Red Shield Ramblings

Red Shield Appeal is nearly done for 2014. I stood on intersections, at the shopping centre, in the counting room, at the local Bunnings and watched as people responded to us, in many ways.

We had people doorknocking, in the streets, at the train station, sports centres, intersections.... even telemarketting.

I want to express myself in a few ways about those that helped, you are all total legends, retired people working tirelessly, - we had retired commissoners, colonels and majors all working very hard and many others who have done this year after year.

Thankyou one and all. especially those who have never been thanked, thankyou...

To those in the kitchen, cleaning, preparing food, counting money, banking, couriers of cash, you are all highly valued and appreciated.

To those who did hours of collecting (hour after hour)....you are inspiring.

To those who didnt help .... I wish you would help next year, we could so do with more support.

To the public who donated, thankyou... many lives will be changed by the money raised.

To the public who said no.... (sad face) ... (not much to say)

 

So....

 

The Salvation Army was raised by God for a very unique and specific purpose.

We are part of God's church. We are no better than the rest of the body of Christ, AND, we are no worse.

We love God and we desire to serve His people, to help people get a "hand up", not just a "hand out"... to bring "lift" to others lives.

Some think we are weird, others hate what we do, some love us, regardless, we must be obedient to Christ and His call upon our lives.

If you are Salvo, then this is not optional, it's not like its some kind of privilege for Officers alone, but for us all... when we wear the name Salvo we are meant to make a difference, we are meant to work hard to serve others and bring this "Lift" to people, by loving Jesus and serving His purpose on the earth.

Sometimes Salvos get this misunderstood. Making it out to be something it was never intended to be.

If you are a Salvo, do you remember what the 2 "S's" mean on your shoulders ?

Saved to serve, Saved even to Save, either way or definition means it has purpose..its not just a decoration it has purpose and so do we.

So my friends...

Salvos - this is a call back to purpose

Salvos - this is a reminder of who we are and why we were raised in the first place.

Salvos - this is a War Cry.... we are not a Spectator Army,

we are "THE SALVATION ARMY "....

THE ARMY OF SALVATION...

I pray we will once again rise up to be that Army that changes and transforms society and makes difference to the world in which we live.

 

Being involved,

participants,

servants,

active not passive,

willing,

a part of the solution not creating a further problem...

Salvationists bring Christ with them wherever they go.

Thankyou to all those awesome Salvos who served Jesus today and helped us do the work we have been mandated to do and be.

Let's once again take Jesus to our world, and see what He does when given the opportunity through us.

 

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Thoughts from Today !!!

A few things happened today which messed with my head.

Firstly, I spent some time with a respiratory doctor, who was talking to me about some breathing issues I am having. That was quickly followed by a CT scan where they wanted to inject something into me to help the scan, and that caused me grief. Yeah I know I am a wuss..... weak, pathetic... but I hate needles, never alone the thought of some kind of stuff causing my head to warm up... so I nearly feinted.... sad I know.

Got the through the scan after that injection idea was aborted..... 2 more tests to go.

And then a very good friend shared with me tonight, and some blessings were once again imparted.

Life and Ministry are interesting things.

....so... here's my amazing insights....

Without breath,(oxygen) we are dead. ( I thought I was going to die today...)

but seriously.....

Without the breath of God, as Christians we are not in that good a shape also.

" Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew "

" Breathe on me breath of God, love and life that makes me new "

words of 2 great worship songs.... and God speaks through our friends, through His Word, through experiences, through worship songs..... this life, this newness... this shaping and His purpose.

God wants our attention, He wants us.

I am not that interested in being dead right now, physically or spiritually. I am ready for heaven, but I have much still to do on earth, (when my time is up, it will come quick enough) but in the meantime, for my life I am interested in Gods power flowing through me, in me, and out of me... His breath...His power...His love.

and hopefully flowing out of me will be words of courage and blessing to others around me.

I hope thats what people experience when they hear me or speak with me. And I apologise if thats not been the case.

 

May God Himself breathe new life ....new hope.... new grace....new mercy.... new love....new peace right into your heart today.

 

Blessings

 

Gary

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Crisis of Belief

According to Henry Blackaby, a great modern day pastor and preacher, Author, people often go through this "Crisis of Belief".

I would add, maybe we need to have many Crisis', before we can actually grow into the people God wants us to be.

Quote from the book " Experiencing God " (Blackaby):

" An encounter with God requires faith. Encounters with God are God sized. What you do in response to God's revelation (invitation) reveals what you believe about God. True faith requires action "

The crisis often comes when we are challenged beyond our comfort zone or pesonal perspective or world view.

Someone will challenge what you believe and you will be caused to go back to what it is you actually believe.

Many Christians never seem to go through these Crisis' because there is not much, or very little challenge coming their way.

a few other thoughts from Blackaby ( and Scripture ) you might need to grab this book for yourself and take a read for yourself, for the entire thought and teaching.

1. The crisis often comes when it is something that only God could do.

2. Obedience shows faith.

3. I can see God at work through me. It is possible.

4. Joining God requires faith and action.

5. What you "do", tells what you "believe".

6.Actions speak.

 

It leads us to surrender amidst the crisis...

 

A prayer for the crisis....( from the book)

Dear Jesus,

each day brings another crisis of belief. I must make decisions that show whether I trust myself or whether I depend absolutely upon You. I must act on Your purposes that You have revealed to me. You have provided the chance for me to participate in God sized tasks. Keep me from temptation of looking for "me" sized tasks. God, I want the world to see You at work in Your world, in Your church, in my life. The only way this will happen is for me to trust You, follow You, and obey You. Help me do this today. Lord show me Your way. I will follow it today, no matter what the reaction the world has and no matter what result comes in my life.

AMEN

On Thursday in our Cluster:

we were challenged about whether we choose popularity with our church over obedience to Christ.

I was greatly impacted by this statement and since then have decided that once again I choose obedience to Christ, and all that means for me.

................................................................

This morning in my quiet time, God gently spoke to me about how those around Jesus in those last days of His very public ministry, were more than just hurtful to Him, but killed Him. Misunderstood Him, abused Him, named Him and He was the Son of God.

I wonder why if I should expect anything less than Jesus ?

There are some fundamental things I hold as true, and cant be shaken on these things. These things have been laid in my life and beliefs over many years of observation of TSA churches as well as other churches and much reading about What God is doing in our world..... these things have now shaped my personal ministry belief and style and who I am.

The temptation is, to be silent and quiet, and as such, lessen the potential negative impact on my life.

 

If God call us to change the way we think about things, a crisis will come. You will need to work it out for yourself. If He calls you to change your lifestyle, you will need to grapple with that. If He calls you into ministry, you will need to grapple with that also.

One thing is unavoidable for any of us, when He speaks, if we are actually listening to Him, we will not be left the same, not if we are true and obedient to Him at least.

His ways are the right ways.

 

so for me....

 

I know whom I have believed,and am persuaded that He is able ..... Crisis and all.

 

I will not be popular, and it is impossible to please all.

I wish I could do that, But Jesus didnt, and He was the Son of God.

 

so love me or hate me...I am who I am,

and I Know what God is doing in me, and its His way for me,

all the way. and I mean all the way.

 

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El Shaddai ( Ringwood Message 10am service,May4th, 2014)

( this is the transcript of last Sundays message at Ringwood, obvioulsy apart from the ad lib words spoken, for those who wanted to read it or hear it, we didnt podcast last week, happy for my notes to be read)

 

El Shaddai... our all sufficient God, our almightyGod, He is our Lord, we are His people, we are called here for His purposes, we are His children and He is our Father.

 

I felt led to start the message today with this beautiful song to help us focus on Him as we open His word today and listen out to what He wants to say to us here at Ringwood today.

 

 

And He [the Lord Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to HAVE FIRST PLACE IN EVERYTHING. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

- Colossians 1:15 - 20

 

Paul reminds us, as he did in his writing to the Colossian church, that Jesus came to have first place in everything... first place in our church, first place in our lives, in our families, in our choices, ....in everything.

 

 

Now I am not assuming for one minute that He doesn't already have first place in your life, and in our church,

 

but I will say this...

 

its easy for Him to slip into second place, and even third place in our lifestyle and sadly even in the church.

 

 

 

so what do you do when you realise that He isnt first. ?

 

what does the church do when He has slipped into second position ?

 

 

sometimes when I preach I know I upset some people and I don't try to...really I don't, I don't get up on Sunday morning and think to myself, who can I upset today ?

 

when I was much younger than what I am today and was a youth pastor at Perth Fortress, another youth pastor (from Camberwell) said to me...your job Gary is to challenge their socks off..

 

so... have you got socks on today ? those who socks on today, please stand ...

(just a bit of fun)

 

thats never left me and I am seriously not trying deliberately to upset your personal apple cart , and if things are going well for you, spiritually, well know I am talking to the person sitting next to you....

 

in fact just say to them, " He is talking to you today".....

 

seriously... then...

 

what do you do if Jesus isn't first place in your life ?

 

it has been said by some in the past and I quote....

