Moving Forward into Maturity in Christ. Becoming a Balanced Believer.

Written for GetThe.info by Joe Millman.

I believe that this year is going to be the year of so much more! I want to encourage you to reach for more this year. Won’t you come on a journey with me today? Follow me, as we open up the Bible, the Word of God. Oh it’s good to be in the Word of God! Hallelujah! Let me share with you one of my favorite passages of scripture…

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10 NKJV

This is one of my favorite passages, because I particularly love the second half. The first half pales in comparison to the second. We’ve seen the results of the first half, for most of our lives. It’s all over the 6 O’Clock news. The shootings, the looting, the raping and pillaging, the violence and murders, the death and destruction. The doom and the gloom. We’ve seen it all before, we know there must be more!

The first half of the verse states: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” We understand that, we know that! Don’t we? We know that the devil is out to get us. He’s trying to do his absolute darndest to try and wreck our lives. 

But the second half of the verse, that’s where it’s really at! Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” What life? Abundant life! We’re coming into some amazing abundant life this year! 

An Abundant Life

God wants you to have an abundant life! Don’t be so worried about what the devil chucks at you. Because he will keep chucking it, things will go wrong, problems will come your way! This I can guarantee you! Consider it my money back guarantee to you today. That you are going to face trials in this life. 

It’s my money back guarantee to you today, you’re going to have a hard time this coming year, but Jesus said: “I have come to give life and life abundantly.” There is abundant life for us! And all that’s required is for us to tap into Jesus, because He is the source of that life. Remember what He said to the woman at the well?

but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 4:14 NKJV

He is the source! Jesus! There is no other source that will quench your spiritual thirst, there is no other source that will bring you to the Father and eternal life. It was Him who said this:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6 NKJV

There is no other way! He’s the only way to The Father. So if we can just simply come to Jesus, if we can simply connect ourselves with Him, on a daily basis, our lives will be completely changed. 

Balanced Believers

I want to share with you a word about being “Balanced Believers”. This is the message I have for you today. And a part of that message has been speaking to me personally, and I believe that there’s something in it, that I could really grab ahold of. So I want to share this with you, because I know it’ll bless you. 

It’s probably something you’ve heard many times before. But I think it’s something that we tend to forget. And it’s a good time to mention it around the beginning of a new year. You know, the whole thing of another year. It’s like a fresh start isn’t it? Even though we’re now only a few weeks into January… It’s going to be Christmas before we know it! 

This year marks a fresh start! It’s a fresh year! This is the year of so much more! I believe God wants us to not only focus on the destination. Don’t just focus on the destination or the goal. Personally, that’s one of my weaknesses. I tend to get focused on where I want to be. Tending to become focused on what I want to achieve. I tend to get focused on the goal or on the destination, and I sometimes forget to enjoy the journey God wants me to enjoy. 

Enjoying the Journey

The journey! Did you know that the journey is often just as important as the goal? In fact sometimes you can get more enjoyment out of the journey, than what you might get out of the goal. I know, that you know, the ultimate goal is heaven! Isn’t it? But you know what? We’ve already got Heaven! The day that you gave your life to Jesus Christ, you entered into the Kingdom of Heaven! If you haven’t yet made that great exchange… Your life for His! Your filthy rags for His glorious riches! Then today is your day! Simply ask Him into your life, and give your life to Him. He is standing at the door of your heart and is politely knocking. Won’t you open the door of your heart and let Him in?

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 3:20-21 NKJV

If you’ve never accepted the sacrifice Christ made for you, and you’d like to, then simply pray this prayer with me right now, say it out loud and pray it from your heart…

Father God, I thank You that You sent Jesus for me. Thank you Jesus that you came and died on the cross for me. Thank you that You defeated death and rose from the grave for me. Thank you that I can enjoy eternal life because of your shed blood. Thank you that You paid the punishment for my sins and have made me right with God the Father. Jesus I accept You into my life. I give my life to you. I ask You, Jesus, to be the Lord of my life. Lead me and guide me into all that You have for me. Fill me with Your wonderful Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!

Heaven On Earth – The Mountain or the Valley

Now you’re experiencing heaven on earth! Yes you’ll still face your trials, you’ll face your tribulations. You’ll face your problems but you’ve got heaven with you! You’re an overcomer! And you will overcome! An abundant life! Ohh you’ve got to love it! So don’t just focus on the destination, or the goal. Make sure you enjoy the journey along the way. Because there is so much to be had in the journey even in the hard times. 

Even when we’re facing the horrible trials, the things that are really savaging us. It’s in those moments that we can experience the presence of God, in a way that we don’t experience, when we’re on top of the mountain and enjoying everything. You know? It’s down in that deep dark and lush valley. That’s where we grow! You know? We often want to be on the mountaintop experience, don’t we? We want to have the view. To be up there, where we’re up in the clouds, enjoying the massive and amazing view. Closer to God, on the top of the mountain, that’s where we want to be! 

But if you’ve ever been up the top of an actual mountain. I’ve climbed both Mt Robert and Mt Arthur. Two beautiful mountains in New Zealand. If you haven’t yet climbed a mountain, I encourage you to. It’s good! But once you get up there. You’ll notice that the trees start getting shorter and shorter the higher you go. And in the end, particularly near the snowline of Mt Arthur. They look like Dr Zeus trees. They’re all kind of contorted and looking funny. And then you get right to the top and there’s nothing! It’s barren. 

It’s on top of the mountain that we want to be! But it’s unfortunately on top of the mountain that there’s really no growth. Where do we grow? We grow when we’re down in the dark, deep, lush valley. And you know sometimes we don’t want to go through that dark valley. You know about king David from the bible. He prayed that prayer didn’t he? About walking through the valley of what? The shadow of death! It wasn’t the valley of death, it’s just the shadow of death. 

You see, you can conquer death with one thing. And that’s Jesus! Simply understanding who you are in Him, makes the valley so much more enjoyable. It’s in that place that we will grow. It’s in that place of the trials, the tribulations, the problems that we actually experience. What we need to become more Christlike. 

Finding the Balance

If we’re just up on the mountain the whole time, we’re going to miss out on all of those experiences, that really bring us into that place of growing our character and developing into who God has called us to be. You see we can become so heavenly minded up on the top of that mountain. We can become so heavenly minded, that we’re no longer any earthly good. But you know there’s a balance to that statement as well. And that is “we can become so earthly minded, that we’re no heavenly good.”

