http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592 Starting this blog made me cast my mind back to when I first started preaching. My very first sermon was entitled 'What do you get when you squeeze a Christian?' where I started by comparing Christians to oranges.....yes, I know, it's amazing I'm still preaching!....but nevertheless I thought I would stick with the same theme for this blog, and just hope it goes a little better than my first sermon ever did! Here you'll find some of the things I never got to say during a Sunday sermon, thoughts on things happening in the church and beyond...oh and maybe the odd insight into my mind and it's workings...odd probably being the right word! AdvancedMinistry Do you talk to trees? Mark 11:14 Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.To me this is one of Jesus most fascinating miracles…..when Jesus cursed the fig tree.  Mainly it’s interesting because most of Jesus miracles brought life. But this one brought death.  Most of them were a pronouncement of blessing.  But this one was in a sense a curse. All of us have barren fig trees in our lives that are seeking to undermine our spiritual productivity. And we need to curse them!  Simple principle…..you need to kill what is killing you!  If you really want to come to life as a Christian, then barren fig trees need to die!  Notice in this story…..Jesus isn’t talking to the disciples. Jesus speaks to the tree!  I think we tend to overlook this little detail, yet I think it’s hugely significant. See Jesus didn’t just talk to trees,  Jesus also commanded us to speak to the mountains in our lives. “If you say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you.” So….is it possible that Jesus was speaking figuratively?  Well, yes, perhaps.  But I think there is also some literalism to this too.  Often there comes a time when you need to quit talking to God about the mountain in your life and start talking to the mountain about your God! Jesus has given YOU power and authority, sometimes we need to start using it. You need to proclaim His power.  You need to declare His sovereignty.  You need to recall His faithfulness.  You need to speak to the tree and speak to the mountain. So…..today…..is it time to stop talking to God about your problem and start talking to your problem, about God?! http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=34014 34014 Thu, 3 May 2012 09:25:00 +0000 COME UP HIGHER. So...it’s a new year.....2012.....most of us will already have evaluated, taken an inventory of our lives, assessed the things we want to change and deal with, chosen the areas that need growth. What’s yours? What’s the issue that needs to be faced? The problem that never seems to go away?..and what are you going to do about it? May I suggest that instead of looking whatever it is in the eye....you begin by going higher.... In the book of Revelation, while in the midst of incredible persecution, an uncertain future and seemingly insurmountable problems, Jesus gave John a very simple instruction.....’Come up here...’ (Revelation 4:1) What better place to start your year then getting up higher and seeing your life from God’s vantage point and perspective. Then you can move forward from the highest level position of God’s presence.  From up there things won’t seem so large, so daunting or so difficult to tackle. If you stand face to face with your issue, addiction, problem, fear, or temptation, chances are you’ll be intimidated by what you see & quit before you get the chance to even fight. But if you can get up above the issue, and refuse to wrestle around with it in the mud of self-centered wisdom and human strategy, then everything about your approach will change. If we get up where Jesus is, we’ll see what He sees.When we see what He sees, we’ll know what He know.And then we will be empowered to do whatever He calls us to do. As you start a new year.....your main problem probably isn’t your problem. Your biggest problem is probably your perspective on your problem. Begin to pray....surrender....seek....commit.....get up higher.....then with God’s power, wisdom and presence....walk in the destiny and plans He has for you in 2012. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=30555 30555 Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:23:00 +0000 FAVOUR. Want God’s favour? Well the more favour you receive, chances are the more faith it will actually require. God’s favour does bring abundant blessing into our lives at times, but often we assume that will mean peace, joy, love and happiness......basically life will be more comfortable for us....right? Well....often.....no! Favour, is often a disruptive force in our lives. Example......Mary......remember what the angel said?....Greeting you who are highly favoured......yet favour for Mary meant public shame and humiliation, a long journey (while pregnant) on the back of a donkey and then giving birth in a cave!....want to be blessed and highly favoured now?! Now I’m not saying all this to depress you....but more than anything, to simply prepare you. See favour isn’t always synonymous with a successive series of blessed events, and it doesn’t always lead to a peaceful and easy life. Favour will actually require you to exert more faith than ever. Why? because it’s going to take you places you’ve never been before, and also require you to do things you’ve never done before. Things that you cannot do, apart from Jesus. When you ask God for favour, He answers with opportunity. And as you seize the opportunity, He empowers you with His presence and equips you with His power.....just like Mary. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=30260 30260 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:55:00 +0000 IF. In reality it is such a small word, yet it is so incredibly powerful. If. One of the most important words in the entire Bible.  It is a word that contains consequence: if you do or say this, then that will happen. It is also a joining word: it has the potential to link promise with reality.  There is always a “if” in between the promise and the promise land. And lastly it is a conditional word: the reality you seek will only take place “if you do” or “if you don’t“. Think of the many promises God has given to us, so many of them contain the conditional word ‘if’.  If we do what we need to do then God will do what God does best. Sometimes though it’s a long “if.” Sometimes it’s a hard “if.” But one thing to always remember is that that ‘If’ is always followed by action.  There always needs to be a verb to complete the possibility, the promise or the destiny.  If you confess…If you humble yourself and pray…if you believe… The word “if” is often sadly a word of regret: “if only.” But it doesn’t have to be, because it is also a word of immense possibility……..IF.   http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=30021 30021 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000 MOUNTAINTOPS AND VALLEYS Whether on the mountaintop or in the valley, both are hard places to be. In the valley you’re trying to survive, and on the mountaintops you’re trying to thrive. Both are challenging places. We need to know and realise that truth, why? Because it stands in the face of this warped thinking that many of us still cling to; that life one day is going to reach the place of being easy. Now it might get easi-er, but if you’re waiting for it to become easy you’re going to be waiting a long time!   Our goal is this life if not to make it to a point where we can sit back and breathe easy. If anything it’s to get to heaven breathless! Tired and spent because we’ve been faithful in passionately loving God and loving people - through the valleys and on the mountaintops. So, in reality, yes, it’s always hard. But our eternal reward in the future makes it all worth it. We will have lots of time ahead to rest then. Right now, we’ll push on. As the Apostle Paul said ‘I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.’ And in the meantime, God is doing more in you and through you on your mountaintops and in your valleys than you can ever possibly imagine. That in itself should give you joy. No matter where you find yourself today. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=29280 29280 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:04:00 +0000 EVERY STEP COUNTS This thought came out of our house-group discussions last night....every step counts!...we were talking about perseverance and continuing our study in the book of James. We all have goals, aspirations, desires for our future, things we’re praying for to happen...the problem is that we can become so consumed with the finale that we forget that every step counts, it is not just a means to a distant end. If anything it’s an arrival to an end in and of itself, albeit a temporary one before moving on again. Let me give you an example....if you’re an addict, the end goal is to be free of your addiction, and so it should be. But, every step you take on your way towards that goal is itself an arrival at a desirable destination! You’re a step further away from where you don’t want to be, and a step closer to being totally free! Another ; we all want to become more like Jesus, but it doesn’t happen overnight, not for anybody. But there’s never going to be a point where you’re not going to be becoming more like Christ! It might be a slow process at times, but every step you take towards Jesus is a step away from what you were without Him. So....don’t give up!....and in your desire to reach the end, please don’t forget that you are no longer at the beginning!....remember, .....every step is a victory.....every step is a chance for celebration..... every step counts. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=28280 28280 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:20:00 +0000 MASTER OR BE MASTERED  1 Corinthians 6:12 says: “I will not be mastered by anything.” Really it’s a spiritual declaration of independence.The word “mastered” derives from the Greek root word 'exousia' which is translated “power” but it’s very different than the other Greek word 'dunamis'. Dunamis is the ability to do things that are beyond your ability, it’s supernatural ability. Exousia though is the ability to NOT do what you have the ability to do. It’s willpower, it’s the way we keep our desires from dictating our decisions. It’s the way we maintain self-control and self-discipline. It’s the way we insure that we are controlled by the Spirit of God alone.I think one way to exercise exousia is the spiritual discipline of fasting. If you can say “no” to food then it’s easier to say “no” to other desires. That single discipline can help you cultivate other spiritual and physical disciplines. In my own experience, physical and spiritual disciplines are not unrelated. One often feeds the other. And long-term, those disciplines will become holy desires. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=28038 28038 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:40:00 +0000 PLAN B : WEEK FOUR Read 2 Corinthians 12 verses 7 – 10. No-one had greater impact on the spread of Christian community than the Apostle Paul. He was an Apostle, a leader, yet he constantly risked being real, vulnerable and honest, when it would have been probably tempting to try to hide any weakness, especially with so many people looking up to him. He constantly reminded people that not only was he the man who helped start their community, but he was also a member of it. He came right out and said ‘me too’, and it was worth the risk, because of the powerful community the churches became. 1. Why was it important for the community to know Paul faced struggles just like anyone else? 2. What types of judgemental attitudes do you think Paul might have faced? How do you think he found the courage to keep on being authentic in community? 3. Why do you think we sometimes focus on the shortcomings of others, even when we’re supposed to be ‘one body’? http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=26257 26257 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 07:05:00 +0000 PLAN B : WEEK THREE Exodus 3 v 6 & 7, 10 – 12. Plan B means change is on it’s way, which means facing the unknown and often changes in our lives are the result of crisis. The issue isn’t how you feel in the face of the unknown, it’s do you trust God is with you in it. When faced with crisis the ultimate question is this; what would you do if you were absolutely confident that God was with you? Moses wasn’t sure he could handle his Plan B, but God told him repeatedly ‘I will be with you’. That is God’s promise to us too. 1. Can you relate to Moses’ doubt? and his words about himself? 2. Can you think of a time that God led you to do something you simply could not do apart from Him? What did you do? 3. How difficult is it to focus on being faithful within a situation rather than to focus on how unfair the situation seems? 4. What steps can you take to face the next seemingly overwhelming challenge with confidence? http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=26256 26256 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 07:01:00 +0000 PLAN B : WEEK TWO Genesis 12 v 7, 15 v 2 - 4 and 16 v 1 - 4 & 6. Abraham, though we associate his name with great faith and being the father of the entire Israelite nation, he was also no stranger to Plan B. He faced many times of confusion, frustration and discouragement because of unfulfilled dreams. Abraham was desperate to live out his Plan A, but he took control instead of leaving control in God’s hands. 1. How does this story show that control is only an illusion? 2. What promises that God has given you in his Word, can you hold to as you learn to accept his plan? 3. In looking back over your life, what instances can you name when God proved to you that he can be trusted?   http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=26255 26255 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 06:53:00 +0000 PLAN B : WEEK ONE This past Tuesday we began a summer joint house-group series entitled 'Plan B'. During the course of the series I will be using this blog regularly to share devotions and thoughts both from the series and also in addition to it. Hopefully this will be of benefit to those taking part in 'Plan B' and also regular readers of my blog. Psalm 22 verses 1 & 2, 24 and 30 & 31. David experienced Plan B’s, yet still managed to find faith to believe that God was listening not hiding, present and involved, not distant and detached. This Psalm moves from confusion, doubt and pain to ending up with a positive look towards the future. It’s a powerful pattern that can help us too. 1. How and why can we, like David, begin to see ourselves, God and our Plan B from a different perspective? 2. How can having the freedom to call out to God with honesty, as David did, help change the way you deal with life when your Plan A doesn’t work out? 3. The words of verse 1 echo other words in scripture, in what ways can you find encouragement in knowing that Jesus can identify with your pain and confusion? 4. Why is it important to look toward the future as David did in Psalm 22? http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=25603 25603 Fri, 5 Aug 2011 05:43:00 +0000 IN OVER MY HEAD One of my favorite images in the Bibe is to be found in Ezekiel 47.  I’m praying for a rising tide that would lift the churches of Harrogate.  We are often far too satisfied with an ankle-deep, knee-deep or waist-deep move of God.  I am praying that God would do something that is way over our heads,  so much so that we can’t touch the bottom of it.  After all, it’s not till you are in over your head that truly God gets the glory. Ezekiel 47 describes a river that flowed from the Temple.  At first it was ankle-deep, then knee-deep, then waist-deep.  Then it was so deep that you couldn’t walk it it.  You had to swim in it.  I don't know about you, but I want to swim in His glory, His grace and His power.  I want to be in the deep end. 'He measured off another 1,750 feet and the river was too deep to cross without swimming.  He told me to keep in mind what I had seen: then he led me back along the river bank.  Suddenly, to my surprise, many trees were now growing on both sides of the river!  Wherever this water flows, everything will live.' May God surprise us! http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=25217 25217 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:04:00 +0000 TAKE UP YOUR CROSS “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34-35 This is probably the most important description of what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the Bible, yet do we actually truly grasp what it means?  Sure we understand the imagery, but what about the application?  How do you actually take up your cross? Firstly, it means self-denial.  We all desire self-fulfillment, but the only path to self-fulfillment is self-denial. Now I know it soundsmiserable! but it’s actually wonderful.  We deny ourselves those things that are temporarily pleasurable but end up being eternally painful.  We deny the desires of our flesh. We deny the temptation of sin.  