Transformation, Purpose, Love, Healing, Provision (Kitty Cheng)

On the last day of 2009, I woke at 6am, the house was quiet. I started reflecting on the year past and became restless.

I spent time looking back at photos, journals and blogs from the last year - special moments, times with friends and family from various parts of the world, holidays, happy times, sad times, ministry, connections and interactions etc.

I thought back to the last New Year. Some of the emotions that I had about how the year ahead would pan out, the dreams I have dreamt, the goals I have set. Some of the goals I set were achieved and the dreams I believed in came true. The obstacles I didn't know I would have to face, yet these unexpected challenges were ok somehow. I know WHOSE I am :)

I was thinking about the new year ahead, vision, mission, dreams, goals and hopes. I have many dreams, I have many personal challenges, yet I feel strong and ready for an exciting New Year.

Five words came to mind as I reflected & prayed:

Transformation

Purpose

Love

Healing

Provision

Out of the five words, TRANSFORMATION is one that I have the strongest emotions to. One of my life goals is to experience the ongoing process of transformation, and help others do the same. It's my heart's desire to be an agent of transformation.

I believe "transformation" is something we allow to be done to us, not something we do by our own power. I pray that we can submit to God's power and by His grace, "change into another form" from "caterpillars" to "butterflies", hence becoming a "new creation." (2 Cor 5:17).

What are your words for 2010?

Standing Together In Unity

Transforming Melbourne is a movement with a vision to see the Kingdom of Jesus be established in this city: The Spirit of Jesus transforming Melbourne in this generation! We believe the Spirit of Jesus is calling the Body of Christ in Melbourne to arise!

Many Christian ministries, many individual Christians are encountering challenges including confusion, interpersonal conflict, discouragement and much of this manifested while our city hosted the Parliament of World Religions.

TM apologises that some of our recent communication regarding the recent World Parliament of Religions was ambiguous. Some comments could be read as if we welcomed the hosting of this function by our city and celebrate that Melbourne as a multi-faith community. Clearly we repent that this city has hosted an international event that honoured and worshipped other spirits.

We believe in one God – Father, Son Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit – and in having no other gods.

So we do not support multi faith worship in our nation nor welcome the worship of other gods in our city. In the lead-up to the "Parliament" TM called for united prayer for the living God to be revealed in simple testimony in the natural realm and proclamation in the spiritual realm. We sought Christians to be a positive witness to Jesus Christ in our city and to the fullness of life in this city and nation because of our Christian heritage. We prayed visitors to our city would encounter Christians showing relational grace, hospitality and clear testimony to who Jesus is and that a positive witness to Jesus’ love for all the people will be carried to all the people groups of the world.

The unity of the Body of Christ is a critical weapon of Jesus so we pray that we can stand as one. Division expressed through denominational and theological conflict does not reflect Jesus’ prayer that we be one. We repent of this on behalf of God’s church in our city. We seek that the world might know God’s love for them by the love we have for each other. We seek the authority of Christ alone in our city and nation and acknowledge no other god.

While we stand against the worship of other gods and uphold the sword of Christ in the spiritual realm – we are called to be servants and to love our neighbours. God loves each person and has sent Jesus to save each one and we are called to reflect Jesus’ love for all the people groups of our city, including people of all religions. We need to have relationships and communication with our neighbours and with civic and religious leaders across our city and to work together to confront shared social issues such as street violence, injustice, human trafficking etc.

The richness of the ethnicity of our city is opportunity for mission and we celebrate and join with Ethnos (formerly Melbourne Conferences for Ethnic Evangelism) in praying for and joining in mission to all the people groups of our city. The Church in Melbourne has a rich opportunity through the high instance of international education and migration to spread the gospel to the nation if we are intentional in rising together.

We invite you to stand with us to declare, honour and reaffirm the sovereignty of Jesus Christ as our Saviour, King of Kings, Lord of Lords in Melbourne!

We need to stand together as spiritual watchmen and elders in Melbourne in this very critical spiritual season. Join us from 17^th February for 40 days of Prayer and Fasting for our city. More information on this will be posted in mid January.

Generation Fire

Apart from citywide connections and partnerships, Transforming Melbourne also has relationships in the national and global contexts. One of the organisations that we affiliate with is Generation Fire, which is a Youth Prayer Movement with a vision to raise up a generation of 'firestarters' who would go lighting revival fires across cities and nations.

On the 21st October a meeting was organised by TM at Arrow on Swanston whereby people gathered to connect and hear the vision of Generation Fire - the presence of Jesus.

We were challenged by the following message:

Have you ever dreamed about a generation that God would raise that would be branded by fire, called for such a time as this? A Generation that has been totally in love with Jesus, healed and restored, dead to self and ready to be vessels of God's glory, fire and presence?

In Ezekiel 10:2, The LORD said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city." The furnace is an expression of these coals being strategically scattered across a city. Anything that touches the coal will catch alight.

Generation Fire is looking for those God is calling or raising up as Firestarters - those whose heart burns for Jesus.

If you would like to become involved in helping fan the flame and spreading the fire, and start a furnace in your community please express your interest by emailing the team
thefurnace@generationfire.com.au or info@generationfire.com.au

Pastor Appreciation Month

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. It is a special time that congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors for the hard work, sacrificial dedication and blessings provided by these special people. It is typically scheduled in October, but can be held at any time that is convenient for the church and the community. It is also important to remember that appreciation, affirmation and prayer support of our spiritual leaders is appropriate throughout the entire year.

Why is Pastor Appreciation so important?

The nature of the service provided by pastors and their families is unique. God has entrusted to them one of the most precious of assignments — the spiritual well-being of His flock. Pastors and their families live under incredible pressures. They are expected to always be available, and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward. Those are unrealistic expectations to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor becomes overwhelmed, lets us down or burns out.

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (1 Timothy 5:17).

Let's appreciate, acknoweldge and affirm what our pastors are doing in advancing the Kingdom of God, support them and pray for them always.

The Power of Prayer to Bring Transformation

Fifteen years ago a series of murders brought fear to the people of Frankston. After a number of murders the police called the community together – but not the churches. Some of the pastors heard about the meeting and decided to meet and pray once a week. The police made no progress in solving the crimes, but after the times of united prayer they brought in a suspect. They had no success in questioning him and were at the point of having to release him. At that point, a junior police officer (a Christian from a local church) was guarding him while the Homicide squad was having a break. He started to pray and sensed God was telling him the man was guilty and some personal information he could not have humanly known. When this young officer told the suspect what God had said the man confessed and the crime solved.

WE ENCOURAGE PASTORS & CHURCHES and INDIVIDUALS TO MEET IN UNITED PRAYER FOR GOD TO BRING TRANSFORMATION AND HIS PEACE TO OUR CITY.

