Neuma Perth South Neuma Church

We tend to have in our minds the best-case scenario of how life is going to play out. But many of God’s greatest promises are only fulfilled after we’ve patiently waited, persevered in faith, and refused to give up. 
Hebrews 6:10–15 (ESV)
10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

In John 10, Jesus said, "I lay down my life that I may take it up again... I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.
Others were raised from the dead before Jesus, but none of them had authority in death to take up their own life. And all of them were raised, only to die again. Jesus was different. He had authority to take up his own life, and He was raised to eternal life. We can share in His eternal life, but we must first lay down our lives for Him.

In Psalm 69, David declares to the Lord, "zeal for your house has consumed me." The disciples remembered this verse when Jesus cleared the money-changers from the temple.
Peter calls the people of God (those in His household) to "keep loving one another earnestly," and to use their gifts to "serve one another, as good stewards."
Do you have a zeal for God's house?

Every follower of Jesus is called to lose their life, not only for Jesus, but for the cause of his message - the gospel (Mark 8:35). The Church must take up this call to preach the gospel and make disciples as its greatest purpose before the nations can be reached and the Kingdom of God triumph throughout the earth - a victory we should expect before the return of Christ (Matthew 24:14). As we do our part to intentionally make disciples and advance God's Kingdom, Jesus will do His part to build each local church as a bi-product of His mission. It's time to stop trying to build the church through volunteers at events and start advancing God's Kingdom by making disciples.

Every human heart is prone to believing things that are not true. Our pursuit of Christ is largely about learning how to guard our hearts from believing lies. While Satan is the father of lies and seeks to deceive us, the writers of the New Testament seem to challenge us more to avoid self-deception.
Here are five ways we might be self-deceived, and how a heart of humility and dependence upon God can help us to faithfully guard our hearts.