GREEDY IN A GODLY WAY

This morning I read this from David Mathis: “Do you dare to pray for big things— really big things?  Have you been set free enough by God enormous gospel to be greedy in a godly way?”
On Sunday, February 21, I will ask the Rocky family to dare to pray for really big things!  As I preach from Acts 4:1-12, I will challenge you to commit yourselves to pray for at least five lost people, asking God to move and rescue them from sin and death.  Only God can do this because only He can bring life to spiritually dead sinners, so let’s plead with Him to save!  We will call the list of five your “Romans 10:1  5”.  I urge you to seek the Lord for your five names and be ready to commit yourself to “evangelistic praying” on Sunday.

Romans 10:1     “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

A Love Story of Devotion to Christ

A Peculiar Proposal

Source: thegospelcoalition.org

An Awesome, Angelic Proclamation of the Gospel

“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.  And he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.’”  Rev. 14:6-7

The gospel = Fear God, glorify God, God’s judgment is coming, worship God.

And An Arresting Quote from C.S. Lewis
“Die before you die,  There is no chance after.”

See Galatians 2:20 please.

Please read and pray for Burmese Believers

The Persecuted Church in Burma

Source: thegospelcoalition.org

More Gleanings from Reading Through the Bible From Pastor Carey

From Exodus

• Are you suffering?  God sees and knows: “God saw the people of Israel— and God knew.” (2:25)
• Pharaoh models the essence of unbelief and rebellion, “ego”.  “But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go?  I do not know the LORD...’” (5:2)
• Why did the LORD harden Pharaoh’s heart again and again?  For His glory!  “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them...that you may know that I am the LORD.’” (10:1-2)  “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.’” (11:9)  “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.”
• Sometimes God tests us by providing for us.  (16:2-30)
• The LORD not only provided ready-to-eat meals for His people for 40 years, the food was tasty, too!  “Now the house of Israel called its name manna.  It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” (16:31)
• One reason why we encourage LIFE groups at Rocky... (18:13-26)
• Reasons why God tests us: That we may fear Him and not sin against Him. (20:20)
• The world and idolatry can be sneaky, like hidden snares.  (23:32-33)

From Psalms

• What does God’s voice sound like?  It is strong!  “The voice of the LORD...thunders...is powerful...is full of majesty...breaks cedars...flashes forth flames of fire...shakes the wilderness...makes the deer give birth...strips the forests bare.” (29)
• How shall we respond to His stunning voice?  “...In His temple all cry, ‘Glory!’” (29:9)

From Matthew

• Is Christ my brother?  “And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, ‘Here are my mother and by brothers!  For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”  (12:49-50)  Why did Jesus not include “father” in verse 50?
• Praise God for eyes that see and ears that hear!  What gifts!  Lord, please grant them to more!  “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”  (13:16)
• “And they took offense at Him (Jesus).”  May it not be!  (13:57)

From Acts

• Even evil spirits can recognize who Jesus is, and evil men can make a profit! (Acts 16:16-24)
• Midnight prison prayers and singing to the God of earthquakes, and a truly captive audience.  “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken.” (16:25-26)
• Why didn’t Paul and Silas bolt when the prison doors flew open?  The gospel is for hard places and suicidal jailers!  “Paul cried with a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’”  (16:26-31)
• Dear people of RBBC, let us be Berean!  (17:10-12)  “They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily...”

This Is Fun and Funny, Like, You Know?

Blog: Founders Ministries Blog
Post: Totally Like Whatever, You Know?
Link: http://www.founders.org/blog/2010/01/totally-like-whatever-you-know.html

The Blessing of Spiritual Leaders

Last Sunday morning Bob Walker was ordained into elder ministry in our church and I preached from Hebrews 13:17, a verse that reminds us that the Lord means for us to experience spiritual profit, gain, advantage and blessing through our leaders.  I love and appreciate our elders and pastors very much!  They are huge blessings to our church and to me!  Please pray for them faithfully.
Here is a follow-up to the sermon: There are three God-given dynamics that make his design for leadership and follower-ship work in the church:

1. Humility among leaders and church family, following the example of Christ-- “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a bondservant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  (Phil. 2:3-8)  Humility, humility, humility before our Lord!

  2.   Pursuit of joy--
       Leaders pursing joy for their people: “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy...”  (2 Cor. 1:24)
       People pursuing joy for their leaders:  “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who have to give an account.  Let them do
       this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  (Heb. 13:17)
       Joy, joy, joy in obeying our Lord!
  3.  Love for one another-- “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers...By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we         ought lay down our lives for the brothers.”  (1 John 3:14, 16)

Parents, Very Good, God-Centered Books for Children

The Mighty Acts of God: A Family Bible Story Book
Source: thegospelcoalition.org

Bored with the Bible? May it never be!

Whimpering Stateside Young People and Demon-Fearing Indians
Source: thegospelcoalition.org

Great Resources Available!

Great resources from the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors is available on line at www.desiringgod.org.  Check it out!  You need not be a pastor to be blessed by it.