Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  - Mark 10:45 NKJV

What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning?

What is your motivating factor that helps you face and embrace your day, each and every day?

Is it to make money, to exercise and get your body into tip top shape, or is it just to have another cup of coffee?

What do you live for and what makes you do the things you do?

What is your why?

Jesus came to this earth with one mission and one purpose - to save that which was lost. He came to serve and love people and wherever He went people’s lives were forever touched and changed. This is our “why”, wrapped up in the same mission of our Saviour Jesus. It’s never about us, but always about Him and others.

Romans 15:13

"Oh! May the God of great hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!"- Romans 15:13 (The Message)

This is FRI-YAY and we have great expectations for the weekend that lies ahead of us. But what is your expectation today?

What is your expectation for your family, your marriage, your business, your career, your ministry?

I do believe that fullness of expectation leads to fullness of life - the very thing that everyone wants, and yet so few achieve. Living life to the full actually means that we have to have a heart that is full of expectation. And the very first thing that you have to do to secure this is to decide to want it.

Decisions are critical in determining how we get to live our lives and just a simple five second decision can alter the path of your life significantly! So let me encourage you today. Decide right now to believe and let your believing secure a fullness of expectation that will lead you to experiencing a life overflowing with the fullness of God.

Leviticus 26:9

“I will look on you with favour and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.”- Leviticus 26:9

One of the greatest victories of the Cross was the ultimate defeat of sin. And through that defeat Christ made it possible for you and me to walk in the divine favour of God. This favour is not based on anything pertaining to us, but wholly on the kindness and benevolence of our God!

God desires for you to step out and to walk in that divine favour everyday of your life. And you can by believing and activating your faith! And when you do, that same favour will cause you to multiply and to experience increase in every area of your life.

Go on, I dare you to!

Proverbs 15:24

The path of life leads upward for the wise- Proverbs 15:24

The followers of Jesus were never called to mediocrity. That’s why we should never let the world and all its negative events get us down. Christians know how to be up in a down world. And they can do that because they are citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Yes, there are challenges, but the Bible is full of examples of men and women who had to face many struggles.

Caleb had to endure 40 years of wandering in the wilderness with the children of Israel before he staked his claim in the Promised Land.

Despite his age of 80 he chose the toughest mountain area because he was a man of faith and he had a “different spirit” he had a spirit of excellence.

Daniel had to face death because of his faith in God, but it was said of him that he had an “excellent spirit”. King Solomon’s wisdom excelled that of all others.

You and I are called to be above every situation and circumstance because we have the Holy Spirit living in us and the Word of God that inspire our faith to conquer every giant that may oppose us.

1 Samuel 17:25

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied-  1 Samuel 17:45 (NKJV).

We all probably know the story of David and Goliath and how the young shepherd boy who was to become king, killed the giant. It’s one of the great events of the Old Testament, but it has a very real lesson for us today. We all have our giants that threaten us from time to time.

It may be a giant of sickness, or financial lack, or a family breakdown that threatens you, but you can slay your giant. When David ran out onto the battlefield all he had was a sling and five stones that were no match against the heavily armoured Goliath.

But David had something more powerful than any earthly weapon; he came in the “name of the Lord”.

And that’s the way to face our giants – in the name of Jesus and with the Word of God in our mouths. But to slay our giants we need to spend time in God’s presence and time reading and meditating on the promises of God. Don’t find yourself on the battlefield of life empty handed in the spiritual sense.

But be prepared to confront your giant with the name of Jesus on your lips and faith in the authority of God’s Word that every foe must bow its knee, whether sickness, lack or any other giant that may confront you and me. 

Proverbs 13:20

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed."- Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV) 

Last week we spoke about the power of consistency and how it’s the little things you do each and every day that count. But it’s not just being consistent that matters.

No, it’s being consistent about doing the right things with the right people. Do you know that the people that you hang out with will largely determine whether your life is fruitful or not.

The Word tells us that if we walk with wise people then their wise influence will rub off on us and we, too, will be wise. I have discovered that there are four types of people that will have a positive influence on your life;

(i) Those who are passionate about what they do; passionate people more often than not, have a “can do” attitude towards life.

(ii) Those who are happy about what they do; happy people are positive people.

(iii) Those who are always eager to learn about what they do; there is always something more and new to learn each and every day.

(iv) Those who never stop dreaming; dreamers are more loyal to their future than they are to their past.

So, let’s choose our friends wisely, because like buttons on an elevator, they can either take you up or down. And I’d prefer to go up!

Romans 5:20

“…But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more...”- Romans 5:20 (NKJV)

I don’t know about you but when you pick up newspapers and listen to the news, everything seems to have a negative and “doomy gloomy” connotation to it.

You could surmise that, pretty much, this world and with all that’s happening, is in a bad place. And to add to this fatalistic mix, it’s almost as if, what’s right is wrong and what’s wrong is now right.

There are those that would conclude that it’s because we’re in the so called “last days” of this age and that from here on out, “things will just get progressively worse and worse.”

But I beg to differ.

I do believe that the “last days,” is not about calamity and disaster but actually about the glory of God covering the whole earth.

It’s about you and me witnessing the greatest outpouring of God’s Spirit like it’s never been seen before.

This is the finest hour of the Church and there has never been a more opportune moment for you and me to rise up and do what God called has called us to do.

Jesus is coming back - not for a defeated Church - but for a victorious and glorious Church.

But until that time arrives, let’s busy ourselves with winning the lost and seeing people encounter this amazing God we serve!

After all, the only thing that we can take one day to heaven with us is people.

Matthew 4:4

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."- Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Just as we are sustained in the natural by the physical food that we consume on a daily basis, so too in the spirit.

The Israelites were sustained by the manna that they acquired on a daily basis.

The priests were sustained by light from candlesticks, bread from the table of shewbread and incense from the altar of incense. 

This is what gave them strength to fulfil their daily functions and activities around the Tabernacle of Moses. 

As a young shepherd boy, David spent time with the Lord while on the hills of Jerusalem and cultivated an appetite for both God’s word and His presence. 

No wonder he was able to slay the bear, the lion and a 2.7 (9ft) metre tall giant.
He finally went on to become one of Israel’s finest kings!

And you know, right through the ages, nothing much has changed.

Still today, we are sustained and strengthened by God’s word and by the time we spend daily in His presence.

If we want to conquer our giants and fulfil the plans and purposes that God has for our lives, then this is what we simply must do.

I know that there are times when life can be somewhat hectic and in the business of it all, we miss out on these very special moments.

Notwithstanding, these moments are very precious to God.

Because, it’s in these moments that God gets to whisper His sweet secrets to us, sweet secrets that proceed from the heart of God.

And these words, which are wrapped up with His goodness and benevolence, help us conquer every giant that comes our way to fulfil His plans and purposes.

Psalm 62:11

“God as spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God.”- Psalm 62:11 (NKJV)

Because all power belongs to God, He has all the supernatural ability that we need. 
There is no short supply in Heaven.
There is no limitation with Him.
There is no recession in Heaven.
This awesome God that we serve has ALL that you will ever need..

I don’t care what you are facing right now, or how difficult it may seem. 
Maybe it’s terribly painful for you?
Maybe you are facing disappointment? 
Perhaps you’ve been wounded and let down and discouragement has its tight grip on your life. 
Perhaps today, you are in a bad place and don’t know which way to turn.

Listen to me friend, turn to God and come just as you are and give Him your problems.
God can supernaturally turn your situation around. 
In just a moment, He can do it. That is the confidence I have in Him. 

You ask, how can you say that?
Because all power belongs to Him and because I’ve personally seen Him do it time and time again. He’s never let me down. He’s never failed me yet.
And I’m nobody special; I’m just an ordinary person like you.
And if God can do it for me, then He can do it for you.

1 John 3:8

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”- 1 John 3:8 (NKJV)

God’s one purpose for sending His only Son to earth is wrapped up in Calvary.
And when we take away or diminish Calvary, we take away and diminish His purpose for humanity.

When we take away and diminish the Cross, we render the Cross “barely able.”
My friend, I want you to know, that there is nothing “barely able” about the Cross.

Jesus was not barely crucified. Instead He was wholly, cruelly and brutally murdered on that Cross, so that He who knew no sin was MADE to know the fullness of our sins.

And then God, by His Spirit was not barely able to raise Him back to life. Instead, by the full might of God He was resurrected with such force and power that He completely and utterly defied and conquered death, hell and the grave!

Because of what Jesus accomplished, the good news is that there is nothing barely able about you and me.

Instead we are more than able to do all things because of that same Spirit that indwells you and me.

We are more than able to share God’s love with others.
We are more than able to pray for the sick and see them healed.
We are more than able to take that position in the corporate world and succeed. 
We are more than able to be that parent that God called us to be.
We are more than able to prosper, so we in turn can be a blessing to others.
We are more than able to win others to Jesus and see them discipled for the Lord.
We can because we are more then able through Christ!

John 14:12

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."            John 14:12 (NKJV)

It is very clear from this verse that we are to do the same works that Jesus did whilst on this earth.And what exactly did Jesus do? He preached, He taught, He healed the sick and He delivered people from the oppression of the devil.

Jesus is our example, and He, forever, will be our example. We emulate Him and do as He did in all things.

But how did Jesus do all of this? By the enabling power of the Holy Ghost!

You will remember that at the river Jordan, not only was He water baptized and affirmed by the Father, but He also received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

And because of this, He was able to confront and overwhelm the powers of darkness during His time in the wilderness.

I do believe with all my heart that the only way we can do the works of Jesus and even “greater” works, is by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

If Jesus needed the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, then how much more you and I?

Acts 6:8

"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people" - Acts 6:8 (NKJV)

I always enjoy reading about Stephen especially when it comes to this one verse.
I think it’s because he was just an ordinary man, who had been chosen to serve in the church.
And yet what a powerful ministry he had.

He was a man full of faith and power and his life was a living manifestation of signs, wonders and miracles!

The God-kind of faith will always translate into the power of God resulting in the lost being saved, the sick being healed and people being delivered and set free from the powers of darkness.

And without a doubt, this is the kind of gospel that the world needs today.

