Thanks, Matt.
Awesome thank you Chris.
Let's give Chris a round of applause isn't he awesome.
And how cool is our worship team, so good so good. He dawn
could have seen it tonight and I hope you had a great Easter and
so many good things happening in the life of our church and very
excited to have Nick V, coming at the end of May, which would
be absolutely brilliant and then after he comes just after that,
we've got a couple of really cool. Things happening number
one is that we actually changing are not serviced. I'm going to
win to service time because it gets so cold here on the coast
and so we're going to change it.
From the 1st week of June, 1st week of winter going to make it
5:00 PM. And so I won't be doing that, then which will be really
cool and also to starting the day after Nick V comes which is
May 27. We're starting what we did last year. We did last year
is called the 21 days of breakthrough, and basically that
will be a time focus on prayer fasting and giving in Matthew
Chapter 6. Jesus says 3 there are 3 principles that get your
public results. He says when you fast when you pray.
And when you give your father, who sees what you do in secret
will reward you openly and so that's talking about public
breakthrough principles and so we're going to be doing that
over that time and we just encourage everybody to consider
participating in every part of that and lost. It was so
awesome. With so many much of their church participate in
every element. And so we encourage ING everyone to choose
a fast so a type of files to do and next week will be pulling a
flyer out of different kinds of fast. You can participate in.
We're also going to encourage everybody to choose a prayer
meeting. So at both campuses we're going to have 3:00 or 4:00
pre meetings. A week at different times. And so to make
it as readily available as possible possible for people of
both campuses to go to and just choose choose one of those pre
meetings and also to encouraging everybody to bring an offering
is sometimes a mechanism by which God gets the breakthrough
is actually through generosity and so encouraging everybody to
do that. So it's between you and God, but to choose choose a
prayer meeting to choose a fast.
And also bring an offering overtime and we're going to
leave for breakthroughs to come to pass. Some peoples lives so
even now, you can think about that pray about that. I've got
to speak to you just this morning had someone come up to
me before the service and they said. Well, we doing the twenty
one days a breakthrough this year. I said, Yeah, and they
said. Well, 'cause last year. I just fasted teen coffee petition
are really feel like God wants me to do a full fast and I'm
really fired up about it and who knows if gods. If you're feeling
a desire to fast who knows it's
not your flesh. And it's not the devil. It's actually probably
God and so I encourage you order participate in that and we're
going to believe for some awesome results. If you have
your bibles terminated. The Book of Genesis Genesis Chapter. One
Genesis Chapter. One verses 26 to 31, Genesis 1 verses 26 to
31, says this.
Then God said let us make man in our image, according to our
likeness let them have Dominion over the fish of the sea over
the birds of the air and over the cattle over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the Earth. So God
created man in his own image in the image of God. He created him
male and female. He created them, then God bless them and
God said to them be fruitful and multiply fill the earth and
subdue and have Dominion over the fish of the sea over the
birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the
earth and God said see I've given you every herb.
The old side, which is on the face of all the earth and every
tree whose fruit yield seed to you, it shall be for food also
to every beast of the earth to every bird of the enter
everything that creeps on the earth in which there is large.
I've given every green hope for food and it was so thank God so
everything that he had made and indeed it was very good, so that
evening in the morning where the 6th day. Let's pray father. I
thank you for your would ask and pray help us to see you as you
are. I think him praise you for that Lord in Jesus name Amen.
Many of you would know that this year at the night service. I've
been doing a series called 7 sermons about God and tonight is
the 6 one and I've been talking looking at each day of creation
and looking at different aspects about gone reason why I'm doing
that is because we can see God there. He's by himself. We see
him in the beginning before sin entered the world and there are
a number of things we can see about God's nature that are
applicable to us, one of the things a Christian, is that the
more and more. We know about him. The more and more we can
fulfill all that God has for our
lives. The number one thing you can do is get a true vision
perspective and understanding of who God is and how you view him
actually determines the course of your life so over the first
five days. We've been looking at different elements and aspects
of God from the first five days of creation and today. I want to
look at it for more things about God based on the 6th day of
creation. The first thing about God on the Six Day says in
Genesis, one verse 26, says then God said let us make man.
In our image, according to Al lightness let them at the
vineyard over the Dominion over the fish of the sea over
the birds of the air and over the cattle over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the Earth. Let
us make man in our image, according to our likeness.
It wasn't anyone else there.
It was just God. He wasn't talking to the Angels.
And he was saying Let us make man in our image, according to
our likeness. God is actually describing himself there in the
plural. And we can actually see this is the first time in the
scripture where we can see God
as the Trinity. Literally. He is there, it's like we see God the
father. the Bible says in Genesis, one at the very
beginning that the spirit of God was hovering over the face of
the waters so we see the spirit of God, there as well. Third
person of the Trinity and then John one. One actually tells us
so it's in the beginning was the word. The word was with God, and
the word was God and that's actually talking about Jesus
Christ. So here we see in the very beginning that God himself
is a Trinity now. The thing about the Trinity Is It's very
interesting. It's really, really
hard to describe. And there's actually nothing there's nothing
you can do to adequately and properly describe it. Because
God is one, but is also 3 persons. He 3 distinct persons,
but he's actually one. It's not 3 gods. It's actually one God.
It's also not 3 personalities. It's not 3 facets of God, it 3.
Distinct persons father, son and Holy Spirit, but actually it's
only one God as well. It's really interesting how people
try. And describe it, you know when I was a kid. I remember I
was at a kids camp and I would try it. The electron explained
to kids you know what God is like I'm trying to explain the
Trinity and one guy was teaching was saying, You know it's kinda
like a fish. You know you got one fish, but you got the head
and the body in the tail. That's kind of like you know trying to
describe it was trying to describe the Trinity. I've heard
other people say you know the Trinity is like water. You know
you got water and you got ice and you got steam and they're
saying that's kind of like the Trinity. There's no adequate way
of fully describing it describing the Trinity in
describing God's 3 distinct persons. I mean he is distinct
the Bible tells us when Jesus was baptized in the River
Jordan. He was the son, he getting baptized in the River
Jordan. the Bible said it bottle says the Holy Spirit came upon
him in the form of a dove so another distinct person and
there was a voice from heaven. All that the one time he's
heavenly father, who said here is my beloved son in whom I am
well pleased so if you try and fully decide a describe or if
you try and fully figure out the Trinity. It actually does your
head in and the scripture is not complete when it comes to fully
describing the Trinity He 3
distinct persons. But he's actually one God, it's not 3
gods and it's not 3 personalities. It's actually 3.
Distinct people father son, Holy Spirit and one God, so it's like
well so how does that actually apply to our lives will one of
the things that actually shows us is when it comes to God God
himself is a community.
He himself is a community it's not like he's craving for
community. He actually is a community father son and Holy
Spirit. That's one Jesus Christ died on the cross. It was so
damaging for him because he said. My God, my God? Why have
you. Forsaken me it's like the first time there was a
separation between the father and the son 'cause. It was so
used to being in constant communion. There were 3 distinct
persons, but actually one God and so God himself is actually
in. A community God himself is a community so the thing
that we can apply to our lives is we need to be in
Christian community as well.
We are not designed to actually live our Christian life by
ourselves listening to the favorite podcasts of their
favorite preacher that God is actually called us to actually
live and be in a community and I have found one of the number one
things at the enemy tries to do to several people's relationship
with God to get their faith to dull down is actually to find
any old excuse to stop getting together with God's people and
they will use anything that will use a fence that will use
busyness that will use tiredness anything to stop gods. People
stop people from coming together
with God's people. If God himself is a community how much
more should we can maintain maintain our Christian walk in
community as well. the Bible says in Hebrews, Chapter 10
versus 25 to 26. It says let us consider one another in in order
to stir up. Love and good works, not forsaking the Assembly of
ourselves together as is the manner of some but exhorting one
another and so much. The more as you see the day approaching you
know just the other week I caught up with.
A white name Drop it was was a relative of my brother in law
and I caught up with him on the Gulf Coast never met him before
and so I caught up with him and over at Broadbeach and then when
I got there. There was the three other guys sitting around the
table talking to him and they're all Polynesian guys and that
sort of thing, so I fit right in and they had massive breakfast
actually huge. There was one guy. He ordered this breakfast.
It had 3 eggs and he ordered another 2 error on top and so.
