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.

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!

Matthew 8:5-7

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 
saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” - Matthew 8:5-7 (NKJV) 

In Bible days, Roman centurions were notable and reputable men, who were expected to lead by example and were known for their formidable courage on the battlefield.

What I like about this particular Roman centurion was that he recognized the need of his servant and so he came to Jesus.

What’s more, he came pleading!

And it’s one thing to plead for yourself, or your spouse or a family member, but to plead for your servant is another.

This man didn’t allow his social standing to stop him from coming to God.

Instead, he got rid of his pride and his reputation and came straight to the source - Jesus.

I want to encourage you today.

What is it that you need from God?

Well, whatever it is, how you come will inevitably determine whether you receive anything or not.
You can come to God with a heart full of doubt and unbelief and you’ll receive nothing.

Or you can come earnestly with a heart full of faith and expectancy, losing sight of who you are, and you will receive.

Matthew 15:28

"Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour". - Matthew 15:28 NKJV

Despite all the problems she was experiencing, this woman heard about Jesus and when she did, faith rose up in her heart bringing about a change in her life.
It doesn’t matter how hard your life has been or the many challenges that you have been through.
Hearing about Jesus and choosing to respond, can bring a change!

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