Preparing for Worship on February 1 2015 - Football Sunday at NRN!

Tomorrow is truly going to be an awesome day at NRN!  I am so excited about what God has placed on my heart for our time together. Tomorrow is going to be uniquely different for us!

On Super Bowl Sunday, we'll be presenting Football Sunday, powered by TheIncrease.org. This presentation celebrates the increase of Christ and the decrease of self (John 3:30) in the lives of NFL players, who as a group are simultaneously elevated by our culture as heroes and pointed out as villains.

 

We'll hear from guys on both Super Bowl teams, in interviews not available anywhere else, about who the real hero is: Jesus. It's a great opportunity to invite your co-workers, neighbors, and unchurched friends—maybe even those who reject the Church—for an event centered around the pop-culture phenomenon of the Super Bowl. I believe lives will be changed by the Gospel!

 

Here is the planned order of worship for tomorrow. Prepare your heart for a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit.   I have a confirmation in my heart as  I type theses words to know that Sunday will be another landmark day for us at NRN!

 

We hear a Football Sunday Welcome - followed by a time to greet one another.

 

Then the worship in song begins:

 

 

 

We prepare our hearts to come to the table of the Lord for communion. This is an open communion for all believers of Jesus as their Savior.  I am so thankful for those who prepare the elements so faithfully and to those who serve us.  May we partake of the bread and juice with a sense of thankfulness and anticipation that Jesus will return to take us home!



Following our time of prayer and communion we will sing in affirmation a new version of a great hymn of our faith:




Last Sunday we presented a state of the finances report.  The response by the church family was incredible as the immediate need was met. Today we bring our offerings in faith and trust of God, who is always faithful.  We will join the worship team in singing a great song of testimony....





Here is a preview of the message for Sunday:

A dream with clarity that I hope will come true.

One night this past week - I slept so well that I remember a dream with clarity. It was a reflection of a desire I have to accomplish this coming Spring and Summer in NC.

It was something like this:

Perfect examples of how to love thy neighbor.

With identify theft on the rise, losing your wallet is terrifying. That’s exactly how Bruce Rylant felt when he found his missing.

After a long, hard day, Rylant stopped to fill up on gas. When he finally got home, he noticed it was gone.




When he talked to WIS-TV, he admitted he “must have actually put my wallet on top of the car, on the trunk, and drove off without thinking about it.”

Despite feeling “panicked”, Rylant took definitive action. He canceled all his credit cards, got a new license and resigned to the loss of his $305 cash.

But then a godsend.

Rylant found a small package in his mailbox a week later from Mr. N. Cummings from Sparta, Georgia. In the package was his wallet – miraculously untouched. But there was also a note.

Mr.. Cummings note was this:

“3 Scriptural reason I am moved to do this. Please read them for yourself.



 Luke 10:27

 Luke 16:10

 Psalms 83:18

 You’re welcome.”

If you reference your Bible, you’ll find Mr. Cummings’ reasons.

– Luke 10:27: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 – Luke 16:10: that those who can be trusted with little can also be trusted with much.

– Psalms 83:18: “Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD- that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

Rylant was overwhelmed by this act of Christian generosity. He had to return the favor.
As a token of thanks for this neighborly kindness, Rylant sent a $305 gift card to Mr. Cummings using the return address.

These two acts of good are perfect examples of how to love thy neighbor.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus - A primer for prayer

Be persuaded, timid soul, that He has loved you too much to cease loving you.
                                       ~ Fenelon

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus





O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

May this be our attitude this evening as we gather for prayer at 6:30pm

Something to consider.... Learning cursive writing

Another something to consider...

DCPI begins today at NRN!

Today we are hosting a Church Planting event in our partnership with DCPI.  DCPI is Dynamic Church Planting International.  Over 50 pastors have gathered from over 8 states to go through the training to be leaders in planting churches.  Here is a primer of our time together for the next three days:



Churches Planting Churches from Florida Nazarenes on Vimeo.

