Worship Anytime, Anywhere.
27/10/09 08:06 Filed in: Worship
John 4
I enjoy taking time to think intentionally; those moments set aside to just focus on something specific - it allows my brain to recharge, my spirit to expand and more than anything it often sparks new creativity. I also enjoy reading as it allows me to learn about other people, technology or cultures and often leads me back to intentional thinking, but most of all I love to worship.
As a songwriter and worship leader, the expression of God through music, for me is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling parts of my day. I spend huge amounts of time thinking about words, melodies, harmonies, rhythms and phrases that can creatively and simplistically express the different facets or reflections of God, life, faith, hope and love but after all that’s done, I often just end up worshipping the Creator for all that He is, all that He does and all that He’s given me.
I am desperate to worship God in every area of my life and I want Him to know that no matter what I do or where I am, my desire and my will is to worship Him.
The album You Are My Everything really sums it all up for us. God IS everything. However learning in truth what that really means and how it will change your life takes time. Off the back of the album, we are often asked how’d you do it, how did you capture the moment? Well, the answer is always easy but explaining what we mean is another issue altogether. While it is about the music and the journey, it’s really about creating an atmosphere for the Holy Sprit to have His way. We’ve discovered that complete surrender and total obedience is the doorway into doing this. “Atmospheres” are something God’s Spirit has really dealt with us all about. We’ve discovered along the way that “how” we worship Him, can determine how He reveals Himself to us. For example if we worship Him as Jehovah Rapha, a healing atmosphere starts emerging, and He manifests Himself by bringing healing to the people.
I often say that while leading corporate worship I’m so hungry for His impression on my spirit that I will hang on the gates of Heaven until they open up and let me in. I am expecting and determined to pull something of Heaven back down to earth. Now that may not be theologically correct but the point I am making is; my desire is to stay in the presence until it has collided with me, changed me and most importantly, changed others. Trees don’t eat their own fruit and likewise, when leading corporate worship my role is not to hold on to what I have but to release it.
As a band we endeavor to worship from a place of revelation not just from a biblical understanding of what worship is or should be. We know the covenant we have with God and because of that we don’t strive to get into His presence or even have to strive to stay in His presence. We have the RIGHT to be in it and it lives in us; we just need to cultivate it, let it grow in us and then when we’re all together, release it back unto the King.
We may bow, kneel, sit, jump, dance, shout, sing, pray, talk and even meditate as different expressions of the act of worship but behind all of these, our spirits are worshipping from the place of knowing God as our Father and our Friend. It’s about us offering all of what we are to Him, knowing He’s desperate to have all of us.
Worship is always personal before it’s ever public, it always starts with an individual before it’s ever corporate. How we live with Him each day will shape how we worship Him in a group.
Worship is so much more than singing a song with our hands lifted high or crying our eyes out with our faces on the floor. Worship is the highest expression of our total surrender and complete obedience to our Father. It’s the highest of all vocations; the very reason for our existence so let’s not confine it to the context of church or some “Christian” meeting.
Before we go further have a read of John 4 now.
Did you catch it? The Samaritan women at first didn’t know Jesus or understand what He was saying. When she finally began to understand what He meant, she began to know Him and in that moment of being in a place of revelation, received eternal life. Now I want to highlight verses 21-24 for the purposes of worshipping anytime, anywhere.
To paraphrase it says “a time will come when some will know Who they are worshipping and must do so in spirit and in truth. These are the ones He is looking for.”
I don’t know about you but I want to be one of those!
Let your worship be everyday and let it express love and devotion to the One who made you into what you are. Soon the world will see the outrageousness of God’s capacity and the depth of His love. In everything you do; surrender and be obedient to Him and let your life be filled with the kind of love a thousand mountains could not contain.
The Father desperately wants to have you close to His heart and He wants to have a deeper, more “real” relationship with you. Worship with every breath, every fibre in your being and let each day be filled with acts of worship, even the “9 to 5”. Remember, He created you to worship Him and He’s always ready and waiting….
Be blessed,
Jamie Anderson
I enjoy taking time to think intentionally; those moments set aside to just focus on something specific - it allows my brain to recharge, my spirit to expand and more than anything it often sparks new creativity. I also enjoy reading as it allows me to learn about other people, technology or cultures and often leads me back to intentional thinking, but most of all I love to worship.
As a songwriter and worship leader, the expression of God through music, for me is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling parts of my day. I spend huge amounts of time thinking about words, melodies, harmonies, rhythms and phrases that can creatively and simplistically express the different facets or reflections of God, life, faith, hope and love but after all that’s done, I often just end up worshipping the Creator for all that He is, all that He does and all that He’s given me.
I am desperate to worship God in every area of my life and I want Him to know that no matter what I do or where I am, my desire and my will is to worship Him.
The album You Are My Everything really sums it all up for us. God IS everything. However learning in truth what that really means and how it will change your life takes time. Off the back of the album, we are often asked how’d you do it, how did you capture the moment? Well, the answer is always easy but explaining what we mean is another issue altogether. While it is about the music and the journey, it’s really about creating an atmosphere for the Holy Sprit to have His way. We’ve discovered that complete surrender and total obedience is the doorway into doing this. “Atmospheres” are something God’s Spirit has really dealt with us all about. We’ve discovered along the way that “how” we worship Him, can determine how He reveals Himself to us. For example if we worship Him as Jehovah Rapha, a healing atmosphere starts emerging, and He manifests Himself by bringing healing to the people.
I often say that while leading corporate worship I’m so hungry for His impression on my spirit that I will hang on the gates of Heaven until they open up and let me in. I am expecting and determined to pull something of Heaven back down to earth. Now that may not be theologically correct but the point I am making is; my desire is to stay in the presence until it has collided with me, changed me and most importantly, changed others. Trees don’t eat their own fruit and likewise, when leading corporate worship my role is not to hold on to what I have but to release it.
As a band we endeavor to worship from a place of revelation not just from a biblical understanding of what worship is or should be. We know the covenant we have with God and because of that we don’t strive to get into His presence or even have to strive to stay in His presence. We have the RIGHT to be in it and it lives in us; we just need to cultivate it, let it grow in us and then when we’re all together, release it back unto the King.
