Most Wanted: Day 29 – All Creatures of our God and King

01Sep09

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Most Wanted: Day 28 – True Wisdom

30Aug09

This week our message at Foundry @ Fry Rd. was about hearing God’s voice. God speaks to us in many ways, but the reality is that unless we are in tune with the Spirit, we don’t hear Him.

Lately, I have been reading Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. The church in Corinth was one of the closest of the early churches to the American church of today. In around 46 B.C., Julius Caesar rebuilt the city, populated it with a colony of Roman veterans and freedmen, and named it Julia Corinthus. It soon became a very important commercial center. Every kind of vice could be found in Corinth. It became known for its debauchery. Also filled with intellectual pride, Corinth was a place where believers were ridiculed as being foolish for their beliefs. Yet, Paul rebukes the church there for bickering amongst itself and dividing over petty issues.

What strikes me in this letter is that Paul begins to realize that no amount of logical or intellectual persuasion is going to convince people to follow Christ. To the world, following Christ is foolish. But to the one led by the Spirit it is the highest wisdom.

God will reveal himself by His Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:10)

His Spirit works through His Word, through the circumstances in a person’s life and through people.

If we desire to reach our most wanted for Christ, we must be filled and guided by the Spirit. It is always the activity of the Spirit that leads people to true conversion.

I pray that God will fill you with His Spirit, so that you may be able to understand true wisdom which comes from God.

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Most Wanted: Day 27 – Foolishness

29Aug09

1Cor 2:1-5  “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

If you have no persuasive words, take heart.  It seems that though he was highly educated, often spoke eloquently and was connected politically and socially, the power of Paul’s message was the message and not the messenger. If the most important missionary in the history of the church did not need wise or persuasive words, but the demonstration of the Spirit’s power, what do you need?

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Most Wanted: Day 22 – Just Walk Across the Room

24Aug09

Is the 40 Days inspiring you to be more active in seeking opportunities to share your faith, but you still feel ill-equipped?  If so, let me recommend a follow up book by Bill Hybels entitled “Just Walk Across the Room”.  I spoke of the book in my sermon to kick off the 40 days of prayer.  You can find more information about the book or purchase it here.

I would encourage you to consider ordering a copy today so that you can have the book before the 40 days is over.

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Most Wanted: Day 21 – Acts of Kindness

23Aug09

Anyone practice any random acts of kindness today?  Share them by commenting below?

..or share the most meaningful act of kindness someone has shown to you.

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Most Wanted: Day 20 – Fanning The Flame of God in Others

22Aug09

When you take the principle of fanning into flame God’s gifts [here] and apply it to evangelism it has huge implications.  When we think about sharing our faith, we often think more about doing something to someone.  This is why many unbelievers can be annoyed with the evangelism efforts of well meaning, yet often misdirected, Christians.  God’s call to evangelism is really more of a call to be something.  It is to be filled with His Spirit and to reflect Christ in all that we do.  Then we simply look for where God is at work around us and we fan the flames in others.  Do you know where the spark has been started in the lives of the people on your list?  Have you listened to them?  Have you asked their perspective before sharing yours?  If we want to be able to fan into flame the Holy Spirit’s work, we will need to do more listening on the front end and discern where God can use us.

Do you know how to listen for what God leading and then are you courageous enough to step out and be faithful?  My prayer today is that God will use you to fan the flames of all those on your Most Wanted List.

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Most Wanted: Day 19 – Fan into Flame

21Aug09

2 Timothy 1:6-7

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Paul speaks to his student and apprentice Timothy with words of encouragement.  Timothy, a young man, must have felt overwhelmed and under qualified for the calling God had placed upon his life.  Not to mention fearful of persecution if he followed his mentors path.  Paul’s simple instruction: “Fan into flame the gift of God”.  What gift has God given you that needs to be developed?  What small spark can be fanned into flame?  What may seem like a small spark can become a large flame if you will faithfully fan the flame by working out your spiritual muscles and seeking God with your whole heart.

What gifts has God given you that need to be developed for His use?  Can you share your faith story?  Can you share the message of the Gospel clearly and concisely?

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Most Wanted: Day 18 — Rise Up O Men of God

20Aug09

I have always had a very close relationship with my father.  I was blessed to come from a very stable home.  But, many of my friends did not.  The truth is, I was born a part of a fatherless generation.  Friday night, 20 men from Foundry are headed to the Men at the Cross Rally at the Berry Center.   This is an event that will focus on helping men disciple other men.  In my mind, one of the most disturbing things in the church over the last few decades is the decline in good Christian men as role models.  Men, have you taken seriously the role that you have in shaping other young men.  Why not think about a teenager, for whom you may be a father figure, as one of your 10 most wanted.  Imagine the difference you could make by simply taking time to invest in a young man.

Men, we still have two tickets Men at the Cross, and I would love for you to join us.  Send me a note if you are interested.

Also, dads, I would encourage you to check out this website and sign up for the All Pro Dad daily devotional.  It has been a great resource for me as a dad to receive these helpful daily tips on how to be the man and the dad that God wants me to be.

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Most Wanted: Day 16 — All Things Are Possible

18Aug09

Are you expecting God to do something through you?  Do you believe God is able to turn those who are farthest from Him around.  Sometimes God is working on a person’s heart, but they are too proud to let their guard down.  In Mark 10, Jesus tells the story of the Rich Young Man who had become so self sufficient that he wasn’t willing to give everything up to follow Jesus.  Yet, he still says that God is able to bring even the most proud to repentance.  With men it is impossible, but with God anything is possible.  Do you believe that?  Do you truly expect God to work in the lives of the people on your list?  Don’t be discouraged by appearances, but keep sowing seeds and let God tend the soil.

Mark 10:24-27

²⁴The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[e] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

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Most Wanted: Day 15 — Doxology

17Aug09

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