Is it time to think outside the box

I woke up around 5.30am this morning, to watch the results of the UK referendum on our continuing membership of the European Union, like many I was surprised by the result, although as someone who actively supports the UK’s withdrawal from the EU., and I was praying and I had the phrase  “ it’s time to think outside the box,”

I’ve been actively seeking a new job for two years, and I have applied for at least several hundred jobs during that time, despite a lot of prayer both personal, including asking many friends to pray ,  nothing has come through in the Merseyside and Manchester areas, I’ve had many dozens of rejection emails,  about 3 months ago, I had an interview with BT, Lancaster House, Liverpool, and to be honest I thought I had the job, when I had an automatic email the next day to say my application had been unsuccessful, however I thought that the phrase Lancaster was important but wasn’t sure why? 

I’ve dealt with several employment agencies in the Liverpool , and some 4 weeks ago I spoke to well-known employment agency in Liverpool  and I was disappointed  by their response,  I was praying about this and a phrase come to my mind,  “ it’s time to think outside the box”  I had an email about a job which was permanent,  excellent salary and I then saw the location,  which was Lancaster,  it was the 3^rd time I had that email, the first two times I ignored the email, this time I decided to apply to test my cv and covering letter and I thought nothing more of it.

About 3 weeks ago, I was chatting to one of my friends at Church,   and I mentioned about the job in Lancaster that I applied for,  when we discussing the progress or lack of on the jobs front,  I mentioned this job I had applied for in Lancaster,  and said I had only applied to test my Curriculum Vitae and Covering Letter, but I  hadn’t received any news,   about 30 minutes after this conversation with my friend, my mobile phone rang and it was the HR department of this company in Lancaster to offer me an interview. 

In the last few weeks,   I have had an ongoing conversation via email and phone with this company, and I was offered an interview in their offices in Lancaster on Monday 21^st June 2016.   I spoke to several friends at Church on the Sunday, and many of them prayed for me, and I made the necessary arrangements to travel to Lancaster for my interview,   my interview went really well, and I kept asking the Lord,  “why He has provided me an interview in Lancaster, when I’ve been applying for jobs in Liverpool?” I had a phone call the next day from this company to offer me the job, which I accepted, today I received the employment offer letter and contract. 

Yes,   there are a lot of things to do and get ready, I have no idea why I have been offered a permanent role in Lancaster when I couldn’t get despite my best efforts,  I couldn’t get a temporary job with an identical CV. So I have prayed and prayed about it.


While praying I had the word again,  “thinking outside the box,” and the words Saul and David, for the context of the story,  I suggest that you read 1 Samuel:8 – 10.

1 Samuel 10:6-13 English Standard Version (Anglianised)

6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.

9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

Since,  the people of Israel had entered the promised land, they hadn’t wanted a  King and the Lord had been their King, and they had been governed or lead by a series of Judges,  the last Judge was Samuel, like some of his predecessors his family hadn’t followed the Lord, because of the behaviour of his sons,  see 1 Samuel 8, the people of Israel demanded a King, The Lord bought Saul to the attention of Samuel see 1 Samuel 9 and Saul was anointed to be King.

Unfortunately, Saul had a moral failure although he had started well and had some military successes, he came to rely on his own abilities and strengths see 1 Samuel:11-15.

We see in 1 Samuel 15:24-35

35 And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

It seemed that all was lost, yes Saul had failed,  but that hadn’t stopped the Lord’s plan and purpose being fulfilled.

Proverbs 19:20-21

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in the future.
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

In 1 Samuel 16,  Samuel was commanded by the Lord to stop grieving for Saul because the Lord had rejected Saul, and he was sent by the Lord to anoint Saul’s replacement as King.

Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse,  and when Samuel saw Jesse’s sons,  he surely thought that this one must be the one to be King and each time, the Lord said no, did Samuel think what is going on or did he trust the Lord and His direction.

