God's Generous Grace from Clearpoint TV on Vimeo.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Is It Really The End?
In April of this year, I preached a sermon series called, Is it Really the End?, based on the assumption that the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world to be December 21, 2012. Today is December 18, 2012. If the Mayans were right, then we only have 3 more days to live upon this earth before it all comes to an end.
End times is a subject a lot of people have questions about, but it is not a subject we often like to talk about - it's confusing, it's complex and, to many, it's just a little creepy! Many of us don't understand eschatology (the study of end times) and frankly, we would like to keep it that way. Like Mark Twain once said,
"It is not the things in the Bible that I don't understand that trouble me, but the things I do understand!"
Worry about "the end" can consume your thoughts and throw you into a tail spin if you are not informed and if you are not prepared.
Jesus says, in Luke 12:21:
“Do not worry about
your life, . . . . .31 "But seek the
kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom. 34 "For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36
"and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will
return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him
immediately. 37
"Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will
find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them
sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38
"And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch,
and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39
"But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the
thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken
into. 40
"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you
do not expect."
There are three rapid responses from the words of Jesus to the question, "Is it really the end?"
Get Rid of Your Worry!
The word "worry" means to pull apart – or – to pull in different directions. If we aren't careful, worry will wiggle its way into our lives and begin to tear us down. Worry has the potential to rip away faith and lead us to turn away from God
The word "worry" means to pull apart – or – to pull in different directions. If we aren't careful, worry will wiggle its way into our lives and begin to tear us down. Worry has the potential to rip away faith and lead us to turn away from God
Get Busy!
Don't get bogged down with the cares of this world and don't get derailed by the dubious thoughts of the end, but get busy seeking the Kingdom of God, trust in His plan to save you from a destructive end, grow in your relationship with God and live out the gospel, leading others to Christ.
Don't get bogged down with the cares of this world and don't get derailed by the dubious thoughts of the end, but get busy seeking the Kingdom of God, trust in His plan to save you from a destructive end, grow in your relationship with God and live out the gospel, leading others to Christ.
Get Ready!
Is the world going to end? Yes! Is the world going to
end soon? Possibly! Is it going to end on December 21st? Probably
not! "for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect!" However, when Jesus said, "be ready," he was saying, be prepared and be eager for his return. Eagerly waiting in faith for his return stands in direct contrast to waiting in fear or worry. Jesus said, "Blessed are those whom the master, when he comes, will find watching....." Are you ready?
My prayer is that you will find peace with God through His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ and that you will find comfort knowing that He has your future all planned out and there is no need to worry. God is in control!
Have a Merry Christmas Everybody!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Stop Trying to Please God
How do you measure your holiness? It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to be holy. We tend to use our experiences and practices or lack thereof to measure how pleasing we are to God.
Stop trying to please God!
The truth is, there is only one thing that really pleases God. That one thing is FAITH! Hebrews 11:6 says, Without Faith it is impossible to please God (ESV). The past few weeks I have been leading our church through a teaching series based on the life of Abraham. The title of the series is: Bless Me – Living and Giving the Blessing. God chose and blessed Abraham, not because of his righteousness, but because of his Faith. Abraham was righteous because he was a man of faith and God imputed (credited) righteousness to him (Genesis 15:6, ESV). Abraham’s Faith is inspiring! It is challenging. His faith presents at least four challenges for you and I to live by every day:
1. Live a Life of Obedience
Obedience asks the question "God, What are you telling me?"
The answer has to be - "I will listen."
Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” When God told him to Go….He went out. He obeyed the Word of God. Luke 11:27 says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! Be Blessed. At all cost, obey His word!
2. Live a Life of Vision
Vision asks the question "God, where are you leading me?"
The answer has to be - "God, I will go!"
The definition of vision is “a mental image produced by the imagination. It’s about dreaming a dream for the future. Do you ever ask God where He is leading you? Do you ever ask God that question and before you get an answer say “I’ll Go?” I can imagine that Abraham did. He wanted better, he wanted different. He may not have asked that question verbally, but in his heart, he longed for a better future.
Abraham knew there was more to life than farming and worshiping idols. He was created for more. So, “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:9-10, ESV).
Abraham’s vision was a God-given vision. It was an invisible promise of a better future for himself and future generations. It wasn’t based on resources. It wasn’t based on reason. It was rooted in ridiculous faith in the God of Promise! Life a life of Vision!
3. Live a life of Perseverance
Perseverance asks the question "Is there any QUIT in me?"
The answer has to be - "NO!"
What is perseverance? It’s sticking with the stuff even through difficulty, obstacles and trials. Hebrews 11: 13-16 says: (Abraham) died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."
The journey was difficult. Without perseverance they would have given up and returned to their homeland. But, their willingness to stick with it even when the journey felt long and impossible, is what allowed their vision to come true for future generations. This journey we call “life” is hard. Without vision and perseverance, we quit. But when the vision grips your heart like it did Abraham’s there is no quit! Live a life of perseverance! Don’t Quit!
4. Live a life of Surrender
Surrender asks the question "What am I going to have to give up?"
The answer has to be – "Everything!"
What is surrender? It is to relinquish whatever you retain. Surrender is throwing in the towel, it is waving the white flag, it is saying, “I give up!”
Before Abraham left his homeland – He had to wrestle with that question: What am I willing to give up to grab onto the blessing God has for me? His answer: Everything. He would be relinquishing his family, His fathers blessing, His father’s inheritance Hebrews 11:17 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. (ESV)
There is a concept from World War II known as “Unconditional Surrender”. When Japan realized they were defeated, they “didn’t just surrender, they unconditionally surrendered.” That basically meant, that they signed the surrender documents, then were now at the will and mercy of the United States. Conditional surrender says: we will surrender, but under these conditions. And then a long list of stipulations or provisions follows – like a peace treaty.
If you think about that for a moment, isn’t that how we often surrender to God? We try to make peace treaties with Him instead of saying God, Here I am…I’m at your mercy. Unconditional surrender meant there were no provisions, no conditions, when they surrendered, they surrendered. Today, as part of the unconditional surrender, Japan still has no military presence: no army, no navy, no air force! They are completely at the mercy of a higher authority (what we know today as the United Nations). Conditional surrender would have said: I will go, but…I will follow you, but…. I will sacrifice everything, but …….not my son! However, when Abraham surrendered to God – He meant unconditionally, it meant everything, it meant holding nothing back , not even his son of promise! Unconditional surrender says, God, I am willing to give everything up just to follow you! You are my authority. You are my Lord. I trust you.
Have you surrendered? How long is your peace treaty with God? How many provisions or conditions stand between you and surrender? Give yourself and everything you have to Him – unconditionally.
My prayer for us today is that we will be all in for the challenge to live by faith - To live a life of obedience, to live a life of vision, to live a life of perseverance, and to live a life of unconditional surrender. It's when we surrender to Him that we exercise our faith and that God is pleased with us!
Unconditional Surrender from Clearpoint TV on Vimeo.
To view the entire message, visit: www.clearpoint.tv
Stop trying to please God!
The truth is, there is only one thing that really pleases God. That one thing is FAITH! Hebrews 11:6 says, Without Faith it is impossible to please God (ESV). The past few weeks I have been leading our church through a teaching series based on the life of Abraham. The title of the series is: Bless Me – Living and Giving the Blessing. God chose and blessed Abraham, not because of his righteousness, but because of his Faith. Abraham was righteous because he was a man of faith and God imputed (credited) righteousness to him (Genesis 15:6, ESV). Abraham’s Faith is inspiring! It is challenging. His faith presents at least four challenges for you and I to live by every day:
1. Live a Life of Obedience
Obedience asks the question "God, What are you telling me?"
The answer has to be - "I will listen."
Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” When God told him to Go….He went out. He obeyed the Word of God. Luke 11:27 says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! Be Blessed. At all cost, obey His word!
2. Live a Life of Vision
Vision asks the question "God, where are you leading me?"
The answer has to be - "God, I will go!"
The definition of vision is “a mental image produced by the imagination. It’s about dreaming a dream for the future. Do you ever ask God where He is leading you? Do you ever ask God that question and before you get an answer say “I’ll Go?” I can imagine that Abraham did. He wanted better, he wanted different. He may not have asked that question verbally, but in his heart, he longed for a better future.
Abraham knew there was more to life than farming and worshiping idols. He was created for more. So, “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:9-10, ESV).
Abraham’s vision was a God-given vision. It was an invisible promise of a better future for himself and future generations. It wasn’t based on resources. It wasn’t based on reason. It was rooted in ridiculous faith in the God of Promise! Life a life of Vision!
3. Live a life of Perseverance
Perseverance asks the question "Is there any QUIT in me?"
The answer has to be - "NO!"
What is perseverance? It’s sticking with the stuff even through difficulty, obstacles and trials. Hebrews 11: 13-16 says: (Abraham) died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."
The journey was difficult. Without perseverance they would have given up and returned to their homeland. But, their willingness to stick with it even when the journey felt long and impossible, is what allowed their vision to come true for future generations. This journey we call “life” is hard. Without vision and perseverance, we quit. But when the vision grips your heart like it did Abraham’s there is no quit! Live a life of perseverance! Don’t Quit!
4. Live a life of Surrender
Surrender asks the question "What am I going to have to give up?"
The answer has to be – "Everything!"
What is surrender? It is to relinquish whatever you retain. Surrender is throwing in the towel, it is waving the white flag, it is saying, “I give up!”
Before Abraham left his homeland – He had to wrestle with that question: What am I willing to give up to grab onto the blessing God has for me? His answer: Everything. He would be relinquishing his family, His fathers blessing, His father’s inheritance Hebrews 11:17 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. (ESV)
There is a concept from World War II known as “Unconditional Surrender”. When Japan realized they were defeated, they “didn’t just surrender, they unconditionally surrendered.” That basically meant, that they signed the surrender documents, then were now at the will and mercy of the United States. Conditional surrender says: we will surrender, but under these conditions. And then a long list of stipulations or provisions follows – like a peace treaty.
If you think about that for a moment, isn’t that how we often surrender to God? We try to make peace treaties with Him instead of saying God, Here I am…I’m at your mercy. Unconditional surrender meant there were no provisions, no conditions, when they surrendered, they surrendered. Today, as part of the unconditional surrender, Japan still has no military presence: no army, no navy, no air force! They are completely at the mercy of a higher authority (what we know today as the United Nations). Conditional surrender would have said: I will go, but…I will follow you, but…. I will sacrifice everything, but …….not my son! However, when Abraham surrendered to God – He meant unconditionally, it meant everything, it meant holding nothing back , not even his son of promise! Unconditional surrender says, God, I am willing to give everything up just to follow you! You are my authority. You are my Lord. I trust you.
Have you surrendered? How long is your peace treaty with God? How many provisions or conditions stand between you and surrender? Give yourself and everything you have to Him – unconditionally.
My prayer for us today is that we will be all in for the challenge to live by faith - To live a life of obedience, to live a life of vision, to live a life of perseverance, and to live a life of unconditional surrender. It's when we surrender to Him that we exercise our faith and that God is pleased with us!
Unconditional Surrender from Clearpoint TV on Vimeo.
To view the entire message, visit: www.clearpoint.tv
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
What Fasting Does Not Do
Well, Heather and I made it back from Denver where it was 8 degrees with 2 inches of snow on the ground when we left our hotel at 4:15 am. We landed in Houston at 9:30 this morning and were welcomed by rain, 72 degrees and what felt like 200% humidity!
Nonetheless, we are excited to be back and feel like God totally blessed our trip as He continues to open doors to further His Kingdom through our ministry!
While we were away, it was difficult to stay faithful to the fast, but we did it. Tofu, steamed veggies, brown rice and water are definitely on the menu. I know this because they all tasted terrible! I think it’s a rule: no good food of any kind allowed on the Daniel Plan (lol….just kidding)!
Fasting can be extremely overwhelming. What can I eat? What can I not eat? Can I have this? Can I have that? These are questions that barrage our minds when we break from our normal eating routine. The struggle is ok. In fact, it’s good as long as our motivation for staying true to the fast isn’t rooted in guilt!
That’s why I wanted to share some thoughts with you about what fasting doesn’t do. I think you will find this helpful:
WHAT FASTING DOES NOT DO
1. Fasting does not motivate God to love you any more than He already does.
• God says in I Peter 2:9 that we are chosen by Him and are already His
treasured possession! He already loves you as much as He possibly can!
2. Fasting doesn’t make God enjoy you any more or any less.
• God already enjoys you. In fact, He delights in you! In Zephaniah 3:17 God says that He already exalts over us with shouts of joy!
3. Fasting isn’t a “fast track” plan to a Righteousness and Holiness.
• God has already made us righteous, holy and blameless through Christ’s
finished work on the Cross. We don’t fast to get more of God, but that
we would experience, in a more profound way, the reality of God’s
presence in our lives.
4. Fasting is not a trade-off with God for His forgiveness.
• We fast because He has already forgiven us! The Apostle Paul said our
sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ! (Ephesians 1:7)
5. Fasting is not a replacement for obedience.
• Some people fast as penance believing their fasting will somehow balance
out their disobedience. But our relationship with God is not based on
law, it’s based on grace….not of works, lest we become boastful and
prideful and rob God of His glory. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Sometimes, when we’re not walking intimately with God, the inward reality of our faith begins to fade, and we retreat to the outward forms of the faith like fasting. Hear me: It doesn’t work! The bottom line is that whenever we embrace a spiritual discipline in order to get God to love, to find satisfaction in us, or forgive us, we’ve completely missed the point!
Today, as you fast, set yourself free! Don’t fast under the belief that God is going to develop a greater approval of you because of your sacrifice. Fast in freedom, with a holy desire to give more of yourself to God.
The Godliest thing you can do today is give more of yourself to Him!
Nonetheless, we are excited to be back and feel like God totally blessed our trip as He continues to open doors to further His Kingdom through our ministry!
While we were away, it was difficult to stay faithful to the fast, but we did it. Tofu, steamed veggies, brown rice and water are definitely on the menu. I know this because they all tasted terrible! I think it’s a rule: no good food of any kind allowed on the Daniel Plan (lol….just kidding)!
Fasting can be extremely overwhelming. What can I eat? What can I not eat? Can I have this? Can I have that? These are questions that barrage our minds when we break from our normal eating routine. The struggle is ok. In fact, it’s good as long as our motivation for staying true to the fast isn’t rooted in guilt!
That’s why I wanted to share some thoughts with you about what fasting doesn’t do. I think you will find this helpful:
WHAT FASTING DOES NOT DO
1. Fasting does not motivate God to love you any more than He already does.
• God says in I Peter 2:9 that we are chosen by Him and are already His
treasured possession! He already loves you as much as He possibly can!
2. Fasting doesn’t make God enjoy you any more or any less.
• God already enjoys you. In fact, He delights in you! In Zephaniah 3:17 God says that He already exalts over us with shouts of joy!
3. Fasting isn’t a “fast track” plan to a Righteousness and Holiness.
• God has already made us righteous, holy and blameless through Christ’s
finished work on the Cross. We don’t fast to get more of God, but that
we would experience, in a more profound way, the reality of God’s
presence in our lives.
4. Fasting is not a trade-off with God for His forgiveness.
• We fast because He has already forgiven us! The Apostle Paul said our
sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ! (Ephesians 1:7)
5. Fasting is not a replacement for obedience.
• Some people fast as penance believing their fasting will somehow balance
out their disobedience. But our relationship with God is not based on
law, it’s based on grace….not of works, lest we become boastful and
prideful and rob God of His glory. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Sometimes, when we’re not walking intimately with God, the inward reality of our faith begins to fade, and we retreat to the outward forms of the faith like fasting. Hear me: It doesn’t work! The bottom line is that whenever we embrace a spiritual discipline in order to get God to love, to find satisfaction in us, or forgive us, we’ve completely missed the point!
Today, as you fast, set yourself free! Don’t fast under the belief that God is going to develop a greater approval of you because of your sacrifice. Fast in freedom, with a holy desire to give more of yourself to God.
The Godliest thing you can do today is give more of yourself to Him!
Monday, January 16, 2012
What is Fasting?
Hey everybody, I am pumped about what God is doing in my life and what he’s doing in our church. I believe 2012 is going to be a breakout year for us at Clearpoint Church. I am trusting that God will do an amazing work in our lives that will blow us away. I also, believe that this next 21 days of Prayer & Fasting will be the catalyst that takes us to “the Promised Land.”
During this next 3 weeks, I want to answer some questions that will help you understand fasting and why it is so important in our walk with God. It will also encourage you to continue on to the finish line....to day 21!
Question #1: What is Fasting?
Fasting is setting aside a specific amount of time to go without food in order to pray. The purpose is not to starve yourself and the goal isn’t to lose weight. It is an intentional time of pursuing God to fill a spiritual hunger rather than eating food to fill a physical hunger. It is denying your physical desire for food in order to pray and connect with God to meet a spiritual need.
It might not make a whole lot of sense, but it is a powerful thing.
Jesus never commanded it, but it was certainly expected that His followers would fast and pray.
Matthew 6:16-18 says, “when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)”
Three things to pray for:
1. Mental and physical strength to complete the fast
2. To develop an insatiable hunger for God like you have never known
3. For the Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life that you need to conquer and give over to God
Final Thought
Remember that fasting isn’t for the purpose of you getting more of God. The purpose is for God to get more of you!
During this next 3 weeks, I want to answer some questions that will help you understand fasting and why it is so important in our walk with God. It will also encourage you to continue on to the finish line....to day 21!
Question #1: What is Fasting?
Fasting is setting aside a specific amount of time to go without food in order to pray. The purpose is not to starve yourself and the goal isn’t to lose weight. It is an intentional time of pursuing God to fill a spiritual hunger rather than eating food to fill a physical hunger. It is denying your physical desire for food in order to pray and connect with God to meet a spiritual need.
It might not make a whole lot of sense, but it is a powerful thing.
Jesus never commanded it, but it was certainly expected that His followers would fast and pray.
Matthew 6:16-18 says, “when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)”
Three things to pray for:
1. Mental and physical strength to complete the fast
2. To develop an insatiable hunger for God like you have never known
3. For the Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life that you need to conquer and give over to God
Final Thought
Remember that fasting isn’t for the purpose of you getting more of God. The purpose is for God to get more of you!
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