Response to sermons on Heaven by John Clark Port

Listening to Pastor Dwight’s several sermons on heaven the past few weeks has given me some thoughts. As I listen, I find myself feeling convicted at the lack of “heaven” (or at least the heavenly kingdom) in my own life. Let me explain. Many times we look at heaven in this far off sense. The way I'm talking about is very close and practical.

I've noticed complacency in my life. A laziness and satisfaction with the way things are that is really quite sickening. I've had to step back and ask myself, "where is my relationship with the Lord and how am I serving Him." The answers I've found are, "not as close to Him as I would like, and I’m not serving Him a lot."

There is a fear/conviction in me about hell too. I think about the parable of the talents and what kind of steward I'm being with what I've been given. How am I reaching those who don't know Him and what kind of fruit is there to show for it? The answer is, I haven't even been trying to reach out to those who don't know Him and there is no fruit. That would label me as an unprofitable servant (Mt 25). Would that qualify me for the lake of fire? A scary realization but important nonetheless.

So what do I do with that. I believe God is using Pastor Dwight and his sermons on heaven to WAKE US UP! We must see our laziness and complacency and repent from it and change. We must let the word of God transform our minds so we care more about Him and His work for us to do than we care about ourselves. The church has been about us. We must repent and do what God created us to do. Love Him and call others to His love - taking dominion of this earth and bringing his blessing. Amen - John Clark Port

Added by Pastor Dwight: Thanks John Clark, you said it best. I think heaven to us is still too much of a time and place mindset just like "going to church." “Heaven is the place where God's presence to bless is fully manifested.” So we need to think- do we want his fully manifested presence or do we really just want blessed? Where he comes fully his presence will deal mercifully with whatever hinders his blessing. And if we want his full presence we must be intentional about blessing others full not just filling ourselves. We bless God and others by loving him and them. That means spreading heaven's kingdom and bringing others into our lives and his heaven. Go be heaven’s “blessors” and “laid down lovers” for others.

How To Make A Good Decision by Pastor Dwight

Have I made some bad decisions - lots of them. If you aren't afraid to decide you will make mistakes. But our goal is to walk more in the Spirit of Christ and make better decisions that please Him and bring Him glory.

Also, try not to waste time worrying or trying to figure what what coulda, woulda, shoulda been if I only hada...

"Decision making is the hardest work we do" so don't be lazy. Here are some things that may help you.

First, consider Nine Buoys based on Gary Cake's book, Understanding Your Personal Prophecy: How to evaluate, judge, interpret and apply personal prophecy

1. That your decision does not violate God's written Word (Ps 119:105) especially when revelation comes to you as a specific application (Greek word rhema in Mt 4:4; Eph 6:17).

2. That your choice does not violate what you hear and obey God's voice (Jn 10:2, 16; Rom 8:14).

3.You have the most discipline and desire when what you do matches your God-given motivation: heart's passion, vision or mission (although we can't always get to do what we want so this is only one buoy in the decision making process).

4. You have the most grace when you use your best giftings, training and life experiences (including what you received from your parents and what works in your family).

5. Apply prophetic words you have received from others (see Gary Cake's book on how to evaluate and apply them).

6. Counsel with and authorities in your life (parents, pastor and others in authority).

7. Maintain peace and the fruit of the Spirit even if the decision is difficult.

8. Ask for and look for confirmation in circumstances.

9. Maintain unity with others involved and integrity with other prior commitments you have made (like toward your employer or team members).

10. Look for the "No wake" principle (the absence of chaos and confusion around you).

Second consider making good decisions based on principles of St Ignatius.

A. Learn to discern the spirits by practicing the daily examine of your thoughts, feelings and conscience.Am I matching up with the following:

1. Seeking to know, love and bring glory to Christ as the end?

2. Ordering decisions in a way that separates the means (money, marriage, job, college etc from that primary end of knowing, loving and pleasing God?

3. Becoming free from negative influences that may come from the world, our culture, wrong religious beliefs, or even familiarity of family and friends who knowingly or unknowingly may try to manipulate or control

B. Be aware of these three states of mind and emotion

1. Do I have a clear and persistent direction from God (Paul's Damascus Road experience)

2. If I do not have consistent emotion and sense of direction about which decision to make I continue to ask God to let me feel as He does about each decision.

