mizpah

The True Nature of Grace: God’s Empowering Presence

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:50:37 GMT

by Brad Joss, Senior Pastor, Paradox Church

When many people hear the word grace, they immediately think of unmerited favour—God’s undeserved kindness toward us. While this is absolutely true, it’s not the whole picture. Grace is far more than a theological concept that simply gets us “off the hook.” In reality, grace is the active, empowering presence of God in our lives. It’s not just pardon—it’s power.

Grace is God’s generous gift to us, not because we earned it, but because He loves us. But the mistake we often make is in reducing grace to a passive escape from judgment. Grace isn’t just a ticket out of punishment—it’s the divine strength to live a transformed life.

Paul puts it beautifully in Titus 2:11–14:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…”

Did you catch that? Grace trains us. It teaches, equips, and empowers. Grace doesn’t overlook sin; it gives us the strength to overcome it.

When Paul speaks of grace, he doesn’t treat it as a passive idea. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God says to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And Paul responds:

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

He equates grace with the power of Christ resting upon him. This is grace as presence—God with us and in us, enabling us to live out the gospel.

Grace Before, Not Just After

We often think we need grace after we’ve sinned. While it’s true that grace covers our failures, we desperately need grace before we sin—in the moment of temptation. Sin isn’t just a moral failure; it’s a moment of forgetting God’s nearness and choosing to meet our needs apart from Him. Whether it’s pride, lust, greed or anger, sin reveals a gap in our trust in God’s presence and provision.

Grace is what empowers us to say no to sin and yes to our identity in Christ. As believers, we are new creations on the inside. But our actions often lag behind our identity. That’s where grace comes in. It’s like flipping on a light switch—activating the power to walk as the person God has already made us to be.

Grace and Identity: Remembering Who You Are

Every act of sin is, at its core, an identity crisis. We forget who we are and who God is in us. Grace is God’s gentle but powerful reminder: You are mine. You are empowered. You are not alone.

In Romans 3:24, Paul writes that we are “justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” But grace doesn’t stop at justification. It continues on into sanctification—God shaping us more and more into Christlikeness.

Grace gets you across the starting line—and it empowers you to finish the race.

Living in Grace Daily

Many Christians live like grace was something they needed only on the day they got saved. But Paul warns against this thinking in Galatians 3: “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Grace is not just our entry point—it’s our entire journey.

2 Corinthians 6:1 exhorts us: “Do not receive the grace of God in vain.” In other words, don’t waste the grace you’ve been given. It’s not a license to stay stuck; it’s the fuel to move forward.

Is grace actually merited favour???

In James 4:6 it says that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…”. Pride creates opposition from God but humility invites empowerment from God.

Humility is what merits God’s grace towards us. The posture of our hearts determines the degree of grace in our lives. Pride shuts off the flow of grace, but humility opens the floodgates.

Giving Grace Freely

We are called not only to receive grace but also to give it. The more you realise how much grace you’ve received, the more grace you’ll be able to give. The more you give grace, the more it multiplies in your life.

Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Grace flows freely, but it costs everything—your pride, your control, your independence.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Start Well—Finish Well

Grace is the gift that justifies us, sanctifies us, empowers us, and carries us all the way to the end. If we reduce grace to just unmerited favour, we risk staying at the starting line of our faith. But when we embrace grace as God’s empowering presence, we can live in true victory, becoming more like Christ in every area of our lives.

Let’s be people who don’t waste grace—but walk in it, give it freely, and finish well.

Communion, what are we remembering?

Wed, 28 May 2025 13:59:54 GMT

Mizpah May 17th 2025 : Communion, what are we remembering?

We began by reading Matthew 26: verses 17 to 30. This is a summary of what was said.

Communion is often referred to as breaking bread. Breaking bread in Jesus’s time was a daily practice, bread being a staple in their diet. This was akin to breathing.

Jesus chose a practical act that He knew would happen daily [multiple times] and He attached spiritual significance to it. Now our eating in the natural to nourish our bodies would carry a spiritual significance when we attach His death to it. Now, it possess the power to resurrect His way in us. Now this eating and drinking would remind us daily of His death and resurrection. Now as we need to eat in the natural to sustain us, we would need to remember His death and resurrection to sustain and grow us spiritually. It is vital if we want to mature spiritually.

