EPHESIANS 3 RELOADED

This is real stuff you know. It is so real to me that I was willing to take prison for it, even take a bullet for it if I have to. It is my mission to make God’s mysteries known, plain and simple, accessible to everyone. In case you hadn’t figured it out yet – God has a plan! In the past it was hidden like a treasure in the deepest sea, but now it is now being shown to you, clear as crystal.

The plan is this: Everyone gets the chance to be one of God’s children. Everyone gets an equal share in the inheritance –the good stuff usually reserved for the posh or the privileged. If we were God’s body, then every part would be connected together, legs, arms and all, because we are connected to Jesus by the heart.

I tell you what, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, because I get to spread this good news everywhere! I absolutely love telling you about the endless possibilities that exist for you, now you have Jesus in your life. It feels like I have been let in on an awesome secret, and I can finally let it out!

God wants to show you off to the world, together with all his other children. Some people will call you “church”, others will simply call you “family”. But everyone will see how special God is, because of how special he has made you. Even the angels, demons and the things you can’t even see with your eyes, will not believe their eyes, when they see how loving and wise God has been with you.

So come on, don’t worry, step right up and come on in – God has a warm welcome for you, right now. You can be close to God anytime you want, that’s exactly why Jesus died for you!

Excuse me, but I am about to go nuts again. It just gets better and better. I can’t even stand up anymore when I really think about it. I simply have to fall to my knees and pray. But I don’t pray for myself, I always pray for you. I pray you will be super strong on the inside, when you realise how strong and powerful God is. I pray Jesus will feel completely at home in your life – with every room in your heart clean and ready to be occupied by God.

But most of all I pray you will get it into your head and your heart, just how loved you are. I pray you will understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Let yourself sink into that love, lose yourself completely in something that you will never fully understand, but will spend eternity enjoying and experiencing forever. Lots of people in this world want to be powerful, but I know you just want to be loved. And this love will help you see how much power that there truly is. It is a power, just waiting to be used for the good of everyone; by the person who has figured out that God thinks they are amazing.

I think it is time to take a moment again to say just how brilliant God is. He is amazing, and his power in our lives will take us in new directions, give us new ideas and help us succeed in new ways of living that we could never have asked for or even dared to dream about in and beyond our wildest imagination. God rocks!

EPHESIANS 2 RELOADED

Let’s think for a minute about the ways things used to be. In the past you were totally switched off to God and you were controlled by anything and everything around you. You always went with the crowd. You never went against the flow because you were so scared inside.If you are honest, you were pretty selfish and thought only about yourself. It didn’t matter about anyone else and because of your wrong thoughts, actions and choices you made a right mess of your life.

This mess should have meant that God would look at you and be mad. He should have been disappointed and you should have been ashamed. But it wasn’t like that at all. Even though you were broken inside, it was God’s amazing love that fixed you right up. We deserved the worse, but God has given us the best instead. It is as if we were dead and God has given us the kiss of life.But it doesn’t end there! God loved us just the way we are.

But he didn’t leave us that way.

He pulled us out of our mess, cleaned us up and his love made us feel so high that we could never ever stoop down low again. He did this because he wanted to show the whole world how kind he really was. The real point is this. God has done all this – not you. You didn’t earn this one bit, so you shouldn’t ever be prideful, but you can always be thankful. We simply need to be grateful that God has made us such a masterpiece. Your life is like a work of art, and all the good things you will do will help paint an amazing picture for the world to see how great our God really is.

Some people think they are better than others. Some people think that if they try harder God will love them more. But the truth is that we are all the same. We all messed up and we all need God’s love to bring us close to God. Do you really think you are good enough to do it on your own? No matter how good or how bad we try– it all comes back to God’s efforts, not ours. The wonder of it all is that it doesn’t matter if you are short, tall, fat, thin, black or white – all of us have a chance to know God as a Father. We can all be close to God.

If you have ever felt excluded, insignificant or insecure then now is the time to realise that you have been included in something amazing. You are not alone anymore. You are like a piece in a puzzle. You are like a brick in a house. And this is a house that God lives in, a house where you can experience true family life, and a place you can feel at home.

EPHESIANS 1 RELOADED

My name is Paul and God thought it would be a good idea for me to write to everyone who calls themselves a Christian and remind them about how great it is to know that God loves us like a Father. In a world that sometimes feels so unsafe, this can help you and I to be at peace.

I don’t know if you realise this, but we have a Father in heaven who has given us so many good things, it is a bit like being given a blank cheque and told to write in any amount we need, any time we need it.

What kind of good things has God given us? Well, first of all he has created you and given you life. You are alive! God designed you and me from the very beginning of time, even before he sat down to decide what the world would be like. Before any trees, rivers or mountains, God thought about you. And he loved you then like he loves you now.

And God didn’t stop there. When God made you, he didn’t just want you to be his friend. He wanted you to be his Child. What would it be like to get a completely fresh start, to be able to start again, like the whole world was made new? This is the kind of forgiveness God offers us when we trust in what Jesus has done.

Because of what Jesus has done on the cross, God has made a way for you to be his special child, perfect in his eyes – totally forgiven and totally free. You are all his number one kid!

God’s generosity is something we don’t deserve at all, but he gives it to us anyway. It is God’s cleverness, not our own, which helps point us in the right direction. All you have to do is trust Him.

God has had a master plan right from the start and he really wants to share it with you. He doesn’t want his plan to be a mystery to you any longer. If you want to know what your life is all about, where you came from and where you are going, then concentrate on Jesus.

Everything you need to know about life can be found in him. Everything that happened in history and everything that will happen in the future will all focus on Jesus. Jesus will transform everything for the better.

There are good plans that God has for this world and there are good plans he has for you. You are not a mistake. You are not an accident. You are not some helpless, worthless, insignificant dot floating through life. You are chosen by God. You were chosen for a purpose. You were born to be part of something bigger than yourself.

When you prayed and asked God to come into your life, it was for so much more than just so you could get into heaven when you die and feel a bit happier while you live. God chose you as his child, so he could work with you to help you change your world for the better.

How do you know if you are a child of God? It is about not the way you look, or who your family are, or where you live or even how many good things you have done. The proof that you belong to him is when God gives you his Holy Spirit as a guide in life. The Holy Spirit is like a gift that will bring peace instead of fear and joy instead of sadness. All you have to do is ask for it.

The more I think about what God has done for you, the more excited I become. I have been praying for you loads and asking that God would help you know God better for yourself. I have been praying that you would realise the truth about what God has created you to be. I pray you will understand just how much power God has given you to be able to do everything that you need to do in life.

If you are worrying that God may not be powerful enough to change your situation, then remember that Jesus was actually dead, and God was strong enough to bring him back to life. And not only did Jesus come back to life, but he is no longer the underdog, he is the president of the universe. Now Jesus is in charge of everything and nothing can ever challenge his title as ruler of the world. So remember – this mighty strength that God has, can also make you strong too. His power is big and God doesn’t keep it to himself. My prayer is that you will begin to believe how great this power really is for your life today.

Everyone in the church can share in God’s power because Jesus really is in control of what is going on in the world, even if it doesn’t always seem that way. We simply need to trust God that everything is going to be ok.

The Welsh Revival Pt 5: A River Runs Through It

This account comes from Lester Sumrall's book - Pioneers of Faith. Sumrall relates how he met Smith Wigglesworth during the dark days of World War II and gives the following account about a vision of Revival Wigglesworth was given by God:

"... Shutting his eyes again, he said, 'I see the greatest revival in the history of mankind coming to Planet earth, maybe as never before. And I see every form of disease healed. I see whole hospitals emptied with no one there. Even the doctors are running down the streets shouting.'

"He told me that there would be untold numbers of uncountable multitudes that would be saved. No man will say 'so many, so many,' because nobody will be able to count those who come to Jesus. No disease will be able to stand before God's people... 'It will be a worldwide situation, not local,' he said, 'a worldwide thrust of God's power and God's anointing upon mankind.'

"Then he opened his eyes and looked at me and said, 'I will not see it, but you shall see it. The Lord says that I must go on to my reward, but that you will see the mighty works that He will do upon the earth in the last days.'

"... The idea that I would get to see this revival was almost overwhelming. And in the last decade or so, I believe we have seen this revival begin to sweep the earth. We have seen amazing moves of God in Africa... Recently, I was in China and met with the underground church. I was told there are at least forty-five million Full Gospel Christians in China. I discovered a depth of prayer and integrity there that I have not felt anywhere else in the world... So I believe we are seeing Wigglesworth's prophecy begin to be fulfilled. We are seeing the first stages of it."

Or as my welsh friend so aptly put...

"No matter how bleak it looks, when the time is right, the tide HAS to come back in. It is inevitable..."

The Welsh Revival Pt 4: The Tide Is Turning

"I see the greatest revival in the history of mankind coming to Planet earth, maybe as never before.." Smith Wigglesworth

The River Loughor sits just behind Loughor village and next to the Pits where Evan Roberts regularly worked as a child.

This area of the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world (the first is in New Foundland). However when the tide is out, the picture of barreness is striking. The lack of water leaves vast areas of rocky, muddy desolation, with nothing but a few quiet streams trying desperately not to dry up in the bleakness.

As we looked out over this river, with revival and restoration on my mind, I was reminded of the desolation I see in my generation today. Millions of hurting, lost, broken people, desperate for an answer and escape from their dry lives. Thousands of children growing up in broken homes, with no hope of an answer. Myriads of teenagers left barren and empty due to alcohol, drugs and abuse. The list of problems is endless and the scale of the bleakness overwhelming. Nations oppressed by a Devil they no longer believe exists.

It was whilst looking at this bereft but beautiful coastal scene that our guide began to share a vision he had of the turning tide in Britain. He said something like this...

"This tidal range in Loughor is the second highest tidal range in the world. And so too was the Welsh Revival, part of the second highest wave of God to hit the nations in the 20th Century. But look again at the desolation you see around you.. Because the tide that is to come will be bigger and greater than the all the ones that have gone before. The tide will sweep away the barreness and restore life to the wasteland. For no matter how bleak it looks, when the time is right, the tide HAS to come back in. It is inevitable..."

The greatest challenge of the aspiring revivalist is choosing what we focus on. Do we look to the desolation or do we begin to wait expectantly for the river to flow afresh... Look at the small stream in the middle of the desert land... are you ready for it to burst out? Isaiah 35 puts it like this...

"Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert."

The Welsh Revival Pt 3: The End Of The Affair?

This Visitor's Book from Moriah Chapel unexpectedly held one of the most exciting secrets of the Welsh Revival and perhaps the most enduring image of my personal visit to Loughor... You will soon see why.

The Revival storm that hit the hills and valleys of Wales in the dying months of 1904 soon became a hurricane that affected the world. Visitors from France, Turkey, the U.S, to name but a few came to visit and as they caught the flame they passed it on to new countries. Welsh communities throughout the world felt the effects and news of God’s powerful work soon had many other churches praying that God would visit then as well – the Khasia Hills in India being a perfect example of prayer answered. The public excitement of the local Revival had died down by 1906 - Evan Roberts went to Leicester to recuperate – the newspapers went back to politics and other things but for many, the honeymoon of these 2 years developed into a lasting and loving relationship with a risen Christ that continued a lifetime.

"When someone asked one elderly Revival convert some years ago as to whether the Revival stopped in 1906, she answered – it is still burning within my heart – it’s never been extinguished – it had burned for over 70 years..."

Herein lies the great secret of the Welsh Revival, which was revealed to me afresh as I scoured the pages of the latest jam packed Chapel Visitors Book. All over the pages were personal hand written prayers of hope and fire, written in almost every language ... from Chinese to Arabic, these words expressed an ongoing burning desire and passionate prayer of Christians, crying out for God to move afresh today.

What is the secret? It never stopped. It never stopped. IT NEVER STOPPED!!! Millions of hearts are still burning today because of what happened in 1904. Yes, the chapels of South Wales grew cold and the light of Roberts was forgotten across the valleys. But yes it will return again. Because across the nations... the light was just beginning to shine. From Khasia Hills to Beverley Hills, the ongoing fire of God's spirit has burnt brightly ever since.

The simple truth is that it was PENTECOST that gave us the Welsh Revival not Evan Roberts. It was PENTECOST that gave us Asuza Street in 1906, and PENTECOST that has sparked the seeds of the greatest revival the world has ever known brewing throughout the 20th Century. It began with Pentecost and it will end with Christ's return... And maybe, just maybe, you and I will be graciously allowed to see it in our lifetime. Maybe we can be part of the river. If we are willing to get ourselves wet. The Welsh Revival was a snapshot... the best is yet to come... and indeed, if you are willing to flick through the pages of an insignificant visitors book, in a cold empty chapel, at the edge of the valleys, you may just find it has already begun...

The Welsh Revival Pt 2: Beyond The Chapel...

Real people were changed in so many ways during the Welsh Revival.

The waves of reviving power reached way beyond the walls of the chapel... There were hard to reach, tough nosed locals impacted by Jesus. Men from the pits who did not take lightly to religion, brought to tears and repentance by the surprising presence of God.

