Make it Happen (Mih)

Bethel City Church recently opened their 6th campus!

It took lots of hard work, perseverance and frustrated people to make it happen.

But we got there!

We saw what could be and walked into it until it was fulfilled!

Jesus did something similar with Peter when He asked him three times if he loved him!

He then asked him to complete a task! He painted the picture, gave him the objective, sorted the mission, gave him a call, whatever you want to call it;

‘Feed my sheep’

No small task, but Peter loved Jesus and desired to please Him!

I wonder how many of us are given tasks but fail to complete them? Make excuses? Do something else to fill our time.

It is as though we are highly trained in ways of making excuses, we know best!

But what if we develop a way seeing differently, searching for every opportunity to find a route to where He wants us to go, then nothing is impossible we just have to discover a way!

So what helps us to get there:

• Make

You have to do something! Vision, thoughts, ideas are all important but with no productivity there is nothing to grasp hold of!  Have an unstoppable attitude! know the task and don’t stop until you’re done! Whatever it takes, Whatever the cost!

Takes the steps towards it! It wont happen on its own!

• It

Know you have the ‘it’  factor. This is something that I believe cannot be easily taught but must be something caught! The very drive that you have, the desire to see something fulfilled must be welled up within.

 Jesus looked at Peter and must have seen ‘it’ within Peter! He saw the same within fishermen, tax collectors, prostitutes!

‘It’ is not an academic certificate that allows you to take part! ‘It’ is the belief that you can do what Jesus asks you to do because ‘HE’ believes in YOU!

• Happen

Happenings are made up of things that happen. Every day you make choices some consciously others automatically. Some are good habits, others are limited by our thoughts and attitudes!

You will choose to give up or carry on!  happiness is limited by what happens,  joy is determined by your perception of circumstances. Choose to see that God can bring Good out of every situation. That no matter what happens in your task you can learn from it!

Peter was given a task and one day would give account of his performance!

They’ll be no excuses as he stands alone before his Creator: the one who gave him a clear task.

Jesus believes in YOU!

When someone gives you a task. What will you think?

It will happen!

Now Make it happen!

Father’s house, it’s celebration time!!!

Just been looking at the awesome story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. What a life that boy lived, one of mixed emotions; Excitement, loneliness, joy and disappointment???

In this awesome adventure story, he eventually comes back to his father and they begin to celebrate!

First of all we have to understand how the locals would have felt when seeing his return. He would have been subject to various insults and abuse. 

Why?

There was a ceremony within those regions that was designed to reject anyone from their society who committed offenses that caused them to relate to the gentiles. 

This boy had sold his inheritance  to the gentiles and he even ate with the pigs! He was as good as dead! 

It was a funeral cermony!

He would have been slandered by the whole town; a terror worst than death!

Imagine the fear in walking back to his father’s house. Yet he was prepared to pay the cost! He had nothing left to lose!

What stops us from returning to his house?? Snow?? Just a thought!

Although the village would be having a tantrum, there was someone else who would have been stiring up a community to celebrate his return. It was his father-the town planner, planning a party!!!!

What an awesome story- image it in hollywood, gun fights, fisticuffs and naughty words.

This is the adventure of returning to our Father.

When we gather in the house of our father a massive party should take place, imagine the joy and excitement. You were once rejected by so many but NOW you are accepted and HOME!

I get so excited during a city gathering here at Bethel City Church. The house is filled with laughter(not too much as I’m a christian) and passion for our God. Rejoice!Rejoice!!!!! Bouncing and singing, partying like we’ve never partied!! Come and join in the celebration !!

However the story’s not over. We see his brother, who had been loyal to his father, not happy with the celebration and the expenses poured out.

 No expense was spared for this celebration!

We  witness a community deciding to go against the normal culture but also within the ‘Father’s house” we see a misunderstanding of the reality of this good news!!

I love the house of God and love to celebrate the good news. I was once dead but now I am alive!! It was not the celebration that was important but the boy coming home!!

I look forward to celebrating at each gathering across the city this weekend.

I’d like to invite you to a celebration this weekend!!

• No matter what the culture says within your workplace, home, church or city, Choose to celebrate!
• No matter what attitude or face your brother may have, choose to celebrate!!!
• No matter what opposition you face to get to a gathering, choose to be a part of the celebration.

