A new Beginning & "How Lord" by Kevin Harvey

In  Memory of Reverend Bannerman,  beautiful flowers by a family member!

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Invocation and Lord's Prayer


Silence is important, in that it allows us time to digest all that has been said through prayer. It gives us precious time within worship to let our hearts talk and our mouths stay silent. 

As David Adam says ‘It is not an empty time but a God-filled time when we open ourselves up to him in the following prayer I shall read.

How do you write silence into a prayer? Well, that’s up to the individual writer to decide. If you are writing a liturgy, or responsive prayer then it is fairly straightforward.

Let's take a moment of silence between each thought, between each reflection.

Shall we spend a moment or two in quiet reflection.

For love, freely given to all 
(pause)
For wholeness, the healing touch for broken lives
(pause)
For Salvation, for being made right again with God
(pause)


Bur even within a simple prayer there can be time to pause, reflect and respond before proceeding. No-one said that a prayer was a continual stream of words ending in ‘Amen’.

Thank you Lord God for the opportunity of worship
for the freedom to be amongst your family
meeting together in your house
and in the warmth of your embrace

(pause)

Thank you that in worship we can put aside
the uncertainties of this world and rest 
upon the certainties of the Kingdom
for your promises are not changeable 
as those of a politician might be
but immovable and eternal

(pause)

Thank you that we can bring to your feet
all the hurts and fears that trouble us
and leave them there
knowing that your strength and assurance 
are all that we require

(pause)

Thank you that as we draw near in worship 
we are transported 
from a world of concerns and fears
to a place where we can be at peace in your presence
find healing, wholeness and refreshment.

(pause)

Thank you Lord God for the opportunity of worship
 ( ref : http://www.faithandworship.com/writing_prayers.htm)


Dear God, 
Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray " Our Father"


Our Father, who art in heaven, 

Hallowed be thy Name. 

Thy kingdom come. 

Thy will be done, 

On earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, 

As we forgive our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, 

But deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom, 

and the power, 

and the glory, 

forever. 

Amen.

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How Lord? by Kevin Harvey

Walk by faith in the Spirit according to the gospel laid out in the scriptures.


The "gospel" can be distorted, perverted, even deserted, seemingly even by good things such as the "Law", the rules and the regulations.  How can that be?
Is there something wrong with the Law?


Today, we will look at the Letter to the Galatians and examine the argument of " Law and Grace"
 How do we reconcile the Two?
The debate started even before the time of the New testament.


The Two are opposite sides of the same coin. And like coins that has on the one side, an image of the King or Queen, and on the other an image of a Moose or a Bird. So if for sake of analogy, we make the King's or Queen's image that of "GRACE" and the latter the "LAW".

Yet another would be the Image of a "Horse and Carriage".


The Horse being  " GRACE" and the carriage "The LAW".


This is only an allegory to help see the true power that lies in the "GRACE OF GOD"  and in our "FAITH" in the truth of the Gospel.


Context :  circumcision, Judaize, Christianize


1) a.  Galatians 1:6-9 King James Version (KJV) ----Diserting, Distort (argument over circumcision)


6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.



    b.   Galatians 2:4-5 King James Version (KJV)----False brethren, Spyong, Bondage


4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.


            Acts 15:1-12 King James Version (KJV)---Signs and Wonders Miracles followed                   the Gentiles (God is saving the Gentiles...who would have though?)


15 


And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.




It is important to note this is a transition time between the OLD and the NEW covenents.


2) a.   Paul opposes Peter in front of all.


           Galatians 2:11-14 King James Version (KJV)----Peter is guilty withdrawing, beeing aloof, fearing the jewish leadership


11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?


15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,


Paul sais how dare you not only are showing favoritism and distance, He Peter is distorting even denying the very Gospel he preaches.
I feel for Peter, I fell the pressure he is under. We can empathise with both his triumphs and failures in tree seconds flat.


 Eg - Walk on water
       - Deny Christ
       - Got behind Satan


Application for Church leaders is this : It matters
                                                                       Gospel Truth




3)  Hearing with Faith


    a.  Galatians 3:1-5 King James Version (KJV)--- Gospel = hearing with Faith. New


3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


           Galatians 3:6-9 King James Version (KJV)----Abraham believed God = Faith OLD


6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.



            Galatians 3:16-18 King James Version (KJV)---- Promises to Abraham = Covenent?


16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.


    b. Galatians 3:19-25 King James Version (KJV)---- Added for transgressions. Our teacher


19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.


    c.  Galatians 3:25-29 King James Version (KJV)----Sons of God Joint Heirs. All one


25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


4)a. What then shall we do?
 


Galatians 5:1 King James Version (KJV)---- Stand firm be not subject. Christ finished work-The Cross


5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.


What if we dont?  Galatians 5:4 King James Version (KJV)


4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
 
How does it look ?  Galatians 5:6 King James Version (KJV)---- Look


6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.


Stumbling  Galatians 5:11 King James Version (KJV)


11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.



                                  Romans 9:20-23 King James Version (KJV)


20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,


Block          1 Corinthians 1:21-24King James Version (KJV)


21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
 


FAITH is what?


The Gospel is Christ crucified, son of God,  Rose again, coming back 

             John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)


16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


I believe that settles it.
Now I walk by Faith, in the Spirit in obedience to the New covenent.


LAW
How?  Galatians 5:16-18 King James Version (KJV)


16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.


The flesh desires Galatians 5:9-21 King James Version (KJV)


9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


The spirit : Desires/ Grace         Galatians 5:22-25 King James Version (KJV)


22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.