Cornerstone in Dandenong

Don Cameron from Cornerstone Contact Centre, shared with TM a story of how God is at work through networking and uniting people in different groups around Dandenong to reach out to the community. Here goes:

"Working at Cornerstone in Dandenong feeding, clothing, befriending and sharing the gospel with street people has it's own unique form of networking. A Christian group in Doveton rents out homes so they can take in homeless people to share Christ with them. We send people to their homes and put some food in their fridges and lend them our building whenever they need it. The Godsquad asks us to mentor kids they know and they deliver free 'Values For Life' seminars to Church groups we know. We pray with local Church people doing similar stuff to us and give whatever we have to our Christian family in the area (trailers, bedding, mowers etc). Secular agencies are amazed at the seemingly 'underground' network of Christian activity that runs on next to no money but achieves more than government can as we have the Saviour they need (apart from Him we can do nothing)."

Thanks Don for sharing what you are doing in partnership with other Christian groups in reaching out to homeless people and kids in the neighbourhood. Yes we do have the Saviour people need, and this Saviour transforms lives!

When I Gave Up Talking....

During the 40 hour famine last weekend, I went beneath the water, let the world above go on, and gave up talking. The experience was both enriching yet challenging! I spent a fair bit of time praying, as I believe that prayer could be like a canvas of silence, and on it we paint sparely, with no word or sound. Instead of 'talking' to God like I usually do during prayer, I simply spent time with Him, and realised that silence can really be a symphony bathing my ears with God's Presence. No wonder it's been said that silence is golden.

On the other hand, as I looked into the silence, at times I battled with a sea of mutes, which led me to begin thinking about those who don't have a voice in our society. There are so many injustice issues in our world, so many without a voice: the hungry kids in extreme poverty, the women that are trafficked victims, the refugees that have experienced war, the homeless people on the street.

The Father heart of God breaks over His voiceless children. What would our city look like if the voiceless children of God are cared for?

Reasons For Working Towards Unity

"Why bother with unity?' you may ask, "wouldn't it be a lot easier not to worry about all those other local churches and just take care of ourselves? Probably! But the Scripture gives us no other option.

Walking in biblical unity with the other members of the Body of Christ in our communities may not be easy. It fact, it takes a very deliberate, intentional decision. It takes an investment of time, energy, money and comfort. But the investment pays great dividends.

Here are some Scriptural reasons for that commitment:

1. Because it reflects the very nature of God - John 10:30

2. Because it is a specific answer to Jesus prayer - John 17:11, 20-21.

3. Because it embodies the essense of the gospel: reconciliation - 2 Cor 5:15-21

4. Because geography is the only point of division Scripture allows in His Church - 1 Cor 1:10

5. Because it is God's will - Eph 4:3, 1 Cor 1:10

6. Because we need it to survive - Eccl. 4:9-12

7. Because we need it to function as the Body of Christ - 1 Cor 12:12-26

8. Because Jesus deserves it - Eph 5:25-27, Rev 19:7 (Note both "church" and "bride" are singular).

9. Because God blesses those who do - Psalm 133.

10. Because it is essential for our maturity - 1 Cor 3:1-4, Col 2:1-3

Committing to walk together with other believes in our city is not an easy task, or a smooth process. But it is well worth it! Let us continue to press on in unity.

SHALOM: Already - But Not Yet

To live in the period in between the time of Jesus of Nazareth and the fulfillment of God's mission is not easy. Like Jesus we look at the city and feel its pain in our very depths. We long for the fullness of shalom - of peace and well-being under God. We work and pray for a city that experiences all the dimensions of shalom that are bound up in the use of the term in the Hebrew Bible: peace, justice, care of the poor, safety, prosperity, harmony and a bustling life.

We see God at work already. We experience a taste of God's gracious presence, both within our churches and, in God's mysterious ways, also at work in wider Melbourne wherever there is justice, wherever there is love and wherever people search for God. If the church in Melbourne loves the city enough to pray and work as one, then we may indeed experience God's shalom and here the yearning of Jesus for his people to enjoy freedom and direction under God will be finally satisfied.

CHANGE TO LAWS THREATEN CHRISTIAN FREEDOM

The current review by the Victorian Parliament’s Scrutiny of Acts & Regulations Committee (SARC) into the Exceptions in the Equal opportunity Act 1995 has the potential to be even more of a threat to religious freedom than the infamous Racial & Religious Tolerance Act (RRTA). Faith-based charities, schools and organisations could have their activities severely constrained by the inquiry’s suggestions that religious bodies lose the right to employ staff who share their values.

A. THE VITAL PLACE OF CHRISTIAN WELFARE IN VICTORIA

1. The Church and its agencies provide extensive and unique welfare and support across Melbourne on which many communities and great numbers of individuals and families depend. 2. This support could not realistically be provided by the government or any other source or movement.

3. This support is based on the personal commitment and sacrifice of Christian people. This support could not be sustained without a continuing commitment to the values and inspiration of the Christian faith.

B. THE POPULAR DEMAND FOR CHRISTIAN VALUES IN SCHOOLS

1. There is a popular and increasing demand for Church-run and Christian Schools

2. Parents send their children to these schools is generally because they want Christian values or the style of education provided by such schools.

3. To undermine the values in these schools by not allowing them the freedom to employ teachers and others who hold those values and lifestyles would be an infringement of the religious freedom of great numbers in Victoria.

C. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF POPULAR DEMAND FOR SUCH A CHANGE

D. CONCLUSION:

The proposed changes give unfettered rights to a small number of individuals at the cost of the rights of the majority of the population and the stability and wellbeing of the community.

A City-wide Vision

Naturally a vision for a great city will combine both local & city-wide aspects. Melbourne is in many ways a large organism. People cross it every day to work, study, play and relax. It has its regions, its local government areas and its neighbourhoods, but it also has an identity as the city of Greater Melbourne. From the CBD to its outer suburbs, there are radial lines of road and rail. Radio and TV stations serve the city.

An urgent task for the Melbourne church is that we work together on a Kingdom of God vision for Melbourne that arises from the compassionate yearning of Jesus for the lost. The word 'together' is crucial, because a fragmented vision and fragmented efforts will continue to lead only to results that are fragmented of God's vision for Melbourne. This is a city with potential to become a centre of God's activity - and with people of so many nations in our midst, it could be a city of global influence for God. A century ago it was called 'Marvellous Melbourne' because of its wealth, culture and architecture, based on the gold-rush. If the church in Melbourne loves it enough to work as one, and if God hears our prayer for Melbourne's transformation, then it may indeed become a city to marvel at, because here we will experience God's shalom and here the yearning of Jesus for His people to enoy freedom and riection under God will be finally satisfied.

May the body of Christ work in one accord, for the transformation of Marvellous Melbourne.

A Vision For Melbourne

Melbourne has been ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. The city is known as the sporting and cultural centre of Australia. It is famous for its multicultural diversity, yummy cuisine and beautiful sceneries. However, the reality is that Melbourne is full of deep unmet human needs, including homelessness, loneliness, conflict, situations of abuse or despair, depression, addiction, poverty and oppression etc.

Even deeper than unmet social needs is the spiritual need of the city. The All Melbourne Matters Research gives us a picture of the whole Church (Body of Christ) across the Greater Melbourne: the great strengths, resources and regular attendances - as well as the challenges.

