Sunday Reflections

We had an awesome day today…here are a few thoughts:

• Its only day 8 of the fast and God is on the roll. When we draw near to him he will draw near to us.  It’s amazing to see the change in people when they fast, pray and seek God.
• A great atmosphere of worship. Our worship team were fantastic. Great leading Lizzy!
• I seriously love our church, and I love what God has called us to do…there is no place on earth that I would rather be. I am excited to see people pursuing God passionately.
• Yes I am biased!! and I am not ashamed of it. I love my church. It is where God has planted me and allowed me to serve and grow. Its far from perfect but love it to bits.
• There were lot of new guests today at church. I’m yet to see the actual figures but I estimated to be around 50 new people who have never been to LifeChurch before.
• God led me to affirm and to pray for the young people today at church. When the call was given, It looked like half of the congregation came to the front. I said to my wife on the way home, ‘I remember when there were only about 15 young people coming to church regularly’
• I had a little chat with Joshua, I think he’s 8, first time to church. He said, ‘My mum’s been talking a lot about coming to this church for while and this morning she finally made up her mind to come’. Cute Joshua!! Nice talking to you.
• I felt the Lord was saying something strong yesterday to the church. There were parts of the message I felt God was bringing clear conviction on the parents and also young people. The message was so personal to me.
• My friend Pastor Craig Millar and his family from St. Andrews Presbyterian Manurewa showed up yesterday at our second service. Great surprise bro and thank you for your support!
• Apart from the usual ‘great sermon pastor’, here are some other comments from people after church:
  • I want to sign up for the membership class
  • I didn’t know you have changed your service times
  • I think I should come to your church
  • Man that was so refreshing for me and my husband
  • How much to attend the membership class? (my favourite one)
  • Wow Lui the last time I saw you was 2000…I didn’t know you’re the pastor of the church
  • Is my church connected to what you are doing in the community?
  • I am so happy my family came to church today
  • After 4 months of inviting my friend to church, she finally showed up

Why Pray on the Mountain?

Someone asked me this question the other day.. I often say to our church that when Moses went up the mountain to pray and seek the face of God he came back to the camp and the people saw the glow of God on Moses face. It was Jesus place to spend time with his Father seeking his will and direction in the ministry.

These were my praying buddies 5am this morning.

Breakthrough Fasting

Last week our church did a 5 day fast in preparation for the launch of LifeChurch in Manurewa. The prayer and fast was not only a spiritual preparation but also to build faith and trust in God for the next level of our journey as a church. We also fasted specifically for people to encounter God over the next few months in our outreach in Manurewa. I must admit it wasn’t easy but it was rewarding. I love how God just take something as simple as fasting and use it to draw people to himself, bring conviction and confession and loosen any holds of the devil on people. I believe as result of the fast 8 people responded to God in the first service on Sunday.
It was a great weekend at church, with lots of new guests especially in the 9am service. I saw people whom we have been praying for, for some time at church. The second service I saw a great spiritual hunger in the lives of young people, especially the 22 people who responded to God and came forward in the altar call.

I believe fasting brings breakthrough. I am thinking of one of the young men who’s been attending one of our men’s LifeGroup for a whole year. His wife never came and he has been trying. Last Sunday she came to church. In fact his mother came as well for the first time. Praise God.

Jesus taught his disciples the importance of breakthrough fasting in Matthew 19: 16-21. He sent out his disciples to minister to people and heal and the deliver them. There is one particular case where they were unable to cast out a demon. Jesus answered “Because of your unbelief: for assuredly I say to you if you have faith as a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you. However this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”.

May God grant you and me the faith to face difficult situations, to bring deliverance and healing to our communities, but let’s not ignore fasting and praying for they bring breakthrough results.