"I have food that you know nothing about"
John 4:27-42, Luke 9:57-10:1.
You know- the Gracious Father loves us, accepts us, wants us
- and one thing is necessary: that we let this in and have it
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But His love doesn’t end there. Neither does His plan. It goes beyoned that… us… is greater than that. Is world-encompassing
- it extends to OTHERS as well.
- And understanding this is key…. food
"Inafrica"
"MagicFridge.wmv"
FOOD
I’m doing this MA at the moment -
- much of it is superb
- occasionally you get this: "The problem must be the church. If we can get the church structure right… press the right button… we will arrest the decline in our nation"
I fear it’s far more complex than that. The problem is FAR deeper in our culture and churches. It’s not primarily ’model’ dependent
- there are parts of the world where ANY model works!
I think the problem is in our CULTURE- in that people might be hungry for spiritual experiences
- but it doesn’t enter their MINDS that Jesus might be the answer to that hunger… the bread of life
o and in Him spiritual experiences, life and reality are found
" * we want to show them where The Food is.
And the problem is in CHRISTIANS, too
- we’ve forgotten where the Food is.
- We’ve forgotten what our call is… our raison d’etre… what God has made us to be and do… what will satisfy US
o And so, many Christians are, basically, quite frustrated
Jesus said "I have food that you know nothing about"
- uh!? What? Could somebody have brought Him food?
- In one sense we can be as misguided as someone unregenerate- the Samaritan woman: "give me some of this so I won’t keep getting thirsty… and have to keep coming here"
- WE can miss the truth of what will satisfy… feed US
And so we become restless. Seeking more blessing. Seeking this healing. That revival.
- we become frustrated: because when it doesn’t happen… somebody must have done something wrong. Particularly the pastor/minister
The truth is: he/she hasn’t done anything wrong. Church structure/tradition is not the answer
- church emphasis is!
- You/we just need to know where real food is to be found. The real food for your souls.
Jesus said "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me… and to finish His work"
- His food was to see people coming through to faith in Him
That’s our food!
I am convinced that the only thing that satisfies and keeps Christians ’high’ for the LONG haul: is seeing lives changed and people saved
- it’s the ONLY thing
- and it’s not surprising as it’s our call… genetic code:
- "Go, and make disciples of people groups and surely I AM with you…" Mt 28:19
o when you don’t live up to your call, genetic code- you’re not going to feel ’fed’- as churches, individuals
o and maybe, in Mt 28:19, is this promise; "GO… and I will be with you"
" so- if you want more of God’s presence- maybe you have to step out and ’go’ in this area
Christianity and church just doesn’t work in maintenance mode:
- it was made for Mission!
It wasn’t made for the sofa… or the church even… but for the LOST!
- and our lives and churches will change when the stories of the newly saved are told in them. It will transform them and you
- until then, it just becomes increasingly about ’me’, my needs, insular, incestuous almost
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It was made for living and sharing. We’re like the dead sea (all plugged up) rather than the sea of Galilee with fresh inlet and outlet
To quote one of my heroes: "the meat is on the street"
The challenge for the church now is to stop thinking merely about methods to reverse decline but to reconsider the basic purpose and call of the church. To return to mission as the core raison d’etre of the church will inevitably mean that the shape of the church will change.
Invading secular space. Martin Robinson and Dwight Smith, p56
"But I’m not an evangelist", you say
- you don’t have to be. Each person just has to play THEIR role
o we can all be ’witnesses’ - not necc evangelists
o And I want to say- the fruit comes from those who witness through life and relationship!
o and one person sows, another reaps… and together we win the lost and change the church (and ourselves!)
I’ll tell you who does evangelism in our church!
- it’s those who cook on for Alpha. Go upstairs and pray while we gas
- those who look after the kids so parents can come.
- Who make friends and invite them- where others might tell
- It’s those who set up the pub. Who go and decorate the persons house.
- (there are certain people who wherever there is fruit- they are there serving in one way or another. And these folks knew that, for us, alpha was the way to feed!)
what is it for you?
