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Power Of The Sent Word

We believe the Word of God is powerful above all, as scripture states that heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word will remain.  The Word is so powerful that it transcends time and space, as it's vibrations are infinite.  The sent Word will not return void to the sender, and will go and do all it was sent to do.  Begin to exercise your authority by using this power you were given access to through Christ.



 

Led By The Spirit

Follow The Crowd Or Follow God
Learning to accurately distinguish the leading of the Holy Spirit is perhaps the greatest challenge we can face. Abiding in the Lord and maintaining a living connection with Him begins with hearing and obeying Him. God told Israel to obey His written Word and His voice. 

When the army of Israel invaded Jericho, they must have heard God’s voice. The strange battle plan they used wasn’t written in the Law of Moses. And certainly no human being would suggest a seven-day march around a city as the most effective form of invasion! But when God told Joshua His plan and Joshua followed it, there was victory. To walk in victory today, you must do the same. 

The written Word of God can give you general direction, but it will not tell you whether to take that specific job or not. You must be able to discern the voice or the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You must be sensitive to His leadings in your heart.

The same applies to us today as we seek the leading of the Holy Spirit. By studying the Word and meditating on it, the mind is renewed to spiritual things.  You can be certain that the Spirit will never lead you into doing something that is opposite of God’s written Word. The Spirit and the Word always agree.

Give the Holy Spirit opportunity to speak the perfect will of God in your life. You will hear answers to questions you’ve had and you will gain understanding .


Prayer For The Day
Lord, I lift up our priorities as a congregation. Give us ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying to our church. Open our eyes to see things as You see them. Help us move beyond issues of immediate need to pursuing Kingdom issues. Bring us to a place where “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is more than just words we say. Holy Spirit, show us any way we are grieving, quenching or resisting You. Convict us and lead us to level ground. Help us keep in step with You as we live by You. Reign in us so that we experience Your freedom. Lead us into grace, life and peace.


Study Scripture
Psalm 143:10
1 Corinthians 2:9-12




 

Adding To The Number

Mission of Passion
We have the most amazing mission on planet earth. And we have a generation of people in front of us who want to give their lives to a cause that’s bigger than themselves.  Yet it’s easy to believe that the only way to reach them is by spending money on lights, gear and sound. But, that’s just not true.  You don’t need a polished church to reach the next generation nearly as much as you need a passionate church. Because when it comes to reaching people, passion beats polish.

The local church really is the hope of the world. The mission is what you’re doing (like reaching people with the love and hope of Jesus), and it never changes. The problem is many churches fall in love with methods, not with mission. A method is a way of doing things: programs the church runs, the style of music, the architecture of a building or facility, a staffing or governance model. The more you focus on the mission, the easier it is to change the methods.

Over time, churches become increasingly self-centered and self-serving. The result, not surprisingly, is that such churches stop growing. This most important principle says that leaders must turn the focus of their congregation away from themselves, and back to their original mission—and Christ’s mission—of making disciples.

Jesus began his conversation with the Samaritan woman on a topic of her interest—water. Then, in a microcosm of the disciple-making process, he talked about water where she would never thirst again! The implication? Don’t start with your agenda, start with theirs. When your church speaks to unreached people’s felt needs, you will get a hearing.

If the Gospel of Christ is really relevant to all aspects of life (which, of course, it is), we need to show people how it is relevant to their lives, as well.  


Prayer For The Day
Lord, I lift up our church growth to You. Add to our number daily through new converts. Birth spiritual children through us. Let our actions win people over without words. Use us as Your agents to rescue people from darkness and bring them into Your Son’s kingdom. We long to be worthy ambassadors in this ministry You have entrusted to us: that of proclaiming Your message of reconciliation to a lost world.


Study Scripture
Acts 2:46-47
2 Corinthians 5:20-21



 

Equipping The People

We Are To Serve One Another
"Ministry" is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning "to serve". In the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to God and to other people in His name. Jesus provided the pattern for Christian ministry—He came, not to receive service, but to give it. The church should minister by meeting people's needs with love and humility on Christ's behalf. The church is to minister to others out of their devotion to Christ and their love for others, whether the other people are believers or unbelievers. Ministry to others should be impartial and unconditional, always seeking to help others as Jesus would.

The content of ministry seems to focus more on spiritual things, not just practical things. Ministry should certainly place emphasis on sharing the Gospel with others so they can come to know Him and receive Him as personal Savior, go on to experience Him as Lord of their life, and go even further to know Christ as the essence of their Life.  However, Ministry can, and should, include ministering to the physical, emotional, mental, vocational, and financial needs of others. 

Jesus did, and so should we!


Prayer For The Day
Lord, I lift up our ministries and outreach programs. Remind us to do good and share with others as a pleasing sacrifice to You. Keep us outwardly focused so we don’t become self-absorbed. Help us teach one another to be faithful ministers of Your Son. Enable us to meet people wherever they have a need. Help us speak the truth in love to each other even when it's hard. Help us minister faithfully as we proclaim the gospel so that the ones we reach might become an acceptable offering to You.  Let the ministries and outreach programs produce people who feel Your passion for them and who ignite their passion for You.


Study Scripture
Matthew 25:35-40
Ephesians 4:11-14



 

One Can Not Bear The Load Alone

Delegating and Cooperating
One of the most loving things God did for the Israelites was to teach them how to govern themselves – with God at the helm, of course! It started with one – Moses – who had grown up in the palaces of Egypt. Moses knew how to govern. But how could one person govern an entire nation?

Moses’ father-in-law, a priest in his own community, knew that this would be too great a task for one person. It was Jethro’s recommendation that Moses select judges to help govern the people. Moses would teach the judges, and the judges would help lead the people. This would help prepare the people to run as an organized community when finally, they would enter the promised land. 

The ministers and leadership of the church play a vital part in helping the church reach the promises and vision that God has placed on the ministry. They help to carry what is to heavy for one.  Because of the help of leadership, then everyone is able to endure. They help move the church from good to great!

So today, make a special time to pray for your ministers and leaders.

Prayer For The Day
Lord, I lift up the ministers and leaders to You. Help us respect and honor them as they direct the affairs of our church. May they wholeheartedly give their attention to prayer and ministry of the Word. Keep them above reproach, devoted to their families, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable and able to teach. May they seek to know the members of the church, investing in their lives, and walking alongside them in both their sorrows and joys. Help them to carry the vision of the house into the Promises of God.

Study Scripture
Exodus 18:13-23
1 Timothy 5:17



 

Lift Up The Pastor

We're In This Together
A group is only as good as it's leader, and they will often go only as far as their leader has traveled.  Leadership is often not easy, but with the proper support, great things can be acheived.  When the Israelites were being attacked by the Amalekites, Moses positioned himself on the hill uplifting his staff (a true leader will always lift up his staff).

While doing this, Moses grew tired, and as a result the Amalekites started to prevail.  The enemy will try to use exhaustion as way to defeat you.  This is when Aaron and Hur stepped in and gave support to Moses. They knew that supporting him would in turn give them victory. It wasn't about the good of one, but the empowering of all.

So today, make a special time to pray for your pastors.

Prayer For The Day
Lord, I lift up my pastors to You. Thank You for their servant’s heart. Keep them from losing heart when ministry gets tough. Help them prove faithful with the things you have entrusted to them. Teach them Your ways so that they know You and finds favor with You as they leads us. Keep them open and honest before You and help them to represent the truth plainly. 

Study Scripture
Exodus 17:9-13
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12