Jeannie Benger spoke in church yesterday on staying out of the ruts and maintaining a life that flourishes and thrives.
God wants more for your life – do you? He only has good things for you.
Psalm 92:12-14 – (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.
Get the revelation, it’s the difference between flourishing or floundering! Our relationships, careers, finances, health will all flourish.
How do we keep ourselves from floundering? How do we flourish? 4 keys:
Key 1 – Stay planted
Be planted in God’s house. Psalm 1:3 - He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
We will prosper! Make sure your roots are secure, that they are planted correctly. We will bear fruit and thrive.
Key 2 – Stay connected to people
Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity
Have and make great connections. When you’re floundering don’t disconnect yourself. True friends help us through tough times.
Also be careful who you connect with. Proverbs 13:20 – He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm
Connect with people who help us fulfil our destiny in God.
Key 3 – Stay focused on the result you want
Stay in faith. God will give you the confidence, even when all around is crumbling.
In the midst of persecution refuse to draw back. Trust in God and in His word. Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God.
Faith helps us overcome any floundering.
Key 4 – Stay positive
Keep a right attitude. Don’t get cynical or critical when others are doing well. Rejoice with them. Guard your attitude. A poor attitude will result in us floundering and not flourishing. Change your future by your response to the present situation.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Lost in Translation
Paul Benger spoke yesterday in church on the subject of transformation by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 – (17) Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. (18) And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
God’s word is our mirror. How do we see ourselves? What we see can often get lost in translation.
All of us have the destiny of being transformed into the image of God’s son. It was determined, predestined.
It was always God’s plan to transform us right from the beginning of our lives.
So that through the church, Jesus Christ would rule/reign and influence every area of society. To permeate the world, not to be separated from it.
Jesus said he would build his church, and we are the instrument he has chosen to reach the world – this is something that often gets lost in translation. Some people think the church is just limping out, hanging on until Christ returns.
We are His body and we are to be like him, by being transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Four attitudes that we need to adopt to be transformed by the Holy Spirit:
1) Openness and honesty before God
Be real. Not wanting to be somebody else. He wants you to be you. He calls us the way we are, and yes He transforms us. Think of the potter/clay analogy. God can take a lump of lifeless raw material and make it into something beautiful.
2) Look into the mirror of God’s Word
James 1:22-25 – (22) And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. (23) For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. (24) You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (25) But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the law that sets you free--and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Don’t just hear – do! When you look into the mirror and see you need a shave – shave!
When we look into the mirror, human behaviour often results in us either ignoring and pretending everything is ok or beating ourselves up because we don’t like what we see.
What we should see is...
Christ and the image we are growing into and what God is making us like. That we live on the right side of the cross - no longer condemned.
We truly find out what God thinks of us. He sees us after the cross, not as ‘lost’ but as ‘found’.
Look at Ephesians 1 and 2 and right down what God sees us as.
3) Realise that transformation by the Holy Spirit is step by step
Change doesn’t happen in a day. God will change us one step at a time. That’s how God grows us.
4) Realise transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit
Change comes by the Holy Spirit of God. We chose to walk by the Spirit or by the flesh. Set your minds on the things of the Spirit. Flick the switch.
God is the great transformer. He changes everything. Death to life, sickness to health, bitterness to faithfulness and so on!
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 – (17) Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. (18) And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
God’s word is our mirror. How do we see ourselves? What we see can often get lost in translation.
All of us have the destiny of being transformed into the image of God’s son. It was determined, predestined.
It was always God’s plan to transform us right from the beginning of our lives.
So that through the church, Jesus Christ would rule/reign and influence every area of society. To permeate the world, not to be separated from it.
Jesus said he would build his church, and we are the instrument he has chosen to reach the world – this is something that often gets lost in translation. Some people think the church is just limping out, hanging on until Christ returns.
We are His body and we are to be like him, by being transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Four attitudes that we need to adopt to be transformed by the Holy Spirit:
1) Openness and honesty before God
Be real. Not wanting to be somebody else. He wants you to be you. He calls us the way we are, and yes He transforms us. Think of the potter/clay analogy. God can take a lump of lifeless raw material and make it into something beautiful.
2) Look into the mirror of God’s Word
James 1:22-25 – (22) And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. (23) For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. (24) You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (25) But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the law that sets you free--and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Don’t just hear – do! When you look into the mirror and see you need a shave – shave!
When we look into the mirror, human behaviour often results in us either ignoring and pretending everything is ok or beating ourselves up because we don’t like what we see.
What we should see is...
Christ and the image we are growing into and what God is making us like. That we live on the right side of the cross - no longer condemned.
We truly find out what God thinks of us. He sees us after the cross, not as ‘lost’ but as ‘found’.
Look at Ephesians 1 and 2 and right down what God sees us as.
3) Realise that transformation by the Holy Spirit is step by step
Change doesn’t happen in a day. God will change us one step at a time. That’s how God grows us.
4) Realise transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit
Change comes by the Holy Spirit of God. We chose to walk by the Spirit or by the flesh. Set your minds on the things of the Spirit. Flick the switch.
God is the great transformer. He changes everything. Death to life, sickness to health, bitterness to faithfulness and so on!
Monday, July 17, 2006
Even the Dogs...
A great time in church yesterday, Paul Benger shared a message entitled ‘Even the Dogs’ taken from Mark 7:24-30.
Jesus needed a rest - the woman needed a miracle. She was desperate for her daughter to be healed.
Jesus didn’t respond to her desperation but to her faith.
Jesus is interested in the detail of our lives – He is the answer to our needs and desires. The woman knew this – that things could get better. God can make things better. She believed it. The supernatural can happen.
4 important truths about her faith that apply to us today:
Her faith was persistent
She kept asking. She knew what she wanted and stayed with it. Match your faith to your desire. Stay with it! Don’t be vague – know what you want.
Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed
Her faith was bold
Jesus was not being PC here, about the Jew/Gentile relationship. The woman brushed aside his comments with the phrase, ‘Even the dogs…’ She was bold.
She was passionate and was not going to be knocked back. ‘God will give you the desires of your heart.’ He will even plant them in your heart – desires for the future.
Her desire made her bold; her desperation made her bold.
Her faith had great self-esteem
She had a right view of God and a right view of herself. She believed she deserved it. We deserve it!
She could have got angry, she could have got faithless. “God won’t do it for me”, “He’ll do it for them but not for me”
NO – “I believe God will do it for me!”
Know that God is for us that God is with us.
She Believed!
She wouldn’t pull out of the argument. She believed the Word. Belief is linked to receiving. Faith is about believing something for the future. “It’s going to happen”.
What you believe about your life has a greater impact than what others believe about your life.
Jesus needed a rest - the woman needed a miracle. She was desperate for her daughter to be healed.
Jesus didn’t respond to her desperation but to her faith.
Jesus is interested in the detail of our lives – He is the answer to our needs and desires. The woman knew this – that things could get better. God can make things better. She believed it. The supernatural can happen.
4 important truths about her faith that apply to us today:
Her faith was persistent
She kept asking. She knew what she wanted and stayed with it. Match your faith to your desire. Stay with it! Don’t be vague – know what you want.
Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed
Her faith was bold
Jesus was not being PC here, about the Jew/Gentile relationship. The woman brushed aside his comments with the phrase, ‘Even the dogs…’ She was bold.
She was passionate and was not going to be knocked back. ‘God will give you the desires of your heart.’ He will even plant them in your heart – desires for the future.
Her desire made her bold; her desperation made her bold.
Her faith had great self-esteem
She had a right view of God and a right view of herself. She believed she deserved it. We deserve it!
She could have got angry, she could have got faithless. “God won’t do it for me”, “He’ll do it for them but not for me”
NO – “I believe God will do it for me!”
Know that God is for us that God is with us.
She Believed!
She wouldn’t pull out of the argument. She believed the Word. Belief is linked to receiving. Faith is about believing something for the future. “It’s going to happen”.
What you believe about your life has a greater impact than what others believe about your life.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
The Scandal of Grace
Mark Wilkins spoke in church this morning on the Scandal of Grace. He used a scene from Godfather III where Don Corleone goes to Rome to negotiate a business deal with the Vatican. There in Rome he meets with Cardinal Lamberto, who asks if he would like to make his confession. At first Corleone refuses. He makes a little joke about how it would take too long. However, he wants the cardinal's help, and senses something redemptive in his presence. So Corleone begins his confession.
First he tells of his marital infidelities. Then he admits ordering the murder of his own brother. Overwhelmed by the burden of his guilt, he breaks down and starts to sob. Cardinal Lamberto pronounces the words of absolution, then says, "I know you don't believe this, but you have been redeemed."
Some may find this story scandalous, but, although only a story, this is probably what’s known as the ‘scandal of grace’.
Christ died so that ‘all’ may be redeemed, forgiven, know God’s mercy and grace.
We can know forgiveness from our past no matter who we are or what we’ve done. Some people find that hard to comprehend. In this world we’re hooked on the ‘scandal’ side of life.
As a church we’re going to see the scandalous…but where God’s grace needs to be lavished. We’ve received God’s grace and we need to pass it on...be ministers of grace.
Get ready to show scandalous grace...see people how God sees them.
“To build an outstanding church we need to show outstanding grace”.
God’s grace and forgiveness is for ALL that would ask and receive and a la the Godfather...surely ”it’s an offer we can’t refuse”.
First he tells of his marital infidelities. Then he admits ordering the murder of his own brother. Overwhelmed by the burden of his guilt, he breaks down and starts to sob. Cardinal Lamberto pronounces the words of absolution, then says, "I know you don't believe this, but you have been redeemed."
Some may find this story scandalous, but, although only a story, this is probably what’s known as the ‘scandal of grace’.
Christ died so that ‘all’ may be redeemed, forgiven, know God’s mercy and grace.
We can know forgiveness from our past no matter who we are or what we’ve done. Some people find that hard to comprehend. In this world we’re hooked on the ‘scandal’ side of life.
As a church we’re going to see the scandalous…but where God’s grace needs to be lavished. We’ve received God’s grace and we need to pass it on...be ministers of grace.
Get ready to show scandalous grace...see people how God sees them.
“To build an outstanding church we need to show outstanding grace”.
God’s grace and forgiveness is for ALL that would ask and receive and a la the Godfather...surely ”it’s an offer we can’t refuse”.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Scolari Quotes
A great coach, who could have been managing England! He utters some wonderful pearls of wisdom from time to time. The latest, concerning Zinedine Zidane...
“Zidane can decide a game. When the ball goes to his feet it doesn't cry - when it goes to my feet, it cries”
Monday, July 03, 2006
You Can Do It!
Spoke in church yesterday. It was a message based on the encouragement given to me by my family in the run-up to the London Marathon – in the form of a little booklet.
Hebrews 10:23-25 – (23) let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. (25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
The word “unswervingly” is sometimes translated without wavering - it has the idea of staying true and firm without hesitation.
1) Remember - God is with us ALWAYS
Psalm 23 (NLT)
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever!
There’s no running or hiding from God...His love and goodness is constant, unceasing - relentless.
God is always with you – on your journey, on our journey. We should never forget that. He’s at the beginning...at the end – but we often forget he’s with us along the way!
2) Remember - ALWAYS Be Earthly Good
Beware of the flaky, mushy Christianity. (Flaky, def - eccentric, crazy, or just unreliable)
“So heavenly minded…no earthly good” – BUT be heavenly minded and earthly good. Touching Heaven…changing earth.
Guard against religiosity, super-spirituality, which is unreal and means nothing to anyone.
“Get earthed, but remain Heavened as well!”
3) Remember - ALWAYS Consider one another
Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another how we may spur each other on towards love and good deeds.
‘Consider one another...how we may spur each other on towards love and good deeds’ – not only am I thinking about my life but about your life as well, how I might encourage impetus in your life to do what is right.
4) Remember - ALWAYS Encourage
Inject courage into one another – don’t discourage (i.e. suck it our of them!)
1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
Encouraging words make a difference
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (Proverbs 10:11)
5) Remember - Determination and discipline is ALWAYS needed
We can’t escape certain things that must be present in our lives...if we’re going to see it through to the end – Determination and discipline.
Determination
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
Press on, no matter what the cost. Focus on what lies ahead, not behind.
Discipline
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
The word ‘Unswervingly’ gives us a picture of resolute determination and with that must go discipline.
We’re so often put off by that word. Seen as something negative when applied to our own lives.
It’s all about having “good habits” in our lives. We never seem to have a problem with the ‘bad habits’...do we?
Final encouragement - Hebrews 12:1-4
Hebrews 10:23-25 – (23) let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. (25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
The word “unswervingly” is sometimes translated without wavering - it has the idea of staying true and firm without hesitation.
1) Remember - God is with us ALWAYS
Psalm 23 (NLT)
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever!
There’s no running or hiding from God...His love and goodness is constant, unceasing - relentless.
God is always with you – on your journey, on our journey. We should never forget that. He’s at the beginning...at the end – but we often forget he’s with us along the way!
2) Remember - ALWAYS Be Earthly Good
Beware of the flaky, mushy Christianity. (Flaky, def - eccentric, crazy, or just unreliable)
“So heavenly minded…no earthly good” – BUT be heavenly minded and earthly good. Touching Heaven…changing earth.
Guard against religiosity, super-spirituality, which is unreal and means nothing to anyone.
“Get earthed, but remain Heavened as well!”
3) Remember - ALWAYS Consider one another
Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another how we may spur each other on towards love and good deeds.
‘Consider one another...how we may spur each other on towards love and good deeds’ – not only am I thinking about my life but about your life as well, how I might encourage impetus in your life to do what is right.
4) Remember - ALWAYS Encourage
Inject courage into one another – don’t discourage (i.e. suck it our of them!)
1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
Encouraging words make a difference
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (Proverbs 10:11)
5) Remember - Determination and discipline is ALWAYS needed
We can’t escape certain things that must be present in our lives...if we’re going to see it through to the end – Determination and discipline.
Determination
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
Press on, no matter what the cost. Focus on what lies ahead, not behind.
Discipline
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
The word ‘Unswervingly’ gives us a picture of resolute determination and with that must go discipline.
We’re so often put off by that word. Seen as something negative when applied to our own lives.
It’s all about having “good habits” in our lives. We never seem to have a problem with the ‘bad habits’...do we?
Final encouragement - Hebrews 12:1-4
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