ALLOWING GOD'S PEACE TO RULE OVER YOUR LIFE!

"And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful." Col. 3:15 (HCSB)

All sports, whether it be football, basketball, baseball or whatever has an umpire, referee, or some kind of official to make sure the game is played correctly and according to the rules.

They are there to "rule over" the games and participants.

In the verse we just read up above we see this word "RULE".  In the Greek this word is "brabevo". This was the umpire who would rule over those early Greek games and would hand over awards to the champions at the end of the games.

His job was too:

1. Preside
2. Direct
3. Rule over the event.

The umpires word was final in every decision of those games!

God has also given Christians, who are on mission with Christ, an umpire to help rule and control over their lives.  That umpire is:

The Peace Of God

I.  Where In Our Lives Is The Peace of God Suppose To Rule?

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

1. In Our Heart: Peace is to rule over our hearts so we don't experience discouragement.  Living a powerful missional life can get discouraging from time to time. Just take a look at the 3 Missionary Journeys of the Apostle Paul. He had been beaten, stoned, whipped, imprisoned, shipwrecked and many other difficult things all for the sack of the Gospel.  But through it all Paul was still able to say that he had discovered the secret for contentment in those and many other circumstance of life. 
2. n Our Minds:  The peace that God provides is also to guard our minds from confusion.  Not only can missional living be discouraging but it can also be confusing.  The Apostle Paul tried several times to go into Asia to spread the gospel but was prevented by the Holy Spirit. How confusing was that? Why wouldn't God allow Paul to go share Christ there at that time?  But then in the midst of the confusion God gives Paul a dream of a man from Macedonia saying, "Come over here."  How often have each of us been confused what God was wanting us to do in a particular situation? God's peace is intended to comfort us until God reveals to us the direction he would us to go.

II.  Peace Is Not A Feeling - Peace Is A Person.

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility ..." Eph. 2:14 (NIV)

The feeling of peace comes when we are able to see Jesus Christ - the person of peace.

when I was a child I would get scared in the dark when it was time to go to sleep.  I would call out to my mom for her to come. When she would come I would get such a wonderful sense of peace and comfort from just seeing her

In part of the 23rd Psalm it says,

"Thou I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear not evil ..."  

What the Psalmist is saying is that he doesn't fear because he's got peace! Why? How does one get rid of the shadows that frighten them and able to experience peace in their life?  The answer is simple!

They Simply Stop Looking At The Shadows

And Turn And Look Into The Light! 

The only reason why you see shadows is because you have your back to the light. Once you turn around and start looking at the light the shadows disappear.  

Jesus is the Light of World. When we stop focusing on those things that worry us and turn around and look into the face of Jesus all the worries seems to disappear.

In missional living we forever need to be facing Christ, looking into His love face and gaining the encouragement that only He can provide.  We need to remember that peace we seek is the person of Christ and when we focus on Him the feeling of peace will overflow us. Powerful missional living happens as we keep our focus on the Prince of Peace - The Lord Jesus Christ!

THE 5 PRINCIPLES JESUS USED IN PURSUING HIS MISSION!

I think we all would agree that Jesus lived a life on mission while he was here!  He didn't just aimlessly wander through life. He had a purpose, he had a mission and he was effective at it!  Jesus himself stated his purpose quite clearly during a conversation he had with Zacchaeus the chief tax collector from Jericho.  In that conversation Jesus said about himself, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  In this post we are going to look at 5 Principles that we find from Jesus and his missional activity.

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house."  Luke 10:1-7 (NIV)

PRINCIPLE #1:  He Had A Vision That Guided Him (v. 2)

Jesus had a vision of a harvest field that was plentifully ripe and ready to be harvested. He didn't just see a few people ready to surrender their hearts and lives over to his care and control but a whole harvest field just waiting to be picked.

How do you view your mission field? Do you see people willing and ready to surrender their hearts over to Christ or do you see resistant people fighting God.  I think that many times our own personal perception of situations is the biggest hinderances.  If we think people are going to be resistant then that's what we are going to find.

Jesus using this same image, fields ripe for harvest, gives the explanation why he consider them ready for salvation. Look at what He says in Matthew 9:36,37;

"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

Jesus described people who were ripe for harvest as being people who were "distressed", "dispirited" and aimlessly wandering like "sheep without a shepherd'.  Let me ask you: In your community do you find a lot of people who are distressed? Who are dispirited? And how wander around without any real direction in life?  If you answered "yes" then you have a Spiritually Ripe Harvest Field.  

GET THE VISION - VIEW YOUR COMMUNITY READY TO COME TO JESUS

PRINCIPLE #2:  Prayed For God To Provide.

In both Luke 10 and in Matthew 9 Jesus mentioned the major roadblock to bringing in the ripe harvest. He said the roadblock wasn't enough workers.  Jesus solution to this problem was not to guilt, bagger or twist the arm of people to get involved. No. Jesus' solution was to "pray to the Lord of the Harvest" to send more workers.  

The only one who can get the right workers into the harvest field is God.  It is God's responsibility to employ and deploy the workers!  Our job is to relentlessly to faithfully be in the harvest field making more disciples for Christ and praying for God to get us more help by raising up more workers.

How often are you praying for God to raise up, train up and unleash more harvesters to join us in the work?  Do you even think that Jesus was serious about this prayer or do you think He was just speaking figuratively?  

PRINCIPLE #3:  He Used Teams To Pursue His Mission.

Jesus sent the 72 out in teams of two. He also sent the 12 out in teams of two. Throughout the Gospels we see teams of 2 to 3 going out by the Lord's instruction.  At times we see Peter, James and John.  Other times we just see Peter and John.  In the book for Acts we see Paul and Barnabas and the examples could go on and on. 

Who makes up your team of pursuing Christ's mission?  Are you trying to do all alone? Who are the people you know you can cast a vision of Christ's mission and see if they would like to form a team with you in doing ministry?

PRINCIPLE #4:  HE LOOKED FOR GOD PREPARED PEOPLE.

In verses 5-7 we see Jesus telling the 72 to look for a "Person of Peace".  This is a person whom God has prepared and ready to receive the Gospel.  In John 5:19 Jesus said that he could do noting on his own but only what he sees the Father doing and whatever he sees the Father doing he also does.  In other words Jesus was looking for the Person of Peace, the person that God the Father has prepared to receive the Good News.  

This is to be our approach as well.  We are not on mission to convince people they need Christ. We are on mission to find those that God has already prepared to receive Christ.  I got to tell you this one principle really takes the pressure off us once we realized we are just to join God in the work He has already started.  

PRINCIPLE #5:  ONCE JESUS FOUND THE HOUSE OF PEACE HE THEN DISCIPLED THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLD.

In Acts 10:44 and Acts 16 we read about a Gentile by the name of Cornelius and a jail guard in Philippi that came to faith in Christ. But not just them! The Bible also says that "they and their household" believed and were baptized.  This was true also with Jesus. When Jesus reached Peter, Peters entire household came to faith, including his mother-in-law, who was healed by Jesus.  When Jesus reached the Samaritan Woman at the well; it says that she went back to her village and reach them for Jesus.

How are you reaching entire households?  

ARE YOU TRYING TO HAVE A PICNIC WITH THE DEVIL?

Too often I think Christians have a poor and even dangerous view of what it is to be intentional about living a missional life.   There is way to much romancing and glamorizing and when the reality of what a missional lifestyle is really like is made known disillusionment and discouragement quickly set in.  It's kind of like the heroic and brave stories we hear about war where the hero sacrifices his life to save his fellow comrades with the beautiful angelic music playing.  It shares all the glory but very little of the blood, guts, pain and sorrow.

I personally think that the comparison of a soldier in wartime and the Christian living a missional life is very appropriate.  The reason I feel this way is because

THE MISSIONAL LIFE IS THE WARRIOR'S LIFE!

As fully devoted followers of Christ we must never forget that we are not on a picnic where we are sipping lemonade and eating fried chicken. No!  The life we are called to is a life in the midst of a raging battle where our enemy, Satan, is like a hungry lion seeking to attack and devour whomever he may.  This is the reason why the Apostle Paul admonishes us to put on the full Armor of God; watch and pray; and stand and resist.  Of all people the Apostle Paul knows all to well what lies ahead for those who choose to follow Christ on this mission.  Paul had been stoned, whipped, imprisoned, shipwrecked, falsely accused of wrong doing, hated by his countrymen, and eventually beheaded for his faith in Jesus Christ.  Over and over again Paul warns Christians to expect persecution as a normal part of the life of a Follower of Christ.  

