Brad and Sarah

DOMINION Conference 2011

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:42:00 GMT

DOMINION Conference 2011 is this week - August 4, 5 & 6 in Brisbane, Australia.

All Night meetings start at 7:30 pm and are FREE to attend and open to EVERYONE.

Location
River of Life Church
16 Noel St, Slacks Creek, Brisbane

This year we celebrate our 15th year and in 2011 our theme is REGENERATE.

REGENERATE: to receive new life or energy, to undergo spiritual restoration, to breakthrough into a new refreshed level of strength and function and to be fully revitalized.

With three nights and two days of powerful worship, revelation, teaching and ministry we are anticipating a super charged atmosphere of renewed faith, hope, passion and purpose.

We have invited some of the world’s most respected and recognized speakers to deliver fresh insight into God's 21st Century purpose and plan for our individual lives, the church and the nations of Australia and New Zealand.

At DOMINION 2011 come and receive a powerful prophetic impartation and be regenerated for the new seasons and opportunities ahead.

We look forward to seeing you at DOMINION 2011.

Speakers

Dr Bill Hamon is one of the most influential Prophets today

Dr Bill Hamon is the founder of Christian International Ministries. With 57 years of ministry experience, he currently serves as Bishop to over 3000 churches and ministries worldwide. Dr Hamon brings a powerful message wherever he travels around the globe. In 2011 he believes God is raising up and revealing champions of faith that will set the course for a new season and will cause church reformation to bring about societal transformation in the earth. This will be the first time in almost 10 years since Dr Hamon has been in Australia and New Zealand. So don't miss out on this opportunity to be impacted by one of the world's most influential Prophets.

Apostle Jane Hamon - leading this generation to fulfill their destiny

Jane Hamon is the Senior Pastor of Vision Church at Christian International in the United States and is also an Apostle overseeing 300 churches. Jane is known internationally as one of the most powerful prophetic and apostolic speakers. Her ministry is characterized by a breakthrough anointing that positions people to receive revelation, vision and clear a pathway for God to move miraculously. Jane brings an incredible authority and deep revelation in the Word of God and travels globally speaking and ministering to thousands every year.

Prophets Greg & Julie Bailey - new levels of faith and revelation

Greg & Julie Bailey are the Directors of Christian International in Australia and New Zealand, the Senior Ministers of Eaglenet Itinerant Ministries and the Apostles of Forever Church in Brisbane. Greg and Julie both bring powerful and relevant messages and prophetically minister with passion to see individuals, churches and businesses reach their God given destiny. They have the ability to communicate the future plans and purposes of God with incredible accuracy. Every year Greg and Julie minister around the world activating the identity, anointings and callings of God in people's lives.

Remembering the ANZACS

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:23:00 GMT

ANZAC Day is a time of rememberance and honour for the people who put our nation's freedom before their personal lives.

This act of bravery and selflessness is something that is worthy of honour and rememberance.

Today on ANZAC Day I encourage you to look around and see the good in others!

Wouldn’t this old world be better
If the folks we met would say,
"I know something good about you!"
And then treat us just that way?

Wouldn’t it be fine and dandy,
If each handclasp, warm and true,
Carried with it this assurance,
"I know something good about you?"

Wouldn’t life be lots more happy,
If the good that’s in us all
Were the only thing about us
That folks bothered to recall?

Wouldn’t life be lots more happy,
If we praised the good we see?
For there’s such a lot of goodness
In the worst of you and me.

Wouldn’t it be nice to practice
That fine way of thinking, too,
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you?

There is something good in us all and we need to look for that good.

We need to praise that good.

Phil. 2:4 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

We should be interested in others for their good, not for our gossip.

This ANZAC Day we need to be concerned about others for their good!

For many people, ANZAC Day means picnics, parades, and pubs! It means grills, food, family, and fun.

For a few rare souls, it means going to the graves of deceased loved ones and remembering.

IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO THINK OF OTHERS, TO LOVE OTHERS, TO REMEMBER OTHERS!

MOST IMPORTANTLY - remember the GOOD in others.

Lest we forget.

EASTER 2011

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:21:00 GMT

Easter is an important time to remember that Jesus not only died for us, but his defeat of the power of sin and death is the ongoing reason why you and I can live a life of momentous victory!

The living, death defying, curse conquering spirit of God those rose Jesus from the grips of death is the very same spirit that the Bible declares lives inside of us if we simply put our faith in the name and resurrection of Jesus!

