Lead By Faith
February 7th, 2010Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death. Godly leaders prioritize personal time with God in His Word consistently. This consistent time alone with God will nourish your faith and enable you to stand against storms of life that come your way in days to come.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the “substance” of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)
This Greek word that translates “Substance” is “Hupostasis.” It literally means, “A setting under, concretely, assurance.” This is the idea of concrete assurance as in a foundation. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks Bill Graham made an impacting statement that I’ll never forget. He said, “We all watched in horror as planes crashed into the steel and glass of the World Trade Center. Those majestic towers, built on solid foundations, were examples of the prosperity and creativity of America. When damaged, those buildings eventually plummeted to the ground, imploding in upon themselves. Yet underneath the debris is a foundation that was not destroyed.”
When tragedy strikes faith finds a foundation upon which to stand and fight forward with a hope the world cannot understand. Faith is a foundational strength that holds us on course for a full recovery in all circumstances of life. Faith is not blind and it’s even okay to express questions and faith at the same time:
Habakkuk 1:12-14 O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die…Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? NIV
Faith isn’t about having all of the answers to life’s questions or problems. Sometimes you’ll simply not know how to pray about a situation. Romans 8:26 teaches us to pray in the spirit during these times. Jude 1:20 tells us that praying in the spirit builds up our most holy faith.
Your faith can be strong or weak. Hoping you have faith doesn’t produce it because hope is never a strategy. Faith is the result of engaging in a genuine conversation with God.
Rom 10:17 So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the “word” of Christ. (NAS)
The Greek word for “word” here is “Rhema”. This isn’t just a selected Bible verse that you want to apply to a situation. This speaks of a highlighted word from God about your situation. Once I’d flown out of state to do a wedding and was trying to get home to my wife and daughters on an early flight home. As I walked up to the counter the lady working there advised me, “There is no possible way you are going to get on this flight. It’s oversold by 12 seats.” I walked away having given up and suddenly the Holy Spirit prompted me to go back. As I returned to the counter she reiterated her position. I simply asked her to put my name on a standby list.
It was only a matter of time before I realized many others were flying standby as well so I gave up the fight. I began walking to another terminal to wait patiently for the flight I was actually scheduled on. As I walked the Holy Spirit prompted me again to get on the airplane. After some arguing I finally decided to just walk back to see how things were going. The lady at the counter spotted me and rushed out to get my attention. She told me I could get on the plane if I would go now. Ultimately they upgraded me to fly in first class that day and I sat amazed for the flight home that the Lord had it all planned out. My faith was simply the willingness to respond to the Lord’s Word prompting me to not give up.
Faith is not about having a strong will on God’s behalf. Faith is about being engaged in a conversation with God and being willing to listen and obey. The more we put this into practice the more we are willing to stand firm when promptings come our way.
James 4:3 teaches us clearly that if we ask with wrong motives and not receive anything. Just because we have a strong will and a genuine desire to see something happen that’s not enough. We must always be consulting God to know his heart on the matter since we have rights to the mind of Christ. We must get in on the conversation and participate with God’s desires! This is clearly seen in what’s commonly called the Great Hall of Fame of Faith in the Bible, Hebrews chapter 11.
Heb 11:2-3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (NAS)
Old Testament elders who received a word from God and believed it into existence shaping their world. This Greek word for “worlds” isn’t “cosmos” but rather it’s “aion” speaking of a span of time or more specifically the generation we serve with our lifetime. Hearing God’s wisdom, guidance and direction will mobilize you to believe His word into existence for your generation impacting generations to come. Ferdinand Foch said, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
Abram received and believed a word of covenant from God. David’s word was one of friendship and kingship. Mary received and believed a revelation of the Messiah. Martin Luther ushered in a word of how the just live by faith. Oral Roberts believed a word of healing and prosperity into his generation. Kenneth Haggan believed a word of faith into his generation. No man r woman of God believes and receives their word into their world without opposition. Faith makes things possible not easy. We must stay engaged in conversation with God.
Your F5Fx challenge this week is to read Hebrews 11 with friends or family this week and discuss details and insights from the stories mentioned.
Discover, Develop, Deploy from Destiny Media on Vimeo.