And I was sitting there talking to them getting to know them and
say hi how you doing. I was catching up to this man who was
the uncle of my brother in law and and that sort of thing and
as we're talking. The boys were all the Polynesian boys. So they
all grew up in church, but then I found out none of them were
actually going to church right now and some actually live. It
really Creek and just around here and there. All Christian
boys, but they're not going to church and it was interesting as
I ask them when they found out I was a pastor, they got really
weird with me. And and I've learned if people get really
weird with me when they find out on my pastor. You know often.
It's because I don't go to church anymore or something like
that, and they think I'm going to try and bash them or anything
like that, so these boys were too big to do that, too anyway,
so. And so I saw him I said, are you know, or what church do you
go to and he goes Oh no. I don't go to church anymore and I said,
OK, you know get a year or really should get back into it,
I said. Hey, I'm not just asking and I was talking to another
glass at all do you go to church guys known our church anymore
can't find one on the Gold Coast
I like? Not 1.
If you can't find a church.
On the Gold Coast that you like don't like that. You like
there wasn't one that exists in the world. You know you
have every brand every stream every tribe here on the Gulf
Coast. If you can't find one. The problem is not with the
body across guess with the problem is with anyway so.
It's all decided price well, just got out of my chest or was
a bit loose at night and so.
And so I said to him and I told my guys. I don't go to church
and he says. I wasn't passed up. But I don't like any churches on
the coast. Well, the Manor was with Jonas see, he was used as
an opportunity and it said. I travel all around the world. But
I always have a home church and he said. You need to go to home
church and the guy said I don't find there's no church on the
Gold Coast that I like. And I'm sitting right next to him and
then and then my friend quotes Hebrews Chapter 10 years don't
forsake the Assembly of ourselves together don't forsake
the assembling of the brethren.
And then this guy goes cause, he was apart once a pastor.
He says all you know that's not talking about going to church
that's talking about getting together for Israelite feasts
and Jewish fees.
And that sort of thing and I remember thinking, I have never
heard that before and he said. I've done a lot of study on this
and so I thought I could. I didn't get into art will I
wasn't in the argument. The other two were arguing and so I
just did a little bit of a study at this week and in Hebrews,
actually the context is a lot of he's actually speaking a lot to
Gentiles. So he's not signed a Gentles guarding Israel face.
He's telling him go to church isn't it. Amazing how people
will do anything twist. Scripture get busy get
offended to knock it in a community. If God himself is a
community? How much more should we be part of a
Christian community.
I'm in. Father Let us make man in our image. If we made in
God's image. You can't live by
yourself. She might in God's image. You can't be in
oscillation. Let us might go at night man in al image us
community. God is a community and so we need to be part of a
community as well. The second thing that we can learn from
this passage of Scripture Genesis 126. Basic then God
said. Let us make man in our image, according to our
likeness. Let them have Dominion.
Over the fish of the sea over the birds of the air over the
cattle over all the earth and over every creeping thing that
creeps on the earth let them have Dominion? Who is you
talking about. He's talking
about us. And he is saying to us let them have Dominion second
thing about God as he's a
delegator. He's a delegator, he's a delegator when you
delegate, you delegate
authority. It's more than dumping cause not dumping tasks
on us. He is delegating through US authority in the Earth Jesus
Christ himself cities disciples. I give you authority over all
the works of the enemy, so as Christians. God has actually be
cause. He's delegated things that us delegated authority to
us then we are actually people who have authoritie and so one
of the things about the Christian walk is we need to
know to exercise the authority that we have that, even that
even determines the way that we
pray. Sometimes people pray prayers and there's no authority
in it, and there, begging God for things that he is already
given us. The authority to do, I have stopped praying and asking
God to heal people?
'Cause God, has not asked me to pray for him to heal people.
He's asked me to speak to the infirmity and exercise. The
authority that I have if you look through scripture. Jesus
doesn't say, Oh, heavenly father. If it be your will would
you come down and touch these poor person he doesn't do that
he speaks out of the authority he has he says come out be
healed. He speaks and he says greater works and he did. We
will do so. That's why as Christians. We need to be people
with a little bit of faith. We need to be people are not
begging God for things that he's given us, the authority to walk
in through, he is delegated
authoritie. To us and as Christians is certain things
that we can believe God for that. We can lay ahold of
Becaus. He has given us. The Authoritie to actually walk in
those things. What is it that you're pulling up with that God
is giving you the authority to overcome? What is it that the
enemy is pulling your way that God is giving you the authority
to breakthrough and overcome and bypass that might be stopping
you from the things that God has for your life, he has given us
or authority through especially in the spiritual realm, the
Bible says in Ephesians chapter
one. That way I sent it with him in leaven, Lee in heavenly
places. We sat with him in heavenly places that's why even
the way that we pray we doing it from a position of authority.