1 Samuel 16:7b

For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Saul turned to Jesse, and asked did he have anymore sons,  Jesse replied yes, the youngest one, but he is looking after the sheep, they sent for David see
1 Samuel 16:11-13

11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

David was God’s choice to be King, Saul was Man’s choice when the Lord had rejected Saul because of his sin, Men’s choice was to choose what they expected a King to be like they looked for someone similar to Saul, yet the Lord had chosen someone whose heart was/is fully devoted to him.

We expect the Lord to fulfil our desires/dreams that even when they come from the Lord, we have a dream partner/dream job/dream ministry, and the Lord tells us to look outside the box, we see what he has for us, rather than the limited expectations we have for ourselves.

Psalm 78:70-72
70 He chose David his servant
    and took him from the sheepfolds;
71 from tending the sheep he brought him
    to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
    of Israel his inheritance.
72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
    with skilful hands he led them.

I love the story of Peter, we see in John 18,   that Peter rejected the Lord 3 times, just as Jesus told him, he would. When Peter realised what he had done, he ran away in shame,   many including Peter could have written him off, he had failed big time, yet

John 21
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish

21 Afterwards Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 ‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’

‘No,’ they answered.

6 He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment round him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred metres. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus reinstates Peter

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’

16 Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’

He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’

17 The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’

22 Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’ 23 Because of this, the rumour spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Friends, many of us including myself, have prayed and prayed for ages for something,  maybe it’s time we looked outside the box of our limited expectations or experiences, and experience the fullness that the Lord has for us?

During my quiet time 5 weeks ago, the Lord bought my attention to this scripture and this one week before I had the email about the job in Lancaster.

Deuteronomy 8:1-10New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Forget the Lord

8 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

And then, 

2 Timothy 3:16-17New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Be Blessed Today,

Blair Humphreys

Lancaster, Lancashire,  England

Ordinary Christians in the hands of the Extra Ordinary God Part 1

Ephesians 3:10-12 &; 20 &; 21 ESVUK

10 so that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places 11.  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord 12, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him…………………20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us 21, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

I love the Church, I think it’s amazing; I love Jesus more and more each day and love looking at, reading and studying His written Word the Bible. and I love being a part of His amazing Church, When you think about it That the Church belongs to Jesus and His written Word the Bible explains to us how to live our lives as Christians who are the people who make up the Church, it can revolutionise your love for the Church and our Saviour.

I was raised in a Christian Home and both my dad and my late mum, with my late grandparents give me a love for Scripture, the Church and our Lord and Saviour Jesus, I was * saved or * born again or * accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour (*depends on your theological viewpoint!) when I was 11 in a Children’s Meeting, Easter Monday 1981. 

I was raised in a little church in Resolven, which is near Neath, South Wales now called The Resolven Community Church, which is part of a larger grouping also called the Apostolic Church which are part of the Pentecostal Movement here in the UK the others are The Assemblies of God and Elim, both of which are a real blessing to know.  I spent the first 13 years of the Christian Life within The Apostolic Church I thank the Lord for the privilege of being raised in that denomination and the grounding and foundation I had there, and the friends I have there today.

Those who know me know I love reading and one of the things I love reading about is the Church. I devour books at the best of times, but I’m always drawn to books about the Church. I’ve been inspired by many godly writers such as Alan Roxburgh, Neil Cole, Floyd McClung, Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton amongst others and have been challenged by what God has said through them.  I’ve also been inspired by some great Church Leaders.

When you think about it, there are various models of Church and different perspectives on what the Church are, and what it should or could be. My Spiritual grounding and heritage has been and still is the Pentecostal/Charismatic/ Restoration stream/s which are part of the broader Evangelical Spectrum although I admire and respect those whose Christian path has been or is different from mine.

My background is of someone growing up in the Welsh Valleys, although I now live in the North West of England, when I think of my younger days that Church more or often or not was somewhere we went, rather than something we are part of.  I thought of a Physical Building rather than a Spiritual Building, Yes Physical Buildings are important but they serve the Spiritual Building, by the way that’s you and me.

