Message Outline 26th Feb 2006 - VIP Christians

Be a VIP Christian

1.0 What is VISION?
i) A God given picture of the desired outcome.
ii) A revelation from God in its many forms – a picture, oracles, or verbal instructions.
Famous Bible Verse
“For without vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Prov. 29:18 - KJV)
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” (Another rendering of the same verse in NIV)
Context: The Israelites descend into immorality and orgies in the wilderness – hence a whole generation missed the promised land!

Why is a personal Vision so Crucial?
1. Vision will keep us from deviating from the focus.
2. Vision tells us to change course if we are heading the wrong way
3. It does not only determine what we do but who we want to become.

1.1. How to receive Vision
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb11:6)
--> With faith and a seeking heart
--> Be faithful and obedience in little things
-->God often reveals His vision to whom He can trust
-->Much of God’s revelation is already in the Bible

1.2. Can God entrust us with the heavenly vision?
“I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”(Acts 26:19)
- God did something to these men before he entrust them with the vision
Jacob – shatters his own scheming
Isaiah – removes his false security
Ezekiel & Habakkuk – despair at the oppression & injustice
Paul – struck him down from the high horse of self-righteousness!

2.0 IINTEGRITY
What is Integrity?
Who you are when no one is watching.
How you react and behave when faced with trials and temptations
Integrity makes us wholesome & righteous

2.1. Why is integrity so important?
- Integrity helps us to be effective in the long term.
- It is the key that help us finish well.
- Without integrity, we self–destruct and sabotage our own future and the future of others – SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT!
Lack of integrity is the most powerful weapon in the hands of the devil- Too many people are turned away from the kingdom by the lack integrity among the children of God!

2.2. How to cultivate Integrity?
a) Intentional Boundary setting - distrust our self control or own judgment.
Be realistic with our hearts
- Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
I Cor 10:12“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (NKJV) – avoid flirtatious jokes
b) Intentional safeguards – beware of areas of temptations.
In Boy – girl Relationships for instance; plan your dates; have something meaningful and purposeful to do. If you go traveling, go in groups to avoid too many time alone.

Don’t create moments where you‘re vulnerable to temptations.
Eg Uni/Overseas students where boy and girl friend sharing a house? Your chances of staying pure is almost zero due to proximity and physical closeness.

We have many stories of students leaders living secret sinful lives! The lifestyle portray in sitcom like "friends" are plainly unattainable and unrealistic!

Why is pre-marital sex wrong? – The Bible say so!. Also – it will bring many unpleasant consequences - Innocence Lost, disillusion, dissatisfaction with sex lives, hurtful ex-lover history etc which can lead to much distrust and disloyalty in later marriage life.

But for those who have failed in the past. Well, don’t just stay there.
Come back to God! – King David was not called a man after God heart for nothing. In PS 78:92 “ he shepherd them with integrity of hearts and skillful hands.” Because he knew how to come back to God! He confessed his sins when confronted by Prophet Nathan.

Make no mistake- The kingdom is bigger than your failure.
The cross is sufficient for your sins. Be a man & woman after God’s heart.

c) Include others in your lives (Loneliness & idle minds are the favorite playground of the devil!)
d) Include a reality check & confession of sins in your life curriculum

3.0 PASSION
From Latin – “passio” – to bear , to suffer Greek – “Pathos”
A compelling, intense feeling and fervour or emotion for God
Our faith in Christ is a relationship that touches our whole being – our body, souls & spirit

3.1 How to maintain our Passion?
-->Priorities your affection – never allow your first love to grow cold (Rev 2:4)
-->Pick your peers carefully
-->Passion is Vision driven
-->Position ourselves in the right place – What happen to Australia will happen to you. What happen to your church will affect your family. Etc (Attitudes and behavior are formed in the family – don’t blame anybody else. )
-->Posture your attitude - Are you "inner man" sleeping? Sitting? Standing, or face down? eg - Paul was on the horse back – blinded by pride and bigotry – but Jesus struck him down – he begins to kneel & postrate on the ground and began to see from his "ears".
-->Integrity affects our passion – lack of integrity causes guilt – killer of passion for God.
--> You got to take responsibilities for your faith.
-->Take responsibility for your attitudes, action and their consequences. Eg a major part of leadership is to take responsibilty. Keep checking for any negative attitudes in our hearts.
-->Pray – P.U.S.H = ->We all have passion – passion to just sleep or do something good and God honoring, if we do not use our passion in the right way, we will devote it for the worse!

CONCLUSION:
We have learned something very practical today. -->Integrating the 3 Key elements
1. The importance of Vision. Ask God for a personal vision
 there is much more to know in this journey of faith....
2. The importance of Integrity.
seek for ways to improve your integrity.
Check for negative emotions - greed, lust, fear & insecurity.
Set intentionally boundaries to safeguard yourself.
Keep the vision of God clear – so you would value your integrity.
3. The Importance of Passion for God. –
Position, & posture ourselves to renew and rekindle our first love.
Pray until something happens.
All three--> V.I.P. intertwine and reinforce each other.

Message 19th Feb 06

Immutability of God
Character of God Series by Pastor Jeremy Wong

Text: James 1:17 “….the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. “

1. God is immutable in His essence
•Immutable means unchangeable.
•"I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal. 3:6)
•His nature and being are infinite, and so, subject to no mutations.
•There never was a time when He was not; there never will come a time when He shall cease to be.
•God has neither evolved, grown, nor improved. All that He is today, He has ever been, and ever will be.

2. God is immutable in His attributes.
•Whatever the attributes of God were before the universe was called into existence, they are precisely the same now, and will remain so forever.
•Eg. Psalms 100:5 ; 119:87; Jeremiah 31:3 - His love and mercy never change

3. God is immutable in His counsel
•His will never varies
•Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent."
• what are the factors that cause a man to change his mind and reverse his plans?
–No foresight to anticipate everything
–Lack of power to execute them
–fear of unknown consequences.

4. What about the “apparent” differences between the Old & New Testament?
•The reference point of the Old Testament is the Law - but grace was always there.
•The reference point of the New Testament is Jesus Christ.
•The more you know, the more is expected of you


5 What do we gain from Knowing this?

•Comfort in times of sorrow
•Certainty in the midst our chaos
•Call upon him in times of need
•Challenge to Change and to Conform to be more like Christ

Tertiary Students Cell - BBQ

Come and join our T-cell meetings!

On 25th Feb with a BBQ at Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster.



Contact: Tara 0421 276 910, Carlson 0421 118 289, Angel 0423 646738 or Tom 0402 608 925

LIVING YOUR MINISTRY

LIVING YOUR MINISTRY - by Pastor Max - 5/2/06
Text : Genesis 1:26-28


1. God’s purpose in Creation
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:26-28)
Here we have God’s purpose in creation
–1. Relationship
–2. Character
–3. Dominion
–4. Fruitfulness
The 4 aspects of God’s purpose are inter-related
–Fruitfulness out of taking control
–Dominion flows out of who we are (our character)
–Character flows out of who we belong to
In other words, out of a relationship with God.


2. Character or Charisma
-Character has to do with who we are
–Charisma has to do with what we do
-Character is the foundation for all effective ministry
-Character refers to the condition of our hearts
-Usually develop character by recognising our weaknesses

-INTEGRITY – Living an integrated life
Proverbs 10:9 “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”
lIntegrity relates to the fear of God

3. The Process of Change
2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
-Often ask: “what is God’s will for my life?”
–God’s will is for every believer to be mature.
-Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

GOD’S WORK IN YOU
–God’s Word is living and active
–It is our “daily bread” that feeds our spiritual life


4. The process of change – inside out
-1 Tim 4:7-8 “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
- Proverbs 4:23(GNB) “Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thought”
- Romans 8:6-7 “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.”
- God always has more than enough grace for us during our times of need
- We naturally tend to deny, ignore, or even suppress our hurts, struggles and pain
- If we really want to grow and change, we must be honest with ourselves
- Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

5. Finally
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I’d rather one would walk with me, than merely show me the way.
The eye’s a better pupil, and more willing than the ear;
Fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear.
So I’d rather a lesson by observing what you do;
It is not enough to preach it, you must live the sermon too.
For I may misunderstand you and the high advise you give;
But there is no misunderstanding how you act, and how you live.