Philippians Part 18: Is Imitation good?| Colin D

This message was preached  by Colin D'cruz at Word of Grace Church on July 17th, 2016. To listen/download the audio please click here. To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here

Q. How many know the distance for a marathon! How many have taken part in a marathon?

The record is 2 hours 3 min held by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya.

Imagine if you had to run the Olympic for India! How would you compete? What would you do? Train! They spend months, years prospering themselves. There is a lot of effort and sweat.

The better news is this. You have been chosen to run a race. You have been chosen to become like Jesus. All who have trusted in Jesus have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to light . This is goal for every believer- To become like Jesus!

Phil 3:13-17: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”

This is the great apostle Paul saying this is his goal. In the following verses he talks about how we can accomplish this goal.In verse 17 he emphasizes that you are not on your own. Join with others who are a part of this race and follow my example. Our citizenship is in heaven. The goal is a very high one. It's not becoming a marathon runner which is low in comparison to becoming like Jesus.

We can have a set of instructions but sometimes it's not enough. Today when I want to learn something I go to YouTube because I see how it's done.

Q. Can you learn how to tie shoes laces through instructions?

No, you watch and learn. This is true for many things. This is true for the Christian life as well. How do I love my neighbour, how do I love?

You may have a plumber or electrician in your house and turn they come with an assistant who is in training. The same way we follow someone example and someone is following us.

1 Corinthians 4:16- “Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”

Paul is saying imitate me. But he is not physically present. So he says I'm sending Timothy, imitate him!

1 These 1:6- “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”

The focus was on imitation. Too many Christians say I imitate God. I submit to you that that is not biblical. It's good to learn from others experience. Jesus imitated his father. We can learn from older parents, married couples, work situations.

1 Tim 4:12 gives a list of things to follow. Whether you like it or not you are an example for others. Our children imitate us.

Q. Are we living a life worthy of imitating?

In verse 18 is something that makes Paul sad. Matt 7:15, Acts 20:29-30

Paul is warning them of false teachers. Watch out there such people in Christendom

Q. How do we identify them?

Paul gives us a few indicators:

·        Their destiny is destruction. These people are going to hell.

·        Their God is their stomach. It's not clear who is being referred to. There were two groups - the judiats who were going back to the law. The other extreme was the agnostics who said the spirit is good but the body is evil so what you want with it. Their God is their stomach I.e they live to eat. Living a sensual life - if it feels good I'll do it. The world is like this today. It lives to gratify r flesh.

·        Their glory is in their shame - they boast about shameful things.

One day we will all leave this earth and stand before God. Two things you can't escape, death and taxes! We don't know how long we have. That is in God's hands. There is so much sin everywhere. The newspapers are full of depressing stuff.

The story of the gospel is this. Although we are sinners and need to be punished, God in his mercy sent Jesus to die in our place so that we will not be punished.

The law will say that we are not guilty.

2 Thess 1:6-9- “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”

The truth is that there is a judgment and destruction. If you knew of some disaster you would want your friends and family to know. In the same way we should weep over their eternal destruction and prevent it by praying for them and sharing the gospel.

The false teachers have their minds on earthly things

Q. How should we live?

1.      Realize we are citizens of heaven. John14:2- “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

2.      We are aliens on earth. We are here for heaven. When he comes the second time we will be transformed. So we remind ourselves of who we are.

John says the things of the world are attractive. It's not writing to have them. It's when we focus on these things alone then it's a problem.

Good had given is a mission. How can we grow in Christ? How can we keep going.

1 Thes 4:14-17- “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Whatever problem you are facing is temporary. When we are with Jesus every problem will disappear.

Rev 21:4- “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

So follow an example. Realize we could have given into a false teaching. Let's set or 

minds on heavenly things. When we do this we will stand firm.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

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Church: Inside and out | Justin J

This message was preached  by Justin Jaykumar at Word of Grace Church on July 10th, 2016. To listen/download the audio please click here. To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here

When you get the newspaper you want to turn the pages quickly to the sports page because the news is so bad! The world is changing quickly. Asia will be a place of major cities because urbanization is increasing. With globalization the world is becoming a village.