There are countless ways or models of doing and being the Church such as Missional church, Simple church etc. ,etc. there are large churches, small churches, medium churches, full churches, half full churches, empty churches, traditional churches, free churches, Baptist churches, Anglican churches, Pentecostal churches the list can go on and on   If you look in your Telephone Directory or search online, how many churches are listed in your City, Town or Village ?, * Note I use the word Church to describe the Church in general and the word church to describe churches, that is in the local church or the church grouping You or I are part of, and isn’t meant to diminish any one church or group of churches *

I don’t believe that there should only be model or type of church, I believe that each model or type of church is equally valid and has an important and relevant part to play in our role to Evangelise those who yet don’t know the Lord, The Lord has called us to work alongside in a sense of co-operation not to compete against each other in attracting unbelievers those who yet don’t know the Lord or have a relationship with Him.

I believe that different models or ways of doing and being the church can reach different types of people. For one person may feel comfortable in for example a more traditional type of church and for another person may feel more comfortable in a more lively church, then someone else may like a more simple way of doing church for example in a smaller setting, then someone may feel more comfortable being amongst a crowd.

Our Lord, Saviour & Redeemer Jesus Christ says in Matthew 16:18b ESVUK.

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it.”

The Apostle Paul, says in Ephesians 4:1-7 ESVUK

 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift

Our Lord, Saviour and Redeemer give his life for One Church and He’s coming back for One Church,  regardless of what part of the Church You or I belong to we are One Church.

In part 2 onwards I will look in more depth into the Book of Ephesians mostly and other books of the Bible to see what it means to be the Church and how we go about being The Church, I’m hoping to expand in more depth at a later point Ordinary Christians in the Hands of the Extra –Ordinary God.

Yours in His Grace

Blair Humphreys

Read Part 2  of this series here:

The Lord our Banner

I was at my Church last night,  we’re having 3 days of Prayer and Fasting,  and during this time,  on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings,  having public meetings for prayer and praise.

We have a number of national flags and banners at Church, which people can wave during the service,  yes there’s a Welsh Flag there, which I’ve been known to wave especially when Wales win at Rugby!, yes you can take a man out of Wales,  but you can’t take Wales out of a man

.

We have the Union Flag or Jack also at Church, and last night at the end of the service,  one of my friends,  who is an ex-soldier pointed out to me that the Union Flag (Jack) was upside down which he told me was the sign of distress, because for hundreds of years British Soldiers, Sailors and Airman have stood underneath the Union Jack, and many of those have died in the field of Battle,  and when they have died, they have been returned home and their coffins have been covered with Union Jack, my friend and I decided that we needed to fix the Union Jack and it’s now in the right position.

I was watching the Powell and Pressburger Classic War Film  The Battle of The River Plate,  where the British Royal Navy Ships,  HMS Ajax, HMS Exeter and the New Zealand Royal Navy Ship, HMS Achilles faced and defeated the German Ship The Graf Spee, has the British Ships went forward to engage the enemy,  HMS Exeter raised it’s Battle Flags.

When the people of Israel faced the Amalekites in Exodus 17:5 Moses raised the Standard or Battle Flag and called it YHWH  Nissi ,  (Yahweh or Jehovah Nissi) or in English the Lord Our Banner.

 For many years British Army Infantry Regiments  have carried Regimental Colours,  which signify a rallying point and where the commander is located,  The Lord is our Banner,  although I’m honoured to be both British and Welsh, and look to my national flags with a sense of pride and respect, when it comes to my ultimate loyalty, support, commitment, respect and pride,  The Lord is my Banner,  it’s to my Lord I look for my identity,  it’s under The Lord My Banner that serves as my rallying point because he’s my Lord, Redeemer, Saviour and Commander.

I said earlier that British Army Infantry Regiments carry Regimental Colours, these  are made up of two different Flags,  The National Flag or the Union Jack and the Regimental Colour , The Regimental Banner, can you imagine  a soldier saying that because my Regiment has a history and I think it’s dull and unexciting,  and my friends in this new Regiment say that there more opportunities and we’re more exciting why not join us, sometimes it’s easier to move to newer & greener pastures,   however it’s better to stay where you’re planted.

