A Blog For Leaders In Ministry

Godliness – The Forgotten Result of Grace

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:27:30 GMT

Godliness – The Forgotten Result of Grace

Any good thing we experience in this world is a grace thing. The Bible says in Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” These verses are very clear that we should not think for a moment that our goodness has earned us any good thing from God. There are some core statements and beliefs that I often share in our church that I want to share with you, all of which are made possible because of grace:

God is GOOD all the time!
God’s not mad at you no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been
Having a problem is not a problem at FBC
If it’s not good, it’s not God
If God was out to get you, He already would’ve
453 times the Bible says, “It Came To Pass”, therefore your problems are not going to stay but come to pass
You can’t make God love you more and you cannot make Him love you less
God has never caused one moment of pain in your life

Recently I read these statements in one of our services and then posed the following question to our people -- and I pose it to you as well. As grace people, are we in love with these statements and concepts of freedom or are we in love with the God who makes them a reality? The truth is that while these statements are true, if all they ever are to us are statements or concepts of freedom, they will not empower grace in our lives. The reality is this: if we are in love with a message of freedom and not the one that gave us our freedom it will be very easy to use our knowledge to justify immoral living in the name of freedom. The only thing that changes our lives is a relationship with our God who loves us with no conditions. Concepts and knowledge of freedom will not change us -- in actuality they can lead us to destructive lifestyles and the searing of our conscience.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Tim. 4:2 that one of the indications that we are in the last days would be that there would be groups of people whose conscience would become seared, calloused and beyond feeling. Webster defines the conscience as the inner sense of what is right or wrong in ones conduct. I have often heard people say, let your conscience be your guide. In reality that may not be a good idea. The Bible is our standard regardless of what our conscience says and is the truth to which we refer in order to see if our conscience is true. 2 Cor. 6:17 says; “So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God. "Don't link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.” Sadly, many “grace people” do not know the difference between not being judgmental and compromising their standards. There are two extremes in the body of Christ, one is being judgmental of anyone with a problem and the other says I will compromise my standards for the sake of reaching people. Jesus NEVER compromised His godly character for the sake of reaching people, yet people flocked to Him and loved being in His presence.

Paul writes in 2 Tim. 3:5 that there would come a time when people would have a form of godliness, but would deny the power thereof; and he said from such turn away. All my ministry life I have heard this verse preached like this. In the last days people will have a form of godliness but deny the power of God. As I took a second look at this verse recently I saw something I had not seen before. It says that in the last days people would deny the power that’s in godliness or godly living. There is power in godliness. The power of your witness hinges on godliness. Grace empowers us to live godly lives – lives that reflect the attitude, character, and heart of God. Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Paul is saying to young Timothy that grace teaches us to stay away from and deny ungodliness and to live with the attitude and character of God. In no way does grace give access into ungodliness. A love for a message and concept will not produce godly living but a love relationship with God will. Grace empowers and brings forth godly lifestyles and this grace is a product of relationship and not concepts.

As believers – recreated in Christ -- we are called to demonstrate who God is. When we choose to apply biblical standards by grace, we will show people the God we believe in. But we must always remember that we do good, not to become righteous, but because we are righteous. Paul says in Eph 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called -- with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service.” (AMP)

We all know that Paul’s revelation of righteousness apart from works brought us to freedom. And yet somehow many “grace people” have skipped over the verses, like the ones below, where he charges us to live godly lives and in which he gives us a picture of what grace should be producing in our lives.

“So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds. 18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God (with no share in it). [This is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. 19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless, and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. 20 But you did not so learn Christ! 21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], 22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], 24 And put on the new nature,(the regenerate self) created in God's image, (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another. 26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath, your exasperation, your fury or indignation last until the sun goes down. 27 Leave no such room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity to him). 28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth; but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, (do not offend or vex or sadden Him) by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). 31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). 32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:17-32 AMP)

These verses represent standards of moral conduct, but they’re not your righteousness --.they are the product of grace in our lives. We make a decision to live with moral and godly standards because we are righteous, not in order to become righteous. Whether we like it or not our behavior as believers influences people who do not know God. We need to be friends with people who do not know the Lord, but we cannot become like them in order to win them.

How Was Jesus The Friend of Sinners?

1. He did not condemn people with problems.

2. He had something they wanted but did not have.

3. Jesus didn’t become like them in order to win them -- He always showed them a better way.

4. He showed them what God was like.

In Matt 5:13-16 Jesus says, "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (THE MESSAGE)

Our conduct influences others! We do not have a choice in how we live IF we want to touch people with the good news of God’s love.

I want to challenge you to make some decisions if you have not already done so:

Never use your freedom as an excuse for ungodly behavior.

Reevaluate the moral standards in your life and make the needed adjustments.

To live a godly life without allowing it to become your righteousness

How to Have a Merry Christmas

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:08:02 GMT

It’s hard to believe it! The holidays are here. While this is a time of celebration and festivities, it also happens that the holidays are when people are most prone to experience depression. Past failures, stress, and financial strains cause many people to go through what should be a joyous time with dread and strain. If the push and pull of this busy time of the year is pulling you down, let’s look at a few things we can all do to ensure that we will enjoy “the most wonderful time of the year,” instead of suffering through it.

Remember why we celebrate. In our family, we celebrate Christmas in a BIG way! There’s lights everywhere, huge Christmas trees, snowmen, Santas, Christmas music, and tons of food. The ornaments and frills are great, but they do not replace, nor overshadow what this time of year is actually about. We must not forget that 2000 years ago, a baby was born and changed the course of history. Jesus came to bring life to a dying world. The baby we sing about and put on our coffee table nativity sets is the hope the world is crying out for.

Make it about family. You may be busy in the rat race of life the other eleven months of the year. But I challenge you to make December about spending time with your loved ones.Make new traditions, and celebrate old ones. One of the highlights of my Christmas is that every Christmas Eve, we go to our daughter and son-in-law’s house and have communion together as a family. We read about the birth of Jesus from Luke chapter 2. We go around and tell what we are thankful for. It’s a special and rare time that my wife and I, along with our two daughters, two sons-in-law, and our granddaughter enjoy together. There is no TV, no cell phones… just time when we focus on each other and how thankful we really are.

Don’t spend what you don’t have. What brings smiles and excitement in December can often bring debt and frustration in January! When the credit card statements start coming in the mail, we often regret overextending our finances during the holidays. I challenge you with this… sit down and evaluate your finances this year before you spend. The economy wasn’t kind to many people this year. It may be time to set new budgets and limits, so that come January, you can start your year off right, instead of deeper into debt and regret.

Make Christmas about others. In Acts 20:35, the Message Bible says, “You’re far happier giving than getting.” In a world that is often selfish and self-seeking, kindness is refreshing. Whether it is donating food to a shelter, or inviting a friend to church with you, your show of kindness may be what stands between a person and depression during the holiday season. We can’t forget that the things that matter most are not things we can wrap and put under a tree.

I wish you a very merry Christmas. I pray that this season will be filled with cherished memories and visits from people you love, so that you can carry hope and encouragement with you into 2011.

Life Changing Power of the Gospelk

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:36:07 GMT

Over the last month we have seen some AMAZING things happen in the lives of so many people here at FB Church and I wanted to share one of the many testimonies we have received.

Pastor Allen,
I only wanted to extend a very heartfelt thank you for the work that you do. I first came to Family Bible a little over a month ago, during a very dark and difficult time in my life. I'm almost 30 years old and had never really attended any church. I was not raised in a family that had any relationship with God, and so had spent many years questioning and searching, trying to find my way. Out of the blue, I felt an overwhelming need to call my best friend, whom I knew was struggling with her own faith, and tell her that I really wanted to go to church. I asked her to go with me, because I knew that she would and I didn't want to go alone. She suggested FBC because she didn't want me to be scared away by a more "traditional" church. :) One of the first things I specifically remember you saying was that "we aren't in a religion, we're in a relationship!" That morning I felt as though you were preaching right to me, and I found myself accepting Jesus as my savior that very morning. Since that first service, my life and the lives of my children have changed so dramatically. I find myself with more joy and peace in my heart than I ever hoped to have. I find myself driven to learn and study and grow in my relationship with God, to know Him better and better. Sundays and Wednesdays just can't come fast enough because I so enjoy the way you preach and the message that you teach. It is certainly contagious, as both I and the two friends I came with have invited others, who have invited others, all of whom just "LOVE that church!" It is amazing to me to see the lives of so many people touched in such a short amount of time. So, THANK YOU, for showing me and so many others that God loves us all the time, and that we are never alone.
Sincerely,
Angel Wright

Every week we’re seeing how powerful the message of God’s unconditional is in the lives of people when it is shared in a language people can understand.

Learn to Delegate

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:53:37 GMT

Learn to Delegate

Only secure people give power to others. Leaders that do not delegate soon burn or wear out and they cripple their efforts to touch people with the gospel. As a leader of others we not only have to learn to delegate but we also have to teach those that we have raised up as leaders to do the same.

Why do most leaders struggle to delegate?

· We assume no one else wants to help (but in reality that’s not true)

· We think it’s easier to do it ourselves than train someone (at first that’s true)

· We want it done right (at first others may not do as well as you – train them)

· Insecurities (how will look if they fail, or what if they do it better?)

4 things to delegate.

· Things that other can do better than you

· Things that others can do 80% as well as you

· Things someone else can do that would free up time for you

· Things than can be done less expensive by others

· Things that can be done more timely by others

If you feeling a bit overwhelmed today with all the “stuff” you need to do maybe it’s time to begin delegating so you can regain your life. Remember Jesus said my yoke is easy and mu burden is light.

Are you working harder than God intended? By Rick Warren

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:39:44 GMT

Are you working harder than God intended?

By Rick Warren

A recent survey by Lifeway Research reports that 65 percent of Protestant pastors work 50 or more hours a week. And many of the pastors responding to the survey say the extra time they spend results in less time with their families and less time with God.

My experience is pastors tend to overwork when they assume extra hours make them more effective in ministry. That’s simply not true, and this misguided notion can actually keep others in your church from developing into mature Christian leaders.

I know how it is, when you get frustrated with the way things are going, you tend to want to control everything. It is human nature but it isn’t the way God wants us to operate. It turns your ministry into one of those “whack-a-mole” games. The moment you whack down one problem, another one pops up. It’s never ending.

And that makes ministry frustrating! But it is also a natural by-product of trying to do everything yourself instead of teaching your members how to minister.

Trying to control everything or do everything not only saps your energy; it also means you’re not doing anything particularly well. God shaped you to do something specific with your ministry. You’ve been created with specific skills and gifts. When you try to be good at everything, you’ll end up not being good at anything. What’s the antidote to your overloaded ministry? The apostle Paul says it is “to equip God’s people to do His work.” (Ephesians 4:12 NLT) Your job isn’t to do all the work of the church. It’s to prepare your members to do it.

At Saddleback we do this through our C.L.A.S.S. 301 where we teach members to discover their God-given S.H.A.P.E. If you don’t have a tool for getting people involved in ministry in your church, this would be a great tool to use.

Help the members of your congregation develop their God-given ministry assignments. They’ll be blessed and you will be blessed by spending more time with your family and by spending the time with God that is necessary to keep your congregation pressing forward with purpose.

Building A Dream

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:55:07 GMT

Someone once asked me what my greatest passion was in ministry and my response was to empower and encourage people to live their dreams. As a leader it is our responsibility to do all we can to equip people to live their dreams. Every person reading this article has a dream concerning what they would like to accomplish in and through their life. The dream of your heart is a driving force and constant motivating factor when kept alive.

Webster defines a dream as a series of images or thoughts, yearnings or deep desires. It is my goal that the article will spark some things that are in your heart and hopefully stir up some things in you concerning your dreams. It’s easy to get so busy with life that you forget you had a dream at one time that gave you energy for living. Every great thing that has ever been accomplished started with a dream so lets keep our dreams alive.

The Power of A Dream

Henry Ford once said; “The secret of a successful life is to find out what ones destiny to do and then do it”.

1. A dream gives us direction.

It acts like a compass telling us which direction we should be traveling.

2. A dream increases our potential.

Where there is no faith in the future there is no power in the present.

3. A dream helps us prioritize our life.

A person with a dream knows what they are willing to give up in order to

see it become a reality.

4. A dream adds value to our work.

Even task that aren’t exciting or immediately rewarding take on added value when

we know they contribute to the fulfillment of our dream.

5. A dream predicts our future.

Pro.29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:

Vision = dream, mental picture

Perish = go back to the same place

A Good Attitude Is A Main Ingredient In Living Your Dream

A dream without a positive attitude produces a daydreamer.

A positive attitude without a dream produces a pleasant person that can’t make progress.

A dream together with a positive attitude produces a person with unlimited possibilities and potential.

Your attitude not intelligence, talent, education, opportunity or even hard work is the main factor in living your dream.

Your attitude determines your actions and your actions determine your accomplishment.

People with bad attitudes major on minors in life.

How to Live Your Dream:

1. Rediscover what you want in life.

2. Believe that God wants it for you and has empowered you to live it.

3. Talk it.

4. Make plans.

5. Don’t let others stop you or talk you out of it.

6. Never let circumstances stop you.

7. Be willing to sacrifice for it to happen.

8. Step out of your comfort zone.

9. Live it one day at a time.

10. Never think it is too late.

God Is With You

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:04:31 GMT

When I read or think about the life of Joseph in the Old Testament I often ask myself a question that I want to ask you. What would somebody in your circumstances do if you were absolutely confident that God was with you? In each of these cases, Joseph acts with the confidence that God is with him. He doesn’t get dismayed that things don’t go according to plan. Most of us equate God’s presence with comfortable circumstances. When things are going good, God is good. When things are going bad, where did God go? God, what are you doing, taking a vacation? Are you resting? It leads us to ask this question – what would somebody in your circumstances do if you were absolutely confident that God was with you?

The Error of Ultimate Reconciliation by Jim Richards

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:04:33 GMT

George Santayana, the Spanish philosopher once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it!” Solomon, the wisest man in the world, once said, That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. (Eccl. 1:9) Sadly, those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat the failures of the past.

Church history is one of those topics that the “hyper-spiritual” deem to have little value. Putting down the study of church history ranks right up there in the “ignorant Christian” poll with those who boldly declare, “I don’t want to study theology or doctrine; I just want to read the Bible!” Jesus knew the history of His people and He knew the doctrines of the day, as did the Apostle Paul. It was their knowledge of these practical areas that made t

Is Haiti Cursed?

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:14:33 GMT

When you think Pat Robertson can't say anything more stupid than he has in the past he does... He has no doubt accomplished some great things but to keep blaming God for tragedies is beyond belief. He has repeatedly said through the years "God said" certain things would happen that did not so you would think he would learn to keep quiet in times like this. Don't be drawn into this thing Pat said about Haiti being cursed. Gal 3:13 says Christ has redeemed us from the curse by being made a curse for us... God never causes pain in our lives, NEVER! James 1:16-18 says; "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Godliness – The Forgotten Result of Grace

office@safeharbornetwork.org — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:17:39 GMT

God is GOOD all the time!
God’s not mad at you no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been
Having a