![Page 1: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
He came to set the captives free
![Page 2: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
A word in advance
• John 4:1-6
• The apostle reminds us to test what we hear
• This applies to what we read on the www, what we see on the telly etc.
• It applies to us too.
• We aim to speak honouring God and his Word.
• Your checking it out helps us all to keep that aim
![Page 3: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
SchapelleCorby escorted from prison this week
![Page 4: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Her mum Rosleigh Roses’ response
![Page 5: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Mercedees and Roseleigh had a different reaction 9 years ago when she was incarcerated
![Page 6: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Lots of Questions..
• Was she guilty?
• The court convicted her – they don’t always get it right
• Not here to debate her case or about matters of the Law but this case is reminiscent of one of the psalms which I want us to look at
![Page 7: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Psalm 126
• A Psalm of ascent
• – that is a song of praise to help prepare for worship in the temple
• Specifically recalls the amazing miracle of seeing God work to bring back from exile, the captives in Babylon at the time of Ezra (2:1ff)
• Is about reaffirming God’s people that God still is in the business of releasing people from captivity, He is their Salvation!
![Page 8: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Psalm 126 outlined
The joy of seeing the captives return
The obvious miracle, if it wasn’t for God ..
A prayer for other captives
Streams in the
desert (Negev)
Sowing with tears
reaps a harvest of joy
![Page 9: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Psalm 126 outlived in the Corby’s?
• Sowing with tears reaped a harvest of joy – The Corby’s have fought for years shedding hundreds of tears and dollars for the release of their daughter and sister and friend
• The joy of seeing the captive return –Champagne anyone??
• A prayer for other captives – it has been stated
![Page 10: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Psalm 126 outlived in us?
• Worship and celebration for those set free
• Remembering our own, others “salvation stories” to refuel our joy in the presence of God.
• Discovering that the ‘joy of The Lord’ is our strength
• Luke 15:10 – “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
• What is our reaction to the homecoming?
![Page 11: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Recalling our Mission
• Luke 4:18,19; (Isaiah 61…)
• Seeing other Captives set free
• Lets recognise that our society is full of those that are Spiritually enslaved to ideas, philosophies, behaviours, attitudes, debts, sins, unforgiveness, fears, hurts..etc. etc.
• Not just one form of captivity!
![Page 13: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
There is no harvest if there is no sowing
• This Psalm is both a call to praise and a call to action – to prayer and sowing
• Preparing to sow in tears – compassion for the prisoners
• Prepare your kit– Psalm 73 as a seed
– Kenyan evangelists
– DAD
– CAP?
![Page 14: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Streams in the desert?• John 4:14; 7:37-39; Rev 7:17 john 5:1ff
There’s a river of life flowing out from me
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see
Opens prison doors set the captives free
There’s a river of life flowing out from me
![Page 15: A word in advancembc.ac.nz/Resources/Captives free.pdf · 2014. 2. 20. · He came to set the captives free. A word in advance •John 4:1-6 •The apostle reminds us to test what](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022071416/61129f149bab2255053034d8/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Ok, so what now?• The Psalm for our worship – focus on God
• What is our attitude to the captives, is it our calling to see prisoners set free?
• How can we make MBC a place where those that have been lost can feel at home?
• Note, that if you are a captive yourself to sin, debt, fear etc, ask for prayer and support, that is what we are here for.
• Make sure your seed bag is filled up and perhaps and take some ‘sowing lessons’
• Fill up with the Holy Spirit and let that river flow