New things - confronting, identifying, conquering

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

Moving forward - turning into a life of promise and challenge - takes more than a steering change. A bike rider, for example, needs to turn his/her head before making a turn. His posture
has to make a change before the change occurs.

In Isaiah 43:18-21, we read about forgetting old things, even earnestly moving forward from history. In summary, you cannot move forward if you dwell on the past. Also see, very importantly, that we are chosen, serving a God who is able to make all things new. He has your best interests in mind, wanting to do new things.

In verses 19 and 20, we read how He makes a way in the desert. He brings streams in the wasteland. God provided for the people even in their wasteland years. The people needed to posture themselves to receive blessing, food and provision. He loved them and cared for them, even though they kept looking to the past when they were captive. Today, He loves us too and does not want us to be backwards-looking, intimidated by what we see.

Own the promises. Don't just taste them

As you move forward, you will learn from the challenges you face rather than going back to the past.

In the wilderness, the people tasted the promises of God. Tasting is not possessing. Instead, we must own the promises of God.

Before moving...

Confront your true identity and recognise that the same God who makes those promises has big arms. Those arms are evidence of His caring and nurturing, towards calling us to a plan for the future. See Isaiah 40:26 and realise that our identity is found in Him. See also 1 Peter 2.

In your life today, there are possibilities and hope. Your identity is wrapped up in recognising His calling, His future for you, as you move forward.

In closing, be real about what holds you back. In fact, you cannot conquer what you don't confront and you cannot confront what you don't identify.

And when considering your posture, get into a place where you welcome and are prepared for greatness and blessing. Posture can be considered a position for the body that might not seem natural. It can cause a special effect by a change of posture.

Get your posture right, even when nobody is looking.

Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Full steam ahead, with a well-steered tongue

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

It's amazing how a ship can be sent a different direction by such a relatively small rudder. So incredible, too, how small sparks can end in a fire storm. Or think of what a 'bit' in a horse's mouth can do to such a large animal.

The Bible also speaks of small, powerful objects.

James 3:1-6 talks about the tongue. It is so small but so influential. It is strong, extremely flexible (can change shape), and can enable us to taste.

Untamed tongues manipulate, complain, lie, and can flatter (see Proverbs 28:23).

Before speaking, ask yourself: Is it true, kind and necessary? And be aware how the Devil wants to see your tongue break trust.

Can we control the tongue?

In verse 8 of James 3, we see how it cannot be contained simply. It is impossible with man but all things are possible with God. Peter is a good example of how God provided the power to tame and control his tongue. So too did Moses gain such control from God.

When Jesus spoke, the world was created, people were inspired and released.

Great wisdom on words, and how we use them, is contained in scriptures such as Proverbs 13:3, 15:4, 15:28, and Matthew 12:34.

Employed, well!

We are all born with untamed tongues. Our choice is to allow God to contain it. He shows people how to make our words count. God will make sure we have the choice to use and employ the right words.

We can show we care by our words. We, too, can save others from harm by a well-placed warning.

What we have with our tongue is a gift. If we misuse our tongue, however, deal with it straightaway and seek forgiveness.

Our responsibility, as Christians, is to share the Gospel. Breathing life into others is so important. So too is speaking life in our homes. It's not right, for example, to allow harmful words to be spoken in a household.

What words of life will you use today?

What happens when you speak about God's blessings and provision? What is the effect of declaring a testimony?

The effect is life and inspiration, wholeness and health. Most of all, make YOUR words count. There are words God wants you to speak and declare. They will change the atmosphere and life of others.

Words need to be said. So what will you say that brings life today? What will you say that brings God into someone's world right now?

He has something to say, through YOU.

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The sword in our hands

A message shared by Pastor Nicholas Tsakis at Empower Christian Church, Sunday 14 March, 2010:

Swords have different uses - both to attack and defend. We equate them with war and damage. In the Bible, however (Hebrews 4), the Word is likened to a double-edged sword.

It can bring life and death, beyond any person or thing we can name.

Jesus, the Word Himself, is powerful - our Word, double-impacting like a double-edged sword.

In Hebrews 4:12-13, we see how the sword touches every area of our lives. Our spiritual war is to both transform and renew.

The Word has, the Word is...

The Word has energy, is living. And that is the only thing that will truly sustain us. For example, supplements only support someone with a healthy diet.

The Word is powerful, entering all parts of the heart - even the secret places. See Jeremiah 23:19. It's power also offends, fatally wounding the stubborn.

The Word openly revives the believer.

The Word convicts the heart.

The Word is effective and powerful. Revelations 1:16.

The Word transforms minds and changes hearts.

The Word penetrates, through the tough, hard layers of our life.

The Word separates thoroughly. So use it. Every day, for instance, read a Proverb and a Psalm. There is no substitute nor compromise for the Word of God.

The Word affects every area if your life: 2 Timothy 3:16.

The Word discerns, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4). In fact, it goes deeper than anything or anyone can reach.

The Word assesses what is in there, covering the totality of a person.

God sees everything. The living, powerful Word of God is what you need. Isaiah 55:11 shows us the Word of God is there for a purpose, not returning empty.

The Word brings purpose to your life, THIS DAY!

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

The past is HISTORY - it's time to let go

A message shared by Pastor Nick Resce at Empower Christian Church, Sunday 7 March, 2010

'Preconceived Ideas'

Our past can so often hold us, with both good and bad emotion. In fact, it fuels our prejudging and preconceived ideas.

In Isaiah 43:18, we read about God's desire for new things. In fact, He is a master at offending the mind to reveal the state and condition of our hearts.

Marriage, for example, can be when our preconceived ideas are challenged. It's the time when we break from a mother's ways and learn to live together - beyond the habits of childhood and immaturity.

Past knowledge has to remain there, in the past. We must move on. We can miss so much when we hold on and operate from preconceived ideas. We can miss out on supernatural miracles, and on embracing change for the future. We can also miss great opportunities to engage in new relationships.

In 2 Kings 5, from verse 1, we read about Naaman. He was valiant and powerful, BUT he had leprosy. That's just like us - we all have SOMETHING that requires faith to move on from. He chose faith, boldly believing God would do an amazing thing. Even then, he was locked down at first by a preconceived idea of how the healing would occur. See how God offends the mind to reveal the condition of the heart.

Where are you today, in your heart?

God is more concerned with the condition of the heart. That question God poses is an example of what Naaman's servants did - challenging him, confronting and counselling. They were true servants, not subservient. They understood their value and position. That's what we see in Luke 15, where servants are valued.

Great leaders, for instance, produce great servants rather than a spirit of subserviency. We, too, should respond.

It's tempting to be angry and offended when we are confronted. God is also tryng to get to our hearts.

Eventually, Naaman returned from his rage and began washing.

The first time, he was washing away pride, then fear. As he washed his flesh, his heart was being washed. After fear came the washing of shame away from his life. That was a sign that you were not blessed. He was then truly uncovered and exposed.

After the washing of shame, came control. To serve God, you have to let go of everything. People who are in control are not whole.

The fifth wash might have been resentment. He had probably asked 'why'?

The sixth layer to come off might have been hardness and anger.

Finally, the hardness around his heart came off. In Ezekiel 36:26, God promises to give a soft, strong, vulnerable, faithful, trusting, hopeful heart. To move forward into the new decade, let's strip off the last one.

God wants our hearts.

How's your heart? You cannot go into the next decade carrying baggage. But God will help you deal with the layers, washing them off sequentially, with love and care.

So how's your heart?

Image: thephotoholic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net