WHAT MAKES A CHURCH GREAT?

Winter in New England, it is only for those who are hearty in heart! However, when you look at all that is going on around our country, we are blessed. "Great is His faithfulness unto us."

This week I have been looking at what makes a church great: I want to give some concluding remarks of what makes a church great.

Marks that we need today:

#1. Faith - All churches should be faith churches! Today the church should be the example of faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." When the world is at its worst, the church (you and me) must be at our spiritual best. We must have faith in a living God, and faith is only developed as we continue in a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

#2. Dependability - A great church is made up of people who are dependable! I am blessed as your pastor, as I seek week after week people involved in ministry. People who are simply dependable to the ministries that God has given to them. I want to thank all the workers who make our church great! You are appreciated and loved by your pastor.

#3. Responsibility - A great church is filled with people who are participators and not spectators. A great church is a church where every one is responsible for carrying out the Great Commission!

#4. Evangelism - A great church is a church that has a heart for people who need the Lord Jesus Christ! Our goal is to reach, teach and keep people for the Lord Jesus Christ. A great church is a church that is going to the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ!

These are some qualities that I love and appreciate about our church! We have not arrived, but we are in the process of becoming the great church that God desires for us!

WHAT MAKES A CHURCH GREAT - #4

I have been sharing some marks of what it takes for the church to be great! This is not just referring to our church only, but that there are many churches that are in our area that are building the kingdom of God. Every Thursday morning, I meet with a number of pastors, from Bible believing churches in our area. I look forward to our times of discussion, fellowship and praying one for another.

Another mark of a great church is - UNITY AND COMMUNITY! As believers our community needs to see the church as UNITED. Unity does not mean uniformity! What did Jesus pray for His people in John 17? He prayed that we would be one as He is one with the Father. The world does not need to see a church that is divided! Jesus said, "They will know we are Christians by our love."

Another mark of a great church is - HOLINESS. The lives of Christians should be different than those who are in the world, not because of legalism, rules, regulations, but because of our relationship with Jesus. God's Word tells us - "To come out from the world and be separate from the world.

Let us continue to be a great people and a great church!

WHAT MAKES A CHURCH GREAT - #3

What makes a church great in God's eyes?? What are the qualities that are needed for the church to truly be the light of their world, and the salt of the earth? How can we make a real impact on the greater Attleboro area?

Over the last few days, we have looked at some of the marks that will make our church great. We have looked at Lifting up the name of Jesus, Knowing and Living the Word of God in our daily lives, praise and worship, and prayer.

Another mark of a great church is: CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE WITH COMPASSION. Christians must become involved in the needs of people! It is not enough to connect with God, if we are not connecting with people. The church must be involved, connected to one another, so that we can connect with our community and world. Christians must use their gifts, talents, skills for the benefit of others. I am thankful for the many ways that we reach out to people locally and around the world. This must become a priority for every Christian!

I read in the newspaper this morning that over 1000 people lost their jobs last month in the Attleboro area. We must find ways to connect with people, and let them see compassion from the church. I will be talking with our staff on how we can connect with people who are in need.

We must never forget our purpose: "To help people connect with God, with one another, so that we can connect with our world."

I am thankful that God is using us to impact this area!

WHAT MAKES A CHURCH GREAT - #2

I have been looking at some of the marks of a great church, and praying that we will continue to grow and be the best that God wants us to be as a church family! When I think about greatness, this has nothing to do with how the world considers something great! Are we a great church in God's eyes?

Yesterday, I gave 2 marks of a great church. 1. Jesus must be lifted up in the church. 2. The Word of God is the foundation of the church.

Another mark of a great church is PRAYER. How can a church be great if they are not in communication with the one who gives life, power, and creativity to the church. Prayer must become a greater emphasis in our personal lives as well as our church life. Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer." Prayer cannot be delegated to a few people who pray, but should be the center part of every life, every service, every ministry! Lord, help us to be a church of prayer!

Another mark of a great church is PRAISE AND WORSHIP. Praise and Worship is more than music, songs, choirs, performances. We do not praise and worship to show off our talents, but to lift up the name of Jesus! Praise and worship is not a spectator sport, but something that brings us into relationship with God Himself. God's Word tells us - "God is enthroned in the praises of His people." God's Word also tells us - "We enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise."

