Jeannie Benger spoke an inspiring message this morning in church concerning our God given dreams.
‘Never let your dream become a whisper’ (Gladiator)
God wants us to have big dreams and to see those dreams become reality...and it is God who gives us those dreams and desires.
Dreamers change things – things don’t change them.
Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart
Desire is not passive...it doesn’t wait for things to happen. It gets us rolling our sleeves up and getting things done, not just allowing others to do all the work.
If we expect nothing, nothing is what we will get. We may even find ourselves just doing what is necessary – ‘just enough’ people. God doesn’t want us to be like that.
Acts 2:17 – 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams’
We all have dreams. God wants us to have ‘God dreams’, where the reality of those dreams becomes our focus.
Let us have a willing heart, choosing to follow him...to let God lead us into seeing our dreams come to pass. Pursue Him and the ‘cause’ he has given you.
A dream will often require patience, where ‘anticipation’ begins to grow inside of us.
As our dreams mature so do we.
God’s timing is perfect. Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
He prepares the way...always working behind the scenes even when we don’t always realise this.
Look and see what God is doing. He has given us a great ‘destiny’. Destiny = the predetermined events of a persons life. Destiny is positive, and you have an active role to play.
God wants you to look at where you are today and to also see the future.
Be sensitive – listen for God, listen for the ‘now’ word. Let him speak to you – through the influence of others, preaching, word – but also let him speak to you directly.
He has great plans for each of us and for us as a church. Let us not be passive though, faith requires action from all of us.
Be willing to dream...to dream God dreams and to see things happen. Looking beyond where we are today.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Connect
Excellent time in church this morning. Paul Benger brought a great message about ‘connecting’ as we approach our new season for our Connect Groups in church.
God gives us connections in our lives that guide us…guiding lights. We can also have the wrong guiding lights in our lives. If we don’t have the right connections in life we don’t have the power we need.
Ezekiel 37:1-10
Verse 5 - This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
In a world of greater connection through advancement in communication technology’ (email, text etc) incredibly there is much disconnection in our world. The need to connect is essential in our world. We were created for interaction.
Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble
Genesis 2:18 – And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him."
Hebrews 10:25 – And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
John 17:20-21 – (20) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The more ONE we become the more BREATH we will receive.
Purpose of Connection
1) Fellowship
It’s about sharing life together. Fellowship is something that is happening all of the time. Fellowship happens around Christ. Fellowship is also with one another. We become one, we become connected. Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.
Three important factors of fellowship...
Accept people
Don’t just tolerate people. Even though we are all different God is still building us together. Romans 15:7 – So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified
Put people at ease
Choose your words wisely.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 - So comfort and encourage each other with these words.
Put faith in people’s hearts
Inject courage, don’t suck it out of people i.e. discourage.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
2) Fruitfulness
Ephesians 2:20-22 - Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
We only become fruitful when we have the right connections. The power of synergy, of coming together - this results in fruitfulness.
Hebrews 10:24-25 – (24) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
It is important that we are ‘assembled’ and not just gathered. The bones in Ezekiel 37 were first gathered but it was when they were assembled that they became fruitful and an army again! This is our destiny as we do life together.
3) Faith
The overriding attitude and spirit within our Church and our Connect groups should be one of faith and hope. Not to have a false environment, something that is unreal. But a genuine place of recognising the needs of people, where comfort and strength comes in the form of faith and belief.
Our Connect groups will have that culture of faith and hope. A place where faith is injected into people.
4) Fuel
Our Connect groups have the ‘F’ plan where we see: Fun, Fellowship, Food and Fuel. Fuel is where we see the input of God’s word into our lives. We need the right kind of ‘fuel’ feeding us, stirring us and driving us forward in God.
God gives us connections in our lives that guide us…guiding lights. We can also have the wrong guiding lights in our lives. If we don’t have the right connections in life we don’t have the power we need.
Ezekiel 37:1-10
Verse 5 - This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
In a world of greater connection through advancement in communication technology’ (email, text etc) incredibly there is much disconnection in our world. The need to connect is essential in our world. We were created for interaction.
Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble
Genesis 2:18 – And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him."
Hebrews 10:25 – And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
John 17:20-21 – (20) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The more ONE we become the more BREATH we will receive.
Purpose of Connection
1) Fellowship
It’s about sharing life together. Fellowship is something that is happening all of the time. Fellowship happens around Christ. Fellowship is also with one another. We become one, we become connected. Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.
Three important factors of fellowship...
