http://www.farnhambaptist.org.uk Farnham Baptist Church Podcasts en Farnham Baptist Church Podcasts Farnham Baptist Church no Farnham Baptist Church Sermons office@farnhambaptist.org ℗ & © 2010 Farnham Baptist Church 720 The Jewish remnant have returned to the land after 70 years exile in Persia. Ezra learns that the people have been marrying the non-Jewish locals, breaking the commands in Deuteronomy, which were not for racial reasons but to protect the purity of their faithfulness to God. Ezra's prayer shows how keenly he feels the disobedience of God's people. The depth of repentence shows that this is no light-weight apology. We can't say sorry whilst crossing our fingers behind our backs. Just as intermarriage was banned for God's people, we should be careful to protect our faith from non-Godly influence by avoiding relationships, especially marriage, with non-Christians. Whenever other "things" move into a more central position in our lives, we are in great danger. We are to guard our minds, as John says in 1 John: keep yourselves from idols. To have a partner who loves the Lord, and loves the good news of Jesus as you do is not only a great blessing, but a great protection to stop you from drifting away. If you’re not yet married, the Bible cautions us strongly against this don’t be unequally yoked, 2 Cor 6:14. If you are married to an unbeliever, the Bible says, don’t separate but work hard at it; 1 Cor 7:12-13, 20. But above all, keep your focus on Christ. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/ezras-prayer-ez-9-10--the-courage-to-change-ez-101-44 http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/ezras-prayer-and-the-courage-to-change.mp3 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:24:24 GMT John Ross Ezra the Scribe repentance,intermarriage 35:01 In the story of how we've got into this mess, we've reached the point at which man decided he knew better than God and so has been expelled from the garden. Outside the garden life begins again, but now we see ever-increasing wickedness as each new generation surpasses the last, growing ever further separated from God. Man no longer needs a tempter, sin comes from within him. God, however, has not abandoned Man; Eve acknowledges Gods help in giving birth to Enoch and God lovingly provides clothing for Man. Meanwhile, the effects of Man's increasing wickedness result in murder, but as sin's destructive effects multiply, so God's grace comes into evidence. God restrains evil, preventing it from escalating out of control. These two threads of human wickedness and God's loving kindness run together through the Bible, eventually coming together in one place, at the cross on Calvary, in the person of Jesus. That’s where wrath (the outcome of sin) and mercy (the outworking of God’s loving-kindness) meet. How do we know that? Well look how the Godly line develops (v25) through Seth. And who’s he? He’s in the line of the Lord Jesus as Luke tells us, 3:37. And in spite of the ravages of sin, Gen 4 tells us, that it is still possible to live the life of faith; God can still be known; we can still call on his name. Because, outside the garden, God sent us his only Son, so that we might have real life. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/the-mark-of-cain-gen-41-26 http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/the-mark-of-cain.mp3 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:40:33 GMT John Ross Genesis chapters 4 - 11 sin,grace 40:40 Over the last few weeks we've seen James exposing fake Christianity and showing us what real Christianity looks like. This week's message could be summarised as "As God's community we should be people who pray for, rejoice with, confess to and encourage each other". http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/power-praying http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/power-praying.mp3 Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:37:13 GMT Jonathan Shulver The ever-practical James community 43:15 Christ calls on us to shine, to live as children of light. But what does this mean? The primary colours of this light are goodness, righteousness and truth. These are the characteristics we can use to calibrate and evaluate our 'shining', so let's look at what this means for us and our lives. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/living-as-children-of-light http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/living-as-children-of-light.mp3 Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:16:41 GMT Terry Boyle Christ calls on us to shine, to live as children of light. But what does this mean? The primary colours of this light are goodness, righteousness and truth. These are the characteristics we can use to calibrate and evaluate our 'shining', so let's ... truth,righteousness,goodness,light 40:28 Some people just don’t like being told things. It’s all right for your children to be told “Do this, Don’t do that, Mind how you go” But older teens and adults can resent that kind of talk. We want to work it out for ourselves, not just be TOLD….. In many ways God is most gracious and he allows us to do that. But within Scripture, there is the strong line for those who have chosen to follow Christ, that this is how you should live. James assumes his readers are already followers of his brother, the Lord Jesus; the 12 tribes he calls us – the people of God. How are we to live for God scattered all over the world? Listen to James’ instructions. 1. Don’t be arrogant, 13-16 - guessing about the future... Here are people beginning to make money; Roman roads make easy travel; the empire is expanding and people want a slice of the cake. The issue here is security; where do you place your security? You make your plans – but in reality you do not know what will happen. So don’t be arrogant! God, through James, is asking us to check our diaries, to see that we are not bound to our schedules and commitments; that we are not ruled by time, so that we become dissatisfied and compulsive people. One 21st century sin is to be TOO BUSY; to become driven people – but driven by what? Driven by a compulsion to get everything done according to our plans. 2. Don’t be materialistic, 1-6 - another word for the rich... Just as God rules time, 13-17,so he rules wealth, 1-6. You are not using your money properly, James says you are hoarding it - keeping it in a moth-eaten bag. It rots and corrodes. Your problem is self – living in too much self-indulgent luxury, 5. Its as if by treating others so badly, you have murdered them. 3. Do be patient, 7-12: patience is called for... Now a word to the faithful ones, the brothers, squeezed by this world. In the previous 2 paras we are called to listen; now the call is for patience, 7. These suffering brothers are not to rise up against their rich oppressors; they are to be patient. Just like the farmer who has to wait for the rains. Likewise, for us, we wait, and while we wait we refuse to grumble, 9. 