Brothers,
Every day since this group began, my intention has always been to allow the Lord to shape the Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship for His glory. It has been awesome to see this happen within our midst for the past year and half... Many of us could testify to His providence by the fact that God has used this group to do amazing things in the lives of each one of us and within Northshore Christian Church.
I feel we are only beginning this journey together. There are so many things I believe the Lord is calling this group to do in the weeks, months, and Lord willing, years ahead. Therefore join me in prayer as we begin to seek out the future together and continue to make an impact for Christ.
It will be exciting to see all of you on Wednesday as we continue to share life together. Our next meeting is at 7:00 pm, February 27th (tomorrow night) in the Fireside Room at Northshore Christian Church.
May God continue to bless all of you and I look forward to meeting with you tomorrow…
In Christ,
Mark
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Weekly Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.” 1 John 5:1-4 NIV
As we continue to dive into the importance of love, the realization of what we truly have in our lives begins to take shape. For perfect love is not just a concept, it truly is the source to a connection which has no worldly “understanding”.
Yes, we can grasp this love and find truth in its existence; but to really comprehend it is nearly impossible. A God who created everything and could create anything else yet chooses to still love us—even though we are sinners and at times do not love Him—is nearly impossible to understand through worldly wisdom.
But this is what we have in our lives if we believe in Him. John 3:16 gives each one of us this reality: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Yet the world continues to say otherwise and instead corrupts the meaning of love for its own purposes. Therefore we never even approach the depth of perfect love in our lives because we have become content with a worldly definition of what love means.
I often consider that the love we share with each other is much like light, and the love each one of us has on our own is about the same amount of light as a flashlight. And we have become rather content with a “flashlight” love which shines in the darkness of each one of our lives. This love will shine in the darkest of nights and will certainly light the way. But the perfect love which God shares is infinitely greater then the light of a thousand suns in comparison. This perfect love will not just light the way; this perfect love will turn night into day.
As Christians we are connected directly to this power source. This perfect love which can change night into day has been given to us as a gift. We are no longer left to find our way through the darkness of this world on our own. We have been given Christ…
The Apostle John shares with us in the opening passage (1 John 5:1-4) not only what happens when we tap into this power source, but also how we do so in our lives. By loving God and carrying out His commands, we become closer to Him and therefore closer to the perfect love God shares. As this happens, we find ourselves closer to the natural state that God intended (“And His commands our not burdensome”) and therefore able to love like the light of a thousand suns…
This is not what the enemy desires and goes against much of what the world is advertising. Love has become this concept that something is love only if my needs are being satisfied. The definition of love has been corrupted and changed in the world. Therefore the enemy has made it impossible to ‘love your neighbor as you love yourself’ or even ‘love your God with all of your heart’ because neither of these can be done from a selfish motivation.
But we can overcome the world as the Apostle John points out (“for everyone born of God overcomes the world”) by accepting Christ. We can escape the world’s definition of love and live by the standard of perfect love. Our lives can be marked by the grace and love God has given us.
The Apostle Paul shared with us in the book of Romans:
“As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:36,37 NIV
Brothers, we can be the overcomers of this world and prove that the love we share is the true definition of love. We can show the world the love we share is not from our own source of strength, but is powered by the light of a thousand suns.
When we begin to love like this, I believe nothing in this world will ever be able to stop us from achieving the great things God has predestined us to do. Let us begin this journey together as part of the body of Christ…
Prayer requests
Monte – praise for new employment with Direct TV
Ernie – praise for the health of wife in her leg and knee, pray for continued protection of son and his promotion to sergeant with the Everett Police Department
Keith – thanks for Ernie in bring him tonight to the meeting
Tim – pray that he will be able to connect with his con through discipline and love
Kelcy – pray that mother’s surgery on February 20th will go well, pray for pastors and staff
Ramon – pray for the family of Matt who died recently of bone cancer that they may be comforted and hear the voice of the Lord
Steve – pray that a friend’s husband will pass his driving test so that he may gain employment
David – pray that the Lord will continue to teach him how to treat others with respect during times of discipline and always be able to speak the truth with love
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own, pray for Diane Mix at work who lost her father-in-law to a heart attack and her husband to a stroke this past week
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Dick – pray for strength in new employment
Joe – pray that his condo may sell and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 26th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.” 1 John 5:1-4 NIV
As we continue to dive into the importance of love, the realization of what we truly have in our lives begins to take shape. For perfect love is not just a concept, it truly is the source to a connection which has no worldly “understanding”.
Yes, we can grasp this love and find truth in its existence; but to really comprehend it is nearly impossible. A God who created everything and could create anything else yet chooses to still love us—even though we are sinners and at times do not love Him—is nearly impossible to understand through worldly wisdom.
But this is what we have in our lives if we believe in Him. John 3:16 gives each one of us this reality: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Yet the world continues to say otherwise and instead corrupts the meaning of love for its own purposes. Therefore we never even approach the depth of perfect love in our lives because we have become content with a worldly definition of what love means.
I often consider that the love we share with each other is much like light, and the love each one of us has on our own is about the same amount of light as a flashlight. And we have become rather content with a “flashlight” love which shines in the darkness of each one of our lives. This love will shine in the darkest of nights and will certainly light the way. But the perfect love which God shares is infinitely greater then the light of a thousand suns in comparison. This perfect love will not just light the way; this perfect love will turn night into day.
As Christians we are connected directly to this power source. This perfect love which can change night into day has been given to us as a gift. We are no longer left to find our way through the darkness of this world on our own. We have been given Christ…
The Apostle John shares with us in the opening passage (1 John 5:1-4) not only what happens when we tap into this power source, but also how we do so in our lives. By loving God and carrying out His commands, we become closer to Him and therefore closer to the perfect love God shares. As this happens, we find ourselves closer to the natural state that God intended (“And His commands our not burdensome”) and therefore able to love like the light of a thousand suns…
This is not what the enemy desires and goes against much of what the world is advertising. Love has become this concept that something is love only if my needs are being satisfied. The definition of love has been corrupted and changed in the world. Therefore the enemy has made it impossible to ‘love your neighbor as you love yourself’ or even ‘love your God with all of your heart’ because neither of these can be done from a selfish motivation.
But we can overcome the world as the Apostle John points out (“for everyone born of God overcomes the world”) by accepting Christ. We can escape the world’s definition of love and live by the standard of perfect love. Our lives can be marked by the grace and love God has given us.
The Apostle Paul shared with us in the book of Romans:
“As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:36,37 NIV
Brothers, we can be the overcomers of this world and prove that the love we share is the true definition of love. We can show the world the love we share is not from our own source of strength, but is powered by the light of a thousand suns.
When we begin to love like this, I believe nothing in this world will ever be able to stop us from achieving the great things God has predestined us to do. Let us begin this journey together as part of the body of Christ…
Prayer requests
Monte – praise for new employment with Direct TV
Ernie – praise for the health of wife in her leg and knee, pray for continued protection of son and his promotion to sergeant with the Everett Police Department
Keith – thanks for Ernie in bring him tonight to the meeting
Tim – pray that he will be able to connect with his con through discipline and love
Kelcy – pray that mother’s surgery on February 20th will go well, pray for pastors and staff
Ramon – pray for the family of Matt who died recently of bone cancer that they may be comforted and hear the voice of the Lord
Steve – pray that a friend’s husband will pass his driving test so that he may gain employment
David – pray that the Lord will continue to teach him how to treat others with respect during times of discipline and always be able to speak the truth with love
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own, pray for Diane Mix at work who lost her father-in-law to a heart attack and her husband to a stroke this past week
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Dick – pray for strength in new employment
Joe – pray that his condo may sell and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 26th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Weekly Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV
Last week we asked the question---what is our first love? It is clear from the Scriptures the Lord desires us to hold Him as our first love in everything we do, for we are to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). He is to be the object of our affections and the sole passion for our work within the Church.
Yet, how do we achieve this in our lives? How do we actually love God in such a way that He becomes our first love and the object of all of our affections?
I believe we must begin by understanding what love is…
Love is something which cannot be forced or manufactured. Love cannot be born out of jealousy or malice. Love can never come from hatred or spite against another person. Love does not involve pride or rejoices in iniquity. Love suffers long and is built within kindness. Love seeks the interest of others before seeking the interest of one’s self. Love is essentially everything listed in first Corinthians chapter 13…
But in every quality mentioned, love can only be born within the webbings of our relationship with others. Love can never be experienced without an object of its affection. For it can never be an isolated act, left within the vacuum of one’s life. Instead, it is through our connection with the lives of others that love can grow and through the time spent within their lives upon where love can develop. This is the essence of family and where many of us experience true lasting love.
