You have to love all the disscussion about what really matters when doing church. Is it about the numbers? Is it about how many people we baptize? How much the church takes in for tithes and offerings? How much goes to missions?
It is easy to get caught up with hype and fluff. Conferences are great but they do tend to fuel pipe dreams. List about who is doing it best are good but they are not totally accurate.
Here are my thoughts on this stuff. I have been on both sides of the debate. I Love numbers. I love hearing the stories of those that are succeeding in big ways. I have been a part of dead ministries and struggling churches. It is tough.
My list:
Be right with God
Be faithful
Reach out to the lost
Help Christians grow
Dream God ideas
Do it Gods way
Be Spirit led
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Weapons of Choice
As Christians we know that we have weapons that can be used to help as we battle against our enemies. Here in a list:
Prayer
Scripture
fellowship
Here is a list that is not so obvious:
Confrontation
exposing falsehoods
loving your enemies
The battle is won or lost by our understanding of what weapon to use at the right time. Staying close to God and being led by the Holy Spirit makes the battle the Lords and not yours. Remember the victory is ours.
Prayer
Scripture
fellowship
Here is a list that is not so obvious:
Confrontation
exposing falsehoods
loving your enemies
The battle is won or lost by our understanding of what weapon to use at the right time. Staying close to God and being led by the Holy Spirit makes the battle the Lords and not yours. Remember the victory is ours.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
How To Overcome
For my Spiritual Warfare series I will be preaching on "How To Overcome" this Sunday. Here are my main points. I Hope they will help someone.
7 things to help us be Overcomers:
1. Face the enemy and face yourself.
2. Don't try to do it yourself. Remember the battle is the Lords.
3. look for the root of the problem and not just the symptoms
4. Overcoming is a process. It may take some time.
5. Remember that God is teaching you something in your overcoming.
6. When overcoming you are being a testimony for God when you do the right things
7. Go on the offensive. You are more than a conqueror through Christ.
7 things to help us be Overcomers:
1. Face the enemy and face yourself.
2. Don't try to do it yourself. Remember the battle is the Lords.
3. look for the root of the problem and not just the symptoms
4. Overcoming is a process. It may take some time.
5. Remember that God is teaching you something in your overcoming.
6. When overcoming you are being a testimony for God when you do the right things
7. Go on the offensive. You are more than a conqueror through Christ.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
What Demons Do
The evidence – It is clear that Satan has a following of like beings (“Prince of the demons” – Matt.12:24; the Devil and his angels – Matt.25:41). Demons are described throughout the Scriptures (Dan.10:10-20; Matt.10:1; Eph.6:12).
The time – At the fall of Satan, many angels followed him in that rebellion (demons are fallen angels). A third of the angelic host seem to have fallen with Satan (Rev.12:4 – the imagery of Satan as a “dragon” and angels/demons as “stars”).
Demons are involved in carrying out Satan’s evil plans (2 Cor.11:15).
Demons promote idolatry (Lev.17:7; Deut.32:17; Ps.106:36-38). This activity is blatant in primitive cultures.
Demons are active in hindering the spiritual progress of believers every way they can. They are deliberate and organized in these attempts (Eph.6:10-12).
Demons promote false teaching (1 Tim.4:1).
Demons can possess and afflict people.
The time – At the fall of Satan, many angels followed him in that rebellion (demons are fallen angels). A third of the angelic host seem to have fallen with Satan (Rev.12:4 – the imagery of Satan as a “dragon” and angels/demons as “stars”).
Demons are involved in carrying out Satan’s evil plans (2 Cor.11:15).
Demons promote idolatry (Lev.17:7; Deut.32:17; Ps.106:36-38). This activity is blatant in primitive cultures.
Demons are active in hindering the spiritual progress of believers every way they can. They are deliberate and organized in these attempts (Eph.6:10-12).
Demons promote false teaching (1 Tim.4:1).
Demons can possess and afflict people.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
spiritual warfare part 4
nice article from pastor rod parsley
As Isaac's firstborn son, Esau was entitled to the birthright and inheritance—but we do not speak of "Abraham, Isaac, and Esau." Esau sold his birthright for one meal. When Jacob offered food and asked for his birthright, Esau could have said, "No! It is not for sale," but he did not. He sold out the eternal for a moment's temporal satisfaction.
You were bought with a price—the precious blood of Christ. Nothing in you or that you have is for sale. You and everything about you belongs to Jesus.
The devil will offer you momentary satisfaction as he reaches for your birthright. He will tell you it is all right to keep your tithe, all right to keep your offering and satisfy the lusts of the flesh and of this world. He will tempt you to sell your time for momentary pleasure. He'll encourage you to barter away your godly inheritance.
Resist the devil's counsel. He promises the rainbow-but only delivers the rain.
Jesus, I belong totally to You. I thank You for the awesome price in Your shed blood that You paid for me on Calvary. Amen.
As Isaac's firstborn son, Esau was entitled to the birthright and inheritance—but we do not speak of "Abraham, Isaac, and Esau." Esau sold his birthright for one meal. When Jacob offered food and asked for his birthright, Esau could have said, "No! It is not for sale," but he did not. He sold out the eternal for a moment's temporal satisfaction.
You were bought with a price—the precious blood of Christ. Nothing in you or that you have is for sale. You and everything about you belongs to Jesus.
The devil will offer you momentary satisfaction as he reaches for your birthright. He will tell you it is all right to keep your tithe, all right to keep your offering and satisfy the lusts of the flesh and of this world. He will tempt you to sell your time for momentary pleasure. He'll encourage you to barter away your godly inheritance.
Resist the devil's counsel. He promises the rainbow-but only delivers the rain.
Jesus, I belong totally to You. I thank You for the awesome price in Your shed blood that You paid for me on Calvary. Amen.
Monday, September 21, 2009
spiritual warfare part 3
The devil is a real being who seeks to kill, steal and destroy. The plan of satan is to take us away from what God has for us. Every person will either be slave of God or of satan. The plan of satan
is deception and spiritual blindness.
We need to make a deliberate decision to live for GOD and put satan under our feet. Spiritual warfare begins with a true commitment to live for JESUS CHRIST.
is deception and spiritual blindness.
We need to make a deliberate decision to live for GOD and put satan under our feet. Spiritual warfare begins with a true commitment to live for JESUS CHRIST.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Spiritual Warfare part 2
Today during my sermon I did something that I believe is important when we are under spiritual attack. We need to expose lies and replace them with truth. When others lie about you they are a being used by the devil. "The thief comes to kill and steal and destroy..." (Jn 10:10a).
When you expose a lie the light of truth dispels the darkness and satan has nowhere to hide. We must always remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but rulers of darkness in high places. When satan uses people to spread lies we must be ready to forgive the liars and pray for them.
When you expose a lie the light of truth dispels the darkness and satan has nowhere to hide. We must always remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but rulers of darkness in high places. When satan uses people to spread lies we must be ready to forgive the liars and pray for them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)