And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

Pray is one of the essential Christian lifelines and yet it is so often neglected. This may be for a number of reasons but includes, laziness, time management, busy social lives and not knowing what to pray for.
The great thing is that God in his infinite wisdom already perceived this need with the believer and has given us help and instruction through his word. Leaving us with no excuses. This isn’t because God wants to come across as the great disciplinarian, but rather he knows the impact of a regular and powerful prayer time.
Jesus himself always made time to pray, no matter what kind of a day he had had or was going to have. As man incarnate he needed that connection with the Father to bless him, uplift him and empower him.
Here Paul through the inspiration of God reveals that all believers are weak, and clearly one of these weaknesses is in relation to pray.

Isn’t is reassuring that when we don’t know what to pray for the Holy Spirit prays for us so that we have an opportunity to hear the Holy Spirit working through us to teach us and motivate us to pray and overcome the problems we face.
The original word for the Holy Spirit “helps” is to aid or assist. God is not wanting to take over but to share the burden with us. Those of us who have children or grandchildren know that when a child comes for help, it is much better to work with them than to do it all for them, mainly so that they learn and grow up, knowing how. God our father works with us in a similar way.

Often we can pray, but we can pray inappropriately, outside of the will of God. This is why we need his leadings from within us to prompt us of the right kind of prayers to pray. We don’t know what God wants us to pray, but God does. We must be careful to come before the Almighty with prepared hearts full of the truth through the saturation of his word.
When we are weak, or we feel that we are burdened or that our prayers seem unanswered the Spirit of God speaks into our spirit the peace and strength of God, which may not be at that time all that we have prayed for, but gives us strength for another day. It lifts us and keeps us. Don’t try and explain it, you can’t express it, just be thankful that God is there.

Labels: Holy Spirit, Prayer, Strength

 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” Judges 6:14

There are two things here which I want to reinforce from last Sunday morning.
Crestwood has been independent for two and a half years, we have seen much growth, numerically and we give thanks and all the glory to God. Who has blessed us way beyond our expectations, but hasn’t he promised us, if we trust him and pray he would. (Ephesians 3:14-20) But what about each of us individually?
Are we stronger now than we were a year ago. Have we learnt from the past, are we still totally dependant on others, or are where we are strong in the Lord’s strength with the church to support us.
This is the model that God wants us to have. We can’t do without the church to empower us as we are a vital resource for each other, but more importantly we can’t do without direct strength that comes from waiting and leaning upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).
The strength that you need is already within you, just as God was sharing into the life of Gideon, the big question is do we believe it and do we know where to look for it?
The important words in this verse are the last four. “I am sending you” it is not the church on its own sending you, it is not your personal ambition sending you, it is the magnificent king of heaven who is sending you. He believes in you, he knows you and he wants you to be successful.
It is time that we all realise that God is not looking for a single person or persons to lead us, but individuals that make up a mighty army who can take this area by storm. Yes we need leaders, but we also need faithful servants of Christ to carry out the spiritual battles that we face daily.
Can I use this opportunity at the beginning of a New Year to encourage you to remember your quiet times. How much time you spend in the day with Christ has a parallel effect of how much you know him, know who you are and are strengthened to do whatever it is that God sends you to do. If we don’t spend time praying and reading his word, we have less opportunity for God to speak into our lives, strength, power and encouragement, don’t cut off your lifeline.

Labels: Growth, Personal, Strength, Wait

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.” Psalm 133

Unity is one of the most precious attributes that God wants his people to inherit. It is something that made Israel victorious and close to God and it is the prayer of the Lord Jesus that the church should be one. (John 17:21) When we are one we are stronger and love flows and the power of God falls.

In governments , sports, empires, at work, at home, when unity reigns, you achieve more, there is a common sense of purpose and the indifferences between us disappear, or become less noticeable.

Last week at Quinta was a great week where a large part of the church (53 in total) were able to come and share a holiday together. It rained, and it rained but it did not dampen out spirit, because unity is bigger than emotion, weather or circumstance.

The great thing about unity is that we can all still be ourselves, we all have different personalities and different ways of doing things, and unity works when this is in unison with each other.

The common factor of the church is the Lord Jesus, he is the glue that binds us, he is our example and our source of delight. His spirit within us is like the oil that is poured on the High Priest in this Psalm, he covers every part of the body ( the church) and he is the one who brings the refreshing. Everyday life often is exempt from unity, but when God’s people come together, unity is evident and it is this attribute that often speaks louder than any other form of evangelism.

Brothers and Sisters, let us be in the place where the refreshing oil of the Spirit of God can continue to bind us and strengthen us and keep us from looking through our own eyes at each other. The joy of unity is that it is here that God commands or pronounces the blessing. Put aside any divisions or disagreements and look to unity that comes from Christ through his Spirit. So that He may be satisfied and delight that his children abound in love and unity.

Labels: Holy Spirit, Oil, Strength, unity