God wants us to find the balance between the two. Where we’re not, you know? Nut rolls or chocolate flakes. God doesn’t want us to be a nut roll or chocolate flake. He doesn’t want us to have our head so high in heaven, that the people around us can’t even relate anymore.

He wants us also not to be so engaged with the world around us, that we’ve lost touch with who we’re meant to be, following Jesus. We’ve got to keep our eyes firmly fixed on the author and perfector of our faith! Amen! Because He will perfect what He began in us. He will complete the work He started in us. But we’ve got to keep our focus on Him. 

You see, there’s that balance God wants us to have. A little bit of both, with where we are heavenly minded, yes! But also still attached to what’s happening here, if you know what I’m saying. So that we can reach those around us. You see, that’s the heart of God. He wants us to mature into balanced sons. He wants us to be a people who know what it is to be “naturally spiritual and spiritually natural”.

Naturally Spiritual and Spiritually Natural

To know what it is, where we wake up in the morning and the first thing we do is just praise God. Because naturally we’re spiritual. We wake up in the morning and the first thing we do is seek Him because we’re awake now and it’s just natural for me to seek my God. It’s just natural for me to spend time with Jesus. It’s because I’m naturally spiritual. I don’t have to try anymore to seek God. He’s just right there. He’s Here. He’s within me. I just have to Incline my mind and bam! There He is. I just have to turn my heart and boom! There’s His love! Naturally spiritual! 

But He also wants us to be spiritually natural. Where we’re not nut rolls or chocolate flakes, but we’ve got our feet still firmly planted on the ground and we’re able to reach people with the truth and the love of Christ. Amen! Hallelujah! You see God wants us to mature into balanced sons. 

”Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,”. 

Hebrews 6:1 NIV

Moving into Maturity in Christ

God wants us to be taken forward into maturity. There is a progression in our walk with the Lord. There is a growth that we develop in, as we spend more time with Jesus. What is it that makes someone a mature believer? You know, some people think, oh it’s the amount of years we spent walking with Christ. No actually, it has nothing to do with physical years. What makes us a mature believer is that we’ve become more Christlike! That is spiritual maturity! It’s Christ likeness that makes you more like Christ! It’s one simple thing… 

Remember when they came across the disciples, and they marvelled that these ordinary uneducated men spoke with such Authority and power! They noted that these men had been with Jesus! 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

What makes you spiritually mature is simply the time you spend with Jesus. Nothing else will do it for you. Yeah, you’ll gain some wisdom along the way. And you might become mature in wisdom, but you’ll still be lacking spiritual maturity, if you haven’t spent time with Jesus. 

If you spend time with Him, I guarantee you, you will grow. If you spend time with Him, I guarantee you, your life will develop and change. It will become better and better and better and better! And better!

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

Hebrews 6:1

Let’s be taken forward to maturity. Not laying again, get this! Not laying again, the foundation of repentance, from acts that lead to death and of faith in God. So how? What’s one of the hallmarks of someone who’s still a babe in Christ? Someone who’s still wearing spiritual nappies, as it were.

They’re still laying, again, the foundation of repentance. They’re still having to come back and put things right with God again and again and again. And don’t get me wrong, we all do. We all have to on a daily basis. I need to make sure I’m keeping short accounts with the Lord. 

Particularly when I’m driving in behind some poor little old granny, who’s doing 40 in a 70 zone. They don’t deserve any of the wrath that’s coming out of my mouth. But it’s coming out of my mouth and I’m resisting the temptation to lift that middle finger. But I don’t! Because I’ve learned at least some self-control. I’ve got to tell you, it’s a great time when I’m driving! That’s when I learn, you know, do I need deliverance today? Yeah ohh yeah! There’s one! Got to get that thing out! Go from me in Jesus name! 

Trigger Points

We all have our trigger points. Don’t we? For some people, I’ve noticed during supermarket shopping. You know the way they push their trolley, with more aggression than you could ever… Than even a prize fighter. Even an MMA cage fighter doesn’t have the kind of aggression, that some people do when they’re behind a shopping trolley! I remember once getting rammed right in the back of the ankles with a shopping trolley. I turn around in agony,  only to discover that it’s this little old lady, all of about 4 and half feet high. The scowl on her face was worse than the emperor from Star Wars! As she proceeded to try and ram me again… How did we get here? Righto… Moving right along! 

Therefore let us move beyond elementary teachings about Christ. So God wants us to move on from laying that foundation again of repentance. You know, how would you feel parents? How’d you feel if your little Sally or your little Johnny. How would you feel if they came to you every day, begging for your forgiveness for something they did a year ago? Mom, I’m so sorry! Every morning when they wake up out of bed, the first thing they do is burst into tears saying they’re sorry! Forgive me! Forgive me please! Please forgive me! I mean you would feel like a complete ogre wouldn’t you? Yeah you sure would! 

So God wants us to move on from laying again, that foundation of repentance. And believe me, this is not a licence to sin! Because we should have moved on from that whole thing, of having a major problem with sin. We should get to the point where we’re no longer even wanting to sin, because we’re head over heels in love with God, following The Holy Spirit. 

Walking by the Spirit – Its a Choice!

Because He’s filled us with His passions and desires and we are tuned into Him. Wanting to walk with Him. Wanting to keep in step with Him, even to the point when I’m driving behind that 40 an hour driver in the 70 zone. And I can just feel the rage coming. It’s a choice! It’s still a choice! Do we choose to sin and let out a bunch of horrible words? Or do we control it and say I’m not going to go there today! And in fact, this ain’t going to wreck my day! Why am I in such a hurry anyway? I’ve got all the time I need, to do what God’s called me to do. 

So it’s okay, but the hallmark of someone who’s still a babe in Christ is this whole thing of having to constantly say sorry to the Lord. Yes we do on a daily basis, to keep short accounts with Him. But there is a moving on, where we suddenly grow and realize that Jesus, You filled me with Your presence. I no longer have to deal with those drugs. I can be free from that addiction. In fact, I don’t want that addiction! I don’t want those drugs. I don’t even need them anymore! 

