Anthology 2-Journey

Posted: February 19, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Anthology 2-Journey

Everyone is on a journey

“Its not the destination that’s important, its what happens along the way”

Ask your kids and they will differ “Are we there yet?”

Our journey is important.

It makes us who we are. Each place we’ve been has its own culture and values. Similar but different.

Sydney is similar but different to Southland, Auckland is similar but different to Gore.

Each time we visit or spend time in a place part of that culture rubs off on us and us on it.

Every place we have been to, we have left our impression on it.

People will remember you for something.

People would lay down memorial stones to remind them each time they passed that way what happened. We do the same today with our cenotaphs. They are there to remind us of the cost to a safe journey.

Bible is full of people who were on a journey.

Some travelled to far away lands others their journey was from insignificance to prominence and vice versa.

  • Adam & Eve made the greatest journey when they travelled out of Gods Presence.
  • Noah made a journey to the peaks of Mount Ararat
  • Abraham packed up his family and travelled to Egypt and back
  • Jacob travelled 1000kms to escape his brother Esau to live with Laban in Haran.
  • Joseph is taken from Jerusalem to Egypt followed by the whole family.
  • Israel leaves Egypt to journey in the desert 40 years
  • Joshua journeys into the Promised Land. Fighting battles along the way
  • Israel taken captive and exiled to Babylon.
  • Israel’s return to Jerusalem

Jesus spent his ministry moving around from village to village.

Our journey is important

Listen to Paul

2 Corinthians 11

23-27I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I’ve had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I’ve known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.

Try telling Paul his journeys were insignificant!

You would think he would give up!

Jailed, beaten, flogged, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, lost friends, betrayed

Not Paul

Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me”

Our journey is important to remember. It helps build faith to release our future.

The Bible is a book of true stories of men and women who took journeys. Some big and some small.

All significant

Some so big it involved millions of people moving through treacherous lands to get to a place they would call home.

Some it was simply a journey of faith to see a man named Jesus, who by getting close enough would produce a healing and a complete change of life.

Location & Geography is important because we always need to know where we have come from, where we are going and so we can find the way home.

Prodigal son went an a journey away from his fathers house and when he came to his senses he said ‘I will journey home”

Why are locations important-because they are places of meaning, safety & security, danger and distress.

The son learned on his journey where not to be.

He remembered that the best place for him was in his father’s house.

Jesus had made a journey to Jerusalem with his parents. On the return home His parents found he was not with them. They finally caught up with him and found Him teaching in the temple courts.

 Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Jesus knew where home was.

Do you know where home is?

Do you know of others needing/looking for home?

Bodies of Water

Mediterranean Sea

  • Enter from the Atlantic Straits of Gibraltar and exit via Suez Cannel.
  • Bible times the Mediterranean Sea was the world and trade wars and city’s were all around it.

Sea of Galilee

  • 21 km long, and 13 km wide. total area of 166 km2
  • Just bigger than Manapouri or Hawea

Jordan River

  • 251 km long and drops into the Dead Sea. 150km straight line
  • 33 m wide. Size of the Mataura.
  • Abraham & Lot separate here
  • Israelites cross over on dry land
  • Elijah & Elisha divide it and cross
  • Naaman is healed in it
  • John Baptized Jesus in it
  • Mentioned 180 times OT, 15 NT
  • Currently Boarder of Israel and Jordan

Dead Sea

  • 423m below sea level
  • 1020 km2 Nearly twice as big as Lake Taupo.
  • Jordan flows in but nothing flows out so it

Nile River

  • 6,650km. Runs through Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.

Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

  • Tigris flows from Turkey through Iraq. 1800km
  • Mentioned in Genesis and in Daniel

Euphrates-2800km runs through Syria and Iraq

  • Home of the city of Nineveh
  • Mentioned in Genesis and Revelation 9 & 16

Persian Gulf

  • Hot Seat of the middle east
  • Borders Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq.
  • Named by King Darius 500BC
  • Time of Daniel

Main Locations

Garden of Eden

  • Exact location is unknown but is at the convergance of 4 rivers, two are the Euphrates and the Tigris.

Canaan/Israel/Palestine

  • Crazyest piece of realestate in the world. It has no oil but everyone wants it.
  • Changes its name through the bible. In Genesis its Canaan. When Joshua enters it its called Isreal. When Jesus is there its called Palestine.

Jerusalem

  • Capital of the nation of Isreal
  • King David made it the capital of Isreal
  • Jesus was crucifed there Friday april 3, 33
  • During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.

Egypt

  • Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Exodus

Assyria

  • Major super power seeking world domination
  • Israel made treaty’s with them against Gods advice
  • Overthrown by Babylonian Empire

Babylonia

  • Modern day Iraq
  • Several Kings most famous was Nebuchadnezzar
  • Destroyed Jerusalem in 586BC and exiled its people to Babylon
  • Daniel, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Obadiah prophets

Persia (Iran)

  • Conquered the know world under King Cyrus
  • Allowed the return of Israel to build the temple of God. 500BC

Anthology 1 Structure

Posted: February 19, 2012 in Anthology, Bible, Jesus, Men, Plans
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Anthology 1 Structure

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Structure-What is it?

Def-“A System of parts”

  • A system or organization made up of interrelated parts functioning as a whole.

The Bible is a whole group of parts interrelated that function as a whole.

Look at a car and it all looks real simple. Just jump in and away it goes.

You turn on the radio and it goes, you turn on the air con and it goes.

If it doesn’t go you can ask a mechanic to have a look at it and get it fixed.

But do you ever sit back and wonder how it all works, how it all fits together.

You can get others to fix it for you like you can get others to interpret the Bible for you but with a little wisdom and knowledge you can start to get an understanding of the Bible, its themes, its promises and then you’ll be able to have the tools to fix yourself.

Same as a car it all fits together to function as one.

Radio is connected to wires that connect to the fuse box-wires-battery-generator-engine-chassis.

Chassis that holds it all together.

A Building looks big on the outside and we can marvel at it and it can seem unbelievable how it all stays standing.

Buildings have a super structure designed to hold it up and together.

In the same way the Bible has a structure that holds it all together.

When we break it down it gets a whole lot easier to understand.

When we know where to go and why it saves a whole lot of mucking around and just throwing in the towel because we are lost.

Story of Charles Steinmetz 1900

Electrical engineer who was top of his field and had retired.

Asked by a major appliance factory to find a problem that they were unable for time, expertise and money to find.

He looked around the plant, tested a few pieces of machinery and finally placed a chalk mark on a piece of machinery and said that’s where the problem was.

They took it apart and sure enough that’s where it was.

He sent them the bill for $10,000 which they protested and asked for a break down. He sent back the itemised bill. Chalk mark $1-knowing where to make it $9,999.

Today that would be $26 chalk and $260,000 for knowing where to put it.

When you come to reading the Bible if you know where to put the chalk mark it will save you a lot of wandering around.

We can go straight to the concordance and look up a word like “Faith”

Turn to some readings in Hebrews and read that “By faith” so many heroes are listed-“By faith”

  • By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did.
  • By faith Noah built an ark
  • By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
  • By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
  • By faith the people passed through the Red Sea
  • By faith the walls of Jericho fell

Double Faith…..What does it mean?

What was happening for those people?

What was happening for the people around them?

What was God thinking at that time?

How did God respond?

Ask the same question of yourself-

What is happening to me?

What is happening to people around me?

How does God feel about it?

How would the God of the Bible-Your God respond?

Reading the Bible cover to cover can seem a task like climbing a mountain. Great starting off but as energy levels fall and you hit a few outcrops it’s easy to turn back. But if you have a few benchmarks to aim for and why they are there you have a goal to aim for.

Goal for this year is Start with the basics and get deeper.

Structure

Two major divisions

  • Old Testament
  • New Testament

A “Testament” is a document that the author has sworn to be true.

OT is an old covenant. Sworn to be true

NT is a new covenant. Swore to be true. All scripture is God breathed

Like God wrote out His will for the people in the OT

He updated His will in the NT

Old Testament spans approximately 4,000 years

Starts with Creation and is the story of the Jewish people up to the time of Christ.

39 books-Written by 28 authors.

New Testament is covering only around 100 years

It’s the Record of Jesus birth, life & ministry.

It’s about the Ministry of His disciples and the early church.

27 books-Written by 9 authors. Total is 66.

Old Testament is the story of God, and the Hebrew people, their poets and prophets.

Old Testament is broken down into three different kinds of books

  • Historical Books 17 tell the History of Israel
  • Poetical/Wisdom Books 5 tell the poetry of Israel
  • Prophetical 17 tell the prophecy of Israel

These are rough outlines as there are pieces of all three mixed into the others.

People make the mistake that the OT is one long story -which it is not.

New Testament

New Testament is the story of Jesus, The Church He founded and its growth under the leadership of His Apostles after His death.

Also broken down into three kids of books

  • Historical Books-5 (4 Gospels & Acts)
  • Pauline Epistles-13 Written by Paul
  • General Epistles-9 various writers

Epistles are letters in book form.

Primary function of the Epistles is Christian Doctrine and lifestyle.

Written to churches and individuals

History of the entire New Testament (100yrs)

  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts

Pauline Epistles (Letters) to Churches

  • Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians,

Pauline Epistles (letters) to individuals

  • 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

General Epistles

  • Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1,2,3 John, Jude, Revelation
  • Written by James, Peter, John and Jude

66 Books make up the Bible, 39 in the OT, 27 in the NT

People say “why do we need the Old Testament?”

  • The OT predicts the NT and the NT explains the OT.

It’s like any book-miss the first half and you loose the plot for the second.

Without the OT we wouldn’t understand-

  • Why the Jews were looking for a Messiah. The saviour King.
  • Why was his “Messiah” was coming
  • OT prophesy’s His birthplace (Micah 5:2); His manner of death (Psalm 22, especially vv. 1, 7-8, 14-18; Psalm 69:21), His resurrection (Psalm 16:10), and many more details of His ministry (Isaiah 52:19, 9:2).

Book of Hebrews Ch 8-9 explains the Old and the New Covenants

The OT is a covenant made through Moses. It’s the Mosaic Covenant

The NT is a covenant made through the Messiah. The Messianic Covenant

Benefits of the New Covenant-The Upgrade made possible by Christ.

1.OT- Gifts and sacrifices by those guilty of sin.

NT One sacrifice by a sinless Christ

  • Jesus died for us to pay the price, He was the sacrifice

2. OT Focused on the physical building where you went to worship.

NT Focused on the reign of Jesus in believers hearts

  • Immanuel God with us not God of the tent or temple

3.OT A Shadow

NT A Reality

  • Not temporal, but eternal

4.OT Limited Promises

NT Limitless Promises

  • All Gods promises are yes and amen through Christ Jesus

5. OT Failed Covenant by the people

NT Faithful Covenant by Christ

  • Jesus has kept the agreement where we couldn’t.

6.OC External rules and standards LAWS

Internal standards written on a new regenerated heart

  • We are directly accountable to God not a list of rules

7.OC Limited access to God. Only the priest

NC Unlimited access to God. All a royal priesthood

  • God is now personally available to us.

8. OC Legal Cleansing

NC Personal Cleansing

  • Jesus cleansing is enough to cleans us completely

9.OC Continual Sacrifice

NC Conclusive and final sacrifice

  • Jesus was the perfect, spotless and final sacrifice

10. OT Forgiveness earned

NT Forgiveness freely given

  • Jesus paid the sacrificial price. Forgiveness is a free gift

11. OT Available to some. Jews

NT Available to all. Jews or Greek, Slave or free

  • New Covenant is available to you.

Anthology -The Greatest Words of God to Man.

Posted: February 19, 2012 in Anthology, Bible, Faith, Holy Spirit, Men, Uncategorized, Vision
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Anthology

The Greatest Words of God to Man.

::A collection of literary works chosen by the compiler.

  • Poems
  • Short Stories
  • Songs

These are the greatest things that the Lord wants us to know.

He knows we couldn’t handle any more.

His ways are far above ours.

Bible says John 21:25 (NKJV)

25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

The Bible is a sneak peek into God and His plan for us.

Like looking down a telescope and seeing just so much but there is so much more out there.

The Bible is what God has left us. Out of all the books that could have filled the world this is what is left to us.

Didn’t leave us a

  • Encyclopedia-but it will fill you with knowledge and wisdom
  • Medical journal-but it will heal you
  • Wall Street journal-but it will make you prosper
  • Mills & Boon-but it will make you cry
  • Book of riddles-but it will make you ponder
  • Book on Nuclear Physics but there’s enough power to light up every life on planet earth.
  • Diary-but you will get to know all about Him
  • Time machine-but the ability to touch Heaven

If this is all we have then we better believe that every part of it is important!

It’s been on my heart because we can often not be into our Bible.

We can just hope that we will get by with little snippets.

Like just having coffee with your wife or husband once a week/month. Is like a dead sea scroll you have to blow he dust off.

That’s a catch up not a relationship!

Lord wants a close relationship with Him and He’s given us a blueprint on how that works in his Word.

This Anthology is a collection of the Greatest Words of God to Man.

Pentecostals can often be referred to as being a mile wide & 1 inch deep when it comes to our knowledge and understanding of the Bible.

This year I want us to change that!

I want us a mile wide and a mile deep and fill the whole space with Gods Word and his Spirit!

We are Spirit filled, Bible reading, God believing Christians ready to steam roll the works of the enemy!

Full of Gods Word Power and Authority-Amen!

We need the Word and the Spirit.

One of my mentors said this “Too much Word you Dry up, Too much Spirit you Blow up. Get the mix right and you’ll grow up!”

The Word and the Spirit are living.

You might look at a Bible and think its just paper and ink but it’s alive and will live forever

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Ps 119:89 “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

  • Gods word like Him is eternal. Its not going to change and its going to last forever..
  • There is not going to be a recall on our bibles saying there’s a typo and God got it wrong

Isaiah 55:11 “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

  • These are God inspired Words that are still able to accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent them.

How? They were written thousands of years ago.

Hang on a minute!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

  • It’s alive and active!
  • Its not in a coma on life support
  • Sharp and gets into our soul and our spirits.

We will spend roughly 30 weeks going from Genesis to Maps

  • 14 weeks in the Old Testament
  • 5 weeks in the New Testament
  • 11 weeks going over the Ten Great Doctrines of the Bible.
  • We will look at all the major men and women
  • All the major events and where they took place.

This is what David thought of Gods word

Psalm 119:130

The Message (MSG)

129-136 Every word you give me is a miracle word—how could I help but obey?

Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.

Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything.

Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you. Steady my steps with your Word of promise 
so nothing malign gets the better of me. Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women 
so I can live life your way. Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live. I cry rivers of tears because nobody’s living by your book!

David is crying “rivers of tears” because people were not living by the book.

  • Ever tried to build without the instructions?
  • When you do it all fits together real easy

Jesus said my burden is easy and yoke is light

  • We think we can do it better so we “cast off” the wisdom of Jesus and try and do it all ourselves”
  • Jesus is saying if you follow my instructions you’ll find it easy going. You’ll find rest for your souls.

Go by the Book!

Live by the Book!

David had received the revelation that “every word given me is a miracle Word.” 

This year you will receive a miracle word from God because we are going to go hunting them.

When we look for His miracle Word

When we receive His miracle Word

When we believe His miracle Word

You and I will find God pouring out His Spirit!

Its Time to Dream

Posted: January 25, 2012 in Believe, Dreams, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Plans, Prayer, Uncategorized, Vision
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Time to Dream.

Loving my Bible Reading Plan. The Bible in 90days.

Able to really get inside the story. Like being in a movie.

Awesome to devour huge chunks at a time and get some trends.

  • Genesis-God is a Creator and a Provider
  • Exodus-God is a Deliverer and Protector
  • Leviticus-God is Holy so you better be Holy too!
  • Numbers-God is counting on you!

As I’m reading Genesis I see that God speaks to people a lot through dreams.

  • People encounter Him through Dreams
  • He warns people through Dreams
  • He provides super natural strategies
  • He gives people glimpses of the future
  • He gathers Dreamers to other Dreamers

As we kick off 2012 I want to encourage you that it’s a

“Time to Dream”

 

Eleanor Roosevelt

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

The poorest man is not the one without a cent, but the one without a dream. Annon.

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.-John Barrymore

Without a Dream in our hearts we lay about stagnant.

Dreams, Plans, Vision and hopes propel us to our future.

Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 “as a man thinketh (Dreams) in his heart-so he is” (paraphrase mine.)

