"Be Holy"

I justs did a word search on biblegateway.com on "be holy" and came up with a few passages. Hopefully this will show you all that God does want us to be holy! Either the Bible isnt inspired, or its lies, or it is inspired and means what it says...

I believe God wants us to be holy and here are a few reasons:

Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you [a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

Exodus 22:31
"You are to be my holy people"

Exodus 31:13
"Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy."

Leviticus 6:25-27
also has a bunch of times when God says He will make us Holy.

Leviticus 11:44
I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy

Leviticus 11:45
I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy

Leviticus 19:2
"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy

Leviticus 20:7
" 'Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:8
Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

Leviticus 20:26
You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Leviticus 21:6
They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the offerings made to the LORD by fire, the food of their God, they are to be holy.

Leviticus 21:8
Regard them as holy, because they offer up the food of your God. Consider them holy, because I the LORD am holy—I who make you holy.

Leviticus 21:15
so he will not defile his offspring among his people. I am the LORD, who makes him holy. ' "

Leviticus 22:9
" 'The priests are to keep my requirements so that they do not become guilty and die for treating them with contempt. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.

Leviticus 22:32
Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy

Numbers 16:3
They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"

Numbers 16:5
Then he said to Korah and all his followers: "In the morning the LORD will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him.

Deuteronomy 14:2
for you are a people holy to the LORD your God

Deuteronomy 14:21
Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to an alien living in any of your towns, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 26:19
He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.

Deuteronomy 28:9
The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.

Psalm 89:7
In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.

Isaiah 4:3
Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 62:12
They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted

Jeremiah 2:3
Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,' " declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 20:12
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.

Ezekiel 37:28
Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' "

Matthew 27:52
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Romans 12:1
[ Living Sacrifices ] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 15:16
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

Ephesians 1:4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Ephesians 2:21
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

Ephesians 5:3
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Ephesians 5:25-27
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Colossians 1:2
To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Colossians 1:22
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1 Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

1 Thessalonians 3:13
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1 Thessalonians 4:4
that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

2 Timothy 1:9
who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

2 Timothy 2:21
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Titus 1:8
Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

Hebrews 2:11
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:14
because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 12:14
[ Warning Against Refusing God ] Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 13:12
And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

1 Peter 1:15
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

1 Peter 1:16
for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 3:5
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.

2 Peter 3:11
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives

Jude 1:14
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 22:11
Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."

I havent searched throught the sanctification passages, or even the freedom in Christ passages etc. I hope you can see that holiness is not just a salvo/holiness movement idea. Its a GOD AND BIBLE idea! We cant possibly say holiness cant happen! Lead us in holiness LORD!

i believe Holiness is real

Ive been praying that we would be a "Blood and Fire" Army!

I believe holiness is real. I believe we can get it. I believe in entire sanctification. I believe we dont need to sin and that we can stop sinning. I believe The Salvation Armys doctrines. I believe God ment "be holy as I am holy" when He said it. I believe the blood of Jesus cleanses us and the fire of the Holy Spirit enables us to live a holy life.


Imagine if the whole Salvation Army was washed in the blood and filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit?!?! Imagine a holy army? Imagine a Spirit empowered Army from the most insignificant soldier right up to the general! (and every adherent and social worker/employee too!)


Do the people reading this blog believe you can be free from sin in the here and now? Do you believe you can stop sinning? Have you stopped sinning?

Confused

I dont recall anytime in Jesus ministry when He knocked back a plee for healing. When He was walking along the road, whenever people asked to be healed He did. The times people werent healed was because 1) They didnt believe or 2) they didnt have enough faith...

Last year I chipped my front tooth in half in the middle of footy season. The tooth was miraculousy ok and they stuck the other half back on no problems. Then in a wrestle at Easter camp it got chipped again. I went to the dental hospital and they capped it. Again, miracuoulsy the tooth was fine. Then a couple of weeks ago my teeth began to get sensitive to cold drinks and ice cream etc. Then the last week its been almost constantly hurting,

So yesterday I locked myself in my bedroom and prayed. And prayed and prayed. I asked God to heal me. I asked for a new tooth. I thought that He would heal me. I even thought I heard Him say "go and clean your teeth 7 times and you will be healed." I did and i thought it was healed then it came back.

Then today I woke up and it was hurting and was in really bad pain! So today I went and got a root-canal. Ouch!

Im convinced that God heals in these situations. I have no doubt that He can heal me, or anyone, especially tooth aches. What Im confused about is why He doesnt heal me. Ive also seen in the Bible that often Jesus is moved with compassion before He heals. Maybe Hes not as compassionate on my tooth ache that I can get fixed at the dentist... Im not sure.

Either way though, I still believe God heals today. Whenever Im in pain or someone else is I will pray and declare healing. I believe in Gods healing power even though it didnt happen this time. I cant wait till I can blog a miraculous healing!

Pentecost Sunday

Well, I woke up yesterday morning nice and refreshed. Excited about preaching, but nervous at the same time. And I had a splitting toothache! On the way to Church I got a phone call from Sarah, (had it on speaker phone so i could still drive safely...) and I told her about this toothache and how I believed God was going to heal it.

As soon as I got off the phone it was fine! Hallelujah! Then once I got to the hall it came back. Then the meeting was really good. One part that really stood out was that we were invited to come to the front and write names of people we wanted to see saved on cards, then we put the cards on all the empty seats in the hall and we prayed. And we're going to pray for those people every day! And we're going to see those people saved! Hallelujah.

Then I preached. Tootchache stopped just as I got up, and I think it went well. I had everyones attention (apart from the person in the front row whos phone kept on going off!hahaha) And afterwards I had lots of people encourage me and tell me it was good, and they appreciated it etc. Its such an encouraging environment! Thank you Plenty Valley! Also, I even had someone in tears!Hallelujah! Now I pray that what was said will impact the way they live their lives... (I'll post a bit about what I said later...)

Other exciting news, Sarah did Junior Soldiers! And they read Acts 2 then got into the baptising in the Holy Spirit. I believe they were all baptised in the Holy Spirit, all slain in the Holy Spirit, and one of them saw a vision of Jesus, another saw a vision of a bright light which turned into a flame! Hallelujah, "your sons and daughters shall see visions!"

How was your pentecost Sunday? What did God do?

PENTECOST

Woohoo its Pentecost Sunday this sunday! Its the day we celebrate and remember the coming of the Holy Spirit!!! Im also excited because Im preaching on Sunday!

I would love a bit of help though. Does anyone have or know some refrences to Signs and wonders in the early Salvation Army? I know a couple but would love some more examples... Itd be great if you could get back to me before too long....

Thanks guys!

SELF HARM

I had an interesting chat today to a School Wellbeing worker. She said that one of the major issues in schools today is "Self Harm". She said it was contageous, and that ALOT of the youth do it these days. Another great point she made was that it has NOTHING to do with attention seeking.

She said that it goes on a spectrum, on one extreme people cut/harm themselves because the pain in their life is so INTENSE they hurt themselves physically to relieve themselves of the emotional pain.

On the end of the spectrum they feel so NUMB to the pain in their life that they cut themselves to see the blood, to see they are still alive.

We need to be able to deal with this problem. The problem isnt so much what they are doing, the problem lies at why they are doing this. We cannot judge people for doing what they are doing, there are reasons why they do this. Some of us understand its not the way to deal with problems, but for many it seems like the best way at the time.

I read stats that said 1 in 3 females ( i think by the age of 16) have self harmed. I know plenty who have done this. Differernt people deal with their problems in different ways. Some run, they use alcohol, drugs, self harm etc

As Christians we dont need to run. We dont need to bleed. Jesus died for us. He died to make us well, He died to take away our sin and guilt and shame. Isaiah 53:5 says "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." We need to be able to show the love of God to all people so they know that 1) there is relief and healing for pain and 2) that they are alive and can be made alive in Jesus Christ.

Blog 1

I had a couple of thoughts to blog about today, so I’ve decided to write 3! This one is number 1. All this one says is read the two below.

Blog 2

I believe last night was a defining moment in my youth ministry. I cant say for sure as I cant see the fruit yet, but I believe last night was special.

As I drove home I prayed for all the youth connected with my corps. And it was during this time that God broke me down. I pleaded with Him for their salvation, I cried before the Lord.

I believe this is the desperation we need. I was filled with love for the youth. Out of love I want them to be saved. Out of love I want Jesus to give them life in all its fullness.

I realised how inadequate I was, but how powerful and sufficient God is. God will save them! Hallelujah! Pray for them with me, and make a list of people you want to see saved and pray for them daily!



Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death. Psalm 68:20

blog 3

Yesterday was Red Shield appeal! I had a great time door knocking and doing some collecting on the roads, Intersections! The best money maker of them all. What was better was that I had some of the kids from the school brekkie club helping me, and the other great thing was I got to walk around the neighbourhood I was in and pray! And I got to pray a lot! It was great seeing some of the different people in my community!

Talking about money though I was reminded of another parable!

Jesus was talking to some salvos who had just done some collecting. One of the soldiers exclaimed, “This man gave me a $5 note!” Then someone else said, “I got two $10 notes!” and still a different soldier said “One lady gave me a $20 bill and all the change in her purse!”

Jesus looked at us and said, “I had a lady put in $2! And she gave the most!”

Of course, me and the other soldiers were confused. “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.".”

Thankyou to everyone who gave to the salvos on the weekend. We pray the money you gave us will help more and more people!

Salvo Mission

Ive been thinking a little bit lately and one of the things thats been bantering around my head is The Salvation Army's mission. This is what it is officially:

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by love for God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

The early Salvation Army was an evangelical holiness movement. Out of the Salvo's loving hearts they helped people any way they could. Getting people jobs, food, shelter etc and most of all getting people saved. Everything we did came out of their loving hearts. Love for God and love for mankind.

However I believe our mission wasnt to help people, I believe it was to get people saved. Because these early Salvationists were so passionate, so zealous, so committed to Jesus and holiness and evangelising that in their hearts grew a deep love for people. And out of that love came our amazing social work.

If we look at our crest or flag we see a glimpse of our mission. Neither mention social work. Instead they both depict holiness and evangelism. "Blood and Fire" the motto of The Salvation Army is depicted, The Blood of Jesus and the Fire of the Holy Ghost. Our mission was holiness and Salvation, and as said above holiness led to us loving people, then serving people.

Our society is drifting from the truth in the Bible, many no longer believe in hell or salvation only found in faith in Jesus. With a drift to a more liberal side people now see "hell" as sin on earth. Perhaps this has been caused by our western culture of seclurasim, not believing in the supernatural, or anything that cant be 'proved'.

Perhaps the Social Work has become part of our mission. Perhaps with the eternal, supernatural stuff gone many believe they are doing Gods misison of Salvation by simply helping people in the now, and not worrying too much about eternity. It is interesting, that as peoples beliefs have changed we have also lost our doctrine of holiness.

And with the cause of our social work gone (holiness) we have sought to find reasons to include social work into our mission. Perhaps the reason it is in our mission is because we have lost our holiness.

These are only ideas, some of them i dont know how much i agree with. Im not sure what came first, holiness then evangelism and social workk, or holiness and evangelism then social work. From what I have read and heard it was evang and holiness... What are your thoughts people? Are these ideas wrong? Missing something? Spot on?

The parable of the STUPID polititian!

Theres alot of politics going on at the moment, which reminds me...

There once was a polition. He was well liked by his nation, he would go the people, listen to them, talk to them and have compassion on them. He would then do what he believed was best for the people, he would empower his supporters and he had a clear mission! And they kept on voting for him.

But after a while he lost his passion for the people and spent most of his time in parliament with the other politians. The nation stopped voting for him even though his party was better preferred, everything he stood for disappeared quickly, and soon the public stopped voting for him. Once he finished this job, he went bankrupt and ended up homeless.

If you forget your mission in life you will end up like the homeless polititian.

I believe this is an analogy of The Salvation Army.

Heres one of the questions I often ponder, "Do we keep open churches that arent growing or trying to grow, do we sow time and effort into them to see if they bear fruit again or do we shut them down and chase our mission un-restricted?"

While sitting in the gutter the politian was reminded of the times he would speak to people such as himself, he would have pity on them and try to give them a job. Using the glory of the past to motivate him he got up, dusted himself off, and began his second go at being a polititian. He was successfull, and was never voted out of parliament again!

Parable of the Soldires and Red Shield Appeal

ok, everyone (except me) is getting sick of the footy stuff...

The Kingdom of God is like this:

One day a Salvo Officer asked his soldiers in his corps to some red shield collecting. He promised them Big Mac vouchers and a voluntary community work certificate. They all agreed to do it, and got started nice and early at 10am on Saturday morning.

Later on Sunday there was still many more doors to be knocked on so he asked some of the community people someone to do some red shield appeal collecting for him. He said that they would get a Big Mac voucher and a voluntary community work certificate. So they started at 12pm.

Then later in the day when there was only 1 hour left, the officer asked someone else with the same deal.

Then, with only one house to go he asked a young kid to do the final house, again at the same price.

When they all came in to get their Big Mac vouchers and Voluntary Community Work Certificates the officer started giving out the stuff to the young boy first, then the community people, and finally the soldiers. The soldiers were annoyed! "We worked all weekend and get the same ammount as them? What the?"

The officer repied, "Didnt I tell you thats what you would be getting? Have I decieved you or been dishonest? Or is your heart evil, because I am good?"

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.

Who do you barrack for?

In case you havent noticed, I barrack for Port Power! You may have also picked up that I dont like Collingwood Football club. But, I still have friends who barrack for Collingwood!

Even more than that, I straight out tell people I hate collingwood, I say comments like, "Not Collingwood!" or "No Collingwood supporters here!" and guess what, they dont mind, they stick up for their team! Who we barrack for doesnt take away from our relationship. In fact, it improves it. It gives us something to talk about, something to debate. Something to look forward to. Every time they win they tell me and vice-versa! We tell each other. We agree to disagree without backing down from our own beliefs.

What bugs people is when you barrack for a team one week and a different one the next. What bugs many people in Australia is when you dont barrack for anyone!

This is the same with evangelism! You can tell people who you believe in, who you follow without 'hurting' people, or allienating them. I have friends who are atheist others who are muslim! You dont even need to be embarassed or ashamed! You can follow Jesus when everyone around you doesnt. You can even talk about it with people who disagree!

We need to be more like footy supporters. Not the ones that jump on the bandwagon. We need to be like the faithful Richmond supporters, because they havent won a game all year, yet theres still some who will openly tell people who they barrack for. They will openly discuss issues in their team and club! Do you do that about your faith? About your king? About Christianity? Do you barrack for Jesus all week or just when you have a few supporters around you?

"We have the power to win, the power to rule! Come on Port Adelaide aggression!" (Port Power theme song)

WE AS CHRISTIANS DO HAVE THE POWER TO WIN, THE POWER TO RULE! COME ON! SALVATION ARMY AGGRESSION! LETS SAVE SOME SOULS!!!!! BARRACK FOR JESUS IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!

(of course Jesus does the saving, but we save people by leading them to Jesus who saves them... you get the picture!)

Jesus calls people to repent

Luke 13:2-9

Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

The He told them this parable... (sorry jo in advance!lol)

A footy team selected a young bloke from the national draft. He started training with them, but after a while he still hadnt worked himself into the team. The coach got angry, "For three years now we've been waiting for this guy to break into them team, but he cant play any good! Get rid of him! Hes taking up a spot on our list which we could use for a better player!" Then one of the otherblokes said, "No, give him one more year, I'll work intensively with him, train him harder. If he plays well next year, that great! But if not, get rid of him, never to see him again!"

When I read that passage I thought of other people I thought that could apply that to. But, we all need to apply that to ourselves. Where are WE falling down? What part of our life is crap? What part of our life do we need to fix up? Get down on your knees with me and pray!

The lost son

The kingdom of heaven is like this...

One day a successfull Port Power supporter business mans son walked up to him and said, "Dad, I want to move to Collingwood. Give me my inheritance so that I may spend it over in there." The dad was not too impressed, but gave his son his inheritance.

Then the son moved to Collingwood. It was fun at first, drugs, alcohol and parties. Even running away from police was fun, it gave him a rush. He began going to the Collingwood footy games, he even started barracking for them. The drugs increasingly messed his brain up.

One day, after Collingwood recieved another thrashing, the boy was in the gutter with a needle hanging out of his arm. He thought back to home, where he use to watch the Power win game after game with his dad. So he picked himself up and caught the train back to Port Adelaide.

As he the station, he saw his dad, he was running up to the V-line train, as the son stepped of the train the dad gave him a massive hug. He took off the collingwood scarf and beenie and replaced it with brand new Port Power gear. He even gave him the signed guernsey his dad had had from POrt Powers first (but not last) premiership.

The boys brother was mad. "Ive always barracked for Port! I even use to egg the collingwood cheersquad!" The dad replied, "You have always been with me! We will always be Power members. But your brother was lost, and dead, going crazy from drugs, and even a collingwood supporter!But now he is home and a POWER SUPPORTER AGAIN!

Jesus barracks for Port Power!

Im convinced that if Jesus was around these days He would barrack for Port Power! I have a great reason and after a few weeks at church talking about God-icadences so I think I can blog about this.

1) Port Adelaide is known as the working mans club. Alot of the people who were down and out use to barrack for Port and because we won so much it lifted alot of peoples spirits. I think Jesus would love that sort of thing...

2) We sung a song today at church which is clear evidence of Jesus' preferred team. "There's Power in the blood!" Obviously this speaks about Port Power in Jesus blood...

3) The year we won the Premiership was the first and only season Id prayed for the us to win! (true story!!!)

4) And today, Port Power beat the demons!

What more do we want? It is obvious that Jesus barracks for the Power! Its in His blood!

Anyway, in all seriousness tough, we are reminded today of the power in the blood of Jesus. Jesus death (blood) made an atonment for us all, that if we confess our sins God will forgive us!!! Also, the blood of Jesus is powerful because it is a reused symbol of Gods protection from the spirit of death. (read exodus) Im also reminded of Jesus complete victory over all evil!

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:6

Footy Show Muslim

Last night on the Footy Show they had Bachar Houli Essendon footy player because apparently hes playing pretty good and has nearly cracked into the team. But what the panel was more impressed with was his faith.

He is a proud muslim and wouldnt back down from some of his habits (like praying...) and even stood up to some club officials and was straight out with them telling them what was so important about his prayer time.

What stood out to me was the comments of people like Garry Lyon and James Bradshaw encouraging the bloke saying how commendable it was for someone to stick to their faith and be the only one amongst hundreds at the club. Even more they told him that they have adopted him as their own and are going to follow his carer on the Footy Show!

What does this say to us as Christians? It says to me that we cannot compromise. It says to me that we need to be truthful and not be a hypocrite! It shows me that we can be respected for what we stand for even when we stand amongst people who completely disagree with us.

I believe last night spoke volumes about integrity. If you believe something, live as though you do. Or perhaps the way we lives shows us what we trully believe. What do you believe? How do you live? What would they say about you on the Footy Show?

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 7

Prophesy!

1 Corinthians 14:1-18

In 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul tells us to seek the greatest gifts! And yes he is speaking about Spiritual gifts! The next chapter goes onto say that love is the gretest gift of all. And we would all agree! For without love what do we really have?

Then Paul goes on to talk about prophecy. Check this verse out 14:1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." Paul picks out prophecy as a gift to go after. We know we can all recieve this gift. God may give it to anyone! Paul highlights reasons for prophesy being so good.

It speaks spiritual truth, it is for "strengthening, encouragement and comfort." Paul also highlights that it is great for non-believers! I believe we all need this gift! I believe we can ALL access tis gift. And Im going to tell you how, but first, think about these things,

Jesus called Zaccheaus out of the tree by name! There are no records of him ever meeting him before, then followed by love he completely turned his life aound. Then Jesus with the woman at the well, Jesus knew her life! Once she realised this she followed Jesus and a revival broke out in the village!

Imagine someone who does not believe in God at all came into your church. Would they have any reason to convert to Jesus? What if someone spoke a truth into their life that was obviously supernatural? How much easier would that be?

Heres how I have been learning to do it. Im sure this is just one of many ways to do it!

1) Look at the promises of Jesus, (I will answer you when you pray Jer33:3, I am with you always, ask for bread and i wont give you a stone etc)
2) Hold God accountable to them
3) Have the persons best interest at heart (love them!)
4) Picture them in your head
5) Ask Jesus to join the picture
6) Pay attention to where Jesus is and ask Him why He is in that spot
7) Look at the whole picture and ask what it means
8) Ask if there is anything else He wants to say (it may be one word, or a memory, or testimony etc)
9) Tell the person what you saw etc
10) Tell them it is what you believe is from God, and that they should test it (you should test it first aswell.... but test with scripture, body of Christ, Spirit (fruits etc Gal5) does it all line up?) to make sure it isnt something you've made up.

Lets live as though God really is alive and really does speak to us! God may not give you AMAZING weird things to say, but remember, God does speak to you, and will tell you saomething to say or do or pray. All of it is valuable and you never know how something seemingly so small can be so big for someone else! All of it can be a form of loving the person.

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. " 1 cor 13:2 Get out there! Love and prophesy!