Noah believed Gods warning about the coming rain, built his ark and survived the flood. Afterwards, he built an altar and offered burnt offerings upon it.   Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar.  And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake” (Gen 8:20).  Noah is a picture of a “saved” man; a man delivered from judgment.  All flesh upon the earth apart from Noah, his family, and some clean animals were destroyed. Because Noah was delivered from the judgment of God he makes an altar because he had experienced God’s mercy. God revealed Himself to Abraham so he made an altar to God (Genesis 12.1). The Lord delivered Moses from the enemy so Moses built an altar in recognition of Gods help and mercy. (Exodus 17.1)Able, Gideon, Joshua and David all experienced the mercy of God and then built altars to the Lord.

Worship is a recognition that God has manifested His mercy to us; that we have been partakers of His love and delivered from our enemies.  Their worship and their sacrifices were acceptable to God because they were offered because of their experience of the mercy of God. Today the only acceptable altar on which we can offer our sacrifice is a revelation of the mercy of God.  I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1).  The “therefore” is the conclusion of what preceded in Romans three to ten.  In Romans three it tells us God saves us and we are justified from sin as Able was.  Romans five tells us we have peace from God as Gideon had.   Romans six tells us we are told we are now alive to God like Noah was alive after the flood. In Romans eight, we are told there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus and Romans nine says that the Gentiles have received mercy and been grafted into God's purposes like Abraham. All these Old Testament men had received mercy and then worshipped God. Therefore in Romans twelve Paul says because you also have experienced God’s mercy like Able, Gideon, and Abraham, present a sacrifice!  Our body - a living sacrifice, which is your reasonable service or worship.

Friend, devoting ourselves entirely in worship that stems from a revelation of the mercy of God, will always be acceptable worship to our God and Saviour.

Paul says that we have Gods treasure in earthen vessels.  The word for the vessel is “ostrakinos” meaning substandard and not fitting for an occasion.   This type of vessel was not usually seen in the better homes but used by the poor.  As time went by it come to mean, low grade and substandard.  What is important and interesting is that is the one time Peter refers to wives as vessels, he doesn't use that word meaning misfit or substandard.1Pe 3:7  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. No, he uses the Greek word  “skeuo” which is the word for fine china, not an old pot.  Your wife is like fine china so treat her gently in honour and great carefulness in every situation.   To give honour really means treat as treasured and highly valued at all times.  The idea here about the vessel being weaker is not inferior, but rather it means fragile in the sense of an expensive piece of ceramic. She is not the pot in the garden shed; she is the vase of beauty that is protected from all the grandkids lest it is damaged!  It means to not put her down or make jokes about her in front of people. No pointing out her faults in front of others.  Or dishonouring in front of the children. Not comparing her to other vessels and remembering her special days.   Why? because that is an honour.  Honour is revealed by your seeking to bring pleasure to another. Honour is the best predictor of your marriages future success.

Sanctification or Christian maturity is a  process and is learning to live consistent with who we are in Christ.  For this reason, Paus letters teach us who we are and whose we are. Maturity is realising that anything but Jesus will not give life nor be life. Jn 14:6 Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life Therefore drawing from anything in order to find life in either things, people or places will leave you short of life! Whenever we feel angry, disappointed or fearful it is a sign that you are looking to the wrong thing to give you Life. Years ago I owned a green Austin car. Once a light came on the dash to warn of an impending mechanical failure. I wasn’t long before I had to replace some major parts of the car.  Anger or fear are just a warning light that we are doing the wrong things in order to find life. People, places and things may be a gift from the Life not the source of life! God allows us to have needs that only He can meet.  There are three things that only Jesus can give us. Jesus alone can give us unconditional love.   Jesus alone determines our worth for He alone outbid everyone for us and paid the highest price for us. He alone can be with us always. Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus that they would be strengthened in their inner man by Christ dwelling in their heart through faith, because when they were rooted and grounded in His love they would become mature.  Every time believers get together, it is so they can receive more of the love of God.  There are problems in our hearts that need to be exposed to His love. Love casts out fear and dissolves inferiority.  Maturity also means we must take responsibility rather than blame others.  By understanding the past and its effects we can then make better choices now.

Friends, maturity does not happen with the click of the finger; it takes time and it involves changing the way we respond to ourselves and others and ensuring that we are looking for Life in only one place.

In the middle ages, many sons of noblemen were apprenticed to existing knights. They learned to be knights by wielding weapons and fighting in armour until they were successful in war and were able to guard the house (castle). They became sons of the house through warfare. Spiritual sons know they are part of an army and they know who their enemy is. Sons understand that, when Jesus defeated the devil, He did it in their name. Jesus never came to earth to prove He was greater than the devil - He’s always been that! He came here to defeat him as a human being on our behalf.  The devil was a strong man who could only keep his goods until a stronger one came upon him. That stronger one is Jesus and His Church!  The enemy is still our foe but now in the presence of the enemy, Jesus provides victory. King David said “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;” (Psalm 23:5) There are some things God only puts on the table for us in the presence of our enemies. In other words, most of the times we receive something fresh from God are in the midst of a battle.  In an environment where we need nothing, we receive little. The Christian life is a life of being in need. We should get used to it! We need Jesus every day to live as a Christian. We can’t heal the sick or forgive constantly without Jesus; we can’t cast out devils or defeat our enemies each day, except through Him. Jesus said to one of the churches in Revelation, “...you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17) They had everything they wanted but nothing they truly needed. If we know our true need, God will be our garment, our life, and the anointing we need to see clearly. Sometimes our greatest challenge is to know what we truly need. Like this ancient church group, sometimes we need an enemy to fight!

Friend, to increase in authority there has to be an increase in the challenges we face. God works on the basis that His provision for us is not just sufficient but is more than sufficient for our need and the things we face. If our enemies are a two on the scale, then His grace can be a four. If our troubles are a five, then the strength and more than sufficient anointing that He gives us, will be a seven plus.

Work is meant to be profitable.  If the work you’re doing isn’t making you any money and there is no reason why you think it will turn around, stop doing it.  God wants you to make a profit.  God expects you to sow one seed and reap a harvest.   If what you’re doing and sowing is not bringing a return to you, that seed is dead. Everything God creates, He creates to have the power of multiplying in it. He expects you to be making money. If you can sow 10000 and reap 20000 God is delighted.  Surely you don’t need convincing of this. This is his law of sowing. The power to multiply is in the seed. We work also to make money for our daily necessities. Gods plan is for you have enough over after your living expenses, to be able to give to good works.   If you haven’t got enough to give to every good work,  your either not earning what God  wants you to earn  or you spending too much on other things.  Wesley said “Make all you can, save all you can and give all you can. Consumerism was unheard of till 70s.   Early middle class Christians were thrifty. They were not affected by consumerism. They believed enough is enough.  They knew how to live moderate and they saved. With the money the saved, they invested but Wesley never stopped there.    He also said “Give all you can”     Use what you have saved and invested, to help others to and to extend the kingdom of God.  God intended for you to put some of our money into the kingdom of God.  God is not expecting Bill gates and Helen Clark to fund the outreach to the nations or to reach our own city.  If His people are not going fund the work of God who is?  Make for your selves friends of unrighteous mammon.   It is His after all.

Friend, we were blessed to be a blessing.    After you paid your tithes, met all your expenses and blessed your family, then we are able  to give regular amounts into the kingdom of God.

Work is a blessing. It is blessed not cursed.  Sure there are elements of labor now because of sin, but Adam and God both worked before sin. The Greeks used to believe that work was a curse. So the leisure market sprung up - it is still in our psyche.  They got slaves thinking “why spend 50 hours plus at work.” We need to turn labor into work. We have labor unions because they saw no dignity in their work.  They felt they were just working for the boss; being forced to labor when they should have been out fishing and they got this begrudging attitude. If the hammer falls down we need someone else to pick it up for us because it’s not my task.  A labor mentality instead of a Christian mentality were work is an invitation to join with God in making a world! What is the difference between labor and work?  Labor tends to be faithless and cursed, without God and filled with worries and sleeplessness? When a man sees his life call in terms of work, it becomes faith filled and blessed by God without sorrow.

Friend, work is one of our ministries to God.  At work you’re in the ministry!   It provides necessities, it gives a stable society; it helps the poor and the needy. Mostly it offers worship to God.

Adam was connected to God and to his work, but since the fall, man has had trouble connecting work and God together.  The best many Christians have been able to do, was connect Sunday with God whereas all week as well as the day of rest, Adam and Eve were connected with God in their work. In fact, it seems from scripture, that eternity will be filled with creative fulfilling important work; not clouds and harps.   Work is our first mandate.  Our first calling is as regent under God (Earthly rulers representing heavenly king), is to rule over the earth and subdue it. We are commissioned to subdue the earth. Engineers, builders, dressmakers, and florists all make the earth, work for us.   We take the earth resources and use them we are to take the earths challenges and overcome them. Humans are world makers.  Agricultural, material, political, aesthetic work, musical, artistic work, relationship work, or technical work we are making our world. So when a man makes a tunnel under the sea from England and France bringing people together, God says yes!   God wanted to use man to release the potential of the planet. Gods potential in the plant is released when we work with God.  And that is what we all working to do. Release the potential of creation. So a teacher releases potential in their pupils. A mussel farmer releases the potential of the ocean.   And doctor releases the potential of healing in a person. God actually heals but the doctor assists the process of releasing the full potential of healing. A cook releases the potential of veggies. Parents, builders, everyone; if we aren’t releasing potential, then we aren’t working with God.   If you’re holding down, holding back, keeping something or someone under, then start working with God.  This is the reason why the 5 fold ministry is called the work; it’s all about releasing potential in people.

Friend, there are no easy jobs done by Christians. We all have time and abilities and we all use resources, machines and responsibilities. Your job is no harder than mine and no easier.  Every job is done faithfully and well is difficult whether a builder or an accountant.  It is no harder for me to do my job well that it is for you to do your job well.

Brothers in ancient Greece and Rome were very loyal to their siblings. Even secular writer like Aristotle said that a brother would think of their brother; they would rejoice in brothers by any downplaying of his advantage and share their resources and any glory that they were given. In the book of Philippians Paul is saying that when Christ came to earth he becomes a brother. Jesus was exalted into a place of great authority because of His actions not as the son of God but as the son of man.  When Jesus took up the form of man he became a brother of mankind.  The cross was a manifestation of brotherhood not Sonship with God and redemption was affected not by Jesus in His unique divinity but by his humanity in becoming our brother or kinsman-redeemer.  When Paul said ”let this mind be in you …”  he was saying it’s the same mind that Jesus had to become a brother to humanity. He became a Redeemer brother to redeem us. He was thinking of us as a brother would.  The mind of Christ toward us as a brother, in seen in His consideration of us and his rescue of us. The mind of Christ is the mind of brotherhood.   Jesus acted the role of a perfect brother. He Rejoiced in his brothers. The mind of Christ and his brotherhood is seen in His downplaying of his advantage to raise mankind to share his joy.  He was not in competition about who could see the father’s face. He shared resources. He shared his divine recourses and relationships.  So whatever he inherited, his brothers would inherit too including the Spirit. He would not see a brother struggle and not step up to the plate to help. He could not see a brother flailing or not succeeding and turn a blind eye. He also shared His glory. The mind of Christ and His brotherhood is seen in His determination to share His glory with us.    The cross was to bring his brothers to see the father’s face. He wanted to bring all brothers to have the same place a privilege. Jesus was the example brother.

Friends,  God is enabling us to see our identity in these days and our identity is not just about Sonship with God but about brotherhood with Christ and your brothers.  Paul says that lack of oneness in brotherly love is inconsistent with our identity as the brother of Christ and of each other.  Disunity is a violation of the mind of Christ as a brother.  Philippians 1. 29.