Inspirational

TitleNote:1)“Father” is used throughout this paper in a spiritual and so non-gendered way. The presenting problem is siloing i.e. pastors, business people, artists, scientists, lawyers, media folk etc. are isolated from one another. The seeds of the kingdom are shut… Continue Reading →

There is no darkness in God, he is perfectly revealed in Christ and through his blood we can be forgiven of all sin and can offer up to him all the traumas of our broken lives. Continue Reading →

Why is it that despite the clear admonitions of scripture so many believers “set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches” and not “on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Tim 6:17). This issue is a… Continue Reading →

Whilst there is an unusual amount of prayer going on for revival at the moment in Australia this is not something I can join in on without raising some foundational concerns  (2 Chron 7:14; 1 Tim 2:1-7). I believe that… Continue Reading →

The resurrection created a pure holy fear of the Lord of a sort that had never existed before. Continue Reading →

Reflections on the real issue of Church unity. Continue Reading →

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Continue Reading →

Readings: Isa 5:1-7; Ps 118:19-29; 1 Cor 15:12-28; Today’s Text: Mark 12:1-12 Having arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus is bringing to a climax the great controversy between God and a system that perverted the temple from a place of access into… Continue Reading →

Text: Ex 34:29-35; Ps 2; 2 Pet 1:16-21; Mark 9:2-13 The Transfiguration is one of the most remarkable events in the life of Jesus, but to properly understand it, we need to share its perspective. Mark has already laid down the… Continue Reading →

Christians easily forget their true identity in Christ; “have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?”; “whoever (godly) lacks these qualities…is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” (Heb 12:5; 2 Pet 1:9). James… Continue Reading →

Naturally speaking no one wants to experience fear, and I personally understand why.
But this does NOT mean that our lives should be completely fear-less.
Christians are greatly confused about what the fear of the Lord means. Continue Reading →

Having recently returned from Myanmar (Burma) I have been asking (again) why God’s presence is often more powerful in places outside Australia. One of the culture shocks I encountered on my recent trip was the intensity of the devotion of… Continue Reading →

Well! What is CHRISTMAS? TODAY HIT LIFE’S PAUSE BUTTON. Replay the Christmas Story God’s Way! Continue Reading →

In the roster for our series on 1 Corinthians Dale called this week’s sermon “The Main Game”. My guess he was referring to the repeated emphasis in this passage about the “building up” of others (vv. 3-5, 12, 17). Everyone… Continue Reading →

How is it possible for most of us who know Jesus to walk past those considered nothing in the eyes of the world, the strangers, naked, homeless and imprisoned and not “see” the “Lord” (Matt 25:41-45 ESV)? Why do we… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters BREXIT, then the swing to independents at our elections, finally Donald Trump; everywhere angry voters are protesting against their powerlessness at the hands of an elite. Whether in political causes, or the inconvenience of everyday life, Christians can… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters How many Perth congregations will join in the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted Church this week? This is not an attempt to publicise an event, but a warning that our failure to empathetically embrace the sufferings… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters The contemporary Western Church fulfils the prophetic warning of Isaiah;  (Isaiah 50:11). Instead of being a lampstand for the light of Christ we are self-enlightened about same-sex marriage or politics or prosperity or church growth or…. The only… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters The discipleship crisis across the Australian churches cannot be healed by any amount of programming. There is no “hunger and thirst for righteousness” in our land and so no being “filled” with the presence of Christ’s kingdom (Matt… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters The savage decline in Bible knowledge is a common feature of Western Christianity. Even for older believers, including me, God isn’t experienced as near as he used to be in the reading of his Word. I feel we… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters Last week I was in Bandung Indonesia for an Asian Christian leadership conference. This Christ-centred event raised more sharply than ever the question of whether a spiritually mature Church can ever exist in a materially affluent culture. For… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters In recent weeks I have been praying consistently about the dreadful situation of fatherlessness permeating the spiritual atmosphere of Church and nation. (“Fathering” encompasses male and female.) This issue confronts me regularly in ways like the following. Encountering… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters We were led into prayer by this scripture, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” called to offer “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1… Continue Reading →

Background After reading this part of my report to our AGM; “To release the expression of the diversity of gifts that Jesus gives to his whole Body remains a challenge into the future (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4).… Continue Reading →

Prelude In a deep but often hidden way the Lord is dynamically at work in our nation “to present…to himself…a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.” (Eph 5:27). An earthly beautification of the people of… Continue Reading →

“he…in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters Jesus promised, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God…the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”… Continue Reading →

Personal matters Last week one of the brothers brought this puzzling text to us; “To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap… Continue Reading →

