Praying for God’s Power Acts 1:8; 2:1 – 4, 37 – 41; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:14; Matthew 3:11; Luke 4:18 – 21; 10:1, 17, 19; Mark 16:15 – 20; 1 Corinthians 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5 – 9 If we are going to have any meaningful impact on our community we need the Holy Spirit’s power. There is a premise for receiving God’s power. It is intended for saving souls and if that’s why you want it, God will give it to you. There is a sure promise that God will give the power; He wants to empower His people. The purpose is attached to the promise. The power is for the purpose of being a witness unto God everywhere we go. We cannot go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature without the power of the Holy Ghost. God’s work can only be done with God’s power. Planning for Great Penetration Proverbs 6:6 – 8; 24:27; Numbers 13:17 – 20; 2 Chronicles 27:6; Luke 14:28 – 32; John 4:9 – 15; Mark 1:35 – 40; Acts 26:26 – 28; 1 Corinthians 9:20 - 23 Planning helps us to maximize our God given resources, and effectively integrate our Christian activities with our professional/career demands or domestic responsibilities. Plans are the result of thinking and foresight. Some people don’t have time for God because they are poor planners. Whatever we want to achieve, we’re more likely to achieve it if we plan well. We need to research what methods of evangelism will be most effective in our community. The way we present the gospel has to suit the people we are planning to reach.

A Message from the Pastor

A Message from the Pastor Unconditional Love Kidz Korner Ablaze Be a Fire-starter Inspiring Women Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Church Locations: Centre of Excellence Deeper Life Bible Church, Liverpool Solway Street East (off Lodge Lane) Toxteth, Liverpool L8 0TY T: 0151 709 4670 or 0151 709 6245 E: church@dclm-liverpool.org.uk W: www.dclm-liverpool.org.uk

Deeper Life Bible Church, Widnes Upton Community Centre, Hough Green Road, Widnes Cheshire, WA8 4PF T: 07939462207 E: widneschurch@dclm-liverpool.org.uk W: www.dclm-liverpool.org.uk/widnes/

Bible Study: Tuesday @ 6:30pm Revival Prayer Meeting: Friday @ 6:30pm Evangelism/Visitation: Saturday @ 11:00am Sunday Worship Service: Sunday @ 9:00am House Fellowship: Sunday @ 6:00pm Youth Group: Sunday @ 6:00pm

The editorial team welcomes your views and your articles (200 words

or less). Please email newsletter@dclm-liverpool.org.uk

Thanks for reading.

Please join us for the following every week

Fear is a terrible enemy, and it has a way of weakening us so that we fall short of what we’re well able to do. God is with us and we can count on Him to back us up as we take the gospel to our community. God has much people in Liverpool. For us to be successful in the business of soul winning we need the power of the Holy Spirit. A lack of the Holy Spirit power is the reason that the church has resorted to business ideologies and secular tactics and entertainment. The 120 who were filled with the Spirit faced opposition but they knew how to pray, and they declared God’s message boldly and they saw results. The gospel will prosper in our hands as well if we preach to our community in the power of the Spirit.

Penetrating the Community with the Gospel Acts 18:9, 10

Preaching with Godly Passion Acts 26:19 – 25; 18:24 – 26; 4:33; 2 Corinthians 5:11, 14, 15; Romans 12:11; Mark 5:18 – 20; 16:20; 1 Corinthians 9:19 – 23 You may not know all that there is to know in the Bible, but that doesn’t matter so long as you have a passion to see people saved and lives changed for God. If we preach like we don’t know what we’re doing, no one will listen, but when we preach with zeal people will listen, as zeal is contagious. We need to be persuasive when we preach, and persuasion takes a degree of passion, which derives from commitment.

We all want unconditional love. We all want someone who, no matter what, will always be there for us. We all want someone who will love us for who we are, and stand by us no matter what we’re going through, what mistakes we’ve made or how many times we make them. And guess what? God planted that desire for unconditional love in each of our hearts. And He is the only One that can fulfill that desire. He may use a fellow human being in the form of a friend, spouse, or family member to demonstrate love, but He is the ultimate Lover.

