MINISTERS MATTER

THREE SIMPLE LIFE LESSONS

LIFE-LESSON 1 - LEARNING TO LIVE BY FAITH

2 Cor. 1:3-4 God of all comfort.

Joyce and I were invited by the Lord to use some money we had saved for a new house to bless someone. He wanted to teach us about living by faith and the wisdom of a life of sowing and reaping. We chose to invest in ourselves. We failed this important test, once. Since then, we’ve learned to live by faith and we live to bless.

LIFE-LESSON 2 - LEARNING TO LIVE BY HOPE

Mark 6:45-50 Jesus walks on water.

God invited us to sell our new house and give away some furniture into the life of a single mother. He was teaching us about obedience. In the midst of our stepping out, a major storm hit our lives - I was laid off, Joyce had resigned earlier and we had no means of support but Him. God spoke to Joyce and said, “Where is your faith?” He was teaching us about going to the other side of problems with Him. Obedience led to the sale of our house and someone giving us a fully furnished home and a new car. We’ve learned that He is Jehovah Jireh.

LIFE-LESSON 3 - LEARNING TO LIVE BY ‘love never fails’

Matthew 26:14-16 Judas sinned against love.

Jesus walked, talked and lived each day with 12 men for 3 years. He poured out His life and heart to them. He shared the secrets of the kingdom yet for Judas it was not enough. He turned away from Jesus because of something in his life he was unwilling to surrender - the love of money.

For others it could be fame, position, power, importance, recognition etc.

In 30 years we have had people walk away, betray, say all manner of evil against us and yet wisdom says, “Love never fails.”  I’ve learned to respond in an opposite spirit.

God invited us to model an invisible kingdom lifestyle by making the truths of His kingdom visible to others starting in our marriage, with our children, then with family and friends as well as our extended family - the church.  We chose to demonstrate faith first then talk about it.

The Christian is a paradox.

“He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties himself in order to be filled; admits he is wrong so he cannot be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest; richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible; hears the inaudible; and knows that which passes knowledge." A. W. Tozer

Proverbs 3:13-18

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

May God bless you with a heart that pants after knowledge and the wisdom to know how to apply it to the circumstances of your life.

WISDOM MARKERS IN LIFE 2

The Great Commandment - 3 in 1
Love God - Love Others - Love Yourself

As a continuation from yesterday, I was now on a new path and my whole way of thinking and living was about to change. Here are some additional steps in our journey as individuals, a couple, and a family.

Aldous Huxley once said, “Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.”

I had become a seeker and it led me to Jesus Christ. I needed to know some answers to life’s big questions.

Who am I really? Is there life before life? Does life have a purpose beyond living? Is there really a God? What does He want? What happens when you die?

Science can explain how the universe works, but cannot explain why it works like it does. Philosophers on the other hand try to explain why the universe works the way it does but cannot explain how. The bible is not in conflict with science or philosophy, it just reveals what is accurate and truthful.

I needed answers to my questions so I could know what I didn’t know, and with knowing, I could keep growing and experiencing the fullness of life as it was meant to be lived.

Proverbs 24: 3 says “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.”

Your body is a house for the Spirit of God to dwell - I’ve learned to establish my spirit, soul and body as a temple for the Spirit of God to live in.

You live in a house and make it a home for yourself and your family - I’ve learned to establish my home/family life according to God’s living/loving Word.

Eventually, Joyce and I were pastoring a church which is called the House of God - We learned to establish Lifecentre by modelling what we were asking others to do. We have never asked people to do what we were not doing ourselves.

All these require we build with wisdom and understanding.

The passion of my life has been to understand the invitation Jesus has given me to enter His story and become a participant with Him.

The failure in my marriage and family has given me an understanding of God's heart for His  ‘eternal’  family. The bible is a love story.

You are unique to God.

No one else in all the world has your life experience. Even your finger prints are unique to you as are your iris prints.

This week I enrolled in the Nexus Program that is between Canada & USA allowing low risk travellers to enter and leave both countries easier by being pre-screened.

I had my fingerprints taken. Nobody else has prints like mine. They checked the records and I am clean. Whew!

Then I had my iris scanned. Nobody else has an iris like mine.

Those are physical distinctions.

But all of my combined life experiences have given me ‘experiential distinctives’.

Nobody else on the planet has a duplicate of my life journey.

With the increase of knowledge/experience came the need for wisdom.

How do I apply what I have learned about being a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a pastor, and a spiritual leader in the city and now around the globe?

Herbert Lockyer said, “Wisdom can be defined as the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding.”

Tomorrow I will end this message with three life lessons.

WISDOM MARKERS IN LIFE 1

I was asked to share a little of my testimony this morning at Lifecentre. Over the next few days I'd like to provide a sample of the notes I spoke from. I hope you enjoy.

Here are a list of just ten things I was learning in the first 28 years of life without Jesus Christ. Tomorrow, I will list some ongoing lessons over the last 34 years with Jesus.

My limited, cultural wisdom came from my parents, peers, teachers and life itself enabling me... “to know what I knew, without really knowing, what I needed to know.”

Proverbs 4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”

Your life, like mine, is filled with experiences.

What have you learned about yourself from those experiences? How are you applying the understanding and insight you now have?

Dear Abby once said, “If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us, we’d all be millionaires.”

Here are my top ten markers.

1. Hitch hiking around Canada, the US, Europe, North Africa and the UK for a Centennial Project throughout 1966 &1967 developed in me a love of travel and exploration.

I was learning that people are just people all over the world with the same hopes, dreams and aspirations.

2. Met Joyce during the planning stages at St. George’s Anglican Church and eventually returned to Ottawa and looked her up. We became engaged and then married - everything good since then I attribute to her.

 I’ve learned that she brings out the best in me - eventually.

3. Returned to school to finish my education.  It is what I needed to get a good job and keep it. I had nothing to offer an employer so I needed to go back to school and get an education.

I’ve learned that employers are looking for certain life skills - no skill, no job.

4. I was hired by Mutual Press. Is this the career path I want for my life? Yes! I loved working in the printing and publishing industry. I now had a good paying job that allowed us to start a family.  The excitement of children also brought with it the responsibility to care for them.

I learned to say no to selfishness and yes to caring for others.

5. Participating in Karate for 6 six years helped me overcome my fear of being victimized by others.

I learned how to defend myself and face my own fears.

6. The failure of my marriage was a paradox. It turned out to be one of the best and worst moments of my life after only five years of marriage. Both of us were so different after five years that we drifted apart.

I’ve learned that with God all things are possible. He can change your life if you are willing to allow Him to speak to you about you.

7. Marriage counselling resulted in the counsellor saying "You two shouldn’t be together." Hmmm.

I’ve learned that others often have a wonderful plan for your life but you need to know your plan for your life.  I’ve learned there are no shortages of opinion from family and friends when you are in difficulty.

8. Gestalt Therapy - what are your issues Barry? Even though I tried to single out Joyce as the problem in our marriage, I had to come to terms with my faults and failures as her husband and the father of our two young children.

I’ve learned to say, “Where do I need to change?”

9. Searching for wholeness began in earnest. I was trying to bring my spiritual and physical life together but didn't know how to do that. I searched in Karate, fitness, becoming a vegan, philosophy etc., but still no satisfying answers.

I’ve learned that a man who seeks, will find, if he is honest with his discoveries. I had to admit that all the areas I was searching left me empty. There must be more???

10. I made the best decision at the end of this difficult phase of life. I attended a men’s retreat as a favour to a business account I had, and was introduced to Jesus first in real people, then in His Word, then when I invited Him into my life.

I’ve learned that God can be found in His people, in His Word and when His people are doing what He is doing.

These were my ten ‘inukshuks’ of life or Inuit markers used in the North to provide direction for travellers.

