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  • The Kingdom of heaven in arms reach

    Sometimes I think that we speak of Jesus Christ – Christ being Jesus’ last name. Rather we need to remind ourselves that the word “Christ” means “Anointed One” or “Messiah.” It is a title that points to an experience. It was not sufficient that Jesus be sent from heaven to earth with a title. He had to receive the anointing in an experience to accomplish what the Father desired. It was the anointing of the Holy Spirit that stood him in good stead in the 40 days in the desert and the commencement of his ministry and indeed right through to its fulfilment.

    The word ‘anointing’ means “to smear.” The Holy Spirit is the oil of God that was smeared all over Jesus at His water baptism (see Luke 3:21-22). The name Jesus Christ implies that Jesus is the deliverer, the One smeared with the Holy Spirit.

    But there is another spirit that works to ambush the Church in every age. This power was identified by the apostle John when he said, “Even now many antichrists have come” (1 John 2:18). The nature of the antichrist spirit is found in its name: anti, “against”; Christ, “Anointed One.” (more…)

     
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  • The Chief Guest

    [Read and meditate on Revelation 3:14-22]

    “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and them with me.”  (Revelation 3:20)

    We are seeing that we are inescapably social beings. Whenever we try to live on a ‘they-I’ basis we live outside the basic laws of our being. We are made to relate not only to God but also to others. ‘It is not good for man to be alone’, said God in Genesis 2:18. Genesis 1:27 tells us, ‘So God created man in his image … male and female he created them’. Created in God’s image humanity is called to reflect that image through ‘male and female’. Some believe this refers to the institution of marriage, but it refers also to the larger issue that within the God-given joy of being unique individuals we can know what it is to be a true human only in relation to others. Our relationship with our fellow human beings as well as with God have helped to make us who we are. Those who do not feel they belong have no clear sense of identity. (more…)

  • TASTER – 40 Days of Hope and Renewal

    As you know the condition of our heart and our mindsets have an enormous impact on our capacity to ‘live abundantly’. The season we live in is impacting our hearts, our minds, our well-being.  In response to our predicament, Garry Hardingham, one of our leaders has produced a daily devotional titled,            “40 Days of Hope and Renewal”

    There is a link to this series on our Facebook page and Website. We are happy to print and copy the series for you week by week if you want it. Personally I am including it in my daily devotions.  I’ve included for you, as a taster, excerpts from   Day 1– Laying the Foundation 

    The Bible has quite a lot to say about hope.
    Biblical hope has as its foundation faith in God. The word hope in English often conveys doubt. For instance, “I hope the Aussies beat the poms again” In addition, the word hope is often followed by the word so. This is the answer that some may give when asked if they think that they will go to heaven when they die. They say, “I hope so.” 

    However, that is not the meaning of the words usually translated “hope” in the Bible.  (more…)