Did You Get It?

Sunday-Sunday. You know about Sunday right? It’s the day we go to church, the day of “worship”. It’s the day where we gather with other Christians for fellowship, prayer, singing and to, (drum roll please!) RECEIVE A WORD FROM GOD.

“Hearing the word” is described in many ways. Some call it a sermon or a talk. Other times you might hear it portrayed as preaching or teaching. It doesn’t really matter how it’s described. The real question is; did you get it? Did you understand it? Did it make sense to you?

A parable is a story using enigmatic or mysterious speech to convey a deeper point. Jesus often taught in parables when he was around large crowds to hide truth from those who refused to believe His message, while at the same time offering revelation to those who were eager to believe Him.

In the 4th chapter of Mark, Jesus is telling a parable about “the sower and the seed”. Both before and after Jesus told the parable, He urged the crowd (which included His disciples) to listen carefully. He used phrases like “Listen!” “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” “Don’t you understand?” He was giving hidden truths about the Kingdom of God and he wanted “believers” to get it.

Today the Kingdom of God is still being revealed to those who have a heart to believe. Although Jesus isn’t physically on the earth giving revelation these days, He has left us His Word, and The Holy Spirit is present to reveal it to those whose minds and hearts are open to it. No matter what His message is to you, His ultimate desire is that you understand what He is trying so desperately to relay to you.

The people that weren’t open to Jesus’ message were described as “ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding.” They we not prepared to get it. Are you prepared to get it? Listed below are 7 ways that you can prepare yourself to hear whatever God is trying to say to you.

1. With humility, revere God and His Word

2. Repent of sins and Forgive others

3. Invite The Holy Spirit in

4. Pray for continuous revelation

5. Keep an open and believing heart

6. Resist mental, visual, and emotional distractions

7. Decide to follow-up on the message and consistently do it

Remember, God is still speaking in pulpits on Sundays, but those aren’t the only days or places that He speaks. The key is when He speaks, “get it!” then spread it.

Living To Please Him!

Pastor Terry

Is It Worth It?

People are very different. Whether it’s their lifestyles or the life situations that they are in, everyday and all day you notice the many differences.

There are some things however, that unite us as human beings. It is the ability to choose. We all have this capacity to choose, and we continue to live in a state of making choices. In fact, there are times when we think that we’re making no decision-that in itself is a choice. What we do with our money, our time, and our relationships are all choices. Where we go, and what we do when we get there, are all decisions and choices.

The book of St. John the 6^th chapter shows a very interesting choice that Jesus put to His disciples. Their subsequent response is worth noting. After asking the larger number of disciples (some say there were as many as 500), to step up their level of commitment to him, many of them chose to leave. Seeing so many of them walk away, Jesus immediately turned and posed a question to the small group of disciples that remained. “Will you also go?” He asked. It was decision time. One disciple quickly responded. “Where will we go? You have the words of eternal life.

What is so striking about that disciple’s comments is that with the choice he made, it showed that he counted the cost. He determined that it wasn’t worth it to him to leave the Lord. The value that he placed on staying with Jesus outweighed the price he would have paid by walking away.

This passage has me asking a similar question today. Is it worth it? The choice that you are about to make, have you counted the cost? Have you seriously considered the value that you are placing on your decision? Think about it. What you are about to say, what you are about to do. Maybe it’s where you’re about to go. Have you thought about the cost that comes with saying it, doing it, or going there? Sometimes the answer to those questions is, it cost too much.

Oftentimes the types of choices we make can lead us away from the heart of God. On the other hand, there are times when the value we place on decisions we make involve great blessings, and reveal to others that we are indeed His children. St. John the 3^rd chapter, Jesus tells of the difficult choice that God The Father made, and by that choice opened a doorway to life for all. Was the choice God made worth it? Absolutely!

I’m not sure what decision you are about to make, nor do I know the outcome of that decision. I just pray that you will count the cost, and choose like Him.

Living To Please Him!

Pastor Terry

Don’t Give Up!

Having passed the midway point in our 40day journey titled “The Take Back”, the thought that comes to mind is DON’T GIVE UP! In the book of Galatians the 5^th chapter, the Apostle Paul states that we should not get weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap if we DON’T GIVE UP!. Jesus said we should always pray and NOT GIVE UP!. When Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall, the people began to get discouraged half way into the campaign. God told him to encourage the people NOT TO GIVE UP!. Starting is always great, but there is something to be said for the person who continues to the end.

Here are a 7 areas we can daily continue in:.

1. Keep your life clean before God through repentance.

2. With your thoughts, words, and actions continue to fight for peace in your relationships. While you can’t control how others think or feel about you, you can control your thoughts and your responses.

3. Be sure to continue granting the Holy Spirit access into your daily activities, making Him your dominant voice of counsel.

4. Continue to daily read the Word, memorize the Word, meditate on the Word, speak the Word, and do the Word.

5. Don’t stop praying! For yourself and others.

6. Don’t stop resisting the devil and exercising your authority over him and all spiritual wickedness-they are defeated!

7. If you fall, keep getting up.

Always remember, you are not in this alone. God the Father is for you. His grace, His love, and His favor surround you. Jesus your Lord is praying for you-even now! As you move forward rest in The Holy Spirit’s power to help you to NOT GIVE UP!

Living To Please Him!

Pastor Terry

"Yes"

The word “yes” is a little word that can reflect a big commitment. Every day of our lives God is looking for us to respond to Him with a “yes”, whether that act of obedience is considered small or great.

What has God asked of you that you can respond to Him with a “yes” today? Is it what He wants you to do in your marriage or the way you parent? Is it how you handle your relationships? Maybe it’s what you do with your body or how you handle your money or the resources He has blessed you with. Could it possibly be your thought life that He is asking “Will you change your mind?” Many of these examples could refer to your daily habits or your relationships.

However, the word “yes” can also be a response to your faith in God. Sometimes God is calling us to examine the gifts that He has placed in our lives and begin to use them for Him. Maybe it’s to share our love for Him with others or to be used by Him to perform a miracle.

Models of all of these can be found in scripture from the books of Genesis through Revelation where God asked people for a “yes”. Some of them said “yes” and some said “no”. While these responses were not always verbal, their actions reflected their heart.

What will you say today when God asks you for a simple “yes”? My prayer for you is that when God comes knocking, when He comes seeking, when He comes asking, that you not only answer with a “yes”, but that you respond with a kind of faith and action that shows that your little word has a big commitment.

Living to Please Him,

Pastor Terry

Faith Under Fire

The eighth chapter of the book Acts is a very powerful depiction of faith under fire. This passage shows us that even while the early church was faced with trials and major persecution; it didn’t stop them from sharing their faith. Many times we don’t realize just how freeing it can be to share our faith with others even when we are going through our own difficulties.

Take a look at your own life. Are you currently going through a tough period? The type that takes up all of your time, and wears you down in such a way that you feel there’s nothing left in the tank? If you are in a personal battle, let Acts chapter 8 be a reminder that the fiery trial should not silence our faith.

During these early days of reclaiming territory, I want to challenge you to not settle for taking back only material things. Try to include sharing your faith with your family and friends. Take a look at these questions as part of your daily routine.

1. Have you written down the names of family and friends whom you would love to see come into the kingdom?

2. What relationships are you forming on purpose so that you can ultimately share you faith with them?

3. Are your days so crowded that you have no time to reach out?

Remember Acts chapter 8, that through great crisis, Phillip still went after others and evangelism won out! May you be inspired today, to reclaim your evangelistic voice and start you own fire.

The Take Back Blog Welcome

Welcome!

I’m happy to be connecting through this weekly blog. It is a way to keep you built up and encouraged to stay on track during “The Take Back”, our 40-day spiritual journey beginning Wednesday, October 7th through Sunday, November 15th.

Throughout the Bible, the number 40 has always played a significant role in the way God has moved in the lives of His leaders and His people. Clearly, the agenda is the same here. We are expecting God to strengthen us during these 40 days. However, many times we have difficulties continuing and finishing what we’ve started. I’d like to challenge you to approach this 40-day journey differently.

During “The Take Back”, you will be given different opportunities to stay motivated along your journey. This weekly blog will be one of the ways I will be able to communicate with you. I will also be preaching our weekly Sunday services, as well as leading our Acts 19 Service on Friday, November 13th. Over the 40 days, you will have the opportunity to connect with our pastors and key leaders following our midweek and Sunday services. You will be allowed to discuss a variety of topics designed to strengthen you throughout the 40-day journey.

Please make a strong commitment to put aside these 40 days to run hard after God. We want to wage war in the Spirit regarding our families, our finances, and our spiritual lives. Let’s approach these 40 days with a level of energy, focus, and pure determination to take back everything the enemy has stolen from us. We will finish by waving the flag of accomplishment and triumph!

Living to Please Him,

Pastor Terry Davis