Wanting true love is natural. What is not so natural is wanting to give true, unconditional, uncompromising love. Why? Because it’s human nature to try and protect ourselves. Giving unconditional love will inevitably result in some pain, some self sacrifice, or at least some personal discomfort. But it’s what Jesus did for us, and we need to be willing to do it for each other.

Everyone knows someone who is difficult, hard to get on with or ‘annoying.’ But, why don’t you try walking in that person’s shoes for a moment. How would you want people to treat you if you were the one that was considered difficult or hard to get on with (and by the way, what makes you think that you’re not?).

Jesus said in Matthew 7:12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” In other words, do unto others as you would like them to do to you.

So the next time someone hurts you, offends you, or does something that you do not appreciate, think twice before you retaliate. Think twice before you start spreading it around and portraying yourself as a martyr.

We need to learn to love like Jesus. We need to learn to love unconditionally, even though we are conditioned to love only when the other person deserves it. So, how do we do it? The answer is both simple and complicated: lay down your life. When you are truly dead to self and have given God total control of your life, it’s no longer about you and your feelings. Lay your life down and start walking in love. You might not get it right at first, but let God lead you. Let Him guide you as you strive to become more like Him. Jesus loved you when you hated Him. He died for you when there was no guarantee that His dying would make you accept Him. And don’t just think He died for the world. If you had been the only person that would ever need salvation, He would still have died. His love for you is personal, and He wants you to reflect His love to others.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 – NKJV).

The nation watched with horror as preteens, teens and young adults took to the streets and went on rampage destroying communities, looting shops, and starting fires. People were shocked, but I wonder if there’s really much to be shocked about. It has been proven time and again that spiritually weak nations produce morally weak citizens. Some people blamed the economy, but again a spiritual downturn will result in an economic downturn. Turning our Backs on God That’s basically what we’ve done, and as a nation we need to repent. Just fifty years ago people could leave their doors unlocked, over half the population attended church weekly, and the pill was only for married women! Stripping Parents of power Parents’ right to discipline has been eroded over the years. Even mild discipline can be called child abuse. Interesting how the government named parents as the ones who ought to be keeping their children indoors and not letting them riot. Well, it was the government that told parents that they have no such right. They have empowered children, and now those children are abusing their power. Lack of Fathers The vast majority of young people behind bars have no male role model at home. This is not to say that a young person from a single parent home cannot grow up into a responsible citizen or be a high achiever, but it is a common denominator that must not be ignored. There are many factors that contribute to our spiritual, economic and moral destitution as a nation, the above are just a few. But, there is hope. As the people of God, we have the answers. Only God can redeem our situation.

How about we take to the streets and start fires of a different kind? Spiritual fires. How about we don’t stop till we see Liverpool, and indeed England as a whole, engulfed in the Holy flame of Heaven?

Let your light so shine before men In Jesus’ day they didn’t have the light bulb, they didn’t have artificial light. A light to them was a lantern, or a candle light, or a burning torch. So basically what Jesus was saying was something like ‘let your fire so shine,’ or ‘let your fire so burn.’ And you know what happens when a fire burns?

1. It attracts attention – whenever a building is burning the whole neighbourhood comes out to watch. Why? Because fire is sensational. It makes headlines. It cannot be ignored.

2. It catches – there are two things that spread without asking for permission. Fire is one of them (the other is viruses!).

3. It gives light – and our nation is in desperate need of the light of the fire of God. Our God is a consuming fire, but He doesn’t want to consume us. Rather, He wants to consume the things in us that are separating us from Him, and that is the message that we need to take to the streets and proclaim to our nation.

Be a Fire-starter Unconditional Love

So you’ve been set ABLAZE, but how do

you KEEP THAT FIRE BURNING? Ablaze 2011 has come and gone; the planning, the preparations, the prayers and the sweat to make it a success did not go unnoticed by God. Two days of expository teachings, discussions, debates, fun and games, with blazing speakers from Manchester and London, with well over a hundred combustible youths from Manchester, Bolton, Leeds, London, and Liverpool ready for the inferno of ablaze 2011. On day one Sid Williams set the room on fire with his personal salvation testimony, Sis. Mary from London fueled the fire with her Ablaze message, and on day two we finished with a smoking Ferrari-themed message and a flaming Barbecue. Ablaze 2011as an event has finished, but the spiritual impact still lives on. The question is how do you keep the fire burning? Paul writes to Timothy and exhorts him in 2 Tim 1:6-8 “…..to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you… For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord…” (NIV).

Paul is here encouraging Timothy not to allow the fire of God in his soul to go out, but rather to fan it into a flame. The gift that you received from Ablaze 2011 through all that you heard and saw must be fanned into zeal. The gift is from God, and like Timothy you must blow it into a blazing flame. It is in this same attitude that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: "Do not put out the Spirit’s fire" (2 Thessalonians 5:19). How do you fan the flame? Very simple, remember your heritage; remember that you are God’s property; build a healthy devotional life; draw closer to Him and He will draw closer to you. You need to study the word of God dutifully; share your ablaze moment with other people, and most importantly PRAY. Prayer is the key that unlocks your spiritual potential.

You must always be on your guard to keep the fire burning in your life. Every Christian youth’s desire should be to fan their fire of zeal for the Lord.

Ablaze 2011 was fun-packed and inspirational. The young people also raised almost £150 pounds for charity

and donated clothes and toys.

What does God have to say to single parents? The Bible does not directly address single parents, but there are many examples of God’s gentle interaction with women, mothers, widows and their children in scripture. God’s gentleness and graciousness apply whether a mother is single, married, widowed or divorced. God knows each mother intimately and understands her situation completely. Even when not at fault, a woman may find herself raising children alone. For example, some women are victims of a world plagued with war; their husbands went to the battlefront, selflessly gave their all for their country, but never returned. Some women also find themselves yoked to estranged husbands or partners. The truth is that no matter the cause of single parenthood, our gracious God will support and comfort us. God’s will is that rather than becoming distressed and depressed about our single parenthood we pursue intimacy with Him by communicating with Him in prayer, listening to His voice as we read the scripture, leaning on Him for strength in times of trials, and putting our hope in Him to help and support us as we navigate the world of single parenthood (Matthew 6:33; 1Corinthians 2:9). There are two important aspects of single parenthood that must not be overlooked. Firstly, we are not to lose sight of our responsibility in ensuring that our children have a relationship with God. A single parent home is no excuse for rebellion, disobedience, disrespect and unbelief. If such attitudes are found in our children they must be tackled with prayer and wisdom. Secondly, we should take time to develop ourselves emotionally, mentally and spiritually, so that we can be better role models to our children. Below are some notable people who were raised in single parent homes:

“So, what does God have to say about single parents? – The same thing He has to say to everyone else!! – Trust in Him for forgiveness, repent of your sins, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abound in the work of the Lord as you look forward to the amazing eternal life that He has prepared for those who trust in him (1 Corinthians 15:58)”

Michael Phelps (8 times Gold Medal Olympian swimmer)

Barak Obama (President of USA)

Alexander Haig (Former White House Chief of Staff)

Big congratulations to the winners of the quiz in the last issue of the newsletter: Faith Zabila came 1st with 90% Funmi Ayekoloye came 2nd Deborah Nquot came 3rd

This month there is another opportunity to win prizes. We would like you to write a short poem (no more than 200 words), and there are only three simple rules:

- it has to be about Jesus - it has to also be about colours - it has to be your original work i.e. written by you and not copied from

somewhere else Please submit your poem to newsletter@dclm-liverpool.org.uk by Friday 16 September 2011. Below is an example to inspire you. Good luck

Mixing Colors by Belinda van Rensburg

I have an old tin paintbox in my sideboard drawer

Now and then I'll take it out from its little store; Paint pots black and white; yellow, blue and red

Oh, how I enjoy to mix these on my brown palette!

Red and blue make purple (A shade darker than myrtle);

Yellow mixed with blue make green A color very often seen.

Red and yellow turn a fruit

Into an orange lush and good. Black and white make shades of gray

As with my paint and brush I play.

But here's something stranger still And the result of God's own will: If you read His Word you'll know

Red can make black as white as snow.