God's power still touches lives. An extract from: "Elijah under the Juniper Tree". View the full video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9NRYQmeo4A Elijah was a mighty prophet, yet he was very human. His journey included a time of great depression and discouragement. Elijah ran to the wilderness and sat under a juniper tree. One in five Australians experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months. The Australian Bureau of Statistics say 2.1 million Australians, or 9.3 per cent of our population are suffering from some form of depression. Elijah knew what depression felt like. Discouragement. Like the psalmist in Psalm 42, he felt overwhelmed - all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Elijah had been through a lot… the dry brook, the empty barrel, the dead boy, the prophets of Baal, the lack of rain. He had seen the Lord do wonders. At Mount Carmel he had confronted the 850 false prophets of Baal and the nation's idolatry. He saw God’s great power and intervention. Fire came down from heaven, and consumed Elijah's sacrifice. Queen Jezebel threatened his life. Elijah went through deep discouragement and despair. He wanted to run away from it all. Discouragement can be powerful.You could call it “Emotion sickness”. People like David, like Job have experienced discouragement.1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.Elijah sits under the juniper tree. He cries out: I have had enough! He wanted to quit. Take my life! Have you had a juniper tree moment? “I feel like giving up!”Isolation can often deepen discouragement. Don't be afraid to reach out. Share your burden. Reach out to others who can offer support, encourage, and pray for you. Elijah’s cry to God sounds quite desperate. God invites us to pour out our hearts to Him. Tell Him your emotions, doubts, and struggles. Know that your God given purpose is greater than your current circumstances. God's plans are bigger than our problems. James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are… Have you ever had a Juniper Tree moment?1 Kings 19:5-6 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. (6) And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.In the depths of his discouragement, Elijah seeks refuge in the wilderness, where God graciously ministers to him. He was tired. He got nourishment and rest. God refreshed him. Rely on God’s sustaining power. Rely on God's provision. 1 Kings 19:7-8 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. (8) And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. Don’t give in to despair. Don’t stay under the juniper tree, in the wilderness, the place of discouragement, weakness and doubt. God speaks to Elijah in a gentle whisper, demonstrating His presence and reassurance. The journey is too great for thee. Believer, you can know that God meets you in your lowest moments.Elijah needed to hear from God. He had been listening to the word of discouragement - but he needed to hear the Word of the Lord.God looks at you and He says, What doest thou here? God meets with us, wherever we are at. Even while we are in the midst of our own pity party. Depression can paralyse people. Trust in His provision and guidance to lead you through. God reassures Elijah of his purpose and calling, despite his feelings of inadequacy and despair. The still, small voice. He brings comfort by His Word. It’s the still, small voice. Romans 15:4 ...we through ...comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Don’t you quit. You do what you’re supposed to be doing.Pour out your heart to God in prayer when you're discouraged. Surrender your fears, your doubts, and your worries unto the Lord. You are not alone. Being isolated from other believers is not good for us.God renewed Elijah’s hope and faith. He gave Elijah a new mission, a fresh hope.Are you under the juniper tree? God can meet with you. Pour out your heart to God in prayer. Hear His voice. It’s still, small. You have to listen.God meets us in our weakness with His gentle word. Our disappointment may be His appointment… God is not through with us. Discouragement is where courage gets taken away. God can give it back. Elijah got his courage back. He stopped sitting under the jumper tree. We all have a divine assignment to fulfil. What are you doing here?Like Elijah, if you will hear the word of the Lord, get up out of your cave and go… the power of God will come upon you again. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWI0PhaqxDA

Discover the limitless blessings that God pours into our lives. Reflect on the overflowing cup of His love and grace, and how He generously provides for all our needs. Let's take a moment to appreciate the lavish gifts bestowed upon us. #OverflowingBlessings #GodsGrace #AbundanceOfLove #ThankfulHeart #GenerousGod #BlessingsOnBlessings #Gratefulness #DivineProvision #GodsGifts #CountYourBlessings ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPVMRPm1VwI

