|
|
|
********************************************************
*******************************************
*******************************************
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
****************************************************
– Martin Luther King Jr.
****************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE!:
- PRAYER < Prayer For New Beginnings in God's Hand
- FROM THE BISHOP< Are You Ready?
- FEATURE ARTICLE < Are You Cheating on God?
- LEADERSHIP < 9 Unbibical Statements Christians Believe
- FBC < Beta Testing Participant
- FEATURED MISSIONARIES < Passion For His Presence / Cultivate Honduras
- LINKS TO YOUR MONTHLY REPORT form
===========================================================
Prayer For New Beginnings in God’s Hand
(Isaiah 43:18-19)
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” .
Heavenly Father,
Breathe Your Light into those whose souls are sad and surround them with Your Healing Presence. Help us all, when we face those moments, to take small steps toward the dawn and start over with the new day. We may never get over all that we've lost but in starting over we can walk through one more moment, one more day, one more week or however long it takes until we become aware of the pain easing, a bird singing, the light of the day a little brighter.
With Your presence, the memories become sweeter, the time between tears is lengthened, and the fullness of life is just ahead. In its own time the grief will lift as does deep fog burned off by the sunlight. Keep us in the warmth of Your embrace as we seek Your peace in the life we are given to live, the life that he, she, and they would want for us.
amen.
God tells us, even in the Old Testament, that He is doing a new thing. A new thing is a good thing. He is making a WAY for us in the wilderness, He is giving us streams of living water in times we are in the wastelands.
------------------------------------------------
|
|
Are YOU Ready?
Bishop D.L.Boer
Joshua 3:1-5
"Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”"
I want to share about where the Church is going, and what can change, and what will change in the role that it should and will play in these last days. I want to share about how each of us can become a powerful agent of change to bring about the fulfillment of God’s word in these last days as well.
What is coming more clearly into focus every day is that the separation between the ways of the world, and of compromising churches; and the ways of churches that remain true to the paths of righteousness and holiness is going to be very different.
The world, and those who compromise to please the standards that the world expects, are headed down a path to the gates of hell and the wrath of God. They are traveling headlong into the time of the Tribulation because men are blinded by sin and being led by Satan’s deception into their own destruction. With each passing day they go deeper into sin, going into the depths of sin and depravity than any system of government has gone before. They are following their Father, the Devil, into a place of ever-growing darkness from which there will be no turning back.
On the other hand, the true church must take, and is taking a path that leads us into a deeper relationship with Jesus; into a closer walk in his presence; into a brighter Light of Revelation; and into a heightened sense of discernment concerning the will of God and where he wants to lead us.
The church that follows Christ ever closer, must go, and is going into a depth of the supernatural realm of God that the church has never gone before, and those who do not go there will find themselves left behind to wonder what’s happening and why am I not a part of it?
There are great days ahead; days of seeing and being used by God in the supernatural gifts of the Holy Ghost with a greater anointing and power of God to see miracles, signs and wonders in the earth. I believe the church is going to experience the full impact of what Jesus meant when he made the promise in John 14:12, when he said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
Beloved, the Church is leaving behind the things of the past and moving on into a new place in Christ!
• If you want to be a part of what God will do in these last days among his people;
• If you want to be used in a greater supernatural way and allow the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in your life to become a greater reality;
• If you want to be on forefront of the battle against the forces of darkness and take down strongholds of the enemy;
• If you want to be used, and to borrow a phrase from the US Army, “be all you can be” in God’s army, then this message is for you.
This is God’s call to go where you’ve never gone before so prepare yourself for what may be called a hyper-jump in the Spiritual realm; for traveling by warp speed into a move of God that will take you into uncharted places in your walk with the Lord.
Don’t fear it, for remember, God is already in your future. He knows where he wants to take you! He is the Power that drives you forward and he has already established your goings and your destiny! The key is to follow him and allow the Holy Ghost to be your guide as you draw ever closer to God’s heart and know His will!
