A great message in church this morning from Simon Wood. He spoke on ‘transformation’.
God has done and is doing great things in our lives. He is the business of transformation. Our ultimate transformation is salvation through Jesus Christ. God is so gracious and good to us in that he has changed our lives in this way.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit
God is transforming us into his likeness. It is an on-going process to reflect his glory and to bring us into his purposes. We will make mistakes along the way but God’s plan still stays intact and doesn’t suddenly disappear.
He chooses ordinary people to do extraordinary things!
When we feel we have lost that ‘first love’ when we first came to Christ we need to remember what God has done in our lives and where he has brought us from.
Romans 8:38-39 – For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These verses truth and foundational, our default position in God and brings great strength to our lives.
God has great plans for our lives to see us grow and transform. The things he sees in us he sees them as good things, like a Father to his children he wants to encourage us to help us to grow.
Transformation is sometimes difficult and challenges will come, but let us keep pressing on.
We’re all on this journey of transformation.
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
Transformation often means changing our thinking. We also need to remember that God’s will is good! Get a revelation of what God wants for us and of who we are in God.
The default position is that God loves us and has great plans for us. The way we think shapes our lives.
Proverbs 23:7 – For as he thinks in his heart, so is he
Our understanding of what God wants for us can be a little out of sync because of past experiences.
Don’t let negative thoughts be our default position, but what God has placed in your heart.
“I tell people: If you don't want to get into positive thinking, that's OK Just eliminate all the negative thoughts from your mind, and whatever's left will be fine.'' Bob Rotella, Sports Psychologist
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
We have to be careful not to give negative stuff too much prominence in our lives. Often we build monuments to our negative experiences. We hold them against us to keep us held back life…but God doesn’t. Tear down those monuments and get rid of them!
Build positive monuments in your life of what God has done. As we destroy those things we’ve built up in our lives God will finish them off and wipe the slate clean!
To help us grow and transform we need to have good friends in our lives who believe in us and encourage us. They help us to get back on track when we have wandered off.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
As well as God transforming us we are also here to see our world transformed.
Matthew 5:14-16 – "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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
How can I help transform my world?
- Be yourself, be real (people are drawn to that)
- Take an interest in what matters to others
- Make people valuable
- Build peoples lives, especially those who have their lives torn down
- Always be Hopeful
- Go the extra mile
- Share your faith and testimony with honesty at the appropriate time
- Pray for people
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Living for a Cause Bigger than Me
We continued our Rise and Build 2008 in church today. Paul Benger brought a great message entitled, ‘Living for a Cause Bigger than Me’.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men
Eternity is in our hearts. When we live for anything less we’re never satisfied. Eternal life has started already through our relationship with Jesus.
We live for a cause bigger than us.
Jesus Lived for a Cause
He came to earth on ‘purpose’. He lived for 33 ½ years, 3 ½ years of public ministry. He had been sent by God, the Father. Do we believe we have been sent also?
Our life is not a random event – nothing haphazard.
His Cause…
1) The Salvation of Men
John 12:27 – “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour”
For this very reason…to save the world.
2) To be a King that Rules
John 18:37- "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."
His purpose was to rule over our lives, to be Lord of our lives.
3) To build his Church and extend His Kingdom
Matthew 16:18-19 – 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. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
He came to fashion me, to equip me so that we could extend His Kingdom. It is Jesus that builds the church.
How Should we Live?
We live for the same cause, to see the salvation of people. To see Jesus being made Lord of their lives. To be a gathering of such people.
Jesus said, ‘As the Father has sent me so I am sending you’.
Live Saved and live Called
2 Timothy 1:8-10 – So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Our calling is a life purpose and influence, reaching people.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Amp) - He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end
He has put an eternal vision inside of our hearts…a holy calling, a calling from God. This calling embraces every aspect of our lives. Live ‘called’ right where you are in whatever you are doing. Be light, lifting the lives of others – building the church and extending God’s Kingdom.
Why Should we Live Called?
We could say it’s just down to obedience, or because God loves us and we want to love him back. But…
Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
3 things why we should live ‘called’…
1) Because of the great cloud of witnesses
Others have already run their race before us…they’ve finished their race. We’re not the first people to be running this race. But we are right here right now…it is our time. People have gone before us and that is why we are here today. We’re stood on their shoulders and they were people just like us. They witness to the fact that it can be done!
2) History and Heaven is waiting
Hebrews 11:39-40 –These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect
They’re waiting for us to add our bit…to press on further than has gone before. Getting ready for Christ’s return.
3) Living called has its reward
Hebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
We get to see lives changed. We get to leave a legacy…for generations to come!
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men
Eternity is in our hearts. When we live for anything less we’re never satisfied. Eternal life has started already through our relationship with Jesus.
We live for a cause bigger than us.
Jesus Lived for a Cause
He came to earth on ‘purpose’. He lived for 33 ½ years, 3 ½ years of public ministry. He had been sent by God, the Father. Do we believe we have been sent also?
Our life is not a random event – nothing haphazard.
His Cause…
1) The Salvation of Men
John 12:27 – “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour”
For this very reason…to save the world.
2) To be a King that Rules
John 18:37- "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."
His purpose was to rule over our lives, to be Lord of our lives.
3) To build his Church and extend His Kingdom
Matthew 16:18-19 – 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. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
He came to fashion me, to equip me so that we could extend His Kingdom. It is Jesus that builds the church.
How Should we Live?
We live for the same cause, to see the salvation of people. To see Jesus being made Lord of their lives. To be a gathering of such people.
Jesus said, ‘As the Father has sent me so I am sending you’.
Live Saved and live Called
2 Timothy 1:8-10 – So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Our calling is a life purpose and influence, reaching people.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Amp) - He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end
He has put an eternal vision inside of our hearts…a holy calling, a calling from God. This calling embraces every aspect of our lives. Live ‘called’ right where you are in whatever you are doing. Be light, lifting the lives of others – building the church and extending God’s Kingdom.
Why Should we Live Called?
We could say it’s just down to obedience, or because God loves us and we want to love him back. But…
Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
3 things why we should live ‘called’…
1) Because of the great cloud of witnesses
Others have already run their race before us…they’ve finished their race. We’re not the first people to be running this race. But we are right here right now…it is our time. People have gone before us and that is why we are here today. We’re stood on their shoulders and they were people just like us. They witness to the fact that it can be done!
2) History and Heaven is waiting
Hebrews 11:39-40 –These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect
They’re waiting for us to add our bit…to press on further than has gone before. Getting ready for Christ’s return.
3) Living called has its reward
Hebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
We get to see lives changed. We get to leave a legacy…for generations to come!
Monday, October 13, 2008
A City on a Hill
We began our two week Rise and Build series yesterday in church. Paul Benger shared an excellent message on the theme of ‘A City on a Hill’.
God is always wanting to move and he moves through people. That is how revival is often birthed through people.
We had a prophetic word about the church earlier on in the year…We are a city on a hill both physically and also prophetically. We are to be a church of influence, light shining in the darkness. A signpost pointing to a different way of life.
How much influence do you want us to have? How passionate are we about pressing forward?
We are ALL involved with what God is calling us to be…with a spirit of faith. The whole church rising up.
Matthew 5:13-16 – "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
You can’t keep it quiet! We are meant to be a generous people to lift the lives of others. The church is meant to be alive! ‘Jesus is the Light of the world’. We are meant to be a church full of vision…to be leading the way. Speaking into our world at all levels bringing hope and life.
The church is not meant to be a hidden, but living for Christ and a beam of light and hope.
John 8:12 - "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus is the true light of the world.
Never limit the number of people we are reaching. Our world needs LIGHT, it is lacking hope and meaning.
We are a prophetic sign. A sign reminds people that there is more to life. That as we live as the community of God’s people we speak to our world prophetically. That there is more to life than where they are at.
We have influence even as individuals. We are meant to be light, we’re not meant to exit the world but to influence the world.
Jesus has a big vision for his church, let us not be vision poor.
The church is meant to be…
- Contemporary and Prophetic
- A Biblical Community
- Celebrating its Citizens
- On a Mission
It’s not enough to be just contemporary…we have to be prophetic. To have influence, to engage our culture enough that our message can be heard.
Being contemporary is not removing our values and beliefs. It’s about living at the same time and still expressing our values and beliefs.
‘To be prophetic is to challenge contemporary values, culture and thinking and behaviour and point the way to something better – the Kingdom of God.’ Mal Fletcher
We are a Biblical Community – there is much communication tools today but not much community.
We are meant to be celebrating its citizens...
Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves
Galatians 5:13 – You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love
Hebrews 3:13 – But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness
We are on a Mission...
The church is meant to be missional and attractional. To do everything with excellence that draws people to the light.
Realise that you are a missionary. We’re all sent, abroad and home. Mission begins with relationships and then evangelism which leads to faith.
God is always wanting to move and he moves through people. That is how revival is often birthed through people.
We had a prophetic word about the church earlier on in the year…We are a city on a hill both physically and also prophetically. We are to be a church of influence, light shining in the darkness. A signpost pointing to a different way of life.
How much influence do you want us to have? How passionate are we about pressing forward?
We are ALL involved with what God is calling us to be…with a spirit of faith. The whole church rising up.
Matthew 5:13-16 – "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
You can’t keep it quiet! We are meant to be a generous people to lift the lives of others. The church is meant to be alive! ‘Jesus is the Light of the world’. We are meant to be a church full of vision…to be leading the way. Speaking into our world at all levels bringing hope and life.
The church is not meant to be a hidden, but living for Christ and a beam of light and hope.
John 8:12 - "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus is the true light of the world.
Never limit the number of people we are reaching. Our world needs LIGHT, it is lacking hope and meaning.
We are a prophetic sign. A sign reminds people that there is more to life. That as we live as the community of God’s people we speak to our world prophetically. That there is more to life than where they are at.
We have influence even as individuals. We are meant to be light, we’re not meant to exit the world but to influence the world.
Jesus has a big vision for his church, let us not be vision poor.
The church is meant to be…
- Contemporary and Prophetic
- A Biblical Community
- Celebrating its Citizens
- On a Mission
It’s not enough to be just contemporary…we have to be prophetic. To have influence, to engage our culture enough that our message can be heard.
Being contemporary is not removing our values and beliefs. It’s about living at the same time and still expressing our values and beliefs.
‘To be prophetic is to challenge contemporary values, culture and thinking and behaviour and point the way to something better – the Kingdom of God.’ Mal Fletcher
We are a Biblical Community – there is much communication tools today but not much community.
We are meant to be celebrating its citizens...
Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves
Galatians 5:13 – You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love
Hebrews 3:13 – But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness
We are on a Mission...
The church is meant to be missional and attractional. To do everything with excellence that draws people to the light.
Realise that you are a missionary. We’re all sent, abroad and home. Mission begins with relationships and then evangelism which leads to faith.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Let us run...
We had a fantastic time in church yesterday. We had Roy Todd with us for both morning and evening services. In the morning he spoke about running the race with perseverance!
Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Throw of the sin that so easily entangles us…unbelief or cynicism and negativity.
Faith is not cynical it sees the possibilities. That with God all things are possible!
Run with perseverance – keep believing what you believe. Keep doing the right things.
Keep the race going; keep on passing the baton…believing for now and for future generations.
We know that sometimes life is great and sometimes it is not so great…but we keep persevering.
A few things to help us in our race…
1) Don’t Limit God
Don’t limit God in the race he has marked out for you. He is the God of the impossible!
We need to check our thinking. It is often a battle of the mind. Are we limiting God?
Remember when he disciplines us he is wanting to bring the best out of us.
2) Learn to overcome your fears
Or your fears will overcome you and stop you reaching your potential.
It is not wrong to feel fear…but don’t submit to it. Submit to God instead. Sometimes we need to do it afraid. Don’t let your fears hold you back.
3) Know your identity
We need to like ourselves….God loves you! Do we expect too much sometimes? Let us remain teachable, we’re in it for the long haul.
Know who you are in Christ. We’re not here to prove something to others.
Never lose your sense of indentity. Keep on pressing on.
4) Have Faith
Keep positive. Bring the good report like Joshua and Caleb. The two spies who brought the good report as opposed to the ten spies who brought the negative report. The majority and not always right!
Don’t be people who complain.
5) Dare to believe for more than you’ve ever experienced!
Get out of your comfort zone and move into the new realm God has for you!
Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Throw of the sin that so easily entangles us…unbelief or cynicism and negativity.
Faith is not cynical it sees the possibilities. That with God all things are possible!
Run with perseverance – keep believing what you believe. Keep doing the right things.
Keep the race going; keep on passing the baton…believing for now and for future generations.
We know that sometimes life is great and sometimes it is not so great…but we keep persevering.
A few things to help us in our race…
1) Don’t Limit God
Don’t limit God in the race he has marked out for you. He is the God of the impossible!
We need to check our thinking. It is often a battle of the mind. Are we limiting God?
Remember when he disciplines us he is wanting to bring the best out of us.
2) Learn to overcome your fears
Or your fears will overcome you and stop you reaching your potential.
It is not wrong to feel fear…but don’t submit to it. Submit to God instead. Sometimes we need to do it afraid. Don’t let your fears hold you back.
3) Know your identity
We need to like ourselves….God loves you! Do we expect too much sometimes? Let us remain teachable, we’re in it for the long haul.
Know who you are in Christ. We’re not here to prove something to others.
Never lose your sense of indentity. Keep on pressing on.
4) Have Faith
Keep positive. Bring the good report like Joshua and Caleb. The two spies who brought the good report as opposed to the ten spies who brought the negative report. The majority and not always right!
Don’t be people who complain.
5) Dare to believe for more than you’ve ever experienced!
Get out of your comfort zone and move into the new realm God has for you!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Burn Your Plastic Jesus
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!
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!
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!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Connect
Paul Benger spoke an excellent message in church this morning on ‘Connecting’.
We can connect to negative things as well as positive things.
Where we connect is very important. When we make right connections we can be sure our landings will be ok! Our connections become the power that is at work in our lives.
As we connect with people of faith we feel lifted. God is able to speak to us through those connections.
Ezekiel 37:1-10
God asks Ezekiel – ‘Can these bones lives?
God also asks us as we look over our lives – ‘what can you see?’
God tells Ezekiel to speak to the bones - Ezekiel is going to be the answer. We are going to be the answer in our life and the lives of others.
God knows the answer – he wants us to know it. God can speak the answer but he wants us to speak it.
Vs 7 – God can make old bones live again. We have so many connection tools yet we still live in a world with so much disconnection. The answer to disconnection is two-fold:
1) Breath of God. We need to keep full of the Holy Spirit.
2) Connection. We need to love one another when we come together.
Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble
Genesis 2:18 – And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him."
Hebrews 10:25 – And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
John 17:20-21 – (20) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
10 things that we can do in Connect Groups to help us to minister to one another
1) Celebrate the victory of others (Romans 12:10)
2) Don’t judge (Romans 14:13)
3) Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
4) Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
5) Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
6) Put up with one another (Ephesians 4:2)
7) Forgive (Ephesians 4:32)
8) Speak to one another about God (Ephesians 5:19)
9) Put people at ease (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
10) Build people up (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13)
We can connect to negative things as well as positive things.
Where we connect is very important. When we make right connections we can be sure our landings will be ok! Our connections become the power that is at work in our lives.
As we connect with people of faith we feel lifted. God is able to speak to us through those connections.
Ezekiel 37:1-10
God asks Ezekiel – ‘Can these bones lives?
God also asks us as we look over our lives – ‘what can you see?’
God tells Ezekiel to speak to the bones - Ezekiel is going to be the answer. We are going to be the answer in our life and the lives of others.
God knows the answer – he wants us to know it. God can speak the answer but he wants us to speak it.
Vs 7 – God can make old bones live again. We have so many connection tools yet we still live in a world with so much disconnection. The answer to disconnection is two-fold:
1) Breath of God. We need to keep full of the Holy Spirit.
2) Connection. We need to love one another when we come together.
Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble
Genesis 2:18 – And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him."
Hebrews 10:25 – And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
John 17:20-21 – (20) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
10 things that we can do in Connect Groups to help us to minister to one another
1) Celebrate the victory of others (Romans 12:10)
2) Don’t judge (Romans 14:13)
3) Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
4) Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
5) Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
6) Put up with one another (Ephesians 4:2)
7) Forgive (Ephesians 4:32)
8) Speak to one another about God (Ephesians 5:19)
9) Put people at ease (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
10) Build people up (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13)
Monday, August 18, 2008
God Unlimited
Another excellent message in church yesterday morning. Paul Benger spoke on God Unlimited.
