Make sure the Demons know you by name

Think about who you view as important for a second. Why do you view them as important? What makes someone important? How can you be important? 

Acts 19: 11-20 

"And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all1 of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily."

Let what you read soak in for a second. Seven sons of the High Priest, pastor's kids if you will, more or less seven professional exorcists, are going out and casting out demons by proclaiming "by the name of Jesus whom Paul proclaims." However on this given day instead of casting out a demon  they are given the ultimate put down by this demon possessed man proclaiming "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And if that wasn't enough disrespect this demon possessed man proceeds to single handily lay a MMA style beat down on these seven brothers, so by the time it's all said and done not only did they get the tar knocked out of them but they leave the house butt naked for the whole town to see... 

In the Bible importance isn’t measure by what kind of position you hold, it’s how available you are for deployment in God’s mission. 

We need to be kind of believer in Christ that the demons know by name. Aim your life so that you are the kind of Christian that hell knows about, respects, and fears. 

I don’t want to be the kind of man that hears "Jesus I know, Paul I know... But who are you?” I want to be important, not because of position, popularity, career, worldly esteem, but to be important where it matter the most, in the kingdom of Christ, important where it matters not only for time but also for eternity.

6 things to keep in mind about why believers in the Lord Jesus Christ find importance in Christ. 

How is it that we find the right kind of importance and avoid the wrong kind?  

1.       We are important because we are created in God’s image.

2.       We are important because we are saved by grace.

3.       We are important because we are united in Christ.

4.       We are important because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

5.       We are important because we are deployed for a mission.

6.       We are important because we are destined for glory. 

We are redeemed for something, in order to do something, as well as to be something. 

Notes and thoughts from Dr. Mohler's sermon at the "Give Me an Answer Conference"

Jersey Shore

Dr. James Dobson's Plugged In Online review of MTV's hit "reality" show.

"Where to begin with Jersey Shore? Must we reiterate that the MTV show, focusing on a clutch of party-hearty tanoholics from the Garden State, has rocketed well beyond cable's reality-show backwaters and into a pop culture phenomenon? Are we required to quote the overseas tagline of "Muscles+gel+tanning bed=sex"?"

"No, let's instead take our cue directly from Jersey Shore's cast by immediately cutting to the chase: This program marks the current low point in the broad genre known as "reality television"—a show so engrossed in its own self-absorbed inanity and depravity as to become a parody of itself and, oddly, a cogent touchstone of the culture at large. It makes Survivor look like Shakespeare, the Osbournes seem like the Cleavers, the Hills appear passably redeemable. Watching it made me want to take antibiotics to ward off whatever infections were being pumped through my flat screen."

"It's an hour a week on TV that's as moral free as you're likely to ever experience without touching the pay-per-view button on the remote. There's more alcohol guzzled in one episode than in all 11 seasons of Cheers and more bleeped (but obvious) f-words than in a George Carlin comedy routine."

"Because of their shared interests, the Jersey Shore gang has bonded, and that's something. After all, they do try to protect each other, more or less, from the arrows and tweets the world might throw. Pauly D even refers to his buds as "family." I don't think he's kidding."

"But that makes Jersey Shore all the more sad, really, because family should be about more than this. The residents of this reality show haven't so much formed a family as they've merely accepted their lot in life: to drink, to hook up, to dance—and to be the willing fools of a weekly peep show, where video voyeurs alternatively mock them and live vicariously through them."
 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall.

If we are honest with ourselves how we look is important. We all want to look "good" but who defines what "good" is?

According to USA Today this past year 12-18 year old's will have spent 150 BILLION dollars on clothes or cosmetics, with 19-24 year old's will spending close to 250 billion dollars. Let those dollar figures soak in for a second, because that's a ton of money.

Think about a normal day for you, and the number of advertisements you will see daily. The average teenager sees thousands of ads daily, from facebook, to commercials we are bombarded with pictures and phrasing implying that we can look and feel better is we eat, buy, or try this. The sad part is, we literally buy what they are selling us.

We are feed lies daily that essentially we aren't pretty enough, fit enough, small enough, tall enough, strong enough, and ect... Therefore we are willing to spend and do whatever it takes to be what the world tells us to be. But where does that lead us? No where. Sure that new shirt makes us feel good the first few times we wear it, but in a month there is something "cooler" out. That new car may make you feel good about yourself for a while, but sooner or later you'll see a car nicer than yours. So where does that lead us? Back to wanting more. We are never left satisfied or happy. 

As the old saying goes, money can't buy you happiness, and if we are honest with ourselves, that's a true statement. The world wants to tell us we aren't special,  pretty, or unique. How does that leaving you feeling?

God tells us a radically different story though. Take a look at Psalm 139: 13-18

[13] For you formed my inward parts;
        you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
     [14] I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Wonderful are your works;
        my soul knows it very well.
     [15] My frame was not hidden from you,
    when I was being made in secret,
        intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
     [16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
    in your book were written, every one of them,
        the days that were formed for me,
        when as yet there was none of them.

    [17] How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
        How vast is the sum of them!
     [18] If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
        I awake, and I am still with you.

We see three things here that help us achieve the right self image.

1. God formed us. We aren't from monkeys, or the result two clouds of chemicals exploding. The Bible says God formed you. You are instantly valuable because God doesn't make things by accident. You are a one of kind.

2. We are made in the image of God. David says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. In other words, God did such an awesome job in making us that David is left in reverent awe of God.

3. God values our uniqueness. God desires to have a relationship with us. Ever think about someone so much that they are"always" on your mind? David says that God values and loves us so much that His thoughts for us each day are more than grains of sand on the beach. That's a lot of thoughts. We are literally always on God's mind.

The Bible teaches that true joy and happiness isn't going to be found in the world tells you, it's found in Jesus. Stop listening to world, and start listening to the one who made it, because He desperately wants to have a relationship with you.

Notes and thoughts from Nathan Rogers at D-Now in Benton, Ky.

Build Up or Shut Up!

Notes and thoughts from Will Burnham's message to the Living Hope youth group on 3-16-11.

Have you experienced God's glory lately? If you aren't bringing God glory then you are wasting your life! It is that simple, bring God glory in all you do. If your life is easy, then the reality is that you are probably not living it for God's glory. You may ask, "What is in it for me, what do I get out of this?" Your reward is being able to have joy, peace, and being able to see God receive more glory, because there is nothing greater in the world than seeing God at work.

Even you can bring God glory, it has been His plan from the very beginning. People should be able to see that you are different. The way you treat your parents is, different. The way you dress is different. The way you treat your teachers is, different. The way you handle tough situations is, different. The way you talk is especially, different. Why? Because we can bring God glory through our words.

Take a look at James 3:2-12

[2] For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. [3] If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. [4] Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
    How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. [7] For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? [12] Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. 

Did you catch what James is saying there? With our tongues we can build God up and then immediately tear others down, therefore our words and the way we use them have consequences. Think about your own life for a second. How often do we go to church on Sunday or Wednesday and then very next day we are gossiping, talking dirty about girls, cussing, calling people names, being sarcastic and cutting other down? James says this shouldn't be so, why? Because how hypocritical is it for us as Christians to be praising God with our mouths and then to be sinning the next minute? The answer is very!

But James says the tongue is unable to be tamed, so what are we supposed to do about it? We are all naturally sinful people, we were born sinners. We all mess up and sin daily. But the better question is, do you feel guilty when you are making fun of others? Do you feel guilty when you are gossiping about people during lunch? Do you feel guilty when you talk disrespectfully to your parents? Do you feel guilty at all when you are cussing? We can't change the fact that we are all naturally sinners, but as Christians we should be so racked with guilt that when we mess up, it should bother us tremendously. We should be so convicted that we ask for forgiveness from the people we are around, and from the people we were talking bad about.

Take a look at what Paul says in Ephesians 4:25-32

[25] Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. [26] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, [27] and give no opportunity to the devil. [28] Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. [29] Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. [32] Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul does a good here job of laying out how we should use our tongues, and explaining why we should ask for forgiveness from others.

In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul gives some advice on how we should go about taming our tongues, build up or shut up.

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" 

Is it easy? No, it's not. But just like God told Joshua in Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

But I don't wanna...

Dynamic Lesson 1

Over the last few years research has shown that most Christians do not share their faith on a regular basis. Why?
Most list three main concerns.

1. Ignorance
2. Fear
3. Friendships

1. A majority of believers in this country said they do no have enough confidence in their knowledge of their faith to share it with someone else. Can you relate? I know I've used that excused more than once before. However according to Scott Dawson, "Evangelism in its purest form is me sharing with you what Christ has done in my life." Therefore anyone who has begun a relationship with Christ can be involved in evangelism, because it's that simple.

Think about it this way, many of us have girl/boy friends or are married. No one has to ask you how your relationship is going, because most of the time you are willing to talk about it to whomever will listen to you. So what is stopping us from talking about the most important relationship of all, our relationship with Christ?

2. Others said they don't witness often out of "fear of rejection" or "fear of the unknown" or even just "lack of boldness" all of which are very valid fears. These are all fears that probably every Christian struggles with at some point or another, but how do you overcome these fears?

Scott Dawson uses the illustration of tucking his little girl into bed. She is afraid of the dark, why? Because she can't see. Why does she like the light? Light dispels darkness. "Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) and He will always conquer any fear we have in sharing our faith. The challenge is for us to know Him in His fullness (John 17:3) and discover that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. (1 Johhn 4:4)" -Scott Dawson

3. Many people do not share with their friends because they think (not know) it will offend them. The problem with this fear is that it revolves around personal integrity. Think about the definition of friendship, it's wanting the best for your friend. If that's the case, then what could possibly be better than sharing what Jesus has done in your life?

"How can you call yourself a friend and how share the best thing that has ever happened to you and could happen to your friend?" -Scott Dawson

Why We Should Witness:
If you have read through the Bible you will notice the words "love" and "heart" used time and time again to describe our relationship with God and His relationship with us. Why? Think back to Matthew 22:36-27, when Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment. What does He say? Basically, love God and love others. Essentially those are the two main reasons for why we should witness. The desire to evangelize should not come out of duty or devotion, but out of delight.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

The other reason we should witness is because we have a concern for people. The worst part of life is emptiness, and without Christ the emptiness cannot be filled. 

Safety First

Is facebook really as secure as we think? Which browser should I use when surfing the web? Can I be hacked, or have my identity stolen?

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty naive when it comes to the internet. I just figure that it has to be pretty safe, just as long as I have a good password and don't go to any "bad sites." This morning my dad forwarded these links with some tips on how to make sure you are keeping your identity secure. It gives some good advice on how to use social media sites, your bank online site, or even your e-mail effectively.

I'd urge you to take a look, it's a quick read. 

http://socialphonics.com/2011/03/online-security-part-one-general-overview/

 

http://socialphonics.com/2011/03/online-security-part-two-general-tips/

 

http://socialphonics.com/2011/03/online-security-part-three-social-networking/

 

http://socialphonics.com/2011/03/online-security-part-four-banking-and-shopping/

 

http://socialphonics.com/2011/03/online-security-part-five-privacy/

Dynamic Intro

Starting this week, I am launching "Dynamic" Bible studies at Bowling Green, Greenwood, and South Warren High Schools. I plan on posting quotes, verses, or even outlines of the lessons I'll be presenting to the students on here.

The word dynamic according to Webster literally means "marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change."

It's my hope and prayer that this Bible study will do just that for the students at these schools, as this study is specifically designed to encourage and equip students to share their faith with their classmates. It's my fear that too many times we are guilty of simply telling others to go and share the "Good News" without actually showing them how. When you look at the life of Jesus, he didn't just tell his disciples to go out and share with others, he showed them how to for three years!

It's my goal and desire for the next 10 weeks to come along side these students, and show them how to simply talk to others about what Christ is doing in their lives. It's doesn't take "elite Christians" to share, just look at Jonah. That dude was anything but that, he had all kinds of sin issues in his life, but God still used him!

I'll be using "The Complete Evangelism Guidebook" written by Scott Dawson and many others along with the Bible as my source for many of these lessons.

I like what Dawson says in the introduction, "Evangelism in it's purest form is me sharing with you what Christ has done in my life. Anyone who has begun a relationship with Christ can be involved in evangelism."