Preparation for Worship at NRN - Tomorrow Sunday Janaury 25 2015

Tomorrow at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene is sure to be an awesome day as we gather to worship the Lord together.  As I have reviewed our attendance for the month of January I have realized a unique sequence in our attendance.  We have had the exact number each week for the past three weeks – only that number represents different people in attendance.  It’s like our church has gone into a “rotation” mode. I hope this Sunday you will break the rotation and join us for a great day!  Satan has worked overtime this week to bring pressure to my schedule and try to discourage me – but as you will hear on Sunday – God is great and mighty!  Worthy of our praise!

 

We will begin our worship with a great hymn as our call to worship – followed by a time to greet one another.  I hope you will make every effort to join us for the beginning of our time together and sing with us!

Here is the prepared order of worship for Sunday:


 

As we preparing to bring our financial gifts and offerings to the Lord let us consider God's faithfulness to us - and our faithfulness to Him.  Take a moment to consider your funds currently in your checking and savings account.  I am not talking about the obligation we may perceive from the Law - but we should be reminded that God has made us stewards (managers) of all God's creation and especially all that God has entrusted to us. 

Our offerings over the past 4 weeks have been lower than expected.  Last Sunday was the lowest amount in the offering in over 7 years.  I ask that we consider bringing our giving up to date and presenting to God an offering that He will be well pleased!  Here is the song for this time of surrender and sacrifice.

Just a little something to consider....

Just a little something to consider....

 

This coming Sunday I plan to continue in the current teaching series -

The intervention of a preacher from North Carolina

From my illustration files:

British Airways 2069 left Heathrow’s London Airport everything seemed to be going quite well at first. Six hours into the flight some of the passengers were asleep, some of the reading lights were on, everyone was comfortably settled in when suddenly everyone was jarred awake by a violent dip of the airplane. They heard a scuffle up near the front and in the cockpit there was a lot of chaos. Then about as suddenly as the plan dipped it had leaved out and seemed to have recovered.

The problem was that a 27 year old deranged and suicidal man had rushed into the cockpit and momentarily gained control of the plane. When the pilots jumped on him they were able to pull him away from the controls for just a moment and then he began to punch them and pull the and even began to bite them. He regained control of the airplane and locked himself onto the controls and leaned forward and pushed the 747 into a deep and violent plunge. At this point everyone in the cabin was absolutely chaotic, people were yelling and screaming people were praying out loud, people writing notes to their loved ones. They were certain they were doomed as this 747 plunged toward the ground.

Earlier that day a man by the name of Clark Bineham had gone to London’s Heathrow and tried to get on his flight from London to Uganda but was bumped due to bad weather and got on flight 2069 going from London to Kenya. They were going to fly him from Uganda to Kenya with apologies and to make up for it they put him in first class. Clark said it was the first time he had ever flown in first class and they put him two sets from the cockpit. Clark was on his way to a short-term missions trip, he was a preacher from South Carolina and he was going to preach to a couple thousand teenagers who were assembled for a rally in Uganda. The preacher that God had redirected to this flight happened to also be six foot seven and a former athlete from Clemson. He was huge and in the prime of his life.

 He says in the report that he saw a very short flight attendant going to assist in the cockpit and about that time he says he realized it was his calling to get involved. He unleashed himself from his seat belt and dove into the fray in the cockpit were everyone was fighting and this madman was clenched to the controls of the plane. And this six foot seven preacher popped that guy out of the cockpit like a bad tooth. He literally threw him on the floor between the first couple of rows and jumped on him and with the help of his preaching partner subdued this man and had him quickly tied up by his hands. The plane, in this deep descent was then regained by the pilot who took the plane and leveled it back out and he later said that if the plane would’ve continued at that descent for 2 or 3 more seconds he would not have been able to recover it.

What do you think the passengers thought of Clark Bineham? They thought they were doomed but because of the intervention of a preacher from North Carolina they had a whole new lease on life. He was their hero, they all had a since of relief, some said they didn’t sleep for days and all they could think of was Clark Bineham.

Paul is trying to paint that kind of picture for us in Colossians chapter one. When he says the life and destiny of every single person on earth was doomed for the wrath of God had it not been for the intervention of a preacher from Nazareth. The destiny of everyone who has put his or her faith in Christ has now been radically changed.

