Body Parts

When a person trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, he or she is made a member of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

 For a church body to function properly, all of its “body parts” need to be present.

1 Corinthians 12:14-20 -  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

A believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without the assistance and encouragement of other believers.

1 Corinthians 12:21-26 - The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Going to church and being around other believers doesn’t make you a Christian but if you are a true believer in Jesus Christ, you will want to go to church and have a desire to be around other believers on a regular basis.

What is your part in "the body"? Are you active or atrophied? 

Clear Vision

Clear Vision communicates God’s plan for you, your family, and the Church. It answers questions like:

Why should we go to church?

Why should we keep going to church?

“Without the God-given habit of corporate worship and the God-given mandate of corporate accountability, we will not prove faithful over the long haul.” – Kevin DeYoung

Do Not Forsake the Assembly

- This is a commandment in Scripture. Hebrews 10:23-25

-  Christian fellowship is one of the signs of a true believer.

- 1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The Bible tells us we need to attend church so we can worship God with other believers. Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The Bible tells us we need to be taught His Word for our spiritual growth. Hebrews 10:25 – Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Church is the place where believers can:

love one another (1 John 4:12),

encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13),

“spur” one another (Hebrews 10:24),

serve one another (Galatians 5:13),

instruct one another (Romans 15:14),

honor one another (Romans 12:10),

be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).

Seek God's clarity for your life this year. It will be the greatest discovery of your life!

The Answer Is...

The question is one we all ask: How can I know God's plan or vision for my life? I heard someone once say on this topic; You seize only what you can see! The problem with that mentality is where does faith come in to the equation? Jesus told us that we are blessed by believing and not seeing. 

Vision without the ability to achieve it makes it only a hallucination! But with God all things are possible and He will give you the ability if it His will, plan, and vision for your life. Here are some ideas on the subject.

Finding your Vision 

1. Vision starts from within - what is your heart

2. Vision draws on your history - past pains and victories

3.  Vision meets others needs - no one lives in a vacuum

4. Vision helps you gather resources - God will make a way

Focus on Listening

1. The inner voice - the Holy Spirit

2. The unhappy voice - God never wastes a hurt

3. The successful voice - where has God successfully used you

4. The higher voice - God's direction through His Spirit and Word

Think about what you would liked changed in this world,

and be willing to do something about it.

Start today!

Which Way to Go

In the Scripture today we see the boy Jesus at the Temple. It is a story most parents can relate to. The Mom and Dad were separated and each one thought Jesus was with the other! They found him days later in the Temple! They were rightly upset, but His answer astounded them.

    ⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”  ⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.  ⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. - Luke 2:41-52

“Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Wow! They didn’t see that coming; did they? I think people would be surprised by that answer from us as well, but aren’t we to be constantly about God’s work?

I want to encourage you to think like that this year. Ask the question every day, “What does God want me to do today?” It’s good to be at work when God is your boss! Follow His directions and you'll never go wrong.

Follow Directions

Here we are starting a new year! With it brings new beginnings and opportunities. It can be a fresh slate for our lives in some respects. For some of us it means doing new things for God. For others maybe it means returning to God’s ways. Let’s look at Matthew 2:19-23 today, and see Jesus’ family returning home, back to Israel and God’s people.

    19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to theland of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Today spend some time looking back. Feel good about Godly accomplishments from last year. Thank and praise God for His provision and direction. We must also look at areas where we were not obedient. Praise and thank God for His forgiveness!

Spend time in prayer listening for His direction and will for your life. He has a special plan and purpose for all of us. Let’s make this year a great one for God. Amen?

Have a good, Godly, and wise year.

Some Things Should Never Change

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2015

1. The Bible will still have the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

I use these same predictions every year, and know they're true.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows - James 1:17

Be wise today and always - know that God never changes!

This is the Day!

Today is the first day of a new year. Last year is behind and a year of fresh beginnings lies ahead. This is the day that the Lord has made - rejoice, be glad, be faithful, and be ready to do things His way in 2015!

Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. - Deuteronomy 4:39

You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. Deuteronomy 26:17

Spend time today getting your heart, mind, and soul focused on Jesus, and putting a smile on His face every day this coming year.

Amen?