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It’s a pain to have to reboot but everything just works better when you do – tech wise that is. We are not much different. God tells us to renew our minds, let go of the past and move strongly into His plan for our future. That’s my plan for 2012.

Heb.12 tells us to chuck off the weight that pulls us down; run the race hard and keep our focus on Jesus who is the only true source of life and strength. What hang ups are you carrying that need to go? What sin needs to be dealt with so you can freely engage the purpose of God? Don’t let another day go by without taking positive action to free yourself for his glory.

Applications:

1. What do you think are the most common “weights” that limit people from being their best?
What about you – what is holding you back?

2. How could you be more focused on Jesus? How could you make that source more real in your life?

3. What is on your heart for this year in your service of God?

David was a man after God’s own heart. He wrote manyof the psalms and though he made mistakes, his desire was to live for God. In Psam 18 we read his victory song, written after God saved him from Saul. It’s a great psalm highlighting God’s majesty and his might, his faithfulness and his protection.

David understood that it is God who enables him and God who makes the way for him. In verses 32, 33 he says it is God who makes him strong, it is God who goes before him and it is God who guides his path. David understood that his hope and his victory were in his God.

This is true for us too. As we embark upon all that God has for us in 2012, let’s remember that it is God who leads us and guides us. It is God who makes our paths straight. He is going before us and leading us into his future for us. Like David we can say that he is our guide and our protector, He is the one who strengthens us and enables us to face everything that is ahead of us. We do not need to worry, or to fear, but like David, we can put our confidence in God, knowing he is faithful and that he is the one who brings the victory.

Jesus said we were to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mk.16:15). He specifically said to his disciples – Jerusalem; all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the Earth (Acts 1:8). This is a command to Go and to go to everyone. No one is to be missed out. Especially not those we are uncomfortable with or who are hard to get to. I couldn’t imagine a real follower of Jesus deciding they didn’t have to love people or serve or forgive. In the same way none of us can opt out of going.

We are called to represent Jesus to our friends and family, to those we don’t normally connect with in our community (including those we don’t like) and to the people of the world. The methodology remains the same – Jesus said to demonstrate the love of God through good deeds that would cause people to glorify our Heavenly Father (Mt.5:16). He also told us that people would know we were His followers if we loved each other (Jn.13:34-35). So, do good deeds, love God’s people and take your influence throughout the world beginning with your own home.

Application:

1. What have you found most difficult or challenging in Jesus command to go to all the world?
How does that look for you? What has He called you to here and around the world?

2. How are you going in representing Jesus?
What would you like to change or add to your witness?

Blessings!

In reading through the first chapter of 1 Peter I was struck by a couple of verses. In verse 12 of chapter 1, we read how the prophets were given a message, not for themselves, but for others, for those who were still to come. This message was the good news of salvation that would come through Jesus. I began to consider how often we think that God does things just for us, and we forget that the work that God is doing in us is also for others.  

We have good news. Just like the prophets in the Old Testament, the good news we have, is not just for us, its for others, for those around us and for those who come after us. Peter goes on to say (verses 13-15) that for this reason, we are to think clearly and to exercise self control as we look forward to the future.

Our behaviour affects those around us and the way we live out our faith is seen by others. Peter says we are to live as God’s obedient children, to live a holy life before God and before others.

I challenge us to ask ourselves: What does my life say about God and about my saviour? Am I living with God’s purpose and with others in mind, or just for myself?

What do others see of my faith? How do others view  God based on how I live?

If we are honest with God and with ourselves, we would probably find lots of room for improvement. Don’t be discouraged. Just make a decision before God to live differently, to live his way and to live in obedience to him. Ask other’s to help you stay accountable and take responsibility yourself for how you behave.

Let God transform your thinking, fill your life with God’s word, and think about all that is good and right and lovely. Then you will live as God calls you to. 

Jesus comes to His conclusion (Mat.7:13-27); a call to decision. There are two paths in life – a broad way to destruction and a narrow path to life. The narrow entry is Jesus Himself and the narrow path is one of obedience to Him. Simply praying a prayer for forgiveness is enough to enter the narrow gate but the narrow road is traveled in obedience to God.

The characteristics of a life of faith are relationship and obedience. The narrow way is walked by those who have a genuine relationship with God and make decisions each day to live His way and for His honour. James describes it as a faith that is lived out in works and says that that kind of faith is the only one that saves (Jms.2:14-17).

Application:

1. What changes has God brought about in you since He saved you?
What kid of good fruit is evidence of a good tree?

2. How are you going with obedience?
What areas of life do you struggle to submit to God’s way?

Remember: Jesus message began with blessings and His intent for you is to live your absolute best!

There are a number of women who came and went in the life of Jesus. Some of them we read very little about, others there is more. Elizabeth and Anna were women who appear right at the beginning of Jesus’ life.

We know from Luke 1 that Elizabeth was a godly woman, and the mother of John the Baptist. We know she was considered past child bearing and that John was a great delight and answer to prayer. Anna was also old, and had been widowed a long time. She lived in the Temple and was a prophetess.

What do we learn from these women?

1. They had a desire for God. 

Anna had placed herself in the Temple (Luke 2) and worshipped God there. Elizabeth lived a godly life; her situation was different but she placed her herself to be used by God.

God speaks when we place ourselves in a position to hear. Anna was positioned in the Temple in a position that enabled her to hear from God and to act.

How are we placed? Are we  in a place where we can hear God? How have we prepared ourselves to hear from God and respond to him?

 Hebrews 10:19-20 tells us we can boldly enter into God’s presence because of the blood of Jesus. He has made a way and we can enter right into his presence. We can position ourselves to hear.

2. They had an expectant attitude

Both these women had an expectant attitude. Elizabeth was not only expecting her own baby, but she was also expectant about the Messiah. When Mary, expecting Jesus, visited Elizabeth we read that her baby leapt within her, and she said:

“What an honour this is that the mother of my Lord should come”.

She was expecting so much more than a physical baby. She was looking to and expecting the saviour of the world, and recognised him when Mary came.

I love the expectant attitude that Anna had, she was expecting to hear from God and she was expecting the Messiah, her saviour.

What attitude do we have? Are we living expectantly. Are we expecting amazing things to happen?

 We have a God who makes the impossible possible. An expectant attitude is a faith attitude. It says that even when it seems impossible, God is able to make it possible.

I realised this week that Mat.7:1-12 really flows directly from chapter 6 and Jesus focus on Serving God in Faith. He begins with the questions about our treasure , our Eyes and who we are serving and then gives instructions on living for God. He says: Don’t worry about this life but seek first the Kingdom of God, Don’t judge people but rather take responsibility for yourself first and Focus on seeking God, asking Him to provide for you and to open the doors of life rather than depending on self or striving.

So many of us fail to live in the grace of God, especially towards the people around us. We are reactionary and judgmental and end up striving when we should be trusting our heavenly Father. What a difference it makes in life when we take responsibility for our own faults and trust God to meet our needs by His grace. Don’t live in fear, judgement and striving but in the loving grace of God.

Application:

1. How are you at judging others?
What’s first – their problem or my contribution to our problem?

2. Why don’t I believe that God will give good gifts to me?
Do I need to try harder or be more worthy?

3. What change in thinking or action is God looking for in me this week?

Blessings!

The Jesus Culture IV A Life of Faith

In Mat.6 Jesus transitions from religious practices to the heart of the issue. He uses three questions to focus attention on the state of our hearts and what’s important in life. Where’s your Treasure? How’s your Eye? Who are you serving? His point is that we can serve God or we can serve Earthly desires but not both.

The conclusion Jesus draws is to serve the Kingdom of God with a confident faith that flows out of the assurance that we are valued and known by God. Our efforts and performance will always fall short but if we keep the focus of faith in God, He will bless and provide.

Application:

1. How valued are you in God’s eyes?
In what ways do you struggle with that question? Do you really believe it?

2. Can we call down fire (1Ki.18:36) and speak to the tomb (Jn.11:41)?
Does God see us differently to Elijah and Jesus?

Jesus loved talking to the people in parables, stories that they could relate to. One of these was the parable of the mustard seed in Matt 13;31, 32. The mustard seed is a tiny seed, but it grows to become quite a large garden plant. In fact in some places in Israel the plant grows so tall that it is big enough for birds and other animals to find shelter in its branches and in its shade. Jesus also used the mustard seed when he was talking about faith in Matt 17.

We can learn alot from the mustard seed. Though small and seemingly insignificant, it grows to something significant. Though tiny, within its DNA is everything that enables it to become a mustard bush. So just a couple of quick thoughts.

1. God says that we have everything we need, that he has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. (Eph 1:3) Just like the mustard seed, through Jesus we have been given everything we need to become larger and to grow. To grow the mustard seed must first be planted. We can ask ourselves, Are we firmly planted where we can grow? Are we firmly planted in the house of God? We grow well and flourish when planted in God’s house (see psalm 92). 

2. The mustard seed must be transformed to become a mustard plant. Though it has everything it needs to become a plant it cannot stay a seed. It must be transformed, not conformed. Paul says in Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to the world in our thinking, but to be transformed. What changes do we need to make today to begin the work of transformation in our thinking and to move away from being conformed in our thinking by worldly thoughts and attitudes?

3. The mustard seed becomes a mustard plant. It does not become a rose bush or any other type of plant. It is true to what it has been created to be. Sometimes we spend so much time and energy trying to be something other than what God created us to be. I guess at times we have all done that, but God has created each of us speacially and with our own DNA and with our own calling. He has created us to be his masterpiece. When we get on board with God’s agenda, and seek to be who he called us to be and to live according to his purpose, then no matter how small we start out, God can take it and use it to do something amazing within us and through us.

4. When we have faith as a mustard seed, then we can speak to the “mountain”s in our lives and they will move. We don’t need much faith, but we need to exercise what we have. When we are following God’s plan and purpose for our lives, then, when we exercise mustard seed faith, those mountains will move.  

John 20:10-18 records the encounter between Mary Magdalene and the risen Jesus. She is one of the first to see Him risen and be commissioned to declare his resurrection. It is an amazing thing considering that she was a demonized woman who had no legal standing in the Jewish system. The whole process speaks to me of God using us to change our world.

Mary can teach us much about making a difference in our world. Three observations: Deal with your junk; Lift your Head and Meet a need. I’m quite taken that the women showed up to anoint a dead body and were commissioned to declare His resurrection (Mk.16:1-7). It seems they struggled to get on with it (v.8) but Mary got on with the job.

Application:

1. What is holding you back from doing all God has called you to?

2. What help could you get to move forward with that?

3. What one need stays with you and is always first to mind?
Maybe one thing in the Church; and in the Community/Work place; and in our Missions program.