Don't Give Up on God's Calling

This article was featured in our free email publication, SpiritLed Woman e-Magazine, sign up here.

Don't Give Up on God's Calling 9:00AM EDT 5/29/2013 GEORGE D. WATSON

 

Each one of us is to believe that we have a place in the mind of God and in His creation, separate and distinct from every other creature, and that He loves us with a private, personal love. He has assigned to each of us a special mission and service which no one else can do in just the way that God wants us to do it. If we do not believe this, then we do not believe that God is the Infinite One whom the Bible reveals, and we do not believe in our destiny as revealed in Scripture.

The Bible contains numerous passages proving that each person has a special vocation in the providence of God and that if he or she is yielded in obedient faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, that special vocation will be carried out. We are told that "the stars in their courses fought against Sisera," from which we learn that God appoints to every star a special circuit along which it is to move.

Then we read that God appoints every man to his work (see Mark 13:34). And again, that John the Baptist fulfilled his course.

Before Jesus died, He prayed to the Father, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (John 17:4). Paul said he wanted to finish his course with joy. We are each one told to "run...the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).

The Bible is full of this thought, that for each one of us there is a course, a race, a work, an individual life to be lived. To this end we have been created and redeemed, and for this purpose there is ample provision of grace and inspiration.

Let's look at our personal vocation from God's side. Our relation to God must come first of all.

The reason we are created and the significance of all our labor, trials, difficulties, successes, failures and in fact everything that belongs to us must be looked at first of all in light of our relation to God. It is certain that because He formed us and redeemed us, He must take more interest in us and have a greater regard for us than all other creatures combined. And again, it is evident that God has given us a mission to fill in His own mind that is in proportion to our special makeup and that He foresees for each of us possibilities that we do not see and that our fellow creatures would never suspect.

Most of the lives in the human race are lived in obscurity and never known beyond a circle of a few acquaintances. Of the millions on Earth, only a small percent ever come into public notice or form a part of recorded history.

Of that number most live only for self and sin and amount to almost nothing in the purpose of God, and are total failures, perhaps, on God's side. In fact, it is likely that the number of human beings who are known in public life and to history are just as few in proportion as the number of water-drops that are visible in the sea. Hence it is certain that God has not made all the human souls as a mere parade but that they are made for Him, to love and serve Him, to fill a private mission in His love and will which we do not understand.

Many wonder what God gave them an existence for, as they are so obscure, so helpless, so hedged about. But if such souls could only know enough to abandon themselves to God's will, they would see that they are capable of living unto God and glorifying Him with a private worship and obedience that will satisfy the divine purpose in their creation. And in the end they will find that they filled the sphere of God's plan for them.

If one soul fails to do its part in the purpose of God, He will miss that work from His universe. It is said of a certain musician who was conducting a great orchestra that when one instrument failed to strike one note in the program, the master's keen ear detected the absence of that one note in the performance.

God is so infinite that if one little soul living in obscurity in some hid-away place fails to fill its mission, He will miss that note in the vast orchestra of the universe, which is perpetually sounding forth His praise. It is not any mere action that God would miss so much as the love and confidence of some trusting soul.

The highest mission any creature can fill is to love the Lord with all the soul, mind and will. And this secret mission to which we are called takes rank above all outward action, public history or splendid performance in the eyes of our fellow creatures.

We must also look at our vocation on the man side, or in relation to our fellow creatures. God has arranged countless threads of relationship between each one of us and all other creatures, and so multiplied, so intricate are they as to be beyond all our calculations. In one sense we may say that God is weaving out a vast fabric in human history and that each soul forms a thread or a stitch in the enormous pattern.

