Reigning in Prayer with Christ

Called to Reign in Prayer

When God created man is His own image his heart was for mankind to reign with Him. Psalm 115:16 declares, ‘The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man.’ The Bible begins with man naming the animals and ends with the redeemed reigning with Christ (Rev 20:4). The Father places the highest value on humanity. His desire is to honour and lift us to that place of reigning with Him that He made for each one of us. Intercession is a key part of this. Some believe that God just moves with little or no human involvement. However Scripture shows us that He works through the involvement of mankind. It’s as we take our place in intercession that the Father can really use us to bring His kingdom rule here on the earth.

The Father Looks

Before the Father judges, He actively seeks someone to stand before Him in intercession. Part of our position, as those called to reign with Him in this age (Romans 5:17), is that we stand before Him interceding for humanity. We’re called to pray, ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.’ It’s as His people respond to this call that we will see His Kingdom’s blessing touching not just the church but every part of our world. One definition of intercession is standing and pleading the case of another. The word can be used of one in a court of law making representations on the behalf of another. He looks to His people stand in this place.

Good News of Great Joy

Do Not Be Afraid

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” Luke 2:9 The shepherds were out on the hillside as usual watching over their sheep when suddenly an angel appeared and the glory of God shone around them. The angel must have been so awesome and it was probably the last thing they expected to happen on a seemingly normal evening. Fear is a common response when unexpected things happen. People are often afraid when they are confronted with things they are not familiar with and so many fears are not based on truth at all. Fear is a big factor in why many never walk through the doors of a church. Some are afraid of rejection and of people judging them. Some might have a wrong view of God and think He is angry and out to get them. Others are afraid of being caught up in religion and fear that the fun will be taken out of their lives.

There Is Always Good News

Watching the news recently it seemed that there was very little good news being reported. With stories on violent crime, turmoil in the Middle East and economic downturn in many nations it seemed that anyone constantly only listening to news of that kind could easily get filled with fear and stress. There is so much bad news every day and yet there is always good news that far outweighs the bad if you know where to look. Many overlook the birth of Jesus and see it as a nice story for children but without any real impact on their lives in modern society . Every Christmas we celebrate the best news that mankind has ever received, “a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”(Luke 2:11)

Great Expectations

New Season but Old Expectations

When Jesus’ disciples arrived in Samaria they came with old expectations and did not expect anythingof significance to happen through their lives. To the disciples these people were simply Samaritans and they had not considered they could or should reach them. They were shocked when Jesus spoke into the life of the woman at the well and she was deeply impacted. Then an even more shocking and unexpected series of events followed, “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." John 4:39 When we limit God to our own experiences or current level of understanding we can miss great opportunities for Him to break into our lives and transform the lives of others. We need to ask God to give us eyes to see what He is wanting to do through us in this season and not go into situations with old expectations. 

The Latest Fashion

Some people spend hours reading fashion magazines, watching fashion programmes and going from shop to shop searching for new items of clothing for the latest fashion every season. This takes a lot of time and money if you do it every season. If you are not into fashion this can seem like a great fuss and a waste of time and money. When a new season is here in God we can miss all the good things God has planned for us if we don’t take the time and effort to seek Him and get in the flow of what He is doing. There are times and seasons in God that we need to keep in step with. That’s one of the reasons why our lives as Christians are an adventure. There are always new things to look forward to, even if life seems to be going along as normal in the natural. 

Stronger Together

Same Genes

One of our cousins was quite surprised when she had a little girl with bright red curly hair. Then she found out that our grandfather had exactly the same hair as a child. It is so interesting how children of the same parents can be so different. One child can be so quiet and sensitive and another loud and straight talking. One could have the bright red curly hair of their grandmother and another the fine fair hair of their father. Children of the same parents can be so different in a variety of ways and yet they all share some of the same genes that identify them as being part of the family. So it is also with our church family, there are so many things that make us individual children and yet we all have the same Father God.

Humble enough to learn

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 Imagine if your life group was sitting down together and the leader decided that an interesting ice breaker would be to put cat in the middle of everyone. One person might say, “Ahh look” and lean straight in to pat the cat. Another might sneeze and groan “we shouldn’t allow animals inside”. Another might mumble,“Hmm I’m more of a dog person” and another might sit and stare thinking “what on earth does this have to do with our worship life group!” As we serve God together in different ways in the church we may all approach things in slightly different ways and bring different strengths and weaknesses. But God can give us eyes to see and understanding of how we can not only grow and be better together but also enable us to honour and enjoy the different things each of us can contribute. Sometimes it’s not easy to incorporate everyone’s ideas, approach and contributions yet something can always be learnt and maybe even incorporated at different times of at a later date.

Life More Abundantly

Look at all that lint!

If you have ever been in a room with U.V. light effects, you may have noticed that every speck of lint shows up on your clothes. From the time we were babies and right through life little bits of lint in the form of wounds and lies may have got onto us without us even realising it. These wounds and lies that we believe about ourselves, others or God affect our lives in a variety of ways. But the good news is that God can bring these wounds and lies to light, deliver us from them and speak His life giving truth to us so that their impact is broken off our lives.

Wholeness in every part

Every person has a body, soul (mind, will & emotions) & spirit. It is so wonderful that Jesus came to bring healing (sozo-Greek) to every part of our being. Sozo is the Greek word translated “saved (Rom 10:9), healed (Matt 9:22), delivered (Lk 8:36).” Each part of our being can     impact the other parts. For example, what we think about affects us emotionally, physically and spiritually.  Habitual negative thoughts can be so powerful as to actually make our bodies sick. God sees us as a whole not in parts and so He can bring healing to one part and it results in healing in another. 

