The Power of Interpretation | Pastor Steven Furtick

This message changed my life.   Last Saturday evening I attended Elevation Church to hear Pastor Steven preach this message. I experienced a spiritual breakthrough that I have sought for several months.

Over the last few months I have struggled with depression and uncertainty about the call of God upon my life. This message from God – gave me the clarity to move away from playing the “blame game” on others and understanding the truth that only the Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit could provide this breakthrough. 

Fooled by a phone charger? Penn & Teller: Fool Us // Bryan Saint

A number of years ago, whole I served as the pastor of a church in Raleigh NC; a senior adult came to me ask that I consider doing something special for an evening service on the 5^th Sunday of a month.  I had recently met a talented person who soon became a good friend and a person who always amazes me.  His name:  Brian Saint.

Here is his recent appearance on Penn and Teller Fool Me:

Friday Funny

As October is upon us and await the Fall weather – Here is an idea for a new job you may have been waiting for:

Just a reminder:

          The colors of Fall reveal the handiwork and creative genius of our Creator God!

Exchange Pt 3

I enjoy flying. ✈️ Traveling to other countries. Don’t even mind the long flights. Especially when on a flight to Israel a few years ago, the flight attendant comes to me just before takeoff, when I’m in last row by the bathrooms and says, Mr. Hudgens, come with me. You’ve been bumped up to FIRST CLASS! That was a BEAUTIFUL EXCHANGE.

In my prior posts, I wrote about exchanging shame for forgiveness.

Today, how would you like to exchange DESPAIR for HOPE? 

                        😞  😌

Have you ever been in despair? Wanted to give up . . . throw in the towel . . . wanted to walk away? Sure! We all have. Some of you reading this are there now.

We want to know, is there any hope for . . .

The wife whose husband walked out and left her to raise the children

The person just diagnosed with terminal cancer

The parent who just lost a child to suicide

I’m not sure who wrote this, but it fits.

“A person can live 40 days without food; 4 days without water; 4 minutes without air, but only 4 seconds without hope. Hope is the power that keeps us going in the toughest times of life. It takes obstacles and transforms them into possibilities. Hope gives us the strength and courage we need to make the most out of life.”

Biblical hope is not wishful thinking . . . it is confident assurance! 

I don’t have to . . .
Hope God loves me
Hope God forgives me
Hope God has more for me

Like Paul in the Bible when he said . . .

“We had great burdens that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God.”                                                                       2 Corinthians 1:8,9

Or like Peter in the Bible when he said . . .

“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.”                                                                 1 Peter 1:6

Today, my friend, don’t give up hope. 

Turn to God 

He loves you! ❤️

He forgives you! ✝️

He is with you!

He is for you!

He has good in store for you!

Exchanges Pt 2

I’m doing a series of posts on BIG TIME EXCHANGES we all ought to consider. For example, who wouldn’t want to exchange SHAME for FORGIVENESS?

Jesus was no stranger to shame. On the cross,  the most extreme example of shame, He not only                                              paid for our sins, He bore our shame. ❤️

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, SCORNING ITS SHAME, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”                                                                                         Hebrews 12:2

Everything about the cross is shameful:

Publicly placed on display.

Naked.

Beaten and bloodied.

Hung with the dregs of society.

Ridiculed and mocked.

Just think about it . . . Jesus bore that, endured that, suffered that for you and me. It’s almost unbelievable. 🤔

So, don’t ever think He doesn’t understand and identify with your shame. Two of the most welcomed words to our ears are “Me too!”

“This High Priest of ours (Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”                                                                                       Hebrews 4:15

So, rather than bathe in shame . . . bask in forgiveness! It would make no sense to refuse this exchange. Accept His payment by asking for and receiving His forgiveness. 😌

I like what Brenne Brown says. “Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging are separated by one variable from those who do not. Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging believe that they are worthy of love and belonging.  They believe that they are worthy.”

The cross says . . . YOU ARE WORTHY! 

Live in the shadow of the cross!

Live in the joy of forgiveness!

Exchanges Pt 1

Today, I’m beginning a series of posts on EXCHANGES. 

Life is a series of exchanges. Recently, I cleaned out our closet and found a shirt with the tags still attached. My wife and I took it to the store of purchase and I exchanged it for cash!  I love the power of an exchange!  

There are "insignificant” exchanges. They are simple. They make zero difference.

In the BIG PICTURE OF LIFE, however, there are significant exchanges we should seriously consider making. They are game changers. They are mile markers. They are difference makers.

For example, who wouldn’t exchange SHAME FOR FORGIVENESS?

What are you ashamed of? 🤔 I could give you a list a mile long of things I’ve done that I’m ashamed of. Wrong decisions, poor choices, lapses in judgment, are speckled throughout the course of my life.

Shame is a heavy burden to bear. 😫 Today, I’m beginning a series of posts on EXCHANGES. Life is a series of exchanges.

For example, who wouldn’t exchange SHAME FOR FORGIVENESS?

Shame is a heavy burden to bear. And bear in mind that shame is not guilt. 

Guilt says, “I did something bad.”

Shame says, “I am bad.”

Guilt says, “I made a mistake.”

Shame says, “I am a mistake.”

Shame runs deeper than guilt. When you do something wrong, you feel guilt because of your actions. 😥 But shame makes you feel that YOU are wrong. You’re a wrong person, you’re defiled, stained, marred.

There’s something you carry around with that causes you to loathe yourself. This is why shame is not easily resolved like guilt would be. With guilt, you can just stop those behaviors, but with shame, you can’t stop being you.

Shame is hard-wired into us by virtue of what happened in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden. 🌳

“At that moment their eyes were opened, 👀 and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.                                Genesis 3:7-11

From the story of Adam and Eve in the garden, we can learn several things.

We were created for connection with God and each other. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

Shame is the result of sin and the reason behind many kinds of broken behaviors. 💊💉🚬🍩

Shame can from external sources. It can be the kind of shame that is heaped on us by others. People say things like, “Shame on you!” 😒

Shame can come from within because of our own wrongdoing. 😔

And the most common response to shame is to run and hide. 🏃‍♂️

God has a MUCH BETTER IDEA and it’s called FORGIVENESS.

I hate to leave it here, but this post is already too long. I’ll post about that beautiful exchange tomorrow.

Prayer Priorities for October 2018

Dear Friends and Fellow Americans,

We must mobilize America to prayer. Never, and I mean never in my lifetime has our nation needed prayer more than today. Call upon pastors, churches, and Christian leaders in all spheres of influence in America to pray now for our nation. This is a critical time, the needs are real, and we must join together to pray for America. 

Will you help us mobilize people to pray for America? I trust you will.

1. ASK GOD TO BE WITH AND SOVEREIGNLY LEAD THE LEADERS OF OUR NATION AND TO BLESS OUR NATION GRACIOUSLY IN THESE TROUBLESOME DAYS.

“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.”       

                                                                                  Colossians 4:2

• God, we ask that You give President Donald Trump wisdom, courage, and compassion in all decision making in leading America, and we ask You to protect President Trump, his wife, and his entire family from all evil and harm.
• God, we ask that You give Vice President Mike Pence wisdom and the needed giftedness in all decision making in assisting the President in leading America, and to protect Vice President Pence, his wife, and his entire family from all evil and harm.
• God, we ask that You give our United States Senate the wisdom and courage in their decision making to serve our nation in the most effective manner that will honor You and Your Word, the advancement of faith, family, and freedom in America.
• God, we ask that You give the United States House of Representatives the passion and strategy to work together in securing our nation, prospering our nation, and leading our nation for the advancement of faith, family, and freedom… leading us forward in decisions that will honor You and Your Word.
• God, we ask that You surround President Trump and Vice President Pence, members of both House and Senate, as well as their Cabinet, with godly counsel from godly men and women as they together provide leadership for America.
• God, we ask You to raise up godly and able men and women to run for public office locally, statewide, and nationally.
• God, we ask You to protect the United States of America, including all members of our armed forces around the world, all political leaders nationally, statewide, and regionally, all of our first responders in our communities and cities, as well as all of our public places like churches, schools, and arenas where larger gatherings occur. In Jesus’ name, we ask You to restrain the power of Satan and his demonic forces against America and release Your power of blessing upon blessing on the United States of America.

2. PRAY FOR THE CENTERS OF INFLUENCE IN AMERICA

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”                                                                   1 Timothy 2:1-2

• Pray for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the United States government to make decisions that will honor God and the Bible.
• Pray for America’s military, its leaders, and all of its personnel to be protected by God, and for the courage to depend on God.
• Pray for the members of our media in America to be life-giving truth-bearers and unity-contributors.
• Pray for America’s businesses to have leaders of integrity, creators of economic blessing, and givers to the community.
• Pray for the centers of education in America to be truth-centered, excellence-driven, and full of opportunities.
• Pray for the churches of America to be gospel-centered in message, disciple-makers in mission, and Spirit-empowered to unity.
• Pray for the families in America to return to the biblical model, reconcile with one another, and be restored to love and unity.

3.  AWAKEN AMERICA SPIRITUALLY AND EMPOWER US TO REACH THE WORLD FOR JESUS CHRIST.

“When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.”                             Acts 4:31

• Revive Your churches in America with a fresh outpouring and manifestation of the Holy Spirit this month and in the months to come.
• Revive Your pastors and church leaders in the churches of America.
• O Lord, give us the next Great Awakening in America. Yes, Lord, the third Great Awakening in our history.
• O God, begin to show us places in America where You dwell powerfully, calling great numbers of lost people to Christ, moving us into a national move of God where millions of people come to Jesus.
• Spirit of God, empower our churches to reach the world for Jesus Christ.
• Give us the spiritual power to share the gospel today and this week with people. Open doors for us, Lord.

4. APPEAL TO GOD TO USE OUR 2018 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, HELD AT CROSS CHURCH PINNACLE HILLS ON OCTOBER 29-30. 

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

• Holy Spirit, call and draw to this conference, people who are interested in praying more effectively, individually, and with others.
• Lord, lead us during this prayer summit to advance a strategy of prayer across America.
• Father, as people worship in this conference, please lead and use our Cross Church Worship Team and Band, as well as our Cross Church Media Team, who will service this event.
• Holy Spirit, powerfully anoint our guest speakers:
• Dr. Ronnie Floyd, as he leads and speaks, releasing the 2019 theme for the National Day of Prayer
• Dr. Kie Bowman, Senior Pastor, Hyde Park Baptist and The Quarries Church, Austin, Texas
• Bill Elliff, Lead Pastor, The Summit Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Trey Kent, Senior Pastor, Northwest Fellowship, Austin, Texas
• Doug Stringer, Founder, Somebody Cares International, Houston, Texas
• Matt Brown, Founder, Think Eternity, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Curtis Johnson, California State Coordinator, National Day of Prayer
• Lisa Crump, Vice-President, Volunteer Mobilization & Liaison for Prayer Ministries, National Day of Prayer
• Brian Dunaway, Communications Director, Cross Church
• Sheila Kimball, Connecticut State Coordinator, National Day of Prayer
• David Franklin, Georgia State Coordinator, National Day of Prayer
• Sonya McNair, New York State Coordinator, National Day of Prayer
• Sofia Medina-Hickle, Florida State Coordinator, National Day of Prayer
• Charles W. Herbster, Owner and CEO, Conklin Company, Inc.
• Douglas Firebaugh, CEO, Doug Firebaugh Training International
• LORD, lead others to register now at: nationaldayofprayer.org

Now is the Time to Pray,

Ronnie W. Floyd

Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, National Day of Prayer

*******

Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, President of the National Day of Prayer, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.

To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.

Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com

Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd