Another great day in church yesterday. Paul Benger spoke in the morning about us knowing the real Jesus.
Why have a plastic Jesus when you can know the real Jesus? (Song – ‘I don’t care if it rains or freezes as long as I’ve got my plastic Jesus’)
Many people have their statues, charms etc thinking they will help in their life. Why put your faith in all of that? People who have their plastic Jesus live life as they please.
Let us live for the real Jesus and his cause! He is real and full of grace and truth. He knows us and loves us. He is powerful and can change and transform us.
Why did Jesus come to earth? Matthew 5:17-18 – Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Jesus fulfilled what was prophesied and anticipated. He became our prophet, priest and king. He’s not plastic, but very real and wanting us to respond to him because he loves us.
Jesus the Prophet
Jesus speaks over our lives. Speaking God’s word into our lives. He is bold willing to confront religion and sin. He’s not afraid to offend.
When he speaks to us our response is twofold. We submit or our hearts become hard towards him.
Jesus points us to his authority, ‘You’ve heard it said…But I say to you’.
Mark 1:22 - The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law
‘I tell you the truth’- Jesus said this many times. He understands us, knows how we feel…but he will speak the truth to us.
John 4:15-20
You have received the ‘real’ Jesus who will speak into our lives with authority. He’ll get to the real issue…it’s not grey or fuzzy!
‘You must be born again’
‘Repent and be baptised’
‘Go into all the world and preach the good news’
Jesus the Priest
He doesn’t just speak the truth but he SAVES us. He brings salvation to our lives. He is no cowardly prophet. He speaks the word and then gives his life for us.
The priest would offer up the sacrifice for the people.
Hebrews 4:14-16 - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Grace is receiving what we don’t deserve, Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve.
Jesus continues to be our Priest, praying for us and making intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 - Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Jesus met with sinners, much to the annoyance of the religious leaders, and yet Jesus spoke the truth to them.
Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost
Matthew 20:28 - Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
Jesus the King
His speaking and serving goes into every area of our lives. His message was that ‘the Kingdom of God is amongst you’.
The early church declared that ‘Jesus is Lord’…which went against the Roman rulers who insisted that the words ‘Caesar is Lord’ be spoken.
He is a Prophet who speaks justly, He is Priest who serves humbly and He is a King who rules powerfully.
John 18:35-37 – "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
This is no plastic Jesus - He is King of kings and Lord of lords !
Right now we submit to his Lordship. He is Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God. Of the increase of his Government and peace there will be no end.
He rules over every area of my life…if we let him. Make him Lord of our lives.
Don’t follow a plastic Jesus. But receive Jesus as all three…Prophet, Priest and King!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Plugging the Leaks
Great time in church today. I spoke about plugging the leaks of our faith.
Many times you know, we beat ourselves up! Talking ourselves out of things. Abandon dreams…stop liking ourselves! But God does!
The truth is sometimes it feels like our faith is not great…like we’re in a downward spiral when we’re in tough times, we’ve made mistakes, and our faith takes a real battering.
Take a look at Abraham’s life.
Genesis 12:7 – The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him
Genesis 12:10 - Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe
He didn’t last very long in his land did he? About 3 verses! God says all of this land belongs to you and then at the first sign of trouble he packs up and leaves! Have we ever been there?
Genesis 12:11-13; Genesis 17:15-19
2 major obstacles to our faith…they punch holes in our faith…it kind of like feels that faith is leaking out of us!
DEALING WITH THE FACTS
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
2 Corinthians 5:7 – We live by faith, not by sight
You know…we get a dream, a hope in our hearts…this thing is for me…we’ve read something in the Bible. But we look around us…and we just don’t see it. We don’t see it in the physical world. It’s in our heart…but it’s not out there!
Abraham said, “Listen God, I’m 100! You’re telling me I’m about to have a son” – “I’m dealing with the facts here God…and it’s not looking good!” “She’s 90…I’m 100!”
We’re looking around us…we’re looking at the facts…trying to believe God for the answer.
God is saying, “Live by Faith”, we’re saying…”But I’m working with Sight!”
We find ourselves choking on the ‘reality pill’! On what we SEE. How will this ever get any better?
1) Clarify
At those times we need to get some CLARITY back into our sight! Refresh our vision.
If we’re having trouble believing what we do not see…we need to go back and check it out again, “What does God say about my life, about you?” His LOVE and his CARE for you. His PROMISES for you. Don’t rely on what YOU SEE…Rely on what HE’S SAID!
Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
2) Communicate
Talk to God. Abraham continually had encounters with God. God continued to refresh what he’d put in Abraham’s heart. We need that too. Ask God…and keep remembering God’s promises to you.
He want’s to come and encourage us…guide us…refresh our vision.
He speaks to us like that through our personal/private times with Him. But I also believe it is why he puts us within a family…the church! We communicate FAITH within a family setting also…we encourage one another. We put FAITH into one another!
3) Focus on Him and not the Facts
When we recognise His abilities we don’t get troubled by the facts. With God ALL things are possible! Nothing is too difficult for our God!
4) Realise that Tough Times are NORMAL
When we face a difficult time with the FACTS – this is normal! You’re ok. You’re not alone. We have tough times, we doubt. Tough times are normal because they change us…they make us grow.
Tough times focus us – on what we really believe…they refine us. Tough times keep us close to God – remind us of our need for him
FEAR
Fear works in TWO ways…
Firstly fear can produce negative faith. We can actually begin to believe that bad things are going to happen.
Remember, ‘Faith is the substance of things HOPED for’ - What are we expecting for the future? What are we believing for? Anxieties and fears can overwhelm us when we face a new challenge.
We can allow our fears to sabotage the future. Fear can keep us from trying or ‘having a go’…because we exaggerate the consequences and the threats.
Secondly, fear can produce negative conscience. Believing we don’t deserve good things to happen to us!
GRACE – undeserved favour of God! FEAR comes to try and invalidate God’s Grace and extinguish our FAITH.
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Water Walking and Fear!
Peter is another great example of dealing with faith ‘leakage’ – love the time he walked on the water!
Matthew 14:25-33
Here are some things you need to know about Water Walking:
Everybody has a boat - Your boat is whatever gives you a sense security.
It's what you're tempted to put your trust in, especially when life gets a bit stormy.
Keep your eyes on Jesus not the storm - When did Peter sink? When he 'saw the wind.'
We do this all the time. Maybe you're trying to do something new, a new course at college, a particular job, a new friendship, getting involved in a new activity.
At the beginning things are great…then reality sets in. You get some problems, some difficulties. Life's full of surprises so we should expect it, but somehow the trouble and problems take over - it's all we can think about, all we can see.
Because of the wind and the waves some of us never leave the boat. The problems put us off, 'better to stick with what we are doing now'!
Did Peter fail? No. Other than Jesus, he's the only man who ever walked on water. All of the other disciples would go on to say 'we saw someone walk on water' Only Peter could say 'I walked on water'.
He had an experience with Christ the others did not have. So, failure isn't sinking in the waves, it is never getting out of the boat!
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Guard your heart/mind against the ‘spirit of fear’, instead get God’s Spirit in you!
Spirit of Power
Through Christ Jesus, I can do anything God wants me to do!!!
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
Spirit of Love
At first glance, It does not seem that Love could be effective in conquering fear
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love
Love for God and a love for others relieves our fears!
Spirit of a Sound Mind
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.
When we think Biblically - we have a "sound mind".
Many times you know, we beat ourselves up! Talking ourselves out of things. Abandon dreams…stop liking ourselves! But God does!
The truth is sometimes it feels like our faith is not great…like we’re in a downward spiral when we’re in tough times, we’ve made mistakes, and our faith takes a real battering.
Take a look at Abraham’s life.
Genesis 12:7 – The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him
Genesis 12:10 - Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe
He didn’t last very long in his land did he? About 3 verses! God says all of this land belongs to you and then at the first sign of trouble he packs up and leaves! Have we ever been there?
Genesis 12:11-13; Genesis 17:15-19
2 major obstacles to our faith…they punch holes in our faith…it kind of like feels that faith is leaking out of us!
DEALING WITH THE FACTS
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
2 Corinthians 5:7 – We live by faith, not by sight
You know…we get a dream, a hope in our hearts…this thing is for me…we’ve read something in the Bible. But we look around us…and we just don’t see it. We don’t see it in the physical world. It’s in our heart…but it’s not out there!
Abraham said, “Listen God, I’m 100! You’re telling me I’m about to have a son” – “I’m dealing with the facts here God…and it’s not looking good!” “She’s 90…I’m 100!”
We’re looking around us…we’re looking at the facts…trying to believe God for the answer.
God is saying, “Live by Faith”, we’re saying…”But I’m working with Sight!”
We find ourselves choking on the ‘reality pill’! On what we SEE. How will this ever get any better?
1) Clarify
At those times we need to get some CLARITY back into our sight! Refresh our vision.
