HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN 2012

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN 2012

I am excited about what 2012 holds for us as a church.  The new year presents us with awesome opportunities to continue building God’s Kingdom by reaching our families, communities, cities, nation and beyond with the love and saving power of Jesus Christ.   I sense the Holy Spirit has been doing an amazing job within our hearts and church over the last few months.  A real sense of fresh belonging and connection is occurring.  People are being stirred in their faith to expect the impossible.  I believe greater opportunities are in store for all who will reach for them.  God is wanting us to stretch ourselves.  To stretch our faith, to stretch our capacity to love, to stretch our capacity to believe for a harvest of souls.  We are going to “hit the ground running” in 2012!  We have new and exciting things planned for the year.  You will be hearing more of this in January and February.  

God is excited about you.  He is excited about His church.  He sees the future. He sees the end from the beginning. Some of you may have been struggling with things for a long time, well I have good news for you.  God is bringing an acceleration of His purposes and will into this earth.  Time really is being condensed.  He has promised a great and wonderful harvest before the return of Jesus.  He is positioning His people for blessing and increase.  Increase of finances,  increase of anointing, increase of His power, increase of favour.  All the stops are being pulled out.  The devil has held sway with God’s people for far too long, now it’s time for God’s glory to be seen upon His church.  Jesus promised “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. There is so much passion in Jesus’ words.  Can you hear it?  He is so passionate about His church. I figure if Jesus is passionate about it, then I need to be. The church is His vehicle for saving the world.  And guess what?  Together we make up the church.
My passion, as was Pastor Don’s, is to co labour with God in seeing the church which Jesus spilt His blood for, flourish and grow.  My passion is to see God’s sons and daughters become passionate about His church, passionate about building the Kingdom, seeing souls saved, loving people and loving God.  

I wish you all a very blessed and joy filled Christmas. Thank you for partnering together with us in prayer, giving, serving and loving.  I give thanks to God for all of you.  Never under estimate how valuable you are, to God, to myself and to the church He has planted you in.

God bless you all richly,

Pastor Robyn

ATTITUDE

W.C. Stone wrote “There is little difference in people.  But that little difference makes a big difference.  That little difference is attitude.  The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.”

Our attitudes colour our lives.  They determine whether we have success or failure, joy or heaviness, peace or strife, prosperity or lack, faith or unbelief.  God puts it like this “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom 12:2.
When our thoughts and attitudes are coloured by the Word of God and not the world’s way of thinking, then we will truly know what it is to have success, joy, healing, peace, prosperity and faith, which are all the will of God for us.  

God also says in Prov 23:7, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”.  We become what we think.  It is impossible to separate our thinking from our attitudes and in turn it is impossible to separate our attitudes from our actions.  So we have a constant battle with our thoughts and attitudes, for that is the area the devil most often attacks.  This is why God constantly reminds us to deal to our thoughts and attitudes.  Listen to what He says: “Take no thought saying ‘what shall I eat?’ or ‘what shall I drink?’ or ‘what shall I wear?” Matt 6:31.  In other words, “don’t worry, trust Me.”  That’s the attitude of faith.

 “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Jas 1:2. That’s ‘Attitude’ with a capital ‘A’!  “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Jas 1:21.  Meekness is an attitude which enables you to receive correction and to make changes for the better.  Moses was referred to as the meekest man on the face of the earth.  It was because of this attitude that God used him to deliver God’s people from Egypt.  He could be trusted to be faithful in all God’s house, because he knew what it was to be humble and teachable.

“Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice,” Phil 4.4.  Now there’s an attitude of praise and a thankful heart!  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Phil 4:14. That’s the attitude of a winner.
 
Over and over God exhorts us to have a positive attitude.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say to worry or to be ‘down in the dumps’.  Nowhere are we told to be proud and unteachable, nor to moan about the bad things life has dealt to us.  In fact not once does the Bible tell us to be negative in our thoughts or attitude.  All that negative stuff comes from the pit of hell.  It’s designed to pull us down and destroy us.  

We need to take a leaf out of Paul’s book, so to speak, and declare in ‘all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Paul, who had every reason to have a bad attitude towards life, God and his persecutors, due to all the hard knocks in life he received, rose above the circumstances, hardships and afflictions and maintained a positive attitude. In answer to all the negative stuff coming his way, he declared “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”  Now that’s what I call ‘Attitude’!.  

Let’s maintain an attitude like Paul.  An attitude which doesn’t give in or quit.  An attitude which never says die.  An attitude which makes a big difference in this world, bringing life to all those we come in contact with.

