Acting or Praying?

Pastor Delbert Enns www.EasTview.org 

Everyone is an actor. As we get older we wish we knew who we are. Identity crisis. How do I act as a senior? 

Jesus calls us to authenticity. How do we become Jesus followers. If you are looking for applause you have your reward. 

In mid eastern culture if you prayed and fasted and gave to the poor you go straight to heaven when you die. 

"Be careful not to do 'good works' in front of others. Don't do them to be seen by others. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you.

Matthew 6:1 NIRV

http://bible.com/110/mat.6.1.NIRV

Be real. Don't pretend to be righteous. 

"When you pray, do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I'm about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward.  "When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can't be seen. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly.

Matthew 6:5‭-‬6 NIRV

http://bible.com

Jesus wants us to know that prayer is an intimate one on one with God. 

Not for show. Say Amen when you feel like it. Raise your hands when you feel like it. Praying aloud is good. Doesn't need to be secret. 

Let faith always preceed your prayer. The pagans repeated the same prayer to many of their gods. They didn't know which one would answer. 

If you are giving up get grounded. Luke 18

He said, "In a certain town there was a judge. He didn't have any respect for God or care about people. The Lord said, "Listen to what the unfair judge says.  "God's chosen people cry out to him day and night. Won't he make things right for them? Will he keep putting them off?

Luke 18:2‭, ‬6‭-‬7 NIRV

http://bible.com/110/luk.18.2-7.NIRV

The widow's faith was the trigger to answered prayers. 

You have authority. 

You didn't receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear once again. Instead you received the Holy Spirit, who makes you God's child. By the Spirit's power we call God "Abba." Abba means Father. The Spirit himself joins with our spirits. Together they give witness that we are God's children.

Romans 8:15‭-‬16 NIRV

http://bible.com/110/rom.8.15-16.NIRV

You are my child God says. 

"This is how you should pray. " 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.

Matthew 6:9 NIRV

http://bible.com/110/mat.6.9.NIRV

http://witnessdragon.tripod.com/lordprayerskit.htm

Jesus wants a relationship with his followers. 

Praise him all you sinners children of God your Name is higher than the rising sun. 

Giving

Delbert Enns www.EasTview.org

Roman commanders would ride into Rome after a victory. In honour of Jupiter. They built a forum in honour of the Victor. Showmanship. 

Jesus was so opposite. It is natural to want to be acknowledged. 

Jesus and the sermon on the mount. 

"Be careful! When you do something good, don't do it in front of others so that they will see you. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Your giving should be done in private. Your Father can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.

Matthew 6:1‭, ‬4 ERV

http://bible.com/406/mat.6.1-4.ERV

The religious of Jesus's day did not do what they taught

1. When giving do I seek the praise of others? 5:16 the basis of the sermon. 

In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 ERV

Good deeds are to make God visible. 

There are always people that need help. There will always be poor among us. 

When it was time to collect alms they would have a trumpeter lead the collection procession down the street. 

2. When giving don't congratulate yourself. Check your heart. Give without letting your left hand know what's going on. Post your cookies on Facebook? 

Generosity is not enough. 

Some religions said pray and you get 1/2 way to heaven. Fast and you get to the gates. Give you the poor and the door opens up for you. 

3. Macedonians understood

You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking ability, in knowledge, in the willingness to help, and in the love you learned from us. So now we want you to be rich in this work of giving too.

2 Corinthians 8:7 ERV

http://bible.com/406/2co.8.7.ERV

They begged for the opportunity to give freely. They had very little but they understood the love of God. 

Jesus knows you are valued and loved. 

Out of abundance you give. Don't look for excuses.

King Arthur and the Holy Grail

The Knights of the Round Table at http://www.churchoftherock.ca

King Solomon had no clothes compared to the lilies. 

King Arthur and his knights we will rock you.

In the law it says sinners should be stoned. Let he who is without sin cast the 1st stone. No one could. 

I need a hero song.

The black knight tried to stop King Arthur. He got his arm chopped off. 

They discovered the Holy Grail.

Too late my time has come. Will you let me go? 

He's alive Everybody dance now 

What love is this to send his own!

Let the Saviour take control. Dance dance dance! Now!

Pastor Mark will share soon. What is our purpose? Book. Newcomers lunch April 30.

Jesus I sing for all that you've done for me. 

Those who have a why to live can endure the how.

Monty Python is the number 1 comic movie. The best movie ever. 

Spain claims to have the Holy Grail and has a temple. 

The Easter story has so many nuances. 

14 days before Easter Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus about Lazarus. Jesus waited 4 days. The Jews believed the spirit would have left after 3 days. 

1. First reference to the cup

Then Zebedee's wife came to Jesus and brought her sons. She bowed before Jesus and asked him to do something for her.  Jesus said, "What do you want?" She said, "Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right side in your kingdom and the other at your left."  So Jesus said to the sons, "You don't understand what you are asking. Can you drink from the cup that I must drink from?" The sons answered, "Yes, we can!"

Matthew 20:20‭-‬22 ERV

http://bible.com/406/mat.20.20-22.ERV

2nd reference at Passover

3rd reference at the garden

Jesus did not want the cup. He sweated drops of blood. The Gethsemane garden was locked but the guard opened the gate. Where Jesus was. My problems do not compare to Jesus's.

4th reference John says shall I not drink the cup?

Jesus was

5th reference Mark 15:23 I can't drink this cup. 

3 hours God dumped all the world's sin on Jesus. That was the CUP. It was black as night. 

6th reference. He drank the vinegar and said Paid in Full.

1. Nobody is good enough to go to heaven. If you are 51% good you are still BAD.

Went to India to preach the gospel. Didn't know what to preach. Everyone knows they are sinners. Preach Christ and forgiveness. Every one responded to the gospel. In the 4th village they yelled at him. Told him to go away. Normally Hindus are hospitable. One of them had been shot. 

No one is bad enough to go to hell. Paul was the chief of sinners. Amazing Grace was written by a slave trader. 

But by the grace of God so I go I. 

Too many people think they are too cool for school. Everyone needs God.

There is always room for 1 more hypocrite in church. 

The sign of Jesus is that he will rise from the dead.

He is alive. God wants us to have an opportunity to respond. 

Famous Last Words: Into Your Hands

Steve Dyck:

Friends will care for you if you share your burdens. Learn to ask for help. Don't wait until you're 90.

Delbert Enns pastor www.EasTview.org 

Blessed Palm Sunday to you! Walk together this special week. From tomorrow to Friday we have a program for you including a paint night. 

Dave Ens www.EasTview.org 

It was about noon, but it turned dark throughout the land until three o'clock in the afternoon, because the sun stopped shining. The curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces. Jesus shouted, "Father, I put my life in your hands!" After Jesus said this, he died.  The army officer there saw what happened. He praised God, saying, "I know this man was a good man!"  The people who were close friends of Jesus were there. Also, there were some women who had followed Jesus from Galilee. They all stood far away from the cross and watched these things.

Luke 23:44‭-‬47‭, ‬49 ERV

http://bible.com/406/luk.23.44-49.ERV

It was a terrible scene of endless pain. He shocked the soldiers with his cry. Not words of despair but the voice of a conqueror. All history hinges on this. 

Just a week before there was the big Hosanna Palm Sunday. 

There was real tension in the air. 

Was Jesus tempted to accept the accolades? When something is said in an exciting way we tend to follow. To act the way the crowds expect? 

The disciples that followed Jesus to the garden - did they think he was getting ready to become king? Are we listening to the right voice? Jesus committed himself to the Father. Trustworthy. Do we trust each other with the intimacy of our hearts. 188 we work with people who have been hurt. 

Carpet layer wanted him to hold the spike while the carpet layer hit it with the sledge hammer. Bad idea. Still have the scar. 

We expect children to trust. It's not rational to trust. We teach our children to pray: if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. Is that morbid or what? 

We carry the fear of dependencies. We need to let Jesus take care of it. Father, I put my life in your hands!

This is your will and so it is my will. I trust you Father. I trust you to catch me. 

Hope and trust are intimately tied together. Jesus had hope for new life. Sunday the angels meet the women to ask them why are you looking for the living among the dead. 

We tell everyone that Christ was raised from death. So why do some of you say that people will not be raised from death? But Christ really has been raised from death—the first one of all those who will be raised.

1 Corinthians 15:12‭, ‬20 ERV

http://bible.com/406/1co.15.12-20.ERV

There is only ONE who has the power of new life. Do you want to live in that hope? Then we need to live in the trust that the Father is the one who can make all things work for good.

That makes no rational sense that Jesus dying is the way to be saved. Pray that God will give us that hope. 

ChurchOfTheRock Faith 》Forward 2

Baptism Sunday

http://www.churchoftherock.ca/easter

https://www.weareworship.com/us/songs-2/song-library/showsong/3435

God is changing your foundations to rely on God. To bring fruit.

God could change the world without our involvement but He chose to work through people. Fear is natural but faith is unreasonable supernatural. The world only changes through unreasonable people. Ralph Nadar was one such man. 

People of faith have to be unreasonable.

Elisha was unreasonable. He didn't EVEN bother to meet the VIP from Damascus. Just sent the message via the servant to go wash in the Jordan. That was a silly. He did it though. 

King of Syria wanted to capture Elisha "You are my king and master," said one of his officers. "None of us is on Israel's side. But Elisha is a prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your own bedroom."  "Go and find out where he is," the king ordered. "Then I can send my men and capture him." The report came back. It said, "He's in Dothan."  The servant of the man of God got up the next morning. He went out early. He saw that an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "My master!" the servant said. "What can we do?"  Elisha prayed, "Lord, open my servant's eyes so he can see." Then the Lord opened his eyes. He looked up and saw the hills. He saw that Elisha was surrounded by horses and chariots. Fire was all around them.  Aram 's army came down toward Elisha. Then he prayed to the Lord. He said, "Make these soldiers blind." So the Lord made them blind, just as Elisha had prayed.

2 Kings 6:12‭-‬13‭, ‬15‭, ‬17‭-‬18 NIRV

http://bible.com/110/2ki.6.12-18.NIRV

1. Look for God's perspective 

2. Look for God's power

3. Look for God's purpose 

1. There are more with us was unreasonable to say. We look at the problems not the promise. Paul says we look at the success. 

We look at the problem. Peter demonstrated that. When he walked on the water he looked at the problem and sank. Look at the possibilities. See yourself healed. That's unreasonable. If you are in a race you will not win unless you can see yourself winning. 

Unless you visualize it you can't do it. 

Igor Sikorsky invented the helicopter. According to accepted theory the bumblebee can never fly.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/aerospace-defense/sikorsky.html

According to the recognized, proven principles of aerodynamics, the bumblebee cannot fly because of the shape and weight of its body in relation to the total wing area. But the bumblebee doesn't know this, so it goes ahead and flies anyway.

My favorite quote because, like the Bumblebee, I've overcome most of the challenges I have faced

Elisha led the army to the king of Isreal. 

Jesus turned water into wine I make coffee. 

We fall so short. 

Feeding 5000 men plus women and children. 20,000 people. 5 loaves 2 fish. 12 baskets left over. 

Jesus did what God would do. The unreasonable calling Lazarus to come alive. 

Read the Bible! Believe it. Rely on the Holy Spirit. We prayed for those who could not raise their arms. A bunch of people got healed. Jesus healed people. We need to see people healed

3. They fed the army. No more war. 

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/09/sports/golf-lymphoma-found-in-azinger-s-shoulder.html

Azinger got cancer. You are in the land of the dying going to the land of the living. He has been healed and become a Christian. 

Look at the struggles of life and have faith. Make Jesus your Lord today. That's an unreasonable step.