Head knowledge becomes heart knowledge as we we digest / partake of the truth of who God is and as we walk in the truth we know.

Faith is the starting block of our race as we journey through life but, in order to grow, we are to add certain components to our lives, commencing with virtue, which is moral excellence / integrity.

When Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church, it will not be to judge sin, but to redeem His people. As we eagerly await His return, we are encouraged to be like the wise virgins, getting ready, being prepared, and putting our talents to work.

Growing up, Jesus encountered obscurity and, during His ministry years, endured hostility from many different directions. When we become discouraged, we are to weigh up the trials we go through in comparison to what and how Jesus endured His.

During the Isthmian Games which were held near Corinth, Paul, the Apostle describes (in 1 Corinthians 9) two requirements to obtaining the victor's crown:

• Stick to the rules
• Win the victory

As believers, God has empowered us to do all that He's called us to do. We just need to step out in faith and respond in obedience to what He's prompting us to do.

In this Easter message we unpack 3 specific reasons we have to celebrate and rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus

Our faith, which is given to us by God, is our most valuable commodity, and is the essential ingredient for relationship with God. Looking at the account of the woman with the issue of blood who was healed, we learn about the power of the words that we speak from our hearts, and the importance of seeking victory and not sympathy when going through trials.

We can faith and confidence in God and His Word that when He has made a promise to us, He will fulfill it. Whilst we wait expectantly for the promised breakthrough, God is doing a work IN us as we co-operate with Him, so how we wait matters.

Jesus is the Head of the Church and we, the many individual members are the Body. We all have an individual and corporate race to run, and our diversity and unity are required within the body for it to function effectively.

This new life in the Spirit raises the bar - it's no longer about what we do (right or wrong) but about who we are and who we are becoming: living life in relationship with God and walking in integrity.