We refuse to settle for anything less than the best God has for us! which is His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Secondly, taking up your cross actually means torture.  Stop and think about this.  Any truly great achievement requires torture.  Athletes and sports people torture their bodies.  Thinkers and theologians torture their minds. So why should spirituality be any different? Just like the physical realm and the intellectual realm: it's no pain, no gain.  Are you willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal gain?  That’s a hard question. And thirdly and finally, it means death.  You have to die to self everyday.  How?  By allowing your daily situations to help you become more like Christ – especially the difficult ones.  Anytime you feel the pain of an insult, disappointment, suffering, failure, injustice, or trial – it’s an opportunity to die to pride, to ego, to die to sin, to die to self.  And I promise you, that if you continue dying to self, you will become alive in more ways than you have ever imagined.  In fact, you’ll live forever. You only have one task and it’s this: to take up your cross.  So deny yourself, endure torture, and die to self.  And if you can do that, God will do the rest.  http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=24136 24136 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:36:00 +0000 Who do you believe in? Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Who do you believe in? I don’t mean which god, because my prayer and desire would be that you have encountered the living God in your life. But which people do you believe in? When Samuel anointed David to be the next king of Israel, he has to look past his age, height and situation. He looked past the shepherd that he saw before him, listened to God and with God’s eyes, he made his choice. What was the end result? David went on to be the greatest king Israel had ever known. How did it start? With a prophet that believed and spoke to David’s God-given potential. Catch this, the impact you have in this life, will be in direct proportion to your ability to speak life into the potential of the people God has placed around you. Yet we are so quick to see people’s problems instead of their potential. There is more greatness in people than we give them credit for. And if you start speaking to it and you’ll start seeing it. Our words shape people more than we know. So, whose life will be better and their destiny discovered, because you chose to believe in them? Samuel saw and spoke to the king that was in David. And he became a king. Start to imagine what the people around you can become when you start speaking to what God has put inside of them. 1 Samuel 16:10-13 http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=23499 23499 Tue, 24 May 2011 16:47:00 +0000 I'm now a twit! Well I was late turning up to the party, but I’ve made my first tweet today! Yes….I know…..I have made fun many times in public of people who are on Twitter….admittedly I thought they were twits!…..but now I have become one of them! Why have I joined I hear you say?…..well quite simply I think it’s going to be of benefit to the church, and therefore the Kingdom….how?……well, in a few ways as I see it…. Hopefully it will be another way of getting to word out (or at times the Word) about what’s going on at Elim Harrogate and update both congregation members along with others as to the latest news, events and developments. Hopefully as people ‘follow’ our twitter page and then start ‘retweeting’ it will multiply the impact and circulation of news exponentially. I also think it will be a useful tool and forum for me to process thoughts and ideas. Not everything makes it into a sermon or my Pastor’s blog, so Twitter will be a concise way of imparting the little things God often speaks to me. I guess it will also allow people to have another perspective into my life and into our church too, should anyone care to look. So, let me sum it all up (in 140 characters or less of course!): May Twitter help us multiply our influence, focus my thoughts, and help share what God is doing at Elim Harrogate. I guess now I’m a full fledged twit! http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=23402 23402 Fri, 20 May 2011 15:27:00 +0000 I can't sing that! Have you ever been singing a worship song and found yourself singing a line from it that you don’t fully mean or are not living up to? And you end up feeling like a hypocrite? Maybe it’s a song about God being our greatest passion, when in reality maybe sometimes you can go days without even thinking about Him? Or lines that declare you giving up your all for the gospel, when in reality even giving your tithe sometimes feels like a harder sacrifice than martyrdom. Now some would say, well if you don’t mean it or you’re not doing it, then don’t sing it! But for me, worship is not meant to be a review of my performance as a Christian, it’s meant to be a declaration of my intention and desire. I mean if I really had to completely mean and live out every word of every song every time I sang it, I would never sing a song! Nobody would. By continuing to sing, we’re not being hypocritical, look at it like this....you’re simply training your flesh to submit to your spirit. Singing of your intentions. You’re praying in song....‘God, I want my life to catch up to the truth that I am declaring right now’. It’s only hypocritical if you’re singing the words but have zero intention of ever living up to them. Consider this too....even if you were the perfect model Christian, you would still be unworthy to sing the songs that we sing! Because your performance and feelings are not the gateway to worship, Jesus blood is! So sing!....and worship! and let any gap between the words you sing and the life you lead be a catalyst for repentance and renewal, not a cause of shame and silence. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=21707 21707 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:37:00 +0000 Time to turn to God I am sure that you like me have looked on in stunned disbelief at the terrible events that have occurred in Japan over the last few days.  From the 8.9 earthquake to the devastating Tsunami, and the continuing fear of radiation caused from Nuclear Power Plants. We can so easily let the magnitude of these catastrophes overwhelm us, or we can turn to God with our hearts and our prayers asking for supernatural mercy and grace over the lives of the Japanese people and all those who have been affected by these horrific events. In Psalm 46, David talked about the Lord who knows all things.....he said “God is our refuge and our strength an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear thought the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Even in moments like these we know that our God is still God and that we can take refuge in Him.  David goes on to say, “Be still and know that I am God.”  We can trust an unknown future into the hands of a God that knows us and loves us.  Even when the earthquakes and the tsunami’s come or anything else that may happen in our lives or in the lives of those around the world, this is why it is so vital that we turn to God and cling to Him, and take refuge in His loving arms.   It is why you and I are to always point people to Jesus, so that when strife and turmoil comes, they already have a strong foundation, in the One whom no suffering is beyond the goodness of. We cannot fully understand all that the people of Japan are facing right now, but I urge you to join with us as a church in prayer for them and for their future during this time. That God will turn these tragedies into a time that sees so many people coming to Jesus all across the nation of Japan. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=21279 21279 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:33:00 +0000 What if Jesus shows up? Read Mark 5:15-17. I wonder sometimes, do we actually want Jesus to show up? Because when He showed up in this particular story and place, they lost a huge part of their economy. Yes, He had done a miraculous thing for a mad man. But in doing so He was messing with their lives and causing chaos. So they simply asked Him to leave. As soon as He touched their money, as soon as He had messed with their lives. His presence wasn’t welcome anymore. I think part of the problem is, we DO want Jesus to show up, but when He does show up we want out lives to improve. Is that how it should be? Maybe....I mean Jesus did say that He came to bring us abundant life, life to the full, and that is what His presence brings. But I think that the problem is that in addition to wanting an abundant life, we also would be happier if everything else could remain the same. Just be business as usual. Please keep the status quo intact. We want Jesus, but we want Him PLUS financial prosperity. Jesus PLUS personal comfort. Jesus PLUS safety. And Jesus doesn’t always work like that. It’s not that those things can't coexist with Jesus and His presence in our lives. It’s just that our desire for comfort, security, and prosperity at the expense of Jesus cannot coexist with Jesus and His presence in our lives. Here's a challenging thought.....probably one of the greatest things standing between you and the uninhibited, awesome and powerful presence of Jesus in your life is probably the thing that you believe must coexist alongside Him. What is that for you? See, sometimes in order to bring us what we really want – the abundant life we seek – God has to take away what we think we really need. It is often the things that we hold onto most tightly that we need to let go of most desperately. So......do you actually want Jesus to show up?....and what if He does? What if He were to come and mess everything up? What if we were to ask Him to show up in our nation and the recession actually were to get worse? What if we were to ask Him to show up in our families and then our children were to decide our prefered plans for them weren’t actually God’s vision for their lives? Maybe some of us probably wouldn’t want Jesus to show up then....but let me tell you, that would be to our loss! Yes Jesus presence may actually 'mess everything up'. But you know what....by 'messing everything up', He is actually putting everything exactly where it belongs and positioning us ready for exactly what we need. And that’s more of Him in our lives. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=19831 19831 Wed, 9 Feb 2011 07:05:00 +0000 Impossible Prayers Yesterday was our first corporate day of prayer and fasting for the year. Our theme last night was taking our faith to the next level......taking our inspiration from the prayer of Joshua in Joshua chapter 10.....where he saw hope where there was no hope, and asked God to make the sun and moon stand still. We asked the question....what's the seemingly impossible thing you need to see God do in your life? What's the impossible mountain that you can't seem to climb? Where's the point of pain where you've almost given up? Who's the person you care about so much who's so far from God? People were invited to put their 'impossible prayers' down on prayer cards.......and then we spent part of our evening praying over the various prayers people had brought. People were made aware that their prayers would be on our church website, so that as a church we could continue to pray.....so that as Joshua experienced, sun stopping prayers may start with one, but they're sustained by the many. I invite you to join with us as a church, in praying together that we might see these 'impossible prayers' become possible, as the same power that stopped the sun in the sky reaches into our lives, stirs up our spirits and makes us able to believe again at a whole new level. - Bring healing in my school and to the people that I meet.