We Are In The New

Imagine this...

John the Baptist is standing in the Jordan. He has been sent by God to water baptize people in preparation for the coming of a new Kingdom. He knows that he will witness the coming of the Messiah.

One day he sees Jesus coming to him and he knows in his heart (revelation) that this is the Lamb of God (the sacrifice) who will take away the sin of the world. No one else could do it.

Jesus and John talk; John is hesitant to baptize the Messiah, well aware of his own need to be baptized and cleansed by Jesus.

So John baptizes Jesus to fulfill all righteousness, and as God has told John to watch, he sees the Spirit, the Holy Spirit descending from heaven and remaining on Jesus, revealing in certainty that Jesus, who stands before him, is the Christ!

And in that moment, John says....he knows... that Jesus is the One. The Christ who has ALL authority; authority to save people from their sins, and power to baptise with the Holy Spirit. And there, John, in knowing, gives witness that Jesus IS the Son of God.

And John's journey here is near it's end.

The handing over of a prophet under the old covenant to He that was prophesied of, as Saviour to bring in the New.  The beginning of the 3 year journey to Calvary. A journey of love. Signs and miracles following Him. A witness to His being the Messiah. A Saviour, a Friend. The only One who could set the captives (that's you and me) free. Free by way of the cross, His death for our sin. And to think, that as you believe in your heart, by a divine act of God, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you. The Spirit birthed in power in you, make this all a reality; yes, you are free!

You are His. Forgiven. Restored to God. Free. Death defeated by the Righteousness of One, the Christ. That which had been prophesied years before.

So, as believers we have the very Spirit of God; the same Spirit at creation that hovered over the waters; the same Spirit at the Jordan the day Jesus came forth, remaining on Him and raising Him from the dead. The same Spirit poured out at Pentecost.

His very Spirit is living in you and me.

His very Spirit baptizing you into resurrection life.

Wow!!! Imagine! The works He did; The witness, the salvations, the healings, the lives changed, the one's, the two's, the hundreds, the thousands. Think about His disciples; the prayers and the worship to God. The works, the witness, the salvations - God working through them. Nothing has changed, He is still the same; same heart, same power, same mission.

Believers..... His blood, His body, His Spirit!

The same Gospel, call and mission.

His desire is that none perish, and all come to repentance in Christ the Son. Restored to the Father.

To all who worship in spirit and truth!

To God be the Glory

.Amen

The Bible Made Alive

The Bible Made Alive
By Bernie Tarkka  20th April 2016

Being made alive in Christ by the Holy Spirit has made the bible my choicest book.

 

Early in Christ, I remember the day I watched a video on the book of Matthew and there was a point in the video where Jesus was walking along whilst talking and smiling! I was shocked. I am processing and in wonder at the same time...'Wow, Jesus is smiling, He is smiling!' That was a game changer for me.

 

At that point I was renting a room from a friend and she would leave me notes about little house things such as we need to buy this or that, and I realised... that I was reading the notes and bible in the voice and tone of how I was spoken to as a child (by a particular person whom I hold no animosity to). It was hard, agressive, negative often and not very encouraging and that I never seemed to do anything right. Like I was always being told off.  After I watched the video I remember being so aware that my processing of things written to me had been filtered through an old way of being spoken to.

 

The next memory was probably from later that evening when I was reading the bible and it was like the words were dancing on the page.

 

Now the lie had been exposed; that Jesus is smiling when he speaks, the words were coming to me in a whole different light. Although I enjoyed reading the bible before, this revelation brought something new to my reading and I was saying to myself in awe, WOW, the words are dancing on the page, LOOK, the words are dancing on the page. It was like love and grace came and kissed me and made these words alive.

Someone has written a book called 'Alter Your Perception Transform Your Reality, Smiling Jesus, the book, by Leon Cautillo and a description reads:

Invent a more joyous life by transforming your perception of Jesus Christ by pondering the possibility that Jesus was happy and joyous. Jesus was indeed an all loving, happy messenger honoring the greatest interpretation of the idea "God". His message was simple, live, seeking greater and greater joy each and everyday.

