Last week as we ran out of time i had to hurry through the application points, but i think they are worth thinking through some more, so if you have time, ponder these more fully. We are called to humble ourselves and trust Jesus no matter what:

1.    Humble yourself and Trust him in the natural realm

Trust him in Sickness, storms, strife – As the diagnosis comes in, the disaster ruins your possessions, the market dips, death ravages.

Of course, it is best to walk through the highs and lows of life with a resolute confidence, if we can walk knowing: “all things work together for my good”, we will be firm and strong, we can go to sleep in peace, like Jesus in the boat, knowing God has got it…

but the reality is, we are more like the disciples on any given day, crying out in fear, shaking God – “WHY ARE YOU ASLEEP!”

When you see the waves rise, or the shadow of darkness creep overhead,

Cry out in humility and trust: “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”

Your little faith, in the great Jesus, will save you!

Don’t try self-salvation projects, don’t run to other gods, and Jesus as a last resort. Go to him!
 

2.    Humble yourself and Trust him in the super-natural realm

There is a war – but he is in charge

Do not run to horoscopes, mediums, palm readers for comfort, or knowledge, or power in the spiritual realm, you are dealing with dangerous beings

Instead, when fear of the future hits, when accusations and thoughts come into your head, do not try and battle it alone

Humble yourself, and trust in in Him – put on the armour he has given you.

• Ephesians 6:10-13

  • Eph. 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

3.    Humble yourself and Trust him in the mess

Remember, the Gadarenes sent him away cause his presence is too costly, they preferred pigs over people.

ILLUSTRATION: Jesus is good but he is not safe – Aslan

Mr Beaver: “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion."

"Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"...

"Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

Jesus saves messy people, which creates messes! We like order, we like predictability, we like safety, but we aren’t promised this!

He will mess up your life! He will mess up your plans, your finances, your time, your holidays, your entertainment, it will ALL be for your good, but at times it will hurt and be confusing, and you’d wish he would just go away.

But trust Him in it, he is GOOD but he is not safe! 

4.    Humble yourself and Trust him with your sins

Your greatest need is your most vulnerable point: your sins.

Allow him to determine how we are to live, he is the King, we may have ideas about how to be saved, but in the presence of the Son of Man, we must let him call the shots.

Read Luke 18:9-14

 Luke 18:9   He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Ladies Coffee morning will be on this Friday 10-12pm! Contact Maddie Spring for more details.

Want to know more about joining our church family?

Our Term 2 Starting Point course is coming up, please register to let us know you are coming so that we can have the materials ready for you. Register at www.sgparra.org.au/startingpoint

Starting Point is our pre-membership course the enables you to study our doctrine, practices, and distinctives so that you can prayerfully determine whether God is leading you to join us.

It will be a 7 week course on Sunday’s before church,

Starting Date: Sunday 2nd May

Time: 8:45am, there’ll be coffee!

Commitment: It is a 7 week course that works best if you attend each week. We will end our time together with a dinner, if possible. After that, there is no pressure to join our church

Recently we have added in a few new songs to help us sing old truths in a new way.

Last week we added a hymn which rejoices in God’s wide reaching saving plan, “Let the Nations Be Glad” by Matt Boswell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy8ZD9BBu4s) . It is based off Psalm 67:4, and is a plea for God to use us to see His word go out to all peoples!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.

This week we are introducing another City Alight song,  “Christ is Mine Forevermore”, a beautiful song by City Alight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roQovDZeAWE) .

You can watch a video from the song writer to hear the song story here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Kd2Gi4-jA) .

It’s a song designed to help us reflect on how hard it is to follow Jesus with our sins, sorrows, and persecution; and then to glory in the amazing truth that no matter what we have Jesus! Read the lyrics here as a poem, and let them sit with you and stir your soul.

Christ Is Mine Forevermore

Verse 1

Mine are days that God has numbered
I was made to walk with Him
Yet I look for worldly treasure
And forsake the King of kings

Chorus 1

But mine is hope in my Redeemer
Though I fall His love is sure
For Christ has paid for every failing
I am His forevermore

Verse 2

Mine are tears in times of sorrow
Darkness not yet understood
Through the valley I must travel
Where I see no earthly good

Chorus 2

But mine is peace that flows from heaven
And the strength in times of need
I know my pain will not be wasted
Christ completes His work in me

Verse 3

Mine are days here as a stranger
Pilgrim on a narrow way
One with Christ I will encounter
Harm and hatred for His name

Chorus 3

But mine is armour for this battle
Strong enough to last the war
And He has said He will deliver
Safely to the golden shore

Chorus 4

And mine are keys to Zion city
Where beside the King I walk
For there my heart has found its treasure
Christ is mine forevermore

Bridge

Come rejoice now O my soul
For His love is my reward
Fear is gone and hope is sure
Christ is mine forevermore

We look forward to welcoming in a number of new members this Sunday!

