Failure and Success

'...The God of Heaven will give us success...' Nehemiah 2:20 NIV


Everyday we are challenged with thoughts of failure as we walk this journey of faith. To turn your failures into successes you need to do two things: (1) Realize that God wants you to succeed because you’re His child. When you think about it, what good and loving parent wouldn’t? In the face of overwhelming obstacles and enemy threats, Nehemiah announced, ‘…The God of Heaven will give us success…’ and God did!
(2) Realise that failure is a teaching tool. The greater the failure, the greater the opportunity to learn from it. But first you must acknowledge the teaching potential in your mistakes and commit to learning, growing and changing as a result. Thomas Edison said, ‘I’m not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.’ At 21 years old he set up his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, and became a full–time inventor. At any given time, he and his team were working on as many as 40 different projects and they applied for more than 400 patents a year. Edison’s feverish work schedule and productivity caused the local citizens to dub him ‘The Wizard of Menlo Park’. But he wasn’t always successful. The fact is, he struggled with many of his inventions but, despite embarrassing failure after embarrassing failure, he refused to give up. Often ridiculed for his perseverance, he engaged in some 10,000 experiments before finally inventing the incandescent light bulb in 1879. Concerning his chequered work history, he said, ‘I haven’t failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that don’t work.’ Stop labelling your failures as negative. There are very few real failures in life—only options. Some options work, others don’t. The truth is, with God on your side you’ll win if you persist! You are Loved!

It's Up to You!

'...Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould...' Romans 12:2 PHPS
Kind of funny how life works but let me give it to you straight; you determine the outcomes in your life because God has given no one but you power over your options. When things aren’t working out for us, we often look elsewhere for the reason. Like Eve, we can say, ‘The devil made me do it.’ No, Jesus said, ‘…I give unto you power…over all the power of the enemy…’ (Luke 10:19 KJV) Like Adam, we say, ‘Eve made me do it.’ But the psalmist says, ‘…I trust God, so I am not afraid. What can human beings do to me?’ (Psalm 56:4 NCV) Sometimes we believe circumstances beyond our control are responsible, but with God ‘…all things [including people and circumstances] work together for [our] good…’ (Romans 8:28 NKJV)—not for our defeat! Your mistaken beliefs victimize you and predispose you to a lifestyle of trying to change people and circumstances. That’s like attempting to unscramble an egg. You become a blame–fixer instead of a problem–solver. Accept the truth that no matter what Satan, others or circumstances do, God gives you the right to the last word in your life. ‘…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4 KJV) The outcome is not determined by what goes on around you, but by what goes on within you. ‘…as he thinks in his heart, so is he…’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV) The devil can only determine the outcome with your permission and co–operation—and you don’t have to give them! So believe in God’s ability to bring you triumphantly through! You are Loved!

Cycle Breakers (5)

'...Go to the pool...and wash...' John 9:11 NKJV

Jesus told this blind man to go to the pool of Siloam and wash the dirt from his eyes. So here’s the question: What do you need to remove from your life today in order to see what God wants you to see and do what He wants you to do? Whether it’s a destructive habit, a toxic relationship, or a bad atti-tude, you must get rid of it. James writes: ‘Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double–minded.’ (James 4:7–8 NKJV) God will do His part, but you must do yours. God will extend grace to you, but you must act on it. It’s said that the water which flowed into the pool of Siloam came from under the temple and was used to wash the utensils which were part of worship and sacrifice. In other words, this water didn’t come from a man–made source, but from the presence of God. Don’t miss the point here! Jesus said, ‘You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.’ (John 15:3 NKJV) Paul speaks of ‘…the washing of water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26 KJV). David writes, ‘How can a young man [or an older one] cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.’ (Psalm 119:9 NKJV) The secret of victorious Christian living is bathing your mind each day in the Scriptures. Picture yourself taking a bath in God’s Word and the dirt and grime coming off you. That’s what meditating on the Scriptures does for you. You are Loved!

Cycle Breakers (4)

'...One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.' John 9:25 NKJV
When Jesus restored this blind man’s sight, the Pharisees tried to engage him in a theological debate about who Jesus was and where His power came from, but he refused to argue with them. He simply said, ‘…One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see,’ and the same arguments still continue today. Some people say, ‘The day of miracles is past.’ The truth is that there is no day of miracles; there’s only a God of miracles Who says, ‘…I am the Lord, I do not change.’ (Malachi 3:6 NKJV) The Bible says, ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ (Hebrews 13:8 KJV) That means what He was, He still is. What He did, He still does. What He said, He still says. Whatever your problem may be, you have two choices: live with it and try to adjust to it, or believe God to set you free from it. Certain things like alco-holism, addiction, and abuse may run in your family, but by the grace of God you can break the cycle! Please hear this: God’s power is greater than your habit! Not only can He set you free from the thing that holds you captive, He can deliver you from its lingering effects. His Word to you is: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way…’ (Isaiah 43:18–19 NIV) So turn to God today. Give Him a chance. You’ve tried other things, now try Him. He will not fail you! You are Loved!

