God's Slave

I, Paul, am God's slave and Christ's agent for promoting the faith among God's chosen people - Titus 1:1

It is interesting that Paul chooses such an emotive phrase when describing his relationship with his God. Disciple & follower had been used but neither carries the emotion or extremes of the position of a slave.

Huge progression has been made from the days of Paul when slavery was so part of every day life. But its horror still raises its ugly head even in the most unexpected places. Just this week 2 people were jailed for slavery only a few miles from where I write this.

A slave is a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another and Paul boasted that this was his position with God.

Too much of what we hear in "promoting the faith" seems to turn this equation around. It would seem that ever so subtly God has to become our slave. He has to do what we want and if he doesn't we pack up our bags and head off. Our obedience to God depends on His obedience to us.

But the reality of a relationship with God is that our rights have gone, our possessions have been transferred, our freedom has been reneged and our will has been swallowed up in His will.

Our lives are not our own. We are slaves now and forever.

Knowing Jesus by Jake Smith Jr

Yesterday Myself, Nick, Joshua & Ben had a road trip to Breathe City Church, Stoke on Trent to hear a master class delivered by Jake Smith Jr. Young Adults Pastor at Willow Creek.

It didn't start off to well being stuck on the M1 for an hour going nowhere but we finally got there just as Jake was beginning his talk - Knowing Jesus

• If you see Jesus for what he is, do not under any circumstances ignore him! 
• Jesus didn't just teach with entertainment he taught with authority. 
• When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. (Matthew 28:17 NIV). They didn't doubt his power but his divinity. 
• He (Jesus) is the ONE! 
• Jesus Question: Who do you say that I am? Teacher, friend, father, provider but they don't go far enough or high enough till he rules all of you! 
• As followers of Jesus we cannot live a passive existence and think that it's enough. Practice the pursuit of the one who perfects your faith. 
• To BE in the presence of Jesus daily unleashes the power of God in your life. 
• Doing comes from being, Jesus said "remain in me!"
• When the young rich ruler came to Jesus the sermon he got was obey religious rules and sell your stuff. Way out of line with what his message of Grace was. What was Jesus up to:
• Sometimes Jesus asks specific people to do specific things. Gods calling on your life is not nessesary the calling for others life. Jesus sometimes gives you a specific invitation to obedience, but we need to remember, it's not about doing something for God but being with him. 
• When Jesus calls you it is to set you free from all that binds you up and adopt you into all he has for you. 
• Idols can sometimes be something wonderful. Gifts that God has given us. They make wonderful gifts but lousy Gods! 
• This guy talking to Jesus had two idols: The idol of religion & the idol of possesions. 

Listening to Jake was brilliant but hanging out with the great people of Breathe City Church was even better!

Below is a video of a similar talk he gave in his home church, enjoy:

Knowing Jesus: Week 4 from Axis on Vimeo.

Weird view of Money

We continued our teaching series at MKCC yesterday - Weird - Because normal isn't working.

Yesterdays topic a Weird view of money. We had the great privilege of hearing from Dave Ramsey (via video). His down to earth, honest teaching on the area of finance is excellent and challenging. It is a subject we need to talk more about in church not less. Yes it's uncomfortable but we can't go on ignoring an issue that is causing so much stress & hurt. Not from the point of view of asking for more money but to help people gain a better perspective on it than we have at the moment in the UK.

So many of us are living pay day to pay day with no thought of savings and a pile of debt that we fear we will never see paid off. Something has to change. Here are some of my notes from his message:

• When u do something stupid with money it usually leaves you. I call it stupid tax. 
• I started studying Gods word about money and I had a lot of those Duh moments. It sounded a bit like common sense.
• 90% of marriages that end in divorce in the first 7 years end because of money problems. 
• When you sow stupid you reap desperate. 
• Impulsiveness is not a fruit of the spirit, patience is. 
• Most people live their financial lives looking in the rear view mirror rather than the front windscreen. 
• Act your wage, spend less than you make you are not the government.

You can watch the full message here, its worth the 30 minutes:

Weird with Money- Weird Part 5 from River City Church on Vimeo.

Religion brings YOU, Revival brings CHRIST

The following post by Carlos Whittaker really changed me. The reason? Well I often talk about the futility or Religion. However I tend to apply it to rules & regulations I have moved on from or a style of following Jesus that is not me.

I don't tend to think of myself as Religious. But after reading this, it has reminded me to not just find a new type of religion wrapped up in new rules and new rituals that have just replaced the old.

Let my life always be about FINDING & BRINGING Christ.

"until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ." Eph 4:13

Carlos:

Religion wants you to spend your hours planning what Sunday will look like.
Revival wants you to spend your hours DOING what can’t be done on Sundays which is BEING with those who won’t show up on Sunday.
Religion wants you to spend hours building a platform so that you can lead thousands to Jesus.
Revival wants you to spend hours leading one to Jesus.
Religion wants you to research what Cool Church X is doing in hopes you can do it almost as well at your church.
Revival wants you to stop looking for inspiration and start developing some perspiration.
Religion wants you to stuff tons of Bible knowledge in your dome so it spits out your pinhole.
Revival wants you to take the BS out of Bible Study and apply what the Word says not talk about it.
Religion wants you to find healing through a taxing set of hurdles and obstacle courses so you can get right with God and his people.
Revival wants you to find repentance and healing through His kindness and grace.
Religion wants you to feel the weight of your sin and believe you are not capable of ministering to people.
Revival wants you to know the weight of your sin was carried by Jesus to the cross and you can minster out of your brokenness.
Religion brings YOU.
Revival brings CHRIST.