JESUS MY HOPE by Randall Burton

Colossians 1:27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: CHRIST LIVES IN YOU. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. (NLT)

I'm not a casual contact Christian. Christ doesn't just live with me, He lives in me. The devil can't live with Him and I can't live without Him! There is no conflict of interest, it is a settled matter. Wherever you go today, whatever you do, He is there. I don't leave Him at the church on Sunday and then revisit Him again 7 days later. He is always with me, a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is an ever present help in my time of trouble. He is not an after thought, He is how I think. For I have the mind of Christ. I can't shut Him down, and I can't keep Him out. He is my hope and my refuge.

GRACE WORKS by Randall Burton

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it  is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus [see Eph. 2:13] for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

🙌Grace is God's attitude toward you (a sinner), but not his attitude toward your sin.

🙌You don't get saved by works but after you get saved you will work. It's called kingdom. You were created "in Christ Jesus" for "good works. "

🙌You were made to represent the King in His kingdom. Go for it!

MIRACLES WITH ISSUES by Randall Burton

Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48

We refer to the woman in this story as "the woman with the issue of blood" not as "the woman with the miracle of healing." Let's face it, she had issues. Her greatest issue was a female issue of bleeding for 13 years. At this point it was an incurable issue. She had become, miracle material...

All of us want to see a miracle but none of us want to become miracle material. In order to get a miracle, there has to be miracle material. You may see the miracle or be the miracle...regardless there's a miracle just waiting to happen. Go get it.

11 Reasons Pastors Struggle on Easter

Chuck Lawless

This coming Sunday is Easter Sunday, a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Church buildings will likely be more full than all other Sundays of the year. Songs of resurrection will ring out. Congregations will gather in their finest clothes to worship, often followed by a special Sunday lunch.

And yet, for some pastors Easter Sunday is a difficult day. I know, because I’ve been there. Here’s why this day can be a struggle – and why pastors need our prayers this weekend:

The day is often overwhelmingly busy. From early morning preparation to events throughout the day, pastors are on the go throughout the day. Some churches add services for this special day. For some pastors, the day is so full that they have little time to focus on their own personal worship.

The pressure to “do well” is increased. The crowd is bigger, but many are giving the church only this one opportunity to grab their attention. No church leader wants to mess up on Easter Sunday. Consequently, every small issue – each off note, every stumbled-over word, every unintended delay – gets magnified. Finding a unique approach to the Easter story is not easy. The story itself is enough, of course, but some pastors sense a need to present the story in a fresh and enlightening way. The task of finding that “new approach” when everyone else is preaching on the same topic can be stressful.

Pastors see members they haven’t seen since last Easter. On one hand, that’s good news. Pastors are typically glad to see members return, hoping they will recommit themselves to faithfulness this year. On the other hand, pastors often end the day wondering why they can’t reach those same folks the rest of the year.

Pastors see “lostness” come in the door . . . and leave unchanged. Yes, pastors trust the Word of God will do its work. Yes, they know that planting a seed is a first step toward others being converted. It’s still agonizing, though, when they see non-believers walk in the door and out the door on Easter with no obvious response to the gospel.

Pastors get a glimpse of what the church could be . . . but typically isn’t. Parking lot attendants are ready, and they even arrive early. Greeters are well dressed and easily identified. The best musicians and singers are enlisted. The sermon is well rehearsed. The church gives its best for this one day – but then returns to mediocrity the following week. That’s frustrating.

Pastors often judge their own sermons more critically on Easter. Many of us review our sermons after each worship service. We think through how we might have re-worded that point, changed that illustration, or clarified that application. That critique is sometimes more intense on Easter Sunday, as no pastor wants to have missed the opportunity to proclaim the gospel clearly and boldly.

Pastors brag about Easter attendance. It happens – pastors excited about Easter attendance often make sure others know about their successes during the weeks following the holiday. Unhealthy, even ungodly, competition develops. Nobody wants to play the game, but few people want to lose the game, either.

Attendance expectations may not be met. To be honest, I always had an Easter Sunday attendance goal in my mind when I served as a pastor. Even when I fought hard to stop worrying about numbers, my mind still went there. Too often I became discouraged because the actual attendance did not meet my goals.
Monday morning letdown can follow Easter. For weeks, a pastor’s energy is devoted to preparing for Easter Sunday. Teams get ready so the church operates as a well-oiled machine on this one Sunday. Everyone is focused, committed – and a bit relieved when it’s all over. Monday morning means a return to the routine.

Some pastors have no resurrection joy themselves. For some, ministry is hard. They serve one church while seeking the next one. Their marriages may be struggling, or their children are wayward. They must proclaim the hope of resurrection when their own hope is dying. Easter Sunday then becomes a chore to endure rather than a day to celebrate.

If you are a pastor, direct your members to this post and ask them to pray for you. As a layperson, invite other church members to join you in prayer. Pray that Easter will be powerful for your pastor this year.

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary.

12 Earmarks of a True Apostolic Movement

How to recognize the difference between denomination-led movements and the work of the Spirit.
How to recognize the difference between denomination-led movements and the work of the Spirit. (Joel Kramer/Flickr/Creative Commons)
There is a global apostolic movement that is shaking Christianity and expanding the church as never before! This is an important shift away from the typical denominationally led church movements of the past. It is important for us to understand the difference between an apostolic from a denominational movement.

The following are generalizations that may or may not be true for particular denominations and apostolic movements:

1. Apostolic is usually led by one strong visionary. Denominations are led by a board.

2. Apostolic is usually mission driven. Denomination are policy driven.

3. Apostolic is usually missiological in its biblical hermeneutics. Denomination is usually theological, sociological or culturally driven.

4. Apostolic emphasizes covenantal relationships based on voluntary associations. Denominations emphasize hierarchical structures and business in their gatherings.

5. Apostolic emphasizes the present move of God in the earth. Denominations emphasize the glory days of the past.

6. Apostolic emphasizes the movement. Denominations emphasize the institution.

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7. Apostolic leaders are led by the Spirit in regards to ministry placement. Denominational clergy are led by their bishop or hierarchy.

8. Apostolic believes in biblical inerrancy. Most denominations believe in a higher critical form of inspiration. (Their line of reasoning goes like this: Because the church gave the Scriptures, the church has the right to change them, update them, etc. through church councils and official writings. Another thing said is that only the actual words of Jesus Christ in the Gospels are inspired of God.)

9. Apostolic emphasizes the power of Christ in terms of releasing faith to fulfill ministry. Denominations emphasize the power of committees to implement strategic plans.

10. Apostolic emphasizes the local church as the primary training ground for ministry. Denominations emphasizes the seminary.

11. Apostolic empowers the laity to minister (Eph. 4:11, 12). In denominations the clergy are expected to do the work of the ministry.

12. Apostolic movements believe apostolic succession is functionally based upon a divine calling, ministerial fruit and anointing. Denominations believe it is merely transferred through the laying on of hands during an ecclesial ceremony.

Joseph Mattera is overseeing bishop of Resurrection Church and Christ Covenant Coalition, in Brooklyn, New York, and author of numerous books, including Ruling in the Gates: Preparing the Church to Transform Cities. Follow him on Facebook or visit him online at josephmattera.org.

Do we have room for alcohol in the Assemblies of God?

Do We Have Room for Alcohol in the Assemblies of God?--By Rick Debous

Many are trying to decide whether or not we should loosen our stand against drinking alcohol, based solely on what the scripture says or doesn't say. While I agree that the Bible is the ultimate rule for the lives of believers and is the best way to govern our societies, I also believe that there are things that are not covered in specificity but are covered by the law of sowing and reaping. While I can't find a pure statement in the Bible that completely outlaws the consumption of alcohol I can say that the fruit of its use is a harvest no one wants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that over 88,000 people die each year because of sickness or disease that can be directly related to the use of alcohol. The U.S. Library of Medicine says there are 1.2 million visits to local emergency rooms because of alcohol, creating 7,459 unintended deaths, 28,696 murders, 19,347 suicides, and 10,228 deaths involving automobiles, and all at a cost to the U.S. economy of $223,500,000,000.00. What can't be reported or even tracked is how many kids are abused by drunken parents or guardians and how many homes and lives are destroyed because of alcohol use.

Why would we want to bring this evil into the lives of believers? Many have come to us to be delivered from it and its results. Have we forgotten the teaching of Paul that we should not do anything (even if it is not a sin) if it could offend our brother? This is not a "can we" issue; it is a "should we" issue!

It's like the generation that built the barricade between their town and the river that ran beside them. They built it because it flooded and destroyed all they had spent their lives building. They said, "We can't control the river and even though it's nice to look at, it's nice to have easy access to it, we never know when it's going to flood. So let's protect ourselves and our children by raising a standard so high that it can't get to where we live." Later, however, after that generation had passed away the children said, "What were our parents thinking? Why should we live behind such a high standard? If we take it down we will be able to see the beautiful river and enjoy all of its assets." They did take it down and the river did flood, and they lost both what they and their parents had built!

The generation who did not come directly out of a sin-ravaged situation but out of a Christ-blessed home may not value the high standards of the past generation as they should, but that does not change the law of sowing and reaping. What we sow or allowed to be sown will produce its fruit and if we lower our standards someone's children will pay for it!

Just as alcohol impaired the thinking of Herod when he commanded the head of John the Baptist it continues to impair the thinking of people everywhere. It creates an atmosphere and opportunity for sin which ultimately produces death. Sin kills relationships, futures, and eternities. Why would we want anything in our lives that impairs our thinking and makes sin seem less deadly? The drinking of alcohol in itself may not be sin, but no one can deny that it creates an atmosphere for sin to operate.

As we consider this in the light of the law of sowing and reaping rather than simply as legal or illegal, we should look first at the fruit that comes from the activity, both good and bad, and take our stand either for or against, based on its potential results. This I know—once you plant the seed someone will have to deal with its fruit, and once you take down the standard someone will have to deal with the flood! It is not just, "Can I do it and still go to heaven?" It is also, "If I open this door will my grandchildren end up paying for it?"

So, in my opinion, we should not make room for drinking in the lives of the leaders or the culture of the Assemblies of God!

FREEDOM

Egypt raised up Moses and at the same time rejected Israel. We are reminded that both were Hebrews! Every Hebrew at that time was considered a slave and subservient to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Sometimes we love and embrace what we believe is ours, until the nature of what we claim is revealed. Then once we discover the truth, that In actuality everything belongs to God, then our true hearts are revealed. 

Moses was not a freedom fighter nor was he a terrorist; Moses was a life giving deliverer. Jesus wasn't a revolutionary, Jesus was and is a savior. When Moses was a younger man, he tried to deliver the Hebrew slaves one Egyptian at a time. As Moses grew older he realized that it was much better for him to follow God rather than for God to follow him.

The Jews of Jesus day wanted a Jewish Messiah but not a Jesus Messiah. It appears that many today want a personal tailor made Messiah that fits their measurements. We want an uncompromising Messiah without a fully devoted commitment to him.