3 March 2021 mid week encouragement

GO ON TO MATURITY
‘Let us go on instead and become mature,’ Hebrews 6:1 NLT
We all get the same 168 hours in our week. But if the only time you devote to your spiritual growth is the time you spend in church on a Sunday morning, you’ll never move beyond spiritual infancy. Think about it. An infant can’t feed itself; it chooses chocolate over carrots; it constantly falls down and has to be picked up; it keeps wandering off and getting into trouble; it’s basically self-centred and needs to be disciplined and trained. Are you getting the picture?
The new birth is exciting, but it’s supposed to be your launching pad, not your cot. The Bible says, ‘Let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding’ (Hebrews 6:1NLT). Note the words ‘Let us’. That means it’s up to you! At some point you’ve got to say to yourself, ‘Starting today I’m going to do what it takes to grow up spiritually and discover God’s plan for my life.’
One day at the end of World War 1, General Louis Lyautey asked his gardener to plant a particular type of tree on his estate. The gardener informed him that the tree, being unusually slow to grow, would take nearly a century to reach maturity. ‘In that case,’ the general replied, ‘there’s no time to lose. Plant it this afternoon!’ Here’s a fail-safe plan for growing into spiritual maturity: ‘They delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do’ (Psalm 1:2-3 NLT).

Dead Ducks Don't Flutter
Many years ago, a wealthy man went duck hunting with a hired hand named Sam.They took a horse and carriage, and along the way a rim came off one of the wheels. As Sam hammered it back on, he accidentally hit his finger. Instantly he let go with some bad words. He quickly fell to his knees, asking God's forgiveness. "Lord, it's difficult at times to live the Christian life", he prayed. "Sam" said the man, "I know you're a Christian, but tell me why you struggle so, I'm an atheist, and I don't have problems like that."

Sam didn't know what to say. Just then two ducks flew overhead. The man raised his gun and two shots rang out. "Leave the dead one and go after that wounded bird!" he shouted. Sam pointed at the duck that was fluttering desperately to escape and said, "I've got an answer for you now, Boss. You said my Christianity isn't any good because I have to struggle so. Well, I'm the wounded duck and struggle to get away from the devil. But you Boss, you're the dead duck!"

That insight fits Paul's description of his Christian experience in Romans 7:14-25.

Struggle is one evidence of God's work in our lives Forgiveness of sin is available, so don't despair. Remember, dead ducks don't flutter. –Dennis De Hann

Help
There was a preacher who fell in the ocean and he couldn't swim. When a boat came by, the captain yelled, "Do you need help, sir?" The preacher calmly said "No, God will save me." A little later, another boat came by and a fisherman asked, "Hey, do you need help?" The preacher replied again, "No God will save me." Eventually the preacher drowned & went to heaven. The preacher asked God, "Why didn't you save me?" God replied, "Fool, I sent you two boats!"

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P. R. A. I. S. E.

When we PRAISE GOD and give Him all we are, He gives us this in return:

He sees us as a PRINCESS
— When we praise God and understand He is the king of kings, and He is our Father, we learn to see ourselves as we really are.

He sees us in a ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
— When we praise God and accept the price Jesus paid, He gives us a new 'wardrobe' of purity.

He sees us with ACCEPTANCE
— God loves us more than we can possibly grasp, and accepts us for who we are.

He sees us as INVALUABLE
— We are worth more than rubies. We are unique and irreplaceable.

He sees us with STRENGTH
— As we praise Him, His Holy Spirit gives us strength to face the day.

He sees us with EXCELLENCE
— As we look to Him with love, He gives us the reason to do our best. PRAISE is the beginning of breakthrough. Let it always be on your lips and in your heart.

prayer to finish with

Churches VISION – St Paul’s Mission Statement

“Our purpose as God’s people is to share the good news of Jesus
with the people of Kaikoura and beyond.”

3 March Encouragement

Churches VISION – St Paul’s Mission Statement

“Our purpose as God’s people is to share the good news of Jesus with the people of Kaikoura and beyond.”

3 March Encouragement

“Our purpose as God’s people is to share the good news of Jesus
with the people of Kaikoura and beyond.”