Matthew 28 and Mark 16

GO INTO ALL WORLD MAKE DISCIPLES

The great commission of Jesus to His church is captured in the above six words. All the other work we do, and all the words we say should be distilled down into these six words. We are called to make disciples of all nations. It is our mandate. Successful Christians live these six words daily.

GO
We live to go. We are a green light people who look for opportunities to rise up and go. Life for us is about doing the journey and loving life to the full.

INTO
We are always on a mission and going into things. Getting involved in things is our nature. We are explorers of new things. Things exist for us to get into. Get involved. You are commanded to do so.

ALL
Nothing is sacred anymore. We are all and everything people. It is no longer either or, but all things. You can have your cake and eat it too. Learn to be an all inclusive person. Enlarge your world to include all people, places and opportunities.

WORLD
The world is now a small global village and is ours for the asking. There are worlds for us to explore and conquer, and we must not shrink back from the opportunities afforded to us. Become a world citizen. Decide to live in the biggest world possible.

MAKE
We are called to be creators and builders. To be people who make things. We are not people who pull things down, but rather build them up, and our greatest achievements are the people we make into champion disciples. Decide to make something that outlives you on planet earth.

DISCIPLES
Ultimately, our lives are measured by the people we influence for God and for good! We are to live in such a manner that people want to follow our example as we follow Christ. Count the number of people you are personally mentoring and you will have a correct measure of your obedience to the commands of Christ, and your real influence in life.

Proverbs 29:7 – The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge.”

It is very easy in life to discount the poor and oppressed as having no right or voice in the matters of life and to believe that only the learned, wealthy and successful should get to voice their opinions and stake their claims. The Bible seems to disagree. It declares that the poor have a cause and a case to put, and that righteous people should give the poor room to make their case and stake their claim. The righteous are commanded to consider the cause of the poor.

Where would we be without the Wilberforce’s, Mandela’s and Mother Teresa’s of this world? People who considered the cause of the poor and then did something about it! Those who consider the cause of the poor are close to God’s heart.

Caring for the broken, defending the unprotected, carrying the wounded, and delivering the oppressed, are all actions motivated by the love of God for mankind. The wicked cannot understand such things, as wickedness is borne out of a love for self, and such selfless actions are incomprehensible to the wicked person.

Jesus said, “the poor you will always have with you.” We are surrounded by “poor people” who do not have the capacity to help themselves, and it is these people who need a saviour with skin on who looks like you.

Hey before you run out and grab anyone who looks like they need some help here are a few helpful hints.

• Take time to listen to their cause
• Then consider if their cause is genuine.
• Work out a self-help solution with them
• Give them what is required to get them started.
• Walk with them until they see good success.

PROVERBS 14 : 24. – The crown of the wise is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is their folly.

Wise people use riches in such a way they become a crown of honour on their lives, whereas a foolish person uses riches in such a way it become a clown’s hat of folly.

Have you ever seen someone who either inherits or makes a lot of money but does not know how to use it. They have to wear the most expensive clothes and jewellery and buy the fastest sports car or boat they can find, and to them it is marvellous. But to everyone else it looks like a clown’s hat at a circus.

God is not against prosperity, He is for you being blessed. In fact He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. God actually wants you to prosper so that you can use your riches as a source of blessing for others. See that you use your wealth in such a way that it brings honour on your life and to your God. God’s plan is for you to prosper. What God doesn’t like is when your prosperity is reduced down to a pile of possessions, and a list of pleasures.

Foolish people think that prosperity is simply possessions and lifestyle, and so they pile themselves up with all kinds of stuff until they look like a clown trying to juggle silly things at a circus. Make sure that everything you have is held as a blessing from God and used to bring Him honour. Don’t flaunt your little bit of wealth like a clown with a huge hat at a circus.

Enjoy the blessing of God on your life and use it wisely to bless others. Remember; freely you have received so freely give. The more generous you are with the blessing and riches that come from the Lord, the more honour He will bestow upon you in the future.

After my father died I found an old note book he had used when being mentored and taught as a young Christian. On the front cover was the word FAINT indicating the lines inside were printed faintly. My father had added the word NOT, thus making a statement that has been with me from that day on.

FAINT NOT is an inheritance my father has left me, worth more than gold itself. I am reminded of it every time I turn to his old note-book. He continues to urge me on. You can go the distance. You can serve God without falling in sin. You can accomplish great things for God if you will only “faint not.”

I think there are three key reasons why people faint in the heat of battle.

A/ UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Whether self imposed or by the actions of others, unrealistic expectations become a burden too heavy to carry and cause many to give up in defeat and discouragement. Many people try to copy someone else in life and soon realise they are not suited to carry the same load or perform in the same way.

B/ UNRESOLVED PERSONAL ISSUES.
Some people struggle in their inner world whilst seeming to be in control of their outer world. Ultimately their inner turmoil will bring them undone. Most people fail from inner weakness rather than from outer pressure. People never burn out from outer pressure but always from inner issues.

C/ UNFULFILLED DESIRES
Again a common reason for burnout and failure is the absence of a sense of achievement. Life continually presents problems and troubles and the rewards seem few and far between; leading to a sense of resentment and loss of strength.

There are three words that I use to keep myself from fainting.

PASSIONATELY – Keep passion strong in whatever you do.
PURSUE – Keep focussed on pursuing and going forward.
The PRIZE – Keep rewards and prizes very clearly within reach.

Whatever you do in life make it worth while. Life is for living and you can go the distance if you just don’t give up.

FAINT NOT.

Food Fact # 2 – Alligator pear… aka Avocado!

Ross Buttenshaw is the director of ‘Christians Against Poverty’ (CAP). Ross will contribute a weekly article helping us Excel in our finances. You can find out more about CAP by visiting www.capaust.org

Rediscover cash
Today I want to introduce you to an old friend of mine – Cash! In this modern age cash has become a second rate form of payment and is often usually only used for small purchases like buying the newspaper or getting some milk when you’ve run out. But I’m leading the charge in the “get back to cash” movement.

Now I know what you’re thinking – “He’s living in the 60’s!” – Well I love my internet banking, direct debits, periodical payments, eft-pos and all the rest but here is the truth. Banks make a lot of money out of you, their customer, not really knowing how much money you have in your account. Have you ever gone to the ATM and stuck your card in, just hoping there was enough, not really sure what was in your account, looking over your shoulder hoping no one would see you walk away without the cash – At CAP we call this the SAS raid on the cash machine.

When I teach people how to budget the number one key is to start using cash for all your weekly budget needs. Commonly that’s things like food, petrol, leisure, travel, maybe more depending on your needs. There’s many great things about using cash so I’ve listed a few:-

• Using cash gives value to your purchases. It hurts more when you hand over your hard earned cash and this makes you value it more.
• You know exactly how much you have to spend. It’s so much easier to make the cash in your pocket last the week.
• Take your cash out once a week and make it last – when it runs out it’s gone, and as long as you stay disciplined it’s easy

So the challenge today is to start using cash for all your weekly needs. Take it out once a week and make it last until the same time next week and if you simply do this then you cannot fail. Give it a go!

Ross Buttenshaw – National Director
Christians Against Poverty www.capaust.org

So many people extend themselves to such a degree that they have no safety margins in the lives.

It is possible to live close to the edge for a while, but sooner or later a situation will arise that demands more of you than you can currently give.

People without margins or buffer zones are then overextended, and often lose everything through the time of stretching.

This applies to our emotional lives, as much as in any other area of life.

Often the flashpoints of relational breakdown are actually not that big a deal, but because the people involved have no emotional reserves, every little thing can push them over the edge.

It is therefore extremely important to build buffer zones into your lifestyle.

You must plan for them. You must make time for them, and see them as absolutely essential.

A day off every week is not a luxury. It is a necessity to keep emotionally strong.

Regular church is not a religious activity it is a time of spiritual renewal.

If you stay strong on the inside it is amazing what you can handle from outside.

Time with your family and friends is not an afterthought but should be a priority in your program.

All of these things we often take for granted, can actually be the difference between a life enjoyed and a life endured.

Make sure you build buffer zones into your life so that when the tough times come, as they will, you have an inner reserve to get through them and keep on going.

STEVE PENNY

DAY FORTY NINE | ONE LANGUAGE AND ONE SPEECH

Genesis 11:1, ” The whole earth had one language and one speech.”

To me there is a difference between our common language and the speech we use in a certain area or culture. It is very clear that Britian, Australia and America all use the one common language called the English language. However, there is a huge difference in the speech we commonly use in these different nations.Phrases we use in Australia are totally foreign and sometimes offensive to other English language nations. So it is with the Christian believer and their local church. A person can speak the right Christian language but have a completely different speech when it comes to their function in their local church or organisation. You must learn the language and speech of your house.

Let me give you some reasons why it is important for you to learn the speech of your organisation.

1. Your speech identifies the desires of your heart.
2. Your speech unifies your team around a common vision.
3. Your speech carries your culture and convictions.
4. Your speech builds your house and your world.

What you say is very important, but how you say it and the speech you use to convey it is even more important. You must learn to use key words if you want to create a strong culture in your world. Choose key words carefully and use them over and over again until they become the common language of your world. Key words crystalise and define the kind of world you want to live in, so be ruthless to eliminate repetitive use of words that clash with the speech you are trying to adopt.

Your words build your world, so adopt some key words that over time will become the building blocks of the world of your dreams.

PSALM 110:2 The Lord said to my Lord. Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies.

Being seated with Christ in Heavenly or High places is both “positional” and “practical.” In other words you must understand the “authority that comes with the position” and the “power that comes with the practise.” Being seated in “High Places” does not exempt you from the challenges of life, nor from stirring up a few enemies. However God has two roles for any person wanting to exert influence on planet earth. You must learn both the “Rule & Reign” of Christ.You see we are to “Reign over our subjects” and to “Rule over our enemies.” The two expressions of authority and power are quite different and must be understood if you want to go from strength to strength in life. To reign in life is to walk together with others of like spirit, giving Godly leadership and inspiration so that all who know you will walk in faith.

You do so by knowing how to walk in High places and learning to rest in Him until all things are under your feet. It is a position of faith from which you dream big dreams and expect them to come to pass.

The second aspect of our exalted lives, is to learn how to “Rule over our enemies.” Ruling is different to Reigning. Now you must use the authority of your position, and the power of your strength to overcome all oppositions. Your enemies are meant to be conquered – not pampered. You have been given the “Rod of Your strength” to use against you enemies.

This does not mean you fight against your enemies, but rather rule over them with a rod of authority. You use the word of God to declare that Christ has defeated your enemies at Calvary and has given you all authority to rule over them on His behalf.

Do not for one minute leave your position in high places to come down to the level of your enemies. The Rod of Your strength is expressed out of Zion; the place of God’s presence. Stop fighting your enemies and start ruling over them and they will soon become your footstool.

PSALM 110 : 1 – The Lord said to my Lord. “Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.

There is no getting around the fact that we were created to “Rule & Reign” with Christ from an exalted position. Heavenly places are not just spiritual. God has exalted Him – Christ – far above all, and we are raised up together with Him. Heavenly places are both the realms of the heavens at the right hand of our God, and also the high places on planet earth. Places of leadership and influence. These positions are occupied by people who have seen their role on the planet, as more than instinctive and basic.

We have been created by God to be His Kings and Priests on the earth to “Rule and Reign” over creation for our Heavenly Father. God has given us the wonderful privilege of being His custodians of creation and we must rise up to accept such a wonderful role on planet earth. To “miss the mark” is one of the terms for sin in the Bible. It also implies, “to miss your position” and is also considered sin. Do not miss out on your position in life through such personal sins as inferiority, or false humility or fear etc.

God has given you an invitation to sit at His right hand in life. WOW! It is an amazing offer and one that leads to victory and blessing in all areas of your life. But you must learn to be comfortable in “high places.” Read the word to see what is promised for you and begin to believe you are “born again” for such things. Take some courses and learn how to live and work at another level in life.Study people who have succeeded in their lives and learn how they think and act.

Be comfortable hanging out with people in high places, and learn how to dress and act in their presence. But most of all, spend much time, and be comfortable in the presence of your Lord, who teaches you how to prosper in life.