There was a landslide of "goodness" all across the valleys because of the prayer, worship and evangelism of those who were gripped by God. Colliers and tin-men of the working classes expressed their joy in so many ways – so many original prayers. The coal pits themselves became chapels of Grace.

The crime rate dropped, drunkards were reformed, and pubs reported losses in trade. Bad language disappeared and never returned to the lips of many – it was reported that the pit ponies failed to understand their born again colliers who seemed to speak the new language of Zion – without curse and blasphemy – even football and rugby became uninteresting in the light of new joy and direction received by the Converts.

"Families were made whole again as fathers, who were once more concerned with drinking and violence, returned to take their place at the family table."

Why not take a minute to think about what Revival would look like in your town, in your workplace and in your family. How will the hard to reach people in your land, be transformed forever? How can the darkest of places, become chapels of Grace?

What will the landslide of Goodness look like for you?

The Welsh Revival Pt 1: A Short History That Could Change Our Future

THE FOLLOWING POSTS HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE HISTORY, IMPACT, LESSONS AND INSPIRATION FROM THE 1904 WELSH REVIVAL, INCLUDING A PERSONAL REFLECTION OF MY RECENT VISIT TO ITS BIRTHPLACE IN LOUGHOR, SOUTH WALES.

A BRIEF HISTORY...

(Thanks to 1904revival.com for the inspiration)

A century ago Wales experienced the last National Religious Revival, a revival that brought in an extra 100,000 new converts according to the estimates of the time, and a movement that quickly spread to the 4 corners of the World.

This was a move of God marked by the influence of ordinary men and women – especially young people. For example, a young girl from Cardigan called Florrie Evans, was in a youth meeting in February 1904, when she bravely declared publicly that she loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart. With these words the Spirit seemed to fall on the meeting and the fire quickly spread to other young people in the Cardiganshire area.

In September of the 1904, an Evangelist Seth Joshua, was addressing a Convention which included groups of young people just 5 miles north of Cardigan. Seth himself had been praying for years that God would raise up a young man from the pits to revive the churches – little did he know that on Thursday September 29th 1904 his prayer was to be answered in a life changing experience for one 26 year old student, Evan Roberts. Evan Roberts was born in 1878 in the small town of Loughor in Glamorgan, just 7 miles away from Swansea. Having left school at 11, he worked with his father at the colliery until he was in his early 20s – he then for a short time became a Blacksmith’s apprentice with his uncle.

For years Evan had been a faithful member of Moriah Calvinistic Methodist church at Loughor and during that time he had been praying for revival for over 11 years. Having been converted as a young teenager, he continued to pray regularly that God would visit again the nation in Revival Power. Determined to do his part, he felt compelled to go into the Calvinistic Methodist Ministry and on September 13th 1904 he became a pupil at a local Theological College.

It was only 2½ weeks after arriving that he found himself at a crossroads in his spiritual experience. An experience which would lead him back to the young people of his own church Moriah Loughor where he shared his experience and encouraged them to be open to God’s Spirit. Within two weeks the Welsh Revival was national news and before long, Evan Roberts and his brother Dan and his best friend Sidney were travelling the country conducting Revival Meetings and they were meetings with a difference. Meetings which broke the conventional and bi-passed the traditional – often the ministers just sat down unable to preach or even to understand what storm had arrived in their usually sedate temples.

This was a Revival with youth on fire – young men, yes and women. After the first stirrings amongst the young women of New Quay, young women continued to play a part in the Revival work – young Florrie went on a team to North Wales with her friend Maud – others used their voices as instruments of God’s message.

Yes a storm had hit the churches yet for so many it was a storm of love and power which completely transformed their lives...

And if we are willing to look back in history, this storm might just show us a vision of the future...

Making an Impact in the Workplace!

In the past I have been struck how many young people I have met in the church (including myself) whose main aspiration was to ‘be someone’ in the traditional church set up. Of course, by ‘someone’ that usually meant the preacher up the front, the trendy worship leader or the ‘full time’ minister.

Nowadays however, I can see a shift is taking place across the Church, meaning we can no longer easily use phrases like ‘full time’ as if ministry is something for the exclusive and privileged chosen few. Maybe there is a generation arising that have transitioned their thinking from a Ministry or Work mentality to a Ministry in Work pattern or even dare we say it... the idea that Work IS Ministry.

The bottom line for Christians is this: At the beginning of time our work was seen as part of the curse. The power of the Cross means that our work can be seen as part of the redemptive solution.

Most of us believe this in principle, but we still find it hard to compare equally someone who sells widgets all day over the phone, with someone who is on stage healing the sick in front of thousands. However, both expressions of ministry can be valid contributions to God’s Kingdom, and the challenge for us all is to begin to see our whole lives (not just the so called spiritual parts) as integrally set apart and holy for God. As one writer puts it:

“Most of us are Christians and something else; i.e.: A Christian and a Doctor or a Christian and a Manager. We do not engage in our daily tasks integrally as Christians ... Well-meaning Christians are merely adding faith to their vocation rather than letting faith transform their vocation."

Can our faith transform our vocation? Whether you are a butcher, a baker or a candlestick maker, I believe it can. Your 9 till 5 can be a place to serve and glorify the God who lives in us 24/7. Beyond any type of human activity, it is our heart attitude, our character and our contribution that makes the difference. It is who we are that makes an impact, whether getting on the stage, or getting on with a task list. True ministry is simply service to God no matter what shape it takes.

The worlds of work and ministry can fit together. For every elder, priest, prophet and apostle we find in the Bible, there was a shepherd, potter, carpenter, teacher or a physician. More importantly these two worlds often collide (whoever heard of the carpenter prophet? Can you imagine a tentmaker apostle?) Each character in the Bible was given a special purpose and part to play in God’s big unfolding story – just like you. Today, the walls are breaking down and the boundaries are being blurred. We are not defined by job titles; we are defined by our life in the spirit.

Jesus showed us how to live holistically, seeing everything as spiritual and walking in humble service whilst operating in mission focussed power. By the power of the Holy Spirit, why can’t we do the same?

24/7 ministers, like you and me, see their workplace as a place to serve others. When we serve with excellence, go the extra mile, and generously give of ourselves to customers and co-workers, we genuinely let our lights shine. Show me a gossip free person, who lives by their convictions, doesn’t moan or complain, forgives mistakes quickly, admits their own even quicker, and works hard in any circumstances and I will show you someone who stands out from the crowd, revealing Christ and his Kingdom to the world. Show me a Christian who stands steadfast, secure and free from fear, in the midst of job losses and credit crunches, and I will show you someone who is sounding a prophetic voice to the nations.

24/7 ministers like you and me, see their workplace as a place to reach out to others. Most jobs have regular contact with people – human beings - and because of this we can see ourselves as missionaries every day. The gospel can be displayed through our caring actions, our listening ear, and that big report that gets delivered on time. People need Jesus, and where you are, Jesus is there too.

Through our jobs, we have a unique opportunity to show creative expressions of what our God is like through our daily work tasks. Our God is like a composer, a potter, a gardener, a farmer, a shepherd, a builder and an architect. Is it worth taking a minute to prophetically envision ways could God be expressed through what you do as a job?

When we get a revelation of being a minister in the workplace, we will quickly find that not everyone will be pleased with us all the time. When people encounter the upside down kingdom of Jesus Christ they can sometimes paradoxically perceive our humility as arrogance or our love as judgement. If you want to make an impact in the workplace, we must heed Jesus’ words of “Woe to you when all men speak well of you”. Church Planter, Neil Cole, says that people are either like Moths or Cockroaches when it comes to our God-given light – they are either attracted to it or they scarper! If we are caught up with gaining approval from others then we won’t be able to make the most of every opportunity God gives us.

In the midst of disapproval, uncertainty, stress and difficulty, we can draw on the support of fellow Christians, soak in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and use the power of the Sabbath to help us persevere. As people see our righteousness, they hear a message as powerful as any preached word.

Whilst the world is saying Thank God it’s Friday and the church of the past said Thank God it’s Sunday, what a joy to be part of a rising generation that is able to Thank God it’s Monday too...

A Prayer of Blessing

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

A Life of Worship Quote

"A life of worship does not occur when we are told how to feel about God but instead naturally occurs when we begin to comprehend who God is."

Praying to Dad!

Becoming CREDEMPTIVE...

This extract from an article about redeeming culture makes very interesting food for thought...

Instead of simply condemning, critiquing, consuming, and copying culture, the way forward is to create a good alternative. Otherwise, we are simply left at square one, with very little Christian progress in various cultures. So, instead of bemoaning bad movies, make better ones. Instead of copying contemporary music and inserting Christian lyrics, create new music and contribute to cultural change through innovation and creativity. Draw attention to your Creator through superior or innovative cultural action.

I suggest that we engage culture redemptively and creatively (“credemptively”?). Instead of choosing between the two, what would it look like for you to bring a redemptive worldview into your workplace, where you bring a gospel perspective upon a problem or person, while also working well to generate new solutions and answers? When you gain success, redemptive engagement calls you to make much of God, not of yourself. Instead of bemoaning the failing copier, you take the time to fix it and then use it to make copies of your new ideas to better your company! Instead of bragging that you fixed the seemingly unfixable copier, you remain humble and rejoice in the fact that it is working! Instead of just making new innovative music, make music that gives proceeds to relieve poverty and rest in Christ for your significance, not in your notoriety. Be credemptive!

Visit the full article here...

http://www.theresurgence.com/series/Redefining_Culture_and_Engagement

"Do you know what an idol is? An idol is anything you have to check with before you say YES to God" Kris Vallotton

No Matter What Is Going On For You.....

Mark 5:25-29 (The Message)

"A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years, a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well." The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with. "

Watch this here... Nicole C. Mullen One Touch [Press]

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THE LIFE OF THE LEGACY LEAVER

When I was at school we all had the opportunity to receive "misplaced" careers advice from a so called "qualified" professional who spent her days keying random bits of info into a computer and calculating a useless list of careers that we would all be most suited to. I kid you not that my biggest job choices came out as hairdresser and flower arranger. This vital conclusion was reached after asking me a series of inane questions such as "do you enjoy stacking things such as shelves?" and "what kind of meat would you not be willing to pack in a warehouse?" and so on...

Aside from the fact that I would make a terrible daffodil arranger, there are at least three jobs I am quite positive I would never be recommended to try out.

I mean can you imagine what it would be like? Being sleep deprived for days. Being woken up at 5am by the sound of a man in uniform shouting at you. Eating leftovers from the bin as a main meal and running aimlessly for miles without a clue where you are going. Before you ask, I am not talking about freshers week at uni as a student. I am thinking of what it must be like to be in the army.

In all honestly, being some hot shot SAS soldier is probably one of the things I am least suited in the world. I sort of share the army's motto to BE THE BEST, but my "best" doesn't stretch to doing 1000 press ups naked because I forgot to shine my shoes before my potato peeling shift.

Another career I would be certain to underperform at is that of the professional athlete (how to state the obvious I hear you say). One famous basketball coach once said "For an athlete to function properly, he must be intent. If you are not intent about what you are doing, you aren't able to resist the temptation to do something else that might be more fun at the moment.” The reason I would be rubbish is that I am too caught up with doing the fun things in the moment. I sometimes think I would rather have a short term kitkat break than a long term gold medal plan.

Finally, The Farmer is one role that I am in awe of and think is something that has been wildly undervalued over the last few years in Britain. I don't think I could ever do it. I have great respect for anyone who can have the resiliance and commitment to ensure that everyone has enough food on their table often at the expense of having it on their own.

Whilst the roles of soldier, athlete and farmer freak me out in the natural, I open my Bible to 2 Timothy and find my good friend Paul encouraging young Timothy to consider and copy the mindsets of these examples.

Like a soldier we must obey the commands of Jesus and not get caught up with affairs that are "civilian" or in other words "temporary not eternal" and not worth getting sidetracked by. These are the things that can hinder our lasting legacy. These affairs seem to be different for each one of us, but the challenge is always about heeding the call to longterm obedience rather than the draw to short term pleasure. I wonder what these things look like for you? This picture of the soldier is a stark reminder that we need to toughen up and realise that our walk with God may sometimes simply be downright difficult and hard. Something I rarely hear preached on a Sunday.

The key to not being caught up in "civilian things" is to take on the attitude of the athlete who learns to keep one eye on the rulebook and the other eye on the prize. It is about a disciplined approach of setting your sights on the eternal prize without letting go of knowing the right steps to take along the way. It is a form of earthly self control with heavenly vision that each of us must consider to ensure we win our race.

The great principle that we reap what we sow is of course correct in farming terms as well as in the spirit. It is simple justice that a farmer should be the one to taste the best of their crops, even though nowadays they rarely seem to do so. Not so in Pauls times, the farmer knew the season, knew the seed and expected to reap. So too in my life, I am to prepare for the season I am in, sow the right seed and live with fresh expectation for my share in the harvest. This is the attitude of the legacy leaver.

Lord, may we all live with the perseverance of the soldier, the vision of the Athlete and the wisdom of the Farmer. After all, these are three jobs I could never do, but three attitudes I am challenged to live by. Anyway, I am off to arrange some flowers and attempt to cut my wifes hair...

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. 2 Timothy 2:3 - 7

How to leave a Legacy Part 4

Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:1-2

I am quite sure that if Paul the Apostle was alive today then it is perfectly obvious (!) he would have used the examples of Paul Scholes, The NoroVirus and Pylons to demonstrate to Timothy the power of passing things on.

According to popular opinion, Paul Scholes is supposedly the greatest midfielder in the Premier League at the moment. His ability to pass the ball is legendary. The reason he is so effective in the field is that Paul Scholes knows how to pass it on.

Affectionately known as the "winter vomiting bug", the infectious Norovirus caused Heston Blumenthal a nightmare recently when it decided to infect 40 of his guests at the £130 a head Fat Duck restaurant. This badboy spreads faster than Anchor butter straight from the fridge. It knows how to pass it on.

According to pylons.org there is a Pylon Appreciation Society for people who "appreciate" electricity pylons. Before you laugh, heed the warning of the clubs creator who says "It's funny how many people accuse me of being mad or geeky - and then they send me photos or ask for more information!" I will give their fans one thing - these pylons really know how to pass electricity on. (You know you wanna join!)

When Paul writes to Timothy with a deep desire for him to create a lasting legacy with his life, one of the clearest points he wants to get across is that he must learn to pass things on to others. It is not just about having a sense of history, we must have a spirit of destiny as well.

The picture of four runners in a relay team is a really good one here. Paul (1) has the baton first, he passes it on to Timothy (2), who must pass it on to others (3). These men (4) must in turn be equipped to pass it on in order for the race to be won. There are four generations and beyond that must be able grasp hold of the baton of truth. It is almost as if Paul does not consider success until eternal truth has been passed down the line.


This makes me want to think ahead. Way ahead. It makes me question what I am sowing into now and wonder if it will last into the future. I often wonder about the church, project, people group or plans I am involved in right now, and if am I building in the capicity for it to flourish in four generations time. It makes me soberly assess the work of my hands and ask if truth in my life really is being passed onto the next generation. If this is how I win the race, then I'd better start passing the baton.

How to leave a Legacy Part 3

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6

A couple of days ago I decided to burn a pile of personal bills in order to prevent some dodgy bin rustler from stealing my identity. I put the papers into a large metal bin and set them alight. The resulting fire burned steadily for a couple of hours and then after a twilight rainfall the smoke died down and seemed no more. The next morning I went to clear out the ashes and with a large spade I stirred up the burnt papers. Instantly grey smoke began to rise from within the centre of the barrel followed seconds later by a fresh flicker of fire from within. I couldn't believe it was still burning!

A fire which I thought was dead was suddenly fanned back into flame. This is an almost perfect illustration of the words of wisdom sent to Timothy. Paul reminds us to keep stirring up what is inside and never let it die.The first thing he says is to remember the spiritual heritage he has had passed onto him by his Grandmother and mother. But the "passing on" was never meant to end there. "I want you to fan into flame the gift that is in you" says Paul with a passionate sense of urgency. The torch must be passed on by you too.

Who is responsible for the flame within you? It is not your grandmothers job. It is not your parents responsibility. It is not within your cutting edge youth groups remit. There are those around us in life that may give us flammable material, and may even light a match, but you have to stoke your own fire. That's what keeps you burning.

Each of us has been given a unique gift that can only be unwrapped by our own hands. Maybe it is time you stopped thinking someone else had to do it for you, and started stirring it up yourself.


One of the biggest things that stops us from using the amazing spiritual and natural gifts God has given us is fear. As one famous quote by Marrianne Wilson puts it “ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." Most of us are not afraid of the dark, but we are scared that we might just be amazing.

As the quote goes on to say "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God." A spirit of timidity cannot survive the fanning of the flame. Why be left feeling as if we are useless and a failure when we have been given the gift of power? Why feel unlovely, unloved and unable to love others, when we have been given a gift of love? Why feel like things are out of control, and unable to control ourselves, when we have within us the gift of self control?

Fanning the flame means it is time to step out in that gift again. Fanning the flame means it is time to revive the dream in you that died. Fanning the flame means it is time to explore that place in yourself which you were scared to go, because there is love and power yet to be released.... "You are a child of God."

It is time to Acknowledge what God has given you: Take some time to think about what God has put inside of you that you have either allowed to die down or have not yet put to use.

It is time to Believe that what you have is both a) real and from heaven and b) sufficient for the job you have been given to do... is his grace is enough? Is his power enough?

It is time to Change your behaviour in accordance with what you believe you have been given. When you act as if you have been filled with power, love as if you have experienced the deepest of love, and live as if you have learnt the strictest of self discipline, then this flame will make a difference to the way you live.

