James 1:19 - 27 An Evening Service Scripture Study - Holiness is Visible!

^19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ^20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ^21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

^22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ^23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ^24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ^25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

^26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ^27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:16 - 19 An Evening Service Scripture Study - First-Fruits-R-Us

^16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. ^17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ^18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

James 1:12-15 And Evening Service Scripture Study - Understanding Temptation

^12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

^13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ^14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ^15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James tells us that "evil desire" is the key to falling for temptation. What do you think this "evil desire" really is?

James 1:1-12 An Evening Service Scripture Study - Asking for Wisdom

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

^2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ^3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ^4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ^5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ^6 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. ^7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ^8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

^9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ^10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ^11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

^12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Isaiah 60: The Glory of God - the Joy of a Believer

One of the common confusions about the Glory of God is that his Glory is something to be feared. After all, there are illustrations in the Old Testament where Glory and judgment are connected. But the theme that comes to us from Isaiah and many other passages is that our greatest joy is the Glory of the Lord in at least two senses.
Paul writes
^11 In him we were also chosen, ^c having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ^12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

^c Or were made heirs

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Eph 1:11). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Our Joy is because of his Glory - the two are intimately connected.
Our Joy is a demonstration, it is the expression of the Glory of God.
The passage that I will work with is Isaiah 60 which follows:

The Glory of Zion

60 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

^2 See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the LORD rises upon you

and his glory appears over you.

^3 Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

^4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:

All assemble and come to you;

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters are carried on the arm.

^5 Then you will look and be radiant,

your heart will throb and swell with joy;

the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,

to you the riches of the nations will come.

^6 Herds of camels will cover your land,

young camels of Midian and Ephah.

And all from Sheba will come,

bearing gold and incense

and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

^7 All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you,

the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;

they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,

and I will adorn my glorious temple.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Is 60:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Have you seen the "glory" of God on people? What does it look like? On a community? What does that look like? Your comments are deeply appreciated.

2 Corinthians 4:6, Hebrews 1:3: The Glory of God - Jesus Christ

The scripture says it clearly:

2 Corinthians 4:6
^6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” ^a made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

^a Gen. 1:3

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (2 Co 4:6). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Hebrews 1

The Son Superior to Angels

1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ^2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ^3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ^4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Heb 1:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

In fact, the book of John pictures the Glory of God revealed in Christ specifically when he is raised up on the cross. This message will focus on the myriad of ways that Jesus revealed the Glory of God, one of the main reasons also that so much of our worship and adoration goes not only to the Trinity, but also especially toward Christ who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

When you look at Christ - how do you sense he reveals the glory of God? Your feed forward is deeply appreciated!

Psalm 19: The Glory of God - the Essential Purpose of Creation

This is a first of a series of four sermons that I hope to do this summer on the overarching theme of the Glory of God. Scripture from the beginning to the very end resonates with the chorus - "to the Glory of God." In this series, we hope to explore how rich this theme is. This first sermon will focus on creation. When we go on holidays, we often experience wonderful sights in nature. It may be that this summer you have experienced in a new way the Glory of God through creation. Feel free to share. It may well come up in this sermon.

The scripture that we will be meditating on:

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

^1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

^2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

^3 There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard. ^a

^4 Their voice ^b

goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

^5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

^6 It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

^7 The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

^8 The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

^9 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.

^10 They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

^11 By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

^12 Who can discern his errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

^13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

^14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

^a Or They have no speech, there are no words; | no sound is heard from them

^b Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew line

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ps 19:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

One of the books that I am reading in preparation for this series:
"God's Passion for His Glory" by John Piper (electronic pdf version available for free on the internet. Click on the Book title)

CAN'T YOU TAKE A YOKE?

Sorry for the pun, but I had to.

This will be our last Summer Evening Service before summer holidays kick in seriously. I usually give a sermon on rest before summer - and since the morning services have been taken over by our annual theme, this is it.

Matthew 11:25-30 is a very interesting passage. In it Jesus invites us to rest by taking on a his yoke. If you are familiar with an agrarian culture, though, you know that a yoke is actually something that involves work. It is the cross member between two burden bearing animals that helps them to pull a heavy load. This is the scripture passage

Rest for the Weary

^25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ^26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

^27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

^28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ^29 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. ^30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Mt 11:25). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

How would you understand the rest that Jesus is calling us to? What kind of work is he calling and to and what does the yoke have to do with it? Give you input, your thoughts, your struggles, it will all be appreciated.

Pastor Bill

Sunday June 17 PM Service - The Unreasonable Actions of a Faithful Father

The Story of Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac on the Altar puzzles many people. But this is a test, a test which needs a faithful father's response. Read
Genesis 22:1-19

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,
7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

As we read this passage, we discover a father who even in the context of family conflict over what he was doing, was willing to obey God. On this Father's day, a halmark Sunday, have you discovered that sometimes being a Father who obeys God causes conflict in your family, school, work life? If you have illustrations, please share them. It may be that this sermon also applies to the summer second service option which we are going to decide on after the service.

July 8, Numbers 6:22-26 "The Blessing"

The intent of this sermon is to complete the presentations of the parts of worship liturgy that are in almost every service. We conclude our services with a blessing. This practice has its foundation in Numbers chapter 6. What impact does the blessing have on you before you leave a worship service? As many have noticed, when we close a service with the priestly blessing of Numbers 6, I often add a phrase "the Lord treat you as his favourite children." You may have wondered why I add that phrase. The sermon will explain that. Here is the passage. Your reflections are invited.

^22 The LORD said to Moses, ^23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

^24 ““‘The LORD bless you

and keep you;

^25 the LORD make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

^26 the LORD turn his face toward you

and give you peace.”’

^27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Nu 6:22). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

July 1, Revelation 22 "The Tree of Live in the Middle of the City"

We come to the conclusion of our theme this year - "From the Garden to the City, Trees along the way" and we come to the final chapter of scripture to discover that now the garden and the city have become one for both speak of the presence of God. And the river is here to - the river of the water of life.
In your mind, what do some of the symbols in this vision represent?

The River of Life

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ^2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ^3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ^4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ^5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

^6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

Jesus Is Coming

^7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”

^8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. ^9 But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

^10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. ^11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”

^12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. ^13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

^14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ^15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

^16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you ^a this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

^17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

^18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. ^19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

^20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

^21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

^a The Greek is plural.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Re 22:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

June 24 Revelation 21 "The City of God - the Bride made Ready"

Revelation 19 has a key phrase for understanding history, our own history and the culmination of history in the City of God - "the Bride has made herself ready." This statement is followed by visions of beauty - the city of God descends from heaven to be on the earth. Yet its foundation is earthly and its gates have an earthy origin - tribes and apostles. It is a city that is defined by the presence of God in it (compare to Ezekiel 48:35) and as a result, the city will be forever. Here is the passage. Your comments are invited

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

^2 for true and just are his judgments.

He has condemned the great prostitute

who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.

He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

^3 And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah!

The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

^4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

“Amen, Hallelujah!”

^5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,

all you his servants,

you who fear him,

both small and great!”

^6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

^7 Let us rejoice and be glad

and give him glory!

For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready.

^8 Fine linen, bright and clean,

was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

^9 Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

^10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ^2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ^3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ^4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

^5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

^6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. ^7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. ^8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

^9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” ^10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. ^11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. ^12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. ^13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ^14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

^15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. ^16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia ^a in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ^17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits ^b thick, ^c by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. ^18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. ^19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ^20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ^{d 21} The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

^22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ^23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ^24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ^25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ^26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ^27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

^a That is, about 1,400 miles (about 2,200 kilometers)

^b That is, about 200 feet (about 65 meters)

^c Or high

^d The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Re 21:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

June 17 Revelation 18, "The City Called Babylon"

The city of Babylon pictured in Revelation 18 - 19:3 is a city that has profound and interesting qualities.

The Fall of Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. ^2 With a mighty voice he shouted:

“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!

She has become a home for demons

and a haunt for every evil spirit,

a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.

^3 For all the nations have drunk

the maddening wine of her adulteries.

The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,

and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

^4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“Come out of her, my people,

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

^5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,

and God has remembered her crimes.

^6 Give back to her as she has given;

pay her back double for what she has done.

Mix her a double portion from her own cup.

^7 Give her as much torture and grief

as the glory and luxury she gave herself.

In her heart she boasts,

‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow,

and I will never mourn.’

^8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:

death, mourning and famine.

She will be consumed by fire,

for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

^9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. ^10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:

”‘Woe! Woe, O great city,

O Babylon, city of power!

In one hour your doom has come!’

^11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— ^12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; ^13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.

^14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ^15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn ^16 and cry out:

”‘Woe! Woe, O great city,

dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,

and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!

^17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. ^18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ ^19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:

”‘Woe! Woe, O great city,

where all who had ships on the sea

became rich through her wealth!

In one hour she has been brought to ruin!

^20 Rejoice over her, O heaven!

Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets!

God has judged her for the way she treated you.’”

^21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:

“With such violence

the great city of Babylon will be thrown down,

never to be found again.

^22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters,

will never be heard in you again.

No workman of any trade

will ever be found in you again.

The sound of a millstone

will never be heard in you again.

^23 The light of a lamp

will never shine in you again.

The voice of bridegroom and bride

will never be heard in you again.

Your merchants were the world’s great men.

By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.

^24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints,

and of all who have been killed on the earth.”

Hallelujah!

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

^2 for true and just are his judgments.

He has condemned the great prostitute

who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.

He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

^3 And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah!

The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

^4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne.

What qualities does this city have? Does it remind you of some cities we are quite familiar with? This picture of the city is very negative. Can you think of themes or qualities of the city that are worthy of the eternal kingdom? What is the role of the cult or idols or religion in this city? Your input is invited, I will add as I research.

There is solid evidence that the city of Babel (Genesis 10, 11) and Babylon are the same city. The name of both means "the gate of god" (bab + el= Sumarian) and at the same time in Hebrew it means "confusion." What resonances do you notice in the Old Testament story of Babel and the Revelation story of Babylon do you read?

June 10 Matthew 6 "For Thine is the Kingdom"

This theme fits well into our annual theme of "From the Garden to the City - Trees along the Way." The "city" represents the kingdom of God in its fullness. Close to the beginning of the prayer we pray "Your Kingdom Come," now at the end of the prayer, we are once again reminded that the Kingdom, power and Glory all belong to Him. This is a prayer with a profound kingdom focus at both the beginning and the end. In this sermon, I hope to talk about a healthy desire for the kingdom - as represented in the New Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the desire of Israel in the Old Testament. It was the place where their king had his throne. It was the place where God sat enthroned on the Ark of the Covenant. It was placed on a high hill, and so Israel would sing its songs of ascent and longing on their way up to Jerusalem. When Jerusalem was taken and pillaged by the Assyrians, the people of Israel sat at the river side and wept. To have ones name in the citizenship scrolls of Jerusalem was to have your name remembered eternally as a possessor of the promised land. Thus Israel kept long geneological records that incidentally were destroyed in 70AD. Now the book of Hebrews tells us that our citizenship is in heaven, the new Jerusalem, our names written in the book of life. And this city will never be taken. We are secure in the city where there will be no more crying, tears, or pain. Don't you find yourself hungry for that at times? Maybe more often than not? Yet its seems that we are reluctant to talk about what heaven is like. Maybe that's because, when push comes to shove, we are often reluctant to talk about "the kingdom" because we are not quite sure what it should really look like. To say that the Kingdom is wherever "Jesus is Lord" is theologically true but painting a picture of that is sometimes less than clear. Should the church be giving courses in how to become poor (Matthew 5:3)? Or "The five easy steps to hungering and thirsting for righteousness" (Matthew 5:10)? Or "The two best strategies to fall off the social ladder and become the least" (Matthew 5:19)? Or "The eighteen mysterious secrets of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:11)? Kingdom and the New Jerusalem are concepts that intermingle. Are we people who seek first the kingdom (the New Jerusalem) and its righteousness? How hungry are we?

If you are really brave, you might want to check out my research on the city of Jerusalem... in the third comment below.

What do you think the "markers" of the kingdom are? What would church look like if the kingdom of God came to a more perfect expression among us? Your ideas or input on this sermon or future sermons is deeply appreciated.

"True godliness is always a matter of desire." and "desires are true prayers." Charles Spurgeon (http://sovereign-grace.com/spurgeon-sn/chsn0034.htm)

On Knowledge and Desire according to Augustine see http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3664/is_200110/ai_n8958098/pg_6

"“Desires for other things”—there’s the enemy. And the only
weapon that will triumph is a deeper hunger for God. The weakness
of our hunger for God is not because he is unsavory, but
because we keep ourselves stuffed with “other things.”" - John Piper Hunger for God p. 10

"The fight of faith is a fight to feast on all that
God is for us in Christ. What we hunger for most, we worship." - John Piper Hunger for God p. 10

Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is nothing upon earth
that I desire besides thee.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion for ever.
—PS A L M 7 3 : 2 5 - 2 6 , R S V

"Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for
God." - John Piper Hunger for God p. 14

"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie.
It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for
heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not
the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we
drink in every night. For all the ill that Satan can do, when God
describes what keeps us from the banquet table of his love, it is
a piece of land, a yoke of oxen, and a wife (Luke 14:18-20). The
greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts.
And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but
for the simple pleasures of earth. For when these replace an
appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable,
and almost incurable." - John Piper Hunger for God p. 14

John Piper is an excellent writer and a great theologian - and guess what - he is offering his books on the internet to readers for FREE! Future Grace is a great book, a good read. Check his books out @ http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/

June 3 Matthew 6, "Deliver us from Evil"

In the Lord's prayer, we regularly pray "Deliver us from evil" (or "the Evil one"). How aware are we of the forces of evil in our time? Paul says that "we fight not against flesh and blood but against powers and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."(Ephesians 6) How aware of these spiritual influences are we?

