Compelled To Send

Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV)

Israel Rejects the Gospel

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? 

For the first time in a long time, my wife and I were able to attend the Conference in Prescott AZ. The last time I was there was in 2003 by myself; the last time we were both there was in 1995!! So it has been long overdue...I must say, that it was incredibly refreshing to be alone with my wife and enjoy God's presence. This particular Conference was a bit different for me in the sense that, usually, a venue like this is a cause for a need to jolt my spiritual wherewith-all or get my fired up for going back home...however, I was already fired up before coming...God had something better in mind for me!!

Usually, Conferences are an 'Amen - Session', understand? I mean, for the most part, what is preached, I've conquered usually - however, our Chandler AZ Conference in 2015, and this conference was synonymous in the truth that - I was genuinely convicted and challenged to change! I thank God, that He can still reach down to my stubborn soul and shake something loose!!

Psalms 51: 17 - 'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart - these O God, you will not despise.'

As many of you well know, each message builds on the other, and this makes for a powerful encounter with God...all of which is true; in my case, things really came to a head by Thursday morning. Pastor Mark Aulson, a well - respected Leader in our Fellowship preached a powerful sermon on giving your all for Jesus Christ...that wasn't the kicker - the kicker was the prophecy spoken after the service (altar call). The prophecy was so specific, it was almost scary!!

I'm telling you, the young man speaking the prophecy should've simply walked across the tent, and yelled in my ear! God was that specific and on point! It literally shook me to the core, and is still lingering in my spirit as I write this! Then, to follow that up > Pastor Tom Payne preached the Thursday Evening sermon for International Night. He made a powerful statement that will stay with me for a long time, he said:

"We are not required to understand, but we are challenged to participate in faith." 

I heard this, and I thought to myself - you've gotta be kidding me God! Haven't You said enough?? Lord, what do You want me to do with all this?!!  I know what God was saying in that statement...rather than waste my energy trying to figure out why things are happening to me, I should focus on responding to Christ in faith and gaining His strength through these difficult and / or trying times.

Puddleglum from 'The Silver Chair' (6th book in the Chronicles of Narnia), said this: 'Aslan never told us what would happen, he only told us what to do!'  This is so true concerning the Kingdom of God! I walked away from that Conference with this resolve - I intend on keeping my eyes and my ears open; I am in the process of preparing myself, (My wife also); for whatever God has for us in the near future!

Pray for us as we endeavor to do God's will!

My God, my all in all

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NKJV)

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

The longer I've been saved, the more I've come to realize the obvious truth - that is, I am nothing without the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He still amazes me with His love, His truth, and His grace. In our beloved city today - we were under attack from inclement weather; torrential rains, and a 15 degree drop in temperature...however, that didn't deter these faithful men of God from being water baptized! It was amazing to hear their testimonies, and dip in that bitterly cold water, yet remain excited about how Jesus had changed their lives for the better.

I am so privileged to be a part of what God is doing here in Pasadena TX!! You know, this year has literally been HELL on EARTH, but through it all - I've learned a lot, helped raise up some truly converted, mature, saints of God, and in the process built a strong foundation for what God wants to do going forward. I don't know what's gonna happen in 2016, but if today was any indication, then the devil is in some serious trouble!

 God is truly raising up an army of believers in this church, and the atmosphere is slowly changing for the better. Fidelity is in the air, and it's being fought for! People testify about how clean and holy the church is; and how convicted they are when they visit for the first time! What a testimony!! I've counseled many visitors who tell me their recent woes concerning other religious churches in the area and quite frankly, attending our church was a last resort type of situation - only to be blessed, convicted, and converted by the power of Jesus Christ!! Their lives will never be the same, and neither will mine!

I really don't know how appreciative people are when it comes to pioneering or pastoring one of our churches in this Fellowship, but I can tell you this - I am beyond blessed! Although this year has been difficult, Jesus has remained faithful. Matt. 24: 13 - 'They that endure to the end shall be saved...'

That is the hope of His glory, to hang in there until the very end. We've fought some up hill battles, my wife and I, but through it all, we've drawn closer together, and we've learned to love and appreciate each other a whole lot more.

Pastor Campbell several years ago challenged me by saying, 'Pay your own price!' That's what I'm trying to do sir - I pray that the lives being touched by the Lord, will mark and remember that my family and I have done everything we possibly could to bring about His glory into their lives. Galatians 4:19 - '...and have been in birth pains, until Christ is formed in you...'

Brand new and set free - what an anthem in the house of our God. I can only hope that this is just the beginning of what God wants to do through our church. We're going to see our city won for the gospel - and we're going to launch churches and see true revival in this place! Thank you for your prayers, your support, love and friendship - God bless.

The Master's Call

Matthew 21:1-9 (NKJV)
The Triumphal Entry

21 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

Prophecy was fulfilled, and Jesus entered into a glorious entry before His crucifixion...this is a powerful moment in Jewish history...however, I would like to focus on what He rode in on.

The bible says that He rode in on a colt, a young donkey...this animal has NEVER been ridden before...unbroken; yet, it was used to carry the Lord Jesus Himself.

The bible never tells us the difficulty in its usage, or that it even bucked the disciples when they came and retrieved it...the colt simply surrendered.

Ask yourself this question...if the Lord were to choose you...would you surrender? Many of us are much like this colt - untried and untested...some are unproven, but can you be pliable?

It's a good thing to ask yourself...we as people of God mus
t be willing to surrender to the Master's Call if we're going to make our mark in this world.

Acts 16:9-10 (NKJV)

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Luke wrote about a vision that Paul received, but he made the vision his own when he said, 'The Lord called US...'

When He calls, will you be ready?

The Possibilities of God

1st Peter 2: 9 - 'But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you my proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;'

We have been called by God to do His marvelous works! What a privilege to know that God would even consider us...He could've easily used more qualified creatures (namely, the angels); but God in His mercy and good pleasure chose you and me to do His will - this is an honor.

Psalm 8: 4 - 'What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?'

This is the great mystery at work for humanity...that despite our flaws, shortcomings, rebellion, and outright refusal to obey continually - God still chooses man to do His bidding over all other creation! Is this your testimony? Regardless of the skills / personality / resources, you lack, God still reaches for your hand, and you lift it up to Him?

Too many believers disqualify themselves before they ever get started; many times, this is another way of telling God that He made a mistake...God doesn't make mistakes!!

Acts 6: 3 - 'Therefore brethren, seek out from among you 7 men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;'

If you were around at that time, would you be considered among those 7? Would you get passed over because you haven't done what it would take to be prepared and qualified to enter into that type of service for Jesus Christ?  The greatest ability in the Kingdom of God is AVAIL-ability!!  Make it a point to get into a place where should a need arise, God can reach down and select you with confidence!

How Far We've Come

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

I never really understand why God loves me so much. I look at who I am, who I really am on the inside, and realize that in me no good thing dwells, yet God still looks for me, seeks me out, finds and fashions me, helps me, and elevates me.

This is quite a mystery, but hey, I'm loving the journey; arduous but exciting! When I was a young convert, there was a song we sang in Song Service...

'When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and all He's done for me,

My soul cries out hallelujah, I thank God for saving me...'

He truly has brought me, and my wife a mighty long way...here is a picture of us a week after we got married. I was only 19 years old, and Jana was 18...looking back, had someone come to me and said, 'LaMont, you and your wife and gonna globe-trot, struggle to hell and back, have people you love leave you - betray you, break your heart and desert you!' 'As you heal from this, you're going to have Leaders abandon you, let you down, and mistreat you...'

I probably would've run in the opposite direction!! However, I thank God that through it all - God has kept my wife and I, sane, rational, and in love with each other, and Him!

Over the 25 years I've served Christ, one thing has been consistent through it all...God has never left my side, and He will always take care of me and my family...no matter what!

This quote from Puddleglum (Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair) sums it up rather nicely...

'Aslan never told us what would happen, 

He only told us what to do!!'

This is true when it comes to serving Jesus Christ ~ He never tells us what the outcome will be, He only tells us what to do!!  We should serve God with reckless abandon, and this is going to take an unfailing love on our part to do this...

I believe with all my heart the reason why we struggle as Christians is not because we don't do enough for God, or we aren't as disciplined as we should be...nope. I believe we have yet to drink in a sweet, satisfying love for God...ask yourself, do you really Love God? Or do you just love yourself a bit more?

Everyday, I have to make a decision that 'Today', I'm going to love God more than I love myself...I pray you do the same.

Asleep In the Light

A gay couple sued an Oregon bakery for 150k for refusing to bake them a 'wedding' cake May 27

 

Dylann Roof shot and killed 9 church goers at an AME Church in Charleston SC June 17

 

U.S. Government lifts ban on gay marriage nationwide - June 27

 

Caitlyn Jenner accepts Arthur Ashe award - July 15

U.S. Government approved new Nuclear deal for Iran July 15

Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez shot and killed 4 marines at a military facility July 16

Do I need to go on? It's obvious that America has taken a turn for the worse and yet, these events are not our biggest problem...our greatest problem in America is the Drowsy Church of Jesus Christ. We're fighting the wrong battles, and we're dying on the wrong battlefield.

First of all, we need to accept our conditions. Understand, that it's supposed to get worse, not better! We keep trying to straighten the chairs on a Sinking Ship!!

Secondly, you must understand there is no covering for the wicked, and vengeance belongs to God and Him alone...our responsibility is to gather as many sinners as we can into God's kingdom!

Too many Christians are fighting fights we shouldn't. Hey, I'll never hold signs in front of an Abortion Clinic, but I will witness to young people letting them know that Jesus has something better than premarital sex...I'm not gonna fight gay marriage and the like...I'd rather witness to the gay community and allow the conviction of the Holy Spirit deal with their sins!

Matthew 9:36-38
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers.

This is our call, this is what God has for us - sinners are not the enemy - they're the prize!
Don't be fooled by the hype of the world...they pretend to be happy, but they're dying inside...it's up to the church to rise up and respond to the call of God...

We should be a people with a sense of urgency - going out to tell the story of the hope in His glory!

Keith Green:

Do you see, do you see, all the people sinking down?
Don't you care, don't you care; are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb? Not to care if they come...
You just close your eyes and pretend the jobs done

O bless me Lord, bless me Lord
You know, that's all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts, no even sheds one tear
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs
And you just lay back, and keep soaking it in...

Can't you see it's such sin!
'Cause Jesus brings people to your door, and you turn them away
As you smile and say, 'God bless you, be in peace,'
And all heaven just weeps...'cause Jesus came to your door...
You left Him out on the street!

Open up, open up! Give yourself away!
You see the need, you hear the cries, so how can you delay?
God's called you, and you're the one, but like Jonah, you run
He told you to speak, but you keep holding it in...

O, can you see it's such sin!
The world is sleeping in the dark, that the church just can't fight
'Cause it's asleep in the light
How can you be so dead? When you've been so well fed?
Jesus rose from the grave...and you; You can't even get out of bed...

Making History

Mark 14:1-9

The Plot to Kill Jesus

14 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. ² But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

³ And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. ⁴ But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? ⁵ For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
⁶ But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. ⁷ For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. ⁸ She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. ⁹ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

This is one of the most powerful stories in the bible...here is a woman who made history! She prepared an offering in advance for Jesus' death, and resurrection! Her mark on the Kingdom of God will never be forgotten...Jesus Christ Himself testifies on her behalf - she never led a bible study, she never preached, she never did any high-flying act for the gospel's sake...she simply spent her life on Jesus and now, it's a memorial for all time...

How do you live your life? Are you spent for the gospel? Understand this truth; your legacy as a child of God isn't based on how well you lived for God, but how your life in Christ impacted others...a man/woman of God who loves God and follows Him without hindrance, will make history! Will you make history, or just excuses?

We are so concerned about the 'trip', we've forgotten all about the 'destination.'