Francis Chan sermon

This sermon was the Lord's call to me.  I hope that it is as helpful for you as it was for me.  May the Lord bless you:

Testimony Guideline

Quick Testimony Guideline:

1.     Who were you before your relationship with Christ?

Description: This should be an explanation of at least one key area in which you acted in disobedience to God, as an enemy of God (everyone before following Christ opposes God and a clear change in this area is an indicator of the work and power of God in salvation).

2.     How were you exposed to Christ?

Description:  This should included the following elements: 

• How were you exposed to Christ and what was your personal situation at the time (this could be a journey)?
•  Describe the situation that brought you under the conviction that you needed to change?

3.     How did you become a Christian (How were you saved)?

Description: Tell the story of how you came to follow Christ.  This should include the point (again this could to a degree be a process) at which you gave up living your way and submitted yourself to the Lordship of Christ.  Baptism and other relevant information could also be discussed.

4.     How is your life different now?  How has Jesus changed you over the years from who you were (especially in the area that you highlighted in the first question and how are you different from other non-believers around you?

Confess Jesus

1 John 4:1-6

March 16 - March 23, 2014

I don't know about you, but when I find myself in a situation that calls for me to claim and confess Jesus, there is clearly struggle to stand firm in faith and say the name of Jesus.  It seems to me that this above all other things crystalizes that there is a spiritual battle going on around me and that I am in the middle of it all.  What I do and what I say is influenced by and influences the spiritual battle that rages.  

This idea was initially very hard and even disheartening, until I read the verses again.  I see that I am a child of God, that I am from Him and it is from this very nature and His power that I can proclaim the name of Jesus.  He came that the blind would see, that the deaf would hear, that the lame would walk, that the sick would be healed, and that the mute would talk.  Then I remembered this story:

Acts 3:2-8

² And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, ^u“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

What is so evident in this passage and I forget so quickly is that there is POWER in the NAME of JESUS.  It is not my power, but the power of God for salvation and healing.  So why are we so afraid to say the name Jesus and use almost any other word when the Spirit is prompting us to declare Him? The reason is simple, there is a spiritual battle and satan does not want the name of Jesus proclaimed.

If you have experienced a struggle like this one, share your story...

May the Lord bless you all this week,

Geoff

Love The Brothers and Sisters

1 John 3:11-24

March 9 - March 16, 2014

This message really hits home and challenges me to be more like Jesus.

1 John 3:16-18

By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay dow our lives for the brothers.  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him.  Little children let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

If we know of a need that our brothers or sisters have and we do not fulfill it, John says that we have closed our heart against them.  This is difficult to hear having traveled around the world and seen the issues that face our brothers and sisters.  There are many who are dying of thirst, hunger and exposure. Is my heart closed against them.  Lord please, open my heart and break my heart moving me to compassion and a place of humble obedience to your call.

May the Lord bless us as we wrestle with how we are to live in light of this Scripture,

Geoff

Born Righteous

1 John 2:28 - 3:10

March 3 - March 10, 2014

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away and behold the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  What a wonderful thought.  Having been born of God (see John 3:1-15), I am no longer bound by the sinful desires that once ruled me.  I have been born of God and I am now His child.  I was born to be righteous, so now it is a matter of practicing who I have already been created to be.   What an encouragement and motivation it is to know that I am becoming that which God has created me to be in Christ Jesus.  We all get to practice who we are by putting off the old self with all of its chains and sin and putting on the new self as children of the King.

Enjoy this week as you practice righteousness, knowing that you have been recreated (born) in His image.

May the Lord bless you and give you grace as you follow after Him,
Geoff