Through the Tomb - Pastor Mike Klika

A man with a 6th grade education dared to trust GOD - an extraordinary GOD...
The Greater Grace Santacruz Church is the fruit of Dr Carl Steven's life !

So how far are we willing to go?

Mt 27:57-61 describes the burial of JESUS in Joseph of Arimethia's tomb

The fact was that the Roman's were brilliant record keepers. Very organized. JESUS rose from the tomb has more documentation than all of Shakespeare's writing.

JESUS never had an empty season in HIS life. JESUS lived for 33 years and HE didn't waste HIS life.

John 12:24 JESUS said that a seed must die to bear many fruit.

When JESUS was alive HE had only 12 apostles. But when HE died HIS disciples grew- the Church grew !

At a point JESUS had 5000 people. These people met with GOD, they were face to face but they walked away. They couldn't take HIS hard Words.

GOD speaks HIS hard Words to us. HE tests us in trials.The test is not of our performance in our trial compared to someone else's trial. The test is of our capacity !

JESUS set HIS face as flint ! HE died to bear fruit. JESUS became CHRIST in the tomb... It required the tomb.The Pharisees mocked HIM on the Cross telling HIM to come down from the Cross ! This couldn't be - because HE couldn't be CHRIST without the Cross !

When my sins were removed twice - once when they were placed on HIM and then when they were taken from HIM.

In the tomb our sins were removed - not just removed but disappeared - from eternity !

Leviticus 16 the priest takes 2 goats and cast lots. 1 for the LORD was killed immediately and the other one was taken in the wilderness and released after placing my sins on it.

But the scripture has a history :

The priest would tranfer our sins on the goat symbolically. Take it to the cliff and hang it over the cliff and then cut the cliff and the goat fell to death - the sins gone with the goat forever...This happened in the tomb ! My sins placed on HIM - HIS righteousness placed on me.

GOD was paying a price for HIS bride in the tomb - in the tomb we became HIS bride and the price was paid.

The reason HE sacrificed HIS body for me was so that I could become HIS body - in the tomb we became the Body of CHRIST ! What did CHRIST do ? Who was HE? HE was a man... HE said HE had to depart.

GOD is the Trinity... Like a Doctor who is also a husband and a father... Each experience will be different. In John chapter 14 JESUS explained the connection between HIM and HIS Father and the Holy Spirit. HE uses the same word for HIMself that HE uses for the Father and the Holy Spirit!

If JESUS didn't go to the tomb HE wouldn't be able to in dwell any of us. HE bore much fruit.

The Cross was not the end - HIS beginning...
The Cross is not our end - Its our beginning...
Our trials are not our end - Our lives didn't end at the Cross - it started at the Cross ! We were already dead - the Cross is not the end it is the beginning of an everlasting life.

If I want to be a functional part of the body, I need to meet HIM in the tomb.

In Daniel 3 the 3 Hebrew boys had to be there to meet the Fourth MAN in the furnace.Its like us - in the furnace and trials - its us, the people close to us and the people who are watching. When the furnace was made 7 times hotter the one close to the furnace were burnt up.
Are u going to be in ur call ? Are u going to be close to ur call ?
I want to be a fruitful CHRISTian. When I have a furnace situation I will go through the tomb. I will learn I am a believer in the tomb.

In Eph 4:8 what makes me captive ?
Fear ? Insecurity ? Guilt ? Anger ? Shame ? JESUS took it captive. I became human when I went through the tomb.

Self-consciousness is gone and I am human... A tomb of self consciousness is where humanity dies - the wrong tomb... Not the tomb of JESUS. The tomb of JESUS allows me to be human.

Gen 3 Self consciousness caused Adam n Eve to separate themselves from GOD.

I can't enjoy JESUS unless I go through the tomb.

I have never met a happy person who has lived only for themselves - I have never met miserable people who lived for others.

Love requires a tomb ! My sin nature stops me from growing. So many people are afraid of loosing their lives... Either go in the tomb or preserve urself. In the tomb I will have a fruitful life and if I preserve my life I lose it.

