Negativity Fast Week 5 

BREAKTHROUGH

As we continue in our negativity fast,  here's a chapter from Steve Backlund's lastest book that will be published in May, Crucial Moments. 


HOW TO LOOK AT A NEGATIVE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HASN'T CHANGED FOR DECADES
 

PRESENTED WITH A CRUCIAL MOMENT

It still has not changed. You’ve prayed much about it, had many scriptural promises highlighted to you about it, and numerous people have come up to you and given you a “word from God” saying breakthrough will happen soon. In your persistence and longing for breakthrough, you’ve even had big name preachers pray for you. Despite all your efforts, none of it seems to have helped. Decades have gone by and you are losing hope. After all this time, you get to decide if it is worth believing for breakthrough a little longer or giving up and moving on.

WHAT TO GET EXCITED ABOUT

You get to learn how to walk in hope, joy, and love before you experience breakthrough.

You get to develop greater compassion for others with long-standing, unchanging situations.

You get to trust God and believe He is good, even when you don’t understand.

STRENGTH THROUGH SCRIPTURE

John 5:5,9  “One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years . . . instantly the man was healed.”
Luke 1:7,24  "They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old . . . soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant" 
Luke 13:12-13  “‘She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!’ Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!”

PRACTICAL WISDOM

Recognize that the length of time a problem has existed does not determine the likelihood of breakthrough – The Bible frequently shares the length of a person’s situation before the miracle happened (i.e. thirty-eight years - man by pool in John 5, twelve years - woman with issue of blood in Mark 5, eighteen years - the woman with the spirit of infirmity in Luke 13, etc.). These biblical testimonies are a great encouragement to us as we consider any long-standing adversities in our lives.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding  – Many in the Bible had a deep work of the Spirit done in their lives while waiting for their promise to manifest. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and others developed intimacy with God and strong character during seasons when it looked like their vision had died. They discovered the joy of loving the promise-giver more than the promise itself. Like them, our times of waiting are an opportunity to find God in incredible ways.   

Hear the proceeding word of the Lord  – Matthew 4:4 tells us we live “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” The quality of our lives depends on our identifying what God has said. Indeed we are to “war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18) with what has been spoken to us. As we face long-standing issues, there will be times where we are to diligently revisit scriptural promises and clarify what has been spoken to us. This gives an opportunity to hear a fresh heavenly word or new divine strategy to cause life to manifest in the area which has been dead for a long time.

DECLARATIONS

God always shows up when I am battling a long standing issue. 

I have an usual ability to bring breakthrough to problems that have lasted a decade or longer.
?
Like Abraham, my hope and faith increase the longer an unfulfilled promise exists.  
 
Jamie Lee, 08/04/2014
Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

New to Church?


Welcome! Whether you've just moved to the area, or have lived here all your life, we hope our website helps you to find out everything you want to know about our Church.

 

Some key information about the church...

 

Where & when does the church meet?

The church meets every Sunday at 11:00 am for our Sunday Service. There is plenty of free parking around the CCK building. We are walking distance from Plumstead Train station and local buses. It’s good to get to the meeting 15 minutes early to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee before the service starts.

We meet at the church building in the middle of Plumstead

The address is:

46 Lakedale Road
Plumstead
London
SE18 1PS

You can see a map on our contact us page.

 

What should I expect when I visit the church?

You will receive a very warm welcome particularly from our Welcome Team who will be able to answer your questions and direct you to where you need to go.

Sunday is special because it’s the main opportunity in the week for the whole church family to gather, worship God, enjoy his manifest presence together, minister to one-another, receive encouragement and exhortation from God’s word and be refreshed by God’s Spirit and one-another’s friendship and support.

There will be approximately 45 mins of singing with opportunity for church members to pray, prophesy or read a passage from the bible. After the notices there will be a preach, we take time to understand the bible’s message and how this can teach us about God, about ourselves, about the world that we live in and about what authentic Christian lifestyle looks like in practice. At the end of the preach there is always a chance to respond.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions.

 

What happens to the kids at church?

As a family church we are thrilled to have people of all ages involved in our Sunday morning meetings. Typically, after worshiping together for 30 minutes or so, the children and young people will leave for their own activities.

We have a fantastic programme for the kids at the Church for ages 0–14. Children stay with their parents at the start of the service as we worship (sing songs!) together for the first part of the morning. Someone will announce when the children need to go to their programme.

For more information about what happens in the children's work please visit the relevant age groups for you under church life.

Is there a dress code?

No! Please just be yourself and come dressed in your 'normal' clothes.

 

Will I have to join in?

Not at all!
You are free to simply observe or participate as much as feels comfortable for you.

 

Useful Links...

We have more information for you specifically if you…

 

I have more questions, how can I get in touch and ask them.

Please feel free to contact us.