2011-04-03 1st Svc Ncc
The Church Is Not Peripheral To The World
3 April 2011 Suntec Gallery West
Raw , unedited and ‘live’ notes
Summary: God is always present and at work in His body of believers (the Church), even today! There is great centrality and importance in the church. We don’t have to run to the world for answers. God’s goodness and the fullness of His healing and provision are all found in His house. Let us walk in an unhindered flow of God’s abundant life, supply and peace as we make His presence and the church central in life.
Voyage of dawn Treader . Part 3 of Narnia movie series. The knights asleep at the stone table is a pix of lord’s supper. If you fail to discern , you fail to partake the life of Jesus and you fall asleep ( natural process of decay in action ) like the knights.
Psalm 65:4
We shall be satisfied with goodness of his house
Same Hebrew word for satisfy with goodness as in psalm 103
Eph 1:22 – 23
God gave Jesus to be head over all things FOR the church
See also NLT “for the benefit of the church “
Everything is made tangible by faith
The fulness of grace etc is found in the church
See Message version
… The church is not peripheral to world. The world is peripheral
If you are out of the flow of Jesus, you will be frustrated . If you are in the flow, abundantly surprised etc
Matt 18:20
Church is many membered body.
Two or more agree. Gk – symphoneo – where we get symphony
When you pray, pray at the level they can agree eg some can believe only for successful surgery and not miracle healing
Pastor recounts how he held on to this Word and prayed with a friend and they agreed and another friend who was in accident was healed
Moral excellence. World wants leaders to have moral excellence . Their yes is yes. Sounds like Jesus!
1 Cor 10:11
We study Ot to see the anti types from types.
Ot provides the details.
Longest side of encampment of Israel in desert is eastern side as Judah is most numerous. Moses and Levites also there . Shekinah on east
They camp inwards to the presence of God !
Not facing world. Facing Jesus !
Whatever you do for Jesus, will never be lost
The more you lose your life for Jesus, the more you gain
Pastor says he notices that he falls sick when during the time he preaches least
Likewise pastor and servers have preached or served their way back to health
Life flows when in God’s flow
Whenever you are the church, life flows
Like husband and wife . Feel vulnerable when alone then strengthened when back together
Also when 2 believers come to meet . Even if they talk non spiritual things and seems they come away strengthened afterwards
Malachi. Those who talked and taught about the Lord. Book of remembrance recorded
God was with Israel in desert camp. Like Jesus with church
World has no answer. And answer in church
Aids healed in church
Fulness of God in church
Whatever you lose for Jesus and church , not as eye service , you gain
No one blade of grass. No food or drink in desert except from God. Life of faith
There were advanced nations at same time as israel but God not there
When you bring god in, you don’t need any other answer
Doubt will say: how will Israel be fed ? No store houses etc
There were 3 million in dessert !
60 times the troops in Iraq for Us now.
God was there for israel for every difficulty and the vissicitudes of life
All we need is simply God
The name of Jesus is all that we need
Last time of Matt : ” lo … I am with you ALWAYS …״
Even to end of age not just in book of acts
God was there for all their problems
Deu 8:4
Garments did not wear out even at end of 40 years ! Supernatural : the garments grew with them ! Their foot also did not swell
God was there !
Atheist had slogan which said , God is no where
He had a baby and baby tried to read and baby read God is now here
God filled the presence of room and atheist became Christian shortly
Deu 2:7 “you have lacked nothing “
Church is substance of desert israel
Israel under moses. Church under son
Eze 16:10. Sandals of badger skin
Could be dugon dolphin or seal
skin
Experts say seals make good shoes
Ex 26:14 skin of seal
The people gave their shoes off their feet to tabernacle roof and God gave back by having their foot not swell
Get on fire for God and let the world watch you burn
You are in burning bush that does not burnt up
Whatever loses his life for Jesus, gains it
Inspite of Israel ingratitude rebellion etc, God never left them
Don t be like Balaam and world with different view point of church
But God see Israel and church with no inequity
World cannot see gold in the tabernacle church
World only sees the unattractive badger skin
12 loaves in tabernacle. Could be vertically or horizontally placed
Then bread changed
When Moses in presence of God, he does not eat . Time stands still. Natural force not abated
The priests will eat and oral tradition says one small piece will satisfy them
Cannot stock up on manna as will stink
God to trust God every time
Even if you lose something physical , you will regain it . Trust God
It’s not true that person with so much reserves in bank will feel more secure . Mention name of Libya and they will shrink
Eat bread of God – Elohim
God made priest healthy so can serve people and tabernacle services
Showbread pix of holy comm
Church is more than enough
Don’t make fame and other pleasures important . Hold with lose hand.
World is broken reed and nothing in world can nourish you
Movies after 2 h cannot solve your problems
Just like nothing in desert can nourish israel
Look at bronze laver
Very shiny . Use to wash feet. Shiny so priest know where to wash . Holy spirit wash us as we hear.
Interesting to note who give and what given
Serving women gave the bronze mirrors for laver Exo 38:8
No quicksilver . Highly polished bronze used as mirror
Rashee , one of 2 great Jewish sages, says most costly offering was not the gold but the mirrors as women need to use this to entice their husbands to continue Jewish race
So women gave symbol of their beauty and close to their heart
In fact, after they gave, even more attractive to husband and population increased !!!
In egypt , pharaoh actually ban mirrors to prevent women enticing their husbands to try to reduce israelites
You face Jesus banners in tabernacle and jesus face off enemies. Recall 4 horsemen sermon
Don’t get distracted with others, just focus on Jesus !
Church is not peripheral to world. World is peripheral to church !
On this confession of Peter, God builds church, and gates of hell shall not prevail !
God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love and work. Context is ministering to saints. Whenever God remembers, God visits, God blesses and God promises !!!!
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2 April 2011. Moshe Safdie , architect of Marina Bay Sands and me
