One More Soul!

George Barna says, “For Captive Christians, success is obedience to God, as demonstrated by consistently serving Christ and carrying out his commands and principles. For Casual Christians, success is balancing everything just right so that they are able to maximise their opportunities and joys in life without undermining their perceived relationship with God and others. Stated differently, Casuals are about moderation in all things while Captives are about extreme devotion to their God regardless of the worldly consequences.” (www.barna.org)

Casual Christians have their priorities confused. They have prioritized personal comfort over commitment to the cause of winning souls into the kingdom. Casual Christians have got just enough of God to be good but not enough of God to be contagious to the outside world. There’s no one better to know what a true Christian is then a non-Christian. Casual Christianity isn’t very different to the world around us but the Church is called to be different. The world should see something different about us. Christians are supposed to be SALT and LIGHT, not PEPPER and DARKNESS!

Every true Coke drinker knows a fake when they taste it. AC Cola from KMart is not the real thing and a true Coke drinker would spit out what isn’t the real thing. Jesus’ message to the Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3) was, “Because you’re lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Casual Christianity is lukewarmness and leaves a bad taste in the mouth of God.

God has not called us to be casual but contagious. We become casual when we lose our passion for Jesus and when we lose our passion for Jesus, we lose our passion for souls. The two go hand in hand. You can’t be passionate about Jesus and not be passionate about people’s souls. The devil has an agenda to steal your passion for Jesus and he will use anything and everything this world has to offer to distract you and I from what is most important.

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul says, “Though I’m free, I’ve made myself a servant to all…I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some.” Paul was talking about priorities. Winning one more soul was more important to Paul than his rights. Paul was free in Christ but he used his freedom to win souls into God’s kingdom. Paul was willing to adopt a certain way of life to be more effective at winning souls because his overriding purpose was ONE MORE SOUL!

One more soul is why we exist. We’ve been set free in Christ not for ourselves but to serve and save others. How willing are you to adjust your priorities to see more souls won into God’s kingdom. When your heart is broken by the things that break the heart of God you’ll want to adjust your priorities to win one more soul.

Proverbs 11:30 “Whoever wins souls is wise.” The greatest fruit of wisdom is not one more dollar but one more soul. You may not feel that your contribution is very important in the grand scheme of life but the truth is every little thing you do is not unnoticed by heaven and makes a difference to winning one more soul.  Every single time you hear the devil whisper, “Why attend church today? Why should you make the effort to share your faith with your friend? Why turn up to life group? Why give generously to God?” Just remind him of “One More Soul”. We do all that we do for one more soul!

Lead the Change!

 

Determining a Divine Call!

Isaiah 6:8-9 “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And he said, “Go and say to this people.”

God reveals in his Word that each of us have been created for a specific purpose (Ps 139:13-16). God has given you unique wiring, gifting and passions to compliment the unique calling he has created you for. Unlike what the world teaches, the bible teaches us that our calling is not our decision but our discovery. Abraham didn’t decide to become the Father of many nations, he discovered that it was God’s call and will to do so. The same goes for Moses, David and Isaiah.

On your journey of discovery you must distinguish between your vocation and your calling. The Apostle Paul worked as a tentmaker, church planter and teacher in his vocation but his calling was to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Your vocation may be as a teacher, chaplain, parent or business executive but your calling is far bigger than just a vocation. Convergence is when your vocation, past experiences and calling become aligned as one and the greatest fruit of your life is seen at this point.

I’ve learnt that before a divine call can live, some things must die. Isaiah had to be cleansed and set apart for him to receive his divine commission to be a prophet to Israel. In the same way pride and the works of our flesh must be removed from our lives for the divine call to come alive and breathe.

A divine call will also be accompanied by a conviction that heaven has spoken. Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall we send and who will go for us?” The only call that God will honour is the call from the throne room of heaven. One of the most important abilities we must develop is the ability to hear God’s voice. Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David and Jesus all survived and flourished in their ministry by their capacity to HEAR GOD!

There is no greater key to walking in your call than to hear God clearly and obey boldly whatever the cost!

A conviction that heaven has spoken must be accompanied by a response of availability. Isaiah responded to God by saying, “Here I am! Send me.” The call of God goes out but it often falls on deaf ears because we are too pre-occupied with small ambitions. Give up your small ambitions and come change the world. Be available for the call of God.

A response of availability must include a willingness to leave a place of familiarity. God said to Isaiah, “GO..” Are you available to go wherever, whenever God asks you to, to do whatever God wants you to do? When God called me to plant a church it required me to leave a place of familiarity – familiar people, surroundings, mindsets and experiences. It was difficult but it has been worth it. Leaving familiarity isn’t always geographical. For most of us it is attitudinal and relational. There are certain attitudes and relationships we need to leave behind to fulfill what God has called us to.

Lastly, a divine call will commission you with a voice for this generation. God said to isaiah, “Speak to the people…” Nothing will move until you speak to it. We are not called to merely echo all the voices of the past but to be a prophetic voice, present-tense, in our generation today. We’ve got to open our mouths and speak the gospel out, not just do good works. Walk in your divine call!

Lead the Change!

Burden for the CHURCH!

I have a growing burden on my heart for the state of the church in Australia. I have noticed it increase the more time I spend with Jesus. I have noticed that I am looking at my community, my city and nation in a different light since returning from the Sabbatical. I am feeling people’s pain and can see the spiritual emptiness in people’s lives more, as I walk around a shopping centre or the suburban streets.

I often hear myself and others pray, “Lord break our hearts for what breaks yours.” Have you stopped to ask yourself what will you actually do when he answers that prayer? That’s a massive burden and weight to carry around as you live your life. I don’t think we should take a prayer like that lightly nor should we dismiss the burden we will be entrusted to carry once God answers that prayer.

I am declaring war on casual Christianity in my own life and wherever God gives me a voice to speak into this issue in the church. The Australian church is a sleeping giant that needs to wake up. Yes, there are pockets of revival and momentum and there are many sincere and well intended leaders in the church but as a whole we have to acknowledge that we aren’t blazing a trail like we should be. There are too many Aussies dead in their sin and don’t think the church has anything to offer them. There are too many Aussies going to shopping centers on Sunday rather than attending a church service. And there are too many Christians who are content to be good rather than being contagious to the world around them.

What about you? Are you more comfortable than you are contagious? Have you settled in cruise mode and content to just go through the motions of empty ritual and lifeless relationship with God? This is not what following Christ looks like. True followers of Christ are captive in their devotion, not casual. True followers of Christ invest themselves into their faith and want their faith to make a difference in the world, whereas a casual Christian wants to keep their faith a private matter.

We are living in the last days. Time is running out and many people are heading to a Christ-less eternity. Get beyond your own comforts and conveniences and come change the world. Don’t spend your life in casual mode, look back and be filled with regrets. Life is short and eternity is a very long time. What we do now will echo for all eternity.

Lead the Change!

The Gift of Adoption!

 

Rose of Sharon

This week is Adoption Awareness Week which is important for several reasons. Adoption is one of the most important responses to the abortion issue in our nation. Adoption is a far more positive alternative for women and children than abortion. There are so many beautiful and yet unwanted babies orphaned around the world and in Australia. Many married couples can seek adoption and experience the blessings of being a parent to a child seeking the security and safety of a strong family home.

I am so blessed to have an adopted sister myself. My sister is currently 23 years old and originally from Seoul in South Korea. I can still remember sitting in the VIP lounge at Perth Airport watching my mother carry Carmen through the doors…or should I say Carmen was so big that she looked like she was carrying mum. Carmen was only 4 months old at the time but immediately she was a much loved part of our family as if she had been in our family from the very beginning.

I still remember sitting in the back seat of the car late at night holding onto my sisters 4 month old hand in awe of the new life in our lives. I was 8 years old at the time and I have very fond memories of the blessing Carmen has been to our family. I can still remember one birthday Carmen had as a young child, looking at the Chocolate cake in front of her and feeling overwhelmed with how to tackle it, she ended up dumping her full face right into the middle of the cake, attempting to get as much of the cake in her mouth as she could…

The national rose of Korea is the ‘Rose of Sharon’. My parents received a prophetic word about Carmen and the Rose of Sharon before we were able to go through the process of adopting Carmen from Korea. Carmen is our Rose of Sharon. Like any rose there have been some thorny experiences that have proven to be painful for both Carmen and our family over the last 10 years but Carmen is still our Rose of Sharon. She is a blessing and she is radiant. As she brings a new life into the world in approximately 20 weeks time, we as a family rejoice that we get the privilege to witness the fruit of her life in a country like Australia and in a family like ours.

Adoption after all is a reflection of the heart of God. Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba! Father!” Each of us as God’s children and believers in Jesus Christ have been adopted into God’s family. When we were broken and estranged from the Father and needing love, restoration and healing, God rescued us through Jesus Christ and adopted us into his family. Don’t take this for granted!

Australia is a prosperous nation that has so much going for it but we need to be reminded of the value of a person’s life. Children are a gift and heritage from the Lord and we are not to treat kids as distractions to our lives but as incredible blessings. Australia needs to listen to organisations such as the Babes Project (www.thebabesproject.com)and other like minded groups who are busy trying to recreate adoption as a positive alternative to abortion. Have you considered the blessing of adoption?

Lead the Change!

Create Margin!

Have you ever felt so fatigued over an extended period of time that you have thought to yourself, “I just don’t know how I can continue to keep this pace up.” I’m sure some of you have thought this before many times. I know this thought became more frequent for me over a period of 6 months.

We get to a place like this when we are living off adrenalin or we are operating at peak capacity for way too long. It is so important that you be a steward of the energy that God has given to you. You only have so many pockets of energy to do so many things in any one day. Life is a marathon and not a sprint and so like any distance runner does you must steward your energy to last over the length of the race you are running.

Each of us has been wired differently and with different engine capacity. Some of you have 4 cylinder engines and some of you have V6 engines and some of you are a V8. Regardless of what engine capacity you have been given you not only need to steward it but you can extend your capacity to serve you well over the course of your life.

Simple but profound things like sleep routines, healthy diet, regular exercise, multi-vitamins, tank filling activities, margin and most importantly time with God will refresh you and fill your cup back up to fulfill the call God has given to you. One of the keys that has helped me return to greater energy and passion in life and ministry has been MARGIN!

Margin for me looks like creating space between appointments. It looks like having a clear finish and start time for work responsibilities. It looks like not overcrowding my schedule with person after person and task after task. It looks like prioritising the top 5% of what God has called me to do over everything else. It looks like having a little extra in reserve rather than feeling wasted at the end of every day.

I’ve recognized that I can’t do as much as what I would like to do and still stay healthy spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally over an extended period of time. I remember a time in the not too distant past when I would have back to back meetings literally from 6.30am to 9.30pm at night on a Tuesday. Tuesday is a massive day in the church office but i don’t do this anymore because it’s unwise and not what God has asked me to do. Crisis of the heart wakes you up and calls you to change your life. If you don’t, you become another statistic. Create margin in your life and keep some energy in reserve for the surprises of life. Love you all!

Lead the Change!

Don’t Labour in Vain!

Psalm 127:1-2 “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”

King Solomon learnt that if we don’t build what God is building our labour is in vain. It’s a scary place to be when you discover you are building something God is not apart of. It’s even scarier to be building something and not know that God isn’t apart of the building process. My advice to you is if God’s not in it, don’t get in it. God should be in what you are building and if he isn’t, repent and get out of the way and let God have his say.

How can we make sure our labour isn’t in vain?

1. Build from overflow, not emptiness - The more you build on an empty tank, the more empty your building becomes. Know what fills and drains your tank and create space to do what fills your tank. Overflow looks like full of the Spirit, a mouth full of tongues, a heart full of joy and energy in reserve. Discuss.
2. Walk in your own anointing, not someone else’s - Don’t get distracted by another man’s ministry or doctrine or grace. Be thankful for what God has given to you and use what you have to the full. Don’t put on Saul’s armour but use the sling and stones God has given to you. Discuss.
3. Don’t build with a chip on your shoulder - Life is too short to hold onto offense. Being a follower of Christ can be hazardous to your emotions as criticism and persecution can come your way (Jn 15:20). When slander and gossip stab you in the back, shake it off and release it to Jesus. Discuss.
4. Never doubt the vision God’s given to you – A vision from God will normally go through a process of birth, death and resurrection. One of the most dangerous threats to your vision is the season of contradiction between what God has revealed to you and what your reality is. Assume the posture of faith during a season of contradiction and don’t deviate from what God has called you to do. Discuss.

Lead the Change!

Team Activate!

Every monday night in my household we have a family meeting together. Because of our kids young age they don’t attend at this point (because they’re asleep in bed)… So Simone and I catch up for a time of reflection on the weekend, planning a month in advance with our diaries and praying together for important things affecting the family and the life of Activate Church. Although we catch up every night over dinner as a family and try to go on date nights every couple of weeks as a couple, this family meeting is an important time in our week.

Every local church is like a family. I’m a firm believer in “As goes the household, so goes the church” (1 Tim 3:1-7 Outlines the priority of the home in the qualifications for leadership). Every church family needs to gather together and share important in-house information with each other. We also need to be refocused on where we are heading, why we exist and what’s most important. Lastly, we also need to have fun together, eating good food and have a laugh. 

This is the vision and purpose for TEAM ACTIVATE. Team Activate is a great opportunity for every person in our church family who contributes in any way, in any team for any purpose, to gather together and have a church family meeting. For 1.5hrs once a month we gather together and share important news affecting the life of the church, we refocus on where we’re heading, why we exist and what’s most important, and we have fun eating good food and enjoying fellowship with each other.

In the past we’ve had monthly leadership summits and training weekends which have been great but we see the need to sharpen and clarify what we do to benefit our entire church family. I personally want to invite you to come along this Sunday afternoon (22/11/09) from 3-4:30pm to be apart of Team Activate. We are not only a CHURCH but we are also a TEAM and every member of the team is needed.

I personally see this time as important to the health and growth of our church as each person gathers together to connect, to to grow and to be informed. From month to month we are all very busy with what God has called us to do but once a month we need to gather together and just refocus on what God is saying to us as a church family.

Every church family, like every family has significant events that shape the life of the family and TEAM ACTIVATE is one of these for our church. Just so you are aware, as we head into 2010 we will be hosting a TEAM ACTIVATE gathering once a month on a Sunday from January to November. The following dates and times for these gatherings are below. Book them into your 2010 calendar now and plan to be there:

• Jan 24th (3-4:30pm)
• Feb 21 (3-4:30pm)
• March 21 (3-4:30pm)
• April 18 (3-4:30pm)
• May 16 (3-4:30pm)
• June 20 (3-4:30pm)
• July 18 (3-4:30pm)
• Aug 15 (3-4:30pm)
• Sep 19 (3-4:30pm)
• Oct 17 (3-4:30pm)
• Nov 21 (3-4:30pm)

It is my expectation that every person who serves, leads or contributes in some way makes the time to attend TEAM ACTIVATE with a good attitude and a heart for the well being of the house of God. In no way are these gatherings meant to replace our celebration services on a Sunday but they are a great opportunity to foster the unity and focus of our church moving forward.

I look forward to seeing you at TEAM ACTIVATE. Spread the word around and bring someone from the church with you. Don’t leave anyone out and lets lead the change together.

Lead the Change!

Greatest Threat to Aussie Church!

Revelation 3:15-16 “I know your works: you are neither cold or hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

The greatest threat to the Australian Church is CASUAL CHRISTIANITY!

George Barna has recently conducted some research on the church and concluded that “Casual Christianity is one of the largest and fastest growing tribes in the Church today” (Barna Report).

Everywhere I turn throughout the Body of Christ I see the impact of casual Christianity. Casual Christians have their priorities confused, they have prioritised personal comfort over commitment to the cause. Casual Christians have got just enough of God to be good but not enough of God to be contagious to others.

