We Learn from where others have already been. Paul was making the point in I Corinthians 10 that the people of Israel had traveled the road of life and had made some really bad choices and he has a warning for us. Just because we have trusted in the Lord to be our Savior we still have to make the right choices in our everyday walk. Here is a breakdown of the Pitfalls we should avoid.
We need to keep our lust in check. We all live in a tent of flesh and as a result we crave sinful things. To be tempted is not sin but to yeild to the temptation is. Everyone of us know what sinful things are and we need to keep ourselves away from these things.
Idolatry is anything that we exalt above God. If we put anything before God we have made that thing an idol. Attached to idolatry is worship. If we are not careful we can worship things that are inspired by the enemy. Clearly we are intructed to worship only God and God alone. Satan would have us worship him. Satan will try to decieve us into worshiping him. Rememeber he is the father of lies. Satan glories in anything that is false. Satan loves anything that is opposite of what God is. God is truth-satan is lies. God is holy-satan is filthy.
Nothing can effect us more than sexual sin. When we violate Gods word and act immoral we defile ourselves and become spiritually dull.
If we willfully act in disobiendence and throw it in the face of God we set ourselves up to suffer the consequences of our decsions. We will reap what we sow.
To complain that God is not enough reveals the true condition of our heart and that revelation of our lack of trust will open the door to defeat and compromise.
Clearly the Bible give us pitfalls that must be avoided. We must learn what must be avoided because we have a recorded history of the results of what we will go through if we do not heed the warnings.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Some Do's And Don'ts in Leadership
Always believe in people and try to find ways to help them succeed.
Take risks when giving people opportunities even if you don't know how it will turn out.
Always follow your dreams even if others lose the vision. God will bring others to help you.
Don't second guess yourself when you empower people to do something and if you made a mistake in trusting somebody who proved they were not up to the challenge admit you blew it and move on.
If you know something needs to be addressed don't put if off. When we let things go to long we live to regret it most of the time. If you are on the right side of the issue act quickly because it may hurt at first but it will resolve itself quicker as well.
Don't respond to people who criticize you for things that you know have to be done. Accept the fact that criticism is part of leadership. Learn from constructive criticism and don't let words against you upset you. Most people who criticize in a negative way need our prayers.
Aways remember that God is in control of everything and He brings all things to light. What ever a mans sows that he will reap.
Take risks when giving people opportunities even if you don't know how it will turn out.
Always follow your dreams even if others lose the vision. God will bring others to help you.
Don't second guess yourself when you empower people to do something and if you made a mistake in trusting somebody who proved they were not up to the challenge admit you blew it and move on.
If you know something needs to be addressed don't put if off. When we let things go to long we live to regret it most of the time. If you are on the right side of the issue act quickly because it may hurt at first but it will resolve itself quicker as well.
Don't respond to people who criticize you for things that you know have to be done. Accept the fact that criticism is part of leadership. Learn from constructive criticism and don't let words against you upset you. Most people who criticize in a negative way need our prayers.
Aways remember that God is in control of everything and He brings all things to light. What ever a mans sows that he will reap.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Overcoming Discouragement
Life can be hard at times and sometimes the circumstances we find ourselves in can cause us to become discouraged. There are peaks and valleys in life and sometimes you find yourself in the valley “death valley”. Due to a lot of different reasons many Christians find themselves discouraged.
Spiritual low self esteem, feeling that our life doesn’t make a difference, finding ourselves very busy with little to show for it. These are a few reasons that set us up for discouragement.
I heard Robert Emmitt say in his message to the church leaders during our annual meeting that the biggest reason pastors quit the ministry is not the mishandling of money or even sexual misconduct but discouragement.
There is a fable that the devil decided once to have an auction. He decided to go out of business and sell his tools. The auction day came and a great crowd of people gathered. He placed all his tools on a red plush mat. The tools were envy, jealousy, greed, vengeance, resentment and hatred- all of them. Off to the side he had a silver wedge. Someone asked him what it was and he said, that’s a silver wedge. See how bright and shiny it is? I use it all the time. It is the best tool I have. I put it over there because it is the most valuable. It is worth more than all the other tools put together. They asked how do you use it? Satan answered “that’s the wedge of discouragement". You take the finest Christian, one who has received Jesus Christ into his life and who is trying to serve Him, and drive the wedge of discouragement into his Christian work and wreck his usefulness. I can drive that wedge in and pry open a door, and all the rest of my cohorts can go in. I can breakdown that life down with discouragement.
As a pastor what concerns me most about God’s people is that having been in the Lord for 3, 4,5 years many have lost their song. There is no fire, excitement, no joy , no hope, they are not using their gifts to the fullest, they are discouraged and defeated.
If we are going to have growing Christian lives, growing churches and growing ministries, if we are going to win the world to Christ we have to realize it will not be done with disheartened, defeated Christian’s. We must recapture our enthusiasm. We must sing a new song.
2 Timothy 1:6 says “Stir up the gift of God which is within you”. The word “stir” in the original language means to “fan again the flames”. The picture is a fire that once burned bright, has gone out. But underneath the dull gray ashes there are still some hot coals capable of bursting into flames again if they were just stirred up, if they were fanned.
If discouragement has set into your life here are some things to remember and consider.
1. Remember the laws of God- The law of the harvest teaches us “not to grow weary in well doing because in due season we will reap if we faint not” Gal 6:9.
2. Remember the Promises of God- The blessing of God come to the obedient but we must stay faithful and engaged.
3. Remember the Love of God- While we were still sinners Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
4. Count your blessing- Don’t focus on what’s wrong but on what’s right. Look at the things God has blessed you with.
5. Tomorrow is a new day- The mercies of God are new every morning.
6. Your best days are ahead of you- He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
7. God is with us- Who can pluck you out of His hand? If God is for you who can be against you? He said he would never leave us or forsake us.
8. All things work together for the good- God takes the good and the bad and works it on our behalf because we are his and He has a plan. We serve a God of purpose and destiny.
9. Jesus sits on the throne- God is in control of this universe and He is Lord over all. Every power and dominion is under His feet.
Encourage yourself in the Lord my brother and sister. Don’t allow the devil or the circumstances of life to rob you of God best for your life. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. AMEN
Spiritual low self esteem, feeling that our life doesn’t make a difference, finding ourselves very busy with little to show for it. These are a few reasons that set us up for discouragement.
I heard Robert Emmitt say in his message to the church leaders during our annual meeting that the biggest reason pastors quit the ministry is not the mishandling of money or even sexual misconduct but discouragement.
There is a fable that the devil decided once to have an auction. He decided to go out of business and sell his tools. The auction day came and a great crowd of people gathered. He placed all his tools on a red plush mat. The tools were envy, jealousy, greed, vengeance, resentment and hatred- all of them. Off to the side he had a silver wedge. Someone asked him what it was and he said, that’s a silver wedge. See how bright and shiny it is? I use it all the time. It is the best tool I have. I put it over there because it is the most valuable. It is worth more than all the other tools put together. They asked how do you use it? Satan answered “that’s the wedge of discouragement". You take the finest Christian, one who has received Jesus Christ into his life and who is trying to serve Him, and drive the wedge of discouragement into his Christian work and wreck his usefulness. I can drive that wedge in and pry open a door, and all the rest of my cohorts can go in. I can breakdown that life down with discouragement.
As a pastor what concerns me most about God’s people is that having been in the Lord for 3, 4,5 years many have lost their song. There is no fire, excitement, no joy , no hope, they are not using their gifts to the fullest, they are discouraged and defeated.
If we are going to have growing Christian lives, growing churches and growing ministries, if we are going to win the world to Christ we have to realize it will not be done with disheartened, defeated Christian’s. We must recapture our enthusiasm. We must sing a new song.
2 Timothy 1:6 says “Stir up the gift of God which is within you”. The word “stir” in the original language means to “fan again the flames”. The picture is a fire that once burned bright, has gone out. But underneath the dull gray ashes there are still some hot coals capable of bursting into flames again if they were just stirred up, if they were fanned.
If discouragement has set into your life here are some things to remember and consider.
1. Remember the laws of God- The law of the harvest teaches us “not to grow weary in well doing because in due season we will reap if we faint not” Gal 6:9.
