Message Outline 28 May 06

Achsah = "Anklet" a term of endearment



Caleb’s Daughter & Joseph’s SonsBible Texts: Joshua 15:13-19; 17:14-18




SLIDE 1 Background:
The 12 tribes of Israel 以色列的十二支派
Reuben - means "Seeing". Mother: Leah.
 Simeon - means "Hearing" 2nd born of Leah.
 Levi - means "Joined". 3rd born of Leah. This was the priestly line- even then they were not allowed to have any physical blemishes.
 Judah - means "Praise" 4th born of Leah. His was the line that proceeded to the House of David and to Jesus.
 Dan - "God is judge". 1st born of Bilhah. Type of Judas or the anti-christ? Missing from the Rev 144,000. (This was Samson's tribe).
 Naphtali - means "Wrestling" 2nd born of Bilhah. Wrestling was what Jacob did prior to receiving the new name of Israel.
 Gad - means "A troop comes". 1st born of Zilpah (Rachel’s maid).
 Asher - means "Blessed" 2nd born of Zilpah.
 Issachar - means "Wages". 5th born of Leah.
 Zebulun - means "Dwelling with husband" 6th born of Leah.
 Joseph - means "The Lord will add a son". 1st born of Rachel.
 Benjamin - means "Son of the right hand" 2nd born of Rachel. Responsible for dismembering a body into twelve pieces, Judges 19:29. we see Jesus is the REAL son of the right hand.

SLIDE 2 A. “Like Father like Daughter” Joshua 14:6-13
迦勒的信心-“虎父無犬女” ( 約書亞書14:6-13)
 Read Caleb’s declaration of faith & his inheritance.
 Started at 40 with Moses, now at 85, he still has the same fighting spirit.
 He saw the Anakims (giants) but he also knew the Promises of God

SLIDE 3 A1. “A chip off the old block” 迦勒將女兒許配給勇士 (Joshua15:16) Achsah -“Anklet”, Caleb's only daughter was offered in marriage to the man who would lead an attack on the city of Debir
 Othniel, later became one of the judges that have secured 40 yrs of peace for Israel

SLIDE 4 A2. Achsah’s faith 迦勒之女兒押撒-向父求水泉
Imagine a typical scene at the dining table in Caleb’s house…………
 Achsah asked for the right things – water source. Like spiritual things, the land was barren without water source. 信心,爭取心,遠見
 So are we – barren until we have the Holy Spirit.
 She was bold,wise, had initiative and she had foresight.
 She had confidence in her Father’s character and his love.
 She asked for one, but given two!
 She knew her destiny and the promises of God!

SLIDE 5 B. SONS OF JOSEPH Joshua 17:14-18 約瑟的支派兒子也是如此 Ephraim & Manasseh in Joshua 17:14-18 The sons of Joseph asked for more land – not just one lot. 以法 蓮,瑪拿西說:你為甚麼僅將一 鬮一段之地分給我們為業呢？
 But they have to work for it! 神的應許,雖然會有攔阻,得堅持到底
 The promise and the Challenge - go and conquered it, But the enemy have iron chariots!
 Archaeology finds – a more advance culture had been conquered by a more primitive people.
 Examples of Promise and obstacle – eg the patriarchs.
 Abraham – land and descendants – but barren & famine
 So is Isaac – Rebecca is barren, famine in the land.
 Jacob, Rachel, his favourite wife is barren.
 So Trust God, even though the enemy may better weapons!
 God plus our will and holding fast to God’s promises are always stronger than the weapons of the enemy or circumstances.

SLIDE 6 C. Forceful men & women for the Kingdom 天國需要積極和激進的人 “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (Matthew 11:12)
 Don’t give up living for God! – in your home, in your work, in your businesses.

SLIDE 7 CONCLUSION :
Press in and Press on!
天國需要激進, 不妥協的人
 Be bold, be wise and be assured of God’s love like the Achsah.
 Be divinely discontented - like the Sons of Joseph.
 Despite obstacles, press in to claim the full promises of God
 Claim what is rightfully yours, especially the spiritual blessing that will last for the future generations.

Message for 21st May 2006

Faith - key to victory & revivals 信心的功課
Text : Judges chapters 6 & 7 經文: 士 師 記 6, 7章

God loves to do the Gideon. Sounds like a dance I know but in actual fact, it’s not. It is something that He has done throughout human history and will continue to do until the very day that He returns to sort this whole mess out! ‘The Gideon’ is where God takes weak, humble, sometimes fearful people and uses them to do wonderful things. He loves doing it! And the story of Gideon has been repeated (in each persons own way) through the lives of millions throughout history.

1. Faith over circumstances 勝過環境的信心
•7 Years of Oppressions & Defeat 七年的壓制
•"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? (Judges 6:13)
•主 啊 ， 耶 和 華 若 與 我 們 同 在 ， 我 們 何 至 遭 遇 這 一 切 事 呢 ？ (士師記 6 :13)


2. Faith restores our true Identity 以信心來重建自我形象
•"But Lord (Adonai), " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15)
•基 甸 說 : 主 啊, 我 有 何 能 拯 救 以 色 列 人 呢? 我 家 在 瑪 拿 西 支 派 中 是 至 貧 窮 的 。 我 在 我 父 家 是 至 微 小 的. (士師記 6 :13)
What he said was true and a fact! But God said – you are mighty warrior – (Gibbor hehayil)

3. Faith over fear 克服懼怕的信心
•Fear as a result of years of years of intimidation and oppressions –
•Pull down the idol at night (V27);
•So unsure that he asked for repeated signs.V37-40
•多年的壓制, 使基甸成為膽小無能.
•27節 - 他因怕父家和本城的人,不敢在白晝行這事,就在夜間行了
• 37-40 節 - 重複的求證 -膽小無能
God specify the bull that was 7 years old – the same period of oppression is to be sacrifice! The idol must be torn down first before revival can come! Renewal must start from his own house. 2nd can also mean full grown. Bull worship or one for puling down one for sacrifice àGod wants to deal with our problems and remove the root cause!
What a testimony to the grace of God? He was so patient with Gideon, he knew he needs to be build up slowly. But be careful – this not a pattern for us to test God!
Like 1Peter 1:7-9 – Blessed are those who have not seen and believe!

4. Faith looks to God not numbers 信心是仰望神,不是看數目
•Judges 7:1-8 - gather at the spring of Harod – “trembling”
• 32,000 less 22,000 = 10,000
•0.9 % - only 300 watchful ones was needed
•三百名勇士戰勝萬馬千軍, 不是三萬二千!
àThose who are fearful go home 7:3, years of impossible thinking/mindset
àTake them down the water, I will sift them for you V4 – baptism is another test of commitment.
Those who are not watchful, the self –indulgent go home! V8a – the remaining 300 has to be kept and retrained, because fear still griped them.
Then God gave the “doubting Gideon” one more confirmation – a dream! 7:8b-14
God still speak in dreams and vision – we have lessor need now as we have so much of the Word.

5. Faith to be broken, to glorify God 憑信心來被破碎,發光
•Judges 7: 16-22 break the jar and shout!
•The treasure in us will shine forth when we are willing to be broken! (See 2 Cor 4:6-7)
•我們這瓦器裡有寶貝, 讓我們評信心,讓神來破碎,發光! (歌林多後書4:6-8)
Broken vessel is used by God Someone once asked Hudson Taylor, the pioneer missionary to China, why he had been so successful in his missionary work in China. Hudson replied, ‘it seems to be that God searched the entire world looking for the weakest man, and when He found me, He said ‘you’ll do!’.

Conclusion & Application
FAITH is the key 信心的鑰匙•Faith looks beyond our circumstances
•Accept and embrace your God given identity
•In faith, make a small leap and greater victories will come your way
•The battle belongs to the Lord – not your own resources of numbers
•Humble and broken vessels will shine and glorify God.

Message Outlines Friday 12th May & 14th May

Mother’s Day Celebration (14th May)
Guest Speaker: Ps Clement Lee.

The Text for the message is from the passage I Samuel 1

It was about Hannah's desperation for the things of God.

