F4S: June 2012

Monday, June 25, 2012

Let This Mind, Attitude, Heart And Right Spirit Be In You Which Was Also In Christ

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it...they say. Sounds 'bout right. I can accept that. Jesus always properly responded to circumstances, issues, and hard things confronting Him, because He walked maintained a close communion with the Father and walked in the Spirit rather than after the flesh. And He can also equip us to do the same.  

Hey gang, when others around us on the freeways, or in school, at church (yes, even with the flock on the Rock), or in the workplace etc... are so easily adopting the cold, angry attitudes of those who perhaps earlier kick their cats around so to speak, let's opt to allow God's love and grace to flow through us instead. It can happen - He can make it happen as we remember to look to Jesus.

And that doesn't mean you aren't to stand up and get honest with rude, cruel or abusive people who somehow had a bad day / week / year or whole life and then take it out of all around em. We do want them helped, but if we all just let em and there are never any consequences for their wrong choices, then they tend to keep getting away with it at another's expense. I happened to get real straightforward-honest recently - needed to. Things changed.

I challenge you to go vertical before horizontal (to the Bible God in prayer) with honest communication. He can handle it. Are you in Christ now, cultivating a righteous relationship? You can be and that is most important. Jotted down a quick prayer..cuz I needed to. Believer, would you pray something like...

P.  Please draw us closer even more. Wanna have the attitude you have and did have down here. Don't wanna pray long publicly for show here.. but God, I praise, absolutely adore, and worship You for who You are today. You can make even this day how it ought to be for Your people as they pursue You. I will rejoice in Your Spirit. Glad you never change, or fake it, or manipulate, or deceive or even pretend like the religious leaders of your day..and of my day. I ask for wisdom, fresh anointing, holy fear, and keen soul-winning insight. Feelin' grateful inside that You meet all our needs daily and guide us in You're good Way. Thanks. So SO faithful are You..always! When I/we run into some strong attitudes, (as I personally encountered yesterday [not at home] while doing nothin' wrong.. which is really so typical to experience in this world-gone-astray), then please help me/us to maintain that same attitude that Christ displayed. Do need grace 24 / 7 / 365. Your holy character and boundless love make it so easy for us to want to be near You, therefore we magnify You today in Jesus Name!

"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!" 57/11ps.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes." ~ Chuck Swindoll, my local pastor


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Do ya hate waiting? Sometimes I feel like I can't stand to wait another minute.

Dislike waiting? How about all kinds of waiting?

Are you wanting to get close to the Lord? Are you looking to the Lord to meet all your needs while asking specifically, while listening, or are you looking to yourself or perhaps to this World system to meet your needs?

Think about Hannah in the Old Testament. She waited patiently and then saw the Lord turn her sorrow into overflowing joy. Her song (see 1 Sam. 2:1-10) is a reminder that one's deep disappointment can indeed lead to fulfillment, joy, and deep delight. For those who wait on the Lord in the Lord.. even real long sometimes.. will one day discover new joy and rejoicing.

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition." ~ 1 Samuel 1:27


"Let patience have her perfect work; let God refine your gold; for in His time He'll show you why, and blessings great unfold." ~ Bosch

Try getting' alone to wait on the Lord.. just to know Him well. It's so worth it. Those who do not hope cannot wait; but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Choose to hope in the Lord..out loud. He will hear you.

"'Stand still' – keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, 'Go forward.'" ~ Charles Spurgeon

Perhaps you would like some more good thoughts on waiting?

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

"If any are inclined to despond, because they do not have such patience, let them be of good courage. It is in the course of our feeble and very imperfect waiting that God Himself, by His hidden power, strengthens us and works out in us the patience of the great saints, the patience of Christ Himself." – Andrew Murray

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20

"If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord's people have always been a waiting people." ~ Charles Spurgeon

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 

"Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be." ~ John Ortberg

"When you approach Me in stillness and in trust, you are strengthened. You need a buffer zone of silence around you in order to focus on things that are unseen. Since I am invisible, you must not let your senses dominate your thinking. The curse of this age is over-stimulation of the senses, which blocks out awareness of the unseen world. Spending time alone with Me is the best way to develop seeing eyes and hearing ears. The goal is to be aware of unseen things even as you live out your life in the visible world." ~ JesusCalling

"What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such time as God delivers us from them…we must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them unwillingly." ~ A.W. Tozer

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Matthew 11:15

"..while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

"Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" Isaiah 6:2-3

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:30-33

"Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off." Psalm 37:34 

"For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land." Psalm 37:9

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning." Psalm 130:5-6 

If you are still waiting for God to speak to you, for Him to heal or provide something that you want, for Him to save a lost loved one, or for Him to work so that a stray returns home to Him.. then it is still too early to quit praying. 

