Great church this morning! Jeannie Benger spoke an excellent message about maintaining a life that flourishes and thrives.
God wants more for your life – do you? He only has good things for you.
Don’t let us get in a rut doing the same things over and over again. Let us not miss God opportunities!
Psalm 92:12-14 – (12) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (13) planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.
God wants us to be planted in his house. Get the revelation, it’s the difference between flourishing or floundering! Our relationships, careers, finances, health will all flourish.
How do we keep ourselves from floundering? How do we flourish? 4 keys:
Key 1 – Stay planted
Be planted in God’s house. Psalm 1:3 - He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
We will prosper! Make sure your roots are secure, that they are planted correctly. We will bear fruit and thrive.
Key 2 – Stay connected to people
Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity
Have and make great connections. When you’re floundering don’t disconnect yourself. True friends help us through tough times.
Also be careful who you connect with. Proverbs 13:20 – He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm
Connect with people who help us fulfil our destiny in God. Iron sharpens iron.
Key 3 – Stay focused on the result you want
Stay in faith. God will give you the confidence, even when all around is crumbling.
In the midst of persecution refuse to draw back. Trust in God and in His word. Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God.
Faith helps us overcome any floundering.
Key 4 – Stay positive
Keep a right attitude. Don’t get cynical or critical when others are doing well. Rejoice with them. Guard your attitude. A poor attitude will result in us floundering and not flourishing. Change your future by your response to the present situation.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
To the Crib
Great message from Paul Benger at CLC this morning. As our Christmas production ‘There is a Light’ approaches we were given an introduction to the Crib…as the wise men made there way to the place of the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 2:1-23
The wise men were going to ‘the crib’ of the King of the Jews. What were they expecting to see…what were they looking for?
They first arrived at Herodium, to King Herod’s palace…his crib! This was an incredible crib, luxurious it had everything. The wise men were probably bemused that the star had not settled over this place, over Herodium. This was surely the place for a King to be born!
Herod was disturbed by their news that they were on their way to see a newborn King. The thought of another King would have troubled him greatly. He was a power obsessed King…who would murder to maintain that power.
Herod’s advisers told him of the prophetic scriptures that indeed the Christ would be born and in the town of Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 – But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Because Herod was a control freak he lied to the wise men and told them to tell them where this King was so that he too could go an worship him.
This story is a tale of two kings. One king sought to destroy, one King came to give life.
Only one King rose from the grave and only one King is the Saviour of the world! His works still lives on today. Herod’s life is over.
Four important truths that we can learn from this story today…
1) God Guides – Follow Him
He loves us and guides our lives. He knows best…we should follow him.
2) God Protects – Trust Him
God’s purposes are always challenged. God makes provision for us…He protects us. He places things in our heart, dreams…gives us destiny! He will keep us safe.
3) God Knows – Hear Him
So often we are tempted to do the things God says don’t do. Let us listen to his word, his wisdom and follow his ways.
4) God Rules – Worship Him
Here is where the real power is…not in stuff, not in Herod’s crib ‘Herodium’. But being able to be born in a lowly crib in a stable…and even when being dead in a tomb…after 3 days walking out alive! Real power is God’s!
He rules…worship Him! Let our focus be on Him today.
Matthew 2:1-23
The wise men were going to ‘the crib’ of the King of the Jews. What were they expecting to see…what were they looking for?
They first arrived at Herodium, to King Herod’s palace…his crib! This was an incredible crib, luxurious it had everything. The wise men were probably bemused that the star had not settled over this place, over Herodium. This was surely the place for a King to be born!
Herod was disturbed by their news that they were on their way to see a newborn King. The thought of another King would have troubled him greatly. He was a power obsessed King…who would murder to maintain that power.
Herod’s advisers told him of the prophetic scriptures that indeed the Christ would be born and in the town of Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 – But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Because Herod was a control freak he lied to the wise men and told them to tell them where this King was so that he too could go an worship him.
This story is a tale of two kings. One king sought to destroy, one King came to give life.
Only one King rose from the grave and only one King is the Saviour of the world! His works still lives on today. Herod’s life is over.
Four important truths that we can learn from this story today…
1) God Guides – Follow Him
He loves us and guides our lives. He knows best…we should follow him.
2) God Protects – Trust Him
God’s purposes are always challenged. God makes provision for us…He protects us. He places things in our heart, dreams…gives us destiny! He will keep us safe.
3) God Knows – Hear Him
So often we are tempted to do the things God says don’t do. Let us listen to his word, his wisdom and follow his ways.
4) God Rules – Worship Him
Here is where the real power is…not in stuff, not in Herod’s crib ‘Herodium’. But being able to be born in a lowly crib in a stable…and even when being dead in a tomb…after 3 days walking out alive! Real power is God’s!
He rules…worship Him! Let our focus be on Him today.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Road and Crossroads
Great morning in church today. Simon Wood spoke an encouraging message concerning our journey with God and about the roads and crossroads we face.
We keep moving forward, the vision doesn’t change although the way we do things will change.
Crossroads…we will face them from time to time. We should still never lose sight of the promises of God and the dreams that he has given us.
New seasons will ask us to look at things in a different way. The destination of our journey still remains the same.
Isaiah 46:9-11 – Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfil my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
God’s will and purposes remain the same. We might make mistakes along the way but his purposes will still be made known. He is always there for us…he lifts us…his plans don’t change for our lives.
He will bring us back on track when we veer off course…like a Father encouraging his children.
Sometimes we doubt which way to turn or to go. Whatever we face God will give us the wisdom for it…His word for our lives applied.
Proverbs 8:1-3 – Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud
All along the way God guides us as we choose our paths.
Proverbs 4:4-7 – He taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding
We need wisdom and courage to take that step forward.
Don’t make monuments out of our mistakes. We need to move on…God’s got something more for us!
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go
Courage keeps us on the journey moving forward….whatever is thrown at us!
When we come to a junction….God gives us the ‘right of way’.
God wants to shape our lives. ‘Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand’
Let us be faithful even in the small things, the detail of our lives, as we travel along the way.
We also need support from those around us…to take us through. Friendship that strengthens us when we are feeling weak.
“Treat a man as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be”
Proverbs 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another
We’re on this journey together…building lives together!
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
We keep moving forward, the vision doesn’t change although the way we do things will change.
Crossroads…we will face them from time to time. We should still never lose sight of the promises of God and the dreams that he has given us.
New seasons will ask us to look at things in a different way. The destination of our journey still remains the same.
Isaiah 46:9-11 – Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfil my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
God’s will and purposes remain the same. We might make mistakes along the way but his purposes will still be made known. He is always there for us…he lifts us…his plans don’t change for our lives.
He will bring us back on track when we veer off course…like a Father encouraging his children.
Sometimes we doubt which way to turn or to go. Whatever we face God will give us the wisdom for it…His word for our lives applied.
Proverbs 8:1-3 – Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud
All along the way God guides us as we choose our paths.
Proverbs 4:4-7 – He taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding
We need wisdom and courage to take that step forward.
Don’t make monuments out of our mistakes. We need to move on…God’s got something more for us!
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go
Courage keeps us on the journey moving forward….whatever is thrown at us!
When we come to a junction….God gives us the ‘right of way’.
God wants to shape our lives. ‘Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand’
Let us be faithful even in the small things, the detail of our lives, as we travel along the way.
We also need support from those around us…to take us through. Friendship that strengthens us when we are feeling weak.
“Treat a man as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be”
Proverbs 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another
We’re on this journey together…building lives together!
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
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