Changing the climate
Last week I talked about the importance of understanding / writing down what you see as important, things that are important enough to live your life by – ie what you value. And then to define what SUCCESS is.
Today I want to briefly look at the ABUNDANCE OF GOD.
Going back to the issue of VALUES and SUCCESS. Without an understanding of these two issues, I do not believe that you will be able to fully live, to the greatest potential, the life that God wants for you.
Having an understanding of what you value and an understanding of what success is (for you) will give you focus for your life. For example
· If you see success as owning your own home, your efforts and energies will be concentrated in that direction.
· If you see success as retiring by 40, your efforts will be concentrated in that direction.
And the sad thing is that without a clear understanding of what God wants for your life, instead of being used by Him for His glory, you may even be in danger of attempting to just use Him for your own plans.
I’ve been re-reading the book by John Eldredge – Waking the Dead – and have once again been really challenged by the words he wrote.
And for too long I think that Christians have lived life knowing that it was going to be a struggle against the attacks of the enemy. That we had to stand strong and firm and take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ, knowing that if we didn’t, the enemy would pounce and destroy us.
And I know that there is a part of us that must do that, but if our focus is solely on the attacks of the enemy, we will lose out on what God has for us.
The first time I read that book, I came to realise that that was wrong thinking. I came to realise that God is a big God and that our small and limited view of Him can restrict Him from fully working in our lives.
I can look back and see the many miraculous things that He did for me, and through me.
· I can remember the time when He so clearly spoke that I looked round to see where the words came from ……… and I got saved 7 days later.
· I can remember reading in His Word how the disciples were transformed in an upper room, somewhere in Jerusalem, from being fearful of what people would think of them, into dynamic and powerful witnesses of the risen Lord ……… and I too got filled with the Holy Spirit.
· I can remember responding to the prompting of the Lord to pray for a young girl to be healed, and so witnessed a healing occur as her leg grew.
· I can remember when God told me of the woman I was to marry, and how He brought that to happen.
· I can remember other times of guidance and provision and answered prayer, and sensing His love and mercy.
I’m sure that we can all recall some special times with God when He has clearly spoken to us or worked through us. But isn’t it also true that somewhere along the line, despite our memories, our lives can become one of going through the motions instead of one that was able to make waves!
We need to stop limiting God!
God is far greater than we can imagine or comprehend. And I believe that it s time for His people to rise up and once again take a stance. [The best form of defence is attack!]
For us to have an impact on this community/nation – we have to allow God to impact us in here. We need to stop limiting God!
Can you dream with me today?
· Can you dream with me and see the church of God being asked for it’s counsel when the government makes policy!
· Can you dream with me and see all the churches in Katikati full every Sunday!
· Can you dream with me and see everyone in this town accept Jesus as Lord!
· Can you dream with me and see miraculous signs and wonders happening regularly!
· Can you dream with me and see captives being set free, the blind having their eyes opened, the deaf once more hearing!
Because I have a dream that this WILL happen!
Do you have a dream today that is inspired by God? Do you have ANY dream today? Because let me tell you clearly, it has got to be a big dream!
Look at this scripture:
PSALM 66:1-5 (NKJV) 1Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 2Sing out the honour of His Name; make His praise glorious. 3Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 4All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your Name." 5Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
Verse 1 - Exuberance, passion, excitement, SHOUT joyfully!
Verse 2 – make His praise GLORIOUS.
This verse seems to imply that we are able to make His praise significant! That as WE honour Him that He will become more and more glorious!
We are to SHOUT – HOW AWESOME ARE YOUR WORKS! THROUGH THE GREATNESS OF YOUR POWER, EVEN YOUR ENEMIES WILL SUBMIT TO YOU.
Many people in church seem to be happy to just make it through life. But God wants to so move in and on the lives of His people, that the world will be in AWE of God.
Turn back a page to PSALM 65: 8-11 (NIV) and you will see the abundance of God
The word ‘abundance’ in Hebrew literally means dripping with fertility!
This Psalm shows us what happens when God has been in a place. There is life; abundance; fertility; excitement; passion; fullness.
So what is OUR testimony in relation to that? Would you agree that we have limited God far too much!
Re-read PSALM 66: 1-3a – boldly!
Turn to MATTHEW 13:53-58.
The sad thing about this scripture is that they didn’t realise what they were missing out on. They had an incredible opportunity to see God move in their midst but they had too many preconceived ideas of what God was going to be like – and there was no way that this carpenters son was going to be God.
We need a revelation of the abundance of God – get passionate about his provision.
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to show us what is either limiting this revelation of God or is going to release the revelation of God.
So how big is your picture of God? Do you limit Him in any way? Is there an area in your life where you can’t/won’t allow Him to go? Because the way that we view God is the way we respond to God.
The bible says that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH HIM.
MAT 17:19-20 (NIV) Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn’t we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ’Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
LUKE 1:37 (NIV) For nothing is impossible with God. (NO WORD OF GOD IS VOID OF POWER!)
All too often we limit God by our lack of faith.
Look at DEUTERONOMY 28:1-13 Here is a list of all the blessings that God has promised to POUR out upon us as we trust Him and as we are obedient to Him.
Too often when we read words like this we can fall into the category of leaning on our own understanding, reasoning things out in our own minds, deciding that we have tried this before and it didn’t work then and so it’s not going to work now, WE LIMIT GOD!
IS ANYTHING IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD?
EPHESIANS 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
The future we will experience will be restricted by the revelation of God we carry today!
Revelation of God will direct your future. And I believe that it is about time we asked God for a revelation of His abundance ……… and have this outwork in our lives.
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How do we get this revelation? I believe that this is THE most simple thing to get. The answer is to simply: Meditate on the abundance of God.
Throughout scripture God encourages us to place our trust in Him. Whether it is for healing or direction or encouragement or support or guidance. It doesn’t matter what, He just wants us to trust in Him.
Read from MATTHEW 6:25-33
Do you believe these words?
How about HEBREWS 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
So here is some homework to do: Spend some time over the next couple of weeks meditating on the abundance of God. Look at who God is. Not so much WHAT He did, but WHO He is. What you do will flow out of who you are. And if you do not know who God is, you will automatically limit what you perceive God is able to do! This is why we ALL must look at what is important to us and define for ourselves what success is.
This is a word to someone here from the Lord. For too long you have spent time looking at your lack and accepting that this is your lot in life.
I believe that this is also a word for us as a fellowship. We too have spent too long looking at our lack and accepted it as our lot in life. We have looked at our lack and said its because the enemy has attacked us, that we have been afflicted by such n such a spirit…… and maybe there is an element of truth in that. BUT LISTEN……………
MY GOD IS A SUPERNATURAL GOD AND NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM!
AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS, HE IS LORD!
Let me finish with this portion of scripture from ISAIAH 55:1-3a
Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