So what is our vision for a transformed Melbourne? What would Melbourne look like if the Gospel took root and blossomed in this city - both in the local (community) and city-wide aspects? I would like to invite you to actively imagine, dream and pray as you walk with God in this journey of seeing the vision for the transformation of Melbourne. Please write your comments here.

Riverwalkers

Have you ever thought that you may be a riverwalker and a sojourner – travelling through this barren land, using dry riverbeds to guide us?

Sue Tinworth, the leader of Transforming Melbourne, sent me an email sharing that riverbeds show us the course, and offer a smoother way through. We see the history of the land in its rivets and curves. We find residual moisture in its depths and protection from its banks.Even though the river is invisible, we learn to rely on it.

The real challenge, God explained to Sue, is that riverwalkers need to be taught how to swim. How else will they be prepared when the waters come?How do you teach people to swim in a desert? (Moses did it.)While walking by faith on earth, we need to learn to live in a spiritual realm. There are channels that God is opening to pour through us, His love into the barren places.We have nothing of ourselves to give, but He will not do this without us. It matters that we speak to the Rock, rather than striking it. (As Moses did.) That’s about obedience and trust.It matters that we know Jesus as our Foundation. That’s about obedience and trust too. It helps if we look upward in expectant faith. We are riverwalkers but we will walk on water when His power comes.

The Gospel, Piercing The Darkness

Written by Kumar Abraham - Coordinator of Melbourne Conferences for Ethnic Evangelism

Jesus, the disciples and the saints invaded the darkness around them. Jesus spent more time in Galilee than in Judea or Samaria, perhaps because He and most of His disciples came from there. The Samaritan woman and several other Samaritans encountered Jesus. A few years later Philip and others “saw Samaria had accepted the word of God” (Ac. 8:14). Jesus reached Matthew and he in turn reached out to his fellow tax-collectors (Mt.9:10). Barnabas was from Cyprus, and that was his first stop as he and Paul travelled establishing the new faith (Ac. 13:4; see also 11:19-20, 15:39, 21:16 to see how the church grew there). Paul was from Tarsus, Turkey and he spent much time spreading the gospel there. The seven churches of Revelation were all in Turkey. Jesus and his followers followed new believers to their homes and workplaces, to “their world”, instead of isolating and insulating them from their world.

The gospel is subversive in the positive sense of praying, planning, preparing for the downfall of Satan and his kingdom and setting his captives free. By the third century AD it had penetrated North Africa, Asia Minor and Europe, and had seen the downfall of the pagan Roman empire and the rise of a “Christian” one in its stead, in the midst of much opposition.

Instead of only inviting “sinners” to join the “saints” and growing the bases of light (“church”) on Sundays, the church should be helping set-up new bases in uncharted territory (presently Satan's territory) – in neighbourhoods, schools, universities, offices, sporting places, hospitals, prisons etc. These then become places where people can worship, study the Word, share in common and serve their community of atheists, secularists, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. It is imperative that we encourage, equip and support the saints towards seeing this happen within their circles of influence.

Therefore, if there are 300,000 in our churches on Sunday, we could say there could be potentially 60,000 bases or beachheads (1 base per family unit of five) to share “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ“ (2 Co. 4:4). Pray then! Share the light!! Make disciples!!!

At present we have about 1,800 to 2000 churches in Melbourne. Can you imagine having 60,000? Jesus says, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (Jn. 4:35b). Can we see this happening? What can you do? Size does not matter…it is even “where two or three come together in (His) name…." May the gospel blossom and bloom in Melbourne through you and me.

Transform World Houston - Report from the Theological Reflection Group

Report from the Theological Reflection Group

By Darrell Bock
April 24, 2009

Topic: Transformation through Incarnation: Appreciating the Process and Goal. Working Assumptions and Talking Points

Introduction:

Everything we do or say in terms of transformation needs to be rooted in a vibrant relationship with God nurtured in the Word, prayer, community, and relying on God’s Spirit as a reflection of our worship of him.

The following list represents individual reflections on issues related to Transformation through Incarnation. It is not intended to be a complete narrative or doctrinal creedal statement, but a series of talking points and working premises that help to frame how we can speak of transformation biblically. These topics are not laid out in any specific order of priority. In other words, it is an initial working document.

Incarnation

We need to be careful to distinguish between Jesus’ incarnation, which is unique, and our models of incarnation, which are only imperfect and partial reflections of him. We humbly serve a unique God, who is Father, Son and Spirit; has authority; and has issued a call for his people to represent and serve him in the world (John 1:1-14; Matt 28:18-20; Phil 2:5-8)

Incarnation is indicated by the picture of the church as the “body of Christ.” In understanding the church, the “body” is called to make known and embody his presence (1 Cor 12)

Incarnating means pointing to and modeling the values of Scripture which tells and shows God’s creatures how best to live (Eph 4-6)

God’s Mission

Mission is God’s transformative work in the world, where he initiates the re-establishing of every creature’s relationship to him. That lost relationship was a product of the fall. God is calling us to serve in his mission. We do his bidding. We do not presume anything from him or dictate to him (Gen 3, 12, 2 Sam 7:7-17; Jer 31:31-33; Rom 3:1-31; Luke 24:43-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:1-3)

Have to be careful to honor the sovereignty of God to allow God to move among people, while being aware of what the structures are within which we must work (Example: Daniel, serves faithfully but within a multi-religious structure where he functions within the structure yet honors God in the distinctiveness by which he lives.)

When God wants to move, he has his own best way of doing it (example: Joseph in Egypt). This must be left to him.


It can be hard to discern with precision the direction of God’s sovereignty in the midst of our experience of him. Sorting out what God is doing often takes time. However, through God’s presence and the insight of Scripture we can gain clues for humbly discerning and have opportunities to celebrate what he is doing. (Phil 1:19-24; Joseph--His imprisonment did not seem initially like a prerequisite for how God came to use him)

Kingdom of God

Where is the kingdom of God operational in ways that please God? When people live out in obedience the biblical principles of God in ways that are pleasing to God (Matt 5:1-11; Titus 2:11-14)

There is a sense in which the kingdom of God is already here, among those in whom the Spirit resides and empowers. This work of the Spirit reflects the effective presence of God. So in an important sense, the people of God do not need to bring or build the kingdom, we need to be and reflect the kingdom in our own communities and in how we engage with those in the world who need what the kingdom can provide. (Luke 11:14-23; Luke 17:20; Missionary speeches in Acts that point to the authority of Jesus as the basis of entering into participation in an enabled relationship with God)

The kingdom of God is an entity apart from and in the midst of the world’s kingdoms. In a sense, it is as Jesus said “not of this world” even as it is in the midst of this world trying to bring the impact of God’s presence to it. There will be wheat and tares in the field of the kingdom that is the world until the God comes and brings consummation. So we are in the world, but not of it. One must be careful to place one’s hope in the right entity, the effective rule of God (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; John 17:14-26; 18:36)

Jesus and Servant Leadership

Christlikeness reflects incarnation at both an individual and corporate level (Matt 5:14-16; Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 3:17-18; Eph 2:20-22; 4:11-14; Heb 4:8-13)

The model of Servant-Leader through Jesus points to service and suffering that might be a part of such an incarnation (1 Peter 1:22-25)

Again it is important to understand that Jesus is the incarnation of God, what we are an imperfect reflection of his character and values (2 Cor 4:7; Phil 2:12-13; 3:12-21)

Again a key in all of this “incarnating” is the servant-leadership model that was Jesus’ way of engagement. The key is not power to be enforced, but power drawn upon to serve. We can know that we have access to more enabling power than what can be placed against us. We draw on that power to challenge and to transform, but we do so serving and showing. God cannot be presumed upon in all of this for the results. He is followed. Results and timing are his, being faithful is ours. (Phil 2:5-11; Rom 8:1-11; 1 Cor 1:26-31)

Reflections on Transformation

Must avoid a triumphalism or a “success” assessment in Western terms. Prophets were great transform agents, but were not “successful” by common standards. Their “success” was in their faithfulness in representing and incarnating God. Jesus was the transform agent and yet he met with rejection and opposition, not unqualified success defined in worldly terms (Lives of the Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus)

Transformation has to be seen within the whole economy (or message) of Scripture, not just in feeling or personal testimony or affirmation. Is a given idea consistent with God’s intent? (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Transformation is rooted in the directions and hopes expressed in the Lord’s prayer (name be honored, will be done, kingdom come; Matt 6:9-12; Luke 11:2-4)

Transformation needs to be contextualized. The structures of society are not the same in our various cultures. So incarnating the gospel will have to have the fluidity to deal with the different cultural structures believers encounter. Each culture may require discovering keys that are effective in that culture and may not crossover into another culture (Romans 1:18-32 in contrast with Acts 17:16-34 and Mars Hill)

Another feature of transformation is that it may share values across cultures but might look different in different contexts at a given point in time because transformation is a process. In some pluralistic contexts or structures, how one speaks, acts, or calls for righteousness may differ in reflecting kingdom values and commitments, from certain overtly religious contexts (1 Cor 8—10; e.g. Paul and meat offered to idols; perhaps how polygamy is handled across the testaments; how one speaks to greed, wealth and poverty and what one focuses on in addressing that topic)

Transformation will never be completed until the kingdom fully comes. The hope is that its impact can be seen and traced in given areas (Acts 14:10-15; Rev 20—22)

The goal in transformation is an effective presence (and incarnating) so people are changed by God’s power in any and every sphere of life. The goal is not so much taking territory or claiming turf, but manifesting his presence that leads people into an invitation to be transformed by God [in all spheres of life], which when embraced brings transformation. Such a response brings entry into God’s effective kingdom presence and power until the fullness of the kingdom and the full realization of our hope comes (Matt 5:14-16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Col 1:3-6)

Transformation involves seeking reconciliation across all lines of human existence. This means that evidence of transformation will challenge all forms of prejudice and discrimination, so that love of God and love of one’s neighbor is the result (Luke 1:16-17; Rom 10:12; Gal 3:28)

The Holy Spirit is the agent of the Trinity that effects transformation (Rom 8; 2 Cor 3:16-18)

Role of the Church

Church is incarnational at three levels: as a sign (to point beyond to what will come or who God is), as a foretaste (to reflect what this kind of community can look like in the community) and as an instrument of God (functioning in the midst of the world for His honor and good) (Jer 29:7; Matt 5:13-16; John 13:34-35; 17:20-23; 2 Cor 4:4-5)

Key to this incarnating is a sense of unity that needs to be fostered and developed across the body of Christ. This unity can start small, but needs to grow and be seen by those who observe what the church is doing (Eph 4:1-6; John 17)

A place where the corporate unity of Christ shows itself is when the church incarnates as a large presence the character of God and his values (Acts 17 in Ephesus)

Incarnation means that in the spiritual battle we find ourselves, our call and most effective tool requires us to be the initiating peacemakers and servants God has called us to be, giving visual evidence of his tough, yet tender and inviting love that leads one into God’s grace. (Matt 5—7)

Abiding in Jesus is a key individual and community trait for making transformation possible (John 15:1-16)

Prayer

Transformation and seeking God requires God’s people seeking his will and direction in prayer, even asking him what would you have us do, God. We are to believe God for great things that he may do, seek what he would have us do, and be willing to adjust and ultimately follow his leading (Ps 37:4; John 15:7; Luke 18:7-8; Acts 1:6-7–some things are the Father’s business in terms of timing; 1 John 3:22)

Repentance and Transformation

Transformation assumes growth and change. This means being ready and prepared for change. Our failures call for us to change. Humbling ourselves before God in a spirit of repentance, including prayer, worship, fasting, the pursuit of purity and holiness, along with other types of community discipline, helps to open us up to the change God may be requiring of his people (2 Chron 7:14; Dan 9:3-6; Luke 5:33-35; James 4:8-10; Heb 12:4-12)

Engagement

Confrontation best occurs where the values of Jesus are incarnated and displayed. In other words, the most effective way to do God’s work is to be God’s people (Jesus was hardest on those who should have been representatives of God. To those “of the world,” he took the initiative to engage and invite them into participation into God’s grace). To show another way is better than to merely talk about another way (1 Peter 3:15-16; Luke 11:37-54; Luke 15:1-32; Gal 2:19-20; 2 Cor 5:7, corporate; Romans 7:7-25)

We should anticipate in this incarnating that on some occasions engagement will be well received, but on others it will be resisted. Sometimes the victory of incarnation will take place in the context of faithfully suffering for representing God, whatever the cost. At times, it may appear we are “losing,” yet be right in the middle of God’s will. Such suffering may well be the result of both our own failings and/or the reaction of those in the world not interested or willing to embrace God’s ways (Eph 6:10-18; 1 Peter; John 15:18—16:4; 2 Cor 4:3-5, 8-12).

Who Are Not In Our Churches

According to the "All Melbourne Matters" research report, the following is a summary of the groups of people who are absent from the churches:

1. People in de facto relationships: (=1% of church attenders, 8% of adult population)


2. People who have never married (=19% of church attenders, 43% of adult population)


3. People without tertiary qualifications (=53% of attenders, 80% of adult population)


4. People in full-time employment (=27% of attenders, 37% of adult population)

Any idea why this is the case?

The Future Of The Church: Engaging Young People Today

Passing on the faith to the next generation has been an on-going challenge for the Church, for Christian families and faith-based schools. Now the churches of Australia are finding it even harder to meet the challenge.

While around 30 per cent of all Australian young people attend a church-run school, connection with churches continues to decline, despite the growth in some mega-churches. Of those who attend as children many cease to do so during their teenage years. Of those who do attend as teenagers, more than half say that, although church communities are generally warm, church services are typically boring and not relevant to them.

