Author: Philip

‘Meet the Lord God who judges but also saves’ (Exodus 11:1-12:51)

AudioPhilip

Exodus 11:1-12:51 details for us the tenth and last of the plagues that came upon Egypt. Of all the plagues this was the one that would really break Pharaoh’s stubborn will and also his father’s heart. The death of the first-born sons all throughout Egypt was a most dramatic event that the people of Israel would forever remember in the Passover feast they would hold every year that would bring themes of redemption through the blood of the lamb and deliverance from slavery to mind – matters that God’s people today see fulfilled through the death of Jesus, ‘our Passover Lamb’.

Message

Outline

  • The ninth in this series
  • Pharaoh’s continued refusal
  • How we got to where we are
  • See how this last (10th) plague …
  1. Involved an increase in intensity (11:1-10)
  2. Required a response of faith (12:1-13,29-32)
  3. Taught of salvation to come (12:14-28,33-51)

The perspective of ‘modern’ eyes
Romans 9:14-18
The (only) way of salvation…

‘Meet the Lord God, the Judge of all the earth’ (Exodus 7:8-10:29)

AudioPhilip

In Exodus 7:8-10:29, the showdown that had been threatening took place. Pharaoh, in his stubborn unbelief and refusal to let the people of Israel go, could only sit back and watch his nation and land be devastated by plague after plague – all designed to show him that he was not calling the shots. While the plagues were long ago, yet they will teach us many things – not only about the danger of unbelief, but also the coming judgement upon the whole world and the need to be safe through trust in Christ.

Message

Outline

o The eighth is this series
o The coming showdown
o How did we get here?
o Consider the first 9 plagues and …

  1. Nine observations about them
    Blood
    Frogs
    Gnats
    Flies
    Disease
    Boils
    Hail & fire
    Locusts
    Darkness
  2. Three questions about them
    Were
    How
    Is
  3. Three lessons from them
    Egypt:
    Pharaoh:
    Israel:
    Black Saturday
    The seriousness of sin
    The book Revelation & the coming wrath & whom to fear…

‘See the Saviour conquer death and the grave’ (Luke 24:1-12)

AudioPhilip

When the women went to the tomb early on the Sunday morning after the death of Jesus, they never expected to find that the tomb would be empty. The fact that the tomb was empty is recorded by all the gospel writers, even Luke in Luke 24:1-12. Perhaps there has never been a more important find of nothing! Because the tomb was empty, the New Testament tells us of some great truths that follow that should uplift the heartsof all God’s people

Message

Outline

• The overgrown tomb
• The story’s not over!
• The most important discovery of nothing!
• Consider how the empty tomb speaks and how it…

  1. Proclaims His divinity (Rom 1:4)
  2. Portrays His victory (Rev 1:17-18)
  3. Prepares our eternity (Rom 8:11)
  4. Previews our immortality (John 15:19)

Has the resurrection been disproved?
‘Pie in the sky when you die’
Hope in an uncertain world!

‘A brief survey of the cross – from long distance’ (Isaiah 53:4-6)

AudioPhilip

When God revealed something of a glimpse of the future to the prophet Isaiah who lived 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet saw the person who was to come, the ‘Servant of the Lord’, the Saviour and Redeemer of God’s people. The 53rd chapter of his prophecy is well-known for the way it so accurately describes the death of Jesus on the cross (especially Isaiah 53:4-6). These things were yet to be for the prophet, but now we can look back upon them and see wonderful things!

Message

Outline

• A text from the past, Isaiah’s great prophecy
• ‘Survey’ the cross?!?
• The cure to our doubts…
• Note well that Isaiah foresaw ….

  1. A release from a burden (v.4)
  2. A demonstration of love (v.4-6)
  3. A transfer of a debt (v.6)

The only safe ground…
What a wonderful Saviour!
Good news indeed!

‘Meet the Lord God who knows His plans’ (Exodus 6:10-7:14)

AudioPhilip

After Moses heard back from the Lord God that He would do as He had promised, in Exodus 6:10-7:14, we find again the narrative of this tense looming showdown between the Lord and Pharaoh, bookending a section where suddenly there is a whole genealogy of Moses and Aaron. What’s going on? Only just that Moses wants the people of Israel to know that it was this Moses and this Aaron whom the Lord called and sent to go toi Pharaoh – even despite the fact that the Lord knew that the King wouldn’t listen. God’s plans for His people always include His people. That is why we are called to be His witnesses in every place.