The greatest danger of going into a greater depth of the supernatural move of God is that we get ahead of God! We must make certain that what we do is of the Lord for the devil loves to create counterfeits. The danger is that if we get ahead of God, then we will tend to become filled with pride and presume to take the glory for ourselves.
• If you have a word of Knowledge, be sure that the Lord is giving it to you, so that it does good and not harm to whom it is spoken.
• If you have a prophetic word to speak, make sure that you are led of the Spirit to speak it!
• If you’re led by the Spirit, walking in the Spirit, full of the Holy Ghost, and staying near the heart and dwelling in the presence of God, then you have nothing to fear!
God is leading the church, and that means each of us, into a place that we’ve never gone before spiritually.
• Some are going to be used in a greater fashion than ever to bring forth words of knowledge, words of wisdom, giving forth of prophetic utterances, even having dreams and visions as promised in the Book of the Prophet Joel!
• Some will be used in the Gifts of Healing, in the working of Miracles, and In the Gifts of Tongues and Interpretations.
• Some are going to be given greater and more powerful anointing to preach the gospel,
• All of you will be used to be a witness for Jesus, even in ways and means, and under circumstances that you never dreamed possible.
It’s not going to always feel comfortable, and at times you might even feel as though you’re stepping out too far, but that’s normal because you’re going into strange and unfamiliar territory where you’ve never been before!
•Question is:
ARE YOU READY?
Peace,
Bishop Boer
####################
+++++++++++++
Feature Article
+++++++++++
Are You Cheating on God?
8 Questions to Reveal Your Heart’s Desire.
Frank Powell
Are you cheating on God? What’s your ultimate heart’s desire?
A pastor at a large church in Florida admitted to an affair. Shortly after the admission, he resigned. It’s a gut-wrenching story. Lysa Terkeurst and her husband Art Terkeurst walked through an affair and reconciliation to remarriage.
Cheating on a spouse is a serious offense. Rightfully so. When a covenant is broken, there are ramifications. But as I read this story, God spurred another question in my mind.
“Frank, are you cheating on me?”
Hey God, nice to talk with you too. Can you not say hey first? Anyway, the question sunk deep into my heart. And I want to ask you the same question.
Are you cheating on God?
Our Ultimate Heart’s DesireYou and I are in a relationship with God. And there are many ways to spend time with God. Our relationship parallels (and exceeds) the one between a husband and a wife. When Tiffani and I exchanged vows, I knew what I signed up for. From that point forward, she wasn’t competing with other women. She was the only woman. I pledged to remain pure and faithful to one woman … for the rest of my life. That’s heavy.
And if vowing faithfulness to one person is heavy, how much more so with God?
When Moses delivered the Ten Commandments to the Israelites in Exodus 20:2-3, the first commandment was, “You will have no other gods before me.”
When God says, “You shall have no other gods before me,” he is also saying, “Don’t cheat on me. Don’t place anything in front of me. Vow to remain faithful to me.” You get the idea?
God is jealous (Exodus 20:4-5). He relentlessly pursues you because he infinitely loves you. And when anything other than God sits at the apex of your desires, values, worth and identity, destruction is certain. You place a weight on something only God can bear.
So, I want to ask you again … Are you cheating on God?
The following eight questions will reveal your ultimate heart’s desire.
Heart’s Desire Question #1: What thoughts occupy your mind when you have nothing else to think about?If you realized how powerful your thoughts were, you would never think a negative thought. Peace Pilgrim
What we think about most determines what we value. And what we think about most is eventually who we become. Thoughts are powerful. Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian pathologist, wrote a fascinating book (the book is titled Switch on Your Brain) about the power of thoughts. In the book, she says this: “Nothing happens until you first build the thought … the thought produces words, actions and behavior.”
That’s real.
Your thoughts expose the desires of your mind and heart. So, where does your mind wander when you are alone? Is your mind turned toward God? If God is the love of your life, your ultimate heart’s desire, your mind will gravitate toward him. You will set your mind on the things above. Your desire to know him and grow toward him will increase.
Heart’s Desire Question #2: If everything was taken from you and only God was left, would he be enough?Really, take a moment to consider this question. If you are a follower of Jesus, this is the end goal. You are on a one-way trip to dwell with God. Forever. That’s weighty stuff. And if God is most important, the thought of dwelling with God forever should excite you.
God is faithful. But is God enough? Just being honest, many days I don’t believe he is. I love my stuff. I love my family. I love golf. If all of these were taken from me, I am not sure God would be enough. Unlike Job, I would probably want to curse God and die.
The story of Job is a crazy, powerful example of a man whose ultimate heart’s desire is God. Satan comes in and takes everything. Family. Possessions (and Job wasn’t a middle-class man … he had stupid wealth). Livestock. Health. Everything. How does Job respond? Faithfully. He never curses God. This is only possible when God is the ultimate heart’s desire.
Could you honestly say you would respond like Job if everything you own was taken? It would be hard for me. I have some work to do in my own life with this question.
Is God enough for you?
Heart’s Desire Question #3: Who or what triggers worry, anxiety and/or depression?This is a great Scripture for anxiety: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
As I wrestled with this question, God revealed several areas that spark worry, anxiety and depression. Speaking publicly. Grades in school. Negativity toward my family or ministry.
Even though I enjoy public speaking, I usually worry about my effectiveness. Did I prepare enough? Will the audience be receptive? In school, I made decent grades, but I always had anxiety before tests and exams. Did I study enough? What if I bomb the test? The only seasons of depression in my life were preceded by a vicious attack on my family and ministry. Are their words true? Am I not good enough for this?
Are You Cheating on God? 8 Questions to Reveal Your Heart’s DesireBy
Frank Powell
-
February 17, 2019
Share on FacebookShare on PinterestTweetWhat does this reveal about me? I value acceptance and affirmation from others more than God. I want people to like me. I also have a tendency to elevate performance to an unhealthy level, mostly due to my desire to be accepted and affirmed.
Here’s the point. The “gods” I am tempted to pursue are acceptance, affirmation and fame. When I place these in front of the true God, I am cheating on him. Thankfully, God’s grace is sufficient, and he forgives me. But I must destroy these “gods” for my relationship with God to reach deeper levels of intimacy.
So, what triggers worry, anxiety and depression in your life? (Check out these Bible verses for depression.)
Heart’s Desire Question #4: Who in your life can you not forgive and why?Some of you have experienced unimaginable pain. I remember talking with a young man when I lived in Mississippi. He explained, in graphic detail, being sexually abused from the time he was a small child. As I listened to him, my heart overflowed with sadness and anger. How could someone do this to a child? How?
Even though I can’t empathize with his particular pain, I empathize with his general pain (if that makes sense). The world is broken. People will hurt you. Many times these people are the ones we love, trust and respect most. And when you are hurt, you have to make a decision. Will you forgive or harbor animosity and bitterness?
And forgiveness isn’t words. Anyone can say, “I forgive you.” Forgiveness is letting go. Letting go of the false power that comes with refusing to forgive. Letting go of the bitterness and animosity. This is essential for those who love God. He is the author of forgiveness. And if he is the most important relationship in your life, you must be able to look at someone who hurt you and say (as Jesus did), “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
It might take weeks, months or years, but if God is first, you must come to a place where you release the power of revenge, bitterness and anger toward someone else.
Heart’s Desire Question #5: When you are stressed, where do you turn for relief?Americans are overcome with stress. And while some stress is normal (this is called stage 1 stress), other types of stress are incredibly toxic.
What is your medication for stress? Where do you turn to relieve stress?
Alcohol? Shopping? Medication? Sex? Drugs? Video games? Notice some of these “medications” are obviously dangerous (alcohol and drugs). Others seem harmless (shopping and video games). But anytime your “medication” isn’t God, you are corroding your heart. You are hard wiring it to rely on something that can’t fill the void.
To say it another way, the “what” of where you turn to relieve stress isn’t as important as the “why.”
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” is a declaration from Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30). Ironically, this is often the same message we hear from other “gods.”
“I am really stressed, let’s go enjoy some retail therapy.”
“It’s been a long week, let’s grab a case of beer and forget about our worries.”
“Do you still have some drugs? My girl just left me. I need something to ease the pain.”
Some “medications” we take to relieve stress are illegal. Others are amoral in nature. The question is whether you rely on these things to fill a void only God can fill. If so, you are cheating on God.
If God is most important, he will be our source of relief from stress. He will be our “medication.” And his “medication” never needs a refill.
Heart’s Desire Question #6: What have you sacrificed most for?Who or what receives the largest majority of your time, money, energy and resources? Here’s what I found. If God is not the one thing you sacrifice most for, you will sacrifice God when your “one thing” is threatened.
Your ultimate heart’s desire is the one thing you sacrifice most for.
What is an idol? In high school, I devoted hours every day to football. I wanted to play in the NFL. Seriously. Football received the largest majority of my time, money, energy and resources. And I would do anything to prevent my dream from slipping away.
I skipped church on Sunday to practice. I neglected time alone with God to work out. I participated in immoral and illegal activities because I thought the activities would move me closer to my goal. Toxic stuff, right?
I am now in full-time ministry, but the same principle is in play. In Christian circles, people don’t necessarily participate in immoral activities (some do, of course, but this isn’t the norm). But many Christians cheat on God every day. They refuse to accept a new truth about God because it goes against what they preached for 30 years. Even if the new truth leads them to deeper intimacy with God.
If you sacrifice more for status, fame and knowledge than you do for an intimate relationship with God, you will do anything to protect the status, fame and knowledge … including an intimate relationship with God.
What have you sacrificed most for?
Heart’s Desire Question #7: Where do you spend your time and money?Time is the most valuable resource on earth. It can’t be renewed or recycled. It is not for sale. So, it would make sense to look at your most valuable resource to determine your heart’s greatest desire.
Money is similar to time. So similar that metaphors for currency are often used to describe time. And there are many Bible verses about money.
“Time is money. Invest your time well. Don’t waste my time.”
Money and time are intertwined because they are both extremely valuable. They are also extremely dangerous. And they compete for our allegiance to God daily, hourly. Mark Twain says it this way,
Some men worship rank, some worship heroes, some worship power, some worship God, and over these ideals they dispute and cannot unite—but they all worship money.
My youngest son is awkwardly in love with the words “my” and “mine.” Tiffani and I try to correct him, but if we corrected him every time he said “my” or “mine,” we would do nothing else. Seriously. Nothing.
What about you? Do you have a “my” and “mine” attitude toward money and possessions? If so, a red flag should pop up in your head.
Here’s a nugget of truth: Nothing you have is yours. Everything you have is from God. Every dollar in your bank account and every possession you own will either be thrown into a garbage dump or be given to someone else.
If God is your ultimate heart’s desire, your time and money will reflect it.
Heart’s Desire Question #8: Is your relationship with God burdensome? Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3
“Most Christians give just enough of their lives to God to make them miserable.” I heard a preacher make that statement one time. It’s convicting. It’s also true.
A relationship with God should never be burdensome. But when God isn’t the ultimate heart’s desire, a relationship with him will be burdensome. Just like a marital relationship.
If I am committing adultery against my wife, our marriage is going to crumble. Marriage is designed to be pure, having desires for only one person. When we cheat on God with anything, a relationship with God feels burdensome.
Is following God a burden for you? If so, why?
You say I love God, but maybe you need to break-up with some “gods” in your life. Things cripple your relationship with God. Only the true God can fill the longings of our heart. Only God completely satisfies.
How might your life be different if God wasn’t just number one in your hierarchy, but the only one?
************************************************
A pastor at a large church in Florida admitted to an affair. Shortly after the admission, he resigned. It’s a gut-wrenching story. Lysa Terkeurst and her husband Art Terkeurst walked through an affair and reconciliation to remarriage.
Cheating on a spouse is a serious offense. Rightfully so. When a covenant is broken, there are ramifications. But as I read this story, God spurred another question in my mind.
“Frank, are you cheating on me?”
Hey God, nice to talk with you too. Can you not say hey first? Anyway, the question sunk deep into my heart. And I want to ask you the same question.
Are you cheating on God?
Our Ultimate Heart’s DesireYou and I are in a relationship with God. And there are many ways to spend time with God. Our relationship parallels (and exceeds) the one between a husband and a wife. When Tiffani and I exchanged vows, I knew what I signed up for. From that point forward, she wasn’t competing with other women. She was the only woman. I pledged to remain pure and faithful to one woman … for the rest of my life. That’s heavy.
And if vowing faithfulness to one person is heavy, how much more so with God?
When Moses delivered the Ten Commandments to the Israelites in Exodus 20:2-3, the first commandment was, “You will have no other gods before me.”
When God says, “You shall have no other gods before me,” he is also saying, “Don’t cheat on me. Don’t place anything in front of me. Vow to remain faithful to me.” You get the idea?
God is jealous (Exodus 20:4-5). He relentlessly pursues you because he infinitely loves you. And when anything other than God sits at the apex of your desires, values, worth and identity, destruction is certain. You place a weight on something only God can bear.
So, I want to ask you again … Are you cheating on God?
The following eight questions will reveal your ultimate heart’s desire.
Heart’s Desire Question #1: What thoughts occupy your mind when you have nothing else to think about?If you realized how powerful your thoughts were, you would never think a negative thought. Peace Pilgrim
What we think about most determines what we value. And what we think about most is eventually who we become. Thoughts are powerful. Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian pathologist, wrote a fascinating book (the book is titled Switch on Your Brain) about the power of thoughts. In the book, she says this: “Nothing happens until you first build the thought … the thought produces words, actions and behavior.”
That’s real.
Your thoughts expose the desires of your mind and heart. So, where does your mind wander when you are alone? Is your mind turned toward God? If God is the love of your life, your ultimate heart’s desire, your mind will gravitate toward him. You will set your mind on the things above. Your desire to know him and grow toward him will increase.
Heart’s Desire Question #2: If everything was taken from you and only God was left, would he be enough?Really, take a moment to consider this question. If you are a follower of Jesus, this is the end goal. You are on a one-way trip to dwell with God. Forever. That’s weighty stuff. And if God is most important, the thought of dwelling with God forever should excite you.
God is faithful. But is God enough? Just being honest, many days I don’t believe he is. I love my stuff. I love my family. I love golf. If all of these were taken from me, I am not sure God would be enough. Unlike Job, I would probably want to curse God and die.
The story of Job is a crazy, powerful example of a man whose ultimate heart’s desire is God. Satan comes in and takes everything. Family. Possessions (and Job wasn’t a middle-class man … he had stupid wealth). Livestock. Health. Everything. How does Job respond? Faithfully. He never curses God. This is only possible when God is the ultimate heart’s desire.
Could you honestly say you would respond like Job if everything you own was taken? It would be hard for me. I have some work to do in my own life with this question.
Is God enough for you?
Heart’s Desire Question #3: Who or what triggers worry, anxiety and/or depression?This is a great Scripture for anxiety: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
As I wrestled with this question, God revealed several areas that spark worry, anxiety and depression. Speaking publicly. Grades in school. Negativity toward my family or ministry.
Even though I enjoy public speaking, I usually worry about my effectiveness. Did I prepare enough? Will the audience be receptive? In school, I made decent grades, but I always had anxiety before tests and exams. Did I study enough? What if I bomb the test? The only seasons of depression in my life were preceded by a vicious attack on my family and ministry. Are their words true? Am I not good enough for this?
Are You Cheating on God? 8 Questions to Reveal Your Heart’s DesireBy
Frank Powell
-
February 17, 2019
Share on FacebookShare on PinterestTweetWhat does this reveal about me? I value acceptance and affirmation from others more than God. I want people to like me. I also have a tendency to elevate performance to an unhealthy level, mostly due to my desire to be accepted and affirmed.
Here’s the point. The “gods” I am tempted to pursue are acceptance, affirmation and fame. When I place these in front of the true God, I am cheating on him. Thankfully, God’s grace is sufficient, and he forgives me. But I must destroy these “gods” for my relationship with God to reach deeper levels of intimacy.
So, what triggers worry, anxiety and depression in your life? (Check out these Bible verses for depression.)
Heart’s Desire Question #4: Who in your life can you not forgive and why?Some of you have experienced unimaginable pain. I remember talking with a young man when I lived in Mississippi. He explained, in graphic detail, being sexually abused from the time he was a small child. As I listened to him, my heart overflowed with sadness and anger. How could someone do this to a child? How?
Even though I can’t empathize with his particular pain, I empathize with his general pain (if that makes sense). The world is broken. People will hurt you. Many times these people are the ones we love, trust and respect most. And when you are hurt, you have to make a decision. Will you forgive or harbor animosity and bitterness?
And forgiveness isn’t words. Anyone can say, “I forgive you.” Forgiveness is letting go. Letting go of the false power that comes with refusing to forgive. Letting go of the bitterness and animosity. This is essential for those who love God. He is the author of forgiveness. And if he is the most important relationship in your life, you must be able to look at someone who hurt you and say (as Jesus did), “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
It might take weeks, months or years, but if God is first, you must come to a place where you release the power of revenge, bitterness and anger toward someone else.
Heart’s Desire Question #5: When you are stressed, where do you turn for relief?Americans are overcome with stress. And while some stress is normal (this is called stage 1 stress), other types of stress are incredibly toxic.
What is your medication for stress? Where do you turn to relieve stress?
Alcohol? Shopping? Medication? Sex? Drugs? Video games? Notice some of these “medications” are obviously dangerous (alcohol and drugs). Others seem harmless (shopping and video games). But anytime your “medication” isn’t God, you are corroding your heart. You are hard wiring it to rely on something that can’t fill the void.
To say it another way, the “what” of where you turn to relieve stress isn’t as important as the “why.”
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” is a declaration from Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30). Ironically, this is often the same message we hear from other “gods.”
“I am really stressed, let’s go enjoy some retail therapy.”
“It’s been a long week, let’s grab a case of beer and forget about our worries.”
“Do you still have some drugs? My girl just left me. I need something to ease the pain.”
Some “medications” we take to relieve stress are illegal. Others are amoral in nature. The question is whether you rely on these things to fill a void only God can fill. If so, you are cheating on God.
If God is most important, he will be our source of relief from stress. He will be our “medication.” And his “medication” never needs a refill.
Heart’s Desire Question #6: What have you sacrificed most for?Who or what receives the largest majority of your time, money, energy and resources? Here’s what I found. If God is not the one thing you sacrifice most for, you will sacrifice God when your “one thing” is threatened.
Your ultimate heart’s desire is the one thing you sacrifice most for.
What is an idol? In high school, I devoted hours every day to football. I wanted to play in the NFL. Seriously. Football received the largest majority of my time, money, energy and resources. And I would do anything to prevent my dream from slipping away.
I skipped church on Sunday to practice. I neglected time alone with God to work out. I participated in immoral and illegal activities because I thought the activities would move me closer to my goal. Toxic stuff, right?
I am now in full-time ministry, but the same principle is in play. In Christian circles, people don’t necessarily participate in immoral activities (some do, of course, but this isn’t the norm). But many Christians cheat on God every day. They refuse to accept a new truth about God because it goes against what they preached for 30 years. Even if the new truth leads them to deeper intimacy with God.
If you sacrifice more for status, fame and knowledge than you do for an intimate relationship with God, you will do anything to protect the status, fame and knowledge … including an intimate relationship with God.
What have you sacrificed most for?
Heart’s Desire Question #7: Where do you spend your time and money?Time is the most valuable resource on earth. It can’t be renewed or recycled. It is not for sale. So, it would make sense to look at your most valuable resource to determine your heart’s greatest desire.
Money is similar to time. So similar that metaphors for currency are often used to describe time. And there are many Bible verses about money.
“Time is money. Invest your time well. Don’t waste my time.”
Money and time are intertwined because they are both extremely valuable. They are also extremely dangerous. And they compete for our allegiance to God daily, hourly. Mark Twain says it this way,
Some men worship rank, some worship heroes, some worship power, some worship God, and over these ideals they dispute and cannot unite—but they all worship money.
My youngest son is awkwardly in love with the words “my” and “mine.” Tiffani and I try to correct him, but if we corrected him every time he said “my” or “mine,” we would do nothing else. Seriously. Nothing.
What about you? Do you have a “my” and “mine” attitude toward money and possessions? If so, a red flag should pop up in your head.
Here’s a nugget of truth: Nothing you have is yours. Everything you have is from God. Every dollar in your bank account and every possession you own will either be thrown into a garbage dump or be given to someone else.
If God is your ultimate heart’s desire, your time and money will reflect it.
Heart’s Desire Question #8: Is your relationship with God burdensome? Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3
“Most Christians give just enough of their lives to God to make them miserable.” I heard a preacher make that statement one time. It’s convicting. It’s also true.
A relationship with God should never be burdensome. But when God isn’t the ultimate heart’s desire, a relationship with him will be burdensome. Just like a marital relationship.
If I am committing adultery against my wife, our marriage is going to crumble. Marriage is designed to be pure, having desires for only one person. When we cheat on God with anything, a relationship with God feels burdensome.
Is following God a burden for you? If so, why?
You say I love God, but maybe you need to break-up with some “gods” in your life. Things cripple your relationship with God. Only the true God can fill the longings of our heart. Only God completely satisfies.
How might your life be different if God wasn’t just number one in your hierarchy, but the only one?
************************************************
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your Regional Bishops
Eastern Region Dr. Bill Chapman
|
Central Region Dr. Charlie Chancellor
|
Western Region. Dr. Phyllis Skirvin
|
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
VISION DRIVEN LEADERSHIP
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
9 Unbiblical Statements Christians Believe
Shane Pruitt
One of the greatest gifts that God gave mankind was the Holy Bible because the Bible is literally God revealing Himself, and communicating Himself to mankind in written word. Anything and everything that we know about God comes from these Holy Scriptures, and they contain the totality of what we need to know about becoming a Christian, and everything that we need to know about living the Christian life.
Orthodox Christianity teaches that the Bible was inspired and authored by the Holy Spirit of God using human instruments. It also believes that in its original languages of Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic; it is without error and fault.
However, there are many things that Jesus-following, church-going, Bible-believing Christians believe that are completely unbiblical. How does this happen? Often, we’ll hear someone quote a statement that sounds nice to us, and we’ll begin repeating it as though it’s biblical truth without ever researching it in the Scriptures. Several of these unbiblical statements have gained enough traction that many people believe they’re actually Bible verses. Not only are the statements unbiblical; most of them teach the opposite of what the Bible teaches.
Here is a list of nine popular unbiblical statements that Bible-loving Christians tend to believe:
1. God helps those who help themselves.This statement is actually anti-Gospel. Self-reliance and self-righteousness, or the attitude of trying harder and doing better, actually gets in the way of the work of God. Jesus saves those who die to themselves: “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Matthew 16:24).
2. God wants me to be happy.It’s a common belief that God exists to be our “personal genie,” waiting to give us our every wish. It’s amazing how we will justify our sinful actions by saying, “God just wants me to be happy.” Happiness is tied to feelings and emotions that are often based on circumstances, and those change all the time. God wants us to be obedient to Him, trust Him and know that everything He does is for our good, even if it doesn’t make me feel “happy” in that moment. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
3. We’re all God’s children.Although God has created everyone…not everyone relationally belongs to Him. Only those who have repented of sin, placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and possess the Holy Spirit of God inside of them can claim Him as their Father: “But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:15b–16).
However, those who don’t have Jesus as their Savior, nor have the Holy Spirit of God inside of them, actually belong to Satan: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1 – 2). “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).
4. Cleanliness is next to godliness.The people around you may appreciate you staying clean, but this is not Scripture. Parents may use this unbiblical statement to motivate their kids to clean their rooms. However, I’d suggest using an actual biblical statement: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).
5. God won’t give you more than you can handle.Actually, all of life is more than we can handle. The point of living in a fallen world is not for us to try really hard to carry our heavy burden, but rather give-up, quit and surrender to God, that’s what faith is all about. Everything is more than I can handle, but not more than Jesus can handle: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8). “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
6. We all worship the same God.
Yes, there is only one true and living God: “Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39). However, He only accepts worship that comes through Jesus Christ, not Muhammad, Buddha, Joseph Smith, etc: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
7. Bad things happen to good people.
Often we place ourselves in the judgment seat of what is good and bad, or who is good and bad. The most popular way to make that judgment is by comparison. For example, Bob is a good guy, because he is not as bad as Sam. However, according to the Bible, we’re all on equal ground because none of us is inherently good: “As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10).
8. When you die, God gains another angel.
Plain and simple. Humans are humans, and angels are angels. This remains so even in eternity. In fact, angels are intrigued by the interaction between God and His “image-bearing” humans: “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12).
9. We’re all going to the same place when we die.
There are two possible destinations when we pass: Heaven and Hell. However, only those who are in Christ will be with Him for all eternity when they physically die: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).The fact that many of us Christians believe these unbiblical statements shows our unfortunate overall biblical illiteracy. Instead of swallowing popular statements hook-line-and-sinker, may we be like the Bereans in the Book of Acts. When they heard Paul preach, they wanted to research the Scriptures themselves to authenticate what he was saying: “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:10 – 11).
What are some more unbiblical statements that you’ve heard Christians commonly use?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
###################Focus Bible College
|
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CURRENT PAY PAL ISSUES!
|
|
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Beta Testing
|
|
Click to set custom HTML
*******************************
Why not invite someone with a ministry calling to join US!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DON'T FORGET OUR MISSIONARIES
Passion for His Presence
Rev Chuck and Esther Miller
|
|
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cultivate Honduras
Rev Nathan and Kathy Brown
|
|
Remember Beloved
be Children of Light!
Beloved, There are new visions, directions
and outreach coming!
RISE TO THE CALL
2019
Bishop Dutch
******************************************************************
*******************************************************
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LINKS TO YOUR MONTHLY REPORT
EASTERN REGION (Includes Missouri)
CENTRAL REGION
WESTERN REGION
INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
EASTERN REGION (Includes Missouri)
CENTRAL REGION
WESTERN REGION
INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
( simply click on your region)
ATTENTION!!!
Because of a current issue with paypal please send current vows to:
FGRMC
PO BOX 1344
Sedalia, MO. 65302
******************************************************************************
ATTENTION!!!
Because of a current issue with paypal please send current vows to:
FGRMC
PO BOX 1344
Sedalia, MO. 65302
******************************************************************************
RSS Feed
