Wednesday 29 August 2007
THE MAIN THING...
The main thing that we can do to help the earth in a permanent and lasting way is to help the Church become what she is called to be. The most effective way that we can do this is by loving God more, knowing Him better, abiding in Him and directing the Church's attention to who He is. The Church is in desperate need of knowing who she is called to be, but it is not by knowing who we are in Christ that we will be changed, but by knowing who He is in us. We do not want to worship the temple of the Lord, but the Lord of the temple. Even so, as we come to understand His love for His Bride, we will do everything we can to help her get ready for Him because of our love for Him.
Friday 17 August 2007
The Church... (Part 1)
Rom 8:14 Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children.
Rom 8:15 For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, "Father! my Father!"
Rom 8:16 God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children.
Rom 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
It's important to see that we have received a "spirit of adoption". Not to an organisation but into the family of God. When God sent a Redeemer to purchase us from the bondage of Satan's kingdom and his tyranny, He didn't send a pastor or a prophet (although Jesus was all that) But He sent His Son. Why?
God was revealing that His heart is for 'family'. He doesn't just make 'Christians' or believers or even members of the 'church'., but He adopts sons and children into His FAMILY.
No, God purchased with the blood of Jesus, our adoption into the family of God. Adoption papers have been issued for ALL. The opposite to that, and that's where we ALL found ourselves in the past, was in a "spirit of bondage" or slavery,leading us to fear. You see we may not think that is our case before we get "saved", but everyone suffers from 'fear' of death In fact, all fear stems from fear of death and leaves all men in bondage. But God...
He redeems us, meaning, He purchases our adoption, with the blood of Jesus and makes it available to ALL men. The GOOD NEWS is that we we are adopted, ALL, EVERYONE, but some just have never heard about it.
Somehow the message has been conveyed that you are born-again to go to church. But there is so much more than that.... Well, in fact, rather, we are adopted to be members OF HIS FAMILY!
The word "bondage" or "slavery" means to be enslaved; which means: The state of being prevented from enjoying and possessing life freely; a state opposed to liberty. Jesus came and revealed not Himself only, but the revelation of the Heavenly Father. Time and time again He would refer to the Fathers will and that it was the Father who had sent Him. Why? Jesus was bringing a revelation of the Father and His family to the earth, not just some austere God out there, but a real father who loves us and relates to us. Who makes makes us part of His family regardless of the past. Satan's system of "death" kept us enslaved, in bondage, so we could not enjoy the free abundant life or liberty that the Father wanted us to have, but would all our lives be in fear.
But hey! The GOOD NEWS is we are adopted and part of His family. Paper work done, all you need to to do is accept it and receive your adoption as children of God.
Check this out:
Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Gal 4:5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as his children.
Gal 4:6 Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Gal 4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir through God.
God sent His Son- relational,
to redeem us- legally its been taken care of,
to be adopted- not as Christians but as children.
(Now don't go around saying Shaun doesn't believe we are 'Christians'. But consider this, that only once was 'the church' called Christians, and that wasn't by God! In fact, the term Born-again is also only used once by Jesus, to a religious leader, at night, away from the crowd of people. I do believe we are Christians and I do believe we need to be born-again [John3:3-8]. However, the real emphasis should be on the fact that you are adopted into the family. With rights as an heir.
Let's look at another scripture:
2Co 6:16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
2Co 6:17 Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.
2Co 6:18 I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters," declares the Lord Almighty.
Did I read this right?
Did God just say that we would be...sons and daughters?His sons and daughters?
OK! Now we can see that church is not just an organisational structure made up of 'members', but a real family,made up of children, with God being our Father. Jesus prayed at one time "Our Father..."
He was revealing a family and that is why the Jewish leaders of the day were getting so mad at Him. I mean, how can this man call God His Father?
"Adoption" in Romans 8 means: to be placed in the position of a son.
As family we don't have to earn or 'work' to be accepted or to try and make ourselves 'good enough' to be part of the family. We had NOTHING to do with the adoption process, except to receive the benefit of being called His sons and daughters. Heavenly Father, doesn't just pay the legal price, but gives us the Spirit of His Son, the Spirit of adoption, so that with full assurance we too can cry out, with absolute certainty, FATHER, FATHER.....
So, today, Go to your Heavenly Father and settle with Him the fact that you ARE His child.Received, accepted, assured and identified. Just be!
My sons don't try and convince me that they are my sons, No they just know and act like it.
Next time we will look at some more of who we are as the 'church'.
[Hope this helps Cale: be blessed and GO FOR IT!]
Rom 8:15 For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, "Father! my Father!"
Rom 8:16 God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children.
Rom 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
It's important to see that we have received a "spirit of adoption". Not to an organisation but into the family of God. When God sent a Redeemer to purchase us from the bondage of Satan's kingdom and his tyranny, He didn't send a pastor or a prophet (although Jesus was all that) But He sent His Son. Why?
God was revealing that His heart is for 'family'. He doesn't just make 'Christians' or believers or even members of the 'church'., but He adopts sons and children into His FAMILY.
No, God purchased with the blood of Jesus, our adoption into the family of God. Adoption papers have been issued for ALL. The opposite to that, and that's where we ALL found ourselves in the past, was in a "spirit of bondage" or slavery,leading us to fear. You see we may not think that is our case before we get "saved", but everyone suffers from 'fear' of death In fact, all fear stems from fear of death and leaves all men in bondage. But God...
He redeems us, meaning, He purchases our adoption, with the blood of Jesus and makes it available to ALL men. The GOOD NEWS is that we we are adopted, ALL, EVERYONE, but some just have never heard about it.
Somehow the message has been conveyed that you are born-again to go to church. But there is so much more than that.... Well, in fact, rather, we are adopted to be members OF HIS FAMILY!
The word "bondage" or "slavery" means to be enslaved; which means: The state of being prevented from enjoying and possessing life freely; a state opposed to liberty. Jesus came and revealed not Himself only, but the revelation of the Heavenly Father. Time and time again He would refer to the Fathers will and that it was the Father who had sent Him. Why? Jesus was bringing a revelation of the Father and His family to the earth, not just some austere God out there, but a real father who loves us and relates to us. Who makes makes us part of His family regardless of the past. Satan's system of "death" kept us enslaved, in bondage, so we could not enjoy the free abundant life or liberty that the Father wanted us to have, but would all our lives be in fear.
But hey! The GOOD NEWS is we are adopted and part of His family. Paper work done, all you need to to do is accept it and receive your adoption as children of God.
Check this out:
Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Gal 4:5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as his children.
Gal 4:6 Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Gal 4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir through God.
God sent His Son- relational,
to redeem us- legally its been taken care of,
to be adopted- not as Christians but as children.
(Now don't go around saying Shaun doesn't believe we are 'Christians'. But consider this, that only once was 'the church' called Christians, and that wasn't by God! In fact, the term Born-again is also only used once by Jesus, to a religious leader, at night, away from the crowd of people. I do believe we are Christians and I do believe we need to be born-again [John3:3-8]. However, the real emphasis should be on the fact that you are adopted into the family. With rights as an heir.
Let's look at another scripture:
2Co 6:16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
2Co 6:17 Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.
2Co 6:18 I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters," declares the Lord Almighty.
Did I read this right?
Did God just say that we would be...sons and daughters?His sons and daughters?
OK! Now we can see that church is not just an organisational structure made up of 'members', but a real family,made up of children, with God being our Father. Jesus prayed at one time "Our Father..."
He was revealing a family and that is why the Jewish leaders of the day were getting so mad at Him. I mean, how can this man call God His Father?
"Adoption" in Romans 8 means: to be placed in the position of a son.
As family we don't have to earn or 'work' to be accepted or to try and make ourselves 'good enough' to be part of the family. We had NOTHING to do with the adoption process, except to receive the benefit of being called His sons and daughters. Heavenly Father, doesn't just pay the legal price, but gives us the Spirit of His Son, the Spirit of adoption, so that with full assurance we too can cry out, with absolute certainty, FATHER, FATHER.....
So, today, Go to your Heavenly Father and settle with Him the fact that you ARE His child.Received, accepted, assured and identified. Just be!
My sons don't try and convince me that they are my sons, No they just know and act like it.
Next time we will look at some more of who we are as the 'church'.
[Hope this helps Cale: be blessed and GO FOR IT!]
Wednesday 15 August 2007
Eph 4:11 It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.
Eph 4:12 He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.
Eph 4:13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.
Eph 4:14 Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.
Eph 4:15 Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.
Eph 4:16 Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love. (highlights are mine) GNB Bible
The Lord gave all 5 gifts, to be gifts to the Body, to equip the Church(every member) for their works of service. Under His control, all the parts FIT together and held together by EVERY JOINT with which the body is provided.
When we recognise that all needs to be under the Lord's control, it is His church and His people. The 5fold ministry should all be contributing as the Lord has set them in place, to the equipping/perfecting of the church. But NOT controlling!
As the church is equipped by all these giftings the Lord has given, then and only then will the "works of service" and the "edifying of the body" take place.
Ministry will flow from the equipping of the saints.
Eph 4:12 He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.
Eph 4:13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.
Eph 4:14 Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.
Eph 4:15 Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.
Eph 4:16 Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love. (highlights are mine) GNB Bible
The Lord gave all 5 gifts, to be gifts to the Body, to equip the Church(every member) for their works of service. Under His control, all the parts FIT together and held together by EVERY JOINT with which the body is provided.
When we recognise that all needs to be under the Lord's control, it is His church and His people. The 5fold ministry should all be contributing as the Lord has set them in place, to the equipping/perfecting of the church. But NOT controlling!
As the church is equipped by all these giftings the Lord has given, then and only then will the "works of service" and the "edifying of the body" take place.
Ministry will flow from the equipping of the saints.
Monday 13 August 2007
Sunday 12 August 2007
25 Signs You Are Leading from Your Dark Side
25 Signs You Are Leading from Your Dark Side
by Joseph Matterra http://www.josephgmatterra.com/
1. You inwardly celebrate when a colleague or fellow minister falls.
2. Your spirit of competition causes you to inwardly celebrate when other organizations or ministries in your field aren’t doing as well as you.
3. You are more concerned about your local church or organization than the good of the kingdom of God and cultural transformation.
4. You manipulate people to promote yourself and try to make things happen instead of allowing God to open doors and promote you.
5. You look for opportunities to backstab other leaders in your region or field of work.
6. You are driven to succeed to counter your insecurity, poor self-esteem and a sense of insignificance.
7. You thwart the emergence of other strong leaders in your organization.
8. You are closed-up relationally and have no open, transparent relationships in which you share your weaknesses and fears.9. You do not share power and work on your own in regards to major decisions that impact your organization or ministry.
10. You are shifty in relationships, taking sides with those you are presently with, then taking another point of view when with another person when there is a conflict or controversy.
11. You will sacrifice the future for the present in regards to debt financing and risk taking instead of leaving a legacy of financial sustainability.
12. You do not receive correction kindly but always get inwardly defensive.
13. You are constantly blaming others when things go wrong.
14. You constantly justify yourself instead of facing your failures.
15. You have no deep relationship with God and lead out of your flesh and soul life.
16. You don’t lead out of sound biblical principles unless it is convenient.
17. You view yourself more as a pragmatist than a principled person.
18. You are loyal to people only until you have used them to get to the next level.
19. You avoid confrontation and walking in the light according to Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 John 1:7.
20. You only care for those who care for you and serve your agenda.
21. Your greatest desire in life is to make a name for yourself.
22. The bottom line in regards to organizational effectiveness is more important to you than people.
23. You have a hard time forgiving those who offend you.
24. You carry resentment and baggage from the past that you refuse to let go.
25. You don’t walk in the peace of God but in the stress of the world.
by Joseph Matterra http://www.josephgmatterra.com/
1. You inwardly celebrate when a colleague or fellow minister falls.
2. Your spirit of competition causes you to inwardly celebrate when other organizations or ministries in your field aren’t doing as well as you.
3. You are more concerned about your local church or organization than the good of the kingdom of God and cultural transformation.
4. You manipulate people to promote yourself and try to make things happen instead of allowing God to open doors and promote you.
5. You look for opportunities to backstab other leaders in your region or field of work.
6. You are driven to succeed to counter your insecurity, poor self-esteem and a sense of insignificance.
7. You thwart the emergence of other strong leaders in your organization.
8. You are closed-up relationally and have no open, transparent relationships in which you share your weaknesses and fears.9. You do not share power and work on your own in regards to major decisions that impact your organization or ministry.
10. You are shifty in relationships, taking sides with those you are presently with, then taking another point of view when with another person when there is a conflict or controversy.
11. You will sacrifice the future for the present in regards to debt financing and risk taking instead of leaving a legacy of financial sustainability.
12. You do not receive correction kindly but always get inwardly defensive.
13. You are constantly blaming others when things go wrong.
14. You constantly justify yourself instead of facing your failures.
15. You have no deep relationship with God and lead out of your flesh and soul life.
16. You don’t lead out of sound biblical principles unless it is convenient.
17. You view yourself more as a pragmatist than a principled person.
18. You are loyal to people only until you have used them to get to the next level.
19. You avoid confrontation and walking in the light according to Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 John 1:7.
20. You only care for those who care for you and serve your agenda.
21. Your greatest desire in life is to make a name for yourself.
22. The bottom line in regards to organizational effectiveness is more important to you than people.
23. You have a hard time forgiving those who offend you.
24. You carry resentment and baggage from the past that you refuse to let go.
25. You don’t walk in the peace of God but in the stress of the world.
Monday 6 August 2007
One of the devil's most effective strategies for keeping the church weak and ineffective is to "wear out the saints." The primary way he does this is to get Christians involved in good works that the Lord did not call them to do. When we do things with the Lord, His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and we actually find refreshment for our souls while we are working. If we try to do work without Him, we will wear out and burn out, as well as not bear any real, lasting fruit.
Sunday 5 August 2007
Time
"Time is within your control."
— Luanne Oakes, Ph.D: Author
You probably didn’t believe that quote, so I’ll restate it: "Time is within your control." In the information age in which we live, where business life and home life are a blur of activity, deadlines, pressure, and projects, it’s hard to believe that time is within your control. But it is. You can control what you think. You can control your attitude. And for the most part, you can control your time. However, if you’re not careful, procrastination can gobble up significant amounts of your time. When procrastination rears its ugly head, you lose all control of time.
— Luanne Oakes, Ph.D: Author
You probably didn’t believe that quote, so I’ll restate it: "Time is within your control." In the information age in which we live, where business life and home life are a blur of activity, deadlines, pressure, and projects, it’s hard to believe that time is within your control. But it is. You can control what you think. You can control your attitude. And for the most part, you can control your time. However, if you’re not careful, procrastination can gobble up significant amounts of your time. When procrastination rears its ugly head, you lose all control of time.
Problems?
Wallace Johnson was the founder of Holiday Inn, and a dynamic Christian. When he was 40 years old, his boss fired him from his saw mill job. It came as a devastating shock. This was during the Great Depression. He and his wife needed the income from his job, small though it was. Wallace felt that the world had caved in on him.
His wife worried. She asked him, “What are you going to do?” But Wallace had been thinking, and he answered by saying, “I’m going to mortgage our home and go into the building business.
His first venture was the construction of two small buildings. Within five years, Wallace Johnson was a multi-millionaire. In an interview, he said, “Today, if I could locate the man who fired me I would sincerely thank him for what he did. At the time it happened, I didn't understand why I was fired. Later I saw that it was God's unerring and wondrous plan to get me into the ways of his choosing." The greatest thing that ever happened to him was to get fired.
Who knows what God might do through your problems and disappointments! If you’ve got problems, be happy. Don’t think of your problems as intruders. Welcome them as friends. God's purpose is much bigger than those problems. Don't doubt.
James 1:8 says that when you ask for wisdom, "… you must ask in sincere faith, without secret doubts." Don't doubt that God is working in your life. Don’t think he has abandoned you. He hasn’t – and he never will. Your problems aren’t a sign that God is mad at you – they’re a sign that he’s helping you to grow.
Since problems in life are inevitable, tackle them head on and use them to your advantage. Make it your goal to be in God's Hall of Faith. The people who make it into the Hall of Faith are those who endured incredible problems – pain, rejection, suffering – and maintained a Christ-like attitude despite it all. They are those who let the Lord work in their lives and grew as a result of it.
You're going to have problems. It's inevitable. There's no such thing as a problem-free life. But when a problem comes along you can be sure of two things:
1) The devil is trying to destroy you.
2) And God is trying to develop you.
Problems do not automatically make you a better person. Depending on your response, you can be better or bitter. You can rejoice, request, and relax or you can resent, rebel, and resist.
Which will you choose?
Until next time,
Rick Warren
His wife worried. She asked him, “What are you going to do?” But Wallace had been thinking, and he answered by saying, “I’m going to mortgage our home and go into the building business.
His first venture was the construction of two small buildings. Within five years, Wallace Johnson was a multi-millionaire. In an interview, he said, “Today, if I could locate the man who fired me I would sincerely thank him for what he did. At the time it happened, I didn't understand why I was fired. Later I saw that it was God's unerring and wondrous plan to get me into the ways of his choosing." The greatest thing that ever happened to him was to get fired.
Who knows what God might do through your problems and disappointments! If you’ve got problems, be happy. Don’t think of your problems as intruders. Welcome them as friends. God's purpose is much bigger than those problems. Don't doubt.
James 1:8 says that when you ask for wisdom, "… you must ask in sincere faith, without secret doubts." Don't doubt that God is working in your life. Don’t think he has abandoned you. He hasn’t – and he never will. Your problems aren’t a sign that God is mad at you – they’re a sign that he’s helping you to grow.
Since problems in life are inevitable, tackle them head on and use them to your advantage. Make it your goal to be in God's Hall of Faith. The people who make it into the Hall of Faith are those who endured incredible problems – pain, rejection, suffering – and maintained a Christ-like attitude despite it all. They are those who let the Lord work in their lives and grew as a result of it.
You're going to have problems. It's inevitable. There's no such thing as a problem-free life. But when a problem comes along you can be sure of two things:
1) The devil is trying to destroy you.
2) And God is trying to develop you.
Problems do not automatically make you a better person. Depending on your response, you can be better or bitter. You can rejoice, request, and relax or you can resent, rebel, and resist.
Which will you choose?
Until next time,
Rick Warren
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