Spoke today in church on FAITH.
Impossible is just big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.
IMPOSSIBLE is NOTHING!
New York American Marketing Association “From big sports to small sports, from great athletes to everyday athletes, from the past to the present, from personal records to human records, the campaign shows that Adidas believes every athlete can reach their own ‘impossible.’ It dares athletes to be dissatisfied with the status quo. It challenges athletes to dream about what they would like to achieve; to believe in their souls that their dreams, no matter how ‘impossible’ can be achieved.”
Adidas have hit upon a thought found in the Bible – that the word “impossible” means nothing to God, and should mean nothing to the Christian.
With God All Things Are Possible - Mark 10:27
This is a message of faith. What Faith thinks like, sounds like and looks like!
What Faith “Thinks” Like
What does God say about you, about us? What does God say about your situation?
Ultimately, it does not matter how our minds have been programmed in the past - we can change our future by re-programming it according to the Word of God.
Romans 12:2 – 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’
This verse does not exhort us to be transformed by the removal of our minds, but by the renewing of our minds.
Guard your hearts/minds by thinking about the right kind of things:
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or admirable think about such things.
What Faith “Sounds” Like
Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Three kinds of language we should never use
The Language of Loss or Lack
This is the sort of talk that magnifies cost over gain. It is the sort of language that constantly describes your world in terms of what you’ve lost or lack.
The Language of Blindness
This is the sort of talk that describes things as they naturally are rather than as God has shown us that they will be.
The Language of Common People
This sort of talk belongs to the lowest common denominator. It is always critical, always coarse and always confining (seeking to keep everyone down)
Four Steps we must take to maintaining “wholesome” talk
(Step 1) Take Responsibility for What You Say
This is all part of “Renewing your mind”…what are we thinking. What’s coming into our world? It our thought processes. What comes in eventually comes out!
(Step 2) Practice Using Words that Build and Make Your World Strong
With God...I can. I will. God can do it. Trust Him.
(Step 3) Always Speak to Impart Grace and Favour
The “sound of faith”...sounds great to those around you! When I hear it…it stirs my heart, lifts my spirit, changes my thinking. Makes me more bold, gives me confidence.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life - Proverbs 10:11
(Step 4) Ask God, on a Regular Basis, to give you His Power in this Area
What Faith “Looks” Like
Matthew 17:20 - “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 21:21-22 - “Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Book of James talks about our faith being connected to “works/action”.
James 2:17– “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”
We think...we speak...we do!
The ‘look’ of faith – 4 points to consider about faith
Faith is positive by its definition and has strong elements of optimism attached to it. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
How does faith affect us? When we live by faith we discover that faith is up-beat, buoyant, cheerful and hopeful. Faith is sure and certain yet persistent and at times unrelenting.
Faith chooses your friends and determines your partners. Faith is the element, the substance that helps you to always give a good report.
This is the kind of faith that changes our thinking, chooses our words, moulds our attitudes and shapes our life!
This is the kind of faith that perseveres, never gives up and fights to the end and refuses to say die.
That believes, with God, Impossible is nothing!
Faith is a substance, its lives in our hearts. Faith is objective, definable and can be quantified – the bible says you can have faith, you can have little faith, much faith and great faith – it is a substance that grows like a mustard seed planted, it develops like a muscle through use.
Faith is not reliant upon what is seen – the Bible says 2 Corinthians 5:7 - “We live by faith, not by sight.”
Faith embodies action; faith requires exploits, faith demands an extraordinary challenge. Faith is often very bold, audacious, and defies logic (Impossible is nothing).
I want my life to be full of God’s faith
The kind of faith that ‘thinks’, God thoughts
The kind of faith that emits the sound of heaven
The kind of faith that “looks like this”...that whatever measure I have will characterise all that God is...all that God is doing in me, my family, my church.
That causes me to rise up and believe that “with God all things are possible”. In fact impossible is nothing!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Shame Off You
This morning in church we heard a message from Paul Benger that strikes at the heart of everyone. That so often shame and condemnation keeps us down and yet the good news that Jesus brings gives us hope, a new life and elevates our lives to a place that so often we think we don’t deserve.
God wants us to be free. Free from shame, guilt and condemnation. Our focus is on the following account in John’s Gospel about the adulterous woman…
John 7:53-8:11
John’s Gospel, chapter 1, in particular the first 18 verses gives us an incredible picture of who Jesus is, but not only that it informs us of our standing in Christ…of who we are because of all he has done.
The rest of the Gospel of John, his accounts of Jesus etc, goes on to support these first 18 verses.
...the law came through Moses, but Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In our story today John is focusing on this truth, that grace and truth come through Jesus Christ.
Religious people like to make people feel SMALL. Jesus’ people like to make people feel BIG. As a church we want to lift people, make them feel big and significant…to know and experience the grace of God.
He that is without ‘sin’ cast the first stone. Sin = ’missing the mark’, when Jesus said this they knew he was saying that they all miss the mark. Jesus offered the woman grace and forgiveness.
Whatever your past is today you can know complete forgiveness. So often we hear this truth but find it hard to accept it and believe it for ourselves.
You can ‘hit the mark’ for your life.
You have been made holy (right) in God’s sight through Jesus Christ.
You have the same access as anyone else to all that God has for you.
You may have failed but you can still have a great future.
‘Shame’ is a main cause of low self-esteem. When we are free from shame we find confidence and boldness.