We're not doing it from the position of begging God and then
from with a victim mentality. We are seated in heavenly places
that is why I am confident in anything in my own life and I'm
confident for you for your life as well. That anything God has
called you to do. He will give you the success in favor and the
authority you need to be able to do? What God has called you to
do. I'm in so why the Bible says that there's no power the enemy.
I can stop us. And so as Christians one of my heart's
desires for our church is that our people and our people. Love
God and we all everyone loves. God here and you're passionate
about God better posture towards him will be as a son as a
daughter. Walking in the authority that he's given us
that we would have a confidence about who God has called us to
be then we would have a confidence about what God is
called out church to be. I think it's a prophetic utterance that
our church is called Kings.
Not slavery, not slides not servants score last Kings.
Why is that because I believe that for part of the calling of
God upon us is that when it whatever we do things. There's
an establishment of God's Kingdom and there's an authority
and increase the only reason
why. This church is a very tribe on the coast cause of us.
'Cause 40 years ago we came
here. When there was nothing and now it's the Bible belt buckle
of the Gold Coast.
How did that start 'cause Kings
went there? So it's going to
happen tomorrow as well. Horry started it's gonna happen to
Logan village as well. 'cause we carry the authority of God.
Wherever we go, he says let them talking about people, let them
have Dominion. These are delegator and he's delegated
authority to us.
The sad thing is this verse 29.
Says in God said see I have given you every heard that
yield seed, which is on the face of the earth and every
tree whose fruit yield seed to you at Shelby for food.
So I've given you who's the you is talking about it man.
He said, I have given you all this that you need to survive.
Interestingly enough before I go into my main point.
As soon as God makes as soon as God makes man he speaks to him.
It's not speaking about him, he said. See I've given you see
man. I have given you. He's speaking to man before this when
he speaks he speaks to create he speaks to the atmosphere, but
now he's speaking to man as Christians. We can hear gods
voice. He did not create us to talk about us and set us off God
actually created us to have relationship with him. You can
actually hear the voice of God as you spend time with him as
you get to know God's word is you get in God's presence.
You'll be able to get to know his voice more and more.
Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and as Christians. We can
actually hear the voice of God as you spend time with him and
you spend time in God's word. My heart and desire is that some of
the some of the issues and the concerns and the worries and the
things that you don't know how to handle with right now as you
seek God he will speak to you. You will learn to hear his
voice. He is a speaking God and he also will speak to us but
notice here. He says to them see. I have given you, he
doesn't say see you have.
Earned. He doesn't say C it's available, but you gotta do you
gotta earn it, he says no see how I see I have given you
everything you need? Just above the third thing about God is God
is generous. God is generous. God is actually a provider on
almost every day of creation. We see that God's nature comes out,
he's a God who is generous and he is a God who is a provider
notices. He created the provision before he created the
person. It wasn't like he created the person I thought. Oh
no, I better get something for them no no. He already or had
already set up the provision ahead of time in the same way?
What I have found in my life is very often if I come to a place
of need very often. I find out that God is already created the
provision. I need ahead of time.
That, he is actually a provider and he is generous and he will
generously provide for his people. God will generously
provide for you. Maybe here in this place and you've got a
University course and you aren't sure about what you're going to
do next. I need to let you know, God's already got it under
control. He's already got it sorted. He wanted to get you to
go into that course and then not not provide the job or the
provision for you afterwards.
Our member and always got side when I was 19 and so I was half
way through a University course and I was doing and I did a
Bachelor of Arts. Do I told you about this deny that a batch of
our target. My batch of art straight OK, cool and then I got
a batch of that and I got saved in the middle of my second year.
