What we need to do

By Pastor Peter Linnecar

When Jesus was on earth, it was important for him to relay to us what we needed to do.

Mark 16:14-18 (show/hide)

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

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We need to aim to witness God by his Holy Spirit draw people we know into his kingdom. We should see people as God sees them, not with our prejudices. When Jesus said this to his disciples at the end of his life, it was real.

Matthew 28:18-20 (show/hide)

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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This was a command from Jesus. He knew the Holy Spirit was about to be given, and he knew that those disciples would have the power inside to witness to others of Jesus Christ. And that includes you and me. During the years of Jesus' preaching, there were those who couldn't stomach what was going on.

Matthew 12:38 (show/hide)

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

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They weren't sincere, but this was the question they threw out.

Matthew 12:39-50 (show/hide)

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

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For you and I to be linked as brothers in Christ, the key part is to do the will of the father in our lives. God in his mercy wants you to hear this.

Here Jesus referred to the sign of Jonah. As I have looked at the book of Jonah it is as though it should be in the New Testament. It is all about forgiveness and grace. People look at things in a way that doesn't bring glory to Jesus Christ. There are people who insist on condemning others to a Christless eternity because they don't have forgiveness to those people, and don't think they could ever become a Christian. Jonah couldn't stomach it that God was going to forgive the people of Nineveh.

Jesus was very aware of who Jonah was. His birthplace was within two miles of Nazareth, and all that region knew about Jonah. Nineveh was the pits; it was too evil for God to forgive, so it was thought.

A greater than Jonah is here. Are you going to change? Is it going to be different for you?

Sometimes we don't understand what is happening. Things might be going wrong in our lives, but what God is doing, is fulfilling his purposes in his time, in his way, for his glory. That applies to you in your life.

Luke 11:29-32 (show/hide)

29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

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Jesus Christ lives inside you, and he's all-powerful, all-knowing. He has conquered death. He is alive. As we go forward as a church, I guarantee to you that you will witness the power of God keeping you. Our dependence is totally on him. salvation is of the Lord. I know that what's happening at the moment in your life is happening because God is revealing more of himself to you. There will come a time soon – it might even be happening tonight – when you will know that God is sorting everything out for good.

2 Kings 14:23-27 (show/hide)

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Here is a man who knew the word of the Lord. At some point in his life, God speaks to him again.

Jonah 1:1-3 (show/hide)

1 Now the word of the LORD came unto 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

3 But so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

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Who is God speaking to you about tonight? It is God who initiates everything to his glory.

You can't get more opposite than Nineveh to Tarshish, 1,000 miles away. He was not going to do it. Nineveh was the enemy, they had been tormenting Israel.

When God speaks and you know that he's a true and faithful witness, we need to obey. When we think about other people who are in desperate need of a saviour, and who are in need to come to darkness into his glorious light, what we must not do is write off anyone. What we must not do is harbour in our hearts something that tells them they deserve what they get. That isn't God's heart. God's way is one where he will fulfil his purposes of grace, love and truth. He's the God of judgment, but there was a window of opportunity that came to the people of Nineveh that God wanted Jonah to deliver.

Psalm 23:6 (show/hide)

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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It's not time to flee from the presence of the Lord. It's not time for us to get out of focus. The time now is for us to be more focussed than we have ever been before on the Lord.

Lift up God

Jesus always cut right across the social standing and zeroed in on the individual. He saw not the status of the individual, but their need. When visitors come here we must make sure we are welcoming. Everyone is of value to God, even those who we may initially look down on. We must make sure that, when a new person comes with a need, our immediate attitude is to welcome them in. As we lift up God and humble ourselves before Him He will draw others to Himself.

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It was interesting that when Jesus was on this earth, the Pharisees found it difficult to come to terms with what Jesus was doing in the lives of individuals. He seemed to know the ins and outs of the law, but more than that, He seemed to know the hearts of the Pharisees.

In this scripture He was invited to have a meal with one of the chief Pharisees.

