Gathering Growing Going
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CloseWhen David looked back at his life as God’s anointed King over Israel, he was keen to give credit to his LORD God for all of his success. David saw himself as a servant of the LORD with a few life experiences as a shepherd. The LORD turned this shepherd into a famous warrior for God whom God protected through thick and thin. As we read the words of this song, we will learn how much Jesus has done to save us and to prepare us for doing great things as we serve King Jesus.
Scripture References: Romans 15:7-13, Psalms 18:1-50, 2 Samuel 7:11-17
Related Topics: Psalms | More Messages from Ralph Wood | Download Audio
Called to WitnessTim Baxter - Sunday, 5 August 2012 |
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God is GoodPaul Foster - Sunday, 29 July 2012 |
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Take HeedAaron Johnson - Sunday, 22 July 2012 |
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Gathering Growing GoingTim Baxter - Sunday, 22 July 2012 |
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Made by God for JesusTim Baxter - Sunday, 15 July 2012 |
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Healing BlindnessRick Lewers - Tuesday, 10 July 2012 |
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Rick Lewers interviewRick Lewers - Tuesday, 10 July 2012 |
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The Parable of the SowerStephen Bailey - Sunday, 8 July 2012 |
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Recognising God's hand in thingsRalph Wood - Sunday, 8 July 2012 |
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In ControlPaul Foster - Sunday, 1 July 2012 |
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Jesus has finally made it to Jerusalem. As Matthew prepares us for His entry into Jerusalem, he helps us confront Jesus’ authority, and the way in which it restores the concern of God for the outsider, and confronts the insider. This is the start of the Passover week. Jerusalem is a roiling maelstrom of religious and political fervour. And Matthew organises the narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem around displays of His authority, rooted in recognition of His ‘old power’ – four Old Testament quotations structure the passage. As we come face-to-face with Jesus’ authority, three truths stand out. First, Jesus’ authority is extensive and all-encompassing. Second, Jesus’ authority is for the outsider, and rooted in God’s deep commitment to bring the outsider inside His kingdom. And, third, Jesus authority confronts the insider, and urges them to repentance. Come and meet Jesus, the King, in all His authority, as He enters Jerusalem!
What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God? That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today. Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests. The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open. Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?
The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
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