"But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. "V5

Her husband was trying to give her the best. "Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" V8

But she was not content to have the good things in life such as the love of her husband and the double portions.
She wanted more than just good things the "God things".

Hence she was rewarded with a Child - Samuel that was used of God to advance the kingdom.



COMBINED CELL MEETING THIS FRIDAY - 12th May

Speaker: Ps Clement Lee of VFR School of Faith, from Malaysia to minister the word of faith, praying for the sick, impart words of knowledge etc

PART 1 - Building Faith Foundations

Bible Text: 2Peter 1:3-11

GOD’S INITIATIVE & ENABLEMENT

His Divine Power given ….everything we need for LIFE and GODLINESS ( 1Peter 1:3)

Through:
knowledge of Him ( 2 Peter 1:3b)
His calling
His great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4)

PURPOSE: so that to
1). Participate in Hid divine nature (2 Peter 1:4b)
2). Escape the corruption of the World

HOW IT WORKS
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith:
Goodness; and to goodness, Knowledge;
and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, LOVE


For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,

You will be
Effective
Productive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Farsighted
Deliver from the past.

Inspiration (2 Peter 1:10-11)
1. FIRM IN YOUR CALL & ELECTION
2. STEADFAST & NOT FALL
3. ENTER INTO THE NEW KINGDOM LIFESTYLE

Combined Cell Meeting This Friday and Mother' Day Celebration Next Sunday

Mother’s Day Celebration (14th May)

We will be having a special celebration and outreach with some special items

Guest Speaker: Ps Clement Lee.

Please bring finger foods and deserts as the church will provide the main noodle dish
Mark this day and invite your friends and relatives


COMBINED CELL MEETING THIS FRIDAY - 12th May

We will be taking a break from normal cell meetings and come to gether this Friday at Templestowe.

Speaker: Ps Clement Lee of VFR School of Faith, from Malaysia to minister the word of faith, praying for the sick, impart words of knowledge etc

8.00pm start at Ps Jeremy’s house, 17 Montpellier Cres –Lwr Templestowe

Message-30/4/06 - Dsicipleship & Spiritual Formation

Discipleship & Spiritual formation
Text : Matthew 16:13 -16; Hebrews 12:1-7

A. Who is your Master?
The Bible tells us that we are to be transformed to become like Christ!
But who is Christ?
The Lord of all creation – the Son of God
The crucial point in the disciples Journey – Confession of Christ’s deity (Matthew 16:13-16)
A foundational revelation – not from flesh & blood! ( contrast (Gal 1:16)

B. Discipleship is both “Personal” & “Communal”
Christ’s promise to His church
Just as God promise to His remnants in Old Testament – (see Ps 51:18;69:35 Jeremiah 24:6; 31:4,28)
The promise in Matthew 16 – “the gates of hell shall not prevail”
Authority, preservation, mission etc

C. To be like Christ – living a life of purpose
Hebrew 12:1-7– for the “joy” set before him, endured the cross, finish the race.
“My food is to do the will of the Father” – (John 4:34)
A personal revelation – not just be the “faithful servant” but be the “beloved son or daughter!
“Imitate me as I imitate Christ!”– Paul in 1 Cor 11:1)

D. Restore the glory and dominion
The mystery and purposes of God are
To restored our inner world àà outer world – stop being a schizo !
Restore family relationshipàà church ààworld àà rule & reign in eternity !!!
The pattern is out for us to see – Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria à ends of the earth!

E. Lessons from Egypt & Babylon
Famine & idolatry was the main reason the Israelite ended in these two places
We are on that track if we are lay back with shifting priorities
The slow slippery slope to conformity and decline.
Let us commit to grow and live to fulfil our God given destiny

F. The “GIST” of Discipleship
God on the throne - the transforming truth about the Lordship of Christ
Imitate Christ in His sense of mission and purpose, R.A.S nature.
Serve and love God, the people of God and those “not yet people of God”
Transformation via association with Christ and fellow disciples - Discipleship & Spiritual formation are NOT optional – without which we will fail to reveal God’s glory & mystery, or reproduce ourselves…