Maximise Your Life with Paul Benger - Part Ten
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit on old age, they will be full of sap and very green. Psalm 92:12-14 (NKJV)
Have you got the revelation that it is God’s will for you to flourish? Take 12 seconds to think about it. God is totally behind his kids, wanting us to be blessed, overcome and prosper in every area of life. Many find this revelation too daunting because of their personal struggles or the struggles of those around them. Their concept of prosperity is a utopian state of living that never encounters set backs, failure or loss. They can only see prosperity in terms of an ever upward winding road that is smooth and only ever encounters success. The true view of prosperity and blessing is one that knows that whatever season of life we are in, God is with us and his desire is for us to grow, prosper and be blessed.
PLANTED IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
The road certainly does wind upward but there are obstacles and disappointments to negotiate along the way. To grow and flourish as God intends requires you to be planted in the house of God. Not everyone who attends church reaches their full potential and lives a vibrant life of constant faith and growth. The promise is for those who are planted. As a pastor I have seen people face the most difficult circumstances in their lives, but because they were truly planted in the house of God they remained fresh and fruitful, vibrant and, astonishingly, grew through the process.
Why flourish? When the righteous prosper the city rejoices. Proverbs 11:10 As
you and I commit ourselves to lives of growth and blessing, we align ourselves with God’s desire to make our lives abundant. A second reason is that flourishing positions us to have a greater impact. God, according to Paul, is making an appeal to the world through the church. As you and I grow and are blessed our ability to present God’s appeal, in Christ, is greatly increased. We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you, “Be reconciled to God!” For God made Christ who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NLT)
Righteous people make righteous bosses, workers, members of parliament etc.. What an awesome thing for a city or a nation when the righteous prosper. Right is called right, wrong is called wrong. Fairness and justice prevail and a path opens up the possibility for all to grow and
increase. Flourishing is therefore not an option. Flourishing is a mandate which will enable our towns and cities to be blessed and the harvest of souls that God so dearly longs for to be realised.
On the front foot: In recent times the church in our nation has largely found itself on the back foot especially in this regard. Much of our activity and programming has been self-focused rather than having our sights set on the harvest and the glorious church that God wants to produce.
We have spent too much time getting “touched” by God instead of being anointed by God for the task at hand. It is now time to place ourselves firmly on the front foot and take responsibility for our lives, churches and ministries and look to prosper and flourish in order that the Kingdom
might be extended and the Church built. Planted people flourish: Our Psalm says, “Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God” It does not say that those who attend the house of God will flourish, but those who are planted. Needless to say, there is a massive difference. Unless you are planted you will not grow. Your spiritual life will become stagnant, dull and boring. You may think that you are growing because of the great time you had at the latest conference or celebration but, unless you are planted in the house of God, growth is an impossibility. Just uproot a tree from where it is planted and see if it grows - then you’ll know I’m right.
I want to challenge you. You see, many people think they are planted because they attend church most weekends, but to be truly planted is something far deeper and actually involves progressing through a serious of spiritual gateways. I am grateful to Pastor Mark Kelsey of hristian City Church in Sydney for the following illustration which I have adapted for the purpose of writing.
Stargates: “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God - the gateway to heaven!” Genesis 28:17 (TLB) This was Jacob’s response after he met God for the first time at a place he called “Bethel.” At Bethel Jacob had a vision of a stairway to heaven with angels travelling up and down upon it. He knew this to be a place where God was present and where a gateway existed for God to meet with humanity. This is so true and prophetic of the church but also of our own lives. As we progress as christians, at each level (or dimension) there are gates (gateways) that we must travel through in order to get to the other side. This reminds me a bit of the sci-fi film stargate, hence the heading.
THE WORLD
THE KINGDOM
THE CHURCH
SERVANT-HOOD
MINISTRY LEADER-SHIP
THE VISIONARY
revelation
commitment
submission
discipline
responsibility
In this illustration several things apply:
- Everyone in the world needs to be in the kingdom - the gateway into the kingdom is through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Everyone in the kingdom needs to be planted in the church - the gateway into the church is commitment.
The church is meant to be a company of servants exercising their spiritual gifts - the gateway into servanthood is submission - everyone in the church is meant for this level. Planted people all achieve the level of servanthood. Once you have grown to love the house of God and you believe it to be the salvation of the earth, serving that house will quickly follow, it has to. As you love God’s house you will automatically find yourself with a desire to assist its growth, purpose and progress.
Who’s serving who?
As a pastor it is my desire to see the lives of people that plant themselves in our church really prosper and increase. I therefore want to create an atmosphere where growth is easy. It is important to me that our church has a God given vision that encourages people to grow in order that it might be fulfilled. The writer of Proverbs says, “Where there is no vision the people are unrestrained.” Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV) This means that we go off course and lose our perspective and restraint. Pastor Mark Kelsey said, “In the Kingdom of God we find eternity but in the Church we find our destiny.” 1.