If we’re having trouble believing what we do not see…we need to go back and check it out again, “What does God say about my life, about you?” His LOVE and his CARE for you. His PROMISES for you. Don’t rely on what YOU SEE…Rely on what HE’S SAID!
Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
2) Communicate
Talk to God. Abraham continually had encounters with God. God continued to refresh what he’d put in Abraham’s heart. We need that too. Ask God…and keep remembering God’s promises to you.
He want’s to come and encourage us…guide us…refresh our vision.
He speaks to us like that through our personal/private times with Him. But I also believe it is why he puts us within a family…the church! We communicate FAITH within a family setting also…we encourage one another. We put FAITH into one another!
3) Focus on Him and not the Facts
When we recognise His abilities we don’t get troubled by the facts. With God ALL things are possible! Nothing is too difficult for our God!
4) Realise that Tough Times are NORMAL
When we face a difficult time with the FACTS – this is normal! You’re ok. You’re not alone. We have tough times, we doubt. Tough times are normal because they change us…they make us grow.
Tough times focus us – on what we really believe…they refine us. Tough times keep us close to God – remind us of our need for him
FEAR
Fear works in TWO ways…
Firstly fear can produce negative faith. We can actually begin to believe that bad things are going to happen.
Remember, ‘Faith is the substance of things HOPED for’ - What are we expecting for the future? What are we believing for? Anxieties and fears can overwhelm us when we face a new challenge.
We can allow our fears to sabotage the future. Fear can keep us from trying or ‘having a go’…because we exaggerate the consequences and the threats.
Secondly, fear can produce negative conscience. Believing we don’t deserve good things to happen to us!
GRACE – undeserved favour of God! FEAR comes to try and invalidate God’s Grace and extinguish our FAITH.
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Water Walking and Fear!
Peter is another great example of dealing with faith ‘leakage’ – love the time he walked on the water!
Matthew 14:25-33
Here are some things you need to know about Water Walking:
Everybody has a boat - Your boat is whatever gives you a sense security.
It's what you're tempted to put your trust in, especially when life gets a bit stormy.
Keep your eyes on Jesus not the storm - When did Peter sink? When he 'saw the wind.'
We do this all the time. Maybe you're trying to do something new, a new course at college, a particular job, a new friendship, getting involved in a new activity.
At the beginning things are great…then reality sets in. You get some problems, some difficulties. Life's full of surprises so we should expect it, but somehow the trouble and problems take over - it's all we can think about, all we can see.
Because of the wind and the waves some of us never leave the boat. The problems put us off, 'better to stick with what we are doing now'!
Did Peter fail? No. Other than Jesus, he's the only man who ever walked on water. All of the other disciples would go on to say 'we saw someone walk on water' Only Peter could say 'I walked on water'.
He had an experience with Christ the others did not have. So, failure isn't sinking in the waves, it is never getting out of the boat!
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Guard your heart/mind against the ‘spirit of fear’, instead get God’s Spirit in you!
Spirit of Power
Through Christ Jesus, I can do anything God wants me to do!!!
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
Spirit of Love
At first glance, It does not seem that Love could be effective in conquering fear
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love
Love for God and a love for others relieves our fears!
Spirit of a Sound Mind
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.
When we think Biblically - we have a "sound mind".
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Strengthen Yourself
A great time in church on Sunday, Paul Benger spoke an excellent message in the morning entitled ‘Strengthen Yourself’.
1 Samuel 30:1-10; 16-24
David was at a low point in his life. He was on the run and had only 600 men and not the best but the ragamuffins of the army. They had come under attack from the Amalekites and lost everything including women and children.
Verse 6 – ‘David strengthened himself in the Lord his God’.
It was the turning point in his situation. David and his men retook everything the Amalekites had taken from them.
David had suffered great trouble throughout his life…the highs and the lows. Here he found himself in that place again.
What do you or I do when we find ourselves at low points? When we find ourselves in need of strength. Like David strengthened himself in God, do we need to know how to do this in our lives? Maybe we used to be able to do it but not any longer.
Maybe we blame others when the answer is what is on the inside of us. We need the presence of God inside of us. The atmosphere around us can be determined by not what’s going off around us but by what is inside of us.
How did David do it? To become strengthened by God rather than becoming cynical…to be strengthened in God rather being full of fear…to be strong in the Lord rather than blaming other people…to be strengthened rather than being depressed…to be strengthened in God rather than becoming bitter.
