D S Briggs's Posts - Black Preaching Network
2024-03-29T05:42:26Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
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Always Be Ready
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2015-01-26:916966:BlogPost:5854131
2015-01-26T02:33:57.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<p>These words taken from Paul's writings in 2 Timothy 4:2 challenge his son in the ministry to not let a moment occur that he was not able to preach the word to those who stood in need of the word of God. Peter's writings in 1 Peter 3:15 declare we are to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:</p>
<p>As a young preacher I was instructed by my father in the ministry to always carry three sermons with you at all…</p>
<p>These words taken from Paul's writings in 2 Timothy 4:2 challenge his son in the ministry to not let a moment occur that he was not able to preach the word to those who stood in need of the word of God. Peter's writings in 1 Peter 3:15 declare we are to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:</p>
<p>As a young preacher I was instructed by my father in the ministry to always carry three sermons with you at all times: One in your briefcase, one in your Bible and one in your heart. He told me that you may just show up to church as a guest visitor and the pastor will ask you while in the study to preach that day. You have time to get your briefcase and review. Then there would be times that the pastor will wait till you are in the pulpit and the worship service has started that they will ask you to bring the word. You don't have time to go get your briefcase but you have your Bible. And he warned there just might be that time when after the sermonic selection has been sung the pastor will get up and announce to the waiting congregation that the Lord laid on his heart that you have a Word from the Lord on that day. There is now no time for prep work or review. It is time to stand and speak what thus sayeth the Lord.</p>
<p>In this day when good preaching about Jesus Christ is at a premium, it seems unlikely that any of these scenarios would take place. As a pastor having been taught the importance of preparation well in advance of the coming Sunday assignment, it seems like there is little likelihood of shelving what I have been toiling with the Lord with all week in favor of someone else. Especially if that person is unknown to me personally or the congregation collectively.</p>
<p>However as a visiting minister I can testify that this has happened to me on more than one occasion and in each scenario my pastor has taught me about. As a younger minister you get used to being challenged by the some of the older ministers who just want to see what "this young whippersnapper can do" so to speak. As a vice moderator, moderator, state president, national board member, covenant partner, etc. you get used to host pastors giving you the pulpit sometimes in sincerity and sometimes to curry favor for themselves. As a seasoned pastor you get used to friends just being friends and swapping the pulpits back and forth freely while you silently praise God for your elevation to such a position.</p>
<p>But when you have nothing to offer...no other opportunity to give another, no position or assignment to help them climb their perceived ladder of ministry spoils and success. When you cannot reciprocate the kindness shown to you and they not only stand you up but they invite you back. When you have nothing more than a thank you from the bottom of your heart, do you truly appreciate when those doors open for you? When you are simply glad to be in the service one more time and God says let him/.her minister to my people today?</p>
<p>No matter the scenario we must recognize God's hand in every situation that allows us to stand for His glory. As servants we must understand that since we were called by Him to do His work He knows where He needs us to be, when He needs us to be there and what His people need when you get there. All we have to do is be ready. Sometimes we look so much at what man does for us and to us that we don't see God's hand for us and with us.</p>
<p>As I write this I wonder how many preachers still truly prepare like this? Always ready even when not scheduled to preach? Always ready even when the calendar is empty? Always ready not to give what one friend of mine calls a "May Pop" sermon. but to rightly divide the word of truth? To be ready just in case God says in that moment that you are not here visiting on accident or coincidence but this is a divine assignment to minister to my people? If we take seriously our calling to be God's servants then we should always be ready to minister effectively to His people. God deserves nothing less than that.</p>
Some things have got to change
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2015-01-26:916966:BlogPost:5854127
2015-01-26T02:00:00.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<p>This has been an interesting season in the ministry in my life. At a time where most believe I should be locked down pastoring a growing church in a big city and continuing the climb upwards on their perceived ladders of ministerial success, I am instead observing church life again from the perspective of a worshipper and a member. Don't get me wrong, I preach whenever I am offered the opportunity to preach. But as far as pushing hard to be the pastor of a church, I have chosen to return to…</p>
<p>This has been an interesting season in the ministry in my life. At a time where most believe I should be locked down pastoring a growing church in a big city and continuing the climb upwards on their perceived ladders of ministerial success, I am instead observing church life again from the perspective of a worshipper and a member. Don't get me wrong, I preach whenever I am offered the opportunity to preach. But as far as pushing hard to be the pastor of a church, I have chosen to return to my core belief that God don't need my help to place me where He wants me. Meaning I am no longer sending out resumes when I hear of a church opening. I am no longer trying to find someone who knows about the church who can get my business card to a key person to get a chance to preach. I am no longer scouring the internet to find of openings even if far away. I am perfectly content to sit, worship, and observe until and if God places me. If He don't, it is still well with my soul.</p>
<p>While doing this, some things have become alarmingly clear for me since 2008 while fellowshipping at churches with pastors and churches without pastors. It is apparent that some things have to change in what we do and how we do it. Briefly I want to lift five core things that need to change:</p>
<p>Our focus must be on Christ and His work. "And when I came to you, bretheren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I Corinthians 2: 1-2</p>
<p>I hear so much more these days about what we "have done, are planing to do, and going to do" with very little reference at all the leading of the Holy Spirit or the approval of God for such measures. How can churches can tell their history down to the most minute detail and only give token appreciation and shout out to God? Pastor Rick Warren wrote in the Purpose Driven Church that "God doesn't measure a church by its seating capacity but by its sending capacity". When it comes to sending men and women out into the hedges and highways to compel the lost; when it comes to standing firm and being found as faithful witnesses in every walk of life, are we are missing it in favor of building up our own palaces and given only a token Thank you Jesus?</p>
<p>Sadly I have sat in churches and heard songs sung and sermons preached that did not focus on Christ and His redemptive work. They shouted till the song stopped, praised till they passed out, danced till they dropped over an exhortation of emptiness, devoid of substance that will sustain a believer before, during and out of the storms of life. We need more than a great word, we need God's word! Self promotion must take a distant backseat to the Savior. "Promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge. He putteth down one, and setteth up another." Psalm 75:6-7 This is something that many need to be purged from as many have lifted their needs and desires over and above the Lord's needs and desires for their life. I understand that there is a business push out there for many ministers and ministries today. Those that are trying to get their name out there, to get their name known, and sell their products,books, CD's, financial plans, etc. But when we hear so much about what you are doing, about and going, and nothing about the redemptive work of God, the efficacy of the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary to wash our sins away, the power of God to save the vilest, most wretched of us and give us another chance at a life worth living, then in my humble opinion you are missing it. If the only time you can get happy or cry or shout is when the spotlight is on you and you are trying to "bring em in" that needs to change.</p>
<p>A Spirit of Excellence is a must "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.." Nehemiah 2:18</p>
<p>It does not matter the size of a church, whether the church has a pastor or not, if the church has a music ministry that should be heard around the world, or a praise team of the faithful few who know that is not their gifting but serve because no one else with the gifting will. We have got to stop throwing together church on Sunday morning like we don't know what we are doing. There is little excuse for not being prepared on Sunday from the pulpit to the pew because you knew it was coming all along. What we offer we offer up to God first! If we know God would not be pleased with what we have done, we need to get it together.</p>
<p>We also must recognize that it is a team/group effort led by God and steered by His mighty hand. As long as we let flesh fight it out over who is going to be in charge or get credit, it becomes corrupt where it lies. There are too many that are still embracing the if I can't run it, I will ruin it mindset.</p>
<p>Love the People "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." St John 13: 35 This can not be said enough. People come to church battered, bruised and bloody. They come hurting, hungover and helpless. They come crying, complaining and criticizing. The come traumatized today, pondering the past, fearful of their future. They are debating decisions, spiritual and otherwise that will impact them ad those around them for years to come. LOVE THEM! They need us to demonstrate the love of God towards them. There will be a time for instruction, for correction and even for discipline, if necessary. But you need to make sure that before you do any of that you love them! People don't care how much you know until they know you care. Let's return to a caring community of believers. Give God the Glory "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1</p>
<p>The psalmist declared in Psalm 124:1 "If it had not been for the Lord on our side..." It is God who has kept us, sustained us, nurtured us, and brought us through. We need to give that testimony over and over again because it is the truth. We are not so educated, so connected and so elevated as to not need the Lord to make ways for us every day! Yes we praise God for what He is doing in us, thru us and with us, but we should praise Him the more simply because He is who He is! We are who we are and do what we do by His grace and that alone. We worship Him because He is who He is! We are nothing without Him. The church does not exist without Him! Your next project will fall flat without Him! Your next sermon will be DOA without Him. Give Him the Glory while you can.</p>
Does Anyone Serve Anymore?
