009: Mike Hardy - Transforming Friendship

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1. 0:06

   Welcome to the good Chris selfie and talks podcast. I’m Levi how this talk is titled. The transforming friendship is given to us by brother Mike Hardy from Manchester England. This talk was actually a suggestion from a brother after listening to the third episode of this show called honor the son. A talk by brother, Tim Badger, this talk was presented in 2010.

2. 0:29

   We Found it a very well studied in Practical extension from the honor, the sun talk, I guess this is partic. The editorial bias of this program because I personally have been meditating on the relationship of Jesus to us today. So found this talk to be very impactful in something, I’ve personally been interested in.

3. 0:48

   So anyone else who was inspired by that third by episode 3, honor, the son, I think we’ll enjoy this talk as well. It’s so often says in the New Testament that Christ should dwell. Us or there’s quotes like Christ in us. What does that mean? And I think you’ll find some answers in this talk.

4. 1:06

   This talk was also a suggestion and please keep those coming. So here’s my card. E the transforming friendship introduction. I’m so totally to collect we speak, I’ve got all sorts of gadgets here, I’ll get one of those and I got a sort of Gordon Brown microphone here and I’d like just to test this and see if you can hear me when I just use this one and not that to get, can you hear me at the back? Okay, on my Gordon Brown microphone? Yes, good.

5. 1:38

   That means I wonder about very, very good to be here with you. It’s, you know, this is this is a very special weekend. I’ve done some talks in other places, but the great thing about being here with you is that you’re a very special audience. There’s a, there’s a quality of listening. Those people who stand on platforms, will know that there’s a there’s a quality of listening and it’s something special that happens here.

6. 2:06

   I think there’s a certain kind of person can I say that comes to all traffic Fellowship weekend and I think That I’m probably going to be talking to the converted today. I think, you know, all about what I’m saying is that feedback? Because I’m standing near these lava, right? I move over here.

7. 2:31

   This is a story. I don’t know if, you know, it is in Texas, oil millionaire, build himself a new swimming pool. Very proud of it. It was very ritzy and he’s, and so I threw a party and filled it with sharks and invited. Lots of uses a lot of the people who work for him and he said, if anybody swims, the length of this pool, they can have anything. They like anything they ask for immediately. There’s no hesitation whatsoever, young man in his suit and shoes dived in.

8. 3:01

   All the sharks could even turn around. He was from one end of the pool to the other and he came out, he stood in a pool of water and the oil millionaire said to him. That was just amazing. No. Just name it. Anything you like you can have it and he said well I really like the name of the person who pushed me out the other end. well, I know who got me into this, it was layers, I can’t see where she is, but, and I did struggle a bit to get out of it because I’m supposed to be here and talk about preaching. And when I look around this room, I can see people here who’ve done the most amazing, preachy events, terrific, Outreach and fight, really can’t match that kind of track record in preaching, but I do have something to say. And so here I am and all those people who weren’t brave enough to pretend that they had children when everybody left. Do you are right and you know you kind of stuck with me round but we’re going to talk about something very special to transforming friendship and this is what I want to say. This is what it’s all about that. Our relationship with a living and indwelling Lord, Jesus, radically empowers and transforms, every part of our service to God without that, we’re just working in our own strength, the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

9. 4:35

   Changes, Everything Changes Dusty theology into spiritual dynamite and that’s where I want to talk about, and it’s important, I think to talk about this for two reasons. And the first is that, it seems to me that it’s not really given the emphasis that it deserves within our community.

10. 4:59

    And for something, which is so essential for success. I think that’s a terrible. Stu is there was a time in the 1970s. Remember the 1970s? No, I do. Unfortunately, I remember really. Well there was a time then when it looked as though the christadelphians teaching about, this was going to change and a lot of the influential speakers and writers around about that time lady Norris James Norris, our third diag spread bawling, Melva perkis We’re all beginning to talk about the Holy Spirit and about the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how that works in our lives.

