Open Invitation

1st Corinthians 16:9 - "For there is a great and effective door opened to me, and there are many adversaries."

It is for the glory of God in His will, that doors of opportunity are opened up to the church of Jesus Christ. However, I've learned that whenever there are opportunities to advance His kingdom, there will be resistance and push-back. It's to be expected...if you are accustomed to fighting the good fight of faith - trust me, it is a fight!

With these opened doors there is something else the Lord will grant the people of God - favor. Let me tell you, favor ain't fair! This event  that's about to take place a couple of weeks from now is a glorious opportunity to spread the love of Jesus to a hurting and dying community. Our city is in desperate need for the gospel to be preached, (As they all are); we cannot afford to miss out on such a wonderful opportunity like this.

I believe that for such a time as this, our church has been asked to rise up, make a wall, and stand in the gap for the lost souls of Pasadena TX...although it's a simple fair, filled with family fun, giveaways, and recreation - I believe that it's a wonderful venue for soul-winning!!

Please pray for us as we endeavor to do the will of God, and see to it, that each and every person knows that Jesus is Lord, and that you cannot spell Christmas without Christ!!

Divine Path

John 13: 1-17, "...If I do not wash you, you will have no part with Me..."

The last lesson Jesus taught the night of His capture to crucifixion wasn't the latest revelation, it wasn't another parable...He taught His disciples how to serve! This is the most significant spiritual time for both Jesus and His disciples, and this is the time where He spends teaching a very basic and practical lesson, but O so critical to them and us as believers.

True love is seen in how you and I treat people.

John 13: 34-35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

You know that you're a Christian because of the things you do in the church whether it's ministry, devotion, etc...but the World knows you're a Christian by the way you treat other people!

It doesn't matter how spiritual you are, it's not impressive if you cannot love and serve people as Christ intended!

'Beware of making a fetish of consistency to your convictions instead of being devoted to God. You may say, "I shall never do that!" In all probability you will have to, if you are a saint. There never was a more inconsistent Being on this earth than our Lord, but He was never inconsistent to His Father. The one consistency of the saint is not to a principle, but to the Divine life." 
- Oswald Chambers

Jesus made it very clear that if you are going to have a part of Him, somewhere, He's gonna have to wash your feet! This speaks of humility and direction. Verse 10 tells us that if you wash your body, you would only need to wash your feet...

This tells you and I that, there are certain places we shouldn't go, things we shouldn't do, and we're gonna have to be real with ourselves and do some washing of our 'feet.'  Peter didn't want to have any part of this: for one, he knew that in the future he would have to humble himself and wash his brothers' feet, but secondly, he also understood that he would have to wash his own feet!

Having to admit that you're spiritually inept, or that your faith isn't as strong as you'd hoped, is a serious blow to your pride; but it'll save your life overall!

 

God's direction is always better than our own will or experiences. If you find yourself in uncharted waters, the first thing you must do is pray; the second thing to do is, serve God right in the middle of it! Too many are hoping that their circumstances change so that they can serve God when in actuality, God wants you to serve Him right where you are!

Let the Lord guide you, you need Him more today, then when you first believed.

Snakes in the Playground

Acts 27:39-44
39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
Acts 28:1-6
28 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Trials happen…we see here that Paul endured and overcame a ship wreck…although he almost lost his life, he made it. There are people here – you should’ve been dead, but God brought you out.
However, there are times where you feel that even though you’ve just overcome something, you can still feel the residue of it…even though Paul made it from the ship, he only landed on a cold, wet, island, in the middle of a rain storm…looking for fire.

In the midst of the storm, are you looking for fire? Paul found fire, and it moved him to gather wood to feed it…would to God, the Lord would give the church more FIRE FEEDERS! Don’t just admire someone’s fire, help feed it! Don’t hate on folks’ fire, feed it!!
Build

Genesis 22:6-7
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Understand this truth, you build a fire with your hands. You want to be on fire, you’re gonna have to build it!
I gave the Genesis reference because, Abraham had the wood and the fire, for one purpose, to sacrifice. There are many of you who desire to be on fire, but the purpose is for self-sacrifice, not for self – exaltation.

Can I ask you a question? Why do you want to be in the ministry of music or something stage worthy? Is it to glorify God, or is it to glorify you? I told someone yesterday that one of the things I regret is what I brought to this church; that is, an element of entertaining…I know how to sing, rap, perform, etc…and I brought that part of my character to this church…over the years, I see what kinda monster I built…I have a group of people that want the glory of the stage, but there’s no indication of fire, service, humility, or even work ethic…you have talent, and it’s your job to let the world know…grow up…it’s not anointing, you’re hindering what God really wants to do…I learned that the hard way, if you have to be heard, if you must be first, if you have to be out front – then it’s not ministry…it’s selfish ambition; that’s deadly, and demonic. You need to take a hard look at yourself in the bible; pray that God will use you, rather than you use God to promote yourself!

Proverbs 26:13
13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the streets!”

Fire is built, it is created by labor and its intention is for sacrifice.
Snakes in the Playground

Verse (2-6) - 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

As Paul put the wood on the fire, a serpent driven out by the heat, attached itself to his hand. You must be careful who you allow attach themselves to you!

2 things to consider:
The snake was driven out by the heat, not the fire!
It attached itself to his hand…indicative of Paul’s Authority | Labor | Progress

Snakes always fasten themselves to you in order to afflict pain and stop your forward progress.
Now you know why things get hard…because snakes are driven out by the heat…so even when you get close to fire, or close to getting on fire…here he comes!

See, when the conditions are cold and comfortable, snakes won’t bother…
Shake it off

Paul shook it off in the fire. You must maintain the flames of God in order to lose the snake. You can’t have the snake hanging around you – you’ll lose everything you’ve worked so hard to build…just ask Adam and Eve.

2 Corinthians 4:17 - …For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

I’m sure there was fear, pain, and even doubt, but Paul didn’t have time to reflect on that, he had to shake it off.

Matthew 6:31-33
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Anxiety | depression | fear | anger | bitterness…all are brought about by snakes…could be your family, friends, people that have a voice and influence in your life…their ‘concern’ many times can lead to your demise, because they don’t understand the covenant you’ve made with Jesus

Shake it off in the fire. You can’t drown the snake, beat it with a rock, pull it off…IT MUST BE FIRE!
Get on fire for Jesus! Sacrifice for Jesus! Move for Jesus! Go for Jesus…shake them haters off!!

Not Like the Others

Ruth 2: 13 - '...although I'm not like one of the others...'

This is such a profound revelation from this woman, and yet, we miss it almost every time. What's missing is the reality that we are not like all the others. In many ways, you can argue that we don't even belong! My brothers, and sisters of the cross; we are the dregs of society, the social misfits and outcasts, the left overs, and the banished...however, because of the favor that God has shown to you and to me...we've been given access, dominion, and the upper hand whereas normally, we wouldn't see the light of day.

How did this great favor fall upon Ruth? How is it that she goes from a heathen woman, drowning in the sorrows of losing her husband who, by the way, was her only true connection to the Kingdom of God; going totally broke - only to find herself, back in a a country that has rejected her, no family, detected enemies, and on top of her own destiny! Where did this favor and miracle provision come from? Well...it came from dedicated S E R V I C E.

Our bible teaches that she served Naomi, she served her husband before he died...then, she went out into the fields to LABOR in order for her mother-in-law and she could scratch out a living. She could've easily went back to her homeland...no doubt with her beauty, she would've been snatched up in no time at all...however, she chose to believe in the God that Elimelech and Naomi served, and finds herself in an incredible destiny with God!

Matt. 1: 5 - 'Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.'

Now, from the looks of things, she's an outsider - she has no business fulfilling any such calling, and yet, through Christ - not only was she accepted, but she was called to something / someone greater than herself...can this be an echo of His truth in your life? You'd be amazed at the doors that would open for you if you would simply make up your mind to serve, and to labor in the Kingdom of God.

All Things

Phil. 4: 13 - "...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..."

It's amazing what our Lord and Savior can do for us amen? My wife and I have the wonderful privilege of working with some of the greatest people on the planet! Our church has seen a steady growth, not only in numbers, but in maturity - the miracles do not cease!

Last Sunday, we had a birth announcement...one of the couples I had the pleasure of marrying 4 years ago is PREGNANT!!  It was amazing, because the wife gave a powerful testimony about how they got saved, then got married, and now a little one is on the way!!  My wife and I have invested in them from the beginning, and to see the young man rise up as a leader in our church, and the servant's heart his wife has is something to behold!

Another testimony is about a couple that have recently joined the church, (6 months ago). We've prayed for them, helped them in any way we can, and sometimes, things just don't turn out the way you hope they would. Recently, they had a falling out, so much so that we thought separation was going to be their next course of action! We all were preparing for a Marriage Seminar and she swore on a stack of bibles that she wasn't going - even though he was discouraged, he kept coming to church, and kept on praying for her

Well low and behold...God did a miracle; they patched things up and both were present at the marriage seminar! Our kids babysat their kids while we were all there!! As a matter of fact, while at the seminar, they participated in a truly-wed game, and were the WINNERS!! Isn't our God remarkable? I so appreciate the fact that God would even choose someone like me to watch over His people. Thank You Lord; I look forward to all that God is going to do in these wonderful lives...

- Amen

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.