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The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost
Luke 19:10 Instead of judging the lost, talking about the lost, blaming the lost and avoiding or ignoring the lost, God has called each of us to seek and find the lost. That means He has called you to be a "Lostologist" There are a lot of good examples in the bible on the lost. The prodigal son, leaving the 99 to find the 1. But I like the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet at the house of a Pharisee. Simon invites Jesus to dinner and the woman gets up and starts washing His feet. It was a sign of kindness and warmth something Simon didn't do. Then Jesus says to Simon "Do you see this woman" Really? He was sitting right there with them. How could he not? How many times do we go into Walmart, pump gas, or even sit next to someone in church and not see that person who is lost and needs to be seen? To be introduced to Jesus, to understand what humility is. I have good news for you! You have an opportunity to be a Lostologist tomorrow! Join us at Winter Park apartments for a time to reach out, seek and find the lost tomorrow at 12:30 PM. Let's join together as Lostologists seeking and finding the lost sheep in a warmth, kindness and compassion. Just like the woman who washed the feet of Jesus. PM
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God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Romans 11;29 Each one of us has a gift and talent, and they all come from God whether you are following him or not. God gives us talents and gifting in things like sports, musical abilities, management and even various people skills. I remember when I was in High School someone told me I had a certain talent and I didn't realize it until a decade later. Just like when David was still a teen he was anointed to be the future king of Israel. He didn't have the skill, wisdom or knowledge to lead a nation. The character and spirit for this calling developed and nurtured. God required David to follow and obey Him in every step along the way. He went through a difficult journey that lasted 15 years. God didn't reveal the timetable or the itinerary. David had no clue what was going to happen from him tending sheep to his reign as king. God trains us the same way throughout our lives. If we allow Him to prepare us for that gift, calling and assignment. In all the difficult and dark seasons, in the times we don't understand, in the season where we don't see any value. Rest assured there is a purpose, so we must yield to His plan. Nothing worth having or keeping in life come easy or free. Triumphs without difficulties are empty, in fact difficulties are what makes the road to triumph. The rewards come not by a smooth road, but by trusting and traveling the road of His gifts and callings upon your life. PM Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 Almost everyone has dreams or goals they want in life whether they are short or long-term. From a heavens perspective it takes more than setting goals and working hard to reach your dream. God showed me this verse several years ago when I was discontent about some things. David learned to be content and "delight" himself in the midst of life's challenges and trials. In David's case that was being chased by 300 warriors who had a purpose in life was to kill him. He learned "delight" while in distress, hunger, fear of death, and finding the next cave to sleep in. True delight comes from knowing and depending on God and His Spirit to guide and work in and through us despite all the external challenges to our faith. That is when His provision comes and we receive what we need to overcome and endure. God showed me delighting yourself in the Lord is contentment in who He is, and how He wants the best for us despite any difficulties we are in. It's easy to delight ourselves when there are no problems. Delight is contentment with what you have (or don't have), because God says "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. When you delight in Him, you will find that your desires line up with heaven’s. That is when our dreams and desires are achieved. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Romans 12:4-5 I saw a video the other day of a man who had no arms and 1 leg in a wheel chair giving a speech on life's challenges. He talked about adversity in doing everyday things we take for granted by having two arms and legs. Think about how your life would be limited if you had one eye, or missing a few fingers or an ear. You may not be as limited but you wouldn't be fully functional, and there are things in life that would require difficulty. Each part of our body is fitted or suited for a specific type of work. It would be hard to scratch your head with your foot or kick something with your hands. Even if you think your arms are too short or not strong enough to do something they have a common benefit. If they don't benefit you, they may be able to benefit others. We cant' say I'm not going to use my right arm because it is useless. But, you have another arm and when you put them together with legs, a mouth, brains, ears, eyes and feet they can do great things and accomplish much. Each one of you here have all your extremities. You each have a special talent and gifting's. So, we need them tomorrow for the annual workday at the HOEN. Each one of you is a body part in the body of Christ. Just like the man who had one leg and it was difficult to do daily activities, it is the same in the body of Christ. We need your talent, gift and specific body part to make the work light tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM. We look forward to seeing you then. Blessings. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 If you didn't know it, you have an enemy that his #1 goal is to destroy you. He doesn't use physical danger to get us scared, but his small whispers are just as effective. "you tried before and failed, you will fail again!, What if you embarrass yourself?, what if....? Instead listen to what 'Spirit" God has given you, it is power, love and a discipline to do His will in our lives. It's His reassurance of who you are in Him when fiery darts come at you from any devil. The moment you taste fear, realize you have an opportunity for God to grow your faith in Him. Your fear then will grow in courage. Remember that God has a great plan for your life and no devil in hell can take that from you. That only person who can do that is you. Define your life by victories and not trials or defeats. Live according to what the word says you are. Understand what anointing and power you have in Him. Fear is a feeling that will pass. Christ in you and working through you is eternal. Know that you are not a victim in this life but a Victor living in Victory! The devil knows who you are and what God has called you. We need to realize this so that we can live victoriously. PM Romans 8:35-37(NKJV)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:“For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Some people have certain things in their possession that they believe brings them luck or maybe helps them play a sport better. Whatever it is, they have this secret fear of losing it and never getting it back. A harbored fear is tough to live with. We have them with fears of death, losing touch with our kids, financial losses, to fear of losing everything we have grown comfortable and accustomed to. One absolute sure thing in life remains: 'We can never be separated from the thing that strengthens and holds us together.' His love says that whatever is thrown our way, you can never be separated from Him and His love for you. We may not feel victorious when we are in distress or in a disaster in life; but being a conqueror doesn't mean you feel like a winner through the fight. It does mean that you are on the best team, the greatest army that has never lost, and never will! Approach your darkest valley with confidence knowing you can't ever lose when you abide in Him and His love abides in you. You are more than a Conqueror!!! "So, Samuel said: Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."
1 Samuel 15:32 There is an old saying "Every man has three worlds, What he perceives, what he shows to the world, and his reality. The Third one is a mystery to be lived." I like to say your real self is who you are when no one is around and watching. We all have some level of facade that we want the world to see. It happens at home, work and church. The people of Samuel's day were intent on the visible as well, led by a king who had fallen into this trap himself. Saul believed that the details of his obedience were no so important, as long as he glossed over them with an especially visible sacrifice in the end. He brought a cover up rather than a contrite spirit. But we are spiritual beings and must walk and live in that living sacrifice, which is obedience. If we sacrifice in any other way, our giving will be hollow at best and plainly false at worst. God wanted Samuel's sacrifice as an act of worship, submission, and reverence to God. We are to bow at the altar of God not the altar of the sacrifice. "And his (Naaman's) servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father,if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:13-14 NKJV I have a friend who says, "We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles". Naaman had this experience with Elisha the prophet. He was ill and looked for a miracle. It must have been a big disappointment when he was told by Elisha to just dip yourself in the river. General Naamans' men told him to obey. Maybe it took simpler men to respect Elisha's direction. This lesson is simple; we can miss a rich reward by refusing to obey instructions. Repeatedly, the simple solutions to our problems like trust and obey, really do bring the finest results. It's an un-changeble spiritual principle that brings changes of restoration and healing. Blessings to you and your family! "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."
Matthew 28:19 NKJV Anytime you see the word "therefore" you need to find out what it's there for. In this case, we have to look at the previous several verses: 28:17- And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 28:18- And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Think about it, all the miracles that the disciples saw through Jesus and they still doubted Him, but they still worshipped Him. The next thing He did was speak to them like a friend and commission them with the same authority as He received from the Father. It's not just a commission but an order, a charge to "Go ye therefore to all the nations." Jesus is saying you now have the same authority over the enemy, diseases, and the elements as I have. Now, you may be worshiping Jesus, but doubt like the disciples. But how would you like a chance to be obedient to His commission over you? Would you like to try out this authority that Jesus gave you? Do you know you don't have to go to the nations anymore because they are right here in front of you? That's right, there are 64 nations represented in Huntsville. Take a step of faith today and join us tonight for prayer and the rest of this week as we GO and present the Good News to all the nations here in Huntsville. Trust Him when He says ... (v.20) I am always with you even unto the end of the world. Will you join us this week with the evangelism team as we answer the call of each one of us? |
Pastor Michael GarciaOverseer and Pastor at First Assembly HOEN Archives
October 2020
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