Friends' Favorites - Fresh Heart

After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.
Acts 18:23 The Message

Watch any war movie or any series involving a war with heavy fighting and you know about asking for reinforcements. Troops to help bear the burden of fighting against the enemy, to share the load, to provide renewed strength for those who have been fighting all along. To help fight when you can't fight anymore.

Fighting a battle is extremely difficult. It can wear you down. Without reinforcement, you may find yourself slipping. Losing ground. What I am noticing in this time through the Book of Acts are the reinforcements, the helpers. Who is walking alongside of Paul? Which ones are providing sustenance and provision for the mission work? Who is standing with him? Who is taking some of the heat for him? Silas, Timothy, Aquila, Priscilla, Barnabas, Jason, just to name a few. 

And what does Paul do? He pours it back into the believers. New Living reads, visiting and strengthening all the believers. The classic Amplified reads, imparting new strength to them. But I love how The Message reads, putting fresh heart into the disciples.  Disciples - indicating that these aren't slackers. They're disciplined in their walk. Fighting the good fight for their faith.

We must do the same! One more reason why it is vital that we fill up on God's Word - so we can pour into others who need fresh hearts to continue till Jesus comes. Who are you walking with?

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us Your eyes to help us see those who may be languishing. Give us Your wisdom and strength to impart to them. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Strength to Fight

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
1st Timothy 6:12-14 NLT

The following lines are excerpts from Pastor Alan Neel's sermon...

• There will always be a fight. We are not fighting flesh and blood; we are contending for our faith.
• There is no "Golden Acres Retirement Center" here on Earth.
• THERE IS NO CONVENIENT CHRISTIANITY.
• We better learn how to fight.
• Discernment
• Discipline
• 1st Timothy 4:7 "Train yourself..."
• If you don't establish the right habits, by default you'll continually reinforce the bad habits.
• Quote by Dr. Gary Brothers, "Don't cause yourself more trouble than the trouble causes you."
• Determination
• We'd better learn how to win.

We are not moving to a place of rest here on Earth. That doesn't happen here. Here - we need to fight!

Fight for our faith!
Fight for our children's faith!
Fight for our grandchildren's faith!

Like the Apostle Paul commanded, "Fight the good fight for the true faith."

The Finish Line is in sight! We can't slack off - we must win!

Prayer:

Father,
           Today I pray as Scotty Smith prayed - for strength to do the next right thing, according to Your Word in Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through him who strengthens me...this verse has been underlined in my Bible, pasted on my refrigerator...But today I need it to be an active force in my life. Free me from the temptations of an “approval suck”. I don’t want to become aloof and callous, but neither do I want to be oversensitive to what people think...

I need strength to deal with destructive choices of friends. Marriages, health, the hearts of children, and Your glory are on the line. I need strength, Jesus, to get involved where frankly, I’d rather not. It would be much easier just to “pray from afar” than to run after prodigals, confront foolishness, and face anger. Strengthen me so that I will not wimp out. You pursued me, and You pursue me still. Likewise, be a persistent lover through me in these messy situations.

I need strength to seek You with fresh passion and delight; earnestness and anticipation. I never like it when I find it easier to watch TV than to meditate on the Scriptures. It’s not a good sign when exercising my body for vanity comes easier than exercising my heart for godliness. Renew my heart’s affection, adoration, and allegiance to You; for You alone are worthy of everything I am and have.

In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* Strength to Fight

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
1st Timothy 6:12-14 NLT

The following lines are excerpts from Pastor Alan Neel's sermon...

• There will always be a fight. We are not fighting flesh and blood; we are contending for our faith.
• There is no "Golden Acres Retirement Center" here on Earth. 
• THERE IS NO CONVENIENT CHRISTIANITY.
• We better learn how to fight.
• Discernment
• Discipline 
• 1st Timothy 4:7 "Train yourself..."
• If you don't establish the right habits, by default you'll continually reinforce the bad habits. 
• Quote by Dr. Gary Brothers, "Don't cause yourself more trouble than the trouble causes you."
• Determination

• We better learn how to win.

We are not moving to a place of rest here on Earth. That doesn't happen here. Here - we need to fight! 

Fight for our faith!

Fight for our children's faith!

Fight for our grandchildren's faith!

Like the Apostle Paul commanded, "Fight the good fight for the true faith."

The Finish Line is in sight! We can't slack off - we must win!

Prayer:

Father, 

          Today I pray as Scotty Smith prayed - for strength to do the next right thing, according to Your Word in Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through him who strengthens me...this verse has been underlined in my Bible, pasted on my refrigerator...But today I need it to be an active force in my life. Free me from the temptations of an “approval suck”. I don’t want to become aloof and callous, but neither do I want to be oversensitive to what people think... 

I need strength to deal with destructive choices of friends. Marriages, health, the hearts of children and Your glory are on the line. I need strength, Jesus, to get involved where frankly, I’d rather not. It would be much easier just to “pray from afar” than to run after prodigals, confront foolishness, and face anger. Strengthen me so that I will not wimp out. You pursued me, and You pursue me still. Likewise, be a persistent lover through me in these messy situations.

I need strength to seek You with fresh passion and delight; earnestness and anticipation. I never like it when I find it easier to watch TV than to meditate on the Scriptures. It’s not a good sign when exercising my body for vanity comes easier than exercising my heart for godliness. Renew my heart’s affection, adoration, and allegiance to You; for You alone are worthy of everything I am and have.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen