Heart Biz, Not Show Biz

The Journey of Faith: Laughters and Tears

Scripture Reading: Genesis 21:1-21 Introduction We have all faced many disappointments in our lives.   Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  What kind of joy and prosperity are these?  1. There is deep and abiding joy in a life of faith, rooted in the knowledge of God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises—fulfilled in His own time for His purposes and glory alone (v 1-7). (i)   God is faithful to His covenant promise and fulfilled it.  (ii) God does in His time.  Hebrews 11:13, “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”   (iii) God acts according to His own purpose and for His glory.  Ephesians 1:11–12, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, … according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, … to the praise of his glory.” Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be glory forever.” 2. There is painful separation from the life according to the flesh in our life of faith (v 8-12). * Psalm 83:4-6 * Galatians 4:22-23 (i) There will always be a battle without and within us—a constant tension between the life in the Spirit and the life according to the flesh.  * Galatians 4:29 * Galatians 5:17 * 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ii) Resolving the conflict requires us to obediently put away the life according to the flesh, no matter how painful it may be.  * 2 Corinthians 5:17 3. As we walk in obedience on the path of faith, God, in His mercy, gently eases the pain of letting go of the old life (v 13-21). Brethren, obedience may be costly, but it is never cold.  The same God who calls us to lay something down is the One who gently reminds us: “I see.  I know.  And I will care for what you entrust to Me.  Let not your heart be troubled.”  Amen.

The Best of Times

Scripture Reading: Amos 9:1-15 1. Introduction 2. Purification of Worship (v.1) Destruction of the Bethel Temple had been foretold way back in 2 Kings 13.1-3 * “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” Isa 42.8 * The necessity of reforming the church arose from the fact that the first thing that goes off the tangent is often in the area of worship * When true worship goes, so goes true religion 3. Punishment for the Unrepentant (v. 2-10) * * The Lord knows the sins of every man and woman past, present and future “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Eze 18.20There is no escape from the wrath of God “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” Rom 11:5 4. Prosperity of God’s kingdom (v. 11-15)  * The Lord will restore His people  * The prophecy for the restoration of God’s people was fulfilled in the gospel age 5. Conclusion

Faith, Not Fortune

Scripture Passage: Matthew 6:16-18 Introduction 1. Planning and providing for “rainy days” will secure us and free us from worries. 2. But stressful everyday living leaves even kingdom people insecure and anxious about their future 3. Kingdom life is supposed to be a blessed life (Mat 5:3-11). Secure, stress-free lives begins with where our hearts and our eyes are focused and who is our master. (19-24) 1. Are your riches in the right place (20-21) 2. Is your thought life following the right direction. (22-23) 3. Is your heart divided between two Masters (24) Instead of relying on stuff and more stuff for security, we seek God first and trust His provision. (26-30, 33) 1. Our security doesn’t come from holding fast to stuff. (26-32) 2. Our security comes from letting go of stuff and seeking God first (5:6, 6:33) 3. When we seek God first, He will take care of the rest (32-33) As disciples we are freed to live in peace and confidence in an otherwise anxiety-filled world. 1. God has promised to take care of our todays (34) 2. Jesus came lived, died and rose again and sent the Holy Spirit into us in order that we might live free from worries Conclusion 1. Jesus calls us to stop clinging to uncertain riches in a world where the only constant is change. Start seeking God’s kingdom first in your lives. 2. When we seek God’s kingdom first, we have all we need for kingdom life. We are free from anxiety. But kingdom life in this world is far from easy triumphalism without cost. And it is faith not fortune that gives us this freedom.

Old Habits and Sins Die Hard, But God is Faithful

Scripture Passage: Genesis 20 1. Even the faithful are prone to persistent or besetting sins.(vv 1-7) * Abraham’s sin is so serious, humanly speaking, as it places God’s redemptive purpose in jeopardy.   2.  The root causes of besetting sins in general. (vv 8-13) * Fear and self-love are the roots of persistent sin * Unconfessed sins tend to be persistent 3. God’s grace and faithfulness amid human failure, all for His glory. * God is faithful and committed to His own purposes, plans and promises regardless of Abraham’s worthiness. * God chose Abraham despite his sinfulness and failures, purely by His grace and for His own glory. 4.   How can we overcome persistent sins? * 2 Peter 1:3 * Zechariah 4:6 * Galatians 5:16 * Hebrews 12:1-2 * 2 Timothy 1:7

Heart Biz, Not Show Biz

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:1-21 I. Introduction II. As kingdom disciples, it is not enough to worship but to worship uncorrupted by religious reputation (1-21) * Jesus’ guiding principle in worship (1) * We give to the needy without putting on a show (2-4) * We fast without seeking for religious respectability (16-18) *  We pray without hiding behind masks (5-15) III. The kingdom entering disciple worships God with a fully devoted heart and serves Him unseen by others (21) * We worship in the presence of our all seeing Father (6:4,6,18) * We worship from a heart fully devoted to our Father (2,5,16) * We serve God who is our Father. (4,6,8,9,14,15,18) * As kingdom disciples, our reward is in heaven and not on earth. (2,6,16) V. Conclusion * True righteousness comes from a sincere heart devoted to our God, not arising from an outward religious performance meant to impress others. Kingdom righteousness is about pleasing God. * Our practice of worship arises from intentions of a heart that has been born again by  the  Holy Spirit. * Our greater righteousness that saves glorifies God, not ourselves. The kingdom life of a disciple does not remain untouched. Disciples are called to be with Jesus, to become like him, and to do as he did.