Church was excellent this morning Simon Wood shared a great message about us being a shining light.
We’re here to magnify God’s light through our lives. What we say to people will stay with them as seed sown…we may see the fruit now or in many years to come.
Matthew 5:14-15 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house
God wants us to be like that…as a city on a hill shining our light to the world. Attracting people to follow Christ.
We do this by making friends, connections…taking time out for people. We have a great message of Hope.
People need Hope!
“Man can live 40 days without food
3 days without water
8 minutes with out air
But only seconds with HOPE”
‘Hope gives us blessed assurance that despite circumstantial evidence to the contrary our future is well cared for in God’s hands’
When opportunities come our way to share our faith…take them!
God has given us hope when we needed it the most.
Hebrews 6:19 – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure
As we have found hope and the strength for our soul let us be that strength for other people and show them the way to Christ and to Hope.
What keeps us hopeful? Knowing that He is always there our shield and our rock.
Ephesians 1:18 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints
Let us make sure that Jesus is our reference point…that keeps us on track…even when we go through a rough patch we will find the way.
Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful
No matter what darkness comes against us He is faithful and shines brightly. We can therefore still find Life no matter what we face!
John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Shame Off You
Another incredible day in church yesterday. Paul Benger spoke a great message in the morning, 'Shame Off You'.
Very often people want to put shame upon us, but Jesus wants to lift shame off our lives.
John 8:1-11
The Pharisees set this woman up for a stoning to catch Jesus out. But Jesus faces up to their intimidation.
Religion tries to make us feel small, but Jesus wants to set us free.
Sin besets all of us – we all fall short and miss the mark (Greek interpretation of word for sin = missing the mark)
Things happen in our lives that attach shame to our lives. But Jesus came to lift that shame off our lives for the whole of our lifetime – not just for a day.
Whatever our past we can know God’s complete forgiveness and shame is lifted from us. Shame can be a cycle for us if we don’t allow God’s grace to transform us. When we are weak, God’s strength steps in and the power of his spirit can make us strong.
Every person can hit God’s will for their life. God believes that you can do it – you can have a positive God-filled future.
We are made holy in God’s sight through the blood of Jesus – we are righteous through him.
Shame is one of the biggest causes of low self-esteem.
It causes people to be aggressive/abusive.
Shame can be the reason that stops people from stepping into church.
Shame often stays longer than it should – way after we’ve received God’s forgiveness.
Conviction will bring us closer to God, whereas shame or condemnation will drive us away from him.
How do we overcome shame?
Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
• We don’t get what we deserve, we get what God has provided : compassion, mercy through the cross. The woman in the story got amazing grace.
• God’s opinion is not based on what people think of us. He sees us from his own unique perspective. God is for us and with us and we shouldn’t be crippled by what others think. Don’t be trapped either by a snapshot of your life that is no longer you.
• God doesn’t condemn us, he wants to clear our conscience.
• God doesn’t abandon us, he stays in relationship with us.
Remember God loves you and has a purpose for your life.
Very often people want to put shame upon us, but Jesus wants to lift shame off our lives.
John 8:1-11
The Pharisees set this woman up for a stoning to catch Jesus out. But Jesus faces up to their intimidation.
Religion tries to make us feel small, but Jesus wants to set us free.
Sin besets all of us – we all fall short and miss the mark (Greek interpretation of word for sin = missing the mark)
Things happen in our lives that attach shame to our lives. But Jesus came to lift that shame off our lives for the whole of our lifetime – not just for a day.
Whatever our past we can know God’s complete forgiveness and shame is lifted from us. Shame can be a cycle for us if we don’t allow God’s grace to transform us. When we are weak, God’s strength steps in and the power of his spirit can make us strong.
Every person can hit God’s will for their life. God believes that you can do it – you can have a positive God-filled future.
We are made holy in God’s sight through the blood of Jesus – we are righteous through him.
Shame is one of the biggest causes of low self-esteem.
It causes people to be aggressive/abusive.
Shame can be the reason that stops people from stepping into church.
Shame often stays longer than it should – way after we’ve received God’s forgiveness.
Conviction will bring us closer to God, whereas shame or condemnation will drive us away from him.
How do we overcome shame?
Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
• We don’t get what we deserve, we get what God has provided : compassion, mercy through the cross. The woman in the story got amazing grace.
• God’s opinion is not based on what people think of us. He sees us from his own unique perspective. God is for us and with us and we shouldn’t be crippled by what others think. Don’t be trapped either by a snapshot of your life that is no longer you.
• God doesn’t condemn us, he wants to clear our conscience.
• God doesn’t abandon us, he stays in relationship with us.
Remember God loves you and has a purpose for your life.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Rebels Guide to Humility
A packed morning in church…we heard a great message from Paul Benger entitled ‘The Rebels Guide to Humility’.
Philippians 2:5-11 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is our great example of humility. Humility is not a negative thing…he is the name above all names, not puny…but at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
‘Let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ We get the choice in life; we’re not forced.
