A short thought

The Words I speak are spirit and life. These are the Words of Jesus to his disciples in John 6:63

Jesus speaks life into our spirits. He says that only the Holy Spirit can give eternal life, (and it comes from belief in Jesus as Saviour.)

We are totally reliant on the Spirit of God for true life and true meaning. As we read the words of Jesus and the Word of God, the Spirit speaks to us and brings life to us. Sometimes the message is difficult; there are things that challenge us and things we need to change to become more like Christ. But as we take hold of his Word; as we meditate on it and allow it to become part of us; as we apply it to our lives; with God's help, we can do it.

Lets make this year one that sees us apply his word to our lives, move closer to God and closer to the person he has created us to be.

What's in the Box

What's in the box for you this Christmas. What gifts will you unwrap?

Last time we looked at God's great gifts of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life. It is in Christ that we receive these amazing gifts from God. Gifts that come as a result of God's incredible love

This week I  grace and peace. These gifts like the last are in many ways intangible, yet we know when we have them and when we need them.

Like the previous gifts we looked at these gifts are available for the asking. They are the two powerful gifts of Gods grace and unmerited favour and his peace that is like no other.

1. Grace
God's grace is made manifest toward us through the person ofJesus Christ. Jesus is the embodiment of God's grace.

Without Jesus, without his sacrifice, we would not be able to have a relationship with God and we would still be under the law and judged by the law. We would still be in darkness, without the light of God.

Eph 2:8
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Our salvation comes through God's amazing gift of grace towards us. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We are wholly and totally dependent on God's wonderful grace, displayed to us in Jesus.

The apostle John totally understood the difference between law - trying to do it ourselves, and grace.

John 1:17
For the Law was given by Moses but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus

The KJV says "grace and truth came through Jesus Christ".
This represents the Greek a little better. The great gift of God in Christ is truth and grace. This shows God's unfailing love towards us.

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has been revealed bring salvation for all people.

Grace - Charis - something that affords joy and pleasure; governed by divine grace. Not something we earn, but something bestowed on us, from the love, mercy and gracious kindness of God.

This is what John understood. In Jesus we are governed by divine grace. This is favour from God. It is the same word used to describe Mary in Luke 1:30 - "fear not for you have found favour with God".

And Jesus in Luke 2:40- "the grace of God was upon him".

So grace is divine favour bestowed on people by God. This grace is available to both Jew and gentile. Paul says that both the Jew and the gentile is saved by God's unmerited favour. It does not matter what background we have, where we have come from or who we are. God's grace is available to everyone.

We cannot earn God's grace.

Romans 11:5
It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace - his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by works. For in that case God's grace would not be what it really is- free and undeserved.

Sometimes we can take God's amazing gift of grace for granted or worse, forget that it is by grace we are saved, and we revert to trying to gain God's favour by works.

The Galatians had certainly fallen in to the trap of forgetting that it was by grace and not by works. Paul speaks to them about God's grace to him, and his grace is also the same for us.

Gal 1:15
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvellous grace.

Even before we existed, God's grace was there for us,outworked in our lives through our calling by God, chosen for his purpose. So he says to the Galatians, don't take God's grace for granted, don't use it as a reason to sin, or forget about his grace and fall into empty works.

Gal 2:21
I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

But the law does not make us right with God, only the grace of God through Christ can make us right with him.

Eph 1:7
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he has purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

God is so rich in kindness. God's grace is free, and it is ongoing. We have relationship with God; we can come boldly to God and receive grace whenever we need it.

Heb 4:16
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us when we need it.

God's grace was not just a one off that is given, but is constantly available to us whenever we need it.

James 4:6
He gives us grace to stand against evil desires.

What do you need God's grace for today? Come boldly into his presence and receive it, without strings attached. It is freely available.

God's grace is also to be extended to others. Paul knew that because he had received God's amazing and incredible grace, he had a responsibility to share that grace with others.

Eph 3:2
God gave me the special responsibility of extending grace to you gentiles.

Eph 3:7
By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this good news.

Paul's responsibility was to the gentiles, but we too have a responsibility to tell others of God's amazing grace available to them.

Romans 6:14
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirement of the law. Instead you live under the freedom of God's grace.

God's grace brings freedom from the law, freedom from the power of sin, and freedom to follow God. Continue to live in God's grace.

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As we grow in understanding of who God is, we understand his grace more and more, and live by it. What will you do to continue to live in grace and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ?

2. Peace
God's peace is also a gift to us.

Col 3:15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body we are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

God's peace is not the same as worldly peace. It is not an absence of conflict in the sense that we would know it. It is an inner peace that cannot be explained in earthly terms.

God's peace is one that our finite minds find difficult to grasp, because it is a peace that passes understanding. Jesus said that the peace he gives us is not as the world gives it.

John 14:27
I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give so don't be troubled or afraid.

God's peace is different to anything we can otherwise know. In fact God's peace is so different, that it is available regardless of our circumstances.

Isaiah 9:6 says that Jesus is the everlasting Father and prince of peace. Jesus is our peace.

