Thursday 22 November 2012

Lord of the Breakthrough in 2012


The Lord has been speaking to us about breakthrough this year. Some of you have already been experiencing it. Praise God for all the things He has been doing with us as LNC in our finances, the new Norwood congregation who now have their own meeting place (and are now known as LNC House of Prayer for All Nations), for the South’s move into the home and for new family and friends who are attending, for the new ones that have been saved and come into the church and for those preparing to be baptised. Thank God for the missions to Kenya and to the homeless. We also praise God for all the testimonies of God’s goodness. There are so many testimonies this year of people feeling revived spiritually, having breakthroughs in their families, finance, in business and in cells and mentoring groups. Praise God for the strength that is coming to the men from the High Climber quads, from the Women of Worth groups, for those being added in the House of Prayer congregation and that they have had up to 16 people on a Sunday.

Consider Your Ways
We were all challenged in May by Louis & Edna’s visit to us. The women were challenged in the Dare to Dream Conference to walk closely with God and each other and to dream dreams and align themselves to reach their goals. The men, core leaders and whole church were challenged by Louis from Haggai 1 to consider our ways.

It is always good to pause and take time to consider before God whether the things we have been doing are still the things we should be doing. If they are still right then to consider whether we are doing them in the way God wants us to do them and with the right heart attitude to God and others.

Go up the Mountain
One of the ways we were challenged was to go up the mountain and take time to be with God. Yet, we were challenged to not only experience God but spend long enough to hear from God and know exactly how he wants us to be now and what He wants us to do. In this way we will exactly obey His instructions for our lives and be the most fruitful.

I was personally challenged to forgive spiritual fathers and leaders of the past in order to be open to spiritual fathers and God the Father for the future. As a leadership we took space over the summer to listen to God and spend time together to hear and be refreshed in what God has called us to as a church so that we can approach the vision in new confidence and faith and see His success.

Breakthrough by the obedience of faith
If you are still believing for breakthrough then let’s remember that God is our vindicator (Ps. 54:1). We are not to look for it in our own strength or schemes. That’s called walking in the flesh but we are to walk in radical obedience to God’s will and word to us (Romans 8: 12 - 14). That is the obedience of faith (Romans 1: 5).  Fast, pray and ask what God is saying to you, your family and your cell group and church. How does God want me to align my life with my brothers and sisters and spiritual leaders?  As you hear and obey you will enter by faith into grace in which you will stand and rejoice (Romans 5: 2). David found this in difficult situations. He would not take things into his own hands and slay Saul but he waited for God and was obedient to Him. King Saul was told by the prophet Samuel that obedience is better than sacrifice. Don’t trespass and then try and cover it up by making great sacrifices, just be an obedient faith-filled son of Abraham.

Breakthrough through divine order
God wants you to walk in breakthrough, revival, and favour, but it comes through divine order; choosing God’s ways not our own.  We need to choose to alignment ourselves with God.  Hear God’s voice to you today. Is He speaking to you about tithing or giving generously of your money, time or talent (Malachi 3: 10 – 11 & 2 Corinthians 9: 6 - 11)? Is He speaking to you about the way you treat your husband or wife, listen so that your prayers may not be hindered (1 Peter 3: 1-4, 7). Is He speaking to you about honouring your parents or your spiritual mums and dads in the house of God?  Is God speaking to you about ministering to the needy (Is 58: 6 - 8). Breakthrough comes that way – may it come to you.

Breakthrough through Prayer
Let’s remember to be praying for the Holloways in their new situation. And remember the Owens in France, the Dzvenes in Derby, the Nothnagels and Van-der-Merwes in South Africa. Keep praying for Mary Young and Lovette at this time for complete health. And take time over the Christmas holidays to hear God’s voice to you. He is Lord of the breakthrough.

Friday 6 January 2012

The Power of God in 2012


But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses……… Acts 1: 8 (NIV)

As we look back at 2011 we can see through the good times and the struggles that God was causing us to be more dependent on Him. Like the disciples at the beginning of the book of Acts we can be in a place where we feel weak, confused and not sure of the future. However Jesus is saying He is there in His resurrection power to show us that He is real and has a Kingdom purpose for us. This is going to be fulfilled through His power.

As we (elders, core leaders and others) have prayed and sought the Lord over the Christmas period some of the words have indicated breakthrough, revival and a tsunami of God’s power and love washing over us in this New Year. There were still challenges for the disciples after the resurrection and Pentecost but they had a new strength to combat them. Let’s be filled with the Spirit as we enter this New Year so that we can walk in breakthrough through everything we face in life. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8: 31)? We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us (Romans 8: 37).

We thank God for all that He will do this year. Praise God for Christian and Kara as they continue their equipping journey in South Africa; for Jason and Joelle as they continue to touch the lives of those in Normandy; for Kennedy & Sylvia as they plant their new cell congregation in Norwood; for all the creative outreaches that will take place through the newly reformed cells this year; for Women of Worth and High Climbers for the men; for our Refreshment Days as we spend time drawing close to God; for our outreaches to the community – Parenting, Jubilee lunch, Marriage weekend, ministry to the homeless, etc. Also for the missions that will take place into Kenya through Brian and Margaret and Roger this year. And for everything else that has not been mentioned. God is a good God and as He filled the disciples, so He will fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit for breakthrough this year. Happy New Year!

How Should Christians Respond To The Crisis In The Middle East?

When Jesus was on earth He wept over Jerusalem because they had largely rejected him. They had also rejected many of their prophets before H...