American Idol Trap

Proverbs 29:5 "To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet."

I have to admit that my favorite part of American Idol is the Auditions at the beginning of the season. It amazes me how many people think they can sing, when is reality they are horrible singers. When I read this scripture this morning in my quiet time I immediately thought about American Idol Auditions. "To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet", how many of those people auditioning had their family and friends flatter them with lies about their singing ability. Their flattery became a trap, it set them up for failure.

Now I wonder how many times we have been guilty of flattering our friends by telling them what they wanted to hear, instead of telling them the truth. The truth about their attitudes, their actions, their decisions or their choices. We think we are being kind but in reality we are setting a trap for them. We are setting them up for failure because we are unwilling to speak the truth in love. Which is the way truth is intended to be spoken.

When we are honest with people because we love them and want the best for their lives, we help them succeed. When we are unwilling to be honest with people, when they ask our opinion or advice we lay a trap for them and actually keep them from future success. When we are confronted with truth, we are empowered to change and grow, lies only push us faster down the wrong road. This morning make a decision to "speak the truth in love" and help your friends succeed in life and fulfill God's calling upon their lives.

The Key To Growth

Psalms 111:10  "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! "

Davis said, all who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. It is obedience that produces growth. If you want to grow in the wisdom of God and your understanding of his will for your life, then obey what you already know and you will grow.

To many Christians are not obeying what they already know and they are not growing. Their Christian life has become stale and stagnant and many blame God. But the problem is not God, it's your lack of obedience. The more obedient you are, the more you will grow and the more exciting your walk of faith will be. Remember we don't grow because of what we know, we grow because we are willing to go and do what we know. Obedience produces Growth!

The Most Powerful Person On The Planet

Jeremiah 1:18-19 "For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land- the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. 19  They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

When we do what God has called us to do and walk the path that he has laid out for our lives, something amazing happens. We, like Jeremiah become like a city that can not be captured. The most powerful person on the planet is the person that is doing what God called them to do. That person, if their heart stays right with God becomes an unstoppable force, that is able to stand against anyone and win the battle. The issue is not will there be resistance, there will be resistance and usually a lot of it. But the issue is, can you win the battle and the answer is yes, if you stay true to what God has called you to do. There is no obstacle that you can not overcome and no enemy that you can not defeat if you are doing what God called you to do.

Getting Un-Stuck

Proverbs 23:6-7 "Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies; for as he thinks in his heart so is he. "Eat and Drink" he says to you, but his heart is not with you"

In this scripture Solomon gives us a great revelation about the connection between our heart and our mouth. He uses the example of a miser, who says "eat and drink" but in his heart he really doesn't want you to eat or drink anything, because he is a stingy miser. Solomon then declares "for as he thinks in his heart so is he". He is teaching us that our words have no value unless our hearts mean or believe what our mouth says.

I believe in the power of confession, death and life are in the power of our tongue. I believe that we can have what we say and that we have not because we ask not. But I also believe that as Romans 10 teaches us, we must believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth in order to experience what God has for us.

So here lies the struggle for many people, they never change their confession because in their hearts they lack faith. When they speak in faith about their lives they feel like a hypocrite because they know in their hearts they don't really believe anything good is going to happen to them. So they are stuck between what they want to happen and what they really believe will happen.

Romans 10:17 says "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God". The way to change the heart is to change the mouth, we renew our minds with the word of God and as we speak Gods word over our lives it releases faith into our hearts. You got born again because you heard the truth of the gospel and it released faith into your heart to believe. Then out of your belief you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you were saved.

You can not sit around and wait for your pastor to preach the right sermon for your need. You have to go to the word of God and find out what God says about your situation; then begin to speak the word over your life. As you speak his word and declare his truth over your life, faith comes. You start out with a declaration of faith but as it releases faith in your heart, your declaration becomes a confession of faith. Now you believe what you are saying and your words have power and what you say begins to come to pass. Why? Because as a man thinks in his heart so is he.

The Real Danger

Psalms 55:10 "Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city."

Eleven years ago our nation was invaded by terrorist, who took the lives of precious Americans. Today we remember those lost and those who rose up to rebuild and restore what our enemies tried to take from us. Today we pray for the families who lost their loved ones and we honor the everyday heroes who came to the rescue.

In Psalms 55:10 David speaks about his city, he says "it's walls are patrolled day and night against invaders", but he recognizes an even greater danger than the invaders from without. He says "but the real danger is wickedness within the city." Today we remember 9-11 and we understand the threat of terrorist attack, but the greatest threat against America is not foreign invasion, it is wickedness within our nation. When God is so far removed from our lives and our hearts that he has to be amended into the Democratic Party Convention, then our nation is in trouble. When same sex marriage is not only supported but celebrated in the White House and even in some so called churches, then our nation is in trouble. When unborn babies are killed and now our Government wants us to pay for it, then our nation is in trouble. When the pornography industry is a billion dollar business, then our nation is in trouble.

The greatest threat against American is not a foreign invasion, it is spiritual and moral decay. Today as we remember and honor those who died and served during 9-11, let us also pray for this nation. May we rise up as our nation did on 9-11 and say we need God in America Again! And may we, the proud citizens of this great country return to God in spirit and truth! God Bless America!

Your Bucket

Proverbs 10:24 "The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted"

Fear and Faith are both spiritual seeds that will produce a harvest. Fear is an open door to the enemy that allows him to steal, kill and destroy. Faith is an open door to God that allows him to bless your life and fulfill your hopes and desires.

Fear and Faith are both choices that we make. Will you choose to believe the report of the enemy, your circumstances or your flesh or will you choose to believe the promise of God and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. 

Fear and Faith produce results, they manifest in the flesh what is established in your heart. Fear and Faith are spiritual buckets that draw out what is in the well of your heart. If you want to change the outcome of your life then you have to change the bucket that you are lowering into the well of your heart. If you lower the bucket of faith it will draw out the well spring of life that God has placed within you. 

A Fresh Work

Ezekiel 33:12-20 “Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins. 13  When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. 14  And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. 15  For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die. 16  None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live. 17  “Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right. 18  For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die. 19  But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live. 20  O people of Israel, you are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right.’ But I judge each of you according to your deeds.”

Many people in our Churches are filled with the same mentality as the children of Israel. They thought God was being unfair, because they were suffering for their current behavior. They thought that because they had done righteous acts in the past that it somehow covered the unrighteous acts of today. But they had to learn the hard way that the righteous acts of yesterday do not cover or condone the wicked acts of today. We will be rewarded according to our deeds.

We have too many Christians that talk about what they used to do for God, but they are currently disengaged from the work of the Kingdom and many are living lives of compromise. Stop talking about what you used to do and start doing a fresh work of righteousness. Our churches and our culture need to experience a fresh work of righteousness in our land.

The greatest testimony is not a testimony of yesterday's glory but the greatest testimonies are the ones that declare what God is doing now. It is the fresh work of righteousness that transforms a culture and creates an undeniable witness for Jesus Christ. If your story is a story of yesterday's glory, then reengage your heart and your hands to the work of God that is before you and let's allow God to produce a fresh work of righteousness, Today!

Good Is Not Good Enough

Psalms 37:29-31 "The godly will possess the land and will live there forever. 30  The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. 31 They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path."

This scripture gives us insight into the characteristics of the godly and the benefits of living a life that pleases God. The godly possess the land and live their forever, this teaches us that godliness produces a generational blessing, that leaves an inheritance to our children's children.

The godly offer good counsel, they teach right from wrong. This shows us that the godly have influence in their society, they are sought after for counsel and they teach others the difference between right and wrong. Godly people are not afraid to draw a line in the sand and define right and wrong.

They have made God's law their own, the godly are submitted to God, his ways become their ways. They are powerful leaders because they are submitted followers. Their feet will never slip from his path. Their paths are secure and their future is bright. The godly prosper and succeed when others fall by the way side because their feet are firmly planted on God's path.

So what about you, does this scripture define your life. Are you passing down a generational blessing, are you an individual of influence taking a stand on the issues of our day, are you submitted to God's laws? We all can falter and fail along they way, but let's make a refocused commitment to be Godly. Our world is full of good people who go along and get along but our world needs Godly People who will reestablish the truths of God and turn our culture back to Jesus Christ. Good is not good enough, God calls us to be Godly.

Common Ground

1 Corinthians 9:22-23 "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings."

Paul said he did everything he could to save people from hell and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. He tried as the NLT says " to find common ground", common ground is a place connection not a place of compromise. Jesus was a friend of sinners but he didn't sin or compromise to reach sinners and neither should we. Our world doesn't need churches that look like, smell like and act like the world. Our world needs to experience the presence and power of God to change their lives. Our culture is recklessly headed toward hell and we the Church should be doing everything we can to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them.

Many times the common ground of connection is their place of need. The great thing about the message of Jesus Christ is that no matter what a persons need is, Jesus is the answer. When you begin to talk to people about their problems, struggles and disappointments you move to a common ground, because people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Once they realize that you care, then the doorway of their heart is opened to message of Jesus Christ. Every time you meet a need (common ground) it opens the door to sow a seed (share the gospel).

Sounds of Revival

Ezra 3:12-13 "But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. 13  The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance."

What a beautiful picture of a multi generational effort. The young and old worked together to rebuild the temple, to restore God's house. This scripture not only gives us a picture of all generations working together for the Glory of God.

But it gives us insight into what I believe to be the sounds of revival, which are the sounds of weeping and joy mingled together. When our hearts break over the condition of our nation and the souls of men and when we rejoice over one life that is changed for the glory of God. Weeping and joy mingled together produce the harvest of God. Psalms 126:5-6 "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6  They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."

May the sounds of weeping and joy fill our Churches, may the sound of weeping fill our alters as genuine repentance and godly sorrow produce salvation. May our alters be stained with the tears of those who war in the spirit through prayer and fasting for their families, communities and nation. May the shout of joy fill our sanctuaries as we worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Celebrating who he is and what he has done in our lives as the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO!

Supernatural Set Up

2 Kings 8:1-6 "Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.” 2  So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. After the famine ended she returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to see the king about getting back her house and land. 4  As she came in, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said, “Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done.” 5  And Gehazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land. “Look, my lord the king!” Gehazi exclaimed. “Here is the woman now, and this is her son-the very one Elisha brought back to life!” 6  “Is this true?” the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence." God will set you up. Like the widow woman as she returned home to make her appeal to the king. The Bible says "at that very moment" or it could have said at the time set up by God, because she had been set up for good. God desired to restore everything she had lost including any profits made off her land while she was gone. Proverbs says the steps of a good man/woman are ordered by the Lord. God will set you up for good. He wants to restore all that you have lost with extra packed on top. Think about all the "at that very moment" moments you have had in your life. How many times have you been in the right place at the right time and connected with the right person. Those moments are not the result of chance, they are the result of God. He has set you up for good. If you have ever wonder why it is so important to be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, you don't have to wonder any more. You need to be obedient to the Holy Spirit because God is trying to set you up, he wants to restore everything the enemy has stolen and he wants to connect you with the right people, give you the right job and prosper you beyond your wildest dreams. God is trying to set you up and when we are obedient to the simple promptings of the Spirit we will be at the right place, at the right time and meet the right people, because it is a "supernatural set up."

How To Avoid The Sin of Presumption

1Kings 22:4-5 "Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?”Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.” 5  Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”  This story gives us a great example of how to avoid the sin of presumption. The king of Israel has ask Jehoshaphat the king of Judah to join him in battle and to help him reclaim a city taken by the enemy. I love Jehoshaphat's answer, why of course, my troops are your troops but first lets find out what the Lord says. This story rolls over into our lives so beautifully, how many times have you been ask by a family member or a friend to help them do something. Now many times those request are small insignificant things but sometimes they are major things. Will you loan me money, will you go into business with me, will you hire me or get me a job? Our answer like Jehoshaphat is of course I will help you, but first lets find out what the Lord says. When we presume that because it is somebody that we love we should automatically jump on board with what ever they are doing we commit the sin of presumption and in the end many times in will destroy your relationship with the person you were trying to help. Taking the time to seek the Lord always pays off and understand that seeking the Lord also mean seeking Godly counsel. The Lord has brought people into your life that have the experience and wisdom of God to help you make right choices. Before you rush into an major decision you need to first find out what the Lord says. Jehoshaphat and Ahab sought God but refused the counsel of the Lord and it cost Ahab his life. Here is the key to seeking God, when God speaks, by his spirit, his word or through Godly counsel you must do what he says to do. When you seek the Lord and then refuse to obey what he says, then not only are you going to suffer from a wrong decision but now you are in rebellion against God. But when we seek and obey him we can walk away in peace and know that his blessing is upon our lives. Don't presume, first find out what the Lord says.

Windows of Opprotunity

Acts 3:12 "Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd..." Peter saw his opportunity, what do you see? The supernatural power of God opens up a window of opportunity to share the gospel and call people to a place of repentance. Peter grabbed hold of this moment and began to preach Jesus and call the people back to God. Everyday we have windows of opportunity to share Jesus with our co-workers, family and friends, but if we are not looking we wont see our opportunity. Instead all we will see and hear are the hurts and struggles of those around us. It was the struggle of one man that opened the window of opportunity up for Peter. How you respond the needs of others around you determines the opportunities that you will have to minister Jesus. I want to share three keys to an open window of opportunity. First remember that we serve a supernatural God. Don't be afraid to step out in faith and trust God to do the impossible. Peter had to trust God to do what he knew only God could do and God did it. We have not because we ask not. Second remember that every need you encounter is a window of opportunity for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ask God to keep you sensitive to the needs of others and respond according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Third remember that windows of opportunity are moments that have a beginning and an end. When the opportunity arises don't procrastinate for a better time. Jump through that window, boldly declare who Jesus is and call people back to God.

Your Greatest Asset

Psalms 118:22-23 "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. 23  This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see." God specializes in taking what this world rejects and creating something great out of what the world says has no value. He takes the foolish things to confound the wise and the weak to conquer the mighty, so that He alone will get the glory and the world will know that He Is God! God doesn't save by human strength or wisdom, he saves by his mighty power. This is why the greatest ability is availability; when we make ourselves available to God, we position ourselves to experience the impossible and to become a vessel of honor that bring Him Glory. So instead of grieving over what you can not do, submit your life to the one that can do all things. Let him display his strength through your weakness and demonstrate his power through your life. You will be amazed at what God can do with your availability, it is your greatest asset. Below I want to share with you seven areas of availability that position you to experience the impossible and see God's Glory revealed through your life. Be available for intimacy. Make time everyday to sit at his feet; prayer, worship and the word. Be available to share. When the opportunity arises to tell someone about Jesus, stop what you are doing and share with them the message of Jesus Christ. Be available to pray. When someone shares a prayer need stop what you are doing and say a 30 second prayer, agreeing with them and the word of God. Be available to minister. When God sends someone into your life that needs ministry; encouragement, counsel or deliverance. Schedule time with them and allow the Lord to minister through you. Be available to give. Budget your finances and live below your income, so that when God quickens your heart to meet a financial need you have money available. Be available to serve in everyday life. When you encounter a need that you can meet, then lend a hand and help someone in need. Be available to serve in the local church. Get involved: give your time, talents and resources to the Kingdom of God through the joint efforts of the local church. Find the greatest area on need and plug in to meet that need.

Enforce the Victory

1 Samuel 17:46 "Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head..." David had it figured out, whatever God has established in the spirit, we have the authority to enforce in the flesh. David said, "The Lord will conquer you and I will kill you and cut off your head." Jesus has conquered the enemy, he has defeated sin and Satan, our job is to enforce in the flesh what has been established in the Spirit. It is time for all the mighty warriors to rise up and fight. We can not be defeated but we can be deceived into not fighting. You will never win a fight that you are unwilling to engage in. Let's fight for our families, communities, nation and the world. Let's take on the Goliath's of our day and like David, let's run to the battle!

God's Warning Label

John 5:14 "But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” The wages of sin is death, sin brings destruction into our lives. Jesus warned the lame that had been healed to stop sinning or something worse may happen to him. When people get healed, delivered, set free or forgiven there is a warning label that reads, stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. Only God can heal the sick, set free those who are oppressed, forgive our sins and save our souls, but we have a responsibility to walk out the freedom that Christ gives. A supernatural miracle can be short lived if you continue in a lifestyle of sin. God can supernaturally meet your financial needs but if you refuse to change your ways, debt will rise back up and devour you. God can heal you of cancer, but if you continue to smoke it can come back and take your life. God can forgive you of your past and wipe away the shame and guilt of your yesterday, but if you don't change the way you live, guilt and shame will come back like a flood. There is a warning label that comes on the back of every miracle and supernatural work that God does in our lives, if we obey it, we walk out our freedom and move forward into the future that God has for us. But if we violate the warning label we will end up worse in the end. Don't allow your miracle to short lived, walk out what God has given you and enjoy the journey of your life.

ALL

Psalms 103:1-5 "Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2  Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4  He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5  He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!" All, that is an amazing word especially when it is wrapped up in a promise from God. I looked up the word all in the Greek and Hebrew and all means all. So listen to the word of the Lord, God forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases and desires all that we are to praise him. God gives all and he requires all. All that we are in surrender to all that he is. God never ask for more than he has given, every request he makes from us is first conditioned with a gift from himself. Everything that we give to him, he first gave to us. So when he says praise me with all that you are, he is really saying give back to me all that I gave to you knowing that there is always more to come. As a matter of fact the only way to shut down the supply of heaven is to become unwilling to give back what he has given you in the first place. When we close our fist so to speak, we become unable to receive. But a open hand allows all things to flow in and out of our lives. So today let's Praise God with All that we are for All that He has done!

