Badenoch Free Church

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Morning service 9th Sept 07

 

Matthew 9:18-26 Over the past few weeks we have witnessed the 10th Anniversary of the death of Princess Diana. What a shock her death was to our nation. What a reminder that death comes to us all! We live in a world of sin, disease and death! At times it seems that pain and misfortune are just waiting to pounce.
Yet we have Jesus and He tells us another story.
When we read this text remember that this is an account of Jesus at work.
He is his mission.
Matthew 9:35 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
Jesus was displaying in his life the Kingdom of God in action.
A new thing was happening with the entrance of Jesus into the world.
Before Jesus the law and the prophets were in operation.
But now in Jesus the Kingdom of God is in operation:
“Luke 16:16 16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. ”
The law and the prophets proclaimed death!
No-one could be saved by following the law!
But the good news of the kingdom proclaimed life!
Everyone could be saved in the kingdom!
This passage illustrates that very fact!
The thrust:
Jesus is the master of Life. He has the power over death. The section is all about life and death. And how Jesus conquers death! And that with ease.
The message for you today is: Following Jesus is about life.
Eternal life and life to the full. Illness may come, death will come, but death for the believer is not death but sleep. Thus we need not fear! We are in the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of life eternal.
1st : - v18-19
V18 the scene is set:
a father comes to Jesus with 2 words: death and life!
My daughter is dead but you can bring her back to life!
V19 Jesus goes with the man! Great humility. To be at the beck and call of anyone in need! Jesus follows the man just as Matthew had followed Jesus!
Note :
A) The faith of the father. By this point Jesus has not brought anyone back to life. Yet the Father believes Jesus can do it! He does not believe in death, but life!
B) The humble following of Jesus. He demands that we follow him - e.g. Matthew v9. Yet in our time of need he will follow us!
Application:
We need faith in Jesus. He is the Lord of Life. Go to him with your troubles and trials. Surely he will come with you if you but ask!
 
2nd : v20-22
V20 : an interruption! A woman comes seeking help for herself. She has no words to say.
V21 Just a hope that somehow with a touch she will be healed / saved. Nothing else just a touch. Does not even dare to touch the skin of Jesus - just his clothes.
V22 Jesus calls her daughter! Says her faith has healed / saved her. Instantly made better.
Note:
Here we have another action of faith that involves going to Jesus.
Faith is all about going to Jesus with all that we are and no pretending!
Who was this woman?
She was a poor, unclean, helpless soul!
She had used all her money but still no cure
Her unceasing bleeding meant she was continually unclean -
Thus, unable to take part in any religious activity. An outcast.
She had no-one to help her until Jesus arrived on the scene.
Application:
You to can go to Jesus just as you are! And your deepest need of acceptance and cleansing before God will be met immediately.
The words of Jesus can be translated “your faith has saved you” rather than “healed you”. Trust in Jesus and you will be saved.
 
3rd: v23-26
V23 back to he other daughter. In the house the funeral is in full swing!
Under normal circumstances v23 would have been the end of the story!
Death would have claimed another soul, another victory!
But the Lord is here! The kingdom of God is here.
In the Kingdom there is no death or dying!
V24 The kingdom of God has a word to say to death - “go away. The girl is not dead but asleep”
Usually the Kingdom word is “follow me.” To death the word is “go away!”
V25 The word is then followed by action. The crowd were cast out. Death was cast out! He grasped the girl from the clutches of death, and brought her back to life.
Jesus takes the girl by the hand! A gentle picture. A work seemingly done with easy.
Yet behind the picture there is violence being done to death. Jesus is seizing this girl. Holding her firmly and strongly. Jesus is the Victor - Death the defeated foe.
V26 news of this spreads like wild fire. There is Someone who has power over death!
 
Finally:
Where does the story end for you?
You need to see yourself somewhere in this story.
Do you stop with v23 - in the funeral! A mourner!
Or do you go onto v26 “News of this spread through all that region.” A rejoice-er!
Do you marvel at the One who has power over death?
 
 
 
Evening Service 9th sept 07
Romans 14v17
Context:
The whole debate was about externals! Food, holy days, and judging what others do about these things v1-12. Called to stop judging and live considerately v13-16.
The problem that is covered in the chapter is what we are o do with “secondary issues” or “disputable matters”v2. - e.g. what we personally think about things, or traditions, or things that are not moral issues, like food!
A good example may be that of alcoholic drink. The bible never says drinking is wrong. Yet, some Christians make a big issue out of it and say it is wrong.
The bible does say getting drunk is wrong. There is no debate about that.
So some Christians are perfectly happy to drink others think its sinful.
Into this whole debate over secondary issues Paul gives us this great definition of the Kingdom of God v17 and 18.
What is life in the Kingdom of God all about?
Why are we in the Kingdom?
What are we here for?
1st of all what it is not about:
Living in the kingdom of God at one level has nothing to do with “eating and drinking.”
Kingdom life is not about external markers.
Not about giving up football, dancing, and coming to the PM!
“Don’t drink, smoke or chew - or go with girls who do”.
“Eating and drinking” - ultimately are not that important.
You cannot tell who a Christian is by what they eat for their Sunday Lunch!
Or by what they drink on a Friday night in front of the TV.
You cannot tell who is in the kingdom by what they wear!
Kingdom life is not about all these things!
 
Note: these things all have their place!
Secondary issues have to be dealt with in light of scripture principles.
The danger is we take what is only of minor importance and make it into something major!
 
2nd: if the kingdom is not about eating and drinking what is it all about?
It is all about serving Jesus v18.
A true kingdom is a place where a King is served.
The kingdom of God is where King Jesus is served!
Thus the kingdom is all about service. What are we here for? Service!
This makes complete sense when we consider the Lord in his Incarnation :
Mark 10:45 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
How are we to serve in a way that is pleasing to God and to others?
Are we to get caught up in matters that really don’t matter. Are we to get involved in judging others over secondary issues. Are we to focus on the purely outward material forms?
The church has wasted too much time and money over secondary issues! Like what clothes a Christian should ware! What books she should read! What version of the bible is correct! Whether churches should have pews or chairs! Changing the time of a service etc!
“eating and drinking” issues!
None of this is pleasing to God or helpful towards the furtherance of His kingdom.
So how are we to serve God?
With, “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” v17.
The important part of this verse is the end of it! We are to serve in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Service “in the Holy Spirit” is what counts and is important. Not legalistic outward appearance!
A sprit filled life of service will be displayed in 3 areas:
 
A) Righteousness. - Douglas Moo, writes,
Since Paul typically uses “righteousness” language in Romans in a forensic sense to refer to our status before God, many interpreters think that dikaiosyne has that sense here. 2 But Paul also uses this word to refer to “ethical righteousness,” that is, behavior pleasing to God (e.g., 6:16, 18, 19). This meaning fits the present context better. 3
We serve God well by living a morally pure life.
This is not about always being in the right.
It is about being beautiful. Winsome and holy.
An attractive purity that draws others to Jesus.
 
B) Peace: this is to do with how we get along with others, hence v19. We are to live peaceably with one another. Not picking fights, not judging, not having abrasive characters that rub others up the wrong way!
 
C) Joy: the result of a life of purity and peace will be Joy. Our kingdom life is to be marked by
joy and happiness. Not doom and gloom!