What Is Your Passion?

Nothing of any importance is ever accomplished without someone's passion behind it.  It is passion that makes the impossible possible and motivates individuals to pursue what others may say are "outrageous" dreams.  But it is the passion behind those dreams that gives you the stamina, persistence and endurance to keep on going when everyone else says quit.  Passion is the essential element that brings fulfillment, satisfaction, and purpose to one's life.  If we aren't careful, as time goes by we have a tendency to lose our momentum, our vision, and our passion for God.  I want to share with you "seven passion killers" so that you will be aware of the things that will rob you of your joy, passion, energy, vision and purpose in life.

1. An Unbalanced Life.  Living an unbalanced life simply means that your priorities aren't in order.  When your priorities aren't in order you never take the time to recharge concerning the things that should be most important to you.  The way we keep our life balanced is to worship God daily, associate with people who have a passion for God, daily read God's Word, be involved in ministry, and share our faith.  If you don't keep your life balanced, you will inevitably lose your passion for the things of God.
   
2. Unused Talent.  Everyone has some talent that God has given them.  Yet when we don't use it, we begin to lose our passion for life and for God.  The gifts and talents that God has blessed you with are not for your own benefit, but they are for the benefit of the Kingdom of God and for others in the Body of Christ as well as the world.  God doesn't want you to waste your life and talent.  He gave you a gift you should use it for Him.
3. Un-confessed Sin.  Un-confessed sin will rob us of our passion and turn us from a purposeful life to a purposeless life.  Un-confessed sin will rob you of love, joy, confidence, and passion.  When David had un-confessed sin, his life was miserable.  Yet when he "acknowledged" his sin to God, God forgave the "guilt" of his sin (Psalm 32:5) and his life was totally changed.
4. Unresolved Conflict.  Conflict drains the passion out of you.  One thing is for certain, you cannot control the behavior of others, nor your circumstances, but you can control how you respond to those things.  You have to learn how to guard your soul and your heart and not allow these emotions to continue to manipulate, control or affect your passion, your destiny, your purpose, or your motivation in life.
5. Lack of Spiritual Support.  It is very important that you learn to choose wisely who you are around.  The people you associate with will have a definite influence on your life.  You will naturally lose passion for God when you spend time with people who have no passion for God.
6. Unclear Purpose.  When you forget your purpose for your life it is a sure way to kill your passion for life and for God.  When our purpose is unclear we labor in vain.  Passion and purpose go together.
7. Undernourished Spirit.  You must intentionally nourish your spirit.  If you don't do it nobody else is going to do it for you.  If you don't take the time to do it, you are going to be effected greatly.

Be watchful of those things that will kill the passion God wants you to have.  Make sure you keep your passion so you can fulfill what God desires you to do.

-- Pastor Temple

How To Receive

In Mark 5:21-34 God gives us a great picture of how we can receive the blessings of God that come through faith.  As believers we are either walking in faith or we aren't.  The lesson in Mark 5:21-34 is of a woman and her desperation to be healed.  She tried everything and had spent all of her money on doctors yet she was still sick.  The key to her victory was that she heard about Jesus and was determined to touch him.  Too often we make Jesus the last resort when He should be the first one we go to.  I want us to look at this woman's story and uncover five actions she took in exercising her faith and receiving her healing.

1. She Spoke The Answer.  "For she said, 'If I shall touch but his clothes, I shall be whole'." (Mark 5:28).  To receive what God has, we must speak what His Word says. Say about the situation what the Word of God says about the situation.
2. She Believed The Answer.  What she expected was already a settled fact in her heart.  She knew what would happen if she simply touched his clothes.  Because she believed the answer she received the answer.
3. She Acted On What She Believed.  By pressing in and touching His garment she was acting in faith on what she believed. You and I must act on what the Word says. This is a way of exercising our faith.
4. She Received The Answer.  Once she acted on what she believed, she was instantly healed. What seemed impossible after twelve years of suffering, was now a reality.  At the moment she touched Jesus' garment, she was healed.
5. She Testified Of Her Healing.  Once she received her healing, she began to confess what Jesus had done.  God gave her a testimony and she willingly shared it.  When God does something wonderful in your life, don't forget to share it with others.

Receiving from God isn't just a formula.  But we can learn from this woman some principles that will help us receive God's blessings that come through faith.

-- Pastor Temple

The Future Of America

July 4th!  The day we celebrate as America's Independence Day!  While America isn't a perfect place, it is still a great place to live and I believe one of the greatest nations in the world.  I feel blessed by God to have been born and raised in America.  The Bible gives us several things we can do to keep America in God's blessings.  Whether we want to accept the responsibility or not, the future of America depends on us, the people of America.

1.  We are to pray for America.  Our founding fathers laid the groundwork for the freedom that we

enjoy today and it is vital that we pray for our country and our leaders.  Even if you disagree with our leaders, the Bible instructs us to pray for them.

2.  Live righteously.  If we want to change the way America is headed, we need to live our lives "in all godliness and honesty."  We do this by living according to the standards set forth in God's Word. Sin will disgrace God's name and our nation.  As believers we can do something about it by living righteous before God and the nation.

3.  Share Christ.  The unbelieving world is shouting out its message and as Christians, we need to speak out as well.  If God lives in you, He ought to show through, so a lost and dying world can see God in us. (Matthew 5:16).

FREEDOM COMES WITH A PRICE

We enjoy our freedom today, because of what our founding fathers have done to get and preserve this freedom.  The patriots fought and died to give us our "freedom of religion" not "freedom from religion."  America was founded on Christian principles.  It was founded on prayer and belief in an Almighty God.  If we are going to see good come from America, we...the church, God's people...need to pray for America and our leaders.

AMERICA'S CONDITION

There are many wonderful things about America that we can be proud of.  Yet at the same time, America has digressed a long ways from where we started and if we aren't careful we can lose everything God has blessed us with.  Our nation has strayed away from God's Word and the original intent of our founding fathers.  As Christians we can't be content to sit in church and say amen to the sermon, but do very little outside the church to be a witness for the Lord.  God expects us to use the freedom that our founding fathers made possible and be a witness for Christ in this sinful world we live in.

AMERICA'S FUTURE

What will America be in the future?  God's Word is clear as to how we are to live.  Micah 6:8 gives us three ways we are to live:

1. First, we are to "act justly."  This means do what is right.  God expects you to do the right thing even though the wrong thing is the easiest and maybe the most pleasant thing to do.
2. Secondly, we are to "love mercy."  That means to extend mercy and forgiveness to others. We all know that we're the recipients of God's mercy and have been forgiven by Him.  It is imperative that we extend the same mercy and forgiveness to others.
3. Lastly, we are to "walk humbly" with the Lord.  Humankind's natural tendency is to be proud, arrogant, and overconfident.  Yet God's desire is for us to live humbly before him. Recognizing who He is and who we are in relation to Him.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 33:12).  When our nation, including those who call themselves Christians, cease to look to God...we cease to be blessed by God.  Our forefathers claimed this nation for God.  We need to re-claim it for Him.

-- Pastor Temple

WANTED: Dead AND Alive! (Guest Post by Keith Fife)

This weeks post is from Bethel Church, Choctaw Associate Pastor Keith Fife.  It is actually a two part post and can be read at Keith's blog Christ Is All In All.  The post is from two messages he preached on consecutive Wednesday nights June 11 and 18.  I hope you enjoy it.  Along with the blog post is a "bonus" audio of each message. Please leave Keith some feedback and let him know what you think.

A Father's Responsibility

Being a father is a huge responsibility.  Fathers are there at every stage of a child's life to help them grow spiritually, emotionally, and physically and they acknowledge their responsibility to their family and don't try to shift it on to someone else.  Fathers serve their families in three different capacities.

• The first is as spiritual head of the home and family.  Fathers have to understand that every decision they make whether good or bad will affect everyone in the home.  To make wise godly decisions, Fathers have to have the mind of Christ.
• Fathers also serve as the priest of the home. Just as Jesus is our High Priest and sacrificed His life for us all and is always interceding for us, fathers make sacrifices for their families and never cease to intercede for them.
• A father is also the "warrior" for his family. They have to go to battle for the health and future of their wife and children.  Ephesians 6:13 "therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm." Dad, you are in a battle for your family but don't be dismayed, because God will be your strength.

There are five gifts that every dad can give to his children.  These gifts have the power to change your children's life.

1. Love and Encouragement.  Every father needs to be the greatest support that his children have.  Fathers should encourage their children to set goals for their lives and rejoice with them in every achievement.
2. Time and Acceptance.  Children need their father's time.  One man said children spell "love" "T-I-M-E."  If you want your children to know you love them, then spend time with them.  Also accept your children for who they are and speak positive words into their lives.  Your children aren't perfect, but neither are you.
3. Your Care.  A father is to provide for his children and give them the kind of care that will help develop them in to what God desires for their life.
4. Your Faith.  If a father has faith in God and His Word and in everything seeks to obey Him, his children will most likely put their confidence in God when they are older.
5. Your Example.  A father is to be a godly example to his children.  Telling your children what is right isn't enough.  You must show them by example.

Being a father is a great honor.  But it is also a great challenge.  Are you up it?  With God's help you can do it.

-- Pastor Temple

The Power Of Your Testimony (Part 2)

Your testimony can have a powerful impact on the lives of other people and there is incredible power in sharing your story.  When you share the story of God's work in your life you are sharing your testimony and that's exactly what God expects from you.  You don't have to be a Biblical scholar to be a witness.  You only have to be willing to share the story of what God did in your life.

When Jesus encountered and ministered to people they would in turn share their story of what Jesus did.  When he healed the blind man, the blind man simply reported that all he knew was that "I was blind, and now I can see!" (John 9:25).  When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, she reported to others "come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did!  Can this be the Messiah?" (John 4:29).

In this post I want to share with you four strategies for you to have a powerful testimony that will impact the lives of others.

1.  Do Good

It's really that simple.  Galatians 6:10 tells us "whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone."  It's simple, but it isn't always easy.  Doing good requires you to be unafraid of what others may or may not say.  You can't worry about the crowds when it comes to your testimony.  God calls us to do good, but we have to realize that we can't do it in our own ability. We must rely on God to help us.

2.  Keep Your Focus On The Cross

It's unfortunate, but there are many Christians who like to share their "horror stories" about what

they were like before they came to Christ.  It's almost as if they were bragging on their sins.  Even though their life before Christ is important to their story, the most important part is what Christ has done for them.  So whenever you share your story, the focus needs to be on what Jesus did, not on what you did.  That's why Paul said in Galatians 6:14 "God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord."  The more we focus on the cross the less we focus on the stuff that weighs us down.

3.  Realize You Are A Changed Person

Galatians 6:15-16 tells us we are a changed person. If you want to have a powerful testimony, and if you want to have confidence to share your story, then you have to realize you are not the same person you were before.  Those who become Christians are not the same anymore.  The old life is gone and a new life has begun (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Your testimony is more effective when you realize you are not the same person you use to be.

4.  Be Willing To Take The Hits And Wear The Scars

Paul readily admitted "from now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus." (Galatians 6:17).  Paul was willing to take the hits, both literally and figuratively, and still live for God's purpose.  Paul was willing to do whatever it took as long as it meant he could live for Christ.

Your story can be a powerful impact on others.  It's time you share it.

-- Pastor Temple

The Power Of Your Testimony (Part 1)

"And they overcame him (Satan; the accuser of the brothers) by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony..."  (Revelation 12:11).  Your testimony is a powerfully important part of your life.  Your testimony is what makes you a real threat to the devil.  It's  not just what you come through that makes you a threat; it's that you came through your circumstances and now have a testimony of God's delivering power and grace.

1.  Don't Hide Your Testimony

Whatever you do, never be afraid to share your testimony.  It's yours, no one can take that from you.  Too many people let a spirit of fear manipulate and intimidate them into not sharing what God has brought them through and what He has done for them.  Your testimony has the power to bring life, hope, joy, peace, restoration, and deliverance to not only yourself, but to others also. The devil knows the power of your testimony, it's time you realized it too.

2.  The Power Of Your Testimony

We overcome by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of our testimony.  It is very possible that someone who was ready to quit on life is going to keep on living because of your testimony.  Grasp this truth: "when you go through big trials and big problems, it allow you to have a big testimony!" Remember, there is no miracle without a problem; no victory without a battle; no resurrection without a death; and no testimony without a trial.  You may be facing a huge fiery trial right now, but you are going to make it through.  You may not see it, you may not feel it but God is working to give you a tremendous testimony.  The Psalmist David declared: "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:2-3).

You have a testimony.  It is time you told the devil that God is greater than anything he can throw at you.  There is power in your testimony and you need to share it, so start today!

-- Pastor Temple