Reflections of Brengle - holiness

"I saw the humility of Jesus, and my prode; the meekness of Jesus, and my temper; the lowliness of Jesus , and my ambition; the purity of Jesus , and my unclean heart; the faithfulness of Jesus, and the deceitfulness of my heart; the unselfishness of Jesus, and my selfishness; the trust and faith of Jesus, and my doubts and unbelief; the holiness of Jesus, and my unholiness.  I got my eyes off everybody but Jesus and myself, and I came to loathe myself." 

Samuel Logan Brengle p47-48 of 'Samuel Logan Brengle' by Hall

Great words of Samuel Logan Brengle - my experience tonight, but I thank God that as I can't sleep even though I'm exhausted, Jesus came to save me tonight from my inadequacies and all the feelings of unholiness, just like Isaiah felt in chapter 6, the live coal has touched my lips, and maybe even my heart. I thank Jesus that right now, I no longer loathe myself though as Brengle says, but in Jesus changing my heart, I am now starting to see myself as He is re-shaping me - it's a work in progress though!

Jesus can and will do the same for you, that is my testimony.  I pray that Jesus will be all you need today and as I was reminded while standing collecting in a shopping centre today and saw a guy missing an arm - Jesus wants to make you whole today - not necessarily physically, but spiritually, the essence of yourself.

Why don't you just take a moment and soak up His presence.

May Jesus, who died to give you life, give you rest and wholeness that you need today.

Be blessed
Simon

New Pledge of Allegiance

Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore because the word 'God' is mentioned..... a kid in Arizona wrote this NEW School prayer:

"New Pledge of Allegiance"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now..

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene..

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all..

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong..

We can get our condoms and birth controls, Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles...

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

End times?

There is so much going on in the world at the moment, it's almost like the world is ready to end and many people are actually worried it almost is!

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus tells us;

".. you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come."

Yes, as many are currently saying, the signs are pointing to it being the end, but as Jesus said, it's only the start and I believe it has been starting for a long time.

We have hope in Jesus, He has given us eternal life which takes away any fear of the end in my heart.

No one knows the date or time the world will end, not even Jesus, so when people tell you the world will end in 2012 or any other time, I wonder how they know, unless they are God.

Find hope in Jesus as I have, I can sleep well knowing that I'm saved here and now thanks to the sacrifice Jesus gave for me. Whether the world ends tonight or in 1,000 years, I'm going to Heaven where there is no fear or pain.

This is only the start, if it truly is the birth pains of 'the end'. Live life everyday like it's your last. Choose to love and live a good life. Life's too short to live in fear or to leave anything till tomorrow (unless you're trying to balance the budget..)

Spread the news of God's love rather than spreading fear of 'end times'.

Be blessed, and live under the wing of God's salvation through the Blood of Jesus!

Law = freedom

I walked out onto a pedestrian crossing this morning and realised that it was my right to walk out and have the right of way, but still kept my eye on the cars knowing that not everyone totally abides by the law!

I should feel completely confident to walk out onto that crossing and know that I was safe and wasn't going to be run over by a car, but then as I was leaving that shopping centre in my car, I was at an intersection within the carpark indicating to go right and another car just overtook me on my right and went straight not taking any account for anyone else! I'm just glad I didn't go without checking - even from behind me!

There is a law that the creator put in place for the universe so we don't have to be in fear for safety and can live in freedom. Sometimes we might be unaware like the guy who overtook me, but then again he might have thought he was above the law and had more right than me, but I'm not sure which one, but he did seem oblivious to what the 'rule' was and just did his own thing.

God did give us His law as a safety net for us to live and enjoy life - if you look at all God has said, He knows His stuff!

Sometimes we do stuff up and that's where Jesus comes into it - He is our forgiveness! If we do break the law and effect other people, Jesus comes to us and shows us how to make things right again and bring back 'shalom' - balance and order to the universe.

God is good, and Jesus is that goodness - taste and see the truth in that and how relevant it is even today in this world where we are so 'self sufficient', but then again, are we really!?