That means for our life we have free daily access to the incorruptible and undefeatable spirit of God!

So the season EASTER is a great reason to celebrate!!

On Thursday April 21 @ 7pm we have our EASTER Celebration Service at Forever Church.

All Family & Friends are welcome as we will enjoy:

1. A powerful time of worship
2. An inspirational Easter message
3. And everyone will receive a yummy treat to take home with them!

Please note there will be no Easter Service on Sunday April 24 at Forever Church.

We encourage everyone to spend the long weekend with friends and family.

So join us before that long weekend on Thursday April 21 to Celebrate the Easter Season together.

Be blessed!

Flood & Cyclone Community Care

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:17:00 GMT

Hey Church!

Part of our 2011 Vision is the launch of our new Community Projects Team.

So far this year our church has already had two community care projects in response to the Queensland Flood Disaster.

As a result some members of our church were directly involved in cleaning and disinfecting the homes of flood victims and cleaning up the local parks a couple of weeks ago! Everyone involved found the experience incredibly rewarding.

God has called our church to be an influence in the community, which requires both heart felt prayer and heart felt action.

With the recent Cyclones in North Queensland, we want to launch our third Community Project for the Year.

One of our church members, Jade Goulding, has done a great job researching and finalising information of how our church can again help the community with the continuing flood disaster relief and now in addition with the Cyclone relief in Queensland.

Please see below what information Jade has put together to find out how you can help in our 3rd Community Care Project!

FOREVER Community Care 2011 Project 3

FLOOD/CYCLONE RELIEF - QLD Rugby Veterans and Ballymore stadium.

The Ballymore Relief effort has become a central base for the distribution of donated goods for people in need across Brisbane. The following is part of a note from Greg Cree, of the Rugby Club, who is the head organiser of this.

"One of the most interesting things that is happening at the moment is that the ‘reality show of the flood is over and all of the news media has run out of sensationalism’. This leads all of us not affected directly by the flood to move on and forget that the real reality of displaced people is still with us and will be for some time.The day to day survival and rebuilding for all of those affected is very real and constant. The anomaly of the situation was brought home to me on Sunday. I had just dropped some bottled water and food over to the Yeronga Centre where about 60 people were being fed and cared for and I was travelling back to Ballymore. I went via the Mater and was met by a large number of people who were off to a fun day at the cricket! Here we have these two scenes within a couple of kilometres of each other defining the two worlds of people in Brisbane at the moment. I have to say, that I have been around a bit and seen some things but this really affected me."

Its so true that we can easily forget the needs of people when it isn't headline news anymore. This is a great initiative from a community organisation that we can be a part of as much or as little as we want to be.

How we can be involved

VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME

Currently this centre is open at Clyde Rd, Herston daily from 10.00am to 2.00pm for the receipt of goods. The staffing of this is currently being carried out by a small bunch of people who have volunteered ‘off the street’ when they have donated goods, the main role is just to receive any donations and help to sort them into categorised boxes.

If you do have any time spare, helping sorting and manning the station would be a great thing to do! If you would like to contact the organiser directly to arrange a time to volunteer his name is Greg Cree and number is 0407021079.

DONATIONS (there is still a great need for the following items)

- Food: Meals in portions in takeaway containers, (there are freezer facilities there) tinned/boxed food, fresh food

- Kitchen Utensils/equipment

- Toiletries - Shampoo, conditioner, soaps, razors, sanitary items, shaving cream, hair products, make up etc etc

- Kids and adults underwear

- Bottled Water

- Linen - Towels, sheets, new pillows, doonas, facecloths etc

- Baby items including baby/toddler food

Jade Goulding will be doing a run next week, so if you have some items to give, you can bring them to church on Sunday February 13 and load up the wagon. Food items, probably best to take them there yourself.

REMEMBER: although these people have lost everything, they haven't lost their dignity, so if you wouldn't be happy to use it, then don't give it. Greg said some people have just emptied out their cupboards of rubbish and dropped it off there, but other people have washed ironed and folded things beautifully, I'm certain they prefer the latter! And if you can, label things! Anything you can think of that would be of use, if you have a business, and can provide something at cost price, or have some stock you need to get rid of, or anything like that, you can be of help! The need is still very great.

Be blessed!

AWAKEN in 2011

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:21:00 GMT

In 2011 the overall theme for our church community is VICTORY.

