First 2 | Protected for Eternity

Well, thank you Mel, you know just so excited to hear about

Alpha. I know some of you here have

done Alpha before. I mean Alpha is just an amazing

thing and I love what Mel said. If you've been a Christian for 2

seconds or 20 years. It doesn't matter.

It's just a fantastic place to explore faith in such a

fantastically safe environment. You know, I just was so

privileged to be able to speak at the last Alpha, and just

meeting so many people. It was just so wonderful.

So if that's you anything, I want that now is the time for me

to explore or faith or maybe maybe you've never even said yes

to Jesus. And I really recommend that you

do alpha. Well, it's good to be together

again. Last week.

I had mentioned, I was reminded of the importance of laughter.

I think laughs is very important.

We've been doing some practice in the room.

I gave him some, my bad jokes, but as I said last week, I

didn't have to resort to those because I have this little book

that I had found. It.

Steph called children's letters to God and out.

Out of the mouths of babes. Say some rather funny things.

So given the support that I had received online.

I checked the comments afterwards.

I thought, that, by the way, you don't need to encourage me much

to tell some jokes, but I'm going to read a couple more of

these that, alright, with you. You're all nodding your head,

right? This is from a little book boy

called Wally. We what a great name.

He says, Dear God. If we had fur like the animals,

we wouldn't have to wear clothes.

Did you ever think of that? Love that.

That's really very good. What else do we got here?

Dear God. Are you rich or just famous?

I love that one. Very good.

One more because I just absolutely love these.

This is from a little boy called Kevin.

This is this. Dear God.

I know you are supposed to love thy neighbor.

But if Mark keeps taking my other skate, he's gonna get it.

I love that one. That is fantastic.

Yes, it's good to laugh. Isn't it?

We got to continue to laugh. Right?

Well, let's move on. Then.

You know, we are in this season series called first and I

challenged us all last week to ask the question.

Are we seeking Jesus first? And this was really off the back

of Charles Montgomery, our guest speaker who spoke at the start

of the year around first things first, how that we are to take

each day as it comes and each day seek Jesus first and you

know, I'm going to use that line again that he gave which is

don't get you. Look at Facebook first thing in

the morning. Get your face in his book.

First thing in the morning. Isn't that great line, you know,

don't look how many likes, you've got an Instagram.

Why didn't you read the love letter from God, which is your

Bible? And, you know, we should be

doing that as Christians. The first thing we should be

doing is seeking Jesus and not just in the morning, but

throughout the day. And so last week, we looked

about the first one of our areas that we want to seek Jesus

first. In our first P was peace.

Because, you know if we seek the world's peace, what is the

world's peace? It's a kind of peace.

That is based on circumstances. You know, it's not, it's

something that is unstable. Isn't it?

It's not always there. When the kids are screaming,

you're trying to do, you know homeschooling and the

technology, you know, the zoom thing.

Doesn't work, etc. Spectra.

Well, you know, you're not able to pay bills, all of these

things. When life gets tough.

If we base our piece on the world circumstances, it will

never be stable as we looked at last week.

If we, if we seek the gift of peace, from Jesus said, Peace,

which is stable a piece, which is sure.

And if you miss that talk, you can catch up online, The

Vineyard Church of code. UK forward slash talks, or on

our smartphone app. You can catch up.

So, which P are we up to this morning?

This week? We are looking at protection

protection. Now, protection is a word that's

all on our lips at the moment, isn't it?

It's a word which has come to the fore in a way in which

probably hasn't done. So, for over a generation, you

know, we, we see it on posters protect.

We hear it every time we turn on the TV, we see it.

When we go online and we check the news and it instructs, our

every action, doesn't it? It's become second nature now.

Hasn't it to protect ourselves from the virus, protect others

and protect the NHS. Save lives, you know, I don't

know about you, but I find myself now automatically knowing

what 2 m is. You know, it's automatic Now,

isn't it? That we put our masks on its

become automatic, you know, this sense of protection is something

which is something which is top of mind for us all.

And of course, these are all necessary and important things,

but I want to ask you guys a question.

And it might seem like a silly question, but go with me on it

for a bit. Have you ever asked yourself?

What does this all show us? Have you ever asked yourself?

Why do we need protecting? It might seem like a silly

question. But have you ever asked yourself

why? We're here is the answer.

You see? It shows that we are in need of

protection. You might go to me one Mark.

