Sermon broadcasts from Lighthouse Church, Durban, South Africa
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Alan Keith Wagner Podcasts
The Pop Culture Audio Magazine
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God is WORTHY to be praised and worshipped! God seeks -true worshippers - led by the Holy Spirit -authentic worship - an honest overflow of a life surrendered to him Praise glorifies God - and it strengthens us! We can express praise and worship in many ways and in any place - he is always worthy! John 4:23, Psalm 96:4, Psalm 69:30, Psalm 96:7-8, P…
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God's ways are higher than our ways. He sees what we can't see. So the journey that he maps out for us may not make sense to us at times. It may also be hard - very hard. In those hard times, we need to: -trust God - no matter what - and submit to his will -remember that he is our faithful creator and is perfectly capable of sustaining us -take the…
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We were created to worship God. Our worship is often a response to God's gift ofsalvation and the victories he has won for us, but sometimes our worship itselfwill bring us into victory. Some battles are won as we worship; worship can bea form of spiritual warfare. When we have battles to fight, we need to ask "What has God been saying? What has he…
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The goal of worship is to give God the reverence and honourthat is due to Him. The essence of worship is a life of devotion to God - for our life to be a living sacrifice. The more we see of the greatness and goodness of God, the more we will value and love him. This is well expressed through "extravagant" sacrifices (Abraham), offerings (Mary) and…
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Jesus' disciples represent their King in hostile places. Some people are offended simply because we bear his name. Others are offended because good challenges evil. The nature of the hostility varies depending on the nation and community, but we will face hostility. This means that we need to be wise if we are to be effective as ambassadors. We sho…
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Life can be full of challenges; we can face them fearfully or courageously. God's children should remember that his ways are far higher than ours. We shouldn't try to understand them, just trust & obey him! We should base our obedience on God's commands that we already have (in the Bible), learning & obeying them. We should ask God to give us his p…
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We are Christ's ambassadors. As "Christians", we bear his name and represent him wherever we go. This is a great responsibility! As good ambassadors, we want to: - Present Jesus' message of reconciliation clearly. - Live out his mission to seek and save the lost. - Tell people who he really is. - Demonstrate his ways for all to see. 2 Corinthians 5…
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Every child of God has a place - and a part to play. This is true regardless of our past or our present situations - in fact, God uses "where we've been" and "where we are right now" to equip and position us for ministry! Those places and parts can be very different, because we are on different journeys, face different challenges and have different…
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One principle of the Kingdom of God that Jesus taught and modelled is that "small" things can have a great impact: - Small seeds grow into trees - A small amount of yeast affects a big batch of dough So a seemingly "small" person can have a great impact - as can a small church. A seemingly insignificant conversation - or act - can also have a great…
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Jesus taught that our attitudes and motives matter to God. And how we do things can reveal our heart - sincerity, humility, purity and devotion - or a lack of these. Making a show of our giving, prayer and fasting reveals a desire for the approval of people rather than God; God rewards us when we do these things secretly, for him alone. Matthew 6:1…
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We have a wonderful and precious faith - but it is under attack! We therefore need to stand strong and defend our faith in the face of: - False teachings - Trouble, hardship, persecution and danger Remember, - The truth is always true! - Nothing can separate us from the love of God! Jude 1:1-4, Romans 8:35-39, 2 Corinthians 12:10…
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Jesus said "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." While receiving, or being filled with, the Holy Spirit is vitally important, we must understand that this "living water" should flow OUT of us as well as into us.When we open our hearts and l…
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How Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God
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The Kingdom of God is very different and can be hard to understand; so Jesus presented it in terms of illustrations and contrasts. He challenged cultural assumptions of the day and presented alternative ways of thinking and living. His parables are powerful because they are culturally relevant, easily remembered, in the context of ordinary life, lo…
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God gives ALL of his children spiritual gifts. He gives different gifts to different people, so his work is different in each of us. He gifts us in order to bless others, not ourselves. In some cases, WE become the gift, as we serve the church as equippers: apostles, prophets, evangelists,pastors and teachers. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28, 1Kings 3:25…
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There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to dress for weddings and other special occasions. We "dress for the occasion". The Bible uses this analogy to describe how we can - and should - change our ways appropriately for life in the Kingdom of God. As an ancient wedding host would provide special clothes for his guests, God has provided his chi…
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Just as Jesus' disciples walked and worked closely with Jesus, we are to "keep in step" with the Holy Spirit. The "fruit of the Spirit" is evidence that we are living in step with him. Because the Holy Spirit comes in Jesus' name, he leads in line with Jesus' words and ways. Knowing and obeying Jesus' words and ways makes it easier to recognise and…
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Repentance is sometimes viewed negatively, but it is actually a gift from God that brings reconciliation, refreshing and transformation. True repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action. It comes from the heart and includes confessing our sin and forgiving others. It is NOT merely being sorry that you were caught, embarrassed or…
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Jesus has commissioned all of his disciples - to be his witnesses and make disciples everywhere. This is a supernatural work that needs supernatural power. The Holy Spirit provides this power. Jesus said we can trust our Heavenly Father to give us this good gift - so we should ask! The book of Acts teaches us that there is no "formula", but we can …
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The Bible is full of stories of salvation - people putting their faith in Jesus and following him.Sharing the gospel is not reserved for those who are highly gifted and knowledgeable; the power is not in the speaker, but in the scriptures and in the gospel message itself! That said, Jesus was a master communicator and we can learn a great deal from…
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The apostle Paul prayed that the church would "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." The love of Christ brings the fullness of God to us. As we grow in his love, we experience more of the fullness of God - everything that he has for us. When we co-operate with the work of the Holy Sp…
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Even the most godly people experience setbacks. When you experience a setback or failure: - Recognise if it's caused by sin or not - Repent from any sin - Persevere through any hardship - Show loyalty to God and to his people - Trust God to step in: He has no equal! He makes the impossible possible! Acts 13: 22, 2 Samuel 11: 2-4, 14-15, Psalm 51:10…
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Jesus values, expects & rewards FAITHFULNESS. He doesn't expect us to be faithful with what he hasn't given us, but with what he has given us: resources, gifts & abilities, relationships, influence & opportunities. Don't step back because others have greater abilities & resources than you. Don't think that your "smaller impact" matters less to Jesu…
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The encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus teaches us some valuable lessons. If we want to experience more of Jesus, we should: - Discuss matters of faith openly with others. - Acknowledge and expect Jesus' presence, power and reality in our daily lives. - "Make room for Jesus" in our hearts, our homes and our lives. Luke 24:13-34…
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We live in times when fake news abounds and we want to verify the news we receive. Here are four compelling verifying factors for the gospel message: 1. The fulfilment of many ancient prophecies. 2. The large number of first-hand witnesses. 3. The courage of the many witnesses who suffered and died rather than deny Jesus. 4. The supernatural eviden…
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Jesus has given all of his followers work to do - particularly, the ministry of reconciliation to God. The Holy Spirit has given us all the power we need to do that work. Yet many things compete for our attention and resources; so we need to regularly re-examine our priorities. Jesus does not deny the importance of our needs, but he calls us to put…
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Paul's prayers for the Ephesian church are really powerful. As Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened to his spiritual realities, Paul prays that the "spiritual eyes" of church members would be opened to their spiritual realities. We would do well to pray those prayers for ourselves and for one another - so that we will: -know God better…
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The tower of Babel teaches many valuable life lessons: -Seeking our own glory will distract us from seeking God and his purposes. -Godless empires and enterprises rise - but then they fall. -Find your significance in God, not in achievements. -Our pride will be our downfall. -When we humble ourselves, God lifts us up. -Rather build your life on God…
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Unbelief stands in the way of what God wants to do - in the lives of his people and through his people. Faith pleases God. It doesn't have to be "big", because God is the object of our faith - and he is big enough! Sound Bible teaching builds up faith. God's words can always be trusted; he will fulfil them! When we put God's word into practice, thi…
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When Jesus said "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed", he wasn't overstating our freedom! We have been set free: -from the grip of sin -from the grip of the devil -from condemnation -to approach God with confidence -to leave our past behind and live a glorious new life. WE ARE FREE INDEED!! John 8:31-36, Romans 6:18, Colossians 1:13, …
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We are not under the law of the Old Covenant, but have a relationship with Jesus under the New Covenant. Instead of offering animal sacrifices, we are to offer ourselves to God, as a living sacrifice. Gratitude and thanksgiving please Jesus - and bring peace into our lives. Know that God is working in all things for our good! Let's consistently tes…
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Jesus invites us to join the most privileged people on earth - the people who are on God's mission with him. But before we say "yes", we need to: -make it an informed decision: to follow Jesus knowing that it will be difficult at times. -surrender our selfish agendas and follow Jesus as our Lord (master). -renounce all other masters, knowing that w…
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God has good plans for his people. But he works his plans his way - with light and with order. God's light enables us to see his order and to bring things into that order. God can bring order at many levels: personal, church, community & nation. We can all embrace his order personally & contribute to the order of the other levels. When we embrace G…
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Like many heroes of the Bible, we may also experience some dark, difficult days. In those times, we should not be afraid to pour out our hearts to God in lament, knowing that: - He is GOD - His ways are BETTER - He is GOOD - He SEES us - He UNDERSTANDS us - NOTHING is impossible for him - He WORKS GOOD in all things - He will lift you up in his per…
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The Bible and history teach us that seemingly insignificant people can have a great impact. We need to realise this so that we step forward in faith; if we think we are insignificant, we won't. God knows every one of us and has a plan for us. He prepares us and develops us so that we can do what he has planned. This journey can be hard, but it is w…
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Difficult circumstances can undermine our faith and cause doubt. But, irrespective what we may go through, the name of Jesus has power over: - sickness and disease - sin - demonic Influence - even death! As we get to know Jesus - and live in obedience to him - we will experience more of the power of his name to heal, forgive, deliver and give etern…
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God gives us dreams and visions and puts godly desires into our hearts. We need to walk towards those goals, step by step. God's path for us to walk into our destiny is often not the obvious one or the easiest one! He uses difficulties and detours to prepare us and equip us for what is to come. A clear vision, shared with people we trust, helps us …
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We were created by God, on purpose, with purpose! He has put us in the right place at the right time for his perfect purposes! While he may have some specific purposes for you, he definitely has some general purposes that apply to us all. Two of these purposes are: -be salt and light where God has put us -make disciples. We are salt and light to ou…
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In terms of the sheer scale of the universe, we are SO tiny! We may conclude that we are insignificant. Yet the Bible teaches us that: - We are God's work of art, made to reflect his image! - We were made on purpose and with purpose! We should therefore - seek to discover our purposes - seek to fulfil our purposes - reveal the love and glory of God…
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If we want this new year to be different - for the better - then we will need to make some changes.This is why we make resolutions. These four resolutions based on Jesus' words will definitely bring changes for the better: God helping me, I will: -love God with all that I am -love the people around me -love other disciples like Jesus does -help oth…
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Our conscience is a great gift from God, keeping us on good terms with God and with people. Yet it can be corrupted; then we lose our sense of right and wrong, our "moral compass". Fortunately, it can be cleansed and restored by the work of the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. We should therefore pay attention to the state of our…
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The message of Christmas is GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY for ALL PEOPLE! The good news is that the promised Saviour and King has come to deliver us from the dominion of darkness! Great joy is what Jesus brings - forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, adoption as God's children and an eternal home with him! And this is for ALL people - whoever you …
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The birth of Jesus was not just a miracle pregnancy - it was God coming to us as a man! Instead of sending another prophet or angelic messenger, the Creator made himself like one he created, leaving his glory behind and coming as one who we could relate to. This "incarnation" gives us a model for ministry to others: - We don't wait for them to come…
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Divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. The story of Esther is a great example of this. God in his providence: - places his agents in suitable situations for doing His work - tests his people - restrains his enemies. Esther 2:17, 3:2-6, 4:1-17, 6:1-2, 7:3-6, Pro…
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Jesus demonstrated some ways of thinking that are vastly different from the way that many around us think - and the way that we may be thinking now: -Being faithful in waiting and in obscurity -Being a willing servant and sacrifice (not a "victim") -Being passionately zealous for the Kingdom of God -Looking past the pain of the present to the etern…
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Fear of the Lord is taught in the Old & New Testament. It is a deep respect, a reverent awe of the omnipotent Creator and Sovereign Lord of the universe. Fear of the Lord leads us to honour and obey God. It leads us out from human folly and into God's wisdom. Who (or what) we fear most will determine how we live. Psalm 33:8-16, Philippians 2:12-13,…
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The Holy Spirit continues the work of Jesus, empowering us, leading us and revealing things to us. Just as we are dependent on Jesus, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit and when we keep in step with the Spirit, we keep in step with Jesus. When we keep in step, we will bear fruit - our character and behaviour will change. The Holy Spirit plays a vi…
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Disobedience can keep us from God’s good purposes; obedience leads us into them. We need to trust God when his actions, his chosen instruments and his instructions don’t make sense to us - his ways are higher than ours! The path of obedience can be difficult, even painful - but the pains are temporary while the blessings are eternal! 2 Kings 5:1-15…
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The true Christian life is a supernaturally charged life! God himself works in us to motivate us and enable us to do the work that he has prepared for us to do. To experience this, we must learn to live in close relationship with Jesus, moving in his direction, in his time, at his pace. Daily disciplines that help us to do this are: - seeking his p…
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Accountability helps us to grow mature and fruitful. Jesus modelled accountability as Son to his Father. Accountability is built on submission - to God's authority and to godly authority. Shame and fear make us avoid accountability. A selfish heart and a "seared" conscience can make us blind to our guilt and our responsibility for it. Helpful ways …
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God has re-created us to do good things - in his eyes, we are "the right person for the job"! He works in us and through us - with HIS power! It's not about who WE are, it's about who HE is. It's not about our ability, it's about our AVAILability! It's not about people being impressed with US, it's about them being impressed with Jesus! Exodus 3:7-…
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