Articles and Blogs

11 Traits of Churches that Will Impact the Future – Carey Nieuwhof

Setting the Moral Parameter – Bill Eliff

10 Ways to Start the Day Well for God – Chuck Lawless

Worth Repeating

“The day your memories are greater than your dreams you are dead in the water.” – Ike Reighard

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” – Stephen Covey

“Our working is not added to God’s working. Our working is God’s working” – John Piper

Another Look

Have you ever noticed that when things seem to be going well that the prospect of something bad happening still looms over you? The old saying is that “every rose has its thorns.”

That experience seems to be present in our spiritual walk as well. Whether in a personal Bible study, moving worship service, or through some daily encounter, God intervenes in your life and you experience something of a spiritual breakthrough. You are prepared to serve God more diligently and walk with Him more intimately. Then… the devil gets wind of it and shows up throwing every possible obstacle in your path.

You are not alone. Even one as godly as the Apostle Paul experienced a similar experience during his time in the city of Ephesus. God used him there in a tremendous way to turn the hearts of many to Jesus. Opportunities for the Kingdom abounded. So did the obstacles. He spoke of the situation when writing to the church in Corinth.

“…for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
                                                                                                                                              – 1 Corinthians 16:9

Granted, when we are not obedient to God, we will experience His corrective hand often through our circumstances, but we MUST NOT consider every difficulty a sign that we are NOT “doing right.” Many times those difficulties of the opposite truth that we ARE INDEED “doing right.”

When we engage God’s mission for any season of our life, the devil is not happy and will do all he can to thwart God’s work through us. So, what can we do when “doing right” seems to be “going wrong”? Let me suggest three reminders.

1. Examine yourself to make certain that disobedience is in fact not causing your difficulty. In Hebrews 12:1, the writer encourages to “lay aside every weight, and the sin that clings so closely…” Self examination is always a healthy first step, but once we determine that we are not the problem, we can turn to other practices.

2. Remember that in spite of your circumstances, God is at work in and through you. Romans 8:28 stands as a reminder that God works through ALL THINGS – good, bad, indifferent – to accomplish His purpose. Do not let the devil’s opposition lead you to believe God is not at work. Remember, he is a liar and the father of lies.

3. Cling to the Biblical principle of sewing and reaping. In Galatians 6:9, Paul reminds us that we WILL reap what we sew if we remain faithful and not give up. The Biblical principle of sewing and reaping tells us that we reap WHAT we sew (keep doing good), we reap AFTER we sew (so don’t give up), and we reap MORE than we sew.

So, don’t let the opposition you may experience when you serve God distract, disturb, or derail you. As God opens the doors, walk through them, ignoring the sounds of the devil’s naysayers.

My Atlanta Braves aren’t playing very well at all these days, and some fans are leaping off the bandwagon in Titanic proportions.

What if God treated us like we treat or sports teams?

Psalm 130:3-4 – “If you, O Lord, should mark our iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.”

Psalm 103:12 – “…as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We experience the real life God intends for us to have when Jesus is the center of every facet of our lives.

Life Begins in the Center
Colossians 1:13-23

Jesus is PRE-EMINENT in our:

1. View of God

“Image” = revelation, likeness, authority

2. Reason for Being

“Firstborn” = prototype, primary one, first in order of preference

by….through….for….before….hold together

3. Order of the Church

As head, Jesus is the . . . of the Church

source
                  leader
                  ruler

4. Gift of Redemption

That IN all things He might have PREEMINENCE

Articles and Blogs

7 Unbiblical Statements Christians Believe – Shane Pruitt, www.relevantmagazine.com

11 Questions to Determine Where the Enemy’s Winning in Your Life – Chuck Lawless

Don’t Quit Before the Whistle Blows – Michael Hyatt

Worth Repeating

“While you learn from life looking back, you can only be effective by living life looking forward.” – Steve Parr Twitter Feed  @steverparr

“God’s ultimate purpose for you is not limited by today’s present reality. ” @louiegiglio

“Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.” ‪

Another Look

English revivalist Gypsy Smith used to challenge those who desired to see revival to draw a three-foot circle, kneel in the middle of that circle, and ask God to revive everyone in the circle.  In other words, revival must begin in me. I am taking his challenge; I want to see revival.

When I speak of revival, I am not speaking of a series of meetings to attend to hear uplifting music and inspiring preaching, though often revival occurs during such a time.  I am not speaking of an emotional experience brought on by a special event, though emotion often accompanies true revival.  When I speak of revival, I am not speaking of a grand declaration of my own intention to change my ways, though true revival always results in altered behavior.

As I pray for revival, I am asking God to perform deep surgery on my soul.  I want Him to make sure every ambition of my life is centered firmly in Christ.  I want Him to make sure every thought is brought into obedience to Christ.  I want Him to make sure every fiber of my being is surrendered to His Lordship.  I pray that God will do a work in my life that goes far beyond scheduled meetings and emotional displays; I am praying that He will CHANGE me, that He will make me more like Jesus.

I want to love who and how He loves.  I want to see what He sees, painful as it may be.  I want to go where He sends, and do what He says.  I desire a life totally immersed in Jesus.  I want my sinful attitudes, actions, and affections crucified in my fleshly existence.  I want His priorities to become my priorities, and for my will to be lost in His.  I want to set my affections on Him and seek His Kingdom first and foremost.

I want Him to remove any negativity and pessimism from my spirit.  I am asking Him to give me strength to stand firm and favor with those in front of whom I must stand.  I pray that He will make me wise as a serpent but as innocent as a dove.

This is where I am.  I am sorry, but there is no room for you in my circle; but there is plenty of room for other circles.  Will you pick up a piece of chalk and draw one for yourself?

Matthew 6:33

Romans 8:29

2 Corinthians 10:5

Colossians 1:18

Colossians 3:1-4

What would happen if I could keep track of my words like some people keep track of their steps?

We once lived in a house with a mold problem.  Of course, we didn’t know it at first, but then evidence started cropping up in obvious places.  By the time we noticed the mold, we had already begun inhaling the microscopic spores and experiencing their effects in our bodies.  Had we not removed ourselves from the moldy conditions, we could have suffered great sickness and damage from something we never could see in the air.  We could have suffocated in our own home.

I also have experienced a similar danger spiritually – suffocated by my environment – and chances are you have also.  Negativity does to our spirit what mold does to our respiratory system.  Surrounded my negative people and hearing an infestation of negative talk, we take on a negative tone in our own speech and perpetuate its unseen yet spiritually crippling effects.

As we start this week, let me encourage you to be mindful of the effect what you say and how you say it has on others around you.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. – Ephesians 4:29

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. – Colossians 4:6

“Corrupting talk” mentioned in Ephesians 4:29 does not refer to the content of our speech – i.e. foul language – but to the effect our words have on others.  CHOOSEwords that build up, and say them in a MANNER that is gracious and palatable.

For this week, concentrate on eliminating

criticism,

complaining,

and gossip.

Instead speak words that are 

positive, 

encouraging,

and beneficial.

BE INTENTIONAL.  Don’t contribute to the negativity pollution that pervades our culture.  Instead by a breath of fresh air to those around you.