(by Pastor Jean)

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ has also laid hold of me” (Phil 3:12; NKJV). Paul talks here about “pressing on” and he tells us how he does this in the next verse, by forgetting the past and focusing on the future. Then in verse 14 he uses the term, “press on” again and explains why he wants to “press on” and it is because he wants to receive the “heavenly prize” (Phil 3:14; NKJV). He also spoke something similar to the Corinthians when he compared the Christan life to a race and told them they should run to win the prize. What exactly does “pressing in” mean or involve? I believe it means pushing past all obstacles in an attempt to grow and mature as a Christian, to get closer to God and hunger for more of Him. Paul’s whole Christian life is an example of someone who pressed into God; to him nothing was so important as getting to know Jesus more and more deeply (Phil 3:8). King David, in the Old Testament, had this desire also, “” My soul followeth hard after Thee” (Ps 63:8; KJV). (See also Ps 84:10). Jesus taught about “pressing in” in Matt 11:12 when He said that “violent men seize it (the kingdom of heaven) by force (as a precious prize)” (AMP). In other words, we need to make pursuing God and His kingdom a priority in life. (See also Matt 6:33).

(by pastor Norman)

“The Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11; NKJV). God’s compassion for us is a tender, caring pity and sympathy for the misfortune of others and a strong desire to eliminate their suffering. In the Old Testament God’s people, Israel, strayed from His ways and fell into the hands of their enemies many times however, when they called out to God, He showed great compassion and rescued them (Isa 54:10, Zech 10:6, Ps 778:38-30). In His ministry on the earth, Jesus looked with compassion at the crowds of people lost and without a Shepherd (Matt 9:36). “He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick” ((Matt 14:14; NKJV). In compassion, Jesus miraculously supplied bread and fish to hungry people (Mark 8:2-3). I love the account of the widow of Nain; her only son had died, and was to be buried. Jesus “had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep” (Luke 7:13; NKJV). He raised the son from the dead. Jesus illustrated how ordinary people are to show compassion in His account of a Samaritan tending to a stranger on the roadside who had been robbed and wounded (Luke 10:33). The greatest example of God’s compassion for us is the sacrifice of Jesus so we could be forgiven and have eternal life with Him (John 3:16). How should we respond? The apostle Paul wrote, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 2:12; NIV).

(by Pastor Jean)

In writing to the Ephesians, Paul told them that the reason God chose them was so that they would be, “holy (that is consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose driven) and blameless in His sight” (Eph 1:4; AMP). The need to be holy is a theme that is repeated through the whole Bible. We read in Lev 19:2, “You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy” (NKJV). In Leviticus 20:26, God explains to Moses that He wants His people to be holy because they are God’s people and they are to be separate from other people. The word used for “holy” in the Old Testament scriptures means “set aside for holy purposes.” In the New Testament the Greek word, “hagios” is translated as holy with a similar meaning – consecrated and set apart for God. Peter uses this word in 1 Peter 1:15,16 when he says, “You also be holy in all your conduct because it is written, “Be holy for I am holy” (NKJV). As we see from this scripture, holiness is to be reflected in our behaviour. This is also reiterated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (NKJV). Holiness is to be a way of life which is different from the way the world lives. This includes purity, moral uprightness and attempting to live blameless lives. (See Eph 4:1). It means watching what we look at, listen to and what we speak. If we are to live holy lives, we will need to imitate God because only He is perfectly holy; the more time we spend with God, the easier it will become!

(by Pastor Norman)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt 6:33; NKJV). In Psalm 68:19 (NKJV), we read that it is God who brings us salvation and, “daily loads us with benefits.” Jesus died on a cross so we could be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God (Matt 26:28, 1 John 1:7). God has an abundant life for us (John 10:10b). Don’t underestimate God; Jesus calmed a stormy sea (Matt 8:26) and fed 5,000 people with only 5 loaves and 2 fish (Matt 14:17). The abundant life God has for us includes making disciples of all nations! (Matt 28:19). To walk in all God has for us and be His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20) we must put Him first in our lives (Matt 6:33). He must be our primary focus in all we do, think and say. We can’t focus on the things of the world and expect God’s true fulfillment and abundance. “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2a; NKJV). We need to renew our minds with God’s word (2 Tim 3:16; Eph 5:26). All of our thoughts, words and actions need to be directed by God’s Holy Spirit based on His word (Rom 8:6), we cannot be successful depending on our own thoughts. Let’s humble ourselves before God (1 Peter 5:6-7) and let the Holy Spirit direct us and transform us to be more and more like Jesus (Gal 5:22-25, 2 Cor 3:18) “and all these things shall be added to you”.

Pastor Jean

There is no doubt that God is a God of abundance; just consider the feeding of the 5,000, “They all ate as much as they wanted” (John 6:5-13; NKJV). Not only that but there were 12 baskets of leftovers! That’s abundance! Of course, Jesus did tell us in John 10:10 that He came to give us an abundant life and the word used for “abundance” actually means “super-abundance” or more than enough. We also know from Ex 34:6, “That God is abounding in love and faithfulness” (See also Isa 63:7, Lam 3:22,23). God is also abundant in redemption (Ps 130:7), in other words providing us complete deliverance from sin, paid for by the blood of Jesus. In addition, God gives us an abundance of peace (2 Peter 1:2; Ps 37:11).

In Matt 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. He ends it by saying, “To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance (Matt 25:29; NKJV). Paul also talks about abundance in 2 Cor 9:8 when he tells the Christians at Corinth that, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (NKJV). Why does God bless us with abundance? It is so we can turn around and share that abundance with others! (2 Cor 9:11)