All Nations Christian Fellowship

God provides for both our earthly needs and the wellbeing of our soul so we can become Kingdom people. Though our minds may race with concerns, God calls us to trust Him, rest in His presence, and remember who He is - our loving Father who knows our needs and faithfully cares for us. Are we fully convinced by faith that wherever we go and whatever we do, God Himself is with us? He will never let us down when we place our trust in Him.

Sometimes we can forget that we are constantly under the care of our Heavenly Father, and we become anxious, allowing our concerns to grow out of proportion. The remedy for worry is choosing to trust the Lord in every situation in our lives We cannot have true peace or grow as believers unless we are willing to fully trust in Him.

We need to understand what surrender truly is, so that we’re not deceived. It’s not just what we say - our lips can be close to Jesus while our hearts are far from Him. Nor is it what we know - we can understand the Bible well and still not live surrendered lives. Surrender is shown in what we do, especially in how we treat and love others, even those who are difficult. It means being doers of the Word, not just hearers. When our relationship with Jesus is right, surrender comes naturally - the two cannot be separated.

When we understand God's mercy, we begin to see why surrender is so important. Surrender is not about meeting a list of church expectations - attending church, using Christian phrases, listening to sermons or having Christian friends. We can do all these things and create a form of godliness around us but inside we are powerless and full of hypocrisy and sin. We want to be people who don’t just appear good on the outside, but are truly transformed within.

When we truly taste and understand the mercy of God, we are transformed into people who live lives of surrender. We begin to show mercy over judgment, show grace, and become slow to judge or point the finger at others. We love even when it's difficult, and go the extra mile. In this way, we become just like Jesus.

It is within our nature to battle with self-righteousness - it makes us self-reliant, always assuming we're right, and leads us to look down on others. But in the House of God, this should never be the case. The secret to overcoming self-righteousness as a Christian is to respond to Jesus' call to die to self. Turn away from gossip, criticism and belittling others, and instead do all things with a genuine and sincere conscience. If you stay humble and broken, you guard yourself.

People come to Jesus in different ways, but what matters is that we encounter Him in a personal way and discover who He truly is. Come, listen to Him, let Him feed and transform you. The issues, problems and darkness in this world can create a pessimism in us, but faith can lift us out of any doubt or confusion and allow us to experience the life He intends for us.

When the apostles first received the Great Commission, they doubted - much like many believers today who question the authority Christ has given us. Yet Jesus calls all who follow Him to go and be a witness of the change that God has made in our lives and to reflect the wisdom, healing, rest and freedom found in Him

Jesus' invitation to 'Follow Me' is an invitation into His mercy. We must decide whether to trust Him and step forward in faith, or remain in the comfort and security of our old lives. God desires mercy rather than mere religious duty. It is possible to practice outward faith while lacking true compassion within. The need to merciful often challenges the way we usually do things. Yes it is also what restores, heals and brings life. Can we be a church that abounds in mercy?

God is concerned with the condition of our hearts, not outward appearances. While we can try and hide behind a facade, the heart is most often revealed through our words, how we use our resources, and how we respond to the circumstances we face in life. To protect our hearts, we must intentionally and daily renew them through God's Word and by being careful about what we allow our eyes to see and ears to hear from this world. Jesus gives us the power for true and lasting transformation in our hearts and lives.

Everyone has a picture of the good life, but in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus radically redefines it. The good life belongs to people we wouldn't normally expect - the powerless, people formed by God's power, and those that live a life God's way at a cost. It's easy to live a safe, comfortable, predictable life as a Christian, but Jesus invites us to depend on Him, pursue right relationships with others and remain faithful in difficulties and persecutions. Are you willing to reframe your version of the good life?

Every believer is called to be a saint and to be sanctified in Christ Jesus. This means being set apart from sin, the world, and our old ways, and instead becoming more and more like Jesus. This call is for all Christians, not just a select few, and it is the most important calling of our lives. Understanding that God's primary work is forming godly character in us gives perspective to every area of life, removes confusion and anxiety, and leads to true joy, peace and fulfilment.

In all the changes and goals we want to achieve this year, there are some things that must remain the same. We need to be steadfast in our understanding of and dependency on the mercy of God in everything we experience. And amid the distractions of life and glamorous things that can draw us away, we must remember that remaining steadfast in our devotion and faithfulness to God is what matters most to Him. Let's commit all our plans and ways to Him this year, and remain steadfast.

When we declare Jesus as the Son of the living God, we are to live with bold conviction that He alone is our hope for healing and salvation. His life of humility - from the manger to the cross - keeps us grounded and humble, and leads us to serve and treat others as He did. We are called to a faithful surrender and to choose the will of God every time, just as Jesus did.

When Moses asked to see God's glory, God revealed not his face, but His character - His goodness, graciousness and compassion. Our purpose is to live out these same qualities, not for us to receive the glory but for God to be glorified. Living for His glory shapes our mindset in every moment, every action and every interaction, and grants us a life of true freedom.

In His Word, God emphasises how important His glory is - and if it's important to Him, it should be just as important to us. His glory is not a secret. Every time we live in a way that shows love, selflessness and humility, it reveals God in our lives, and the world sees it and glorifies Him. If it is something He asks us to do, He will always give us the ability to do it and glorify Him, no matter how challenging our circumstances may sometimes be. 

The very reason for our existence and we God created us, is to glorify Him in this world so that others may see and come to know Him. It becomes our purpose in everything we pursue in life. God's glory often shines most brightly in unexpected moments, especially when grace is shown to those who may be 'undeserving' or 'unworthy'. In these moments, we become the face of Jesus to others, revealing His glory as a sweet smelling aroma.

Glorifying God is the heartbeat of who we are. He can be glorified in many aspects of our lives. When we love one another, lay down our lives and serve each other as Jesus did, this brings glory to the Father. Even in conflict or disagreement, our aim should always be to glorify God through Christlike love in the way we resolve things. When it comes to our past sins, God can still use them for His glory, by transforming our future. This is ultimately God's work within us, not something we achieve on our own.

Living by the rules and laws of this world is important but our calling is to live for the glory of God. Wen we understand that He is worthy of everything, we are transformed to live genuine, authentic lives that reflect and glorify God in everything we do.

The final message in the series. To follow Jesus is to completely trust Him and surrender our own ways. When He calls, we are to respond immediately - letting go of worldly priorities and all that we have, without excuses. God wants our full heart. Only when we truly surrender will we find complete peace and rest.

To take up your cross and follow Jesus means surrendering to God's will and waiting on Him to deliver you. "Nevertheless, Your will be done, O Lord". It is death to self and not putting down the cross when life becomes hard. Many love Jesus, but few love the cross - yet it is through the cross and surrender that we become more and more like Him.

There are not many experiences more beautiful and freeing than experiencing God's forgiveness when we feel heavy and troubled by our sin. But forgiveness is not just settling our sin with God - it is being done with the old life and leaving it behind. true forgiveness brings a new life - walking humbly, in truth, and as children of God, now being free to love.

In the second part of this series, we examine what it looks like to die to yourself. True growth doesn't come from simply wanting Jesus, but by denying your flesh to experience His power. Go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, and live a life of self-denial to truly be like Jesus. This is your freedom.

Jesus makes it clear what the prerequisites are if we are to come after Him. Join us as we unravel and discover what it truly means to follow Jesus. Listen to the call of Christ to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.

Coming to church is more than a Sunday morning experience. The more you pour yourself into God's house, the greater richness and treasure He pours into your soul. When you consistently throw yourself at the things of God - at the cost of everything else - you begin to experience His fullness and grow deeper in Christ.

When we become doers of the Word, we can't help but be transformed and by default, we will stand out and be a peculiar people. We will not look, talk, act or love like the world as the Word of God that is at work in us makes us different. Our obedience changes us, our faith separates us and when we act as God calls us to, the more we reflect the Son and become a beacon of light for the world.

Several decades ago, God laid a foundation for the All Nations Christian Fellowship Church that its members today have the honour to keep building. Find out more about the history of ANCF.

The two reasons people come to church, is to come face to face with God, and face to face with themselves.

Jesus is the true vine and everything we do and commit ourselves to in this world should flow out of a relationship with Him. We cannot afford to think that we can live a Christian life without first abiding in Christ. The more we do this, the more He increases in us and the more fruit we will naturally produce.

A humble person recognises the sin in their life and turns to Jesus for forgiveness. A proud and self-righteous person on the other hand is blind to their sins and can't see the need to repent. In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collection, the Pharisee is a picture of pride that Jesus warns us about. Even though the Pharisee had good works, disciplined behaviour and kept the law on the outside, on the inside he was blind to the corruption of his heart - self-worship, hypocrisy and a lack of love for others. In contrast, the tax collector who was considered to be one of the worst sinners, showed humility by recognising his sin and repented. The tax collector was ultimately justified before God, while the Pharisee, who thought he was doing well, was not. Humility is a door through which salvation, blessings and knowledge come. We must guard our hearts against pride and self-righteousness if we want to have the relationship that God is calling us to have. [Speaker: CJ]

Many things in this life are enjoyable and good. But not everything we do is for eternity. As Christians, we are called to a mission with eternal purpose. This mission doesn't have to appear grand or mighty. It is simply fulfilled by living in a way that reflects Christ, as He has called us to do. When we live this way, others will see Him through us. [Speaker: Barry]

Every time Jesus made an “I Am” statement, He was declaring who He is. No one can compare to Him, replace Him, or come before or after Him. So do we dare to trust Him? When we are hungry, will we go to the Bread of Life? When we are in darkness, will we turn to the Light of the World? When faced with our mortality, will we trust the Resurrection and the Life? No other “gods” could ever replace Him, or even come close.

The world today paves a wide path to destruction. From pleasure seeking, materialism to pride, sin and temptation is increasingly taking over the culture.  But Jesus is calling us to find true life in Him by turning away from the wide path that leads to destruction and striving to enter into the narrow gate that leads to life. This involves being transformed both on the inside and on the outside, and seeking to please God in everything we do. It's not about how close we can walk to sin and destruction, but how far we can run from it to find life.  So let your faith, your love for God, and your desire to follow Him transform your life into the life He's calling you to live. Flee the wide path and ask God to guide you, strengthen you, and keep you on the narrow path.

God is unchanging - the Great I Am - who calls us to wholehearted surrender, not a divided life that is half in and half out. He set us free through the sacrifice of His Son, not so we could return to sin, but to worship and serve Him in true freedom. To follow Him fully, we must confront and let go of the 'little gods' in our hearts - People, Possessions, and Plans - that compete for His rightful place.

When Jesus saves us, He brings us into fellowship with Him and transforms us - not to simply make us good people, but to make us more like Him. Every time God reveals something about his character, it is to deepen our understanding and obedience, shaping us into the people He created us to be.

God, the great 'I Am', has freed us from hopelessness so we can live in worship, faithfulness, and gratitude. Rather than worry about the future, we are called to trust Him and be faithful today, knowing that in His perfect timing, He will show us how to serve Him.

The name of Jesus is above every name. We pray in His name, serve in His name, bow before His name and confess He is Lord. And one day, we will see Jesus coming  back in His glorious name. Do you dare to believe in His name?

God remains Who He is, despite what we think of Him. From the beginning og time, the people of God have known Him as the Lord Who is with us, Who is Peace, Who heals, is a Promise-Keeper, Almighty, a Shepherd to His people and a Provider. These attributes of God continue to eternity. 

Our hope extends beyond what we can achieve with our own abilities. It should rest entirely on how God can work in our lives, and be firmly rooted in Him who can do far more than we could ever ask or think.

We can't claim to be Christians while consistently producing bad fruit, doing Christianity on our own terms. We must depend fully on Christ and be planted in Him, so that we can bear good fruit that honours Him, regardless of the season, both in good times and bad.

We must be people who live according to the beliefs we claim to have in following God's Word. Jesus urges us to make Him the anchor of our lives so that we truly abide in Him. Simply knowing God's Word is not abiding in Him. We need to carry God's Word in our hearts, and trust it enough to live by it and for it with all our life.

The Word of God does not get old or outdated. If you believe it, you are compelled to live by it. Abiding is not just coming to church, flicking through your Bible or listening to sermons. Aboding is choosing to follow the Word of God and everything Jesus says in order to bear fruit that reflects the love and life and character of Christ.

We need to guard our thoughts and nurture a Christ-like mindset. The mind often finds fault with others, overlooks personal envy, and distorts reality, making us believe our suffering is worse than everyone else. To avoid destructive thinking, we need to constantly renew our minds in order to discern His will and stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

As we go through life, work on having the right mindset to be able to overcome strongholds and to navigate life's challenges. Our mind can serve as a filter to all our thoughts to guard our hearts. We are able to 'gird the loins' of our mind by reading the Bible to distinguish truth, reminding ourselves of God's promises, and reciting and speaking His word. These bring us peace and freedom.

God had a plan for Paul, and even though Paul was not deserving of it, God's amazing grace abounded in his life. Paul became a vessel that God used for His glory. In this same way, we are the clay and God is the potter and wants to prepare and use us for every good work.

Paul went from being someone committed to eradicating Christians, to being vulnerable and utterly dependent on Christians. God took Paul's passion to destroy and transformed it into a passion for Jesus, telling everyone from Gentiles to Kings about who Jesus is. God has a way of speaking into people's lives, even to the most hardened of hearts.

Before his conversion, the apostle Paul was passionate about what he believed, but was very misguided. What became important for Paul, and what is important for us today, was what Paul was going to do when he met Jesus for the first time. Would he be humble enough to receive Him?

When we live faithfully, humbly, selflessly, and sincerely we don't have to say a word about who we are, people will see it. As we continue to surrender to God, faith, love and grace will transform our lives and reflect who He is in all we do.

God's word encourages us to speak well, speak life and speak the things that will help and build others, even when they choose not to speak it to us. Be the one that represents Chris to those around you in whatever situation you are in.