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2013-09-23:916966:BlogPost:5758304
2013-09-23T23:28:53.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://www.preach-life.blogspot.com/2013/09/does-anyone-serve-anymore.html">Does Anyone Serve Anymore?</a></h3>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7045973158600536964">It seems a relic of bygone days or perhaps I am merely romanticizing the past when I say that it seems like the word service has been disconnected from ministry. Be it in the pulpit or the pews,…</div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://www.preach-life.blogspot.com/2013/09/does-anyone-serve-anymore.html">Does Anyone Serve Anymore?</a></h3>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7045973158600536964">It seems a relic of bygone days or perhaps I am merely romanticizing the past when I say that it seems like the word service has been disconnected from ministry. Be it in the pulpit or the pews, giving heartfelt service to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and for the benefit of His Kingdom and Church has given way to pay to play for musicians and insanely large deposits before I even get there preaching.<br/><br/>Yes I understand that there are those that seek to take advantage of our kingdom mindset and will (to use in the language of this day) prostitute our gifts if we don't stand up for ourselves. Yes there are places that won't treat you right or fair. That will ask you to come at your own total expense, and give you a $25.00 check like who you just won the lottery calling your forward in front of everyone and saying "we ain't trying to pay you...."<br/><br/>Been there, done that...and if the truth be told if I keep on living it will more than likely happen again.<br/><br/>Yet many have gone to the extreme of cash payment in full before some ministers will even walk into the church, what color flowers are in their room, what kind of water and woe if it is the wrong brand, how many attendants are there at beck and call, what color snacks and include all this in a rider to in order to procure their services? It is not good enough to be picked up by your host but in a stretch limo? Really...for one person? You need two rooms one for yourself and the other for your armor bearer, adjutant or assistant who just happens to be of the opposite sex, not your spouse and always has to travel with you? Not buying it.<br/><br/>I hear those of you that say we must dictate and demonstrate to the people how they are to honor and respect us for our calling. That we need to get there, look right, be in right voice, etc. That we are to give honor to honor is due - yet where is God's honor in your dealings? There is a difference between teaching what is right and manipulation for personal gain. Too many are using others to do what they won't do for themselves (work and make a living) or their home church that they pastor won't do for them.<br/><br/>We are thinking too highly of ourselves as we have allowed the business mindset of ministry to cross the line of serving simply because Christ in His compassion saved you, called you and sent you. Yes do things decently and in order, but keep God at the front of every discussion, invitation, and arrangement. You ain't that good or gifted, that is God opening those doors. We need to remember that we serve at His pleasure and discretion and not at our own. God can but think the thought and your every engagement will dry up and blow away like dust. Anytime you get an invitation, God has opened a door unto you. Remember that it is Him that you are serving and He must get the glory out of your going. Getting compensated should be the blessing on top of the blessing of serving Christ, doing His will and being where He needs you to be. We are in His hands so He can use us to be a blessing to His people. Stop pricing yourself out of God's demographic for your life..</div>
Upcoming Kingdom Event in St Louis, MO. and Surrounding Metro Area
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-11-04:916966:BlogPost:1751267
2010-11-04T18:10:39.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
Kingdom Covenant Fall Harvest Fellowship Nov 11 and 12, 2010 in St Louis. Chief Apostle Darrell M. Yancey from Dallas Texas, an international recording artist ("Another Chance" with DFW Mass Choir) and Presiding Prelate of Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches will be ministering both nights in the Lou. Services held at Barak Christian Church 7370 N. Hanley Road, Hazelwood, MO. 7:30 pm nightly. For more information please contact bishop D. S. briggs at 919.926.9672 or Pastor Jonathan Stubbs…
Kingdom Covenant Fall Harvest Fellowship Nov 11 and 12, 2010 in St Louis. Chief Apostle Darrell M. Yancey from Dallas Texas, an international recording artist ("Another Chance" with DFW Mass Choir) and Presiding Prelate of Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches will be ministering both nights in the Lou. Services held at Barak Christian Church 7370 N. Hanley Road, Hazelwood, MO. 7:30 pm nightly. For more information please contact bishop D. S. briggs at 919.926.9672 or Pastor Jonathan Stubbs at 214.516.9410
KCFC - Last General Conference Call
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-07-15:916966:BlogPost:1426919
2010-07-15T20:51:21.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><div><div>We will have an <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1279225149_0" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand">Open Conference</span> Call on Saturday July 17th, 2010 at 7:00 pm <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1279225149_1" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #366388 2px dotted; CURSOR: hand">Central Standard Time</span>. For those on the East Coast the time will be…</div>
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<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><div><div>We will have an <span style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand" id="lw_1279225149_0" class="yshortcuts">Open Conference</span> Call on Saturday July 17th, 2010 at 7:00 pm <span style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #366388 2px dotted; CURSOR: hand" id="lw_1279225149_1" class="yshortcuts">Central Standard Time</span>. For those on the East Coast the time will be 8:00 pm. The call is free to all. The number to call is <span style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #366388 2px dotted; CURSOR: hand" id="lw_1279223009_17" class="yshortcuts"><span style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #366388 2px dotted; CURSOR: hand" id="lw_1279225149_2" class="yshortcuts">916.233.2999</span></span>. The <span id="lw_1279225149_3" class="yshortcuts">access code</span> is 984009. When you call in you wil connected to music until one of the moderators joins the conference call. The call should take about 30 - 45 minutes as we begin to pray collectively for the Fellowship and follow God's leading and the directions of our Presiding Prelate. Per our last conference call we will be looking to finalize the dates for our first gathering of the year.</div>
<div>This will be the last open conference call for open enrollment in the Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches. After this weekend the access code will be changed and the calls will be open to registered members only.These members must register with the Presiding Prelate and the General Secretary. If you have not received a registration form please let us know.</div>
<div>We are looking forward to working with each and everyone of you, should God say the same to work His will and do the great work of His Kingdom.</div>
<div>Living to <span id="lw_1279223009_18" class="yshortcuts"><span style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #366388 2px dotted; CURSOR: hand" id="lw_1279225149_4" class="yshortcuts">Live Again</span></span>,</div>
<div>D S Briggs</div>
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Conference Call
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-07-10:916966:BlogPost:1416461
2010-07-10T20:16:01.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<span class="UIStory_Message">There will be a general conference call for the Kindgom Covenant Fellowship of Churches on Saturday July 10, 2010 @ 8:00 EST. 7:00 CST. This call is free to all in the Body of Christ to gain more information about the Fellowship. The number is 916.233.2999. Access code is 984009. For more information please contact Apostle Darrell Yancey on FB.</span>
<span class="UIStory_Message">There will be a general conference call for the Kindgom Covenant Fellowship of Churches on Saturday July 10, 2010 @ 8:00 EST. 7:00 CST. This call is free to all in the Body of Christ to gain more information about the Fellowship. The number is 916.233.2999. Access code is 984009. For more information please contact Apostle Darrell Yancey on FB.</span>
Please prayerfully consider participating
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-06-17:916966:BlogPost:1363181
2010-06-17T15:20:37.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<p>There will be a general information conference call for the Kindgom Covenant Fellowship of Churches on Saturday June 19, 2010 @ 8:00 EST, 7:00 CST. This call is free to all in the Body of Christ to gain more valuable information about the Fellowship. You do not have to sever ties with any other existing Fellowship, Conference or denomination that you may be a part of to become a part of the Kingdom Fellowship of Churches.</p>
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<p>There will also be a prayer and informational meeting…</p>
<p>There will be a general information conference call for the Kindgom Covenant Fellowship of Churches on Saturday June 19, 2010 @ 8:00 EST, 7:00 CST. This call is free to all in the Body of Christ to gain more valuable information about the Fellowship. You do not have to sever ties with any other existing Fellowship, Conference or denomination that you may be a part of to become a part of the Kingdom Fellowship of Churches.</p>
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<p>There will also be a prayer and informational meeting held in Dallas, Texas on Monday June 21, 2010 @ 7:00 pm for those in that area of the country and who can attend.</p>
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<p>Those who express to Apostle Darrell Yancey an interest in becoming an integral part of the Fellowship will recieve a detailed packet of information that further outlines our distictives and Kingdom Servant Leadership Order. Further conference calls will be held to continue to build this great work of God.</p>
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<p>The number for the Conference Call is 916.233.2999. Access code is 984009. The call will place you on hold until one of the Moderators join the meeting so please do not hang up.</p>
Kingdom Covenant Fellowship Prayer and Interest Meeting June 21 2010 @ 7:00 PM
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-06-05:916966:BlogPost:1346218
2010-06-05T17:00:00.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<p>Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches<br></br>Dallas, Texas<br></br>kingdomcovenant@ymail.com<br></br><a href="http://www.kingdomcovenantfellowship.webs.com">www.kingdomcovenantfellowship.webs.com</a><br></br>Apostle Darrell M. Yancey, Presiding Prelate<br></br>Bishop D. S Briggs, General Secretary<br></br><br></br>5 June 2010<br></br><br></br>Beloved of God,<br></br></p>
<p>Blessings unto you from God our Father who is manifestly able to do above all that we can ask or even think.<br></br>The Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches…</p>
<p>Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches<br/>Dallas, Texas<br/>kingdomcovenant@ymail.com<br/><a href="http://www.kingdomcovenantfellowship.webs.com">www.kingdomcovenantfellowship.webs.com</a><br/>Apostle Darrell M. Yancey, Presiding Prelate<br/>Bishop D. S Briggs, General Secretary<br/><br/>5 June 2010<br/><br/>Beloved of God,<br/></p>
<p>Blessings unto you from God our Father who is manifestly able to do above all that we can ask or even think.<br/>The Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches is a divine and Spirit driven in depth developmental program pursuing excellence designed by God Almighty to produce suitable men and women for the Master’s use. Our ministry is established on the Five Fold Ministry as recorded in Ephesians 4:11-14 <br/></p>
<p>“And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."<br/></p>
<p>We are moving forward with this vision God has placed in our heart many years ago to gather like minded men and women for the purposes of glorifying God, and strengthening the body of Christ for the work of God. For truly the work of God and the harvest He assures is great, but the committed and connected laborers are few. The covenant relationship is to come to our brothers and sisters by any means necessary and available, regardless the distance because we love the Lord, we love the brethren and we will not let them fail, be frustrated, or fall out of their ministries without a fight. If they need any of us, somebody from Kingdom Covenant Fellowship will be there.<br/></p>
<p>We are humbly and prayerfully asking you to consider becoming a part of the Fellowship. There is no obligation financial or otherwise to get information. If you are currently connected and serve as a Bishop in another organization there is no requirement from us that you do not have to step down from that organization to become a part of Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches. We are seeking to add to your ministry, not to take away from. <br/></p>
<p>We will be having a local prayer/interest meeting in Dallas, Texas of all interested brothers and sisters on June 21, 2010 @ 7:00 pm. We will have a conference call on the same date as well for those who are unable to attend due to distance or previous obligations. If you have an interest in getting more information about this prayer meeting or joining the Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches, please contact me directly at <a href="mailto:kingdomcovenant@ymail.com">kingdomcovenant@ymail.com</a>. <br/></p>