THE MISSIONAL CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE  IS NOT A LIFE FOR THE WEAK AND FEARFUL!  IT IS A LIFE FOR THE WARRIOR READY TO FACE HIS ENEMY!

It is as if, when a person determines and announces that they are going to live a life for Christ and intentionally pursue the mission that Christ has commissioned, that Satan says, 

"Oh really! So you think you are going to come into my territory, knock down my walls and liberate my slaves!  I don't think so! No way!  It's not going to happen!"

And then Satan goes up into the heavens, just as he did with Job and with the Apostle Peter, and demands permission from God to sift you like wheat.  That's right.  Satan is going to demand that God give him permission to spiritually attack you,  to test your metal and to see if he can find any chinks in your armor.  I mean, really, do we honestly believe that when we come to a place in our walk with Christ where we decide to follow him and obey him fully that it is going to go unchallenged by Satan? When we decide to live a missional life for the cause of Christ we have put a bullseye on our shirt that says, 

"SATAN I DARE YOU TO TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT!"  

Do your really think he won't?  Here's the crazy part!  THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN GOD GRANTS HIM THAT PERMISSION.

How crazy is that? Doesn't that sound crazy of God?  Why would God, who loves us, allow our enemy to attack us and possibly do harm to us?  That doesn't sound like love! Does it?

Unless God Knows Something We're Not Thinking About!  

A nation that intends to defend itself from their enemy will put together an army to fight on their behalf.  The first thing that every new recruit goes through is basic training where they learn how to be an effective warrior.  Why?  Why put them through this training?  Is it not so these new recruits will have the best possible chance of survival before they're thrust into the battlefield?  In the same way God knows that the world is hostile to Him and those who belong to Him.  He knows that we have a real enemy who truly does hate us! And God allows Satan to attack us but with limitations so that we can gain battle experience and strengthen our faith in God for even bigger challenges that will come our way.

Satan's goal is obvious.  He desires to destroy our faith in God and leave us wounded and bleeding in the gutter!  

However, God has a different goal in mind.   James 1:2 says,

"Consider it all joy ... when you encounter various trials know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result that you may be perfect, complete and lacking in nothing."

Did you catch that?  The trials, the difficulties and, yes. even spiritual warfare is designed by God to test our faith in order to make it stronger and make us complete with nothing lacking.  Now that's truly amazing? While Satan wants to destroy our faith, God intends to use what Satan does to make our faith in Christ even stronger.

From the story of Job and Peter there are a three encouraging truths about spiritual warfare we need to understand:  

• First, when Satan attacks us he first has to get permission from God to do so.  Satan can't attack us any time he desires.  He is never going to pull a fast one on God where he sneaks in an attack that God didn't know was coming.  In the story of Job we first see Satan coming before God seeking permission from Him to attack Job and thereby prove that Job's faith in God was weak.  It was only after God gave permission that Satan went out and attacked Job.  The same was true of Peter!  On the night that Jesus was to be arrested Jesus told Peter that he would deny him three times.  After Peter insisted that he would never deny Christ, Jesus looked at Peter and said that Satan had demanded permission to sift him like wheat.  Once again we see that before Satan could attack he first had to get permission from God.  
• Second, once Satan receives permission he cannot do anything he wants because God also sets the conditions and limitations to what Satan is able to do.  On the first attack against Job God placed the condition that Job himself could not be touched.  So Satan went out and destroyed all his wealth and had all his children were killed.  For the second attack God said that yes he could attack Job physically but could not kill him. Here we learn that when it comes to spiritual warfare Satan has to work within the boundaries that God has established.
• Thirdly, in the story of Peter when Jesus tells him that Satan has asked permission to sift him like wheat we also hear Jesus tell him, "But I have prayed for you..."   The Bible tells us in the book of Hebrews that the resurrected Christ is now standing before God our Father as our High Priest always making intercession on our behalf.  Now that's a powerful thought.  The Son of God himself is constantly praying on our behalf during our greatest times of spiritual testing and warfare.  NOW THAT'S THE GREATEST PRAYER WARRIOR EVER FIGHTING FOR US!

NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS MISSIONAL LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO IS NOT A PICNIC BUT A RAGING BATTLE - HOW ARE WE TO LIVE?

First, every morning we you get up to start your day remember that you are going out to war.  It's not a picnic, it's not a party, no, it's a battle!  Therefore, suit up!  Put on the full armor of God!  Don't forget any piece but pray it fully on so that you are fully protected from Satan when he attacks. And rest assured he will attack.  He is looking for a weak spot, a vulnerable place or a chink in your armor.  If you are not careful to put on the full armor he will find that weak spot. So don't make it easy for him by failing to spend time in prayer before you start your day.

Second, throughout the day keep watching and praying.  Just as a soldier out on patrol walking through a potential battlefield is staying watchful for any sign of the enemy, so you must be watchful for any sign that Satan is around.  Satan, like a lion, is hiding and blending into the surroundings waiting for the most opportune time to pounce on his prey.   The soldiers who aren't watchful make it easy.  But do not only be watchful but also be praying.  From where does our strength and power come to defeat our enemy?  From ourselves?  No! It comes from God.  Quite literally it is God who fights our battle but He does it through us.  Prayer is the conduit from which the power flows from the throne of God into our lives to defeat our enemies.  A Christian who fails to pray continuously is like a soldier who has gone out to battle and has forgotten to bring his weapon.    

According to Jesus failing to watch and pray is the exact reason why Peter lost his spiritual battle on the night that Jesus was arrested.  In the garden Jesus had instructed Peter, James, and John to pray but then Jesus returned He did not find them praying but sleeping.  He woke them and admonished them all but named Peter specifically to: 

"keep watching and praying that you might not fall into temptation..." 

And we know the next part of the story. They still were unable to stay awake and the result was the loss of a spiritual battle for them and in particular Peter.

Third, you need to stand and resist!  The armies of old when they would fight with swords and shields would form a battle line where the soldiers would stand shoulder to shoulder with their shields forming one solid and hopefully impenetrable wall.  The opposing army would run and charge them ramming into their shields hoping to create a break into the wall.  The soldiers that formed the wall would stand firm and hold up their shields to buffet the assault and try very hard not to break the line thereby allowing a crack to form in the wall.  These soldiers would continue to hold up their shields between them and their enemy until the initial push was stopped.  Once they were able to withstand the initial assault and stop the push the soldiers would push back against their charging enemy with their shields creating a small little space between them and their enemy. They then would take their swords or spears and stab and kill the enemy that was right in front of them and then go back and form their wall of protection.  Over and over again they would do this until the charging army suffered such losses that they would retreat like a dogs with their tails between their legs. 

This is what is meant when the Bible tells us to STAND and RESIST!  We stand with our shield of faith in the Lord Jesus protecting us when we see our enemy, Satan, charging with an attack.  Once we have buffeted Satan's initial charge with our shield  and stopped him in his tracks, we take our weapon, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of Truth and we stab him with it.  Our faith in Jesus stops Satan but it is our use of the Bible and scripture that allows us to fight back.  That's exactly what Jesus did when he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness after fasting for 40 days.  He used the Word of God as a weapon to fight off Satan's attack against him.  

Now here's a wonderful promise that the Bible gives us!  It says that if we resist the devil he will flee from us.  That's right, you stand with your faith in Christ and you resist him by fighting back with the Word of God Satan will run away.  Once he figures out that there is no way to crack your defense and fight off your attack on him he will run off but only for a while.   Isn't that what he did with Job! After Job successfully fought off the first attack Satan asked permission a second time to have a whack at him. 

Now please understand that the Bible says that if we resist Satan he will flee from us.   BUT IT DOESN'T SAY TO RESIST TEMPTATION!  Those are two totally different things. The Bible tells us that when it comes to temptation we are to flee and run from it.  The best way to overcome temptation is to get away from it and put your focus on something totally different and wholesome.

SO HERE IS THE FINAL THOUGHT I WANT TO LEAVE WITH YOU.  THE MISSIONAL LIFE IS NOT A PICNIC OR PARTY IT'S A BATTLE, WITH A REAL ENEMY, THAT REQUIRES US TO BE PREPARED TO ENGAGE HIM WHEN HE ATTACKS.  

How well do you prepare yourself each day for battle?  

• Are you making sure you are putting on the full armor of God?

• Are you watching and praying? Are you ready to stand and resist?  

The promise of victory is ours for the battle always belongs to the Lord.  

WHY IS THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SO DIM IN NORTH AMERICA?

As part of the Sermon On The Mount Jesus shared these words that give us an important insight into pursuing the mission Christ has given us. He said,

"You are the light of world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

It's not hard to understand the point that Jesus is making from this imagery. The primary purpose of light is to illuminate an area and thereby dispel the darkness so that people are able to clearly see. At the very heart of our mission is for us to be those luminaries by which people can see clearly. Our lives are to be such a powerful force of light that people are able to clearly see Jesus and understand the gospel of Christ. It is God's responsibility, through the Holy Spirit, to convict people of their sin and draw people to Christ but it is the job of Christ's followers to the light that illuminates in the spiritual darkness.

But if the pollsters are correct the Christian luminaries of North America are doing a pretty horrible job. All reports indicate that the Christian faith is in decline and that the fastest growing religious group is those people who claim "NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION" at all. That group has more than doubled between surveys and is the third largest group overall. If present trends continue this group could easily become the largest Religious Identification Group of all throughout North America. Why? What has happened to the North American Church that has caused its light to not shine as brightly as it once did? These are the questions that haunt my mind and soul and for which I deliberately seek the scripture for answers.

I think the Apostle Peter might have an answer for us to this question. As I was reading 1 Peter 2:11,12 it became obviously clear to me that he was thinking of Jesus' words during the Sermon on the Mount about us being the light of the world. At one point Peter almost quotes Jesus. Read what it says,

"Dear Friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

There it is, "see our good deeds and glorify God..." That's almost exactly what Jesus said about being the light of the world! Our desire and ambition should be to live good lives and perform good deeds so that we bring honor and glory to God. But it's the first part of the verse that I feel is the key to making sure our light doesn't dim or flicker out! Peter pleads with and urges Christ's followers to abstain from the sinful desires of the world. Peter is warning Christians that failure to stay pure and live holy lives will result in lost people not seeing our good deeds (our light) and,thereby, not be able to glorify God. I truly believe that there is a direct correlation between Christians not living holy lives and lost people not seeing the light that can lead them to Jesus. Therefore, it doesn't surprise me when I hear that studies reveal that the morality of Christian's of North America is statistically no different from those in North America who don't claim to be Christians. We have done exactly what Peter begs Christians not to do. As followers of Christ we have failed to abstain and in some cases wholeheartedly embraced the sinful desires of the world.

If we are going to be serious about pursuing the mission that Christ has called us to, we have to be serious about living holy lives. While we are actively pursuing lost people, while we are hanging out with them, while we are going where they are, we must always remain pure and holy. Otherwise all will be for naught. What do we need to do in order to become effective and obedient in pursuing Christ's mission? We need to start with REPENTANCE! Listen to the words of God to his people:

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek after my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14

DON'T GET TIRED IN DOING GOOD! YOU WILL REAP A HARVEST, IF YOU DON'T GROW TIRED AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE UP. LET'S BE FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. LET'S LIVE THE HOLY LIFE WE WERE

As part of the Sermon On The Mount Jesus shared these words that give us an important insight into pursuing the mission Christ has given us. He said,

"You are the light of world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

It's not hard to understand the point that Jesus is making from this imagery. The primary purpose of light is to illuminate an area and thereby dispel the darkness so that people are able to clearly see. At the very heart of our mission is for us to be those luminaries by which people can see clearly. Our lives are to be such a powerful force of light that people are able to clearly see Jesus and understand the gospel of Christ. It is God's responsibility, through the Holy Spirit, to convict people of their sin and draw people to Christ but it is the job of Christ's followers to the light that illuminates in the spiritual darkness.

But if the pollsters are correct the Christian luminaries of North America are doing a pretty horrible job. All reports indicate that the Christian faith is in decline and that the fastest growing religious group is those people who claim "NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION" at all. That group has more than doubled between surveys and is the third largest group overall. If present trends continue this group could easily become the largest Religious Identification Group of all throughout North America. Why? What has happened to the North American Church that has caused its light to not shine as brightly as it once did? These are the questions that haunt my mind and soul and for which I deliberately seek the scripture for answers.

I think the Apostle Peter might have an answer for us to this question. As I was reading 1 Peter 2:11,12 it became obviously clear to me that he was thinking of Jesus' words during the Sermon on the Mount about us being the light of the world. At one point Peter almost quotes Jesus. Read what it says,

"Dear Friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

There it is, "see our good deeds and glorify God..." That's almost exactly what Jesus said about being the light of the world! Our desire and ambition should be to live good lives and perform good deeds so that we bring honor and glory to God. But it's the first part of the verse that I feel is the key to making sure our light doesn't dim or flicker out! Peter pleads with and urges Christ's followers to abstain from the sinful desires of the world. Peter is warning Christians that failure to stay pure and live holy lives will result in lost people not seeing our good deeds (our light) and,thereby, not be able to glorify God. I truly believe that there is a direct correlation between Christians not living holy lives and lost people not seeing the light that can lead them to Jesus. Therefore, it doesn't surprise me when I hear that studies reveal that the morality of Christian's of North America is statistically no different from those in North America who don't claim to be Christians. We have done exactly what Peter begs Christians not to do. As followers of Christ we have failed to abstain and in some cases wholeheartedly embraced the sinful desires of the world.

If we are going to be serious about pursuing the mission that Christ has called us to, we have to be serious about living holy lives. While we are actively pursuing lost people, while we are hanging out with them, while we are going where they are, we must always remain pure and holy. Otherwise all will be for naught. What do we need to do in order to become effective and obedient in pursuing Christ's mission? We need to start with REPENTANCE! Listen to the words of God to his people:

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek after my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14

DON'T GET TIRED IN DOING GOOD! YOU WILL REAP A HARVEST, IF YOU DON'T GROW TIRED AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE UP. LET'S BE FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. LET'S LIVE THE HOLY LIFE WE WERE CALLED TO!

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO FORGIVE SO OTHERS CAN SEE JESUS?

Today in our Missional Living Devotional I want to share with you a Missional Living Principle that is powerful and will enable you to shine the Light of Christ in the lives of people more brightly than you ever have been able to do before.  However, while this is an easy principle to understand - it's not an easy one to put into practice.  So, what is that principle? 

FORGIVENESS!

In order to shine the Light of Christ the brightest we must be willing to forgive those who have wronged us!  By doing this we are looking past their faults to see their need for Christ!  

To help you see how this principle at work in real life I am going to share with you a true about a friend of mine, Teresa Baldwin and her family and how her willingness to forgive someone who injured her, her son-in-law, her daughter and the her whole family afforded her the opportunity to shine Christ into the lives of people that never would have been available to her if she hadn't!  You watch the video and watch me tell the story or you can read for yourself at the end of the blog. 

A TRUE STORY OF FORGIVENESS, HEALING & SHINING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT DON’T DESERVE IT!

 Written by: Teresa Baldwin

 On June 24, 2011 at 5:30am my daughter's life would be forever changed, as well as the rest of our family. 

 On his way to work, my son-in-law, Jason, was hit by a drunk driver and killed instantly.  Jason and Heather (my daughter) had been married for only 9 months when his life was taken from him. 

 I will never forget receiving the phone call.  Shock and unbelief were my first response.  You are just never prepared for this kind of news.  I just hurt so bad for my daughter!

 My daughter, who swore she would never get married, had found a good man who loved God and family and now he was gone.  I remember driving down south with Jordan, (a young man who is like our son), the 9 hours to get to my daughter and crying the whole way down. 

But from the beginning my husband and I both said we would not hate this young man who took our son-in-law's life.  We would choose to forgive.  We had taught our kids at a young age that because Christ died while we were still in our sin we needed to willing to forgive others.  Not that we excuse what they do.  But we should be willing to forgive and let go of the anger.  Forgiveness - it’s a choice. 

 My kids saw firsthand while growing up what happens when a person doesn’t forgive, through their papa, who lost his first born son at the age of three through a tonsillectomy that went wrong and he remained bitter throughout the rest of his life.  One of the first things my daughter said to me was,

 "Mom I don't want to be angry or bitter"

It’s been two years since the accident.  In that time, we have been able to share with many people that it was only with God that we could get through this.  We were also able to share with Jason's parents that because of his decision to receive Christ into his life that we would see him again one day.  

My twin sister and I went to the courthouse back in September for the sentencing of the young man (Joseph) who took Jason's life.  Again, I could have chosen to be angry, bitter and hateful toward him as I spoke at the courthouse.  But I didn't.  Instead, I chose to tell him we forgive him, that my daughter forgives him and that we did not think he was a bad man just what he had done was bad and that he needed to get help for his drinking.  I shared that I believed that he could not do it alone but that he needed God's help. 

Joseph was not sentenced that day due to his brother being murdered just 3 days prior to the sentencing.  There are allegations that the murder was connected to Joseph's time in jail.  I don't know that I can share more at this time but I can tell you this: my heart just ached not only for him but for his mother also and the rest of his family. 

