We began our new series in church on Sunday night on the subject of what it is to be blessed! I kicked off with the whole subject of ‘blessed are those who dwell in your house’ (Psalm 84:4)
It is God’s will for our lives to be blessed to flourish...to grow! God loves you and wants the very best for you!
The psalmist knows what he needs for happiness. Happiness, for him, is being in God's house!
Psalm 84:10 - Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
There are those who attend church who never reach full potential, don’t really grow. As well as dwelling in the House of God…the key is being planted!
Psalm 92:12-15 – (12) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (13) planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, (15) proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."
Not those who just attend…but those who are planted! Put down our roots, be watered/fed…and watch God make us grow! Not uprooted – moving from place to place, but planted/rooted in local church. Only then will we grow!
Here Psalm 92 it tells us the key to a productive and flourishing life is to be planted in the church. The house of God is the church - the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
We have to remember the church is not a place you go to, but it’s a place you belong.
4 Steps to being truly planted in the Church
1) Be a member of the household
Ephesians 2:19 - ‘Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household’.
2) Form Friendships
The church in Acts came together often and shared. They developed relationships. They developed the family.
Connect yourselves with others. We have to make time for each other. Church is more than Sundays; we need to make an effort to meet up regularly at other times.
3) Build Partnerships
1 Corinthians 3:9 - For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
We need to work together! There is a corporate anointing when we come together. When we gather together, when we serve each other.
4) Love people (Kinship)
1 John 3:16 – This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers
If you love Jesus, you will also love other people. You can’t say you love God and hate people at the same time.
Be blessed! Get planted!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Monday, November 28, 2005
Personal Best
Ran in the Clowne Half Marathon yesterday and recorded a PB of 1:41:06. My mate Rob just pipped me by 3 seconds this time....well done mate! I can't believe it's a year since we last ran this race. (See archive)
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
The Power of Worship Part III
Paul Benger finished our series off in style on Sunday night with a great message on the ‘serving’ aspect of worship.
Romans 12:1 – And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
When would God be asking too much of you? What would it take for us to say no to God?
Service to God does not belittle us.
Jesus shared about the good and faithful servant in Matthew 25. The highest aspiration on life is to be a servant in whatever sphere of life we are in.
Martin Luther King - ‘Everyone can be great because anyone can serve’
Even in prison Joseph did well! He had a ‘nobility’ about his life, nobility inside of him – a servant heart, an excellent attitude.
Jesus said the greatest among you is the one who serves. The way to greatness...serve! Jesus was our great example:
He came to serve - (Mark 10:45)
For those who aspire to lead - (Mark 10:44)
Jesus showed the way (John 13:14)
Paul’s main text for the evening was from Genesis 24:12-28, when Abraham’s servant went looking for a wife for Isaac and found Rebekah. He shared with us 6 characteristics of great service and great worship.
Great service is WILLING (vs 18)
Great service has a willing attitude, willing heart – and is uncomplaining!
Great service EXCELS (vs 19)
Goes beyond the required norm. Excels expectation – not a one-off.
Great service is SWIFT (vs 18)
Gets on with it – not grumpy. Does not procrastinate!
Great service is HONOURING (vs 18)
‘Certainly sir – drink my Lord!’ Serving looks for ways to honour - ‘How can I serve him, her or them’. Helps those to fulfil their potential.
Great service means WORK (vs 19-20)
She ran! Kept on working, backwards and forwards to the well.
Great service is UNSELFISH
Laying down your life. Putting others before self. Serve where you’re needed not just where you want to!
Romans 12:1 – And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
When would God be asking too much of you? What would it take for us to say no to God?
Service to God does not belittle us.
Jesus shared about the good and faithful servant in Matthew 25. The highest aspiration on life is to be a servant in whatever sphere of life we are in.
Martin Luther King - ‘Everyone can be great because anyone can serve’
Even in prison Joseph did well! He had a ‘nobility’ about his life, nobility inside of him – a servant heart, an excellent attitude.
Jesus said the greatest among you is the one who serves. The way to greatness...serve! Jesus was our great example:
He came to serve - (Mark 10:45)
For those who aspire to lead - (Mark 10:44)
Jesus showed the way (John 13:14)
Paul’s main text for the evening was from Genesis 24:12-28, when Abraham’s servant went looking for a wife for Isaac and found Rebekah. He shared with us 6 characteristics of great service and great worship.
Great service is WILLING (vs 18)
Great service has a willing attitude, willing heart – and is uncomplaining!
Great service EXCELS (vs 19)
Goes beyond the required norm. Excels expectation – not a one-off.
Great service is SWIFT (vs 18)
Gets on with it – not grumpy. Does not procrastinate!
Great service is HONOURING (vs 18)
‘Certainly sir – drink my Lord!’ Serving looks for ways to honour - ‘How can I serve him, her or them’. Helps those to fulfil their potential.
Great service means WORK (vs 19-20)
She ran! Kept on working, backwards and forwards to the well.
Great service is UNSELFISH
Laying down your life. Putting others before self. Serve where you’re needed not just where you want to!
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
The Church at Worship
Simon Wood continued our ‘The Power of Worship’ series last night in church. He spoke on the ‘Church at Worship’…
‘Worship’ is hard to put into words. You can’t just use the dictionary definition.
We need to get what God is really like into our hearts!
We’ve been created to worship. God has put the desire of worship into our hearts...but what are we worshipping?
We’ve been created for greater things...to be worshipping in God’s house. God is a great Father and wants the very best for us!
In our worship God wants the very best for us. It’s a two-way relationship. Give to God what He deserves. And know this...that God loves you and,
Zephaniah 3:17 – The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing!
We are a worshipping church, but worship is not just a church thing…it’s a lifestyle.
But there is great strength and power when the church comes together in worship. There is a great anointing!
Psalm 133:1-3 – How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life forevermore.
God sees the aroma of our worship...our love, our heart for Him.
Great message!
‘Worship’ is hard to put into words. You can’t just use the dictionary definition.
We need to get what God is really like into our hearts!
We’ve been created to worship. God has put the desire of worship into our hearts...but what are we worshipping?
We’ve been created for greater things...to be worshipping in God’s house. God is a great Father and wants the very best for us!
In our worship God wants the very best for us. It’s a two-way relationship. Give to God what He deserves. And know this...that God loves you and,
Zephaniah 3:17 – The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing!
We are a worshipping church, but worship is not just a church thing…it’s a lifestyle.
But there is great strength and power when the church comes together in worship. There is a great anointing!
Psalm 133:1-3 – How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life forevermore.
God sees the aroma of our worship...our love, our heart for Him.
Great message!
Friday, November 11, 2005
...now for Pakistan
England’s attempt at world domination continues this weekend with the commencement of the First Test in Multan, Pakistan.
With Vaughan out injured I’m hoping England can still rise to the challenge. A good start tomorrow morning is vital so it will be interesting to see the starting line-up. Should Ian Bell get another chance?
With Vaughan out injured I’m hoping England can still rise to the challenge. A good start tomorrow morning is vital so it will be interesting to see the starting line-up. Should Ian Bell get another chance?
Friday, November 04, 2005
The 'Attitude' of Worship
I will be speaking this Sunday as part of our ‘The Power of Worship’ series. My focus will be on the ‘Attitude of Worship’.
For a prosperous life - live life with these three great attitudes...
Let me introduce the GTS of worship:
An attitude of Generosity – a generous heart
An attitude of Thanksgiving – a thankful heart
An attitude of Serving – a servant heart
A well-used phrase is that ‘worship is a lifestyle and not just what happens in our services’.
When you consider these attitudes remember those verses from Philippians 2:1-11 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...
A Generous Heart
Choose to have a generous spirit! Sow generously...bless God, bless others. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
A Thankful Heart
Thanksgiving reminds you to choose a life of giving praise and thanksgiving to God. The Apostle Paul gives this instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
A Servant Heart
Worship is the very first commandment: To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all of your strength. Worship should be the priority in our lives – to love Jesus, to put Him first in your life and to serve Him, whatever He calls you to do. Live to delight the heart of God!
For a prosperous life - live life with these three great attitudes...
Let me introduce the GTS of worship:
An attitude of Generosity – a generous heart
An attitude of Thanksgiving – a thankful heart
An attitude of Serving – a servant heart
A well-used phrase is that ‘worship is a lifestyle and not just what happens in our services’.
When you consider these attitudes remember those verses from Philippians 2:1-11 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...
A Generous Heart
Choose to have a generous spirit! Sow generously...bless God, bless others. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
A Thankful Heart
Thanksgiving reminds you to choose a life of giving praise and thanksgiving to God. The Apostle Paul gives this instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
A Servant Heart
Worship is the very first commandment: To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all of your strength. Worship should be the priority in our lives – to love Jesus, to put Him first in your life and to serve Him, whatever He calls you to do. Live to delight the heart of God!
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