Accept people
Don’t just tolerate people. Even though we are all different God is still building us together. Romans 15:7 – So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified
Put people at ease
Choose your words wisely.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 - So comfort and encourage each other with these words.
Put faith in people’s hearts
Inject courage, don’t suck it out of people i.e. discourage.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
2) Fruitfulness
Ephesians 2:20-22 - Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
We only become fruitful when we have the right connections. The power of synergy, of coming together - this results in fruitfulness.
Hebrews 10:24-25 – (24) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
It is important that we are ‘assembled’ and not just gathered. The bones in Ezekiel 37 were first gathered but it was when they were assembled that they became fruitful and an army again! This is our destiny as we do life together.
3) Faith
The overriding attitude and spirit within our Church and our Connect groups should be one of faith and hope. Not to have a false environment, something that is unreal. But a genuine place of recognising the needs of people, where comfort and strength comes in the form of faith and belief.
Our Connect groups will have that culture of faith and hope. A place where faith is injected into people.
4) Fuel
Our Connect groups have the ‘F’ plan where we see: Fun, Fellowship, Food and Fuel. Fuel is where we see the input of God’s word into our lives. We need the right kind of ‘fuel’ feeding us, stirring us and driving us forward in God.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Keep Moving Forward
Paul Benger brought an important message for us this morning in church as he shared his heart concerning momentum and the need to ‘keep moving forward’.
Exodus 14:5-25
The children of Israel had momentum as they fled from Egypt (Egypt means a place of containment) We have some momentum at the moment in church. Momentum is the church’s best friend. Sometimes we don’t always see what God is doing when we are busy doing the day to day stuff. But He is fulfilling his promises.
(Vs 13-15) - But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!
Don’t be afraid, God will fight for us. Even when we are publicly strong, like Moses privately we can be in anguish. God is saying ‘get up and keep on moving!’
There could be things in our lives that we are praying about but God is saying ‘Get moving’.
Two types of miracles...Wilderness miracles – supernatural, manna from heaven, God breaks in and does incredible things. Out of seemingly nowhere food comes, clothing, finances etc. But then there are also Promised Land miracles – they had to plant the seeds, produce the crops for themselves. In their obedience to God they made things happen.
Both are miracles, don’t despise one at the expense of the other. God uses our creativity, our energies and talents to get his will done.
Deuteronomy 8
Tips on how to keep moving forward...
1) Don’t say it was better back then
(Vs 11-12) and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
What a mentality! When momentum came at the first hurdle they began to complain. They allowed their past to cloud the present, and to hold them back. Egypt was like the bungee elastic, trying to snap them back when they began to push forward.
We should thank God for our history, where He has bought us from, but we need to be bungee free! ‘It was great back then, but the best is yet to come!’
2) Use what you have in your hand
(Vs 15-16) – Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground
Too many Christians say, ‘one day, in time God will give me a gift’. But by waiting for that ‘one day’ they never do anything. Use what God has given you today. ‘What you have is what you have!’ Find out what is in your hand and use it. Be fruitful now, follow Jesus now.
3) Keep your focus upon God and not the problem or the enemy
(Vs 13-14) - But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
Our tendency is to hit the panic button. God will take care of the enemy.
(Vs 25) - He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
We need to keep our focus on God. The church loses momentum if the focus becomes the problem or the enemy.
4) Prophesy the future
Talk up the future. Be bold before the people and before God. Keep speaking about the future, what we are about to see happen, in our lives and in the life of the church. Proverbs 18:21 - The tongue can bring death or life
‘Keep Moving Forward’
Exodus 14:5-25
The children of Israel had momentum as they fled from Egypt (Egypt means a place of containment) We have some momentum at the moment in church. Momentum is the church’s best friend. Sometimes we don’t always see what God is doing when we are busy doing the day to day stuff. But He is fulfilling his promises.
(Vs 13-15) - But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!
Don’t be afraid, God will fight for us. Even when we are publicly strong, like Moses privately we can be in anguish. God is saying ‘get up and keep on moving!’
There could be things in our lives that we are praying about but God is saying ‘Get moving’.
Two types of miracles...Wilderness miracles – supernatural, manna from heaven, God breaks in and does incredible things. Out of seemingly nowhere food comes, clothing, finances etc. But then there are also Promised Land miracles – they had to plant the seeds, produce the crops for themselves. In their obedience to God they made things happen.
Both are miracles, don’t despise one at the expense of the other. God uses our creativity, our energies and talents to get his will done.
Deuteronomy 8
Tips on how to keep moving forward...