3. In the absence of clear direction or sense of what pleases God I list the benefits and problems of each choice to help me weigh the outcomes.

C. Three future settings to also consider:

1. What advice would I give someone who came to for counsel with this decision?

2. How do I imagine I will feel about this decision at the end of my life

3. How do I imagine I will feel about this decision when standing before Christ?



I hope this helps.

Love you all, PD

Whose Words are in Our Mouth? By James Hamann

The Lord has been impressing on me a question ...“Whose words are in our mouth?” As we look at our current financial situation, what are we confessing?

Much of our confession recently has been of financial problems, lack of funds to meet our needs, lack of funds to complete . . . The words in our mouth are words of lack, leanness, debt and fear.

These are not God’s words. Their source comes from our enemy, Satan. How can we know this? We know this because they are directly opposed to God’s word. Hear what God says:

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be self-sufficient—possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable devotion. II Corinthians 9:8

Read and meditate on these words for they are truly God’s words and promise to us. Faith will arise as we do. Romans 10:17 tells us faith comes by hearing the word of God.

We must begin to put God’s words in our mouths (Romans 8:10). In faith, let’s begin to confess and say what God says and free him to begin to manifest the reality of His promise in our present experience. In Jeremiah God himself has said:

. . . For I am alert and active, watching over my word to perform it. Jeremiah 1:12

In Romans 4 Paul says that Abraham did not weaken in faith when he considered his present situation, but,

No unbelief or distrust made him waver or doubtingly question concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and do what He had promised.
Romans 4:20-21

Let us not look at our present situation financially and weaken in faith. Our situation/ circumstances is not the final truth. God’s word is the final truth ...put God’s word in our mouths ... give Him praise and glory that He is mighty and able to keep His word and do what He has promised.

Our God will liberally supply our every need! Let us hold fast to this confession.

- James Hamann

The Auctioneer

by Pastor Kerry Freeman

A dirty, disheveled boy of about ten wearing tattered clothing was shoved forward onto the wooden dock. He was next. His hands were tied and a thick rope hung around his neck to prevent escape. A crowd gathered. The burly auctioneer opened the bidding. Who wants this slave boy? He’s young. ‘Oughta get a lot of good years out of’em. How much will you give?

Bidders examined the boy. Is he strong? Can he be trained to recruit others? Is he a rebel? He would make a good whipping boy. Will he try to escape? Can his spirit be broken where he no longer dreams of being somethin’ special? Can he be used to break the spirit of the rest? Can I master him?

Standing at a distance, a reserved man opened the bidding.
“I’ll give one bit!” His name was Abandonment. He knew if he could get him now he would have him for a lifetime.
Rejection raised the bid, “Two bits!”
Anger said, “No! I want him!”
Self-pity threw her hat in. Soon the air filled with clamor arguing over who would enslave the lad.
Selfishness added his two cents.
Bitterness made her bid.
Lust looked longingly at the boy.

Then there was one booming, baritone voice that shook the soil and the souls of the mob. “I want him! No price too high! I will give my life for his liberty and love.”

The Auctioneer cried out, “The price IS your life! Your blood!

“Done!” replied the Redeemer

“Done!” replied the Auctioneer

The Auctioneer trusted no one, not even the Man who won the bid. He demanded immediate payment and ordered his minions to seize the would-be Rescuer. In the sight of all, the boy’s Emancipator was strapped to a tree. He eagerly embraced the price for the treasure-a boy who would repay His love for a lifetime. The Man died that day.

The Auctioneer was forced to release the lad. He turned to the boy with disdain and grudgingly uttered these words: “The bidding was fierce. You have been bought with a high price-That Man’s blood. You are not your own. Abandonment cannot have you. Rejection has no say. Anger has no hold. Bitterness lost the bid. Lust left dejected. Selfishness surrendered her rights. “Under the terms of the sale you are to glorify your new Owner, your Redeemer, in body and soul; whole-hearted devotion to the One who paid your ransom.”

With that the Auctioneer removed the noose from the boy’s neck and untied his hands so the boy could love and serve freely. That boy is you and me.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the foe.” Psalms 107: 1-2

Kerry Freeman 7.3.10