Author: missionspaul

The spirit of generosity – part 3

Do you have it?

Luke 5: 1-6, 10-11

The problem was that the work of Jesus had grown so much that a large crowd were pushing in towards him to hear him more clearly. There was no where for Jesus to be elevated, no stage for him to stand on.
However, there was Simon’s failed fishing boat.
Jesus got into that boat and used it to be a successful pulpit.

Simon had the spirit of generosity which allowed Jesus to re-use what had been a failure that night.

What has failed in your life?
Where are the disappointments?
It is not that you didn’t try but for some reason that prayer wasn’t answered the way you wanted.

Some people say to me:
“I don’t do that anymore. I don’t get involved. The best days are over. I don’t believe I’m useful anymore.”
They shut down their generosity.
They no longer say yes.
They are contained, locked up, shut down.

Jesus wants to get into our boats of failure, our boats of past promises. He will re-use them.

The spirit of generosity part 2

Do you have it?

Mark 14: 13-17
Nothing much is known about this man except:
He had space prepared for Jesus.
He had swept the room clean.
He had furnished it.
He had got it ready.

This man had the spirit of generosity.
Have you made space for God?
What is the equivalent of your second storey room?
Is there space in our lives?
The spirit of generosity is where we are ready for God, we have swept out the thoughts and ambitions and we are His.

The spirit of generosity part 1

Do you have it?

What can be untied?
Luke 19: 29-34

The owner was willing to untie his new donkey for Jesus.
Had he met Jesus before and been transformed by him and was now thankful?
Had he promised Jesus everything?
Had he wanted to be used of God and maybe had prayed that day “God use me”?
Whatever the reason, this man had something precious tied up outside his home that he was willing to let go of.
What can be untied from you?
What will you never give?
What have you committed to not letting go of?
What is tied to the post?
The spirit of generosity in you will untie it.

Waste

There has been an incredible waste of amazing treasure and opportunity throughout history.

John Pembleton created what he called a brain stimulant and sold the company for 2,300 dollars. Today the company is worth 18 billion. His invention was called coca-cola.

Walter Hunt invented one of the top 50 greatest inventions in history, the safety pin. He sold his rights to the invention for just 10 dollars to pay off a gambling debt.

But the worst waste of all is this, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”

God comes through an open heaven ….

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble before you!
As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
Isaiah 64: 1-3

When God comes mountains tremble!
Those things that seemed unmovable, unshakable, those things that brought fear to you as you stood in awe of their magnitude, it is them that begin to shake and appear not as mighty. For God is here!

An open heaven promises ….

Genesis 7: 11-12
In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month-on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights.

An open heaven promises firstly impossibilities becoming possible. Secondly …

… What you have longed for happens!

Noah built what he had never seen and waited for something to happen that had never happened before.

– Sometimes the new has to be uncharted territory.
– Waiting is part of the journey.
– Just because it hasn’t doesn’t mean it won’t.

Heaven opens when the earth is ready, preparation prepares!

I hear the sound ….

I remember as a young person in church singing some strange songs!
“I hear the sound of rustling of the leaves of the trees.” Whenever I sang it I never did hear the sound.

Not long after that we were singing, “I hear the sound of the army of the Lord.” We tried to sing it like we were the army.

A few years later we were singing, “I hear the sound of a distant thunder.” A bit more of an upbeat tune but it never did thunder, though we would use the drums a lot to make it sound like it had.

As I look back I have spent the majority of my Christian life expecting things were about to get better or something beautiful was going to happen. I’ve sang it, listened to it and believed it. It hasn’t been a bad thing, it has certainly helped me remain in position instead of running from it.

Missions in and around the Elim globe teaches me to do all I can to hold on to such a simple belief that God’s best is yet to come.

Malachi 3:8-11
“…. and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.

For a few days I want to simply and briefly share the promises of an open heaven.

One promise is that the impossibilities will become possibilities.
Elisha was under pressure of his life from the king of Jerusalem because the enemy, Samaria, was attacking them. Elisha predicts a famine in Samaria but a kings helper said, “Even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens could this happen?”

There are some people who for many reasons just cannot believe what you are believing for.
However, that is exactly what will happen.
An open heaven makes all things possible!

Pain in Nigeria

Having just returned from the north of Nigeria I am once again musing over the Christian believers who every day face the battle to live for Christ and often to live for him has meant they have had to die for him.
I was privileged to hear from those who live with the constant threat of Boko Haram, they live amongst them though BH remain hidden amongst the shadows.
I heard of the bravery of the Chibok girls, the majority still in captivity, but many had escaped their hell by fleeing or being rescued. Every day they faced their torment at the hands of evil men. It was and is always a privilege to be in these places.

I returned home to the news that Barnados have been given 3 million pounds to deal with what the Jay report found in that 1,400 children were abused by gangs of men, mainly of Pakistani origin, between 1997 and 2013.
Whether overseas or here in the UK; whether in your neighbourhood or workplace, people remain trapped by many things. Not all of them are the horrors of man, but nevertheless they can leave people paralysed.
We all have a daily opportunity to help.
Let me ask you to read just one verse today: 1 Samuel 23:16 “Jonathan went to David at Horeb and helped him find strength in God.”
Can you remember stepping into someone’s pain? Or leaving your road of victory and walking with them on the road marked with suffering?
Can you remember when you last came alongside someone?
Can you remember when you last prayed for someone saying, “I believe in you. You will make it. Together we will do this. We will overcome.”
This is mission. You’re in it or you’re not.

True Devotion final part

What will togetherness look like? Acts 2: 44
“All the believers were together and had everything in common”.

They devoted themselves …

When she was 14years, Helen was asked if she hated the Chinese people for all they had done to her parents. She immediately responded, “Oh, I think they are just wonderful. I love them.”

What will we give to and whom? Acts 2: 45
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need”.

When the power of God comes upon the church then Christians will get serious about their money and material things.

They devoted themselves …
1932 “Shall we beat a retreat, and turn back from our high calling in Christ Jesus, or dare we advance at God’s command in the face of the impossible? Let us remind ourselves that the Great Commission was never qualified by clauses calling for advance only if funds were plentiful and no hardship or self-denial was involved.”
Betty would write, “I want something really worthwhile to live for. Like most young people, I want to invest this one life of mine as wisely as possible, in the place that yields richest profits to the world and to me…I know very well that I can never realize the richest, most satisfying life Christ meant for me, if I am not giving my life unselfishly for others.”

What will our favour be? Acts 2: 47
“praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people”.
Favour is preferential treatment shown to somebody.
It denotes acceptance, approval and pleasure.
When the power of the Lord comes then it is not just persecution but favour.
A Christian is good to have around.
Their values are wholesome.

They devoted themselves …
The baby Helens life was spared because a Chinese stranger sacrificed his life for her.
This is favour.

And that over the last few days my friends is Devotion!

True Devotion 3

What wonder will we be filled with? Acts 2: 43.
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles”.

They devoted themselves …

Many young men and women offered to replace the Stams. One leader said “I personally know of hundreds of volunteers of all ages who gave their lives to the Lord for missionary service because of their death” A co-worker wrote to Betty’s parents “A life which had the longest span of years might not have been able to do 100th of the work for Christ which they have done in a day.”

This is wonder. Captivated by a life. Changed by a life.