““A New Beginning, A New Life”A New Beginning, A New Life”Northside Mission Church (1-JAN-2012)Northside Mission Church (1-JAN-2012)

By faith alone, I have received Jesus as My Lord By faith alone, I have received Jesus as My Lord and My Saviour. I have been crucified with Christ and My Saviour. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I have set my mind of things above, not on earthly have set my mind of things above, not on earthly things. For I have died and my life is now hidden things. For I have died and my life is now hidden in Christ. When Christ who is my life appears, I in Christ. When Christ who is my life appears, I will also appear with Him in glory. will also appear with Him in glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!In Jesus’ Name. Amen!(John 1:12, Galatians 2:20 & Colossians 3:2-3)(John 1:12, Galatians 2:20 & Colossians 3:2-3)

Our ProclamationOur Proclamation

Will $31 million change your life?Will $31 million change your life?AUD $31 million is equal to AUD $31 million is equal to PHP 1.364 billion!PHP 1.364 billion!

My short list of things to do My short list of things to do if I had that much money if I had that much money are: are:

A brand-new V8 Commodore, a 2-storey house A brand-new V8 Commodore, a 2-storey house in North Lakes and taking a world cruise with in North Lakes and taking a world cruise with the familythe family

““In the beginning…” In the beginning…” John 1:1-4John 1:1-4In the beginning In the beginning was the was the WordWord, and the , and the Word Word was with Godwas with God, and the , and the Word was GodWord was God. He was in . He was in the beginning with God. All things were made the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. that was made. In Him was lifeIn Him was life, and the life was , and the life was the light of men. the light of men.

WordWord – Logos in Greek (Understanding, Reason, – Logos in Greek (Understanding, Reason, Intelligence and Purpose)Intelligence and Purpose)

““In the beginning…”In the beginning…”Hebrews 1:2-3aHebrews 1:2-3a(God)(God) has in these has in these last dayslast days spoken to us by spoken to us by His His SonSon, whom He has appointed heir of all things, , whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; through whom also He made the worlds; who who being the brightness of His glory and the express being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His personimage of His person

John 1:14John 1:14And the And the Word became fleshWord became flesh and dwelt among us, and dwelt among us, and and we beheld His glorywe beheld His glory, , the glory as of the only the glory as of the only begotten of the Fatherbegotten of the Father, full of grace and truth., full of grace and truth.

““In the beginning…”In the beginning…”John 1:15John 1:15No one has seen God at any timeNo one has seen God at any time. The only . The only begotten Son, begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Fatherwho is in the bosom of the Father, , He has declared He has declared Him.Him.

God dwells in God dwells in unapproachable lightunapproachable light ( (1 Tim. 6:61 Tim. 6:6))

John 14:9 John 14:9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who He who has seen Me has seen the Fatherhas seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you ; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?say, ‘Show us the Father’?

The World’s response to HimThe World’s response to HimJohn 1:10-11 John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and through Him, and the world did not know Himthe world did not know Him. . He came to His ownHe came to His own, and , and His own did not receive His own did not receive Him.Him.

““The world” – not the universe nor creationThe world” – not the universe nor creation– – specifically, the nation of Israel as a wholespecifically, the nation of Israel as a whole– – particularly, the religious authorities of particularly, the religious authorities of the Jewish people at that timethe Jewish people at that time

The World’s response to HimThe World’s response to HimIsaiah 53:1-3Isaiah 53:1-3Who has believed our report? And to whom has Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD the arm of the LORD been revealed? For been revealed? For He He (Jesus)(Jesus) shall grow up before Him shall grow up before Him (God) (God) as a as a tender plant, and as a root out of tender plant, and as a root out of dry grounddry ground. He . He has no form or comeliness; and when we see has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, Him, there isthere is no beauty that we should desire no beauty that we should desire Him. Him. He is despised and rejected by menHe is despised and rejected by men, a Man , a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, And we hid, as it were, our faces from Himas it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, ; He was despised, and and we did not esteem Him.we did not esteem Him.

The World’s response to HimThe World’s response to HimZechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, Behold, your King is coming to youyour King is coming to you; ; He He isis just and having salvation, just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkeyLowly and riding on a donkey, , A colt, the foal of a donkey. A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Lowly Lowly –– gentle, meekgentle, meek

The Creation recognized Him!The Creation recognized Him!Matthew 8:26-27Matthew 8:26-27But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calmwinds and the sea, and there was a great calm. . So the men marveled, saying, “So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?that even the winds and the sea obey Him?””

Matthew 21:19 Matthew 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered awayImmediately the fig tree withered away..

The Creation recognized Him!The Creation recognized Him!Luke 23:44-46Luke 23:44-46Now it wasNow it was about the sixth hour, about the sixth hour, and there was and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkenedThen the sun was darkened, and the veil of the , and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, ” Having said this, He breathed His last. He breathed His last.

