“A New Beginning, A New Life” Northside Mission Church (1-JAN-2012)

By faith alone, I have received Jesus as My Lord and My Saviour. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I have set my mind of things above, not on earthly things. For I have died and my life is now hidden in Christ. When Christ who is my life appears, I will also appear with Him in glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen! (John 1:12, Galatians 2:20 & Colossians 3:2-3) Our Proclamation

Will $31 million change your life? AUD $31 million is equal to PHP billion! My short list of things to do if I had that much money are: A brand-new V8 Commodore, a 2-storey house in North Lakes and taking a world cruise with the family

“In the beginning…” John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. Word – Logos in Greek (Understanding, Reason, Intelligence and Purpose)

“In the beginning…” Hebrews 1:2-3a (God) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

“In the beginning…” John 1:15 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. God dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:6) John 14:9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

The World’s response to Him John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. “The world” – not the universe nor creation – specifically, the nation of Israel as a whole – particularly, the religious authorities of the Jewish people at that time

The World’s response to Him Isaiah 53:1-3 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He (Jesus) shall grow up before Him (God) as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

The World’s response to Him Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. Lowly – gentle, meek

The Creation recognized Him! Matthew 8:26-27 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

The Creation recognized Him! Luke 23:44-46 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

How should we respond to Him? John 1:12-13 (NIV) Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. Alternatives that are ruled out: 1.Born of natural descent 2.Born of human decision 3.Born of a husband’s will

How should we respond to Him? John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

What is the New Life? Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

What is the New Life? Colossians 3:2-4 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

How do we nurture the New Life? Four main priorities for the those in Christ: 1.Appropriate spiritual nourishment – the Word of God Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” 1 Peter 2:2 … as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby

How do we nurture the New Life? 1.Appropriate spiritual nourishment (the Word of God) Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

How do we nurture the New Life? 2.Keeping in touch with the Life Source – Prayer 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. To pray effectively is to: a.Begin by thanking and acknowledging God b.Submit our will, plans and needs to God c.Seek His guidance and help d.Commit our needs to Him e.Never separate praying with thanking

How do we nurture the New Life? 3.Confessing our faith openly Matthew 10:32-33 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

How do we nurture the New Life? 4.Fellowship with other believers regularly Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

How do we nurture the New Life? 4.Fellowship with other believers regularly 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

A New Year, A New Life! 1. Do I realize my spiritual need? Or am I simply concerned with my physical, carnal, temporary and worldly needs? 2. Is it possible that God has somehow come into my life through His Son and I have not recognize Him? 3. Do I want to live the new life of being “born again”, “born of God” and “born from above” more fully, in all its richness and wonder?