God doing in us what we can’t do on our own.

Phil 4 v 11-13

¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ,^[c] who gives me strength

Matt 16 v24 to end

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. ²⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ²⁶ And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?^[l] Is anything worth more than your soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. ²⁸ And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Will we allow the Holy Spirit to  a makeover in our lives?

RO April 27th Sunday Am

A Song about the Lord’s Vineyard (Isaiah)

5 Now I will sing for the one I love
    a song about his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
    on a rich and fertile hill.
² He plowed the land, cleared its stones,
    and planted it with the best vines.
In the middle he built a watchtower
    and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks.
Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes,
    but the grapes that grew were bitter……..

PROPHETEIA

Speaking forth of the mind & Counsel of God

Proclamation of Divine message

Joel 2 V 12-14

Every cry for revival must include the prayer- “Lord begin in me”

God bursting in  

God purifying His Church with manifestations of His power, turning men & women from sin

An outpouring of the Holy Spirit changing the moral climate of a community

An invasion from heaven that brings conscious awareness of God

A community saturated with God

The Christian church going back to the God given norm.

Stepping in line with the spiritual life & law of God

The Trinity takes central stage and people run with it

The Church on its knees

Re-establishing  & renewing our covenant with God

Remembering our first love

Re-dedicating our whole lives to God for His will & way & pursing this with our whole being

Biblical

Two words.  So hard to say. “Sorry” and “Forgive” especially when it is the “I” having to say it.

When we feel others have manipulated,abused,cheated,robbed or mocked us, why should we forgive. Surely we have the moral right not to forgive.

The Christian gospel introduces the notion that because God has forgiven us ,  we should forgive others    –  however painful that forgiveness might feel.

Is it difficult to forgive because we don’t fully appreciate to what length  God went to be able to offer forgiveness  to us?  We might say, “after all  it is only “sin” .

But everything has a price. How costly is “sin” (our rebellion against God)?  What price did God  pay for the forgiveness of “sin”?

Thanks Cindy Feb 9th

Ezekiel 48:35 – the Lord who is present

Luke Chapter 10

²⁵ One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

²⁷ The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”^[c]

²⁸ “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

What’s a T-cup doing on a church website. It actually was used by a rugby coach to mean “think clearly under pressure”.

Its no bad idea in the Christian life.   Jesus – the author & finisher of our faith calls us to follow Him & sometimes that is not easy. Moses in the Old Testament was told to speak to a rock to enable the provision of water for those in the desert.

He struck it. That was not the instruction.Has God spoken to us, given us promises which at present seem dim & distant possibilities. The temptation is to try & help God along. God does not need our help – just our trust. Nobody dictates to God how He does things.

Be patient. Maybe the next thing we do in life is the most important thing we have done so far.

Thanks Alan 29th Dec 2013