NARD

hey guys. thanks for reading this!

i have been wanting to post for so long! but just havent had the time [or energy]

God has trusted in my care, a cell group, a community outreach night ministry, and a missions team.

....and He gave me a full-time job as church admin.

its amazing.. how when God calls, He equips.

he gave me a packed out schedule, but when i look back on the last few weeks, He also provides me with the energy, time, and passion to do the tasks that He's set before me.

How good He is to me.

His grace is endless..

anyways.

there is so much i want to say, because there is so much God is doing in me..

but i feel like..

what i'll attach to this, will speak for itself.

so in short, God has been challenging me.. to step it up in all areas..

that the standards have been set.

the standards of Holiness, righteousness, and purity, have been SET.

the standards arent an idea, or a level.

the standards .... - its a man.

Jesus is the standard.

and God's been working in my spirit today - LIKE CRAZY

and i came home and wrote this email to my cell group.

my prayer is that ... my simple words will ignite a spark in your hearts.

that will become a flame..

burning with zeal for the living God.

so read on:

to the lambs in Sydney:

Guys, i just want to share my heart with you.

and im sorry if your eyes are tired, but read on.

guys, i really need you to know, that we - as a community - need to take church seriously

we need to take cell more seriously, we need to take commitment more seriously, and we need to take sin more seriously.

if we really want to be that generation that wants to usher in revival into this land.

we need to set our standards HIGH.

our standards of holiness must be HIGHER

our standards of purity must be HIGHER.

if we really desire to see the world change in repentance, and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour,

we - WE, need to set our standards higher.

so let me bother you.

by asking you this:

"how high is your standard of holiness?"

for the sake of our eternity, and for the cause of Christ, you need to be asking yourself these questions:

1. What does holiness mean to you? what does purity mean to you? what does righteousness mean to you?

2. What are you doing [or not doing] to pursue holiness, the standards of JESUS

3. What do you feel, or think, when you think upon the cross of Jesus.

4. How often do you meditate on your salvation, and the calvary?

Let me begin with this.

let me seek your forgiveness.

let me apologise to you, and repent before the cross.

forgive me cell, because for the last few weeks i have slackened off as a leader.

i have been lax with my commitment to this cell, forgive me for not bothering you enough

forgive me for taking cell leadership too lightly

forgive me for not challenging you, and facilitating an environment where you can actually GROW, and become Christ-like.

forgive me for falling short .. in pouring into your lives.

lets start new.

we only have about 7 weeks til the official close of cell for this year,

but remember, its not about how we start, but how we finish.

so let me renew my commitment to you guys.

Today, God worked some things in me.. He stirred some convictions in my heart, and.. i am so convinced, that we need to go harder.

if we REALLY want to be that generation that will usher in revival, and ultimately the second coming of Christ,

we need to push ourselves.

self-discipline has to be engraved onto each of our hearts.

how are you doing with sin?

are you having your quiet time every day?

are you thinking of Jesus, speaking with Jesus, spending time with Jesus?

yes? how often?

no? why not?

are you praying for this cell?

are you praying for the members in this cell?

are you praying for our church?

are you praying for Pastor Josh?

let me bother you..

so i urge you, and i almost beg of you.

lets not take cell lightly..

"if revival depended on you alone, would we see it?"

guys, lets step it up.

lets take Jesus seriously.

lets take the great commandment seriously

lets take the great commission seriously.

lets commit to cell, lets commit to church, lets commit to Jesus.

...because whether you like it or not, Jesus is committed to you.

so come to cell this week, and lets worship the Lord together.

for the simple message of the Gospel.

because the truth is this:

we are sinners, we were on our way to death, and hell.. and destruction and damnation for eternity.. then Jesus paid the price, and took our sin and shame on the cross.. God poured out His complete wrath on Jesus.. the lamb that was slain.. and because of that, we get to spend eternity in heaven with God. we get to experience a NEW LIFE in Christ Jesus. we get to PARTNER with God in all that He does..

so come to cell this week.

i know chatswood is far, but trust me, community - is so worth it.

so come to epping by 6.15pm

and we'll car pool it over there.

we'll worship together, eat together, pray together, and learn together.

As per yesterday's sermon, I will be talking about sin.

and I will share bits and pieces of my testimony in detail.

come!

and lets go deeper into the heart of Jesus.

lets experience AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ... in jk's house.

and also we will spend some time discussing the future direction of our cell.

i hope to see each and every one of you there.

i love you, and i am praying for you.

[pray for me too - i need it]

[and pray for this cell, and our church]