Vision 2018: A Declaration of dependence. Three months in.

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AGM - Reflection on 2017 and Vision 2018: A Declaration of dependence.

Today we were supposed to do Romans chapter 15. However, because I’ve been finishing off one job while already working increased hours at the other one, Christian being sick we couldn’t get it done. I didn’t have enough time to prepare properly, to do the text justice. It wouldn’t have been good enough. But since we had to by law have an agm (årsmøte) this morning, and since it has been a while I presented the vision for 2018, it would be good to look at what God has done among us and look forward to the rest of the year.

Our vision for 2018 can be summarized in three words: glory, joy, and dependence.

Glory because we exist to glorify God, as individuals and as a church. And he is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. The more we find our joy in him the more we honour him in loving Him with all that we have. We were created to rejoice in the Lord, and we who have the Holy Spirit are filled with joy when we remember the gospel, when we think of our Heavenly Father, Jesus our brother and Saviour, and how God loves us. Glory and Joy.

But we can only do that if we depend on him.

And maybe that's where we struggle, especially as leaders. We want to achieve so much. There are so many who need Jesus. So many are lost. We should be 100, 200 people now. I'm impatient!

But we can not do anything without Him. Everything comes from him. This is his church, not mine - nor primarily yours. It is Jesus who is the leader of the church. He is our driving force and power and leader and guide and wisdom. Therefore, we must listen to him. As on the mountain top, when Jesus was glorified before the eyes of Peter, James and John, Moses and Elijah (Law and Prophet) were with Jesus - what did God's voice say from the cloud? This is my son - listen to him! (Mark 9)
That’s why our foundation is the word of God. And as much as possible, the word of God without interpretation, without twisting. We let the scriptures as much as possible explain to themselves. We want people to say "yes, I see where it comes from" not "huh?" when we explain the text.
God's Word is our life-blood. The Spirit takes his word in power, and has created a church that is alive, that is marked by love. Where people are open and welcoming and take care of each other.
And the key is not us - it's here. It is because we are filled with the word of God.
Perhaps a good place to talk about how many were in church last year!
We had 52 Norwegian services and 50 English evening services. 102 in total! This morning service had an average of 15 adults and 10 children (25 in total). Lowest attendance was 11. Highest 69 on Good Friday last year. The highest at a normal service was 39. But there more of us than just 39 who belonging to this church! The morning service has particularly struggled in the latter half the year and the first few months of this year. It’s actually down by 2 from 2016, where average was 27. But! We had English service all year which affected the morning service. In this service we’ve had an average of 11, once as few as 4 and once 24!
Both together, minus the leaders who are at both, we had an increase of 3 from 2016, with an average of 30 on Sundays.
Now that alright, but not good.
I get worried when people aren’t at church for one, two, three or more Sundays - because I know how difficult it is to live like a Christian without meeting together as his church! Just like it's hard to live if you do not eat.
Too many Christians have almost starved to death because they do not use the opportunity they have to get good spiritual food.
I know that it is not part of our culture to view the church as important to ME. Like it’s a good cultural institution – but something I need? But it is! It is God's gift. It’s one of the primary ways God blesses you. God put us together as his family to take care of each other. That’s exactly what we learned from Romans 14 last week Treat each other with mercy and care. The same grace God has shown us we show to each other.
I know that some struggle with church because they have had a bad experience of what a church is and many have been hurt by other Christians. But don’t reject God's good gift because people have ruined it with sin!
It’s in fact a good reason to find a church where the word of God and the gospel is preached. It's like healing balm for a wounded heart. So if you know people who need spiritual healing - get them in here and see what God can do!

That’s why these three months, we spent a lot of time particularly in the morning service praying for people to come. That we would feel the need to be together and to hear from God. We have also focused on why we need church, and last Sunday evening was a real highlight when we heard from Karen. If you missed it, check it out on our Facebook – it’s well worth listening to.

Okay. Let’s get to some Bible.

Ro 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

1 Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Those are the verses the Westminster Catechism uses to answer the question “What is the chief and highest end of man” (what is our purpose)? The answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

We exist to bring glory to God. We were created in the image of God to reflect God’s glory back to him. Like the moon reflects the light of the sun, and lights up the night sky, so we should reflect the glory of God.

But I love that that is not all. It’s not just glorify God but also to enjoy him forever. We were created to enjoy Him. We were created for his pleasure to find our fulfilment and joy in him. He completes us.

Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. 27 Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. 28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Jn 17:21–23 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

The chief and highest end of man – our main goal, our reason for being, the highest meaning in our lives is this: to glorify God and to fully enjoy God forever. Joy.
Joy is a scarlet thread throughout the Bible. It appears again and again.

My Dad quoted last week from: Jude 24-25 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

In the Bible studies we read 1 Pe 2:3–10 now you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. (literally that bring him joy or are brought joyfully).

Why? Why joy? Why not right thinking or good doctrine? Which we do think is very important. But not most important. Because it is possible to know a lot about God without loving him. It is possible to be cold and religious. In fact, the devil has a better "theology" than you and I could ever have. He knows everything about God. But he hates God.

Dt 28:47–48 If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, 48 you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. Joy is a requirement!

Devil has had more theologically accurate thoughts about God. Satan’s problem is not doctrine, but delight. We need to rejoice in God! Not just think right thoughts.

That's why we put a so much emphasis on the word - reading it the way God wrote it. Theology, doctrine is important, but it is not what keeps us alive. It's the difference between describing my wife or talking to her. Doctrine is a description of God - this (the Bible) is talking to him. And his words achieve His purposes in us. Change us reform us renew us and fill us with joy.

Our purpose, the reason we are here, is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. That is what we will spend all eternity doing. In glorifying him and in JOY! And we can experience that now.

What is the chief and highest end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

And if you’re not full of joy - think about what God has done for you.

Let me share with you some verses from what we’ve been learning in Bible study and church.

1 Pe 2:9–10 …you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes

Ro 3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.

Ro 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Rom 5:10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

Ro 8:28–29 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Ro 8:38–39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord .

Benjamin shared this story at Bible study. He was in hospital, lying in bed, blind and lame. Everything had to be done for him. He was struggling. And then Philippians 4:4 came to mind “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
Rejoice? Now? Rubbish. Can’t be done. And like any good Christian he resisted the command of the Lord for a bit. Won’t!
But then he thought – well I can’t do much, but I can smile! And he decided to smile. And he said in the very moment he forced his face into a smile… joy flowed through him! Even in the darkest moment God was with him!

Our vision for 2018

So how can we, as a church, glorify to God, and rejoice in him? Glory. Joy. Dependence. Exactly! In dependence and obedience.
We are not strong. But he is strong.
Ps 127:1 Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.

I have no big grand plan for this year. I know what I wish would happen. But I have no power to make it happen. So many people on the outside just on the brink. So many of you ready to take the next step on your journey of faith, to grow. Oh I wish I could reach ion and grab your hearts. But I’m not God. And neither are you. So let’s pray! I pray that will happen this year. I pray we would grow in maturity. I pray that many would be saved. I hope and pray that we can grow to 100, 200 people. Wouldn’t that be amazing? But I can’t do anything. And neither can you – apart from God. But in His power. Wow!

Therefore, our vision for 2018 is to declare our dependence on God. To say, “Almighty God, our Father, we are here to honour you and bring you joy. Whatever you want us to do, we will do it. You are good, good father and we entrust ourselves to you.”

How much do you pray for the church? Yes I know. If you want to make a Christian feel guilty ask about his prayer life! But do you pray for the church? Are you praying for me? For Debby? For Christian and Johanna, Jack and Marit, Mia, all leaders of this church. Are you praying for Petter, our apprentice? And Torgeir, Bible Group Leader, and Matthew and LJ as Children’s Church Leaders, and Kirsti and Karen who are also involved. Are you praying for Colleen who leads the singing? Do you pray for wisdom and love and JOY for all of us? Do you pray that we as a church will grow in love and faith so that we shine like stars in heaven for God and people will be lining up to get in here to get hold of what we have!
No. I don’t pray like that either. So can we decide today that we will get better at this. Set aside some time every day for prayer? We have to plan. We can’t just say that we depend on God - we must show it. In prayer. In our humble attitude towards him. In that we believe in the Word of God as a salvation and not our performance - whether we are good enough or kind enough or friendly enough to wangle people into the Kingdom. Yes, those things are important, but it is the Gospel that is the power of God for salvation. Not Daniel. And not you.
And that's a relief! Thanks and praise to our great God who does the impossible and saves people, even in Notodden.

