Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice

As Christians we need to be open to the moving of God’s spirit in our lives, presenting ourselves to God and trusting Him.

What is God communicating to you at this time? Before Jesus went to heaven after His resurrection, He communicated things directly to the disciples and I want to look at the end of each Gospel, at what Jesus said when He spoke to different people after He had risen from the dead.

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Matthew 28:18

All power. So it doesn’t matter how anyone tries to achieve power, “All power is given unto me, Jesus said, in heaven and in earth.”

Matthew 28:19 – 20

‘I am with you always’

Mark 16:15 – 18

Luke 24:45 - 48

All nations: there it is again. Mark, “Go ye into the world.” Luke, “Among all nations.”

Acts 1:7 – 8

The uttermost part of the earth

You are of value to God. What God has done in your life is unique. The faith He has given you is from above and He Himself is working through you by His Spirit. There is no one who cannot and will not be used of God by His Holy Spirit to reach other people. Every single person here, God is going to speak through you. You might say, “I’m not an extrovert.” But I’m talking about the supernatural, as you go about our normal daily life, God will speak through you. There are some people who have written themselves off for whatever reason. I want to pick up on that in Romans 12.

Romans 12:1

It doesn’t matter how old you are in life, you are of value.

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice

A verb is a doing word. Here the verb is ‘present.’ What does that mean? “Present your bodies a living sacrifice.” It means that you’re always open to the moving of God’s Spirit in your life. You’re open for what He wants to do through you. You are just presenting yourself. You haven’t got a closed mind. You know God is guiding you and working out your future. But you are presenting yourself as a living sacrifice. You know that He is the one who saved you and took you out. Now it is a case of being a living sacrifice. “Whatever it is you want me to do, whatever it is you want me to say and be, Lord, I know that I am trusting you in every way in my life.”

Romans 12:2

We’ve got the verb ‘prove’ here. How do you prove out what God is doing in your life. Well, you keep God conscious in your life. You make the effort to keep those lines of communication with God open, via prayer and communicating to other people about what God has done.

I often wonder what Paul thought when he wrote this sentence, “...that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” It’s good, it’s not bad. It’s not something you would shun, it’s perfect.

He has the answer for you sorted out already. You’ve just got to prove it out. So don’t get tied up in the wrong things. Be a Christian that you might prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:3

God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith

“Hath dealt to every man.” Not the elite. To every man. And that includes you. So if I’m thinking, “I can’t be right with God; that hasn’t happened in my life,” think soberly, according as God has dealt, not will deal, has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

You are a believer because of the faith God has given you to believe. Each of us has the measure of faith but, obviously, we are all different. We aren’t all the same personality. Each one of us is unique to God. “Think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Romans 12:4 – 5

Are you more valuable than another person in your church? No. What is the common denominator between you: the measure of faith. God inside you and inside that person.

Where is all this leading? It’s leading to this phrase: “Present your bodies, a living sacrifice.”

We are outward looking, loving each other. If we are inward looking we devour.

It’s God who initiates the faith. He works things to His glory. Everything He has done through the gift of His Son, raising Him from the dead, meeting the disciples who would be witnesses throughout the world. Jesus said to the disciples, “Of one accord,” the mindset being Jesus and what He is doing through you and me. We are going to fulfil what God told the disciples after He had risen from the dead. “Freely you receive, freely you give.” If there’s ever a need for people to find an answer, it’s now.

We want to be open to what God is doing in our midst. I know that you will be able to prove what God is doing in your life. Whatever situation you are in, He is the answer, and He will prove what is good and acceptable and perfect in your life.

He has not been deaf to your prayers: He’s heard. Make a note of what you have shared with God. And then when the answer comes, you can see it links in. God is the answer for you.

The Prayer of Jesus

Pastor Peter Linnecar looks at the prayer of Jesus in John 17, looking at what Jesus had to say about Himself, what He said to the disciples, and what He speaks directly to us. Because of what He did on the Cross, we can share with Jesus the life of delight, peace and rejoicing that He knows with the Father in heaven.

I want to say something very personal to you. At various places in the Word of God, we are made aware of what it is like in heaven. Before the foundation of this world, there was God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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We’re going to listen in to Jesus’ prayer with the disciples, two days before He died. But first I want to point out what it was like in eternity when Jesus was the Father before He came.

Proverbs 8:22 - 31

This is Jesus: Proverbs 8:30

There is a peace, a delight, and joy in heaven always. And before Jesus came to this world, He was daily, His Father’s delight.

John 1:1 - 5

When Jesus was with the disciples, life in all its fullness was walking with them. He is life. He was daily, His Father’s delight before He came. He was Father’s delight when He came, because He fulfilled the Father’s will all the way to the Cross where He gave His life for us and then rose from the dead.

In John 17, we hear Jesus praying. At some point in their journey with Jesus, the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.

Prior to John 17, we go back to the last supper. Jesus washed the feet of all the disciples – Judas included. Jesus shared things with the disciples but said they wouldn’t apply to all of them because one would betray Him. The disciples couldn’t figure it out who it could be, so Peter told John to ask Him who He was talking about and Jesus said it was the one to whom He would give a piece of bread, and He gave it to Judas. At that point Satan entered into Judas and he went out. Once Judas had left, Jesus opened things up, and in chapters 14-16, He shared His heart with them. He spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, and later when the disciples looked back, everything fell into place.

When God speaks a word, it isn’t wasted. When you see Him at work in your life, He never ever wastes time. There is never ever a plan B, because He knows what He is doing. And He loves you.

John 16:33

The glimpse we had in Proverbs and John 1 was that there is complete harmony, peace, joy and rejoicing in heaven. We’re passing through this world now, and our life is a discovery of how much God loves us and of how He is. More than that, He comes to live His life inside us so that when we look at the empty cross, we know it is empty because He went through death, came back to life, and in Him is life. He can’t but be life and love. It’s His character. He is always the same. So when we have difficult circumstances in life it’s good to step back and see things in God’s perspective.

It’s significant for us what God reveals here because it has a direct impact on your life. You’ll see that because He’s alive, He keeps and sanctifies you and keeps you from evil. He is at the right hand of God making intercession for you – right now. The work on earth was finished when He cried out on the cross, but He still makes intercession for us.

John 17:1 - 5

These verses are to do with Jesus Himself.

The Disciples

The next section deals with the disciples and the last part with us.

Everything begins and ends in God. Your faith is from God, and He will complete the work He has begun in your life. What is that work? It’s to prepare you for when you will see Him face to face.

John 17:3

That’s a church. We might have various structures and doctrines, but life eternal is that we might know Him the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

John 17:5

Ephesians 1:3 - 4

When did He choose you? Before the foundation of the world. Before the foundation of the world He made provision for you. At this very point in time, before the foundation of the world, God has sorted everything for you. The power of sin in life which you were born with, the consequences of that sin He has taken away, and the power has been broken, because He finished the work.

John 17:6 - 8

Imagine the disciples looking at Jesus. You would just be so aware of His heart for you.

John 17:9 - 11

In v5 we had ‘glorify’. Now in v11, we have ‘keep’. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee” because when your mind is focused on the fact that everything is organised that you might know Him and His perfect love.

The word ‘keep’ is eternal.

John 17:12 - 13

Your life as a Christian is one where it doesn’t matter what the circumstances are in your life. What God is doing is showing you how much He loves you and that He has heard and answered your prayers. There has never been a time when He hasn’t heard you pray. There’s harmony between a Christian and heaven. You have God’s life inside you, and there is peace in heaven. Everything is joy and peace.

“But I live on this earth”. I know. But as a Christian you were in God before the foundation of the world. He put the faith in your heart to believe. He’s sorted things out in your life. It may be that your experience of this differs from someone else’s. No matter. Each one of us is unique.

John 17:14 - 19

You and Me

At that point He steps back again to talk about you and me, the Church as it is, at this point in time. Up to v19 He had been revealing His heart to the disciples. We’ve thought a lot about Peter recently, and as Jesus prayed, everything slotted into place – how He called him and changed his life about. The words He said had power. He is life. He lives.

In v20, He incorporates us. His life has been incorporated in our bodies. As you go about your life, it’s His power inside you. He’s keeping you until you see Him face to face, and it is a life of joy. That doesn’t mean things don’t go wrong, but we know that all things work together for good to those who love God. And the reason we love Him is because of the love He’s given us.

So now we have Jesus praying in front of the disciples, but praying for you.

