Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Fulfilling God’s Purpose requires

Fulfilling God’s Purpose requires... (1) OUR RESPONSE.....God does not say to you.....I'll show you my will and then you can decide if it is good or bad. When God speaks His will...it is not for us to talk about it....discuss it or bring it up to the board meeting and vote on it. God reveals His will it is for man to obey. We are called to RESPOND!! (2) OUR INVOLVEMENT....God’s purpose will not be fulfilled accidentally. Nothing is automatic. If you do nothing.....nothing will happen. We are to be very involved in the fulfilment of God’s will. It takes INVOLVEMENT!! (3) OUR FAITH.....If your heart is right....focused on God and in line with His purposes... you can run into the battlefield with a sling...like David. You can step into the Red Sea with a rod...like Moses. You can bring down the walls of Jericho with a shout.....like Israel. The problem will not be a problem. Faith is the issue!! Watch your heart. WHO are you really trusting? It takes FAITH!! (4) OUR UNITY......John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Unity is strength....no doubt. But here unity is also a WITNESS. Unity was the key to the success of Israel’s mission....it is also the key to our effective witness for Jesus Christ on earth. We are in this together......for God’s glory and to fulfill His will. The church will succeed because God is present and He has made His promise. It takes UNITY!!

#OUR RESPONSE
#OURINVOLVEMENT
#OURFAITH
#OURUNITY

The Empty Chair

A man’s daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed.The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. I guess you were expecting me, he said. ’No, who are you?" said the father. The minister told him his name and then remarked, I saw the empty chair an! d I figured you knew I> was going to show up," Oh yeah, the chair,"said the bed ridden man. Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the minister shut the door. I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, But it went right over my head." I abandoned any attempt at prayer, "the old man continued, until one day four years ago, A friend of mine said to me, Johnny, prayer is just a simple matterof having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest." Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you,and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because he promised, I will be with you always’. Then just speak to him in the same way you’re doing with me right now." So, I tried ! it and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm." The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon. "Did he die in peace?" he asked. Yes, when I left the house about two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me how much he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on ! the chair beside the bed.What do you make of that? The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."

"The Man in the Mirror"

After being away on business, a man thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift. “How about some perfume?” he asked the cosmetics clerk.She showed him a bottle costing $50.00. “That’s a bit much,” he said, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30.00. “That’s still quite a bit,” he complained. Growing annoyed, the clerk brought out a tiny $15.00 bottle. “You know,” he said, “What I mean is that I’d like to see something really cheap.” The clerk handed him a mirror!
But on a more serious note, when we look in the mirror, who do we see? Do we see more of Jesus, or more of us?
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
When we look in the mirror, God doesn’t want us to see what we see with our natural eyes. Because what we see in the natural, is the drama of life, the strife around the world, the day to day going on’s around us. You see, in the natural you may be sick, weak, broke and depressed, yet God wants you to see yourself the way He sees you.... healed, strong, blessed and whole because Christ is in you. But you must make that change! If your going to change things, "you" must do something about you. If you don’t put any effort, nothing will happen. If you don’t start making changes, nothing will change. God doesn’t see our imperfections, they were washed in the blood, cleansed forever, never to be remembered again. So, when we look in the mirror, we should see the same thing God sees, His Righteousness, living in us! The late Michael Jackson sang a song that got the whole worlds attention.............I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you want to make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.........
It's true, it all starts with the man in the mirror, But quickly becomes about Jesus, who lives in the heart of the man, or women in the mirror. Are you seeing His reflection in the mirror today, instead of your own? Start to see, what God sees, believe that He wants His very best for you in your life..... get ready and expect it to happen as you do!

Is it well with my soul?

George W. Truett, a well-known Texas preacher, was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy oilman. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area. Pointing to the oil wells and punctuating the landscape, he boasted, "Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine." Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, "That’s all mine." Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, "They’re all mine." Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, "That too is all mine." He paused, expecting Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, "How much do you have in that direction?"

#Isitwellwithmysoul?

Hebrews 10:25

Seeing a lot of post the last couple days calling out today's church being so judgmental...which I do not disagree with!! But the comments under this post is what has me worried!! Many say they haven't been to church or have no desire to go to church because of hypocritical people in the church.
How many judgmental people are at your work? Do you still go to work every day? Most cases 40 or more hours per week and you are there faithfully!! Going to church with judgmental people usually is only about 6-9 hours per week!!
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together......
**Whether the church meets in a building that's designated as the church building or meets in someone's home it's still assembling yourself together.** and we should not forsake it!!
What if God looked at you with the same attitude? Look at that hypocrite over there, I'm not going where they go to church at!! I'm not gonna be at their workplace....I'm not gonna hang out at the mall with them, I'm not gonna go to their family functions, I'm not gonna watch over them!! Why? Cause they are hypocrites!!!
To be honest I'm sure He could look down on most of us, if not all of us and say....what a hypocrite!! But He doesn't!! He looks down with mercy and says I'm going to give you another chance because I love you!!
You think you too good (Holy) to be in church with hypocrites??
Isaiah 65:5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
(NLT) Yet they say to each other, 'Don't come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!' These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.
Btw: I'd rather be in a house of hypocrites worshiping God than to be sitting at home complaining about this church and that church being filled with hypocrites.

Hypocrites in the Church

Yes....I know that there are hypocrites in the church, and yes....I know that there are people who don’t go to church who live better lives than some people who do go to church!! But don’t judge the tree by a few bad apples! ********************************************************************* Here's a story about a preacher who visited a farmer to invite him to church. The farmer said, "Well, I’m never coming to your church, Preacher." The preacher said, "Why not?" * The farmer said, "Because I know some of the members of your church & I live a lot better than they do." Sometime later, the preacher bought a pig from the farmer. He said, "I want you to sell me the smallest, ugliest, sickliest pig that you’ve got." Well, the farmer, amazed, gave him exactly what he asked for. After he paid for it, he said to the farmer, "I’m going to take this sick, small, ugly pig to everybody in the community and tell them that I bought it from you." The farmer said, "Now Preacher, that’s not fair, I’ve got a lot of hogs that are nicer and bigger and fatter than that hog." The preacher said, "Buddy, if it’s fair for the church, it’s fair for the hogs!"

*The Dangers of A Sleeping Church*

Acts 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
7 And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing [him] said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.


THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES TO THE THINGS OF THE LORD. AS A RESULT.....THE BLESSINGS OF GOD HAVE SLIPPED RIGHT PAST THEM AS THEY SLEEP THROUGH LIFE. IN OTHER WORDS.....THEY HAVE BEEN HYPNOTIZED BY THE LURING POWERS OF THE WORLD AND HAVE CONSIDERED *THE GOOD LIFE* TO BE NOTHING BUT A DREAM. BUT LET ME SAY.....THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND THE BLESSINGS THAT COME OUR WAY ARE NOT A PART OF SOME SUPERNATURAL DREAM. GOD REALLY DOES BLESS THOSE WHO SEEK A BLESSING.

THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE BEEN SLEEP WALKING THROUGH CHRISTIANITY. WHEN TIME COMES FOR GOD’S PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.....MANY CHRISTIANS FALL ASLEEP AND MISS OUT ON THE BLESSINGS THAT COME FROM BEING A FAITHFUL SOLDIER OF THE LORD.


FOR EXAMPLE.....
1. GOD’S PEOPLE WERE SLEEPING WHEN ONE WOMAN....WHO BY THE WAY WAS VERY MUCH AWAKE.....SINGLE HANDLY REMOVED THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER FROM THE SCHOOLS.
2. THOUSANDS OF UNBORN BABIES ARE MURDERED EVERY DAY BECAUSE GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO SLEEP.
3. THE ONLY PEOPLE STANDING UP TO FIGHT THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS ARE THIS GROUP AND THESE GROUPS AND POLITICIANS....BUT THE CHURCH HAS GONE NIGHT NIGHT.
4. GODS PEOPLE WERE SLEEPING WHEN THE SUPREME COURT MADE ITS RULING TO LEGALIZE SAME SEX MARRIAGE THIS PAST FRIDAY.

Why is America in the shape it's in? Look no further than the church.....
I blame the church!! Every denomination, fellowship, organization and every belief!!

Much of today's ministry is all about money.....success and popularity. Your spirituality is judged by how big your house is....the size of your bank account or what kind of car you drive. That's why America is in the shape it's in today!!  There is more tolerated sin in the church than ever. The pulpits have gutless pastors (I call 6ft icicles) who are more concerned about getting a steady paycheck or getting bigger tithe payers and being liked rather than being ran out of the church for preaching holiness and separation.

Even through all this garbage....GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL !!  What a gracious and merciful God!!

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.



THE BIBLE TELLS US.....THAT THE SAME POWER THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD LIVES INSIDE OF US. WE OUGHT TO BE SETTING MATTERS IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE...COURTHOUSE.....AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

*The Dangers of A Sleeping Church*

I. THE CAUSE FOR HIS FALLING ASLEEP
A. HE WAS CARELESS........

.......IN HIS COMPANY
*PS. 1:1-2 BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STANDETH IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, NOR SITTETH IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL. (2) BUT HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD: AND IN HIS LAW DOTH HE MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT.

......IN HIS CARES OF THIS LIFE
a. HE THOUGHT MORE OF THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD MORE THAN THE THINGS OF GOD.

......IN HIS CARELESS ATTENDANCE
a. HE WAS GOING OUT MORE THAN COMING IN. (GOD’S HOUSE, GOD’S WORK)


II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS FALLING
     ASLEEP

A. THERE WAS PAIN (VS. 9)

1. THERE IS PAIN WHEN YOU GET OUT OF  
    GOD’S WILL.
2. FAMILY PAIN
3. CHURCH PAIN

B. PUBLIC WORSHIP WAS DISRUPTED.



III. NOTICE SOME THINGS THAT EUTYCHUS LOST BY FALLING ASLEEP.

A. HE LOST PREPARATION (VS.7)

1.WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND GET PREPARED FOR THE BATTLE.
a. PRAY
b. STUDY

B. HE LOST OUT ON GOD’S MESSAGE (VS.9)

1. SOME CHRISTIANS JUST DON’T GET IT .
(PREACH TO YOUR BLUE AND THEY STILL WANT GET IT.)
2.GOD’S GOT SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US. BUT IF WE SLEEP WE MISS OUT ON IT.

C. HE LOST HIS LIFE.
1. MANY WILL LOSE THEIR LIFE AND DIE AND
    GO TO HELL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SLEPT
    WHEN GOD WAS TRYING TO GIVE THEM
    THE MESSAGE.
2. HOW MANY HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE
    BECAUSE GOD’S PEOPLE WERE ASLEEP
    WHEN GOD WAS GIVING THE MESSAGE?

BBE Acts20:10 And Paul went down and, falling on him, took him in his arms and said, Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.
11 And when he had gone up, and had taken the broken bread, he went on talking to them for a long time, even till dawn, and then he went away.
12 And they took the boy in, living, and were greatly comforted.


It is our turn to bless America. It's our turn to do something good for America. God has and still is blessing America.
But we need to do our part to bless America!

We can do many good things. We can be good citizens...vote...be patriotic....salute the flag...sing the national anthem.Show kindness to everyone.

1 Timothy 2:1-6
Paul gives us some specific things we can do to bless America. They are......
1. We must pray for everyone.
2. We must live Godly.
3. We must evangelize.

#ItsOurTurn 2 #BlessAmerica