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Pentecostal Church
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Sermon18112011 The Peace of the Christ compared to the peace of Caesar Augustus.
Dec 19th
At our carol service this morning, Graham shared a short thought about the difference between the peace that Christ would bring and that promised by Caesar Augustus at the time of Jesus’ birth.
Standard Podcast [ 16:36 ] Play in Popup | Download The ‘how’ and ‘what’ of peace
Is there, was there, a challenge in that first Christmas vision? You would not think so judging by the sterilised image of Christmas in the media at this time of the year. The Christmas message is often presented to us in such a way as to avoid disturbing the peace of ignorance. There was a challenge and a surprise to the first readers of Luke’s gospel and, before that, to the first witnesses of the birth and its announcement.
Power
In Luke’s gospel note the titles given to Jesus and to Caesar. Jesus was declared to be Son of God, Saviour of the World, and Christ.
Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David… Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Between those titles appearing in Luke’s gospel More >
Sermon 11122011 What are angels? Was Daniel’s crystal man an angel? What are cherubim and seraphim?
Dec 12th
This morning Graham looked at angels, exploring what they are and why we are more special and more privileged than the angels.
Standard Podcast [ 30:32 ] Play in Popup | Download
Luke 2:1-15 Angels
This week we will see that: 1) Angels are real and represent God 2) Angels are not saved 3) Angels are witnesses of the incarnation
1) Angels are real and represent God We are given little information on angels in the bible. Too much has been said using too little authoritative information.
Not all spiritual beings mentioned in the bible are called angels. Something appeared to Daniel in the form of a man made of crystal revealing the nature of these creatures. Though was not said to be an angel in this case (Daniel 10:13).
The crystal ‘man’ said: “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia”.
We are not told what the king of Persia is or what Michael is. It is assumed he is some sort of spiritual being that has great power, status and authority.
Some of the powerful creatures mentioned in the bible are cherubim and seraphim
Cherubim Genesis 3:24 More >
Sermon 20111204 No angel seen for 400 years then one visits Zechariah
Dec 5th
John Barton preached on the first chapter of Luke’s gospel and the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Zechariah. John brought out a number of details that are often often overlooked.
The recording quality is very bad, don’t know why, sorry. It is worth persisting though as this is good teaching. Standard Podcast [ 42:07 ] Play in Popup | Download
Sermon 27112011 A sin that leads to death.
Nov 28th
This morning Graham looked at the final passage in 1 John, exploring what to do when a fellow believer sins.
Standard Podcast [ 37:36 ] Play in Popup | Download
1 John 5:16-21
Sin and the believer
Intro
One way of looking at his section is to say first we have an assurance that prayer makes a difference in verse 14-15, then we have an example of what prayer can do.
Another way of looking at it is to say the writer was wanting to talk about praying for those in need and precedes it with an introduction that declared prayer is the solution in these cases.
The two ways of looking at it do not change the meaning but suggest different emphasis.
1) Can a believer sin?
This is the third time in this letter that the subject of believers and sin. Previously the emphasis was that true believers do not live in a lifestyle of sin yet now the writer admits that such a thing is possible. This is not a change of doctrine, this portion still carries the assurance that the common experience of the believer will be to live out a life displaying the transformation the new birth brought about.
The readers/hearers have already been instructed how they More >
Sermon 20112011 We know we have what we have asked for… we can have confidence in him.
Nov 21st
This morning Graham looked at the final section of 1 John 5, from verse 13. He explored the theme of what we ‘know’ about God and the confidence that we can have in him.
Standard Podcast [ 23:55 ] Play in Popup | Download
1 John 5:13
Intro
Note: I was asked a question about verse 7-8. NIV 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
Some translations add a bit: AV 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
This extra bit about the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost does not appear in any translation until the 1500s. It is thought to be a margin note that was mistakenly coped into the text be a careless copier.
Verses 11-12 “I write these things…” marks a new section, the conclusion to this letter.
1) Know “Know” appears 7 times with a mention of “confidence” added. Verse 13 We know we have eternal life Verse 14 “Confidence”. Approach, Heard, request More >
Sermon 13112011 ‘Imprionsed in Iran’ an inspiring talk from Dan Baumann as part of YWAM’s Trumpet Tour.
Nov 14th
This morning we had YWAM with us and they led the service. They brought with them Dan Baumann who shared with us an inspiring message based upon his experiences of being in prison in Iran. He has written a number of books about his story. For more information see: . http://www.christianbook.com/imprisoned-iran-loves-victory-over-fear/dan-baumann/9781576581803/pd/581802
Standard Podcast [ 43:44 ] Play in Popup | Download
Please note the recording is quite quiet.