The tomb gives me the humility!

The Cross doesn't work like a burdensome something...GOD produces the Cross in our lives. When you hear HIS word the Cross is produced.

The tomb is the best place to be !
The Holy Spirit is in my heart and as HE changes my thinking I experience the tomb.

Its not the religious works but the work of GOD.

Am I willing to think with GOD ? Along with HIS Word ?

We have this idea that our life ends with death... But death is just a change of address.

John 10:10 JESUS came to give us 'abundant' life
Am I experiencing it ?
Only when there is a tomb in my life !

The tomb is the place for our life, humanity, joy, mercy.

If you know GOD's mercy you will never live guilty.

What's given freely must be received freely.

A birthday around the Word

The Santacruz Church celebrates birthdays to fellowship and share each other's joy... Thats what families do and we are One BIG Church Happy Family !

 

Santacruz Church Family

 

Here at the birthday we sang and cut the birthday cake and ate and sat around our Pastor asking questions around the Word. In our side of the World we call this 'Rap'.

 

 

 

Everyone is free to ask questions and the Pastor will happily respond through the Word.

Questions like ---

Where does your soul go after you die (given a man is body + soul + spirit) ?
and
How much time should one spend in prayer ?



Come join us to  learn and grow in your relationship with JESUS....

MISSION LUCKNOW

 

 

Ps Aviram and his family serve in Lucknow. Preaching the Gospel, Planting Churches and Teaching in Bible Colleges...
Our Team of 8 Missions minded men and women took 5 days out of their lives to visit this mission field and encourage
Ps Aviram and his family... This trip was led by Ps Atul Haksar and Ps John Kenny who serve in Mumbai.

Bro Leo from Mumbai leads the Lucknow Church in a time of worship

An open air Bible Study in Narsinghpur where many Hindus have turned to the LORD

 

 

 

A simple crayon painted chart paper that reads"John 14:21 - He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves ME. And he who loves ME will be loved by MY FATHER and I will love him and manifest MYSELF to HIM"

 

A typical Lucknow home - A Bible Study teaching them about the SAVIOR's love for them.

The House of Prayer... People meeting in this home to hear the Word, Worship & Pray...

 

 

Prayer and Praise time 

 

New converts lost in worship !

 

We thank GOD for the work Pastor Aviram and the team is doing in Lucknow. This labor of love is not in vain. Truly then, if CHRIST be lifted us HE will draw all men unto HIM (John 12:32)

 

Rap Time

Post evening service the church sitting around and asking Pastor questions...

Freedom or Fetters - Romans 8, 22Sep13

This is one of the greatest chapter of the Bible. If the Bible is a ring then Romans is the diamond on the ring and chapter 8 is the shine of the ring :-)

Why is this Chapter so great ?

Vv1. No condemnation for those who are in CHRIST JESUS.

Vv39. No separation

The verse in between says all things work together for good.

Jn 19:13 to 34 they pierced JESUS's side and blood and water came out !

The order blood and water
The blood = our position, who we are right now and the SPIRIT of GOD changes us progressively
CHRIST in me is the hope of glory !

Trust CHRIST - get used to listening to HIM - if you don't hear JESUS you will hear the enemy. (HIS sheep know HIS voice)

A person through life is like a ship on the sea - the boat rocks - then the journey ends - the ship is docked !

Romans 8 is the harbor and you find that you are in the hand of the Holy SPIRIT, our comforter.

GOD has a purpose for us - thats an eternal truth ! We can't be separated from GOD's love... There could be sin because of the wretched man that I am. Yet there is 'No' condemnation because we are in CHRIST !

Did you know that CHRISTians can fail and sin ? That's why Paul is saying that there is no condemnation...while we may suffer the consequences of sin. But the condemnation was put on CHRIST on the Cross !

Like Abraham, Moses and David, they were not condemned for their sin but they did suffer the consequences.The adultress woman was brought to JESUS. But HE said those of you who have never sinned throw the 1st stone. We know the story, they all let go of their stones, starting from the eldest to the youngest and turned around and went their way..JESUS asked her "has no one condemned you ?" She said "No one" He told her that neither did HE condemn her and to go and sin no more

A little boy and his father bought somethings and were ready to go. The shopkeeper said put your hand in and take as much as you can for free. He looked at his father. The shopkeeper insisted, but the child didn't make a move. The father then took the sweets out for his boy. He asked his son on their way back home... Why didn't you take any ? The little boy said 'because your hand is bigger'
Isn't that how our plans are in our own hands... but when we let our plans in GOD's hands its bigger!

We read through a letter of Paul and browse it... We need to approach it in meditation. People avoid reading Paul's letters because it takes effort. If you take the 17 'Fors' of Romans 8 you can have an extensive and intensive study.

We are not made for 80 years but for eternity... Because of what GOD did we will never taste
death we have a hope to see each other because of what GOD did !

Why could the law not do this ? Vv3 -- Because of the sin nature in me.

The law says love your neighbor... But the sin nature says I'll cause him trouble.

In Luke 1:11 what did the Angel tell Mary ? The power of the SPIRIT will be over you and you will conceive.

Vv4 (Gal 5:16, 18, 25) you will see these words Walk, Led, Live, Walk

Greek words used for the word 'walk' mean :
1. To conduct in the presence of the Holy SPIRIT
2. Led by the SPIRIT
3. LIVE by the SPIRIT
4. March in line with the Holy SPIRIT.

When you walk with someone like a best friend or spouse, people look at you and say they are walking together. That is like walking together with the LORD. When you are walking with HIM you are walking in step with HIM.

There are people who walk according to the flesh even after knowing the truth...Like Cain and Essau and Balam (money more important than ministry), Saul (popularity more important than obedience), Judas ( money more important than friendship)

There are few salts and few lights left on this earth. Like Isaac and Ishmael were always fighting, the SPIRIT and flesh are always in a fight with each other.

Lets take the example of 2 animals mentioned in the Bible - Pigs and Sheep.
The sheep likes clean, the pig likes the dirt.
The sheep eats from fresh,clean, green pastures, the pig eats from rotten, dirty gutters.

Like the raven and the dove - the raven likes the death

Flesh is like the raven tht likes the dead and the pig like the dirt.

Whr are we spiritually today ?
Am I like the pig or the sheep ??
Am I like the raven or the dove ??

The pig can sit in the dirt, and enjoy it. He has no idea that he can be clean like the sheep.
The Holy SPIRIT makes me like the sheep and the dove !

People ask how can I crucify the flesh ? There is only 1 way crucify your flesh...Only the Holy SPIRIT can ! Have this mind that is in CHRIST JESUS - set ur mind on things above - Let the Word of GOD dwell in you richly .

Exo 16 just 1 day of hunger and thirst gets them discouraged. They are free here but they are discouraged --- but in Egypt they were slaves and yet they miss it...Believers live like this fearful of the past and anxious abt the future and we let today go.

GOD gave them the freedom to fly but they wanted a foot in fetters ! That was the problem... Canaan and Egypt fall in the same valley but in 2 different directions. To go towards 1 we turn our backs to the other.

Our thinking affects us. The way you think abt urself and what GOD did with your life affects you... The Roman 8 life is possible only with the Holy SPIRIT

1. Change our thinking - not regretful thinking

2. Have faith in GOD's call and purpose for your life - little steps of faith

3. Trust the Grace of GOD - its for me, all for me.

There is fruit, more fruit and much more fruit !

Don't be conformed/ satisfied  this with world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Phil 3:13 brethren I do not regard myself as having hold of it yet but 1 thing I do... Forgetting what lies behind and pressing towards what lies ahead :-) I press on towards the upward goal of my call in CHRIST JESUS. Its only when you press on that you find CHRIST !

Like the woman bleeding for 12 yrs and there was a crowd around JESUS as bad as the Virar train ! Yet HE knew she touched HIM. When we press on we will see CHRIST... The Holy SPIRIT is with me :-)

Zaccheus on a tree and JESUS noticed him. GOD wasn't going to ignore that effort. CHRIST comes to my house....

Worship & Praise belongs to YOU

I may not have a voice to worship...but who needs a voice when I have a heart !

 

by HIS greatness we will do it - 29Sep13

Nehemiah 1:1-9,11; 2:18, 20; 6:15-16

Nehemiah is a cup bearer who is called by GOD to build the wall of Jerusalem.

Just like GOD calls us out to do something and without any training or skills and by HIS greatness we will do it !

The word 'Great' used in this book again and again.
May be our beginnings aren't great, may be they are distressing, but with GOD it turns out great :-)

GOD had chosen Nehemiah to build the walls of the city... Like GOD put Esther in the palace, Joseph in prison, Moses in the palace, David on the pastures.

Large doors swinging on small hinges.

It was just another day for Moses at office when GOD called them out, and for David, for Peter and John, Saul of Tarsus.

GOD changes life around 180 degrees.

What would we do when GOD comes to us and asks us to do something that doesn't make sense ?

There is a concern in Nehemiah's heart. In prayer I'm not master telling GOD what to do. But I'm YOUR servant, tell me what to do !

Its because of Calvary we are here today, we have a ministry and we can serve HIM because of Calvary

The bad things that are happening reveal the Greatness of GOD !

GOD is my Strength and my Great reward :-)

The people in the Bible fell because  of their strengths and not because of their weaknesses

The weaker the vessel the stronger GOD's power... I may not have the degrees the world needs but I have GOD and that alone is E-N-O-U-G-H !

Who gives the capacity to serve and do ministry ? - GOD

Nehemiah 1:6 let YOUR ears be attentive and YOUR eyes open to hear the prayer YOUR servant is praying before YOU day and night for YOUR servant !

The world has its ways, the enemy and the flesh - all these 3 don't want the Greatness of GOD to be revealed in my life !

Samson had a great purpose and call - 5 times the Spirit of GOD was on him. And yet he gives into sin.

Jack Hyles: sin blinds, binds and grinds !

There is a simple faith that is required - continue remembering the Great GOD in Heaven who can do Great Things !!!

No matter what my situation is... GOD can turn it around for HIS glory !

Was it a coincidence tht Pharaoh's daughter went to have a bath the same time that Moses's basket was let into the lake ? Was it a coincidence ? No GOD planned it. HE orchestrates all things for HIS children.

Gideon said I am the weakest tribe of Manasseh ! But for GOD that is the qualification most needed... 'I am the weakest... I am the most foolish... I am the lowest...'

Hebrews 11:24 says that Moses rather suffer with the Jews than enjoy the grandeur and pleasures of Egypt. Wht was in Moses's mind ? To do as GOD says... To simply obey GOD. How could Moses make a decision to go with GOD ! Would it be tough ? Was it tough then ? YES

Can this be done through me also ? GOD says Yes --- I need the simple faith and the emptying out and the simple prayers and the weaknesses !

Heb 11:26  makes me reflect - Isn't there a time whn GOD asks me to walk by faith ? When all your natural thinking is going against what GOD is speaking ?

The treasure v/s GOD

Is there a place where I can go and be alone with GOD where I can go and be alone with HIM and know that GOD speaks to me ?

2 Cor 12:9 a thorn in my flesh... GOD's grace is sufficient for me (GOD's favor is my strength)

1 tim 1:12 GOD is able to guard what I hv entrusted to HIM :-)

What can GOD do ?
The Greatness of GOD can be revealed as I yield to HIM in obedience ! The Beautiful Hand of GOD is on me :-) Greater than we cn ask or think !!!!!!!

Outreach

On Thursday evening the Santacruz church meets at the Vakola Market in Santacruz East:

People reading the Gospel tracts and asking questions: