The centre of our life is our heart

A message shared by Pastor Nicholas Tsakis at Empower Christian Church, Sunday 28 February, 2010:

Everyone remembers their first car. It's an exciting time of freedom and pride in something. Beyond those first days, we realise the core of the car is not the body, but the engine. And that motor needs to be cared for, maintained and looked after.

At our centre is a 'heart', a core inner motor. It needs care and protection. From Proverbs 4:23, we read of the need to be careful about what goes in and out of our lives.

It makes sense to be talking about hearts right now. Have you noticed how heart trouble, for example, is a major killer in the world. It affects many people, not isolated to one or two groups.

Keep your heart, value it - preserve and protect it. It feels pain and bruises; it can be hurt. So care for it. In fact, not dealing with issues of the heart will hold you back. In a spiritual sense, the heart actually reflects a person. You'll notice that when you read Proverbs 27:19. In other words, the heart reflects who and what we are.

The heart has immense value. So nurture it and be mindful of the challenges facing you. Our hearts can be heavy, sometimes because of our doing. Other circumstances are beyond our control. It's good, then, to identify the source of such heaviness of heart. Remember, most attacks from the enemy are actually aimed at the heart. When considering the inputs in our lives, don't put into your heart what you don't want to get out. In other words, the things you put in your heart will be what comes out.

Are you exercising control over what you see and consume in media? See Luke 6:45 and define the contents of your heart so you can feed it more carefully. Keep your heart pure, tender, allowing room for the Holy Spirit to speak to you - as instructed by Psalms 119:11; Philippians 4:8 and Proverbs 17:22.

This week, take a heart exam. Look at what's in there. Define what's going in. Be honest with what's coming out. As you do these examinations of your heart, surrender it to Jesus. See also Joshua 22:5 and Colossians 3:1.

In summary, then, set your hearts and minds to God, not on earthly things.

Image source: By Ben Stead, linked from Heartlight, http://www.heartlight.org

More Like Jesus - walking towards complete perfection

A message shared by Pastor Simone Womersley at Empower Christian Church, Sunday 21 February, 2010:

The great Christians of history are so hard to emulate. Being just like Mother Teresa is a tall order. So much harder is imagining ourselves Christ-like! Picture Jesus in the crowds, and how appropriately He spoke and ministered. Compared with Him, we are all utterly incapable of Godliness, except for the Holy Spirit's presence. Our pride gets in the way; so too does our sheer inability and failures of our flesh.

Philippians 3:3 talks about having no confidence in the flesh. But in Hebrews 10:14, He shows us that He makes perfect, forever, those who are being made holy.

The stages of 'perfection'

There are different stages of being made perfect.

• God calls the first stage PERFECT RELATIONSHIP. That is what happens at the moment of salvation, being a moment of restoration. It is all God's work, by faith (Philippians 3:9).

• The next stage begins immediately: PERFECT PROGRESS. God is perfect in helping us in this stage. In 2 Corinthians 4, from verse 5, we read how we do not preach ourselves; and in v7, we read how all-surpassing power is from God alone. In fact, people seeing good in us know it is from God. As clay pots, we take lots of time for the Holy Spirit to change us - not as little, perfect gods. What people do see is the grace and mercy of God working in us - forgiveness, discipline, mercy, resilience - even through the cracks in the pots that are our lives. Following your decision to live for Jesus, we receive all the resources we need. We do not receive those resources through a simple withdrawal arrangement (aka, a PIN code!), but through relationship. What makes a difference is living our Christian journey by walking it. Don't go back to the old habits. Don't beat yourself up either. Moving on is what counts. We move on more easily as we build our relationship with Jesus. Remember, we have the Holy Spirit right inside us.

• One day, we'll meet our Maker when we are made COMPLETELY PERFECT. It's not an arrogant confidence in our abilities but a recognition of God's desires for us being fulfilled, by Him. Every stage of perfection is grounded in our faith in Jesus Christ. No one can boast. Rather, let Him work in us. He knows exactly what we need as He prepares us for eternity.

Two dangers to avoid are to PREVENT access to progress by pushing God away, or to PROCRASTINATE with carelessness.

Whatever you do, don't give up. This life as a Christian is worth it, and God will not give up on you.

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

'Who's that knocking at the door?'

A message shared by Pastor John Warwick at Empower Christian Church, Sunday 14 February, 2010:

In Revelation 3, from verse 19 to 20, we read God's words to a church. He stands at the church's door and knocks. Don't think of that moment as a man outside a building, but rather as a request to enter the hearts of believers.

Jesus is interested in people, not buildings.

The presence of the Lord is the most important thing. Solomon from the Bible learnt that, too, making sure worship and God's presence were features of the temple.

A blocked door tells us something about a person. Why would we, for instance, block the way to our hearts and homes?

• People can be too busy to open their door, their hearts. Back off the busyness, tell Jesus you love Him.

• People are too untidy to open the door. Are you too untidy and ashamed of your behaviour to open the door? We're called to be clean and stay clean. Don't be 'dirty' and unsanitary. Live a clean life.

• Some people are choosy about who comes into our homes. Religious behaviour, rather than genuine and warm welcoming attitudes, can keep the door closed. Jesus simply does not fit in to the ways of the world. Let's spread Jesus and His radical Gospel of truth and forgiveness.

Christ wants to dwell, live and settle in our hearts - to 'settle down'. See Ephesians 3:17. Just like a home you enter - it takes time for you to settle down inside the building and make it your home.

Even now, invite Christ in, to your home, your heart, your life. And make it a place for Him to settle down.

Image: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Problems - and the peace that passes understanding

A message about having peace in the face of problems, shared by Pastor John Warwick at a men's breakfast in Empower Christian Church, Saturday 13 February, 2010:

We have all been shaped in some way by problems. We dream about having no problems.

It is something that is difficult, causing pain and grief. A problem can be self-inflicted or not one's fault.

They are inevitable and unwanted. We are not wired for problems.

The wind that affected the disciples in the boat was not caused by Jesus. In fact, He used the same word of rebuking when also rebuking Satan elsewhere.

The sooner we deal with the persistence of problems, the sooner we can deal with our attitude towards them. It is better to gear oneself for problems. Soldiers, for example, gear for problems in combat, well prepared and armed.

Those things that hurt, instruct us, according to Benjamin Franklin. In fact, no problem can defeat us. The attitudes defeat us rather than the problems.

A bad attitude will result in eating away at us, placing fear and insecurity in our lives, producing sickness in body and mind. It will rob sleep and add worry and anxiety.

There is a way to not allow problems to affect our peace of mind. We cannot always control what happens around or to us. But we can control what happens in us.

Peace of mind does not solve problems.

In the face of a storm, Jesus was focused on getting to 'the other side'. Jesus spoke 'peace' to the storm and to the disciples. It actually terrified them. He showed how the storm couldn't play with their minds.

We're actually not wired to worry. The worry factor is actually the
distracting factor. Worry produces fear.

The Bible works. Jesus has given me His peace. It is the peace that passes understanding. It is beyond rationalising.

Refuse to worry about problems. It is okay to care, but not to worry.

We do have peace. Reach in and say you will not worry. It takes time to reframe your thinking.

Have faith in the Word of God. Find solace and comfort in Jesus and believe in His promises. Claim His peace in faith. Centre in God's words. Attack the problem, not the person. Gather together the facts, list the solutions. Never withhold love. Never let the problem control you.

Praise God in the midst of problems.

NOTE: Image sourced from http://www.heartlight.org; image by Phil Ware, Heartlight.org

Living WELL as we WAIT

In 1 Peter 4, from verse 7, we read about the imminence of Christ's return. Peter is encouraging the church to live with purpose while hoping for Christ's return.

In living life expectantly, there are attitudes and behaviours we should exercise, as follows:

• Wait expectantly for His return, recognising the signs of the times with hope rather than despair.

• Live responsibly. Have a clear purpose in our daily lives. In verse 7 and onwards, we see wise advice on a responsible and praiseworthy approach to life. In essence, keep your mind! Keep it clear and allow God to renew it. Stay in touch with God through prayer.

In maintaining a calm poise, keep praying for God to do something wonderful in your world. You'll notice how unsettled life gets when we have periods of time without connecting via prayer.

• Love must be your priority. In verses 8 and 9, Peter urges an intensity of love. It's conceivable, for example, that the early church members were getting frustrated with each other during persecution. Love forgives the offences of others. Love covers a multitude of sin.

• Keep serving. Use the resources and gifts that God has given you to serve God and others to the best of our ability. It is not to be restricted. We are also wired differently, diverse in nature and gifts for reaching others.

• Finally, give glory to God. As we wait for Christ's return, we can and should live well in honour of God's Kingdom. Our music is a tool to extend the Kingdom. Or gifts, too, are not here to build ourselves but for others; for His service.

As we remain faithful, consider Luke 12:42-48 - our opinions and ideas have no authority apart from the Word of God.

NOTE: Image sourced from http://www.heartlight.org; image by Phil Ware, Heartlight.org