… because you were once dead but NOW you’re ALIVE!!!!

Bear in mind!

Bear in mind! 

An everyday saying?

I know that the phrase that I previously refered to is making reference to a persons thoughts being held about a particular point.

However when I heard it today! I heard something different! I heard the word spoken in reference to a person having ’a bear in their mind’

It got me thinking about David who had to deal with the bears before he could fight the giant! Now don’t get all theological on me (if u just have then just check your learning ability or attitude of heart, do u still want to carry on?!?!), I understand that it isn’t necessarily talking metaphorically within the context of the scripture but..

….it makes a point!

Everyone faces giants! Matter of fact! Even when the promised land was given they  had to take on giants!

David had dealt with the fear and worries of  a boy alone both day and night, he had mastered  his sling, shepherded his father’s sheep and was ready, full of confidence and listening for an opportunity!

His mind was clear! There were no bears in the mind! They had been defeated!

When approaching the battle lines, the bible says that David ‘heard…..’

He was open to allow God’s will. This battle of the mind was over. He was ready to walk in the promises and  take down giants!

Don’t allow any negative thoughts to overtake you! Ponder on the wonderful thoughts He has for you! believe His promises and listen for an opportunity then just like David, grab it!

You like?

 just something to bear in mind!

People can be the wind beneath our wings or the anchor on our boat!

Do I lift others up or pull them down? a question I ask myself more and more! It’s so easy to open one’s mouth without thinking about what we are saying. It may all feel good and satisfy our emotions but does it actually profit us?

 When we speak words of faith we are able to lift ourselves and others to another level.

When words of hope are spoken or outworked through actions then we are able to release life to ourselves and others!

When we love those around us then people begin to gain understanding of their value and worth and what God actually thinks about them.

faith, hope and love! Many people search for these three words each day! We have the power to overcome not only our personal problems but to be a light on a hill, shining so that others can see.

Jesus himself made sure that those around him were built up. He gave them words of faith and modelled this through his ministry. He brought hope to the dieing and loved through his sacrifice! What an awesome model we have.

Those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God’  The word son is talking about a son who grows up to be like their father. That they reflect their father’s character. When we act like Christ then we are true sons! We have grown from simply a child or baby(immature) into a son(mature) that is reflecting his glory!

Choose today what you will be: an anchor that weighs down or a wind (spirit)beneath their wings that lifts them up.

Is what we see real?

I love the teaching of Jesus where he tells us in Matthew 7 v1-5 not to judge others, or by what we have judged them we too will be judged.

He then gives a great visual and practical example that puts everything into perspective! Notice how it’s all about how we see! He is trying to say that how we see may be incorrect, what we are seeing may be true but it also may be wrong! Sounds contradictory I know but wait and see.

Good relationships are not simply the icing on the cake to life,  as John Maxwell puts it ‘They are the cake!’

If we are to develop intimate and committed relationships then we are to understand that we are see people we are often seeing them through our eye lense and can sometimes judge them through our experiences of life!

In the scripture it  says,’ ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye.’

The person first of all wanted to sort out a fellow brother and sees an issue or problem in their life that doesn’t line up with how we should live, they may genuinely feel that they are helping. But the scripture tells us to first of all remove the plank, or the bigger problem from our lives.

We often see things through a lense that we carry with us. These lenses are mainly created through life’s experiences some good and others not too  beneficial. Who we are determines what we see! 

So what affects how we see?

1. Genetics

This is the one that cannot be changed by choice! we are all unique created individually and we inherit our genes! We have to understand that we have weakness’ and strengths. When it comes to your character weakness’ work on them. When it comes to your giftedness go for it!

2. Self image

When we have a positive self-image we often see the best in others! and the same goes for a negative image! That’s why Jesus says ‘ Love your neighbour as yourself’ First learn to love who you are and understand that there is no one like you. You were created in the image of God to be all that you were called to be. Love who you are and love life!

3. experiences of life

We’ve all got stories to tell! We can’t change the past but we can choose from now on what experiences we wish to influence us. Choices that we make are influenced from our past on how we see things. We can actually reprogram ourselves to have positive experiences as we make different choices. It’s about making sensible and wise choices.