Let us contine to be great in God's eyes!!

WHAT MAKES A CHURCH GREAT?

I was blessed yesterday, as I met many visitors and newer people attending our church. I want our church to be great, so that people will desire to come to our services, come to a personal relationship with Christ, grow and become true disciples of Christ, and to become involved in ministry.

I was readying an article by Ken Horn, and he was giving some qualities of a great Church, and I wanted to mentioned and add to the ones he stated!

Quality #1 - JESUS
If a church, is really going to be great! They must lift up the Name of Jesus!
The church is not about a pastor, programs, positions, but about Jesus! As we lift Him up, He will draw all people to Jesus! John 3:30 - "He must increase, and we must decrease." My prayer is that we will lift up Jesus in our church, more than ever before."

Quality #2 - THE WORD OF GOD
Another quality of a great church is that they are going to be a Church of the Word of God! The Word of God is needed in the church today! See 2 Timothy 3: 14-17.
People need to have a desire for the truth of God's Word! More than just hearing the Word of God, we need to be doers of the Word if we want to see the victory that Christ has promised to His children! I want you to know that as your pastor, we will preach the Word, and encourage you to obey the Word of God. (Psalm 119:11)

I have listed two qualities of a great church, and I know that we are becoming great because of lifting up Jesus, and pointing everything to the Word of God!

Check back tomorrow as I continue this thought of what makes a church great!

A GREAT DAY!

I am so thankful for God's presence that was evident in the services this morning! It felt so good to be together as the family of God, after three weeks of snow! The services were well attended, and the second service was so crowded that the ushers were looking for seats!

I want to thank Pastor Mike and the youth who did a tremendous human video and it was received by the congregation! Thank you for loving and accepting various methods of ministry!

It was a great day!

SUNDAY, SUNDAY

Can you believe that there is no snow in the forcast for tomorrow! It seems like that last 3 weeks, the weather has kept so many people home! I look forward to our time together tomorrow!

I will be preaching on King of the Hill #3, and how God is looking for us to let Him be the King of our lives.

I was reading in one of my devotions this morning and it dealt with being a disciple of Jesus, or allowing Him to the be the King of our Hill. The word DISCIPLE means - "Being an apprentice to someone." We see this in the life of the disciples, that when Jesus called them to follow Him, they left everything to be a follower of Jesus. The disciples left or sacrificed everything (home, comfort, money, jobs) to be a follower, apprentice or disciple of Jesus.

In 2009, we have this same call to follow Jesus. Are we really willing to make Jesus the King of our Hill?

Read the following words of a young pastor from Zimbabwe, Africa, who was martyred for being a follower of Jesus Christ.

"The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made - I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, depend on His presence, walk by patience, and uplifted by prayer and labor with power."

That's what it means to make Jesus King of the Hill!

STRENGTH FOR TODAY

Last night, I spoke on developing our spiritual game plan for life. How we need to develop a more practical prayer life. There are 10 steps to a real game plan, and I talked about we need to prepare ourselves and to wait on God. I had us get out Bibles and find a place in the sanctuary and read Isaiah 40, and then allow God to speak to us from His Word. There were come great insights that God gave to us.

Isaiah 40 talks to us right where we are today as a nation! Let us remember who the God of the Bible is, and that those who wait on the Lord shall renew their hope!

I want to encourage you to come out next Wednesday as I share about the next steps in developing our spiritual game plan!

God wants to give us His strength day by day!

Now The Work Begins

Yesterday was a day of great change as a nation! Now the ceremonies, the parties and the parade is over. Now the work begins! As a nation, we need to come together and work together if we are going to see lasting change take place in America!

Life today, offers some very great challenges to us as individuals and as a nation. Jesus said in John 10:10 - "I have come that you might have abundant life, or life to the full." But how many times does that seem unobtainable in real life.

Psalm 37 - gives us some principles to living life to its fullest:

1. Psalm 37:3 - "Trust in the Lord."

We need to know in whom we trust! I will pray for our president and all the new cabinet members that God will bless them and give them wisdom. However, we must realize that our trust cannot be in man! Man is going to fail us! No man can live up to the expectations that we have placed on him! Psalm 40:4 - "Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust."

2. Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord."

As a child of God, we need to delight ourself in the Lord! This is referring to relationship with the Lord! How is your relationship with Him today? Are we still in love with Jesus? Are we allowing Him to love us in return?

3. Psalm 37:5 - "Commit your way to the Lord."

Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

When I give my life, my plans, my agenda to the Lord and allow His will to be done in my life! That is when success will happen!

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Doing things His way is always the best way!

4. Psalm 37:7 - "Be still before the Lord."

When we doing the first three, we can learn to quiet ourselves before the Lord. We can learn to slow down and know that God is working even when we cannot see Him working! Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."

No matter what is going on around us - if we will do these 4 things, we can experience abundant life!

A Historical Day In America

In a few hours, we will see the transition of power from President Bush to President Obama. I cannot even imagine the feelings that must be going through our 44th President. However, I know that the Word of God tells us to do, and that is to pray for our leaders.

Romans 13:1 - "There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." 1 Timothy 2: 1-3 - Reminds us that we are to pray for our leaders that are over us. This is not only a personal assignment, but a church assignment as well, to intercede for our President Obama, Vice-President Biden, and all the new leaders in our nation.

What can we pray for our new president?

1. Pray that President Obama and his family will be protected as he assumes the office of President today. Pray for his marriage and for his two girls, that they will remain strong.

2. Pray that our new president that he will be blessed with wisdom and discernment that will further advance the Lord's righteous ways in our country. Proverbs 14:34 tells us, "righteousness exalts a nation."

3. Pray that President Obama will have supernatural insight and favor in finding solutions and answers to the very difficult situations in our nation and around the world!

4. Pray for continued racial healing, reconciliation and love for all people in our country.

I am thankful that when we obey God's Word, that God will work out all things for His honor and glory!

DOING WHAT IT TAKES!

Doing what it takes!! Success in all areas of life always comes with a price! Very few people just fall into success, or blessing. It takes great effort, work and go old blood, sweat and tears. This not only works in the natural world, but in our Christian walk as well!

Sometimes we want things to come without any effort on our part. How many people want life to be easy!

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, here is one of his quotes, concering doing what it takes. "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, "There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

So many times we look for short cuts, and many times we need to keep on doing what it takes to see the breakthrough!

Before Paul wrote: "I have finished my course," he wrote: "I have worked harder, been put in jail ofterner, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again, and again."

Go ahead, measure yourself by this standard! Then ask yourself "Am I willing to do what it takes????"

WORRY OR NOT HERE I COME!

Worry is something that can become a part of our everyday life! Before long, it overtakes our lives! There are some people who are worry warts!

God's Word tells us - 1 Peter 5:7 NLT - "Give...your worries...to God." Matthew 6:24 TM - tells us - "Don't get worked up about what may...happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever...comes up." Someone said it this way - "Worry does not rid tomorrow of its sorrows, it just robs today of its joy.

I heard the following story and I hope it blesses you. There was a salesman who usually drove an old car and wore outdated clothes. He turned up in the office one day in a designer suit, driving a BMW." They asked him, "What happened?" He replied: "Remember how I used to worry about everything?" "Well I hired a team of professional worriers; now I tell them my problems an dthey do all my worrying while I go out and sell cars." "How much do they charge?" "$5,000.00 a week," he replied. "How can you afford that?" Smiling he replied, "That's their worry, not mine."

How many of us would like some to handle all your worries? Let me encourage you, YOU DO, His name is Jesus! He will give us today's strength for today's needs! Let me encourage you to "Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you."

KEEPING WATCH OVER ME!

I am so thankful that no matter what is going on in our lives, someone is watching over me! I am not talking about Big Brother watching over me! This morning in these uncertain times, God's Word tells me that He is watching over ME! What encouraging words!

Proverbs 15:3 - "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." God is watching over our lives! Right now, many people feel overwhelmed with life. When we feel this way, we begin to feel disconnected to our Heavenly Father. I want to encourage you that God is watching over your life! He sees everything you are going through and facing in your life. God knows where you are right now, and He knows how to get you to where you need to go, and He knows how to provide for His children.

All God asks is that you stay in faith and obedience to His Word that says, "I have been young and I have been old, but I have never seend the righteous forsaken or thier children begging bread. God is keeping watch and will make a way for those who live by faith and not by sight!

I also want to encourage you to pray for our new President, Barack Obama who will assume office this coming week. Let us pray for him to walk in God's ways, and that he will experience God's wisdom as he leads our nation!

A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN A NEGATIVE ECONOMY

In talking with a lot of people, the economy is not very good! Many people are losing thier jobs, losing their life savings, losing thier homes, and it a very painful time in our world! I am thankful for God's Word that encourages us with these words - "I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging bread." God has a way of coming through for His people, when we walk in faith and obedience to His Word!

I read something from Bob Buford who wrote an article on "How God Can Work In The Midst Of Economic Crisis." I will give you some of his points:

1. Adversity causes people to reevaluate what is really important in thier lives.

2. Distress re-centers people of issues of the heart rather than issues of rationality. When you are in trouble, we have a tendency to go back to the basics.

3. Sustaining a big loss causes people to deal with reality, and to make us realize that we are not reall in control! (That is why we need to make Jesus the King of our hill!)

4. Where there is abundance, there is a lack of discipline. When we have everything we really do not need constraint, discipline in many areas of life. When money is tight, it causes us to make choices and have discipline in many areas of our lives. Difficult times make us make a choice between FAITH or FEAR!

At age 33, Andrew Carnegie resolved to liquidate his interests in order to serve other people. Ultimately it didn't happen until he was in his fifties when he established Carnegie Hall and the public library system among other things, disposing of 90% of his wealth in his lifetime. He said, "Man must have an idol - the amassing of wealth is one of the worst species of idolatry. No idol more debasing than the worship of money. Whatever I engage in, I must push inordinately, therefore I should be careful to choose that life which will be the most elevating in its character. To continue much longer overwhelmed by business cares and with most of my thoughts wholly upon the way to make more money in the shortest time, must degrade me beyond the hope of permanent recovery."

We all have a choice to make in this difficult economy? Will we walk by faith or fear?

KNOCK, KNOCK WHOSE THERE?

This morning as I stepped outside to feel the cold breezes, it made me think about what is coming the next couple of days! These are good days, to spend inside and get some reading and studying done!

One of the games that Madison (my granddaughter) and I play is Knock, Knock, whose there. That is a cute little game that we can play with children, and they enjoy it so very much! In our spiritual life, we also go through times when we have to knock, Knock and what happens next? We feel that God has deserted us or forgotten about us.

In Luke 11: 9-10 New Living Translation
"And so I tell you, KEEP ON ASKING, and you will be given what you ask for. KEEP ON LOOKING, and you will find. KEEP ON KNOCKING, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door will be opened to everyone who knocks. (keeps knocking)"

Think about it this way: How many of us give up too soon? We get discouraged and give up just before the door is opened. What if the children of Israel only walked about Jericho - 6 times instead of 7? What if Peter did not step out of the boat?

The blessings of God are really the results of ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING!!! I want to encourage you to keep on Knocking and see what God will do in your life!

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

I was reading in my devotions this morning in Luke - "Nothing is impossible for God." Everyone of us is on a mission from the Lord, and that it is impossible in our own strength! But nothing is impossible with God.

I have only been in the office this morning for a short time, and have dealt with two impossible situations in the natural. Unless the Lord shows up in these two situations then they are doomed to failure. I am asking the Lord to give us FAITH TO BELEIVE THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!

How can we have more faith in 2009?

1. The only time we really need FAITH, is when we are facing overwhelming problems or impossible situations!

2. When we are faced with impossible situations, I must make a choice to either question or doubt God, quit in discouragment and frustration, complain and whine, or I CAN CONFESS MY FAITH IN GOD!

3. Living in faith is different then living by sight. I need to get God's perspective on my challenges (not problems).

4. Stop living a life of self-pity and begin to live daily in faith.

5. Start declaring the promises of God through His Word.

If you are facing a Mission Impossible Situation, today remember that Nothing is Impossible for God.