The Lord I believe wants us to see this essence in our relationship with Him and our relationship with others. Only when we realize that we are family, bound together by connection to our heavenly Father, will we be able to love in a way that God intended.
When we realize that we are not just a person that God loves, but instead one of His sons, how much more can we love Him and then in turn love each other.
The Apostle John in his first epistle shares with us the source of all perfect love:
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”
1 John 4:7-9 NIV
Brothers, we are not separated from the source of love by multiple generations. We are a son to the creator of all love. God has no grandchildren. Therefore all love that flows from us has been created by our heavenly Father for it already flowed directly from His inmost being into our lives as sons.
This connection between love and God is the essence of family. This connection between love and God is truly how all our affections can reside in Him. This connection between love and God is how we can truly make Him our first love. And from these truths our lives are radically transformed because we our connected to Him through all perfect love.
May we learn to accept this truth, bind it within our heart, and remind ourselves each day how we are connected to one another through the perfect love God has made available to all men. May we learn to use it within the body of Christ in order that God will be glorified…
Prayer requests
Monte – praise for new employment with Direct TV
Ernie – praise for the health of wife in her leg and knee, pray for continued protection of son and his promotion to sergeant with the Everett Police Department
Keith – thanks for Ernie in bring him tonight to the meeting
Tim – pray that he will be able to connect with his con through discipline and love
Kelcy – pray that mother’s surgery on February 20th will go well, pray for pastors and staff
Ramon – pray for the family of Matt who died recently of bone cancer that they may be comforted and hear the voice of the Lord
Steve – pray that a friend’s husband will pass his driving test so that he may gain employment
David – pray that the Lord will continue to teach him how to treat others with respect during times of discipline and always be able to speak the truth with love
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own, pray for Diane Mix at work who lost her father-in-law to a heart attack and her husband to a stroke this past week
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Dick – pray for strength in new employment
Joe – pray that his condo may sell quickly and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 26th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV
Last week we asked the question---what is our first love? It is clear from the Scriptures the Lord desires us to hold Him as our first love in everything we do, for we are to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). He is to be the object of our affections and the sole passion for our work within the Church.
Yet, how do we achieve this in our lives? How do we actually love God in such a way that He becomes our first love and the object of all of our affections?
I believe we must begin by understanding what love is…
Love is something which cannot be forced or manufactured. Love cannot be born out of jealousy or malice. Love can never come from hatred or spite against another person. Love does not involve pride or rejoices in iniquity. Love suffers long and is built within kindness. Love seeks the interest of others before seeking the interest of one’s self. Love is essentially everything listed in first Corinthians chapter 13…
But in every quality mentioned, love can only be born within the webbings of our relationship with others. Love can never be experienced without an object of its affection. For it can never be an isolated act, left within the vacuum of one’s life. Instead, it is through our connection with the lives of others that love can grow and through the time spent within their lives upon where love can develop. This is the essence of family and where many of us experience true lasting love.
The Lord I believe wants us to see this essence in our relationship with Him and our relationship with others. Only when we realize that we are family, bound together by connection to our heavenly Father, will we be able to love in a way that God intended.
When we realize that we are not just a person that God loves, but instead one of His sons, how much more can we love Him and then in turn love each other.
The Apostle John in his first epistle shares with us the source of all perfect love:
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”
1 John 4:7-9 NIV
Brothers, we are not separated from the source of love by multiple generations. We are a son to the creator of all love. God has no grandchildren. Therefore all love that flows from us has been created by our heavenly Father for it already flowed directly from His inmost being into our lives as sons.
This connection between love and God is the essence of family. This connection between love and God is truly how all our affections can reside in Him. This connection between love and God is how we can truly make Him our first love. And from these truths our lives are radically transformed because we our connected to Him through all perfect love.
