Truly these are the greatest days to be alive!

The world seems to be falling apart around us, immorality is increasing and people are searching for answers in the wrong places. As the church, we have the answer, Jesus! We are faced with a challenge to change the world around us. We must have an influence on the world not the world on the church.

Paul said in Ephesians 5:11, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them,"

The only way for the church to expose the light is to shine the light into the darkness. We must stop hiding from the problems facing America and the church. The church was never meant to be isolated from the world but rather to be a part of changing the world. Didn’t Jesus say to go into all the world to preach the good news? We hide in our prayer closet praying and waiting for God to bring them to us. We must compel them to come in. There is no way we can bind the devil unless we invade his territory. Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." The gates of Hell have prevailed against the church in America because we have stopped proclaiming the Word of God to the world. The only way to conquer the devil’s influence on the world and the church is by presenting the truth of God’s Word to a lost and dying world. Only through the Word of God and a touch from his Spirit can this world be changed. We need to pray, but we also have to step outside of the church and take the gospel to our communities. I look forward to the day when the church is what God intended it to be, as seen in the Book of Acts. That whole communities will be saved. You say those things could never happen; it already has. Acts 9:34-35 shows that Peter, through the power of God, healed a man, and when the people of the community saw it, they were changed.

"So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord." (Acts 9:35)

We all want signs and wonders, but we don’t want the price that must be paid. To see signs and wonders we have to evangelize. The major problem in the church today is that we have lost our passion for souls. We need to win the lost at any cost. I challenge you; be a light to someone in darkness.

Keith Green has a song that says:
Oh Lord Please Light the Fire
That Once Burned Bright and Clear
Replace the Lamp of My First Love
That Burns With Holy Fear

We should let this be our prayer. I propose the question to you; how is your fire? Does it burn bright and clear?

Revelation 2:4 says, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

In the rigors of life, our light begins to dim. The passion and fire that once burned so intensely is now little more than a flicker. It is called the road to complacency. This is where we travel down life’s highway but fail to refuel daily. Before you know it, you are out of fuel and burned out.

Complacency is more than just not being active, it is an attitude. An Attitude of Contentment! Recently, I had to replace a light fixture in our house. The old light lit up the room very well and the new one does not put off as much light. The first couple of days, there was a noticeable difference, but now we have become used to the light. The light has not gotten any brighter, but we have adjusted to it. It is the same way in our spiritual lives. Once we have allowed complacency to set in, we no longer feel the difference because we become accustomed to it.

I challenge you today to look back over your life. See if the flame has become dim and pray as the song said, "Replace the lamp of my first love that burns with Holy Fear."

Did you realize that Jesus has already paid the price for our victory?

Through His blood that was shed on the Cross, the battle with Satan was won. Now I know that the devil is real and that he goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but when we call upon the name of Jesus, we find hope and help. The devil gets too much credit from believers, today. We act like he is more powerful than God.

Jesus said in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Did you notice Jesus said, "over all power of the enemy”? Satan does desire to sift us as wheat, yet if we will keep our guards up and not allow sin to creep into our hearts, we can obtain complete victory. I don’t like to see Christians walking around without joy. I like to see people happy, excited about life.

The Christian life was never meant to be a somber time of serving God but rather a time of rejoicing. Now, trials do come and hard times help build our relationship with God, but James told us to "rejoice when fiery trials come upon us." This is hard to do. If you will remember that God is allowing this time for you to grow close to Him, you will see it in a whole new perspective.

The devil wants you to fall back away from God, but Jesus said you have all power over the enemy. Exercise that authority. How? You don’t have to yell and scream at the devil, but just boldly declare, "I am going to serve God and take every circumstance that comes as a means of growing in God, and I choose to be joyous."

Before I close, I remember talking with someone, a few years ago, that always would say the devil did this, and the devil did that. One statement He said struck me as humorous. He said, "The devil is out to get me; he made me break my arm when I fell off of the ladder." It would be interesting to note that the devil did not come and push him off of the ladder, rather it was clumsiness that made him fall off the ladder. Why credit the devil with everything.

The devil is real and he does cause things to happen in people’s lives, but he can do nothing without God’s permission. (See Job 1 and 2) Decide today to give God all the glory and stand up against the schemes of the devil. Put on your armor and stand your ground because Satan was defeated 2,000 years ago.

Here is Sunday’s message:

I was out of town all day to conduct a funeral.  Because Sonya loves me, I come home to find out that she went to happy hour for me and I had 2 Route 44 Teas waiting for me.  That is what I call love!

It is as if a piece of me is dying.  For several months my faithful companion has been on the blink.  For no reason, at important moments, my blackberry just shuts down.  No warning…it just leaves me stranded.  It is on its last leg and pretty soon, I will have to let it go. 

I try to imagine life without it.  I am dependent on it because it hosts my schedule, address book, to-do list and sermon ideas.  It is my second-hand man, my associate pastor so to say.  AT&T now requires users to pay for internet service in order to buy a new blackberry.  They have us Crackberry addicts over the barrel.  I am a last hold out.  It is principle!  They have taken away my rights and I will not give in.  Months ago, I switched back to an ordinary phone.  Within three days, I put my old, beat-up blackberry back in action.

I know there are many other things to be sad about but…this little device has saved me from the embarrassment of missing appointments and even church (just kidding).  It is not the end of the world but perhaps I will take the franklin covey planner out of my desk.  That sounds pretty old school. 

Just wanted to share my heart  here.  I know there are many other world events that are more important.  Just needed to communicate this sad detail of my life. 

Well at least there is some good news to cheer me up.   Hannah turns four tomorrow!  What a great blessing to our lives she has been.

A soul lost in Hell…or a scratch on your new car?

Your missing the worship service…or missing a day’s work?

A sermon 10 minutes too long…or lunch half hour late?

A church not growing…or your garden not growing?

Your Bible unopened…or your newspaper unread?

The church work being neglected…or housework neglected?

Missing a good Bible study…or your favorite TV program?

The millions who do not know Christ…or your inability to keep up with the neighbors?

The cry of the multitude for bread…or your desire for another piece of German chocolate cake?

Your tithes decreasing…or your income decreasing?

Your children late for Sunday school and Church…or late for public school?

Which really disturbs you most?

—The Bible Friend-