Did You Get A Good Reference?

Did You Get A Good Reference?

Reference points - we all have them; good or bad.  Whether it be reference for marriage via our mum and dad, work ethics or any other aspect of our lives, we all follow from the examples set for us and that becomes our reference points.

As we grow from infants through puberty to adult hood, our lives are shaped by the people around us.  We are influenced by our parents, siblings, aunts and uncles or even our teachers.  These people shape our values in key areas of our lives in terms of finances, relationships, love, emotion, sharing, openness, work, education and our lives tend to unfold and take direction largely based on the input and influences of the people around us and on their value system and reference points.  Even the area or type of accommodation we live in can determine what we aspire to achieve.  Many people who grew up in council housing aspire to get council accommodation because that's their point of reference.  Many who grew up with out of work parents didn't understand the value of work or even education as they never saw the fruits of their parents labour.

If you grew up never experiencing a loving relationship, grew up in a single parent family or in an abusive home, those are the things that will be your reference points and could shape your aspirations for your future.  This relates to all aspects of your life because your influences and  gauge for where you go or what you do are based on your informative years.  Unless you can focus on what is inside you as opposed to what you are being shown on the outside.

Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary so his reference point was purity (Matthew 1:18-25).  However the circumstances he was born into was not where he was destined.  His reference point was quite different from what God had placed in him.  If you take a look at Mary and Joseph's lives, Jesus' life could have gone in a different direction but the key thing was what was in him. You see what God has placed in you is not dictated by where you're from or the influences and reference points of this world.  We all have a God given purpose but sometimes our reference points are contrary to that purpose.

My background in terms of where I grew up and what I was taught dictated to me that I would be an under achiever and never produce anything great.  I was pointed in the direction of failure.  My reference points for marriage were negative, abusive and one sided therefore my reference point for interacting with the opposite sex taught me to give as little as possible but take as much as possible. It was about interacting from as far as distance as possible; just enough to get what I wanted from it. My reference point for treating and appreciating the opposite sex was on two levels because at home mum was not equal to dad so her opinion was never valued and outside of the home it was not a level playing field for women.  The value system from a male/female perspective was more take than give.  


We behave according to the examples set for us. From the age of ten to nineteen we become more aware of and imitate what we learn (Proverbs 23:17 - As a man thinketh so is he); we adopt learnt behaviour but what is the reference points for the young men and women of today?  Nothing good, that is unless they're from the same postcode.  So their whole value of their lives is based on misguided reference points. There is nothing of value for them to gauge their journey by. When a ship is about to sail, they use reference points to plan the journey and to track  their progress. What examples are we setting for our young people today; what tools and examples are they gauging their journeys by? 

I needed to make a conscious decision to alter, disregard and not fall into the norm of the learnt behaviour of the people around me and not use the reference points of my parents, uncles, brothers, peers, teachers or neighbourhood as my gauge because that placed me at a disadvantage of selling myself short.

When we come to the Lord it redresses the balance because we no longer use the world and those around us as reference points.  We get born again. All things are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17 - This means that in Christ you have become a new creation). Coming to Christ renews our minds and we get new reference points and new directions.  Chains gets broken; we get unbounded and untied.  he greatest thing that happens is we start seeing ourselves as God sees us and we realign ourselves from virtually everyone.  Sometimes even Christians are misguided and we have to realign ourselves from them. When we come into relationship with God we evaluate and measure ourselves against his standard as opposed to that of our parents, friends, teachers, aunts, uncles or any other standards. We come into line with God because he now becomes our reference point. When we come into relationship with the Lord we go on a journey but the biggest turning point is baptism. It is symbolic of the dying of the old and birthing of the new; of renewing our minds. Things change and we start to reposition, reprogram and recalibrate. We get released into our true potential. Not what people think you are capable of, but what God says you are capable of. Your journey gets re-plotted.  Like Jonah you are freed from the belly of the whale;  freed from the bondage of your old reference points.

