Untitled Sermon

LIFE

Simon Gigliotti/ General

Simon, Youth Director, Wife is Brittany, From Melbourne, Originally from QLD. Pastor Garth was the local Pastor of the Church I grew up in. It’s a blessing and an honour to share today.

Elisha

Let’s Pray.

Me –

A week or so ago we had to fly to Brisbane for a couple of days. Now, being new to Sydney, I had no idea which airport parking to go with. In fact, I have now worked out that we should have just used the Train instead of Airport Parking. But anyway, we went with airport parking. So, here’s how it went.

Simon, Youth Director, Wife is Brittany, From Melbourne, Originally from QLD. Pastor Garth was the local Pastor of the Church I grew up in.

· I did a google search, picked one of the top three places and called them up.

Let’s Pray.

· The guy answers the phone. He was like hello. And, I’m like hello is the parking place? And he’s like “yes”. And I’m like, “Can I book a park?” He’s like “when for?” (now, he’s saying all this in like a half grumpy tone – I was nearly tempted to be like umm, never mind mate all good). But any way I continued “I’m like this afternoon and through to Thursday.” He’s like yes, name. I give him my name, then I ask him the price. It was just cheaper than the airport and about the same as a couple other general parking companies so, I kind of reluctantly locked it in.

Me –

· Anyway, we drive in find the address...

A week or so ago we had to fly to Brisbane for a couple of days. Now, being new to Sydney, I had no idea which airport parking to go with. In fact, I have now worked out that we should have just used the Train instead of Airport Parking. But anyway, we went with airport parking. So, here’s how it went.

· Now, this was the surprise part. Based on the price, I was expecting a nice clean parking area with shuttle busses and all that jazz. Instead it’s this old dingy yard out in the open with a little site shed on it. If there was a hail storm, my car was getting wasted. Anyway, we go in and old mate then loads us in his bommy old car and drives us down the airport. On the way, I see a Bus with the same name as his company on the side of it. I ask him if that’s his? He says, no that’s another company, they nearly have the same name. Oh, ok. In my mind I’m like – “sweet maybe next time I go with them.”

· I did a google search, picked one of the top three places and called them up.

· Now, we get back. You call the driver and they come pick you up.

· The guy answers the phone. He was like hello. And, I’m like hello is the parking place? And he’s like “yes”. And I’m like, “Can I book a park?” He’s like “when for?” (now, he’s saying all this in like a half grumpy tone – I was nearly tempted to be like umm, never mind mate all good). But any way I continued “I’m like this afternoon and through to Thursday.” He’s like yes, name. I give him my name, then I ask him the price. It was just cheaper than the airport and about the same as a couple other general parking companies so, I kind of reluctantly locked it in.

· So, this time it’s a different driver in a bommy old car. He’s been doing the rounds picking people up.

· Anyway, we drive in find the address...

· Anyway, we jump in…He begins driving for the gate. He then turns to the guys in the back and gives them his ticket to get out the gate. And he says – My window doesn’t wind down can you put this in the ticket machine for me. Anyway, I’m nearly laughing at this stage!

· Now, this was the surprise part. Based on the price, I was expecting a nice clean parking area with shuttle busses and all that jazz. Instead it’s this old dingy yard out in the open with a little site shed on it. If there was a hail storm, my car was getting wasted. Anyway, we go in and old mate then loads us in his bommy old car and drives us down the airport. On the way, I see a Bus with the same name as his company on the side of it. I ask him if that’s his? He says, no that’s another company, they nearly have the same name. Oh, ok. In my mind I’m like – “sweet maybe next time I go with them.”

· Now, it gets worse. We get close to the Parking place and I see this sign on a Billboard. It’s another company advertising like $15 a day parking, I’m thinking, and I went with this guy for like $60 a day. My wallet was itching in my pocket..

· Now, we get back. You call the driver and they come pick you up.

· Then, we get in the gate. it’s bucketing down rain. And, you wouldn’t believe it, the whole car park is like this thick in water. Old mate tells us he will pop the boot so we can be quick. We jump out, and he forgot to pop the boot. We are standing in 3 inches of water running getting soaked trying to open up the boot. We drove out and looked at each-other, we will never go back again.

· So, this time it’s a different driver in a bommy old car. He’s been doing the rounds picking people up.

Have you ever had an experience like that? Maybe it was at a Café, maybe a restaurant, maybe a parking lot. I don’t know. We’ve all had them.

· Anyway, we jump in…He begins driving for the gate. He then turns to the guys in the back and gives them his ticket to get out the gate. And he says – My window doesn’t wind down can you put this in the ticket machine for me. Anyway, I’m nearly laughing at this stage!

Now, this got me thinking…I wonder what sort of experiences people are getting in our local Churches?

· Now, it gets worse. We get close to the Parking place and I see this sign on a Billboard. It’s another company advertising like $15 a day parking, I’m thinking, and I went with this guy for like $60 a day. My wallet was itching in my pocket..

· I wonder if they are getting greeted by warm & loving communities?

· Then, we get in the gate. it’s bucketing down rain. And, you wouldn’t believe it, the whole car park is like this thick in water. Old mate tells us he will pop the boot so we can be quick. We jump out, and he forgot to pop the boot. We are standing in 3 inches of water running getting soaked trying to open up the boot. We drove out and looked at each-other, we will never go back again.

· I wonder if they are hearing & experiencing the Gospel of Jesus, or if they are getting a behaviour lesson?

Have you ever had an experience like that? Maybe it was at a Café, maybe a restaurant, maybe a parking lot. I don’t know. We’ve all had them.

· I wonder if people are walking into a group of vibrant and passionate people or a group of people that are all caught up in themselves, and have fallen into an apathetic state?

Now, this got me thinking…I wonder what sort of experiences people are getting in our local Churches? I wonder if they are getting greeted by warm & loving communities? I wonder if they are hearing & experiencing the Gospel of Jesus, or if they are getting a behaviour lesson? I wonder if people are walking into a group of vibrant and passionate people or a group of people that are all caught up in themselves, and have fallen into an apathetic state?

We –

We have to watch these things you know. The Church is not immune to the possibility of giving people negative experiences. To me what it comes down to is keeping our focus. To me what it comes down to, is moving away from becoming caught up in ourselves, and looking to Jesus and what He’s called us to do

We have to watch these things you know. The Church is not immune to the possibility of giving people negative experiences. If we lose our focus, we can easily come to a place where instead of being a Church that shares the Life we find in Jesus, we simply give off negative experiences.

Focus. Focusing on Jesus and the life He gives so we can share Life with others. I wonder how we are going with that?

It’s often been a struggle for the Church to keep focus..

Believe it or not, the early Church struggled with it at one stage…

Follow with me for a minute.

In - Jesus announced a Church. It’s the first time in scripture that He announced the NT Church. Notice then in . Jesus is pictured here in praying for this Church. Here is what He says -

- “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” - NASB

Jesus is praying for His Disciples, at that stage they were the corium of the Church, so He is praying for His Disciples and those who His disciples will make disciples of. And He says, Father can you please make them one. The world isn’t going to know there is anything special about them if you don’t make them one. Please make them one.

Jesus is praying for His Disciples, at that stage they were the corium of the Church, so He is praying for His Disciples and those who His disciples will make disciples of. And He says, Father can you please make them one. The world isn’t going to know there is anything special about them if you don’t make them one. Please make them one. Please help them to keep focused on me so the world will see what’s special about them.

Now, why would Jesus be asking the Father to make His disciples one? Well, let’s look close by. Back to - the last supper, this is crazy stuff, blew me away when I picked it up, you need to see this. This is directly before the Passover.

Now, why would Jesus be asking the Father to make His disciples one? Well, let’s look close by. Back to - the last supper, this is crazy stuff, by the way I stole this idea from another preacher, blew me away when I picked it up, you need to see this. This is directly before the Passover.

If you are visiting today, just know that the last supper (in other words the last meal Jesus eats), the prayer Jesus gives in , and the crucifixion of Jesus all take place within a short period, Thursday night and a fair portion of Friday. So here we go, directly before the Passover and a short time before Jesus prayed that prayer we just looked at in .

- “And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.” NASB

1. Jesus is preparing to eat His last meal before He’s crucified.. before they whip Him within an inch of His life and hang Him to a tree to die.. and Judas is working out how He can betray Jesus. That’s one of the disciples.

2. -Jesus has just broken the news that someone amongst the disciples is going to betray Him, and notice what happens then.

- “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.” NASB

Are you getting this - you imagine if you are, Jesus. You ever had a birthday party and had someone turn up and make it all about them, create some age- old family dispute? Blow everything up and wreck the occasion. Jesus is just about to die. It’s His last meal, and His disciples are arguing amongst themselves as to who is the Greatest?

I’m not finished yet.

3. Verse 31 -

- “‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’

But he said to Him, ‘Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!’ And He said, ‘I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.’” NASB

Three years, some of these disciples have been with Jesus. We know He anointed the twelve official, about a year and a half into his ministry, but Peter - we know from the book of John was one of the earliest disciples Jesus called. Three years with Jesus. Simon Peter is just about to deny Jesus. (Pastors some times get frustrated with those they are working with, I try not to let it worry me - three years with Jesus, Peter hasn’t come too far). Now, the others aren’t a whole lot better. Notice -

- “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” NASB

Peter always cops the flack for denying Jesus, well at least he, and one other, stuck around long enough to deny him, the others just left Jesus alone.

Jesus is at His last supper,

• Judas is ready to betray Him

• The Disciples are fighting over who is the greatest among them

• Peter is going to deny Him

• And the others are going to leave Him for dead, literally, when it all get’s a bit rough.

No wonder Jesus is praying that they may be One. You getting this??

It’s human nature to get all caught up in ourselves and struggle to see what Jesus has store for us as a Church. Jesus has called us to share eternal life in Him, but we so often struggle cause our focus has shifted from where it needs to be. We might be harsh on the disciples, but - We aren’t really all that different..

Now here is the problem, too often, we aren’t really that different..

• Some-times, some of us, get a little spiritual pride, we think we are better than others. A little more holy and all that kind of stuff.

• Some-times we think we are better than others. A little more holy and all that kind of stuff.

• Some-times we hold grudges, none of the issue was our fault of course.

• Some-times we aren’t faithful enough in our marriages. You know, wandering eyes, wandering desires, too busy with work, all sorts of stuff.

• Some- times we just have too much pride!

If you are visiting today, none of that applied to you, that was in house. By the way, I don’t really know much about this Church, I just know what’s common in a lot of Churches.

The more I think about it, the more I come to realise that their was divine wisdom in the prayer of Jesus - “Help them be one so the world may believe that you sent me”. Help them to get focused on me and what matters so they can share life with world.

The more I think about it, the more I come to realise that their was divine wisdom in the prayer of Jesus - “Help them be one”. Help them to get focused on me and what matters so they can share life with world.

Sometimes we struggle, so how do we become a Church that Shares the life we find in Jesus? I think there is a lesson in the story of Elisha.

How do we become a Church that Shares the life we find in Jesus, I think there is a lesson in the story of Elisha.

You -

Let me show you something, that’s going to freak you out. This is one of those crazy passages.