That's a bit obvious, isn't it? But as I said, go with me on

this. You see what it shows us is.

That we are not God. What it shows us is that we are

the created. We are not the Creator.

You see, when you answer that question.

It reminds us that we are not in control as we had thought we

were. It's a reminder that in spite of

our best efforts in spite of our technological advancements.

In spite of our scientific Endeavors, in spite of our

increasing knowledge, in spite of all these things, many good,

all good. In fact, In spite of all these

things, the illusion that we are in control is actually well

Andalusian ceded by the enemy himself.

We are not in control and you see what this word protect makes

us realize, is that we are in need of protection because we

are not God. And you know, in many ways, this

is oh such a humbling thing. You see, we think and we looked

at this last year, you know, the world is trying to create that

Kingdom that utopian existence of without the king without God.

And yet we get to a season like this and we realized that we are

not God and here's the thing. This question.

And if you answer it, right is actually a life-giving answer.

Why? Because it gets us to a place of

humility. Now, it says in the scriptures

that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

How you respond to this is important.

How we should respond to. This is Lord, God.

I need you. I'm not in control.

I am not God with a small G. You are God and I need you in my

life. And this is the point of this

series, to say, we need to get to that.

Place of humility. Humility is not saying.

I'm a terrible person, and I'm the lowest of the low that's

false. Humility.

Humility is recognizing that we are.

He is and he is for us that he is our God. and so, when we ask

this question City though, it might seem We get to a place

where if we grasp here we get to a place on our knees and say I

need you God and it is in that place that he pours out his

grace. What is his?

Grace is great is how he empowers us to walk in that

which he has for us? And so this is this morning, I

want to do just that I want to get us to a place where we get

onto our knees and we cry out to God.

It's not to say that all those other things that I've talked

about how we protect Act ourselves and protect others and

protect the NHS sarong. They are absolutely right.

We should do those. But if we just do that and we

don't call out to God, then we're missing some.

And so in this series of first, I want us to First seek Jesus,

you know, protection as focused and centered a lot on the

physical, hasn't it as I've talked about protecting

ourselves from the virus. But of course, we're not just

physical beings, are we know? We're made of, you know, we've

got a heart, you got a mind? In other words.

We have emotions. We have a will You have a mental

state to use that phrase. And while we've been focusing on

the physical side, the virus under the surface.

What's happening? Is that people's mental state

and their emotions are also. In need of protection, aren't

they? In need of a protection from the

impact of isolation and the impact to our emotions and our

mental state. In need of protection from fear.

That sets in, And I said in the scriptures for God has not given

us a spirit of fear, but of power love and of a sound mind.

Can we walk through this time without fear?

Yes, because God's promises are. Yes, and amen.

We sang that earlier, didn't we? And we need protection from the

weariness and the strain, you know, I I know some people who

have I would say the most optimistic people, I know.

And it's at this point now where they're just so flat.

And we've been focusing, as I said, rightly.

So on the physical, but I want to look at how and God says, he

will protect us from fear, from from our emotions because we

need protecting their. Don't we?

So what does God say about this? Now?

Listen, I'm not going to apologize for the fact that I'm

going to use quite a bit of scripture this morning.

I've got some nodding heads in the room.

Maybe you're not in at home as well.

You know, if you go to the doctors and you're in need of a

prescription, he will he or she will prescribe the medicine.

Correct? And you will take that

prescription with you to the pharmacy and they will give you

the recommended medication. Correct with me so far.

Well, let me tell you God's word is our medication.

Did you know that? God has prescribed his word to

us. You know, it says in Romans 12

do not be conformed to the pattern of this world was that

mean, the things of this world thinking about things in the

wrong way, about being caught up in fear, all this stuff, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you can test and

walk in that, which God has for you.

How do we do that? Well, we get into his word and

so I want you to be taking notes and take note of these

scriptures and I want you to Read these and meditate them on

them. Your medication every day this

week because you will see fruit from that.

And so that's why I'm not going to apologize for the scriptures.

All the scriptures that I'm going to be using.

So let's look at our first piece of medication to use that

phrase. It's from Deuteronomy which in

the Old Testament chapter 31 6 and Moses is saying goodbye to

the Israelites because he's not going to be going into the

promised land with them. He's handing over to Joshua and

he says this is a reminder. Listen be Strong and courageous.

Listen to this, do not be afraid or terrified because of them who

are them. That was that were the people on

the other side. What's your them in your world?

What's your them in the all world?

What's your fears? Lord says, be strong and

courageous. Do not be afraid because of

their more. It for the Lord, your God goes

with you. All your promises are yes, and

amen. He will never leave you nor

forsake. You.

Are we getting this. Let's look at the next scripture

that I want to share. Isaiah. 41:10, very similar.

Isaiah 41:10

God is saying this through his prophet Isaiah.

So do not fear, you see, God knows that we battle with fear.

That's why God talks about it so much and do not fear.

For I am with, you do not be dismayed.

You here is suffering with feeling dismayed.

I do sometimes. For I am your God and I will

strengthen you and I will help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This is the medication that we need to be meditating on every

day and then turning it into praise and prayer.

Thank you, God that your word says that you are with me.

Thank you Lord that your word says that I do not need to be

afraid. Thank you, Lord.

That your promises. Yes, and amen.

Lord. I want to experience that today.

Lord. Would you come and strengthen

me? That's what it means to get into

his word. That's what it means to take his

promises and claim them and say Yes, Lord, your word says you

will never forsake me or leave me.

I claim that promise for me today, Lord.

That's what it means to seek. Jesus first.

You know, I said this last week and I hope you didn't mind me

saying it, but I meet so many malnutrition Christians.

What do I mean by that? They're empty of God's word.

And so when trials and troubles come, they don't have the

strength to respond. Listen, you wouldn't have a diet

devoid of nutrients, and minerals, and food, would you?

Because if you did, you would be in a weakened state?

What God has given us. His words.

I want to encourage you to get into his word.

We need to understand. You.

See, the God is with us. There is a lovely and I don't

have it with on the screen. It's Chronicles 2016 9.

It says, for the eyes of the Lord, listen to this range

throughout the Earth. To strengthen you.

Did you just hear what I said. Listen, the eyes of the Lord are

ranging throughout the Earth. To strengthen you.

I sometimes listen to the radio and I've had some ad recently

for that, Nestor Bell and it's got cameras and it's got a bit

of a CCTV on it and you can be outside with your app.

I'm sure. There's other manufacturers that

do this kind of CCTV for your home and you can see what's

happening. Well, I've got to tell you

that's pretty impressive, but it's nothing like God, czv to

CCTV camera because his eyes are always on.

You. Did you know that his eyes are

on you in those of Number of hairs on your head.

That's the God, we worship. That's the god, that loves you.

His eyes are on you. Now what we've got to understand

with these scriptures though is this, he promises that he will

strengthen us through the difficulty?

Not that he will always take us from the difficulty.

Let me say that again. You see, he promises that he

will strengthen us through the difficulty, not always that he

will take us from the difficulty.

And this is important. Let me share with you Isaiah

Isaiah 43:2

43:2 and other great scripture. Listen to this.

When you go through deep Waters. I will be with you when you go

through rivers of difficulty. You will not drown.

When you walk through. The fire of Oppression.

You will not be burned up. The Flames, will not consume

you. When you go through, you see

friends, we need to realize that we do go through.

But it's as we go through God's promises to be with us.

Let me give you another one for your medication for this week.

Psalm 46. This is 1, 2 3 and this is a

very famous song. God is our refuge and strength.

A very present help in trouble who feels like they might be in

trouble. Therefore, we will not fear

though. The Earth gives way or the Earth

hasn't given way yet though, the mountains be moved into the

heart of the sea. Though its Waters Roar and foam

through the mountains tremble, at its swelling.

God is our refuge. And our strength.

Now, there are times where God does take us supernaturally away

from a situation to protect us and I suspect some of you think

about your life, might remember some of those times.

I mean, I remember a particular time as I was thinking about

this. Probably about 20, something

years ago. I was crossing the road in

London. It was really busy and I was

walking in and you shouldn't do this.

Of course. I was walking in between traffic

and I and I was weaving a bit to get through, like it was a bus

and I couldn't see. Found it.

And I went to step out and literally something forced me to

not move was almost like a Buy price my brain and this

motorbike was young right past as I lured, you protected me in

there and I bet there are so many more times where God has

protected us, and we haven't even realized it.

So there are times where God just take you out, but there are

also times where you don't do go through them.

You know, we have just done and we've got a couple of new olive

trees, in our garden, a beautiful olive trees.

Hopefully, I'll be able to start making some olive oil.

I fancy making some olive oil, why not?

Hey, and they are beautiful leaves.

They've got this light silvery almost like a eucalyptus.

And anyway, we've got those, but it's really cold at the moment,

isn't it? And at nighttime?

It's - what? Two, three.

And so because then you what we've got is these covers for

The Oddities of that these Fleet covers for a tree.

Some of you gardeners will understand this and you put them

over. Now.

Here's the thing about this protection.

It's not that the Olive Tree won't get chilly.

It might even get a touch of frost, but it will protect it

from dying. Now, I could have taken that

Olive Tree away from outside out of its pot and put it in my

house. But it wouldn't have been able

to grow at all. You see where I'm going with

this, you know, Charles Montgomery said a couple of

weeks ago to quote him again, you know, God is more concerned

with our growth, then our comfort.

And you see that Olive Tree needs to be outside to get to a

place of maturity, so that it can weather the storms in the

future. But until then, we gave this

covering and you see that is how God works with us.

You see, sometimes he allows us to go through these trials and

troubles in trials and troubles in order that we can grow.

But that doesn't mean he is not protecting you through that

time. Just like that, Olive Tree and

that protection. You see a promise of protection

is not a promise of removal. I'm going to say that again.

A promise of protection is not necessarily a promise of

removal. In fact, protection is not

required. Unless you go through the fire.

Is it, you see? If you think about it, the frost

and the bad weather around that olive tree, that necessitated

that covering is the world that we are in, we are in a fallen

World. There is sin around us.

There is evil around us and so as we walk, this walk of faith.

We are therefore in need of protection, but we can rely upon

God as we look to him to protect us and protect us from that

fear, that might set in. But as I said, why does God

allow us to go through these trials and tribulations.

I mentioned that it's often times.

It's in that place that we grow to maturity.

James one versus two to force. Is this consider it pure joy.

My brothers and sisters whenever you face Trials of many kinds

because, you know, That the testing of your faith produces

perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.

Can anyone genuinely say they're considering this time your joy?

And yet, I rather think if we had a perspective, the James is

talking about here recognizing Romans 8:28 that he works.

Romans 8:28

All things for good. All things for good for those

that trust him and according to his purpose, if we recognize

that God is working in us and through us.

And that there is an outworking of his goodness.

In our lives. Then we can say Lord.

Thank you. You know, many people have asked

me, Mark. How have you found this time?

What's it been like? And of course, there's the

normal. It's been tough.

It's been hard. On so many levels, whether it be

family life, whether it be Church, whatever it might be.

But, you know, as I've reflected on this time, you know, I can

see the grace of the Lord working in me and through me

more than that. I can recognize that God has

done a work. In me that he could have done on

the Mountaintop, you know, Mountaintop experiences, when

everything's going great and wonderful.

But you know, the greenest grass grows in the valleys.

And actually, I am thankful to God for this time.

Because it's been in this place that he has done, the deepest

work in me. Where he is building maturity

and me building resilience in the building character in me.

You know, Jesus said when he was risen and he was glorified with

the father. I'm going to prepare a place for

you. You know, we looked at that in

the his story series. Didn't we about what is to come

and if you miss that, you can catch up all about end times.

What is to come and do this is I'm going to prepare a place for

you, but did you know that God is preparing you for that place

as well, you know, he is conforming us to the likeness of

his son. And he's also building rewards

up for us. Did, you know, there are eternal

Ward's. I think I'm going to preach on

this sometime. If you're up for it, the

doctrine of Eternal rewards, we often don't look at that.

It's not about salvation. Salvation is not by works.

Novation is by faith alone in Christ alone, but there are

rewards, awaiting us. You know, God is more concerned

about your growth than his comfort and I this is I say that

not to minimize what you might be going through.

Not trying to minimize the difficulty in the hardship.

Recognize that God is working in you and through you.

And that his eyes are always on you, you know, it says in

Zephaniah that he rejoices in you and you know what?

He dances over you. What say, what God dance is over

me, yet. He Delights in you.

That's why we can seek him first, but I want to move on.

As we talk about protection, that we does protect our hearts

and our minds as we go through these trials, but, you know, at

its core it at its Essence. God's protection is the Eternal

indwelling of his holy spirit in US.

At its Essence out of school is the all those that believe in

the name of Jesus are sealed for the day of redemption.

What does that mean that we are with him for eternity.

You want to talk about protection?

What is a seal? Well, you know when they used to

send those letters in the olden days and the king would get a

bit of wax and over the envelope and then get his Signet ring.

And that was the Seal of the king.

What did it show? Go.

Well, it showed ownership. Didn't it?

This was this is mine that I'm given to you.

But you know what? It was like a tamper protection

because you knew that if you receive that and the seal was

broken. Well something so amok.

It's like modern-day password protection.

You see our protection is for eternity.

And what are we protected from? We're protected from the wrath

of God upon sin. Because you are sealed with the

Holy Spirit purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.

If you remember the story of the Israelites in Egypt and Moses

said, let God's people go and Pharaoh said, no and they

experienced the plague and they came to a point where God said

this and I'm going to wipe out their firstborn.

But listen, I want you Israelites to take a lamb and

get the blood and put it on the doorposts.

And the window frames. You hear this?

Remember this story and as I pass out, So I come with the

Roth, my wrath comes upon, I will pass over.

I will protect you from that. Well, you see that event of

Passover, was a foreshadow of the perfect spotless lamb of

Jesus, who shed his blood for you in order that the wrath of

God will pass over you. Why?

Because Jesus Paid for our sins, when God looks at us.

He looks as us as holy and righteous.

So, do you know what we're protected from you're protected

from the wrath of God in order that we can be with him for

eternity. The good news of the Gospel is

that we are eternally. Here's because we have been

sealed by his Spirit. Yes, he protects us at this

time. He is with us, he will

strengthen us through these trials and these tribulations

and I encourage you to get on your knees and cry out to him

and say, yes, you're my God. Would you protect me?

Lord as your word says, let us be encouraged and remember that.

We are sealed for eternity. His you see the promise of

protection? Is the message of the Gospel.

It is the good news. And I want to say this this

morning. If you are a Christian and

you're hearing these, it should lead you to worship and to your

knees. Thank you Lord.

Thank you that I am yours. Thank you Lord, that you've

protected me. Thank you.

Lord, that I am yours. But if you are not a Christian,

if you have yet to say yes, to Jesus is invitation, then it

should cause you to be convicted and say I need you.

I need you to protect me. And God is there he is calling

you. John 3:16 for God.

John 3:16

So loved the world that He Sent His only begotten son.

That whosoever believeth in him will not perish but will have

eternal life. Listen, friends.

If you're listening and you say, yeah, I want to say yes to

Jesus. And I would encourage you to do

that this morning. How do you do that?

First of all, you just admit that you're a sinner, you know,

it says in the scriptures were all a sinner I am.

We all, are we saved by grace and say, Lord.

Would you forgive me of my sin? I Repent?

What does repentance mean? It means turning away from that

Old life. From walking in that sin and

saying I turn towards you. Jesus.

I'm saying you are my Lord and my savior, you know, if you've

just done that this morning then I just want to say

congratulations, you are now sealed the day of redemption.

You are his. Now, lastly, I just want to end

on this as way of a mini application.

So what does it mean for us? Now?

How do we respond to God's promise of protection?

I'm going to give you four very quick ones that you can apply

with your medication this week. Number one, recognize that he is

God. I don't just mean mentally.

Say God, is God. I mean, in your worship toward

him. I mean in your posture, I mean,

your first thing in the morning or do you are my Lord and I need

you. Thank you that you are with me.

That's what it means to recognize that.

He is. God.

It means to make your decisions based on his lordship in your

life, to seek him. And that's the number to, to

seek Jesus first before anyone else.

I hope you're diligent with all the with all the measures to

protect yourself and others. But how diligent are we in?

Protecting our hearts and Minds by seeking Jesus?

Let's be diligent in that. Number three, seek out his

promises. We can't claim his promises and

walking them. If we do not know what they are.

And that's why I've been giving you that prescription this

morning of those verses. Take those verses that I given

you and speak and meditate them on them daily because it's going

to Renew your mind and turn them into a prayer as I as I showed

you last earlier and then number four, as I end trust in him.

Not just now, but for all eternity.

Trust in him and we looked at trust in a bit more detail.

Last week that we that the peace that comes with that.

So there you go. Those are the four things

recognize that he is God. Seek Jesus first before anyone

else, number three, seek out his promises and number for trust in

him.