Posts Tagged ‘love’

Love and Connection With One Another

Posted: March 17, 2013 in 2013, agenda, Connect to God, Connect4, gospel, missions, new year, Next step, praise, Uncategorized, worship
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Who do you go to when dealing with life’s issues? Are you connected to other believers, or do you isolate yourself, thinking you can deal with your issues alone?  Our inability to live in community with one another is a by-product of our lack of fellowship  with God.

The first hindrance to living in community is our unwillingness to live in fellowship with God.

1 John 1:5-7 tells us that if we walk in light, we will have fellowship with one another. 

We see here, the key to living in community; fellowship with God.  People who are not connected to God will not connect with others. Living in community allows us to lean on our brothers and sisters at our toughest moments. 

Sin pushes us away from God and  others, and removes the urgency of living in community.  As a result we live isolated from God and the body of Christ. 

In Galatians 2:20  Paul tells us that we must die to ourselves.  Once we let go of our pride , Christ can live in us.  As a result we will live in community with others and in fellowship with God.

Community and Conflict

Posted: March 10, 2013 in 2013, agenda, Connect to God, Connect4, gospel, missions, new year, Next step, praise, Uncategorized, worship
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The biggest hindrances to living in community is conflict.  Unfortunately conflict is unavoidable.  It’s how we deal with conflict that will determine our success.  Anything you do that is worth any merit will be attacked by the enemy. 
The first step in dealing with conflict is determining the agenda.  If the agenda is about ourselves then conflict will prevail.  If the agenda is God centered, focused on winning the lost, conflict fails.

As you build community you must expect conflict.  If God is moving, expect a counterattack from the enemy.  Even in the midst of an attack it’s important to maintain community.   Why? Because ordinary people,  living in community, under the direction of God, can change other peoples lives.  Through community our strengths can reach others weaknesses.  True community says, “I will love you through your weakness.  Where you fall short, I will carry the load“. 
Living in community is a give and take.  We soak in,and pour out.  We have needs, but we also give.

Psalms 1:1-3, Genesis 2:18,

Ecclesiastes, 4:10, let’s us know that two is better than one. Why? If they fall one will be able to help the other.  

The enemy tries to push you to separate from the body of Christ so that if you fall, you fall alone.   Community its important, and essential to your success as a Christian. 

The benefits of the secret place

Posted: February 3, 2013 in 2013, agenda, Connect to God, Connect4, gospel, missions, new year, Next step, praise, Uncategorized, worship
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Today we will focus on two benefits of the secret place.  Over the last few weeks we have stressed the importance of having a devotional life.   A time in which you go to the secret place to commune with God.   Remember the secret place is not necessarily a place,  rather its a time and commitment totally dedicated to prayer and worship to God.   The first benefit of the secret place is

1. You can come out of hiding.

Genesis 2:23-26, 3:9-13
The secret place allows you to be completely transparent and unashamed.  The secret place also allows us to be free from being unable to accept responsibility for our actions.

Our deliverance and freedom is found in the secret place.   Our shame is removed and our hearts are healed when we go to God in the secret place.  We no longer have to hide or cover up. 

The next benefit of the secret place that we will focus on is

2. You get to be on the cutting edge of what God is doing.

John 5:17 tells us that God is ALWAYS at work doing something.  Those who are in the secret place get to be on the cutting edge of what God is doing.   It is in the secret place in which God will assign you task to accomplish his will,  to redeem this lost and dying world.  

God is always at work doing something.  Our job is to find where we fit, in God’s plan.   This is only found in the secret place.   Look at example of Cornelius the centetirion found in Acts 10:1-6  Cornelius was man who was in the roman army, yet made time daily to go to the secret place.  It was in the secret place in which God spoke to Cornelius.  Cornelius was able to be on the cutting edge of what God was doing. This is available for all who meet God in the secret place.  

Taking the next step in our hunger…

Posted: January 20, 2013 in 2013, agenda, Connect to God, Connect4, gospel, new year, praise, Uncategorized, worship
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There is no substitute for a hunger for God.  We must get to a place in which we ask God to reveal ourselves to ourselves.  As strange as that may sound the truth is, until we get to a place in which we are totally honest about our commitment and devotion to God, we will never grow.

John 7:37: we must get to the place in which we have an all consuming craving for God.   A place in which nothing can satisfy your hunger and thirst except God.

Real spiritual growth doesn’t  happen unless you make a real effort.  In other words, you have to want to grow.   Ask yourself, can connect I God on my own?    Every follower of Christ should have a secret place where they can connect with God in an authentic way.  This is what taking the next step in your hunger for God is about.

Today make the decision to take the next step.   Are you praying consistently?  Do you have a time set aside to seek God everyday?  These spiritual disciplines must become a part of your life if you want to grow. Your ministry,  relationships,  and personal growth starts with a  personal devotion time with God.

Stretching Yourself Past Your Agenda.

Posted: January 13, 2013 in 2013, agenda, Connect to God, Connect4, gospel, new year, praise, Uncategorized, worship
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The next step that God has for your life brings new commitments and trials.   It requires you to move from a place of comfort into a place where you’re uncomfortable.  Consider the weight trainer. Discomfort and pain brings forth the desired results to his body.  In the same way stretching and pushing past your spiritual limits with bring the desired results to your spiritual body.

Today our focus is taking the next step in our agenda.    Everyone has an agenda.   Some people’s spiritual agenda is to escape the pain of the world.  For others the agenda is to have peace of mind,  healing,  or a restoration of a broken relationship.   Whatever the agenda,  when we first come to God,  we come with selfish motives.  This may be fine when you are new to Christianity,  however there does come a time in which your agenda must become selfless.

Matthew 5:6 tells us those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed.   Your next step in your agenda is to move to a place in which you hunger and thirst after God.   To move to a place in which you’re know longer content with your selfish motives, but instead desire to know God in an authentic way.

God is moving us forward, past our original agenda and  towards his plan for our lives ; to be empowered to do His will.  This requires us to go deeper in our spiritual life.   Our prayer time should become centered on fulfilling God’s will. 

This year become honest in your spiritual life.   Make up in your mind that you will do whatever it takes to do God’s will.   This is your next step.   Will you take it?

Who has tricked you? (counter culture)

Posted: December 2, 2012 in Connect to God, Connect4, Uncategorized
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As Christians our number one priority is to change lives,  not fit in.  

Ecclesiastes 1:2. Everything in life means nothing.   It’s here today and gone tomorrow. Living your life for “stuff”  will never satisfy you.
Today’s world has moved the goaline of what is real Christianity.   We have allowed ourselves to chase the approval of the world instead of being the instruments of change this corrupt world needs.  

Comfort and peer pressure has caused some christians to sell out their faith.   Out lack of steadfastness and understanding of God’s word has cause us to be weak instead of strong.

Jude 1:3-4 shows us that ungodly men crept in, unnoticed,  into the Christian faith and have corrupted the faith.   Amazingly this happened because those who once stood on the true faith began to turn their eyes towards the world.   They desired to fit in with the mainstream world view.

The enemy knows he cannot stop the church.   His plan is to dilute and infect the church with worldly ideas and viewpoints. 

Galtatians 3:1-5

Here we see a group of people infected with a worldview of Christianity.   After seeing and experiencing miracles these people began to deny the true word of God.  How is this possible?  How can people who were saved allow themselves to be fooled into believing and adopting a secular worldview?  The answer is simple.   If you do not stay connected to God you are open to infection.  What was once true to you will now become questionable.   No longer are hings black and white.   Instead you allow yourself to live on the “grey”  areas of the world.

It is important to ALWAYS stay connected with God through prayer,  worship,  and fellowship with other believers.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

How To Live What You Learn

Posted: November 4, 2012 in Connect to God, Connect4, Uncategorized
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We would like to take this time to say hello to our many friends in the various counties throughout the world that take the time to visit our website.  Please know that we are praying  for your strength and safety.  Continue to stand in God and LIVE HIS WORD.

Why do so many Christians get stuck at the point of salvation?  The hardest part of discipleship is moving from knowing to actually doing.   There is a lot of knowledge within he body of Christ.  Knowing is not the problem.  The problem is the application of what you know.

James 4:17.  Refusing to do what God tells us to do is just as sinful as the sinful acts we commit purposely.   James 4:17 tells us that those who know to do good and does not do it,  to that person it is sin.  

Luke 12:42-46 let’s us know that the master will reward the servant that he finds busy doing his work.  It goes on to tell us that those of us who know the will of the master but are not prepared will be punished. This is the point that we want to reinforce today.  We have to move from just knowing,  to doing the work of the Lord.

Knowing is easy.   It’s nothing more than gathering facts.   Doing is the application of those facts to advance the kingdom of God. 

It’s time to get involved in God’s mission,  to seek and save the lost.  Choose to be busy.   Don’t sit around full of knowledge. Apply that knowledge to change the world.  Matthew 28:19-20 tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching the world to obey the commands of Christ.

Spiritual Community: The place of Alone-ness

Posted: October 7, 2012 in Connect to God, Connect4, Uncategorized
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Most people want some form of community rather its team sports or friendship.   Today we want you to know that spiritual community is a must.   Spiritual Community provides he encouragement,  strength and sometimes correction that is needed in order to fulfill God’s will in your life

There is a place that we sometimes visit.   It’s a place of disconnection.   In this place our pains,  dissapointments,  and trials,  festure and grow like a mold.  In this place your bad thoughts get worse and your pain increases.   In this place you only hear the voice of the enemy.   This dark place effects your reasoning skills and causes you to question the motives of God.

When you are connected in spiritual community you are able to stand.

GEN 2:18

Being alone in warfare is dangerous.  It leaves you vulnerable and exposed to attacks of the enemy.  God,  the creator of the universe,  himself said that it is not good for man to be alone.   What does this mean?  It means that spiritual community is a necessity in order to fulfill the purpose of God in your life. 

John 17:20-22 reminds us that it is important to live in Spiritual Community. Jesus reminds his disciples that the enemy will try to separate them. Jesus, however prayed that his disciple would remain as one so that the world would see and follow the example.

Today make up in your mind that you will not separate yourself from the body of Christ. Pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Reaffirm your connection to God, and to your fellow brother and sisters. There is strength in numbers. Resist the place of Alone-Ness. You don’t have to go through your trials alone.

John 13:35

Overcoming Barriers pt 2. It Doesn’t Matter

Posted: September 23, 2012 in Connect to God, Connect4, Uncategorized
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There are times in which we fail to tell the world of the gospel message because we don’t think we are worthy enough to carry his message.   We look at our past failures and all of our shortcomings instead of looking to God.

Our low self image keeps us locked up in paralysis, unable to move forward in God’s purpose.

1Corinthians 1:18-29 God is the answer.  There will always be those who seek a sign or an intellectual affirmation before surrendering  there lives to God.  But for those who hear his message and receive it, it is wisdom and power. 

You’re not called because you are great, you are called because God is great.  Stop looking at yourself and instead look to God. Philippians 3:12-15 reminds us to forget about our past. Foget about our shortcomings and mistakes. Look forward to what God has for your future. God loves to take ordinary people and cause them to do extraordinary things. Everyone has a history that we may not be proud of. Let go of your guilt. With God it doesn’t matter.

Prepare For Battle: Overcoming Barriers

Posted: September 16, 2012 in Connect to God, Connect4, Uncategorized
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There are self imposed barriers to winning souls for Christ.  There is nothing more important for Christians than lead souls

The barrier of personal sin:
Psalms 51:1-13

Sin separates us from God.  That separation discourages us from seeking and saving the lost.  When you allow personal sin to rule your life no one will follow your lead. Christians should live disciplined lives that will cause others to imitate.   David in the 51st psalm recognized that he must be first and foremost be cleansed from his personal sin in order to change the world.

Personal battles:
1 Peter 1:6-8

We must learn to multitask as Christians.  We should be able to rejoice during the trials of life.  There is no rule that says we cannot praise God during our toughest moments.  Your faith is conditional if you can’t honor and serve God while going through.

Keep in mind what Jesus said in Matthew 10:38-39. God has your back and he will never let you fall. Put your trust in God and remember, He has His hands on you. Become multitaskers. Even in your toughest times you can rejoice in God.

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