Before David could do anything, even pray, he strengthened himself in the Lord. Some other examples…
Psalm 59 – whilst being pursued by Saul
Psalm 56 – when imprisoned in Gath
Psalm 63 – hiding in the wilderness of Judah
Psalm 3 – whilst fleeing from his son Absalom
How did he do it?
1) David remembered the Power of his God
Psalm 63:1-2 – O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and our own power and strength and get our eyes on God. When we are weak He is strong. We are finite God is infinite.
David knew this throughout his life and not just in times of trouble. It becomes a habit...remembering the power of God all the time.
Knowing the grace of God…He’s saved us!
Jeremiah 32:7 – I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
We need to remember the power of God. When there seems to be no way…He makes a way!
2) David remembered the Love of his God
Psalm 63:3 – Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you
Psalm 59:10 – In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies
When you remember the strength of his love…you become stronger.
We may change but he never changes, his love is constant. Our circumstances do not mirror God’s love but Jesus mirrors God’s love.
3) David remembered the Power of Praise
Psalm 63:3 – Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you
Better to praise God than be miserable! Better to praise than to worry.
Psalm 22:3 (KJV) – But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel
Can it be that we can be on the mountaintop when our lives are in the valley experiences? When our circumstances dictate we should be down and miserable. But we can live by faith praising God, trusting Him enjoying mountaintop living!
Praise magnifies God and tells us that we are the people of God. It changes the atmosphere. Praise is not the ‘fast song’. It is when our focus is on God and his greatness. A ‘roar’ of thanksgiving, a declaration that ‘He is mighty!’ That this is a life changing day a life changing moment.
4) David remembered the Presence of God
Psalm 59:16-17 – But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble
David remembered that whatever was happening GOD WAS WITH HIM!
5) David remembered to Prophesy
Psalm 59:10 – In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies
He knew how to strengthen himself in God by prophesying, speaking God’s word into the situation.
Strength rises as we speak God’s word over our lives, over our church. God will make a way!
Is there something we need to say today to our mountain, to our situation? Just like David let us remember to speak God’s word.
1 Samuel 30:1-10; 16-24
David was at a low point in his life. He was on the run and had only 600 men and not the best but the ragamuffins of the army. They had come under attack from the Amalekites and lost everything including women and children.
Verse 6 – ‘David strengthened himself in the Lord his God’.
It was the turning point in his situation. David and his men retook everything the Amalekites had taken from them.
David had suffered great trouble throughout his life…the highs and the lows. Here he found himself in that place again.
What do you or I do when we find ourselves at low points? When we find ourselves in need of strength. Like David strengthened himself in God, do we need to know how to do this in our lives? Maybe we used to be able to do it but not any longer.
Maybe we blame others when the answer is what is on the inside of us. We need the presence of God inside of us. The atmosphere around us can be determined by not what’s going off around us but by what is inside of us.
How did David do it? To become strengthened by God rather than becoming cynical…to be strengthened in God rather being full of fear…to be strong in the Lord rather than blaming other people…to be strengthened rather than being depressed…to be strengthened in God rather than becoming bitter.
Before David could do anything, even pray, he strengthened himself in the Lord. Some other examples…
Psalm 59 – whilst being pursued by Saul
Psalm 56 – when imprisoned in Gath
Psalm 63 – hiding in the wilderness of Judah
Psalm 3 – whilst fleeing from his son Absalom
How did he do it?
1) David remembered the Power of his God
Psalm 63:1-2 – O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and our own power and strength and get our eyes on God. When we are weak He is strong. We are finite God is infinite.
David knew this throughout his life and not just in times of trouble. It becomes a habit...remembering the power of God all the time.
Knowing the grace of God…He’s saved us!
Jeremiah 32:7 – I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
We need to remember the power of God. When there seems to be no way…He makes a way!
2) David remembered the Love of his God
Psalm 63:3 – Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you
Psalm 59:10 – In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies
When you remember the strength of his love…you become stronger.
We may change but he never changes, his love is constant. Our circumstances do not mirror God’s love but Jesus mirrors God’s love.
3) David remembered the Power of Praise
Psalm 63:3 – Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you
Better to praise God than be miserable! Better to praise than to worry.
Psalm 22:3 (KJV) – But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel
Can it be that we can be on the mountaintop when our lives are in the valley experiences? When our circumstances dictate we should be down and miserable. But we can live by faith praising God, trusting Him enjoying mountaintop living!
