Monday, 4 March 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE BEST IS YET TO COME!Do not remember the former...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE BEST IS YET TO COME!Do not remember the former...: THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it s...
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18,19
So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:25,26
Thanks indeed to social media, and specifically, Facebook, about a month ago, I re-connected with a friend in New Zealand that I have had no contact with for over thirty years. Bruce and I boarded with a young couple in Christchurch in the early eighties for several years, while I was working for Radio Rhema.
Bruce related to me that he had been through a period of eleven years of severe debilitating health issues from age thirty seven, followed by a period of several years seeing their only daughter be taken from them through a terminal illness. Yet, through all these severe trials, Bruce and his wife have remained faithful to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and to trust Him, even though they have unanswered questions as to why God has allowed them to face such severe tests.
I wrote back to Bruce, with a desire to encourage him in the Lord, saying: It might sound like a cliche, but I want to believe for you, as for us, that your best days are ahead. In reply, he answered that he agreed that "The Best Is Yet To Come" if not totally here on earth then definitely in heaven as I am totally convinced that just one second in heaven will be far greater than all of our earthly years.
He also shared a link to a song he had written and recorded while singing at church called "The Best Is Yet To Come."
About ten days after Bruce sent me the song, for a period of twenty four to thirty six hours, this song, or at least the chorus to the song kept going around in my head.
To quote some of the lyrics in Bruce's song:
"The best is yet to come,
Yes, the best is yet to come!
The rain will fall again, heal you inside.
Has the flower bloomed into many colours
Or has the blossom come and suddenly gone?
Oh, the best is yet to come,
The best is yet to come.
Living waters will flow again
Out from your heart.
Oh, the best is yet to come!
What is so incredibly encouraging to Tessa and me is that the Lord has confirmed the truth of this song as an encouragement to us at this time, that for us - I believe starting this year - that the best is yet to come! To use a colloquial expression, I believe the Lord is saying for us, as well as for our church home and indeed for every follower of Jesus Christ, as we position ourselves for blessing and breakthrough - 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'
The following are five confirmations of this encouragement that the Lord has given us over the past nine day:
1. The Saturday before last, while Bruce's song was "playing in my head", I was scrolling through my News Feed on Facebook and suddenly saw a post with a picture of a big cinema screen with the words boldly emblazoned "BUT WAIT - The Lord says 'THE BEST IS YET TO COME.'
2. That same day, in the evening as I was getting ready to go for my shower, Tessa called out to me that she had just turned the radio on - tuned to Vision Christian Radio, the Australian Christian radio network. The song playing was "The Best Is Yet To Come" by a man named Matty Mullins.
3. Last Tuesday, we listened to my hour long music program on Tasman FM, a community radio station here in South East Tasmania - which I pre-record at home. After listening, I drove to the service station to check the tyre pressures in my car. When I got back in the car, I thought I would turn Tasman FM on to see what the lady announcer was playing. She forward announced the next three songs she was about to play. The second song in the set she announced as "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Michael Buble. I could not believe what I was hearing. Of all the thousands of songs she could have chosen, she chose to play that song at that time.
4. On Thursday last week, we received in the mail our quarterly copy of "Creation" magazine, produced by Creation Ministries International. While flicking through the magazine to get an overview of the articles contained, when I got to page 42, I gasped at seeing the title of the article: "The Best Is Yet To Come."
5. Finally, today while we were watching an episode of an old TV series on DVD, one of the characters, while in conversation said
"Come and go along with me,
The best is yet to be."
We feel really excited about our future, knowing that God is going before us and there is a sense of wonder at what the Lord is preparing us for in this next season of our lives.
Another word I have heard from time to time from the Lord is "Position Yourself."
Part of that positioning for us has been to move to a new church home, after being in our previous church for almost seven years. This was not done out of any sense of being disgruntled or being offended by anyone in our previous church home, but with a clear sense of leading by the Holy Spirit to Living Waters Christian Centre in Campania, an as yet, small church with a huge vision to reach the lost and to impact the nations for Jesus Christ. We truly believe that as far as we are concerned: "we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this." God Bless! May you who read this blog be encouraged today to Position Yourself in God's purposes for your life and see what He will do in and through you.
If you have read this blog and would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to:
www.vision.org.au. Click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God?
About ten days after Bruce sent me the song, for a period of twenty four to thirty six hours, this song, or at least the chorus to the song kept going around in my head.
