Posted by: pastorapbell | October 17, 2011

as we watch the backs of those who are watching our backs

We are encouraged by the apostle Paul to put on the whole armour of God before we enter the fray. However, we must bear in mind that in war the enemy will use all sorts of tactics to ensure that they succeed in their quest to defeat you. And defeating you by any means necessary is their ultimate goal. As we position ourselves offensively and defensively we must be aware that there is one area of our body that remains open to attach, and that is our backs. So the question, ‘who has got your back’ comes starkly into focus. As we engage in this spiritual battle, firstly we must be aware that we are fighting an unseen enemy, rather like the US government’s fight against terrorist. We are aware that the enemy is out there but are not sure when or where he will attack. Secondly we must also be aware that the enemy fights dirty and every opportunity he gets to sneak up on you, he will do it. He fights like the Amalekite’s of Moses’ era. They wait until you have passed by a particular hurdle and then sneak up on you picking off the young, the old and the weak ones first. Finally we must be one another’s keepers. That is, we must watch out for each other’s back. Although we are fully protected from the front with our breastplate and helmet fully on, our backs are wide open. It is for this reason why we are encouraged to be part of a fellowship, belong somewhere where you are under the covering of the leadership of that fellowship. Be a part of a group as it is impossible for you to fight with a sword in either hand; how then would you hold the shield of faith??

So today let us take heed to the apostle Paul as he encourages us ‘to make every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace’, (Eph 4:3). Since we belong to one body of Christ, let us endeavour to protect each other’s back by daily praying for those in your circle who provide covering for you.

Read Ephesians 4 and Genesis 4.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 16, 2011

as we realise that size doesn’t really matter with God!

This morning as I stirred 2Corinthians 10 was impressed on me. The context of the letter refers to the fact that the apostle Paul was facing a group of people who were questioning his authority to speak to them. The letters he had written to them were scathing of their conduct towards each other (1Cor 6), their personal morality and self control (1Ccor 5) and their corporate responsibility when gathering around the Lord’s Table (1Cor 11:23ff). They were taken to task and referred to as children who were behaving no better than people of the world who has not had a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus. In fact, they were using their spiritual gifts to create an elitist faction within the church (1Cor12).  The apostle’s letter to them was stern and forthright and hit the nail on the head. The outcome of this was the ‘more excellent way’ that was offered to them in 1Cor 13. Here they were commanded to underpin everything they did with love and encouraged in the conclusion that one day, everything, even the hidden things will be made plain to us.

On receipt of this letter it would appear that the Corinthians actually changed some of their practices. The problem arose though when they met the apostle. His stature belied the potency of the letters he had written and so the tension ensued. This is my encouragement for you today. irrespective of your physical stature, remember that the weapons of your warfare are not those used by the ordinary human being, but they are the invisible weapons of the “sword of the spirit”, “the shield of faith”, “the helmet of salvation”, “the breast plate of righteousness” and “the gospel of peace”. As the apostle Paul reminds us, this weaponry has the power to destroy arguments, pull down every stronghold that exalts itself over God and take captive every thought that questions the potency of the divinity and absolute awesomeness of our God. Our battle is fought on our knees. Our victory has already been won through Christ. So irrespective of your physical size or your societal status, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and allow him to demonstrate his power through you, rather than the other way round!

Read 2Corinthians 10, bearing in mind what I said above.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 14, 2011

as we hear the word and live to grow!

We are told by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans that faith comes by hearing the word. It is the word that is spirit and life and it is the word that empowers the individual who not only hears it but applies it to their lives. As we consider the offensive component of our armoury, let us say a few things about the process of hearing and doing. For faith to come, the word must be heard. However, being able to listen and then to process what has been heard is not always straightforward.  We live in a society where there is great competition for our attention and the noise level around us is huge. All these voices are competing for our attention and so to hear the voice of the Lord involves filtering out all the other spurious noises whilst tuning in to the voice of the Lord. So God says to Jeremiah, it would appear that my people have forgotten me as they don’t come to me anymore but rely on their own abilities and senses (Jeremiah 3:31-37). Hearing is a gift given to almost all of us, listening is an art that only a few of us implement. Tuning into God can be described as tuning into a particular radio station. You must know the frequency of that station and then you have to make the effort to find the station on busy airways.  Once you are tuned into the frequency of the Lord you are then able to receive the’ downloads’ from him on a regular basis. Tune in today and receive a mighty download so that you can grow! Read Romans 10.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 12, 2011

as we focus on the Fantastic Fortitude of Faith!

For me one of the most important pieces of our armour is the shield of faith. Although the armour is a metaphor of how we should think, believe and behave, it is imperative that we exercise our faith in the things we read and digest. The reason we need to read and re-read the word over and over again is the simple fact that we forget things very easily. And so we are encouraged to place the most potent weapon we have in the deepest recesses of our minds.  But we can only do this if we believe the word or better still believe that the author of the word truly has our best interest at heart. The apostle Paul uses the analogy of the armour to get us to think strategically. Our enemy uses his strategies to get us to doubt the word. He questions the authenticity of word and thereby questions the author, God. He says things like: did God really say that? (Genesis 3:1), throw yourself down from the rooftop, you know the angels will save you (Luke 4:9), and finally, why are you pressing through this crowd to touch Jesus, don’t you know that you are unclean? (Luke 8:43ff).

By picking up the shield of faith, we are able to see miraculous happenings in our lives. Paul reminds that the shield is used to deflect the fiery darts of the enemy. These darts are designed to cause maximum pain to your belief system. Once punctured your whole belief system will quickly deflate and like a car with punctured tyres you will become totally stranded and completely immobile.

Finally by taking up the shield of faith, you are able to use the sword correctly. How do these work together you may ask? The shield is the defensive weapon whilst the sword or the word is the offensive weapon. The shield deflects while the sword punctures through the falseness that the enemy presents. And so, by standing behind the shield we protect our belief system and by speaking the word we are re-iterating what the author of creation already declared. By lifting up this barrier we can now declare that we are MORE THAN CONQUORERS! What a fantastic piece of weaponry we have at our disposal! Well go ahead and use it!! have a read of 2Kings 6:15-20 and pray the prayer of Elisha!

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 11, 2011

as we fight against the harbinger of fear

The lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid. When the wicked, even my enemies try to eat up my flesh [kill me] even then I will have confidence in my God. You see there is only one thing that is my greatest desire, and that is to be in his presence every day. When I am there I can see his glory and worship at his throne. Since he is the one who covers me, even when trouble comes, and it will, I will still fear no evil. For as long as I stay in the word, which is in Christ Jesus, I am always protected. Today allow your light to shine, say something nice to someone! Fear is false evidence appearing real.  Read Psalm 27.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 10, 2011

as we contemplate why faith is not the absence of fear!

Faith is not the absence of fear but the presence of a quiet confidence in the written living and active word of God and from God. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the harpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Heb 4:12 NLT). Putting on the whole armour of God dictates that we do not build in fear into our spiritual psyche or timidity into our battle plan. As soldiers we must fear the Lord [have the right mindset, behave in appropriate ways and act with integrity] and respect the enemy. We should not fear the enemy in the same way that we fear
the Lord, but must be aware that his remit is to steal, kill and destroy. And so we fight him with the sword of the spirit, the word of God used contextually, in the bond of peace. It is our confidence in the word, the living word, Jesus of Nazareth that will enable us to overcome the enemy. We must at all times balance this confidence with our own humanity and propensity to fall. Today as we remember that faith is not a fad or a fantasy nor is it a feeling nor is it classified by the amount of money we have, let us understand that faith is confidence in the living active word that came from the living active God. So go into the battle boldly, knowing that you are on the winning side. Read Hebrews 4.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 7, 2011

as we focus on the subject rather than the object!

Faith is not all about finances. Although finance are a major pointer to perceived blessings, our faith must not be predicated on the fact the God will provide just money for us. When Solomon was about to ascend to the throne in Israel his major focus was on the God who was able to deliver his father from the hands of a gigantic Philistine called Goliath, deliver him from the hands of a despotically insane king of Israel, Saul and make him a king even though his credentials were not those associated with royalty. So Solomon’s first request to God by faith was not to ask for fame or fortune, but was an admission of his inability to govern people who were more astute that he was and who were able to administer the affairs of the nation (1Kings 3:7ff). And so, he asked for an understanding mind and a discerning spirit to be able to govern the people with equity and righteousness. His faith was in God and not in things. He was able to resist the temptation to hanker after things and because of this the Lord God Almighty gave him his request of understanding and made him the richest man in his then known world. Today if you want to be rich materially ask God for wisdom and understanding and he will send the right people into your life with the finances you need.  Read 1Kings 3.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 4, 2011

as we select the location to deposit our faith

Faith is not fantasy. Everyone has faith, but the extent to which it develops is determined by where it is put. I can put my faith in my abilities or in my inherited or acquired wealth or in the love of my life. But by putting my faith and my trust in these things, I am leaving myself wide open for disappointment. This is why the psalmist entreats us to put out trust and our faith in the Lord. This is what he says, “some folks will trust in chariots [motor cars] and others in horses [expensive animals], but we who are believers will put our trust in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 20:7). And again he says this, “it is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in human beings” (Psalm 118:8). Incidentally this is the exact centre of the bible and it tells us not to trust in mortals but to trust in the Lord. The reality of faith is evidenced by us seeing the beauty of the Lord all around us. We can do one of two things; either ascribe it to the Lord or take the glory for ourselves and ascribe it to the schemes of men such as evolution or natural selection. Those who put their faith in themselves and ridicule the very presence of God will learn the hard way like the biblical character Nebuchadnezzar who ended up living like and animal for seven years. Indeed it was Nebuchadnezzar that Saddam Hussein modelled himself on, and look what happened to him!

Today put your faith in the word of God, Jesus Christ and enjoy a fantastic journey, God will always surprise you, trust me!! Read Psalm 21.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 3, 2011

as we allow the strength of our faith to rise

Faith is not a fad. Although we believe in the Lord and are prepared to serve him willing, we must always have in the back of our minds that God places requirements on us. David believed that God would deliver him from the hands of his various enemies, and he did. Daniel believed that God would reveal secrets and dreams to him and deliver him from impossible situations, and he did. The disciples of Jesus believed that they could speak to chronic diseases and command them to leave the bodies of those affected, and they did. However their belief system was underpinned by faith that involved action. This faith was not something that was conjured up or a ‘hocus pocus’ concoction that was summoned at will. This is a faith that comes from waiting on the Lord. A belief system that is so strong that whatever the outcome is, the believer believes that it is God who is determining that outcome. So like the three Hebrew boys who were thrown into a fiery furnace for failing to bow down to worship idols (Daniel 3:19ff), those who put their trust in the Lord must be aware that sometimes we will not get out of the fire or escape from the ailments in their bodies. However, God is still God and his way is still the perfect way. A fad is something that goes and comes again in a different format. However, faith in Yahweh dictates that he will determine the best outcome for us at a particular moment in time.  Our faith in God should not go and come. It should not be determined by what is in or out, or who the latest sensation is. Our faith in God was must build on a correct understanding and interpretation of his word in the context that his was written. Remember that heaven and earth will pass away, but the word of the Lord will last forever (Matt 24:35 paraphrased). Please read 2Corinthians 12:1-10.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | September 30, 2011

as we use our tools of warfare: prayer, praise and prophesy!

Faith is not a feeling! When we walk by faith we must be prepared to wait to see God come through. I am convinced that God arranges circumstances so that his will for an individual will come to pass at the appropriate time. In the story of David as recorded in 1Samuel 17 we see a young boy who appears on the scene at a time when the whole country was in turmoil. They were being threatened by the challenge of a 9’9” giant whose proposal for a one to one showdown weighed the odds heavily in his favour.  This is how the enemy fights, he shows you an impossible situation and then challenges you to get out of it or let him get you out of it at a cost. Fortunately David was not involved in the standoff leading up to the challenge.  He was busy spending time with his sheep and putting on his own armour.

His armour was not a physical one but one that starts with praising the maker of the universe, Yahweh. He was true to himself, he had the right mindset and he was prepared to use the sword of the spirit, the word of God at every opportunity [see the book of psalms for evidence of this]. And so when he was faced with the enormity of the challenge, his approach was not to be intimidated by the size of the enemy but to rely on the greatness of his God. The enemy berated David and ridiculed him. “I am going to give your flesh to the fouls of the air and the wild beast of the fields” said Goliath; “because you being a boy dare to come against me a seasoned professional fighter.” It is at these times that we need to stand our ground and speak to the situation, i.e. we must prophesy to the enemy and hear the words ourselves. The shield of faith is not about how you feel; it is about the prophetic word from God. Using the fighting implements given by God ensures that we will never fail. So David uses the sword of the spirit and took refuge behind the shield of faith. This is how he did it. He Prophesied – “you come to me with a sword and a spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of host, the God of Israel, who you have defiled. This very day, I will strike you down and cut off your head, so that the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (1Sam 17:45-46).

Today speak those things that are not as though they are as you carry the shield and use the sword!

Read 1Samuel 17.

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