NCCF Church Sharing - December 06, 2014

December 8, 201453mWatch on YouTube

Speaker: Church Title: NCCF Church Sharing Date: 12-06-2014 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning member of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The speaker discusses the spiritual reality of 'dry spells' in communication with God, arguing that believers should desire hearing from God with the same desperation they feel when confronting sin. He draws parallels to Jesus' relationship with the Father, suggesting that accepting silence from God is unacceptable for a follower. The message concludes by examining the Israelites' failure to enter God's rest, which stemmed from questioning God's promises based on their immediate feelings rather than His word.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

What should be our response to a dry spell?Experiencing a dry spell should break us and produce desperation to hear from God rather than accepting silence as a normal routine.

If Jesus couldn't tolerate radio silence, neither should weBecause Jesus's greatest pleasure was fellowship with His Father, He would never tolerate not hearing from Him, and we are called to follow that same example.

Do not follow the example of disobedienceThe author of Hebrews warns believers to diligently enter God's rest and avoid the disobedience of the Israelites who tested God in the wilderness.Hebrews 4:11

The fundamental sin of questioning God's presenceIn Exodus 17, the Israelites tested the Lord by asking if He was among them or not, judging by their circumstances rather than His promises.

Having faith for the unexpectedLike the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 who lacked extra oil when the bridegroom delayed, we need a faith that trusts God even when life does not go according to our expectations.

Claiming God's promises in times of drynessInstead of doubting God's presence during dry seasons, we must proclaim His unchanging promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us.Deuteronomy 31:6

Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the wellJesus offered living water to a broken, restless woman in John 4 who knew she was a sinner, transforming her into an overflowing witness for others.

Baptism requires repentance and confessionScripture shows that baptism has prerequisites of personal repentance and confession of sin, making infant baptism unscriptural since children do not understand sin.Matthew 3:6

The danger of refusing to love the truthWhen people refuse to love the truth and repent of their sins, God allows them to be sent a powerful delusion because they delight in wickedness.2 Thessalonians 2:10–12

Fighting lukewarmness through diligent seekingWe must actively fight spiritual complacency and lukewarmness by continually seeking the Lord's face and depending on His daily word.

The true purpose of trials and enduranceTrials are designed to produce endurance, which ultimately teaches us how deeply we can depend on God without doubting.

Being completely honest before GodRather than hiding our flaws like Adam and Eve, we can be entirely honest with God, knowing He is faithful to both forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Serving our households out of spiritual fullnessDrawing from Proverbs 31, we must first seek God and fill ourselves with His spiritual strength before serving our families with delight.

Disciplining the body to press into ChristPaul exercised self-control and disciplined his body so that his freedom in Christ would not become a license for laziness, laboring to know Christ more intimately.

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