And although there are some tough topics in the bible, remember that it's heart is about Love, Redemption.  Love sent in the form of Jesus Christ to save the lost.  We are all lost, even from birth due to the nature that was inherited from our ancestors Adam and Eve. We do not need to be taught to sin, the fruit is already there. No one is righteous not even one is a truth in a bible.  But when I think of Jesus, His love, His sacrifice ... I just love this book that speaks of Him and I love the Holy Spirit that witnesses to Him and His call for Salvation to His Kingdom for all who believe.

 

The Bible
“This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.

 

Source unknown

 

Intimacy with God - Father's Day 2015

When I came to the Lord, the very first revelation I was overwhelmed with was that God loves me. I remember the moment when the light went on.. I spoke to myself and said - 'Someone loves me, GOD loves me'.

I tended to accept this idea that I was always down the list on people's hearts and agenda's and thought that was OK, as that was where I accepted myself to belong.

A recent J.Prince post about kids who grow up feeling they are not accepted prompted me to write this. I am overwhelmed when God starts to squeeze me, tight, with His love, and all that He is.

So, In this season, I feel God has tenderly brought more healing, healing I didn't even realise I needed. Even deeper than before, confirming His love to me.

So, on to the Fathers day message at church....

Point 1.
God chooses us. He chose us. For me, I really felt orphan-like as a kid. Over the years and restated on Sunday, God has reminded me that I was always wanted by Him. That He planned me. I was not a mistake! None of us are mistakes in God's eyes, each one is known by Him.

Point 2.
He listens to us.
The lie I lived was one of being unheard, and in being born, I tended to think my life was created to be like one of those extras in a movie, you know, the back ground space filler that is not there to say anything. I was reminded again, that God cares about what I have to say. That I mean something to Him. And it was an encouragement to ALWAYS continue to commune and converse with Him.

Point 3.
He pursues us.
I thought I would cope with this one, but actually can't elaborate,...o oh, more tears, but I managed to keep it together!

Point 4.
He loves us. Yes, He really does. The pastor quotes his favorite scripture... This very scripture is the one I wrote out in calligraphy style and framed it to put on my wall, when I was first saved......

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ..... Be persuaded that this is so. Meditate on this.

Then the closing song.... Your a Good Good Father. I am singing along when the words ...
Oh its love so undeniable
I can hardly think as You call me
Deeper still, as You call me
Deeper still, as You call me
Deeper still, into love love love.

Oh dear, I am overwhelmed! God IS calling me deeper; calling me deeper, deeper still into love love love. Well, with face in my hands, I can sing no more, tears flow, there is an exchange going on, knowing that I am having a moment with God. How overwhelming is God the Fathers love toward us. There is always room for deeper still, deeper still, into HIS love love love.

Now, to the J.P post...

Meditate On
…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to GRASP how wide and long and high and deep is the LOVE of CHRIST, and to KNOW this LOVE that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17–19, NIV
Be Rooted In Jesus’ Love
Can you imagine a young child growing up and always wondering in his heart, “Am I pleasing to Daddy? Am I pleasing to Mummy? Do Daddy and Mummy accept me?”

This child will grow up emotionally warped if he does not have the security and assurance of his parents’ love and acceptance.
Beloved, that is why Jesus wants you rooted, established and anchored in His unwavering love for you. He demonstrated His love for you when He became your sin on the cross so that you could become His righteousness. And when you meditate on and are rooted in His love for you, you will be filled with the fullness of God. How can you not be successful then?
Joseph Prince

When the morning finished, I had literally cried at least half the way through the preaching, maybe more. I reached over to the lady sitting next to me, one who I had recently met through home group, and with a smile I said 'I made it!!'. ie. I didn't completely break down during the service and cause a scene!

God's LOVE! God is a God of wholeness. He transforms and He reaches in deep. He knows the places that need His touch.

Yes, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

That is Intimacy, That is Belonging. That is Love.

Worshiping Our Creator

On Sunday I was blessed to go to 3 churches.

As I woke this morning I was thinking about the Worship experience which I had at one church in particular and was also pondering on ‘other’ thoughts about worship that I had been having recently.

My thoughts recently were, unless it is due to my age, that I have questioned my getting in touch with God during a worship time when there is so many ‘things happening’.  I don't want it to be an emotional response to what is being used to help provide an atmosphere, I want it to be because I am in touch with God.

I appreciate wonderful singing, great musicians, wonderful lyrics and being able to express my heart to God with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I want to worship with my whole spirit, soul, and body!

SO

The surprise visit was to a Christian fellowship that was in a big hall.