Today, we saw that God has generational purposes with these wonders. God saying he's hardening Pharaoh's heart to show him these signs and "that you may tell in the hearing of your son and grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD." So God has a generational purpose.
How has your spiritual heritage impacted you? What did you see from your parents or grandparents that said, "God is amazing?" Let's encourage one another with testimonies and ideas as to how we can make an impact to our children.
Pastor Brian
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Observations of Wonder #7
Here are a few observations I saw in this 7th wonder. I'd love to here some of your observations or thoughts on these.
1. God's mercy ~ Mingled in the heavy hand of God on the land of Egypt is mercy. After God pronounces the coming hail storm through Moses he says this in vs. 19, "Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them." These are God's words! This is his idea! What else could this be than mercy. Yes, some will refuse Pharaoh being one of them even as God has hardened his heart. But God is extending his hand of mercy and compassion to the Egyptians who will listen to his word. Make no mistake... God is kind and merciful.
2. Moses' boldness ~ The boldness of Moses keeps growing with each passing wonder. Moses isn't afraid in the least to call a spade a spade. He looks at Pharaoh and flat out tells him the truth without any fear. I think the more we obey God and follow him the stronger will be in our convictions lacking the fear of man. He's a good example for us to follow.
3. "The bottom" is a long way down ~ Some of you know that "the bottom" is a lot further down than we think. You've heard the saying: they just haven't hit the bottom yet. Pharaoh's land has been significantly battered, but not completely. Vs. 31 explains the lack of fear Pharaoh has of God and says this, "The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in the bud. But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up." So not everything was destroyed; Pharaoh still had something to depend on. "Hitting the bottom" doesn't equal repentance and faith; only Jesus makes that possible.
Those are some things I've seen. What about you.
Pastor Brian
1. God's mercy ~ Mingled in the heavy hand of God on the land of Egypt is mercy. After God pronounces the coming hail storm through Moses he says this in vs. 19, "Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them." These are God's words! This is his idea! What else could this be than mercy. Yes, some will refuse Pharaoh being one of them even as God has hardened his heart. But God is extending his hand of mercy and compassion to the Egyptians who will listen to his word. Make no mistake... God is kind and merciful.
2. Moses' boldness ~ The boldness of Moses keeps growing with each passing wonder. Moses isn't afraid in the least to call a spade a spade. He looks at Pharaoh and flat out tells him the truth without any fear. I think the more we obey God and follow him the stronger will be in our convictions lacking the fear of man. He's a good example for us to follow.
3. "The bottom" is a long way down ~ Some of you know that "the bottom" is a lot further down than we think. You've heard the saying: they just haven't hit the bottom yet. Pharaoh's land has been significantly battered, but not completely. Vs. 31 explains the lack of fear Pharaoh has of God and says this, "The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in the bud. But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up." So not everything was destroyed; Pharaoh still had something to depend on. "Hitting the bottom" doesn't equal repentance and faith; only Jesus makes that possible.
Those are some things I've seen. What about you.
Pastor Brian
Monday, March 8, 2010
Insecurity and God's love
Yesterday, we talked about how God's love isn't centered or conditioned on us, but is centered on God. God doesn't love us because of who we are; God loves us because of who he is.
I as mentioned in the sermon, that strikes at the heart of popular self-esteem psychology. Schools and counselors are obsessed at building a child's "self-worth." And what they mean by that is "we have to make kids feel that they are lovable, valuable, acceptable in and of themselves."
That is a very dangerous message. What if that's true: to be loved you must be lovable. If God's love isn't centered and conditioned in him than we are going to be very insecure about God's love for us. If I need to be lovable to be loved, than how can I be sure that God loves me? How do I really know if I'm "worth it?" Ultimately, I don't. Insecurity will rule the day if God's love and acceptance of us is conditioned on my worthiness because I'll never truly know if I'm worthy.
Instead, when God's love for me is grounded in himself (i.e. that he is loving) I never have to worry if I'm not worthy of love. In fact, I'm very comfortable say, "I'm not worthy of God's love." But that would only make me discouraged if I needed to be worthy for God's love. But thankfully, I don't.
Is understanding these distinctions helpful? What other questions do you have concerning such things?
Pastor Brian
I as mentioned in the sermon, that strikes at the heart of popular self-esteem psychology. Schools and counselors are obsessed at building a child's "self-worth." And what they mean by that is "we have to make kids feel that they are lovable, valuable, acceptable in and of themselves."
That is a very dangerous message. What if that's true: to be loved you must be lovable. If God's love isn't centered and conditioned in him than we are going to be very insecure about God's love for us. If I need to be lovable to be loved, than how can I be sure that God loves me? How do I really know if I'm "worth it?" Ultimately, I don't. Insecurity will rule the day if God's love and acceptance of us is conditioned on my worthiness because I'll never truly know if I'm worthy.
Instead, when God's love for me is grounded in himself (i.e. that he is loving) I never have to worry if I'm not worthy of love. In fact, I'm very comfortable say, "I'm not worthy of God's love." But that would only make me discouraged if I needed to be worthy for God's love. But thankfully, I don't.
Is understanding these distinctions helpful? What other questions do you have concerning such things?
Pastor Brian
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wonder #4
Today, we saw God intensify his wonders in Egypt by sending swarms of flies into Egypt. How is that intensifying it? In vs. 25 it says that the land was "ruined" by the flies. They are no longer an inconvenience.
Pharaoh began bargaining with Moses. He said, "Ok, you can worship your God, you just have to do it in Egypt." So he's giving in, just not completely. Obviously, this falls short of what God has said - Let my people go!
I said in the sermon that trying to make deals or compromises with God are wicked attempts at maintaining ownership of our own lives. Do you agree with that? Why or why not?
Also, what ways have you tried to make deals with God to give him less than he demands?
Pharaoh began bargaining with Moses. He said, "Ok, you can worship your God, you just have to do it in Egypt." So he's giving in, just not completely. Obviously, this falls short of what God has said - Let my people go!
I said in the sermon that trying to make deals or compromises with God are wicked attempts at maintaining ownership of our own lives. Do you agree with that? Why or why not?
Also, what ways have you tried to make deals with God to give him less than he demands?
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Analyzing our hard hearts
Look here at Eph. 4:17-18.
"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
Paul doesn't want the Ephesians to live like Gentiles (those who don't know God). How do they live? They live confused and misdirected because their understanding is darkened. Because they are ignorant of God, they are alienated, cut off from God. And why are they ignorant of God? Because of their hard hearts.
Just like we saw in the sermon: a hard heart is at the root of the problem.
What did you take away from the message this morning? Was it something new about God, about our hard hearts? And what do you believe God is nudging you to do about it?
"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
Paul doesn't want the Ephesians to live like Gentiles (those who don't know God). How do they live? They live confused and misdirected because their understanding is darkened. Because they are ignorant of God, they are alienated, cut off from God. And why are they ignorant of God? Because of their hard hearts.
Just like we saw in the sermon: a hard heart is at the root of the problem.
What did you take away from the message this morning? Was it something new about God, about our hard hearts? And what do you believe God is nudging you to do about it?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Questions for sermon on 2-14-10
1. Read Isa. 44:9, 19-20. What do these verses say about idols and those who trust in them.
2. I said idolatry is self-worship; (self-worship – placing ourselves at the center of our lives and working and serving our own interests at the expense of all others.) Do you agree with this? why or why not?
3.
4. Read Ps. 25:1-3. What do these verses say is our freedom from shame?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wonder #1
God turns the Nile River into blood with this first wonder. The Nile was a source of life for the Egyptians and, as we learn in Exodus 1, a place of death for Hebrew baby boys. With this wonder God turns everything upside. Because of the power and might of God the Nile River is no longer a place of life for the Egyptians, but is now a place of death.
This wonder seems to be largely ignored. Why do you think that's the case? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Also, tell me any other thoughts or observations you have; don't hold your questions back either.
Pastor Brian
This wonder seems to be largely ignored. Why do you think that's the case? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Also, tell me any other thoughts or observations you have; don't hold your questions back either.
Pastor Brian
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