

At the heart of all creation is the hallmark of a God who is good. The creation which God makes is very good, although after sin enters the world chaos once again threatens to engulf God’s world.

Everything that is not the Lord is created by Him, and is therefore less than Him. We are a part of His creation and so we are not gods even if we sometimes think we are. The gods which people worship are also less than God- whether we think of creation, idols or crystals. These things are all subject to the God who reigns over all things.

Prayer

Father, you made all things in six days, and you continue to hold all things together. Please help me to give you true worship and surrender myself to you. Amen.

Reflection on John 20:19-23

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Scripture

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Observation

Jesus appears to the disciples (minus Thomas) and at night time. The disciples are meeting in a locked room out of fear of the Jewish leaders.

Jesus greets them and shows them His wounds. He commissions them and breathes on them to impart the Holy Spirit. Those whom they forgive will be forgiven.

Application

It was a dark and fearful time for the disciples until they knew that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Jesus comes to them bringing hope, joy and the Holy Spirit. Everything changes.

The Holy Spirit is given for the mission of the church. He propels us into the world- Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth- taking the message of forgiveness and grace to all people.

Prayer

Lord, you send out your people into the world. Where are you sending me? May I walk in the grace and the power of the Holy Spirit today. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:1-13

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spiritual-gifts-are-not-natural-talents

Scripture

All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Observation

The Holy Spirit honours Christ, so nobody under the Spirit’s influence will say “Jesus be cursed.”

There are many gifts and services in the church, but it is the Holy Spirit who directs and activates them. Although these gifts are diverse, they are all given by the same Spirit.

The gifts are like different parts of the body. Regardless of where we come from or our social standing, the Spirit is poured out on each person for the sake of the body of Christ.

Application

The Spirit manifests through every person who is a follower of Jesus. We don’t get to pick and choose which of these manifestations we prefer- it is all at the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Some of these gifts are for revelation- words of knowledge and wisdom, discernment of spirits. Some of them are for speaking with- tongues and interpretation, prophecy. Other gifts are for action- faith, miracles and healing.

To be used by the Spirit we need to be listening to the Spirit and ready to do what He directs us to do.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and fill me. Help me to hear you and to partner with you in your mighty, holy works. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 2:1-21

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Pentecost-of-many-tongues

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

The disciples are together on the Day of Pentecost. Suddenly there is a sound like a rushing wind and fiery tongues c