Rolling Away the Stone

November 6, 2009 at 12:32 am · Filed under Uncategorized

There were four stages to Elisha entering into and taking on the mantle of Elijah. Today we will focus on the first phase – the phase of Gilgal.

“And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha to Gilgal.” 2 Kings 2: 1

Gilgal literally means “rolling away the reproach”. Gilgal Is representative of embracing the “cross life”. It is the life of receiving forgiveness, denying self and following not our own ways. but rather the ways of the Lord. We can see through the lives of Elijah and Elisha, that there needed to be a letting go of things past in order to open the way for a new beginning. It certainly takes an attitude of courage and perseverance to embrace this rolling away phase.

What do you need to roll away today? What do we as a body need to roll away in order to herald in the new day that the Lord has made? Is It disappointment, fear, failure, a broken relationship? Whatever it is, there Is hope! As you roll away the reproach, the doors for new things will open.

“Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.” Joshua 5: 9

At the strategic meeting last week the eldership took a resolution to close the door on yesterday, to roll away the reproach. This truly is a new beginning and as Elijah and Elisha moved on to the next phase of their journey together, the phase of Bethel (dreams and visions), we at King’s are doing the same.

You will notice in 2 Kings 2: 2 that Elisha stayed close to Elijah. “Then Elijah said to Elisha “Stay here, please for the Lord has sent me on to the Bethel.’ But Elisha said ‘As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!’ So they went down to Bethel.”
In order to build the momentum in this new day, and to develop our culture of staying close, we have resolved for 2010, that all the eldership and ministry team will be involved in Connect Groups and we would encourage you to also “get connected.”

It is exciting to know that, as the Lord lives, the best is yet to come!

Comments

“A” is for Attitude

November 3, 2009 at 1:26 am · Filed under Uncategorized

“For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7
Attitude can open a door. Attitude can close a door.

I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong, Ecclesiastes 9: 11

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7

What Is Attitude?
The dictionary defines attitude as (i) the way a person views life or tends to behave towards it; (ii) the position or bearing that indicates feelings, words and actions; (iii) an inward feeling expressed by outward behaviour … a reflection of the person inside.

Nothing can change until you do
Life can be summarised in one simple equation:
Outstanding Attitude = Outstanding Results
Good Attitude = Good Results
Average Attitude = Average Results
Poor Attitude = Poor Results

Seven truths about attitude:
1. Attitude determines approach.
2. Your attitude determines your relationships with people.
3. Attitude is the key difference between success and failure.
4. Your attitude at the beginning of a task will affect the outcome.
5. Attitude can turn problems into blessings.
6. Attitude gives you uncommon perspective.
7. Your attitude is not automatically good simply because you’re a Christian.

Three decisions you need to make:
1. Decide to be grateful
2. Decide to have positive expectations
3. Decide to be nice to people.

Comments