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Sunday 24 November 2013

'SUPER MAN'

Rev. Juliet Schimpf
By Rev. Juliet Schimpf   

Rev. Juliet Schimpf  is the Minister of 
First Baptist  Church in Perth, Ontario:

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LINK to CFRA broadcast of Sunday, November 24th, 2013) 
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Broadcast Notes:
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'Super Man'

 
OUTLINE

1.       A SUBDUED MAN—
THE MATTER OF MUSCLE

2.      A SANCTIFIED MAN—
THE MATTER OF THE MIND

3.      A SATISFIED MAN—
THE MATTER OF MONEY


1.       A SUBDUED MAN—
THE MATTER OF MUSCLE
PHILLIPIANS 4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is [a]near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all[b]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

·         PAUL IS WRITING FROM PRISON IN ROME—AD 60-62 AD
PHILIPPIANS 4:13  I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH

PAUL IS SAYING, “DON’T THROW YOUR WEIGHT AROUND”.  CHRIST IS HIS STRENGTH, NOT HIS FLESH.
THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS WERE PERSECUTED FOR REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN “EMPEROR WORSHIP” IN PHILIPPI AND ELSEWHERE

2.      A SANCTIFIED MAN—
THE MATTER OF THE MIND

PHILIPPIANS 4:  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [c]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, [d]dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

 

JOHN PIPER:  “The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie.  It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night.”


*  Loving God with all my soul means that I know that I come from God, and all my needs and desires are ultimately met and satisfied in Him alone.  
*  What are my strongest desires? 
*  How do I satisfy my desires? 
*  Do I violate any of God’s commands in my attempts to get what I want? 
*  What do I want that God doesn’t want me to have?
*  What do I want more than a relationship with God?

3.      A SATISFIED MAN—
THE MATTER OF MONEY
PHILIPPIANS 4:11 Not that I speak [e]from want, for I have learned to be [f]content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 
ECCLESIASTES4:6 
 
Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
·         It is said that when one of the Vanderbilts was dying, the family was waiting in an outer room.  When the lawyer and the doctor  came out, one of the more outspoken members of the family stepped up to the lawyer and asked, “How much did he leave?”  The lawyer replied, “He left it all.  He didn’t take any of it with him.”

  • MONEY CAN’T BUY YOU EVERYTHING:

    • Money will buy a bed; but not sleep;
companionship, but not friends;
books but not brains;
food but not appetite
a house but not a home          
medicine but not health
religion but not salvation
a crucifix but not a Saviour
a passport to everywhere but heaven.
Money can buy the good life, but not eternal life.

Proverbs 22:1  A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Matthew 16:26  “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”

PHILIPPIANS 4:19   “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, We thank you that your word is a lamp onto our feet. And your word reminds us of what really matters in life. And you are calling us; you are calling men, especially, today, to be “super men” in your sight. And that is to be subdued men, who rely not only on their own power, but on yours; sanctified men who pursue that which is true and holy; and satisfied men: men who are not preoccupied with money, but who are preoccupied with your kingdom.
I pray that you will bless each listener, today and as they seek first, the Kingdom of God, would you grant them the desires of their heart?
Would you bless each man, that he would pursue righteousness with a great zeal?
And bless each woman listening, that she will encourage the men around her, in her life, to become just like you.
We love you Jesus,
Amen.

Rev. Juliet Schimpf
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To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link:

Sunday 17 November 2013

'DEALING WITH DISCOURAGEMENT'

'SEIZE THE DAY'

Rev. Juliet Schimpf
By Rev. Juliet Schimpf   

Rev. Juliet Schimpf  is the Minister of 
First Baptist  Church in Perth, Ontario:

_______________________________________
LINK to CFRA broadcast of Sunday, November 17th, 2013) 
_______________________________________
Broadcast Notes:
************************************************************
 
THE JESUS MODEL:
 
'Dealing With Discouragement'

BE ENCOURAGED:  YOU TOO CAN WALK ON WATER!
Matthew 14     Jesus Walks on the Water
·         22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distancea from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29“Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

·         Jesus’ disciples are in a boat. 
·         Middle of night.
·         Jesus comes walking out to Him on water.
·         Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking on water towards to Jesus.
·         think it’s a ghost!!!
·         What is Peter thinking?  Why does He think He can walk on water?
·         story makes more sense if we understand background:

o   Jesus is Jewish rabbi
o   disciples are Jewish
o   living in a 1st century Jewish world
o   Jewish people in Galillee believed God spoke to Moses and gave Him the first 5 books—THE TORAH
o   Torah was focus of educational system
o   most Jewish boys/girls went to school around age of 5/6; held in local synagogue; taught Torah
o   1st level:  Bate Sephar—lasted until child was 10 years old
o   in bate sephar, most kids would learn Torah by heart
o   genesis, exodus, Leviticus, numbers, deuteronomy MEMORIZED
o   then, age 10, most kids would learn a family trade—apprenticing; manage a business
o   next level:  Bathe Talmood—would memorize the rest of Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis through Malachi)
o   end of age 15—best of best of best—continue on to next level of education:  Bathe Midrash
o   go to rabbi and apply to rabbi to become that rabbi’s disciples
o   we think of disciple as “knows what disciple knows”
o   but it really means “do what the disciple does”
o   one rabbi:  one interpretation; another rabbi:  another interpretation
o   a rabbi’s set of interpretations was that rabbi’s “YOKE”
o   went and applied to a rabbi; take that rabbi’s YOKE upon you to know what the rabbi knows to do what the rabbi does to be like the rabbi
o   “Rabbi, I want to become one of your disciples.”..
o   Rabbi then grills you:  questions about torah….
o   Rabbi:  “Does this kid have what it takes?”
o   Rabbi might say, “You don’t cut it; learn an apprentice.”
o   Rabbi might also say—if student cuts it—“Come, follow me!”
o   age 15/16 leave family; leave friends; leave synagogue; leave village; leave whole life; follow rabbi and devote life to following him
o   saying developed, “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.”—followed so closely!

·         Most Rabbis begin their teaching around age of 30
·         Jesus, around age of 30, walking down shore, along Sea of Galilee
·         comes across Peter and Andrew
·         they’re fishermen
·         they’re not following another Rabbi
·         they’re not ‘the best of the best’—they didn’t make the cut
·         Jesus calls them to follow him
·         at once they dropped their nets and followed Christ—Why?
·         rabbis were the most respected people of society
COMING BACK TO THE STORM….
·         boat full of anybodies
·         they’re terrified
·         Peter says, “If it’s you, Jesus, tell me to come to you…”
·         why did Peter say this?  because he’s a disciple….
·         Peter has devoted his whole life/oriented his whole life to
being like the rabbi.
·         Peter begins to walk on water, and then begins to sink….
·         Jesus:  “You of little faith….why did you doubt….”
·         we think Peter doubts Jesus:  but Jesus isn’t sinking….
·         who does Peter doubt?  he doubts himself
·         Peter doubts that he can be like his rabbi
·         Jesus wouldn’t have called Peter if he didn’t think he could be like him
·         the rabbi doesn’t choose you unless he thinks you can do what he does

BE ENCOURAGED: 

GOD CALLED ORDINARY FISHERMEN

·         MARK 1:  The Calling of the First Disciples
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”  16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.17“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 18At once they left their nets and followed him.  19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

·         Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “You can be like me!  You can do like I do.”
·         then James and John, fishing with father—they were learning a family apprentice—they were not the best of the best either
·         how old are they?  15, 16, 20?
·         “unschooled fishermen”
·         Jesus’ movement is for everyone:  young, peasants

·         JOHN 15  New International Version (©1984)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

CONCLUSION

·         We talk about believing in God
·         but God believes in us
·         He must believe in us—He leaves the church in the hands of these anybodies and says, ”Go and make disciples”
·         so Jesus really believes that we can be like him
·         Jesus has faith in us
·         Jesus has faith that we can follow him
·         may you believe in God; but may you come to see that God believes in you
·         may you believe in Jesus; but may you come to see that Jesus believes in you—to become like him:  full of grace and truth
·         and may you become covered in the dust of your rabbi


POEM:  THE DEVIL’S TOOL

It was announced that the Devil was going out of business one day,
And all his tools were on sale, to everyone’s dismay.

On the night of the sale, there they were, all displayed,
All ugly indeed, on a table they laid.

All implements of evil, each one, with a price.
They were made for keeping Christians out of the coming Paradise.

But, apart from all the rest lay a harmless looking tool,
Anyone buying it would surely be a fool.

It was shaped like a wedge, and worn very badly,
Because it has been used over many years, gradually.

But, even so, it was priced much higher than the rest,
When the Devil was asked why, he said, “It is my Best.”

This tool is named DISCOURAGEMENT. “You see,
This tool is very valuable to me”.

“It has been more useful to me than all of the others.
I can use it on most of your Sisters and Brothers.”

“I can use it to get deep down into one’s mind.”
“DISCOURAGEMENT, a worse tool you’ll not find.”

“And you know,” said the Devil, with an expression of glee,
“Very few people know that it belongs to me!”

It hardly needs to be added, that tool was never sold.
The price was too high, one would think it was gold.

So, you faithful Witnesses, remember this then,
The Devil still owns it and will use it again.

If you trust in Jehovah, DISCOURAGEMENT you’ll foil.
It can’t get you down if you remain loyal.

I want to encourage you today, that just as Christ called those early disciples, the ‘B TEAM’, He is calling us. He is calling YOU.

You can never mess up too badly. You can never fall too short. Christ is calling you and wants to use you today.

Let’s pray together:

Our gracious Father, we thank you that, in the words of John 15, you chose us. We did not choose you, but you chose us. And you appoint us to go and bear fruit.
I pray for the listener who is feeling discouraged. I pray for the listener who has lost faith, either in you, or perhaps even in themselves.
And I pray that they take encouragement from today’s message, that you have faith in us …that you have faith in us and you have called us for such a time as this to share you love, to share your truth, to be your disciple.
Lord, touch each listener, now: with fresh hope, with fresh courage, and with fresh optimism; for optimism is the stuff of faith.
We will do our very best to be your disciple.
We love you, O’ Great Rabbi.
Amen


I would like to leave you with a saying that developed over the centuries amongst Rabbis and disciples which had everything to do with following closely. The saying was, “May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi.”

What this means is, may you walk so closely to your Rabbi, that you, his disciple, will be covered in his dust.

My prayer, today, is that you will walk so closely to your Rabbi, Jesus Christ, that you will be covered in His dust, the dust of His presence, the dust of His Word, and the dust of His love.

God Bless you all!

Rev. Juliet Schimpf
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To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link: