Each week our Worship Teams at the Church I pastor get together to seek the Lord concerning the next week’s Worship Service. From their time of prayer and Bible study they put together "our order of service.” Now, I have a question; "Do we too often trust that the 'order of service' will bless and move people towards God?"
Good singing might bring people to our church but only the living Spirit of God can change their lives.
Good preaching might cause folks to come back again and again but only the power and demonstration of the Spirit can meet the needs of this world.
Friends may we never rely only on "our order of service" but depend on His Spirit to make our services what He truly wants them to be; a life changing event in the lives of the lost in our community.
Pray with me that we might always remember that it is "not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord!" Zec 4:6. Pray with me that because of His Spirit and His power we might come to our services expecting Him to manifest Himself in power. The signs and wonders of the New Testament church are still available to us today! “ Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever” Hebrews 13:8. As we call on Him He will show Himself strong: Jer 33:3; “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” KJV
If you agree, then pray this prayer with me…
Dear Jesus, forgive us for relying on ourselves to try to 'have church'. Indeed if we do only what can be accomplished in ourselves all that we will do is 'have church'. Lord, help us to expect great things from you and to call on your name and believe by faith that you will move mightily in our midst.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Check the Scoreboard
Well, it's final. The 2008-2009 NCAA Basketball Champ has been crowned. North Carolina defeated Michigan State, 89-72 in a fast paced, exciting basketball game. Both teams came in energized, excited and playing outstanding basketball through-out the tournament. Both teams had a "game plan," a strategy that they believed would give them the edge to be the victor when the buzzer blew in the end. Yet, the scoreboard revealed that only one team's game plan was successfull.
This morning in my devotional time, I read the following from John Maxwell.
"Every 'game' has its own rules and its own definition of what it means to win. Some teams measure their success in points scored; others in profits. Still others may look at the number of people they serve. But no matter what the game is, there is always a scoreboard. And if a team is to accomplish its goals,it has to know where it stands. it has to look at itself in light of the scoreboard. Why? Because the game is constantly changing. You see, the game plan tells what you want to happen. But the scorebaord tells what is happening."
How are you doing in the "game" of life? Check the scoreboard and see. If you don't like what you see, Ask God to give you the wisdom to change your "Game Plan."
This morning in my devotional time, I read the following from John Maxwell.
"Every 'game' has its own rules and its own definition of what it means to win. Some teams measure their success in points scored; others in profits. Still others may look at the number of people they serve. But no matter what the game is, there is always a scoreboard. And if a team is to accomplish its goals,it has to know where it stands. it has to look at itself in light of the scoreboard. Why? Because the game is constantly changing. You see, the game plan tells what you want to happen. But the scorebaord tells what is happening."
How are you doing in the "game" of life? Check the scoreboard and see. If you don't like what you see, Ask God to give you the wisdom to change your "Game Plan."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Don't forget the Fertilizer
Oh, how I wish my Grandfather was here. He was amazing. As a child, I remember watching him eat an apple or a piece of watermelon, spit the seeds into a cup, put the cup in the basement and the next Spring he would be planting a new fruit tree or vine. He could grow anything. I miss him, especially on week's like this one. I spent the week doing those 'honey do's' that I have let build up all winter. The past two days have been spent sowing grass seed in my yard. Sounds easy right? Maybe for you, but I didn't inherit my Grandfather's green thumb. You see, the truth is I planted grass seed in this same yard last year and it didn't grow any grass. So, here we go again.
But I got a good feeling down in my gut that this year is going to be different. Why? Because this year I did what I did not do last year, I Did Research! And I learned that I left out a very important ingredient last year, FERTILIZER. Who knew? O.K. maybe you did, but remember, I'm not good at this sort of thing. So this year, I waited till right before a rain, sowed the grass seed, fertilized it and even laid down straw. This year will be different, I can feel it. Soon, I will be gazing at my yard and looking at new, green blades of grass growing where there was once bear spots. Oh man, that's exciting! Well, maybe not that exciting, but it does feel good.
As I finished sowing the seed, I began thinking on a subject that really does get me excited, and not me only, but I believe excites all of Heaven. That is sowing the Good News of Jesus in the hearts of those who are Far from God. Jesus said in Matthew 13 that when we share His message with others, we are like a man sowing seed. But is spreading the message all that we need to do? When we are sowing the Word of God in people's lives, do we not also need to "Fertilize" the seed? I think so.
What is the fertilizer for the soul? To begin with, I belive it is to apply the "Love" of Jesus as we sow the Word. There's a saying, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." People can pick-up on us when we are fake. They know if we are sharing the message of Christ with them because we geniunely care for their soul, or if we are simply trying to fill our quota.
I believe we should fertilize the message with a "Holy Walk" too. Have you ever had someone who is far from God tell you that they are O.K. with God because they live just as good, if not better, than the people in the Church? People are watching us. They are watching us even when we don't think so. They are watching to see if our "walk" backs up our "testimony." Our lifestyle either supports our message or it tears it down.
One more. I believe we should fertilize the seed with "Hope." The unchurched are dealing with the same issues that we in the church are. They are concerned as to what is going to happen with the economy, about the rising cost of Health care, about cancer, about what kind of world their children and grandchildren are going to grow up in. The difference should come in how Christians handle these concerns. As believers, we know that God has the final word, that He is in control. That knowledge should give us a sense of peace and hope. Those far from God need to see that we still have hope as we share the Gospel with them.
We are coming up on Easter, the greatest time of the year for you and I to spread the "seed" the message of Jesus in the hearts of others, but as you go sowing, don't forget to apply the fertilizer.
God Bless,
But I got a good feeling down in my gut that this year is going to be different. Why? Because this year I did what I did not do last year, I Did Research! And I learned that I left out a very important ingredient last year, FERTILIZER. Who knew? O.K. maybe you did, but remember, I'm not good at this sort of thing. So this year, I waited till right before a rain, sowed the grass seed, fertilized it and even laid down straw. This year will be different, I can feel it. Soon, I will be gazing at my yard and looking at new, green blades of grass growing where there was once bear spots. Oh man, that's exciting! Well, maybe not that exciting, but it does feel good.
As I finished sowing the seed, I began thinking on a subject that really does get me excited, and not me only, but I believe excites all of Heaven. That is sowing the Good News of Jesus in the hearts of those who are Far from God. Jesus said in Matthew 13 that when we share His message with others, we are like a man sowing seed. But is spreading the message all that we need to do? When we are sowing the Word of God in people's lives, do we not also need to "Fertilize" the seed? I think so.
What is the fertilizer for the soul? To begin with, I belive it is to apply the "Love" of Jesus as we sow the Word. There's a saying, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." People can pick-up on us when we are fake. They know if we are sharing the message of Christ with them because we geniunely care for their soul, or if we are simply trying to fill our quota.
I believe we should fertilize the message with a "Holy Walk" too. Have you ever had someone who is far from God tell you that they are O.K. with God because they live just as good, if not better, than the people in the Church? People are watching us. They are watching us even when we don't think so. They are watching to see if our "walk" backs up our "testimony." Our lifestyle either supports our message or it tears it down.
One more. I believe we should fertilize the seed with "Hope." The unchurched are dealing with the same issues that we in the church are. They are concerned as to what is going to happen with the economy, about the rising cost of Health care, about cancer, about what kind of world their children and grandchildren are going to grow up in. The difference should come in how Christians handle these concerns. As believers, we know that God has the final word, that He is in control. That knowledge should give us a sense of peace and hope. Those far from God need to see that we still have hope as we share the Gospel with them.
We are coming up on Easter, the greatest time of the year for you and I to spread the "seed" the message of Jesus in the hearts of others, but as you go sowing, don't forget to apply the fertilizer.
God Bless,
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