WEST CENTRAL INTEGRATED TREATMENT FACILITY - June 14, 2014
Wayne, Julia and I went to West Central to minister to 38 precious ladies. The video praise and worship was powerful and the Holy Spirit moved in an amazing way through the girls. Many came up front during the worship and knelt before God weeping. After ministering to a few of them, I turned the service over to Wayne who brought the message on "Building Memories" using text from Philippians 3:1-14.
Wayne, Julia and I went to West Central to minister to 38 precious ladies. The video praise and worship was powerful and the Holy Spirit moved in an amazing way through the girls. Many came up front during the worship and knelt before God weeping. After ministering to a few of them, I turned the service over to Wayne who brought the message on "Building Memories" using text from Philippians 3:1-14.
Wayne showed a short slide show of "memories" Julia and Wayne have made as an illustration. Memories will fade away after we are gone. From the moment we're born, we are headed to life or death. What we do now prepares us for the real life or eternal death. Most of what we do is a waste. God wants to raise up men and women whose lives count for something. Life expectancy in America is 80 years. We have one shot at this.
Four characteristics of lives that count for the glory of God on the landscape of human history.
1. They treasure Christ above everything this world has to offer.
2. They trust in Christ to provide everything they could ever need:
a. His righteousness covers our sin, but it doesn't stop there. His righteousness teaches us not to sin. Titus 2:11-12
b. His power guarantees our resurrection (dyno = dynamite)
c. His satisfaction transcends our suffering. This is where we typically "bow out." Paul knew the importance of this. If we concentrate on the pleasures of this world, we're going to be spiritually "choked out." Our life will be "wasted" on the things of this world. If we let go of things of this life or lose them for Christ, His glory will shine through. If you're having a bad day, read 2 Cor. 11:22-28 and it will put everything into perspective.
d. God delights in showing His greatness for those who radically trust Him.
3. They pursue Christ with a passion
4. Character qualities in our lives beyond the contemporary culture of the church
a. A holy dissatisfaction with casual or comfortable Christianity
b. A fresh understanding of the degree in which Christ has followed hard after us
c. A single minded discipline that governs our lives
d. They look forward to the prize of His praise (completion of our salvation and the prize of their salvation)
In America we are distracted by a life of good things instead of running after what we need to pursue ... making things happen for God! When God says well done good and faithful servant, it's because we have a life that counted for something. We need to fix our eyes on the only thing that matters - CHRIST!
Just about every lady in the room came up for prayer to be in pursuit of God! Praise God!
Wayne showed a short slide show of "memories" Julia and Wayne have made as an illustration. Memories will fade away after we are gone. From the moment we're born, we are headed to life or death. What we do now prepares us for the real life or eternal death. Most of what we do is a waste. God wants to raise up men and women whose lives count for something. Life expectancy in America is 80 years. We have one shot at this.
Four characteristics of lives that count for the glory of God on the landscape of human history.
1. They treasure Christ above everything this world has to offer.
2. They trust in Christ to provide everything they could ever need:
a. His righteousness covers our sin, but it doesn't stop there. His righteousness teaches us not to sin. Titus 2:11-12
b. His power guarantees our resurrection (dyno = dynamite)
c. His satisfaction transcends our suffering. This is where we typically "bow out." Paul knew the importance of this. If we concentrate on the pleasures of this world, we're going to be spiritually "choked out." Our life will be "wasted" on the things of this world. If we let go of things of this life or lose them for Christ, His glory will shine through. If you're having a bad day, read 2 Cor. 11:22-28 and it will put everything into perspective.
d. God delights in showing His greatness for those who radically trust Him.
3. They pursue Christ with a passion
4. Character qualities in our lives beyond the contemporary culture of the church
a. A holy dissatisfaction with casual or comfortable Christianity
b. A fresh understanding of the degree in which Christ has followed hard after us
c. A single minded discipline that governs our lives
d. They look forward to the prize of His praise (completion of our salvation and the prize of their salvation)
In America we are distracted by a life of good things instead of running after what we need to pursue ... making things happen for God! When God says well done good and faithful servant, it's because we have a life that counted for something. We need to fix our eyes on the only thing that matters - CHRIST!
Just about every lady in the room came up for prayer to be in pursuit of God! Praise God!