Jesus is saying that remembering His sacrifice should be as common as breaking bread, but we are to never forget that this practice of remembering is sacred. Have we just ritualised the act and forgotten the power it holds? Have we diminished its significance?

The word of God is the living word and as with most biblical paradigms, there are layers to it. Breaking bread is no different. Tonight as we lift praise up to Him from a position of surrender and awe, from lives lived as worship, we are praying that God will reignite and establish a Holy reverence for breaking bread.

No longer will it be a ritual, but it will be a revelation. Each time we break bread, we should posture our hearts to receive a greater revelation of the cross. We should hunger and thirst for Holy Spirit to impress on us the significance of remembering.

Whether we break bread on our own, in community or whilst feeding the poor, we remember the covenant made to Him and each other, we are one in Christ and there is one body in Christ.

We ask that you would honour Holy Spirit and ask for the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Wisdom. Open your hearts and minds to Holy Spirit, desire revelation about this sacred act.

This is what we are asking for: Revelation! Revelation goes far beyond understanding. Revelation is spirit breathed, it carries testimony [they overcame by the blood and the power of their testimony], it is tasting and seeing, it’s a deep knowing.

Lord we pray for the following:

1] A deeper revelation of the fact that God the Father sent His ONLY Son. His only Son to die on the cross for you and I. We desire for this revelation to sink so deep that regardless of what life throws at us, we would never question His love for us. There is a simplicity and a complexity to this, but this is foundational. Healthy discipleship is dependant on it.

2] A deeper revelation that there is nothing I/we can do to earn or deserve His love. He has done it all for me despite my unrighteousness. He loves me just as I am BUT, He loves me enough to not leave me as I am. He loves me enough to take me through the cross. Mark 8:34-38 , This paradigm is difficult for many to understand particularly because we make following Jesus about us. If these two revelations are not embedded in us in a healthy way, we produce discipleship that looks like faith by works, we strive to earn our way in, we curate performance based cultures, we walk out of fear or shame. We become religious. For many of us, if not most of us, a inner healing journey is required for us to begin to understand these revelations the way Jesus intended for them to be revealed.

3] A deeper revelation that His body torn, tore the veil. What does this mean? What does this look like? Can I come as sinful as I am? The answer is yes! No longer do we need a high priest. It is important that we begin to press into this revelation, it is in this that the enemy robs many of us. You don’t deserve to enter, you are not worthy! Lies! He tore the veil when His body was broken so that we can all enter the Holy of Holies. God gives grace to the humble, so humble yourself and come.

Click here to read a great quick read on the significance of the veil torn!

Man’s default is to re-establish priesthood and we inadvertently prefer to look to priest to lead us and grow us, to do the hard yards for us. Jesus is saying you can come, you take responsibility. Read the word for yourself and invite the spirit of God to reveal truth. Don’t be discipled by YouTube and podcasts only and never picking up your bible. Pursue intimacy with God for yourself. Yes it’s biblical to have leaders, their role is to point you to Jesus but they cannot lead you into God’s presence, you need to choose to enter. Take responsibility!

4] A deeper revelation of the blood shed. Particularly in relation to the appropriation of the blood over our stuck places [Phillipians 2:12-13] Pray that God will begin to reveal this to you. His desire is that you are not to remain stuck but that you appropriate His blood over the hurt, trauma, unforgiveness and sickness, so that you resurrect His way.

There is so much in this. If you are not sure what all this looks like, ask God to reveal it to you and bring disciples around you who understand this. Who are further along the journey and carry maturity in this space.

Let’s not diminish the cross by staying stuck.

It is a process. Sometimes it is quick and sometimes it takes years. But the blood speaks a better word over our lives.

Now we are beginning to unveil why we break bread, now His death and resurrection empower us.

Blessings

The Mizpah Collective

Just come to Me

Thu, 05 May 2022 01:47:58 GMT

Reflection,

STILL WORSHIP at Mizpah 30 April 2022

John 6:37

“All those the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never drive away”

How is it that when we feel empty, tired and worn down…like we have nothing in the tank, nothing of worth to offer, God doesn’t see it that way?

Why do we feel we need to bring more; to be more?

