Who Are You Listening Too? (Part 2)

God has made every provision possible to communicate with us.  It is His greatest desire that we live in relationship with Him and communicate with Him.   Remember, it's not a matter as to whether or not God still speaks, it is a matter of, are we listening?  In this post I want to share with you how we can identify God's voice, and what some of the consequences are for failing to listen to God.

How Can We Identify God's Voice?

• His voice will be consistent with His Word.  Whatever He speaks in our hearts must match what He has spoken on the printed page.  If what you "think" God is telling you isn't consistent with what His Word says then it's unlikely God's voice.  You can be sure that God would not contradict His Word.
• His message will often conflict with human thinking.  Sometimes the Lord may require of
  
  us to do something that seems beyond our abilities.  But, He is faithful to enable us to do what He calls us to do.  Although His message won't conflict with His Word it very well could conflict with human reasoning.
• His voice will always challenge our faith. Because He wants us to grow in faith, God sometimes calls us to face our fears and trust Him more.  Allow God's voice to take you deeper in your faith.
• His voice is often quiet.  Instead of answering our prayers in dramatic ways, the Lord often speaks to our hearts quietly and unexpectedly in the normal course of the day.  It won't necessarily be in a loud and magnificent manner.  Be sure to listen to His still small voice. This takes a sensitive spirit that can hear God's Spirit.
• He always speaks specifically.  God wants you to know exactly what He is saying.  He never wants to leave you in the dark, but rather always bring you to the light.  When we listen carefully, we can expect God to speak in specific ways.

Consequences For Failing To Listen To God

I see six significant consequences for us when we don't listen to God.

• The world will draw us away from Him if we continually ignore His voice.
• We'll be easily deceived by all the other voices.
• We will make costly decisions based on human reasoning rather than divine guidance.
• We'll make choices that appeal to the flesh and give us what we want.
• Our decisions could cause us to forfeit God's best.
• We could suffer consequences that could affect us for years to come. 

Are you listening to the Lord and walking obediently before Him every day?  That is the only way to reap the greatest harvest in life now and receive eternal rewards in heaven.

-- Pastor Temple

Who Are You Listening To? (Part 1)

The voices are many.  Everywhere we turn people and things are vying for our attention.  The electronic age of instant communication, information, and entertainment has a firm grip on our attention and many find themselves listening to the voices of the world rather than the voice of God.  God has been communicating and speaking with His people since the beginning of creation. In the Old Testament He spoke through prophets, kings, and certain individuals.  In the New Testament God communicates with us through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  The issue isn't whether or not God is speaking, the issue is are we listening?  Our ears are tuned to whatever holds our heart and minds.  If this world is our main focus, we will hear its messages.  However, if our hearts are set on Christ, we will take time to quietly listen for His guidance and instruction.  The sad thing is many people have never learned to discern His voice.  In this post I want to share with you ten (10) reasons why people don't listen to God.

1.  They Don't Have A Relationship With Him

As I have said in the past it's all about relationship. Being a Christian isn't about a list of do's and don't's.  It's about having a relationship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus.  When Christ is the most important relationship we have we will listen and give attention to Him because we listen and give attention to those things or people we care most about.

2.  They Don't Expect The Lord To Speak To Them

If we don't expect God to speak to us, then it's unlikely we will ever hear Him when He does. God wants to speak to you.  In fact it would be inconsistent with His character not to since He desires to guide us throughout our lives.

3.  The Message Of The World Drowns Out God's Voice

The world is pulling at us from every direction!  In fact, we are surrounded by a cacophony of noise that can draw our attention away from what we hold dear.  Events are happening all around us and it is impossible to “pay attention” to everything.  In fact the din almost makes it impossible to pay attention to what is important to us, and that should be God's voice.  To solve this problem, we must reject the ways and voices of the world and seek to know what is going on in the mind of God.

4.  People Are Too Busy

Busyness defines our culture.  We have so many things to do that God gets pushed to the end of the list.  We must find time for God because if we don't spend time with the Lord, we will never be tuned to His voice.

5.  They May Fear The Message

Fear is the opposite of faith.  When we aren't acting in faith it's often because we are afraid to hear what the Lord has to say to us.  We fear He may ask of us something we don't want to do.  God will never ask more of us more than what we are able to handle.  Through His grace and power we can do whatever He asks.

6.  A Poor Self Image Causes Them To Doubt That God Would Speak To Them

It's unfortunate, but people who struggle with self esteem issues don't realize how precious they are in God's eyes and how much He desires to communicate with them.  It's time we realize who we are in Christ and what we can do through Him.

7.  They Have Neglected Reading And Meditating On The Bible

If you ever want to be able to hear God's voice then you cannot neglect His Word.  Ignoring the Scriptures increases worldly thinking while decreasing a desire to hear from the Lord through His Word.

8.  Some People Have A Rebellious Spirit

Some simply do not listen to God, because they have rebellion in their heart.  They try to satisfy the emptiness in their souls with the pleasures of sin rather than God.  And we know that the pleasures of sin are only for a season (Hebrews 11:25), but the pleasures of God for an eternity (Psalm 16:11)!

9.  They Are Deceived By The Sounds Of The World

Often times people don't listen to God because they have their hearts and minds so tuned to what the world offers that they have no interest in hearing from the Lord.  You can't listen to both the world and God.  One must take preeminence.

10.  Sin Has Prevented Them From Hearing God

Sin is always an obstacle to clearly hearing the voice of God.  Anytime believers harbor sin in their lives, it blocks their spiritual ability to hear from God.

Don't allow any of these reasons to be present in your life.  God wants to communicate with you. Are you ready to allow Him to speak with you?

-- Pastor Temple

The Church's Greatest Need (Part 3)

In the past two posts I've made the case that the greatest need of the church is for it to experience a continual move of God.  And I have encouraged all of us to begin to ask God where we might be missing it and what are we doing that we shouldn't be doing or what are we not doing that we should be doing.  In this post I want to focus on the latter and what our responsibility is in a continual move of God.

1. Prayer

I know some people don't see the importance of prayer, but prayer is absolutely necessary for any moving of God.  "...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16). For the church to experience a continual move of God daily prayer is imperative.  It is also necessary for us to pray in the Spirit.  This type of prayer is a direct line to God without any interference.  Prayer changes things...it changes us first and then it changes other things.

2.  Learn To Bring Your Body Under Subjection

Our body can be our biggest enemy if it isn't brought under subjection.  Paul states in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that "...I keep my body, and bring it into subjection..."  You see we are not our own.  We have been bought with a price and we are to glorify God in our body and spirit which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:20).

3.  Spending More Time With God

For the most part, it's never someone's intention to "drift away" from God.  But it happens.  And it usually happens when we get too busy and fail to spend the proper amount of time with God.  To have a relationship with God you must spend quality time with Him and not just time when "you need Him."  Relationship with God is everything and it must be based on love, dedication, commitment, and selfishness.

4.  Recognizing What Should Be Most Important In Our Lives

If we aren't careful our priorities easily get out of whack to the place where the things that are most important get pushed way down on the priority list.  God, family, and ministry should be top priority in our lives.  If we want to see a continual move of God in the church then God must be at the top of our priorities.

5.  Discovering Our Calling In The Body Of Christ And Pursuing It

God has given you an assignment, and He has perfectly equipped you to accomplish that assignment.  You were put on earth to make a contribution not to just consume resources!  We are here to be givers not takers.  Regardless of your vocation you are called to full time Christian service.  This Christian service isn't optional.  It doesn't make any difference who you are, God wants to use you.

6.  Staying On Guard At All Times

One thing is for certain, we have an enemy!  He is the devil and he is like a roaring lion going about seeking whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:7-9).  It is important that we be conscious at all times because satan has us in his cross hairs!  We have to be ready at all times to engage in spiritual battle with this enemy.

I have always discovered that the closer I get to God, the more I love Him, want to serve Him, listen to Him, and do His work.  If we allow ourselves to grow cold in the Lord those things will always be secondary.  Begin today with a renewed commitment to accept your responsibility to usher in the continual move of God!

-- Pastor Temple

The Church's Greatest Need (Part 2)

As I established in Part 1 of this post, the greatest need of the church is for it to experience a continual move of God!  Unfortunately Satan has come up with many ways to try and prevent this from happening.  In this post I want to share  with you four hindrances to a move of God and the two ingredients necessary for the church to see God move.

Hindrances To A Move Of God

1.  Lack of Unity -- If the church ever wants to see a true move of God, then there must be godly unity among the believers.  And godly unity begins with being unified with Christ.  We can't be unified with one another, until we are unified with Christ.  "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." (Psalm 133:1).  Unity among believers is not everyone thinking the same about everything, but it is every believer focusing in on Christ and what He thinks, what He wants and then us responding by doing exactly what Christ says.  The greatest move of God in the church was in the book of Acts where the people were in "one mind and one accord." (Acts 2:1-4; 4:32;5:12).  There is great power in unity.

2.  Lack of a Real Relationship With God -- Let's be honest, there are many people who attend "church" who do not have a "real relationship" with God.  They attend out of habit or duty and God or "religion" is a separate compartment from the rest of their life.  Let me ask you this question: "What kind of relationship would you have with your spouse if you spent the same amount of time with them as you do with God?"  For many the answer would be not very good! To have a real relationship with anyone, including God, you must spend quality time with them. Relationships don't just happen, you have to make them happen and the relationship isn't based on works, but love, dedication, commitment, unselfishness and being totally sold out to God.

3.  Selfishness -- Selfishness is so deceptive yet it is so rampant and is one of the greatest sins in the church.  If we would come to church as givers and not takers our whole view and concept on what should happen in a service would change.  The church has been deceived into thinking that God will move and we don't have to do anything.  We have sacrificed unity, relationship, compassion and hearing the voice of God for selfishness and it isn't working.  It is time we repent of our selfishness and see ourselves as servants of God ready to be givers rather than takers.

4.  Lack of Compassion -- When we don't have a relationship with God, we cannot move with compassion.  If you will assess where you are in your compassion, you will know where you are in relationship with God.  Compassion always gravitates towards the needs of others.  When we lose our vision and compassion for souls, for the hurting, sick, etc. we have lost our relationship with God.  Jesus set the example and showed us the way of compassion.  We are to follow His example.

Two Ingredients Important To A Move Of God

1.  Prayer -- "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14). When the church commits to prayer, that's when we will see a true move of God!

2.  Praise and Worship -- The move of God is often ushered in on praise and worship.  The Psalmist declared: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6). When we are committed to praise and worship of the Almighty God we will see His power and presence!

-- Pastor Temple

The Church's Greatest Need (Part 1)

To put it very simply, the church's greatest need is a "continual move of God."  This move must begin with a "reviving" of the saints!  We often hear people talk about how that want a move of God, but it will not happen until individual lives become "spiritually revived."  To see what a move of God looks like all one needs to do is examine the Biblical account of the Day of Pentecost, specifically Acts 2:41-47.  The problem with defining a "move of God" is that people have different ideas of what it is.  What some equate as being a move of God is really nothing more than hype, feelings, and emotions.  This is why so many people get deceived.  Without the power of the Holy Spirit we will never be able to accomplish what God has called us to do.  The best way to build God's Kingdom and the body of Christ is through the power of the Holy Spirit and not through all the other ways recommended by the moderates.  I want to answer four critical questions as they relate to what a "move of God" is.

1.  Why Do We Need A Continual Move Of God?

The first reason, is that without it, we have a tendency to grow cold and unconcerned.  Secondly, without it our priorities change.  Everything else becomes more important when we don't see and feel God moving.  Thirdly, without a move of God, we become selfish.  Everything is centered around us.  Fourthly without this move of God there is a tendency to lose our focus on God.  And finally without God moving our desires change.  No longer do we desire the things of God, but rather the things of the flesh.  It is time we do some serious "self examination and evaluation" and honestly assess what is important to us spiritually.

2.   Why Some Reject A Move Of God?

I believe there are four primary reasons people reject God moving:

• They see what ignorance has produced in the past and are therefore afraid of it today.
• The are afraid of any kind of demonstration.
• They are not sure if miracles still happen today.  If we doubt miracles happen then most likely they will never happen.
• They don't want to change.  They are content with the way things are and they don't want the boat rocked!

3.  What Is The Purpose Of A Continual Move Of God?

There are three reasons it is vital for God to move:

• So the church can experience God's power.  God wants nothing more than to unleash His power through the church!  He desires to work through each individual member of the "body of Christ."  You and I are His channels.  What He does, He does through us.
• So the Body of Christ can be edified, comforted and exhorted.  As His body it is through the power of God's Spirit that we are encouraged and challenged to move ahead in His power and authority.
• So God can manifest to us who He is.  Many people don't believe in God, because they see no demonstration of Him.  As believers it is our responsibility to live our life so that people see Christ in us.  When they look at you or me they should Jesus.  Start living your life as if you were the ambassador for God!  How different would that look and how different would you live?

4.  What A Move Of God Will Do For You?

• It will change your life.  Just as the lives of the disciples were changed, so too is your life when you encounter the Holy One.  When the power of the Holy Spirit gets control of your life you will never be the same.  He wants to revolutionize your life.
• It will give you a new perspective for life and ministry. It's unfortunate, but most Christians aren't interested in ministry.  For the most part they aren't thinking about wining souls or laying hands on the sick and doing the work of the ministry. When the Holy Spirit gets a hold of your life and revival begins to burn in you, your perspective for ministry will change.
• It will give you a heart and desire for ministry.  If you have no interest in ministry, you should evaluate how active the Holy Spirit is in your life.  When the Holy Spirit is directing your life there will always be a heart and desire for ministry.  God didn't place us here on this earth to do nothing.  We all have a purpose and a plan for our life and it is not about self, but about doing the will of God.
• It will give you the confidence you need for ministry.  One of the biggest problems believers have, is a lack of confidence. When you allow the power of the Holy Spirit to operate in your life, you will have the confidence you need to be effective in ministry.

God will build His church.  The question is are you going to be a part of it?  The church's greatest need is to allow God to move as He sees and for each individual to be a vessel He can use to accomplish what He desires here on earth.

-- Pastor Temple

What We Think

Believe it or not, what we think about really does matter!  Our minds have the ability to process hundreds of thoughts every day and those thoughts govern our relationship with God, others, our success, our failures, and the direction of our life because what we think, has the power to mold us. Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."  So if we want to live a successful life and a life that is in right relationship with God and others, then we must master what we think.  But we can only do this with God's help.

1.  Control Your Thinking

Thoughts lead to actions.  Good thoughts lead to good actions and bad thoughts lead to bad actions.

Unbelievers set their minds on what comes naturally to humans -- pursuing sensual, selfish or materialistic things.  Romans 8:5-7 "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."  We have to be careful that our minds aren't led away from the pure devotion to Christ.  "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

2.  Think Right

It is the Holy Spirit that enables us to walk out the Christian life.  When we got saved we died to our old life, and were raised to walk in newness of life.  We are now to view ourselves as children of God and we now have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).  Which means that we agree with Christ about what's good and evil in this world.  Because we live in this world, but are not "of" this world, we have to guard our minds from the world's influence.  Make no mistake about it, what you listen to, read, watch on TV and movies, and the entertainment you attend all has an affect on your thinking.  You have control of what goes into your life.  Ungodly input creates an appetite or acceptance for the things of the world.  In computer lingo it's "garbage in, garbage out!" Ungodly input creates a lack of desire toward the things of God and we begin to "edit" God out of our life.  When you sow a thought your reap an action; when you so an action you reap a habit; when you sow a habit your reap a destiny!

3.  How Do You Learn To Think Right?

If you want to be happy, even in difficult times, you must learn to think correctly.  This begins by screening your thoughts.  Let the Word of God be your guide and reject thinking that isn't compatible with the Word.  Ask yourself these questions:

• What is the source of this thought?
• Where will it lead me?
• Is this scriptural?
• Is my thinking going to build me up or tear me down?
• Does my thinking make me feel guilty? (If so watch out!)
• Does this fit who I am as a follower of Jesus?

We must reject ungodly thinking and cultivate godly thinking.  Philippians 4:4-9 is a good guide to following when it comes to thinking right.

Who you will be in the future is a result of what you think in the present. So if your don't like where you are headed, then it is time to change your thinking.  Start today!

-- Pastor Temple

God's Thoughts On The New Year (Part 2)

There is one think we know for certain, and that is that God's ways and thoughts are not ours and His ways and thoughts are "higher" than ours!  The Lord declares that "as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  For anyone who doubts this just look to the heavens and you will see just a glimpse of the vastness of God.  If we are to ever get our thinking straightened out then we are going to have to get our minds renewed with the Word of God!  How do we know the thoughts of God?  It's simple, He has given them to us in the Bible.  The Bible contains God's thoughts.  For this new year let's start learning to think like God thinks.


God's Thoughts Concerning The Israelites In The Wilderness

To the human mind and thoughts, the task of bringing 2-6 million people out of Egypt and across a desert wilderness seems impossible.  Most would say we can't do that without years of planning and infrastructure in place to accommodate that many people.  But God's ways and thoughts on how to do it are different than man's.  God led them out of Egypt and provided for them for 40 years in a "supernatural" manner!  You see God's ways are above our ways and God's thought are above our thoughts.

Four Things About The Word Of God

In Isaiah 55:10 and 11 there are four things that God says about His Word that we need to consider and grasp hold of.

1. "For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven..." (v. 10); "So shall my Word be..." (v. 11).
2. "...and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth..." (v. 10); "So shall my Word be..." (v.11).
3. "...and maketh it bring forth and bud..." (v. 10); "So shall my Word be..." (v. 11).
4. "...that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater." (v. 10); "So shall my Word be..." (v. 11).

The four truths about God's Word are that 1.) It comes down from heaven. 2.) It waters the earth. 3.) It makes it to bring forth and bud. 4.) It gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater.

What God is saying is that just as the rain and snow do these things, so shall my Word be that goes forth out of my mouth.  He goes on to say the "my words shall not return void, but shall accomplish those things in which I sent them."  We have got to get our carnal minds filled with the Word of God which are the thoughts of God.  The questions we need to begin to ask are: What does God think of this? What are God's thoughts? and What does the Bible say?

We are to learn to think like God thinks.  When you begin to think the thoughts of God, that's what is going to make this new year different for you.  Start today to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) and let God change your outlook on life.

-- Pastor Temple