Cycle Breakers (3)

'...he went and washed, and came back seeing.' John 9:7 NKJV

Sometimes Jesus healed sick people by speaking to them, other times He laid His hands on them. But this blind man’s healing was not the work of a moment; it was the result of a process. ‘…He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”…So he went and washed, and came back seeing.’ (John 9:7 NKJV) Question: How far away was the pool of Siloam? For a blind man, any journey is a long one. Picture this man with mud in his eyes, trying to navigate his way to the pool of Siloam. There’s an important lesson here. Even when God touches us, sometimes we’ve got to walk with our mess until we get to the place of healing, freedom and deliverance. Here’s another thought. Whoever told this man about Jesus, and brought him to Jesus, had to keep walking with him until he got his sight back and could walk on his own. You can’t say to someone who’s struggling with a problem, ‘I told you about Jesus, and I even brought you to church but you’re still stumbling around in darkness bound by the same problems, so I give up.’ God never gives up on people, and we must not give up on them either. When someone continues to struggle with an old habit, some Christians say they mustn’t really be saved. Question: How often do you give in to resentment, pride, lust, greed, gossip, etc.? The list is endless, yet God doesn’t give up on you. Sometimes people have to ‘walk out’ their deliverance and healing until it fully comes to pass. That’s how long you need to love them, believe in them, pray for them, and keep working with them. You are Loved!

Cycle Breakers (2)

'...He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.' John 9:6 NKJV

Think about your DNA for a moment, your DNA is in your saliva. When Jesus spat into the blind man's eyes, he received a divine DNA transfer. The fact of the matter is that sin is in our DNA and that’s why Jesus goes back to the root of our problem! Understand this: God doesn’t merely treat your symptoms; He goes back to the source of your problem in order to set you free from it. To change the fruit, He changes the root. This man never had the ability to see; he was born blind and needed a creative miracle—and that’s exactly what he got. Physical miracle and spiritual miracle—a total transformation. Our God is awesome, isn’t He? Do you know why Jesus came? ‘…To bind up the bro-kenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…to comfort all who mourn…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of de-spair…’ (Isaiah 61:1–3 NIV) It doesn’t matter whether your parents contributed to your problem or you simply made bad choices in life, Jesus can set you free, make you whole, and give you a new life. Jesus didn’t blame this man or his parents. That’s because God has no desire for your condemna-tion; His desire is for your transformation. You are Loved!

Cycle Breakers

'...Who sinned, this man or his parents...?' John 9:2 NKJV

‘His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his par-ents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”’ (John 9:2–3 NKJV). When someone is trapped in a self–destructive habit, we sometimes say it’s genetic: ‘It runs in the family.’ Yet psychiatrists tell us 90% of those who abuse others were first abused themselves; they are simply ‘acting out’ what was done to them. Some say if alcoholism and addiction run in your family, you’ve got an ‘addictive gene’, meaning you’re at much greater risk if you pick up a drink or a drug. But you’ll notice Jesus didn’t get into the whole ‘nurture vs nature’ debate. In essence, He said, ‘This is just an opportunity for God to demonstrate His love and grace by setting this man free.’ So your problem may be too big for you, but it’s not too big for God. It’s actually a platform for Him to demonstrate His grace in your life. ‘Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP) God doesn’t consult your past in order to determine your future. Before you met Jesus, you were spiritually dead. That’s why He said, ‘…you must be born from above…’ (John 3:3 CEV) From that point forward, the past no longer has any power over you (except the power you give it). So you can break the cycle. You are Loved!

Show That You Care

'This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.' John 15:12 NKJV

Take a deep breath, and hold it for a moment. Now exhale it. Where did it go? The air that you just exhaled will circle the globe in the next twelve months, during which time each of the molecules you exhaled will be breathed in by someone else only to be exhaled again. Incredible isn't it! Think about it, through air we are all linked to each other, we are all connected by our breath to each other and to the One who first breathed life into us. Just as we all share our chemistry with other members of the human family, so we are all interdependent. We’re affected positively or negatively by the actions of each other. During the self–centred days of what used to be called the ‘Me Generation’, and I lived through that, it was common to hear people say, ‘As long as I’m not hurting anyone, it’s nobody’s business what I do.’ Unfortunately, everything we do affects other people, and there’s no such thing as a completely independent act. With that in mind, read these two Scriptures: (1) ‘A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.’ (John 15:12 NKJV) (2) ‘Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another…’ (Romans 13:8 NLT) That means you have an obligation today to show your care for others in some practical way. So go do some random act of kindness! You are Loved!

Overcoming Your Temptations (3)

'...count it all joy when you fall into various trials.' James 1:2 NKJV

Satan knows that when you recognize him as the source of your temptation, he loses his advantage. He knows that when you understand he initiated the temptation you’ll recoil from it faster than if you think you have initiated it. Satan wants you to believe you yourself are the source of the temptation. If Satan approached you and said, ‘I’ve come to make you sin and feel condemned,’ your vulnerability to his temptations would evaporate! He won’t tell you that—but if you remember it you’ll have the advantage over him. As Paul puts it, ‘…we are not ignorant about Satan’s scheming.’ (2 Corinthians 2:11 GWT) Another misconception is that temptation is time lost and effort wasted. In long periods of temptation we feel like we’ve lost ground rather than gained it. This is important to understand! Withstanding temptation is ‘[fighting] the good fight of faith…’ (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV), and that’s when God develops your character. ‘When all kinds of…temptations crowd into your lives…Realize that they come to…produce in you the quality of endurance…’ and when that happens, ‘…you will find you have become men [and women] of mature character…’ (James 1:2–4 PHPS) Indeed, your compensation goes far beyond your present development to the reaping of eternal rewards. ‘…be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, so that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire.’ (1 Peter 1:6–7 AMP) Add to this God’s glorious guarantee: ‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation... he will receive the crown of life...’ (James 1:12 NKJV) You are Loved!

Overcoming Your Temptations (2)

'Blessed is the man who endures temptation...' James 1:12 NKJV


The second misconception is: Temptation is sin. 'Blessed is the man who endures temptation...' James 1:12 NKJV
The devil wants you to blame yourself for the temptations you experience. Why? Because when you believe that you are the source of it, you feel condemned and discouraged. As you indulge in feelings of discouragement, you become an easy prey and Satan convinces you to go ahead and yield to the temptation. Ironically, you yield to sin through the fear of having already fallen. Temptation itself isn’t sin; the sin only occurs when you yield to it! Many of us feel like we’re spiritually deficient, distant from God, even phonies because we think we initiated the temptation ourselves. Imagine a burglar in your house, and when you detect him he accuses you of being the burglar! Would you believe him? Of course not! Yet that’s Satan’s approach with us. After he tempts us, he accuses with thoughts like, ‘A real Christian would never have such thoughts!’ Knowing our own weakness, his accusations sound plausible and we believe him. Then we feel condemned, spiral into discouragement, and yield to the temptation. Understand this: condemnation comes from Satan (1 Timothy 3:6). The Bible says, ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ (Romans 8:1 NIV) When Satan sends temptation, the Holy Spirit goes to work in us, helping us to reject his suggestions and reminding us of Jesus’ availability to help us triumph. ‘Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.’ (Hebrews 2:18 NIV) So when you’re tempted, reject Satan’s condemnation and reach for Christ’s overcoming assistance.
You are Loved!

Overcoming Your Temptations (1)

'...don't let us yield to temptation...' Matthew 6:13 NLT

Many of us suffer unnecessarily because of our misconceptions about temptation. One thing God has been putting into my spirit is that we all need to know that knowledge is power! With knowledge comes the strength to overcome in time of need. How do we become overcomer's in the area of temptation? The first one is: expecting your temptations to cease—or at least de-crease. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land they had the same expectation. They were surprised that the Canaanites were still in the land. So they got discouraged, thinking they must have gone the wrong way. ‘Surely this couldn’t be the land of promise.’ God’s Word makes it clear that the Christian life, from start to finish, is warfare. Paul says we are called to ‘…wrestle…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’ (Ephesians 6:12 KJV), and your level of temptation increases as you draw closer to God. Notice: when Israel first left Egypt, God didn’t lead them through Philistine territory ‘though that was shorter. For God said, “…If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”’ (Exodus 13:17 NIV) God understood their fledgling faith and protected them from their enemies. But later, when their faith had grown, He permitted them to face seven powerful nations. Just like the Promised Land, the promised life of victory requires you to deal with temptation and wrestle your way through to victory, believing that ‘…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4 KJV) Indeed, their enemy’s attack proved that Israel was in the Promised Land. So experiencing temptations is proof you are truly abiding in Christ. More tomorrow...you are Loved!

What Keeps Us From Serving (4)

'...through love serve one another.' Galatians 5:13 NKJV

The last thing we struggle with, with serving is: Control

While it’s important to focus on understanding others, we must also be authentic and open so those we are helping can understand us. Being authentic can make us feel vulnerable and transparent. If you’re serious about serving others, you must open up and use your gifts. Let people know who you our and what you believe; and why you have chosen to give up control. The example of the life of Jesus shows us He was transparent and vulnerable and when He was questioned, He let them know who He was and what His mission was. Serving is a part of the mission God has given each of us. Paul summed up best in Galatians 5:13, that we serve God because of the freedom we have been given. '...through love serve one another.' Let love be the center of your mission to serve and watch what God will do. You are Loved!

What Keeps Us From Serving (3)

'But they paid no attention...' Matthew 22:5 NIV

Indifference is the third thing that keeps us from serving others. A well–known comedian quipped, ‘Scientists announced today that they’d found a cure for apathy. However, they claim no one has shown the slightest bit of interest in it.’ When it comes to communicating, that could be said of many of us; we’re indifferent to how we come across. We may not necessarily feel superior to others, but we don’t go out of our way to get to know them either. Why? Because it’s hard work! In reality, indifference is another form of selfishness that keeps us from connecting with people.
When we serve others we are showing them the love of Christ!

Novelist George Eliot put it like this: ‘Try to care about something in this vast world besides the gratification of small selfish desires. Try to care for what is best in thought and action—something that is good apart from the accidents of your own lot. Look on other lives... See what their troubles are, and how they are borne.’ People truly appreciate it when you make the effort, no matter how small, to try to see things from their point of view. Paul writes, ‘Be kindly, affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.’ (Romans 12:10 NKJV) I love that verse..be kindly affectionate. Everybody you meet is wrestling with a fear or fighting a battle and, if you’re caring and sensitive, God will give you a word to lift them. Isaiah said, ‘The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary…’ (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV) What a gift—to be able to lift someone who is struggling.

What Keeps Us From Serving (2)

'...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought...' Romans 12:3 NIV

Continuing from yesterday, another thing that’ll keep you from serving others is arrogance. What others think and feel isn’t important to you. Arrogant people seldom meet people on common ground. They don’t believe they should have to because by their own estimation they live on higher ground and shouldn’t have to descend to anyone else’s level. They expect others to come to them. Justice Louis D. Brandeis observed: ‘Nine–tenths of the serious controversies that arise in life result from misunderstanding, from one man not knowing the facts which to the other man seem important, or otherwise failing to appreciate his point of view.’ It’s ridiculous for anyone to think they have all the answers. Such people can become opinionated, narrow–minded and arrogant, listening only to their own thoughts and ignoring advice and suggestions from others. When your overriding goal is to build a case for your own viewpoint, people get turned off if you have a ‘my way or no way’ attitude. To win them you must be willing to build a relationship. The letters in the word ‘silent’ also form the word ‘listen’. Relationships are built by listening to people, loving them, learning from them, and leaving them better off than you found them. ‘A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.’ (Proverbs 1:5 NKJV) You are Loved!

What Keeps Us From Serving? (1)

'To answer before listening--that is folly...' Proverbs 18:13 NIV

One of our Missional Values at CFW is to Serve Others! We believe that serving others shows the love Christ. To serve others effectively though, you must be attuned to what people need; what our community needs. So what keeps us from effectively serving others?
First: Assumption. A lady in an airport lounge bought a packet of donuts and sat down to read the newspaper. She heard a rustling noise and looked up to see the man beside her helping himself to the donuts. Not wanting to make a scene, she leaned over and took one herself, hoping he’d get the message. Then she heard more rustling. She couldn’t believe it. The man was helping himself to another donut! There was only one left! She watched in disbelief as he broke the remaining donut in two, pushed half across to her, popped the other half in his mouth, and left. She was still furious when her flight was announced. Imagine how she felt when she opened her handbag to get her ticket out—and found her unopened packet of donuts! Now be honest, didn’t you assume the stranger was helping himself to her donuts? Most people do and that tells us a lot about ourselves! Too often we’re guilty of making assumptions about people and once you put someone in a box, it’s hard to think of them any other way. Do you agree? Every time a good tailor sees a client, he takes new measurements. He never assumes they’re the same size as they were the last time. That’s a good policy. Never make assumptions about someone’s background, profession, race, gender, age, nationality, politics, faith, or other factors. Once you do, you stop paying attention and miss clues that can help you to know what they really need. You are Loved!