Church in the Peak Podcast: DaveNewman

1st April 2012 - Dave Newman - Keeping The Love Of God

Church in the Peak — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:32:00 +0100

Dave spoke from Jude, looking at things that we need to do to keep the love of God, including walking in reverence and fear of God.

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1st May 2011 - Dave Newman - Finishing Strong (Part 3): Bitterness or Forgiveness? - You Choose

Church in the Peak — Sun, 01 May 2011 12:59:00 +0100

Dave continued his “Finishing Strong” set of sermons. Links to the other sermons can be found at the bottom of this entry.

The story of Ruth

Reminder: Ruth a picture of Grace at a time when “Men did that which was right in their own eyes” (or as they saw fit) ~ just like today’s society, civil strife, national upheaval, international concerns.

The Book of Grace – 3 keys –Loyalty (1vv14-16), Kindness (“vv10-12), Faithfulness (4v11)
Ruth finished strong

Reading: Chapter 1vv16-22, 4v14-17

Naomi, a name which means sweetness, had become bitter. At least she was honest! I agree with Mark Driscoll. We often fake it with God and say we are fine when we are not.

• “It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile”
• “Are you glad? Tell your face”
• “Live on Praise Avenue not Grumble St”
• “If life deals you a lemon, make some lemonade out of it”

Scripture on Bitterness

• Proverbs 14v10 ~ Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no-one can share its joy
• Romans 3v14 ~ Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness (concerning the unrighteous)
• Ephesians 4v31 ~ Get rid of all bitterness

The Christian life is strewn with casualties of bitterness.

What will bitterness do?

1. It will destroy your future as well as your present and the blessings of the past. Naomi’s bitterness was in danger of taking away any future she may have had (see 1v13, 20)

2. It will destroy you from within to without (Why does God get the blame every time something goes wrong? We are a fallen people in a fallen world. The world never praises God when something goes right)

3. It will narrow your vision of God, in fact you will end up spiritually blind!

4. It is a death sentence! (Jon Batsford)

What was Naomi’s problem?

Naomi couldn’t find forgiveness for herself or her family. Her mistakes had overwhelmed her.

Bitterness could have destroyed her but she went back to the place of bread and found healing, starting with a cry for help from the other women. Be honest but don’t be destroyed by what life has dealt you, by your own devices or the mistakes of others, we are all flawed. See the example of Joseph ~ Genesis 50 vv15 – 21. He knew the power of forgiveness.

The Alternative to Bitterness is Forgiveness

1. Keep no record of wrongs (I Cor. 13)

2. Keep no record of rights

3. Believe that guilt is dealt with (I John 1v9 ~ If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness)

4. We can mistakenly believe that grief is guilt and vice versa

5. Learn to accept yourself (I Cor. 15v10 ~ By the grace of God I am what I am)

6. See forgiveness as a lifetime commitment (How many times? Peter said)

7. It is an act of the will and not based on feelings

See “Steps to Freedom in Christ” page 35 – 39.

Recommended reading: Total Forgiveness by R.T.Kendall

In conclusion

“It’s dishonest to talk about the power of prayer and lead a prayerless life. Isn’t it dishonest to talk about forgiveness and fail to forgive” (Ted Engstrom ~ Integrity)

Ephesians 4v32 means no room for bitterness, see Psalm 37v24, Prov. 24v16. Note Hebrews 12v15.

Learn to let go and let God.
What was the end of it all for Naomi? See Ruth 4 v14

At the end of his preach, Dave played “Merciful” by Graham Kendrick (from his new “Banquet” album – see link below for lyrics & other details).

After the song, Dave Harper prayed through the “steps to forgiveness” outlined in the Freedom In Christ course.

Questions

1. Steve Farrar writes in his book “Finishing Strong”:

God is able to take the hateful and hurtful motivation of your enemies and use them to accomplish His plan in your life. These things won’t keep you from God’s best….they will help you to reach God’s best. For it is in the deep and dark experiences of betrayal, when we wrestle with the giant of bitterness, that we begin to build spiritual muscle.”

How can we make sure that the giant of bitterness does not overwhelm us and bring us down, what should we do in order to make sure that it doesn’t? Share any experiences that you may have had.

2. In Hebrews 12v15 we are warned not to miss the grace of God. How can we make sure we don’t miss it and how can we stop the root of bitterness from taking hold over our lives?

3. Forgiveness is the only way forward. How can we learn to keep forgiving ourselves, rather than feel condemned and guilty all the time?

4. Why is it important to keep no record of rights and wrongs in our lives?

5. Forgiveness is a life sentence what does this really mean practically in our lives?

Finishing Strong (Pt 1) - 27th June 2010 :: Hear the first part of Dave's "Finishing Strong" set of sermons.
Finishing Strong (Pt 2) - 5th September 2010 :: Hear the second part of Dave's "Finishing Strong" set of sermons.
'Merciful' by Graham Kendrick :: 'Merciful' by Graham Kendrick, from his new album, 'Banquet'.

File Download (35:00 min / 10 MB)

5th September 2010 - Dave Newman - Finishing Strong (Part 2)

Church in the Peak — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:27:00 +0100

[This sermon is part 2 of Dave’s talk on finishing strong. For part 1, please see 27th June 2010.]

Dave continued his Finishing Strong talk with more principles from the book of Ruth

The Book of Grace – 3 keys –Loyalty (1vv14-16), Kindness (“vv10-12), Faithfulness (4v11)
Ruth finished strong

Days of Judges so comparable to today:

Other Gods ~ humanism, materialism, naturalism
Split Culture ~ apparent irrelevance to God, our thought-life and morality
Problem of evil ~ the greatest threat to providence of God in our lives. That is why faith is God’s gift to enable us to cope with life’s uncertainties as Christians

First message: 3 principles
1v16, 2v2 – Ruth was willing to follow the precepts laid out by God

2vv15, 6 – God’s provision is always over and above what we deserve

3v4, 5 – Obedience is the key to finding favour with God

4th Principle

1v4, 22, 2v2, 6, 10, 21, 4v5, 10 – Fulfil your potential, whatever your background. A bad start does not mean you have no future.

Illustration of Alexander Fleming in Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar

Ruth a Moabitess and foreigner. Not just a woman, low standing but a Moabitess too boot! A gentile like us, no wonder we can enjoy the words of Peter – see 1Peter 2vv9-11. See also, 2Corinthians 5 v 17.

See God’s Lavish Grace, p89ff by Terry Virgo

Who you are in God is not what men label you, but how God perceives and sees you. Ruth produced the line and lineage of David (4v18), which gave us the line of Jesus (see Matthew 1). She obviously had a purpose in God’s plan – Ruth was better than 7 sons (4v15). [7, the number of completeness in scripture].

5th Principle

2v12 cf 3v9 – Live under the protection of God. The shadow of his wings is an often used phrase in the Psalms:

• 17v8 – safety
• 36v7ff – refreshment
• 57v1 – stillness in the storm
• 63v7 – help and relaxation
• 91v1ff – hope over fear

“Men who don’t hit the finish line strong have chosen to remove themselves from the Lord’s protection and power” – Steve Farrar Finishing Strong

In Luke 15, the account of the Prodigal Son makes it plain that the son removed himself from the protection of the father. John 15 v 4 – 8, therefore, becomes important to you and me as believers; we must remain in God the Father’s love.

“If God seems far away, guess who moved?” – John Wesley

The prodigal had to come home to be under the shadow of his wings. There is a homecoming for us because there is a home to come to!

6th Principle

1v8, 2v20, 3v10 – Love as he loves us. “Kindnes” (hesed) – steadfast love and faithfulness. N.T. equivalent can be found in 1John 4 vv10 – 11 “love” (agape). Four different words in the Greek for love:

• Agape ~ the highest form of love, sacrificial love, the love that sees only the highest good
• Phileo ~ the love that forms friendships
• Erotao ~ the love that is expressed in desire, sexual love
• Storge ~ the love that a parent would have for a child

See John 21vv15 – 17. Jesus asks Peter if he loves (agape) him. Peter replies that he does love (phileo) him. The third time, Jesus brings the question down to Peter’s level, does he phileo him? How much do we love him and others? How far are we willing to go for others? Boaz went the distance for Ruth and God answered Naomi’s prayer through him.

In conclusion

As I said in my first sermon, God wants you and me to finish strong. Applying the principles mentioned I believe we can and will finish as God intended. How will you and I finish? We need the words of Paul in 2Corinthians 13 vv 5 – 6 or the words of the Chronicler in 2 Chron15 v 7

“But as for you be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded”

At the end of his sermon, Dave played the song “Finishing Strong” by David Hind. It is taken from the album “Painting a Picture”, produced by Authentic Media.

Questions

1] 2 Corinthians 5 v 17 tells us that old is gone and the new has come. What ways has this or could this be true for you as a Christian? If you need prayer in an area of your life that needs to change as prompted to you by the Holy Spirit, why not ask the group to pray with you

Read John 15 v 4 – 8, If we are to live under the ”shadow of his wing” this passage therefore, becomes important to you and me as believers; we must remain in God the Father’s love.

2] What then does it mean to remain in him and what happens to the one who remains in Jesus?

3] What do we mean by “bearing fruit” and what kind of fruit are we bearing as believers?

4] The following Psalms talk about living under God’s protection
• 17v8 – safety
• 36v7ff – refreshment
• 57v1 – stillness in the storm
• 63v7 – help and relaxation
• 91v1ff – hope over fear
Share some times when one or more of the references above have been true for you as a Christian

5] Peter was asked to love by feeding His Sheep. What ways can we show sacrificial love (agape) to one another and in that way show God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to us as believers with acts of kindness?

File Download (39:00 min / 12 MB)

27th June 2010 - Dave Newman - Finishing Strong (Part 1)

Church in the Peak — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:26:00 +0100

[This sermon is part 1 of Dave’s talk on finishing strong. For part 2, please see 5th September 2010.]

Dave spoke about the importance of finishing strong.

At the start of his preach, Dave played a clip from Chariots of Fire and referred to the two prophecies given on 17th February 2010. (See links below). He then spoke about Billy Graham and his contemporaries. The audio starts when Dave is talking about Billy Graham.

In the Christian Life it’s not how you start that matters, it’s how you finish.

“Only one life, ‘twill soon be passed only what’s done for God will last”

Ruth a picture of Grace at a time when “Men did that which was right in their own eyes” (or as they saw fit) ~ just like today’s society, civil strife, national upheaval, international concerns.

The Book of Grace – 3 keys –Loyalty (1vv14-16), Kindness (“vv10-12), Faithfulness (4v11)
Ruth finished strong

What do you do when life caves in? Do you run? Do you seek self interest first? Do you make acts of love or kindness last in your list of priorities?

Bethlehem = the place of bread
see 1v1 left the place of bread
1 v6 returned to the place of bread
Ruth – a continual play on words: famine, empty, full, harvest. A picture that life can be difficult even if you follow God

Consecration or giving your life to Christ could cost you more than you may be willing to give e.g Taliban Doctor, North Korean parents

1st Principle : 1v16,2v2 – Ruth was willing to follow the precepts laid out by God

1v16 a significant verse in affirming love for God and God’s people. Do we belong
2v2 see Leviticus 19 how Ruth obeyed a law she did not know but it was God’s plan she was following
Note: Orpah returned, when its tough some turn back but Ruth chose the place of bread. People make judgements about people without knowing their past or more importantly their future. A Moabite, she didn’t have the same God, let alone belief. Sometimes we must return to first principles.

2nd Principle : 2vv15,16 God’s provision is always over and above what we deserve.

See 2v12 cf Ps.36 v7 “How priceless is your unfailing love. Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings” see Isa. 40 vv29ff…”mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint”

3rd Principle : 3v4,5 Obedience is the key to finding favour with God.

Ruth could have taken the soft option but all the way through the book she demonstrates obedience. She put God first in her life even when her future was totally uncertain. Look what happened she found her kinsman redeemer through obedience to what was told her (see Lev.25vv45-47 cf Ruth 4v6). Jesus has become our kinsman redeemer

In conclusion

The book of Ruth demonstrates that: He is sovereign, He is the Lord of the Harvest and He is our Kinsman redeemer

Don’t place yourself in a place of famine, the grass isn’t always greener. God wants you and I to finish strong. Paul said: Forgetting what is behind and straining to what is ahead. I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called ME heavenwards in Christ Jesus

God wants you and I to finish strong just like Ruth. I challenge you to quote George Verwer: We were not born to live at minimum cost

Questions:

1. Pick a single word to describe your Christisan experience to this point (e.g. steady, growing, uneven, rocky, disappointing, wonderful etc). Why did you pick this particular word?

2. What does it mean to you to “finish strong”, describe someone you know who finished strong in their Christian life. What did they do to cause you to think this way about them?

3. See Heb. 12 vv1-3 ~ What are we instructed to do in verse 1, why is the word “perseverance” so crucial, what are we asked to do in verse 2, what example is given and how does it help us? What about verse 3 what and why are we instructed thus?

4.How is Colossians 1vv21 – 23 an encouragement to finish strong, why was it so important for Paul?

You Tube: Chariots of Fire montage about Eric Liddell :: Watch this 10 min clip to find out more about Eric Liddell. Dave played a clip showing Eric Liddell refusing to race on a Sunday. (see at approx 8 mins)
Prophecies given on 17th February 2010 :: Listen to the prophecies brought by Ian Clague and Dave Palmer on 17th February 2010.

File Download (30:00 min / 8 MB)