What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. So what Ruth did for Naomi after the death of her husband and her sons, God made sure that Boaz did for Ruth. Never forget that God not only wants to bless the one being helped, but also the one helping, whom God will bless with more than enough to provide for those He has chosen to `redeem'. Economics was never a valid reason for refusing to `redeem' another person, and it's still not a valid reason for any church to not help its community today. The decision to help the poor, the hurting and the broken is the best economic decision any church can ever make. Paul Scanlon- "Crossing Over"
Every church leader should read this book!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Home Going for Mom
Dear Friends,
Just a post to let you know my dear mother, Loretta Keith went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 26th at 3:00 P.M. She was surrounded by her three children, Debbie, Mickey and David, as well as by many other family members.
She is now surrounded by a Heavenly host of angels, N.T. saints, O.T. patriarchs, her contemporaries and family members who have died ..in Christ, among whom are her parents, her sister and her loving husband, John Keith. As we said goodbye, they said hello and welcomed her into eternal rest and peace.
From this planet, we cannot imagine the joy, freedom and beauty of the home Jesus has been preparing for her for the past 2,000 years. "Beloved, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him..."
Mom drew her last breath here Sunday afternoon, and the next breath she drew was in the presence of Jesus. You see, the Bible teaches us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
So, today, we do not weep as those who have no hope...but we rejoice in her home going...No more pain, tears or death! She is home at last!
Her life was characterized by over five decades of Christian service. Her dedication to the cause of Christ and to the local church are hallmarks well known to those who loved her. We would do well to pattern our lives after such a self-less model of grace and dignity.
Loving thanks is extended to our Life Community Church family for their continued prayers and support during her illness. Mother also had incredible prayer support from the Independent Assemblies fellowship members nation-wide. Her relationships with many friends in the ministry helped to mold her character and spirit.
Special thanks goes out to the management and staff of Sterling House of Ada, where mother lived since August of 2007. This incredible team of health care professionals went above and beyond the level of expected care, and loved my mom like their own family. May God's grace rest upon you all.
Also, my appreciation is expressed to Doctor JoAnn Carpenter, and to the employees of Victory Home Health, Encompass Home Health and McCortney's Hospice for the exceptional care given during this difficult time.
The Keith family will be forever grateful to you all!
You are invited to the home going celebration for Loretta Joyce Keith, Thursday, April 30 at 2:00PM in the chapel of Criswell Funeral Home, 815 Arlington in Ada.
May our memories be bright and may we live our lives in such a way as to bring honor to the life of this precious woman of God.
Blessings to you all,
Mickey
Just a post to let you know my dear mother, Loretta Keith went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 26th at 3:00 P.M. She was surrounded by her three children, Debbie, Mickey and David, as well as by many other family members.
She is now surrounded by a Heavenly host of angels, N.T. saints, O.T. patriarchs, her contemporaries and family members who have died ..in Christ, among whom are her parents, her sister and her loving husband, John Keith. As we said goodbye, they said hello and welcomed her into eternal rest and peace.
From this planet, we cannot imagine the joy, freedom and beauty of the home Jesus has been preparing for her for the past 2,000 years. "Beloved, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him..."
Mom drew her last breath here Sunday afternoon, and the next breath she drew was in the presence of Jesus. You see, the Bible teaches us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
So, today, we do not weep as those who have no hope...but we rejoice in her home going...No more pain, tears or death! She is home at last!
Her life was characterized by over five decades of Christian service. Her dedication to the cause of Christ and to the local church are hallmarks well known to those who loved her. We would do well to pattern our lives after such a self-less model of grace and dignity.
Loving thanks is extended to our Life Community Church family for their continued prayers and support during her illness. Mother also had incredible prayer support from the Independent Assemblies fellowship members nation-wide. Her relationships with many friends in the ministry helped to mold her character and spirit.
Special thanks goes out to the management and staff of Sterling House of Ada, where mother lived since August of 2007. This incredible team of health care professionals went above and beyond the level of expected care, and loved my mom like their own family. May God's grace rest upon you all.
