Regent Hall Sermons: Espresso Yourself

Jesus's own spiritual life was nurtured through an intimate relationship with creation. He comes as the one who opens the door to the new creation and says "Behold I make all things new". Major Richard Mingay

I’d like to set the context for this month’s teaching through the season of creation. You see, we might ask what on earth creation has to do with traditional holiness and salvation themes. Well, if we can’t find any connection I think we’ll have to answer for that to our children and grandchildren! So, this morning I am appealing that we are able to take a broader view of salvation and holiness – which encompasses within God’s mission the whole big cosmic creation as well as my own personal salvation and holiness. Major Caroline Mingay

God spoke a major message through this minor prophet - and if there was ever a message that was relevant for today it is this one given to Haggai: there is a time to consider, a time to believe and a time to act. We too often minimise what God can do through us because we minimise our capacity to do God's will here on earth. But the truth is that God continues to do his extraordinary work through the ordinary. Major Graham Mizon

The book of Habakkuk is unique in that it doesn’t provide a direct prophecy to the people but it records a dialogue between the prophet and God. Habakkuk couldn’t make sense out of life and complained to God. But God’s ultimate aim is for his glory to cover the earth and for the just to live by faith. Habakkuk is able to conclude his prophecy with a hymn of praise as he rejoices in the Lord. Major Graham Mizon

Nahum is a study of God’s justice coming to bear upon the city of Nineveh. Even in the midst of difficulties and oppression, God can bring good news – and we are the ones that God may send. In a world of darkness and need, Christian’s bring the light and hope of Jesus. Major Graham Mizon

Micah is a remarkable prophecy and contains some of the most exact prophecies that were to come to pass. It hardly gets a look in when we celebrate Advent and Christmas, but several centuries before Christ, Micah spoke the word of the Lord, that God will send a Saviour, who, like Micah, will come from a humble background and be born in the small outback village of Bethlehem, that this one who will be born will stand among the people a shepherd and will stand in the strength and might of the Lord God. Major Graham Mizon Major Graham Mizon

This morning we are going to look at what is no doubt the most famous and well-known of all the Minor Prophets - Jonah. It is a Biblical, fast-paced story, of a runaway prophet who got swallowed by a whale but survived in order that he could preach to the Nineties. I want us to see this morning that this ancient text, recording events in the latter part of the eight century BC, contains messages that can help us to live for Jesus today. There are major themes in this Minor Prophet that speak to the heart of our walk with God today. Major Graham Mizon

We come to the second in this series where we look at major themes in the Minor Prophets – the label given to the last twelve books of the Old Testament. We know nothing about Joel except that he was the son of Pethuel. We have no clue in the book of Joel as to when the prophecy took place, but it was probably one of the earliest of all the prophets – eight or nine centuries before Christ. Joel spoke out boldly speaking forth the message of Yahweh – a forth-teller, but also spoke of a better day in the future and as a foreteller told of a day when all will come to the Lord to be saved; both Jew and Gentile. Major Graham Mizon

The book of Obadiah is a message of judgement against the sin of humanity which had fallen upon the nation of Edom. But, as is the case with all these prophetical books, the message and vision that Obadiah brings is not without hope. Through the message of judgement comes the Gospel message of hope - the hope of Christ in us and that his kingdom will come and we will be victorious. Major Graham Mizon

We come to the third in this series where we look at major themes in the Minor Prophets – the label given to the last twelve books of the Old Testament. This week we consider the prophecy of Amos. What do we know about Amos? Well, the book opens by telling us that Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa, which was a small rural community about 12 miles south of Jerusalem. I just love the simple, straightforward way that Amos talks about how God called him. We can learn from his simple faith today.

Major Graham Mizon begins a series on the Minor Prophets, beginning with Hosea and his love story.

And so we come to the final part of this prayer, “and that you would keep me from harm”. Jabez is praying a prayer for protection. It is so easy to be defeated, despondent and deflated. And that can especially happen when we are being blessed by God and when we are enlarging our sphere of influence. But we can live as the Redeemed, with our heads held high and our feet firm on the solid rock. Major Graham Mizon

Have you ever thought that a little prayer to God can result in great surprises? Have you ever had the experience of praying a prayer that God has surprisingly answered for you? I hope you have. If you haven’t, let me warn you to be careful what you pray for. God has a habit of answering those prayers leaving us in awe of a God of the universe who is also intimately interested in our little prayers! It is possible to pray a prayer, think that you are not going to get an answer and then have the shock of your life. Jabez prayed: “Let your hand be with me!” This is a real, heartfelt prayer by Jabez for dependence; to be dependent upon the God of Israel. Major Graham Mizon

Jabez prayed: "Oh, that you would bless me And enlarge my territory Let your hand be with me And keep me from harm" This week we look at the second line of this prayer and see what it can tell us today. Jabez had a holy ambition to do more and to be more for God. Major Graham Mizon

Praying with Purpose: "that you would bless me indeed". We begin a four part series of sermons looking at the Prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4: 10. It is a remarkable, one verse prayer that is relevant to us today. Graham Mizon

In this final talk of this sermon series, I would like to talk about how we can reach out of the zone and become a blessing to others. If you are a blessable person; if you have been abundantly blessed, you can hardly help but to be a blessing to others. You will constantly send blessing messages out. And, of course, that is how it should be. God hasn’t abundantly blessed us so we can live in our own little world. He has blessed us so we can share his Good News so that more people can be saved from Hell and received assurance and Heaven. And that is the tension I want to present this week. The tension between us as Christian’s living in our own world – our own fellowship – our own church, against the need for us to turn outwards and reach outwards in fellowship and love to others so we can be a blessing to them. Major Graham Mizon

Life in the zone is about God and generosity. Outside the zone is all about Satan and selfishness. In the zone it's about blessing; out of the zone it's about curse. In the zone it's about give, give, give. Outside the zone it's about get, get, get. With all the materialism around us today, no wonder we can so easily get sucked out of the zone. We are all born takers, while God is a giver. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3: 16). Major Graham Mizon

God wants us to live in this zone – the place where God can bless us and influence us, and a place from where we can bless others. The problem is, some of us live outside the zone – we are zoned out – we tiptoe on the edge of the ledge – we sometimes drift in and out. But God wants us to be zoned-in people. God is for us! God wants us to enjoy his presence and his blessings. God wants us to be in a good place. God’s the Blessor. He’s given everything to us—our personality, our drive, our creativity, our innovation, our smile, our laugh, our athletic abilities. He has given it all to us. And because we have it from God, the stuff we have is God’s. One of the fundamental things for a Christian to believe and to understand is that everything is from God and of God. Without him, there is nothing and we are nothing. But we need to go beyond this. Because we’re blessed—when we are in the zone, we can turn around and be a blessing. Major Graham Mizon

What does it mean to be 'in the zone'? A zone is simply an area that's distinguished from the surrounding areas. It's in contrast to other places. I want to suggest that God wants us to be in a zone - in a place - where he can bless us. What does it take to be where God wants us to be? To be in the centre of God's will and purposes for our life; to be in the right place; to be 'in the zone'? So for starters I want to talk about getting in there - how we get into a good place where God can bless us - the place where we can be a blessing to others. Major Graham Mizon

This morning I want to talk about the Glory of the Lord. But what is it? I want us to see that the glory of the Lord can be seen this side of heaven. It is encountered in that place which is the presence and settling place of God. So how do you make it a reality and not something you just read or talk about? When we are in harmony with God and seeking his will and his presence we will be transformed by degrees, and we will see the glory of the Lord. Graham Mizon