Credit Crunch?
"The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else” - Oswald Chambers
The news is full of banks losing money on the stock market, house prices falling and general confidence in the financial systems of the world running pretty low. The media have called this a 'credit crunch'. Things are moving very quickly in the financial markets of the world and we certainly need to pray for wisdom for the leaders of our nations in this time.
However, as a Christian - I know that the news, whether it comes from BBC or CNN, is not the truth and basis by which I live. I live by the truth of the living word of God found in the Bible. I place my life and the finances of my family in the hands of God, in the economy of heaven where there is no credit crunch, no cashflow crisis & no financial meltdown.
Yes, I see my gas & electric bills go up like everyone else. Petrol still costs the same whether you know Jesus Christ or not, but there is a truth and a vision beyond these costs that mean my financial status and foundation is radically different to everyone else who doesn't know God.
I've blogged in the past on the whole issue of tithing. I totally believe in this biblical principle. The following verse in the Old Testament is a key verse to put into practice, especially when things are as they are in the financial dealings of the world around us.
"Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship.....Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God" - Deuteronomy 14:23 (NLT)
When we tithe, we show that we fear God. We place our life in His hands and choose to trust, obey and worship Him in all His glory, majesty and power. Tithing takes us to a place of peace, to a place of trust and to a place of seeing God provide for all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Praise God, there is no credit crunch in the economy of heaven. When we fear God, there is no need to fear anything else, including the financial provision for our lives and families.
My testimony and that of my family is that when you put your life and finances into the hands of God, He will care for you, provide for you and prosper you. He is AMAZING!
Labels: Fear of God, Finance, Tithing
WorldWatch Conference
Rachel & I had a great time at the WorldWatch conference at the weekend in the Midlands. There was some exciting & inspiring ministry from Dr Bob Lemon (USA), Miguel Arango (Cuba), Tony Ling (UK) & other updates on what God is doing in nations around the world including India, Philippines & the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was great to hear of all that the Holy Spirit is doing through the church in these nations - God is on the move and doing amazing things all over the world.
There were many highlights to the conference including Keri Jones stating the following classic quote:
"I think that God is a Yorkshire Man"
This certainly got a loud 'AMEN' from me! We had a great time receiving some quality ministry and catching up with many fantastic friends from all around the world.
Labels: Conference, ministries without borders, Ministry
Counting the Apples in a Seed
"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God" - 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV)
Next time you eat an apple, have a look at the core and see how many seeds you can find. In any one apple, you can sometimes find 4 or 5 seeds. I know some people eat the seeds in an apple, but not me! Anyway, you can count the seeds in an apple but more importantly you can also count the apples in a seed. In any one seed, there is the potential for a future orchard. One seed can bring great increase and future fruit. Don't just look at the seed, look at the numbers of apples that can potentially come from that seed as it is planted and grows.
It's the same in our lives. As Christians, through the saving work of Christ, we have the seed of the Kingdom sown into our lives. That seed is loaded with life, packed full of potential and has the potential for incredible blessing and increase. Through the Holy Spirit living in us, Jesus is the eternal seed in our lives. He is the seed of increase. He is the seed of growth and life being seen in and through our lives in all that we do.
The seed of the Kingdom in our lives is sure to bring increase and life as we allow the Holy Spirit to nurture & water that seed for the purposes of the Gospel. We have the seed of health, the seed of prosperity and the seed of joy in our lives. Our God given identities are fertile soil for the seed of the Kingdom to bring great fruit for the fame of Jesus in the world around us.
Don't just count the seeds in an apples - make sure you count the apples in a seed. The eternal seed, Jesus Christ in us, the hope of glory has incredible potential, power & provision for the world around us!
Labels: Increase, Kingdom of God, Sowing
Jesus Brings Glorious Change
I'm back!
Following my recent
article on the miracle of Jesus changing water into wine, I had the opportunity & privilege to preach on this passage with our church family here in Manchester.
If you would like to listen to this, then click
here
Labels: Change, Miracles, Transformation
