There have been times when I was pastoring that I would be pouring out my heart, preaching what I felt the Lord wanted me to preach. However I would notice that several were yawning, some whispering to their neighbor, others glaring at the child who is being mischevious and of course those looking at Facebook lol. Not very often but once an a while I felt like screaming "IS ANYBODY LISTENING"?
I wonder if God feels the same way sometimes. You know when He desires to pour into us His love, passion, wisdom and plan. If your like me than you've been guilty of being to tired, preoccupied, distracted or entertained to hear the Lord at times. Wait a minute do you mean to say that God still speaks to us today? ABSOLUTELY, YES!! He speaks through the Bible, other believers, circumstances and audibly. God speaks in many ways and when we are not sure if we have heard from God or if we are certain that we have. We can know that if it is God, it will line up with the Bible and always bring Him glory.
So are you listening? I mean
- Do you want to hear from God?
- Do you believe that He wants to speak to you?
- Are you willing to take some time and listen?
Here are some things that help me to hear. Hopefully they will help you.
1. Keep your ears / heart turned to Jesus.
2. Take the time. Get alone with God.
3. Let Him know that you desperatly want to hear from Him.
4. Listen!
So go for it! Get alone with God and pour out your heart give all of yourself to Him. Say "Speak, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
America A Mission Field
In Acts 1:8 There is a promise "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
God gave me a heart for missions when I was very young. As a preacher's kid I can remember meeting many missionaries from all over the world. I always looked forward to going out for dinner with the guest speakers and hearing their stories of how God was moving on the mission field. Stories of the lost coming to Christ, provision, protection and adventure! I'm one of those guys who after hearing a missionary speak I'm ready to visit their country and give everything I have to help them. That's how much I love seeing the great commission being fulfilled!
When I was twelve years old I went on my first missionary trip to the Darien Jungle in Panama with my dad and a group of teens. It was like stepping into a National Geographic magazine. The way they were clothed or not clothed, the way they lived, the faith of the missionaries, the heat, rain and wildlife in the jungle... Wow, it was awesome but the best part of that trip was seeing unreached people that had just began to hear the gospel coming to know Jesus as their personal Lord. In 2015 I was blessed to return to the Jungle and see how the Lord has blessed the continual work in Panama. I've been to Haiti several times and my heart is full of love for the Haitian people.
I say all of that so that all who read this post will know that I am a huge fan and supporter of overseas missions. I am also convinced that America has become a huge mission field. In America there has been 58,586,256 abortions from 1973 to January of 2016. The divorce rate is through the roof, sexual immorality is at an all time high and the list goes on and on. I have heard it said for many years now that America is a mission field. Well it is and if you are a born again believer in America the mission field is all around you. There are men and women of God being sent by God to America from around the globe to evangelize America.
I believe that if God's people will awake and realize that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few and begin to pray, support home missions and world missions like never before and do the work of an evangelist we will see America turning to Christ. I'm praying and believing God for a move of His Spirit, a Revival so great in the body of Christ that we will see another great awakening in America and around the globe. As my family and I our doing are travels and seeing the lost and unchurched God is increasing the burden for Evangelism and for the church to reach outside of the four walls and be a light shining in the darkness.
Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
God gave me a heart for missions when I was very young. As a preacher's kid I can remember meeting many missionaries from all over the world. I always looked forward to going out for dinner with the guest speakers and hearing their stories of how God was moving on the mission field. Stories of the lost coming to Christ, provision, protection and adventure! I'm one of those guys who after hearing a missionary speak I'm ready to visit their country and give everything I have to help them. That's how much I love seeing the great commission being fulfilled!
When I was twelve years old I went on my first missionary trip to the Darien Jungle in Panama with my dad and a group of teens. It was like stepping into a National Geographic magazine. The way they were clothed or not clothed, the way they lived, the faith of the missionaries, the heat, rain and wildlife in the jungle... Wow, it was awesome but the best part of that trip was seeing unreached people that had just began to hear the gospel coming to know Jesus as their personal Lord. In 2015 I was blessed to return to the Jungle and see how the Lord has blessed the continual work in Panama. I've been to Haiti several times and my heart is full of love for the Haitian people.
I say all of that so that all who read this post will know that I am a huge fan and supporter of overseas missions. I am also convinced that America has become a huge mission field. In America there has been 58,586,256 abortions from 1973 to January of 2016. The divorce rate is through the roof, sexual immorality is at an all time high and the list goes on and on. I have heard it said for many years now that America is a mission field. Well it is and if you are a born again believer in America the mission field is all around you. There are men and women of God being sent by God to America from around the globe to evangelize America.
I believe that if God's people will awake and realize that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few and begin to pray, support home missions and world missions like never before and do the work of an evangelist we will see America turning to Christ. I'm praying and believing God for a move of His Spirit, a Revival so great in the body of Christ that we will see another great awakening in America and around the globe. As my family and I our doing are travels and seeing the lost and unchurched God is increasing the burden for Evangelism and for the church to reach outside of the four walls and be a light shining in the darkness.
Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
Friday, December 5, 2014
Avoiding A Spiritual Wreck
In 1 Timothy 1:18-20 Paul challenges Timothy "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."
1. Keep Fighting - As believers we are in a battle every day. We must continue to war against the world, the flesh and the devil. You and I cannot afford to let our guard down. Not even for one day. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1Peter 5:8 Don’t give up! Persevere. Charles Spurgeon said that it was by perseverance that the snail made it to Noah’s ark. Keep going! Keep battling!
2. Keep the Faith
- Keep your biblical convictions!
- Listen to your conscience!
John MacArthur says, “A good conscience serves as the rudder that steers the believer through the rocks and reefs of sin and error.”
Be encouraged today your not in this battle alone Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always.” Hallelujah!! Now keep the faith and kick some devil butt!
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Confronting and Proclaim
In 1 Timothy Paul charged Timothy with the responsibility as a Pastor to Confront false teachers, refuse to Compromise with them and Proclaim the TRUTH as taught by Christ and the apostles. Today we are living in a time were many pastors are tempted to shrink away from the responsibility to Confront false teachers and Proclaim the truth of God's Word.
In my study time this morning I was reminded that the Word of God is the absolute authoritative truth which must be proclaimed boldy in love without Compromise! "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 "What you have heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:13-14
Pray for your pastor today! Pray that he will preach the living Word of God without compromise and proclaim the truth.
Now get ready to recieve the Word of God and guard it, defend it and Proclaim it with the help of the Holy Spirit who is in you!!
In my study time this morning I was reminded that the Word of God is the absolute authoritative truth which must be proclaimed boldy in love without Compromise! "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 "What you have heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:13-14
Pray for your pastor today! Pray that he will preach the living Word of God without compromise and proclaim the truth.
Now get ready to recieve the Word of God and guard it, defend it and Proclaim it with the help of the Holy Spirit who is in you!!
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