4.Attitude and choices

 I understand that for some people past experiences can be painful but if we choose not to allow them to dictate our future then we can live and be in control of our own destiny! Life can throw various experiences at us some through our wrong choices others, well, let’s just say that’s life! We therefore have some control but also limited control over what is thrown at us. However we do have full control over our attitudes. whether responsive or non responsive, open or closed, etc.  in our relationships.  We may not be able to change the world around us and what is thrown at us but we can change what we see within us! That’s choice! That’s attitude!

5. Friends

Those who are closet to you will help to shape and mould who you are. It’s important to choose friends wisely, people with a positive outlook and good attitudes will surely rub off on you and those around you!  It is important to remember that when we see faults in our friends it is not about focusing on their imperfections but about our attitude towards them. When we change our focus and how we see ourselves then we begin to see them differently.

The way you see others is determined by who you are! Choose to invest in yourself and into others.

Watching over the flock!

I have a passion and desire within me to ensure everyone in the house is cared for! Notice how I said everyone in the house! My responsibility to my wife and children is my priority as they are the ones who are a part of me. I would go wherever i have to in order that my children and wife are protected, provided for and even rescued out of extreme difficulties. When people are planted in the house (laying their lives down for each other) it causes me to search both heaven and earth to find such people.

Proverbs 27 23

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.

This talks about being alert, observing and being careful to give attention to your herds. Notice how it says YOUR herds. It would be impossible for you to watch over all the people of this world, yet the bible clearly shows us that we are entrusted with a certain amount of people to watch over.

Firstly as men we are to govern over our families. This to meet speaks of one having authority, yet anyone knows that authority only comes when we take on responsibility! Jesus had ultimate authority which came with a huge price! However the rewards of paying that price far outweighed the return of his investment! As men we are told in the book of Ephesians to lay down our lives for our wives as christ did for the church! WOW! Our wives are to be the ones who we are to adorn. we are to be living examples of Christ, putting his word into action! Our words that we speak over and to them are to be the very fragrance of Christ if we are to see they flourish and grow into all they are called to be.

Secondly we are to watch over our children. This responsibility to nurture and love is one that must not be taken lightly. We are to create an environment that first of all protects but at the same time allows them to make mistakes and learn. We are to be living examples, we are to respond to their needs, we are to let them be themselves, we are to teach them through living out his word! oh and to enjoy them if that was a little intense!

Finally we have a responsibility to our wider family and our  fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. With the business of life it is easy to focus on your needs and your immediate family needs (which are important) but miss the bigger picture. If we are given responsibility to look after a small group, a youth group, a congregation, a nation or simply a friend who has been entrusted to you, we are to honor them and watch over them. When we honor those around us and use what has been given to use then the bible says that to those who have invested wisely then more will be given!

The church of Jesus Christ is the most beautiful thing, apart from my wife-thought I had better get that in, that I have ever seen.

Something inside of me drives me to do the best that I can do in order that my family and church are protected and cared for.

Who have you been entrusted with? maybe you’ve missed the one who you were to encourage . It’s not too late! Open your eyes and begin to watch over your fellow brothers and sisters, learn to lay your lives down and see his glory revealed through you!

Why not start by being generous? what you sow you will reap!

What ever you want me to do, I’ll do for you!

How often are we asked a question and give a response as forthgiving as Jonathan’s response in 1 Samuel Ch 20v 4 ?

And Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it for you.”

Here we read about David’s difficulties and Jonathan’s dilemma. Saul is NOT HAPPY with David and has some kind of personality disorder throughout his relationship with David. On several occasions he tries to kill him.

Jonathan as we read loves David but at the same time Honors his father. Jonathan   makes a covenent with David and David agrees! They simply make a decision to stand by each other, no matter what the cost!

It says in 1 Sam  ch 20 v 17 ‘And Jonathan made David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself!’

What confidence and security!

We have to remember that Jonathan would have been the next King however he knew that David was annointed to be King and take his place!

What stuff would he have to have dealt with? Jealousy, envy, selfish ambition?

 But no, he chose to submitt and be like Christ! This to me is a shadow of what was to come. Jesus himself taught this same instruction. ‘To love your neighbour as yourself.

These words when spoken can seem so easy to say but to live out in the various circumstances can be a different story!

So how was Jonathan able to show such love and kindness?

