Christmas Sermon: Luke 1:26-38

4 December 2011 - Mike Hey - "Journey Of Favour" from Clovercrest Baptist on Vimeo.

Sharing the word

Fruitfulness in mission - Mike Hey

22nd May 2011 - Mike Hey - "Bearing Fruit in Mission" from Clovercrest Baptist on

8th May 2011 - Ann Hey - "Crossing Boundries" from Clovercrest Baptist on Vimeo.

>Vimeo.

Crossing Boundaries - Ann Hey

8th May 2011 - Ann Hey - "Crossing Boundries" from Clovercrest Baptist on Vimeo.

Our Passion

1. A fresh move of the Holy Spirit compelling us to radical action
2. A focus on God's priority to bring release to the crushed and the afflicted
3. An authentic faith that is demonstrated at home, work and place of worship
4. A foundation that is designed by God for fruitfulness in every area of life
5. A fight with the world, flesh and the devil to the end

Authentic faith

1. It is centered in our relationship with Christ

2. It will be tested through the troubles of life

3. It can be evident in our daily choices.

Seven touch points:

1. Live for His glory – True worship

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1

2. Discover the way of the humble

He leads the humble in what is right,

   and teaches the humble his way.

Psalm 25:9

3. Embrace  love and  forgiveness

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Col 3:12 - 14

4. Trust in His Lordship and reliability.

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
   and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
   and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
   fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
   and refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5 - 8

5. Walk together in the reality of His presence

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

6. Be filled with the Holy Spirit

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts: 4:31

7. Live Good News everywhere and in everything

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one Spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith fo the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

Phil 1:27 – 28 

Prayer

"And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

Revelations 5:8


Prayer is not simply bringing a shopping list to God.
Prayer connects us with the personal, holy, and loving presence of God.
Prayer is an honest attitude of heart towards the ways of God.
Prayer is difficult at times and true prayer is humbling as we face our own weakness and seek His strength.
Prayer moves us from self reliance to deeper dependence on God.
Prayer builds expectancy for His Kingdom to come.
Prayer discovers the supernatural provision of God.
Prayer brings victory over evil
Prayer is not an optional extra.
Prayer takes our eyes off self to seek Him.


Some characteristics of a growing Atmosphere of Prayer:

1. Awe in the presence of God's holiness and authority. Our God is a consuming fire. A small view of God will lead us to neglect prayer.
2. Amazing grace towards the humble when they are confident to come to His throne. (Heb 4:16)
3. Attitudes towards others are radically transformed through prayer.

An aspect of Kingdom culture

Kingdom culture on earth is orientated around Good News. We experience righteousness through relationship with Christ. We embrace peace towards one another through our relationship with Christ. We enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit through our relationship with Christ.

On Thursday I shared from Matt 18:23 "The Kingdom of heaven is like..." Jesus told the story of the King (At the centre of the Kingdom) who forgave an impossible debt of one of his servants. In the response of this servant it is clear that he did not appreciate the extent of this incredible gift. He refuses to forgive another person who owed him a small amount compared to his own debt. He faced serious consequences for rejecting the mercy of the King.

We can learn some Kingdom principles from this passage for community life. These principles can only be embraced through the work of God's grace in our lives.

1. Take the humble place (Matt 18:4)

2. Ensure that our behaviour or attitude does not cause another to stumble (Matt 18:6 - 9)

3. Reach out with a shepherd's heart to the one who has gone astray and is struggling (Matt 18:10 - 14)

4. Deal with sin in the right way. Confront the offender personally and privately. Only involve others if it does not work out (Matt 18:15 - 17 )

5. Embrace the authority that you have when you pray with one or two others. The presence of the King is with you. (Matt 18:18 - 19)

6. Develop a habit of forgiveness (Matt 18:21 - 22)

7. A dimension of Kingdom culture is to forgive in response to His forgiveness.


When do I know I have totally forgiven (RT Kendall)

1. be aware of the wrong and still forgive
2. Choose to keep no record of wrong
3. Refuse to punish
4. Do not tell
5. Show mercy
6. Show grace
7. Know inner peace
8. Absence of bitterness

For healing and protection:

- Find someone to share with to help you through the pain of the hurt

- In cases of abuse, church leaders or government authorities need to be informed to help ensure protection of yourself and others.

Let's agree together to pray with authority in Jesus name for His transformational presence to break the chains and set us free to live as his chosen and forgiven people who are called to walk heaven's culture on earth.

Some questions:
Have I said anything to anyone about another person that did not honour that person?

Have I failed to go directly and personally to confront and restore the person at fault?

Have a found time to pray and seek God for spiritual authority to break the graceless culture that rejects the King's mercy?

Own personal responsibility for wrong. Repent (Change mindset) and choose to embrace these Kingdom principles