Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Fear is a funny thing.
It can drive us to do things or act in ways which are harmful and destructive, yet on the other hand keep us from danger, like prevent us stepping to close to cliff edges or in front of busses, thus saving us. It is fear which keeps us alive much of the time.
There are two edges to this sword.

The Psalmist acknowledges the inevitable, the shadow of death, something to be feared. Dangers and threats are part of life as is our natural reaction to fear these dangers. Acknowledging the threat and being afraid in a situation is not wrong, it is in itself a form of truth.

However there is a distinction to be made;

"I will fear no evil, for You are with me"
 

What does your fear tell you about the faithfulness of God? Is fear telling you the truth or lying to you?

Recently I underwent a surgical procedure to remove a lump behind my jaw.
Leading up I was afraid - very afraid. I have always had a fear of hospitals and doctors, dentists and anyone who wanted to poke me with sharp metal objects, and the dark question in the back of my mind was "is this the beginning of the end?"

There were all kinds of scary possible scenarios: the chemicals could kill me, it could be cancer, I may be paralyzed on that side of my face. Fear was telling the truth about the reality of danger.
However I was not afraid that God had abandoned me, that would be a lie.  Afraid as I was, the knowledge of God's faithful presence gave me courage to overcome fear. In fact it was in this time His presence became known in a very special way...

"Your rod and Your staff they comfort me"

A rod or staff is an object that is held in the hand and used for a purpose - to ward off danger and help support the weight of a weary traveler. In season of fear and danger God uses what is in His hands as a rod and staff. I believe at times this is His people. He is present through us. Though acts of kindness and love, through prayer.

I knew many of you in our church family had committed to pray as I went under the knife, and let me tell you I had such peace and assurance as I went into theater. The prayers of you all were tangible, I was carried by them. In God's hands you were a staff when I really needed one.
All the tests have come back clear and surgery successful, thank you family for your love, support and prayers.

Last Sunday Esther brought a word which was so seasonal for me and I know has blessed many of you also. I would like to quote it here.

Love and blessings,

~Johno

==

"I want to calm the storms in lives today. Anxiety is not of me.
Whatever the circumstances My people face today there is no call to be anxious.
Faith touches every situation with peace and triumphs over every problem.
You may not understand what I am doing but I know what is best for you and what will develop your character and build you up to be strong for these days are difficult and getting worse.
So rest in Me for I am strong enough to carry you through"

Lowliness - Greek word - tapeinophrosune, Phonetic Spelling - tap-i-nof-ros-oo'-nay - meaning humble in attitude, behavior, or spirit; meek.

In Ephesians 4:2-3, Paul writes: "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Unity in church is critical (our unity with Christ and each other) By showing lowliness we build unity. The Greek tapeinophrosune (5012) pictures modesty, humility, and lowliness of mind, having a humble opinion of oneself, a deep sense of one's littleness.

Lets think about that for a second.

It's not a false humility such as, "Oh shucks, I'm not all that great," but rather a deep sense of how little we really are.

God is building a body, a temple. He has reconciled Jews and Gentiles to Himself in Christ.

The oneness of believers in Christ is already a spiritual reality.Our responsibility is to guard, protect, and preserve the unity.

To do this, we must understand this important fact, called the Grace of Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Unity is not uniformity. - Unity comes from within and is a spiritual grace, while conformity is the result of pressure from the world around and outside us.

I we are going to preserve the “unity of the Spirit,” we must possess the necessary Christian graces, and there are six of them listed below...

1. Lowliness or humility (putting Christ first, others second, and self last) - (Read - Romans 12:3 - For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.)

2. Meekness (not weakness) - It is power under control - Read - (Matthew 11:29 - Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.)

3. Long suffering (long - tempered) The ability to endure discomfort without fighting back

4. Forbearance (a grace that cannot be experienced apart from love. (Read - 1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;)

5. Endeavor (“being eager to maintain, or guard, the unity of the Spirit”) The spiritual unity of a home, a marriage, or a church is the responsibility of each person involved, and the job never ends.

6. The final grace is peace “the bond of peace”

   1. (Read -  James 3:13-4:10) This is the most vivid picture of war and peace in the New Testament

   2. Note: The reason for war on the outside is war on the inside If a believer cannot have a peaceable relationship with God, he cannot have one with other believers.

7. When “the peace of God” rules in our hearts, then we build unity (Read - Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.)

One of the expectation of the messiah is the he would be a servant…

Isaiah 42:1

• Christ “The Servant”. One of the most important things to understand about Jesus, he came as a servant.
• It is a title, but also – and very importantly - a part of his character

How does that look?

Jesus was born a baby and had to grow and learn. Just like everyone else.

Hebrews 5:5-10

Hebrews 5:8

• Learned obedience
• Perfected
  • Obedience, servanthood is what moulds us, shapes our character
  • Jesus did His apprenticeship before receiving the Kingdom

Hebrews 9:12-14

Jesus wasn’t passive, he presented himself to God in a certain way.

• Jesus offered himself to the eternal Spirit (to the HS)
  • It begins as an attitude, a way of positioning ourselves spirituality but has practical implications
• Jesus in the Garden. “Not my will but your will be done”
• Example: Couldn’t stop swearing and blaspheming, tried so hard. So ashamed I would feel sick.
  I began to seek God about His purpose and present myself as a servant, and invest in where I believed He was leading scripture began to come alive and it changed my thoughts, and my words too.
  The two are connected. Service and character build on each other

Servanthood also releases us into our calling and gifts.

2 Tim 2:2 Faithful men – faithful in what? I suppose faithful in service, servant hearted people not people with superstar gifting.

• Old All Blacks mantra – A Champion team will always beat a team of champions
• Likewise servant hearted people will always be the last ones standing in faith. Especially when sacrifice is called for
• Example: Training work dogs. Some of the most intelegant and skilled animals. The worst thing which can happen is the dog abandons the farmer at a critical time when moving stock. I had one which would chase rabbits, never used him for important tasks.
  Servanthood must be faithful to be responsible.

Romans 12:1-2

• Offering ourselves living sacrifices. This is also an essential part of our calling,
  • Reasonable service, not demanded. It’s an invitation.
• Transformation and responsability is the effect

It is not about productivity or filling a role, it is about the transformation that the HS can do in the lives of people when their hearts are set on cultivating a servant nature.  

• This doesn’t mean we become mindless robots, doing everything we are told. I do not want to set you up for abuse here:
  • In fact as you become a servant of Christ you become less available to the demands of people.
  • Jesus “must be about my Father’s business” really sets the tone. People were always looking for Him and placing demands on Him. He was frequently disappointing people’s expectation. The Father set His agenda.

• Hear me carefully – I am not asking you to volunteer somewhere. Let’s put aside for a moment the work and activity which needs doing
  • What I am asking you is don’t give up. Don’t grow weary of offering ourselves to Christ because this is the vehicle which unlocks His grace and applies His transformation and resurrection to our lives…
  • Acts of service directed at Christ and not for attention etc. He takes notice. He is looking for people like this

Servanthood, really is Jesus’ love language.  

==

In the Old Testament there is the account of Elijah and Elisha, as we follow these two men and watch the impartation of a prophetic office we see the dynamic of servanthood unlocking the calling…

1 Kings 19:16,19-21 The Call of Elisha

• The mantle – a symbolic gesture.
• Elisha became the servant…

Later when Elijah is going to die, they walked through an amazing process.

2 Kings 2:1-14 Account of Elijah taken up in Chariot

Remember these are two very accomplished prophets now. Elisha is ready to assume the ministry and position of Elijah.

They both understand the protocols of the Holy Spirit.

• Vs 9,10 What do you want – double portion given to the heir.
  • If you see me – what do we look for? A true servant won’t lose sight of the master
  • Elijah is doing his best to distract of discourage Elisha
  • They are enacting something, a prophetic journey perhaps?
• Stay in Gilgal – The place of circumcision. Sanctification.  Keeps eyes on the master
• Stay in Bethel – “House of God” where visions of angels happen. Keeps eyes on the master
• Stay in Jericho – Battle where the walls fell down. Spiritual warfare. Keeps eyes on the master
• On to across the Jorden, chariot of fire and whirlwinds. Keeps eyes on the master
  • Then nothing happens until…
  • “My father, My father…”
  • He goes from his role of servant to Son. The mantle falls, the inheritance released.
• The religious leaders at the cross are confused when Jesus cried “Eli Eli, Lama Sabacthani”
  • They know this story and think he is calling Elijah, an interesting connection when you consider Jesus the servant at death is about to claim His kingdom.
  • Fostering a servant heart is what unlocks your calling, and makes it a reality.
• Elisha as a servant kept his eyes fixed on the master, not distracted even by good things, and the Spirit of God rested on him as it was with Elijah
• Jesus at the cross – the suffering servant, undistracted remains focused on the Father 

Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho are all places we might visit in our Christian journey, but the place of transformation is at the Jorden with the master. Keeping our eyes on Him, undistracted

It may mean dramatic sanctification, dreams and visions, or spiritual warfare and power.  It is easy to get caught up in that and become blinded – dazzled by it, and in the Elisha account there were prophets who stayed there.

Surely signs and wonders are more important, what I am doing is far too important…

Even really good things can be a distraction

• Jesus is a person. Always remember the call is from a person to another person
• When someone calls to you, the voice leads to the person doing the calling. Jesus calls us to follow
  • Hide and seek – kids giggling. The sound leads to the person
• Following Jesus the servant certainly means servanthood and acts of service, because that is who Jesus is. This is where we inevitably find Him

John 13:12-17 Here Jesus is washing feet – a very low servant position

2 Kings 3:11 Elisha “poured water on the hands” – a very low servant position

Jesus says: “In as much as you did it to the least of these My Brethren you did it to me”

• JC may have ascended to heaven, but His body is here. We find him present in each other
• While Jesus is the object of our service, it does impact our relationship.
  • Do we treat each other as the hands and feet of Christ?
  • Our servanthood is how we honour Christ in our midst, it is how we partner with the HS activity among us. One of the key ways grace is transmitted.
  • I am convinced, before we can be the hands and feet of Jesus, we must learn to wash the hands and feet
• I hope we can build this into our life together as a faith community

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naRCfl8oCos

• The profound effect of that simple act of service. “Treat others as you want to be treated”
• Everyone else was focus on one thing – winning
  • His willingness to take a servant position, that young man had his agenda set by Christ and saw the opportunity nobody else did
• He acted as a servant: By washing hands and feet he became Jesus hands and feet

Mark 9:35 Be a servant of all

John 3:1-17

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Nicodemus must have thought that's a crazy story really. Again we see Jesus messing with the our understanding of the natural order of things - just to make a make a point. We cannot physically be born again, everyone knows that; the Mothers everywhere can breath a sigh of relief!

This isn’t purely allegory though – He is referring to something which is soon to happen in Jesus world, and for us through the action of Jesus. 

Through Jesus the Kingdom of God is breaking into human history. Into God’s creation He is establishing something which has been anticipate for many centuries:- The New Creation.

Another kingdom, an alternate order and authority, is about to be established.

But for us to be part of this a miracle – an act of the HS must happen. We must be born again.
We enter God’s creation through our birth, likewise we enter the new creation through the new birth.

Example: Grandad's farm - looking and sounding like something like a Christian doesn't make us one, any more than standing in a garage makes us a car.
We are born or created something. To be a Christian we must be born again into God's kingdom, born of the Spirit.

For this New Kingdom to be establish the old powers must be conquered and dealt with. 

The Passover War

We celebrate what happened at that Passover feast – what we call Easter these days. But do we understand what was happening?

We celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus…what about the three days in between?

The disciples mourned. The ladies made preparation to attend to the body of Jesus when they were allowed. Peter was in deep shame at denying Jesus three times. The leaders rested easy thinking they had successfully put down a difficult problem.

What about Jesus - Jesus, wasn’t idle for those three days. In a state of death he was active – there was a war raging.

You see there is heaven, earth and “under the earth”. Jesus had gone down to under the earth. The place of death.

And there were three enemies to defeat. Sin, Satan and Death itself.

Lets look at how Jesus was victorious over these enemies:

Sin defeated…

Sin in essence is disobedience to God which leads to a breakdown in relationship. For a creature that means being cut off from the creator – the very source of life.