There are three steps to VICTORY for our church this year:

Step 1: AWAKEN

Step 2: MOVE ON

Step 3: ENTER IN

Let's have a look at the first step - AWAKEN.

In Matthew 28: 18-20 it says and Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

This year God is sounding a wake-up call to the body of Christ! There has been a lull and a spirit of slumber that has spread over much of the church in the last couple of years. We have become satisfied with "life as usual."

Unfortunately, many people have settled into a place of comfort and complacency—but God is shaking and waking this sleeping giant once again!

I hear the Lord say, "Some of you keep trying to snuggle in and get comfortable. I will not allow you to get comfortable. I did not create you for comfort; I created you to be a weapon of warfare. To take ground, territory and be victorious – going from strength to strength and level to level!"

God has created you to be on the cutting edge.

When it is time for eaglets to learn to fly, the mother eagle begins to remove the soft down feathers in her nest. As she does this, the nest becomes more uncomfortable, and soon the eaglets begin to feel the sting of the sharp sticks beneath. In order to seek more comfortable living quarters, they are forced to fly. In this same fashion, God is removing your place of comfort because it is time for you to fly.

Frustration, agitation and uncomfortableness is a good thing! Something in you in 2011 will refuse to be comforted in your present condition this year. There will be a hunger in you to change and grow spiritually!

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

We must believe God can do anything and that we can do anything through Jesus Christ.

Peter and John became bold in Jesus Christ via the Holy Ghost. It would have been easy for Peter and John to allow the enemy to steal their boldness between the upper room and the temple gate if they had allowed their thinking to be controlled by carnal or inferior thoughts.

Acts 4:13-14 says "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it."

Notice that phrase in verse 13 “ that they had been with Jesus” and the people could tell and when they could tell the people could say nothing against them at that moment.

I want to tell you today that what will determine 2011 for you and I is the amount of time we spend with Jesus to awaken our spirit with the empowering and life giving anointing of our amazing God.

Be Blessed!

VISION for Today & Tomorrow

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:45:00 GMT

Jericho was a fortified city. There were two walls that surrounded the entire city. The outer wall was six feet thick, and the inner was twelve feet thick. As far as mere man was concerned the walls were impregnable! But, with God all things are possible! And, as we will see the walls fell flat before the children of Israel, and every man went straight in to conquer the inhabitants.

How was it that Israel experienced such victory? Well, it began as only it could have: with a God-given vision.

In Joshua 6:2 God said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, it’s king, and it’s mighty men of valor.”

The word "SEE" comes from the Hebrew word râw-âw, and it means to envision something: to see far beyond the physical realm of present reality to see something as it can, and will be.

God’s call for Joshua to envision the fall of Jericho was based not upon Israel’s power and might, but upon God Himself, as He declared unto Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand…”

Joshua knew what it meant to have vision of future things. He and Caleb were two of twelve spies sent in to spy out the promised land some forty years before. Like the others, Joshua and Caleb saw the inhabitants of the land; they had seen the fortified cities; but they also saw the blessings of God that lay before them, and while ten spies saw themselves as nothing more than grasshoppers in the eyes of their enemies, Joshua and Caleb were visionaries, and tried to encourage the people to move forward to receive God’s blessings.

Solomon, in his great wisdom, declared in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

The word vision is defined as simply a dream, or a revelation.

I cannot help but think of the late Dr. Martin Luther King who often proclaimed: “I have a dream!” His dream, or vision was for equality for men and women of all races.

Well, long before God appointed Joshua to succeed Moses and lead the nation Israel into the promised land, Joshua had a dream!

His dream, his vision, was to possess the land of Canaan. His dream was to receive and enjoy the promise of God. His dream was to live in a land of plenty in peace. It was something that he longed for so badly that he could taste it. He lived and breathed the dream.

It has been said that “Vision that looks inward becomes duty; vision that looks outward becomes aspiration; but vision that looks upward becomes faith.”

Whatever our vision for 2011 may be, it is to be given to us by God, and we must look to Him for it to become reality!

Be blessed!

Pray and Fast for 2011

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:12:00 GMT

As a church community, we want to encourage everyone to pray and fast this week beginning Monday January 24 to empower everyone to establish clear vision and purpose and strength for the exciting year ahead!

Fasting & Praying together is a powerful type of worship to God as our spirit opens up to God more and breaks through a dullness or spiritual blindness or spiritual weariness.