- “Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.” NASB

Did you catch that, in , we see Elisha succeed the prophet Elijah. From then on, we see him in full swing in his prophetic ministry, and then in chapter 13 his death is recorded. The scripture says - “Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.” This is craziness right here…

Did you catch that, in , we see Elisha succeed the prophet Elijah. From then on we see him in full swing in his prophetic ministry, and then in chapter 13 his death is recorded. The scripture says - “Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.” This is craziness right here…

You get the picture… some poor guy has passed away. So family friends etc have gathered together in order to carry out the funeral. All of a sudden this band of moabite tomb raiders, marauders, thieves who raid the land each spring are seen coming in the distance, so the people who are performing the funeral chuck the dead man into the grave of Elisha, and his body touches Elisha’s bones.…and that, just that, is enough to bring him back to life. Number 1. lucky day for the dead man. 2. I wonder what he done, the dead man that is, when he seen the band of moabites coming…He probably took off and caught up to his family members. You imagine, that.. here they are running and all of a sudden uncle Johnny comes running by…I don’t know if you would be tempted to run faster from the band, or the dead, now alive, uncle Johnny. Think about it, this is some crazy and funny stuff!!!

What happened here? A dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha and came to life. What does that tell you about Elisha the Prophet? It tells me that, this Prophet, must have been filled up with the Spirit God…Even when He was dead, His bones brought life. He must have been filled with the Spirit of God.

What happened here? A dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha and came to life. What does that tell you about Elisha the Prophet? It tells me that, this Prophet, must have been filled up with the Spirit God.…

We can see that from a brief trace of His story…

• It starts in - Elisha is called to the Prophetic Ministry while plowing in the field.

• He then works along-side Elijah until the day God decides to take Elijah home..

• Just before Elijah is taken by God, he asks- Elisha if there is anything he can do for him, and this is key, here is how Elisha responds -

- “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

“Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” This is some ask, notice what Elijah says -

- “He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” NASB

Elijah, turns to Elisha and says - ohhh, I don’t know if God will do that.. Now, that makes sense to me. Elijah is the greatest prophet Israel has seen since Moses delivered them from Egypt. Think about Elijah for a second in full swing. In - while on Mt Carmel, Elijah calls fire from heaven in the sight of all Israel, and 850 false prophets. Then - he slays 450 prophets of Baal, then God’s spirit comes on him so powerfully that he runs close to 30 kilometres, not at standard pace, faster than the chariots beside him. Elijah is one crazy Spirit filled prophet. Elisha (succesor) says, “give me double what you have”.

Elijah says, It’s a hard thing, but if you see me when I go up it’s as you have asked.

Verse 11 -12

- “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it...”

Notice now verse 15 -

- “Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, ‘The Spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.”

This is not worship here friends. No, no - this is simply respect. The sons of the Prophets see Elisha and they quickly realise this may be one of the most spirit filled Prophets God has ever ordained, he is crazy full of the Holy Spirit, and their natural reaction is to pay the brother some respect. They knew what power his predecessor carried, and Elisha now crosses the Jordan and He’s got double what Elijah had. I reckon I would be taking my hat off too, “sir”.

If I can use some modern language, “Elisha is one bad prophet”. The young people know what I mean by that. I don’t mean bad behaved, I mean he’s not someone you want to be messing with.

I’ll let you check the rest of the story..

From the Bible recalls 20 or so occurrences where Elisha exercises the power of the Holy Spirit… in the forms of miracles and the like… this prophet was one miracle working machine. So much so that, even when He was dead, His bones still brought life.

Question is folks, where are we at?

How filled with the Spirit are you and I? How much life are we bringing to the community that surrounds us? I’m not talking about going to the hospital and raising people from the dead. If God uses you to do that, great! But I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about -

• The family next door that can’t afford to pay their bills.

• I’m talking about the couple over the street that are this close to divorce.

• I’m talking the brother down the street on drugs, and contemplating suicide.

• I’m talking about the guy at your office, that’s so full of himself that he can’t see he’s destroying every relationship around him.

We do get a little caught up in here sometimes don’t we.

We do get a little caught up in here sometimes don’t we. But we don’t have to stay there..

Church in the States – Preacher comes to preach. Seat Story.

There are 7500 attending Seventh-Day Adventists on a given Sabbath in Greater Sydney Conference and 5.6 Million people to reach for Jesus..

We can’t afford to be a Church like that.

If we divide all the people up between our Churches, there are 58, 000 people per Church to reach.. God wants to do something. God wants us to be so focused on Jesus, so filled with the Holy Spirit that like Elisha, even when we aren’t trying, we can’t help but spread life to this community.

There are 7500 attending Seventh-Day Adventists on a given Sabbath in Greater Sydney Conference and 5.6 Million people to reach for Jesus..

- “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. I’m talking about taking Jesus, from here out there, into the places it really matters. Jesus is the one who brings life.

If we divide all the people in Sydney up between our Churches, there are 58, 000 people per Church to reach…God wants to do something. God wants us to be so focused on Jesus, so filled with the Holy Spirit that like Elisha, even when we aren’t trying, we can’t help but spread life to this community.

Are you a life giver? Are you someone who is contributing to people having a positive experience with Jesus at your Church?

Let’s make this practical now. 3 Take homes.

Well, you can become one.

How do we become people that, like Elisha, are so filled with the Holy Spirit, that even when we’re not trying, we still share the beautiful life that is found in Jesus?

I’m going to wrap this up now, four practical tips to take home from this week. We learn these from the life of Elisha.

1. Once you commit to Jesus, don’t look back

How do I become a life Giver? How do I become a person that is so filled with the Holy Spirit, that even when I’m not trying, I share the life we have in Jesus?

In , we see the call of Elisha into the Prophetic Ministry.

1. Once you commit, don’t look back

Once Elijah placed his mantle on Elijah, Elisha knowing that he had received this special call chased after Elijah and asked if he could say good bye to his parents and then come and follow him. Elijah, responds, nearly in guilt, and says – what have I done to this kid. Go back again.

In , we see the call of Elisha.. notice the text...

But notice what Elisha does.

- “So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.

“So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.” NASB

[This was no doubt a custom of honour, a calling to a high office]

He turned around and burned his stuff and said, God’s called me I’m not turning back. I wonder if you have made that kind of commitment?

He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, ‘Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.’ And he said to him, ‘Go back again, for what have I done to you?’

You know, Sometimes we miss the stuff we used to do before we committed to Christ, the devil has this habit of presenting these things as if they are wonderful and great, and the things of Christ, he presents them as if they are plain and boring. Too often, we begin to listen. We think about the life of ease we could live, we think about the worldly pleasures we could have, and before you know it, our moral compass begins to slip. Our mind starts wandering. Problem is, we don’t realise that the path that we are beginning to slowly and subtly pursue will lead us back to the same misery we found ourselves in when we first starting searching for something greater then ourselves. Once you are committed friends, don’t look back.. look up to the glory, the honour, the riches and goodness of eternity, that Christ has promised for us.. That’s what Elisha did.

[Some people think, that Elisha’s faith is wavering here… ‘Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you’... is he denying the call of God, would he rather a life of ease in the comforts of his home town? If we follow the context we will see that it was nothing more than a natural and reasonable reaction.. Elijah pushes the point, and tests Elisha, saying “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” In other words, “you can stay behind altogether if you want to, this is not going to be an easy life.” But notice what Elisha does…

2. Ask God to humbly teach you

So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.” NASB

Notice this text from -

Elisha’s response is plain and clear, I don’t need these tools from my ordinary work any longer, I have been called to something greater and I will follow that place which God leads me… Elisha, here, commit’s his life… yes his whole life, to God, and he leaves no room to turn back.. What about you? Have you committed your life to Jesus, have you then left no space to turn back?

- “But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” NASB

Sometimes we miss the stuff we used to do before we committed to Christ, the devil has this habit of presenting these things as if they are wonderful and great, and the things of Christ, he presents them as if they are plain and boring. Too often, we begin to listen. We think about the life of ease we could live, we think about the worldly pleasures we could have, and before you know it, our moral compass begins to slip. Our mind starts wandering. Problem is, we don’t realise that the path that we are beginning to slowly and subtly pursue will lead us back to the same misery we found ourselves in when we first starting searching for something greater t3. Ask God to fill you with what matters most

I’m not concerned with the context of the story here, I am concerned with the actions of Elisha. Did you notice that the text said that Elisha used to pour water on the hands of Elijah? Ellen White makes a profound comment on this.

2. Ask God to humbly teach you

“It was no great work that was at first required of Elisha; commonplace duties still constituted his discipline. He is spoken of as pouring water on the hands of Elijah, his master. He was willing to do anything that the Lord directed, and at every step he learned lessons of humility and service.” PK 222.2 Ellen G

Notice this text from -

The Holy Spirit doesn’t fill the proud, He fills the humble:

- “But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” NASB

1. Once You commit to Jesus, don’t look back

I’m not concerned with the context of the story here, I am concerned with the actions of Elisha. Notice the text said that Elisha used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. Ellen White makes a profound comment on this.

2. Ask God to humbly teach you

“It was no great work that was at first required of Elisha; commonplace duties still constituted his discipline. He is spoken of as pouring water on the hands of Elijah, his master. He was willing to do anything that the Lord directed, and at every step he learned lessons of humility and service.” PK 222.2 Ellen G

3. Ask God to fill you with what matters most

The Holy Spirit doesn’t fill the proud, He fills the humble..

What did Elisha say in ?

1. Once You commit, don’t look back

- “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

2. Ask God to humbly teach you

He could have asked for anything. Elijah says what can I do for you before I leave? Anything, you name it. Elisha doesn’t ask for more money. He doesn’t ask for a new car. He doesn’t ask for a significant other. He doesn’t ask God to change his spouse, Elisha asks for what matters most.. that is.. Give me double the Holy Spirit you have.

3. Ask God to fill you with what matters most

The next 11 chapters are filled with 21 miracles and the like, the next 11 chapters describe a man possessed with the Holy Spirit, and the result of what that looks like… the next 11 chapters are filled with the work of a Prophet who even when He was dead still brought life.

What did Elisha say in ?

Imagine what this town would look like! Imagine if this Church was filled with people who -

- “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

1. Committed to Jesus and didn’t look back

He could have asked for anything. Elijah says what can I do for you before I leave? Anything, you name it. Elisha doesn’t ask for more money. He doesn’t ask for a new car. He doesn’t ask for a significant other. He doesn’t ask God to change his spouse, Elisha asks for what matters most.. that is.. Give me double the Holy Spirit you have.

2. Asked God to humbly teach them His ways

The next 11 chapters

3. Asked God to fill them with what matters most

Imagine what this town would look like! Imagine if this Church was filled with people who -

And then stepped into the community to serve. That would be something

1. Committed to Jesus and didn’t look back

I’m going to close with a story.

2. Asked God to humbly teach them His ways

Aurthur Stace:

3. Asked God to fill them with what matters most..

How many people here remember the year 2000 celebrations and fire-works display that took place on Sydney harbour – Remember the word that was emblazoned on the Harbour bridge – “Eternity”. Have you ever wondered why they wrote that word? There is a fascinating story behind it. It’s all about a man named “Arthur Stace” – Authur Stace was a Sydney drunk, raised in a Balmain slum area by a drunken father and mother. His two sisters and two brothers also were drunks who lived much of their time in jail. His sisters ran brothels and his job was to carry liquor from the pubs to the brothels. He went to jail regularly after the age of fifteen. After the first World War Arthur slipped from beer, to whisky, to gin, to rum, and finally to methylated spirits. What a character hey! In 1930, during the depression Arthur went to a Christian Church Hall in order to get some free food. But when Aurthur was there he got a bit more than he bargained for. While he was receiving his food, the local Church had so cleverly employed a Gospel preacher to share the the Story of Jesus. So here’s Arthur, he’s lining up for food, he’s listening to the Gospel being preached, and at the same time he is looking around himself, and he just can’t help but notice as he looks around, that there was a dramatic contrast between himself and the 300 criminals who were with him, and these Christians who were feeding them and sharing the words of the Bible with them. Something started to happen in Arthur’s heart, he began to step from death to life…

And then stepped into the community to serve. That would be something

Arthur gave his life to Jesus that night. He was saved by the Grace of Jesus and Immediately - he found the power to give up. His alcohol. Self-respect returned, in time he got a decent job. Jesus changed Him.

Imagine!! Do you want to be one of those sorts of people today? Do you want to be a life giver?

Some months later he heard a preacher talking on the importance of remembering that we all have eternity coming to us – eternal life or eternal death. And from there on in, he couldn’t get the word out of his head, and felt this powerful call from God to write the word "ETERNITY". Problem was, Arthur was illiterate to the point he couldn’t even spell his own name. But, but for some reason, the moment he tried to write the word “eternity” it came out smoothly in beautiful copperplate script. He couldn't understand how it was possible, but it worked. So he began to rise at 4 am in the morning to write this word all over the streets of Sydney, because he had this burden for other people to receive eternal life in Jesus. For years no one knew who was writing this word that appeared on train stations and side-walks. Finally, it was discovered that “Aurthur Stace” was responsible. He died in 1967, still burning with a desire that everyone in Sydney should be a part of God’s eternal Kingdom. The word had become so famous all over Sydney’s streets, that on the eve of the new millennium it was decided to honour Stace by blazing the word eternity in his beautiful copperplate handwriting on the Sydney harbour bridge.

Aurthur Stace

Eternity, Life.

How many people here remember the year 2000 celebrations and fire works display that took place on Sydney harbour – Remember the word that was emblazoned on the Harbour bridge – “Eternity”. Have you ever wondered why they wrote that word? There is a fascinating story behind it. It’s all about a man named “Arthur Stace” – Authur Stace was a Sydney drunk, raised in a Balmain slum area by a drunken father and mother. His two sisters and two brothers also were drunks who lived much of their time in jail. His sisters ran brothels and his job was to carry liquor from the pubs to the brothels. He went to jail regularly after the age of fifteen. After the first World War Arthur slipped from beer, to whisky, to gin, to rum, and finally to methylated spirits. What a character hey! In 1930, during the depression Arthur went to a Christian Church Hall in order to get some free food. But when would become a people who live, breath, and share eternal life In Jesus.

This is what we have been called to share with our city. We haven’t been called to share experiences that come from a self-centred community, we have been called to share the saving Grace of Jesus. We’ve been called to share life.

Arthur gave his life to Jesus that night. Immediately - he found the power to give up. His alcohol. Self-respect returned, in time he got a decent job. Jesus changed Him.

I wonder if that’s your desire today?

Some months later he heard a preacher talking on the importance of remembering that we all have eternity coming to us – eternal life or eternal death. And from there on in, he couldn’t get the word out of his head, he and felt this powerful call from God to write the word "ETERNITY". Problem was, Arthur was illiterate to the point he couldn’t even spell his own name. But, but for some reason, the moment he tried to write the word “eternity” it came out smoothly in beautiful copperplate script. He couldn't understand how it was possible, but it worked. So he began to rise at 4 am in the morning to write this word all over the streets of Sydney, because he had this burden for other people to receive eternal life in Jesus. For years no one knew who was writing this word that appeared on train stations and side-walks. Finally, it was discovered that “Aurthur Stace” was responsible. He died in 1967, still burning with a desire that everyone in Sydney should be a part of God’s eternal Kingdom. The word had become so famous all over Sydney’s streets, that on the eve of the new millennium it was decided to honour Stace by writing that word in his beautiful copperplate handwriting on Sydney harbour bridge in fire.

Life!!! Life gives more life friends… what are you giving today? What are you filled with today? It’s my prayer that even when we don’t mean it, each and every one of us would become a people who live, breath, and share eternal life In Jesus.

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Good morning –