24 March 2019 - Flash Floods of Blessings in Your Dry Places - Pastor Lawrence Lim Sermon Notes - New Creation Church Sermon NotesPraise and Worship songs performed:
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ blood capillaries burst because He was under great stress, causing Him to ‘sweat’ drops of blood. In order for Israel to have a good harvest, they need to have a good latter rain. We will surely harvest great blessings and breakthroughs this year because it is “The Year of the Latter Rain”! There were torrential rains happening in Israel recently like never before. Even the Dead Sea had splashes of waves such that tourists can’t float on it like they were expecting to. We first see it in the natural (in Israel), then in the spiritual (in our lives). Psalm 126:4 - This word is being fulfilled now! There are flash floods happening in the Negeb, which is a desert land. What follows the latter rain is streams in the desert! It may seem dry right now but the rivers are coming! Put your trust in the Lord. “Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!” (Psalms 126:4 ESV) Matthew 6:25-34 - During springtime there are beautiful lilies in full bloom at the Mount of Beatitudes in Israel. It’s such a wonderful place — you have to go to Israel if you haven’t been there before. Pastor Lawrence felt depressed on his first day back to work after coming back from an enjoyable trip to Israel, and the Lord brought him to this passage of Scripture. The Lord Jesus in His love for us told us not to worry or be anxious — God will take care of you. Birds in the air represents freedom. “Toil” is a picture of wearisome labor and the curse on the ground whereby Adam was cursed to toil in order to get food. When you look at the beautiful lilies, you will know how much God wants to bless and care for you. Lilies don’t need to work hard in order to become a beautiful flower — they only need to receive sunlight and water. When you receive the light of God’s love and the water of God’s word, you will grow beautifully Him. Even when it comes to health, it’s not about dieting or exercising — it’s all about receiving it from our Lord Jesus Christ — Yahweh Rapha (the Lord our Healer). When you worry, don’t let your thoughts come out as worrisome words out of your mouth. God already knows what you need and He will provide what you need. In Psalm 23, God assures us that He will provide because He is our Shepherd. We will not lack —- Our cup overflows and God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies — these are pictures of provision. We worry because we “seek first” our basic needs. Jesus taught us to prioritize this: seek first the kingdom of God. Righteousness is not about our outward obedience of God’s laws. Righteousness is a gift that we have received through faith in Jesus’ finished work at the cross. To seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness is to know and declare on a daily basis that you are the righteousness of God in Christ. “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.” (Matthew 6:25-34 WEB) Matthew 10:29-31 - God cares for you that much. He pays attention even to the insignificant details like the number of hairs on your head. ““Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew10:29-31 WEB) All things will work together for our good because we love God — even the bad things. |
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AuthorHi I’m Milton Goh, I'm 31 years old and i'm a blogger who writes about Christianity, Parenting, Life Lessons that I learn from Movies/Shows, and Lifestyle. |