Fasting brings us to a place where we become more sensitive to hearing God’s voice.

When we deny something like food or television or facebook etc. it helps us to desire and hunger more for a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit.

A food fast abstains from food or a type of food for a period of time.

A media fast abstains from reading, listening to and watching, newspapers, magazines, radio and TV, and surfing the internet.

In the book of Mark - Jesus teaches the disciples that the power of God to establish a new level of breakthrough in a person's life is accessed through prayer and fasting.

Other Scriptures for inspiration to Pray & Fast for 2011:

Luke 2:37 "And she was a widow of about 44 years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day."

Acts 10:30 "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing."

I Corinthians 7:5 ". . . that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer . . ."

Philippians 4: 6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3: 12-14 "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind & straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Inquire of God first about which fast He wants you to go on and what duration.

Matthew 16:24; 2 Timothy 2:14.

The different types of fasts can be:

40 Day Fast: Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Luke 4:2

21 Day Fast: Daniel 10:3.

14 Day Fast: Acts 27:33

10 Day Fast: Daniel 1:10-19.

7 Day Fast: 1 Chronicles 10:12; 2 Samuel 12:15-18

3 Day Fast: Nehemiah 9:1; Esther 4:15-16; Acts 9:9

1 Day Fast: 1 Samuel 7:6; Ezra 10:6; Jeremiah 36:6

Partial Fast: (Denying 1 or 2 meals a day or Favourite food or drink): Daniel 6:16-20.

Be blessed!

WISDOM: the Gateway to Greatness

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:46:00 GMT

WISDOM is a Pathway, a Laneway, and a GATEWAY to an easier and more efficient way to building a life that bears good fruit (Greatness).

In Proverbs 4:5-7 it says:

“Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding."

Knowledge alone is impotent to change a life.

We learn and know, but if we do not act and make a habit of such inaction, we are doomed to discontentment and frustration.

We know, but others succeed.

The opening scene of Forrest Gump was lauded for its special effects wizardry.

A computer-generated feather was superimposed on the scene in such a way that the audience believed the camera had caught its long, haphazard and spasmodic movement as it journeyed on the wind to finally come to rest on Forest’s shoes.

The feather, of course, was a metaphor.

The winds of coincidence and the gusts of chance play a key role on who we are and what we do or don’t do in life.

However, unlike the feather we can choose how we react to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

We can use them to our advantage. In other words, we either use or are used.

The out of control life is the life that is responding rather that initiating.

It is a life that simply happens rather than is caused.

A life which gives in to the lie of fatalism and settles unquietly into the blame mentality.

The truth about Forest Gump was that he was in control.

Other characters in the film with so much more to live for were often not!

Get Wisdom!

JESUS: the Way, the Truth, the Life

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:10:00 GMT

Who is Jesus Christ to You?

Jesus and the disciples are about 120 miles from Jerusalem in northern Palestine. We’re closing in on the time when Jesus will go to the Holy City and the cross upon which He will die. But before He does, there’s one main thing He wants His followers to be clear about – who He is!

The disciples have been with Jesus for about 3 years, and now it’s final exam time. He asks first who the crowd says He is, and then who the disciples say He is.

The Disciples tell Jesus that some (the crowd) say that Jesus is John the Baptist. The crowd thought this because of Jesus’ preaching of repentance. But Jesus was a far greater preacher than John, and He spoke with an authority that was astonishing. He not only spoke the Word of God, He is the Word made flesh! John only pointed to the Lamb of God, but Jesus personified the Lamb.

The Disciples then tell Jesus that some (the crowd) say that Jesus is Elijah. The crowd thought this because of Jesus’ prayers. Elijah prayed and the heavens opened and closed, whether rain or fire. Jesus had a powerful prayer life. The disciples never asked Him to teach them to preach, or to work miracles ... but they did say, teach us to pray! They were blown away by His ability to talk to His Father, and they were happy to learn they could easily do the same.

The Disciples also tell Jesus that some (the crowd) say that Jesus is Jeremiah. The crowd thought this because of Jesus’ compassion. Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, and was known for His tears. And Jesus was known for being moved to tears.

Then Jesus asked the Disciples – who do you say I am?

Every person must answer this question. The crowd cannot answer it for you. You cannot abstain or opt out from answering ... you can delay, but eventually every person on planet earth will have to answer this question.

