Breakfast of Champions: Friday 30th July

Good morning, Champion

We should all be following and being followed

Mark 1:16-18 (NIV)
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

When it comes to being followers it should be a two-fold experience. First comes our commitment to being a follower of Christ. Like these fishermen, Jesus steps into our everyday world and says, "Follow me, and I will make you". It is when we commit to being everyday followers of Jesus that we see Him change our lives into what we never imagined they could be.

But there is also the challenge that we need to always be getting people to follow us – that's what leaders do. Let me expand on that statement: we need to be ever getting people to follow us as we follow Christ. This is the greatest and most effective kind of discipleship that there is. When we understand that God desires for us to live lives that lead other people to Him, a great responsibility becomes ours. We need to M.O.T. our lives every now and then to check that the lives we are living are inviting people to follow something that resembles and reflects Jesus well.

It is a very sobering thing indeed when you look back and see that people are following your life example – something that should be taken seriously. My challenge today is two-fold and very simple: are you following Jesus? are you going where He is going? Are you giving people something to follow in the way you are choosing to live your life? Live in such a way that people get to Jesus.

Bless you,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 29th July

Good morning, Champion

Would you get your leader a glass of water?

2 Samuel 23: 14-17 (NIV)
At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

Let's stay on the theme of being a good follower.

King David is known as one of the greatest leaders in history; his courage, integrity and passion caused "mighty men" to gladly follow his lead. Much is recorded concerning his leadership skills and abilities, but here we see recorded the incredible potential of some of the men who were following him – their follow-ship is nothing short of incredible, and amazes me.

In this account David makes a casual statement about the best glass of water he had ever tasted. I don't believe he was hinting – his surprised reaction later tells us this clearly. It was just a casual statement, that's all, but to his followers it became a mission – even when it was potentially "mission impossible". They then sneak off and risk life and limb to get a glass of water for David their leader, talk about getting carried away! Some may think this was right of them, some may think this was wrong, but the fact is it is an amazing picture of the desire-based commitment that David's followers had to his leadership. Maybe that's why they won so many battles together?

In this account we also see the picture of what made David's leadership so easy and desirable to follow. He sees what they have done, the risk they took not for God but for him, and he chokes up and then uses what they have brought him for an offering to God. He says "Guys, this is too expensive (cost to much) for me to drink".

Sadly, in many churches in our land, there are followers that would not go to the church kitchen to get their pastor a glass of water, and even smirk when he is having a coughing fit! Again I want to put to you, successful church is not just about good leaders but good followers – when there are both in the church any battle can be won.

Hope this challenges you – it does me!

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 28th July

Good morning, Champion

Churches need good leadership and good follow-ship

Joshua 1:16-18 (NIV)
Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"

A lot of emphasis these days is put on the need for good leadership in the church, but the reality is the church does not just need good leadership and good leaders but also good follow-ship people that can follow well.

It's easy to point the finger at leaders that have made mistakes or not led well, but what about followers taking responsibility for how well they have followed leadership? I think this is a really interesting thought that has the potential to produce a whole lot of good and very healthy, effective churches – if we dare to think about it.

In our text this morning we read about some great followers – the followers of Joshua. This is the second time Israel had been given an opportunity to inherit the land God had promised – as you know the first time did not go so well. Why did it all go wrong that first time when Moses was leading? If you read about that account the problem was not actually with the leaders (Moses, Joshua & Caleb) it was with the followers. They were the ones that caused the nation to not enter in. This time, under the leadership of Joshua, things are very different. He had followers who were for him and for the vision that was given to him, followers who were sold out for the journey of God that was before them. I believe it was their good hearts and great attitudes that caused this second attempt to gain the promised land to be a success.

Just as leaders are meant to empower followers, so also followers have the potential to empower their leaders. It is a powerful thing for a leader when his or her people come alongside them with a 'we can do it' attitude. Read it again: these guys were even willing to take care of the negative followers themselves to make sure that success happened.

We are all leaders in life but we are all often followers too. How good are you at being a follower? Do you empower the leaders in your life and give them courage to go for it like Joshua's followers did? Good question, right?

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 27th July

Good morning, Champion

Who is chasing who?

2 Kings 2:1-2 (NIV)
When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

I believe one of the greatest gifts that God gives to us are great relationships: some that are for friendship, that walk alongside us; others are for mentorship, sent to empower, challenge and inspire.

I also believe that many people sadly do not get from this second group of God-arranged relationships what they could because they have no chase or pursuit in them. Why? Often because they see things the wrong way round – they want be pursued rather than pursue, they always want to be followed up rather than follow.

In this morning's text we read about Elisha pursuing the prophet and spiritual leader Elijah. He knew that God had put into Elijah what he needed in his life, and he was not going to deal with that in a polite manner – he went after Elijah. When you read through this account it looks like he is almost stalking poor Elijah; as you read on you hear Elijah turn and say to him another two times, "What do you want? What must I do to shake you off?" Even the large company of prophets following Elijah turned three times to Elisha and said, "Leave the poor guy alone!", but he could not and would not be put off.

What a lovely picture of a man taking a God-ordained relationship in his life seriously. He knew who and what he needed and would not let up. Hey, you can call him a nutter or desperate, but read the end of account: he got what he wanted. Not just that – he got a "double portion" of it. Champion, please understand: Elisha getting a double portion was all about the spirit of pursuit that was in him – he would not have got anything if he had waited politely for Elijah to call him.

One thing that surprises me as I watch and work with leaders is the lack of determined pursuit in people's hearts. You meet with people and they tell you what they want and how bad they want help and assistance, then nothing? No further calls, emails, no pursuit. It's time to look at things more correctly – it is not the job of your Elijah to chase you, it's your responsibility to go after them. Every great leader will make time for those they see are serious – are you serious? How are you relating to the leaders you have been given and the ones you desire input from? Are you in hot pursuit or are you sitting there waiting for them to pursue you and chase you up? Chances are they never will because they are in hot pursuit themselves – they are pursuing God but I know they can always make room on the bus for someone who REALLY means business.

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Monday 26th July

Good morning, Champion

Worship is a due response

Luke 17:15-16 (NKJV)

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

When I close my eyes and think of this lone leper, returning to thank Jesus for what He had done for him, I get a lovely picture of it simply being what we call worship. Yes, he was a Samaritan and that meant he was the least likely of the ten to ever worship Jesus for who He was, but that makes it even more powerful. Jesus deserving worship is not a cultural thing but an "everyone who has had their lives changed by Him" thing. I have been challenging you to give God due response in your lives – worship, like faith, is a exactly that: a due response, something that He deserves. He is not only due our worship but the best of it.

Remember, worship is 'worth-ship' (the placing of your worth on someone or something). When you take time in your day to worship God you put your worth on Him; and yes, He so deserves it! A great key to remember is that we do not worship Him firstly for what He does, but for who He is. If you only worship Him for what He does your worship life will be like a rollercoaster. It will be up and down according to the varying situations of your life. But if you worship Him firstly for who He is you can have consistency in your worship that only ever then increases when He does you good in one way or another.

God loves your worship because it is something you choose to give away. It can't be snatched or demanded, rather it is freely given from one to another. Every human has worship in them to give away and you see many give it to differing things and people on a daily basis. Some give their worship to football teams, and others to cars or pop stars. It is good for us to enjoy other things but to always make sure that the best of our worship (our greatest shout of adoration) is reserved for our King, Jesus.

Today, give God what He is due. Give Him your worship; don't just give it because He has done something for you, give it to Him for who He is.

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Friday 23rd July

Good morning, Champion

Faith is a pleasing response

Matthew 4:18-20 (NKJV)

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Let's continue to consider the power our responses have by looking at the response of these young men who started the day as fishermen and ended the day as disciples who would change the world.

What was it that changed their whole lives in a moment? Yes, it was about God making His intentions known to them, but it was equally about them responding in faith to God's word and stepping out into the unknown. Faith is a due response and remember, it is a response that always brings God pleasure (Hebrews 11:6).

So for them the day started like any other. They're busy doing what they'd always done. Then Jesus turns up and drops God's divine intention for their lives into their laps. There is no two-day seminar with PowerPoint and Q & A over an evening meal - just a single moment where a response was needed to activate a brand new life offer.

They could have turned to Him and said, "That's great, but a bit scary, so thanks but no thanks", and Jesus would have turned and walked on. They didn't do that but instead they perceived that this was a God moment and responded to it with faith, not reason, and went with it. Remember, this is exactly what Abraham and so many of the Bible heroes did. Abraham was also living a normal everyday life when God's intentions turned up out of nowhere and he had a choice whether or not to respond to them correctly – a whole new life started for him as he stepped out by faith into a whole new, mapless pilgrimage of faith.

God's intentions will always come to pass and if you say "no" He will use someone else. The annoying thing about this is that you get to see it happen and have to deal with the fact that it could have been you because that was your offer. Don't miss your God moments.

I believe that God prepares our hearts for these moments of challenge prior to His arrival. We do not know what is going to happen but we know something is about to. Make sure you are ready, like the disciples and Abraham, for God to arrive out of nowhere and offer you some of His great intentions. Make sure that you are not like the rich young ruler who thought he was ready for his moment but when it came, he was not. He couldn't see beyond his present life of riches and privilege to that bigger, unseen life that Jesus was offering. When you, by faith, respond correctly to God, you always end up with more than what you imagined or came for.

Let's finish today by thinking again of the returning leper:

Luke 17:19

Then He said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

RSVP. You will be glad you did.
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Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 22nd July

Good morning, Champion

It's about your response, not His intentions

Luke 1:37-38
For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Yesterday we shared on the importance of responding to God's Word and how that, when we give response to it rather than just read it, we can release its potential and power into our lives and situations. So much about walking in our God-given destiny is about us responding correctly with due or correct response to God and His word. You walking in God's plan for your life is more about your response than His intentions.

Understand that God's intentions for you are settled. He is not confused (Jeremiah 29:11), but the fact is that His intentions for us are activated in our lives when we respond to Him correctly. The Bible is a big catalogue of people's responses that allows us to see the fruit of the lives of people who responded to God both correctly and incorrectly. Their responses should inspire us with ours. Let's look at one:

Mary

She is a young teenage girl when God appears in her life and makes His intentions known: "I want to bring the Saviour of the world through your life". This was a big shock for her, but notice that she did not become pregnant with "the God plan" till the moment she responded with that great statement: "Let it be to me according to Your word". It was after she made that response that she became pregnant with "the God plan".

God did not violate her and He won't violate you. He lets you know His intentions and waits for your response to activate them. Just like with Mary, God has a whole bunch of stuff He wants to "get to the earth" and He is looking for someone like you to bring them here through - will that be you today? Will you allow your life to be the womb that God can use to birth something great?



All the great Christian heroes we read of are just people like you and me that heard the heart of God and, like Mary, realised that nothing is impossible for God, and then had the courage to say, "Let it be to me according to your word (intentions)".

Mother Theresa's great response saved thousands of children from poverty and death – that was a God plan.

Reinhard Bonnke's great response saw millions of Africans saved and set free – that was a God plan.

God bless you and have a great day.

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 21st July

Good morning, Champion

God's word is waiting for you to respond

Responding correctly – or being responsible: 'response - able' – even affects our relationship and experience with God's Word (the Bible). You can choose to treat the Bible like any other old book and get nothing more than information from it, or you can treat it like God's ever-living Word, relevant to every situation you may face, and get the revelation and wisdom for life from it that God wants you to have. God's Word was always meant to be responded to. Remember what James said of our response to God's Word: "Don't just be a hearer of it but a doer". When we respond with faith to what we read we activate its incredible potential in our life and daily destinies.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many 'Amen's' in the Bible?

Amen is a Hebrew word. It is itself simply a statement of response. Amen means, "so be it", "it is sure", "yes I agree", or if you're from Portsmouth, "bring it on right here, right now". It's an activating statement. Like the phone call that activates the potential of your newly-delivered credit card so it is with your 'Amen' to what you read. The Bible requires a response from you, when you read it, if you want to release what's in it for your life and situations.

Today, don't just read the Bible – have a conversation with it. When you read a promise of God that is applicable to your situation release that promise with a response: "Yes, Father, in Jesus name that promise is yes and amen to my life too." There are over 8,000 promises that are 'yes and amen' to you but they remain words on the page till you release them with a faith-filled response. Today, read the Word and release your response: AMEN – "so be it, it is certain, bring it on!"

Make the decision to respond to God, to respond to the people God has given you, and to respond to His word as living truth waiting to be activated for your life. If the lepers had not responded to Jesus' words and instruction, but just sat there and listened, nothing would have happened. It was when they responded by doing what He said that their miracle was released.

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 20th July

Good morning, Champion.

=THE ABILITY TO RESPOND CORRECTLY=

Luke 17:15–19 (Message)
One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came
back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so
grateful. He couldn't thank him enough – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said,
"Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and
give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On
your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

We are looking at our responsibility which is our "ability to respond
correctly".

Being responsive is vital for the relationships in our world to be all that
they were designed to be.

· God wants a responsive relationship with us. It was never meant to be a
one-way road, but rather a daily interwoven relationship of us responding to
Him and Him responding back – that's Christianity.

· The other relationships in our world need us to remain responsive too. For
example, as a pastor I deal with an element of marriage breakdown. The sad
thing is many marriages break down simply because one or both of the people
involved stop responding with "due response".

Every healthy marriage starts with a picture of volcanic response as a man
and a woman stand at the front of a church like a Princess with her Prince
Charming. There is no shortage of desire or response capacity. At the
reception that follows the atmosphere is charged with the thought of
responses yet to come (God designed it that way). The day is filled with
excitement, expectation, and joyous and arduous responses by both parties.
Sadly, for many, if you then press fast forward say about ten years you get
the picture of a man behind his newspaper at the kitchen table giving
automated responses to his wife, who is desperately wanting back the
response and attention from the responsive stallion she once knew. Instead
she hears the automated statements from behind a paper: "that's good dear",
"sounds nice dear", and the vibrancy of the marriage starts to fade.

Good news! If he was to suddenly realise what had happened and remember what
he once had and the promises that were made, and the dreams they started
their journey with, and that morning, with fresh revelation, walked past the
paper, spun her around, looked her in the eyes and sang to her their
favourite love song, that marriage would come alive again, instantly – all
we added was response!

When we respond correctly things come alive and stay alive. This principle
covers every relationship we face on our journey of life – family and
friendships, work/business relationships, teams and groups. Make sure you
remain responsive and watch how things stay fresh and vibrant.

God bless, have a great day (men, go sing to your wife),

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Monday 19th July

Good morning and welcome to a brand new week – with God on your side anything can happen!

RSVP – power of response

Luke 17:11–17 (The Message)
It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough--and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

In this account we can learn some great lessons concerning the power of response in our lives, and hopefully be challenged concerning developing our personal response-ability.

In this passage we see three responses, and all are amazing:

1. Jesus' response to the need of these ten men: Leprosy had taken away their lives and shut their world down both physically and socially. Jesus steps in and miraculously gives them their lives back. Jesus responded to their cry for help.

2. The response of the one who returned: He was a Samaritan, which meant that, out of the ten that were healed, he would have been considered the least likely one to come back to say thanks. You can hear the gratefulness and passion in his words of thanks.

3. The lack of response from the nine: They had all received miracles that day from Jesus, but only the Samaritan said thanks.

Think about the figures for a minute. Only 10% of the miracle responded in a way fitting with what had happened. Only one in ten responded appropriately for what had happened to them (basically, given their lives back).

Were they evil men? I don't think so. I think they just swiftly got back into their previously normal lives that their illness had separated them from and forgot to respond correctly by coming back to Jesus and saying thanks. They understood what it was to respond when in need (they called out to Him, "Master, have mercy on us!") but they just forgot to respond correctly when God answered their cry. Always make sure you say thanks.

Let's make sure that we are responsive to God when we should be. Also, in our other relationships and in life, being responsive will always bring increase into your world and make things that you have more fruitful.

My observation and experience has been that God and life give "stuff" to responsive people. Let's make sure that today we are responding correctly to the people and the situations that we should be.

Bless you and have a great (responsive) day,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Friday 16th July

Good morning, Champion.

When fighting giants, wear what works for you

1 Samuel 17:38–40 (NIV)
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

So David goes and tells Saul he will sort this Goliath out. After convincing Saul he had a fighting chance Saul offers David his suit of armour, what Saul would wear when he was going into a fight (bearing in mind this was his fight). David tried it on and, because of their different body structures, it hung on him, weighed him down and probably looked really stupid. He probably had major problems holding the sword that belonged to Saul for long as well, because he was not used to it.

Then we see Him do the wise thing: he turns to Saul and says, "You know, thanks but this really isn't working. Let me wear what I am used to". He changed back into the shepherd boy outfit and picked up the weapons that were unique to him. These felt comfortable and he knew how to use them well.

The key lesson here, Champion, is don't wear another man's armour for your fight! When you purpose to be a giant slayer you need to make sure you are not imitating or impersonating someone else to the cost of you not being true to who you really are. What weapons are unique to you? David did not feel comfortable with a sword but was an expert with a shepherd's sling and a few stones. How about you? What are the weapons you know how to use: intercession, worship, praise? Use the weapons and wear the outfit that is unique and authentic to you, not another.

Also, when David stepped onto the battlefield the giant may have been shocked by how david looked and the weapons he was carrying, but at least he did not mistake David for Saul or see him dressed up as something he wasn't. David's confidence and authenticity to who he was in God caused him to win the day, and it will cause you to win also. Yes, be inspired by others but don't wear their clothes for your battle – what works for them may not work for you, and visa versa!

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 15th July

Good morning, Champion.

What fuelled David's charge can fuel yours!

1 Samuel 17:48-49 (NKJV)
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

This is the bit of the story that we all love, right? The moment when David takes off, running at his giant! Notice how it says he hurried to meet the giant. He did not skip nicely, or walk slowly with fear-filled steps – he ran with great confidence. Let's look at what he knew – it was what he knew that fuelled his run, and when you know it too it will fuel yours.

1. He knew that the covenant he had with his God was bigger and more powerful than the threats coming out of Goliath's mouth. The years he had spent on a hillside tending sheep had given him ample opportunity to bask in the bigness of God and get a revelation concerning the powerful covenant he had with Him.

2. He knew that God was enabling him in life once again and it was all he needed to win. He remembered the times when God had empowered him when he needed to defeat lions and bears. He knew that the same God that gave him the goods for them would give him the goods for this current problem.

3. He knew that whatever God had for him next in life was on the other side of Goliath and he would have to go through him, because there was no way around him. David knew that what the king had promised as a reward was the other side of this Goliath but I think he under-estimated how much was actually on the other side of this victory. It was after David defeated Goliath that his life went to a new level in God and he stepped into what God had for him next. It was not long after this fight that he became king of Israel! What God has for you next – that next level – is the other side of the giant you need to slay today. Get hungry for what God has for you next, Champion, and realise it's the other side of your present giant. That will fuel your charge!

So remember these things as you take off running at the giant that stands in your way today. You have a covenant – in fact, you have a better covenant with God than David (yours was established in Christ). God guided the stone David threw; with you He is in the hand that's throwing it! He is empowering you for your present victories as He did your past ones. Finally, what God has next for your life is the other side of slaying this present giant, so get it done.

Whether it is – a habit, a fear or a situation that wont budge – look it in the eyes and run at it, Champion!

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 14th July

Good morning, Champion.

Giants can be moments of opportunity, get optimistic!

1 Samuel 17:26 (NIV)
Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

So, as we saw yesterday, David turns up and finds a giant of a man called Goliath threatening and mocking the armies of Israel and, more insultingly, their God, who was also his God. They may not have taken this personally but David did – he made it his problem but also his opportunity. I think David was a bit of an opportunist; he asks the men, "OK, what is the prize in this fight? What does the winner get?" When we back up just one verse we see that there were indeed some great opportunities for the person who dealt with the giant problem that Israel had.

1 Samuel 17:25 (NIV)
And it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel.

· Great riches from the king (not just riches, great riches).

· A princess to marry: that would lift you instantly in your social circle, you would become a prince overnight!

· Tax-free living for your dad and his household (I personally like the sound of this one!).

David must have thought, "Wow, what a great deal, all that for giving that giant 'a slap he wont forget', it's a deal!"

Again, remember – unlike Saul, David was not afraid and was in a position to think about possible opportunities because he knew that God was with him; and if 'God is for you who can be against you', right? (Romans 8:31)

Unlike the rest of the armies of Israel, who were frozen by fear, David was in a 'covenant-based calm' that enabled him to see that this was not about great opposition but great opportunity. Think for a minute, Champion: what benefits will there be for you when you deal with your next giant? Be like David, see what others who are frozen by 'covenant-forgetting fear' cannot, get up and run at that giant that is in the way of you and some real great benefits!

God has anointed you to 'slap the living daylights' out of your giant, so what are you waiting for?

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 13th July

Good morning, Champion.

Giants don't go away – you have to slay them!

1 Samuel 17:32 (NIV)
David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine [giant]; your servant will go and fight him."

Our thought this morning is taken from the classic account of David and Goliath – this is one of those stories that every kid who went to Sunday School learnt about, right?

In this part of the story David, who was a shepherd boy not yet a king, has turned up on the battlefield to bring food supplies from his father to his brothers. He turns up and finds a stand-off between the children of Israel and the Philistines. More specifically, a giant of a man named Goliath is standing mocking both Israel and God, and inviting the best man that Israel has to come out and fight him. When you read the account you see that he had been doing this for over a month, with the same threats and the same invitation: "Come out and fight me – whoever wins gets everything". No one wanted to fight him; in fact, when he came out they all hid – including King Saul who I believe was the man who should have sorted him out.

Then along comes David, a shepherd boy who in the opinion of others had no experience to deal with this rather large problem. They did not know he had trained when no one was watching, taking on lions and bears. David is more than willing to remove this obstacle or road block of a person, simply because he knew what he had in God.

We are going to talk a bit about slaying Giants this week. We may not have to deal with a physical giant but we all have to deal with non-physical ones, sometimes on a weekly basis. God wants you to have victory over every giant that comes against you in your life and will enable you to take them out, as He did David.

Facts you need to know about your giant:

1. They are not going anywhere, no one is coming to take them away – you have to deal with them, Champion! They will stay where they are, mocking you and not letting you past till you slay them.

2. Israel knew the name of this giant, they knew his name was Goliath. When you know the name of your giant that is evidence itself that you have let it stay around to long.

3. When you desire to live in the destiny God has for you face the fact that you will always be slaying giants of one sort of another – they can be anything from fears, habits, insecurities or differing situations.

Rise up, Champion, it's time to face the facts about the giant that is standing in your way today. He is going nowhere, so you need to look him in the eyes, rise up and run at him knowing who you are in Christ. Go ahead and slay him, then you can get ready for the next one!

Victory is yours in Christ.

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Monday 12th July

Good morning, welcome to a brand new week. I pray that this will be a week where you know God's goodness and favour.

No weapon formed against us

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment 
You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

Because you are in Christ and belong to God you can know today that God speaks this promise over your life today and over your tomorrows.

