church4u

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Church For You got together for a family church camp in Adelaide, South Australia. Enjoy the footage of the water balloon fun and activities. Families enjoyed the bushcraft sessions, games and talent night and great fellowship. Church4u is located in the Northern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. Here's how some of the participants described the camp, and what they loved about it: Great fellowship Getting to know others Being together with my family Playing games as a church family Laughing together as a church family at the “No Talent” Night Meeting new people Getting out of my comfort zone and joining in Meeting new people Loved to meet so many awesome people It was great being with others who follow the Lord Fellowship with great people Making new friends with Christians Socialising/Mingling Games fun Loved the variety of devotions Liked getting to hear personal stories Liked connecting with loving Christians Seeing the children enjoy themselves Having a holiday surrounded by God loving Christians Becoming closer with folks from the church Seeing the church come together informally Having a laugh with some friends Peace and serenity Time with family Getting to meet new people Fellowship with each other Everyone had fun There were many opportunities to participate in the various activities

What's encouragement - and how do we do it? It means to inspire others with hope, courage, confidence. It's gift from God - Romans 12:8. The Bible tells us of Mr Encouragement – "Barnabas" – his name means "Encourager" (Acts 4:36-37). When others gave up on people, Barnabas kept on encouraging and standing by people. An Encourager… Shares practically. Barnabas gave of himself freely to help needy Christians. He sacrificed himself and his own interests for the benefit of others. He gave freely to strengthen God’s work. How can we give more of our time, our substance and our talents to help the church go forward? When we give of ourselves and our substance - we will encourage others to join in and share the load. An Encourager… Stands up for others Acts 9:26. Paul had been an enemy of the church. The disciples didn’t trust him - but Barnabas came by Paul’s side. How can we make the effort - to reach out to the lonely or rejected? An Encourager… Speaks encouragement Acts 11:22-23. Barnabas was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. He gave encouragement! It's like a coach who motivates his team. We can start a chain reaction of encouragement. An Encourager… Soldiers on in trials Acts 13:49-52. Barnabas showed joy in the midst of trials. Barnabas, along with Paul, preached the Word of God and faced persecution and rejection. Instead of being discouraged and quitting, they went on their way rejoicing. Going through battles in life shows the true depth of our faith. How real is our faith in God? Let’s learn to handle set-backs with joy and faith. An Encourager… Sticks by weaker ones Acts 15:37-39. Mark had gone on their first missionary journey, but had decided during the trip to return home. Barnabas now wanted Mark to join on another mission, but Paul would not agree. Barnabas's patient encouragement saw Mark's eventual effective ministry. Barnabas showed forgiveness. Barnabas gave this discouraged and defeated young man a second chance. We need more Barnabas’s in the church today — people who care. Are we like Barnabas? Are we willing to help others, and patiently work with them? Are we a Son of Encouragement? Be like the Good Samaritan. He stopped, bound up the wounds and helped the hurt man recover. He is the God of second chances, Jonah 3:1. We can be like Him - we can be an encourager! Barnabas showed mercy and forgiveness to Paul - and to Mark. Forgiveness is often a difficult thing, especially if you have been personally wronged, but forgiveness is not optional; it is commanded. Is there someone who we can come along side to help along the way? Be a Barnabas! We need to be like Barnabas in our Homes. Be more positive and encouraging. We need to be like Barnabas at Church. We can destroy our relationships with other Christians, and in turn our relationship with God - and theirs. Watch over your words. Show grace and concern for your brother or sister in Christ. Encouragement builds people up rather than tearing them down. Encourage one another. The Bible calls all of us to be an encourager. Not to focus on criticising and looking for faults. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Exhorting one another. In other words, encouraging one another. More and more, continuously is the sense of it. We need to be a Barnabas to others. We all need people like Barnabas in our lives - people who will encourage - support us - and lift up our spirits! We can also go direct to the Word for God’s sweet encouragement for our soul. We can Encourage - or DIScourage. There are 2 kinds of people in church. One kind finds all the fault and aim to tear others down. Others seek to build up their fellow believers and to help them to grow in the Lord. It’s so easy to be unkind and self-centred and not thoughtful of others. It is easy to criticise instead of encourage. There are two kinds of people on earth - the people who lift and the people who lean. Do we ENcourage - or DIScourage? Do our Words Encourage? How will you use your - 25,000, women, and 14,000, men - words today? The Lord is "The Friend of a wounded heart." He cares for hurting humanity. He uplifts the distressed and downtrodden. YOU can be an Encourager! Who do you know who may need encouraging? Speak encouragement to those who need it. Let's bind up the brokenhearted. Let's lift up the discouraged. Let's exercise the gift of encouragement. Look for opportunities encourage. • The practical need you can supply • The new Christian who needs nurturing • The Christian who is overcoming failure. Extend a hand of fellowship. Be sensitive to other’s needs. Give appreciation, a smile, a kind word. Give a thoughtful word, a helping hand. Just quietly be there. Be an Encourager.

