A number of years ago the church I was working with at the time engaged the ministry of "Heaven's Gates, Hell's Flames." Our Pastor said he felt God wanted to bring 1,000 people to the altars during this outreach. And when he spoke these words, something inside me said, "Yes!"
The outreach was announced and we began to promote it along with the idea that we would see 1,000 come to the altar. There was a lot of excitement to say the least! It was going to be great!
Little did we know that OVER 1,000 people would literally rush to the altars for prayer during this outreach.
The stories that came to us in the weeks that followed were amazing. We heard stories of deacons, treasurers, Sunday school teachers and other leaders within the Christian community who had come forward for prayer and to confess sin that had been part of their lives. It was a great awakening for our community. Many churches benefited from this time of outreach. But it almost didn't happen and here's why.
Two or three weeks prior to the outreach, after we had started announcing that we were believing for 1,000 people to come forward, I was awakened in the night and God began to speak to me. (Not in an audible voice but in that place that you know you know......you know, your knower.)
What God had to say changed my life. He said, "You really don't believe that 1,000 people are coming forward." Being a great man of God....I argued. "Yes I do believe that!" "We've announced it; started recruiting volunteers; put training together.....on and on. What do you mean I don't believe?"
The next thing communicated to me was, "Do you have enough materials to give to the altar workers and to those who come forward? And are you prepared for a larger than ever New Believer's class?"
So, when I got to the office after a few more sleepless hours I requested an inventory to be taken of these supplies. We didn't even have enough pens for our altar workers to use not to mention copies of the booklets, Gospels, forms, invites to the class.....etc. You get the picture. Our actions had not matched our words. We said we believed...........but we weren't prepared.
Later that morning we put an order in.....soon our inventories added up to MORE than 1,000 of each needed supply. In addition, we had to create a new storage space! Had to set up a new system to track what we used each night and how we processed the forms for follow-up, etc. It took some work on our part but finally our actions matched our words.
Our church grew; other churches grew; lives were changed and lives were challenged. But I have to admit, there are times when I think back to this great event and I shudder about what might have happened....or better yet, what might not have happened if God hadn't confronted me about my unbelief.
Faith is more than just saying the right things. Faith is putting action behind our words so that what we say matches what we do. And when we really believe....we'll make sure that we have everything in place, to the best of our abilities for God to do what He has promised.
There are a lot of applications that could be used here but perhaps none more important than these questions, "What is it that God has promised you but you aren't prepared for Him to do it?" "What do you need to do differently in order to be prepared?"
Do you really believe? Better get ready then.....this might have been what James was talking about when he said that faith without deeds........is dead. I want my faith to be alive! How about you?
Give it some thought.......I am......
Always in Pursuit!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
How To Live in Moderation....Most of the time.......
My original intent was to make this part of the Thursday Night Bible Study on Facebook but after giving it some further, thought, I felt this belonged on my blog, "In Pursuit." I think the reason will become clear after reading through these thoughts.
Paul specifically tells the women of Ephesus, in 1 Timothy 1, to dress modestly or in moderation. The problem, as I see it, is that the folks in Ephesus were not familiar with the term moderation just as we are not familiar with it. It always seems to be "all or nothing" with no "in-between."
Paul was not telling the women they couldn't dress attractively or be fashionable in their dress. He just was telling them that they didn't have to be like the rich women who were trying to impress folks with all their jewelry, hair fashions or styles of dress.
Too often as Christians, we seem to try and be like the world instead of living our lives in such a manner that the world wants to be like us.
It's obvious we live in a world that does not know what the word moderation means. It's that or they just don't care about what their appearance says about their relationship with Christ.
We battle the lack of moderation multiple areas of life.
On Friday, July 8, television networks, newspapers and the Internet news sites carried the story of obesity in America. There's been a 20% increase in obesity. The state that once was the bottom (the good end) of the obesity chart is now at the top of the chart......the not so good end. This is one of those times when going from last to first is not something to be proud of.
Again, eating is not the only part of our life where moderation is a foreign concept. Alcohol is an area that knows no moderation; even losing weight at times can be done in an "out of control" manner. We just don't understand what Paul said about moderation.
But, in Philippians 4, we have three things listed for us that will assist us to live our lives in moderation.
#1--v6-7--we need to live our lives in a continual state of prayer
#2--v8--we need to make sure that we have godly influences in our lives and that we turn our back on those influences that are not godly
#3--v9--we need to make sure that we do what we know to be right
Doing the right thing is the energy behind God's blessings in our lives. Doing the wrong thing will only open our lives up to the snares of the enemy and the next thing we know we will be doing Satan's bidding instead of being about the things of God.
I hope this short post will cause you to think; pray; and IF there are areas that need to be changed, or brought into moderation, you will be challenged to make those changes so your life will bring honor and glory to God.
By the way.....there is one area where moderation is not suggested.......and that's the way you go after God. Go all out for God! Do whatever it takes to stay saved, stay filled with His Spirit and to keep yourself free from the things that will surely enslave you!
There is moderation in your pursuit of God just as there was and is no moderation in His pursuit of you!
Always in Pursuit!
Paul specifically tells the women of Ephesus, in 1 Timothy 1, to dress modestly or in moderation. The problem, as I see it, is that the folks in Ephesus were not familiar with the term moderation just as we are not familiar with it. It always seems to be "all or nothing" with no "in-between."
Paul was not telling the women they couldn't dress attractively or be fashionable in their dress. He just was telling them that they didn't have to be like the rich women who were trying to impress folks with all their jewelry, hair fashions or styles of dress.
Too often as Christians, we seem to try and be like the world instead of living our lives in such a manner that the world wants to be like us.
It's obvious we live in a world that does not know what the word moderation means. It's that or they just don't care about what their appearance says about their relationship with Christ.
We battle the lack of moderation multiple areas of life.
On Friday, July 8, television networks, newspapers and the Internet news sites carried the story of obesity in America. There's been a 20% increase in obesity. The state that once was the bottom (the good end) of the obesity chart is now at the top of the chart......the not so good end. This is one of those times when going from last to first is not something to be proud of.
Again, eating is not the only part of our life where moderation is a foreign concept. Alcohol is an area that knows no moderation; even losing weight at times can be done in an "out of control" manner. We just don't understand what Paul said about moderation.
But, in Philippians 4, we have three things listed for us that will assist us to live our lives in moderation.
#1--v6-7--we need to live our lives in a continual state of prayer
#2--v8--we need to make sure that we have godly influences in our lives and that we turn our back on those influences that are not godly
#3--v9--we need to make sure that we do what we know to be right
Doing the right thing is the energy behind God's blessings in our lives. Doing the wrong thing will only open our lives up to the snares of the enemy and the next thing we know we will be doing Satan's bidding instead of being about the things of God.
I hope this short post will cause you to think; pray; and IF there are areas that need to be changed, or brought into moderation, you will be challenged to make those changes so your life will bring honor and glory to God.
By the way.....there is one area where moderation is not suggested.......and that's the way you go after God. Go all out for God! Do whatever it takes to stay saved, stay filled with His Spirit and to keep yourself free from the things that will surely enslave you!
There is moderation in your pursuit of God just as there was and is no moderation in His pursuit of you!
Always in Pursuit!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Review of "Billy Graham in Quotes"
"Billy Graham in Quotes" was compiled by Franklin Graham with Donna Lee Toney, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN 2011
I am grateful to Thomas Nelson Publishing for the opportunity to review this book on m blog. In addition, the review will be posted on the BookSneeze web site and on Amazon.com.
I'm not sure I have ever been able to fully grasp the magnitude of Billy Graham's sphere of influence. When his name is used in a conversation, sermon or article, credibility rises up in the listener/reader's mind. I doubt any other preacher, author or Christian personality over the years has garnered the respect that Dr. Billy Graham has. It might be possible in some circles, that the name "Billy Graham" would carry more influence that the name of God. (I by no means mean to compare Dr. Graham with God and I'm pretty sure he would not even like that statement but for those who are not believers, they would not pay much attention to what the Word of God has to say. But if they know Billy Graham.....they would in all probability give some thought to what this man of God has to say.)
What they don't know or realize is that everything Billy Graham has ever preached or written is based upon the Word of God. his confidence in the Word and his love for the Word come through loud and clear in "Billy Graham in Quotes."
This book was compiled by Dr. Graham's son, Franklin and Donna Lee Toney, a long time colleague of both Graham's.
There are 107 different topics. The topics range from Abortion to Young People. Each topic is introduced with a passage from God's Word setting the tone for why Dr. Graham feels the way he does and writes the things he has written.
For example, under the topic of Church you would find the following quote: "In some churches today and on some religious television programs, we see the attempt to make Christianity popular and pleasant. We have taken the cross away and substituted cushions."
Turning to the back of the book, you will find an index for all the quotes. This particular quote came from page 93 of Dr. Graham's book, "Till Armageddon" published by Word, in Waco, TX in 1981.
While I think "Billy Graham in Quotes" is a great book, it is not a book that I would consider bed time reading. But it is a book that would be great to have as a resource when writing or preparing a sermon. With Dr. Graham's credibility a quote from his writings would also be appropriate for political or other speeches delivered within the context of your community.
I would highly recommend this book to be part of your resource library. Plus, it is also a great book to pick up and spend a few minutes perusing. Knowing Billy Graham's love for the Word of God, you can be sure that everything written in this book and in all the other writings found listed in the index, are based on the truth of God's Word.
Always in Pursuit!
I am grateful to Thomas Nelson Publishing for the opportunity to review this book on m blog. In addition, the review will be posted on the BookSneeze web site and on Amazon.com.
I'm not sure I have ever been able to fully grasp the magnitude of Billy Graham's sphere of influence. When his name is used in a conversation, sermon or article, credibility rises up in the listener/reader's mind. I doubt any other preacher, author or Christian personality over the years has garnered the respect that Dr. Billy Graham has. It might be possible in some circles, that the name "Billy Graham" would carry more influence that the name of God. (I by no means mean to compare Dr. Graham with God and I'm pretty sure he would not even like that statement but for those who are not believers, they would not pay much attention to what the Word of God has to say. But if they know Billy Graham.....they would in all probability give some thought to what this man of God has to say.)
What they don't know or realize is that everything Billy Graham has ever preached or written is based upon the Word of God. his confidence in the Word and his love for the Word come through loud and clear in "Billy Graham in Quotes."
This book was compiled by Dr. Graham's son, Franklin and Donna Lee Toney, a long time colleague of both Graham's.
There are 107 different topics. The topics range from Abortion to Young People. Each topic is introduced with a passage from God's Word setting the tone for why Dr. Graham feels the way he does and writes the things he has written.
For example, under the topic of Church you would find the following quote: "In some churches today and on some religious television programs, we see the attempt to make Christianity popular and pleasant. We have taken the cross away and substituted cushions."
Turning to the back of the book, you will find an index for all the quotes. This particular quote came from page 93 of Dr. Graham's book, "Till Armageddon" published by Word, in Waco, TX in 1981.
While I think "Billy Graham in Quotes" is a great book, it is not a book that I would consider bed time reading. But it is a book that would be great to have as a resource when writing or preparing a sermon. With Dr. Graham's credibility a quote from his writings would also be appropriate for political or other speeches delivered within the context of your community.
I would highly recommend this book to be part of your resource library. Plus, it is also a great book to pick up and spend a few minutes perusing. Knowing Billy Graham's love for the Word of God, you can be sure that everything written in this book and in all the other writings found listed in the index, are based on the truth of God's Word.
Always in Pursuit!
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