Let's call out to him now in prayer.
Lord, we are small and weak, but you are strong. Let your strength, your joy, your love flow through us. Let us be open to your leading and obedient to your word. Let us be hungry for you word, to seek it out where it may be found to suck the marrow of your life-giving words in the Bible and grow. Let us listen to you. Let us reject our own “wisdom” and obey your “foolishness” and be filled with joy as we taste and see that the Lord IS good!

Yes, fill us with joy lord. Let's be a people who are full of thanks, full of joy, full of love. Let's treat each other the way you treated us. We who were not a people have now become a people - your people. Praise you Lord!

Heavenly Father, there are so many we know who do not know you. In your mercy, we ask that this year we would see many turn from death to life. Lord Jesus, you warned us strongly about the cruelty of hell, an eternal pain, separated from you. We want no one to experience it, but many choose it for themselves and believe that being without you is freedom. It is not freedom but slavery. Forever choosing to be cut off from the source of life and the light. It is horrific! We plead with you now for those we know. In a moment of silence bring before God those whom you know and love who are on their way to hell.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Honour Him in everything you do in JOY, totally dependent on Him. It is our vision for 2018. In your mercy Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.

Vision 2018: A declaration of dependence.

Link to MP3.

I’ve been reading the Westminster Catechism. And the first question it starts with is this: what is the chief and highest end of man?

That is: why are we here? Why do we exist?

As we look forward to a new year, that is where we will start. Why are we here? What is our purpose?

And then we will think about the church: what is church and what is its purpose?

And finally our vision for 2018. Where are we going this year together as a church, under God. What is our purpose as a church?

1. Why are we here and what is our purpose?

What is the chief and highest end of man?

The answer the Westminster Catechism gives is this: The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

I love that. We exist to bring glory to God. We were created in the image of God to reflect God’s glory back to him. Like the moon reflects the light of the sun, and lights up the night sky, so we should reflect the glory of God.

Ro 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

1 Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

But I love that that is not all. It’s not just glorify God but also to enjoy him forever. We were created to enjoy Him. We were created for his pleasure to find our fulfilment and joy in him. He completes us.

Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. 27 Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. 28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Jn 17:21–23 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

The chief and highest end of man – our main goal, our reason for being, the highest meaning in our lives is this: to glorify God and to fully enjoy God forever. Have you ever thought about that?

Do you enjoy God? Do you want to glorify Him? Is your life his? Or is it drudgery and oh must I go to church and must I read the Bible, and must I obey. Yes, to follow Christ is to die to self. Sometimes it is very painful. It is a fight, a battle to the death. But it is also a great joy! We should love coming here. We should love being with each other. I do! I love seeing all of you. I love that God has created a church where there was no church. I love that God has brought each one of you into our lives and into each others lives. I love that here we hear the living Word of God. We get to come and hear the Bible read, and we try to stick to what the Bible says, so we’re not going away empty and shallow and confused – maybe challenged and offended, but spiritually full. Sustained. What joy!

As many of you know, I never had any desire to be a pastor. I am an introvert by nature. It drains me to be with people. I have limited capacity. When I was growing up people always asked me “are you going to be a preacher like your Dad?” and my answer was always “no, I’m going to be an accountant”. Well, I am an accountant, but I also ended up planting a church, and here we are 5 years later. Has it been hard? Oh yes! A lot of work? Oh yes! But has it been a joy? Oh YES! It’s having a front row seat into what God is doing amongst his people. It is thrilling to see the Spirit at work in you guys and to be a fellow-worker with God.

It’s like when my kids were small and baked a cake with Debby. Now Debby was clearly the brains behind everything – she baked a cake. They made a mess and dropped the flour and got butter in their hair. But when the cake was made they could say “I made the cake Dad!”. Because they did. They were part of it.

That’s what serving in the church is like. And all you who serve, from making tea to preaching to teaching in children’s church to giving to babysitting kids to fixing things to driving people around – however we have served we are part of the church of God and can say I did this with my Father. It’s thrilling.

Serving is hard, yes, but it is so rewarding. And you grow. If you don’t know where you can help come and ask me. We’d be happy to put you to work!

It is a joy to work with the Lord. But not just in the church. In every area of life. 1 Co 10:31 whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I had to work as an auditor for a number of years. And I hated that job. It is mind-numbingly boring! Do you know what got me through? Remembering that I worked for the Lord. That he had given me that job, and whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I worked for the glory of God. I represented Him. He was with me. So I drew strength from that, gritted my teeth, and got on with the job, and did the best I could do. I wasn’t exactly happy, but I could do it in His strength. His joy flowed through me, and enabled me to glorify him.

Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

It has been said that we all have a God-shaped hole inside of us. We need him.

Do you desire him, thirst for him? Remember the famous Psalm 42 As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you?

Is that where you are? If not, ask the Lord to rekindle that flame for him.
Here’s two reasons why (thanks to John Piper)

Dt 28:47–48 If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, 48 you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. Joy is a requirement!

Devil has had more theologically accurate thoughts about God. Satan’s problem is not doctrine, but delight. We need to rejoice in God! Not just think right thoughts.

Our purpose, the reason we are here, is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. That is what we will spend all eternity doing. In glorifying him and in JOY! And we can experience that now.

2. What is church and what is its purpose?

To glorify God and to enjoy him – together! The church, this church, exists for the glory of God. It is not first a self-help club. It is not primarily about us. It is about Him. We gather together to behold our God. We gather together to glorify him. To listen to him. To pray to him. To love and adore him.

I want us to grasp how amazing church is, this gathering of people saved by the grace of God, so let’s turn to Ephesians 1 in our Bibles. I’m going to read from v3-10, and then 21-23.

Eph 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth…21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

We are saved by the grace of God, chosen before the foundation of the world – there is nothing in us that is better than those not saved. We cannot say “I am superior, therefore God chose me”. No, it is by grace! And all things are placed under the authority of Christ, the head of the church. Jesus is in control. This is his church. We are his body to his praise and glory.

But what is church? Church is the gathering of God’s people around God’s word. Church without the Bible is not church. Church where they ignore God’s word is not a church. Because Jesus is the head, we are not free to ignore what he says. If we do, we are no longer a church.

The first “church” we meet in the Bible is in Exodus as the Israelites are gathered around Mount Sinai/Horeb after being rescued from Egypt, and God brings his word to them, the Law. That’s when they become the people of God.
God’s people gathered around God’s word. That’s a church. Sunday meetings and Bible study are churching. When we’re socialising we are the church but we’re not churching.

So that’s what is the church: God’s people gathered around God’s word.

But who is the church? That is every believer. Everyone chosen by God by his grace is part of the universal church. There is only one church in heaven. And on earth each local congregation is (or should be) an expression of that heavenly gathering.
Who is the church? We who belong to Christ are the church. The church is all of God’s people. We are local outpost.

What is the church for? It is a means of God’s grace to us. It is one of the ways he blesses us. It is where we are spiritually fed, it is our armoury for our spiritual battle, it is our refuge, safe place, our family, the body of Christ, and our primary tool for evangelism.

The church’s primary role is to teach. Jesus command to Peter was to “feed my sheep”. The church is where we get spiritually fed. Feed my sheep. That’s why church without bible is not church.

Jn 21:15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

Three times. This is important. And so when we come to Acts what do we see the apostles doing? Teaching and preaching. In fact, when there’s an argument about food distribution – something which could have split the church – they say Ac 6:2–4 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

So if you are upset that you haven’t been visited or got some one-on-one time with the leaders of this church – it’s because our FIRST responsibility before God is to make sure we teach his word. And that takes a lot of time. Because we’re sinners. And it’s a big battle to make sure that what we teach is God’s thoughts, not our own. Please pray for us!

This is where we get spiritual food. There is good supplements to be found on the internet and with guest preachers – but that’s not God’s design for our primary spiritual nourishment. He has given the church local pastors and teachers, men who you know and who know you who can bring the Word of God to bear at the right time and in the right way, in a prophetic way, in the power of the Spirit. Don’t despise the local church. This is where we are nourished in the faith.

This is also the armoury. This is where we get saddled up for the week to come. Strap on that armour and get ready for the fight! Fight sin and put it to death, resist the devil, love the Lord and enjoy him. This is where we gather to be encouraged and to get what we need for the week to come.

Church is also a refuge, a safe place. If any of you don’t feel safe here please come and talk to me. And if I’m the problem, talk to Debby or to Christian. They’ll put me right. This should be a safe place for you, where you are loved. Because this is your family: in Christ we are brothers and sisters. And if you’re not a believer this place is also safe for you.

Because church is also for non-Christians. This is where we share the gospel. As someone put it “The church is the only institution which exists for the benefits of its non-members.” There’s great truth in that. We could just be whisked off to heaven when we believe. But we remain here to give glory to God and part of that is to share the gospel. We’re still here for the sake of the lost. So if you’re not a Christian yet – welcome. You are a welcome guest in our home. Stay as long as you need, and by God’s grace maybe you’ll be adopted into his family!

