Untitled Sermon (4)

Where do we find security in our insecure world?

Working at Sherwood Cliffs, Numerous times they have been offered financial assistance of huge amounts of money from the government.

Through prayerful consideration, they have refused each time.

Through a conviction that the ministry is God’s and that his work will always be provided for by his means, they have served the hurting and addicted who have come to them for 40 years

purely by faith

trusting in the Lord’s provision.

And he has provided.

They’ve seen many miracles, which if they had have put their security in the government, they most likely would not have seen.

Our insecurities move us to make decision all the time.

You need this health insurance and this life insurance and this car insurance, and this rental insurance.

You’re crazy if you don’t.

Now there’s nothing wrong with taking out insurance, but what’s wrong is letting our fears and insecurities drive us to put our hopes in insurance agencies instead of in God.

Do we really believe God is looking after us?

We say we do, but when push comes to shove, we’re really trusting in our savings to get us through.

Fear of missing out, or FOMO, as the younger generation shortens it to today. In our insecurity we fear missing out, we fear losing what we’ve worked so hard for.

We lock our houses and cars because of our fear of hostile people around us.

Again, all good and right things to do, but where’s our trust really lying?

When there’s a threat right in front of our eyes, those of us who are particularly impatient, we want to disarm the threat.

Ease the discomfort.

Bring stability as quick as possible.

Now with google, we can do things and get solutions to our problems quicker than ever.

Stopping, praying, and then waiting on God is difficult.

We can’t see God for one thing.

We can’t hear God.

We can’t touch God.

I can see my superannuation amount.

I can see my house.

I can see that gifted preacher and leader.

I can see those navy ships, those military soldiers.

What does God call us to do.

See with the eyes of faith.

What does God call us to do?

See with the eyes of faith.

You know we have two sets of eyes.

The eyes here and the eyes here.

Picture yourself as one of the people of Israel.

The eyes here and the eyes here.

Picture yourself as one of the people of Israel.

They’re continually under the threat of hostile people looking to make war on them.

Picture yourself as one of the people of Israel.

They’re continually under the threat of hostile people looking to make war on them.

Samuel is their leader who they could see, but he’s getting old.

Who will lead us once Samuel’s gone?

12v12 says that it was their fear of the king of the Ammonites, Nahash, that caused them to make this request to Samuel of a king.

Samuel’s sons are corrupt, they take bribes, we don’t want them.

Samuel is their leader who they could see, but v1, he’s getting old.

V3 Samuel’s sons are corrupt, they take bribes, we don’t want them.

We don’t want to keep trusting God, waiting and being so different from everyone else.

V3 Samuel’s sons are corrupt, they take bribes, we don’t want them.

We’re sick of the taunts of the other nations.

V4 They’re all asking, who will lead us once Samuel’s gone?

V5 they make the request! “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

They have these impressive kings that lead them into battle.

We don’t want to keep trusting God, waiting and being so different from everyone else.

We can’t even see our leader.

We’re sick of the taunts of the other nations.

We look so unimpressive.

They have these impressive kings that lead them into battle.

Why can’t we have a leader up front who we can see?

A king to lead us into our battles.

Nahash is coming.

We can’t even see our leader.

In our lives God has promised us something amazing hasn’t he. The kingdom of heaven. A new creation, with sights for our eyes to see beyond our wildest imaginations. Wondrous new sounds for our ears to hear. Peace beyond understanding.

We look so unimpressive.

But we live in a period of time. Our lives here on earth. Where we live by faith. Not by sight.

Why can’t we have a leader up front who we can see?

When we’ve reached our heavenly home, we’ll be living by sight. No more faith required.

Why can’t we have a leader up front who we can see?

Because what is faith?

A king to lead us into our battles?

Warheads that will make us look intimidating?

Faith is the certainty of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen.

Did you know the Australian government spends 95 million dollars a day on national security. Our defence. 7% of our budget. It’s our nationwide insurance policy.

I’m sure you’ve got this right:

Did you know the Australian government spends 95 million dollars a day on national security. Our defence. 7% of our budget. It’s our nationwide insurance policy.

The people of Israel had a nationwide insurance policy. It was God.

Why are you trusting Jesus? You can’t see him. We don’t even know if he’s alive, let alone a king who’s interested in each of our individual lives.

Stop being so high minded and live in the real world.

It didn’t require of them millions of dollars in taxes either.

What was required of them was to trust God, to listen to his word, to love him and walk in his ways of justice and love.

In this chapter there’s a tension. Is it wrong for God’s people to be asking for a king? Or is it right, given the circumstances?

Yes is the answer to both. It’s right for them to be desiring a king to lead them.

Is it so much different for you and I today? What does God require of us?

To trust in him and his Son. To listen to his word. To allow his Spirit to work in us to live loves of love for God and others.

After all speaks of this king. God told Moses this would happen.

Samuel is clearly upset, but God instead of saying, “fine, these people are rejecting me, I’m rejecting them,” graciously tells Samuel to grant them want they want, but to warn them first of all the harm it will cause them.

When the time comes in the land that they ask for a king, this is who the king needs to be like.

12 He will take your sons...

Let’s read it.

12 He will take your sons...

14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses...16 The king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself...17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

13 He will take your daughters...

14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves...

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

However the people’s request for a king is also clearly wrong in this chapter. So what’s wrong about it?

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage...

16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.

It’s the attitude behind the request.

16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.

They want a king like all the other nations around them.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks.

What their choosing is to have far more than 7% of their income taken from them for the new king.

They want this king to fight for them and provide them with security.

What their choosing is to have far more than 7% of their income taken from them for the new king.

Hang on, but this is what God does for them.

What these people were struggling with is a similar struggle we face.

The call to live by faith and not by sight.

He’s fine with them having a king they can see. But he must be a king who trusts in God to fight for them and provide them with security, not himself.

The call to live by faith and not by sight.

The struggle to rely on God who we can’t see vs relying on humans who we can see.

Notice how he must not amass horses. No reliance on a military army.

The struggle to rely on God who we can’t see vs relying on humans who we can see.

God had already given his people freely far more than they could ever have worked for and achieved for themselves.

He must not amass large amounts of silver or gold. No reliance on wealth.

God had already given his people freely far more than they could ever have worked for and achieved for themselves.

He’s given them the land of Canaan. He’d wiped out before them all the obstacles in their way. Defeating Pharaoh with signs and wonders, parting the red sea, providing food and water and protection for them in the wilderness, wiping out the giants in the land.

He must not have many wives. Often through foreign relationships. No reliance on friendly relations with other nations.

They’d forgotten what God had done for them.

His reliance must be on God. He must keep God’s Word close to him, read it continually, so that he fears God, puts his trust and security in God, and sets an example for the people in this way.

They’d forgotten what God had done for them.

The pressing issue was clouding their memory.

And what, he must not consider himself better or higher than anyone else. No reliance on status. No abuse of power. A servant giving king. Not a tyrannical taking king.

Is there a pressing issue in your life causing you to forgot the wondrous things God has done for you?

A king like this has great power in God’s eyes. A king like this is highly exalted by God.

Is there a pressing issue in your life causing you to forgot the wondrous things God has done for you?

God has done something amazing for us hasn’t he?

Do we know of a king like this?

In Jesus he’s taken our sin away.

There’s none I know in the earth today.

In Jesus he’s taken our sin away.

He’s taken our condemnation away.

When Jesus came down, what was his favourite term for himself? Son of Man.

He’s made us new.

In other works, King of God’s choosing.

He’s made us new.

He didn’t amass a great army around him.

And he’s promised us something amazing hasn’t he.

The kingdom of heaven.

He didn’t look to foreign relationships to provide him with strength and security.

The kingdom of heaven.

He was not wealthy.

A new world to live in, with sights for our eyes to see beyond our wildest imaginations. Wondrous new sounds for our ears to hear. Peace beyond understanding.

But we live in a period of time. Our lives here on earth. Where we live by faith. Not by sight. We look back to what God has done for us in the past, as we look forward to what he will do in the future.

Not much of a great king by our standards. Weak, poor, insignificant really.

But we live in a period of time. Our lives here on earth. Where we live by faith. Not by sight. We look back to what God has done for us in the past, as we look forward to what he will do in the future.

There’s certain securities that Jesus provides for us now.

Yet everywhere Jesus went, people followed him.

And there’s some that will come later.

Every time he was confronted with evil and hostile enemies, they were defeated before him.

And there’s some that will come later.

Now we have the joy of forgiveness, the freedom from the rule of sin and Satan. The peace and power of His Spirit living with us, changing us, fighting for us, praying for us, helping us in our weakness, to persevere.

Every time people came to him with their problems, their demons, their sicknesses, their hunger, their issues, he freed them and met their needs.

Jesus provided people with security. He provided people with salvation. If you were around Jesus, you were ok.

We don’t yet have the security of an indestructible body.

You didn’t need anything else.

These bodies get sick.

Friends, God chose a king for us, and people could see him. Hear him. Touch him.

These bodies will die.

But we have the security of the resurrection.

They didn’t have to have faith to believe. He was right before their eyes.

But what about us?

Our new bodies, unlike our insurance payout, is 100% certain.

We don’t have the security from the presence of sin and Satan yet.

What did Jesus say after he rose from the dead and returned to heaven to sit as king on his throne?

We don’t have the security from the presence of sin and Satan yet.

The devil prowls around, seeking to intimidate, seeking to cause fear.

Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe in me.

Heaven is the real place.

Sin seduces, tempts, creates longings in us.

Their power is broken, but not their presence.

What’s around us know, that we put our security into so much: it’s all temporary. It’s all decaying. It’s fading.

Their power is broken, but not their presence.

Heaven is not. Jesus is not.

Not until the new creation.

When we’ve reached our heavenly home, we’ll be living by sight. No more faith required.

What did Jesus say? Whoever wants to save their life here will lose it there. Whoever gives up their life here for Jesus sake, will gain it there.

Because what is faith?

Where is our security?

Because what is faith?

Faith is the certainty of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen.

Is it in the things of this world? Are they king?

Faith is the certainty of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen.

What they’d lost was their faith in their unseen God, and without faith, it’s impossible to please God isn’t it.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before right:

Or is Jesus king?

Do we rest in him? In his words of promise towards us?

Why are you trusting some dead guy you can’t even see?

But God is so gracious. Like he does so often, he takes their lack of faith. Their rejection of him. And uses it for their good and his glory.

They want a king like all the other nations around them.

We don’t even know if he’s alive, let alone a king who’s interested in each of our individual lives.

When we hear him speak to us through his Word, do we grab hold of him with eyes of faith, with hands of faith? And follow him.

They want this king to fight for them and provide them with security like the kings of the other nations do.

Stop being so high minded and live in the real world.

He’s the king we’ll enjoy for all eternity. Continually giving to us his people. Not taking. Pouring our generosity. Pouring out love.

God wants so much more for his people. He wants so much more for us.

Have we seen how much we have yet that we can give up some stuff in this life?

There’s a choice isn’t there?

He knew this day would come and he’d already planned to send them a king. But not of their choosing. His choosing.

There’s costs involved in living in the real world. In the world of our limited resources.

Can we give up some of our wealth in order to serve the poor and needy?

Not like the kings of the other nations. But like the king of heaven.

Can we give up some of our time and give it to others?

As we’ve seen.

Can we be givers like our king is a giver?

speaks of the king of God’s choosing.

Earthly, visible kings take.

Why? Because they’re weak.

God told Moses, “when the time comes in the land and they ask for a king, this is who the king needs to be like.”

Can we see that we can never ever out give our king?

The more we give, the more we realise we’re continually being given to.

Let’s read it.

God has unlimited resources. So it’s not foolish to trust in him.

14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses...16 The king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself...17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Let’s pray together that in 2019 God might move us to put our hope in king Jesus.

It depends what you want.

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

In this chapter there’s a tension. Is it wrong for God’s people to be asking for a king? Or is it right, given the circumstances?

To draw near to him, listening to him in his Word, responding to him in prayer.

Yes is the answer to both.

Acting with his power that is at work in us to give, like he gives.

This king trusts in God to fight for them and provide them with security, not himself.

Notice how he must not amass horses.

We don’t need to be afraid of anything, not Nahash, not bankruptcy, not death.

It’s right for them to desire a king to lead them. They live in a physical world and want a physical king. That’s ok.

What’s wrong is wanting a physical king that is unlike their heavenly king.

No reliance on a military army.

We’re in his hands.

He must not amass large amounts of silver or gold.

Do you believe this? That you’re in his loving hands?

Our request for insurance is not wrong either. It’s the attitude behind the request that can be wrong.

They want a king like all the other nations around them.

No reliance on wealth.

We tell our boys as often as we can. You don’t have to be afraid. Jesus is bigger and stronger than anything that could ever come against us. Call on him. Let him fight for you. Trust in his love.

There’s certain securities that Jesus provides for us now.

They want this king to fight for them and provide them with security.

He must not have many wives.

But this is the security only God can provide.

And there’s some that will come later.

No reliance on foreign partnerships and agreements with other nations.

speaks of the king of his choosing.

Now we have been given forgiveness, freedom from the rule of sin and Satan. His Spirit living with us, changing us, fighting for us, praying for us, helping us in our weakness, to persevere.

His reliance must be on God.

God told Moses, “when the time comes in the land and they ask for a king, this is who the king needs to be like.”

He must keep God’s Word close to him, read it continually, so that he fears God, puts his trust and security in God, and sets an example for the people in this way.

We don’t have the security yet of an indestructible body. These bodies are subject to sickness and death. But we have the security of the resurrection. Our new bodies, unlike our insurance payout, is 100% certain.

And he must not consider himself better or higher than anyone else.

Let’s read it.

We don’t have the security from the presence of sin and Satan yet. The devil prowls around, seeking to intimidate, seeking to cause fear. Sin seduces, tempts, creates longings in us. Their power is broken, but not their presence. Not until the new creation.

14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses...16 The king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself...17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Friends. Jesus had to go through the same trials we face. He was tempted in everyway as we are. He knows it’s hard. But he knows also knows the power we need to get through. It’s the necessary road that leads home. Suffering.

No reliance on status.

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

No abuse of power.

Our king has led the way in front of us. He now walks beside us, lives in us, and all the resources we need are there to get us through to the destination.

He’s fine with them having a king they can see.

A servant giving king.

Can you trust him?

But he must be a king who trusts in God to fight for them and provide them with security, not himself.

Not a tyrannical taking king.

The real question is, will you trust him?

Notice how he must not amass horses.

A king like this has great power in God’s eyes.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. (He’s king). And trust in me. (I’m king too). In my father’s house are many rooms. I go ahead of you to prepare a place for you.

No reliance on a military army.

A king like this is highly exalted by God.

He must not amass large amounts of silver or gold.

Do we know of a king like this?

We cry out, give us something we can see and hold on to.

No reliance on wealth.

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

There’s none I know in the earth today.

He must not have many wives.

Where do we find security in our insecure world?

When Jesus came down, what was his favourite term for himself? Son of Man.

In other words, I’m the King of God’s choosing.

Often through foreign relationships.

It’s in him. His words never fail. He never changes. He remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

How can we know if our security is in him?

He didn’t amass a great army around him.

No reliance on friendly relations with other nations.

What makes you anxious?

He didn’t look to foreign relationships to provide him with strength and security.

His reliance must be on God.

What is your greatest fear?

He must keep God’s Word close to him, read it continually, so that he fears God, puts his trust and security in God, and sets an example for the people in this way.

He was not wealthy.

Rejection? Losing your house? Losing your spouse? Your kids? Losing your money? Your eyesight? Ability to walk?

And he must not consider himself better or higher than anyone else.

Not much of a great king by our standards.

No reliance on status.

Weak, poor, insignificant really.

Trust him. These things only make the reality of heaven so much greater. Our longing so much stronger.

Yet everywhere Jesus went, people followed him.

No abuse of power.

What does Jesus say, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust can destroy, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where no moth or rust can destroy, and no thief can break in and steal.”

A servant giving king.

Every time he was confronted with evil and hostile enemies, they were defeated before him.

Coming back to Sherwood. What amazing about this ministry. So many people have called them crazy. So many people have called them foolish. But they are far from it.

Every time people came to him with their problems, their demons, their sicknesses, their hunger, their issues, he freed them and met their needs.

On the roof of the main building are the words “Jesus is Lord”

Not a tyrannical taking king.

A king like this has great power in God’s eyes.

Jesus provided people with security.

Let that banner be over our lives in 2019 and for the rest of our lives.

Jesus is my Lord. He’s my king. He looks after me. He protects me. And he will surely walk through every trial with me, until I’m home with him forever.

A king like this is highly exalted by God.

He removed their fears.

Do we know of a king like this?

He set people free.

Which is the opposite of what a king like the other nations did.

There’s none I know in the earth today.

When Jesus came down, what was his favourite term for himself? Son of Man.

V17 warns them; after he takes all these things from you, you will become his slaves!

In other words, I’m the King of God’s choosing.

Not with Jesus.

He didn’t amass a great army around him.

If you were around Jesus, you were ok.

You didn’t need anything else.

He didn’t look to foreign relationships to provide him with strength and security.

He was not wealthy.

God has chosen a king for us, and we rejected him.

People could see him.

Not much of a great king by our standards.

Weak, poor, insignificant really.

Hear him.

Touch him.

Yet everywhere Jesus went, people followed him.

Every time he was confronted with evil and hostile enemies, they were defeated before him.

They didn’t have to have faith to believe.

Every time people came to him with their problems, their demons, their sicknesses, their hunger, their issues, he freed them and met their needs.

He was right before their eyes.

Jesus provided people with security.

But even though they saw him, he wasn’t impressive like the other nations kings, like Caesar of the Romans, so they killed him.

He removed their fears.

What about us?

What did Jesus say after he rose from the dead and returned to heaven to sit as king on his throne?

He set people free.

Which is the opposite of what a king like the other nations did.

Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe in me.

Heaven is the real place.

V17 warns them; after he takes all these things from you, you will become his slaves!

Not with Jesus.

What’s around us know, the things we put our security into so much: it’s all temporary. It’s all decaying. It’s fading.

If you were around Jesus, you were ok.

Heaven is not. Jesus is not.

What did Jesus say? Whoever wants to save their life here will lose it there. Whoever gives up their life here for Jesus sake, will gain it there.

You didn’t need anything else.

Where is our security?

God has chosen a king for us, and we rejected him.

Is it in the things of this world? Are they king?

People could see him.

Hear him.

Or is Jesus king?

Touch him.

Do we rest in him? In his words of promise towards us?

When we hear him speak to us through his Word, do we grab hold of him with eyes of faith, with hands of faith? And follow him.

They didn’t have to have faith to believe.

He was right before their eyes.

He’s the king we’ll enjoy for all eternity.

But even though saw him, he wasn’t impressive like the other nations kings, like Caesar of the Romans, so they killed him.

He’ll be continually giving to us his people.

Not taking.

What about us?

What did Jesus say after he rose from the dead and returned to heaven to sit as king on his throne?

Pouring our generosity.

Pouring out love.

Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe in me.

Have we seen how much we have yet that we can give up some stuff in this life?

Heaven is the real place.

What’s around us know, the things we put our security into so much: it’s all temporary. It’s all decaying. It’s fading.

Can we give up some of our wealth in order to serve the poor and needy?

Can we give up some of our time and give it to others?

Heaven is not. Jesus is not.

Can we be givers like our king is a giver?

What did Jesus say? Whoever wants to save their life here will lose it there. Whoever gives up their life here for Jesus sake, will gain it there.

Where is our security?

Can we see that we can never ever out-give our king?

The more we give, the more we realise we’re continually being given to.

Is it in the things of this world? Are they king?

Let’s pray together that in 2019 God might move us to put our hope in king Jesus.

Or is Jesus king?

Do we rest in him? In his words of promise towards us?

To draw near to him, listening to him in his Word, responding to him in prayer.

Acting with his power that is at work in us to give, like he gives.

When we hear him speak to us through his Word, do we grab hold of him with eyes of faith, with hands of faith? And follow him.

We don’t need to be afraid of anything, not Nahash, not bankruptcy, not even death.

He’s the king we’ll enjoy for all eternity.

We’re in his hands.

He’ll be continually giving to us his people.

Not taking.

Do you believe this?

Pouring our generosity.

That you’re in his loving hands?

We tell our boys as often as we can.

Pouring out love.

Have we seen how much we have yet that we can give up some stuff in this life?

You don’t have to be afraid.

Can we give up some of our wealth in order to serve the poor and needy?

Jesus is bigger and stronger than anything that could ever come against us. Call on him.

Let him fight for you.

Can we give up some of our time and give it to others?

Can we be givers like our king is a giver?

Trust in his love.

Jesus had to go through the same trials we face.

Can we see that we can never ever out-give our king?

He was tempted in every way as we are.

The more we give, the more we realise we’re continually being given to.

He knows it’s hard.

Let’s pray together that in 2019 God might move us to put our hope in king Jesus.

But he knows also knows the power we need to get through.

To draw near to him, listening to him in his Word, responding to him in prayer.

Acting with his power that is at work in us to give, like he gives.

It’s the necessary road that leads home.

Suffering.

We don’t need to be afraid of anything, not Nahash, not bankruptcy, not even death.

Our king has led the way in front of us.

We’re in his hands.

He now walks beside us, lives in us, and all the resources we need are there to get us through to the destination.

Do you believe this?

Can you trust him?

That you’re in his loving hands?

The real question is, will you trust him?

We tell our boys as often as we can.

Samuel says to the people in 12:20-26;

You don’t have to be afraid.

Jesus is bigger and stronger than anything that could ever come against us. Call on him.

20 “Do not be afraid,” “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own...24consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

Let him fight for you.

And Jesus re-iterates this encouragement in

Trust in his love.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. (He’s king). And trust in me. (I’m king too). In my father’s house are many rooms. I go ahead of you to prepare a place for you.”

Jesus had to go through the same trials we face.

We cry out, give us something we can see and hold on to.

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

He was tempted in every way as we are.

He knows it’s hard.

Where do we find security in our insecure world?

But he knows also knows the power we need to get through.

Who else can give us what he gives?

His words never fail.

It’s the necessary road that leads home.

Suffering.

He never changes.

He remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

Our king has led the way in front of us.

He now walks beside us, lives in us, and all the resources we need are there to get us through to the destination.

How can we know if our security is in him?

What makes you anxious? What’s your FOMO? Your fear?

Can you trust him?

The real question is, will you trust him?

Is it rejection? Losing your house? Losing your spouse? Your kids? Losing your money? Your eyesight? Ability to walk?

Trust him.

These things only make the reality of heaven so much greater.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. (He’s king). And trust in me. (I’m king too). In my father’s house are many rooms. I go ahead of you to prepare a place for you.

We cry out, give us something we can see and hold on to.

Our longing so much stronger.

What does Jesus say, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust can destroy, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where no moth or rust can destroy, and no thief can break in and steal.”

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Where do we find security in our insecure world?

Coming back to Sherwood. What’s amazing about this ministry:

So many people have called them crazy.

It’s in him.

His words never fail.

So many people have called them foolish.

But they are far from it.

He never changes.

He remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

On the roof of the main building are the words “Jesus is Lord.”

Let that banner be over our lives in 2019 and for the rest of our lives.

How can we know if our security is in him?

Jesus is my Lord.

What makes you anxious? What’s your FOMO? Your fear?

Is it rejection? Losing your house? Losing your spouse? Your kids? Losing your money? Your eyesight? Ability to walk?

He’s my king. He looks after me. He protects me.

Trust him.

And he will surely walk through every trial with me, until I’m home with him forever.

These things only make the reality of heaven so much greater.

Our longing so much stronger.

What does Jesus say, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust can destroy, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where no moth or rust can destroy, and no thief can break in and steal.”

Coming back to Sherwood. What’s amazing about this ministry:

So many people have called them crazy.

So many people have called them foolish.

But they are far from it.

On the roof of the main building are the words “Jesus is Lord.”

Let that banner be over our lives in 2019 and for the rest of our lives.

Jesus is my Lord.

He’s my king.

He looks after me.

He protects me.

And he will surely walk through every trial with me, until I’m home with him forever.