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Category Archives: Light and Salt
The Battle for Influence
The Battle for Influence
It is an amazing time for the church. With all my heart I believe a supernatural awakening, revival if you will is coming soon. I am speaking broadly in reference to the church in America. You and I will get from this movement, what we have prayed for. What we can believe for. Probably most important of all, do we want more of Him?
There are so many different things that are attempting to influence us today. Commercials influence our buying decisions. The news attempts to influence what we think about situations and circumstances in our world.
Probably the most dangerous influence we encounter is from the enemy of our destiny. The prince and power of the air. Ever trying to convince us of our lack of value. Our inability to succeed. Doing all He can to persuade us to forsake our Lord and give in to the temptations that the enemy provides.
Almost exclusively appealing to our old fleshly nature.
It is a war for our minds, for our thoughts. It happens when an atmosphere of negativity takes hold in our minds.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NASB
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Amplified
3 For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man.
4 The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,
In verse 5 the word, speculations or sophisticated arguments comes from a Greek word which means, a reckoning or reasoning hostile to Christian faith. The word knowledge is referring to, a deeper, more perfect, enlarged knowledge. The word captive means, to capture ones mind.
Paul said this in the next chapter.
2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
That word translated simplicity means, “sincere, the virtue of one free from pretense and hypocrisy. Not self seeking.”
To the Philippians Paul said this.
Philippians 4:4-7 NASB
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There must be active opposition to the negative influence that attempts to stall your relationship with Christ. It will affect your home, your job, all your relationships. Everything about you.
You have to change the atmosphere. Atmosphere defined, “surrounding or pervading mood, environment, or influence.”
Your destiny is settled in the Heavens. Your victory, redemption, purpose, everything about you is established in the plan of God. Your enemy has been defeated. It is not questionable. It is a fact. When the Holy Spirit came He judged the prince of this world, “rendered him ineffective.”
You are more than a conqueror. You are a child of the most high God. The head not the tail.
Stop living under the negative influence of the enemy. Join your thoughts with the mind of Christ.
10 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self— (It’s a process)
11 a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] barbarian or Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].
Change your thoughts (You can do it!!!!!)
#lovewins #hopelives
My heart, To Yours
My heart, To Yours
I wanted to share some thoughts today about my responsibility as a pastor, and all of our responsibilities as Christians.
There are those who tend to complicate these issues. Wrapping them around theological issues and statements of faith. This approach is ok for those who enjoy the depth of the scriptures and the plan of God for our lives.
I am one of those who digs deeper and deeper as time goes by. Looking at the church fathers and writings from the Apostles who studied and followed the original 12, and throughout over 2000 years of writings from church fathers, desert fathers and so on.
There is so much great stuff available. It is awesome. With that said, the Bible is my heart and my life as I follow Christ. It is knowing Him. The Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Back to my original point. As a Pastor I believe that we all must take on the heart of Jesus. He looked beyond the religious community and their acceptance of people. He offered His love and compassion to everyone He came in contact with.
The world today is raging with controversy. Even in the church world people are divided by boundaries and theology.
Before I go further, I have never been a fan of the reformation. It had to happen, but it created an historical divide in Christianity. At the time there were basically 2 recognized churches. Catholic and Orthodox.
Today, the most recent statistics I could find, tell us that there are over 41,000 different denominations and religious institutions. Many of these are related to each other, still there is too much room for division.
There are many praying in intercession today to tear down these walls of division. Revival is coming. With all my heart I believe it.
The Gospel is simple in nature, yet profound in accomplishment. The story of Jesus, His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension is the Gospel message. It has changed the lives of millions when delivered in that form. It will continue to do so today.
To take on His heart means I have to care about others. Every Christian has this responsibility.
Not only to care, but we must endeavor to help in what ways we can.
Prayer is the most effective way to join people together, and feel the burden of those who need us.
Prayer softens our heart and moves our will, to His will. It will reveal your purpose and the steps you must take to fulfill it.
One of the things that the Holy Spirit moves in me is a burden for those who are struggling. Often I don’t even know the reason, but when prompted to pray, I do so.
Many times it is a physical drain as intercession cries out from my heart to His.
I want so much to help, yet often I can only pray. God positions healing, and answers as we intercede in prayer.
From feeding thousands and healing the sick. Encouraging the hopeless, and teaching His followers, Christ taught us how to care.
How can we turn our face from the tragedies in this world and call ourselves, followers of Christ.
Start in your local area and begin to pray. The Holy Spirit will open a path for you to follow.
It will lead you to more prayer, and intercession. It may also lead you to someone in need. Be ready. He will test your faith.
I am praying everyday for His love, mercy, and grace to move throughout this world.
Remember this. It moves through us. He loves, through us. Heals, through us. Reveals Himself, through us.
We are the light of the world. We must shine the light of Jesus.
Be blessed this day. In Jesus name I pray.
#lovewins #hopelives
When He Comes
When He Comes
In many of my sermons and Facebook posts I deal with inspiration. I believe that one of our duties as Christians, and Christian leaders, is to inspire others to follow Christ.
During this process we also pray and endeavor to inspire one another to embrace the principles that Christ taught in His earthly ministry.
I am humbled and blessed when other leaders embrace principles that the Holy Spirit used us to bring to light.
One of those recently is the work of the church in the community. We must enrich our communities with the love and grace of the Gospel. Meeting needs as directed by the Holy Spirit, and the community.
For the last 9 years Amazing Life Church has done just that. Reaching out to our community with an annual backpack school supply event.
In these 9 years we have given 3800 backpacks, along with school supplies, and various other items we are able to obtain.
We also feed these folks as they wait in line.
This may not seem like much to some, but for an average of 35-40 in attendance, God has blessed abundantly.
The word inspire is defined this way. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
In a broader sense Jesus left us with a Helper that leads us, corrects us, and inspires us.
John 16:7 NASB
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
After Christ ascended, the Apostles along with others met in an upper room and received that promise.
This is what Jesus said the Helper would do.
John 16:8 NASB
And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.
Then Christ defined these three principles.
John 16:9-11 NASB
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;
11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Jesus kept things simple.
Sin, is not believing in Christ.
Righteousness, is a perfect sacrifice ascending to the right hand of the Father.
Judgment, the ruler of this world has been rendered ineffective.
The Holy Spirit today continues this work. Revealing Christ, and enriching our lives with with the Gospel story.
The Holy Spirit inspires us as God’s Word becomes light to our lives. Relevant to our circumstances. He inspires us to move forward in faith, bringing to our mind the many that came before us who walked in their destiny.
Facing fear, doubt, and enemies, that hindered at every opportunity.
He is still using us, as individuals, to inspire others to follow Christ. Inspiring others to work in their community. Inspiring us with the awesome words of God.
Teaching, revealing, and encouraging every moment of our lives. “To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.”
#lovewins #hopelives
Just Some More Random Thoughts
Just some Random Thoughts
There are times that I look in the mirror and wonder, where did the years go?
I look forward to each day and the opportunities that God presents. It may simply be just prayer that moves me. Often it is His word that continues to challenge and reveal.
People speak of purpose and destiny. I talk about it all the time. I wonder sometimes, if we really get it.
Our purpose or destiny is never about us. It is about the work of God through us that He has defined for our lives.
A person that God places in our lives to share His love with. This person may seem insignificant, yet God sees what he or she can do, and who he or she will become.
There has been story after story for generations about God taking a simple person, with little qualifications, and using them to change the world.
I read an article recently from Charisma magazine about toxic Apostles. It listed several character traits about them but the one that stood out to me was this. Everything is about them.
I love the church. I say this often. Local and globally the church is the hope of the world. We live, breathe, move, and have our being in Christ.
The Bible warns us of thinking too much of ourselves. Accepting praise and glory instead of passing it on to Christ.
In the church we join together as one to reach our communities. It is not about filling our building. It is all about meeting needs in the community, and telling everyone the story of Jesus.
The mission of the church is to be the light of the world it is planted in. The light of Christ.
We are in an awesome season of change. Prayers from generations past, have joined in synergy with prayer warriors today, to bring healing to our land.
To ignite again the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. To change the message of the church from one of death, to the message of life.
The story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
Yes, you hear this from me all the time. It is because it is the only thing that works.
Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious. Sweetest that ever was heard.
#lovewins #hopelives
Who’s Accountable to Who?
Who’s Accountable to Who?
This blog has been a work in my mind for several days. Over and over I have written it in my mind since I read a post that disturbed me.
It was really nothing new except it made an insinuation about judging others. The completely misrepresented phrase used in the post was this. If you want a church that doesn’t judge, you must want a church that doesn’t care.
Really what these people are talking about is a couple of social and sexual sins.
Before all you law breathers start breaking open your extensive arsenal of sins, I must make two things clear.
One-What the Bible says is true. If it calls something a sin, that it is.
Secondly, God did not call me to preach death. He called me to preach life.
Here comes my answer to people who think they have the right to judge another. By the way, stop splicing the word. You know full well what you mean when you say it.
Many of these folks who would hold others accountable couldn’t be held accountable with an armored tank brigade.
It is simply a means to ease their conscience by telling others their sins and the penalty assigned. Somehow believing they are the watchman on the wall. I don’t mean to sound so hard but I have learned to measure results. This has never worked well.
I would believe in their sincerity if they would spread this speak the truth in love stuff a little broader. For example. Maybe they should quote Revelation 21:8 occasionally.
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
That’s a good one, right?
Or how about Proverbs 6: 16-19.
16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
These are very relevant to the condition of the heart, and to the local body.
Once again I would believe that they really cared if they had the courage to address issues that hurt the church and it’s influence in the world.
So, after many days I pray that I have given something of a calm response to a very common issue that people deal with. It is, however a path I moved away from many years ago.
Jesus revealed in John 16 the role of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:8-11 NASB
8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;
11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
You see, it is the role of the Holy Spirit to convict. I stopped trying to do His job years ago.
Before I finish I think you need to know what to expect during a visit to Amazing Life Church.
We hold ourselves accountable to you.
Accountable to provide you a safe place to come and hear the awesome story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, is the essence of the Gospel.
We are accountable to you, to share a word that will speak to your heart and to your needs. A word that will quicken the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart about any issues you need help with.
To a more seasoned saint we are accountable to share a word that will enlighten, reveal, and inspire.
Finally, we are accountable to you to be ready to answer questions and concerns. Offering our prayers always, and help as possible.
One more promise. When you come to Amazing life Church, you will not be judged, and we care immensely about your relationship with Christ.
#lovewins #hopelives
I’ve Been Sick
I’ve Been Sick
Well folks, this week has been a mess. Last Saturday night I ran fever all night. Felt good enough to preach so I did my best all the while trying to stay away from folks so I wouldn’t pass it on. Whatever it, is.
Fever continued the next couple of days along with a deep seated cough. Fever has subside but the cough has not. Although it is better.
I want to thank all of my church family, and friends that have been praying for me. I feel the strength of your prayers.
Please pray for Betty. To those who know me the reason is obvious. When I am sick I am a big baby.
This is not meant to be a special report on my illness. I mainly want to let everyone know I appreciate your prayers and comments.
I also want to address a couple of issues before I close this blog.
Yes I know, I am not as young as I used to be. Guess what? Nobody is as young as they used to be. LOL
Secondly, my kids in particular have wanted me to go to the Doctor. Probably should, and would if the over the counter stuff didn’t work.
Doctors are awesome. Their education and experience is a gift from God, and their dedication to help humanity is amazing.
When this stuff has come on in the past few years I have gone to the Doctor to get a shot. They wouldn’t give me a shot because they said my blood pressure was too high.
No kidding, the blood pressure machine was across the hall from the finance office. Just saying!!
I hope to return to my daily prayers and posts. Thanks so much for the prayers and the well wishes.
God is awesome and His comfort and peace has kept me focused.
God bless all of my friends and family with His favor and grace. In Jesus name.
#lovewins #hopelives
The Storm Shelter
The Storm Shelter
While I was praying last night the thunderstorms that had been forecast arrived. While listening to the thunder roll, and the heavy rain, something from my childhood came to mind.
When I was 4 years old I was playing with a friend a couple of houses from mine. I looked toward home and saw a concrete truck in the driveway. Dad was having a concrete storm cellar poured in our backyard.
In later years I found out why. Dad was working on the freight docks in West Dallas when one touched down in sight of his job. The damage and destruction alarmed him, and prompted him to have this shelter built.
It was really kind of nice inside. It had a half round bench where Dad placed plywood across. It made a bed large enough for Mom and I to sleep.
Dad would always sit on the steps near the door so his transistor radio would get good reception.
When an alarm was issued we went to the cellar. Dad would not leave until he heard the official notice that the storms had passed.
He saw the devastation a storm could cause. That prompted Him to prepare. “Boy there is a sermon in that!!”
From that moment when the shelter was built, until I moved away and began a family, we went to the storm shelter. I can not tell how many hours I spent in that concrete hole in the ground.
I remember once when Jennifer was a baby that Dad and Mom wanted to keep her. It was a Sunday and I left her while we went to church. During church a storm came up.
When I got to their house it was still raining. No lights on so I knew where they were. I waded through the water to the storm shelter and beat on the door. Dad, I need to get Jennifer.
I didn’t think he was going to let me have her. The storm warning had not been lifted. After much pleading he let me have my child.
The next door neighbor always made fun of us for going to the shelter during storms. How ironic one day when a storm tore through his yard and destroyed several of his trees.
He came to dad and asked if he could put a gate in his fence so that when a storm came he and his wife could join dad in the cellar.
Like so many, he didn’t find it necessary until it affected him. Of course dad let him put the gate in, and he joined them several times in the safety of the storm cellar.
I knew that my father went to all this trouble because he loved life, and he loved his family. The storm he witnessed first hand created an urgency for preparation.
When I thought on this I was reminded of Jesus, and the storms He stilled in the Gospels.
Everything He did was to teach, and to confirm. Teach us how to trust Him and believe His words of life. Confirm to us, who He was and the kingdom authority that He was sent to pass on to believers.
The Father loved us so much that He spent thousands of years in preparation. When the proper season of time arrived, His Son stilled the rage of death, hell, and the grave. Rising with the keys in His hands that would free us from the fear of judgment, and the bondage of sin.
In the shelter of His arms I rest today. When a storm arises I look to Him for courage. When failure comes I look to Him for mercy.
He is my shelter in the storm.
Still we must be prepared. Even when things are going smoothly a storm could arise suddenly in your life. A life event that came unexpectedly. A tragedy or failure that causes fear and doubt to trouble you.
We must pray faithfully. Read His word regularly. These two things are like building a storm cellar.
They will hold you up when things around you are crumbling. The connection you have with the Father will give you full assurance and peace that you will endure the storm.
The words He shared will be the foundation. The walls are built with His love.
In Him we live, move, and have our being. He is our shelter to protect us from the storms of life.
Remember, just like my dad. It is His love for us that moves us forward. It is His love for us that guards and protects our steps. It is His love for us that builds a shelter to protect us from the storms of life.
#lovewins #hopelives
Living Hope Leadership 2
Living Hope Leadership 2
This is my second blog on leadership principles. Helping identify principles that will help you flourish in a ministry that is founded on the example that Christ gave us.
I will do so by taking up where we left off in the Gospel of John.
John 13:12-17 NASB
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
The message that immediately jumps out at us is service. There was a service that needed rendered and Christ took it upon Himself to do so. He did it as an example, a teaching example of how we must do the same.
I get another lesson from theses passages and the life of Christ.
No matter your calling or level of ministry. Whether you are part of the five fold ministry. “Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist” “or someone with specific gifts and callings in the body if something needs done and you have the means to do it. Then do it.”
Pride or position must not limit your service. He was the Son of God. He is our example of ministry.
His ability to do this came from His acceptance and realization of several things. I will share four for your consideration.
One
All things had been put in His hands.
Everything He would need to succeed was at His disposal. So it is with those whom He calls and anoints to lead. Putting in your heart a service to render to His people is nothing short of a Divine call to do so.
John 3:35 NASB
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
Romans 8:32 NASB
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Two
He understood His true identity.
John 10:38 NASB
but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”
Romans 8:14-15 NASB
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Understanding who you are goes a long way to help you do the things that Christ did. It is never about you. It is always about Him and rendering service to someone in need. That is what every form of ministry is. Meeting a need.
Your calling and your ministry will be a work of grace for the glory of God. Even though we have been given all things we must be willing to impart these things to others. “Freely you have received, freely give.”
Three
He knew He had a destiny.
John 18:4 NASB
So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
You also have a destiny
Psalm 139:13-16 NASB
13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
Has God spent so much thought on us that He would not have a plan for our lives. I will never believe that. He has planned good things for all His children. Some, like you that are here He has destined to serve in even greater measure than we all must serve.
Four
He had a profound security in His Father’s love. Let me read a passage I mentioned earlier again.
John 3:35 NASB
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
We have also been given this security if we will believe His words.
John 15:9 NASB
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
John 16:27 NASB
for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
This may sound like beginners class and in some ways it is. We need to understand that things are not always as complicated as people tend to make them seem.
The very foundation of becoming a leader and developing a ministry in service for the kingdom of God is following the example of Christ. What He taught us was not complicated.
If you will understand that He has given you all things to succeed. Know who you are in Christ. Trust in Him to move you forward in the destiny He has planned for you and remain unwavering in the love that He has for you, you will be strong in leadership and ministry.
The more you lay hold of God’s riches, the more you will be capable of serving others.
Mark 9:33-37 NASB
33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
I think it is interesting that He asked them what they were talking about and they would not answer. He knew the topic because he knew their hearts so He began to address greatness in His upside down theology.
If you want to be first you have to be last and you have to be servant to all.
Matthew recorded a similar discussion when the mother of the sons of Zebedee asked for her sons to sit in places of honor in His kingdom. Christ taught leadership and ministry in His response.
Matthew 20:26-28 NASB
26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
I want to close these foundational principles with an example of the upside down theology. Where we have to go down to come up and what happens when we faithfully serve as Christ did. Following His example.
Philippians 2:5-11 NASB
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You see when you follow His plan for leadership you will have to give up something now; so you can get something better in the future.
#lovewins #hopelives
Living Hope/Leadership Part 1
Living Hope/Leadership Part 1
I want to start these thoughts by defining three important principles that we must take to heart. They are leadership, ministry, and goals.
Leadership is defined this way; “The action of leading a group of people or an organization. A leader is a person who guides and inspires. WIKI says of leadership, a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others to accomplish a common task.”
Ministry is defined this way; “The act of serving. One that serves. Ministry comes from a Greek word which actually means to serve as a slave.”
Goals are defined this way; “An observable and measurable end result having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed time frame. A goal is a desired result a person or group of people envisions, plans and commits to achieve within a set time period.”
Goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time targeted objectives.
I want to define leadership and ministry from the Biblical perspective. I will begin by sharing two passages from the Gospels that represent our example for leadership and ministry.
Matthew 20:28 NASB
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Mark felt it important to share as well.
Mark 10:45 NASB
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Now grant it the mission of Christ far exceeds anything that we have been called to accomplish. It will at times seem like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders but it is nothing close to what He accomplished by His service to us.
Let me make something clear from the onset. From time to time you may hear me share some aspects of ministry that will sound negative. It is because I want you to understand that there are things you will face that may discourage you or even hurt you. Christ being our example of this.
With that said I want you to know that serving the Lord and His people has been and will continue to be the greatest joy that I have ever experienced. Sharing my life with others has been an amazing journey.
If you dedicate your heart and life to ministry you will find out what I mean.
Let me get back to Biblical ministry. The type of servant leadership that Christ represented was embedded in Biblical tradition from Genesis to Revelation. It was clearly represented in the life of Christ.
Even leadership positions outside of the church recognize the importance of service. The famous NBA coach Pat Riley wrote in his book how easy it was to become selfish in a team environment. He wrote, “It becomes all about me.”
He wrote that you must give up something in the immediate present, to attract something better in the future.
The reality of ministry begins with servant hood to the people that God has already placed in your life. Ministry to God, is service to others.
Remember these passages from the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 25:31-40 NASB
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
You know how it ends for those who did not serve.
He doesn’t ask us to do something that He has not already done. We will look at this ministry concept from the record of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.
Normally at a house like this where a supper was being hosted there would have been a servant to carry out the customs of the times one of which was washing the guests feet. This was done for comfort because the roads traveled were dusty and the common shoe was a sandal.
To the disciples Jesus did the unthinkable when He took on the role of the servant. Just recently some of the disciples had argued who would be the greatest in the kingdom so they were having a huge problem understanding what Jesus was doing. Jesus was and had been trying to teach His followers what we call upside down values. In other words Kingdom living is totally counterintuitive.
“Contrary to what intuition or common sense would indicate.”
Jesus was teaching them and us that, “The way up is down”
You can’t really follow Christ unless you believe that what He calls us to pursue is better than what the world can give.
Ministry or leadership will not succeed until we believe that we are not just called to give up something but to actually gain something much better.
John 13:1-3 NASB
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,
This account begins with Christ acknowledging that His time had come. The Father had put all things under His power. He knew where He came from and where He was going.
Here is a ministry and leadership principle that you must never forget. It is simple in nature yet crucial for your success.
“You must be sure of your calling and you must be sure who you are!!”
Now I want you to play very close attention to the next two verses.
John 13:4-5 NASB
4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
You need to understand something. Jesus washed the feet of Judas.
Jesus washed the feet of the person that would betray Him to the High Priest.
The kingdom perspective of ministry is to die to your own ambitions and find your life by losing it in the service to others.
Part two coming later. Be blessed as you follow Christ.
#lovewins #hopelives
“Here Comes This Dreamer”
Here Comes This Dreamer
Purpose is defined several ways but there are two definitions relevant to me.
First, the reason for which something exists. Secondly it refers to determination and resolve.
Bear in mind, as a pastor, I look into the present, and the future. The broader reason you and I exist is to fulfill the will of God. We exist because of His mercy and grace. There is never a question of this truth.
The question is do we know what our role is in fulfilling the will of God?
What also remains a question is our determination and resolve to believe in the purpose of God for our lives.
My purpose as a Pastor is, “To help people access their dreams and, or, maximize their potential.”
For some it will be helping you see the obstacles that hinder you. While others still it will be helping you grow into your ministry. All the while consistently and persistently telling the story of Jesus.
I want to eliminate most of the reasons that cause us to think we have no potential to accomplish God’s will for our lives. I will do so by reading 3 verses from Hebrews 12. You will find that with determination and resolve you can do anything.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Message
1 Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
3 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
For some you need to read these passages over and over until faith arises in your souls. “Here Comes This Dreamer.” is the story of Joseph and what God fulfilled in his life. All of it started with two dreams.
Genesis 37:18-20 NASB
18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.
19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer!
20 Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”
Let me say something clear and unambiguous. “There will always be someone who wants to kill your dreams.”
If you will read Genesis 37-50 you will see the constant adversity that Joseph faced before his dreams were realized.
Now we know that His dreams were given by God. We know that because it is the past and there is record that we believe the dreams came to pass.
Our dreams often lay dormant in our minds because we can not see how they will come to pass.
For the purpose of these thoughts, a dream is defined this way, “a condition or achievement longed for; or oversimplified it means a goal.”
I have always been a dreamer. Today I dream of at least 2-3 Amazing Life Church locations with pastors raised up to carry the same vision and purpose for the preaching of the Gospel that we have delivered in this house.
I dream of ministries that have faced failure or hurts that have stopped their dreams in their tracks to once again rise up in the Amazing Grace of God and fulfill their dreams and visions that God placed in their hearts. Looking at adversity with faith in Who He is and What He has done.
I have dreams for the people that God has placed in my path.
Purpose that they have yet to acknowledge because they do not believe in themselves and the grace of God in their lives. I see them in their anointing and it is amazing.
Let me share quickly three things that Joseph did that were examples to us.
1-Speak your dreams.
2-Believe your dreams
3-Never doubt your dreams even in your adversity
We do not have the benefit of a magical crystal ball where the future appears with a wave of the hand. The only resource we have is our faith in God. I can share one thing with you that should strengthen your faith and your resolve to move forward in your dreams.
Here it is.
God has already seen you in your future and your success has already been established in His will.
The psalmist David shared this in one of his psalms.
Psalms 31:14-15 NASB
14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
That word times is translated from a Hebrew word which means, “seasons.
The season for the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams took a while but His trust in God never wavered. He walked in his dream before it came to pass.
This is one of my favorite quotes from Oswald Chambers.
“Leave the broken, irreversible past in God’s hands; and step out into the invincible future with Him.”
Don’t let doubt and fear fill your heart and mind. When God puts a purpose, or a dream in you, He has already seen it come to pass.
Believe in Him Trust His leading, and move forward. It will most often take a while. Remain faithful, and you will see it come to pass.
#lovewins #hopelives