God is using us creatures in our life-work to touch thousands of others and influence them, as well as to have thousands of others touch us by word or influence or personal presence. Thus creatures are blended with creatures in a tangled maze of ministry for help or for trial, for joy or for sorrow, for happiness or for disappointment, so that our special mission is related to the special mission of others, in order to make one whole, and yet not interfere with each of us filling our appointed place.

As every creature that walks or crawls on the earth leaves its print in some form or other, so every responsible soul in passing through life leaves an imprint on other souls. But that imprint can only fulfill God's will when such souls are living under the guidance of His Spirit.

In many ways that would not be according to our choice, we need the ministry of our fellow creatures, and God often uses them to wound us or correct us or disappoint us to serve a purpose in our lives. And then again He will use others to encourage or comfort or instruct us, so that could we see our life mission in the clear light of faith, we would receive all things that come into our lives as designed for our good and accept all things as from God to us. It is evident that our life mission must be interwoven with those of our fellow creatures for the benefit of all parties in ways unknown to us.

In the next place, we should seek to discover what our life mission is. There are some who from childhood have a strong intuition as to what their vocation is to be, and this applies to people of the world, as well as to those who are Christians.

But I speak now with reference to the children of God, who are living mainly for life in the future world. And those who live mostly for the future life are the ones who live best in the present life and who best fulfill their vocation in this world.

It is an inspiration to any soul when he has a clear view of his special life-work and an ideal vision of what God wants to accomplish in and by his life. There is a peculiar thrill when we even suspect some special mission God has for us. But when it becomes a settled conviction as to what our work is then our heart runs out in the work, if we are willing and obedient, and everything in our lives from that time on becomes tributary to that one supreme vocation.

In order to do our life-work in the best way, we must have a clear apprehension of it, and then we must love it and put all our heart in it and watch God's dealings with us in relation to it. The most significant things in our lives, such as our dreams, our meditations, our inspirations, the peculiar leadings of God's providence, will come to us right along the line of our special vocation.

Oftentimes other people will be led to speak to us words of special import or encouragement along the line of our life work. For instance, when God designs a child to be a preacher of the gospel, that child will have premonitions of it, and along in his life other persons will speak to him on this matter. And as life goes on the various providences and the various incidents, both in his mind and outer life, will all seem to point in that direction.

This same truth will apply to any other vocation. People who have no definite view as to their life-work are apt to beat the air. They work at random; they run like the man in Scripture, without a message; they waste a great deal of energy in doing nothing.

You may ask, "How shall I find my special vocation?" I answer, "By a life of prayer." Not by simply saying prayers, but by living a life of continued talking with God, by a perfect surrender to Him through Jesus, a perfect willingness to give up your own thoughts, plans, and prejudices and being willing for God to possess you and lead you in the way He chooses for you to go.

You are to believe that God loves you with an eternal love, that God has a place for you and a mission for you to fill. Then, on the basis of His Word, plead with Him to open up to your mind your special mission, whether it be in the private or public forum, and feel sure from the teachings of Scripture that it is God's will to give you such a sufficient insight into your vocation as will satisfy you. With that insight there will come a loving ardor and a tireless zeal to accomplish the task.

Sadly, there are many Christians who miss their true mission in life. Although they may be saved in the end, yet because of lack of perseverance or the influence of other people's opinions, they frustrate the special vocation to which they were called. They have been gifted in many ways and evidently have been called of God for various kinds of service or usefulness or holy character and have been sidetracked, or have given up their work, and thereby frustrated the plan of God.

To be faithful to our calling in life is the greatest thing in all human character. It is not so much the size of our abilities, or the conspicuousness of our life-work, but that hidden, deep, settled obedience to God, that humble faithfulness to His calling day by day, moment by moment, in the place where we are that will tell in the ages to come and mark our rank in the kingdom of God when the crowns are distributed.

George D. Watson (1848-1923) was a holiness evangelist and the author of several books, including Bridehood Saints, from which this excerpt was taken.

Church Leadership, The Load Bearing Walls of the Church

Can you imagine the scene ?,  the young, eager and very enthusiastic disciples gather around the young anointed leader, and they discuss amongest themselves and through pray and prophecy that they will become a new but different expression of church in the location they live,  they continue to prophesy  to themselves that God has called them and He will bless them,  and off they go.

