by Dr John Andrews
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
at Grace group and wherever God places me
- To spur one another to love and do good deeds
- To encourage and bless one another
- Just like holy spirit
- In the last 7 days has anyone deliberately intentionally and personally encourage you through words, through a hug, an action of encouragement
- In the last 7 days have you intentionally, deliberately or personally encouraged somebody else through words, a hug, or an action of encouragement
- Even if it doesn't change anything, it grows our heart. We become Better, bigger person
- Learn to Notice the invisible
Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing
- Do we want to be a person with a healing tongue or piercing sword?
- That's not my problem when people don't appreciate, i want to be a person with a healing tongue
Sunday, June 14, 2026
GLR - Our Master's Call
by Pastor Meng Cham
John 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Words only instruct the mind which soon will be forgotten, But an object lesson will pierce the heart
Big idea:
Our Servant-king calls us to servant- leadership
1. To serve the need, we must be willing to bend our knees
John 13:4b
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
- This is the feet that had been dirtied by animal waste and pollution
- Disciple making begins where people are, not where we want them to be
- The best gift we can offer is ourselves, our real self not falsehood
- We must be stripoed off our entitlement and not worry about image, title or social media friendly
- Is not just humility but is about whatever it takes to fulfil that need
2. To lead with love we must come up close and personal
John 13:6-11
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
- Foot washing is close up and personal, you cannot wash feet from afar with a hose
- you cannot line everyone up and hose everyone's feet for convenience
- you need 2 hands to wash
- Jesus did not avoid Judas Iscariot feet
- Washing feet including those who have hurt you, Deny you or betray you, backstab you, slandered you
- God loves us not because we are lovable
- We see the value of the person because they are the imager of God
Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
- Love keeps caring when the change is slow
- Love refuses to ignore the needy
- Love moves towards people
- Only lord's love can sustain this
- To love is to offer our time
John 13:13-14
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
- Servant-leadershp is not optional, it is the command
- Attend to simple and basic needs (I'm committed to you)
- Bend to serve others (I'm coming to where you are)
- Come close enough to journey along (I'm here for you)
- Love must be demonstrated it cannot remain as a lesson
John 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Words only instruct the mind which soon will be forgotten, But an object lesson will pierce the heart
Big idea:
Our Servant-king calls us to servant- leadership
1. To serve the need, we must be willing to bend our knees
John 13:4b
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
- This is the feet that had been dirtied by animal waste and pollution
- Disciple making begins where people are, not where we want them to be
- The best gift we can offer is ourselves, our real self not falsehood
- We must be stripoed off our entitlement and not worry about image, title or social media friendly
- Is not just humility but is about whatever it takes to fulfil that need
2. To lead with love we must come up close and personal
John 13:6-11
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
- Foot washing is close up and personal, you cannot wash feet from afar with a hose
- you cannot line everyone up and hose everyone's feet for convenience
- you need 2 hands to wash
- Jesus did not avoid Judas Iscariot feet
- Washing feet including those who have hurt you, Deny you or betray you, backstab you, slandered you
- God loves us not because we are lovable
- We see the value of the person because they are the imager of God
Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
- Love keeps caring when the change is slow
- Love refuses to ignore the needy
- Love moves towards people
- Only lord's love can sustain this
- To love is to offer our time
John 13:13-14
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
- Servant-leadershp is not optional, it is the command
- Attend to simple and basic needs (I'm committed to you)
- Bend to serve others (I'm coming to where you are)
- Come close enough to journey along (I'm here for you)
- Love must be demonstrated it cannot remain as a lesson
GLR - What every leader needs
by Pastor Alan Hewitt
Exodus 17:8-16
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[a] the throne of the Lord,[b] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
Point 1
People who follows instruction
- Learn to celebrate our people
- Instructions are critical, vital and following them does not mean they are better than you but is just their positioning
- Authority is for the benefit of all not just the ego of a few
- Someone needs to take instruction and someone needs to give instruction
- First mentioned of Joshua at 20 years old ... Joshua did as Moses commanded
- Destiny is developed while we serve, you never know what your serving is preparing you for
- Greater responsibility comes with greater serving
- God will never trust someone to lead who can't be trusted to follow!
