After the morning service someone approached me and said they had been wondering what Kathleen had been feeding me as they felt I have be on fire this past few weeks. Someone else sent an email stating, "wonderful service today - it made me think". Then a girl who has been attending New Life this past few weeks said, "the worship in this church is amazing; I have never seen the pastor at xxxxxx Church ever lift his hands in worship". Well, we very much appreciate all the positive comments, but without being smug or pompous, we deeply appreciate what God, and who God, has blessed us with. The worship was pumping and once again helped to create an atmosphere for the message to be delivered and received.
The message I brought was "Earnestly Seeking God", based on Heb.11:6, "God rewards those who earnestly seek him".
1. Earnestly Seeking God is about genuinely seeking the face of God; not necessarily the hand of God. Seeking God is not about trying to push the right buttons where we think we can impress God, or force God to sit up and listen and give us what we think we can demand of him, but seeking God is about drawing close to him with the desire to know him. Like Paul said, "That I might know him".
2. Earnestly Seeking God will release benefits, because God rewards those who earnestly seek him. David said in Psalm 19 that in seeking God and in obeying his Word there is great reward. Like physical exercise is good for the body, but only if you do it. Eating the right kind of food will yield physical and health benefits. Hanging with the right kind of people will produce benefits, so that you need to be careful who you hang with and who you listen to.
3. Earnestly Seeking God is not about getting your loyalty card punched every time you attend church or every time you step into the Secret Place in the hope of getting a prize or a treat, but it's about seeking God for no other reason than to spend time with him. There are times when it is important to simply spend time with the person you love, not for what you can get, but just to spend quality time with them.
4. Earnestly Seeking God does not mean you don't ask God for anything. In fact Jesus said we should. He said, "Ask.., Seek.. and Knock". But God will not reward us simply because we ask, but because we earnestly seek him. God rewards faithfulness.
5. Earnestly Seeking God might result in you becoming a millionaire or the CEO of a large company, like Moses and Joseph, but spare a thought for Stephen whose reward was to be stoned to death; or Peter; Paul and the other disciples who all, except John, died violent deaths. Jesus never said, "Great will your reward be on earth", but he did say, "Great will your reward be in Heaven".
If you want a CD Copy of any message email Paul McGurk at franciswhite57@yahoo.co.uk Thanks Paul for all your help. You're doing a great job.
Barbeque & Match: Great afternoon as quite a number came to the house for a barbeque and then to watch the match afterwards. Great barbeque, but a pity about the outcome of the match. Well done Reina!
Meeting with Team Leaders: This took place on Sunday night. We shared our heart and our plans relating to Twenty10Renew. This was a very positive meeting and has added to the sense of excitement regarding the ongoing development of New Life City Church. I made the point that we have now arrived at the point where we are "forgetting those things that are behind" and that we are "pressing forward". I expressed deep appreciation for all who have contributed to get us to where we are today, whether with us or no longer with us, but we're no longer looking back; we are looking forward and moving forward.
We now look forward to meeting with ALL team leaders and team members on Monday night at 7.30 pm.
Thanks again to everyone who works hard for the development and advancement of New Life City Church.
Have a great week. Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.
Pastor Jack
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