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john baw

Sermon: Enlarge the Tent

February 22, 2026

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Enlarge the Tent

Scriptures to read and ponder

Main text: Isaiah 54:1–3
Additional promise: Isaiah 54:17
Other scriptures shared in the sermon:
- Psalm 127:3
- Psalm 149:6
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
- Hebrews 11:1

Sermon Recap

The waiting room and the silence

Many believers find themselves in a prolonged “waiting room season” — not a place, but a stretch of delay.
Unanswered prayer can feel like a barren landscape: dry, cracked, silent.
The most painful part of barrenness is not the emptiness, but the silence — when you know God can, yet He has not acted in the way you hoped.

God speaks into barren places

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly chooses barren wombs, delayed seasons, and situations that appear dead.
When God speaks into barrenness, He does not simply comfort it — He confronts it.
His first instruction is not analysis or explanation. It is worship.

A song in the silence (Isaiah 54:1)

“Sing, barren woman” is a command that defies logic and emotion.
This is not denial or emotional hype. It is faith aligning with what God sees.
In the ancient world, barrenness carried economic vulnerability, social shame, and deep grief.
Praise is portrayed as spiritual warfare: praise in the mouth and the Word in the hand.

Praise as alignment, not noise

Biblical praise is not pretending the desert is already a garden.
It is declaring that the desert is not your final destination.
“More are the children…” not “more will be…” — God speaks from completion.
Faith agrees with what heaven has declared, even when the ground still looks barren.

Enlarge your tent (Isaiah 54:2)

The sermon moved from declaration to preparation.
“Enlarge… stretch… do not hold back… lengthen… strengthen” — these are verbs of action.
In biblical culture, the tent symbolised estate, family, legacy, and influence.
The shock is that the tent is empty, yet God commands expansion.
We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Before the outer world expands, the inner world must make space.
Stakes must go deeper before curtains go wider.

Spread to the right and to the left (Isaiah 54:3)

“You will spread out” is certainty language.
Enlargement is not merely personal breakthrough. It is mission and multiplication.
This is expansion language, not maintenance language.
Believers are not called to mirror cultural anxiety, but to radiate Kingdom peace and influence.

Protection for expanded people (Isaiah 54:17)

Enlargement increases visibility, and visibility often attracts opposition.
The promise is not that weapons will not form, but that they will not prosper.
When God commands expansion, He assumes responsibility for protection.
This security is covenant inheritance — the heritage of the servants of the Lord.
Because the verdict is secure, we can sing even in the dark night.

Memorable quotes

“Some of you have been in a waiting room for years. And I am not talking about a building. I am talking about a season.”
“The most painful part of barrenness is not the emptiness. It is the silence.”
“When God speaks into a barren place, He does not comfort the barrenness. He confronts it.”
“This is not denial. This is faith that sees what God sees.”
“Praise is not pretending the desert is a garden. Praise is declaring that the desert is not your final destination.”
“First we sing. Then we get to work.”
“The tent is empty. And God says: stretch it anyway.”
“Before your outer world expands, your inner world must make space.”
“If you have enlargement but do not have mission, you will become self-absorbed.”
“A bigger tent is a bigger target — but the weapon will not prosper.”

Questions for discussion

Where am I currently in a “waiting room season”? What has the silence been shaping in me?
Which unanswered prayer have I quietly stopped expecting God to answer?
What would it look like for me to “sing” in faith this week before I see any evidence?
How do I distinguish between emotional hype and true alignment with God’s declared future?
In what area of my life is God asking me to enlarge my tent before I see results?
What are the “stakes” in my life that need strengthening (character, discipline, prayer, obedience, boundaries)?
Where am I holding back because of fear, disappointment, or past failure?
How can my enlargement become mission rather than self-focus?
What does “spreading to the right and to the left” look like in my context — family, workplace, friendships, church?
When opposition arises, how can I respond from the verdict of Isaiah 54:17 instead of reacting in fear?
As a church family, what might enlarging the tent look like for LWC in this season?

Recommended resources:

John Wimber, Power Evangelism
Pete Greig, How to Pray
Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines
Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

Prayer points

Lord, meet me in the silence and restore hope where it has faded.
Holy Spirit, teach me to praise in alignment with heaven before I see evidence on earth.
Strengthen my inner life so I can carry the enlargement You are bringing.
Show me practical steps to enlarge my tent in obedience and faith.
Guard my heart from self-focus and enlarge my compassion for people.
As You expand my influence, protect me from fear, accusation, and discouragement.
Let no weapon formed against Your purposes in my life or in LWC prosper.
Enlarge our church family — deepen our roots, widen our welcome, strengthen our discipleship, and multiply our witness in Gibraltar and beyond.

Sermon: The Father who runs toward you

February 8, 2026

LWC SERMON GUIDE

The Father who runs toward you

A story about grace, distance, and coming home

Scriptures to read and ponder

Main teaching text: Luke 15:11–24
Other scriptures:
- Romans 5:8
- John 3:16

Sermon Recap

1) INTRODUCTION: The missed call

The sermon opened with a simple question: Have you ever ignored a call because you were not ready for that conversation?
Many people do this with God, not from hatred, but from avoidance, silence, and unreadiness.
Distance from God often begins not with rebellion, but with silence.

2) The request that breaks the relationship (Luke 15:11–12)

The younger son asks for his share of the estate.
In that world, inheritance was typically received after the father’s death, so the request functioned like relational severance, treating the father as “as good as dead.”
The human heart often wants the Father’s gifts without the Father’s presence.
There is a little of this son in every person, the impulse to live on our own terms while still wanting blessing.

3) The illusion of the distant country (Luke 15:13)

The younger son leaves for a distant country and squanders his wealth in wild living.
The “gospel of the world” was explained as follows:
- Everything is a big yes
- If it feels good, do it
- If it makes you happy, do it
- You only live once
Indulgence promises freedom but drains life, scattering what God entrusted.

4) Living your own life leads to hunger and dishonour (Luke 15:14–16)

After he spends everything, famine hits, and he becomes in need.
His “freedom” becomes servitude: he hires himself out, ends up feeding pigs, and longs for their food.
The cultural shock for Jesus’ audience: a Jewish man feeding pigs, as a slave, under a Gentile master, a picture of complete degradation and lostness.
The spiritual principle: Distance from the Father does not satisfy our appetite, it multiplies our hunger.

5) Coming to our senses (Luke 15:17)

The turning point: He “came to his senses.”
This was not a performative holiness, it was honest clarity: “This is not working.”
Scripture does not simply label people “bad,” it calls them “lost,” and the Gospel is about being found.

6) Repentance is returning, not a performance (Luke 15:18–19)

The son rehearses a three-part speech: confession, unworthiness, and a proposal to become a hired servant.
The sermon emphasised that Grace is not rational, God’s love is not “reasonable,” and tactics do not purchase return.
The essence: “I will go back to my father.”

7) The scandalous heart of God: the Father runs (Luke 15:20)

The centre of the sermon and “the centre of the Gospel” is that while the son is still far off, the father sees, feels compassion, runs, embraces, and kisses.
God is not reluctant, distant, or cold; He is scanning the horizon, reaching across distance.
Even when life makes a person feel invisible, the Gospel declares, “He sees you.”

8) Paul puts words to the running Father (Romans 5:8)

Romans 5:8 was used as the explanatory key: God “demonstrates” His love by Christ dying for us while we were still sinners.
God does not only declare love, He proves love.

9) Grace interrupts shame (Luke 15:21–22)

The father allows confession, but cuts off the hired-servant proposal.
The declaration: God is not recruiting servants in this moment, He is restoring sons.
The symbols of restored sonship: the best robe, a ring, sandals.

10) From death to life (Luke 15:23–24; John 3:16)

The father frames the story as resurrection language: “was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found.”
Christianity is not behaviour modification, it is passing from death into life through what He has done.
John 3:16 was used to underline the Father’s giving love, with “whoever” meaning no exceptions.

11) Closing exhortation: Be a horizon-scanning church

The sermon closed with mission: churches must stop guarding doors and start watching roads, reflecting the Father’s heart for the lost.
Final invitation: If you are here, the phone is ringing. There is no need for perfect words. Come home.
Memorable quotes
- “Distance from God does not begin with rebellion. It often begins with silence.”
- “The story Jesus tells is not really a story about a bad son. It is a story about a good father.”
- “Father, I do not want you, I just want your stuff.”
- “This is the sermon the world has been preaching to us for years: Everything is a big yes.”
- “He did not become holy. He became honest.”
- “Grace is not rational. God’s love is not reasonable.”
- “God does not only say that He loves us. He proves it.”
- “God already has servants. God sees you as a son.”
- “Christianity is not about changing your behaviour. Christianity is about passing from death into life.”
- Oscar Wilde: “Every saint has a past; and every sinner has a future.”
Questions for discussion
1. Where do you most recognise the “missed call” pattern in your spiritual life: avoidance, silence, distraction, shame, independence?
2. The younger son wanted inheritance without relationship. What are modern ways people try to receive God’s gifts without God Himself?
3. What is your “distant country”? Not a location, but a pattern: a mindset, appetite, habit, coping mechanism, or identity you run to for relief.
4. The sermon named the world’s message: “If it feels good, do it.” Where does that message show up most strongly in culture right now, and where does it show up subtly in you?
5. In Luke 15:14–16, freedom becomes hunger and servitude. What kinds of “servitude” does the distant country create today (approval, addiction, image, debt, lust, workaholism, bitterness)?
6. What does it look like practically to “come to your senses” this week? Name one honest sentence you need to say to God.
7. Repentance was framed as returning, not performing. Where do you tend to perform instead of return (promises, bargaining, religious busyness, self-punishment)?
8. Picture the Father “scanning the horizon.” What does that reveal about God’s posture toward you right now?
9. Romans 5:8 says God demonstrated love “while we were still sinners.” How does that challenge the idea that you must clean yourself up before you come home?
10. The father interrupts the hired-servant line. Where do you still relate to God like a servant instead of a son or daughter?
11. The father says, “dead and alive again.” What areas of your life feel dead, and what would “alive again” look like in real terms?
12. The sermon ended by challenging the church to reflect the Father’s heart. What would “watching the road” look like for LWC in Gibraltar in the next 30 days?
Further reading
Scripture cross-references (to deepen the same themes):
- Psalm 139 (God sees, God knows, God pursues)
- Isaiah 55:6–7 (returning to the Lord; mercy and pardon)
- Ezekiel 34:11–16 (God as the Shepherd who searches for the lost)
- Hosea 11:1–9 (the Father’s compassion, love that will not let go)
- Luke 19:10 (the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost)
- 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (new creation; reconciliation; ambassadors)
- Ephesians 2:1–10 (from dead to alive; saved by grace)
- 1 John 3:1 (the Father’s love in calling us His children)
Reading resources (accessible, missionally aligned, and spiritually forming):
- Tim Keller, The Prodigal God (short, clear, Gospel-centred)
- Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son (contemplative, heart-forming)
- Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy (Kingdom life and discipleship formation)
- N. T. Wright, Simply Christian (evangelistic clarity for seekers)
- John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way (formation practices for returning and remaining)
Prayer points
- For honesty: Lord, bring me to my senses. Give me courage to tell the truth about what is not working.
- For returning: Father, I return to You, not with performance, but with surrender. I come home.
- For freedom from the “distant country”: Break the appetites, habits, and agreements that keep me hungry and bound. Replace them with holy desire.
- For a fresh revelation of the Father’s heart: Let me see You scanning the horizon, moving toward me, not away from me.
- For healing from shame: Where shame has told me I am unworthy, let grace interrupt that lie and restore sonship.
- For assurance in the cross: Thank You that You demonstrated love while I was still a sinner. Anchor me in what Christ has done, not what I can prove.
- For “death to life” breakthrough: Speak life into dead places, dead hope, dead faith, dead joy, dead intimacy. Raise what has been buried.
- For LWC’s missional posture: Make us a horizon-scanning church. Give us eyes for the lost, compassion for the broken, and courage to run toward people with the love of God.
- For visitors and seekers: Father, let the phone ringing become a moment of salvation, healing, and coming home. Let people know they are seen.

