The Transformed Life | Counter Cultural

Gradually the nation of New Zealand is turning away from God and the Christian morals that our society was built on. Today there is a great need for Christians living Counter Cultural lives; demonstrating the Kingdom of God.

 Romans 12: 2 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1. Do not conform any longer

There is no denying that there is a lot of pressure to conform. To conform is to behave or think in a socially acceptable or expected way – to comply. The pressure will always be on you to conform, to look like and to imitate this world.

Paul says do not conform any longer, this shows that the readers of this letter were conforming at the time. This letter was to the Christians of Ancient Rome. This is the time where Christians where put in arenas and killed by lions or gladiators for entertainment. Yet Paul still encourages them to make a stand.

Throughout history the Christians that made big impacts on the world were the ones that no matter what the pressure, they lived for Christian values. 

Casper Ten Boom

When the Nazis began requiring all Jews to wear the Star of David, he voluntarily wore one also.

When people warned him he would be in danger for helping the Jews he said “it would be an honour to give my life for God’s ancient people”. At that time the Christian church was supporting Hitler.

It’s time to make a stand. You aren’t doing the world any favours by going with the flow.

2. To the pattern of this world

This world will urge you to live a certain way, it will push you into its mould. If you are not wise you will find you have slipped into conforming. We can see this happening all around us; even many Christians can find themselves following the pattern of this world.

In the last census 20% of people said they were born again Christians. That is around 900,000. That is an army which could seriously change the situation of this Nation.

However the Bible Society did a study in 2008 which showed that only 22% of Christians actually attend church every week. On top of that only 11% of Christians read the bible every day. This is a worrying statistic about where God ranks in people’s lives.

What kind of army do we have when only 22% show up and only 11% are spiritually prepared?

The state of the nation is reflected in our lack of spiritual discipline .A church that is not at church and neglecting the word of God will have nothing to offer society. No wonder the Kingdom has lost ground in New Zealand.

1 John 2:15  

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

3. But be transformed

Transformation happens when we encounter Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18
 

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ. As we behold him we will be transformed into his likeness. To transform is to change completely – for the better. God wants to change your life, for the better. He has a great future for you.

4. By the renewing of your mind

Colossians 3:2  

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

The old mindset will make you conform because the old mind can’t contain the bigness of God. What have you set your mind on? Reset your mind; get the world out with its worldly pursuits and then set it on Christ and His kingdom.

5. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

When you get transformed the future becomes clear. Once you stop trying to fit into the world and step into the ways and thoughts of God’s Kingdom, your life will make sense. You will be released into your future in God.

Heart for the house

Psalm 26: 8

I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.

 I love the house

David was this amazing character who rose from being a shepherd boy – to being the king

One of his defining qualities was that David loved the house of God

He was called by God ‘a man after God’s own heart’

Acts 13: 22 God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

God chose David because of his heart for God

He also had a dream to build the house of God

Because of his heart for the house – God blessed him and elevated him

2 Samuel 7:8, 9

Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.

Just like David we need people in this age with a heart for the house

It’s God’s house

It’s where God puts his name

It is charged with reaching a lost world

where you live, O LORD

Psalm 84:10-12

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 

David knew where he wanted to be

I can imagine David – leaving the lavish parties to go and worship God

His officials would not understand his heart for the house

He led the people of Israel to seek and worship God

And his son Soloman had a golden age of influence and blessing in the world

1 Chronicles 16:27

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

the place where your glory dwells.

David loved God’s presence

Psalm 63:2-4

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

David was a worshipper

The book of Psalms were essentially worship songs

As you connect with God – as his presence touches your life

Your heart for the house will increase

For me – worship has been a big part of my experience with God

Connecting to God

Get a fresh hunger for God’s presence

Psalm 140:13

Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.

Live your life in the presence of God

There is a world out there finding altars and idols in they’re own hearts

We need to teach them how to worship God

We need more people with a heart for the house

Don’t just attend

Love it and get passionate for it

Protect it

Stand up for it

Build it

OVERCOMER

George Mueller said; “To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.”

How do we become great overcomers?

1 John 5:1-5

 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ^[a] has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. ² We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. ³ Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. ⁵ And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

1.    Be Born Again

To become an overcomer it starts with being born again.

But what does ‘born again’ mean?

You believe in Jesus Christ as saviour and Lord. You live by faith and not by sight. You are born into the supernatural power of God.

 2.    His Commands are not burdensome

Sometimes it can seem like it is hard to serve God. Some Christians can be afraid or resistant to really serving God. But the truth is that the only alternative is following our own path – the roller-coaster of our own emotions. If we apply all the commands from God to our life, they ground us, support us, and strengthen us – they are designed to help us.

The process of discipleship is us leaving the pain and brokenness of our own way and beginning to walk God’s way with Him alongside us.

3.    For Everyone Born of God Overcomes the World

Are you born again? If you are, you are born to be an overcomer. You have been given the supernatural power that can overcome. Too often we buy into the devils deception; we believe that we are not as strong as God says we are.

But God says that you are born to overcome! So don’t give up on your faith, don’t succumb to discouragement, understand who you are – you are an overcomer!

2 Corinthians 4; 8-9

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

4.    Our faith achieves this Victory

Faith is the ingredient that causes us to become overcomers. Your faith brings the victory.

1 Corinthians 15.57

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The devils goal is for you to give up your faith. He doesn’t mind if you go to church, go to your connect group, even be a leader, as long as your faith is dented. Victory is standing firm in your faith through whatever life throws at you. Circumstances are there to help grow our faith!

1 Peter 1:7

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

God is not bringing your problems. He loves you and will show you the way to come out of your problems stronger in faith in Him.

5.    Believe that Jesus is the Son of God

Be fully convinced, be a believer. Don’t lose your first love for Christ, get your fire back! Believe what God can do in your life and keep believing. You are an overcomer.

Hebrews 4:14

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

A TRUE SON

One of the great Fathers in the bible was the Apostle Paul

He had no children of his own – but he became a Father to Timothy, discipled him and raised him up as the Senior Pastor of one of the biggest churches of the ancient world

1 Timothy 1:2

To Timothy my true son in the faith:

Philippians 2:19-24

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Paul became a spiritual Father and Timothy became a son

The are too many sons and daughters without spiritual Fathers

How to be a true son

1. Seek out a spiritual Father

In today’s society we often run from voices of authority in our lives

But in the kingdom we all need to know the voice of a Father

Wise people will seek out Fathers in the faith

If you have a loving Father appreciate your dad – seek them out

So many live without a loving Father

Appreciate him for who he is – he is your father

But also find a spiritual Father

If you haven’t got a loving Father – don’t try and live without one – it will leave a great hole in your life

You will be insecure and undeveloped

Seek out someone with Godly character to speak into your world – to be a spiritual Father

2. Be a willing disciple

I get asked a lot to disciple people

But i have learned to only disciple the willing

It’s just too hard to try and disciple the unwilling

Some people like the idea of being discipled – but they don’t respond to the reality

They don’t change – they don’t turn up

There is a term in church - a son of the house

If you ever get called that – it is an honor

But it would be less than 10% of the church

Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;

Have a willing attitude to be discipled

Become a son or daughter of the house

3. Listen

Proverbs 19:20

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

Listen to those with authority over you

Don’t be a know it all

Arrogance has never been an endearing quality

If you listen to your leaders you will find God’s wisdom coming into your life

Timothy listened to Paul and became a spiritual son

He went from a timid young person – to a bold leader who Paul sent to sort out problems in the churches

4. Make some changes

2 Timothy 1:6

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Let someone lay their hand on you and develop your life

Do what they ask of you

I find many people want to hear my advice

Not so many want to make the changes

Over the past forty years I have proved champions are everywhere provided they receive the proper training –

Arthur Lydiard

Get into some spiritual training and become a champion of faith

5. Be committed to building a long term  relationship

Give time to the relationship with a spiritual Father

Stick around and become a true son

I have no one else like him

Timothy had committed himself to this relationship in such a way that Paul had no one else like him

He became a true son

I have at least 2 older voices speaking regularly into my life

They are a blessing to me

I seek them out and I am greater for these voices

Both i have been building with for about 7 or 8 years

Build some long term relationships with spiritual leaders

FOUR KEY RELATIONSHIPS OF YOUR LIFE

Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A Cornell University study said people had an average of 229 Facebook friends but only 2 close friends and some in the study had none. We have all these so called ‘friends,’ but do you have anyone you could really turn to in a time of great need?

A friend to all is a friend to none. – Aristotle.

