action DOES speak LOUDER than words. (:

Our church has had a tradition whereby our senior pastor will share with the church what he feels God is speaking to His people about what the year entails.

Just as 2007 was declared as a year of no limits, 2008 has been prophetically declared as the year of enLARGEment!

Yet, if we honestly search within outselves & ask, have we really experienced these things?
If the answer is 'no'... or you're not sure. Have you ever wonder why these declarations did not come to past in your life?

The problem is not the prophetic words given, because the men and women that spoke these words are credible and authentic, but a very crucial aspect of these prophecies is the work element involved.

You may think that it should be obvious to people that prophecies don’t fulfil themselves, and that they have a part to play in bringing these prophetic declarations to pass. You have to understand that for any prophecy of God to come to pass, you have to step out in faith; into the unknown and put corresponding works or actions in line with your prophecy before it can materialise.

Just receiving the prophecy and jumping up and down in church is not going to bring that word to pass. You have to step out, you have to take a chance like Abraham, who was given a promise that he will inherit a land that he did not even know where it was, talk less of how to get there, but he made a decision to leave the familiar and venture out into the unknown with nothing but the promise of God to hold on to. This is how prophecies become reality.

It is by action, by work and by us the recipient of the prophecy stepping out into the unknown. Sink or swim, rise or fall, you have to make up your mind to step out on what God has said come what may, knowing that it is better to die trying to obey God, than live in a state of stagnation and inactivity.

There is a saying that a coward dies a thousand deaths, but a champion dies only once. How true that is. God will never tell you everything about your destiny/calling, you will discover more and more as you journey on in the call.

It’s a walk of faith, I repeat, a walk of faith and not a standing still of faith, faith and action are two sides of the same coin. In the book of James, James challenges the religious to show their faith without their works but he will show you his faith by his works.

Friends, your mouth has spoken long enough, it’s time for your actions to speak. People are tired of hearing about your prophecy, or your great and lofty ideas, they want to see action.

You have been talking about the book you want to write for the last 100 years, it’s time you wrote and published the thing, you have been engaged to that woman for too long now, it’s time to marry her or cut her loose so that she can go and find someone who is ready for marriage. You have been talking about how you want to go back to school and get further qualifications, it’s time to do it, that business you have been rumbling about for the last 10 years, go and start it. No more talking, we're tired of your words, we need to see action, action and more action.

I know that for some of you, this word is a kick up the backside, but that is the only way progress comes. It comes by having people in your life to challenge you and provoke you to action. I for one am looking for people that can challenge me, challenge me to go beyond the goals that I have set for myself and reach for more. Not people telling me to slow down, take it easy, calm down slow down, I don’t want to slow down and I am not taking anything easy. I can slow down after I have died, but until then, I want to keep reaching for the high call, and want to utilise every drop of talent and grace that is in my being, and when I run out, then I will slow down.

2008 is the year of the doers and not just the talkers, it’s time to talk and do at the same time. A pastor once said that “the end time posture of every believer should be like that of Nehemiah and his men when they were re-building the wall, they built with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand”.

Another thing you must be aware of this year is that you must not become familiar with your mentors, your mentor is not your best friend, your best friend is comfortable with where you are but your mentor is only comfortable with your future. Your mentor’s job is to challenge you to go forth and achieve and fulfil your destiny. That is the role of a mentor, to challenge you to achieve your goals and fulfil your God-given destiny.

Warning; don’t get too familiar with your mentor, if you do, you won’t be able to receive from them and if you can’t receive from them, then you won’t progress. This is why we find people who’s mentors are millionaires and yet there as broke as can be. Why you may ask? For the reason that I stated earlier, they got familiar with their mentor and forgot that the main reason God will bring you into relationship with a great man, is because he wants you to be great.

God did not bring Elijah into the life of Elisha so that they could drink tea and watch movies together, you can watch movies and drink tea with your neighbour. God brought Elijah into Elisha`s life because Elijah had an anointing and a wisdom and experience that Elisha needed in order to be equipped for his call and destiny. So don’t get too familiar with your mentors, forgetting that they are generals in the kingdom of God, with equipping power to get you to your level of greatness.

A generation of doers and risk takers are the people who will fulfil the great commission and usher in the return of Jesus Christ.

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Friends, it’s time for ACTION.

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The above has been adapted (& edited) from Rev Joseph Njuguna's message to his church congregation whereby for them, 2008 is the year of action!
However, ultimately, as one body of Christ, this message relates very well to us.

More often than not, our words & ideas are not concreted.

Our potential, is untapped.

God has blessings stored up for us that He wants to give, lessons He wants us to learns, people He wants us to meet & touch, lives He wants us to change & transform, ....

areas in our life He is waiting to enLARGE. (:

But it's only if we take that step of faith out of our comfort zone, will we begin to see changes taking place. How then do we expect to see change if we ourselves refuse to change. After all, we are called to be agents of change.

ACTION is not a one day thing. We are faced with countless decisions each day, & thus, it is so important to be strong in our personal & Godly principals. Let our actions portray our faith in Christ & our love for all He has done for us.

It is definitely easier said than done. (haha, especially in my case. =p but definitely learning & wanna give my best, cos God deserves it!! ^^)

But yea, we have friends around that we can be accountable to, that are able to motivate us & encourage us. And most importantly, we have Jesus. (: We have a personal saviour who will walk together with us in this journey of faith. and no matter how hard life is, He understands.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympatize with our weaknesses,

but we have one who has been tempted in every way,

just as we are - yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
NIV Hebrews 4:14-16

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So let's go all out this year!!! ^^

Oh yeah, btw, Happy Chinese New Year to ya all!!! (: