The sinful woman (Luke.7) and King David (2Samuel 6) demonstrated the extravagant and unrestrained worship that touches the heart of God. I think this is the picture we should take with us when we engage in expressing worship to our loving and all powerful God. Not half hearted or restricted by personality, culture or tradition but a heart fully engaged in honouring God motivated by gratitude and awe.

Application:

1. How has God released your heart in expressing worship to Him?

2. What restraints do you still struggle with in worshiping God?

Blessings – Ron

Relationships have man aspects. No matter what type of relationships you have, they can always be developed and grown. But relationships, good relationships don’t just happen, they are intentional. Chances are that if you let a relationship just happen, then it won’t be a healthy relationship. Its easy to think that because someone is nice when we first meet them that they will always be that way. But we need to approach relationships with wisdom.

If we are to develop the very best of relationships, then we must be intentional. If you are married you will have done marriage preparation of some sort. Those of you married more recently will have done a whole lot on being intentional in relationships. This is because a good marriage doesn’t just happen, it actually takes time and effort. But regardless of the type of relationship, whether with a spouse, a friend, or your workmates, being intentional will produce a better relationship dynamic. Good relationships take time and effort, they require us to be very deliberate and very intentional in how we develop and grow them.

Communicate God’s way

The key to any good relationship, and to improving the relationships we have, is in how well we actually communicate with people. We all communicate in some way. My experience is that the more I see it, the more I realise that how and what we communicate is really important. Communication is both technique and content. It is not just what we say, it is how we say it. And more importantly, communication is about how we listen to others.

Quick to listen

Most of us are so keen to get our own thoughts out that we do not actually listen to others, we cut them off, and we are more interested in ourselves than in the other person. The Bible says be quick to listen and slow to speak.

James 1:19

My dear brothers and sister, be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.

James 1:26

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself and your religion is useless.

How we speak, what comes out of our mouths has a huge effect on relationships. But how we listen is vital. James tells us to be quick to listen. What does this mean?

It means:

To attend to what is being said.

To understand and perceive the sense of what is being said.

To find out and learn and to comprehend.

So to be quick to listen, means to actively listen to another person, to find and and learn, to comprehend what they are actually saying.  Listening requires us to fully understand the other person and to make sure we perceive the true sense of what they are saying. This requires us to listen carefully, without forming our own ideas to respond, but to understand first, what the other is saying. (Not just their words, but their body language as well).

Slow to speak.

To speak is to articulate, to talk, to use words in order to declare ones mind and disclose ones thoughts. This is where it gets tricky in relationships and in communication. We want to be quick to speak, quick to articulate our own thoughts and ideas so others know what we think. We want to get our ideas across. We want to declare our own mind on something, so that in the process of doing so, we don’t really listen. We don’t allow the other person to finish what they are saying because we want to get our opinion across. The Bible says, we are to do the opposite of what we want. We are to be slow to speak. When we are slow to speak, we are not consumed with ourselves.

In relationships, we are to consider others as well as ourselves. This is what makes a healthy relationship. Whether it be a work relationship or a marriage or amongst friends. This passage of James also says be slow to get angry because our anger actually doesn’t help the situation. The word used here can also mean impulse, agitation and indignation. James says, watch out for these things. Be slow to get angry and agitated and indignant.

The tongue is powerful. James 3:2-12 goes on to say that if we can control our tongue, if we can control what we say, then we will have no trouble being in control of other aspects of our lives. He says that with our tongue we bless God and we curse people. This is a pretty accurate description of how we behave. James says, it should not be this way. Jesus said that from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. If we want Godly communication, we have to check what is in our heart! What is within will come out, especially if pressure is applied.

What is defiling your language? What is defiling your heart?

Healthy relationships require us to keep a check on ourselves, on what we are allowing within. So what are we to do?

1. Guard your heart.

Prov 4:23-26

Above all else guard your heart because it affects everything you do.

Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech.

Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get side tracked; keep your feet from following evil.

Keep a check on what you hear and see. It’s like a gate. We have an ear and an eye gate. Who controls that ear and eye gate? We do!! Keep a check on what goes in and out of the gate. We are responsible for what we see and what we hear. We are responsible for what we do with what we see and hear.

What are you allowing in your ear and eye gate?

What effect is it having on your life, your thoughts, your words, your actions?

Learn to open and shut the gate at the right times. Learn to recognise when something that shouldn’t be allowed in has snuck in the gate and kick it out. I have a fence with a gate to keep my dogs in and the neighbours dog out. We have a choice about who we allow to speak into our lives, who we hang out with and what we see.

What changes do I need to make to ensure the right things enter my ear and eye gates?

Phil 4:8-9

And now brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honourable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you have learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul says, be deliberate in what you think and what you say will reflect it. If you think about what is right and good, this will guard our heart.

What do I think about? What thoughts do I need to take captive?

2. Speak what is right

Proverbs says stay away from perverse speech. If we guard our heart, think about what is right, we will say what is right.

Col 4:6

Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.

Notice the word gracious!

How gracious is my conversation?

What can I do to have a more gracious attitude that is reflected in my conversation?

Eph 4:29

Don’t use foul and abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful. So that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

I think this is an area in relationships that we must be very vigilant about. The Bible is clear, but our culture is accepting of this.It is now acceptable to use all sorts of language, but we are not to be dictated to by culture or what the world decrees as acceptable.  ”Everybody does it” is not a valid response or reason. We are to think differently to that. We know Romans 12:2 – don’t be dictated to by the customs of the world, don’t conform to them but be transformed by God, through the power of his word.

What language do I need to be rid of?

3. Treat others how you would like to be treated.

This is loosely called the Golden rule. Speak to others the way you would like to be spoken to, listen to others the way you would like to be listened to.

Matt 7:12

Do to others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

We quote this quite blithely. But think about it. This is very powerful. If in every area of our lives we actually treated other people the same way we would like them to treat us, we would have very little issue with people. Jesus says that this verse sums up all the law and the prophets. Everything written in the old testament is summed up by treat others how we would like to be treated. When it comes to our relationships this is such a key area. How do you want to be treated in your relationships? When it comes to communication, how do you want others to communicate with you? Then treat others the same way.

Sometimes I think we want others to treat us how we would like to be treated,  but we feel we can treat others how we feel at the time,  by judging them and speaking badly about them. I heard recently that we like to judge others by their actions, but ourselves by our intentions. We expect more from others than we expect from ourselves. The Bible says, that how we judge others, is actually how we will be judged?

In Matt 7:1

Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them.

Today as we think about how we communicate with one another, think about how you would like people to talk to and communicate with  you? How do you want people to communicate with you? Do you want people to talk to you in the same way you talk to them (or about them, or do you want others to talk to you the way you would like to be talked to?

If we want people to listen to us, then we are to spend time listening to them.  If we want people to speak nicely to us, then speak nicely to them.

Be deliberate in putting these things into practise. It will make a world of difference to your relationships.

The power of the resurrection of Jesus is yours as well if you will give up your self dependence and participate in His suffering. To participate in His suffering means to accept all that He has done for you and then stand for Him. If you then suffer for Him or for His Body, the Church, it is not to make merit with God but rather to Honour Him and extend His rule in the hearts of people because you love Him and His Church. This focus will certainly make a difference in your daily life and has the ultimate eternal significance.

Application:

* In what ways do you get religious or pretentious when it comes to your faith?
What aspects tend to be a bit false in you?

* What does it mean for you to suffer for Jesus?

* What are you afraid to lose by serving Jesus? (See Rich Ruler Lk.18)

Blessings – Ron

We’ve been looking at the destructive thoughts that rob us of all God intends and often our ability to serve and be a blessing. Thoughts that tell us we are not lovable, not capable and, today, not blessed. Others have favour and blessing but not me. I am too evil, sinful, unimportant, etc, etc. The truth is we live constantly in the blessing of God. Every good thing in our lives comes from Him and was created by Him (Jms.1:16-17).

God’s pre-disposition is to bless people – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, even Ishmael, were all specifically blessed by God. Joseph, Samuel, Daniel, Mary and so many others were touched by the favour of God and God says that by faith we too live in the blessing of Abraham (Gal.3:7-9). Jesus blessed and taught blessing (Mt.5; Mk.10:16; Lk.24:50-51), Paul said we would have an abundance for every good work (2Cor.9) and John prayed that we would prosper in all things as our soul prospers (3Jn.1).

God wants to bless you. The bible teaches obedience (Lk.11:28), responsibilty (2Thes.3:10) and generosity (Lk.6:38) to flow in that blessing but fundamentally God wants to bless you!

Application:

1. What gets in the way of understanding that God wants to bless you? What thoughts push in on you in this area?

2. What is God saying to you about His blessing?

3. What do you need to do this week in obedience to God’s word?

Blessings – Ron

1. Seek God’s vision for your life

I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future, (Jer 29:11).

Even if you feel like you’re in a bad place, God has a vision for your life and a purpose for you.

Matt 6:33 Seek first the kingdom…

When we seek God’s kingdom, when we seek what matters to him, when we seek his vision for our lives, he will not only give us everything we need but he will also enable us to fulfil it.

Remember: I am able because God is able

What is God’s vision for your life?

What is hindering you at the moment? (Are you the hindrance, selling yourself short)

Look beyond the shortcomings to the God possibilities.

2. Be passionate

When we are passionate about something we are more likely to keep going and to keep moving towards the fulfilment of the vision! Jesus is passionate for us, and for his bride the church. Think about the things that move you in some way; chances are that God has placed a passion in your heart to see change brought into those areas.

When we are doing something, if we are passionate, we will keep going, we will learn more and we will do more!

David was passionate about building a place of worship God. God told him his son would build it, so David directed his passion into preparing for building, for gathering material. (2 Samuel 7:4-16 1 Chronicles 22:2-17). David set aside a huge amount of his own wealth, to ensure that the vision could be completed.

What are you passionate about?

What can you do today to start laying a foundation for doing something in that area?

People will get on board with your vision when you are passionate about your vision and what God is doing.

Who shares your passion?

Who have you shared your passion with?

These people will help to achieve the vision.

3. Vision is always greater than the one

Vision always requires others to fulfil it. We are never alone. Even if we have a vision for a new kitchen – it requires a team of people to make it happen, with each having a part to play. It is the same for us in our lives, our work, our ministry. Whatever your vision for your self, your family, your relationships, your community, it takes people to be involved, it requires others to help us get there.

David collected material for the temple, Solomon had it built, but he had a huge team of people to help make David’s vision a reality. (1 Kings 5:1-17; 6:1).In fact, if we try to do it alone, we will not achieve our vision as effectively as working together. I’m not expecting I’ll need 30,000 people just yet, but may be the vision for a business that you have may start with several people and employ many thousands in the future.

Who are we doing life with?

Who are the key people we need in our lives to fulfil our God given vision?

4. Vision crosses the generations

If our vision is only big enough for our own lifetime, it is too small.

I believe that God gives vision that extends through the generations. His blessing are for thousands of descendants. When Solomon built the temple, he was building on what had already been achieved. When he died, many generations that followed used the temple to fulfil the vision of a place to worship God. They may not be physical descendants but they will be people who come after us, who we have passed the baton on to.

Who are you relating to that is older than you, younger than you?

Who will you pass the baton too? Who are your descendants?

Who are you sharing vision with that can run after you?

1. God is able

Eph 3:20
Now glory be to God ! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare ask or hope. NLT

God is able, by his mighty power at work within us to do so much more than we could ever imagine.It is not of ourselves, it is not relying on us, rather it is God’s work within us. It is God’s power, his Spirit at work in us, that enables us. As we embark on this year, its important to remember that its not by striving, but by relying on God’s work within us, and within others, that accomplishes his purpose.

God, by virtue of who he is, by his ability, by his power, inherent in his nature, is capable. He is the author, the one who carries it out, supremely, further, more than enough, able to do so much more than we could beg for, ask for, desire, request for oneself, perceive with the mind, have understanding of or consider, and it his his working in us, his display and activity in us.

In other words, whatever we could think up, what ever we could ask for, perceive or consider, God is able to do, within us and through us. The question is do we believe this, and are we willing to step out in faith, knowing this, and putting this into effect in our lives? This is about right thought patterns, changing how we think, not allowing circumstances to dictate to us what we believe about God and who he is.

How does your thinking hinder God’s work in you?

In Judges 6 we read about Gideon. He did not have right thinking, he was being dictated to by circumstance. He thought of himself as the lowest of the low, but God said he was a mighty man of valour. He had to change his thinking. He had to see himself differently but rely on God for the outcome. He learned that God was able, that it was God’s purpose that was important. When he changed his thinking, then God, at work, did more than what Gideon could ever have imagined. We have something Gideon didn’t have, God’s power at work in us as well as for us.

Phil 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. NLT

God is acting in us, so we can effect his work in us by doing his will. In us, God is the operative, to effect and to display his activity. God is at work, helping us to have his purpose in mind. God is at work in us, not just so that we would have it in mind, and intend to, but God gives us the ability to carry it out. God is acting in us, so we can effect his work in us, by doing his will.

2. I am able

Phil 4:13
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. NLT

When I looked at this verse in more detail, I discovered something very interesting. The word “do”, means to be strong ( in body and power, robust) but it can also mean, to have power (as shown by extraordinary deeds) to be a force, to be able. In other words, whatever we are called to do, we can do in strength, not just because God is able, but because in Christ, I am able. I have power, but it is Christ’s power within me. Christ endues us with his strength; therefore I am able, because God is at work within me. God strengthens me so that I am able to do his will and do it powerfully.

Phil 2:12
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. KJV

Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives,, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. NLT

The word “trembling” has the meaning of one who distrusts his own ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty. What Paul is saying is, do your best to live the right way, fulfilling God’s call and purpose, knowing that you don’t rely on your own ability but on God and his ability to make you able. We are not duty driven, we trust Christ to fulfil all requirements for righteousness, but we do our best to live the right way, and are desirous to live the right way.

I’m interested in this verse because we know that God’s saving work is in Christ. So what does this verse actually mean? I believe it means that we are to apply God’s saving grace to our own lives. For Paul, who wrote this, it meant putting his past and everything related to it behind him, and to live totally in God’s grace, serving God’s purpose and not his own.

Phil 3:12b-14
But I keep working towards that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No dear brothers and sisters, I am not all that I should be, but I am focussing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…..

Earlier, Paul says he no longer counts on his own goodness. He was no longer relying on his credentials, his abilities, but on God’s grace and strength. He understood that when he did this, he himself was able to do all that God called him to. He was able, because God is able and enabled him. When we put the past behind us, when we focus on what lies ahead, when we trust that God is at work in us, we are able. We often focus our energies on the wrong thing, on the past and the hurts, the previous successes or failures. Paul says, put it behind you, and focus entirely on what lies ahead and what God has for you, doing it in his strength.

Are we relying on our own strength, or on God’s strength working in us?

What do you need to put behind you? What is God asking you to let go of, once and for all?

What is he asking you to press on towards?

When we apply God’s love and grace to our lives, then we are able to do what we are called to do. We understand that in Christ we are able. Therefore I am able because God is able.

The first is, “I’m not loveable” which is pattently absurd in the face of God’s overwhelming love for us but none the less rampant in our thinking. Rebuild a God thought by focusing on how God has demonstrated His love for you. He created you for relationship; redeemed you in His love and betrothes you to Himself for eternity. God’s love for you is beyond doubt and He loves you without reservation.

Application:
1. What is God saying to you about His love and about you?
2. What will you change or do about that this week?

Is 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

In the lead up to the first Christmas, Mary was told that she would have a child, and her response was absolute trust and joy.

Luke 1:46-47

My soul magnifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

The news of a coming saviour brought great joy, and resulted in glory to God. When the shepherds heard of the birth – they went and found the saviour and praised God. The birth of Jesus was a time of great joy in heaven and a time of great joy for the earth. God celebrated when Jesus was born. At Christmas,God became man and lived among us, and the angels sang songs of praise and glory.

Matt 2:8-19

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Jesus was the source of great joy. Why? Because a saviour had been born. The one who would grow, and live as we have and show us God had been born into the world. Where there was darkness, there was now the opportunity for great light.

Is 9:1-3a

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation

and increased their joy;

For us Christmas is a time of joy. Not for all the things that happen, but because we celebrate the birth of a saviour. We celebrate that God loved us and sent his son for us. We celebrate because we were living in darkness, but now Jesus has come and brought life and light to our lives. So how do we find joy?

1.  Seek Jesus

In everything we do, as we head towards Christmas – seek Jesus. This seems like stating the obvious because we are to seek Jesus always. But seek Jesus. Be deliberate in seeking God and in worshipping him.

Is 55:6

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Seek God. Take the time and the opportunity to seek him. It’s so easy to get caught in the busyness of the season, that we forget why we actually celebrate it in the first place. There were several people who were actively looking for Jesus, actively seeking him out. In Luke 2:25-38 we read of Simeon and Anna. They were people who were actively seeking the Messiah.

Luke 2:25-38

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

These guys were genuinely seeking God and genuinely seeking their saviour. Simeon was listening to God and was filled with great joy when he saw Jesus and he praised God. Anna offered up praise to god and spoke to all those waiting for their redemption. They were actively seeking a saviour. When they found him, it was a cause of great joy and celebration. In Matthew we read of the wise men. They two were seeking a king. At first, they did not understand who they were looking for. But they searched and they searched till they found him and offered what they had to him.

Matt 2: 1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

These men had come from a long way away, and had put a great deal of time and effort into searching for their new king. When they found Jesus, they were overjoyed. They had finally found what they had been searching for. More importantly, they had finally found who they were searching for. It brought them great joy.

What effort are we prepared to go to, to seek our saviour?

Simeon was prepared to listen to God, Ana was prepared to be in God’s house, the wise men were prepared to travel a long way. Seeking God and finding him brings great joy.

What will you do this week to seek God?

2. Offer true worship

The second thing is offer true worship. The shepherds came and saw Jesus and worshipped him. The wise men came and worshipped Jesus. In fact, they brought expensive gifts to worship him with. In other words, they were prepared to make a sacrifice to worship God. Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh all had great meanings around kingship, sacrifice and honour. The wise men wanted to bring their best to worship Jesus. Remember the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. It’s the same worship. It is worship that costs something but has great value to God and honours God.

Herod also said he wanted to worship the new King, but his motive was not to worship.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

His motive to seek the king was not true worship. It was only lip worship. Spoken to save face when in his heart were pride, deceit and murder. Jesus had a discussion with the Samaritan woman in John 4, about true worship. The Jews and Samaritans had different rules and ideas about worship. But Jesus says that it’s about worshipping in the spirit and in truth. It’s not about place, but about heart attitude.

John 4:23

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.

God honours true worship.

When we seek God, are we seeking him for what we can get from him, or are we seeking him to offer true worship to God?

As we approach Christmas, let’s seek God, let’s seek our saviour and offer true worship.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform 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.

What God desires from us is true worship. Worship that costs something, worship that is given in the way we live. True worship is not just about how we come before God when we honour him through praise and worship at church or at home but in the way we live our lives, and in every detail of our lives. When we choose to live as a living sacrifice and to live according to God’s best for us, when we lay aside the things in our heart and worship God because of who he is, and not what we get from him, when we choose God over all else, in everything – that is the true worship. It’s the little choices we make every day, in how we live, in renewed thinking, in giving God time and first place, that honour God above all else.

This worship honours God, and values God. He sent Jesus to be our saviour, and to enable us to come into his presence and have relationship with him, through Christ. This is a cause for great joy and a reason alone to worship God.

What is your response to finding your saviour?

How willing are we to offer true worship to God?

What can we do today to start to honour God and give him true worship?

This week I want to encourage us all to develop that delight in the Lord. The prophet’s and the psalmist’s knew the secret of delighting in God. Isaiah explodes with it: “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness …” (61:10). Isaiah saw this before Jesus had come and completed it but it was no less real to him as he claimed in faith the salvation that Jesus won for us. Meditate on the greatness of God, all that He has done for you and all that He is. Express and declare His greatness to Him and anyone who’ll listen. Live out your love for God in active service that honours Him. In these ways your delight in Him will grow and your heart will be released for all that it was meant to contain and express.

Application:

1. How great is God to you: In what ways do you limit Him? How do you focus on His greatness?
2. How has a comprehension of the greatness of God developed in your life?
3. In what ways will you develop your delight in God this week?

Blessings – Ron

The joy of giving and of having a generous heart is a strong theme in God’s Word. There is great joy and freedom that is found when we can let go of our money and resources and release them to the purposes of God.

2 Cor 8:1-5

“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.  They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”

They were filled with abundant joy which overflowed in rich generosity. This whole chapter is really great to give us God’s perspective on the joy of giving. When we live a life of joyful generosity, we live a life of abundant joy; a joy and generosity that comes from an “openness of heart”. Later  Paul writes that “God loves a cheerful giver”.

2 Cor  9:6-

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”

Of course generosity is not just limited to money. We are to be generous with our love for others, our resources, our time and our energy. Generosity comes from a heart willing to serve the purpose of God, and in doing so finding great joy.

Romans 12:1-2

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

This tells us to give our lives as a living sacrifice to God. Then it goes on to say not to conform to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. A living sacrifice – this is about giving of our best to God; giving up the things of this world to focus on what is really important: God and the kingdom. The joy of giving comes from a generosity of spirit that stems from renewed thinking. Thinking that does not get caught up in the things of this world but looks to God and to bring glory to him. We are temporary residents on this earth; our true home is in heaven.

Is that where we are focussed?

In Matt 6:19-21

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Jesus says don’t be focussed on the things of this world, place our focus on heavenly treasure.

Where is our heart today?

 Are we focussed on what we want to get or on how generous we can be?

Matt 6:24

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Jesus is clear – we cannot serve both God and money. Jesus uses strong words – Hate and love. He is basically saying, if we focus on material gain, having “nice “things etc. then we cannot love God.  We either love God and use money to serve his purpose or we love money and try to use God to serve our purpose. The issue for us is that our world is so materialistic and we tend to see material gain as a way to happiness instead of focussing on God’s way to true joy. Let’s not get trapped in the things of this world. Let’s be people who are focussed on heavenly treasure.

1 Peter 2:11-12

“Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbours. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honourable behaviour, and they will give honour to God when he judges the world”

As we live to please God, as we look to place our focus on God and live for him, we are to stay away from worldly desires and give ourselves to living for God. This includes having a generous and joyful heart. God wants to bless us. We can trust him to give us good gifts.

Matt 7:9-11

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?”

Generosity is important.

1. Generosity Honours God

When we are generous, God is glorified and God is honoured. Jesus is our example of a life of joyful giving. Last week we looked at how joy was his motivation for going to the cross. He gave of himself with joy, even when it cost him a great deal.  As we live lives of generosity God is truly honoured. Look at what Paul says in 2 Cor 9:11-15.

2 Cor 9:11-15

“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”

As we give generously and joyfully, others are blessed, but more importantly, those who are blessed will give thanks to God. God is about making his name famous not because he needs it but because he wants people to know him.  When we give generously, people will thank God and they will give honour and glory to God. So, not only do we honour God when we give generously, but other people will too.

Are people praising and honouring God because we have been generous?

Is our motivation to honour God in our giving?

Am I honouring God with my money or serving myself?

What can we do to change this?

2. Generosity Brings freedom

Generosity is God’s plan for us. Generosity brings freedom to our lives in so many ways. When we are free, we can give without strings attached. When we are free, we can fully give ourselves to God and the work of his Kingdom; we can give from freedom and not from a sense of duty. It totally changes our perspective. The act of giving actually brings freedom because it stops us from worrying about everything else.

2 Cor 8:1-5

“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.  They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.  They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”

Their gift was given of their own free will. They were free to give to God what belonged to him and to give to the offering what they could do. They did it with generosity and with joy, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Not because they had lots of money – they were actually really poor. Paul is clear that the Macedonian believers gave out of great poverty, but with great generosity and with great joy.

Why? Because they understood that generosity was a source of great joy. That giving to the kingdom was important. They had their treasure in heaven – they gave themselves to God first. This enabled them to be free to give.  Freedom to give, joyful generosity comes from being prepared to give. Paul says to the Corinthians – I want you to be free to give.

2 Cor 9:7

“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully”.”

Not under compulsion or pressure, but with willingness and with joy.

Isaiah 32:8

“But generous people plan to do what is generous,

and they stand firm in their generosity.”

Generous people are always looking at ways to give. It is part of their life flowing from their heart. We are not asked to give what we don’t have. We give freely so that all people will have what they need, and we will have enough. To be free to give, we must deal with the unrealistic expectations that the world places on us. We must deal with the world’s desire for things.

As we approach Christmas – are we giving out of joy because of what Christ has done, or are we giving because others expect that we will?

Maybe we need to think about how and why we give at Christmas.  Hopefully we give because we love, but as we give, for whatever the reason, we are to give joyfully, not from compulsion, but from freedom, because we want to, not becausae we have to.

Are we giving from a place of freedom?

If not, what changes in attitude do we need to make?

3. Generosity brings Blessing

Generosity brings blessing to everyone.

Prov 22:9

“He that has a bountiful eye will be blessed because he gives to the poor.” (NKJ)

“Blessed are those who are generous,

because they feed the poor.” (NLT)

There is joy in giving, and joyful giving results in blessing. Those who receive are blessed and those who give are blessed. I love the idea of a boutiful eye. It means someone willing to give, someone wanting to bless others, who in return receives great blessing from their giving.

Prov 23:6-8

“Don’t eat with people who are stingy;

don’t desire their delicacies.

They are always thinking about how much it costs.

“Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.

You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,

and your compliments will be wasted.”

No-one is blessed when people are stingy. Stingy people pretend to bless but they are not genuine, or joyful. Let’s not be like that. Instead, let’s be cheerful and understand the joy and blessing in generosity. in fact, the more generous we are, the greater the blessing and the more we receive back.

Luke 6:38

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back”

Acts 20:35

“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

What measure are we using when we give?

The blessing comes from giving. But there is also a bountiful return that we are blessed to be a blessing to others. God gives us an abundance for every good work.  Paul says that God gives seed for sowing and bread for food. This means that he gives us enough for our own needs and an abundance for the work of his kingdom. Lets release the abundace for his kingdom, and not hold on to it.

2 Cor 9:6-11

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.

Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”

In other words, God gives us an abundance so that we can complete his work and be a blessing to others. The abundance is for every good work. The abundance is not for our comfort but for Kingdom purpose; for helping the poor, for reaching the unsaved, for spreading the good news of Jeus. But in doing so, there is great blessing and return. God has given us his promise that he will provide for us generously, not stingily, but generously. He will provide and increase our resources. This is why we can give cheerfully. God gives generously to us and we give joyfully and generously to others.

What good work would you like to be involved in?

Seek God for his abundance and give generously!

Neh 8:10
Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts and food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Hab 3:17-18
Even though the fig-trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crops fail and the fields lie empty,yet will I rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The sovereign Lord is my strength.

This is my favourite verse about joy and rejoicing. It says so much about what joy really is. There are so many verses that encourage us to be joyful. In fact they often encourage us to be joyful even in difficult circumstances.

James 1:2
Whenever trouble comes your way let it be an opportunity for joy
Joy is possible even in times of great trial and difficulty.

Phil 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always.

Joy is not just an emotion, it is joy that is found in a person and the joy that comes from who that person is. God rejoices over us because of who we are and we rejoice in him, because of who he is. We rejoice in who God is. This is the joy that is the fruit of the Spirit, the joy that comes from knowing Jesus, and the joy that Jesus set before him for our sake when he endured the cross.

When we think of being joyful and glad, we think of happiness, and all being well. But the joy the Bible speaks about is different. It is joy that exists when all is not well. It seems like a contradiction, but over and over the Word of God tells us to rejoice in God, to always be joyful, to rejoice regardless of circumstance. In fact James says to consider it joy when you are persecuted and struggling because it produces something in us if we will let it. There is a deep and abiding joy we have in God that comes from who God is, what he has already done for us, is doing for us and what he promises us. The joy of salvation, the joy of everlasting presence with God.

Isaiah 51:11
Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return to Jerusalem singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness.

God has ransomed us, we are saved, there is an everlasting reason to be joyful.

Rom 14:17
The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food or drink, but of living a life of goodness, (righteousness from salvation) and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

It’s not about rules and regulations, it’s not about how good we are. It is about being right with God, and living in a way acceptable to him. It is about peace and it is about Joy in the spirit. This is not human emotion  this is deep seated joy that comes from the presence of God’s Spirit within and is expressed within us as joy. Our joy is in the hope we have, the salvation and joy in the presence of God. A joy that looks forward to the future, is not based on present circumstance or on the past experience. This joy does not dwell on the what has been, or the might have been, but focuses on the possibilities of the present and the future.

Joy is not about circumstance and it is not about how I am feeling today or even about my emotional state in general. It is about who God is and his salvation and his grace that brings joy and rejoicing. It comes from a place of deep seated relationship with God, not based oh who I am, but on who HE is. This is joy that enables us to rise above the emotion, to rise above the circumstance and to say like Habakkuk “Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation”. There is also a joy that is expressed at what was happening, but it is expressed in relation to overcoming and to victory, to moving forward.

So, how do we develop joy.

1. Deeper relationship
Joy comes from developing a deeper relationship with God. This enables us to know who God is in a deeper way, and to understand more fully all that he has done. God wants to produce his fruit in us, and joy is part of that fruit. The more you know God, the more intimate and deeper the relationship, and the greater the abiding joy.

Heb 12:1-2
And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.

Some translations say the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is our example of deep relationship. He had a deep and abiding relationship with his Heavenly father when he was here on earth. He is our example of how to build a relationship. The author of our faith means the one that takes the lead and pioneers. Jesus starts the work in us and shows the way. The word finisher is actually the perfecter of our faith. It means he is one who in his own person has “raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith”. (Blueletter Bible)

Jesus spent time with the Father.  He often spent hours praying and seeking God. These were quiet times away from the hustle and bustle of life and the television screen, the computer games and the iPhone etc. Jesus went where he could spend time with God, in reflection and in prayer. He lived with a deep and abiding sense of joy and he endured the cross because of it. He is pur example to do the same, to spend time with God.

Luke 6:12
One day Jesus went to a mountain to pray and he prayed to God all night

Paul also encourages us to deepen our relationship with God

Rom12:12
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

Continuing  to pray always is to adhere to, to be devoted to, to be constant in, to steadfastly give attentive to, to persevere in, to show oneself courageous for,  to be in constant readiness, and wait on constantly. You get the idea! I personally like the steadfastly attentive to, and to show oneself courageous for. Are we up for it – to be steadfastly attentive to prayer. Steadfastly attentive to our relationship with God. Prayer is conversation with God, it is time in God’s presence, it is relationship.

Jesus also knew the Word and he used it to combat the enemy, to rebuke people and to encourage people.  He quoted the Word of God because he knew it, and he always looked beyond what is to what will be.  Joy comes from relationship, not circumstance. This allows us to endure anything because we know who God is and can trust him for our future.

How’s the personal journey going?
When was the last time you spent good solid time in the presence of God?

Joy is found in relationship

2. Lift up your head
Stop looking at circumstances. We can acknowledge our circumstances, but real joy comes from looking past the circumstance and at the opportunities.

Rom 5:3
We can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure.

Romans goes on to say that endurance develops strength of character in us. James has a similar sentiment.

James 1:2-4
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

Its looking past the problem, the circumstance the emotional fall-out and looking to God our father who loves us and who saves us. Its about looking at what he is doing in us, who he is, and determining that we will let God do his work. God is producing character in us, and strengthening us , so that we can be ready for all that he has for us. Ready for anything. Choose joy and move forward. Joy is a decision, not a situation. It is a decision to look at who God is instead of the present situation. It is a decision that says “I will not be dictated to by circumstances, or by the way I feel”. My reality is who I am in God, not how I am feeling.

Circumstances may seem overwhelming. Actually, the more we dwell on them the bigger they seem to be. When we dwell on who God is, the bigger God is and the smaller the circumstance becomes. We can rejoice because we are not letting ourselves be ruled by circumstance.

What circumstances am I allowing to overwhelm me?
What do I need to do instead?

Choose to look at who God is and to focus on who he is and what he has done, and the circumstance is replaced with Joy. Habakkuk knew that devastation was approaching, he had been feeling afraid, but he looks to God and is able to say that even if everything is completely barren and everything goes wrong and the world seems to be ending – “Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

YET and WILL  are pretty small words, but they mean a lot. They show that Habakkuk was choosing joy in God over circumstance. He wasn’t just floating along in life hoping that it would all turn out, but doing nothing. He made a deliberate decision that no matter what happened, he would find joy in God and rejoice in him. Habakkuk understood fully that his joy came from God, and his relationship to God and not in the circumstances, past present or even future!!!!

Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him, the Salvation of people and reconciling the world back to God, and his return to be seated at the right hand of God in heaven, where he came from. Jesus chose to look beyond the “what is” of the circumstance to the greater things ahead, the “what will be”.

What circumstance are you facing today? 
Where is yours focus directed?

Make a decision to rejoice in who God is instead of focussing on the circumstance.

3. Express Joy
Joy is meant to be expressed, not repressed. David was dancing before God in 2 Sam. It was a joyous and joyful situation. David expressed his joy by dancing. He expressed his love for God and he was joyful. In Acts, when Peter and John healed the lame man he not only walked, he leapt. He was joyful about what God had done and he expressed it to God. It was obvious to everybody that something wonderful had happened. We have something wonderful. We can rejoice.

Human beings express joy for many occasions, we celebrate milestones in life, we celebrate the good things that happen to us.
Lets celebrate the best thing that could ever happen; that God loves us and saved us. The kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy. We are on to a good thing, lets express it to God, and to the world in general.

In Luke 10:1-21 Jesus sends out the 72 and they come back rejoicing because of the amazing things that happened when they were out ministering. They were joyful and they expressed it. Jesus said that we are to be joyful (and express it) because our names are written in heaven. We have everything to be joyful about. This is the most important thing in life, so lets express our joy.

Phil 4:4
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice.

Paul is emphasising this. He says be joyful, rejoice – always.  It might seem like a big call, but remember, its not based on how we feel, but on who God is and we can always rejoice in that.

1 Thess 5:16-18
Always be joyful, keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Its very hard to rejoice quietly!!!  A little experiment: try to rejoice quietly and see if you can really do it – Its not easy, because rejoicing is noisy and loud and joyful. Celebrate. The Bible is full of celebration and of people expressing joy. There were feasts and celebration and praise.

What are you joyful about?

How can you express your joy to God and to others?

Start by being thankful, for what God has done – and see how quickly his joy wells up.

Husbands, we can make it hard or easy for our wives to respect us. Spiritual strength, purity, taking responsibility, consideration, leadership and affection are all within our control. God can empower you in all these areas to be a respect-able man and it could just revolutionise your life in a good way (a very good way!).

Application: (Clearly women can apply all these characteristics as well)

1. Which of the characteristics above do you struggle with the most?
(You could rate yourself 1-10 or even ask your wife to – brave man)

2. What could you do to improve in one or two of these?

3. What will you do this week?

Blessings!

Unless we are a friend to others, we will never have true friends so it makes sense to become the best friend we can be. Friendships are vauable.

Ecc 4:9-10

Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Friendships enable us to do life together, to grow together, to help one another and to encourage one another in the journey of our life. To be a great friend, we must become the best we can be as a person and as a friend.

Three things we can do to become a good friend.

1.  Deal with our own issues
This is the most important thing we can do. Of course, this is also the most important thing we can do for all aspects of life. When we have a good grip on who we are, when we are secure in who we are, when we understand who God has created us to be and our place in him, then we can be a great friend.

This means dealing with our own issues and not expecting our friends to make us “feel good”. It is not our friend’s job to constantly prop up our self-esteem. It is our responsibility to deal with the issues that affect our self-esteem and to let God heal them. We are important to God, he loves us and calls us.

2 Cor 5:17
If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new is come. 

Eph 1:4

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Eph 2:10

For we are God’s masterpiece. he created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

We are also to let God transform us, to change the way we think and to be deliberate about this. Changing must be from the inside out.

Rom 12:2
Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

The more we understand who we are in Christ and let God’s love transform us, the more we grow and mature as people, the better friend we will be, the less selfish we will be and the more generous we will be with our friendship. As we work on our own stuff, the more we stop comparing ourselves to otherand the better friend we will be. We are to look to God to help us deal with our issues. The only comparison we should be making is “Am I becoming more like Christ in my attitudes, and in the way I think, speak, and act?”

2 Cor 3:17,18
Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And the Lord who is the Spirit makes us more like him.

Phil 2:12 Work hard to show the results of your salvation..

Gal 6:4
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will have the satisfaction of a job well done, and will not need to compare yourself to anyone else.

2 Peter 3:18
Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

When we compare ourselves to what God has called us to do, then we are on the right track. When we deal with our issues, then many aspects of life will improve including the nature of our friendships.

What issues in my life are negatively affecting my friendships?

What will I do differently?

2. Value diversity
A great friend values the diversity that is found in others with different talents, gifts and personalities to their own. We all have different personalities and gifts. We all approach life differently. Romans 12  outlines the motivational gifts, and there are other gifts that we have. We are all different; our differences are an asset to our friendships.

Our friends help us see life from a different perspective and help us become more fully rounded in character, if we value their diversity and see it as a positive. Different people will have a different approach to life and a different way of looking at things. This does not mean that we are right and they are wrong. It just means that there is more than one way of approaching life situations.

It’s important to build a group of friends across a wide range of personalities. It will enrich our lives. Don’t try and make all our friends like us. Friendships work well when they are based on good values, but value the diversity found in your friends. We develop many friends over a life time. It’s good to build several close friendships and not rely on any one person. No one person is 100% reliable, only God is.

Heb 13:5
Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.

Jesus had 12 disciples who were his friends. They were all his friends yet he was closer to Peter, James and John. We can be like Jesus, and develop several good friends, valuing the diversity that comes from those who are different to us. This does not mean we can’t have one friend closer than another, but it is wise to have more than one close friend. It takes pressure off our friends.

Remember that choosing friends wisely will give you more of a chance of a great friendship.

1 Cor 15:33
Bad company corrupts good character.

So choose wisely. Do not allow friends to cause us to compromise our values. Remember we are to treat others as we would like to be treated. We all want to be treated well and have our individuality recognised. Let’s do the same for our friends.

Goethe
Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.

Henry Ford said
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me!

Am I choosing my friends wisely? What characteristics am I looking for in my friends?

To what extent do I bring out the best in my friends?

3. Celebrate with our friends
Remember to celebrate with our friends.Celebrate with our friends when things are going well for them whether or not things are going well for us.

Rom 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Sometimes it’s easier to weep together. It’s not always so easy to rejoice together especially if we think we have been hard done by. Sometimes instead of just rejoicing, we want to justify why it should have happened to us not them, or we devalue our friend’s success by trying to bring it down a notch or too by saying “it was just a lucky break”.

Oscar Wilde said:
 “Anyone can sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friends success”.

Becoming a better friend means learning to truly rejoice with others, truly celebrating our friends and their successes and trusting God that our successes are close at hand.

What can I celebrate with my friends this week?

So:
Work on our own issues, value our friends’ differences, and celebrate life with them.

What can I start doing today to become a better friend?

Gal 6:2-5
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

The imbalance comes when we are in a relationship where there are unhealthy boundaries. When each person caries their own load and takes responsibility then relationships work brilliantly. No relationship is perfect, but as friends, when we are emotionally whole and healthy, when we have a good understanding of boundaries, then any issues in the relationship can be addressed.