So this is saying that where we focus, think about, ponder on, get excited about is the direction we will go, follow or pursue.

The same is true of negativity if we focus on that.

Job had fears that he pondered on and they came to pass because that’s where he pointed his thought compass.

Paul said this- whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Its time to reset your thoughts and dreams for 2012

Time to set the Compass for 2012

If 2011 was tough-do a 180 and start focusing on 2012

This is why we have Dream Sunday.

It’s a chance to make a focused effort on Praying for our Dreams and desires for the year ahead.

To present them before the Lord and get them anointed.

We could worry about the year ahead or we can come in faith!

Again Paul said “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. Phil 4:6

We will be thanking Jesus in advance for what He is going to do.

So why Dream? How do I Dream?

One of the reasons we don’t dream is because we are simply to busy!

Too busy to pray, reflect and allow ourselves to hear from God

Dreams and Visions are the language of the Holy Spirit

If we are too busy God wont always interrupt

When we stop and allow God some room- He will speak.

Jeremiah 33:3

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

I had know idea my life would make a dramatic turn until……

Doesn’t have to be a special place although if you can that’s great

We just need God time like we need oxygen.

You cant see it but its really really good for us!

So what’s the big deal with all this God Dreaming?

Why take time to Dream?

1. Take time to Dream if you want to hear from God

Genesis 28:10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD

Jacob is finally out on his own when God comes to him in a dream

Its while he is alone and available that he has an encounter with God

  • Jesus would often retire to lonely & desolate places to talk to God.
  • Moses went up the Mountain to meet with God & get instructions.

To get our God Dream placed inside of us we actually have to get away with the giver of Dreams

Away from distraction and allow the Holy Spirit a chance to speak to us.

Jacob was in a place where God had a chance, had an opportunity to speak to him in a dream.

And this is what He said “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

To give God the same opportunity to speak to you in 2012….

Take time to Dream!

2.Take Time to Dream if you want a Strategy for your plans

Genesis 31:10

Jacob and the streaked spotted and speckled sheep.

“In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked speckled or spotted.”

Jacob is making plans on how to achieve the best outcome for his mating period.

Mating period is the most important time on the farmer’s calendar.

Get mating wrong and you jeopardize the next season and beyond.

Its as he’s pondering his plans that he dreams and God drops into his spirit a super natural strategy!

11 “The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted”

Farming is survival of the fittest and strongest

God has shown him who out of the sheep will be the strongest, most virile (sexually potent) breeders.

Weather its farming, retail, business, investing it still works on the Principal of  “Survival of the fittest”

When we take time to dream especially in the Presence of God we gain not only plans but strategy to fulfill those plans.

A Dream without a strategy to see it come to pass is a pipe dream!

Jacob had a desire to be a successful farmer

God gave him the strategy to take it to a whole new level

3. Take Time to Dream if you want to glimpse of your future

John was on the Island of Patmos and wrote Revelation

He saw way into the future the end times and Christ’s return.

Habakkuk 2:1 says

“I will stand my watch
 and set myself on the rampart, 
      And watch to see what He will say to me, 
      And what I will answer when I am corrected.

2 Then the LORD answered me and said:

“ Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

  • Taking time to Dream takes faith
  • Takes faith to believe that God will turn up
  • Takes faith to set out and do what you receive

Joseph had to live by faith. He had to believe in his God Dream!

God gave him a dream of his future.

He stepped out in faith and told his family about it.

His dream seemed dead and buried

He thought he was back on track by being part of Potiphar’s team.

Bang he’s back in prison joining a butler and a baker.

But God is faithful and delivers Joseph to interpret Pharaohs dream.

Before you know it he’s running the whole country and seeing the fulfillment of his childhood dream of his brothers bowing down to him.

But the dreams God gave Joseph were not just about him

The God dream inside of him was all part of a bigger plan

The God dream inside of you will be for you and ultimately others.

God is always thinking way outside the box and bigger than us!

4. Take Time to Dream if you want to be apart of other Dreamers plans.

Dreamers attract Dreamers

Joseph is called to Pharaoh to interpret his dream.

Dreamers attract Dreamers!

When you’ve got the God Dream inside of you-you cant help attract others to it.

It bubbles out and ignites the Dream in others.

Synergy happens.

Next week we are going to be praying for your dreams in 2012

Not only yours but those of your kids as well.

Jesus greatest dream is you!

New Years Resolutions-Wisdom from Noah

Posted: January 17, 2012 in Fathers, Plans, Prayer, Vision
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New Years Resolutions-Wisdom from Noah

Crazy new years resolutions

  • Start looking after neglected children-mine
  • Change my password from “password” to username and my username to password
  • Last years was to grow my hair long which failed so will change resolution to keep short. I think I can keep that one

New Years resolution is all about making a change.

It’s a distinct time to draw a line in the sand and start something new.

It’s a time to “re-focus” to “re align” previous plans that may have gone off course.

Was God the first person to make a new years resolution?

  • Things aren’t working the way I’d like
  • I had this great plan for man but things have gone way off course.
  • Time to make a few changes around the place.

So God looked at the planet and decided to clean house.

Everything that was bad and evil was to be chucked out and everything that was good was to be kept. Spring cleaning.

The only one He could find who was good and righteous was Noah.

Everything else was in chaos.

So God literally cleaned House or cleaned up the planet with a good wash!

A new start, a new day, a new way of living.

Jesus did the same thing by shedding His blood to give us a new start.

Imagine many years after the flood a news crew doing a documentary on Noah’s experience on the Ark and asked him what would be his top ten resolutions he would pass onto people.

