Missions Paul

The missionary

This week I had the pleasure of once again meeting a few of Elim’s missionaries. It was Elim UK’s Centenary conference and although it would have been wonderful to have had all of them I was thankful to see the ones that could make it.
They are incredible people and I am again thankful for the privilege of being their leader.
I was moved especially by what I observed:-
1. Their Friendship
Though they come from different backgrounds and work in different continents they came together for a lunch meeting and had pictures taken. Obvious friendship was there built through Skype contact but now being experienced face to face.

2. Surrender
I commented how one of them had lost lots of weight, They told me they had fasted for 40 days and were now seeing incredible answers to prayer, miracles and salvations were taking place. They were in a new day. Look what happens from a surrendered heart!

3. Determination
Though only recently being diagnosed with a severe disease here in the UK this person was desperate to return to the ‘field’. They were determined not to allow their circumstances dictate their commitment. They said to me they were determined to go back and so they are doing!

May we all carry these 3 things today whether serving as a missionary or not and may the following verse be our prayer.
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

Giant killing 4

What’s it going to take to kill the giant?
Don’t give up – Sling

Used both by the military and shepherds for hurling stones with power and accuracy. The idea would be to swing the stone around to gain momentum.
Momentum is ‘the impetus of a body resulting from its motion.’
All that we do is building momentum. Keep on doing what you’re doing. Even if you can’t see the stone come out yet, just keep on going, worshipping, receiving, reading the Word, praying, witnessing, inviting people, speaking positively. As you keep on you will build momentum.
When the sling is in momentum, there is only one thought – that stone is coming out at any moment. If I slow down now, it will be all a waste of time. If I don’t keep focused on the target now all my effort will only mean a missed target.
Now is not the time for the old ones to slow down and let the young ones have a go. The Bible says now is the time for old men to dream dreams – to keep looking into the future.
Now is not the time for the young ones to keep quiet until they are old enough to get a hearing. The Bible says they will prophecy and declare God’s Word.

Giant killing 3

What’s it going to take to kill the giant?
Paying the price – Shepherds bag
It was simply used to carry provisions. What’s it going to take to kill the giant? We need to take responsibility. The bag had a responsibility to carry the very things that would fulfil the vision. It had to recognise it had a part to play. You have a responsibility to the church you attend.
To pay for it. Compare this verse “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals” (Luke 10:4) and “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag.” (Luke 22:35-36)
Jesus was saying before, you were reliant on the generous hospitality of people. But now that I’m going, opposition will come and you will have to pay your own way, so take your bag.
You can’t own something without it costing you something.
Churches need to get to grips with money and fast. Actually people in churches need to let go of money and fast. There are worshippers trying to worship on the cheap.
To carry it. The success or failure of any church will fall down to whether the members have the character to carry the vision.
Forgetting what is behind and straining to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13,14
There is very little difference in people – little difference in the churches that succeed and churches that fail. But that difference is attitude.

Giant killing 2

What’s it going to take to kill the giant?
Know it will take work – Five Smooth Stones from the Stream

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” Psalm 46:4
The river, the Holy Spirit is moving across the whole world. There is a stream running from that river throughout our churches. The stream contains all that we need for our empowerment and happiness. But you have got to come off the banks of spectatorship and get into the stream itself and for yourself. You receive nothing on the banks.
David chose 5 smooth stones. What does that tell us about David?
There was no pride in this situation. He could have chosen only one, thinking it will only take one. “I’m a pretty good shot so that’s all I need.” We don’t approach our giant in that way. This is not about us, but HIM. There’s no time or room for personal agendas. There’s no place for any person wanting to make a name. This is not the place for the declaring and showing off of gifts and how good we are – it’s all about how good HE is. It only took one shot, but David was not so full of pride that he expected only to take one shot.
He was prepared to see the job through. “If it takes one, fine, 2,3,4, I’ll take 5 just in case. This giants coming down and if it take 5 stones to do it then that’s fine. I’m not here to fire one shot and then I’m off. I’m here to see the job through.”
Paul tells Timothy “keep your head, endure, do the work, discharge all the duties” 2 Tim 4:5 If you’re in a ministry area of the church then finish the job, bring it into something, take it further than when you took it on. Build on it, develop it and persevere until you have arrived with it.
Roll your sleeves up, work.

Giant killing.

There are people today that are facing their toughest battle. You may be one of them.

What’s it going to take to kill the giant?

Knowing you are CHOSEN – A Staff

The staff was a branch of wood that had been stretched and shaped, it was made of hard wood, weather-beaten, it had seen life.
The staff would represent who that man was, his status and authority. In a sense he didn’t choose his staff, he was chosen for the staff. To know you are a chosen vessel in the hands of God is the first step in killing your giant.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” John 15:16
Be willing to submit to the shaping of God in your life. You may go through some hard times or you may find yourself in new situations that cause for you to do something you have never done before. All this is to stretch and extend you.
The chosen, submissive life is:
a) a life that will not sit back but be actively involved in doing what cannot be done in your own strength. “Take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.” Exodus 4:17;
b) in believing for breakthough in impossibilities, “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water” Exodus 14: 16;
c) in causing others to be refreshed, “Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” Exodus 17:5-6;
d) in opening heaven so that the enemy is defeated, “Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands… As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning .. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” Exodus 17:10-16

YOU ARE CHOSEN.

VE

Victory in Europe

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

5 things I know about victory:
1. There has to be a challenge for a victory.
2. You need to know what victory looks like for victory to come.
3. Victory comes to those who hold on.
4. Victory follows thankfulness.
5, in victory remember those not there.

Another yesterday

Yesterday was about resignations and cheers.

Those who failed and those who succeeded.

Shocks and surprises.

One moment you can be heading a certain direction and then within hours it’s all over.

My yesterday contained listening to 2 such men.
They had started their careers with great gusto, they are ending with weariness. They had started with great dreams, they are now just asleep. They have done so much good, they are now remembered more for their failures than anything.
I was sad yesterday.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought
I have finished.
I have kept.

I want to keep fighting for injustice, for the poor, the widow, for Missions
I want to know when I have finished. I want to finish well, with grace.
I want to keep. Not to lose what is most precious.

So help me God!

Yesterday

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Yesterday I learnt 7 new things about leadership. I wasn’t successful in all these 7 keys however, I did learn from them. They are in the order of my day. Try one of these today. Try them all.

Confront with grace and truth.

Create laughter that causes motivation to work.

Community births wisdom.

Control your tongue when tongues are wagging at you.

Connect fully into every conversation.

Contribute what you can to be a blessing in anyway you can.

Coffee breaks are essential.

Vote

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, Joshua 24:15

Time to pray!

Smell

I want Bishops to be men who smell of the sheep.
Pope Francis

The seminar room is needed.
To learn is to grow.
To teach is a gift.

The office is needed.
Order and schedule is important.
To administrate is a gift.

Branding and promotion.
Social media reached and likes.
Working groups and hubs.
Conferences and celebrations.
Reading and writing.
Technology and professionalism.
Buildings and bills.
Friendships and fellowship.
Liturgy and vocation.
Gifts and goals.

All of these are important and are taking us along a directional path.
And along this journey everyone can smell good.
But can we try and do that and at the same time still smell of the sheep?

I need to smell of sheep and I desire to follow someone smelling of sheep don’t you?

May the Spirit of the Shepherd rest on you.