Paul is writing his final words of hope to his spiritual son, in confidence that his own flame would not be extinguished with time. Timothy is left with a decision to make sure that the torch he has been given will shine in the darkness for generations to come. The fatherly advice of 2 Timothy shows us all that we begin to leave a legacy, when we begin to believe what is within.

How to leave a Legacy Part 2

"I remember your true faith. That faith first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I know you now have that same faith." 2 Tim 1:5

If you want to leave a legacy, you have to remember your history.

One of the biggest embarrassments to young Christians is often their testimony. Everyone dreads that moment in the youth group or that opportunity at school where you get to tell your story about how you became a Christian. I mean there is always one isn’t there! There is always one girl who was lost in sex, drugs and rock n roll before she was radically transformed after literally hearing the voice of God on the toilet. Or there was always that one guy who used to murder Christians and throw them to lions before he fell off a horse and saw a vision of Jesus glowing like a nuclear lightbulb. You know the type...

When it is your chance to tell your story to the world, your eyes slowly scan the floor, you shuffle awkwardly and beneath muffled hands, you splutter the immortal words “My parents were Christians and I was raised in a Christian home.” It is possibly the least dramatic statement in the universe. I mean you never did drugs, you never even touched a cigarette and the hardest time you ever had at home was when your parents decided to not to go to Disney World one summer (for once).

Yet when we flashback to Pauls letter of legacy to his spiritual son Timothy, we find him highlighting, above everything else, that there is power in this kind of “undramatic” testimony, there is power in multigenerational faithfulness. Whether you hear the message from your horse or your Grandma, the point was always that the baton was passed on. Paul tells it like this: “Your Gran had it. Your mum had it. And now you got it. So don’t forget it.”

Being part of a family of faith is not something to be embarrassed about; it is something to be celebrated. For many young people, if it wasn’t for their parents, they would not have found Jesus. All of us pick up on the characteristics of our family whether we like it or not. And far better than inheriting your Dads big nose or your mum’s eyebrows, is the inheritance of salvation itself. Millions of teenagers are happy to sing out the fact that they want to be a History Maker yet they run from embracing their own history. I trust you feel the challenge to reassess how you may feel about a key part of God’s kingdom plan: your spiritual heritage.

But what if my history is not full of Christians who have invested in me over the years? What if I don’t have Christian Parents? What if my background was actually full of sex, drugs and rock n roll? The answer may be found in Hebrews 11. For in that chapter of the Bible you may, like Paul the Apostle, suddenly find yourself connected to a family tree which you never even knew was yours. You may discover long lost brothers like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You find that history really is HIS STORY. The story of Jesus at work throughout the ages, leaving his legacy and getting you ready to leave yours. Whatever your background: Welcome to the family...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Romans 12

May we never forget that we did not begin our race alone. The baton was passed to us and so we too, one day, must pass that baton on. Whatever position we end up on the podium, we will only ever get there because we were standing on the shoulders of giants...

How to leave a Legacy Part 1

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished my race...”

These are the famous last words of a man who was chained up, hungry and alone a damp prison cell, yet was not uttering them with a sense of failure or misery, but with the smell of victory. Paul had reached the end of a monumental journey in a life that was radically transformed the day he fell off his horse and met with Jesus.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about the spirit behind these words were that Paul knew it wasn’t over. The dream didn’t end with him. Although he was chained up, his message wasn’t. It was already spreading like wild fire across Ephesus, Corinth, the world. The bell had sounded at the end of his knockout fight, but the battle was destined to continue. A Baton was being passed onto to churches and cities across the nations, but more importantly to individuals. These individuals would take the baton and run harder than ever before for a God that they never even met in the flesh. They may not have fallen off a horse, but they had fallen in love.

Paul had learnt to “consider as rubbish” many of the things that people thought would help you leave a legacy. Paul had no time for monuments, birthrights or titles but instead he chose to invest into spiritual sons. This was the secret to making sure that his race could be so much more than a 100m sprint, it could become a marathon.

In the book of 2 Timothy we find Paul coaching one of his sons as a veteran pacemaker. Paul was at the end of his journey and Timothy was only just beginning his. And so a letter was written by a dying hero to his sidekick and as a consequence, the race marked out for the few, could become the race marked out for the many. The marathon continues...

The question of 2 Timothy is this: If you had one chance to pass on what you knew to someone else, what would you say to ensure that the fight continued into the next round?

Over the next few posts we will explore this question together.