Open Heaven Church:

What does it mean for us to live under an Open Heaven? What does it look like for us to be spirit-filled followers living spirt-filled lives? The early church operated in the spirit as a means of advancing the Kingdom of God, and as our guest speakers shared on Sunday, the same can be said of the church today. Healings, prophesies and radical salvations can be part of modern day testimonies, and we would like to see more! Listen back to this week's two part podcast from Sarah and Chloe Richards on how to steward the supernatural.

In an age when the negative impacts of climate change are making headline news, the desire to do something can feel irresistible, yet overwhelming. For a long time images of creation being destroyed tugged at the heart strings, but resulted in no immediate action. But now more and more people are waking up to the reality that this is God's world, His creation, and we don't have long left to protect it. This week Caroline delves into the question 'What does God have to say about non-human creation?', and challenges us to think about what it could look like for Christians to partner with God in the stewardship of His creation. 

The lens through which Jesus saw the world meant that everything He saw, had and knew belonged to Father God. Jesus lived in a way that meant He managed everything He had at His disposal to its full potential, for the purpose of God’s mission to be accomplished. Jesus was our perfect example of how to steward. At Open Heaven we have a discipleship culture, meaning every area of our lives is open to Jesus being in charge of it. As followers of Jesus, we seek to imitate His ways in all areas of our lives, including the way we steward. 

Anything that makes us work hard to understand God can ultimately lead us to greater revelation. The same can be said of difficult passages in the Bible. After the victories and celebrations that occur throughout the book of Esther, it can be hard to make sense of the story's final chapters. The huge reversal in the narrative throws up questions that are difficult to wrestle with. Is God just? Are we in charge of our own destinies? In the same way Jacob wrestled with God in the book of Genesis, we too must wrestle with the darker passages of scripture.

The book of Esther is in some ways a book of contrasting dualities; the fall of the Jews, the rise of the Jews; the grace of God, the violence of kings. Without unworthiness, without entitlement, Esther approaches King Xerxes once again in an attempt to overthrow the genocide decree which would wipe out her people. As we near the end of the narrative we see that the King’s decision still ends in bloodshed and war. How do we make sense of these difficult passages in the Bible? In an instant age, we must take our time to contemplate scripture, to examine biblical characters and their decisions and to ask God – does this please your heart, or does this grieve your heart?

When was the last time you were angry? When was the last time disappointment turned into outrage? Has Saturday's frustration ever turned into Sunday's road rage? Your nostrils are flaring, your breathing gets heavier and your fists start to clench the steering wheel. Is this an extreme reaction? Perhaps there is something else going on that needs some attention. The goal is not to eliminate anger from your life, but to recognise it as a warning signal. So the question is, how can you direct your anger?

Ambition: 'a strong desire to do or achieve something'. This sounds good, right? Godly ambition that flows from calling can be incredible, but in a Shakespearean like plot twist, Haman finds out that ambition flowing from poor ego can have the opposite effect. 

What do you see between chapter 4 and 5? A blank space. A pause. A gap. That white space in your bible represents the days Esther and the Jewish people spent fasting and waiting on the Lord. It is heavy with expectation. Esther knew the success of her request to the King was dependant on the preparation she did beforehand. Listen back to the podcast to find out what happened when she entered the palace's inner court. 

Faced with a decision that could determine the safety of herself and the Jewish people, Esther was inevitably scared and distressed. But, Mordecai recognised that Esther had been placed in a significant position, and called courage out of her to use her power wisely. In those moments when we are unsure of our calling, maybe we need to ask ourselves, are we here 'for such a time as this'? 

What does it look like for our primary allegiance to be to God? Refusing to bow down to the King's newly appointed official put Mordecai and the rest of the Jewish people in great danger. Yet he stood by what he believed to be right and refused to pay honour to anyone but God. How can we learn from Mordecai's actions and apply them to our workplaces, schools, and universities today?