He brings us peace with God, and peace between Jew and gentile, Eph 2:14, but he also brings peace to our hearts and our minds.

John 16:33
I have told you this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.

This world is full of trials and sorrows, and stuff that challenges us, but in Jesus we can have peace, because he is our peace.

It is in Him, that we have peace. And this peace exists even in times of trial and sorrow. The level of the peace we have is probably indicative of the relationship we have with God.

The word for peace is Eirene and is the way that leads to peace, a place of tranquility. In the Christian context it means: "The state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is."

In other words, it is a peace that comes to us from God that means we are afraid of nothing, and exists no matter what the circustances are. We have access to God's peace for the asking. Will we avail ourselves of it or continue to fret and worry?

Like all God's good gifts, peace is available if we ask for it. But will we receive it and apply it? That is the real question.

Phil 4:6-8
Don't worry, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can undertand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ.

There is a message in itself here. But here are some practical things we can do to help us receive God's peace which is freely available. It is his gift.

Will we actively receive it or leave it wrapped in the package and look at it as something unattainable when it is actually well within our reach and available to us? This would be like having a gift card that we never use.

This passage helps us in practical application.

Simply:
Stop worrying - each time you catch yourself worrying, stop it, be deliberate, don't continue worrying.

You don't add to your life by worrying, you subtract from it. God says simply stop it.

Secondly - now that you have been deliberate - pray.

At this stage, this is seeking God in prayer, seeking him for his sake, talking to him and listenning to him. Then - having engaged with God in prayer, tell him what it is that you need, and thank him, for what he has already done.

This is an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude, for what has already been done, and expecting in faith that God will answer your prayers as you tell him what you need. (He might answer differently to what you want or expect.)

It is when we have done these things that we will experience God's grace. Its like having to unwrap a package. Its always there and available, you just have to take the paper off.

It takes faith to trust God, but his peace is available to those who trust him.

Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Those who trust, who open up the package will receive. What will you choose?

2 Thes 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.

This is God's desire for us and his gift to us.

Conclusion
Grace and peace is made freely available to us.

Make a decision to receive these gifts today, and to extend grace and peace to others as we grow together in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

What's in the Box

What's in the box?
What will you unwrap this Christmas?

As we look at the weeks running up to Christmas, lets take a look at what is in God's gift box to us. God has given us many good gifts.

Matt 7:11
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give good gifts to those who ask him.

James 1:17
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father who created all the lights in heaven.

God gives good gifts to his children. Not because he has to but because he loves us and wants to. The greatest gift he has given us is his son. We receive the greatest gift from a loving heavenly father who wants the best for his children and wants to be in relationship with his children.

God sent Jesus as the greatest gift on earth for us. He was prophesied in Isaiah, in Micah and elsewhere.

Isaiah 9:6
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end.

God sent his son. The great verse John 3:16 is fullof meaning. Its easy to sprout it without pondering the real and deep meaning of it. God loved each and every one of us so much. More than we can imagine.

John 3:16,17
For God loved the world so much that he have his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God sent his son into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him.

It's all about the amazing gift that God gave to us through Jesus. God wants relationship with us, because he loves us and was prepared to allow his beloved and only Son to die for us. Jesus instigated communion so we would remember God's amazing love and Jesus' sacrifice for us.

Luke 22:19
This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembramce of me

Titus 3:4-7
But when our God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out his Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

There are many gifts that God gives us. Salvation, grace, mercy, righteousness, hope, faith, love, peace, his Spirit and all the amazing and wonderful spiritual gifts. We will only look at a few over the next few weeks.

God gives us these gifts. What will our response be? Will will we receive it or not?

1. Salvation
The greatest gift is Jesus and through him we receive the gift of salvation.The gift of salvation comes as a result of belief and faith calling on the name of the Lord.

2 Thes 2:13
As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience God's salvation - a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

Salvation comes from a belief in the truth, the good news of Jesus.

Heb 5:9
In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

1 Peter 1:9
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls

Romans 10:9-13
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in y8ur heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God and it is by confessing with your mouth, that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, Anyone who believes in him will never be disgraced. Jew and gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For "Everyone who calls upon tye name of the Lord will be saved."

THE GIFT OF SALVATION IS AVAILABLE - ALL WE NEED TO DO IS ASK AND BELIEVE

God has given us this great gift. He wants all to have his great gift of salvation. He has made a way for salvation for all people.

1 Tim 2:1-6
I urge you first of all to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and on Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity - the man Jesus Christ. He gave his life to purchase fredom for everyone.

God's gift is available. Take hold of all that it means, including his health and wholeness for our physical bodies, our soul, our mind and spirit.

2. Forgiveness
The second gift today is forgiveness.

When we come to God is faith and believe we receive salvation and the forgiveness of sin. It is the sin that separates us from God, and his free gift of salvation, comes with a free gift of forgiveness.

Romans 5:15
There is a great difference between Adams sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many, throigh this other man Jesus Christ.

God's gift of forgiveness to us, undoes the sin that Adam brought into the world. God forgives the sin and we receive the wonderful grace of forgiveness, and freedom.

