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Luke 9:1-6 Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them complete power over all demons and diseases. 2Then he sent them to tell about God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. 3He told them, “Don’t take anything with you! Don’t take a walking stick or a traveling bag or food or money or even a change of clothes. 4When you are welcomed into a home, stay there until you leave that town. 5If people won’t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them.” 6The apostles left and went from village to village, telling the good news and healing people everywhere.
firstly COMPLTE POWER
- not partial, not a little bit, not a portion of power….
complete power – supernatural authority!
Jesus gave them complete power and then he SENT them to do something with that power!
he instructed them to take nothing with them – only take the power he gave them with them – not to take their own agenda, status, qualifications. the only qualification they had to minister was the power of God.
the power is of God – not ourselves!
We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
i am loving being in the book of Luke at the moment. i read by a reading plan (M’Cheyne Bible Plan) and do overall love reading The Word and learning about God and drawing near to Him… i believe God reveals Himself in the Word and speaks to us through it. anyway, back to Luke. i am loving Luke at the moment. so thought i would share some of my favourite passages!
Luke 5:15-16 News about Jesus kept spreading. Large crowds came to listen to him teach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus would often go to some place where he could be alone and pray.
I’ve already blogged on this passage, how important, vital and neccessary prayer is – that Jesus made it a priority, even leaving the crowds of desperate people in need of healing and deliverance – he left the power ministry to draw near to God.
“I will not fear the desert place–it is there that You speak to me with greatest tenderness.
I will not mourn lost popularity–You speak Your secrets to the solitary who will take time to listen.” Thoughts In The Watchtower
Our personal devotional time – praying – reading the Word – worship – is what keeps our relationship alive with our Heavenly Father. don’t neglect it. Esteem it.
“There are people on this planet whom only you will be able to reach, because of where you live and what God has made you to be. If just one person will be in heaven because of you, your life will have made a difference for eternity” Rick Warren
Isaiah 60:1-3 says “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See darkness covers the earth and think darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
This is our prayer and our declaration – that Jesus, Light of the World will be in us and shine through us that people would come to know the greatness of our God and that our nation and the nations of the world will be transformed by His glory!
There are so many ways in our ordinary lives that we can shine the extraordinary light of God to those around it. What may seem like an insignificant action may be used by God to draw people to Himself. Keep loving those around you. Keep praying for them, that the light of the Good News of the Kingdom of God would penetrate the darkness. God calls us His partners in the great work of reaching the lost; He empowers us with His Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. Nothing is impossible for God, for it is by His power within us we can do all things.
“For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” 2 Corinthians 4:7-8
excert from my editorial for our church magazine
ps i always get inspired when i see this ad on our tv, here in New Zealand… we may feel like one little light…
i’m a big believer that God gives us dreams for our lives, of things we can do that will bring him glory. and just to right off the bat say it doesnt need to be dreams that fall into secular or spiro catergories. God gives people unique tailor made dreams and that is awesome!
I believe that our own lives are the starting point, the springboard for dreams.
As dreamers, we need to put our dreams into the realm of reality.
Dream fulfilling begins today with fostering a right attitude and heart towards ministry. It begins with equipping ourselves with skills to do what God has called us to do. It begins by praying and seeking God for wisdom, his heart for the lost and the people of God. It begins by being challenged to pursue God, to live a right clean life and to be sharpened by like minded people (iron sharpens iron). It begins with small opportunities – baby steps.
As we take steps to walk into our dreams (in particular a dream of preaching for me!) we need to remember:
- It’s all about JESUS
- Lifetime of preparation
- Preaching (and leadership) is 1% of a life time of service
- Preaching – and all ministry – is in context of ministry and service
- God has the keys to open any doors
- Preparation for ministry is long term – no short cuts
- The Word of God is the Message – must rightly divide it
- Life is lived in the secret place – your own private devotions and relationship with God and obedience does matter!!!
Be ready at all times – you never know what is around the corner!
In all you do be a demonstration of the grace and love of God.
It’s okay to dream (but understand preaching and ministry and leadership is not by right nor might! But by the anointing and calling and appointing of God – in his time! No certificate will give access to the pulpit!)
What is your dream?
How can you see that being outworked in your own life?
Can you see steps to take to live it out?
It’s not about “making it happen” or being the master of your own destiny – it is about living your life in the context of your dreams and passion, not just dreaming it or wishing it. Its about living a life of surrender to God and His process and His transformation and His preparation. Its most important to live following Jesus not just following a dream or ambition.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Good Shepherd of our souls. He is the One seated at the right hand of Almighty God, ruling and reigning. Take up your cross and follow Him. Lay down your life.
Who would have dared to tell Abraham that someday I would have a child? But in his old age, I have given him a son. Genesis 21:7
who dared to promise Abraham a son at the age of 100?
who dared to promise Abraham something physically impossible?
God did.
God dared.
God dared to promise something to Abraham that HE COULD fulfill and bring into being.
God dared to promise Abraham a son at the age of 100, despite the obstacles and the physical challenges and medical science.
God dares each one of us.
God calls each one of us to do something for His name and Kingdom that is greater than we can do in ourselves and our own talents and gifts.
