The Relevant Disciple

What is reality? Is it the things we see and feel or is it much great than the physical things we see and experience? Reality is ultimately spiritual. True reality is what all of us will experience once we die. Some will die and wake up in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ, but many will die and wake up in hell being tortured forever. That is reality and reality that should shake us to the core if we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. I read recently that their are 210 million Christians in the United States alone. Currently their are about 305 million people in the United States. That would mean that 70 percent of all people in the United States claim to be Christian. I am not the judge but that can not be true. See in the false reality that we live in, we think things are fine because we have a belief in a higher being and that higher being will let us into heaven. The problem is that is not reality. Jesus says in John 14:6, that I am the way and the life and no man comes to the Father except through me. You see to many people have not experienced that true salvation. They are focused on the works and not the word. We as believers in Jesus Christ need to speak true reality and that is where is your eternal home. Time is running out and we need to be sharing the gospel with our lost friends and family members. Take time today to pray for your lost family and friends and then engage them with the gospel.

Today President Obama continued the destruction of the morality of America. He did not start it but he has continued it. Today President Obama signed a document stating that the U.S. Government will send money to countries to help support abortion. I try not to get political on this blog nor in my ministry but this is not political, it is Biblical.
For way to long Christians have stood by and supported candidates and parties that support abortion rights. In doing that they have supported the right to kill, which scripture calls murder. Some have said that these are not babies but only blobs in the stomachs of woman. Well at one time you were a blob. These things growing inside of a woman are not blobs or some other term that I refuse to use because of the new meaning of the word, but they are human beings. They are living, breathing, and growing human beings. David writes the following in Psalm 139:13, "For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mothers womb." It is God who forms us in the womb of a woman and no man or woman has the right to destroy that life. I am tired of Christians who support men and women for public office that support the right for a woman to choose. It is not the woman's right, it is only God's right when it comes to the taking of the child's life. Some will say that this would and should include Capitol Punishment (I am not getting into that today). Please if you are Christian vote for those people that support Biblical values and morals. They may not be Christians but if they are for life then we should support them. Economics are not the problem in America it is the lack of moral values. I am calling us to the carpet and if you vote for someone who supports abortion check yourself in the mirror. Would God support that? NO NO NO NO NO NO. Act like a Christian. God Bless all of those who stand for what is right. Call your Congressman and tell them what you believe. Speak out against the immoralities that exist and you will be a stronger Christian for it.

Yes I am going to go their. We now have a new President and he has promised to bring change. Yes America is not heading in the right direction economically at this point. It is really nice that America has overcome its racism or has it? Recently I was at a conference where Ergun Caner spoke and he said something that I agree with. "If you voted against President Obama because he is black you are a racists and if you voted for Obama only because he was black you are a racists." That is an accurate quote and I really believe many voted for President Obama because he was black. Racism is still alive and well in America. Change has not come to America. We are still going down the path of secularism and that is not change. True change only comes through the power and presentation of the gospel. I pray that President Obama will be changed by the gospel and that he will do great and mighty things for this country.
Take time each day to pray for lost friends and take time each day to pray for true change. Pray that God will change your heart and your mind and pray that God will change the hearts and minds of your friends and neighbors. It is time to focus on the true leader of our life and that is the Sovereign God of the Universe. Praise be to God.

John

Today's blog is going to be short. I want to challenge you and myself to take time and worship God today. Read 1 Peter 2:9-10 and then watch the following video and worship God today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6YrbSo7ysQ

33% of of the world claims to be Christians. That means that 67% of all other people claim no connection to Jesus Christ. That means that at least 67% of all people are heading in the wrong direction. That is staggering to think about. In 1 Peter 2:1-10, Peter helps us understand what it means to be apart of the church. (Take time to read 1 Peter 2:1-10; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter2:1-10;&version=31;)
Peter clearly states that we are to rid ourselves of all malice, and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. This includes gossip, which can and is one of the most useful tools of Satan. We are to crave the spiritual milk just as newborns crave milk for nourishment. That spiritual milk will help us grow into mature believers. Over time we should better understand what it means to be saved and be a Christian. We must grow in Christ.
In verses 4-8, we see how to plug into the big picture. We are to plug in by being a stone in which God can continue the growth of His kingdom. Peter says that we are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. What in the world does that mean. Well, it is simple Christ is pulling us all together so that we may impact the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each one of us has gift that is given to us by God. We are to use that gift to further the growth God's house and God's Kingdom. We are not to be stumbling blocks but blocks that lead to salvation by the way that we live our life.
Finally, in verses 9-10 we see that we are a chosen people that are called to be a holy nation that will declare the praises of God. As believers in Christ we are to be different than those who are not Christians. That means that 33% of the world should be different. 33% should be living for Christ and I do not think that is happening. My question is are you living for Christ? Are a stumbling block or building block for the gospel? If you are a stumbling block then get you life right and do the things that God calls you to do and if you are building block continue in you actions because God is pleased with your desire and actions. Continue to grow in the grace of Jesus Christ. It is time to take action. Standing on the sidelines is not an option. Christianity is full contact lifestyle and you must be involved.

