More Words

We all need encouragement. I came across these quotes recently.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." 

"Believe you can and you're halfway there."  

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." 

"The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything." 

These are very wise but the best words come from Bible.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

Take the promises of God to encourage and give you peace. Focus on success in God's eyes not the world's. You will put a smile on His face and will be able to sleep better at night.

Joined Prayer

The church still has an audience to reach. We get confused about the message and the method of evangelism.  The message is sacred (truth of the Gospel) but the method to share the Gospel to the world is not. You may have to change your way of outreach to reach your community more effectively. Jesus said in Matthew 9:17: “No one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” (NLT)

Often, we’re too attached to those old wineskins to be the church God calls us to be. We want God to do something new in our congregation, but we’re not willing to make the changes to see that happen.

As a Christ follower, you can see there’s a need for change, particularly in being open to new ways of sharing Jesus. You and those in your faith community have to renew your relationship with God, with one another, and to God’s mission in your community before you’ll ever see lasting change. After all is about us or the Lord - My way or His way?

Are you ready for God to do something new in you midst?

I am praying for a change in order to bring revival to our churches, cities, states, country, and world. Will you join me?

What Good Thing

One thing I love about Jesus is that He knows all our flaws and loves us anyway. He will point them out if we ask……but watch out because the answer my reveal to us something about ourselves that we didn’t realize. It can be quite humbling because we typically think of ourselves better than we truly are. Jesus points out the truth. Take the young man in the scripture below. He just told Jesus that he has obeyed all the commandments (my advice: never tell Jesus that because a severe humbling will follow). Now without saying “No you haven’t!” or scolding him Jesus simply says that he must sell his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow me. In his refusal, the young man showed that he did not in fact keep the commandments Jesus listed. By refusing to sell his possessions and give to the poor he showed he did not love his neighbor as himself. Most of all it showed that the man broke the greatest commandment by putting his wealth ahead of obeying God.

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”  “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:16-22

This was a personalized prescription Jesus gave to heal a huge disease the young man wasn’t aware he had in his heart. The young man truly believed he was righteous and didn’t realize just how important his wealth was to him. Once Jesus pointed it out the man went away sad.

So, I’m not saying we need to sell all our possessions to show we love our neighbor. But I am saying that how we hang onto our wealth says a great deal about how much we trust God and love our neighbors. If we have a heart like Jesus we will always be willing to financially meet a need if God prompts us to do so.

Next time God has a need come across your path I challenge you to open your hands to God and give beyond what you can afford and see how He will bless you in return. Having a heart like Jesus means having sensitivity and a willingness to give to those in need trusting that God will meet your needs. He always does - Amen?

Need Church

This past Sunday I preached on Why we need the church. A lot of the message was inspired by a book, Stop Dating the Church by Joshua Harris, that I read 15 years ago. Some things never change. The local church is different than an online group, neighborhood Bible study, or religious TV programs. None of them can substitute for a local church that displays the distinct qualities of a God honoring community. None can provide an individual believer with the leadership of a Pastor, or the care and encouragement of a many- textured, but mutually committed church family.

In Hebrews 10:19-25 we see the process of “sanctification” worked out in the church setting: ^“19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵not giving 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.”

1. We’re encouraged to draw close to God and relate to Him personally and intimately.

2. We’re invited to confidently “enter the Holy places by the blood of Jesus!”

3. We’re encouraged to stand strong in our faith as believers.

4. We have Pastors to encourage us, to help us apply God’s Word to our lives, and to help us see our sins.

When a church is together to worship and to hear God’s Word preached, nourishment and encouragement occur that can’t happen quite the same anywhere else.

Inner Peace

It is Jesus' desire for us to have His peace. It is a peace we may not be able to understand, but need to readily accept. He also calls His followers to live a peaceful life.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.- Jesus in Matthew 5:9

Having an inner peace can only come from having an immovable trust in the Lord. It comes from focusing on God and not on your circumstances. It is the true belief that all things are possible with God (Matt 19:26), that He truly does work all things together for good (Rom 8:28), that if you trust in the Lord with all your heart He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

What causes you to be stressful, hassled, or troubled?

Have you asked God to take control of your life?

Ask yourself why do feel anxiety instead of peace, is it because you don’t trust God is really for you or are you afraid that His path isn’t where you want to go?

Having Jesus' peace means trusting God in all things past, present and future. Release your cares and receive His grace, mercy, love, and peace right now. Amen?

Go Fish

Over time as you study God’s Word you will discover that there is a deeper meaning to almost everything Jesus says. As He called His disciples He was specific in His choices and clear about His expectations. In Mark 1:17 Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men”. Many of us were taught the Jesus used this language because many of His students were previously fishermen (of fish) and now they would catch people with the life saving truth of Jesus. This is a good explanation but it goes much deeper than that.

You see people of that time would have known the qualities of a great fisherman. Jesus did to and knew these same qualities would be needed in sharing the Gospel. I was recently reading an article by O S Hawkins who said that following Jesus means you’ll be expected to fish! Those same “fishing traits” are what God looks for in His followers today.

Four traits of a real fisherman (and follower of Christ):

1. They are positive. Every day is a good day to catch a fish (or witness).

2. They are persistent. They will never give up until they catch a fish (or share the Gospel).

3. They are patient. They (both) will try different methods to reach the goal, and wait as long as necessary.

4. They are passionate. They (both) hate to lose one! Fishing, (following, evangelizing) is their life.

Jesus still uses ordinary people to do things extraordinary for His kingdom and glory. Amen?

Mission Accomplished

God provides everything we need to accomplish His mission here on earth. We need to be sure we are plugged in to the power source, the Hoy Spirit! We must stand firm on His truth:

2 Chronicles 20:17 •  You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you."

Psalm 40:2 • He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Matthew 10:22  • All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:13  •  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 15:58 • Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Galatians 5:1 • It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 6:11-14 • Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (13) • Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand .(14) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

God has given us His Word to urge us forward.  His recovery plan is found in the Word. He has given us  the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Are you for him?

Will let Him empower you?

Are you willing to take a stand to let His glory shine through you?