John 17:20 - 21

“That the world may believe that thou has sent me”. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

Are we ready for outreach? Who’s given you your faith?

John 17:22 - 26

What Jesus reveals here is the fulfilment of His purpose on earth in verses 1- 5; then how things would work out for the disciples; and now, as He turns to you and me, it’s all to do with the people He upholds.

He’s alive. He fulfilled what Father wanted with the work He did when He gave His life, on the cross. He bought the Bride of Christ: worldwide, millions of people from all round the world, brothers and sisters in Him, fulfilling His purposes.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

At this second, He is making intercession for you and me to Father.

Hebrews 7:24 - 25

Forever. He ever liveth to make intercession for them. He’s alive – forever. He reigns. He’s Lord.

John 17:26

He is for you. And there is no problem in your life for which He does not have the solution. So during this week, take the time to link up with Him. Don’t race for the news or the newspaper too quickly. Communicate with Him. Share your heart with Him. Read His word. He loves you.

In Me You Have Peace

Pastor Linnecar looks at the events leading up to Jesus’ death where, in a humble act, He washed the feet of all the disciples as a servant, and revealed to them who was going to betray Him. Jesus shared with the disciples about the Comforter that would come, the Holy Spirit who is the instrument by which Jesus lives inside us today.

John 17:1

To set John 17 in context, we’re going to go back to chapter 13. This was a very important time for Jesus – just think about the process of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet: it is the role of a servant, a humble act.

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John 13:12 - 30

After Jesus washed the disciples feet, including Judas, He was troubled in spirit, because he knew it was the time to reveal who was going to betray Him. The disciples were asking “Lord, who is it?” Then Satan entered into Judas and he went out.

All the words we have from John 13:31, up to and including John 17, Judas was not there and it was as if Jesus now opened things up.

John 13:3 - 35

It’s interesting that this is the first main emphasis of the intimate words that Jesus shares with His disciples. As a result of Judas’s actions, Jesus would be glorified. But now, Jesus is saying that they should love one another.

John 16:1 - 6

These were huge revelations to the disciples and Jesus was getting really specific about what was going to happen to Him. He says that even if you are killed, they will think they are doing God a service. Somehow in the minds of the disciples, Jesus was preparing them for the time that was going to come about. He was going to die and then be raised from the dead.

John 16:7 - 11

So the role of the Holy Spirit is incredibly specific. He reveals Jesus to you. And He is the instrument by which Jesus lives inside of you. Instead, now that He is with the Father, He has sent the Holy Spirit and He lives inside each one of us. And we can do His work because we have the Holy Spirit within us.

John 16:12 - 14

So the work of the Holy Spirit is very straight forward and marvellous. All He does is reveal more of Christ to you.

John 16:15 - 20

Whenever Jesus spoke, quite often He referred to the fact that even though you might see some things one way in the natural, it’s totally different to how God sees them. For the disciples here, this was a huge thing, because Jesus was going to be crucified in front of them.

It doesn’t matter what’s happening in your life, or how you see things, I want to confirm to you the way God sees things, and He is at peace with what is going on in your life.

John 16:21 - 22

And there’s something about the relationship you have with God, which no man but no man can severe. No one can become between you and your God. That hold on you is inviolate, and wonderful.

John 16:23 - 24

So this was a new concept. If the disciples wanted to check something out with Jesus, they would check it out with Him. Now He’s saying to them, “I’m not going to be here, but the Comforter will come and now I want you to ask and receive that your joy may be full”.

Another thing I want to confirm to you is that every prayer you have made and every time you have wondered whether He has heard you, He has heard you. I am constantly coming across people who say, “You know, it must be God. And I have seen an answer to my prayer”.

Sometimes we pray and then pray again about the same thing because you want to make sure.

John 16:24 - 33

Before Jesus left the disciples, He communicated to them a glorious, wonderful truth. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace”. Because when, in the midst of everything, you have a perspective of how God is doing things, you have peace.

John 16:33

It’s not a problem. Everything is being outworked according to God’s purposes, through His love to you and to me. Later, in chapter 17 we will have a glimpse at His prayer and it includes you.

