For the Sake Of
Have you ever been in a situation where someone had a need and you did not have enough money to help that person? I have. Or have you heard about a ministry that didn't have enough to feed people, buy clothing or shoes for others in need, and not have anything extra to give to it yourself? I have.
To want to give and not be able to is an awful feeling, isn't it? Yet, is it right for us as God's people to ask and seek to be prosperous? Yes, it is! And what is to be our motive to being prosperous? It is for the sake of the House of the Lord our God!
See, if we have only enough for ourselves, we do not have anything left to give. We have to be blessed to be a blessing! If we are ONLY asking God to meet our needs and not asking and seeking Him for prosperity, then we are only thinking and asking for ourselves. And if we are the only ones on our minds, we are being selfish.
You may be thinking, "Pastor, I thought money was the root of all evil!" No, the Word says that the LOVE of money is the problem (1Timothy 6:10). It is when MONEY HAS YOU, instead of YOU HAVING MONEY! When the church is not prosperous, she cannot feed the hungry, clothe the naked and go and tell the world about Jesus! (Matthew 25:36,37, Mark 16:15)
The Gospel — the Good News of Jesus — is free, but the avenues to get it to the people are expensive! To take a plane or truck full of food, water, clothing and medical needs to places costs money. When the church is prosperous, she can fulfill the needs of people. When the church is in lack, she can only do for herself.
So, why do we need to ask God and seek Him to be prosperous? Because others are needing to eat food and drink clean water. Others are waiting for help to come. Others are praying for someone to come and lend a hand to them as they are struggling. A man or woman will be better able to hear the Good News of Jesus if they have been fed a meal when they are hungry. A Nation will want to hear what you have to say about Jesus Christ if they and their babies are not dying from polluted water. A village will be able to understand that God loves them if they see God's people come to them and give them warm blankets and shoes for their feet.
See church, seeking and asking God to prosper you is not all about you. God needs His Body — the church — to go and love people to God, Himself. And the only way is if we have the means to give and go and buy and send.
Prosperity is not only a blessing to us, it is life or death to others! Ask God to prosper you. Seek the Lord passionately about bringing prosperity into your life. For it is not just for our sake, it is truly for the sake of the House of the Lord our God!
Scripture Of The Day: "For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity." - Psalm 122:9 (NIV)
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
God’s Promotion
God’s Promotion
The way that God promotes someone is a lot different than the way we would. Our way to get promoted would be to work very hard, learn the way the system goes, and then use that same system to get further ahead. Our way may rely on contacts, favors and even “who you know.” Our way may be based on rubbing elbows with someone, or could even be credited to something called “luck.”
We would also promote someone else based on these same factors. Either way, we will work very hard for promotion, and after we get it or give it, we like to take the credit for all that has been done!
Let’s look at God’s way of promoting. He delights in exalting the humble person. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). Someone who is humble is not proud, and they don’t mind “going down to get up.” They know that someday, for reasons that are only known to God, they are going to be invited to move on up a little higher!
When it’s all said and done, with an act of our will, we need to step down from our own agendas for our lives. Then as we pray and spend more time with the Lord, we begin to pick up small everyday insights into God’s great big plans of success for our lives. As we continue to walk in obedience and faith, and stick to HIS agenda, our promotions to success that God has for us will happen!
PRAYER: Lord God, if you find any trace of pride or self-promotion in our hearts, we ask that you take it away, and then give us the attitude and heart of a humble servant. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Scripture Of the Day: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11 (NKJV)
The way that God promotes someone is a lot different than the way we would. Our way to get promoted would be to work very hard, learn the way the system goes, and then use that same system to get further ahead. Our way may rely on contacts, favors and even “who you know.” Our way may be based on rubbing elbows with someone, or could even be credited to something called “luck.”
We would also promote someone else based on these same factors. Either way, we will work very hard for promotion, and after we get it or give it, we like to take the credit for all that has been done!
Let’s look at God’s way of promoting. He delights in exalting the humble person. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). Someone who is humble is not proud, and they don’t mind “going down to get up.” They know that someday, for reasons that are only known to God, they are going to be invited to move on up a little higher!
When it’s all said and done, with an act of our will, we need to step down from our own agendas for our lives. Then as we pray and spend more time with the Lord, we begin to pick up small everyday insights into God’s great big plans of success for our lives. As we continue to walk in obedience and faith, and stick to HIS agenda, our promotions to success that God has for us will happen!