There’s really only 4 answers that you can give:

Answer 1: “Jesus was a legend. It’s all made up. He never really was.”

A very small minority today believe this one. Intellectually you cannot hold this position. Why? Because there’s more historical proof of the existence of Jesus Christ than of any other person in human history.

Answer 2: “Jesus was a liar. He deceived people into thinking He was someone He was not. He was a good teacher, a good person who did good things, but He was not God in the flesh.”

This position is not even an option. Why? Because He claimed to be God, and if He wasn’t then He was a liar, and good people don’t go around living a lie. It wasn’t a little white lie if He was lying, He would have had to be a pathological, habitual deceiver. And people can see right through that kind of liar.

Answer 3: “Jesus was a lunatic. He was off in the head. Maybe sincere, but crazy...mentally deranged.”

But again, read the words of Jesus, and see how the people marvelled. They said, where does He get His wisdom. The most brilliant minds have studied His words for centuries and have only scratched the surface at the depth of His wisdom!

And so, if he was not a legend, liar, or lunatic, then there’s only 1 other conclusion you can make ...

Answer 4: “Jesus is LORD.”

Peter got it right! Jesus was the long awaited, predicted Messiah.

In Matthew chapter 16 versus 13 to 18 it says, when Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it.

Be blessed!

HOUSE to HOUSE

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:04:00 GMT

Relationships in the church should be House to House.

Friendships within the church should not be “Sunday only.” We should interact with one another throughout the week.

Acts 2:42, 46 says, they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

The New Testament church was connected to each other. The fellowship of the early church was more than joining together for a worship service. Their partnership brought them together in one another’s homes.

Through successfully forming friendships with peers we as a church learn and develop key social skills of cooperation, sharing and confrontation management.

A person’s successful interaction with peers influences both immediate and long-term social and spiritual growth.

The church should run counter to our culture. Australians are increasingly more and more isolated from each other – circles of friendship grow smaller and smaller.

But within the church our friendships should be increasing.

Hebrews 10:25 tells the lone ranger to get reconnected with other believers; we are to join together regularly to encourage each other from House to House.

Matthew 9:10 says, Jesus had dinner at Matthew’s house.

Luke 19:5-6 says, Jesus stayed at Zacchaeus’ house.

Luke 24:36-46 says, Jesus spent time with the disciples after His resurrection.

Hebrews 10:25 says, let us not neglect our meeting together, but encourage one another.

In reality - love is spelled T-I-M-E in today's world. This can hold its challenges in today’s busy society.

We are not to live in our own little world ignoring those around us; because we are of one body – united in Christ – we are to identify with and respond to the needs of others.

1 Corinthians 12:26 says, If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.

Galatians 6:2 says, carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

But compassionate relationships are not just about feeling one another’s pain or sorrow.

Compassion moves us to action.

Be blessed!

DESIGNED for UNITY & LOVE

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:44:00 GMT

LOVE ONE ANOTHER ...

“Jesus said, ’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ’You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).

In the Churh, because we are individually connected to Christ, our relationships with one another should be LOVING.

1 John 1:6-7 says, if we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

How important are our relationships to the body of Christ? If we disconnect ourselves from one another, then we deform the body of Christ. A deformed body is unattractive and even repulsive, but a body that is whole is attractive – when the church is united as one, it will draw others to Christ.

The relationships believers share within the church is one of the ways God uses to draw the lost to Christ. The unity of believers one with another is a magnet pulling people to Jesus.

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

CREATED for COMMUNITY …

The huge redwood trees in California are amazing. They are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are 300 feet high and more than 2,500 years old.

You would think that trees that large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. But that is not the case. Redwoods have a very shallow root system.

The roots of these trees are, however, are intertwined. They are tied in with each other; interlocked. Thus, when the storms come and the winds blow the redwoods still stand.

With an interlocking root system they support and sustain each other. They need one another to survive. So do we!

Where there is UNITY there is FAVOUR!!!

Hence, God has given us His Church which is the body of Christ on earth. When one is baptized into Christ, one is baptized into the body of Christ.

Through Christ we are bound together in a community of faith. Belonging to Christ we belong to each other. Fellowship with Christ means fellowship with each other.

Through Christ God has made us a family, a community of faith. This is our God-given support system. As such, it is intended to meet some crucial needs in our lives.

Be blessed!