Follow Thou Me

Pastor Peter Linnecar shares about the life of the disciple Peter, his denial of Jesus and about the moment when Peter knew that he was ‘accepted in the beloved’. Sometimes circumstances in life cause you to think that you have blown it, but you are accepted in the beloved and Christ came to give you His life. The call to ‘Follow thou me’ is still the same commission today as it was for Peter all those years ago.

1 Peter 5:6 – 7

This was written by the apostle Peter later in his life and when you read his letters, everything he refers to he has experienced and he knows. So when he writes, casting all your care upon the Lord, it’s true. There were times in Peter’s life where he was ecstatic, he was so caught up with everything, especially on the Mount with Jesus and at times he’d said to Him, “I’ll do anything for you”.

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John 13:36 – 38

When Peter spoke to Jesus he meant what he said. He wasn’t something on the outside and different on the inside.

Luke 22:54 - 61

Suddenly the words He’d spoken to Peter became vibrant. He’d said, “Lord, I’ll follow you wherever you go”. But Jesus knew what was going to happen and told him that he would deny Him three times and then the cock would crow.

As he denied Him the third time Jesus turned and looked at Peter, not in a ‘I told you’ so sort of way but He just looked and Peter remembered what Jesus had said.

Luke 22:62

“And Peter went out, and wept bitterly”

Inside Peter thought, that’s it, that’s the end. Sometimes in your life, you promise so much and then it goes wrong. For Peter at this point, he thought that was the end of everything.

Throughout his life, I think Peter remembered this point, where he really thought that was the end. There are some people that have got to a stage in their life, where they think they’ve had it. We are involved with a living God who wants to be your heavenly Father and your Lord. It does not matter what your natural circumstances of life are doing, God is your heavenly father and He cares for you.

Peter was weeping, thinking he had blown it: what Jesus had said was true. It did not matter whatever else he tried to remember of the things Jesus had told him, at that point you could not have talked to Peter – he was in despair, thinking “That’s it, I’ve had it”.

After Jesus had risen from the dead, he came to the disciples again.

John 21:1 – 14

It was the same disciples who had the miracle in Luke 5: 1 - 11, when the fish appeared from nowhere. Now Jesus refers back, as it were, with a similar miracle but this time the nets didn’t break. He called the disciples to the shore and Peter was now sitting round the fire with Jesus, knowing what he had done before in denying Him and it bugged him. The disciples did not know what to say, it was strange – here was someone they had seen nailed to a cross, buried and now here He was, large as life, sitting with them and eating.

John 21:15 – 19

Three times He asked the question, here is the parallel, and three times he denied Jesus, and now it’s as if each question that He asked him was removing that guilt that Peter had felt ever since denying Him. As Jesus asked those three questions, “Do you love me Peter?” Peter knew he was accepted. He was accepted in the beloved. Sometimes in your life there are circumstances where you think you’ve blown it. I want to confirm to you, you’re accepted in the beloved. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, to give you His life.

It’s interesting that Peter said, “Thou knowest all things”. He knew that was true because he had thought back many times to what Jesus had told him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice”. Then it happened and he did deny Him and he had been trying to figure out a way forward. He’d seen Jesus die but now in His resurrection life He was operating a recovery programme for Peter. God’s major recovery programme was for you and me on the cross. God was recovering you from yourself in His resurrection. In your first birth you’re against God and you denied Him. You thought you’d do things your way. It does not matter what you have done, however contrary you were against God, you are in the position you are in now because God is confirming to you, despite everything, despite the cause and effect of some things you have done in your life, He loves you, is going to provide everything for you and the solution is already on its way.

In verse 15, “Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Jonas means dove, gentle, the spirit.

John 21:19 – 22

This is where it gets very personal. Jesus is saying to you, personally, “Follow thou me”. You don’t have to worry about another person. Obviously we care for one another, but keep your focus and don’t be a busybody in other people’s lives. John’s destiny was directed by God. God has a specific purpose for each one. As each person zeroes in and focuses on this very thing, where Jesus says, “Follow thou me”, there are going to be people who will blossom to fulfil what God has for your life.

It’s not freedom to do what you want. I want to do what pleases Him, and that’s it. His life is inside you. God is saying to you, “Follow thou me”. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. The previous years in your life have not been wasted. Nothing has been wasted. Everything has been for a purpose.

Peter’s character was totally different from John’s. Jesus was saying to Peter, “You are going to do things different to John”. Later John wrote the book of Revelation, they were different characters and you are different from the person next to you.