The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, he provokes us, challenges us, then He says, ‘Let your attitude’. We get to choose what attitude we have. Will we let him lead us? Can Jesus be your Lord and speak into every area of your life? We are encouraged to let his attitude be inside of us.
What will you do with that word, that promise, that challenge? Which ‘you’ will you be?
Humility is not weakness…we’re not downtrodden. What I am today is not enough for what I can be tomorrow. Humility allows us to move forward…who I am in Christ even though my life is flawed…I am going to live out the life of Christ in me!
Humility says this is what God wants and prays ‘Your Kingdom come Your will be done’. Where does God’s Kingdom need to appear in my life?…this is rebellious humility!
‘Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped’
Humility starts when grasping stops. This was in contrast to the Roman Empire at that time who were trying to grasp all they could…seeking to rule the World!
We’re not striving to conquer, we ‘rule’ by being who God has called us to be. We get the choice to be the person I want to be or to be the person God chooses me to be.
Having an attitude of thankfulness of praise is the real power behind humility. Thanksgiving for the work of God in my life.
When we get anywhere in our strength we’ll only stay there in our strength. Humility is recognising in who we are in Christ. Who I am in relation to who He is!
Ephesians 1:19-21 – That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 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
Ephesians 2:4-6 – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
You’re sat in heavenly places! When we’re seated in heavenly realms it changes our view on things. What ‘Vistas’ are there in the light of this? Maybe it’s a view about you or your circumstances; a view about your ability or skill; your future. But when you’re sat in the right place, heavenly perspective, you see things differently…you change you view!
We might be ‘down there’ fighting but we’re ‘up here’ reigning! You’re a King’s kid! Seated in the heavenly realms…God has got good things for you! We will see more in our future from ‘up here!’
(Philippians 2) Humility leads us into…
Change
‘And being found in appearance as a man’. Humility changed Him. Humility changes us. Constant change is here to stay. We’re following him allowing him to change us.
Service
‘Taking the very nature of a servant’. On fire Christians are servants. We have great servants at CLC…let’s see what greater things are ahead – looking from you heavenly realms view!
Obedience
‘He humbled himself and became obedient’. We get to choose. Let us be the person that God has called us to be. Let us obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
God Exalting Us
‘Therefore God exalted him to the highest place’. God does the same for us…he lifts our lives. We don’t do this in our own effort alone but coupled with God he brings the increase as we partner with him.
Our grasping fails us but our humility exalts us.
Philippians 2:5-11 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is our great example of humility. Humility is not a negative thing…he is the name above all names, not puny…but at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
‘Let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ We get the choice in life; we’re not forced.
The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, he provokes us, challenges us, then He says, ‘Let your attitude’. We get to choose what attitude we have. Will we let him lead us? Can Jesus be your Lord and speak into every area of your life? We are encouraged to let his attitude be inside of us.
What will you do with that word, that promise, that challenge? Which ‘you’ will you be?
Humility is not weakness…we’re not downtrodden. What I am today is not enough for what I can be tomorrow. Humility allows us to move forward…who I am in Christ even though my life is flawed…I am going to live out the life of Christ in me!
Humility says this is what God wants and prays ‘Your Kingdom come Your will be done’. Where does God’s Kingdom need to appear in my life?…this is rebellious humility!
‘Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped’
Humility starts when grasping stops. This was in contrast to the Roman Empire at that time who were trying to grasp all they could…seeking to rule the World!
We’re not striving to conquer, we ‘rule’ by being who God has called us to be. We get the choice to be the person I want to be or to be the person God chooses me to be.
Having an attitude of thankfulness of praise is the real power behind humility. Thanksgiving for the work of God in my life.
When we get anywhere in our strength we’ll only stay there in our strength. Humility is recognising in who we are in Christ. Who I am in relation to who He is!
Ephesians 1:19-21 – That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 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
Ephesians 2:4-6 – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
You’re sat in heavenly places! When we’re seated in heavenly realms it changes our view on things. What ‘Vistas’ are there in the light of this? Maybe it’s a view about you or your circumstances; a view about your ability or skill; your future. But when you’re sat in the right place, heavenly perspective, you see things differently…you change you view!
We might be ‘down there’ fighting but we’re ‘up here’ reigning! You’re a King’s kid! Seated in the heavenly realms…God has got good things for you! We will see more in our future from ‘up here!’
(Philippians 2) Humility leads us into…
Change
‘And being found in appearance as a man’. Humility changed Him. Humility changes us. Constant change is here to stay. We’re following him allowing him to change us.
Service
‘Taking the very nature of a servant’. On fire Christians are servants. We have great servants at CLC…let’s see what greater things are ahead – looking from you heavenly realms view!
Obedience
‘He humbled himself and became obedient’. We get to choose. Let us be the person that God has called us to be. Let us obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
God Exalting Us
‘Therefore God exalted him to the highest place’. God does the same for us…he lifts our lives. We don’t do this in our own effort alone but coupled with God he brings the increase as we partner with him.