Put simply, a boundary in relationships defines what we are responsible for and what we are not responsible for. When boundaries are continuously crossed by one party or by both parties, when self centredness and lack of self-awareness come into play, when manipulation is used, or people want to control another person, then we have problems. This can lead to co-dependent relationships, violent relationships or just plain bad, draining relationships. 

Some thoughts.

1. You are not responsible for your friend

Ok. This sounds a bit harsh doesn’t it? But in fact we often get the idea of having responsibility towards someone confused with taking responsibility for behaviour. You are not in any way responsible for your friend’s behaviour, even if your behaviour has been a “contributing factor”. We have a responsibility for our own behaviour and a  responsibility towards others to love them, treat them with respect, to be honest and caring.

But we cannot take responsibility for what only they can take responsibility for, otherwise we become co-dependent and always cover for our friends bad behaviour, excusing it and allowing it to keep happening. This is where Galatians 5:4-5 is so important. We bear each other’s burdens, so when life is really tough, because we have responsibility towards another, we help one another and care for one another. But we are to carry our own load and take responsibility for that.  What is our own load? Our own load is our emotions, our thoughts, decisions and behaviours.

When our friend wants us to carry what they should be carrying we enter dangerous waters. Being aware of our own behaviour and how it impacts on others is really important. When we have good personal boundaries we are aware of our own behaviour and its impact and we will not allow the behaviour of others to control and manipulate us.

A good practical guide is to ask ourselves: Is this something my friend should be taking responsibility for? If it is, then we can look at how we enable our friend take responsibility for her life. Otherwise we encourage others to get away with dysfunctional behaviours that ultimately hurt both them and us. We have to determine whether or not we are truly helping our friend or simply “rescuing” them and not allowing them to feel and understand the effect their behaviour is having on others.

Gal 6:4-5
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Ask yourself:
Am I really helping or am I rescuing this friend?

Is this something they should be taking responsibility for themselves?

If so, how will I help them learn to take responsibility?

2. Being sad does not make your friend bad
When our friends let us down we feel sad or frustrated because something hasn’t gone our way. The self-centred part of us is sad, and may express it by being mad at someone (friend or other). A person may feel like they have been wronged and want to manipulate their way into getting their own way. Sometimes it’s tough – your friend may be upset because you didn’t do something but it may have been the best thing for them, or maybe you’re upset because someone said “no” to you.

Cloud and Townsend say in Blocks to love:

“Lack of Boundaries
The last block to love that we will consider is the lack of boundaries. What this means is someone’s inability to take a stance of self-control and to have a proper relation to the word “no.” Boundaries problems are usually seen in someone’s inability to either say “no,” or hear “no” from others. When we have these kinds of disturbances, we either allow people to walk all over us in a way that destroys respect, or we walk all over them and “trespass” against them, destroying love in the process. True love respects each other’s boundaries, saying “no” when we need to, and respecting it when we hear it.”

Just because your friend is feeling sad or angry, does not make you bad and just because you are sad does not make your friend bad.
Letting your friend do and say what they need to do and say (like if they say “no”) is good for the relationship. Understanding why we are sad is good for us if we are brave enough to learn from it and be challenged by it.

When we are feeling sad about something it is because there is something missing. This cannot be filled by our friends. We need to look at ourselves and ask ourselves what is going on for us. What is it that we really want or need? What are we afraid of losing? In a good relationship, friends will understand that it’s ok to say “no” to another because they are not afraid of losing something or someone.

When we are upset with our friends, ask ourselves:
Were they bad, or is it that I am just sad?

3. Change the relationship
When a relationship is “toxic” i.e. it is co-dependent, or it is very one sided or very draining then it is important to make changes. This does not mean dropping the friendship completely, but it does mean addressing the issues with your friend (having checked your own heart first and forgiven anything that needs to be forgiven).

Matt 18:15-17
If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.  But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.  If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
 
The biggest mistake people make in relationships is not addressing the issue properly. In fact we tend to do one of two things instead.
1.We talk to other people to get their sympathy, and to “seek advice”, we never address the situation, but continue to complain to others and we carry hurt and unforgiveness or

2.We don’t say anything, and our friend is left wondering why we don’t talk to them any more, we carry around hurt and bitterness, we rob our friend of a chance to know how we are feeling and to address the issue from their end. We are also robbing them of a chance to grow and develop

What we can do is address the issue lovingly. This allows our friends the chance to grow and mature. (If someone addresses an issue with us, be big enough to accept what is being said, weigh it, and make changes). 

Sometimes relationships need a “time out”. This may mean taking time out from the relationship, or seeing each other less often. Sometimes it means choosing not to be a friend to that person, at this time (esp if that person is always causing you trouble or getting you into trouble.) Before you do that, make sure you have addressed the issues, because your friend may not be aware of how their behaviour is affecting your relationship, don’t just walk out on the relationship. Remember you don’t have to be best friends with everyone.

Putting a boundary in place – saying “I will not allow you to treat me this way anymore” is important, and may not be greeted with great happiness so be prepared that it might be a bit rocky for a while. Don’t be put off. Stick to it, love your friend, and pray for them. Don’t be dragged down by them. Sometimes you have to do it so that you can continue to do and live the way God called you to.

What dysfunctional or toxic relationships do I have?

What part am I playing in making them toxic or dysfunctional?

What will I do to make positive changes, in myself, in the relationship?

Conclusion
Always seek God’s guidance and direction. There is a balance between loving people, encouraging people and maintaining self-control in our relationships so we can be the best fried we can be,  and be the best representation of Christ that we can be to others.

In my friendships, what behaviours am I allowing (in me or in others) that I need to address?

How will I ensure I take responsibility for my own behaviour?

How do we respond to all of this? I think we respond the way God does. He loves people and hates sin because it destroys those He loves. Jesus sums it up with the woman caught in adultery (John 8) “neither do I condemn you, now go and leave your life of sin.”. We would do well to reflect Jesus attitude by loving people without condemnation and hating sin, first in ourselves and then as it affects others. And remember, His way is always with grace (Col.4:6).

I have a conviction that God’s way not only honours Him but will be proven to be the best for His creation.

Application:

1. How can you love people and hate their sin at the same time?
2. Are there sexual sins that you find it more difficult to deal with?
3. How can we help people struggling with sexual sin?
(Note: If you are struggling in this area don’t do so alone!)

Blessings!

At the end of the book of Joshua in the Old Testament (Josh.24:14-15) Joshua calls the people of Israel, and especially the men, to front up and make a decision about their future. He challenges them to fear and serve God faithfully, to throw off the bondage of idolatry and lead their families in honouring God. I believe this is a good place to start for any man who wants to engage his community with strength.

By the way – this challenge is clearly just as applicable to women as well so go for it ladies.

Application:
1. Read Joshua 24:14-15. What stands out to you in the challenge that Joshua gives?
2. I’ve given five elements of Joshua’s challenge (Fear God, Serve God, Be Faithful, Throw off Idolatry, Lead). What inspires you and which one is most difficult for you?
3. What will you start to do this week?

Blessings!

This is a psalm of David.  We don’t know much about it except that David wrote it. David was considered to be a man after God’s own heart, so we know it was written by someone who desired God, desired to live for him and whose life reflected God. David says in verse one of this psalm, don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong – trust God instead. In other words, don’t envy ungodly people who seem to prosper, or envy ungodly things.  Take your focus off the world around you and the evil that is going on in people’s lives and focus on who God is instead.

This does not mean ignore the consequence of it or pretend it isn’t there. The psalmist is simply saying, don’t spend time focussing on those things, instead spend time focussing on God and ensuring that your life is a God focussed one, a life of trust. In verse three, we see an entreaty to trust God, and to do good. As Christians, as followers of God we are to place our trust in God, and to get about doing good things in the world.
1. Trust
Verse 3
Trust in the Lord and do good.
The word trust means to have confidence in someone or something. It means to be secure in and to be bold. I like this. We can trust God, because of who he is, because he cares for us. To have confidence in someone means we know how they will behave towards us. Prov 3:5 Has a similar sentimemt.

Trust the Lord with all your heart ; do not depend on your own understanding.

Have confidence in God, because of who he is. God is amazing and his love for us is amazing. Eph 3:18 tells us that his love for us is wide and  high and deep. We can trust God fully. To trust God, we need to know him and to understand who he is. This is why reading the Word and spending time getting to know him is so important. We live and spend time with humans and we know who we can and can’t trust. If we want to trust God, we have to spend time to know him, to know his person and his character and this comes from spending good solid time with him.

Trust means knowing that even when things are tough, God has our best interests at heart and that he is caring for us. It is a confidence that says, God’s ways and his thinking may be different to mine – (Isaiah 55:8-9), but even though I don’t get something, even though I don’t understand, I know God is at work and I can place my confidence in him.

What stops me from fully trusting in God?
2. Delight
Verse 4  – Take delight in the Lord
The psalmist says, trust God, and delight in who he is. To take delight is an action. The Hebrew word here  means to be glad in the lord, to take exquisite delight. God’s presence is to be revelled in, to be enjoyed.  In other words, we are to take action, and we are to find joy in God’s presence, and in his purpose for us.

Again, its hard to delight yourself in someone if you don’t spend time with them. I think the psalmist is saying – take special pleasure from being in God’s presence. Make this an ongoing life long practice of enjoyment of God and who God is. Then he says, God, will give you your heart’s desires. This is not about us desiring something and then spending time with God so we get want we want. That attitude is selfish manipulation, and God will not be maniplated.

If we have a desire in our heart, something we want, I believe we first have to ask ourselves – is this a God desire or a selfish desire. Am I spending time with God because he is God, or because I want something from him. This is all about our motivation. The psalmist says, first, delight in God, enjoy God, spend time with him. Then he will give us our hearts desires.

There is a sense of give that means to bestow upon someone. I believe what the psalmist is saying, is that as we spend time with God and enjoy his presence, as we know God, then God bestows on us, gives us Godly desires. In other words, the desires we have begin to line up with God’s desires for the world and for his people. We begin to get an understanding of the heart of God and his love and care for people and his desire for people to know him. These desires, then become our desires and then God will fulfil the desires of our heart.