When the Lord sent Samuel to Jessie's house to anoint the future king, Samuel went with his own reference for what a king would look like. Jessie also had his own reference point for which son may be chosen.  He presented all his other sons and left David out, but Gods chosen person was David.  Away from being in relationship with God we chose things based on previous experiences and examples.  We choose a husband/wife based on what we can see in the natural and not their spiritual nature because our reference point was what went ahead of us. but if we allow God to be at the centre and to be in charge, it will be a different story.  When Samuel got to Jessie God revealed to him who he was looking for because Samuel was in relationship with God (1 Samuel 16 & 17).  Through being in relationship with God he will reveal a new reference point to us.  As Christians we are called to be someone else's reference point. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:16 - let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven). Some of us are flying unequally balanced because that was our reference point.  Suddenly God comes into our lives and we begin to be equally balanced.  It starts in our minds and reflects in our homes. 
 

Without the right amount of air in your tyre, your car can't operate at its optimum.  Without God in our lives we progress below our potential.  When you come into relationship with Christ your life must reflect him because someone you meet will have you as their reference point. As men we are our sons reference point of how men are supposed to act and to our daughters reference points of how men are to treat them as women.  Our actions can either position and propel us into Gods presence or prevent us from reaching our true potential.

A hawk who was raised by and amongst chickens spent many years believing he was a chicken and incapable of flying until one day he discovered his ability to fly.  He didn't know he could fly because his reference point was the life of a chicken.  How would you feel if you found out too late that you could fly but didn't know because you were running peep peeping and cluck clucking instead of spreading your wings and soaring?  That's how our lives are when we do not have God as our reference point.  Lots of people believe that because no one in their family went to university, owned a business or was successful that means they can't either.  I am someone who was the first to break barriers in my family and it's all because God became my reference point. 

The Bible told me that I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:14); That greater is he that's in me than him that's in the world (1 John 4:4); Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable will of God (Romans 12:2).  When you are in relationship with God he transforms you by the renewing of your mind; you become a new creature; the old you passes away and a new you is birth.  He makes you a winner not a quitter (Winners are only quitters who didn't quit). The only difference between a winner and a loser is what is in their minds. When David defeated Goliath, he used his God given reference points.  He knew that if he was capable of killing the bear and the lion in the mountains then he was capable of defeating Goliath.  God had given him victory over the wild animals as a reference point.  Goliath saw David's stature and mocked him saying - you come at me with a stick? Am I a dog? (1 Samuel 17:43) David responded - I come with the Spirit of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45).  Everyone's reference up to that point was Goliath's size and the need for big weapons.  David used God as his reference point and was guided and guarded by the Spirit of the Lord and was victorious.  If we are guided by God we can all be victorious.

When Moses sent the men to check out the Promised Land, they returned saying that there were giants in the land and that in their own eyes they were grasshoppers. Only two of the men who went used God as their reference point. Caleb and Joshua saw through the eyes of their relationship with the Lord and said - we can take them (Numbers 13:13-33).  They did not look at what the world showed them as their reference point but chose instead to see the situation as God saw it, as he had revealed to them.

Our victory and strength lies in our relationship with the Lord.  He is our reference point.  His plans for us are to prosper us and give us life and life more abundantly (Jeremiah 29:11) so that he can be reflected through us a reference point to others.

Make The Lord your Shield, your Rock, your Strong Tower, your Portion and your Ever Present Help in times of need....Who could ask for a better reference!!





Don't Get Yourself In A Twist

Don't Get Yourself In A Twist

After riding motor bikes for years I know how important it is to position the bike correctly in order not to end up in a hedge.


Most inexperienced bikers are very good in a straight line but it's the twists and turns that will catch them out.  I am living proof of that, having fallen off a few times in my early inexperienced years and having the broken bones to show for it.  Life can have the same similarities.  We are normally ok in the straight but it's the twist and turns and blind bends that catch us out and leave us in the gravel.


Often the problems are not with our lack of sight but the absence of vision. (Proverbs 29:18 where there is no vision the people will perish but he that keeps the law, happy is he).


The secret of staying on the motor bike while you approach the unknown at high speed is determining the vanishing points in the bend.  Is the bend tightening or extending?  Should you slowdown or speed up? The wrong decision or position could lead to broken bones or worse.  Life can be the same if we are positioned incorrectly.  Without Gods guidance you will lack divine vision.  You may be relying on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding...) You may be opening up the throttle when you really need to be releasing it and slowing down.