Lead By Example
January 31st, 2010One of our Foundational Five (F5) core values of Destiny is to lead by example. St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel. And if necessary, use words.” What we do speaks volumes more than what we say. Your life is influencing other people. Leaders take responsibility for this truth! Children who see physical violence between their parents are six times more likely to abuse their own spouse. (Bottom Line, in Homemade, November, 1985)
In staff meetings at Destiny we rotate core values. The week we focus on leading by example we open the staff meeting by discussing who we are purposefully mentoring and developing individually. We also discuss the many people we are mentoring and developing unintentionally.
Our common phrase from this core value simply says that where we are going is not as important as how we get there. The journey is always more important than the destination. Paul obviously understood this and clearly communicated very challenging statements:
1 Cor 11:1 Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV)
Phil 3:17 Join with others in following my example… (NIV)
Once I heard a man share about how he would teach horses to cross bridges. Young horses would be scared to cross a bridge until they’d been tied to older horses who’d crossed them before. Following the lead of the older horse the younger horse would easily cross and learn to do so by himself. This speaks of how we are to be examples to others enabling them to go into territory of their lives that they simply wouldn’t if we weren’t there leading the way.
The idea of being the example Christian that others pattern their lives after can be very intimidating. Jesus is the only perfect example. You can never be a great example until you stop trying to be a perfect example. Imperfection in your life is helpful to others. Mentoring others is allowing Men to tour our life. If you never allow them to tour your failures they’ll be disillusioned.
You are not merely a carrier of the message. You are the message and your mistakes are a necessary part of the message of your life. Healthy apologies produce life in any relationship. NEVER MESS UP A PERFECTLY GOOD APOLOGY WITH AN EXCUSE. We all make mistakes and taking ownership of our mistakes is part of getting past them.
Our motto at Destiny Christian Center is, “God’s presence is for real life.” God’s not interested in our presentations. He wants to invade every area of our real lives. Jesus loves authentic hearts. When he was walking the earth he didn’t seem to spend time with good people. He spent time with real people. Many people get real and receive Christ. When they start attending church they start learning how to be good and somewhere along the journey they stop being real. Being real is something we all have to work at on a daily basis and is the only way to stay free.
Your primary example to others should be your passion and pursuit for the Lord Jesus Christ. Lordship produces leadership in its purist form.
II Th 3:9 “..we…offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example. (NAS)
Monterey, CA was a pelican’s paradise. Fishermen cleaned their fish leaving the entrails for pelicans to enjoy. Birds grew fat and lazy. At some point this ceased as creative entrepreneurialism found a use for these innards. Pelicans began starving to death because they had grown up with parent pelicans that didn’t teach them how to fish. They actually imported pelicans that could demonstrate this skill and soon the famine was ended. (Bits & Pieces, June 23, 1994, p. 17.)
Consider what others are learning or not learning from you. What are your children learning or not learning from you.
This weeks F5Fx Challenge is to revisit the 40 Day Challenge and include your family for this last week in praying, giving, connecting, declaring & inviting.
Enjoying The Snow
January 30th, 2010We’ve had a great time playing in the snow together! Faith & Lexi are awesome snow bunny partners to keep me out and about having fun.
Fun In The Snow from Pastordude on Vimeo.
Leadership & “Learnership”:
January 24th, 2010Great leadership is always marked by great “learnership.” When leaders stop listening it’s only a matter of time before they’re surrounded by people with nothing to say. At Destiny our Foundational Five (F5) Core Values are Lead by Love, Faith, Action, Learning and Example. Over the next five weeks we’ll be looking at these life-changing leadership qualities.
Our first focus is to Lead by Learning. Learning broadens our horizons and keeps us moving into fresh new perspectives that are essential for true life. Oliver Wendall Holmes said, “A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimensions.” The man who knew everything (Jesus) is known and recognized as the man who constantly asked questions. Prov 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.
Paul gives us a clear picture of the power of arguments, pretensions and knowledge. These are the ingredients for strongholds that can either hold you unswervingly in place as you meditate on God’s Word or hold you back as you allow your mind to focus on unhealthy concepts. You will never produce what God has called you to produce until you learn to process what God has called you to process.
2 Cor 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)
In our staff meetings we rotate the focus of our core values each week. When we focus on “Learnership” we open the staff meeting with staff members sharing an insight they’ve learned from a mentor, book, blog, podcast, etc. This constantly reinforces a culture of learning in our leadership team.
