13/7 The Power of Story

Pastor Bruce Hills (Garden City Christian Church, Brisbane, Australia)

Luke 18:1

God speaks:

4. By visions and dreams

5. By providential circumstances

6. By angels

7. By audible voice

8. By the power of story

Jesus used story...

· To teach disciples

· To help people understand

· To refute detractors

Luke 13

1. “Do not judge” – Matt. 7:1

· Based on incomplete facts

· Heart, verbal

· E.g., military man, baby, cashier

2. “ Power of blood” – 1 John 1:7

· Covered by blood of Jesus, I belong to him

· He purified us

· Protected, cleansed, justified

3. “Importance of maintaining vision” – Neh. 2.12

· What god places in your heart

· Between Holy Spirit & our spirit, reveals what God wants us to do

· When you see something not as it will be

· See with your eyes closed ßà what has been placed in your heart

· Devil will target your vision and attack you. To make you lose sense of direction, real sense of purpose of God

· Discouragement, critical words of others... to take away what God really wants you to do

· Lost the ability to see

· Have faith and believe what God says

· God’s purpose doesn’t change, just that we lost our eyes

· Vision!!!

· Natural à Supernatural

· Ordinary à Extraordinary

· Get that sense back!!!

4. “Love and value each other” – John 13:34-35

· Identification, serving, sacrifice

· Selfless

· Father’s love, Jesus’ love

· Sickness affects health, physical, motion...

· E.g., Leukemia lady, lifegroup à shaved their hair, don’t want to let her feel alone.

· What love?

· Show genuine interests in others

· Incarnation

· Don’t disengage left in others

· Take initiative

· Value lives of one another

· Make difference in somebody’s life

5. “God do all things for the good” – Rom. 8:28

· God sent or God used.

· Redeemed by God

· God’s mercy, He has the best interest and heart

· God’s good, powerful, love

· God’s divine purpose

· Trust him, worship, call upon him at all circumstances

6. “Keep hungry for Jesus” – Rev. 2:4

· Jer. 2:2

· When you want God as much as you want an heir, you will find Him.

· Pursue, listen Him

· Presence of Jesus

ð Gasp, Yield, Hungry, Thirsty for Him.

Much More to Come!

Thank God for what I've encountered for the past fews months, ups and downs, old and fresh ideas. And I know everything happens for a reason and He's there to educate me about Him and others, it's not just about myself. Sometimes, I'm still trying really hard when someone annoyed me for doing certain things. Looking at things from that someone's point of view, things I have done might have affected him too. I know there're more to come! I shall not be afraid for He's with me!

I just hate writing stuffs but will try to post more. The next post would be the notes I took while listening to sermons at Garden City Christian Church by Pastor Bruce Hills. It speaks to me! Hope you can understand what I've written. Otherwise, you could drop me a message and will try to explain to you =)