One person who has been attending New Life for several weeks wrote on Facebook today "Jack, enjoyed the service today, great worship team; you are truly blessed and the message was spot on". Someone else, who has been at New Life for many years, wrote, "Great word today Jonathan; very challenging". Did we cross every "t" and dot every "i"? No! But we united our hearts and our voices in worship and we opened our ears to hear and our hearts to receive the Word of God. Great to welcome several people back from holiday. We hope you had a fab and refreshing time away. We already miss others who have gone on holiday this weekend and pray they get the weather we all deserve!
Jonathan brought a great word on BROKENNESS. That if we truly want God to move among us and through us we need a moment of brokenness; like the treasure in earthen vessels or the fragrance in the alabaster box that need to be released, but are often only released through brokenness. Yet the way we think, the mindsets we establish, often prevent real brokenness.
As a man thinks, so is he: The fact is you are what you think, but you are not necessarily what you think you are! There is a way of thinking within the world, and within the community around us, but the way we think and behave in church should not reflect the mindset of the world, but should reflect Christ. Prince William must always remember that one day he will be King; the way he thinks and the way he behaves must reflect this. As Christians, we are destined to one day reign with Christ, and our lives should reflect this.
Shaping our thinking: There are two things that shape the way we think. 1) A major event (like war; an attack on your life or your home etc); 2) What you surround yourself with; the things you listen to and the things you see. How should we shape our minds as Christians? Rom. 12:1 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". Do not be influenced by negative comments and negative seeds sown into your mind by others, but let your mind be renewed by the Word of God. What's being sown into your mind and life? And, what are you sowing into the minds of others? Jonathan finished by calling on us as a church to rise up and be the church that God wants us to be; to put on the helmet of salvation and to gird up the loins of our minds, which means protect the way we think by reeling in the lose thoughts that hinder us and hinder others.
Prayer Prayer Prayer! If you knew the names and the needs of some within the church you would truly pray for them, but sometimes we cannot name or even detail the needs, but believe there are several situations that need serious prayer and people who need love poured into their lives. You might wonder how you can pour love into the lives of those who stand in need if you do not know who they are! Well, just do what you should be doing as a Christian and pour love into the lives of those around you and you will not miss pouring love into the lives of those who need it. Pray one for another and you will not miss praying for those who need it.
Pointing fingers and wagging tongues say we are not a praying church! Such accusations do not deserve email space, but let say this: There is probably no pastor that sends out prayer requests more than this pastor does, both for his own people and for others; there is probably no pastor that has taught a series of messages twice on the Secret Place to encourage people to pray as this pastor has done; I don't know of any church that has a prayer time every Monday, besides every Thursday night and the last Friday of each month! BESIDES THIS there is another prayer time starting on Saturday mornings for those who cannot make it during the week. AND BESIDES THIS! We are planning to open the Prayer Room at the church, which is called the "Boiler House", 24/7. We will also be launching a Prayer Ministry Team to pray for people within the church during ministry times. So as a church we encourage private prayer times; we encourage and arrange several corporate prayer gatherings on Mondays; Thursdays; Saturdays, and the last Friday of each month; we are planning 24/7 prayer opportunities and will be launching a Prayer Ministry Team, yet some say "New Life doesn't pray enough!!!" Hey, it's time for fingers to stop pointing and for tongues to stop wagging.
Can I therefore ask you to continue to pray for Michelle & Bill Manwaring and the family due to the loss of Michelle's mother. I will let you know the funeral details later. Pray also for Mesam whose appeal is being heard next Thursday. Pray he is not returned to Iran, but is permitted to remain in Northern Ireland. I will be at court to speak on his behalf.
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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