PRAYER: Lord God, if you find any trace of pride or self-promotion in our hearts, we ask that you take it away, and then give us the attitude and heart of a humble servant. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Scripture Of the Day: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11 (NKJV)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Power Outages
A few weeks ago, a very powerful storm swept through the city and caused thousands to be without power for days. The force of the storm caused homes to be damaged and thousands of vehicles to be ruined, but thankfully only a small number of individuals were physically impacted during the storm.
The emotional toll was high and the other life expense of being without power was tremendous. Individuals and families were forced to replace refrigerators filled to capacity with food items. Others had to make alternative sleeping arrangements for an assortment of reasons. With no power for almost a full week, businesses also suffered greatly. Reports indicate that it may take up to one year for them to totally recover.
When the power is disconnected, we begin to realize how much we depend on it. There was no power to charge cellular phones, power up the internet signal, cook food, turn on lights to navigate dark homes, and no juice to cool (or heat) homes. Even simple recreational activities that don’t require power had to be adjusted. The power outages negatively affected everything!
The same way that we’ve had those power outages, many are starting to see the real affects of power outages happening in the spiritual lives of many believers. If a physical storm had that much influence and affect on people’s lives, can you imagine the reach of spiritual power outages?
Spiritual power outages are caused by:
A) Inconsistent spiritual living
B) Inappropriate placement of the role of the Holy Spirit
C) Insufficient submission to the Power of the Holy Spirit
D) Inconvenient manipulation of the purpose of the Holy Spirit
It is clear from scripture and practical wisdom that the Holy Spirit wants to play a much larger role in the life of the believer than many are allowing. Without adequate usage, the result is a significant power outage. The consequence of spiritual power outages leaves any believer tired all the time, overwhelmed by the spiritual and mental challenges of life, weighed down by ‘serving’ in ministry, emotionally inconsistent, and too weak to do any level of spiritual warfare. All of these factors will yield an ineffective ambassador in God’s kingdom.
What’s the solution? The easy answer is that every believer must make sure that the Power of the Holy Spirit can properly flow in their lives. The tough answer is that there must be a daily process of transformation that allows the Holy Spirit permission to plug into our lives and release His power in us in everything that we do, think, say, and everywhere we go. It is only when we allow His power to flow in our lives daily, that we are able to expand our capacity to handle his powerful charge.
Just like a building must be equipped to handle the voltage (level of power) that the generator (or power boxes) produces, every believer must grow to the point of handling that much power! Are you ready?
1) Don’t be afraid – grant Him permission to flow in every area of your life.
2) Don’t over analyze – give Him space to cause you to walk by faith without boxing Him in.
3) Don’t be arrogant – give Him the credit for everything that He does supernaturally in your life.
4) Don’t be anxious – give Him the time to work in your life without you running ahead of Him.
5) Don’t be artificial – give Him the opportunity to show that He works in real people living real lives, not hyper-spiritual people that are out of touch with reality.
There are probably more things that you can add to this list. What are the things in your life that could cause a spiritual power outage in your life? Whatever they are and however they show up, work to remove them! They’re blocking the flow of power in your life that you’ve only experienced the tip of. No more power outages!
Scripture Of The Day: "It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]" - John 6:63 (AMP)
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Faith Test
Question:
(Taken from “The Strategy of Satan”)
How can the believer know that he is living by faith? It is so easy for us to be fooled by our own feelings (“But it seemed right to do it!”) or by the circumstances around us, or by Satan and his demonic powers. Are there any tests that the Christian can apply to his decision and actions to determine weather or not he is walking by faith? Yes, there are four practical tests.
1. “Am I doing this for the glory of God, or just to please myself?”
2. “Am I rushing ahead impetuously, or am I willing to wait?”
3. “Can I defend what I am doing from the Word of God?”
4. “As I contemplate this move, do I have joy and peace within?”
(Taken from “The Strategy of Satan”)
How can the believer know that he is living by faith? It is so easy for us to be fooled by our own feelings (“But it seemed right to do it!”) or by the circumstances around us, or by Satan and his demonic powers. Are there any tests that the Christian can apply to his decision and actions to determine weather or not he is walking by faith? Yes, there are four practical tests.
1. “Am I doing this for the glory of God, or just to please myself?”
2. “Am I rushing ahead impetuously, or am I willing to wait?”
3. “Can I defend what I am doing from the Word of God?”
4. “As I contemplate this move, do I have joy and peace within?”
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