Do you need a new heart?

Do you need a new heart?

Text: Ezekiel 11:17-25.

“Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.”

          The first heart transplant was in South Africa in 1967. Many more have followed, but sadly the average post operation life span as been 15 years, the longest was on a 20-year-old man, who lived 31 years. Again, to note every time someone has been given a new heart, someone else had to die. What a spiritual truth is found here, for Jesus had to give His life so that we could have a new heart.      

The Lord our God has been in the “heart transplant” work for a long time now. The prophet Ezekiel realised that the people of Israel needed a new heart or a new spirit within them. Today, human nature still needs to be changed. But the question needs to be asked, “Can human nature really be changed?” The answer is a yes in the Lord Jesus Christ; all mankind can be changed by the outworking of the Holy Spirit, by a new birth.

1.    EVERYONE NEEDS A NEW HEART.

A. Mankind has ruined their nature by determined rebellion against the Lord God. Jeremiah recognised the ruin that rebellion had given to human nature by his words in chapter 17:9 “The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” The Lord Jesus recognised the ruin that rebellion had done to human nature by His words in Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

B. A ruined nature is a universal problem. The condition of human nature is not something restricted to the few. For it is the condition of all, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.

C. The condition of the human heart is in a hopeless condition. For people cannot change themselves. Neither rituals nor religious works can change the human heart. For the human heart needs something greater, it needs the changing power of the Lord God Himself, by the outworking of the Holy Spirit.

2.    EVERYONE CAN HAVE A NEW HEART FROM GOD.

A.   The first step in having a new heart is to admit your condition. At first many people will not notice that they have a heart condition that may lead to sickness or possible death.

If you refuse to admit that you have heart trouble in the natural realm. It may lead to a heart attack and even death. You may never know your need until you have a medical examination, after that you may find that you now need heart surgery.

It is the same in the spiritual realm, unless you let the Holy Spirit examine your heart, to see if you need a new heart. For no one can be helped without the admission of a need.

B. The second step in having a new heart is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. To receive a new heart one must submit to the physician. For the new spiritual heart to be received, one must submit to the Great Physician, Christ Jesus. Whenever one puts himself or herself in God's hands, it is the beginning of a new kind of life. For only Jesus is capable of changing the human heart for the best.

C. The third step in having a new heart is to experience a new creation. The Lord God makes people different when they open up their lives to Him. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold; all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

3.    EVERYONE WHO RECEIVES A NEW HEART HAS A NEW LIFE.

A. A new heart means a new relationship with God. Human rebellion has created a gap between God and mankind. The fault is not with God but with men. But when Jesus Christ is allowed into a life, the relationship with God is restored, (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

B. A new heart means a glorious fellowship with other human beings. Sometimes those who have had open heart surgery can help others face their surgery, by their fellowship. Similarly, the church is a group of people who have had their nature changed by the power of the Lord God, through Jesus Christ the Lord.

C. A new heart leads to a new quality of life. When Jesus changes a person, He gives a new life to live. For Jesus gives a quality of existence that will never end.

CONCLUSION:

          Human nature can be changed! But it can be changed only by the work of the power of Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord and by the work of the Holy Spirit. Do you today need a new heart? Well come today and place your life in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour!

How to gain a few pounds

How to gain a few pounds

                      

Text: Luke 19:12-13.

“Therefore, He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, (pound) and said to them, 'Do business till I come ….”

          We all love to lose a few pounds in weight, to get back to that slim body that we had in our youth. But today I want to speak about gaining a few pounds.

The parable of the pounds reminds us of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. But they are quite different from one another. The parable of the pounds is different. Each of them was given the same exact deposit, one pound. And we are only told about 3 of them.

Here are some keys to understand this parable:

Verse 12 The “nobleman” is a king, which is Jesus.

Verse 12 The “pounds” is the Gospel.

Verse 13 The “ten servants” are us, Christians.

Verse 13 “Occupy” means the work we have to do.

Verse 14 The “citizens” are the lost of this world.

When Jesus left this world and told us to occupy until He returns for us, that means more than just ‘stay here.’ He means ‘take over for Me until I return, continue the work I started!’ He is not just saying ‘hold the fort,’ Jesus is saying, ‘storm the fort!’

“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” 1 Thessalonians 2:4.

“According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” 1 Timothy 1:11.

We may have differing gifts and abilities, but we all have the same “Gospel,” and we are put in charge of distributing it. It is a level playing field. It is all about what you do with what you have got. For this reason we should reach all in need of Christ.

1.    WHAT THE KING EXPLAINED.

A.   His future. Verse 11 “Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately” Luke 19:11.

Passover was a time of excitement as the Jews celebrated their deliverance from Egypt. And here comes Jesus now, approaching Jerusalem.

What is Jesus purpose in coming? To set up His kingdom, right? No! He is there to die!

B.   His friends. Verse 13 “So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas (pounds), and said to them, 'Do business till I come” Luke 19:13.

He gave them three months wages and told them to occupy and do His business, Jesus is leaving, but He is going to return, and it will not be long now!

C.   His foes. Verse 14 “But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us” Luke 19:14.

Why does He call them His citizens? Because He was the rightful heir to the throne. His own received Him not. They rejected their King. But instead of the crown that He deserved, the world gave Him a cross.

2.    WHAT THE KING EXPECTED.

A.   Personal involvement. Verse 15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading” Luke 19:15.

So many today sit in church as onlookers, as if they are watching a show on a stage. They are spectators, or judges to the performance, but not really partakers. We criticize the apostle Peter for taking His eyes off Jesus and sinking in the water, but at least He got out of the boat, the others just sat and watched!

B.   Personal investment. Verses 16-21 “Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your pound (mina) pound has earned ten pounds (minas).' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

And the second came, saying, 'Master, your pound (mina) has earned five pounds (minas).' Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'

Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your pound (mina), which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are a harsh man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' Luke 19:16-21.

Witnessing involves risk (I few weeks ago I saw a picture of a mouse telling a cat the way of salvation). When we share the gospel we are doing something unnatural and uncomfortable. We take on some responsibility and risk a lot. 

The odds are against them listening to what we have to say, especially if we do not say it! And even when we do, we may have to share it with TEN before ONE receives it.

3.    WHAT THE KING EXPOSED.

A.   The importance of faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 4:2.

The best abilities are availability and dependability. “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” 1 Corinthians 4:2.

B.   The seriousness of failure. Verse 26 “For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him” Luke 19:20-26.

CONCLUSION:

We live today in between verses 14 and 15 our King is absent. He is given each of us a pound which is our salvation by the gospel. He gave it to you when you asked for it? But how did you know it was available? Each of us heard from someone else where they got their pound, and we can gain a pound of our own! 

That is soul winning. Have you gained a few more, or will the only salvation you will be associated with in heaven is your own? 

Today’s message is a wakeup call to all of us to gain a few pounds!

The Blessings of the Year

The blessings of the year

         

Text: Genesis 12:1-3.

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

          Often at the beginning of a New Year most people look back, but I want for us to look forward to the blessings of God in 2013. Anyway, unless you are under 13 today, you were born in the 1900’s which is already sounding to me a long time ago, and to those under 13 it must sound like a different century, Ha! Ha!      

How quickly 365 days can come and go and another year is gone by. Yet, how wonderful is the thought of God blessing each and every one of those 365 days, making every day count:

365 people saved,

365 people healed,

365 miracles in the midst of us,

365 days in the presence of a God blessing Saviour, Healer, and the coming King.

          Plus on an hourly basis:

Every hour of every day someone in the world is being saved under the Gospel of God’s grace and mercy.

Every hour of every day someone in the world is being healed by the power of God working in their lives.

Every day miracles are happening because God is at work in that area.

Well I want God to be working here, in our area, in our town and village and in our home and lives.

Have you ever ask God what was stopping or blocking your blessing? The Bible says as a Believer, God has already blessed us. Christians already possess the blessing that was on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So if God has already blessed us, it must be something we are or are not doing to line up with the Word of God that is stopping that blessing.

We must do what God says and not what we want. Let us see how faithfulness will help us remove what is stopping the blessing to flow upon us.

