Because of The Great I Am iLive. Because I Live iLove, iServe, iGive.
When we come to church our lives are enriched. When we BECOME the church our world is enriched.
God’s plan is for you to have the most amazing life you could ever imagine but here is the catch. It’s not his plan for you to pursue an amazing life for yourself.
When our pursuits are right the results take care of themselves. What "works" in a relationship is when you stop trying to make the relationship "work" for you and start loving, serving & giving to somebody you love. Now that works!
1 Cor 9:19-22 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. NIV
Western Christianity uses faith to attain stability & comfort. Biblical Christianity risks life and limb to advance God's Kingdom. If you don't devote self to greater purposes of LOVE you confine yourself to self-serving existence. You were born for more than that!
2 Cor 12:15 I will gladly spend my money and my energy for your soul (Simple English Translation)
Be disciples who make disciples. This means we make the time to care for others in a sincere and authentic way. Making disciples and caring for others looks different in every one of our lives.
For too long the church has been trying to turn people into something they're not. This only fuels the fear of inadequacy. God’s way of getting it all done is giving everybody a different burden and passion. We don’t have to destroy others to validate ourselves.
We must stop examining people’s flaws and start imagining their potential! Our faith isn’t merely a resource for our own better future!
The Prophet loves with a voice. The Priest loves with an embrace. The King loves with wisdom. We paralyze ourselves by comparing ourselves to other people’s gifts. Charles Swindoll said, “Rabbits don't fly. Eagles don't swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels don't have feathers. Stop comparing. There's plenty of room in the forest.”
James 1:22 Don't merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves... NIV
Satan the deceiver loves it when religion does his work for him. He would love for us to fill every church in our city with apathetic people who will hear messages and not do anything with it.
GP4RL: Let personal ministry be your total focus this week. Make a daily difference. Post with #iLive to encourage and remind the rest of us.