Posted by: pastorapbell | March 2, 2011

as I develop a desire to bring restoration to my people

For the month of March we will be walking with Nehemiah to see how he overcame the struggles within and those without to fulfil his purpose in his generation. Nehemiah was a prosperous civil servant in the kings employ. However, he knew who he was and was aware of his history. Like all of us who were born in a different land, we are always on the lookout to hear how they are doing and to try to understand what is going on there. And from time to time we even visit these places on holiday, although we are well aware that we are more stressed out when we come back and really do need a proper break. This was the case for Nehemiah. He was an exile in the Babylonian capital city of Susa serving as one who was trained to serve by his masters.

There are several things that happened to Nehemiah that we can draw from in our own lives today.

  1. He heard that there was a problem with his home town (v.2) and that the people who had escaped captivity were living in shame.
  2. When he heard the report he wept and fasted and prayed for days about what he could do (v.4).
  3. He confessed for himself, his family and his nation.

So today like Nehemiah can we develop a passion for our people who are lost? Can we raise up our heads and look at those who have become cannon fodder in the system that is stacked against them? Can we who profess a faith in Jesus come before him with repentance, contrition, and real deep confession to move God into our circumstances? Can we?

I believe we can and we must, if we don’t then another generation of young vibrant possibilities will become lost in the abyss of hopelessness and mediocrity.  Become passionate like Nehemiah and do something that will leave a mark among our young people, and start today. Meditate on Nehemiah 1.

 ***come and listen to what the Mayor of  London, Boris Johnson , is proposing to do about gun and knife crime in London at Capital City, Doyle Gardens, NW10 3ST. 6.30 -8.30 Tonight 2/3/2011***

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 28, 2011

as we use our minds to glorify the creator

The most powerful part of our make-up and the control centre of any human being is their mind. For generations clever men have been trying to find out exactly where the centre of the human being is. Our ancient ancestors thought that our control centre was in the centre of our physical bodies. So magicians and people who cured others would kill animals and use their entrails as a method of revealing secrets. We see this also being evidenced in the bible, particularly in the Psalms. The psalmists would use language to suggest that my heart, lungs, intestines and all that was contained within me was used in the worship of God the father. After examining many entrails, hearts and livers, people began to realise that the control centre of the human being was in fact in the head and not in the centre of the body. In the 19th century after the period of enlightenment, people began to consider that the centre of a person was in their head. Thus began the science of Phrenology. The idea was that the size of your head determined your intelligence, and hence we get the term big headed or big head to indicate superior intelligence. We who are followers of Jesus knew all along that it is not the size of your brain but your connectivity with the creator that determines how you develop. This is what God says:  “Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord purposes that will be established”, Proverbs 19:21.  The word ‘heart’ here refers to the human mind. Once our minds are connected with the eternal spirit, the Spirit of God, then we are free to be whoever God ordained for us to be. Today, renew your mind by meditating on the word of God. Jesus said: “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out”, Matthew 15:11. Our mind is powerful, use it wisely.

 

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 27, 2011

as we unshackle our minds

The old covenant and the old way of doing things in many ways was harsh and draconian. The legal system legislated for and allowed slavery. Indeed all the people of God knew whilst in Egypt was slavery. They were in bondage for 430 years. This affected the way they thought, the way they behaved and the way they acted towards each other. The slave masters connived to highlight the differences between the slaves, the keep them ignorant and to have them fighting each other so as to perpetuate the slavery mentality and thus provide a constant source of labour to do all their menial work.

This method of deliberately keeping people undereducated is still being applied today. However, tyranny and deceit can only last for so long. Once the mind of one individual is enlightened, this becomes a touch paper to initiate the liberation of the masses. There is a Moses born in every generation. Today we see the shackles being shaken off from the people who have lived under oppression for many years. Egypt has told its leader, no to dictatorship and Libya is following suite. In the spiritual realm we too can shake off the shackles that keeps us limited to the natural and become people who access the portal of the supernatural. Jesus said “if you ask anything in my name, believe that you have received it and it will be yours”, Mark 11:24. Ask for things that will help to enhance the kingdom of God!

 

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 25, 2011

as we place the lord on the altar of our hearts

The Lord reiterated the necessity for his followers not to make idols to worship and place above him. It was always God’s intention to come to those who offered sacrifices and offerings to him and to bless them (Exodus 20:24). Once the first command is broken then this breaks all the others, so God implores Moses and by delegated authority, us, to obey the first commandment so that he can come into all of our circumstances. He instructs us not to build alters in the wrong places, for wherever an altar is built sacrifices will be offered there. God wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), but what does that mean? Do we commit suicide? Do we become ascetic and separate ourselves from society at large? No, we become perpetual worshippers! Like Moses we become so intimate with the Lord of glory that whatever we do we invite him to take the lead. Today, let us be encouraged to build our lives on the Lord, that is, on our knowledge and understanding of the word of God. Whether you make a physical or a spiritual altar, ensure that Yahweh is the only one who occupies it. You shall have no other gods before the Lord Jesus Christ, the king of the glory as expressed in the Holy Father, Holy Son and Holy Spirit, amen!

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 23, 2011

as we consecrate ourselves and prepare to meet with God

One of the most poignant things that is missing from today’s follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is the notion of consecration. This seems to be an old concept and is seldom spoken about in churches up and down the country. However, when Moses and the Israelites prepared to meet up with God they had to ‘consecrate’ themselves. This meant abstaining from pleasures for three days, washing themselves thoroughly and making a declaration to obey the Lord.

 To consecrate is to ‘set apart as holy’ or ‘to make or declare as sacred’ for religious purposes. We can do this by taking time out to be with God in fasting and prayer.  When was the last time you did this? The Lord wanted his people to be a nation of Kings and Priest for him so that he could declare his glory on the earth as it is in heaven.

Today as a holy nation and a peculiar people separated unto God through faith in Jesus Christ, let us consecrate ourselves in our thoughts, our actions and in all the ways we honour Christ. In Moses’ time he was the only one God spoke to face to face. We have the opportunity to speak directly to God every day through the anointed one. Read Hebrews 1.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 22, 2011

as we believe the words spoken directly to us by the Lord Himself

The Lord spoke to Moses and promised to appear to all the people if they kept the commandments of the Lord and lived as he willed.  Then they would become a nation of kings and priests to the Lord and an example to all the world of what God can do (Exodus 19:5). The Israelites fluffed their lines and time and time again they disobeyed the Lord and ended up worshipping other God.  Although we are living in the 21st century these principles still apply. As the people of God we are encouraged to listen to those he has chosen to speak to us and obey the words from the Lord. Like the Israelites, we are called to be examples to those around us. So how do we do this? Today, let us listen and learn from the example given us by Jesus, “I must do the will of him who is greater than me, that is, the father of all creation, Yahweh.” If we allow this to be our mantra then we will become the people God called out of spiritual Egypt and set on route towards the Promised Land.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 21, 2011

as we listen to the words of the wise

The tendency to deal with every issue personally can be distracting and draining. As we move towards a place where we can develop intimacy with God, the incidences of distraction will increase exponentially. The plan of God is for all of us to know the plans that he has for us, however due to business and other unnecessary distractions we can subvert and delay our destiny.

This is where we can learn from the relationship between Moses and his father-in-law, Jethro (Exodus 18).  Jethro visited Moses in the wilderness and notices that he was sitting from morning until evening judging minor and major disputes among the people. With a fresh pair of eyes he advised Moses to change the way he operated and so avoid burnout. Moses listened and set up a hierarchal judicial system that is still present with us today in Western Europe. This gave Moses the opportunity to spend quality time with God and to hear his heartbeat.

 Today, what are your distractions, and what is keeping you from reaching your destiny?  

Solution: de-clutter your life and listen to good advice. Wisdom is justified by her children Jesus said.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 19, 2011

as we fight each battle on our way to the our destiny

After addressing the moaning and complaining, Moses had to navigate a way through territory occupied by people hostile to Yahweh and people who wanted to destroy them because they look disorganised and weak. It is at ones weakest point that the enemy tries to comes in. For Moses and the children of Israel, the Amalekites posed a specific threat. Their method of operation was to attack from the rear and pick off the weak, the young and those who lag behind. During this time however, Moses goes up to a high vantage point and assumes the worship posture. And every time he lifts his hands to heaven Joshua and his soldiers succeed, and every time his hands drop, they are pushed back.

Here Moses demonstrates to us the power of worship. To succeed in any battle you are engaged in, get into worship mode, irrespective of how difficult the task ahead seems. For as the Psalmist says “You Yahweh are Holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3 NKJV), and as we praise God in the midst of adversity he brings deliverance.

Today be aware that the Amalekite spirit is still around. It still seeks to attack those who are weak and who lag behind and those wavering in their faith. But we have the same weapon that Moses used and we also have the Holy Spirit to help us as we pass through enemy territory. Remember the ‘The Lord is Your Banner’ and offers divine protection.  Have a read of Exodus 17:8-16.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 17, 2011

as we look to the future!

The continual recounting of your past mistakes makes them as real today as when they first happened. The difficulty everyone faces is how to balance holding on to the memory of the past without living in the past. Memories are precious and should be cherished, however dwelling on and reliving them should be avoided. We are to learn from the past and use these experiences for the progress of the next generation. The effects of slavery take many generations to overcome. It took the Israelites over a generation (40years) to get out of the wilderness because of their constant looking back towards what they knew, bondage. Before we achieve anything or aspire to anything, we must be able to visualise it. Develop a word picture of where you want to go and what you want to be. Write it down and recite it. Once you do this it will come to pass and the past will be there for reference but will not be somewhere where you live.

Today change your address and live in hope of a better, not a bitter future. In the wilderness the Israelites moaned and complained to God about everything, they died in the wilderness. The few that crossed over into the promised believed that God would lead and guide them to a place flowing with milk and honey. He did and today the descendants of Abraham are among the most prosperous people group on the planet! Read Exodus 17.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | February 16, 2011

as we deal with the past

Isn’t it funny how quickly we forget certain things and how things that have irked us remain with us for many years? It is almost as if we never wake up from our dreams.  R T Kendall says “there are three things you probably already know about sleep;

  1. we don’t know we are asleep until we wake up;
  2. we do things in our dreams we would not do wide awake; and
  3. we hate the sound of an alarm.”

 

Trying to erase the pain of the past from our psyche is a difficult task. Essentially it is not necessary to erase the pain but the psychological scars from the pain must be dealt with. It is the ‘dealing with’ aspect that is difficult.  If it is not dealt with then it becomes easy to flop back into the old mindset and return, in your thought life and dreams, to bondage.  The dream then becomes the nightmare. Like the Israelites travelling through the wilderness, the temptation was to look back to life in Egypt, particularly when times got tough and the food ran out.  It took them only two months after they had escaped from the tyrannical rule of Pharaoh to start the moaning process.  We should have stayed in Egypt at least we had food! We are going to die in this wilderness, how long will it take to get out of here? And so on….Moses told them that their complaining and grumbling was not against him but against God. Today, rather than complain about your situation, thank God that you are alive and praise him for the opportunities he will provide for you. Wake up and smell the coffee. See Exodus 16 and Acts 13:16-41.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , ,

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories