Subservience means to obey someone unquestioningly.  Have you notice we question everything?  ”Did she say that?”  ”Did that really happen?”  ”Is that really real?”

I have been reading through the Scriptures and have noticed a pattern.  It seems that everyone questioned God.  It seems that everyone questioned the authority of His words.  This doubt of God’s word started back in the Garden of Eden.  Satan and Eve were talking and he said, “Did God really say, that you should not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Gen. 3:1)

Questioning can lead to doubt and doubt can lead to disobeience.  Even today, people will excuse their disobedience based on doubts or questions.  Example: “Did God really say give 10% of our income to Him?”  ”Did God really say forgive those who hurt me?”  Did Jesus really say He is the only way to heaven?”  And these people will not tithe, forgive, or proclaim Jesus based on questioning the authority of God’s word.

Now is asking questions wrong?  No!  Your questions should drive you to the Scriptures to find answers. But when you find the answers you need to be ready for complete obedience to God’s word.  God’s word will tell you to tithe, to forgive, and to proclaim that Jesus is the only way.  The problem is that most people questions don’t drive them to Scriptures but drive them away from Scriptures. 

Here is what God has been teaching me…99.9% obedience is 100% disobedience.  I meet people all the time that say, “I know what God’s word says, but I am not doing it.”  Or, they will say, “I am not doing ______ but at least I am doing ______.”  It doesn’t matter how you slice it or dice it, God commands complete obedience to His word.

Question:  Are you completely obeying Christ?  If not, then you have a love problem (next blog post)!

I have been studying through 1 Corinthians and God has been challenging me like crazy.  I would like to share with you an entry in my journal that I titled “Hanging Out with Unbelievers”. 

I was reading 1 Cor. 5, where Paul was addressing sexual immorality.  There was a man in the church who begin to have a relationship with his step mother (I know, a Jerry Springer moment) and Paul told the church to remove him from the fellowship until he repents of his sin.  Then I came across verse 9 and Paul told the church not to associate with sexual immoral people.   The problem here is that some churches have taken this out of context and teach that we should be separated from the world and not associate with people who are unbelievers.  But if we put this verse in the right context, Paul is actually telling the church not to associate with a BELIEVER who is living a life of sexual immorality, not an unbeliever.  You may ask, “How do you know that?”  Keep reading verse 10, Paul told them he was not talking about people of this world (unbelievers).  To not associate with unbelievers you would have to leave this world and that is not possible. 

So what’s your point?  My point is we need to hang out with unbelievers!  Why? So they can see the love of Christ in us and hopefully respond to the gospel. 

Your church needs two things for it to grow healthy. You need people who do not have a relationship with Jesus and a clear presentation of the gospel.  Some churches present the gospel but they have no people in the pews that are far from God.  Why?  Because they do not associate with them!  Then you have churches who are packed out with tons of unbelievers but the church doesn’t clearly present the gospel.  You need both, unbelievers and the gospel to experience healthy growth.  I am sure there are other things you need but these two are key.

My challenge to you is to go after people who are far from God. Why? So they can become a follower of Jesus Christ.  Sound familiar?  It should because that is why Crosspoint Church exist!

Has your heart ever been faint?  Have you ever been to the point that it doesn’t seem that God hears your prayers?  The other day my heart was faint and it seemed like my prayers could not even get through the ceiling.  I asked God to search my heart and reveal anything that may be hindering my prayers.  Again, I did not hear anything from the Lord.  The next day I was reading my Bible and the Lord led me to Psalm 61:1-4.  You must read it!  It seems that David went through the same thing over 2000 years ago.  Here is what the Lord taught me:

• David wanted God to hear his prayer. V.1

• David’s heart was faint. V.2a

• David wanted to go to the next level. V.2b

• David remembered that God has always been his protector and took care of him. V.3-4

In the same manner, I want God to hear my prayer and I want God to take me to the next level in all aspects of my life.  You may be going through the same situation in your life.  I encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus, the one who has been your refuge and your tower of strength.

Have you ever prayed, “God, if this is your will, please open this door for me?”  Through out the years of my walk with the Lord I have prayed this prayer many times.  The more I have grown in the Lord and by experience, all open doors are not necessarily from the Lord.  We should ask for open doors but we should not walk through them just because they are open.  God speaks in several ways to His children; through prayer, His word, circumstances, and other people.  Circumstances alone should not be the only reasons why we walk through doors.  We should always seek God to confirm His will through His Word (the Bible) and His Spirit.