I was a weary traveller and Jesus began leading me out of cultural wisdom into biblical wisdom.

Change was in the air and my whole life was about to go in a 180.

Vernon Law said, “Experience is a demanding teacher - it gives us the test before presenting the lesson.”

Tomorrow I will continue the message.

1. ALIGN & SHINE IN 2009

Interesting word 'align'. It means to place or arrange things in a straight line; to put into correct or appropriate relative positions.

All of us who drive know what it feels like when our car is not aligned properly. We have to work harder to just keep the car in between the lines. Not to mention the wear and tear on the tires, front end and us.

As we all come to the end of another year, we will close the door on 2008 and open a new one called 2009.

What have we learned this year? How have we grown? What changes are obvious to others about us?

Looking back over the year just travelled, I stand in awe of Jesus Christ and what He is doing all over the earth. There is not a place on this planet that He is not at work in and through a person or group of people who love and serve His purposes through their lives.

When it is all said and done, life is about being conformed to the image of Jesus and submitting oneself, and our time, talent and treasure to further His purposes on earth and prepare ourselves for our eternal home. Preparation time is never wasted time!!!

Many in the Western world measure success in life by their bank account, possessions, and status in life. The economic tsunami of 2008 rendered that measuring stick null and void.

Christmas was another example of many leaving everything to the last minute as most will do with their spiritual status before a holy God.

The reality is the greed of some on Wall St., has affected the lives of many on Main St. and the fallout is far from over. With this mess unfolding everyday on our TV's, I can't help but think of the scripture in Hebrews 12:26 that says, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken - that is, things that have been made - in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

God is aligning things - putting them in priority; putting things into correct or appropriate relative positions. He is reminding us that temporal things have very little value compared to eternal things.

In 2009, I encourage those of you who read this blog, to align yourself with God's will for your life. You will not be disappointed. Happy New Year!

2008 UKRAINE CONFERENCE: SESSION 5 - LAKELAND

I held a special session for interested pastors/leaders to talk about my involvement in the commissioning service of Todd Bentley at the Lakeland Outpouring. Some had seen me on You Tube, others had heard rumors, and they just needed to talk.

I shared the lead up to going, who I travelled with, how long we were there, and how I ended up on the platform that June evening with everyone else.

These leaders asked pointed questions, gave me time to respond and exercised great respect and brotherly love as we went over important items one at a time.

We concluded with a time of prayer and committing ourselves and the outstanding issues surrounding Lakeland to the Holy Spirit and those responsible, to deal honestly with the way things were handled.

I came away so proud of these leaders for having the courage to ask the right questions and doing so in a spirit of gentleness not accusation. These men and women are maturing relationally - something that should be a priority in the Western church leadership.

Well done Ukrainian leaders!!!

NOTE: I have spoken extensively on this subject. Just click on the word Lakeland in the left column and you can read to your heart's desire. Barry

2008 UKRAINE CONFERENCE: SESSION 4 - OUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

OUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

We travel in life with some very different people. Some compliment us and others confound us.

We all face challenges. Even Jesus had challenges with His disciples.

Luke 9:46 shows His disciples wanting to know who was the greatest?

The characters in our life come from our family, friends and fellow ministers.

Life is about process. One day at a time through different terrain, seasons etc.

Do we react or respond to things?

How do you view people? How do they view you?

Are you real or do you present a fake self to others?

What are your true attitudes, feelings, weaknesses, struggles that are hidden from the public?

Fears hold us from being real. Why? We will be disqualified by others who may or may not be put off by our honesty.

God gives gifts to imperfect people.

James & John - let's call fire down from heaven.
Peter - resisted Jesus going to the cross and then denied Him.
Disciples slept while Jesus agonized in the Garden.
Thomas doubted Him.
In Acts - they wanted a political kingdom.

We hide, pretend, live a lie until we are found out or exposed.

Change requires real honesty.

All journeys have seasons and weather patterns to deal with.

Are you prepared for the changing seasons of your life?

When we travel together and help each other, it is the best. No control. No dependence. No dictating.

Values and virtues form the base of what is needed to be a help to others. We treat others with dignity and respect regardless of how they treat us.

Lean upon the resources of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, time, discernment.

Enjoy walking with those who allow you to hesitate, stumble, are hurt or in need of prayer. Be accepting and affirming.

Have you really given your life to the cause of Jesus?

We are supposed to help one another respond to the journey of life in ways that invite personal transformation into the image of Jesus.

He wants our lives to reflect His life in us.

Humility. We let life shape our character and we stay centered in Jesus.
Love. The currency of the kingdom. Unconditional.
Honesty. We speak truthfully with grace.
Patience. No instant Jesus in us, so we allow the process of change.
Sensitivity. We show compassion to others.
Trustworthiness. People are safe with us. We are dependable.

2008 UKRAINE CONFERENCE: SESSION 3 - STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES

STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES

We live in a fallen world and life is tough for everyone.

All of us face loss along the journey. Life is not easy. Disease. Death. Betrayal. Poverty. Hunger. War. Cold and discomfort.

Read 2 Cor. 1: 3 - 7

Reminds us of the common bond of suffering believers share globally for the cause of Christ.

God created this world and said, “It is good.”

Life is a gift from Him with wonderful possibilities.

His unconditional love, joy and purposes work through us to others.

Three areas of struggle include:

1. Ourselves - we are sometimes our own worst enemy.

2. A fallen world filled with the darkness of men. We see this everywhere in all facets of life. Those fallen men who bring great harm to others legally and illegally.

3. The devil and his angels. We must be aware of spiritual warfare.

In the darkness of life, God bring light.

Life as it is, is not final - God and His Word are final.

Sin is a rebellion against the goodness of our loving Father.

It sets in motion evil and destruction.

Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

He brought us love, kindness, healing, deliverance,

Calvary is our focal point in every struggle.

We learn to abide in Christ Jesus.

ALL THINGS work together for our good.

We are being conformed to the image of Jesus.

Romans 8:28-30

Saints are made through crisis and process.

We grow in Him when we are honest with our deficiencies.

Crisis of unfaithfulness is met with process of forgiveness, crisis of anger - love, fear - faith, pain - healing, Jesus brings light into our darkness and as we grow stronger in our faith we develop new levels of intimacy with Him, increased empowerment and relational growth with others.

God calls us, in our struggles, to be honest about them. He cares for us.

He wants us to surrender to His will so we can enjoy the journey and keep focused on the destination through all the struggles of daily life.

2008 UKRAINE CONFERENCE: SESSION 2 - EVERY JOURNEY HAS A DESTINATION

THE DESTINATION

Being conformed to the image of Jesus in this life and being with Him in heaven for all eternity.

Some questions came up before the session began that needed addressing.

Began the session talking about paying someone to prophesy over you. Many ‘prophets’ come to Ukraine from the West and the people are encouraged to give in order to get a prophetic word.

Too often believers are immature and desperate to know God’s will for their lives and miss the obvious of Romans 8:28-30. Leaders must never take advantage or manipulate believers who are weak in their faith or just immature. I encouraged the pastors to disciple and train their people in God's Word.

Pastors/prophets need to work together because the pastor cares for the sheep and knows where they are at in life’s journey. He can then course correct and help his flock grow up.

Imitating another preacher because you are insecure in who you are is also an area needing work.

Every journey has a destination and the Christian life is no exception.

We commit to the process of the journey by pressing on towards the goal of the high calling we have in Jesus Christ.

Heaven is our home eventually but earth is ours now and so we serve the Lord faithfully day in and day out through the issues of daily life. Phil. 3:14

Along the way, we all have special memories and moments to enjoy all He is doing in and amongst us.

Ephesians 1:3-14 is about adoption.

Showed the pictures of Grace Sabourin being adopted into her new family because her birth mother could not give her a destiny. Her mother signed her legal documents making her part of the Sabourin family, she is now in the family and in the will, presented to the Lord in dedication by her family and she continues to grow into a wonderful little girl.

                                                              

We cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the transformation process by surrendering those things in our life that hold us back from Christlikeness.

John 15: 1-6 highlights the value of learning to abide in Christ in the same way Zacchaeus understood that Jesus came to abide in his home for a meal and discussions.
That encounter changed his life forever. He was never the same again nor was his home or business.

Change not knowledge is what identifies us as followers of Jesus.

It is my body but it is His life in me that enables me to do the will of God every day.

What are some of the evidences of His life in us? Things like signs that follow us as we keep our eyes on our destination. We grow into intimacy with our heavenly Father. We are secure in our relationship with Him as His child. We commit to growth. Our character is being transformed. We experience more brokenness which results in more growth. Our ministry flows from brokenness with both strength and weakness. We walk in His authority. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit along the journey to stay focused on our destination.

2008 UKRAINE CONFERENCE: SESSION 1 - THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE

THE JOURNEY

The story of our personal transformation over the lifetime of our journey on earth.

We are part of the greatest journey ever told as we recount that Jesus came from heaven to earth.

Abraham went on a journey from Ur to Caanan.

Moses went into Egypt as a child to become Israel’s deliver.

Israel's journey from slavery to the Promised Land.

Jesus came from heaven to earth.

Two words describe the whole of scripture.

Creation - Genesis 1 & 2, only two chapters describing how good God’s creation is to Him and should be to us.

Redemption - Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 is the journey of redemption.

What is between these two truths?

LIFE!

Every journey has a clearly defined destination, unexpected challenges and fellow travellers - those who share the journey with you.

What do we usually do to prepare for our journeys? We think through our trip and what we will need for where we are going. Equipment. Plans. Papers. Details. The unexpected we can’t plan for but our choice to either react or respond is.

2 Peter 1:3 - 10 is our journey from being natural to being spiritual.

Trusting the Word of God for our journey.
Inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit to every step.
Support of our church family and friends.
Having at least one trusted friend to share your inner life with.

Peter lays out a process of continual growth for our lives.

Virtue - moral excellence, purity
Knowledge - wisdom of God
Self-control - master/choices
Perseverance - endure
Godliness - reverence
Brotherly Kindness - natural love
Love - divine love

In God’s story, He includes the scripture in Romans 8  ‘ALL THINGS’ working together for good - our good.

He reveals that His purpose is to conform us to the image of His dear Son. He will use all things to work together for our good.

We must start right to end right. The born again experience.

Illustration of Justification: Person with shawl over their shoulders showing the righteousness of Jesus imputed to our lives.

Justification is a legal act by God that declares us not guilty because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Our character and conduct do not change at conversion that is why we need to be discipleship.

Courtroom Procedures - legal issues of being born again. Salvation, substitutionary sacrifice, propitiation and justification puts praise in our mouths as we acknowledge Jesus as our Advocate with the Father.

We need more than the understanding of freedom to live our lives.

Classroom Instructions - We learn the doctrines of the faith and become believers with sound doctrine but that too is not enough.

Education is good but not enough to guarantee commitment to the cause of Jesus Christ.

Both are not enough and we all know it. We need to live life daily between the truth of justification and the doctrines we have and are learning.

LIFE - a transformational journey with Jesus as you learn about yourself and what has to change to be more like Jesus.

Romans 8:28-30 conformed to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:49 bear the image of the earthly and heavenly.

OUR GOD REIGNS

No matter what happens to us in life, and life can be tough indeed, our God reigns!

Listen to this amazing song entitled 'Healer - This is our God.' Watch the lead singer sing through his own pain. He is wearing an oxygen supply and calls out to God in faith believing - no matter the end result!

Enjoy!