Sermon: Made whole at His feet

January 25, 2026

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Made whole at His feet

Scriptures to read and ponder…

Main teaching text: Luke 17:11–19
Old Testament background on leprosy and “distance”: Leviticus 13–14
Praise that is willing to look foolish: 2 Samuel 6:14–16; 2 Samuel 6:21–22
Key theme to hold all week: “Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (SOZO) Luke 17:19

Sermon Recap

1) The A&E faith problem: relief without transformation
- The sermon opened with the picture of a man rushed into A&E: bleeding stopped, crisis stabilised, then sent home.
- The point: healing is not the same as health; a symptom can stop while brokenness remains.
- Many people treat Jesus like spiritual A&E: they come for relief, then leave with no follow-up, no return, no new life.
- The Spirit’s push: do not settle for “functional”; press into “flourishing.”
2) “They stood at a distance”: the condition beneath the condition
- Ten men with leprosy stand at a distance and cry out for mercy (Luke 17:12–13).
- Leprosy functioned as more than illness; it was social exclusion and spiritual dislocation (Leviticus 13–14).
- “Distance” becomes the controlling theme: distance from people, worship, intimacy, joy, work, and hope.
- Gospel moment: “When he saw them.” Jesus sees what the system excludes.
3) All ten were cleansed: grace makes no exceptions
- Jesus sends them to the priests, and as they go they are cleansed (Luke 17:14).
- No discrimination. No special cases. No “not for you.”
- Grace does not operate by human categories; Jesus is not partial.
4) One returned: the pivot from healing to wholeness
- Nine are satisfied with the miracle; one is hungry for more.
- He realises: “If I walk away now, I leave with healing but without wholeness.”
- Luke notes he was “healed” (iaomai) in the physical sense, but the story moves toward something deeper.
- Two versions of faith:
  - “Jesus, fix my problem.”
  - “Jesus, fix me.”
5) The path to wholeness: Return, Praise, Surrender
- Step 1: Always return to Jesus (repentance)
  - He stops, turns around, and walks back.
  - Repentance is not merely remorse; it is a change of direction, a return to the source of life.
  - Repentance is presented as a discipleship rhythm, daily and ongoing.
- Step 2: Praise (audacious, public, loud)
  - He returns praising God loudly, not quietly.
  - He likely still looks like a leper to everyone watching; stigma is still in the room, but praise wins.
  - David becomes the model: dancing before the Lord, despised by Michal, yet choosing worship over reputation (2 Samuel 6).
  - Praise was framed as a discipleship discipline and a lifestyle, anchored in gathering with God’s people.
- Step 3: Surrender (at His feet)
  - He throws himself at Jesus’ feet and gives thanks.
  - This is not polite gratitude; it is total life-collapse, a posture that says, “My life is yours.”
  - Luke highlights he is a Samaritan: outsider, “unqualified,” yet he comes closest.
  - Core line: surrender is not a reward for the worthy; it is the response of the grateful.
6) The commission: surrender leads to sending
- Jesus does not end with comfort; he ends with a command: “Rise and go.”
- The word “well” is SOZO: saved, healed, restored, delivered, made whole.
- Big idea: he was healed on the road, but made whole at the feet of Jesus.
- Outcome: no longer a victim or outsider, but a whole person with a commission.
Memorable quotes
- “He has healing, but he does not have health.”
- “The crisis passed, but the brokenness remained.”
- “Maybe healing was never the end goal.”
- “There is a version of faith that only wants relief, and there is a deeper faith that wants restoration.”
- “There is a faith that says, ‘Jesus, fix my problem,’ and there is a faith that says, ‘Jesus, fix me.’”
- “Remorse says, ‘I feel bad.’ Repentance says, ‘I am walking back.’”
- “Surrender is not a reward for the worthy. Surrender is the response of the grateful.”
- “He was healed on the road. He was made whole at the feet of Jesus.”
- “Surrender is not the end of the journey, it is the point from which you are sent.”
Questions for discussion
- Getting honest about “A&E faith”
  - Where do you most tend to treat Jesus like “spiritual emergency care” rather than Lord of your whole life?
  - What is one pattern where you seek relief quickly but resist long-term formation?
- Distance and belonging
  - In Luke 17:12, the lepers “stood at a distance.” What does “distance” look like in your own life right now: from God, from people, from church family, from hope?
  - What voices (shame, disappointment, pain, culture) have taught you that closeness is dangerous?
- The turning point: returning to Jesus
  - What is one concrete “direction” you need to stop walking in, so you can return to Jesus?
  - How does the sermon’s definition of repentance (returning) reshape your understanding of discipleship?
- Praise as discipleship discipline
  - What most often silences your praise: fear of people, disappointment with God, fatigue, cynicism, or something else?
  - What would it look like for you to choose worship over reputation this week, like David and like the healed man?
- Surrender at His feet
  - What area of life do you still keep off-limits from Jesus, even though you want his help?
  - The Samaritan is the “outsider” who comes closest. Where do you feel unqualified, and how might that be the very place Jesus is inviting you into surrender?
- Commissioned wholeness (Rise and go)
  - If surrender is the launchpad for mission, what might Jesus be sending you into this week: home, workplace, a strained relationship, service in the church, witness in the community?
  - What is the difference between being “patched up” and being “made whole” in your everyday life?
Further reading
- Scripture:
  - Psalm 34
  - Psalm 103
  - Isaiah 57:15
  - Matthew 11:28–30
  - Romans 12:1–2
  - Luke 5:12–16
  - Luke 7:36–50
- Reading resources:
  - A short study on repentance as “returning” (metanoia) and daily discipleship rhythms
  - A simple guide to building a weekly “praise plan”: Sunday gathering, midweek worship, gratitude practice, and testimony sharing
  - A reflective resource on surrender and lordship: inviting Jesus into every room of life
Prayer points
- Return (repentance):
  - Jesus, expose every direction I am walking that leads away from you. Give me grace to turn back quickly and consistently.
  - Father, replace shame-driven distance with Spirit-led closeness. Teach me to come home again.
- Praise (audacious worship):
  - Holy Spirit, put praise back in my mouth. Break fear of people and restore first-love worship.
  - Lord, make my life an offering of worship: in church gatherings, in private devotion, and in ordinary weekdays.
- Surrender (at His feet):
  - Jesus, I throw myself at your feet. I release control, self-protection, and the need to manage outcomes.
  - Father, I bring you the hidden places: pain, trauma, habits, bitterness, and fear. Make me whole.
- Wholeness (SOZO):
  - Jesus, I ask for more than symptom relief. Save, restore, deliver, and make me whole in spirit, soul, and body.
- Commission (Rise and go):
  - Lord, as you send me, give me courage, clarity, and compassion. Let my restored life become a witness of your Kingdom in Gibraltar.
  - Jesus, show me one practical act of obedience this week that proves I am not only healed, but also changed.

Sermon: Don't bury what God planted

November 29, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Don’t Bury What God Planted

Scriptures to read and ponder

main Text

John 12:24 – “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon

1 Corinthians 15:36 – “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.”
Genesis 37:17–20, 23–24 – Joseph betrayed by his brothers and thrown into the pit.
Genesis 39:20–23 – Joseph in the royal prison, yet the Lord is with him and gives him favour.
Genesis 50:20 – “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”
Psalm 105:17–19 – God sent Joseph ahead; the word of the Lord “proved him true”.
2 Corinthians 4:10–12 – “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed…”
Psalm 126:5 – “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”

Sermon Recap

1. The Seed’s Journey: Darkness, Pressure, Breaking

A seed never starts its journey in the sunlight; it starts in the dark:
- A darkness where you can’t see your hand in front of your face.
- A darkness where you lose direction and question what you heard from God.
The seed is:
- Pressed down into the earth.
- Buried under weight it never asked for.
- Surrounded by layers of soil – pressure on top of pressure.
- In an environment that screams: “Stay down. Stay hidden. Stay silent.”
The environment is:
- Restrictive, cramped, suffocating.
- Hemmed in on every side – no space, no air, no room to stretch.
Under that pressure:
- The shell begins to break.
- Everything in the natural screams, “This is death. This is the end. This is where my story finishes.”
If the seed had feelings, it would conclude:
- Isolation = forgotten.
- Darkness = God changed His mind.
- Pressure = the promise has expired.
But what the seed calls death, God calls birth:
- While the seed thinks it’s being buried, it’s actually being positioned.
- While it thinks it’s dying, it’s actually being unlocked.
- In the darkness, life is being awakened.
- Under pressure, potential is emerging.
- In restriction, roots are forming.
- In the breaking, wholeness is being released.
Key idea:
The very conditions that feel like a burial are the exact conditions God uses for transformation.

2. When Your Calling Feels Buried

Context of John 12:
- Some Greeks (outsiders, seekers) come wanting to see Jesus.
- At that key moment, Jesus speaks not of signs and wonders but of His hour and of a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying.
John 12:24 reveals the pattern of the Kingdom:
- Not glory → then suffering, but suffering → then glory.
- Not visibility → then impact, but hiddenness → then multiplication.
Phrase-by-phrase breakdown:
- “Falls to the ground” = surrender.
- “Dies” = letting go of control.
- “Remains only a single seed” = what happens when we hold our lives too tightly.
- “Produces many seeds” = multiplication, increase, fruitfulness.
Jesus’ promise:
- “If you will surrender it, I will multiply it.”
- What looks like loss becomes the doorway to abundance.
Many of us live here:
- Not on the mountaintop or in obvious favour.
- But underground: in the dark, pressed, restricted, breathing recycled air.
- Life feels more like a coffin than a launchpad.
1 Corinthians 15:36:
- “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.”
- Resurrection power is only released in surrendered places.
Reframing the season:
- Darkness ≠ death.
- Burial ≠ the end.
- Hidden ≠ forgotten.

3. Joseph: Pits, Prisons, and Preparation

Joseph’s context:
- One of twelve brothers, in a complicated and messy family.
- Marked by jealousy, favouritism, competition, wounds.
- Deeply loved by his father; given a special robe that triggers resentment.
Joseph’s God-given dreams:
- Dreams of influence and leadership.
- Dreams hinting at a future far beyond his current reality.
- Instead of celebrating, his family feels threatened: “Here comes that dreamer!”
The pit (Genesis 37:17–20, 23–24):
- The brothers plot to kill him.
- They strip him of his robe and throw him into an empty cistern.
- The dreamer is now in the dark – buried in a hole in the ground.
The prison (Genesis 39:20–23):
- Sold into slavery in Egypt.
- Serves faithfully.
- Falsely accused and thrown into the royal prison.
- Loses job, reputation, freedom – despite doing nothing wrong.
- Again, he is buried in a place he did not choose.
God’s interpretation (Psalm 105:17–19):
- God sent a man before them – Joseph.
- Shackles, irons, and hardship lasted until the word of the Lord proved him true.
- God wasn’t punishing Joseph; God was preparing him.
- The pit was preparation.
  The prison was his training ground.
Formation in the hidden place:
- In prison, Joseph learns administration, timing, wisdom, discernment.
- These were the exact competencies needed for his assignment as Prime Minister.
The turnaround (Genesis 50:20):
- “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”
- What tried to bury Joseph is what God used to build Joseph.
Outcome:
- One conversation with Pharaoh moves him from prisoner to Prime Minister.
- The ground that held him becomes the ground that released him.
Application:
- Some of us feel buried, locked into situations we did not choose.
- Joseph’s story teaches:
  God plants what He intends to multiply.

4. Jesus: The Seed Who Chose the Soil

John 12 is not about gardening tips; it is revelation:
- Jesus is not ultimately talking about wheat but about Himself.
Jesus as the Seed:
- The Seed who surrendered to the soil.
- The Life who chose the tomb.
- The One who entered the ground not to be buried, but to be planted for the multiplication of sons and daughters.
- He didn’t “get buried”; He planted Himself.
Implication:
- When Jesus enters the soil, resurrection becomes inevitable.
- Because Jesus went into the ground first:
  - Your pit is not wasted.
  - Your prison is not wasted.
  - Your pressure is not wasted.
- He set the pattern and sanctified the soil you are standing in.

5. Identity: You Are a Seed of the Kingdom

2 Corinthians 4:10–12:
- We carry the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be revealed.
- The breaking reveals His life.
- The pressure reveals His strength.
- The hidden places reveal His glory.
This is not just Joseph’s pattern – it is the pattern for every disciple.
Kingdom identity statements:
- You are a seed of the Kingdom, designed for multiplication.
- There is fruit inside you that has not yet seen the light of day.
- You are not buried potential; you are planted purpose.
- You are not a forgotten field; you are sacred soil.
- You are not a discarded seed; you are a chosen promise.
The world:
- Defines you by what has happened to you.
Jesus:
- Defines you by what He has planted in you.

6. The World Hides; The Kingdom Plants

Repeated emphasis from John 12:24:
- The call is to bear much fruit.
Cultural tension:
- We live in a visibility-obsessed culture:
  - Everyone wants platform, spotlight, prominence.
Kingdom reality:
- The Kingdom often begins:
  - In secret.
  - Under the ground where no one sees.
  - In surrender, obscurity, hiddenness.
- There are seasons of:
  - Darkness.
  - Pressure.
  - Layers of “soil” pressing in.
- These are the conditions that form diamonds.

7. What Have You Buried That God Planted?

Psalm 126:5:
- “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
- Your tears were the water.
- Your prayers were the planting.
- Your breaking was the beginning.
Key question:
- What have you buried that God planted?
Types of seeds in the room:
- Burnt-out seeds:
  - Dreams almost dead under exhaustion and heaviness.
  - Buried because life feels too heavy.
  - God has planted them to grow beyond your own strength.
- Shamed seeds:
  - Gifts locked away because you don’t feel worthy.
  - Buried because your past speaks louder than your promise.
  - God planted them because grace writes a brighter future than sin can describe a past.
- Fearful seeds:
  - Callings hidden because the price feels too high.
  - Buried because risk terrifies you.
  - God planted them because courage grows in dark places.
Heaven’s perspective:
- What we call dead, God calls planted.
- What we call the end, God calls the beginning.
- What we call a prison, God calls a birthing place.
Prophetic sense:
- Some are about to sprout in the very places where they thought they were finished.