More than 80 per cent of young people believe there could be a spiritual dimension to life. But less than 10 per cent of young people have actively explored religions or spiritualities other than the Christian faith, unlike the generation in their 40s and 50s who make up the majority of New Age 'Seekers' and those interested in alternative spiritualities. For most young people life revolves around the enjoyment of life, which they find primarily with their friends and family and in excitement-generating activities. They value music greatly and often turn to music to express themselves, to reflect or to change their moods. In the long term, many see the way to an enjoyable life as being through success in their studies and finding an interesting job.

While many have a sense of purpose and feel good about themselves, nearly one in five young people said they were hurting deep inside and nothing seemed to help. Breakdown in family relationships is the most significant contributing factor. Some young second or first generation immigrants also feel this way, as they find themselves caught between the culture of their parents and the Australian culture. Others find it difficult to make sense of life because they have no clear beliefs about the world and their place in it. More than 80 per cent of young people say that, at least sometimes, they find it hard to know what to believe about life. A great many are simply uncertain what life is about. One third of all young people say they are unsure whether there is a God. While one-third say they believe in reincarnation another 22 per cent think reincarnation may be true. Twenty-five per cent believe in astrology and another 19 per cent say 'maybe' they believe in the influence of stars on their life. While they are often clear about what the schools or churches want them to believe, young people are quite sure that they must make the decisions about what to believe themselves. They are not willing to simply accept the authority of church or school, but are searching for what works for them.

These results of a four year study of young people involving more than 350 in-depth face-to-face interviews, 1200 telephone interviews, and 3500 questionnaires have been published in a new book by the senior research officer of the Christian Research Association, Dr Philip Hughes. In Putting Life Together: Findings of Australian Youth Spirituality Research, Hughes argues that the challenge of engaging with young people has cross-cultural dimensions. He challenges the church to think again about how it can engage young people in a world where networks have replaced organisations as the basis for community, and where religious belief is seen as being a personal decision rather than something inherited, given authority by a community of faith.

TM Pastors & Leaders Consultation

The pivotal gathering for the future of the church in Melbourne - TM's Pastors & Leaders' Consultation "OUR CITY- OUR GENERATION-GOD'S HEART" happened on 1st April. There were about 200 pastors, leaders and practitioners who attended the conference, and many more bought the research reports since the consultation.

The day started off with the presentation of the compilation of the data through the "ALL MELBOURNE MATTERS" research, which gives a picture of the Church in Melbourne that has never been available before. The picture reveals the strengths of the Church, the great range of resources and the vital support provided for the people across Melbourne by local churches, Christian welfare agencies, Christian schools, health care and chaplaincies in many sectors of society. Although there are some encouraging aspects, the statistics and the current trends are a shock. The good news is the reports provide a basis for developing effective and strategic plans for collaborative and intentional mission and ministry to reverse these trends.

The KEY TOPICS of this consultation included: (1)Reaching Local Cities Together, (2)The Power of Praying Together, (3) Organic Church Growth incl. Discipleship, (4) Leadership Formation, (5) The City really needs the Church and (6) A snapshot of Y-Generation. These workshops all aim to facilitate a practical response to the picture of the Church revealed in the research statistics. Stories and ideas for some potential missional responses and resources for the Church at citywide, community and local church level were given in conjuction with the research reports.

Click here to order your own copies of the Research Project Reports Online.

THE FOLLOWINGS ARE SOME THE COMMENTS ON THE RESPONSE SHEETS FROM THE DAY:

Most significant feature of the consultation for you?

• The interest of so many pastors & leaders who desire to see the vision for Melbourne, fulfilled.
• The understanding that this affects the whole church and it takes the whole church to respond effectively. Unity is clearly difficult but necessary.
• Building up a prayer movement.
• The passion for God and His mission was so evident, esp. from Rob -that was inspiring & encouraging & trumped everything else.
• Confronting us with a clear picture of the need to reach Melbourne and the inadequate response we’ve had so far.
• The bringing together of so many passionate people with a heart of the wellbeing of Melbourne.
• The high value content and evangelistic passion evident in all the participants. Today was well above average in all aspects.
• Confronting research. Great messages from practitioners.
• The importance of the task before us. The only choice is to work together.
• Getting the greater vision for transforming the city.
• I’m 26. Was well impacted by the lack of young people/leaders. Really felt appreciative of the way the information was presented in an overview – not too much detail. The encouragement from the fact that even though we are not doing enough IT CAN BE DONE!
• Leaders from many churches gathered together as one church.

What is your reaction? What do you think God is saying to His Church?

• “Wake up” If you will listen to me, be humbled and are willing to lay down your lives, you can see my church renewed.
• Simplify, connect, act together, discipleship for every person, empower leaders especially young people, think and vision as the Church in the city and share resources
  To understand who the Church is intended to reach and to engage in His mission -focused outwards.
• He desires us to unite and move outside the Church in to the community.
• Connectedness, reconciliation, prayer focused relational focus will bring people into the kingdom.
• Seek His will, unite to do His will in your geographic area.
• The need to regain and reach out to the younger generation. The GenY material was excellent.
• The harvest is plentiful. The labourers are not united enough.
• “See how you can collaborate as distinct churches – in unity, harmony and trust – to accomplish this task.”
• I do believe that what we learn and know about God should not just be to make us feel better and happier but should flow out to those around us. God has been challenging me this year but also today to get out of my house and meet the people who don’t know Christ. WE ARE RELEVANT THROUGH RELATIONSHIP.
• Humble yourselves. Slow down and listen for my leading. Work together in unity.
  We don’t need more think-ers, strategists etc but we need praying thinkers, praying strategists etc.
• What is ACTS church ?– Apostles + Church->Transforming Society.
• Call to unity/cooperation in mission.
• Be of one mind; one purpose; one vision as we serve one God.
• it is important to pray and for that prayer to lead to fruit which changes people and changes communities. It is important to deconstruct today’s idols.
  

All Melbourne Matters Research of the Whole Church in Melbourne

The Research Vision is a detailed picture of the size, location and vitality of all churches across the City with the demographics of Greater Melbourne, to resource and inspire the whole Church towards a common vision and coordinated strategies for ministry and intentional mission to our city.

How can the Great Commission be fulfilled in Melbourne? Is anyone fulfilling the Great Commission?

With over 3.6 million people (2006 census) in Melbourne, it is unlikely that more than 400,000 are active members of local churches or Christian communities.

• How can "The Church" reach out to the other 3.3 million?

• Who are these 3.3 million? What areas and what people groups have little or no contact with the Church or opportunity to hear the Gospel?

• Where is the Church strong and where is it ineffective, dying or non-existent?

• How many "churches" are there? What about "ethnic" churches?

IS ANYONE FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION?

There is a general belief in local churches and denominations that by doing a whole range of ministries, services, programmes, etc that somehow we are "fulfilling the Great Commission". But it seems that rarely is there serious thought given to what this would mean.

Any meaningful understanding of the Great Commission in a local community or across Melbourne calls us to reach out to (in fact to make disciples of) ALL people.

Clearly no one congregation or denomination can do this for the whole of Melbourne, no matter how big or active. There are few if any with a vision and strategy to reach out to all the people even in their local community.

To obey Jesus' call to take His mission to all people, we must at least ask "Who are all these people outside the Kingdom?", "where are they?" and "what would it take to reach out to them?".

This mission is so vast, it is clearly a job for the Whole Church working together. So then we must ask "What and where is the Body of Christ?", "What is the Church doing already?", "What are its strengths and weaknesses?". We also need to ask "Where the Church is NOT". Only when we have identified the "MISSION FIELD" and the 'MISSION FORCE" is it possible to be intentional about the Great Commission. It allows us to ask "What would it take to reach all these people?", "How will we work together to get it done?" and "How long will it take?". These are the bones or any strategy to fulfil the Great Commission.

We need to respond urgently to the call to intentional mission and reach our city together.

You can buy the research reports on line here.

All Melbourne Matters - SOME SIGNIFICANT DATA from the Research of the Church in Melbourne

MELBOURNE: 3.6 million people (2006), 248 Nationalities, 289 languages,128 religious faiths

THE CHURCH

• 300,000 people attend church weekly, another 300,000 attend about once a month.


• There are over 1700 local churches of more than 30 denominations and over 80 nationalities


• There are 60 Chinese, 52 Greek, 41 Italian, 35 Samoan, 30 Vietnamese, 24 Korean churches


• "NO RELIGION" up 20% in 10 years


• Under 34s: 1.2million (48%) in population BUT only 48,000 (4%) attend church(=16% of attenders)


• Over 55s: 819,000 (22%) of population and 20% (122,000) attend weekly (= 54% of attenders)


• About 5000 people come to faith each year, about 9000 people leave the Church

City population increasing at 90,000pa, here is a net loss of 4,800pa from church attendance.
The churches make a major contribution to the city in education, welfare, health and aged care
BUT without spiritual regeneration this support will not be sustainable.

Jesus weeps for our city…The All Melbourne Matters research gives us a glimpse of how God sees the Church and our city. He is urgently calling His people to cry out and join in intentional mission to claim the future of our city for Him. All Melbourne Matters to our Father.

Heads Of Churches & Colleges Meeting

The results of the research released to the Heads of Churches and Colleges last week are a wake-up for anyone who thinks the Church is reaching our city. They are a call for us to rise up together and claim the future:

3,600,000 people live in Melbourne (and growing about 80,000 a year).

300,000 at church weekly - 150,000 of these attend Catholic Churches·

65,000 of all attenders are aged over 75 (163,000 are over 55).

68,000 church attenders are under 34 years!!

Churches report about 5,000 come to faith each year.

There is a net loss of 4,800 from the church each year.

The Church, through local churches, and Christian welfare agencies, schools, aged care facilities and many other activities, provides enormous and irreplaceable support for our city which depends on these services. Few in our city are aware of how vital Church support is (even Christians) nor how much our society depends on our Christian heritage and values for its social stability and well-being. BUT without spiritual regeneration the Church will not be able to sustain this vital support. Likewise the current serious increases of crime, relationship failure, domestic abuse, self-harm and addictions will continue unabated.

AND – caring for people, having great meetings and even leading people to faith is not enough:

We are called to EXPECTANT PRAYER, believing the Lord will lead us far beyond what we can do.

We are called to MAKE DISCIPLES who will share their faith and lead others to be disciples (without this the Church will continue to decline. Making disciples who make disciples will reach the whole city).

We are called to LOVE ONE ANOTHER to reveal Jesus is in our midst, and to show the power of the Cross to reconcile.

If we don't respond now in intentional mission to reverse these trends can we expect anything different for future generations? Now is the time for church leaders to come together to seek God to lead us to fulfill His call on the church in Melbourne for the future.

ALL MELBOURNE MATTERS - The Research Reports

THE RESEARCH OF THE WHOLE CHURCH IN MELBOURNE

For the first time ever, the National Church Life Survey results from participating denominations have been combined with additional surveys carried out by Transforming Melbourne. CRA research has been added, and all this put alongside the National Census figures to compare Church data with the demographics of the city.

The result is a snap shot of the size, vitality, diversity and trends in the life of the Body of Christ in our city, together with descriptive reports on many vital aspects and ministries of the Church.

There are many encouraging aspects of the report, but the statistics of the Church as whole and the current trends are a shock. The good news is they provide a basis for developing effective and strategic plans for collaborative mission and ministry to reverse these trends.

1. THE CITYWIDE REPORT
This is the major report on the Church across Greater Melbourne, containing detailed data on the Church and the people who live in Melbourne, with analysis, charts and digital maps. The report is full-colour book of 100+ pages.
Prepared for Transforming Melbourne by the Christian Research Association

2. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA REPORTS (LGAs)
A report is available for each of the 31 local government areas of Greater Melbourne. These give detailed information and comparisons of the Church and the community demographics in each LGA. Each includes analysis, charts and digital maps showing church locations.
Prepared for Transforming Melbourne by the Christian Research Association

3. THE DIRECTORY OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES IN MELBOURNE
An On-Line Interactive Directory of Christian Ministries, Organisations, Denominations and Churches in Melbourne to support all parts of the Church in serving our City. It has been developed for the use of local churches, organisations, leaders and individual Christians to provide easy access to the resources and multitudes of ministry and mission organizations across the Church in our city.

The directory is will allow on-going input and updates. It already includes over 3000 Ministries and Churches

Prepared and Managed by Transforming Melbourne

4. MISSION RESPONSE BOOK
A small book to support a meaningful response to the picture of the Church revealed in the ALL MELBOURNE MATTERS Research reports. It highlights some issues and trends from the reports, and contains questions for reflection and discussion, and ideas of some potential missional strategies and resources for the Church at citywide, community and local church level. Its aim is not simple answers or solutions, but rather provoking engagement with some big questions and the journey that will see the Church strengthened and confidently responding to the needs of local communities and our city for the future.

This book will be of value to leaders of denominations, ministry organizations, church pastors and boards and to small groups and individuals. It will also be valuable when later in 2009 there will be facilitated workshops in local areas of Melbourne to examine and respond to the detailed research of the Church in each local government area.

REFLECTIONS FROM PRAYER

Sue Tinworth, Associate and Prayer Coordinator of Transforming Melbourne, shares the following reflections from prayer:

Week One: Seeing Jesus as He Is.
I was blown away by the invitation to have the eyes of my heart enlightened and for the images of being one with Jesus; being filled by His Spirit.

A pivotal moment on earth had to be when Jesus was born human and heaven opened to say something… Luke 2:14 isn’t just a Christmas carol. Last week I unpacked it.

From Luke 2:8 it’s all great, great, great … for all people… Great news of great joy from a great company of the heavenly host praising God and saying… “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men on whom His favor rests.”

The word peace means to be set at one again! Quiet rest, satisfaction, delight because we are one with Him again. The word for men means the countenance – the faces of people- and it refers to those who gaze open eyed at something remarkable. This is us as we focus on who Jesus is in these weeks of prayer and fasting!

Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…
2Cor 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Matt 5:8 Those who see God are pure in heart.