• He knew how to be intimate with David which reflects his intimacy with God.
• He put others before himself
• He knew the importance of honoring

The love of God, which is his character and who He is we see outworked in their relationship. This to me shows that Jonathan had a knowledge of the living God, not just in words but in actions. He  would have read scriptures and kept these words within his heart, and at this point when he needed God the most we see the Grace and love of God outworked through him, for God’s purposes.

Can you imagine how Jonathan would have felt at times? But he chose to put thoses feelings aside and serve! He put others before himself. He was confident in his relationship and knew what God thought of him. He was secure and able to trust even thought he didn’t know the outcome.

Jonathan later dies besides his father. How sad! but wait it’s not finished their.

We read in 2 Sam ch 9 v 1

‘David asked, is there anyone still left of the house of saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’

Jonathan’s faith was still outworking through King David! He was repaying the honour and love of Jonathan. We then see a broken man named Mephibosheth brought to the King’s Table and rewards are beyond anything he could have dreamed of. When entering the King’s presence v 6 it says that Mephibosheth bowed down to pay him honour.

He (sorry but it takes ages to right his name) then receives a reward to sit at the Kings table and ate like one of the king’s sons! All of the land was restored to him and he enjoyed such abundance.

This was the reward of honoring that Jonathan had seen and was being outworked through David into the next generation. Notice the words that Ziba (Saul’s servant)says:

‘Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do’

WOW! it’s payback time, the same words that Jonathan had declared to David was returning to Jonathan’s son! Jonathan had put his life on the word of God and now it was returning back to the next generation!

The bibe says that God’s word does not return void, when we  sow the word of God into our lives and lalow him to outwork his plans and purposes we see remarkable results.

Choose today to lay your life down for others and build generationally by making an oath with your God;

Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you!

 

 

 

Ask or think

God is willing, so often we hear that phrase but how deep in our hearts does it actually go? or maybe our ‘thick’ skulls delay the process in allowing it to pass through into our minds and transform our thinking?

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
Ephesians 3:20

In this scripture it is clear that God is not only willing but more than able, yet we can doubt the ability of Almighty God, the one who created the heavens and the earth, who knows you better than you know yourself.

To me this makes it sound clear and simple-ASK!

‘Well’ your thinking ‘I’ve already asked’. 

When we ask someone for something there is a way in which we do this, with sincerity of heart and belief in why you are asking. We’ve all been there when we’ve demanded a new pair of trainers or the latest bike from  a parent or adult. Sometimes it came off and other times it was a flop!

Every parent wants to see their child happy and to meet their needs, but how many of us want to give them abundance? I know what your thinking now! You’ll spoil them rotten! Not true if they ask correctly and out of a sincere heart.

Complaining and nagging never got the Isralites anywhere, but God still met their needs, over and above! God knew their hearts and still provided, that’s his character, Jehovah Jireh!

In matthew 7 v 7 the word ‘ask‘ is descibed as  a request to someone in higher authority such as a parent, king or begger to someone with substance. This type of asking is a persitant asking but not complaining.

When we postion ourselves in relationship to our father in heaven and truly know him as father, king and a loving God we begin by faith to release and live in the abundance that he promises. We give thanks for his promise and faithfullness, and enter into his presence!

The scipture also states that we can also ‘think’. When we focused as previouisly stated on our relationship with our father and his promises our mind is renewed by the washing of His word.

Some of our previous relationships or still ongoing relationships can cause us to have wrong views of God if we base our image of God on our bad experiences of life. When we fix our eyes on Jesus he is able to perfect our faith and we see the outworking of his word in our lives.

Eventhough the view we have in asking can be one looking up to God as one in higher authority, this too can cause us to see ourselves as a little person, which compared to Almighty God is true, we must also see that God is with us.

Emmanuel- God is with us, his power is outworking in us! This blows my mind, let alone renews it. The God who created the Heavens and the earth put himself in you! All of his fullness, how generous and kind! He gave everything for you.

When we ask or think on his abundance it says that ‘according’  to the power it works in us. When we act by faith he goes before us and provides, he takes out our enemies and smashes strongholds.

I want to encourage you to ask, to step out and know that he is with you and willing!

Believe and go for it.

Or go for it and believe.

Whichever way move and he moves! He is more than willing!

 

Did God really say?