We may bow, kneel, sit, jump, dance, shout, sing, pray, talk and even meditate as different expressions of the act of worship but behind all of these, our spirits are worshipping from the place of knowing God as our Father and our Friend. It’s about us offering all of what we are to Him, knowing He’s desperate to have all of us.
Worship is always personal before it’s ever public, it always starts with an individual before it’s ever corporate. How we live with Him each day will shape how we worship Him in a group.
Worship is so much more than singing a song with our hands lifted high or crying our eyes out with our faces on the floor. Worship is the highest expression of our total surrender and complete obedience to our Father. It’s the highest of all vocations; the very reason for our existence so let’s not confine it to the context of church or some “Christian” meeting.
Before we go further have a read of John 4 now.
Did you catch it? The Samaritan women at first didn’t know Jesus or understand what He was saying. When she finally began to understand what He meant, she began to know Him and in that moment of being in a place of revelation, received eternal life. Now I want to highlight verses 21-24 for the purposes of worshipping anytime, anywhere.
To paraphrase it says “a time will come when some will know Who they are worshipping and must do so in spirit and in truth. These are the ones He is looking for.”
I don’t know about you but I want to be one of those!
Let your worship be everyday and let it express love and devotion to the One who made you into what you are. Soon the world will see the outrageousness of God’s capacity and the depth of His love. In everything you do; surrender and be obedient to Him and let your life be filled with the kind of love a thousand mountains could not contain.
The Father desperately wants to have you close to His heart and He wants to have a deeper, more “real” relationship with you. Worship with every breath, every fibre in your being and let each day be filled with acts of worship, even the “9 to 5”. Remember, He created you to worship Him and He’s always ready and waiting….
Be blessed,
Jamie Anderson
0 Comments
The Sound
26/08/09 16:11 Filed in: thoughts
My wife found something I wrote on a piece of paper back in October of 2001 - check this out:
There’s a new sound coming: It’s a sound like none we’ve ever heard coming from those we’ve never seen before.
It’s louder, stronger and wider than any sound we’ve heard. Look out for it will over take you, it will infect you. It will be unlike anything you have experienced.
It’s the sound of an army calling, sounding the charge. Its not a charge of war to bring violence but to bring love, love the world needs is God’s love – Love that changes, breaks yokes of heaviness, depression, suicide, rebellion and hoplessness.
You can hear it…. A call to peace, righteousness, holiness, purity, Godliness and it’s coming from the young, but they are not young in Spirit.They are not young in desire, they are seasoned to God. They have been infected and carrying a sound for so long that they can’t hold back anymore.
Make way – it’s coming NOW IS THE SOUND OF GOD!
I have NO idea what made me write it OR if I even came up with it BUT - it's good enough to share and if it belong to some one else - rock on!
There’s a new sound coming: It’s a sound like none we’ve ever heard coming from those we’ve never seen before.
It’s louder, stronger and wider than any sound we’ve heard. Look out for it will over take you, it will infect you. It will be unlike anything you have experienced.
It’s the sound of an army calling, sounding the charge. Its not a charge of war to bring violence but to bring love, love the world needs is God’s love – Love that changes, breaks yokes of heaviness, depression, suicide, rebellion and hoplessness.
You can hear it…. A call to peace, righteousness, holiness, purity, Godliness and it’s coming from the young, but they are not young in Spirit.They are not young in desire, they are seasoned to God. They have been infected and carrying a sound for so long that they can’t hold back anymore.
Make way – it’s coming NOW IS THE SOUND OF GOD!
I have NO idea what made me write it OR if I even came up with it BUT - it's good enough to share and if it belong to some one else - rock on!
Are You Unwrapped
18/09/08 17:22 Filed in: Podcasts
The Power of Opportunity
07/01/08 17:27 Filed in: Podcasts
Jamie speaking at Commonwealth Church on a Sunday. Click on the Podcast to listen.
Turning the Tide
31/08/07 05:35 Filed in: Articles
I Thess 5:12-28, Romans 8
About 2 months ago I had one of those moments when God was wanting my attention but I was too busy: too wrapped up in me and the needs that I felt were important. I was too blind to see that He was waiting to show me something really important.
My wife came back from being at a conference in Italy and said; "we need to go on a fast - God needs us to move to the next level but we need a breakthrough!" A fast I thought; why do we need to do that? Surely we can just make the decision to move to the next level and get on with it! But I chose to listen to why "we" needed to go on this fast. It was really one of those moments when I knew that in order to move up a level, we needed to dig deeper in Him and this time that meant a physical sacrifice for a spiritual release.
We decided what kind of fast we would do and planned to start 21 days leading up to our 10 year wedding anniversary. The night before we started, we took communion, prayed and asked the Lord to begin to reveal the things in our hearts that would need to be removed and/or repaired in order for us to really see this breakthrough.
Do you ever read something in the Bible that hits you square between the eyes? I did on Day 1.
Go grab your Bible and read I Thessalonians 5:12-28.
What a great passage of scripture - don't forget where Paul is when he wrote this.
By the time I had finished my devotional time that morning I realised that this was one of those moments when the Father was speaking directly to me as a result of what I prayed the night before and I began to understand what He was wanting me to see.
I work for my parents in full time ministry; Prayer for the Nations is their vision and I serve that vision unto God and for them. God wanted to show me that I had forgotten how to work for Rod & Julie Anderson, lead worship for them, receive from their ministry, manage the staff under me and be a peaceful, joyful, thankful part of the family.
I had forgotten that I have to recognise 3 relationships; Family, Ministry and Employment. They all work differently and require different perspectives but if one is out of balance, all of them will be affected. Somewhere along the way I lost the plumb line on respect and honour to my leaders, living peacefully with my family, who I was serving and how I should serve. It wasn't intentional and I was mostly oblivious to what I was doing or not doing.
As soon as I read this passage; it was clear and painful to see that there were some things in my heart that were holding me back personally, holding back my relationship with my parents and also holding back areas of the ministry. It took a few days to work through the feelings that I experienced but I was determined to come through this one!
I had an opportunity to have lunch with my parents a week or so later and shared what was in my heart. I asked them to forgive me, to guide me and to help me put everything back into right perspective. It was really well received and they loved on me as family, accepted my apology as employers and even encouraged me as ministers. It was a powerful moment on every level of our relationship. I left lunch rather tender, after bearing all in a public restaurant, yet stronger and freer for doing what I know needed to be done.
Just near the end of our fast an evening meeting was planned called "Turning the Tide - a night of breakthrough" where my wife and I were to lead worship, and Mom & Dad would both minister together - they rarely do, so it was really exciting and as a team we felt a supernatural expectancy. God showed up big time and it was a defining moment in the life of the ministry where God really showed us our next step.
I know that if I hadn't seen and dealt with what God had shown me I would have missed my breakthrough that came that night.
As I close I want to do two things:
1. Ask you to examine your heart - has it turned against someone or something that you should be respecting and honouring? Or is it holding onto something that isn't giving you life? If so ask for forgiveness, let go of the bad stuff that your holding on to and begin to believe God for your breakthrough. He will be faithful.
2. I want you to pray this prayer: "Father, thank you that you love me no matter what and that Your love heals all things. Please show me the places in my heart that don't reflect your love and please reveal how I can show respect and honour to those around me in my home, at my work place and in my church. Father I ask that you would show me the path to victory in my life and I ask for my breakthrough.
When you have done this take a moment to re-read Romans 8 again (I talked about it last time) and begin your life in His sprit, looking for your breakthrough!
About 2 months ago I had one of those moments when God was wanting my attention but I was too busy: too wrapped up in me and the needs that I felt were important. I was too blind to see that He was waiting to show me something really important.
My wife came back from being at a conference in Italy and said; "we need to go on a fast - God needs us to move to the next level but we need a breakthrough!" A fast I thought; why do we need to do that? Surely we can just make the decision to move to the next level and get on with it! But I chose to listen to why "we" needed to go on this fast. It was really one of those moments when I knew that in order to move up a level, we needed to dig deeper in Him and this time that meant a physical sacrifice for a spiritual release.
We decided what kind of fast we would do and planned to start 21 days leading up to our 10 year wedding anniversary. The night before we started, we took communion, prayed and asked the Lord to begin to reveal the things in our hearts that would need to be removed and/or repaired in order for us to really see this breakthrough.
Do you ever read something in the Bible that hits you square between the eyes? I did on Day 1.
Go grab your Bible and read I Thessalonians 5:12-28.
What a great passage of scripture - don't forget where Paul is when he wrote this.
By the time I had finished my devotional time that morning I realised that this was one of those moments when the Father was speaking directly to me as a result of what I prayed the night before and I began to understand what He was wanting me to see.
I work for my parents in full time ministry; Prayer for the Nations is their vision and I serve that vision unto God and for them. God wanted to show me that I had forgotten how to work for Rod & Julie Anderson, lead worship for them, receive from their ministry, manage the staff under me and be a peaceful, joyful, thankful part of the family.
I had forgotten that I have to recognise 3 relationships; Family, Ministry and Employment. They all work differently and require different perspectives but if one is out of balance, all of them will be affected. Somewhere along the way I lost the plumb line on respect and honour to my leaders, living peacefully with my family, who I was serving and how I should serve. It wasn't intentional and I was mostly oblivious to what I was doing or not doing.
As soon as I read this passage; it was clear and painful to see that there were some things in my heart that were holding me back personally, holding back my relationship with my parents and also holding back areas of the ministry. It took a few days to work through the feelings that I experienced but I was determined to come through this one!
I had an opportunity to have lunch with my parents a week or so later and shared what was in my heart. I asked them to forgive me, to guide me and to help me put everything back into right perspective. It was really well received and they loved on me as family, accepted my apology as employers and even encouraged me as ministers. It was a powerful moment on every level of our relationship. I left lunch rather tender, after bearing all in a public restaurant, yet stronger and freer for doing what I know needed to be done.
Just near the end of our fast an evening meeting was planned called "Turning the Tide - a night of breakthrough" where my wife and I were to lead worship, and Mom & Dad would both minister together - they rarely do, so it was really exciting and as a team we felt a supernatural expectancy. God showed up big time and it was a defining moment in the life of the ministry where God really showed us our next step.
I know that if I hadn't seen and dealt with what God had shown me I would have missed my breakthrough that came that night.
As I close I want to do two things:
1. Ask you to examine your heart - has it turned against someone or something that you should be respecting and honouring? Or is it holding onto something that isn't giving you life? If so ask for forgiveness, let go of the bad stuff that your holding on to and begin to believe God for your breakthrough. He will be faithful.
2. I want you to pray this prayer: "Father, thank you that you love me no matter what and that Your love heals all things. Please show me the places in my heart that don't reflect your love and please reveal how I can show respect and honour to those around me in my home, at my work place and in my church. Father I ask that you would show me the path to victory in my life and I ask for my breakthrough.
When you have done this take a moment to re-read Romans 8 again (I talked about it last time) and begin your life in His sprit, looking for your breakthrough!
Sonship
18/05/07 06:31 Filed in: Articles
Romans 8
This Chapter will rock your world and if you have an amplified Bible read it from there - pick out verses 13 to 16 and here we go!
A few weeks ago I was having a conversation over dinner with a very close friend. The conversation started on the subject of my last Life File - "The King and the Priest" (Ezra 7) but quickly progressed to the principle of "sonship" as in you and I are God's sons... or daughters, as the case may be and what that means. It really challenged me hard.
I realised that I really didn't know what that meant, so my friend used a great analogy. He likened my relationship to God with my relationship to my Dads. It doesn't matter what time of the day or what they are doing - if I need to speak with them, I do. I don't schedule an appointment; I don't have to approach them a certain way and I definitely don't have to be worthy of an audience with them in order to get their attention. Because I am their son and they love me - I have the relationship to be with them whenever I need or want. This is sonship or daughtership!
This is what we have with God but we don't often see it this way, do we?
Do you ever strive to please Him? Do you ever think "If I do this then maybe He will notice and do that?" Have you ever tried to act a certain way or talk a certain way thinking it will get you closer to Him?
If I were to see Him in the way I do my earthly fathers it would mean that I wouldn't strive for God's attention...
Romans 8: 15-16
'For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption the Spirit producing sonship in the bliss of which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God.'
Can you see it that way? Do you see yourself as HIS? It very quickly let's you realise that you can't do anything to make Him love you any more or any less. Once you accept that fact you might find you will stop striving for what you want from Him. The problem with striving is that it means to keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. STOP striving and start living!
I want to encourage you to see yourself the way that God does - as one of His very special ones. He longs for you to just drop by, stop in and hang out. So why not get over yourself, act like one of His kids and see what happens next.
You'll need to read all of Romans 8 but here's a sneak peek:
Romans 8: 37-39
'Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Be Blessed Child of God!
This Chapter will rock your world and if you have an amplified Bible read it from there - pick out verses 13 to 16 and here we go!
A few weeks ago I was having a conversation over dinner with a very close friend. The conversation started on the subject of my last Life File - "The King and the Priest" (Ezra 7) but quickly progressed to the principle of "sonship" as in you and I are God's sons... or daughters, as the case may be and what that means. It really challenged me hard.
I realised that I really didn't know what that meant, so my friend used a great analogy. He likened my relationship to God with my relationship to my Dads. It doesn't matter what time of the day or what they are doing - if I need to speak with them, I do. I don't schedule an appointment; I don't have to approach them a certain way and I definitely don't have to be worthy of an audience with them in order to get their attention. Because I am their son and they love me - I have the relationship to be with them whenever I need or want. This is sonship or daughtership!
This is what we have with God but we don't often see it this way, do we?
Do you ever strive to please Him? Do you ever think "If I do this then maybe He will notice and do that?" Have you ever tried to act a certain way or talk a certain way thinking it will get you closer to Him?
If I were to see Him in the way I do my earthly fathers it would mean that I wouldn't strive for God's attention...
Romans 8: 15-16
'For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption the Spirit producing sonship in the bliss of which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God.'
Can you see it that way? Do you see yourself as HIS? It very quickly let's you realise that you can't do anything to make Him love you any more or any less. Once you accept that fact you might find you will stop striving for what you want from Him. The problem with striving is that it means to keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. STOP striving and start living!
I want to encourage you to see yourself the way that God does - as one of His very special ones. He longs for you to just drop by, stop in and hang out. So why not get over yourself, act like one of His kids and see what happens next.
You'll need to read all of Romans 8 but here's a sneak peek:
Romans 8: 37-39
'Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Be Blessed Child of God!
The King and the Priest
09/02/07 09:26 Filed in: Articles
I have been doing a lot of reading about the role of a king and the role of a priest and how they are so dependent upon each other. It is really eye opening when you see that the Bible gives us some clear examples of this dynamic and instructs on the importance of each to the other - the fact that one can't do their part successfully without the other, should make us look at why God felt the need to explain it to us more than once and yet we still haven't quite got it figured out.
Read Ezra Chapter 7 now.
Ok, Let's look at what it meant to be king and what it meant to be a priest.
Kings:
Priests:
Priests provided vision; kings provided provision. The two together made a divine coexistence and mutual respect was born out of mutual need. The priests could either bless or curse the kings, so the kings wouldn't dare harm the priests, but the kings also provided for the priests, so the priests didn't dare not provide the vision for the kings. It is really important to understand that one DOES NOT exist without the other.
In Ezra 7:13-26 Artaxerxes writes this letter:
From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.
"I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you. I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God's law, which is in your hand. We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.
"Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem. These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.
"But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem. If you need anything else for your God's Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.
"I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: 'You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you. You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt. Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God's anger against the realm of the king and his sons? I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.'
"And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God's laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment."
If you are a king (symbolic of a market place position) then you should fulfill your role in making provision. If you are a priest (symbolic of a full time ministry position) you should fulfill your role in providing vision so that when king and priest meet - working together; work/business is blessed to prosper and vision is resourced, social action is empowered and reward is experienced. God and His commandments are literally seen working out through Christian faith as we merge the "because we can" with the "look, here's a need".
I was talking to a very close friend of mine over the weekend about the phrase "because we can" - it lives in the core of my church: Hillsong London. I was explaining to him that it simply means: I will, because I can. If there's a need and I can - I will!
I told my friend though, that I had to take a journey from: "because we can - should I?" to "because we can - I will". The difference is now I don't think about whether or not I will, if I can - I just do. I know my role. In these moments someone has provided a vision and I am able to provide provision. If neither one understood the role; vision would never see the light of day.
I want to challenge and encourage you today. God never intended for everyone in His church to be a priest and because we have been taught that way for many years, we now lack the kings we need for long-range planning and long-range provision. We are a bit like a 3-legged stool with one really short leg - we're not very balanced right now.
The kings in the Kingdom are severely underdeveloped and priests tend to create vision much faster than they can create provision. A priest may hear or see the vision sooner than others but as everyone knows, provision is what makes the vision happen. If the priests spend too much time talking about the lack of provision instead of communicating what the vision is; the kings, already underdeveloped, become alienated, feel guilty and remove themselves from the equation, seeing the vision as "the priests" instead of as God's. We must work together to get God's will done, keeping it in our focus that we have to do our part not someone else's.
If we can coexist as kings and priests - equal in importance and relationship, we can build the temple, destroy the enemy, take the spoils of war, provide for the people, care for the house of God and care for the stranger; ultimately hearing from God and showing God to those around us.
Be blessed, stay strong and live in His grace.
Read Ezra Chapter 7 now.
Ok, Let's look at what it meant to be king and what it meant to be a priest.
Kings:
- Destroyed God's enemies.
- Took spoils of war.
- Paid tithes and offerings to the priests.
- Governed the physical affairs of the nation.
Priests:
- Carried the responsibility of hearing from God.
- Offered sacrifices for the people.
- Received tithes and offerings from the people.
- Cared for the house of God.
- Cared for the stranger at the gate.
- Spoke encouragement to the people before battle.