Colossians 1:21-23 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

These are my eight prayer requests for churches in 2015

As we begin the year 2015 I have been thinking about the church. 

 These are my eight prayer requests for churches in 2015:

1. For greater emphasis on prayer. Many, if not most, churches have a woeful emphasis on corporate prayer. Churches who do not give prayer a high priority are churches without God’s power.
2. For standing firm on biblical truth. Culture is trying to push our congregations away from the truths of Scripture. We cannot yield to that pressure. If we do, our congregations cease to be true, biblical churches.
3. For greater unity in our churches. There is too much infighting in many of our congregations. And there is too much disunity from church to church. The world is watching our fights. “Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us” (1 John 3:23).
4. For greater intentionality in evangelism. The typical church in America is doing very little to share the gospel of Christ boldly and intentionally. May we be so grateful for what Christ has done for us that “we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
5. For greater emphasis on groups. Churches should grow larger by growing smaller. A church member not in a small group or Sunday school class is not fully committed to the body.
6. For membership to be more meaningful. For many churches, membership has become nearly meaningless. For others, membership is a perceived entitlement, much like country club membership. I pray that membership in our congregations will become truly biblical as Paul demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 12.
7. For clear plans of discipleship. Too many congregations cannot clearly articulate how members can become more obedient followers of Christ.
8. For more ministry involvement and impact in our communities. I pray that our churches will become known by the positive impact they have in their respective communities. As we obey Acts 1:8, we must first be obedient to our own Jerusalem.

These are my eight prayers for our churches. What do you think of them?

 

Our P.R.A.Y.E.R. T.E.A.M. 2015

Is praying over 5,000 hours in 1 year possible for NRN?

Yes!  If you pray ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the evening for ten specific things listed below, six days a week, here’s what happens…

·       6 days of prayers = 2 hours of prayer per week

·       2 hours of prayer per week = 96 hours of prayer in one year.

·       50 people X 96 hours = 4,800 hours in one year!  We will pray over 200 hours in a year during our worship together on Sunday mornings. This totals over 5,000 hours of prayer in one year.

Join NRN's P.R.A.Y.E.R. T.E.A.M. by praying the ten items listed below.

1. Praise - How can I praise God my Father? 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.     Psalm 100:4              

2. Repent - Is the Spirit convicting me of sin? 

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…             Psalm 51:3-4

 3. Ask - What “Big Thing” am I asking for? 

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.                                    Matt. 7:7-8

 4. Yield - Am I regularly obeying the Spirit?  John 14:15                

      “If you love me, keep my commands.”

 5. Example – Father, make me an example others can follow.               

 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”   I Cor. 11:1

 6. Relationships - My marriage, children, grandchildren, friends, work, neighbors, etc.       

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

 7. Three - Who are three people the Spirit is asking me to pray for and invite to NRN? 

1)   ____________________________

2)   ____________________________

3)   ____________________________

”Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”                  Col. 4:5

8. Eyes and Ears - I’ll pray each has a soft heart so their eyes and ears are open to the gospel. 

 “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”                              Matt. 13:14-15

9. Attitude - How does my attitude need to change to be more like Jesus’ attitude?”    “…   have the same attitude as Christ Jesus”                  Phil. 2:5

10. Mission - How is God asking me to move our mission forward in helping people Discover, Trust and Love Jesus Christ?     

“…   I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”                   Matt. 16:18

If you are on the NRN prayer chain email list for special prayer requests, keep doing that.

 

This is a vital part of our discipleship process for our church this year.  Ready to grow in your relationship with the Lord?  Join us as we call people to a whole hearted relationship with Jesus Christ!

TOP TEN SIGNS YOU MAY NOT BE READING YOUR BIBLE ENOUGH:

TOP TEN SIGNS YOU MAY NOT BE READING YOUR BIBLE ENOUGH:

10) The Preacher announces the sermon is from Galatians ... and you check the table of contents.

9) You think Abraham, Isaac & Jacob may have had a few hit songs during the 60's.

