A great finale to our two-part series about the life of Jonah. Paul Benger spoke about having a healthy attitude.
Jonah thinks he can run away from God...but he can’t. Psalm 139:8 – If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there
Jonah’s mid-term revival doesn’t change his final days. He never really changed his attitude.
God uses a rebellious man to reach a rebellious people. A man who had the very same issues in his own heart.
God doesn’t just want obedience from us he wants transformation.
Jonah 2:2 – In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry
It’s not wrong to cry out for help when help is needed. God wants to rescue us.
Jonah 2:4 – I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again towards your holy temple.'
God answers us an delivers us as we cry out to him.
Jonah 2:7-9 – When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.
It’s not how we respond when we are in trouble but the crux here is how will we respond in blessing?
Deuteronomy 8:16-18 – He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
When we are comfortable, when there are no circumstances will we remember God?
It is God who keeps us in continual blessing everyday of our lives!
Jonah’s Attitude
He didn’t want to go to Ninevah. He even ended up in misery sat under a tree. Don’t sit in your misery. This is the worst thing we could do to shut out everything else and to lock ourselves away.
Even in Jonah’s anger and misery God showed his mercy in causing a vine to grow over him to shade him from the sun. But Jonah didn’t even tend to the vine, the blessing that God sent and the vine withered and died.
Tend the blessing that God brings, water it!
Attitude is one of the great keys in life. God wants us to know him and become like him. For the transformation of our lives to happen our attitude is so important.
How to have a healthy attitude
Proverbs 23:7 – the way you think inside is the real you.
The internal world determines our external world. Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life
‘Our attitude determines our altitude’...how far we go.
1) Educate your heart
3 John 1:2 - Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well
God wants us to do well, to flourish and be blessed! We need to have God’s attitudes in our lives, his character and love...to be transformed.
Psalm 139:14 – I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
God is for you...do you know that?!
2) Quiet your heart
Psalm 62:5 – Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him
Sometimes we’ve got to be quiet inside. We can often lose confidence in our hearts...but our expectation is from God alone. We have to believe in him, that he is with us whatever is happening.
Psalm 103:1 – Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name
Quiet your heart!
3) Anchor your heart
Hebrews 6:19 – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain
Hope is our anchor. Hopelessness means we are drifting. Never get in that state...there is always hope with God.
Be anchored in hope. Be a hopeful people. Rise up in hope. God is for you, you will get through it!
4) Teach your heart to boast
Look at how great God is.
Psalm 34:2 – My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice
Boast in Christ! Know who you are in Him...know your place!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Jonah I
Loved this first message in our two-part series about the life of Jonah. Paul Benger spoke about ‘choices’.
Jonah 1-4
One clear message that comes from the story of Jonah...God loves people.
Jonah, often known as the reluctant prophet, ends his life as miserable as it began.
How are you going to finish your life? What’s going on in me? A revival spirit? Whatever is happening in society you can still on fire for God and in revival!
The state of Britain does not determine what is happening in me. Externals do not matter.
Have we determined how we will finish our days? Do we suffer from Monday morning blues or do recognise that ‘this is the day the Lord has made!’?
Choices
How do we make great choices? There’s a competition for our decision.
We can choose God’s wisdom our own or someone else’s. The power of choice is a great gift to us.
Jonah 1:3 – But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD
Jonah had a choice when the word of God came to him. He chose to run away. Have you ever ended up in the wrong place?
There’s always a boat going in the wrong direction
But the wisdom of God is always available to us– to go in the right direction. There is also always the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 - But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Society is used to the quick fix mentality. We need to remember that God is a builder. He leads us through the process. God births things when they’ve reached full-term, when they’re ready.
There is the ‘suddenly’ of God but we never know when the suddenly will come.
God has given us the power of choice
Deuteronomy 30:19 – This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
Choose LIFE, the right path. God doesn’t lead us into a place that doesn’t ultimately produce LIFE.
Jonah ended life the way he started. Ninevah chose LIFE, they repented and changed. The wicked ended up in revival! Jonah ended up depressed even after his mid-term transformation.
The things they tell us that determines our choices...
Genetics – they’re not an excuse for your choices. Let us live our lives the way God wants us.
Experiences – can shape our choices.
People around you – your environment. This is why it is important to be plugged into a good church. Where we are accepted and loved. A place of fun and transformation, a place where we can grow.
What you tell you – Not what others tell you.
Things that help us make great choices...
Settle the big issue
Jonah 2:9 – But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD
Make our mind up to worship God, to give our lives to him. Offer up everything.
Romans 12:1-2 – So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Think differently about you
Jonah 4:3 – Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live
Jonah 4:8 – When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, It would be better for me to die than to live
What do you think about you?
Psalm 139:13 – For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. He knew me and shaped me. Fearfully and wonderfully made!
Psalm 139:16 – your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be
God is involved in every day of my life. You’re changing, being transformed. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Romans 5:17 – Reign in life!
My postcode is not going to determine my life. I am a son, a daughter of the King – a prince!
Jonah 1-4
One clear message that comes from the story of Jonah...God loves people.
Jonah, often known as the reluctant prophet, ends his life as miserable as it began.
How are you going to finish your life? What’s going on in me? A revival spirit? Whatever is happening in society you can still on fire for God and in revival!
The state of Britain does not determine what is happening in me. Externals do not matter.
Have we determined how we will finish our days? Do we suffer from Monday morning blues or do recognise that ‘this is the day the Lord has made!’?
Choices
How do we make great choices? There’s a competition for our decision.
We can choose God’s wisdom our own or someone else’s. The power of choice is a great gift to us.
Jonah 1:3 – But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD
Jonah had a choice when the word of God came to him. He chose to run away. Have you ever ended up in the wrong place?
There’s always a boat going in the wrong direction
But the wisdom of God is always available to us– to go in the right direction. There is also always the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 - But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Society is used to the quick fix mentality. We need to remember that God is a builder. He leads us through the process. God births things when they’ve reached full-term, when they’re ready.
There is the ‘suddenly’ of God but we never know when the suddenly will come.
God has given us the power of choice
Deuteronomy 30:19 – This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
Choose LIFE, the right path. God doesn’t lead us into a place that doesn’t ultimately produce LIFE.
Jonah ended life the way he started. Ninevah chose LIFE, they repented and changed. The wicked ended up in revival! Jonah ended up depressed even after his mid-term transformation.
The things they tell us that determines our choices...
Genetics – they’re not an excuse for your choices. Let us live our lives the way God wants us.
Experiences – can shape our choices.
People around you – your environment. This is why it is important to be plugged into a good church. Where we are accepted and loved. A place of fun and transformation, a place where we can grow.
What you tell you – Not what others tell you.
Things that help us make great choices...
Settle the big issue
Jonah 2:9 – But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD
Make our mind up to worship God, to give our lives to him. Offer up everything.
Romans 12:1-2 – So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Think differently about you
Jonah 4:3 – Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live
Jonah 4:8 – When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, It would be better for me to die than to live
What do you think about you?
Psalm 139:13 – For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. He knew me and shaped me. Fearfully and wonderfully made!
Psalm 139:16 – your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be
God is involved in every day of my life. You’re changing, being transformed. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Romans 5:17 – Reign in life!
My postcode is not going to determine my life. I am a son, a daughter of the King – a prince!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Champion Church
Simon Wood brought a great message on Sunday about the fact that we are part of a champion church!
Matthew 16:18 – And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it
The church...stronger than anything else on the earth!
Ephesians 1:21-23 – far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way.
God is for you. As champions we are to reach our community. Just by being and doing church will break strongholds and bring about revival.
He has given us every tool that we need to take his glory into every place where we go.
Champion people encourage one another
Joshua 6:2 – Then the LORD said to Joshua, See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men
God is our great encourager. God promises Joshua that the city of Jericho will be taken. This is God’s promise to us also. God wants to bring us back to that place of victory. Whatever we face in life he will bring us back to that place. Don’t ever settle but press on. Run to win.