It was a trap in which they wanted to catch Him out so as to boost their status.

Luke 14:1

Who asked a question, there hasn’t been a question?

Luke 13:11

So this had happened before; Jesus had healed on the sabbath day. We’re going to see the heart of Jesus; he didn’t write people off. This will help us deal with each other and also visitors who will come here.

Jesus answered what they were thinking.

Luke 14:3

I would like to meet that fellow one day. I do think he was put there as a test, because it was on the Sabbath day. They watched Jesus, and Jesus’ heart was to reach out to the man. He knew what they were thinking so He knew what they were on about. It wasn’t a matter of asking him if he wanted to be healed. He took him, healed and let him go. Can you imagine what he said to his friends when he got home? And now Jesus deals with the people around Him and their thinking.

Luke 14:5

They were concerned with their ox or their ass. He had been concerned with an individual who was in need; totally the opposite. We live in a society where you wonder if people are more concerned with animals than with humans. Now they go on into the house for the meal and as they were jostling for seats it was obvious that someone had placed themselves near the table. This was wrong because there were others, more important than him, who should be sitting in his place.

Luke 14:7

The Pharisees were hung up on status. Now Jesus talks, from this situation of the meal table and people jostling for position: ‘whosever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted’.

Micah 6:8

Do justice, love mercy, waLuke humbly. A humility of heart is a key part of being a Christian. There’s a value applied to each individual person. It shouldn’t be that you only talk to someone who has money. As far as Jesus is concerned, every person is of value. So when Jesus talked about not exalting yourself but being humble, it was a very practical thing to do.

James 4:10

What’s your view of yourself? You're in a situation in a company, there are things going on to sort out the workforce, reduction quite likely, is it a panic, or is it that you in your attitude of mind are trusting God? You know that you have been an honest employee and you are working as unto God. He will work things out. Your trust must be completely and utterly in Him in everything.

1 Peter 5:5

So my trust is in God. In my work situation my trust is in God. In a job or church context I’m not pushing myself for a position. If anyone be in charge let him be the servant of all. For a Christian, if you’re working as unto God and are trusting Him He will sort things out. He understands the situation you’re in. There is a humility, which Jesus highlighted here in Luke: there is a difference between someone who exalts himself and someone who humbles himself.

Luke 14:12

He’s just talked about being humble and now He’s saying to the host that when you throw a dinner party it should not just be for your friends every time – people you know will invite you back – you should invite those who will not be able to invite you back. When you make a feast call the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. It’s as if our mindset should be that we do everything as unto God.

We’re not out to do a deal with people or use people. People are to be valued.

We’ve got to be careful that, as a church, we don’t have a situation where there’s one group that never talks to another group. Humble yourselves in the sight of God. If somebody new comes in on Sunday, dressed awfully, we must be careful of what our attitude it toward them. Is it going to be that when God brings in an individual they’re not put to the bottom of the pile because they were not here when the church start, or is it the case that when someone comes in here in need we are welcoming and open? There should be no immediate categorisation of a person. We shouldn’t just talk to our own friends after a meeting. This is about people and God and the life of Christ in an individual.

This is about people being met by the living Christ. Let’s make sure, particularly with new people, that we don’t immediately categorise them or welcome them the first time but then after that we ignore them. From the scripture here, first with the man with the dropsy. Jesus knew what was in the Pharisees’ hearts and He wanted to show that that man was a person, an individual with a need. So Jesus healed them.

If someone comes here, is healed and never comes back, that is fine. But it is a problem if someone comes here and finds they can’t fit in because it is such a clique. We need to bear in mind how Jesus sees people. That is easy if we let ourselves be open to what God wants us to do. Don’t talk to people just to be polite when you’re really rather taLuke to someone else. We need to be aware of this because there are going to be more and more people who will come here.

