To let it “overflow” means that as believers, we need to spread this Hope by telling others about Jesus and showing them Jesus! The Good News is still the greatest Hope and it is also the power of God unto Salvation. What better Hope is there?
Prayer, fasting, praise, meditating on God’s word, reading God’s word, studying God’s word, listening to God’s word in preaching, going to church to seek God’s presence, serving at church, witnessing to someone about Jesus, talking to others about Jesus, living for Jesus, walking the walk and talking the talk, obeying God’s word (being a hearer and a doer), helping to hold others accountable to God’s word, serving God and all these for the Glory of God! Anything you do for the Lord and for His glory is an act of Worship. Simply put, all we “do” in worship is reach to have an encounter with the ONE who loves us. These disciplines create a sweet smelling “aroma” that is pleasing to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT) Throughout the O.T., every time an offering was made on the altar to God, it was said to be a sweet smelling aroma to Him, if it was done correctly and the way He had instructed. As Ephesians 5:1-2 expresses, in the New Testament, living a life patterned after the example of Christ is the source of the aroma. Being a “living sacrifice” (read Romans 12:1)
What worship is NOT. It is not feeling chill bumps, it is not the act of singing, it is not just attending church, it is not feeling good in a church service, it is not hearing your favorite song, it is not having a preacher preach you “happy” or make you feel better; as a matter of fact, it is not about our feelings at all! If we are not careful, we can reduce worship to saying: “Pastor, praise team, worship leader, help us FEEL IT, and when you do certain things to help us FEEL IT…keep doing that!” That, is not worship. The risk is beginning to believe we know HOW to do it…so we “DO THAT”. Here are the problems with that:
- The Pastor, praise team, worship leader or music are NOT the source of the “Aroma”.
- We cannot manufacture or manipulate the aroma.
The source of the Aroma is God. It is what He has done in us and what we have allowed Him to do through us that brings Him glory. When we begin to allow God to work in and through our lives unlike anyone or anything else. Reserving our mind, body, soul, and heart to HIM and HIM alone, then we are beginning to understand worship. (Read Exodus 30:32-33)
Easter is quickly approaching, and we are already celebrating as we prepare for what God is going to do this Advent season and what God IS doing. I am seeing evidence of the Lord working even as we have been preparing for growth as a church. There are some new things happening and there will be some new things tried as we ask the Lord to help us prepare for growth. One thing we want more than anything at Grace Family Fellowship, is for people to feel Jesus EVERYWHERE and see Jesus in EVERYTHING we do! We have been examining ourselves as a church to make sure our church is an Arena of Love, a place of Truth, a place of worship and a place of kindness. If someone wants to know why they should visit Grace Family Fellowship, I trust we can tell them: It is a Place where Jesus is seen Everywhere!
Everywhere I turn, I want to see, hear, and acknowledge the Lord. With a spirit of worship and obedience. I desire to please Him and make sure I’m placing Jesus on the throne of my life. That is His proper place, to be at the top of our life. He is to be the top priority! Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 that we are to “seek His kingdom and His righteousness first…”. I love that Jesus assured us in Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.” This means that as long as we set our hearts on seeking the LORD, He will be right there! In Jeremiah 29:13 the Lord said “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Where is the Lord? He is right there with you! We believe what the Word of the Lord says, and we have FAITH that He IS right there.
Look around and see the Risen Lord! He is ALIVE! He desires to be actively involved in your life! He desires to bring LIFE to your day! Jesus is destined to be the LORD of your life! That is His place – Every Place! That is His superpower, to be with you EVERYWHERE! His wisdom, His strength, His forgiveness, His covering, His power, His healing, His Grace, His Mercy, His Joy, His resources, His Love, His presence…Everywhere you go! PRAISE THE LORD! Look around and see the Lord. He is there! Are you seeking Him?
