LFM 2019 June 9: Pride? Impossibility of not needing a savior! Camel & the Needle. The Rich Young Ruler.

LFM – Sunday 9 June

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Problem of seeking a miracle / fame  / more than a blessing

• Foolishness – upumbavu
• Esau selling his inheritance for a bowl of soup…Genesis 25
• Instant gratification
• Seeking the glory for man —
• …showing off to in-laws then being asked to support financially
• … taking on debts to keep up appearances – funeral attendant – keeping up with the socialites and slay queens
• ….dawa ya maiti ni kuzika – solution to a dead body is to bury it ~ Proverb

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1st service

Galatians 1:15-24

• Acknowledge & appreciate the grace of God … thank You Lord!
• Paul relied more on direction from the Holy Spirit than on other Church leadership
• Neema

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Matthew 19:23-27, 29.

• Explanation / insight after the story of the rich young ruler.
• What should I do to obtain eternal salvation ( uokovu)?
• … basically love man…penda watu

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• What else above these that I already do?
• If you want more than this – kuwa mzuri zaidi…
• … basically love God with our all – penda Mungu na vitu zako zote- with all that we are including our possessions. Put God first above the things of the world… shown like Abraham, willing to sacrifice…gharamia chochote juu ya Yesu.
• Salvation has a price – Wokovu kuna gharama
• – leave (all) things of the world and follow Christ.
• …. wacha tamaa za dunia mwishowe ni upumbavu … like the rich young ruler- he looked foolish in the end.

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1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NLT

• Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

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Galatians 5:17

• For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.

~ things of tamaa and foolishness are broken off from my life in Jesus name

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Continued…Matthew 19:…The difficulty of a rich person entering heaven…

Vs 23

• Having faith in the things, wisdom and ways of the world will not get one into heaven.
• Even animals know better! Hawa shughuliki na mengi… just what they were made to do
• Similar to our divine calling…when we engage in the area of our divine calling, everything just seems to work out.
• … a tree that is made to produce fruit will just do so
• … an animal that is meant to be eaten…
• … an animal that is meant to eat others…
• Life seems to go on according to plan / nature

Romans 8:28-30 (NLT)

• And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
• For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
• And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

• … when a gazelle wakes up, it knows it has to run faster than the fastest lion or it will become food…
• … when a lion wakes up, it knows it has to run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will remain hungry…
• Either way, when both animals wake up, they have to be running.

Find my divine calling and just do it… all other things will fall into place. 

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Wafuasi wa  Yesu wakalalamika – disciples complained that it is difficult to be saved.

• Jesus agrees – only God can save!

John 14:6 ( NLT)

• Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
• Jesus Christ – the only Way to the Truth of Life, now to eternity…

John 10:9 ( NLT)

• Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.

Ephesians 2:8-9

• For we are saved by grace through faith and not by works, (or anything to do with us or what we can do)… for it is a gift of God, so that none may boast.

1 Peter 5:6 NLT

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

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James 4:7‭-‬8 NLT

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

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Summary Scripture

Matthew 6: 19 – 34 

• Store treasure in heaven
• Can’t serve two masters
• Don’t worry, look at the birds and the lilies
• Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…

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Man may lift you up, so as to bring you down

• … but will enjoy bringing you down…atakusifu akuweke juu, lakini siku ya kukulaani…
• Kosa uone vile watu watasahau uzuri wako.

God will bring you down (humility), so that He may lift you up

• Start you on a good and sure foundation

Lift Christ up in all you do

• And He will hold you and pull you up
• … helping to lift one over a wall… the other person will have the greater load.
• … is he as trustworthy as Christ or he will leave you – Kwa mataa ukizubaa.