Learning is a science in itself: At birth, your nervous system contains all the neurons (nerve cells) you will ever have, but many of them are not connected to each other. As you grow and learn, messages travel from one neuron to another creating connections, or pathways, in the brain.
Practice makes perfect so we must BE CAREFUL WHAT WE PRACTICE.
Several years ago Tracy and I moved from Norman to NW OKC. One day while driving away from work after a mind-absorbing day I was just a few moments away from arriving before I realized I had driven to the wrong house. This was the result of neurological pathways that had been established in my brain and is the essence of habits. The brain has the capacity to continue operating a limb that doesn’t exist because of the trained neurological connections associated with that limb. This phenomenon is known in the medical profession as “The phantom limb.”
How behave is the result of what we believe. The 10% tip of an iceberg speaks of the visible behavior in our lives. It’s the 90% submerged portion that is the basis for our behavior. 
Believing you can do something is the key to actually doing it. If your revelation never gets bigger than your environment you’ll always live a life of confinement. A caged lion will come to a place in life where he no longer even believes he’s a lion.
Prov 23:7 teaches us that as a man thinks in his heart so is he. This shows us that we all have thinking hearts. This is not just a brain issue. Your powerful heart wraps it’s passion around whatever you allow it to dwell upon. Whatever you allow in your heart will show up in your future.
The F5Fx challenge to action this week is to prayerfully consider what one area you can focus on learning more about in life. Here are five book recommendations for your consideration.
Faith – The Final Quest by Rick Joyner
Marriage – His Needs Her Needs by Willard F. Harley
Family – My Crazy Imperfect Christian Family by Glenn Stanton
Finances – Money Before Marriage by Larry Burkett
Parenting – Blessing of a skinned knee by Wendy Mogel
Water Baptism
January 17th, 2010Water baptism is a very important decision to be made in every believer’s life but it is clearly not a requirement for salvation. In Luke 23:29-43 Jesus told the thief hanging on the cross that he would go to heaven because of his faith in Christ. If water baptism were a requirement that Jesus was waving in this instance, as some advocate, surely the Savior of the world would have mentioned it to ensure there would be no confusion. 1 Cor 1:14-17 is a portion of Scripture where Paul says that he did not come to baptize but to preach the Gospel. If baptism were necessary for salvation Paul would have never made such a statement.
The word “baptism” actually comes from the Greek word “baptizo” meaning to make fully wet, wash, to dye, to cover wholly w/a fluid, dip, plunge under or immerse. The word “dye” has very significant meaning. Ps 22 is a prophetic declaration of what Christ did on the cross for us and helps us understand the true idea of being baptized into Christ.
Ps 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.…
Ps 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. (NIV)
Obviously vs 18 reveals that this is a reference to Christ on the cross. The word, “worm” speaks of a crimson-grub which was protected by the king. This specific word was crushed to extract the unusual red dye used only for garments of royalty! JESUS WAS CRUSHED SO WE WOULD BECOME KINGS. Water baptism is just that expression. We enter into his death, burial and resurrection to rule and reign under His authority.
Many undervalue the significance of this decision but we should never minimize what Jesus emphasized. Jesus put tremendous emphasis on water baptism beginning his ministry by being baptized (Matt 3:13-15) and concluding his ministry by commanding the same of disciples (Matt 28:19). Jesus emphasized water baptism because water is very significant and the devil absolutely hates it!
Matt 12:43 When unclean spirit goes out of man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest… (NAS) The King James Version says “dry places”. Why is the devil seeking dry places?
• Hosea 5:10 speaks of God’s wrath as water, “…I will pour out My wrath like water.” (NAS).
• In Mark 5 Jesus drove demons out of Legion into pigs and they ran to their death into water.
• Gen 6 is the story where God’s judment against wickedness and demonic activity is pronounced by flooding the earth with water.
• Exodus 14 tells the story of the Children of Israel and how they walked free from Egypt, which speaks of our freedom from the world.
It’s interesting that as they walk out of the world’s system they pass through water. Not only do they pass through the water but that which had held them in bondage for generations was destroyed and remained in the water as they went on to new levels of living.