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People talk about vision - the vision of an organisation, of a church. A vision sets out and declares what we see. It tells of where are we coming from, and where we are going. For us, Vision has three dimensions: • The INward look - look at what is our heart, examine ourselves • The OUTward look - are we looking to reach others? • The UPward look. Are we looking up, readying for our Lord’s returning? Are we looking unto Jesus? I urge you to get your eyes checked. Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish… Let’s be People with Vision. Is there something wrong with your eyes? One of the problems of the lukewarm church was that there was something wrong with their eyesight… Thou …knowest not that thou art …blind… Revelation 3:17. They were continuously bragging on. But God saw right through all their spiritual big talk. The Laodiceans were actually spiritually poor, wretched, miserable. It was a pathetic sight. They were blind and naked. They should have been ashamed. But they could not see. The Lord says …anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Revelation 3:18. Let’s talk about how your eyes are today. Vision looks ahead. Vision sees tomorrow; what CAN be. Vision sees the way forward - the path ahead. People without sight cannot see where they are going. True Vision sees... the One Who holds the Future. Some people can get too caught up in the past, hurts and disappointments. We have to move on... and follow the cloud… the pillar of fire... The Lord kept the children of Israel moving. He gave them the pillar of cloud by night and fire by night. It represented God’s leading and guidance. We can miss that. We can get too comfortable. We are lying on the pillows instead of following the pillar. You’re not going to be able to drive safely by looking just through the rear vision mirror. I believe our Vision for the Future, in a word, is being a... GROWING CHURCH 1 Corinthians 3:7, it is God that giveth the increase. We need to... GROW IN GOD. He brings the increase. Some believers don't go on to maturity... They are - still babies spiritually... Still in their spiritual nappies... 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding... but in understanding be men. Let’s aim to grow. Spit the spiritual dummy. Let’s get the focus right. A Christ-centred focus; a Bible-focus. May we also be… A GOING CHURCH… In obedience to our Lord's command... Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore… He says: I am with you always. God's plan is that His Church be "a going concern". As our Lord modelled for us: Luke 19:10 "...the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." We carry on His mission. We aim to be a Soul-winning church. Sometimes our vision can extend very little beyond the tips of our noses. We have to look up and see the Harvest fields. We can have a clear vision, not a clouded one. We're not seeking popularity. We're not an ear-tickling ministry. We want to be prepared to challenge others with the Word of God. Let’s be a church with a focus on sound Bible teaching. 2 Timothy 4: 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables... How effectively are we impacting our city for Christ? Faith and action go hand in hand. Let’s put feet under our faith. We aim to be a Church with Balance: It says, "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). We uphold Biblical standards with God's grace and love. We aim to be a church with Biblical Purpose and Values. Certain Greeks came to Philip and they asked him, John 12:21 Sir, we would see Jesus. We are part of a spiritual family; the Household of faith (Gal. 6:10) If our vision is impeded then let’s remove the obstructions. Let’s be: A Church GROWING, and GOING with the GOSPEL.

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A heart-stirring word from Bro Tim Bola from Ayr. A call to faith and courage. Every command of God is founded upon His truth for our lives. God told Joshua to go and take the land. Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. The Lord says, fear not. Don’t be afraid of your enemies - because the Lord your God will go with you. God gives a command and gives us a choice to obey. You can know that God will not fail you. He will not leave you. He will go with you. The people had known much oppression and slavery. In their time of bondage they had cried and the Lord had heard their cry. God remembered his covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. God looked upon the children of Israel and answered their need. The Lord said I have surely seen the affliction of my people with Egypt and have heard they cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows… Exodus 3:7. God had sent many plagues on Egypt, but Pharaoh continued to harden his heart. The plagues corresponded with the popular Egyptian gods of that day. The Lord rescued his people from Egypt, taking them to “a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” When they reached the land of Canaan God told His people: Be strong and courageous. Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! God had given His people the law. He had led them out, bringing them through many trials. His desire is that there was such a heart in them to obey Him. Why so? That it might be well with them. The Lord doesn't just command His people to be strong and courageous. He doesn't just rescue them from Egypt. What He most wants for His people is that they know who He is, and what His heart is towards them. God loves His people as a parent loves their child. That is the heart of God towards His people. The Lord says, I love you, and I'm with you, and my heart the best for you. In the New Testament we have the same pattern. It’s alike to the time when He led the Israelites into the Promised Land. God issues a command - the great commission. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Here the Lord is sending out His disciples. He has shown them over the past years - of Himself, and of His heart, and of His disposition towards them. Now He sends them to take the gospel to the world. He’s saying, you know who I am. Now you go - not because of yourself, but because I am with you. He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, and He sent them… Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high… Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. They were praising God for what He had done and who He revealed himself to be. As we live the Christian life we can expect the world to be against us. All those who live righteously can expect persecution to some extent. We have to have faith. We can rejoice and praise God for how He has revealed Himself to us. As we have this foundation of faith He will sustain us. He is with us. He will sustain us as we live in this godless world. God gave the people of Israel many signs and provision. The Lord had looked upon their affliction. He had visited the children of Israel, and He had delivered them. Yet later they returned to despair and He had to remind them again. The foundation for our faith is to know that God is - and that He's with us. As they faced the prospect of a lot of giants and walled cities the people’s faith had faltered. How about us? Do we believe in the promises of God for us? Let us remember what His heart is towards us. Remember that He is as a father, and that He know what is best for us, and He wants to give that to us. Let’s keep in mind that it’s as we trust the Lord we can go on. As we obey the commands of the Lord faithfully we can know His blessings. Let us trust in Him, and rely upon Him. God has shown His forgiveness and mercy so many times. God showed mercy to His people over and over, despite their failings. As we go forward in faith and obedience we can receive His blessing, His strength and His enabling.

Where are you? A call to self assessment and decision. You have entered a new dimension as you stand at the start of a new year. So where to, from here? A message about setting direction for the future, personally, and as a church. A call to prepare war - and wake up the mighty men. We all have some decisive resolutions to make - to grow our faith and deepen our relationship with the Lord. Where are you going this year ahead? I’m talking spiritually? Are you growing? How is you heart with God? Has it grown colder, harder? Have you maybe taken your foot off the pedal spiritually? Here we stand at a new milestone. For some it can be time to change. A new year’s resolution. Fact is, most New Year’s resolutions only last till January the 2nd. Are things going to be any different a year from now? We must prepare for some things. Prepare to meet thy God. Amos 4:12. You can make this new year when you decide to follow Jesus. To go forward spiritually. To get ready for eternity. The Bible talks about preparing the heart… 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Are you where God wants you to be? Are you ready - for eternity? It’s a time to choose. Joshua 24:15 …choose you this day whom ye will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. The Bible urges us to prepare. Joel 3:9, Prepare war… Wake up the mighty men. 1 Cor 14:18 talks about: Prepare for battle. Choose your priorities. Resolve to change things. Are we living according to His will? 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Does the glory of God matter to us? Life is like a vapour, here today and gone tomorrow. How is your relationship with God through Jesus Christ? People are wasting their lives on inconsequential things and yet eternity is really only moments away. Let Christ be at the centre of the decisions you make. Give God first place. What about our church and its future? Will we stand fast and preach the truth? Or will we become just another ear-tickling church? The disciples told our Lord… Matthew 15:12 …Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? In other words they were telling Him, tone it down. You might offend someone! Actually, we need hard truths. It’s time to prepare ourselves. Get ready for what lies ahead. Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Jesus is coming. Get ready! Spiritually prepared. You and your family. Wake up. Get ready. We also have need to be ready with our testimony. You need to be a witness for Christ. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Also: Be prepared to serve God. 2 Timothy 2:21 …a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. It’s saying: be a useful Christian. Be used of God. What’s stopping you from being engaged in the church? Are you prepared? Prepared for the master to use you? If not, why not? How are you getting stuck? The mighty men need a wake up. It's time to get going! Some would say, one day I will get around to it. Here you go - I have made one for you! You have a round TUIT… Where are you? Be honest. Make the changes you need to make. Make a new year's resolution. Decide to live for the glory of God in your life ahead. Put your future in the hand of the Lord. Live to please God and not yourself. Learn to glorify God every day.