1.    THE BLESSINGS OF GOD UPON US.

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” 

A. Jesus has purchased mankind from the curse through His death and resurrection. Galatians 3:13-14 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

B. Walk in the blessings that God has given you. Open your spiritual eyes to see what the Lord has done in you, and will do for you. “Why me? Why not you?”

2.    FAITHFULNESS IS THE KEY TO OPENING THE BLESSINGS OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE.

1. A faithful man or woman will abound, or overflow with blessings. Proverbs 28:20 “A faithful man will abound with blessings.”

2. A faithful person is loyal, reliable and dependable. (Does this describe you?)

a. Faithfulness is doing what you were told to do. 

b. Faithfulness is an endless commitment to do things God’s way. 

c. A man or woman should be found faithful, proving himself/herself worthy of trust. 1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards that one is found faithful.”

3. God must be able to trust you with the resources and anointing that He has given you. (Can God trust you and me?)

a. In the parable of the five talents, Jesus demonstrates the importance of faithfulness. 

i. A master gives his servant his goods to be managed Matthew 25:14-30. 

ii. The wicked servant’s unfaithfulness blocked the blessing of God from operating in his life. 

b. God will only bless you with what you are capable of handling. 

i. Be faithful with the little. 

ii. Be faithful with your time.
iii. Be faithful with what belongs to God.

4. Walk in faithfulness and keep the blessings flowing.

CONCLUSION:

The Love of God is the foundational key to keep the blessing from drying up.

Faithfulness gives you access to the blessing that God has promised you.

Having a vision for your life

Text: Proverbs 29:18.

“Where there is no revelation (vision), the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.”

In 1620 one hundred Puritans board the ship “Mayflower” bound for the New World. These people were the Pilgrim Fathers that saw little chance of England becoming a country in which they wished to live anymore. They viewed this country as un-godly and moving from a bad to worse state daily.

You could say that they had a vision, this shipload of travellers landed on the northeast coast of America. The Pilgrims' story of seeking religious freedom has become a central theme of the history and culture of the United States. But what happened with their vision?

1.    The first year they established a town site.

2.    The next year they elected a town government.

3.    The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. 

4.    In the fourth year the people tried to prosecute their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway? 

Here were people who had the spiritual vision to sail three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were now so spiritual blind, they could not see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries. 

So, what is vision:

1.    VISION IS: THE ABILITY TO SEE: OR AWARENESS.

Webster says, vision is:

1. The ability of sight.

2. Unusual foresight.

3. A mental image produced by the imagination.

4. The experience of the supernatural through seeing eyes.

To see like Joshua and Caleb did in Numbers 14:6-9.
1. To have a vision you must be able to see what no other man can see.

2. Having a vision is more than just looking on the bright side. It is looking on God’s side. Finding the vision God has for us, takes time and prayer.

3. What if the vision God gives us, is not the vision we would have chosen? Well God will equip us for the task.

2. VISION IS: THE FAITH TO BELIEVE: OR ATTITUDE.

A. Someone said “Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over the deserts.

1. All the vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone.

2. But the hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colourful blossoms of desert plants. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life; they fill themselves with freshness and life.

3. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We do the same thing in our own lives.” 

B. Satan’s greatest attack on the vision that God gives each of us is our attitude.

1. An attitude that says “Nobody else cares so why should I.”
2. An attitude that says “Nobody appreciates anything I do, so let me see what they do when I do nothing.”

C. Faith is the food that visions live on. For without faith, our vision will die.

3. VISION IS: THE COURAGE TO DO: OR ACTION.

A. This is the most difficult for us.
          1. As long as I can see it. That is God speaking to me.

2. As long as I can have the right attitude. That is time spent with God.
3. But when it comes to putting a vision into action, it involves other people as well as me.

B. The courage of vision is to say “Lord if that is you; let me come to you walking on the water.”

C. The courage of vision is to say “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

 
D. The courage of vision is to say “If God be for us, who can be against us.”

E. The courage of Vision is to say, “The trials of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory of the next life.”

CONCLUSION:

I believe the Lord has a vision for each of us today. I know it is easy to get discouraged and to give up on being available to God, or to be used in seeing the vision come to completion. Yet, unless we are moving in that direction, we cannot be content in life.