As believers come out of Egypt and pass through baptismal waters it speaks of breaking free from the world and all of its entanglements. As we engage our faith with this very important act of obedience to Christ that which has held us captive and even our previous generations is completely destroyed in our lives forever more! The believer’s baptism in water speaks of spiritual resurrection and a public day of new beginnings – Rom 6:4, Col 2:12. This also speaks of the cleansing of the conscience, healing from memories and mental torment. By faith God restores the believer’s innocence and mental health – Rom 9:1.
It is my firm conviction as a Pastor and as a Christian that water baptism, when entered into by faith, can bring a mighty deliverance in a person’s life! This is very spiritually significant. With water baptism the method and the meaning are bound together. To change the method to involve sprinkling or something other than full emersion is to corrupt the meaning. To subject infants to this process who have no idea of what’s taking place is simply not found in Scripture.
Water baptism is a funeral for the new believers old life, behaviors, and bondages. The only mourner at this funeral is the devil.
Have you accepted Christ as your personal Savior?
Have you been scripturally and correctly water baptized since you were saved? Spouse? Children? Grandchildren?
We will be having water baptisms on Wednesday, 1/17. If you are in our area send us a message through the website that you are interested and we’ll follow up with you on this very important decision in your life. If you are not in our area find a local church and inquire about their beliefs on this matter.
A Vision of Destiny
January 3rd, 2010*Note – fun video at bottom of post* Our vision must answer a problem or there is no need for us to exist. There must be a “Relevance Revolution” that comes to the church or we’ll continue losing credibility with a lost and dying world. Too many preachers are preaching sermons that are answering questions nobody’s asking. The church tends to over preach under reach. When we packed our sanctuary with clothing, gifts, toiletries, etc and invited the community to come shopping for free the atmosphere was charged with the power of love. We opened our time with a very brief and casual time of worship Pastor Dan led from an acoustic guitar. After just a few minutes the Holy Spirit prompted me to stand up and ask who wanted to receive Christ before preaching a sermon. The response was amazing as people were broken by the power of love and hands went up everywhere. Actions truly speak louder than words!
1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (NIV)
Rom 2:4 God’s kindness leads us to repentance.
If the Gospel we present doesn’t show God’s kindness then the result will be a lack of repentance. We must choose to remain relevant by remaining engaged with our community making a difference. This is also why we’ve chosen a feel and style that is attractive to un-churched people. Our worship atmosphere isn’t always comfortable to the churched person shopping for a religious environment. If we lose sight of reaching the world we’ve lost our vision.
Josh McDowell reports that only 1 in 7 kids return from college with their faith in tact! 85% of polled seniors in American high schools believe homosexual relationships are normal. Only 1/3 of the people in our Nation believe in absolute moral truth. 100 years ago 70% of people in Europe were Christians – Today that number is less than 1%! George Barna reports that not one county in the U.S. has a greater church population today than it did ten years ago. If we put the un-churched people in America into their own nation it would be the 11th largest nation in the world.
Short term mission trips are such great experiences. We prepare to go into a city to minister for a week. We work to learn the language and make the connections with the church we’ll be partnering with. Imagine what would happen if we learned the language and went to live in that city for one year. We would infiltrate the city with the love of Christ by being involved in business structures, political structures and educational structures.
The fact is that we are that team right where we live. We speak the language and are engaged in the livelihood of the community. When God changes a person’s life he does so through the heart. No city can function without these three structures I mentioned, business, political and education. These are the arteries to the heart of the city. When God changes a city he does so through the heart!
God’s call for us as the Destiny family is to be Christ-centered and community minded. Our person is who we are. Our function is what we do. When our person and our function cooperate we can then reach our greatest potential. Otherwise we waste time trying to be something we’re not or trying not to be something we are.
To understand who we are as a church family God has revealed a core phrase for us, “God’s presence is for real life.” We are just real people transformed by God’s wonderful presence understanding that we are called to love people not change them.
We function from five basic core values always returning to these as our primary functional focus. The goal of our Destiny Leadership Team is to empower people for the work of the ministry according to Eph 4:11-12. You are called to impact your world! We have a system in place to assist you in allowing ministry to emerge from your life under pastoral leadership and support. To see the guide we have provided for you click here: Ministry Starting Guide.