8) You open to the Gospel of Luke and a WWII Savings Bond falls out.

7) Your favorite Old Testament Patriarch is Hercules.

6) A small family of woodchucks has taken up residence in the Psalms of your Bible.

5) You become frustrated because Charlton Heston isn't listed in either the Concordance or the Table of Contents.

4) Catching the kids reading the Song of Solomon, you demand: "Who gave you this stuff?"

3) You think the Minor Prophets worked in the quarries.

2) You keep falling for it every time when Pastor tells you to turn to First Condominiums.

And the number one sign you may not be reading your Bible enough:

1) The kids keep asking too many questions about your usual bedtime story: "Jonah the Shepherd Boy and His Ark of Many Colors."

Preparing for Sunday - January 18 2015

Tomorrow at NRN we continue in the new year teaching series 

As we continue our sermon series, Instructions for Life, based in King David’s address to the future king, Solomon, in 1 Chronicles 28:9 –10, we turn our attention this week to the discipline of seeking God.

 If we are honest with ourselves, the majority of our efforts in seeking God occur when we’re in trouble. The average person does not have any qualms whatsoever with seeking after God when a job is lost, a relationship is in peril, a child begins to stray, or finances are tighter than normal due to a combination of unexpected expenses. To be clear, we absolutely should seek God in those moments. God is passionately concerned about the challenges, difficulties and struggles we face, as well as the toll those take on us as His children. The greater question, though, is whether or not we can prevent those moments from being so devastating?

Before the message - we gather to offer the Lord our authentic worship in song.  Here is the order of worship we have prepared:

Today we will sing some favorite songs and also some new songs - "Come, let is sing a new song unto the Lord!" That is a great insight of authentic worship - singing to the Lord! 

 

 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve Him with    a whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord looks into all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him. But if you turn away from Him, He will turn away from you forever. Listen now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a place of worship. Be strong, and do it.”                                                                      1 Chronicles 28:9-10 (NLV)

What's the big deal about church planting?

What's the big deal about church planting?





If you are interested in approaching church planting - here is a special opportunity for you. - 

The last week of this month we are hosting a significant event at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene.  Recently the Church of the  Nazarene and the Wesleyan Church entered into a partnership with DCPI - Dynamic Church Planting International. 

The training material provided by DCPI will assist churches to plant churches across North America. In North Carolina  - our goal is to see a Church of the Nazarene in every one of the 100 counties in our state by 2025. 

This 10 year goal is possible if every pastor and ever church consider their role in church planting.   

DCPI has perfected a method based upon Biblical Principals that has resulted in the planting of over 2 million churches around the world! It is an honor to join in partnership with them in bringing this training and movement of God to North America. 

 For specific information about DCPI – check out their web site  HERE  

The DCPI training consists of three segments:

 CPE – Church Planting Essentials is a 21 hour training to assist potential church planters and pastors wanting to assist in church planting to understand the Biblical outline for planting a church.  The training deals with developing a launch team, building a process of discipleship and developing a time line for the steps in planting a church.

CPC – Churches Planting Churches  is a 21 hour training to assist every pastor in understanding the Biblical principles of church planting; helping your church develop a vision for church planting and the steps to lead your church into planting churches.

CT – Certified Training is designed to equip you in teaching the materials of the segments listed above.  You will learn the DCPI reporting process and steps that need to be taken for you to be certified as an teacher and the steps to become a Master Teacher to certify others who what to help perpetuate the training process throughout our district! 

Already several pastors from North Carolina have registered for this event. 

We also have trainers and other pastors registered from other states including, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington. 

Kohl's Shopping Trip

Courtesy of my friend David Duncan:

Clutching their Kohl's shopping bags, Ellen and Kay woefully gazed down at a dead cat in the mall parking lot... obviously a recent hit...no flies, no smell. "What business could that poor kitty have had here?" murmured Ellen. "Come on, Ellen, let's just go." But Ellen had already grabbed her shopping bag and was explaining, "I'll just put my things in your bag, and then I'll use this tissue." She dumped her purchases into Kay's bag and then used the tissue paper to cradle and lower the former feline into her own Kohl's bag and cover it.

They continued the short trek to the car in silence, stashing their goods in the trunk. But it occurred to both of them that if they left Ellen's burial bag in the trunk, warmed by the Texas sunshine while they ate, Kay's Lumina would soon lose that new-car smell.
They decided to leave the bag on top of the trunk, and they headed over to Luby's Cafeteria. They went through the serving line and they sat down at a window table. They had a view of Kay's Chevy with the Kohl's bag still on the trunk. BUT not for long!

As they ate, they noticed a woman in a red gingham shirt stroll by their car. She looked quickly this way and that, and then took the Kohl's bag without breaking stride. She quickly walked out of their line of vision.

Kay and Ellen shot each other a wide-eyed look of amazement. It all happened so fast that neither of them could think how to respond. "Can you imagine?" finally sputtered Ellen. "The nerve of that woman!"

Kay sympathized with Ellen, but inwardly a laugh was building as she thought about the grand surprise awaiting the female thief. Just when she thought she'd have to giggle into her napkin, she noticed Ellen's eyes freeze in the direction of the serving line.
Following her gaze, Kay recognized the woman in the red gingham shirt with The Kohl's bag hanging from her arm. She was brazenly pushing her tray toward the cashier. Helplessly they watched the scene unfold.

After leaving the register, the woman settled at a table across from theirs, put the bag on an empty chair and began to eat. After a few bites of baked whitefish and green beans, she casually lifted the bag into her lap to survey her treasure. Looking from side to side, but not far enough to notice her rapt audience three tables over, she pulled out the tissue paper and peered into the bag.

Her eyes widened, and she began to make a sort of gasping noise. The noise grew. The bag slid from her lap as she sank to the floor, wheezing and clutching her upper chest. The beverage cart attendant quickly recognized a customer in trouble and sent the busboy to call 911, while she administered the Heimlich maneuver.

A crowd quickly gathered that did not include Ellen and Kay, who remained riveted to their chairs for seven whole minutes until the ambulance arrived. In a matter of minutes, the woman with the red gingham shirt emerged from the crowd, still gasping, and securely strapped on a gurney. Two well-trained EMS volunteers steered her to the waiting ambulance, while a third scooped up her belongings.

The last they saw of the distressed cat-burglar was as she disappeared behind the ambulance doors...the Kohl's Bag perched on her stomach!!

God does take care of those who do bad things! (AND once in a while...He allows us to witness it!)

LOL

Intimate With Jesus

As we gather for prayer this evening at 6:30 in the Fireside Room of North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene – we gather to meet with God.  I pray this tonight we encounter a deep intimate communion with God. Here is a short primer for our time together this evening:

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?" —John 14:9

These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?

Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).

Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

A cat goes to heaven

A cat dies and goes to Heaven. God meets him at the gate and says, 'you have been a good cat all of these years. Anything you desire is yours, all you have to do is ask.' 

The cat says, 'Well, I lived all my life with a poor family on a farm and had to sleep on hardwood floors.' God says, 'Say no more.' And instantly, a fluffy pillow appears.

A few days later, 6 mice are killed in a tragic accident and they go to Heaven. God meets them at the gate with the same offer that He made the cat. The mice said, ' All our lives we've had to run from cats and dogs and even women with brooms have chased us. If we could only have a pair of roller skates, we wouldn't have to run anymore.' God says, 'Say no more.' And instantly, each mouse is fitted with a beautiful pair of tiny roller skates.

About a week later, God decides to check and see how the cat is doing. The cat is sound asleep on his new pillow. God gently wakes him and asks, 'How are you doing? Are you happy here?' 

The cat yawns and stretches and says, 'Oh, I've never been happier in my life. And those Meals on Wheels you've been sending over are the best!' 

Facing Reality

When baseball legend, Ty Cobb, was seventy years old, a reporter asked, "What do you think you would hit if you were playing these days?" 

Cobb, a lifetime .367 hitter, said, "About .290, maybe .300." The reporter said, "That's because of the travel, the night games, the artificial turf, and all the new pitches like the slider, right?"