Death is the consequence of this which is our current state. That is what we know, what we all expect.

But Jesus didn’t disobey. Through perfect obedience Jesus overcame temptation and sin. Jesus was obedient unto death – even death on the cross. (Phil 2)

• In the Garden of Gethsemane the full weight of sin, the pressure of temptation was on Jesus to disobey.

• You see Jesus faced sin in a way we never can. We always succumb to temptation eventually and at some point we all have, and the weight of temptation stops there.
  But Jesus resisting temptation fully also had to face the full weight of sin, He sweated blood in the process – but was obedient. 
• At his death the temptation to sin, and therefore sin itself was beaten, forever. You cannot tempt a dead person any more.

Philippians 2:8-10

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,...

Jesus’ perfect obedience made His death unjust – remember death is a result of being cut off from the source of life through sin. Jesus did not sin so was not cut off from the source of life.

He descended into death – he submitted to that – but he had the right to life.

One man had overcome sin and through a sinless death had access to the place of death – yet death had no power over him.

Through death Jesus gained access to the place of the dead. He picked the lock if you like...

Revelation 1:16-18

He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

He has the keys of death and hades, now death has no power over him

But entering death is only the start, He is not coming back just yet – he has work to do in the place of death

The War of Kingdoms...

He has gone there to start a war, one Kingdom is invading others.

A one man army is invading Satan’s kingdom and stronghold, For three days he fought – completely alone.  Since Eden Satan has been active in the physical world wrecking destruction on Humans, and we are powerless. 

But Jesus as a sinless Human has taken the fight from the physical into the spiritual realm – He has taken the fight into Satan’s kingdom, Jesus is hunting, Sin, Satan and Death is His prey. 

He fights through the hordes and legions, the principalities and powers. He fights to the very throne of Satan. Grabs that snake, throws him to the ground, places his foot on Satan’s throat, looks him in the eyes and says:

“Satan you are defeated. I have conquered you. Every temptation I have resisted, every accusation is a lie and I have paid for these captives with my own blood"

For the first time in history a dead man can testify against his killer:

"Satan you are a murderer. My blood proves your guilt"

Jesus then declares

“I will take your captives as tribute, everything you stole now belongs to me”

Hebrews 2:14-15

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

1 Peter 3:18-20

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

Ephesians 4:8-10

Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Satan's kingdom is defeated, His captives taken from Him.

Death Defeated...

There was one more fight, one more enemy. He’s hunting again - Death:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When death takes a life it is legal – the soul who sins shall die. Death was unjustified in taking Jesus’ life when he was without sin. Death had no right to keep keep him or take him in the first place.

He rose in victory. He rose victorious over sin, over Satan, over death itself. With the plunder from each kingdom. The souls of people.

Romans 6:7-10

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Death no-longer has dominion (kingdom). We are transferred as captives of one kingdom to another. From death to life.

Born of the Spirit...

As he rose from death Jesus was creating – he rose into something new.

He didn’t rise to an old creation which needed fixing he arose as the beginning of a whole new creation. He resurrected body wasn't going to die again.

The tomb opened, and Jesus rose as a victorious King, and opened to gates to the kingdom of God – the new creation..

Colossians 1:15-19

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

The firstborn over the new creation. All things – that statement excludes Jesus. Jesus is not created, He is a participant of God's creative activity.

His captives are not thrown into prisons of the new King, they are given a choice. Stay where you are or follow me.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

In Christ we born again into a new creation. That is what Jesus was referring to in His conversation with Nicodemus.

That’s what Jesus was doing during those three days of death. That is why we celebrate! What an astonishing victory – what a reason to rejoice!

Like Jesus with Lazarus – he stands at the door to the tombs of our lives and calls us out by name. He has the keys, he has the right, he has the power. He calls us to step forward from death into his Kingdom. He calls us to be reborn into his new creation. Into eternal life which begins now by the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 1:17-25

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,because

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

This is the Gospel. Jesus did all that in just a few days.

Are you alive in Christ today, or are we pretending to be - are you born again? It is a miracle of grace – an invitation from Jesus we must all accept.

Today, if you have never accepted Jesus invitation to life please respond and ask Him into your life, accept His invitation to be a new creation.

When the time came for Abram and Lot to part company, Abram gave Lot his choice of land in which to dwell. He gave Lot "first pick" so there would be no animosity between them. But Lot did not choose well. He decided to homestead in a place called Sodom...a place that would become synonymous with sin and disaster.

How could Lot have made such a poor choice? Easy. Lot looked with his eyes. He saw a lovely, well-watered valley. He saw prosperity and riches and ease.

Because generally speaking, we see what we love.

When I go to another country, I see churches. I look at their buildings the architecture, their grounds, their doors and windows. That's my love. I love old churches.

Lot loved the easy life...and he saw a glimpse of it in Sodom. So he chose the valley. But in so choosing, he lost everything.

When we choose with only ourselves in mind, we mix together the deep drink of selfishness with disregard for future consequences. And the combination, as Lot discovered, can be deadly.

GENESIS 13:11
So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed eastward...

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 (NKJV)  

And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions),
and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets-–
indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever," that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,
so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

What a picture!

Imagine at our place and in our time, the glory of God manifest so powerfully nobody can move.

When we look carefully at the dedication of Solomon's temple recorded here there are some things out of place in the usual order.

The Priest's broke the rules...

Only one was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. Today they all did, they had all prepared themselves for His presence.

God should have judged such boldness, such flagrant disregard of the rules. But He didn't, He delighted in them and made His pleasure known.

The priests and the people had all prepared themselves to approach God boldly, in unity. Their hearts heard a call to the presence of God and they responded.

As their voices became one in worship, their actions one in service God's glory was manifest.

I often think "If only we were there to see and experience such a wonder"...but we are there right now.

Today we are His people.

God hasn't changed or gone anywhere. He can still be approached, He still calls and awaits our response.

Are our hearts as theirs were?

Let's join them in preparing ourselves in holiness, approaching God with boldness and declaring with one voice His goodness.

Lets respond to the call of the Spirit to enter the presence of God as a united people.

Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the Lord is a consuming fire; a jealous God"

I always remember the times just before winter in the African bush, we use to create fire breaks on the borders of the wild life camps. These firebreaks had a duel purpose, one was to stop small fires from spreading to other camps, but also to create a burn zone. These burn zones allowed us to actually light fires on the edge of the camp in times when high winds drove fires into a frenzy. These burns would then allow us to fight fire with fire. Thus saving wildlife and grazing savanna.

In todays life we are surrounded on every side by the super heated flames of modern day culture.

How do we fight this? - We set our own spiritual fire, our own pre-burn. - As the fire of our devotion to Christ begins to burn, our God who is a consuming fire , burns brighter and stronger than the flames of this fallen world.

We fight fire with fire !!

Psalm 1 - stages it for us,

1 Blessed is the man
    Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;  And whatever he does shall prosper.

One vital but often overlooked part of an intercessor’s role is to discern and pray in concert with God’s purposes for the different spiritual seasons of life. 

To pray through your spiritual seasons and to pray through the spiritual seasons of our church, intercessors must seek God’s supernatural guidance about the seasons or different spiritual time periods we’re in that bring with them unique challenges and opportunities in both our personal lives and in Rangiora Baptist Church as the body of Christ.

We really feel that we are entering a season of focused but combined prayer.

The Lord had given us the "AIM" vision which focuses outwards to our community, our young people and lost.

Murray in his sermons has directed our thoughts through the Holy Spirit to be "outwards" focused in our outreach and prayer life.

I believe that blessings should be a big part of our prayer focus and we should bless our community, and our church family.

Like Roy in his book "The Grace Outpouring: Blessings Others through prayer" says -

Having a heart to bless will challenge our mind-set that can color how we look at those around us. - We should be "GRACE FIRST" people.

You see if we let the wisdom of God inhibit our thinking, a consistent "GRACE FIRST" pattern will emerge in our actions and words.

GRACE FIRST prayer for healing doesn't search for wrongdoing in a persons life that needs correcting as a prelude to a miracle.

We simply need to ask that the power of God should touch that life...

May God Bless you all.