<p>Finally brethren pray for us. We can not do this work that the Lord has assigned to us without the fervent, effectual prayers of the people of God. Truly the Lord is speaking and now is the time for this work to go forth. Won’t you join us in this ministry?<br/></p>
<p>Be Blessed.<br/></p>
<p>In the Grip of His Grace,<br/><br/>Apostle D. M Yancey<br/>Presiding Prelate<br/>Kingdom Covenant Fellowship of Churches<br/><br/>Cc: General Secretary<br/>File<br/></p>
It is Your Time
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2010-05-06:916966:BlogPost:1313762
2010-05-06T15:30:00.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
<p align="left">This is your time to walk in the fulness of what God has promised you. No circumstances can circumvent you from your Divine Destiny. No problems will prevent you from recieving God's promises in this season of your life. I am letting you know that what was was, but what was aint no more! This is your season, this is your time, This is your moment.Don't miss it, Dont let it go by. If God said it, it is so! Act like it.</p>
<p align="left">This is your time to walk in the fulness of what God has promised you. No circumstances can circumvent you from your Divine Destiny. No problems will prevent you from recieving God's promises in this season of your life. I am letting you know that what was was, but what was aint no more! This is your season, this is your time, This is your moment.Don't miss it, Dont let it go by. If God said it, it is so! Act like it.</p>
Chapter of of my 2nd Book First Thing First; Tithing, Giving and Stewardship in the Local Church
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-08-23:916966:BlogPost:947333
2009-08-23T23:02:13.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
Chapter 2<br />
The Word and the Mind<br />
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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”<br />
Psalm 119:111<br />
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“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds that ye may prove what is that good and perfect and acceptable will of God is.”<br />
Romans 12:2<br />
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Attitude is defined by Merriam Webster as “a mental position or feeling in regard to a fact or a state.” As we have seen, our attitude plays a major role in how we view our responsibilities towards stewardship. I…
Chapter 2<br />
The Word and the Mind<br />
<br />
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”<br />
Psalm 119:111<br />
<br />
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds that ye may prove what is that good and perfect and acceptable will of God is.”<br />
Romans 12:2<br />
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Attitude is defined by Merriam Webster as “a mental position or feeling in regard to a fact or a state.” As we have seen, our attitude plays a major role in how we view our responsibilities towards stewardship. I have discovered that any type of attitude is infectious regardless to whether it is positive, negative, or indifferent. This is why it is critical that every leader (whether in official or unofficial capacity is irrelevant) in every church have the best attitudes possible concerning the work of Christ and His local church. Negative attitudes without fail create division and schisms within the church. Left unchecked and undisciplined they spread like a cancerous tumor, destroying every live cell in its path. Eventually the church becomes a spiritually empty shell of its true biblical self and ends up having the testimony of the church of Sardis in the book of Revelation “thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead.” (Revelation 3:1)<br />
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Indifferent attitudes cause the work of God to languish unfinished. Negative attitudes will turn your best workers into critics, complainers, and criticizers. Our attitudes are formed in our minds, often conditioned and cultivated by our environment and circumstances but rest and rule in our hearts. One preacher said it best that the problem of the church today is “stinking thinking.” Whatever our mindset, eventually seeps its way into our heart. How rightly the Proverb writer declares:<br />
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For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…<br />
Proverbs 23:7 AMP<br />
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Negative and indifferent attitudes always form strongholds in those who possess them. Being able to admit you have a negative or indifferent attitude towards the work of God, the word of God, and your stewardship responsibilities is more than half of the battle! Once that is done if we will only submit ourselves totally to the Word of God, we will be delivered and on our way to being in right standing with God. Joyce Meyer in her book Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in your Mind comes right out of the starting block with this powerful statement concerning the power of the mind and one’s attitude…<br />
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“You can not have a positive life and a negative mind.” (pg 27)<br />
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Once a negative or indifferent attitude is entrenched as a stronghold in your life the devil will not give up that prime real estate too easily. Remember the servant we discussed in the last chapter in St. Matthew 25 had already made up his mind about the character of his master (thou art a hard man) and his negative attitude about his master led him down the path to a place called fear (therefore I was afraid). Strongholds in the lives of believer’s can only be broken by the power of Jesus Christ as we learn to submit ourselves to His Holy Word. Therefore it is of primary importance to preach and teach the Word of the Lord not only concerning our proper stewardship but our mindset as well.<br />
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“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”<br />
2 Corinthians 10:4-5<br />
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It is in the Word of the Lord that we discover that satan attacks our mind. That is his primary and favorite place to battle the saints of God. This is why Paul tells us not only that we are not to be ignorant of satan’s devices, (2 Corinthians 2:11) but we are to have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) Our minds are to be renewed day by day through the transforming power and process of God’s word. As we meditate on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8) our minds are to be shaped by what God says. However our adversary has other plans. The devil attacks our thinking, twisting and distorting the scriptures and our view of them and challenges believers in their knowledge of the Word of God directly.<br />
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“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted through the simplicity that is in Christ.”<br />
2 Corinthians 11:3<br />
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The devil tends to make us focus on the failings of people instead of having faith in God’s word. He reduces us to debating the power of the Word of God on whether we should follow a person(s) teachings because we “don’t like” them. Like is an attitudinal emotion as well. We are commanded to be people of the spirit and dealing with spiritual things and solving problems through the power of the spirit. But the devil convinces us to leave that lofty level and fight it out on the carnal level. So there we go fighting and debating way beneath the level where we are supposed to operate. We have reduced the power of Christ to rule and reign in the church, based on the strength of our personality conflicts with each other. That is where the problem lies.<br />
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“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”<br />
Romans 8:6<br />
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As saints of the most High God, we must rest absolutely on the authority of the scriptures. For too long we have mitigated the Word to make friends and not to offend our friends in the church. It is from the Word of God that we get our direction, not from our personal opinions. Opinions of the saints while valuable mean positively nothing when it comes to what “thus sayeth the Lord” for the people of God. The Apostle Paul already answered this argument for us when he declared:<br />
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“Let God be true, but every man a liar”<br />
Romans 3:4<br />
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If we have problems reconciling the absolute authority of the scriptures in churches that are supposed to honor and serve Christ, then we need to get that straight, or stop calling ourselves His church. It is time for the church of God to stop being a social club and become the church that Christ wants to use to bless this world and glorify His name here on earth. That will never happen until we return to the Bible as the authority in our churches, and throw out any and every policy, document, rulebook, guideline, constitution, or agreement that in any way contradicts, constrains, or corrupts God’s Word.<br />
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I believe in the power of His Word to change lives, and set wrongs right. I believe His word is still “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” (Psalm 119:105) However if we who preach it, teach it, and attempt to lead God’s people in it do not believe in it’s power then we need to find a new line of work immediately.<br />
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So it all comes full circle. Positive attitude must start with the pastors and ministers before you can even rightly expect that the leadership and the rest of the church will catch that positive attitude. No matter how bad it has been, wipe that slate clean. Check your attitude and begin to stand on the Word of God. Get your mind renewed. Believe again. Dream again. Write the Vision and make it plain. Be positive.<br />
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Who does not remember the children’s story from our youth, The Little Engine that Could? The continual positive attitude of the Engine…I think I can…I think I can…I think I can…eventually turned into…I know I can…I know I can…I know I can! Not only did this display of a positive attitude bless the engine and encourage him throughout his struggle, but every car that he pulled behind him. They were the immediate benefactors of his positive attitude. If you become a positive agent for change, you will infect some one else with your enthusiasm. Let your entire congregation be filled with a positive attitude about God and His Holy Word.<br />
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“….and these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently….”<br />
Deuteronomy 6:6-7a
Faking Christianity - News Article from 2006
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-07-11:916966:BlogPost:864675
2009-07-11T18:30:00.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
Faking Christianity<br />
Bishop D. S. Briggs<br />
Rehoboth Covenant Ministries International<br />
(919) 926 - 9672<br />
<br />
Question: “I feel like I’m just going through the motions with God. I lift and clap my hands on Sunday because everyone else does, but I don’t feel anything like I used to. How can I get back to a real relationship, like I had before?”<br />
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Response: In the story of the Prodigal Son(s) found in St. Luke 15, we find two sons who could be defined as prodigals. One was prodigal in his actions and the…
Faking Christianity<br />
Bishop D. S. Briggs<br />
Rehoboth Covenant Ministries International<br />
(919) 926 - 9672<br />
<br />
Question: “I feel like I’m just going through the motions with God. I lift and clap my hands on Sunday because everyone else does, but I don’t feel anything like I used to. How can I get back to a real relationship, like I had before?”<br />
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Response: In the story of the Prodigal Son(s) found in St. Luke 15, we find two sons who could be defined as prodigals. One was prodigal in his actions and the other was prodigal in his attitude. The son who went down and spent his inheritance on riotous living eventually became destitute and alienated from what he knew. At his lowest point when he came to himself he rehearsed the statement he would give to his Father “I am no longer worthy to be called your son make me as one of thy hired servants” yet when he returned home, the Father would not let him utter these final words “make me as one of thy hired servants.” Why? Because even though he felt like he was no longer worthy of the Father-Son relationship, the Father knew that although he may have stopped behaving, and stopped believing, he still belonged, in spite of how he felt.<br />
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Beloved, it is a dangerous thing to give into our feelings, especially when it comes to the things of God. We are challenged in Hebrews 12:6 "to walk by faith and not by sight." Our feelings can easily be manipulated, misinterpreted and massaged to work against the things that the Lord is trying to develop in our lives to produce lasting fruit for His glory. Every storm is seasonal and every trial is temporary but your relationship with God is for eternity, in spite of how we may feel for a moment. Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV declares “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.”<br />
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When we give into our feelings we are making a contractual agreement to live beneath the level of victorious living that the Lord has ordained for our lives. Feelings if left unchecked become the handholds and footholds that the Adversary uses to entrench himself in your life to establish a stronghold. Suffice it to say that many would not be dealing with the strongholds they now face in their life, if they had not given place and authority to their feelings. So if the handholds and footholds can not be established, neither can the stronghold.<br />
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There is a major difference in Churchianity and Christianity. With God there is no faking it until you make it. Either you have it or you don’t. One can not truly “fake” Christianity, but they can fake churchianity really well. Churchianity is anything we do in the name of God that has become disconnected from God’s intent for our lives. In essence the form takes precedence over the function. This can be seen in the worship of buildings that can not save, glorification of committees that do not function spiritually and correctly, rigidly following a program or bulletin without leaving room for the Holy Spirit to flow freely, or as you pose the outward manifestations of worship when one’s heart is moved away from the relationship it has with God Is it possible that what you view as going through the motions has become a new tradition in your worship experience with God? Certain actions observed in modern day worship …the lifting of hands, shouting of praise, laying on of hands, speaking in unknown tongues, can become a model of Churchianity if uprooted from their Biblical context or separated from it’s true meaning to the worshipper.<br />
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To insure you keep that precious gift within you, let me suggest the following plan of action:<br />
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The thing we must do is to seek God. Isaiah 55:6 declares “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” The statement raised by the Angel of the Lord on Resurrection Morning has powerful relevance for your dilemma. The angel declares in St. Matthew 28:5 “Fear not ye; For I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.” The Angel knew that they were seeking Jesus. To some this may sound simplistic but to me it is profound and relevant in today’s society. Because we are a generation that is constantly seeking a sign, but not the Savior…a miracle, but not the Master…Deliverance without becoming a Disciple, anointing without the Almighty, and joy without Jesus! Jesus himself declared to those that would hear in St. Luke 11:29 ESV “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Even in our moments of worship are we truly seeking God or are we simply seeking what God gives? A constant refrain in our fellowship is that if we would seek the heart of God we can always get what is in His hand.<br />
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Seeking God must be a priority in your life. I submit it must be the number one priority in your life. Until that is number one everything else will suffer from being out of order. How can we honestly declare like Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane “Thy will be done” if we truly do not know what His will is? We will never know what His will is, if we do not send time with Him and His word. As we spend time in fellowship and communion with Him, the connection is strengthened and our commitment inevitably grows deeper. The Apostle Paul states “that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.” (Philippians 3:11) Knowing God comes from first seeking after God. The Word of God declares “Seek and ye shall find.” Seek the Lord, Saints.<br />
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Seeking God is not a Sunday only proposition, it is a daily devotion. We love Him because He first loved us. (I John 4:19) We spend quality time with those we love. We speak the same language and embrace the same goals. We should set aside a daily time of devotions with God. This is a quiet time where you can be alone with God and communicate the innermost parts of your heart. Reading the Scriptures, singing songs, praying, and most importantly listening to God deepens our relationship with God and ensures we are not merely going through the motions.<br />
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There is a well known song by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson that is entitled <i>The Closer I Get to You.</i> One of the verses goes:<br />
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The Closer I get to you<br />
The more you make me feel<br />
By giving you all I’ve got<br />
Your Love has Captured me.<br />
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How appropriate would that be beloved, if this described our affection, attraction, and attachment to God. I humbly submit, that if you seek Him like this, with your whole heart you will find Him every time.<br />
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I.) Seek God Through His Word<br />
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“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to they word.” (Psalm 119:6 KJV) Many today seek diligently after a spoken word from God but reject the written word of God they have before them. They run from church to church and prophet to prophet trying to get a deeper, stronger, life transforming word, yet ignore the 774,746 words contained in the Holy Bible. They listen to mortal flesh expound upon the Scriptures, but dare not go to the Scriptures themselves. May I be as bold as to suggest that this is laziness concealed by a host of spiritual sounding excuses. When we read the Word of God it is to know more about the loving God that inspired the book to be written, not a mere template to get more material possessions. The Psalmist states “thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” It is through the Word of God we are drawn to become more like him, transforming our minds, disciplining our body, and establishing our goings. It is God’s Word that strengthens us, sustains us and succors us. It is God’s Word that Jesus declared would never pass away.<br />
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II.) Seek God Through Our Worship<br />
“For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” (St John 4:24 NLT) The act of worship does start at the opening strains of the introit, or with the opening notes of the choir. Worship is not dependent on whether or not the musician is on time to play. Worship starts the moment God opens your eyes to see a brand new day, allows you to function in this realm to accomplish His will. It is more than praise but it is the sign that one has truly connected and committed to the Lord. It is the outpouring of a love affair of your soul with God. When true worship occurs you can not cut it off because the bulletin calls for the welcome or announcements. Those who do not worship in private will never worship in public. If you do not worship at home, you will not worship when you come to church.<br />
There are those who can only worship when all is well in their life. This is conditional worship that I contend is not worship at all but praise for a safe season of life. When your worship is genuine you can worship your way through whatever you are dealing with. Rick Warren writes in <i>The Purpose Driven Church</i> “In genuine worship God’s presence is felt, God’s pardon is offered, God’s purposes are revealed, and God’s power is displayed.” Saints of God you must have more than a “yet praise” (Habakkuk 3:18) you must have an “in the midst of” worship! (St. Matthew 8:2)<br />
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III.) Seek God Through His Witnesses(s)<br />
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“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25) One of the chief purposes of our fellowshipping together as fellow sojourners in the way of God is to encourage each other in the things of God. We are to help each other along the way and strengthen each other to maintain our faith. This is why no matter how you may feel you must continue to press your way to the household of faith. The devil would do his best to disconnect you during your time of not feeling what you think you should to send you off wandering in search of a feeling and not God. This is what plagues many “church hoppers.” Through our fellowship with one another we are to build each other up in our most holy faith. In moments like you are now experiencing you need to bond together with fellow believers who have been where you currently are. It is through this process of caring and sharing together that we get stronger. Proverbs 27:17 NLT states “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.”<br />
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We Seek God for:<br />
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I.) Direction<br />
A.) Way to Go<br />
B.) How to Go<br />
C.) When to Go<br />
II.) Development…Planned progress in pursuit of the plan<br />
A.) Spiritual and Secular<br />
B.) Personal and Professional<br />
C.) Ministry and Mindset<br />
III.) Discipline<br />
A.) Correction<br />
B.) Control<br />
IV.) Deployment<br />
A.) Let Go<br />
B.) Launch Out<br />
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““Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard lest we drift away from it” Hebrews 2:1 ESV
For the Work of the Kingdom (Cont)
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-03-09:916966:BlogPost:496996
2009-03-09T01:44:06.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
Last in this series:<br />
<br />
Lesson # 5<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
Lesson # 5<br />
<br />
Living<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.,<br />
<br />
Ephesians 4:22 - 32<br />
Background scripture: St. Matthew 5: 1-16<br />
Memory verse: Galatians 2:20<br />
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“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”<br />
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Perhaps the most challenging aspect of these series of lessons is not…
Last in this series:<br />
<br />
Lesson # 5<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
Lesson # 5<br />
<br />
Living<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.,<br />
<br />
Ephesians 4:22 - 32<br />
Background scripture: St. Matthew 5: 1-16<br />
Memory verse: Galatians 2:20<br />
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“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”<br />
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Perhaps the most challenging aspect of these series of lessons is not unlike the swing of a golfer: to learn how to follow through and follow through! It should be and must be the determination of the disciples of the Lord to follow through what we have learned and make it an active part of our daily lives. It is not enough for the saint to merely acknowledge that we have received inspirational information and transformative thinking; but to accept it, and to assimilate it as well. Strongholds exist in our lives as well as in the lives of our churches. These will remain, whenever we refuse to accept spiritual information and education, and change our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit! Far too many believers reject what they hear based on the authority that brings the Word, (preacher, Pastor, teacher, parent, workshop leader, spouse, etc) or the effect that accepting that word will have to our carnal nature. (it cramps our style) How well the Apostle Paul declares emphatically to the church at Rome…<br />
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“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”<br />
Romans 8:5-6<br />
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It is imperative that if the church is going to make a difference in this world that we take information filtered by the truth of God’s word, tried by His precious Holy Spirit, and to implement it in our daily lives. Until we change, the church will never change. A good axiom to remember is…<br />
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In other words…”What good is it,” or “What is the point?” The process<br />
of implementation, or ”follow through” is the true test of whether or not we have truly heard the voice of the Lord, and have been convicted by the power of His Holy Spirit to change our lives for Him. Do we follow through?<br />
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Numerous sermons have been preached, Bible Studies taught, Workshops held, and conferences convened to share with the Body of Christ the inescapable truth of God’s word. Word studies, and books abound at every turn. The advance of the information age and technological advances bring information to us in mere seconds. Yet there is an overpowering, overwhelming apathy that borders on rebellion. (Read Ezekiel Chapter 2) We fail in bringing our lives into the conformity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
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How? We fail to bring our lives in submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas. Either He is Lord over all of your life, or none of it. Which is it? Simply put, there is no service to Christ, without first submission to Christ. We do not practice what we preach, possess what we pray, stand on what we sing. We are not governed by how we give, nor touched by what we teach. We proudly point out the mote in our brother’s eyes, and invariably ignore the beam in our own eyes…we throw rocks, forgetting we are standing in a rock quarry. We are quick to find fault in others, while our faults are full and flowing. Like our forefathers and mothers have said…”We talk the talk, but do not walk the walk.” This has also been called…hypocrisy.<br />
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Hypocrisy is when one who knows what is right, and has been taught what is right, refuses (power of choice) to heed biblical instruction. Continually practicing and performing that which is wrong in the sight of Almighty God, then having the audacity to make erroneous justification for their sins. It is living contrary to what standards one is teaching, preaching, singing, praying, ministering, or shouting about. Like a pig that wallows in the mud and enjoys it immensely, hypocrisy is wallowing in sin and enjoying it. Although the talk may be spiritually inclined, the walk is carnally motivated.<br />
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How do excuses hinder your spiritual development? How does this affect the growth/development of the ministry at your local church?<br />
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It is because of such blatant hypocrisy that the church has diminished its ability to impact the world in a positive manner, and transform the world for Christ. We are called by Christ to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (cf St. Matthew 5:13 – 16) We are in the world, but not of the world, so that we might change the world. We should be inspiring the world to be more like the Christ and His Church. Instead we are trying to be more like the world. The world sees our shortcomings, failures, and sin and says pointedly…<br />
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”You can’t say anything to me…just look at yourselves…straighten yourself up first, live the life (at least try), love each other, follow the Bible you teach and preach, then come to me. If it (the Word) can’t transform you, how do you expect it to transform me?”<br />
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The issue is we choose not to straighten up ourselves. We have allowed the adversary to implant negative thoughts on submission to anyone in our spirits, thereby fostering a movement called secular humanism right in the church. Modern day believers in attempting not to appear “holier than thou” have swung all the way to the other side of the pendulum, believing that we can live however we desire to live, just as long as we get it right before we die. Sadly this writer has often heard it said by many professing believers that if we could not have any fun (sin) down here, then we might as well curl up and die. The Apostle Peter says of such carnal thinking, even among professing believers…<br />
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“Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.”<br />
I Peter 4:4<br />
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If God meant for us to live like that, I am quite sure He would have told us so in His Word. Rather than get mad at God or the author for putting a damper on the “carnal party”, we need to repent. There is no valid excuse for us not living the life that God calls us to live.<br />
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What is your choice?<br />
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It is time for the body of Christ to live lives that glorify God.<br />
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Let’s look at the text.<br />
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Ø Vs#21…If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:<br />
Ø Vs#22…That ye put off concerning the former conversation of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;<br />
Ø Vs#23…And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;<br />
Ø Vs#24…And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created In righteousness and true holiness.<br />
Ø Vs#25…Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man, truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.<br />
Ø Vs#26…Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:<br />
Ø Vs#27…Neither give place to the devil.<br />
Ø Vs#28…Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.<br />
Ø Vs#29…Let no corrupt communications proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.<br />
Ø Vs#30…And grieve not the Holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.<br />
Ø Vs#31…Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:<br />
Ø Vs#32…And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.<br />
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I.) Paul Challenges their Reception of Spiritual Instruction<br />
- If so be that ye have heard…<br />
- If…have been taught by Him<br />
A.) Hearing is both aural and spiritual<br />
B.) Hearing demands response and responsibility<br />
C.) The spirit of the Lord will lead us into all truth<br />
II.) Paul Commends their Response to Spiritual Instruction<br />
A.) Put off the old man<br />
1.) you must make the choice to take it off<br />
2.) The old man is both corrupt and deceitful<br />
-when a virus enters a computer it corrupts files<br />
B.) Put on the New man<br />
1.) whenever you take something away, you must replace it with something better and more blessed.<br />
III.) Paul Commands their Respect of Spiritual Instruction<br />
a.) How does one grieve the Holy Spirit? One way is certain - by not walking in the truth, when it has been revealed.<br />
b.) Put away all evil<br />
c.) Be kind to all, and forgive each other.<br />
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Concluding thoughts:<br />
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If you were to purchase a new automobile, and you lived in the state of Alaska, air conditioning would not be a very necessary option. Having it would only be a mere convenience. However if you lived in Texas where there are usually double digits days of temperatures reaching 100 degrees or more, air conditioning is a must. Well it is the same way with living what we have learned. It is not an option, or a nice idea. It is mandatory.<br />
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In the language of the streets, the younger generation would casually banter back and forth the ebonical question…”How ya livin? “ to which one would reply “I’m livin large, livin single, livin fine, livin for the moment or just livin day by day.”<br />
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The challenge is for all of God’s children to live for Jesus. Every day - every moment - every opportunity. Glorify God in your body and spirit.<br />
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“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.”<br />
Romans 12:1
For the Work of the Kingdom (Cont)
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-03-09:916966:BlogPost:496972
2009-03-09T01:24:35.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
We are the Family of God<br />
Lesson # 4<br />
<br />
Lifting<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.<br />
<br />
Psalm 107: 1-8<br />
Background Scripture:<br />
Psalm 100<br />
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:9<br />
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“but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”<br />
<br />
The story is told of a destitute woman who had come to know the<br />
Lord and the pardon of her sins. Excited about her newly found faith…desirous to share…
We are the Family of God<br />
Lesson # 4<br />
<br />
Lifting<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.<br />
<br />
Psalm 107: 1-8<br />
Background Scripture:<br />
Psalm 100<br />
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:9<br />
<br />
“but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”<br />
<br />
The story is told of a destitute woman who had come to know the<br />
Lord and the pardon of her sins. Excited about her newly found faith…desirous to share with the fellowship of God’s people, she hastily made her way to a local church on Sunday morning. Each song that the choir sang seemed to minister directly to her spirit. The prayers touched her very soul! By the time the preacher stood up to preach she could barely contain herself any longer. When the preacher said something she agreed with she shouted “Amen”! People turned around and looked glaringly at her but she didn’t even see them, for she was so focused on listening to the word of God.<br />
<br />
When he said something else she agreed with she screamed ”Thank you Jesus”! Folks around her began to mumble under their breath about this loud stranger who was interrupting their “quiet time of meditation” with the Lord. How dare she! Where did she come from? Finally she jumped up, waving both hands wildly in the air, tears streaming down her face and saying …”Praise the Lord! Lord I thank You!” At this latest and loudest outburst as official looking church official, rapidly came up to her seat and fiercely whispered…<br />
<br />
“Madam, I must ask you to sit down and be quiet so we can think on what the man up there is saying!!! If you can not be quiet we will usher you out of this service.” A look of sincere shock crossed her face as she sat down. She tried to keep quiet, but as she thought on what the Lord has brought her out of she began to loudly lift her voice once again in praise. This brought the official back to her pew, with a fellow companion. He whispered more firmly this time…<br />
<br />
“Miss…one more sound out of you, and we will escort you out of this service”. The lady looked at him with tears rolling down her face and said…”I am sorry…I did not mean to disturb anyone…but I am just so happy and free since I found the Lord.” As this official turned to go he said ”Lady, you may have found the lord, but you sure did not find him here!”<br />
<br />
While we may laugh at the outcome of this little story, the sad truth is too many of us can also attest to its truthfulness. Many Christians of various denominational backgrounds have struggled with the legitimacy of praise in the morning worship. Strangely however we do not question its legitimacy in our private life, cars, homes, jobs, etc. Only at church, and particularly the morning worship hour does the issue of praise – its place and legitimacy rear it’s divisive head.<br />
<br />
Questions are raised at churches across the world on this issue. Questions like:<br />
<br />
· What constitutes praise?<br />
· When is it sincere?<br />
· If praise is genuine how is it called out of order when it disrupts a program?<br />
· Who can truly offer praise?<br />
· Why can’t I praise God in my own way?<br />
· Is praise decent and in order?<br />
· If my praise is quiet, then is it true?<br />
<br />
This issue has become so divisive that churches have literally split because of it. In many churches choirs and praise teams have been formed to allow and promote praise as being not only biblical and spiritual, but viable as well. New denominations and “specialty churches” been formed that favor and foster praise as the “modus operandi” and not the occasional happenstance occurrence. (ex: Full Gospel Baptist, Non denominational, Charismatic) Many members of the Body of Christ move from one local church to another, trying to find an atmosphere of praise. A church where they can freely lift their sacrificial<br />
offerings of praise to God, without visual or verbal condemnation of those who declare both by attitude and actions, and if necessary by vote ”we don’t do that here so you better not do it either”.<br />
<br />
ü Psalm 150:6 … Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.<br />
<br />
The Psalms are a collection of songs. Compiled by several authors, they span the panoply of human emotion. However, we quickly discover that regardless of man’s condition, the psalmists overwhelmingly challenge the hearers of these songs to give praise to god. In spite of our physical condition, in spite of our emotional condition, in spite of our location…we are commanded, challenged, and convinced to always give praise to god. In reading the psalms we find out that there is only one group of people who are not mandated by God to give praise to God:<br />
<br />
ü Psalm 115: 17 – 18…The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord<br />
<br />
In reading the scripture we find no group exempt from this command:<br />
Ø Angels…………..……………………………………………….Psalm 148:2<br />
Ø Gentiles……………………………………………………….Romans 15:11<br />
Ø Heaven and earth…………………….……………………..…Psalm 69:34<br />
Ø Kings…………………………………………………………….Psalm 138:4<br />
Ø Poor and Needy………………………………………………..Psalm 74:21<br />
Ø Nations……………………………………………………….…Psalm 117:1<br />
Ø Servants……………...…………………………………………Psalm 135:1<br />
Ø All people…………………………………………………………Psalm 67:3<br />
<br />
Let’s review the text:<br />
<br />
Ø Vs # 1…O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever<br />
Ø Vs # 2 …Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy<br />
Ø Vs # 3 …And gathered them from out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south<br />
Ø Vs # 4 …They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way: they found no city to dwell in<br />
Ø Vs # 5 …hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.<br />
Ø Vs # 6 …THEN they cried unto the lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses<br />
Ø Vs # 7 … and he led them forth by the right way, that they might go forth to a city of habitation<br />
Ø Vs # 8 …Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and his wonderful works to the children of men.<br />
<br />
I.) The Platform of the Disciple<br />
A.) Hear his request; “Give thanks to the Lord” Why?<br />
1.) His eternal goodness<br />
2.) His enduring mercy<br />
B.) Hear his reason: he has been redeemed!!!<br />
1.) Praise must be personal to be powerful<br />
2.) He recognized where he was, and who had him<br />
<br />
Disciple - one who is a devoted follower of another. One who submits to their teachings and tenets; brings their life under the subjection and scrutiny of the same; promotes through practice and principle the teaching of whomever or whatever they follow.<br />
***from this we understand that it is only the disciple of the Lord that recognizes his personal relationship with God, and knows (there is no conflict in his/her mind, body, soul, or spirit…they know) that he has been redeemed that can offer true praise unto god. Redeemed from self, satan, sin and the shifting standards of this society. Redeemed by the shed blood of the holy Lamb of God.<br />
<br />
II.) The prayer of the disciple<br />
A.) Their delay in prayer “then”<br />
B.) The direction of prayer “unto the Lord”<br />
C.) Their deliverance through prayer<br />
1.) The Lord heard them<br />
2.) The Lord delivered them<br />
3.) The Lord led them<br />
4.) The Lord prepared a place for them<br />
<br />
***Can anything be clearer than this? It is obvious from this text that prayer and praise go together. Praise quite often comes as a result to answered prayer. The challenge is to learn from this text not to let our problems overwhelm us in life, before we call on the Lord!!! Don’t wait until it goes from bad to worse. If it ever starts to turn from good to bad, a child of God should be in earnest prayer to their heavenly Father. Better still, is to maintain vigilence in our prayer life no matter how life is treating us at that moment.<br />
<br />
III.) The proclamation of the disciple<br />
A.) Excitement of the writer<br />
B.) Emphasis of the writer<br />
C.) Exasperation of the writer<br />
<br />
Concluding thought: The house of worship should also be a house of praise! In spite of our situations, we should still be able to offer up a “yet praise”! (cf: Habakkuk 3:17 – 19) God’s House is the place where we come together to celebrate the goodness of the Lord in the atmosphere of expectancy! We can praise God for our past experiences, our present experience and our future expectations. Let’s be a people who follow the advice and admonition of the Hebrew writer who declared ”By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”.(Hebrews 13:15)<br />
<br />
“I will bless the lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth”<br />
Psalm 34:1
For the Work of the Kingdom (Cont)
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-03-09:916966:BlogPost:496969
2009-03-09T01:22:33.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
Lesson # 3<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
Lesson # 3<br />
Loving<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.<br />
<br />
I John 4:7-8; 10-11;20-21<br />
Background Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13<br />
Memory Verse: St. John 15: 12 - 14<br />
<br />
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.”<br />
<br />
Much has been taught in these last days about the mark of the beast. Found in the…
Lesson # 3<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
Lesson # 3<br />
Loving<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.<br />
<br />
I John 4:7-8; 10-11;20-21<br />
Background Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13<br />
Memory Verse: St. John 15: 12 - 14<br />
<br />
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.”<br />
<br />
Much has been taught in these last days about the mark of the beast. Found in the book of the revelation of john, this mark is how we are told to be able to identify the anti-christ when he is come. Through the Apostle John’s writings we are given a glimpse into the place, presence and power of the anti-christ. It is through this mark of identification that we are informed how to avoid his demonic system when it appears. Without this mark in one’s hand or forehead, no man will be able to sell, or buy. Without this mark, which literally pledges ones life and loyalty to the beast, one will ultimately lose their life. Through this system, “betrayers of the beast” will be killed.<br />
<br />
Frightening, isn’t it? More frightening still is the haunting parallel of what is now simply known as 9/11. Since the gruesome reality of September 11th, 2001, America was violently awakened as a country. Across all political, racial, and socio-economic barriers we now collectively came to understand that there existed and has existed for some time a well-organized group of people in this world who were willing; who had procured the means to sacrifice their lives, in order that they may disrupt and destroy our way of life. By doing so, they would be venerated or honored within their own culture. We discovered that we were no longer “safe” within our own borders from our enemies. We found out that our very liberties had been used to attack us on several levels.<br />
<br />
Since then, one of the methods that has been actively discussed to prevent future attacks of this magnitude is to implant every citizen with a “micro-chip” in their hand…for identification purposes. Of course the carnal mind cannot grasp the implications if such a measure was adopted because they have been blinded by the god of this world (Cf: 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As frightening as this might be for some, I am more concerned about the mark of the believer than the mark of the beast. As believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, every believer must have a mark that biblically identifies us to not only the lord but to each other. This mark of identification is not…<br />
<br />
¨ the cross that hangs around our necks<br />
¨ bracelets or anklets that have a cross on them<br />
¨ A ring that has a cross imbedded in it<br />
¨ Christian apparel<br />
¨ Christian/Gospel music<br />
¨ Bumper stickers<br />
¨ License plates or frames<br />
¨ Religious pictures, prints, or catch phrases<br />
¨ Religious tattoos<br />
¨ Church membership/relationship/or leadership<br />
<br />
What then is the mark of the believer? Love. (cf: 1 John 3:14 – 18)<br />
<br />
The Bible mentions two particular types of love in the New Testament. One is called “phileo”. This is best described as brotherly love. (cf: 1 Corinthians 16:22; Hebrews 13:1) The second type of love is “Agape”. Pure and undefiled love. This is the preeminent type of love spoken of in the New Testament. This is the mark of the Christian that sets us apart from the world and identifies us to each other. No secret codes, handshakes, formulas, procedures, membership numbers, or rituals.<br />
<br />
Simply love.<br />
<br />
Let’s look at the text<br />
<br />
Ø Vs # 7…Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God<br />
Ø Vs # 8…He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love,<br />
Ø Vs # 10…Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins<br />
Ø Vs # 11…Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another<br />
Ø Vs # 20…if a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?<br />
Ø Vs # 21…and this is the commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.<br />
<br />
The apostle John writes to the church at a time when the church and it’s doctrine was under attack by false teachers and the ever tempting lure of worldliness. Gnosticism taught that since all matter was inherently evil, that it was impossible for Christ to take on human form. They also believed that they had revealed to them a “hidden knowledge”, which made them spiritual superior to others in the sense that they were above moral right and wrong. This led to lasciviousness and conduct unbecoming to Christian standards that the early churches taught.<br />
<br />
In addition, Docetism taught that Christ only appeared to take a human form. The end result of both of these doctrines is an absolute denial of the incarnation of Christ. These false doctrines were finding their way into the church. As a result, first John was written to refute these doctrines and to put forth three marks of Christian living:<br />
<br />
ü Righteous Living<br />
ü Love for the Brethren<br />
ü Jesus is the Christ, incarnate and victorious.<br />
<br />
I.) The Relationship………………………………………………….vs # 7 - 11<br />
A.) Spoken to the believer – Beloved<br />
B.) We must have an intimate relationship with Christ<br />
1.) We must be saved and sure<br />
2.) We must submit to the Savior<br />
3.) We must study the Scripture<br />
4.) We must walk in the spirit of Christ<br />
C.) It is through our love we come to truly know God<br />
D.) This love is made possible through the indwelling Christ<br />
E.) God sent his son to be the atonement of our sins<br />
F.) In this God demonstrated his love for us first<br />
<br />
Beloved – this term speaks not only to those that john dearly and deeply loved, but to those who had professed faith in Jesus Christ as the risen Lord. We should not miss the deeper meaning here. If one has not established a personal relationship with the Lord, then they will be spiritually unable to fulfill any of the demands of the gospel.<br />
<br />
II.) The requirement…………………………………………………vs#20 - 21<br />
A.) We must not only love Christ, but love each other<br />
B.) It is impossible to love god, but not our brothers<br />
C.) This love spoken of by John is agape love<br />
1.) Love that is unconditional<br />
2.) Love that is not preferential<br />
3.) Love that is rooted in our love for Christ<br />
D.) Note the cause and effect: “if you hate, you do not love”<br />
<br />
hateth – miseo in the Greek. The word is translated as to detest, loveless, hateful. This is not only by our verbal expressions but through our visual example…not just our attitudes, but our actions as well. This attitude is one every Christian should avoid! (Romans 13:8)<br />
<br />
brother - this term should not be used as a standard of separation. This refers to not only our “brothers” in the faith, but to our sisters, and neighbors as well. Christ himself has declared that…”ye shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…and...thou shall love (agape)thy neighbor as thyself. (Mark 12:30-31)<br />
<br />
Concluding thought:<br />
<br />
So what does love have to do with it? Everything!!! The Bible declares in Psalms 101:7…”He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. If we do not love each other as Christ commanded, and still say “We love God.” We are found to be liars based on the word of God. If found to be liars, we have no right to expect to dwell in the presence of the Lord, not to enjoy the benefits of being one of God’s children. (Romans 13:10)<br />
<br />
How sad that the church would rather block the blessings of God by holding onto hate for their brothers and sisters, rather than forgive and love, which is the proper Christian way to live. The church of the living God should be a place where the love of Christ carries the order of the day. All things should be done in love, by love, with love and through love. This is what Paul means when he writes to the church at Corinth “If I have not love, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”. (I Corinthians 13:1)<br />
<br />
“by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”<br />
St. John 13:35
For the Work of the Kingdom (Cont)
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-03-09:916966:BlogPost:496967
2009-03-09T01:21:43.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
Lesson # 2<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
<br />
Lesson # 2<br />
Learning<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.,<br />
<br />
2 Timothy 2:14 - 17<br />
Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-12<br />
Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:14-15<br />
<br />
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind and doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive…but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even…
Lesson # 2<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
<br />
Lesson # 2<br />
Learning<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.,<br />
<br />
2 Timothy 2:14 - 17<br />
Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-12<br />
Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:14-15<br />
<br />
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind and doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive…but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”<br />
<br />
Help!!!<br />
<br />
Listen carefully and you can hear the desperate cries for assistance coming from the young preacher we have come to know as timothy. After spending some time in the ministry there at Ephesus, Timothy undoubtedly was shaken at how pervasive false doctrine had entrenched and entwined itself with the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Public worship of the true and living God had been “mixed” in with worship from the Temple of Artemis (Diana). There was an absence of qualified family members to entrust with the leadership responsibilities of this new ministry. The church’s initial excitement and efforts to evangelize their community for Christ has given way to discouragement. The dreams of following faithfully in the footsteps of his father in the ministry have been turned into nightmares by what he has seen and heard. I can almost hear Timothy screaming, ”they need Jesus, but they don’t want Jesus!”<br />
<br />
His cry is the cry of many preachers and pastors, evangelists and teachers, leaders and laity alike 2000 years later. The ever rising frustration of trying to preach and teach Christ in a culture and sometimes within a church that either minimizes his influence and teachings, or water them down because they can not bear the full strength of the gospel. The inability to cultivate sound, consistent, and systemic spiritual leadership because the vast majority of leadership models that has been produced in the church and practiced by the church have been carnal in nature. Particularly offensive is the combining of two or three different theological teachings or platforms, so as not to offend anybody and yet please everybody. This buffet line approach to the gospel (I’ll take a little bit of this… a lot of that…I don’t want none of that…maybe I’ll come back and get that later if I still have room…etc.) is nothing new, for this is the same problem that Timothy faced. It is to these problems, Paul shares of his wisdom to encourage and empower Timothy for ministry there at Ephesus.<br />
<br />
The apostle Paul writes to his son in the ministry Timothy, who has<br />
been given the first charge of pastoring the fledgling church at Ephesus. Paul gives great wisdom on the practice, purpose, and primacy of studying the word of God. Written from a prison cell, awaiting the sound of the footsteps that would eventually lead Paul to his death, the aged apostle writes this epistle of encouragement to this young pastor. Although it seems to be tucked away midway through his letter, it’s physical position in the letter does not diminish the power of Paul’s words. The key thought of Paul to Timothy seems to be one of perseverance.<br />
<br />
Throughout the second chapter of second Timothy, Paul lists several characteristics of a faithful servant/minister. These are…<br />
· Discipling teacher…………………………………………………….verses 1-2<br />
· Single minded soldier……………………………………...…..…….verses 3-5<br />
· Enduring husbandman………………………...…………………...verses 6-13<br />
· Diligent workman………….…………………………..….……….verses 14-19<br />
· Sanctified vessel…………………………….……………….……verses 20-23<br />
· Gentle servant……………………………………………………..verses 24-26<br />
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Let’s look at the diligent workman aspect of second Timothy chapter two.<br />
<br />
2 Timothy 2:14 – 19<br />
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Ø vs# 14… of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.<br />
Ø Vs# 15…Study to shew thyself approved unto god, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.<br />
Ø Vs# 16…but shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness.<br />
Ø Vs# 17 …and their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is hymenaeus and philetus.<br />
<br />
I.) Our Responsibility before the Lord<br />
A.) Hold onto sound teaching and doctrine<br />
1.) Psalm 119: 93<br />
2.) St. Matthew 4:4<br />
3.) 2 Timothy 3:16-17<br />
B.) Avoid subversive teaching and doctrine<br />
1.) St. Matthew 7:15-20<br />
2.) Jeremiah 11:18 –19<br />
3.) 2 Timothy 2:18-19<br />
4.) Jude 17 - 21<br />
<br />
How does one accurately know which doctrines(s) are of God? Which preacher or teacher is telling us the truth? Which church or ministry truly points the way to God? 2 Timothy 2:15 gives us the requirement and responsibility of every believer.<br />
<br />
Study!<br />
<br />
The word in the greek language of the text is the word “spoudazo.” Translated it means to be prompt, earnest, endeavor… To give diligent attention to not only the scriptures but to self. This is an intensive approach to the scriptures and not a mere skimming over the surface. It is going to the depth of the item of study and discovering where its roots lie, and in what type of ground does the roots reside. Simply put, it is asking the following of every text…<br />
<br />
¨ Who?<br />
¨ What?<br />
¨ Where?<br />
¨ When?<br />
¨ Why?<br />
¨ How does this apply to me?<br />
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To relinquish this aspect of our personal study of the word of God off onto the preacher/pastor and to accept at face value what he/she says without any research of our own has undeniably increased the proliferation of religious misinformation that pervades our churches today. Almost to the point we will not hear the truth, because we will rather believe a lie because of who we heard the lie from.<br />
<br />
Shew thyself…<br />
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This has an implication of inspection in it. The only way to properly shew one’s self truly competent in any area is to actually do it. It is not just quoting and toting the Scripture but living it out in our daily lives. Our Verbal Expressions of Christianity mean absolutely nothing without our Vital Example. To not just talk the talk but to walk the walk. All else is sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.<br />
<br />
Approved unto God…<br />
<br />
The purpose of our study is not to show off the amount of knowledge that we have attained, not to demonstrate to others that we have been studying. Rather it is to be drawn into a more intimate relationship with God, and to seek his approval of this mark of our stewardship concerning his word. The Lord alone gives the affirmation of his approval, and this to his children, not to others.<br />
<br />
Workman that needeth not to be ashamed…<br />
<br />
A workman (ergates) is one that has not only competence but confidence. His confidence comes not only in the tools of his trade, but also in his ability to use them in an appropriate manner. One that is sure of himself that he can adeptly handle whatever comes his way, concerning his vocation because he has been trained, and seeks continued training day by day.<br />
<br />
Rightly dividing the word of truth…<br />
<br />
There is a point of dissemination that must occur with the word of God. There is both a right way and a wrong way to divide it. One that has been elevated to the status of a workman does not wrest the scriptures to his destruction, nor to the downfall of others. (cf: 2 peter 3:16) They have learned to read and study the text in the context of what has been written. To do otherwise makes it a pre text to say whatever one desires and to advance any agenda as a biblical one.<br />
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Concluding thought:<br />
<br />
It is the responsibility of the one who has studied the word of God, not to enter into discussions of deception, distraction, and determent. (vs # 17) with those that seek to undermine the great work of God. If given the platform to sow their seeds of deception, it will take root and grow in the life of the believer and the church like a cancer. This will always happen until we as the family of God become grounded in the word of God, and it alone becomes the foundation for every ministry and outreach. There is only one preventive medicine out here for this type of deception; study the word of God!!!<br />
<br />
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”<br />
Psalm 119:11
For the Work of the Kingdom (Cont)
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-03-04:916966:BlogPost:483554
2009-03-04T03:30:00.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
Lesson # 1<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
<br />
Lesson #1<br />
We are the Family<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA., ThM., D.Min<br />
<br />
Romans 11:36 – 12:5<br />
Background Scripture: Ephesians 3:14 – 21<br />
Memory verse: Amos 3:3<br />
<br />
The family unit has been attacked! It now lies in a critical state, just barely hanging on for life. Once defined as the bedrock of Christian stability and a shelter from the time of storm. The family was a safe haven and a strong tower. Yes, that was the family. Don’t you remember the good days?…
Lesson # 1<br />
<br />
We are the Family of God<br />
<br />
Lesson #1<br />
We are the Family<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA., ThM., D.Min<br />
<br />
Romans 11:36 – 12:5<br />
Background Scripture: Ephesians 3:14 – 21<br />
Memory verse: Amos 3:3<br />
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The family unit has been attacked! It now lies in a critical state, just barely hanging on for life. Once defined as the bedrock of Christian stability and a shelter from the time of storm. The family was a safe haven and a strong tower. Yes, that was the family. Don’t you remember the good days? When the family was the place for unconditional acceptance, and unconditional love for all its members. It was biblically defined and operated as the structure through which the Lord intended to bless all of his creation. It was through the family that God intended to reveal the order of his creation. But we may be too late. Look closer.<br />
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However the family unit as we know it now lies in intensive care. Look carefully and observe the tubes protruding from all over, monitors flashing, buzzers ringing. Listen. There goes another one. What does it mean? Wounded from the attacks of the adversary. Wounded by friendly fire. Infected by the religious dogma of secular humanism and through media manipulation. All signs point to its demise. The doctor has gathered the remaining family members to tell them that all hope is gone. That there is nothing more that can be done. How did this happen? Why didn’t we catch this earlier? Perhaps we could have taken preventive measures… if not to stave off death, to at least delay its finality, so we could at least get things in order and say goodbye.<br />
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Beloved, we can not say that this a strictly a new millennium occurrence. According to Dr. James Dobson, founder of the group “Focus on the Family”, this current attack on the family first became physically evident in the early 1970’s and was highlighted by a British psychotherapist. This psychotherapist, Dr. David Cooper, argued for the need to abolish the traditional family unit as we know it and to substitute new forms of human relationships. In 1971 new age guru Shirley Maclaine mocked the traditional monogamous family unit, and argued for its dissolution and restructuring into what could only be called polygamous serial relationships. In 1992 Time magazine predicted that in the new millennium, the nuclear family as we know it would soon die.<br />
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Through years of social engineering, we have in effect sanctioned the multiplicity of partners, thereby increasing the amount of children born out of wedlock. As a society in general we have dramatically reduced the need for parents to stay together to raise their children, relying on the government to step in and be the parent.<br />
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This attack is the result of three things that must be dealt with by the power of Almighty God:<br />
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1.) Sin…………………………………………………Psalm 51:3; Galatians 6:7-8<br />
2.) Self………………………………………………...Proverbs 14:12; Acts 5:1-10<br />
3.) Satan………...………………………………………………………I Peter 5:8-9<br />
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Because we have turned away from God as the head of our lives, we have placed our lives under the control of Satan. When we bow to such doctrine as moral relativism and secular humanism, we in effect become our own “god.” This was the charge that the Triune Godhead made of man and woman in the garden. (cf: Genesis 3:22) We choose to sin and live in sin because it is easier than doing the right thing or living the right way.<br />
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Until we get these areas completely under the blood of Jesus Christ, the family unit will never come back together as it should. The family will never operate as the organism of blessing that God intended. We will continue to struggle and live far beneath our privileges.<br />
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It is time to fix the Family!!!<br />
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Lets go to the text.<br />
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Ø Vs#36…For of Him, and through him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.<br />
Ø Vs#1..I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.<br />
Ø Vs#2…And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.<br />
Ø Vs#3..For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.<br />
Ø Vs#4…For as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office:<br />
Ø Vs#5…so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.<br />
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I.) The Divine Right of Ownership<br />
a.) All things exist because of God…………………………………He is the Creator<br />
b.) All things remain because of God………………..……….…He is the Conductor<br />
c.) All things are for the glory of God……………….……………He is the Controller<br />
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II.) The Disciple’s Responsibility to the Owner<br />
A.) Paul implores the brethren<br />
1.) Live a Saved life<br />
2.) Live a Submitted life<br />
3.) Live a Sacrificial Life<br />
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***a life that is truly, thoroughly, and totally submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will never be submitted to anyone, or anything else.***<br />
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B.) Paul instructs the brethren<br />
1.) We must present our bodies for service<br />
- Holy…We must lay down our lives on the altar of god to be consumed by him<br />
- Acceptable…he alone gives us approval of our sacrificial service<br />
- Reasonable…Jesus dies for you, shouldn’t you be living for him?<br />
2.) We must conform our lives to Christ, not to society<br />
- Not just our soul and our spirit<br />
- Through our study of God’s word, our mind can be transformed<br />
- Renew your mind, by thinking what and how God would want you to think<br />
3.) We must live a life of humility before God and men.<br />
- Arrogant thinking and attitudes have no place in the house of God<br />
- Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time<br />
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4.) We must recognize the value of all of God’s children to the whole<br />
- Unity demands respect first, last and always<br />
- There is a difference between adhesive and cohesive unity<br />
- God demands that the family unit have cohesive unity<br />
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Concluding thoughts:<br />
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As we keep on through this particular chapter of Romans we see both the characteristics of the Christian family towards each other, as well as the characteristics of the Christian family towards the world. When we employ these principles, the family will revive!!!<br />
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There were a group of 16 soldiers in the mid 1940’s who had no knowledge of each other. There were just trying their best to serve their country. One by one they were summoned to their commanding officer’s office and given orders to go to Great Lakes, Illinois. When the arrived at the Illinois Naval Facility, these 16 soldiers were told that they were being considered for Officer Training School.<br />
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This was still a time of great racial tension in America. Politicians, civil rights groups, and others trying to placate the troubled racial waters during Word War II gave them a grudging chance to see what they could do. Although the Navy had about 100,000 sailors at that time, there were no black officers.<br />
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There is no doubt that many in America were expecting them to fail. They were subjected to harsher screening procedures, background checks by the F.B.I. that no white candidate had ever faced. The Navy had projected that they would have a 25% attrition rate, so they pulled in 16 sailors for 12 openings.<br />
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None failed. According to George C. Cooper, one of the last living survivors of the group dubbed “The Golden Thirteen”…<br />
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“…We made up our mind…early in the game that we were either going to sink or swim together…”<br />
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None failed. Sixteen Black men succeeded and passed the test at the same time for twelve slots. No stabbing each other in the back, no undermining each other, no leaving your brother behind while only caring about oneself. Whatever happened they were going to stick to each other and do it together. Succeed together, fail together; it made no difference as long as they stayed together.<br />
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That is what family is supposed to do.
For the Work of the Kingdom
tag:abcpreachers.ning.com,2009-03-04:916966:BlogPost:483549
2009-03-04T02:30:00.000Z
D S Briggs
http://abcpreachers.ning.com/profile/DSBriggs
This is the Introduction Chapter to a Vacation Bible School lesson that was written in 2002. I am reworking each chapter and will eventually put it online in it's entirety. The theme of the Bible Study was We are the family of God; Learning, Loving, Lifting and Living the Word of God. I Pray that it blesses you now as it did our former place of ministry.<br />
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We are the Family of God<br />
Introduction<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA., ThM., D.Min<br />
Ephesians 3:14 – 21<br />
Memory verse: Amos 3:3<br />
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(This…
This is the Introduction Chapter to a Vacation Bible School lesson that was written in 2002. I am reworking each chapter and will eventually put it online in it's entirety. The theme of the Bible Study was We are the family of God; Learning, Loving, Lifting and Living the Word of God. I Pray that it blesses you now as it did our former place of ministry.<br />
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We are the Family of God<br />
Introduction<br />
Copyright © 2002<br />
D. S. Briggs, BA., ThM., D.Min<br />
Ephesians 3:14 – 21<br />
Memory verse: Amos 3:3<br />
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(This series was prepared for Vacation Bible Study during a pastorate at Mount Zoar Baptist Church, Durham, North Carolina)<br />
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Family matters!!!<br />
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That was the name of a hit sitcom that aired from the mid 1980’s until the mid 1990’s in original airings and now runs in syndication in many outlets. However it was more than just a tug at the heart title, or a catchy song that introduced the show to millions of viewers week after week. It demonstrated week, after week that no matter what the problem a family that was committed to each other would rise above and conquer. Although it wasn’t paraded out and pronounced verbally week after week, (for that would be anathema to the producers) you just knew that the ultimate strength of this family was their faith in God.<br />
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The sitcom, set in Chicago, had all the concepts of a traditional nuclear family that has been offered to us down through the years with one major change. This family, the Winslow family, was African –American! So many other shows produced and offered to the public for their viewing pleasure either patronized the African-American race, or characterized them as incompetent, irreverent, and totally dysfunctional. Not this show! The husband worked as a police officer…struggling year after year for that much wanted promotion (validation in the sight of his peers as well as himself). The wife who wrestled with changing careers and even wrestled with being a at home mother for awhile. One son and two daughters (Eddie, Laura, and Kelly)who matured on television right before our eyes as we saw them wrestle with pre pubescent, pubescent and finally young adult problems. Sports activities, cheerleading, dating, rebellion against their parents for not understanding them, attempts to divide the father and the mother, sibling rivalry…we saw it all. Yet there was more.<br />
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As in so many African – American homes, as well as other minorities, the home is not just a place for the nuclear family, but extended family as well. When one was blessed, all were blessed. As long as one family member had a roof over their head, no matter how large or small, no other family member was going to be left out in the cold. The mother of the husband lived in the home as well, after the death of her husband. Like in many African – American homes before the 1980’s she was the fount of all wisdom, spiritual and otherwise. She kept the family together through the tough times. She not only provides the family much needed spiritual wisdom, humor and moral counsel from time to time, but also gives them the shock of their lives when she starts dating again. This caused a reaction in her son that causes him to act more like a detective and less like a son. The wife’s sister resided in the home as well after the death of her husband, along with her son. No matter how attractive she looked, gifted she was singing in the church choir, and talented when she finally opened her own business, it seemed like she spent every Christmas with no man to call husband, boyfriend, or any other endearing nickname of closeness. Yet in very few episodes do we see either of them dwelling so much on the loss in their life that they live like they have no future. Neither one hung their harp or their heart on the willow tree down by the river.<br />
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Then there were the non-family members who did not have the blood of the Winslow’s running through their veins but they were family nonetheless. Week by week we walked with them and grew up with them. There was Waldo, the son’s best friend…whose character had no diagnosed learning disabilities but just was definitely challenged in the learning arena. Yet he makes it into college and discovers a gift for cooking in the process. No matter how many seemingly idiotic things Waldo did, and even though they may had lost friendship and partnership for a season, the relationship remained strong. Then of course there was Steve, the nerd with a genius IQ living next door who was hopelessly in love with Laura and dreamed of nothing more than being with her. Laura however would have no part of dating a nerd!<br />
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Americans of all racial backgrounds tuned in week after week and year after year to see if Laura’s resolve would ever break down and she would finally give Steve a chance. Clumsy, careless, a cheese connoisseur and fashion challenged he pined week after week over the affections of his sweet Laura. Steve was over the Winslow residence so much that he too became family. In later shows he even submitted that his family did not want much to do with him, that is why he was always over the Winslow’s house. So much that he became (whether intentionally from the inception of the program or not we are not aware) the main character that viewers tuned in to see.<br />
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Through Steve’s genius, he invents a machine that allows him to alter his personality and person to be exactly what Laura wanted in a relationship, and perhaps also what he inwardly wished he naturally were. This role (Stephan) however only wins Laura for a few seasons until she realizes that she really has developed feelings for Steve as himself. Finally there was Myra, who eventually came on the show (before the transforming machine) and fell in love for Steve being Steve and became his girlfriend after he gave up hope of ever dating Laura as himself. Rather than try to change Steve, she accepts him as he is, even learning how to play the accordion so she can play duets with him. She hated the transforming machine and tried to destroy it a couple of times. But no matter how much he tried to forget about Laura, she was the true love of his life. Nothing Myra could do or say would stop that aching in his heart for Laura.<br />
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This show both in production and in real life had a myriad of issues. Yet they remained a family. The show revived the career of Telma Hopkins who played Rachel, as her last work of notoriety was as a backup singer for the group Tony Orlando and Dawn in the early 1970’s. It rocketed Kellye Shanynge Williams (Laura) Jaleel White (Steve) and Laura Voorhees (Myra) to many more prominent acting careers including a recurrent role for Laura Voorhees on One Life to Live. Finally it had to deal with the untimely death of one of its bright stars, as Laura Voorhees died of ovarian cancer in her early twenties.<br />
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As we pause to return to the thrust of these series of lessons we have to ask, what has happened to the family today? The nuclear family has gone nuclear. There was a time that we stuck together through the thick and thin, no matter how thin it became. Live in cousins, nieces, and nephews….two or three generations of kin living under the same roof…sharing the same space…extended family, adopted…both formally through court appointed legislation and informally through the taking in of a god-child or a wayward child so that they are not lost to the chaos of the government welfare system.<br />
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Now we all demand our own space and our own private time. Families today seemingly represent a live together, roommate combination of single individuals, rather than one unit fulfilling the plan of God for their lives. Everyone has their own room, own job, own cars, own telephone numbers, own life. In some cases we rarely gather around the dinner table once a week, let alone once a day, choosing rather to eat in the solitude and privacy of our rooms. We have as many televisions as we do rooms in the house and it seems like every one is watching a different program. Dad with his sports, Mom with her decorating, daughter with her teen dramas, and Junior with his cartoons. Asking about a child’s day in school incurs the wrath of the child for the parent being too intrusive or nosy into their business. Dad comes in from work and slumps in the recliner and says not a word to anyone, stressed out over how to pay the bills on time. Mom keeps her pent up frustration to her self, working in the garden so she doesn’t explode.<br />
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And we have the nerve to call this…progress.<br />
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However in mind, it is the concept of family in the house of God that is under the greatest attack. Once the devil has attacked the foundations of the nuclear family and extended family in the home, he goes down the street to the church. Now that he has the mother fighting against the mother, the son and the daughter in rebellion against the rules of the house, he goes to replicate what he has done in the home to the church. And once there he attempts to cultivate the same individualistic, “it’s all about me” atmosphere that he has in the home. The adversary causes us to bring our modernized myopic misconceptions of family and transplant them into the church. Then he seeks to get us to establish them as the normative behavior and not an aberration.<br />
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We wonder why our church relationships are strained, we have no joy in serving with each other, preferring rather to do it all on our own. We have abandoned the family concept of God and decided we would rather sink or swim on our own than to be slowed down by standing in the gap and helping our brothers and sisters in the faith. We have said over and over again through our attitudes, arguments, and actions, that we don’t care what others think, say, or do. Just as long as it does not interfere with what I want to do, because what I want to do…what I want to think…what I want to say…what I want to feel is more important than what anybody else has to offer to me, or to anybody else.<br />
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The devil is a liar. Family matters. The concept of the family grew in the mind of God before the world was formed. The family relation is the institution of God lying at the foundation of human society. As the family is strengthened, so is every institution that is serves. As the family is united in purpose, so also the church will follow its lead in maintaining unity in its purpose. The leader of Israel Joshua was so convinced of his responsibility as the leader of his own family and the impact that it would have on the rest of the people he led boldly declared…<br />
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When we look at the word family in the Old Testament, it is translated from the word “Mischpachah” in the Hebrew. This word occurs over 300 times. It means… “all members of a group who were related by blood and still felt a sense of consanguinity belonged to the clan or the extended family.” (Vines Topical dictionary) In the New Testament we see it derived in the Greek language from the words “oikos” and “patria” which means larger than a nuclear family, but smaller than a tribe. Family was so important to God that He created it, challenged it, and cared for it. Family was so important to the Lord that when He chose to destroy the wickedness off the face of the Earth, he still saved not only a righteous old preacher by the name of Noah, but his family as well. So important was family in the religion of the Israelite’s, that the times of the feasts and especially the Jubilee were set aside as a time for all families to return to the homeland, no matter how far their own personal journeys had taken them. This was a time to reconnect with their families as well as their faith. Family matters.<br />
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While serving a small rural church on the outskirts of Farmville, Virginia, I was always reminded about the fact that the church I pastored was a family church. Churches (or certain difficult family members) always use this statement as a pre-emptive strike to avoid anything that looks like ministry, sounds like ministry, or cost ministry money to implement. It was used to discourage preachers from doing anything more than picking up the check, going home, and minding their own business. Truth is many of those churches can take preaching or leave it. The family church would take care of itself I was assured without any outside intervention. When the preacher had gone on about his business, (called to another church, resigned, voted out, left for the day, or silenced through death) the family would remain together. Church growth was not something they truly even looked for, or prayed for unless it was their own kinfolk that walked the aisle and joined the church. Outsiders who had no blood claim in the church were advised not to join, or if they did join were shut out of the decision making process, and any positions of influence and power. (ex: they could help in the kitchen, but not become the chair of the kitchen committee.)That was their premise.<br />
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While that statement was always used in the pejorative sense, I see now after many years a positive side to it. Although the devil tried to pervert the purpose, I see a blessing in the designation of…”We are just a family church.” Especially if it is God’s family.<br />
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We are a family church. We ought to operate like the family that God intended us to be. A family is where everybody is some one special. A family is where all gifts are cherished and appreciated. Family is the one place where no matter what fame or wealth you have achieved in the world, when you hit the door, all formalities cease. Every family I know always has endearing or embarrassing nicknames for each other. They are never thrown out in insult to one’s character, but rather affirm the genuine love that the family has for that member. Family is the place where you are offered safe haven from the hurts, harassment, and hatred that the world seeks to hurl against you. No matter how long they have strayed or stayed away, a family where forgiveness carries the order of the day. A family is where we look out for each other and protect each other’s reputation from injurious assault. Now inside the house we may get on you, but no one that is outside the doors of the family will never cause you any harm because we stick up for and stand by our family. A family is where we connect with our faith and each other. A family where we can be real, right, and rewarded together. Where we share in each other’s joys, comfort each other in sorrow - through thick and thin, we remain bonded. Why?<br />
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Because family matters.