Pastor's Blog

"Quenching the Spirit"

"Quenching the Spirit"

Memory Verse

“Do not quench the Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 5:19

 Oswald Chambers said, “If you get out of the light you become a sentimental Christian and live on memories, your testimony has a hard , metallic note. Beware of trying to patch up a present refusal to walk in the light by recalling past experiences when you did walk in the light. Whenever the Spirit checks, call a halt and get the thing right, or you will go on grieving Him without knowing it.” Grieving the Spirit is no small matter. It is a sin and the result of sin. If your most spiritually healthy days are in your past then you have grieved Him somewhere along the way and are not currently walking in His light.

 Prayer points:

• Lord, please show me where I have sinned. Inform me of when I stopped seeking You and started resting in my own wisdom. Draw me back to You.

"Choose Contentment"

Choose Contentment

Memory Verse

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Philippians 4:11

 Notice that Paul had to learn contentment. Contentment does not come naturally. Our flesh always wants more and our nature always believes we have been cheated if we don’t get our way. Paul learned contentment through experience. He says that he has been in a low state and abounded. He has been hungry and experienced plenty. Contentment is born out of trust that God is my Shepherd and I lack no good thing. Once we trust God to care for us we must then simply decide to be content. Contentment is a choice that we make out of faith in Jesus Christ who has already provided for our greatest need…the need to be forgiven.

 Prayer points:

• Heavenly Father, You are my sustainer and provider. I trust You to manage my life according to Your perfect will. I have good reason to be content. Help me to believe You because I am prone to doubt.

"Consider Your Ways"

Memory Verse

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Consider your ways.’” Haggai 1:7

 As the first wave of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem in 538 B.C., they were quickly distracted from rebuilding the temple and turned their attention to building their own houses. They built expensive “paneled” houses for themselves while the house of God was in ruins. They put themselves and their own interests first and placed the Lord second. That is why the Lord said to the people through Haggai “Consider your ways” (v.4,7). How about you? When was the last time you took inventory of your life and resources? Think through your finances. Are you serving Christ first with your money or are you serving yourself first? Consider your ways. Give God the first and best of all you have.

 Prayer points:

• Lord, you have provided everything I have ever needed. Help me to examine my life and resources to be sure I am serving you with everything I have. Help me to understand that only what you determine will last and that I should build my treasure in heaven instead of on earth.