They decide that the expression of Church that they spent their formative years in, is no longer relative and is outmoded, they criticise that expression of church, and say we’re better than them because we’re God’s Joshua Generation,  and we will unlike our forefathers or the Moses’s generation  will cross into the promised land, and they continue to prophesy to themselves.

We don’t need another “ new “ expression of Church, being built  out  of people’s own sense of importance ,  and because of their misguided zeal  they will attempt to draw followers after themselves  from established churches, offering false promises and prophecies and they tell  people that if join us, the grass will be greener, unfortunately these “ new “ expressions of  church have no foundations and no covering,  because they think that we will build our own foundations and we will become our own covering,  we need to be built up together as one church,  and not be separated into another tribe or grouping. 

People start coming and joining in,  because they want to be inclusive all are welcome,  and it seems there is an “ anointing” from the Lord there, so  other Christians from various other church backgrounds join them , some fully commit to this wonderful new church and others have one foot in this new expression of church and keep one foot in their home church.

Perversion of the Gospel

Galatians 1 6F

 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you ^[c]by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; ⁷ which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel ^[d]contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be ^[e]accursed!⁹ As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel^[f]contrary to what you received, he is to be ^[g]accursed!

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry

¹¹ For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. ¹² For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

How many new churches are planted out of people’s need or desire for fame and/or recognition and is built not on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets, but built on the people’s selfish ambition?

We, the Church are the visible representation of God’s Kingdom Rule and Reign here on Earth, we are his messengers of hope, love and compassion, salvation & restoration, the people we see every day are the people for whom Jesus died on the Cross for, we are the ones who are to bring hope and healing to our communities.

I’ve been a Christian for over 30 years, having been raised in a Pentecostal Church in South Wales  and for the last 20 years I’ve been part of the New Church/Restoration movement because when I was a student in Bible School saw something about Church in my Bible and couldn’t see that expressed in that Pentecostal Church at that time,  I stayed for as long as possible and I tried to see things changed, but I felt increasingly like a square peg in a round hole, feeling frustrated and confused , I visited another church in my home town during the Toronto Blessing phase that was happening at the time, just to get refreshed and go back to my home church,  however the Lord had other plans for my life,  and I’ve been part of the Restoration Movement and the Pentecostal Movement for just over 30 years,  in many ways the Pentecostals and the Restoration Movement are very similar and time will not allow to go through the differences.

A number of years ago, some good friends of mine, decided to launch an evening service from the Church we were part of, into a nearby town, I wasn’t keen and said I would pray for them, but I wouldn’t join in,  I noticed that for the want of a better word, misfits and other people who felt that the churches they were part of weren’t recognising their gifting/ministries/anointing or calling joined in the new service my friends were leading.  I visited a few times, and I noticed at one service,  two ladies who had a “ prophetic gifting”  were having a” prophetic dual “to see who could bring the most “ anointed prophecy” ! I and several others had concerns and so did the elders of my church, and they later  pulled the plug for various reasons on this new service ,  two of our elders visited the service to explain why it was being closed down,  one of the ladies who was having the prophetic dual a few weeks earlier,  while we were praying for each other and my friends who were disappointed that what they thought were God’s plans had ended before they saw success,  this lady prophesied over my friend to say God had called him to shepherd the people of the new church,  my elders were there, and in fairness to them,  they didn’t take offence over this prophesy although both of them have pastoral gifting and serve as Pastors,  nothing came of this new church and my friend left the church sometime later  the church over personal issues.

I was watching a TV programme called Rip Off Britain some time ago,  and in this particular programme,  a  young couple had bought a cottage in the town of Ifracombe in North Devon,  due to unforeseen circumstances they have been unable to move into their new home because it was uninhabitable , the previous owner had decided unwisely to make the separate kitchen and dining room into one room and had removed a wall,  the only problem this was a loadbearing wall, and the first floor of the house indeed the entire house could collapse . Some of us have decided to remove the loadbearing walls of the church because we want to be relevant and inclusive.