Ro 10:13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”… 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Church is God’s people gathered to hear God’s word. We exist to give glory to God and to enjoy him. And so we first listen to him. The church’s primary role, it’s first task, is to teach the Word, the Bible. And so spiritually fed and armoured up, out we go!

3. Our vision for 2018

Ps 127:1 Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.

I have no big grand plan for this year. I have no idea what this year will bring. There is so much that can happen. So many people just on the outside on the brink. So many of you ready to take the next step on your journey of faith, to grow. I pray that will happen this year., I pray we would grow in maturity. I pray that many would be saved. I hope and pray that we can grow to 100, 200 people. Wouldn’t that be amazing. But I can’t do anything. We might shrink to 20! I have no power. So our vision for this year is to declare our dependence on God. To say Almighty God we are here at you good pleasure to glorify you. Whatever you want us to do we will do. You are good, good father and we entrust ourselves to you. People lie. People abuse. People hurt. People are evil. We are evil. But you do what is good. And you start to change our lying lips to truth, our self-centred hearts to loving hearts, our desire to hurt others to compassion and help. We want to shine like stars in the heavens for you.

In the Bible study on Wednesday we read these words: Phil 2:12 Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

So that’s the first part of the vision for 2018: that we may mature in Christ, working out our salvation for God is working in us. Work out what God has worked in.

And the second part is this:

Matt 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, [Jesus] had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Lord, let us be those workers. Let us see more this year turn from death to life. Lord Jesus you warned us strongly of the horrors of hell, the pain of an eternity separated from you. We wish that on no-one, but many are choosing that for themselves, imagining that being without you is freedom. It is not freedom but slavery. Slavery to sin, to the terrible pain of ego always thinking about yourself, to being unable to bow the knee to God. Forever cut off from the source of life and light. It is an horrific thing! We plead with you now for those we know.

Let’s pray for those we know who are heading for Hell.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayers.

We are very small and weak. But look at our leadership structure. Who’s church is this? Not yours. Not mine. But Jesus’. He is the head of this church. And each of us has a job to do. This church will not grow if I run around doing everything. This church will grow, people will be saved if YOU work out your salvation, growing in maturity, and sharing the gospel You’ll be amazed at what God will do through little old unimportant you. We are small and weak, but our God is a great big God.

As someone said to me recently “I thought I was a big and tough, but now I realise I’m just a scared rabbit”. We may be scared rabbits – but we stand with a lion. Jesus, the Lion of Judah. Do not be afraid. Serve the lord with joy. Glorify him in all you do, in utter dependence on Him. That is our vision for 2018. May the Lord in his mercy hear our prayer. Amen.

Glory to God!

We’re going to do something unusual today. I thought a great way to end this year and start the next one would be for us to lift up our eyes and see the greatness of our God. So what we are going to do.

We need to do this because we so often try to make God small (smaller) so that we can, you know, manipulate him to do what we want. You know those prayers you pray when you’re saying with your mouth “your will be done” but in your heart you’re saying “You better do this or else!”
We’re praying not in humble awe of our mighty King, but praying as a way to get points with God (doing our religious duty) so that we can cash them in and make him do what we want.

Our problem is sin, and sin is simply that we imagine that we are God in our own lives. “I am the captain of my destiny” – all that rot. Are we? Did you decide where you would be born? Who your parents were? Your intelligence? Your emotional disposition? Can you stop an earthquake? Quieten a storm? Heal a broken bone? So many things we just take for granted. So many areas where we forget we are so dependent on the grace of God – even in providing a community of people where we all work together. Just think about the road builders and the police and the firemen and the garbage collectors – imagine if they weren’t there. How would you be able to be captain of your destiny surrounded by piles of rubbish…on fire… with thieves and hooligans stealing your stuff? And no roads or electricity or water or sewage or shops or anything else?

Be thankful that God is God, and we are not! So let us stop pretending and lift up our eyes to our great God.

1. God is glorious. God is great!

As the weary pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem used to see the final mountains in front of them which they had to cross to get to the Holy city, as they used to say “I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2, NIV84)

Because our God, in his exalted greatness, looks down on us, sinful, small, dust – and speaks. And cares. And loves. And forgives. And enters this world himself as one of us in order to deal with sin once and for all. Yes, we have pretended that we are God. But we don’t need to pretend any more. We can bow our head before the cross of King and say “I am sorry”. And hear those marvellous words “You are forgiven! The price is paid. You belong to me.”
What grace and mercy!