And here’s what I say to you from the Word of God- do this and it will be food to you. One way or another
"My food", Jesus said, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work"
HARVEST
Jesus said- "look at the fields, they are ripe for harvest"
So- is the Harvest Ripe where you are? Are we poised for Revival?
- I can’t say. I don[’t think there are 3,000 in any of our cities asking on one day ’what must I do to be saved’
o Desiring/prophesying such can be a distraction, presumption
" How often we presume/prophesy about the unclear while ignoring the clear: the Kingdom of God comes one life at a time!
" Do not despise small beginnings!
However-
- there are thousands hungry for this food!
- Searching
- The tide is turning: London and Home counties have turned the corner in the last two years
o Why? Alpha and immigration
- I suspect the stats will show much of our country has
o We have finally grasped what it’s about!
o And Alpha is a major tool- hasn’t peaked, yet
" Milk it for all it’s worth! Buy the banner! Show the testimonies! Go with the River’s flow (until something else replaces it)
(Illustr: I consider Alpha was the outworking of Toronto. Much of the rest was God’s publicity agent! Like Pentecost. Alpha followed and made sense of the attention grabbing activity!)
How will the Harvest come?
- by you falling in love with Jesus, yourself! By overflow!
o By you modelling Jesus. The presence of God. The peace of God. It’s not activity that converts!
o St Seraphin of Sarov said to his pupils "Acquire the spirit of peace, and a thousand souls will be saved around you."
- By changing your priorities individually and corporately
o To make time for relationships, fun!
o (the good church can so often be the enemy of what is best! God’s work!)
Where will the Harvest come?
I want you to understand something. I feel this is something God has taught me over the years. (it may be I’m a bit of a Calvinist! I certainly believe in the sovereign acting of God):
- you can’t predict or measure WHERE the Harvest will be
o but there WILL be an increase in fruitfulness… ambient spiritual temperature… people being saved… through what you do
- because God honours it when we do what is RIGHT and step out in faith. He is never a debtor to our obedience or faith!
o >>> But it might be in unexpected ways
Illustr: Us on the doors. Simple obedience. Steeped out over HERE but the fruit came over THERE. By God’s sovereign blessing.
So- the Fruit will come. In the Sovereign Lord’s way
- and some of it will be obviously traceable back to ’when you started doing this or that… Alpha… door knocking.
- Some fruit will only be traceable with the eye of discernment (and some will say ’where did that come from?!’)
Illustr: One changed life can start a viral infection in your church! Can change its whole nature and focus I want to tell you about the power of ’story’, ’testimony’.
Illustr: me plus taking over Alpha and effect of testimonies (canned ones to start with!)
- The gospel was designed to be gossiped!
But now it depends on you playing YOUR part
- your part in the main and plain (not the obscure)
o what is the main theme of the Bible?- "God so loved the world that He gave….."
" ?those obvious things from scripture that God DOES honour
" (love, lifestyle, witness, priorities that give peaceful Presence)
- in having the knowledge that this Gracious Father wants ALL people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4)
You must play your part- from babysitting to cooking, setting up, inviting friends
- don’t let the battle be lost because of you
- "For the sake of the nail the shoe was lost, for the sake of the horseshoe a horse was lost. For the sake of a horse a general was lost, for the sake of a General a battle was lost- for the sake of a General the war was lost."
In Lk 10, Jesus says "the harvest IS plentiful"
- but the labourers are few
o they are even less in today’s Christianity where people are more concerned with their issues than people who are going to hell
ASK
So Jesus says ’ask’
- yes… ask your friends to dinner/alpha
- but ask the Father. The "Lord of the Harvest"
o He wants this more than you do!!!!
- Pray! Make this your focus. ’Give me souls or I die"
GO
But here’s the thing with regard to the Harvest. Jesus says
"The Harvest IS plentiful. Ask the Lord of the Harvest. GO!"
We must pray… but we must be the answer to our prayers, as well.
Few are prepared to do this. "Who will go for me? Who shall I send?" (is 6)
- here I am. Send ME, Lord. Use me.
Songs: We’re looking to your promise of old
I, the Lord of sea and sky
