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This page is dedicated to bringing encouragement and insight to God's people and reaching the lost for Christ.
I have a favorite Old Testament verse that many will probably find odd: "Man that is born of woman is of a few days full of trouble. Job 14:1 The reason it is my favorite is because it helps to explain why there is so much suffering in my life and in the world. It can be my favorite bible verse because of my favorite New Testament verse: " In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Be certain that troubles will continue. But we can be more certain that when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, we are able to overcome the troubles and trials and tribulations of this life.
From a heart of love and compassion share the gospel
From a heart of love and compassion share the gospel
Your Christian life may be the only Gospel they will know
Pray and put the results of your sharing in God's hands
Pray and put the results of your sharing in God's hands
As the wind blows we cannot see where it goes, so is the working of the Spirit of the Living God
Have you ever wanted to memorize scriptures to lead a soul to Christ? Let me share this 8 Steps to Commitment to Christ
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Act Generationally!
December 9,2024
Taken from: A Message for Woodlawn Faith UMC Men’s Day Program
Sunday November 17, 2024
A message to the men of the church in keeping with the theme
Men, Servants for Christ
I sat in on the tail end of a men’s meeting that drove home to me the importance of this message. The leader of the Men’s group, Lewis Carter made a very important observation that I would like to offer as we go through this message. He noted, in the church we must expect and actively develop the right “culture” of service. His point was specific regarding the Food Ministry of Woodlawn Faith UMC. I equate his word culture with another word “mindset”.
So often we know that there are needs in the church that must be addressed. But there is a reluctance to be the one to actually do something about the need. As servants of the Lord, we in the church must expect and actively develop the right “culture” or mindset. We should not wait for someone else to do the work of the ministry. We must choose to do what we each know to be what God has called us to be and do in the body of Christ. We must seek to know what we can do. We are not all Preachers, we are not all Pastors, we are not all Evangelists, we are not all Worship Leaders, but we are all called to the great commission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How you spread the Gospel will be different from how I spread the Gospel because God has gifted each of us with the gift he wants to use.
Paul speaks to this mindset in his letter to the church in Philippi. He writes, “5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” Philippians 2:5-7
I attended the Homegoing service of a family friend the next day.
During Lawrence Wright’s funeral, a similar message resonated from each of the people who rose to testify of the good works of Lawrence. Not everyone is going to be as gifted as an administrator or a networker or an organizer, but we are each called to serve. We are called to live Godly lives that impact the lives of those around us. We are called to carry forward the Word of the Lord to the next generation. The words of the prophet Joel is still applicable to us today: “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation”. (Joel 1:3)
How God uses you will and should be different from how he uses me.
Allow me to share a passage of scripture with you. Don’t run through it. Think on it and consider what is your first reaction to the scripture reading?
Judges 2: 6-10 “And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. 7And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. 8And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 9And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”
The Amplified Version puts it this way, “Also, all [the people of] that generation were gathered to their fathers [in death]; and another generation arose after them who did not know [recognize, understand] the Lord, nor even the work which he had done for Israel.”
What is your first reaction to the scripture reading?
The first thing that jumps out at me is, the previous generation did not ensure that their children and their children’s children knew the Lord nor the works he had done. This was an epic failure on the part of the previous generation.
How often is this same narrative being played out over and over again! Some may think it is the natural order of things. But we know that from time-to-time God intervenes throughout history and he ignites a new flame among his people. My prayer is that God will ignite a flame in our generation. My prayer is that God stirs in us today: in you, in me, in as many as will hear his call, to be involved in the carrying forward the Word of God, the Love of God, the Works of God, reaching the Lost for Christ.
We have the greatest gift that mankind can ever receive.
The creator of the universe and all that is in it, comes to us and offers to be the mediator between God and man. He came to offer himself as the sin bearer that we do not have to be bound by our sins. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we who were unrighteous might become righteous through him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Bible teaches us that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
The Bible teaches us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The Bible teaches us that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
The Bible teaches us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
The Bible teaches us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
And the Bible teaches us “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The plan that God established is his gift to us. We cannot earn it. We do not deserve it. It is his gift to us. To as many as will receive his gift he gives it freely. Because of his love for us.
Beyond the gift of salvation by faith, God has given us spiritual gifts and natural talents. The Cambridge dictionary defines talents as: a natural skill or ability to be good at something.
These gifts are not for us they are for God’s glory, honor and praise. They are for his use. You are required to work at honing whatever talent the Lord gives you but ultimately it is his gift not yours. You did not create the gift/talent. You did not develop it from scratch. You were given the gift, ability, talent when you were born. Your gifts and abilities come from God. Doesn’t it make sense that you would use the gifts to bring glory to him and in thankfulness to God who is the giver of every perfect gift.
There are multitudes of people in this world who do not go to church and you and I are going to be the only representation of Christ that they will see or hear.
What does that say to you about our responsibility before God?
It is so gratifying to me when I hear Christian athletes giving honor to God for his gift in them.
We all should honor him; not just with lip service but by putting his gift to use for his purposes.
A most important use of the gifts of God is to draw as many as we are able to the Lord.
I have read some soul troubling statistics. I pray they will stir your spirit as they stirred mine. “Only a few decades ago, a Christian identity was so common among Americans that it could almost be taken for granted.
As recently as the early 1990s, about 90% of U.S. adults identified as Christians. But today, about two-thirds of adults are Christians.6” Same research states, “In 1972, when the GSS first began asking Americans, “What is your religious preference?” 90% identified as Christian and 5% were religiously unaffiliated.” (GSS is the General Social Survey)
Over the next two decades non-affiliates rose to 9%.
“In 1996, the share of unaffiliated Americans jumped to 12%, and two years later it was 14%. This growth has continued, and 29% of Americans now tell the GSS they have “no religion.”7
Listen to this, “Since 2007, the percentage of adults who say they are atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” in the Center’s surveys has grown from 16% to 29%. During this time, the share of U.S. adults who identify as Christian has fallen from 78% to 63%.”
I also read this quote from another survey: “Churches and members need to find ways to encourage young adults in their life decisions that do not run counter to Scripture but may not match cultural expectations. There may also be need for older Christians who will invest the time needed to be able to speak into the lives of younger Christians without those teenagers and young adults feeling harshly judged.” (Lifeway Research)
As Jesus invested time in a very diverse group of disciples, God calls us to invest time in the next generation of believers, even if it is one person at a time.
In this same survey, the article offers 10 terms that were significant in keeping young people involved in the congregations. Among the ten was the term supportive. The article continues, “The next generation wants to know they have support from those older than them when it comes to life decisions.”
Lifeway Research completed a separate study, and this is a significant quote from that study: “Jesus didn’t intend for people to follow him alone,” said McConnell. “Some of the starkest differences we see between those who attend church as young adults and those who don’t is how connected they feel with others at a church.” (Lifeway Research)
Consider with me then the importance of our Faith.
Is what we have really better than what the world has to offer?
Is faith in the saving grace of God really worthwhile?
Or are we just hedging our bets in case the Bible really is the Word of God?
There is a story about a convicted felon who was on the way to the scaffolds accompanied by a priest who was reciting scripture as they walked along. The prisoner who is identified as an atheist, Charles Peace stopped the minister and said, “Sir, if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worthwhile living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”
Ask yourself, “how much do I believe that the Word of God is true? Is the Word of God Worthwhile? Can the Word of God make a difference?”
Ask yourself, “what am I doing to prepare the next generation to know the Lord and carry forward the Word of the Lord?”
Beloved, it is a matter of mindset. Have you come to the place that you are content because you got your soul right with God?
Or do you agonize in prayer for the next generation of believers?
