The Voice of Determination

I must say that the last couple of days have been interesting. You know, I really did not realize how much I used the cpu at home until it was down. It's still in for repair cause the "mother board" is fried.

The cpu itself is only 3-4 years old. My last computer probably lasted for 10 years before going out. Which brings me to this question: Why this computer? Why now?

I'm sure that people with more tech knowledge will tell me that these things happen all the time. However, I find it interesting that I have never had a cpu problem until I started this blog. I know that some of the entries that I have posted have been straight-forward truth and others have been set upon my personal convictions, but I believe that our common enemy "satan" does not like what I'm doing.

I have a few words about that: "I'm going to keep on doing what I'm doing." What you are hearing today is the voice of determination. You see, we all have a choice when facing obstacles in our lives. We can take them on at full force or we can run away. I will not retreat. I will not surrender. I may be limited in what I can say and how much I can post until my home cpu is up and running - but I will not quit.

Why? Because a few years ago I joined the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."

"I, Neal Hawks, am part of the 'Fellowship of the Unashamed.'

The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.

I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams,

tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.

I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me.

And when Jesus comes back for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am a part of the 'Fellowship of the Unashamed.'"

*I do not have a source for this pledge, since it was anonymous when I received it. If anyone has information regarding the true source of the pledge please email me - pbcpastor08@gmail.com

Sorry...nothing new today.

Sorry folks, but my cpu @ home is down which is why there isn't a new posting today. I hope to be able to submit something tomorrow.

I hope that you have all had a wonderful day.

In Christ,
Neal

Our Excessive God

In Ephesians 3:20 the Bible says that we serve a God "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all the we ask or think, according to the power at work in us."

I absolutely love teaching on this verse of scripture. It's one of those verses that you cannot exhaust because it's packed full of remarkable promises regarding the nature, character, and ability of God.
*
I. God Exceeds Our Situations (20a)

Able

Able to do

Able to do what we ask

Able to do what we ask or think

Able to do all that we ask or think

Able to do above all that we ask or think

Able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think

Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think

*

Notice that there are no negatives in this verse. Why? Because when we talk about the power and ability of God we cannot be anything but positive. The God of Scripture has shown Himself able.

*

II. He Exceeds Our Expectations (20b)

- I don't know about you but I can ask and think about a lot of things. This verse teaches us that God can exceed what I think He can do and what I could ever ask of Him.

*

I can tell you that I have seen God give children to people who were not able to conceive simply because we asked. I have watched God make the impossible possible. He heals, saves, delivers, provides, etc. What do you need that your Heavenly Father cannot supply?

*

III. He Exceeds Our Limitations (20c)

- Last of all I want to point out that God is able to do all of this for,in, and through us.

*

Notice that none of these attributes are according to us. It's all according to the power at work in us. It's His power. It's His Spirit at work. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all according to His power at work in us.

*

Jesus said, "With men it's impossible, but with God all things are possible." Luke 18:27. Let me ask you, What are you asking God to do? What are you believing God to accomplish? He is able. He is able to do all that you ask or think. In fact, He is able to exceed what you could ask or all that you could think. And when He does it - it will be according to His power at work in you.

*

Take some time today to thank God for His indescribable power at work within you. Thank Him for the presence of His Holy Spirit in your life. What would we do without Him?

I Believe It!

The Apostles Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

A few years ago, before his death, Rich Mullins took the Apostles Creed and made it into one of the greatest Contemporary Christian songs ever played. There is no way that I can count the number of times I have heard and sung along with the words that you just read. Dove Award winners - Third Day - even released a live, more modern version of the song, which is by far my favorite rendition.

I was taking my kids to school this morning while listening to Third Day's Chronology II CD and this song came on. And as I listened to the song something happened. It's something that I have experienced before at the same exact moment in the song. It came with these words: "I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, I believe in the resurrection, I believe in a life that never ends." It was during those last two lines that I experienced a great filling of the Holy Spirit. It was so overwhelming that I began to cry and thank God for the forgiveness that He has offered me, the promise of the resurrection, and eternal life.

I believe it! Whole-heartedly, completely, and without reservations. What wonderful promises from God's Word. How great it is to know that with God my account has been made clean and that this world is not my home. That filling (not feeling) of the Holy Spirit was a reminder to me of all that Jesus promised. He was doing what He came to do. The Holy Spirit is in me to remind me of all that Christ has spoken.

I'm not going to take a lot of your time today. Instead, I want you to focus on your confession of faith. Do you believe what God's Word has spoken? Do you believe in what we call the Apostles Creed? Take some time and look over those words again. If you have a copy of the song version - put it in the CD player and sing with all your might these awesome words. And may the Holy Spirit fill you with the same awe and wonder that I experienced. Then take that experience along with your beliefs and share it with someone else.

Who knows? God may use it and you to bring someone to faith in Christ today!

Complacent Christianity Kills

Del Fehsenfeld Jr. in Ablaze with His Glory said, "I do not know of any greater need in the church today than for the fire of God to fall. When we refer to the fire of God, we are talking about the manifest presence and glory of God. We are talking about the supernatural power of God. We are talking about services that are more than just nice meetings with nice music and nice preaching. We are talking about results that cannot be explained in terms of human effort."

To that I say, "AMEN!"

The church is in desperate need of the fire of God. And as I think about this subject the question that always comes to mind is, "Why don't we have it?" Even some of the most charismatic churches in our country aren't experiencing genuine revival. I hope to answer at least part of this dilema.

In Judges 16:20 we read that after Delilah cut Samson's hair she called out to him to say that the Philistines were coming. He awoke from his sleep and according to God's Word said, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free. But he did not know that the Lord has left him."

How sad to think that even the greatest of champions can be lulled into complacency. You know - that self-satisfaction that seems to come over us at times. And according to the definition of complacency it's usually in an unreflective way and without being aware of possible dangers.

That's it! That's what is wrong in most of our churches today. We have become complacent. Pat Riley said, "When a great team loses through complacency, it will constantly search for new and more intricate explanations to explain away defeat." Maybe that's why we see so many church splits or church problems that aren't related to growth. We have become complacent in our faith so we no longer have a passion to reach the lost, change what we are doing as a church body, or seek out new ministry opportunities. And since we don't see anything wrong with us the problems are because of somebody else. We blame pastors, deacons, youth leaders, or music ministers for everything but can never see that our church isn't going anywhere because of our unrevived state.

Here are some lessons from Samson that can help us overcome complacency:

1) If You Play with Sin You will Lose (7,11)
The best advice that I can give you regarding sin is: Deal with sin while it is little.

2) Arrogance and Stupidity Go Hand in Hand (20)
William Pollard said, "The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow."

3) Failure is not an Option (28-30)
The good news about Samson is that he finally recognized where his strength came from.

Complacency is one of the biggest "Christian Killers" in the American Church. We must overcome this deadly evil in our lives if we ever hope to be more than pew warmers in the Kingdom of God.

Revelation 2:5, Jesus said it best, "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works..."