As I was getting ready for early morning ministers prayer today, I was talking to my wife about different aspects of revival and the ministry in general (exactly what she wants to talk about at 5:30 am). I made the statement that we get complacency and contentment confused sometimes. There is a big difference:
complacency-1. A feeling of self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble, or controversy.
2. An instance of contented self-satisfaction.
contentment-1. The state of being contented; satisfaction.
2. A source of satisfaction
The key word in complacency is the word self-satisfaction. "I am satisfied with myself and what I have done. I have been made unaware because of this feeling." My firm belief is we do not need to grow complacent where we are satisfied to the point that we have arrived and are not on our spiritual toes. Complacency will lull us to sleep and let the enemy creep in unawares and destroy the work that has been done.
On the flip side of the equation is frustration. We can become frustrated that God is not moving enough. God is not using us how we think he should. We desire so much more, and though our desire can not be faulted, when it turns into frustration that can be harmful. Frustration can lead to discouragement, thus leading to a falling away because God must not be paying attention. Frustration can be just as detrimental as complacency.
There has to be some middle ground. I believe that ground is contentment. The definition does not mention self-satisfaction or not being aware. One of the definitions is a source of satisfaction. Contentment is seeing where God has you and saying "I don't want to stay here, so I will not be complacent. I don't want to stay here, but I will not be frustrated because I know God has his hand on me. I will be content with where God has put me, and be satisfied in the fact that I am in his will and this where I need to be working for him now."
We need to do all we can for God where we are and while we can. Complacency and frustration will pull away from our work. But if we can be content with where God has us, and make a difference there, then be sure that God will have more for you.
II Thes. 3:13 "But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing."
Gal 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not"
God Bless,
Brent
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
More Left than Lost
I heard a message the other day (actually I listened to it several times) that was so thought provoking. The message was called "More Left than Lost". I am not trying to steal a sermon, but I had to share a couple of the thoughts in this message.
1. The wages of sin is death. Not will be death, sometime in the future death, but is death. There are things when we sin, when we walk away from God, leave the church, etc. that we lose. Somethings I feel we can never get back. But when we make our way back to God, somethings that feel dead, feel like we have lost forever are just waiting for something to resurrect them. Jesus said I am the resurrection. Martha thought He was talking about the resurrection to come. But He was there that day to resurrect something they thought they had lost forever. Jesus is looking for an opportunity to resurrect some things in peoples life. They may be dead, but we all know what the answer to that is!!
2. The title of the message comes from this thought. The prodigal son had to come to himself. He had spent everything. Lost his money, his family, his reputation, his friends, the list goes on. But he had to come to himself and realize, that in everything I lost, there is still more at home that has always been there. There is grace and mercy there. There is sustenance. There is a father that I know will still love me. In all that I lost, there is still more left than lost.
3. Home has to stay home. The father could have went out and defended his son in the world. Justified, tried to protect, made excuses for. But the father said, when he needs a place to come home to, when all has run out, he won't have to wonder where I am. He won't have to wonder if home is still what it used to be. I am going to be watching for him. Waiting for him. We have to keep home home.
What about those that leave because of TV, jewelry, moral sin, etc? What about when they come home? They are looking for the home that they left. The home that they dreamed about. But they come home and TV is now ok. Jewelry is on everybody. Immoral spirit is all over the church. No, no, no. We have to keep home home. We have to keep it like it always has been.
Jeremiah 6:16 "Ask for the old paths"
Much thanks to Pastor Tim Copeland of Buford, GA for this message.
1. The wages of sin is death. Not will be death, sometime in the future death, but is death. There are things when we sin, when we walk away from God, leave the church, etc. that we lose. Somethings I feel we can never get back. But when we make our way back to God, somethings that feel dead, feel like we have lost forever are just waiting for something to resurrect them. Jesus said I am the resurrection. Martha thought He was talking about the resurrection to come. But He was there that day to resurrect something they thought they had lost forever. Jesus is looking for an opportunity to resurrect some things in peoples life. They may be dead, but we all know what the answer to that is!!
2. The title of the message comes from this thought. The prodigal son had to come to himself. He had spent everything. Lost his money, his family, his reputation, his friends, the list goes on. But he had to come to himself and realize, that in everything I lost, there is still more at home that has always been there. There is grace and mercy there. There is sustenance. There is a father that I know will still love me. In all that I lost, there is still more left than lost.
3. Home has to stay home. The father could have went out and defended his son in the world. Justified, tried to protect, made excuses for. But the father said, when he needs a place to come home to, when all has run out, he won't have to wonder where I am. He won't have to wonder if home is still what it used to be. I am going to be watching for him. Waiting for him. We have to keep home home.
What about those that leave because of TV, jewelry, moral sin, etc? What about when they come home? They are looking for the home that they left. The home that they dreamed about. But they come home and TV is now ok. Jewelry is on everybody. Immoral spirit is all over the church. No, no, no. We have to keep home home. We have to keep it like it always has been.
Jeremiah 6:16 "Ask for the old paths"
Much thanks to Pastor Tim Copeland of Buford, GA for this message.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
What a time to live in
I was thinking this morning, what a great time we live in. Now I can see the confused look on your face. "Brent, what about the shape that the world is in? What about the economy? What about the falling away as a nation from God and the core concepts that founded the U.S.? What about communism, racism, and the hatred that abounds in the world today?" But still, even with your reminders about the world today, I say with even more conviction and excitement, what a GREAT time we live in. If the world has ever been ready for a great revival, for something to shake them out of their complacency, that time is now. I am listening to a song right now called "There is a God". It says the evidence is all around. When people begin to find the truth, when we begin to reach out to a world that is broken, just imagine what can happen. I heard a preacher recently say that a harvest was on the way. But it was going to be a broken harvest, a hurting harvest, a harvest that we will have to work our fingers to the bone to see make it. But "There is a God". God is going to prove himself. He is going to move in these last days. My question to you is, are you going to let Him move through you? Are we going to sit back and wait on Him to provide an opportunity, or are we going to create an opportunity for Him to work and move. I want to be out there on the front line allowing myself to be used in these great times. How about you?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Exciting Days Ahead
I am sitting here in the airport, waiting to fly to Tulsa for the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship meeting. It may be not be exciting to some, but to me it is. To be in on the "ground floor" of something like this. I know it is not an organization, but I believe God has great things in store for the men that join themselves to this. Men that are willing to step out of the comfort zone of what has always been done, and know that there has to be a people that stand for what is right. The scripture that comes to mind is I Kings 18:41, "for there is a sound of abundance of rain." I feel that God will reward the sacrifices that are being made, the stands that are being taken. Some feel that revival has to come through technology and man's devices, but I am still firm in my thinking that God, only God, can bring true revival. Apostolic revival. We often quote that the latter will be greater than that of the former. If it is going to be happen, which I believe it is, the time is now, and the people that will see it are Apostolics who haven't lost their first love. Don't be surprised when revival sets in and the church pews can't hold it. In every sense of the words, there are "Exciting Days Ahead".
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A need for a stand
I have read many places (blogs, forums, etc.) of people defending the UPCI and trying to bash the men that have put together this Tulsa meeting and the brethren who are going. I have many times almost commented and sayed some things that I personally felt, but have each time thought better of it. So those few people that do know about this blog, you are now the recipient of these thoughts that have been pent up for so long.
1. I read last night on a "Apostolic" forum a discussion of a preacher who left the UPCI to associate and base out of a former UPCI and currently charismatic church in Austin, TX. It is downright disgusting to me how some nincompoop will defend this man's actions. I am not here to judge his eternal place, but I will not defend someone that leaves the truth (the truth is not just one God, etc., but also holiness and so) and blatantly joins up with someone that has been gone for some time. Some Pentecostals are still referring to him as the greatest apostle of this time and UPCI preachers are still preaching him in their campmeetings and churches. Have You Lost Your Mind???? It is a spirit of compromise and glory for one's self. I value you my own spirituality too much, and if I was a pastor, my church's well being too much, to allow this attitude and spirit to influence me or God's people that I am too lead.
2. Some have been defensive in the last few weeks and months in regards to the organization and this Tulsa meeting. I have tried to reason out the shape the organization is in and make excuses for them, but the bottom line is very poor leadership for years. We always say if you preach it the saint will live it. But can I say, if the leadership of the UPCI would have enforced it, this organization wouldn't have been infiltrated like it is with liberals. If they would have taken a stand years ago, and when pastors quit preaching standards, gone in and pulled license, talked to the churches, some kind of an effort to let the people know we are not going down this road, then we would not be in this situation. So instead of casting the blame on a group of conservative Apostolic men that want no part of this liberalism anymore, put the blame where it belongs. On leaders who were more worried about money, votes, and growing the organization at all cost than preserving an Apostolic future. Let the chips fall where they may. There will always be a church, a true church, that rises up.
1. I read last night on a "Apostolic" forum a discussion of a preacher who left the UPCI to associate and base out of a former UPCI and currently charismatic church in Austin, TX. It is downright disgusting to me how some nincompoop will defend this man's actions. I am not here to judge his eternal place, but I will not defend someone that leaves the truth (the truth is not just one God, etc., but also holiness and so) and blatantly joins up with someone that has been gone for some time. Some Pentecostals are still referring to him as the greatest apostle of this time and UPCI preachers are still preaching him in their campmeetings and churches. Have You Lost Your Mind???? It is a spirit of compromise and glory for one's self. I value you my own spirituality too much, and if I was a pastor, my church's well being too much, to allow this attitude and spirit to influence me or God's people that I am too lead.
2. Some have been defensive in the last few weeks and months in regards to the organization and this Tulsa meeting. I have tried to reason out the shape the organization is in and make excuses for them, but the bottom line is very poor leadership for years. We always say if you preach it the saint will live it. But can I say, if the leadership of the UPCI would have enforced it, this organization wouldn't have been infiltrated like it is with liberals. If they would have taken a stand years ago, and when pastors quit preaching standards, gone in and pulled license, talked to the churches, some kind of an effort to let the people know we are not going down this road, then we would not be in this situation. So instead of casting the blame on a group of conservative Apostolic men that want no part of this liberalism anymore, put the blame where it belongs. On leaders who were more worried about money, votes, and growing the organization at all cost than preserving an Apostolic future. Let the chips fall where they may. There will always be a church, a true church, that rises up.
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