Champion people don’t go for second place
God wants us to take up the challenge of winning our town. We need to stay together, connected, encouraging one another.
Champion people remember what God has done for them
Joshua 4:1-3 – When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua ‘Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight’.
Remember the great things God has done for us – the stories – God’s blessing in our lives.
Champion people reach out to the lost, to those in need
Jericho was a well fortified city. The People were trapped, imprisoned. No one was going out and no one was coming in.
We see people around us trapped and imprisoned – we’re going to see people break free, break down the walls!
As champions we need to be reaching out to the lost, to those in need. Champions break down the walls and bring about release.
We need to remember that the battle is God’s. The battle for Jericho was not Joshua’s but the Lord’s.
Champion people by faith take the Land
Miracles happen. As God asks us to do things, faith is needed – we take risks! We need to take a different spirit into our world. A spirit of hope and encouragement. Be that light on the hill.
Be champions wherever you are!
Matthew 16:18 – And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it
The church...stronger than anything else on the earth!
Ephesians 1:21-23 – far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way.
God is for you. As champions we are to reach our community. Just by being and doing church will break strongholds and bring about revival.
He has given us every tool that we need to take his glory into every place where we go.
Champion people encourage one another
Joshua 6:2 – Then the LORD said to Joshua, See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men
God is our great encourager. God promises Joshua that the city of Jericho will be taken. This is God’s promise to us also. God wants to bring us back to that place of victory. Whatever we face in life he will bring us back to that place. Don’t ever settle but press on. Run to win.
Champion people don’t go for second place
God wants us to take up the challenge of winning our town. We need to stay together, connected, encouraging one another.
Champion people remember what God has done for them
Joshua 4:1-3 – When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua ‘Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight’.
Remember the great things God has done for us – the stories – God’s blessing in our lives.
Champion people reach out to the lost, to those in need
Jericho was a well fortified city. The People were trapped, imprisoned. No one was going out and no one was coming in.
We see people around us trapped and imprisoned – we’re going to see people break free, break down the walls!
As champions we need to be reaching out to the lost, to those in need. Champions break down the walls and bring about release.
We need to remember that the battle is God’s. The battle for Jericho was not Joshua’s but the Lord’s.
Champion people by faith take the Land
Miracles happen. As God asks us to do things, faith is needed – we take risks! We need to take a different spirit into our world. A spirit of hope and encouragement. Be that light on the hill.
Be champions wherever you are!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
United We Stand
Jane Lloyd spoke a great message in church on Sunday entitled 'United We Stand'.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
I believe that together we can do amazing things. God never meant for us to be alone
Genesis 2:18-24
God created us for relationship: firstly with him, secondly with one another.
Don’t choose to be alone – you won’t flourish and thrive. Get connected!
Ephesians 4:16 - He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
How can we achieve this great picture of the church? Unity is a key principle.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
These verses clearly show us that a strength comes when we stand together.
We see many examples in our world, of situations where teamwork is the key to success. The flip side of that is when disunity creeps in and cracks start to appear.
The entire concept of church is based on teamwork – one of the first things Jesus did when he started his ministry was to gather together a team of disciples around him.
Philippians 2:2 - “Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, And working together with one mind and purpose.”
We as the church should be united around a mutual love and passion for God and a passion to see his purposes fulfilled.
Stepping up to the plate means that we need to become active in the church – those who get connected usually stay connected. One of the best ways of doing that is to offer to serve on a team. God has given us all different gifts and abilities and I believe there is a place for everyone to use them to help others and build God’s Kingdom.
How can we become a great team?
1) Encourage one another
We need to be careful not to criticise each other but rather encourage one another. Encouragement is defined by the words we speak.
Proverbs 18:21 - “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences”
No one has ever motivated anyone into action through words of discouragement.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing
Encouraging words make a difference
Paul gave a good guideline when he wrote that everything we say should build up the one who is listening.
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
Think positively. Look for things to encourage.