Sermon 06112011 The witness of the Spirit, water and blood, and the witness of God.
Nov 7th
This morning Graham looked at 1 John 5:6-12, looking at how the Spirit, water and blood testify of Jesus, but also how God testifies about his son.
Standard Podcast [ 36:35 ] Play in Popup | Download
1 John 5:6-12
Intro The turn of the spiral here reminds us of 1:5-2:2. There are repeated words and phrases in this section: “Make God a liar” 1:10; 5:10 “Blood of Jesus” 1:7; 5:6,8 “This is the message” 1:5 “This is the one who came” 5:6
If there is any theme we can recognise here as applying particularly to our time it is the emphasis upon Jesus being unique and supreme over every other possible claimant to the title. This has huge relevance to modern followers of Christ when invited to be part of inter-faith dialogue. Inter-faith and multi-faith are two very different things. Inter-faith is often practised by people from various faiths as they talk together and seek good relationships while maintaining there distinctives and different beliefs (agreeing the disagree). Multi-faith is an idea pressed upon people of faith by those who have no faith. Politicians seem to be those who favour packing us all in the same enclosed and restrictive box. My suggestion is that once the different More >
Sermon 30102011 Our victory is not only in what we do not do, but it is in what we choose to do.
Oct 30th
This morning Graham looked at 1 John 5:4-5, and the victory that can be ours because we know God and he lives in us.
Standard Podcast [ 38:25 ] Play in Popup | Download
1 John 5:5-12
Victory
Intro: what it is not
What is this victory? Victory over what?
What this victory is not:
- It is not “How to be a winner”
- It is not “How to be prosperous”
- It is not “How to be successful in life and in business”
- It is not “How to have influence or dominion over others and be the leader you were always meant to be”
Each of these are probably titles of Christian books, sermons or conferences. They are usually peddled by shallow people who cater to self-centred people, with self-centred appetites, while pretending it is the Christian faith. Much of what I have heard form those sorts of places is certainly not Christian. Is a comfort religion. It is an invention of the self-absorbed and prosperous (or those who want to be prosperous) to justify their sub-Christian values.
Reading about one of these preachers I read that he counsels patience, compassion, kindness, generosity and an overall positive attitude. This is familiar to any reader of self-help books. Avoided are the themes of sin, suffering More >
Sermon 23102011 Until Jesus Christ returns in glory, when I shall know fully, even as I am fully known, I am determined to live the transformed life
Oct 24th
This morning Graham spoke on 1 John 4:16-5:5 looking at what this passage says about seeing, believing and knowing.
Standard Podcast [ 24:28 ] Play in Popup | Download
1 John 4:16-5:5Intro I have tried to gather things under heading to make it easier to deal with the many themes that appear in this section. This week the headings are Seeing, Believing and Knowing. In case you think you are getting a touch of deja vu, yes it is similar to the headings on 16th Oct when the headings were Knowing, Seeing and Trusting. Once again I need to point out that John does not simply repeat points but seems to go in a spiral, enlarging as he returns to a point. When he revisits a point he tends to amplify upon it either by adding information to it or by the context he places around it.
Verse 21 There are three relationships we have with God:
- With our brother and sister who is each his image.
- By the commandment which is his will.
- Through Love; seen in us as we live out that action and decision we call love.
1) Seeing Verse 20 Loving is connected with seeing, as previously mentioned.
See 1 John 4:12 No-one has ever seen God; but More >
16092011′We know that we live in him and he is us, because he has given us his spirit.”
Oct 16th
This morning Graham looked at 1 John 4: 11-16, looking at how we can know God by his spirit.
Standard Podcast [ 38:14 ] Play in Popup | Download
1 John 4:11-18
Knowing, Seeing and Relying
Intro 1 John 4:11-18 The relationship between loving and “remaining”. This is not about security of our salvation but about securing the experience and confidence that we abide in him and he in us.
As I said last week This one of three divisions within the larger section beginning in verse 7.. Each of these sections begin with an appeal to love based upon God’s love: 4:7-10 An appeal to love based on the great act of love, God sending the Son. 4:11-18 The relationship between loving and “remaining”. This is not about security of our salvation but about securing the experience of abiding in him and he in us. 4:19-5:5 The act of love is a means by which we are victorious over the world.
For the sixth and last time the Elder here uses the salutation, “Dear friends.”
1) Knowing Verse 13 “We know” or “In this we know”. This is the sixth time this statement of confident assurance is used.
2:3 that we have known him 3:16 love 3:19 that we are of More >
