Scripture:
My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.” Romans 15:20-21
Observation:
Paul’s ambition is to reach the outsiders and to proclaim the name of Christ where no one has been able to proclaim it. His ambition wasn’t fueled by his own inspiration or desire to be different. His ambition was fueled directly from the Scripture. He saw this plan laid out in Isaiah 52:15. Paul’s biblical strategy caused to have his eyes on the harvest, to reach for those who are lost, and to focus on people that haven’t been tapped by anyone else with the Good News.
Application:
As we continue in our journey serving God in the work of the ministry, it’s very easy to miss the plan laid out in the Scriptures. We may get comfortable with the people already reached and we forget to go to those who have not been touched with the Gospel. We may place too much attention to those who come from other churches. But we cannot forget about the harvest. We must be intentional about giving outsiders a clear and relevant presentation of the Gospel. We must strive to follow God’s plan to proclaim the Good News in a way that people understand it. We cannot give up! We cannot falter! We must keep our eyes on the harvest and set our focus on those who any church is reaching. There are thousands that are on the fence of their relationship with God and need us to bring them closer to God. That’s our plan. That’s our mission. That’s our assignment. We must never forget that!
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, this morning I want to refocus my life and set my eyes in the harvest once again. Sometimes is easier to forget our mission. Let me take our church into a new season where we will fix our eyes in reaching the lost. Let us not be distracted with what other churches have done or are doing. We have our assignment and we must be faithful to it. Give me wisdom and the right words to inspire and mobilize the church to bring more people closer to God. Let us follow the plan you have to present the Gospel in a relevant way to people so they have a fair chance to accept it. Please use our church to reap the harvest and give us the heart of compassion that we need to proclaim the Good News with effectiveness and power. Amen!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
RUNNIG TO THE CROSS. By Pastor Fernando.
Scripture:
I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that i dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Romans 7:22-25
Observation:
These words from Paul are probably the most real and easy to relate as followers of Christ. The greatest disappointment we encounter in our walk with God is when we allow sin to master again over our lives. Everything in our hearts is disrupted when sin comes in. No wonder Paul feels so miserable when that happens. And the cry for hope comes natural. Who can set us free? He answers, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is the magnificent truth that gets buried underneath our sinful behavior. We cannot see the cross and its power to set us free when we run towards self-pity and despair. We need to run to the cross, where God’s love and grace is waiting for us to embrace us, to cleanse us, and to set us free again.
Application:
Running to the cross is not the first reaction I have when sin temporarily masters over me. This past week I’ve been feeling miserable because my vulnerability to the enemy’s temptations. I’ve been very disappointed because some battles lost in the recent days. Instead of running to the cross, I’ve been running to condemnation. What a joy to hear these words from God in this particular season of my life. My friend Gregg reminded me over the weekend the strategy that the enemy uses to get the most advantage of us. Our sinful nature knows how to blow a lethal double punch. First, it jabs us with temptation. The enemy is relentless jabbing with the left, constantly alluring and seducing. Sinful natures says, “Don’t worry! One more time is not going to hurt.” Overtime, we become numb and our guard weakens. The jab connects. Then, like the best boxers, the enemy throws the second power punch, a right hook filled with accusations and condemnation. Sinful nature then says, “You are the worse Christian ever. God doesn’t love you anymore and He is going to be so mad at you.” At this point, we need to run to the cross for cover if we want to avoid a knockdown. In our corner we will hear God’s voice saying something completely different. At the cross we don’t hear accusations. We only hear God’s encouragement to keep fighting. And at the cross we also find grace and forgiveness.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, this morning I’m running to the cross for cover. You are my place for refuge when I get pounded my a merciless enemy. Please forgive me for putting my guard down and for letting sin master over my life. Thank you for the cross, for your forgiveness, and for being faithful to me, even when I am not faithful to you. Please me prepare me for the unavoidable battles I will have in the future. Help me to become a skilled boxer. Give me the endurance to resist the jabs of temptation that the enemy keeps throwing at me. Help me to keep my guard up at all times and let me stay free from the power of sin over my life. Amen!
I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that i dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Romans 7:22-25
Observation:
These words from Paul are probably the most real and easy to relate as followers of Christ. The greatest disappointment we encounter in our walk with God is when we allow sin to master again over our lives. Everything in our hearts is disrupted when sin comes in. No wonder Paul feels so miserable when that happens. And the cry for hope comes natural. Who can set us free? He answers, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is the magnificent truth that gets buried underneath our sinful behavior. We cannot see the cross and its power to set us free when we run towards self-pity and despair. We need to run to the cross, where God’s love and grace is waiting for us to embrace us, to cleanse us, and to set us free again.
Application:
Running to the cross is not the first reaction I have when sin temporarily masters over me. This past week I’ve been feeling miserable because my vulnerability to the enemy’s temptations. I’ve been very disappointed because some battles lost in the recent days. Instead of running to the cross, I’ve been running to condemnation. What a joy to hear these words from God in this particular season of my life. My friend Gregg reminded me over the weekend the strategy that the enemy uses to get the most advantage of us. Our sinful nature knows how to blow a lethal double punch. First, it jabs us with temptation. The enemy is relentless jabbing with the left, constantly alluring and seducing. Sinful natures says, “Don’t worry! One more time is not going to hurt.” Overtime, we become numb and our guard weakens. The jab connects. Then, like the best boxers, the enemy throws the second power punch, a right hook filled with accusations and condemnation. Sinful nature then says, “You are the worse Christian ever. God doesn’t love you anymore and He is going to be so mad at you.” At this point, we need to run to the cross for cover if we want to avoid a knockdown. In our corner we will hear God’s voice saying something completely different. At the cross we don’t hear accusations. We only hear God’s encouragement to keep fighting. And at the cross we also find grace and forgiveness.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, this morning I’m running to the cross for cover. You are my place for refuge when I get pounded my a merciless enemy. Please forgive me for putting my guard down and for letting sin master over my life. Thank you for the cross, for your forgiveness, and for being faithful to me, even when I am not faithful to you. Please me prepare me for the unavoidable battles I will have in the future. Help me to become a skilled boxer. Give me the endurance to resist the jabs of temptation that the enemy keeps throwing at me. Help me to keep my guard up at all times and let me stay free from the power of sin over my life. Amen!
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