Partakers Christian Podcasts

Poem - Tomorrow

Tomorrow by Milly

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Should I have tomorrow

Should I have another day

Time that I will borrow

Time that I will pray

Hopefully, I'll touch you, Jesus

In some special way

And I will get a touch from you

To take my fears away

Jesus, you're the answer

You are my guiding light

You're the hope of my tomorrow

And so my future's bright

The time that I've been given

Is only yours to give

So I don't want to die, my Lord

For you I want to live

And so I'm reaching for you

With all my strength and might

And wait for you to reach me too

And hold me oh, so tight!

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Jesus Four Portraits

Jesus in the Four Gospels

In the New Testament, we have four accounts of the life of Jesus Christ which are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are called Gospels. But what is a Gospel, how are the four accounts different or similar and what were the main points each writer sought to communicate.

What the Gospels are!

Firstly they are called Gospels, because they gave substance to the Gospel or Good News as described by Paul in Romans 1v16 (The Message): “this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!”

We know Jesus Christ during his time on earth wrote nothing yet the stories about him were preserved and passed on by Christian teachers and evangelists. For the first thirty years or so, these stories were possibly collated and stored together. That would explain the similarity in the four accounts of Jesus’ life. They are not an exhaustive biographical detail of all that Jesus did. Similarly they are also not diaries reflecting a daily account of Jesus’ life. Rather they are selective accounts of His life, and were probably factual illustrations used by His disciples when preaching about Him. Therefore they would represent the theology of the disciples, as each story about is Jesus is told. That is why they are trustworthy accounts as well as rooting Jesus’ life in first century Judaism and the Greco-Roman world.

The first three of our Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke are what are called the synoptic Gospels. This is based on their great similarity and possibly use of a common source. Mark is probably the first Gospel as it is shorter in length than Matthew or Luke and it would appear that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a guide and elaborated where required. Mark wrote none of the great discourses of Matthew, such as the Sermon on the Mount nor does Mark show the great parables that Luke recorded, such as the Good Samaritan. Surely if Mark had used either the accounts of Matthew or Luke, he would have used those two examples! Matthew is closer in similarity to Mark than Luke. Luke does share large portions of Mark and quite often verbatim, and with a greater use of the Greek language.

John on the other hand, while still telling about Jesus’ ministry, has a vastly different story content. Whereas in the synoptic Gospels Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God frequently, in the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about Himself much more often, as in the seven I AM statements. For this reason, John was probably written later than the synoptic Gospels.

Four Different Portraits

Mark

Mark presents Jesus as the Suffering Servant of the Lord, coming in fulfilment of the Old Testament. Jesus offers His credentials, gathers His disciples, offers the Kingdom of God and its message. Jesus’ teaching is seen in short parables, which hide the truth from those hardened against Him, yet prepares and instructs those responsive to Him. Overall Jesus calls those who follow him to serve others and to deny themselves by taking up their own cross, just as He took. Early tradition states that Mark’s Gospel had a connection with the Apostle Peter, and was therefore written to preserve some of Peter’s memories before his death.

Mark 8v34 - "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Mark 10v45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Luke

Luke 1v3-4 -Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke 19v10 -For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Luke presents Jesus as the God-Man, as a saviour for the entire world, writing primarily to Gentiles. He does this from a broad vantage point that is compatible with the fact that he is a Greek. Luke traces the incarnation, Christ's introduction, ministry, rejection, subsequent teaching in view of His rejection, the cross, resurrection and ascension. Even though a Gentile, Luke emphasizes the kingdom program with Israel's place in the kingdom. This Gospel is not complete in itself, but is rather the first for two parts, with the Book of Acts being the second section. Both are addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1v1-4 & Acts 1v1). The author is probably the Luke as identified by Paul as a doctor, and was one of Paul’s travelling companions (Colossians 4v14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4v11). The style and language use is that of a native Greek speaker.

Matthew

Matthew 16v16 - Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matthew 28v18 -Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. "

Matthew wrote primarily to Jews who knew the Old Testament. He wrote to present Jesus as the Messiah to Israel. He also records Israel’s attitude towards Him as Messiah. Throughout this Gospel, Matthew gives us the genealogy, presentation, and the authentification of Jesus as the Christ Messiah. Matthew then shows the nation of Israel's opposition to and rejection of Jesus as the Christ followed by Jesus' rejection of Israel due to her unbelief. He then records the death and resurrection of Christ. He concludes with Christ commissioning the disciples. Throughout this Gospel is a well ordered and balanced account

John

John 1v9 & 12: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world… Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 20v31 - These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John presents the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ so that mankind would believe in Him as the Son of God, Messiah, and Saviour of the world. His selective argument portrays Christ as the God-Man. John records miracles and messages that affirm the deity and humanity of Christ. John builds his record around the public ministry of Christ, the private ministry, the cross, and the resurrection.

For more to think about please do ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. Read Mark 8v34 and Mark 10v45. How strongly am I encouraged to carry my own cross, knowing that Jesus carried His cross?

Q2. Read Luke 1v34 and Luke 19v10. If Jesus gave up everything to seek me, what more can I give, in order to help spread the good news of Him?

Q3. Read Matthew 16v16 and Matthew 28v18. If Jesus is still living and has authority, how is that a help to me as I live a life worthy of His name?

Q4. Read John 1v9-12 and John 20v31. As a Christian Disciple and therefore a child of God, how is Jesus working and changing me?

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SALT - Janeice

Interview of less than 3 minutes with a Christian answering 6 questions.

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SALT - Sandy

Sandy

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SALT - Kahlea

Kahlea

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SALT - June

June

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SALT - Floyde

Floyde

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SALT - Sheena

Sheena answers these 7 questions!

1. What is your name?

2. How long have you been a Christian?

3. How did you become a Christian?

4. What would you say is your favourite piece of Christian worship? (Be it a song, hymn, liturgy, prayer, sermon, Psalm or other item)

5. What is your favourite Bible verse to encourage somebody else?

6. Apart from somebody in the Bible, who in church history are you most encouraged by?

7. When was the last time God answered one of your prayers?

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Empowered

Christian Disciples are Empowered!

Right mouse click here to save this Podcast as a MP3. G'day and welcome to Partake and to our series "Easter Weekend 2010"!  This is the seventh podcast of this series.  Last time we looked at what is a Christian Disciple and what should be the goal of being a follower of Jesus Christ.  Today we look at being empowered to be a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. The catalyst of this empowerment is the arrival of the Holy Spirit into the life of the new believer. Throughout his ministry Jesus had talked about how after he departed, that the Holy Spirit would come (John 15v26). Jesus, Himself, said it would be better for him to go away and send the Holy Spirit to live in us (John 16v7). We know from the other writings in the New Testament who the Holy Spirit is and what his ministry is.  The Holy Spirit's prime role is that he will glorify Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is to be praised and glorified (John 16v13-14). He will testify (John 15v26) and be a witness for , Jesus Christ (Acts 1v8). Another part of His role is to be the paraclete or comforter.  He is one called to stand alongside those who are followers of Jesus Christ (John 14v16).

Holy Spirit empowerment!

The Holy Spirit ministers to the Christian Disciple, in the same Jesus would if he were here in person.  The Holy Spirit interprets and illuminates God's Word to people (John 16v12-15; 1 Corinthians 2v10-16)! Moreover, He was sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16v8). The Holy Spirit lives inside all those who call themselves a follow of Jesus Christ (Romans 8v9; Gal 2v20; Colossians 1v25-27) and He is their seal of assurance that they are now God's possession (2 Corinthians 1v22; Ephesians 1v3). He enters the moment the person has been born again or become a follower/disciple of Jesus Christ. All Christian Disciples are commanded to be filled with the Spirit and to keep on being filled with the Spirit!  Being filled with the Spirit, in the biblical sense, means allowing the Holy Spirit's to have control or domination of our lives. The imperative here is that we are to be filled (Ephesians 5v18), and go on being filled. He gives power to enable Christian Disciples to evangelise (Acts 1v8; 4v8, 31).  It is he who is transforming the Christian Disciple into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 7-18), as the Christian Disciples walks in, lives in, and are being led by the Spirit (Galatians. 5v16; Romans 8v13). It is he who equips us for service. God is working in you to will and to act accordingly to his purpose (Philippians 2v13) and to be His witnesses (Acts 1v8). It is He who equips Christian Disciples for service through the giving of spiritual gifts.  Where people's lives become more holy and more like Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12v3; 2 Corinthians 13v7), which is the greatest evidence of the Spirit's work. The greatest evidence for the power of the Holy Spirit is not by way of signs and wonders and tongues, healings or other miracles.  The greatest evidence that you have the Holy Spirit living inside you, controlling you and of you being submitted to Him is by being continually transformed into the very image of Jesus Christ.  Transformed by allowing yourself to be so intimate with Jesus Christ, that people will notice you have changed and will ask you why!  Being filled with the Spirit is allowing yourself to be continually controlled by Him and exercising His will, power and authority.  That is one of the reasons the early church grew phenomenally and why the church is still here 2000 years later.  The Pharisees and Sadducees are long gone.  The Roman Empire collapsed. But... But... But... Jesus' church still stands, is still growing, and will one day be joined with Jesus in eternity, to the praise, honour and glory of Him who will return!

How are Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit?

Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 12v1, 4-7 "Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. ... There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." When Jesus said to His apostles "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14v12), it was through the promised Holy Spirit (John 14v17), and impartation of Spiritual Gifts, that His words were fulfilled. Part of the empowerment in the life of a Christian is to enable them to serve - serve God and serve others.  In order to be enabled to serve, the Holy Spirit gives to all Christian disciples "spiritual gifts." The term "Spiritual Gift" derives from the Greek word ‘Charismata'. They are also called grace gifts, which may refer to any gift God gives out of the abundance of His grace and are given to all Christians as God sees fit (1 Corinthians 12v11).  There are four main passages in the New Testament regarding Spiritual Gifts.  These are Romans 12v3-8; 1 Corinthians 12v1-10, 28-31; Ephesians 4v11-12 and 1 Peter 4v10-11. The lists of gifts, given in the New Testament are representative of spiritual gifts and are not to be taken as a conclusive listing.  The gifts quoted in various passages of the New Testament are: "administration, apostle, discernment, evangelism, exhortation giving, faith, healing, helps, knowledge, leadership, mercy, miracles, pastor, prophecy, service, teaching, tongues, tongues interpretation, wisdom." As Christian Disciples however, Paul commands that we "try to excel in gifts that build up the church." (1 Corinthians 14v12).  When the church is built up, unity will inevitably prevail.  The diversity of Spiritual gifts within each local church helps build unity. All Christian Disciples have Spiritual Gifts, for "in his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." (Romans 12v6)  God the Holy Spirit, through His infinite wisdom, mercy and grace bestows these gifts that belong to Him, upon His servants, Christian Disciples, and these gifts are to be used primarily to bring glory to Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 4v11).  They are opportunities for Christian Disciples to serve other people.  Some gifts like teaching, helping or leadership quite possibly are enhancements of natural abilities whilst others like faith, healing and miracles are from the Spirit's empowerment alone. The reason that the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual gifts to Christian Disciples is so that the body of Christ is built up (Ephesians 4v12), for the common good of the church (1 Corinthians 12v7, 14v12) and "so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4v12).  These three reasons signify that God wants Christian Disciples to be active in service and not still like stagnant water.  That is why we have been given gifts.  If these gifts are not used for God's purposes, then they are meaningless.  So, what is an appropriate response by Christian Disciples in relation to these gifts? As the Bible is primary to spiritual growth and understanding, the Christian Disciple needs to study God's word diligently, enhancing the relationship and building bonds.  Then the Christian Disciple needs to pray and ask in deep prayer and cogitation.  Thirdly by asking the advice and wisdom of the leaders in the church we attend or from friends who know you well.  Lastly, it is also through asking questions of your self.  What do I enjoy? What am I good at? If God blesses what you are doing and it is fruitful, you may have discovered an area where your gifting lies! As Christian Disciples, we are dependent upon each other, just as one part of the human body has dependence on another part.  That is why we serve each other and use the gifts generously given by God.  As all Christian Disciples have gifts, we have a responsibility to discover and develop them (1 Timothy 4v14)!  God has called Christian Disciples and equipped them with spiritual gifts, and they are not to be neglected!  We are to discover, discern, develop and put into effect our spiritual gifts, so that God can be glorified and His church built up! As we are not to neglect our gifts, or let other Christian Disciples neglect their gifts, we are to fan the gift into flame (2 Timothy1v6).  Much like blowing on embers and stirring them up will restart the flames of a fire!  To do this Christian Disciples are to employ the gift faithfully and by asking God to continue their development, strengthening and opportunities to use them! Seek gifts that build up others, commands Paul (1 Corinthians 14v1-12). Ask God faithfully for gifts that give opportunity for service to God and others!

A Warning!

The Holy Spirit can also be grieved or quenched! Mainly this is when the Holy Spirit is not allowed to do the work He wants to do within the life of a follower or disciple of Jesus Christ.  But I am also persuaded, that it occurs a lot in churches today, where churches in a town seem to be almost in competition with each other.  One church will say we do this and that's the Holy Spirit way, and your church can't possibly be a true church because you aren't doing things the same way as us.  As we have seen, all Christians have spiritual gifts, or charismata, so therefore all Christians and churches are charismatic.  That makes a mockery of the labels we place on churches: for example "we are a Charismatic Church" Oh how the Holy Spirit is limited in our generation and put into boxes and labelled, by those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit works in quiet ways as well as spectacular ways.  We only have to look at the variety of churches in the New Testament letters. The Holy Spirit is working in every church in some capacity, because the Holy Spirit lives within each individual Christian! So to say a particular church is a Holy Spirit church and that others aren't, is surely grieving the Spirit and limiting His work. The Holy Spirit works in different people and different churches as the requirements change. The Holy Spirit manifests Himself in different ways, and the way He is working in you, may just be completely different to the way He is working in somebody else.  The way the Holy Spirit is working in your church, may well not be the way He is working in another church.  Each person and each church has differing needs, outlooks, personality, temperament and desires - the Holy Spirit knows best how to operate within each one. , So let us let Him get on with the job, and we get on with job of showing we can work together as a united body of believers to world that needs the influence of the Holy Spirit. Be empowered. Be going for Jesus. Be telling others and showing others of the incredible love Jesus Christ has for all people. Remember, Jesus already has all the supremacy and authority - so let us, as His followers and disciples, avail ourselves of Him! Be empowered by the Holy Spirit who lives inside you, changing your heart from a house to a home fit for a king.  . Thank you. Right mouse click here to save this Podcast as a MP3. If you find these resources helpful to you, please do prayerfully consider making a donation. You can support via PayPal, the universal and most secure way to donate money online. You do not need to be a member of Paypal to use their facilities and all major credit cards are accepted. Thank you

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Easter 2010 - Hallmarked

Hallmarks of Following Jesus

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G'day and welcome to Partake and to our series "Easter Weekend 2010"!  This is the sixth podcast of this series.  Last time we looked at Jesus ascending into the clouds, proclaiming He has authority over all things and commanding His disciples to go all over the earth, tell everybody the good news, baptize them and disciple them! Today we are going to look briefly at what a Christian Disciple is and then look briefly at what the goal of being a Christian Disciple should be!

1. What is a Disciple?

Before He ascended, Jesus commanded "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18-20). In these verses Jesus commanded his Disciples to go and make other disciples.  In order to fulfil this command, He assigned the three tasks of going, baptizing and teaching as obligatory activities of daily life.  Baptism was symbolic of coming under the Lordship of the Trinitarian Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Baptism leads to teaching, which is a core part of disciple making.  Teaching was not just to be an oral activity, but an activity of helping everyone, particularly the weakest.  These instructions to Jesus' Disciples are just as applicatory to us today.  Some people today think that going to church makes them a Christian Disciple! But going to church doesn't make you a Christian Disciple, than going to Kentucky Fried Chicken once a week makes you a Christian Disciple! The word ‘Christian' means ‘a little Christ'.  As Christians we are to be ‘little Jesus', as it were.  Key to our being as Jesus, is to be actively engaged in discipleship. Discipleship of Jesus means that Christians are to train, be trained, instruct and be instructed in the way of life Jesus showed.  To listen to some Churches today, it is all about just believing and nothing to do with training, instruction and following Jesus' way in life. Even though scripturally, sex is only to be within the confines of a committed heterosexual marriage, a lot of people who would call themselves evangelical Christians believe that it is fine to have sex before marriage.  They have fallen into the belief, that belief is enough.  They are being taught that church is all about having a high entertainment value.  A disciple of Jesus Christ is not just somebody who believes in Him. Rather it is following Him and letting Him permeate every aspect of life. Church is not about entertainment as its primary goal, but rather it is about worshipping God with awe and majesty and learning how to follow Jesus more closely.  That is why Jesus commands us to take up our cross daily. The word Disciple derives from the Latin word discipulus, which itself is formed from the Greek word for pupil or learner, mathētēs.  The New Testament uses this word not only of Jesus' followers but also of those who followed Moses (John 9v28); the Pharisees (Mark 2v18); John the Baptist (Mark 11v2) and of Paul (Acts 9v25).  Therefore a Christian Disciple in its base form is a follower of Jesus, or a learner of Jesus. A learner is a person who is undergoing constant life change and being transformed increasingly like Christ.  A Disciple is somebody learning to be like Jesus in every facet of life, practising His presence with him or her and so engaging their life with Him so that He truly lives through them. What is the primary mark of being a Disciple of Jesus Christ? It is that the Christian Disciple loving God totally and is loving people openly (Matthew 22v37-40).  As Christian Disciples, we are called to remain in this world, and to be growing and maturing.  Being a Disciple is not about how much you have of God, but rather how much of you, God has.  That is a another mark of being a Christian Disciple - handing control of all aspects of life to Jesus, because in all things He has the supremacy and the authority!  This is partly why the New Testament churches were seen as radical communities.  They were places filled with people dedicated in every aspect of life to Jesus Christ and His total supremacy, authority and will.  That is to be exhibited in the goal of all those who claim to be a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2.  The Goal!

I wonder what you think the goal of being a Disciple of Jesus Christ is?  Praying a lot? Perhaps it is reading and memorizing the whole Bible?  Doing lots of evangelism or doing lots of work for the church?  As admirable as those things are, they are not the goal for a Disciple of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:3-6 "We know that we have come to know Jesus if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." The ultimate goal for any Christian Disciple is to be as John wrote in the passage I read earlier: to walk and live as Jesus did.  That doesn't mean walking around in sandals, wearing white clothes and traversing the terrain where Jesus Himself walked.  The Apostle John means for us to be radical and holy, living lives worthy of that of Jesus, and in complete obedience to Him. How can we be radical, obedient and holy? Jean Calvin said that denying oneself and relying on God for all things is the goal of the Christian life.  This can only be attained by total submission to the Holy Spirit and living a life of constantly "dealing with God" in all matters and letting Jesus permeate every thought, attitude and action.  Jesus already has all the authority and supremacy over every conceivable situation the Christian Disciple finds them selves in! So as a Christian Disciple, you may as well allow Jesus to take control of the situation instead of worrying and trying to do it in your own strength!  That is how Christian Disciples are to be radical and holy.  That is how a Christian Disciple endeavours to reach the goal of being Jesus to others!  This is done by a constant renewing of the mind (Ephesians 4v23), with a heart willing to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.  It is by loving others in such a way, that the end of a Disciple's generosity is only when the resources have expired.  A Disciple must live and walk as Jesus did (1 John 2v6).  There is no better way for a Disciple of Jesus Christ to fulfil this goal, than by imitating Jesus and obeying his command to "...take up your cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9v23).  This is seen as a higher challenge for the mind!  Dietrich Bonhoeffer extrapolates this further when he comments on Discipleship as a leading to death for all who follow Christ; either as a physical death or in being ostracized from the wider community. For the first century Christians, just as in some parts of today's world, systematic persecution and martyrdom was a reality, as evident in the story of Stephen (Acts 7v59).  Yet it also means enduring suffering, for this is how a Christian Disciple maintains a "communion with Christ".  For it is through suffering, that we share with the crucified Jesus.  The bitterness of our cross is made sweeter, the more we dwell on the sufferings of Jesus and our enabled fellowship with Him. As Christian individuals, we are linked together in a Christian community through rebirth, and our relationship exists only through our relationship with Christ.  There is no such thing as an individual member of the radical Christian community.  Members are interdependent upon one another, bound by a corporate and inclusive personality.  The church community is to be dynamic by nature, and individualism is oxymoronic and not coherent with New Testament teaching. As we saw in our first study, serving others, as Jesus did throughout his ministry, is to be part of the life of anybody who would call himself or herself a follower of Jesus Christ. It is one of the hallmarks of being a Christian. Another hallmark is that of allowing others to serve us, just as Peter had to allow Jesus to wash his feet. By both serving and being served, we reflect the life of Jesus Christ. When serving and being served are out of balance, then usually it is our own innate pride that is at fault. But how were the early church and the first Christian Disciples so dynamic and effective? The answer in our final Podcast released tomorrow. Thank you!

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