Praise magnifies God and tells us that we are the people of God. It changes the atmosphere. Praise is not the ‘fast song’. It is when our focus is on God and his greatness. A ‘roar’ of thanksgiving, a declaration that ‘He is mighty!’ That this is a life changing day a life changing moment.
4) David remembered the Presence of God
Psalm 59:16-17 – But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble
David remembered that whatever was happening GOD WAS WITH HIM!
5) David remembered to Prophesy
Psalm 59:10 – In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies
He knew how to strengthen himself in God by prophesying, speaking God’s word into the situation.
Strength rises as we speak God’s word over our lives, over our church. God will make a way!
Is there something we need to say today to our mountain, to our situation? Just like David let us remember to speak God’s word.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Stretch Enlarge Lengthen Strengthen!
Excellent time in church yesterday, both morning and evening (our new evening service began 6:30pm start) - Jeannie Benger shared a great message in the morning from Isaiah 54:2 about us becoming bigger people.
Isaiah 54:2 – Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes
God is saying I cannot fit what I have for you in the space provided…I need you to get bigger!
Stretch
Determine what our capacity is – how far are we stretching now? Our capacity is what is inside of us and not what we are seeing now.
Stretching is a challenge. The way we think is the way we are. See yourself as a winner.
God wants us to be constantly increasing, to see our vision expanded. He puts us in the right place with the right people to accomplish this. We need people that enlarge us. He wants our thinking to be bigger than what we see right now.
Enlarge
Enlarging is changing our thinking. We can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Jesus talked about us being like new wineskins able to stretch, to enlarge as he fills us. Let us not be restrictive by our attitudes but pliable, new thinking that helps to stretch us and enlarge our vision.
So often people stop running to win, they become fed up and tired, becoming inflexible. Like a long-distance runner we need to break through the pain barrier.
Sometimes we need to stretch beyond our comfort zone. We need to decide whether we are going to let God stretch us or not.
Stretch to accommodate the vision that God has given you. Stir up your hearts to make plans, and allow God to guide you.
Proverbs 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps
Dream God’s dreams!
Lengthen
To go further in our output and effort. Promotion doesn’t come from doing the bare minimum. That extra effort makes us winners…but it’s a choice.
Still need to remember to connect with the right people. Associate yourselves with wise and positive people. We need to run the race marked out for us, it’s our race different for everyone else’s, but having the right kind of people on the sidelines spurring us on!
Strengthen
God wants to strengthen us. He wants us to have spiritual strength and stamina. To workout…on his word, to seek Him.
Undisciplined athletes usually lose. We need to listen to God, not get too busy doing our own thing and failing to hear his voice.
His word shapes our lives. Discipline ourselves to listen to his word and to apply it!
We are born to win! The ability is there…we need to realise that!
Isaiah 54:2 – Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes
God is saying I cannot fit what I have for you in the space provided…I need you to get bigger!
Stretch
Determine what our capacity is – how far are we stretching now? Our capacity is what is inside of us and not what we are seeing now.
Stretching is a challenge. The way we think is the way we are. See yourself as a winner.
God wants us to be constantly increasing, to see our vision expanded. He puts us in the right place with the right people to accomplish this. We need people that enlarge us. He wants our thinking to be bigger than what we see right now.
Enlarge
Enlarging is changing our thinking. We can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Jesus talked about us being like new wineskins able to stretch, to enlarge as he fills us. Let us not be restrictive by our attitudes but pliable, new thinking that helps to stretch us and enlarge our vision.
So often people stop running to win, they become fed up and tired, becoming inflexible. Like a long-distance runner we need to break through the pain barrier.
Sometimes we need to stretch beyond our comfort zone. We need to decide whether we are going to let God stretch us or not.
Stretch to accommodate the vision that God has given you. Stir up your hearts to make plans, and allow God to guide you.
Proverbs 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps
Dream God’s dreams!
Lengthen
To go further in our output and effort. Promotion doesn’t come from doing the bare minimum. That extra effort makes us winners…but it’s a choice.
Still need to remember to connect with the right people. Associate yourselves with wise and positive people. We need to run the race marked out for us, it’s our race different for everyone else’s, but having the right kind of people on the sidelines spurring us on!
Strengthen
God wants to strengthen us. He wants us to have spiritual strength and stamina. To workout…on his word, to seek Him.
Undisciplined athletes usually lose. We need to listen to God, not get too busy doing our own thing and failing to hear his voice.
His word shapes our lives. Discipline ourselves to listen to his word and to apply it!
We are born to win! The ability is there…we need to realise that!
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