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Perez - Breakthrough The other day I received a parking ticket. It is pretty fair to say that I wasn't happy. I was parked correctly and I had purchased my ticket; I hadn't run over time and I wasn't in a designated space. Something in me rose up. I wasn't happy. I phoned the council and had somebody eventually respond to my complaint and I was apologised to. I was satisfied that things had been brought to a correct conclusion. Righteous indignation is something that is missing from church life. I'm sure that when God put His plans together for Church, He wasn't thinking back street, get by, survival, sleepy, small, insignificant Bride of Christ. From what I can see from scripture He was designing a radical, influential, exciting, energetic, beautiful, even glorious, extravagant, high street, centre of attention and spectacular Church that would be a wonderful Bride for his Son! When we look at the geneology of Christ we see Judah [meaning Praise]. I believe that the people of Praise are hugely involved in bringing to birth the will of the Father. Yet we see that Judah had twins and it was nearly Zerah that was born first but Perez broke through to change the course of history. [Genesis 38:27-30] I believe that we have accepted things as the way they are regarding church but God is looking for a break through generation that will change the course of history. God is looking for a generation that refuses to accept things as the way that they are; a generation that wrecks the accepted way things are and breaks through, creating a new future and fulfils all that God has in mind for the Church! Breakthrough to a new level in Church life! Learn to count to 10 Learn to count the priority Learn to count the cost Learn to count the value of
Learn to count to 10 When you are growing up very often there is a challenge to 'count to 100'. As a child this is a mega challenge that one pursues with intensity and vigor. As a child I learnt that I didn't need to learn to count to 100 but 10. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and then it is time to start again except at a higher level. 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 then start again at a higher level. 21,2,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 and so on. The problem is that we never go to the higher level because we prefer to be a 9 on the lower level that a 1 on a higher level. If you want to break through learn to learn. Breakthrough comes when we maintain the basics and do them at a greater intensity. Leaders moan that their church isn't growing and yet they still spend little time in study and prayer. Leaders stand in envy when seeing other effective teams and yet fail to delegate because others won't do it like they would. Get the basics right and ADVANCE TO GO! Learn to count the PRIORITY I know some might say that one of my characteristics is 'cool' but I am really not. So much so that a friend's father often took me, as a young child I add, bird watching. I know the difference between a greenfinch and a chaffinch; a tree sparrow and a hedge sparrow; and a blackbird and a raven. There is famous story beautifully scuplted by the much acclaimed TD Jakes of a boy who was desperate for a photograph of an eagle. The most magnificant bird in the world with over a nine foot wing span. To have a photo would make this young boy's year! He searched and hid, lay down and climbed trees and suddenly, there it was! He clicked away as the awesome spectacle swooped and caught its prey. As the eagle flew into the sunset, in a dramatic change in fortunes, the creature fell to the ground like a lead balloon. The boy ran to the crash scene only to discover that the eagle was not shot by a hunter but was killed because it refused to let go. The eagle's prey was a weasel and as they flew in tandem the weasel bit the eagle's throat in an attempt to fight back. Thus the eagle perished because it held on! Much of Christianity is about holding on, slugging it out and stand tall. Yet in order for break through we have to learn to count the priority. Some of the stuff that we hold from the past is actualy killing us or at least preventing us moving to a new level. It is bringing us down not accelerating our growth. Consider relationships, paradigms, practice and disciplines. Discover the ceilings that repeat themselves and ask, 'Why?' In finding the answers one can assess priorities and make some possibly tough decisions. Learn to count the COST We often go to conference and look at others and see their 'success', whatever that means and wish, even lust. However, we fail to consider the cost that the great men and women of God who lead these awesome ministries have paid. Here at Bethel City Church we have undergone major growth and transormation at cost. If we want to fulfil all that we believe God is saying to us then we have to learn to count the cost.  | BCC hosting PlanetShakers |
In our microwave, quickfix generation we all want it now and even that is too long a wait. Luke 14 :25-35 tells a story of the desire to intentionally build a house and it warns that one must first count the cost. Many fail to realise this and fail to fulfil destiny and live with disappointment and hurt. Don't add to the the number of disengaged leaders in the British Isles - learn to count the cost! The passge in Luke 14 talks of warriors going off to war. Imagine warriors, even gladiators, who are waiting, preparing for the battle that lies ahead. Some sharpning their swords. Others polishing shields. Still others vommitting or urinating at the frightful prospects. Even others trying to slip away into the dark. Mabe still others considering how they can take the leader out and savour the glory. When going to the next level, when considering the ramifications of break through, the cost must be counted. Look at your options. Do you really want what break through brings? Are you prepared? Are those around you equipped? It is my humble opinion that the 'google generation' carries this Perez Spirit that we talk of. However if we fail to count the cost then... Please learn to count the cost! Learn to count the VALUE John 4:34 says, 'My nourishment is to do the will of God, who sent me...' Jesus deemed the serving of His Father's will so important that it nourished His bones. He placed such a great value on it that it propelled Him to the next level. John 6 tells the story of when the people wanted to make Jesus king by force. Jesus had a decision to make - allow the sway of people's 'now' opinion dictate or place value of what Father wanted. The passage in one translation, as He went into the hills, says that He went 'higher'. He placed so much value on serving the will of the Father that not even the highest credit was enough - He went even higher! Break through requires us to consider our value system. Is it worth it? Jesus was prepared to pay in blood as they lifted him on the cross. We may never experience this but what value do we place on fulfilling the will of our Father?
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