After we left the courtroom my sister and I went to Joseph's mother and aunt. We hugged them and told them how very sorry we were for their loss.  At one point the aunt said to me,

 "I wish I knew what your daughter looked like." 

I told her I had brought with me a  wedding picture of Jason and Heather and asked her if she would she like to see it.  She said "yes".  After showing it to her I then asked her if she would like to keep it, again she said "yes".  The aunt then gave me her card if I wanted to stay in contact with her. 

A month had gone by and one day I thought I really needed to write to Joseph in jail but I didn't have his address. As I went to email his aunt to get his address I realized I didn't have her email address but just a phone number. So, I called her.  She told me she was having such a bad day and that there were several things going on.  I had sensed something right away and asked her if I could pray with her.  She said, “Yes, please do.” And then after the prayer she indicated that was exactly what she needed that day. 

 Now, as I share all of these things I want you to understand I truly believe it was the Holy Spirit working in me to talk to this family, to hug them and to pray with them.  When you have the Holy Spirit working in your life and you let him guide you and lead you, its wonderful.  I can't tell you the love and the peace I have had in my heart for this family and I know it’s because of Jesus. 

 The same day I spoke to the aunt I later received a text from Joseph's mother saying she had heard that I had called and that she believed it was confirmation from God.  She shared that she had our family and Jason's family on her mind.  She also told me that her sister had given her the picture of my beautiful daughter and Jason and that she looks at my daughter every morning and prays for her. 

You know when this first happened we heard all kinds of stories about Joseph and his family but I just discovered they weren’t true.  Joseph is a human being and he made a bad choice and because of that bad choice another human being is gone. He has shared how sorry he is and I hear that he is trying to make a difference while in jail by holding bible studies and by speaking to the young men inside the cell.  My prayer is that he continues to see his need for God.  That he does make a change and that he does get a second chance. 

Above all else I pray that God is glorified through all this, that people will learn the importance of forgiveness and that they come to know that Jesus is the only one who can save us. 

There is a song that came out right after the accident that killed my son-in-law called "Forgiveness" by Matthew West.  It’s a beautiful reminder of what Christ has called us to do.  This life is temporary.  But for those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus we will live forever with Him one day.  And I do believe that day is soon!

As I finish this Missional Living Devotional I realize that there are many who have been seriously hurt and the thought of forgiving your assailant is the farthest thing from you mind. I know you don't "FEEL LIKE" forgiving them!  I know they don't "DESERVE" it! And that's exactly why it is such a powerful principle for living a missional life! That's why the Light of Christ shines brightly when we are willing to do it!  It leaves the recipient wondering, 

"HOW IN THE WORLD CAN ANYOE DO THAT AFTER WHAT I HAVE DONE TO THEM?"

And of course the answer is: Because of Christ in me the Hope of Glory.  

And after all, isn't that what God did for us? After we assaulted him through our life of sin God not only forgave us but he also took the punishment for our sin upon himself through Christ's death and burial.

GOD DID NOT GIVE US WHAT WE DESERVED: CONDEMNATION/HELL

INSTEAD HE GAVE US WHAT WE DIDN'T DESERVED: FORGIVENESS/HEAVEN

 So, I say, "Let's go and do likewise! Let's prove that we truly are sons and daughters of the one, true, living breathing God by following His example.

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Missional Living Idea's For Thanksgiving

Here are two ideas for you to live a missional life and shine the Light of Christ in your part of this dark world during Thanksgiving!  Use this holiday to brightly shine for Jesus!

Ordinary Christians - God's Primary Choice

"Just because I'm ordinary doesn't mean I'm secondary ordinary Christians are God's primary choice for doing His extraordinary work" Jay Moore

This is a little saying that I like to use!  However, I have found that it gets a lot of mixed reviews! 

Some people reaction when they hear that slogan feel that I am bashing Christians by calling them ordinary.  They say things like, "Now that we're Follower of Christ and the Holy Spirit lives in us we are no longer ordinary."  And I wholeheartedly agree with them that our new life in Christ does make us extraordinary.  But with that said I must remind all of us that intrinsically, in and of ourselves, there is nothing good about us!  Our only goodness comes from Christ in us.  

A second reaction I get from people comes from what I like to call the professional minister.  This is the guy who has gone through Bible college and seminary; they have gone through an ordination process; and now make there living from doing the ministry.  This group of people also feel insulted but for a different reason.  When they hear that statement they get the idea that I am trying to down play their importance and strip them from some place of honor they feel they should have.  I feel this attitude interesting since I also have a Christian college education majoring in religion and a seminary theological education with a master's degree.  

But then there is a third group of people who are actually energized by this little quote!  These are the people who have never been empowered, encouraged or even equipped to live a significant life on mission with Christ.  These are the people who have felt there only role in church was to come and attend.  These are some of God's children who've wished they could be involved in some project that would have an eternal impact but have never felt it would happen because, after all, they're just ordinary and why would God want to use them when He could use someone else more talented or educated.

But I'm here to tell you God not only loves to use Ordinary Christians but that Ordinary Christians is God's primary choice for doing His extraordinary work.  The Biblical record is filled with such examples.  All of the apostles were ordinary men, King David was the youngest of his family and Gideon was a fearful coward.  Over and over again we see God choosing that which the world would have never considered to do His amazing work.  We discover God using ordinary people is not the exception but the rule as we study the Bible.

So why?  Why would God choose ordinary people as His primary choice for doing His work?  The answer is simple!  God chooses men and women like us, ordinary people, because he wants to confound the wise of this world!  When people look and see what God is able to do through ordinary people the explanation for its success has to be GOD WAS THE ONE WHO DID IT!  That's right, God loves to use the ordinary of this world so that He will get the credit for what was done!

The truth is that God is always the one who accomplishes His work but He just chooses to do it through people.  If God always used extraordinary men to do his work the world would try to explain away the results saying that it only happened because highly talented people were in charge of it.  But when some ordinary person does something that turns out great the only explanation will be GOD!

So are you an Ordinary Christian?  Do you feel like there are others more talented and more gifted than you?  Do you down deep inside long for  God to use you to accomplish something amazing?

THEN I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS FOR YOU!

You are exactly the kind of person that God loves to use to accomplish His extraordinary work and the only requirement is that you must be a person of:

FAITH!

Do you believe that God can do anything?  Do you believe that God can do anything through anybody?  Do you believe that God can do anything, through anybody, including YOU!  Now that's what I call faith!

Could Your Good Intentions Become A Stumbling Block For Fulfilling Christ's Mission?

During one of my house church meeting we were reading the story of Jesus when he was telling his disciples plainly that he would be arrested, beaten, killed but on the third day would rise from the dead.  We had an interesting discussion about how Jesus' disciples responded to this very clear and frank revelation that Jesus was making about what was to happen to him.  Here's what the verse says,

"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to you!'  Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  Matthew 16:16-23 (NIV)

It is quite obvious from the passage that Peter wasn't happy with what Jesus was saying.  I mean Jesus wasn't trying to be obscure about the meaning of what he was talking about.  He wasn't sharing this spiritual truth in some parable that required you to sit down and contemplate the deeper meaning behind it. No, Jesus was talking quite plainly and sharing with his disciple exactly what was going to happen him and Peter made it very clear he didn't like it at all.  

Picture the scene.  Jesus has just finished sharing about his death, burial and resurrection and Peter doesn't like what he heard, so he asks Jesus to speak with him off to the side and, according to the Bible, begins to REBUKE Jesus.  REALLY?  What audacity for Peter to think that he could pull aside and rebuke the Son of the Living God!  Is he for real?  Who does Peter think he is?  

Now I know some of you are wanting to come to Peter's defense by thinking that maybe he really didn't know exactly that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God!  I mean if Peter didn't understand Jesus' true identity that would be a reasonable excuse for his disrespectful behavior, right?  But wait a moment!  Is that accurate?  Did Peter not know who Jesus was and that he was the Son of Living God ?  The truth is that Peter did know exactly who he was talking to and what Jesus' true identity was!  Let's take a look at the verse right before the ones we just read:

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'  They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'   'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'   Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'  Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah." Matthew 16:13-20 (NIV).

There it is right there in front of our faces!  After Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" It was Peter who said, "Your are the Messiah (Christ) the Son of the living God."  It hadn't been more than ten minutes between Peter great confession and Peter's great stupidity.  Peter knew exactly who Jesus was.  It was God the Father, himself, who had revealed that spiritual truth to him.  Now, we see Peter feeling as though has the right to pull Jesus, the Son of the living God, aside and REBUKE him and all because he didn't  like what he's hearing!

Now I don't think that Peter's intentions were bad!  I think that Peter loved Jesus with all his heart, mind, soul and strength.  I think Peter was only looking out for Jesus' best interests and actually thought he was doing the right thing!  But with all of Peter's  best intentions, Peter was still being a stumbling block to Jesus because what he wanted wasn't in line with God's will!

PETER'S BEST INTENTIONS BECAME A STUMBLING BLOCK TO JESUS!

"What?" You might be asking, "Peter became a stumbling block to Jesus?"  Please understand those aren't my words, that's what Jesus said.  Jesus said that Peter's best intentions was used to be a stumbling block to him.  Jesus actually called Peter Satan.  "Get behind me Satan."  Right there at that particular moment Peter, who loved Jesus, was being an instrument that Satan was using to try and tempt Jesus not to go to the cross. Even though Peter had the best intentions he was not only a stumbling block to Jesus he was also being the instrument of Satan!

NOT ONLY WAS PETER A STUMBLING BLOCK TO JESUS BUT HIS BEST INTENTIONS WERE USED AS AN INSTRUMENT OF SATAN!

Why?  

Why was Peter a stumbling block and why was he able to be used by Satan?  Because even though Peter's intentions were meant to be good they were based from man's concerns and not God's concerns.  

• Peter's concern were to protect and keep Jesus safe
  
• God's concern was the salvation of the world through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.
  
• Jesus was not sent to be protected, he doesn't need human protection,
  
• He was sent to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world.  

In order for God to actualize his concern and save the world, Jesus had to die and Peter actions based from his concern became a stumbling block.  The lesson that Peter was learning was that it's not about his will being done but all about God's will being done!

IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR WILL BEING DONE BUT ALL ABOUT GOD'S WILL BEING DONE!

How many times have we been Peter?  

• How many times have we tried to rebuke God for what he was doing?  
• How many times have we had all the best intentions to do the right thing but lacked the spiritual understanding and faith to accept God's will?  
• How many times have our actions became a stumbling block to Christ's mission being accomplished?  

For me the number is to hight to count.  As I look back over my life and ministry I realized that so much of what I tried to do was based from my own concerns and interests and not God's at all.  It's strange to think about but how many times have I prayed for God to do something because that's what I really wanted to happen but never took into account what God was trying to do?  It has been a humbling lesson to learn that even my  prayers can become a stumbling block for Christ's mission to move forward!

So, what do we need to do? I believe it all starts with two things:  Faith and Revelation.  

First, we need to make sure we have the faith to surrender our will over to Gods will.  

We need to get to a place in our spiritual walk where we have no will of our own except to do the will of God.  Faith is the emptying of ourselves from our own personal desires so that we can wholeheartedly believe and accept God's desires.  

Second, we need God to reveal to us His will to us!  

God's will is never discovered as though it is some hidden treasure.  No, God's will is always revealed by God to us his people.  We need pray that God will give us eyes to see and ears to hear when God is telling us what he's about to do.  This is where Peter failed.  Peter was receiving a clear revelation of what was to happen to Jesus through his death on the cross and resurrection but Peter didn't have the faith to surrender his personal desires over to God and die to them so that He would be able to accept what God's will really was.  

Let us all begin to pray that we don't act upon our BEST INTENTIONS but that we always have the FAITH that we need to act upon GOD'S INTENTIONS as he reveals them to us.

Do Your Fingers Stink For Jesus?

Many years ago I was attending a church growth conference and listening to one of the speakers talk about evangelism and the need for pastors to lead their churches to reach the unchurched of their communities.  During his session he made a statement that really caught my attention!  Actually he used two metaphors in one sentence that totally grabbed my imagination and intrigued me.  He said,

"God has not called us to be KEEPERS OF AN AQUARIUM but to be FISHERS OF MEN!"

The Bible verse that inspired this saying was taken from Matthew 4:18-21 where Jesus was calling Peter, Andrew, James and John to be his disciples.  Read what the Bible says:

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him.  Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him." (NIV)

Like I said, the statement from that speaker really caught my attention and I couldn't stop thinking about it.    Truthfully I can't remember anything else he said that night but I really didn't need to because through that one statement God taught me three important principles and more about what it means to live a missional life.   When I compared those two metaphors a stark contrast began to form creating a North Star that would guide me and help keep me on track as I intentionally pursued living a missional lifestyle.  

Here are some of the contrasts between those two metaphors:

#1: Keepers Of Aquariums Like To Display Fish But Fishermen Love To Catch Fish: 

The purpose and goal in having an aquarium is to create a beautiful underwater exhibit that can be enjoyed and shown to family and friends.  People who have aquariums go to great pains and expense to get just the right color of rocks, landscape, decorations and fish to create this underwater world.  They have to pump in air, provide and feed the fish daily and make sure the algae is cleaned off.  

But it's not a natural environment for the fish!  Those fish were not originally created to live in an aquarium isolated from the natural design of God.  It is for our own pleasure and purpose that we create this alternative world and then place the fish in it to live.

Fishermen on the other hand don't care about making things look pretty or showing off pretty little fish.  The only goal of a fisherman is to catch fish!  I have seen guys out fishing who catch fish after fish and then just throw them right back in the water.  I asked a man once why he did that and he said, "I just like to catch them."  It's the thrill of the hunt and the joy that comes from being able to outwit another animal.

The Missional Living Principle:  

The call to follow Jesus is not a call to create a religious bubble to isolate Christians away from the world but instead to enter into the world of those who are still lost in sin in this spiritually dark world.

For too long now the church in North America has created a church life that more resembles an aquarium where we've built beautiful buildings, with stained glass windows, cushioned seats, with fancy lighting and sound equipment.  These building are filled with members who appear to have their lives all together with their picture-perfect families and their successful jobs.

The church of North America has created a Christian alternative to just about everything that society has to offer.  From music festivals, dating services, radio programs; TV programs, schools.  Just about anything you can think of we have a Christian alternative.  It's almost as if we are intentionally trying to keep Christians away from those who are lost in the world.

But that's not what we are called to do!  Christ never commanded us to create an alternative Christian culture that appears perfect and uninfected by the world!  No!  His command and call to Peter and the other three were to come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.  Our call is to reach people for Jesus! Period!  I don't care what you're doing, whether it be singing in the choir, politically protesting for some Christian agenda, or serving on the building and grounds committee of your church, IF YOU'RE NOT REACHING PEOPLE FOR JESUS YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR JOB! PERIOD!

#2: Keepers Of Aquariums Don't Get Into The Aquarium Where The Fish Are But Fishermen Love To Get Into The Water With The Fish Live:  

When it comes to the home variety of aquariums the most that any person will get into the aquarium is the putting of their hands into it and that's just for the purpose of cleaning the aquarium, readjusting the decorations or to catch one of the fish.   For the most part the only interaction with the fish is the admiration of how pretty they are.

Fishermen on the other hand will do whatever it takes to catch the fish which includes getting into the water where the fish are.  Once while I was in Texas I met a guy who loved going fishing for catfish.  However, his particular method was completely different from anything that I had ever heard of before.  This guy would actually squat down into the water and then reach his hands down deep into the mud where the catfish had burrowed themselves, grab them by the gills and pull them out.  He said there were times when the fish fought so hard that he would fall down into the water face first.  Now I've heard of guys who really get into fishing but this guy took it to a whole new level and literally got all of himself into the act of fishing.  NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A FISHERMEN!

The Missional Living Principle:  

In order to be an effective Fisher of Men you have to be willing to go where the lost people are and hang out with them.  You can't isolate yourself from them and expect to reach them for Jesus.  Some of the people that Christ is calling us to reach are not swimming near the shore where you can reach them with a rod and reel.  If we are to effectively reach many of these people we will have to get into their world, go where they hangout, and show them unconditional love and acceptance.

Isn't that what Jesus did for us?  Didn't he leave his home in Glory, humble himself taking on the form of a man, born to poor parents and live among us as one of us but yet without sin or condemnation to those who were in sin?  When Jesus called Matthew to follow him what did Matthew immediately do?  He left his job and followed Jesus.  The next thing he did was to throw a party for all of his friends to come over and meet Jesus. And guess what?  Jesus attended the party and everyone at the party, except the religious hypocrites, had a great time.  Jesus loved hanging out with sinners!  Why? Because that's why he came!  Jesus own words to Zacchaeus, another tax collecting sinner, verifies it.  Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost".  Why did Jesus come?  To seek and to save!  Jesus also said to his disciples at a different time, "As the Father has sent me so send I you."  It can't be any plainer than that! We have been sent to carry on the same mission that Jesus began of seeking and saving those are lost.  But in order to do that we have to be willing to get into the world where sinners live and not pass judgment on others who do.

#3: Keepers Of Aquariums Like To Keep Things Nice And Clean But Fishermen Love To Get Dirty And Smelly: 

 People who own aquariums want to keep things looking nice and neat.  They don't want the algae to grow and overtake the aquarium, they don't want their decorations to be uprooted and they surely don't want dead fish floating around.  The goal of an aquarium is to create a perfect underwater world that everyone can marvel at.

Fishermen on the other hand could care less if everything was nice and clean.  As a matter of fact they would prefer it not to be that way.  They know that where fish live it is neither nice nor clean and that's the reason why fishermen like it.  Fishermen love to get dirty and smelly.  They know that if they are going to go where the fish live and catch them they will stink of fish.  They know that if they come home and don't stink of fish they haven't done their job.  The two go hand in hand.  If you are going to go catch fish you're going to get dirty and you're going to stink of fish.  You can't help it. It's part of fishing.

The Missional Living Principle:  

If you're going to get into the water where fish live you are going to get a little smelly.  That doesn't mean you are backsliding or becoming worldly.  What it means is that your outlook and perspective of what it means to live as a Christian changes. You understand the need to be in the real world and not in an artificial environment. It means that your speech and vocabulary, though not cursing, sound more like the world than it does in the religious bubble we've created.  It means that the style of dress you have will  look more like those who live in the real world.

Personally I love it when unchurched people who meet me for the first time are completely surprised to find out that I am a Baptist preacher.  The looks on their faces are priceless.  Many of them say they would never have thought that they would be talking to a preacher like he was just an ordinary guy.  I also enjoy meeting Christians for the first time who hold to a certain stereotype of how Christians should dress or talk.  I often encounter confused looks and many times judgmental attitudes.

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore made a movie together a few years back called "50 FIRST DATES". It was a movie about a girl who had been in an accident where she suffered a brain injury and no longer had short-term memory, as a matter of fact every morning she woke up she forgot everything that happened the day before.  As a result everyday Sandler's character would have to get the girl to fall in love with him again.  

In one particular scene where the boy was trying to once again get the girl to fall in love with him she said that his hands smelled like fish. He quickly began to apologize and said that his job required him to handle fish.  The girl told him not to apologize because she liked the smell because it reminded her of her father who was a fishermen and that the fish smell always brought back fond memories.  At that point she grabbed his hands and brought them close to her nose and starting smelling.  

I think Jesus is like that!  I think Jesus loves the smell of his disciple's hands that stink of the sinners whom they have rescued and caught for him!

Jesus loves the smell of his disciple's hands that stink of the sinners whom they have rescued and caught for him. 

So, let me ask you:

• How stinky are your fingers?  
• When was the last time you actually got into the world to seek and lead others to salvation in Christ?  
• Do you thing the church should be a place to show off pretty little christians who live in a prefabricated spiritual bubble away from the rest of the world?

DON'T FORGET JESUS SAID THAT AS HE WAS SENT INTO THE WORLD BY THE FATHER AND NOW HE SENDS US ALSO INTO THE WORLD!  

So I Say, 

"Let's Get Our Hands Stinky For Jesus!"

What Does Bungee Jumping And Missional Living Have In Common?

Taking That Big Leap!

In this weeks Missional Living Devotional we are going to learn some principles for missional living from the comparison of bungee jumping and a life on mission with Christ.  Watch it and be encourage and empowered to go shine the Light of Christ brightly in your part of this dark world. 

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Lessons On Christ's Mission

In the Gospel of John 20:21-22 we read,

"Then Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

This is really an amazing thing. Here we see the entire God-Head: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all completely involved in this Divine Mission:

• It is God the Father who is the originator of this mission. It is a mission that flows from the very heart of God. It is not some human idea or concept but one that came from God himself from the very foundations of the earth.
• But then we also see Jesus, the Son of God, as the implementor of this mission. The Father entrusted this mission into no other hands but that of his own Son. He did not entrust it to angels or anyone else but he gave it to the only perfectly qualified to get it started in the right direction. He gives it to none other than His very own Son. For there was a part that Jesus needed to play in the fulfillment of the mission that no one else could do. He alone could become the perfect sacrifice, the redemption, that buys back the souls of those whom God loves from the chains of sin. He was to offer up his own life and shed his own blood so that atonement for sin could be made and the perfect law of God would be satisfied. Jesus began the movement. He gathered a few disciples taught them what they needed to know and exemplified how this mission was to be carried out.
• And then we see the Holy Spirit being imparted. Without the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the ordinary christian this mission would be an impossible task to fulfill but in Acts chapter one starting with verse four we read,

"And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which,' He said,'you have heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now ... But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

It is through the working of the Holy Spirit that the power that is needed to fulfill the mission is provided. Yes, the entire Godhead had a vested interest in the success and completion of this mission.

As amazing as it is to see the entire Godhead at play in this mission it is also equally humbling to think that God has allowed us, those of us who are his followers, to also play a vital role in this mission. Jesus said,

"As the Father has sent me, so send I you." 

That's what Jesus said. Jesus received his instruction for carrying out his part of the mission straight from the Father but now he hands the fulfillment of this mission off to us who are his disciples.

He gives this mission to ordinary christians.  He didn't have to do that! He didn't have to make us part of this redemption story but He did. It was from his good pleasure and for his glory that he has done so. As Ordinary Christians the fulfillment of this mission should be our purpose, focus and priority in life! Our only reason for existence in this life is to see this mission fulfilled.

If we live for money, for personal success, for fame or for any other reason we have missed our reason and purpose for living. The only reason why God has left us here on earth after our salvation is for us to carry out this mission for His praise and His glory. All the rest of life should be viewed through this lens. It should color all the rest of our activities in life. It should not be one of the things that we do in life but everything we do in life, in some way, should help us fulfill this God given mission and that we bring praise and glory to God our Father and our Lord Jesus through accomplishing of it.

What will you do? What will be your mission in life? Are you ready as an ordinary christian to surrender your dreams, priorities and and vision to that of God and to his mission that He has already given us?

As you begin to live a missional life that brings glory to God I would like to encourage you.  I invite you to join my mailing list and allow me to send you weekly encouragement through the MISSIONAL LIVING DEVOTIONAL that I email out.  As a member of the this list I also send you information about other FREE trainings that made available and about other resources you can get.  All this is to help you better fulfill the mission that Jesus himself has commissioned us to perform.  Your can sign up now by CLICKING HERE AT: MISSIONAL LIVNG DEVOTIONAL. 

TAKE CARE AND REMEMBER TO GO SHINE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST!

4 WAYS THAT GOD USES TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!

Being able to recognize when God is trying to get your attention is absolutely essential for living a powerful missional life. It was Philip who recognized when God was trying to get his attention to send him out to a desert road to share the Gospel with an Ethiopian and  it was the Apostle Paul, in a dream, who recognized God getting his attention and then went to share the Gospel to the people in Macedonia. The Bible is replete with examples of God's people being sensitive to His call and responding.

How can you live a powerful missional life if you are unable to recognize when God is trying to get your attention? You won't! It is impossible! Living a missional life and sensing God's direction go hand in hand!

The following a just 5 ways that God uses to grab your attention but there are others as well.  The point to remember is for you to be "LOOKING" and "LISTENING" for God's call and direction!

4 Ways That God Get's Our Attention

I.  Through A Restless Spirit

"That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to to assassinate King Xerxes."  Esther 6:1-2

Through this story we learn how God sometimes will create in a person a restlessness that may not allow them to sleep. In this case it was with King Xerxes. God was going to save the life of Mordecai from a plot to kill him and he did so by not allowing the King to sleep, so that he would ask have the chronicles of his kingdom to be read to him.  

I am sure the king felt that having these boring records read would help him fall asleep.  However, God had other plans for it was in these records that the king learned about how Mordecai was responsible for saving his own life but had never been rewarded for it. As a result the king blessed Mordecai and had his life spared.

How often have you had restless nights?

• Could it be that God is trying to get your attention?
• Could it be that God is trying to say something to you?
• Could it be that there is a work that God is wanting you to do and trying to tell you what it is?

II.  Through Other People

In 2 Samuel chapter 12 God sent the prophet Nathan to King David to confront him on his sin of adultery and murder.

We all know the story of King David and Bathsheba! How he lusted after her, a married woman, slept with her while her husband was off fighting at war and how she became pregnant with his baby.

We all know of how King David tried to cover the whole thing up and eventually had Bathsheba's husband killed.  We all know how David felt he had completely covered up his sins and thought he was off the hook.

But God had a prophet by the name of Nathan that he sent to King David to tell him of his sin. Nathan uses a story of an injustice and asks the king what should be done with the one who committed the injustice. King David rightly ruled. Then Nathan the prophet revealed,

"Your Are That Man!"

How many times have we sinned, covered them up and felt we have gotten away with it? How many times have we lied, cheated and stolen in order to cover up our sins?  

No matter how many people we can fool - no on can fool God! None of us can lie to God? God knows all and sees all!  And God has people He uses to reveal our sins to us when we try to cover them up and forget about them.

God doesn't want you to hide your sins but to confess them and repent from them.  God wants to forgive us from our sin - not to ignore it as if it never happened. By God's nature he must deal with sin and punish it! God will not turn a bind eye to sin.

Many times God will use people to come to us for the purpose of revealing our sins and to remind us that God hasn't been fooled and that we need to deal with our sins in a Godly manner.  

Just as King David responded in an appropriate manner when the Prophet Nathan revealed his sin - we too must respond with the same kind of broken and contrite heart and ask for God's forgiveness.

III.  Through His Blessings

" ... do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" Romans 2:4

Have you ever thought that maybe the reason why God is blessing you, being kind to you, been tolerant and patient of you with your sins is because He is trying to get your attention to repent?

You should because that is exactly what God is saying to us here in Romans.  Through His blessings God is trying to tell you that he loves you, care for you and is willing to forgive you! He is trying to let you know that it is not His desire to punish you but to forgive you! 

But too often we confuse God's blessings as a sign that He is indifferent to our sinful ways! God is not indifferent to sin - He is going to punish sin and all sinners! Instead, of assessing God's blessings as approval of your sinful life you should consider yourself fortunate. Use His blessings as an alarm that is going off reminding you it's time to get up and turn from your wicked ways!

IV.  Through Unanswered Prayers

Reasons Why Some Prayers Are Not Answered

• We Pray With The Wrong Motives:  James 4:3
• We've Been Disobedient: 1 John 3:21,22
• Our Prayers Are Not According To God's Will: 1 John 5:14
• We've Been Insensitive To Our Marriage Partner: 1 Peter 3:7
• So We Can Understand God's Nature Better: 2 Cor. 12:7

Could it be that when God doesn't answer our prayers He is trying to get our attention that our motives are wrong for asking such things; that He is trying to tell us that we've been disobedient to Him; that He is wanting us to know that what we seek is not according to His will; that we've been insensitive to our wives or maybe God is trying to reveal a part of His nature to us; to understand that His grace is sufficient. 

Many times unanswered prayers are simply His way of trying to get our attention.

Remember to live powerful missional lives you must be attentive to the times when God is trying to get your attention. Don't ignore it - respond to it. Like Samuel who was told by Eli when sense God trying to get your attention respond with, "Here I am Lord! Your servant listens!"

HOW TO RECOGNIZE IF YOU'RE BEING A TOOL OF SATAN!

They last thing that any ordinary christian who wants to live a powerful missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ in their part of this dark world is to find out that they have allowed themselves to be used as a tool by Satan.  Missional Living means we want to be a tool of Christ that brings the Good News to the world.  In this post we are going to look at some indicators that Jesus gave His disciples to help them know what to look out for and not become a too of Satan.  Read and be on the look out!

The most difficult people that Jesus had to deal with during His ministry here on earth was the Jewish religious group known as the Pharisees.  He actually referred to them as one of the biggest tools of Satan for leading people astray from God.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are."  Matthew 23:15 (NIV)

In the beginning of this chapter Jesus warns the crowd and His disciples to not follow the example of the Pharisees. Why? Because to follow their example would make them become the tools that Satan uses to lead people to hell.  So, in this post we are going to talk about 4 specific indicators that will help you to recognize if you are becoming a tool of the devil.

Take a few moments and read Matthew 23:1-7

You Are Becoming A Tool Of Satan When You:

#1:  Don't Practice What You Preach!

"Therefore do whatever they tell you and observe it. But don't do what they do because they don't practice what they teach." (vs. 3 HCSB)

People love to tell others what they should and shouldn't do. It makes them feel better when they focus more attention on other peoples short comings than they do on our own.  It's interesting that Jesus said that the Pharisees taught the right things but just didn't live out themselves! The problem isn't what they taught as much as it was that they were unwilling or unable to live it out themselves but expected others to do it.  

The Pharisees pretended to be the perfect example on how to live out God's word but in reality they were hypocrites. They were just as much unable to live out the righteous requirements of the Law as anyone else.  

So, when you begin to preach one thing on how to live for God but you don't live it out yourself you're giving Satan a foothold to use you as His tool.

#2:  Demand Behaviors From Others Impossible To Live Out!

"They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them." (v. 4 HCSB)

Do you love to tell others how they should live their lives?  Do you find yourself coming up with elaborate plans for how others should conduct their Christian life? Do the plans you have for living the Christian life tend to be more than what Christ expects? Do you put your religious traditions equal to what the Bible actually teaches? 

If so, then maybe you are being used by Satan.

 #3:  Do Religious Activities Just To Be Seen By People!

"They do everything to be observed by others; They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels." (v. 5 HCSB)

This verse goes to the very heart and motivation for why Christians do the religious things they do.  What's your motivation for teaching a Bible study class? Why are you wanting to become a deacon, pastor or missionary? Why do you dress the way you do when you go to church? Why do you pray the way you do when you pray in public?  

Could it be that these things, as well as others, are done in the way you do them just to be seen by other people?  Could it be that you are more interested in being noticed by others than you are by God?  

When we begin to do things in order to stand out in the eyes of people we maybe giving Satan a foothold to using us.

#4:  Seek To Be Honored And Praised By Men!

"They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi' by people." (v. 6,7 HCSB)

Are you always looking to get verbal recognitions or acknowledgements for the things that you have done in the church?  Do you expect a "Thank You" before the congregation when you do something in service for the church? Do you get your feelings hurt when your service to God goes unnoticed by others? 

If so, then you are positioning yourself to be used by the devil.  

5 Ways To Recognize When God Is Speaking To You

#1:  When God Speaks It Will Be Consistent With What The Bible Says!

"I the Lord do not change ..."  Malachi 3:6

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should change his mind. Doe he speak and then not act? Doe he promise and not fulfill?"  Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

Because God does not change he is not going to do things that are contrary to the prinicples that he has already established in the Bible.

There are only 3 things that remain forever: 1) God; 2) The Word of God; 3) and the souls of men. Notice the first two: God and the Word of God. Both of these last forever and will never change. 

If you are feeling guilty over a sin that you committed in the past and you've already sincerely asked forgiveness for it, but you still feel that God hasn't forgiven you that is not of God, it is of Satan, because God's word has already promised that if we confess our sins God will be faithful to forgive us of them (1 John 1:9).

So, if what you are hearing is not consistent with what God has already taught in the Bible it is not from God.

#2:  When God Speaks It Will Conflict With Human Wisdom!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are hight than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  Is. 55:8

So, much of Jesus' teachings are contrary to everything we learn to be wisdom from the world. Jesus that if you lust in your heart you have already committed adultery.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5

Here God is telling us to trust in Him and in what He says how things should be done even when it doesn't make a bit of sense.  Our human tendencies are to go back to what we know best and the way the world has trained us to respond. But here God is telling us to fight off those urges to go back to the old ways of doing things and trust him in his way of doing things. God know it doesn't make sense to us but he implores us to still trust him and do it.

#3:  When God Speaks It Will Clash With Your Sinful Fleshly Desires!

"So, I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature ..." Galatians 5:16-17

Here are some things that I can wholeheartedly says and I know to be true. First, God is never going to tell you to have an affair with a married woman or man. Never! Second, God is never going to tell you to steal from your neighbor! Never! Third, God is never going to tell you to lust after your neighbors wife. He will never do it!  How do I know it? First because God tells us in the Bible not to do it but secondly because God is never going to "feed you sinful flesh"

God is always going to ask you to take the "Higher Road", which is also the "Harder Road".  He will always ask you to live to a "Higher Standard" not a "Lower Standard".

#4:  When God Speaks It Will Challenge Your Faith!

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who come to him must believer that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

LOOK AT:

• Noah:  He was asked to build a boat big enough save himself, his wife, his 3 sons and their wives along with all the animals from a world wide flood.  
• Moses:  He was asked to deliver his people, 2,000,000 of them, from years of slavery under the rule of the most powerful kingdom of that time.
• The 12 Disciples: They were asked to leave everything and follow Jesus.

Each of these times when God spoke the people who heard it experienced a moment when their faith in God was challenged. Would they, by faith, do what God said, even though it looked impossible or would they ignore God and His calling on their life.  YOUR FAITH WILL BE CHALLENGED!

#5:  When God Speaks You Will Need Courage!

"Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land ... Only be strong and very courageous ... Have I not commanded you" Be strong and courageous, do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:6,7,9

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS!  The things that God calls you to do will not go uncontested and unchallenged but will require you to have courage and trust God to defend you, provide for you and accomplish through you what He said He would do. 

We have an enemy and he is real! His name is Lucifer! He hates you, he hates God and he will do whatever God permits him to do to destroy you, your work and your faith.  But be of good courage! If God is for us - who can be against us. Greater is He that lives in you than he that lives in the world.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear but a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."  2 Timothy 1:7

#1 Reason Why Christians Fail To Live Missional Lives

In this weeks video devotional we are going to take a look at what I believe to be the #1 Reason why Christians don't share Jesus with others.  It is a very common reason!

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3 Duties Of Every Missional Christian

#1: To GROW

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18

From this verse we see two area's of growth that every Christian needs to progress in.

• First, Christians are to grow in grace. The whole reason why we are able to have a personal relationship with Christ and have our sins forgiven is because of the Grace of God.  Grace, unmerited favor from God, is not only how this relationship is started but also how this relationship is maintained. It's totally a work of God through and through.
• Second, Christians need to grow in knowledge.  To know Christ better not just intellectually but also experientially is absolutely essential. To know the heart of God, to feel what he feels, love as he loves, be passionate as he is passionate is what being on mission with Christ is all about.

"It was he (God) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastor's and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."  Ephesians 4:11-13

From this verse we see God's resources and God's measuring stick for this growth in the knowledge and grace of God.  

• God's Resources: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastor and Teachers. People! Using people to help us grow in our faith is what God uses.  
• God's Measuring Stick:  Christ Himself.  That's right. When God measures your growth he's comparing you to His perfect own son.  God doesn't compare us to each other but to Christ himself.  This is both a humbling and motivating standard. Humbling because there will always be room for improvement and motivating because there will always be roon for improvement.  

#2: To Glow

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."  Matthew 5:16

• THE MEANS: Light.  Being the light is our service to both God and people.  It is our good deeds that we perform.
• THE APPROACH:  Doing your good deeds in a way that people can see them. 
• THE PURPOSE: So that God gets all the glory and not us.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Eph. 2:10

While it is true we are not saved by our good works - it is also true that we were saved to do good works.  Doing good works is a large part of what missional living is all about. These good works have been established by God long before we were ever born.

#3: To Go

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  Matthew 28:18-20

TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER FROM THESE VERSES:

• Both of these verses tell us to "Go".  Missional Living is an intentional act of "going" by Christ's Followers. We are to go to those who haven't heard yet.
• Also, these verses show that a duty of a Christian is to "Make Disciples" through the sharing of the Gospel. 

So, how well are you GROWING, GLOWING & GOING? Growth is necessary for the spiritual strength that is required for living a missional life. Glowing is necessary so people can see God our Father and glorify Him. and Going is essential because without other many will never hear. 

6 Descriptions For Biblical Missional Living Faith

1.   Faith Is Stretching Your Imagination To Match God’s Plan!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us ..” Eph 3:20 (NIV)

More often than not God is going to call you to join Him in His work that will absolutely blow your mind away! You will see no possible way for you to do it, so you will need to believe that God can accomplish His plan through you even though you know you can’t do it by yourself.

2.   Faith Is Believing What Christ Says He Will Do!

 “While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?”  But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”  Mark 5: 35,36 (NIV) 

Like Jairus there will come time in your life when you will have to choose whom to believe. Will you believe all the people who are telling you that hope is dead so just stop bothering God with your prayers or will you hear and believe the voice of Christ who says, “… only believe.”?

3.   Faith Is Risking Failure To Be Obedient To Christ!

“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”  2 Cor. 5:6-8 (NIV) 

So many times Christ tells His people things that He is going to do and accomplish but there is no evidence of it at all except for what He has said and God is also telling you to drop everything you have going on to join Him in that work.  For those who look at life without the lens of faith to join God looks like failure. But faith knows that God will accomplish all that He says He will do even though the circumstances look different.

4.   Faith Is Waiting For God's Answer To Our Need!

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Ps. 40:1 (NIV)

Faith knows that God is going to answer your prayers but He is going to answer it according to His timing and not ours.  Faith is often a process of waiting and waiting and waiting. But according to this verse it’s not just waiting but waiting patiently! That patient waiting is the full assurance that God’s timing is always the best timing and not just for us but for all who is concerned.

5. Faith Is Following Instructions Even When It Doesn't Make Sense!

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later received as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”

Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)

Let me ask you a question! Are you willing to obey God even when the instructions don’t make a bit of sense to you?  That’s exactly what Abraham did! He was told to get up and start walking to a new home that God was giving Him but God didn’t give any map. God just said “Go” and Abraham “Went” believing that when he arrived God would say “Stop”.  He obeyed the only instruction that God gave him, which was to go. 

6.   Faith Is Being Persistent And Never Quitting!

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Gal 6:7-9

Faith says, “I will not quit, I will not stop and I will keep pressing on until God accomplishes what he has promised to do.  I love this verse because it’s telling us not to stop the work that God has given us, to keep plowing that field, to keep being faithful to the work God has given us knowing that the harvest is coming. But we can’t give up!

So, do you have Biblical faith? Are you persistently following God’s instructions, as he stretches your imagination while patiently waiting for God to answer your cry’s and willing to risk failure as you believe in what Christ has told you?  Where does you faith need to grow?

The #1 Way To Become Confident Sharing Jesus With Others!

So what it that one sure fire way?  I can answer it with one word!

PRACTICE!

Practice is the only way to get comfortable and feel confident in doing any new skill.  Whether it’s learning to read, playing the piano, or even learning to ride a bike. Practice is the solution to feeling uncomfortable doing it.  The more you do it, the more comfortable you become with doing it.  And if you practice it long enough, eventually you can perform the new skill almost naturally without really thinking about it.

THAT'S RIGHT! You can get to the point where you so naturally share Jesus that you begin to do it without even thinking about it.  You're in a conversation with a person and all of sudden your realize you're talking about Jesus. It wasn't a conscious decision - you just started doing it.  Why? Because when you practice something long enough your brain is effected and you start performing that new skill almost naturally.  CLICK HERE TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BRAIN YOU PRACTICE A NEW SKILL!

2 Important Principles For Practicing!

#1:  PRACTICE CONSISTENTLY!

You cannot expect to learn to play a new instrument with confidence if your practice is sporadic.  Therefore, the practice must be daily!  Set aside and dedicate a specific time each day where you are going to practice sharing your personal testimony and/or a simple Gospel presentation each day.  And practice it daily for 4 to 6 weeks.  

#2:  PRACTICE PERFECTLY! 

This is extremely important! There’s an old saying, “Practice makes perfect.”  But that’s not exactly  true! The truth is:  "Perfect practice makes perfect performance but bad practice makes bad performance".  If you practice something that contains bad habits you are going to make those bad habits your bad habits.  

Instead of just practicing something over and over again without examining to see if it is done right, a person should follow this simple process:  

• Practice (perform the new skill)
• Evaluate (review your performance for any errors)
• Make Adjustments (once errors are identified make necessary changes)
• Practice Again (try it again with the new adjustments)

This is the simple way to becoming a confident witness for Jesus!  So, go practice and go shine the Light of Christ in your part of this dark world.

How To Shine The Light Of Christ During Halloween

Using holidays as a leverage to share Jesus is an important principle and practice.  For many Christians Halloween seems like an unusual and maybe even a horrible idea because of the spiritually dark side of Halloween.  However, even the Apostle Paul used a pagan alter in Athen's as a launching pad to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I figure if it was good enough for the Apostle Paul it should be good enough for us.  

In this video I am going to share with you an idea of how you can shine the Light of Christ in your part of this dark world during Halloween.  Get creative and go shine Christ's Light!

Take a few seconds and share this video with your social network! Take care and God bless. And remember Go Shine The Light Of Christ!

JOINING CHRIST TO REACH YOUR COMMUNITY

Are you joining God to reach your community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What would it look like if your community was to experience God's Kingdom coming and His will be done?  Is it really possible to saturate your community with the Kingdom of God? And, is it possible for EVERY PERSON in your community to hear a clear Gospel presentation?

These are the questions that this Missional Living Devotional will ask and answer! Take a few moments and be inspired to join God on His mission of making disciples of all peoples!