glennGARLAND 

Harvest Worship

Romans 10:13-15 "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

I want to take this time to consider most likely the four most potent questions of our day. When the Holy Spirit brings you to this passage of scripture in Romans 10 and presents these questions to you the impact it makes on ones life is both answerable and enlivening. Jesus says in His "Sermon on the Mount", life is more than the clothes we wear, the houses we sleep in and the food we eat (Matt 6:25-34). Coming to the realization that maybe life has been diminished do to the blinding of eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4). Having the light of the gospel of glory of Christ shine on us is both our purpose and privilege.

Unless these questions, How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?, are answered the world will not experience the great love God has for them nor we enter into the fullness He has for us. Let me qualify this with the John 4 passage.

This is often spoken of in terms of worship because of the verses 23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. " and 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." I agree that this is probably one of the most defining worship passages in scripture but disagree that Jesus is referring to what we define worship to be in terms of service.

What is happening in this text? First of all this text says that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John the Baptist. Then notice that in parenthesis it says, (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples). Something is being said by this. It is not just and accident that these words are placed in the text. John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."(Matt 3:11). This is why Jesus allowed the disciples to do the baptizing because what he came to do couldn't be done until he was the redeemer of mankind. His work at the cross had to be finished and His victory over the grave had to be won, then He could give to man this new baptism into the Holy Spirit and into fire (see Ezekiel 36:25-38).

John 4:31 tells us the disciples encouraged Jesus to eat. This is such an important part of this story. This is why Jesus went one way and the disciples the other in verse four. The disciples had been baptizing and had developed an appetite doing so (John 4:8). This brings us to the lesson of this text. What is food? and What is drink? Jesus comes to the women at the well and asks for drink but only to make a point, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." Notice the passage keeps referring to Jesus as a prophet because he is telling her of what is to come. Then jump down to verse 32 "I have food to eat of which you do not know." Once again Jesus is showing us something beyond "flesh and blood"(Matthew 16:17, Galations 1:16) it is what the Spirit is speaking to the church(Revelations 2:7,11,17,29, 3:6,13,22).

John 4:34 is the the point Jesus is making about drink, food and worship. "Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work". What is it then He is referring to? He would go on to say, "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"(verse 35). Worship is more than a song or carried out in more than just an experience it is a life of labororing in the fields. This is the culmination of this who text….souls. My friend Gary Dyer, Pastor of evangelism at Seymour Harvest Church in Seymour IN always says "there is no greater gift we can bring to God than souls!"

Verses 36-38 Jesus once again prophesies that one would so but then another would reap. He would sow His life and we would reap a harvest! His life would become for us living waters and food that would stop our hunger. We are the reapers, the laborers in the fields that are ripe for harvest. This is the high call of worship! This is the spirit worship that Jesus refers too in both this text John 4 and with Nicodemis in John 3:3-8, "You must be born again.. of the spirit."

Doing the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work is what the questions in Romans 10 are all about. It is followed up by the scripture we love to sing, quote and refer to "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" This is not a literary device it is literal! Transportation in the first century was not trains, planes, and automobiles. These didn't exist until mid 19th to early 20th century. There were horses and boats but the most formable means of travel were scandals, yes people walked and this is what Romans 10:15 is referring to. In Matthew 28:19-20 the text tells us that your life will take you down man roads to many different places and as you go make disciples and baptize them.

A new way of walking! 1John 2:6, a Jesus walk. This is doing the will of Him who sent me and completing His work. Why? John 3:16 For God so loved the world. Why? Because the price that was paid (Jesus Christ) is worth every soul on the planet. Why? Because God deserves to be honored and worshiped and this is the greatest way to worship!

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THE MISSIONAL MEGACHURCH

BY DR. ED STETZER

They have the buildings, attendees, budgets and staffs most pastors only dream of—but many megachurches are done playing the numbers “game.” A missiologist dials in to uncover the truth and ask, “Are today’s megachurches making the right moves to transform lives and communities?”