And so I was, I was praying and I really forgot speak to me, it
was awesome item. Bailey Christian very long. But God
will even speak to you if you haven't been a Christian very
long and so I felt God say to me don't worry about it. I've got a
job for you as soon as you're
finished. And so I wasn't looking for jobs. It's hard to
look for jobs anyway. When you get an arts degree an so.
There's not a lot almost qualified for so.
But I wasn't actually actively looking for jobs or anything
like that, not frame store at University and I were looking
for jobs and and all that sort of thing and and I remember
every time I pray Lord. I need a job and it is obviously don't
worry about it. I've got your job 3 weeks before I'd actually
graduate finished my course. I got a phone call and got offered
a job to work for Converse footwear. You know, converse
shoes and I got a job working for Converse footwear. God knew
even though I didn't know God knew ahead of time that I would
need that provision. And he is never left me short, I can
honestly stand here and say to you. That is from the moment I
got saved God has been a consistent provider and all our
needs have been met even ahead of time. He can think ahead of
time and do that. God is a provider for you just because
you cannot see the provision right now doesn't mean it's not
there or doesn't mean that God hasn't thought about it. He is
generous and he will provide for you and I know I talked about
this on day too. But I just keep can't shake it. There's some
people here, even right now.
You're believing for God's provision and you can't see it.
That's OK. God knows ahead of time that you need it and he
will take care of. You the Bible says even every one of your
hairs is numbered. He cares about you that much. the Bible
says don't worry about tomorrow is 'cause. Today has its own
trouble. the Bible says don't worry about the clothes that
you're going to wear don't worry about the food that you got it.
God takes care of the birds of the air. He will also take care
of his people, we serve a
generous. God there are some parts of the body of cross that
actually take a vow of poverty.
I can't find that in the scripture.
The Bible says he will take care and provide for his
people, a religious mindset has the poverty mindset. But
I'm here to let you know, we serve a generous God, who
will provide for his people.
And the last thing. The back
door is this. Says on Genesis 131.
Then got so everything that he
had made. And indeed it was very
good. So that evening in the morning with the 6th day.
So basically God created Earth in 6 days.
Had a day off at the end of
every day. He looked at what he
created and said. That's good.
He looked at it and saw that it
was good. But on the 6th day, he looked at everything he created.
And he did insight was good.
He said it was very good.
The 6th Day was the day, he created man.
And on the 6th day off to having created man, he said. It's very
good and a lot of ancient fights
and religions. There are often creation narratives and stories.
Some quite similar to the to our narrative the Christian
narrative. But there's 1 major
difference. And a lot of ancient faces a creation narrative.
But man is created in such a way that he's he's actually
created to serve God. And the gods kind of the god of the
creators kind of like mean and and man is created to
serve him man is not necessarily more important
than anything else that was created. But in the creation
narrative. The Christian creation. Narrative man and
mankind is actually the pinnacle of creation.
That everything was created it says he was actually created for
men. And that man is actually the pinnacle of creation, so the
4th thing about God is that God is proud of us.
You might have some people say to you and say you're no good.
But your heavenly father says now you're very good.
'Cause that's actually how he looks at us through Christ.
the Bible says we're in new creation. Fusions 2/10 is for
your we are gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do
good works. You are gods workmanship. the Bible says
in Psalm, 139 verse 14 that I am fearfully and wonderfully
made that my soul knows very well turn. The person next to
you and say, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Turn to the person on the other side and say, I am
God's workmanship.
We are the only things in God's creation that are
created in his image.
There's nothing else created in God's image except for us
and he looks at us and he says. That's very good. That's
why The Devil hates you.
'Cause every time he sees you,
he sees God. And he is trying to take you out, and he is trying
to demean you and he is trying to hold you down, but I'm here.
Let's you know that there's victory in him and he when he
looks at us. He says that is very good. Some people here, you
need to stop listening to the lies that other people have said
about you. That you're no good that you're a failure that
you're a reject none. I know you are the righteousness of Christ
that in Christ. You God looks at you and he says. You are very
good. There are some people here, you were told you an
excellent you found out that you want that you want plan for and
that you will somehow there're mistake. Automate some people
that they were the product. I remember actually meeting. There
was one guide the Bible college, that we used to run and he gave
her testimony and he found out he was the product of a rape.
