A call to Officership

I don't think I have long left to live!

Let me explain;

I was thinking yesterday about Officership and how we need to deny ourselves and follow Jesus. We need to die to ourselves and let Jesus live through us.

I've been getting tired of living in this world, not giving up everything in my life to Jesus. I go to work, have to answer to my earthly boss, do earthly things and I feel trapped, but worse, I feel like Jesus is in handcuffs in my life.

Yesterday I was seeing things ideally again, and I saw everyone who enters into Officership is no longer themselves, but a Jesus clone. Once we enter College, we start dying and Jesus starts living and by the time we leave college (if not earlier) Jesus is all that exists. Ideally this should happen for every Soldier of the Salvation Army - but is essential for full time ministry - ie, Officership.

The song "it's no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me" won't leave my head!

Then last night, my devotional that I read spelt it out so well what I had been thinking all day, so I'll include it since it says it better than I could....

With the clothing upon of the Spirit, human depravity is covered, and everything that contrary to the mind of God is destroyed. God must have bodies for Himself, perfectly prepared by the Holy Spirit, for the day of the Lord. "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from Heaven" (2 Corinth 5:2)

The Spirit has to breathe into us a new occupancy, a new order. The Holy Spirit came to give the vision of a life in which Jesus is perfected. It is Christ "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace" (2 Tim. 1:9)

We who are saved have been called with a holy calling, called to be saints - to be pure, holy, and Godlike; to be sons with power. It is a long time now since it was settled and death was abolished. Death has no more power. This was made know through the Gospel, which brought in immortality. Mortality is a hindrance. Sin has no more dominion over you. You reign in Christ, and you make rightful use of His finished work. Don't grown and travail for a week.

"Awake, you who sleep" (Eph 5:14); put on light, and open your eyes. "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Col 3:1).

Stir yourselves up!! Where are you? I am risen with Christ, planted in Him. It was a beautiful planting. I am seated with Him. God gives me the credit, and I believe Him. Why should I doubt?

Dare to believe until the life of Jesus is implanted within your soul. "The righteous will hold to his way" (Job 17:9). God has reserved him who is godly for Himself (Ps. 4:3). Therefore, lift up your heads.

(Smith Wigglesworth)

Are you unhappy with the dull, boring, incomplete, morbid life that you are living? Jesus has called you to more - believe it - He wants you holy and sanctified - He wants you to be a vessel wholly available for His perfect purpose for your life - invite Him in and give Him your all!

What are you doing with your life, with the talents He has given to you??

Have you said 'yes' to Officership -if 'no' WHY NOT????? Give into the wrestling that you're doing with God in your soul, just let it go.

Pray about it now - seriously - "give up your SMALL ambitions for your own life and come change the world"!!!! Mark 8:34-35

Part 2 - Christmas Carols, does the world know what it's singing?

On this eve of the celebration of the birth of the Saviour of the world, I'd like to point out some more lines of some of the carols we love so much!

Away in a manger

V3 Be near me Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me I pray

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care

And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there

If someone says to you they don't know how to pray - there's one they'll know right there!!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

V3 Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

I love the words of Charles Wesley such great truths from the Gospel that used to teach the illiterate members of society through songs - I pray that continues this year to the spiritually illiterate members of society!

Another favourite of mine this year for it's words;

O Little Town of Bethlehem

v1b Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light

The hopes and dreams of all the years

Are met in Thee tonight

v3b But in this world of sin

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in.

v4 O Holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend o us we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

What a great selection of words found in this carol also!! Such gems that go mostly un-noticed.

Take note of these words and others in the songs we sing in this years 'Birthday' celebration and point them out to everyone that will listen!!

Have a great and safe Christmas and have a great New Year if you don't visit again 'till then!

God bless!

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord"

Luke 2:11

Christmas Carols, does the world know what it's singing?

Watching the carols on TV, I wonder if people take any notice of the words they actually sing.

I thought over the next few day, I'd type out some of the great words and truths we sing about in these songs about the most significant birthday in all of Earths history.

I'll start with some lines from my favourite carol - Joy to the world

V1. Joy to the world! The Lord has come

Let Earth receive her King,

Let every heart prepare Him room

& Heaven and nature sing

Joy!! I wonder where our joy is sometimes, especially in worship services!! Bring it back.

Let earth receive her King - how many people sing this at Christmas time but still don't realise we're singing about Jesus!! Heaven and nature sing - It reminds me of the verse - if we don't sing praises to Jesus, the rocks will!!! (Luke 19:40)

V2. Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns,

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

V3. He rules the world with truth and grace

and makes the nations prove

the glory of His righteousness

And wonders of His love

He rules the world - Hallelujah!! Even if men don't recognise it - He does! Did you notice it just didn't stop there - He rules with truth and grace - top that!! But wait, there's more.... and makes the nations prove the glory of His righteousness - good stuff. And wonders of His love - what an amazing truth there, reminds me a bit like Song 52 in the Salvation Army Song Book, the Wonders of His grace!

