Picture This

A New Series at church began last Sunday. It is titled, "Picture This". The opening statement was; What doe's God want us to do as a church? We are headed into scriptures that have to do with finances. Our Pastor recommended reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover". It really is a good book. My husband an I have read it already and try very hard to live by the rules that Mr. Ramsey recommends. Anyways, back to church...Our churc growth has been so rapid over the past two years that they had to make a move. The Pastor told the story for those of us that was not partners during this transistion. The church that we currently worship in was a blessing. When they were flat broke and had been rejected by seven banks, the Pastor prayed and prayed. He had less than 48 hours to come up with the money or they would lose the church. The next morning he went to another Bank, laid the truth on the table and praise the Lord the bank called him that afternoon and had approved the church for the loan amount they needed. So the #1 thing God wants us to do as a church is:
-To demonstrate His Power. Referring to Daniel 3:29 "Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other God can save in this way. (NO OTHER GOD CAN SAVE IN THIS WAY!) Pastor Allen also resited Acts4:13, ans then said, Picture this--Daystar as a power, a Supernatural Power? Then we read Gen1:26&27. He recommended we read all of Gen, chapter 3 "The Fall of Man". And so I did read it when I got home. It tells us the story of Adam an Eve and how they did wrong. How they were punished for doing wrong and how that punishment has traveled through time to us. Then we moved on to Psalm 8:5&6, Matt4:17, I believe that with in these scriptures and the "Picture This, The Church as a Power," I believe our Pastor was trying to convey that we have been given the authority to do all good works with this power as a church body there's nothing we cannot overcome, yet he stated that alot of us understand our salvation, but not our power of authority. We read the following scriptures: Matt6:10,Eph1:18&19,Eph1:20,Luke 1:9,1Cor4:20. After reading these Pastor Allen states, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power." 2Chron16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord range thorughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have don a foolish thing and from now on you will be at war." The #2 thing Pastor Allen ask; How do we tap into this power? Or where doe's this Power come from? He states that we first must learn to hear the voice of God and also by standing on the word of God regardless of our circumstances. Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who come to him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Pastor Allen points out that if we always give what we ahve to any situation or circumstance, The Lord will always bless us with more than we need. One important thing that the Pastor ended with was " Do not accept counsel from the ungodly!" Stand on the word of God! He closed with two last scriptures. Romans10:17 "Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is ehard through the word of christ." Matthew4:4 " It is written: "Man doe's not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Meditate in the word daily cut off those things that scourn the living word of God.!

His message was powerful, but the one he delivered this past Sunday was so great, that words cannot describe. I will be writing about it soon. What he wants is for us to come together as a church, listen for the voice of God, use our authority and power to reach out to others in need. Those who need to believe. The Lord is working in this church. Everytime I feel Him. It is incredible. What an awesome God we have.