LifeHouse Church

30 Seconds with Justin

Steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:20:26 +0000

So since Gary, Ian and Steve have all been profiled, we thought we’d move on to the LifeGroup leaders. Here’s a quick 30 second catch up with Justin Jeffery.

1) Where did you grow up?

Johannesburg , on a small holding in Farmall.

2) Where did you go to school?

NOOITGEDACHT PRIMRY SCHOOL; AND PARKTOWN BOYS’ HIGH [Eds note: In caps too... I think he was trying to make a point ]

3) Did you study at University? If so what did you study?

University of Pretoria and University of Zululand: Human Movement Science and Biokinetics.

4) Where have you/do you work?

I own my own practice. We operate out of Rivonia , Park Town Boys, Fed Group, and we do home visits. [Eds note: Justin does a lot of work with people who have been seriously affected by car accidents.]

5) How did you meet your wife?

At my house. Braai. Friend brought her along to a Springbok vs Engand rugby match. I can’t remember the score

For more Jeffery charm, check out the video below of Justin sharing some thoughts on the Marriage Matters course.

6) How long have you been married?

In our seventh year. We were married in October 2004.

7) When did you become a Christian?

Brought up in a Christian household. I fully declared my love for Christ at a fairly young age. Not sure when, always been there and there abouts.

Book in the bible which you’ve been impacted by and why?

Isaiah – find the history and character of the book amazing. I can’t believe so much written so long ago parallels our life today.

9) A tough lesson you’ve had to learn in your faith?

Some people find Christians and our faith offensive.

10) Where do you hope LifeHouse Church will be in a year’s time? How might it be different from now?

Never given it much thought, but I would like it to remain family orientated and personal and hopefully situated on our destined land on Cedar road.

Fun Questions

1) Favorite holiday destination?

San Diego.

2) Best holiday you ever had?

Botswana 2008.

3) Country you would most like to visit?

Antartica or Southern Chile

4) Favorite movies(s)?

Rudy, and Braveheart.

5) Favorite Book?

The Shack, and any John Grisham book.

6) Favorite restaurant?

Currently Celestinos.

7) Favorite meal?

Mozambican prawns.

Favourite dessert?

Not big on sweets.

9) Best coffee shop excluding LifeHouse?

Gecko Lounge – Port St John’s Transkei.

10) Hours per week spent on Facebook? Be honest now.

One. 10 min per day.

More Love, More Power

Gary — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:53:32 +0000

I am Your son

You adopted me

You loved me so much

Your Son died for me

———————————–

Your love touches me

It touches me to my inner most

Changes me, I see others

as You see them

———————————–

On my knees I seek You

with all my being

I am before You

You strengthen me

———————————-

The battle is real

This battle will be fought

On my knees before You

Is the battle fought

———————————-

There is no end to You

Your love knows no end

Your storehouse is made available to me

On my knees I have access to Your provision

———————————–

In my heart You live

In my heart You dwell

You bring Your reign

You strengthen my heart

———————————–

You strengthen with explosive dynamic power

You are Lord over all areas of my life

Your love infiltrates my life

Your power to strengthen me

————————————

On my knees I seek You

On my knees I pray for revelation

To experience Your power

To know Your love

———————————–

Your love is stronger

Your love is deeper

Your love is higher

Than any sin I have done

———————————–

Your love is great

With Your saints

I am strengthened

We experience this great love

Life Groups

Steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:15:37 +0000

Our Lifegroups are growing! Darius and Kay have a group up and running in their new home again!

Our Life Groups meet on Wednesdays. The venues and contact details of the leaders and hosts are as follows:

BRYANSTON

Darius and Kay Agenbag

Contact: 082 802-7135 (Darius); 082 456 6102 (Kay).

Darius on Facebook.

Kay on Facebook.

Venue: 5 Balmoral Drive Extension 8 Bryanston. To see the address on Google maps, click here.

