Gospel message
I recorded this message to be broadcast on Nepalese radio to an English speaking audience. In 20 minutes I give a clear and simple presentation of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.
Time to Arise
In a recent time of waiting on God I received the one word ‘ARISE’. I knew this word was for me and also for the body of Christ. I enquired further about what God meant by what He was saying – it is not a time to be inactive or confined. We as believers are always to live out of the freedom God has given to us from a place of His rest. No striving, just obeying. We are to live from a place of victory, seated with Christ in heavenly places, living out of the principles of the kingdom of heaven.
Our prayer should always be “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Now is time to arise in who we are as Christ, His hands, His feet, His mouthpiece, with His heart of compassion, mercy and love. Our loving Heavenly Father wants us to extend our borders as believers, to stretch our spiritual muscles in every area of our lives – God is calling us to extend our faith to trust Him for ‘the more’ in our relationship with Him, in our faith, our giftings, our relationships, in our daily lives, reaching the lost … in all areas. This is the place of victory! God is calling for total surrender to the calling that is on our lives. I don’t want to look back on this time and think ‘I wish I’d been more sensitive to hearing God’s voice and obeying Him.’
Arise, shine, (fellow believers) for your light has come, (shine your light in the darkness) and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you… and His glory will be seen upon you (as surrendered followers of Jesus).” Isaiah 60:1-2
Set your mind on things above
I think all of us would agree that we are living in unprecedented times but as believers our kingdom is not of this world and we live seated with Christ in heavenly places – a place of rest. We need to be reminded to see things from God’s perspective, a kingdom viewpoint which is always a place of victory. Whenever I look at the globe in our lounge I’m reminded that because I am reigning with Christ I live above the noise and concerns of this earth. Fear has no part of me, I live my life out of faith in my Saviour and Lord and I encourage myself with the living and active Word of God. It is essential for me to live in faith at all times. The devil sees us when we live out of fear and this makes us open to attack but when we live out of faith we are in Christ, hidden from the devil. Wow! What a truth! We must intentionally raise the shield of faith in these difficult times, choosing to put on the full armour of God.
Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2,3 Amplified Bible
Our spoken words bring life or death, produce hope or despair, faith or fear, encouragement or discouragement. Are we agreeing with the enemy’s plans? If so we need to repent and break that agreement. Our kingly assignment is to rise up with faith filled prayers declaring God’s plans and joining with Jesus in destroying the works of the enemy. ALL authority has been given to us over the enemy’s plans – his plans are under our feet! Are our words agreeing with God’s plans for us and our country and our world? We are God’s warriors and God is empowering His fearless army and we are running to the things that others are running away from. God is raising up Joshuas and Calebs to take our promised land of New Zealand into her destiny.
Check out these powerful, life giving verses –
Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality…. although weak, their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array. Hebrews 11:33 – 35 The Passion Translation
Be encouraged to:
..not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Rise up, fearless ones, find your position in the army and take this land back for the glory of God.
What is the Truth?
Life is very confusing for so many worldwide in these difficult times. How do we navigate through all the voices we are hearing through the media, our friends, our neighbours, our politicians, our government and know what is truth? There are so many differing opinions that are dividing friends and families and bringing such dissention. What can I do? Who can I believe?
If ever there was a time for some soul searching and a spiritual checkup it is now.
As believers, who have made Jesus Lord of our lives, the most important voice to listen to is God’s voice. This is the key to knowing truth. It’s easy to have our time alone with God every day but are we really listening to God’s voice more than other voices, especially ones that bring fear into our lives?
I am so thankful for being a believer and knowing God has all truth and He has given us His handbook, the Bible, full of promises for every situation and as far as I’m concerned, if God says it I believe it. Admittedly some truths in the word resonate more with me than others and that’s just part of my life’s journey of faith and even if I don’t “feel” like the promise is true, I will declare it and stand on it and trust God until that promise becomes part of my life experience. This allows me to stay in the peace of God and to live as an overcomer.
I’m so empowered when I dwell on verses like Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. The enemy’s plans are under our feet and I know for myself when I hear of negative things in the media I like to say “Not on my watch!” I find this very empowering, being reminded of who I am as a child of God and the power I have in prayer when I agree with God and His plans. His word is truth and Jesus has promised to lead us into all truth.
There are many voices that can sound convincing but how do we know they are truth? We must stay close to God, stay in close fellowship with others and pray with believers we respect. And it is wisdom to check out various sources and not just accept everything at face value.
Guard your hearts, and don’t listen to what the world is saying when it’s contrary to what God is saying. Our enemy is prowling about ready to suck us in to his agenda.
One thing I know for sure is that God’s word clearly says many times from Genesis to Revelation “Do not fear”. So if the only way we can please God is trusting and believing His word, surely being a believing believer needs to be a priority in our lives. Obviously one of the main attacks of our enemy is to put fear into our lives to negate our faith. Are you allowing the state of the world and the negative statements that come over the airwaves, put fear into your life? Find a promise from God to dwell on to negate that fear. Don’t come into agreement with the enemy’s plans by verbalising them.
