October 31 2010 The Harvest And Our Confession

The Harvest And Our Confession

(Jonah 1:7-16 - Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?" "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.)

Lessons From The Confession

1. Confession moves us out of our confinement

(Verse 8 - What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?)

Perhaps much of what is wrong with the world today is because the church has lived in confinement concealing its identity.

2. Confession solves the confusion of the world

(Verse 10 - What have you done?)

When there is a lack of sincerity in our faith, a deviation in our walk or an attitude of indifference, people around us find an increase in uncertainty about their feelings toward God.

(verse 11 - So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?)

• Peter
• Paul

3. Confession will calm the storm in other people's lives

It is often the sacrificial giving of our lives that God works through to touch those who are around us.

July 18 2010 Living The Effective Life

Living The Effective Life

(John 6:16-21 - When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.)

Verse 18 - A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.

1. Understand the commonness
(Verse 19 - When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.)

2. The coming of Christ
(Verse 19 - When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.)

*Three Hebrew children
(Verse 20 - But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid.")

3. The place of communion
(Verse 21 - Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.)

*Obedience
*Surrender

4. The compensation of Christ close presence
(Verse 21 - Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.)