2 Chronicles 1-3

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses.

Communication is the art of leadership.

6 But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

Our ministry to the Lord flows from His goodness to us: it must not be an attempt to contain Him!

1 Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David sinned and numbered Israel. The Bible doesn't say why it was a sin...pride, lack of trust in God, whatever...the Bible tells us David sinned in doing this thing. We also learn that this sin released a destroying Angel in the land, and that the Angel stopped at Ornan's house, which was where David sacrificed to the Lord, and the plague ended. So here's the thing which blows me away: David builds the temple where everyone will come to worship God at the very place that represents the forgiveness of his own sin! Can we build for God in the exact spot we screwed up with the same bold confidence that God has forgiven?! Can we make our monumental failures monuments to the God of Mercy and Grace?

Romans 3

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith

Faith picks up all the blessings it doesn't deserve.
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1 Chronicles 27-29

19 "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans."


Revelation often comes from the Lord as we put pen to paper.
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Ecclesiastes 3

'For everything there is season, a time for every activity under heaven...'
v9 'What do people really get for all their hard work? [...] be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.'

A time to blog, a time to work. Normal service will resume in 2 weeks... I promise!

Romans 1

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

I don't think we recognise evil as clearly as Paul did. "Undiscerning" is in the list. We can sin by approving what God does not approve.

Bethlehem

Matthew 2:6‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Heard "Bethlehem" in the prayer meeting tonight. Prayed over the church, that great things could come from a small place. I believe God is raising leaders of the coming revival.

In the car on the way home, I felt prompted to switch off the CD and put on the radio. They were interviewing the leader of the Welsh assembly and asking why he was so consistently popular as a leader: He said" we're only a small nation, just 3million, so there's no doff the cap mentality with us, and if you're at the top there's really not that far to fall." At home I flicked open a book on Asuza (in the smallest room...) and they said the secret of the revival was first of all humility: "Humility is God's style. Remember the stable that was used at Bethlehem? Remember the stable that was used at Asuza?"

Could God use a little basement church in Bromley?

Acts 27

10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."


22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

What accounts for the difference between these two prophecies, given not long after each other?
Revelation is progressive, and can change according to intercession. God may reveal judgement, yet we can align ourselves in such a way that we receive mercy instead.
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Hebrews 13:1-3, 1 Peter 1:22

'Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies'

'Love each other deeply with all your heart'

WOW what a calling, to love, to love prisoners and strangers! If we really stepped up to this challenge what would the world look like? I want to see a revolution of love and compassion, where we out others before ourselves in every situation, every time! What a statement would that be!

1 Chronicles 5-7

for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him

Cry out in your battle!
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Hebrews 11-13

'Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about the things we cannot see'

Our faith is a confidence and an assurance, they are very stong and powerful words but we HAVE to be confident and assured of what God has done for us, that He is our creator and redeemer! It goes on to list a whole load of people in the bible who acted out of faith and changed a situation, person or nation around! Lets get out there and start exercising our faith! Only then will really start to see God move in powerful ways!

'But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection,'

Would I refuse to deny God? Are we prepared to suffer for our faith?

'Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us'

Awesome verse!

'Since we are recieving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping Him with holy fear and awe.'

Right so firstly God's kingdom is completely unshakable, nothing can stand against it!!! So we already have the victory, we've won, we are recieving that Kingdom! So let's be grateful and rejoice! How exciting is that.

I also think this tells us something once more about how we worship and come into the presence of God, it is with awe and holy fear!!

Hebrews 8-10

'But Jesus our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises,'

Okay, so firstly how awesome are God's promises!!! Secondly Jesus is mediating on our behalf in heaven! That's mental, Jesus is our advocate in heaven! He's the best lawyer ever!

'And so dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's MOST HOLY PLACE because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way THROUGH the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, Let us go right into the presence of God with SINCERE HEARTS FULLY TRUSTING HIM.'

Wow, I find this totally astonishing! I encourage you to just read it over a few times and let it sink in! Let's really grab hold of this because it's amazing!

Psalm 121

'I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth. [...] The Lord Himself watches over you. The Lord stands beside you as a protective shield. [...] The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.'

He is our help, our strength and our safety.

I find it interesting that it says 'as you come and go'. I know this means our day to day lives/routine and the things we do. But also I believe he's always our protection when we are (or feel) far from him. He will never let us down, or leaves us on our own. Super-Shepard!

2 Kings 1-2

10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.


If I am a man of God, let the fire of His Spirit consume this Nation in His goodness and Glory!!
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1 Kings 22

43 And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

It is possible to walk with the Lord, and have other "high places" in our lives. The high places must come down.
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Acts 13

2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

When we lay down our agenda just to simply minister to the Lord, that is often when He reveals His agenda.
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1 Kings 19-21

21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.


