The presence of God is carried on the shoulders of the priests- Matt Doty

My All for Him, The Fellowship in His Suffering- Josiah Nicotra

My All for Him 1. SET THE SCENE We often discuss or even teach about our own suffering and what we do to overcome…our hardships, our pain, our disappointments, our even the flesh being crucified and even the understanding of how we walk in God in the crucified life. But we rarely pause to feel the weight of Christ’s suffering, the fellowship of His anguish, the privilege of being counted with Him. We consider God as above all things…enthroned, victorious, untouchable and …He is. But the God who sits above creation is also the God who became a man, who felt pain, who took on sorrow, who felt torment. On the cross of Calvery, Jesus said, as He was beaten, and mocked, He says, “father forgive them for they know not what they do”… On the Damascus Road, Paul persecuted the church, but Jesus said, “Why do you persecute Me?” He makes it personal. He feels what His body feels. He identifies with our suffering because we are in Him, and He is in us. And in following Him, we are not only invited into His resurrection power but we are invited into the fellowship of His sufferings, the devotion that costs something, the bridal love that walks through the valley with Him. This is not self-pity. This is not emotional tribulation. This is Holy union…and identification with The Cross of Calvary. 2. SCRIPTURE *read all of Philippians 3* Philippians 3:8–11 (ESV) “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” 3. TENSION The tension: Are we suffering for Christ, or just suffering in our flesh? Crucifying the flesh is not suffering for Christ. That is simply the very necessary death of the old man in order that we might identify with Him.True suffering for Christ is Holy union, it is identification with Him. It is sharing in His rejection, His humiliation, His burdens, His pain for the sake of the gospel. Many believers obsess over where they’ve been, what they’ve lost, what they feel but Paul says: “I count it all loss.” It is all eclipsed by the revelation and privilege it is to know Him. In fact, all that I do have is but worthless in the eyes of eternity, for anything I have moth and rust will destroy but Jesus, the person of Jesus, the love, the embrace, the knowing of Him, He is enough. He even warns: Many have become enemies of the cross (Phil 3:18). Not just enemies of Jesus but enemies of His way. How he comes lowly. How he comes to lay His life down. And so often in our charismatic circles, we often say “I don’t need to strive”, “it’s a free gift”…well, you’re right that salvation is a free gift but Paul says: “By any means possible I may attain…” This is not earning salvation, but living with holy longing, reverential pursuit, costly devotion. I want to see us drawn into the depths of His love, the union of His suffering, the union of His death, the union of His life and the union of His resurrection power. The question we are presented then is this: Do we love His resurrection power but avoid His suffering? Do we want His glory but not His cup?

Hearts that Host Jesus- Josiah Nicotra

Hearts that Host Jesus 16.11.25 Galatians 6:9 (ESV) “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV) “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” The person (or ideology) we host determines the fruit you bear. The picture we idol paints the person you are. Let us consider this with the framework of soil… Soil that is soft is a heart that is humble. Humility is the bedrock for fruit and abundant fruit. When dependency on The Lord becomes the rest and resolve we live by and live in, we reap harvests that are beyond the paradigma4 dr1`ewq of this world’s understanding; whether that is health or finance, including…character, positional, generational. Focal Point: Be on watch that the soil of your heart is soft soil, ready to discern between good and evil, dependant and receptive to the seeds that come from Jesus. As we do, multiplication is the inheritance of dependence. God fashions and forms abundance beyond systems and flows because the result of the abundance is Glory given back to God, it is fruit unto righteousness. A righteousness that shines like the sun. His abundance speaks of His Glory and His Glory speaks to His radiance and wonder. Tension: There are 3 core tensions presented here that we come up against. Before we get to the tensions, let us be reminded that the Kingdom of God is an upside Kingdom. To see good, fruitfulness, we don’t attack the enemy with effort and might, but we tend inward and remain upward. When our gaze is on the lamb of God, vulnerable yet determined to see that His Kingdom has a landing pad on my heart, it’s in THAT position we see breakthrough. Tensions 1. Hardened Soil2. Shallow Soil 3. Crowded Soil Fertile Soil is where it is neither hard, shallow nor crowded, but soft, deep, and consecrated. Scriptures: Matthew 13:3–9 (ESV) — The Parable of the Sower 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:18–23 (ESV) — Jesus Explains the Sower 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution&

“The How”, in Coming to Jesus - Josiah Nicotra

“The How”, in Coming to Jesus 🕊 This message is intended for every Christian in this room and for those who may, even now, have a first-time encounter with the living God. Coming to Jesus is not a one-time event…He is life itself. We depend on Him daily through surrender and learning to remain in His holy will. For the way we first come to Jesus is the same way we stay with Him…humbly, needy, and surrendered. Opening Scene / Setting the Frame Let’s set the scene… The disciples, just witnessing Jesus pull his tax to give to Caesar…from the mouth of a fish, circling Him in awe, on this glowing afternoon, dust on their feet, faith in their hearts, God on their mind…seeing that Jesus is The Miracle Worker, that He has healed the sick, raised the dead, given words of knowledge no one will know, speaking of prophecies and in parables for what is to come…within this current moment…one of of them dares to ask, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Just imagine. If that was you or me in the shoes of Jesus, doing what has been done and being asked “Who is the greatest?” How we would fall from patience and likely respond with rebuke… Jesus, instead of rebuking, or answering with titles or ranks, positions or gifting…He calls for a child. He lifts the little one into their midst and says; “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” First, let us qualify what the “kingdom of heaven” is. It is both where God is, the location of heaven, and yet it is also where His Glory is, where heaven collides with earth. For when Jesus did miracles, or when he charged the gospels to preach the gospel, where you and I preach the gospel He says then, in that moment, where the light of Christ is present, “THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND”…. So often we have complex ideas or understandings of loops and hoops we need to jump through in order to come to God… or… Maybe we don’t think there is any requirements and that “if God is good” he is without justice or that He removes our free will in order that He would force us into communion with Him…but that wouldn’t be in His nature. God doesn’t send anyone to hell, he gives you the liberty to choose if you want to be with Him or not. If with Him here, you continue with Him there and if you desire to not be with Him now, He will let you be apart from Him there… The scriptures are clear, for it teaches us “The How” we come to God. (pause) It’s in this moment Jesus defines the doorway to the Kingdom…not through performance, pride, or position, but through humility, dependence, and trust. We come to God not to impress God but to be known by Him. Not to perform but to embrace. Not to strive but to surrender. The question today may be for some, “if” we’ll come to God, For others it’s not if we’ll come to God, but how we’ll come to Him, And for others not just how, but remaining with Him and depending on Him every moment of our lives, surrendering, dedicating, committing, every part of our being… Walking with God is more than a belief, more than church attendance, more than ministry. It is living in step with Him….breath by breath, moment by moment, thought by thought, desire by desire. This brings us to the three attributes of how we come to Jesus — three of many, but three that lay the foundation for how we come to Jesus and remain in Him: 1. Humble 2. Needy 3. Surrendered (1) (I am) Humble (nothing without) Humility is the bedrock in coming to God (tension) Here is the tension: Pride seeks recognition; humility seeks relationship. Pride says, ‘look at the good I’ve done’ Humility says, ‘I am evil, and only you are good’ Pride says, ‘if God is God then He would or wouldn’t do that….blah blah blah…’ Humility says, ‘Oh Lord, you are God and to me this doesn’t make sense and I don’t see&

The presence of God is carried on the shoulders of the priests- Matt Doty

Eden Church 19/10/25 - The presence of God is carried on the shoulders of the priests 2 Sam. 6:1-15 *  David's desire was to bring the presence of God back to Jerusalem. *  David wanted the manifest presence of God. *  You might think, that's harsh. *  And you'd be right - they did have the right intentions and their hearts were in the right place - but it wasn't God's way.  Num. 7:9, "But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder." *  The prophetic picture was that the manifest presence of God was always intended to be carried on the shoulders of the priests, not forced into man made models. *  When the Holy Spirit comes, he's given to every believer, not just a special few. 1 Peter 2:1-11 - God's intention was always for a Kingdom of priests. 1 Cor 6:19-20 *  This is the New Covenant prophetic picture that they missed when they wanted to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. *  He died because man's ways always bring death. *  Trying to do supernatural things with natural methods always results in spiritual death. *  If God's presence is what you value, that's what you'll make room for. *  Everyone one of us, if we're believers, are priests who are called to carry his presence. *  A desire for his presence should draw us into a deeper hunger and searching for Him. *  It should spur us to seek his ways and his heart. Ex 33:13 How do we carry his presence? 1.) Seek His ways. - We have to seek him ourselves. Jer. 29:11-13 1 Cor. 3:1-3 - We can't only eat spiritual food that someone else has digested for us. 2.) Give him time. Ps. 27:4 - There was a cost and a time involved. Acts 1:4-5 *  There is a waiting, an investment of time and devotion that's required to carry his presence. *  To often we treat God like a fast food drive through. 3.) Be the priest he's made you to be. *  Take the priestly responsibility of ministering to Him and carrying his presence on your shoulders. *  We don't just want a moment, we want a movement

Walking with God: Bridal Love & the Anointing - Josiah Nicotra

Walking with God Bridal Love & the Anointing  Set the Scene  (Pray. Love Jesus. Receive His Spirit. Welcome the Glory of The Father).  The Christian life is not just mission...it is preparation, for the marriage supper of the lamb. (Rev 19:6-9).  Jesus is not coming back for workers, but for a bride without blemish. (Eph. 5:27).  And the anointing of the Holy Spirit is how that bride is both prepared and empowered.  Without bridal love, we can operate in His gifts and miss Him. (Matt. 7:21–23).  Without the anointing, we can love Jesus deeply but lack the fruit and power to walk like Him. (Gal 5:22-23 & Eph 3:14-21 & Act 1:7-8)  But when both meet, the church, His bride, becomes radiant, alive, and unstoppable.  Walking with God is more than a belief, more than church attendance, more than ministry. It is living in step with Him....breath by breath, moment by moment, thought by thought, desire by desire.  Walking with God is union so close, I am ever presently more aware of God and who He is in an environment, in a situation, in a person, than my very next breath.  Walking with God is the present reality that He is more real to me than my very wife that lays by me at night.  Walking with God could be summarised to the fellowship of His Suffering, the communion of His body...for in it we are healed...or His blood, for in it we are set free...or that in Him, He is everlasting drink...that He would satiate our souls.  To live in this revelation, “Walking with God”, there are many streams, but two deep streams in particular flowing within it. These streams are markers for walking with God and not just markers but the tools, the product, the foundation for which a life can walk with God how He ordained it. It can be summarised with these very two things:  1. Bridal love for Jesus (loving God with all your heart, Mark 12:28-34) — the passion and purity of a bride in covenant union with her Groom.  2. The Anointing of the Spirit (love your neighbour as yourself, Mark 12:28-34) — the fruit and power of God’s presence alive in us. The anointing isn’t for you, it is for others.  For did not Jesus say that all the law and the prophets are fulfilled in these two things: Love the Lord with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself!? This is exactly that; Bridal love & The Anointing.  When these collide, we, like Jesus, only do and say what The Father is saying and doing...we are drawn into greater depths of fellowship and union with the Triune God.  Let’s journey through this further...  Focal Point: From the beginning, this was God’s design, that He would journey with us, in union and in fellowship. What does that mean? It means, close, intimate, transparent fellowship.  * -  Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8).  * -  Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him (Gen. 5:24).  * -  Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and  to walk humbly with your God?”  * -  Jesus said, I only do and say what my father is saying and doing, (John 5:19-20) and we will  do what He does and greater things. (John 14:12-14).  Walking with God is defined by only doing and saying what The Father is saying and doing. Walking with God is the lifeblood of Christianity. Not just visiting Him in moments, not just  speaking of Him in words, but abiding in Him.  To Walk with God is to share in His heart, t