Just as God called Jeremiah and Moses and Jonah and Daniel and Esther to change a nation and to preach His word and lead His people so too God calls each one of us to be his servants and ambassadors.
We may be called to be pastors or preachers or worship leaders or prophets or housegroup leaders or to be in the world serving him as lawyers, teachers, nurses, journalists, builders. Whether you are called to work for a church or not you are still called. God calls people to be architects, engineers, shop assistants, accountants – because he isnt perhaps interested in what we “build” but in WHO we affect for eternity. you can function as a pastor while working in a bank. you can function as an evangelist in an office. you are light and salt. wherever you are. not just contained in the four walls of a church building and not between the hours of 10-12 on a sunday morning.
What is God calling you to do?
What is God daring you to do?
Don’t be afraid if it is bigger than you can imagine and see! Don’t be afraid if it is bigger than what you can naturally do!
It was impossible for Abraham and Sarah to concieve a son at their old age. BUT by the power of God they did and had their promised son.
God dares because God DOES!
God dares the impossible because NOTHING is impossible for Him!
Have faith in God – because all things are possible for Him and He is the one who completes the good work He begins in our lives.
today i was flicking channels and pearl jam had a random song on tv between shows. i confess i really like pearl jam. i dont listen to it much, for personal reasons i choose and select what music i listen to and i find music in the secular type mode just doesnt feed me good. so i choose not to listen to it regularly. thats another topic for another time. i loved pearl jam before i became a christian. and so i indulged and watched it. it was Daughter and had an guest appearance by Ben Harper singing WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS…. and i took the moment to be spoken to by my God….
I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make a better place
With my own two hands
Make a kinder place
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth
With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth
With my own two hands
I can reach out to you
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
Im gonna make it a brighter place
Im gonna make it a safer place
Im gonna help the human race
With my own
With my own two hands
i believe we are called to make the world a different place, a brighter place lit by the Light of the WOrld, filled with the wonderful kindness of God.
i believe we each make a difference and each have a part to play in spreading the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
i believe that with our own two hands we can make that difference as we obey God and follow His call and plan for our lives.
on this earth we are the Body of Christ – we are his ambassadors and his servants and his disciples and his hands and his feet.
we are called to demonstrate his love and grace and power to those around us.
its not so much our own power and our own effort but about letting God work in us and through us to those around us.
its all about people. its all about making OUR world, the community we live in, better by God’s love and grace.
am i living today, right now, as a servant of God, making the world around me a kinder, brighter place as i reflect the glory of God to those around me…
i couldnt find the pearl jam and ben harper vefsion but i did like this one…
“I am perfectly confident that the man who does not spend hours alone with God will never know the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The world must be left outside until God alone fills the vision…God has promised to answer prayer. It is not that He is unwilling, for the fact is, He is more willing to give than we are to receive. But the trouble is, we are not ready…”
–Oswald J. Smith
this resonates within me, as i see men and women in the church rush after ambition and power and popularity with people but forgetting that the true way to fulfill the call of God is to obey where God calls us and to know him.
Daniel 11:32 says the people that know their God will be strong and do exploits.
to me i read this and i see that my empowerment to do exploits comes from my knowing God and that true knowing God is done in the secret place of prayer and worship and devotion and surrender….it is when we are alone with God and in prayer and listening that he transforms us and changes us and challenges us and shapes us.
God empowers us to serve him and demonstrate his love and glory.
“true courage is pursuing your dream even when everyone else says it is impossible.” barbie
yes barbie. the doll. the animated movie star. this quote is at the end of the credits of her “new movie” barbie and the 3 musketeers. we got it out for the kids to watch – theyre big fans. and i confess i am too – i love the beautiful dresses and teh stories of heroes and heroines and the singing and dancing and the pinkness. who would have thought eh. i’ve always had a soft spot for fairy tales and fanasty genre.
but i loved this quote.
“true courage is pursuing your dream even when everyone else says it is impossible.”
in my life my dream is the call of God. the dream is the dream that God has placed in my spirit to serve and follow him.
sometimes it looks impossible, improbable, unlikely.
who am i? just me. just me.
BUT God has made me. HE has called me. HE empowers me. and so i press on with courage, the courage and faith that he who calls is faithful to complete the good work and that he who calls calls for a reason and a purpose and that is HIS glory. and so i have hope.
and i turn off the lies i could tell myself that i am not good enough, smart enough, qualified enough, popular enough, funny enough, spiritual enough.
and i just follow, eyes fixed upon God.
my courage comes from him.
“Every wise workman takes his tools away from the work from time to time that they may be ground and sharpened; so does the only-wise Jehovah take his ministers oftentimes away into darkness and loneliness and trouble, that he may sharpen and prepare them for harder work in his service.” Robert Murray M’Cheyne.
On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while. Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. 1 Peter 1:6-8 (Contemporary English Version)
Today dont look at the circumstance and the difficulty but look up and take heart and see the big picture. take the opportunity to remember that God is always Lord and always in control and that your life in his hands. The fire is for refining. But Isaiah 43:2 says that when we walk through the flood and the fire we will not be overwelmed or scorched because God is with us.
Today have faith that God is at work in your life to transform you and strengthen you. The obstacles and trials are so we are shaped and refined.
We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children. Romans 8:28-29
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