Hi everyone,

This year our theme is “ Do It Different” so we can make difference.

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, the city was broken and defenseless. It had no influence or impact on the surrounding region. As work commenced on the walls, people started to take notice. The first responses from the surrounding people were cynical, mocking and critical. Basically Jerusalem had become a bit of a joke.

As the work progressed the mood changed and Jerusalem began to be taken more seriously, to the point where when:
all their enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
(Nehemiah 6: 16 NIV)

To make a difference, God’s work in our lives needs to be evident and undeniable in our lives. Let’s not be discouraged about our imperfections and brokenness, but rather see it as an opportunity for God’s work to be seen and for our enemies to become disheartened.

Let’s engage “The God Factor” and we will continue to do it different and make a difference!

Sunday is shaping up to be very exciting with guest speaker Rudy from Planetshakers, baptisms, youth returning form camp and some parents of youth potentially in Church.

Lets come filled with faith and engage in pre-service prayer! We’re praying for salvations and new people to be connected.

See you in Church

Ps Dave

Hi everyone,
When Nehemiah was seeing great progress with rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, in fact they nearly had the project nailed; there were no more gaps in the wall, all that remained was to hang the gates. The progress drew one last ditched effort from Sanballet and the enemies of Jerusalem. Sanballet hatched a cunning plan to draw Nehemiah down to one of the villages for what appeared to be nice warm peace talks, or even a few days holiday.

Nehemiah discerned that this was a trap and a distraction. I love his response: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you? (Neh 6:3 NKLV)
It was Nehemiah’s connection to not just a good work, but a truly great work that meant he was able to discern the plot and not become distracted.

Distractions come our way all the time. There are many “Good” things that compete for our attention. When we’re connected to and part of a ‘Truly Great Work’, it’s much easier to see the distractions and pitfalls for what they are!

In the Kingdom we are connected to and part of a really Great work, that will help us to engage and focus in a way that stops distractions and prevents us majoring on minors and maintaining our Kingdom effectiveness.

We’re part of a great work as we build lives, families, a great church and community and ultimately the Kingdom.

Let’s continue to engage the focus factor, because God is doing a great work among us!

Dave

Hi everyone,

We have an exciting weekend coming up with Helen Kobakian joining the Nourish girls for the Day Retreat and then Richard preaching on Sunday! Let’s be on our game and ready for what God wants to do among us.

It’s been a busy week at Energizer. I know I’ve had a big one. There are loads of fantastic things happening on a number of fronts, as we’ve been getting on with the job of: building lives, building families, building hope, building faith, and building the spiritual climate of our City.

While we’re getting on with it, we can find ourselves spread out and sometimes a little separated and a little vulnerable. Nehemiah was able to see potential danger because the Jews were spread around Jerusalem as they put their energy into restoring the broken wall around Jerusalem.

19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!” Nehemiah 4:19-20 (NLT)

The trumpet blast meant that someone needed some help; it was time to come alongside and give support, protection and reestablish security. I love being part of a church that is going somewhere, has a purpose and a mission. That means we will be busy and that’s great and its a lot of fun and is actually quite energizing.

Let’s make sure we listen out for the sound of those who need us to come along side and inversely let’s not be too proud to pick up the trumpet (phone) and call in the support when we need it.

We are in this together! We’re better together and we know God blesses unity. There are exciting days ahead!

I know this sounds repetitive, but really important!!!!! Pre-service prayer and prayer for salvations.

See you in Church!

We’ve have enjoyed a brilliant first half of 2015 as we‘ve been focusing on doing things different this year. But, the year is not finished, there is still so much to look forward to, so much to get excited for and so much to believe for.

Recently we’ve been in a series called ‘Builders’. We want to delve a little deeper into what it means as Heart & Soul people, to be Kingdom ‘builders’. As we head toward our Kingdom Foundation Sunday in a few weeks, we want to share some exciting vision as to what’s next for Energizer Church and what we are working towards.

THIS IS OUR TIME – we are here to make a difference. Let’s launch into this next season with a new passion for His house. Regardless of our background and experience, God wants to use us as builders. We’re building lives, we’re building families, we’re building hope, we’re building faith, we’re building the spiritual climate of our City and we’re building generations.   Let’s jump in, continue to “Do it different” and continue to build people and we’ll be amazed at what God does in us, for us and through us.

I would love to see you all at Heart & Soul this Monday. Don’t let the cold weather keep you away. We will do our best to heat up the room and have some yummy supper and hot drinks for you to enjoy.   Monday 22^nd June 7:30pm – 9:00pm Energizer Church, 8 Petchey Street Bellerive   Can I encourage you to come along if you haven’t yet and see what it is like being part of the Heart & Soul of Energizer Church. We love connecting, inspiring and spurring the team on to what God has in store for the season ahead. There is no better time than now to JUMP IN HEART & SOUL.   Energizer Church needs you! We need your influence and your individuality and your courage!

Can’t wait to see you at Heart & Soul.

Ps Dave

Do you know a “Yes Man” or a yes person? It’s not a title that is worn with pride in Australia, because it’s seen as weak and showing a lack personal conviction and character. People often take on that position because they see it as an easy way to personal gain, so in our Aussie culture it seems fake and lacks an honourable motive.

The danger is ‘we throw out the baby with the bath water’ and fail to engage the power of actually saying “Yes” and being a “Yes Person”.

When Jesus went to the cross for you and I, He asked, “Is there another way”? But there wasn’t, so His response was “not my will but yours Father…Yes I will go”.

Recently we’ve been on a journey together in seeing ourselves as builders, because we’re building people, families, churches, community’s and ultimately the Kingdom.

Together we’ve been learning from Nehemiah. The work in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem progressed from a concern, to a conviction, to a vision. It became a reality when together the people said yes!

Nehemiah 2:18-20 (NLT)
They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So; they began the good work.

When we say a unified “yes”, a powerful work begins.

Let’s say Yes; this Sunday we’re believing for salvations.
Let’s say Yes; this Sunday we’re going to help people take another step towards God’s purpose for them.
Let’s say Yes; we’re going to lift up the name of Jesus.

See you in Church!

Dave

Hi everyone,

This week I’ve had to endure quite a bit of pain, all be it self-inflicted (after a bike crash). Pain is a necessary part of life, in fact when we think of the stereotype of leper loosing a hand or a limb, it’s not that it goes bad and falls off; its the constant damage it receives due to the pain sensors not functioning.

When I left hospital last Saturday, Alix asked “How long before he can ride his bike?” thinking that I may be tempted to return too soon. The answer was, “Don’t worry about that, his pain will regulate that.”

Pain is there to keep us from irreparable damage, but if we try to live without pain, we will never grow and we will become limited to the level of our last experience of pain.

Sam Chand says;
“The longer I avoid a problem, the bigger it generally becomes. If I summon courage to endure small amounts of pain and do what’s right early, I avoid larger doses of pain later.

As leaders we have tough weeks, uncomfortable phone calls, tough decisions and constant personal sacrifices. We’re so encouraged by the way you, our Energizer people, keep pushing through those barriers, which means you, the people around you and we as a church will continue to grow.

I know you’re up for the challenges and pain barriers as we continue to see ourselves and function as builders. We’re building lives, we’re building families, we’re building hope, we’re building faith, we’re building the spiritual climate of our City and we’re building generations.

Let’s turn up this Sunday switched on, prayed up and ready to make Jesus famous. I know He wants to work in and through all of us.

See you in Church.

Dave

Hi everyone,

We are really excited to have Pastor Matt Sharples from Abundant Life Church joining us this week at Energizer Church. Pastor Matt has a fantastic message on his heart just for us this week!

Nehemiah brought security back to Jerusalem through reconstructing the walls and gates around the City. To do that he needed to see himself as a builder, even though his background was hospitality and security.

Regardless of our background and experience, God wants to use us as builders. We’re building lives, we’re building families, we’re building hope, we’re building faith, we’re building the spiritual climate of our City and we’re building generations.

Let’s jump in, continue to “Do it different” and continue to build people and we’ll be amazed at what God does in us, for us and through us.

You’re all builders, but it’s in unity that we achieve something incredible!

See you in church,

Ps. Dave

Last week we launched a new series called “Builders”. We’re building lives, we’re building families, we’re building hope, we’re building faith, we’re building the spiritual climate of our City and we’re building generations.

Nehemiah was the man that brought security, hope and a future back to the city of Jerusalem through the re-establishment of the broken and burned city walls. The walls of Jerusalem are a picture of the way the walls of any life, of any local church, of any community, or of any nation can be rebuilt into strength and power and purpose again.

We don’t have to look very far to find broken lives, families, communities and cities. Sometimes the challenges can feel insurmountable and the solutions may feel overwhelming or we can feel like ‘someone should do something’ or ‘why don’t they fix it’?

Nehemiah probably couldn’t understand why people had allowed Jerusalem to remain in such a place of brokenness. But he now saw how he could contribute to the future. He decided it wasn’t going to remain the same on his watch. He was able to see himself beyond his current occupation, position and place. With a background in hospitality, he was able to see himself as a builder.

We all need to see ourselves as builders and take responsibility for our watch.

See you on site…I mean in Church 🙂

Pastor Dave

Hi everyone,

Nehemiah is remembered as a great builder and leader. He achieved in 52 days what others had not been able to do in 75 years.

They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. (Neh 1 4-4)

This mighty achievement was birthed when his heart was moved when he saw injustice; when he saw people living without security and when he saw that his God was no longer honoured in his hometown.

As we go into Church Together, so many of you have worked really hard. Some have been through a challenging season. We do it because our hearts have been moved for our City. We continue to build a church because our hearts are moved towards the people of our city.

We are Builders.
We are builders; we build physical buildings, we’re building effective platforms for the future.

We’re building families.
We’re building hope.
We’re building faith.
We’re building the spiritual climate of our City.
We’re building generations.
We’re building a legacy.
We’re building the Kingdom!

As soon as Nehemiah’s heart was moved, he prayed and fasted. Let’s continue to pray for our City; pray that God will work mighty through Church Together this Sunday, pray that He will work mightily in our service, pray that He will continue to use us as He builds His Church.

Remember you are a builder!
God might just use you to do what previous generations thought was impossible.

Ps Dave