The Lord indeed knows what is best for you even when it doesn't feel like it. He won't make others do what you want, but He can influence them to do what is right. Draw close. He is the ultimate Prize. Take heart. Chin up. Sometimes His personal comforting presence is the best thing for us. He will strengthen you as a worshiper and to be an effective witness during the waiting time.  

One simple question:

Why  

One quad-kinda-answer:  Well, cuz He in love sez to, has always been the One headed in the right, direction, has your best interests at heart (as well as your friend's) when so many others aren't / don't, and is exactly where you want to go. www.knowGod.org

"We are not saved by obedience, for obedience is the result of salvation!" ~ Spurgeon 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

God's Empowering Strength Is What You Need

Christ died because of weakness, but he lives because of God's power. (c13/4twocor). 

You might feel pretty weak or close to death, but this same power can still give life, and be exhibited through your witness today.

"And His Name, through faith in His Name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." Acts 3:16


"Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you." ~ Corrie Ten Boom

Stop and take the time to go get alone with God today. Quiet your heart and focus upon Jesus, instead of upon all those distractions. Listen intentionally. Call out upon His wonderful Name with all candor and earnestness. He understands and still loves you so, and He is not done with you. He can forgive. He can renew and refill. Even when things look absolutely hopeless, He can quicken, strengthen, rresurrect, and revive. He can direct and recommission you, but He know this... He wants you more than what you can produce for Him. Worship God alone. Draw close for relationship's sake and then allow Jesus Christ to live this Christian life through you. Let His light shine out brightly in this dark world where frustrated people are groping around for answersfacebook.com/shareJesus 


Monday, June 11, 2012

Before the Lord I like to ask myself...

What does God want them to know and clearly understand from the Bible today? What does God want them to do.. and stop doing (you know, that's hurting them, the Church or others)? Will the Message that God led me to prepare point people to Jesus Christ ..or to me ..or to some hero of mine? Let it point to the former - Christ.   

Ask what that great fisher of men, Paul, asked God: "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:6). Ask, "Lord, specifically how do you want me to bait the hook and draw in the net or line?"   

Use clean bait if you will - no compromise. Simply preach and teach the Word of God for decisions. Expect people to respond as you give them an opportunity to come to Jesus. 

Good questions can help you keep the main thing the main thing. 

Here are three good e-questions to ask yourself about that EVANGELISTIC Bible Message that you just prepared: 

1) Does it enthusiastically EXALT the Lord Jesus? 

2) Will the text be adequately EXPLAINED with an emphasis on practical application that glorifies the Lord? 

3) Will the simple Gospel be zealously EXTENDED in love?

Yeah, if it's truly a Bible Message - biblical and all - it will do these three things. It's sad that so many sermons in churches and outside of churches these days fail to exalt Jesus Christ. In some so called ecclesiastical circles today the New Testament Gospel has actually been subtly replaced by a New Trendy gospel. It's a bad idea to say the least. 

The New Testament Gospel emphasizes repentance, faith, and self denial; The New Trendy gospel emphasizes self fulfillment. It's a bad focus to say the least. 

The New Testament Gospel is centered in Christ Jesus and His Bible plan of redemption; the New Trendy gospel is centered in man and his need for fulfillment. It's a non-fulfilling fulfillment if it's found outside of Jesus. Let's all stick with the Bible Gospel. Perhaps you need to be forgiven and born again?

Of all the many ways we can prepare for harvesting in any country, by far the most vital is in fervent prayer.

"The one who would have real success in bringing others to Christ must himself be a thoroughly converted person." ~ R.A. Torrey

"How we live serves as a foundation for evangelism, not as a substitute." ~ Douglas Cecil

Two Important Reminders: 

1) Let's make sure that our personal non-public and public lives are a bright and clear reflection of everything that God wants us to preach and teach from the pulpit ..or out on the streets if you will. We'll never be perfect like Christ is this side of glory, but let's get the speck out of our own eyes before we seek to be used of God to remove logs from other people's faces. You know that's right.   

2) If you'd like to get involved in one-on-one fishing or need more help in the area of evangelism Greg Laurie's Harvest America is an excellent outreach to start with. Already 869 local churches (you can see this number keeps on growing weekly..) have signed up and we rejoice with them all. Pastor, church leader, leader.. ask God if He would have you offer to become a host location. Local pastors, fishers of men and of women, church leaders of every sort here in the South - they are signing up now to get involved with a fantastic nation-wide evangelism opportunity right here among us (just click the link). What's that link about? Well, it ain't about me at all. It is basically another good site for people like you to ask practical questions, to receive prayer, and to get more coaching and info about Harvest America that will happen on August 26th this year.  

Friday, June 8, 2012

Found peace in Christ? If so, let's go tell. Let's Harvest America together!

Yes, this is the day to find more peace as we seek Him, as well as in speaking of Him to those who need peace. 

Go gossip the Gospel so to speak. 

Yeah, do this so that others can soon find peace with God and the peace of God. Do it so that they will decide, repent (change) and trust.. making Jesus Christ both their Savior and their Lord. Do it so they'll become a bona-fide believer and a disciple-making disciple.  

I am here to challenge you, to motivate you, to equip you, to encourage you, to help you, to prayer for you cuz there is an urgency about this matter. Speak of the Prince of Peace - Jesus Christ (yes, the Jesus found in the Bible. And with so much false spoken out about different type of Jesus, this is the day that I actually need to clarify which Christ I'm talking about). 

Listen, if we have anything to say, anything true to spell out as the Spirit guides us, anything to make crystal clear and understandable to unbelievers, then let us start and simply tell others about Jesus who was raised from the dead. We can do this from the Bible. 

Too many want to leave the Bible out of witnessing and discipleship now, but this is not the day for that. When we are in heaven we can stop witnessing, but not now.    

Let us now be determined to seek and know Christ well.. today ..and then seek to make Him well known. Too many still have a false view or perception of Him and of His Gospel, but He is really more lovely that tens of thousands so we must represent Him accurately. 

Let us not be intimidated back into a hole somewhere, or be pushed back into silence, or be overwhelmed backwards by trials into that submission to fear.. a fear that comes from deceptive lies from the pit. If we have found the rest inside that Christ's Gospel tells us all about, then let's pass the Good News on to those who are restless and hell-bound

"There's nothing in life that's as exciting as befriending, loving, and leading wayward people towards faith in Christ." ~ Bill Hybels

"If you are following Jesus, you will be doing what He came to do: You would be rescuing the dying, whatever it takes." ~ Ron Hutchcraft
Let us speak, and teach, and implore with the truth.. to our coworkers, to our fellow students, to our distant relatives, to our close and not-so-close friends, to our acquaintances who are open to hear the truth, to our social media buds, to our immediate families members, and to our neighbors as we're both perhaps.. taking the trash out to the curb at the same time. Yes, according as we have been given opportunity, let's by faith choose to be bold and lovingly express to them what the Lord has done for us. If you are born again, then you have a story to tell of what exactly happened to you. 

Hey gang, of course not all of us can be vocational preachers, but we all can be zealous reach-ers - faithful witnesses. Not all of us can become cross-cultural fishing missionaries, but let's not become part of the mission-field ...all backslidden, spiritually bankrupt, and need of a red-hot missionary..all over again. If we are not advancing, then we are going backwards spiritually

All are not intended to preach from a pulpit. Duh. But all can walk in the steps of the Man of whom we have been writing about here. The Son of Man.  

So let's cast off all approval-from-man-kinda-lust and appropriate God's power via earnest prayer ...to live the life walking daily in the steps of the Chief Fisher of men.. and then let's not remain silent. Talk to God about people, and then talk to people about God. 

Sure, this is no day for us to take part in dead religion, or rebellion against authority, or for being shell-gazers if you will .. in the lust of the flesh, with the lust of the eyes, or with greed or and the pride of life. This is no day for judging according to outward appearance when we each can stick with real facts and judge with righteous judgement instead. This is no day for falling in love with any works of the flesh or with this world's corrupt system, that is so popular among the worldly. This is no day for acquiescing to Mr Lu-Cifer or any devil trying to woo us, trying to tempt us, and trying to rip a whole generation of people off. Kill, steal, and destory - that's his thang, but Christ came so that you can enjoy an abundance of life - a completely different quality of life. 

You have a testimony to tell. You have a gift to use. Get out in the world and use it. Blessed is the saint with anointed-resolve and spiritual steel inside who refuses to be ashamed to say to others, "Come and hear what the Lord has done for my soul." 66/16ps.

"Do you ever try to do good to others? If you do, remember to tell them about Christ. Tell the young, tell the poor, tell the aged, tell the ignorant, tell the sick, tell the dying – tell them all about Christ. Tell them of His power, and tell them of His love; tell them of His doings, and tell them of His feelings; tell them what He has done for the chief of sinners; tell them what He is willing to do until the last day of time; tell it to them over and over again. Never be tired of speaking of Christ. Say to them broadly and fully, freely and unconditionally, unreservedly and undoubtingly, 'Come unto Christ, as the penitent thief did; come unto Christ, and you shall be saved.'"   ~  Mr. J.C. Ryle

You can do this.. yup, all that God has called you to go do. Why? Well, cuz with God's strong calling comes His strong enabling.

We want to be a blessing for local churches, for pastors, for church leaders and see these flocks grow all the more in the grace and knowledge of the Word! I'm way excited about it. 

Judgment or biblical revival are now before us. What will America choose? 

Need more help in winning your friends

Please don't forget about how Greg Laurie's event on August 26th will be here in a flash. My friend Dan Southern and I want to be ready and help others get ready for this. Already 850 churchers have signed up and we rejoice with them. Local pastors, fishers of men and of women, church leaders of every sort here in the South - they are signing up now to get involved with a fantastic nation-wide evangelism opportunity right here (just click the link). This is basically another good site for people like you to ask questions, receive prayer, and get more coaching and info about Harvest America.

kurt




Tuesday, June 5, 2012

No one can pay Him off..

 or buy entrance in the last minute or any time. And all those good deeds of yours won't outweigh your bad deeds to get you in the Door. Not even your best moral friends will be able to squeeze past or through the Door for all have broken God's holy laws.  

"Jesus said our souls are more valuable than all the rest of the world put together." ~ Billy Graham

What can you, I... or them.. dig deep in our pockets for, and come up with to swap for that untangible part of a person that'll last forever?

So F-A-R from the Savior today, riskin' their souls on an anxious-antsy quest of dismay, for what utterly fails to satisfy. Too many seekin' for things that fade, go away, or decay. Oh if Christ would take em off into eternity this day even before they grey, what would they give in exchange just to pay.. for their soul? 

Jesus said, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" 16/26mat. facebook.com/shareJesus

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Gospel Message that we communicate..

..and preach must apply to every person no matter their station or status in this life. 

Yes to the prisoner in a cold, lonely cell, to the homeless teen on a park bench, to those out shoppin' on Rodeo Drive, to the Prince of Monaco near Southern France, in any place at any time day or night. 

Jesus simply wants a heart willing to turn n trust Him. He didn't go by how the person dressed, smelled, or looked.. nor by what church his dad pastored. He never had more love for one person over another. You know that all have sinned, all need love, all need to hear clearly.. in there own language hopefully.. and all need to repent in good faith. 

"Lord, save the elect and then elect some more!" - D.L. Moody

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls..." ~ Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:15

When you feel like you are not quite the right person to go and be used of God in sharing His Gospel, then please think again. If you choose to be humble, biblicial, and in-touch upwards and outwards in righteousness.. then you are indeed the right person to go tell. Think about it for a moment. Those people in the Bible that God used back in the day when people wore really strange clothes and ate funny types of bread... deep down they were simply people just like you. You can do this what I'm taking about.. but not alone. Christ will lead you. Preach and teach the Word so others can apply it. Be humble, stay humble with eyes dead-bolted on Christ.. and pray fervently for your friends like you really mean it, cuz God means it. You, them, others.. we all matter gobs to Jesus and the sand is still runnin' through the hourglass.. not much sand left up above. facebook.com/shareJesus