- To get a job in an office here in Harrogate.- A family situation needs sorting.- Help in my finances, my health and with my sleep.- To break an addiction and be set free.- To bring 3 members of my family back to a church.- For my kids to walk strong with God.- Family salvation.- To start a business.- For God's peace to fill my mind.- To bring my family into His family.- Financial breakthrough.- To see my bank loan fully paid off.- For 'Emily' to find security and good health.- Full health to be completely free to serve God.- Complete unity within our church.- To have a wife and children.- For my goddaughters to renew relationship with me and with God.- For 100 people to consistently attend Elim and to have 75 by 2012.- For help accepting love.- For God to use me in seeing people come to faith.- To be used in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit.- For God to 'sozo' my husband.                                                                                                        http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=19413 19413 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:42:55 +0000 Prioritize His presence Somebody famously once said....'Your relationship with God is only as strong as your most recent encounter with Him.' How true that is! The great prayer time you had last week......or the inspiring revelation you received as you read God's Word two months ago.....or the wonderful retreat you went on last year...is not too sustain you for today! You need to prioritize His presence TODAY! We must never get to the point where we’re too busy ministering FOR God that we’re too busy to meet WITH God. No matter how great your life is going…You are never going to outgrow your need for prayer.You are never going to outgrow your need for the study of God’s Word.You are never going to outgrow your need for God. Even Jesus felt the need at times to go off by Himself and spend time in prayer with the Father as the crowds began to come to Him. So personally I am not going to be the one who says that I need less private time with God than Jesus did! Make the decision TODAY. Whatever that is for you.....to wake up earlier....to stay up later....to clear out your schedule for the day.  Whatever you decide, do whatever you have to do to prioritize the presence of God in your life. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=19214 19214 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:47:05 +0000 Yawning angels We're coming towards the end of our first message series of 2011, 'Break-out'.......this coming weekend we will be looking at breaking out of the box of fear. I wonder sometimes if we are not living such safe lives, that our guardian angels are often  yawning? I mean do guardian angels ever get bored. I wonder how many times they are just waiting for us to step out in faith and do something that actually lets them spread their wings and fly!All I know is this: I never want to be guilty of causing angels to yawn! http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=19011 19011 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:47:18 +0000 CommunionCommunion is not about what we can do for God, it's about what God has done for us. Communion is a reminder that we don't bring anything to the table. For God supplies the bread and cup. All we have to do is simply receive what he offers. I think sometimes there is a part of us that would much rather prove ourselves to God by what we do. It is so much harder for us sometimes to let God love us just the way we are.John Newton once said: "I am a great sinner and Christ is a great saviour." I don't want to underestimate my sinfulness because all that does is cheapen the grace of God. But more importantly, I don't want to underestimate the grace of God. We need to be reminded over and over again that the grace of God is so much bigger than even our biggest failure! As the Bible says....'But where sin increased, grace increased all the more' Romans 5:20 http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=14888 14888 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:40:13 +0000 Meditation = ImaginationIn 1816, Sir David Brewster invented the very first kaleidoscope. What is one? Well a kaleidoscope consists of little fragments of colored glass that reflect light in an endless variety of colors and patterns. Isn't that really exactly what the Bible does? It reflects light in an endless variety of colors and patterns....If I had to describe Scripture in a word I might choose kaleidoscopic. I never cease to be amazed at the way verses can inspire me in different ways at different times in my life...and how even the same verse can inspire me and speak to me in so many different ways over the course of time.Meditation is taking the time to turn the kaleidscope so we can appreciate different nuances of a scripture. I will guarantee you this: the more time you take to look at a verse from a variety of different angles the more God will reveal to you. It will also help you to internalize and personalize the truth. It will get the word into your spirit. Somebody once said....'Don't be in such a hurry to get through the word that the word doesn't get through you.' The phrase "look intently" in James 1 means to bend over or stoop down. We've got to humble ourselves and take a posture of submission when we approach and read the Word of God. Meditation is bending over to take a closer look.  http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=13991 13991 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:46:48 +0000 Preach Deep?Preaching is an interesting animal! At what level do you aim the things that you are trying to communicate? Should you water down the things you say depending on the congregation?I would like to think that I am regularly able to say things from the pulpit at Elim that may well get some Pastors fired! Not that I am ever out to offend or shock, please don't misunderstand me....simply that true preachers should never mince their words, back away from tough issues, or hesitate to say exactly what Scripture says.I try to give myself entirely to preaching the whole counsel of God, even when it hurts. But at the same time I also want people to understand it so they can do something about it, and not have to go away scratching their heads saying ?Oooh that was deep!?. My goal is never to be clever, but simply to be clear, so that people are impressed with God and His Word, not by me.I am sure you will have heard of Martin Luther. Brilliant mind and awesome theologian. He is someone who a lot of ?deep? preachers quote from all the time to try to explain why their preaching is so ?deep? that no one can understand it! Well listen to what he said on this particular subject:?A preacher should have the skill to teach the unlearned simply, roundly and plainly; for teaching is of more importance than exhorting? .When I preach I regard neither doctors nor magistrates, of whom I have above forty in the congregation. I have all my eyes on the servant maids and the children. And if the learned men are not well pleased with what they hear, well, the door is open.?Jesus said in John 4v34 that 'meat' is doing the will of God, not debating predestination and freewill. Jesus also said in Matthew 22v36-40 that the true test of spirituality was love for God and love for people, not the vast wisdom of your eschatological position and your amazing ability to defend it. The writer of Hebrews pointed out that maturity is about constantly using the Word of God by applying it, not sitting around and pontificating about it.So let?s keep preaching the pure Gospel of Jesus, alive and active, with an emphasis on application. And let's do it as creatively, compellingly, and as often as possible! At the end of the day what could be deeper than the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ? http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=13370 13370 Mon, 5 Jul 2010 15:37:02 +0000 Call on meIn Matthew 10:1 it says that Jesus "called to him" his twelve disciples. I look at it like this.....I'm called to ministry, but really that isn't my primary calling. You're not called to be a nurse or a teacher or a builder or a writer or a Pastor. Yes, you may be called to do those things. But that isn't your primary calling. Nothing has changed in over two thousand years. Jesus is still calling people. And He still does it now the way He did it then. We are "called to him." It's a relational calling way before it's an occupational calling. For what it's worth, I honestly believe that if you boil it all down, the solution to every problem is simply spending more time with Jesus. And the ultimate solution for every human being is spending eternity with him. Why? Because He is the solution to every problem, the answer to every question, the fulfillment of every hope, and the source of every good thing! All things were created by Him and for Him and He holds all things together!Can you hear Him calling you today? http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=13237 13237 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:02:20 +0000 Risk it!What is your philosophy of life as a christian? I think that God would like it to be based on Matthew 10:16: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." It's our commission, and it almost has an element of 'this tape will self destruct...'  read the verse again, and sense the danger. We just read right over it, but imagine throwing a few sheep into the wolf enclosure! that's really what Jesus is saying.See, I think that the christian life and christian ministry becomes truly mundane when we lose the element of danger. All too easily we become comfortable, then we stop taking risks and we start playing it safe and then we wonder why we so often get bored!I think that the term "innocent as doves" is speaking to our motivation for christian service and ministry too. If we are not careful then ministry can easily become a form of idolatry if we start to do it for the wrong reasons. But I think it's much more than simply a loss of moral innocence. It's the lost innocence of children, the kind that allows them to dream big dreams, filled with wonder. Nothing is impossible to a child. And it's that innocence that maybe we need to recapture as well....as we live lives where we step out in faith....pursue our dreams...and risk it! http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=12837 12837 Fri, 28 May 2010 09:37:29 +0000 The Numbers Game If you think sometimes that maybe church is all about the numbers, then let me help you out......of course we're all about the numbers! What else would we be about?! Exactly how many lives do we want to see changed? See, think about it, the truth is that every number is pointing to a story, a transformed life. Next Sunday I will be preaching on Pentecost Sunday, where in Acts 2:41, Luke records that the Holy Spirit baptized about 3000 people on the day of Pentecost?.I guess the Holy Spirit is all about the numbers too. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=12716 12716 Wed, 19 May 2010 07:24:49 +0000 Highest OfficeWould I rather be PM or be a Pastor?.....for me that's an easy choice....why would I want to ask permission of the Queen to lead the country? when each day I get to live for THE King and play a part in bringing His Kingdom.I feel blessed and humbled to be able to hold what I would consider to be the highest office on planet earth. Now I know that it must sound pretty funny to refer to Pastoral ministry that way, but that?s honestly how I feel.....that the office of Pastor is the most powerful office in the world.After staying up to watch the seemingly endless speculation of Election night, it made me realise.....no matter who is in office by the end of today.....and no matter what kind of changes they bring to our nation.....I get to affect eternal change every single Sunday as I speak for God? and that?s a fact.Now please understand, I certainly DO NOT believe for one minute that being a Pastor makes me in some way better or more special to God than anyone else on the planet. But I know this....from my vantage point, it is the greatest responsibility that could ever capture and consume a human being.Of course the challenge is this......'to whom much is given, much is required'.......so God help me today to live up to my calling, by His strength and wisdom alone. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=12520 12520 Fri, 7 May 2010 04:50:17 +0000 Praying in circles"You shall march around the city seven times." Joshua 6:4I truly believe in doing Jericho marches. No I'm not talking about some kinf of magic trick that if you walk around something seven times God will give it to you, but I often do pray around things seven times. You could call it circling things in prayer. And if there is a "promise land" that you believe God wants to give to you, then it can't hurt to follow the example in Joshua 6.I believe that sometimes the way to lay claim to promises is by circling them in prayer. Seven isn't a magic number, but it just simply helps me to prayer through. I think there is a big difference between praying for and praying through. And to me praying through something means circling it in prayer. Try it!  http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=12264 12264 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:20:45 +0000 Destroying the evidenceIn Luke 22 Jesus is praying on the Mount of Olives when suddenly a mob appears that have come to arrest him....it says in verse 49 ?When Jesus? followers saw what was going to happen, they said, ?Lord, should we strike with our swords?? And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.? We know from John?s account in his gospel that the disciple in question is Peter and the servant?s name is Malchus.Let me state the obvious here. Peter is in big trouble. You don?t cut off someone?s ear and get away with it! especially when that someone's ear happens to be the servant of the high priest! Worse case scenario: Peter is going to get charged with attempted murder....perhaps the best case scenario: He will be charged with assault and battery. But at that moment Jesus intervenes......in verse 51. ?Jesus answered, ?No more of this!? And he touched the man?s ear and healed him.? Jesus reattaches an amputated ear. But think about it, He does more than that, Jesus destroys the evidence!Imagine Malchus filing a law suit against Peter....see as He takes the witness stand and says, ?Thia man, Peter, cut off my ear.? The Judge says, ?Which ear?? Malchus says, ?My right ear.? The Judge examines it and says, ?It looks ok to me!? and proceeds to throw out the case because of lack of evidence.Do you see it? Jesus doesn?t just reverse an amputation....He destroys the evidence. And that is where we come into the picture....for this isn?t just a story about Peter and Malchus. It?s about you and me and the way God forgives us. When Jesus went to the cross He destroyed the evidence against us. In 1 John 1:9 it says, ?If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.?When we put our faith in Christ, we are justified--"just as if I?d never sinned.? God forgives and forgets our sin. Our Jesus destroys the evidence! http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=11892 11892 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:29:58 +0000 How do you pray?Have you ever noticed how much we prequalifiy our prayers? Let me give you an example.....'Father God, I pray that you would just, if it is Your will, bless 'so and so' today. he is really having a hard time, and I know God that I have no right to be in your presence today asking you to help her, because I know I have messed up so much recently, and I don?t deserve for you to hear my prayers, but I need you to hear my prayer today and come through for them...'Now it is good to have a humble heart when we come before the Lord, and to submit our will to His will, acknowledging that our only confidence comes from Jesus. But I suspect that God must think from time to time: Just tell me what you need! Get to the point already! I know you?re not worthy. We?ve established that, and I?ve made provision for it through my Son. Now come before me with confidence, trust my character, stand in my grace, and walk by faith!Now you may react to me saying that at first, it might even sound arrogant. But that?s because we base too much of our praying on our own logical calculation and not really enough on the pattern of Scripture. Study the prayers of people like Joshua, Moses and Nehemiah. There prayers were direct. They were bold. They were audacious. And they were completely unqualified on any basis other than the righteousness that comes from God.Remember today....Christ is in you. God is for you. Stop prequalifying your prayers and start believing afresh for God?s best in your life. http://www.elimharrogate.com/index.cfm?i=3655&mid=25&blogid=1592&comments=11799 11799 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:23:19 +0000