Priests provided vision; kings provided provision. The two together made a divine coexistence and mutual respect was born out of mutual need. The priests could either bless or curse the kings, so the kings wouldn't dare harm the priests, but the kings also provided for the priests, so the priests didn't dare not provide the vision for the kings. It is really important to understand that one DOES NOT exist without the other.
In Ezra 7:13-26 Artaxerxes writes this letter:
From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.
"I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you. I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God's law, which is in your hand. We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.
"Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem. These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.
"But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem. If you need anything else for your God's Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.
"I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: 'You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you. You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt. Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God's anger against the realm of the king and his sons? I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.'
"And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God's laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment."
If you are a king (symbolic of a market place position) then you should fulfill your role in making provision. If you are a priest (symbolic of a full time ministry position) you should fulfill your role in providing vision so that when king and priest meet - working together; work/business is blessed to prosper and vision is resourced, social action is empowered and reward is experienced. God and His commandments are literally seen working out through Christian faith as we merge the "because we can" with the "look, here's a need".
I was talking to a very close friend of mine over the weekend about the phrase "because we can" - it lives in the core of my church: Hillsong London. I was explaining to him that it simply means: I will, because I can. If there's a need and I can - I will!
I told my friend though, that I had to take a journey from: "because we can - should I?" to "because we can - I will". The difference is now I don't think about whether or not I will, if I can - I just do. I know my role. In these moments someone has provided a vision and I am able to provide provision. If neither one understood the role; vision would never see the light of day.
I want to challenge and encourage you today. God never intended for everyone in His church to be a priest and because we have been taught that way for many years, we now lack the kings we need for long-range planning and long-range provision. We are a bit like a 3-legged stool with one really short leg - we're not very balanced right now.
The kings in the Kingdom are severely underdeveloped and priests tend to create vision much faster than they can create provision. A priest may hear or see the vision sooner than others but as everyone knows, provision is what makes the vision happen. If the priests spend too much time talking about the lack of provision instead of communicating what the vision is; the kings, already underdeveloped, become alienated, feel guilty and remove themselves from the equation, seeing the vision as "the priests" instead of as God's. We must work together to get God's will done, keeping it in our focus that we have to do our part not someone else's.
If we can coexist as kings and priests - equal in importance and relationship, we can build the temple, destroy the enemy, take the spoils of war, provide for the people, care for the house of God and care for the stranger; ultimately hearing from God and showing God to those around us.
Be blessed, stay strong and live in His grace.
The Power of Discovery
27/10/06 09:22 Filed in: Articles
Mark 4 & John 14-16
God has hidden things FOR us not FROM us!
Have you ever found an amount of money - a £5, £10 or even maybe £50 note? Do you remember the feeling inside? I do. I was 16 years old going on a youth outing and I found a £20 note just laying in the middle of a busy street. It meant so much that it made my day. You know what is weird about that experience? I already had £40 in my wallet, yet that £20 note meant more to me than what I already had. Why? Because I found it!
There is greater value in the things we discover than the things we are given.
Do you see what is says there in Mark 4v22 "..there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. v23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
That tells me that something's there.. just waiting to be discovered. See, the Bible clearly says that God's has hidden things FOR us not FROM us, and that which has been hidden; will be discovered. All we have to do is look, or listen in the case of Mark 4v23.
Sometimes we cloud our ability to see beyond or hear past where we are because of what's in front. So many times we let the now affect our future - STOP! Greater is He that is IN you than He that is in the world.
In John 14v16 it says "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide in you forever."
Did you notice the capitalisation of the word Helper? That's there because it is referring to one of the 7 facets of the Holy Spirit (Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Standby and Strengthener. Zach 3:9 Amplified). This chapter, John 14, has such a deep impact on our ability to discover what is waiting for us because Jesus is saying that we are to be given another, the Helper - one that will live inside of us. This means we will have the same power living in us that lived in Him.
Have you ever noticed that when ever Jesus performed a miracle it was in His "humanity" not His "divinity". Look it up - in every instance when a miracle was performed it always says Jesus Christ, not Christ Jesus (it is that way for a reason). This is HUGE. It means that God always performs His work through His people!
I want to encourage you - let the Holy Spirit come alive in you, let Him be your Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Standby and Strengthener and see how long it takes for the things which God has hidden FOR you become the things discovered BY you with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Become a discoverer and enjoy the hidden things, revealed today!
God has hidden things FOR us not FROM us!
Have you ever found an amount of money - a £5, £10 or even maybe £50 note? Do you remember the feeling inside? I do. I was 16 years old going on a youth outing and I found a £20 note just laying in the middle of a busy street. It meant so much that it made my day. You know what is weird about that experience? I already had £40 in my wallet, yet that £20 note meant more to me than what I already had. Why? Because I found it!
There is greater value in the things we discover than the things we are given.
Do you see what is says there in Mark 4v22 "..there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. v23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
That tells me that something's there.. just waiting to be discovered. See, the Bible clearly says that God's has hidden things FOR us not FROM us, and that which has been hidden; will be discovered. All we have to do is look, or listen in the case of Mark 4v23.
Sometimes we cloud our ability to see beyond or hear past where we are because of what's in front. So many times we let the now affect our future - STOP! Greater is He that is IN you than He that is in the world.
In John 14v16 it says "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide in you forever."
Did you notice the capitalisation of the word Helper? That's there because it is referring to one of the 7 facets of the Holy Spirit (Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Standby and Strengthener. Zach 3:9 Amplified). This chapter, John 14, has such a deep impact on our ability to discover what is waiting for us because Jesus is saying that we are to be given another, the Helper - one that will live inside of us. This means we will have the same power living in us that lived in Him.
Have you ever noticed that when ever Jesus performed a miracle it was in His "humanity" not His "divinity". Look it up - in every instance when a miracle was performed it always says Jesus Christ, not Christ Jesus (it is that way for a reason). This is HUGE. It means that God always performs His work through His people!
I want to encourage you - let the Holy Spirit come alive in you, let Him be your Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Standby and Strengthener and see how long it takes for the things which God has hidden FOR you become the things discovered BY you with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Become a discoverer and enjoy the hidden things, revealed today!
Father AND Friend
16/07/06 08:18 Filed in: Articles
Ephesians 3:14, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:4-7
At this stage of life I am in an amazing place. I have 2 Dads and I use that word; Dad, intentionally. There was a time when I had No Dad or Dads and that had a profound impact on my life.
I spent the first 8 years of my life asking "why don't I have a dad - all my friends do? Doesn't he love me too? Why did he leave? Is there something wrong with me? I felt rejected, a failure, I felt betrayed and inevitably these questions turned into hurts and angers that led to bitterness in my heart. It ultimately affected my outlook on life and mostly; God. Why would I want to believe in the concept or Father God or Abba and having a relationship with Him when my natural understanding of this role was, well...twisted.
Well my Mom remarried when I was a little over 8 to the man I now know and call my Dad and as a result of his input into my life I have learned what it really means to have a Dad and be one (I have 2 kids of my own aged 6 and 2). My Dad's role model has caused my heart to turn toward the Father and see Him for who He really is and in return who He really wants to be to me AND to want Him as my friend, closer than a brother - one who I rely on; for everything.
It has, however required some effort and decisions on my part. A real life decision to adopt this new man as my father and as my friend; which in turn has set a place where I can look to Father God and CHOOSE to adopt Him as my Father and Friend.
Let's look at what the scriptures say about how we are to see our relationship with God:
1. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:14)
2. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)
The Message Bible offers this rendering of Romans 8:14-16 for us:
'God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.'
See that word Abba - it literally means "pappa" or "daddy" and is supposed to be affectionate and close.
Consider this: If your earthly father was the leader of the nation, president of the bank, governor of the company, how would you address him upon meeting him?
1. Your Highness, may I have an audience with you please? 2. Mr President, may I please make an appointment to speak with you? 3. Excuse me sir, but may I have a moment of your time please?
As a son or daughter, would any of those approaches be comfortable for you?
NO WAY! It would be weird and way wrong. Ask yourself an honest question. Most of the time, how do you think about our Creator?
At this stage of life I am in an amazing place. I have 2 Dads and I use that word; Dad, intentionally. There was a time when I had No Dad or Dads and that had a profound impact on my life.
I spent the first 8 years of my life asking "why don't I have a dad - all my friends do? Doesn't he love me too? Why did he leave? Is there something wrong with me? I felt rejected, a failure, I felt betrayed and inevitably these questions turned into hurts and angers that led to bitterness in my heart. It ultimately affected my outlook on life and mostly; God. Why would I want to believe in the concept or Father God or Abba and having a relationship with Him when my natural understanding of this role was, well...twisted.
Well my Mom remarried when I was a little over 8 to the man I now know and call my Dad and as a result of his input into my life I have learned what it really means to have a Dad and be one (I have 2 kids of my own aged 6 and 2). My Dad's role model has caused my heart to turn toward the Father and see Him for who He really is and in return who He really wants to be to me AND to want Him as my friend, closer than a brother - one who I rely on; for everything.
It has, however required some effort and decisions on my part. A real life decision to adopt this new man as my father and as my friend; which in turn has set a place where I can look to Father God and CHOOSE to adopt Him as my Father and Friend.
Let's look at what the scriptures say about how we are to see our relationship with God:
1. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:14)
2. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)
The Message Bible offers this rendering of Romans 8:14-16 for us:
'God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.'
See that word Abba - it literally means "pappa" or "daddy" and is supposed to be affectionate and close.
Consider this: If your earthly father was the leader of the nation, president of the bank, governor of the company, how would you address him upon meeting him?
1. Your Highness, may I have an audience with you please? 2. Mr President, may I please make an appointment to speak with you? 3. Excuse me sir, but may I have a moment of your time please?
As a son or daughter, would any of those approaches be comfortable for you?
NO WAY! It would be weird and way wrong. Ask yourself an honest question. Most of the time, how do you think about our Creator?
Worship Wins The War
20/06/06 15:21 Filed in: Articles
Psalms
Read: Psalms - take your pick; they're all good!
Have you ever been faced with something that seems so unreal, so shocking that you can't figure out why you're facing it, let alone how your going to survive it?
Maybe it's a mountain of debt, a serious health concern, or a family crisis. Maybe it's a job, the need for a bigger house or better car. Maybe it's what you're going to wear today! I know that last one seems silly but so many of us struggle with feeling good on the inside because of the outside. These are things that "war" on our spirits, minds and even our bodies.
On a recent trip to the USA I was on a mission to buy one of these little silicon bracelets only to find out you can find millions of them with statements like "Cool Dude", "Breast Cancer Awareness", "Pray Hard Until Something Happens or P.U.S.H." but the one I wanted, I just couldn't find. I Looked everywhere for it with no luck. Finally, 3 days before returning back to London I commented in conversation about these bracelets and that I couldn't find the one I wanted, when my friend said, "We have those. We bought a box of them this year, let me go get you some."
Wow - just like that a simple comment in the right place and my challenge was over. I finally was going to have my little yellow bracelet with the words "Live Strong" on it.
Was this a war? Not really. Did I worship to win it? Uh, well no or maybe yes.. that all depends on what worship means to you.
For me, worship is the act of putting my faith, trust and submission in God's hands by saying.."help, God. I need you. I need you so much I can't do it without you." It is to say that God is more important to me than ANYTHING else ever could or should be. What makes worship so easy is, that like prayer, all you have to do is open your heart to receive and your mouth to speak what is in your spirit.
I made a simple comment to a friend about a silly thing and I got it.
This is the perfect example of worship. It is simple, you do it to God - your best friend, about anything and He pulls through! You don't even have to be concerned anymore.
What's the war? Well what faces you today? Is it debt, a serious health concern, or a family crisis? Is it a job or lack of one, the need for a bigger house or better car? Is it what you're going to wear today? The point is no matter what faces you God is near and when you begin to worship Him, He moves from near to here. "Here I am, with you." The word says.
If we are close to God we are far from the attempts to defeat us and we no longer focus on the challenge but begin to look through the eyes of our provider, our helper; our God.
To paraphrase a well known song by Matt Redman:
"When it fades and all is stripped away and we choose just to come, longing to bring something that's of worth, that will bless the heart of God, we bring more than a song.
For a song in itself is not what God has required. He searches much deeper within, through the way things appear and looks into our heart."
David (from the Bible) knew full well the power of worship and how it played an important role in his life as King - just read the BOOK of Psalms and he was known as a man after God's own heart.
Instead of fighting your wars with your own strength and power try this. Close your eyes, lift your hands, open your heart and let God know what your feeling (even though he knows - you need to hear yourself tell Him), start with the whining and complaining about your problems and the difficulties - go on, get it all out; David did.
I promise it won't be too long before you change your tone, change your words, stop complaining and start saying; "I love you, I need you, you care for me, you won't let me down. You are all I need"
Your worship will win your war!
Read: Psalms - take your pick; they're all good!
Have you ever been faced with something that seems so unreal, so shocking that you can't figure out why you're facing it, let alone how your going to survive it?
Maybe it's a mountain of debt, a serious health concern, or a family crisis. Maybe it's a job, the need for a bigger house or better car. Maybe it's what you're going to wear today! I know that last one seems silly but so many of us struggle with feeling good on the inside because of the outside. These are things that "war" on our spirits, minds and even our bodies.
On a recent trip to the USA I was on a mission to buy one of these little silicon bracelets only to find out you can find millions of them with statements like "Cool Dude", "Breast Cancer Awareness", "Pray Hard Until Something Happens or P.U.S.H." but the one I wanted, I just couldn't find. I Looked everywhere for it with no luck. Finally, 3 days before returning back to London I commented in conversation about these bracelets and that I couldn't find the one I wanted, when my friend said, "We have those. We bought a box of them this year, let me go get you some."
Wow - just like that a simple comment in the right place and my challenge was over. I finally was going to have my little yellow bracelet with the words "Live Strong" on it.
Was this a war? Not really. Did I worship to win it? Uh, well no or maybe yes.. that all depends on what worship means to you.
For me, worship is the act of putting my faith, trust and submission in God's hands by saying.."help, God. I need you. I need you so much I can't do it without you." It is to say that God is more important to me than ANYTHING else ever could or should be. What makes worship so easy is, that like prayer, all you have to do is open your heart to receive and your mouth to speak what is in your spirit.
I made a simple comment to a friend about a silly thing and I got it.
This is the perfect example of worship. It is simple, you do it to God - your best friend, about anything and He pulls through! You don't even have to be concerned anymore.
What's the war? Well what faces you today? Is it debt, a serious health concern, or a family crisis? Is it a job or lack of one, the need for a bigger house or better car? Is it what you're going to wear today? The point is no matter what faces you God is near and when you begin to worship Him, He moves from near to here. "Here I am, with you." The word says.
If we are close to God we are far from the attempts to defeat us and we no longer focus on the challenge but begin to look through the eyes of our provider, our helper; our God.
To paraphrase a well known song by Matt Redman:
"When it fades and all is stripped away and we choose just to come, longing to bring something that's of worth, that will bless the heart of God, we bring more than a song.
For a song in itself is not what God has required. He searches much deeper within, through the way things appear and looks into our heart."
David (from the Bible) knew full well the power of worship and how it played an important role in his life as King - just read the BOOK of Psalms and he was known as a man after God's own heart.
Instead of fighting your wars with your own strength and power try this. Close your eyes, lift your hands, open your heart and let God know what your feeling (even though he knows - you need to hear yourself tell Him), start with the whining and complaining about your problems and the difficulties - go on, get it all out; David did.
I promise it won't be too long before you change your tone, change your words, stop complaining and start saying; "I love you, I need you, you care for me, you won't let me down. You are all I need"
Your worship will win your war!
No You Drive. I'll Navigate
21/04/06 15:31 Filed in: Articles
Acts 16
I recently heard Paul Scanlon, Pastor of Abundant Life Church, Bradford preach one of the most amazing messages I have ever heard in my life! He told us that the book of Acts was named so for a reason; "it is not the book of intentions - it is the book of Acts!" In other words, the book of DOING SOMETHING.
Wow - that simple statement hit me hard.
So many times we live our lives based on our dreams BUT we seem to wait for them to just happen. You know, somewhere after the silver lining on the cloud and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Life is not magic. It is a powerful gift that God has given us with great purpose and great destiny but you have to be willing to do something to get there. The good news is - all you have to do is SOMETHING and you just might get there quicker than if you do nothing.
In Acts 16 the Bible says that a dream gave Paul his map but when you read the chapter it is seemingly AFTER he has already tried a few times to go the right way:
This is verse 6 - 10 They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.
That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans.
Can you imagine in today's culture if you took your team or staff on a journey not once, not twice but three times before you finally got to where you were supposed to be? Would they stay around long enough, without thinking your nuts? I can only imagine what Paul's guys were thinking; "first he said Phrygia and that wasn't right, then he said Bithynia and that wasn't right and then to Troas AND that wasn't right either!" I think they really trusted Paul and were totally submitted to his leadership but we'll talk about that subject next time.
Paul trusted God completely and was confident enough to get on with the work he was called to do; he just got on with it. What I find interesting is that it wasn't until after he had started his journey and some of his routes were blocked, that he got the directions to lead him where he really needed to go.
So what does that mean?
To use Pastor Paul Scanlon's illustration; when NASA launch a space shuttle - their first step, which is the most critical, is to get the thing OFF the ground and heading up - you know, to space, the big area around our world...it is really quite simple and not hard to miss; point it up and hit the button. It is only AFTER the shuttle gets into space do they turn on its navigational systems. Why? Well, we all know where space is.
Hmmm. So, if I just get going with my life will God lead the way? YES, YES, YES! Think of it like this; you are the driver, God is the navigator. If you don't get in the car, start the engine, put it into 1st gear and let out the clutch HOW can you ever go anywhere?
If you can just start your engine - God will lead the way in your life. If you will trust Him to co-pilot your life, let Him take you where ever He wants to, you WILL end up at your dream, remember He has the Map, but you have the ability to get yourself to your ultimate destination. So let's be like the book of Acts and just do it!
Pray this prayer with me:
Father, thank you for giving me dreams, for giving me life and for creating my future. I know you have plans for my life. Lord, I am going to do your will for my life and I will fulfill my dreams. Help me as I do life - lead me in the right direction, show me the right way to go and clear a path of grace. I will trust You, I will listen to You and I will obey You.
I recently heard Paul Scanlon, Pastor of Abundant Life Church, Bradford preach one of the most amazing messages I have ever heard in my life! He told us that the book of Acts was named so for a reason; "it is not the book of intentions - it is the book of Acts!" In other words, the book of DOING SOMETHING.
Wow - that simple statement hit me hard.
So many times we live our lives based on our dreams BUT we seem to wait for them to just happen. You know, somewhere after the silver lining on the cloud and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Life is not magic. It is a powerful gift that God has given us with great purpose and great destiny but you have to be willing to do something to get there. The good news is - all you have to do is SOMETHING and you just might get there quicker than if you do nothing.
In Acts 16 the Bible says that a dream gave Paul his map but when you read the chapter it is seemingly AFTER he has already tried a few times to go the right way:
This is verse 6 - 10 They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.
That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans.
Can you imagine in today's culture if you took your team or staff on a journey not once, not twice but three times before you finally got to where you were supposed to be? Would they stay around long enough, without thinking your nuts? I can only imagine what Paul's guys were thinking; "first he said Phrygia and that wasn't right, then he said Bithynia and that wasn't right and then to Troas AND that wasn't right either!" I think they really trusted Paul and were totally submitted to his leadership but we'll talk about that subject next time.
Paul trusted God completely and was confident enough to get on with the work he was called to do; he just got on with it. What I find interesting is that it wasn't until after he had started his journey and some of his routes were blocked, that he got the directions to lead him where he really needed to go.
So what does that mean?
To use Pastor Paul Scanlon's illustration; when NASA launch a space shuttle - their first step, which is the most critical, is to get the thing OFF the ground and heading up - you know, to space, the big area around our world...it is really quite simple and not hard to miss; point it up and hit the button. It is only AFTER the shuttle gets into space do they turn on its navigational systems. Why? Well, we all know where space is.
Hmmm. So, if I just get going with my life will God lead the way? YES, YES, YES! Think of it like this; you are the driver, God is the navigator. If you don't get in the car, start the engine, put it into 1st gear and let out the clutch HOW can you ever go anywhere?
If you can just start your engine - God will lead the way in your life. If you will trust Him to co-pilot your life, let Him take you where ever He wants to, you WILL end up at your dream, remember He has the Map, but you have the ability to get yourself to your ultimate destination. So let's be like the book of Acts and just do it!
Pray this prayer with me:
Father, thank you for giving me dreams, for giving me life and for creating my future. I know you have plans for my life. Lord, I am going to do your will for my life and I will fulfill my dreams. Help me as I do life - lead me in the right direction, show me the right way to go and clear a path of grace. I will trust You, I will listen to You and I will obey You.
What's Your Message
14/10/05 15:29 Filed in: Articles
Acts 16:16-40
In 1974 a young man was sitting in a California penitentiary for his second drug trafficking conviction.
"Merry Christmas" a guard said tossing in a bag with 3 chocolate peanuts, 1 bread roll and a cookie. Is this something out of a movie or a story? What a picture of life without hope. Maybe this man deserved to be there. Maybe it was wrong man, wrong place, wrong time?
Now, let's look at the passage in Acts 16:16-40 (read The Message version it rocks!); Paul and Silas are stuck in jail and it's about midnight BUT they were "...at prayer and singing an alternative anthem (ok, it actually says "robust hymn") to God. The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose."
It goes on to explain how the jailer freaked out and was getting ready to kill himself when Paul stopped him: "Don't do that! We're all still here! Nobody's run away!" The poor guy was so stressed that he dropped to his knees and asked "Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?" They said, "Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you'll live as you were meant to live--and everyone in your house included!"
They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master--the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night and in the morning everyone in the house was baptised. Celebrations began with some great food (ever noticed how many times good things happened around meals in the bible? We'll pick that up next time) and Paul and Silas were made to feel at home and given fresh clothes.
A message came from the judge to let Paul and Silas go free at once, but Paul wouldn't budge. He told the officers, "They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight."
When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn't please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia's house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way.
Woah! Even in jail Paul and Silas found 'good' and stayed focused on it. Their freedom became their experience and their experience became their message.
The young man in jail those 31 years ago, he too found something good while there - it was God. Today he's an inspiration beyond words, full of life and wisdom with a message of hope, healing and restoration that sets people free through the message of the Cross. A message he knows because of his experience. He's my Dad.
What is the message of your experience?
In 1974 a young man was sitting in a California penitentiary for his second drug trafficking conviction.
"Merry Christmas" a guard said tossing in a bag with 3 chocolate peanuts, 1 bread roll and a cookie. Is this something out of a movie or a story? What a picture of life without hope. Maybe this man deserved to be there. Maybe it was wrong man, wrong place, wrong time?
Now, let's look at the passage in Acts 16:16-40 (read The Message version it rocks!); Paul and Silas are stuck in jail and it's about midnight BUT they were "...at prayer and singing an alternative anthem (ok, it actually says "robust hymn") to God. The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose."
It goes on to explain how the jailer freaked out and was getting ready to kill himself when Paul stopped him: "Don't do that! We're all still here! Nobody's run away!" The poor guy was so stressed that he dropped to his knees and asked "Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?" They said, "Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you'll live as you were meant to live--and everyone in your house included!"
They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master--the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night and in the morning everyone in the house was baptised. Celebrations began with some great food (ever noticed how many times good things happened around meals in the bible? We'll pick that up next time) and Paul and Silas were made to feel at home and given fresh clothes.
A message came from the judge to let Paul and Silas go free at once, but Paul wouldn't budge. He told the officers, "They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight."
When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn't please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia's house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way.
Woah! Even in jail Paul and Silas found 'good' and stayed focused on it. Their freedom became their experience and their experience became their message.
The young man in jail those 31 years ago, he too found something good while there - it was God. Today he's an inspiration beyond words, full of life and wisdom with a message of hope, healing and restoration that sets people free through the message of the Cross. A message he knows because of his experience. He's my Dad.
What is the message of your experience?