That’s not me making a claim. God said that when we lift people up He will draw others to Himself. We need to be prepared to tell others about our faith. We have to share what is inside us to people in need. Jesus cut right across the social standing and ‘claim for status’ and zeroed in on the individual. I know that the heart of everyone here is to be that way. All I’m doing is to show that as we lift God up and are humble ourselves before Him, He will draw others to Him. Why is that a good thing? Because that is why Jesus came. Time will end when the church is made.

You and I are part of that church. I want to encourage you to be that living witness God wants you to be in this place. I want there to be such a welcome for any visitor that comes here. And then the next time they came, lets be welcoming too.

It is wonderful what God is going to do here.

My God Shall Supply all Your Need

If you look at any headlines currently the collective fear factor is colossal. If you look at the way things are going with the economy, if you see the attempts to analyse what no one has encountered before, it is extremely reassuring to read this verse. There is no limit to God’s source. He is the ultimate source of supplying all your need. It’s according to His riches in glory. It’s a heavenly source, an eternal source. More than ever before, our focus needs to be on Him. This credit crunch is coming ever closer to home and there are some already looking for new jobs. If you take the headlines onboard and allow it to take hold in your heart, fear will come to you. You’ll end up paralysed in your thinking. If your focus is instead on this verse, upon Him, then your thinking will be kept in the right way.

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Philippians 4:19

I want to look at a man who had a need and came to Jesus. Interestingly, the first miracle Jesus did was to turn the water into wine at Cana in Galilee. And now we’re back there again.

John 4:46-50

This man’s son was dying. He had heard about Jesus and the miracle in Cana. Jesus’ word to the nobleman was, “Go thy way, thy son liveth.” There was no proof that his son had been healed. But when Jesus spoke that word life came, and even though the man hadn’t seen it, he believed it. It was as if all he needed from Jesus was something to confirm that He was involved with his problem.

From the next few verses we know the man was away from home overnight. So it was quite some time before he returned home to where his son was. And that “quite some time” might be the situation you’re in. You know God has spoken and will provide, but it’s been quite some time that you’ve been hanging in there. You can rely on the fact that God has spoken. No way will your prayer be unheard.

John 4:51-52

The nobleman stood there and thought back ... “When did Jesus say those words?”

John 4:53-54

Keep track of what you’re saying to God. As you keep track, you’ll look back and know when God provides that solution, when He made something happen. When the media would say it can’t happen, you’ll be able to look back like this man.

I wonder what the nobleman was thinking about overnight. He was relying on this word. I want to confirm to you that God’s solution to your seemingly impossible situation is on its way. And you’ll see over the coming weeks how, in the midst of economic turmoil, God will provide the solution for you. When it seems impossible that you’ll find a job, that things will sort out for the children, know that your God shall supply all your need.

What God wants to do is to prove to you who He is. My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. For this nobleman, distance and time didn’t matter. The fact is that the answer was given: “Your son lives.” At that point, he lived.

Your prayers have already been answered, and there is a solution on its way for you, with no doubt. The worse it gets in the world, the more you will see how your solution could only come from God. You’ll know it’s of Him. He loves you. The darker the room, the more poignant the light. For the nobleman things were dark. But He got to Jesus, and Jesus’ words supplied all he needed.

Stop Fearing, Be Believing

In the story of Jairus, we see how Jesus meets our every need, no matter what assails our faith. His message to us is, “Stop fearing. Be believing.”

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We need to keep our focus on the One who endured the Cross.

Why did He do that?

Hebrews 12:1- 3

If you don’t want to be wearied and faint in your mind, consider Him. We are looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.

To be set down means that the work is accomplished. Jesus went through the Cross so that He might purchase, for Himself, with His own blood, the Church – you and me.

He was so careful to reach people. The message we have is to the unsaved of the world, to those who have no hope – and the message is hope, a way out, the solution to life, Jesus Christ, who is life. It’s not a case of having a solution for life – He is life.

There are three occasions in the New Testament where Jesus raised people from the dead.

Luke 7:11 - 18

This was an incredible miracle. The only son of this widow had died. And Jesus “had compassion on her”. It was so dramatic, the rumour of Him went forth through all the region round about.

