Forgotten God-Episode 7

“When we become overly concerned about our appearance, our spiritual reputation, our coolness, and our acceptance, we are living as citizens of this world and not ambassadors.”

I recently talked with my group of students about what it means to be an ambassador. We focused on 2 Corinthians 5 and how when we focus on how we look, how we are accepted, or what others think of us we are thinking of things of this world and not Kingdom things. Ambassadors are only concerned about pleasing the people they represent. They aren’t worried about what they look like or how they are accepted, but the fact that they represent the person/people they are serving.

When we ask Christ to become Lord of our life…we become ambassadors for Him. We live our lives remembering that we are ambassadors for Him and our actions, words and choices reflect Him. When we commit to be an ambassador for Him, we commit to fulfill the Great Commission.

Forgotten God-Episode 4

Towards the end of Chapter 2 Francis talks about how he was asked “Who is the most Spirit-filled person you know?” He goes on to share about the person he feels is the most Spirit-filled and I am going to do the same below.

The day I found out that Charlie was leaving the church I work for I was extremely sad. Charlie was the pastor for our high energy service at the church I work for. He was the type of guy that exemplified what it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. No matter how bad of a day you were having or how tired you were…Charlie made you smile and feel better. He was full of energy and anytime you spent talking with him you knew he genuinely cared about how you were doing.

Charlie….you and your family are still missed and I wish we could have had more time to get to know each other. Jesus is so real in your life that when I look at you I see Jesus. I mean…it may be that you don’t’ wear shoes when you worship, but still you were an awesome example to everyone you came in contact with as to what it means to love the Lord with all of your heart, soul and mind.

Forgotten God-Episode 2

“If it’s true that the Spirit of God dwells in us and that our bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temple, then shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not?

This may be a silly illustration, but if I told you I had an encounter with God where He entered my body and gave me a supernatural ability to play basketball, wouldn’t you expect to see an amazing improvement in my jump shot, my defense, and my speed on the court? After all, this is God we’re talking about. And if you saw no change in my athleticism, wouldn’t you question the validity of my encounter?” (Chan 32).

It is so sad when the only thing that separates some Christians from non-Christians is a WWJD bracelet. A sermon I am currently working on talk about how in Ephesians we’re called to “put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

When we invite Jesus into our hearts we have to expect that He is going to do more than just move in and leave things as is. Jesus is going to totally rearrange the furniture of our hearts and thus we will be changed. We’re not going to be the same after He establishes residence in our hearts.

You must ask…

Luke 18:40-42 (NIV)

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
⁴² Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

I may be the only one…but whenever I hear a sermon that talks about “we do not have because we do not ask” I always think…mmmhmm…riiiight. This morning the above scripture was a part of my daily scripture reading. Here Jesus approaches a blind man and asks him “What do you want me to do for you?” Are you kidding Jesus? Seriously? HE’S BLIND! I’d imagine if you asked homeless people what they wanted Jesus to do for them….they’d say get me a home. If you asked someone starving to death what they wanted Jesus to do for them…they’d say get me some food.

But…now scripture reveals itself…

Luke 11:9 (NIV)

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.