Romans 14:7 – 9

He’s your Lord and Saviour. When Jesus said those words, Peter gradually allowed in his mind that he was accepted again. If you read the sermon at the beginning of Acts when Peter speaks to the people, he knew inside himself that he was accepted in the beloved.

I’m sure a lot of knife problems and gang warfare are because people do not feel accepted anywhere. As the weeks and months go ahead we will reach out to others in need. God will bring across your path people that you can share with. You’ve got to share it. It’s what God has done for you inside. He cares, and He took the trouble to make sure that you’re accepted.

1 Peter 5:6 – 11

Think about your situation. Cast all your care upon him, for He careth for you. His name is above every name. No other name, but the name of Jesus.

If you adopt a mode of thinking in bitterness, it will destroy you. The flip side of that is that you set yourself in your mind to realise who God is. He’s our loving heavenly father. Cast all your care upon him, for He careth for you.

1 Peter 5:6 – 7

Power Love and a Sound Mind

I want to talk to you this morning about something which will help you. And it’s important that we understand what the difference is between having a spirit of fear, as opposed to having the opposite of that, which is of power, and of love and of a sound mind.

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If you look at the news, if you look at papers, there is seemingly an increasing fear of the future. And I’ve been speaking with a few people this week who are weighing up the future and are weighing up where they stand before God and the foundation of their life - what is the foundation of their life?

And towards the end of his life, Paul the Apostle thought I will write another letter to my young colleague, brother in Christ. And it was towards the end of Paul’s’ days so he was quite focused, very focused as to what to convey because he knew he wouldn’t be around much longer. What shall I convey to this man, Timothy, before I go?

And it’s good that this letter is so practical, and the reason why it is so practical is that he wanted to make sure that Timothy was on the right foundation. It’s good to be on the right foundation.

So I want you to turn to the book of Timothy, the second letter of Paul to Timothy.

And we’re going to look at some verses in the first chapter.

2 Timothy 1:1-6

Warm greeting, an acknowledgment of where Paul stood in Christ, as an Apostle by the will of God, confirming to Timothy how much he remembers his faith which started off with his grandmother and his mother. Never underestimate the influence you have as a grandparent. Your grand parentage, in some senses, is more important than your parentage, as it were. What you way has a direct impact on the grandchild. And for you to be able to convey to your grandchild something about Jesus Christ and your faith and then for them to have faith in Jesus Christ is very important.

You will have more influence on your grandchild than the parents will because they will listen completely to what you have to say. You’re not with them that often, you see them periodically. It’s important. Now I’m not underestimating the influence of parents, obviously that’s paramount. But don’t underestimate is all I’m saying the influence you have as a grandparent. Vital. With Lois and then the mother Eunice, the faith continued down with Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:7

Without God, inevitably, you’re afraid. Without God, inevitably you’re going to worry and be anxious about anything. Here it’s even referred to as a spirit of fear. And I’ve read somewhere that there in the whole scriptures, the phrase ‘Fear not’ which we saw a few weeks ago – you remember when the children of Israel were facing going through the Red Sea: fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord – ‘Fear not’ is mentioned 365 times, one for each day of the year, as it were. Very important that we don’t be afraid. And for some of you here this morning, I know, from what you’ve spoken to me about during this week, but I’m certain that it’s more widespread, so it will help more people here this morning. With Christ, with your faith that He’s given you, you are the complete opposite of what the world is, and what the world is, is a world full of fear, anxiety, concern, worry.

I thought I’d list what people are afraid of: the future, the upbringing of children, the security of a job, fear of rejection, the fear of betrayal, the fear of being lonely, the fear of failure, the fear of ill health, the fear of violence, and the fear of financial provision not happening. Fear is not the place of a Christian. Now, you might say “Well it’s all very well you telling me that this morning but I find when I start thinking about things my mind sort of wanders around and sometimes at night, and I’m lying there and I’m thinking about things, and I do worry about the future. I do worry about X or Y.”

As a result of what we’re going to see here this morning, what is to be conveyed to you is: there is no need to worry, worry does not have a place in your life, and God is going to remove it. God has not given us the spirit of fear. Instead he’s given us, if you like, the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. Power, love, a sound mind. Let’s look at power for a moment.

Matthew 28:16-20

“Ah” but you say, “That was to the disciples, that’s not to me”. Hang on a minute. You’re sitting here this morning, in faith, that God’s given you, believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that he came, he went on that cross, he carried the burden of your sin, he broke the power of sin in your life, he was buried, he was resurrected from the dead, and the power that brought him back to life was the power that resides in you this morning, with Jesus Christ inside you.

And here Jesus is saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” So when Paul writes to Timothy and says, “Look, don’t have a spirit of fear, Timothy. I’ll tell you what: what you need, the first thing I would say to you is, power. A spirit of power. A recognition of who’s inside you, Timothy.” A recognition, person sitting in this church this morning, of who you’re immersed in, whose life is inside you.

“All power is given unto me…” So when God looks at your future and when God looks at the things you worry about, as far as he’s concerned, he has all power to sort things out for your good. The good news is, He’s already sorted out the solution for you; it’s just that you haven’t come across it yet, but its coming.

“Well you’ve mentioned this a few weeks now.” I know. I need to mention it again this morning. “All power is given unto me.” And as far as Jesus Christ is concerned with that power that raised him from the dead, there is nothing, but nothing that can stand in God’s way of his purposes for your life, which are for your good. “All power is given unto me.”
Next he refers to love, and on Friday, we looked at some verses I want you just to return to.

1 John 4:15-18

If you’re anxious, if you’re full of fear, if you’re concerned, if you’re worried, and it grips you, firstly, you do not have to be in that situation, and let me triple confirm to you this morning: the one who lives inside you, who’s given the faith that’s inside you, where you’re sitting here this morning, as it says in this verse, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.” God’s inside you, you’re confessing that, you’re not making it up, you’re not kidding yourself.

Through what he’s done in your life, you’re sitting there, if I went round to each one of you and asked you, “OK, what’s your confession? Is Jesus the Son of God?” He’s the Son of God. “Is he the one who’s got involved with your life to such an extent that he’s given you a new birth; he’s started things all over again for you?” Yes he has. “Has he put faith in your heart for you to say that?” Yes he has.

OK, the one who’s inside you is love: that’s who he is. As we saw on Friday, his name is synonymous with love. That’s who he is. He doesn’t vary, he doesn’t some days might be love, might not be love. He is love, consistent throughout eternity. That’s who he is.

So we’re talking about this morning not having a spirit of fear, but having and recognising who’s inside you, namely Jesus Christ, and having the spirit of power, and of love. What you just read, “There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear,” that means what it says. So what you have to do and I have to do, is simply recognise, that’s all, recognise who it is that’s inside us. Jesus Christ is inside, through what he’s done in my life. It’s his life being lived through me.

He has been given all power. Not only that, he is love. So that his life living through me means that I look upon people in a certain way that I didn’t look upon them before. It also means that I’m looking upon situations in my life where I can acknowledge that all things work together for good to those that love God, the love that he’s given them, and those who are the called according to his purpose.

1 John 4:8

If you’re sitting there this morning and you’re thinking, “I can’t help it, that’s the way I think” this next thing that we’re going to look at might help you.

2 Timothy 1:7

It matters the state of your mind – what you think about, what you spend your life dwelling on. And it’s become more and more important for people, you and me to realise that if we put into our minds garbage, we will think about garbage.

If we fill our minds with the latest news about X or Y, and dwell on that, inevitably, we will bring fear into our heart because everything is geared that way. If you analyse News At Ten and you just list the impact of each story, and then weight it up in terms of “What’s the impact of all that News At Ten on me?” and the answer would inevitably be, things are getting worse.

Now, do you stick you head in the sand? No. But, hang on a minute – we have this word of God which is the word of life and if we fill our heart dwelling on the word of God or reading about people of God or reading about what God has done in the world or whatever, specific good things about what He’s done and who He is, we will be putting into our mind the right things.

If I’m going along in the car, and my CD collection is such that the Bible never gets a look in, what is it about me that that’s saying? It’s saying that I’ve prioritised things going into my mind round the wrong way. Now, you might be thinking “Well are you trying to get brownie points for listening to the CD of the Bible in the car?” No. I’m simply saying, what’s the input that you’re allowing into your mind through the week? Because what God has given us is the spirit of a sound mind. A sound mind.

I love the story about the man who had the spirits that went into the Galilean swine and it ends up with the man saying he was at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.

What is the right mind? Philippians 2:5-9 helps because it says the type of mind that we should allow to prevail as we live.

Philippians 2:5-9

He took upon himself the form of a servant. So one aspect of the right mind, to confirm to you this morning, is not to think about yourself. But Jesus, His mind was that He took upon Him the form of a servant, and as we’ve already referred to this morning, His obedience to the Father meant He went all the way to the cross for you and me.

But His mindset was a servant. And when the disciples quarreled about who was going to be the greatest, He said, “Well, let the greatest of you be the one who is serving everyone the most”.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. So, it will help you, if you’re worried about things, to think about someone else. “Oh well, you don’t understand, because there are so many things that I’ve got to sort out in my life; there are so many things that I’m worrying about, X and Y and Z”. Yeah, OK, let’s just forget that, let’s park that for one minute, and let’s instead get this mind which was also in Christ Jesus, let’s be conscious of what that means.

“OK, what is it that I can do to help someone else? What is it that I can do to pray for someone else? What is it that I can do that takes my mind of me?” Because taking you mind off you allows to God simply to be all the provision you need. Whatever it was that you were worrying about will not then be a worry, because you wont’ be thinking about it.

Now you say, “Well, that’s all very well, I’ve got to deal with the things in my life. I can’t just ignore them”. I know that. But I’m encouraging you this morning, through what we’re reading, to say, look, fear has torment. The spirit of fear, Timothy, will wrap you up in knots and you’ll be paralysed like a rabbit in the headlights - you won’t move, you’ll be fearful, it’ll grip you, and you’ll worry. Don’t let the spirit of fear dominate, Timothy, kick that out, because actually you’ve got the spirit of power, love and a sound mind. And when I’m gone, Timothy, that’s what I want you to remember, because it’s Jesus Christ inside you.

He has all power, He is love and He has a sound mind, obviously, and His mind was to serve.

Timothy 1:7-12

What day? The day of His appearing, the day when I’m going to see Him face to face, the day of judgment, whatever. When I see Him.

Timothy, whatever you do, don’t have the spirit of fear. That is the enemy zone that is of the world, that’s not us, that’s not Jesus, that’s not God. Whatever you do, Timothy, recognise who’s inside you. It’s God that’s brought things to life inside you, it’s God who has all power, it’s God who is love, it’s God who has a sound mind. He’s rational, in the sense that He is outworking His purposes and all things work together for good to those who love God, those who are the called according to His purpose.

It’s wonderful the way he describes Jesus, who has abolished death, has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. All the future ahead of you here today, the ages that you are. Don’t have a spirit of fear. What God wants for your future, He’s already established. What He wants you to do is recognise what He’s doing in your life, and what He wants you to do is to think of other people, not you, and what He wants you to do is fulfil His purposes in your life. Simple as that.

“Oh, so it’s a case of finding out what He wants for my life?” Yes. “So it’s a case of doing what He wants?” Yes. “It’s a case of saying what He wants me to say?” Yes. “It’s a case of meeting people and being open about my faith with them because He might want to reach them through me?” Yes.

Not so wrapped up in myself that I’m in a world of torment, and I’m not blaming you for this, because the enemy can tie you up, and you get your wrong thought patterns, and you need to derail all that. Hey, what are you doing up that siding, thinking of railways? That’s a dead end. Come on. Let’s get back over here. This is where you are. This is what God’s done in your life. This is who He is, who lives inside you. This is your life, this is your future. What’s your future? It’s His future for you. For good.

“Ah, but you know, He blesses other people. He never seems to bless me”. That’s not true. It isn’t true, because you’re sitting here this morning, confessing that He is the Son of God. How are you doing that? Because of the faith He’s given you. He’s blessed you with that faith. Not of works, He’s done it.

“Right, so this week, I’ve got to watch what goes into my brain?” Correct. “This week I’ve got to watch how I react in situations. I’ve just got to allow God to live to life through me?” Correct.

And any circumstance in your life this week, anything you hear, anything you potentially have going into your mind. I want you to be careful, be the gatekeeper of what goes into your mind. Don’t automatically slip into X or Y. If there is a conversation at work that is obviously wrong don’t get involved. If there is a something going on with your neighbour that somehow is causing distress and you are getting involved in the wrong conversations, come on – let’s step back and get our mind focused on what we need to focus it on.

