Power to Become

It is not unusual for a new generation to be viewed by the previous one with suspicion and unease. They said it about my generation, they say it about this generation, they said it about my parent’s generation and my grand parent’s generation.

I found these words of Socrates written in the 5th century BC.

“Youth today love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, no respect for older people and talk nonsense when they should work. Young people do not stand up any longer when adults enter the room. They contradict their parents, talk too much in company, guzzle their food, lay their legs on the table and tyrannise their elders".

I'm sorry, but not all youth can be written off so easily, for I do see hope resting on the shoulders of the youth of today. I see such potential!

I was thinking about the influence that young people have on society and more importantly the role of youth in initiating change in society. While we don’t really see a powerful youth movement in Australia, all around the world young people are leading revolutions and change. This caused me to do a little research on some of the impacts of young people around the world and I came across the following information. I am in no way supportive of these movements, but they serve to illustrate the potential of youth to influence change.

• Youth and students have played a vital role in revolutionary struggles in the past and continue to today. In Latin America, young people are energetic leaders and participants in the social movements, and in Venezuela, view themselves as being the “foot soldiers of revolution”. In France last year, we saw youth, in particular university students, respond to an attack on the rights of young workers and prompt a general strike of workers that mobilised millions in an expression of the popular dissent against neoliberal policies, and the determined leadership of the youth meant the movement was successful. In the past year we’ve also seen the massive student strike in Chile, the Los Angeles school walkouts for immigrants' rights, and the student strike in Auckland for young workers' rights.


• More recently, in Indonesia in 1998, from March to May, student protest played a key role in turning discontent over the economic collapse and lack of democratic rights into a full-scale political crisis. The universities in Indonesia played a vital role as the point where the middle class grew and consolidated as a group, and this consolidation was severely threatened by the economic crisis. A movement for reform had grown in the 1980s and 90s on the campuses, and during that period many students turned away from the traditional elitism of the old student movement, and came to the conclusion that it was necessary to form an alliance with the workers and peasantry and urban poor to transform society, a political strand that was of course influential in 1998.

These examples along with many others around the world go to show that youth and students can have a social significance much greater than their numbers and are often moved to action faster than other sections of society.

This year the theme of the United Pentecostal Church of Australia National Youth Department is “Power to Become”. The year 2008 will be a year of youth realising their potential and becoming what God intended us to become.

I read in my Bible that Jesus said “and greater works than these shall he do” (John 14:12). Furthermore, Jesus said “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”. (John 15:7)

What is this power that enables us to do these things – it is the power of the Holy Ghost!

My desire as the National Youth President is that the youth of the United Pentecostal Church of Australia would realises that being filled with the Holy Ghost is more than just speaking in tongues and it is more that just getting saved and going into maintenance mode until Jesus returns. But when we are filled with the Holy Ghost we have the power of God inside of us and we can do great things!

John 15:16
[16] Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit (potential), and that your fruit should remain (good potential): that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

That's my five minutes!

Happy Christmas from the Downs Family

When will Jesus be King?

Matthew 2:1-2
[1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
[2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

A little phrase that was uttered by the wise men, they asked the question: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?”

All through the life of Jesus we find Him referred to as a king. It is a phrase we find throughout scripture. When Philip had brought Nathaniel to Jesus, Jesus began to tell Nathaniel where he had been and how he knew him. Nathaniel was so impressed by the Christ that he said “thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49).

Herod couldn’t live with the fact that there was another king being born. He wanted to kill Jesus. But if Herod could have just understood that Jesus didn’t come to set up an earthly kingdom, He came to build a heavenly kingdom.

We see it here at the sea of Galilee when Jesus multiplied the lunch of a lad. When it was all over, they were so impressed by what they saw, that they desired to take Him and make Him their king. But Jesus departed again into the mountain to be by himself (John 6:15).

Jesus was hanging on the cross and the crowd around him were mocking and scoffing and said “He saved others and He cant save himself”. And they said “If you are King come down from the cross and then we will believe”.

But Jesus didn’t come down from the cross, because He was going to become king by staying up on the cross. He didn’t come to be king in this earth, He came to be king in the hearts of men. If Jesus came down from the cross, we couldn’t be washed by His wonderful blood.

I’m so glad He stayed there….because He stayed there He is king!

When does Jesus become King? When we give Him all authority over our life to Him! When we surrender! When we say it is not about me, it is about you Jesus. When we love Him with all our heart, soul and mind.

Is there anyone who wants to make Jesus the king and ask Him to sit on the throne of your life?

That's my five minutes!

My Friend Wayne

Hey! For all you that know Wayne Francis....you'll love this.

Wayne Francis would have to be one of the most inspirational people that i've ever met. Furthermore, one of the greatest preachers I've ever heard. We love him here in Australia. Look out youth of Australia.....Wayne Francis is our speaker for National Youth Camp 2009! DONT MISS OUT!

Me, Wayne and Lachlan!

Can I make a difference?

I ponder today, Can I make a difference? Can you make a difference?

It is a fact, although my passion is for the work of the Lord, it just doesn’t seem like I am making a big difference on a daily basis. I am working a full-time job, have family commitments and am busy about the work of the Lord in my local church. However, while I find myself busy about the things of God, it really doesn’t feel like I am making a very big difference. I am sure many readers have had the same feeling at sometime.
While reading the Word the other day I was reminded of the scripture in Jude verse 22-23 “And of some have compassion, making a difference. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire”. While it may not be physically or financially possible for me to be on the foreign mission field, my compassion can make a difference to the extent of “pulling them out of the fire”.

One of the first questions asked in the Bible can be found in Genesis 4:9 “Am I my brother's keeper?” A question asked by a man that was running from God. Perhaps many people today are still asking this question. What about another question asked in Luke 10, “who is my neighbour?” A question that was asked by a man seeking to justify himself. The fact that we cannot be there physically must not be an excuse for not getting involved. Missions matters!
Many of us may never find ourselves on the missions field. We’ve seen the photos and films from the field and we’ve felt the burden for lost souls and rejoiced as people find Jesus. But far too often we retreat, thinking that there is nothing we can do and leave it up to small number of people to reach the masses. That is a lie from the devil! We can do something.

I looked up the word “compassion” in the dictionary and here is the definition: “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering”.

Compassion isn’t just a feeling, but it is “accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering”. This is why the Bible says that we can make a difference if we have compassion. So don’t just be moved, but let compassion move you to a place of doing something. Our compassion makes a difference and by it many can be pulled from the fire.
There is so much that you can do for the kingdom back here on “home soil”.

Here are just a few things.
1. Giving financially
2. Prayer
3. Writing an encouraging our missionaries

If not you, then who? If not here, then where?If not now, then when? The Kingdom is waiting for you!

Let me make a bold statement - Missions must be part of your program or your program is not of God! Missions matters.

I can make a difference! You can make a difference!
That's my five minutes!

Overseas Missions

“The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.” Henry Martyn

Though the phrase “Overseas Missions” never appears in Scripture, the concept of taking the gospel to every creature and culture in the world is one of the most important themes of the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, Overseas Missions is at the heart of God’s purpose on earth.

In reading about God’s judgement at Babel, which ended up in the division of the human race into many nations, culture and languages, we read that God used Abraham and his descendants as His special people. We read in the Word that God told Abraham to leave his country and family and go to a land that the Lord would show him. However, as is consistent with the Word, with every instruction and commandment God makes a promise. The Lord told Abraham that if he would obey the commandment He would make of Him a great nation and bless him (Genesis 12:1-2).

In reading about God’s promise to Abraham I believe that the Lord was making His “Overseas Missions” and multicultural intentions obvious. It was God’s design that through the nation of Israel He might reach a lost and dying world. The spirit-filled church today is the spiritual Israel and our “great commission” remains “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”.

Missions is the heart beat of God, and our responsibility, in fulfilling our purpose on this earth , is to get involved in reaching the lost in our suburbs, cities, countries and the world! Jesus emphasised the Great Commission five times in the New Testament (Matthew. 28:18-20; Mark. 16:15; Luke. 24:44-48; John. 20:21; Acts 1:8).

Every church has a responsibility to fulfilling the “Great Commission”. For all our programs and fellowship, one thing for certain must be part of the churches agenda……MISSIONS! Missions in our homes, communities, towns, cities, country and the world. A church cannot experience what God would have for them if we are not obedient to our call to reach this world.

Remember the promise, “Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

God will bless our churches in direct proportion to our giving.

That's my five minutes!

The Passing of a Special Friend

On 12 September 2007, Melanie and I lost a special friend of ours. Lalduhkimi was a beautiful girl who died suddenly of a cardiac arrest at the Audrene Scism Children's Home in North-East India. We loved her like she was our own and we will really miss her. She is now with Jesus.

From Burden to Blessing: The Challenge of Change

Genesis 32:24-32
24: And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25: And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27: And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob (which means deceiver), but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29: And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31: And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32: Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

While camped one night, a strange man attacks Jacob. It is a physical fight, no dream, and the two struggle as to the death. Hour after hour passes, their strength wanes but neither can overpower the other. It becomes plain to Jacob that this is no ordinary mortal, but a special manifestation of God. In the struggle Jacob’s thigh is dislocated, but this mysterious enemy does not defeat him. Jacob, the one who has always resorted to deceit rather than to face a challenge head-on here is forced by God to fight. Suspecting the divine nature of this attacker, Jacob pleads for a blessing. God’s blessing is not given without asking him to say his name. In making Jacob pronounce his name, God is getting Jacob to confess his character.

Jacob encountered God and was wounded in body. Jacob confesses his name and his character and God changes his name from Jacob to Israel. All through the Bible, a name change means marks a new beginning, a transformed character.

What a wonderful irony, that in being attacked by God, Jacob could find the revelation of a respectable self; that in being honest about his past, he found a new future. In being crippled, Jacob, found a new freedom.

A Few Quotes

• Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change. (Jesse Jackson)
• Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. him to change clothes to meet the German Ambassador: they want to see me, here I am. If they want to see my clothes, open my closet and show them my suits. (Albert Einstein)
• Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity; not a threat. (Prince Phillip of England)
• If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. (Unknown)
  Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine. (Robert C. Gallagher)

That's my five minutes!

What Motivates You?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
[14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

ANZAC Day in Australia is a day for Australians to reflect on the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand who gave their lives on the battlefield for our freedom. Living in Canberra I have visited the Australian War Memorial numerous times and can say that there is no place in Australia that fires up my patriotism than the Australian War Memorial. Before I die, I would love to visit Gallipoli in Turkey and be able participate in the ANZAC day dawn service at that location.

I am greatly moved when we think about John Simpson Kirkpatrick and the donkey. An unlikely national hero, Simpson enlisted in the army, expecting this would give him the chance to get back to England; instead, Private Simpson found himself at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915, and was killed less than four weeks later. Simpson was instructed to recover and help the wounded and he undertook this work enthusiastically. Famously, he used a small donkey to carry men down from the front line, often exposing himself to fire. The bravery of this "man with the donkey" soon became the most prominent symbol of Australian courage and tenacity.

The blood of Australians was spilled on countless battlefronts around the world. The memory constrains me to be a better Australian and a more loyal Australian.

In the spiritual realm there is a parallel. In the text above, the apostle Paul said that he was constrained, he was compelled to do what he did because of the love of Christ. Love that caused Jesus to give his very life for me! Paul said, "how can I live for my own pleasures when Christ lived His life to bring about my redemption”. The price that Jesus paid requires more than an ordinary response! The price that Jesus paid requires more than a simple hallelujah, amen or thankyou Jesus.

Does the reminder of Calvary constrain you? The cross should remind us that we were purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ!

Our passion should not be based on what we can get from him, but for what he has done for us. Our love should not be based on healings or monetary blessing, He should not have to give us anything else. He doesn’t have to do anything else to prove to me that He loves me.
That's my five minutes!

Get Off the Treadmill

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
[24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

Treadmills are popular these days. I recently walked past a gym with a fine array of treadmills lined up in the window and each of them was occupied by a person either walking or jogging. One thought came to mind, “if jogging is so good, why aren’t they smiling”, and secondly “all that energy, all that exertion…and getting no where”.

A treadmill is an exercise device consisting of an endless belt on which a person can walk or jog without changing place. Just like the classic Disney movie theme song, The Lion King, many are on the “circle of life”. We tend to get on the treadmill of this earthly “life”, and can never seem to get off it. If we aren’t careful we find ourselves driven by the treadmill of this earthly life….and will never experience the pleasures of eternal life.

One writer described our modern life styles as “compulsive” - there is too much to do, all the time. Once on the treadmill, we can’t seem to get off. Or, put another way, the rats are winning the rat race. Anyone ever felt like that?
In the Spiritual, it is a trick of the devil to get us on a spiritual treadmill, walking the Christian walk but never getting anywhere. Just like the literal treadmill, the Spiritual treadmill is gaining popularity these days as Christians attend churches week after week while never developing a relationship with Jesus Christ.

One such “Spiritual Treadmill” is “works righteousness”. You can almost see the spiritual exhaustion in some people’s faces. They constantly worry about going to hell. "Have I done enough?" "Will I have time for one last prayer before I die?" "Where do I stand on the curve?" And even at the height of physical exhaustion, they dare not slow down or get off. So instead they seek to pay God off-through church attendance, through good deeds, and through non-stop working. Every sermon they hear on commitment only turns up the speed of the machine, makes the course steeper, and makes them think they’ll collapse any second. They never feel restful in their relationship with God.

Our pursuit needs to focus on developing a relationship with Jesus Christ and knowing Him more! His mercies are new every morning and in knowing Jesus you'll know the peace that passes all understanding. You can run with a smile on your face. That’s my five minutes!

Self Assessment

Recently Pastor Downs preached about “self assessment” and the importance of assessing our walk with God against the Word of God, and no others. I was challenged to assess in my life and asked my self the following question. What do I do that makes me a Christian? Very often we tend to define our Christian walk by what we don't do. This involves no progress whatsoever. If fact we will find ourselves getting into "maintenance mode", just waiting for Jesus Christ to come back. I am not happy being AVERAGE!

There are associated dangers for Christians who stand for righteousness and want to be different from the world. There is an inherent danger when a Christian decides that they want to make a difference. When you have given up on being just a “run of the mill person” and you are not like everybody else around you, you become a target for the enemy.

I was reading a book review on an Apostolic Youth Site and they were reviewing a book called “An Enemy Called Average”. In this book the author John Mason says that the greatest enemy that people fight today is the enemy called average He was talking from a secular perspective. Although not a Christian author, this point can be applied to all Christians today. One of the greatest enemies facing the church is this age is the idea of mediocrity or being average. The idea that we are doing good enough just getting by. Just doing enough to make it to heaven, living as close to the world as possible.

Those that are satisfied with being average will very often examine themselves via a comparison with others. Very often, they will pick the weakest person in the church, the person who randomly comes to church, and we say “yeah, I’m doing OK compared to so and so”. To often we eagerly view our own accomplishments in the mirrors of our own design and ideas instead of the mirror of God’s word and His perfect plan for our life.

I believe God has a plan and a purpose for every single life. God has a desire to move us from ordinary to extraordinary. He wants to take our “natural” and make it “supernatural”. We need to make ourselves available to God, humbling ourselves and saying, “God, do your perfect work in my life”.

When God saves you, He doesn’t save you to be a “pew warmer”. God saved you for a reason and He has a plan and purpose for your life. Many people these days are sitting in churches waiting for God to come and knock them off their pew and give them something to do. Dare I say it….God isn’t going to do that. But every now and then, when the word of God comes forth and you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart, when you feel challenged to do something for the Kingdom, this is God saying “Come on, do something for me. Stop being complacent”.

God has things in store for you because you have the ability to do what nobody else can do. God design a plan and that plan is specifically for you. God has given you special gifts.
That’s my five minutes!

Praise fixes up the dry times!

Dry times come to all believers. God knew that even spirit filled Christian would have to endure dry times. If fact we are told to “think it not strange the fiery trials” (1 Peter 4:12), furthermore we are told to “count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations because the trying of our faith worketh patience and in turn serves in perfecting” (James 1:2-4).

Numbers 21:16-17
[16] And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.[17] Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

As the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, they came to a time and place where, in the dry desert land, they were thirsty. They were experiencing a “dry spell”.

The first thing we notice when reading this portion in Numbers is that the children of Israel journeyed to a well as God had directed them. As established Christians it is more than likely that we all know where the well of the Lord is in our lives, after all we’ve been to that place before, that place of refreshing. Secondly, this well had been dug out by their leaders sometime before. Something important to note is that the well had been bug with the scepter and with their staffs. We see from Genesis 49:10 that the scepter is a symbol of praise. The scepter and the ruler's staff are established in Judah which means praise.

When the children of Israel arrived at this well it would have been evident to them that it hadn’t been used in some time. For it seems from reading the scripture that the water was not readily seen or evident.

Does it seem as though your well has dried up from neglect or lack of use? Then sing to it! Call it forth, as the children of Israel did to this ancient well. They sang this song: "Spring up, O well!
God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), and as their song went forth it brought forth His sweet presence to water their thirsty souls.

We need to dig the soil of our hearts and bring forth the well spring of the sweet and refreshing presence of the most high God to water the ground of our soul! If your dry and parched then begin to offer up a praise.

There is an old chorus that most of us know. “Spring up O well, within my soul. Spring up O well, and make me whole. Spring up O well, and give to me, that life abundantly!”If you are experiencing a dry place, bring forth your scepter of praise today and dig a well in the soil of your life! Sing to your well to “spring up”. You will be refreshed!
That's my five minutes!