When your dreams die…….

We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing.
2 Corinthians 8-10 (The Message)

Paul, just like you and me, saw his God inspired dreams die. Sent by God into Asia to bring the Good News of Jesus to the people, he probably expected welcoming doors to open. However he and his team experienced the opposite. Closed doors of steel lay before them at every turn. Pain, rejection, punishment, and failure. Paul writes that they thought they were going to die. Things were that tough.

When his dreams lay broken before him, when all seemed lost, the Holy Spirit reminded him that God is the God who raises the dead. Right in the middle of his crushed dreams, he turned to God. He turned in faith to “trust God totally.” And his dream rose from the ashes.

That dream God gave you. That impossible dream He placed on your heart. That dream that was crushed and ripped from you. That dream that died….. Good News….God raises the dead….He raised Jesus…. Put your faith in Him.
Bob Lipsys

Ordinary Extraordinary

I think that someday when we get to Heaven, we’re going to be amazed at how many things in this life were actually activities of great spiritual worth, but we thought they were just everyday, human things that God didn’t really care about.
Jim Driscoll http://www.stirthewater.com

One of the most significant words God has spoken into my life was: “Take your girls for a walk.” Nothing super-Spiritual about that. However during that walk with my wife and 2 very young daughters, God spoke into our lives. The end result was that we left all that was secure in our lives (A career I loved, financial security, our positions in the local community, good house, friends, Church and ministry, and our dreams) to follow God’s call into the ‘unknown’. We ended up 850km away, totally reliant on God, His provision and His security.

Over 7 years we lived where our income did not meet our expenses. Yet we lived these years without debt. In our everyday lives we experienced God’s presence, His faithfulness and His provision. We always had enough for our needs plus enough to give. By the end of the 7 years we had four children who all had experienced God providing for their needs. We now have four children with deep faith.

Faith is grown in everyday experience, as we interact with God. According to the Bible, that is the sort of faith that pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Want to experience God? Then begin in your everyday life. Ask yourself the question: “What do you want me to do next Lord?” And keep asking it and obeying Him.

Bob Lipsys

Need healing? Then Easter is good news for you.

I'm willing to help you, I'm willing to heal
I've borne all your sufferings, I know how you feel
Your pain can be ended, my power is real
I'm willing to help you, I'm willing to heal
©Don Francisco “Willing to Heal” from the “He’s alive” album

When Jesus died on the cross He died in my place and in your place. He suffered for our sin, so that we could be put right with God. On the cross Jesus took our sin. When we put our faith in Him, we receive His righteousness as our own. It is certain.

Just as certain is that Jesus died for our sickness, our brokenness and our diseases. His suffering and death also brings healing to us.

Consider these Bible Passages:
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Jesus is willing to forgive you, reconcile you with God the Father, and heal you.
That is what Easter is all about.
Bob Lipsys, Australia

You’re not talented enough, gifted enough, smart enough.......

“You’re not talented enough, gifted enough, smart enough, educated enough, equipped enough, good looking or beautiful enough to carry out God’s cause or purpose for your life!” ….However,.. “God is not looking at your ability” but at your heart
Paul Kafentzis http://www.finishingstrong.co.za/

Too often I’ve shrunk back from God’s call on my life because I’ve looked at my natural gifting. I know that I just have not got what it takes to do what God is calling me to do. His “vision” is beyond my abilities.

Paul Kafentzis however got the point across to me in the great quote above. He is right. In our natural selves, we just don’t have what it takes. But, serving God is not about having the abilities or “the look.” It is all about having a heart that is firmly set on God. That is why we are told to “Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.” We can’t fulfil our vision in our strength and abilities.

God’s vision for our lives is a God sized vision. We need to work closely with Him to fulfil it. Soak up the Bible reading below, then check out Paul Kafentzis’ site.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV)
Bob Lipsys

Doing the stuff part 2 - Healing

Last night at the "Sure Foundations" course at Church
Pastor Kevin spoke about "Laying on Hands" for healing,
impartation of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Linked to all this was prophetic words,
the guidance of the Holy Spirit and living right with a
repentant, forgiven, and cleansed by Jesus, spirit.

Pastor Kevin encouraged us to be involved in Laying on
hands and healing others. He said that there should be
a lot more healing taking place in the Church and outside,
for it is God's desire to heal. We need to trust God and His
Word and pray for others. We need to ask God for the words to
pray in each situation and see Jesus save and heal.

Anyway, we had barely got 10 steps out the room when we
came across a Church member with a "shoulder problem".
Within seconds three of us had laid our hands on the
shoulder and were praying for healing. We were not even
in the car-park yet.

We need to act on what we have learned from God. Be bold.
Go and do what God says. He says that believers in Jesus
"will lay hands on the sick and they will get well." Mark 16:18
Making the sick well is God's job. Our task as believers
is to believe God will heal and lay our hands on them in
response to God's Word.

The simple trust in a Good loving God and His Word is enough.
But if we do not act on it people will simply not be healed.

Bob Lipsys, Australia