2. Remember the Promises of God- The blessing of God come to the obedient but we must stay faithful and engaged.
3. Remember the Love of God- While we were still sinners Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
4. Count your blessing- Don’t focus on what’s wrong but on what’s right. Look at the things God has blessed you with.
5. Tomorrow is a new day- The mercies of God are new every morning.
6. Your best days are ahead of you- He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
7. God is with us- Who can pluck you out of His hand? If God is for you who can be against you? He said he would never leave us or forsake us.
8. All things work together for the good- God takes the good and the bad and works it on our behalf because we are his and He has a plan. We serve a God of purpose and destiny.
9. Jesus sits on the throne- God is in control of this universe and He is Lord over all. Every power and dominion is under His feet.
Encourage yourself in the Lord my brother and sister. Don’t allow the devil or the circumstances of life to rob you of God best for your life. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. AMEN
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Awaken
A new definition of insanity- “keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results”.
Unfortunately that is the story of many Christians today.
When we peek into the lives of people it is like watching the reruns of your favorite sitcoms. Everything stays the same, nothing changes.
We find the same hang ups, problems, patterns of life mixed in with a few good days. Is it any wonder why people are so frustrated with the lack of progress in their lives.
When you read a message like this you might think that the call is for radical and immediate change but that is not the reality we are seeking. This call is more about challenging people to take personal leadership to start turning around the ship that is your life.
One of the problem we face is about change. People don't like change and resisit it when possible. We like our little clicks in life. We like our small thinking. It has been said "Little thinkers are the big stinkers". People are hesitant to bring real change in there live because we have tried to make changes. We try but then fall back to our old ways. Because of this we become gun shy of change and those who propose it.
This tension brings me to the purpose of the message. How can I wake you up. How can you awaken from you daze and apathy. How can the dawn of a new day be a new start for you? It is a given, if you keep doing what what you've always done you will keep getting what you've always gotten. Change then is essential to progress. So how do we change things to take us foward?
Take pride in who you are through Christ. Ask the the Lord to restore the joy of your salvation. Return to your first love. Start a spirtual makeover. Make renewed commitment to the spirtual disciplines. Get involved in the ministry of the church. Start to pray for people. Help someone in need. Ask God to put a new spiritual spring in your step. Stop and smell the roses. Start to care about the things that are really important. If people know that you care it will make a huge diffrence.
Unfortunately that is the story of many Christians today.
When we peek into the lives of people it is like watching the reruns of your favorite sitcoms. Everything stays the same, nothing changes.
We find the same hang ups, problems, patterns of life mixed in with a few good days. Is it any wonder why people are so frustrated with the lack of progress in their lives.
When you read a message like this you might think that the call is for radical and immediate change but that is not the reality we are seeking. This call is more about challenging people to take personal leadership to start turning around the ship that is your life.
One of the problem we face is about change. People don't like change and resisit it when possible. We like our little clicks in life. We like our small thinking. It has been said "Little thinkers are the big stinkers". People are hesitant to bring real change in there live because we have tried to make changes. We try but then fall back to our old ways. Because of this we become gun shy of change and those who propose it.
This tension brings me to the purpose of the message. How can I wake you up. How can you awaken from you daze and apathy. How can the dawn of a new day be a new start for you? It is a given, if you keep doing what what you've always done you will keep getting what you've always gotten. Change then is essential to progress. So how do we change things to take us foward?
Take pride in who you are through Christ. Ask the the Lord to restore the joy of your salvation. Return to your first love. Start a spirtual makeover. Make renewed commitment to the spirtual disciplines. Get involved in the ministry of the church. Start to pray for people. Help someone in need. Ask God to put a new spiritual spring in your step. Stop and smell the roses. Start to care about the things that are really important. If people know that you care it will make a huge diffrence.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Planting-Watering-Growing
As we began our church conference I was reminded about the process of God. God calls us to do the work(holy sweat) and leave the results to Him. I heard a preacher say "leave the size of the church up to God". Three things we should keep in mind as we plant and revitalize churhes.
1. Remember the Law of the Harvest- Gal 6:9 says that we should not grow weary in doing good for in due time we will reap a harvest. Keep serving, keep working, keep on keeping on. The bumper sticker said "Jesus is coming, look busy". We don't need to be self decieved. If we trully are in the field and laboring we can expect a harvest. If we are just going through the motions nothing will come of it.