We’re working to move from Institutional Influence to empowering Individual Influence. The idea of pastors producing programs that people participate in is an idea we tend to resist. Instead of working to get pastors over people we are strategically working to get under people to lift them into places of greater passion and influence. When the church allows the pastors to provide the ministry they’re simply selling the clergy their birthright. God put passion in your life so the question is what are you doing with that passion to make a difference in your world?
We believe the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God. Pilate’s question to Jesus was a question that is still being asked today, “What is truth?” – John 18:38. In a world so full of questions why are so many Christians stammering around with no answers. You must study to show yourself approved – 2 Tim 2:15. You can find some messages about the authenticity of Scripture here: Authenticity of Bible
Many congregations have settled for being an audience to what God’s doing on the platform. We must mobilize the troops to be men and women who hear God’s voice – John 10:27! Hearing God’s heart personally is what moves us from audience to army mobilizing and empowering us to impact our world! Knowing God’s voice and carrying God’s presence into our world is a primary & vital assignment.
Eph 1:23 The church, you see, is not peripheral to world; the world is peripheral to church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. (The Message)
Wherever you find God’s presence you find God’s blessing.
2 Sam 6:11 The ark of the Lord remained Obed-Edom for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.
Moses clearly understood that God’s promises were secondary to God’s presence.
Exod 33:15 Then Moses said, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
Most churches could be removed from the community and not even be missed because they’ve become so gathering focused. Celebrating God’s presence on Sunday is an important part of strengthening the church to reach their world. Sunday worship, however, isn’t the same as carrying God’s presence into every day life every day of the week. Salt that sits in shakers never offer any influence though they look pretty. It’s not until they get turned up side down and shaken all around that they offer influence. The church is much the same but it’s easy to prefer not to be shaken up.
The church tends to be over-educated and under obedient. One of our 2010 goals is to offer a weekly F5Fx as the action point of the week. F5Fx speaks of our F5 values effecting our lives and our world. Each week we will conclude with a commission to some weekly action. This week’s F5Fx is to accept the 40 Day Challenge from last week if you’ve not already done so. Place the 40 Day Challenge card by your toothbrush and start your day by engaging your faith. You can make a difference in your world!
Had to add my fun family video here just because I love my 3 girls so much!
The Walls Are Coming Down from Pastordude on Vimeo.
The 40 Day Challenge
December 27th, 2009Jesus didn’t come so we might have and enjoy vacation. He came so we might have and enjoy life – John 10:10. As we near the beginning of a new year I’d like to challenge you to consider new beginnings in your life. God always produces a harvest as the result of seed. Since the year has 365 days in it I’m issuing a 40 day challenge as an approximate 10% seed of the year to be devoted to the Lord.
First you need to know what your life is so consider the five main areas that make up your life:
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5.
Maybe your five areas of life will include things like your relationship with Christ, family and friends, finances, career, etc. Here is a humorous illustration of how one person broke their life down into compartments:
MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE: Are you living in your promised land? Is your walk with God where it needs to be? How about your marriage, friendships, finances, career, ministry, etc? Interestingly enough early this morning the Holy Spirit woke me before my alarm. As soon as I woke I was prompted that I would find something significant in my morning devotion. Right now I’m simply reading through my Bible journaling dates and comments as I read through a few pages daily. This morning I found my place in the book of Joshua which included this verse: Josh 18:3 “…How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?”
It’s important to note that your promise isn’t something that just arrives on your doorstep. God gives to us as a possession. We must go in and take possession with a fight in order to receive it many times. Rather than complaining about an area of your life decide to do something about discovering a new beginning that God has in mind for you.
When Israel was set free from Egypt this speaks of our being released from bondage as slaves to sin. In this instance the Red Sea opened and these freed slaves passed through the waters with that which had held them captive all being destroyed and remaining in the water – Ex 14. It’s important to receive Christ and pass through the waters of baptism declaring that we are free from those things that entangled and enslaved us before. Many Christians, however, end up here wondering in the wilderness without ever going any further to possess the promises God has in store. Joshua 3 tells the story where the wilderness experience concluded and the Israelites would again pass through the waters. This time they’d pass through the Jordan River at flood stage. In addition to this they’d be required to begin walking toward the water before seeing any way to get across. More is required if you’re going to new levels of life.
