|
By Greg
on December 31, 2009
10 things God is going to do in 2010Greg V Hurd 10. Inhabit the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3, 9:1-4) God, in 2010, will still inhabit the praises of his people. An expanded translation states it this way, “The praises of His people create a big chair for God to sit down in.” The sacrifice of praise that is the fruit of our lips, creates a habitation for the presence of God in our lives. Singing His praises and thanking Him for the great things He has done creates the atmosphere for God to sit down in our situations and circumstances and judge righteously in the affairs of our life. Judgment is often used in a negative aspect when pertaining to God, but we must remember that there are two sides of this, a judgment for and a judgment against. God will judge in favor of His will for our lives and against anything that would come to hinder His will, He is the righteous Judge! 9. Use the Unusable (1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Judges 6:11, 12) God loves the Underdog. We can study the Patriarchs of the Old Testament, the Prophets and the Judges and see that God uses people that are seemingly unusable. In the New Testament, Jesus chose His disciples not from the religious institutions of that day, but people that did not make the cut. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 gives us a glimpse into God’s plan. He chooses the foolish and weak things to confound the world’s wisdom and strength. I have heard many people say over the years that God could never use them because of their past and the things that they have done, but that is not what the Bible teaches. He makes Kings out of Sheppard boys and Mighty men of Valor out of people who are shaking in their boots, hiding from the enemy, like Gideon. We must remember that when we are weak that is when He is truly strong! 8. Never leave or forsake us (Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 13:5-8) I do not believe that we have a full understanding of this statement in the Bible. First of all there is not a one of us who has not experienced loss in our life. Parents leave, spouses go, and friends seem to go through revolving doors in our lives coming in and out, but Jesus makes this statement that cannot be fulfilled by anything or anyone else. He will NEVER LEAVE US, He will NEVER FORSAKE US. WOW! I am sure that our share of loneliness will be awaiting us in 2010, but we don’t have to be, because wherever we are and in whatever we are doing God is there. King David stated, “Though I make my bed in Hell though art with me.” I think all of us have spent a few nights at that Motel, with Hellish circumstances in our lives, but that does not change this promise. God never leaves, He never forsakes His children. 7. Hear and Answer Prayer (1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 5:14, 15; 2 Chronicles 7:14) Thank God, He still hears and answers prayer. The Apostle Peter said, “God’s ear is inclined to the Righteous and His ears are open to their prayers.” If you are bought with the blood of Jesus and have made Him Lord of your life, listen to this, you have God’s ear! A lot can be said here, but I think we know that God wants to hear from us in 2010. 6. Do the Impossible (Luke 1:37; Matthew 19:26) Nothing is impossible with God and in 2010; He is going to continue to do the impossible in the lives of those who will allow Him to. He will make ways where there seems to be no way, bring rain in the desert, and continue to perform the miraculous in people’s lives. So in 2010, dream big, think big, make big plans because we serve a God that does the impossible. 5. Bless and Honor the Righteous (Psalm 5:12; Psalm 35:27; Psalm 37:25, 26) There will be no shortage of God’s blessing in 2010! Like all the years before, God has ample supply! He has no shortage on favor, mercy and will always do above and beyond the need in our lives. He has pleasure in our abundance, and desires us to have bountifulness so that we can establish His covenant in the earth. 4. Heal the sick (Psalm 103:2, 3; Psalm 107:20; Isaiah 53:4, 5) Our God is a healing God, and in 2010, He does not plan to relinquish His title of “Jehovah Rapha, the Lord that healeth thee, or the Lord thy physician.” (Exodus 15:26) He is the same yesterday, today and forever! 3. Deliver the captives (Isaiah 61:1-3; 10:27; Luke 4:18; John 8:36) Jesus in 2010 will continue His undisputed reign as Deliverer and liberator of all who are in bondage! He will continue to “set the captives free” of anything that holds them in bondage. Jesus can break the power of addiction! In 2010, nothing could be better news, because whatever is holding you down and holding you back, Jesus can break the chain and set you free. 2. Forgive sins (1 John 1:9; Jude 24, 25; Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 103:12) Did you hear that? Jesus in 2010 is going to continue forgiving sin! The same blood that saved us is also the same blood that cleanses us when we fall into temptation and sin against God. The Bible says that,”If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This scripture was not written to unbelievers, but believers. It does not give us a license to habitually practice what we have been redeemed from, but is there so we do not have to wallow in condemnation and guilt when we fall. I always tell Christians to run to God when they fail and not from Him. Continue to cry out when you find yourself in sins grip, instantly confess, receive His forgiveness and walk in His righteousness! 1. Save the Lost (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16; Matthew 20:28) This is the number one thing that God will do in 2010; Jesus is interested in those who have the possibility of going to eternity without Him. If you want to know what is in the Father’s heart, it is the masses of people that have not been reconciled to Him. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Lost is on the mind of God, He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. What a gracious and merciful God we serve that is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, the lives of people. In 2010 we need to be about the Father’s business in seeking after the lost, we must be bold and reach out so that our friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives will never know an eternity without God. In 2010, and I have it on good authority, God will be doing these things, The question is, in 2010, will you allow Him to do these things through you?
By Greg
on December 30, 2009
By Greg
on September 24, 2009
I am looking forward to our retro revival starting Sunday, September 27 and continuing until Wednesday September 30th. Sunday morning we will be having the New Revival Quartet at 9 and 11am and that night, at 6pm, a powerful time with Pastor Jeff Craig. The new Retro praise and worship team will be leading us that night giving us a taste of what is in store when our 8:30 am Retro Service starts Oct. 4th.
On Monday, Fidelis Ossom will be with us and we will be having special music by renowned gospel singer Eddy Helen Barre. The services Monday through Wednesday will be at 7pm.
Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be blessed by Evangelist Rick McKnight along with special music by the New Revival Quartet and a special guest of Ricks.
Thunderkids will be having power packed services along the way and Area 51 youth will be having a special time. They will be skating Sunday night, a concert with "Match made in Space" Monday night, scavenger hunt Tuesday and Raww Dawg and Madd Judge returning by popular demand Wednesday night.
These services are a celebration of the heritage of those who payed the price before us, they are different in their style and expression than what our services are generally, our desire is to try to break down the walls between different generations within the church and find common ground.
I hope to see you there!
Greg
By Greg
on September 18, 2009
"Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me."
John 21:20-22
Let's face it the church of America is filled with competition. We are a bloated mess, neglecting the harvest, fighting over recycled saints and fishing in a barrel. If you would talk to most pastors they would concur with Jesus words that, "the harvest is plentious, but the labourers few" but those same pastors spend most of their time, money and energy in trying to lure the saved.
I came up in what was known as the "Teaching Movement or Word of Faith Movement" and what a movement it was (did you get that-was). Teaching on the Word of God was plentiful and countless people grew into a mature faith through that movement. Although I do not consider myself fully matured, I learned alot in those years, I had gifted instructors that taught me the word and sat under one of the greatest Bible teachers for 16 years. I am still only scratching the surface on what was deposited in me during that time. I loved it!
But today is a new day, and the pillar of cloud has moved, God expects His church to use what they have been given to win the world for Jesus Christ!
May I say this? One of the weakest areas of the aforementioned movement was evangelism. We could tell you the ABC's of Faith, 7 Steps to Prosperity or the 7 steps to Answered Prayer, but had trouble relating to the lost. I dare say that majority of the movement was Denominational people filling these churches to learn the fullness of God's Word, and yes that is a good thing. But what now?
Every bit of revelation knowledge we have been given by any move of God, has been given to us for one reason and one reason only, to win the lost!!!!
It seems that churches today have a "scarcity mentality" when it comes to getting people in their church, like there is not enough harvest for everybody. I read a statistic that blew me away, in 2007, it was stated that in every county in Oklahoma only 14% of Oklahomans attended church. Now some will take this info and turn it into a sermon about the sad state of affairs in our world. But may I make a suggestion, why don't we see it as an opportunity to harvest 86% of the population of Oklahoma? Scarcity, I don't think so. It's time to get to work!
I read in the paper recently about a church bringing in a campus-site in a neighboring community, because they researched and found several thousand unchurched people in that area. I know the area, and there are churches everywhere that have been there a long time, but yet thousands are unreached.
Could we be like Peter, wanting to compete and draft veterans instead of harvesting babies? Peter was jealous of John, the disciple he referred to in this text, and he did not want to be outdone. We, like Peter, are too worried about what other churches are doing, and not seeking our unique way God has for us in reaching the lost. Every church is different and unique, no one church can meet the needs of everyone.
The church today is territorial, like they are entitled to the harvest in the area their in, and you better not be too close to our field they say, yet countless people go to hell everyday. It is time to wake up, other churches are not our competition, they are fellow harvesters.
Unity and love among us will help bring the world to Jesus, not fragmentation and division.
We need to heed the works of Jesus, stop competing and being concerned with what Jesus is doing with someone else and Follow the Master. Paul stated that if we compare ourselves to one another we are not wise.
Let's get our focus on what it should be, remember the GREAT COMMISSION?
GV Hurd
By Greg
on September 15, 2009
I think one of the compliments I most cherish is hearing someone say that I am easy to talk to. I strive to be a good listener, I haven't arrived, but I strive. I was thinking the other day what would be the greatest compliment the Lord could say to me? I was suprised when out of my spirit came the words, "You are easy to talk to."
Just because we have ears does not mean we are good listeners and easy to talk to. Does God have trouble getting His message through to you? I know He has to me, I misunderstand, misinterpret and flat miss the obvious words of the Master directed toward me.
Sometimes my mind is too busy to focus on what He is saying, other times that still small voice is muffled by the roar of my situations and circumstances. Other times distractions keep me from clear communication and at other times, and I hate saying this, I am just going through the motions, nodding my head affirmatively to God without hearing a word He has said.
So I have been striving to be a better listener, because I think that we could all agree that listening to God would be advantageous to us. So here are three things that will make you a better listener.
Make time for God: I know this sounds really simple, but this is one of the hardest things to execute in our busy lives. We must make time for our Creator, Lord, Life Sustainer and Savior, speaking to Him and also taking the time to listen to Him.
Instantly Obey the Promptings of the Spirit: By being obedient we hone our ability to hear the voice of God. Through obedience we learn God's voice and learn to distinguish it from the chatter and white noise of the world. Just do it and see what happens, you will grow!
Get involved in what God is doing: Many time we are too busy erecting our own Kingdom that we forget what we are here and what we were made for. When we begin to get in line with God's will and desires His voice will come bounding through helping us to lead someone from darkness to light, or bring His deliverance and healing into someones life. We need to get in God's Line of Sight and watch the miraculous power of God touch the lives of others.
Besides hearing "Well done thou good and faithful servant," let us all strive to hear the Master say, "You are easy to talk to."
|
|
|