Hey parents! Children are watching you! Makes you think. #shorts #shortsviral #shortsviralvideo #shortsviralvideos

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Join us for worship online. Let us know you are watching.

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Isaiah 6:1-10 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Construction 101. A crash course. The Blueprint for God’s Building Program: 1 Cor. 3:9-16. A message about Body-building: building up the Body of Christ. 1. The BUILDER The Builder is God. v. 9 Ye are God’s building. Mt. 16:18: I will build my church We also take an active part in the construction process, as labourers together with God; v.10 Take heed how you build. 2. The BASIS The Reason – the Purpose for this building… The BASE: The Foundation for it… V. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. The foundation is fundamental. Luke 6:48. Digged deep… laid a foundation on a rock; v. 49 without a foundation… If the foundation is wrong the building will fail. Eph. 2:22: v. 20: Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone… In Whom ye are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit God’s dwelling place. God's church is built to be a holy place - Set apart for His glory and purpose. Eph. 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith… Hebrews 6:1 also talks about The foundation: of repentance from dead works and faith toward God. 3. The BUILDING v. 9 Ye are God’s building. 1 Cor. 6:19 …your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost… People are the BRICKS: 1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house… We are the very bricks, cemented together. We are “under construction”. God hasn’t finished with us yet. We are an unfinished building. 1 Cor. 14:26 Be part of the construction process: …Let all things be done unto edifying… We build with Faith, Prayer, the Holy Spirit: Jude v. 20 Building up yourselves on – by means of – your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. ...And with Love: 1 Cor. 8:1 Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. Love is constructive; love builds up. Eph. 4:16 the edifying of itself in love. And we build using the Word: Acts 20:32 The Word of His grace is able to build you up… LOVE WORD FAITH IN CHRIST & REPENTANCE There may be times when demolition is required: 2 Cor. 10:4: pulling down of strongholds. Are you a constructive – or a destructive Christian? Do you edify or destroy?