The point I want to make is, that your faith and God’s power are inextricable linked.
And when you know this, there can be no limit to what God’s power can do in and through your life.

If God could use a man like Stephen to demonstrate His power, then He can use you.

1 Thessalonians 1:5

“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance…” -  1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NKJV)

There can be no doubt whatsoever that the gospel is a gospel of power.
From Genesis to Revelation, time and time again, we see the power of God manifested throughout the Scriptures.

We do humanity a disservice when we preach a powerless gospel.
And the reason we do this is because we don’t want to offend. 
If you don’t want to offend, then don’t preach the truth.
But it is the truth that we must preach for it is the truth that sets people free.

Jesus came to this earth as a human being and as a human being, He was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and in that same power he went about setting the captives free.
Now that same power indwells you and me.
And God allowed you to experience His power so that you, in turn, can allow others to experience that same power!

Matthew 14:28–29

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. - Matthew 14:28–29 (NKJV)

I do believe that every believer’s life is marked by windows of opportunity that demand they take radical steps of faith in order to accomplish the purposes of God for their lives.
And the thing that makes those steps radical is that they invariably involve significant risk.

Where there is no risk, there can be no faith.
And where there is no faith, there can be no real manifestation of the power of God.

Peter was given such a window of opportunity that it demanded he take a radical step of faith that involved significant risk.

And when he did, his risk-taking faith encountered the supernatural power of God that allowed him to defy the odds and walk upon the water.

And likewise today, every person’s life that is greatly used by God and who experiences the supernatural power of God, takes great risks!

Psalm 116:9

“I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living.” 

- Psalm 116:9 (NKJV)

You and I were created for fellowship with God! 

It is obvious when we consider that the first person that Adam saw after he’d been created and opened his eyes was God.

Jesus reinforces this fact when he repeats several times in the gospel of John chapter 15 that we are to abide in Him and He in us.

That word “abide” means to stay, to linger, to remain, day in and day out, not out of duty nor compulsion, but because of our love for Him and our desire to be in His presence. This abiding will produce a life that will absolutely overflow.

And isn’t it an amazing thing, that when our walk with God is good then every other area of our lives is good too.

Mark 5: 25-27

"Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. "

- Mark 5: 25-27 (NKJV)

This woman with the issue of blood, had a flow, but it was the wrong kind of flow.
It was a flow that brought shame, embarrassment and condemnation, not to mention the sickness too. And to make matters worse, it was a flow that brought financial disaster, resulting in lack and poverty.

It is possible, with everything that is happening around the world, to get into the “wrong” kind of a flow resulting in the very same things that happened to this woman.

But when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, it was a point of contact for her faith to connect with the right flow.

And when she did, it brought a complete turnaround of her situation

Genesis 2:7

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being.” - Genesis 2:7 (NKJV)

When God breathed the breath of life into man, he became a living “flowing” being.
It is impossible to know God and His word and not know that you and I were created to flow.

In fact, everything in life was created to flow and it is the type and nature of the flow that will determine the characteristics of these things.

God created your spirit man to flow like a river and His heart is for every one of us to flow with His Spirit.

Think of what would happen, if every day we began our day by yielding to the moving of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine what God could do, if you allowed heaven to flow through you?
I believe the possibilities would be endless!

Pass it On

“…For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers…" - ACTS 13:36

“…But the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits." - DANIEL 11:32  

Throughout the Bible God always uses one generation to touch another. David served his generation and the next generation and was the greatest king ever known. We have only this day to serve this generation. God is seeking fathers and mothers who will serve the next generation and has called us to be His revolutionaries. We are in a divine relay race. A relay race is not necessarily won by the fastest team but by the team passing the  baton correctly. The runner ahead being given the baton has to keep their eyes on their lane. The runner passing the baton tells the next runner when to go. There is an assigned placing for you, you are part of a team, every team member is vital and important. You were created for this generation, whatever has been imparted to you, be it love , faith or purpose, PASS IT ON.  Wherever we are, we have been called to impart to the next generation. It's time for men and women of God to impart the possibility of miracles taking place.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)

If Joshua was to take the people of Israel across the Jordan River and into their promised land, there could be no alternative.

It involved a choice of their will- they either acted with courage, or they missed their blessing.

And one of the ways in which courage is built in us, is by meditating in God’s Word.

Today, you and I are faced with two choices; we either look at our circumstances and begin to cringe and cry or we choose by an act of our will, to meditate in His Word day and night.

I promise you, courage will rise up in your heart and give you the victory you need.

Matthew 16:18-19

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 

Matthew 16:18–19 (NKJV)

Despite all that the Church has been through, I do believe that the Church’s finest hour is now.

Many have been led to believe that she has been out maneuvered, outplayed and outwitted, but this is her finest hour. And everything that was prophesied about her, throughout the entire Bible, is surely coming to pass.

Jesus said that He would build His church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

The Church is the plan and purpose of God and if He is building His church, then it is impossible for her to fail.

You and I are part of that Church and it is impossible for us to fail.

This is our finest hour, to do what God has called us to do.

We have this awesome opportunity before us and what we must do; we must act now and do it now!