New Cart!

People often put all their hopes in a ‘new year’, or even do a geographical to a new place. New does not always bring the required answers that people want. There is a saying that says, ‘wherever I go, there I am’. In other words a physical change will not change the person without a deeper, inner transformation.

People thought that it would be a good idea to return the ‘Ark of God’ to its rightful place by carrying it on a new cart. This proved to be a foolish, and disastrous, as the regulation for the arks transportation by carrying on wooden poles was ignored.

It is possible to have a new success, by new obedience to old decrees.



2 Samuel 6:3 (NIV)
They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart

New Teaching!

A man’s life may be under the control of evil forces. The effects can be physical, however they are always spiritual, and the evil forces will always cast the person to the ground wether it be physically or spiritually. To cast down is after-all the devils main work, robbing individuals of their worth, and bringing dis-ease to their being.

Jesus came to give us life in abundance, and a restoration of well-being that our adversaries have sought to keep from us. This new work that Jesus does is evident throughout the scriptures as He ministers to people.




Mark 1:27-28 (NIV)

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

New Spirit!

People in our Corps were a-buzz today, which was a follow on from the New Years Day Breakfast at the Quarters. A deep sense of joy, and celebration was evident, in our morning Worship service, as was their freedom being visibly displayed. Freedom in the lives of our people is an ever-growing development under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. People were spending time with each other, and valuable conversations were taking place throughout the morning. For this on-going new freedom, we continually give praise to God!




Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

New!

New! New! New! New!

That’s a good idea for the start of 2009. A New Year!

Millions have deprived themselves of sleep, consumed too much alcohol, and kissed as many strangers as they could find. Thus we commence a new year with old traditions.

The Sovereign Lord desires the return of his people to the place where they are supposed to be. This will bring about a personal, and a community transformation that will shake the foundations of life structures. A new structure will be built into each person, and thus into the community as well.

Meditate on the following Scripture, noting the ‘new spirit’ and it’s response.


Ezekiel 11:18-21 (NIV)
"They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."

To 'Be' Like Jesus

Our goal is to imitate and reflect the Life of Jesus in our own. In other words, “to be like Jesus.”

The Apostle Simon Peter, in his second epistle wrote to those who through the righteousness of our Saviour Jesus Christ received precious faith. Simon Peter then opens with the following greeting, Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2. NIV.) According to Simon Peter an overflow of the life of faith is to live in grace and peace, and then desire this to be the reality in the life of every other individual you meet. This is a state of ‘being’, or imitating the life of Jesus Christ. It is not obedience to a set of laws, as set down by others. Although there seems to be individuals who work within God’s family, who are willing to call others to righteousness, while they are walking a path that is causing havoc in other people’s lives. In contrast the call remains, to ‘be’ a people of grace and peace, and a reflection of Jesus righteousness with everyone.

Jesus

Except for some Angels, the birth of the Messiah was a rather ‘matter of fact’ event for the people involved. The celebration of the Messiah’s birth is now a worldwide multi-million dollar event. Even for those who have no idea of who Jesus is.




Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Shepherds (2)

Sunday in worship we focused on the Shepherds who were told of the Messiah’s birth. So I thought that it would be good to ….. attached photo taken by Colin.

Gwyn spoke of the Shepherds and their birthing caves around Bethlehem, for their valuable lambs to be sold for the Temple Sacrifices. These lambs entered Jerusalem by the sheep gate.

Luke 2:20 (NIV)

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

In The Shadow

Herodium.
Herod’s fortified palace was built on the hill that had the top cut off. After the palace was built the earth was piled up against the walls to make a steep slope.

In the shadow of this palace, a King was born in Bethlehem.

What a contrast!


Luke 2:11-14 (NIV)
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."