We Are Back

Another trip is now in the books. We arrived last evening from a two week mission trip to the Philippines. It goes without saying, we were all really glad to be back!!! We spoke at 64 different meetings and saw thousands come to Christ on this mission.  I will have to say, we had a great US team as well as Filipino team.  Everyone did such a phenomenal job and God used everyone to share the gospel to the unreached.  I never cease to be amazed at how God takes ordinary, willing and obedient people to share such a simple message of salvation with those far from God.  It should not amaze us to see thousands saved because the power of the Gospel. Paul tells us in Romans 1:16-17 “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Incredible Days

These are Incredible days.

In just a few days we have nine people going to the Philippines and one going to Southeast Asia. This past week, we had a college student who headed out to Washington State to do BSU Summer Missions.  I am so thankful for all of the people at NSC who are so actively involved in missions abroad. Sunday was awesome as we celebrated Father’s Day, Baby Dedication and the announcement of our Sun Stand Still receipts, which by the way, we went over our goal!!!  In addition to all of this, our local television station, WTVA, interviewed me this past week and was at both of our campuses this past Sunday.  They are doing a story on the impact of multisite campuses and the use of technology in reaching people for Christ in our culture.  Favor: The guarantee of His presence, the provision of His power to accomplish His purpose in our lives. Incredible Days

God's Favor

This week I am going to begin talking about God's favor. I wanted to get a head start by sharing some thoughts with you that I have gained from my study of God's favor. The word favor and the derivative of favor is in the KJV over seventy times. A lot of the things I thought about favor are not true. You will not ever understand something as supernatural as the favor of God. All through the bible it says different people found favor with God. What does the favor of God look like? Note: This is not about finding favor with God so your sports team can win. Some people talk about the favor of God like he is a genie in a bottle.
Sometime I hear preachers and I leave wondering if God likes me. Do you ever feel like God loves you but he doesn’t like you. He had rather not if he didn’t have to. When I understand God’s favor it gives me a new way of understanding how God feels toward me.

Listen to these statements about God's favor:

Favor is God doing for you what you can’t do for yourself.

Favor is God’s goodness displayed in an individual’s life in such a way that only he can get the credit.

Favor is a relationship with God and that no matter what happens you know you are going to come out on top.

Favor is acceptance and approval and assistance of God that is awarded to us through the finished work of Jesus.

Favor is God’s graciously working to optimize my life for my good.

I have leaned when I seek the favor of God I find it ….the challenge is to be a favor finder…. I pray God would give us a hundred church members that could find the favor of God.

Favor is not something you achieve, it is something you receive. You receive it by looking for it. Where you would find it? You find it in the place where you look for it. I’m looking for God in that bad report etc.. I’m looking for favor in this tough situation.

When you decide you are going to be a favor finder you just have to respond to what he is doing.

God can do for us in one moment of favor than you can do in a lifetime of labor. For now just believe and receive it.

It is not reserved to a special few. He made a way for all God’s children to receive favor. When you live this way it changes everything about how you view life. You don’t have to feel favor to find favor.

Never The Same Again

When Jesus comes into a person’s life, they are never the same again.

I have seen it firsthand. Not only in my life, but I have seen it over and over again in the lives of believers.  I am glad to be a part of a church where God is changing lives. A place where marriages are healed, addictions broken, souls saved, brokenness mended, and maturity flourishes. The evidence is clear, the verdict is in...divine change is taking place.

Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:17; “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  God truly does bring change. God's Word tells us in  Isaiah 43:18-19   “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

What is He doing in your life? Are you positioning yourself for change? It is His desire for you to become more like Him. Have you been disconnected and on the fringes?  Has the business of life, kids, work, issues,  finances, and pressures slowed you down from being all He created you to be? It can change. Don't  give up or give in but rather let go and let the life changer step in and bring about change.  Can you remember a time you were fired up, consistent, passionate, serving, plugged in and committed?  Don't let another day go by before you decide to surrender to His plan, purpose and destiny for your life.

 

When Jesus comes into a person’s life, they are never the same again.