10 Signs that We Don’t Believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit

I read this today after having a similar conversation with a friends recently.  

Courtesy of Tony Morgan ~ I was thinking about how little we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christ-followers. I began to consider how I live out my life, and, I was convicted…which, by the way, is one indication that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. I thought it might be good to consider the conversation here especially as it relates to leaders in the Church. Based on that, here are…

1.We are experiencing anxiety and bitterness in our lives rather than joy and kindness. (Galatians 5:22-23)

2.We can’t remember the last time we prayed for the people we lead. (Romans 8:26)

3.The churches we lead aren’t growing and reaching more people. (Acts 9:31)

4.The churches we lead aren’t outreach focused. (Acts 1:8)

5.We think it’s our responsibility to convict people of sin. (John 16:8)

6.We are stuck in sinful patterns rather than pursuing the things of God. (Galations 5:16:17)

7.We think we have the power to change people. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

8.We are more concerned about the rules than we are our freedom in Christ. (Galations 3:2-3)

9.We think we can explain the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)

10.We are creating division and aren’t promoting unity within the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

It might be good to begin the week and this next season of ministry by studying and praying through this list. My prayer is that your life and your ministry would continue to experience its fullest potential in the power of the Holy Spirit.

dave

There's no other place

Just heard this song and was reminded that our hope is not in this world, but the next.  Keep your eyes on the Eternal Kingdom of God almighty!  Never look to man for the answers, we come up empty every time.


When I'm all alone, And the weight of the world is more than I can bear on my own
When all my plans have failed, and I suffered defeat
I'm down on my knees, I can't get to my feet

Your love breaks through, and reminds me of the hope that I have in You. That I have in You

There's no other place that I'd rather be. Than safe in the arms, the arms of my Savior
There's no other place where I can be free. So I run to the arms, the arms of my Savior

When I'm feeling overwhelmed, like I can't take anymore
I've thrown up my hands, all I see is the floor
I've looked to the north, the south, the west, and the east
But as far as I can see, I can't find any peace

Your grace breaks through, and reminds me of the hope that I have in You. That I have in You

Life shouldn't be something to dread, cause I know You still know
How many hairs are in my head, and so I run to You, and so I run to You


Lincoln Brewster "The Arms of my Savior"


 

Know the Word

Lately I have been challenged more and more to know God's word.  Not to just hear it or to glimpse over it in a daily devotional, but to explore it for myself 

One of he first things that I realized is that knowing God's word is a dangerous thing.  It teaches us, it guides and instructs us.  It literally has the power to change us. Seriously?  Read John 1 

So if we begin to read God's word daily, shouldn't we then be able to learn God's word and His word to our lives?  We should!  But many times we don't.

The problem is that we expect other people to tell us or show us what God is all about.  We trust preachers and teachers to instruct and inform.  We wait for a spiritual moment or an event that will enlighten us.  Too many times we do not take the time or make an effort to sit down to meditate and read through God's word for ourselves.  

Most Americans own a Bible. In fact, 92% of households in America own at least one copy.  Of those households that own a Bible, the average number of Bibles is three.  This includes not only the homes of practicing Christians but hundreds of thousands of atheists as well.  Although most Americans own a Bible, use of the Bible varies significantly.  In a poll taken by the Gallup Organization, 59% of Americans reported that they read the Bible at least occasionally.  The percentage of Americans who read the Bible at least once a week is 37%. Wow 37%! So do we really "know" God's word?

Ponder this; If you are a Christ follower, then people should be able to look for—and find—fruit in your life. Why? Because a disciple of Jesus Christ will produce spiritual fruit. Jesus said, " 'My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father'" (John 15:8 NLT). Jesus also said, "'By their fruits you will know them'" (Matthew 7:20 NKJV).

Love one another, create fruit.  It's in the good book.  It's God's word. 
dave

Be thankful

In my quiet time this morning I was reflecting on appreciation. Last night was a pretty late night for me. I left the church around 10:30 or so after we finished a rare, late, band practice. On my way home I got a text from my wife telling me that she had gotten sick and she was not feeling any better. Anyone who is married with children knows how important a stay-at-home mom is to the delicate structure of family life. So aside from the natural concern for her health and well being, I went into “What can I do” mode.

What can I do? I realized that the boys and I are totally are dependent on her. She fills so many gaps and holes in our household that we many times do nothing and magically things get done. Wow! Do we live our lives depending on someone or being co-dependent? There is a difference, look it up.

Our culture is such that it has provided a way for all of us to live our lives expecting other people to do everything for us. We are dependent on so many things. We depend on having gas dropped into the ground for us to pump into our cars, food stocked on store shelves. We even depend on news and entertainment being “on demand” and piped directly into our homes and cell phones.

So what? It’s the American way! I agree, it has certainly become the norm. I am not suggesting that we all move out into some far corner of a vast wilderness and learn how to hunt and kill our own food. And that we build our own houses and plant our own crops. I am simply offering up one simple thought…………be thankful.

While I looked at my wife resting this morning I was reminded of how wonderful she is to do all that she does for our family. She never complains, she never has a second thought. Why? If you asked her, she would tell you that she is thankful to have her boys in her life. Thankful.

So if you have not done it lately, take a moment and thank God for all of the people in your life that you are thankful for. Then go one step further and tell them how much they mean to you. Call them, text them, facebook them, or whatever it takes to let them know that you appreciate them.

thank•ful –adjective - feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative.

Blessings,

dave

Why is Easter so important?

Some call it Easter, some call it Resurrection Sunday. Whatever you choose to call it is not as important as the event and the purpose of Jesus’ resurrection.

The timing of the crucifixion and His resurrection was no accident. It happened during "Passover" and during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But Dave, why was “Passover” so important? It was important because it commemorated God's "passing over" the Hebrew's homes by the angel of death (Exodus 12:29). In the book of Exodus the Bible tells that God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Hebrew slaves, with the tenth plague being the killing of all of the firstborn, from the Pharaoh's son to the firstborn of the dungeon captive, to the firstborn of cattle. The Hebrew’s were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover".

When Pharaoh freed the Hebrews, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is called "The Festival of the Unleavened Bread". Matza (flat unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday. Together with Shavnot ("Pentecost") and Sukkot ("Tabernacles"), Passover is one of the 3 pilgrimage festivals during which the entire Jewish populace historically made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Festival or Feast of Unleavened Bread begins with unleavened bread (bread made without yeast) and sacrificing an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. Jesus stood in as the final unblemished, sacrificial lamb (the lamb of God). He went to the cross for our sin. Yours and mine.

But the cross is only half of the miracle. Jesus died. No doubt about it. Jesus died on the cross. They buried Him, they closed the tomb and He was done. What makes this story so amazing is that Jesus rose from the grave. Paul emphasized the importance of the resurrection by saying this:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”.

Without Jesus returning from the grave every purpose of Christ would be unfulfilled and the foundation of Christianity would have fallen apart.

So Easter is important because it honors the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It honors God's provision for the perfect and final sacrifice for man's sins. With this provision, mankind has been given the opportunity for a new life of forgiveness and an escape from the bondage of sin.

Happy Easter everyone!

Thank you Jesus!!

dave