What do you think of when you hear the word “megachurch”? Maybe polished productions, big person-alities, an expansive building, stellar programs (lots and lots of programs) and crowded parking lots with orange-vested attendants come to mind. Maybe a great worship service that leaves you laughing, crying or both. Or perhaps a creative children’s ministry—kind of a Jesus-meets-Chuck E. Cheese type of place.

To most people, the word “mega” suggests bigness and power, not necessarily missional ministry and sacrifice. (It combines nicely with well-known words like megalomaniac, megaphone and mega-millions. Words like mega-service, mega-sacrifice and mega-witness, well ... not so much.) Although “mega” is not exactly a word we think of when subjects like Jesus, the Bible or the Early Church are discussed, it definitely grabs our attention.

But what’s next for megas besides the infamous big productions and headline-making numbers? People have been criticizing the practices and predicting the demise of megachurches for more than a decade now, and some of their criticisms are valid. Many megachurches don’t live with a Kingdom focus—unless that kingdom has the megachurch pastor as the sovereign. At times, megachurches have seemed shallow, ego-driven and less than engaged in their local and global community.

On the other hand, I’ve been doing quite a bit of research to uncover whether bigness always tramples the values of Christ. Are the thousands of megachurch attendees across the globe really that shallow and easily fooled by the music, lights and makeup? Are the hallmarks of the megachurch still consumerism, excess programs and marketing tactics? Some may say yes, but lately I’ve noticed a progression in the way these churches are bringing the Gospel to the community and the world. Following their trajectory helps us identify five missional realms megachurches are stepping into—key realms that will likely define their future.

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1. Community Transformation
While some megachurches are building their own bowling alleys so believers won’t be offended by the lifestyles of those abrasive lost bowlers, others are serving and impacting their communities in profound ways—engaging the poor, working for the welfare of their cities, meeting practical needs in the community, purposely joining “secular” sports leagues—and seeing lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.
For example, the 3,300 members of Calvary Church in Charlotte, N.C. (calvarychurch.com), engage in more than a dozen local outreach opportunities each week. Church volunteers operate the Homeless & Street Ministry where they cook and serve breakfast to hundreds of people on Saturdays at the Uptown Shelter and on downtown streets. And every Wednesday, the volunteer-run Clothes Closet provides quality, gently used clothing to those in need in the community. Church members also serve at the nearby Jackson Park Ministries, which helps inner-city families deal with extreme financial hardship and broken family relationships by providing housing and services to help them recover and stay together. The ministry also offers classes on money management, as well as marriage and parenting skills.
What’s happening at Calvary Church is a practical outworking of missional living. Calvary is focusing on something other than its members, its services and its programs, and by doing so, it’s joining God on His mission in the world. Like Calvary, other megachurches are also deciding that what they are receiving from God—an abundance of people, resources and callings—is going to be the determining factor that drives their ministry purpose, commitment and giving. They’re turning their focus from “every member a minister” to “every member on mission,” and effecting change in the lives of their members and communities.
Megas are also partnering with organizations and indi-viduals in their community to harness various talents and abilities for Kingdom work. For example, 10,000-member First A.M.E. Church of Los Angeles (famechurch.org) conducts a free legal clinic two Sundays a month to assist people who cannot afford an attorney with landlord/tenant disputes, credit issues, real estate and more. The church clinic networks with the UCLA School of Law and its students to provide totally free assistance with no income requirements. While silencing megachurch critics may be next to impossible, it’s hard to argue with the demonstrated power of community transformation. The scope of these endeavors is proof of the existence—and the rise—of others-centered megachurches across the country. Who, after all, is better at pulling together diverse people, resources and organizations and getting the whole community to take advantage of beneficial opportunities? It seems the megachurch is a pretty good candidate.
2. Global Ministry
For too many churches, going missional amounts to little more than having a pastor with a goatee and playing indie rock during a service. But true missional engagement isn’t about being trendy; it involves joining God in His mission both locally and globally. Going forward, more and more megachurches are taking Jesus’ words from Acts 1:8 to heart—that we are to witness of His glory in both local (our Jerusalem) and global (uttermost parts of the earth) settings—and utilizing their strength and influence toward that end.
Take Rick Warren, for example. Being the pastor of a church that defined the boomer megachurch phenomenon (think Hawaiian shirts, shoes without socks and a baptism pool right off the glass sanctuary) was not enough. Warren knew he was called to a global mission, so building upon the success of his book Purpose Driven Life, Saddleback Church initiated his P.E.A.C.E. plan (thepeaceplan.com) in 2005.
Citing what he labeled as the five Global Goliaths—spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases, and illiteracy and lack of education—Warren singled out the worldwide network of Christian churches as the only organization with the resources to solve these problems. After spreading awareness, Saddleback began providing leadership and training opportunities for churches around the world that wanted to get involved in the P.E.A.C.E. plan, through seminar-type briefings and an extensive online system of tools and resources.
That’s what can happen when a mega-church focuses on not only increasing its own size and numbers, but on investing its God-given resources for the purpose of extending His Kingdom around the world. I believe this kind of global leadership initiative will largely characterize the megachurch of the future.
But significant global awareness and influence is also happening at the local level. As the U.S. population becomes increasingly diversified, I see many megachurches claiming their role as Gospel ambassadors and cultural anthropologists.
In Pensacola, FL, the 10,000-member Olive Baptist Church (olivebaptist.org) is focused on reaching diverse ethnicities within its community. As Pastor Ted Traylor encourages the church to be missional, he models that concept with a multicultural staff of Hispanic, Russian and Chinese pastors. The church identified key people groups to intentionally reach; then they hired staff who spoke each language and understood each culture to show the church’s commitment to taking the Gospel to all ethnicities. Whether through beginning a global initiative or diversifying ethnic presence within the congregation, megachurches are on the forefront of pushing churches to heed Christ’s call to go therefore into the world and make disciples of all nations.
3. Apostolic Networking
More and more megachurches understand that they are not called to be kings of the mountain. Rather, the Lord has blessed them so that they can bless their communities and incrementally reproduce their talents through other churches. Many megas are doing this by networking outside their church—a methodology called “apostolic networking”—or acting as a key leader of a network that partners in new missional endeavors.
This kind of megachurch collaboration is an increasingly prevalent theme that will carry into the future. Convening best practices and a wealth of diverse experience around a common table produces rich and strategic alignments, in turn providing new leadership and new means of collaboration.
As I’ve studied this changing paradigm, I’ve noticed many megachurches partnering with other smaller churches by freely sharing their vast supply of resources and experience—developing training venues, church-planting networks, outwardly focused seminars and conferences, and online training for other churches. They’re making their staffs and resources available to other leaders and churches all over the world. I predict these strategic partnerships will only increase, replacing the competitive mindsets of the past.
Community Christian Church (communitychristian.org) in Naperville, Ill., is a prime example of leveraging influence not for its own means or renown, but to extend the Kingdom of God. As an outflow of the 5,000-member church’s exponential growth and the increasing number of pastors nationwide who wanted to learn from its success, the Naperville-based NewThing network (newthing.org) emerged to coach other pastors in church planting and multi-site strategies. Founding pastors Dave and Jon Ferguson lead their venture with this mission: "To be a catalyst for a movement of reproducing churches relentlessly dedicated to helping people find their way back to God."
Still other megachurches like Kensington Community Church in Troy, Mich. (kensingtonchurch.org), are aligning with organizations like Vision360 (vision360.org), a multi-denominational ministry that functions like a network of apostolic networks committed to reproducing churches. Led by former church planter Steve Johnson and Al Weiss, president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Vision360 aims to impact at least 50 cities throughout the United States, resulting in 1,000 new churches. Its international goal is to start as many as 500 churches in the largest cities across the globe.
That’s a lot of cities and a lot of people, but another growing megachurch trend has the capability to impact millions of people: virtual social networking. Multi-site LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, Okla. (lifechurch.tv), may be paving the way—it is intentionally engaging people in church through its Internet campus, which can either mean people watching the sermons online or experiencing the full virtual effect in the 3D digital world SecondLife (secondlife.com). On the weekend of Aug. 13, 2007, LifeChurch.tv’s Web site had more than 800 IPs (or Web site addresses) logged in for its online church service. In fact, one IP represented a group of 17 people in Germany who viewed the experience together and are living out the LifeChurch.tv community in another country. Skip ahead 10 years, and this kind of virtual worship won’t be unusual for the megachurch—it’ll be the norm.
4. Holistic Disciple-Making
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to mega-churches being missional is the ease with which individuals can simply blend into the large crowds, remaining faithful as attendees but disengaged from other members and uninvolved in service and outreach. However, many mega-churches are reversing this trend by reorienting their members to the centrality of Jesus’ message: discipling people toward living their lives in outward ways, like missionaries.
For megachurches, a praxis style of discipleship is catching on, whereby seasoned workers are taking others hand in hand to the real places of ministry, quite often beyond the church campus itself. At 4,300-member Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas (mdpc.org), this missional training starts at the beginning for newcomers. The New Members Class is a six-session process, spread out over six weeks, that deeply embeds a missional outreach experience in its participants, driving home the value of being an outward-focused church and building relationships with other members.
As Diann Turet, the New Members director, explains, “We try to get our new members to understand that these ministries happen because everyone is involved. We take a Saturday and spend five to six hours on a project. When they experience the joy of reaching out to the food pantries we serve, or the junior high school where we’ve done makeovers for the library, painted the teachers’ lounge and weeded the flowerbeds, they get it. It makes all the difference.”
Also teaching church members to live their lives from a missionary stance is 16,000-member Phoenix First Assembly in Arizona (phoenixfirst.org), which sends enthusiastic, well-organized teams to conduct more than a dozen outreaches, transform neighborhoods and break the cycle of poverty and violence. Through one ministry called Sponsor-a-Bus, Phoenix First Assembly picks up people for church—and nine bus routes operate throughout the week to serve the disabled, elderly and nursing home residents often forgotten by society. Its independent fleet of 34 buses is recognized nationwide for serving the Phoenix metro area.
From my observations, megachurches training members to live with a 24/7 missional focus are coming out at the forefront of the holistic Gospel that Jesus taught. We’ll continue to see them excel in plugging their members into niches where they can develop lasting relationships and change the world.
5. Church Multiplication
The title “fastest-shrinking megachurch” may go to New Hope Christian Fellowship O’ahu in Honolulu, Hawaii (enewhope.org), led by Wayne Cordeiro. Attendance is dropping like a rock. But Cordeiro seems pretty happy about it. On the surface, going from 12,000 weekend attendees to 9,200 may seem like decline. But by planting 83 new churches, New Hope continues to reseed itself by multiplying churches rather than adding to its own numbers. Cordeiro plans to plant New Hope’s 100th church by 2010.
In recent years, church planting has gained tremendous traction. And many megachurches are now embracing a missional vision for church multiplication. Notice I did not say church planting—these churches are not interested in simply planting one church at a time, but are leveraging their resources to multiply or plant several churches on an annual basis.
A prime example of a megachurch that engages in church multiplication is New York-based Redeemer Presbyterian (redeemer.com) led by Tim Keller. With an average weekly attendance of 4,800, it has participated in more than 100 church plants and sets aside $2 million annually for the Redeemer Church Planting Center. Redeemer is a model of local church leaders assuming significant responsibility for planting churches, not leaving the burden to their denominations.
By making church planting a priority, megachurches are discovering that growth is experienced on both sides—not only do daughter churches see new growth, but involved mother churches are also seeing their members strengthened to reach more unchurched members of their community.
A Bright Future
While this article doesn’t prove that all megachurches are on the right track, it certainly points out that not all of them are egomaniacs. Many are stepping into these five key missional realms and using their vast resources to touch lives in practical ways and share the Gospel.
Remember that smaller, niche churches don’t have a monopoly on missional. People are drawn by the authentic Gospel lived out through both large and small bodies. You don’t have to wear Birkenstocks to be about God’s mission—you can even do it from a very large church.
As we survey the future of mega-churches, we should have a sense of hope and excitement. The churches of tomorrow are truly making a difference in building God’s Kingdom and living as the body of Christ in their communities. And their communities, the body of Christ, the world and the Gospel, all are better off because of their efforts.

Ed Stetzer is director of LifeWay Research. Read and participate in discussions of this article and other megachurch issues at edstetzer.com.

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WHAT IS THE ROMANS ROAD TO SALVATION?

The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.

The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives. The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!

The third verse on the Romans road to salvation picks up where Romans 6:23 left off, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:8 declares, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus' death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' death as the payment for our sins.

The fourth stop on the Romans road to salvation is Romans 10:9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The final aspect of the Romans road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Would you like to follow the Romans road to salvation? If so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation!

Lets pray... "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I turn away from my sin and place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"

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GOOD INVESTMENTS

I have been reading up on the economic conditions we are experiencing lately and here are some wonderful tips I want to share so you can have more to do more for the Lord. Here's the silver lining of the mortgage mess: those cash-strapped banks are raising the rates they pay on certificates of deposit and money-market accounts to bring in more green. Why not lend them some money and pick up some safe FDIC-insured returns?

For example, Countrywide Bank (countrywide.com) is currently offering 5.55 percent interest on a six-month CD and 5.65 percent on a one-year CD. AmTrust Direct (amtrustdirect.com) is paying 5.3 percent on its money-market deposit account. That's better than the rates being offered by most money-market mutual funds these days, and way more stable than anything this year's stock market might hand you.

You can compare rates at bankrate.com or banx.com, but go to individual bank Web sites, too, as the rates listed there can be better than the ones at secondary sites.

Also, check with your broker: most online and full-service brokers can get top CD rates and pass them on to you. Brokers can split your money among several banks, and that's good if you want to stash big money. FDIC insurance still limits nonretirement accounts to $100,000 of coverage—and that covers everything you have in an individual bank, including your checking account.

Even if you have less than the top insured amount at one bank, it may pay to split up your money and buy several CDs at that bank. That strategy, called a "CD ladder," can help you squeeze out higher rates while keeping some of your money liquid. Here's how to do it: Buy a three-month, a six-month, a nine-month and a one-year CD, and then convert each to a one-year CD as it comes due. Once you've done that, you can just roll over each one-year CD into another one-year CD. You'll be earning one-year returns but be in a position to catch rate hikes as they come along and you'll have some of your money coming back at you every quarter.

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PAYING DOWN DEBT

Davene and I have are about debt free. After coming home from the mission field in 1996 we accumulated thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. We had nothing and needed everything so with our easy lending society it wasn't long before we dug ourselves into a huge hole. One day in devotion the Lord spoke to us from Romans 13:8,"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." This put our hearts to the test and within a matter of 5 years we have just about eliminated all of or debt. Here is just a little of what we learned.

What is the best strategy for paying down debt in a hurry?
Start with your credit-card bills. Make a chart listing the interest rate (annual percentage rate, or APR), annual fee, balance, credit limit and minimum payments on all the cards. Total the balances. Analyze your repayment time by using an online calculator at bankrate.com or fool.com. Put the lion's share of your resources to paying down your highest-interest card first, then moving on to the card with the next highest APR. Even $10 more per month can make a difference.
What about transferring balances to home-equity lines or low-interest credit cards?
I don't recommend exchanging unsecured debt (credit cards) for secured (mortgage or home equity). If you stop paying your mortgage or home-equity lines, you could lose your home. If you have good credit, consolidating your debts on a zero-interest or low-interest credit card might save money.
Should troubled borrowers contact creditors themselves?
This is a tough question to answer. Borrowers facing default can contact the creditor and ask to work out a modified payment plan that reduces their payments to a more manageable level. However, it can be difficult to get a firm commitment on a work-out plan, and in calling, you may be signaling to the creditor that you are in trouble, which may result in higher interest rates or reduced credit limits.
At what point should they seek credit counseling?
When you are in debt, speaking with a nonprofit credit-counseling agency affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (nfcc.org) is never a bad idea. These agencies offer budgeting and money-management services without the necessity of enrolling in a debt-management plan. Learn all the details before you commit to a formal debt-management plan. These programs are not for everyone, and it may feel as if you're no longer in control of your own finances.
Any other strategies you'd recommend?
Debt problems are often income problems, so moonlighting or selling assets can help you pay off your debts faster. Consider a part-time or weekend job, renting out an extra room or selling your car and buying a lower-cost used vehicle.

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WHAT DETERMINES WHO WE ARE?

I want to take this newsletter to share some thoughts about 2007. There is always a wonderful anticipation that comes for the New Year. Those who have had an awful year plagued with catastrophe and turmoil look for a relief and an opportunity to turn a new page in the chapter of life. Others who have seen an excellent and successful year look for an ever increasing margin of these good times.

I want you to know that our lives are not determined by what happens to us but how we react to what happens. We sometimes want to ignore the warnings that life is challenging. Jesus didn’t keep them a secret, one text that reflects this is Matthew 24:4-14. We see Him continually warning his followers of the persecutions and in one such warning goes as far as to say that all the hardships we would experience are only “the beginning of sorrows”. (Matthew 24:8) But what I want to focus on in this text is His comfort and that is verse 13, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Notice the words “but he”. This means everyone will not choose to. Just like the parable of the sower and the seed; with some Satan comes immediately and takes away, with others immediately they stumble, with others the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in to choke them and even the ones who endure will experience different measures of relief 30% or 60% which is why we are encouraged to “endure until the end” for the 100%.(Mark 4:1-20). When whatever life brings you comes, keep in mind your reaction is your key. Paul the Apostle encouraged Timothy along the same line. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3). He unlocked the key strategy for a good soldier that is to endure ( to undergo {as a hardship} especially without giving in, to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding).

Before I tell you some of the things I feel God is going to do in 2007 I want to finish this particular vein. It seems somewhat melancholy that we must endure. But the message is much greater than what it seems. In Christ’s high priestly prayer (John 17) he says something awesome in regard to what life throws at us; (vs15) “I do not pray that You(God) should take them(us) out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” Jesus never prayed that we would be taken from our circumstances but that we would react effectively, triumphantly in them. John would later write, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”(1 John 5:18) With the right reaction the enemy can’t even touch us no matter what circumstance life brings.

So what must we do now? Our lives are not determined by what life brings us but the attitude we bring to life. This attitude is displayed in our reactions! So whether we abase or abound like Paul we have this mind,”Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. “(Philippians 4:11-14).

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A PROPHETIC MESSAGE FOR 2007.

Here are just a few of the words God is speaking to us concerning the New Year.

  1. It is the year of completion. God’s work on the planet is not done; He has plans that have not yet manifest. This is a year of unfolding. In order for His plan to be accomplished it starts with us. The words we have received and the destiny we have been given must come to pass. Seven is the number of completion and this is a year of fulfilling the promises.
  2. It is a year of the open Heaven. There has been a cry from the earth to God that he would “rend the heavens” (Isaiah 64:1-5). There are seven points of relevance for ‘07’ from this text.
    1. That You (the Lord) would come down.- there will be divine appointments with God. There will be a knowing of His presence like we have never experienced. To such an extent that the mountains (a type of the church) will shake at His presence.
    2. The fires of God will burn and cause the waters to boil. There has been an emphasis on the “river” as a movement and now God is turning up the heat of the waters to bring a cleansing to those who are in it. This is a precaution to those who profane His name among the nations (Ezekiel 39:7).
    3. Nations will tremble at His presence! This is going to happen in various ways; by those who are the body of the Lord Jesus and manifest the authority of the Kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16) and by Him making Himself know through acts only God can perform.
    4. saiah 64:4(also 2 Cor. 2:9) is brought to life by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 with a demonstration of Spirit and power (vs. 4). Holy Spirit Knowing and unveiling the hidden realms of God (vs. 10). With the knowing an accessing of those things freely given to us by God(vs. 12). An increase of spiritual discernment and judgement.
    5. Those who rejoice in and do righteous will have tremendous encounters with God.
    6. God is not happy with the persistent sin in His people and will continue to expose and remove vessel that will not humble themselves and work on the removal of that which in unclean.
    7. There will be a great cry for salvation. (Psalms 130:3-4) Emphasis verse 4, “For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption”.

