Does sin attack you or do you attack your sin?

"The best offence is defence" Is this true for us today in our battle against sin?

The armour of God is different to armour we would wear if we were playing cricket. Not because its cricket vs spiritual armour but because its not as simple as 'putting the armour on'. We dont just go into a room and and put on the helmet of salvation as though we put on a cricket helmet, we dont just pick up our Bible as we do a cricket bat.

I dont wear my cricket pads down the street, I only wear them when Im about to play cricket. The armour of God is different. "put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

Our fight against sin starts when we wake up. It is a constant battle. It is something we put on, and have on all the time so that when we are tempted, when we are attacked, we still stand firm. We dont take it off like my cricket pads.

By having this armour on all the time we attack sin. We attack it so when it attacks us we are ready for it, we have weakend its grip on us. The armour of God as found in Ephesians 6 are: Truth, righteousness, readiness of the gospel, salvation, the word of God and faith. These are all things which we need to work at. We cannot simply pray, "put the armour of God on us" and walk out into a spiritual battle without searching our hearts for sin, unrighteousness, false-truths, faithlessness, and salvationless.

We need to attack sin. The armour of God attacks sin! Righteousness comes from God. Romans 6 says to kill unrighteousness, and to raise with Jesus in love. We find truth in ther Bible, is taking a Bible into Spiritual battle any good unless we know of the blessings and curses it promises?

Our fight starts as soon as we wake up. Attack sin. Ask God to convict you of your sin. Repent and renounce your sin. Give your life totally to God. Live by faith. Read and pray the Bible! Attack your sin! Dont let it rule you!

Where is the devil attacking you? How can you attack sin so that when the day of evil comes you will be able to stand then stand some more?

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Romans 6:6-7)

"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:18)

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:22)

"put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

Happy Christmas every one! Hope you all hada good one! I know I did! I got to go to Adelaide and have Chrissy with my aunties, uncles and cousins!

However God challenged me while I was over there. I wont go into details but a family I know was having a TERRIBLE time. They still are. The time that was suppose to be a happy family time was not. In fact it was and is currently a time of gut wrenching, anxious waiting, not knowing what the future will hold.

A few days before Christmas at 614 I saw a lady in the drop in centre, for some reason she stood out to me. She stood out in my heart. My heart literally 'went out to her'. I felt horrible, feelings of hopeless lonliness filled my heart. I did what I could for her, but how much will that help her? Will that give her hope?

The point is this, Christmas, though it is a happy time for most of us, isnt for others. There is a problem of sin in the world. It enslaves us, divides families, breaks relationships, makes us not love. There a illions of hopeless, helpless loaners at this time of the year.

Dont read this and say "thats true" but then go on living the same, think of a way you can help someone, a way you can love someone this festive season. As Christ has come into this world, we are in the world, how can we dwell amongst those who need the love of Christ this Christmas time?

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us

John 1:14

Jesus Saves!

I had the privilege of leading a lady to Christ toaday whilst doing E.R at 614! Im so pumped and excited!

During the interview I was holding back tears as I listened to her story. She has had a very rough life, filled with abuse and drugs to hide the pain. All of this was made worse two years ago when her 16 year old son was murdered! They still have not found his remains, and so she has not had any closure.

I told her there is still hope and encouraged her. Then I asked if I could pray for her. After I prayed for her I asked her if she had accepted Christ into her heart. She told me she hasnt, but had tried in the past, but she does too many things that Christians cant do like smoke. I told her not to worry about what people say but to listen and obey God.

I then told her how Christ loves her and wants to look after her. I told her how God never tells us to do something we cant do and then of the power that God gives us to overcome!

She then agreed, and I went through the sinners prayer with her. This lady I had never met before accepted Christ into her heart! God is good and is mighty to save! She called on the name of the Lord and has been saved, a party of angels in heaven errupted when she gave her life to the Lord! Her sins are forgiven, she is justified and now continues her life with Jesus Christ by her side! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Please pray for her. There is still a long way to go, but that journey is made easier with the help of Jesus Christ!

Cast your burdens upon Jesus for He cares for you!

1 Peter 5:7

Talking. We all do it. Some, more than others. My girlfriend loves to talk, sometimes for minutes before taking a break to see if I am still listening! I joke about that but I how true is it that we all can talk too much from time to time?

I love to talk to people. I have found my purpose at 614, I love talking to people and offering prayer and support! I love to encourage people, even though I know Im not very good at it! I love to debate with people. I love a good arguement, if with friends or family, I love to debate even when I know I am wrong as its more of a challenge!

But lately, I have been convicted by God about talking. Reading through Timothy, Titus and some other New Testament books, I have been confronted with words such as "Turn away from godless chatter."

How much of what I say is necessary? A great question to ask. I have had some big issues in my life recently and I love to talk to deal with those. But there comes a time to hold words in. Times when they may not be positive and life bringing words.

On the other hand Im having a problem even when Im offering words of life when I try to encourage people. I wonder if I use too many words which makes them think Im sucking up to them, or makes them think Im making it up! (Which Im bot!)

I am completely convinced that words need to be backed up with action. I am reminded by the English cricket team, they can talk the talk but can they walk the talk? No. The aussies on the other hand can say whatever they like, they can play, they are the best team in the world.

When we talk, are we full of hot air? Do we speak death? Do we speak life? Do we speak truth? Do we speak love?

Do we act out what we say?

With the tongue we praise our LORD and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in Gods likeness... Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life. by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:9 and 13)

War?

I hear talk every now and then about the army metaphore. Or is it even that? Anyway, some say that the concept of being an army fighting a war is not a well liked concept in todays society. It doesnt fit they say.

I think that is a load of garbage! We talk about war in fooball, "Its war out there" we talk about it in cricket, "the battle for the ashes", we talk about it in commradeship for a close friends. "Id die for him", there is the war on terror, the war on AIDS, on cancer, the war the war the war...

Perhaps the problem with the war anology is that people want to be a parade army, with marching bands, uniforms and strict guidelines and rules and not an Army with a purpose, a mission, sold out devotion to the battle.

We are in a battle. We need soldiers. People who will fight! Will you join? The war against sin. Personal and corporate! Sign up and glorify God in your life!

12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

The time I have had at 614 has been educational...

I met an assylum seeker the other day. He is from Sri Lanka and he moved to Australia about 10 years ago or so. However some new laws came some years later and he was not allowed to work anymore. He cannot get centrelink or any other assistance from the government. He is stuck here in Australia in a situation not to different from Tom Hanks in 'The Terminal.'

I used to be more on the governments side on this topic. I thought if you want to come into Australia, come in the right way. Dont jump the qeue. However, having spoken to this man about his story, my view has changed.

People deserve dignity. They desrve food, water, shelter and clothes. I believe these are basic rights. The Salvation Amry agrees.

Praise God that we were able to help him with some food vouchers! He gets shelter, some food and clothes from the red cross as well.

His time in Australia has not been all bad though. He moved ovr here a professing Budhist. (or was it Hindu? I always forget which...) Anyway, Swanston Street Church of Christ helped him out for a while too, and was introduced to Jesus! His life has changed and he is now a firey follower of Jesus Christ who claims Gods promises of provision in his life!

It is great to see the red cross, swanston street c.o.c and The Salvation Army provide for this man in Jesus name. Pray about the Assylum seeker situation, the assylum seekers, the politions and decision makers, and pray that as a Great Country, the great Southland of the Holy Spirit, Australia we will be able to provide for ALL people in Jesus name!

As William Booth said, if someone was burning in a house on fire, would we first ask if they had paid their rent before we saved them?

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

Matthew 25

Ive been really blessed by God this week! God has given me some temporary work at 614 doing Emergency Relief (E.R) It has been fantastic to meet all the order guys and to get to help them out during this busy time of the year!


One of the many things that has stood out to me is their common purpose. The reason why people do things is all for God, its for their Salvation! When we help people it is out of love for the person and what greater way to show our love than to introduce people to Jesus Christ who laid down His life for the world so that we may be re-united with our maker in a purposeful loving relationship!

Im helping in the ER and we are encouraged to pray with people and help them Spiritually or in any way we can.

I was reading a passage the other day and it really spoke to me:

13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."[f]
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:13-15)

We tell people about God with our actions, but people also need to hear the gospel so that they can call on the name of the Lord! Jesus Christ!

Pray for the 614 team that they can share the gospel as they love people in all ways. Pray that the people they are helping will hear the gospel and call on the name of the Lord and be saved! To God be the Glory!

I love Pauls letters to the Corinthians! I especially love the part about our ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2.

(V11) Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men...14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again... 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come...20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors!

If we are filled with the love of God and know the gospel is the power of God to save, then surely we will love (love as a verb) people enough to make the salvation of their souls a main priority!

God, use me to bring people to you!

I havent been able to find many photos from commissioning yet... Heres one I snapped during Commissioner Knaggs sermon...

Ive been reading through the New Testament and I have been amazed at what God has shown me! Its amazing how we can read the same piece of scripture time and time again and get something new out of it that speaks to our heart! Its also been great because for some reason in my head Ive always thought that these 'holiness' scholars were godly people but may not have the 'best' theology...But I am completely wrong, the army's teaching of holiness comes straight from the Bible! Hallelujah!

Anyway, the bits that keep standing out to me is about the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I always knew that there was power in those two works of Christ. But lately Ive been searching what they actually mean.

The death of Jesus was for our sin.
The resurrection of Jesus is for our resurrection.

When we ask God to forgive us of our sins, He does because Jesus takes our place. He deals with sin on the cross. We crucify our sin with Jesus. Then just as Jesus was raised again, we too are raised again!

don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-4)

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive! (1 Corinthians 15:22)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful nature with its passions and desires! (Galatians 5:24)

Theres heaps more but I'll stop there for now!