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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

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?

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!

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?

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!