Confidence

Proverbs 14:15-16 "Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps. 16  The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence." Wisdom measures twice and cuts once. It takes the time to do the work on the front end, so that once a decision is made you can run with it. Fools plunge ahead, they make decisions based upon emotions and refuse to slow down long enough to think through and evaluate the process. They move ahead with what the Bible calls reckless confidence. Now as a leader you need confidence and your people need to have confidence in you. The way we build confidence is by making wise decisions, leadership alway involves risk because as a leader you are taking your team somewhere that none of you have ever been before. But calculated risk and reckless confidence are two totally different animals. Calculated risk means that I have done my homework, it means that I have taken the time to pray through the decision, gather information regarding the decision, gotten counsel about the decision and finally gotten a word from God to move forward. When we have done our part, we can be sure that God will do his and we can lead with a confidence that flows out of a prudent and wise heart.

FUEL

John 1:3-4 "God created everything through him (Word), and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone." Do you ever wonder why it is so hard for so many Christians to stay faithful to the daily reading and study of the word of God? Maybe you too have faced the struggle of consistency in the word of God. Our scripture for today gives us insight into why Satan wants to keep you out of the word of God and ultimately disconnect you from Jesus the living word. This scripture teaches us that the word gives life to all that is created and that his life brings light to everyone. Understand that the word of God gives life to your life, it is spiritual fuel that ignites the engines of the Spirit and causes you to come alive for the glory of God. In Genesis 1 we learn that the Holy Spirit was hovering over the face of the deep and that darkness covered the universe. The Spirit of God was present but their was still darkness, until the word came. The moment God the Father spoke the Word and said let their be light, the Holy Spirit moved and light came. The word of God fuels the Spirit and gives life and that life the Bible says brings light to everyone. I have never meet a soul winning, disciple making, devil stomping Christian that did not have a daily time in the word of God. Why? Because the word brings life and that life brings the light of Christ to the world so that people can be saved, discipled and set free from the power of sin and Satan. So now you know why Satan wants to keep you out of the word. If he can deceive you into thinking you are to busy (you are not) or that you can not understand (the Holy Spirit will teach you) the Bible, then he can siphon the fuel out of your Christian life and remove the light of Christ from your world.

Clean Stables or A Large Harvest

Proverbs 14:4 "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." As a leader you can have a clean stable or a large harvest but you can not have both. Ministry is messy and it requires a lot of leaders to make it happen. People lives are never changed without great sacrifice. Our salvation is rooted in sacrifice, the cross was not clean and tidy. True discipleship is hard work and very messy, in order to grow people up in the faith you are going to have to change a lot of dirty diapers. Too many pastors want clean stables, they want pretty churches, filled with pretty people. But Jesus came for the sick and not the well. Hospitals are sterile but if you have ever been in the operating room it gets messy. Why? Because dealing with the stuff in people's lives that keep them sick and unhealthy means going beyond the surface of Sunday morning Christianity and ministering the healing and wholeness of Jesus Christ. True discipleship is hard work but one life becomes a seed that changes future generations, it is worth the effort. Raising up leaders also messes up the stable. The more hands you have serving the more chances you have that something can go wrong. And all leaders especially new one make mistakes and sometimes dig holes that have to be mended. It is easier and cleaner to just do the job yourself, but that decision limits the size not just of your church but also the harvest that you reach for Christ. We need all hands on deck if we are going to reach a dying world. Both sides of discipleship is necessary for a healthy growing church. We have to reach out to the sick and hurting and we have to raise people up (leaders) to do the work of the ministry. If you just reach out to hurting people you will be overcome by the enormity of the need. If you just raise up people to do ministry then you will run out of people to raise up and will have a group of spiritual couch potatoes. But if you do both you will have a thriving church that is filled with the sick and the well. You church will become a hospital for the hurting and a training center for those who have been made whole. It will be messy and it will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it. So as a leader you have to make a decision, do you want a nice, neat stable or do you want a large harvest. I believe the success of your ministry will be determined by your choice. So what do you want?

Fruit

Luke 19:8-10 "Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”  9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10  For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” 

Jesus said "salvation has come to this house today", the fruit of salvation is repentance. How do you know when a person has been born again and truly been saved? They turn from their sins and begin to do what pleases God. Zacchaeus said, "I will give to the poor and anyone I have cheated I will repay four times as much". Salvation produces a transformation in the heart and life of a person.

Not everyone that professes Christ, possesses Christ. The fruit of salvation is repentance, the word repent can be broken down into two parts. The first part re means to return, the second part pent means a high place. That is why the penthouse is always on the top floor. So to repent means to return the high place, the place that pleases God. In means to come out of the valley of darkness/sin and return to the light of Gods presence.

So what about you? Is there fruit of salvation in your life? Have you repented, have you come out of your old ways of sin? Are you living a life that pleases God? Please understand I'm not talking about a perfect life but I am talking about an on purpose life. Something changed in Zacchaeus's life and on purpose he began to stop doing things that he had once done that were wrong and he began to do the things that pleased God.

So what about you? Has there been a heart change, can others look at you and see the difference in how you live your life? I've heard it said, that "a difference that makes no difference is really no difference at all" if your salvation experience did not make a visible difference in how you live your life, then you did not have a salvation experience. True salvation produces the fruit of repentance.

Total Surrender

Luke 18:22-23 "When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23  But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich."

This story gives us an accurate picture of what God really desires, total surrender. Jesus told the rich young ruler that there was still one thing he had not done, that one thing was total surrender. He had not totally surrendered his life to Christ. He still valued his riches more that he valued his relationship with God.

So I want to ask you a question, what is your one thing? Is there something in your life that you have been unwilling to let go of? Is there something in your life that has not yet been surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus? Maybe it's your money or maybe even your family? Maybe it a position or a hobby? Maybe it's pride or a secret sin? Do you have a "one thing"?

Today, God's challenge for our life is to surrender all and follow him. Remember the kingdom of God is upside down and backwards, in the natural if you surrender you lose the battle. But in the spiritual when you surrender to Christ you win the battle, victory in the kingdom of God goes to the one who surrenders their life to the Lordship of Jesus and is willing to forsake all and follow him. The rich young man went away sorrowful but he did not have to. He could have walked away following Jesus with Great Joy! So how will you walk away from this message, with sorrow or great joy?

Leaders Wait

Joshua 3:17  "Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground."

Joshua 4:14 "That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses."


This scripture paints a beautiful picture of leadership and it also presents one of the greatest challenges that a leader faces. The bible says they waited until the whole nation crossed over. The job of a leader is to accomplish the vision of God through the lives of Gods people. It is always quicker and easier to travel alone, but it you go alone you may be a pioneer but you are not a leader. Leaders take people with them.

The natural tendency of a leader is to go, go and go, but our job is not just to get to the promise land. Our job is to help others get there too. Sometimes the most important thing that we can do as leaders is wait. Waiting for our people to cross over, waiting on God's perfect timing, waiting on our team to regain their footing. So many leaders run ahead and they leave their people unprotected and unfulfilled.

I will be honest with you, I hate to wait, I see the prize and I am willing to pay the price to get there and I am ready today. The only problem is that all of those statements revolve around me, I hate to wait, I am willing and I am ready. But leadership is not about the leader, it is about the people.

Impatient leaders are selfish leaders and many times they sacrifice their people for their success which is a perverted form of leadership. The scripture goes on to tell us that on that day Joshua became a great leader in the eyes of the people and they revered him for the rest of his life. One of the greatest qualities of leadership is the ability to wait, not drag your feet but strategically wait for the good of your people.

The Cross Over

Deuteronomy 9:3 "But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised."

God told the children of Israel that he would cross over ahead of them and subdue their enemies so that they could conquer them and drive them out. To subdue means to bring under control, to bring into subjection. God told the children of Israel that he would put their enemy in a place of subjection but they would still have to conquer them and drive them out. In other words God will make our enemies defeat-able but we must still defeat them. As my paw paw told me "God will open the door but you have to walk through it"

This is the pattern of victory modeled through out scripture, God subdued Goliath but David still had to throw the stone. God subdued the prophets of Baal, but Elijah still had to pray. God has subdued sickness, but we still have to pray, believe and confess the word over our bodies. God has subdued poverty, but we still have to go to work, live on a budget and tithe. God has subdued divorce, but we still have to love our spouses, treat them with respect and invest in our marriages. God has subdued depression, anxiety and worry, but we still have to renew our minds with the word and speak life over our lives. God has subdued death and hell, but we still have to tell people about Jesus and give them an opportunity to accept him. God has subdued the devil, but we still have to take authority over him, fast and pray and put on the whole armor of God.

