How Strong Are You?

Tomorrow is Memorial Day – the day set aside to honor those who have given their lives for this nation. The Memorial being built in Kingfisher states, “ALL GAVE SOME; SOME GAVE ALL.”

          Jesus Christ gave everything for us – and everything to us that we need to become overcomers in this life. The question is, “Are we strong enough in our faith to receive what God has promised.”

          When Jesus returned to heaven on the Day of Ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and help us live overcoming lives. God is interested in all aspects of our lives – spirit, soul and body. But He needs our faith and cooperation to make it all happen!

It was He (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.          Ephesians 4:11-16

 

           Every Christian has a vital part in the body of Christ; we all have our own tasks to do.

          The “church” is made up of all believers. It is not this building; rather it is the people who meet here week after week.

          This is a place of worship, learning and teaching. It is a place of healing, a place of prayer. Our individual MINISTRIES take place out in the “market place.” God plans for us to make a difference in the world. I believe that most of us do a wonderful job.  

Wouldn’t it be great if we would take a cue from the early church and “turn the world upside down?”

First, let’s look at what happened when the Children of Israel lacked the faith to enter the Promised Land:

 

 

GOD EXPECTED GREAT THINGS OF HIS PEOPLE

          When Moses led God’s people out of Egypt they went from:

A.   Slavery to freedom

B.    Poverty to Wealth – the people gave them silver, gold and articles of clothing – they plundered the Egyptians! (Exodus 12:35, 36)

C.   They were headed to the Promised Land (Canaan), a land of tremendous wealth and prosperity. God told them that in Egypt they had to irrigate the land, but Canaan was a land that God Himself took care of. 

God respects no person and He always honors obedience and faith. What He has done for one He will do for all!

Today God wants us to be free from fear, debt, illness and depression. God wants to bless us!

Our Promised Land is freedom from worry. He wants your children to be serving Him. He wants you to prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. (3 John 2, KJV)

 

          The problem God had with the Israelites was that while He had taken them out of slavery, they did not learn to walk in faith.

They left Egypt in great joy – but Satan replaced that joy with fear. When Pharaoh changed his mind and sent soldiers after them, panic set in! Fear overtook them! They forgot that God had promised to take them to the Promised Land. Look at the miracles He sent!

1.     They crossed the Red Sea on dry ground; God drowned the soldiers and horses.

2.     A pillar of fire protected them from the cold at night; the clouds protected them from the desert heat

3.     When they ran out of water God provided water from a rock.

4.     When they ran out of food God gave them manna.

        5.  Their clothes did not wear out!

Yet they failed miserably.  Why?  They did not develop a personal faith in God.  Their trust and confidence remained in Moses.  Not a good idea!  When things did not work out right, they wanted to either stone Moses or go back to Egypt!

When they got sick and tired of eating Manna, they wanted to return to the slavery of Egypt – the beatings, the long hours of work, the loss of personal dignity – so they could eat leeks, garlic and onions!

BE STRONG IN THE LORD!

How did this happen? They listened to Satan! They listened to the tempter! We fight this same battle!

 

The largest percent of Americans claim to be Christians, yet it is obvious our witness in the country is decreasing year after year.  Obviously we need to do better.  Many churches in America did not report any conversions last year. 

“A 2002 Southern Baptist Convention report noted that 88 percent of children reared in evangelical homes leave the church at age 18, never to return.” -Today’s Pentecostal Evangel for June 11, 06

Saints, we have to do a better job!  Like the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, we have not entered our promised land!

In today’s text, Moses was wrapping up his life.  He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he lost his cool because of the people’s rebellion.  When God told him to speak to the rock, he struck it because he was so frustrated with his congregation.  Deuteronomy 31 is his charge to the people to unite behind Joshua so they could accomplish the task God had called them to do.

We have not been called to conquer Canaan, but we have been called to win people to Christ. We have not been called to conquer another country, but we have been called to take on the “rulers, the authorities, and the powers of this dark world along with the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

That means the satanic forces of evil!

There are 4 primary reasons for attending church.

1.     To get saved

2.     To get healed

3.     To get delivered

4.     Training

As believers we are called to:

Do the work of Christ – For instance, Roberta teaches abstinence in the schools and has influenced the lives of many children and her co-workers.

The rest of us in this church have roles to play where we represent Christ to the world. This is fantastic. We have a vital prayer ministry, and we support different mission projects that influence people around the world.

Our church is to be a place of prayer, a pace of peace and a place of teaching the mighty power and love of God.

        During my last hospitalization Tom and Shortie brought a bag with gifts from the church. It contained soap, lotions, and a book by Joel Osteen titled, Your Best Life Now.

          In this book he talks about how his father taught his congregation to dream about the future. John Osteen would have the congregation close their eyes and visualize the new building John had in mind for the future – one that was fully paid for with a paved parking lot. It came to pass… but only after a number of years of faithful work, faith and prayer.  Overnight success seldom comes overnight!

          Roberta and I decided that would be a good idea. We closed our eyes and visualized this sanctuary full of people joyfully worshiping the Lord. We visualized people singing specials; we visualized full Sunday school rooms.

Have you ever felt like the disciples did when they said, “Lord, increase our faith!”

 What is Jesus telling us?

1.     Do not be a stumbling block to others! Live a life above reproach!

2.     If someone sins against you, let him know… and then forgive him… even if he does it 7 times a day!

3.     We do not need a lot of faith – we just need to use what we have!

So… how strong are you?  Are you strong enough in the faith to walk in total obedience to God?  I think so!

Sincerely, Pastor Leon