Explore the significant cultural shift from Christian to anti-Christian values and its impact on churches. Discover how churches have subtly compromised and moved away from biblical principles. Let's delve into the clash of values between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. #CulturalShift #ChristianCulture #AntiChristianCulture #CompromiseInChurch #BiblicalPrinciples #KingdomOfGodVsKingdomsOfThisWorld #FaithAndValues ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0pa1x0Z_3s

How can I become a strong Christian - How can I grow my faith? Here’s three keys for spiritual maturity. 1. GROW UP Some people stay in spiritual babyhood. God says, be no more children - stop being childish. God wants you to grow. It’s sad to see a baby stop growing. That can happen spiritually. How can we grow spiritually? We need spiritual food. The word of God feeds us and sustains us. …as newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the word. Get this milk – unadulterated and pure. It’s food to our soul. …blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly …but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. There’s a flourishing there, with leaves green and fruit flourishing. Like a healthy tree, God wants you to grow. 2. WISE UP Be wise …be no more tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness …There's contrary winds that threaten to blow us of course. Paul calls the Corinthians “babes in Christ”, still on baby food. They’re “carnal” - full of their own fleshly and selfish ways. They’re like big spiritual babies – still in nappies - still in their spiritual babyhood. Our growth as a believer can be stunted. It's the Word that we need – and it’s practical. We apply it when the rubber hits the road. We're meant to be “doers of the Word”, not just hearing it, but applying it. Let’s put the Word of God into action in our daily lives, in our practical living, in our relationships. Children can get caught easily up in crazy fads. They’ve just got to have this or that toy. Christians can get caught up in teachings that change like the wind. They run after whatever the latest band wagon is. Many are gullible and get tricked by deceivers and fakes. The Word warns us against “false apostles, deceitful workers”; they try and sell some sensual, sensational experience. Many churches get conned with the latest shallow, spiritual craze, even witchcraft and mind control. Rather, be a lover of the truth old-fashioned truth. Ask, is it biblical? Is it sound doctrine? Is it the truth - that will save Hellbound sinners and spur the sleeping Christians to action? Beware of a compromised, counterfeit, watered down gospel. There is a distinction between truth and error. There shall be false teachers among you who shall bring in damnable heresies… they shall make merchandise of you. Paul says, Brethren, be not children in understanding …but in understanding be men. Beware of the slick tricksters, the convincing smooth talkers. Paul; warns of savage wolves. There’s wolves in sheep's clothing. Look out for them! There's many flaky preachers. 3. JOIN UP In Ephesians 4 Paul's talking how Christ is “the head, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love”. The church is “the body of Christ”. We do the growing when we're together. When we get together we can encourage one another there's a mutual growing. To be an effective, growing Christian we need to join up – in union with him; in our relationship with him. And, attached to the body – to one another. Spiritual maturity grows as we join up together. With Christ as the head – He gives us direction and has authority. We draw our strength from Him. And He fits us all together and makes all the different parts work right. Join up - as joined up Christians we've got a wonderful connection with the head, our Lord Jesus, and with each other. That's how we're going to grow. We're interdependent. He knits us together. We're connected. As every separate part works properly - works like it should - it's a picture of a healthy body. We grow and function together. We can be more effective in our faith together. Paul talks with the Colossians about how the Body of Christ functions, “with joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together” and there’s an “increase of God. Here’s when the body is going to grow. We've got to be joined together. Be where the Word is, so you can grow. We don't fly solo as believers - we're here for one another. Be a constructive part of the body. There's a mutual benefit. Move out of spiritual babyhood. Be like that tree, that's planted by the rivers of water. There's going to be fruit and freshness there. See the value of being joined - together - with your brothers and sisters. Let’s aim to help one another to grow. Be a healthy, growing believer as part of a healthy, growing church, to the glory of God! ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za_revOpGY8