1.Don’t miss the Boat

Time and chance happen to everyone. Ecc 9:11

We all have the same number of days left in 2012. 

How will you use them?

Where do you want to be at the end of this year?

Do you want any change?

If you do then get on the boat!

2.Remember we are all in the same boat.

Make a decision to be a nice person and be nice to others

Who will you look out for this year?

Think about others

Make room for others in your life.

“I” life or “we” life

Lay down your life for others.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15 13

3.  Plan Ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

Time for everything.

Are you in time of sowing or harvesting?

Go the Ant

Proverbs 6-11 “look at an ant.

Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.

Nobody has to tell it what to do.

All summer it stores up food;

at harvest it stockpiles provisions.

So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?

How long before you get out of bed?

A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,

sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?

Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,

poverty your permanent houseguest!

4. Stay Fit.

When your 600 0r 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big that’s never been done before.

  • Ark was 140m long. Nearly 1.5 rugby fields.
  • Three stories high and 22 meters wide. Bus length
  • Life isn’t slowing down so nether should you!
  • As I get older I am getting busier not bored.

If you’re bored with life?-Get busy!!

5. Don’t listen to the critics, just get on with the job that needs to be done.

People would have called Noah a fool

Proverbs 26:4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

  • Noah could have spent all day trying to explain it all and what was happening and argued to the cows came home-but that wouldn’t get the boat built!!
  • There are times when we just have to get on & persue our dreams regardless of what people say.

6. Build your future on the right ground.

What Noah was building was not only going to save his life but that of his family as well.

Make a fresh commitment in 2012 to be in the Word, Prayer & Church

“Jesus said that on this Rock I would build my Church”

We must build our future on stable ground

How do we do that-we learn more about the “Rock” Jesus!

Start a Bible reading plan.

7. Travel in pairs for safety sake.

Connect Groups

  • Maybe you’d like to start one
  • Maybe you need to join one.

Don’t do the journey alone. Life’s too short

God isn’t doing the journey alone

Jesus sent His disciples out in twos.

Ecc 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 
10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. 
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Connection is life! Connection will save your life!

8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Don’t blow a valve. Slow and steady wins the race

Ecc 9:11 “The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong”

Wisdom to know what to do is the key.

An article on time management

Regarding 100% of your time:

85% of what you do anyone can do…sending an email, attending a meeting, etc…

10% of what you do someone with a little training could do…teach a study, lead a meeting, etc…

5% of what you do only you can do.

  • Only you can be a companion to your spouse.
  • Only you can be a parent to your kids.
  • Only you can exercise your body.
  • Only you can keep yourself spiritually fit and engage in activities that bring you closer to God.
  • Only you can choose to enjoy life in community with others.

On these points there is no delegating.

9. When your stressed……… float awhile.

Remember to brrrreeeaaattthhhh…………………………..

Do you ever have those times when your like Noah?

Worked really hard for a long time, built, gathered supplies spent time with your family and you’ve shut the door and all of a sudden everyone starts knocking? Phone keeps ringing, txts keep coming

Jesus said “Get away, Shut the door and Pray”

Wait on the Lord”? Those that do will renew their strength

Are you planning your next holiday?

Are you planning your first holiday?

Bible over and over stresses the Sabbath day and keeping it Holy.

Exodus 20:8-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

What’s God saying to us in 2012?

Take a day off. Rest and Relax and you will be blessed.

10. Remember the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

Noah didn’t even know what an Ark was.

Like God calling you to build a thingamajig!

It’s a thingy, doodad, thingamabob, gizmo or a doodacky!

Remember your calling, your dreams.

Don’t say it cant be done!

Did Noah say “Nah cant be done” No! he started nailing!!

Eat the elephant one bite at a time but start eating!!!!!

11. No matter the storm,

No matter how big the waves of life crash around you

No matter how hard the winds of change try to blow you off course

When your following Gods direction there is always a Rainbow.

Don’t abandon ship in the storm

Don’t give up hope in the valleys of life

Children of Israel gave up hope in a valley.

They became dry brittle bones. Why? Because they stopped and gave up.

Keep going through the valley because there is always a mountain at the other end of the valley.

It’s at the mountain top you get to see that the valley was a time of stretching & growth.

Without the valley experience you wouldn’t have the strength, capacity or tenacity to climb the mountain of reward.

It’s on the Mountain of reward that you get to see the best rainbows.

Rainbows are the reminders that God keeps His promises

Noah was on the ark 370 days- That’s a long time at sea.

Long time wondering if God had forgotten him.

Maybe your wondering if God has forgotten you?

Get ready to send out your Doves

There’s a Rainbow coming.

 

 

 

Hey-Gods Speaking to Me!

Posted: December 4, 2011 in Believe, Dreams, Faith, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Uncategorized, Vision
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Hey-Gods Speaking to Me!

What do you do when you get a word, prompting, vision from God?

If we are people of faith who believe in the Holy Spirit then we should be believing the Scripture in

Acts 2:17 (NKJV)

17 ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
 Your young men shall see visions,
 Your old men shall dream dreams.

God is still speaking to people through His Word, Dreams, Pictures & Visions and

Through other people

Don’t be surprised if the Lord speaks/calls at an unusual time or when you least expect it.

  • Samuel was called at night
  • David was tending sheep
  • Joseph was playing with his brand new coat
  • Disciples were busy fishing “Hey follow me”

There is no set time. God calls when He’s ready

  • Moses was hanging out on a mountain grazing sheep 40 years
  • Jesus was 30yrs old before God called
  • I was 37 before God Called me

So what do we do?