We know the turns and bends when things are going well but it's the unfamiliar twists and turns of life that will floor us.  God knows what you're about to encounter, He knows how sharp the bends are and the dangers that lie ahead so He sends someone to aide you in your bend, someone who He has equipped to steer and accompany you.  As an experienced biker you gain additional senses of observation.  Your sense of smell increases.  You can smell rain in the air and diesel on the tarmac.  You can see the change in the road surfaces and slippery potholes that could cause you to crash.  You smell things; you see things all around because you have to look ahead.  A simple missed pothole could mean sudden death.  You can't afford to fall off too often or at the wrong time because it could mean the end of your journey.


Being on motor bike makes you more alert to the dangers on the roads than before and it's the same as when you're in Christ; you become more alert to the dangers of the world.  When you're in Christ and life takes on new twists and turns God sends assistance because He sees for you.  He sees what you can't see.  He sees around the bend and beyond the corners.  The aide He sends to you is His Spirit in human form.  God sent HIs son Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide, guard and protest us.  To bring us to an awareness of the dangers that lie ahead on the journey of life.  His spirit will awaken us, position us and protect us through the fast sweeping corners, the tight bends and the oily patches waiting to befall us. We have an increased vision if we allow the Spirit of the living God to guide us.


Just like the inexperienced biker, it's in the twists and turns that we see people go off the rails at different stages in their lives and it's normally triggered by fear of the future, pain and unhappiness about the past or uncertainty of the present.


For men it's more difficult.  We seem to be under constant pressure in multiple areas of our life to "perform" and during the twists and turns we find it difficult, so we fall off.  Statistics shows that most suicides are amongst men in their late forties to early fifties because of their past, present or future.  Instead of choosing to tackle the twists and turns to get around the corner, they choose out.  The performance is too much for them.  There is an expectation of them and they are scared.  They can't see round the corner so they cy out but no one hears them.  They feel alone.  The enemy tells them that they can't make it round the bend, they are weak, they're not agile enough, they are too old but what the enemy meant for evil God meant for good (Genesis 50:20) because His Word tells us that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  God is faithful and the twists and turns are His strengthening process for us but we must be in right standing with Him to recognise and receive the assistance He sends to us.


At every corner or bend there's an opportunity being sought by two people (God and the enemy) and the enemy will use it to tell you you're not good enough, that you can't make it.  He will use each circumstance to make you fail, luring you into a false sense of security but Jesus prepared a way at the end of the bend and is waiting for you.  Just around the bend are the changes and the blessings.


When you're approaching the bends and corners, it's important to go in slow but get out fast.  You need to know when to find your position and feed on the throttle.  If the bend is getting tight you will need to ease off the throttle.  Because you've not been on this road before you will have to approach the bend with an exit strategy; feeding the throttle round the bend will determine how you exit.  In your bend God will position you.  You might be in the wrong position to tackle the bend but God will send the right help so that when you come off the bend there's someone to help put you together again.


Sometimes we are going through twists and turns and milestones and it can be daunting and you'll be asking what next or thinking there's nothing there other than a long way back but God is faithful and He knows where you are and which season you're in.  All you need is His grace because it's sufficient for you.  Along the twists you will get hurt, disappointed and roughed up but if you seek Him in your time of traumatic twists He will deliver you so fear not because He's conquered it for you already. (Psalm 30:5 weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning).  God's grace is all you need.  Paul had a thorn in his side but God told him "My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Corinthians 12:9).  He may not remove the negatives you feel in your twists and turns but no matter how tough it gets His grace is all you need. He has promised to never leave nor forsake you and His promises are forever.  He is not man that He can lie (Numbers 23:19).


In life we will have our share of trouble, twists and turns but God has conquered the world and through Him we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).  So when you're faced with twists, turns and corners, re-position yourself and hold on, victory is around the bend.

How Is Your Garden Growing?

How Is Your Garden Growing

At this time of year our gardens can be unsightly, all sorts of things are springing up; weeds are growing; the grass has not been cut; the fence may have even been blown down by the bad weather.  Our gardens look dark and we're not able to enjoy it.  There are weeds and shrubs growing that we didn't plant.  To leave our gardens in that state is to leave it uncultivated.  I often pluck up the odd weed in my front garden on the way to my car.

Our minds and lives can be like our gardens - cluttered, dark and unsightly.  We can cultivate our minds and surround ourselves with positive things and people or let the weeds take over.  What you allow to grow in your garden is what will harvest.  What you sow is what you will reap.  Life is a sowing and reaping process.  It's about planting and harvesting.  Is the garden of your life uncultivated? Are you planting good seeds? Is the garden of your life darkened with weeds?

(Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  The earth was formless and empty and darkness covered the deep waters.  The Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the waters then God siad, "Let there be light." ) You see without light you will not be able to see your way clearly, you will stumble around in the datk.  You will get entangled by the weeds growing in your garden. God is the Light of the world and your mind is your life garden.  Without God you will live in darkness.  The absence of Gods' Spirit in your live will cause you to live in darkness and by your own desires but the presence of Gods' Spirit will bring light into your life and guide you to right living and fruitfulness.  His light will make you aware of the weeds in your garden.

Satan is the prince of darkness and deception.  He is a thief and his sole purpose is to rob you of what God created for you (John 10:10 - He came to steal, kill and destroy - Jesus came so that you might have life and have it more abundantly). Satan is a serpent and will deceive you, he will encourage you with the things that's not good for you (Genesis 3:1-1....."You won't die," the serpent told the woman, "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it and you will be like God knowing both good and evil.....").  Are you allowing the serpent into your life garden?  Disobedience leads to destruction; obedience leads to prosperity.  Satan is the enemy and he is real; Gods' word is truth and is also real, so who are you allowing in your garden? Are you allowing your garden to control you instead of you controlling your garden?

As human beings we often worry about how we will make ends meet and survive.  Do you realise that God created our provision before He created us?  Everything we will ever need, God has already gone ahead and provided it.  He created the earth and all things in it before creating man. He then gave man dominion over everything that He created with the express command to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28......."He blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground....."  God has supplied provision for all our needs but we fail to be fruitful and prosperous because we are not good stewards over what has been given to us.  We do not tent to and cultivate our gardens, nor do we sow our seeds in good soil yet we expect to reap a good harvest; we expect to be prosperous and fruitful.  The earth we live in and our minds are our gardens and just like Adam and Eve who were placed in a place of provision, all we have to do is to cultivate our gardens, pluck out the weeds, be obedient and follow Gods' instructions - our manual - in order to enjoy the things God went ahead and prepared for us.....

So ask yourself.....how is your garden growing?

Do Me A Favour!!!

Do Me A Favour!!!

Jonah found favour with the Lord deep in the belly of a whale (Jonah 2:1-3). Despite all his efforts to disobey Gods command and run away from the work of The Lord, he found favour with The Lord. He was sinking, his life was ebbing away and he had nowhere to turn but in the depths of his situation he called on God and God heard him (Jonah 2:7).

Joseph was falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit.  He fell foul to the trickery of a woman scorned (Genesis 39:11-20) and was placed in prison by his master but God was with him and favoured him (Genesis 39: 21-23).

God showed favour to both Jonah and Joseph in situations which should have ended their lives but God heard their plea, their cry onto Him. He saw neither their outward appearances nor their circumstances but He looked at their heart and favoured them. God is a God of favour but you will have to seek Him for Him to be found by you (Isaiah 55:6) and you will have to earn His favour.

The Bible teaches us that in all things we are to get wisdom. Wisdom gives us a greater understanding of Gods’ word and enables us to tap into His plan and purpose for us and His word tells us what His plan is for us; to prosper us (Jeremiah 29:11), therefore He will favour us no mater our situation or circumstance. He has gone ahead and favoured your future but you will have to seek Him to get His favour. Favour isn’t fair and when God favours you it will make people hate on you. People will not understand what they see. People who want to say no to you will find themselves saying yes. You will plant in one place but reap in another. Gods’ favour will put you into positions you didn’t even know exist. You will lose the job you worked so hard to keep and find yourself in an even better one; you will lose relationships which you thought you couldn’t survive without but God will favour you with an even better more fulfilling one (Proverbs 18:22). When you walk in Gods’ favour He will restore everything the enemy took from you. You will experience great victories during greater odds. Your battles will be fought and won on your behalf. Your pleas and cries are more likely to be granted (Esther 7:3).

However His favour will sometimes close doors which you would like opened. You may pray for a financial downpour; you may pray for a specific job; a home, a wife/husband and not get those things. Not all doors are meant to be opened to you. Too many open doors causes confusion and God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Gods plan is to prosper you and sometimes the doors you want opened will not be prosperous so He will not open them. Your prayer should be that He keeps closed the doors that are not meant to be opened to you; thank Him for keeping them closed.  What we want is not always what we need but Gods favour will give us only the things we need. He knows what is best for us. 

He does not look at your circumstance and situation for Him to bless and favour you. He will favour you inspite of your situation, inspite of your disobedience. Even as a thief and a robber (Luke 19: 2,5-10); a murderer (Exodus 2:11-14) and a liar (Genesis 20:2) He will favour you because He is God and can choose who to favour and when to favour. He is God all by himself.

God favoured me during my disobedience. As a youth through to a young man I lived a life which the world showed me; a life that was not of God; A life which did not deserve Gods’ favour but He looked beyond my outer being and saw the man behind the mask; He saw my heart and favoured me. He brought me out of the darkness of the world and into His light. He favoured me whilst I was still in the darkness and deep in sin.  He called me but I had to seek Him and He was found by me and He blessed and favoured me. He chose me in advance and inspite of me, inspite of my sins, inspite of my circumstances, He favoured me. Each time I stepped out He went ahead and favoured me. Even in my job, He was ahead of me. He had a plan for me and no matter what I did, His plan remained. He favoured me with a business and inspite of me seeking alternative employment, His favour was on me. I recall saying to my pastor, “I can smell my promise land but I just can’t see it yet.” Today I can testify of his goodness and favour in my personal life, in my work life, in my spiritual life and in all that I do. I continually seek Him and He is continually found by me.

His word teaches us to seek and we shall find, knock and the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7). Anything of value will have to be pursued. Success does not come by just waiting for it to drop into your lap. You will have to pursue it, work at getting it; be persistent in your quest for it....pursue God; pursue His favour...be persistent in your pursuit. He is searching His Kingdom for those who worship Him in truth and in spirit (John 4:23-24). He wants to bless and favour you.

Be persistent.  God will do you a favour!

The Broken Place

The Broken Place

Have you ever seen a Western film where the cowboy is given the task of taming the wild stallion?  The stallion is majestic, fit, energetic, it stands tall and strong, its outward appearance is beautiful, alluring but as soon as it’s approached it runs wild, it stomps, neighs and given the chance, will run away causing destruction along the way.  Its real personality comes out and the beauty that once was so attractive now becomes the thing that scares the cowboy.  The cowboy has to take control, he has to become the master of the stallion, lead it, guide it and tame the bucking bronco until it's broken in.  Eventually the stallion learns that it’s pointless to try and run, to fight, or retaliate and very soon it begins to succumb to the direction and ways of the cowboy.  The cowboy who once represented something scary, something harsh and unnecessary has now become a loving owner, a tender trainer, a carer and guide and the horse receives and enjoys the benefits of a good home where it’s fed, watered, cleaned and taken care of.  All its needs are met by its master and it becomes a champion at its craft.

Sometimes as humans we are like that.  We are admired for our beauty, our stature, our outward attributes but dig just beneath the surface and we are unusable.  Our packaging is attractive and we look fit for purpose but beneath our beauty we are wild and out of control.  We go through life with no real purpose or direction, living day to day making do with the here and now and not really achieving anything, not making a difference or putting to use the skills we were born with.  We have no idea who we are and whose we are. But God has a purpose for every one of us (Ephesians 2:10). We belong to Him. We are made the way we are with all our outward attributes for a reason but our outward beauty has to be aligned with our inward beauty.  We need to harness the two and bring them into union.  We all need to be broken in and disciplined in order to fulfil our purpose.  Without direction we walk around aimlessly.

Most times even a pair of shoes gets broken in before being used for the purpose for which it was purchased.  We will take it home and walk through the house with it before venturing outside wearing it.  We will try on clothes before purchasing it making sure it is fit for the purpose it’s being purchased for.  Many times we hear children being referred to as wild and out of control. They have no direction or discipline and so they “act out”.  We hear of the terrible twos and threes but a child that has been guided, directed and disciplined by their parents often follows that direction.  We often hear of guide dogs being taken to training school in order for it to fulfil its purpose. The spirit of waywardness has to be killed for our true nature to be utilised, for our outward and inner beauty and strength to align.

When I was younger, I was wayward, I did things I wanted to do but without any real purpose.  I lived a life directed by the world.  My outward and inward appeal did not align.  Today, I am still Carl but God took control of my life and harnessed me.  He brought me in alignment with His purpose for my life.  He had to break me in.  I was broken, went down into the valley, lost some habits, lost some of my old ways, had to let go of some people and possessions but like the phoenix rising from the ashes He brought me through and raised me up.  Like the lamb whose leg Jesus had to break, He had to break me in order to carry me.  Sometimes we will have to be brought to our knees, to be in a broken place, lost and alone but that’s when God says, lean on me, rest on my everlasting arm, cast your burdens onto me and I will carry you.  I will wash you anew, I will renew your mind, I will give you your purpose, I will break you in and harness you and you will be made whole.  When you’re in a broken place He is waiting on you to call on Him, to say Lord HELP!

Broken places are necessary.  Even Christians get broken.  Even Christians goes through the valley but God always puts us back together and along the way He strengthens us and makes us fit for purpose.  Whatever your brokenness is, wherever it lies, whether it is financially, emotionally, physically or spiritually, He can put it back together again.  He will use your brokenness to harness you.  Your broken place is your breaking in process. Brokenness is something we can’t avoid but it’s important to look for the reason for it, look beyond your place of brokenness and see the breaking in, see the harnessing, see Gods hand at work. 

Your broken place is your scrap yard. It’s where you’re put back together.  When a car gets written off, it’s taken to the scrap yard not because it can’t be used again but because it can be used again.  All its various parts can be used in different ways for different reasons, it gets put back together one way or the other and is used again. Often times when it’s rebuilt it is worth much more than before, it is more valuable.  That’s what God wants to do and will do with you if you will call on Him.  He will restore and replenish you (1 Peter 5:10).  He is the Creator and He will create in you a new mind, heart and purpose. 

Your broken place is where God is waiting on you.  Look for Him, call on Him and let go and let Him.  He wants to feed you, to take care of you, to guide, guard and protect you.  His plan for you is to prosper you....don’t be afraid, don’t run away.  The process may hurt but it won’t hurt you.

You’re in your broken place for your breaking in

The Pirate Is After Your Cargo

The Pirate Is After Your Cargo

Gods word brings life into dead situations. There's none bigger, stronger or more powerful than He is and when you are in a relationship with Him, He dwells in you and you in Him. You have the power and strength through Him to walk on serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19); to crush the enemy. He places something in you that's very valuable. He places His Word and Spirit. You become a vessel carrying very valuable cargo. What you carry as a Christian is powerful enough to lift up men, women and children to be who God wants them to be so that they can be where He wants them to be but just like the pirates out at sea, the enemy sees and knows how valuable your cargo is, he notices your power, so he will go all out to steal it from you.

Brothers and sisters, Christians, are you aware of what you're carrying? Are you aware of how valuable your cargo is? The enemy is!!!  You are carrying Gods love and your testimony.  Don't be ashamed of it; it's the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:8).  Don't let the pirate capture you.  The enemy will come after you like a pirate at sea but use Gods word - your power and strength - and let him know that what you're carrying is not for him, it's for defeating him.  Let him know that your cargo is much to valuable and powerful for him and you won't give in or give it up. Stand up and fight. Be a warrior for God. You've got His armour so wear it (Ephesians 6:10-18) and deliver your cargo to its destination.