CHURCH RELATIONSHIPS: Seek Help from Mentors

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:21:00 GMT

The early church put their love and compassion for one another to work. They shared whatever they had with those in need.

In Acts 2:44-45 it says all the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Material possessions were not held within a clenched fist, rather they were held in an open hand; God had freely given, and they in turn could share with one another.

In the 21^st Century Church as well as physical possessions – it is also experience, wisdom, and advice that Mentors can give!

Look for Role Models, for people who can be a mentor to you. Don’t wait for them to approach you – be proactive and say, "hi, I was just wondering if we could catch up for a coffee and I could get some advice from you?".

Look for Mentors and build relationship with them - because we should be comfortable to seek help from others in our church community.

But don’t just take and take and take. Encourage them, cheer them on as a mentor and give them feedback about how their input is helping you – honour them and deposit into them.

Somewhere along the line, we have to realize that the people God has positoned into our lives as resource people are real people and have joys and pains in their life too. God has called us to love our mentors and leaders and also encourage them and cheer them on.

In Exodus 17 Moses is leading the children of Israel and the Amalaketes come out to battle the Israelites. And God says, Moses take out your staff and hold up your arms with the staff in your hands. As long as the people can look up and see that staff they will know that God is with them and things will go well. And the battle begins and things do go well but as the battle rages on, Moses’ arms begin to tire and he can’t hold up his arms any longer and they start to fall. As the staff lowers, the people begin to lose heart and question what that means and if God is still with them. And along comes Aaron and Hur who hold up Moses’ arms and the rod is raised up and the Israelites go onto victory.

It is a matter of realizing that we’re all in this together and no one person can do it alone. Many times, with the resource people (mentors) in our life - we need to ask, what can I do to help my mentor or leader succeed?

Galatians 5:13 teaches us that “through love serve one another.”

Be blessed!

WORK ETHIC: Work for Progress not Distraction

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:46:00 GMT

We live in a society that has mixed views on work. Australia is a nation with many workaholics. People working 60, 70, 80 hours a week out of a driving compulsion to “get ahead.” Being over worked can be unhealthy.

On the other hand, we also live in a nation where people sometimes get obsessed with distracting pleasures and entertainment. Some people work their jobs only to get a paycheck. They completely distract themselves from the time they punch out till the time they punch back in again. There is no real plan behind their work – no plan for progress.

Let’s have a look at what God’s word has to say about work and the importance of dealing with wrong attitudes towards work.

1. LAZINESS

This is one of the most prevalent attitudes in our society. Laziness brings poverty & scarcity. Proverbs 6: 6-11 says Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

Laziness brings disgrace. Proverbs 10: 4-5 says Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Lazy men irritate those whom they work for. Proverbs 10: 26 says: As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him.

Laziness builds poor habits. Proverbs 12: 27 says the lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions.

Laziness ends up in unfulfilled desires. Proverbs 13: 4 says the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Those who are lazy normally get nothing they really want. They tell themselves they are happy, but they will not work, so they do not get what they really want.

Laziness leads to ruin. Proverbs 24: 30-34 says I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

2. DESIRE TO GET RICH QUICK

Another wrong attitude towards work is that you can strike it rich, win big, you don’t need to work, you just need a little luck.

Proverbs 12: 11 says He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

Proverbs 13: 11 says Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Remember the prodigal son - he didn’t want to wait until his father died for his inheritance, he wanted it then and there. And what happened? He wasted it all in escape filled living.

3. BIG TALK

Do you know anybody who is a self-proclaimed expert? Whatever needs to be done, they always know the best way. No matter what profession you do, they used to do that to. It seems they have worked just about every type of job imaginable. They talk a lot about work, but they never seem to get a lot of it done.

Proverbs 14: 23 says all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

God's Plan for our Attitudes about Work

When we work with a Godly attitude, God can use that work to be the channel of His blessing to us.

1. PROVISION

When we work as we ought, God supplies our needs.

2. PROSPERITY

Those willing to work God’s way will increase their holdings. God’s plan is not necessarily for us all to amass great fortunes, but God desires to meet our needs, and he desires for us to have something to give to those who have need.

3. HONOR

Those who work diligently bring honour to themselves

Proverbs 22:29 says do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

4. SATISFACTION

When we work God’s way, we are content with what we have.

Proverbs 11:18 says the wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

A strong yet balanced WORK ETHIC is essential to building a Generational Blessing in our lives.

Be blessed!

GENERATIONAL BLESSING: Where are you Positioned?

Fri, 14 May 2010 06:48:00 GMT

We recently finished a teaching series titled - GENERATIONAL BLESSING: How to Establish the Touch of God on Your Life!

As a church we discovered that a little over a fourth of Genesis is dedicated to telling Abraham’s story. And much of the rest of the Old Testament testifies to his importance (it’s always Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because God was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – a God focused on Generations). And the reason Abraham is so important to the people of God is because God began His covenant with Israel through him.

God wanted to bless him and his Generational seed and made special promises to him in Genesis 12.

And what were those promises?

1. I will make you into a great nation.
2. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.
4. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
5. And - to your offspring I will give this land.

The challenge is for all of us to think Generationally … realizing that the revelation that we carry that God wants to bless us, realizing that our actions, our faith, our efforts – they all don't just go to work in our own lives, but get passed down to the next generation.

One key to successfully establishing a Generational Blessing on your life is making sure you are POSITIONED in the House of God. Where are you located?

In Psalm 92 it encourages us that:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.

Be deliberate in knowing where God wants you – because he wants to bless you!

There is a place God has designed where opportunities find you, a place where His blessings overtake you. God has a particular place for each one of us, a place where each one of us will find our highest purpose, where we will thrive and reflect God’s blessing and greatness. He has a specific job for you, in a specific community, where you are surrounded by specific people positioned to help you find fulfilment.

Fellowship comes from the Greek word Koinonia, which means “something in common”.

There are four lessons learned from Geese about the power of being connected to a Church family.

When Geese head south for the winter, flying along in V formation, you might be interested to know what science has discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. (Christians who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.)

LESSON ONE: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. (If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going.)

LESSON TWO: When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies at the point to share the workload. (It pays to receive assistance and mentoring when building your life.)

LESSON THREE: The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. (What do we say when we honk from behind?)

LESSON FOUR: Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by a shot and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follows him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly, or until he is dead, and then they catch up with their original group. (If people know we would stand by them like that in church, they would push down the walls to get in.)

When you are in the right place, connected to the right people, that’s when God will release great things into your life. Look for the signs in your own life. Be determined to reach the highest place of blessings. Search your heart. Stay faithful. Be positioned to establish a Generational Blessing in your life.

Be blessed!

FAITH & PATIENCE: the Power Twins

Thu, 13 May 2010 05:27:00 GMT

Is patience difficult for you?

A man in Los Angeles, California, was arrested for negligent discharge of a weapon after shooting his toilet bowl five times with a 38 caliber handgun. He claims that he just got upset. He couldn’t take it any longer. His daughter had flushed a hairbrush earlier in the day and clogged the pipes. So he shot the offending toilet. I have no word on the toilet’s condition, but the man’s patience was long gone.

How are you with patience? It seems that there is always something to try our patience. Having to wait is one of those things

We wait on traffic and we wait in lines
We wait to hear about a new job
We wait to complete school or to retire
We wait to grow up or for maturity in a child
We wait for a decision to be made
We wait for someone to change his or her mind

Every day presents plenty of occasions for training in patience. We can resent waiting, accept it or even get good at it! But one thing is certain - we cannot avoid it.

I call FAITH & PATIENCE the Power Twins. Like baby human twins - which have very similar DNA, work closely together, but have their own unique identity - so too FAITH & PATIENCE are individual forces. But when they are both established in a person's life these two forces have an inseparable connection and help people to walk out their destiny!

In Hebrews 10: 35 - 36 it encourages us to “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.”

Almost everywhere you find faith mentioned in the Bible, you also find patience. Faith and Patience are the Power Twins.

Patience without faith has no power to call into reality the thing desired. On the other hand, faith without patience many times will fail to stand firm on the evidence of the Word that gives deed to things not seen.

One of the most common traditions and mistakes in this area of believing is many people are convinced that trials and tribulations develop faith. Trials and tribulations do not develop faith … faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Trials and Tribulations (the testing of that faith that has already been deposited into your heart) develop patience.

The story is told that the great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was known for his calmness and poise. His intimate friends, however, knew that he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him pacing the floor like a caged lion. ‘What is the trouble, Dr. Brooks?’ asked his friend. ‘The trouble is,’ replied Brooks, ‘that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t.’”

Haven’t we felt the same way many times?

Mix patience with your faith to generate the power to persevere.

Be blessed!