"Sicko, go see a doctor"

Why do we work with ungodly people? Why do we even want to talk to the atheist neighbors? Why do we spend time sharing The Gospel with those who mock us? Because the sick need a doctor.

God puts the brightest lights in the darkest spots so others may come to know the truth. If Christians spent all their time around other Christians how would the message of the Gospel every get out. How would the world know who Jesus is? Jesus spent time with sinners but He did not indulge in their sin with them, we should do the same.

Your friends that do not know Jesus will be quicker to come over your house for dinner then they would to go to church with you. They will be more tolerant of hearing the truth of the Gospel come from your lips then a preacher on Sunday or a televangelist on Monday.

We often lose sight of the mission God gave us in Matthew 28:18-20. Our job is to reach out to the lost. Some of us God will send to the most outwardly ungodly people but inwardly they are starving for spiritual help. We cannot only invest time in those who know Jesus, we have to invest time in those who are far from God.

I used to complain about the people I worked with, the schools I attended, and even the people who I ran into . I would tell God how ungodly these people were and how I just wanted to work full-time in ministry. But God, graciously, reminded me that my righteousness is like filthy rags and I was in the place I was to bring others to Him. I was there as a representative of Christ and not to complain about the sins if others. I was the light bulb and He was the Light that shinned through me. It was my job to stay put so He could shine His light of truth in a world filled with dark lies. But I had to humble myself and invest time in the lives of others.

We are quick to go to a third world country or a low economic neighborhood to share the Gospel with strangers. We will neglect to reach out to our coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends because they know us. And they see our struggles with sin, so to seem less hypocritical or to continue to freely indulge in sin we remain silent, this ought not be.

The mission field starts in the microcosm of your house and branches our to the macrocosm of your neighborhood, place of employment, and friends.

Working in the world and sharing the Gospel is full-time ministry. You do not need a pulpit are a multimedia ministry to share truth. All you need is a willing heart to share God's truth and a determination that you are going to honor God by living a life that pleases Him.

Invite your co worker over for dinner and find a way that you can pray for them, bless them, and bring honor to God. Ask your neighbors if  they have something that you could pray for. Call your crazy cousin and text them an encouraging scripture. Offer to pay a bill for someone you know is far from God and tell them "Jesus loves you.". They may not understand it now but you are making an eternal investment.

What I am saying is God has not called Christians to live in an isolated bubble. He has not called us to act as ministers of silence. He has not called us to complain about the status of the world. He has called us to speak up. He has called us to go "out" and "reach" the lost. He has called us to impact the lives of others by investing in them. People are more reluctant to come to us so we must go to them. Jesus never said "Stay isolated and I will send people to you", no He told us to "Go make disciples and teach them." The lost are not like a tv dinner that we can pop in the microwave, no they are like the four coarse meal that has to prepared by hand. It will take time and effort on our part. But we must  invest in the lives of the lost so they can become found. Stay focused you can do this.

Share the Gospel, Read the Word, Be Accountable

Matthew 28:18-20

"In His JOY!"

http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/

Trained for the fight

When we read the Word and spend time in prayer we are like an athlete training for an event. The more we train the easier the fight against temptation and sin.

Athletes train with the belief they will win but prepare to face the obstacles that are hindrances to their victory. And we are the same, sure of the victory through Christ and ready to overcome the obstacles by His wisdom and strength. So train yourself daily knowing you are investing in your spiritual growth. Stay focused, you can do this.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be accountable.

"Give me a sign"

John 2:23-25, 5:39-43

When Jesus was in Jerusalem people came to believe in Him when they saw the signs He was doing and they concluded that He was the Messiah because only Christ Himself could do the things that He was doing. But oddly enough Jesus could not commit Himself to these people. He could not share with them the things of God because He knew their hearts (John 2:23-25). He knew in their hearts they did not truly believe. Their faith derived from what they saw and not off the Words of Christ. So Jesus left them. Left them to search for signs and wonders even though the Greatest Wonder was walking among them. He left them because a faith that looks to signs for verification will not rely on or completely trust the Word of God! They will look to things they can see and touch to give them faith and trust in God. They will constantly beckon God to prove Himself or they will say "Just give me a sign so I can believe". God does not need to prove Himself to anyone, His Word is proof enough.

God entrust Himself to the heart filled with faith. The heart that is willing to take a chance and trust God at His Word. The heart that says "I believe...even though it is hard right now...I believe" The heart that says "I trust you despite what I see..I trust you". These are the people who come to know Jesus. These are the people the Lord can show Himself to and this type of faith appeases Him (Hebrews 11:6). When Jesus went to Jerusalem's arch rival Samaria He met such people. These said to Jesus, "We believe your word". These are the people He stayed and talked with (John 5:39-43). These are the people He entrusted Himself to and taught them the Way of God. These are the people who God will forever entrust Himself to because their hearts are hunger for more of God's Word and not His signs.

Which group do you fall in? Is your faith-based on the things you see or is your faith-based on God's Word alone? Are you waiting for a sign before you trust God and do what He directed you to do? Or are you trusting God at His Word and acting on it? If are waiting on a sign I can promise you, you will be left waiting. But if you trust God's Word and believe that He is who He says He is, He will not disappoint you. I am simply asking you to take a chance and trust His Word. I am asking you to close your eyes and walk with Jesus, He will not lead you astray. Stay focused, you can do this!

Read The Word, Share The Gospel, Be Accountable

"In His JOY!"

"Know where you come from and where you are going"

John 8:14

His mother was asking to Him to do miracles (2:1-11), His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5), and His hometown saw Him as a carpenter's son (Matthew 13:53-58). But despite all of this Jesus remained focused on pleasing the Father. Jesus firmly knew who sent Him. It did not matter to Jesus what others thought of Him. He was only concerned with accomplishing God's Will.

Other people may not believe in you, want to use you, or just expect you to follow in the footsteps of your parents. But none of that matters, just stay focused on the One who sent you and do the task you were sent for.

If Jesus had focused on what people were saying He never would have accomplished God's Will. Like wise if we are so focused on the comments of others and their expectations for us we will not carry out God's Will. So stay focused, you can do this.

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable

"Preachers of L.A."

This is not a critique of faith but a simple observation. I see shows like The Preachers of L.A. and hear preachers on the television proclaiming the Prosperity Gospel all the time. True, the fame of the Prosperity Gospel has lost it's luster in years past and is not as popular as it was years ago (probably due to the troubles in our economy) but it still being preached and taught today. The idea that God wants me to get wealth by claiming it or to name the things I want and seal the deal in Jesus name, just does not seem biblical to me. 

For instance people have made millions off the letters written by the Apostle Paul. Excerpts from his letters is found on clothing, tattooed on our bodies, tweeted, made into inspirational cards, made into songs, etc. Because of the letters Paul wrote some have been able to buy mansions, nice clothes, cars, and sell books. But the irony to all of this is we have profited of the writings of a man who died with no real monetary wealth. We profit off a man who would not accept payment for teaching God's Word because He did not want to hinder the message of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:9-12).

I just find it funny that the message of Prosperity seems to overtake the purpose of the Gospel. Christians not here to get great wealth but reconcile people to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). When we focus on our personal prosperity we truly being "the spoiled brat" who is selfish as opposed to being "the grateful child" who is thankful.

The Prosperity Gospel distorts our view of giving. Giving is an act of obedience that we should do with a cheerful heart (2 Corinthians 9:7). But the Prosperity Gospel has taught us to give like greedy investors expecting 60 or 100 fold return. Honestly if you are giving to God just get back a sizable amount do you truly expect Him to bless a heart like this? Because you are giving with a greedy heart not a cheerful one. Greedy givers are no better than the wealthy man who gave out of his wealth as opposed to the widow who gave out of obedience (Luke 21:1-4). If God rejected the wealthy man's offering what do you think he will do with our greedy offering. Those who give out of obedience and love for the Lord want to give more so God will receive glory (2 Corinthians 9:11-13), those who give out of greed will reap the greedy man's reward (2 Corinthians 9:6).

Though I caution us all not to demonize The Preachers of L.A.. I say this because I rejoice that people are receiving Jesus (Philippians 1:18) but I detest that the method of disciplining believers. Disciplining others through prosperity does not teach others how to serve the Lord, it teaches them how to manipulate scriptures and creates investors not disciples. But disciple believers by correctly teaching God's Word multiplies disciples.

So my prayer is that The Preachers of L.A. will reëxamine the scriptures for truth and not search them for personal gain. Stay focused, you can do this.

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be accountable.

http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/

"I will take the steak and make it well done"

Matthew 20:25-28, 1 Peter 4:8-11

It is funny when we talk about church because many churches have two or more services to help better accommodate people. You have probably said this before to another church member "Which service do you attend, the 9:00 or the 10:30?" Haven't you said that before to someone? But what is funny we do not think about what we just said, so let's word it another way. "When do you get served 9:00 am or 10:30 am?" Because that is what is really happening.

A lot of church goers are looking to have someone serve them in some capacity. Some of us are looking for somewhere to drop our kids off for an hour and a half. Others are looking for someone to stroke their ego. Yet others still are looking for someone to read the Bible and pray for them because their hectic work week prevented them from doing it themselves. (Yea that hurt me too). Simply put, Church is not a restaurant where we pay (with our tithes) for someone to give us what we want when we want it.
The church is always looking for volunteers to help but there is never a shortage of people who want to get served. You come to the body of Christ to serve not be served. Much like you join the military to serve your country. Or like you go to work to serve you employer. It is what we as Christians do, we serve. We are here to serve Christ in whatever capacity He chooses.

"But brother, I am a minister of the Gospel", great teach the lesson to the children's church they need more teachers. "But brother, I am so busy doing the week, I cannot usher", awesome all we need you to do is volunteer an hour a half, I mean you work almost 40 hours that doing the week what is an hour and a half going to do? "But brother I don't know how to run sound", great it will be an opportunity for growth. "But brother I am trying to reach the lost", great help them find a seat, smile at them, get their number and disciple them.

Service will take sacrifice, it will mean some long hours from time to time, and it may even mean you miss somethings. But the more Christians we having serving in the Church the more seats we will have open for the lost to hear the Gospel. The more Christians we having praying and reading the Word the more people we will have equipped to bear the burden the Pastor feels. Get up out of your seat and serve. Stop dropping kids off at children's church like it is daycare and stay and help. All do it all without grumbling. If a waiter came up to you in a restaurant and said "I really hate my job but I a m here to serve you", would you leave a tip? So do away with the complaints and serve with JOY! If the same people do the same thing the church will turn stagnant and will not grow. But if we work together and do serve, God will add to our number daily. So instead of asking someone what service they attended ask "When did you serve today 9:00 or 10:30" Stay focused, you can do this!

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable

"In His JOY!"

http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/

You Have Value

Our value is not found in who we are or what we have done, it is found in who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
Titus 3:4-6
#YouHaveValue

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable. 

http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/