The words favor of God mean a divine influence that comes upon the heart and its reflection in the life -graciousness in manner and action. I see gracious radiance and peace on those who spend time gazing at who Jesus is!

From Luke 2:15-20 the words see and heard and all repeat in a crescendo because when they see they have to tell others. And it was just as they had been told – this experience had integrity!

And this is for all who will receive! Are you one of them?

Week Two: Seeing the Church as Jesus Sees it.
Am I open to see and respond to what He shows me?
I was shocked on Sunday night – the first night to get a revelation that challenges me to responds to what I have been shown.

As I prayed, I was seeking to bless our Lord and I remembered if we seek Him we will find…
I prayed to have no agenda but Him/His and felt the Spirit sigh into this.
His agenda is to love and be loved. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by loving Him.

But then I felt Jesus’ invitation to love ‘her’ for Him.
This wife he loves so much. Ephesians 5:25-27
This dear woman whom He entrusts to his son to take to his home. John 19:26-27
He entrusts His bride to us, friends of the bride groom, while she is waiting for Him. John 3:29
Before he left Shepherd entrusted His lambs to those who truly, truly, truly love Him, saying, Take care of my sheep. John 21:15,16,17

Do we see the Church as lovingly as Jesus does?

Share With Us What God Does In The 40 Days!

The 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for the Church and Future of our City is starting tomorrow (Ash Wednesday 25th February). The theme is "Pray we see our city as Jesus sees it and love Melbourne as He does."

We at Transforming Melbourne would like to encourage you to include the following in your personal prayers:

(1) WRITE DOWN names of people God puts on your heart to pray for each of the 40 days.
(2) OBEY what God asks you to pray or do.
(3) SHARE with us what God does in the 40 days!

Please feel free to use the comment field below to share with us!

Why Pray and Fast for 40 Days?

1. To seek what's on God's heart for our city.Matt 13:14-17, Rev 2-3
2. To share Jesus' compassion for all people in Melbourne, their pain and potential.
3. Because Jesus calls us to pray for the future of our city.
4. Because Melbourne needs and deserves our prayer.

Opportunites for United Corporate Prayer:

• United Prayer in ALL 31 LOCAL CITES of Melbourne (Wednesday 25th Feb at 7.30pm - except at MELBOURNE CITY which will be on Tuesday 24th Feb) - see details here.
• Continuous prayer covering for 40 Days will be enhanced by night watches. If you can hold an all night prayer watch in your own setting during the 40 days contact sue@transformingmelbourne.org to register the date.
• United Prayer Vigil 8 pm Saturday 4th - dawn Sunday 5th April at Crossway Prayer Chapel, Vision Drive Burwood.

All Melbourne Matters - 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting for the Church & Future of our City

The first few words of the Australian National Anthem "Advance Australia Fair" say: "Australians all let us rejoice"….while that's wonderful, I'd add "Australians all let us REPENT". GOD CALLS FOR DEEP REPENTANCE through 2 Chronicles 7:13-15, "When I shut up the heavens and there is no rain…... If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from my heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place."

Our land is wrecked by fires and drought. We cry out to God acknowledging our need for radical healing and transformation across Australia and within our city. We believe the breaking of the physical drought is dependent on the breaking of the spiritual drought, which in turn is dependent on us humbling ourselves before the Almighty God and recommitting our ways back to Him. We need to wake up and change our self-centred lifestyle, repent, pray and fast intentionally!There are critical prayer needs in the city of Melbourne at this crucial time. Obviously our first priority is prayer regarding the fire disaster being fought in Victoria right now . We stand together in prayer and practical support at this time for the people, the fire fighters, the community workers and the future of these districts of Victoria.

The "ALL MELBOURNE MATTERS" research results show shocking findings for those of us who are concerned about the future of the Church and the future of society in Melbourne. The good news is this report provides Church leaders and others a basis for developing effective and strategic plans for collaborative mission and ministry across the City to reverse these trends. We pray that leaders will be convicted to work with God's Spirit to mobilize the Body (especially through discipleship) toward intentional mission to our city.

It is vital and urgent that we are willing to let God build His Church, so Jesus can use us to impact this city and subsequent generations. There are specific opportunities for us to be woven into a tapestry of prayer across Melbourne. One of which is through 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting (Ash Wednesday Feb 25- Palm Sunday April 5). The Prayer Guide brochure can be downloaded from the Transforming Melbourne website, or here. The focus is opening our hearts to God's call to the Great Commission, "Pray we see our city as Jesus sees it and love Melbourne as He does."

The brochures for the 40 days calendar can be collected at Koorong/Word bookshops from Friday 12th February, or you can contact the TM office on 95702534, or email: office@transformingmelbourne.org

Prepare Now For God To Fulfill His Purposes!

A PROPHECY OF GREATER THINGS IN MELBOURNE IN 2009

A quote from Graham Cooke’s powerful prophecy over Melbourne (Nov’08):

“We are going to see moves of God unprecedented throughout the earth, and we are seeing something begin in Melbourne. The awakening has begun! I believe it will get to a place in Melbourne when a window will open over Melbourne and we will start to pull down things out of heaven. It's happening right now! We are in the season! The water level’s up to our course!

We need to deliberately make decisions to walk deliberately forward into a move of the Spirit.
We need to start preparing for the way of the Lord right now.
We need to start getting together.
We need to start praying.
We need to start worshipping.
We need to start planning.
We need to start training people.
We need to come to a place where the Lord is speaking to us about things that are unprecedented and we are able to hear - outrageous things.

God is doing something here unprecedented in your history. It's simply your day and it's your time, and you must make the most of it.

We are in those times, a move of God, unprecedented in this city's history, churches coming together…
We are going to see the end of turf wars.
We are going to see unprecedented cooperation, and incredibly…
We are going to see leaders - men and women of God, just broken by the love, and the beauty and the joy of the Lord, open to the majesty and the sovereignty of heaven, coming and saying 'I want to give this up, I want to lay this down at the feet of Jesus. I want to give back to God that which belongs to Him.'
We are going to see the business community step up into a different anointing.
We are going to see the map of the city redrawn spiritually. We are going to see people who live in an area, evangelising that area. And it won't matter what church you come from. We are going to find house to house, street to street, moves of God. We are going to get Christian neighbours coming together and just moving down their street and seeing signs and wonders, it'll be unprecedented. It is not going to be a move of God that's led by superstars. It will be nameless, faceless generation of people getting out there on the street, and no one is able to highjack it. It's a move of God at grassroots' level.

There is a place of surrender in all of that - where we are surrendering to the love, and the majesty, to the beauty and sovereignty of God. So there is an intimacy that is going to come into the city; the love of God is shed on the streets; the peace of God coming on the city.

It's time to move out and go to a deeper place still. It's time to sit down before the Lord and just ask, 'What's the abundance that's beyond thinking?' God is doing something here unprecedented in your history. It's simply your day and it's your time, and you must make the most of it.
This is the day of the Lord. This is the season of God. We are in an outrageous time and the move of God. It's the stuff of dreams.