We can’t wait to gather again to know, apply, and proclaim the gospel in our smaller groups!

Is family/household worship a category for you? I recently came across this article on The Gospel Coalition website: Someone Will Catechize Your Kids in 2021. Don’t Outsource It, and thought that it would be helpful to share more broadly. It is particularly geared to families with kids but the ideas could be transferred to married couples, and even single households.

Note: Catechize means “to teach or instruct” and overtime has come to mean more formally , “to teach/instruct a student in the Christian faith through formalised statement/creed/confessions”. This has often been done through a rigorous memorisation question and answer format (e.g. Heidelberg Catechism, Westminster Catechism: Question 1: “What is the chief end of man? Answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.)

This may all be very new to you, as it is to me, but for all of church history there has been an emphasis on rigorous education of children and new believers in the faith, and perhaps we are missing a trick by not learning from our forebears. (For some resources: https://reformers.com.au/blogs/reformers-blog/reformers-recommends-a-guide-to-catechisms-for-family-worship)

It begins:

Catechesis is not just an option you can take or leave. Because someone will catechize your children. Maybe it will be your church. But how much time does your child spend there each week? Maybe it will be their school. You know public schools want to shape your children into a certain kind of person. No matter how hard you may try to shield your children, the world will attempt to catechize them. Children’s books teaching the values of expressive individualism will end up in your house, and you won’t even know how they got there. You won’t be able to block out every Disney movie and every top 40 song. Even if you could, you’d probably have an easier time keeping outside air out of your house than thinking your children won’t be catechized by the world.

Someone will catechize your children. So don’t outsource it in 2021.

When you realize your duty to catechize your children, you’ll soon learn the delight of this privilege. The joy doesn’t come in guaranteeing your children will walk in all the ways of the Lord. It comes in knowing you’ve helped to lay a foundation of biblical truth that will support your family’s faith no matter what may come.

Some questions to consider:

1) What type of Christian man or woman do I want my child(ren) to become?

2) Is our current teaching/lifestyle going to achieve that?

3) What might we need to change in our family worship?

“We deeply want a revival of domestic religion. . . . The Christian family was the bulwark of godliness in the days of the Puritans, but in these evil times hundreds of families of so-called Christians have no family worship . . . and no wholesome instruction or discipline. . . . How can we hope to see the kingdom of our Lord advance when his own disciples do not teach his gospel to their own sons and daughters?” —Charles Spurgeon

This Friday, I encourage you to consider fasting from food (if possible) to grow in your hunger for God!

Let’s be tugging on the Lord’s robe and giving Him no rest as we cry out for Revival in our hearts, our homes, our church, and our city!

Use Isaiah 64 as your guide and then come to Mission Prayer Night and break the fast together!

Worship and Prayer Night’s are back this Friday!

7pm @ Sharon and Bijoy's

Dinner = Sharon and Bijoy's Biryani (Let’s break our fast together!)

Address = won’t post it here online but just ask me for it!

On Sunday we had the joy of having Louis Baron preach for us on Isaiah 64

“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—” Isa 64:1

We saw that revival is when God comes down in order to manifest His power; to flex His almighty authority. And it has great effects firstly inside the church for christians (repentance, faith, joy, power) and then to unbelievers in the church (salvation) and then works out to other churches and the area in general!

We seek revival not to get bigger or have an epic experience, but so that God would be glorified and seen as the glorious one that He is! That His enemies would bow the knee, that His followers would truly follow, and that he would be enjoyed!

And so, as we seek revival, how should we pray? Louis gave us 5 exhortations from the passage!

1. Humble Prayer v.6

2. Headlock Prayer v.8-12

3. Hopeful Prayer v.3, 4, 5

4. Habitual Prayer v.7

5. Hungry Prayer v.1

It was a great morning! Let’s be crying out to God to revive us and move amongst us in a new and all the more powerful way! It will be messy and confronting…but good!