Church Growth

The promise of the Holy Spirit

The promise of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1 Bible Study: The Acts of the Apostles is the story of a transformed Church, a Church motivated, with a purpose, on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit! The Word of God says Jesus will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire! 'You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth' (Acts 1.8, NKJV).

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 2)

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 2)

I want you to wake up and live a Turbo-Charged life! How? Paul says in Romans 12:1, ‘Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord.’ But, he says, that is only ‘reasonable service’. It’s expected of you. If you’re a servant, an employee, that’s what you do for your wage. If you want the Fire of God to burn in you, present your whole body, your whole life, as a reasonable sacrifice.

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 1)

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 1)

Many Christians ask, “What can God do for me?” While this is important, you should be asking, “What can I do for God?” I’m a citizen of the Kingdom of God. I’m an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God. The power and authority I have is not my own, the Power and Authority I have is from the Kingdom I represent! What I do in my life should represent the Power which God has. My strength is not my own strength, but His. This is what drives me to greater efforts to glorify Him.

Godliness is great gain

Godliness is great gain

‘Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.’ The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, is very concerned to instruct his young disciple how to deal with false teaching and corruption - especially financial corruption - in the church in Ephesus.

Stir up the gift of faith

Stir up the gift of faith

Stir up the gift of faith. The Apostle Paul writes, 'I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.'

Don't shipwreck your faith

Don't shipwreck your faith

“Fight the good fight, hold on to faith and a good conscience - because some have rejected these and shipwrecked their faith.” Chapter 2 begins, “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” Paul makes it quite clear that the end goal of our prayer is Salvation! So often we get away from the basic truth of the Gospel, which is to bring men to Salvation.

Sons and daughters of God

Sons and daughters of God

People ask me, who is your successor? My answer is, I have no successor! I haven’t finished my job yet, and I won’t quit until the job is finished! But more and more young pastors and leaders are coming to me for help and advice; I want to encourage others to follow in my steps, and do as I have done for the last 73 years in full-time ministry. That’s why I have chosen Paul’s first letter to Timothy - whom he describes as his ‘true son in the faith’ - because I want to talk to you as MY true sons and daughters in the faith.

Reconciliation and Transformation through Christ

Reconciliation and Transformation through Christ

Our faith and love should be such a hallmark of who we are in Christ. This is key – our trust in Jesus. Our faith is in HIM. As Christians the most important thing in our lives is trust. And it’s not just faith, it’s love for Christ – and our love for all the saints.

The Hope of Glory

The Hope of Glory

'...give joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.' (Colossians 1.12-13, NIV.)

We receive an inheritance when somebody dies: Jesus died, and we inherit everything He had! Everything God had in Jesus – we inherit! If I were to die right now, my family gets everything I possess. And literally that’s what happens to us in Christ. We don’t have to die to inherit it, it’s something we enjoy in life

Our hope is in heaven

Our hope is in heaven

For all believers there is the wonderful hope of heaven; from this assurance springs the faith and love we express in this life. Whatever we are going through today, our hope is not down here, OUR HOPE IS IN HEAVEN. We’re not expected to be wealthy down here, we’re not expected to be living necessarily in comfort. My real home and your real home is the FUTURE. I feel that somehow the Church has lost sight of the key element of our faith. OUR HOPE IS IN HEAVEN – NOT HERE!