Scriptures that have spoken to us

—Word Team

  • Charles, Ruth & Jane – Mar 17, 2019

 
 
Click on this slide and then press the spacebar to advance slides: ➜ (or swipe on a touch screen)

Praying with authority

How God has spoken to me through
Luke 10:17–22 & Matthew 9:27–29

—Charles

Luke 10

  1. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
  2. And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
  3. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
  4. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

James 4

  1. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Luke 10

  1. In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Matthew 9

  1. And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
  2. When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
  3. Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”

Takeaway

  • Pray with authority
  • Your authority is because you are part of God’s family
  • You don’t have to have amazing knowledge
  • You have to have faith and preserve

Our God is Greater

And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against

Making Space for God

How God has spoken to me through
Mark 4:3–25

—Ruth

Summary

Our actions in themselves don’t change us

but when we make space in our hearts and minds space for God’s word to take root, then it can grow and bear fruit

“The moment we grasp this breathtaking insight [free salvation] we are in danger of an error in the opposite direction. We are tempted to believe there is nothing we can do. If all human strivings end in bankruptcy (and having tried it, we know it is so), and if righteousness is a gracious gift from God (as the Bible clearly states), then is it not logical to conclude that we must wait for God to come and transform us? Strangely enough, the answer is no. The analysis is correct – human striving is insufficient and righteousness is a gift of God – but the conclusion is faulty. Happily there is something we can do. We do not need to be hung on the horns of human works or idleness. God has given us the disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving grace. the disciplines allow us to place ourselves before god so that he can transform us.” Richard Foster Celebration of Discipline Ch.1

Mark 4 (NIV)

  1. “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
  2. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
  3. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
  4. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
  5. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
  6. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”
  7. Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Mark 4

  1. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?
  2. The farmer sows the word.
  3. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
  4. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
  5. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Mark 4

  1. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;
  2. but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
  3. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

Hearing

  1. “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
  2. Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
  3. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Mark 4

  1. “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.
  2. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Takeaway

  • Our job is to make space for God to work, not to try and force his hand
  • Our actions are not like a magic spell that manipulates him, but a way to surrender
  • Making space is making deliberate choices that say yes to God and no to the world
  • The more you make space for God, the more fruit you will have – “still more will be added to you”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

Keep your eyes upon Jesus
And others will not take his place
But through every hour he will give you power
‘Till at last you have run the straight race

The Learning Curve

How God has spoken to me through
Psalm 143:6–11

—Jane

Psalm 143

  1. I stretch out my hands to you;
          my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
  2. Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails!
    • Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
  3. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
  4. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
    • I have fled to you for refuge!
  5. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!
    • Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
  6. For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
    • In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

Takeaway

“Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails!”

  • David also knew in theory what he needed to do
  • He was a son of God, living his life for God
  • but, even for him, doing this in a practical way had a learning curve
  • It’s ok for us to doubt and ask questions
  • and we are all on the same curve of learning to trust God when we doubt

Sovereign Over Us

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever, perfect in love
You are sovereign over us