God isn’t looking at our brokenness, and judging us, he is always looking on us in love, drawing us to him by his spirit, waiting for our response, waiting for us to just come to Him.

With whatever we have to offer, he accepts us.

Even if we have nothing, He just wants us to come.

Like the woman bringing her alabaster jar of fine perfume, to break and pour over Jesus’ feet. It was a costly offering of all she had but it was her offering.

We may not be carrying any beautiful offering – we may not have much at all.

What if our alabaster jar contains only a drop?

What if it’s just the sediment?

Do we still bring it to Jesus?

Is that an acceptable offering?

Jesus just wants us to come. He just wants our hearts.

John 6:37 clearly shows us the truth… Jesus tells us ALL those who come to Him he will NEVER drive away.

If we come – HE meets us

HE accepts us

HE receives us

HE LOVES US.

All we need to do is COME to Him with whatever we have – even if we are empty and He will receive us with open arms…

His word is true and it doesn’t lie so, if all we have to do is come to Him to be accepted, knowing we won’t be turned away, what are you going to do? Who can refuse such love?

I know there’s nothing I can do that will make me good enough, perfect enough, righteous enough!

So I come, and He is my righteousness.

By simply coming I will not be turned away and He will make me clean.

We have been reflecting on Isaiah 6.

Isaiah saw the Lord and realised his sinfulness and his impurity. “I am a man of unclean lips”, he said, but in this moment, he sees he is not enough and is brought to a place of absolute reverence and repentance. The Lord in his great love and mercy then caused the seraphim to take a coal and touch his lips to take away his guilt and atone for his sin!

Isaiah came to the Lord, He saw the Lord, and was humbled.
The Lord purified Him.

The Lord accepted Him and then ‘sent him’ so others would see the Lord.

The true gift revealed through this passage is in Gods amazing grace shown to Isaiah, that he would ask the purified sinner to ‘go’ for Him. “Whom will I send”, the Lord asks to which Isaiah responds eagerly out of the overflow of a heart that has just encountered God Almighty. Changed forever, and understanding the gift he has been given, Isaiah can’t help but respond “Here I am send me!”

My prayer is that we would have a deeper revelation of the gift of life and true freedom we have been given through Jesus, and we would not let anything stop us from just coming to Him.

When we come to Jesus and receive the transformative gift of salvation, we have been accepted with love, we have been purified and welcomed as a son or daughter, we have been commissioned to go into all the world – just like the disciples… This love, this gift, is never something to be kept to ourselves, but it is to be shared with all those we encounter. To point all to the Father.

Have we been guilty of making our service to God something that is lofty?

Have we placed more value on ourselves than we ought? Philippians 2:1-11 speaks of humility of service in the kingdom of God – as Jesus came in the flesh to earth and humbled himself as a man – he instructs us to not think more of ourselves than we should and to place others needs above our own.

We feel God has been highlighting to us that our eyes have been incorrectly focussed. He wants to realign our vision to be first on Him and then to look at what’s right in front of us as we respond to his call of service. What’s before us that God is asking us to be activated in service as his hands and feet, as His love in action? Matthew 25:40 reminds us ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

This picture isn’t one of loftiness or full of self-importance – there’s no acknowledgement or title recognised here. This is humble service – the unnoticed, the marginalised, the poor, the naked, the burdened, the imprisoned, being loved fully and without judgement because of Christs love – the least or the greatest equally deserving of his love. The servant – humbly pouring out upon the one in need – not seeking to be seen or acclaimed but simply responding from obedience and an overflow of the love and mercy that has been lavished upon them.

Isaiah 58 reminds us of the commission we have been given to be this love, poured out and it depicts the beautiful promise that we will see restoration and redemption, healing and wholeness as we respond to the call of God through humility and obedience

^{ISAIAH 58}

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? ⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness ^[ ^a ^] will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk, ¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday. ¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. ¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Are we eager to respond as Isaiah did, knowing what has been done for us?

Will we offer our lives poured out in worship like the broken alabaster jar, in absolute abandoned surrender, in reverence and true worship of God Almighty?

Ready to go where ever he asks, whenever he asks?

Will we respond “Here I am send me!”?

The lyrics of a song "Alabastar Jar" by Gateway Worship that Yoy shared following our night of worship on Saturday night sums it up beautifully:

This alabaster jar

Is all I have of worth

I break it at your feet, Lord

Its less than you deserve

You’re far more beautiful

More precious than the oil

The sum of my desires

And the fullness of my joy

Like you spilled your blood

I spill my heart

As an offering to my King

Here I am take me

As an offering

Here I am giving

Every heartbeat for your glory

Take me

This time that I have left

Is all I have of worth

I lay it at your feet, Lord

Its less than you deserve

And though I’ve little strength

And though my days are few

You gave your life for me

So I’ll give my life for you

Reflections from the band…

“Let us continue to have a conversation with Jesus and commune with Jesus, a consuming passion to bring and break our alabaster jar and JUST KEEP COMING TO JESUS.” (Yoy)

“What a great night! I was full of joy to see everyone using what they had in their hands. I found myself either tearing up or simply just smiling as people brought what they had. So many things to be thankful for.” (Craig)

“Such a beautiful night! Its quite a special thing to be in a room with so many lifting up the name of Jesus. His presence was so evident. I’m believing for God to continue to do his work and bring us into a deeper revelation of who He is. That his people would humble themselves and turn from their sinful ways and embrace a life that is laid down and sold out to the mission of the kingdom, completely and utterly in love with their maker.” (Karlee)

We are blessed to be able to encounter God with one another on these nights! I am so thankful He is interested in each heart – He’s interested in the ‘ones’ and when we seek Him, we WILL find Him. (Matthew 6:33)

So, let’s pursue Him! Because His arms are wide open ready to receive us!

Let’s come to Him, bring what we have and watch what happens as we ‘go’ with Him.

To God be all the glory!!

Jesus the Bread of Life

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:26:12 GMT

Reflection, Still Worship

Saturday 19th March 2022

Mizpah collective and Still worship band, along with some new and familiar faces relocated to Kalamunda Church of Christ on Saturday 19th March. And what a night!

What a blessing the provision of this space was to us all, enabling us to gather, to seek the Father, expectant to encounter Him as we made space to worship Him!

(Thanks Dave, Jo, Jennie and all at Kalamunda for welcoming us with such generosity!!!)

When we gather to worship, with one heart, the Father promises to meet us. He inhabits our praises!

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

“Blessed to be a blessing…. ��

What a wonderful God we serve�� Every time we gather, he takes us deeper into Him…how lovely are your dwelling places ❤️”

(Eddy)

In preparation for the night, we meditated on John 6:25-40 “Jesus the Bread of Life”, and we were reminded that He is our very life - our sustenance - our provision - our hope - the air we breathe! He is the only one that can lead us to eternity, and the only one who can satisfy, just as the scripture reads…

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

I want to highlight the following verses:

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

I love that all we have to do is believe! Not perform, or strive or earn our place which is operating in our own strength, but when we believe in the one he has sent - Jesus - it takes all pressure and focus off us and points back to the Father! Jesus always points to the Father and so should we! …

SO SIMPLE! BELIEVE!!

Remember the Israelites in the wilderness were given fresh manna each day, and only had to collect a portion for the day, believing God would provide DAILY.

Were they to work harder to earn more? Did they need to collect as much as they could for fear of not having enough?

No! Just enough for each day. This was an exercise in trust and obedience.

To BELIEVE God would do what He promised, to BELIEVE He was their provision…

HE IS OUR PROVISION. HE IS OUR PORTION. Daily come to Him in surrender, trusting He will lead.

What freedom to ‘do’ the work of God when all that we have to ‘do’ is BELIEVE! And HE does the rest!

This is such an encouragement in light of the prophetic word we heard at the start of the evening… The Lord is requiring us to lift our eyes above the circumstances, above our needs, above our worries and see through His eyes, His perspective. He is enough. BELIEVE He is the Bread of Life!

Lord, forgive our unbelief. We choose to believe! Stir up our faith!

John 6:40

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

A change of season:

“I am calling you to a time of standing, of rising up, looking up; being lifted up to sit with me in the Heavenly Places. It is a new season where I see you now as warriors marching; declaring the victory your King has already established.”

(Portion of prophetic word - Lynn)

I wonder, what God has in store for us all, as we begin to rise up, full of faith and declare and BELIEVE what he has already done???