Being a Christian, a man/woman of God, a Pastor, a Preacher is a massive feat but hold on and don't let anyone steal your standing with God from you; it's a blessing; it's your joy. You are equipped to make change.  Anyone you speak to you will change their thought process and destination. Gods purpose for them will be fulfilled in their new destination. Gods word changes minds and destinations.  It brings to fruition His purpose for your life and along the way He will use what He's placed in you to change the lives of others.  

The pirate is after you so hold on tightly to your cargo. You may have to change direction or be delayed but God makes no mistakes because He has a purpose for what He's placed in you and if you will only listen to His voice and be obedient to His voice (Deuteronomy 4:1) you will defeat the pirate. 

I had an encounter recently where I was getting ready to go to the gym before going to work but I was delayed because I felt the need to read Gods word before leaving the house. Eventually I left but on the way there I realised there had been quite a nasty accident on the route I had to take to get to the gym.  I realised that if I had left my usual time, I would have been caught up in that accident.  Immediately I recognised Gods work and how He saved me from the attempts of the enemy. The night before, the Spirit of God had heavily visited me and had given me a message to deliver (Fight For Your Name). I had not yet put it out there but I knew someone somewhere needed to hear that message and so the enemy was after me but I serve a God who is greater than the enemy (1 John 4:4).  A God who had placed something in me and because of my relationship with Him and obedience to His voice the pirate did not capture me and I delivered my cargo.

As Christians we are always in a race against the enemy.  The enemy knows how powerful the prize at the end of the race is and he doesn't want you to get to it because it will deplete him.  He will be the winner if you let him overtake you. Like the drivers in F1, they are racing to get to the finish line because the prize is waiting there for the winner.  The trophy is theirs if they make it to the finish line first and they will get there at all cost, overtaking, ducking and diving but at all times protecting what will get them to the finish line first (their car).  We are runners in a race and at the finish line is Gods glory and His kingdom (1 Corinthians 9:24 & Philippians 3:14).
What you have is very valuable so you will be noticed. 

What you have will raise you up and out of mediocrity to notoriety.  You will have to be on your guard at all times but your fight will be made easier as you continue to strengthen your relationship with the Lord. You will hear His voice above all else, He will guide, guard and direct you.  He will shield you.  He will take on your battles (2 Chronicles 20:15).  Like David when he went after Goliath, you will be armed with the Spirit of the Lord. Be strong and be courageous (Joshua1:9). Your cargo, the word of God must be delivered.  It will reach it's destination -Gods people - and you will overpower the pirate.

Fight For Your Name

Fight For Your Name

Are you in a place of waiting? Are you waiting on God to bless you? Are you in a fight that seems never ending? Have you lost your comfort? Does it seem like God is not talking to you anymore? Is your world crashing in on you? Are you in a ditch? Hold on, don’t give up, keep your faith and fight...a new day is dawning and your new name is coming. 

Abraham had to be taken out of his comfort and away from all he knew to be blessed and to fulfil his purpose. Sometimes you have to brake and change position to receive what God has for you. He lost all he had but held onto his faith. He was raised in a lap of luxury. He had every material thing he needed and more but God had a plan for him. His plan was to make him a father of many nations and his descendants as plentiful as the sand on the sea shore (Romans 4:17) but He had to make sure Abraham was capable of handling the blessing so God removed him from where he was and took him on a journey..on a process; He needed to strengthen and rename him. Abraham forsook all he knew and was made righteous by the depth of his faith and obedience. He had to live in the wilderness but he kept his faith. He believed God and God blessed him (Genesis 15:6). God renamed him and made him a father of many nations (Genesis 17:5).

Jacob had to wrestle all night long with man and God but he kept his Faith, he did not give up (Genesis 32:22-26). He knew that God would bless and prosper him if he held on. He was battered and bruised during the fight, suffered a broken hip but did not give up. He fought for his blessing and God favoured him; He gave him a new name Israel (Genesis 32:27-30). You may be wrestling with past and present struggles but hold on to God because in the morning of your struggles breakthrough will come. You will get your new name.

Job was a very rich man. He was a faithful servant and God blessed and prospered him with many riches but God had more for him. He was blameless in the sight of God but God allowed him to be tested and all he had was taken away from him, he lost everything; his riches, his children, his health but he held on to his faith. When everyone around him advised him to curse God, he held on to God, he kept hold of his faith and love for God and he was rewarded double for his trouble. God restored all he had and doubled it. His faith earned him the blessing of God (Book of Job).

These three great men of the Bible are examples of struggles, wilderness, loss, sinful past but great faith and love for the Lord. Abraham and Jacob were sinners but God forgave and rewarded them for their faith and love for Him. Abraham lied about his wife (Genesis 20:1-2); Jacob stole his brother’s birth right (Genesis 27).  There is no sin too big that God will not forgive. Job was blameless and loved the Lord but his faith was tested (book of Job).

This message is not for the proud and upright, but for those who feel bent over in pain. Those of you who are out of your comfort zone, in a place of wilderness and losing some stuff along the highway, you’re growing weary of wrestling with the challenges of just doing life.

God does not look at you through the eyes of man (1 Samuel 16:7).  He does not see you in your circumstances but sees you past your circumstances. He is a God of order and process. You will have to go through changes, lose some things, be processed, be separated from people, be uncomfortable but hold on, keep fighting, keep praising Him (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  God looked at Jacob and Abraham through His eyes, not the eyes of the people around them. He does not see you as people see you. He will change who and where you are to whom and where He wants you to be by the renewing and transformation in your spirit. He will change your mind, your thoughts, and your destination.  You may have to wrestle and release stuff but hold on to God. Your destination is not where you are now; you are on a journey to the promise of a better future and the enemy will fight you every step of the way.

When God shows up in your life He will show you your future but you will have to go through some stuff to get it. You need to want to have it above all else. When God revealed himself to me I did not understand it but I knew I had to have more of whatever he was offering. You have to trust him in the areas where you can’t trace him. When I was a child I thought like a child. When I became a man I put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11). The word of God will put the kid to sleep and awake the king in you.

Trust the Lord to deliver what he’s shown you. When I was deep in the world fighting to get the things of the world, I never gave up until I got what I wanted.  If I wanted it I was going to have it. Then change came. Greater is He that lives in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). When God came into my life I knew He had a plan and purpose for me, something that the world could not provide. Like Jacob I wanted what He showed me but to get it I had to have Him first and He would have to have me. He took me from where I was and I lost all I had but I held on. I was taken from my comfort, from all I knew; I had to fight situations, my finances, my relationships. I was broken, lonely and uncomfortable but I was not going to give up until He blessed me; until I got what He had for me and He blessed and prospered me. He renamed me. I had to have the sense and determination of Jacob; the faith of Job and the courage of Abraham. I am still holding on because He’s not finished blessing me. 

Abraham, Jacob and Job’s journeys are for the people who are wrestling; the people who are in the wilderness; those who have lost and are uncomfortable; those who are in ditches; those who are broken; those who are in a fight.  Hold on, don’t give up; your morning is coming and you will be rewarded.  When God shows up in your life you will never be poor or broke again; you will never lack again. He will give you something more valuable and powerful than money. He gives you His Word and it dwells in you. It can cut through any situation. It can give life to dead bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14). If you are in a ditch, don’t just lie down and give up...fight.  If He’s allowed you to fall in a ditch He can take you out. Don’t stop wrestling until He gets you out. You are a celebrity....His celebrity so get out of there; wrestle yourself out of there!!!  Stand on His Word and fight. His Word is not proud of any situation; it’s not too proud of your situation so use His Word; It’s a double edged sword and is capable of cutting through ALL things (Hebrews 4:12), us it and fight for your blessing. His Word is for the breaking of strong holds and proud arguments (2 Corinthians 4:5). God can start and stop any situation. 

Have you seen what God has for you? Have you smelt it, tasted it? Do you want it? Job, Abraham and Jacob did and they wanted it. I did and I wanted it. We all had to fight for it. We had to wrestle for it. Had to give up some things, lose some things, become uncomfortable; go down into the ditch, walk through the valleys but we never gave up. The enemy will always tempt you to give up. He will play on your pain, your loss, your discomfort but don’t let him steal your faith. Stand on God’s Word, His promise and say “Devil, don’t come near my faith because I will fight you for it...you can take everything but you’re not having my faith!!”

Fight your way out of the jungle.  Hold on till morning and claim your new name