Too often this is what is happening for people; they are friends with everyone but are a quality friend to no one. Your friends should be those you could call in your day of trouble. Too many people have no one to call. They have unreliable friends.

The kingdom of God is about relationship. You can’t get in without a relationship and once we are in, God wants us to be connected and in the family.

There are four key relationships that we need to have in place to have a successful life;

1. Relationship with God

Deuteronomy 6: 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Number one and first priority of your life should be a relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 4:35 Yahweh, He is God; there is no other besides Him.

Exodus 20: 3 You shall have no other gods before me.

Some people these days live for all other kinds of priorities. For many it is money first. For some it is family first. How can you put family or anything else before a relationship with God? How can you do your life well without being in right relationship with God?

Sometimes young couples can mess up their lives by making each other first priority (that is way too intense). No one can fulfill your needs except God himself.

Some parents make it all about the kids. They drop out of church and eventually God and then find their kids end up with no connection to God.

Marriage, family and life works best with God on the throne. Make God your first priority

2. Relationship with our Families

Marriage 

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

Work on a great marriage. Many people can’t get on with their partner and end up alone. Which would you rather?

Marriage is a gift from God – cherish it. Look after it, Invest into it, let it develop. Keep having fun together. Deal with problems. Don’t sweep them under the carpet, confront them and get them sorted.

Men – have a vision for your marriage. Girls want to know the relationship is going somewhere; if they feel there is a great future together they will follow with passion.

Don’t let your marriage get boring, do something exciting. It’s God’s gift – enjoy it

Kids

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Train your kids. Don’t be so PC and let them do whatever they want. Invest into them; they need to learn about your values and faith. Build a great relationship with them

My parents put a value for The kingdom of God into my life and when I rebelled as a young person I just couldn’t get away from this value – from the call of God.

Bring your whole family into the house of God – let them find God together.

Parents

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother” , “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Make sure you honor your parents no matter what they are like. You can honor their position in your life without having to honor their behaviour. Don’t be out of sorts with your parents, if you want life to go well with you, sort it out.

Families need a lot of forgiveness. Start now. You be the bigger person. We have access to the love of God, there is no excuse to have unforgiveness in your life.

Get a fresh vision for your family

3. Relationship with a Leader

Mark 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

1 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy my true son in the faith.

Paul was a leader that became like a father to Timothy – it helped him shift from a timid young leader to become the pastor of the world’s first mega churches in Ephesus. Everyone needs a leader in their life. Without it you will never reach your full potential.

Most people live their life without any kind of leadership. Many have life long issues with authority figures and then they miss out on the power of a mentor speaking into their life. A leader will make a great difference in your life.

Get around a leader and let them help lift you to another level

4. Relationship with close friends

You haven’t got time for a thousand friends

Ralph Waldo Emerson said more than 140 years ago that “friendship should be surrounded with ceremonies and respects, and not crushed into corners. Friendship requires more time than poor busy men can usually command.”

You need a few key friendships;

…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Everyone needs a friend like this. These are people you will journey through life with. You have to go deep with each other. Open up your lives.

Go through the good and the bad. Don’t  get  offended. Just keep going together – forgive, commit, turn up, go the extra mile.

These relationships take time – be willing to invest. They are what life is all about – God, family & some great friends

The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.  ~Aristotle

I am blessed to have some friends who are closer than brothers. God has been good to me. If you stick around and go deep, he will be good to you.

If you get these four areas of relationships sorted in your life, it will go well for you, you will be connected.

This is God’s pathway for Christian life

STAY TOGETHER

In the movie Gladiator, Maximus says these great lines to the Gladiators as they get ready to face their death in the arena;

Whatever comes out of these gates, we’ve got a better chance or survival if we work together
If we stay together we survive
Lock your shields – stay as one

This is good advice for those of us following Christ
If we stay together we survive
God wants his church to stay together

Acts 2: 44
Amplified bible
“And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common.”

1. For the sake of our God who gave so much to purchase his church – Stay together

Hebrews 12: 2
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

The joy set before him was seeing his church established and rising up to reach a lost world
He desires that we come together in his name

Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Acts 2:1
And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,

Our whole duty is contained in these words, “Love together.” – Latimer

That’s what real community looks like
Let’s join together to become a mighty community of faith

2. For the sake of this world – Stay together

“The world needs the church to survive and do it’s job
The church is the hope of the world.” – Bill Hybels

While this world can attack us and make fun of us, they actually need us to get it right and to have something to offer them for when something goes wrong in people’s lives.
Ephesians 3:10 declares that God’s intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.
The world desperately needs a functioning Christian community to bring a message of faith, hope and love – to show the world another way to live.

“Man is a being born to believe. And if no church comes forward with its title-deeds of truth to guide him, he will find altars and idols in his own heart and his own imagination.” – Benjamin Disraeli

3. For the sake of your own lives – Stay together
We need each other or we become religious, cynical, dry and crusty.
We cannot create a community of faith that will reach the world unless we commit to community and to each other
You say “well I’m here” – here is not enough – God doesn’t just want your attendance – he wants your heart.
To build a community that will change the world we need to buy in at a heart level

I invite you to be part of this community – it’s going to be costly, it’s not always going to be easy – but it has power to change your life and touch the world
God wants you to be part of it.

Ephesians 2: 19 – 22
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Building a home

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
Edmund Burke

Ever looked around and wondered “what is happening to the world”
Our world is reaping a harvest of generations of self centered living

What is our response?
Are we going to sit around and do nothing while the world finds a way to destroy itself
Are we are not going to be cold timid souls?
Or are we going to fight?

The answer is Christ and his kingdom
God has called us to create a home for people
A home that is filled with God’s people, with his mighty presence and a message of hope for a lost world

1 Peter 2:4-6
As you come to him, the living Stone
Before you can make a difference in the world you need to come to him
He is the living stone – a firm foundation – the foundation stone of God’s construction
When Christ is the foundation of your life – you don’t need to be insecure anymore
You don’t need to let anger and disappointment rule your world
You are secure on a firm foundation
Jesus has come to build the kingdom of God and his life is being laid as the foundation
He is the example of the Christian life and the foundation stone for church building

rejected by human beings – but chosen by God and precious to him
God sent Christ to save humanity and the world rejected him and crucified him
If you follow this world – you will reject Jesus Christ
The world has rejected him and all who follow it’s pattern will do the same
The only way to find God is through the door of Jesus Christ and his kingdom life
The church is God’s chosen vehicle for bringing the power of Jesus Christ to the world

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,
The greek word for “stone” here (lithos) means a moveable stone
A stone that has been quarried and worked on and is ready for construction
We have been brought together as individuals – so Christ can fashion us
We need to be flexible to what Jesus Christ wants from us
Are you a stone that can be positioned by Jesus Christ?
There are too many rolling stones – rolling to their own tune
As we are placed in position by Jesus Christ we become the spiritual house

So many people don’t have a home
I am passionate about building a home for God’s people
Lets build a great home for lost people

offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The home will not be created without sacrifice
There is always a cost to building the house of God
It won’t pay or itself – it is paid for by the sarifice of God’s people
Many won’t pay it and that is why largely the world doesn’t see the church for what it is

The foundation stone to God’s house was laid with the cost of the life of Jesus Christ
The house will be built on sacrifice
God’s house will bring eternal change to the world

For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
You will never be put to shame for following Christ and building the house of God
People may ridicule our passion for God
But in the end the shame will rest on those who build their own kingdom on earth and fail to stand for Christ

The spirit of GO

Matthew 28: 19
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age

God has called us to GO – into the world
Unfortunately – most people just want to stay where they are
The spirit of Go is the Holy Spirit
If you have the Holy Spirit – you will have some GO in you

5 keys to getting the spirit of GO

1. Catch the vision of GO
The vision of GO is to respond to the great commission
To go out into the world
Psalm 72:19 May the whole earth be filled with his glory
Who would be interested in seeing the world filled with the glory of God?
There is a world out threre that needs help
And yohe an be part of that
We need to catch a vision of our world changing

Who will represent Christ in this world? The church working together – the body
Jesus is looking for people who are available
Are you available in 2012?

2. Have a go
Step out
When was the last time you tried something new?
When was the last time you took a great step of faith?
Don’t just do the same old same old – Who wants the same old life – same job – same friends
You were created for more
Have a go for God in 2012 – take the step of faith

3. Fight for the cause
Don’t just help – fight
We are in a battle – not just any battle – the battle for hearts and minds
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
We are fighting for eternity
For our eternity – for our families and the people in our city
The devil won’t stop fighting his battle
Where are the fighters? Will you make a stand?
Fight for the cause of Christ in 2012

4. Make some disciples
The kingdom fruit is disciples
That is the commission – go into the world and make disciples
Every connect leader – don’t just connect with people – make disciples
Every person in church – make disciples in 2012
Don’t let your disciples fall
Hold them up – keep them up – keep them walking and keep them close
Don’t be distracted by a busy life – Make some kingdom fruit

5. Be relentless
Christians give up too easily – this is a fight for your life
Hebrews 10:35, 36 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Moses kept going – Pharoah hardened his heart – but Moses kept coming back
Imagine if he gave up after the locusts
But he was relentless and he city’s he great exodus
Imagine if Joseph had given up in Pharoahs prison
Imagine what your future could look like if you don’t give up
Be relentless in your pursuit of God’s call in 2012
Get the spirit of GO on the inside

A new year

It’s a new year and it feels like anything is possible

There is an amazing feeling that each new year brings

In Isaiah 43:19 it says
See, I am doing a new thing
The first thing you have to do is see what God is doing
What is God trying to do in your life in 2012?
God is the God of the new thing
He wants to do a new thing in your life
Let him do it

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
He wants to bring the new thing now
Are you perceiving that
Be ready and willing in 2012 for what God is wanting to do

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
As we are faithful to God he will cause a breakthrough to come in our lives. The things that seemed so difficult for us are going to become areas of blessing.
Be faithful to God and allow him to out work his promise

2012 could be the greatest year of your life!
Pursue God and his purpose and discover what God has in mind for you
It’s got to be good!

The power of forgiveness

1. Forgiveness allows you to receive God’s forgiveness
Matthew 6:14 – 15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Un-forgiveness will separate you from God
The unforgiving heart clings to the past, refusing to extend to others what our heavenly Father has extended to us
Too many Christians see salvation as a cover all for their lifestyle – and go on doing whatever they want
Christ has a prescribed a lifestyle for Christians and one of the cornerstones is forgiveness
Jesus says if you do not forgive then God will not forgive you

The kingdom life is one of forgiveness – it should be happening in our life daily

2. Forgiveness release the anger in your life
Why are there so many angry Christians? Because so many choose to live with un-forgiveness
Ephesians 4:26
In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold
For some people it’s been way too many nights of the sun going down on their anger
What are you so angry about – get a fresh revelation of what God has planned for you
If you practice forgiveness – you wont be an angry person
As you forgive – it releases all the anger in you
If you are holding un-forgiveness you will lose your peace and peace is God’s gift to us
We have forgotten that one of our distinctives is forgiveness

If you find yourself getting angry – you will probably find there is some un-forgiveness hanging around in your life – get rid of it!!

3. Forgiveness lightens the load
Forgiveness liberates the soul Nelson Mandela – Invictus
Un-forgiveness is a burden you were not created to carry
You see people carrying this heavy burden – it makes them sad and negative about life
You can feel that when you are with a person struggling with un-forgiveness
It is a bitter heavy atmosphere that they create, weighed down by the worries of life
You just need to release the burden
Why are you carrying around that junk? Will you forgive and be released?

4. Forgiveness sets you free
Galatians 5: 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Take your freedom in Jesus name
In Turkey in 2010 I had a powerful experience at Gallipoli
I Stood at the waters of Anzac cove –where so many men gave their lives to take the beach
On Chunack bair where kiwis took the hill against the odds at the cost of hundreds of lives
One of the details that really impacted me was the act of forgiveness shown by the Turkish leader Ataturk (who was the leader of the Turkish army in Gallipoli & went on to be the national leader)
There is a huge sign at Gallipoli of a quote by Ataturk
Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives … You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.. You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now living in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well. Ataturk

That statement set Turkey on a course of forgiveness & reconciliation
They have respected the fallen by creating amazing memorials for each nation at Gallipoli
They could have held on to the offended – But forgiveness changes everything
We killed their people but they forgave us and have embraced us
This is the power of forgiveness

The ultimate act of forgiveness was Jesus Christ
Who willingly came to earth – to walk in our shoes – to feel our pain – to sacrifice his life to win our freedom – the power of forgiveness purchased our lives

We need to forgive – today lets forgive and be forgiven