The Ultimate Life

What does the Bible say about the ultimate life? Plenty. Take for instance,the life of Daniel shared with us in the Old Testament. Though He faced serious challenges to His faith, He went on to live the ultimate life, triumphing over circumstances. Daniel lived the ultimate life because He followed God’s rules. God’s plan for you begins with His rules. God’s rules are His standards for living and they do not change. In the New Testament, Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s rules. He is our perfect standard of the ultimate life and called, “Savior”. He shows us that in order to live the ultimate life we must remain true to God’s Word.

 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3)
Paul, who wrote the letter to the Ephesians, is a man who lived the ultimate life victoriously and helped others do the same. The more he suffered, the more he accomplished. Paul knew what God expected of him and it wasn’t easy. But Paul also knew God blessed him more than any earthly pain he endured. Determined to live the ultimate life, Paul won his race.

If you trust in Christ, you have more going for you than you realize.

Here are ten things you need to know to live the ultimate life:
a. You have been forgiven and redeemed (Eph. 1:7)
b. You have been given the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7-8)
c. You have been shown the mystery of his will (Eph. 1:8-10)
d. You have been guaranteed an inheritance (Eph. 1:11-14)
e. You are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
f. You are brought near (Eph. 2:13)
g. You are brought in (Eph. 2:14-18)
h. You are brought together (Eph. 2:19-22)
i. You are included in God’s family (Eph. 3:6)
j. You are invited into God’s presence (Eph. 3:13)

God wants you to live the best life you can right now. It begins with taking the ultimate life challenge. Jesus said, “Come unto Me...Learn of Me”. Matthew 11:28,29. God’s rules come with great rewards. Those who seek God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness know the joy of God’s Spirit living within them. You can live the ultimate life. It is your destiny to go all the way with Jesus. Give Him your best.

 

The month of November is known for Thanksgiving. Using the ten treasures of  the ultimate life listed above, thank God everyday for your salvation. Then ask God to show you what you can do to help someone else live the ultimate life. You only have one life to live. Make it count for Christ.


Pastor David - from church bulletin November 2013

Sighing

The Spirit has impressed upon my heart the “sighing” of the soul.

In Psalm 5 “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing (meditation).” Psalm 5:1 NIV
David prayed that God would be attentive to his prayer. He was about to express his desire. He intended to express only what he wished to be granted. Yet, this prayer goes beyond the mere expression of human language. We naturally incline our ear to anyone we wish to hear in order to hear distinctly what he is saying. But what about the secret longings which words cannot express?

Consider = to understand, perceive.
Sighing = an internal emotion; a fervent, ardent feeling

Jesus confirms that David, “speaking by the Spirit” Matthew 22:43, was deeply inspired to pursue the Lord with all his heart. He writes this prayer in Psalm 5 that God would attend to the whole desires of his soul – whether expressed or unexpressed by his words. Though his words were sincere and truthful, they could not convey all his desires. Therefore, to “consider my sighing” was to consider the deep and unexpressed desires of the soul.

Combining these two phrases to help us in our prayer times realizing we have no one else to turn to but the Lord. We will invoke His hearing with words that can be uttered and words that cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26. Let the Holy Spirit speak through you as he did through the Psalmist.

Make your prayer honest and personal as the Psalmist did when he wrote, “my words”, “my sighing”. God will give you His ear. He will consider your sighing. Then praise Him declaring, “O Lord, my King and my God”.


What a friend we have in Jesus,
Pastor David - October 1, 2013

Living Water will Flow

John 7:38 NIV
"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Thinking about this verse and prayer.....
Our gracious and blessed Lord Jesus is calling us to believe in Him.
This is an open invitation to all of us.  Believing in Him is more than
believing He exists and that He is in heaven somewhere.
Believing in Jesus means ABIDING in Jesus.

Whosoever will abide in Him will also be satisfied with His Holy Spirit.
Rivers of living water is the Spirit of Christ keeping us alive unto God.
Our conscience, our intellect, our emotions, our volition are fed by the
rivers of living water flowing within us. Therein lies perfect peace and rest, assurance and security this world cannot give. Nor can it take away unless
we give in. No, greater is He that is within us.

“From within them” is as personal as one can get. When the Holy Spirit flows within you, like Paul, you will abide in Joy and Righteousness no matter how trying the circumstances may be.


“From within them” changes your outlook. You always see things better
when gladness, goodness and godliness are streaming through your heart. When things are right within us, then we can make things right around us.
That’s when prayer is fueled and released for God’s glory.
The Holy Spirit knows how to pray. Practice with your Partner.
Pray in the Spirit in the Name of Christ. When you pray let the rivers of
living water flow within you. Then rejoice.
I mean rejoice as clamorously as you can. Rejoice in the streams of refreshing.
Rejoice in the Lord and in the power of His inseparable love for you.

Pastor David - Sept 2013

Overcome

Excerpt below written by Pastor David for July church bulletin;

 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” John 5:4,5  A true Christian is someone who believes Jesus is the Son of God! To believe in Jesus divinity (equality with God) means one has been born of God. This kind of faith is supernatural and victorious. Because of eternal life in Christ Jesus we overcome. The world will end but we will live on in worship, wonder and awe in His glorious presence.    

 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31  Without question the first century church overcame many challenges to their faith. An obvious correlation to their effectiveness was prayer, united prayer; “they” prayed where “they” met and “they” were filled and spoke boldly. Jesus and the early church exemplify the key to an overcoming life.