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 2:21

Spiritual Discussions

Tonight we started a Spiritual Discussions group here at Harry Hunter Centre which Scott and I were leading for tonight. It was totally voluntary and 9 guys and girls turned up which was great for a start.

We didn't have anything really planned but knew that many of the guys had questions of God and spirituality floating around in their heads, and some of these questions were disturbing and frustrating them. Scott started off with a reading then opened it up for discussion, and question after question flowed from the 'clients' of Harry's.

What a night of discussion, ranging from what does it mean to let God in, to the big questions about Heaven and Hell, but I was so pumped with these guys thinking about it and asking the big questions!

Every Wednesday night we have chapel here on the sight of the centre and last week I gave a message on us being spiritual beings in a physical world. The culture here is there is no real response opportunity given, but sometimes a few questions will be given to the Officers throughout the week if required, but I opened up the meeting for prayer and a response if anyone wanted to. No one responded, but 3 guys hung around afterwards and stayed in their seats. One of them stayed and spoke to Scott and myself for at least an hour about what God was speaking to him.

Tonight another guy was telling us that he had given up on all the God stuff, but after the message I gave last week, he really wanted to give God another go! Awesome, Hallelujah! Most of the guys here have had hard lives and bad experiences of God through the church, but hearing some of the stories from here, even just tonight was unbelievable! The Spirit was really stirring, and I felt that God really spoke through me tonight, so hopefully some of these guys really start nurturing a relationship with God, and I believe they will, in Jesus Name!

Please just take a moment to pray for all the men and women here at Harry Hunter Centre in Western Australia - there is some amazing work happening and God is really moving. I'm leading and giving the message again this Wednesday night, so please also pray for that night, I feel God is wanting to use this weeks chapel again for His glory.

God, please open up Heaven and pour out Your blessings on this place as you have been doing and change lives for the better, give hope, joy and peace to all of those that are struggling here presently. Thanks God, we love You and serve You.

In Jesus Name we ask!

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Matthew 21:22

Prayer

Prayer is an amazing thing to have as humanity, when you actually get your head around the concept, you realise you can have a conversation with the One who created Earth, the stars, and even you and I. It's quite mind blowing really.

This One who created the Heavens and the Earth is also the one who created the 'natural' laws that the universe was to operate within, the laws that science tell us are in place and that all the formulas that we've come up with define.

Have you ever realised, that at the same time as having laws surrounding us that we have to abide by, we can still persuade God, this Creator of the universe, to change His mind and break natural laws. This is when miracles can occur, such as a person who has developed a tumor is somehow cured and the doctors cannot explain, or someone with a broken leg gets prayed for and it somehow is completely restored without evidence of a break ever occurring to that bone, or how about someone being raised from the dead, even days after the their heart had taken it's last beat.

The God who placed these 'natural' laws in place can also break them as He chooses or is persuaded to do. Pray with perseverance and believe that God loves you and will give you the desires of your heart, not things you may want, but the things you need and especially for things that will glorify Himself. Just as a child brings a petition before their parent, we approach our Heavenly Father in the same way, and He responds as a loving parent does, the perfect parent.

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Spirituality - we're incomplete without it!

If you look at every culture since the beginning of creation, we (humanity) have known there was something bigger than ourselves, a 'higher being' that we have the desire within our spirits to search for. The ancient Egyptians had their gods, the Australian Aboriginals have their spirit gods, the Aztec's, Babylonians, Celtic, Greek, Hindu, Japanese, Roman, etc, etc, etc we all have the in built need for something more, something spiritual to fill the emptiness inside.

I've just spent a month in India, and learning about the Hindu gods and how they seem to have, just like many other religions, a god for nearly every aspect of life from welcoming you into a home, your money, harvests, travelling etc.

While I was in India, there was quite a few times I depended on help from God, protection from danger firstly; there was at least 5 times we were very close to death that we know of, and secondly health, so I didn't get sick or 'complications' from the food and water. If I didn't have faith that God would get me through I would have felt helpless. While I was there, there was deaths on train crashes, I went on these trains, there was deaths due to the cold, I was staying in this area, there were deaths on the roads, one night was so foggy there was around 80 people dead or missing on the exact road we were travelling on and many more examples of similar events; yet in all of this, I felt unbelievably safe like I was wrapped in cotton wool - I felt the presence of God surrounding us and hearing our prayers and others who were praying for us also.

I depended on the help of God during my trip and people all throughout history have searched for the help and guidance from the spiritual world, it's in our DNA to find God, yet I return to a country that really has no spirituality. Australia has so many people that are their own 'gods', they believe they don't need anything else apart from themselves, or so they say.

For a nation to have no spirituality is a nation that is lost. When I try to imagine having no spirituality, I think of zombies with no souls, just a shell going through motions without purpose; wake, eat, work, sleep day in day out.

The more I talk to people that claim they don't need God, the more they realise how pointless their life is. When all the business of their life is gone, when all the distractions, paryting, alcohol and all the other things the world does to try to keep their mind off their internal pain and emptiness and they just sit at the end of the day in the dark by themselves, there is still a gaping emptiness inside that can only be filled by God Himself.

If this describes how you feel, read the Bible, I suggest starting with the New Testament, the books like Mark, Matthew and John and if this doesn't work for you, I'll seriously be surprised. When God created us, He made us so that we were only complete with Him, without Him we are incomplete.

A Godless nation is only fooling itself, a Godless man is lost

Accept Jesus today

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.""

John 8:12

Sanctification

For Spiritual Formation here at the Training College we have to give a presentation on someone who has influenced us spiritually over the years, I chose Samuel Logan Brengle, the great holiness teacher of the Salvation Army.

As I've been reading over his books and biographies, God gave me an insight to what Samuel teaches about.  God told me that I've been born to be sanctified, I've been called by His will for His glory, and a critical part of achieving all these things is to be totally blameless before Him.

Brengle writes in the introduction to his book 'Helps to Holiness',  "He satisfied me- I weigh my words - He satisfied me!  He satisfied me".  

Have you ever had that experience of being totally satisfied??  As I've been reading God has been showing me and sanctifying me, it is totally amazing, right now as I type, I am satisfied.  Even though I know I haven't been sanctified through and through, God has given me something to work towards, and sooner rather than later, I'm going to live totally within God's will for my life and live a totally sanctified life - He requires it of us, and therefore it is possible!

Hallelujah - God is good, all the time!!

"This is the will of God, even your sanctification... For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness"

1 Thessalonians 4:3,7

Saved or un-saved?

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency but, by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God

(Article 5 - Salvation Army doctrines)

Every man is regarded now as a sinner in need of salvation. Romans 3:23 says "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3), man was destined to be separated from God. Disobedience to God separates us from Him, eternally not just here while we live on Earth.

Sin is more than the breaking of particular commands; it is inward opposition to the will of God. In so doing the sinner separates himself from God, the source of all true life [Handbook of Doctrine pg85 section VI]

If we haven't gone to God for forgiveness for this wrong we've done against Him, we will be punished by eternal separation from God, eternal damnation. If you want to be saved from this I'll explain how;

Everything has to be paid for, old school you had to bring something of great worth, so back before my day, that mostly was in the form of the best from your flock, ie, the best lamb without imperfections and sacrificed it in your place, otherwise you would pay by death - your life - eternal death.

Now this has been made redundant by one human sacrifice, one for all

"We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world, so that whosoever may be saved"

(Article 6 - Salvation Army Doctrine)

It is God's will that all should be saved (1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 4:14) All men need the gospel and have a right to hear it.

It is my duty to take it to you!

All you have to do, is realise you have separated yourself from God, ask Him for forgiveness through His Son's sacrifice of dying in your place, and change your ways. God has made it that easy!

Once you've realised this rebellion from God, admit it to yourself, ask God for forgiveness from it, know you need to change your lifestyle and make the improvements based on God's Guidelines to Living a Full Life (better know as the Bible) and you will then be SAVED!

We use the term saved in a broad term, it means salvation from a range of things like sin itself, eternal punishment (Hell), spiritual oppression, and other things that sin or rebellion causes.