What are your hearts desires? How do they line up with what God wants for your life?

 What gets in the way of us delighting in God? What will I do today to begin delighting in God?
3. Commit
Verse 5 – Commit everything you do t the Lord.
Trust, delight, commit. When we trust God, and delight in his presence, it is easy to commit to him and to his purposes. The word commit means something along the lines of “to roll away with or to roll up with”. This verse is saying, roll up your life, your way your journey, with God, be completely rolled up with him, trust him and he will help you.

I love the promise here, that if we are completely connected with God, if we are fully trusting and delughting in him, God promises to help us. The idea of being completely connected and committed or “rolled into” God is a great picture. It talks of unity of purpose, and of fulfilling God’s plan for our lives. I believe this is really about having an agenda for our life that is completely and totally in line with God’s agenda; that is laying down our own agenda and taking up God’s agenda, which is better.

This is where trust comes in – we rely fully on the fact, we have complete confidence in the fact and the truth that God’s way for our life is infinetely better than our own. God has a good plan and a good purpose for us.’We know that God is able to work in and through us (Eph 3:20) , we know we are God’s masterpiece created to do good things that he planned long ago, (Eph 2:8-10). We know that he has gifted us. The question is, do we believe it, and do we trust God enough, do we have confidence in who God is, to actually take this on board, lay down our own agenda, which loses some of its grandeur and gloss in the face of God’s great purpose and eternal plan?

We have a choice – our piddling plan for our lives or God’s eternal plan for our lives. The psalmist says, roll your way and your life up in God. Get on board with his eternal purpose and trust God – he will help you do what he has called you to do.

What will you choose today?

Jesus says to love our enemies, to stop judging and condemning people and to learn to forgive. He says that the measure we use will be measured back to us. To judge in the original language is to approve of or esteem or conversely not to approve of. It is to assign value to something. Jesus is saying; stop assessing the value of everyone around you. Stop judging and condemning the people in your life for their shortcomings but live with an attitude of grace – a Generous spirit. In that context the overflow is giving which is rewarded by blessing but is not a formula for riches.

Application:

1. To what extend do you assess the value of others?
2. How are we to be wise in our dealings with people but not judgmental?
3. What could you do to be more open hearted with the people in your world?

Blessings!

Great servants follow Jesus example. Great servants are fully aware of their position and strength. Like humility, true service is not motivated by insecurity but strength. A strong person can act decisively and choose to be humble. They can meet needs effectively and finish the task. If you want to honour Jesus in your life then learn to be a servant. Continually ask yourself – how can I serve the people God has put in front of me?

Application:

1. How does insecurity affect your ability to serve others?
2. What other factors stop us from serving others?
3. Think of two or three people in your life – How could you serve them more graciously and effectively?

Blessings – Ron

The feature story today is that of the unforgiving servant (Mt.18). A guy who is forgiven a life time debt that he was completely unable to pay who then abuses a fellow servant for a large personal debt. The comparison is extreme: billions of dollars versus thousands. The essential lesson is to recognise that we are all completely indebted to God and totally dependent on His grace. He releases our debts and calls us to do the same for others. Forgive people. Release yourself from bitterness and offense and allow God to work in your situation.

Application:

1. What motivates unforgiveness in you?

2. Who are you holding offense against?

3. Why would you forgive them and what effects would that have?

Blessings – Ron

The writer of Hebrews encourages his readers that we are not of those who turn away (Heb.10:39). I am encouraged by this chapter, especially from verse 19 on, to focus on five perseverance builders: Relationship with a faithful God; dedication to fellow believers; preserving the fear of God; celebrating past victories and keeping the reward in sight. Perseverance in any relationship is a sign of true love. Not just out of obligation but a love that has been developed and maintained properly to prosper over time.

PS: Your wife/husband would probably appreciate that kind of Love on your 20th or 50th anniversary.

Application:

1. What do you think are the top three or four reasons people turn from God?
Which of those do you, or have you, struggled with?

2. Of the five perseverance builders in Hebrews 10 which is the most helpful one for you and why?

3. What could you work on this week to improve your ability to persevere?

Blessings – Ron

In the building programs that God has directly led we see that the work is done His way and with His blessing. It is not the idea of a man that leads the way but the direction of God (Ex.25; 2 Sam.7). We also see that His purpose is to connect with people in relationship. As the New Testament building of God (1Pet.2:5) we are called to do the same. Jesus example in Mat.21 demonstrates clearly that God wants His house to be a place of ministry that connects people to Himself. Buildings can and do serve that purpose today but much more it refers to us as His Church accepting and caring for people in His name.

Application:

1. How are you going in engaging the process of faith that allows God to provide?

2. More broadly; How are you going as the true building of God representing Him today in your community?

Blessings!

The warnings for me are as follows. First, Open my heart to the truth of God’s word rather than my prejudices and limited expectations. God is good and his desire is to bless me (Mt.7:7-11). Second, Don’t take offense when things don’t work out the way I want. There are plenty of reasons why my faith may have fallen short and there is always a higher purpose (especially when I can’t see it). Jesus practice was submission to the will and purpose of God (Lk.22). Third, Honour Jesus. Make sure that I keep the focus of my heart to hold Him in high regard and centre my trust in Him.

Application:

1. Are you carrying offense against God?
2. How is that limiting your faith and what will you do about it?
3. In what ways can you focus on honouring Jesus in your life this week?

Blessings!

He called the rich young ruler to sell all and follow Him (Mk.10). He told the would be disciples to let the dead bury their own and to follow Him (Mt.8). He asked Peter one absolutely central question (Jn.21:15) “Do you love me more than these?”. This remains the core issue of life!

Jesus is still asking the same question: Do you love Him more?

Applications:

1. To what extent are you seeking God’s Kingdom first in your life?
2. How has that conviction developed in your life?
3. What pushes God out of first place in your life? What will you do about that?

Ps 24:14
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him

John 15:12-15
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me

Jesus is our example of a true friend, willing to lay down his life for others. Our response to his friendship will affect every other relationship we have and how we build our own friendships.

What kind of friend are we?

Jesus gave us his example as he lived a life of love, truth and loyalty.

1. Friends love each other
Friends love one another, look out for each other and encourage each other. Friends will lay aside their own agendas and build relationships based on genuine love and understanding.

1 John 4:11
Dear friends Since God loved us we ought to love one another

When friends love one another they are prepared to lay their lives down for them, just as Jesus laid his life down for us. Loving one another does not mean always allowing others to get their own way and get away with things they shouldn’t. When we love someone, we challenge them to grow and become the best them they can be. Loving our friends means acting in a way that always has their best interest at heart.  

How well do I show my love for my friends? What could I do better?

2. Friends speak the truth to each other
Speaking the truth to one another is always important, and especially so in friendships. Lying to our friends is unhelpful and dangerous for the rleationship.

Prov 26:16-19
Just as damaging
    as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
 is someone who lies to a friend
    and then says, “I was only joking

We all think that a madman with a gun is dangerous. The Bible tells us that lying to our friends is just as serious and does just as much damage. We are to speak the truth to our friends. Speaking the truth is not just about not lying to each other. It is about being prepared to challenge each other with the truth of how we are living our lives. When we speak the truth, we must do so from a place of sincerity and from the right motive. If we love our friends we will examine our motives in speaking and be sincere in what we say.

Eph 4:15
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

We must ensure that before we speak, we are acting in love and that we have our own heart right before God. Speaking truth can sometimes be painful. But it is important that we are both willing to speak truth and also to receive truth from our friends when it is spoken to us.

Prov 27:6
Wounds from a sincere friend
    are better than many kisses from an enemy

My experience is that we are all more than willing to speak “truth” to others but we are not very open to hearing it ourselves from others. True friends will speak truth to each other and even though it may sometimes be painful, they will know that it comes from a heart of love.

Are we a person who is willing to hear the truth from our friends?

How well do we respond? What needs to change?

3. Friends are loyal
A true friend is loyal. We all like to think that we are loyal friends, but are we?

Prov 20:6
Many will say they are loyal friends,
    but who can find one who is truly reliable?

We all want to be loyal, and we want our friends to be loyal. We must understand that even those who are our most loyal friends will occasionally let us down because they are human.  Only Jesus is the true loyal friend.  

Hebrews 13:5
Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you

Jesus says that he will always be with us, always stand by us, never forsake or abandon us. We can trust him fully.

Our loyalty to our friends will be tested by what others say about our friends, how we respond,  and by what we say about our friends when they are not in our hearing. A loyal person will stick by their friends even when it is difficult. Being loyal means standing by our friends and speaking well of them to others, not gossiping about them. Gossip is the greatest destroyer of friendship.

Prov 16:28
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
    gossip separates the best of friends

Gossip separates and divides. It is disloyalty because it comes from a heart of mal-intent and wrong motivation, seeking to gain something at the expense of another rather than give something positive.  Loyalty to our friends means not gossiping or harming them. It means not speaking evil of others and it means keeping our promises to our friends even when it is painful to do so. When we are a loyal friend, we will find that we receive back loyalty from our true friends.

How loyal a friend am I?

Jesus is our example of a true friend, who never forsakes us, who speaks truth to us and who loves us unconditionally. Our challenge is to become more like Jesus, to be the kind of friend that he is. A friend who loves always, speaks the truth, is open to hearing the truth and who is loyal always.

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.”

Church is God’s idea and church is God’s intended way of reaching the world. Joel Comiskey writes, “God is the One who wants to establish churches more than we do, and He makes it happen.” This is what stirs my heart because God planned Citylife Shellharbour a long, long time ago and He wants this church plant to be more successful than I do. 

Well Citylife Shellharbour has been meeting for four weeks now as a core team. The team so far is made up of the amazing Pat and Heidi Lucas (plus children), the incredible Ashleigh Boyle, the beautiful, wise and intelligent Lizzie Thornton and myself (plus Joel). 
We meet weekly on a Wednesday night and function basically as a lifegroup. Our goal right now is to build a strong and healthy team before we step out and engage in outreach later this year. I heard recently at a church planting intensive that strong churches are built from the inside out and not the outside in. This is why we are currently focusing on our spiritual core, knowing that what we do on the outside must flow from the inside.

