Yesterday in our worship service I challenged our people to start a revolution - a revolution of one. It only takes one person to impact the life of a people group, a nation, and yes, even the world. History is littered with examples of revolutionaries that brought about incredible change.
The revolution I am speaking of is spiritual in nature. Each of us who claims to be a follower of Christ must really take up the cross of discipleship. We need to take our follower-ship seriously. We need to be devoted to Christ and to walk in utter obedience to Him. We must devote ourselves to the same things the earliest Christ-followers devoted themselves to: the apostle's teaching (the Word), the fellowship (the Church), the breaking of bread (the sacraments) and prayer (direct communication with God). See Acts 2:42.
Then we must be about the business of being leaders. The best definition of leadership is one word: influence. We must make it our aim to influence those who don't know Jesus to come to faith in Him. We must live like Christians ("little Christs") and always be ready to share with others the internal hope we possess (see 1 Peter 3:15).
Let's turn our corner of the world upside-down for Christ! Let's decrease the potential population of hell by sharing a vision of heaven with those who need it most. Will you join me?
If you read this, what does the word "disciple" mean to you? I'd love to hear from you.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Challenging Days Ahead
I know that there will be those who will disagree with what I am writing today. However, I'm allowed to have my point of view as much as they do, so here I go.
I am disappointed in the results of the national election. The political agenda that has been embraced at both the national and state levels is one that takes us away from God. There are forces at work that have been waiting for this election to begin the onslaught against our civil liberties. There are lawyers that have been working behind the scenes to prepare an attack on Christian churches and organizations, eliminating our 501(c)3 status in an attempt to force churches to pay taxes while at the same time forcing nationalized health care on our institutions. If such action is legalized, then many churches will be forced out of existence. The financial burden will be too great. And when that happens, the programs and charities that currently meet the needs of many people will be eliminated, forcing people to become more and more dependent on the federal government. The new world order that our current political leaders are calling for will become a reality, paving the way for a world government and a world leader. This sounds eerily like the prophecies of Scripture.
However, I am not a fatalist. I still believe in prayer and the power of God! The Church must rise up! I am not espousing a political agenda or that the Church become another PAC. No, the Church must rise up and be the Church. We must get back to fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment. We must be soul winners. We must disciple those we lead to Christ. We must teach people the Truth.
My friends, there is no answer but Jesus! There is no power that can change a life but His! We must change our world one person at a time! But we must engage our culture with the message of hope and salvation. We can't wait for them to come to us. We must go to them! Those without Jesus are lost and dying and headed for a Christ-less hell. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (see John 14:6). As Josh McDowell once wrote, Jesus Christ is either Lord, lunatic, or liar. I believe He is Lord. Do you?
I am disappointed in the results of the national election. The political agenda that has been embraced at both the national and state levels is one that takes us away from God. There are forces at work that have been waiting for this election to begin the onslaught against our civil liberties. There are lawyers that have been working behind the scenes to prepare an attack on Christian churches and organizations, eliminating our 501(c)3 status in an attempt to force churches to pay taxes while at the same time forcing nationalized health care on our institutions. If such action is legalized, then many churches will be forced out of existence. The financial burden will be too great. And when that happens, the programs and charities that currently meet the needs of many people will be eliminated, forcing people to become more and more dependent on the federal government. The new world order that our current political leaders are calling for will become a reality, paving the way for a world government and a world leader. This sounds eerily like the prophecies of Scripture.
However, I am not a fatalist. I still believe in prayer and the power of God! The Church must rise up! I am not espousing a political agenda or that the Church become another PAC. No, the Church must rise up and be the Church. We must get back to fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment. We must be soul winners. We must disciple those we lead to Christ. We must teach people the Truth.
My friends, there is no answer but Jesus! There is no power that can change a life but His! We must change our world one person at a time! But we must engage our culture with the message of hope and salvation. We can't wait for them to come to us. We must go to them! Those without Jesus are lost and dying and headed for a Christ-less hell. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (see John 14:6). As Josh McDowell once wrote, Jesus Christ is either Lord, lunatic, or liar. I believe He is Lord. Do you?
Monday, November 5, 2012
Election Day
I've been sickened (again) this political season with all of the misleading campaign ads filled with lies and misdirection. I guess I shouldn't be surprised as it takes place every election cycle. I think what frustrates me even more is the number of people who can't seem to differentiate between truth and misinformation. Like mindless sheep headed for slaughter, people are headed for the polls tomorrow (or have already done so via absentee or early balloting) to cast their vote for a godless agenda that will condemn America to ruin.
But there is hope! No matter who is elected as the president, senator, congressman, etc, we who know the Lord have the inner realization that we have a future. There is hope for America! You see, our hope is not in the ways of man nor in the functions of a bureaucracy. No individual is going to save us from ourselves. We must turn to our Founding Father, and lift our voices to Him, and seek His ways. And when we do, we have hope!
When Solomon was dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem, God appeared to him and said, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land" (2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NLT).
It's really up to us - the Church! God restores when we are right with Him. I agree with Bill Hybels when he says, "The hope of the world is the local church." When the local church is walking with Jesus, that statement is true. When we are walking with Jesus, then there will be a prevailing church against which the powers of hell cannot conquer (see Matthew 16:18).
But there is hope! No matter who is elected as the president, senator, congressman, etc, we who know the Lord have the inner realization that we have a future. There is hope for America! You see, our hope is not in the ways of man nor in the functions of a bureaucracy. No individual is going to save us from ourselves. We must turn to our Founding Father, and lift our voices to Him, and seek His ways. And when we do, we have hope!
When Solomon was dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem, God appeared to him and said, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land" (2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NLT).
It's really up to us - the Church! God restores when we are right with Him. I agree with Bill Hybels when he says, "The hope of the world is the local church." When the local church is walking with Jesus, that statement is true. When we are walking with Jesus, then there will be a prevailing church against which the powers of hell cannot conquer (see Matthew 16:18).
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