This is the Sunday before we start our Mission’s Convention...

  ...so again we continue the series, “Let’s Lose Some Weight.” Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV) ^“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” One day while I was biking something happened on the trail that was extremely aggravating, extremely humiliating, and most importantly, extremely motivating. A biker passes me and he is clipping pretty fast as he whizzes by. I had never seen him before or since, but here are his words to me as I am sucking wind. “Are you ever going to pick up the pace?” Let’s look at those words today.

1. Pick up the pace in the area of seeking after God. Wasn’t that what we were trying to encourage all of us to do during the first 21 days of prayer and fasting? Did you take advantage of that time? Did you fast? Did you pray? Did you come out to the week of prayer and earnestly seek God corporately with the rest of us? I can seek Him at home. Okay, did you seek Him at home during that time? Probably not. Paul exhorts us to always pray.1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (NIV) ^“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire;” The Apostle Paul is saying to all of us, “Are you ever going to pick up the pace?”

2. Pick up the pace in the area of missions. Wow, Pastor Rick, what do you mean? Our church is in the top ten in the state in mission’s giving and in the top fifty in the nation out of over 13,000 churches, that pretty good. Are we giving Him our best? The Book of Malachi gives a strong rebuke to God’s people for one reason, they were giving to God but they were not giving their best. Malachi 1:10 (NCV) “I wish one of you would close the Temple doors so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you and will not accept your gifts,” says the LORD All-Powerful.” “Are you ever going to pick up the pace?”

3. Pick up the pace and get the lead out! Years ago when we went to Kentucky to the horse farms they gave us this information about horse racing in light of “Get the lead out”. I never knew they added lead weights to horses saddles to try to make the race even. In the back stretch of the race, some riders were known to dump their lead weights to reduce the load on their horse and hopefully increase its speed at the end of the race. It looks like we are in the final stretch. We must seek God, increase our missions, and get the lead out. “Are you ever going to pick up the pace?” Come on, Life Church, get the lead out!

Today we are back to our series, “Let’s Lose Some Weight”...

  ...and today we will be discussing how we have to die to live. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV) “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” You have to die to live. Pastor Rick, we don’t even like the way that sounds. It sounds like we have to be sacrificial and willing to endure pain and suffering. Exactly. Being a Christian or being a disciple of Jesus Christ all comes down to choices doesn’t it? We die to live. If you are going to lose some weight or become a true disciple of Jesus Christ it will happen because you have made the tough choices to die to yourself. Do you really want to be a disciple?

1. What the Apostle Paul said about dying to live. I believe one of the most profound things that Paul said about living a disciplined and sacrificial life can be summed up in this simple verse: 1 Corinthians 15:31 (NIV) “I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Here we find in scripture a truth that can help us be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. What is needed in our lives and what is needed in our church is not event oriented programs but is a lifestyle change!

2. What Jesus said about dying to live. If you think the Apostle Paul was tough about dying daily, there is a really good chance that you will not want to hear what Jesus had to say. Mark 8:34-35 (NKJV) “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” The words to verse 35 blow my mind when it comes to dying to ourselves…For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Just living for yourself you become a dead man walking but dying to yourself, denying yourself, and following Jesus, you find what living is all about. 

3. Let’s Lose Some Weight…let’s die to ourselves. We are surrounded by people every day who are witnesses of us living a sacrificial life or watching us take care of number one. Our family is watching and everywhere we go people are watching. To be a true disciple of Jesus you have to die daily, you have to deny yourself, take up your cross, and you have to follow Jesus. Come on, Life Church! Let’s Lose Some Weight!

Every February Life Church Assembly of God sets aside...

 ...the first three Sundays of the month for our annual Missions Convention.  It is a time when we encourage our church body to prayerfully consider helping us to support missionaries all over the world.  Right now we support 206 missionaries on a monthly basis.  Our office receives several calls each week for other missionaries needing to raise their support so that they can get on the fields where God has commissioned them to go. Obviously we are not in a position (yet) where we can help all who call. Wouldn’t that be amazing if we could help all of them?

How can we help, Pastor Rick? What a great question!  On the Sunday of our Mission’s Convention you will be given a “Faith Promise Card” and be asked to fill out the card on how much you can help us on a weekly or monthly basis to support all of our missionaries. You will be asked to pray and to give according to what God lays upon your heart. We do not believe people should be manipulated to give but to pray and give what God speaks to their heart. The key is to pray and truly listen to what Holy Spirit speaks to your heart.  2 Corinthians 9:6‑7 (NKJV) “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Faith promises are between you and the Lord so you will never be sent a bill from the church. You will be encouraged and reminded from time to time from the pulpit to not forget your agreement between you and the Lord. If it is between us and the Lord why do we have fill out the Faith Promise Card? We have to know the funds we have to distribute to our missionaries and if we are able to add new ones. In the 31 years I have been the pastor we have never missed a payment to missions...it is of utmost priority at Life Church and it is obedience to God. As you are faithful with 10% of your income to the Lord...join us in sending the gospel all around the world with your support of missions! Be willing to be sacrificial so someone else can find the Jesus you love and serve. 

Today we continue the series “Let’s Lose Some Weight”...

 ...taken from Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,” Last week we said we needed to look to Jesus, look to His Word, and to be disciplined. As Christians, as disciples those things should come pretty automatic for us. Sadly, they don’t. So what do we do when there is an area of weakness in our lives that has been there for a long time and we have just assumed “it is what it is”? Today we will discuss the story of the man with the withered hand and how he was healed and how he laid aside his weight. Luke 6:10 (NLT2) “He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! Until we admit, confess, or recognize what our weakness is, there is a really good chance that we will never change. 

1. Our weaknesses are sometimes publicly displayed. So what are we to do when it is obvious to us and to others around us that we have a problem? We can probably do what this man had done several times…leave and go home taking his problem with him. We can cover our problem under a robe of shame or pride. Please, God, let no one see this thing. If you say you absolutely do not have a weakness, your weakness is obviously pride. But, if we are willing, we can hold that weakness out to Jesus and let Him heal it. Why would we do that?

2. Jesus promises to help us in our weakness. Isaiah 40:29 (NCV) “He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak.” God is willing to give power to the weak. The question, are we willing to wait on Him to renew our strength?

3. We need to change our attitude toward our weaknesses. Joel 3:10 (NKJV) “Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, 'I am strong.' " We must prepare ourselves for battle especially if we perceive we are going through a time of weakness (Covid). There cannot be an attitude of complacency. We must lose the weight. Hear your pastor, what you say about your weakness is so important…Let the weak say, 'I am strong. This is more than just positive confession; this is a statement of faith. 

4. Paul saw weakness as an opportunity for God’s power to be demonstrated. In your weakness determine to get to know Christ better and to know His sufferings…Him crucified. Acknowledge your dependence is on God’s power not on man’s wisdom. Extend your weakness to the Lord like this man with the withered hand and let Him touch it. Let’s lose the weight!

Happy New Year! Can you believe it is already 2022?...

 ...Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”  We are encouraging all of you to fast and pray with us the first 21 days to see many break through whatever they are battling. Praying for prodigals, revival, healings, and miracles. If you will have a good year in 2022 it will happen because you make certain choices. The first and most important is to obey the Word of God. We must be disciples. We must be disciplined. What does that look like?

1. Look to Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) ^“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” I particularly like NIV with this verse because there is the implication that something isn’t right with where we are looking for our help. If 2022 is going to be a better year for you and if you are going to kick (lay aside) some bad habits, get rid of sin, or, let’s face it, lose some weight, the first place you should look is to Jesus. He is your source. Here is a novel idea for all of us when we are facing adversity, bad habits, or just blatant sin, why not take it to Jesus because He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith? 

2. Look to His Word. We all say that we believe the Bible is God’s Word. We say it is relevant in 2022 for whatever we are facing. We say and declare every need I have is answered in the Word of God. Yet we do not go to it very often. James 1:22&25 (NKJV) “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

3. Be disciplined. Let’s face reality…we don’t lose weight or get in shape because we are not disciplined. We want the easy way. Take a pill and chill. Sadly, it does not happen like that. Maybe temporary help. You will not lay aside the weight or the sin that entangles you unless you are disciplined enough to go to Jesus in prayer and to His Word that brings freedom. We want blessings but no correction…no instruction. Even when leadership tries to correct someone, their families rescue them from those mean pastors. For the LORD disciplines those he loves. Come on, Life Church, let’s lose some weight!

I hope and pray all of you had a wonderful Christmas...

 ...celebrating Jesus and enjoying family. Today I want us to look at the day after the birth of Christ for Joseph and Mary. Luke 2:7 (NKJV) “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” As I meditated on this beautiful story and was trying to look ahead to what was happening on our church calendar, I noticed this Sunday was the day after Christmas. How profound! All of you who have ever had children will be able to relate to the things that I will share. Joseph and Mary, I am sure had wonderful mixed emotions about this Christ child.

1. Imagine Joseph and Mary gazing into the face of Jesus. I have said for years that it is hard to understand the heart of God and His love for us until you have your own children. I started thinking about Jesus’ mom and dad gazing into His face and holding on to Jesus, and of course, my mind went to what we should be doing. What did David say was his one thing he wanted to do? Psalm 27:4-8 (NIV) “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Joseph and Mary and David had a common desire that should be in every one of our hearts. To spend time with Jesus and to gaze upon His beauty. 

2. Imagine Joseph and Mary thinking about Jesus’ future. It is virtually impossible when you have a child to not think about what that child’s future will be. I remember Jeremy and Joshua’s births being so traumatic and thinking God had a great plan. I think about Stephanie being born literally as Tricia was laughing and just imaging what joy she was going to bring into the lives of many. Our minds and hearts were racing with thoughts. With everything spoken to Joseph and Mary, what would be the future of Jesus? A sword will pierce my own soul. I am sure she had such mixed emotions…extreme joy and apprehensive sadness.

3. Joseph and Mary probably started remembering the ancient prophecies of the Messiah. (The Word) Isaiah 53:5-6 (NKJV) “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)  “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  We need to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, we need to think about our future with Jesus, and we need to remember all the prophecies about Jesus. He is coming again. 

In Luke 2:36-40 (NIV) “There was also a prophetess,...

 Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” As I began to look at the new year I was very aware that it is Christmas time and keenly aware that we will be challenging you to fast with us Jan.1. 21 days.I felt that God wanted me to tie Christmas and fasting together.

We feel at the beginning of 2022…if we can give our first fruits to the Lord…the first of our prayer, the first of our time, the first of our passion, the first of all we are and hope to be, blessings will come! Also, I felt He spoke to me and said that our previous fasting, prayers, and persevering have accumulated before Him and He was about to reveal His great love and presence to us…Himself! 

1. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna had a dedication to God’s House...She never left the temple. 

Luke 2:37 (NIV) “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Church was not optional for her because she had a passion for God’s house. With everything being shaken that can be shaken...get to God’s house...His refuge for us! What could be more important than spending time with God?

2. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna made a choice to worship God night and day. Luke 2:37 (NIV) “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Just an observation: those who make the choice to worship God night and day, thru the bad and good, thru blessed times and rough times, those individuals have peace with God and experience Him more often!

3. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna fasted and prayed. Luke 2:37 (NIV) “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Your pastor and church leadership are admonishing you to join with us in fasting and praying beginning January 1. Could it be that 2022 will be your year! Our year! We are asking for 100% participation...we are asking for you to especially join with us starting Sunday January 2 for our Annual week of Prayer. We believe that as we are unified in this fasting and praying that God will reveal Jesus to us in a greater way. Isn’t that the purpose…Jesus to be revealed!