More than that, I’ve seen God change people and circumstances as a result of the conversations we’ve had in this room. It’s my favorite quote on prayer. “With faith you can move mountains, but with prayer you can move God.” And that’s been my experience from this small room hidden away in the early of the morning in a quiet corner of our church building.

This morning my experience was a little different. Take a close look at the picture. That’s the coded lock on the door to the Prayer Room. Do you see what’s seems to have made it’s new home inside the door? Yes. It’s exactly what you think it is. A SNAKE! It’s not a very big one, mind you. But there it is, sticking it’s tongue out at me, watching me cautiously, defending it’s space and daring me to go through that door.

Being the fearless city-folk that I am, I paused. My first reaction – “I gotta get a picture of this!” Followed shortly by, “How am I supposed to get in there now!? Maybe I should just go back to bed.”

So cautiously I took out my phone and snapped a couple of pictures. “Blasted iPhone – where’s my zoom!?” I had to get much too close for comfort to get that little picture you’re looking at above. It was through the screen of my iPhone that I realized a couple of things.

THIS SNAKE IS SCARED OF ME.

The closer I inched to the door with my phone the more the snake recoiled, trying to get away.

THIS SNAKE IS REALLY SMALL.

It may have been small…but it had HUGE TEETH! At least that’s what my imagination told me. I always tell my kids that true courage is, “being afraid but choosing to do the right thing anyway.” So in the face of this tiny snake with the HUGE imaginary TEETH I pressed forward. Far from the snake I banged the door with my fist. At the first rattle the snake disappeared inside the door. I waited a few seconds and tapped the door again, then slowly, deliberately I pressed the numbers on the coded lock, opened the door and went inside. Later this morning we’ll fish the snake out, never to bother another person again.

The spiritual picture that comes to mind in this situation is pretty blunt and plain to see. The devil is often symbolized as a snake. How often does he try to take up residence in the door between our daily life and our prayer life? How often do we let this little snake with HUGE imaginary TEETH stop us from pouring out our souls to our Heavenly Father? How often do we see this little obstacle and turn away from speaking, turn away from hearing, turn away from experiencing the power of God in our lives?

As a Believer the Devil is as scared of you as that tiny snake was of me. He has no power or authority over us. His mouth is too small to do any real damage and those fangs I keep seeing as huge are really no larger than a small pencil lead.

Today – don’t let Satan stop you from praying. Don’t let him take up residence in the door of your prayer life. Resist him and, like the snake in my door, he will flee from you.

Satan works diligently to keep us from praying. I believe he’s attacking churches all over the world right now. He does that by attacking believers. He is most effective when he can keep God’s children from praying. Don’t let him in. Don’t let him win.

SCARY

Jeremiah 7:16, “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.” – It scares me to think that there are some in our community, possibly even in our church, that God may consider in this way. It changes the shape of my prayers for our people. Father, please don’t cast away your people. Grant us the gift of repentance, the capacity for forgiveness and the willingness to obey, even if you tell us to stop praying.

CHALLENGING

Jeremiah 9:23–24, “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the might man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. – Two challenging thoughts, don’t glory in your stuff, your strength or your smarts. Instead, UNDERSTAND and KNOW GOD. Knowing God is one thing…understanding – that’s a bigger thing all together. It’s challenging to think that God not only wants us to know Him. More than knowing Him or about Him He want us to understand His ways, motives, methods and means.

God Bless,
Chad

This week we discovered four truths that will help us live the life God intends. Now for the hard part. Can we put those truths into practice? Take a look back to refresh your memory or watch for the first time. You’re only one right choice away from overcoming your despicable me.

As a Believer in Jesus Christ you are (1 Peter 1:3-5):

• ADOPTED into the FAMILY of God.
• RESCUED from the PENALTY of sin.
• PROTECTED from the POWER of temptation.
• PROMISED a PERFECT inheritance.

As a Believer in Jesus Christ you have had a life changing experience, one that has altered you on a fundamental level. Every day you discover in you new abilities and new strength that allow you to accomplish the unbelievable mission God has for you. It’s time to set aside your mild-mannered alter ego. Release the superhero inside of you.

Here’s another way to say it.

A Healthy Appetite + Healthy Activity + Healthy Choices = Fully Devoted Follower of Christ

Healthy Appetite

For a fully devoted follower of Christ a healthy appetite means you have a hunger for God’s Word and prayer. There is within you a constant desire for spiritual things and the classic spiritual disciplines of the faith. Someone with a healthy appetite will learn to feed themselves through personal Bible Study and devotionals. Prayer won’t be the emergency phone call in times of crisis, but will be a pattern for every day life. A healthy appetite for spiritual things doesn’t mean you’ll be perfect. But it does mean you will, on your own, be growing closer to God each day.

Healthy Activity

For a fully devoted follower of Christ healthy activity is church involvement, service in your community, and an intentional effort to share the gospel. When Believers come together for worship, to study Scripture, for accountability and to minister in their community we are called the Church. As the Church we discover, develop and deploy our abilities, experiences, resources and spiritual gifts in order to meet the needs of others. Every Believer should connect with the church in at least three unique ways:

• Small group Bible study – this is a place to build lasting friendships as we study the Word of God together.
• Worship Services – this is the place Believers come together to express praise and thanksgiving to God as we are challenged by God’s Word to fulfill our unique mission within our community.
• Individual Connection – Whatever your age or stage of spiritual development you can find a place within the church for an individual connection that is uniquely ‘you’! For new Believers this connection may be a discipleship class designed to strengthen your faith in specific and practical ways. For more mature Believers it may be leading a ministry team, while every Believer can add value to others by serving as a volunteer in the ministry that fits you!

Healthy Choices

For a fully devoted follower of Christ healthy choices are choices that reflect obedience to God’s Word. The things you do to feed your healthy appetite, the opportunities you take for healthy activity, these will help you make healthy choices as you grow in Christ. None of us are perfect, but as we grow in Christ we should eventually learn to avoid those things that trip us up and pursue those things that bring glory to God — that’s what making healthy choices is all about.

Are you a fully devoted follower of Christ? What’s holding you back? Ask God to give you a healthy appetite. Begin taking part in healthy activity and discipline yourself to make right choices. Through the power of God you can become the person God designed you to be!

The Church we’re talking about isn’t the building you come to on a Sunday morning or your denominational affiliation. This, big ‘C’, Church is the one described in Scripture as the body and bride of Christ.

In John 17:21 Jesus prays that His people would be one so that the world would believe. When I look at the church today we’re far from one. At best we’re a fractured picture of the beauty of Christ.

So here’s what I wonder…Is it possible for all these individual churches, with their different denominations and doctrinal stands, to come together in order to fulfill Scripture and impact this generation with the gospel, grace and love of Jesus Christ?

I believe it is. What if every church, regardless of denomination or creed would agree to move beyond the walls that separate us in order to work together to accomplish those things that unite us? What if we recognized that we are not, like so many businesses, competing organizations but each individually members of the big ‘C’ Church. We are designed to serve with one another. God built us to be better together.

Wouldn’t it be beautiful to see churches of various denominations and sizes, from different parts of town, socioeconomic status, race and creed come together in order to demonstrate to the world the loving kindness and grace of God through Jesus Christ? I could see it starting right here in Green Country. It begins with common belief…

“We are The Church in Green Country – a network of self-governing, local communities of Believers individually expressing our worship to God, ministry to people, and faith in Jesus Christ as we collaborate, cooperate and communicate with one another in order to fulfill God’s passion for this region.”

Eventually this relationship could become more clearly defined by the core beliefs and core values on which we all agree. For example…regardless of denomination or church affiliation every church can affirm core values such as:

• Prayer
• Volunteer & Leadership Development
  
• Social Justice

Imagine the influence leveraged by each church collaborating, cooperating and communicating with one another in order to meet the needs of our community as we each share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s as simple as this: Jesus prayed for unity. We should live it.

We are better together.

God Bless,
Chad

I’ve heard about spies and under cover operatives – police officers – who ‘Go Dark’ – it means they cut off all contact & communication with their handlers, head quarters and home base. It’s while they’ve gone dark that they face their greatest risk. During this time they are:

1. Vulnerable to attack.
2. Susceptible to temptation
3. Alone – completely alone.

What happens when a spy ‘goes dark’ is rarely good.

Going Dark seems to be a consistent choice of some who call themselves Believers today. For reasons I’m certain they consider necessary many will separate themselves from their church, their family and their God – during this time they will face their greatest risk. They are:

1. Vulnerable to attack.
2. Susceptible to temptation.
3. Completely alone.

It’s an odd choice to make, but I see church members make this choice all the time. 1 John 1:5 says that with God you will NEVER go dark. 1 John 1:6 is even more convicting. It says if you say you follow God then choose to go dark that you are a liar who doesn’t practice the truth.

Today, may you walk in the light. No matter your circumstance may you see that choosing to ‘go dark’ is really no choice at all. May you resist temptation, be invulnerable to attack and recognize that with God, and His people – you are never alone.

Have you been through a dark time? How did you get out? Use the comments area to share your story.

[contact-form]

Proverbs is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I remember hearing the story of Solomon when I was a kid in Sunday School. I always thought it was cool that God would grant this young king one wish. I also thought Solomon’s wish was pretty cool. He asked for wisdom. God liked Solomon’s choice too. He gave him wisdom and with that wisdom Solomon became the wisest King of Israel. During his reign his nation knew peace and prosperity. He was famous all over the world (and in some cities!). His fame and fortune seemed to know no end. All this was the result of wisdom.

As I read the book of Proverbs, a book written mostly by Solomon, some common patterns and themes surface. One of the things I notice is the many elements of wisdom Solomon discusses. Let’s break it down.

• Knowledge – That’s facts and figures. It’s knowing stuff about stuff. It’s the kind of information you acquire by reading, studying, going to school or practicing a skill.
• Understanding – This is comprehension. Once you’ve got the facts and figures do you comprehend their significance? It’s one thing to know E=MC2. Understanding the significance of that little formula is something completely different.
• Insight – These are those wonderful leaps of logic. It’s what happens when you hear about ‘A’ and ‘B’ and based on that alone you somehow, intuitively know that ‘Z’ will be true. It’s what happens when knowledge and understanding meet creativity. Think of it like this, Knowledge + Understanding + Creativity = Insight.
• Discernment – This is knowing right from wrong, good from bad, benevolent from malevolent. It’s knowing what’s useful and what’s harmful. Discernment allows you to determine the value of what you know.
• Discretion – There’s an old song, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away and know when to run…” That’s discretion. How public or private should what you just learned remain? Is your new found knowledge for public consumption or is it for you alone? That’s discretion.
• Wisdom – If all these other definitions are true then wisdom is very simply knowing what to do with what you know. These other 5 skills are useful but they find their greatest strength and their greatest value when they come together. It’s this gestalt that makes wisdom – someone who is well informed, with a clear understanding of the matters at hand; able to presume right answers in the absence of every fact; and determine the value of what they know; with the discretion to know when and how to reveal it: That’s wisdom – knowing what to do with what you know.

So today – may you be wise. May God grant you one wish and may your wish be wise. May you receive the knowledge, understanding, insight, discernment and discretion you need to choose rightly, live wisely and walk humbly with your God.

Leave a comment and tell me what you would wish for if God gave you one wish.

God Bless,
Chad

So what is your reason for trusting Christ and obeying him? John had plenty of them. Take a look at 1 John 1:1-4. With a ‘once upon a time’ John begins his story by telling everyone he has a lot of reasons for this hope he had.

• VS. 1 (heard) – There’s the PROMISE he HEARD. For generations the Jewish people were searching for Messiah. John grew up hearing the prophecies and studying the stories. If Messiah came in his lifetime he would recognize Him.
• VS. 1. (saw) – There was a PERSON he SAW. Along comes Jesus. All those promises, the words of the prophets had become flesh and now John could see it! He watched the way Jesus worked and found in Him the fulfillment of the prophecies he grew up hearing.
• VS. 1 (handled) – An EXPERIENCE of his own. But John was no novice. Others had claimed to be Messiah. Some tried to manufacture the evidence. But with Jesus and John something was different. John didn’t take the press at face value. He walked where Jesus walked. He listened to His words, followed His ways, watched Him die then celebrated His resurrection. He experienced the Savior.

And the list goes on…John had reasons for following Jesus. what are yours?

I love this song and the movie that goes with it. I’ve been challenging you for the past several weeks to consider your plan for life development. There are lots of ways the church can help you have the life God intends for you, but the truth of the matter is, there is nothing the church can do to guarantee your spiritual development. It’s up to you to take advantage of the all the great information and opportunity available to you at church. It’s up to you to open the Bible and read it. It’s up to you to pray. The church can facilitate, educate and motivate but the church falls short when it comes to transforming you into a self feeder – that’s between you and God. Like the song says, ‘Life is a highway…” I wonder where your journey will take you.

We’ve established there are three things you need to know in order to have the life God wants for you. You need to know:

1. Where you’re going.
2. Where you are.
3. How you will get there.

We’ve said that our goal is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. That’s our destination. It’s where we’re going.

Colossians 1:28 says it like this, “[Jesus] we preach, warning every man and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

That verse says it all. It defines where you’re going. Your destination is full devotion to Jesus Christ. And so we preach. We preach Jesus. Why? In order to warn you, that any path you choose without the influence of Jesus always leads to destruction. We teach you. We teach the Bible. We teach the right path. We show you the way, the right way, that’s wisdom. We surround you with other Believers whose destination is also full devotion to Christ. All this we do so that one day you will stand before the heavenly Father and hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.”

I wonder about your chosen destination. I wonder if you’re taking in the fuel you need to move down the road. Like the song says, “Life is highway!” Where will your journey take you?

Love y’all, God Bless,
Chad