ENCOURAGE

ENCOURAGE, The Greek word is “parakaleo”, which literally means "to call alongside." It suggests that an object or person is under pressure (fearful, weak, overwhelmed), and it means to strengthen by giving appropriate aid. Ancient Greek authors sometimes used it to describe military reinforcement in difficult times during battles.

And parallel to that description biblical encouragement suggests that Christians live under intense pressure--not just the normal pressures of everyday life in a broken world, but also the pressures of serving Christ in a spiritually hostile environment--and therefore need to be spiritually strengthened on a regular basis.

The bible repeatedly communicates that we should always encourage one another in God's Word/Truth and hope in ways that personally strengthen us to continue to follow God's will for our lives.

Jesus calls us to become communities where encouragement is not only a natural action but a mutual, common and equal give-and-take environment. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “. . . encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”—so we can not only strengthen each other but so we can become beacons of hope to those who have none.

Now it always seems to surprise people when I explain the fact that I wasn’t born a pastor…but it’s the honest truth. But when I did accept Christ and become one of His followers I had the opportunity to sit in many a pew and witness the “use and abuse” of church leadership.

And one thing I downloaded mentally was that too often we look at our pastors, teachers and other church leaders as if it’s solely their responsibility to always encourage us, the church and the community. The reality is that the Word clearly states that our pastors, teachers and leaders real responsibility is to equip the body so they too will become encouragers.

Ephesians 4:11-12 says,
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

NOT just because I now happen to pastor but because it’s a truth found in Gods Word, we need to understand like verse 11 says church leaders are actually “gifts” from Jesus Christ (I didn’t say it, God says it in His Word) and they need to be treated with respect not contempt, and they need to be encouraged just as much, if not more than other followers. A word of appreciation, encouragement and constant prayer are all great ways to encourage not only leadership but everyone around us.

I could go on forever but I need to close with this fact, “parakaleo” is also the term Jesus chose to describe the Holy Spirit in His coming to live in and minister through every Christian. So even when we feel as though we don’t have the strength or ability to be an encourager, the Holy Spirit living within us “comes alongside of us” to council, comfort and complete Gods mission and ministry through our lives. And if you’re wondering, that’s exactly how church leaders can be encouragers to everyone else even when they need encouragement themselves. So the next time you need encouraging seek out the Christ-given gift of your church leadership then do your best to be and encouragement to others through the other Christ-given gift, the Holy Spirit.

Paranormal Activity

Today in service we talked about becoming fully aware of the presence, the purpose, and the power of the Paranormal Activity that's around us. Now we didn't talk about the paranormal in the sense that Hollywood has described as the undead or gobblins. But as the word paranormal is defined = the word Paranormal is a general term that describes unusual experiences that lack a scientific explanation. And the Word of God is filled with paranormal activity that science can in no way explain. We actually talked about how the normal (that which we can see and scientificly explain) and the paranormal (the unexplained) not only exist but they co-exist all around us all of the time. More or less today's message was a precursor to a new series titled "Ghost Hunters" (from SyFy's tv series) starting here at the church November 1st (the day after Halloween.) We will be studying about the HOLY SPIRIT and His gifts.

One of Paul's prison cells

Here is a picture of Pauls prison cell in Philippi. It was unearthed from 1956-1961.

My Own Prison

The band Creed released their debut album “My Own Prison” on June 18, 1997. It’s been certified as 6x platinum and is one of the top 200 selling albums of all time in the United States. Even though Creed is in no way a “Christian band” most of the members have Christian roots embedded into their younger personal lives and you can see these roots reveal themselves on the surface of their lyrics.

This past week in my personal study and devotion time I’ve been contemplating and comparing a few facts about Saul/Paul’s life and his terms in prison. Even though it’s hard to be specific about the totality of years in which Paul spent being imprisoned, biblically speaking it adds up to approximately seven years or so.

Now during one of his stints in prison we read of a scene in Acts 26.9-11 where Paul is standing before King Agrippa and giving a summary of his own life, before his own personal conversion and experience with Christ. And we should take note of the commonality in which Paul uses to connect with not only the king, but his captor and judge who has the power to set him free from his physical prison.

This is what Acts 26.9-11 records of Paul’s confession. He says,
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.”

Now before I get into just one of the trains of thought I’ve been riding this past week I would like for you to notice when you read Acts chapter 25 and 26 that first and foremost Paul does not plead for his own life but he pleads for the life of his captors. He doesn’t try to get himself set free with educated words but instead he tries to allow God’s Word to set King Agrippa and all who are listening free.
Verses 28 and 29 of Acts 26 says;
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29 Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

Now there's not enough room on this blog to post everything I’ve studied but here is just a slight hint of the fuel which ignited the vehicle of my week’s personal study. I found it amazing that Saul/Paul life’s role was utterly and totally reversed. Please notice he went from persecuting, imprisoning and killing Christ’s followers to being persecuted, imprisoned and eventually killed as a Christ follower.

And listen, Paul’s prison cells didn’t have a sink, a toilet, a bed, a weight set in the yard or cable TV. His cells were places of darkness, death and despair and yet he uses these dismal depressing places to write the Words of God and see those alongside of him find Christ. His life’s plea was never “Lord set me free from my chains or prison” but rather he used his chains and cells to see others set free from their peronal prisons.

So what can we take from this? Should we ask ourselves “Have we personally fashioned our own prisons from our jobs, our towns, living conditions, financial situations or our surroundings?” Or are our prisons actually just our selfish viewpoints of our own personal lives? Have we made ourselves comfortable in our own prisons by being content to be discontent? Do we set around holding ourselves captive by our life's conditions to the point of where we just can’t see the need around us for others to experience the freedom that can only be found through a relationship with Christ?

Now this isn't really even the tip of the iceberg as to what’s been going on in my mind and heart, it’s just a drop in the ocean. But I will leave you with this question for you to ask yourself, “Am I just surviving in My Own Prison or am I focusing my life on setting others free?”

True Love Forever and Always

Tears are not only designed for the cleansing of the eyes but the washing of the spirit and soul due to loss and separation. That's why there are no tears or sorrow in Heaven. Because once we're there, we will not only be forever with those who went on before us but we will also be with the One who made it all possible.

In light of eternity, life is short but True Love HAS, IS and WILL always last forever. So all of the worship, praise and thankfulness that flows outward from within the confines of our earthen containers during this earthly life is merely practice for the everlasting to everlasting to come.

So today and everyday our worship and our praise should move outward and upward to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for being that True Love.

Psalm 30.4-6 [NIV]
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

John 11.35 [NIV]
35 Jesus wept.

Hebrews 13.8 [NIV]
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1 John 4.15-17 [NIV]
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

1 John 4.19 [NIV]
19 We love because he first loved us.

Revelation 1.8 [NIV]
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 2.4 [NIV]
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

Revelation 21.3-5 [NIV]
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."