Timothy's Blog

FEAR OF CHANGE IN CHANGING TIMES!

Wed, 09 May 2012 23:52:36 GMT

NEW WINE, OLD WINESKINS and THE FEAR of CHANGE -by J. Lee Grady.

The Lord wants to unleash a gushing river of new wine into the church today, but we must leave some things behind.

A woman from Orlando, Fla., was in the news last month because she decided to retire from driving her 1964 Mercury Comet. Rachel Veitch, who is 93, bought the car new for $3,300 when gasoline cost 29 cents a gallon. Today the light yellow car, which Veitch calls "Chariot," has 567,000 miles on it...

Cars have a life expectancy. Most 1964 Mercury Comets have long been doomed to the junkyard. Engines die, carburetors rust and models go out of style, so we trade them in for newer vehicles.
In our fast-paced world, Apple debuts a new iPhone every few years and the most popular apps have almost monthly updates.
We´ve come to expect frequent upgrades.

Yet for those of us involved in ministry, we tend to think the church needs no remodeling or renovation. We expect congregations to hum along perpetually for years and years, thinking the world will want to pile into our 1964 yellow Mercury Comet and enjoy the retro ride. But that is a faulty assumption.

While the message of the gospel itself is both timeless and flawless, the packaging we wrap it in must adapt with the times or we will quickly lose relevance. Pipe organs, steeples and choir robes...
(The same can be said for telethons on Christian TV that have the look and feel of a 1978 game show.)

Jesus told John the Baptist´s disciples that people don´t put new wine in old wineskins because the skins will burst and the wine will be wasted. "Put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved," Jesus said (Matt. 9:17, NASB). But many churches and ministries today insist on pouring their new wine in the old models, again and again. We resist innovation and we fight progress.

I´m willing to guess that 90 percent of what we are doing in church today needs a total makeover. We are facing the most daunting renovation project in the history of the church. But the task is not impossible. It will require us to take these painful steps:

1. We must break free from the fear of change. God is always on the move. He might lead us to camp in one spot for a while, but we can never get too comfortable in one place. His trumpet will eventually blow and the cloud of His presence will shift. Don´t park when God is calling you forward. Stay open to His fresh directives, and expect Him to stretch your faith. He is adventurous!

2. We must be willing to defy tradition. People who are married to the past cannot embrace the future. Sacred cows do not belong in the pulpit; they must be sacrificed on the altar. "The way we´ve always done it" will not work in God´s new season. The crowd chooses the comfortable pews of nostalgia, but God is with the courageous few who are willing to blaze a new path into unreached territory.

3. We must ask the Spirit to reveal His new strategies. We cannot rely on church growth gurus, popular books or rock-star preachers to lead us into genuine change. Copying spiritual trends is just a form of carnality-and it is a sad substitute for real innovation. If the work of transforming the church is not totally led by the Holy Ghost, then our changes will be shallow and our impact will be pitiful. The last thing we need is a superficial upgrade.

I believe the Lord wants to unleash a gushing river of new wine into the church today, but He is directing us to prepare our wineskins.
What is old must be renewed by the Spirit, what is outdated must be remodeled, and what is ineffective must be replaced. God wants to do a new thing. Don´t resist it.

A DYING MAN TO DYING MEN!

Tue, 08 May 2012 19:33:34 GMT

GILBERT TENNENT - a "SON OF THUNDER"
-by David Smithers.

It was upon the bed of affliction that Gilbert Tennent was taught of God. In approximately 1728 this young gifted Presbyterian minister become extremely ill. Uncertain if he would recover, he entered into a deep vision of eternity and time of repentance. He writes, "I was then exceedingly grieved I had done so little for God . . . I therefore prayed to God that He would be pleased to give me one half year more. I was determined to promote His kingdom with all my might and at all adventures."

Mr. Tennent's prayer was answered, and he was revived in both body and spirit. He labored as never before to, "Sound the trumpet of God's judgment and alarm the secure by the terrors of the Lord."
He was a man literally consumed with a vision of the holiness of God... The anointed George Whitefield writes of him, "Hypocrites must soon be converted or enraged at his preaching. He is a son of thunder and does not regard the face of man. He is deeply sensible of the deadness and formality of the Christian church in these parts, and has given noble testimonies against it." Gilbert Tennent preached as if "never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men." His preaching was far from typical of his day. A historian of the "Great Awakening" describes the average minister's methods, "The habit of the preachers was to address their people as though they were all pious and only needed instruction and confirmation. It was not a common thing to proclaim the terrors of a violated law and insist on the absolute necessity of regeneration."

Mr. Tennent himself describes this kind of popular preaching. "They often strengthened the hands of the wicked by promising them life.
They comfort people before they convince them; sow before they
plow: and are busy in raising a fabric before they lay a foundation.
These foolish builders strengthen men's carnal security by their soft, selfish, cowardly discourses. They have not the courage or honesty to thrust the nail of terror into the sleeping souls!" From
1736 through the 1740's, Gilbert Tennent's ministry was greatly blessed in promoting revival among the middle colonies in America.
His ministry overlapped and supported the ministries of such godly men as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. He carried with him the very seeds of revival, and when he preached, REVIVAL FIRE FELL. It must be remembered that the American church in the 18th century would probably have died of dry rot without the Spirit-filled ministry, of Gilbert Tennent. During one of Bostons most severe winters, people waded through the snow night and day for the benefit of hearing the fiery Tennent preach. "You could criticize him; you could praise him; but you could not ignore him!"
No one slumbered peacefully when he was around; not even the church. Gilbert Tennent was in truth, the voice of one crying in the wilderness - REPENT!

He could boldly warn men of the wrath of God because he had boldly agonized and travailed for their souls, "Often his soul wept in secret for the pride and obstinacy of those who refused to be reclaimed." Throughout Tennent's ministry he kept his zeal and love for Christ fervent through constant prayer. "He made prayer his chief and most delightful employment."

WHAT A DIFFERENCE ONE MAN CAN MAKE WHEN HE REALIZES TIME IS SHORT! OUR LIVES ARE AS A VAPOR IT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE AND VANISHES AWAY!

RECALL NOTICE ON ALL MAKES AND MODELS!!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:20:17 GMT

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been identified as "Sub sequential Internal Non-morality," more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behaviour
6. Depression or confusion
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas
is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCEprocedure.

Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, God will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8.. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, eg. the B.I.B.L.E. (BEST Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.
For free emergency service, call on God.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!

- GOD

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'!

Religion plus Jesus? I think this video says it all.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:57:00 GMT

AMERICA NEEDS A GREAT AWAKENING AGAIN! - The impact of George Whitefield

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:45:27 GMT

Will you stand in for our Nation to experience a great awakening? Below is the testimony of one man who made an astounding difference.

GEORGE WHITEFIELD's IMPACT on AMERICA
-extracts by Eddie Hyatt.

George Whitefield (1714–1770) was uniquely prepared for his role as the firebrand of the Great Awakening that would bring all the individual flames of revival together into one blazing inferno of Divine Awakening... At Oxford he had come under the tutelage of John and Charles Wesley and had experienced a dramatic conversion that forever changed his life. His gifted preaching ability drew great crowds and quickly launched him into leadership, along with the Wesleys, of the Methodist revival in England. Having eyes that were crossed, his critics poked fun at him calling him Dr. Squintum.

Sensing a Divine call to America, he departed England in August of 1739 with a burden for the colonists and a prayer that they would not live as thirteen scattered colonies, but as “one nation under God.” As he travelled up and down the eastern seaboard, shop- keepers closed their doors, farmers left their plows, and workers threw down their tools to hurry to the place where he was to preach.
Crowds of 8-10 thousand were common. At a time when the population of Boston was estimated at 25,000, Whitefield preached to an estimated crowd of 30,000 on the Boston Common. Through his incessant travels he became the best known and most recognized figure in colonial America.

The Awakening Impacts all Segments of Society

Whitefield became a friend of Benjamin Franklin and stayed in his home on at least one of his visits to America. Franklin’s testimony of the power of the revival is particularly significant since he did not profess to be a Christian. In his Autobiography, he tells of the incredible change that came over his hometown of Philadelphia when Whitefield came there on his first of seven visits to America.
He writes,

"In 1739 there arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr.
Whitfield who made himself remarkable there as an itinerant preacher. He was at first permitted to preach in some of our churches, but the clergy, taking a dislike to him, soon refused him their pulpits, and he was obliged to preach in the fields. The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street."

Franklin admits that he was skeptical of reports of Whitefield’s preaching being heard by crowds of 25,000 and more. While listening to Whitefield preach from the top of the Philadelphia courthouse steps to a huge throng, Franklin, having an enquiring and scientific mind, retired backward to see how far Whitefield’s voice would reach. He then did some calculations and decided that Whitefield’s voice, which he described as “loud and clear,”
could be heard by crowds of 30,000 and more.

The Awakening Touches All Sects & Denominations

Everywhere he went the Holy Spirit was poured out in great power.
On one occasion after preaching to a huge throng gathered outdoors, Whitfield surveyed the crowd and noted the amazing response.
"Look where I would, most were drowned in tears. Some were struck pale as death, others wringing their hands, others lying on the ground, others sinking into the arms of their friends and most lifting up their eyes to heaven and crying out to God." In Delaware there was such an outpouring of God’s Spirit and grace that Whitefield himself was overcome along with many of his audience.

Although a native of England, Whitefield became best known for his ministry in America’s First Great Awakening. He loved America and made seven visits to this land. A tireless worker, he travelled incessantly from Georgia to Maine preaching primarily in the open air and raising money for his beloved orphanage, Bethesda, which he had founded in Georgia. He died during his final visit to America at the age of 58, probably of congestive heart failure brought on by fatigue.

The Significance of Whitfield’s Contribution

Whitfield’s contribution to the First Great Awakening was enormous.
More than any other person he, by his incessant travels, helped make the Awakening a national event. It was the first time the scattered colonists of various denominational and theological persuasions had participated together in a single event.
Denominational walls were broken down and, for the first time, they began to see themselves as a single people with one Divine destiny—“one nation under God,” as Whitfield had prayed.

The preaching of Whitefield, Edwards, Frelinghuysen, the Tennents, and others thus paved the way for nationhood. This is why Harvard professor, William Perry, said, “The Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a result of the evangelical preaching of the evangelists of the Great Awakening.”

-From Chapter 5 of the book "GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE"

I love this devotion on prayer by Oswald Chambers!

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:03:35 GMT

August 23rd.
PRAYER CHOICE AND PRAYER CONFLICT
"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and pray to thy Father which is in secret." Matthew 6:6

Jesus did not say - Dream about thy Father in secret, but pray to thy Father in secret. Prayer is an effort of will. After we have entered our secret place and have shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray; we cannot get our minds into working order, and the first thing that conflicts is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is the overcoming of mental wool-gathering. We have to discipline our minds and concentrate on wilful prayer.

We must have a selected place for prayer and when we get there the plague of flies begins - This must be done, and that. "Shut thy door." A secret silence means to shut the door deliberately on emotions and remember God. God is in secret, and He sees us from the secret place; He does not see us as other people see us, or as we see ourselves. When we live in the secret place it becomes impossible for us to doubt God, we become more sure of Him than of anything else. Your Father, Jesus says, is in secret and nowhere else. Enter the secret place, and right in the centre of the common round you find God there all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.

Oswald Chambers

Have you been praying for a harvest? Have you said " Why don't I have a harvest?!" Read This.

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:30:00 GMT

Have you been praying for a harvest? Have you ever wondered why we don't reap a harvest? The Bible is very clear as to why and here are the reasons.
#1. THE LABORERS ARE FEW
Matthew 9:37
Then said He unto His disciples, "The harvest truy is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
a. It's so easy to procrastinate and put off obeying God.
b. We wait for someone else to do it when Jesus has called all of us to labor in the harvest.
#2. TOO MANY ARE LOOKING BACK
Luke 9:62
And Jesus said to him, no man, having put his hand on the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God.
a. Many are bound by their past and can't move forward for God
b. In bondage to things they they never seem to get victory over but endless cycles of defeat
c. They feel they can't be used by God because of the devil and others condemning them.
#3. WEARY IN WELL DOING
Galatians 6:9
And let us not get weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. (or give up)
a. We give up to soon
b. According to this scripture there is a waiting process and noone likes the waiting room. notice it says "due seaon".
c. I obey and God gives me the increase but that means I have to work in the field for a while.
#4. WE LET STRANGERS WHO HAVE NO HEART FOR THE HARVEST WORK FOR US AND WITH US.
Mat 21:33-36 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
a. The Harvest is precious and shouldn't be given to just anyone's care.
b. Some people are in the harvest fields for the wrong reason and God has to show them the true meaning behind their motives or even prayers.