 

" you can tell how popular a pastor/officer, is by the amount of people who come to church,

but you can tell how popular Jesus is by the amount if people who come to the prayer meetings "

 

this is not some kind of guilt trip in getting you to come to the prayer meeting at 6am tomorrow.... even though its a very powerful meeting, and God is present. :)

 

but it is a challenge to get El Shaddai back on the throne of your heart to make Jesus number 1 and for that I make no apology whatsoever.

 

If He already is on the throne of your heart, then celebrate it,

 

and live it...

 

but if He isnt,

 

If He has slipped into second,

 

if you have become distracted and tired of waiting, bored with church and Christianity, just going through the motions....perhaps too busy with the church work load...

 

then this challenge is for you.....

 

the bible tells us ( Isaiah 40 )that strength will come when we wait upon The Lord...

 

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. [II Cor. 12:9.] Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. [Heb. 12:1-3.] (Isaiah 40:28-31 AMP)

 

I dont know what you want for your life and for our church, but for a few moments this morning as we consider Gods Word to our hearts today lets consider our options..

 

usually there are 2 choices in every situation, and in church

and in our life there is also...

 

we can choose to live:

 

powerless, weak, insipid, gutless,

going through the motions,

living out of duty

coming to church out of habit,

 

some churches are full of people who have become stuck in religious ruts...

 

or you can choose to live the opposite:

 

full of Gods power, strong, courageous,

celebrating each and every week in worship and praise unto God

coming to church out of desire and purpose.

 

and there are some churches that are also full of people like this as well.

 

but it is a personal choice in how you will live.

 

but when a church is full of people choosing to grow closer to Jesus,

 

to place Him as Lord, in word and action... living it out....

 

recognising Him as El Shaddai, all sufficient One

almighty God,

everlasting Father,

ever present God, and all powerful one...

 

when we Wait upon Him, hope in Him, expect Him to do what only He can do.

 

then something happens and it changes us.

 

 

some here will not like this last bit that I need to speak today, but nevertheless I will run that risk this morning.

 

Jesus is coming back one day, no one knows when...but the bible does give us some clues, and is very clear that, the world as we know it, will not always be like this...

we don't talk about anywhere near enough, for fear of scaring people, but nevertheless it is our hope, that we will be united with our King forever.

 

recently there has been some signs in the world of His impending arrival.

 

we get skeptical around about now,

when a preacher starts speaking this stuff,

 

but we should pay more attention to the events occurring in our world.

 

I wonder if you have heard of the strange sounds coming from the sky around the world these days ...in various capital cities, musical sounds are being heard without any explanation of where they come from..... try and google it and check it out for yourself, now let's just keep getting freaky...and mention the blood moons and the solar eclipses...

 

whether its now or another time in history still to occur, lets not misunderstand the truth of our faith and hope.. and know that the bible speaks of these blood moons and solar eclipses and trumpet blasts in the air... as all birth pains of a new world, and the return of Jesus.... I am no expert, and I am not sure there are any other experts either, as it hasn't happened yet, so no one has seen it as yet.. but I beleive the bible.... and what it says about the last days.

 

will we be ready when that day arrives ?

 

Jesus will return for His bride... the church. and when He does..... here are a few things we will not be interested in any more....

 

we will not be interested in criticising the preacher /officer ... haha

 

neither will we care too much about our job

 

we wont be worried about what uniform to wear

 

or what people are saying about us

 

we wont care about the music style, or the programs we run in a church

 

neither will we care about what church we come from

 

but we will be very glad we were a part of His bride.

 

for when that day comes, and mark my words, it will come, like a thief in the night the Word says....

 

all we will care about is El Shaddai......

 

so we might as well start preparing for that day right now.

 

Let me tell you 2 key things to do, (there are many more) to get yourself ready for that day..

 

but for today just 2...

 

write them down...

 

don't forget them,

 

let them become habits in your life, not a "once of " event....

 

1. Start praying..... continue praying.....join with others and pray together.

 

2. Worship Him and praise Him, here on the earth with total freedom and utter abandonment unto Him. Allow yourself to become Sold out for Jesus.

 

these 2 things will help you be prepared for El Shaddai when He comes calling for you.

 

 

Finally today:

 

don't put it off, make the change needed in your heart today to step closer to Jesus. No matter who you are, everyone of us here today, whether a Commissoner or a Colonel or Soldier or a Captain or an Adherent or a Major...whether retired or active. we all could be closer yet to Jesus.

 

could it be possible that by choosing to not step closer to Jesus, actually means you are choosing to step away from Him ?

 

you will need to work that through for yourself.

 

so as we pray this morning and listen to that beautiful song again...

 

you have opportunity to do business with El Shaddai in this place today.

 

Prayer

 

( check out the following link and listen in and respond to El Shaddai )

 

 

http://youtu.be/jy5XA4SwuPg

 

bless you !!!!

 

 

 

 

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