A common mistake in Christian theology is to look for the fatness of God's provision rather than desiring the leanness of a life lived dedicated to Christ. This does not diminish our Lord's ability to provide, rather flips the idea of what that provision is, from the pearls and rubies and treasures of Heaven to the gaudy baubles of worldly, material wealth.
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In his influential treatise on warfare strategy from the 5th Century B.C. the Chinese General Sun Tzu states, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." We have an enemy, a defeated foe set aside for destruction. Yet he is an enemy who is alive and active in this present time. May you be equipped towards the undoing of his negative influence in your life, in Jesus's mighty name.

What to do when you forget your sermon notes? (Not that I have notes all the time on here.. ;-) <3 ) Pray. Receive. Share. For the glory of God, in Jesus name and for the coming of His Kingdom upon the earth.

It is an interesting aspect of a believer in God that there are no coincidences. Life is deliberate and intentional, even in the driest of deserts and darkest of valleys, the hand of our Lord can be seen to be with us and over us. Indeed, it is often in these places where it is the most obvious. A season preaching about our enemy, the Devil, is likely to produce a drastic response, and so it is, but, Oh! it is worth the fight! Unfortunately a small slice of today's sermon was lost in the processing, so not a coincidence that it is about Satan the thief that this message is dedicated, yet there should be enough to help the beleaguered observer in equipping for the ongoing fight, I pray. Onwards to glory! Onwards to victory! The defeat of an army whose leader is fallen is a rout to be sure. Glory hallelujah! Glory amen!

There is noone more powerful or more horrible in all of existence outside the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet much of the modern church fails to teach about the character and danger associated with this most detestable and unsavoury of foes. Even the Chinese General, Sun Tzu, the writer of, 'The Art Of War' knew of the advantage of studying an opponent. He wrote, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” 

After a time with the Lord leading in a journey of discovery on the state of the church in my home town and nation, another time to speak and share, in prayer, for God's glory and the coming of His Kingdom to the earth. Glory hallelujah!

Well time for a swan song in the country of New Zealand for the time being. Hard words and a hard line, because the word of God refuses to compromise with the will of men. Or women. When so much is available, when so much has been given, can it be any other way? Repent and receive Jesus, for the glory of God is worthy above all else.

Reaching a point in this preacher's life, in delivering the prophetic warning to the 'ends of the earth', he finds himself ousted and away from the place where God brought him to be. Despite his cries, his life has not ended there. Instead he finds himself back in a familiar place, a place of anointing and blessing on his travels to his journey's end. Could it be that there is still a ways to go? May the Lord, the Good Lord, go with us, in Jesus's name.

It brings no joy to make strong prophetic utterance. Yet, as with all of our Lord's decrees, the choice of it lays in our hands, hearts and minds. He may not change, yet He may relent. I have lived in this city for over five years' now. I have applied myself to the resolving of its problems. I have offered myself over and over, to all walks, works and cultures in this society. Yet the message of the cross has not been accepted, its rejection consistently in favour of the pursuit of other gods and selfish desires, an elitist self confidence that bears only one fruit, and that a shrivelled fruit of bitterness. My heart breaks, yet my Lord makes clear, I must speak when I see the sword coming. So I speak.

A strong message for challenging times, with the compass prayerfully set at dead centre for the Lord. His ways and matters and opinions outweigh our own. No compromise, no alternative. He is either Lord of your life or He is not. It really is that simple.