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The power of vision

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision the people perish

4 Keys to getting a great vision from God

1. Vision is the ability to see

John 4:35 I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

Jesus is telling us to open our eyes – to see beyond the natural world in front of us to the supernatural reality that exists

Yet so often people get lost

Who are we without the ability to see?

We are blind and we are lost

Jesus attacked the Pharisees for this very weakness – for having eyes but not seeing

Matthew 15:14they are blind guides, and if the blind lead the blind both will fall into the pit

Without vision we are just like the Pharisees – a knowledge of God but no outworking

Vision is the art of seeing the invisible. Jonathan Swift

2. Vision gives our lives direction

Without a vision the people perish

Without a compelling vision who are we? Just another drifter trying to find some meaning

Without vision people end up doing whatever they want

And isn’t that our society today – no commitment, no longevity, no direction, no purpose

Vision is a powerful direction that God brings into our lives

It’s not our direction – but his direction

Vision is not just an optional extra to the Christian life – it is the Christian life

We encounter Christ, we surrender to his way and we follow him

3. Vision enlarges us

Without vision we are small minded and self focussed

Lets not be small minded and self focussed – we follow the greatest mind in the universe

God and anyone connected to him has a big future

How can you be a Christian and have such a limited view of the future?

Vision sees the world of possibilities and miracles – the supernatural world

As we catch a hold of God’s vision for the world – we enlarge our viewpoint

We step into the God zone – we see things as he sees them

Jeremiah 33: 3 Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know

4. Vision gets you through the tough stuff

Vision carries you through the tough bits when on your own you would give up

Many times you get to a place in life where you don’t understand everything

I often have questions I can’t answer – I cry out to God and I don’t always get the answers I need – you can’t always get what you want – that is where faith kicks in

But what keeps you going is a clear vision from God to follow in the times of controversy

We see a glimpse of God’s plan and we run with it

Just keep following the vision

I have been following this vision for 25 years now and it is an awesome life to live

I wouldn’t trade it for some easy going relaxed lifestyle

It’s the journey of a lifetime! It unlocks your potential

Be captivated by a mighty vision from God

Life to the full

Life to the full

We have been preaching on Jesus all December

John 10: 10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life and life to the full
Jesus came so that that abundant life would flow out of us
Christians should be the most abundant freest people alive
Why is that not always the case?

How do we receive the abundance that Jesus has come to bring?

1. See the world for what it is
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
I see a world that is being ripped off
Everyday in the NZ Herald we see stories of brokenness – of stolen futures and destroyed lives
If you live the world’s way you will find that the will of the thief will be fulfilled in your life
You will be stolen from – he will bring destruction into your life and ultimately he will bring death without salvation – eternity without Christ
Don’t let the devil steal your future

2. See Jesus for who he is
but I have come that they may have life and life to the full
The celebration of Christmas is that Jesus came into the world – to bring real life – the kingdom life – abundant life!
Today take a fresh look at Jesus Christ

3. Reject the way of the world
Proverbs 14: 12 there is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death
Don’t follow the world’s path that leads to death
Don’t be a Christian that just ends up following the world
Walk away from it –
Reject the world and accept Christ

4. Walk in the freedom that Jesus has won
The abundant life is a free life – It is living in the fullness of Jesus Christ
Free from the burdens of the past, free from fear and doubt and un-forgiveness
Free to be a new creation in Christ
It honors God when we live in freedom
There is no one too far gone – to receive fullness in Christ
It’s time we started living in the fullness that Christ has won for us
Jesus has come to give you life to the full – will you accept it?

10 Scriptures to boost your identity in Christ

Get a fresh revelation of who you are in Christ

quote these scriptures of over your life, your job, your family,  your future and you will never be the same!

1. 1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

2. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength

3. Romans 8: 31 If God is for us who can be against us

4. Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made

5. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you

6. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

7. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has gone, the new has come

8. 1 John 4: 4 greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world

9. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline

10. 1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith

The heart of worship

Studies show about half the people that attend church don’t experience the presence of God – and this is why

In 2010 we have made worship into something for us
God becomes our supernatural ATM machineWe go to it hoping there is something we can draw out
Just like when we have low funds in our bank
We go to God – I know I haven’t invested much but God I just need one more withdraw
When do we give something to God?
Worship is about giving something to God
The word worship means: To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission
Worship is actually about honoring God
Psalm 100 shows us how to give something back to God

Psalm 100: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth

Worship is not a religious act – it is a shout for joy
Let the shout come out of you
When you find God, you find joy – the whole earth is called to shout for joy
It is a measure of your worship – is there a shout for joy in you?
Don’t go through the motions – if the joy is gone – you need to reconnect
Rediscover the shout of joy – your first love – the revelation of Christ in your life

Worship the LORD with gladness, come before him with joyful songs

Gladness means exhibiting joy – get the joy in your worship
Get some enthusiasm into your worship experience
It is fun to be in the presence of God – Let your song be joyful
Nehemiah 8: 10 the joy of the Lord is your strength
It’s joy that is greater than the circumstances – you can be in the valley but have joy

Know that the LORD is God

Put him in his rightful place – he’s not your buddy, he’s not your back stop – he is the almighty God – the creator of heaven and earth – who has given you life!
Let some fear of the Lord come upon your worship
Proverbs 22:4
 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
If you were standing before God – you wouldn’t be casual – you would be in awe!

It is he who made us, and we are his we are his people, the sheep of his pasture

We are created by God – and we are his people
Let him be the shepherd in your life – It means he leads and you follow
When the call comes to worship – respond with a willing heart
Lets give him the honor he deserves – worship is about honoring God

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise

Go to church regularly and worship with thanksgiving and praise in our hearts
So often we can come burdened and heavy in spirit – and there are times for that
But the best way to off load the burden is to pick up thankfulness and praise
Church is a place where we should celebrate what God has done for us
You might not be on the mountain –but is he still worthy of our praise? –yes 1000 times yes
People used to offer sacrifices to God – now it’s about what we can get
God always meets us at the altar – put some thing on the altar today
Lets rediscover the heart of worship in our lives

Man Vs Wild

Recently I was sitting on the tube in London in June and a guy sitting across from me was reading a Wilbur smith novel. I could sense this guy was reading this adventure story but would rather have been living it. 

Men are created by God to live a life of leadership and adventure – but are so often trying to satisfy the thirst adventure via books, movies and adventure tourism.

But books, movies won’t cut it.

We are created for the greatest adventure – living for our God given purpose!

We are called to be leaders in God’s mission to save a lost world.

Throughout history great men have risen up to bring change in the world – Constantine leads the Roman empire into Christianity, William Wilberforce helps abolish slavery, Martin Luther King stands against racial injustice, Billy Graham reaches a generation with the gospel.

6 keys to being the man you were created to be

1. Be a seeker of God

The great men of history sought God and walked with God. Abraham, Jacob, David, Enoch walked with God. Many men today have lost their connection to God.

If you were to be really honest how many men have become disappointed or discouraged?

You’ve stopped walking with God. Get connected again.

2. Get planted

Psalm 92: 13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

If you want to reach your full potential you have to get into the house of God regularly.

One of the keys in my life is that I have been consistently in church since I got saved in 1987. So many people just seem to come and go – it is sad – it’s lost potential.

Those who get planted will go the distance and will reach their potential.

3. Find a band of brothers

You cannot make it on your own – Christianity is a team sport – every guy needs to be part of team. The first thing Jesus did in his ministry was assemble his team. You need people around you – otherwise guys just drift. Find a group you can be part of – find your band of brothers & stick with them!

4. Be a leader

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.

Men have been given a leadership role by God. Inside of you is a leadership call – the most frustrating life is knowing you are called but not responding to the call. Every church needs great men to be leaders and builders of the church.

I believe our world can change – but it will take a few good men to rise up to their call.

5. Fight

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith

Men are born to fight. Men have a violence problem in society because they don’t know the fight they were created for. If you don’t fight for the right things – you will fight whatever comes along.

You were born to fight for the kingdom of God, fight for your families, fight for each other!

6. Be fathers of the faith

1 Corinthians 4:15
Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers

The world is suffering from a lack of fathers and the church is the same. Men were created to be fathers – I am here to be a father! I want to raise people up in faith.

Man of God will you be a father to a new generation growing up without fathers?

The example of a real man – Jesus Christ

He had a cup that he could of laid down – it wasn’t his to have to drink. It was a cup of suffering – it was our sin and our burden.  

Mark 14:36
Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will

He laid down his life and took the cup to win our freedom. He lived the life of a real man – he came to right the wrongs, to win the lost and to bring a message of hope.  

He has called us to be real men – to life for the greater purpose!

Come on men – This world needs you to rise, this church needs you to rise, I need you rise God needs you to rise!

Taking our message to the world

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone the new has come.

Before we found Christ we lived differently, we lived for ourselves, we lived to the pattern of this world

Now we are in Christ a change has taken place

Our perspective has changed, we see the world differently, our priorities have changed

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

He has given us a great message – and the message needs to get out

Reconciliation: re-establishing normal relations between belligerents

The world is separated from God by sin and it is our job to bring them back together

It’s a message of hope – a message of transformation

It is a message with legs on it – It is a message with actions following

Lets get the old connotation of missions out of our head

Oh he’s a missions guy, that place is a missions church, oh I’m not a missions person

Missions is about the great commission that Jesus gave to us when he left the earth

Mark 16 Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation

If your not a missions person your not a Jesus person

The message is a demonstration of our faith

James 2: 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

I’m a preacher – but the world doesn’t need to hear another sermon – it needs a demonstration of the message – a message with actions

It’s needs to see a church that takes the message out to neighborhoods’, cities and nations

I am excited that we are a church that is willing to step out and demonstrate our faith with actions

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors

We need to understand that we represent Christ in this world – His appeal comes through us

If we don’t get out and do it – the message will not get out

Lets make a great appeal

Many Christians today have lost their mission

They don’t know where they fit and what they can do

But we are all called by Christ to bring this message of hope to a lost world

The scripture says – we are Christ’s ambassadors – what an amazing calling

The church has lost it’s mission – without our calling we are just a social club

And that is what many churches are satisfied in doing

But as we are baptized into Christ – we are baptized into a calling to change the world

I am so blessed to be leading a church that takes it’s calling seriously

Bono from the band U2 said this you can’t fix all the problems – but the ones you can you must

And we can fix some problems

Lets take our message to the world

One act of faith

One act of faith

How do you step into your God given purpose?

How do you see the promises of God fulfilled in your life?

It only takes one act of faith – to activate your future

Matthew 14: 22 – 28 Peter steps out of the boat and walks on water

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

Jesus made the disciples go to the other side – even though they were heading right into the storm – storms are part of the ingredients for a great act of faith

If you feel like you are in a storm – maybe God is leading you to toward a fresh step of faith

It’s only faith when the conditions are contrary – don’t wait for the conditions to be right

Peter was in the middle of a storm – and yet he takes this great step of faith

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Jesus leaves them in the storm – Jesus is not going to turn up every 5 minutes to save the day – He wants his disciples to grow in faith –he wanted them to overcome the storm –Peter did

Don’t be discouraged in your situation – maybe you feel that the wind is against you

You could be just about to walk on water if you would be prepared to step out in faith

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

He left them out all night – he is trying to expand their faith – maybe God is wanting to bring growth in your situation

Peter did what no one else would do – he got out of the boat – he activated his faith – he walked on water

That act of faith – getting out of the boat changed his life forever

What has happened to us as Christians – we have become boat dwellers

Christians have become a bunch of critics sitting comfortably in the boat – telling all those who are trying to walk on water how they should do it

We are called to the water –yet we settle for the boat – & that settling kills the Christian spirit

We started with such a radical tradition of men & women giving their lives for the cause

We need to take that step out of the comfort of the boat and onto the water

For each of us there is a step of faith that God needs from us to activate our future

Great steps of faith

Abraham leaves his home to follow God and becomes a father of nations

Peter and Andrew leave their nets and become apostles for Christ

Yongghi Cho bought a tent in faith and becomes the pastor of the world’s largest church

Phil Pringle moves to Sydney with a dream and becomes the apostle of a movement of 250 churches

What is your act of faith?

Building families that last

Building families that last

Keys to building a family that lasts

Remember the Brady bunch – great TV but hard to live up to in real life

They go through great drama’s of life and then work it all out by the end of the show

Real life families take a bit more working to get right – but it can be done and you can build a family that lasts

1. Create an atmosphere of love

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Tell your family you love them every day – tell each other

They need your positive affirmation in their lives – Families thrive with an atmosphere of love

2. Pray for your family everyday

James 5: 16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective

Cover your family in prayer – place your family in the hands of God

I pray for my family everyday

God knows how to make families work – He is the architect of the family concept

If you need something to happen in your family – begin to pray

3. Get your family into the presence of God

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

What is the priority you are setting for your kids – they will do what you do

The best thing my parents did for me was have me in church every weekend of my childhood

I had an encounter with God as a 4 year old under the seats in a Sunday night service

That’s why God wants us meeting together

4. Teach your children well

Teach your family about the things of God

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

In the home – read the word to your kids –teach them God’s ways –demonstrate God’s ways

5. Speak words of life

Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

You are the most important voice in your child’s lives after God – so make your words count

Speak words of life into your kids!

Let your words be words of healing in your family – your words can create life or tear down

My boys – determined to say something positive over them every day of their lives

6. Believe in each other

Everyone needs someone to believe in them

Belief is an amazing thing Mark 9: 23 All things are possible for those who believe

Dad’s – for your boys – it has to be you to believe in your boys

Believe in each other – be each others cheerleader

7. Don’t give up on your family – it’s the only one you have

1 Corinthians 13:7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance 


This is a throw away generation – When things don’t work we toss them out

Including friendships, marriages and families

You lose your family and you lose a lot

People give up too soon – Don’t give up on your family

Have a great marriage

God is into marriage – he created it – he believes in it and when it’s done his way it can work and you can have a great marriage

Matthew 19: 5 & 6 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together let no one separate.

Keys to having a great marriage
1. Marry someone great
Marry someone you can get along with – it’s a long journey, you need someone that you can go the distance with
One of the best decisions of my life without a doubt was to marry Fiona

2. Put God first
Matthew 6: 33 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well
So many marriages get off to the wrong start – by putting all their focus on each other
If you want a successful marriage with God’s blessing on it – put God first

3. Have a long term view
You said – for better or worse or richer or poorer, in sickness & in health to death do us part
Honor the vows you have made to each other – don’t quit so easily
Plan to make it work for life

4. Understand the power of agreement
As soon as you agree it has power – The place of unity is the place of power
Don’t ever agree with a negative statement
Agree on God’s promises – agree on the future

5. Have some fun together
Marriage is meant to be fun
What are things that you love to do together?
Having fun together reminds you why you are together

6. Look at the positives
Always try to look at the positives in your marriage
What can you be thankful for? Each other, your kids, house, your purpose together
Here is one great thing – You have each other!
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

7. Keep working on it
Marriage is not an institution – it is an art form – you can practice and get better
Don’t let bitterness and resentment grow – Practice forgiveness & forgetfulness
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you

8. The God factor – God can help every marriage
1 Corinthians 13:7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance 

Don’t forget the power of God
God is seriously into family and sent Jesus into the world to win the power over sin and death
There is no relationship that cannot be redeemed

So come to God with a humble heart, give each other some room to grow and develop and begin to practice the art of marriage!

Passion for the cause

In the dictionary one of the definitions for the word passion is the suffering of

Jesus Christ.

The early Christians lost their lives for the sake of the cause.

Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna and one of the heroes of the early church.

He was the student of the Apostle John and was taught by the Apostles.

He was martyred for his faith in Christ. When he was led before the Roman proconsul who pleaded with him to renounce Christ  Polycarp replied;

Eighty six years I have served him, he never did me any injury. How then could I blaspheme my King who has saved me?

This is the prayer of Polycarp as he was led to his death;

I give You thanks that You have counted me, worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Your martyrs, in the cup of your Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption [imparted] by the Holy Ghost.

In recent times others have shown greater passion for their cause than Christians

Greenpeace is one group that has taken our place

Recently colliding with a huge whaling boat to try and stop the Japanese whalers.

They lost a 2 million dollar boat the Ady Gil but they said it was price they were willing to pay

Greenpeace said “The loss of the Ady Gil, that cost us about 2 million dollars, but that’s not worth as much to us as the whales are – we’re quite willing to take those risks – we’re not giving up!”

Muslims pray 5 times a day – they are willing and prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their cause – and they are demonstrating that on a regular basis

It’s time for us to get a fresh passion for our cause!

We need to hear the voice of Christ calling us to join his cause and make a stand in our lives.

We should remember the lives of those who went before us making a stand for the cause of Christ.

William Booth  another hero of the faith said;

“Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation.”

It’s time to get passionate for our cause!