We’re going to start in the book of Ezekiel. Open your Bibles to Ezekiel 1 (page 491) Eze 1:1 On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
The Israelites had rebelled against God, and been thrown out of the land. They were in captivity in Babylon, the enemy territory. This vision was given to them to show them that God is still God even in Babylon (even in Norway). And that God is the God of rebels, of sinners, of all those who are in need of forgiveness. He rescues sinners. He saves the undeserving!
4 As I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber. 5 From the centre of the cloud came four living beings that looked human, 6 except that each had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze. 8 Under each of their four wings I could see human hands. So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings. 9 The wings of each living being touched the wings of the beings beside it. Each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning around. 10 Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. 11 Each had two pairs of outstretched wings—one pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it, and the other pair covered its body. 12 They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around. 13 The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them. 14 And the living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning. 15 As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each. 16 The wheels sparkled as if made of beryl. All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it. 17 The beings could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. 18 The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around. 19 When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. When they flew upward, the wheels went up, too. 20 The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went. 21 When the beings moved, the wheels moved. When the beings stopped, the wheels stopped. When the beings flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 22 Spread out above them was a surface like the sky, glittering like crystal. 23 Beneath this surface the wings of each living being stretched out to touch the others’ wings, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 As they flew, their wings sounded to me like waves crashing against the shore or like the voice of the Almighty or like the shouting of a mighty army. When they stopped, they let down their wings. 25 As they stood with wings lowered, a voice spoke from beyond the crystal surface above them. 26 Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. 27 From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendour. 28 All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.

What an amazing image. Frightening creatures. Eyes all around. Wheels. Darting forth like lightning. There is nowhere you can go to escape their gaze. There is no way to outrun them. They are all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful. And yet, they are nothing compared to the one upon the throne. They serve him, the LORD (Yahweh) Himself, the omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all- powerful), omnipresent (everywhere at once, nowhere where he is not)) God.

And then, seeing the glory of the Lord, Ezekiel falls to the ground, face down. How would you respond?

God is glorious. God is great!

2. God reveals his glory through speech

Note the goal of this vision: speech. The Lord speaks to Ezekiel.

As we saw a few months ago: God is a God who speaks. He reveals himself to us by His Word. He rules through His Word. He is His Word in the form of Jesus Christ – the perfect representation of the Father. To know Christ is to know the Father.

(Page 3) Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

God rules by His Word and reveals himself through his Word.

(Page 727) Heb 1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Jesus is the very Word of God, the final revelation. He is all we need. He is the greatness and the glory of God. Don’t be fooled, fobbed off by some cheap imitation of knowledge or revelation – he radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God. And we can know Him!

And this is who we know:

(Page 749) Rev 1:9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. 10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 11 It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

Jesus, who beat death on the cross as he rose again! He is the First and the Last, alive forever, and holds the keys to eternal life. He is mighty, vast, powerful. Head and hair white as wool, eyes as flames of fire. A voice that thunders. Can you see him? Can you see him vast, huge, holding stars in his hands? Is he small in your mind? Make him bigger. Expand your mind. Try to grasp his vastness. Are you filled with awe yet? Make him bigger! Standing amongst the galaxies, holding stars in his hands. This is our God.
This is our gentle Jesus meek and mild, revealed in his glory and power – not as a servant, as he came, but now as KING!

Can you see him?

(Page 758) Re 19:11–16 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

This is whom we serve. This is whom we pledge allegiance. This is our God. Our Lord and Master. His name is Jesus.

Psalm 8:1–4 (ESV, adapted) 1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens…. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the sons of men that you care for them?

Because the wonder of wonders is that he, this awesome, mighty God, is a God of love and mercy and compassion. This King shrunk himself down, humbled himself, even to death on a cross, in order to show his glory to worthless rebels like us – and to change us, breathe LIFE into us, transform us into objects of grace, a display case to his greatness, jars of clay with this treasure, the treasure of Chris’s Holy spirit within us. Hallelujah!

(Page 709) Phil 2:5–11 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This year, let us remember that God whom we serve, and the message of hope and power that we have to share. I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the very power of God for salvation for ALL who believe. (Rom 1:16)