1) Don’t say it was better back then
(Vs 11-12) and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
What a mentality! When momentum came at the first hurdle they began to complain. They allowed their past to cloud the present, and to hold them back. Egypt was like the bungee elastic, trying to snap them back when they began to push forward.
We should thank God for our history, where He has bought us from, but we need to be bungee free! ‘It was great back then, but the best is yet to come!’
2) Use what you have in your hand
(Vs 15-16) – Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground
Too many Christians say, ‘one day, in time God will give me a gift’. But by waiting for that ‘one day’ they never do anything. Use what God has given you today. ‘What you have is what you have!’ Find out what is in your hand and use it. Be fruitful now, follow Jesus now.
3) Keep your focus upon God and not the problem or the enemy
(Vs 13-14) - But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
Our tendency is to hit the panic button. God will take care of the enemy.
(Vs 25) - He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
We need to keep our focus on God. The church loses momentum if the focus becomes the problem or the enemy.
4) Prophesy the future
Talk up the future. Be bold before the people and before God. Keep speaking about the future, what we are about to see happen, in our lives and in the life of the church. Proverbs 18:21 - The tongue can bring death or life
‘Keep Moving Forward’
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Retro: Back to Basics IV
Paul Benger completed our series this morning in Church. An excellent message on the fact that we have been ‘sent to tell others’
Luke 14:15-24
From this passage, what is God telling us?
He wants people to enjoy what he has prepared for them
In the midst of a fallen world God has prepared a feast, a banquet. For the people in your street...it’s called the Kingdom of God, the touch of heaven.
He wants a ‘full house’
We need to get this into our thinking, God wants a full house. He is calling people home.
What does God want us to do?
Compel them to come
Urge them to come.
Find a ‘Yes’
Jesus taught his disciples, ‘go into every town’ and find a ‘yes’.
Fish
Matthew 4:18-20 – As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him
Followers fish.
At the bookends of Jesus’ ministry...’I will make you fishers of men’ and ‘Go into all the world…’
Lessons from fishing...
Fishermen go where the fish are
Remember to find a ‘yes’!
Fishermen are eternal optimists
Don’t be put off when you have prayed for people and they have not yet become a Christian.
Fishermen are not patient but they are persistent
Keep casting...God says I’ll catch, you keep on casting.
Fishermen know the value of different baits
Take every different opportunity to tell others.
Fishermen love to tell stories
What stories can we tell the people in our world about what God has done and is doing in our lives.
Serious fishermen use guides
Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
What is our Goal? To be fishers of men...not catchers - let God do that.
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 - (5) What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe— as the Lord has assigned to each his task (6) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (8) The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour.
How can “I” do that? ‘I’m shy’.
1) Pray – ask God to help you, lead and guide you.
2) Tell your story – that’s your ‘cast’
3) Show the love of God for other people, tell them that God loves them, include them.
4) Show the love of God for one another – ‘so that the world will know’
John 13:34-35 – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another
Luke 14:15-24
From this passage, what is God telling us?
He wants people to enjoy what he has prepared for them
In the midst of a fallen world God has prepared a feast, a banquet. For the people in your street...it’s called the Kingdom of God, the touch of heaven.
He wants a ‘full house’
We need to get this into our thinking, God wants a full house. He is calling people home.
What does God want us to do?
Compel them to come
Urge them to come.
Find a ‘Yes’
Jesus taught his disciples, ‘go into every town’ and find a ‘yes’.
Fish
Matthew 4:18-20 – As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him
Followers fish.
At the bookends of Jesus’ ministry...’I will make you fishers of men’ and ‘Go into all the world…’
Lessons from fishing...
Fishermen go where the fish are
Remember to find a ‘yes’!
Fishermen are eternal optimists
Don’t be put off when you have prayed for people and they have not yet become a Christian.
Fishermen are not patient but they are persistent
Keep casting...God says I’ll catch, you keep on casting.
Fishermen know the value of different baits
Take every different opportunity to tell others.
Fishermen love to tell stories
What stories can we tell the people in our world about what God has done and is doing in our lives.
Serious fishermen use guides
Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
What is our Goal? To be fishers of men...not catchers - let God do that.
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 - (5) What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe— as the Lord has assigned to each his task (6) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (8) The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour.
How can “I” do that? ‘I’m shy’.
1) Pray – ask God to help you, lead and guide you.
2) Tell your story – that’s your ‘cast’
3) Show the love of God for other people, tell them that God loves them, include them.
4) Show the love of God for one another – ‘so that the world will know’
John 13:34-35 – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another
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