EVERYTHING LOOKS DIFFERENT!

As I sit in my office this morning reading God's Word and praying, and asking the Lord for more of His presence in my life. I see the beauty of God's creation, and even though I do not like the snow and cold, it really is beautiful and makes everything look different! Instead of blacktop all you see is a white parking lot. The snow maks everything look differently!

I was thinking about how we see things in the church as well. I would like to ask every person to invite at least one friend to church this coming year! Why????? When you invite someone to church, you view things through different lenses.

When we invite people we are going to ask different questions:
- Has anyone welcomed them to church?
- Do they understand what is going on in the service?
- If they have children: are their children being loved and cared for?
- Are they feeling at home and cared for in our church?
- Was it easy for them to find things in the church?
- Were they able to connect with Jesus?

If a person never brings a person to church with them, they begin to think more about themselves when they come to church. We begin to ask other questions:
- Did I like worship today?
- Did anyone say hi to me today?
- Was I fed by the message today?
- Is anyone sitting in my seat today or parking in my spot?
- Did I like the music today?
- How did I enjoy the message today?

It is so easy for church to become about ME! In reality, church is all about God and reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! So, can I encourage you to do something for your own spiritual life this year - invite a friend to come to church with you!

Just a thought!

SNOWY SUNDAYS IN NEW ENGLAND!

This morning as I came to church and the snow was falling, and it was still dark and quiet. The parking lot was being plowed and our janitors were shoveling the snow. We need to thank Dean and Joe for their faithfulness in preparing everything for us to have church. It is more than a job to them, it is a real ministry. I appreciate these men!

I knew that many would not be able to come out this morning, or people just decided to stay home. As I thought about the service, and I am so glad that I did not cancel the service. As people we asked to sit close together and there was a sweet spirit in God's House today! People were touched by the presence of Jesus! God is faithful to move even on Snowy Sundays in New England!

PEOPLE OF PRESENCE

During this week of prayer our focus has been on "Getting To Know God!" That is a life long pursuit. I desire to know Him better as we begin this new year! The old song says it this way - "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He gets." I want that to be true in my life, the older that I get! I want His presence in my life!!!

Yesterday, I went to a prayer meeting for our District, and Glen Harvision led the devotional time, and gave some wonderful insight into the praying church. He stated that there are three things that Moses prayed for and we should be praying for every day over our own personal lives, families, and our church.

His text was Exodus 33 and I encourage each of us to pray these three things every day!

#1. Pray that God will makes us PEOPLE OF DIVINE PURPOSE!

So many times we become people of our own purpose, plans and agendas. God has a plan and purpose for every single one of our lives! God created us with a Divine Purpose! "I know the plans I have for you says, the Lord. Plans to do you good and not harm to give you a hope and a future."
Lord, help us to be willing to do Your will!
Lord, help me to be your man in the Attleboro area! Help our church to be all that You want it to be in this area!
Let us live out His eternal purposes in our daily lives!
Lord, send revival today!
Lord, use me today!!!

#2. Pray that God will make us PEOPLE OF DIVINE STRATEGIES!

Moses prayed in Exodus 33 - "Teach me your ways..."
Moses had no idea where God was leading him!
He needed God's direction!

Today we need God's guidance, direction and leading in our lives, families and our church!
Not the strategies of man, business or the world, but Divine Strategies. If we want supernatural results then we need God's strageties.
God's ways are so different than our ways!

Glen stated this - "Unless God shows up in our churches, and shows off in our churches we are doomed!" I say amen!!

#3. Pray that we will be PEOPLE OF INCREASING PRESENCE OF GOD!

Moses prayed - "Now show me your glory."

Moses was a man that saw God write the 10 Commandments on the Stone, he saw the burning bush, and he prays - "Show me your glory."
THERE IS ALWAYS MORE OF GOD!
WE CAN ALWAYS GET TO KNOW GOD MORE AND MORE!

I want to be a person of the presence of God!

DAY OF PRAYER

I will be leaving in a few minutes to go to Sturbridge for a Day of Prayer with other pastors from our District. I wanted to let you know that prayer still changes us, and the situations that encompass our lives.