Think about all the words in the Carols we sing this Christmas season, don't worry about the meaningless carols like Jingle Bells or Rudolf, but the weighty ones that tell the great truths about our Lord AND Saviour - JESUS!!

Praise Him and worship him with JOY this Christmas - He deserves it!

Back with more soon....

"and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn"

Luke 2:7

12 Days to go!

12 Days until I leave for Rwanda!!

Please be praying for our trip, that God will be glorified and many will come to know Him and grow in a relationship with Him!

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"

Acts 1:8

http://missionteam.salvos.org.au/p18/project18rwanda.php

Can Christians be slaves to Satan??

I was just reading an email from Pastor Bob Larson. Many of you may have heard of him from John Safran's series called 'John Safran vs God'.

Bob was talking about a new series he is blessed to be a part of where he will have his own TV series showing many people coming to Christ and being set free from demons.

One thing he talked about different Pastors preaching that Christians can't be possessed and then goes on to tell of a story about a 'Christian' father who raped his own daughter, and a few other stories like that. This father even though claimed to be a 'Christian', he clearly was still influenced by the forces of darkness - don't underestimate them!

If you are a Christian - you CAN be possessed by Satan!! Only Holy-Christians cannot be possessed!

Are you Holy?? Are you without sin??

Only then are you free from Satan's grip - many 'Christians' these days don't even know about Holiness and are still living as puppets of Satan and making God look bad.

Holiness people! Find out what it is and live it - we can overcome sin and live in all of God's promises today!!

Hallelujah!

"But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you"

Matthew 12:28

The 12 days of Christmas??

Something for the Christmas season!

Enjoy

Almost there!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"

Galatians 6:9

Times get hard, but we generally hold on and keep going. The longer the hard times continue, the more we want to give up.

How disappointing would it be if we fight to hold on, but just before the end we then give up just before the finish line. I have a saying - the longer we wait... the more impatient we get, the less impatient we need to be, whatever we are waiting for is now almost here!!

Warriors, keep going, never tire, never give up - Go in the strength of the Lord! The end is ever drawing closer.

All things are possible!

For many years now God has been putting on my heart that He is wanting to show His power and authority in this world. He wants it be seen in supernatural ways. It is being reported that it is being seen in many countries, but it hasn't really been seen here in Australia.

I know many people believe that it is all a hoax and want evidence or won't believe it otherwise.

I've watched a few home videos of things like people being raised from the dead in Jesus Name, and God has been putting this specifically on my heart for quite a while now, that I would be witness to this myself.

Here is one of those supposedly 'dodgy' video's, but I know that God can do all things in Jesus Name if we believe He can and we can be witness to this if we claim He can.



I'm going to Rwanda in 2 weeks time. I'm really looking forward to seeing these guys worship God in such a simple way, trusting God with everything in their lives, just to get by every day - something we don't do here with so many comforts and trust in ourselves.

Please pray for my trip to Rwanda and that I can bring back a simple faith to our country of such self-importance and lack of trust in Jesus. I hope to bring back many great stories also of things that God is doing in these countries that love and depend on Him in everything.

I'm planning on blogging as much as I can once I'm back to share this experience - but for now can I ask you to pray that God will be glorified through this mission trip and pray for us to allow Him to use us in all that we do.

See http://missionteam.salvos.org.au/p18/ for more information of the trip and other trips that are happening.

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts"

Matthew 10:7-9

What do you think - 2

Do you think you're a good person? Why?

Are you doing your bit? How do you weight it all up? How do you justify your beliefs?

You might just be the nicest person in hell? What is the deciding factor between being the nicest person in hell and the worst person in heaven?

What are you're thoughts??

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"

Acts 2:21

What do you think?

I'm just after other people's thought on a particular question.

If you read the Bible or the Koran or another religious book of guidelines, but you found the more you read, it keeps contradicting itself or kept saying that the previous part is now being updated, so forget about the last chapter.

How would you know what part to follow and when it was actually finalised, especially if the writer dies before it is complete and he/she claims to be the only enlightened one or prophet?

I would find that 'religion' to be way too confusing and would be uncomfortable with it. My soul would still be longing for something to fill it's emptiness.

Jesus claims to be the only way, to have the complete truth, and able to give genuine life.

In my experience, there is a sense of total completion once I received the Holy Spirit, as Jesus also told us. A sense of true purpose that my soul confirms.

Have you experience this true happiness? Only you can answer this honestly to yourself?

If your answer is 'NO' then why not seek after Jesus, give it a go, it wouldn't hurt would it?

How would you rather live your life - as though God doesn't exist to find He really does, or live as though God does exist to find He doesn't???

I know my answer! Do you know yours?

"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony."

John 3:11

Have a read of this!

As I have been reading parts of the Koran to understand our fellow Muslims I came across this interesting portion that I'll share with you....

From the book of the 'Imrans,
Chapter 3 verses 45-46

The angels said to Mary: 'God bids you rejoice in a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary. He shall be noble in this world an in the world to come, and shall be one of those who are favoured. He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of manhood, and shall lead a righteous life'

Is it just me or does the Koran actually say that Jesus is the Messiah?! Jesus has a lot of emphasis taken off His importance as compared to the Christian faith, but it still calls Him the Messiah.

Interesting in this re-told watered down version of the original truth, the very important fact of Jesus being the 'Son of God' and not just the 'Son of Mary' has been lost.

I wonder how many Muslims have actually read this themselves, I have a feeling most Muslims only know what their Mufti's tell them. Please tell me if I'm wrong, I would love to be proven wrong - and if I am wrong - please tell me your thoughts on this passage.

Praise to God that we have the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and not just a re-told version of it passed down the generations with parts being lost or being changed.

"I warn everyone who hears the words o the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

Revelation 22:18-09

Yes, Lord, I love You!

I just want to share with you something I read the other night;

John 21:15-25

Have you ever felt a shame and sense of despair so deep that you wondered if you would ever be free? If you have you'll know something of what Peter was feeling. I meet people quite often when who wonder if God could ever look on them with love again. They feel a terrible separation from God because of something they have done - or something that has been done to them at the hands of others. Their grief is enormous. I'm sure God grieves too when we don't realise how generous His love is.

Just a few days before Peter had strongly, emphatically and repeatedly denied any connection with Jesus. What could be more terrible than that? Reflect for a moment on anything you feel has caused separation between you and Jesus. Could anything be more serious than an outright denial? I don't think so! Now join Peter in finding out the generosity of Jesus' love. Jesus sought Peter out for a walk along the beach. There were no words of reproach or disappointment. Instead Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to reaffirm his love (vs 15-17). A rather chastened Peter was not boastful in his affirmation. He know his frailty now. This probably equipped him to be better able to take care of the lambs and sheep of God's flock. Peter was not just forgiven, he was appointed to partnership in the work of Jesus!!

Hallelujah!!

I'll fight!

We sing some really nice songs in church, don't we! Some great theological truths that help us remember what's in the Bible, and some newer songs with just good tunes.

I love some Salvo song's 'cos of the lyrics, so much depth, truth and meat! They also can fuel our mission.

Here's one with some good words in parts (cheesy in others), but how seriously do you listen to the words - and most importantly, how close does your life reflect the words you sing (this reflects words you sing on general radio songs also!)

Something for you to enjoy, but also to think about.

"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")
He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.'

Mark 7:18-20

Do you believe Jesus?

Do we believe all that Jesus said??

Is there something that stands out in your mind that you don't agree with what Jesus said?

NO!

Good - he was a smart guy - he was God actually!!

In Matthew 10 Jesus sends out His 12 disciples and gave them authority to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons" v8a. Do we believe that Jesus had the power to give out this authority??

I hope your answer is yes - he has told us before He went back to Heaven that we could do all these things and more - do we believe it??? Then why are we not seeing it then?

I'm hearing bits from here and there that some of this is happening, but I have the feeling we're not giving God all of us to control nor the glory. Are you holding any of yourself or your life from God?

Here in Melbourne Central Division, there are some of us driving out demons and healing the sick and others saving souls - I want to see this in flood loads!! I'm still praying to see God's power in bringing someone back from the dead! I have been prophesied over that my hands are released into healing, but I'm too afraid to use it in case it God doesn't turn up and I'm left standing there looking stupid - STOP there!!

It's not about us!! Give God the glory through all we do and say - leave it up to Him, be willing and let God do the rest. Fear is from im-perfect love. Do you know God well enough to trust Him fully? Jesus is enough (hey Marney!)

Step out in faith this week and believe God will be there!!

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

John 14:12-14

So you think you can preach, huh?!

Last night Macleod corps had their last youth meeting and the theme was "So you think you can preach".

The night was covered in prayer and there was quite a bit of Spiritual warfare leading up to it too, so I should have seen through Satan's lies - all week the enemy was trying to make me not go!!

There were 5 'preachers' with topics and are reviewed on Jo's blog which can be read on Revolution Army.

Alana preached for the first time and was given the topic of the trinity and did an impressive job - well done Alana.

Pete Brookshaw was given the topic on Salvation and of course did a good job along with Jo on the topic of worship!! These guys are gifted - Gods going to use them so keep praying for these guys as they go into their second year of training college next year.

James was given his favourite topic - (rigged!!)- and got everyone pumped up as usual!!!

Last was Tish on choices and went down the line of wisdom in your choices - another gifted speaker - watch out training college for all the guys from tonight - train them well - they will be coming your way, if not already!!

God took control of the night and led us into a great time of worship to complete the night!!

Are you a gifted preacher? Do you have a passion to see people come to know Jesus as their saviour AND Lord? Have you considered giving God your life in service?? How bout Officership?? If so, pray about it and let me know if you don't know who to contact!

"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." "

1 Samuel 3:10