Role: Pastor |
Hi my name is Phil Irvine and I’m the Pastor at Emu Plains Community Baptist Church. My family and I moved all the way from the Blue Mountains and to live in the community here in Emu Plains. Jesus said “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” Sometimes we find that our lives are so full with things to do, but we don’t seem to be fulfilled. I enjoy running, spending time with my family, playing Xbox and a good coffee. But what fills my life is Jesus. If you are wanting your life full, the best it can be, why not check out Jesus and take him up on this promise?
Sunday, 08 November 2015
Duration: 31 mins 29 secs
History has shown that when we are on God's agenda then issues and conflicts can arise as Satan's schemes try to take hold. The Jews faced opposition and were ridiculed as they endeavoured to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. From a human perspective, the task looked hopeless. The opposition shown to the rebuilding of the wall was an opposition to God's plan. Nehemiah's response to the insults and threats was to come to God in prayer. The people also faced discouragement and fear but Nehemiah continued on in doing God's plan. We too can face discouragement and fear in our own lives when we are not spending time in prayer with God and we lose our focus on His plan for us.
Sunday, 01 November 2015
What does it mean to have genuine connections with each other, as a church, with the community and with God? Connections are important and we sometime don't realise this until that connection is lost, for example, a broken relationship with a family member. Adam and Eve lost their close relationship with God after they sinned and were expelled from the Garden of Eden. When we don't have a connection with God, we have a dead relationship with Him. When we reconnect with God, our relationship is alive in Him. Our relationship with God has the opportunity to be restored, but this can only be done through Jesus Christ. When God saves us and bring us to Himself he also brings us to each other. When we come together as a church, we do so to support each other, build each other up and help and care for each other. We are saved for a purpose - to do the work that God has called us to do. What is God's purpose and direction for you in your life and for your local church?
Sunday, 25 October 2015
Duration: 32 mins 48 secs
Nehemiah planned for success in wanting to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. With God in the picture, this task was not going to be done by Nehemiah alone, but with the help of many as they understood what needed to be done. The people who helped build the city walls and gates were from varied backgrounds including high priests, rulers, craftsmen and lay people. A number of groups from outside of Jerusalem also helped whilst others did more than just their own section of wall allocated to them. As Christians today, sometimes there are tasks that God can make known to us that are outside our normal activities and there are times when we are capable of doing additional things for God. Are you seeking God for ways to serve Him to grow His kingdom?
Sunday, 18 October 2015
How can we guarantee to fail in our life. (1) look at the size of the task ahead of you; (2) look at yourself and your limited resource for the task; and (3) leave God out of the picture. Nehemiah had a major task ahead of him. He planned for success by first praying to God to seek His guidance. It was a test of his faith as he waited on God for an answer. When God did answer, it still required Nehemiah to step out in faith as he spoke to the king about going to Jerusalem to rebuild it. Faith is not stepping out blindly but stepping out where God wants you to go. Success in this world can be money, career or winning. Success for a Christian is doing God's will. When we are on the journey of God's will, we will face opposition. We need to stand firm against the devil's schemes. Are you waiting on God for His guidance and prepared to step out in faith when He asks you to?
NO AUDIO THIS WEEK DUE TO TECHNICAL GLITCH
Sunday, 11 October 2015
Duration: 32 mins 59 secs
Nehemiah was a man of major influence because of his position as cupbearer to the king. He showed great concern for the future of God's kingdom and for the glory of God after hearing news about the Jewish people being in great trouble and disgrace and the walls of Jerusalem broken down with the city gates burned with fire. Nehemiah was a man of prayer and tooks his concerns to God about his people. When we commit ourselves to prayer, we rely on God for his timing and support and not run ahead of Him and try to do things in our own strength. As Christians, are we concerned for people who are not a part of God's kingdom?
Sunday, 04 October 2015
Duration: 29 mins 33 secs
What does it cost to follow Jesus? The offer is free but it will come at a cost, although not in a bad way. We are encouraged to love and care for each other as we love ourself, but we are to love Jesus more. Jesus should be the first priority in our life. The cost of discipleship is a long life commitment to love and serve Jesus. As a Christian, every decision we make in our life should be filtered through Jesus. Is Jesus the first priority in your life?
Sunday, 06 September 2015
Duration: 33 mins 52 secs
The Christian life is about living our life for a higher call, that is, God's glory, His greatness and His kingdom. Our call in life is to serve God and He gives us gifts to enable us to achieve this. The New Testament does not give us a definitive list of these gifts from God. Everything we have has been given to us from God and we are to use these abilities and gifts for God's service. As Christians, God's ultimate to us all is one of salvation through His grace. The challenge for us is that we need to be living for God and not ourselves. We all have something to offer in using our gifts in service for God.
Sunday, 23 August 2015
In this passage, Paul's application of his teaching starts off with the ultimate goal for Christians, "follow God's example". What does Paul say on how we can achieve this? 1. God wants us to love as Jesus loved, an unconditional love, a love that is different to this world which depends on circumstances. 2. We are to live an obvious moral life, one that is pleasing to God. Do not partner yourself yourself with the ways of this world. 3. We are to live wisely, living in accordance with God's will. 4. We need to be filled with the Spirit. If we are to be truly following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, we can't live by God's love, lead a moral life and live wisely without being filled with God's presence.
Sunday, 16 August 2015
Duration: 28 mins 51 secs
As Christians we need the Holy Spirit to live the life that God wants us to live. The Holy Spirit works along side of us to be an advocate, a comforter and helper. The Holy Spirit is truth and God's word is truth and therefore the Spirit will not guide us outside of what is written in the bible. The Spirit of God is not different to the Son of God. As believers today, we did not see Jesus as a man on this earth, but we are connected to Jesus in the same way the disciples were when Jesus left this earth, and that is through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The world receives peace in times of no trouble. Christians receive the peace of God despite our troubles. We can only receive this peace if we first accept Jesus into our lives and allow the Spirit to work in our lives. Will you allow God to work in your life? Will you allow the Spirit to bring you into a deeper relationship with God?
Sunday, 09 August 2015
Duration: 37 mins 57 secs
It is easy to get caught up in all the technicalities of the Christian faith, but sometimes it is good just to get back to the basics. We need to remember to live under God's grace and not on our own efforts. The relationship of Adam and Eve with God was broken when Adam and Eve sinned. Everyone after Adam and Eve are born into sin and can only have a relationship with God when we recognise ourself as a sinner, believe in Jesus Christ and what He did for for us on the cross and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. It is only then that we can be sure of an eternal life with God. Where do you stand in your relationship with God?