Last night, we prayed for our unsaved family members. I gave a homework assignment to write down the names of everyone of your unsaved family members. In the service last night, we called the number of unsaved family members and from the group that was there last night, there were over 835 family members that we prayed for. Think about that number of people who need a personal relationship with Jesus. I am believing that in 2009 this will be a year of families coming to Jesus.

We will continue this tonight at our prayer meeting and I will give the other things to pray for our unsaved loved ones!

I am so appreciative of those coming out each night to be a spiritual friend to others!

I am off, and may God bless your family members with the knowledge of His will, and the willingness to obey His Will. God's will is simply - "He is not willing that any should perish."

Thoughts On Evangelism

I am thankful for God's presence during our prayer meeting last night. I commented that on Thursday and Friday nights we will be sharing and praying on ways to pray for our unsaved loved ones, family and friends.

2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord...does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

This morning we had our meeting with one of the town selectmen from the town I live in and we had 6 pastors and we sat around talking about ways that the church, and Christians can bless our community. We talked for about an hour, and the selectmen was deeply touched by what the churches want to do to help in our community. He kept saying this does not happen today! Please pray that as we come up with projects in our community that the church will be an army that makes a difference in this area.

Secondly, last night I gave us a homework assignment for the next two nights. I asked everyone to write down the names of just thier family members that are not saved, or serving the Lord, and bring that list with them tonight and Friday night.
I am thankful that many of my immediate family serve the Lord. But as I began to list their names on paper, I came up with 71 family members that are not serving the Lord. I was overwhelmed with how many people in my family who need a relationsihp with Jesus!!! When I think about that number of people, and if they were saved that would be more people, then attend the average church in America. Lord, please save me family members!

Let us come tonight ready to do Spiritual Intervention on behalf of our family members. As the old song says - "People need the Lord!"

KING OF THE HILL

When you live in New England you never know what the weather is going to be like. If you do not like it just wait a little while and it will change. We have seen it all since last night! I am encourage to know that the days are getting longer and that spring is right around the corner! (It might be a long corner, but it is around the corner.

This coming Sunday, I will start a new series for the next three weeks that I am calling KING OF THE HILL. How many remember that game growing up? It was especially fun after a large snowfall and we would build a large mound of snow and then play king of the hill. Being competitive and all I would do everything to be the King of the Hill!

In real life many times, we go from playing King of the Hill to Living King of the Hill. We think that we need to do everything to be the King of our Lives. Then when we read Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these other things shall be added unto you." It goes in the face of that KING OF THE HILL attitude that is rampant among Americans. Jesus is saying - if you really want to be blessed then make Me the King of your hill.

A scripture that we have been using this week in our week of prayer is 2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people which are called by my name.." (We need to turn from SELF PROMOTION - TO - GOD PROMOTION) "Will humble themselves and pray..." (We need to turn from SELF-RELIANCE - TO - GOD-RELIANCE). "And seek My face..." (We must turn from SELF-DIRECTION - TO - GOD-DIRECTION). "And turn from their wicked ways..." (We must turn from SELF-INDULGENCE - TO - SELF-EXAMINATION) Then God will forgive us of our sins and heal our land.

If we really want to see Revival then we need to make Him KING OF THE HILL!

WANTED!

I was encouraged last night by the presence of the Lord in our prayer meeting, and look forward to what God is going to do in us and through us as we continue to seek Him.

There is a lot of talk today about what the church should become. Some want the church to be PURPOSE DRIVEN, others would like to see the church PROGRAM DRIVEN, some would like to see the church POLICY DRIVEN, others would like to see the church PEOPLE DRIVEN, but my prayer is that South Attleboro will be a church that is PRESENCE DRIVEN BY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! If we do not have His presence in our church, services, meetings, programs, then we really do not have His Church, His Heart and His purpose for the church!

I was reading an article by EM Bounds and he stated the following: "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can us - men (women) of prayer, men (women) might in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but men(women. He does not come on manchinery, but on men (women). He does not anoint plans, but men (women). Men (women) of prayer!!!

I look forward to seeing you tonight as we continue our week of prayer and seeking Him!

WANTED - men and women of prayer!!!!

WANTED!

Monday Morning

Monday mornings seem to be little hard after Sunday, especially yesterday after being sick all day, and unable to eat. I am really weak today, but rest in God's promise that says when we are weak then He is strong.

I look forward to our week of prayer and believe that as we get to know God better, things will dramatically change in our lives, homes, church and in our communities.

Acts 4:31 - "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

Do we really want to experience revival in our lives? Do we really want to see our personal life and family changed? Would you like to see the blessing of God on your life? Do we really want to see many people come to Christ in 09? Do we really want to see people who are bound be set free? Do we really want a closer walk with the Lord?

We should all want to answer YES! If you would read Acts 4 - and look at the prayer that Peter and John prayed, which brought supernatural results.

Look at some of the characteristics of their prayer:

ASSERTIVE PRAYER - "So when they heard that, they raised their voices to God." (vs.24). Prayer must become more than something is passive, and we must become assertive in our prayer. Sometimes we have to raise our voices - so that we break through our own intimidations.

AGREEING PRAYER - "...they raised their voices to God in one accord." (vs.24) Discord, division, and hidden attitudes towards others will limit our effectiveness in prayer, but loving unity will bring God's power. (Matthew 18: 15-20)

HUMBLE PRAYER - "...and they said, Lord You are God..." (vs. 24) Humility is the quality that is needed that recognizes that God is greater than anything that touches our lives. Humility is realizing that we need God's Help in our lives!

TRANSFORMATION PRAYER - "Now Lord, grant to your servants." (v. 29) When they prayed in difficult circumstances they believed that God would turn things around. When we pray we need to believe that God will turn things around in our lives as well! (Romans 8:28)

Will you join me this week in our Week of Prayer! Let us gather and follow the example of Peter and John and pray with purpose, unity and humility! Let us believe that God is going to turn things around in our lives, homes, church and in our communities!

Hope to see you this week!

Thankful for God's Healing Touch

I just want to give you a praise report from this morning! After communion when we were praying with people, a young man came to me and wanted to talk. He gave me part of his story and that he has been going to AA because of drugs and alcohol. He stated to me that he was clean now and that he prays to his higher power. I was able to share Jesus with Him and that Jesus is the REAL HIGHER POWER and that Jesus wants a real relationship with him. I was able to pray with him and lead him to Jesus!

We need to look at people with the same eyes of compassion just like Jesus!

This week let us be His hands extended to people that we come in contact with!

I look forward to seeing you at our week of prayer!

Living In God's Presence

As we begin 2009 we need to live in His presence on a daily basis. Psalm 16:8 - "I have set the Lord always before me." That really is a description of spiritual life. Think about it - God wants to do life with us.

When we realize that God is doing life with us it will produce the following benefits in our lives:

1. Reassurance - When I realize that God is with me I can walk through life knowing that God is with me and that I do not need to be afraid and fearful of the things that come my way in life. "I will never leave you nor forsake you." will become a reality in our lives.

2. Guidance - When I realize that God is with me, I can trust that He will guide me and give me the wisdom that I need to make right decisions. "The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord." If I walk with Him, He will direct me steps. I want His guidance in 2009!

3. Conviction of Sin - When I realize that God is with me, when I fail, mess up, sin, His presence will be there to convict me of my sin.

4. Joy - When I walk with the Lord on a daily basis it will produce joy. God's Word tells us - "In His presence there is fullness of joy."

My prayer is that we will live in God's presence in 2009! Let us start this by spending time with Him this week as we begin a week of prayer and fasting!

New Year - New Start

2009 is here and a New Year means a new start. Many people make New Year resolutions and it has been stated that only 27% of people will follow through with their resolutions. What goals are you making for 2009!

As a church family, I pray that one of my goals for this year is to become a better man of prayer! Prayer is something that needs to become a more vital part in each of our lives. Beginning this Sunday we will begin a week of prayer and fasting. We will gather together every night, and I will share some practical principles of prayer and then we will spend time each night in prayer!

My goal for this week, is that it will be the impetus for a year of prayer and fasting in our church! Nothing will happen unless we become a House of Prayer!

Let us make it our goal in 2009 - TO KNOW GOD!!!