John

Wednesday Night at The Revolution (Youth Bible Study) was awesome. We had 1 teenager accept Christ and 3 others make a decision to follow Christ with a closer walk. Over that last few weeks the group has come together in a special way. But the question remains, where do we go from here and how do we get their? The answers are not as simple as the questions. The real work begins now for all of us who lead these teenagers. We must be willing to sacrifice more time, more effort, and more love! We can not stand still or things will go back to the way in which they were and I for one do not want to see that.
So, where do we go from here? We go to Christ and His word. We look for places to be involved in ministry. We search our hearts for the truth and focus on that rather than the pleasures of the heart. At this point we must go forward. The best place to start is by sharing our faith with our friends and family members. Letting others know what God is doing in our lives. This does not mean that we have all the answers, it simply means that we are willing to share what we do know and we know that God is working with in us. It is of utmost importance that we continue what God started. Scripture is clear in Matthew 28:16-20, that we are to share the gospel and to disciple those in whom we come in contact with and I think we begin their and focus on that for the rest of our lives because that is our mission. 2009 has started with great growth and I pray the it ends with greater growth. I will do my best to help these students become more focused on Christ and better equipped to fight that battle. Will you help with that or be in the way?

God Bless

John

"Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. Now God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. To Him be the dominion forever. Amen" (1 Peter 5:8-11)
We are to be sober. Sober from what? We are to be sober from the drunkenness of the world. How do we get drunk in the world. Sin and Satan can and will destroy us if we are not on alert. We to be clear minded that is what it means to be sober. Satan is looking to destroy us. It is only through a faith that is firm that we can with stand against Satan and his demons. If we allow ourselves to be influenced by the world then we no longer be sober and alert. Also we must realize that we are not the only ones suffering. Our brothers and sisters across this world are experiencing the sufferings of Satan just as we are. We must pray for each other and must be willing to support each other. The good news is that Christ will restore us and establish our strength forever. At this point we do not have to worry about Satan and other desires of the flesh because we will be spending eternity with Him in glory.

May God Bless you

John

It is amazing how Satan begins to attack in full force when God's people are on fire. It has only been days since God began to move in the hearts and minds of the teenagers at FBC and Satan is beginning to attack. Satan is working on me and many others, but I believe that God's plan and purpose will prevail because the teenagers and myself are focused on Christ. We may fall temporally but in the end the victory is Christ's.
How do we win this victory? First we must realize that Satan is more powerful than us and we can not win the battle on our own. We must real on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us strength and that strength can over come the power and influence of Satan on our lives. Secondly, we must spend time in God's word daily. We must apply the truths of the word to our lives and we must apply those trues to our hearts and minds. Those truths that we find will help us and remind us of the things that God wants us to do. Thirdly, we must pray. I am not talking about a simple prayer here and there, but a life that is devoted to prayer. We must start praying when we get up and have a prayerful heart throughout the day. Praying for others as well as ourselves. Fourthly, we must fellowship daily with other believers. It is important to be encouraged by others that are walking through faith just as we are. We must encourage each other and help keep each other accountable for our sins and our actions. Lastly, we must attend church regularly. I mean every time the doors are open. Church is to be our refuge (for the most part). It is where we can gather and hear God's word proclaimed and taught. It is the place where we can share our feeling with each other. It is the place where we can be prayed for.
1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." In this verse Peter says that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own possession. We do not belong to this world any longer. We are God's children and we are to live for him. He now possess us if we are his and because of that Satan is going to attack, not to take our salvation but to take our joy and willingness to share Christ love. We must stick together if we are going to overcome Satan. We can and will change this community with the help of Christ. Lets make sure that we are focused on Christ and get on board what He is doing.

Pastor John