1. Write the vision down

Write it down immediately, as much as you can but keep it clear

Habakkuk 2:2

You will be challenged over time and you can respond “It is Written”

2. Trust someone with it

Entrust a close friend or Faith filled follower with what God is saying

Prov 15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

I told my Wife, Pastor and my closest friend.

Trusted people will help you facilitate vision.

Help you stay the course.

3. Don’t tell Everyone

Not everyone will get it. Tell almost everyone.

Proverbs 23:9 (NKJV)

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)

6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Josephs tells his family about his visions

My experience of vision being trampled

Even Jesus only entrusted Himself to a few-He knew the hearts of men.

4. Get Wisdom on it

Proverbs 4

Your Life Is at Stake!

1-2 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live.

I’m giving you good counsel; don’t let it go in one ear and out the other.

3-9 When I was a boy at my father’s knee, the pride and joy of my mother,

He would sit me down and drill me: ”Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!

Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!

Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you.

Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!

Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it; never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.

5. Be prepared to wait

Rick Warren explains in surfing you have to wait for the right wave-then paddle

Waiting is draining, exhausting, feel like giving up.

That’s why the word says ‘that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength”

6. Be prepared for the Desert

Jesus spent 40 days of trial in the desert before starting His ministry

Moses spent 40 years in the desert minding someone else’s sheep

Joseph in prison before running the nation

7. Be Prepared to say “Yes Lord-Here I am”

Isaiah 6

He saw the Lord seated on the throne-high and lifted up.

Here I am send me

Jesus called the disciples and immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

He didn’t tell them where they were going, what there 3 year plan would be.

He just said “Follow Me”

Follow Me and I will change your life

Follow me and I will give you a real life

Follow Me and I will give meaning to your life.

Matthew 22:14 “Many are Called few are Chosen”

Make an active faith filled step and say “Yes I’m going

Fan the Flame-Hearts Ablaze!

Posted: December 4, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Fan the Flame-Hearts Ablaze!

Jesus is doing something in our midst.

He is positioning people in places ready to used by the Holy Spirit to see an amazing move of God in this city, region and beyond.

Luke 24:13 The Road to Emmaus

“Two of them were travelling”

  • Two guys are on a journey
  • I’m on a journey, Your on a journey, Church is on a journey

I Love catching up with people in our church and hearing about their journey with Christ

As we talk I can feel and sense this excitement in your hearts.

Jesus said where two or more are gathered I am there also.

Sadly many churches around the world aren’t talking about Jesus and what He’s doing.

Its 5 points on how to get ahead with sometimes no reference to the Bible or testimony

Its while the two of them are talking about Jesus that He turns up!

Asks them why they are so sad?

They respond with “Don’t you know Man?” “Where have you been? Don’t you know what’s been happening”

Jesus responds with “What things?”

Jesus loves to hear us talk about Him

“He was suppose to be our King and free us”

Turned out to be an epic fail

Jesus wants to hear us talk about Him.

He’s given us “His Story” so we can.

Its when we talk about Him to each other He turns up

When we talk about Him to others…..He turns up

He sets our hearts ablaze.

He walks with them and talks them through the bible from Moses to the Prophets showing them it’s all about Jesus. Its all about Him

Get to the village and he is keen to just keep on going but they ask him to stay. As they are having communion he reveals himself to them and then disappears.

They reflect, “ Didn’t our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

What has this story got to do with the building?

The building is a place where people can come and have Jesus walk alongside them and at the right time

  • Reveal Himself to them
  • Cleanse peoples hearts
  • Set people a blaze with life changing story’s all about Jesus and what He has done for them

Jesus disappears

These guys jump to their feet and immediately go off to tell others about experiencing the risen Christ.

33 They rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem

They have just walked 7 miles 14 kms Inv-Wallacetown.

What do they do?

“Hey its true!!! Jesus is alive!!!”

And while they are talking about Jesus guess what?

He turns up!!!!

We are building a church where people can gather together, talk about Jesus and experience Him turning up.

Fathers Day 2011. Prayer-Diversions and Distractions

Posted: September 8, 2011 in Fathers, Men, Prayer
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Fathers Day

Prayer-Communication with the Father

When Jesus taught the disciples to pray He said do it like this….

“Our Father”

Call to fathers to be men of prayer. Fathers who are full of Faith. Men who Move mountains

Call to fathers to communicate with the Father-

Our father who is in Heaven!

Why

To focus on the prize of winning our race and seeing our kids grow up and remain in the House of God.

Calling fathers-To grow, deepen and enrich this river of prayer.

To stand in their lives against Di-versions and Distractions

What are your diversions?

If the River can be diverted it will flow away from the source and eventually dry up.

If we can be diverted away from prayer our faith can also dry up!

It takes blockages, di-versions in the River to cause it to divert.

As a kid I loved going to the beach and there would be little streams of storm water flowing out of pipes and carving little rivulets down the sandy beach to the surf.

The idea was to try and dam the water if possible or divert it to form another river in the direction I wanted it to go.

Slowly but surly, handful after handful I would start to build a wall of sand to divert the water and slowly the stream would change direction and start to carve a course in the opposite sand bank to now go in a new direction.

When it comes to prayer and our connection to the Father the devil and or we will do the same thing. Slowly but surly place or allow hindrances, blockages, walls into our lives to divert us away from our true course and the intended path for our lives.

-to be in a close and loving relationship with our Father in Heaven

And that happens, is fostered, grows in a prayer connection.

So how do we lose our direction, our focus, our flow of prayer.

Its not like I’m walking down the street and a big dump truck comes along and dumps a huge load of sand on the footpath causing us to cross to the other side.

No it’s more subtle than that!