As I said we plan to begin outreach in Shellharbour later this year. This will be in the form of some type of organised program that we will pray about and seek God’s leading for. 
Another plan for this year is for Liz and I to move to Shellharbour. Again this will require a lot of prayer, firstly for provision and secondly for the right location. We want to be right in the heart of where Citylife Shellharbour is going to flourish. 

Speaking of location, you may or may not be surprised to know that we won’t be starting with a Sunday service held in a specific location. Our strategy to kick Citylife Shellharbour off is by multiplying lifegroups. We do this by simply reaching people. Starting with lifegroups forces us to reach out to people and to me this is a more organic and genuine way to start a church. I can’t wait for our first salvation and then the many to follow who will all be discipled through lifegroups. 

Well that’s about it for now. In my head I can see what is going to happen this year. As for next year I don’t really know. That depends on outreach and God’s grace. What I do know is that God has great plans for Citylife Shellharbour and with God anything is possible!

Be blessed,

Adrian

The outworking of Jesus teaching here for me is to recognise my absolute dependence on Him, feed on His word as my primary source in life and cultivate a desire for obedience to God. Our dependence on God is absolute and totally contrary to our modern culture. God’s word is the final authority and daily source for my life. Obedience is never fully empowered by obligation but by a desire to honour and please the God who loves me beyond my understanding just as Jesus did.

Applications:
1. Are you an obligation or desire person when it comes to following God?
2. In what areas of your life do you take back control from God and live your own way?
3. How connected are you to God in your daily life?

Blessings!

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

In Christ we have a new way and a purposeful way of living, different to the “anyhow”  living we had before Christ. God has a plan and a purpose for our lives and that this is not just a one off. God did not say “Gosh, here’s the thing, now I have to come up with a plan and a purpose for this person”. No, his plan and his purpose was set for us long ago. Because of his grace and his desire for relationship, Jesus came, and through him and because of our new life, we have a purpose.

People who understand their purpose, and are committed to fulfilling it, will. So here’s a few ideas.

1. Know your purpose

We all have a purpose. Not one of us is born accidently and not one of us is purposeless. Jesus knew what his purpose was. He came to seek and to save the lost. Our purpose is to make disciples. (Matt 28:18-20) What that looks like for each of us will be different. Our personality, our gifts, our talents and our passion are closely connected with our purpose. What are you passionate about? What would you like to change in the world if you could? Where would you like to make a difference? The answers to these questions help us understand our purpose.

Knowing our purpose frees us to get on and do what God is calling us to do. It frees us from a meaningless existence and from just “doing”, to a life of service in God’s kingdom. We are free to serve one another and our community in love. We are not called to do everything but we are called to do what God asks us to do. 

2. Keep your focus

Paul said, “Forgetting what is behind, and pushing forward to what is ahead”. Phil 3:13 

When we stay focussed on the purpose and don’t get side tracked, then we do not get caught up in unnecessary stuff. What “stuff” distracts you and keeps you from following your purpose? What past issues, insecurities or life circumstances keep you bound up?

We all have things in our lives that we need to deal with, that distract us from our purpose. Be careful what you give attention to in your life.What we give attention to is what will grow.  Living a life of purpose requires us to focus on what God is doing and who he is, and not get distracted and lose focus because of what is going on around us. 

Prov 4:25-27

Look straight ahead,

    and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

 Mark out a straight path for your feet;

    stay on the safe path.

Don’t get sidetracked;

    keep your feet from following evil.

Life circumstances and life purpose is not the same thing. Circumstances change, God’s plan for our life doesn’t. It may take on a different appearance but it is still the same plan and purpose. The writer of proverbs understood that keeping focus, staying on the right track was important. Getting side tracked can be dangerous.  As followers of Christ, we are to be people who look above and beyond the circumstances of life, stay on track  and  keep our focus on kingdom purpose. 

Keeping the focus means seeing it God’s way and not our own. It’s about allowing God’s ways and thoughts to transform our views and to define what we do, and what we say. God’s ways and thought are different to ours. Let his thoughts and his ways transform you. Don’t let circumstance stop you from seeking God, and from reading his word. Instead, allow circumstance to draw you to God and to his word. Allow God to keep you on track.

What are you feeding in your life: your circumstances or the purpose of God for your life?

3. Keep Going

It’s hard when life is challenging, but when we know our purpose, when we keep our focus then we can keep going. Sometimes it’s tempting to want to give up. Sometimes it seems easier to quit. But if we want true freedom, lived out in a purposeful life, then we keep going no matter what! 

Hebrews 12:1

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 

Get rid of the distractions, and look above the circumstances. Focus on the purpose and then run with endurance. The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step, but it won’t be achieved if that is as far as we go. A journey of a thousand miles requires us to keep going.

Heb 12:12,13

So take a grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Make a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall, but become strong.

We have a responsibility to keep going. There are others who will follow and who will find freedom and purpose because we led the way. As we strengthen ourselves, and determine to go the distance, others will find strength to also live a life of purpose.

What are you doing to live purposefully?

The commands Jesus highlighted were to love God and love our neighbour. In coming weeks we will be looking at Jesus top Ten in those two categories. The first is His first Command – Mt.4:17 “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”. Repentance is the first command because it is the key to receiving the grace of God. To repent is simply to change direction. To genuinely repent we need to recognise that we have offended a truly holy God, seek His mercy and live to honour Him. This represents the genuine change that God brings and releases His grace.

Applications:

1. Who do you identify with the most? Peter realising his sin and asking Jesus to leave him (Lk.5); The rich young guy who thought he was OK (Mk.10) or the Pharisees who were full of themselves (Mt.23)?
2. How fully do you think you have appreciated the Holiness of God?
3. How does that understanding guide your life?

As with the other messages in the series, this freedom is found in Christ. In Him we are free of condemnation (Rom.12), renewed by His Spirit (2Cor.5) and chosen by God (Eph.1 & 2). We are gifted for His glory (Eph.2:10; Rom.12) and recipients of His Grace and Favour (Pr.3; Ps.5). More than any others we have the foundations to be confident in the call and blessing of God and so step out to bless others.

Application:

1. In what situations do you find yourself most inhibited?
2. How would an understanding of God’s calling and favour help you in those situations?
3. What changes in your thinking is God pointing you to this week?

Blessings!

“And don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry for anger gives a mighty foothold to the devil.”

Have you ever been really, really, angry, where someone has provoked you? This is the type of anger this verse is referring to, but there is another type.  

Eph 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behaviour

The two words for anger in these verses are slightly different. The first is about being provoked to anger, the second, which we are to get rid of, is about a character that is defined by anger. We are to get rid of anger because it can become something that defines us and defines our behaviour in the long term.

Freedom from anger does not mean that we supress it either. Supressed anger can also cause us all sorts of problems. Turned in on us it can lead to depression, expressed outwardly and violently, it appears as rage.

If we don’t deal with anger, we become controlled by it.

So, how do we live a life in freedom, a life that is not controlled by anger?

1.    No excuses

Take responsibility for your own anger

Recognise that whilst anger is a natural emotion, it is an indicator that something is wrong.

How is my anger affecting my thoughts, my behaviour and my actions towards myself and towards others?

We must stop blaming others and stop excusing the anger. Instead we can ask ourselves: “What is going on for me here?”  “Why am I feeling angry about this situation?”

Is this anger because something good has been violated?

Or: Am trying to protect my own pride, am I trying to get my own way; am I trying to control others, or a situation?

When we are brave enough to ask ourselves these questions and be honest about them, we can begin to resolve the issues.

2.    Forgive, Forgive, Forgive

Seek forgiveness and extend forgiveness. When we have anger from unresolved issues, and we have identified those issues, then we can begin to move forward.

Matt 18:15 gives us the way. We must go with the right motive!

Firstly deal with our own stuff

Seek God’s forgiveness for our own behaviour. We need to deal with our own stuff and come before God. We need to get the plank out of our own eyes and to come in repentance for our own behaviour. Seek his forgiveness for holding onto anger and extend forgiveness towards others.

Mark 11:25

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

This is tough. Forgiveness is not always easy, and reconciliation is not always possible.

BUT Forgiveness frees us!!!!!!!!!

Who do I still need to forgive?

3. Work on our thinking

Romans 12:2

Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect

Freedom from anger is about changed thinking that produces changed behaviour.

1 Peter 1:13

So think clearly and exercise self-control

This means stop replaying the angry thoughts, the hurt thoughts and the bitterness and the resentment we hold onto for real or imagined hurts. Turn the CD player of hurt and resentment in your thoughts off.

Replace the list of resentment and anger with Spirit controlled thinking. Thinking about all that is good and right and lovely.

Where does my thinking need to change?

So, no excuses, forgive freely and change the thinking patterns.

Jesus example is the key for me in gaining freedom from the effects of rejection. He sought and found His approval in His Heavenly Father (Jn.13:2-5 & 8:28-29) and He practiced forgiveness toward those who rejected Him (Lk.23:33-34). I never cease to be amazed by Jesus capacity to rise above the junk of life and take the high road. He was, and is, amazing.

Application:
1. To what extent and in what circumstances are you still seeking the approval of people?
2. Who are you holding bitterness against due to rejection?

Blessings!

Jesus Disciples were no different. In Mark’s gospel chapter 4 we see the wind and waves experience. The Disciples immediately react with fear and panic just as we do. We need to note that Jesus is in the same boat; He is in control and He cares deeply what happens. We often loose that perspective and surrender to fear. Jesus cares what happens to you, He is working out His purpose in your life and He is always with you, whatever you face.

Application:

1. What fears do you battle with the most?
2. What is God’s perspective on that – His plan; His thoughts?
3. What could you do differently this week to break free of those fears?

