Burning Bush

Lord, when the bush is burning, let me not burn lower as the fire does, but let me burn higher and higher


Did You Overlook Your Burning Bush?
Exodus 3:1-5
by Robert L. Cobb
http://www.newsforchristians.com/archive/sermons/ser006.html

The Burning Bush
by George Whitefield (1714-1770)
http://www.newsforchristians.com/clser1/whitefield013.html

He will carry you

C                                        Em             F
Their is no problem too big God cannot solve it
G7                                                          F    C  G7
Their is no mountain too tall He cannot move It
C                             Em                        F
Their is no storm too dark God cannot calm It
G7                                                        F    C  G7
Their is no sorrow too deep He cannot sooth It

      C                                   Em               F   
If He carried the weight of the world up on his shoulders
G7                                                 C    G7
I know my brother that He will carry you
      C                                     Em               F
If He carried the weight of the world up on his shoulders
G7                                              C   Em    
I know my sister that He will carry you, He said

Bridge:
Am         Em  G           D    Dm
Come on to me, all who are weary--y
    F        G7      C   G7
And I will give you rest


 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi8tajO11SM

In the furnace with God we grow in faith

Live by faith, not by sight  2 Cor 5:7

If God sends me harder tasks, I am assured that am growing as God entrust those He trusts with greater things Matt 25:14-30

Sorcery, Satanic or Sin?

Galatians 5:19

 ^19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

How to help such a person?  Who becomes a drain on resouces: emotionally, mentally, financially without a care for others. Just the big I, Myself and Me. A black hole where everything and everyone gets sucked in and gone forever.

Is it a matter of inconvenience?

An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." GK Chesterton

OK Let's consider it an adventure.  

Refined by God's fire or be scorched by it

Fall in, therefore with the gracious design of God; follow every affliction with prayer, that God would follow it with his blessing. God kills your comforts, out of no other design but to kill your corruptions with them: wants are ordained to kill wantonness, poverty is appointed to kill pride, reproaches are permitted to pull down ambition: Happy is the man who understands, approves, and heartily sets in with the design of God, in such afflicting providences.



The Method of Grace
by John Flavel
http://www.gracegems.org/27/method_of_grace17.htm

Letting Go

^15-16On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.

1 Cor 7:15-16 (The Message)

Don't Give Up

 

 2 Cor ^8, 9  We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.

Gal 6 ^9-10 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

Qualities of a Spiritual Warrior

Available for battle even in the face of danger
                             Read how God selected Gideon's soldiers 

It is too big, God says. So Gideon asks the fearful to leave (they were not available) 

Anticipate battle even during a time of ease
...but it is still too big. So they go to a brook to drink, and those who drink with their hands are asked to leave, but those who lap the water like dogs can stay (these were ready for battle).
This shrinks the army to 300, less than 1% of the original
Armed for battle with weapons of the Lord's choice
Trumpets (power of praise) and clay pots (smash the pots and the power of God is released)

Missio Dei

What is God’s mission? What is my role in that? The term missio dei (mission of God) implies that God has a purposeful plan... looking forward to the details in tonight's sermon by Dr. Doug Norwood

The Writing is on the Wall

In a fix and have tried every possible way out? God wants a surrendered heart that will humbly submit to Him. Instead of trying to fix the problem yourself, seek Him for answers.


We don't know God's timetable. Sometimes it feels like He's going too fast, sometimes it feels like He's taking too long.  Regardless, trust God to know not only where, what and how but also when.

Fear of the mysterious future unknown?  For all we don't know, we know Who does.  Really, there is nothing to worry about.

The Writing is on the Wall

Encouraging one another

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thess 5:11 (ESV)

Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH)

Keep praying, but be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your prayers - William Culbertson

Start practising by praying for car park space.

Be specific in prayer

John 16:24 (English Standard Version)

Until now you have asked nothing in my name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jeremiah 33:3

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. (Do you need wisdom? Ask. Do you need clarity on a matter? Ask. )

When praying for specific and direct requests, God will answer accordingly.
http://www.sharelifeministries.org/lessons/print_lesson.cfm?id=181

God of SUDDENLYs

We are in a Suddenly Season!

Suddenly - happening, coming or done quickly without warning or unexpectedly ---occurring without transition from a previous state.

We are entering a time where the things that are going to happen in your life will come quickly, without warning – this manifestation will occur without logical progression.

We are in a season where God is going to do things suddenly. If you are walking in faith and believing God for manifestation, be on the LOOK-out for a sudden, rapid, swift change.

http://www.agachurch.org/SiteFiles/102060/Content/documents/A_Suddenly_Season.doc

In God's Hands

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Daniel proceeded to indicate in detail—the meaning of the vision. "You are the head of gold. And after you shall arise a kingdom inferior to you, and another third kingdom. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things." Thus history ever reads. One kingdom gives place to another. The greatest kingdoms are pushed aside—and thrust down by the less. Not only among nations is this true; we see the same in families and among individuals. The rich of one generation, are the poor of the next. The high in rank today, are forgotten tomorrow. Thrones built by human hands crumble. God can humble the proudest whenever He desires. He can destroy the head of gold; and crush the arms of silver; and break the legs of brass; and demolish the feet of iron and clay! "The snowflakes of Russia humbled Napoleon's pride, and the raindrops at Waterloo sent him into exile!"

There is a story of an emperor in whose realm, there was a rebellion. Certain of his subjects were in revolt. The emperor was setting out to the scene of the uprising, and said to his nobles, "Come with me and see me destroy those rebels!" But when he reached the province he showed only kindness to those in revolt. He treated them with gentleness and affection. The result was that they laid down their arms—and became his most loyal subjects. His nobles reminded him of his words to them, "Come and see me destroy my enemies!" He replied, "I have destroyed my enemies; I have made them my friends!" This illustrates Christ's conquest—and the way He extends His kingdom. It is set up not by force of arms—but by love; it rules our hearts!http://gracegems.org/Miller/nebuchadnezzars_dream.htm
J.R. Miller

God Opens Doors

The Real Presence—What Is It?

Many believers are overly anxious about what they shall do in their last sickness, and on the bed of death. Many disquiet themselves with anxious thoughts—as to what they would do if husband or wife died, or if they were suddenly turned out of house and home. Let us believe that when the need comes—the help will come also. Let us not carry our crosses—before they are laid upon us! He who said to Moses, "Certainly I will be with you!" will never fail any believer who cries to Him. When the hour of special storm comes, the Lord who walks upon the waters will come and say, "Peace! Be still." There are thousands of doubting saints continually crossing the river of death, who go down to the water in fear and trembling, and yet are able at last to say with David, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—for You are with me!" (Psalm 23:4).

http://www.gracegems.org/23/real_presence.htm
by J. C. Ryle

Wisdom for the Wise

"He gives wisdom to the wise—and knowledge to the discerning." Daniel 2:21

Natural knowledge puffs up its possessor, and the more he has—the more self-sufficient he deems himself. But it is the very opposite with spiritual wisdom—the more God bestows of that upon His child—the more ignorant and stupid he feels himself to be—and the more dependent upon the Holy Spirit does he become. Then it is, that he really values that precious promise "If any of you lacks wisdom—let him ask of God—who gives to all liberally and upbraids not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). The truly "wise" person will not only greatly prize such a promise—but he will daily make use of it, mixing faith therewith, pleading it before the throne of grace, and obtaining answers of peace. As it is "when I am weak [in myself]—then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10), so it is when we (spiritually speaking) conduct ourselves as "babes" that God reveals unto us what is hidden from the worldly "wise and learned" (Matthew 11:25).

http://www.gracegems.org/Pink2/wisdom_for_the_wise.htm
Arthur Pink

Spiritual Gifts : Wisdom

"To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:8 NIV)

The Spiritual Gift of Wisdom Defined

The gift of wisdom is the ability to have insight into people and situations that is not obvious to the average person, combined with an understanding of what to do and how to do it. It is the ability to not only see, but also apply the principles of God's Word to the practical matters of life by the "Spirit of wisdom" (Eph. 1:17).

 

People with the Gift of Wisdom

These people often have an ability to synthesize biblical truth and apply it to people's lives so that they make good choices and avoid foolish mistakes. These people today function well as coaches, counselors, and consultants.

http://theresurgence.com/2009/04/26/spiritual-gifts-wisdom

Mark Driscoll

Conviction vs Preference

A conviction is a belief that you will not change. Why? A man believes that his God requires it of him. Preferences aren’t protected by the constitution. Convictions are. A conviction is not something that you discover, it is something that you purpose in your heart (cf. Daniel 1, 2-3). Convictions on the inside will always show up on the outside, in a person’s lifestyle. To violate a conviction would be a sin.

http://bible.org/illustration/conviction-versus-preference
David C. Gibbs

Symphony of Praise

We Have Come to Worship Him

by John Piper 

True worship is not just ascribing authority and dignity to Christ; it is doing this joyfully. It is doing it because you have come to see something about Christ that is so desirable that being near him to ascribe authority and dignity to him personally is overwhelmingly compelling.

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/we-have-come-to-worship-him

Walk in the Light

Isaiah 2:5—"O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." Oh that the literal "house of Jacob" would walk in the light of Jehovah by acknowledging Jesus, who is the Dayspring from on high! Alas, they refuse the light, for the veil is upon their hearts! Let us pray for the assembling of the tribes of Israel. Surely "it shall come to pass in the latter days." (Verse 2)

Accept This Invitation.