Serve, and receive promotion.
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Hebrews 4-5

Grace is great lets soak in Him!

Hebrews 6

'So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the HOPE that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us.'

In the midst of life, the stress, the trials, temptations, sorrow and joy, I find this verse is so encouraging and exciting! Let's hold onto this and let it impact how we live here and now too!

Proverbs 8:35

"Whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favour of the Lord."

Whatever we're up against I'm so glad God is on our side. Sometimes it feels like we can't win, or that men have power over us and our situations. But God says different! Don't seek man's approval first, seek God and His favour will follow. We are sons of the King.

John 10:10 says "if my God is on my side, who can be against me? What can man do to me?"
He will uphold you with His righteous right hand.

Whatever our opposition is, isn't it comforting knowing that we serve and awsome God who never fails.
He is our victory.

The Man on the White Horse

"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself."
NLT Revelation 19:12

Dang, now he is awesome!

Now flaming eyes is a super power only God can pull off. (Sorry GhostRider, you just don't cut it).

Hebrews 1-3

'So we must listen carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it,'

Lets carefully listen to the word of God, lets search the scriptures daily, test what we've heard and seek God over our questions. We need to be in a place where we are growing in the word and soaking in it so that we don't get side tracked or lost along the way!

Acts 12

7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side

Sometimes a divine shove is just the job.
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1 Kings 18

1 And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year,

Patience is essential for a prophet. It is necessary to wait for the word of the Lord. Even after God speaks, we must pause to weigh the word and consider carefully if and when, how and to whom we should deliver it.
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1 Kings 16-18

7 And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.

We cannot fight evil with evil. The old playground philosophy of "he did it first" does not defer guilt, it multiplies it.
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Acts 11

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

Have we experienced the Holy Spirit fall upon us "as at the beginning"?

1 Kings 13-15

26 Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.”

It is dangerous to preach obedience and disobey. All ministers are made examples of one way or another.

2 Timothy 2 & 3

'Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth'

I believe it is necessary for us as a body to correct and instruct one another when we are going wrong, the thing is so often we go about wrong. With our own objectives or to make ourselves look impressive. We need to pull people up and tell them when they are doing wrong, but we do in GENTLY, and we do it with LOVE. Not because we want to look better than them but because we want the best for them!

' Avoid worthless foolish talk that only leads to more godless behaviour. This kind of talk spreads like cancer,'

We have to be so careful what we say and how it influences us, not only that but the conversations we hear and are a part of around our friends, they can influence our actions!

'Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace.'

All of this is true, and I believe living like this will impact our lives and our walk with God as well as our impact on the world massively but sometimes it feels like a mountain to climb. However it's not by our own power or accomplishment.

'Be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus!'

Acts 10

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?"
So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Giving is one way to pursue God.
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1 Kings 10-12

9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded.

Hearing from God is no substitute for obeying God.

7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

That is how to lead. Great advice.
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James 5

end of 15, 16 "And anyone who has committed sins will be forgeiven, Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." NLT

Been talking to my mother along with several others about our response to prayer. Do we truely trust God will answer. Been challenged to pray more specifically and to trust that He will answer. also kinda like the healing being linked to forgivenes of sins, and the encouragement that it is biblical to encourage one another to be honest about our sins.

verse 20 is such an encouragement to persue the saving of those have lost their way and that there are people that turn away and return to the right path! Please pray for JW a flat mate, that He may return!

James 5 is an awesome read...

Acts 9

20 Immediately he preached the Christ[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Why wait?
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1 Kings 7-9

"11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
12 Then Solomon spoke"

There is a place we get to where our ministry stops and God takes over. Nonetheless, it was when the Glory fell that Solomon spoke. God wants our response, and loves to respond to our ministry to Him. Relationship.

"when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:"

Solomon directly links the peace/ plague within to the peace/ plague without. To the extent Christ reigns within us, we will establish His reign in the earth.
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1 Timothy 3-5

'Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity,'

God uses everyone, and He can use us in massive no matter what age we are, or however, anyone else see's us! I find that amazing and encouraging every time I read this. I really want to be an example to others in every aspect of my life, I want to strive for that goal! Do you?

'Yet true Godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it.'

True wealth and riches aren't found in earthly posessions; our houses, I-pods, clothes ultimately mean nothing. Contentment with what we have and what God provides us with alongside living a Godly life, is where we find real wealth! We have riches in Christ and what He has done for us!

Acts 12

Reading this it struck me how Peter was really at peace even the night before trial, what an amazing loving God we have that He can give us this peace. Also Peter didn't believe that it was actually happening. Be good to reflect and see the what God does for us...

Acts 8

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Baddies can become goodies.
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1 Kings 4-6

"Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king's friend;"

Kings need friends.
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