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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
It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s A Wonderful Life
It has been a long road back this week from the sickness I had dealt with. I do appreciate the prayers and well wishes for those who knew. If you didn’t know don’t worry, I didn’t do hour by hour postings on facebook.
When my head began to clear from the medicine I felt pain in my spirit. (still today) So many people feel like they have no value. Their life is insignificant.
When I thought on this it got worse, and I could not hold back tears.
I shared my thoughts with Betty and it brought to her mind one of our favorite Christmas movies. I want to share some thoughts titled, “It’s A Wonderful Life”
Before I really get into my message, I want to share some short stories about some folks in the Bible, that left a small historical footprint in Bible history.
You have probably hear of Jabez. Mentioned briefly in
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NASB
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.”
10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.
The guy got in 2 scriptures and people are praying his prayer still today.
Josiah became king at 8 years old.
2 Kings 22:2 NASB
He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.
What about Shamgar?
Judges 3:31 NASB
After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.
There is really only three things we know about the thief on the cross. He was a criminal-He was crucified next to Jesus-When he died he entered paradise with Jesus.
Love this one. Who knows of Elishama? “el-ee-shaw-maw” It means, My God has heard. He was a scribe to the king in the book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 36:12 NASB
he went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber. And behold, all the officials were sitting there—Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
Here is what interested me. In 1986 outside Jerusalem a clay seal was found that read, Elishama, servant of the king.
The passage was written approx 588 BC. The seal was dated to that time period proving that He was a scribe to the king.
My heart has been heavy this week. Burdened for the broken, the scattered, the hopeless. People who have found themselves slammed against a wall, with no way to get around it, and no heart to climb it.
“Used Up”
Paul was defining his Apostolic role in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 NASB
5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
“It’s a valuable treasure”
Your life has meaning. If you could only see the people you have touched. The people you are destined to touch. The used up person that you held the door open for with a smile. They decided to go one more day. “Nothing is insignificant in God’s purpose.”
(We have a treasure to give. It never runs out)
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NASB
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
“This transformation is a process.”
Philippians 2 Is a great chapter. Read it when you can. I want to share 3 verses.
Philippians 2:8-10 NASB
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.
All of this said comes to this.
Matthew 11:28-30 NASB
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(What a wonderful life awaits you)
#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
The New Lump
The New Lump
God is so very good and big in all of our lives. His goodness and His grace is far beyond anything that we deserve. His amazing presence brings comfort and peace in the midst of all our life events.
Holy Father has given so much thought to your life. In fact He never stops thinking about you and His purpose for your life.
As we move forward each day the blessings and favor of God inspires us. The revelation of His grace and mercy, along with the understanding of His word, strengthens our faith.
Our lives have been enriched by the friends and family members, that we love and cherish. People who have loved, forgiven, and fought in prayer.
It is your grace, mercy, and love that has joined us together. May your will be done as we follow you.
I want to share some thoughts with you titled, “The New Lump”
1 Peter 1:17-21 NASB
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
These passages are an awesome revelation of the process of redemption, and the eternal plan of God.
Verse 17 tells us of the righteous, and impartial judgment of the Father. He measures without partiality our conduct and our work while living on earth.
The Apostle also reminds us of our need to respect the Father and His will for our lives.
Verse 18 is much clearer when read from the Amplified
1 Peter 1:18 Amplified
For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless spiritually unproductive way of life inherited by tradition from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold.
It wasn’t some ceremonial act that redeemed us. Verse 19 tells us it was precious blood.
The word precious comes from a Greek word which means, “as of great value.”
In verse 20 we hear the heavens have known Him from the beginning. He was revealed to the world for our sake.
Verse 21 from the Amplified
1 Peter 1:21 Amplified
and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
There is something very obvious from these passages. “If God used something of great value to redeem us. It must have been because He considered us of great value.” Preach
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 NASB
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
There are a few words that needs some attention.
1 Corinthians 5:6 NASB
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
Leaven is often used metaphorically. It is used that way in this passage. It means, “of inveterate mental and moral corruption, viewed in its tendence to infect others.”
1 Corinthians 5:7 NASB
Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
The word unleavened in this passage comes from a Greek word which means, “free from faults and the leaven of iniquity.”
New lump means, “to be born, to spring up, to grow.”
1 Corinthians 5:8 NASB
Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
What does all this means? “As a Christian you are cleansed. Free from the iniquity that bound you before you came to Christ.
The Apostle is teaching the danger of looking back. He is also teaching the responsibility we have to align ourselves with the right people.
Careful to not let leaven enter into our minds and our hearts.
God has cleansed those who follow Him from iniquity.
He will cleanse you if you will only ask.
There is only one wall that keeps us from walking in our destiny. The same wall keeps us from coming to Christ and become a new person.
Our thoughts build this wall!!!!!
#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
“Knock Knock”
Knock Knock
We are in a season of awesome opportunities. Hearts and minds within the church are coming to understand the power in the message that the Apostles built the church on. Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
I have been asked, what about the whole Bible. The answer is simple. Jesus is the whole Bible!!! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The OT is all about how you can’t make it without Him. The NT is about embracing Him, accepting Him, and believing in the Kingdom authority He delivered to us.
Know Him, and you will know His word. Love Him, He first loved you. Follow Him, you will fear no evil.
Jesus used the words I am, to describe 7 different components of who He is. They are all found in the Gospel of John.
“I am, The bread of life. John 6:35. I am, the Light of the world. John 8:12. I am, the door. John 10:9. I am the Good Shepherd. John 10:11. I am, the Resurrection and the Life. John 11:25. I am the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6. Finally. I am, the True Vine. John 15:1.”
I Am The Door Interests me
John 10:1-11 NASB
1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
“The word door in these passages literally means, an opening or entrance. It is used metaphorically to be the name of Him who brings salvation to those who follow Him. Also denotes the door to the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Verse 9-“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
The word through from the Greek means, “by means of.” The word pasture is a great word. From the Greek it means, “fodder or food.” Figuratively it means, “we shall not want the needful supplies for the true life.”
Verse 10-“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
The word thief comes from the Greek word, “klep-tace.” It means, “embezzler or pilferer.” In the use of the Greek lexicon it means this. “The name is transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain.”
The Apostle John finished the message from Christ to the seven churches in chapter 3. This followed.
Revelation 3:20-22 NASB
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Jesus declared Himself to be the door. He was talking to His churches, and to us. Now He is knocking on a door. This is so awesome.
“If you don’t knock at His door. He will knock on yours. The door to your heart.”
Are you conscious of His appeals?
When He knocks and you open He becomes your guest. When He is your Savior, He is your host. Spreading a table before you filled with His goodness. Filled with everything that you will need to walk in victory. Walk in Kingdom authority.
What do you want today? What would you ask if you knocked, and He answered?
Matthew 7:7 NASB
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Luke 11:9 NASB
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Today is your day. #lovewins #hopelives