Finally, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33  Jesus is our peace. He is the reason we can overcome the world. He is the reason we can handle any trouble that comes our way. Let’s be obedient to His Word. He tells us to abide in Him. He tells us to follow Him. Let us be true and faithful to our Lord this summer. Because He lives, we live also! Because He is victorious, so are we! May the month of July be a time for you and I to grow as “overcomers”.

Not Psychoanalysis, Pharmaceuticals or Self-Help Programs

It’s another great day in the neighborhood!

Waking up to beautiful Florida weather is not nearly as satisfying as waking up to the beautiful Savior’s words,

“Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me, 

In my Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, 

I would have told you . I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-2

A troubled heart left unchecked will give rise to a troubled life, a troubled home, a troubled world. The answer is not in more psychoanalysis, pharmaceuticals, or self-help programs. The answer is in the One and Only Prince of Peace.

Jesus said, “Let not...” These two words point to the responsibility we have for allowing things into our hearts and the conditions they produce. You and I have a choice to let trouble come and cling to us or to let God in Christ come and calm us. Trouble comes in various ways. Often it has to do with “news we do not understand or agree with” such as was the case with His disciples.

What is the news you have heard that troubles you? Does it have something to do with health,employment, family, marriage, finances, or church? Is it spiritual because you don’t seem to be in the place that others in Christ are enjoying? Whatever the case may be “Let not...”. Once the Lord offers us a choice and the authority to make that choice then it is up to us to “Let not...” and then to “Believe also...”

Believe in Jesus! I guarantee you any trouble in your heart will disappear faster than a shooting star when you put your trust in God, in God’s Son and in God’s solemn Word. Jesus does not want you to think on disappointments or discouraging news. He immediately directs the thoughts of His disciples on their future. “I go to prepare a place for you”.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth, 

For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

When Christ who is our life appears, 

then you also will appear with Him in glory.” 

Colossians 3:1-3

God’s will for us is to have a healthy heart! Be glad you are in the place where He has you on earth. Be even more glad that He is preparing a far better place for you in heaven. Give Him glory and sing aloud! Jesus Christ is Lord!

It’s another great day in the neighborhood because great is the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!


With All Love & Joy ~ Pastor David

Don't Be Limited to the Here & Now

What does faith have to do with joy? Everything!

The man Paul, whom God used to write almost half the New Testament, was
known for singing and leading a cruel Roman guard to Salvation while chained
to a wall in a cold, damp jail in Philippi. There is no question of his
faith in Christ and the obvious joy he exuded in the most strenuous of
circumstances. Paul made the bold comment, "follow me as I follow Christ".

It was Paul who wrote to the church in Philippi, while imprisoned in a cold,
lonely cell, these amazing words,
             "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice" (4:4)
Paul was able to rejoice and call others to rejoice because Christ was more
precious and more powerful to him than having comfortable circumstances.
Rejoicing in Christ the Lord takes faith. Without it, our tendency is to
focus on the negative and rely on ourselves. This tendency limits us to the
here and now instead of the eternal glory of God and future reward that
awaits those who trust Him.

Jesus promised us a divine joy that is full and complete. The personal
condition for the realization of that kind of joy is simply to abide in Him.
That is, be in Him, in union, in submission, in obedience, in love.

If you are hearing the Word of Christ in your heart saying, "abide in Me",
"remain in Me", then take a moment to seek Him.

He is the perfect One and does not need to change, I do. I ask Him all the
time to change me, conform me, and make me more Christ-like.

O how He loves you and me. He is worthy!

~ From, Pastor David ~

The Only Thing That Counts

My wife reminded me, for the 7th or 8th time, that I had better get started this year on my Faith Thoughts of theDay. I deliberately waited until after prayer week I was involved in because I wanted to hear from the Lord and receive fresh faith thoughts from Him. I have to say the reading of Psalms and Proverbs to begin 2013 was a huge lift to my spirit and an adrenaline rush to my worship life.

To begin the first faith thought of the year, I choose Galatians 5:5,6 “But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE.” (capital letters used for emphasis only). Christ is our righteousness! Our faith in Christ saves us but life does not stop there. As long as we live, Christ’s command is to love one another.

Love is patient. To love is great gain, to diminish love brings darkness and strife."If we understand love, we will see it’s general absence today and understand the social conditions which are the result of it’s absence. Without love we lose the will to live. Our mental and physical vitality is impaired, our resistance is lowered, and we succumb to illness.” Dave Grant
God’s family is a love family. If you love someone you will not gossip about them; you will not steal from them; you will not covet what they have. If you love someone you will rejoice in their success and mourn with them in times of loss. Love is the fulfillment of the whole law.

If we step in love we will not step in sin. One step out of love is a step into sin. Since faith expresses itself through love then faith must be carefully fed and cultivated. We feed our faith through the Word and prayer. Love is the outworking of a a healthy, God-revering, Spirit-anointed faith. There is not a more excellent way than that of faith, hope and love! The greatest of these is love because God is Love.

“Lord turn our gaze upon thy cross, counting all else not gain but loss; For this we pray, this is our plea – Lord keep our eyes on Calvary.” Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) We see the horror of man's sin and the holiness of God’s love revealed in the Cross of Christ. “God made Him who who had no sin become sin for us that we may in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” II Corinthians 5:21
So apply it. Take time to worship Jesus and to reflect on His cross. The cross is the place we die to sin and live a new and holy destiny. Thank Him for His salvation. Go out and do the "love thing" now. Show someone the kind of love Christ has shown you and the purity of God's love given to you.

Pastor David