D. H. Lawrence, as early as 1923 D. H. Lawrence, described the new spiritual atmosphere that was possessing (what would become Nazi) Germany:
"It is as if life had retreated eastwards. As if the Germanic life were slowly ebbing away from contact with western Europe, ebbing to the deserts of the east...
Returning again to the fascination of the destructive east, that produced Attila... at night you feel strange things stirring in the darkness, strange feelings stirring out of this still unconquered Black Forest. You stiffen your backbone and you listen to the night. There is a sense of danger. It is not the people. They don’t seem dangerous. Out of the very air comes a sense of danger, a queer, bristling feeling of uncanny danger.
Something has happened. Something has happened which has not yet eventuated. The old spell of the old world has broken, and the old, bristling, savage spirit has set in. . . . Something has happened to the human soul, beyond all help. . . . It is a fate; nobody now can alter it. . . . At the same time, we have brought it about ourselves—by a Ruhr occupation, by an English nullity, and by a German false will. We have done it ourselves. But apparently it was not to be helped." (Quoted from Walter Wink, "Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination." p. 53)

Have you experienced the evil one in your life? How and when? How does the evil get at you? What in your opinion are some of its main strategies? Your input is invited!

May 27 - Pentecost Sunday Morning: From the Garden to the City - Trees along the Way - the first taste

We have been on a journey together that started with the promises of the Garden in the Old Testament. Scripture tells us that the fulfillment of those promises is a city that comes down out of heaven filled with the glory of the Lord called "the New Jerusalem." In our journey, we have come to Pentecost - the first taste of the city.

Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ^2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ^3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ^4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues ^a as the Spirit enabled them.

The Fellowship of the Believers

^42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ^43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ^44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. ^45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ^46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ^47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

^a Or languages; also in verse 11

The early church in its birth was experiencing a foretaste of the city of God. It strikes me that the city, as represented in Acts 2:42-47 was characterized by the following kingdom principles:

1. Citizens were devoted (they persisted in) to the apostle's teaching, to fellowship (Koinonia), to breaking of the bread (The Eucharist) and to prayer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, their faith became reliable and consistent. Even their attendance to the building of community became very reliable. It seems to me that the focus of this "taste of the new city" is that God and the truths of his kingdom along with his people came before everything else. "Seek first the kingdom..." This was the culture of the new city.

2. Citizens became remarkably generous, willing to sell their possession in order to share with those in need, regarding themselves as stewards of what God had given them. It seems to me that ideally, in the city, this is possible. Isn't it ironic that we live so close to each other, each with our little plot of grass, yet we all have our own mower and hardly ever share with one another. The disease of the present city is individualism, materialism and loneliness. The taste of the new city culture in Pentecost is a radical contrast from what we experience today.

3. They met with each other daily. Here is a picture of connectedness. Once again, only possible in the city where we can meet our neighbours on our walks, etc. Their connection even went to the point of common meals (BBQs?) and feasted together (or at least a "love feast - which according to Krieder, were feasts where the rich waited for the poor to eat first, where they shared their wealth with the needy and the least became first) in their homes. The dynamic of today's cities however is that we are remarkably disconnected. Many of us do not know the names of our immediate neighbours. Yet we are so physically close together. Yet we are so disconnected from one another. The culture we live in and the culture we look forward to in the new City are dramatically different.

4. They celebrated! They were marked as a people who praised God. Revelation clearly pictures throngs joined in worship and celebration. This is a culture of happiness for tears and sorrows will be wiped away. Joy never ending! Wow! How different from our cities where a lack of generosity and a pervasive individualism results in homelessness, poverty, brokenness, secrecy, pain etc. etc.

5. This culture was magnetic! For those who hunger for the kingdom - it is the ideal. Every day people were being added. (There is however good evidence that many also were not added - and even though they enjoyed good favour at first, by Acts 6, major persecution had started.)

Every city, every church has a culture. How close to the culture of the New city is our church?
In your experience of the cities we live in - is the city as we know it a foretaste of the eternal kingdom of God, or is it a foretaste at all in any way at all?
How do you picture the city, the new Jerusalem, that God is bringing to us? What excites you about it?

Feel free to add any of your own questions or themes that you might like to see addressed in this sermon or future sermons.

Possible theme song of Response: "Take us to the River" by Robin Mark

Pastor Bill