Put God's brand reputation before the churches and before your own.

A strange thing for an Archbishop to Say

Any of you that follow social media may have seen this week that the Archbishop of Canterbury caused somewhat of a twitter storm.

Those of you that don't know about this. He said something that people have taken as being rather controversial. for those people with access the Internet I would recommend you take an half an hour out and watch the video,

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCUgqL3a0Q&feature=youtu.be)

From the reaction of some You may be forgiven for thinking that he denounced His Christian faith or announced that he believed that Christ was really an alien Or confirmed that all churches would have to include exotic dancing as part of their worship

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCUgqL3a0Q&feature=youtu.be)

In reality, what he actually spoke about were three things:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCUgqL3a0Q&feature=youtu.be)

Three things:

The prays daily, He prays in tongues and actively seeks words of knowledge from the holy spirit to help him.

Life is complicated, There are no easy answers, and we need to seek God help

Disunity and the church is not a good thing But Striving to unity should not Displace the Truth And we should recognise our differences and learn how to disagree well

Life is complicated, There are no easy answers, and we need to seek God help

He spoke about these things in the context of seeing God’s kingdom come, people saved, lives transformed and the Gospel being professed.

On the face of it I do not know about you, but I was struggling to see what the controversy's within these statements. It seems awe live in odd times where it is more surprising when a believer to says something biblical than when they say something that is not. Though I probably should not be surprised as the word of God and the contents of this book have always caused contraversy and shaken the status Quo.

As I prayed over why this what causing such a storm in this I think God gave me a real hint to why these things caused such a stirring of opinions.

What is most important.

Throw a Coke Can to some one.

Ask - what is it.

What is - it made up of?

What is the most valuable part of this can?

The name is worth $66M

Using the brand of God

God’s Name his brand represents…his essence…his reputation…his promises

God’s name is his REPUTATION: all that God is and has done.

He is the God of creation, and

Psalm 124:8 NIV

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

“Our help is IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, the MAKER of heaven and earth.”

He brought his people out of Egypt, and

Psalm 106:8 NIV

8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.

Psalm 104:8 NIV

8 they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.

says “He saved them FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE, to make his mighty power known.

God saved us through Jesus Christ, and Jesus understood that his death would bring glory to the name of God. In

John 12:27–28 NIV

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

At Pentecost, Peter invited his hearers to enter into a relationship with God, through faith, saying,

Acts 2:21 NIV

21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

At Pentecost, Peter invited his hearers to enter into a relationship with God, through faith, saying, “Everyone WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD will be saved. ()

Paul said that when Christ returns,

Philippians 2:10–11 NIV

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God’s name is the most valuable name in the universe, It is the brand that stands above any other because it stands for God himself. God is both precious of his brand and yet he gives it to us to use in power.

My Brand or Gods Brand

Church Brand or Gods Brand

Use the Brand of God.

We hear God’s name spoken without meaning all the time (“O my God” or “Jesus Christ.”) It is strange: A common word for manure is not allowed on broadcast TV, but using the name of God is totally acceptable to the censors.

Jews were so serious about not taking the name of God in vain, that they would not even say “Yahweh” (or Jehovah), for fear of using the Name in vain. When they came to his name in the Scriptures, they said “Lord.”

Be careful how we use the name

God’s people must honour and protect the name of God above all other names. It represents the One who saves us, and it represents our faith and hope. That is why God said, “

Exodus 20:7 NIV

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Keeping this commandment implies that we take seriously God’s actions, and the gravity of our relationship with him. For that reason, we don’t use casually words like “hell,” “damn,” or “mercy.” Even words like “God bless” might be said without meaning, and without recognising that God can bless.

Jesus pointed out that substitute words for God should also be avoided, when trying to give weight to a promise: “Do not swear…by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.”

Perhaps the worst place to speak the Name of God without meaning is worship! If God’s people say or sing all right words, while they are not giving their best to God, God would rather have them shut up! God says in

Malachi 1:10–14 NIV

10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty. “When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.

Using the Brand of God carefully.

If we are going through motions, not truly recognising God, not offering our best, we are not honouring God. If we the leave sanctuary unchanged, to dishonour God in the world, GOD’S NAME is dishonoured. The commandment goes beyond what we say.

• We must not dishonor name of God by our ACTIONS.

We must not dishonour name of God by our ACTIONS.

Read . (Emphasize “I had concern for my holy name.”)

You are going down the road, and some idiot cuts you off for no reason. Maybe they make an obscene gesture as they do so. Then you see a fish on their vehicle. Maybe it even has a cross embedded in it. Not great. Are you embarrassed for Jesus?

We represent God to the world. We bear the Name of Christ (Christ-ians). Our actions reflect his brand.

There is a story that, as Alexander the Great was celebrating one of his victories, guards dragged a young soldier before him. The man had been charged with deserting his post, and now he was to receive his sentence. The normal sentence was death, and the young soldier was on the ground, trembling.

Alexander asked, “Soldier, what is your name?” Weakly, the man stuttered, “Alexander.” “What is your name?” Alexander bellowed. “Alexander,” the young man whispered. In a flash, the great ruler was upon him, lifting him by his tunic, staring him in the face. “That’s my name!” Alexander roared. Then softly, he said, “Soldier, you shall live. But from this day on, you must change your conduct, or you must change your name.”

If we take the name of Christ, but we cut corners in business dealings, gossip unkindly, or only live morally when it is convenient, what are doing to the name of Christ? If we are uncaring, judgmental, self-centered, or downright nasty, while claiming to live for God, what effect will it have?

Romans 2 puts it bluntly

Romans 2:24 NIV

24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Insights from Arch Bish

So what was it about the things that Justin Welby said?

God’s Brand not my Brand

God’s people must honour and protect the name of God above all other names. It represents the One who saves us, and it represents our faith and hope. That is why God said, “

I wonder how many of christians would shy away from mentioning things that are supernatural or could be conceived as being a bit strange by people outside of the faith.

I wonder if this crossed we his mind. yet here he was telling about his personal habit and about a biblical truth without worrying about brand ‘Welby’

He reinforced that he needs to call on the Name of God to function in his daily life.

He needs to spend time with God. He values speaking in tongues and he would not have a clue how to deal with some people and situations without words of knowledge.

The wold may see this as weird, they may think he is weak that he can’t do it on his own.

But He elevates Gods Name (brand) over his own and reinforces he is only doing what Jesus has told us all to do in Acts 2...

"During that time, they prayed and the Spirit came. What he does has no deeper rationale than the command of Jesus. He said ‘go back into the city and pray for the Spirit of God.’" - Justin Welby

How many times do we put our brand before Gods? When do we stay silent and don’t speak the truth in case it damages our brand - peoples perceptions of us.

Take a risk tell the truth

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from the motives of policy are silent we we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls - Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Now I am not suggesting we should be deliberately provocative or aggressive in disclosing our beliefs but their is a time for telling the truth whatever the consequences. but you know more often than not there are no negative consequences

Exodus 20:7 NIV

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Gods Brand not Church Brand

The Arch Bish was also keen to put Gods Brand above any beyond the Church Brand

Disunity and the church is not a good thing But Striving to unity should not Displace the Truth And we should recognise our differences and learn how to disagree well

Life is complicated, There are no easy answers, and we need to seek God help

We are going to meet people of No faith and different Faith, even Christians that worship in different ways, and focus on some elements of doctrine more than others.

While we must never let the Truth suffer, or dilute our belifs

After all it is the truth that sets us free, we live in a diverse world where we have to Balance what holiness looks like and how we treat those who fall short. Jesus gave us a great example in the way he spoke truth and treated those who saw themselves as holy and those the world saw as unclean.

Read the bible - all the bits

Pray for those you don’t agree with

love one another.

No simple answers

As Christians of today have to live in the reality of the today - and we have to navigate a way through it. Through placing the brand of God ahead of that of the church (whatever flavour it may be).

In Jesus prayed for 'all Christians to be one, as Jesus and his father are one.' He also prayed that they 'may be brought to complete unity so that the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.'

The New International Version Chapter 17

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

John 17:15–19 NLT

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

talks a

This is christian unity week.

Christians of today have to live in the reality of the today - but we are called in Jesus in one… God is one, the church should be one to represent the one-ness of Christ. This is not prioritising truth is greater than unity, but we are called to be one.

Dis-unity

Ruins prayer life

Destroys our certainty of Salvation in Christ.

Hinders the mission

Disagree well, worship Jesus christ and declare the Gospel

Live Every Day by Water and Spirit under the brand of God.

We practice honouring God by word and deed, supporting each other.

Colossians 3:16–17 NIV

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The truth is we can only keep this command with God’s help.

Especially when we look across the church spectrum

God is one, the church should be one to represent the one-ness of Christ. While we not seeking uniformity and we will not prioritise unity over truth we are called to unity to sit under Gods brand.

There may be times that we need to disagree well but we need to stand together to pray in the name of God and declare the Gospel remembering who gets bums on seats in not important it is who gets the souls that counts.

Ruins prayer life

Destroys our certainty of Salvation in Christ.

Hinders the mission

As we displace our brand for God’s and the Churches brand for God’s

Disagree well, worship Jesus christ and declare the Gospel

I believe that He will reward us with a new heart for the folks around us.

As in Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36:26–27 NIV

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

And as this happens I believe that we will see people move back to following Jesus.

Practical step

Ezekiel 36:22–23 NIV

22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

WE CAN ONLY KEEP THIS COMMANDMENT WITH GOD’S HELP!

God shows us how great he is, as we read the Bible. The Name of God becomes holy to us.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 NIV

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Ezekiel 36:16–28 NIV

16 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. 18 So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. 20 And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. 22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. 24 “ ‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 36:16-28

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2300 Sharing Their Spring Water

2300 Sharing Their Spring Water

Behind the writing of that very beautiful poem, “The House by the Side of the Road,” there is a story of humble service that in its way is more lovely than the verse.

Sam Foss was an enthusiastic traveler as well as a writer, and on one of his trips through rustic England, weary and thirsty, he came to a small unpainted house that stood atop a fairly steep hill. Near one side of the road was a crude signpost finger pointing to a well-worn path, and a sign that read, “Come in and have a cool drink.” Following the path a short distance he found a spring of ice-cold water, above which hung an old-fashioned gourd dipper. On a bench nearby was a basket of summer apples with another sign, “Help Yourself.”

His curiosity aroused, Foss sought out the old couple who lived in the little house and questioned them about the signs and the fruit. He learned that they were childless, and that their poor farm yielded them a scant living. But because they had such an abundance of cold spring water and fruit they felt rich and wanted to share it with any one who might pass that way. “We’re too poor to give money to charity,” the old gentleman said, “but we thought maybe in this way we could add our mite and do something for folks who pass our way.”

—Evangelistic Illustration

The upcoming prayer day came out of when a number of ground level leaders gathered for prayer last autumn.

When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t - William Temple

The task of seeing Lincolnshire transformed is huge and we need to hear from God as to how we best cooperate with Him. There is a real need to pray and hear God for the county with churches and individuals praying in unity.

As part of this we are joining with other churches in our area, just as other areas will do 2 or 3 times a year. The first of these for us is in Market Rasen. 

Between these times we are looking to establish over the next few years - Yes Years - committed prayer for each of the towns and villages we live in - by prayer walking or regular prayer meeting in each location regularly or something entirley differnt

We are encourage to do this ecumenically. To initiate this aspect we will, as a church be taking part in the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ 10 days of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost - For those of you like me that have no concept of when that is it May 30th - June 9th. We are discussing this with the other churches.

I am determined to place Gods brand over the brand of the Vine.

But if we are really going to see God move it has to start with each of us.

We will talk about how that may work out in terms of prayer another time. But the first step has to be for each of us to position the name of God firmly over everything else.

Thy Kingdom come, clearly comes from the the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.

Recognising Gods brand over our lives and placing it above our own is at the heart of phrases in this prayer. Phrases like. Hallowed by your Name. Like - Your will be done ( the emphasis being not my will)

It would be a good start if each of our church members prayed - if possible with others - for the community they live in.

The things I feel it especially important to pray as we seek God together next week are:

1. That God will pour out His Holy Spirit on the people of Lincolnshire

2. That we hear from God as to how best to focus our mission - which towns/villages should we seek to impact? What are the keys to any one community? How do we best cooperate with what He is already doing?

3. That He leads us to multiply leaders, ministries, groups, churches. That many new Christian communities will be established - to fulfil a "cell in every village, a congregation in every town and a celebration in the cities from the Humber to the Wash" (Stuart) 

So to finish we are going to say the Lords prayer but today instead of just tripping of the familiar words, we are going to look at and think about the words. If you want to place Gods brand first, over your own, if you want to see the transforming power of Christ in your life, if you want to see His kingdom be manifest in Lincolnshire then Join with me and say it as if you mean it. If not then it may be better to learn from Malachai and remain silent than just pay it lip-service.

Pray for those you don’t agree with

love one another.

No simple answers

Balance what holiness looks like and how we treat those who fall short

When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t - William Temple

Dis-unity

Ruins prayer life

Destroys our certainty of Salvation in Christ.

Hinders the mission

Disagree well, worship Jesus christ and declare the Gospel