Abraham's stop at Haran

GO ALL THE WAY!

"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.' "

(Genesis 12:1, NIV)

In the Scripture, Abraham is listed as one of the heroes of faith. God made one of the first covenants with him. But what’s interesting is that before Abraham, God spoke to Abraham’s father and told him to go where he told Abraham. It says in Genesis 11 that Abraham’s father “left Ur and headed out toward Canaan.” He was going to the Promised Land just like God told Abraham. 

But it says, “He stopped along the way and settled in Haran.” Why did he stop? There were too many difficulties. It was hard traveling with all of his flocks and herds. He had his family, his possessions. It wasn’t comfortable. He finally decided, “I can’t go any further. I know this isn’t the Promised Land, but it’s good enough.”

How many times do we do the same thing? We start off right. We’ve got a big dream. We’re going to fulfill our destiny. But along the way, we face opposition. Adversity arises. Too many times, we say like Abraham’s father, “What’s the use? I’m just going to settle here. It’s good enough.” No, I want to light a new fire in you. Decide today: “I’m not going to settle halfway, three-fourths of the way, or nine-tenths of the way. I’m going to make it all the way in to my promised land.”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, today I declare that I won’t settle for good enough. I won’t settle halfway to Your promises. I choose to stand strong, dig my heels in, and press forward into the Promised Land you have prepared for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

- Joel & Victoria Osteen -

Bsf 13 - 19 May 14

1. Parable of sower (or soils)

Matthew 13 

Our response to God's word has eternal effects on our eternal life.

- people were trying to see if he can do anymore miracles. Came to watch a show.

- while some exhibit love, joy peace. The others are not showing signs of the fruits of the spirit.

- hard heart. Presumptions of the religion. Entrenched in their own belief. 

- devil quickly snatches it away. 

- rocky - shallow... Not much soil. Emotional experience. Want to gain the benefits only. Restless. Seasons change, they wither and die.

- Maturity does not come with age. Comes with the determination to learn from the word. 

- good soil. Not a mind that obeys anything. 

- Being a sincere seeker is our choice. Whether we want to exercise or not. L

- do we yield more or less when we come to The Lord. 

- Push our own agents nobly 

===  every human is responsible to hear receive and act upon God's word. ===

Asking Jesus how well s the soil

2. Kingdom's secrets

He who has ears let him hear. 

- Message is for all for everyone. 

- turned from majority unbeliever to the minority believers. 

- Conceal the judgement and the 

- Use real like situation with spiritual truths. 

- Differentiating the people. Ppl already chose. 

-  Whoever hAs will be given more. 

- 'Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.' He who acts out. The truth will be give more. One must act upon it and live like he knows the truth.

- them going to Jesus to ask Jesus about the parable. If we ask, he will never fail to answer us. 

- Pharisees reject the truth and hardened their hearts. 

==== Continued rejection of God's word results in removal of opportunity to receive it. ==== 

Hear the lecture, apply it in our lives. 

3. Parable of weeds

- counterfeit Christians. Difference between Christians vs counterfeit Christian. 

- those who yet to belong to Jesus. Devil place people to tempt, distract, upset God's true Christians. Ask us to do things that are not important. 

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:1-5 NIV)

- God who is all knowing will know. 

- God us them to exercise the true Christians muscles to strengthen us. Strengthen in our faith. 

Our business to plant seeds only. 

=== Counterfeits will be recognized and be removed from Christ's church  ==== 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:1 NIV)

Warning to Christians to flee to Jesus. 

Unregenerate weeds are not destroyed. 

Knashing of teeth is forever in heal without love and mercy of God. 

Judgement establishes true value. Can't image a world without judgement. It matters that who we are and why we do matters. 

 

Do we allow them to distract us? 

----- ----- 

Soften our hearts like good soils for seeds to be planted in our hearts.

Bsf 10 -5 May 14

Matthew 9

1) Jesus calls and sends.

Essential, rewarding, fulfilling.

- stress the cost of following him. Meant full obedience, renounce all our own plans. 

- necessity, reward and the purpose of following Christ.

-  Jesus heals because he loves them. He looked at them with more than a casual glance. Had compassion. Gut wrenching compassion for their needs. Because they were harassed, helpless like sheep without Shepard. Lost in spiritual sense not the physical needs. Call the disciple to pray. 9:30 

- the Pharisees were to look after God's people. But Pharisees harassed and did not take Care of them well. 

- in touch with God, aligning ourselves with the mind of Christ. Getting to know God, not necessary getting the answer. 

- Jesus knew The solution which is his father. 10:42

- Jesus had been praying the whole night before choosing these disciples. 

- parallel to the 12 tribes of Israel. They are chosen and not that disciples ask Jesus to be part of the discipleship. 

- give them authority to do His work and glory to Him too. 

- Disciples face rejection too but not persecution. 14:00 

- kingdom of heaven is near. 

- freely give as they have receive freely.  This joy that they cannot contain in there selves, will help to spread the gospel. Power of Christ. Able to be the channel to give. Not profit from God's people. 18:00 

- do we give freely to God's people or grudgingly?

- be with worthy people. Not be with the bad people else people may slander them. Say that they are mixing with bad company. 

- act of disdain 

- 

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. (Matthew 10:16, 17 NIV)

- be sharp as wolf yet innocent as sheep.

- be true to others. Ethical. Integrity. 24:00 

==== Jesus prepares and equips that He calls for service. ==== 

He is The Lord preparing us? 

Have a community of people to follow. 

2) Jesus warns and reminds. 

- day of Pentecost  

-  accept responsibility, as we develop to be more like Christ. 37:00 

- is HS in us enough for us? 

- lose our life for Christ sake? 

- had the peace of God, even at the face of danger and death.

Lose your life, find our life. 38:00 

Inherit eternal life.

==== Jesus promised eternal reward and God's loving presence to those persecuted and who stand for Him & His people. ==== 

What are we holding onto instead of holding up the cross? 43:00

Anything anyone? Ambition?

Marks the discipleship of Christ.

 

Bsf 9-14 Apr 14

1) Healing

Leprosy, never doubt the power and authority of The Lord to help us. "If it is according to your will, you will heal me." 

- Not our asking that determines our answer but his divine will. 

-  Jesus decided to touch him instead. A word would do actually. Shows his love and personal. 

- first realise our need to be healed. Heal spiritually, heal the soul. 

-  not his real purpose of his time here on earth. To save but not to heal. 

-  preparing her ground. Send the leprosy to tell others. 

-  centurion -- harsh on Jews. "Lord". He brought someone else's need. Presented the need. 6:30

-  he knows that he is not worthy, he know the power that Jesus has. Huge statement of faith. 

-  saw that Jesus has the same authority of God. 

-  faith is believe and acting upon it. 

-  8:40 centurion has greater faith than the Jews and even the teachers of the law. 

-  unbelieving Jews will be thrown outside. Excluded because of the lack of faith.

- Jews are Too entrenched in their own traditions. 

-  He takes initiative, Mother wait on Jesus and his disciples. New found life to be patient and to serve. 

-  

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. (Matthew 8:16 NIV)

There are instances when he did not heal. His intention is to heal the spiritual healing. Sin has damaged our spiritual body. 

-  the One who gives life - Christ himself. 13:00 

- sickness could be for greater glory. 

- only the touch of Jesus and word of Jesus can give life. 

- demons also know the authority of Jesus. But it is the following, to surrender to Jesus, love Jesus.

======  Only Jesus has the authority to make us whole again.  ======

- Joyful. Able to do things that we can not do before. 

- can we bring what we need in front of Him. 

- not accepting only in the mind. We have to repent, have faith only thru Jesus Christ. 17:00 

- purpose in life. 

- caring touch of our Lord. 

- do not go back on disbelieve. Commitment to follow the faith. Demons did not have. 

Jesus is not only willing but able to heal and cleanse the poor and hurt. Caring God. 19:32 This is the God that we can out our faith in. 

2) Following

-  Dont so quickly promise to follow. There will be hardships and discomfort. 

- Stop giving excuses. Spiritual terms, let those who are dead in spiritual reality, bury themselves. 

- You are alive to me. Follow me now. 

- initial enthusiasm is not enough to follow Jesus. Quiet determination to follow him everyday. Not by convenience. 

- Been living a dead life anyway, new master is Jesus, he has now life. 

- God has power, authority over our lives and frees us from fear. 

=== Acknowledging Jesus' authority in their lives help disciples follow Him despite the cost. ===

- knowing the cost, despite that, continue to follow 27:00 leave everything behind us,

- degree of commitment, expects not conditional discipleship. All or nothing. 

- 

3) Freeing

- waves can be as high as 20ft. Fisher men's knew the danger of the storm, 

- suddenly they it realised that He has authority over nature. Person that we can rely on in any and all circumstances. 32:00 who is this Jesus of Nazareth.

-  Jesus knows our thoughts and intentions. He controls the storm in nature and in our troubled hearts. 

- Power of Jesus Christ chase the spiritual attacks demons away. Demons are terrified of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 

- demons didn't think that they need to commit and repent. Knowledge is not enough. 35:00

=== The authority of Jesus frees believers from fear and from the forces of evil. ===

- Jesus cares for all individuals. he wants to heal their soul. Heart of our lord is different from that of demons.

- they will know the life who it belongs to. 

- Miracles Wonders point to Jesus's deity. Emphasizing the responses to the miracles. Do we respond with greater faith? 

He will drive away fear and more fear. 

- Pigs are gone, the sources of income is gone. Don't want to change the status quo.

- want to keep the material life than the tragedies of the others. Comfort.

- He is the promised one. Not just One who can perform miracles. 42:00

Bsf - Matthew 3

Matthew 3:17

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NIV)

God expresses how pleased he is with Jesus. Before he is led into the wilderness.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1 NIV)

We have to believe, comprehend how much God loves us, receive it in our heart before a person can have the strength to be obedient. 

Obedience is from God. We cannot be obedient purely on our own. 

Drink from the water of life, the bad leaves will slowly drop off. 

Bsf 13 - 19 May 2914

 BSF 13 - Parables

Matthew 13

Parables challenge then personally to examine their lives. 

Jesus knew that most people were indifferent to His message when it conflicted with their presumptions. 

Jesus called the parables' contents "secrets of the kingdom of heaven." 

Though people hear with their physical ears, they chose not to respond with their hearts - with their inner beings. 

Parable of the soils revels the different responses of different hearts and lives to God's word. 

Four soils 1. Lose, kill, choke or 4. receive the seed

God holds each of us responsible not only for the truth we hear, but also for every opportunity He gives us to hear the truth. 

Not all produces fruit. The farmer would know. 

Farmer is God. Seed was His message. 

Resistance may stem from individual pride, cultural pride that sees no need to know God. 

Resistance is the result of living immorally and refusing any word from God that calls for change. 

God did not say that we will not encounter sufferings. But that He will be with us no matter what and to rely on Him.

Levels of sin

5 levels of descendary of sin

Not acknowledge or worship of God

Even when you see him in creation

2. Creating your own God. Includes our own desires and greed. Self, money, objects and so on

3. Sexual immorality

Humans are created as sexual beings. Man can enjoy sexual relationship within the boundaries of marriage. Not before or outside of it. 

4. Perverse sexual immorality

5. Celebrating perverse sexual immorality