Isaiah 54:1-3 – (1) Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labour; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the Lord. (2) Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. (3) For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
Limitation is incredibly frustrating. We need to take the limits off of God in our lives. Our lives may feel limited at times - we can reach so high but no higher...so far but no further. It’s like living with a ‘limiter’ in our lives.
Don’t limit God. Never say ‘I will always be sick’ or ‘the church will never have influence’. Christian influence has led the way over the centuries. In medicine, caring, education, social justice.
God is saying, ‘don’t limit me’. How do we limit God? By not believing all that He said he would do.
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. Take the limits off!
Two trains of thought - that God is sovereign, that He is in control. Also that God has given us responsibility for our world. These two thoughts have battled against each other through time. God wants to partner with us in seeing his will being done, that is why we pray ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done’.
Three promises from these verses in Isaiah 54 – the 3 E’s. God wants to...
Expand us – Our desire for the church is that we will grow, get bigger. That you will get bigger.
Empower us – power from His word for the whole week, the whole of the time.
Equip us – Equipped to live our lives.
- You shall expand, Matthew 19:26 - Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
- You will inherit, Isaiah 54:3 – We will inherit the nations
God is a rewarder. Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
- You will inhabit the desolate place. God is a restorer. He restores broken lives, dreams, destiny’s.
5 things (from Isaiah 54:1-3) that help us to take the limits off God.
1) Get a bigger plot
A bigger footprint! See a bigger future…buy some land! Enlarge the place of your tent (Vs 2) A time to rejoice, to see what God can do. Prophesy it! Change your thinking (Romans 12:2). Bigger people build a bigger world. You need a bigger plot, we (the church) needs a bigger plot!
2) Do more
Or do something! Stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back (Vs 2) Remember though our identity is in God, not what we do. But to bring the Kingdom of God into our world, to see His will being done, has an incredible amount to do with what we do.
3) Be generous
Spare not (Vs 2) – live with a generous attitude and spirit. Don’t limit God...i.e. don't be limited because we don’t have.
4) Build lasting relationships with the right people
Lengthen your chords (Vs 2) – Together we take the Kingdom forward. We change into the people we connect with. The power of fellowship.
5) Stay loyal to your commitments
Strengthen your stakes (Vs 2) – stay loyal to the people God has put you with. Need to stay connected.
Isaiah 54:1-3 – (1) Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labour; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the Lord. (2) Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. (3) For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
Limitation is incredibly frustrating. We need to take the limits off of God in our lives. Our lives may feel limited at times - we can reach so high but no higher...so far but no further. It’s like living with a ‘limiter’ in our lives.
Don’t limit God. Never say ‘I will always be sick’ or ‘the church will never have influence’. Christian influence has led the way over the centuries. In medicine, caring, education, social justice.
God is saying, ‘don’t limit me’. How do we limit God? By not believing all that He said he would do.
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. Take the limits off!
Two trains of thought - that God is sovereign, that He is in control. Also that God has given us responsibility for our world. These two thoughts have battled against each other through time. God wants to partner with us in seeing his will being done, that is why we pray ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done’.
Three promises from these verses in Isaiah 54 – the 3 E’s. God wants to...
Expand us – Our desire for the church is that we will grow, get bigger. That you will get bigger.
Empower us – power from His word for the whole week, the whole of the time.
Equip us – Equipped to live our lives.
- You shall expand, Matthew 19:26 - Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
- You will inherit, Isaiah 54:3 – We will inherit the nations
God is a rewarder. Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
- You will inhabit the desolate place. God is a restorer. He restores broken lives, dreams, destiny’s.
5 things (from Isaiah 54:1-3) that help us to take the limits off God.
1) Get a bigger plot
A bigger footprint! See a bigger future…buy some land! Enlarge the place of your tent (Vs 2) A time to rejoice, to see what God can do. Prophesy it! Change your thinking (Romans 12:2). Bigger people build a bigger world. You need a bigger plot, we (the church) needs a bigger plot!
2) Do more
Or do something! Stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back (Vs 2) Remember though our identity is in God, not what we do. But to bring the Kingdom of God into our world, to see His will being done, has an incredible amount to do with what we do.
3) Be generous
Spare not (Vs 2) – live with a generous attitude and spirit. Don’t limit God...i.e. don't be limited because we don’t have.
4) Build lasting relationships with the right people
Lengthen your chords (Vs 2) – Together we take the Kingdom forward. We change into the people we connect with. The power of fellowship.
5) Stay loyal to your commitments
Strengthen your stakes (Vs 2) – stay loyal to the people God has put you with. Need to stay connected.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Handling Life's Storms
Great message in church on Sunday. Paul Benger spoke on ‘Handling Life’s Storms’.
Acts 27:27-44
We all face storms in our lives both literal (i.e. the kind that causes floods and blow our roofs off!) - to the more common ‘life storms’. Both types cause upheaval and are messy!
Some of the characteristics of storms - Unexpected, unfavourable, unpleasant and unpredictable.
We face storms relating to our health, finances, emotions, career, increased responsibilities.
God is with us, he wants to help us handle storms...to delivers us and bring us through them.
When storms come as Christians we need to rise up – to have a backbone. The Spirit of God is inside of us, don’t succumb to the spirit of the age. Take a stand.
Four important responses in the midst of storms:
1) Don’t Abandon Your Trust in God
Don’t look for a reason why – trust God. Don’t focus on your smallness, focus on the greatness of God. Paul – “God has shown me, no one will die’
Don’t rely on yourself – don’t trust in human wisdom, it’s flawed. Trust God – do it His way. You’re only ‘right’ when you agree with God – it’s time to change your mind! He is our deliverer!
The storm will reveal what’s inside of us. How much hope we’ve got, how much faith we’ve got, how much joy we’ve got.
The storm doesn’t reveal stuff for God to see – the storm let’s us know what we need in our life.
2) Don’t Abandon the Ship and Crew
(Vs 30-32) – Too many people jump ship when the storm comes. God wants us to draw closer. The best place to be when the storm comes is in the House of God.
When the storm comes don’t project your problems on someone else...and don’t think the grass is always greener on the other side.
A storm means that a better day is coming!
3) Don’t Abandon Your Faith
Don’t go into crisis or panic mode. What’s inside of us? Don’t abandon the things we are believing for. As well as starting new things...finish them!
Vision can sometimes shrivel up when a storm comes.
Hebrews 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Jesus never backed off when he faced a storm.
Let the storm be the momentum that takes you to another level.
4) Don’t Abandon Your Mission
They stayed with the ship...until they’d accomplished their mission. Changes happen so that we can fulfil our mission.
Consider the changes that we are about to face as a church. It’s all about us fulfilling our mission. What God has called us to do at this time. To see His church built in this place
Let’s not abandon our mission!
Acts 27:27-44
We all face storms in our lives both literal (i.e. the kind that causes floods and blow our roofs off!) - to the more common ‘life storms’. Both types cause upheaval and are messy!
Some of the characteristics of storms - Unexpected, unfavourable, unpleasant and unpredictable.
We face storms relating to our health, finances, emotions, career, increased responsibilities.
God is with us, he wants to help us handle storms...to delivers us and bring us through them.
When storms come as Christians we need to rise up – to have a backbone. The Spirit of God is inside of us, don’t succumb to the spirit of the age. Take a stand.
Four important responses in the midst of storms:
1) Don’t Abandon Your Trust in God
Don’t look for a reason why – trust God. Don’t focus on your smallness, focus on the greatness of God. Paul – “God has shown me, no one will die’
Don’t rely on yourself – don’t trust in human wisdom, it’s flawed. Trust God – do it His way. You’re only ‘right’ when you agree with God – it’s time to change your mind! He is our deliverer!
The storm will reveal what’s inside of us. How much hope we’ve got, how much faith we’ve got, how much joy we’ve got.
The storm doesn’t reveal stuff for God to see – the storm let’s us know what we need in our life.
2) Don’t Abandon the Ship and Crew
(Vs 30-32) – Too many people jump ship when the storm comes. God wants us to draw closer. The best place to be when the storm comes is in the House of God.