Our grasping fails us but our humility exalts us.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Dreams
Great day in Church yesterday, in the morning Jeannie Benger spoke about dreaming big dreams.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message) – God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us
We often live with low (or no) expectations. What are you expecting? What are your plans/dreams? We often drop in our thinking to the lowest common denominator, but we should expect big things from a big God!
Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart
Desire is creative. We need to be creative visionaries who desire to see others come to know him. Our task here on the earth as God’s people is to reach the world – let’s not be passive in this! If we desire nothing, nothing will happen. We are intelligent, redemptive sons & daughters of God.
2 Corinthians 10:13 – We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you
We need to move into our sphere of influence and make a difference. (Domino effect – if we only influence one person, we can in turn influence a multitude)
God has appointed jobs for you to do. There may be obstacles in your way, but God is greater than those obstacles. God has called us to influence other people’s lives and as we do that God will extend the borders in our realm of influence. People should be drawn to us because of what he is doing in our lives – our lives should be magnetic.
1 Timothy 4:12 – Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity
God gives us boundaries but sometimes we can restrict those boundaries and limit ourselves. We all have limiting factors in our lives and we need to learn to overcome them e.g. others’ opinions, education, our past, our status. Do not allow them to hold you back from the calling God has for you.
Nothing is impossible with God. If we choose not to obey him, he has a clever way of bringing us back to the same place and reminding us. At those times we need to rekindle those dreams that he gave us.
As a church we have a vision to be large and influential and we all have a part to play in that – it’s not just down to the leadership.
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
God wants you to believe that he has called you, and our calling will be something that we are talented in so that we do not have to strive.
All around us dreams are being dashed but God wants to see your dreams being fulfilled. He wants us to have the faith that he can do amazing things through us.
Proverbs 16:9 – In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps
Declare that God has great plans and good things for us his children. Have faith in God and live a faith-filled life.
“Faith itself is a feeling…faith is a feeling of absolute confidence. It is David – running, laughing, to meet the giant. He is fully assured that God is with him. He is not trying to believe, or pretend to be bold hoping that God is with him; neither is he confessing the word to himself hopefully to build up his faith. No he is full of confidence. He feels great….faith is an attitude you have within you…” (Phil Pringle)
All of us need to look beyond what’s in front of us. Are we seeing God-given opportunities? Learn to listen to God’s whisper, which is meant just for you.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
When we stay faithful to God’s calling he will do amazing things. Stir up the passion within you that leads to compassion for people and look for the reconciliation of the lost.
Dream big!…Don’t doubt – live with expectation.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message) – God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us
We often live with low (or no) expectations. What are you expecting? What are your plans/dreams? We often drop in our thinking to the lowest common denominator, but we should expect big things from a big God!
Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart
Desire is creative. We need to be creative visionaries who desire to see others come to know him. Our task here on the earth as God’s people is to reach the world – let’s not be passive in this! If we desire nothing, nothing will happen. We are intelligent, redemptive sons & daughters of God.
2 Corinthians 10:13 – We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you
We need to move into our sphere of influence and make a difference. (Domino effect – if we only influence one person, we can in turn influence a multitude)
God has appointed jobs for you to do. There may be obstacles in your way, but God is greater than those obstacles. God has called us to influence other people’s lives and as we do that God will extend the borders in our realm of influence. People should be drawn to us because of what he is doing in our lives – our lives should be magnetic.
1 Timothy 4:12 – Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity
God gives us boundaries but sometimes we can restrict those boundaries and limit ourselves. We all have limiting factors in our lives and we need to learn to overcome them e.g. others’ opinions, education, our past, our status. Do not allow them to hold you back from the calling God has for you.
Nothing is impossible with God. If we choose not to obey him, he has a clever way of bringing us back to the same place and reminding us. At those times we need to rekindle those dreams that he gave us.
As a church we have a vision to be large and influential and we all have a part to play in that – it’s not just down to the leadership.
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
God wants you to believe that he has called you, and our calling will be something that we are talented in so that we do not have to strive.
All around us dreams are being dashed but God wants to see your dreams being fulfilled. He wants us to have the faith that he can do amazing things through us.
Proverbs 16:9 – In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps
Declare that God has great plans and good things for us his children. Have faith in God and live a faith-filled life.
“Faith itself is a feeling…faith is a feeling of absolute confidence. It is David – running, laughing, to meet the giant. He is fully assured that God is with him. He is not trying to believe, or pretend to be bold hoping that God is with him; neither is he confessing the word to himself hopefully to build up his faith. No he is full of confidence. He feels great….faith is an attitude you have within you…” (Phil Pringle)
All of us need to look beyond what’s in front of us. Are we seeing God-given opportunities? Learn to listen to God’s whisper, which is meant just for you.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
When we stay faithful to God’s calling he will do amazing things. Stir up the passion within you that leads to compassion for people and look for the reconciliation of the lost.
Dream big!…Don’t doubt – live with expectation.
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