11. 5:45

    But he met with enormous opposition. It was a very bitter opposition. Thank you. And I know that Melva perkis and some of the others were just very concerned that it was going to cause division in our community and so people backed off. But it was a, it was a shame because it’s left is really in a kind of limbo where we don’t is used to me.

12. 6:13

    We don’t have a very clear idea about the way. The Lord Jesus Works in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. And so I think we really need the shame of it. Is the with our understanding of the Holy Spirit museum with our theology isn’t clouded by any belief, that the holy spirit is the third person of the Trinity.

13. 6:35

    And so, of all people, we ought to be able to understand it. We ought to have this rise and sadly we backed away from from thinking about it. So that’s the first reason. And the second is it says here If it’s will, I stand there, isn’t it? Thank you. If we don’t get this right then we get everything wrong.

14. 7:01

    Would it help if I move this desk to the other side, wouldn’t it be think? Come to talk to you now, I’ve talked to them and I’m going to talk to you.

15. 7:16

    Yes. We, if we get this wrong, we get everything wrong. We just turn our faith into something, which is based on duty, and Dusty theology. How many people read Harry Potter can’t admit admit it? Aah remembering Harry Potter, the Dementors to suck the joy out of life. That’s what happens if you don’t have this because the offers it of this price entered faith is legalism and legalism is just such a killer was when Jesus was around the Pharisees, exemplified it and it still is today and it’s under the the tragedy of legalism is we do have legal. Community.

16. 8:01

    They look so religious. You know. They look so impressive and you think well, they must be right. But they’re so wrong. They are so completely wrong and they drive all the joy out of our worship and our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And that’s that’s such a tragedy I think. Okay, right then.

17. 8:28

    Try my next Gadget. Good, thank you face. So I press the button, he presses the button, it’s pretty impressive, isn’t it? What is this? That you’ve given me? I really am selling a while ago, and and I think it was It was this there is a crystallized. What I want my faith to be about.

18. 9:05

    Let me just find my copy of these because otherwise I have to keep turning around. I wonder faith of his christ-centered bible-based active in love that. That really is my Manifesto. That’s the way that I would like to be in my life and I was quite pleased with this. So I sent it off to my friend, Bruce Parker and your brother Bruce Parker in in America. Bruce like this as well.

19. 9:31

    In fact, he liked it a lot because Bruce has a background in marketing and he says look we turn it the other way around. It’s ABC. What a gift that is you note when you’re talking to people and so Bruce said he’s entered India at the moment, he said I’ll go talk about this and I’m going to do active in love bible-based and christ-centered.

20. 9:54

    And then I thought, well, that doesn’t work. I think that’s back-to-front, Theology and it won’t work and that just kind of crystallized it for me. That’s not what it means to me at all. So I want to talk about being christ-centered empowered and transformed by the living presence of the Lord, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul’s talks about struggling All his energy, which so powerfully Works in me.

21. 10:27

    I want to know what that’s about. I want to know what that feels like, and I want to know how to share that experience with the Apostle. Paul, and bible-based it has to be real. It has to not just wish fulfillment at us. I’ll tell you a secret ever. Since I got in this morning, I’ve been on the edge of a migraine and anybody a lot.

22. 10:53

    So, You I’m sure have migraine the man at the back, I know. And what happens is that your vision starts to break up, you get this thing called a scotoma and flashing lights and dazzling. And I thought this happens, it’s going to be an interesting morning. And so that’s beyond the edges of my Consciousness all morning.

23. 11:16

    There’s a medieval Mystic Hildegard of bingen who used to have visions of the Lord Jesus Christ. And Painted these Visions lawyers later man called Oliver Sacks wrote a book on the grave and he said, I think what she was experiencing was the scotoma of me grain and that she and she draws these pictures of the visions that she has and the surrounded by those kind of zigzag dazzling lies.

24. 11:45

    It’s important that with the, our belief isn’t just wish fulfillment. It has to be real and so our faith has to be Christ centered, but it has to be bible-based as well. And so, I’m going to spend a little time this morning talking about the scriptures, which, which Define this relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

25. 12:11

    And it has to be active in love. If it’s going to be real, it has to produce results. Won’t work the other way around. But if we have this relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ, then we’re going to produce. Fruit press my button Pete, so I find again. It’s first right, what’s up?

26. 12:37

    Okay, this is Peterson’s translation, fruit of the spirit and I love the translation. What happens when we live God’s away? He brings gifts into our lives. Much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard things like affection for others. Exuberance about life. This is the opposite of legalism. Isn’t it exuberance about life Serenity, we develop a willingness to stick with things a sense of compassion in the heart and a conviction that a basic Holiness, permeates, things. And people without find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to Marshal and direct our energies wisely, read the rest of it. If you got a copy of Peterson’s translation at home because it’s a terrific, Quick description of the fruit of the spirit. And the thing about this is these are attractive qualities. Remember that last year?

27. 13:42

    Those of you who were here, huh? Girls no yes we’ll remember John saying this people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care that stayed with me all year really and that’s what I think. That’s the main thing that I took away really from from Don’s talk last year and the purpose of the fruit of the spirit is to draw people into that relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

28. 14:15

    And if our faith is working in our relationship, with them is working, is going to happen to you. Is that is what, you know, Jesus, as your the, on the vine, you are the branches, branches. Bear fruit is what they do. If you stay attached to the vine, is what they do. So preaching, I think in the formal sense comes later, okay?

29. 14:37

    It’s time we wrote something, isn’t it? So will you turn to Mark chapter 11? Going to read to you verses 1 to 20 baccala.

30. 15:01

    As they approached Jerusalem, and came to bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his disciples saying to them, go to the Village ahead of you. And just, as you enter it, you will find a Colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden, a little girl, come to our South Lakes once and she did really for us and Jesus according to her said, go into the city. They will find a clause tied to a tree. Sorry, where was I?

31. 15:33

    Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, why you doing this? Tell him. The Lord means. It will send it back here shortly. And I went and found the cold outside in the street ties to doorway as they untied it. Some people standing there asked, what what are you doing? Untying that colt. They answered as Jesus had told them to and the people that them go.

32. 15:55

    When they brought the Colt to Jesus, who through their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road while others spread branches, they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who follow shouted. Hosanna blessed. Is he who comes in the name of the Lord blessed, is the coming Kingdom of Our Father, David hosanna in the highest Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went to the temple.

33. 16:21

    He looked around at everything but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve the next day as they were leaving. Bethany. Jesus was hungry seeing in the distance. A fig tree in leaf. He went to find if he’d had any fruit when he reached it, he found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, May no one ever eat fruit from you again and his disciples heard him say it. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling their, he overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, is it not written? My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a den of robbers. The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began, looking for a way to kill him for, they feared him because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. When evening came.

34. 17:27

    They went out of the city in the morning as they went along. I saw the Fig Tree withered from its roots. So, here we have the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The crowds all chanting these words from Psalm 118 is the only complete sentence, I know in Hebrew. And so Sue’s over there, she knows I’ve got to say it, but hookah bar b’shem Adonai. But I promise, I’ll only say it once I try it after you just say it once, I’ll just love this.

35. 18:06

    Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord and it’s a song that hundred eighteen Psalm about David’s victories. It’s David returning from his victories over the Philistines, a conquering King but it’s also something else in Judaism. It’s the beginning of the Jewish wedding. If you go to a Jewish wedding anywhere in the world, it always begins that way that the congregation wait for the bride, groom to arrive. And as soon as he appears they say, I can just it was more. Okay, Baruch Haba b’shem, Adonai blessed. Is he who comes in the name of the Lord. And you see what they’re saying?

36. 18:43

    Jesus is the Messiah. He’s the bridegroom. He’s the one. We’ve been waiting for tremendous moment. Exciting moment. Then Jesus is the Fig Tree curses. The Fig Tree we’re going to the temple which is just been corrupted being used for selfish purposes is not being used as a house of God at all. Is being used for material gain is being used for self-promotion of a, kind of a religious Elite.

