Today we welcome Sam and Shelly Bowdoin ...

 

...to Life Church and to our 2021 Annual Mission’s Convention. They will be challenging us about the truth found in God’s Word about the Great Commission and encouraging us to go beyond what we have ever done in the past with Faith Promises.  A.W.Tozer said, “The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!" King David said that he would not offer anything to the Lord that did not cost him something. I pray we are ready to be sacrificial.

We need to ask ourselves...are we doing our best?  Are we bringing our tithe into the storehouse (the church) and are we doing what we can to reach the world?  Am I giving a token to God or am I giving Him a sacrifice? Oswald J. Smith, "No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once." Jesus Christ was extra-ordinarily faithful to us when He went to the cross and died for our sins. Can we really say that there is anything extra-ordinary about our giving to the Lord or to His Great Commission? I challenge you to prayerfully allow Holy Spirit to speak to you about what to do for Missions and for our Lord Jesus Christ!  

Years ago our General Council Mission’s Director spoke to us about the Assemblies of God and Life Church having an appearance of doing great things for God but he went on and said that sounds good until you compare it to the unfinished task.  We are in the top ten churches in the Peninsular Florida District which represents about 330 churches and we are in the top 100 churches in the United States in World Missions giving which represents around 12,100 churches.  We are one of about forty of the top 100 churches who increased their giving during chaotic 2020. Very impressive until you compare to the unfinished task before us. Before we get too impressed with ourselves consider this, about two-thirds of the world still have not had an adequate witness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our challenge is great but we serve an awesome God! Prayerfully fill out a Faith Promise card and let’s do our part in reaching the world.

Today at the beginning of our Mission’s Convention...

 

... we continue our series “Looking at Questions in God’s Word.” Romans 10:13-15 (NLT2) “For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?” Powerful questions from God’s Word. Attempting to stay with our theme in this series our text asks us some pretty piercing questions that I believe are worth investigating. Four questions:

1. How can they call on him? Let me ask it another way; how can anyone be saved if they don’t know Who Jesus is? Correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t the Word say there is no other Name under heaven where man can be saved? We want them to call on Jesus and we want them to believe in Jesus so as we show them the transformation in us and we love them they will call on Him. 

2. How can they believe in Him? Again it comes down to personal responsibility. I have found in my restaurant ministry, if I am honest, loving, and transparent I have a much greater possibility of getting them to believe in Christ. Just a news alert from someone who loves you…sinners can see a fake or a hypocrite from a mile away. 

3. How can they hear about Him? I truly believe one of the many reasons God will have to wipe away our tears when we get to heaven is because we have had this treasure in earthen vessels and we kept it to ourselves. And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? You know what is funny? No one told me I had to go tell people about Jesus when He totally changed my life. I couldn’t wait. I personally believe the greatest motivation to be a great witness for Christ is love that is propelled by Holy Spirit power! 

4. How will anyone go? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? I want to challenge you in 2021 to join with God and with us in helping missionaries to be sent to the countries of their calling. Make out a new Faith Promise card or increase yours from last year. Isaiah’s vision…Lord, send me!

Why do we all need to be a part of Missions Faith Promises?...

 

 ... Why is there such a sense of urgency to add more and more missionaries and to continue increasing the ones we already support? We all know that the Great Commission in Matthew 28 and Mark 16 tells us to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to everyone. Also, Jesus said:  Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) 
^“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Jesus has told us to go or to send missionaries and if we do not we are disobedient. Five reasons for all of us to get involved:

1. When the body of Christ is in unity, great things happen! Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

2. The sooner we turn in our Faith Promises, the sooner we will know we can add new missionaries, increase the support of present ones, and help with special projects for them. You need to fill out a Faith Promise every year no matter how many years you have given. 

3. Pastor, it seems we are competing to be one of the best Missions giving churches around …you would be correct, we are competing for the souls of people here at home and around the world.

4. I do not feel that all of us are sacrificial when it comes to Missions…we all can do something and many of us can do more. No condemnation if you can’t. Pray and obey! Romans 12:1 (NKJV) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” 

5. A Faith Promise is not what you can do but what God can do through you. As you make that Faith Promise step back and watch Jehovah Jirreh supply everything you need!

Today we continue the series “Looking at Questions in God’s Word” ...

 

...and as we see our Life Church ministries, I want to challenge you to be a true disciple. Jesus says in Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,” God sent out the disciples, actually all of us, into the world so that people would be saved but also to make disciples. My definition of disciple. Disciple – A disciplined Christian who is obedient to Christ and is using his or her talent to serve Jesus and to serve people. Loving God and loving people, not just in word, but in deed and in truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

1. Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? Matthew 9:10-13 (NKJV) “Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" True disciples of Jesus Christ care about and attempt to do whatever they can to reach the lost. 

2. Who do people say that the Son of Man is? Matthew 16:13 & 15 (NLT2) “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” As a disciple it is imperative that you know Who Jesus is. Why? How will you help others who need to find Him if you do not know Jesus yourself? 

3. What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Matthew 26:40 (NKJV) ^“Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Jesus is needing His disciples so much at this time in His life. He is about to be arrested, abused, and eventually crucified. Needless to say, they did not get it. It is obvious that our world is on fire right now, and if God has ever needed His disciples, it is now. Needless to say, many of us do not get it. Could you not watch with Me one hour? Could you not pray with Me one hour? Could you not serve for Me for one hour? How long are our services now? Oh, one hour. Become a true disciple of Jesus.

Today we continue the series, Looking at Questions in God’s Word.

In Genesis 3:1 (NIV) “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Today we are going to look at three questions in the book of Genesis that are still relevant for us today. One question by Satan, one by God, and one by a man. 

1. Did God really say? Genesis 3:1 (NIV)  "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Many believe that Genesis 3 to be the most important chapters in the Bible. If you just read 1-2 and then skip to chapter 4, man goes from being blessed in the garden to being cursed. Something happened. In 1-2 man is innocent and everything seems to be perfection in the garden of God and the moment you read 4 there is jealousy, anger, murder, corruption, lying, rebellion, and judgment. Satan shows up with a question to confuse, deceive, and separate man from God. Did God really say? The question is designed to make them question God and His authority. Satan is still asking the same question confusing so many.

2. Where are you? Genesis 3:8-9 (NKJV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" Where are you? What a powerful question from God to Adam and Eve. It was more than a question about their location but much more about their spiritual condition. Where are you today with Jesus?

3. Am I my brother’s keeper? We know the story how Abel’s gift was accepted by the Lord and Cain’s was not. Does not say why but it matters how we give. Cain was jealous and killed Abel. Genesis 4:9 (NIV) “Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Am I my brother’s keeper? Am I responsible for my brother or my sister? Paul said I am a debtor to all men to preach to them the gospel. Philippians 2:4-5 (NIV) ^“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

Today we continue the series, Looking at Questions in God’s Word,...

... and because we are supposed to be fasting we will talk about that. Isaiah 58:3 (NKJV) 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. The first question in God’s Word we will be looking at today is Why Have We Fasted? We have a tendency to look at the what and God looks at the why. 

1. The people’s questions. The hearts of people back then are really no different than people today. The people were frustrated with God because, in their minds, they had fasted and prayed and God had not answered their prayers. Why have we fasted? I personally believe it is okay to ask God questions if we are sincere. My God, my God why have you forsaken Me? They forgot God’s promises are conditional. The children of Israel wanted the blessings of praying and fasting but the failed to meet God’s conditions.

2. God’s Questions. Isaiah 58:4-5 (NLT2) “What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with Me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD?” God says what good is your fasting when you keep fighting with each other. What are you saying, Pastor Rick? Not me, God. The Lord says it matters how you treat each other.

3. God’s questions and sincere answers to true fasting. Isaiah 58:6-7 (NKJV) "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? God wants our fasting and praying to be pro-active. What do you mean, Pastor Rick? Fasting is more than just doing without food, it is how you treat those who are bound, those who are hungry, and to care for your family. Amen.

Happy New Year! May God bless Life Church and help us have the greatest year ever!

Today we start a new series, Looking at Questions in God’s Word. Hear is the first question in Numbers 11:21&23 (NASB) But Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.' The LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not." I preached much of this on a Wednesday night in December and many of you were not there. It started me on a journey. I want us to look with Moses how he saw God send more quail than you can shake a stick at. God asks Moses a question Is the LORD’s power limited? Of course the answer is ‘no’! God is omnipotent which by definition means there is nothing He cannot do.

1. In regard to this question, do you have a low view of God or a high view of God? A.W. Tozer – “A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils, but a high view of God is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems.” The truth is; our biggest problem is our small view of God. That is the cause (according to Tozer) of all lesser evils. It is a high view of God that is the solution to all other problems.

2. In regard to this question, the size of your prayers will be proportional to the size of your God. The size of your prayer depends on the size of your God. And if God has no limits because of His omnipotence then neither should our prayers. He is not bound by the laws of man or nature. Is the Lord’s power limited? No!

3. In regard to this question, there is no degree of difficulty with God. This is so difficult for us to comprehend but with God there is no big or small, easy or difficult, possible or impossible. It is hard for our earthly minds to understand this. We are all subject to the natural laws God has instituted but He is not limited to anything or by anything. He is the beginning and the end. The Alpha and the Omega! To the infinite (God) all finites are equal. Is the LORD’s power limited? The obvious and only answer is “no”. Pray big prayers!