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The Journal
17
Jan
0

Book of Ruth - Part 3 - A Beautiful Love Story

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Dear Friends,

In Ruth chapter 3 we see the unfolding of a beautiful love story. Naomi who had become very depressed because she had lost hope for the future 1:20-21 has become energized. She sees that God has provided for her 2:20 and this brings hope. This hope for Naomi is found in Boaz who is a kinsman redeemer. It was the responsibility of a kinsman redeemer to provide for families in Israel who had sold their land or had been sold into slavery or whose male relative had died – see Leviticus 25:25-28,47-49 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Of course the ultimate hope for Naomi is God because it is God who has provided the kinsman redeemer in the person of Boaz. 

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10
Jan
0

Book of Ruth - Part 2 - A Safe Place to Dwell

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Dear Friends,

It is very human to want to be in a safe place where we are secure and feel secure. It is one of the goals of our church at Leichhardt to create a safe place. This idea of a safe place is what drives chapter 2 of Ruth. In 2:12 Boaz recognizes that Ruth has come to dwell under the shelter of God’s wings. This picture of God being our refuge and shelter is a very strong Biblical theme. Scripture continually speaks of this ie Psalm 57:1 because God knows that it is basic to our sense of well being to be secure.  

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03
Jan
0

Book of Ruth - Part 1 - God has a Plan

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Dear Friends,

We are commencing a short series over 4 weeks on the book of Ruth. It is a great book of the Bible to study as we enter a new year not knowing what will occur because it reminds us that God is sovereign and that He rules the world and He is in control of the future. We hope and pray that there won’t be shootings like happened in Paris and we hope and pray that Isis will be stopped. But whatever happens we are confident that the providence of God means that God has a plan for this world and for our lives and He orders the world according to His big purposes. We are also confident that God’s purposes for His world and for us are good.  

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27
Dec
0

Jesus was a Refugee

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Dear Friends,

 Christmas is over and the joy and excitement of the new baby Jesus gives way to the horror of Herod murdering all the children 2 years and under in Bethlehem – Matthew 2:13-23. Herod was King of Judea and Samaria at the time of Jesus’ birth. He ruled by force and got rid of any opposition. We learn from history that he murdered 2 of his sons and his wife and many others. 

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25
Dec
0

Simeon's Bucket List

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Dear Friends,

 This Christmas as we listen to the stories of Christmas and worship our Lord Jesus Christ we are reminded that in the apparent weakness of the baby Jesus there is great power at work.Luke sets the story of Jesus’ birth within the context of history – the seemingly mighty and powerful Caesar Augustus issues a decree that a census should be taken of the whole Roman world – Luke 2:1. The passage teaches us that the powerful Augustus is fulfilling God’s plans that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem and fulfill prophecy – Micah 5:2. 

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20
Dec
0

The story of Christmas is reliable

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Dear Friends,

Christmas is a reminder that the essential reason we can know God is that He reveals Himself to us. We learn in the 1 Corinthians 1:21 that we cannot know God through our own wisdom or reasoning. In the story before us today God sends His angel to tell the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. This announcement is extraordinary because there is a great company of angels who give praise to God.  

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13
Dec
0

The Holy Spirit brings joy

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Dear Friends,

As we continue to look at the Christmas story and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus we are struck by the abundant praise and joy. In 1:58 Elizabeth and her friends and relatives share the joy of the birth of their child. People’s spirits have been lifted because God is at work in their midst. They are not sure what God will do with John but no doubt God has a plan – 1:66. The key driver of all this praise and joy is the work of the Holy Spirit. We saw this with Elizabeth in 1:41-45. The Holy Spirit at work in our lives brings joy and praise. Of course this is a unique event with the birth of John and Jesus but Ephesians 5:18 encourages us ALL to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit (that is the sense of the Greek). The Holy Spirit is especially active at key salvation points in God’s plan but in the New Testament we are informed that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit on all people – Acts 2:17-18. We cannot know God and follow Him without the work of the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus says that we must be born again in John 3. It is interesting that in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 that Paul expects that we will be joyful always and this is linked to prayer and not putting out the Spirit’s fire. Ask the Lord to fill you daily with His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will remind You of Jesus and will grow God’s character in your lives, especially joy and love. 

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11
Dec
0

The work of the Spirit reveals Jesus

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Dear Friends,

As we continue to look at the Christmas story and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus we are struck by the abundant praise and joy. In 1:58 Elizabeth and her friends and relatives share the joy of the birth of their child. People’s spirits have been lifted because God is at work in their midst. They are not sure what God will do with John but no doubt God has a plan – 1:66.  The key driver of all this praise and joy is the work of the Holy Spirit. We saw this with Elizabeth in 1:41-45. The Holy Spirit at work in our lives brings joy and praise. Of course this is a unique event with the birth of John and Jesus but Ephesians 5:18 encourages us ALL to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit (that is the sense of the Greek).  The Holy Spirit is especially active at key salvation points in God’s plan but in the New Testament we are informed that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit on all people – Acts 2:17-18. We cannot know God and follow Him without the work of the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus says that we must be born again in John 3.  It is interesting that in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 that Paul expects that we will be joyful always and this is linked to prayer and not putting out the Spirit’s fire. Ask the Lord to fill you daily with His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will remind You of Jesus and will grow God’s character in your lives, especially joy and love. 

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11
Dec
0

The Cross of Jesus is His glory

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Dear Friends,

Today is the final sermon in our series on prayer. We are looking at John 17:1-26.  Jesus is about to go to the cross to die for our sins and so in this prayer He reveals His concerns and priorities for His own mission in the world and that of His disciples. In fact this prayer teaches deep truths about God and His purposes for us. 

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11
Dec
0

The Holy Spirit brings joy at Christmas

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Dear Friends,

The lead up to the birth of Jesus is alive with the sound of praise. There is great joy experienced by both Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth is full of praise because she sees God’s kindness in allowing her to come in contact with the mother of the Lord and Mary is full of praise because God has granted her the privilege of carrying Jesus in her womb.  God is also kind to Mary by providing Elizabeth to share the good news of the coming of the Saviour of the world – 1:36,43. When Mary reaches Elizabeth’s house and greets Elizabeth she is filled with the Holy Spirit and this brings understanding that Mary has the Christ child. We cannot underestimate how important it was for Mary to be able to share with Elizabeth.  This story reminds us that good news is for sharing and this is the basis of our joy as we celebrate together what Christ has done.   Christian joy is not based on how we feel but is based on the facts and truth of what God has done in sending the Saviour of the world to us.   As we mature in Christ we learn to rejoice and praise God for what He has done in dying for our sin. This is not to deny pain and difficulties but we recognize that God has entered this world to deal with sin. His death on the Cross brings forgiveness but Mary’s song also reminds us that God will scatter the proud and lift up the humble. So often in life we can struggle with events where there is great injustice and even evil but Mary’s song says that at the last God will reverse this and His justice will be done. One of the great requirements of faith is the willingness to be patient and wait for God’s timing. We must trust God that when injustice seems to reign there will come a day when it is dealt with totally and finally and that will be accomplished at the second coming of Jesus. In the meantime we must choose to wait patiently and give the Lord our burdens. We cannot carry pain and hurt and fear ourselves and that is why the Word of God says cast all your cares on the Lord for He cares for you.      1 Peter 5:7.  

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