37. 19:17

    And then they returned. And in the morning, the Fig Tree is withered. A lot of people think the Fig Tree is a symbol for Israel. Heidi is symbol for the temple. It’s a perfect symbol for that. What worship of God has become? It’s it’s got leaves but it’s got no fruit. And that’s what empty religion does.

38. 19:46

    It’s kind of very showy and it looks pretty good but it has no substance. It has no fruit. And Jesus is saying that he’s replaced the temple. A system of belief has been replaced by a relationship with a person Jesus of replace the temple. God’s living presence departed from the temple. Long ago. Remember Eli’s, grandson was Ichabod or the saddest names in the history of the world.

39. 20:21

    The glory has departed. Holiness isn’t found. In a building Holiness isn’t found in our system of belief is found in a Can ship in Hebrew, the words. Holy is kadosh and the word for marriage is Kiddush in the so closely related. It’s about a relationship It won’t work again, please. Thanks one that said I’m indebted to you, Margaret over there for reminding me of this quotation. From Andrew Murray, Holiness doesn’t come by seeking Holiness comes by seeking the Lord Jesus Christ. The temples gone at the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples.

40. 21:13

    It’s going to be pulled down. There won’t be one stone left or another it’s like a leprous house in Leviticus. it’s going to be pulled apart Stone by Stone because it’s, it’s become an evil place and Jesus says, the end of Matthew’s gospel, you won’t see me again, until you say blessed, is he who comes in the name of the Lord has to be like that for us, where the bride of Christ, we’re inviting him in triumphal entry into our lives and when that happens then we’re going to produce fruit as well as leaves its Just going to be showy religion.

41. 21:53

    It’s not just gonna be rote learning, it’s not just going to be a matter of Doctrine. It’s going to be something which produces fruit. It’s going to be something, which changes the world because of the presence of a living. Lord Jesus. What is the sing Jesus to be the center. Must remember to switch this off because I have a terrible scene boy.

42. 22:21

    Okay. I want to say that is Christ centered and bible-based, it has to be he has to be rooted in clear, Bible teaching. Now I’m not there an awful lot of time here and so you’re going to have to go home and do the legwork yourself, but I want to show you just where to look three things. I want to show you if you don’t already know them. As the first one, because the word, which occurs in John’s gospel, got all the way through John, picks up the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

43. 22:54

    And we went, and this word appears about 40 odd times in the Gospel of John, and it’s the word to dwell to abide. Unfortunately, translations haven’t really helped us because they often translating all kinds of different ways, but you know what it means because Very early in the gospel. Jesus, is walking along Peter and Andrew, is it?

44. 23:17

    I think of following him. And Jesus says to Peter, you want to ask me a question and Peter always has something to say not always sensible, and not very sensible on this occasion, really because he says, where do you live? All right. John in his wisdom, records, this encounter. And I think the reason a does it is the flag of the meaning. Right at the beginning of the Gospel of this word meno in mean.

45. 23:46

    I don’t know which work for his first for downside, but it means to dwell or to abide and it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ. Who will dwell in US. Have a look for it for once in a while. Do the thing where you get the you know, the highlighter and get your concordance and just highlight all the times that this happens in the Gospel of John and the Epistles of John because it’s so important this teaching and you learn a lot by doing it.

46. 24:20

    That’s it. Okay, what I’ve done here is I’ve slightly retranslated. So every time the word meno appears, I’ve translated it dwell, this is what Jesus says, the thing that Neil read to us. I am the True Vine. And my father is, the gardener he cuts off every branch in me, that bears, no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so as it will be even more fruitful, you are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you dwell in me. And I will dwell in you no Branch can bear fruit by itself, it must dwell in the vine neither. Can you bear fruit?