The Church is built on Biblical Foundations and Principles see  Luke 6:46-49 New American Standard Bible,

46 “(AW)Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 (AX)Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and [ac]acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who [ad]dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the [ae]torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the [af]torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

1 Corinthians 3 New American Standard Bible.

Foundations for Living

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to (A)spiritual men, but as to (B)men of flesh, as to (C)infants in Christ. 2 I gave you (D)milk to drink, not solid food; for you (E)were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is (F)jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking [a](G)like mere men? 4 For when (H)one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere (I)men?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? (J)Servants through whom you believed, even (K)as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 (L)I planted, (M)Apollos watered, but (N)God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will (O)receive his own [b]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s (P)fellow workers; you are God’s [c](Q)field, God’s (R)building.

10 According to (S)the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder (T)I laid a foundation, and (U)another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a (V)foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 (W)each man’s work will become evident; for (X)the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will (Y)receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet (Z)so as through fire.

16 (AA)Do you not know that (AB)you are a [f]temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [g]temple of God, God will destroy him, for the [h]temple of God is holy, and [i]that is what you are.

18 (AC)Let no man deceive himself. (AD)If any man among you thinks that he is wise in (AE)this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For (AF)the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is (AG)the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “(AH)The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then (AI)let no one boast in men. For (AJ)all things belong to you, 22 (AK)whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or (AL)life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and (AM)you belong to Christ; and (AN)Christ belongs to God.

Acts 2:42-47 New American Standard Bible

42 They were (BF)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to (BG)the breaking of bread and [ao](BH)to prayer.

43 [ap]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (BI)wonders and [aq]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [ar]were together and (BJ)had all things in common; 45 and they (BK)began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 (BL)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and (BM)breaking bread [as]from house to house, they were taking their [at]meals together with gladness and [au]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (BN)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (BO)was adding [av]to their number day by day (BP)those who were being saved.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New American Standard Bible

16 (AU)All Scripture is [h]inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for [i]training in righteousness; 17 so that (AV)the man of God may be adequate, (AW)equipped for every good work.

Yes, our Foundation Is Christ,  yet there are Biblical Leadership Structures set forward in Scripture,  Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers and Elders and Deacons,  these are what I like to call the load bearing walls of The Church, if we remove these structures because they don’t fit in with our views/opinions/perspectives of the church or with our accepted modern or indeed post  - modern perspectives of the Church, we can end in trouble such as heresy,  erroneous teaching and practice or deception.

Ephesians 4:11-16 New American Standard Bible

11 And He (V)gave (W)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as (X)evangelists, and some as pastors and (Y)teachers, 12 (Z)for the equipping of the [d]saints for the work of service, to the building up of (AA)the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to (AB)the unity of the faith, and of the [e](AC)knowledge of the Son of God, to a (AD)mature man, to the measure of the stature [f]which belongs to the (AE)fullness of Christ. 14 [g]As a result, we are (AF)no longer to be children, (AG)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by (AH)craftiness [h]in (AI)deceitful scheming; 15 but [i]speaking the truth (AJ)in love, [j]we are to (AK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (AL)head, even Christ, 16 from whom (AM)the whole body, being fitted and held together [k]by what every joint supplies, according to the [l]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (AN)in love.

2 Peter 1:16-21 New American Standard Bible

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised (AP)tales when we made known to you the (AQ)power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were (AR)eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honour and glory from God the Father, such an [h](AS)utterance as this was [i]made to Him by the (AT)Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this [j]utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the (AU)holy mountain.

19 [k]So we have (AV)the prophetic word made more (AW)sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to (AX)a lamp shining in a dark place, until the (AY)day dawns and the (AZ)morning star arises (BA)in your hearts. 20 But (BB)know this first of all, that (BC)no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for (BD)no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men (BE)moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.