To quote some of the lyrics in Bruce's song:
"The best is yet to come,
Yes, the best is yet to come!
The rain will fall again, heal you inside.
Has the flower bloomed into many colours
Or has the blossom come and suddenly gone?
Oh, the best is yet to come,
The best is yet to come.
Living waters will flow again
Out from your heart.
Oh, the best is yet to come!
What is so incredibly encouraging to Tessa and me is that the Lord has confirmed the truth of this song as an encouragement to us at this time, that for us - I believe starting this year - that the best is yet to come! To use a colloquial expression, I believe the Lord is saying for us, as well as for our church home and indeed for every follower of Jesus Christ, as we position ourselves for blessing and breakthrough - 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'
The following are five confirmations of this encouragement that the Lord has given us over the past nine day:
1. The Saturday before last, while Bruce's song was "playing in my head", I was scrolling through my News Feed on Facebook and suddenly saw a post with a picture of a big cinema screen with the words boldly emblazoned "BUT WAIT - The Lord says 'THE BEST IS YET TO COME.'
2. That same day, in the evening as I was getting ready to go for my shower, Tessa called out to me that she had just turned the radio on - tuned to Vision Christian Radio, the Australian Christian radio network. The song playing was "The Best Is Yet To Come" by a man named Matty Mullins.
3. Last Tuesday, we listened to my hour long music program on Tasman FM, a community radio station here in South East Tasmania - which I pre-record at home. After listening, I drove to the service station to check the tyre pressures in my car. When I got back in the car, I thought I would turn Tasman FM on to see what the lady announcer was playing. She forward announced the next three songs she was about to play. The second song in the set she announced as "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Michael Buble. I could not believe what I was hearing. Of all the thousands of songs she could have chosen, she chose to play that song at that time.
4. On Thursday last week, we received in the mail our quarterly copy of "Creation" magazine, produced by Creation Ministries International. While flicking through the magazine to get an overview of the articles contained, when I got to page 42, I gasped at seeing the title of the article: "The Best Is Yet To Come."
5. Finally, today while we were watching an episode of an old TV series on DVD, one of the characters, while in conversation said
"Come and go along with me,
The best is yet to be."
We feel really excited about our future, knowing that God is going before us and there is a sense of wonder at what the Lord is preparing us for in this next season of our lives.
Another word I have heard from time to time from the Lord is "Position Yourself."
Part of that positioning for us has been to move to a new church home, after being in our previous church for almost seven years. This was not done out of any sense of being disgruntled or being offended by anyone in our previous church home, but with a clear sense of leading by the Holy Spirit to Living Waters Christian Centre in Campania, an as yet, small church with a huge vision to reach the lost and to impact the nations for Jesus Christ. We truly believe that as far as we are concerned: "we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this." God Bless! May you who read this blog be encouraged today to Position Yourself in God's purposes for your life and see what He will do in and through you.
If you have read this blog and would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to:
www.vision.org.au. Click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God?
Sunday, 10 February 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: Evolution or Creation My wife and I do not wat...
LIFTING MY VOICE: Evolution or Creation
My wife and I do not wat...: Evolution or Creation My wife and I do not watch a lot of TV. We rarely watch the news, unless there is something of major significa...
My wife and I do not wat...: Evolution or Creation My wife and I do not watch a lot of TV. We rarely watch the news, unless there is something of major significa...
Monday, 7 January 2019
E N L A R G I N G YOUR TENT
The year was 1977. I was in my second year of study as a live-in student at Christian Life Bible College in Lower Hutt, near Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The desire to be in this location to further my knowledge of God's Word, and to be more equipped for Christian service was birthed in my spirit a couple of years before when I heard the Director of the college, Frank Houston speaking during a ministry trip to the Gold Coast. He spoke of the Bible College, and his passion to see men and women prepared for Christian service over two years of study, and then to go out on fire for the Lord - not necessarily as pastors, but in whatever ministry, to be prepared and passionate for the Lord.
Frank Houston, originally a Salvation Army officer, had encountered the Holy Spirit and the added dimension of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit through a fiery extrovert evangelist in Auckland, Ray Bloomfield. Ray had mentored Frank in the early years of his Pentecostal experience, and had encouraged him to expect the gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate in his own ministry. By the time I arrived at CLBC in Lower Hutt in January, 1976, Frank Houston had been successfully pastoring Christian Life Centre in that city for some years, and had risen in the "ranks" of the Assemblies of God (AOG) in New Zealand to become the national General Superintendent of the movement.