You know, when we get free from the lust and go “I don’t want that dirty thing! It’s foul anyway!” Every time I go to that, it makes me feel so filthy. I’m not going to go there! I’m no longer going to struggle with lust! In fact I’m going to choose to have a pure mind. Every time the enemy tries to fill my mind with filthy things and filthy thoughts. I’m going to think: “Praise Jesus!”. I’m going to turn it around and praise my God. 

Turning it Around

Every time I see an amazingly gorgeous woman. I mean, this time of year! Wow! I was walking down the beach the other day. And wow, just gorgeous! Gorgeous creations before me! What do I do with that? Do I go for the second look? Because it’s the second look that kills! The first look is not a sin. It’s not a sin to be tempted. It’s the second look that will take you down! 

So when the enemy of your soul, puts the gorgeous woman in front of you (or the handsome man, if you’re a woman). Yes! You might notice that she’s gorgeous (or he’s a stud). Don’t go for the second look! It’s that second look that’s going to lead you down the garden path. That second look that’s going to lead you to cheat on your wife or husband. It’s that second look that’s going to destroy your marriage. So what are you going to do with it? 

Well, I turn it around, into praising my God! I go, “Wow God! Wow Jesus! You did a great job on her! She is incredible! I just start praising my Lord! And it takes away the lust, out of my mind. Just like that, I’m back to praising Jesus! You see, you can turn it around! You can turn it around! It’s up to you! It’s purely a choice. But Jesus, He wants us to move on. He wants us to move forward. Forward! Yes! Jesus wants you to move forward!

Onwards & Upwards!

Jesus wants us to move forward! “Onwards and upwards!” You’ve got to love those words! Because that’s really what encapsulates the will of God for you. That He’s going to work all things together, for the good of those that love Him and those who are the called according to His purpose. Ohh yeah! 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

He wants us to move forward this year! No longer caught up in our mud puddle of sin. We’re not going to stay in that rut any longer! We’re going to move forward! Amen! Into all that He has for us. Hallelujah. Ooh! He’s a good God. 

I’ve got another passage of scripture for you. Ecclesiastes chapter 7. Who wrote Ecclesiastes? It was King Solomon. He was known as the wisest man who ever lived, outside of Christ. But you who are in Christ. Guess what? You’re wiser than him, because you’ve got access to the Holy Spirit of God! 

Avoiding All Extremes

In fact you don’t even need a teacher. You don’t need me today, teaching you anything from the Word. Because you’ve got The Holy Spirit. But I’m here anyway, to help encourage you. To help lift you. And to help move you forward! Amen! Into a whole greater way. 

Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 NIV

That was Solomon, he said this: “Do not be over righteous… What?! That’s an interesting passage of scripture! Do not be over righteous, neither be overwise… How can you be overwise? This was written by the wisest man who ever lived, outside of Christ. Do not be over righteous, neither be overwise. Why destroy yourself?

Ahh you see, there’s a tipping point with the balance, right? God wants us to live a balanced life where we grow in Christ. Sometimes we can tip that, one way or the other. We can easily tip the balance towards what I believe is religion. Where it’s about having to be right. Where it’s about having to be correct all the time. 

Or we can actually tip the balance the other way, where we become worldly and get tangled up in sin again. Jesus, He wants us to hold the balance right down the middle. Where we’re not falling into religion. Where in fact, that’s the worst place to be! I guarantee you, religion will take you, all the way to hell. But He also doesn’t want us to fall back into our sin, where we get tangled up again in the cares of this world. He wants us to walk that fine line, right down the middle, in a living relationship with Him.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Matthew 7:13

Narrow is the way that leads to life, few find it. Few are travelling on it. Easy is the path that leads to destruction. And many are on it. It’s a hard thing to follow Christ! Because it requires us to crucify our sinful nature with its passions and desires. You’ve got to love what the wise king Solomon said after this. Where he said: “Do not be over righteous, neither be over wise, why destroy yourself?” He goes on and here’s the balance: “Do not be over wicked and do not be a fool, why die before your time. It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.” 

And then He says this statement: “Whoever fears God”. How many people do you know that fear God? We fear God don’t we? Because we know that He has the power to throw us into hell, if He so desires. He has the power to bring a whole heap of turmoil to our lives if He so decides. Or He can bring us into His blessing if He decides. So we fear our God, because He’s infinitely powerful. Whoever fears God… But it comes out of that worshipful reverence. We fear Him because we know who He is. But we also know that He loves us intimately. “Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.” 

You see it’s when we get tempted to head into some form of an extreme, that we’re in dangerous territory. And this comes from the wisest man who ever lived outside of Christ. But if you’re in Christ today and filled with His Holy Spirit, then you are wiser and so you need to be led by the Spirit of God. 

What Makes You Right?

What makes you right with God? Can anyone tell me? What makes you right with God? Is it the things you do? Is it the things you say? Or is it how much effort you put in? How dedicated you are to study? How many notes you take? Is it how many prayer meetings you attend? Is it that you’re involved in every ministry under the sun? Seven days a week you just go go go go go! 

Guess what? None of that actually makes you right with God! The only thing that makes you right with God is Jesus! That’s it! Nothing else! Just Jesus! Just the fact that He shed His blood and paid the ultimate sacrifice for you and I. And then gave us that as a free gift! Right now He’s asking: “Won’t you accept My free gift?” And if you simply accept Jesus and accept the gift that He gave, the sacrifice that He paid, you’re made right with God! What an incredible exchange! 

What’s the greatest fear known to man? Stepping aside from the Word of God for just a minute, and into modern psychology. What is the greatest fear known to man? It’s the fear of death. What is the second greatest fear known to man? It’s the fear of rejection. Or they say the fear of public speaking in other circles. But it’s really rejection. 

So it’s the fear of death. And the fear of rejection. The two greatest fears known to mankind. Those are what I’d call strongholds. They are principalities in the spiritual realm that try to govern our lives. They try to rule us. 

How many people reading this, or how many people do you know, that cast out demons? It’s an awesome, exciting thing. Isn’t it? When you realize that even the demons are subject to you, in His name! That you just have to mention the name of Jesus and they can’t stick around. 

Casting Out Demons

You can cast out demons with just the name of Christ! In jesus’ name! Simple as that! It’s an exciting thing! But when you’re casting out demons, sometimes you’ll notice that there’s more than one. And you pray and you might get one out of the person, but then next thing you know, they’re writhing on the floor again. And so you keep praying and some more come out. That’s quite often how it rolls! It’s often like a nest of demons and they’re all under one strongman. 

If you deal with the strongman, you’ll get the whole nest. If you deal with the strongman, you’ll get the whole lot! So when the man, the demoniac came running to Jesus. Why did he come running to Jesus when he was filled with demons? Because he wanted to be free! The demons tried to bind him, tried to stop him, but he came running and he fell worshipping at Jesus’ feet. Take a look in Matthew 8:28-9:1, Luke 8:26-39 and Mark 5:1-20.

But then who was Jesus speaking to? He wasn’t speaking to the man, He was speaking to what called itself “Legion for we are many”. The strongman. So Jesus spoke to the strongman. Dealt with the strongman. And out came so many demons out of that man, that they were enough to fill a herd of pigs, throwing them to their deaths down off a cliff. You’ve probably read the story? 

So deal with the strongman and you’ll get the whole lot. One of those strongmen is the spirit of antichrist. Deal with the spirit of antichrist and you’ll also get witchcraft, you’ll get Jezebel, you’ll get the spirit of control, manipulation, intimidation, domination. You’ll get all those things and you’ll get them out! That’s one of the strongmen, antichrist. 

Another one is the spirit of rejection. And some people often think that it’s just a human weakness that they’re dealing with. That they’re just afraid of rejection and it’s just their fears. No, it’s a demon! And God wants to set you free of it! If you get the strongman and you’re able to deal with the strongman of rejection. You’ll also deal with guilt. That’s the next one under it. You’ll deal with shame. But if you get that one as well, then you’ll also get the demon of condemnation out as well. So the devil, he knows that if he can get you on that journey. Where he starts to condemn you. 

If he starts to condemn you, that’s the thin edge of the wedge, he’s not going to finish with just condemnation, he’s then going to bring in guilt. And with the guilt, he’s going to bring in shame. And he’s not going to stop there. He’s going to try to fill you with another demon as well, which is the biggie. Rejection. If he can get that one into you he’s got you. 

Saved through Faith

But how do you get free of it? You simply deal with the strongman! You deal with the rejection! What’s the opposite of rejection? It’s acceptance. We are accepted in the beloved today. We’re accepted in the family of God today. I’ve got to tell you, what makes you right with God? It’s the blood of Jesus Christ! It’s the fact that He poured out His blood for you. And gave you that free gift. That’s what makes you right with God. Not by works, least man should boast! 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

Get a hold of that! So we think oh well, I made the decision to follow Christ. Did you? Because it’s not actually of ourselves it is the gift of God! Not of works, lest anyone should boast. It is purely the generosity of God that we are here today, right with Him, it is purely His great grace, that He chose us out of this world and brought us to a place of making a decision to follow Christ.

It was the will of God that brought us here. I’m so thankful for a start! I am so thankful that He chose me and plugged me in. I was once a wild olive branch, and He took me from the world and grafted me into His cultivated olive tree. It’s a beautiful thing! 

And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Hebrews 10:38-39 NIV

You see, there’s a balance. See it’s not by works that we’re saved. It’s not by our effort that we’re saved. We can’t do enough, we can’t do enough outreaches, we can’t do enough meetings, we can’t do enough to earn our salvation. We can’t, you know, go to church enough. There is nothing we do, we can’t read the Bible enough. We can’t pray enough to be saved, except for the one prayer that says: “Jesus, yes! I give my life to you and I accept what you did for me”. Boom! There it is, right there! 

Living Your Life for Christ

That’s in fact all that’s required. And if you’ve truly given your life to Jesus and you’ve truly committed yourself to Him, it’s about making Him Lord of your life. You no longer want to live for yourself. You want to live for Him. You want to know everything there is to know about Him. Then you want to read the Bible like you’ve never read it before. Because you’re alive in Him! And you want to find out more about Him. 

Can I encourage you to pick up the Bible. Open it to the Book of John. Because John was the disciple who was closest to Jesus. He had a relationship with Jesus that was just on fire! To the point that Jesus would come and rest together with the disciples.But guess who He’d recline with and rest His head upon? Who would He lean up against? It was John. That’s how close their friendship was. Their bond together was that tight. 

So have a read of the Book of John, because it’ll Foster in you a heart for Jesus where you’ll just want more of Him. You’ll just want to know Him more! Hallelujah! 

You see, there is that balance though, to the whole thing of understanding that it’s not by works that we’re saved. Because He goes on and says. In fact we know from the book of James…

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:26

Faith without action is dead! So Faith requires action, for it to be alive, for faith to actually be Faith. It requires action. But you see, there is that balance, it says there: “But my righteous one will live by faith and I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back”. Why? Because faith causes us to move forward. Faith, it ushers us forward! It’s like it tugs on us and pulls us into God’s destiny. It pulls us into what God has for us. It pulls us into His future for us.

What’s the opposite of faith? It’s doubt. What does doubt do? It brings fear and unbelief. What comes with that? Shrinking back! God doesn’t want you to shrink back this year. He wants you to add to your faith, action! It requires a bit of action. Remember Peter in the boat, while Jesus was walking on the water. There’s Peter in the boat with the other 11 disciples, they’re all in the boat together. 

Facing the Storm & Walking on Water

They’re all facing the storm and here’s Jesus water skiing out to them. He’s barefoot water skiing! Well He might have still had His sandals on? Probably did, so here He is, sandal water skiing out to the disciples. They all freak out thinking it’s a ghost! But then one of them recognizes it’s Jesus. Peter exclaims: “it’s Him!” And then Peter calls out to Jesus and says “Master just say the words and I’ll come out on the water with You”. Jesus says: “Come!” You know what? This year Jesus is saying the same thing to you: “Come!” 

You know you’ve heard the saying: “Hey we’re all in the same boat”. I don’t necessarily agree with that saying, because we’re not all in the same boat. We’re in the same storm! We’re all in the same storm together. But we’re not neccessarily all in the same boat. The disciples were. They were all in the same boat and we should all be in the same boat together. But unfortunately some people are in a different boat altogether and some people’s boats are a little bit like rafting down the river on a tire tube. 

While we’re all called to be on the luxury liner of His Church. We’re called to be on the boat with Christ. Which is literally like a cruise liner at times and sometimes more like a warship! It’s like a cruise liner with some big guns! Boom! He’s able to drop the enemy with just a word. But you know what? When you walk with Christ, life becomes blessed and it can become a bit of a cruise. And it gets to that point where you start to hear Jesus calling, saying: “Why won’t you come out on the water? Why don’t you come out and step into the storm.” 

It’s a choice for us. Do we, like Peter, get up and get out of the boat? Do we walk on the water? And I believe you know Jesus. He’s calling us this year. He’s saying: “Come!” He’s saying come and all it requires is for you to put some action to your faith! You know? To not just say: “Yes Lord, here am I, send me!” To not just say: “Yes I’m willing to go”. But to actually go! To actually step out of the boat, to actually step out onto the water, to step into what seems impossible!

Give it a shot! Give it a go! What’s the worst that could happen? The worst that could happen is you sink! What happens if you sink? Jesus will catch you by the hand and lift you back up! You can’t lose! Ohh! It is beautiful! Hallelujah! So we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed! We don’t belong to those that are caught up in the fear and the doubt. We have overcome the fear! We’ve overcome the doubt!

Led By The Holy Spirit

Maybe you’ve been a bit of a doubting Thomas? And maybe you need to stick your finger in His side, your finger in the hole in His hand. Maybe you need to experience something of God to break your doubt? Well you can have that here right now! If you haven’t experienced the power of God, then simply ask Him to reveal His presence to you. Let’s pray! Let’s get you filled with the Spirit of God! Filled with The Holy Spirit, so you can experience His power. Because there’s nothing impossible to Him and nothing impossible to those who believe! 

You know what? This year! This year is so much more! He’s calling us, calling us into more! He’s calling us into more! We’ve got to be led by His Spirit! Amen! We’re not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. But of those who have faith, faith that has action. And through that faith in the Son of God, we’re saved! 

We’ve got to be led by the Spirit… 

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

John 3:8

You’ve got to be led by God! You’ve got to be led by Him in this life. There’s too much in this life that’s setup to rip you off. Too much in this life that’s set up to distract you from the call of God. There’s too much in this life, that’s set up to ease you into religion. There’s too much in this life, that is set up to snare you back into the world. 

You’ve got to be led by God to get around the potholes in life. You’ve got to be led by The Holy Spirit to enter into everything He’s called you to. You know, when you read the Bible. When you read through some of the chapters. Like I was reading the Book of Judges the other day. My goodness! Wow! These men and women of God were just doing incredible things for their nation. Incredible things for the Lord! 

Those Who Know Their God Will Do Exploits

Like the man named Ehud. I haven’t got time now to go into it. But look up Ehud. Wow! Full on! I was sharing it with some young people the other day. What an amazing man of God! God wants us to be led by His Spirit into doing exploits for Him! God wants you to experience exploits this year! Those who know their God will what? Be strong! And what? Do exploits! God wants you to do exploits this year! But you’ve got to be led by his Spirit. 

but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

Daniel 11:32b NKJV

The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes, so is everyone born of the Spirit. That’s you and I today! We’re being led by Him into all that He has for us! Yeah! 

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

John 21:6

They were out there fishing all night. I was watching the series “The Chosen” on the old telly yesterday, and it was that scene of Peter standing in his boat. And there’s Jesus asking to borrow the boat so He could push out and have a chat with the people on the shore. And then He says to Peter: “Hand me the net Peter” and there He is, holding the net and sharing a parable with the people. 

Then He gives the net back to Peter and says: “Cast it, cast the net on the other side”. Peter’s busy arguing with Him, saying: “But I’ve been fishing all night and didn’t catch a thing”. Then he looks into the eyes of Christ and realizes. He says: “But because You said it, I’ll do it”. And he chucked that net, he was led by the Spirit of God, led by the Son of God. He threw that net out and pulled in so much fish that it started ripping the nets. They filled two boats full of fish because he was led by the Spirit. 

Living Life With The Living God

So are you going to be led by God this year? Are you going to step into the supernatural like you never have before? it’s really your choice! You can go back into the mundane. You can go back into that, really it’s just religion. And I’ve got to tell you, that if you stay in what is just religion, and fail to cultivate a living and active relationship with Christ. Then I’ve got to warn you! 

I’ve got to warn you, if you stay in religion it’s going to drag you to hell. You’ve got to have a relationship with God. And if you’re in a relationship with the Living God, guess what? You’re going to do some living! Because He’s the Living God! If you’re in a relationship with my Jesus, you’re going to have an abundance. You’re going to experience an abundant life! 

You see, I remember having a vision years ago. It was a vision of a wharf. And on this wharf, there were two fishermen, one on each end of the wharf. And on the one end of the wharf, there was a fisherman with a beautiful rod and reel. I mean, like the sort of thing you’d pay $1,000 for. Like the best of the best, top of the line, had all the tackle, had all the gear, had the best spool. You know, the best line, the best sinkers, the best hooks, he had everything! All the top gear. 

Meanwhile, down the other end of the wharf, was another fisherman and he had a handline. And you see, the wealthy fisherman with the wealthy reel with the best rod, with all the gear. He was casting his hook way out there! You know, reeling that thing in. He was looking the part, but guess what? He wasn’t catching a thing! The guy down the other end of the wharf with the handline, was just dropping it off the wharf, and just ripping in fish after fish. Every time he dropped that hook in the water. Bam! There’d be another one and he’d pull it out and onto the wharf. 

This was all in a vision I had. And God spoke to me, and I saw, and I looked, and I realized. That both fishermen were me! I looked at the man with the fancy rod and reel, and it was me! And then I looked at the other end of the wharf, the guy with the handline. It was me! And God spoke to me: “If you’re not catching them at that end of the wharf, go down the other end!” 

God is so wise! Good point Lord! You’ve got to be led by the Spirit. You can have all the best of everything and it doesn’t mean squat! You can have next to nothing and just do what God’s called you to do and you’ll bear fruit baby! Fruit like no tomorrow! You’ll be ripping in the fish like Peter in the boat. You’ll have so much fish, you won’t know what to do with them! 

Moving Forward!

You’ve just got to be led by God! What’s He speaking to you for this year? Well I’ve got to tell you, He wants you to move forward for a start! I’ve got a word of prophecy for you! The Holy Spirit is saying to you: “Move forward!” What does He want you to do this year? What are you hearing from the Spirit? 

You’ve got to inquire! You’ve got to say: “Lord, please reveal to me what You want me to do for this year”. That’s the most important thing you can pray for, at the start of a new year. Not so much the New Year’s resolutions. I’m going to do this. I’m going to do that. Just say: “Lord, what do You want? What do You want me to do this year?” 

Be led by the Spirit! And if you’re able to step out on that. You’re going to have an exciting year! You are going to have a large, great Spirit-filled year! Hallelujah! 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

We know this passage of scripture well. but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and what? Self-control! Ohh! You know we all focus on the first three. Don’t we? Love, joy and peace! We all want love, joy and peace! We all crave love, joy and peace! The whole world is chasing after love, joy and peace. 

But guess what? You can’t have love, joy and peace for long without the next six! Longsuffering! Ooh! Who likes suffering? Who likes suffering for a long time? The English Standard Version or ESV puts that word in a softer light and translates it as “patience”. That’s a little easier to swallow. How about the next word in the list. Kindness? That’s going to cost me! What about goodness? Really? When I’m driving, I’ve got to be good!? Faithfulness, ooh! God wants us to be faithful! Gentleness, that’s just like God! He is so gentle with us. He’s the ultimate Gentleman!

Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and the biggie right at the end… “Self-control”. If we can have the last six in our lives in abundance, then you will have more love, more joy, more peace than you could ever hope for! You got to love this passage of scripture, right? It goes on and says: “Against such there is no law and those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. Because our flesh does have its own passions. It does have its own desires.

Walking in The Spirit

But the Spirit also has its passions and its desires. And it’s to serve Christ! It’s to do His will. To follow His Spirit. It’s to walk in step with Him. In fact it goes on and says…

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:25 NKJV

That if we live in the Spirit. There is that nagging statement of “if”. If we live in the Spirit, which we do if we’ve been filled with Him. Then let us also walk in the Spirit. Which means that’s a choice! A choice we need to consistently make. Let us not become conceited. Which is really just stinking pride! Let us not become conceited, provoking one another. 

I was reading a couple of scriptures the other day. They were about fathers provoking their children… 

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

And also

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Colossians 3:21

Through these passages of scripture, God is giving the command: “Fathers do not provoke your children”. Because if you do, you’ll basically destroy them. Don’t provoke your children to anger or to wrath. You’ll just dishearten them. Stir them up! Yeah, for sure! But don’t provoke them. Encourage them! Help them to become more this year. Help them to enter into what God’s called them to. Try to help them to move forward this year.

You and I both know, it’s hard sometimes. Dads, when you come home and you’ve had a hard day’s work. And the boy is just glued to that Playstation or Xbox. None of the chores have been done. The lawn’s still unmowed. The dishes are filling the sink. Nothing’s been done. Wood’s not chopped! Whatever it is? And so you go in there full of anger and provoke them! Sometimes it’s deserved. But try not to provoke. Try to encourage! Do your best to lift them. Try to encourage and to pull them forward! And the result will be incredible!

Count it ALL Joy!

You see, in the Book of James chapter 1, where it says this…

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4 NKJV

God wants us to increase the latter six. The patience, the kindness, the goodness, the faithfulness, the gentleness and the self-control in our lives. He wants those to increase, because those are the hard things, that we try to avoid. But the very things, that bring about love, joy and peace in an abundance. 

So He says: “Let patience have its perfect work”. Why? Because He goes on and says: “That you’ll be complete and lacking nothing!” My goodness! 

I was walking around one of the huge hardware stores just the other day. I’d gone down there to buy some paint. Unfortunately I made the mistake of not giving the guy the colors that I had chosen. And so I get there and I said: “Oh yeah, I need to get them tinted”. He replies: “Oh yeah, no worries”. I gave him the colors and I was just standing there for a while, still watching what he was doing. And I think, you know, he was like oh this guy’s just going to annoy me. So he says: “Have you got any shopping to do?”. “Oh yeah, no, not really”. He then says: “It’s going to take 10-20 minutes”. I’m like “Oh right! No worries. See you soon.” So I go walking around the megastore, packed full of stuff. 

There’s so much stuff in there. I mean good quality tools, amazing tools! They’ve got all sorts of equipment in there. They’ve got all the battery operated stuff. You know the gardening equipment. They’ve got leaf blowers, they’ve got mowers, they’ve got everything! They’ve even got kitchen stuff! I was in there looking at the kitchen stuff, I was looking at the garden center, looking at all this stuff for 20 minutes. And I was bored stiff! Walking around this shop looking at stuff! 

Complete, Lacking Nothing.

Suddenly, I had a revelation! And this was the beauty of what took place for me that day. It was that God spoke to me and said: “There’s nothing you need, is there?” And I’m just looking around the shop going: “Wow!” And I had the realization, there’s literally nothing that I need! All my needs are met in Christ! All my needs! 

He’s met my needs! And I’m walking around the shop, not even any wants! Maybe I picked up a couple of tools and looked at them; “Well that’s cool, that’s a pretty cool tool”. I just put it back, didn’t really want it. I walked around that whole shop for 20 minutes and didn’t buy a thing! Because there’s nothing I need! God’s fulfilled my needs! God wants to fulfill your needs this year! 

God wants to fulfill your needs! He wants you to have more than an abundance so that you can be generous on every occasion. But you know what? You’ve got to have the last six to get the first three!

Do you want more love in your life? Then practice patience and kindness! Yeah! You want more joy in your life, then practice goodness and faithfulness! If you want more peace in your life, then definitely practice gentleness and self-control! 

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 25:28 NIV

And you know what sometimes it’s like that. Sometimes, because we’ve lacked self-control, it’s like the fortified walls of our lives have come crashing down. It’s like they’ve been battered by the trebuchet of the enemy. Where he’s been smacking us up the side of the head, with whatever it is. Problems, addictions, lust, porn, gambling, uncontrolled anger, road rage, whatever! Whatever’s been smacking you up the side of the head. The enemy keeps throwing it at you. And he’s not going to stop. Unless you do something about it!