PERSONAL MATTERS Why does God sometimes not reply to our requests? This issue was raised for us by Jesus’ rebuttal to a man who sought personal justice; ““who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” (Luke 12:14). But a… Continue Reading →

2016 Australian Federal Elections: Are aware there are massive implications in the coming election that will impact freedom of speech, freedom of faith, God’s design of marriage and the sexualisation of children. Continue Reading →

Our dullness about the reality of heaven is a direct consequence of our idolatries. Continue Reading →

Promise                  Gen 22:1-19; Ps 105:1-11; Gal 3:15-18; John 8:39-59 St Mark’s 22.5.16 What is going to happen on July 2nd and do you expect it will make any real difference to your life…? (Australian federal election and most Australians… Continue Reading →

PERSONAL MATTERS Last Friday morning someone stated off with this text on God’s wrath, “Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword; their little ones shall be dashed in pieces,… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters In prayer last Friday we were directed to this text; “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it… Continue Reading →

Introduction (Continuing our series on Galatians). I was at a dinner recently where a friend described how he had been to a professional meeting and where he talked with a woman he didn’t know well. She proceeded to criticise him… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters In prayer last Friday we began to engage with an alien topic for mainstream Western Christianity. Though there are hundreds of references to angels in scripture in practical terms for most of us they may as well not… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters At our Friday morning prayer last week a brother quoted Paul, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the… Continue Reading →

Introduction Have you ever noticed that it is almost normal to begin the Christian life with glorious and joyful experiences which deeply impact friends and family? (All of the immediate family followed me into the church and were saved, plus… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters A man tries to kill himself by running straight in front of my friend’s car, a brother’s niece hospitalised and on suicide watch, children who are too anxious to go to school, a ministry forced to move on… Continue Reading →

PERSONAL MATTERS The agony of Good Friday can seem distant from our contemporary experience, no matter how hard we try to “remember Jesus” (2 Tim 2:8). Yet something happened recently that has altered my awareness of Christ’s passion-filled presence in… Continue Reading →

INTRODUCTION We are living through one of the most dramatic shifts in the history of Western Christianity, from being the most respected institution in the nation as a holy presence the Church is now tolerated by the powers that be… Continue Reading →

Introduction I was in inner city Melbourne for a conference last week and experienced an ugly contrast between the world and the Church. Walking down Swanston St I came across a very conspicuous brothel with a neon sign reading, “Come… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters Two people attending a shared prayer time recently had been independently drawn to the same passage during the week; “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard… Continue Reading →

On the Journey with Jesus 4: Introduction The popular approach to the theme of being On the Journey with Jesus emphasises Christ as a loving companion and guide to me on my life journey. Jesus is someone who listens to… Continue Reading →

Obedience is EVERYTHING:

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 (NKJV) Continue Reading →

      Personal Matters       “There is nothing left in Yarloop. Everyplace we have been working in and holding services in is gone…. You can make plans for another meeting on the 17th unfortunately.” (Dr. Bob Chapman).… Continue Reading →

PERSONAL MATTERS Recent encounters have challenged me to comment on the shape of Sunday church services i.e. liturgies1)The English word “liturgy” derives from a Greek word for public service and is generally used for a set order of congregational worship… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters I haven’t been in the most energised mood for the last couple of months, but I have learned that if I pray about how I feel a word will come to me which precisely describes my inner state.… Continue Reading →

Text: John 1:1-18 John 1:1-18 (ESV) The Word Became Flesh v.1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. v.2 He was in the beginning with God. v.3 All things were… Continue Reading →

SINCE HE HAS CONQUERED WE ARE LEFT WITH BUT ONE CHOICE. This is his clear call today. Will We Obey Him? Continue Reading →

Introduction Fear has become a part of our everyday life. This time last year I was in a meeting with some older people in our area whose primary concern was street crime. One had recently been bashed by a young refugee… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters A number of circumstances lined up recently to bring the functionally divided state of the Church to my attention once again. Firstly I was listening to a local pastor bemoaning the seeming inability of his fellow ministers to… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters Until the last few days I have never really considered the positive role shame might play in renewing the Church. Ministries devoted to releasing people from shame are numberless, but rare is that teaching which upholds shame as… Continue Reading →

St Mark’s Church on the Rise 15.11.15 Text: Job 10:1-22; Ps 38; James 5:7-11; Luke 22:31-34,39-46 Introduction There is nothing quite as startling as the story of Job. A respected, prosperous and devout family who suddenly loses everything for no apparent… Continue Reading →

Destruction by evil powers always befalls the Bride of the Lord whenever she refuses his protection, Whoever knows resurrection power cannot fear, “whatever man may do”, because they are fully assured their Protector will never forsake them. The marginalisation of the power of the gospel in preaching leaves the Bride spiritually unprotected from evil powers. more… Continue Reading →

At the cross the rawness of human depravity and suffering was laid bare in the agonies of Christ.  In Christ the sin against heaven has been completely dealt with so that his Father is free from all driven legalistic negativity. more… Continue Reading →

Gen 23:3-9, Gen 23:17-19; Ps 16:5-11; Isa 53:1-9; John 19:38-42 Introduction1)Message presented at St Mark’s Bassendean Western Australia 11/10/15 People may debate whether the gunman in the recent American massacre actually targeted Christians, but what is not debatable is that… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters I have not slept soundly since a church related trauma around 20 years ago, but since being on retreat recently things have been considerably worse. (When you feel tired out before 9 a.m. in the morning something is… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters Recently someone shared with weeping about the sudden unexpected loss of a spouse. In the midst of their grief I could sense that this was a dark episode in which the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully. Often however… Continue Reading →

(to deliver from overzealousness and self-assurance) From all my lame defeats and oh! much more From all the victories that I seemed to score; From cleverness shot forth on Thy behalf At which, while angels weep, the audience laugh; From… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters In the previous “Remember” I described overwhelming feelings of regret I experienced when on retreat in Kalbarri. These regretful emotions were grounded in remembering past decisions/actions which I now judge to be wrong. They well up from a… Continue Reading →

Text: Isa 43:1-10; Ps 71:1-16; Acts 9:1-22; Luke 24:44-48 Introduction (Saul > Paul) Testimony: This has been a pressured week. I had to deal with various very painful situations in people’s lives when I was in Melbourne Wednesday-Thursday, I got into the… Continue Reading →

Textual Reference: (Isa 40:1-8; Ps 139:1-16; Acts 19:1-7; Luke 3:1-18) Introduction John the Baptist is perhaps the most misunderstood of all biblical characters. When a preacher labelled John “harsh and legalistic” I sent him an email with biblical references pointing out… Continue Reading →

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as present, I have already pronounced judgment on… Continue Reading →

Introduction Whilst I am aware of various groups starting up to pray for revival in Australia, I see an essential ingredient missing in the prayer life of the Church; I am not hearing deep cries to God for mercy. This… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters The Lord is preparing his Church for a reformation as momentous as anything that has happened in the last 500 years. In this context I was privileged to attend a seminar on the relationship between Church and Marketplace… Continue Reading →

Personal matters The deepest revelation comes in the context of conflict, because it involves sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Heb 10:32). Such enlightenment however does not come automatically but through willing submission to God’s profoundly exacting purposes. The intimate… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters Watching the Swan winding towards Perth then walking across an overpass for rail lines and the Freeway headed towards our CBD I sensed the Lord speaking about cities as concentration points of natural and human resources. Then at… Continue Reading →

Preamble Readings: Luke 9:28-36 (NLT) Heb 5:7 (RSV) Mark 14:32-36; Mark 15:33-34 (ESV) Red Door CC 28.6.15 Speaking on the fear of God is more challenging than we might first imagine for fearing an Almighty God who is love cannot be… Continue Reading →

Text: Jonah 2; Psalm 88:1-10; Acts 2:22-24; Matt 12:38-41 Introduction The book of Jonah is a shocking book, not because it tells the story of a God who puts a prophet in the belly of a whale, but because of what… Continue Reading →

A Challenge for daily living Pain, grief, rejection, failure – to some extent for all of us at some time. You have no suffering at the present time? Be thankful and give glory to God. Suffering for the victorious Christian?… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters God’s greatest encouragements often come from surprise turns of mind that confound our natural thinking. I was walking through the CBD last week reflecting on how today we are inundated with “experts” on the human condition. Whether it… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters Sitting in a breakfast meeting last week with a small group discussing Faith @Work I became greatly stirred up in my spirit (John 11:33; Acts 17:16). The speaker described his journeying around the world to visit a host… Continue Reading →

1)Since an angel witness tells us that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” the measure of any prophetic voice, old or new, will be their faithfulness in proclaiming Christ [Rev 19:10]. By this standard the spirit of… Continue Reading →

Many Perth churches minister into the Third World but few preach the plight of the global poor as an issue of biblical justice. The fate of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran incites frenzied interest but few interceded for refugee and… Continue Reading →

A Meditation   Prelude   Compared to Good Friday and Easter Sunday very little attention has been given to Holy Saturday, the day when Christ lay in his tomb. Much commentary on this day has focussed on the line in… Continue Reading →

-Becoming a Prophetic People 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not… Continue Reading →

by Timothy Tay It is not surprising that glory and weight go together for in Hebrew the word glory (kabod)1)http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/3519b.htm has its root meaning as weight or heaviness. Thus Paul wrote that he would gladly exchange his afflictions for a far more exceeding and eternal weight… Continue Reading →

by Timothy Tay  Strict building codes, earthquake drills and the built up of emergency funds may be taxing but so necessary. Tragically, many hundreds lives are loss in Chile not from falling buildings and highways but from the resulting tsunami… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates Personal matters As far back as I can remember I have been an intensely emotional person. From embarrassed profuse weeping as a child to a systematic attempt to deaden all feelings, I was always trying to… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates “Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar.” (Isa 33:17) “O Lord, You’re beautiful, Your face is all I seek” (Keith Green) “Experience and Wonder” (Travel ad… Continue Reading →

by  Pastor Allen Tan (Yew Fook) Prayerful Meditation   Viruses infect my life It could be Shut Down anytime Please Upload Your grace in me That I might Download it safely Scan my life, Lord Delete all unwanted lifestyles in… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates In my last teaching I related what the Holy Spirit was saying about bringing the resurrection presence of Christ into every sector of society.  This word moves on in both depth and breadth.1)According to the principle,… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates Background Revival is an exciting topic – its stories of the supernatural overwhelm us and we long for the sorts of things we hear of from the Third World to happen here. I want to suggest… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates Introduction Many Christians today are trapped in situations of needless pain and confusion because they lack an essential attribute that God promises to freely provide, wisdom. James boldly states, “v5 If any of you lacks wisdom,… Continue Reading →

By Pastor Teresa Tay  I have been spiritually challenged for the past months by this statement –  One day I was introduced to a lady by a friend of mine. What disturbed me was the way I was introduced by… Continue Reading →

By Pastor Teresa Tay In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed the closest communion any created being can expect with the Creator. In spite of this they fell into sin and separated themselves from the Holy God. Nevertheless,… Continue Reading →

By Pastor Teresa Tay  There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?“ (1 Ki 19:9) When the… Continue Reading →

By Pastor Teresa Tay Abraham’s is one of the greatest stories of the Scripture. It is without doubt Abraham was a man who lived a life totally devoted and yielded to God. God tested Abraham Genesis 22:1-2 | – Some… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates Ezekiel 34:11-16; Ezekiel 34:20-24; Ps 95:1-7; Eph 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46 Introduction A climactic pronouncement from Jesus brings together the two great themes of my previous sermons, the kingdom of God and future inheritance; “the King will… Continue Reading →

Glory (Unity/Disunity)  by Dr. John Yates Personal Matters We are all competitive by nature. This came home to me with particular power the other day when Donna was playing the card game “Snap” with our 3 year old granddaughter. Donna… Continue Reading →

1)You may not be a grandparent, but similar things apply to being a great uncle, great aunt etc. by Dr. John Yates Personal Matters Sometimes the deepest truths come in the simplest ways. In my last teaching I shared how… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates Personal Matters Before heading overseas last month I felt quite overwhelmed by the pressures of ministering/fathering to people. I left seeking a greater share in the relationship between the Father and the Son as a source… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates Personal matters Recently I have been sensing that we are too measured in our approach to the things of God. This might seem like a reflection of my “intense” personality; but I believe such a conviction… Continue Reading →

The Death was God’s Son: When your parents embraced the work he did on the cross. They were declared  “righteous” You the Children – became a benefactors by way of Gods spoken words that the “righteous Man” …. Psalm 37:25-26 King James Version (KJV) 25 I have… Continue Reading →

No matter what they are what they are & have a Purpose! The Word of God establishes the necessary boundaries to keep us in God’s safety zone. It tells us what we can do, and what we better not do,… Continue Reading →

   18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates Personal Matters In my last article, Ignorant, I shared about my overwhelming experiences of spiritual dullness. Several people responded to this teaching saying they felt much the same about their own lives. Closely related to this… Continue Reading →

by Dr. John Yates INTRODUCTION “What does the Messianic movement mean to Jesus?” … is a question of both immense importance and terrible neglect.1)Since scriptures promises us a share in the mind of Christ, to ask this question, and to expect… Continue Reading →

Personal Matters by Dr. John Yates Whilst my serious manner has led some people to think that I am not a relational person, Jesus is increasingly making this opinion untrue. Recently he has been communicating an indispensible element of relating.… Continue Reading →