Where I live and serve in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, casual Christianity is prolific and suffocating. While there are many churches in the region, I see a lack of fervency and passion for the cause of Christ. I’m glad that God has positioned me and other like minded leaders in this region to combat this surge of middle class, white, comfortable and casual Christianity.

The Body of Christ needs an enema to purge itself of passionless ritual and impotent witness. We need the presence of the Holy Spirit to invade our hearts and break us for the things that break God’s heart. Casual Christianity is not going to change anything. It occurs wherever our passion for Jesus and souls is lost. The devil has an agenda to steal your passion and he’ll use any and every means to do so.

God has not called us to be casual but contagious. Make a decision to get your focus back where it needs to be. What about you? Have you lost your fervency for the cause of Jesus Christ? Are you so comfortable that hardly anything moves you anymore? When was the last time you really spent time with Jesus and you heard him speak to you?

Romans 12:11 “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in Spirit, serve the Lord.” 

Lead the Change!

A Broken Heart!

My heart is weighed down today by how many people are out there who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. What’s worse is some of them don’t even care. Our society is so caught up in making money, consuming goods and services and creating the ultimate lifestyle that we haven’t got time to think about more important matters like God, love, eternity and justice.

One of the things that drives me is the reality that there are so many people out in the world who do not know the truth. Their hearts are hardened and their minds are covered with a veil of darkness and ignorance. The god of this world has blinded their minds to the truth of God’s Word. I am not content to live with this or to see my generation consume themselves away into a Christ-less eternity. I want to do something more about it.

But here lies the challenge, at the same time as I feel passion for doing something about the plight of people’s souls, I also feel overwhelmed by how big the challenge is. How do we reach people with the gospel and be effective in our reaching out? How do we overcome the challenges of global sex traffiking, child slavery, aids and poverty let alone the emptiness of western consumerism? How do we win more souls into God’s Kingdom? How can we grow churches quicker and faster than ever before because the darkness is thicker and more evil than it’s ever been before?

These are some of the questions I wrestle with as a Christian and as a leader of a local church. I struggle with my congregation, to be honest with you, because I so believe in them and I so want them to see that there is more in them than they can see and there is more that we can do together to change the world but some of my congregation take a long time to see themselves the same way and to respond to the desperate needs in front of us and that frustrates me. But then I look at myself and I see my shortcomings and I repent and ask God for forgiveness because I realise I am just like my congregation at times, distracted by the comforts and enticements of my own flesh and this world. “God help us to be more like Jesus to a world that is so far away from you.”

To be honest with you, I often walk away from these moments without any better answers or solutions than I had before the questions started to bounce around in my heart and head. But what I do have is a simple yet undying faith in God and His Word. I don’t know how we are going to save this generation but I do know that my faith in God and His Word is more powerful than the problems I face in this world.

I do know that God has given me some gifts to use and I intend to maximise those gifts to their utmost capacity for God’s glory and the benefit of others. I don’t have lots of money but the resources I do have and the love in my heart for God and for people I do have can be used to make a difference to someone. I don’t get asked into the Prime Minister’s office at all to share my perspective on various issues affecting Australia (yet) but the influence I do have I want to use wisely to help as many people as I can move towards leading others into Jesus way of life.

I don’t have all the answers but I do have a God who does. He is sovereign and he knows exactly what is going on and he has called you and me to play a part in redeeeming mankind and saving the planet from sin and death. What about you?

Lead the Change!

When it all comes down to it!

When it all comes down to it, nothing is more important than your relationship with God.

When it all comes down to it, money and material possessions will pass away.

When it all comes down to it, sex and sensuality will no longer exist.

When it all comes down to it, fashion and body image doesn’t matter in light of eternity.

When it all comes down to it, power and status don’t compare to the creator of the universe.

When it all comes down to it, medals and trophies pale in comparison to a heavenly crown.

When it all comes down to it, goals and plans are subject to God’s sovereignty.

When it all comes down to it, the only thing that matters is God.

Lead the Change!