It’s the oldest trick in the book. Goes back to Adam and Eve.

They should have been tending the garden but allowed themselves to stop and be distracted by the serpent.

Distraction!

The Devil will feed us anything if he can keep us distracted.

I can feed Jordan if I can keep him distracted.

Satan distracted Eve (got her thinking something else) with

  1. Doubt-“Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the Garden?”
  2. Lie-“you will not die”

Doubt and lies turn our direction off course and change the plan for our lives. We become Distracted and then we are Di-verted.

God says He has plans for our lives, plans for good, to prosper us.

Satan says I’ve got plans for your life too. If I can distract you I can change Gods plan and divert you to my plan.

Eves plan was to help Adam work the garden but she got distracted and diverted.

So, What distracts us from Prayer?

Busyness is a rock of distraction from prayer.

  • Busyness says I will pray when I’ve got a few spare minutes
  • Busyness says ill pray before I hit the hay
  • Busyness says there must be someone else in the church praying about stuff.
  • I’m just to busy keeping my head above water juggling life to stop and pray.

Bill Hybels

“From birth we have been learning the rules of self-reliance as we strain and struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Prayer flies in the face of those deep-seated values. It is an assault on human autonomy, an indictment of independent living. To people in the fast lane, determined to make it on their own, prayer is an embarrassing interruption. Prayer is alien to our proud human nature.”

So many of us are just too busy to pray! Instead we worry…

The Bible says…..

Matt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. NIV

Same verse from the Message Bible

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray then I will hear from heaven and heal their land

Does “People” included Fathers???

What if Fathers would humble themselves and pray?

God would have to hear from heaven and heal their…..

  • land.
  • Family’s
  • Marriages
  • Business’s
  • Finances

If you want things to go well, to go right….PRAY FIRST

If you’re a Father who’s to busy to pray for your kids, family….

Your to busy!!

Don’t allow busyness to DISTRACT you from doing business!

Prayer is the Priority!

There’s no business like prayer business.

Nothing greater we need to do in our day than connect with Jesus.

Busyness-Martha was to busy to spend time at Jesus feet.

  • Jesus comes to visit
  • Martha was “Distracted” by all the preparations.
  • Mary is at Jesus feet and Martha complains
  • Jesus rebukes her and tells her that Mary has chosen the better thing.

There is no better thing that you and I can be doing than to be at Jesus feet in an attitude of prayer

When we are on our knees at the feet of Jesus we can only look up!

What I love about church is that church and coming into the presence of God is a supernatural dam buster.

Show em the Door!

Posted: July 5, 2011 in Holy Spirit, Jesus, Uncategorized
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Show em the Door

Phil Pringle inspired message, mediating on it want to share it and break it down.

Ezekiel 47:1-12

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. 12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” NKJV

“He brought me back to the Door of the temple”

To come back means he must have been away. He was once at the door but for whatever reason he has left it.

Christ is the Door (or Gate in some versions)

We can be like Ezekiel -we can be away from the Door, away from Jesus.

· We know people who are away from the Door, away from Jesus.

· The door is located in the temple and from under the door flows the River.

· The River is the River of Life and when we move away from it we move away from our life source.

We use to sing this old benediction as I was growing up “Praise Him from whom all blessings flow”

Blessing flows from the Door-Jesus!

When we leave the river we leave our true life source and we start to dry out and get all wrinkly.

We don’t want to be wrinkly, prickly Christians.

The river comes out from the Door that leads to the temple.

Our path is directed to the door and we enter into the temple through the door-Jesus

The temple is where we meet with God. We commune, worship, Pray, Praise, cry, laugh and sing to God.

When Jesus died He bridged the gap for us to enter Gods presence.

The curtain that separated us from the Holy of Holy’s was torn top to bottom so we can enter.

We enter Gods presence via the Door-Jesus

Only one way to get to God-Jesus

People say there are many ways to God. Being a good person, helping the poor.

· There is only one way and that’s Jesus

· There’s not a sampler box for us to “try before we buy”

· There’s not a selection of doors for us to have a look before we enter or have to gamble on. 1, 2 or 3?

As the old bumper sticker declares its”One Way Jesus”

Acts 4:12Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

His name is Jesus and He is the Door

To get to God we go through the Door, to be saved we go through the Door-that’s Jesus!!

· “No one comes to the Father except by me”

Everyone has access to the door yet so many choose to stand afar.

Jesus can be like an insurance policy-He is only needed when in a time of need or crisis.

Got me thinking about our walk with Jesus and Doors.

What sort of Door is Jesus to you and I?

1. Emergency Door Jesus-like on an aircraft. Nice to know where it is if needed and hope that there will be a lighted path to find Him if there’s smoke.

2. Shower Door Jesus-Just a place to go and clean up but head out and just get dirty all over again.

3. Taxi Door Jesus- Climb in, take me where I want to go but let out again.

4. Trap Door Jesus-Scary, Dark, unsure what’s down there

5. Pet Door Jesus-its just a little door. Just ”for small or weak people”

6. Glass Door Jesus-Happy to window shop only

7. False Door Jesus-slid in and out so no-one would know Jesus is a part of your life.

8. Revolving Door Jesus-Continually hot and cold for Jesus. Love Him but dont ask me to do anything for Him or His Kingdom.

9. Saloon Door Jesus- whoever is following is smashed by you’re bursting through the doors making it really hard to follow

10. Barn Door Jesus-Large, Open, protective, full of feed

I have 2 questions for you

1. So, what sort of Door is Jesus to you? How do you relate to Jesus?

2. What sort of Door are you showing to people? Are you encouraging or discouraging?

People are watching you and your relationship to the Door?