This is so true. The salvation of the planet is God’s great adventure that we are meant to share. The vision for how that will be achieved will be brought through the visionary leader of each local church. As Christians we are called to serve that vision. However, in the book of First Corinthians Paul addresses a problem in the Corinthian church. The problem was one of division. Some of the people said, “We like Paul.” Others said, “We like Apollos,” still others, “We like Peter,” and some even said, “Well we prefer Christ.” Paul answers this problem by saying, “Who is Apollos and who is Paul that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why we are only servants...” 1 Corinthians 3:5 (NLT) Paul’s point is; We are serving YOU. Our job was to do what the Lord wanted in causing you to believe and then to make you strong. We’re not great, just servants of Christ and also of you. True Christianity is not about megastars but more about a mega church. In order for that to appear, mega leaders are required who will be mega servants. Pastors, prophets, evangelists, apostles and teachers who are so dead that they bleed the growth and prosperity of the people of God. Whose ministry is not a fulfilling of their own ego or insecurities but a passion to see the Church of Jesus Christ be all that she can be.
She’s all that: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18 (NKJV) You cannot read the book of Ephesians and not see the glorious church. In this book the church is called, chosen, placed into sonship and perfected in beauty. Such a church is the hope of the nations, the light of the world, as Jesus put it. She is all that! All the more reason that you and I should ascend to the mountain tops of faith and vision committing ourselves to the future destiny of this glorious church. In recent years one thing that has addened me is that many leaders have lost this vision and replaced it with worthless notions, spiritual sound bites about the Kingdom of God and revival theology gone mad. We need a 21st century vision of the amazing house of God that fills the earth with laughter, praise, salvation and hope. What does planted look like? Healthy means fruitful! In Mark 11 we read the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree. On first reading, to me the cursing of the fig tree seemed quite harsh as it wasn’t even the season for figs! However, when you dig a bit deeper you discover that when a fig tree was in leaf it usually produced fruit. The facade of fruitfulness was something that really ticked Jesus off. To Jesus, looking fruitful meant being fruitful. As you are planted in the house of God, a fruitful environment, no matter what comes against you, you will flourish.
Christ-centred: The group at Corinth, that we referred to earlier, who said, “We follow only hrist,” did so, not from a genuine faith and love but from a place of super-spirituality. Their “We follow Christ,” was just as bad, if not worse, than the “We like Paul,” of others. The house of God will, however, be first and foremost a place that centres you on Christ. It will consider your most important relationship to be a vertical one, with God himself. In God’s house you will be taught and shown that the first place to run is to God. Planted in the house you will find support,
counsel, wisdom and strength but most importantly Jesus Christ. The church is much more than a referral centre where you are passed on to the latest ministry, prayer line or Christian organisation. The church is a place for supernatural answers and wisdom because it is the “House of God, the gateway of heaven.”
Word soil: In Matthew 13 Jesus teaches the parable of the sower. It could be called the parable of the soils just as easily. There’s the roadside, the rocky places, the thorns and finally the good soil. What was it that distinguished the good soil from the rest. ...the good ground, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit. Matthew 12:23
(NASB) Good soil and fruitfulness have a divine connection with God’s word. Being fruitful doesn’t just happen, but is a by-product of the correct understanding and application of the word of God. Churches that are providing the good soil for you to grow and flourish are churches that are centred around your new life in Christ, churches that do not see the cross as a destination but rather a place to live from. The transformation and release that comes to our lives when we realise just what Christ has done at the cross is immense. The freedom and liberty that has been purchased for us propels us forward into our destiny. No wonder we get excited.
Devil who? If you live your life constantly focusing on the devil and his purpose you are going to be depressed not to mention paranoid. You could end up living with a monkey on your back all the time. That’s not what Jesus died for. Of course we need to recognise the devil’s moves but we need to live from the place of victory and liberty that is ours in Christ. This position is not wishful thinking it is biblical truth. Remember, the devil is not omnipresent and neither are his angels, God is. Planted people discover who they are in Christ, what Christ has done for them
and the wisdom required to live as God intended.
Flourishing in life is not an option, it is a necessity. Why? Because unless you personally flourish how will you help your church to flourish? Unless your life is lifted how will you lift the lives of other people? Unless you know Christ and the vibrant new life intended for you how will you lead others to him and the great life he has for them? God has designed that his house will be the place where you can grow in every area of life and then become a tremendous blessing to others. Remember: you are blessed to be a blessing.
Go ahead - Get Planted!
REMEMBER:
It is God’s will for you to flourish
Flourishing enhances the appeal that God is making through us
Planted people flourish
Healthy means fruitful
Live life Christ-centred
Go Ahead - get planted!
You’re blessed to be a blessing.
1 .(Christian City Church, Oxford Falls, 25/1/04)