When the storm comes don’t project your problems on someone else...and don’t think the grass is always greener on the other side.
A storm means that a better day is coming!
3) Don’t Abandon Your Faith
Don’t go into crisis or panic mode. What’s inside of us? Don’t abandon the things we are believing for. As well as starting new things...finish them!
Vision can sometimes shrivel up when a storm comes.
Hebrews 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Jesus never backed off when he faced a storm.
Let the storm be the momentum that takes you to another level.
4) Don’t Abandon Your Mission
They stayed with the ship...until they’d accomplished their mission. Changes happen so that we can fulfil our mission.
Consider the changes that we are about to face as a church. It’s all about us fulfilling our mission. What God has called us to do at this time. To see His church built in this place
Let’s not abandon our mission!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Black Swan
Mark Wilkins spoke an excellent message in church today.
‘A Black Swan is a large-impact hard-to-predict, and rare event beyond the realm of normal expectations’. Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Black swans were discovered in Australia before that it was assumed that all swans were white.
Jesus is the ultimate black swan – meeting him is our breakthrough moment. We can no longer look back at our past and use it to predict our future. We become a new creation.
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus wasn’t what the people of his time expected. They were used to looking in the past to determine their future. Jesus was a surprise to them.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength
Ephesians 3:20-21 – 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Our dreams can be weighed down by us looking in the past. We have to look to our future through the eyes of faith.
More thoughts about ‘black swans’…
They are not always bad news
Strategic friendships are vital
Jesus has a plan
Faith is all that is required
Grace is in plentiful supply
Jesus blows away all of Simon Peter’s past experience (logical induction!) because he sends back out to fish again. Peter knows there are no fish but Jesus proves him wrong.
Unexpected happenings can be good opportunities - not negative! A crisis can be a great opportunity for us to step up a level.
James and John were faithful friends to Peter. We need to seek out those faithful friends in our lives.
Jesus is the name above all names! His plan for us will not fail. We need to stay faithful even though change is taking place in our lives.
His grace is sufficient during bad times. He’s always there to love and forgive us. To lift us up and put us back on track.
‘A Black Swan is a large-impact hard-to-predict, and rare event beyond the realm of normal expectations’. Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Black swans were discovered in Australia before that it was assumed that all swans were white.
Jesus is the ultimate black swan – meeting him is our breakthrough moment. We can no longer look back at our past and use it to predict our future. We become a new creation.
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus wasn’t what the people of his time expected. They were used to looking in the past to determine their future. Jesus was a surprise to them.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength
Ephesians 3:20-21 – 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Our dreams can be weighed down by us looking in the past. We have to look to our future through the eyes of faith.
More thoughts about ‘black swans’…
They are not always bad news
Strategic friendships are vital
Jesus has a plan
Faith is all that is required
Grace is in plentiful supply
Jesus blows away all of Simon Peter’s past experience (logical induction!) because he sends back out to fish again. Peter knows there are no fish but Jesus proves him wrong.
Unexpected happenings can be good opportunities - not negative! A crisis can be a great opportunity for us to step up a level.
James and John were faithful friends to Peter. We need to seek out those faithful friends in our lives.
Jesus is the name above all names! His plan for us will not fail. We need to stay faithful even though change is taking place in our lives.
His grace is sufficient during bad times. He’s always there to love and forgive us. To lift us up and put us back on track.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Seeing the Kingdom of God
Another great message in church yesterday. Paul Benger spoke on seeing the Kingdom of God with child-like qualities.
Luke 18:15-17 – People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
‘Like a little child’ – to see the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God, where God’s will and rule is in our lives, in this place...the church.
Jesus teaching was hope-filled, revolutionary. He is intricately involved with our lives.
If we are not careful we can miss the Kingdom of God. Some reasons why…
Familiarity – we can get familiar with things. This can cause us to miss the things. Preachers, scripture, people, jobs etc. Things can become too routine. Can stop us seeing God’s Kingdom at work.
Cynicism – A British trait. When someone accomplishes something, rises to the top, we’re waiting for them to fall.
Grumpiness – having a grumpy, negative outlook on life can cause us to miss the Kingdom of God.
Conspiracy Theory – where everybody is out to get me. We can get focused on little pockets of thought. We forget that Jesus is alive, He is Lord. Christ will put all things under his feet.
Lack of trust, this can lead us to missing God’s Kingdom.
Our church...where God is present and anyone can flourish!
As we take on more child-like qualities we will see more of the Kingdom of God in our lives.
Four child-like qualities to have in our lives...
1) Wonder
We can lose this as we get older, that sense of wonder. ‘You can never have worship without wonder’ (Paul Newbury)
God was able to turn darkness to light...take a barren earth and fill it with life. What wonder! Do we find things wonderful? God knew me...even before I was conceived!
We need to find things wonderful again.
God is with us where ever we go! Wonderful?
His will is that none should perish. God, through his Son, made a way to lift the lives of all...wonderful?
Psalm 139:14 – I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well
Psalm 139:1-6 – O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in— behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Only God could do all of this – Wow!
2) Enthusiasm
The ability to get really, really excited! Some people find dreariness in everything.
Enthusiasm is from the Greek word, ‘En – Theos’ – in God, or inspired by God.
We miss God when we lose our enthusiasm for life. Enthusiastic people see more of the Kingdom of God.
3) Rest
Kids look amazing when they are asleep. Trusting in Dad and safe in his arms. Trust in God...stop worrying.
In the midst of chaos, connect with God, find that still moment. Know this, ‘God I know you’re planning good things for me!’
Psalm 131:2 – But I have stilled and quietened my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me
4) Trust
Psalm 37:3 – Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture
Believe that God is on the case...trust in Him.
Luke 18:15-17 – People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
‘Like a little child’ – to see the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God, where God’s will and rule is in our lives, in this place...the church.
Jesus teaching was hope-filled, revolutionary. He is intricately involved with our lives.
If we are not careful we can miss the Kingdom of God. Some reasons why…
Familiarity – we can get familiar with things. This can cause us to miss the things. Preachers, scripture, people, jobs etc. Things can become too routine. Can stop us seeing God’s Kingdom at work.
Cynicism – A British trait. When someone accomplishes something, rises to the top, we’re waiting for them to fall.
Grumpiness – having a grumpy, negative outlook on life can cause us to miss the Kingdom of God.
Conspiracy Theory – where everybody is out to get me. We can get focused on little pockets of thought. We forget that Jesus is alive, He is Lord. Christ will put all things under his feet.
Lack of trust, this can lead us to missing God’s Kingdom.
Our church...where God is present and anyone can flourish!
As we take on more child-like qualities we will see more of the Kingdom of God in our lives.
Four child-like qualities to have in our lives...
1) Wonder
We can lose this as we get older, that sense of wonder. ‘You can never have worship without wonder’ (Paul Newbury)
God was able to turn darkness to light...take a barren earth and fill it with life. What wonder! Do we find things wonderful? God knew me...even before I was conceived!
We need to find things wonderful again.
God is with us where ever we go! Wonderful?
His will is that none should perish. God, through his Son, made a way to lift the lives of all...wonderful?
Psalm 139:14 – I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well
Psalm 139:1-6 – O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in— behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Only God could do all of this – Wow!
2) Enthusiasm
The ability to get really, really excited! Some people find dreariness in everything.
Enthusiasm is from the Greek word, ‘En – Theos’ – in God, or inspired by God.
We miss God when we lose our enthusiasm for life. Enthusiastic people see more of the Kingdom of God.
3) Rest
Kids look amazing when they are asleep. Trusting in Dad and safe in his arms. Trust in God...stop worrying.
In the midst of chaos, connect with God, find that still moment. Know this, ‘God I know you’re planning good things for me!’
Psalm 131:2 – But I have stilled and quietened my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me
4) Trust
Psalm 37:3 – Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture
Believe that God is on the case...trust in Him.
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Healing of Jairus’ Daughter
Great time in church yesterday. Paul Benger brought an excellent message about the healing of Jairus’ daughter.
Mark 5:21-43
In this story we get two for the price of one! We have the healing of the woman with the issue of blood and our main story, which is the healing of Jairus’ daughter.