Also, my appreciation is expressed to Doctor JoAnn Carpenter, and to the employees of Victory Home Health, Encompass Home Health and McCortney's Hospice for the exceptional care given during this difficult time.
The Keith family will be forever grateful to you all!
You are invited to the home going celebration for Loretta Joyce Keith, Thursday, April 30 at 2:00PM in the chapel of Criswell Funeral Home, 815 Arlington in Ada.
May our memories be bright and may we live our lives in such a way as to bring honor to the life of this precious woman of God.
Blessings to you all,
Mickey
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Annniversary Celebration
Everyone loves a party!
Life Community Church of Ada, Oklahoma celebrates the 3rd Anniversary on March 1st, 2009! To God be the Glory, great things He has done...
God has been so good to bring so many wonderful people together, give them such love for one another, and pour His Spirit into their lives so that they impact not only their immediate surroundings with His love, but they touch the nations of the world as well.
"Lifers' will tell you, it's not about politics and programs, religion and rules...but we are experiencing authentic Christianity in a non threatening, warm environment. The culture of this church is different than what you find in most places called`church'..It's about Jesus! He is the main attraction!
Casual Environment; Serious Faith- that's Life Community Church
Life Community Church of Ada, Oklahoma celebrates the 3rd Anniversary on March 1st, 2009! To God be the Glory, great things He has done...
God has been so good to bring so many wonderful people together, give them such love for one another, and pour His Spirit into their lives so that they impact not only their immediate surroundings with His love, but they touch the nations of the world as well.
"Lifers' will tell you, it's not about politics and programs, religion and rules...but we are experiencing authentic Christianity in a non threatening, warm environment. The culture of this church is different than what you find in most places called`church'..It's about Jesus! He is the main attraction!
Casual Environment; Serious Faith- that's Life Community Church
How To Get God's Attention
The following are just a few ways to get Heaven’s attention-
1. Humility-
James 4:6-10 NLT “But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”
I Peter 5:5-6 NIV “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
2. Unity-
Psalm 133:1-3 NIV “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore
Matthew 18:19 NIV “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:19 AMP “Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
3. Persevering Prayer-
Luke 18:1-8 NIV “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Rev. 8:3-4 NLT “Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.
4. Faith-
Mark 7:24-28 NLT “Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.
Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”
Mark 11:22-24 NIV “"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.”I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen; it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 5:26-34 KJV “ And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
She pressed through the crowd to get Jesus’ attention. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Desperation plus faith equals a breakthrough!
We have to `press through’ our unbelief...our negative thinking…our theology…the words of others.
5. Repentance-
Luke 15:8-10 NIV “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 18:9-14 NIV “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
6. Worship-
John 4:23-24 KJV “But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
If you’re looking for God, stop looking, and start worshipping Him...He will come and find you!
Gideon created true worship when he destroyed his idols…Singing is not worship/technical ability is not worship/It is not about lights, music and performance.
Worship is a devoted lifestyle of a humble believer in recognition of his total dependence on a Living God who is worthy of all honor and glory!
7. Prayer/Giving – Acts 10:1-4 NIV “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”
1. Humility-
James 4:6-10 NLT “But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”
I Peter 5:5-6 NIV “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
2. Unity-
Psalm 133:1-3 NIV “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore
Matthew 18:19 NIV “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:19 AMP “Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
3. Persevering Prayer-
Luke 18:1-8 NIV “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Rev. 8:3-4 NLT “Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.
4. Faith-
Mark 7:24-28 NLT “Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.
Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”
Mark 11:22-24 NIV “"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.”I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen; it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 5:26-34 KJV “ And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
She pressed through the crowd to get Jesus’ attention. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Desperation plus faith equals a breakthrough!
We have to `press through’ our unbelief...our negative thinking…our theology…the words of others.
5. Repentance-
Luke 15:8-10 NIV “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 18:9-14 NIV “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
6. Worship-
John 4:23-24 KJV “But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
If you’re looking for God, stop looking, and start worshipping Him...He will come and find you!
Gideon created true worship when he destroyed his idols…Singing is not worship/technical ability is not worship/It is not about lights, music and performance.
Worship is a devoted lifestyle of a humble believer in recognition of his total dependence on a Living God who is worthy of all honor and glory!
7. Prayer/Giving – Acts 10:1-4 NIV “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”
Monday, December 8, 2008
Who is This Jesus?
In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They answered, “Some say Jeremiah, Elijah or some other prophet.” But then he asked the question for all ages- “Who do YOU say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Messiah, the son of the Living God.” Jesus told him that his correct answer came by Divine revelation! The Message Paraphrase says, “You didn’t get that answer out of books or from your teachers”.
John, the apostle of love, who leaned on the breast of Jesus at the last supper, wrote concerning his eye witness account of Jesus’ life and ministry-
1 John 1:1-3 NIV “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
History is full of men who have claimed to be God, or to have come with a message from God. But only One is the truly Divine Son of God!
John 1:1-3, 14 NIV “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Not only is Jesus the Son of God, but He is God the Son! As the Word (Greek-`logos’- thought and expression of God), He was pre-existent with God the Father at the Creation of the universe and beyond!
Col. 1:15-18 NIV “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Col. 2:9-10 NIV “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”
In the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians, we see the totality of what Jesus Christ gave up as He divested Himself of equality with God to become one of us-
Phil. 2:5-11 NIV “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
If God sent someone or came Himself with a message so important that all of humanity needed to hear it, it seems reasonable that He would first let men know when the messenger would come, and where he would be born. He could also tell us what doctrine he would teach and how he would die. Prophecies such as this would certainly add to the authenticity of one claiming to be a supreme being with a supreme message for mankind.
Isaiah 9:6, 7 NIV “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 7:14 NIV “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
When an ambassador comes from a foreign country, the government requires documentation verifying his true identity. How much more should we ask of someone claiming to be God’s messenger.
No religious leader has ever had anyone foretell his birth, pre-announcing their arrival on earth. But with Jesus, everything was different! He was the “the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But to as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:9-12
Because of Old Testament prophecies, Christ’s coming was not unexpected. When you compare the 300+messianic prophecies to the 33 year life of Jesus of Nazareth, there can be no doubt that He is more than a man…But the Son of the Living God!
Not only did the prophets of old foretell the coming of Messiah, but angelic hosts announced, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth; good will toward men…”
Not only was Christ’s birth predicted and his coming heralded, but his life had such an impact that it divided history in to B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (anno Domini- Latin for `in the year of our Lord’)
Every atheist and sinner must acknowledge Christ with each check written, and the turning of each calendar page.
“Every person who ever came into this world came to live. He came to die.” To Christ, death was the fulfillment of His life. All of his words and actions revolve around the cross. Each of us had our life story begin with birth and end at death. But Jesus’ death preceded His birth. He is the “Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.” The cross cast a shadow back over His entire life.
Isaiah 9:2 NIV “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
John 1:4-5 NIV “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
Christ was more than a mere man!
If He is what He claimed to be, Savior, redeemer, and King then we have a powerful Lord worth following in these terrible days! We need a Christ who is fearless and loving even to the death…One who is forgiving and willing to make the total sacrifice for us. Jesus has already proven His great love for you!
He was God’s plan to bring redemption, the new birth, peace and goodwill to the hearts of men! It was not enough to teach men how to be good; but Christ provided the power for men to live Godly lives.
Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote-
“In the filthiest place in the world, a stable, purity was born. He who later was to be slaughtered by men acting as beasts was born among beasts. He who would call Himself the “Living bread descended from Heaven” was laid in a manger (Literally, a place to eat). Centuries before, the Jews had worshipped the golden calf, and the Greeks worshipped a donkey. Men bowed before them as God. The ox and the donkey were now present to bow down before their God.
No worldly mind would have suspected that He, who clothed the fields, would someday be naked. That He, Whose hands spun the stars and planets into orbit, would one day have tiny arms not long enough to reach the huge heads of cattle; that the feet that trod the everlasting hills would one day be too weak to walk; that the Eternal Word would be unable to speak; that Omnipotence would be wrapped in swaddling clothes; that Salvation would lie in a manger.”
And that is exactly why they missed Him! Divinity is always where on least expects to find it.
John, the apostle of love, who leaned on the breast of Jesus at the last supper, wrote concerning his eye witness account of Jesus’ life and ministry-
1 John 1:1-3 NIV “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
History is full of men who have claimed to be God, or to have come with a message from God. But only One is the truly Divine Son of God!
John 1:1-3, 14 NIV “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Not only is Jesus the Son of God, but He is God the Son! As the Word (Greek-`logos’- thought and expression of God), He was pre-existent with God the Father at the Creation of the universe and beyond!
Col. 1:15-18 NIV “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Col. 2:9-10 NIV “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”
In the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians, we see the totality of what Jesus Christ gave up as He divested Himself of equality with God to become one of us-
Phil. 2:5-11 NIV “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
If God sent someone or came Himself with a message so important that all of humanity needed to hear it, it seems reasonable that He would first let men know when the messenger would come, and where he would be born. He could also tell us what doctrine he would teach and how he would die. Prophecies such as this would certainly add to the authenticity of one claiming to be a supreme being with a supreme message for mankind.
Isaiah 9:6, 7 NIV “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 7:14 NIV “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
When an ambassador comes from a foreign country, the government requires documentation verifying his true identity. How much more should we ask of someone claiming to be God’s messenger.
No religious leader has ever had anyone foretell his birth, pre-announcing their arrival on earth. But with Jesus, everything was different! He was the “the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But to as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:9-12
Because of Old Testament prophecies, Christ’s coming was not unexpected. When you compare the 300+messianic prophecies to the 33 year life of Jesus of Nazareth, there can be no doubt that He is more than a man…But the Son of the Living God!
Not only did the prophets of old foretell the coming of Messiah, but angelic hosts announced, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth; good will toward men…”
Not only was Christ’s birth predicted and his coming heralded, but his life had such an impact that it divided history in to B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (anno Domini- Latin for `in the year of our Lord’)
Every atheist and sinner must acknowledge Christ with each check written, and the turning of each calendar page.
“Every person who ever came into this world came to live. He came to die.” To Christ, death was the fulfillment of His life. All of his words and actions revolve around the cross. Each of us had our life story begin with birth and end at death. But Jesus’ death preceded His birth. He is the “Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.” The cross cast a shadow back over His entire life.
Isaiah 9:2 NIV “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
John 1:4-5 NIV “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
Christ was more than a mere man!
If He is what He claimed to be, Savior, redeemer, and King then we have a powerful Lord worth following in these terrible days! We need a Christ who is fearless and loving even to the death…One who is forgiving and willing to make the total sacrifice for us. Jesus has already proven His great love for you!
He was God’s plan to bring redemption, the new birth, peace and goodwill to the hearts of men! It was not enough to teach men how to be good; but Christ provided the power for men to live Godly lives.
Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote-
“In the filthiest place in the world, a stable, purity was born. He who later was to be slaughtered by men acting as beasts was born among beasts. He who would call Himself the “Living bread descended from Heaven” was laid in a manger (Literally, a place to eat). Centuries before, the Jews had worshipped the golden calf, and the Greeks worshipped a donkey. Men bowed before them as God. The ox and the donkey were now present to bow down before their God.
No worldly mind would have suspected that He, who clothed the fields, would someday be naked. That He, Whose hands spun the stars and planets into orbit, would one day have tiny arms not long enough to reach the huge heads of cattle; that the feet that trod the everlasting hills would one day be too weak to walk; that the Eternal Word would be unable to speak; that Omnipotence would be wrapped in swaddling clothes; that Salvation would lie in a manger.”
And that is exactly why they missed Him! Divinity is always where on least expects to find it.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Moving beyond Disappointments
We all have been disappointed in our lives.
We focus our activities, our ministry and even our relationships through the filter of this disappointment
John 5:2-8 AMP “Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways). In these lay a great number of sick folk--some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up)--waiting for the bubbling up of the water.
For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted. There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?]
The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me. 8Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk!”
Webster’s Dictionary—“Disappoint means…“To fail or meet the expectation of…To Frustrate”.
Have you had someone fail to meet your expectations, or frustrate you with their actions or words?