Eph 1:7,8
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased pur freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave us our sins. He has showered his kindness on us along with all wisdom and understanding.

Forgiveness is powerful because it brings us freedom from sin, freedom from the past and freedom to pursue what God has called us to do. The gift is not selective. The gift of forgiveness is for all.

Luke 24:47b
There is forgiveness of sins for all

Col 1:13,14
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. Who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Paul clearly wanted the Colossians to understand this.

Col 2:13
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of charges that was against us and took it away, by nailing it to the cross.

The gift of forgiveness was given freely to us through the blood of Christ. As a result, our sins are gone, the record of them is totally under the blood of Jesus and God remembers them no more! There is also ongoing forgiveness. It is available to us whenever we confess our sins and repent.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We just have to ask.

Psalm 86:5
O Lord, you ate so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

We serve a God who is ready, willing and able to forgive. Will we take hold of the forgiveness on offer to us as his gift? Will we take hold of the freedom that forgiveness brings?

All we do is confess, repent and ask. (And be willing to forgive others)

Remember Matt 6:14
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly father will forgive you.

This is us choosing forgiveness for others as a response to God's amazing forgiveness available to us and for us.

God has the gift of forgiveness ready to give us whenever we have need. He does not hold it back. All he requires is an honest, repentant heart, that will trust in him and take hold of what he so freely gives.

3. Eternal life
The last one for today is eternal life.

As a response to Jesus' gift of salvation through faith and belief, and forgiveness through repentance, we receive eternal life. This is God's free gift.

Because the power of sin has been broken through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have salvation, forgiveness and eternal life. Before salvation, we live in darkness and in death. Sin leads to death, but God's great gift to us is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Roman 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we stay in relationship with God, we not only have eternal life when we pass from this life; but we live in eternallife right now. Eternal life starts the moment we receive Jesus.

1 John 2:25
And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised.

Romans 5:21
So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul understood that God's love for us, made manifest in Christ, would bring a new kind of life. A life that was lived in the eternal, and no longer in the temporal.

1 Peter 5:10a
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.

Eternal life is God's free gift through Jesus, to be experienced by all who believe and all who call on Jesus for salvation. This eternal life starts whenever we take hold of God's free gift of salvation through repentance. It is a reward, a free gift. It is ours right now, not in some future day, but now.

How will we live differently knowing eternal life is ours now?

Conclusion
How does all this affect us?

We can ask ourselves - what will I do with God's gifts for me?

Knowing that we have these amazing gifts, how will I respond?

God's love is made manifest in Christ. We receive his gift of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life, when we receive Christ as our saviour, believing in him, and putting our hope, our faith and our trust in him.

Purpose - Keeping the main thing the main thing

Vision-where am I going – outcomes
Direction – signposts along the way –staying on track
Purpose – Keeping the main thing the main thing

What is our main purpose?
Our main purpose is to glorify God. In everything we do, this is our main purpose. This is worth thinking about and asking ourselves -Does everything I do bring glory to God?

We can’t do everything but we can do something. There is something that God has called us to do. There are ways and means to finding our purpose. We can ask questions:
What am I passionate about?
What would I do if money were no limit? A thought here– maybe we should be getting on and doing what we would do, as if money were no limit?

Know that our core purpose is found in seeking God and in seeking his purpose for us, and not our own. Knowing all this, having our vision and direction set – how do we keep the main thing the main thing?
What then distracts us from the purpose that we are called to live? There are many things, but let me offer three.

1. Busyness – trying to do too much
One of the main things that stop us from fulfilling our purpose – that side-track us is busyness and distractions. There is the right kind of busy and the wrong kind of busy. We can be busy with the wrong things.

Ps 39:6
We are merely moving shadows,
    and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
    not knowing who will spend it.

Busyness that ends in nothing is not fulfilling for anyone – achieves nothing and is not kingdom productive.

Haggai 1:9
You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.

This is the wrong kind of busyness. They had been given a task by God to rebuild the Temple – but they were busy with the wrong things – only looking after self and without maintaining a kingdoms focus. They had allowed the busyness of lif to distract them.

Prov 31:19
Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fibre.

The woman of noble character had a kingdom focus. She is a picture of a woman in charge of a household and a woman of business – but she had her priorities right – doing what God called her to do.

Ecc 11:6
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

Here we have good advice – work on what is important and don’t get side-tracked.

How do we know the difference between the two? The answer I believe is found in how productive our busyness actually is.

Is our “busy” Kingdom focussed? What do I mean? Simply – is it directed at what you are actually called to do (wherever that may be)?

Are we actually doing what we are meant to be doing and not being distracted by other things that take up time – the time wasters? We have lots of distractions and time wasters – social media is great, but it’s also a great time waster if you let it.

For example: you start doing something – notice your friend is on chat – chat a bit – discover that time has gone  by and now what you were doing needs to be squished into the remaining time.

There are many things that will vie for our attention, and they are not necessarily bad in themselves. Social media is not inherently bad and at times is incredibly useful and can be productive – provided we use it the right way.

We can overcome this by taking a good look at how we spend our time and setting boundaries around how and when we will use social media. We can look at the time wastets snd make changes.

What takes up the bulk of our time?

In what way is it adding to or distracting from our purpose each day?

What boundaries will I put in place to keep busy with the right things?

2. Envy
Envy is wanting what other people have rather than being thankful for what we have. We know we are made in God’s image – we know we are blessed by God with different gifts and talents, but we still have a strong tendency to think we have been short changed and someone else has something better than us.

This is really about focus and motivation. Are we thankful for what we do have or always wishing we had something else? Are we always comparing ourselves to what others have, instead of being thankful?

Gal 6:4

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Stay focussed on what your part is and do that well – not forever comparing ourselves with others, either positively or negatively to them.

Ps 37:1
Don’t worry about the wicked
    or envy those who do wrong

It’s easy to be envious of those who seem to have everything and yet are not following God's ways. God says don’t be envious – just trust him – he will give you your heart’s desire. As we wrap ourself up in God, we can focus on what he has for us and not envy others.

Envy is debilitating because it places our focus on the wrong things, and distracts us from our purpose.

Ecc 4:4
Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbours. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind

Envy is a motivation of the heart. The word means envy, jealousy and zealously desiring. In this context it is zealously desiring something that someone else has.

Jesus says that what is inside us is what defiles us and that all kinds of things such as greed and envy and idolatry come from there. When we are seeking to fulfil God’s purpose, there is no place for envy and desiring what others have.

Valerie Burton had a good blog on this recently – and it talked about being thankful for what you do have. If you are not happy – find something in what you do that you like and be happy about it.

What is she saying? She is saying look for the positive and start there and then the things we desire, when we have the right heart motivation will begin to fall into place.

What motivates me?

Is it a good motive or a negative one?

What will I do to change this? –e.g  start a gratitude book etc.

3. Other good things
This can be one of the biggest distractions.

There are so many good things we can be involved with and do, and we can get so busy doing them, that we are not doing what we actually need to do and are called to do.

You can’t do everything but you can do something. Find your something and do it well.

When we try to do too many things we don’t achieve much at all but we can feel good because we are doing stuff, but we are distracted from purpose and not giving our best. Give your best – to God and to others.

Ps 32:8
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
    I will advise you and watch over you.

God shows us what is best for us – to guide and lead us in the things he has for us to do. What we produce is meant to give honour to God.

Prov 3:9
Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.

This is talking about bringing offerings to God and making sure what we bring is the very best. It’s also true of our purpose – we are to bring God the very best. Doing good things is not giving God the best

There are many great causes in the world and so many things in the world that we can be involved in. Choose prayerfully what you will do, because you are not called to do everything and support every cause.

It is better to give our attention to one or two things than to try to give it to everything.

Jesus knew his purpose and knew that it was better for everyone involved if he stuck with it. God’s purpose is fulfilled when we stick with what he has given us to do.

John 16:7
But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.

It seemed good to the disciples to keep Jesus around them but Jesus knew it was better for him to fulfil his purpose and allow a bigger purpose – the out pouring of the Spirit to be able to happen.

Good things can actually get in the way of God’s best for us – and in the way of us giving our best to Him.

What “good” things am I doing that are stopping me doing what is best?

What “good” things has God called me to do?

Conclusion
There is a call and a purpose for each of us. Will we pursue God’s best for us?

Learn to avoid the distractions of busyness, envy and other good things.

Focus on the best God has for us.

Direction -Staying on track

Vision sets direction, something to aim for to head towards. You may know what the end looks like (Vision) but what about the direction? Vision sets direction because it gives us the way forward.

But - Which way are we going? How do we stay on track?

When we are walking we may know where we are headed but we may not know how to get there. Direction enables us to get where we are going.

Abram set out with a vision to follow, but he had to head in a direction to make it happen. The vision was that he would be the Father of a nation and that God would give him the land that he was going to. He had to set out from where he was so that he could get to where he was going. How did he know where he was supposed to go?

We can’t say for sure, but he certainly took his direction from God. Directions along the way mark the path for us to follow. Sometimes there are multiple paths to follow which would seem to lead to the same outcome, so which do we follow, does it really matter?

1. Know your starting point
This is the key to knowing the direction to take.

If I’m travelling and I want to go to a certain place.
I need to find out where I am right now, because I need to know the options I have to follow to get to where I need to be.

Many years ago when Liz and I travelled, we needed to know where we were, before we could decide how to get where we needed to go.The “You are Here” arrows on maps help us know where we are.

Google Maps has a function where you can track where you want to go. The first question it asks is: Where are you now? It needs to know where it is starting from so that it can tell you how to get to where you want to go. The train apps are the same. They want the destination, but it can’t do anything unless it has where you are starting from.

These things tell us where we are and sometimes what route we need to take to get there. I love maps. I love not only looking at where I am but visualising it, keeping it in my head. It helps me know where I’m going.

Abram set out from Haran and went to Canaan. To get to Canaan, he had to know that he was in Haran. In Gen 12 Abram is told to leave what he is doing – so he departed and took his household with him.

Gen 12:1-8
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, Abram travelled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants. And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. After that, Abram travelled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.

He wasn’t a lone ranger wandering around. He had his directions and he followed them. How did he know to go to Canaan? Gen 11 may supply the answer. His Father Terah set out for Canaan, but only got as far as Haran and stayed there.  I think that Abram knew that he had to complete the journey. Terah had set out with a vision, but had stopped along the way. He hadn’t completed the journey.

We also need to look out for sign posts on the way that mark the stages of the journey. These may be aspects of the vision or goals that we have set. Sometimes we think, why bother with goals, but they are indicators along the way that help us to move further on. They are the update of "where am I now?"

When I travel I look for landmarks that help me. I use my map to set a route if I need to, but it’s the land marks on the way that really help me know where I’m at, and how far I’ve come or still have to go. This is why goals are helpful; they are the landmarks on the way.

When Abram arrived in Canaan God appeared to him and told him he would give him the land but a famine caused him to go to Egypt. So God sent him back to Canaan.

Egypt was not the land promised to Abram and his descendants. God brought him back from Egypt, and renewed the promise, the vision and direction. He was to walk through the land.

Gen 13:14-18
After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.  I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.  And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.

Abram was told to walk through the land, to get a feel for what it looked like. He needed to know the landmarks on the way. As we seek God for vision and direction, he will also give you goals, land marks on the way. There arevsome useful questions we can ask ourselves.

Where am I now?

Where am I going? Am I listening to him and seeking his direction?

What goals or signposts will help me know I’m sticking to the right path?

2. Don’t travel alone
God never calls us to do any journey alone. This is true of life in families, in business, in ministry and with friends. That’s why networking and the like are so important. Whilst they can help us get more customers, it’s also about not going it alone. It’s why there are interagencies for so many things. Organisations realise that together we are better.

Jesus went everywhere with his disciples – and he sent them out in twos. Paul always went with someone else. Barnabas and Silas were his main travelling companions but he had other people.

When we are working together and heading in the same direction we can achieve a great deal and encourage one another to stay on track.

Amos 3:3
Can two people walk together without agreeing the direction.

God says don’t do it alone, but if you are working together you better know where you are going and stay walking in the same direction – otherwise you end up with a tug of war.

We all need people who will encourage us to keep walking, to get to that next signpost, achieve that next goal. Even if they are not in the same business, if they have the same heart they will help you on your way.

Ecc 4:7-9
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.  This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

When we “walk” together we can help one another out. Life’s difficulties will come, and struggles will happen. We will “fall down” so to speak. Those who do the journey with us, help us stay on track, help us through the tough times and encourage us to get to where we are going, to win the battle and not be defeated.

God is always with us. If we will allow him to be part of the equation, we will be strong and not lose direction. A three strand cord is incredibly strong. We often talk about this in the context of the marriage relationship, and it’s true, a marriage with God in the equation is strong, has vision and direction.

But it’s true of anything we do in life. God gives vision and he gives direction. Let’s follow his guiding and his leading. He provides the map and the signposts for us to follow. Some questions we can ask ourselves?

Who is encouraging me on my journey?

Most importantly, am I walking this journey with God?

What guidance and direction is God giving me, and what am I doing about it?

3. Plan well, but be flexible
Staying on track – keeping direction – develop a plan. It doesn’t have to be anything grand – but something that reminds you of what your dreams and visions really are all about.

That’s why we did the life plan at the beginning of the year. It’s a reminder of where we are and where we want to go. You have your goals – so plan to carry them out and do what needs to be done.

When we are coaching, we develop goals and an action plan. Having an action plan helps us to stay on track and to know what we have to do and by when.

Good planning leads to success.

Prov 21:5
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty short cuts lead to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5
The Message (MSG)
Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run;
    hurry and scurry puts you further behind.

Good planning is essential to staying on track. Sometimes planning can seem like a waste of time – we’d rather be out there doing. But planning is important. We need to plan the way forward, to know what we want to take.

When we head out on a track, or a walk or a holiday, we not only need to know where we are starting from and where we are going to, but we need to make plans about what to take, how we will get there, what wecwill need.

But we also need to be flexible. Sometimes God will nudge us about doing something a bit differently, making adjustments and we need to be ready to listen and act.

Proverbs 16:1-3
We can make our own plans,
    but the Lord gives the right answer.
People may be pure in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their motives.
Commit your actions to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

God has plans for our life – we can get on board with his plan and work the plan.

Ps 40:5
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
    I would never come to the end of them

When I plan a day out, I think about transport, what to take and so on. But I need to be flexible. There may be an unforseen problem, and I may have to get a bus, go by car, make some changes to the plans. It doesn’t mean we don’t keep going with the journey, we just make some adjustments and keep going.

Paul had to make adjustments. In Acts 16 we read of Paul’s second missionary journey. They intended to continue working in the province of Asia, that is what they had planned, but God adjusted their plans. They ended up going to Macedonia. But the plans for Asia were not lost. It just happened a bit differently.

We make plans, but God can change them. It doesn’t usually mean a complete change in direction – if we are clearly listening to God. Paul and Silas had a different physical outcome but the direction to preach to the gentiles remained the same.

Good planning leads to success.

Do I have a plan? How well have I planned?

How flexible am I?

So to conclude
-Know your starting point.
-Don’t travel alone
-Plan well but be flexible

Vision

Forward Facing
Vision Direction Purpose in a busy world

Ecc 3:11
Yet God made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

We often look at this verse and think about it in the context of eternity and salvation. That is true, there is a part of us that will never be satisfied without God. But this verse speaks of God’s kingdom purpose, his eternal purpose that is so hard for us to grasp. Yet God has placed eternity in our hearts.

There is a desire for a greater purpose, planted by God. It’s a kingdom purpose. We may not understand the whole purpose, the whole scope of what God is doing, but we can get God’s perspective for our part, for his purpose for us.

It begins with vision and the vision that we have for our life.

Dr Leaf
“Are you so busy twittering the moment that you forget about enjoying the moment”

We live in a world full of social media, with lots of options and opportunities, there are lots of ideas and lots of possibilities. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. Sometimes we are so caught up in the day to day necessities of life, getting up, going to work, getting kids to school, picking kids up, helping with homework etc. that we can lose sight of where we are meant to be headed. We can lose sight of God's kingdom purpose for us.

Having a vision for our life helps us to stay on track.

What is vision anyway?

The dictionary describes vision as :
Sensing with the eyes – sight
Anticipating what will or may come
Something that appears vividly or credibly in the mind – though not actually present
A vivid or imaginative conception or anticipation

The Bible describes it as divine communication from God, vision, or a vision from God especially respecting future events.

Maybe we don’t even have a vision, or we did, and it got side tracked by life’s circumstances. So which way do we go? How do we develop vision?

Abram was told to go to the land that God would show him. The magi followed a star. They had something to watch, something in front of them that guided them on their way. They had a vision of something to guide them. Abram had God’s word and direction, even though he didn’t know the final destination for quite some time.

So often we wonder which way we are going. Where are we headed? What are we doing, who are we following?

Prov 29:18
Without a vision, people perish NKJV

Without a revelation, people cast off restraint. NIV

A nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order. GNT

If people can’t see what God is doing they stumble all over themselves. But when they attend to what he is doing they are most blessed. MSG

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. Lack of vision causes us to “run wild” to be all over the place instead of moving forward, we are everywhere, often unaware of where we are really supposed to be. Vision is important to a productive future. It gives us a direction to follow.

Divine guidance is available, but people do not accept the guidance that is available for them. God promised the pouring out of his spirit (Joel) on all people. Part of that would be divine visions. Visions are both things that we see with the inner eye, and God given visions.

1. Vision is about perspective
What is our perspective?

Churches, Companies etc. have a vision. Why? Because they know that to move forward it’s important to have something to aim for and to look forward to.  Its crucial to know what you are doing something for. Its the perspective they have, that drives what they do. They don’t just have a vision because it’s a nice thing to have – or if they do, they won’t be too effective. 

Our perspective can hinder or help our vision. A small perspective hinders vision. I believe we need to enlarge our perspective. What are you looking at? Both Abram and the magi (Matt 2) had a bigger perspective. They were looking up. A star appears in the sky and you have to look up and see it. We need to look up and see a larger perspective and a larger vision. It’s about having a bigger perspective on life, focussing on where we are headed rather than the immediate circumstance.

In life we all have limiting beliefs that can stop us moving forward in a productive way. A limiting belief can hinder vision, because it’s a limited perspective. For example if you are standing right next to an ocean liner, it seems huge, and it is. But once you get a different view, a different perspective it changes how you see things. If you move away and get a bigger picture, you can see more, and see where ypu are going.

When I’m on the ground, the liner blocks all in front of me and obscures my vision. When I’m on a hill, I see past the liner and to the possibilities beyond. Moving forward in the busy life requires us to look past the busyness that blocks our perspective and to see a larger picture. In fact the greater the perspective, the more you see.

Choosing a bigger perspective, being deliberate about looking at a bigger picture helps us create a bigger vision. Flying home from Port Macquarie recently and coming in over Sydney, the ocean liners that had looked so large when I was standing next to them the week before, looked like toy boats. The only difference was that my perspective had changed. I had greater vision, and what seemed like an obstacle became insignificant.

Are we looking at the obstacles and the things that obscure the vision or are we raising our eyes, looking up and gaining a different perspective.

Prov 3:21 My child don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.

Its possible to lose sight of something because we are looking at the wrong thing. God promised Abraham he would be the father of a nation, of millions of people. That was the vision. But he lost sight of the vision and began to look at the circumstance and God had to remind him about the vision – to look up – to see God’s perspective. (Genesis 15)

When we look past the everyday and we look at the bigger picture, we can see what is possible. Vision requires looking at the big picture and having a larger perspective.

What are you looking at?

What is your perspective?

What limiting beliefs do you have?

What do you personally need to do to enlarge your perspective?

2. Vision sets direction
The way we face is the way we go.

Vision is not about our past, its about our future and where we are going. When we have vision, we have a direction that we move in, towards the fulfilment of the vision, if we keep the vision in front of us. Vision gives us something to aim for.

God gives revelation, understanding, and vision. We can askourselves: What is my vision, what is God’s vision, for my life, my family, and my friends? You don't have to have it all right yet. We are a work in progress.

Phil 3:12
Forgetting what is past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

If we want to move forward, we have to look forward to where we are going and not where we have been. Having a vision for our life is about the future and not about the past. It does not matter what your past has been, because it does not determine your future.

When we constantly focus on the past we are not looking in the right direction, and our vision becomes blocked and we stumble. The decisions you make today, to look up, to look forward, to look ahead will determine the future.

What are you looking at?

Where are you facing?

What will you do to change the focus of your life?

3. God restores vision
Sometimes vision has got lost in the day to day life circumstances.

Maybe things did not go according to plan, or something happened and we feel we have lost the chance or the opportunity.

Psalm 6:7
My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out by all my enemies.

This may be about physical vision, but it’s true of vision in general. Grief and disappointments can blur the vision and obscure it. The good news is that God restores our vision. Jesus restored physical vision, but he also helped people to regain inner vision.

Luke 7:21
At that time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind.

John 9:39
I entered the world to render judgement – to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they can see that they are blind!

Jesus understood that sight was not just physical sight and vision, but that inner sight, the mind’s eye, the things we see, can be restored. When people realise they cannot see, God restores vision.

God poured out his spirit, so we would see visions, and have dreams. (Joel 2:28) When we seek God, he will show us his vision for our life. The vision that God restores to us is not second rate, but is divine vision.

Ps 40:5
You Lord have done many marvellous things and you have planned marvellous things for us.

When we seek God, he will show us marvellous things. Things that are amazing.

2Cor 2:9 
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

God will show us his vision for our lives if we will let him.

John 10:10
My purpose is to give life in all its fulness

Jesus restores to us the visions we have lost and gives us new revelation of his plans and purposes for us, for our families, for our work, for our life.

Establish

1Peter 5:10 That Jesus will personally restore, establish, strengthen and support.

Last week we looked at restore. God wants to restore, and as we come with an attitude of humilty, a willingness to focus on him and not circumstamce, and to be obedient, that Jesus will personally restore, establish, strengthen and support.
Last week.

This week we are taking a look at Establish:- what does God want to establish in our lives?

Dictionary definition.
es·tab·lish:
-to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis:
-to establish a university; to establish a medical practice. to install or settle in a position, place, business, etc.:
-to establish one's child in business. to show to be valid or true; prove: to establish the facts of the matter. to cause to be accepted or recognized: to establish a custom; She established herself as a leading surgeon. to bring about permanently: to establish order.

These are helpful, but they don't really get to what Peter is trying to say when he says God will establish us. In 1 Peter 5:10, the word used means to make stable, to set fast, make firm, to render constant and to confirm as ones mind.

God wants to work in our lives to so that we are constant, set firm, stable. He wants us to be able, no matter the circumstance, to be steady and be able to withstand whatever is thrown at at us. He wants us to have a strong foundation in that is based solidly in him.

A building is strong when it has firm foundations. A building without firm foundations is damaged easily when it is shaken. The taller a building is, the deeper the foundations need to be. I looked up information on building foundations. There are many different types of foundations, and lots of information, much of it mathematical engineering stuff. But it was interesting, the following information particularly so.

Pile foundation-The most expensive and the strongest type of foundation, this requires specialist engineering to do. The soils are bored deep down into the earth and filled with concrete to be able to support loads of multistory building on top. Most skyscrapers are constructed with this foundation type, a waterlogged area of high building may also require this. It is the costliest hence it is used for high rise building mostly.

Building and establishing a solid foundation takes time and effort. It will cost us, but it will be worth it.

1 Cor 3:10-11
Because of God's special favour to me I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be careful. For no-one can lay any other foundation than the one we have, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our foundation.

Eph 2:20
We are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Jesus Christ himself. We who believe ate being carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

Our lives will be built on some kind of foundation. But as God establishes us, he reminds us that the only real foundation for our lives is Jesus Christ. The reason for a solid foundation is so that we can carry weight. Anything we choose to build in our lives will have a weight attached to it. God wants us to have firm foundations so that we can carry much weight. God wants to establish foundations in us so that we can build on those foundations something of worth and of value. The Corinthians passage goes on to say that we can build with many different types of materials, but God wants us to build with valuable materials. Materials that will last, that are able to carry weight.

What does God want to establish in your life?

1. Establish a foundation of Relationship through Discipleship.

God wants to establish a deep and firm foundation of Relationship with him. This is what we call Discipleship. Discipleship is a foundation. Everything we do depends on the level of relationship and discipleship we are prepared to develop in our lives.  A disciple is simply : A person who is a pupil, or an adherent of the doctrines of another. So as Christians we are to be pupils who are followers of the doctrines of Jesus. It is possible to be a disciple of many things other than Jesus.

Are you a pupil of the doctrines of Christ?

Jesus says that his disciples do what he tells them, that they live in obedience to his word. We can only build a strong foundation of discipleship if we understand his Word, if we read it, listen to it and most importantly do it. A foundation of Discipleship is a lifestyle that is built and established in relationship with God, that is developed on an ongoing basis.

Col 2:6-10
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Our relationship with God is the key element of that relationship. God has done his part for us by giving us Jesus. When we choose to follow him, it becomes an ongoing process of Discipleship through relationship. God develops strong foundations when we choose to dig deep, when we choose to develop the relationship with him. When we are saved, The process begins, but firm foundations develop when we dig deep; when we choose to become a true disciple; when we choose to follow Christ and to be a pupil of Christ. If you are a pupil, you are expected to learn something!

As a disciple, Jesus says that we will learn about him, about who he is, about what he says and what we are to do. If we are his pupils, we will learn from him how to live and he fully expects us to put it into practice. We have to make sure we have the basiscs right.

Phil 2:12
Make every effort to put into practice God's saving work in your life.

This is true Discipleship. God has already established his saving work in our lives, but he wants us to put it into practice. He says make every effort; the older translations say work out your salvation. He says put it into to work in your lives by being a true disciple, acting on what you know, developing an ongoing relationship with him.

John 8:31
Jesus said to the people who believed him "you are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings".

God wants to establish his work in your life so that you can bear weight for the kingdom of God. The deeper our foundations, the more weight we will be able to carry without collapsing. The deeper the foundation, the stronger the building on top; and the deeper our discipleship, the more we are able to carry the real weight of the kingdom of God. Sometimes to build a strong foundation, you have to dig deep, to get out the muck that is in the way and to lay the foundation.

Have you laid the foundation of Jesus in your life?

Have you been prepared to get in and dig out the muck that is in the way so that your foundation can become solid and strong?

Are you willing to let God deal with the issues that you have and the challenges that you face, so that his foundation is not hindered?

Discipleship means being deliberate in our relationship with God. It means taking the time to spend time with him every day. Make sure you are building on the solid ground of obedience and discipleship that comes from true relationship with God. Last week when we looked at restore; we looked at choosing obedience to the will of God and his call. Jesus told his disciples that obedience to his word is building on a solid foundation.

Matt 7:24
Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys them is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise, and the wind beats against that house it won't collapse because it is built on solid rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come, and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.

Jesus says that building on the solid foundation is wise. This solid foundation, based on Jesus is discipleship. You may wonder why some Christians are with-able to stand a pounding - and others collapse at the first sign of trouble - it depends on what they are basing their relationship with God on. Is it a firm foundation of discipleship, built in trust and obedience or on sand that gives way at the first challenge that comes?

How wise are you? How wise am I?

Are we choosing to build a solid foundation so that we are formly established in Christ?

Choose today to be a disciple in an ongoing relationship with Jesus. 

2. Establish a foundation of God's reality.

We all have a reality of some kind. In fact as human beings we have a great capacity when left to our own devices to create our own reality. Jeremiah says that the human heart is deceptive - it creates its own reality and justifies its own decisions.

Jeremiah 17:8-10
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"

We all have a reality that is affected by the circumstances in which we live and exist. in fact we like to create our own reality usually so that we look good in it. But God wants to establish his reality in our lives. This is his truth, it is his perspective on life.

Isaiah 55:8,9
"My thoughts are completely different to yours", says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens ate higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Have you ever met anyone who thinks so completely differently to you that it is incredible. God says his thoughts are so different to ours. His perspective is a very different one to ours. I would rather yield to God's perspective than persist in my own. That is why a foundation of discipleship is so important. Discipleship shows us God's truth, but we have to take his truth on for ourselves.

There can be a difference between fact and truth. Sometimes they are the same, in fact if you look up these words you will often find them interchangeable. We hear people say the truth is or the fact remains.... But God says there is a truth that is beyond the facts. It is the truth of who he his, the truth of his word, it is God's reality.

God wants to establish his truth in our lives. This is the truth of who he is. God says base your reality on my truth, on what I say about you and the world. God's reality, God's truth can sometimes seem paradoxical.

Luke 6:38
Give and you will receive

Mark 8:35
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the good news, you will save it.

Seek God first, don't worry about anything else and God will meet your needs.

Matthew 6:33 The Message (MSG)
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

These all seem paradoxical, but they are truths of God's Word. The English definition of truth is - to show to be valid. God wants us to know his truth, for it to be shown to be valid.

2 Timothy 2:19
But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription - the Lord knows those who are his.

God's truth is a foundation for our life. Jesus says in John 8:32 - you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. When we have a foundation of truth in our our lives, we will live in freedom. God's truth frees us from worry and from anxiety. His truth tells us who we really are and and who he is. God's truth is the only truth that we can fully and totally rely on.

We live in a world where truth has become subjective - what is true for me, may not be true for you. God's truth is not subjective - God's truth is the true reality for our lives.

Conclusion
God wants to establish a basis of Discipleship and his truth in our lives so that we can bear weight for the kingdom, not tossed about by the circumstances of life, not tossed by false truth and doctrine, but established in relationship with him and in his truth.