There is a message hidden behind this story. The woman had suffered for 12 years and the daughter of Jairus was 12 when she died. 12 means covenant (12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles etc)
The woman represents the old covenant, dead religion – striving, struggling. Trying to be worthy. Finally she puts her faith in Jesus and is healed. We can never do anything to earn God’s favour; grace is poured out for all.
Ephesians 2:4-5 – 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
Anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ will live!
Romans 10:17 – Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ
Look at this...Jesus took three people to see Jairus’ daughter, Peter, James and John. Peter – Rock/Stone/Tablets – the law, James – Jacob, meaning surplanter or superseded, John – meaning grace. The Law is Superseded by Grace. Not through our effort.
The only way to God is through Jesus Christ.
There are three things that help us to receive from God from this story...
Jesus puts away the mourning and the unbelief. ‘Little girl I say to you arise’. God’s word will penetrate anything that has no life…even death, our difficult situations that seem impenetrable. He will create life in death.
Jesus put away the unbelieving
Jairus came to Jesus in ‘faith’. Jesus told him to keep believing despite the situation he was facing. As a church we need to keep believing.
There are facts and there is truth. The fact was the girl was dead. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. He brought life where there was death.
We can face the facts in our lives and yet we can still grow in faith. Fact = the current economy squeeze. The truth = My God is my provider! He is my redeemer, he turns things around. He takes a ‘mess’ and redeems it and makes it a ‘message’!
Let us keep ourselves in a state of believing.
Jesus put away the mockers
They went from crying to laughing and scorning.
Don’t sit in the seat of the scornful. They’re always sat at the sides, full of cynicism – unfruitful. They don’t see many miracles.
Have a pure spirit - let Heaven invade our lives.
Believe in people...put away that mocking spirit. Become like little children, experience the wonder and amazement of God again.
Jesus put away the mournful
Our emotions can rob us of that state of believing. We can always see things from a bleak and negative viewpoint. Our glass is always half empty.
Our nature in Christ should say, ‘isn’t it great what God is doing!’
Know that the answer is in Jesus Christ. Focus on Him, his redeeming power, his healing power.
Mark 5:21-43
In this story we get two for the price of one! We have the healing of the woman with the issue of blood and our main story, which is the healing of Jairus’ daughter.
There is a message hidden behind this story. The woman had suffered for 12 years and the daughter of Jairus was 12 when she died. 12 means covenant (12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles etc)
The woman represents the old covenant, dead religion – striving, struggling. Trying to be worthy. Finally she puts her faith in Jesus and is healed. We can never do anything to earn God’s favour; grace is poured out for all.
Ephesians 2:4-5 – 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
Anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ will live!
Romans 10:17 – Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ
Look at this...Jesus took three people to see Jairus’ daughter, Peter, James and John. Peter – Rock/Stone/Tablets – the law, James – Jacob, meaning surplanter or superseded, John – meaning grace. The Law is Superseded by Grace. Not through our effort.
The only way to God is through Jesus Christ.
There are three things that help us to receive from God from this story...
Jesus puts away the mourning and the unbelief. ‘Little girl I say to you arise’. God’s word will penetrate anything that has no life…even death, our difficult situations that seem impenetrable. He will create life in death.
Jesus put away the unbelieving
Jairus came to Jesus in ‘faith’. Jesus told him to keep believing despite the situation he was facing. As a church we need to keep believing.
There are facts and there is truth. The fact was the girl was dead. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. He brought life where there was death.
We can face the facts in our lives and yet we can still grow in faith. Fact = the current economy squeeze. The truth = My God is my provider! He is my redeemer, he turns things around. He takes a ‘mess’ and redeems it and makes it a ‘message’!
Let us keep ourselves in a state of believing.
Jesus put away the mockers
They went from crying to laughing and scorning.
Don’t sit in the seat of the scornful. They’re always sat at the sides, full of cynicism – unfruitful. They don’t see many miracles.
Have a pure spirit - let Heaven invade our lives.
Believe in people...put away that mocking spirit. Become like little children, experience the wonder and amazement of God again.
Jesus put away the mournful
Our emotions can rob us of that state of believing. We can always see things from a bleak and negative viewpoint. Our glass is always half empty.
Our nature in Christ should say, ‘isn’t it great what God is doing!’
Know that the answer is in Jesus Christ. Focus on Him, his redeeming power, his healing power.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Following Life and all of His Friends
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Spoke in church this morning...A line from a recent Coldplay song from album Viva La Vida, Death and all of his friends - I don’t wanna follow death and all of his friends!
Today I want us to look at the kind life that Jesus is offering us.
Even before Jesus came to earth...God’s people were given the choice of the kind of life they could choose.
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
Don’t follow death and all of his friends!
Jesus said…
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!
What is the characteristic of a thief? He comes when we least suspect...when we are least prepared.
Their special mission is to rob you of God’s blessings in your life! The thief comes to destroy the peace, victory, confidence and success of a life lived in God’s abundance. These thieves are real and deadly to us!
FRIENDS OF DEATH…
Resentment – Bitterness
When we are offended or disappointed by others and allow the hurt to germinate in our hearts, bitterness and resentment will take root. Characterised by an unforgiving spirit. Generally negative, critical attitudes, bitterness and resentment are self-defeating. They will colour our thoughts and actions.
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
Revenge – settling of scores
“I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge”
Romans 12:19-21, Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Revenge is taking matters into our own hands – forgiveness is releasing other from our judgement into the hands of the living God.
Regret – ‘what if’, disappointment, disillusionment
Living in regret allows yesterday to control your today – the past dominates the present and cause you to fear the future.
“If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.”
Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
A result of regret and disillusionment is apathy or inertia. We feel trapped in a place of never seeming to be getting anywhere. Despondent, dejected...at times feeling useless and ineffective. The thief of Inertia!
Resentment, Revenge, Regret – they leave us stuck in a place we don’t want to be in. It’s time to ‘take them off’, get rid of them! To let God rescue us from those things! Make our escape!
Follow ‘Life’ and all of His friends! Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the LIFE’
Friends of LIFE
Repentance
Repentance is an incredible word. It’s a scary sounding word and it’s a misused word. Repentance is a powerful, transformational.
Mark 1:15 - Jesus said, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus encourages us to turn away from the bad news...and turn to the good news, that God’s grace covers all our sin. True repentance is less about what you turn away from and more about what you turn to. It’s more about WHO you turn to!
Another friend of LIFE…
Today I want us to look at the kind life that Jesus is offering us.
Even before Jesus came to earth...God’s people were given the choice of the kind of life they could choose.
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
Don’t follow death and all of his friends!
Jesus said…
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!
What is the characteristic of a thief? He comes when we least suspect...when we are least prepared.
Their special mission is to rob you of God’s blessings in your life! The thief comes to destroy the peace, victory, confidence and success of a life lived in God’s abundance. These thieves are real and deadly to us!
FRIENDS OF DEATH…
Resentment – Bitterness
When we are offended or disappointed by others and allow the hurt to germinate in our hearts, bitterness and resentment will take root. Characterised by an unforgiving spirit. Generally negative, critical attitudes, bitterness and resentment are self-defeating. They will colour our thoughts and actions.
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
Revenge – settling of scores
“I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge”
Romans 12:19-21, Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Revenge is taking matters into our own hands – forgiveness is releasing other from our judgement into the hands of the living God.
Regret – ‘what if’, disappointment, disillusionment
Living in regret allows yesterday to control your today – the past dominates the present and cause you to fear the future.
“If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.”
Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
A result of regret and disillusionment is apathy or inertia. We feel trapped in a place of never seeming to be getting anywhere. Despondent, dejected...at times feeling useless and ineffective. The thief of Inertia!
Resentment, Revenge, Regret – they leave us stuck in a place we don’t want to be in. It’s time to ‘take them off’, get rid of them! To let God rescue us from those things! Make our escape!
Follow ‘Life’ and all of His friends! Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the LIFE’
Friends of LIFE
Repentance
Repentance is an incredible word. It’s a scary sounding word and it’s a misused word. Repentance is a powerful, transformational.
Mark 1:15 - Jesus said, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus encourages us to turn away from the bad news...and turn to the good news, that God’s grace covers all our sin. True repentance is less about what you turn away from and more about what you turn to. It’s more about WHO you turn to!
Another friend of LIFE…
Renewal – change your thinking!
Romans 12:2 ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’
Let us believe the Truth contained in God’s Word and to live in the victory of God’s promises. If I’m not careful I can allow myself to live according to who I think I am and yet it is so liberating to live according to who God says I am.
Guard your hearts and minds by thinking about the right kind of things:
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or admirable think about such things.
Another Friend of LIFE...
Rejoicing – power of praise!
Paul throughout his life emphasised the positive. He practised the praise principle. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
(1) Practice giving thanks in every circumstance for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
(2) Surround yourself with positive people
When you are surrounded by positive people you can turn obstacles into opportunities. Paul surrounded himself with a team of positive people.
Finally...
Those who follow Life and all of His friends...is a Life-Giver! Jesus the Life-Giver.
As we receive this abundance of life...be a friend to it and “Give it away!”
Our desire is to be a ‘life-giving church’
2 Corinthians 3:6 ‘He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life’
1 Corinthians 15:45 ‘So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
1 John 4:17 ‘As He is - so are we in this world’
Give life to those around you - set the tone for life! Let us follow Jesus, his example, follow his friends...of repentance, renewal and rejoicing. AND as he lifts our lives…let us lift the lives of others. Give LIFE to those around you.
Romans 12:2 ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’
Let us believe the Truth contained in God’s Word and to live in the victory of God’s promises. If I’m not careful I can allow myself to live according to who I think I am and yet it is so liberating to live according to who God says I am.
Guard your hearts and minds by thinking about the right kind of things:
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or admirable think about such things.
Another Friend of LIFE...
Rejoicing – power of praise!
Paul throughout his life emphasised the positive. He practised the praise principle. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
(1) Practice giving thanks in every circumstance for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
(2) Surround yourself with positive people
When you are surrounded by positive people you can turn obstacles into opportunities. Paul surrounded himself with a team of positive people.
Finally...
Those who follow Life and all of His friends...is a Life-Giver! Jesus the Life-Giver.
As we receive this abundance of life...be a friend to it and “Give it away!”
Our desire is to be a ‘life-giving church’
2 Corinthians 3:6 ‘He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life’
1 Corinthians 15:45 ‘So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
1 John 4:17 ‘As He is - so are we in this world’
Give life to those around you - set the tone for life! Let us follow Jesus, his example, follow his friends...of repentance, renewal and rejoicing. AND as he lifts our lives…let us lift the lives of others. Give LIFE to those around you.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
One Prayer IV
Paul Benger finished off our One Prayer series in church today. An excellent message entitled ‘God make us believe the Gospel’.
God’s heart is to win the world...to redeem the world, not to condemn and to punish. We see the world in the state it is in today because it is a fallen world...repressive regimes, rising prices, failing economies.
The Gospel is good news and lifts the lives of people. Where there is a way God will find them through you and me. Jesus prayed, ‘Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’.
God sent his son Jesus...He is the answer to poverty, to sickness!
Romans 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes
I’m not ashamed of the good news of the Gospel. The Gospel is good news and not bad news!
The Gospel is Good News because of how lost we were
Colossians 2:13 – You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
Our world is not the way it ought to be...not the way it was meant to be! We live in a fallen world. The Gospel is good news when we realise how lost we are until we know Jesus.
We owed a debt we couldn’t pay...Jesus paid it. The price he paid was worth it even just for our individual debt as much as the collective debt of the whole world.
When we realise what God has done it causes us to worship him...to sing like never before!
In the Gospel of Luke it tells of the time a women anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume. Some questioned her inappropriate behaviour, and yet Jesus was happy for her to do this. Jesus said this, ‘Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much’. She loves much because she has been forgiven much.
The Gospel is Good News because it is a Gift from God
Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God
The only way we can receive this gift is through faith. Faith is the currency of Heaven. God had to give us that gift so that we could believe. We couldn’t pay for it, we couldn’t earn it!
Salvation through Jesus Christ is an abundant life right here and now. It’s the abundance of grace that helps us walk with God in any situation.
Isaiah 53:4-5 – Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We need a revelation of the Gospel...the church needs a fresh revelation of the Gospel today!
This Gospel is Good News because it is ‘news’ and not ‘advice’
This news of the Gospel has been given to us, it’s already been done...we just need to respond to it.
We are heralds of this good news...not military advisors! We can now live in the peace of this message. He has done it all...finished...the price has been paid in full!
Hebrews 10:12,14 – But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God...For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Jesus has won...the victory is ours! We now live for him out of joy not duty.
The Gospel is Good News because of our New Position
Ephesians 2:4-6 – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Our primary address...seated in heavenly places with Jesus! Our condition reflects our position in Christ. Live from that place.
We are ministering reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation
This is what we’re called to do...to bring hope, to lift the lives of people. This is our message today...reconciling people to God. This the good news of the Gospel!
When we realise what God has done in our lives it causes us to cry out to Him in worship. We honour Him and lift Him high!
God’s heart is to win the world...to redeem the world, not to condemn and to punish. We see the world in the state it is in today because it is a fallen world...repressive regimes, rising prices, failing economies.
The Gospel is good news and lifts the lives of people. Where there is a way God will find them through you and me. Jesus prayed, ‘Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’.
God sent his son Jesus...He is the answer to poverty, to sickness!
Romans 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes
I’m not ashamed of the good news of the Gospel. The Gospel is good news and not bad news!
The Gospel is Good News because of how lost we were
Colossians 2:13 – You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
Our world is not the way it ought to be...not the way it was meant to be! We live in a fallen world. The Gospel is good news when we realise how lost we are until we know Jesus.
We owed a debt we couldn’t pay...Jesus paid it. The price he paid was worth it even just for our individual debt as much as the collective debt of the whole world.
When we realise what God has done it causes us to worship him...to sing like never before!
In the Gospel of Luke it tells of the time a women anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume. Some questioned her inappropriate behaviour, and yet Jesus was happy for her to do this. Jesus said this, ‘Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much’. She loves much because she has been forgiven much.
The Gospel is Good News because it is a Gift from God
Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God
The only way we can receive this gift is through faith. Faith is the currency of Heaven. God had to give us that gift so that we could believe. We couldn’t pay for it, we couldn’t earn it!
Salvation through Jesus Christ is an abundant life right here and now. It’s the abundance of grace that helps us walk with God in any situation.
Isaiah 53:4-5 – Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We need a revelation of the Gospel...the church needs a fresh revelation of the Gospel today!
This Gospel is Good News because it is ‘news’ and not ‘advice’
This news of the Gospel has been given to us, it’s already been done...we just need to respond to it.
We are heralds of this good news...not military advisors! We can now live in the peace of this message. He has done it all...finished...the price has been paid in full!
Hebrews 10:12,14 – But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God...For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Jesus has won...the victory is ours! We now live for him out of joy not duty.
The Gospel is Good News because of our New Position
Ephesians 2:4-6 – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Our primary address...seated in heavenly places with Jesus! Our condition reflects our position in Christ. Live from that place.
We are ministering reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation
This is what we’re called to do...to bring hope, to lift the lives of people. This is our message today...reconciling people to God. This the good news of the Gospel!
When we realise what God has done in our lives it causes us to cry out to Him in worship. We honour Him and lift Him high!
Monday, June 23, 2008
One Prayer III
Kevin Gerald continued our One Prayer series in church yesterday. A great message entitled ‘God make us Unreal’.
People often say ‘I’m just being real’ or ‘It’s the way I am’. What if our ‘real’ is rude or selfish is arrogant or moody, or full of pride?
Do we want to be ‘real’ or do we want to be Christ-like?
We need a new way of thinking today. Don’t be true to yourself...deny yourself. Self can get in the way...it can mess things up. Being real can get in the way of God’s plan for you...his purposes.
We need to aim for God’s mark and high calling. He wants the best for us. Free us up from being real...the limitations of our ‘self’.
Ephesians 4:22 – You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires
1) There’s a new and better me than the natural me
Being ‘real’ is overrated. Where is ‘being real’ getting people today in society?
People get on ‘trains of thought’ and end up travelling to a place they didn’t really want to go. They jump on the first train leaving the station. Our first thought is often not normally the best thought.
Stay in the train station a little longer and wait for a better train of thought!
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things
Isaiah 55:8 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD
Ephesians 4:23 – to be made new in the attitude of your minds (Amplified Version) – And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude
2) This new and better me is the new me created by God
Ephesians 4:24 – and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
God has called us to ‘put off’...and to ‘put on’. God make us unreal! Fake it ‘til you make it! People often hate that kind of unreality and yet we do have the choice to choose between two kinds of people we’re going to be like...the old you or the new creation. In the plan and purposes of God there is a new and better you!
It’s the authentic me that God has called me to be. Authenticity is a ‘put on’...but make it God’s authenticity.
We need to embrace a new language...a language of faith. It may not form easily in our mouths, but we are called to our ‘new self’.
3) Becoming the new and better me includes the process called authentic imitation
To be Christ-like, to imitate him.
Galatians 4:19 – My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you
Don’t be true to the natural way of doing things, be Christ-like...imitate his nature and character.
Become a champion, put on a new self...develop better habits in your life. New and better habits will release a new and better life. Get rid of the worrying habit and put on the trusting habit. Put on an encouraging habit and get rid of the complaining habit.
Let Christ be formed in you in a brand new way. Don’t be real if being real is negative...be unreal. God make me unreal!
People often say ‘I’m just being real’ or ‘It’s the way I am’. What if our ‘real’ is rude or selfish is arrogant or moody, or full of pride?
Do we want to be ‘real’ or do we want to be Christ-like?
We need a new way of thinking today. Don’t be true to yourself...deny yourself. Self can get in the way...it can mess things up. Being real can get in the way of God’s plan for you...his purposes.
We need to aim for God’s mark and high calling. He wants the best for us. Free us up from being real...the limitations of our ‘self’.
Ephesians 4:22 – You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires
1) There’s a new and better me than the natural me
Being ‘real’ is overrated. Where is ‘being real’ getting people today in society?
People get on ‘trains of thought’ and end up travelling to a place they didn’t really want to go. They jump on the first train leaving the station. Our first thought is often not normally the best thought.
Stay in the train station a little longer and wait for a better train of thought!
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things
Isaiah 55:8 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD
Ephesians 4:23 – to be made new in the attitude of your minds (Amplified Version) – And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude
2) This new and better me is the new me created by God
Ephesians 4:24 – and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
God has called us to ‘put off’...and to ‘put on’. God make us unreal! Fake it ‘til you make it! People often hate that kind of unreality and yet we do have the choice to choose between two kinds of people we’re going to be like...the old you or the new creation. In the plan and purposes of God there is a new and better you!
It’s the authentic me that God has called me to be. Authenticity is a ‘put on’...but make it God’s authenticity.
We need to embrace a new language...a language of faith. It may not form easily in our mouths, but we are called to our ‘new self’.
3) Becoming the new and better me includes the process called authentic imitation
To be Christ-like, to imitate him.
Galatians 4:19 – My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you
Don’t be true to the natural way of doing things, be Christ-like...imitate his nature and character.
Become a champion, put on a new self...develop better habits in your life. New and better habits will release a new and better life. Get rid of the worrying habit and put on the trusting habit. Put on an encouraging habit and get rid of the complaining habit.
Let Christ be formed in you in a brand new way. Don’t be real if being real is negative...be unreal. God make me unreal!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
One Prayer II
We continued our ‘one prayer’ series this morning in church. Greg Surratt brought a great message. His one prayer was ‘God make us obedient’.
We live in a society that suffers from selfishness or self-will. We often find it difficult to obey. We want to obey but there is always something pulling us in a different direction. Obedience is a testing time.
Luke 5:1-11
After Jesus had finished teaching the people he told Peter to go fishing again. Peter could have told Jesus that this was the wrong time to fish. They had fished all night, the correct time to fish, but had caught nothing.
Peter’s attitude was this, ‘Because you say so...I will let down my nets’. They went on to catch many fish.
Greg went on to share with us a great sentence, ‘In God’s relentless pursuit of us…’
Peter was not pursuing God...God was pursuing him. Jesus was pursuing something in Peter that nobody wanted. Jesus was calling fishermen, not brightest people around at that time.
He saw something in Peter that no one else had seen. He saw what he could be and not what he was. Peter blew it on so many occasions and so do we. Yet God is still calling us to live for him, to follow him.
‘…He uses no fish moments…’
‘No fish moments’ are obedience moments for us with God. In a ‘no fish moment’ it’s easier for God to get our attention. We are more open to change...willing to obey God...to follow his lead.
What to do in ‘no fish moments’...
Review what God has done. He has done so much for you!
Remind yourself of what God can do. Look at the promises in his word. ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!’
Philippians 4:4-7 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Remember that God doesn’t waste a season
‘…to lead us to “Because you say so” obedience…’
Think of examples when we are reluctant or find it hard to obey God’s commands. It’s time to take on the ‘Because you say so’ obedience.
‘…resulting in boat-sinking moments…’
We will experience the miracle catch when we have this obedient attitude. Let us not give grudging obedience to God.
Just see what God will do...a boat-sinking miracle!
Peter went on to leave his nets and follow Jesus. ‘Because you say so’ obedience leads us on to ‘boat sinking moments’. This determines and shapes our destiny forever!
Ephesians 3:20-21 – 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
We live in a society that suffers from selfishness or self-will. We often find it difficult to obey. We want to obey but there is always something pulling us in a different direction. Obedience is a testing time.
Luke 5:1-11
After Jesus had finished teaching the people he told Peter to go fishing again. Peter could have told Jesus that this was the wrong time to fish. They had fished all night, the correct time to fish, but had caught nothing.
Peter’s attitude was this, ‘Because you say so...I will let down my nets’. They went on to catch many fish.
Greg went on to share with us a great sentence, ‘In God’s relentless pursuit of us…’
Peter was not pursuing God...God was pursuing him. Jesus was pursuing something in Peter that nobody wanted. Jesus was calling fishermen, not brightest people around at that time.
He saw something in Peter that no one else had seen. He saw what he could be and not what he was. Peter blew it on so many occasions and so do we. Yet God is still calling us to live for him, to follow him.
‘…He uses no fish moments…’
‘No fish moments’ are obedience moments for us with God. In a ‘no fish moment’ it’s easier for God to get our attention. We are more open to change...willing to obey God...to follow his lead.
What to do in ‘no fish moments’...
Review what God has done. He has done so much for you!
Remind yourself of what God can do. Look at the promises in his word. ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!’
Philippians 4:4-7 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Remember that God doesn’t waste a season
‘…to lead us to “Because you say so” obedience…’
Think of examples when we are reluctant or find it hard to obey God’s commands. It’s time to take on the ‘Because you say so’ obedience.
‘…resulting in boat-sinking moments…’
We will experience the miracle catch when we have this obedient attitude. Let us not give grudging obedience to God.
Just see what God will do...a boat-sinking miracle!
Peter went on to leave his nets and follow Jesus. ‘Because you say so’ obedience leads us on to ‘boat sinking moments’. This determines and shapes our destiny forever!
Ephesians 3:20-21 – 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
One Prayer I
We began our ‘one prayer’ series this morning in church. If there was one prayer you could pray what would that be? Paul Benger began with the prayer ‘God make us Good Stewards’.
God has entrusted us with so much...people, relationships, finances, our church. Christian Life Church has been given to us on trust...to make her everything she can be!
We all have a responsibility to make this church the best she can be. God has entrusted us with gifts and talents. The Gospel, the good news has been given to us on trust. Be good stewards. Make me a good steward. Make us good stewards. We all need to pray that prayer. There is always room for improvement.
You are a person of great value. God has entrusted you to look after so many things. We need to find out the things that we need to do to develop and grow...to be fruitful.
Matthew 25:14-29
We come across 5 words in this passage that reveal the Master and also the nature of how the good steward serves. Well Done Good and Faithful Servant
These verses will help us today as we pray the prayer ‘God make us good stewards’
1) WELL – A commitment to excellence
The master never said ‘averagely done good and faithful servant’.
We’re not talking about attaining perfection. Being a good steward is doing the very best we can with what we have.
Give yourself to doing the very best for God. God will give us more, entrust us with more. Increase will come...it’s on it’s way!
2) DONE – A commitment to action
It’s all about action. Gifts were given according to their ability, as he knew they could cope with them.
The lazy servant didn’t do anything. The good steward fulfilled his ability. He had learned to do things according to his ability.
Don’t kill God’s vision for your life. Don’t bury it. Leap into action! Begin to do and believe that God is with you.
3 & 4) GOOD and FAITHFUL – A commitment to character
To do things right and to do it in the right way. What does God want from me? My personality and my gifting.
Having less isn’t pretence for not being a good steward.
5) SERVANT – A commitment to live for Christ
When we serve Christ, when we honour him with what he has given us, we will get blessed from the fall-out!
Malachi says we won’t be able to contain the blessing! The room won’t be big enough...we’ll need a bigger room! As we are faithful we will know this uncontainable blessing!
The servant spirit is looking for the Masters happiness. We’re serving the Kingdom. Everything about me is living for Him and for his Kingdom!
God has entrusted us with so much...people, relationships, finances, our church. Christian Life Church has been given to us on trust...to make her everything she can be!
We all have a responsibility to make this church the best she can be. God has entrusted us with gifts and talents. The Gospel, the good news has been given to us on trust. Be good stewards. Make me a good steward. Make us good stewards. We all need to pray that prayer. There is always room for improvement.
You are a person of great value. God has entrusted you to look after so many things. We need to find out the things that we need to do to develop and grow...to be fruitful.
Matthew 25:14-29
We come across 5 words in this passage that reveal the Master and also the nature of how the good steward serves. Well Done Good and Faithful Servant
These verses will help us today as we pray the prayer ‘God make us good stewards’
1) WELL – A commitment to excellence
The master never said ‘averagely done good and faithful servant’.
We’re not talking about attaining perfection. Being a good steward is doing the very best we can with what we have.
Give yourself to doing the very best for God. God will give us more, entrust us with more. Increase will come...it’s on it’s way!
2) DONE – A commitment to action
It’s all about action. Gifts were given according to their ability, as he knew they could cope with them.
The lazy servant didn’t do anything. The good steward fulfilled his ability. He had learned to do things according to his ability.
Don’t kill God’s vision for your life. Don’t bury it. Leap into action! Begin to do and believe that God is with you.
3 & 4) GOOD and FAITHFUL – A commitment to character
To do things right and to do it in the right way. What does God want from me? My personality and my gifting.
Having less isn’t pretence for not being a good steward.
5) SERVANT – A commitment to live for Christ
When we serve Christ, when we honour him with what he has given us, we will get blessed from the fall-out!
Malachi says we won’t be able to contain the blessing! The room won’t be big enough...we’ll need a bigger room! As we are faithful we will know this uncontainable blessing!
The servant spirit is looking for the Masters happiness. We’re serving the Kingdom. Everything about me is living for Him and for his Kingdom!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Strongholds
Jeannie Benger brought a great message in church this morning concerning strongholds.
What we think about ourselves or what other people think is not what’s important but what God thinks about us.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts
God wants us to live with his thoughts about us. Have confidence in God and his plans for our lives.
Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
There is no half measure with God. He will bring it to completion!
People may have been negative to you in the past with comments like, ‘you’ll never make it’ – but with God this is not true, it’s not what he thinks about you. ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!’
Your thinking determines your outcome in life. Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinks in his heart, so is he
You may have once thrived but became stunted - your thoughts may have changed to negative, defeatist, bitter thoughts. Opposite to what God thinks about you. Don’t let those thoughts consume you.
Hebrews 12:15 – See to it that no-one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
Bring every thought into captivity! Take the negative thought and take it captive before it takes root.
A stronghold starts with a thought. We need to keep our thinking in line with the word of God.
The four areas to watch out for in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
1) Thoughts
Take every thought and line it up with the word of God. Don’t let your thoughts run free. ‘It’s easier to pull a weed out of the garden when it is still small’. Pluck it out before it takes root.
2) High Things
The high things that are against the knowledge of God. They constantly preoccupy your mind...it’s the only thing we think about! It might be a negative spoken to us, a fear, a magnified perspective...these things become the ‘high things’.
3) Arguments
These thoughts progress into arguments, no longer just in your mind – you make an argument out of it!
4) Strongholds
Is what it implies...something that has taken a strong hold of you. When wrong thoughts become strongholds they take root.
The kind of strongholds we may have in our life...
Guilt
We beat ourselves up...about our past about the times we stuffed up. Jesus has nailed our weaknesses to the cross. He has not finished with us! As Christians we are never meant to carry our guilt...Jesus has taken this way!
Comparison
The ‘if only’ stronghold! Always thinking it could be better...the wrong perception that things are better on the other side! It’s not good to compare.
Negativity
The verbalisation of a defeat. This is the most limiting factor for so many people. Don’t let it have such a controlling impact on our lives…know you have a God given destiny. Spend a few moments listening to yourself speak, hear what you say sometimes.
We often think the worst is going to happen. Negativity will trap you and hold you down. It can cause us to miss out on God’s exciting plan for our lives.
Limitation
Do you live with limitation in your life? We can live with the ‘you’ll never make it’ thinking all our lives.
There are ways that helps us to overcome these strongholds…
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
We can see God’s will for our lives if we allow our minds to be renewed, to change our thinking.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things
The way we think effects our attitude and moods. We need to turn our thoughts to the way that God thinks about us.
With negativity, the change begins in you. Psalm 19:7 – The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple
His word transforms your soul. Change that starts on the inside. How you look at yourself and the future.
External change is a reflection of what’s happening on the inside…as we allow a new way of thinking.
Psalm 139:14 – I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well
Live from this position of blessing in God!
What we think about ourselves or what other people think is not what’s important but what God thinks about us.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts
God wants us to live with his thoughts about us. Have confidence in God and his plans for our lives.
Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
There is no half measure with God. He will bring it to completion!
People may have been negative to you in the past with comments like, ‘you’ll never make it’ – but with God this is not true, it’s not what he thinks about you. ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!’
Your thinking determines your outcome in life. Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinks in his heart, so is he
You may have once thrived but became stunted - your thoughts may have changed to negative, defeatist, bitter thoughts. Opposite to what God thinks about you. Don’t let those thoughts consume you.
Hebrews 12:15 – See to it that no-one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
Bring every thought into captivity! Take the negative thought and take it captive before it takes root.
A stronghold starts with a thought. We need to keep our thinking in line with the word of God.
The four areas to watch out for in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
1) Thoughts
Take every thought and line it up with the word of God. Don’t let your thoughts run free. ‘It’s easier to pull a weed out of the garden when it is still small’. Pluck it out before it takes root.
2) High Things
The high things that are against the knowledge of God. They constantly preoccupy your mind...it’s the only thing we think about! It might be a negative spoken to us, a fear, a magnified perspective...these things become the ‘high things’.
3) Arguments
These thoughts progress into arguments, no longer just in your mind – you make an argument out of it!
4) Strongholds
Is what it implies...something that has taken a strong hold of you. When wrong thoughts become strongholds they take root.
The kind of strongholds we may have in our life...
Guilt
We beat ourselves up...about our past about the times we stuffed up. Jesus has nailed our weaknesses to the cross. He has not finished with us! As Christians we are never meant to carry our guilt...Jesus has taken this way!
Comparison
The ‘if only’ stronghold! Always thinking it could be better...the wrong perception that things are better on the other side! It’s not good to compare.
Negativity
The verbalisation of a defeat. This is the most limiting factor for so many people. Don’t let it have such a controlling impact on our lives…know you have a God given destiny. Spend a few moments listening to yourself speak, hear what you say sometimes.
We often think the worst is going to happen. Negativity will trap you and hold you down. It can cause us to miss out on God’s exciting plan for our lives.
Limitation
Do you live with limitation in your life? We can live with the ‘you’ll never make it’ thinking all our lives.
There are ways that helps us to overcome these strongholds…
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
We can see God’s will for our lives if we allow our minds to be renewed, to change our thinking.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things
The way we think effects our attitude and moods. We need to turn our thoughts to the way that God thinks about us.
With negativity, the change begins in you. Psalm 19:7 – The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple
His word transforms your soul. Change that starts on the inside. How you look at yourself and the future.
External change is a reflection of what’s happening on the inside…as we allow a new way of thinking.
Psalm 139:14 – I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well
Live from this position of blessing in God!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Jonah II
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!
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 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!
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