(by pastor Norman)
As Christians we are to live by faith, “The just shall live by faith” (Gal 3:11b; NKJV). This isn’t natural faith that everyone has such as believing the sun will rise every day, my car will start or someone will do what they promised. We are called to have faith in God (Mark 11:22) or the God-kind of faith. The Bible is full of directions, commands and promises and we can only walk in them by using our God-given faith (Heb 4:2). What is this God-given faith? Well for me I love the definition in 2 Timothy 3:15 b in the Amplified Bible, “Through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness.” Faith is not just head knowledge but a knowing that we know, that we know, that we know deep down in our inner being, our spirit. God has given all of us faith (Rom 12:3b) but we need to grow that faith. The bible shows us that we can grow our faith by hearing the word, “Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Rom 10:17; NIV). Our natural and spiritual ears need to hear God’s word preached and our spirit also receives the word as we study and meditate in our Bibles. Our faith is also increased as we pray in the Holy Spirit (tongues) (Jude 20). God desires to bless us and use us all mightily in our Christian lives (John 10:10b, Rom 8:28). We must approach God in faith, with no doubting (James 1:6a; NKJV).
(by pastor Norman)
After Jesus’ ascension into heaven there were 120 disciples who made up the early church (Acts 1:15). Jesus had instructed them to teach and preach the gospel of salvation and make disciples (Mark 16:15-18, Matt 28:18-20, Luke 24:47). He promised that their ministry would be accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:17-18). The gospel is the good news of the life God has for us and how Jesus sacrificed His life so we could be forgiven of sin. As we repent of sin, ask God’s forgiveness and believe in Jesus, He comes and lives in us as the Holy Spirit, bringing the new God kind of life. This is salvation. In the early church they were all filled with the Holy Spirit which was an empowerment, particularly for witnessing (Acts 1:8, 2:3-4). The apostles taught the gospel with boldness (Acts 4:31-33, 5:41-42) and the disciples studied the apostles’ teachings constantly (Acts 2:42) but there were no bibles back then. In the early church there was ongoing fellowship, prayer and praise of God, observance of holy communion, (Acts 2:41,47), a great sense of unity (Acts 2:46, 4:32, 5:12) and a communal sharing of resources and finances such that no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45,4:32,34). Signs, wonders and miracles were experienced (Acts 2:43; 5:12) and people were saved and added to the church daily (Acts 2:47) such that numbers reached 5000 very quickly (Acts 4:4). God never changes (Mal 3:6) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb 13:8; NKJV). As Christians we are a continuance of the early church, let’s follow their example.
(by pastor Jean)
“I am the good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Jesus is our good shepherd. Naturally speaking a shepherd is someone who cares for, protects, guides and sacrifices for his sheep, which is exactly what Jesus does for us. In the beloved parable of John 10:1-10 Jesus says the shepherd enters by the door and then in verse 7 He states that He is also the door and that as such He is the way to salvation (the only way!) (John 10:9, 14:6). He further states that if we enter the sheepfold through the door (Jesus) then we can “go in and out and find pasture” (John10:9; MEV). Pasture symbolizes food, nourishment and provision. In other words, we can freely go in (into the presence of God) and out (into the world) knowing that we are secure, protected and provided for, physically and spiritually. This lines up with Psalm 121:8, “The Lord will preserve your going out and coming in” (MEV) and also Deuteronomy 28:6, “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out” (MEV). Remember too that Jesus is the Shepherd that goes after the lost sheep that strays from the flock, showing His great love for us (Luke 15:3-7, Matt 18:12-14), not wanting anyone to be lost (John 10:28-29, 2 Peter 3:9). We understand that continuing this comparison of Jesus being the Shepherd and we the sheep that in John 10:3,4, and 27 we are told that the sheep hear and know His voice and follow Him. Our job is to listen and obey and then we will enjoy His abundant life (John 10:10).
(by pastor Norman)
We are told in scripture that God has a plan for each of our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11; NLT). In the apostle Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, he says we are God’s workmanship, His work of art, His masterpiece recreated spiritually in Christ to do the works God has planned for us and live the abundant, fulfilling life He prepared for us (Eph 2:10, John 10:10b). We are the salt and light in this world around us (Matt 5:13-14) and Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16; NKJV). This all sounds very exciting but how do we get to walk in all of this? Jesus said that not everyone who called Him Lord would become part of His kingdom but only those that truly do God’s will and life God’s way (Matt 7:21). In the book of Proverbs, we are exhorted not to rely on our own understanding but to trust God with all our heart, get His will for everything we do and then He can direct every aspect of our lives (Prov 3:5-6). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105; NKJV). In school, college and university we spend hours getting an education to make us successful in life. How much more should we spend time in God’s word to get God’s will, purpose and way for our life.