If you know you need to change some things in your life but not sure where to start, leave me a comment or email me at mapleback_simon@hotmail.com. Even if you have just changed your way and lined your life up with God, also please let me know.

Bless ya

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Romans 10:10

Cost of following Jesus

18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.

19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said,

"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Mathew 8:18-22

I'm in His hands

732 SASB

1. I shall not fear though darkened clouds may gather round me;

The God I serve is one who cares and understands.

Although the storms I face would threaten to confound me,

Of this I am assured:

I'm in his hands.

Chorus

I'm in his hands,

I'm in his hands;

Whate'er the future holds

I'm in his hands,

The days I cannot see

Have all been planned for me;

His way is best, you see;

I'm in his hands.

2.What though I cannot know the way that lies before me?

I still can trust and freely follow his commands;

My faith is firm since it is he that watches o'er me;

Of this I'm confident:

I'm in his hands.

3.In days gone by my Lord has always proved sufficient,

When I have yielded to the law of love's demands;

Why should I doubt that he would evermore be present

To make his will my own?

I'm in his hands!

Stanley E. Ditmer

I'm no longer a Salvo

I've realised there are becoming more and more people that are calling themselves 'Salvo's'.

Many people that attend The Salvation Army once a year for Christmas or Easter or a dedication etc are calling themselves 'Salvo's', people that work in Salvo's stores or Employment Plus, or even people that just have family members who are connected with the Salvation Army in some form, or possibly just be fed by the soup van's are now saying they are Salvo's.

The name 'Salvo' is getting watered down so much and is loosing it's power and it's true intended purpose, so I am no longer a 'Salvo'!

These people are watering down what the Salvation Army is all about - so I don't want to be associated with an organisation that is becoming a club that is no more than a name that has a good reputation that makes me look good in return.

I now am going to start calling myself a SALVATIONIST! Why - because I am signed up, paid up, committed and actually in the fight. I'm not happy just even attending 'church' on Sunday, but without exception, or excuse, will obey God's plan for my life - everyday of my life, whether a public holiday, RDO or my birthday. Enough is enough of people who talk it up and in reality do nothing - I will not talk up myself or my actions, but only talk up the awesomeness of God and Jesus alone.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, of the Army of my God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.

The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

Faith, Prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this Army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

I will either retire in this army at the Rapture or die in this Army;

but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out.

I am faithful, capable, and dependable.

If my God needs me, I am there.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. I am not a baby.

I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior.

No one else has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, I am not a wimp.

I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His Name and building His Kingdom!

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior.

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.

I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.

I am committed.

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.

I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.

I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into His Army, I had nothing

If I end up with nothing I will still come out ahead,

For I am more than a conqueror.

The devil cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.

Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.

Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.

And Hell cannot handle me

I AM A SOLDIER

Even death cannot destroy me.

For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield

He will promote me to glory and there I will rejoice in His presence.

I am a soldier in God's Army and I'm marching claiming victory.

I will not give up, not turn around.

Here I stand.... a soldier!

(author unknown)

Are you signed up and fully committed? Why not - would you prefer to watch TV or sleep in??

"Give up you small ambitions and come, change the world!"

Mark 8:34-35

War!

It's always expected when things are going well, they will soon fall apart right in front of you!

Things were going great at Church, the Kingdom was at hand and people were effected by God's own hand.

Then tonight I was talking to someone, who I thought was getting somewhere with, moving them away from all the things in their life that is killing them, metaphorically and literally speaking, but then they did something very stupid this afternoon which has just made me feel so depressed and sick!

I've put out a warrant now on the demon causing this person to do all these things - yes it is a demon, subtle and sly for self preservation reasons - but I'm onto you, your time is now limited!! Your name will be revealed. I'm sick of you causing this perversion and destruction. Enough is enough!

Please, for all the prayer warriors reading this, pray now that God will show His omnipotence in this situation. God will get the glory, just pray sooner rather than before it strikes again!

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."

Matthew 10:1

Raising the dead

Have a read of this!

http://www.raised-from-the-dead.org.uk/accounts/m/mccormack-ian-s1-all.php

Please join me in praying that by the end of the year we will see God's fullfilment of His word;

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.
Matthew 10:7-8

The Great Physician - How great is our GOD!!!

He is risen!!

Jesus is alive - you'd better believe it.

We've just finished the best Easter camp ever!!! In the week leading up to camp, a few of us had been told by God that He was going to do great things - and He did!!!!

From the first session, people were making decisions about giving their lives to God and to take Jesus' sacrifice as their salvation! Throughout the whole camp people were finding Jesus and God was really kicking people around telling them in a very powerful way to "get your life right with Him - now!".

On Saturday, we all went out into the community for different things, some did chalk drawing on the footpaths, others cleaned ovals and the post office steps, others did some handing out of Easter eggs while sharing the good news of the Easter story - their way to salvation while trying the 'good test'.

The first person I came across we gave an egg to and they tried the good test and were convicted of their lies, stealing and blasphemy so repented and asked Jesus for forgiveness and gave their life to Him - salvation!! I thought this was going to be an amazing day... but it didn't turn out to be a huge day for salvation's, but had some great conversations/arguments with some older members of the community....

On the way back to the camp, one of the guys had a sore wrist, so he got his mate to pray for him and it was healed in Jesus Name!! How awesome!!

From there, in the next half an hour we had 7 healings in total - the wrist, shin splints, an infected nose, a sore shoulder, a sprained ankle, more shin splints, two sore throats and God was glorified!!! Jesus is awesome - He is able to heal anything!!!

It continued, it didn't just end there, we had all the kid's praying for each other and more healing were witnessed through out the weekend (see http://whollyholy.blogspot.com/ for other details) and also included things like injured hamstrings, and even a badly sprained and possibly broken wrist. After this wrist was completely restored she even showed off and did a handstand, which apparently she had never been able to do before - WOW!!

The nurse on camp had it easy - bit of a holiday for her in my opinion....

This camp was awesome, we had the healings, people giving their lives to God and people set free from hurts and abuse, the list just went on - there was only 70-80 of us there but sooooo much happened - God is AWESOME!!!

If you don't believe me, come and check God out for yourself - or find someone else who attended the Melbourne Central Division Easter camp and ask them!!

God is more than good - do you know this for yourself?? Search after Him today - and tomorrow!

"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."

Matthew 10:7-8

Do you know anyone that has just died that doesn't know Jesus to let them into Heaven....

Be gone Satan!

Do you want to cast Satan out of your life?

Are you tired of the bondage, harassment, and oppression of demonic forces that threaten to destroy you or someone you love? Overcoming these attacks lies in knowing what to confess and how to confess it.

You need to to:

• Confess your destiny in Christ
  
• Confess your purpose for living
  
• Confess your calling for service
  
• Confess your anointing for power
  
• Confess words that defeat the devil
  
• Confess your financial prosperity so your needs are met (trust God - He will provide!!)
  
• Confess your leadership abilities to stop what Satan steals from you
  
• Confess a warrior's oath to wage war against the demons attacking you (I like that one!!!)

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

Matthew 4:10

Mr Rudd, claim this land....

God put on my heart the other day, that Australia is stagnant water, but we should be a living, flowing river full of life - but we're not! Why?

God told me that our new Prime Minister claims that he is 'Christian' and that he needs to get bold and not be afraid of proclaiming that on the country of Australia's behalf. What I mean is that Kevin Rudd needs to proclaim Australia as Christian country and as God's land.

If 'Kevin '07' does this, you won't believe what happens next!! Australia will become that living flowing river of abundant life and the country will become something we only dream that it could have been!

Our neighbouring countries will also be impacted - for their benefit - and God will finally fulfill the great prophecy - The great Southland of the Holy Spirit. We will go from strength to strength and Satan's dominion with all his false religions will be crushed by God's own hand in this country and also particularly in Indonesia!

Kevin Rudd when you read this next - get radical in your faith in Jesus and claim this land in the Name of Jesus and consecrate it for the glory of God!! For all our sakes and the salvation of the world, do it!

So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'

Joshua 14:9

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

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