I will never forget the time, one of the largest churches in Kentucky offered me to be there full-time Student Pastor.  At first, I was amazed they would even consider me.  I was looking at a pay increase of $20,000 more a year, 30 minutes away from seminary, and the church was building an auditorium that would seat 1,800 people.  After much time praying and fasting, I came to the conclusion that God did not want me to take this position.  When I called them to decline the offer they told me, God told them I was going to be their Student Pastor.  I was like, what?  So, I went back and prayed some more, because I know God speaks through people as well, but God told me the same thing, “Do not go!”  Again, they could not believe I would turn this offer down.  Right after God took us through that time of seeking Him, He showed us clearly what His will was for our lives.  You see, there could be open doors and there could be people telling you to walk through them, but if God hasn’t confirmed it through His word or His Spirit then I say pull back and wait on Him.

For further study, you can read 2 Corinthians 2:12-17.

This morning at 6:50 AM, the Lord woke me up to start my day with Him.  As I wobbled into the living room looking for my backpack, I began to check my email on my phone.  I know, I know, who would email me that early in the morning?  Ok, I’m addicted to my iPhone… Get over it or get you one.  As I finally made my way to the sofa, I sat down, sent a text message, and started reading about Joshua, Moses’ right hand man.  Over the next hour or so, God used the life of Joshua to teach me about some basic leadership principles that I would now like to share with you…

1. It takes time to prepare to be a faithful leader of others.
2. We must realize the unique balance between dependence on God and confidence in the strengths and abilities that He has given us.
3. We must begin to serve God now in order to prepare for future responsibility.

As God continues to stretch me and grow me as a leader, I must understand that He is taking me through preparation for the next level.  My prayer for you is that God will take your marriage, your business, your church or your relationship with Him to the next level.

Question: How is God preparing you for the next level?

Random thoughts from Galatians… 

Chapter 1

• v.1 - God raised Jesus from the dead.
• v.3-5 - Have you been delivered?
• v.6 - Watch out for these guys!
• v.8-9 - How serious is the Gospel to God? 
• v.10 - Who are you trying to please?
• v.12 - The whole Bible should be written in red!!!
• v.13-17 - If God can change Paul, He can change anyone.
• v.23-24 - God gets the glory when someone repents.

Chapter 2

• v.4 - There is freedom in the Lord.
• v.6 - God has no favorites.
• v.7-9 - Go after all who are far from God.
• v.10 - Paul took care of the poor.
• v.11 - Truth is tough…ouch!
• v.13 - Do not let your guard down.
• v.14 - Leadership is tough!
• v.16 - It is all about faith.
• v.20 - Life verse!!!
• v.21 - Works will not get you anywhere. 

Here are some thoughts I’ve had on my journey through Scripture…

• Philippians 1:6, God is going to do a great work at in your life.
• Philippians 1:10, I want to discern what is best and be pure and blameless.
• Philippians 1:11, What type of fruit is your life producing?
• Philippians 1:14, This is my prayer.
• Philippians 1:21, One of my life verse!
• Philippians 1:26, I want it overflowing!
• Philippians 2:2, Our purpose is to reach people far from God.
• Philippians 2:3, Stay humble.
• Philippians 2:4, Put others first.
• Philippians 2:5, I want this attitude!
• Philippians 2:6-11, Wow! This is obedience.
• Philippians 2:13, God works in you.
• Philippians 2:14, All people and churches should strive for this!
• Philippians 2:20, People know when we are faking it.
• Philippians 3:1, Rejoice!!!
• Philippians 3:4-9, Nothing compares to this.
• Philippians 3:10, I want our community to know this.
• Philippians 3:12-14, What ever it takes!
• Philippians 3:19, This is my prayer.
• Philippians 4:3, I am so glad my name is there.
• Philippians 4:6-7, Cast your burdens on Him.
• Philippians 4:8-9, Meditate.
• Philippians 4:12, Paul learned the secret of life….
• Philippians 4:13, Here is the secret!!!
• Philippians 4:15-19, God has met all my needs!

That’s it for now.   Wow!   God’s Word is amazing!!!