2) Support one another
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
As a team we should be there for each other. I find strength in the knowledge that if I go through a tough time there are people who I know will gather around me and help pick me up. God has given us a place where we can find support and love that can lift us. We need each other in times of need.
3) Be positive
God wants us to carry a life-giving spirit
1Corinthians 15:45 - “The scriptures tell us, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living person.’ But the last man Adam-that is Christ-is a life-giving spirit.”
Jesus = life-giving spirit
1 John 4:17 - encourages us to live like Jesus here in this world.
“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgement, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”
Make sure that life-giving spirit carries over into every area of our lives because as we get more involved in community initiatives our attitude will be under the spotlight.
4) Be organised
Life is busy, and when you’re fully involved in church life it is brimming over!
If we want our teams to be successful, organisation is key.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken
It’s important to remember that God is the other piece to this jigsaw. It goes without saying that he makes all the difference to our being together.
We all have talents and God has given us individual gifts to use to bless others and bless the church. We all have a part to play and good things happen in our lives as a result:
- We feel good about ourselves, improves our self-esteem
- We feel connected to the vision of the church
- God blesses our lives all the more
- We fulfil our God-given purpose in life
It’s an awesome thought that through being part of this body of Christ I can make a difference to somebody’s life. We as a church want to make a difference to many people’s lives through the ministries that are going to come out of us.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
I believe that together we can do amazing things. God never meant for us to be alone
Genesis 2:18-24
God created us for relationship: firstly with him, secondly with one another.
Don’t choose to be alone – you won’t flourish and thrive. Get connected!
Ephesians 4:16 - He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
How can we achieve this great picture of the church? Unity is a key principle.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
These verses clearly show us that a strength comes when we stand together.
We see many examples in our world, of situations where teamwork is the key to success. The flip side of that is when disunity creeps in and cracks start to appear.
The entire concept of church is based on teamwork – one of the first things Jesus did when he started his ministry was to gather together a team of disciples around him.
Philippians 2:2 - “Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, And working together with one mind and purpose.”
We as the church should be united around a mutual love and passion for God and a passion to see his purposes fulfilled.
Stepping up to the plate means that we need to become active in the church – those who get connected usually stay connected. One of the best ways of doing that is to offer to serve on a team. God has given us all different gifts and abilities and I believe there is a place for everyone to use them to help others and build God’s Kingdom.
How can we become a great team?
1) Encourage one another
We need to be careful not to criticise each other but rather encourage one another. Encouragement is defined by the words we speak.
Proverbs 18:21 - “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences”
No one has ever motivated anyone into action through words of discouragement.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing
Encouraging words make a difference
Paul gave a good guideline when he wrote that everything we say should build up the one who is listening.
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
Think positively. Look for things to encourage.
2) Support one another
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
As a team we should be there for each other. I find strength in the knowledge that if I go through a tough time there are people who I know will gather around me and help pick me up. God has given us a place where we can find support and love that can lift us. We need each other in times of need.
3) Be positive
God wants us to carry a life-giving spirit
1Corinthians 15:45 - “The scriptures tell us, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living person.’ But the last man Adam-that is Christ-is a life-giving spirit.”
Jesus = life-giving spirit
1 John 4:17 - encourages us to live like Jesus here in this world.
“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgement, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”
Make sure that life-giving spirit carries over into every area of our lives because as we get more involved in community initiatives our attitude will be under the spotlight.
4) Be organised
Life is busy, and when you’re fully involved in church life it is brimming over!
If we want our teams to be successful, organisation is key.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken
It’s important to remember that God is the other piece to this jigsaw. It goes without saying that he makes all the difference to our being together.
We all have talents and God has given us individual gifts to use to bless others and bless the church. We all have a part to play and good things happen in our lives as a result:
- We feel good about ourselves, improves our self-esteem
- We feel connected to the vision of the church
- God blesses our lives all the more
- We fulfil our God-given purpose in life
It’s an awesome thought that through being part of this body of Christ I can make a difference to somebody’s life. We as a church want to make a difference to many people’s lives through the ministries that are going to come out of us.
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