Timothy, as far as I am concerned God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. Don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, He has saved us, called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Do you realise that Timothy? We are talking about something that took place which was organised before this world happened.

I love to look at the stars, just to see the manifold creation of God. When I look up at the stars I know in my heart everything is fine - everything. Everything is set by God for my good. Everything is set by God for your good.

You might think this is very simple, why am I hearing this? You are hearing this because what God wants to do in your life is wonderful. What God wants to provide for you is glorious – what He is going to provide for you is glorious. He is going to meet all you needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

Dwelling in God

‘God’ and ‘love’ are synonymous. Dwelling in God and dwelling in love are the same thing. Nothing will prevent God working out His purposes for you. So when you’re trying to figure things out, remember the context of the life He’s given you and what He’s done already. Will anything prevent God from blessing you? No. Is there any circumstance in my life that God cannot sort out for the good? No. He will make provision – God is love.

God is love. It is worth confirming to your heart constantly, the fact that God loves you because that’s who He is – He can’t but love, that’s His nature.

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1 John 4:15 - 16

‘God’ and ‘love’ are synonymous. Dwelling in God and dwelling in love are the same thing. You are a special human being because of what God has done in you. His love for you is so great that He sent His Son to earth to die for you.

Romans 8:28

All things work together for good to those who are the called, according to whose purpose? His purpose. When you become a Christian, your aims and ambitions are changed and your life is lived out for Him.

Romans 8:29

In a church you are brothers and sisters because you are united by that common purpose, to serve God and live according to His purposes.

Romans 8:31 - 32

There is no stint to God’s provision for you. It’s inevitable – you can’t stop it. For those looking for it, it’s on its way.

Romans 8:33 - 34

He is still involved in your life, minute by minute, constantly re-affirming what He has done for you on the cross.

Romans 8:35

Nothing will prevent God working out His purposes for you – He is love. So when you’re trying to figure things out, remember the context of the life He’s given you and what He’s done already. Will anything prevent God from blessing you? No.

Romans 8:36 - 37

The way He conquered things for you was that He conquered sin in your life. He took away the power of it and the outworking of it that was all wrong. Sin causes death but He conquered death. That is why the cross is empty – He was buried, put in a tomb and rose from the dead. Now Paul writes, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us”. So when you are involved and immersed in God’s love, inevitably you are more than a conqueror, because God is love and there is nothing on this earth that can prevent you from being blessed by God; there is nothing that can get in the way of God’s love for you.

Romans 8:38 - 39

It’s impossible for you to be separated from God, who is love. If you let this sink in in your situation it makes things different because you see things from a perspective of God in your life, not of you trying to work out the circumstances in your life. I’m a Christian – a Christ-one, as a result of what He has done for me. Is there any circumstance in my life that God cannot sort out for the good? No. Is there any provision that He can’t make for my needs? No. He will make provision. Why is it that sometimes I want things to be done sooner that it happens? Let me confirm to you that the timing of God’s provision in your life will be perfect and inevitable and certain and sure. God is love, and the more you think about who God is, the more it is imperative that we are open to allow His provision to come forth.

Don’t be bitter, don’t regret, don’t think He has missed you out, don’t think, “He always blesses that person but never me”. Don’t think like that. Rejoice in what is happening to another person because you can see how faithful God is and who He is to them. You may say, “Well that is all very well but you don’t know the circumstances of my life”. I don’t but I know that these words are timely for you. Why are they timely? Because anything which causes us to realise once again that you are a child of God, that He has called you: He’s given you faith and you can confess Him as the Son of God; as we read in 1 John 4, it is a result of what He has done. By rights we shouldn’t be involved with Him, but He persevered, fulfilled what God wanted, went obediently to the cross, gave His life so that I could be preaching here, conveying to you who He is.

Sometimes things happen and it throws you: step back. Who is in control? God is. He has started in my life something eternal. Is He going to finish what He started? Yes, by taking us through circumstances where each time, it will be a discovery of how much He loves you. That is what He does.

For Paul, everything that happened to him was evidence of how God would provide for him through every circumstance – and the same applies to us.