"No," said Cobb, "It's because I'm seventy."

-- From Developing the Leaders Around You (John C. Maxwell)

Reflection from my message today at NRN

Pt. 2 SERVE GOD

My question for you today is:Whose slave are you?  

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”                                                             1 Chronicles 28:9-10

What does it mean to serve God?

Serve – to work, to become a SLAVE ,    Labor ( WORSHIP)

Examples:

Joshua 

“So fear the Lord. Serve Him in faith and truth. Put away the gods your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt. Serve the Lord. If you think it is wrong to serve the Lord, choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods your fathers worshiped on the other side of the river, or choose the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”             Joshua 24:14-15 (NLV)

“Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the statues of the gods that are among you. People from other lands serve those gods. Give yourselves completely to the Lord. He is the God of Israel.” Then the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him.”                                 Joshua 24:23-24 (NIRV)

 JESUS

Jesus said to him, “Get away from me, Satan! It is written,                ‘Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.’ ”                     Matthew 4:10 (NIRV)     [Deuteronomy 6:13]

“No one can serve two masters at the same time. You will hate on of them and love the other. Or you will be faithful to one and dislike the other. You can’t serve God and money at the same time.                                                                Matthew 6:24 (NIRV)

 How should we serve God? 

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.                                                                                     1 Chronicles 28:9       

       

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.                                                   Psalm 100:2 (NKJV)

Why should we serve God?

 

Ø God DESERVES  it!

But now you need no longer worry about the Jewish laws and customs because you “died” while in their captivity, and now you can really serve God; not in the old way, mechanically obeying a set of rules, but in the new way, with all of your hearts and minds.                                                  Romans 7:6

Experience the Grace of God in your life…..  

        

Ø God honors those who HONOR Him! 

        Examples:

o   HEZEKIAH                                2 Kings 20:1- 6

Some time later Hezekiah became deathly sick. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz paid him a visit and said, “Put your affairs in order; you’re about to die—you haven’t long to live.”

Hezekiah turned from Isaiah and faced God, praying:

Remember, O God, who I am, what I’ve done!
I’ve lived an honest life before you,
My heart’s been true and steady,
I’ve lived to please you; lived for your approval.

And then the tears flowed. Hezekiah wept.

Isaiah, leaving, was not halfway across the courtyard when the word of God stopped him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, prince of my people, ‘God’s word, Hezekiah! From the God of your ancestor David: I’ve listened to your prayer and I’ve observed your tears. I’m going to heal you. In three days you will walk on your own legs into The Temple of God. I’ve just added fifteen years to your life; I’m saving you from the king of Assyria, and I’m covering this city with my shield—for my sake and my servant David’s sake.’”   1 Kings 20:1-6 MSG

o   3 HEBREW CHILDREN             Daniel 3:13-28

 Furious, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. When the men were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar asked, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t respect my gods and refuse to worship the gold statue that I have set up? I’m giving you a second chance—but from now on, when the big band strikes up you must go to your knees and worship the statue I have made. If you don’t worship it, you will be pitched into a roaring furnace, no questions asked. Who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

Nebuchadnezzar, his face purple with anger, cut off Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace fired up seven times hotter than usual. He ordered some strong men from the army to tie them up, hands and feet, and throw them into the roaring furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, bound hand and foot, fully dressed from head to toe, were pitched into the roaring fire. Because the king was in such a hurry and the furnace was so hot, flames from the furnace killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to it, while the fire raged around Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire?”

“That’s right, O king,” they said.

“But look!” he said. “I see four men, walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!”

Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the roaring furnace and called in, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the High God, come out here!”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out of the fire.

All the important people, the government leaders and king’s counselors, gathered around to examine them and discovered that the fire hadn’t so much as touched the three men—not a hair singed, not a scorch mark on their clothes, not even the smell of fire on them!

Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and 

Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him!

 They ignored the king’s orders and laid their bodies on the line rather than 

serve or worship any god but their own.                     Daniel 3: 13-28 MSG