Being a witness

Thursday, April 30, 2009

I have posted previously of how Jesus wants us to be both "light and salt" to the world in which we live.  Being a witness sometimes scares people mainly because they are not sure of what God expects of them.

Firstly, I believe God wants us to be authentic. That is, He wants us to be the genuine article. We cannot give something away that we do not possess. Therefore, we need to be sure we are born again and have a right relationship with the Father through Christ. 

Secondly, God expects us to be natural. That is, in our witness we are to be ourselves; we are not to try and be a clone of somebody else. Nor are we to behave in a false way that we think would be more acceptable to those we share with.

Thirdly, we need to be relational. The best witness comes from building relationships with those you are trying to reach.

The last thing we need to have is an attitude of self sacrifice like Jesus. Our concern for the unsaved should be paramount in our lives, even over our own pursuits.

These four aspects will help us be the kind of witness God desires.

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Nurturing your spirit

Monday, April 27, 2009

We know that God wants us to be obedient to His Word and to the Holy Spirits' leadings. We try to do this because we know that is what God expects from us, obedience. However, in all the dealings God has with His children, His requirements are more for our benefit than His.

When Jesus ministered to the woman at the well in John chapter 4, he told His disciples, when they had returned with lunch that "he had food to eat that they knew nothing about". On questioning each other on who could have supplied this (physical) food, Jesus replied, "my food (spiritual), is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work"

The two aspects of Jesus reply shows us His obedience to the Father's will and His desire to complete all that was asked of Him.
This action nourished Jesus not physically but spiritually. It was to Him the same as physical food, only better; it was food that would last.

It is the same with us; obedience to God's Word on occassions may leave us physically, emotionally and mentally drained but not spiritually exhausted. Our inner man will be well-fed and will provide us with all that is required to finish the work that God has for us to do.

This results in a win:win situation. God's Kingdom is advanced and we grow in spiritual stature and authority.

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Preparing for change

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Over the coming months, Peninsula Vineyard will be experiencing some significant changes as we continue to grow as a community of believers here in Dee Why on the northern beaches.

There are a few reasons why God brings about change...

1. Godly change always pushes us out of our comfort zones. (A comfort zone is where we feel self reliant and satisfied rather than God reliant).
2. Godly change always creates enthusiasm.
3. Godly change always brings further growth.
4. Godly change always gives a new start and new opportunities.

Ecc 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..."

Let's embrace change with excitement and anticipation!

Blessings

Roy and Gae

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Designed for Action

Monday, April 06, 2009

God's purpose for us as the church is to be mobilized and actively involved in the extension of His kingdom.

We see this in the involvement of all three persons of the trinity. The Father has created us with what is referred to as motivational gifts. That is, intrinsinic qualities and characteristics that enable us to fullfill the different functions that make up the body. There is service, leadership, administration, mercy gifts etc all working interdependent with each other to make the church powerful and fully functional.

The Holy Spirit is the provider of the manifestation gifts that empower the individual to do the supernatural works of God.

Jesus is the provider of the ministry gifts that are to train and equip the church for action, as it says in  Eph 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

When we look at the provision of God we see that giftings, enablings and the equipping all indicate God's desire for His church to be mobilized and engaged in the work of the Kingdom.

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