11/26/2012 OverflowScriptures: Psalm 23:5
David wrote: "my cup runneth over." Most of life is lived according to our capacity, but God's plan for you is to experience His overflow in your life. Overflow can be a little messy and can be outside the norm. How can we get to a running over stage in our walk with God? First we must turn our cups right side up. Most restaurant's coffee cups are placed upside down, if a waiter or waitress sees someone turn a cup over they know they should provide coffee. Have you shown Jesus that you desire more in your walk with Him? We must be open to experience and learn more. We must be open to receive more from Him. We must mend any crack in our cups. The cracks come from neglect, distractions and disobedience. We have to allow our potter to fix our cup. Jesus is not in the business of filling cups halfway, because a half hearted relationship is a lukewarm relationship. Jesus wants to fill cups to the brim and then to keep pouring more into our lives. He said: "out of your bellies shall flow rivers of living water," He was speaking about the power of the Holy Ghost. He came to give us abundant life. David was a man that lived in the overflow; the Bible calls Him a man who had a heart like God. It can be a little messy living in the overlow: you might get in a fight with a bear or a lion, a giant might challenge you to a battle and people might get jealous of your accomplishments. But a young shepherd can get anointed as a King when they live in the overflow. Scriptures: 1 Peter 2:9, Genesis 32, Genesis 35
This verse calls us to be a nation for God, which means that there is promise put into each one of us. A promise for life, hope and expectation that will develop and grow. As a nation for God we have a mission statement to "seek and save that which is lost." Jacob stole his brother's Esau's birthright and caused his brother to want to kill him. Jacob sinned and his sin found him out, his sin sought to destroy his life. Jacob was desperate and was willing to do anything to get away from God. "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day," says Genesis 32:24. Jacob was left alone because he wanted to be alone, when we are at a place of true repentance we find ourselves at a crossroads: we can change and do more or stay at the same level. God did not leave Jacob alone, instead He monitored his steps and knew it was time to make a nation out of a broken man. Jacob showed tenacity and perseverance: " And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel...and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land." Genesis 35-10-12. As a child of God we are to stay sober and focused on God. He will wait to see how much we really want what we say we want, it took Jacob all night to get what he wanted. The moment we show God complete surrender He is there to change our name. God sees promises in each one of us and sees all the people waiting to hear the Word of God from our mouths. God wants to expand our borders so that His Kingdom can and will prosper; He expects us to be honorable so that we as a nation of God can carry out His will. 11/8/2012 Take Back Your FlavorScriptures: Matthew 5:13
If a seasoning has no flavor, it has little value. As Christians we should have a positive effect on the world around us. We should strive to bring out the best in others. The Bible tells us to be salt! So what is is about salt that makes it the perfect analogy for the evangelistic Christian? 1) Salt has value: it adds and brings out flavors. In Biblical times salt was so valuable it was sometimes used for currency. The Word tells us that "you are the salt of the earth," so translated we are valueable to God and this world. Lot's wife, when given the opporuntiy to flee destruction, turned her back on God. She valued the world more than she valued herself and she was turned into a pillar of salt. Instead of a chance at freedom, she chose to become a forever reminder of looking back. We cannot trade in our value for the pleasures of the world. 2) Salt is a preservative: Salt can be used to preserve food, because it hinders the process of decay for meat. In a world that is dealing with moral decay, we need to preservers of righteousness. We need to keep Biblical values and principles alive. 3) Salt promotes thrist- when we eat alot of salt we become thirsty. As Christians we are responsible to reveal Jesus. We are to expose the attractive and desirable aspects of our faith. Faith is beautiful when it is revealed. We need to make this world thirsty for Jesus and His salvation! 4) Salt must make contact to have an influence- salt does no good sitting on a shelf. We cannot become salt warehouse, merely holding onto all the goodness of God and becoming ineffective. We must make contact and share what God has blessed us with. Also we must remember that salt is not spectacular or sensational or successful on its own, but it is effective! We do not have to be the most talented, beauitful or intelligent, we just have to be willing to be used! It's time to take back your flavor! |
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