Noah (2): A man who stood out from the crowd
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Genesis 6:5-6
Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Genesis 6:11-12
But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord... Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9-10
It is clear that the society in which Noah was born into was corrupt. People were living in great sin. Noah however lived differently. Despite all that was going on around him he walked with God and lived a blameless and righteous life. He knew that the way in which people were living was not what God had intended and he knew that it grieved God.
People today are also living in great sin. Things such as lust, casual sex, homosexuality, living beyond one's means, addiction, drunkenness, greed, jealousy, hate, and lies are all considered the norm. And it grieves God. As God's people let us never even slightly conform to the way in which others live around us.
Many of us might say 'we're ok! We don't sleep around or get drunk, we go to a cell group and go to the Sunday meeting every week.' I want to challenge us and ask how often do we subtly compromise living a life set apart for God without even realising it, because we are afraid of simply being 'different'.
Praise God that we are living in days where God is pouring out His Holy Spirit so that we might live blameless lives in our time! God powerfully uses those who are willing to stand out and be different to those around them. Stand out in the crowd like Noah did!
Noah (1): A man who was chosenI heard someone once say -
'There are no no-bodies in the Kingdom of God.'Now he called his name Noah, saying, 'This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed.' Genesis 5:29
Noah was born with a purpose. He was chosen by God to fulfil several specific tasks. Before he was even born God had picked him out and said that this was the man He was going to use for His purposes.
Did you know that if you are saved, that is to say you have made Jesus Lord of your life, you have been chosen too. God has hand picked you because He has specific things for you to do. He planned these things long before you were even born. The fact that God has chosen you means that you are very special and important in His sight.
When we begin to understand how hugely important our individual lives are to God's bigger plan we live differently. We live with purpose and excitement. We live more responsibly.
Know that God has specific things planned for you to do for His purposes. Know that God considers you to be so special and important to His bigger plan. Know that God has chosen and called you to walk down a particular road. It's not the easiest path, but it will bring you the most fulfilment, the most peace, and the most joy, and it will bring Him the most glory!
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you... 1Thessalonians 1:4
But you are a chosen people, 1 Peter 2:9
A faithful man will be richly blessed... Proverbs 28:20Say hello to my good friend Josh Chee. Josh inspires me with his faithfulness.
For the past three years josh has been sowing into the lives of children who live on Brunswick estate. Without fail, whatever the weather, week in week out, he turns up at my house, with a smile, ready to go visit the kids from Kids Club.
Praise God for people like Josh who are committed to seeing Jesus made famous. God is so proud of such people.
Please look at
Joel's post dated May 18th. The bible is indeed the Word of God and the absolute authority by which I live my life.
I love ManchesterWent into the centre of Manchester today and was reminded of how much I love this city. I remember years ago thinking - wouldn't it be amazing if it was God's plan for me to be in Manchester. I am so glad that this is where he is using me.
I love walking down Market Street or through Picaddilly Gardens on a busy saturday afternoon. As I walk past all these people I always feel a strange mix of emotion. So many different people, faces, colours, cultures. All completely different but all loved by God.
We are going to see a move of the Holy Spirit in this city far beyond our belief or understanding. I am so excited!
Be Holy (4): simply be who you areTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2
Many Christians think that living a 'holy' life is hard work. They think it is a matter of doing everything you don't want to do and nothing you do want to do. Because of this understanding, they often find themselves living day by day in a never-ending vicious circle of hopeless and constant struggle, sin, and guilt. They think to live a 'holy' life is all a matter of making big spiritualistic decisions and living a life of huge sacrifice.
Something that has really helped me this week is reminding myself that none of the above is truth. God never intended his people to be in constant misery! Often we over spiritualise what it is to live a holy life because we don't understand how simple it is.
Living a holy life is simply a matter of being who we truly are in God. When we were saved our old nature, the thing that controlled the way we lived, was removed. It was demolished. It was no longer a part of us. From that moment on, our sinful desires no longer had any hold on us. NO hold, ie - not even a little bit. We were given a new nature, a new spirit, the spirit of holiness.
Because of what God has done, there is no need for me to go through a huge battle in my mind, or summon up all my will power, or make a huge sacrifice, to resist evil.
I have learnt this week that God wants me to be at peace. Living a holy life is not a matter of saying no a million and one things, it is a matter of just saying yes to all God has for me. I simply have to wake up in the morning and remind myself that I belong to God and pray 'Thank you God that I am your holy child, I love you, Holy Spirit I want to make you proud of me today.'
I wish I could explain this better, but let me sum up by simply saying this - if living a holy life for you is a struggle you are missing the point. You are not understanding. Once we step into who we truly are it is incredible to discover how easy and how fulfilling it is.
When Jesus tells us to 'take up our cross' to live for him, I believe he is talking about living a radical life, not simply a life free from sin.
QUESTION TIME!1. Who is the Russian President?
2. Who is the new Prime Minister of Italy?
3. Who is the deputy Prime Minister of the UK?
4. Who is the Rolling Stone who fell out of a tree?
5. Which football team has won the premier league?
6. Which two countries are currently the most populated?
7. Who is the President of Venezuela?
8. Who wrote the Da Vinci Code?
9. What is the name of the richest family in the UK?
10. What currency is oil bought in?
11. What is the current Pope's name?
12. How old is the Queen of England?
Someone challenged me the other day:
People who want to impact the world, need to know what's going on in the world.
