John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what i have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because i am going to the father.
I was talking to God one day, after just hearing there was to be a youth service.
So i said to God okay give me the message you want me to speak and i will speak it.
So this is a repeat of that message. I didnt prepare a great deal as i have come to believe that planning every little thing leaves no room for God to help. And he hasn't let me down. Yet. Maybe because i believe he won't. 1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.
And if I didn't believe there may have been a different outcome. James 1:6-7 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will recieve anything from the Lord.
Today I am going to focus on Yahushua(Jesus) the human being.
Yahushua(Jesus) had a mission when he was put on this earth. Right?
He knew what it was and stayed close to God so that he never lost sight of that.
His mission was to save mankind from our own self destruction which started way back in the garden of Eden when Eve ate the forbidden fruit and therefore chose knowledge over faith. Everything he did on this earth was done because this mission was embedded in his heart.
How did he achieve his goal?
Mark 1:35 very early in the morning while it was still dark, Yahushua(Jesus) got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Very importantly he had a very strong and personal relationship with God. The very same God we worship. Clearly gained by open communication with God.
What else did Yahushua(Jesus) do to succeed?
Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
He showed people the truth and encouraged them to develop a personal relationship with God. And if you really look at the gospels the only things that Yahushua(Jesus) didn't really stand for were man made traditions and people that were leading others away from gaining that personal relationship with God. There are many instances of this. This is just one. Luke 11:46 Yahushua(Jesus) replied, "And experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
What happened when Yahushua(Jesus) lost that connection with God? Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Yahushua(Jesus) cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, lama sabachtani?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:50 and when Yahushua(Jesus) had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
He couldn't bear it because he had never felt that isolation from God before. And to complete his mission of re-installing mans friendship with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden, he died and was resurrected on the 3rd day as the atonement for our sins.
So it would seem that a personal relationship with God is very important to living a fulfilled life then. But how do we gain this? Yahushua(Jesus) gained it by prayer, so why would we be any different?
Prayer is very important in a believers life as it brings us close to God. Or does it?
Deuteronomy 4:7 What other nation is so great as to have their Gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
In fact prayer actually brings God close to us. That is powerful. The more we talk to him closer he gets to us.
All prayer is, is us communicating with our God. Right? So we should probably learn from how we form relationships and deal with people as humans. open communication, and spending time.
Why should it be any different with us and God? It shouldn't and it isn't.
Just think about this. How do you think a friendship would grow if the only time you got in touch was when you needed something?
Look at how, and how often the people of faith threw the bible spoke to God. Search the pages of the bible for yourselves and follow there lead.
Here's a question. Don't worry i'll answer this one.
How much did the apostle Paul & Martin Luther have in common?
Firstly. Before they met Yahushua(Jesus) up close & personal they were very dedicated followers of there chosen religion. Paul(Saul) persecuted the followers of Yahushua(Jesus) Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Martin Luther was a dedicated catholic monk.
But what happened the moment they met Yahushua(Jesus) and formed a friendship with him?
Paul became one of the most prominent followers and teachers of Yahushua(Jesus). I mean over half the new testament has been attributed to him. Not a bad effort i must say.
Martin Luther went against everything he had been taught to believe by the church and was a massive mover in reforming it to what it is today even at the risk of his own life.
That's the second thing they had in common. They both changed the world after forming a deep friendship with God.
Third thing would be. Before they met Yahushua(Jesus) they both thought they were following God. But they were actually following religious tradition. They believed they had faith. But without the relationship there was no power. Isaiah 29:13 These people come near to me with there mouth and honor me with there lips, but there hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Back to where I started this message Yahushua(Jesus) had a mission to achieve.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah, the apostle Paul and Martin Luther were all called to a mission before they were created.
And so are we.
Some might call it a passion. This mission has been planted deep in our beings from the moment we were created. This mission has been given to us to match the spiritual gifts we recieved at baptism and our God given individuality.
Notice I said this mission has been given to us to match our spiritual gifts. Jeremiah's spiritual gift was prophecy you see. That's the problem for a lot of people out there, me included.
From as far back as I can remember I have had a passion for helping others and giving people hope. I almost always failed in the end. I was always the guy making friends with the person who had no friends, that sort of thing. But for some reason it almost always ended badly. Because I was trying to save them. And of course I Have no power to do that. This kept happening up till about 3 years ago.
It changed when I developed that friendship with God.
I found belief is very important when approaching God. Also honestly, as we cant hide anything from him. I think a genuine love for God and others is also very important.
Through open communication with God he taught me that we can't achieve this mission without him as our spiritual gifts are required to achieve it and of course we don't get those until we except God fully into our hearts.
The fear installed in us by satan is also a great inhibitor to achievement. But this mission of yours will be fuelled by love for both God and our fellowman. And remember what has no power over love. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears isn't made perfect in love.
God pointed out to me that my mission wasn't to save people but simply to point people in the direction of the one who can.
