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What Must We Do?
What Must We Do?
I read an article the other day with some very disturbing statistics. The article said that in America, approximately 200 million people do not go to church. It went on to say that many of these have never even been to church.
Now I am something of a simple guy who believes the answer to most problems is really not that complicated. If you read very many of my sermon notes you will find two things that appear regularly.
First you will find that I love the church. It is the hope for the world. Revealing Jesus and telling His story is the way the church was built by the Apostles, and the only real way to continue to build it today.
Secondly you will also find this. I believe that we must accept much of the blame for this decline in church attendance. The Gospel has been changed from it’s original meaning. The word means good news, and Vines dictionary goes on to define good news. The telling of the story of the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
The message has become Jesus plus whatever someones agenda is. The message should be just Jesus.
I am not saying that we ignore or change the things in the Bible that we must leave behind to follow Christ.
I am saying that we must give unbelievers a picture of someone that loves them like they are, and will help them to become who He wants them to be.
I love Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”
Jesus said He was the light of the world. John 8:12. “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
But wait. Matthew 5:14-15. “14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”
If Jesus is the light of the world, and He has transferred that to His church. Then we are responsible to be the light. Instead of crying out at the overwhelming darkness. “Shine the light of Christ Brighter”
As Pastors we must teach Biblical principles. Theology that will create hunger and thirst for the things of God. We must move our congregations from the elementary principles to the deep things of Kingdom Authority.
Yet our mission as a singular world wide Body Of Christ is to multiply.
2 Peter 2:9. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
So, What Must We Do? John 6:27-29.
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Be blessed and Favored by His Amazing Grace.
Dozing on your Destiny
January 8, 2017
Amazing Life Church
“Dozing On Your Destiny”
Greet People
We are almost finished with the first 8 days of 2017.
The presence of God has been awesome these first few
days as the heavenly connection is maintained in prayer.
The only difficulty I have had is putting in order all the
things that God has put in my heart.
Betty and I have prayed for this work and the faithful as
the year has changed. Praying blessings and favor for
you always.
I have some things to share before my message so I will
get right to it.
I have mentioned that this is the beginning of the 14 th
year for Amazing Life Church. It has been an awesome
time in the Lord. The Jewish Rabbi’s and theologians
did a lot of work regarding numbers. I want to share just
a thumbnail of their description of the number 14.Page 2
In the Bible, the number 14 has a double meaning. It
refers to the numerical value of the name David in
ancient Jewish numerology. It also references the
number seven, which in ancient Jewish numerology is
the number for spiritual perfection. As 14 is twice
seven, its use implies a double measure of that virtue.
Preach-A double measure of spiritual perfection. I love
this. There are more examples. Look it up.
Secondly, we are going to talk a lot about destiny and
purpose. That is nothing new but I will do my best to
come at it with a fresh approach. Truthfully I intend to
ramp it up a bit.
It has come to my attention that there are those who
don’t believe in destiny or purpose. It is very sad when
someone believes their life has no meaning.
I want to read you something.
Read Poem
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “Dozing On
Your Destiny”Page 3
Remembering the story of Jonah brought this title to
mind. God gave him a purpose. Something that He
wanted Jonah to do. As the story goes Jonah didn’t want
to do it so he boarded a ship going in the opposite
direction. Went down in the ship and went to sleep. Not
an uncommon thing that continues to happen. Even
today.
Take note. When God has positioned you to do
something He usually will not let you dose on your
destiny for long. He may even use the world and
worldly events to wake you up.
We have a responsibility to shine the Light of Christ.
When darkness grows darker, we must shine the Light
brighter.
Getting ready to preach!!
Psalms 78 was written by Asaph. It is called a Maskil of
Asaph. There were several meanings for the word
Maskil. The more modern definition was enlightenment.
The most common definition from the time period is, a
Psalm that teaches something. We will go with that one
since that is what I am going to do with it.Page 4
Psalms 78:5-7 NASB
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And
appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our
fathers That they should teach them to their children,
6 That the generation to come might know, even the
children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell
them to their children,
7 That they should put their confidence in God And not
forget the works of God, But keep His commandments.
Amplified
5 For He established a testimony (a specific precept) in
Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He
commanded our fathers That they should teach to their
children [the great facts of God’s transactions with
Israel],
6 That the generation to come might know them, that
the children still to be born May arise and recount them
to their children,
7 That they should place their confidence in God And
not forget the works of God, But keep His
commandments.
Even though this is OT it is a very important and
relevant precept for today. Passing God forward is
critical in Christianity and our personal purpose.Page 5
The word testimony in this passage comes from a
Hebrew word which means, “to witness, evidence. The
root word means admonish or charge.”
Even Paul understood the eternal value of speaking
Jesus in to people’s lives.
2 Corinthians 3:1-3 NASB
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do
we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or
from you?
2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and
read by all men;
3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared
for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the
living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of
human hearts.
Preach-Telling the Story of Jesus
For the next few weeks I will be sharing some very
important traits regarding Revelations and movements.
To carry spiritual revelations and movements to birth
requires a process. It is much like the birthing of a child.Page 6
The child is formed in the womb. It is protected,
nourished. It’s members are formed and it continues to
grow. Until such time that it can not be contained in the
vessel it began in.
A vision, revelation, dream, a purpose is much the same.
It is planted in our hearts. It grows, becomes more
relevant, it’s purpose becomes clearer. God positions
other things to cause it to live beyond our hearts and
minds. Then there will come a time that it can no longer
be housed in your heart or mind. It must be born to bear
fruit and give God glory.
One of the most important traits we must embrace to
bring revelation or a movement to birth is, “A Spirit of
Readiness”
In Luke 12 Jesus is teaching and giving instructions to
His disciples. The beginning of verse 35 is titled, “Be in
Readiness.”
Luke 12:35-40 NASB
35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.Page 7
36 Be like men who are waiting for their master when
he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may
immediately open the door to him when he comes and
knocks.
37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find
on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he
will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the
table, and will come up and wait on them.
38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in
the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had
known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not
have allowed his house to be broken into.
40 You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at
an hour that you do not expect.”
These passages are often taught regarding the second
coming of the Lord. How about for a moment we
consider this.
What if He knocks on the door of your heart with a
dream. A movement. A purpose. Will He find us dozing?
Preach-Should We Not be Ready!!