Thursday, December 12

Commentary

Commentary, Personal Life

That’s Ridiculous

Read below or listen to the full message here. In boxing there is a combination of 3 power punches, used especially in close confinement, where your opponent is 'getting in your face'.  It is the right cross - left hook - right cross.   Paul ends his letter to the Philippians leaving us impacted with 3 power punches to our lives.  Locked in close confinement, in prison, yet keeping a good attitude Paul has more than enough authority to speak on these topics we will touch on today! The first right cross is revolutionise your life through your attitude.  He then comes in with the left hook - be utterly transformed by what you think on.  His final punch, leaving his audience reeling with new life is the right cross of 'ridiculous faith'.  In fact all 3 naturally speaking could be perceived
Commentary, Personal Life

Shine Bright like a Diamond

Read blog below or listen to the podcast. Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, SHINING LIKE BRIGHT LIGHTS in a world full of crooked & perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.  Philippians 2:12-16 God’s not looking for Christianised people - He’s looking
Commentary

Unashamed!

  For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20 Some years ago I was sitting in a meeting in which there was a disagreement in the room.  I remember beginning to get agitated and I eventually walked out. Right at that moment I lost my boldness to act on behalf of that group, because I had lost my ‘cool’ in front of them.  A rash act, a loss of self-control, a silly decision, can leave us without courage. We feel guilty, ashamed, we have to work at repairing the situation (which is what I did immediately in the days following that event). Once there is repair, there is courage again. Paul has just
Commentary

Inclusive Perspective

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.  God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There is a danger in life that we make certain jobs, gifts or services look exclusive, like they are better than others, or certain people must not do them, or we get defensive of others coming on 'our patch'. Paul would have been addressing similar tensions here in Corinth. He is saying we all have been given spiritual gifts, lets not be 'precious' about that, they have little to do with us, they are a gift of the Holy Spirit.  So whether I prophesy, have a word of wisdom, or speak in tongues it is a product of the workin