Until we meet again! May the Lord watch between us xx

"Under the Shadow of His Wings"

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 22:59:22 GMT

A recount and reflection: "At the Fathers Feet" Saturday 19th February 2022...

"I felt something broke in the atmosphere over our worship...at one point I could hear a wash of angelic worship as we were lingering between the first and second song of the night.

I felt a sense of expectation for what the Lord would bring, as we surrendered and soaked in His presence."

I recall Yoy's prayer over Mizpah, earlier in the month, 'that we would all bring our jars of worship, full of praise, prayer and prophecy'.

I saw this prayer being answered and unfolding as I sensed a deepening level of worship, where the Holy Spirit was at work in the 'unseen' and 'unrested' places as was read from the prophetic word from Lana Vawser.

We experienced the overwhelming, redemptive love of the Father as he sang over those places; as he sang over us, His beloved!

Zephaniah 3:17 in action! The Mighty Warrior who saves REJOICING over us; singing His love over us.

He was ministering to us as we poured out before Him. BEAUTIFUL!

**************************************************************************************************************************************

In preparation, we were encouraged to meditate upon Psalm 91 resulting in the Lord reminding us: "IF, YOU", "I WILL", as we read Psalm 91 together...

'If you' say the Lord is your refuge, 'If you' say the Lord is your fortress, 'If you' say He is your God in whom you trust, 'If you' dwell in His shelter, 'If you' rest in the shadow of the Almighty...'If you' love Him, 'If you' acknowledge His name, 'If you' call on Him...

THEN his (unfailing) promises WILL unfold as he declares to us "I WILL".

God promises to us:

'I will' rescue, 'I will' protect, 'I will' answer, 'I will' be with you in trouble, 'I will' deliver and honor, 'I will' satisfy, 'I will' show you my salvation.

He wanted us to let it really 'sink in' that we are hidden under the shadow of His wings; His protection; His refuge.

We realised that, through our human perspectives, what may look like an 'overwhelming darkness', as we find ourselves struggling, stumbling, battling in anxiety or fear, when we choose to come up higher, and see with Gods perspective, may not be darkness, but actually the Shadow of the Almighty, as Viv shared with us...if we resolve, if we choose, if we say HE IS MY REFUGE, we can know without doubt or fear that we are hidden under the shadow of His wings covering and protection.

DO WE BELIEVE HE IS OUR REFUGE?

IF YOU (say, believe, resolve)

I WILL (promise; do as I say - I never lie)

HE PROMISES - protection, hiddenness, shelter, covering, deliverance, provision

HE PROMISES - in Psalm 91.

************************************************************************************************************************************

A few intercessors got together before we began to worship, asking the Holy Spirit what was on His heart for them to pray.

He showed them some people were coming to Mizpah very weary and carrying heavy burdens. That one or two were so empty they had nothing left to give.

For others, it was a big spiritual battle just to get there, but they knew they had to go, to meet with God.

The Holy Spirit showed them a healthy looking black sheep with a coat of wool, and a white sheepskin draped over it; looking like a sheep but it was a facade, (a Christianese mask) to hide their hearts. Almost like, if people knew me they would reject me.

In that they sensed the Holy Spirit said some of His children were struggling with sexual sin and shame. Some with lies they believe about themselves and the Father's true character; which is Him running to the Prodigal son and daughter, full of love, to hug, kiss, put on a robe, ring, sandals, a party to heal and restore His son and daughter. That He wasn't angry but so loving and kind, waiting patiently, looking for His children to take a step towards Him to be loved, healed and restored back to Him.

They sensed He wanted them to be transparent and honest by inviting Him right into their struggle to bring light and healing into the dark places.

They read John 15:1-7 inviting the Holy Spirit to teach His children how to "abide in Him". A safe place where everything good flows.

*************************************************************************************************************************************

He showed us His correction/discipline, but His overwhelming kindness...

His kindness is what leads us to repentance - not condemnation, but conviction.

Romans 2:4

Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness forbearance and patience, not realising that Gods kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.

"The Lord showed me a beautiful picture during the week of how He is covering me with his kindness - like a cloak. The cloak was a complete covering of luminous white...hiding me completely...disguising my sin and shame and replacing it with the purity of the mantle he placed on me. The cloak whilst at first disguised what was the real me, made me see how KIND my Father was in that he didn't see my wrongs, but He saw me as He intended me to be - washed clean and standing head high, under His covering. So humbled by this grace, I could only pray a prayer of repentance for agreeing with the lies the enemy had been feeding me. In that moment, of accepting his forgiveness, rather than being knocked down by the condemnation the enemy would want to keep me in, I can see he brings me to right standing again. Not by striving and trying to be something I'm not, not by anything of my doing - but completely His. Such kindness that brings me to tears.

To be cloaked or covered in His kindness allows our sin and shame to be hidden in the purity of His covering, and that very act of undeserved love, grace, mercy and protection, brings us to a place of humble acceptance and gratitude where we see the gift of His love to us, bringing conviction and repentance, and allows us to wear the clothes He puts on us in boldness and with the confidence of who He says we are!"

God you are so good! Covered in his kindness - what a beautiful image of being saved by His grace!

I am reminded of Psalm 32:7 " You are my hiding place, you will protect me and surround me with songs of deliverance"

**************************************************************************************************************************************

He further blessed us with a melody to Psalm 91 brought through Annette, reminding us of the confidence we have in His promises when we resolve to ABIDE in our refuge, that there is NO FEAR to be had as we abide.

She sang...

"I abide in you, my refuge and shelter. I will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day. I abide in you"

**************************************************************************************************************************************

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you REST"

As we abide, not striving, but choosing to come as He says and to TRUST him and just abide - He is our REST.

(Melanie) "I felt the desire/ unction to pray for the people as I felt there was an invitation to come to be prayed for, but I sensed people were not responding, although they wanted to and needed to. So I just felt to pray for everyone and include everyone in the prayer.

Math 11:28,29 both verses talks about rest….

COME TO ME…. and I will give you rest v28

Take My yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME and You will find rest for your soul v29

Also Genesis 8:4 the ark came to REST on the 17 th day of the seventh month on the mountains of Ararat

( 17 a foreshadow of Christ and the atonement ( 10 th of 7th month) the seventh month- Gods month of deliverance.)

In a time of the greatest storm in the history of the world, Noah (meaning REST ) and his family and his livestock and his livelihood , was inside the ark (pointing to Jesus and His provision in His death and resurrection).

IN the ark , they came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

This is a promise that although we are still in the storm, the appointed length of the storm AND the day it started ( the 600 th year of Noah) AND the length ( 40 days 40 nights, water covered the earth for 150 days ) AND the day it was over and completed have ALL been determined and appointed by God. God calculated it, as the provision they took into the ark( God locked the door) , was enough for the length of the storm, not a day too short or too much. God is sovereign and we need to remind ourselves of this fact and look intently at His provision for us in the exchange and atonement of Jesus Christ. A complete and sufficient offering.

The All sufficient ONE locked us inside of Christ ( my life is hidden with Christ IN God) like God locked Noah and his family in the ark. We need to set our minds on the things above where Christ is and stop listening to the things of this world, which produces in us only fear, not faith and hope."

**************************************************************************************************************************************

Reflections from friends...

Kaj: "A highlight of the night was hearing that someone gave their life to Christ!"

Craig: "It was great having all the prayer warriors there...Let's continue to press into God and keep turning up, trusting that God will continue to lead us and speak to His people"

Simon: "The Spirit is always doing something new...

There have been a lot of images of water that have been associated with Still/Mizpah, from digging wells, to the rain cleaning the dam, to the stream starting and ending outside the property and continuing on.

One characteristic of a body of water is that it is always moving and changing; even a calm lake can have unseen currents beneath the surface. A river may follow a fixed path but is constantly being renewed. God is always seeking to do something new in us, whether it is on the surface or within, and the same is true when we come together to worship.

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

**************************************************************************************************************************************

Until we gather again....

Be blessed everyone!

As we recount, reflect and encourage one another with what the Lord has done, and continues to do in our lives, and as we continue to depend on Him as our hope and our anchor, 'May the Lord watch between you and me when we are away from each other!' (Genesis 31:49)

Passages to reflect upon:

Psalm 91

Zephaniah 3:17

Romans 2:4

Psalm 32:7

Matthew 11:28,29

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who PROMISED is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another -and all the more as you see the Day approaching.