15 November 2015 "God's Plan...Our part"

In this message from Daniel chapter's nine and ten, Ps Steve looks at the important part we play in the plan of God. A plan that we come to understand as we get into His Word!

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Pastor's pen 15th November 2015

On behalf of those others who are precious to God

There is no book written that can compare with the scriptures we have received and know as the Holy Bible. Yet I have been enormously challenged and encouraged by a pastor who wrote a series of books over 100 years ago on the hugely important topic of prayer. That pastor’s name was Andrew Murray and his writings give insight into a Spirit –filled spirituality that experienced the power of a life given to prayer. In one of these volumes Murray focuses on the particular call of prayer as “Intercession”. He writes, “…we have far too little conception of the place that intercession, as distinguished from prayer for ourselves, ought to have in the church and in the Christian life. In intercession, our King upon the throne finds His highest glory…Through it He continues His saving work…”(Ministry of Intercession)

The term “Intercession” is not common. But it may be defined as, “(1) an acting on behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble.  (2) a prayerful request to God on behalf of another or others” (Macquarie Dictionary). We mustn’t hold back from bringing all of our own needs and requests to God, but neither should we become so self-focussed that we miss the heart of God that is intent on reaching out to rescue the lost. When we see the brokenness and hopelessness of those around us who do not have an intimate experience of God, we are compelled to bring them before God in prayer. They are in trouble, and sadly they are often unaware of just how much trouble they are really in. They are slipping towards eternal separation from God and unable to seek Him from their own place of spiritual darkness. That’s what makes our prayers on their behalf (our intercessions) so important and so powerful. And God wants to use us in rescuing the lost.

I believe we need to think about getting out of our homes and walking the streets of our town, praying for our neighbours. Thinking about the people we will be meeting with working with or interacting with through our day and bring them before God’s throne of mercy. We have a God given role in seeing the hearts of these people opened to the truth of Jesus Christ, and putting their trust in Him. While we may have opportunity to witness to them about the God we know, it all starts with prayer. As Murray points out many Christians are “working” with very little fruit because of the lack of prayer, but we are called to exercise our God-given position and bring down the blessings of heaven to earth in intercessory prayer.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9-10)

 

8th November 2015 "Disciples that SOAR"

Taking our call to follow Jesus seriously requires us to be disciplined in spending time and listening to the Lord as we pray and read His Word. Ps Steve gives a practical framework that can help us hear what God is saying and allow Him to work changes in our lives.

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http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/y481u79mpt/8th_November_2015.mp3

1st November 2015 Seeney Dux

This message from Seeney Dux encourages us to consider the choices and priorities of our lives when we see life in light of eternity.

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http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/920nwbbdfz/1st_November_2015.mp3

Pastor's Pen 25 Oct 2015

“Learning from our children”

Babies are cute. Apart from the smelly nappies and the intrusions to normal sleeping patterns they are fairly easy going (mostly). But babies grow up. We want them to. It would be no good for a baby to stay a baby forever. But in that process of growing up the parent is thrown into the deep end of shaping the future maturity of little individuals, teaching right from wrong, respectful behaviours and cultivating wholesome desires (for food, entertainment etc).

In the process of raising our children, one of the very fundamental disciplines taught is obedience. Without the one fundamental attribute instilled in the child, all future attempts at training and equipping for maturity will fail. While it is the most basic of fundamentals it is the one that takes the most ongoing work.

We can learn a lot about our own journey of faith as a child of God from these experiences we have in teaching our own children. For each one of us the most important thing we can learn as Christians is to be obedient to what God says. Without it we will never mature; we will continue to make the same mistakes and we will ultimately end up back in rebellion.

No parent finds a rebellious child attractive. So why do we think it is OK to ignore God and still think we are going alright. 1 Peter 1:14-15 says, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…”  In other words, if you want to grow up and be like your (heavenly) Father, you need to start by obeying what he says. That way you will end up being more like him.

We can see the value in teaching our children the right way to go. But we should also take a lesson from the lessons we are teaching them. We are all being trained by a heavenly Father who wants us to become mature people of faith, living lives of purity and power. But to get there we have to start by doing what our Father says. There is nothing more pleasing than a child who has learned to be obedient!

25 Oct 2015 "Under new management"

Focusing on 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 in this message we are reminded that we are not only saved by God but God owns us. This is good news!!!

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http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/f15y9v2vwa/25th_October_2015.mp3

Pastor's pen 18 October 2015

Light fellowship 

When I was a young man, I rebelled against the things of God and the people of God and went looking for friendship and fellowship with unbelievers. Even though I had made a decision for the Lord and had been baptised as a teenager, after leaving school I took up a lifestyle of nightclubbing and binge-drinking. I knew the decision I had made was not the path God would have me walk, but under a cloud of deception and fuelled by selfish desires I did my own thing for many years. In those same years I had a close brush with death after rolling a truck I was driving and even this failed to arrest my destructive direction. I am doubtful if I would have been saved in that period.

Finally God brought me to an end of myself and I surrendered my life afresh to Him and my life dramatically changed. The things I once did, I no longer desired. The people I once enjoyed the company of, now offered nothing of the companionship I sought. There had been a clear shift out of darkness and into light. After finding my place in God’s family and at His table I now clearly recognise that it is no longer fitting as one of God’s children who has been accepted at His table, to continue in a lifestyle of Godless pursuit.

Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, telling the Corinthian that their inclusion in Christ meant that any further joining in on demonic pursuits was unthinkable saying, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” (v21) This was contrasting the worship of God at the communion table with the pagan worship of sacrificing to idols. While we may never be tempted to pursue such activities, there may be a temptation to go back to the old life to pursue something of what we left behind.

Pornography, foul jokes, lewd behaviour, out of control drinking; even greed, hatred and jealousy etc. all these things find their origin at the table or the altar of demons. They are not fitting for the one who sits down at the table of Christ’s suffering sacrifice. The fellowship God offers is exclusive; it is not something He will share; especially with demons. It’s either God or its darkness. By considering this clear distinction between Godly or Godless behaviour, we should not feel we have to pull back from socialising with non- Christians. We must however be clear and un-confusing in how we live our lives before the lost. It is the power of God in us that will lead them to salvation.        

Ps. Steve.