Pastor Robyn

HEAVEN’S RECORD

For those of you who serve tirelessly in the church it is easy to sometimes think nobody notices or cares that you are putting so much effort into what you do. You want to have the right attitude but when you see others withholding their gifting or talents, you sometimes find yourself struggling to think well of others.

The apostle Paul was very much aware of this very thing, and he wrote in 1 Cor 15.58  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”.  He hit the nail right on the head!  Even way back then, people struggled with this very thing.  Satan’s strategies to weaken the body of Christ haven’t changed.  If he can get you thinking “What’s the point, I’m doing all this work and nobody cares or notices, nobody volunteers to help me”, then he will not only rob you of your reward but he also weakens the church.

Firstly, I want you to know I care and I notice and give thanks to God for your diligence, faithfulness and love for the House and things of God.  Secondly, and more importantly, our Father cares and also notices and He wants you to be confident that all your labour, all your hard work, is definitely not in vain.  It counts for something.  It means a lot to Him, that you are so willing and happy to give your time, energy and resources in service to Him.  I firmly believe we will be surprised at how much of what we do is recorded in heaven.  You may think He didn’t notice you coming down to church and working on the sound system, or fixing a handle, or cleaning the building, or working in the kitchen.  You may think He didn’t notice as you took time to prepare for children’s ministry or youth ministry, or spent time in prayer for others, but I assure you He did notice and it is recorded.  You may think the Father didn’t notice as you spent time practising new songs, preparing media, hanging flags, mowing lawns, or ringing someone to give a word of encouragement, giving someone a much needed hug, or lovingly made a meal for someone.  I could go on and on about the beautiful acts of service many of you do.  Many of you go beyond the call of duty and move in an area of sacrificial giving of your time and resources.  You are such a treasure, so special to the Lord and to this church and Kingdom of God.

My heart’s desire is for everyone to enjoy the privilege of putting their hand to the plough in some area of ministry.  Don’t have the attitude “oh someone else can do that”, or “they don’t need me”.  Yes we do need you, God needs you, the Kingdom of God needs you.  Sure, someone else may be doing that job, but just imagine if you also served in that area, how encouraged that team or person would be.  Rather than two carrying the load, now there are four, and the load becomes lighter and easier and more fun for everyone involved.  Plus, you have the joy of knowing that your service is being recorded in heaven, and your labour is not in vain, fruitless, to no avail or purpose, but Jesus is waiting for that day when you meet Him face to face in heaven and He can say, “well done my good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord”.

So family of God, let’s continue to be steadfast, constant, single-minded and immoveable, refusing to be pulled off away from our service, always abounding and flourishing in the work of the Lord, knowing that what we do counts for something in the Father’s eyes.

God bless you as we serve the Lord together,

Pastor Robyn

A Prophetic Word

When Fergus McIntyre was with us at Centre Church in August he prophesied, “there are going to be a whole lot of fresh anointings coming on the house, to build the church”. We could all say, “wow that’s awesome”, then sit back waiting for the anointing to drop on us. If that’s our attitude then we are missing it completely. We will be waiting until Jesus comes. The prophetic word has gone forth, now it’s up to us to make ourselves ready for the fresh anointings God wants to release. I am yet to see anyone receive a fresh anointing from God who is not hungry for God and pushing in for more of Him. When Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, He was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights seeking the Lord, and pushing against darkness. He came out of there not just filled with the Spirit but in the power of the Spirit. The first thing He declared was “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me..” 

The anointing demands something of us. It demands a pushing into the things of God. It demands a setting aside of things that will distract us from seeking more of Him for a season, but the results are worth it. There will be an increase of the anointing and presence of God on our lives. The anointing of God is always for a purpose. It’s not to make us feel good or to bless us. The anointing is for the purpose of doing good and healing all who are oppressed of the devil (Acts 10.38). There are many people out there in the community doing good, and that’s commendable. But God wants us anointed to do good, so that we affect people not just in the natural but we touch them with the power and presence of God. 

Satan will fight you and try and prevent you receiving a greater anointing. If He fought Jesus in the wilderness, he will certainly fight you. He’s not about to sit back and say, “oh no, they are seeking God for a greater anointing”, and do nothing to stop it. He will bring pressure on you to distract you, to steal your time, to make you tired or tell you that God wouldn’t anoint you, you are not good enough. Don’t fall for it. You are valuable to the church and to the Kingdom of God. God wants to anoint His kids with the Holy Spirit and with power. He wants to release fresh anointings on us, so that we are fully equipped to clash with the kingdom of darkness and impact our community and nation with the Kingdom of God. 

We have the answers for today. When we bless we release the fragrance of Christ into the atmosphere. When we turn up, darkness recedes. When we turn up, darkness holds its breath for fear of what we are about to release. The anointing on Jesus created a clash of kingdoms wherever He went. It stirred hearts to run after what He had. It caused people to cry out to God for mercy and to reach out in faith for healing and deliverance. Demons couldn’t stand it when Jesus turned up. They would scream out. Now that would be freaky in a supermarket!  

You are no ordinary person. You are a child of the King. You are a child of the Most High God. God wants to anoint all of us with fresh anointings that will build the house of God and see God’s plans and purposes for the Kingdom come to pass. Will you pay the price for the anointing? Will you cry out for it with all your heart? Will you set time aside to pray and seek God’s face and press into Him? I pray the answer is a resounding “Yes”! There is so much we can accomplish together when we walk in the anointing and presence of God. Bible knowledge without Bible experience is pointless. God wants the world to experience Him. To experience His love and mercy, His goodness and favour, His miracles and healing grace. God bless,

MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF THE SAME DRUM

We are so privileged to be living in these exciting days. So many people look back to the “good old days” with great nostalgia.  Sure, the good old days may have had their great moments, but we should be excited about the here and now.  Things in the natural may look rather gloomy, with the world’s financial system looking as though it’s on the verge of collapse and with darkness covering the people.  Yet this is a glorious time for the body of Christ.  These are the days prophesied by Isaiah where he says, “arise and shine”!  Not only that, but he said “the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon us”.  Jesus also said in John 17:21 that the glory which the Father gave Him He also gives us, so that we may be one.  This is why these are exciting days, for we are at a point in history where the Body of Christ is finding its place in the earth and connecting as one like never before.  

While Jesus was on the earth, He could only touch the lives of the people in the small area where he ministered.  Today He can touch the lives of millions and millions of people at one time through His body on the earth.  We are poised to be the most effective and powerful ‘body’ of people that has ever existed on the face of the planet! No wonder Jesus could boldly say, the works that I do, greater than these shall you do, because I go to My Father.  Now all those that have received Christ are connected spiritually, having the same heavenly Father and born of the same Holy Spirit.  Christ is the head of this new body.  

A body to be effective and healthy has to function as one body with one head.  In other words, the body takes its instructions from one head, so that everything is functioning in union with each other.  There is huge power in flowing as one.  If you have ever watched a nature programme on ants, you will get some idea of the power of one.  I’m not talking about the power of one lone ant, or even thousands of lone ants doing their own thing.  Lone ants can be very easily eliminated.  But if you have seen the way thousands of ants act when on a mission, as they march together as one body, they are a frightening sight.  They can quickly overcome some unsuspecting victim maybe 1000 times their individual size and carry it off in little pieces back to the colony.  Argentinean ants are particularly known for the way they never turn on each other or attack one another.  Everything they do is for the good of the ant colony.  They march as a team in perfect harmony.  Because of this they are almost impossible to eradicate.

This is why the bible says “one can put a thousand to flight, but two, ten thousand”.  That’s the power of unity, the power of working together as one.  So imagine the power when we, the body of Christ, start flowing together as one, recognising each other’s giftings, valuing each other and protecting the body through love.  Everything we do should be for the good of the body.  We don’t do or say things with the intention of harming or belittling another member of the body.  We have learnt to love as Jesus loves.  We have learnt to forgive and pay no attention to a suffered wrong.  We have learnt what it is to be part of a unique and spiritually powerful family.  We are truly wired for love.  “Love begins in the home”, is a very valid saying.  Love begins in the household of faith and from there it flows into our communities, cities and nation.   As we all march to the beat of the same drum there will be no stopping us.

God is releasing his miracle working power on the body en masse.  He wants the world to know He loves them and has a way of escape for everyone from sin, despair and hopelessness, through His Son Jesus Christ.  All He asks of us is to love each other and come to that place of unity of the faith, where we will find ourselves walking effortlessly in the fullness of Christ.  Let’s be an example of love and unity as together we start a revolution which overturns Satan’s system of hate, hopelessness and destruction and replace it with God’s system love, healing, and hope.

God bless you,

Pastor Robyn

START A REVOLUTION

What does it take to start a revolution?  Let me tell you. It begins with a thought.  A thought that says, I want change, I’ve had enough of the status quo, I want to see radical change in my life, in my church, in my community and in my nation.  We tend to see the term ‘revolution’ in a negative way.  You can understand why when you look at the history of some nations where revolution broke out and the destruction and evil that ensued.  Yet in some nations, what followed was a time of peace and justice for the people.  I would like to put it to you, that as Christians and as a church, we need a revolution.  I love the idea that radical change is happening in our lives, in the life of the church and in the life of our communities.