Luke 8:41 - 42

There was no doubt that Jairus heard what happened at Nain, because the news went round all Judea. He was ruler of the synagogue, and he was facing a problem – his own daughter was on the verge of death. What would his thoughts have been? As a ruler of the synagogue, it wouldn’t have been natural for him to look to Jesus for the solution.

Jairus means God enlightens. In your life He has got hold of you, and because He loves you, He wants to reveal more of Himself to you. He’s so careful and concerned for you and me to know Him and to understand what it meant to Him to go through the Cross and through the Resurrection so we could have life.

I know there are people who have been thinking for years ‘this isn’t for me’. But circumstances are such that God has got hold of you. He is telling you that He is the solution, the way, the truth and the life. He’s adept at catching us – He wants us to focus on Him. He is the solution.

Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and besought Him to come to his house. But as He went there were people all around Him – see for example verse 43, which Jairus witnessed:-

Luke 8:43 - 49

What incredible timing. Jairus had just witnessed the healing of a woman who hadn’t even spoken to Jesus. She had pushed through to touch the hem of His garment and received her healing. And as Jesus spoke to that woman, Jairus would have been so encouraged. Her miracle had happened. His faith was uplifted – Jesus can do the miraculous, Jesus is the answer. But, while Jesus was speaking, news arrived of Jairus’ daughter’s death.

Some of you have reached the point where you think that even though you’ve tried time and again, it doesn’t work. Yet you still come. It’s as if someone has been whispering, “Why are you bothering? You know it doesn’t work.”

“Your daughter is dead, Jairus, trouble not the Master.” Luke 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Stop fearing and be believing

What Jairus was told, in a human sense, was a cataclysmic end. She was dead. But Jesus is life. Fear not. Stop fearing and be believing. Some of you need to do that. It’s through the preaching of God’s word that faith comes. Perhaps, today, God is getting hold of your heart and saying, “Stop fearing. Be believing.”

Luke 8:51 - 53

“You don’t want to believe that Christian stuff. You know it hasn’t worked out in your life. God isn’t interested in you – you’re not good enough.” You may have experienced that scornful message in your heart. “How can you say that? You know she’s dead. The professional mourners are here already.”

Luke 23:35 - 37

Matthew 27:39 - 44

At that moment, Jesus could have thought, and that thought could have been actioned to wipe them out. “Are you going to rebuild the Temple in three days? Why are you up there, making out you’re something? Why are you going through that, thinking that somehow you will make a difference?”

What this highlights is that the Creator God, the one who created everything, humbled Himself as a man, came to that point when He was on the Cross because of you and me. So when those things were being hurled at Him on the Cross, He had you in mind. It wasn’t the person next to you. I’m talking about you – you, individually, were on Jesus’ mind, when He hung on the Cross to set you free and give you life itself. He loves you.

“This is pretty basic stuff.” But it matters. God wants you this morning to stop fearing and be believing.

But you say “I worry about money, my health, my job, bringing up my children. Will I be married? I’m worried about being lonely in old age. What career should I pursue?”

There are people here who came with a concern, and the concern has been eating you up and making you forget that you should set it aside and look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jairus heard the laughing and scorn, and he, as well as they, knew that his daughter was dead.

Luke 8:54 - 56

Her parents were astonished. I have talked with some people recently about how God has got hold of their lives and guided them. It’s always a wonder to me the way God organises things to get hold of you and reveal Himself to you. He is love, and wants that love to be in your life. He guides you.

Hebrews 12:1 - 2

The work is complete

With the writer, we are looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who endured the Cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The work is complete. There’s nothing else to be done. Everything to prepare the Bride of Christ has been done. We’re in the time now where you and I and others who will come will become part of the Bride of Christ, the church.

Is He careful about His church? You bet He is. His church worldwide, the Bride of Christ.