We need another level of faith to go to another level of life because new levels bring new devils. There were no giants in the wilderness. Are you just standing in the wilderness hoping things will change? God’s giving you His promise as a possession. A dream without a strategy is just a fantasy. Do you really want to grow in your relationship with the Lord? The milk of the mother is not contingent on the supply of the mom but the hunger of the child. God responds to our appetite. We must stir ourselves up to take hold of the things of God and this is exactly what The 40 Day Challenge is all about.
Let’s get the heart of God on what his desires are for our lives in 2010. Get alone with God this week. Offer a morning you have off from work perhaps by getting up with your Bible and journal and seek God for some direction this next year. Here are a few pix I’ve found myself taking during special moments alone with God. Sometimes it’s in my home, in my office, by a lake or walking around my neighborhood:
My girls have learned that dad has special places of prayer called prayer spots. Here is a pic of the girls going with me to my favorite prayer spot to read their Bibles and pray. It was a brief journey that day but the fact that they know I’m a prayerful dad and they want to learn how to pray meant the world to me:
You decide a resolution. You discover a revelation. You didn’t make yourself so you can’t tell yourself why you were made! What’s the focus of God’s heart for your life this next year? I call this a New Year’s Revelation. It can be a theme, a verse, a chapter, a phrase, a song, or whatever you sense from the Lord as a focal point for the year. Seeking God for a New Year’s Revelation every year has been the key to keeping my quiet time fresh and living. Any time I’m unsure where to focus I always return to whatever the Holy Spirit had spoken to me as my New Year’s Revelation:
Prov 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. (NIV)
If we want to behave like Christ we must learn to believe like Christ. Renewing our minds! Stay before the Lord consistently in your quiet time! Develop an accountability partner! Do you really want to move into a new level of faith and a new level of life? God won’t require you to move from the wilderness. It’s just that there’s so much more to life than merely existing.
Noah’s life was transformed by 40 days of rain.
Moses’ life was transformed by 40 days on the Mountain.
David’s life was transformed by Goliath’s 40 day challenge
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Elijah’s life was transformed by 40 days of strength from a single meal
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Jesus’ life was transformed by 40 days in wilderness
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Notice that after 40 days Jesus returned to the same place he was before the 40 days only there was a new strength and power from God upon his life. This is my prayer for you! After 40 days you’ll return to the same life but with a new strength and power from God that will take you into greater places of God’s promise for your life.
Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. NIV
This handout and movie help explain the details of The 40 Day Challenge further. God bless you!
The Gift of Legacy
December 20th, 2009Prov 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. (NIV) Your destiny is before you and your legacy is behind you. Who’s serving God today because of your influence in their life? God’s impact to your life comes with the responsibility to share what He’s freely given to you with others.
Even this year as Billy Joe Daugherty and Oral Roberts have now gone to heaven a shift has happened spiritually. When Elijah left the earth his mantle and anointing remained as a type of Jesus Christ. Jesus would go be seated at the right hand of the Father as the Christ would never leave the earth. When a man or woman who carries God’s anointing to their world graduates to heaven their mantle remains. This mantle, or anointing, must be picked up and carried to the next generation.
Are you available for Christ to establish his legacy through your life? Your generation is waiting for you to gather all that God has released to you through his Love and through fathers, mothers and mentors in your life. As you participate with God’s gift of legacy your destiny begins to take shape as part of God’s generational plan to love the world!
Jesus was born to an unknown working class family. After thirty years of obscurity he experienced only three years of public ministry. He remained unknown except for three years of his life before being crucified. Jesus never wrote a book or traveled internationally. In fact a quick look at a map this morning seems to communicate that Jesus never traveled outside a scope of about 100 miles. With all these seemingly limitations Jesus still has a greater legacy than any man who has ever walked planet.
H.G. Wells said, “I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
Albert Einstein – “As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and the Jewish Law. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene….No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled w such life.”
More songs have been written and artwork done for Jesus than about any man in the history of the world! Napoleon said, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”
Have U embraced the gift of Jesus’ Legacy in your life? Jesus was clearly William Booth’s inspiration for the Salvation Army and Clara Barton’s inspiration for the Red Cross. Jesus was also the inspiration for the famous Legend of Saint Nick.