47. 24:59

    Unless you dwell in me? I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man dwells in me and I dwell in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing and you think Jesus is trying to tell us something there. I think he is and that kind of teaching occurs.

48. 25:20

    As all the way through John’s gospel. And so going to go away hamburger time to go through them all purchases business of Earth, a Bible class, rather talk like this, but you need to do it, you need to go and look at it and fix it in your mind because it’s has to be rooted in clear Bible teaching. So, that’s the first big body of teaching to do with this word, to dwell, or to abide.

49. 25:44

    Try again, good. Did I do that? Why did you do that? You design. Straps. This is nothing really isn’t. It’s just, this is just a toy. Then there’s this whole body of teaching about Christ in you the Apostle Paul very, very important to him to her. Yes and it occurs all the way through his teachings, just give you one example in Colossians.

50. 26:12

    God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles, the Glorious Riches of this mystery which is Christ in. You the hope of glory, we Proclaim him admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom. So that we may present every one perfect in Christ. And Paul says, to this end, my labor struggling with all his energy which so powerfully Works in me.

51. 26:33

    I want to know what that feels like. I want to know what that’s about and all the way through the letters of Paul, you’ll find this teaching. Christ in you. If you want to, if you want a reference list all these things just give me your email address and I’ll email you some, some notes.

52. 26:50

    But you really need to do the work Christ in you the hope of glory. And look we’re not talking about just the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. But they’re in words are important. You need to know what Jesus says. I’m not just talking about the example, of the Lord Jesus Christ, because the examples important, I’m talking to dead people influence people in there.

53. 27:12

    His ways with their words and their example but the Lord Jesus Christ is alive and promising to be with us to the ends of the world a living in dwelling, Lord Jesus. So that’s the second body of teaching and you need to look at it and the third is the teaching in the Gospel of John about the paraclete Jesus, before his crucifixion, gives this teaching to his disciples, trying to prepare them, and trying to teach them something, which must have been absolutely impossible for them to comprehend at that time that he would be with them after his death and Resurrection, I will ask the father, he he will send another counselor to be with you forever Greeks, very precise language. It has two words for another one is Allison. What is heteros?

54. 28:06

    I lost wins one of this, exactly the same kind. Somebody just like Jesus. We run for his note. That’s it. I’m sorry pressed to this. It’s the world cannot accept him as Spirit of truth because it neither sees him nor knows him but, you know, him for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans.

55. 28:36

    Jesus says I will come to you. It’s a promise of the presence of the Living Lord Jesus Christ with his people after his resurrection. My dear children, he says, here in the Epistle of John, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the father in our defense.

56. 29:01

    Now, that word is Advocate, if you’ve got a new King James version, that’s how its translated. It’s the same word, it’s the paraclete, it’s the counselor, it’s the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I think for me this first just clinches it and makes it Obvious. Now, does this bother you? This kind of teaching about the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Has it sound a bit on christadelphians? Because I think some people think that it’s not very christadelphians but it is it really is. But let me just hunger time to give you many protections but I can give you a couple.

57. 29:42

    Now we’ll smart. It is clear from this that the coming of the comforter spirit is the coming of Jesus himself. With Paul, as with John, the operation of the holy spirit in Human Experience is almost indistinguishable from the indwelling of Christ. The spirit being the means by which Christ comes to us and works within us.

58. 30:05

    No, the Turkish. How many people got Melva purchases Life of Christ as a sunday-school present? Yeah, there’s a certain age group that’s gonna be quite interesting. Yes. Melba. Perky said this in a letter, I firmly believe that the indwelling of the father and the son is virtually the same as the indwelling of the spirit.

59. 30:25

    After all the spirit is only, that’s his exploration of art, the power of God, working in lives, dedicated to him and that by the grace, which is in Jesus. Just one last one. But there are many more, and this is Arthur hail writing in the Bible missionary, terrific series he did in the Bible missionary called are exalted. Lord is go back and have a look at it. Jesus said the paraclete would abide with his followers forever.

60. 30:49

    A promise that would be hard to reconcile with a few Decades of witness in the first century. The Lord is the same yesterday today and forever, so that his interest and participation in the witness of his servants in all ages. Is assured. That’s just a selection that I can give you. but you got to do the Lego at yourself really and

61. 31:18

    Let me just make one thing clear and I don’t think I need to make this clear to you. I’m talking about fruit of the spirit and not gift to the spirit right there. We got into an awful lot of hassle talking about whether you have Spirit gifts I’m not all that interested. Really, if God wants you to have gifts, he’ll give you gifts.

62. 31:41

    Don’t worry about it, but what you do need to have is fruit. Jesus Says by their fruit. You shall know who are, my disciples is a by their gifts. He said by their fruit, that’s the defining principle. Okay. That’s the that’s the Bible part and I really do think you have to go and do it in, do the work yourself because it’s so important that this is based on clear, Bible teaching.

63. 32:13

    It’s there for you to find if you’re not, then he’s already. Okay, let me ask you a question. If everything depends on this relationship, how do we nourish it and make it as good as we possibly can? Is it something that’s going to happen? And be so powerful, all through your life. I’m used to do a little research. Here we put your hand up.

64. 32:35

    If you’ve been married more than 10 years, lots of all lots of people. Okay? When you put your Handler who married, more than 20 years, Bill at want. Anybody new variables and 30 years? Goodness. Me. How about hello? Try it 40 years. Ha ha ha. Oh I didn’t realize you were sold 50 years, everyone.

65. 33:03

    Whoa, Philip. How many years have you been married? 52 years. What a saintly work. Woman. Dorothea 52 years. Have you any idea how many times you kissed? Her?

66. 33:24

    No, well, fortunately, I brought my calculator. Let’s just go for the assumption that, you know, once stood once a day, 52 years. Wow, 18,000 512, at least, that would go through at least, once a day, I’m sure right now Philip don’t do anybody else is this Some of those kisses Philip were forged in the white-hot, fires of passion.

67. 34:06

    When they, I don’t want to know about those but some of them were just that every day, kiss on the cheek when you went to work. But they were important to, and I, because they’re part of a relationship that’s gone on for a long, long time. We thank God that it has. The part of something, very precious and something special life is for The Living Lord, Jesus Christ isn’t always, spiritual highs, very important. Those times of refreshing but the day-to-day experience of a living Lord, sometimes is a bit every day in a bit mundane, but it’s still the real thing.

68. 34:53

    Still precious, still special still keeps us together all these years. Okay. There’s a question I would ask. But who is this good. We talk about this later on if it’s so important as quality, there must be a test I want to talk about in the second session. What is the test?

69. 35:25

    I’m going to we’re going to break now. I’ve got four minutes left, it’s pretty good. Eh. Yeah, we’re going to break and we’re going to go to some discussion groups because what I want here. Something that’s very important about a weekend. Like this is, It’s a fellowship weekend. It’s about God’s people being together, sharing our experience, helping each other and I want you to go away and talk about how you experience this relationship. How do you make it strong?

70. 36:02

    What do you do when something goes wrong with it? And you seem far apart from God. Because we’re all different personalities. We all relate to the Lord, Jesus Christ in different ways. And I want you to talk about that, we used to tell each other because that’s how we strengthen each other, and that’s how we grow.

71. 36:24

    Thank you for listening to the good christadelphians talks podcast. If you haven’t already, please subscribe on Apple podcast or your podcast, player of choice, for show notes and links to the talk. You just listened to visit our show page. A tanker dot f m / G CT. We encourage everyone to share their thoughts. On the talk from this week on our social media Pages. We are at good christadelphians, talks on Facebook Instagram and add GCT underscore podcast on Twitter. If you know very talk, we want to know about it. To send any suggestions to good christadelphians talks at gmail.com or message us on social media. If you know anyone who wants to listen to more good talks like you.

72. 37:08

    Please show the podcast with them. Thank you for listening. God bless and talk to you next week.