How should we respond to Him?How should we respond to Him?John 1:12-13 (NIV) John 1:12-13 (NIV) Yet Yet to all who did receive himto all who did receive him, to those who , to those who believed in his name, believed in his name, he gave the right to he gave the right to become children of Godbecome children of God— — children born not of children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of Godhusband’s will, but born of God. .

Alternatives that are ruled out:Alternatives that are ruled out:1.1.Born of natural descentBorn of natural descent2.2.Born of human decisionBorn of human decision3.3.Born of a husband’s willBorn of a husband’s will

How should we respond to Him?How should we respond to Him?John 3:3-7 John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Godsee the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, .” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of Godhe cannot enter the kingdom of God. . That which That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spiritborn of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I . Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You said to you, ‘You mustmust be born again.’” be born again.’”

What is the New Life?What is the New Life?Philippians 1:21Philippians 1:21For to me, For to me, to live is Christto live is Christ, and to die , and to die isis gain. gain.

Galatians 2:20Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but who live, but Christ lives in meChrist lives in me; and the ; and the lifelife which which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

What is the New Life?What is the New Life?Colossians 3:2-4Colossians 3:2-4Set your mind on things above, not on things on Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.glory.

2 Corinthians 4:162 Corinthians 4:16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our our outward man is perishingoutward man is perishing, yet the , yet the inward man is inward man is being renewed day by daybeing renewed day by day..

How do we nurture the New Life?How do we nurture the New Life?Four main priorities for the those in Christ:Four main priorities for the those in Christ:1.1.Appropriate spiritual nourishment – the Word Appropriate spiritual nourishment – the Word of Godof GodMatthew 4:4Matthew 4:4But He answered and said, “It is written, But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man ‘Man shall not live by shall not live by breadbread alone, alone, but by every word but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of Godthat proceeds from the mouth of God.’.’””

1 Peter 2:21 Peter 2:2… … as as newborn babesnewborn babes, desire the , desire the pure milk of the pure milk of the wordword, that you may grow thereby, that you may grow thereby

How do we nurture the New Life?How do we nurture the New Life?1.1. Appropriate spiritual nourishment (the Word Appropriate spiritual nourishment (the Word

of God)of God)

Hebrews 5:13-14Hebrews 5:13-14For everyone who partakes For everyone who partakes onlyonly of milk of milk isis

unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evilboth good and evil..

How do we nurture the New Life?How do we nurture the New Life?2.2. Keeping in touch with the Life Source – PrayerKeeping in touch with the Life Source – Prayer1 Thessalonians 5:17-181 Thessalonians 5:17-18Rejoice alwaysRejoice always, , pray without ceasingpray without ceasing, , in in

everything give thankseverything give thanks; for ; for this is the will of this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for youGod in Christ Jesus for you. .

To pray effectively is to:To pray effectively is to:a.a. Begin by thanking and acknowledging GodBegin by thanking and acknowledging Godb.b. Submit our will, plans and needs to GodSubmit our will, plans and needs to Godc.c. Seek His guidance and helpSeek His guidance and helpd.d. Commit our needs to HimCommit our needs to Hime.e. Never separate praying with thankingNever separate praying with thanking

How do we nurture the New Life?How do we nurture the New Life?3.3. Confessing our faith openlyConfessing our faith openly

Matthew 10:32-33Matthew 10:32-33Therefore Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, whoever confesses Me before men,

him I will also confess before My Father who him I will also confess before My Father who is in heavenis in heaven. But . But whoever denies Me before whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heavenwho is in heaven..

How do we nurture the New Life?How do we nurture the New Life?4.4. Fellowship with other believers regularlyFellowship with other believers regularly

Hebrews 10:23-25Hebrews 10:23-25Let us hold fast the confession of our hope Let us hold fast the confession of our hope

without waveringwithout wavering, for He who promised , for He who promised isis faithful. And faithful. And let us consider one another in let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good worksorder to stir up love and good works, , not not forsaking the assembling of ourselves forsaking the assembling of ourselves togethertogether, , as is the manner of someas is the manner of some, but , but exhorting one anotherexhorting one another,, and so much the more and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.as you see the Day approaching.

How do we nurture the New Life?How do we nurture the New Life?4.4. Fellowship with other believers regularlyFellowship with other believers regularly

1 John 1:71 John 1:7But if we walk in the light as He is in the lightBut if we walk in the light as He is in the light, ,

we have fellowship with one anotherwe have fellowship with one another, and , and the the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sinall sin. .

A New Year, A New Life!A New Year, A New Life!1. Do I realize my spiritual need? Or am I simply 1. Do I realize my spiritual need? Or am I simply concerned with my physical, carnal, temporary concerned with my physical, carnal, temporary and worldly needs? and worldly needs?

2. Is it possible that God has somehow come into 2. Is it possible that God has somehow come into my life through His Son and I have not recognize my life through His Son and I have not recognize Him? Him?

3. Do I want to live the new life of being “born 3. Do I want to live the new life of being “born again”, “born of God” and “born from above” again”, “born of God” and “born from above” more fully, in all its richness and wonder? more fully, in all its richness and wonder?