8. Conclusion: Stop Burying What God Has Planted

This is not the moment to:
- Shrink back.
- Stay hidden.
- Bury your gift to fit in with the culture.
This is the moment to:
- Let the pressure break the outer shell.
- Allow the life within you to burst through the soil.
- Stop negotiating with the dirt and getting comfortable underground.
Seeds are not designed to stay in the dark;
they are designed to crack open and let new life emerge.
John 12:24 re-affirmed:
- If the grain dies, it will bear much fruit – that is:
  - Your calling.
  - Your season of growth.
  - Our season as a church.
Prophetic declaration over LWC:
- A season of sprouting.
- A season of growth.
- A season of fruit.
- A season where hidden things burst into the open by God’s Spirit.
Heaven’s “board-level” directive:
- Stop burying what God has planted.
- Stop hiding what God has anointed.
- Stop silencing what God has ignited.
- The Holy Spirit is moving in the soil of our hearts.
- The ground that held you back is about to release you.
Memorable quotes
- “What the seed calls death, God calls birth.”
- “You are not being buried; you are being planted.”
- “God plants what He intends to multiply.”
- “Your pit is not wasted. Your prison is not wasted. Your pressure is not wasted.”
- “You are not buried potential; you are planted purpose.”
- “The world defines you by what has happened to you; Jesus defines you by what He has planted in you.”
- “What we call dead, God calls planted. What we call the end, God calls the beginning. What we call a prison, God calls a birthing place.”
- “Seeds are not designed to stay in the dark; they are designed to crack open and allow new life to emerge.”
- “Your tears were the water; your prayers were the planting; your breaking was the beginning.”
Questions for discussion
Heart-level reflection
- Where do you currently feel underground – in the dark, under pressure, restricted or suffocated?
- Have you ever misread a season as a burial when, in hindsight, it was actually a planting? What changed your perspective?
- Which type of seed do you most identify with right now:
  - Burnt-out seed (exhaustion, heaviness)?
  - Shamed seed (past failures, unworthiness)?
  - Fearful seed (afraid of the cost or risk)?
- What have you quietly buried – a gift, calling, dream, assignment – that may actually be something God planted?
Scripture engagement
- Read John 12:24 slowly.
  - What word or phrase stands out most to you (falls, dies, remains alone, bears much fruit)? Why?
- How does 1 Corinthians 15:36 challenge our natural response to loss, disappointment, or delay?
- Looking at Joseph’s story (Genesis 37, 39, 50 and Psalm 105:17–19), what stages of his life feel most similar to your own story or season?
- How does 2 Corinthians 4:10–12 help you reinterpret pressure, breaking, and hiddenness in your own life?
Identity and calling
- Which of the identity statements do you find hardest to believe:
  “I am sacred soil,” “I am planted purpose,” “I am a chosen promise” – and why?
- How might your decisions change this week if you really believed:
  “I am a seed of the Kingdom designed for multiplication”?
- Where are you tempted to chase visibility instead of embracing God’s work in hiddenness?
- In which area of your life do you sense the Holy Spirit saying, “Stop burying what I have planted”?
Action and response
- What is one specific step you can take this week to “unbury” a God-given seed (e.g. a conversation, a discipline, a small act of obedience)?
- Who in your world needs encouragement because their season feels like a burial? How can you practically speak life and hope into them?
- As a church family, what might it look like for LWC to live as a planted people, not a hidden people, in Gibraltar?
Further reading
Scriptures reinforcing the message
- John 12:20–28 – Wider context around the grain of wheat and Jesus’ “hour”.
- Romans 8:18–30 – Present sufferings and future glory; God working all things for good.
- James 1:2–4 – Trials producing perseverance and maturity.
- John 15:1–8 – Abiding in the Vine and bearing much fruit.
- Galatians 6:7–9 – Sowing, reaping, and not growing weary in doing good.
- Isaiah 61:1–3 – Beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise instead of despair.
- 1 Peter 5:6–10 – Humbling ourselves under God’s mighty hand; after we have suffered a little while, He restores and establishes us.
- Philippians 1:6 – He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
- Hebrews 12:1–2 – Running with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.
Prayer points
1. Surrender and re-framing
- Pray for grace to surrender the “seed” of your life, calling, and dreams into God’s hands:
  - “Lord, where I see burial, teach me to see planting.”
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reframe dark, pressured, or hidden seasons:
  - “Father, show me where You are working in the soil I stand in.”
2. Healing for burnt-out, shamed, and fearful seeds
- Burnt-out seeds:
  - Pray for those exhausted and overwhelmed, who feel they have nothing left to give.
  - Ask God to breathe fresh strength and to water what feels dry and dead.
- Shamed seeds:
  - Pray for freedom from condemnation and the lies of the past.
  - Ask God to speak identity louder than history: “Grace writes a brighter future.”
- Fearful seeds:
  - Pray against paralyzing fear of risk, cost, and failure.
  - Ask for courage to obey in the dark, trusting God with the outcomes.
3. Formation in the “pit and prison” seasons
- Thank God that pits and prisons are training grounds, not waste grounds.
- Pray:
  - “Lord, form in me the character, wisdom, and competencies I will need for my future assignment.”
- Ask God to help you co-operate with His process rather than resent it.
4. Identity as seeds of the Kingdom
- Declare over yourself and the church:
  - “We are seeds of the Kingdom, designed for multiplication.”
  - “We are not buried potential – we are planted purpose.”
- Pray for a deep internal shift:
  - That LWC would live as sacred soil in Gibraltar – carrying heaven’s life into every sphere (family, workplace, city).
5. Fruitfulness and corporate calling for LWC
- Pray that this would be a season of sprouting for LWC:
  - Hidden ministries, gifts, and callings coming into the light.
  - New fruit in evangelism, discipleship, generosity, and compassion.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to:
  - Uncover gifts that have been buried in the church.
  - Call people into their next step of obedience and service.
  - Use LWC as a planted community bringing life to Gibraltar.
6. Boldness to stop burying what God has planted
- Pray for holy boldness:
  - To stop hiding what God has anointed.
  - To stop silencing what God has ignited.
- Pray a commissioning-style prayer:
  - “Holy Spirit, move the soil in our hearts. Unearth what You have planted. Let the ground that held us now release us into Your purposes, in Jesus’ Name.”

Sermon: Born of the Voice

November 23, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Born of the Voice

Scriptures to read and ponder

Primary Text

Judges 6:1–12 — Israel’s oppression, Gideon in the winepress, and Heaven’s declaration: “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon

Romans 12:2 — Transformation through renewing the mind.
Judges 6:25–26 — Tearing down the altars of Baal and building a proper altar to the LORD.
Judges 6:34 — “The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon.”
John 4:23–24 — Worship in Spirit and in truth.
Psalm 139:14 — You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
John 15:16 — “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”
Ephesians 2:10 — You are His workmanship, His masterpiece.

Sermon Recap

I. The Darkness and the Tension

Israel intentionally abandoned the ways of God.
God’s judgment was not punitive rage but permissive withdrawal — He honoured their choices.
Life outside God’s covering produced vulnerability, repeated loss, and cycles of planting without harvest.
Israel hid in caves, clefts, and strongholds — living beneath their calling and inheritance.

II. Gideon in the Winepress

Gideon should have been threshing wheat on an open threshing floor — where the wind carries the chaff.
Instead he threshed in a winepress, a cramped pit in the ground.
He was functioning, but not flourishing.
This is the biblical picture of oppression — surviving below your God-given identity.

III. God’s Initiative Breaks In

Into the cramped space…
Into the fear…
Into the private anxiety…
Heaven breaks in with a WORD:
“The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

Key points:

God speaks identity before performance.
God does not describe you — He defines you.
The winepress becomes a womb when Heaven speaks.
God calls you by where He is taking you, not by what you are currently living.

IV. Identity Spoken Before Performance

In the Kingdom, identity precedes character, calling, and impact.
God declared “Mighty Warrior” before Gideon had fought a single battle.
Heaven sees fullness, not fragments.
Examples of God’s identity declarations over us:
- Fearfully and wonderfully made
- Chosen, appointed to bear fruit
- God’s workmanship — His masterpiece

V. The Call to Rise: Character Formation

Identity is the starting point — but alignment is the process.
Gideon had to tear down the altar of Baal in his father’s house.
Some altars in our inner world must come down:
- Misplaced trust
- Wrong beliefs
- Old patterns
- False voices
Worship “in Spirit and truth” requires the inner world to come into alignment with the voice of God.
You cannot worship in Spirit while thinking like the winepress.

VI. From Calling to Impact

After identity and alignment came empowerment:
- “The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon.”
What began in a pit became a national deliverance.
When identity, alignment, and obedience converge — transformation flows outward.

VII. Prophetic Summons

God is calling His people out of hiding.
Out of the winepress.
Out of the old voices.
Into identity, freedom, worship, and Kingdom purpose.
“You are not born of fear, or failure, or brokenness.
You are born of the Voice.”

Memorable Quotes

“The most dangerous thing in your life is not your past — it’s the wrong voice.”
“You don’t rise to your potential — you rise to the voice you listen to.”
“When God declares something, He doesn’t describe you — He defines you.”
“The winepress that hid you becomes the womb that births you.”
“God declares your DNA before He examines your résumé.”
“You cannot worship in Spirit while thinking like the winepress.”
“The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon — Heaven wrapped him.”

Questions for Discussion

Identity & Inner World

What are the “voices behind the curtain” that have shaped your identity?
Which false narratives still influence your decisions, confidence, or sense of worth?
What does it mean to you that God defines you before you perform?

Winepress Living

Where in your life do you feel like you’re surviving but not thriving?
How has fear, pressure, or circumstances pushed you into a “winepress”?

Character Formation

What “altars of Baal” (old patterns, misplaced trust, destructive habits) need to come down?
What practical steps can you take this week to align your inner world with Scripture?

Worship in Spirit and Truth

How does renewing the mind deepen worship?
What lies or old voices still hinder you from worshipping freely and fully?

Calling and Impact

Where do you sense the Holy Spirit calling you to rise and lead?
What could it look like for the Spirit of the Lord to “clothe you” in this season?

Prayer Points

Identity Revelation
- Pray that every member of LWC hears Heaven’s declaration:
  “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
Renewing the Mind
- Pray for liberation from old voices, lies, and destructive self-talk.
- Pray for clarity, truth, and alignment with God’s Word.
Breaking Old Altars
- Pray for courage to tear down patterns, habits, and beliefs that oppose God.
- Pray for a rebuilding of “proper altars” — devotion, surrender, worship.
Worship in Spirit and Truth
- Pray that our worship flows from renewed minds and aligned hearts.
- Pray for fresh intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit Empowerment
- Pray for the Spirit of the LORD to “clothe” the church.
- Pray for courage, leadership, and boldness to step out of the winepress.

Sermon: Dawn in a Darkened Age

November 23, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Dawn in a Darkened Age

Scriptures to read and ponder
- Main text
  - Isaiah 60:1–3
    “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
    See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
    but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
    Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
- Other key scriptures from the sermon
  - Genesis 1:2–3 – God speaks light into chaos and darkness
  - Romans 13:11–14 – Wake up from slumber; put on the armour of light
  - Deuteronomy 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up (qûm) for you a prophet…”
  - Matthew 5:14–16 – You are the light of the world; do not hide your light
Sermon Recap
1. Introduction – When the lights go out
- Recent Gibraltar power cuts as a picture of our age:
  - One moment: normal life
  - Next moment: everything shuts down – shops, lifts, screens, movement
- In that sudden darkness:
  - A tiny candle became the most powerful thing in the room
  - The candle did not “fix” the power grid
  - But it pushed back the darkness right where it stood
  - A single flame “humiliating” a whole room of shadows
- Big idea:
  - Our moment in history feels like a power cut in the soul
  - God is calling His people to be that “candle” in the room
2. The atmosphere of this age
- Rising mental and emotional pressure:
  - Mental health conditions soaring
  - Young adults drowning in anxiety
  - We are the most prosperous and the most medicated generation in history
- These are not just “statistics”:
  - They are sons and daughters
  - They are the people on your street, in your office, in your row at church
- The darkness is not just “out there” in society:
  - It walked into the room with us
  - Some marriages are running on fumes behind a smile
  - Some parents and grandparents are exhausted beyond words
  - Some are battling anxiety they do not even have language for
- Many woke up today thinking:
  - “God, please say something. Please do something. I am at the end of myself.”
- Survival mode has become the new normal:
  - Functioning but not flourishing
  - Numb, disoriented, disconnected
3. Darkness and thick darkness
- Isaiah 60:2 – “Darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the peoples”
  - Isaiah is not being dramatic; he is being honest
  - He gives language to what our souls already know
- “See / Behold”:
  - The prophet calls us to pay attention
  - He wants us to see and name what is happening in our age
- What is “darkness” in Scripture?
  - Not just “absence of light”
  - It is the presence of something hostile – an environment contrary to God’s ways
  - Four dimensions:
    - Moral confusion
      - Right and wrong inverted
      - Good called evil; evil called good
      - A culture that has lost its moral compass
    - Spiritual blindness
      - Cannot perceive God or value truth
      - Dullness and leanness of soul
    - Emotional collapse & exhaustion
      - Fear, anxiety, despair as the norm
      - Burnout as a lifestyle
    - Fragmentation
      - Families unravelling
      - Communities divided
      - Nations polarised
  - “Darkness is the operating system of a fallen world.”
- “Covers” – an active, expanding force:
  - Darkness is on the move
  - It spreads from mind → home → classroom → office → culture
  - It escalates from darkness to thick darkness
- This is not an ancient museum text:
  - It is a present-day doctor’s diagnosis
  - A world more connected than ever, yet more confused than ever:
    - Information exploding; wisdom evaporating
    - Endless voices; very little truth
    - Full schedules; empty souls
    - Houses full of technology; homes empty of peace
- Result:
  - Chaos in the mind
  - Chaos in the home
  - Chaos in the streets
  - Chaos in the culture
4. “Arise, shine, for your light has come”
- God’s pattern:
  - “God never exposes what He does not intend to heal.”
  - He does not name darkness so we can sit in despair
  - He names darkness because He is about to speak a word into it
- Creation pattern (Genesis 1:2–3):
  - The earth: “a soup of nothingness… inky blackness”
  - Chaos. Emptiness. Deep darkness.
  - Into that, God speaks: “Let there be light.”
  - He does not just diagnose; He creates a new reality with His Word
- Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come”
  - Heaven issues a command, not a suggestion
  - God stands over His people and says: “Enough lying low. Get on your feet.”
5. Three dimensions of “Arise” (qûm)
- a) Arise = Wake up
  - Romans 13:11–14 – “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber”
  - Many are “asleep” not physically, but spiritually:
    - Asleep to calling
    - Asleep to mission
    - Asleep to the truth God is telling about them
  - The Spirit asks: “Have you checked the time?”
    - The night is nearly over; the day is almost here
    - Time to put aside deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light
- b) Arise = Step into your office
  - Qûm used as commissioning language in the Old Testament
  - Deuteronomy 18:15 – God will “raise up” (qûm) a prophet
  - God is not just waking someone up; He is:
    - Appointing
    - Installing
    - Authorising
  - He raises deliverers, judges, prophets, leaders
  - Word for the church:
    - Stop shrinking back from what God has given you
    - Stop apologising for the mantle on your life
    - Stop negotiating with the call
    - Step into your office; stand in your assignment
- c) Arise = Advance
  - Military command – shift from observation to engagement
  - “Arise, let us go up…”; “Arise, for the Lord has given them into your hand…”
  - It is the trigger between:
    - Watching and fighting
    - Waiting and moving
  - Meaning:
    - Stop merely studying the darkness
    - Challenge it
    - Push back against it
    - Take ground
  - The original hearers did not hear a polite suggestion; they heard a battle order
6. Shine – Make God’s presence visible
- “Shine” is not self-generated light:
  - The brilliance is not ours; it is His
  - We are not the source; we are the surface
- Matthew 5:14–15 – “You are the light of the world”
  - A city on a hill cannot be hidden
  - Lamps are not lit to be put under a bowl
  - They are placed on a stand to give light to everyone in the house
- The real issue for many believers:
  - They are not lacking light; they are hiding the light they already have
  - We hide it under:
    - Fear
    - Shame
    - Comparison
    - People-pleasing
    - Trauma and past hurts
  - The Spirit’s word: “Take the basket off.”
- “Your light has come” – past tense
  - We do not arise and shine because something needs to happen
  - We arise and shine because something already happened:
    - The Cross happened
    - The Resurrection happened
    - Pentecost happened
  - We are not waiting for permission; we already carry the outcome
- “The glory of the Lord rises upon you”
  - Glory: splendour, weight, honour, reputation
  - God’s excellence rests on us and radiates from us
7. ReframING identity – From survivors of the dark to bearers of the light
- Isaiah 60:1–3 reframes who we are:
  - You may have passed through darkness, but you are not darkness
  - You may have felt fear, but you are not that fear
  - You may carry exhaustion, but God says there is a power source you do not yet know
- New identity markers:
  - You are a dawn maker
  - You are a glory carrier
  - You are a light bearer in an age of chaos
- The glory on you is not a private blessing:
  - God chose you
  - God called you
  - God saved you
  - God commissioned and sent you
- Strategic mandate:
  - You are not saved to be frozen
  - You are not meant to leave the world as you found it
  - You are sons and daughters of the Most High God:
    - Ordained to rise
    - Ordained to shine
    - Ordained to dispel darkness wherever you are
- Missional promise:
  - “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn”
  - People are drawn not to our perfection, but to the brightness of God’s glory in us
8. Conclusion – Time to rise and shine
- It is time:
  - To wake up from comfort
  - To step out of complacency
  - To rise in holiness
  - To shine with courage
  - To stand in authority
  - To walk into dark places carrying Kingdom light
- Call to action:
  - Arise and shine – your light has already come
  - Carry that dawn into:
    - Your family
    - Your workplace
    - Your city
    - Your nation
    - Your world

Memorable quotes
- “A single flame humiliating an entire room of shadows.”
- “God never exposes what He does not intend to heal.”
- “Darkness is not just the absence of light; it is the operating system of a fallen world.”
- “We are watching a world more connected than ever, yet lonliner than ever.”
- “God does not name the darkness so you can sink into despair; He names it because He is about to speak a Word into it.”
- “Arise is not a suggestion from Heaven; it is an operational command.”
- “Stop negotiating with the call. Step into your office.”
- “You are not the source of the light; you are the surface on which His glory shines.”
- “Many believers are not short of light; they are hiding the light they already have.”
- “We do not arise and shine because something needs to happen; we arise and shine because something has already happened – the Cross, the Resurrection, Pentecost.”
- “God did not save you to freeze you.”

Questions for discussion
Engaging the text
- What words or phrases in Isaiah 60:1–3 stood out to you most strongly today, and why?
- How does seeing “your light has come” (past tense) change the way you read this passage?
- Which of the three dimensions of “Arise” (wake up, step into your office, advance) feels most relevant to your current season?
Naming the darkness honestly
- Where do you see “thick darkness” in our culture – moral confusion, spiritual blindness, emotional exhaustion, fragmentation?
- What does “darkness covers the earth” look like on the ground in Gibraltar – in schools, workplaces, families, online spaces?
- Are there areas of your life where you have normalised survival mode and stopped expecting change?
From diagnosis to calling
- How does the statement “God never exposes what He does not intend to heal” challenge the way you see your own pain, your family’s struggles, or our society?
- In what ways might you have been “asleep” to your calling, potential, or mission in Christ? What would “waking up” look like in practical terms this week?
- Where might God be asking you to stop “studying the darkness” and start pushing back – at home, at work, at school, in friendships?
Stepping into your office
- What “office” or role has God already laid on your shoulders (at home, in church, in your workplace, among your friends)?
- Are you currently shrinking back, apologising, or negotiating with that call? What is one concrete step you can take to stand in your assignment?
- As a church family, what would it look like for LWC to live as a community that has “arisen” – awake, commissioned, and advancing?
Shining in the dark
- What is the “basket” that most often hides your light – fear, shame, comparison, people-pleasing, past trauma?
- What might it look like, very practically, to “take the basket off” this week?
- Who in your world is currently walking in darkness who might be drawn to “the brightness of your dawn” if you began to shine more openly?
Responding together
- What is one area of your life where you sense the Spirit saying, “Enough lying low. Get on your feet.”
- As a group, where do you feel LWC is called to carry dawn into Gibraltar in this next season?

Further reading
Scriptures to deepen the message
- John 1:1–9 – The true light that gives light to everyone
- John 8:12 – Jesus, the light of the world
- Ephesians 5:8–14 – Live as children of light; wake up, sleeper
- 1 Thessalonians 5:4–8 – Sons and daughters of the day, not of the night
- Philippians 2:14–16 – Shine like stars in a warped and crooked generation
- 1 Peter 2:9–10 – A chosen people, called out of darkness into His marvellous light
- Colossians 1:12–14 – Rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son
Books and resources (for those who want to go further)
- Pete Greig – How to Pray (for cultivating a life that is awake and attentive to God in a dark age)
- Jon Tyson – Beautiful Resistance (on living a countercultural, shining witness in a compromised world)
- John Mark Comer – Live No Lies (on resisting the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil in an age of confusion)

Prayer points
Personal awakening and holiness
- Pray that the Holy Spirit would wake you up from spiritual slumber – that you would “understand the present time” and live with urgency and clarity.
- Ask God to reveal any areas where you have made peace with darkness (habits, compromises, attitudes) and to give you the courage to put on the armour of light.
Stepping into your office
- Ask the Lord to clarify the “office” or assignment He has given you – in family, workplace, church, and city.
- Pray for boldness to stop shrinking back or apologising for the call of God on your life, and to stand in your God-given authority.
Courage to advance, not just observe
- Pray that you would not be a passive observer of the darkness but an active agent of light – willing to move from watching to engaging.
- Ask the Lord to show you one specific situation this week where you are to push back the darkness with prayer, kindness, truth, or prophetic courage.
Freedom from the “basket”
- Bring to God the specific “basket” that hides your light – fear, shame, comparison, people-pleasing, or past wounds.
- Pray for inner healing and deliverance from those limiting stories, so that the light of Christ in you can shine without hindrance.
LWC as a dawn-making community
- Pray that Living Waters Church would truly be a “dawn in a darkened age” in Gibraltar – a community awake, holy, and courageous.
- Ask God to pour His glory upon LWC in a way that is visible, tangible, and attractive to those walking in thick darkness.
- Pray that “nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” – that people from many backgrounds, stories, and nations would be drawn to Jesus through this church family.
Mission to Gibraltar and beyond
- Pray for specific people you know who are currently walking in darkness – by name – that they would encounter the light of Christ through your life and the ministry of LWC.
- Ask the Lord to send LWC members out as “dawn makers” into every sphere – government, business, education, healthcare, media, neighbourhoods – carrying the presence and light of the Kingdom.

Sermon: I will restore

November 9, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

I WILL RESTORE

Scriptures to read and ponder

Joel 2:25–27 (main teaching text).
Joel 1:4; Joel 1:10–12; Joel 1:6 (the devastation and “invading army” of locusts).
Joel 2:12 (“Return to me with all your heart” — shuv / turn).
Joel 2:18 (the Lord’s compassion when the people return).
Joel 2:25 (promise of restoring “the years” — shillamti → shalom).
Joel 2:26–27 (“never again will my people be shamed… I am in your midst”).

Sermon Recap

Big Idea: “I. WILL. RESTORE.”

God doesn’t just patch up losses; He speaks restoration into the very years devoured by sin and opposition, moving His people from ruins to shalom—nothing missing, nothing broken.

1) The World of Joel — A People in Ruins

A comprehensive collapse: fields ruined, vines wasted, joy withered.
Not bad luck—sin opened the door.
Locusts pictured as an invading army—a metaphor for total spiritual and societal loss.

2) God’s Call to Repentance (The Hinge)

God’s first word into the rubble is “Return”—not “try harder.”
Hebrew: shuv = turn, reorient, reverse course.
Repentance is a directional change, not a passing emotion.
Repentance with all the heart is the doorway through which restoration walks.

3) Compassion Activated

When the people turn, the Lord is jealous for His land and takes pity on His people.
Grace moves toward the repentant.

4) The Great Promise: “I Will Restore the Years”

God promises more than stuff—He speaks to time itself: the wasted seasons, damaged years, stolen joy.
Hebrew: shillamti (to repay, make whole, compensate) shares the root with shalom (wholeness, completeness). Restoration aims at wholeness, not merely replacement.

5) The Climax: Shame Removed, Presence Restored

Double declaration: “Never again will my people be shamed.”
Evidence of restoration: living under the power of His presence—assurance that the Lord is among us.

Memorable quotes

“Repentance is not tears on a Sunday — it is how you live on a Monday.”
“Repentance is the doorway through which restoration walks.”
“God doesn’t restore you to where you were—He restores you to shalom.”
“He did not say ‘I will restore the things’… He said, ‘I will restore the years.’”

Questions for discussion

Ruins to reality: Where do you recognise “locust–like” losses (relationships, calling, joy)? What opened the door—and what would closing it look like this week?
Define repentance: How does shuv (turning) reframe repentance beyond emotion? What one concrete reorientation do you need to implement by next Sunday?
Compassion on cue: Joel 2:18 shows compassion following repentance. How does that shape the way you approach God after failure?
Restoring the years: If God’s target is years, which season do you want Him to redeem, and what obedience step partners with that promise?
Shalom vs. status quo: In what areas do you settle for “back to normal” instead of nothing missing, nothing broken? What practices cultivate shalom in your home group?
Shame to presence: What does “never again… shamed” look like in daily discipleship, and how can your circle host the presence of God more intentionally?

Prayer points

Return with all our heart: “Father, we shuv—turn—fully to You. Realign our desires, agendas, and habits to Your ways.”
Compassion encounter: “Lord, as we return, let Your jealous love and pity break in—lift heaviness, reverse despair.”
Restore the years: “God of Joel 2:25, speak over our wasted seasons. Redeem time, opportunities, and joy that were devoured.”
Shalom wholeness: “Bring us into shalom—nothing missing, nothing broken—in our minds, marriages, families, and ministries.”
Shame removed, presence known: “Establish us under Your presence. Silence shame. Make it unmistakable that You are in our midst.”
Obedience culture: “Give us th grace to change direction—a Monday-through-Saturday discipleship.”

Sermon: Beyond Fear - Kingdom Power Unleashed

November 2, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Beyond Fear: Kingdom Power Unleashed

Scriptures to read and ponder

Main teaching text
- 2 Timothy 1:6–7 (NKJV) — “Therefore I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God… For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Key supporting texts from the sermon
- John 10:10 — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life…” (contrast of two kingdoms)
- Acts 2:42 — the devotional life of the early church, fire kept burning.
- Acts 1:8 — “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”
- Ephesians 1:19–20 — the same power that raised Christ is working toward us.
- Philippians 2:5–8 — love as the mindset of Christ; power grounded in love.

Sermon Recap

1. The security notice from Jesus

Jesus in John 10:10 is effectively putting up a sign: “Thieves operate in this area.”
Not your street — your inner neighbourhood: peace, joy, purpose, identity, calling.
The enemy’s economy: steal, kill, destroy.
Jesus’ economy: give, make alive, bring fullness.
Strategic takeaway: spiritual theft happens first in the unseen, then in the seen.

2. The first tactic of the thief: dampen the fire

Before the enemy goes after your joy, calling, or testimony, he goes after your devotion.
Paul tells Timothy: “I remind you… fan into flame the gift of God.” A reminder means there is a tendency to forget.
It is God’s gift but your fire — heaven supplies the grace, you supply the devotion.
The early church stayed hot because they were devoted — teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer — not occasionally, but rhythmically.
Modern believers often live with cool embers because distraction has replaced devotion (Netflix, busyness, options).

3. Two kinds of fear

Healthy/bodily fear: God-built, protective, survival-based (like the cat illustration). It helps you exercise wise caution. This is not what Paul is rebuking.
Spirit of fear: not a feeling, an atmosphere; not intrinsic, but intrusive; not protective, but paralysing. It is a counterfeit pneuma that tries to rule the climate of your soul.
This spirit of fear works in line with John 10:10 — it steals confidence, kills initiative, destroys effectiveness.
Discernment for disciples: not all fear is demonic, but the fear that reduces, silences, or immobilises you is not from God.

4. God’s counter-architecture: Power, Love, Sound Mind

Paul doesn’t just say “don’t fear”; he reveals what God already gave instead.

Power (dunamis) — God-given, resurrection-quality energy to act, witness, obey, and operate spiritual gifts. Not bravado, not willpower, but Spirit-enabled capacity.
Love (agapē) — heaven’s motive. Power without love becomes control. The Spirit grounds authority in the servant-hearted mind of Christ (Phil 2). Ministry must smell like love.
Sound mind (sōphronismos) — Spirit-disciplined thinking, stable judgment, emotional self-control. When fear walks in, reasoning walks out; the Spirit reverses that. Like a pilot flying by instruments, not by feelings.

5. The call to LWC today

We are serving notice to the thief.
We are reclaiming what fear has stolen — peace, voice, confidence, calling.
We are reinstating a culture of devotion like Acts 2.
We move beyond fear by actively fanning the flame, discerning spirits, and walking daily in the Spirit’s threefold manifestation: power that acts, love that heals, a mind that’s sound.