- Submission is something that cannot be forced, it is to be yield
- There is no perfect leadership except Jesus the chief pastor
Point 2
People who fight the right battles
- The devil don't mind who you fight as long as it's not him
Deuteronomy 25:17-18
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.
- Discern the right battles to fight
- Our fight is against what we don't see: The world, the flesh and the devil
Point 3
People who use initiative
- No instruction was given to Aaron and hur but they used initiative to put a rock for Moses to sit on. They could not do what Moses did
- Stone getters are as vital as rod lifters!
- The gifting was for moses to hold the rod, Aaron and hur are the stone getters
- Pray for them
- Look out for them
- Show emotional intelligence to them
- Leaders must look out for each other, in fact everyone must look out for each other
- Hur wasn't a great leader like Moses, he wasn't a great general like Joshua or someone great like Aaron. Hur was only mentioned 3 times. Yet he was crucial to the victory! Yet his ministry was crucial
- It's your function that really matters, not the title
Point 4
People who remember where their victory lies!
Exodus 17:14-15
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.
- God is always enough (Yahweh nissi) for every situation in my life!!
- The staff of God
That single rod was of more avail than as if they had gone into the field preceded by a thousand banners
-John Galvin-
- It was the staff
- We don't have that staff today because we have God
Exodus 17:8-16
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[a] the throne of the Lord,[b] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
Point 1
People who follows instruction
- Learn to celebrate our people
- Instructions are critical, vital and following them does not mean they are better than you but is just their positioning
- Authority is for the benefit of all not just the ego of a few
- Someone needs to take instruction and someone needs to give instruction
- First mentioned of Joshua at 20 years old ... Joshua did as Moses commanded
- Destiny is developed while we serve, you never know what your serving is preparing you for
- Greater responsibility comes with greater serving
- God will never trust someone to lead who can't be trusted to follow!
- Submission is something that cannot be forced, it is to be yield
- There is no perfect leadership except Jesus the chief pastor
Point 2
People who fight the right battles
- The devil don't mind who you fight as long as it's not him
Deuteronomy 25:17-18
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.
- Discern the right battles to fight
- Our fight is against what we don't see: The world, the flesh and the devil
Point 3
People who use initiative
- No instruction was given to Aaron and hur but they used initiative to put a rock for Moses to sit on. They could not do what Moses did
- Stone getters are as vital as rod lifters!
- The gifting was for moses to hold the rod, Aaron and hur are the stone getters
- Pray for them
- Look out for them
- Show emotional intelligence to them
- Leaders must look out for each other, in fact everyone must look out for each other
- Hur wasn't a great leader like Moses, he wasn't a great general like Joshua or someone great like Aaron. Hur was only mentioned 3 times. Yet he was crucial to the victory! Yet his ministry was crucial
- It's your function that really matters, not the title
Point 4
People who remember where their victory lies!
Exodus 17:14-15
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.
- God is always enough (Yahweh nissi) for every situation in my life!!
- The staff of God
That single rod was of more avail than as if they had gone into the field preceded by a thousand banners
-John Galvin-
- It was the staff
- We don't have that staff today because we have God
GLR - Hannah
by Pastor Alan Hewitt
Point 1
Don't let your problems keep you from church!
Hannah
- Weep
- Provocation
- Greatly troubled
- Irritated
- Downhearted
- Bitterness
- Misery
- Anguish
She still goes to church
- Build customs into our lives
- If you don't build daily routine in your spiritual devotion, you lose out
- Hannah build customs in her life
1 Samuel 1:1-9
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.
- Even though Hannah had shattered dreams she still turn up for worship
Point 2
Don't let others write your story!