Now is the time to stop living and ministering out of the past…out of your hurt and wounds.
You see, our pain becomes our identity- This man at the pool was known as the `lame man’- The man with the deep-seated and lingering disorder…For 38 years, this was his identity. The same thing happens to us_ She is the divorced woman/He is the alcoholic/ She is the child of abuse/.
When you are labeled with your disorder, and look back to it as a reference point for everything you do and say, you miss the fulfillment of God’s blessing. Everything is seen through the paradigm of your pain.
Many people stopped growing and stopped developing at the point of their injury. Have you ever known of someone who `broke a growth plate’ in their arm or leg? When I was young, they warned us not to break that bone…Because everything stops growing at that point. Now with modern surgical and rehab procedures, recovery is a stronger possibility.
But how many people do you know who never got beyond the wound in their life? Maybe it was a divorce, a bankruptcy, or a death in the family. You can check back with some people years later, and they are at the same point emotionally and spiritually, because they never grew beyond the pain.
The pain has stunted their growth.
But my friend, we serve a God who desires to change us `from glory to glory’ “one level of grace and excellence to another”! Today, release your past…
Phil 3: 10-14 NIV “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus “
Let go of the disappointment, and Let God take you to another level of living!
Matthew 10:39 AMP “Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].
No more low living for me- I serve a God of elevation and promotion…
When you hook up with El- Elyon (The Most High God) He elevates you!!
Don’t just hang around where God is…”Step into the water”... This is a season of troubled waters! You don’t have to wait for an angel to come and move something in the spirit, Your deliverance is available all the time!
But we make excuses and stop growing at the point of our pain…”Somebody didn’t open the door”…”I had no one to help me into the water”…”Nobody recognized my potential.”
We cannot use past hurts as an excuse to not do what God has called us to do.
Romans 11:29 AMP” For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]
God’s call is as significant and authentic today as the day He pronounced it over your life.
Don’t let the enemy steal your desire, your vision and destiny through disappointment!
Our assignment isn’t to make us comfortable. It is to be light in a world of darkness; surrounded by those who don’t understand us…aren’t impressed by God’s call…and don’t even know when they have wounded us…
But we are still called to reach them.
Let Jesus Heal your wounds!
The question is---Do You really want to be healed? Forgive them! Change the Channel! Lift up your eyes!
We focus our activities, our ministry and even our relationships through the filter of this disappointment
John 5:2-8 AMP “Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways). In these lay a great number of sick folk--some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up)--waiting for the bubbling up of the water.
For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted. There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?]
The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me. 8Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk!”
Webster’s Dictionary—“Disappoint means…“To fail or meet the expectation of…To Frustrate”.
Have you had someone fail to meet your expectations, or frustrate you with their actions or words?
Now is the time to stop living and ministering out of the past…out of your hurt and wounds.
You see, our pain becomes our identity- This man at the pool was known as the `lame man’- The man with the deep-seated and lingering disorder…For 38 years, this was his identity. The same thing happens to us_ She is the divorced woman/He is the alcoholic/ She is the child of abuse/.
When you are labeled with your disorder, and look back to it as a reference point for everything you do and say, you miss the fulfillment of God’s blessing. Everything is seen through the paradigm of your pain.
Many people stopped growing and stopped developing at the point of their injury. Have you ever known of someone who `broke a growth plate’ in their arm or leg? When I was young, they warned us not to break that bone…Because everything stops growing at that point. Now with modern surgical and rehab procedures, recovery is a stronger possibility.
But how many people do you know who never got beyond the wound in their life? Maybe it was a divorce, a bankruptcy, or a death in the family. You can check back with some people years later, and they are at the same point emotionally and spiritually, because they never grew beyond the pain.
The pain has stunted their growth.
But my friend, we serve a God who desires to change us `from glory to glory’ “one level of grace and excellence to another”! Today, release your past…
Phil 3: 10-14 NIV “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus “
Let go of the disappointment, and Let God take you to another level of living!
Matthew 10:39 AMP “Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].
No more low living for me- I serve a God of elevation and promotion…
When you hook up with El- Elyon (The Most High God) He elevates you!!
Don’t just hang around where God is…”Step into the water”... This is a season of troubled waters! You don’t have to wait for an angel to come and move something in the spirit, Your deliverance is available all the time!
But we make excuses and stop growing at the point of our pain…”Somebody didn’t open the door”…”I had no one to help me into the water”…”Nobody recognized my potential.”
We cannot use past hurts as an excuse to not do what God has called us to do.
Romans 11:29 AMP” For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]
God’s call is as significant and authentic today as the day He pronounced it over your life.
Don’t let the enemy steal your desire, your vision and destiny through disappointment!
Our assignment isn’t to make us comfortable. It is to be light in a world of darkness; surrounded by those who don’t understand us…aren’t impressed by God’s call…and don’t even know when they have wounded us…
But we are still called to reach them.
Let Jesus Heal your wounds!
The question is---Do You really want to be healed? Forgive them! Change the Channel! Lift up your eyes!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Challenges of Ministry in the Local Church
Ministry in the local church can be challenging, but it also can be wonderful. In my opinion, pastors and their spouses have some of the most difficult jobs in the world. But we serve a God who strengthens and supports us, and the key to overcoming with victory is to stay connected to Christ Jesus!
Jesus said in John 15: 5 NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
My encouragement to every pastor and church leader today is to FINISH STRONG-
Col. 4:17 NIV "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
2 Cor. 6:3 NIV “We put no stumbling block in any one's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.”
The First Challenge is the Hunger for Revival- While God wants to move and restore His people in these days, we must not put our sail up for `every wind that blows.’ Pastors do great harm to their churches when they try to `import’ revival. Revival is a sovereign move of God! regardless of all the definitions of revival that are out there, the simplest definition of revival most of us can agree on is revive-re meaning "again" and vive meaning "to live"(to resuscitate)
What works in one church or region of the country, may not work in another place.
2. The Challenge to Change- In my travels, I visit churches, whose buildings, songs, decor and dress make me think I have stepped into a time warp. Everything seems to have gotten stuck in 1965. Now, there was nothing wrong with 1965, but at the time of this writing, today is---2008.
How can a young couple with children or a college student connect with these types of churches? They are saying, “Can I connect here, and fit in here? Will someone love me and relate to me?”
We face a challenge with musical styles. In fact, churches have divided and feuded over musical styles perhaps more so that any other issue in recent years. I might not like some of today's songs personally, but guess what?? Somebody likes them, and I want to reach that somebody! It’s not about me or what I like.
We have a mandate to reach the world. Society is changing. We must examine our traditions and see if they are of God or just of man. Traditions are fading. Families are changing.
The Gospel and God’s Word doesn’t change, but we must change to reach `all men’, as Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:22 NIV “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”
The message is always sacred, but the methods are not.- Many of the methods which we consider unchangeable are in fact, out-dated. Pipe Organs and pews were very popular in churches in the 3 or 4 centuries ago. Altars and mourner's benches also have their place, but trace back to customs which are hundreds of years old.
3. We Face a Compromise in Doctrine-
A recent survey showed that over 50% of Evangelical Christians believe that one can go to Heaven some other way than through Jesus Christ. (That’s heresy!)
John 14:6 NIV "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He didn’t say, “I am one of many ways” or- "I am a Portion of Truth”. He didn’t say, “Choose the life you want to follow”…You see, Satan appears as an angel of light, deceiving even the very elect!
One of Satan's choice tools is `religious deception’.
Faith in the blood, the cross, and Christ's resurrection is what God accepts. We can only approach Him through this faith in the substitutionary work of Christ!
There is a compromise in doctrine among Christians- Some say, “People may leave you if you preach this doctrine”. People leave churches all the time; why not determine why they leave? If people leave a church because they were offended at the Word, they will be forced to deal with those issues by God; not man.
Multi-culturalism and a tolerance of all religions has `watered down’ the true message of salvation which is found in this verse---
Matt 7:13-14 KJV “For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Proverbs 14:12 KJV “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
4. Complexity of Worship-
In today’s church, we minister to 3 or 4 generations at one time. This requires that we hear from God and be directed by His Spirit.