Do you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ is worthwhile? What are you doing to reach the next generation of believers?
It is not enough to attend church. We must be committed to being involved in the “work of the church. “
James tells us we are not to be hearers only of the Word of God, we must be “Doers of the Word of God”. (James 1:25)
If you examine yourself and you know that you are only showing up. You need revival. If you examine yourself and you know that something is missing from your walk of faith before God, you need revival. If you are not doing the work of the church, you need revival. If you are not intentionally sharing your faith with others now, you need revival.
You need to be jolted anew to revive that first love. The first love that motivated you to do anything you can to let Jesus know how grateful you are for his unspeakable gift.
Generations sharing their faith-A great cloud of witnesses
Act Generationally!
Concluded
If you do not have a personal Generational Plan for reaching the lost, now is the time to call upon the name of the Lord for a revival in your own personal walk of faith, for your own personal Generational Plan.
For many of the generations of Israel we read, and we know pattern: “there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord.”
In our day we see the impact of the indictment: “there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord.”
These words are an Indictment against the previous generation. While the previous generation might not have forgotten the great works and tremendous debt they owed. They did not adequately provide the next generation with reason and conviction to enable the next generation to continue to venerate the God who loves them. Somewhere in the process of living and dying, the people of God did not adequately prepare the next generation to know the Lord. The intimacy and reality of a day-to-day walk with the Lord was missing. Knowledge of the hand of God to deliver was not carried forward.
Can you imagine the impact if each of us used our opportunities to reach someone for Christ. If we invested time in building a Godly relationship with someone who does not know the Lord.
That is how the early church operated. They did not just sit on what they experienced. They took it to the furthest reaches of their world in their day and time. They did not just gather together to eat and drink and be merry. They labored for the Lord reaching the lost.
They felt it worthwhile!
Like Priscilla and Aquila who were not seminary trained, not synagogue trained but they learned of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they opened their homes to invite other to come and know the Christ they loved and served.
(See Acts 18:18, 26; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19; and 2 Tim 4:19)
The great acts of God, as well as the promises of the Lord are what we must send forward. Even if you have no children of your own to raise you still have the Lord’s children to help raise. You still have the next generation.
Pastors do you look for the next pastor who can take your place? Do you look for the next servant of God who will care for God’s children?
Teachers are you mentoring, praying for, and encouraging the next voice to proclaim the Word of the lord?
Elders are you actively pursuing God’s moving in the hearts of the next generation of leaders? Have you looked for opportunity to draw God’s next candidate into ministry.
I am convinced that it is my responsibility as well as yours to “act generationally” and be involved in the process to prepare the next generation to know the Lord: to carry forward the work of the Lord. Selah
It is the mindset of Christ Jesus, who humbled himself, became man, demonstrated the Love of God to as many as would receive him, demonstrated the grace of God to as many as rejected him, gave himself in service to others that they might know his Father and ours, Then he made the ultimate sacrifice in giving his life that we might be released from the sentence of death that was upon our souls. We now have new life in Christ. But this new life is not just for our souls. We are filled with the Spirit of the Living God that we might have power to make a difference in the lives of those who will hear us. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” Phi 2:5
Let us all Act Generationally!
2024 Video Messages
Thanks to Loving Souls Christian Church for permission to use the videos
Thanks to New Beginning Christian Center Jacksonville, Fl for permission to use the video https://www.nbccjax.org/
What is Your Generational Plan
What is Your Generational Plan
What is Your Generational Plan
What is Your Generational Plan
Building Relationships Through the Fruit of the Spirit
Building Relationships Through the Fruit of the Spirit
September 22, 2014 at Loving Souls Christian Church Building Relationships Through The Fruit of The Spirit
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Father, I thank you for the timelessness of your Word and your Promises. I pray you will use these words to encourage your children as they grow in their relationship with you. I pray that you will work in the heart of every person who does not know you as Lord to bring them to yourself, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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