Final weeks of Lectures...

Life has been pretty jam packed here, sorry not to keep you as regularly updated as we would have liked.

To keep with the jam packed-ness, we're going to combine the last few lecture weeks in one post, with a highlight statement or scripture from each.

Identity -  If our identity is based on who we are then it will be shakeable, movable and changeable based on seasons, struggles, changes. But if our identity is founded in who God is - unchanging, unshakeable, immovable, steadfast, than who we are in Him will be secure. Who we are cannot be shaken by anything, people's criticism, judgements, losing jobs, things not going right, highs and lows.

 It was a fresh reminder/revelation that our DNA, fingerprints and our voice print our different from anyone else in the world... this speaks of his incredible love towards us as individuals. That He would make us different from everyone else, shows how much He wants to know and love us as individuals. He doesn't just want relationship with mankind - He wants a relationship with me. Part of the beauty of all being made different is the understanding of His desire after the individual, His intention, desire, love for me. He made our voices different because He wants to hear our individual prayers, words, cries. He longs to be close to me.

Fear of God - This was a full on week of learning - that the fear of God is to hate what God hates and to love what God loves. The challenge that God is worthy of it all, so He deserves all of us, the good and the bad, Turning away from the things that take away from wholeheartedly loving God. He wants all of us. And He is worthy of all of us. The challenge to go to a new level of pursuit after God. That God would consume every part of our lives. Are we living like Jesus could come back in our lifetime? Not letting our contentment/identity/security be the external fruit of our lives - but being intimately known by God.

Justice Week - We spent this week looking into lots of justice issues. It was an intense time of seeing the injustices that our going on in the world around us. But it was a call to do more than get moved emotionally by these things - to be moved into prayer, to be moved into response. We looked at the issue of child soldiers that is greater problem than we realize, we looked into the chocolate industry and the claims of the chocolate companies that they don't use child slaves (which are untrue in a lot of places). We also had a panel evening of 3 guests struggling with disease who shared their journey of grapling with all the questions of God and suffering. We had the opportunity to hear from them and then have a Q+A time. This week was a hard encounter with the realities of the world we live in, but in all of it it's important to keep our eyes focused on God and the hope and freedom He brings.In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Father Heart of God- Understanding that we able to relate to God in the same way that Jesus does. God sees us as His sons and daughters and not as slaves."For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." Romans 8:15-17 Understanding the Father Heart of God is not just about understanding God as Father but understanding who we are as His sons and daughters. 

Holy Spirit- This was great week of learning about the Holy Spirit and also being touched by Holy Spirit. We were reminded of how important the holy spirit is in our lives. Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to bring to the heart revelation of the Father and the Son, also the work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us into deeper relationship with God and the Holy Spirit gives witness in us that we are children of God. The Holy Spirit is a person that we are to have relationship with.

Biblical Worldview - What a week to end on. The call to go deeper, to aim higher in our walk with God. Our expectancy should be - to be going from glory to glory. Avoiding legalism has become our excuse for apathy. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Phil 3:12 - a straining and pressing on for more - running with God, running for God. The challenge to live a life that is an intentional pursuit of God. - Today's intentionality is about tomorrow's life of intentionality. All of this has a  huge effect on the way we relate and view the world we live in. 

Relationships

It struck us with this week that there isn't anything that doesn't come from relationship...so how important that makes relationship! Everything is relational because everything about God is relational. A lot of our week we looked at relationship with ourself. As this is so important in effecting our relationships with others. As its says in Luke 10:27 "Love your neighbour as yourself" so the way we see ourself is critical in how we see and love others.

Hearing God's Voice

This was a great week to be reminded of  the importance of intimacy in hearing God's voice. God wants to speak to us through relationship. Hearing God's voice flows from a lifestyle of friendship with Him. Time spent with Him, in His word, and learning to constantly be aware of His presence. Cultivating a rich, fruitful inner life with God, rather than letting it be stagnant and barren. If we just go to God when we need something or just to find out something specific, then we will just end up with a transactional relationship with God, where we come and go as we please and use Him just to go to when we need something and then go back to our own life when we have what we need. God wants to be in constant conversation/communion with us and speak to us from that level of relationship.
The more time we spend with God the more we come to know his voice. How does a child know His fathers voice? - by spending time with Him. And how does a child know what is in and behind what his father says? The meaning in His words, the love in His words?
It's about enjoying the presence of God and in that we will we will hear God's voice. It's not about hearing God's voice - it's about relationship and intimacy. Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
It was great to have some really practical times of outworking what we were learning. We spent some time just enjoying God's presence and God really spoke in those times.

News from afar!

Hey everyone!
Sorry its been so long! Things have been very busy here and we've just got caught up in everything that has been going on.

Since we last blogged we have had lectures on Hearing God's voice, Relationships, Identity, Fear of the Lord and we've now onto a justice panel week with different speakers. Our justice stream afternoons we've discussed genocide, abortion, and war and reconciliation. We've been learning and experiencing so much. Its been amazing! And there is still so much more to learn!

We've also...
spent a Saturday at  Coromandel, going to a beach called Cathedral Cove where we baptised 4 students from our DTS, we have done a lot of painting around the base,  played various sports, the men of the group put on a breakfast for the ladies of the group to celebrate and honour them, eaten a lot of good food, worshipped together, been to church, played a lot of a card game called 'stik', hung out with some incredible people, had an English cream tea, had worship and prayer time with Tauranga House of Prayer and so much more!

Here are some photos of us getting up to all sorts!