God says in Jeremiah 29:11 “for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” My recommendation is to keep informed but don’t dwell on all the world throws at you. Live out of the truth of the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. It’s time for reading, studying, meditating and memorizing our Bibles more than ever before. Then truth will become clear. God has promised He will show you the way to go.
My prayer is for an increase of discernment and wisdom for us in the body of Christ and to expose the lies and deceptions so we can all live in truth as overcomers. Let’s be like Joshua and Caleb – a minority, going against the crowd, defying the evil reports and then taking our promised land for Jesus.
Overcoming giants
Do you have seemingly impossible or giant size problems in your life?
We as believers don’t live out of what our eyes see but we live by what God says through the Holy Spirit and His word. Let’s take notice of the principles and truths through the story of David and Goliath. (1 Samuel 17) These encouraging truths still stand for us today. As we stand on these principles we too live victoriously and we see the giants slain in our lives.
David knew there was a war between the Israelites and the Philistines and we know, as believers, that we too are in a war, a battle against evil. What did David do? He left his baggage (natural possessions that would hinder him) and RAN TO THE BATTLE. Others in the Israelite army, when they saw Goliath, fled from him and were greatly afraid. David in contrast, knowing his identity in God, ran fearlessly to, instead of running from, his enemy. He knew victory was his with God on his side. David didn’t even bother calling his enemy by name but instead he said ‘for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God.’ We too need to address our ‘goliaths’, rising in our authority, positioned as overcomers, knowing the victory is ours. Our battles are already won with Jesus on our side.
Once David makes a stand, what happens? He comes under attack from his oldest brother who wrongly accused him. We too can expect to have negative feedback and to be wrongly accused when we make a stand against evil. Remember we are fighting a spiritual battle. We are not of this world and our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness Saul also wrongly judged David because he was young – ‘You are not able to go against the Philistine.’ David’s defense was his powerful testimony of how, in the past, he had killed lions and bears. David declared that God would deliver him from the hand of the Philistine. You too have past victories of God’s faithfulness and your personal victories and you too are called to face your enemy with boldness and without fear. Be empowered by addressing your enemy with decrees and declarations, based on God’s word, silencing your foe and declaring your victory. One of my favourite declarations to the enemies that face me is ‘not on my watch.’ Somehow this statement empowers me and then my faith is lifted.
What a great example David is to us. He cast off man’s way of winning a battle. They offered him Saul’s armour but he chose God’s strategy, a sling and stones, to conquer the giant. We must do the same, even if at times it can go against our logic. God has a strategy for us to win our battles revealed to us through our personal relationship with God. Being fearful is never an option but we are to be strong and courageous no matter what we are facing. David faced his enemy knowing God was on his side and he knew his authority came from the Lord of Hosts. He declared that the ‘battle is the Lord’s and He will give you (Goliath) into my hands.’ David fearlessly ran towards his enemy and we know the rest of the story. Yes David killed the giant with a strategic blow from his sling and confirmed his death with a strike of his sword.
Live out of the victory that is rightfully yours as God’s warrior.
Your Kingdom Come
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we lived in a place with no fear, no anxiety, feeling loved, total provision and in absolute peace. We all desire this. Is it possible many would ask? Unfortunately not in human terms but in spiritual terms a resounding yes! The kingdom of heaven. Jesus taught us to pray for “HIS kingdom to come, HIS will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” If Jesus taught us to pray that way He knew the answer was possible. WE CAN have the kingdom of heaven on earth.
We are invited by our loving creator God to seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness and everything else we need WILL BE given to us. When we seek first OUR kingdom, in other words what WE want to do with our lives, the full blessings of God’s kingdom are not available to us.
When we are in God’s kingdom we love and obey the king. Have we as Christians slipped away from God’s ways and He is no longer Lord or King in our lives? Or maybe you’ve never really known your loving Heavenly Father.
I believe that this time more than any other time in my lifetime that God is allowing the world to be shaken. No He hasn’t caused this virus but there are many wrong foundations in this world that need to go, inside and outside the church. They need to be revealed, smashed and rebuilt according to HIS kingdom principles.
I’ve always loved GOOD NEWS! The good news is there are keys available to open the door to His Kingdom and the full life the King promises us.
The key to His kingdom is REPENTANCE. No short cuts! Jesus is either King of his kingdom in our lives or He’s not.
REPENTANCE – is called for throughout the Bible and we are called to surrender to God as Sovereign King – to turn from our way of running our lives and making a 180 degree change of direction towards God.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14 it is clear that God is calling His people to repent, to humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked way and THEN we will hear from heaven, He will forgive our sins and heal our land.
Church, you and I can bring healing to our nation. Turn the key in your life to get back to kingdom principles.
If you don’t know King Jesus, repent and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life to be your Lord and Saviour.