NPR examines why men cannot walk in a straight line when blindfolded
Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? Prov: 20:24
Without something to keep his eyes upon to know where he is heading... man will go every which way but straight.
I tell you the same is true when you have your eyes open when you do not have a vision for your life, direction to point you and guidance to correct your ways. Man thinks that he is walking the right path... the straight and narrow... but without God to direct him in the proper way he should go... man is destined to travel in circles. He will always think he is making progress and if asked he will even swear to you that he is going the right way. Yet at the end of the day he will find out the path he was walking on all along without outside help or especially help from above, his progress was all but wandering in circles.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A Passion for the Christ - Rough Draft -
A Passion for Christ
I want to talk to you today about your heart and God's heart.
There is inside every Christian a heart that beats after God that wants to make the Father smile at you when you do what He has asked you to do. One day we will be before Him and we will get to hear Him say, " Well Done Good and Faithful Servant."
God has a calling on all of our lives and He puts the desire to serve Him in our hearts… and He gives us dreams and desire to see it come to pass.
Psalms 37: 3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
We are starting with the assumption that you are a Christian and you want to do what God has called you to do.
There is a basic urge that we have as Christians to "Do something for God" Or for that matter to be used in some way to further the Kingdom of God. Herein lay the dilemma for some people… Do what? What Do I do for God - what can I offer Him at all?
Lets start with that… What can I do for God?
The first thing to do is to make yourself available. If you busy yourself with other endeavors or other passions outside of God when will you have time for Him in your Life?
Making time for God is one of the most fundamental things anyone wanting to serve or pursue a call of God on their life needs to do.
The local church is the ideal place to learn to serve God and to make room for God to move in your life. Lets say you want to do something but you don't know what to do… If you turn up at church and make yourself available trust me we will find something for you to do.
And If I can add this… if your in the Sunday School or in Praise and Worship or if your in the hallway mopping the floors, Do it unto God and see the reward you will get.
Psalm 84:10 - Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
In times past when I volunteered for things I would be working away and suddenly feel the presence of God show up and basically hug me to say thank you to me.
Let me tell you that kind of thing is addictive. God showing up when your heart is towards Him thanking you for your work… its awesome.
I have told people that worked with me before about those times when God sees your heart and thanks you for your efforts… only to find them an hour to two later working unto the Lord and crying for joy because they felt the exact same thing happen to them.
Psalms 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Directable -
When your working at something in the Church - God can steer you where He wants you to go.
Its been said a thousand times, you cannot steer a parked car. If you start moving God will be able to lead you and guide you where he wants you to go. You may start with vacuuming on a Saturday morning and a while later be in the Sunday School pouring the Gospel into young hearts.
A Passion for Christ.
When I first got saved I was so hungry for more of God and so eager to do something for Him to show Him just a fraction of the gratitude that I had for Salvation, for relationship with a Living God and Heart that felt alive for the first time ever… such Love that He showed toward me… that I would do anything for Him.
In that passion of wanting to love God back I volunteered for the prayer phones at Pastor Walter Hallam's Church at the time in Texas. What started off as a desire to please God, quickly turned into another chance He got to say thank you to me.
I would be alone there some early mornings answering the phones by myself spending time chatting with others and encouraging them in the Lord and be sitting there surrounded by the love and peace of God - again telling me thank you for doing this for Him.
There are times in our lives that we step out to do something new and try to come up to a new level in our lives and our relationships and in our jobs - and the surprising thing is that God will always meet you there and be with you every step of the way.
Your church… This is your church. You are as much a part of this church as anyone else. The Church is your chance to step out and begin moving in the direction available to you and let God steer you.
Eph 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Together working as one body - each of us pursuing God in Love and working together can see amazing things in our lifetime - we grow we get more of God and the church grows and we see more people experience the same thing we have.
You love God.. how about putting action to your words and your feelings.
When I started falling in love with my wife I went out of my way to spend time with her and do everything in my power to show that love to her. And I might add I still do…
We as Christians should be at least the same way towards God. I am not talking about buying God flowers, but I am talking about spending time with Him and showing Him how you feel. The church is the number one place to start with some level of involvement and getting connected, plugged in and set in a direction that will help you continue your Passion for Christ.
Getting Connected.
Being connected to the place where God has called you to be is fundamental in my book one of the most essential things in the Christian life.
In the house of God there is fullness of joy
Making a quality decision.
I made a choice years ago to take God's Word and believe it. All of it. Not just parts of it but all of it.
And NOTHING is going to change that.
I made the same choice about my marriage, no matter what we stick together and enjoy the adventure of life - thick or thin.
I made the same choice about Church.
And IF IF IF IF I am ever tempted or if I struggle for any reason to even think of leaving the place God put me. I go to Him and ask His thoughts on the subject.
Its not something to take flippantly but something to trust God that He will always lead you and Guide you into all truth.
Finding your place in Church, a greeter an usher, a cleaner, finding your place and finding who you are in the House of God.
If you find your place in the church your connected and your more stable in the Church and you can grow and thrive.
A Cedar Planted in Lebanon.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him." (Ps 92:12-15)
This church is about finding your calling and being equipped for that calling.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph 4:12
Find out how to serve and get involved - Show God the Passion you have for Him.
I have met people that didn't know their calling in God - but one of the things I tell them is to ask God and do something least you do nothing. Serving as a greeter or a cleaner is a step in the right direction.
Come in and Pray for the church and the church members - your playing a part in the church.
Encourage those that are also involved to stay involved. Play your part because it is all helping to build the Church.
The Youth, the media its all part of the vision. Thats how you can help find the call of God on your Life is by serving.
TD Jakes was a janitor - Philip the Evangelist was a waiter and an usher.
Even if your not called to a teaching or a preaching gift you will find out what God has for you along the way.
A Body Fitly joined together every body part has a function that without it working causes disfunction.
When your connected in a church - you grow. You grow in spiritual ways, social ways and ministry ways.
And the church benefits from the unique gifts and talents that are yours and yours alone.
A Passion for Christ
Let God steer you in the direction of your destiny by being movable and moldable.
Find your place in the local body and plug in and pursue.
You will find your place where you have passion and joy beyond measure in doing the simplest and smallest thing in the world - but you do it for HIM - and I promise you… you will find yourself surrounded and overwhelmed by the Love and Peace and Joy of the Holy Spirit of God - He will tell you Thank you.
I want to talk to you today about your heart and God's heart.
There is inside every Christian a heart that beats after God that wants to make the Father smile at you when you do what He has asked you to do. One day we will be before Him and we will get to hear Him say, " Well Done Good and Faithful Servant."
God has a calling on all of our lives and He puts the desire to serve Him in our hearts… and He gives us dreams and desire to see it come to pass.
Psalms 37: 3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
We are starting with the assumption that you are a Christian and you want to do what God has called you to do.
There is a basic urge that we have as Christians to "Do something for God" Or for that matter to be used in some way to further the Kingdom of God. Herein lay the dilemma for some people… Do what? What Do I do for God - what can I offer Him at all?
Lets start with that… What can I do for God?
The first thing to do is to make yourself available. If you busy yourself with other endeavors or other passions outside of God when will you have time for Him in your Life?
Making time for God is one of the most fundamental things anyone wanting to serve or pursue a call of God on their life needs to do.
The local church is the ideal place to learn to serve God and to make room for God to move in your life. Lets say you want to do something but you don't know what to do… If you turn up at church and make yourself available trust me we will find something for you to do.
And If I can add this… if your in the Sunday School or in Praise and Worship or if your in the hallway mopping the floors, Do it unto God and see the reward you will get.
Psalm 84:10 - Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
In times past when I volunteered for things I would be working away and suddenly feel the presence of God show up and basically hug me to say thank you to me.
Let me tell you that kind of thing is addictive. God showing up when your heart is towards Him thanking you for your work… its awesome.
I have told people that worked with me before about those times when God sees your heart and thanks you for your efforts… only to find them an hour to two later working unto the Lord and crying for joy because they felt the exact same thing happen to them.
Psalms 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Directable -
When your working at something in the Church - God can steer you where He wants you to go.
Its been said a thousand times, you cannot steer a parked car. If you start moving God will be able to lead you and guide you where he wants you to go. You may start with vacuuming on a Saturday morning and a while later be in the Sunday School pouring the Gospel into young hearts.
A Passion for Christ.
When I first got saved I was so hungry for more of God and so eager to do something for Him to show Him just a fraction of the gratitude that I had for Salvation, for relationship with a Living God and Heart that felt alive for the first time ever… such Love that He showed toward me… that I would do anything for Him.
In that passion of wanting to love God back I volunteered for the prayer phones at Pastor Walter Hallam's Church at the time in Texas. What started off as a desire to please God, quickly turned into another chance He got to say thank you to me.
I would be alone there some early mornings answering the phones by myself spending time chatting with others and encouraging them in the Lord and be sitting there surrounded by the love and peace of God - again telling me thank you for doing this for Him.
There are times in our lives that we step out to do something new and try to come up to a new level in our lives and our relationships and in our jobs - and the surprising thing is that God will always meet you there and be with you every step of the way.
Your church… This is your church. You are as much a part of this church as anyone else. The Church is your chance to step out and begin moving in the direction available to you and let God steer you.
Eph 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Together working as one body - each of us pursuing God in Love and working together can see amazing things in our lifetime - we grow we get more of God and the church grows and we see more people experience the same thing we have.
You love God.. how about putting action to your words and your feelings.
When I started falling in love with my wife I went out of my way to spend time with her and do everything in my power to show that love to her. And I might add I still do…
We as Christians should be at least the same way towards God. I am not talking about buying God flowers, but I am talking about spending time with Him and showing Him how you feel. The church is the number one place to start with some level of involvement and getting connected, plugged in and set in a direction that will help you continue your Passion for Christ.
Getting Connected.
Being connected to the place where God has called you to be is fundamental in my book one of the most essential things in the Christian life.
In the house of God there is fullness of joy
Making a quality decision.
I made a choice years ago to take God's Word and believe it. All of it. Not just parts of it but all of it.
And NOTHING is going to change that.
I made the same choice about my marriage, no matter what we stick together and enjoy the adventure of life - thick or thin.
I made the same choice about Church.
And IF IF IF IF I am ever tempted or if I struggle for any reason to even think of leaving the place God put me. I go to Him and ask His thoughts on the subject.
Its not something to take flippantly but something to trust God that He will always lead you and Guide you into all truth.
Finding your place in Church, a greeter an usher, a cleaner, finding your place and finding who you are in the House of God.
If you find your place in the church your connected and your more stable in the Church and you can grow and thrive.
A Cedar Planted in Lebanon.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him." (Ps 92:12-15)
This church is about finding your calling and being equipped for that calling.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph 4:12
Find out how to serve and get involved - Show God the Passion you have for Him.
I have met people that didn't know their calling in God - but one of the things I tell them is to ask God and do something least you do nothing. Serving as a greeter or a cleaner is a step in the right direction.
Come in and Pray for the church and the church members - your playing a part in the church.
Encourage those that are also involved to stay involved. Play your part because it is all helping to build the Church.
The Youth, the media its all part of the vision. Thats how you can help find the call of God on your Life is by serving.
TD Jakes was a janitor - Philip the Evangelist was a waiter and an usher.
Even if your not called to a teaching or a preaching gift you will find out what God has for you along the way.
A Body Fitly joined together every body part has a function that without it working causes disfunction.
When your connected in a church - you grow. You grow in spiritual ways, social ways and ministry ways.
And the church benefits from the unique gifts and talents that are yours and yours alone.
A Passion for Christ
Let God steer you in the direction of your destiny by being movable and moldable.
Find your place in the local body and plug in and pursue.
You will find your place where you have passion and joy beyond measure in doing the simplest and smallest thing in the world - but you do it for HIM - and I promise you… you will find yourself surrounded and overwhelmed by the Love and Peace and Joy of the Holy Spirit of God - He will tell you Thank you.
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