And there are other people that literally that their parents
were going to abort them and
didn't. And so they were born knowing some of these facts, you
can imagine the rejection that they feel the feeling that there
is somehow less than the feeling there. Somehow, unwanted but I'm
here to let you know it doesn't matter what other people think
and it doesn't matter what other people say who cares what other
people say when God looks at you, he says it's very good and
not only that he's looking at your future not just your
present. Man hasn't actually done anything man hasn't done
anything to prove himself. And yet, he's looking at man and
he's saying very good. There's some people here, you finally
nearly giving your life to Christ and you're actually
thinking to yourself, you know, I've got such a working
progress. There's so many things that I've gotta get down, there,
so many changes are going to make to my life. I'm here to let
you know it doesn't matter. God isn't just looking at you
looking at your pass. He's actually looking at your
potential. He's looking at your future and he's looking at you,
saying it's very you are very.
Gold. God is proud.
Of you.
That is why sometimes I think with our language when it comes
to our relationship with God.
Sometimes, even the way that we
worship. We need to do it from a
posture of acceptance. Not from a posture of begging God.
The scripture does tell us that there are Tom Waits and kneel
before the Lord and that's a
valid expression. But also too if you look in the scripture.
There's a number of times when people had an encounter with
God, and they were kneeling. And whether it be an Angel or
whatever it was, I told him actually get up.
As we don't have to bake him.
And we have no longer unworthy.
Because through Christ, we are worthy and we are acceptable
before the Lord. And we can stand in his presidents, I'm in.
He in God's eyes, he is proud of us knowing our failings, knowing
that there's more to be done in our life, he still looks at us
as the pinnacle of creation and
he says. Very good, I meant.
And maybe there's some people here keep putting yourself down
or the things other people have
said about you. One of the things that is important in the
Christian life. If we have someone signed something about
us and God sign something about
us. Who do you think we should listen to?
They wrong.
God's true.
Their lawyers. Now, when will ever want to marry you?
Well, who cares what you say.
What do you know? You'll never amount to anything, helpless and
hopeless that's all you are.
No no who cares what you say my
heavenly father says. I'm very
good. You are the pinnacle of
creation. Some people take this to the extreme and they just
think there's no changes that need to be made in their life.
But I think that there was some of the old Jewish rabbis
actually had a very good balance when it came to understanding
themselves in the eyes of God.
Some Jewish rebel is that they would have a coat and in one
pocket, they would have a rock.
And it it would say.
I made from the dust.
But in another pocket that have another rock and it said. For me
all things were made.
And in the same way we understand yes, he's made us
from the dust. He is the
greatest of all. But we're not worms, he's proud of us.
Where his children and we should live life with a faith and a
confidence knowing that it doesn't matter what anyone else
is God says about us on fearfully and wonderfully made
on God's workmanship and on the 6th day of creation when he made
us. He looked at us everything else. He said, God God God, but
then he made us.
Very good. On finished I'm done, I'll have a day off tomorrow.
I'm in.
And So what I want us to do.
As I want to sing I'm glad you plan, it 'cause it's a song I
want to see. Gradually, coming
coming out. And I love seeing Scotty do we saw Lowe's?
We're going to sing greater.
Number of things I touched on in this message to touch
on this song.
So it's given us all authority sin in sickness bow their knee.
I meant Schreider than all
things. And there are times when I feel small when I feel weak.
The number one thing I can do.
Is the magnify the Lord?
Lift him up. And as I lift him
up. He lives outside.
Because the Bible says he's the lifter of our heads. I'm in.
And so we're going to worship him in this place and we're
going to declare. Greater than all things declare it and as we
do this. Some of you are going to see your challenges. Some of
the issues that you're facing they're going to get smaller.
And the reason why they're going to get smaller because your God
is going to get bigger in your eyes, the Bible says the Hills
melt like wax? At the presence
of the Lord. And as we praise him in worshipping your problems
they just going to dissipate.
Going to feel like nothing.
That's why the Bible says were overcomers. There's nothing. We
can't overcome in Christ. 'cause any obstacle that we face every
mountain that we face they melt.
At the presence of the Lord I'm in and so we're going to declare
going to worship and we're going to lift up his name.
But before we do.
Maybe here in this place and you haven't given your life to Jesus
Christ. You don't have a
relationship with him. The Bible says that when you give
your life to Christ, you become a new creation, the old
is gone and the newest come?