Message

Outline

  • The seventh in this series
  • Things are heating up!
  • Some things hadn’t gone well!
  • Note that in God’s plan Moses and Aaron …
  1. Were sent back to Pharaoh (v.10-17)
  2. Were qualified for the task (v.18-27)
  3. Were recommissioned for service (7:1-7)

William Carey
Psalm 90:10
God’s task and our task…

‘The great escape’ (An Easter reflection)

Philip

In May of this year, it will be 20 years since the rescue of the trapped miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell was unfolding in Beaconsfield, Tasmania. After having been given up for dead because of the thick rock that kept the men from freedom, in the course of time, they were rescued from their captivity and the watching world sighed with relief!  Throughout the whole ordeal and after, tribute was rightly paid to the rescuers who toiled tirelessly to reach the men in extreme circumstances and at great risk to themselves. A movie of it was made too!!

The mine rescue story reminds us of another rescue story, an even better one. The Bible tells us that ‘all men have sinned’ (Romans 3:23) and that because of this we are unable to save ourselves. All of us are ‘trapped’ in the cage of our own sinful natures and all are in need of a Rescuer. Jesus Christ is that Rescuer. At great cost to Himself and to rescue His people, He died upon a cross and was buried and then, to prove that His work was sufficient and accepted by God, and that He was and is the Son of God, God raised Him from the grave after three days, appointing Him to be the “Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42).

We all need to be rescued – especially from the coming Judge! Every time Easter comes around, it’s a great opportunity to be reminded that only Jesus Christ can be the Rescuer that we need. Through faith in Him, all who believe are granted full and free salvation. He said, ‘If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’. (John 8:36). Seek Him. Great joy will follow your rescue too.

Fellowship, fishing and food (inc. spiritual food) – our first ever Men’s Camp!

Philip

Our first ever Men’s Camp was held over Friday March 20 and Saturday March 21 at the Laanecoorie Lakeside Park. The camp kicked off on late Friday afternoon/evening night with a BBQ dinner, a campfire and some input on writing testimonies, after which a few were shared. The next morning broke bright and cool with anothe fine day heading our way. After breakfast, fish were caught, conversations flowed, the campfire burned bright, more testimonies were shared and we gave ourselves to the next study in our series based on the book of Nehemiah. And then, after a BBQ lunch, it was all over and it was time to returns to our homes and families.

It may have been short, but it was a great blessing for us men with busy lives to get away and grow together in friendship in this way. Thanks be to God!

‘Meet the Lord God who can do whatever He pleases’ (Exodus 6:1-13)

AudioPhilip

In our studies so far in the book of Exodus, we have met the Lord God’s appointed deliverer, Moses, and his many excuses and fears. Having gone to Pharaoh as the Lord God had commanded him with the result being far from what Moes had expected, Moses could only now go back to the Lord and ask ‘why?’ The Lord’s answer to Moses is found in Exodus 6:1-13, a great passage which focusses upon what the Lord can and would do to Pharaoh and can and would do for His people. His power is far greater than our weaknesses!

Message

Outline

  • The sixth in this series
  • When and where we left Moses
  • A song for Moses?
  • See how God responded to Moses that He would…
  1. Keep His promises (v.1-4)
  2. Redeem His people (v.5-6)
  3. Demonstrate His power (v.7-13)

Kids’ letters to Pastors
The response of the people!
A better song to be singing…

Easter at St John’s…

Philip

Bendigo is a very busy place over Easter, but with so much going on and so much of it about the holiday itself and not the meaning of Easter, make sure you don’t miss what’s most important.

Come and join us at 9:30am on Good Friday to discover that real meaning. There will be a retiring offering to support the PresAID appeal for our partner chuches in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Stay for morning tea afterward and then be sure to catch ‘The Way of the Cross’ at 8pm in Rosalind Park (free entry).

Then, join us again on Easter Sunday morning at 10:30am (make sure you’ve put your clock back) to find out even more about it! Morning tea follows also…

‘Meet the Lord God who still controls the worst of days’ (Exodus 4:18-5:23)

AudioPhilip

It’s hard enough to cope with circumstances getting worse at any time, let alone when you’ve shown a willingness to obey the Lord’s directions! But in Exodus 4:18-5:23, Moses found out that obeying God doesn’t always mean that everything will go smoothly – sometimes it just doesn’t. In fact, the circumstances for Moses and the people of Israel got significantly worse because Moses obeyed. But…all was not lost and Moses had to find out the hard way that this too was part of God’s plan.

Message

Outline

  • The fifth in this series
  • Moses’ fearful task…
  • Off to meet Pharaoh
  • Note that Moses ought to have learned not to …
  1. Miss the Lord’s requirements (4:18-31)
  2. Miscalculate the Lord’s timetable (5:1-21)
  3. Misread the Lord’s agenda (5:22-23)

The picture in perspective…
William Cowper and the sovereign God
Trusting on the bad days too…