You and I are called with a definite purpose. Jesus said upon the rock I will build the church.

Q. How do we face these challenges?

The church at Antioch is a model to follow. Antioch was an important trade centre. Acts 11:19 -21: “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord”

Let's see how they were effective and what we can learn from them:

1.      The church as seen from outside

2.      the church as seen from inside

3.      The church that looks outside

1.The church as seen from outside:

This church was established by people who were scattered because of persecution. They preached and many believed. The news reached Jerusalem. Barnabas was sent to check it. He saw the grace of God in that church .

Q. What does this mean?

Undeserving favour put upon us. Who has put grace on whom? What did these people do? They preached and lives were transformed.

Rom 3:23- “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Rom 6:23- “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Eph 2:10- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Jesus died in our place. He have what we do not deserve. The outsider could see the difference in their lives.

Q. How can we make an impact in the world today?

When this grace impacts us we can meet the needs of people and bring about change. Grace changes our life style.

The people of the city of Antioch nicknamed them Christians. They did not give themselves this name.  Allowing His word to touch our lives will transform us.

Q. How do people look at us?

There is a great expectation on us to set an example-  to live a different life.

Q. What are the challenges we face?

At the traffic lights, the market place, etc. If we are to make an impact we need to allow God's grace to work in our life.

Col 3:3-5 put off. We are constantly called to put off things, to change our lives. In verse 12, we are encouraged to put on a few things. And then we can make an impact on the world.

2. The church as seen from inside:

The leadership of Antioch had a high degree of character. Personal testimony being guided by the Holy Spirit and the word is very important.

A.     Barnabas was described as a good man. When Luke uses this word it refers to completeness and wholeness. The early church was clear on the qualities of leaders. In the New Testament we see that the leaders worked in team. It was not one person. At the Word of Grace everything happens in team. Right from set up, offering, communion, worship, preaching... It's all done in team. In Acts 7, a problem arose. They didn't pick up just anybody. They laid their quality before the people who could serve. They choose 7 men full of spirit, reputation and wisdom.

Q. How do we select people?

Q. How do what we do here impact the society outside?

B.     Remember the story of the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip was used. It was through him the gospel reached Ethiopia. Stephen the first martyr. He was part of the serving team!

Q. How was Acts 1:8 fulfilled? In Acts 8:1 when persecution arose.

C.     The leadership was not seen as a position but serving. Barnabas travelled so long so meet Paul. Antioch was flourishing. He could have made a name for himself. But no! He seeks out Paul and brings him to Antioch. He made room for Paul. The word leader is not in the Bible. The Bible talks about Servants only. Barnabas stuck his neck out for Paul. The church was founded by ordinary lay people- people who were scattered. It was the apostles. History had stories of many men and women who started churches. Paul stayed there for a year, then in Ephesus for 3 years.

D.     When we start our IDT will learn how to share the gospel. Evangelism was a way of life for them.

Q. What is the need in Pune?

It's an educational center and an IT hub. So there are many people from outside here that can be touched.

3. The church that looked outside:

Acts 11:30- “This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul”

They were a caring church. We need to respond to the needs around us. We may be generous outside but we should take care of our own as well.

We need to begin from within. If we hear a need we should stretch ourselves and help. We also need to be aware of the need outside. There is a breakdown in marriage, society and we should get involved

Acts 13:1-2- “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””

The Antioch church shared the gospel. They set apart Barnabas and Paul for the work of gospel advance. And Paul was used mightily. We need to be a church that looks outside.

Q. How can we be effective?

·        We should constantly believe in God’s grace on our lives

·        We need to be men and women of quality, filled with the Holy Spirit.

·        People who will care for another

·        People who are looking outward always. 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

GATHER 2016 IGATPURI | Island Lessons Part 4 Titus - Steve Oliver

This message was preached by Steve Oliver who leads Regions Beyond , an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers Intl. This was preached at the Gather 2016 leaders Conference held in Igatpuri India.  

For the audio link please  click here

For Part 1 please click here Part 2 please click here. Part 3 please click here

TITUS PART 4

There are 4 things I’d like to get through in this session. I’d like everyone to take a sheet of paper and sit quietly before God and write out what Jesus has entrusted to you. What has He put into your hand so that when you leave from here you leave with your mandate, command, commission from Jesus. This is a symbol to remind you of what God has given you.

Ch3:4-6

In our quest to build good churches to raise up Titus’ to impact our communities, we should not forget the preaching of the gospel of Jesus. In all that we do we mustn’t forget to preach the gospel. I was reminded of this while I was preparing the gospel. When last did I lead someone to Christ? I am always with church leaders. When last did I have the privilege of seeing someone being born again. Paul paints this picture of this glorious gospel and then he says I want you to insist on these things.

1

As we go from here I want to encourage you to personally lead people to Christ and grow our churches to salvation.

Ps 132 – He clothed the priests with Salvation. At Gateway I spoke that this is the gospel of Jesus. Seven people got saved – lives no longer in sin and shame. I know it does not end there but starts there

About 1995 Simon Petit was leading Jubilee Church in Cape town and Lex Loizedes joined him. He is an evangelist and want people to be saved. He calculated that they had only a hand full of people saved in the last few months. That is shameful for a church of 800. That means we have not trained the church well. They then transformed the church so that everybody’s lifestyle became the message. As Elders they asked the people to forgive him. Sometimes the desire for a mature churches stops us from reaching out. So in everything they did they always has the gospel. At the end of the year 349 got saved.

 In Gateway 2014 we were facing the same thing. We were growing fast but not born out of ourselves – coming from overseas but not seeing people saved. You can’t go out in that nation and preach. So our messages always had the gospel. But by May we led 49 people to the Lord. I want to ask you today what is in your heart for your church in faith? We need to build well, We have Titus’  - young men and women raised up, our work amongst the poor to flourish . But we must see the gospel flourish.

It’s not about the number but the desire for people to know Jesus Christ. We want to see people saved and added.

3:9 – This is key for us in the age of the internet where are people have access to all sort of things. There is this big preacher giving a new revelation about the End Times with Brexit as a part of this. The problem is we want to be God. We want to know, control our futures. We don’t want to submit our lives to someone else’s authority. And so controversy is born.

Paul is saying Titus stay true to the Word. In Crete there were all sorts of people peddling stuff. Be discerning what you are listening to. Just because they gather a big crowd does not mean what they are saying is right.

3:10 the enemy big tactic is to divide us. In the dessert Satan tried to divide the Trinity. He will put people in our midst who will be divisive. We need to give good godly leadership. Every culture handles it differently. In Africa where there are differences they will take a gun and shoot the people. The culture is violent.

I’ve noticed in USA if there is some division you slander the person on the net. In the UK it happens but not as much. In India I’ve learnt you are quite dramatic!! Your movies are always about division – the tears!! The trouble is we let that come into the church when we face hardship. So Paul is teaching Titus how to handle this.

Here is my view on how to handle division in the church. Our culture mustn’t determine how we respond but we should be Biblical.

Always believe every single person can be won for Christ. In hardship everyone can win – this is the gospel. We are all victorious. Go in with the attitude that we want to win this.

Never pre judge. Think right thoughts about the person. They might be in your church by an act of God to shape your leadership gift. God put that stone in your shoe. You learn to walk differently. Ask what can I learn from this situation.

Recently I was looking at the Last Supper. I saw it’s the final night he is going to be betrayed. The one who is going to betray him is known to him. You are having your final meal- you are seeing your friends in that context for the last time. And you have one person who will betray you. Where would you put him? He was on Jesus left hand side – a place of honor, where Jesus would lean on him.

A commentator Kent R Hughes – Says right up until the last moment Jesus was reaching out to Judas to show him a better way. My question is that our experience in the church?

Bring warning by opening truth -  Matt 18 The Bible teaches us how to handle these things.

Keep reaching out with truth until they reject it. You seek them out. Jesus went and looked for Peter Then you have to release them. Keep believing until the final moment.

 Bless them as they go. In handling someone who is divisive let them know that they are precious to God. They are not the enemy. They are blood bought. Bring to their attention why what they are doing is causing hindrance.

Never write emails about these things. NEVER. Discern whether there is rejection or insecurity or a demonic response. Keep reaching out to meet them. How many time? Seventy times seven. If there is no response release them. I am accepting that you are working in team. When this happens bring it to the attention of the church not to shame the person but to disciple the church.

Last year in Gateway we went through a difficult situation. We handle it like this. We took it to the church. Our numbers went up by 10%. No one should leave the body without an explanation. It’s a body.

Keep believing in people.

Lastly. If you are here and you are a divisive person, please build up the body. Division comes out of pride, selfishness and sin.

3:12

Titus had been left to finish a task but he was not left alone. So even though Paul left, Paul is sending Artemus and Tychitus.  Tychitus carried the same letters to Colosse. So this guy had proved faithful because some of Paul’s letter did not reach the churches.

When God calls us to do things, when we send people out we should back them up by sending people to encourage them

There is another lesson I want us to learn. “Come to me.” i.e Its time to lay down the work that you are doing esp. when its fruitful. It can give you your identity. It is the work of our labor and sacrifice. It’s difficult to lay down. What[b1] ever you are doing hold it lightly. When we don’t do this we plateau and stop growing.

In Africa they cut a pumpkin a small hole – for a Baboon to put his hand in. When they do this they can’t; let go and then this is how they get caught. Some leaders are like that. They can’t let go.

Paul calls Titus. This is Paul at his relational best. Give and you will receive. Be ready to release. Be faithful with your part of the building and trust that Jesus will truly builds his church.

One of the major reasons why Churches don’t grow is because they don’t release.

I end with this – Grace and peace be upon you all.

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 [b1]

GATHER 2016 IGATPURI | Island Lessons Titus Part 3- Steve O

This message was preached by Steve Oliver who leads Regions Beyond , an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers Intl. This was preached at the Gather 2016 leaders Conference held in Igatpuri India.  

For the audio link please  click here

For Part 1 please click here Part 2 please click here.

PART 3

We are going to continue with Pauls letter. This young Greek has been left on the island and he has work to do on behalf on Paul. He was a good Christian. Why do you think Paul sent Titus with the letter to the Corinthians? Why did he select him?

One of the other reasons was because Titus was Greek. And Corinth was in  Acacia which is Greek. So he needed someone who could carry in heart in the context. Many lessons to learn from that.

He reminds Titus that he is writing as a servant and as an apostle

Ch1:4

My true child: If you’ve been around me for a while you may have heard me speak on this verse “ Timothy my true son in the Lord” One of the things the modern church has lost is the intimacy of raising leaders. It has become almost fashionable to base your church on a commercial model. So even when you into the church in the  United States the terminology they use is the same as a business. He is the “president of the youth group”. I appointed him etc.

We don’t know where Paul found Titus but he is able to say to him my true child. The Greek word is “teknon” i.e It’s the same word you would use to refer to your child. It’s not some leader that I put an advert in some Christian magazine and I got him. One of our worship leaders was “headhunted”. Have we forgotten our Bibles?

Paul produced sons. Paul meets Titus and sees that God’s spirit is upon him. If I can train him and do the role of a father to him, provide security, affirmation, belief my resources become yours then I can birth a spiritual child. Its intimate. Ask a mother who births a child. Isn’t child birth an incredible thing?? You see the mother when she is handed the baby for the first time – I this is mine! It’s a part of me. This is the language that Paul uses

.

Sadly, in many churches most leaders are just mangers or slaves of the leader. They get given tasks, get measured and held accountable. But not many sons. Paul says you are an heir to my property. It means all that I own will be his one day.

I have put this in bold letters in my notes. This is probably one of our greatest call at present – Yours to count on!!!! There are so many areas we can go plant churches but we don’t have sons. WE need to raise and release them. We need to model life for them and we need to birth these spiritual children in our churches. Secure, sharing in our inheritance, sharing at the table.

This is the biggest call I believe as we go forward.