- eg : Elkanah, Peninnah
- You will meet people in your life who wants to write your story
- They will want our failures to be our final
- They will want to gain at our disadvantages
- "Hannah stood up"
- Hannah wept much and prayed
- Prayer is essential because prayer invites God to write our story
- We can be in God's presence but disconnected and distracted, and miss the moment
Point 3
Don't let religion keep you from God's blessings!
- Hannah replied not so my lord, I have not been drinking wine or beer: I was pouring out my soul to the lord ...
- She replied with respect, the office of Eli not Eli as a person even though Eli comment was offensive
Point 4
You must not let time blind you to God's activity!
1 Samuel 1:19
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
- Every time you respond to altar call, the lord remembers
- Everything looks exactly the same after altar call but what change everything was Hannah "stood up"
- Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning
- Our story never ends in the night
- Samuel become the first prophet after the judges era of Israel
Point 1
Don't let your problems keep you from church!
Hannah
- Weep
- Provocation
- Greatly troubled
- Irritated
- Downhearted
- Bitterness
- Misery
- Anguish
She still goes to church
- Build customs into our lives
- If you don't build daily routine in your spiritual devotion, you lose out
- Hannah build customs in her life
1 Samuel 1:1-9
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.
- Even though Hannah had shattered dreams she still turn up for worship
Point 2
Don't let others write your story!
- eg : Elkanah, Peninnah
- You will meet people in your life who wants to write your story
- They will want our failures to be our final
- They will want to gain at our disadvantages
- "Hannah stood up"
- Hannah wept much and prayed
- Prayer is essential because prayer invites God to write our story
- We can be in God's presence but disconnected and distracted, and miss the moment
Point 3
Don't let religion keep you from God's blessings!
- Hannah replied not so my lord, I have not been drinking wine or beer: I was pouring out my soul to the lord ...
- She replied with respect, the office of Eli not Eli as a person even though Eli comment was offensive
Point 4
You must not let time blind you to God's activity!
1 Samuel 1:19
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
- Every time you respond to altar call, the lord remembers
- Everything looks exactly the same after altar call but what change everything was Hannah "stood up"
- Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning
- Our story never ends in the night
- Samuel become the first prophet after the judges era of Israel
GLR - Winning the battle that no one sees
by Pastor Alan Hewitt
Gideon: From zero to hero to zero
We can't win the battle outside us unless we win the battle inside us
Point 1
The call that will enable you!
- The lord is with you mighty warrior
- Gideon answer was "us" 6 times
Judges 6:10
I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
Judges 6:14
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
- What was the strength that Gideon have?
- God knows all about you, but if God has called you that is your strength regardless of your weakness. The qualification will come with the call
- He will prepare you because everything that happens good or bad has shaped you who you are and that's why God has called you
- Eg. The fleece business, God even moved along with Gideon's request
- God does take people who naturally seems impossible in the eyes but the strength lies in the "call" of God
- It's the call that will keep you in the tough times
Point 2
We need the truth that will encourage you!
Judges 7:2
The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’
- Human thinking, logic, reasoning will play a very small part for what God will do through you
- God's mathematics is different from mine
- Our obedience plays a big part
Judges 7:3
Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
Judges 7:4
But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
- As a leader you have to learn that what you think you need isn't what you need
- Is not your resources that determine your success, it's your God
Point 3
The followers that will test you!
- It's those that God will send to you that determine your success
- The difference between a leader and a follower is role not divided
- Ending the clergy laity divide
- Whether you are leaders or followers, All of us are call to ministry
- 300 can say God chose me even though not one of them were named
- You're as critical as anyone else as long ss God has "called" you
4 crucial attitude the 300 have:
1. They overcame unbelief
- Gideon had a word for them
Judges 7:13-14
Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
2. They overcame independence
judges 7:17
“Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.
- It just needs one person for defeat but for the 300 not one yields to their own will
- The moment you get on the team you forfeit your independence because teams cannot operate on independence but on unity
3. They overcame pettiness
- Only one group had Gideon as the leader
- Christians need to grow up because the world is growing in darkness
- Be big big picture people not small small picture people
4. They overcame jealousy
Judges 7:20
The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”
- So much jealousy is happening, we need to guard our hearts
- All fame is temporary
Point 4
The pride that will destroy you!
- Only in chapter 6 and 7 that the lord spoke to Gideon
- In chapter 8 the lord did not speak because Gideon was overwhelmed by his success
Judges 8:22
The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
- The more apparent success we have the greater the temptation
- Gideon gave the right answer but not the right action
Judges 8:24
And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)
- Entitlement : the tip of the iceberg
- The pride leads to entitlement and entitlement destroys
- Just because God uses you doesn't give you entitlements
Judges 6
The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. 7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” 11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” 15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” 17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” 19 Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah[a] of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 25 That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old.[b] Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole[c] beside it. 26 Then build a proper kind of[d] altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second[e] bull as a burnt offering.” 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. 28 In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar! 29 They asked each other, “Who did this?” When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.” 30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.” 31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal[f] that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.” 33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. 36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
- The anointing does not stop you from sinning
Judges 8:27
Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
- Gideon named the son of his concubine "abimelech"
- Our entitlement is we have been adopted ... Heirs of Jesus Christ
Judges 8:29-31
Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek.
- Hebrews 11 is not a a role call of faith but of mercy
- We're entitled to nothing
Luke 17:9-10
Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Charles swindoll
I'm here today to warn you: I want you to watch out for the adversary. Guard yourself from any spirit of entitlement. Restrain any and all subtle temptation to gain attention or to find ways to promote yourself.
Point 5
- Disappointment is something we have to live with
- Be responsible for until the "call" of your lifetime
- We're not the builders but laborers in the house
- Only one said I will build my church
Ephesians 5:27
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
- It is Christ who will present the church to Himself
- Being appreciated is nice but is not essential or vital for achievement the will of God while your breath allows you
Gideon: From zero to hero to zero
We can't win the battle outside us unless we win the battle inside us
Point 1
The call that will enable you!
- The lord is with you mighty warrior
- Gideon answer was "us" 6 times
Judges 6:10
I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
Judges 6:14
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
- What was the strength that Gideon have?
- God knows all about you, but if God has called you that is your strength regardless of your weakness. The qualification will come with the call
- He will prepare you because everything that happens good or bad has shaped you who you are and that's why God has called you
- Eg. The fleece business, God even moved along with Gideon's request
- God does take people who naturally seems impossible in the eyes but the strength lies in the "call" of God
- It's the call that will keep you in the tough times
Point 2
We need the truth that will encourage you!
Judges 7:2
The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’
- Human thinking, logic, reasoning will play a very small part for what God will do through you
- God's mathematics is different from mine
- Our obedience plays a big part
Judges 7:3
Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
Judges 7:4
But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
- As a leader you have to learn that what you think you need isn't what you need
- Is not your resources that determine your success, it's your God
Point 3
The followers that will test you!
- It's those that God will send to you that determine your success
- The difference between a leader and a follower is role not divided
- Ending the clergy laity divide
- Whether you are leaders or followers, All of us are call to ministry
- 300 can say God chose me even though not one of them were named
- You're as critical as anyone else as long ss God has "called" you
4 crucial attitude the 300 have:
1. They overcame unbelief
- Gideon had a word for them
Judges 7:13-14
Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
2. They overcame independence
judges 7:17
“Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.
- It just needs one person for defeat but for the 300 not one yields to their own will
- The moment you get on the team you forfeit your independence because teams cannot operate on independence but on unity
3. They overcame pettiness
- Only one group had Gideon as the leader
- Christians need to grow up because the world is growing in darkness
- Be big big picture people not small small picture people
4. They overcame jealousy
Judges 7:20
The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”
- So much jealousy is happening, we need to guard our hearts
- All fame is temporary
Point 4
The pride that will destroy you!
- Only in chapter 6 and 7 that the lord spoke to Gideon
- In chapter 8 the lord did not speak because Gideon was overwhelmed by his success
Judges 8:22
The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
- The more apparent success we have the greater the temptation
- Gideon gave the right answer but not the right action
Judges 8:24
And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)
- Entitlement : the tip of the iceberg
- The pride leads to entitlement and entitlement destroys
- Just because God uses you doesn't give you entitlements
Judges 6
The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. 7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” 11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” 15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” 17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” 19 Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah[a] of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 25 That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old.[b] Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole[c] beside it. 26 Then build a proper kind of[d] altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second[e] bull as a burnt offering.” 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. 28 In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar! 29 They asked each other, “Who did this?” When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.” 30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.” 31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal[f] that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.” 33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. 36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
- The anointing does not stop you from sinning
Judges 8:27
Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
- Gideon named the son of his concubine "abimelech"
- Our entitlement is we have been adopted ... Heirs of Jesus Christ
Judges 8:29-31
Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek.
- Hebrews 11 is not a a role call of faith but of mercy
- We're entitled to nothing
Luke 17:9-10
Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Charles swindoll
I'm here today to warn you: I want you to watch out for the adversary. Guard yourself from any spirit of entitlement. Restrain any and all subtle temptation to gain attention or to find ways to promote yourself.
Point 5
- Disappointment is something we have to live with
- Be responsible for until the "call" of your lifetime
- We're not the builders but laborers in the house
- Only one said I will build my church
Ephesians 5:27
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
- It is Christ who will present the church to Himself
- Being appreciated is nice but is not essential or vital for achievement the will of God while your breath allows you
GLR - New Horizons
by Pastor Alan Hewitt
Numbers 33:1-4
Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages: 3 The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, 4 who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods.
1 chapter capture 38 years of the advancing of the children of Israel, leaving and arriving
We're not here to please ourselves or do our own things but by divine summon for such a time as this
Our purpose is more important than our preference
There is no "nice" word in the bible
Being settled is easier than unsettled however God don't want dictatorship of the routine
# Leaders take God's people forward and keep them moving
New horizons are always before you not behind you
When we cling to the past Forfeit our future
1. New horizons are seen before arrival
- See it before it was and move towards it
Genesis 17:8
The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
Genesis 22
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring[b] all nations on earth will be blessed,[c] because you have obeyed me.” 19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba. Nahor’s Sons 20 Some time later Abraham was told, “Milkah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel.” 23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milkah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also had sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maakah.
2. New horizons will not come to us
- We have to move towards them
- If we're not willing to change, new horizons will not come to you
- You cannot camp if you want new horizon, you have to move
- Eg. Prodigal son. He moves towards home
- You can't have a passion for what you don't see
- We have 2 set of Eyes: Eyes in our head and eyes in our hearts
- Live with eyes in our hearts
3. New horizons require faith and courage
- If we break camp and move always involves unknown risk and dangers
- History gets us here but vision gets us there
- Eg. Lobster shed it's shell 25 times in its first 5 years and annually thereafter. For longevity and growth but amidst risk
Romans 15:20
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
- We don't reach new horizon with ease
- The good could rob us of the best, so is not necessary that we move to new horizon only when things are bad
- For the kingdom of God .... He always got more, good or bad we must move on
- Eg. Mount of transfiguration
- We must never fear reaching out to new horizon because it's tough
4. New horizons open up new horizons
- Every new level gives new vantage point
Genesis 11
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward,[a] they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel[c]—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. From Shem to Abram 10 This is the account of Shem’s family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father[d] of Arphaxad. 11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters. 12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.[e] 14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. 15 And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters. 16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. 17 And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters. 18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. 19 And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. 21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters. 22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. 23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters. 24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. 25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. 26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. Abram’s Family 27 This is the account of Terah’s family line. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
- We cannot just set up camps on the current horizon
- Heaven is summoning us to align ourselves with God's horizons
What is God's horizon?
Fill with the glory of the lord
A church that's bold and powerful, that glows, is beautiful, multiply, a church that extend the kingdom of God, that bows to nothing except the lordship of Jesus Christ, a church that disciples jesus followers
Numbers 33:1-4
Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages: 3 The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, 4 who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods.
1 chapter capture 38 years of the advancing of the children of Israel, leaving and arriving
We're not here to please ourselves or do our own things but by divine summon for such a time as this
Our purpose is more important than our preference
There is no "nice" word in the bible
Being settled is easier than unsettled however God don't want dictatorship of the routine
# Leaders take God's people forward and keep them moving
New horizons are always before you not behind you
When we cling to the past Forfeit our future
1. New horizons are seen before arrival
- See it before it was and move towards it
Genesis 17:8
The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
Genesis 22
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring[b] all nations on earth will be blessed,[c] because you have obeyed me.” 19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba. Nahor’s Sons 20 Some time later Abraham was told, “Milkah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel.” 23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milkah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also had sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maakah.
2. New horizons will not come to us
- We have to move towards them
- If we're not willing to change, new horizons will not come to you
- You cannot camp if you want new horizon, you have to move
- Eg. Prodigal son. He moves towards home
- You can't have a passion for what you don't see
- We have 2 set of Eyes: Eyes in our head and eyes in our hearts
- Live with eyes in our hearts
3. New horizons require faith and courage
- If we break camp and move always involves unknown risk and dangers
- History gets us here but vision gets us there
- Eg. Lobster shed it's shell 25 times in its first 5 years and annually thereafter. For longevity and growth but amidst risk
Romans 15:20
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
- We don't reach new horizon with ease
- The good could rob us of the best, so is not necessary that we move to new horizon only when things are bad
- For the kingdom of God .... He always got more, good or bad we must move on
- Eg. Mount of transfiguration
- We must never fear reaching out to new horizon because it's tough
4. New horizons open up new horizons
- Every new level gives new vantage point
Genesis 11
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward,[a] they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel[c]—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. From Shem to Abram 10 This is the account of Shem’s family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father[d] of Arphaxad. 11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters. 12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.[e] 14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. 15 And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters. 16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. 17 And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters. 18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. 19 And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. 21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters. 22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. 23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters. 24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. 25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. 26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. Abram’s Family 27 This is the account of Terah’s family line. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
- We cannot just set up camps on the current horizon
- Heaven is summoning us to align ourselves with God's horizons
What is God's horizon?
Fill with the glory of the lord
A church that's bold and powerful, that glows, is beautiful, multiply, a church that extend the kingdom of God, that bows to nothing except the lordship of Jesus Christ, a church that disciples jesus followers
GLR - Lessons from Paul's shipwreck
by Pastor Alan Hewitt
Acts 28:1-6
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
8 lessons from a shipwreck
Why did God goes into details in a simple shipwreck incident?
Point 1
At times you won't know where you are
- You're gonna be safe and shipwreck
- when storms comes, direction not always straight and convincing
- we're hanging in the middle of nowhere
- we must remember God is also in control of the storms in our lives
- we must learn the difference between direction and location
- direction is more important than location
- the plank could take you to where the shop cannot take you!
- plank is the last best thing
Point 2
Leaders must serve as well as be served
- no matter how good your gifting, how great your anointing or how great is your ministry you must serve
- Paul was shipwrecked but he was serving at the same time by picking up sticks to build fire
Point 3
When you're building fire, expect the enemy to be disturbed
- people who pick up sticks to build fire that attract snakes, fire in bible is a spread of the kingdom
- if you're seeking to build fire for the kingdom you will disturb snakes
Point 4
The enemy's attack is often on your hand
- why is the hand so significant in scriptures?
- because the hands is the vital part in our ministry. Lay hands, impart blessings, we do..., giving With our hand
- the purpose of devil's bite is because our hands can be a mighty tool for God because then we lose confidence and will fade away
- when we build fire, we are passionate and we will attract the snakes and bite our hands
- come in the form of disappointment, hurt, spouse, criticism, unbelief, insecurity, because devil wants to immobilise you
- we must learn to see behind what you can't see behind these things
Point 5
The enemy doesn't have to kill you to be on you
- even though Paul was not dead but it (snake) was still holding on to Paul
- not dead but something was holding on in their lives
Point 6
Action is required for victory
Why Paul was unharmed?
Because Paul shook it off, he took action
- be passive is no good, we must do something
- never expect a snakebite to go off automatically
- we believe victory is our blessing and inheritance, we must also confess and take action
- Viper have hollow teeth, if you do not shake it off fast enough then you're giving it time for the poison to come through the hollow teeth to kill you
- you could be alive but still suffering from years and years ago until you shake it off
Point 7
Let the good you're building, deal with the enemy against you
- Paul let the fire deal with the snake
- Nehemiah was building the wall and some people came and tell him to come down but Nehemiah said he cannot come down, Nehemiah let the fire deal with the bites
- let our success deal with the opposition
- don't debate the enemy, let the fire deal with it
- people will criticise, we must learn to shake off and let the heat of fire to deal with it
Point 8
Learn to recognise the opinions that really matter
- don't let opinions of others shape your conviction
- Paul put no value at all to those who make opinions
Acts 28:1-6
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
8 lessons from a shipwreck
Why did God goes into details in a simple shipwreck incident?
Point 1
At times you won't know where you are
- You're gonna be safe and shipwreck
- when storms comes, direction not always straight and convincing
- we're hanging in the middle of nowhere
- we must remember God is also in control of the storms in our lives
- we must learn the difference between direction and location
- direction is more important than location
- the plank could take you to where the shop cannot take you!
- plank is the last best thing
Point 2
Leaders must serve as well as be served
- no matter how good your gifting, how great your anointing or how great is your ministry you must serve
- Paul was shipwrecked but he was serving at the same time by picking up sticks to build fire
Point 3
When you're building fire, expect the enemy to be disturbed
- people who pick up sticks to build fire that attract snakes, fire in bible is a spread of the kingdom
- if you're seeking to build fire for the kingdom you will disturb snakes
Point 4
The enemy's attack is often on your hand
- why is the hand so significant in scriptures?
- because the hands is the vital part in our ministry. Lay hands, impart blessings, we do..., giving With our hand
- the purpose of devil's bite is because our hands can be a mighty tool for God because then we lose confidence and will fade away
- when we build fire, we are passionate and we will attract the snakes and bite our hands
- come in the form of disappointment, hurt, spouse, criticism, unbelief, insecurity, because devil wants to immobilise you
- we must learn to see behind what you can't see behind these things
Point 5
The enemy doesn't have to kill you to be on you
- even though Paul was not dead but it (snake) was still holding on to Paul
- not dead but something was holding on in their lives
Point 6
Action is required for victory
Why Paul was unharmed?
Because Paul shook it off, he took action
- be passive is no good, we must do something
- never expect a snakebite to go off automatically
- we believe victory is our blessing and inheritance, we must also confess and take action
- Viper have hollow teeth, if you do not shake it off fast enough then you're giving it time for the poison to come through the hollow teeth to kill you
- you could be alive but still suffering from years and years ago until you shake it off
Point 7
Let the good you're building, deal with the enemy against you
- Paul let the fire deal with the snake
- Nehemiah was building the wall and some people came and tell him to come down but Nehemiah said he cannot come down, Nehemiah let the fire deal with the bites
- let our success deal with the opposition
- don't debate the enemy, let the fire deal with it
- people will criticise, we must learn to shake off and let the heat of fire to deal with it
Point 8
Learn to recognise the opinions that really matter
- don't let opinions of others shape your conviction
- Paul put no value at all to those who make opinions
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