Enough of the Birds Nests

You can do something about it by simply invoking the name of Jesus! There’s all power and authority found right there! So you can stop the enemy from battering you, by simply invoking Christ’s name. By simply saying to the enemy that’s enough, in Jesus name! That is enough! No more of this! I’m not going to allow you, devil, to fill my mind full of the stones of this world. You can chuck all the stones you like. But they’re no longer going to… 

You know, it’s like the birds of the air. They can perch on your branch, but they can also nest in your tree. And it’s up to you whether those birds make a nest in your tree, or whether you just flush them back out! Because they’ll still land. You’ve got no real control over the thoughts that sometimes land in your head. But are you going to let them nest there? Or are you going to flush those suckers out? Flush them out! 

Flush them out! Don’t be like a city whose walls are broken through. We need self-control! Amen! We need to practice self-control, more this year than we ever have before. 

With practicing self-control, the payoff is out of this world! More love than you could ever imagine, more joy! I mean that’s what the world wants. That’s why they’re smoking the meth. They’re looking for joy, but they can’t find it in the meth pipe. More peace! You know what? You don’t need another fidget spinner! If you’re struggling with anxiety, you can just practice patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. You’ll have more peace than you could ever imagine! You’ll sleep like a baby! 

Productive & Fruitful

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence! So how much does God want us to focus on this? How much of your time does He want you to invest into this? He says all diligence! That’s a pretty full-on kind of a demand isn’t it? But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith! And how many people here have got faith? Yeah we’ve got faith! We believe in Jesus! Amen! We’ve got faith! He says: “Add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge…” Ohh! Here it is! Self-control! To self-control perseverance! Ooh! It gets better doesn’t it!? 

How many people reading this today like perseverance? Not a single one!? Oh no, we got one! No, we got two! Good man! Good woman! There’s a wise man and a wise woman right there! They love perseverance, because what does it bring? It brings about some amazing breakthroughs! And to perseverance, yeah you gotta love this! Godliness! That just gets deeper and richer, and stronger! 

And to godliness, brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness love! For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So you want to be fruitful, you want to bear forth fruit for our King!? Just add to your life this list. To your faith – virtue, to virtue – knowledge, to knowledge – self-control, to self-control – perseverance, to perseverance – godliness to godliness – brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness – love! For if these things are yours and abound, in other words in an increasing measure this year, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. You will bear forth a harvest for our Lord. 

A Balanced Lifestyle. 8 + 8 + 8 = 24

You see, He wants us to have that balanced life. God wants you to live a balanced life! That means a balanced lifestyle! You know what? 24 hours! You know we live in a 24-hour system, don’t we? Every 24 hours you can break it up into three sets of eight. That’s 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, you need your rest. And 8 hours of play! Make sure you’re having a good time! Whether it’s watching a movie, walking down the beach, going to a cafe, going to watch a show. You know, some concert, a drama or opera, or whatever it is you’re into. Going to the speedway, watching the cars rip it around the dirt track. 

Make sure you’re getting your 8 hours of play! Make sure you’re getting your eight hours of rest, and limit your work to 8 hours if you can. I know we’ve got ends to meet. It’s tempting isn’t it? To work the 10 hours? It’s tempting to even work the 12, because of the financial payoff. But it’s cutting into the balance, and if we do that for too long, it’s going to cause problems. God wants us to live a balanced life! Eight, eight and eight. 

Nice and easy! This makes up 24 hours. 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, 8 hours of play. There’s a balanced lifestyle. Making sure you take a sabbath one day a week. Pick a day, Saturday. Some people say that’s the only day. Well I don’t necessarily agree with that…

And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:27-28 NKJV

Pick a day. Any day! Pick a day that you devote to God, a day that you don’t work. A day that you take off. And put your feet up! Recuperate! Use it to seek the Lord. And you’ll have a good balanced lifestyle. 

Balanced Socially

How about being balanced socially. It means spending an equal amount of time with those that drain you. There are definitely people out there who drain you! And with those who refresh you! God wants you to have an equal balance, spending time with those that suck the life out of you, those that you pour the life back into! Yeah! And those that pour the life back into you! So God wants you to have that balance! A balance of those that drain you and those that refresh you. Because, it’s important! Amen!

The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Proverbs 11:25

It says this the generous soul will be made rich! And I know everyone still reading this are generous souls! You are a generous people. Generous of your time first and foremost. Generous of your love! Generous of your commitment to the community. Generous of even your finances to sow into others. I mean, there are some incredible people here. The dedication that you find here is astounding! The generous soul will be made rich and he who waters will be watered himself. 

So God wants to make sure you’re getting refreshed. But He also needs you to make sure that you’re refreshing others! Having that balance! That’s being balanced socially. 

Balanced Financially

Then there’s being balanced financially. Not spending more than you earn. Ohh that’s a good one isn’t it! Not spending more than you earn! Living within your means. That means, if you’re earning $1,000 a week you’re not spending $1,100. Because if you are, you’re going to go backwards! God wants you to go forward! So if you’re earning 1,000 bucks a week, make sure you only spend 900. And put the other hundred away for a rainy day. Put it away into what I would call an investment fund. 

Because God wants you to move forward. That means making some wise Investments, at the right time, in the right thing. And then watch that thing grow! Watch that nest egg become a whopping great golden egg laying goose! Yes, the goose that laid the golden egg. 

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NKJV

You probably know this one well? Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply… Ooh! You gott love this word! I know it’s shared often! But you’ve got to love this passage of scripture! Now may He who supplies seed to the sower. Who’s that? Who is it that supplies? It’s God! Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food… He’s going to supply to you the ability to sow. He’s going to supply to you the ability to eat. He’s going to give you the ability to sow seed. And bread for food! He’s not going to let you miss out! 

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown! So it requires you to sow it! You’ve got to put it into where God wants you to put it! There’s None! No better place than sowing it into the House of God! But there’s other places as well. You’ve got to be led by the Spirit! Led where He wants you to invest. 

Be Sure to Invest Wisely

Sow the seed! Because if you don’t sow the seed, you’re never going to get the harvest! But then don’t just sow the seed and forget the harvest, like a fool! Because some people do that! They sow the seed and then they walk away. And they expect nothing! Foolish person! When I sow seed, I’m expecting a return! And I’m going back there to collect, because I know that God brings a harvest! 

Now may He who supplies and multiplies the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, oh yes! God wants to increase your fruit, while you are enriched! Ooh! Just say the word “enriched”. Let the word roll off your tongue. Even just speaking it make you feel good doesn’t it!? This is the year of so much more! God wants to enrich you. God wants to enrich you! How does He? How is He going to enrich you?

He’s going to enrich you through what you sow! He’s going to bring a harvest in for you. He wants you to be enriched in everything! So not just in your finances. We’re not just talking financially. Although for this point, we are focusing on having a balanced life financially. 

Blessed To Be a Blessing

Living within your means. Saving some for investment and then sowing it! Investing, because if you do God’s going to enrich you in everything! For all liberality! Why? Why is He enriching you for all liberality? So you can be generous! So you can have more than enough. So you can help those around you. You can do a bit of philanthropy. So you can bless people. 

So you can see people when you’re walking through the supermarket, and you see the solo mom. Unable to really scratch two sticks together! She’s like the poor widow, you know? Gathering up the sticks to make the last meal! You can go in there and hand her a couple of hundies, a couple of C notes, a couple of $100 bills and say there you go! Go and enjoy your grocery shopping today! And then walk away. You don’t even need to say a thing! Don’t even bat an eyelid. Just walk away! Simply say God bless you as you walk off! She or he knows! They know that God’s love is moving through you. They’ve just firsthand experienced His provision through you. 

You’ve got to love that passage of scripture! While you’re enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God! God wants you blessed this year! He wants you blessed! it’s God’s heart to bless you. The only thing that’s going to stop the blessing is your own disobedience. So make a choice! 

Balanced Spiritually

Make a choice to move forward. One last point. And that’s being balanced spiritually. And this is another great quote. One that my pastor spoke so many times when I was a young believer. He still speaks it today. You’ll hear it in his messages now and again. He likes to sprinkle it throughout the year in a few of his messages. It’s a quote that was passed on to him, some 40 odd years ago now by his pastor before him. So it’s now an old saying, it’s stood the test of time and it’s tried and proven to be true. It’s simply this…

“Too much Word and you’ll dry up. Too much Spirit and you’ll puff up. A balance of the two and you’ll grow up!”

Pastor Barclay Miller

God wants you to grow up this year! He wants you to be effective at moving forward into all that He has for you! So don’t get too stuck in the Word. Don’t get too stuck in the Spirit. Have a balance of the two! Amen! Stay in the word of God! Amen! Stay filled with the Holy Spirit! And you will have that awesome balance of growing in God! Awesome stuff!

How about we pray together right now as I’m writing this and right now as you’re reading this. God is able to traverse time and space. And our two prayers are in agreement. And He promises in the Bible this promise.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Matthew 18:19-20

If you want a touch of God today, He’s here! Right now! By the power of His Spirit! Perhaps for you, you’re more like doubting Thomas? Perhaps you need to stick your finger in the socket? If you need to stick your finger in the hole, there’s electricity there waiting to flow! All you’ve got to do is say: “Yes Lord that’s me, I need some proof”. Well if you need proof today, let’s pray. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to give you the answer. And He’s more than able. 

He is more than able! Maybe you’re needing a financial breakthrough today and your heart has been hearing some of the stuff I’ve been writing and sharing with you. For some of you, it’s almost like I’ve been rubbing you the wrong way. Because you haven’t had the breakthrough you’ve been wanting. Well I gotta tell you! The breakthrough is waiting!

It’s right there waiting for you all you gotta do is believe! And say: “Yes Lord! I accept it, I receive it!” And then you’ve just got to apply some action. Simply apply some of that wisdom. Living within your means to the best of your ability. And you might say that’s impossible! I can’t do that! Yes you can! There’s always a way! There is always a way, you’ve just got to be sensitive to what God’s leading you to do to achieve it. Simply pray and say: “Yes Lord, I’m willing!” And He will make the way! There’s help available. More than you realize. Right here in your city. 

Let’s pray

“Thank you Lord! For Your people here today. Thank you Father for your people. Thank you Lord, that you are rocking us forward into this year of so much more!”

“Lord, You’re calling us to move forward as balanced sons! God, You’re calling us to move forward! Lord God, as balanced believers. People who would know what it is to walk that fine line. To walk between this world and religion. To walk that fine line of active faith. Lord, that we wouldn’t be distracted left or right, by this or that. But we will keep our eyes firmly focused on you Jesus! The author, the perfector of our faith!”

“Thank you Lord God, for this year! The Year of so much more! That we will enter into all the enrichment You have for us. And everything good that we can be filled with. Liberality on every occasion! Father, we thank You for it! This year! For that awesome breakthrough! Lord, in Jesus name! Help us Lord God, to have that simple faith. Where we would just focus on You Jesus. Where we would just have that intimate encounter with you. Lord, that we could be everything You’ve called us to be in Jesus mighty name! Yeah in Jesus mighty name! Hallelujah!” 

“Father! Right now Lord! I take authority over every strong man! Every spirit of rejection, that would try to tell us that we don’t belong. I bind that demon in the name of Jesus Christ! I bind you rejection! And I bind with it every spirit of guilt and shame. I bind with it every spirit of condemnation. I bind and break its power and command it to get off your people in the name of Jesus Christ!”

“Thank you Lord, we are accepted in the beloved! Accepted in our relationship with Christ! Lord, You are all we need! It’s You! So Lord we thank You for Your presence and power. Thank you Lord God, for everything You are. And thank you Lord for everything you’ve called us to be.” 

“Thank you Lord, this year, for the massive breakthrough, the massive harvest Lord, that we can simply get out there and be who you’ve called us to be. To simply be who we are, to be the person that You anointed us to be. And through that Lord God, through being naturally spiritual and spiritually natural. Lord God, we’re going to draw in such a harvest! All we have to do is put the hook in the water! We’re going to haul out the fish in the name of Jesus! Yeah!!! And everyone said Amen!”

Well there you have it, together we’re in agreement! And where two or more agree in His name it shall be done!

Have yourselves an awesome time out there. An awesome adventure today, this year and every year in Christ!