Just a few hundred years after Jesus lived Nicholas was born to a wealthy family. As he grew up he decided to give away his material possessions and go into ministry. He became known as Nicholas the wonder worker because of his effective prayer life. He would become the Bishop of Myra. It was his faith in Jesus Christ that drove him to give into the lives of others in such a way that he’s become a famous legend even today – Santa Claus!
Jonathan Edwards became a Christian in the 1700’s. Of his 1,394 known descendents there were:
13 college presidents,
65 college professors,
30 judges,
100 lawyers,
60 physicians,
100 pastors
75 army and navy officers,
60 prominent authors
3 U.S. Senators,
80 public servants in various offices – and
1 Vice President
Max Jukes, also born in this same era had a different lifestyle. He was known for drinking too much and not being able to hold a steady job. He seemed to have little concern for his wife and children. Obviously his life was consumed with himself.
Of his 1,020 known descendents:
310 died as beggars
150 were criminals, 7 of whom were murderers
190 were prostitutes
100 were drunks
What is your legacy? What does your life stand for? Who’s inspired by your example?
The Gift Of Love
December 13th, 2009Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand. It’s easy to speak of love without any genuine expression behind the words in the culture we live in today. God didn’t merely say He loved us. He sent His Son in an understandable package to make sure we could all relate. God’s Kingdom is built upon this Love, the Love of Christ.
Eph 2:19-20 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
Our love can be very fickle at times. We are all very capable of changing our emotions. Once I visited a home and as I walked up to the door I heard the mom on the other side of the door screaming at the top of her lungs at her children. Pausing I decided to go ahead a knock. The screaming instantly ceased at the sound of my knock and when the door opened I was greeted with one of the most pleasant expressions of, “Why hello Pastor so good to see you” expressions I’ve ever heard. Our faith and our walk with God must rest more on God’s constant and mature love for us than our love for Him.
Dopamine is one of the infatuation chemicals released in our bodies when we “fall in love.” These chemicals literally have a resembling affect of amphetamines–amazingly high energy levels, euphoria, a racing heart and sweaty palms. This brings on those 5 hour phone conversations & marathon dates where you spend an entire day together and are still ready for more. These effects usually last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years (when our bodies build up a tolerance). This is when we have the true relationship test: Is there real love and friendship? Many people move from relationship to relationship in search of “feeling high” about someone. Our love can be so fickle.
In Mark 14 Peter is telling Jesus of his love for Him expressing that he would never deny Christ even if it meant certain death. It’s in this same chapter of life that Peter falls asleep while praying and then denies Christ as Jesus is being crucified. What happened to Peter’s love that he so confidently boasted of just verses earlier in life?
John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” NAS
Five times the book of John references John as the disciple who Jesus loved. Interestingly enough John’s own Gospel is the only Gospel making this reference. John didn’t repeatedly express his own love for God but rather he had a revelation of God’s Love for him. It’s significant to note that when others fell away he was the only disciple who remained at the cross.
The Kingdom of God is built on something much stronger than your ability to love God. The Kingdom is built on the King’s love for you! This is what the Gift of Love is all about as Jesus came fulfilling the covenant that man could never fulfill no matter how much he worked at loving God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. NIV
Man’s performance was lacking so God made covenant with himself. After making covenant with himself then he included us on this covenant as we are willing to accept who Christ really is in our lives and to our world.
2 Tim 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful ; for He cannot deny Himself. NAS
God’s not faithful to you because you are faithful to Him. He’s faithful to you because His Gift of Love brought you into God’s unbreakable covenant with His Word.
“God doesn’t love us because we’re valuable. We’re valuable because God loves us.” ~ Martin Luther
40 DAY CHALLENGE:
Rather than making noble resolutions to better yourself this next year why not prayerfully discover God’s New Year’s Revelation for your life for 2010. He has a specific plan and your surrendering to His plan is greater than your trying to get Him to bless yours.
Each year we focus in on a tithe of the year. 10% of 365 days is 36.5 days rounded up to 40 days. Jesus was transformed by 40 days in the wilderness. Noah’s life was transformed by 40 days of rain. Moses transformed 40 days on the mountain. The disciples were transformed 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection. Are you ready for a new season in your relationship with the Lord? Spend some personal time with God over the next few weeks listening for a theme for your year and then purpose to focus on that theme for 2010.
Begin planning now to find a quiet place daily for these first 40 days of 2010. Spend some quality time in your morning reading portions of Scripture, journaling about what you’ve read, meditating in prayer about the ideas. This gives God room to work with the deposits that come as a result of our being in God’s Word. If you don’t have a starting point then simply read the corresponding date in the book of Proverbs.
• PRAYER – Devote yourself to attending morning prayer on Tuesdays at 6:00 during these 40 days to set your year into motion with revelation and purpose.
• GIVING – Commit to lead your family in tithing and giving to declare it will be a year of God’s prosperity in your family!
• CHURCH – Give yourself to attending church consistently over these 40 days to establish healthy patterns of cultivating your family’s spiritual appetites.
• DAILY DECLARATION – Let every morning be met with a positive daily declaration. As you wake up begin happening to your day before your day happens to you:
AWAKEN YOUR FAITH EVERY DAY AS YOU ACTIVATE GOD’S PROMISES
Lam 3:24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion…” (NIV)
Ps 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (NIV)
Thank you Lord for a wonderful day!
This is the day the Lord has made,
I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Bless the Lord Oh my soul,
I’ll forget not all Your benefits.
You forgave my sin.
You healed my sickness.
You redeemed my life from the pit.
You give me strength to more than conquer.
I’m the head and not the tail,
Above and not beneath.
I’m going over not going under.
I am blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
My morning is filled with new mercies.
My afternoon is blessed with tenacity.
My evening is an evening of strength.
My night is a night of sweet sleep and restoration.
I am pre-prayed today.
Divine appointments are coming my way.
I have favor with God and man.
My eyes are open to see.
My ears are open to hear.
My heart is ready to discern.
A guard is in place over my life.
The input of my day originates from God.
Today is a great day of partnering with the Holy Spirit.
In this partnership I have authority to bless.
I bless this day. I bless my home.
I bless my church. I bless my workplace.
Isa 49:2 “And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword…” (NAS)
The Gift Has Come Now We Must Go
December 6th, 2009During this Christmas season it would be important to gain a greater understanding of this important declaration, “Unto us a child is born.” Perhaps an understanding of the justice that was served by The Rescuer Jesus will help bring clarity.
Saddam Hussein was captured on December 14th, 2003. There was a great sense of justice to know he would answer for countless horrible crimes. In one instance he was riding through a city where an assassination attempt was made on his life. He responded by ordering slaughter of 148 residents, including dozens of children.
In 1983 Hussein responds to the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s decision to side with Iran in the Iraq/Iran war. Hussein had some 8,000 members of his clan, including hundreds of women and children, abducted and slaughtered. From 1986-1989 Hussein called for the extermination of every living thing–human or animal–in certain regions of the Kurdish north. 182,000 people–men, women, and children–were slaughtered, many through use of chemical weapons.
These genocidal atrocities continued until he was captured in 2003. There was and continues to be a world-wide sense of relief knowing that these senseless killings will continue no more and that the man responsible for them came to justice.
Jesus coming into the world is an expression of justice beyond our wildest imagination. To say that the devil has been stealing, killing and destroying for generations is such an understatement but must suffice for now. Isaiah’s prophecy brought great hope of a new day when JUSTICE would be served.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (NKJV)
The fulfillment of this prophecy is found in Luke 2 as we read all about Jesus’ arrival to the earth. Just as God gave selflessly to usher the kingdom into the world we have this same commission. Jesus’ sacrifice did not begin on the cross.
Phil 2:7 He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (NIV)
All His position, influence and resources were surrendered to reach into a lost & dying world to make a difference. This should be our very attitude on a daily basis.
Phil 2:5-6 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
The gifts of love and service that come out of our lives will transform people just as gift of Christ’s Love transformed us. Unto us Child is born. The Gift has come. Now we must go.
Phil 2:1-3 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care – then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends…Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. (Message)
In the beginning God spoke into darkness let there be light. In making a new beginning God sent his son/word calling us out of darkness into marvelous light. Jesus came to rescue humanity and restore God’s original plan. We now carry this light into our dark and lost world.
1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. NKJV
Your life is not your own. The Gift has come we must go.