I will be the first to admit that I’m not the best natural leader. But I do know one thing, I want to lead Grace Family Fellowship to GROW. Together, with God’s help, we can! Numbers are important, and as a Pastor, they tend to be somewhat threatening. But numbers are souls, and out of those numbers comes the next leaders, ministers, testimonies, and kingdom warriors! Let’s set measurable goals with our leaders and believe God to favor us in 2024!
Here are two things that we are going to do. #1 Put Covid behind us. Covid is in the past and where we are today is the church we are now. #2 Move forward. We will only accept forward momentum and growth. Grace Family Fellowship is a living body with life, spirit and most importantly the Holy Spirit! We are a church made up of multiple generations, cultures, races, personalities and spiritual levels; and it is BEAUTIFUL! (Isaiah 54:10) No one thinks so more than God and I feel the same way! As a matter of fact, it is something to celebrate! Everyone is welcome at Grace Family Fellowship. God, we ask that people from the North, South, East and West of our area will bring their struggles, hurts, fears, troubles, talents, hunger, energy and families; to take their place in the Kingdom of God. “And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 13:29 Lives will be changed, workers will be trained, Saints of all ages will be encouraged, people will be healed, youth will be discipled, and children will hear of a REAL and LOVING FATHER GOD! May God help us make an impact in our communities and all of our members strive to be a light in the darkness! All of this with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We will have to work harder. We will have to try some new things. We will have to look for ways to better our church. And we will have to have the discernment from God. Let’s go into the highways and neighborhoods and compel them to come! The harvest is ripe and ready! Time is running out! Our God is with us every step of the way because we know we are doing His work. Believe for it.
I’ve issued a challenge: Let us all set a goal to invite and witness to 3 people this year. Don’t stop until 3 have visited and/or 3 have heard the Good News of the Gospel by your witness. This is not too much to ask because Jesus suffered and died for us. He rose from the dead so we could accomplish God’s purposes victoriously in His stead! God is going to help us GROW! God Receives Our Worship! God Rewards our Work! And God Raises Our Witness! GROW
A Refuge is a place of safety. A Refuge is a shelter where you can escape the storms. A Refuge is an impenetrable stronghold when the enemy threatens to attack. Jesus Christ is our Refuge! In this first half of 2024 we are continuing to Celebrate our Refuge and Purpose. Because within our Refuge, we are not just safe, sheltered and hidden…but we are also equipped, trained, and anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s Purpose! A Refuge Promise for New Year faith would sound something like this: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28) Within Christ our Refuge, we are protected from the cultural rot that is taking place everywhere in these last days. We can be protected from the curse of sin and assured of the forgiveness that is perfect in Christ! That means NO fear of Hell! No fear of death! No fear of Satan our enemy! And No fear of purposelessness within this REFUGE! Come on and Celebrate That 2024! Spread that Good News! Proclaim that message of hope to those lost in the putrid filth of our society! Please understand that Clean and Holy are attractive! Kind and godly are a treasured quality! Blessed and favored are valued! And all of this and much more are found within the halls of Faith – Hope & Love that is our Refuge = Jesus Christ!
Don’t miss-use His name! Don’t miss-represent His character! For those are disqualifying factors for Refuge residence. But keep your values and treasure aligned with the King of the Refuge and you will be Blessed in 2024 and into eternity! Let’s pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit this year. We know that is God’s will for us. And let’s pray for clearer ways to fulfill God’s Purposes as we come ready and willing to be equipped.
The Refuge has a mission statement. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10) And that Son of Man is a King! King of keeping promises. Let’s join Him in this mission.
The Refuge has a Promise from the King: “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3) Jesus is not absent from the Refuge…He is on divine assignment through us! And when that assignment is finished, He is going to pick us up to take us to our eternal home…A divine Home where He is the Light! Where He is the Life eternal! The Reward that never gets old! And brings with Him the final Victory! No more death! No more Pain! No more sickness or disease! No more sin! No more fear! No more enemy! My question is: if anyone believes in this promise…Could anyone NOT get on board and Celebrate?