· People may fashion weapons against you but they shall not prosper – those weapons may be plans or schemes, the promise of the Lord is that as you stay in your God-given righteousness and keep loving Him none of these things sent to harm you will harm you or remain.

· No arrow made for you or aimed at you will hurt you.

· It speaks not just of plans and schemes fashioned to harm you but also tongues that rise against you in judgment. Again, as you walk in your God-given righteousness (which is by faith), He will condemn lies spoken about you and defuse lies sent to harm your good name.

· The key is to daily know the righteousness you have in Him and make the daily decision to stand in it. As you do things meant to harm you will not prosper and you will walk in God's blessing, not harm.

· According to God, this is our heritage.

Look at the life of Daniel – everything sent to harm him did not. He was set up to become lion food but the people who wrongly accused him (set him up) ended up being what the lions ate for dinner that night. Stay in truth and righteousness and God will turn things around for your good.

Also think of Mordecai, Esther's uncle – he was being set up by an evil ruler called Haman, set up for things he never did. Haman actually had gallows built to have him hung, but at the end of the story Haman ended up hanging on the gallows he had fashioned for God's man Mordecai.

They may fashion things for your harm but when God steps in we do not get hurt by things fashioned against us, but rather witness God turning things around for our good.

NO WEAPON FASHIONED AGAINST YOU TODAY WILL PROSPER – "GOD HAS GOT YOUR BACK"!

Just walk in truth and righteousness and, with confidence, leave everything that is going on behind the scenes to Him – that's called faith.

Bless you – get ready for a great week.

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Friday 9th July

Good morning, Champion – time for your Friday fry-up!

Genuine or copy

Genesis 3:6 (NIV)

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

We have been talking a bit about wisdom over the last few days, specifically about where you get it from – bearing in mind the wisdom you choose to love will be the philosophy you will live out of. Your philosophy (belief system) is the autopilot of your life – you will always fly in accordance to it. You can force the controls of a plane with a pre-programmed destination so that it goes another way for a while, but sooner or later, when you let go, it will go back to its original route – it is the same with us living from our beliefs. That's why God wants us to be disciples so that He can correct our wrong beliefs where He needs to, so that our lives can go in a correct direction.

Remember, it is wrong believing that produces wrong living. God does not want to spend the length of your life collecting rotten fruit – He wants to deal with the wrong belief that is causing it, He wants to adjust your philosophy where needed. Will you let Him?

In this morning's text we see Adam and Eve were originally in possession of pure wisdom (that which flowed from God), then they were sold another by satan. They were told that there was another or better wisdom they could have. They were deceived and accepted that lie as truth, and in doing so they embraced another wisdom (they formed a new philospothy) and began to live out of that. We of course know that they actually gave away that day best for least, genuine for countefiet. We believe that in redemption – everything that was lost through Adam was restored through Christ. That means everything! This means that we as Gods children are now able again to approach God for our wisdom, and when we do He gives it in abundance. Just as Adam and Eve turned away from God's wisdom for another, now we need to turn away from another wisdom back to God's. His is the genuine article because it was there first!

Proverbs 24:3

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;

That is God's wisdom, not the other stuff!

Bless you,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 8th July

Good morning, Champion.

Get pure wisdom!

Proverbs 4:7–9 (NKJV)
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honour, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you."

Here proverbs encourages us to "get wisdom"! Again, the question is where we get it from? There is no shortage of apparent wisdom being made available in the life we daily live. Everyone and their brother seems to think they have "pure truth and knowledge"; from evolution to humanism there is no shortage of "stores to get some".

The problem is that all wisdom outside of God's is not pure wisdom – a lot of the other wisdom that is available is not evil but simply not as good for you as God's.

Colossians 2 actually gives us a strong warning about shopping for wisdom to form your philosophies by, outside of God. Listen to the opening of the verse from three different translations, all of them initially warning with words like beware:

Colossians 2:8 (NIV)
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy

Colossians 2:8 (NKJV)
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit

Colossians 2:8 (KJV)
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit

So a wrong philosophy (wisdom given you to love and form your belief and value systems according to) has the potential to take you captive, cheat and spoil you! Be careful where you go shopping, Champion.

Also, you need to keep your philosophy pure. A world that does not love or acknowledge our God is ever wanting you to make a cocktail concerning the wisdom you are loving. For example, they offer cocktails that take a bit of humanism, a bit of paganism, add a shot of Christianity, and then give it a flashy name to make you want it. It may be a funky-looking concoction but it wont taste good to your life – in fact it's poison to your soul.

Keep it pure, Champion. Let God now be the brickyard for the wisdom blocks you need to build that new life you have been promised. Not all the wisdom that is available in the world outside of God is evil – a lot of it is just not as good as God's – so why get it from somewhere inferior when you have the opportunity and invitation to get what is genuine from the One who makes the real thing.