He endured the Cross for the sole reason of making a way forward for you and me. And today His word for us is “Stop fearing and be believing.” Your circumstances have happened because God wanted to say this to you. “But I’m no good. I’m not like X or Y.” I know. He knows.

“But what will it mean for me?” It will mean the difference between light and darkness, death and life. Stop fearing. Be believing. He’s the author of your faith.

There are some here who have faith for the first time through what is being preached. He is the Finisher of your faith until we meet Him face to face. Don’t think this is too basic – or some arcane doctrine for the elite only. It is why He came.

“For the joy set before Him.” He had in His mind the joy He would have when He was seated at the right had of God and had taken our sin into Himself. “I’m going to set people free. I’m going to do what Father wants me to do.”

Hebrews 12:2

Nothing disturbs the peace where He is. It’s done. Nothing will hinder His work in your life.

And in terms of going forward in your life, I want to confirm to you ... don’t be afraid. Stop fearing. Be believing. He’s the one who is involved with you right now, because He loves you.

God will Supply all Your Need

Philippians 4:19

Whilst Paul was under house arrest in Rome he wrote this letter to the Philippians. Paul worked, paid his way, and did God’s work as well!

Philippians 4:10 – 13

It didn’t matter what state of mind or condition Paul was in, Jesus Christ provided everything for him. He’d been in situations where he had nothing, and situations where he had a lot, and God had always been his source of supply and meant everything to him.

Philippians 4:14 – 17

Paul received support from the people he was writing to but he wasn’t hoping that people would keep sending him gifts, because Christ was his strength. What he really desired was fruit to abound to their account. What did he mean by fruit?

Ephesians 5:8 – 9

When he speaks of fruit, he means goodness, righteousness and truth.

Philippians 4:17 – 18

Despite the situation he was in, he was full because God provided for him. Many of you have worked as unto God for many years, and He knows that you did it for Him.

Philippians 4:19

I want to explain each part of this verse: -

‘My God...’

Whose God? Paul’s God was the creator of everything. He is my God, and if you are a Christian He is your God. He is the creator God and He was also the God who was in Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He is not somebody that is afar off, or someone that I’m worrying about, that I need to communicate with. He lives inside. He’s my God. When you’re facing situations in your life, who are you going to turn to? Your God. He will supply all your needs. He brought you to Himself by His love, to reveal more and more of Himself to you.

‘...shall supply all your need...’

2 Kings 4:1 - 7

This lady was in a terrible situation, her husband had died and she had debt which she could not pay. As if that was not bad enough the man she owed money to had come to take her sons away in recompense. She went to Elisha and explained her situation and he told her to go and borrow as many vessels as she could from her neighbours. The vessels were collected up and she started pouring and she kept pouring, and suddenly she had a vast quantity of oil.

Some of you are facing situations where you cannot figure it out. You’re trusting God, but you cannot see how He is going to bring a solution. This woman was facing a man of God with a debt that was burdening her. The solution was totally unusual; it was something she hadn’t thought of. God specialises in meeting your needs in ways you hadn’t thought of. God’s delight is to surprise you in how He provides.

‘...according to his riches in glory...’

He is going to do it according to his riches in glory. The oil stopped at the point where there were no more vessels. We are talking about a limitless supply, according to the riches that are in glory.

Revelation 21:10 - 23

I’m talking about a limitless supply of glory from God who has given you life. When that woman woke up that morning, the debt was crippling her. She didn’t know what to do and needed an answer from God, and God miraculously worked it all out so that the debt was paid.

Some of you are in situations where you don’t know what you are going to do – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory. Do you think He hasn’t heard you? Do you think He doesn’t realise? Do you think He has somehow missed you out? No. My God shall supply all my need.

‘...by Christ Jesus.’

Peter had met with the Lord on the mount.

2 Peter 1:17 - 18

Who lives inside you as a Christian? Jesus Christ. And God is well pleased with Him. He rose from the dead to give you life. He paid a debt He didn’t owe, so you can live.

My God shall supply all my need according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:20 - 23