We face the challenge of traditional and contemporary. There are generational preferences in 1. Music 2. Video 3.Fellowship 4. Preaching Styles.
But God always embraces the OLD & the NEW (Elizabeth/Mary) (Elijah/Elisha)(Moses/Joshua - Aaron and Hur)
Young soldiers need old horses!
Each generation needs the other!!!
God is eternal, seeing the end as well as the beginning of all things! In the Old Testament, He reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and deals with man in this regard. Always `forward' thinking! As church leaders, we must also think generationally; looking forward and planning for the future...
The last verse of the Old Testament book of Malachi speaks of a day when God will send His Spirit to “Turn the hearts of Fathers to children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I smite the earth with a curse…” The opposite of a curse is blessing, signifying that there is blessing when we blend the generations in worship and the Word to advance the Kingdom of God!
5. Issue of Non-Biblical Preaching-
Testimonies, inspirational stories and motivational speaking all have their place, but we need the word of God! Hebrews 4:12 NIV “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”We need to hear about the blood, the cross, Heaven, Hell, the gifts of the Spirit.
2 Tim 3:16 NLT “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
6. How do we grow a Great Church?
How do we reach the lost? “Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers build in vain”. “I will build my church”…Good preaching and teaching alone won’t get it done. God will have to build His house! We must desire to build a family, not just a crowd…
There is a combination of principles necessary for church's to grow. A. The correct bait is necessary to catch different types of fish! B. Every member is a minister. The doctrine of `the priesthood of the believer' teaches that we all have a responsibility to be trained, equipped and sent out into the work of the Lord!
At the turn of the century, David Boyd, a newspaper editor came from the East coast to be the head of the state’s university. The University of Oklahoma. But when he arrived, there was nothing. This was still Indian Territory,and there were no buildings, no teachers, books or even students. In fact, there wasn't a single tree within 30 miles of the site of the university.
When Boyd arrived, he got off the train, and was taken to the site of the future university. He looked around at nothing, but as he stood there on the Oklahoma prairie, he exclaimed, “Oh, the possibilities!’
He had 50 books in his trunk from which the university library began. Today, there are over 6 million books in the University of Oklahoma library.
No matter how small your beginnings and humble your situation, you can stand up and say, “Oh the Possibilities!” What seems impossible to man is possible with our God! Do we face Great Challenges? Yes, but we serve a Great God? Absolutely!!
Oh, the Possibilities!!
He is the God of Increase…More than Enough…El Shaddai! The All- Sufficient One!
He framed the world out of nothing, and hanged it on nothing…So He can do something with your life and with His church!
One day soon, He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many. Enter into the joy of the Lord!”
Jesus said in John 15: 5 NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
My encouragement to every pastor and church leader today is to FINISH STRONG-
Col. 4:17 NIV "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
2 Cor. 6:3 NIV “We put no stumbling block in any one's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.”
The First Challenge is the Hunger for Revival- While God wants to move and restore His people in these days, we must not put our sail up for `every wind that blows.’ Pastors do great harm to their churches when they try to `import’ revival. Revival is a sovereign move of God! regardless of all the definitions of revival that are out there, the simplest definition of revival most of us can agree on is revive-re meaning "again" and vive meaning "to live"(to resuscitate)
What works in one church or region of the country, may not work in another place.
2. The Challenge to Change- In my travels, I visit churches, whose buildings, songs, decor and dress make me think I have stepped into a time warp. Everything seems to have gotten stuck in 1965. Now, there was nothing wrong with 1965, but at the time of this writing, today is---2008.
How can a young couple with children or a college student connect with these types of churches? They are saying, “Can I connect here, and fit in here? Will someone love me and relate to me?”
We face a challenge with musical styles. In fact, churches have divided and feuded over musical styles perhaps more so that any other issue in recent years. I might not like some of today's songs personally, but guess what?? Somebody likes them, and I want to reach that somebody! It’s not about me or what I like.
We have a mandate to reach the world. Society is changing. We must examine our traditions and see if they are of God or just of man. Traditions are fading. Families are changing.
The Gospel and God’s Word doesn’t change, but we must change to reach `all men’, as Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:22 NIV “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”
The message is always sacred, but the methods are not.- Many of the methods which we consider unchangeable are in fact, out-dated. Pipe Organs and pews were very popular in churches in the 3 or 4 centuries ago. Altars and mourner's benches also have their place, but trace back to customs which are hundreds of years old.
3. We Face a Compromise in Doctrine-
A recent survey showed that over 50% of Evangelical Christians believe that one can go to Heaven some other way than through Jesus Christ. (That’s heresy!)
John 14:6 NIV "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He didn’t say, “I am one of many ways” or- "I am a Portion of Truth”. He didn’t say, “Choose the life you want to follow”…You see, Satan appears as an angel of light, deceiving even the very elect!
One of Satan's choice tools is `religious deception’.
Faith in the blood, the cross, and Christ's resurrection is what God accepts. We can only approach Him through this faith in the substitutionary work of Christ!
There is a compromise in doctrine among Christians- Some say, “People may leave you if you preach this doctrine”. People leave churches all the time; why not determine why they leave? If people leave a church because they were offended at the Word, they will be forced to deal with those issues by God; not man.
Multi-culturalism and a tolerance of all religions has `watered down’ the true message of salvation which is found in this verse---
Matt 7:13-14 KJV “For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Proverbs 14:12 KJV “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
4. Complexity of Worship-
In today’s church, we minister to 3 or 4 generations at one time. This requires that we hear from God and be directed by His Spirit.
We face the challenge of traditional and contemporary. There are generational preferences in 1. Music 2. Video 3.Fellowship 4. Preaching Styles.
But God always embraces the OLD & the NEW (Elizabeth/Mary) (Elijah/Elisha)(Moses/Joshua - Aaron and Hur)
Young soldiers need old horses!
Each generation needs the other!!!
God is eternal, seeing the end as well as the beginning of all things! In the Old Testament, He reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and deals with man in this regard. Always `forward' thinking! As church leaders, we must also think generationally; looking forward and planning for the future...
The last verse of the Old Testament book of Malachi speaks of a day when God will send His Spirit to “Turn the hearts of Fathers to children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I smite the earth with a curse…” The opposite of a curse is blessing, signifying that there is blessing when we blend the generations in worship and the Word to advance the Kingdom of God!
5. Issue of Non-Biblical Preaching-
Testimonies, inspirational stories and motivational speaking all have their place, but we need the word of God! Hebrews 4:12 NIV “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”We need to hear about the blood, the cross, Heaven, Hell, the gifts of the Spirit.
2 Tim 3:16 NLT “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
6. How do we grow a Great Church?
How do we reach the lost? “Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers build in vain”. “I will build my church”…Good preaching and teaching alone won’t get it done. God will have to build His house! We must desire to build a family, not just a crowd…
There is a combination of principles necessary for church's to grow. A. The correct bait is necessary to catch different types of fish! B. Every member is a minister. The doctrine of `the priesthood of the believer' teaches that we all have a responsibility to be trained, equipped and sent out into the work of the Lord!
At the turn of the century, David Boyd, a newspaper editor came from the East coast to be the head of the state’s university. The University of Oklahoma. But when he arrived, there was nothing. This was still Indian Territory,and there were no buildings, no teachers, books or even students. In fact, there wasn't a single tree within 30 miles of the site of the university.
When Boyd arrived, he got off the train, and was taken to the site of the future university. He looked around at nothing, but as he stood there on the Oklahoma prairie, he exclaimed, “Oh, the possibilities!’
He had 50 books in his trunk from which the university library began. Today, there are over 6 million books in the University of Oklahoma library.
No matter how small your beginnings and humble your situation, you can stand up and say, “Oh the Possibilities!” What seems impossible to man is possible with our God! Do we face Great Challenges? Yes, but we serve a Great God? Absolutely!!
Oh, the Possibilities!!
He is the God of Increase…More than Enough…El Shaddai! The All- Sufficient One!
He framed the world out of nothing, and hanged it on nothing…So He can do something with your life and with His church!
One day soon, He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many. Enter into the joy of the Lord!”
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