We have been on this series for several weeks...

 ... and today we continue, “Give Us This Day”. Matthew 6:11 (NKJV) “Give us this day our daily bread.” Luke 14:16-23 (NKJV) “Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” It has been on my heart for years for Life Church to grow to one thousand plus and I still do. Sometimes dreams or visions come quickly and sometime you have to wait. But when the time is right: Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV) ^“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” The vision, if it is God’s vision, will show up at the appointed time and it will be fulfilled. Though it takes some time, keep waiting for it because it will surely come. A thankful heart will trust the One Who said He would build His church.

1. To see Life Church, the Village Campus, and La Vida Church grow of Life Church grow, we must go. We must be convinced that there is an invitation from the Master, from Jesus, that is worthy enough for us to go into the highways and hedges. Plenty of streets and hedges to go into. No where do I get the idea from Jesus that His word to “Go!” is optional or just a pretty good suggestion. Mark 16:14-20 (NKJV) “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” Because we call Jesus Lord, because He has the authority in heaven and on earth, we are commanded to go. We see they obeyed…they went out and preached everywhere. Lord, help us do the same.

2. To see Life Church, the Village Campus of La Vida Church grow, we must find Jesus worthy. I don’t know about you, but I believe Jesus is worthy of us being obedient to go into our Jerusalem seeking and wanting to see saved those who are lost. Jesus is worthy of our effort, heaven is worthy of our effort, salvation is worthy of our effort, the banquet is worthy of our effort. We must go because the banquet is ready and there is room at His table.

3. To see Life Church, the Village Campus, and La Vida Church grow, we must compel them to come in. Luke 14:23 (NKJV) “Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Compel - to force or drive, especially to a course of action: to secure or bring about by force. to force to submit; subdue. To urge toward an action. What this is saying to me is this; Jesus is not playing when He tells us to compel them to come in. The Great Commission was never intended to be the great suggestion. 

With Thanksgiving this week, I thought this article...

... would be appropriate. There are many “catch phrases” that circulate through Christendom...sometimes they have great meaning and other times not so much.  One such phrase is, “It is not about me” but reality tells us that most of what we do is about us and it is for us.  Max Lucado in his book with the same title as the phrase It Is Not About Me is attempting to help us see that whatever we do should be done for the glory of God.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Whatever we do we should be doing for God’s glory and because we are thankful but all too many times “me” gets in the way.

Lucado says, “Our society is not wired for this kind of thinking. It’s a “me-centric” world out there, which destroys much of what should be good. Marriages are ruined because one or both partners are focused on their own happiness. Successful men and women are ruined by their own success, believing they don’t need anyone else’s input. And for some, life’s troubles are magnified because they believe life is all about them.”  The Gospel of Jesus Christ seems to be completely backward to our self-centered lifestyle here in the United States of America. We are taught and are even conditioned to believe that we have the right or entitlement to have what we want when we want it. We simply are not thankful for what we have.

I have said for years that God is not so much interested in our happiness as He is our holiness. He wants us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, follow Him and, of course, be thankful. This seems so difficult when we are so comfortable taking care of number one. Lucado says, “Our comfort is not God’s priority. If it is, something has gone awry. If we are the marquee event, how do we explain flat-earth challenges like death, disease, slumping economies, or rumbling earthquakes? If God exists to please us, then shouldn’t we always be pleased?” The truth is that God does not exist to make a big deal out of us but we should exist to make a big deal out of Him.  It is not about you and for a certainty it is not about me, it is all about Him.  Psalm 34:3 (NKJV) “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.” Let us give thanks!

As we draw near to Thanksgiving it is easier to concentrate...

... on all the things we are thankful for. In light of this series “Give Us This Day” we see in the Lord’s prayer what prayer, worship, and thanksgiving looks like. Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” We see worship as a part of prayer…Our Father, Hallowed be Your Name. Worship is definitely one of the main ways that we are thankful for all He has done. If we are thankful for His wonderful salvation and His daily provision, it will be easy to give Him thanks on a daily basis. Before we can truly pray “Lord, Give me this day” we must understand this aspect of prayer along with thanksgiving. Matthew 8:2-3 (NKJV) ^“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. What Jesus sees in this leper.

1. Jesus sees a man not deterred by the crowd. The multitude was all around Jesus and that can be intimidating for someone who has leprosy or any of today’s societal ills. People can be reluctant to come to Jesus or church because they fear what people will think. What we should think is thank God they are coming to Jesus. They should always be welcomed at Life Church. 

2. Jesus sees a man who is willing to worship before he is healed. Batterson – “Gratitude is thanking God after He does the miracle. Faith is thanking God before He does the miracle.” True people of worship and thanksgiving do not have to see the signs and wonders to worship. They see Jesus as the object of their worship instead of what He can do for them. They know He is their source and that there is really no other help they can run to for their answer.

3. Jesus sees a man who understands the power and the authority He has. The leper came to Jesus worshiping and saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." The leper knew what many of us have forgotten…Jesus is still the answer for today. As you pray “Give Us This Day” make sure you understand Who Jesus is and what He has the authority to do. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever!

Today we continue sharing the series “Give Us This Day”

... and today we are going to deal with something in which we will call “Eat the Frog!” Matthew 6:11 (NKJV)  “Give us this day our daily bread.”
If you ever have to eat the frog, the best time to do it is first thing in the morning. If you have one of those days where you have to eat two frogs, then eat the big frog first. Mark Twain’s advice. Why eat the frog first thing in the morning you may ask? It is because you can go through the rest of your day knowing that the most difficult thing is behind you. Conflict in church is never easy but we have a biblical pattern to follow. Eat the frog!

1. Stop Avoiding Conflict. Eat the Frog. Matthew 18:15 (NCV) “If your fellow believer sins against you, go and tell him in private what he did wrong. If he listens to you, you have helped that person to be your brother or sister again.” The whole purpose of conflict, especially in the church, should be for restoration. Paul said in Gal. 6:1 “if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness… Contrary to what you may have heard or even believe, biblical conflict is healthy for the church and the person who practices it is someone who is spiritual and mature. Please understand that practicing biblical conflict according to Mat. 18 is only good and effective when we realize that it works both ways. If you go to someone to confront them, being willing for people to come to you. Be sensitive to Holy Spirit.

2. Sometimes You Have to Eat Another Frog – Take Others with You. Matthew 18:16 (NLT2) “But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.”  We can actually think that this is a negative because it seems like or feels like you are ganging up on the person. If the witnesses also have a heart for restoration and for the situation to be healed, it can be a positive thing for everyone in the room.

3. One More Frog to Eat – Tell It to the Church. Matthew 18:17 (NLT2) “If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” We only had to do this once in almost 31 years and I brought in my presbyter to give wisdom and guidance. It always helps to have those in authority over you to help you eat really nasty frogs. Eating frogs and praying Lord, give me this day may not seem to be the easy route, but hear your pastor, it is the healthy route for the body of Christ. Please know this principle works at home too (tough love) and at work. God’s Word works everywhere. Pray, Lord, give me this day, and, then, eat the frog.

Today I want you to ask yourself; why do I want to be filled with Holy Spirit?

 Because you attend a church that being filled with Holy Spirit power is one of our tenets of faith...I must surmise that you would love to be filled with supernatural power. You probably would not keep coming here if you did not want Him but here’s my question for you today: Why do you want Him...what is your motive? Before you think I am being rude for asking...the scriptures are clear about people asking for things with the wrong motives.  James 4:3 (NKJV) “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”  Our desire should be to live for the cause and the glory of God Who put us on this earth in the first place.

So really, why do you want Holy Spirit to work in your life or to fill you up...is it for your own benefit or for the glory of God?  Many believe Holy Spirit is much like a pawn that they have access to so that they can manipulate others and to look spiritual in other people’s eyes. They believe that when they give a “word” people will ooh and awe over their ability to walk so closely to the Lord. What they fail to see is that all of the spiritual gifts of Holy Spirit are for the edification, exhortation, and building up of the body of Christ, not our own grandiose ideas. How much do you love the church? How much do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you want to build them up or tear them down...encourage them or control them? What’s your motive?

It is so important to remember these verses:1 Corinthians 12:7 11 (NKJV) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” Let me sum this up: Holy Spirit gives the gifts as He wills (not as we will) and He does it for the profit of all! Be filled with Holy Spirit power and be used by God to glorify His Name!

Today we continue “Give Us This Day”.

 I personally believe there is reason people normally leave off verses 14-15 because this is the more difficult part of the Lord’s Prayer – Forgiving people. Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Gothard: Forgiveness deals with our emotional response toward an offender. Pardon deals with the consequences of his offense. Unless we have the authority we may not be able to pardon an offense, but we can always forgive. Six aspects of forgiveness:

1. Forgiveness involves a positive attitude toward the offense rather than a negative attitude toward the offender. Our initial focus after being offended is on the offender...difficult not to become bitter. If we first focus on the offense instead of the offender, it becomes easier to see the offense as a way of God developing our character.

2. Forgiveness views or sees the offender as God’s instrument for my life. Psalm 76:10 (NLT2) ^“Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.” 

3. Forgiveness looks at the wounds of the offense as God’s way of helping us see the offenders needs. We must learn to see past the surface of people and see their hearts need. Wounded people wound others. They need our help and our love.

4. Forgiveness recognizes that bitterness is assuming or exercising a right we don’t have. Bitterness is like drinking poison and watching for the other person to die. It only hurts us.

5. Forgiveness realizes that the offender has already begun receiving the consequences of his offenses. God uses the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the reproofs of friends, and life’s circumstances as tools to expose the person’s offenses.

6. Forgiveness involves working with God in the offender’s life. Gothard: Forgiveness is having a greater concern for a person after he offends me than I did before he offended me. It is using the hurts of others as the basis of demonstrating Christ’s love back to them. Forgiveness is the ultimate exercise of “Lord, give me this day.” It is the toughest but also the most rewarding.

Today we are celebrating...

... the wonderful blessing that people have been saved. We are celebrating with these folks `by being obedient to the commands of Jesus and the disciples to repent and then, be baptized in water. Matthew 3:11&13 (NKJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. Looking at three baptisms.

1. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:11 (NKJV) ^“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” Listen to this simple illustration. Our baptismal candidates have water in them (made up mostly of water) but in a few moments they will be completely submerged or covered with water…inside and out. When you received the Lord Jesus Christ the Spirit of God came to live inside of you. This is salvation. John 20:22 (NKJV) “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” Then, He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Promise of the Father which was the outpouring of Holy Spirit. They needed more than salvation. Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;” 

2. Baptism in Fire. Matthew 3:11 (NKJV) ^“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” I believe the disciples were so much like us…they were filled with sin, filled with self, filled with doubt, filled with fear, filled with guilt, filled with shame. They needed to be cleansed. Jesus said He would baptize them (us) with Holy Spirit and with fire. Why? To clean us, to purify us, and to set us free from our old life that would hold us back. We still need a baptism of fire.

3. Baptism in Water. Okay, Pastor, we understand why we need to be baptized in Holy Spirit and in fire but why be baptized in water? Simple answer: The kind of heart that can be baptized with Holy Spirit and with fire is an obedient heart. On the Day of Pentecost when 3000 people were saved what did Peter tell them about water baptism? Acts 2:37-38 (NLT2) “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Water baptism identifies us with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus said it was to fulfill all righteousness. Enough said!