In His Name

Life Church Africa

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In His Name | Ps Bruce McCleland | Easter Sunday

March 31, 2024 • Ps Bruce McCleland • Luke 24:13

As we reflect on the story of Cleopas and his friend, we see ourselves in him. Sometimes we can't see who Jesus is because of our own disappointments. Cleopas and his friend were so disappointed because they believed that Jesus the prophet would fulfill their expectations and missed Jesus walking with them- they missed Jesus the resurrected King who is our salvation walking with them. Unfortunately, that’s how we are sometimes.

This forces us to reflect on who we walk with and who we communicate with. Whether it's our jobs, spouses or friends, they all have an impact on our reality. They all have an impact on how we see things and how we behave in certain situations.

Disappointment can affect who we communicate with and how we communicate - it can have an impact on the things we say and believe. Unfortunately, disappointment can draw us to those who are disappointed as well. Misery loves company. That’s because the enemy's agenda is to keep us hurt and disappointed. This is because disappointment also affects what we believe. It can have an impact on our faith. What we have faith in determines where we will look. So if we look up to Jesus and focus on our walk with Him even when we are disappointed then the enemy has no foothold on us. Jesus is the perfecter of our faith, if we have faith in Him then our focus will always be on Him.

Life can be challenging at times, even if we have been believing in Christ for many years. Unfortunately sometimes, we give our lives to Jesus and then when things turn bad we begin to question Him, our faith becomes weak and we begin to distrust Him. Unfortunately when this happens, we sometimes find ourselves in the company of others who are disappointed and we forget or miss Jesus even when things are bad. We forget that He is with us.

When we lift our eyes to Him, then it's easy to see who He is even when things go bad. As His children, He gives us an identity. When we are with Him, disappointment doesn't become our identity but it becomes a way to focus More on Him. Jesus is our resurrected King and He resurrects us. He gives us strength when we are weak, rest when we are tired and peace when things go wrong. He resurrects us - He resurrects our Identity.

That is why our identity is in Him. We become what He says we are and not what the world and situations say we are. So this week, where is your focus? Who gives you your identity?

In His Name | Ps Anthony Liebenberg | Easter Friday

March 29, 2024 • Ps Anthony Liebenberg • Joel 2:32, John 3:17, Acts 2, Acts 3:16, John 14:13

This Good Friday, when we reflect on the cross, we see the love of Christ. We understand the power of what He did and the power of His name. So, join pastor Anthony as he unpacks the power in the name of Jesus. The Hebrew name for Jesus, Yeshua, is "Joshua" in English, while in Greek it's Lesous and it's changed to "Jesus." Therefore, both "Joshua" and "Jesus" mean the same thing, with English pronunciations of the Hebrew and Greek names. This interchangeability is shown in passages such as Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 in the King James Version. This shows us that the meaning of a word remains unaffected by changes in any language. An object like a book, which is called "buch" in German, "libro" in Spanish, or "livre" in French, retains its essence regardless of the linguistic variations. In the same way, the name of Jesus transcends all language barriers. It maintains its importance, meaning and identity across different languages. So, regardless of whatever language we speak, the name Jesus symbolizes salvation. We see this in both the Old and New Testaments. So, whether we speak it in English, Cantonese, or any other language, the proclamation of Jesus as "The Lord Is Salvation" resonates universally - it transcends all language barriers. The name of Jesus is so powerful in that there is healing, there is salvation, the forgiveness of sins is received through the name of Jesus, we are baptized in the name of Jesus and healing and miracles were performed in the name of Jesus during the time of the disciples and even today. We have been given a wonderful name in Jesus and therefore, we ought to revere, worship and walk in the name of Jesus - regardless of our languages. He is Jesus - our Salvation.

Doing What Jesus Did | Ps Josh Jones | In His Name Part 4

March 24, 2024 • Ps Josh Jones • Hebrews 11:11, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 14:23, John 1:14, 2 Timothy 3:16

In this though provoking sermon, join pastor Josh Jones as he unpacks faith and how we can do what Christ did in His name. Faith can be regarded as the currency of heaven. In Hebrews 11:1 it is described as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith can be defined as a divine gift from God rather than a human achievement, it is important for us believers because it embodies God's persuasion for us towards His will. This persuasion, according to 1 John 5:4, is continuously instilled in believers by the Lord. He is the only one who can do it. The beginning of faith does not lie in human reasoning or logic but it is a divine revelation concerning Jesus Christ who is our Messiah. The seed of faith starts with knowing Jesus' sacrifice and this is what drives us as believers. Some people may understand that Jesus existed and taught good morals, but they struggle to believe in his resurrection. This shows that faith goes beyond just logical reasoning and understanding. Faith is from God. We can all believe but not all of us can have faith. He is the one who gives that to us. Ephesians 2:8 teaches us that salvation comes through grace by faith, which is given to us as a divine gift rather than it being something that we generate ourselves. People sometimes think or believe that faith can be created through thinking or meditating, but on the contrary, it comes from being close to God. Belief is a beginning, but real faith changes people and requires a deep desire to be aligned with God's plans - to be close to Him and learn His ways. Romans 14:23 teaches us that faith and righteous living go hand in hand, showing that actions without faith are considered sinful. This shows that faith isn't just about agreeing intellectually, but about actively trusting and relying on God. Similarly, Hebrews 11:6 shows the importance of faith in pleasing God, and it emphasizes the necessity of unwavering belief in Him and His promises. So what are you doing in His name? Are you letting Cultivate your faith?

Say What He Says | Ps Megan McCleland | In His Name Part 3

March 17, 2024 • Megan McCleland • 2 Timothy 4:3, Ephesians 4:14, John 14:15, Proverbs 12:18, John 17

Join Pastor Megan as we delve into the series "In His Name," focused on John 17, where Jesus' prayer to His Father showcases the importance of living and acting in His name. In a world full of popular quotes, discernment is crucial to ensure that whatever we are quoting is in alignment with God's Word. Ephesians 4:14 and 2 Timothy 4:3 caution us as believers against being swayed by teachings that lack truth - even if they are a great sounding quote. Words are powerful, they are capable of both uplifting and causing harm to others, as Proverbs 12:18 shows us. We need to remember that as representatives of God, our speech carries weight and that is why it's necessary to be mindful of what we say, read, or quote. Jesus' teachings provide a blueprint on how to align our words with His. He provides us with a guide on how to be mindful of our actions and speech. Jesus was wise and His wisdom shines through His commands, such as loving God and others wholeheartedly. We can rest assured that when we model our lives after Him, we will live lives full of wisdom. Jesus’s ways went far beyond speech, and if we do so then even our lives will be changed and transformed - our demeanor and response to challenges in life will also be transformed. Therefore as we continue to walk in His name, the book of Colossians 4:5-6 encourages us to be gracious with our speech so that we may reflect Christ's character. Its not easy but through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may our speech mirror the love and truth of Jesus Christ. May He be the one to guide our actions and interactions as we strive to represent Him faithfully.