Church notes - October 2021

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3rd
Psalm 33

James 2
Hebrews 10:24

Prayer - Christians in Afghanistan.

Psalm 100

Thanksgiving and Praise.

Shouts of praise
Acknowledging God as Creator.
It must change our heart, mind and will.

Psalm 100
vs 4
Thanksgiving - acknowledge and confess.
Praise of God.

Joy
vs 1, 2

Romans 8:18
Psalm 98:4 - 6
A shout of triumph.
Psalm 46:4
A boistrous expression of worship.

Psalm 100:3
Submission
He created us. We belong to Him.

Redemption.
- The greatest expression - Jesus on the Cross.

Isaiah 40:1
Fulfilled in Jesus when He laid down His life.

Thanksgiving
vs 4
God alone.
Remember all that He has done for us.

vs 5
His character.

Psalm 107
vs 8, 16, 21, 31

No matter how severe our calamity, God is there.
vs 1 - 3
God has done so much for us.
vs 4 - 9
When you lose your freedom.
vs 10 - 16
When you lose your health.
vs 17 - 22
When you lose your Hope.

When you find yourself in a pandemic...

Colossians 2:6, 7


10th
Psalm 51
Ransomed
Healed
Restored
Forgiven

Background - 2 Samuel 11, 12

51:1, 2

Exodus 34:6

David called on God's character for mercy.

vs 3 - 6
The greatest sin is against God, against His authority.
vs 6 The deep recessses of our heart and mind.

vs 7

vs 8
God doesn't want us to live in guilt. He wants us to be restored to Him.

Reach out in faith for that cleansing and restoration.

Hebrews 9:14
Jesus died so that you may be forgiven, no matter what you have done.

vs 13 - 15
vs 16, 17
Not outward rituals, but a heart of repentance and change. Not religion, but a relationship. The relationship needs to be restored.

Communion
Luke 22:15 - 22


17th
John 13:35

Matthew 5:14 - 16

Mark 10:35 - 45

1 Timothy 6:1, 2
The priority - the Gospel. Paul didn't want it to have a bad reputation.
- His focus was on the death and resurrection of Jesus, as ours should be.

Slavery
- A master abomination
- A human being owned by another, reduced to property. Yoke - symbolic of an opressive regime.
- A gigantic cancer.

Paul undermining slavery
1 Timothy 1:9, 10
Slave traders are on the list.

Ephesians 6:9
No favoritism - There is equality between slave owners and slaves.

Colossians 4:1
Philemon
Onesimus was to be treated fairly and as an equal. Paul reminded Philemon that he had brought him to the LORD.

Romans 12:10
Every human being is made in the image of God.

The Gospel and acceptance of it is our highest priority.

Value the Gospel.
We should show all human beings dignity.

But we should be aware of our consumption. That we're not aiding and betting slavery. (Cotton and cocoa and coffee beans are picked by slaves in some places in 2021...)


24th
Ephesians 2:13

1 Timothy 6: 3 - 19
Attitudes about money and possessions.
vs 6 - 8
Contentment.
Recognise the dangers of discontentment.
vs 9
Consequences of falling into temptation.
vs 10
Not so much as what we own, but what owns us.
When tempted with materialism - flee.
vs 11
Don't stimulate the materialism appetite.
Run from materialism and persue spiritual growth.
Generosity destroys greed.
vs 17, 18
If you want to learn to be content, focus on Eternity.
vs 19

Eternal thinking.


31st
John 14:5 - 27

Mark 1:29 - 29

Jesus practiced frequent solitary prayer.

Luke 4:42
Luke 5:16
Luke 6:12
Luke 9:18, 28
Luke 11:1
Luke 22:39 - 41
Jesus was busy but He made time to spend time in prayer.

Withdraw - to hear from God.
John 5:17 - 20

God is always working.

John 5:19

Philippians 2:6, 7
He voluntarily submitted Himself to the Father's leadership.
The members of the Trinity are interdependent.

Submit - adopt a posture of submission.

Luke 3:22
Luke 4:1, 14, 15, 18, 19

1 Corinthians 2:9 - 11, 16
1 Corinthians 13:12

Romans 8:1

Conviction
God exposes what you need to change.
Condemnation
Satan attacks your value and says that you're worthless.

Listen - to the voice and the nudges of the Holy Spirit

Testing and impression:
- Is it consistent with the Bible?
- Will it make me more like Christ?
- Does my Church family confirm it?
- Is it consistent with how God shaped me?
- Is it convicting rather than condemning?
- Do I sense God's peace about it?

Acts 2:42 - 45