DOUGLASDALE

Steve and Helen Stavrou

Contact: 083 262 1505 (Steve); 083 650 7379 (Helen)

Steve on Facebook.

Helen on Facebook.

Hosted by: Kerrin and Kerry Lynch 011 467 3583 (home); 083 381 0702 (Kerrin); 083 365 7349 (Kerry).

Venue: 28 Redberry Hill, Crawford Ave Douglasdale. To see the address on Google maps, click here.

FARMALL/CHARTWELL

Justin and Minnie Jeffrey

Contact: 072 952 4824 (Justin); 082 825 8112 (Minnie).

Justin on Facebook.

Minnie on Facebook

Venue: Plot 43, Rietvallei Road, Farmall, Chartwell. To see the address on Google maps, click here.

FOURWAYS

Ian and Katie Dornan

Contact: 083 296 5842 (Ian); 083 668 6604 (Katie)

Ian on Facebook.

Katie on Facebook.

Venue: 9 Plover Street Fourways. To see the address on Google maps, click here.

JUKSKEI PARK

Gary and Louise Bradshaw

Contact: 083 648 3210 (Gary); 082 885 4679 (Louise).

Gary on Facebook.

Louise on Facebook.

Venue: 15 Chroom Street Jukskei Park. To see the address on Google maps, click here.

Hosted by: Steve and Bron Whitford – 083 459 7755 (Steve); 083 501 4868 (Bron).

And as always, please use the share buttons below.

A Time Like Gideon’s

Steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:37:05 +0000

By Steve Whitford

God’s definitely highlighting something around the biblical story of Gideon and His desire to move supernaturally on behalf of His people.

Gary ministering at The Tribe

The Gideon reference has come up twice in two weeks for me. First off was at The Tribe where the Bradshaws and a small team of LifeHousers went to minister to Stu and Jen Agnew, and their congregation.

While praying that Sunday afternoon before the Tribe’s meeting, I thought about Gideon (6:1 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 3 For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. 4 They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents; they would come like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted—so that they laid waste the land as they came in. 6 And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.

7 When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage. 9 And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.”

11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” 17 And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. 18 Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.”

19 So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them. 20 And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. 22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.

25 That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it 26 and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.

28 When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. 29 And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” 30 Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” 32 Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.

33 Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. (ESV)

', 0, 0, 'tippy_tip1329987722_5552', event, 'Judges 6');" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Judges 6) as he is called by God and breaks down his father’s alter to Baal. The story continues with the Midianites coming to attack Israel.

While Gideon starts with 32 000 soldiers, God tells Gideon to let everyone who is afraid go, which results in 22 000 men leaving. Then God shows Gideon who He will select to fight the battle and picks 300 out of the remaining 10 000 men.

After Gideon scouts the Midianite camp and overhears a soldier talking about a dream about how God is about to hand the Midianites over to Gideon, Gideon and 300 Israelites gather around the Midianites and break open jars, shouting, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” God then throws the Midianites into confusion and we later find out that 120 000 Midianites kill each other.

Gideon and his 300 men chase down the remaining 15 000 in 8:1 Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. 2 And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.

4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing. 5 So he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6 And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 So Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8 And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure. 12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.

13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. 14 And he captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men. 15 And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17 And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” 19 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” 20 So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, 35 and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel. (ESV)

', 0, 0, 'tippy_tip1329987722_4748', event, 'Judges 8');" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Judges 8 and rout them, capturing their kings. Gideon was outnumbered 450 times over (300 Israelites vs. 135 000 Midianites). But God still won the victory for them.

From this story I felt three points pertained to The Tribe:

1) That people would be freed from idols and snares.
2) That people would be freed from their fear.
3) That God would move supernaturally on behalf of the Tribe.

It seemed therefore a little more than coincidental when Steve Stavrou called the church to pray for Gary and Louise on Sunday,and the people ended up praying, “A sword for the Lord and a sword for Gary.” (19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. (ESV)

', 0, 0, 'tippy_tip1329987722_7890', event, 'Judges 7:19');" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Judges 7:19)

It’s a time of big things for LifeHouse Church and I’m not just talking about securing a permanent venue to meet at.

I believe God is spearheading something through the Bradshaws for LifeHouse Church. Gary ministered the same message he preached two weeks ago at LifeHouse Church at the Tribe and then moved on to pray for people and share what he felt God wanted to say to them at that time. God really used him and the team to lift the heads of the people at The Tribe.

There was a similar sense yesterday with the Gary and Louise ministering amazingly around loving God. There is such a sense of God using them to spearhead us into something new.

And so I find myself wondering what were the 300 men who God chose like? How were they different? Was God being random or did He pick men of faith who were prepared to follow Gideon into anything?

As LifeHouse Church gathered around Gary and Louise on Sunday, I found myself wondering how will we be different? Will we be like the 300 men who believed in God and followed Gideon against ridiculous odds! Let everyone at LifeHouse choose to be like those men, for surely God will break in for us, just as He did for them?!

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Time to Worship and War

Steve — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:34:08 +0000

By Steve Whitford

I’ve been feeling quite strongly that the Church and its people are entering some critical battles. It’s crunch time for many congregations, businesses, marriages and even people’s belief in God.

Amidst all of this, I’ve really felt God start to speak in the most amazing way. Firstly, I have had the below song – Burning Ones – on my heart for some time now.

The song is sung by Jesus Culture and while the words may be a little ambiguous, they’ve explained it nicely here.

The song draws on scriptures like

97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name! (ESV)

', 0, 0, 'tippy_tip1329987722_2404', event, 'Ps 97');" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Ps 97 where God is described in the context of fire and how it consumes His enemies and melts the mountains like wax. And in

2:1 Blow a trumpet in Zion;
sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
2 a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful people;
their like has never been before,
nor will be again after them
through the years of all generations.

3 Fire devours before them,
and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
but behind them a desolate wilderness,
and nothing escapes them.

4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,
and like war horses they run.
5 As with the rumbling of chariots,
they leap on the tops of the mountains,
like the crackling of a flame of fire
devouring the stubble,
like a powerful army
drawn up for battle.

6 Before them peoples are in anguish;
all faces grow pale.
7 Like warriors they charge;
like soldiers they scale the wall.
They march each on his way;
they do not swerve from their paths.
8 They do not jostle one another;
each marches in his path;
they burst through the weapons
and are not halted.
9 They leap upon the city,
they run upon the walls,
they climb up into the houses,
they enter through the windows like a thief.

10 The earth quakes before them;
the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 The Lord utters his voice
before his army,
for his camp is exceedingly great;
he who executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;
who can endure it?

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.

17 Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land
and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations.

20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard into the eastern sea,
and his rear guard into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.

21 “Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.

24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.

26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls. (ESV)

', 0, 0, 'tippy_tip1329987722_5075', event, 'Joel 2');" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Joel 2: A people who burn like God is described.

Along with the song, I’ve also been drawn to the story of Jehosophat in 22:1 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. 2 But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 26 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.”’” 28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34 But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 35 And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 And about sunset a cry went through the army, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!”

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 46 And from the land he exterminated the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa.

47 There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. 52 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 53 He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done. (ESV)

', 0, 0, 'tippy_tip1329987722_7215', event, '1 Kings 22');" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">1 Kings 22:

When the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat, he prays to God for deliverance and gets a word of assurance. So he leads the Israelite army into battle, but uses an amazing strategy, sending a choir at the front of the army! And God moves on His people’s behalf and they don’t even have to fight the enemy.

And while God speaks amazing encouragement, things aren’t easy. At Lifegroup on Wednesday several people spoke about how they are in a tough place financially or are facing several ‘giants’. As we prayed there was a strong focus on doing everything to stand, but also on focusing on God and allowing Him to change us through the situation into what He wants us to be.

The next day, news broke of the Arena Royale being closed by the Broadacres Shopping Centre and the sheriff of the court.

But as we enter these critical battles, this is the time to set ourselves on fire spiritually and worship God because He will do great things for us. And it has already begun. Gary sent out an email late on Friday night telling the church that we have secured Dainfern College to meet at on Sunday.

In our Lifegroup, testimonies flowed in after Wednesday of deals being signed and funding being secured.

As per Gary’s email to the church, God is moving like the cloud in the desert and we need to move with him. And like Jehsophat and the Israelites, I think a key part of moving through this season is going to be worshiping our great God.

So whether its putting a CD on at home, or picking up your instrument if you are a muso, I believe it’s time to go to war (worship) in both a personal context and corporately. It’s time to burn!

Let us be like the people in

3 Fire devours before them,
and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
but behind them a desolate wilderness,
and nothing escapes them.

', 0, 0, 'tippy_tip1329987722_5877', event, 'Joel 2');" onmouseout="Tippy.fadeTippyOut();">Joel 2:

6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;
every face turns pale.
7 They charge like warriors;
they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,
not swerving from their course.
8 They do not jostle each other;
each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
without breaking ranks.
9 They rush upon the city;
they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;
like thieves they enter through the windows.

10 Before them the earth shakes,
the heavens tremble,
the sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.
11 The LORD thunders
at the head of His army;
His forces are beyond number,
and mighty is the army that obeys His command.

And now for something a little more light hearted… thinking of burning ones reminded me of this so I had to include it!

See you Sunday!

Facebook Sharing

Steve — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:20:38 +0000

If you don’t know how to share content on Facebook, here’s a quick lesson. When LifeHouse posts something you like, you’ll see three buttons underneath the post — Like, Comment and Share.

While many understand what the first and the second do, fewer understand or use the third button — Share.

So on the Facebook page today there was a post that said:

LifeHouse Church
This mornings count: 163!!! Come on, only another 37 LIKES to go!!

Currently there are two shares. If you click share and share it to your profile, then all your friends will get that post. You can add a comment too.

So I (Steve), clicked share on that post and added a comment saying: So if you know LifeHouse Church, how about clicking on the name on this post and clicking the like button?

By doing this my post appeared in all my friends’ newsfeeds.

So if you share content off the LifeHouse page, it will not only spread awareness about LifeHouse Church, but what the church is doing. People who want to receive that information directly may choose to click on the LifeHouse fan page and click like, so they can receive content directly in future.

Now let’s say the average person has 200 friends. The current figure of 163 people liking the LifeHouse page means that if all 163 people shared a post, around 32600 people would have that post dropped into their news feed.

Now not everyone will share every post, but let’s say 10 people share Bron Barlow’s post: I Don’t… . Then around 2000 people will get that post on their news feed. And if 10 of those people re-shared it then let’s assume 4000 people get to see it. And that’s how things go viral.

So if you like the content on the fan page, don’t just like it, share it!

You can also share stories by reading them on the site and then clicking the like button (below) or using one of the other social media networks.

I Don’t…

Bronwyn — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:28:34 +0000

By Bronwyn Barlow

When you tied the knot, was it a figure of eight or a slipknot?
You either tie yourself into a for-good marriage (recommended) or you loosely shape some semblance of knot opting for the ‘light’ version of marriage (not recommended).

We may go into wedded bliss with the best of intentions, but reality bites folks… and so does your spouse – as do you (me too).

If it weren’t for pre-marital counselling, I know I would have been running with scissors into a marital Romantic Comedy. To be blunt, I thought marriage meant my guy had to make me happy and keep me happy. Not right? Ugh – the truth bites too!

Another thing that bites is that the devil (yes I wrote the devil on this page – it felt weird for me too for a moment) knows that marriage is the earthly representation of Jesus and the Bride He is coming back for. So naturally we have targets on our foreheads and when things go awry – as they do (and especially so when you’re getting ready for church or for life group, etc) – we stare bewildered at our partner’s impertinence, caught in the headlights of abundance-free life.

Here’s what we promised:
“I, John take you, Mary to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and this is my solemn vow.”

And then we placed rings on each other’s fingers:
“I give you this ring as a sign of my undying love for you. I will honour you with my body and be faithful to you all my life.”

But when sickness comes, fear creeps in that our better-halves will lessen themselves and not want to stay around until death. Or the fear gets fulfilled by the reality that they do make a run for it.

So how can we scotch-guard our unions? There’s no Verimark product for this I’m afraid (but if there were they’d make millions). We do have prayer and a God, whose Son won the greatest victory for us. So that should perk you up. But it doesn’t end there. We have to work at our marriages. We made the vows and that is what they are – promises. < – there’s the full-stop.

Marriage Matters is a weekly marriage course that LifeHouse Church is holding in February and again in March. So if you want to spray something on your marriage spray this…

Listen to the first preach in our Love Intervention series, Death by Love, by Gary Bradshaw.

*LifeHouse Church meets at The Arena Royale, at the Broadacres Shopping Centre in Chartwell, north of Fourways, Johannesburg.

Love Intervention Poem

Gary — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:30:32 +0000

Love intervention

By Grant Morgan

We’ve lost what love is
We’ve made it something else

It’s not a Cupid’s arrow
It’s not a lemon meringue pie
Or my favorite toy

Love starts with God
God is love
Jesus on the cross
True picture of love

God loves us first
We were dead
We were unlovely
We were His enemy
But God…he loves me first

Love takes my failure
Builds me up
Encourages me
Gives me security

Corrects my wrongs
Leads me to forgiveness
Brings me to redemption
Takes me to obedience

I am His poem
He is writing on me
His grace He shows me

By faith…your grace is mine
Your vast grace is mine
More than just my weaknesses
Faith and Grace, Your way to live

By faith…I pull your grace into this world
I can change the atmosphere
Because of You

It is not just for me
But as You love me first
I love others

Religious Legalism

Gary — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:34:43 +0000

The following video has caused much of a stir in Christian world as it hits hard at religious legalism.

The criticism of the video can be read at http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/01/13/does-jesus-hate-religion-kinda-sorta-not-really/

The unfortunate thing is that the criticism levied at the video reinforces its message! The point of the video is about legalism and the damage it causes – its not a doctrinal discourse! I know the critical response is a humble one but I think misses the proverbial forest from the trees! Part of legalism is that it knit picks and looks for detail and Misses the heart! The problem is that the response is focusing on empowering grace while the video is focusing on acceptance grace. When we confuse methods and principles the gospel is dismantled. Of course there is much work to be done. Of course we obey! But, we do it from an assurance of our identity as sons of God and in the power of the Spirit and not in our own strength!

Mark Driscoll address religious legalism as only he can! Enjoy the clip!

Marriage Matters

Gary — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:42:43 +0000

Here is a great video on marriage!

If marriage is the ultimate picture on earth of Jesus and His Bride – the church, then Marriage Matters! When I look at the world today I see so few marriages that reflect this shadow. The biggest problem in marriage is the selfishness that we bring into it and the lack of understanding The Gospel.

It cost Jesus everything:

He left heaven and Hid father to come to project planet earth
He endured much physical, emotional and spiritual pain as he lived the perfect life, which he offers us in exchange for our sinful lives
He died the death that I should have died and to satisfy the justice courts of heaven that needed to punish sin
He was resurrected into new life so that you an me can live out his life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

You see, Marriage will cost us time, money, emotion and energy and above all our wants and desires. It is only when we understand the cost Jesus paid that we are able to die to ourselves and live for the benefit of our spouse.

Come join us for intimate candle lit talks with your spouse on 3, 17, 24 February 2012 and 16, 23, 30 March 2012. Because your Marriage Matters!

Email Charmaine on admin@lifehousechurch.co.za for more information

Marriage Matters