Remember: Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens, not buy what life brings to us but by the attitude we bring to life.

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WHAT IS A TRUE SALVATION EXPERIENCE?

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE REAL THING?

I believe that every conversion is different in some respects, but that there are certain essential elements that are present in every genuine conversion experience. Lets look at these elements?

First of all, in every true salvation experience, faith is exercised.

Romans 1:16-"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

"to every one that believeth"-Did you notice those words. There can be no salvation experience with-out believing God. Heb. 11:6-"But without faith it is impossible to please God..."

If faith is required, and it is, then where do we acquire it? We are not born with it. What do the Scriptures say? Romans 10:17-"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

So, no one can be saved until they hear the Word of God-the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:13-14, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher?” Notice what is required- A messenger from God, An introduction to Jesus and belief, or faith.

Instead of preaching Jesus today we see even so called "Christian evangelists" using gimmics like giving away presents to people who come forward, and promising trips, or some other thing to "get decisions." We need to be careful. Christ only wants true followers. God is "the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."-Romans 3:25-26

Secondly, I would like to point out that repentance is necessary for there to be a true salvation experience. What is repentance? In the Greek there are words that express sorrow for sin, a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of will. All of these are involved when we truly repent.

We are convicted of our sins by the Holy Spirit. We feel rotten-condemned and lost. But then the light of the Gospel shines upon us, and we see and realize that God truly loves us, and that He gave His only Son to die for our sins, and we turn from sin to God. We beg His forgiveness, and we take Christ as our own personal Lord and Master.

Romans 2:4-"The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance..."
Luke 12:4-"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Has there ever come a time in your life when you were deeply sorry for your sins, and you looked up to God and asked for His mercy, believing in Christ, and trusting only in Him, and what He did for you on the cross and by His resurrection from the dead?

Then, if you have, I believe you can be assured that your "salvation experience" is real.

Was there a definite turning point in your life? Did you become a new creation in Christ.

2nd Corinthians 5:17-"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

There is a "man made religion," but God wants you to have the true experience of His saving grace.

Every conversion experience is different in a sense

  • - some are more dramatic
  • - some are more emotional than others
  • - some are immediately more life changing

I’m asking you today to repent of your sins, and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Invite Him into your heart, and you will have a genuine salvation experience. Then, after you are saved, follow Him in New Testament believer’s baptism, get in a church where you can be taught the truth of God and grow, and lead others, as many as you can to Christ, so that they can receive God’s forgiveness and peace in their hearts.

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21 AREAS OF TOTAL TRANSFORMATION

Revelation 21:5

God loves you so much that he will recieve you just the way you are, but His love is so great He won't let you stay that way! Here are just a few ways the Lord wants to transform you.

  1. FROM CARNALITY TO SPIRITUALITY: Galatians 5: 19-24 The Lord wants to transform us from our carnal and fleshly nature into His divine spiritual nature displaying the fruit of the Spirit.
  2. FROM FEAR TO FAITH: Isaiah 41 :10-13 Hebrews 10:38 Hebrews 13:5-6 The Lord wants to transform us from living with fear into living a fearless and courageous life through our deep faith in God's goodness and faithfulness.
  3. FROM BARRENESS TO FRUITFULNESS: John 15 : 2,8,16 Psalm 1:1-3 The Lord wants to transform us from living a barren and useless life into living a fruitful and useful life which is a blessing to others.
  4. FROM WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH: Isaiah 40:29-31 II Corinthians 12 :9-10 The Lord wants to transform our weakness into strength as we exchange our weakness for His strength by waiting in His Presence.
  5. FROM CURSES TO BLESSINGS: Galatians 3 :13-14 The Lord wants to remove every curse from our lives and shower us with His blessings because He became curse for us on the cross of Calvary.
  6. FROM FAILURE TO SUCCESS: John 21 :3-6 The Lord wants to turn our failures into success as we follow His divine directions which enables us to succeed where we have failed in the past.
  7. FROM SICKNESS TO HEALTH: Matthew 4 : 23-24 Matthew 8 : 14-17 The Lord wants to heal our sickness and grant us good health as He took our infirmities and sicknesses upon Himself on the cross of calvary.
  8. FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY: II Corinthians 8:9 III John 2 The Lord wants to turn our poverty into prosperity as He had sacrificed His prosperity when He came to this world in order to bless us and meet our needs.
  9. FROM IGNORANCE TO REVELATION: I Corinthians 2 :9-14 John 8:32 The Lord wants to remove our ignorance and grant us Divine Revelation of what He had prepared for us to enjoy and experience.
  10. FROM CAPTIVITY TO LIBERTY: Luke 4:18 Acts 10:38 The Lord wants to turn our captivity into liberty and set us free from all the situations that have kept us bound and from all the bondages of Satan.
  11. FROM SELFISHNESS TO UNSELFISHNESS: II Corinthians 5:15 Matthew 10:37-39 Matthew 20:28 The Lord wants to transform us from living selfishly into living an unselfish life which is a channel of blessing to others.
  12. FROM CARELESSNESS TO PURPOSE: Ephesians 5:14-17 Matthew 24 :45-51 The Lord wants to transform us from living a careless and aimless life into living a life of purpose and accomplishment according to His unique plan for us.
  13. FROM SORROW TO JOY: John 16:20 I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 The Lord wants to transform our sorrows into joy and cause us to live a live of joy and happiness which would heal our broken hearts from all hurt and pain.
  14. FROM PASSIVENESS TO ACTIVENESS: Romans 12 :11 Matthew 20:6-7 The Lord wants to transform us from living a passive life which only receives from others into a life of activeness which reaches out to help others.
  15. FROM HATRED TO LOVE: Matthew 5:43-48 Matthew 6:14-15 I John 3 :10-18 The Lord wants to transform our hatred into love as hatred is dangerous for our soul and help us love even our enemies and those who have harmed us.
  16. FROM DISORDER TO ORDER: Genesis 1:1-3 I Corinthians 14 : 40 ,33 The Lord wants to remove disorder from our lives and bring order and discipline into lives which would remove confusion and needless problems.
  17. FROM STAGNANCY TO GROWTH: Proverbs 4:18 I Chronicles 4 :10 Matthew 25 :14-30 The Lord wants to lift us from a stagnant level into a level of growth and progress and expansion and help us to reach greater heights in our lives.
  18. FROM DIVISION TO UNITY: Psalms 133 :1-3 Ezekiel 37 :1-10 Acts 2:1-4 The Lord wants to remove division from the midst of us and bring us into unity and harmony which would bring down the blessings of heaven upon us.
  19. FROM MURMURING TO PRAISE: I Corinthians 10:10-11 Acts 16:25-26 Psalms 34:1 The Lord wants to transform us from an attitude of murmuring and complaining into a life of praise and thanksgiving which would fill us with joy.
  20. FROM SILENCE TO PROCLAMATION: Matthew 10 :32-33 Acts 1:8 Mark 16:15 The Lord wants to transform us from being silent about the gospel into proclamation and witnessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved.
  21. FROM PRAYERLESSNESS TO PRAYER: Luke 18:1-7 Matthew 9:37-38 Ezekiel 36 : 33-38 The Lord wants to transform our lives from a prayerless life into a life devoted to prayer for the purposes of God to be fulfilled in our lives.

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