Being transformed in our mind, and applying that in our lives

Pastors Liam Swaine and Nicholas Tsakis shared messages at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 19 December 2010.

Pastor Liam Swaine began by reminding us that we all have promises for our lives. Our destination is a 'palace'. But there is definitely a process between the promise and the palace.

So let's get our foundations right as we look forward to the fulfillment of the promises ahead of us.

One of the processes we need to get right is the transforming of the mind.

In Romans 12:1-2, we read about the renewing of the mind. We need to paint a target on ourselves so God can renew our minds by His grace. The location does not matter. He presenting of ourselves is our responsibility. What's important is that we present ourselves, anadromous do not go back to the kingdom of darkness.

Our hearts get something before our minds haven't yet got. Deeper intimacy and knowledge of God comes with the renewing of the mind.

Three outcomes of a transformed mind:

• FORWARD FOCUS: A transformed mind keeps us going back to old ways.
• CHANGE: It completely transforms a person.
• CERTAINTY OF WILL: It proves the will of God, that which is good, acceptable and perfect.

Think about how the transformed mind differs for a believer. In the world, performance brings identity. In the Kingdom, your identity in Christ enables you to perform. We shift from 'I have to do this' to 'I want to do this'.

Regarding that identity we have with a transformed mind, see how in John 15:14-15, we move from slavery to friendship. The mentality is one of intimacy and knowledge, not ignorance and blindness.

Friendship behaviour means wanting to act rather than feeling obliged. The parent - in that sort of relationship - wants to give more. It also then breeds a sense of attraction to such a family, in which the parent blesses openly. People on the outside see that special blessing and want to be a part of such a family.

A transformed mind changes us. And it changes what people see in and through us.

In 2 Peter 1, we read how we gain in the knowledge of God. In Daniel 12:3, we shine brightly with insight. Ephesians 4:23 reminds us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind.

Be renewed in your mind, as we position ourselves to be transformed by God.

Pastor Nicholas Tsakis continued by emphasising how much we need the mind of Christ. Faith with wisdom is important, always. But in your conversations, prayer time and decision-making, apply the Word of Hod and get the mind of Christ.

Pray for your needs, your questions, your corners ahead.

Looking forward to a year of the Lord's favour

A message by Pastor Nicholas Tsakis, shared at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 12 December 2010.

We can all look back on the past decade and recall the excitement and challenges of years past. Even in that decade of highs and lows, God has been, and is, with us.

As we near 2011, it's good to think about what the new year and decade will bring. Like Joshua was told to look forward, we don't want to just live in the old ways. We can look forward to God's promises being fulfilled and evident as grace covers and protects our lives.

Let's position ourselves for the year, and decade, of the Lord's favour.

And most importantly, be encouraged that type favour of God is on our, and your, lives.

Numbers 23:19 reminds us that God does not lie. See also Leviticus 5:10-14, where all debts are cancelled during the Year of Jubilee. People would be released and God would give them rest. If Israel had followed this principle, they would have had no poverty. The Year of Jubilee occurred once in a person's lifetime.

In Luke 4:18, we read about liberation and freedom. Sure, many of us have had challenges and disappointments, but we are still here right now. 2011 and the decade to come will be a time of great favour. In verse 19, we see the proclaiming of the Lord's favour.

Many of us need that sense of release, liberty and freedom. Many just hope for rest, and that can be a very Godly desire.

What does it mean to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour? We need to welcome the year of the Lord's favour. The invitation is already there. With welcoming comes acceptance in God's Kingdom, and then a receiving, and an embracing.

What we can look forward to in 2011 and beyond:

• Welcoming
• Accepting
• Receiving
• Embracing

Promises for a relationship with God

Pastor Nicholas Tsakis shared at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 5 December 2010, with credit to Andy Stanley for his inspiring thoughts behind this topic.

We can have misunderstandings about law and grace. It's easy, in fact, to focus on what we should not do, rather than the positives. Take the Ten Commandments, for example. How many of us think of the 'nots' first when recounting those commands?

Of course, rules tell you a lot about a person, a culture, a country. They reveal something about the person who sets them. God's nature, for example, is exemplified by His rules that He set us. The Children of Israel saw the ability of God by the tablets of stone that detailed commandments. What they didn't see in those rules alone was the nature of God. Grace, on the other hand, revealed the nature of God. And it is by grace that we are saved!

What, then, do we do? Focus more on law? Focus more on grace? Neither - let's have a healthy balance of the two.

Beyond law and grace, there's actually a third word that we must be mindful of: PROMISE. We discover His promises through the Word of God. Think of Abraham, as in Exodus 20:2, where he was clearly granted access and presence with God. He was IN God's Kingdom.

Those rules that God set up are nothing without relationship. Rules alone breed rebellion. Abraham heard God say He was Abraham's God.

In fact, rules FOLLOWED relationship in the chronology of life. God spent time in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve, well before rules came about. The God of relationship is the God of promise. And every promise comes out of relationship with God.

In Numbers 23:19, we read the integrity of God's Word and how trustworthy He is. Don't evaluate God's reliability like a human's because your viewpoint will be unreliable. He, however, is reliable.

2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us His promises are 'yes' and 'amen'. He will save us, rescue us, heal and provide. The faithfulness of God is not based on anything about us, but rather on Him.