do you have a heart that gathers?

In Nehemiah 7:4-5 we read that as Nehemiah was looking around the city of Jerusalem, after the Walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, that he noticed, "the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few... Then my God put it into my heart to gather..."

Nehemiah noticed that the City of God was "large and spacious" and yet at the same time, "The people in it were few". This is the heart of an Evangelist right here. When Nehemiah observed how large the City of God was, and how few people were actually living it it, he says, "Then my God put it into my heart to gather".

A person who has the heart of God beating inside of them will realize how very large the City of God is, and that there are so many people who are not residing inside of it, and because God's heart is beating within the believer, they will have a God-given desire to "gather" people in.

May you find encouragement to take a stand in these last days of world history, and be a Nehemiah to this generation!

Keep up the Good Fight!

Have you been to Jurassic Park Lately?

What does Jurassic Park, Dr. Alan Grant, and our relationship with God have to do with each other? This 4- minute video is a great reminder of what an "Awesome God" we serve, and how we should live in constant Awe of Him. This video is a great reminder to us that our view of who God is, will determine our devotion to Him.

In Deed and Truth Ministries

This past Sunday we had a special guest speaker at Temecula Creek Christian Fellowship. Suzy Kuj, who is a missionary to the Sudan. Suzy and her husband Sabet have dedicated their lives to ministering to the Sudanese people, and reaching them for Jesus Christ. This video is their 5 minute promo version.

If you would like to hear Suzy's testimony (which by the way is very powerful and at the same time convicting and inspiring), please visit www.temeculacreek.org and click on our "Listen Online" tab.

The reason God will keep His promises to you...

This video is a short, but powerful reminder of why we as Christians can be certain that God will fulfill His promises to us.  

The Bible tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Whether you currently find yourselves standing upon the highest mountain top, or traveling through the deepest and darkest of valleys, this video will encourage you to continue trusting our Great and Awesome God. 

May you continue fighting the Good Fight of Faith!

Have you been thrown under the bus lately?

 

Have you been thrown under the bus lately? Or, even worse, have you unknowingly been throwing others under the bus yourself? 

This video is an important reminder to us about approaching others who have hurt us, or that are not making godly decisions in their life with scripture, so that we can make sure that as we are interacting with them, we do not find ourselves being in error within our hearts and minds before the Lord. 

For example, Jesus tells us, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mt. 5:7). As we interact with one another we must remember that Jesus has called us to be merciful with one another. This is a great verse to remember when someone has wronged us. 

On the other hand, if you see that a brother or sister in Christ is living in sin, or is in error, the Bible tells us in Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." The Bible tells us that when we go to them, we want to do so with a gentle spirit when approaching them. What a great concept! We would normally say, "I have to confront so-and-so" for doing "such-and-such". Instead, we should say I have to "approach" so-and-so, rather than "confront" them. Meaning this, when we "approach" someone with a spirit of gentleness, it takes the "confronting" and "condemning" mindset out of the equation for us. When we "gently approach" someone, the Spirit of God will confront them with the Word of God. The Bible has called us to have a spirit of restoration with others, and to avoid having a spirit of condemnation (Matthew 7:1-5). 

As you watch this devotional video, I pray that you will find encouragement to put the Bus of Self-Righteousness in park, flatten its tires, and throw the keys to the ignition into the deepest part of the ocean. 

how does God view "my money"?

The testimony in this 1:56 video completely changed my perspective on how God views "my money." I hope that you will be encouraged and challenged by it as well.

In the Book of Philippians Paul compliments the Philippians on how they contributed to the work of his ministry through their generous and giving hearts. He says, "... no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account" (Philippians 4:15-17). 

What an incredible concept Paul presents here in the Book of Philippians. The tithing that we do to help support the work of the ministry is actually adding "fruit" to our heavenly account. May this video encourage you to develop a new heart and mind for how you view "your money" and resources.

having this seal

In 2 Timothy 2:19 the Apostle Paul tells Timothy how to discern between those who belong to the Lord, and those who do not. Paul tells Timothy in v.19; 

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal; "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

In this verse Paul tells us that the "solid foundation of God", or in other words, a truth that is bedrock, immovable and unchanging, is this fact; God has placed a "seal" upon those He knows. This seal can be seen in the way that "everyone who names the name of Christ departs from iniquity."

This word "seal" in the Greek means "a mark of genuineness" as well as "protection from misappropriation." Meaning that the "seal" God places upon his children (which is the fact that they will depart from iniquity), not only acts as "a mark of genuineness", but it also acts as "protection from misappropriation" (i.e. not genuine) 

Therefore, Scripture is testifying that the mark of genuine faith, a faith that causes God to recognize us as His own, will be displayed in the fact that we will "depart from iniquity." This verse is not speaking about perfection, but direction. Meaning, Paul is not saying we must be perfect in order to be God's (that would go against his own teaching throughout the N.T. cf. Eph. 2:8-9), but the direction that a "genuine" believer travels after repenting of their sins and placing their trust in Christ alone for Salvation, is away from sin. Or in other words, they depart from their iniquity. If there has never been any change in a person's direction in life, then God's word is quite clear that there "profession" of faith must be repented of. 

On the other hand, this "protection from misappropriation" also acts as a protective seal from God against false converts from errantly "misappropriating" a false confession  (i.e. confession of faith in Christ without repentance from sin towards God), or of receiving any false assurance of salvation, without having a change in their direction of living for God instead of their fleshly desires (cf. 1 John 2:28-29).  

In the previous 18 verses of this chapter Paul gives Timothy an example of what a person who has the "seal" of God actually looks like. Paul tells him that those who have God's seal are known as "faithful men" in their walk with God (v.2), "good soldiers" who are taking part in the Heavenly Battle (v.3), athletes who compete "according to the rules" of God's Word (v.5), "hardworking farmers" who do the work of the Lord in the harvest (v.6), "the elect" of God who have obtained salvation and are enduring in the faith (v.10), and the "approved" of God who diligently study God's word so that they can accurately understand the word of God (v.15). 

Again, Paul is not speaking about perfection, but direction. Because in the remaining seven verses following v.19, Paul reminds Timothy to "flee youthful lusts" and to "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace" (v.22), knowing that the Christian life is one of fleeing and pursuing. We are to flee (or depart from) sin, and to "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace". 

As you go forward this week remember that God is not concerned in our perfection, but only our direction. Having the "seal" of God upon our lives will be identified through a life that is set apart for Him, or in other words God has called us to be "a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).  Let's choose to flee from the lusts of this world (by departing from iniquity), and let's wholeheartedly "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace", so that when the world looks at us, there will be absolutely no mistake about Whose seal is upon our lives.