We need to fulfill this passion, not because God needs us to. But because we need to do it for ourselves.
One thing I have learnt over the years God isn't so big on what we've done, he is more interested in what we are going to do.
Remember this when your mission seems to much Mark 14:36 Abba, Father,"he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Jesus pored his heart out to God, so should we.
I am going to go off on a little tangent here but i'll be back. Hopefully... Do you think that God in his infinite wisdom created us all different because he wanted us to be the same?
Religion has a way of putting everyone in a little box with "this is how a christian should be" labeled on it. But remember Yahushua(Jesus) didn't come to take our individuality. He came to give us the freedom to use it. That individuality is our secret weapon that no one else on the planet has. And if we supercharge that individuality with the Holy Spirit then that person will be unstoppable. Unless of course he/she is taught to be someone there not.
People are also pretty quick to put God's power into a little box, saying this is what he can do, this is what he can't do. we just swallow it and not only that we teach it to others. Do you think peter put Gods power into a box when he healed the cripple Acts 3:6-7 Then Peter said "Silver or gold I don't have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Yahushua Messiah(Jesus Christ) of Nazareth, walk."Talking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the mans feet and ankles became strong.
My theory is the more you believe God can do. The more you will see God's power unveiled. I say think big and recieve big. Think small... you get what i'm saying.
Please remember this a religion based salvation is useless. Epiesians 2:8-9 for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this isn't from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. That is exactly what our savior came to point out and abolish. Am I right?
So why cling to it like it is going to save us or something? It cant!
What really saves us is a strong and personal relationship with God through Yahushua(Jesus) who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave on the 3rd day.
That relationship is something religion can't really offer as it is a very personal thing and you and only you decide how close to God you wanna get.
But I tell everyone here right now he wants to be your life, not only that he wants to fill you with life. He is pleading for each and everyone of us to let him in to our hearts the problem is the doorway to enter only has a door handle on the inside, we are the only ones who can open it. He wants to fulfill the desires of our hearts. You may think hang on some of the desires in my heart aren't that flash...but when we fully except God our hearts will be filled with love.
Also remember this our motives spring from the true desires of our hearts. So it would be truly awesome if everyone here agreed to fully believe that God can do all things, not just the realistic things, believe God gave you all a individual mission and believe fully in that mission and place that belief and love fot God in your hearts.
Ask yourselves are you just waiting on you're reward of eternal life and focusing on that if you are that's fine, you will get it. But come on we've been gifted through the grace of God great power through a friendship with God to change the world, one person at a time. So lets give it a go.
I was talking to God one day, after just hearing there was to be a youth service.
So i said to God okay give me the message you want me to speak and i will speak it.
So this is a repeat of that message. I didnt prepare a great deal as i have come to believe that planning every little thing leaves no room for God to help. And he hasn't let me down. Yet. Maybe because i believe he won't. 1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.
And if I didn't believe there may have been a different outcome. James 1:6-7 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will recieve anything from the Lord.
Today I am going to focus on Yahushua(Jesus) the human being.
Yahushua(Jesus) had a mission when he was put on this earth. Right?
He knew what it was and stayed close to God so that he never lost sight of that.
His mission was to save mankind from our own self destruction which started way back in the garden of Eden when Eve ate the forbidden fruit and therefore chose knowledge over faith. Everything he did on this earth was done because this mission was embedded in his heart.
How did he achieve his goal?
Mark 1:35 very early in the morning while it was still dark, Yahushua(Jesus) got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Very importantly he had a very strong and personal relationship with God. The very same God we worship. Clearly gained by open communication with God.
What else did Yahushua(Jesus) do to succeed?
Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
He showed people the truth and encouraged them to develop a personal relationship with God. And if you really look at the gospels the only things that Yahushua(Jesus) didn't really stand for were man made traditions and people that were leading others away from gaining that personal relationship with God. There are many instances of this. This is just one. Luke 11:46 Yahushua(Jesus) replied, "And experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
What happened when Yahushua(Jesus) lost that connection with God? Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Yahushua(Jesus) cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, lama sabachtani?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:50 and when Yahushua(Jesus) had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
He couldn't bear it because he had never felt that isolation from God before. And to complete his mission of re-installing mans friendship with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden, he died and was resurrected on the 3rd day as the atonement for our sins.
So it would seem that a personal relationship with God is very important to living a fulfilled life then. But how do we gain this? Yahushua(Jesus) gained it by prayer, so why would we be any different?
Prayer is very important in a believers life as it brings us close to God. Or does it?
Deuteronomy 4:7 What other nation is so great as to have their Gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
In fact prayer actually brings God close to us. That is powerful. The more we talk to him closer he gets to us.
All prayer is, is us communicating with our God. Right? So we should probably learn from how we form relationships and deal with people as humans. open communication, and spending time.
Why should it be any different with us and God? It shouldn't and it isn't.
Just think about this. How do you think a friendship would grow if the only time you got in touch was when you needed something?
Look at how, and how often the people of faith threw the bible spoke to God. Search the pages of the bible for yourselves and follow there lead.
Here's a question. Don't worry i'll answer this one.
How much did the apostle Paul & Martin Luther have in common?
Firstly. Before they met Yahushua(Jesus) up close & personal they were very dedicated followers of there chosen religion. Paul(Saul) persecuted the followers of Yahushua(Jesus) Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Martin Luther was a dedicated catholic monk.
But what happened the moment they met Yahushua(Jesus) and formed a friendship with him?
Paul became one of the most prominent followers and teachers of Yahushua(Jesus). I mean over half the new testament has been attributed to him. Not a bad effort i must say.
Martin Luther went against everything he had been taught to believe by the church and was a massive mover in reforming it to what it is today even at the risk of his own life.
That's the second thing they had in common. They both changed the world after forming a deep friendship with God.
Third thing would be. Before they met Yahushua(Jesus) they both thought they were following God. But they were actually following religious tradition. They believed they had faith. But without the relationship there was no power. Isaiah 29:13 These people come near to me with there mouth and honor me with there lips, but there hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Back to where I started this message Yahushua(Jesus) had a mission to achieve.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah, the apostle Paul and Martin Luther were all called to a mission before they were created.
And so are we.
Some might call it a passion. This mission has been planted deep in our beings from the moment we were created. This mission has been given to us to match the spiritual gifts we recieved at baptism and our God given individuality.
Notice I said this mission has been given to us to match our spiritual gifts. Jeremiah's spiritual gift was prophecy you see. That's the problem for a lot of people out there, me included.
From as far back as I can remember I have had a passion for helping others and giving people hope. I almost always failed in the end. I was always the guy making friends with the person who had no friends, that sort of thing. But for some reason it almost always ended badly. Because I was trying to save them. And of course I Have no power to do that. This kept happening up till about 3 years ago.
It changed when I developed that friendship with God.
I found belief is very important when approaching God. Also honestly, as we cant hide anything from him. I think a genuine love for God and others is also very important.
Through open communication with God he taught me that we can't achieve this mission without him as our spiritual gifts are required to achieve it and of course we don't get those until we except God fully into our hearts.
The fear installed in us by satan is also a great inhibitor to achievement. But this mission of yours will be fuelled by love for both God and our fellowman. And remember what has no power over love. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears isn't made perfect in love.
God pointed out to me that my mission wasn't to save people but simply to point people in the direction of the one who can.
We need to fulfill this passion, not because God needs us to. But because we need to do it for ourselves.
One thing I have learnt over the years God isn't so big on what we've done, he is more interested in what we are going to do.
Remember this when your mission seems to much Mark 14:36 Abba, Father,"he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Jesus pored his heart out to God, so should we.
I am going to go off on a little tangent here but i'll be back. Hopefully... Do you think that God in his infinite wisdom created us all different because he wanted us to be the same?
Religion has a way of putting everyone in a little box with "this is how a christian should be" labeled on it. But remember Yahushua(Jesus) didn't come to take our individuality. He came to give us the freedom to use it. That individuality is our secret weapon that no one else on the planet has. And if we supercharge that individuality with the Holy Spirit then that person will be unstoppable. Unless of course he/she is taught to be someone there not.
People are also pretty quick to put God's power into a little box, saying this is what he can do, this is what he can't do. we just swallow it and not only that we teach it to others. Do you think peter put Gods power into a box when he healed the cripple Acts 3:6-7 Then Peter said "Silver or gold I don't have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Yahushua Messiah(Jesus Christ) of Nazareth, walk."Talking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the mans feet and ankles became strong.
My theory is the more you believe God can do. The more you will see God's power unveiled. I say think big and recieve big. Think small... you get what i'm saying.
Please remember this a religion based salvation is useless. Epiesians 2:8-9 for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this isn't from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. That is exactly what our savior came to point out and abolish. Am I right?
So why cling to it like it is going to save us or something? It cant!
What really saves us is a strong and personal relationship with God through Yahushua(Jesus) who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave on the 3rd day.
That relationship is something religion can't really offer as it is a very personal thing and you and only you decide how close to God you wanna get.
But I tell everyone here right now he wants to be your life, not only that he wants to fill you with life. He is pleading for each and everyone of us to let him in to our hearts the problem is the doorway to enter only has a door handle on the inside, we are the only ones who can open it. He wants to fulfill the desires of our hearts. You may think hang on some of the desires in my heart aren't that flash...but when we fully except God our hearts will be filled with love.
Also remember this our motives spring from the true desires of our hearts. So it would be truly awesome if everyone here agreed to fully believe that God can do all things, not just the realistic things, believe God gave you all a individual mission and believe fully in that mission and place that belief and love fot God in your hearts.
Ask yourselves are you just waiting on you're reward of eternal life and focusing on that if you are that's fine, you will get it. But come on we've been gifted through the grace of God great power through a friendship with God to change the world, one person at a time. So lets give it a go.
