According to Romans 8:37, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. In this audio podcast, Derrick illustrates what it means to overcome both an enemy and a set of circumstances.
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Glory to God! In this new year, we are beginning a new Agape Dominion ministry – that of health and fitness. I believe this is a neglected area of ministry. As a Body, we have long been focused on spiritual fitness while our physical fitness has languished. We need to ask ourselves, though, can we effectively serve God, exalt Jesus, and advance the Kingdom if our physical bodies are in disrepair?
We are going to take up physical fitness as a lifestyle and, I won’t lie, it isn’t going to be easy. If exercise were easy, we’d all look like Michelangelo’s David or Venus di Milo. Unfortunately, it happens to be quite difficult and, like so many well-intentioned resolutions, even more so to keep up. Starting a true, life-changing fitness program is akin to approaching the girl of your dreams for the first time; you know she’s good for you but you just can’t seem to take that all-important first step. That’s where this ministry segment comes in…
The tendency of man is laziness. We’d sooner kick back with a cold beverage and watch a ball game than walk to the mailbox. The purpose of this ministry is to help you overcome any lazy tendencies, get off your blessed assurance and get started. One of the laws of physics elucidated by Sir Issac Newton held that “…bodies in motion tend to stay in motion; bodies at rest tend to stay at rest.”
Now, if you think these posts are going to be some sort of magic bullet to help you look good overnight, close this page and get to steppin’! On the other hand, if you want to take those critical first steps to avoid embarrassment when you start going to the gym or embarking on an intense physical fitness program, stay tuned!
© 2010 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)
Relationship vs. Religion
Religion is believing God can but making excuses for when He does not. It defers all benefits to the afterlife.
Relationship is not just believing God can but knowing that He will! Not just in the sweet-by-and-by but in the sour-here-and-now!
2 Corinthians 1:20
20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
John 14:12-14,
12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Mark 11:23-24
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
© 2010 - Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)
3 Things Every Pastor Must Do
Many pastors have asked, "Are there two or three key points that, when executed, will yield success in ministry?" Of course, there are many but I have found three that will ensure that will yield a healthy, effective ministry.
1. Check your "Love Walk." The Lord Jesus told us in John 13:35 that it is by the love we exhibit for one another that the world would know we are His disciples. Love is a choice and no one needs to choose love more than the man or woman of God called to lead a church body. Many people, when wounded while loving, tend to retreat and withdraw; this is a human response. However, the pastor cannot respond to hurt in this manner and hope to be successful. Know this, you will be hurt – and there’s no hurt like church hurt – but the leader must wear his or her emotions on their sleeve.
The pastor, while human, must have a supernatural response; he or she must respond to hurt by loving more! Why is this so important? You may be the most knowledgeable preacher in the world but no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care! You must love fervently, openly, and most of all, genuinely!
It’s important to love your congregation but you must first love God then love your spouse! Do not allow the church to become your “thang on the side!” Some pastors are so busy with church work that they have neither enough time for consecrated prayer nor for their families. We must understand that the institutions of marriage and family were ordained by God before the church!
2. Don’t worry about the numbers. People will distract you! If there are too few folks in your congregation, you may (often incorrectly) conclude that you are ineffective. If you have too many, you may start to believe it has something to do with you – that is, you may become conceited.
Throughout the Bible, God has done the miraculous with small numbers. He whittled Gideon’s army from 32000 to 300; this army defeated “an army without number” (Judges 7:12)! God used 12 men (actually 11, excluding the son of perdition) to spread the Gospel. Most of all, He used one man – Jesus – to redeem mankind and forever change the world. God is not concerned with numbers, He’s concerned with effectiveness. The Bible says one will chase a thousand and two will put ten-thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30); that’s effectiveness!
It has been said that in any organization, twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work. This is especially true in the modern church nonetheless; it is a paradigm requiring change. Having a 30000-member church is impressive; less so when 6000 or less are bearing the brunt of the work. Effectiveness only comes from discipling and example. Pastors and leaders must be willing to roll up their sleeves; not only pitching in but leading the work effort!
The Holy Spirit once had me set up an empty chair in my living room and preach to it for a week. When I asked, “why,” He told me that before He’d trust me with His Word before a multitude; He had to show me how to preach when there is no one there to hear it! If you change the fervency of your preaching based on the number of people in attendance, you need to go and repent! This was a powerful lesson and I share it with virtually every pastor or preacher I have occasion to speak to.
While we’re here (nice segue, there), don’t get preoccupied with folk’s expressions while you’re preaching and teaching. I used to get uptight about some of the “cross-eyed” looks I’d get from those in the pews. The Lord corrected me of this insecurity by bringing to my remembrance Jeremiah 1:17, which says, “…be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.”
3. Check your stewardship. Is your car or home A LOT nicer than those in your congregation? If so, do you have streams of income (other than church salary) to substantiate having them? If you do, glory to God – I want to be like you when I grow up (cue laugh track)! If you do not, please take inventory of your stewardship.
You may be as clean-as-clean-can-be regarding material stewardship but if there is any hint of impropriety, this will appear as a red-flag to the world. Now, we are not to be men-pleasers but we need our stewardship to be above reproach. Folks in the world still operate under the premise that “all the preacher wants is my money.” While that notion is false more often than true, it is the little foxes that spoil the vine.
It is frequently easy to confuse good work with God work. We need to ask if it is necessary to embark upon a new building project when there is abject poverty in our neighborhood. How many computers, books, school supplies, winter coats, or shoes could be purchased for the outlay of most building projects? Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should not build; I am saying we need to operate in love – perceiving and fulfilling need – and discerning of season (i.e., is it time to build?).
Is there more to it than that? You better believe it! However, I think that if we begin with the simple and graduate to the complex, we will become more effective and efficient in our ministries. All ministry should be beacons of love and stewardship, rooted and grounded in the power of the risen Jesus. I don’t expect to hear a lot of “Amens” to this but, then, God has instructed me to preach and teach for result, not for effect! Nevertheless, I pray this message is a blessing to you.
© 2011 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)
According to Romans 8:37, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. In this audio podcast, Derrick illustrates what it means to overcome both an enemy and a set of circumstances.
The Love Walk (Lesson 3) - Love Is God's Law - A video teaching series by Bishop Derrick Day
For more information, visit www.derrickday.com
The Love Walk - Fellowship vs. Membership (Part 2), a teaching series by Bishop Derrick Day.
Additional videos and teaching materials can be found at www.derrickday.com
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