Let love flow

Pastor Luke Martin shared at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 31 October 2010.

In John 7:38, we read how believers would experience the flow of living water from God.

Think for a moment how we fill our vehicles with fuel to use. Once filled, there's no giving back some of that fuel after filling. So too we should consider the filling of the Holy Spirit. It's not for returning unused.

In essence, the filling is for a purpose.

Remember that word 'flow' in verse 38? It's a filling for walking in life, not just for static, single use.

The flow is for healing, wholeness, and so much more. It's for USE. We are blessed, furthermore, to be a blessing.

That car we talked about... The fuel is for USE, DRIVING, OPERATING, ACTIVITY.

Being filled, therefore, is about OUTPUT as much as it's INPUT.

Have you ever seen someone serving God and yet still find a sense of satisfaction and joy? That happiness is a fruit of the Spirit: JOY!

Obedience and love make the difference in transforming our output into a joyful activity, not a chore. Are you struggling to see the joy in what God has planned for your life everyday? Don't worry. God will provide His love to help you experience and know that joy.

On that matter of love, consider now what love is. His love is perfect, casting out all fear. And while normal love is a reaction to a reason. God's love ('agape') is action without reason. He IS love. Just accept it, whether it is reasonable in your head or not.

How should we live then, with love as our filling and overflowing?

• Make love your motive. The heart and intention is so important - not just actions. You can read about that in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Know that He loves you. And let your actions be from a heart of love.
• Be filled with God's love. Read in John 17:26, how inviting Christ into your life brings the very love we all need.
• Let love flow.

Today, you may feel unworthy and not up to a life of loving and being loved. In truth, God only needs a heart, a prayer of welcoming, an acceptance.

Image source: By Paul Lee, linked from Heartlight, http://www.heartlight.org

'The Holy Spirit' - no more dry river beds

Pastor Luke Martin shared at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 24 October 2010.

It's easy to detach 'the' Holy Spirit as a thing rather than a Person. In John 7:37-39, we read how He is an essential part of and presence in our lives. The Bible talks even more about the Holy Spirit. We believe in so much that is in the Bible. So too we should read the words about Him and believe them too.

The scene from John 7 is centred on the Feast of Tabernacles. It's a time of celebrating leaving Egypt. The celebration comprised making shelters or tents from branches. They even left enough gap to see the stars at night and allowed a bit of rain to fall through during the eight days of celebration.

Jesus refers to water in His words from John 7. The Feast also comprises a ceremony involving water on that final eighth day. The priest actually pours precious water, during a dry time, across the altar. In a state of dryness, Jesus tells the people to come to Him and drink. Right at that time, the people are very thirsty. The parallel of His sacrifice and that which the people enact during the feast is profound.

Jesus shows HE is the sacrifice. The picture He paints is for the people to be filled to overflowing, pouring out.

Go for something that will last forever, He shows.

So who is the Holy Spirit? Comforter. Inspirer. With us. Giver of life. Breath of life. Represented by fire and water.

There's the water - fulfilled through God's Holy Spirit. When you feel His presence, that's Holy Spirit.

Do you feel like you're dry? Like a river that's dry on top? Dig down and you may find water. But that's not how God wants you to be. He wants you to flow with His life and living water.

God's Holy Spirit filling is here today, just a prayer away. He will satisfy your thirst.

Why would you be dry and thirsty?

Maybe you're not drinking. So... Drink.

Maybe you're drinking the wrong fluid! So... Put the right water into your body.

Maybe it's just been a dry season. So... Make His Holy Spirit the most important thing in your life.

Today is a day if abundance and opportunity. Just ask for His filling.

Luke 11:11-13 tells us how much He gives Holy Spirit - a good gift, promised to you. Today.

Image source: By Paul Lee, linked from Heartlight, http://www.heartlight.org

Managing our lives to live better

Pastor Nicholas Tsakis shared at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 17 October 2010.

Christians agree that Jesus has delivered us from sin and slavery to negativity. But we still can find ourselves victims to, and slaves even, to very real issues and battles everyday. How does that happen?

Finances is one common example - either finances rule our lives or we rule the finance. We don't see breakthrough and yet really don't feel free in such areas.

The simple reality is we have to do some things to see a difference. In the Parable of the Talents, we see that the master did not provide a strategy but waited to see what the servants would do. He wanted them to take faith and apply wisdom and 'go for it'.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, we read of having a calm and balanced mind. We can be courageous people even in the face of attack. The spirit produces fruit in our life that does not make us weak. See also Romans 8:13 where we learn that we are to lead a disciplined life.

Having a disciplined life should have the goal of glorifying God. We are to be overcomers because of Christ within us, to glorify Him and love others. Because when we are complete, we are in a better position to love Him and help others.

Discipline is far more than an alarm clock. We need to set up our lives for success in Him. Set your life up so God can bring miracles. Order your life rather than living in the moment. That way, we move forward, even in the face of adversity.

Let's be honest about 'discipline'. It's often used as a negative term and yet it is actually just exercising the order in our lives. In that way, it's a positive for Christians. You cannot be disciplined without being organised and you cannot be organised without having a priority.

Discipline basically means ordered exercise.

Getting priorities sorted

In simple terms, our priority should be God. You will then organise your life accordingly. You will take the opportunity to spend time with God. You will spend time with others in the Kingdom. If you're going to be a Christian, be a Christian.

Church is a priority. Sure, there are lots of things to distract us and draw us away from connecting with the brethren. Take time out to connect with God's church. And when church is over on Sunday, keep connecting during the week.

Ministry is a priority. Take what God has given you and serve in that for your community. Be mobilised and empowered to serve with passion.

Family is a priority. It's very important to God. Make your marriage and parenting a priority. If you're single, put time into your friendships and relationships.

Work is a priority. Don't complain about what God has given you. Have a priority to work. Be honourable and punctual.

Health is a priority. Have a healthy lifestyle. Go to the doctors when you should. Exercise. Relax. Eat well. Have a break. Go on holidays. 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 tells us not to be mastered by anything.

We will all face problems but appreciate the growth we experience during them.

Do not allow discipline to become your god. And be willing to accept the changes that come your way, which God wants you to adapt to.

Holy living is for the glory of God. Disciplined living can lead to the glory of self, so be careful. Being more disciplined doesn't necessarily make you more holy. Discipline cannot create a clean heart. See John 8:32.

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

Who am I?

Pastor Nicholas Tsakis shared at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 10 October 2010.

Who are you? It's a question we ask ourselves sometimes. We find ourselves at key points of life where we must answer it.

The problem is how we arrive at a place of value and self-worth. We can define ourselves by what we do or have done. But circumstances change and skew the ways we judge ourselves.

Many people judge by appearances, and yet even the Hollywood visage is not reality. There's only so much a facelift can do!

We may even try to win self-worth from objects and material things. But where does it take us?

The best person to ask 'Who am I?' is Jesus.

Psalm 139:13-16 tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our lives and days are in the creative hand of God - lives sovereignly determined.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

In Christ, you are a child of God (John 1:12).

You are not a mistake.

God gave the right for you to be a child of God, by grace alone. Our reception is by receiving and believing. See also 1 Peter 2:9.

You are loved by God (Romans 8:35-39). In fact, we are so loved that suffering does not separate us from God. If anything, suffering actually leads us closer to Him.

You are chosen by God (Ephesians 1:4-6).

You are forgiven and your debt of sin is cancelled (Col 2:13-14).


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

The things we CAN do... even when we’re vulnerable

Pastors Simone Womersley and Nicholas Tsakis shared at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 3 October 2010.

We are very human, with limited understanding. So that means we have to press in sometimes to know God's peace.

Pressing in can be a different exercise for types of people. Some people are amazingly faithful. Others are so grounded that they have a lack of spiritual perspective. The balance is what we need.

When pressing in, remember the following affirmations:

• We CAN renew our minds. See Ephesians 4:7-18.
• We CAN gain Godly wisdom.
• We CAN gain helpful skills, such as discernment.
• We CAN grow and pray.
• We CAN forgive and repent.
• We CAN work hard when necessary.
• We CAN fellowship and worship together.
• We CAN understand our enemy, his origin and tactics (ie. deception, feelings of unworthiness). God has not left us at the mercy of the enemy.
• We CAN wear and apply spiritual armour and weapons.
• We CAN praise in all circumstances.
• We CAN stop the enemy getting a foothold.
• We CAN rid ourselves of anger.
• We CAN avoid occult practices.
• We CAN avoid being rebellious.
• We CAN avoid being deliberately disobedient.
• We CAN be self-controlled.
• We CAN avoid the habit of spiritual lethargy.

These 'we CAN' affirmations are not out of our grasp. With God's help, we are equipped. The armies of God are on our side.

What do you want to see changed in your life?

With God, pressing in to Him, you CAN see changes in your life. See Romans 8:38-39.

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Pastor Nicholas Tsakis then shared, beginning with Matthew 4, where we read a typology of the Israelites going into the wilderness compared with the life of Christ. Jesus was tempted, but remained sinless.

The tempter tried to turn Christ from His Father's love and path. The enemy wanted Jesus to distort the truth of God's Word. Jesus resisted and, in verse 11, we see how an angel came and attended to Him.

Faced with challenges, we dig deep into the Word of God and do not respond just by emotions. The enemy is typically wanting to diver us after a mountaintop experience. In fact, our convictions will be challenged when we are under pressure.

There are no short cuts. Jesus did not cut corners even when in a vulnerable place.

Temptation is not a sin but we sin when we succumb to it.

Jesus said no to the enemy, despite being vulnerable.

Dig deep and get into the Word of God.

You are an overcomer because of God in you.

Hebrews 4:15-16 gives us confidence to get the help we need in time of need.

Jesus was led into the wilderness to fast, not eat. He was hungry but was there to abstain from food and sustenance. If you think of your life, notice how we may be tempted to take normal desires and use them in the wrong way at the wrong time.

From Ephesians 6:17, we read about staying close to God.

All of us face challenges and temptations, but be aware of the source of that.

Image source: By Paul Lee, linked from Heartlight, http://www.heartlight.org