Excuses are really a way to try and avoid responsibilities. It’s how we try to get out of doing something we ought to do. God called young Jeremiah to serve Him. He called on him to be His messenger. But Jeremiah was fearful. And he made all kinds of excuses. Isn’t that just like us? Jeremiah 1:4-9. Some people are good at making excuses. "I don't know how." "I have something else to do." "Someone else can do that." "I’m not able." "I'm too busy or too tired or too old or too young." Ben Franklin wrote, "He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." Jeremiah had a load of excuses ready when God called on him to be a prophet. We can be like Jeremiah and say the same kind of things when God calls on us to follow Him. Let’s see the excuses Jeremiah tried: 1. Excuse: It’s too hard. God called Jeremiah was called to be "a prophet unto the nations" (v. 5). A prophet was a chosen and authorised spokesman for God who declared God's Word to the people. A prophet challenged people about sin. And they called on people to get right with God. Jeremiah knew that the people God was sending him to would not listen - and they persecuted prophets. They were a wicked and violent nation. It was a tough job. This was a big God given task. It would not always be easy. Now it’s the same for us. God may give you a big task, but if He does then He will keep you going. God told Jeremiah, Do not be afraid of their faces - for I am with you to deliver you. It could be God gives you something that may be hard to do. And maybe we will feel like we don’t want to do it. We might feel like giving up, and saying that it’s too hard. But - we have the promise of God's purpose. God told Jeremiah: I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. God told Jeremiah I knew you before you were born. God had a purpose for you before you were born. God knew Jeremiah, chose Jeremiah, and appointed Jeremiah to serve Him. You also were created on purpose for a purpose. So, even if we might try the same excuse, It’s too hard - God's purpose is the best for us. We can trust in God's plan and purpose for our life. 2. Excuse: I am not able. Jeremiah tried another excuse. He said, Oh no, Lord, GOD! Look, I don't know how to speak. I’m only a youth (v. 6). Jeremiah felt like he wasn’t able to speak up. Moses had also been like that (Ex. 4:10). Even though we might feel like we aren’t able, God can help us overcome this feeling of not being able, not being strong enough. In fact it’s the one who feels inadequate who is usually the one who depends more on God. Which is a good thing. When I feel weak, I can rely more on God. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. God’s glory works in the ones who feel weak and lean upon God’s strength. His commands are His enablings. If God sends us to do anything for Him then He will give us all the strength and ability that we need to do it. God always equips those He calls. He promises His help. In verse 9 the LORD reached out His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth. He told Jeremiah: I have now filled your mouth with My words". Lack of ability is no excuse. God uses not the most gifted and talented person, but the one touched by the hand of God. God uses the most unlikely people to do His will. 3. Excuse: I am too young. Jeremiah used the excuse, I am only a youth (v. 6). Jeremiah felt that he wasn’t as able or experienced as others. It’s like he was saying, I’m not ready. He was afraid of the task to which God was giving him. When God sends us to do something we have the promise of God's presence. The LORD said to Jeremiah: Do not say, I am only a youth, for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you… You are not alone. God walks with you. His presence gives you the strength you need to stand – no matter what the test is that you face. God gave Jeremiah the courage and the strength to obey. And He will enable us. God will fulfill his purpose in you. He will equip you and He will enable you. He will protect you. He will be with you. God told Jeremiah to stop making excuses! It’s the same today. God is telling us that whatever excuse we have, they are not good enough for us to avoid God’s calling. God is with us. He is with you. He is with me. Wherever you go, wherever God leads you to, He will be there for you. The story didn’t end here. Jeremiah answered God’s calling. Though he tried a few excuses here… he eventually accepted God’s job for him. He went and proclaimed God’s message. He courageously walked the streets of Judah and showed them the way to life! Rather than make excuses, You can say: “Here I am.”

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The doctrine of separation is a neglected truth. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? …Wherefore COME OUT from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord… Paul tells of a yoke that joins a team of animals. A yoke is a wooden frame that fits round the necks of two animals. It ties them together so that they work together as one. Animals linked together with a yoke will go together – and head in the one direction. Paul says it is possible to be UNEQUALLY YOKED – joined together - with an unbeliever. A child of God and an unbeliever cannot unite in a common purpose. • Their standards are different • Their goals are different • Their loyalties are different. SEPARATION all starts with… 1. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Will we obey Him? 1 Peter 1:16 …Be ye holy; for I am holy. God commands us to live a separated life. To stand for what is right. (Phil 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Our worship is a separation. We want our lives to be on the altar of worship unto Him. Our main goal in life, our devotion is: • To please God - in how we live and act • To follow His plan for our lives. 2 Thess. 3:6 tells us of some believers walking "disorderly" – as in marching out of step. They neglect their duty and obligations. Our relationship with God also impacts on… 2. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD Realise that the god of this world and the Lord Jesus are enemies. The god of this world – satan – has blinded the minds of them which believe not (2 Cor. 4:4). Whilst separate from the world, we aren't isolated from it. We must reach out to the lost - help them to be saved. Real Christians are IN the world – but not OF it. As believers we don't follow the wisdom or philosophies of this world. God has made a DIFFERENCE in our LIVES and LIFESTYLE. We are not to conform to this world's system (Rom. 12:1-2). Beware of compromise… it can happen in stages… We are warned against friendship with the world (Jas 4:4), and loving the world – the pleasures of sin for a season. Revelation 18:4 Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Our relationship with God also impacts on… 3. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD'S TRUTH Doctrine does matter. God tells His people to avoid false teachers and divisive doctrines, and to follow right teaching. (Rom 16:17,18) Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them… We know that, for our body to be healthy… • CANCER cells need to be removed • POISON needs to be avoided. For our church to have a strong, pure testimony for Christ in these dark and difficult days, we need to make a solid, uncompromising stand. Let us separate from wrong teaching and false practice. SEPARATION IS TWO - FOLD: We are to SEPARATE FROM sin -- Come out FROM among them and be ye SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing (2 Cor. 6:17). Let us be separate from all that is out of harmony with the Lord Jesus. We are to SEPARATE UNTO – Unto RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH - …ye shall be HOLY (set apart, separated) UNTO ME; for I, the LORD, am HOLY, and have separated you from other people, THAT YE SHOULD BE MINE (Lev. 20:26). “Sin dwells in every believer, but sin reigns in the unbeliever” - Moody. The closer I get to God, the further away I get from that which is contrary to His character. SEPARATION means being a useful Christian. SEPARATED from the world, and being JOINED to God. Being more like Christ - the Holy One. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. Being a separated Christian will affect how we look (1 Timothy 2:9), how we think, our moral choices, our values, our relations with others, our choices about drink, drugs (Pro. 20:1; 23:31; 1 Cor 3:16-17), what we listen to (Eph 5:19), where we go. There's basically two ways of living: • Two completely opposite paths • Two spirits – the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error. What way will you choose? To develop a fuller, closer relationship with our Lord - we need to steer a path of living His way - to please Him. There's blessings and benefits promised for those who are set apart unto the Lord. (2 Cor 6:18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. God our perfect Heavenly Father is the very best, loving, caring father. He will provide care and shelter, and meet the needs of His children. Separation shows WHO we belong to. Being holy doesn't mean being harsh or negative. Separation is positive, fulfilling, beautiful. It shows WHO our allegiance is to. WHO we love. Psalm 29:2 tells of The beauty of holiness – of being set apart, separate, separated. God's holy character – in us – is a thing of beauty and awe. God has set us apart UNTO HIMSELF. He has called us to be a holy, set apart people.

John 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Christ's love was… • Extreme • Undeserved • Unmerited • Abundant 1. SUPERHUMAN LOVE 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God is Love. His love is: Undeserved Love, Radical Love. Love Divine - all loves excelling, Joy of Heaven, to earth come down, Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown. God’s love is: 2. SUPREME LOVE John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Christ's Love is The Sweetest love, The Supreme love. There is no greater love. It's beyond compare • Absolute • Total • Complete • Astonishing • Matchless • Overwhelming • His Tender Love Christ laid down His life for His enemies, for His murderers, for them that hated Him. When they were mocking Him and deriding Him, what did he say? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Amazing Love! How can it be? That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me! Superhuman, Supreme Divine, No Love Greater. His love is also: 3. SAVING LOVE …that a man lay down his life for his friends It was sacrificial. Romans 5:6 …Christ died for the ungodly. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 …Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And… he was buried, and… he rose again the third day… The One who left heaven's glory and became flesh for us bears in His compassionate hands the scars of His sacrifice on our behalf. His hands will be an eternal reminder of His love. I asked Jesus how much He loved me. He stretched out His arms and said, “This much”... and He died. The love of God So great So marvellous Measureless Boundless Infinite love His arms outstretched What’s more, His is a Love we can know… Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. The Breadth - God so loved the world The Length - gave Son The Depth - that… perish The Height - but shall have everlasting life. • Superhuman Love • Supreme Love - none greater • Saving Love - Of a Saviour's Love that took Him to death and beyond to save us from our sin, to secure for us a heaven and an eternal destiny. Everlasting Infinite Perfect The wonder of it. The greatness of it. By His Remarkable Love He adopts us. 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Think of… • The drops of blood • The beating • The crown of thorns • The mockery • The loneliness • The pain • The spitting • The scorn Compelling love Constraining love 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us… 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. Note: I did not capture the video well enough, so this video has just the audio track, along with the a display of the relevant scriptures.

COMPROMISE is a settlement of difference by a sacrifice of principles; yielding up what you know is right, and allowing things which you know are wrong. God called the children of Israel out of Egypt. Egypt – represents the world, and Pharaoh – represents satan. Let my people go! God sent Moses to Pharaoh, to say: Exodus 3:18 ...let us go... three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. It wasn’t for Moses to choose what to say. It was God’s Word. It required 100% obedience. There is no room for compromise. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said: Exodus 5:1 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, , that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Pharaoh tried over and over again to get God’s people to compromise. Here’s the first compromise. It shows how COMPROMISING CHRISTIANITY is... 1. CARNAL Exodus 8:25 Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. Stay carnal. Remain in the world. So, “Go ahead, and believe in God - but don’t leave the world.” Some would say, you can be a worldly Christian, and still serve the Lord. Stay in the world – Egypt – Don’t separate from the Egyptians. But Moses wouldn’t budge. God’s will was that Israel leave Egypt to go worship. “In the land” there would be no temple, no priesthood, no altar, and no sacrifice of lambs to the Lord. Israel would stay slaves to Pharaoh, and ungodly Egypt. Satan is not against religion. He encourages people to be religious, broad minded, and tolerant of other religions. Yet we are called to live a separated life: 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate… When we look like the world, act like the world, and talk like the world, we can't be effective in our witness. God’s people must separate from the world – from sinful culture and its control. God’s people are called out. He tells us to come out. There can be no compromise – no fellowship with evil. Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Leave the world behind. We see another compromise: …Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away… COMPROMISING CHRISTIANITY is... 2. COMFORTABLE It's lukewarmness. Be comfortable with the world. It’s commitment free – stay in the “comfort zone”. Some are “Worldly Christians” - friends of the world. And a friend of the world is an enemy of God - James 4:4. The devil would say: Don’t go too far. Don’t go overboard. Some fix their eyes on Egypt, instead of Canaan. Like Lot. He pitched his tent close to Sodom. Lot chose what pleased himself. He wasn’t motivated by pleasing the Lord. It’s as if Pharaoh is saying, stay close so you are still under my reach and control. Some will follow God, but they don’t go too far away from the world. The devil would say, you can still enjoy the idols of the world and its vain pleasures and entertainment. Some live like the world, with immorality, worldly appetites, and a take-it-easy Christianity. Next, COMPROMISING CHRISTIANITY is... 3. CARELESS It’s a casual, partial commitment. The enemy wants you to be careless about others – about your family, and fellowship. Exodus 10:11 …go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD… He says, “Just the men”. NOT all of God’s people. The men could go, BUT they were to leave their little ones. Pharaoh wanted their wives and children to stay behind in Egypt, with its idols. The devil doesn’t want us to “bring” our children “up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” - Eph. 6:4. Satan says: Be a Christian, Go serve your God, but leave the children in the world. Don’t leave your family behind! God says: Prov. 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go… Be like Joshua… Joshua 24:15 …choose you this day whom ye will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. God wanted total deliverance, for everyone – male, female, old and young – the whole family. Next, COMPROMISING CHRISTIANITY is: 4. CROSS-LESS In v. 24, Pharaoh says: Okay, you can go, but “not your flocks or herds”. In other words, go, but you’re not going to be sacrificing to your God. Go, but without the ability to serve the Lord. Pharaoh said, “Go, and serve the LORD, only leave your stuff here.” Leave your heart here, in the world. The devil would have us to settle for a weak, cheap kind of faith. Rather, let’s be willing to sacrifice –all that we are, and all that we have. Moses made no compromise. He said, “We’re leaving to worship God and we’re taking everything with us!” Let’s also say: “All my relationships and everything I yield to God.” Entrust yourself to God. Let the Lord have all of you - all you have – your wives, your children, your possessions. God brought His people out of Egypt. He set them free, out of the house of bondage. How? By the blood of the lamb. Moses refused to compromise. We must avoid spiritual compromise. Stand with courage and conviction.