Teaching

David speaks on baptism while we celebrate individuals getting baptised at our 9:30 service.

The Israelites begin by doubting God’s love for them, setting the scene for the whole book. God’s response is to remind them that he chose the family of Jacob their ancestor, not Esau, to show his love and faithfulness. By questioning God’s love for them in the present, they are questioning his faithfulness to his covenant and promises, and therefore his very character. Throughout the generations, God has always been faithful to his people but they have often failed to recognise that.
How or when do we doubt the love God has for us? How can we say we believe God’s love but act in such a way that shows we don’t truly believe? The New Testament points us towards the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the New Covenant that provides a solid foundation for the love God has for us.

Many people give to church as a last resort, having paid off all their other bills and
commitments. God is asking us to give first and to give faithfully – or, full of faith. The
widow models this by giving out of her poverty, not her wealth. Jesus doesn’t commend her
for giving large sums, but instead for the trust in her heart as she looks to God to provide.
However much we can afford, Jesus sees what we give and He calls us to all get involved
giving.

Jesus appears to the disciples on the beach of Lake Galilee and repeats the miracle catch of fish (see last week), to remind them of who He is. He then reinstates Peter, calling him to serve and to follow Jesus in all His ways. Jesus is clear that this call on Peter’s life will involve sacrifice, which for Peter involves the ultimate cost. As we hear the Lord’s declaration of love over us and see His sacrifice for us, are we willing to follow Him and serve?

God calls Abram and leads him away from his country, his people and his family (vs 1). Following God’s call on our lives often involves sacrifice and a move away from our places of comfort. As Abram receives the promise of God that through him God’s blessing will be passed on through the generations, Abram’s is obedient to God (vs 4) and reverent before God (vs 7&8). How might God be calling us to sacrifice our comfort to be obedient to Him?

David had plenty of reasons to be afraid, as he was surrounded by enemies and wickedness, but he said in verse 3 “I will be confident”. In the face of opposition and difficulty, David focuses on praising God, which gives him confidence. In verse 13 he writes “I remain confident of this – I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”, which comes from seeking His face and waiting on the Lord.

The Bible has so much to say about our relationships as the people of God. Hebrews 10 starts with God, not us. It starts with the good news of Jesus Christ and that seems a fitting conclusion to the series. Our lives are lived in response to that which God has first done for us through Christ. We gather to encourage one another, to remind one another about the full story of the gospel we have been invited into and as a consequence to equip one another for our everyday lives. We need each other! Our times together as church help us to hold onto hope, spur one another on and to encourage us to keep meeting together.

David Walker speaks from Mark 1: 1-11 about God’s great plan to redeem us: through repentance and baptism, we are a new creation, God’s children. We join in with God’s redeeming plan and experience his faithfulness and love for us.

Ezekiel’s vision is finally fulfilled as the river of life forms part of the city of God, the new creation, in which God dwells with redeemed humanity in a place where “there will no longer be any curse”. In John’s vision, there is no place for a temple or altar, so the river runs from the throne of God down the main street in the city, lined by the ‘tree of life’ on both sides. Ultimately the river of life anticipates the new creation in which God will have lifted the curse from the earth (Genesis) forever and dwells with his redeemed people forever.

At the climax of the Feast of Tabernacles, when water was symbolically poured out, Jesus boldly declares himself to be the source of living water to all who believe in him. The water pouring ceremony, in Jesus’ day, was interpreted by the Jews as a symbolic anticipation of the messianic outpouring of the Spirit, pointing backwards to Ezekiel 47 (last week’s sermon). Jesus’ promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit came and three thousand were saved.