Tag: Evangelism

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“WHAT I SEE WON’T HELP YOU”

We have been taught that God is omnipresent. That means He is everywhere present and nowhere absent. It’s hard for our human minds to comprehend that. Not only does He feel all space, but He is also present in any area of time. There is literally nowhere He cannot go. He told Isaiah, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? To say we serve a great and big God is an understatement. Think of a sermon you’ve heard recently where the minister proclaimed the greatness and size of God. That minister was reminding you that God is bigger than whatever it is you are facing.

But here is the reality. It doesn’t matter what you’ve been told or taught. Even the number of sermons is irrelevant. You can read about Him, hear others talk about Him, but if you don’t see the vastness of God for yourself, then it’s not going to do you any good. How great I see Him, and how big I try to preach that He is will not help you if you don’t start viewing Him that great in your own eyes. You can’t live off of your parent’s vision of God. You can’t exist off of your Pastor’s perspective of Him. No matter how your spouse sees God, you have to get your own vision and revelation of Him. I don’t want you to just hear about His greatness; I want you to see it for yourself.

So, at the start of 2020, I ask you this question; How great do you see God? Your eyes, your vision, your perspective, and your revelation of His greatness.

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“21 DAYS OF FOCUS”

Today, our Church begins, what we’re calling “21 DAYS OF FOCUS.” The definition of focus is to bring something to the center of attention. It also means, having clear vision. I’ve heard a lot about 2020 being the year of vision, and I love that, but what good is a vision without focus? We don’t just need vision; we need a clear vision. We have to make sure we have the right things at the center of attention. So, for the next 21 days, that’s exactly what we’re going to do. In fact, it’s going to be a year of focus for us. We all get busy with other things in life, and before you know it, certain things start becoming blurry and out of focus. Here is a list of some things that we are bringing to the center of attention.

PRAYER
FASTING
BIBLE READING
FELLOWSHIP
RELATIONSHIPS (Marriage, family, and friendships)
FINANCES
YOUR GIFTS AND CALLING
MISSION AND EVANGELISM (Reaching out to the lost and hurting)
FAITHFULNESS TO THE HOUSE GOD

You are more than welcome to go on this journey with us. If you are a part of a Church that is doing something similar to this, that is great, and I am praying for you and your Church. Let’s set the pace for 2020 by joining together in unity and focusing on things that might have become blurry in our lives.

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ANSWERED PRAYER

Sometimes I think we ask God to do things that we could be doing. Maybe you think that sounds crazy because there a certain things that only He can do. Yes, that is true, but there are a lot of things that He has given us the power and ability to do as well.

1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it”.

After reading this scripture, I have a few questions.

– WHY ARE WE HIS BODY?
– ARE WE ONLY FITLY-FRAMED INTO HIS BODY FOR OUR SALVATION AND PROTECTION?
– DID HE SAVE US TO HIDE US?
– ARE WE DOING HIS WILL WHEN WE ARE ISOLATED?
– ARE THERE SOME PRAYERS WE CAN ANSWER?

These are some questions that every disciple of Christ should be asking themselves. When I read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I see Jesus training His disciples to do great works, even in His absence. There was a reason He gave the power over the enemy. Not only did they have power to be victorious personally, but they had power to pray for people that needed help.

You would be amazed at the small things you could do that would make a big difference in hurting people’s lives. An encouraging phone call, text or email could bring hope to someone in a valley. Sharing your testimony with somebody who is going through a storm could completely change their outlook. Let your victory bring victory in someone else’s life too. You can pray for these people, but don’t just pray and see what happens…let your involvement bring healing in their current situation. Did you know that you could be the answer to someone’s prayer???

– Feeding the hungry is an answered prayer for someone.
– Bringing a drink to someone who is thirsty is an answered prayer.
– Providing clothes for the less fortunate is an answered prayer.
– Taking care of the homeless is an answered prayer.
– Visiting people who are sick is an answered prayer.
– Bringing a message of hope to those who are in prison is an answered prayer.

Since we are the body of Christ, let’s go and be someone’s ANSWERED PRAYER!!!

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WHAT PART OF GO DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?

I get it…you’re busy, you have responsibilities, you’re working hard to make ends meet and you barely have any time for your family. I understand how real the stress and pressures of life are. However, we cannot just ignore the words that Jesus spoke right before He ascended.

Matthew 28:19
Go therefore, and make disciples all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

For a follower of Jesus Christ, “GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES” is our mandate. We don’t just try and fit it in our daily lists of things to do, it is supposed to become a part of our everyday life. In my opinion, I believe the enemy is working hard to get us so busy working outside the Kingdom, that we’re too busy to work for the Kingdom. If we’re not careful, we’ll get so wrapped up in getting ahead, yet spiritually we could fall behind and not even realize it.

“Go and make disciples” is what Jesus commanded us to do. When we are committed to doing that, then we are doing the work of God. According to God’s Word, He blesses those that obey Him. I can promise you, when you are faithful to His Word, He is then faithful to your work. I want to encourage the followers of Jesus Christ to obey the great commission and make disciples of all nations.

WHAT PART OF “GO” DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?

Blog, Devotional

BE THE CHURCH

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words and it is very obvious, in his writings, that he worked hard for the unity of the church. In all of his letters, the churches with the most problems were the ones that allowed division to come in among the members. As long as the church body was united, they could overcome any problem that would come against them.

He used a simple process in verse two for all churches to follow.

  • Lowliness, (humility).
  • Gentleness, (kindness to one another).
  • Long-suffering, (being patient with one another).
  • Bearing with one another in love, (be available to help carry each others burdens).

Paul knew, when these four things were taught and practiced in the church, it would keep peace and harmony among all the members.

This process should continue to be taught and practiced today. As a pastor, I can’t just teach these things, but I must be an example for each one of them. Not only me, but also the ministers that work under me as well as the other leaders in my church. Unity starts at the top.

I am convinced, that in these last days, the body of Christ must be united more than ever before. We don’t know what all is going to come against the church, but as long as we are standing together, there is nothing that can overtake the church of Jesus Christ. We must pray for unity, teach unity and above all, practice unity.

Those issues that can happen between people are so small in comparison to the spiritual attack that is on our churches today. Stop hanging on to some insignificant issue that is causing a hinderance in your worship. It’s not worth it. Our attention must be on reaching our communities and cities with the Gospel and not focusing on petty issues that are blocking our vision. It’s time to unite as the true church of Jesus Christ!!!

Be humble!
Be gentle!
Be patient!
Be available!
BE THE CHURCH!!!

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TALK ABOUT WHAT MATTERS

I don’t want to be misunderstood in my blog this morning, but I just feel like sharing some frustrations I have within the church today. I pastor in a large city and I’m sure the needs of homeless and hurting people are much greater than in smaller towns. Nevertheless, the enemy is working so hard in these last days to destroy the body of Christ. I’ve never seen people so broken and in need of God like they are today. The job is literally overwhelming and the weight of responsibility I feel in my own community, seems like an impossible task at times.

My frustration is what I’m hearing many of our brothers and sisters talking about. I see posts of “Why I don’t like this” and “Why I don’t like that”. Sometimes I find myself shaking my head and wondering, what does this have to do with salvation and healing the brokenhearted? While some are debating over whether to use wine or grape juice during communion, the depressed and oppressed are suffering like never before.

Don’t get me wrong, if you have a personal conviction about something, I would never disrespect your views whatsoever. My point is, let’s make sure we’re saying and doing what is going to matter the most while we still have time on this earth. It’s time we preach the gospel like we never have before. Let’s share it with anointing and with the love of God. The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ…can’t we just keep it that simple? I still believe that when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they will begin to change things in their own life.

I’ve been criticized because I choose to show mercy and love to all people. Imagine that. I even heard a pastor say one time, that all Christians want to do these days is preach love, and he said it with extreme sarcasm. I’m amazed and appalled at such narrow minded statements. The Bible tells us that a Pharisee came to Jesus one day and asked Him, “What is the greatest commandment of all?” Here’s how Jesus responded.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus message was simple and powerful. You must love God and you must love others as well. As for me, I’m going to follow the example Jesus set that day by loving Him with all my heart, soul and mind and I’m going to love others too. I tell the church members where I pastor, “How can I go wrong by loving people?” Does that mean we are not suppose to preach any kind of separation or take a stand against sin? Absolutely not!!! For a sinner to become a disciple, it requires teaching and developing convictions. My point is…tell the disciples those things and not the world. Tell the world how to come to Jesus and teach your disciples how to grow in Jesus.

All I’m saying is…”TALK ABOUT WHAT MATTERS”!!! Meet people where they are, not where you are spiritually. The hurting need love and why would we minimize doing that? Jesus didn’t say love who you agree with, He just commanded us to love. Nothing will work better in the life of someone broken hearted than love…just try it.

I choose to talk about what matters. Even though I have a core doctrine that I believe and have preached it for more than 30 years, I’ve realized that sinners are not drawn to Jesus because of doctrine, but they are drawn to where there is healing for their broken life. Once they’re pierced in their heart and feel the love of God, they will ask, “Men and Brethren, what must we do to be saved?” Acts 2:37

Here’s what matters. There is a God that loves everyone and He specializes in healing those who are broken. It doesn’t matter how terribly you’ve messed things up, He can make something beautiful out of your chaos and trouble. He will care for you, show you mercy and save you with His grace and wash your sins away with His blood. All you have to do is come to Him and He will change your life forever.

For those that need a Savior…THAT’S WHAT MATTERS!!!