2. Measure Accordingly- Results should not only be based on numbers. Numbers are good and a good measurement but sometimes other things must happen before we see the numbers(numbers represent people and people count). Facility upgrade is a measurement. Developing new strategies and implimentation of new systems are in the mix of growth. Developing new leaders, small groups, mission giving, giving increases and things like these help spell out progress as well.
3. God is Still God- In the scope of everything growth God remains on his throne and there are factors that He calls us to consider. A new church in a growing suburb of a major population area will have different results than a land locked urban older congregation. Each of these church must approach ministry in a different context but each can be successful in there setting. Trust God for whatever situation you find yourself in.
We must make sure we are doing our part because God is always ready and more that able and willing to do His.
1. Remember the Law of the Harvest- Gal 6:9 says that we should not grow weary in doing good for in due time we will reap a harvest. Keep serving, keep working, keep on keeping on. The bumper sticker said "Jesus is coming, look busy". We don't need to be self decieved. If we trully are in the field and laboring we can expect a harvest. If we are just going through the motions nothing will come of it.
2. Measure Accordingly- Results should not only be based on numbers. Numbers are good and a good measurement but sometimes other things must happen before we see the numbers(numbers represent people and people count). Facility upgrade is a measurement. Developing new strategies and implimentation of new systems are in the mix of growth. Developing new leaders, small groups, mission giving, giving increases and things like these help spell out progress as well.
3. God is Still God- In the scope of everything growth God remains on his throne and there are factors that He calls us to consider. A new church in a growing suburb of a major population area will have different results than a land locked urban older congregation. Each of these church must approach ministry in a different context but each can be successful in there setting. Trust God for whatever situation you find yourself in.
We must make sure we are doing our part because God is always ready and more that able and willing to do His.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Vision Again?
It seems that you have to go back to vision everytime you are taking the church foward. Warren Bennis stated that the single defining quality of a leader is vision. A leader is one who is in tune with the future, who knows where God wants him to go, a person who is focused on a clear purpose. As one person put it, a leader sees more than others, farther than others, and before others. Someone said "Our preachers aren't dreaming. That's why the church is such a nightmare." If our churches are asleep, we are the ones that need to wake up and start dreaming. Nothing happens unless it's first a dream.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Everybody has a story
The Gospel is a true story about how God came to earth and gave His life to save mankind from sin. Every Year we tell the story of the birth of Jesus because we celebrate the power of God's love for us. That almighty God would leave heaven and come to earth opens the door to the greatest story ever told.
When we read the Bible we are reading about the lives of people that God used in many ways. In the Bible we read the stories about how God was involved in the lives of Men.
What is your story? where have you been? Where have you come from? What is happening now? Have you stopped to reflect on all that has happened in your life?
Can you pick out the God momments in your life? Can you put into simple terms what God has done for you?
I recently attended a conference in Houston. One of the speakers was Drayton McLane Jr. Mr. McLane is the billionare owner of the Houston Astros. When he gave his talk it was one story of the successes and faiures of his life. It seemed that everything that had happened to him was a lesson about what his purpose was.
Now as a man in His eighties he was sharing with us the tapestry of what he was. If you have ever seen a tapestry it a beautifully woven picture on the front side but in ther back it is a mess of string seemingly without purpose.
What is your story? It is time to tell someone, any one what God is going in your life.
When we read the Bible we are reading about the lives of people that God used in many ways. In the Bible we read the stories about how God was involved in the lives of Men.
What is your story? where have you been? Where have you come from? What is happening now? Have you stopped to reflect on all that has happened in your life?
Can you pick out the God momments in your life? Can you put into simple terms what God has done for you?
I recently attended a conference in Houston. One of the speakers was Drayton McLane Jr. Mr. McLane is the billionare owner of the Houston Astros. When he gave his talk it was one story of the successes and faiures of his life. It seemed that everything that had happened to him was a lesson about what his purpose was.
Now as a man in His eighties he was sharing with us the tapestry of what he was. If you have ever seen a tapestry it a beautifully woven picture on the front side but in ther back it is a mess of string seemingly without purpose.
What is your story? It is time to tell someone, any one what God is going in your life.
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