You are familiar with all my ways

Freedom in Forgiveness

God knows us so intimately and loves us so personally that He is interested in every part of our lives being healed. While life in a fallen world has meant that the enemy may have stolen and destroyed things we know with absolute assurance that God wants us to have life even more abundantly. We have trained a team in SOZO ministry. It is a unique inner healing and deliverance ministry in which the main aim is to get to the root of those things hindering us. This is a wonderful opportunity to receive gentle yet powerful ministry as lead by the Holy Spirit. Let’s all be sensitive to allowing God to shine His light on every part of our lives and help us become more like Him and more fulfilled in every part of our lives.

God's Works of Art

Masterpiece or Infant Scribble

So many art styles have emerged throughout history with each one giving insight into not only the culture of its day but also the artist. From the use of light and bold colours of the Impressionists like Monet to the beautiful realism of Leonardo Da Vinci the masterpieces they created have been enjoyed for generations. However, their masterpieces are like an infant’s scribbles in comparison to the works of art on display to us every day by the Master craftsman.

The Beauty of the Creation

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:19

God's Greatest Works of Art

Walk around and take a look at God's works of art

What Would Jesus Do?

“ Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! " Psalms 34:8

So often when people talk about what Jesus would do they only actually mention the moral things that He wouldn’t have done and don’t usually mention how He related to people and reached out. 

This is great! Taste This!

Sometimes Christians say “the Kingdom of heaven is here” and those listening are probably thinking “What? Where?”, because they have omitted to demonstrate the Kingdom in any way. Surely Jesus was saying to demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom and then say, “that was a taste of the Kingdom of heaven right here. Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." John 4:39 Jesus revealed who He is at the right time.” If you want to sell a recipe book you don’t go up and say “Here read this recipe. Doesn’t it taste nice?” You give them a taste of the food and then you show them the recipe. We don’t have to rush in with “I’m a Christian; I’m from x church and start going on about the four steps to salvation, or launch in telling them about the cross. Jesus revealed His power to unbelievers in a variety of ways through prophecy, healings, miracles and other signs and then He told them about Himself and the Kingdom.

How did Jesus talk to people

No more Christianese

Do what He shows you to do

Live a Life of Love

“ Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:2

Cone on your head

If you sat on the road with a cone on your head for the rest of your life, God would still love you. What we do for God whether it is serving or even worshipping and praying doesn’t make God love us more. God loves us full stop. That is what unconditional love is, it doesn’t have any conditions. So why do we serve, worship, pray and do what we do for God? When you have received the love of God and continue to receive and get revelation of the love of God it changes you. It changes what you do, why you do it and how you do it.

 
More than a feeling

Don't slam the food down

Check your Love Meter 

With Us To The End of the Age

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20

The Reality of the Presence of the Holy Spirit

That means that, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, the Holy Spirit is right there, available to us, with us. Sometimes we think that the Holy Spirit is only really with us when we feel His presence. But we’ve got to stop relying on feelings and really start believing the fact that it doesn’t matter how spiritual you are feeling, or whether or not you feel His presence, that God Himself is right there with you all the time.

In Extreme Darkness Light stands out even more

Easter is about New Beginnings

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”  Romans 8:11

When we get familiar with things they tend to lose their real value and punch. As we come into another Easter let’s ask God to show us all the new beginnings we have in our lives because of what Jesus did through the cross and His resurrection.

The old has gone, the new has come

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Cor 5:17) Through Jesus death and resurrection we are now new creations. The word for new is kainos meaning unused, fresh and new in regard to form and quality. Whether you have been a Christian since your childhood or you have only recently become one, each one of us needed to become a new creation. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor 5:21) Because Jesus bore our sins on the cross and endured the penalty we deserved we are now righteous before God. We are now “fresh and new in regard to form and quality” before God. Of course we are still growing into our new identity but we can live today without shame, fear of death or guilt knowing we are completely accepted before God because of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

Today is the first day of the rest of your lives

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!

Life Changing Prayer

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4: 2

 
Take Refuge in his Presence

He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; Psalm 91::4. Of course God is interested in even our little requests, the Bible says He knows the hairs of our heads. God is more interested in us than anyone else. Often when a little child first learns to speak their little voice almost melts their parent’s hearts. Just to hear them say “Daddy” brings most fathers immense joy. How much more does our heavenly Father cherish our talking to Him and letting Him comfort, encourage and give us wisdom. We mustn’t fall into the trap of thinking that we are too busy to pray. With so much to do for the kingdom it is important that we continually take refuge under His wings. People do all sorts of things to relax and to cope with the stress of life. How wonderful that we are welcome at any time, night or day to take refuge under His wings. We are not called to be doing so much that we can’t take time to be with Him. Apart from Him we can do nothing anyway (John 15:5).

 
Decree What God Has Said

Prayer Breakthrough

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ” James 5: 16

 
Much, much More

Prayer is so rewarded. Jesus made that so abundantly clear, ‘ The Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.’ (Matt 6:6) He loves it when we come to Him in the secret place. So many try to push themselves forward, trying to force the hand of man, not realising real promotion comes from the Father. The great faith chapter in Hebrews states that seeking Him and believing in His goodness is foundational; ‘He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ (Heb 11:6) Sometimes I wonder how much of His goodness we miss out on because we don’t fully believe in His desire to really bless us and truly seek Him diligently. Paul is almost lost for words when he describes the heart of God to bless, ‘He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask or imagine’ (Eph 3:20) There is much favour the Father longs to pour upon His children.

 
The current Call to Prayer