I know this sounds somewhat narrow-minded but let's face it – it has to be so. There is to much "wisdom mixing" going on within Christianity today, and it's time for us to look again to the word of God and say, "This alone contains the wisdom I need for each and every situation I may face".

Get Gods wisdom!

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Wednesday 7th July

Good morning, Champ.

Changing your philosophy

Colossians 2:8 (NIV)
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

I was reminded the other day that the word or title "Christian" is mentioned only 3 times in the Bible, whereas the title "Disciple" is mentioned 239 times. Maybe we should see ourselves and live to be His disciples rather than just Christians?

Salvation (the moment you respond and give your life to Jesus) is a great step but only one step in a larger journey. That journey is you being a follower or disciple of Jesus, and that journey continues till we stand before Him in heaven. Don't get me wrong, that first step is a powerful one – it gets you totally forgiven, made righteous and made alive in Him. But we should walk forward from this initial step. Using a kitchen worktop (counter top) as an example, one of the things that determines if someone is walking with a commitment to discipleship is whether or not they are letting God work within the "chipboard or grain" of their life or just letting Him merely own the worktop and dust it every now and then.

When you are committed to "being a disciple" you are open and hungry for God to deal with the very belief system of your life, that inner part of you that you daily live out from on a regular basis. We all have a belief system that has been formed by the things we have been exposed to over the length of the life we have lived. The wisdom you have been exposed to, from day one to where you are now, will be a major ingredient to what your belief and value system looks and sounds like, so the problem is what if some or all of the wisdom you were exposed to was not true? How do you know if it was true? The answer is very narrow-minded but needs to be: you hold it against the wisdom of God's word to see if there is a collision of wisdom. Then, if there is, you choose God's wisdom over any other you have known – then you are a disciple!

We are all philosophers
You do not go to school or college to get a philosophy – you already have one; it is simply your system of beliefs and values. Philosophy is a real simple word when you see what it actually means. It is made up of two words – Philo and Sophia. Philo means "to love", Sophia means "Wisdom". So philosophy essentially is "the love of wisdom". Again, the question is what wisdom are you loving? We all have a choice where we source wisdom from. We can source it from the places we knew before God or we can source it now from God Himself. Our text today gives us a clear picture that there are different sources offering you wisdom (knowledge) and the choice remains with us:

"which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ".

• The human traditions and principles of a world that does not recognise God's wisdom as the only true wisdom.

• Christ (pure wisdom that comes from God himself).

Discipleship is daily making the choice to make God the source of the wisdom you choose to embrace and love in every section of your life. You are a philosopher – what is the wisdom you are loving and where did you get it?

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Tuesday 6th July

Good morning, Champion.

The Lord has need of it

Luke 19:30-36 (NKJV)
Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'" So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of him."

I love this account of the disciples going to collect a donkey for Jesus. I have spoken before of the donkey but never about the man who owned it.

The disciples were told to go and collect something that Jesus needed to use to do what He wanted to do next. This thing, namely a donkey, belonged to someone else, and we see this person suddenly appear when the disciples are helping themselves to his property. When they are asked, "What are you doing?" they respond with, "The Lord has need of it". Hearing this the owner let them take the donkey, and waved them on their way.

This must have been a pre-arranged deal between Jesus and the man. Maybe sometime previously the man had experienced Jesus change His life in one way or another and said, "Look, I don't have much, I have a donkey if ever you need it – just let me know". Jesus needed a vehicle to go somewhere and remembered this man's kind offer and simply cashed in what had been promised. I also believe when He finished with it He gave it back (but I reckon after having the Son of God sitting on it, it was a lot faster than before, eh?).

Jesus needed to use something that belonged to someone, and the heart of this man inspires me. He simply, without any fuss, made what was in his world available to Jesus to use when it was needed. I want to be like that – how about you? When Jesus needs something that I have I want to always have a heart that says, "No problem Jesus, it's all yours". Jesus needed a donkey for that project – maybe today He doesn't need a donkey but something else?

• Maybe a talent or a skill that you possess in your life?

• Maybe a home you own to accommodate one of His team as they travel through?

• Maybe your money or wealth because He has a project He needs funded or a building He wants to use get built?

It all comes down to having a heart sold out for Him and His kingdom, but also its about whether you see yourself as an owner of your things or a steward of the things He has blessed you with?

I want to be like the man in this account, saying to God that whenever He has need of something in my world, its His to use. Remember, when He gives it back it will work better than it did before.

Bless you,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Monday 5th July

Good morning, Champion.

Take Him up on His invitation

James 1:5 (NIV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

What a great invitation to anyone lacking wisdom. Come on, let's face it, at one time or another, in one way or another, we all do regularly lack wisdom, right? The Bible simply says when we lack wisdom and need some more for any given situation we have only to approach God and ask for it. Then He promises to do two things when dispensing it to us:

1. Give it generously (in abundance)
I love that – it does not say a little bit or just enough, but liberally. That's God all over – He is the God who loves to do exceedingly and abundantly (Ephesians 3:20). When you ask God for wisdom He won't give you a trickle but an ocean.

2. Give it without finding fault
This is what makes approaching God when in need of wisdom a thing that is possible. We need to understand this part so that we can have a confident approach to God in times of need.

I don't know about you but inside of me there used to be something that would say, "Well, I got myself into this situation – if I go to God and ask for help He is going to look over His glasses, point His finger, and probably give me a big lecture on how I should have done it better"! Thinking like that will never empower me to want to run to Him for help when in need, yet this text reveals that things are so different to that – that when I come to God needing wisdom, He does not judge or find fault but rather gives me what I need to turn the current situation around, and to live differently so it does not happen again. Your God is approachable.

Let's face it, like Solomon knew, the greatest thing we can ever ask God for is wisdom, because when we have Godly wisdom we can have everything else. When I listen to myself pray these days I hear myself more than ever asking God for wisdom. Why? Because I know He freely gives it to those who ask, and His wisdom always makes the difference to every situation. Hey, my life is a whole lot bigger these days which means I need a whole lot more wisdom – how about you?

Ask Him for some more today.

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Friday 2nd July

Good morning Champion. Here is my last bit of advice on dressing correctly.

Know when to change your clothes

2 Samuel 12:19-21 (NIV)
David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realised the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead." Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

Some clothes are to be worn for certain moments of your life, not for the whole of your life.

Welcome to this account of one of the worst moments in King David's life; it was the moment when the son he had produced in sin had died. David had spent much time pleading for the life of this child. In these verses we join him in the moment when he discovers "it's all over". This is indeed a very sad moment, but what David does next can inspire us all concerning rising up out of moments of loss and great pain. Again, this is a garment-changing account that we can learn a whole lot from.

David had probably been wearing sackcloth and ashes, or another outfit of mourning, but when the moment arrived for David to stand up and move on notice what he did: David washed, anointed himself and then he changed his clothes. He took off the garments that smelt of the horrible moment he had known – a moment so very painful - and he put on new garments that determined how he would live from this moment onward.

A great lesson to learn is that he wore the clothes that were right for the moment or season he found himself in but was also courageous enough to change that outfit when it was the right time. Grief is a very real moment filled with pain. Even if you have the eternal hope in Christ of a reunion with the one you have lost the moment of earthly separation can be so painful. But then there comes a day, as it did for David, when you need to get up and change what you are wearing; where you allow God to take the garments of heaviness and give you fresh clothes. When you wear any clothes longer than you should they start to smell. There are clothes like grief we have to wear at certain times, but we should never keep them on longer than necessary – have the courage to let God re-cloth you

Isaiah 61:3
And provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Look for what garment God is providing! Wear what you need for where you need to go next!

God bless,

Andy
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Breakfast of Champions: Thursday 1st July

Good morning, Champion.

Welcome back for some further fashion advice!

Wear the right size clothes
(they are the ones that fit you now)

1 Kings 19:18-22 (NIV)
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

Here we have another garment-related account: this is the account of when the prophet Elijah hands over the mantle (spiritual authority) that was on his life to a young, up-and-coming prophet called Elisha. Elisha is busy working in the field with a heart full of desire to be a prophet for God, then seemingly without warning the prophet Elijah comes to him and throws his garment (mantle) around him and says, "It's time for you to wear this now". We then see him struggle slightly with the hold of his past before boldly stepping into his future, burning everything that could make him go back.

He had a choice concerning what he would wear: he could have shrugged the garment off and said, "Its far to big for me, I wear stuff that is a lot smaller." Rather, he chose to make the bigger thing, that God was calling him to, his new size. You know, it did not take him long to grow into it, either. God called him to wear bigger things, he responded and his life grew.

I believe that God is constantly wanting to grow us to a new size and, as we dare to dress in the larger clothes he offers, we will keep moving into the bigger things God has ordained for us. Your life should be constantly outgrowing things as you daily walk with God. Like a snake shedding its skin each year, so we should be shedding skin on a regular basis, testifying that our lives are getting bigger and constantly outgrowing what once fitted us (contained us). Champion, dress for where God is leading you. Don't be afraid to put on that bigger responsibility when it is offered to you, like Elisha; wear the clothes that fit your future, not your past. I see young people today wearing skinny jeans – I don't get them? Maybe I am jealous because I cant get any to fit me? But I know in God I do not want to wear skinny anything, I want to always have the right size on, and the right size is that you have room to grow.

Go through your 'life wardrobe' and throw out the small stuff you don't fit into anymore.

Andy
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