Good morning everyone. As I sat down to prepare this message, the questions presented here came from my self assessment of how I’m living and what I’m projecting. I hope you get something out of me digging deep within me and backing things up with scripture.
TODAY’S PRAYER
(This is a pray from my heart. I hope you can make it your pray)
Dear heavenly Father, who created mankind in your image, you sure made a colorful world of people! As I stop and watch and reflect on the people I see, I notice how everyone is unique. Sometimes I’m frustrated by others’ personalities and actions; other times I’m blessed; still other times I’m amused. The fact is, though we were made in your image, you gave us each a will of our own and instilled different gifts, personalities, and potential within us. How boring it would be if we were all just alike! The “spice” of life is made up of all those different people, with different ideas, and various contributions. Thank you for caring enough that we are not your puppets, but are unique individuals, each called to fill special places in your great plan for our lives. I pray that you will keep my eyes open, my mind alert, and my will in tune so that I will use all you have given me–gifts, personality, skills, desires–to the best of my ability, for the edification of the saints, reaching the lost, and glorifying you. Please forgive my past failures and empower me today for all you want to do through me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
REFLECTING GOD’S GLORY
They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom. – Psalm 145:11-12
Here are the questions of the day. How do you measure your effectiveness in God, or should we even be thinking like this? The early Church turned the world upside down in that first century. What made them so effective? Was it their theology? Was it great preaching? Was it due to one man’s influence apart from Jesus?
The Scriptures are clear as to what made the early Church effective. It’s at the core of God’s heart, and it is quite simple. God desires to reflect His nature and power through every individual. When this happens, the world is automatically changed because those who reflect His glory affect the world.
We serve a jealous God. He is a God who will not share His glory with anyone. God sets up situations in order to demonstrate His power through them. He has done this since the day He created man. His desire is to reflect His glory through you and me, so that all men may know of His mighty acts and the glorious splendor of His Kingdom.
Apostle Paul understood this principle: “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). I love this scripture because it reminds us that no man is to be put ahead of God and His word.
If you don’t see His glory being reflected through your life, then you need to ask why. He has promised to do so if we will walk in obedience to His commands.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The church that is man-managed instead of God-governed is doomed to failure. A ministry that is college-trained but not Spirit-filled works no miracles.”
Samuel Chadwick
WITH HOPE AND FAITH; follow us on the foundation community site: http://facebook.com/therelationshipfactory
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION & THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY