Is More

When we are called by the Holy Spirit to God’s work we sometimes feel inadequate, unprepared, and not worthy. You are not alone in your feelings. One of my favorite songs deals with this.  Please contemplate and meditate on the following words:

More Than Enough by Jeremy Camp

You are my supply, My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know.
You are my reward, Worth living for
Still more awesome than I know.

You're my sacrifice, Of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know.
You're my coming King, You're my everything
Still more awesome than I know.

And all of you, Is more than enough for All of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with your love
And all I have in you is more than enough

Knowing and believing that Jesus gives us more than what we need help us in doing Spiritual work.

Amen?

Best Food

Ever grow tired of doing good? Jesus was faint and hungry in John 4, so the disciples went to purchase food. When they returned, they were astonished at the change in Him. He was sitting up, face animated, eyes kindled. ³⁴"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. ³⁵Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. ³⁶Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. ³⁸I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."From this passage with its images, we may discover several laws of spiritual work.

1. Spiritual work is refreshing to soul and body (v. 34). If we love spiritual work, it will kindle our souls. What does this look like?

2. There are seasons in the spiritual sphere, of sowing and reaping, just as in farming (v. 35). How are farming and evangelism similar?

3. Spiritual work links the workers in unity (v. 36). What steps can we take to be unified in what God desires for us to do?

4. Spiritual work has rich rewards (vv. 36–38).  God will reward all we do, and all we try to do, and all we wish to do. What do spiritual rewards look like?

May we always remember who we work for and what it’s all about. Amen?

Growing Things

Growing Things

Today we’ll continue to look at the “new things” Christ wants for us. God’s Word says, You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. Isaiah 48:6

The key is we must break through barriers to grow as God would have us.

You must develop an unshakable conviction about growth - Colossians 2:19 He doesn't hold on to [Christ,] the head. Christ makes the whole body grow as God wants it to, through support and unity given by the joints and ligaments.) –

They lost their heads to Jesus! Whose head (mind) do you follow? Jesus made it clear in Matthew 8:18-22 – When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. ¹⁹Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." ²⁰Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." ²¹Another disciple said to him, "LORD, first let me go and bury my father." ²²But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

What keeps or disqualifies you from following Christ?

Working For

Happy Labor Day! Some of us love what we do, and others...well let's say there are challenges. Sometimes we may not feel appreciated. The Bible has great wisdom on the subject. Don’t be discouraged when your 

service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on 

serving God! 

“Throw yourselves into the work of the 

Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste

of time or effort.” I Corinthians 15:58 (MSG)

Even the smallest service is noticed by God and will be rewarded. Remember the words of Jesus: “If, as my representatives, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42 (LB)

Remember who you're working for - love God by serving others. Amen?

Think Serving

Serving God starts in your mind - we need a new way of thinking!

 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7

 Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes:

- Servants think more about others than about themselves.

- Servants think like stewards, not owners.

- Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.

- Servants base their identity in Christ.

- And servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.

When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows you to really serve them best.

Imagine what could happen if just 10 percent of all Christians in the world got serious about their role as real servants. Imagine all the good that could be done.

 Are you willing to be one of those people?

Always think of Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself third = JOY!

Working Convictions

You have to develop a deep conviction about growing in Christ because:

1. God commands growth. He did so through the Great Commission.

2. People demand it. The world is desperately looking for the truth.

Consider this Game Changer PEACE Plan

P – New Production – resources – Holy Spirit

E- New Energy – people, ideas, technology – The Word

A- New Attitude – we will win/succeed/overcome – Fruits of the Spirit

C- New Clarity – laser focus – no looking back (Think, Pray, and Ask)

E- New Expectations – Challenge your 1. Priorities 2. Faith 3. Small Thinking

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 65:17

Are you ready to be a game changer?

Game Changers

We’ve heard it said that an opinion is something you’ll argue about; but a conviction is something you’ll die for. We must settle the issue that God wants his church to grow. All living things grow. If a church is alive, it grows. Growing a healthy church is hard work, and unless you clarify your convictions, you’re going to be tempted to give up. Our desire should not be an average or normal church. Good is not good enough.

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Isaiah 42:9

Four proven game changers – How can we apply these attributes to our lives and churches?

#1 Energy – not deadness -  but Life

#2 Expectation – challenges – raise the bar

#3 Excitement – Anticipation – What’s next?

#4 Excellence -God requires and responds to this

If we do these things, how will it change us?