How can I start a revolution in my life, you ask?  Good question.  Firstly, you need to decide that you want to change.  You need to decide, “I am tired of dealing with negative thinking and anxiety every day.  I am tired of thinking and living the way I do, way below God’s best for me.” Rom 12.2 sets out clearly where we go from there. It says we are to renew our minds so we can experience a transformation or literally a revolution. What are you going to renew your minds to?  Certainly not to the negative flow of the world, nor to the status quo of society with all its fears, selfishness and injustice.  You are to renew your mind to God’s way of thinking and God’s way of doing things.  You take His thoughts and His words and implant them into your heart and mind and allow them to start a revolution of change in you.  You start to overthrow all the negative thoughts and replace them with thoughts that create life and blessing.

You become what you think, Prov 23.7 says.  Your thoughts prepare you to succeed or to fail.  If you think you can’t you won’t.  If you think you can you will. If you are constantly thinking fear filled thoughts and speaking out your fears, you will start to draw the very thing you fear to yourself. (Read Job 3.25).  A renewed mind is one where the word of God dwells richly,  which in turn enables you to overrule the negative.  Your transformed mind now sides with your recreated spirit and defeats fear, failure, sin and oppression every time. When God’s word is dwelling in you richly, you will begin to live out who you are on the inside.  Who are you on the inside?  Let me remind you. If you are a born again believer, you are righteous, bold, free from condemnation, creative, blessed, anointed, holy, sharing God’s divine nature of love, mercy, peace and joy.  You’re an heir of God and joint heir with Jesus Christ, seated in the heavenly places with Him.  You have the mind of Christ. I could go on and on.  You truly are this most amazing person on the inside!  As your mind is renewed to these truths, a revolution is taking place.  A transformation is occurring.  Your thinking becomes life giving, not life threatening. You become an agent of blessing.  You start to draw blessing to your life and circumstances, and to the lives of others. You start to impact those around you with the life giving power of God.  You find yourself colliding with the works of darkness and imparting God’s grace and healing.

Come on everyone; let’s start a revolution in our lives, in that of our families and that of the church and wider community.  Let’s revolutionize all that we do and say.  Revolutionize our prayer life, revolutionize our thinking, revolutionize our faith walk, revolutionize our giving, revolutionize our love walk, revolutionize our supernatural ministry.  Believe big, visualize great changes in your lives and see yourself believing God for what would have seemed impossible a year ago.  Decide to start a revolution today!  In a few months we will be unrecognisable and unstoppable!

God bless you,

 

Pastor Robyn

BLESSED WITH FAVOUR

It tells us in the book of Psalms that God blesses the righteous man and surrounds him with favour as a shield.  Those who have accepted Christ have been made righteous.  It’s not something we try to be, it’s who we are through the finished work of Jesus.  So then, because God sees us as righteous, not only are we blessed, but favour surrounds us like a shield.  Now when pressures and circumstances try and push us down, we claim God’s favour and we find doors open for us and benefits are attracted to us. Favour is literally an attraction gift, which draws to the “favoured one” blessings and good will.  Psalm 30:5 talks of favour being for a lifetime.  In other words, God doesn’t just surround us with favour for a season.  His intention is for favour to surround us all our days.  
Jesus grew in favour with God and man. Now we are in Christ that same increasing favour is ours.  When we are favoured people like us, even when they don’t necessarily know why.  Why is that?  It’s because favour is something tangible. It’s not just a thought or vague suggestion.  Favour acts like a magnet and draws good things to us and repels the bad.  It’s not to say bad things won’t try and come against us, they did with Jesus. One mob tried to throw Jesus off a cliff; a storm came up one night and tried to sink the boat He was sleeping in.  What was the favoured One’s response?  He simply turned around in the mob and passed through them unharmed.  In the storm, He stood up and rebuked the wind and the waves and immediately the storm hushed.  Favour draws good things to the person who is favoured.

Favour is definitely our portion in life.  Reject rejection!  Reject bad will and expect good will and favour!  If you have expectation for favour, favour will come. Instead of expecting the worse, expect the best.  That’s so much more fun!  Expect opportunities to come your way. Expect increase of favour daily.  What are you doing through expectation?  You are releasing your faith to receive favour. Speak favour over your life, especially when it looks like favour has packed its bags and gone on holiday!!  It’s so important we think about the words that are coming out our mouths.  Ask yourself, do my words sound like words that are expecting favour?  If not, change your words to words of favour and watch benefits, blessings and goodwill be attracted to you.  

God bless,

Pastor Robyn