In his own words, he said later that "I thought I had it made". As well as the pastoral leadership of his local church, the national leadership of the AOG movement, and his leadership and lecturing at the Bible College, he travelled widely overseas conducting evangelistic meetings, seeing many hundreds of people come to salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many physical and emotional healings, and deliverance from demonic oppression were hallmarks of his ministry, as were other gifts of the Spirit, including the word of knowledge and prophecy.
Then in early 1977, something happened which would set him on a new path of adventure and fulfillment in the work of the Lord. His wife, Hazel was away with friends in the South Island of NZ. One night, while sleeping, Frank had a dream. He dreamed of Sydney with its familiar sights - the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Sydney's iconic beaches. He awoke during this time, and he could still see before his eyes in vision form, the same sights of Sydney, Australia.
The Lord then told him to read Isaiah 54 - the whole chapter. In his own words, although he had read this chapter many times before, he could not remember what was in it. He opened his Bible and began to read, and, as he did, the Lord spoke to him from every verse. The Lord spoke to him, and told him He wanted him to go to Sydney and pioneer a church there. Verses 2 and 3 spoke to him in particular: "Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants shall inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabitied." NKJV
The next day he shared this with his church board and elders. They had a witness in their spirits that it was of God, and later that year, Frank and Hazel moved across the Tasman to Sydney to begin a whole new chapter of their lives in ministry in Australia. At the age of 57, he said they were like a couple of kids, having to go out and rent a building for meetings, to buy communion cups and other necessary items for the infant church.
Eventually, they were able to secure a permanent church building in the inner-city suburb of Waterloo, where the church grew to a congregation of a couple of thousand, which, in those days was huge for Sydney. Frank and Hazel had been joined by a small team of several families from Lower Hutt in establishing the work in Sydney - including their recently wed son, Brian and wife Bobble Houston.
Brian and Bobbie commenced Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills, a north-western suburb of Sydney. The church was to become what is now Hillsong Church, one of Australia's mega-churches with multiple campuses across Australia and around the world. In 1986, the first Hillsong Conference was held, an annual conference drawing thousands from Australia and overseas, featuring high-profile ministries as well as well known Christian worship artists.
One could argue that, if Frank Houston had not obeyed the vision to move to Sydney and answer the call of God at that time to step out by faith into "the unknown", Hillsong Church with its phenomenal growth and influence over the last thirty plus years - just may not have been.
Fast forward to 2019, and my wife, Tessa and I find ourselves in the will and purposes of God for us at this time, in an as yet, small country church in a small village in southern Tasmania - a place called Campania. Although comprising only several hundred people in Campania itself, there are numerous other townships and farming communities within a radius of Campania - a mission field ripe for a harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God. Pastor Anthony Castro and his wife, Annette from the USA and Britain respectively - originally, have both been used extensively on the mission fields of a number of countries in Europe and the Middle East - and they have a HUGE God-given vision for Australia and the nations of the world. Isaiah 54:2-3 are very much providing great encouragement to them and to the church as we move forward in 2019. We are believing for enlargement individually and as the church impacts the communities in and around Campania - and beyond to the nations.
Our lives as Christians do not have to be "same old, same old", and that is certainly not God's intention for us. Yes, faithfulness to God will mean that we have to persevere at times doing what we know is right in His sight, as we walk in obedience to His Word. We may go through periods of dryness spiritually, where we find it hard to hear God's voice and sense His direction. It is in these times, that we need to hold on to the promises of God - to walk by faith, regardless of what is going on around us - knowing that, in His time, He will bring us to breakthrough and to renewed blessing.
"Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And streams in the desert." Isaiah 43:18,19
Psalm 138:8 says: The Lord will perfect that which concerns us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me, and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity......Jeremiah 29:11-14a
god's vision for our lives is far greater than most of us can imagine. That is why most personal prophecies given to Christians are not condemning of our sins and failures - but they most often speak to who the Lord sees us becoming. He sees our potential for growth, and for enlargement of our capacity to host the Holy Spirit's power and fruitfulness in our lives. My wife and I are now not so young - in the world's eyes, past retirement age, but speaking for myself - I do not want to retire, but to refire in the purposes of God that we be fruitful in life and ministry in this season of our lives. We want to ENLARGE OUR TENTS as part of the church community corporate vision and purpose where we are planted!
POSTSCRIPT: Some reading this would know that Frank Houston, sadly, in his later years was exposed as a pedophile, although he was never charged with criminal offences. His son, Brian Houston has spoken about the revelations that his father was guilty of this crime in at least one of his books. In sharing the article above, and about my association with him, particularly in my years at Bible College, I do not in any way want to minimize the seriousness of his actions which have hurt individuals in the past. All I can say personally is that, from my perspective, I believed he was a man of God, anointed by the Holy Spirit, whose life and ministry touched thousands in NZ, Australia and the nations of the world. Many were saved and delivered and healed through his ministry. I personally am indebted to his ministry. Like many Biblical characters whom God used mightily, he obviously had some flaws in his life and character which to many have become his legacy.
If you would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to www.vision.org.au Click on the Grow your faith tab, then Looking for God?
Brian and Bobbie commenced Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills, a north-western suburb of Sydney. The church was to become what is now Hillsong Church, one of Australia's mega-churches with multiple campuses across Australia and around the world. In 1986, the first Hillsong Conference was held, an annual conference drawing thousands from Australia and overseas, featuring high-profile ministries as well as well known Christian worship artists.
One could argue that, if Frank Houston had not obeyed the vision to move to Sydney and answer the call of God at that time to step out by faith into "the unknown", Hillsong Church with its phenomenal growth and influence over the last thirty plus years - just may not have been.
Fast forward to 2019, and my wife, Tessa and I find ourselves in the will and purposes of God for us at this time, in an as yet, small country church in a small village in southern Tasmania - a place called Campania. Although comprising only several hundred people in Campania itself, there are numerous other townships and farming communities within a radius of Campania - a mission field ripe for a harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God. Pastor Anthony Castro and his wife, Annette from the USA and Britain respectively - originally, have both been used extensively on the mission fields of a number of countries in Europe and the Middle East - and they have a HUGE God-given vision for Australia and the nations of the world. Isaiah 54:2-3 are very much providing great encouragement to them and to the church as we move forward in 2019. We are believing for enlargement individually and as the church impacts the communities in and around Campania - and beyond to the nations.
Our lives as Christians do not have to be "same old, same old", and that is certainly not God's intention for us. Yes, faithfulness to God will mean that we have to persevere at times doing what we know is right in His sight, as we walk in obedience to His Word. We may go through periods of dryness spiritually, where we find it hard to hear God's voice and sense His direction. It is in these times, that we need to hold on to the promises of God - to walk by faith, regardless of what is going on around us - knowing that, in His time, He will bring us to breakthrough and to renewed blessing.
"Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And streams in the desert." Isaiah 43:18,19
Psalm 138:8 says: The Lord will perfect that which concerns us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me, and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity......Jeremiah 29:11-14a
god's vision for our lives is far greater than most of us can imagine. That is why most personal prophecies given to Christians are not condemning of our sins and failures - but they most often speak to who the Lord sees us becoming. He sees our potential for growth, and for enlargement of our capacity to host the Holy Spirit's power and fruitfulness in our lives. My wife and I are now not so young - in the world's eyes, past retirement age, but speaking for myself - I do not want to retire, but to refire in the purposes of God that we be fruitful in life and ministry in this season of our lives. We want to ENLARGE OUR TENTS as part of the church community corporate vision and purpose where we are planted!
POSTSCRIPT: Some reading this would know that Frank Houston, sadly, in his later years was exposed as a pedophile, although he was never charged with criminal offences. His son, Brian Houston has spoken about the revelations that his father was guilty of this crime in at least one of his books. In sharing the article above, and about my association with him, particularly in my years at Bible College, I do not in any way want to minimize the seriousness of his actions which have hurt individuals in the past. All I can say personally is that, from my perspective, I believed he was a man of God, anointed by the Holy Spirit, whose life and ministry touched thousands in NZ, Australia and the nations of the world. Many were saved and delivered and healed through his ministry. I personally am indebted to his ministry. Like many Biblical characters whom God used mightily, he obviously had some flaws in his life and character which to many have become his legacy.
If you would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to www.vision.org.au Click on the Grow your faith tab, then Looking for God?
Friday, 14 December 2018
THE STANDARD AND THE STAND
Part One
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob.
Isaiah 59:19,20 NKJV
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Let all you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13,14 NKJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10,13 NKJV.
The book of the prophet Isaiah, in the Old Testament was written at about 700 BC. It is a book declaring God's displeasure with and judgment upon sin in Judah, Israel and the surrounding nations. Almost all the
Hebrew words for sin are employed by the prophet. It is also a book that seeks to lay a foundation of hope and promise to the faithful remnant of God's people.It is a book full of God's promises of restoration and redemption, of the certain coming of the Messiah, of salvation for all the nations, and of the triumph of God's purposes in spite of intervals of suffering. (Adapted from the introduction to the book of Isaiah in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible).
The Book Of Isaiah is probably my favourite of the Old Testament prophets, as it is so full of Messianic prophecies - those that speak of the coming Messiah, whom we know as the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, the eternal Son of God, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, make up the Trinity, the eternal Godhead. How exciting for the follower of Jesus Christ to be able to read "tomorrow's news", as it were, in the Old Testament prophets and to be living today in a personal relationship with the Messiah, the Hope of the Ages, the eternal Son of the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet says: "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (meaning God with us....") clearly foretelling the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary, as well as God's participation in the more immediate deliverance from the Syrian and Israelite coalition.
In Isaiah 9:6,7 it says:
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His Shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government
and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over
His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with
judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will
perform this.
Another year has almost gone, and Christmas (at the time of writing this), is just ten days away. As we plan to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas. To quote from the song by Randy Stonehill, "Christmas Song for All Year Round":
"I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand
The Jesus that they celebrate was much more than a man
'Cause the way the world is I don't see how people can deny
The only way to save us was for Jesus Christ to die
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven when they nailed Him to the tree
But most of all the children they''re the ones I hope will learn
That Jesus is our savior and He's going to return
And Christmas isn't just a day and all days aren't the same
Perhaps they'll think about the word and see it spells His name
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven, mankind was forgiven
We were all forgiven when they nailed Him to the tree
So Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Hoo-hoo. Oooh-ooh
I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand?
(Song featured on Randy Stonehill's album "Welcome To Paradise.")
If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian, go to www.vision.org.au - the home of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on the "Grow your faith" tab then "Looking for God."
End of Part 1
The Book Of Isaiah is probably my favourite of the Old Testament prophets, as it is so full of Messianic prophecies - those that speak of the coming Messiah, whom we know as the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, the eternal Son of God, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, make up the Trinity, the eternal Godhead. How exciting for the follower of Jesus Christ to be able to read "tomorrow's news", as it were, in the Old Testament prophets and to be living today in a personal relationship with the Messiah, the Hope of the Ages, the eternal Son of the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet says: "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (meaning God with us....") clearly foretelling the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary, as well as God's participation in the more immediate deliverance from the Syrian and Israelite coalition.
In Isaiah 9:6,7 it says:
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His Shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government
and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over
His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with
judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will
perform this.
Another year has almost gone, and Christmas (at the time of writing this), is just ten days away. As we plan to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas. To quote from the song by Randy Stonehill, "Christmas Song for All Year Round":
"I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand
The Jesus that they celebrate was much more than a man
'Cause the way the world is I don't see how people can deny
The only way to save us was for Jesus Christ to die
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven when they nailed Him to the tree
But most of all the children they''re the ones I hope will learn
That Jesus is our savior and He's going to return
And Christmas isn't just a day and all days aren't the same
Perhaps they'll think about the word and see it spells His name
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven, mankind was forgiven
We were all forgiven when they nailed Him to the tree
So Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Hoo-hoo. Oooh-ooh
I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand?
(Song featured on Randy Stonehill's album "Welcome To Paradise.")
If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian, go to www.vision.org.au - the home of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on the "Grow your faith" tab then "Looking for God."
End of Part 1
Sunday, 9 December 2018
IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME
In Philippians 2:5-8, the Apostle Paul speaking to all who identify as Christians, true followers of Christ: Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God,did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
But He emptied Himself,
taking upon Himself the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.
And being found in the form of a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
The Christmas season is here once again, where we remember with great joy the birth of the baby Jesus in a dirty stable in the little town of Bethlehem, not far from Jerusalem - where He was laid in a manger, an animal feeding trough filled with hay.
Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit together make up the Trinity, the one true God, who has always existed- this same Jesus willingly became one of us, born into this world, taking on a human body, and in so doing, emptied Himself of some of His divine attributes and privileges while confined in time and space during His thirty three years living amongst us in bodily form.
The Greek word kenosis describing the self-emptying
in the above passage in Philippians 2 makes it clear that Jesus as the God-man could not be omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent in Himself. The Bible says that He fully relied on the power of the Holy Spirit within Him, and only did those things told to Him by the Father.
Of Jesus, the apostle Paul says in Colossians 1:
By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things and by Him, all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell, and to reconcile all things to Himself by Him, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him, I say - whether they are things on earth or things in heaven.
And you, who were formerly alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
Isaiah says: All our righteousnesses before God are as filthy rags.
Romans 3:23 states: All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
The Greek word for sin means "to miss the mark." One way of picturing this is that of someone shooting arrows at a target. No matter how hard one tries to hit the target, the arrows all fall short.
Once, the Bible says, we were without God, and without hope in the world.
Once we were not a people, but are now the people of God (speaking of those who have committed their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ).
Speaking of Jesus, the Word of God says that: He became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
We, who were far away from the covenants and promises of God have been brought near by the blood of Jesus.
That's why Jesus instituted what what is known as the Lord's Supper or Communion the night He was betrayed - as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke - and restated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night that He was betrayed, took bread. When He had given thanks, He broke it and said: "Take and eat. This is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner, He took the cup after He had supper, saying: "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, Do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me." As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK. LET US MAKE SURE WE ARE READY FOR HIS RETURN.
Sunday, 18 November 2018
POSITION YOURSELF!
If you are a Christian reading this, let me encourage you today. You and I are not meant to live our lives without direction and without God-ordained purpose. Too many Christians, sadly, seemingly have no idea what their calling is meant to look like, and have little, if any, sense of their destiny in God. I remember the director of the Bible College I attended in New Zealand many years ago saying that it was probably true that the graveyards of the nation (s) are filled with the bodies of Christians who never reached their potential in God - for various reasons.
I remember reading of several high-profile Christian leaders, such as Rick Joyner from MorningStar Ministries in the USA saying that sometimes when preaching in different places, he has asked the audience how many know their calling or purpose in God. Only five to ten percent were able to respond positively to this question, and of those, only about half were actually fulfilling that God-ordained calling or ministry! For the Church of the Living God, this is tragic!
Over the years, my wife and I have received a number of personal prophetic words related to aspects of ministry the Lord has been preparing us for. We have been greatly encouraged by these words, many from people of known spiritual maturity and integrity in ministry. Although encouraging, the specifics of the outworking of some of these words has not been made clear, and as with much personal prophecy, we have realized that there is a time period and a process to get from the prophecy to the place of fulfillment. This, of course, requires faith, obedience and much patience on our part!
At least on two or three occasions when I have received a personal prophetic word, I have been told to "Position Yourself!"
The Word of God provides plenty of examples of men and women whom God used mightily who positioned themselves to hear from God and then to see the outworking of His direction for their lives fulfilled in specific detail.
As a people of God, in the book of Joshua, as they were about to cross the Jordan River, they were instructed: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the Levite priests carrying it, then you shall set out from where you are and go behind it. There must be a distance of two thousand cubits between you and it. Do not draw closer to it, in order that you may know the way you should go. For you have not passed this way before."
Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wondrous deeds among you." Joshua 3:3-5.
So the children of Israel as a whole were instructed that they needed to consecrate or sanctify themselves - to position themselves for breakthrough in being able to cross the river.
We too, as Christians need to consecrate ourselves as a means of positioning for all the Lord would lead us into in His purposes for our lives.
The apostle Paul in Romans 12:1,2 says I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [Emphasis mine]
Following the great faith hall of fame chapter in Hebrews - chapter eleven, the writer encourages us in Hebrews 12:1,2 Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Again, we see this is all to do with how we position ourselves for blessing, guidance and ultimate breakthrough and fulfillment of the outworking of God's purposes in our lives.
Faith is a vital key in realizing our God-given destiny in practice. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us in chapter 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith will require us to step out of the boat as it were into the unknown at times, to overcome fear of failure, that we might begin to walk in our callings in God. I have often heard it said, that if you want to get an idea of what God is calling you to do in your life, be committed to a local church and volunteer in areas of service in the church. You may then start to sense in God, and others may recognize also where you are gifted and the areas of strength in ministry.
I remember hearing Joyce Meyer say how that, in her early Christian life when she was seeking the Lord about her particular ministry gifting, she volunteered for children's church, and it only took a couple of weeks to discover that was not where she was meant to be.
God will honour those who walk humbly before Him who really want to know His will for their lives. The verse in Zechariah 4:10 about not despising the day of small things or small beginnings comes to mind. God honours our faith and our faithfulness!
Patience is another vital key in seeing promises fulfilled, and destiny realized for the glory of God in our lives!
Again, the writer of Hebrews in chapter 6 says: God is not unjust so as to forget your work and labour of love that you have shown for His name, in that you minister to the saints and continue ministering. We desire that every one of you show the same diligence for the full assurance of hope to the end, so that you may not be lazy, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (verses 10-12)
The church in this day is being called to "Arise and shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For the darkness shall cover the earth
and deep darkness the peoples;
but the Lord shall rise upon you,
and His glory shall be seen upon you.
The nations shall come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-2.
Melbourne, Australia, the nations second largest city, has just hosted a strategic gathering of Christians from across the nation and from other parts of the world in a powerful witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ - in Awakening Australia. Tens of thousands attended the meetings and hundreds, maybe thousands of people committed their lives to Jesus for the first time. God is on the move in Australia. Revival is coming! It is pivotal that every believer in Christ is on fire for God, and fully functioning in his or her God-ordained cailing and purpose. JESUS IS LORD!
If you have read this blog, and would like to know how to become a Christian, please go online to www.vision.org. Click on the Grow your faith tab then Looking for God! god Bless.
The Word of God provides plenty of examples of men and women whom God used mightily who positioned themselves to hear from God and then to see the outworking of His direction for their lives fulfilled in specific detail.
As a people of God, in the book of Joshua, as they were about to cross the Jordan River, they were instructed: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the Levite priests carrying it, then you shall set out from where you are and go behind it. There must be a distance of two thousand cubits between you and it. Do not draw closer to it, in order that you may know the way you should go. For you have not passed this way before."
Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wondrous deeds among you." Joshua 3:3-5.
So the children of Israel as a whole were instructed that they needed to consecrate or sanctify themselves - to position themselves for breakthrough in being able to cross the river.
We too, as Christians need to consecrate ourselves as a means of positioning for all the Lord would lead us into in His purposes for our lives.
The apostle Paul in Romans 12:1,2 says I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [Emphasis mine]
Following the great faith hall of fame chapter in Hebrews - chapter eleven, the writer encourages us in Hebrews 12:1,2 Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Again, we see this is all to do with how we position ourselves for blessing, guidance and ultimate breakthrough and fulfillment of the outworking of God's purposes in our lives.
Faith is a vital key in realizing our God-given destiny in practice. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us in chapter 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith will require us to step out of the boat as it were into the unknown at times, to overcome fear of failure, that we might begin to walk in our callings in God. I have often heard it said, that if you want to get an idea of what God is calling you to do in your life, be committed to a local church and volunteer in areas of service in the church. You may then start to sense in God, and others may recognize also where you are gifted and the areas of strength in ministry.
I remember hearing Joyce Meyer say how that, in her early Christian life when she was seeking the Lord about her particular ministry gifting, she volunteered for children's church, and it only took a couple of weeks to discover that was not where she was meant to be.
God will honour those who walk humbly before Him who really want to know His will for their lives. The verse in Zechariah 4:10 about not despising the day of small things or small beginnings comes to mind. God honours our faith and our faithfulness!
Patience is another vital key in seeing promises fulfilled, and destiny realized for the glory of God in our lives!
Again, the writer of Hebrews in chapter 6 says: God is not unjust so as to forget your work and labour of love that you have shown for His name, in that you minister to the saints and continue ministering. We desire that every one of you show the same diligence for the full assurance of hope to the end, so that you may not be lazy, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (verses 10-12)
The church in this day is being called to "Arise and shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For the darkness shall cover the earth
and deep darkness the peoples;
but the Lord shall rise upon you,
and His glory shall be seen upon you.
The nations shall come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-2.
Melbourne, Australia, the nations second largest city, has just hosted a strategic gathering of Christians from across the nation and from other parts of the world in a powerful witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ - in Awakening Australia. Tens of thousands attended the meetings and hundreds, maybe thousands of people committed their lives to Jesus for the first time. God is on the move in Australia. Revival is coming! It is pivotal that every believer in Christ is on fire for God, and fully functioning in his or her God-ordained cailing and purpose. JESUS IS LORD!
If you have read this blog, and would like to know how to become a Christian, please go online to www.vision.org. Click on the Grow your faith tab then Looking for God! god Bless.
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