It's always interesting to deal with people who are resistant to change, and more interesting to deal with people who resist the move of the Holy Spirit of God.
At the start of the sermon during the first service Pastor Benji said, "Church is not a place to go; it is the church that should be going."
Evangelism: our opportunity to get out and go to the people, to love them and share the heart of God with them, and above all to pray earnestly for the salvation of souls.
But, sometimes, it's not easy to get people to go out. It's a challenge to get people to have compassion for the lost. Do you know what it is to get comfortable? Sometimes it's hard to break out of that comfort zone.
In a world where a meal can be brought to your door, we make the appeal to Christians to get up, get out, and go fishing. God has given us all the equipment and tools we need. But, as the old saying goes, though God feeds the birds He does not drop the food into the nest for them.
With this in mind, let's pray:
-for Holy Spirit boldness in our preaching and teaching;
-for a spirit of humility, realizing that we too were rescued;
-for God's direction as to where we go and who we speak to.
Yes! Every person will see and know that it is not your work, but it is the declaration of the LORD... and that declaration will not return void... DO YOU SEE IT? It's a line of people on 227th Street, waiting for the church doors to open. Be gracious when the ushers ask you to give up your seat.
Showing posts with label Exodus 8 and 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exodus 8 and 10. Show all posts
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Until They All Come Home...A Testimony.
Today's title is part of a quote from Pastor Benji's sermon in the first service: "God is not finished until they all come home".
I recall many years ago, one of my nieces and one of my nephews came to live with us for the summer. Our household had an inviolable rule: no one stayed home on Sundays. And my nephew gladly and dutifully got up early each Sunday morning so he could commute to the particular church of his choosing, while my niece attended services in reluctance... and shortly called her mom to complain about the rule.
The debate went on for days. Her mom did not see the importance of the assembling together of believers, and I did not accept the counter-offer of allowing my niece to just stay at home and watch television all day. Well, I was "reminded" that I was not "the parent", and her mother insisted that I could not force her to go to church. I agreed... and sent my niece back to her mom. I lost the fight, but I refused to compromise the integrity of my household. For me, that meant no exceptions to the rule.
Well, that was almost twenty years ago. I had forgotten the incident until this past Sunday's sermon.
There are sayings out there: you have to pick your battles, this hill isn't worth dying for, and so on. I'd like to ask you: is the salvation of souls worth fighting and dying for?
Pastor Benji shared, "When God designs a plan to liberate, it is for complete liberation". We can recall the appeal of the angels to Lot in Genesis 19, who (this amazes me) had to take hesitant Lot and his family by the hands and lead them out of
Sodom. That family had gotten so accustomed to life in the wicked city that even the command of God was not sufficient to make them fear the impending destruction.
In other words, not everyone wants to be liberated.
Guess what? The angels were right. God's design is to destroy "the cities of the plain", and in the midst of destruction He also makes provision for the rescue of families.
So, we who have been liberated seek the liberation of our loved ones. We pray, we admonish, we love, and we discipline... until they all come home.
I recall many years ago, one of my nieces and one of my nephews came to live with us for the summer. Our household had an inviolable rule: no one stayed home on Sundays. And my nephew gladly and dutifully got up early each Sunday morning so he could commute to the particular church of his choosing, while my niece attended services in reluctance... and shortly called her mom to complain about the rule.
The debate went on for days. Her mom did not see the importance of the assembling together of believers, and I did not accept the counter-offer of allowing my niece to just stay at home and watch television all day. Well, I was "reminded" that I was not "the parent", and her mother insisted that I could not force her to go to church. I agreed... and sent my niece back to her mom. I lost the fight, but I refused to compromise the integrity of my household. For me, that meant no exceptions to the rule.
Well, that was almost twenty years ago. I had forgotten the incident until this past Sunday's sermon.
There are sayings out there: you have to pick your battles, this hill isn't worth dying for, and so on. I'd like to ask you: is the salvation of souls worth fighting and dying for?
Pastor Benji shared, "When God designs a plan to liberate, it is for complete liberation". We can recall the appeal of the angels to Lot in Genesis 19, who (this amazes me) had to take hesitant Lot and his family by the hands and lead them out of
Sodom. That family had gotten so accustomed to life in the wicked city that even the command of God was not sufficient to make them fear the impending destruction.
In other words, not everyone wants to be liberated.
Guess what? The angels were right. God's design is to destroy "the cities of the plain", and in the midst of destruction He also makes provision for the rescue of families.
So, we who have been liberated seek the liberation of our loved ones. We pray, we admonish, we love, and we discipline... until they all come home.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Designer Clothes
In Sunday's sermon Pastor Benji stated, "God has given the design; we must carry out the activity."
In reflecting on the mention of Noah in Hebrews 11, we understand that God gave him particular instructions regarding the building of an ark to save himself and his household. And we can take away a few insights from the accounts of Noah (both in Hebrews and in Genesis):
- Noah built an ark, by faith, for the purpose of salvation;
-Noah was not deterred by the taunting of his neighbors, nor did he defer the work of building in the face of no evidence of rain;
- Noah's sons and daughters-in-law, as well as Noah's wife, all entered the ark of safety- a testimony to the plan and desire of God to save households;
- Noah's obedience to God stood as an indictment of the ungodly community he lived in.
What about us? How do we approach "building the ark" in the twenty-first century?
-Are we carrying out God's assignment to us by faith?
-Are we doing what God told us, even in the face of ridicule?
-Are our family members taking us seriously- will they follow us as we follow God's commands?
-Are we able to live in such a way that our lifestyle is as much a testimony as the words we say?
If not, why not? Lord, help us to wear obedience in such a way that, even before we speak, our lives will declare that we delight in carrying out Your design.
In reflecting on the mention of Noah in Hebrews 11, we understand that God gave him particular instructions regarding the building of an ark to save himself and his household. And we can take away a few insights from the accounts of Noah (both in Hebrews and in Genesis):
- Noah built an ark, by faith, for the purpose of salvation;
-Noah was not deterred by the taunting of his neighbors, nor did he defer the work of building in the face of no evidence of rain;
- Noah's sons and daughters-in-law, as well as Noah's wife, all entered the ark of safety- a testimony to the plan and desire of God to save households;
- Noah's obedience to God stood as an indictment of the ungodly community he lived in.
What about us? How do we approach "building the ark" in the twenty-first century?
-Are we carrying out God's assignment to us by faith?
-Are we doing what God told us, even in the face of ridicule?
-Are our family members taking us seriously- will they follow us as we follow God's commands?
-Are we able to live in such a way that our lifestyle is as much a testimony as the words we say?
If not, why not? Lord, help us to wear obedience in such a way that, even before we speak, our lives will declare that we delight in carrying out Your design.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
God's Controversy: Selfish Salvation.
Today we continue our reflection on the sermon "God's Salvation Plan".
Pastor Benji made the powerful analogy of Christians as those who have been rescued out of a burning building; but, instead of running back into the building to attempt to save their loved ones, they stand outside and sing and rejoice in their own deliverance while the others are left to perish.
I believe this was a profound prophetic indictment on our Bronx Bethany community, as well as being an indictment on many who belong to the the Christian Church. We are born again, but our prayers make it clear that we are self-absorbed and not conscious of the heart of God:
"Oh, Lord, bless my business... God, be with my family... Lord, help me pass my exam..."
In the account of the miracle of fish in Luke 5:1-11, I think Jesus was trying to show Peter, and us, that this fishing for souls is one in which every person in every nation of the world is poised to be rescued. Jesus said, "Fear not: from now on, you will catch men" (see Luke 5:10), and we can apply His word to ourselves. As Pastor Benji noted on Sunday, it's not enough for us to be saved individually when God has presented a design for the saving of entire households.
Don't be afraid. When God is orchestrating the expedition, the fish will come to you.
Pastor Benji made the powerful analogy of Christians as those who have been rescued out of a burning building; but, instead of running back into the building to attempt to save their loved ones, they stand outside and sing and rejoice in their own deliverance while the others are left to perish.
I believe this was a profound prophetic indictment on our Bronx Bethany community, as well as being an indictment on many who belong to the the Christian Church. We are born again, but our prayers make it clear that we are self-absorbed and not conscious of the heart of God:
"Oh, Lord, bless my business... God, be with my family... Lord, help me pass my exam..."
In the account of the miracle of fish in Luke 5:1-11, I think Jesus was trying to show Peter, and us, that this fishing for souls is one in which every person in every nation of the world is poised to be rescued. Jesus said, "Fear not: from now on, you will catch men" (see Luke 5:10), and we can apply His word to ourselves. As Pastor Benji noted on Sunday, it's not enough for us to be saved individually when God has presented a design for the saving of entire households.
Don't be afraid. When God is orchestrating the expedition, the fish will come to you.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Gone Fishing.
This week we'll spend some time reflecting on Pastor Benji's sermon, "This Great Salvation/God's Salvation Plan".
Pastor Benji made reference to two Old Testament passages that should be familiar, but I think it would be beneficial for all of us to read them again: Genesis chapters 6 through 10, and Exodus chapters 8 through 10. You'll notice that the references I wrote are longer than the ones stated by Pastor Benji. That's correct- I would like you to actually find time to sit down, open your Bible, and read it.
The historical plan of salvation, as seen in the Old Testament, was one in which entire households were saved: parents, children, extended family. It was not enough that Noah could enter the ark: God commanded him to save his entire family. It was not enough for Moses to have been delivered from the Nile River as an infant: God gave him a mandate to return to Egypt and be an agent for the deliverance of an entire nation.
As we continue in our "fishing for souls", let's look to this historical context and seek to understand God's heart for families.
Pastor Benji made reference to two Old Testament passages that should be familiar, but I think it would be beneficial for all of us to read them again: Genesis chapters 6 through 10, and Exodus chapters 8 through 10. You'll notice that the references I wrote are longer than the ones stated by Pastor Benji. That's correct- I would like you to actually find time to sit down, open your Bible, and read it.
The historical plan of salvation, as seen in the Old Testament, was one in which entire households were saved: parents, children, extended family. It was not enough that Noah could enter the ark: God commanded him to save his entire family. It was not enough for Moses to have been delivered from the Nile River as an infant: God gave him a mandate to return to Egypt and be an agent for the deliverance of an entire nation.
As we continue in our "fishing for souls", let's look to this historical context and seek to understand God's heart for families.