Many years before in Dihlabeng church we taught on mentoring and discipleship. And we told everybody find someone to disciple you and you to disciple someone. AS a leader for us to say someone and say I can help you. For those in leadership if you don’t have five people you are investing you won’t see those trees being born.

Titus has been travelling in an apostolic team, seen signs and wonders, churches being born and suddenly the day comes when Paul says tomorrow we sail but Titus I want you to stay and finish the work that we have started. Then he gets this letter from Paul – My true child. I’m sure he just got a letter on a scroll. He must have felt so good. I belong to someone. I’m not an orphan or a missionary sent by some organisation.

If you want to see God’s heart on this see the Transfiguration. Here is Jesus in his true identity. And then come s those beautiful words: This is my beloved son whom I love, listen to Him. Paul is following a Godly pattern.

Let me say something to you in India because you have a history here. Your sons and daughters are not slaves. You are there for their success to make sure that their life is better than your life. There is nothing better. Your heart swells when they do well.

Grace and peace –

The context of leadership in church is warfare. It’s like fighting a war like darkness against light.To succeed in what he had to do he had to have the grace of God. Paul is writing Grace and peace to you – without it you will not succeed. Paul trusted in that more than his own presence with Titus. We know what Grace is.

 When I was a young believer and joined a Newfrontiers church you only heard this word Grace all the time. I didn’t know what it meant. But one through teaching I understand it’s that favour of God that we are given that we don’t deserve and can’t earn. Its just God coming and giving his favour to a situation. Titus for you to overcome all you need is the grace of God or you will be in trouble. Ministry is like that. Sometimes I feel like Peter stepping on out onto water. I call this the panic zone because unless God is in it I am going down. Church planting is like that. We want God’s favour and grace upon us.

We are in a supernatural battle therefore we need supernatural favour. The devil wanted to sift Peter but Jesus protected him. The grace of God kept him. How many times we have been protected by the grace of God!

Band of brothers is a TV series I like – It’s about a  Platoon of GI soldiers who come to rescue Europe from the Nazi’s. The captain is a paratrooper dropped behind enemy lines. This captain and his soldiers are going into a battle situation where the odds of survival are very low. They are in a bad state. These two commanders one leaving and one arriving. They meet and the guy leaving says Captain do you realize that when you are up there you will be totally surrounded. Captain Winters replies, Sir we are paratroopers. WE are meant to be surrounded.

“I am a church planter. Its meant to be tough. I am taken ground from the enemy. I am working with broken people who think sexual immorality is ok. We need to rediscover that passion that comes from working with the grace of God. Paul knows that Titus has got to be robust.

Jesus tells the story that he is the good shepherd and not a hired hand. So when the wolves come you won’t run away. We need to get to the point where we see struggles as blessings where they teach us things and put strength into us.

This is a prophetic moment now

Verse 5 – this is why I left you in Crete …  These words spoke to me more from this whole book. If we are to fulfill our mandate to plant new testament church across the world we will have to leave people behind in difficult situations.

Donna wrote I booked a ticket to Burundi. I have been warned by my government, leaders and friends that I should not go there because they are on the brink of civil war. But God has told me to go. What do you think? What can I say? We had to send her off and pray. The pictures start coming. She is doing an apostolic work.

As we go forward and we leave from here we will have to send people and leave them in areas. If we have to do that then we need to build a culture of being left. There are many church planters in this room so I don’t need to explain how lonely it is.

It is not easy to be left. If you like write sent. Its starts with sending and then leaving. Those who are sent are usually in a very dynamic church situation. You send your best and they have to leave fabulous community. You are used to having people around you. The sounds are different. The smells. All you have is some promises that we are praying for you. You have been left to finish a work. Loneliness is a massive enemy. When we went Clarence the loneliness being in the country. Its costly. The family ask why do you want to go there? We will disown you.

My longing is that we will be an apostolic people group where we all are caught up in mission.

The Moravians in the 1800s – qualified people felt called to go to the slaves that were being forcibly taken out of Africa. So they sold themselves as slaves in order to reach the slaves. After a week or two you can’t buy yourself out. This was for life!!! The early missionaries that came to countries like yours packed their belongings in coffins.

If we are to be a people group that follow God, we will leave people behind. Paul like Jesus entrusted this task to the young Greek.

What is my definition of being left?

Mums and dads. Leaders, sending your best. Your loved ones. The mark of an Apostle is that they open up new things and then entrust it to others. They open something up get the basic foundation in place and then get a Titus to take it forward.

How do you succeed if you are one of those left ones?

This is so important. I wish I knew this earlier.

1.You want a clear calling from God. You must have your own calling. You may ask people to do something but ask them to seek God as well.

2.Promises that confirm that you need to be there and why you are there. There will be days when you will wake up and think, what have I done? Why did I leave that church, why did I leave that business, why did I leave my family? When they ask are you sure you heard God correctly. You should be able to say, because God said not because Steve or Franco etc.

That is what its meant to be an apostolic people sent by God not by Head office.

3 Courage – we need to teach on courage. Caleb and Joshua. Men of courage. Esther women of courage. You need courage to do the work of God you need to press through and deal with some things.

4. Biblical conviction. Simon Petit one of our leaders and great friend. I was talking to him about doing something. He asked me whether I had biblical/scriptural confirmation as to whether I should do it. In front of my Bible I have written. This is from UK and Master Builders. You will change wells into springs.

When things get though you can go back to scripture. Scripture has a way of lift us up. Comfort means to fortify. Terry Vigo taught me this. I’ll send you a Comforter – he is not a cuddly blanket. That is the work of the spirit. He reminds you that you have some muscle. And if you don’t have He has real muscle to carry you and fortify you. That is what Scripture does.

Bill Hyble teaches all leaders to have life verses. Find verses that you know your life is founded on. These pile ons that you have in India. Big concrete /steel that is put into the ground. Your life verses as like that concrete footing. When you feel wobbly you go back to them and find comfort. For me Ps 84 is my one.

5. Prayer support and encouragement. If you have to survive being left you want prayer support and encouragement. I spoke about encouragement yesterday. We need to become excellent at encouraging others. Just going up and saying “Donald you did so well today” You are doing so well up North. Not flattery. I’ll give you an example – “Franco you look good with a beard!!!”. Encouragement!! When I was at Gateway on Friday I told them don’t forget your son and daughter from here. Pankaj and Tressa.

6. You need friends- Those who believe with you. Those who understand why you laid so much down. If you are a friend to someone else don’t forget them.

Our first Christmas on our own. We had just planted out in November. This box arrived a big one. The whole church in Cape Town has bought presents for us. You need friends that will keep you.

We will see how Titus looked after Paul.

7. Spiritual Discipline – In the last session I said Many church leaders are lazy. I’m sorry. This is what I most wanted to refer to. You have to spend time with the One who sent you. Sometimes when you don’t have the words you just have to sit quietly before the Lord and allow Him to minister to you. You may not know what to pray for. But you keep your disciple. Sometime I sit and pray, sometimes I just sit. It is like that. Sometimes it’s so hard.

8. Building skills – We have to build well. Paul left Titus because he could finish what he had started. Don’t be sloppy with the church. Treat it as though it is the most beautiful thing you have. If you know how, then ask for help.

Many years ago I was in Kenya with Simon Petit. He did a teaching on Apostolic foundations. If you want to build a house you need a plan. And before that you need a good foundation and he went on to explain what the foundation of a NT church looks like. He went through 14. Know what you are building. When you start building you know what the finished product will look like. When you build the church in your heart and mind you should know what it should look like.

I need to end here for now.

IF you know you have been slightly beaten up or damaged by being left to build a church plant and you know you are carrying things in your heart that are very sore. Your life/heart has been damaged by the process, please lift your hand ( eyes closed everyone!). I would love to minister to you and pray Paul’s pray over to you. Grace and peace from God and Father and Christ Jesus. Father please keep us as we go from city to city and village to village. That we will be good at being left – robust and strong. You will never leave us not forsake us. Amen.

(to be continued… Part4)