Shame often stays a lot longer than it should. We can even learn to live with it. We need to know there is freedom from shame. Conviction will bring you closer to God; shame and condemnation will draw us away from God.
Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
4 important truths we need to know
Through Jesus’ grace and truth...
1) We don’t get what we deserve we get what God has provided
Don’t focus on the sin, focus on the provision.
2) God’s opinion of you is not based on what people think. He sees us from his own unique perspective
Hebrews 8:12 - For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more
God forgets our sin!
3) God doesn’t condemn us He wants to clear our conscience
Jesus lifted the pressure of the woman’s soul. Set her free.
4) God doesn’t abandon us He stays in relationship with us
‘Even if I make my bed in hell...You are there’
Jesus stood by this woman.
If we take a snapshot of your life today...this isn’t it! It’s not the final picture. God has more for you...you’ve not reached your best yet.
Stay in an atmosphere of faith, hope and love.
God wants us to be free. Free from shame, guilt and condemnation. Our focus is on the following account in John’s Gospel about the adulterous woman…
John 7:53-8:11
John’s Gospel, chapter 1, in particular the first 18 verses gives us an incredible picture of who Jesus is, but not only that it informs us of our standing in Christ…of who we are because of all he has done.
The rest of the Gospel of John, his accounts of Jesus etc, goes on to support these first 18 verses.
...the law came through Moses, but Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In our story today John is focusing on this truth, that grace and truth come through Jesus Christ.
Religious people like to make people feel SMALL. Jesus’ people like to make people feel BIG. As a church we want to lift people, make them feel big and significant…to know and experience the grace of God.
He that is without ‘sin’ cast the first stone. Sin = ’missing the mark’, when Jesus said this they knew he was saying that they all miss the mark. Jesus offered the woman grace and forgiveness.
Whatever your past is today you can know complete forgiveness. So often we hear this truth but find it hard to accept it and believe it for ourselves.
You can ‘hit the mark’ for your life.
You have been made holy (right) in God’s sight through Jesus Christ.
You have the same access as anyone else to all that God has for you.
You may have failed but you can still have a great future.
‘Shame’ is a main cause of low self-esteem. When we are free from shame we find confidence and boldness.
Shame often stays a lot longer than it should. We can even learn to live with it. We need to know there is freedom from shame. Conviction will bring you closer to God; shame and condemnation will draw us away from God.
Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
4 important truths we need to know
Through Jesus’ grace and truth...
1) We don’t get what we deserve we get what God has provided
Don’t focus on the sin, focus on the provision.
2) God’s opinion of you is not based on what people think. He sees us from his own unique perspective
Hebrews 8:12 - For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more
God forgets our sin!
3) God doesn’t condemn us He wants to clear our conscience
Jesus lifted the pressure of the woman’s soul. Set her free.
4) God doesn’t abandon us He stays in relationship with us
‘Even if I make my bed in hell...You are there’
Jesus stood by this woman.
If we take a snapshot of your life today...this isn’t it! It’s not the final picture. God has more for you...you’ve not reached your best yet.
Stay in an atmosphere of faith, hope and love.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Missions
It was our Missions Sunday yesterday where we presented the church with our commitiment to missions giving over the next 12 months.
We were pleased to have David and Rosemary Playle with us who lead the Ground Level Network Overseas Missions team and who shared with us their heart and commitment to overseas work. This is one of a number of important areas we will be giving into over the coming year. Some of our other commitments:
Betel
Compassion (Where we currently sponsor 2 children)
City Hearts House (Sheffield)
Links International (in particular the ‘micro enterprise project’ where we will be sponsoring 5 families to set them up in business)
We were pleased to have David and Rosemary Playle with us who lead the Ground Level Network Overseas Missions team and who shared with us their heart and commitment to overseas work. This is one of a number of important areas we will be giving into over the coming year. Some of our other commitments:
Betel
Compassion (Where we currently sponsor 2 children)
City Hearts House (Sheffield)
Links International (in particular the ‘micro enterprise project’ where we will be sponsoring 5 families to set them up in business)
Monday, March 05, 2007
Choosing the Right Path
Simon Wood spoke yesterday in church. A great word of encouragement for the church and the journey we are on. We have a great future because we have the right foundations in place.
John 10:9-10 – Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.
Make the right choices...enter through the right gate - Jesus.
Deuteronomy 30:9-19
(Vs 9) The Lord delights in being good to us...that is God’s heart.
(Vs 11-14) It’s simple...it’s not rocket science!
(Vs 19) God has given us the freedom to choose. Choose life! Jesus gave us the choice, two gates…wide and narrow.
We need to get God’s word into our lives, His wisdom. Proverbs 2 - Search for it. Gain it.
God sees the positive potential in all of us. His desire is for us to take the right path that He has set before us. A path of blessing, a life in all its fullness.
John 10:9-10 – Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.
Make the right choices...enter through the right gate - Jesus.
Deuteronomy 30:9-19
(Vs 9) The Lord delights in being good to us...that is God’s heart.
(Vs 11-14) It’s simple...it’s not rocket science!
(Vs 19) God has given us the freedom to choose. Choose life! Jesus gave us the choice, two gates…wide and narrow.
We need to get God’s word into our lives, His wisdom. Proverbs 2 - Search for it. Gain it.
God sees the positive potential in all of us. His desire is for us to take the right path that He has set before us. A path of blessing, a life in all its fullness.
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