We are going to learn how to stand. We are going to learn how to fight for the city. We are going to fight in a new way. As we stand together, as we walk together, as we cooperate together in unprecedented ways, a window will open in heaven. When you pray that window will open. We are going to have permission. The Lord is going to say, "you are to come together with one heart and one voice in the city. We are going to see an eldership in the city raised up, with oversight.”

THE CHALLENGE: Make some deliberate decisions to commit to prayer, preparation and training so we are able to move forward together with God and each other in the imminent revival.

Peter Costello's Message On Australia Day

Following is the historic message given by the Hon. Peter Costello (former Federal Treasurer) for the Australia Day United Prayer Celebration, organized by CTFM at the Melbourne Town Hall, where more than 1500 Christians from many churches, denominations, and cultures came together as the Body of Christ from across our nation to declare Australia for Jesus!
Link to the Hon. Peter Costello’s Video Message: Peter Costello’s Message on Australia Day 2009

“Good morning to everybody that is meeting together in the Melbourne Town Hall on this Australia day. I can’t think of a more important thing to be doing than to Unite in Prayer on this, our National day for our nation. And I bring you special greetings to each and every one of you that is there today and is praying for our nation standing in prayer on its behalf for it and for all of our people.

Many Australians don’t know that shortly after the 1st Australia day January the 26th, the first sermon was ever preached on Australian soil by the chaplain that came out with the first fleet. The chaplain took as his text a verse from the Psalms, and he preached a sermon on these words. “What shall I render to the lord for all his benefits to me?” Course the benefits that he was preaching about was the coming of the First fleet to Australia, the landing and the establishment of the new country.

As we look back over hundreds of years of Australian history, we can still see the benefits of God to us in this country. A wonderful country, wonderful people that’s given a home to those that have come from all over the world, a country that has had a peaceful history and a prosperous history, a country that is now respected around the world. Of course the following verse of that psalm goes on to say, “what shall I render to the Lord for all of his benefits to me” goes on to say “I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” And of course, what greater gift is there than the gift that God has given us in Jesus Christ. The cup of salvation, and what more can we do than to take hold of it and call upon the name of the Lord, which is what you are doing today in the Melbourne Town Hall.

One of the things that has been absolutely central to the development of Australia and the foundation of our society is that Biblical heritage, the heritage that we have through the Scriptures, and through the Ten Commandments, respect for our Maker, respect for our fellow citizens, respect for property, respect for the laws that God has laid down. That’s been the foundation of our society. It’s been the basis of our peaceful tolerance of each other and of order. It has been the basis of creating opportunity for so many Australian’s. If we forget that tradition, if we walk away from those God given commandments, then we as a society will be threatened with the breakdown of that order, will be threatened with losing our heritage and loosing opportunity. So I want to say to you, those that are praying for Australia today, to pray that this nation will always remember its foundations, and always be true to them, and always live according to those laws. There are many people today that are telling us that religion is all a lot of superstition, that the laws that have been laid down, of respect for individuals, property and for our creator are all a load of nonsense, that don’t respect life. If we fall for that trap, if Australia falls for that trap then the very basis of our society and its order will be threatened. That’s why we need Christian people to pray for our country, we will never understand the way in which God moves. But we know that if his people pray, He will hear that they will be a light to the nation and the nation will be covered and protected by Godly people who are giving direction and standing for it in prayer. And I thank you for what you are doing today and can I encourage you to continue in it.

May God bless you and may God bless our country in this year 2009.”

I encourage you to pass on these details throughout your congregation, denomination, ministry, movement, and additional spheres of Kingdom influence as the Lord continues to unite the Body of Christ in corporately praying for Australia’s spiritual transformation in 2009!

Releasing The Church

2009 promises to be a challenging year with the Christian faith under attack in many nations, with the global economic crisis bringing its own challenges to individuals and organisations. But we know that that God is in total control no matter what the circumstances around us may seem to be.

The New Testament talks about the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5-9). All believers have been chosen by God: a "chosen generation...His own special people" (verse 9). What a privilege to be able to access the very throne of God directly, not through any earthly priest. When Christ returns and the New Jerusalem comes to earth (Revelation 21), believers will see God face-to-face.

Therefore the Church needs to be "a ministering community rather than a community gathered around a minister." Leaders should seek less to control than to inspire and collaborate, thus allowing the Holy Spirit to work through all believers.

Four Directions

Hope you are well. While I was reflecting on Francis Frangipane's book "The House of the Lord", I sensed God tell me to look at the following four directions, which I'd like to share with you:

(1) Look back—and praise Him!
(2) Look up—and trust Him!
(3) Look around—and serve Him!
(4) Look ahead –and expect Him!

Lord, please help us all to look at these four directions in 2009, and beyond!

The House Of The Lord

THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - God’s Plan To Liberate Your City From Darkness (By Francis Frangipane)

Can God build the Church in OUR CITY into a House of the Lord, fit for Him? Will this save our city? Will we pay the price?

A city divided against itself cannot stand. In this book Francis Frangipane challenges churches, their leaders and Christians to lay aside individual doctrinal differences and come together instead, uniting in worship and warfare - to remind the house of the Lord and bring healing to their cities.

“It will take a citywide church to win the citywide war. Our separate, isolated efforts will not stop the flood of increasing evil in our cities if we as Christ’s Church, remain isolated from each other. You may challenge that thought, but it was Jesus Himself who said, “Any city or house divide against itself shall not stand” (Matt 12:25)

STRATEGY TO REACH OUR CITY
1. Establish in the Church its true purpose, which is Christ-likeness. Doctrines which do not support transformation are given a lesser priority. Focus is riveted upon Christ in the Gospels.
2. Cleanse the Church of its visionless and loveless relationship to its city. Nineveh repented. Jesus said if His miracles were done in Sodom it would have repented. In many instances a righteous judge or king arose and turned all Israel back to God. To pray and see entire cities returned to the Lord is both biblical and possible.
3. Discern the specific satanic strongholds in the region. Through repentance and faith in God’s ability these strongholds must be removed.
4. Once satanic strongholds are pulled down in the Church through repentance, the Church has authority to war effectively against evil.
5. Position the Church in daily prayer and spiritual warfare in a minimum of five different church locations throughout the city. Members of various congregations meet in each location.

COMMITMENT
This call requires the laying down of our lives to see the will of God fulfilled. The reader is encouraged to receive from God the grace necessary to make the following commitments:
1. Only where the pastors and churches have overcome pride and ambition is there grace enough to change the entire city. Therefore with God’s help I commit myself to uniting with other pastors, intercessors and believers for the purpose of prayer and action for our city.
2. Only persevering prayer will prove worthy to launch revival. Therefore I commit myself to faithfulness in prayer, pledging myself to corporate prayer with other pastors and intercessors once a week, ultimately expanding that to once a day.
3. Since the answer for every battle is more of Jesus in the Church, our goal must be to see Jesus glorified in our lives. Therefore I commit myself to a life of surrender, that He might increase through me into the world.

From the Book: “The House of the Lord” by Francis Frangipane (Word Publishing) - Available from major Christian bookshops