4. Stick to your guns, be clear in what you say and decide, 12. Remember James is against wavering, double-mindedness. But he is calling for patience; so keep going. He would say to the faithful believer, don’t give up. Stick to your guns, whatever the wealthy oppressor might do. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/planning-for-the-future http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/planning-for-the-future.mp3 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:24:12 GMT John Ross The ever-practical James humility,patience,persistence 32:37 What should be our response to God, who loves us eternally? Yes, it's to love Him in return, but what does this look like? What does God's love look like? We're going to find out how to love God back; in words yes, but true love is demonstrated with action. God's actions define love for us: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. This is a really high standard - He would give everything for us. Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us, i.e. even to death. In more everyday terms, we should help each other in any way we can; with our help, time, possessions - any resource we have. So this is how we show our love for God, and to God. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/gods-love http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/gods-love.mp3 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:10:55 GMT Philip Sweeting What should be our response to God, who loves us eternally? Yes, it's to love Him in return, but what does this look like? What does God's love look like? We're going to find out how to love God back; in words yes, but true love is demonstrated with ... love 10:56 Two lessons this morning: 1. IDENTITY. Where do you find your identity ? in your race, in our church, in your family? We find our identity in Christ – and that is discovered from the Scriptures. In the Bible we learn about God and ourselves and his great purposes; and we see where we fit in. That’s where we belong. 2. GOD RULES. We are called upon to trust the Sovereign God who rules over the nations. It is not our calling to gain power for ourselves, but to proclaim the rule of God over all people, to make sure people under not only common grace – but also his saving grace. And we do that by teaching the truths from the Scriptures. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/ezras-commission http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/ezras-commission.mp3 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:00:30 GMT John Ross Ezra the Scribe word,grace,blessing,identity 33:20 James was concerned to show the difference between real and fake christianity. Here he asks "Who is wise?". Fake wisdom is selfish (v14) - it's all about me - but this is from the devil (v15) and leads to frustration and anger. Why do we find so many arguments about song or worship styles? Because person preference is palced above the worship of God. The wisdom of the world say's "look after no.1" and is opposed by God (v6). True wisdom is characterised by humility; it's not boastful of self-promoting. Actions done in humility are not advertised. It's seen in our relationships; pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and God-fruit, impartial and sincere. There is only one person who truly embodies these characteristics: Jesus. If we humble ourselves, God will exalt us in due time. If we put God first and put other people before ourselves then God will exalt us. This isn't "getting what you deserve", this is "getting abundantly more than you deserve". What's preferable: to be exalted by yourself, by others or by God? Submit yourselves to God (14:7) and He will cleanse you and lift you up. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/humility-the-secret-of-wise-living http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/humility-the-secret-of-wise-living.mp3 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:22:52 GMT Jonathan Shulver The ever-practical James wisdom,humility 30:52 James the brother of Christ is telling us "avoid sham faith". Don't be counterfeit in your beliefs and in particular in this chapter, be careful what you say. What you say is extremely important and James seems to home in here, in the middle of this chapter, on taming the tongue. The Bible is not a video, not a picture. God chooses to communicate with us using Words. He spoke Creation into being. James is keen for us to be genuine; to be authentic believers. Hypocrisy and sham are out as far as he's concerned. Nowhere is this more significant than what we say; words and deeds go together and especially so for the public speaker. Words are key to godly living. However, we are not merely to listen to the Word but also to do what it says, for otherwise we are simply deceiving ourselves. The way we speak needs to be very carefully thought through. Most of us who speak in church use notes to help us stick to our carefully thought through message. Wild words get us into trouble. Judgement will be stricter for those who teach the Word regularly. However, James is not only concerned with the teacher, but with all of us. His theme is that if we can control our tongue then we can control ourself. If you have control over the words you say then you can have control over all of your life. If we can control what we say, then we can also control what we do. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/taming-the-tongue http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/taming-the-tongue.mp3 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:15:58 GMT John Ross The ever-practical James tongue,hypocrisy 25:45 The book of Ezra, with Nehemiah, is the last book in the historical section of the Jewish Old Testament. These two chapters tell of the construction of a replacement temple by a much depleted Jewish nation. This is prophetic encouragement to get on with the job. Sometimes we feel discouraged in our task - the Bible provides us with the big picture to encourage us. God has acted through the pagan king Cyrus to release His people from exile in Babylon with the express purpose of rebuilding the temple although this will be a pale reflection of the original. The new temple was commissioned by King Cyrus, to be paid for out of the royal treasury. Darius later reaffirmed this commission, showing us that God works in a secular world. Even here there is no formal equity between state and church - the church operates under the state. BUT, that is to see things from a human perspective... in reality, the God of Heaven has authority over all earthly kingdoms and powers. Eventually, the temple is completed. It was a joint effort of both the spiritual and secular. This temple may have been a pale reflection, but it reminds us that a greater glory is to come. http://www.sermoncloud.com/farnham-baptist-church/rebuilding-the-temple http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/1592/rebuilding-the-temple.mp3 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:30:03 GMT John Ross Ezra the Scribe temple 35:17