The CostSince you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:17-19
I resolve today to settle for nothing less than living in all that God has for me. How could I live any other way? Jesus gave His life for me. Holy Spirit invade and flood every area of my life. I want to know you so much more than I do already. Thankyou that you made it possible for me to live in all you have for me.
THAT'S MY KING! Have a look at
this. Nicked it from Trevor Lloyd's Blog. I heard this recording years ago on xlr8... what an awesome God I serve!
BE HOLY (3): be happySo Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac... Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.' And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.' Genesis 21:2-3 5-7
It was impossible, but God had proven that he was faithful to keep his promises. The son of promise through whom God would bring a nation was born and named Isaac. Isaac means laughter! The flipside to holiness is happiness. Many people think that to be holy you must be miserable. This couldn't be any further from the truth.
God's people are the happiest people on earth. We are a people of divine humour! We are a people who find our strength in joy. We are a people who enjoy life in the Kingdom of God.
This does not mean we don't recognise the evil we see around us. Nor does it mean that when we go through hard times we falsely pretend to be happy. But we know by faith that when faced with these situations, if we endure them, happiness will come.
I believe that we can see salvation in this city, if as individuals we let God's joy overflow in our hearts each day. In this world of sin, people who every day have something to smile about will be noticed.
Remind yourself every morning of the millions of reasons you have to be happy as God's child. Teach yourself to be happy. Know how to laugh. If you know how to laugh you will never get depressed.
But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Psalm 68
BE HOLY (2): shine'... and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth', and it was so. Genesis 1: 15
I have been working recently with a team that provides support for families in serious need. I have been made so aware, from working with such vulnerable people, of what a dark world we live in. This has reminded me of my call and responsibility to live everyday as a light. Check this out...
If you were to come into a dark room, and you were to turn the light on, the light would overcome the darkness with no problem. As soon as the light was turned on, the darkness would instantly disappear. If, however, you were to come into a light room, it would be impossible for darkness to be turned on to eradicate the light. The light would only disappear if it was turned off.
Darkness cannot overcome light, no matter how small the light is. Light, quite simply, is way more powerful than darkness. We are to confidently shine, just as God commanded the sun and the moon.
'We are on the brink of a season. A season of unprecedented gathering.' Tony Ling
BE HOLY (1): aim high in everythingI took this picture several months ago, and I love it. I have had it as the screen-saver on my mobile for ages.
It reminds me to aim high in everything I do and never to compromise or settle for a mediocre lifestyle. The bloke who designed the Beetham Tower in Manchester did just that, he aimed high!
In Colosssians 3:23 we are encouraged to do all our work as though we were doing it for the Lord. The Holy Spirit wants me to do my uni work to the best of my ability, so that He would be glorified.
God's people should always give their everything to what ever they put their hand to. This honours God and makes Him proud. It also serves as a powerful witness to those we work with who don't know Jesus.
Be the best you can be, aim high!
Is He King?
'...The real test of whether you or I have entered the Kingdom of God is not whether we have said certain prayers. It's not even whether we have been baptised in water. The real test is - is there a King in my life? The real test of whether I have entered the Kingdom of God is - is there a King in my life? Is there a King Jesus who is ruling and reigning over every area of my life. And you know, as elders of this Church we believe that this is the question that the Lord wants to fundamentally address amongst us as a community. Is He King?... This church community will be transformed from one degree of glory to another as each and every one of it's members encounters the King in their lives.' Richard Anniss
What does it mean to fear God?PSALM 104 5-9
He established the earth upon itsfoundations,So that it will not totter forever and ever.You covered it with the deep aswith a garment;The waters were standing abovethe mountains.At Your rebuke they fled,At the sound of Your thunderthey hurried away.The mountains rose; the valleyssank downTo the place which You establishedfor them.You set a boundary that theymay not pass over.So that they will not retun tocover the earth.
What does it mean to fear God?PSALM 104 1 - 4
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariots;
He walks upon the wings of the wind;
He makes the winds His messengers,
Flaming fire His ministers.
It all starts with recognising who God is.
MAKING JESUS FAMOUS ON THE STREETS OF BRUNSWICK: the highlight of my week!
The best bit of my week, without a doubt, is monday night at 6pm, when I go with Josh Chee to visit the kids from Kids Club. We see over 15 doors open to us and usually meet around 30kids. It is always the most encouraging and fulfilling time of my week. And the amazing thing is that it only takes 1/2 hour!
In recent weeks I have really felt the Holy Spirit speaking as we walk these streets. I love it because I know that, week in week out, we are building something eternal. I know that what we are doing is having a massive impact.
At kids club last week we had 36 children turn up. We spoke to them about how God wants to adopt them into his family. I found the number responding to this teaching on 'family' very moving.
I believe kids club is going to grow significantly over the next few months. The number of kids we can outreach to, however, is completely dependant upon the number of faithful and passionate workers we have.
Can you give up literally 15-20mins a week to visit a couple of families, simply to give the kids a funsheet and a smile? It is so easy, so rewarding, and so powerful. If anything, please spend time praying for the awesome work that God is doing in the lives of these young children.
Some quality words from a Man of God who inspires me...Let's not tip-toe into what God's doing, or stroll casually, lets not even walk into it. Let's run, jump, dive with everything we have, all our passion and energy, into God's purposes. Praise God, what an awesome God we serve. What a privilege to be in and advancing His Kingdom.His link is under my Blogs Worth Reading column.
Noah (2): A man who stood out from the crowd
