The Power of an INVITATION
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
For 4 weeks in September, Pastor Brian challenged our students to step out of their comfort zone, shine their light and INVITE their friends so they could experience RSSM Student Ministry and hear the life changing message of Jesus Christ. THE RESULT? Over four weeks our students brought 222 FIRST TIME visitors. GUESS WHAT? 47 young people made a commitment to Christ! Think about it, about 1 out of 5 students invited gave their hearts to Christ and in one month our youth ministry experienced a growth of about 50 students! All because students stepped out of their comfort zones, let their light shine and INVITED their friends and fellow students to come.
What is the power of an invitation? For 47 students it was the difference between eternal life and eternal death.
Obviously, we do not save anyone, only Jesus can do that, BUT God does use us in the process. God has promised if we will lift up Jesus He will draw all men to Himself. I want to encourage you to let your light shine. Step out of your comfort zone, take the bowl off and GO FOR IT! INVITE someone in your family, at your work, in your neighborhood, at the ball field or marketplace to JOIN YOU at church this Sunday. You never know, the power of that invitation! Just ask 47 students!!!
Blessings,
Darren
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Keep Standing!
1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. –NIV
Nobody likes to go through difficult or hard times but the truth is that no one lives a completely trial free life and seasons of hardship can actually mature and develop our faith in God
James 1:2-5
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – NIV
Real quick, 3 things Paul reminds us about overcoming trials/temptations…
#1 Common to Man –
DO NOT face trails/temptations alone! Others before us have faced similar trials and great strength is available for us if we will open up our lives to others
2 Cor 1:3-5
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. –NIV
#2 God is Faithful-
You will never know the full measure of God’s grace until you have come to the end of yourself. Allow your temptations/trials to cause you to draw closer to God and lean into Him
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. – NIV
#3 Always a Way Out-
If we will trust the Lord and not abandon ship He always works for our good.
Rom 8:28-29
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. –NIV
God’s way isn’t always our way but He always provides a way out. Expect God’s strength and His deliverance. Are you feeling tempted? Are you facing trials?
I encourage you today to take God at His Word and KEEP STANDING!
Eph 6:13-14
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. – NIV
Blessings,
Darren
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. –NIV
Nobody likes to go through difficult or hard times but the truth is that no one lives a completely trial free life and seasons of hardship can actually mature and develop our faith in God
James 1:2-5
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – NIV
Real quick, 3 things Paul reminds us about overcoming trials/temptations…
#1 Common to Man –
DO NOT face trails/temptations alone! Others before us have faced similar trials and great strength is available for us if we will open up our lives to others
2 Cor 1:3-5
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. –NIV
#2 God is Faithful-
You will never know the full measure of God’s grace until you have come to the end of yourself. Allow your temptations/trials to cause you to draw closer to God and lean into Him
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. – NIV
#3 Always a Way Out-
If we will trust the Lord and not abandon ship He always works for our good.
Rom 8:28-29
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. –NIV
God’s way isn’t always our way but He always provides a way out. Expect God’s strength and His deliverance. Are you feeling tempted? Are you facing trials?
I encourage you today to take God at His Word and KEEP STANDING!
Eph 6:13-14
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. – NIV
Blessings,
Darren
Friday, September 17, 2010
Our God Reigns!
Our God Reigns!
1 Chron 16:31
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!" -NIV
Ps 47:8
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. -NIV
Ps 93:1
93 The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.- NIV
Our God reigns. He reigns over all the earth, all mankind and all circumstances. God sets above all, beyond all, outside of His creation. He is not limited to, affected by, taken by surprise or without answer to the needs of His creation.
Rest assured today that our God, YOUR God, reigns over…every circumstance, every burden, every trial, every pain, poverty, injustice, sickness and death. He reigns over sin, brokenness, confusion and heart ache. He holds our past, is aware of the present and controls the future. Rest assured OUR GOD REIGNS!
Try something today…instead of telling God how big your circumstance is, tell your circumstance how BIG your God is!
Mark 11:22-24
22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. -NIV
Join with all of Heaven today and declare OUR GOD REIGNS!
Rev 19:6
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Have a Great Day and Incredible Weekend!
Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie
1 Chron 16:31
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!" -NIV
Ps 47:8
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. -NIV
Ps 93:1
93 The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.- NIV
Our God reigns. He reigns over all the earth, all mankind and all circumstances. God sets above all, beyond all, outside of His creation. He is not limited to, affected by, taken by surprise or without answer to the needs of His creation.
Rest assured today that our God, YOUR God, reigns over…every circumstance, every burden, every trial, every pain, poverty, injustice, sickness and death. He reigns over sin, brokenness, confusion and heart ache. He holds our past, is aware of the present and controls the future. Rest assured OUR GOD REIGNS!
Try something today…instead of telling God how big your circumstance is, tell your circumstance how BIG your God is!
Mark 11:22-24
22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. -NIV
Join with all of Heaven today and declare OUR GOD REIGNS!
Rev 19:6
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Have a Great Day and Incredible Weekend!
Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Any Lost Loved Ones?
Last night at CATALYST 2010 - BEYOND ORDINARY over 185 teens were in attendance and 32 teenagers responded to the call to live for Christ!!! Over the last 3 weeks more than 250 different teenagers have walked through the doors of RSSM Student Ministries. God is moving!!
Do you have any loved ones that you are praying for their salvation? I want to encourage you, DO NOT stop praying and believing.
A couple days ago in my devotion time this statement from Paul stuck out to me as he was expressing thank you's to people in the 16th chapter of Romans.
"Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me.They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was" -Romans 16:7
Did you see that? Andronicus and Junias were Paul's relatives in Christ praying for Paul's salvation while he was still Saul the persecutor of the church. What a glorious day it was not just for Paul in Acts 9, when he met Christ but for those who had PRAYED for him as well.
I am sure there were days when Andronicus and Junias were discouraged and frustrated about praying for their relative Saul. After all, nothing about his outward behavior gave them any hope. ALL of that CHANGED in a moment. When they least expected, Christ appeared to Saul the persecutor of the church and transformed him into Paul the Apostle.
It does not matter what outward circumstances are. Christ can change a life in a moment. Keep Praying and Keep Believing!
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Gal 6:9
Have a Great Day!
Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie
Do you have any loved ones that you are praying for their salvation? I want to encourage you, DO NOT stop praying and believing.
A couple days ago in my devotion time this statement from Paul stuck out to me as he was expressing thank you's to people in the 16th chapter of Romans.
"Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me.They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was" -Romans 16:7
Did you see that? Andronicus and Junias were Paul's relatives in Christ praying for Paul's salvation while he was still Saul the persecutor of the church. What a glorious day it was not just for Paul in Acts 9, when he met Christ but for those who had PRAYED for him as well.
I am sure there were days when Andronicus and Junias were discouraged and frustrated about praying for their relative Saul. After all, nothing about his outward behavior gave them any hope. ALL of that CHANGED in a moment. When they least expected, Christ appeared to Saul the persecutor of the church and transformed him into Paul the Apostle.
It does not matter what outward circumstances are. Christ can change a life in a moment. Keep Praying and Keep Believing!
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Gal 6:9
Have a Great Day!
Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie
Saturday, September 11, 2010
One of life's toughest decisions...
Gen 12:1
12 The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. - NIV
Leaving comfortable for the promise of a greater destiny in one of life’s toughest decisions. Abraham knew Haran. For seventy five years he had live there, built a life and I am sure grown comfortable and in many ways satisfied. Now God shows up in his life desiring to take Abraham to a greater destiny.
Gen 12:2-3
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." -NIV
One Catch…he has to leave comfortable for the unknown.
Heb 11:8-9
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. - NIV
Here lies a great truth…often to experience the future requires letting go of the past. Leaving the land of comfortable is often a prerequisite for God to move us to a place of greater destiny. God knows the most dangerous place for a believer to be is too comfortable. Why???
1. You stop growing personally
2. Faith dwindles while reliance on the past increases
3. Loss of passion
4. Become increasingly critical of others
What about YOU? Have you grown too comfortable? Is everything in your spiritual life explainable, predictable and routine? It is an easy place to fall into. Believers do it, churches do it as well. We have all been there, but not all come out.
How do you leave comfortable?
1. REDISCOVER your First Love – everything starts with a renewed desire for personal prayer, worship and God’s Word. A clear picture of eternity changes everything!
Heb 11:10
0 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. - NIV
2. Be willing to let God STRETCH YOU – step out, take a chance, follow your heart, obey and trust God’s leading
Gen 12:4
4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran – NIV
Be fore warned, it will not come without pressing pass some fear but do not give in! Outside of comfortable is where passion is found, faith is alive and destiny unfolds.
Remember, leaving comfortable for the promise of a greater destiny is one of life’s toughest decisions. I’m glad Abraham said YES. What will you and I do???
Blessings,
Pastor Darren
12 The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. - NIV
Leaving comfortable for the promise of a greater destiny in one of life’s toughest decisions. Abraham knew Haran. For seventy five years he had live there, built a life and I am sure grown comfortable and in many ways satisfied. Now God shows up in his life desiring to take Abraham to a greater destiny.
Gen 12:2-3
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." -NIV
One Catch…he has to leave comfortable for the unknown.
Heb 11:8-9
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. - NIV
Here lies a great truth…often to experience the future requires letting go of the past. Leaving the land of comfortable is often a prerequisite for God to move us to a place of greater destiny. God knows the most dangerous place for a believer to be is too comfortable. Why???
1. You stop growing personally
2. Faith dwindles while reliance on the past increases
3. Loss of passion
4. Become increasingly critical of others
What about YOU? Have you grown too comfortable? Is everything in your spiritual life explainable, predictable and routine? It is an easy place to fall into. Believers do it, churches do it as well. We have all been there, but not all come out.
How do you leave comfortable?
1. REDISCOVER your First Love – everything starts with a renewed desire for personal prayer, worship and God’s Word. A clear picture of eternity changes everything!
Heb 11:10
0 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. - NIV
2. Be willing to let God STRETCH YOU – step out, take a chance, follow your heart, obey and trust God’s leading
Gen 12:4
4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran – NIV
Be fore warned, it will not come without pressing pass some fear but do not give in! Outside of comfortable is where passion is found, faith is alive and destiny unfolds.
Remember, leaving comfortable for the promise of a greater destiny is one of life’s toughest decisions. I’m glad Abraham said YES. What will you and I do???
Blessings,
Pastor Darren
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Believed not Explained
"One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed"
I came across this quote from Leonard Ravenhill not long ago and it simply will not leave me. He goes on, "We have adopted the convenient theory that the Bible is to be explained, whereas first and foremost it is a book to be believed (and after that obeyed)."
As a believer ever find yourself trying to explain the Word of God, hoping you could make people understand, only to finish feeling frustrated??? How often do we approach our class, or small group or teaching forgetting that it is not the head we are trying to reach but the heart of our listeners. Christianity is a message to be believed not dissected. The power of Christianity is not found in sharp intellect or quick whit but rather a burning heart.
Touch the heart of your listener and their mind will follow. Touch only the mind and you may never have their heart. So often we start with the head (endless attempts at explanation and convincing) and it never moves to the heart (faith and belief), therefore it doesn't manifest into obedience in their life. We live for Christ from our heart. Perhaps this is why Jesus told us that so often our barrier to receiving from him is our need to become like children. Children live from their heart (belief). So often as adults we try to live from our head (knowledge).
The ability to quote scripture, teach without error, move in religious motion does not mean their is BELIEF. You can believe without fully understanding but you can understand and not believe! There are many things I still do not fully understand about God but believe - such as His grace in my life, the work of the Holy Spirit, His sovereignty, the list is endless!!! If I can only believe what I can explain I won't have faith for most of what God wants to do in my life!
I don't think the woman with the issue of blood understood how God would heal her but she believed. I don't think Peter really understood how Christ would turn him from a fisher of fish to a fisher of men but he believed. I don't think the thief on the cross understood how he would see Jesus in paradise that day but he believed.
On the other hand, the religious of the day claim to understand everything yet believed nothing. Be careful, your head can get in the way of your heart! Quite honestly my greatest belief has often come with the least knowledge. My "knowledge" can get in the way!
BEWARE: Try to explain to long to others what God has put in your heart and your faith will shrink - snuffed out by human logic! Sabotaged by the head.
Don't misunderstand me we have a logic, we have a knowledge, but it is not from our head, but rather birthed from the Spirit of God in us (I Cor 2)
Are you ministering from your head or your heart? I encourage you...let open your heart. Let people see your passion, feel your love, sense your belief. This is the great need in church today. Let's dare to simply BELIEVE God's Word, and if we are in need let us join with the apostles in asking, "Lord, increase our faith!" (not our knowledge)
Have a great day!
Blessings,
Darren & Toyie
I came across this quote from Leonard Ravenhill not long ago and it simply will not leave me. He goes on, "We have adopted the convenient theory that the Bible is to be explained, whereas first and foremost it is a book to be believed (and after that obeyed)."
As a believer ever find yourself trying to explain the Word of God, hoping you could make people understand, only to finish feeling frustrated??? How often do we approach our class, or small group or teaching forgetting that it is not the head we are trying to reach but the heart of our listeners. Christianity is a message to be believed not dissected. The power of Christianity is not found in sharp intellect or quick whit but rather a burning heart.
Touch the heart of your listener and their mind will follow. Touch only the mind and you may never have their heart. So often we start with the head (endless attempts at explanation and convincing) and it never moves to the heart (faith and belief), therefore it doesn't manifest into obedience in their life. We live for Christ from our heart. Perhaps this is why Jesus told us that so often our barrier to receiving from him is our need to become like children. Children live from their heart (belief). So often as adults we try to live from our head (knowledge).
The ability to quote scripture, teach without error, move in religious motion does not mean their is BELIEF. You can believe without fully understanding but you can understand and not believe! There are many things I still do not fully understand about God but believe - such as His grace in my life, the work of the Holy Spirit, His sovereignty, the list is endless!!! If I can only believe what I can explain I won't have faith for most of what God wants to do in my life!
I don't think the woman with the issue of blood understood how God would heal her but she believed. I don't think Peter really understood how Christ would turn him from a fisher of fish to a fisher of men but he believed. I don't think the thief on the cross understood how he would see Jesus in paradise that day but he believed.
On the other hand, the religious of the day claim to understand everything yet believed nothing. Be careful, your head can get in the way of your heart! Quite honestly my greatest belief has often come with the least knowledge. My "knowledge" can get in the way!
BEWARE: Try to explain to long to others what God has put in your heart and your faith will shrink - snuffed out by human logic! Sabotaged by the head.
Don't misunderstand me we have a logic, we have a knowledge, but it is not from our head, but rather birthed from the Spirit of God in us (I Cor 2)
Are you ministering from your head or your heart? I encourage you...let open your heart. Let people see your passion, feel your love, sense your belief. This is the great need in church today. Let's dare to simply BELIEVE God's Word, and if we are in need let us join with the apostles in asking, "Lord, increase our faith!" (not our knowledge)
Have a great day!
Blessings,
Darren & Toyie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