Our enemy is defeat-able because God has crossed over ahead of us. Jesus said "It is finished" everything that needed to be done to subdue our enemies and open the door to the promise land was accomplished through his death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Stop waiting for the enemy to move out and drive him out through the power of God, let rise up and take the land.

Time Bombs

Psalms 64:8 "Their own tongues will ruin them..."

How many times have we ruined our lives with our tongues? Bitter words, angry words, spiteful words, sarcastic words, hurtful words, divisive words, jealous words, false words, fearful words and unbelieving words. These words ruin our lives, they become spiritual downloads that not only effect our presents condition but the future outcome of our lives. Our words are prophetic, they establish in the spirit what will be manifested in the flesh. They are spiritual time bombs that will release life or death. What you speak against others will come back upon yourself, that critical tongue will produce critics over your life. Those bitter, hurtful words will boomerang back against you.

So choose life, choose to speak life and not death, choose to let your words be building blocks not a wreaking ball. Don't be ruined be blessed, bridle your tongue and every area of your life will prosper.

Time To Gather

Acts 14:19-20 "Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20  But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe."

This scripture gives us amazing insight into the works of darkness and it allows us to see the power God that is available through the lives of believers. Paul was preaching truth and standing for what was right in the eyes of God and some people came into the situation and turned the crowds against him. Not only did they resist what he was say but they attacked him, stoned him and left him for dead. Paul's ministry and life could have ended right there but the scripture says "the believers gathered around him and he got up".

I don't know about you but I believe that when someone stands up for what is right, we believers in Jesus Christ should gather around them. Right now in Marshall County and in the State of Alabama we have two men that have stood up for what is right and they are being attacked.

The first one is Tim Nabors the Marshall County Superintendent; the school board received a letter from an atheist group demanding that they stop praying before the school board meetings, along with a list of other complaints. Tim Nabors said publicly that they will not stop praying just because they received a letter from a group that was opposed to prayer. He said that unless a judge ordered them to stop, they would pray. Praise God, Praise God that we have someone willing to stand up for what is right.

The second is State Representative Clay Scofield, he has proposed a bill SB12, that would require pregnant women in the state of Alabama to have an ultrasound to see the baby, before she can have an abortion. Praise God, Praise God that someone is fighting for the lives of unborn babies. Both these men have stood up for what is right and they have come under attack. Like the apostle Paul they are being stoned from many directions, so my question is where are the believers? It is time to gather around these men and surround them with our support, prayers and resources. When someone does the wrong thing, believers are the first to sound the alarm. So when someone does the right thing we as believers in Jesus Christ should sound the alarm and gather around them with support.

So I invite you to join me in gathering around these men and standing with them. Call their offices, email them and cover Facebook declaring to the world that you are gathering around these men and that you stand with them. Paul's life and ministry could have ended that day, but the believers gathered around him and he got up. Let's keep these men standing, because they are standing for the things that please God.

Wisdom and Power

Mark 6:2 "The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?”

We need wisdom to know the will of God and power to perform the will of God. Wisdom and power are necessary ingredients for true success in the Kingdom of God. Without wisdom we become lose cannons unable to harness the power of God. Without power we become intellectual icons that sit around talking but never accomplishing the will of God.

But when wisdom and power come together they create an explosive impact that shakes our world for Christ. That impact enables us to be an advancing army that is moving forward, taking back what the enemy has stolen and establishing God's Kingdom in the lives of men.


So where do we get wisdom and power, at the feet of Jesus; he is our source.

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 "So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24  But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God."

If you are not at the feet of Jesus then you are disconnected from the source of wisdom and power. Reconnect today and Charge the Gates of Hell!

Good Decisions

Proverbs 9:10-12 "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.11  Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer."

Verse ten teaches that "Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement". Only when we see the world through the lens of scripture are we able to make good decisions. Without the knowledge of God, your decisions are based upon your opinions, which change in every season of your life. God's word has never been more relevant or important, our world is spiraling out of control. Because the world and unfortunately many in the church, have rejected the standard of God's word. Our world is being governed by the opinion of man instead of the principles of God's word. Christians are illiterate of the scriptures and are following the ideas and opinions of social media, tv and talk show host.

Verse twelve tells us that "If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." Our world is suffering not because we lack wisdom, but because we have rejected God's wisdom.

Take authority over your life, by submitting your decisions to the word of God. Allow God's wisdom to govern your life and you will benefit; spiritually, relationally and financially.

