F4S: July 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

What can make a huge dirty mess, and problems as well?

"Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." Proverbs 14:4 nlt

They can make a mess that needs cleaning up, and sometimes they even create problems, but..got any strong plow animals to help do more? Got a Scott's seed spreader or adequate machine to do that? 

I want to challenge you to use what you have for Jesus, not to idolize / worship your network "tools." A small hand trowel might not be enough to properly address that God-given ministry vision (not really sure what to call it exactly..) that you received free of charge.

In addition to Gods joy and anointing in you, believer, what practical tools or resources are you lovingly employing with truth to bring in the harvest, or to disciple others for the glory of God? Do you have an online or traditional radio program..or simulcast option, pastor? Do you have a building, house or apartment for a Christ-centered Bible study ..and live within reach of a large city, Mr or Mrs Layman.. or within reach of some other size city? Perhaps you have a smart phone and a soundcloud.com account?

Are you skilled to sing or play music, or to act, or to shoot quality films? It doesn't always take a fortune to produce real excellence for a purpose. Do depend on Christ to guide instead of on yourself, but question: What are some other good harvest tools for our day that come to your mind? Pray bigger. Expect gobs from God, but not for self per se. Remember to keep Christ first in all things.

Do you use Google+ some? You can circle me there, or follow my Biblical Evangelism Page if you like. 

Good idea! Sow in believing prayer early if you can.

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." ~ E.M. Bounds

Some days I do a lot better..early..than on other days. How about with you? No condo at all..but I really do wanna apply this: "..seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Today went okay with prayer and He loves me just the same (not sure why..), but I think I'll pause and go get alone with my first-love again while I'm still fresh. : ) I do want Him and His will more than to make any impact with others......though I know that's pretty much a by-product of simply seeking Him. Matthew 6:33

Won't say their last names or cities where they live, but I've been praying for and corresponding with Samir, Danladi, Arjun, Ivet, Naya, Solero, and Sasu who are over in Ghana and in the 10/40 window part of the world (feel free to join me for them if you like. Some are still investigating the truth of the Gospel at his point - Cristal is not yet born again spiritually (see John 3:3), and Govinda just wants a closer walk with Jesus. I do too). 

P.  Dear Lord, please bless, touch, comfort, strongly provide for, spiritually and physically strengthen, and uniquely minister to my dear friends over the pond and stateside, both online and off-line, so that we each can better worship You and edify one another for Your purposes...in Jesus' Name. Some still don't have a relationship with you - please speak and save them Word of God. Amen. Thanks Lord.

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6. (1.) We live in a world filled with peril and uncertainty - it's good to pray earnestly and sow both day and night! Your friends need what God can do through you as you obey Him. (2.) Each believer can only sow from what he or she has received and has. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits (2 Timothy 2:6). You and I in Jesus can only take them as far as we ourselves have gone spiritually. By faith we impart what we are. (3.) Who among us can reap an abundant harvest if get uber-weary and we fail to sow upwards in prayer and praise or outwards in sound Bible ministry? "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."   facebook.com/shareJesus

Monday, July 29, 2013

Let the Weak say I am Strong. Let the Weak Come to and keep Sharing Christ ..Who is their Strength.

When you are weak, believer.. you still have God's anointed strength coursing in and through you so trust and lean on Jesus ..rather than tryin' to confess it all away!

When weak, you can still share His Gospel and see results to the glory of God! You are stronger (and I don't mean stronger in and of yourself..) than you would have been if you had never repented or been in Christ, or been allowed by the Father to first be made weaker in an area ..by something that He in His wisdom has permitted.

In physical, mental, emotional or say financial weakness, you can experience a spiritual strength not arriving from man and His agencies. Yup, God is still large and in-charge. No matter what you're facing today, never forget that you're His, that He's the Strong One when you're the weak one, and that none'll ever be stronger than Him.  

Remember the Psalmist who felt weak? He stated real facts, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Strength of my heart.." Ps. 73:26 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Josh. 1:9

"The Lord is my Strength and my Shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped." Ps. 28:7 

"To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my Defense, my God of mercy." Ps. 59:17 

"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." 1 Sa. 30:6

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..." Is. 40:31

It's a choice we make. "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." 1 Cor. 16:13

Do I do it through me? No! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phl. 4:13

Contrary to what popular TV hosts and the world might tell you.. don't merely try to be strong or mighty in yourself, for God's Word says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Eph.6:10

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." 1 Pet. 5:10

"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart-so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." ~ Andrew Murray

"If we desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried, and therefore, through trial, be strengthened." ~ George Mueller

Are you weak right now? Got some problems or feeble knees so to speak? Will you come to Christ, the Strong One and let Him do His work in and through you? He wants you just as you are right now, with a willingness to cooperate with His Holy Spirit. Will you turn for your wrong-doin's asking Him to forgive you and come live inside according to what He teaches in John 3 in the Bible? He can cleanse, heal, restore, strengthen and help you go the distance. So what are you waiting for? Come.   

It might sound counter-intuitive, but let the weak say: I am strong ..not out of puffed up pride, or self confidence, or to control, or even to manipulate, but simply cuz #God really #strengthens em in their time of need. He's faithful. 

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."  Isa. 40:29

Memorize: "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." ~ Paul, 2 Cor. 12:9-11 facebook.com/shareJesus



Saturday, July 27, 2013

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" said Lord Acton. Yes, so called great people so often become very evil people.

This isn't beyond happening with any of us really. But for the grace of God go I. 

It didn't ever happen with Jesus Christ even one time, but sadly it has happened too often with many of us mere mortals. That's why all of us post-fall really need this specific Savior and why we also need to pray for our flawed leaders. 

Sure, go take a close look at history and in the Scriptures. It's happened, but it's time to stop happening. 

This becoming way evil has sadly happened in my nation..the USA..but evil people and those who have helped them get into power don't have to stay evil. They ..and we.. still have personal choices. We can repent and believe. None of us have to let those evil people in offices of power stay in power making such bad decisions that harm the masses.

Have we had enough yet? Are we sick of the arrogance and sin and wrong here yet? We should be. We can even pray about that and seek the Lord for the good of our nation once again. 

They each ..both high profile or low.. can turn and be changed. They can together humbly ask for the spiritual awakening our Land really needs.

But will they change without believers praying. It's not likely. That's why God in the Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. And He says that the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much, so let get to it..to Him for those we care about.

The Bible clearly tells us that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." God, in Your great mercy and love, together we humbly ask You to do a new work in our Land and exalt our country again. Bless and make us a blessing to other nations. You know that we've had some great awakenings in America's History because You caused them as Your people cooperated with the Holy Spirit. You know that we have experienced wonderful times of spiritual refreshing after putrid times of spiritual pollution so to speak. We repent of our sins here. You've sent genuine Bible-loyal revivals that literally changed not only the spiritual situation, but also the moral landscape in America. We call upon You once again, Lord. Pour out all that You really desire to pour out on us again..just like You do with showers of rain. As the psalmist declared  "Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?" 

"Study the history of revival. God has always sent revival in the darkest days. Oh, for a mighty, sweeping revival today!" – Adrian Rogers

"Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival—men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations." – C. H. Spurgeon

"Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility." – Charles Finney

"A revival, then, really means days of heaven upon earth." – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Do you know Christ ..I don't mean religion.. in a very personal way yet? Are you kinda iffy or lukewarm in this relationship or wildly in-love with Jesus? You can know Him right now. He said He'd meet all your needs so what are you afraid of? Don't put this off another day!

A biblical revival and awakening - that's a prayer and repentance movement. And that's a soul-winning movement that impacts all of society. Yes, as we continue to pray in and outside of our local churches, let's also go live the life in His power, and vote more informed in keeping with God's heart as is revealed in what the Bible teaches us.

"Does it grieve you, my friends, that the name of God is being taken in vain and desecrated? Does it grieve you that we are living in a godless age? . . . But, we are living in such an age, and the main reason we should be praying about revival is that we are anxious to see God's name vindicated and His glory manifested. We should be anxious to see something happening that will arrest the nations, all the peoples, and cause them to stop and to think again." – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Hey gang, we can do this. We can get earnest and determined inside. We can log off and go get alone in a quiet place, reach up and touch the Lord by faith. We can get real and practice what we preach and believe. We can say to over-busyness, to the world, to our flesh and whoever else wants to listen.. my life won't be in vain or powerless. We each can say Yes to the Holy Spirit and make all that is important to Him important to us starting / starting again today!  facebook.com/shareJesus

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Jesus is our victory in the battles that we face. So will you trust Him?

May I ask.. what are you facing right now? Has it been pretty rough lately? Feel like you've been through a war? 

Let me just say that those people around you are really worth fighting for. 

Yes, the battle is the Lord's, but we still have a part to play so to speak. We have a part to pray in it. So what's our part about? It's about earnestly responding to the Holy Spirit on our knees, it's about hearing His voice in worship of Jesus, and then it's about boldly standing up to obediently act upon God's Word no matter what others might think. 

Therefore righteously choose to fight the good fight of faith in the Lord and live what we profess to be. 

Lives are at stake and it's too early to quit. 

Perhaps you've heard this many times before. If so, please let these words serve as a gentle reminder. 

Listen, there can be no neutrality in biblical spiritual warfare. I'm not talking about overcoming the enemy by volume in shouting into the heavens at made-up names of fallen angels. They might do this on TV, but what I'm talking about is not at all about the volume of your voice per se. And the weapons that we are to use in this war are not at all carnal, but they are still mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. They are spiritual weapons for spiritual conquest, so please, please, please don't throw away your confidence of faith, believer.

"Great grief prays with great earnestness. Prayer is not a collection of balanced phrases; it is the pouring out of the soul. What is love if it be not fiery? What are prayers if the heart be not ablaze? They are the battles of the soul. In them men wrestle with principalities and powers.. The prayer that prevails is not the work of lips and fingertips. It is the cry of a broken heart and the travail of a stricken soul." ~ Samuel Chadwick

"Many of us are hunting mice while lions devour the land." ~ Leonard Ravenhill

Persevere by believing prayer instead of by human will power. Persevere in faith even when others say that your wayward son or backslidden daughter are just too hard-hearted, just too rebellious, just too closed-minded to the truth, and they will never return to the Lord. Nothing is impossible for the Lord and no one is too lost or astray for Him to work with. Preserve even if they all say that you'll never find a growing believing Christian spouse after God has already called you to one day be married. Don't be anxious, antsy, or even presumptuous  but keep seeking the Lord..your first love..and seek His will for you in a practical way, instead of seeking out a spouse and then just wait on Jesus. Preserve even when lame leaders are in power and people say you'll never land a decent job in your country, or say that you'll never see a harvest from your faithful witnessing with the Word. 

Currently, in my Land (the USA) only 47% of Americans have a full-time job (..it didn't even need to be this way with the slowest recovery ever due to low-information misinformed voters etc.), and those who don't have full-time work are finding it increasingly out of reach for them. But the out-of-work believers that I know are not fretting, cursing, or gripping. They are just praying more fervently and God is somehow providing for them. And some are finding work after prayer.   

Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. It ain't over until it's over..even if it already looks like it's over. 

Keep believing, keep advancing, and keep sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those lost people around you. Keep on steadfastly keepin'-on by faith in the God of the Bible. We certainly don't want friends who were open to hear the truth before, to bring up our name at the Judgement Bar of God before they go enter hell wondering why we never shared Christ and our personal testimony with them while on earth. Yes, contrary to popular PC belief, there is a Great White Throne ahead, and God will judges non-repentant unbelievers. So sad! This is why I am writing you now. Don't put off calling out to Christ for His free forgiveness. You don't need to try and clean up yourself first to get caught by Him. Come to Him and He will clean you up.    

Yes, I so want to encourage you in the Lord with all that's in me. Believer, make the most of your days for Jesus. 

Yes, shout your victory cry. Done deal. 

Plead, persuade, explain what the Bible says. And expect God to intervene..to literally persuade the veracity of the Gospel to the unpersuadable and seemingly deaf people. 

We are to declare our biblical faith. Don't just make stuff up, no, believe what God has said in His Word - that's what faith is about. I'm not talking about name-it-claim-it presumption - that blab-it-grab it jive. 

The enemy will indeed be vanquished and you will win in Christ as you surrender and trust Him.

The victory is already given. The promise is Iron-clad, but you and I must claim His Bible promise, and confess that promise.

What are you facing today? Get in God's Word and let God's Word get in you...in your shoe leather too. Be a doer of the Word. Think about what was told to Joshua before he went to war. The Bible says...

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Josh. 1:8 nkjv).

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." (Ps. 1:1-3)

"We. are locked in a battle. This is not a friendly, gentleman's discussion. It is a life and death conflict between the spiritual hosts of wickedness and those who claim the name of Christ." ~ Francis A. Schaeffer

"Our God is Jehovah of hosts, who can summon unexpected reinforcements at any moment to aid His people. Believe that He is there between you and your difficulty, and what baffles you will flee before Him, as clouds before the gale." ~ Frederick Brotherton Meyer

Never forget, Canaan land is not representative of God's holy heaven as many old hymns declare. It typifies victorious Spirit-controlled n filled life. Sure, we won't need fight battles after we arrive in heaven. And the wilderness wanderings typify many believer's defeated floundering, but Jesus needs to be Lord of you and me daily. And He intends for us to fight the good fight of faith down here on earth, instead of by punching it out with physical fists. Gangbangers and headbangers ..whatever you feel you are.. please turn and trust in Jesus. God has something better for you that will take some guts. We war not fighting against flesh and blood people, nope, for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  facebook.com/shareJesus