Did God really say?  Interesting challenge on the character of God. From the beginning the relationship between man and God has always been challellenged. God’s people are always challenged on their relationship with the living God. We have an enemy that comes to steal, kill and destroy. The parable of the sower is a pictoral example of how the truth of God is planted within our hearts but the enemy comes to take it away. It also shows how the challenges of life can also cause it to be unfruitable.

What we hear with our hearts is vital if we are to have a fruitful, life giving resource for others to drink from.

Proverbs 4 v 23  Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the well spring of lie.

When we have revelation of God’s goodness within our hearts we must be determined to hold onto the truth. Many people will speak into or over our lives but it is God’s image in us that we must continually be fixed on.  When we listen to preaching or the average jo in the street we must ensure when listening that it only comfirms that which we had already heard God say or lines up with the written word.. Just as Adam and Eve were challenged on God’s word, we too will always be challenged to hold onto what God actually said.

The problem I believe  with many chritsians is that they never heard God in the first place. It is no good trying to hold onto something that somebody else said, it must be a personal revelation that can be focused on at any point- this life giving source, the Bread of life, the one who sustains, overcomes, breaks down strongholds and raises the dead is what causes a person to live a life in abundance.

 

I encourage any person to dig into the word of God, through his grace ask him to speak to you, reveal himself and allow him into your heart. As we listen and fix our eyes on Him daily then we are sure to hold onto and become all we were designed to be.

If you are discourraged then I encourage you to fix your eyes on what God actually said to you in the beginning, what character of God was revealed to you? If your not sure then ask him to speak! do whatever it takes to find him!

In the old testament when God appeared they would build an alter to remember God.  Today we can build an alter, not physically but within our hearts and mind. We are to fix our eyes on a revelation and hold steadfast to what God said. This is not a dead piece of stone but a living stone!

Jesus is often questioned on who He is. He is never changed by people’s opinions and beliefs,  He is true to the one whom his eyes are fixed on-His father.

We too will be challenged to be someone we are not! It is important that we remain true to our hearts and simply be ourselves.

Psalm 41 v 12 In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence for ever.

Our integrity and right standing with God is challenged but when we fix our eyes on Jesus and follow this with correct actions we see his presence in our lives!

You are in right standing with God!

You are accepted in the beloved

He’s well pleased with you

Your an unstoppable force!

His goodness goes on and on…..

Keep your eyes fixed on his promises and learn to enjoy the ride!

Real faith

I love the faith of the centurion in Matthew Ch 8. Here is recalled an event where a centurion soldier is asking Jesus for help, not for himself but for someone else who is suffering. The centurion then goes on to say that he doesn’t deserve to have Jesus come into his house but just say the word!

Jesus’ response to the people following was that he had not seen great faith like this amongst his people.

So what was operating in this man’s life to exert such great faith?

• He understood the principle of honouring (very powerful)

We here at Bethel City Church are very busy, and it is important to delegate people with responsibilites and authority, notice that I stated delegate as all authority is given from God! If the pastor had to do everything then he wouldn’t be able to operate effectively!

Jesus was very busy and the centurion had recognised his authority. He didn’t want to take up any of his precious time, but all it needed was his command as he had ultimate authority: if he said it it would be done! We need to grasp the principle of doing all that we can to support and follow those who lead us.

Here we see him reverencing Jesus, putting him in his place of honour. But how had he learned this?

• he had learned to serve!

The centurion was a man under authority, he had also others under him. He had been promoted at some point from the place of serving someone above him. We need to understand that we have to start somewhere-just take a step and serve to the best of your ability!

Through serving others he had earned his reward, his heart was right towards them above and below! He respected those who served him as well as those he served!

Jesus said that if you want to be great in His Kingdom then you need to serve!

The challenge with our society today is that we live in a democracy where evryone has a say! Where everyone  is taught to have a right and an opinion, that they should be treated as an equal! We here this evrywhere.

The difference with Christianity is that it has kingdom principles. There is a King who has authority and he delegates authority to those under him. If we followed this chain then we would recieve the reward that Jesus promises.

Jesus’ word is sufficent for any situation or circumstance. The Centurion was outworking the commands of God within his life, they were so natural to him, kept within his heart- the word of God was working. He had learned to honour!

I believe when we serve and honour those around us then it releases the power and presence of God: You are building our lives on the word of God and seeing them outworked through our lives.

Faith in the word of God was being outworked!