Memorable quotes

“Jesus is effectively putting up the same kind of sign: ‘Thieves are operating in this area.’”
“It’s His gift — but it is your fire.”
“The first act of the thief is not to steal your joy — it’s to dampen your fire.”
“The devil doesn’t need to ban the Bible — he just needs to distract us.”
“The ‘spirit of fear’ isn’t how you feel; it’s what’s trying to control you.”
“God has not called the believer to be a power station — He has called the believer to be a lighthouse of love.”
“When fear says, ‘Stay small,’ the Spirit says, ‘Rise up — you carry resurrection power.’”
“When fear walks in, reasoning walks out.”
“We’ve spent too long letting the wrong voice narrate our story.”
“The thief’s currency is fear, lack, and shame — but Jesus trades in power, love, and a sound mind.”

Questions for discussion

“Thieves operating in this area” — Where have you personally noticed spiritual theft (peace, joy, identity, enthusiasm for serving)? Identify one area and name it.
Paul says, “Therefore I remind you…” What spiritual practices in your life tend to drift unless you are deliberately reminded of them (prayer, gathering, giving, serving, worship, fasting)? How can your group/church family create “corporate reminders”?
The sermon said, “It’s His gift but your fire.” What does “fanning into flame” look like for a busy 2025 disciple in Gibraltar — concretely, not theoretically?
Contrast the Acts 2:42 devotional life with the average Western devotional life today. What specific habits have cooled the fire? Which one will you repudiate this week?
Discuss the difference between healthy fear (protective, God-designed) and the spirit of fear (intrusive, paralysing). How do you personally recognise when it has crossed the line?
The sermon taught that the spirit of fear produces: closed mouths, buried gifts, unsaid prayers. Which of those is most evident in your life right now?
“God has given us power, love, and a sound mind.” Which of these three do you most need to be reactivated in this season?
- Power — boldness to act/obey
- Love — right motive, right tone
- Sound mind — mental/emotional stability under pressure
In what ways can LWC as a church institutionalise devotion — not just wait for people to “feel it,” but build fire-keeping into the operating model (midweek prayer, worship nights, discipleship tracks, fasting rhythms)?
Where is LWC called to serve notice to the enemy — in families, youth, addictions, fear, infirmity? Identify concrete battlegrounds.
What would it look like for your small group to become a “lighthouse of love” instead of just a meeting?

Prayer points

Repentance for cooled devotion
- Father, forgive us where we allowed distraction, entertainment, or busyness to dampen the flame. Rekindle first love in LWC.
Eviction of the spirit of fear
- In Jesus’ name, we reject and renounce every intrusive spirit of fear that has stolen confidence, initiative, and witness. We serve notice to the thief; he has no legal right in this house.
Fresh fire of the Holy Spirit
- Lord, breathe on Your gift in us. Fan into flame the gift of God. Ignite prayer, worship, the Word, and fellowship again.
Activation of power (dunamis)
- Holy Spirit, release resurrection power to act, to obey, to witness, to move in spiritual gifts, to speak boldly.
Rooting everything in love (agapē)
- Father, let the culture of LWC smell like love. Heal offence, pride, comparison, and performance. Give us the mindset of Christ.
Restored sound mind
- Prince of Peace, stabilise minds under pressure. Silence panic, catastrophic thinking, and the “what ifs.” Establish disciplined, Spirit-governed thinking.
Corporate devotion
- Lord, make LWC a community that “devotes itself” — to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer — not sporadically, but rhythmically and joyfully.
Missional boldness
- Jesus, where the enemy has stolen voices and testimonies, release courage to speak of Christ in Gibraltar — at work, at home, on the street.
Protection over the flock
- Shepherd of the church, place Your “Security Notice” over LWC — keep out the thief; expose his tactics early; keep the house clean, alert, and full of light.
Thanksgiving

Thank You that You have not given us a spirit of fear, but You have given us power, love, and a sound mind — and what You give, You sustain.

Sermon: Born for the Blessing

October 19, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Born for the Blessing

Scriptures to read and ponder

Main text: Ephesians 1:3–6

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Also referenced today:
- Genesis 12:1–3 (blessed to be a blessing)
- Genesis 1:3; 1:21–22; 1:28 (creation by divine speech; creation blessed)
- Romans 4:17 (God calls what is not as though it were)
- Hebrews 4:12 (the living, active Word)

Sermon Recap

Big Idea: “Born for the Blessing”

Before you ever hustled or struggled, heaven had already spoken blessing over your name. You are born into blessing; you don’t perform to earn it.

1) Blessed before stressed

Culture trains us to chase approval and measure worth by outputs; the result is exhausted achievers—externally successful, internally hollow.
Paul takes us upstream of the hustle: God “has blessed us in Christ… chose us before the foundation of the world.” The gospel begins with proclamation, not performance.

2) Blessing is not aout stuff; blessing is about status

In Eph 1:3, “bless” (eulogeō) means to speak well of; blessing is divine pronouncement before it is provision. It’s not the car/house/promotion; those are manifestations, not the substance.
Adoption reframes everything: debts cancelled, new legal identity, living by the Father’s name and reputation.

3) God’s generative speech

From creation onward, God speaks and reality rearranges (“Let there be…”, “calls things… that do not exist as though they did”). His words are creative, not merely descriptive.
Therefore, “He has blessed us” (past tense): every spiritual proclamation you need is already spoken in Christ; our task is to receive and align.
God’s Word is alive, active, and sharp—a weapon that cuts through resistance and enforces heaven’s decree.

4) Blessed to be a blessing (covenant flow)

To Abram: “I will bless you… you will be a blessing… and all peoples will be blessed through you.” Blessing is a pipeline, not a bucket.
Hebrew bārak carries the idea of being endued with power for fruitfulness and longevity; blessing empowers a changed reality.

5) Steward the blessing (ownership and accountability)

Privilege carries assignment: reproduce heaven’s goodness in earth’s systems—family, work, finances, friendships, business, classrooms.
Stewardship translates status into service. Don’t warehouse grace; circulate it—build, reconcile, create, lift the poor, confront darkness. Let your mouth align with heaven’s speech: bless, don’t curse.

Conclusion

You weren’t born for burnout—you were born for blessing. Not to consume but to contribute; not to survive systems but to transform them as conduits of heaven on earth.

Memorable quotes

“Before you were stressed—you were blessed.”
“Blessing isn’t stuff—it’s status.”
“True blessing is to live under divine speech—to be positioned under the sound of God’s voice.”
“God’s words are not descriptive—they are creative.”
“God didn’t make Abraham a bucket; He made him a river.”
“The last thing you want is to receive a wealth of grace and treat it like a warehouse.”
“You are blessed to build.”

Questions for discussion

Upstream of the hustle: Where have you been performing for approval? What would it look like to start from what God has already spoken over you?
Identity shift: Which part of adoption (debts cancelled, new name, Father’s reputation) most needs to move from concept to conviction for you this week?
Aligning speech: Where does your speech (self-talk, family talk, workplace talk) contradict heaven’s decree—and how will you realign it? Be specific.
Pipeline, not bucket: Name one system (family, work, finance, friendship, classroom, business) where you will intentionally channel blessing in the next 7 days. What’s the first action?
Measuring what matters: If we audited your calendar and bank statement, what would they say about your values and mission? What re-allocation is God prompting?
Faith and formation: How does believing “He has blessed us” (past tense) change your approach to prayer, planning, and problem-solving this week?

Prayer points

Thanksgiving & alignment: “Father, thank You that You have blessed us in Christ. Align our hearts and mouths with Your living Word.”
Identity & freedom: “Holy Spirit, establish in us our adopted status—erase shame, cancel guilt, and anchor us in the Father’s name.”
Generative speech: “Lord Jesus, let Your creative decree reorder our homes, teams, and city according to heaven’s design.”
From bucket to river: “Make us conduits, not containers—bless us to bless Gibraltar, especially the poor, the anxious, and the far-from-God.”
Courage to steward: “Give us wisdom and discipline to translate status into service—with our time, money, talents, and relationships.”
Mission & witness: “Empower us to carry the sound of heaven into workplaces, classrooms, and homes—not to consume but to contribute—for Your glory.”

Sermon: In the Name of Jesus, Rise Up and Walk

October 12, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

In the Name of Jesus, Rise Up and Walk

Scriptures to Read and Ponder

main teaching text

Acts 3:1–11 – The healing of the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful.

Supporting Scriptures:

Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”

Matthew 6:10 – “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 16:19 – “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven…”
John 14:13–14 – “Whatever you ask in My Name…”
Luke 10:19 – “I have given you authority…”
Philippians 2:9–11 – “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow…”
Isaiah 11:9 – “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord…”

Sermon Recap

1. From Full Stop to Comma

The beggar’s life looked finished — a full stop.
Jesus steps in and turns full stops into commas — the story isn’t over yet.
This is the first healing after Pentecost — proof that the risen Christ now works through His people.
The Church’s mission doesn’t begin with activity, but with Spirit-empowered authority.

2. When Chronos Meets Kairos

Peter and John were simply following their routine — going to the temple at the hour of prayer.
The word for “Beautiful” (hōraios) means “right-time beauty.”
God often hides kairos moments (divine opportunities) inside chronos routines (ordinary time).
Don’t despise your daily rhythm — heaven may break through at any moment.

3. Expectation Reset

The man expected money; God intended miracle.
He asked for survival, but heaven offered revival.
Sometimes God must disappoint our expectations to exceed them.

4. The Name Above Every Name

“Silver and gold I do not have… but what I do have I give you.”
Peter wasn’t confessing lack — he was declaring authority.
The Name of Jesus is the believer’s keycard — doors open by authorisation, not by strength.
We have divine clearance to:
- Bind and loose (Matthew 16:19)
- Ask in His Name (John 14:13–14)
- Overcome the enemy (Luke 10:19)

5. The Anatomy of a Miracle (vv. 7–10)

Peter’s Part – The Church’s Role:
- Take initiative.
- Offer a hand to those in need.
- Step out in faith and obedience.
- Be available for God to move through you.
God’s Part – The Divine Response:
- Release supernatural power.
- Strength flows where weakness once ruled.
- Heaven responds to human faith and obedience.
The Man’s Part – The Human Response:
- Receive the gift of grace.
- Rise, walk, and act on the word spoken.
- Publicly praise God and testify to His power.
The Lesson:
- Every miracle carries this rhythm: our obedience, God’s power, and human response.
- When faith and divine power meet, transformation becomes visible for all to see.

6. From Healed to Herald

The man went into the temple — walking, leaping, praising God.
Every miracle is a message. Every healing is a heralding.
Those who encounter Jesus become living proof that the Good News has arrived.
“The knowledge of the Lord will cover Gibraltar as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa 11:9)

Memorable Quotes

“God turns full stops into commas.”
“Don’t despise your routines — God hides kairos in calendar slots.”
“Doors don’t open by force but by authorisation. Use the keycard of Jesus’ Name.”
“When Peter said ‘no silver or gold,’ he wasn’t confessing lack — he was declaring authority.”
“The healed become the heralds.”

Questions for Discussion

Where in your life have you placed a full stop that God might want to turn into a comma?
What are the “Beautiful Gates” in your daily routine where God might break in?
How do you tend to focus on what you don’t have rather than what you do have in Christ?
Discuss the “keycard” image. What situations require divine authorisation instead of human effort?
Review the Anatomy of a Miracle — what is your part this week?
How can Living Waters Church be a “Beautiful Gate” for Gibraltar — where people encounter Jesus through us?

Prayer Points

Thanksgiving:
- Lord, thank You that no situation is final — You turn full stops into commas.
Availability:
- Holy Spirit, keep me interruptible. Help me see kairos moments hidden in my daily schedule.
Authority:
- Teach me to use the keycard of Jesus’ Name with faith and humility.
Breakthrough:
- In the Name of Jesus, I speak strength where there’s weakness, healing where there’s pain, freedom where there’s bondage.
Participation:
- Show me whose hand to take this week, and help me to obey quickly when You prompt me.
Witness:
- Let LWC be a living Beautiful Gate for Gibraltar — a place of power, presence, and transformation.

Sermon: Rebuilders of Ruined Cities

October 5, 2025

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Rebuilders of Ruined Cities

Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Main Teaching Texts

Isaiah 61:1–4 – The Spirit-anointed Messiah’s mission and His people’s calling to rebuild ruins.
Luke 4:16–19 – Jesus reads Isaiah 61, launching His ministry as His manifesto.
John 20:19–22 – The resurrected Jesus breathes on His disciples: “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”

Other Key Scriptures

1 Corinthians 4:20 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
Nehemiah 2:17 – “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”
Nehemiah 3:28 – “Each repaired the wall in front of his own house.”

Sermon Recap

1. From Ashes to Reconciliation

Coventry Cathedral was reduced to ruins in 1940, yet the Provost, Richard Howard, chose forgiveness over vengeance.
He formed a cross from two burned nails and inscribed “Father, forgive” — not “forgive them,” but a confession of shared human brokenness.
From that ruin came the Centre for Reconciliation, still active today.
Key truth: Restoration and reconciliation are not born in comfort — they are born in ashes.

2. Jesus’ Manifesto (Luke 4:16–19)

Jesus made it His custom to gather weekly in worship and Scripture.
Out of 27,000 Old Testament verses, He chose Isaiah 61 to define His mission.
His ministry combined teaching and power — “not a matter of talk but of power.”
His manifesto declared:
- Proclamation — Good news to the poor
- Healing — Binding the brokenhearted
- Freedom — Release for captives
- Comfort — For those who mourn
- Transformation — Beauty for ashes, praise for despair

3. The Mission of the Messiah

Isaiah spoke to a Jerusalem in ruins — smoke, silence, and sorrow.
Yet he saw a coming King, the Messiah (the Anointed One), who would restore what was lost.
Pastor John shared personally:
“Since Christmas 1993, Jesus has been binding my shattered heart, announcing good news in my darkest hours, and exchanging my ashes for a crown of beauty.”
Grace has no expiration date. What Jesus has done in one life, He can do in all.

4. The Mission of the Messiah’s People

In verse 4, the text shifts from “Me” to “They.”
The restored now become restorers:
- The healed become healers.
- The comforted become comforters.
- The redeemed become rebuilders.
The Church continues the Messiah’s mission — we are now the hands and feet of Isaiah 61.

5. The Handover (John 20:21–22)

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to fearful disciples and said:
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”
Then He breathed on them, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
This was not a comfort moment — it was a transfer of anointing.
The same Spirit that anointed Jesus now anoints His Church.

“The Holy Spirit was given not to make the Church comfortable, but to make the Church contagious.”

6. The Nehemiah Principle

Nehemiah saw Jerusalem in ruins and called the people:
“Come, let us rebuild.”
He didn’t wait for professionals — he invited participants.
Each family repaired “the section of wall in front of their own house.”
Likewise, we may not rebuild Gibraltar overnight, but we can rebuild what’s in front of us:
- Heal family relationships.
- Restore dignity at work.
- Bring hope to your street.
- Comfort a neighbour quietly breaking inside.

7. The Call to Gibraltar

The same Spirit that anointed Jesus in Nazareth now rests on His people in Gibraltar.
We are anointed to rebuild lives, families, and the moral ruins of our culture.
The message is simple:

They will rebuild. They will restore. They will renew. And the “they,” my friend, is you.

Memorable Quotes

“Restoration and reconciliation are not born in comfort — they are born in the ashes.”
“The healed become healers. The comforted become comforters. The restored become restorers.”
“Grace doesn’t have an expiration date.”
“The Holy Spirit was given not to make the Church comfortable, but to make the Church contagious.”
“Start with the section of wall in front of your own house.”
“The same Spirit that anointed Jesus in Nazareth now anoints His people in Gibraltar.”

Questions for Discussion

Ashes to Beauty: Where do you see ruins — in your own life, relationships, or community — that God might be calling you to rebuild?
Jesus’ Custom: What healthy spiritual customs (worship, prayer, gathering) do you need to re-establish in your rhythm?
Your Isaiah 61 Calling: Which part of Jesus’ mission — proclaiming, healing, freeing, comforting — resonates most with your life right now?
The Handover: What does it mean for you personally to be “sent” as Jesus was sent?
Empowered Living: How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit’s power this week, not just your words?
Nehemiah’s Strategy: What is “the wall in front of your house”? What small step can you take this week to rebuild?
Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Where might God be calling you to write “Father, forgive” over pain or conflict in your life?

Prayer Points

Thanksgiving and Vision
- Father, thank You for turning ruins into testimonies. Give us eyes to see where You are already rebuilding in Gibraltar.
Fresh Anointing
- Jesus, breathe on us again. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can proclaim good news and bring hope where there is despair.
Personal Restoration
- Bind up every broken heart in our church family. Exchange ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and despair for praise.
Handover Courage
- Lord, make us oaks of righteousness — people who rebuild, restore, and renew our city for Your glory.
Neighbourhood Mission
- Show each of us the “section of wall” in front of our home or workplace and give us courage to begin rebuilding this week.
Spirit of Reconciliation
- Teach us to write “Father, forgive” over conflict and offence. Let Living Waters Church be known for grace and unity.
Kingdom Power
- Let Your Word be confirmed with power — healing the sick, freeing the oppressed, and reviving the brokenhearted across Gibraltar.

Sermon: Unbound

September 28, 2025

Scriptures to read and ponder

Main teaching text:

John 11:38–44 — Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus; the command to take away the stone; the call to come out; and the unbinding of grave clothes.

Other key scriptures from the sermon:

John 11:35 — Jesus wept.
Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
Exodus 33:18–19 — God’s glory is His goodness revealed.
Hebrews 11:3 — The visible was made from the invisible.
Mark 11:23–24 — Speak to the mountain; believe you have received.
Proverbs 18:21 — Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
1 Peter 2:9 — Called out of darkness into marvellous light.

Sermon Recap

1. He weeps before He wakes you (v.38)

Jesus is not far away; He is present outside the tomb.
His tears mingle with ours — He identifies with our grief and brokenness.
John 11:35 shows us God’s heart in two words: Jesus wept.
Application: our pain is never unnoticed; He is present before the miracle.

2. Take away the stone (v.39)

Before faith, Jesus calls for obedience: “Take away the stone.”
Deliverance begins with a practical step of obedience, even if faith feels weak.
Stones can be: fear, shame, addictions, excuses, opinions of others, destructive habits, or wrong mindsets.
Jesus is not concerned with the “stench” of our past — He is concerned only with our freedom.

3. Believe to see (v.40)

Jesus reframes reality: the world says “seeing is believing,” but He says “believing is seeing.”
Faith unlocks vision; belief precedes breakthrough.
God’s glory is His goodness revealed (Exodus 33:18–19).
Many fail to see God’s glory because they limit themselves to the realm of the possible.

4. Thanking God in advance (vv.41–42)

Jesus thanks the Father before Lazarus is raised.
Faith thanks God for the miracle before the evidence arrives — like receiving a confirmation email before the package is delivered.
Mark 11:24 — “Believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Faith celebrates provision already secured through Christ’s finished work.

5. Lazarus, come out! (v.43)

Jesus speaks life into death; His words activate the promise of God.
We must learn to speak to dead things and mountains in our lives (Mark 11:23).
Too often we talk about our problems instead of to them; or we talk to God about our problems instead of speaking God’s truth over them.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).

6. Alive… but still bound (v.44)

Lazarus is raised, but grave clothes still bind him.
Resurrection power brings life, but community brings freedom.
Old identities, habits, and mindsets can cling even after salvation.
Jesus commands the community: “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Application: true freedom is communal — we need one another to help unbind what still entangles us.

7. Living Unbound (1 Peter 2:9)

We are chosen, called out of darkness into light, destined to live in freedom.
Salvation is not just survival — it’s freedom, identity, and destiny.
To live unbound is to walk in the freedom for which Christ has set us free.

Memorable quotes

“He weeps before He wakes you.”
“Deliverance begins with obedience. Take away the stone.”
“The world says: seeing is believing. God says: believing is seeing.”
“Faith celebrates the package before it arrives.”
“Talk to your problems, not just about them.”
“You can be alive but still bound — freedom is finished in community.”
“Your name may say God has helped even when your circumstances say otherwise — but when Jesus calls, your destiny and reality align.”

Questions for discussion

What does it mean for you that Jesus is near your tombs — present in your grief before the miracle?
What “stone” do you sense Jesus is asking you to roll away in obedience this week?
How does the shift from “seeing is believing” to “believing is seeing” challenge your faith?
Can you think of an area where you need to thank God in advance? How will you practice this?
What “dead things” in your life need you to speak God’s word over them?
In what ways do you feel “alive but still bound”? What “grave clothes” still cling to you?
How can your small group or church family help you walk in freedom?
How does 1 Peter 2:9 reshape the way you see your identity and calling?

Prayer points

Thanksgiving for Christ’s presence: Lord, thank You that You weep with us before You wake us.
Obedience: Father, give us courage to roll away the stones that block Your glory.
Faith posture: Holy Spirit, help us believe before we see, to expect Your goodness revealed.
Gratitude in advance: Teach us to thank You now for what You are already doing.
Speaking life: Empower us to speak resurrection words to dead places and declare Your promises with authority.
Communal freedom: Build LWC as a family that helps one another shed grave clothes.
Identity in Christ: Remind us that we are chosen, called, and unbound in Jesus.

Sermon: The Power of New Beginnings

September 21, 2025

Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Main Teaching Text

Isaiah 43:18–19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”

Other Scriptures from the Sermon

John 14:6 — Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 7:37–38 — “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me… rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Acts 16:31 — “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Sermon Recap

Big Idea: God is the God of the Reboot

Just as rebooting a computer clears the “junk” and restores performance, God offers us spiritual reboots—fresh starts in Him.
Yesterday’s failures don’t define you. God is doing a new thing now.

1. Forget the Former Things

Hebrew שָׁכַח (shākach) = not erasing memory but refusing to live under its power.
Hebrew בִּין (biyn) = dwelling means overthinking, replaying, giving attention to.
You cannot move forward staring at the rear-view mirror—occasionally glance back, but focus forward.
Former things include:
- Traumas or scars.
- Habits and destructive patterns.
- Failures and shame.
God says: let go, so you can live in His design, purpose, and destiny.

2. See the New Thing

God says: “I am doing a new thing” (present tense, not future).
The issue is not God’s inactivity but our perception.
Spiritual blindness robs us of His blessings; prayer opens our eyes.
Einstein’s insight: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

3. A Way in the Wilderness

Wilderness = no direction, confusion, lostness.
Jesus answers Thomas’ question in John 14:6: He is the Way.
In Christ, God provides direction, clarity, and purpose.

4. Streams in the Wasteland

Wastelands are barren, dry, lifeless.
God brings streams (plural) of refreshing, vitality, and overflow.
Living Waters Church is named from John 7:37–38—our identity is to carry and overflow God’s living water.

5. Overflow to Generations

God’s work in you doesn’t stop with you—it spills into families, households, and communities.
Acts 16:31 — the Philippian jailer’s whole household saved and baptised.
Baptisms on Sunday were a living example: three generations stepping into new beginnings.
New beginnings are contagious—they spread to children, spouses, friends, and beyond.

6. Conclusion: The National Reboot & Our Reboot

Israel’s exile was their national crash. God promised a reboot.
He is still the God of the reboot today.
Stop staring at what’s behind you. Step into the new life He is birthing in you now.
He is not finished—He’s just getting started.

Memorable Quotes

“He rebooted their future—and He is still the God of the reboot today… He’s just getting started.”
“Stop staring at the rearview mirror—look ahead!”
“You cannot move forward if all you do is look back.”
“Your new beginning becomes someone else’s breakthrough.”
“God is not satisfied to simply save you; He wants His Spirit to overflow through you to others.”
Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Questions for Discussion

What “former things” in your life do you still find yourself dwelling on?
How do you tell the difference between learning from the past and living in the past?
Where is God already at work in your life that you may not be perceiving?
How does the Einstein quote challenge your perspective on everyday life?
What “wilderness” area (directionless, stuck) are you walking through right now?
How has Jesus given you direction in confusing times?
Which part of your life feels like a “wasteland”? What would it look like for streams of living water to flow there?
Share a testimony of God turning a dry place into a stream in your past.
In what ways could your new beginning overflow to bless your household, workplace, or community?
What practical “reboot” steps do you sense God asking you to take this week?

Prayer Points

Release from the past: Lord, help me not to dwell on former things—heal me from shame, regret, and destructive patterns.
Spiritual perception: Holy Spirit, open my eyes to perceive the new thing You are already doing in my life.
Direction in wilderness: Jesus, You are the Way—guide me clearly through areas of confusion or uncertainty.
Streams of renewal: Father, pour Your living water into the dry and barren areas of my life.
Overflow to others: Lord, may the transformation You are working in me spill over into my household, friends, and community.
Church-wide revival: God, make Living Waters Church a river of grace, joy, peace, and power in Gibraltar.
Courage to act: Lord, give me faith to hit reboot, let go of the past, and step into my God-given destiny.

Sermon: More than conquerors

September 14, 2025

Scriptures to Read and Ponder

These scriptures were central to today’s message. Read them slowly and prayerfully this week:

Main Teaching Text:

Romans 8:35-39 — “…..in all these things we are more than conquerors…”

Key Supporting Scriptures:

1 Samuel 17:1–51 — The story of David and Goliath
Isaiah 54:17 — “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”
Psalm 8:2 — “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold…”
2 Corinthians 11:3 — “… the simplicity that is in Christ”
Matthew 18:3 — “Unless you become like little children…”
Philippians 2:9–11 — “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow…”

Sermon Recap

INTRODUCTION: Facing Impossible Battles

We all face giants: illness, fear, shame, betrayal, or financial ruin.
David didn’t start with courage — he earned it in the fire of past private victories.

DAVID & GOLIATH — THE FAITH OF A BOY, NOT A WARRIOR

Goliath wasn’t just a man — he was a champion of intimidation, shouting loudly but holding no real authority.
Sokoh = place of “enclosure” — the enemy tries to suffocate our praise.
Elah = Valley of the Oak Tree — strength, roots, and kings are forged in the valley.

YOUR GIANT IS REAL, BUT IT’S NOT FINAL

The enemy taunts and defies — not just you, but the God you serve.
God didn’t send a man. He sent a boy with private victories and simple weapons.
Faith isn’t complex — it’s childlike, bold, and fully dependent on the Name.

WHAT MADE DAVID A SUPER-CONQUEROR?

David refused Saul’s armour and chose what worked for him: a sling and five stones.
David was ready not just for Goliath, but for Goliath’s whole bloodline (cf. 2 Sam 21).
David ran towards the battle, not away from it.

ROMANS 8: MORE THAN CONQUERORS

Paul names our giants: hardship, persecution, famine, danger, sword…
Hypernikaō = to super-conquer, to overwhelmingly defeat.
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us — it’s covenant love that secures the win.

FINAL POINTS:

Noise isn’t authority — just because the enemy is loud, doesn’t mean he’s in charge.
David didn’t fight for victory. He fought from it.
Your personal victory releases faith in others — victory is contagious.
Your battle today is training you for the throne tomorrow.

Memorable Quotes

“You don’t start with courage. You earn courage in the fire.”

“The enemy is loud, but he is not in control.”

“God didn’t send a man. He sent a boy.”

“David wasn’t just prepared to fight Goliath — he brought enough stones for the whole bloodline.”

“You’re not just surviving. You’re dominating. That’s what makes you more than a conqueror.”

Questions for Discussion

Use these in your small groups, family devotions, or private study this week:

What are the giants you’re currently facing? What is “conspicuous” and in your face right now?
Can you identify private victories God has brought you through? How have they prepared you for today’s battles?
David rejected Saul’s armour. What “armour” (strategies, opinions, tools) do you need to lay down right now?
Do you believe that your battle has generational impact? Who could benefit from your breakthrough?
Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us — how does God’s love make you victorious?
What does it look like for you to “run toward the battle” this week?

Prayer Points

Use these prayer points as a group or individually throughout the week:

Thank God for His unfailing, covenantal love that makes us more than conquerors.
Repent of fear, self-reliance, or comparison to others’ “armour.”
Pray for courage to step forward and face giants with simple, childlike faith.
Declare that the enemy’s noise will not shake your authority in Christ.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what your five smooth stones are — the simple tools He’s given you for victory.
Pray for others to catch your victory — that your breakthrough would spark faith in your family, friends, and church.
Proclaim aloud:
“In all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me. I will not back down. I will not be silent. I will not be defeated. In Jesus’ name, I reign!”

Sermon: Eyes on the prize!

September 7, 2025

Scriptures to read and ponder

Main teaching text - Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV) —
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Other scriptures:
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NRSV) — “All things are lawful… but not all things are beneficial.” (used to define “every weight that hinders”).
- Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) — God’s workmanship; good works prepared beforehand (the race “marked out” but we must run it).
Sermon Recap
Big Idea — “Eyes on the Prize!”
- The Christian life is a race (Greek agōn): not a stroll but a contested struggle requiring effort, strain and endurance.
Opening Illustration — Focus and Discipline
- Steph Curry (widely regarded as the greatest three-point shooter) has made 4,000+ threes; behind each public shot are ~1,000 unseen practice shots (≈4,000,000 over ~22 years at 500/day). Discipline, elimination, and focus produce excellence.
1) The Arena & the Audience — “Great cloud of witnesses”
- Hebrews 11 functions like a hall of faith. Their lives testify that God is faithful and urge us on: Don’t give up. Keep running. The finish line is worth it.
- Their story becomes our story; all of it is part of His story across generations.
2) From Them to Us — “Let us run”
- The camera moves from the stands to the track. Their witness becomes our challenge and responsibility to run our race in our generation.
3) Preparation Before Acceleration
- Throw off every weight that hinders: not necessarily sinful, but not helpful for the race (1 Cor 10:23). Ask, “Does this help me run?” Travel light.
- Throw off the sin that so easily entangles: like vines round the ankles; confession and decisive elimination precede healthy pace.
- Run — with endurance: not short bursts but long, steady, rhythmic, patient running across seasons.
- Practical illsutration used: screen-time challenge vs Bible time; Bible can be read cover-to-cover in ~80 hours (~30 mins/day → twice per year).
- Packing light: Gospel Riders example — reduce to the essentials so nothing hinders the journey.
4) The Course — “Marked out for us”
- Not random: God has prepared good works beforehand (Eph 2:10). Not fatalism: we must run, persevere, and not quit.
5) The Focus — “Fixing our eyes on Jesus”
- Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of faith; He endured the cross with joy and now sits enthroned. Our race is toward Him; He is our goal and finish line.
Memorable quotes
- “Elimination comes before acceleration.”
- “The question isn’t ‘Is this allowed?’ but ‘Is this helping me run?’”
- “Travel light. Run free.”
- “Their witness becomes our challenge.”
- “The race of faith is measured not in seconds but in seasons.”
- “We are not running away from things. We are running toward Him!”
- Churchill: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” (hook for agōn).
- “Eyes on the prize! He is the goal. He is the finish line. He is the author and finisher of your faith.”
Questions for discussion
1. When you hear that life in Christ is a race (agōn), what shifts in your mindset or habits feel necessary right now?
2. Which figure from the “great cloud of witnesses” most encourages you at present, and why? How could their story shape your next step this week?
3. Identify weights (lawful but unhelpful) in your life. What will you eliminate in the next 7 days to run lighter?
4. Where is entangling sin tripping you? What confession, boundary, or accountability do you need to “cut it loose”?
5. Endurance practices: what steady, sustainable rhythms (Scripture, prayer, community) will help you run through seasons, not just moments?
6. “Race marked out”: where do you sense God’s prepared works for you now? What one obedient action will you take this week?
7. Practically, how will you fix your eyes on Jesus each day (morning focus, mid-day recalibration, evening examen)?
Further reading
- Hebrews 11 — the “hall of faith” behind the cloud of witnesses referenced in the sermon.
- Hebrews 12:1–3 (re-read slowly in NIV) — meditate on each verb: throw off… run… fix your eyes.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NRSV) — reflect on “helpful vs. lawful” as you audit your week.
- Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) — journal on the good works God has prepared for you.
Prayer points
- Thanksgiving: Father, thank You for the great cloud of witnesses whose lives point us to Your faithfulness across generations.
- Repentance: We confess weights and sins that have slowed us; give us grace to throw them off decisively.
- Endurance: Holy Spirit, form in us long, steady, rhythmic perseverance—faith for seasons, not seconds.
- Focus: Jesus, fix our gaze on You—the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Recalibrate our hearts when we’re weary or distracted.
- Calling: Lead us to run the race marked out for us, walking in the good works You prepared beforehand.
- Community: Make LWC a people who help one another travel light and run free—encouraging, correcting, and cheering each other on.

Sermon: Beauty for ashes

August 30, 2025

📖 Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Isaiah 61:1–3 —

“1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Luke 4:16–21 — Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 and declares, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Genesis 2:7 — God breathing life into Adam — paralleled in Isaiah 61 with the breath (Ruach) of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:2 — “Today is the day of salvation.”
Matthew 11:28 — “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened…”
1 Peter 2:9 — “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…”
2 Corinthians 5:20 — “We are Christ’s ambassadors…”

📚 Sermon Recap

I. Introduction – Kintsugi and the Gospel

The sermon opened with the Japanese art of Kintsugi – broken pottery restored with gold.
This mirrors the Gospel: God doesn’t discard the broken, He glorifies the cracks.

II. The Breath of the Sovereign Lord (Isaiah 61:1a)

The word “Spirit” in Hebrew is Ruach – breath, wind, life.
God is not distant. His breath is active and moving to revive dead things.
The same God who breathed life into Adam is breathing today into lifeless souls.

III. Anointed for Purpose (Isaiah 61:1b)

The Hebrew word for “anointed” is Mashah (מָשַׁח) – where we get Messiah.
Anointing sets people apart — for healing, rebuilding, and restoring.
God has chosen you for this time, this calling, this purpose.

IV. The Promises of the Gospel (Isaiah 61:1–3)

Good news to the poor (Hebrew: anaw – bowed down, afflicted).
Healing the brokenhearted (Hebrew: shabar – shattered into irreparable pieces).
Freedom for captives – Release from spiritual darkness, sin, trauma, addiction.
The Year of the Lord’s Favour – Jubilee, release, and divine reset.

V. Beauty for Ashes (Isaiah 61:3)

Ashes symbolise mourning, grief, destruction.
Beauty (Hebrew: pe’er) refers to a crown or headdress — an image of honour.
God doesn’t just restore — He crowns. He upgrades.
This is the coronation ceremony for the broken-hearted.

VI. Jesus is the Fulfilment (Luke 4:16–21)

Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in the synagogue and declares: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled.”
Jesus is the embodiment of Isaiah’s prophecy — the walking promise of healing and freedom.
Now, the scroll has been handed to the Church — to us!

VII. The Commissioning – You Are an Ambassador

Jesus did not come just to fulfil prophecy, but to start a movement.
We are now ambassadors of the Gospel (2 Cor 5:20).
Called to proclaim:
- Beauty for ashes.
- Healing to the broken.
- Light to the imprisoned.
- Joy for mourning.

💬 Memorable Quotes

“You came in with ashes — but you’re going out with a crown.”
“God doesn’t just fix you — He fills the cracks with gold.”
“Jesus didn’t just hand the scroll back to the attendant — He handed it to the Church.”
“The breath of God is blowing again — over every dry and lifeless place.”
“This is a coronation ceremony for the broken-hearted.”

❓ Questions for Discussion

Which part of Isaiah 61 speaks to your current season of life most clearly — and why?
How have you experienced the “breath of God” reviving something dead in your life?
What does it mean to be anointed? How do you understand your personal calling today?
Why do you think God promises not just restoration, but beauty?
Who in your life needs to hear the message of “beauty for ashes” this week — and how can you share it?
How can the church be a community that proclaims freedom and binds up the brokenhearted in practical ways?

📖 Further Reading

Isaiah 58 – The fast that God desires: justice, healing, restoration.
Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Romans 8:28 – “God works all things together for the good…”
John 20:21–22 – Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
NT Wright, Surprised by Hope – Understanding restoration as central to the Gospel.
Pete Greig, God on Mute – Powerful reflections on pain, hope, and unanswered prayer.

🙏 Prayer Points

Thanksgiving – Thank God for breathing new life into dry and broken places.
Surrender – Lay down the ashes of grief, sin, and failure. Ask God for His beauty in return.
Healing – Pray for those who are emotionally, mentally, and spiritually shattered (shabar).
Anointing – Ask God to renew your sense of purpose and to fill you with His Ruach (Spirit).
Intercession – Pray for those still in spiritual captivity, that they would encounter Jesus the Deliverer.
Commissioning – Ask for boldness to live as an ambassador of the Gospel this week.

Sermon: Call to me and I will answer you

August 24, 2025

Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Luke 15:11–24 (NIV) – The Prodigal Son
Genesis 1:1–3 (MSG, NIV)
“In the beginning… earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness… And God said, ‘Let there be light.’”
2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
John 10:10 (NIV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Psalm 50:15 (NIV)
“Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.”

Sermon Recap

1. Jeremiah in Prison – The Prophet in Darkness

Jeremiah is confined in a prison cell, not a palace or platform.
His imprisonment symbolises the rebellion, idolatry, and brokenness of a whole nation.
The prophet in prison, the promise in the rubbish heap, the potential reduced to emptiness.
Yet into that darkness comes a word from the Lord: “Call to me…”

2. God Speaks in Dark Places

Creation itself began in emptiness and darkness.
Genesis 1: “a soup of nothingness, an inky blackness.”
But God spoke: “Let there be light!”
2 Cor 4:6 shows us this light is now revealed in Christ, shining into the darkness of our hearts.
God does His best work in caves, prisons, pigsties, and empty places.

3. Call: An Invitation, Not a Regulation

God’s word “Call to me” is not instruction, law, or theology exam.
It is as simple as a child calling out for a parent’s embrace.
Hebrew word קָרָא (qara) = to cry out, summon, call loudly.
Prayer is not polished words—it’s desperate, honest cry.

4. The Prodigal – Exile of the Heart

Jeremiah’s prison = national exile.
The prodigal son = personal exile.
To ask for inheritance early = to say: “Father, you are dead to me.”
This mirrors humanity turning its back on God.
Sin is not just “badness”—it is waste: wasted opportunities, wasted inheritance, wasted potential for a flourishing life.

5. Hunger and Dishonour

The prodigal’s journey downward: famine, hunger, pigsty.
Triple dishonour for a Jewish son: feeding pigs (unclean), becoming a slave, serving a Gentile.
For Jeremiah: the prison.
For the prodigal: the pigsty.
Both = rock bottom moments.

6. Revelation – Coming to His Senses

Luke 15:17: “When he came to his senses…”
This is Jeremiah 33:3 lived out: the moment of calling, the moment of revelation.
God often awakens us by reminding us who we really are:
- Not slaves.
- Not prisoners.
- Sons and daughters of the Father’s house.

7. The Father’s Heart

The father scans the horizon.
He runs (culturally undignified for a man).
He embraces and kisses the son—while he still smells of pigs.
God is not passive—He is passionate, running to meet us.

8. The Upgrade

The son prepares a speech:
- “I have sinned.”
- “I am not worthy.”
- “Make me a servant.”
The father cuts him off: “Quick! Bring the robe, the ring, the sandals!”
Robe = restored position.
Ring = restored authority.
Sandals = restored identity as a son (slaves went barefoot).
God doesn’t just take you back—He upgrades you.

Memorable Quotes

“The prophet in prison. The promise in the rubbish heap. The potential reduced to squalor.”
“God does His best work in dark places—He spoke in the void, the chaos, the pigsty, and the prison.”
“We see sin as badness, but God sees sin as waste.”
“When you’re down to nothing, God is up to something.”
“Grace doesn’t restore you to where you were—it lifts you to where you never dreamed you could go.”

Questions for Discussion

Jeremiah was in prison when God spoke to him. What does this teach us about how God meets us in our darkest places?
In what ways does Genesis 1 (creation out of chaos) parallel the spiritual emptiness in our lives without Christ?
The prodigal son represents “exile of the heart.” How do we see ourselves in his rebellion, waste, and return?
Why is it significant that sin is described as “waste” rather than just “badness”? How does that reshape our view of repentance?
What does the father’s act of running and embracing tell us about God’s posture toward us?
How have you personally experienced God giving you an “upgrade” when you expected only mercy?
Who are the “prodigals” in your life that you are scanning the horizon for? How can you pray and act for their return?

Prayer Points

For those in prison places – Lord, shine Your light into every place of darkness, despair, and hopelessness.
For prodigals – Father, bring home those who have turned away. Let them come to their senses and return to You.
For revelation – Holy Spirit, awaken our hearts to who we truly are in Christ—sons and daughters, not slaves.
For parents and loved ones – God, strengthen every parent scanning the horizon. Fill them with hope as they pray for prodigals to return.
For restoration – Thank You, Father, that You don’t just forgive us, You restore us. Give us the robe, the ring, and the sandals once again.
For the church family – Let Living Waters Church be a place of welcome, embrace, and upgrade for every prodigal who walks through our doors.

Sermon: Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!

August 17, 2025

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Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Main Teaching Text: Colossians 1:21–29 –

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Supporting Scriptures:

2 Timothy 2:3–4 – “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus…”
Acts 16:23–24; 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 – Paul’s catalogue of sufferings.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 – “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…”
Romans 8:18–21 – Glory being revealed through the children of God.

Sermon Recap

INTRODUCTION: THE LIGHT BULB ANALOGY

A lightbulb has the potential to shine, but it is lifeless without power.
Likewise, we are beautifully designed by God, but we need to be connected to Christ to radiate life.

POINT 1: From Alienation to Adoption

Colossians 1:21–23 paints the picture of our spiritual past: alienated, hostile in mind, caught in evil deeds.
The Greek for “evil” (ponēros) has roots in pain and affliction—a life without Christ is one of inner torment.
But now, we have been reconciled (apokatallassō)—not just at peace, but restored to intimacy with God.
We are holy, without blemish, and free from accusation—not by merit, but by Christ’s death.
Paul urges us to continue in the faith, established and firm—this is a lifelong journey of trust and formation.

POINT 2: From Suffering to Stewardship

Salvation is not a retirement plan—it’s a commissioning.
Paul rejoiced in his sufferings because they were for the sake of Christ’s Body—the Church (v24).
Adoption leads to assignment. Every believer is a soldier of Christ, called to contend for the Kingdom.
Suffering isn’t always persecution—it can be resistance, sacrifice, or endurance for the sake of others.

POINT 3: From Mystery to Manifestation – Christ in You

The mystery once hidden is now revealed: Christ in you, the hope of glory (v27).
This is the wealth of the Gospel—not merely that Christ is for us or with us, but that Christ is in us.
We are now portable temples. God’s presence is no longer confined to sacred spaces but indwells His people.
Biblical hope is not wishful thinking—it is confident, joyful expectation.
Glory is not just a heavenly future—it is the fullness of Christ being formed in us, now.

POINT 4: From Proclamation to Maturity

Paul’s end goal: to present every believer mature in Christ (v28–29).
We are not called to be mere churchgoers but to become disciples, shaped by wisdom, suffering, mission, and hope.
Maturity is measured not by knowledge but by Christlikeness, and our ability to carry His presence into the world.

Memorable Quotes

“You weren’t just saved from something—you were saved for something.”
“You are a portable temple, and God has moved in.”
“Christ in you is not an escape plan—it’s a power source.”
“Reconciliation is not retirement—it’s the beginning of your assignment.”
“You’re not trying to get close to God—He moved in!”
“Hope is the oxygen of the soul—Christ in you is the hope of glory.”
“Paul didn’t want church attenders—he wanted mature believers.”

Questions for Discussion

Connection & Power

In what ways does the lightbulb analogy reflect your own spiritual journey?
Are there areas in your life where you feel disconnected from the “power source”?

Reconciliation

How do you personally understand being “holy, without blemish, and free from accusation”
What does true reconciliation with God look like in your daily life?

SufFering & Stewardship

What forms of “suffering” might God be calling you to embrace as part of your assignment
How can we steward our salvation with maturity and responsibility?

Christ in You

What difference does it make to you to know that Christ dwells in you?
How does this shape your identity, decisions, and relationships?

Hope of Glory

How is your understanding of glory being reshaped by this message?
Where do you need more confident and joyful expectation in your life?

Maturity

What does spiritual maturity look like in your context?
How can we help one another grow and be “presented mature in Christ”?

Prayer Points

Thanksgiving

Thank God for reconciling you through Christ’s body and blood.
Praise Him for making His home in your heart.

Spiritual Maturity

Ask the Lord to grow you into a mature disciple, able to carry His presence and power with integrity.

Hope Renewed

Pray for a fresh impartation of hope—joyful expectation of what God is doing in and through you.

Strength for the Assignment

Commit yourself as a “good soldier of Christ,” willing to endure resistance for the sake of His Kingdom.

For Others

Intercede for others in your church family—that Christ would be formed in them.
Pray for those who feel disconnected or hopeless to encounter the indwelling presence of Jesus.

Living as His Temple

Invite the Holy Spirit to remind you daily that you are His dwelling place, and to make you sensitive to His leading wherever you go.

Sermon: No eye has seen, no ear has heard

August 10, 2025

Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Main Teaching Text:

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) — “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived - the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

Other Key Scriptures Shared:

Matthew 11:25–26 — Hidden from the wise, revealed to the humble.
1 Corinthians 2:6–8 — The hidden wisdom of God destined for our glory.
2 Corinthians 5:17 — New creation in Christ.
Ephesians 1:4–5 — Chosen and adopted as God’s children.
Romans 6:14 — Freedom from sin’s power.
Hebrews 4:16 — Boldly approaching the throne of grace.
John 14:16–18 — The promised indwelling Holy Spirit.
John 7:38–39 — Rivers of living water flowing from believers.
Matthew 10:7–8 — Commission to heal, deliver, and proclaim the Kingdom.
Proverbs 18:21 — The power of the tongue to bring life or death.
Mark 11:23–24 — Speaking to the mountain in faith.
Philippians 4:7 — The peace of God guarding hearts and minds.
1 Peter 1:8 — Inexpressible and glorious joy through faith in Christ.

Sermon Recap

1. The Jewel Beyond a Thousand Worlds

Thomas Brooks (17th Century Puritan) said: “Christ is a jewel of more worth than a thousand worlds… Get Him and get all; miss Him and miss all.”
Our gatherings proclaim this truth — Jesus is the treasure worth everything.

2. God Reveals to the Humble

Jesus taught that God hides His ways from the self-assured but reveals them to the humble and unqualified (Matt 11:25–26).
The Gospel’s power is accessible to ordinary people who are open to Him.

3. The Hidden Wisdom Now Revealed

Paul speaks of God’s wisdom — hidden for ages, now revealed through Christ (1 Cor 2:6–8).
This wisdom is destined for our glory — an encounter with Jesus changes everything.

4. A New Creation in Christ

When we come to Christ, the old life passes away; a new life begins (2 Cor 5:17).
This new life is beyond anything we have seen, heard, or imagined.

5. Truths About the Prepared Life

Bigger than your history: Your past does not disqualify your future in Christ.
Bigger than your environment: Your surroundings cannot limit God’s plans.
Bigger than your logic: What God has prepared surpasses human reasoning.
Already prepared: We don’t wait for God to act — He’s waiting for us to step in.
Reserved for those who love Him — intimacy with God unlocks these blessings.

6. The “Things” God Has Prepared for Those Who Love Him

Salvation & Sonship — Adoption into God’s family with full rights; freedom from sin’s power; direct access to the Father.
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit — God living within us as our Advocate, Helper, and Encourager; rivers of living water flowing from our lives.
Kingdom Authority — Commissioned to heal, deliver, and proclaim; authority to speak life and move mountains in prayer.
Supernatural Peace & Joy — God’s peace guarding hearts and minds; inexpressible joy even in trials.

7. The Call

Step into what God has prepared — don’t settle for less.
The door is open, the table is set, the invitation is personal.

Memorable Quotes

“Your past does not disqualify you from your future in Christ!”
“Don’t live off spiritual rations when the King has prepared a feast.”
“It’s not hidden from you, it’s hidden for you.”
“The things God has prepared are waiting for you to walk in love, intimacy, and faith — and receive them.”
“If you can imagine it, you’ve already fallen short of what God has prepared for you.”

Questions for Discussion

In what ways has God’s truth been “hidden” to some and “revealed” to others? How have you personally experienced His revelation?
How does understanding yourself as an adopted child of God with full rights change your relationship with Him?
What does it look like for you to exercise Kingdom authority in your everyday life?
Where do you need to speak to a “mountain” in faith right now?
How have you experienced God’s peace or joy in circumstances that didn’t make sense?
Which of the “things” God has prepared (salvation, Spirit’s indwelling, authority, peace, joy) do you most need to embrace in this season?

Prayer Points

Thanksgiving for Adoption — “Father, thank You for choosing and adopting me into Your family with full rights as Your child.”
Fresh Filling of the Spirit — “Holy Spirit, fill me again; let rivers of living water flow from my life into others.”
Boldness in Kingdom Authority — “Lord, help me to speak life, pray in faith, and move mountains for Your glory.”
Receiving God’s Peace & Joy — “Guard my heart and mind with Your peace, and fill me with joy that no circumstance can steal.”
Faith to Step In — “Give me the courage to step fully into the things You have already prepared for me.”

Sermon: Lost & Found

August 3, 2025

📖 Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Main Teaching Text:

Luke 15:1–7 –
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.

🔹 Other Key Scriptures:

Isaiah 53:4 – “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering…”
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Matthew 19:30 – “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

📝 Sermon Recap

1. Introduction: The Heart of Jesus’ Message

Luke 15 contains three stories — the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
These are not just stories about sin — they reveal the very heartbeat of God.
If you want to understand Christianity, look no further than these parables.

2. The Setting: Why Jesus Told This Story

Jesus was surrounded by tax collectors and sinners — those labelled as irredeemable by society.
The Pharisees grumbled because Jesus didn’t just preach at sinners; He welcomed them and ate with them.
In biblical culture, eating with someone meant full acceptance and friendship.

Greek Word Highlight:

προσδέχομαι (prosdechomai) – “to receive willingly, to take pleasure in, to befriend.”

3. The Lost Sheep: A Reckless Search (vv. 3–4)

The word for “lost” is ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi) — not just misplaced, but headed toward ruin or destruction.
The Shepherd (Jesus) leaves the 99 — a seemingly irrational act — to seek one.
Love doesn’t always make sense. It’s not efficient. It’s relentless.

Key Insight:

Jesus doesn’t wait for us to find Him — He comes looking for us.
Religion says, “Seek God.” Christianity says, “God seeks you.”

4. Carried, Not Condemned (v. 5)

When the shepherd finds the sheep, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
No lecture. No punishment. Just joy and rescue.

Greek Word Highlight:

χαίρω (chairo) – Deep, ecstatic joy.

Illustration:

Like a parent who finds their lost child in a supermarket — fear turns instantly into celebration.

5. The Party in Heaven (vv. 6–7)

The shepherd calls others to celebrate. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents.
Salvation isn’t a private upgrade — it’s a public celebration.
Every baptism is a party in heaven — not because someone got religious, but because someone came home.

6. Conclusion: An Invitation to Be Found

Like Pastor John shared, there was a time when he realised he was lost — surrounded by options but no direction.
Maybe that’s you today. Maybe it’s time to stop running.
The Gospel invitation is simple:
- Admit you are spiritually lost.
- Believe that Jesus came looking for you.
- Say “yes” to being carried home by Him.

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Religion asks you to seek God. Christianity shows you a God who seeks you.”
“Love doesn’t make for good economics — but it makes for a powerful rescue.”
“You may be lost — but you have never been unseen.”
“He doesn’t carry you scolding. He carries you singing.”
“Jesus is not in the self-improvement business. He’s in the rescue business.”

❓ Questions for Discussion

What does it say about God that Jesus welcomes and eats with sinners?
In what ways have you felt like the lost sheep in your life?
Why do you think Jesus emphasised joy so strongly in this parable?
How does this story challenge religious pride or self-righteousness?
What does it mean for you personally that Jesus seeks until He finds?
If Heaven throws a party over one sinner who repents, how can we reflect that in our own community life?
Who in your life might be the “one” Jesus is still seeking — and how can you join Him in that?

📚 Further Reading

🔹 Scripture:

Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd
John 10:1–18 – Jesus as the Good Shepherd
Ezekiel 34:11–16 – God promises to search for His sheep
Romans 5:6–11 – While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

🔹 Resources:

“The Prodigal God” by Tim Keller – A deep dive into Luke 15
“Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” by Kenneth Bailey – Cultural insights into the parables
The Chosen (Season 1, Episode 1) – Jesus calls Mary Magdalene; visualises His heart for the lost

🙏 Prayer Points

Thanksgiving
- Thank God for His relentless love and pursuit.
- Praise Him for the joy of salvation and the power of being carried, not condemned.
Salvation
- Pray for those who are spiritually lost — that they would respond to the call to come home.
- Pray for the newly baptised — that their faith would grow deep and strong.
Renewal
- Ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and remove any spiritual pride.
- Pray that we would never lose the wonder of our own rescue.
Evangelism
- Ask God to give us His eyes for the “one” in our lives.
- Pray for courage to reach out, invite, and reflect Jesus’ welcoming heart.
Church Culture
- Pray that LWC continues to be a place where the lost are found, the hurting are healed, and every life is celebrated.

Sermons

Sermon: Enlarge the Tent

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Enlarge the Tent

Scriptures to read and ponder

Sermon Recap

Memorable quotes

Questions for discussion

Further reading

Recommended resources:

Prayer points

Sermon: The Father who runs toward you

LWC SERMON GUIDE

The Father who runs toward you

Scriptures to read and ponder

Sermon Recap

1) INTRODUCTION: The missed call

2) The request that breaks the relationship (Luke 15:11–12)

3) The illusion of the distant country (Luke 15:13)

4) Living your own life leads to hunger and dishonour (Luke 15:14–16)

5) Coming to our senses (Luke 15:17)

6) Repentance is returning, not a performance (Luke 15:18–19)

7) The scandalous heart of God: the Father runs (Luke 15:20)

8) Paul puts words to the running Father (Romans 5:8)

9) Grace interrupts shame (Luke 15:21–22)

10) From death to life (Luke 15:23–24; John 3:16)

11) Closing exhortation: Be a horizon-scanning church

Memorable quotes

Questions for discussion

Further reading

Scripture cross-references (to deepen the same themes):

Reading resources (accessible, missionally aligned, and spiritually forming):

Prayer points

Sermon: Made whole at His feet

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Made whole at His feet

Scriptures to read and ponder…

Sermon Recap

Sermon Recap

1) The A&E faith problem: relief without transformation

2) “They stood at a distance”: the condition beneath the condition

3) All ten were cleansed: grace makes no exceptions

4) One returned: the pivot from healing to wholeness

5) The path to wholeness: Return, Praise, Surrender

6) The commission: surrender leads to sending

Memorable quotes

Questions for discussion

Getting honest about “A&E faith”

Distance and belonging

The turning point: returning to Jesus

Praise as discipleship discipline

Surrender at His feet

Commissioned wholeness (Rise and go)

Further reading

Prayer points

Sermon: Don't bury what God planted

LWC SERMON GUIDE

Don’t Bury What God Planted

Scriptures to read and ponder

main Text

Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon

Sermon Recap

1. The Seed’s Journey: Darkness, Pressure, Breaking

2. When Your Calling Feels Buried

3. Joseph: Pits, Prisons, and Preparation

4. Jesus: The Seed Who Chose the Soil

5. Identity: You Are a Seed of the Kingdom

6. The World Hides; The Kingdom Plants

7. What Have You Buried That God Planted?

8. Conclusion: Stop Burying What God Has Planted

Memorable quotes

Questions for discussion

Heart-level reflection

Scripture engagement

Identity and calling

Action and response

Further reading

Scriptures reinforcing the message

Prayer points

1. Surrender and re-framing

**4. “Arise, shine, for your light has come”**