Our greatest calling is to bring people to and/or back to the door. Back to Jesus

Back to our first Love. People try to find Him in all the wrong places.

We sing the Song “The greatest Love ever known you are”

The greatest and most effective way to show people the Door is here at church.

Matthew 18:19 Jesus said “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

· Every week Jesus turns up and His Door is open.

· Every week we expect Jesus to turn up!

We sing to Jesus, Worship Jesus, Give to Jesus, Pray to Jesus, Preach about Jesus.

Our job is to talk the “Cringe Factor” out so we don’t turn people away from the Door but showing them the Door is vital.

We are all Shepherds. Shepherds show sheep where to get feed. To get to the feed you have to go through the Gate/Door.

Shepherds help keep sheep in the fold and kick out the wolves.

You and I can show people to the Door.

Testimony-“Jesus knocks at the door of our heart”

John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Spurgeon Lists 5 privileges to any person who chooses to enter the Door

1. Salvation-enter by Jesus and you will be saved. Immediately and forever

Romans 10:9” That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

· It’s why we have altar calls most weeks.

2. Liberty- “In and out”. Life of freedom not a jail term or probation with restrictions.

3. Access-“Shall go in” Spend time in Gods presence praying, pleading, hiding, enjoying, fellowshipping, instruction.

4. Egress-“Shall go out” reach out to others. Not inward focus its outwards focused.

5. Nourishment-“and find pasture” Spiritual food is found in Jesus.

Number one reason anyone comes to faith in Christ is because someone showed them the Door.

Do you know someone who needs to be shown the Door?

Show em the Door-His Name is Jesus!

Dream Sunday 2011

Posted: December 14, 2010 in 2011, Believe, Faith, Plans
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Don’t be afraid to take Mary Home

Gods got a plan! Gods got a plan for you!

Will you make a decision to step out in faith and pursue it or will you sit on the sidelines of life and be a spectator?

Matt 1:18-19

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Jewish civil law meant he had two choices he could make

  • Divorce her. Being pledged in marriage/engaged was as good as being already married but still not living together.
  • Public Disgrace—Have her stoned to death

The Law said to kill Mary!

The law was the way to death

The Spirit is the way to Life

The Law was written on Paper and ruled the natural world

The Spirit came to live in and write on our Hearts. To rule the supernatural world

2 Cor 3:6

He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life. NLT

All of history and the future redemption of the world came down to one man-Joseph

One Decision-To divorce her or not

Planting of C3 Invercargill came down to man-Me

Pursue the future vision or not? That one decision comes down to you!

1. Your future comes down to one person-You!

  • Pursue what God has prepared for you
  • Eph 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works , which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Divorce or Stone?

  • When the pressures on we feel we have little or few choices
  • World screams “forget tomorrow-live for now!” “Give up your job” “Get out of that relationship”

Spirit whispers “Wait for me” “Work with me” “Come away with me”

Matthew 11:30 (The Message)

28-30“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

God always has another plan! He is a Redeemer of bad situations.

  • Joseph wasn’t left stuck in a prison-He was part of Gods plan to save millions of people
  • Moses wasn’t left cornered by Pharaoh at the edge of the Red Sea.
  • Shadrach Meshach and Abednego didn’t burn. Nebuchadnezzar turned praised God
  • Even a thief dying on a cross got a last chance

1 Cor 2:9

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” NLT

2011 is going to be a year of opportunity for those who seize it. Ca pe dium

What’s on your heart for 2011?

He has Gifts this Christmas/New Year that will be out of the ordinary.

He’s an extraordinary God!

He doesn’t make ordinary!

You’re not ordinary! Made in the image of God!

Don’t be afraid to take Mary Home! Don’t be afraid to step out in faith in 2011

Choice is to run in fear or walk by Faith

Matt 1:20

“But after he had considered this”

  • Joseph had made up his mind
  • He was going to slink away and divorce her on the quiet

You might be feeling its time to pull away from your dreams

Feeling it’s all too hard

The Lord may bring you a present this year you don’t really want?

Socks………Again………….ummm……………..Great:(

Theres always a Chance to redeem a situation that’s gone wrong.

  • Turn your marriage around
  • Upgrade the job your thinking of leaving
  • Forgive that person whose wronged you

Joseph could have said it’s all over. Our plans, our future all ruined.

  • Just thought of himself

Wait-Here comes the B plan!

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

2. Get married to the Vision

  • Don’t be afraid to take Mary home!
  • Get Committed-Stay Committed. New Years resolution
  • Joseph was a Real Man! A man of Honor

Pregnant with the Holy Spirit

3. Your mission may lie pregnant/growing/locked up in someone else

  • Be nice to people- You don’t know who you may be talking to

Heb 13:2

Continue to love each other with true Christian love. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! NLT

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean its not about to happen

  • Our baby grew Jordan grew unseen. Babies grow without us seeing a thing until one day it’s birthed.
  • Vision grows unseen until it’s birthed.
  • Jesus grew in wisdom and stature with men. Growing behind the scenes

Mary carried the Spirits seed inside her womb

  • Growing, Unseen
  • Josephs greatest call in life to be a father grew unseen
  • Your greatest leaps forward may be in the hands of someone else.

Love your neighbor

Gal 5:14

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Greatest Gift you may receive this Christmas is the seed of a dream that becomes deposited within you and/or those around you.

When it happens-Don’t be afraid to take it home

Don’t divorce yourself from Gods plan for eternity and risk forever in obscurity….

Dont blend in with the spectators-Get out on the field!

Take a hold of the promises of God for you this coming year and let them make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you!

See you at C3 Church

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