Welcome To The War Zone

Exodus 13:17  "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:18  But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt"

This scripture teaches us something very central to the Christian life, if you follow Jesus you will encounter warfare. As a matter of fact, this scripture tells us that God did not take the children of Israel the shortest route to the promise land but he led they by way of the Red Sea. Before they would experience the enemies of the promise land, God wanted them to experience his power to save them, no matter what came against them. So before they ever fought a battle, they saw God fight for them and destroy the mightiest army on the planet. He was building their faith, he was preparing them for what was to come.

Salvation seems to come with a honeymoon period. When a person gets saved there seems to be a short season where everything is wonderful, when God is supernaturally answering prayers and the red seas of their lives are easily parted and then comes the battle. Somehow we forget that possessing the promise land means driving out the enemy. We are in enemy territory, Satan is the prince of the powers of the air and there are principalities and powers in heavenly places that are warring against every step that we try to take into the promises of God and the advancement of his Kingdom in the earth.

1Peter 4:12-13&19 tell us "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13  Instead, be very glad-for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.19  So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you"

Don't be surprised by the fiery trials or the suffering that happens in your life. Look what is says "if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right". So what kind of suffering pleases God, the kind of suffering that comes from doing what is right in the eyes of God. The suffering that comes from the battlefield. Every solider that has ever fought a battle can tell you, that in order to fight and especially in order to win you have to suffer. The surprise attacks of the enemy, bombs, bullets, fox holes and sleepless nights. Soldiers suffer for the cause, they realize that they have an enemy that hates them and will do anything to stop them from claiming victory.

If you are a Christian than let me say welcome to the war zone. We are at war, at war for the souls of men and the kingdom of our God. Our job is to take back what the enemy has stolen, to charge the gates of hell. So don't be surprised when the enemy throws a hand grenade into your life, don't be surprised by the bullets flying at your head, don't be surprised to see your friends, family and even your self get wounded once in a while. The heroes of war always have scars. 1 Peter 4:19 closes with this statement " keep on doing what is right and trust your lives to the one who created you, for he will never fail you".

So how should I respond to the battle and suffering that comes with fighting for the Lord: first I keep on doing what I am doing, don't stop, give up or throw in the towel. Second I recommit my faith and confidence in the one who created me and loved me enough to send his Son to die for me and third I settle in my heart that our God will never fail us. He has called not just to fight, but to win. The only way a Christian can be defeated is if he quits, so refuse to quit and Fight, Fight, Fight!!

Refuse To Be Silent

Matthew 20:31 "Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 

The world wants to quiet you, they will try to keep you silent. But God responds to the cries of his people, especially the cry for mercy. Some of you have been quieted by the world, they have told you that God doesn't care, that he would never help you or that it's your problem so you have to figure it out on your own. But world is wrong and the voice that needs to be silenced is the voice of fear, unbelief and condemnation.

God loves to hear our cries for mercy, because he is a God of mercy, Psalms 86:5 "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee" and his heart longs to help those who cry out to him. So open your mouth and cry out to God, refuse to be silenced because God loves you and wants to answer your cry for help.

Profit or Loss

Exodus 1:8-10 "Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9  He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. 10  We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country"

The new Pharaoh made a decision based upon fear and it ended up costing him the very thing that he did not want to lose. When we make a decision based upon fear, we make the wrong decision. Fear always causes loss, it destroys your potential for greater things and causes you to lose the very thing you were trying to hold onto, whether that be a relationship, marriage, children, occupation, finances or a ministry.

Fear many times comes out of a lack of knowledge(the new Pharaoh didn't know Joseph or what he had done)but when making a decision you need two things, the right information and a clear word from God. When you have these two things you can step out in faith, with confidence that you are doing what pleases the Lord and you will have great success.

An Attitude of Expectancy

Psalms 5:3 "Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." 

David had a holy habit of meeting with God each morning. He set the pace for each new day at the feet of Jesus. But he came with an attitude of expectancy. He expected to hear from God, he expected an encounter with the Lord each day. Do you? Is your quiet time just that, a quiet-time or is it a daily encounter with the living God.

If you have got stuck in a routine that has lost the life giving presence of God, then understand there is nothing wrong with your routine, but there is something wrong with your faith. You've lost your attitude of expectancy and you are just going through the motions. God honors our appointments with him, but only if they are filled with faith. Without faith you can not please God and without faith your quiet time is just quiet-time. But when you come before the Lord with an attitude of faith, expecting a divine visitation every morning, then you will not be disappointed. So don't give up on your quiet time, revamp it with faith.