May we learn to accept this truth, bind it within our heart, and remind ourselves each day how we are connected to one another through the perfect love God has made available to all men. May we learn to use it within the body of Christ in order that God will be glorified…
Prayer requests
Monte – praise for new employment with Direct TV
Ernie – praise for the health of wife in her leg and knee, pray for continued protection of son and his promotion to sergeant with the Everett Police Department
Keith – thanks for Ernie in bring him tonight to the meeting
Tim – pray that he will be able to connect with his con through discipline and love
Kelcy – pray that mother’s surgery on February 20th will go well, pray for pastors and staff
Ramon – pray for the family of Matt who died recently of bone cancer that they may be comforted and hear the voice of the Lord
Steve – pray that a friend’s husband will pass his driving test so that he may gain employment
David – pray that the Lord will continue to teach him how to treat others with respect during times of discipline and always be able to speak the truth with love
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own, pray for Diane Mix at work who lost her father-in-law to a heart attack and her husband to a stroke this past week
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Dick – pray for strength in new employment
Joe – pray that his condo may sell quickly and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 26th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Weekly Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
“These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
Revelation 2:1-5 NIV
During my daily devotions this week, the Lord presented me with a question—what is my first love?
Since my wife and I have begun a new journey together this week, it is a very poignant question. For we have recommitted our lives to the importance of family, regardless of the cost. We have stepped into the great unknown, putting our faith in the Lord.
But this question is not about faith, it is about love. So I believe this question is very relevant to not just my life, but pertinent to each one of us, as well as the Church. What is our first love?
See we can have faith like the Church of Ephesus. We can persevere through difficult times and work hard at spreading the gospel. Over time we can help build up great ministries so that they may glorify God. Even our family can be marked with Christian values, establishing the gospel as center to our existence. We can even have holiness and Christian doctrines guiding our life. The Church of Ephesus had a great Christian foundation with many of these attributes and was even commended for their virtue. From their success, this Church even went on to plant the other six churches found in Asia Minor mentioned in the book of Revelation.
So it was a very thriving Church and probably one of the “greatest” Christian Churches of all time. Yet is this what God really wants? Does God want us going through the motions to prove our Christian values or does He want something else?
The Church of Ephesus is no longer with us today two thousand years later, regardless of its “greatness”. Therefore I believe we must focus our attention on verse 4 to find out why: ‘Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.’
I believe we all can fall into a routine, continuing in our Christianity because it is the right thing to do. I believe Churches do this all the time, continuing a ministry or program because it glorifies God in its existence. But its continuation is only because of a sense of duty, not because of a love for Christ.
God wants love from us, not routines or a sense of duty. He wants us to hold Him as our first love in everything we do, not in second place to a program or person. There is nothing more desirable to our Lord then to receive our love, which is why he has created ‘free will’ for all of mankind.
For it has been written in the Scriptures: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'” Matthew 22: 36-37 NIV
My wife and I have committed ourselves to the Lord in our new journey by faith. But the real question is, have we committed this step out in faith through our love for God? For faith and love are two very different things. We believe we have and because of our love for God are so grateful for this opportunity. From this love comes a whole new sense of His glory.
Brothers, may all of us continue to live a life full of love for God. May we not fall into the ways of the Church of Ephesus and just go through the routines of life. For the enemy loves when our first love is replaced by only a sense of duty. May we find a new sense of His glory each and every day. May our existence as the Church not be marked with the statement—‘I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.’
Let us love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind…
Prayer requests
Ernie – pray for the health of wife in her leg and knee
Kelcy – pray for dizziness of mother and her health, pray for pastors and staff
Ramon – pray for him to follow God’s will, pray for less distractions from life, pray for wife’s health
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Steve – pray that he will not suppress the Spirit and allow Him to work in his life
Dick – pray for strength in new employment
David – pray that the presence of the Lord will be visible to others in order that he may bless them
Tim – pray for discernment on his direction in life
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Joe – pray that his condo may sell quickly and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 13th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 NIV
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
“These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
Revelation 2:1-5 NIV
During my daily devotions this week, the Lord presented me with a question—what is my first love?
Since my wife and I have begun a new journey together this week, it is a very poignant question. For we have recommitted our lives to the importance of family, regardless of the cost. We have stepped into the great unknown, putting our faith in the Lord.
But this question is not about faith, it is about love. So I believe this question is very relevant to not just my life, but pertinent to each one of us, as well as the Church. What is our first love?
See we can have faith like the Church of Ephesus. We can persevere through difficult times and work hard at spreading the gospel. Over time we can help build up great ministries so that they may glorify God. Even our family can be marked with Christian values, establishing the gospel as center to our existence. We can even have holiness and Christian doctrines guiding our life. The Church of Ephesus had a great Christian foundation with many of these attributes and was even commended for their virtue. From their success, this Church even went on to plant the other six churches found in Asia Minor mentioned in the book of Revelation.
So it was a very thriving Church and probably one of the “greatest” Christian Churches of all time. Yet is this what God really wants? Does God want us going through the motions to prove our Christian values or does He want something else?
The Church of Ephesus is no longer with us today two thousand years later, regardless of its “greatness”. Therefore I believe we must focus our attention on verse 4 to find out why: ‘Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.’
I believe we all can fall into a routine, continuing in our Christianity because it is the right thing to do. I believe Churches do this all the time, continuing a ministry or program because it glorifies God in its existence. But its continuation is only because of a sense of duty, not because of a love for Christ.
God wants love from us, not routines or a sense of duty. He wants us to hold Him as our first love in everything we do, not in second place to a program or person. There is nothing more desirable to our Lord then to receive our love, which is why he has created ‘free will’ for all of mankind.
For it has been written in the Scriptures: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'” Matthew 22: 36-37 NIV
My wife and I have committed ourselves to the Lord in our new journey by faith. But the real question is, have we committed this step out in faith through our love for God? For faith and love are two very different things. We believe we have and because of our love for God are so grateful for this opportunity. From this love comes a whole new sense of His glory.
Brothers, may all of us continue to live a life full of love for God. May we not fall into the ways of the Church of Ephesus and just go through the routines of life. For the enemy loves when our first love is replaced by only a sense of duty. May we find a new sense of His glory each and every day. May our existence as the Church not be marked with the statement—‘I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.’
Let us love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind…
Prayer requests
Ernie – pray for the health of wife in her leg and knee
Kelcy – pray for dizziness of mother and her health, pray for pastors and staff
Ramon – pray for him to follow God’s will, pray for less distractions from life, pray for wife’s health
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Steve – pray that he will not suppress the Spirit and allow Him to work in his life
Dick – pray for strength in new employment
David – pray that the presence of the Lord will be visible to others in order that he may bless them
Tim – pray for discernment on his direction in life
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Joe – pray that his condo may sell quickly and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 13th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 NIV
Monday, February 4, 2008
Weekly Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“Moses answered him, ‘Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.’
“Moses’ father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God, and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.’”
Exodus 18:15-20 NIV
Moses was one of God’s chosen. He lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt (Exodus 4:18-26). He came to "the mountain of God" and received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28). He spoke with the Lord face-to-face like a friend (Exodus 33:11). He was the one man in the Old Testament that Christ specifically likens Himself to (John 5:46). He was such a prominent part of God’s plan that he is mentioned as the representative of law (John 1:17). He died known as a ‘man of God’ to others (Deuteronomy 33:1). He even was seen on the mount of transfiguration with Christ and Elijah (Matthew 17:3).
Yet in all of his greatness, he was a man, part of the same sinful condition we all face. For no greatness cannot negate anyone from being part of the human race. And just like us, Moses faced all of the same trials we face each and every day.
We all tend to live prideful lives at times regardless of any ‘human standing’ we may enjoy, relying on our own strength at work, home, or church. And this passage from Exodus shows where Moses’ displayed his pride for being the judge of the Israelites.
But from this passage also comes the truth, showing ultimately where our strength is supplied. Nothing we do in life is light enough for our own works and we will eventually wear out through our own efforts. Pride establishes our own energy as the source of strength, not the Lord. Pride also establishes us as the center of solution, not the ‘body of Christ’. And both of these are counter to the message God desires us to understand.
Therefore what Jethro recognized about his son-in-law is a lesson for each one of us as well. We need to set our sight upon the Lord and allow Him to work through the ‘body of Christ’ in order for His will to be done.
This requires the existence of a growing, functioning ‘body of Christ’, working together in love so that the work of the Lord will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Paul recognized this truth when he said to the Ephesians:
“From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 NIV
The Apostle Paul clearly sets forth where our strength comes from (‘From Him the whole body’), how we are unified through the Church (‘held together’), how we are built up (‘in love’), and how each one of us plays a role (‘each part does its work’).
May the Lord begin to show in each of our lives this valuable lesson Jethro set forth to Moses. From this message written many years ago, may we learn to set aside our pride so the Lord may work through our humility. May the work of the Lord be active in the ways He sees fit in each one of our lives.
May this work begin with me today…
***************************************************
God bless each one of you. I continue to pray the Lord will show Himself to each one of you this week. All of us play an important role to the Church and ultimately a special purpose in His great design...
Prayer requests
Ramon – pray for him to follow God’s will, pray for less distractions from life, pray for wife’s health
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Steve – pray that he will not suppress the Spirit and allow Him to work in his life
Ernie – pray for the health of wife in her leg and knee
Kelcy – pray for dizziness of mother and her health, pray for pastors and staff
David – pray that the presence of the Lord will be visible to others in order that he may bless them
Tim – pray for discernment on his direction in life
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Dick – pray for strength in new employment and possible relocation to the Seattle office
Joe – pray that his condo may sell quickly and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
Michael – praise for Michael finding a Church in Alabama for himself and family
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 13th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 NIV
“Moses answered him, ‘Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.’
“Moses’ father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God, and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.’”
Exodus 18:15-20 NIV
Moses was one of God’s chosen. He lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt (Exodus 4:18-26). He came to "the mountain of God" and received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28). He spoke with the Lord face-to-face like a friend (Exodus 33:11). He was the one man in the Old Testament that Christ specifically likens Himself to (John 5:46). He was such a prominent part of God’s plan that he is mentioned as the representative of law (John 1:17). He died known as a ‘man of God’ to others (Deuteronomy 33:1). He even was seen on the mount of transfiguration with Christ and Elijah (Matthew 17:3).
Yet in all of his greatness, he was a man, part of the same sinful condition we all face. For no greatness cannot negate anyone from being part of the human race. And just like us, Moses faced all of the same trials we face each and every day.
We all tend to live prideful lives at times regardless of any ‘human standing’ we may enjoy, relying on our own strength at work, home, or church. And this passage from Exodus shows where Moses’ displayed his pride for being the judge of the Israelites.
But from this passage also comes the truth, showing ultimately where our strength is supplied. Nothing we do in life is light enough for our own works and we will eventually wear out through our own efforts. Pride establishes our own energy as the source of strength, not the Lord. Pride also establishes us as the center of solution, not the ‘body of Christ’. And both of these are counter to the message God desires us to understand.
Therefore what Jethro recognized about his son-in-law is a lesson for each one of us as well. We need to set our sight upon the Lord and allow Him to work through the ‘body of Christ’ in order for His will to be done.
This requires the existence of a growing, functioning ‘body of Christ’, working together in love so that the work of the Lord will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Paul recognized this truth when he said to the Ephesians:
“From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 NIV
The Apostle Paul clearly sets forth where our strength comes from (‘From Him the whole body’), how we are unified through the Church (‘held together’), how we are built up (‘in love’), and how each one of us plays a role (‘each part does its work’).
May the Lord begin to show in each of our lives this valuable lesson Jethro set forth to Moses. From this message written many years ago, may we learn to set aside our pride so the Lord may work through our humility. May the work of the Lord be active in the ways He sees fit in each one of our lives.
May this work begin with me today…
***************************************************
God bless each one of you. I continue to pray the Lord will show Himself to each one of you this week. All of us play an important role to the Church and ultimately a special purpose in His great design...
Prayer requests
Ramon – pray for him to follow God’s will, pray for less distractions from life, pray for wife’s health
Carmine – pray for the Presidential election and bringing forth a ‘godly’ leader
Steve – pray that he will not suppress the Spirit and allow Him to work in his life
Ernie – pray for the health of wife in her leg and knee
Kelcy – pray for dizziness of mother and her health, pray for pastors and staff
David – pray that the presence of the Lord will be visible to others in order that he may bless them
Tim – pray for discernment on his direction in life
Mark – pray that I will be a good steward of God’s money, pray that I may continue to shepherd others through God’s strength, not my own
***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church
Continued prayer needs
Dick – pray for strength in new employment and possible relocation to the Seattle office
Joe – pray that his condo may sell quickly and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo
Craig – pray that he will receive the blessing of health and guidance during the next few weeks
Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures
Larry – pray for leadership in leading group of men with CTL, pray that the marriage ministry will begin to make a larger impact on the Church
Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
Michael – praise for Michael finding a Church in Alabama for himself and family
*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders
Future Meetings
Please make note that the next meeting is back in the Fireside Room at Northshore. Here is the upcoming meeting schedule:
Wednesday, February 13th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting in the Fireside room at Northshore Christian Church
Challenge
May we find peace and power within our inner being in order to build unity throughout the Church…
Memory Verse
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 NIV
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