Blessings – Ron

Over Easter we’ll be focusing on how to start exercising that freedom. We can’t begin to live free if we are bound by a religion that enslaves us to rules, merit and guilt. Jesus came to set us free from that treadmill and lead us to a life of faith and love. Begin your walk of freedom today. Receive His forgiveness (Jn.8:36); focus on grace (Lam.3:21-23; Rom.8:1-2) and live in His Spirit, empowered to be free (Gal.5:13-18)

Application:

1. What do you find restricts your freedom in Christ? What binds you up?
2. What is the difference between religious bondage and God’s grace and forgiveness?
3. How can we live free without indulging the sinful nature?

Blessings!

Paul spends the first eleven chapters talking about God’s grace and his plan of Salvation for all through faith in Christ. Then in chapter 12  he starts writing about how we are to live, and we find that it is because of what God has done for us, it is because of his grace and mercy, because of his kindness, that we are to be “living sacrifices”. It is because of all that he has done, that we are to be transformed.

This is not something to be taken lightly or for granted.

Romans 12:2 says:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of Your mind” (TNIV)

So often we want God to change how we think, but we are actually responsible for changing the way we think. And we can do it because God has given us everything, and has shown his  grace and kindness and mercy towwards us. Our thoughts are our responsibility. The onus is on us to do something positive, to think differently, to be actively thinking differently, because of God’s grace. His grace, and his mercy towards us, is an enabling factor, but it is also our motivation for changed thinking and changed behaviour.

The grace of God is not there just to mop up when we stuff up. Instead, because  of everything God has done for us, we are to live differently and to think differently, not with a worldly perspective but with a Kingdom perspective.   

I got to thinking how that applies to us as individuals – the Cave person or the Kingdom person.. The Cave is characterised by debt, distress and discontent with an inward survival focus majoring on the minor issues with no Kingdom vision. The Kingdom brings unity of purpose, release of joy filled fellowship and leadership with a big Kingdom vision. The question is which person am I?

Application:

1. What parts of the cave person do you still struggle with?
2. How can you build more of a Kingdom connection and vision?
3. What is God speaking to you about to change this week?

Blessings!

To become a hard core misso all you need do is count the cost; determine to do whatever it takes and cultivate an unreasonable perseverance. Easy to say, challenging to live out but within the reach of every follower of Christ. He said to count the cost before we build (Lk.14) and to keep our eyes forward when our hand is to the plow (Lk.9). I am encouraged by the guys who lowered their mate through a roof to bring him to Jesus (Mk.2). That’s the spirit I want to cultivate.

Application:

1. How can you be a hard core misso in Australia?
What does that look like?
2. How can we bring the paralytic to Jesus here and around the world?
3. What is God challenging you about in this area?

Blessings!

Whenever we embark on anything significant, when we resolve upon a course of action, there will be challenges along the way. Working through these is a normal part of life and learning to deal with these situations well makes us stronger.

David was anointed to be the King of Israel, but it did not happen straight away. He faced many challenges to his personal life and to his leadership along the way. There were times when he could have quit, but he did not.

What can we learn from David?

1. Look to God.

God has the answer. Our own perspective can become unreliable or skewed depending on our circumstances but God’s persective is always right and gives us the bigger picture.

Psalm 86:11-12

Teach me your ways O Lord, that I might live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honour you.

With all my heart I will praise you , O lord my God.

I will give glory to your name forever.

Here David is asking for God’s perspective. He is seeking to learn from God and to understand his way, his perspective. David chooses to look to God and to seek him, to glorify his name, and to honour him.

When we read God’s word, when we open our hearts to hear him and to learn from him we get God’s perspective on life and on our circumstance and we can move forward.

We can ask: In what areas of my life do I need to get God’s perspective?

2. Remember the vision

When its tough, go back to the vision God gave you.

When we revisit the vision, we begin to take our eyes off the immediate difficulty and to get the bigger picture of where God is taking us. The vision is not stuck in the “here and now” but speaks of the future, of success and of hope in what God is doing.

We can ask ourselves:

What is the vision for my life/ministry/family?

If you don’t have a vision, seek God. he will give you his vision for your life. Write it down, carry it with you and revisit it. It will encourage and inspire you along the way.

When we remember the vision, we can refocus, get back on track with the vision and begin with a renewed attitude.

3. Keep Going

Those who achieve do so because they do not ever give up, they simply keep going. David could have given up when his family and friends turned on him (1 Sam 30). He returns from battle to find the enemy has taken all his possesions and his family, and those of all his men. His men turned on him, but David found strength in God and did not give up. Instead he pursued the enemy and won back his family and possesions.

David could have quit right there and then. He had already had to deal with Saul wanting his life, and now this. But he did not give up. He sought God, strengthened himself and kept going. He would never have become king if he had given up. He chose to keep going and went on to become the greatest king Israel ever had.

Winston Churchill said “Never, never, never, never give up”. If we determine that we will never give up, we will never quit just because it seems too hard. Our greatest triumph may be just around the corner, we will miss it if we quit, but we will see success if we never give up.

Hebrews 12:2 tells us that God is the author and perfecter of our faith. It is God who brings to completion the good work he has started in us. (Phil 1:4).

God is at work, he is making a way. The Apostle Paul understood this. In his letter to the Corinthian church he says:

“Therefore my dear brothers stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain”. 1 Cor 15:58 (NIV).

God is in the business of finishing what he started and he will enable us to keep going to the end.

What areas of our lives do we need to persisit in even though we might feel like giving up?

What strategies will we use to ensure we keep going?

God has a great plan and purpose for us all. Let’s be people who seek God, remember the vision and never give up.

Hebrews 12:1-4 says (NLT)

“ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”.

The dictionary defines hindrances as:

1.An impeding or stopping, preventing or the like

2. The state of being hindered

3. A person or thing that hinders

So lets look at some of the things that might hinder us.

1. Unresolved past issues

Unresolved issues from our past can stop us from fully embracing our future. Unless we resolve these past issues and are committed to moving into our future, we will struggle to move forward.

What hurt and pain are we carrying that hinders our progress?

Forgiveness, and doing what we are able to do to live in peace with others, helps us to move forward in this process.

Forgiveness is not always easy, but we all need it and we  can all extend it to others.   The Bible says in Luke 11:4 “And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”. The onus for forgiveness is always on us. We can ask ourselves :

Who do we need to forgive?

2. Procrastination 

I call this  the “I’ll do it tomorrow” and  ”it doesn’t really matter” attitude. If we know what we are to do and we don’t do it, we are not following through and we are missing God’s best for us. A good intention remains a good intention until it is acted upon.

Deut 23:21 says:

“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfil all your promises to him, or you will be guilty of sin”.

God says that to not do what we know is right, is actually sin. When we know God is leading us and speaking to us, lets follow through.

What are we putting off today, that we know God is asking us to do? When are we going to do it?

3. Excuses 

These are the “reasons” for behaviour and circumstance we allow to stop us. There is a reason for everything.  We are good at giving excuses and reasons as to why something has or has not happened. We must understand the difference between a reason and an excuse. So often we excuse behaviour and justify with reasons. If we are to continue to live with resolution and to move into all God has for us we must carefully look at what we are allowing ourselves to get away with by making excuses. Excuses are a hindrance. 

Ephesians 5:3-9 says

“ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true”.

It’s not ok to excuse our bad behaviour. Let’s get good at seeing the reasons but using them to change our behaviour not to perpetuate wrong behaviour.

What are we allowing ourselves to get away with?

What behaviours are we making excuses for?

What changes do we need to make?

4. Fear

Fear is the biggest stealer of our future. Fear if we allow it, becomes crippling and can stop us from stepping out. The Apostle Peter encouraged the people to look to God, to give their cares and worries and fears to him.

1 Peter 5:7 “cast your cares on him because he cares for you”.

The Apostle John, writing about God’s love, tells us that God’s perfect love casts out all fear. When we allow faith to rise up and let God’s love shine on us, and into our situations, his love casts out fear and allows us to move forward into God’s purpose for our lives.

How are we allowing fear to hinder us? What will we do about it?

Seek God and his love and fear will recede.

Let’s become people who live in God’s love and who throw off those things that hinder us from living fully according to God’s good purpose for us.

The text today is Joshua 14:6-15. Caleb is taking hold of the promise of God for his inheritance. A promise he won through wholehearted dedication, speaking out and living by his convictions and drawing on the abiding strength of God. This is an example to follow and a life to emulate (probably without all the killing!!!). Don’t get caught up in fear and doubt. Give yourself wholeheartedly to God and gain the inheritance He has for you and your children.

Application:

1. What fears hold you back from pursuing God with all your heart?
2. What do you believe is God’s purpose for your life? Is His plan good? Does He want to bless you and what for?
3. Is there a step of faith you need to take to claim the inheritance God has for you?

Blessings – Ron

Application:

Q.: What was the first miracle you experienced?
How has God worked in your life to build faith?
Is Jesus the same today as in the exodus and the gospels?
What inhibits or challenges your trust in Him?
What change in attitude or behaviour would you like to make this week to release more faith?

What is God asking you to move forward on?

1.Make a decision to do what God has called us to do, to be different to the world, to work on the things that we want to change.

What decision are you making? What beahviour do you want to change?

We need to make a decision, a determination that we are going to do something. But that is only the first step.

2.If we are to carry out the resolution, then we need to act. This may seem simple, but often our resolution stops at the decision phase and never progresses because we do not act.

What actions do we need to take?  What steps, what plan do we have that we need to begin to act on?

And having begun, what strategies do we have that will help us to continue, regardless of the obstacles that will come and try to stop the plan from taking shape.

The first day of the rest of our life is today. It is a perfect opportunity to determine to make a change, to put into practise those things we know God is calling us to do. Let’s put aside the negative “what ifs” and replace them with the “positive possibilities” that God has in store for us when we step out into his puprose.

3. Lastly, we need to remain accountable to others. This helps us to stay on track, and it makes it much easier for us to follow through on the action for the long term.

Who are we accountable to?

So:

1. Make a decision

2. Act on the decision

3. Stay accountable

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 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.

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!

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. 

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!

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.

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!

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?