I encourage you today in saying... Your prayers and work for the The Lord are not in vain. Don't give up! God has promised the we will reap what we sow. We will see the fruit of what we plant. But, if we plant nothing we can't expect something in return. So plant in prayers, in doing what you are called and know to do for The the Lord now! Don't wait! Go in the name of Jesus!
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. That's His promise to you.
I could say so much more on this subject and may later but I don't want you to feel you have to read a book. LOL!
I welcome your comments.
God bless and have a wonderful day!

PRUNING - A NECESSARY but PAINFUL PROCESS

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:03:36 GMT

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." --John 15:2

There was a man who would stop by the garden market each spring and buy a plant or bush. He loved working in his garden caring for the plants.

One year, he bought a flowering patio tree with small purple flowers...
It was dormant and showed no signs of life in the winter.

Each day, he watched it...hoping it would show some life again soon. He took the pruning shears and shaped it, cared for it, and hoped for the best. After a few weeks, he noticed a few green leaves sprouting out of the dead branches. And a month later, almost all of the branches were covered with leaves.

If the man hadn't taken care of the tree and cut the dead branches, it wouldn't have looked so beautiful for the spring, summer, and fall.
In the same way, Jesus sees the dead, unfruitful branches in us and cuts them away.

The dead branches can be relationships that control our lives, material things, attitudes, or pride in work or ministry. Only the Lord knows each person well enough to know the exact branches that need to be cut away. And the dormant times may feel like God is distant. But, He is caring for us and watching over us all the time.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for knowing you so well, that He knows exactly which branches to trim, so you can be more fruitful.
by Geri McGhee.

Are you a half-breed?

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:35:00 GMT

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. – John 1:45-46 (NIV)

When God decided to come to earth He did not come on a throne, but a manger. He did not identify with Jerusalem, but Nazareth, a small border town that was filled with half-breed Jews and Samaritans. Nazareth was seen as an insignificant place. Yet God was pleased to be associated with Nazareth. So if we wonder if anything good can come out of our lives, remember Nazareth. The fact that God might use someone like you or me has been the pattern since the beginning of time.

I'm Married!

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:40:00 GMT

I can't help it. Call me silly. I saw this today and thought about our relationship with Christ.
The Christian church is sometimes referred to as the "bride of Christ"--a metaphor that illustrates that closeness of Christ's relationship with his church, and the depth of love and service that He holds for the church. We are one with Him. Infused with Him! Like PB&J!
Revelation 21:9 (New International Version, ©2011)
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

distractions, distrACTIONS, DISTRACTIONS!

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:26:43 GMT

Were you one of the ones who made a new years resolution to be closer to God than ever before? You were going to pray more, read your Bible more and do more good this year than last year. You were going to get up earlier to spend time with God longer.Wait a minute! That was me! I made those resolutions! I'm talking about myself!
Yea, I made my mind up that I was going to do those things but something crept in and grabbed me by my ankles and pulled be into it's grips and said "Oh No you don't!" "You can't get away that easy!"
You know what I'm talking about. It's the beast called DISTRACTIONS and it shows itself in many different forms like "business", "ball games", "computer time" and yes even "ministry". Yep, I can get so busy for The Lord that I don't really have a good relationship with Him. It's like working for a boss. You have your orders but you really don't know who your working for. I'd like to set down with my boss and have a cup of coffee and get to know his heart, his plans, and his likes and dislikes.
I guess what I'm trying to say is...I want a relationship with Jesus in such a way that at anytime during the day I can set down and have coffee with Him...figurativley speaking of course.

Does my Loyalty Lie?

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:20:00 GMT

Loyalty to Jesus means I have to step out where I do not see anything (cf. Matt. 14:29); loyalty in my limited definition and intelligence means that I have make sure the ground is stable before I step out. But Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way. I don't have a problem stickin up for Jesus. If someone tried to make me deny Him, I couldn't. But if Jesus told me to do something that took faith to accomplish and displays my loyalty to him, that's where my true colors come out. Alot of times I want to assess the damages before the failure even happens in my mind instead of having faith in God to help me through because He spoke it. Am I truly being loyal? Do you find this to be true in your own life?