As the pastor at Gracepoint I state with confidence that we are poised near the breakthrough point of explosive growth and evangelism. Therefore it is essential that we begin to look inward and make whatever improvements or changes are necessary in order to facilitate the upcoming growth.
I call this imploding. Perhaps a good example of this is the nuclear bomb. In order for a bomb to explode and unleash it's potential fusion must first occur. Fusion means bringing things together. Fusion has to occur before fission occurs. Fission means splitting things apart or seperating. Fusion begins when you apply pressures and such inwardly, and to such a point that even a single sub-microscopic atom becomes important. Then beginning at that smallest part you split the atom which releases the power and potential within.
If a church does not prepare for sustained growth then growth will never be sustained. At Gracepoint we intend to do both. Many things are happening behind the scenes as we prepare for explosive growth and evangelism.
Wednesday nights are exploding for the Youth. Many things are being done to forward and direct that explosion. We have already multiplied . . . but better things are ahead for youth and college and career age.
Sunday mornings are gaining momentum in the 11AM service. We are in the early stages of revisiting education and Sunday School. I am also about to intitiate a significant change to to concept and purpose of the 10AM teaching time.
And on and on.
Anytime the pressure is on something must be happening. In this case yes something is happening . . . we are imploding inwardly to explode outwardly.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Potential of the Baby
This message was preached by Dr. Fred Childs on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at Gracepoint.
THE POTENTIAL OF THE BABY
1 Cor 13:11-13
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
KJV
In these verses Paul distinguished his childhood from his adulthood. It is an ongoing analogy.
· There are things you understand as an adult that you didn’t as a child.
· Yet it is in the childhood years that the capacity to learn and adapt is at its optimum.
· Metaphorically . . . there are things we may not understand as a new Christian, but if we input the correct things and disciplines early in our Christian walk (prayer/Word/devotion/consecration/faithfulness, etc.) we will eventually grow and come to understand more and more as we mature.
· For this reason the Church must accept the role of “training up the child in the way that he should go, because if done then when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Life is amazing. The older you get the faster you realize that time has gone by. When you are young you tend to look at the life you hope to have before you, and when you are older you tend to look back at how fast life was swept behind you.
· You realize the finality of missed opportunities
I have some wonderful brothers and a sister
· But we grew up in a broken home under relatively poor conditions
· And we each had a strong work ethic
· So we hit the ground running and began working at very young ages
· In ways it seems like we were robbed of our youth
But more importantly . . . we have now reached middle age and only get to see each other minutes or hours every year
· And I would love few things more than to spend good, quality, unpressured, non-time restrained time with those siblings I love so dear
But there are other things one discovers as they mature in age
· We can tend to get settled in our ways
· Some can even become grumpy and difficult to put up with . . . of course that doesn’t apply to anyone here
· We have seen too many things come and go to be as gullible as we once were
· We have even lived long enough to see the great movie and music stars of yesteryear become wrinkled and die . . . so we realize the foolishness in getting caught up in media hypes and fads
· We have seen the end result of those who thought they had all the answers
· It happens with every generation
· But no matter what form it takes on in a particular generation . . . this too shall pass and some will never understand it until they have lived and survived enough years
So it is no wonder that given time we become somewhat rigid or less flexible . . . we have seen too much and been there and done that.
We have loved, lost, hurt, and laughed.
We have embraced and reluctantly let go of people, places, and things we cherished.
Organizations . . . businesses . . . even churches . . . go through this same cycle.
In some ways that is good . . . in other ways that is not good . . . because to become too rigid, inflexible or settled could jeopardize the future . . .
· Reciprocally . . . to not heed the wisdom and experience of the elders could also jeopardize the future
· Because both ends of this spectrum of life are both needed and essential in order to be whole
Please put on your thinking caps and try to understand what the Lord is dealing with me about and I am trying as your pastor to reveal to each of us this day.
Our life begins as a single cell zygote that develops in our mother for about 9 months and becomes a new baby born into this world. That baby grows to be a man or woman that has only one lifetime to accomplish his or her life’s work.
There is great potential in a baby.
Infants are formable, teachable, and totally dependent.
Infancy is good . . . especially when it can be coupled with a view of the potential it possesses.
We could never learn as an adult what we can learn as a child.
Similarly . . . the child depends on the adult for its very survival . . . and its teaching.
But the Word of God says:
Ps 51:5
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
KJV
Rom 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
KJV
We are born.
We grow.
And we sin . . . whether to a small or large degree . . . we all have sinned.
And there are things we learn along the journey that only time and experience can teach us.
How could one truly appreciate the depths of God’s love and mercy unless they also had experienced the hopelessness of sin from which God delivered them?
The old song line says:
The love of God means more to me
Than all this world could ever be
It reaches down to every nation
And sets the vilest sinner free
How could one appreciate what God has done if they had missed the journey?
So God in His wisdom developed the perfect plan . . . the old must become new in order to receive what God has for it.
The Bible tells of an event in the life of an aged and wise man named Nicodemus . . .
John 3:1-7
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
KJV
Let me make this simple . . .
Nicodemus . . . an old man with an old body and a lifetime of experience . . . was told that he had to be reborn . . .
It was a God thing . . . to combine the old and the new in order to create a new creature in Christ Jesus.
You can’t become the one without first being the other.
Consider the birthday of the New Testament Church in Acts chapter 2
· People were filled with the Holy Ghost
· But up until that day all of them had lived their entire lifetime without that experience
· Then one day they were there . . . they reached a place of repentance and prayer and soul searching and suddenly there came a sound from heaven . . . and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance.
· Jesus’ Name baptism was applied to everyone for the remission of sins
· In essence a new race of mankind was born . . . the Church of the Firstborn
· Global evangelism began
But look at the people involved:
· Peter was a rough, crude and profane fisherman . . . but after being reborn as a new baby in the Lord he was the man chosen to preach the first message of the New Testament Church . . . he became the Apostle Peter
· Saul of Tarsus . . . a brilliant and learned man . . . but he was a murderous persecutor of Christians . . . but after being reborn he became the Apostle Paul . . . the greatest evangelist in the history of the world . . . and the writer of over ½ of the New Testament
Their message changed the world!
The potential is in the baby . . .
God uses the baby to rectify the past and make the future glorious
Now catch this . . .
· Now the role reverses
· A new babe in Christ Jesus must learn to use the experience of his past without God to propel him to his future potential with God
· The elder serves the younger
· You learned the damage of sin so you can appreciate your need og a Spirit-filled life now
· When led by the Word and the Spirit of God . . . you have an unlimited opportunity to develop and accomplish in the Name of the Lord!
That is why . . .
The greatest sinner can become the greatest preacher
The greatest loser can become the greatest winner
The drug addict can now live a drug free life with no addictions
The thief can learn to give and not steal
_______________________
I pastor in Granite City . . . this church was established in 1916!
93 years ago!
But we are poised today at a precipice of great destiny and unlimited potential . . .
Because . . . in spite of the age, years, experience, and history of this church . . . we are entering our infancy again!
· The potential lies before us.
· Without a revival in the youth . . . this church might cease to exist in 25 years
· Without the past experience of our elders . . . this church might lean more and more to a message accepted by the world and less and less on the essential message of salvation.
You take most people 55 and above and try to bend them and stick their toe in their mouth and you might easily break a bone, pull a muscle, or dislocate a joint.
But take any normal 3 month old baby and you can bend them and rub their foot or both feet all over their face and they will just laugh and laugh . . .
But when you combine the two . . . my God what a beautiful picture
· A mother playing with her child
· A grandfather playing with his grandchild
Life for a baby is miserable without someone to love and nurture them.
Life for an elder is not fulfilling without someone to pass their love and mentoring to.
But pastor . . . how does this apply to the Church?
Call me crazy . . . call me nuts . . . call me whatever you like
· But I believe God wants to bless and send astounding growth to us.
· And He will if we are flexible enough to become a multiple generation church
· But . . . everything about us has to be re-born.
· The elder has to serve the younger . . . especially through the birth and development stages.
Let’s dream for a minute . . . indulge me in my folly as I share with you my heart
· Just envision any given night and multiple building locations around the city
· In one there is a door . . . and through that door enters an endless stream of parents . . . all with children and young adults still living at home
· And they have the most incredible opportunities for fellowship, relationship, fun, learning, and spiritual breakthrough
· They don’t have to worry . . . because somewhere else their small children are having incredible Christian fun and experiences in a Day Care and young Children’s Center that is absolutely second to no other
· And the youth are immersed in a dream like world that feels almost too good to be true . . . safe . . . secure . . . and engaged in Christian Youth activities in their very own facility that is not rivaled by any other in the greater St. Louis area
· While hundreds of single adults are having the time of their lives in another location with a plethora of meaningful events and sessions planned exclusively for them
· There are various worship events throughout the week for various segments of people . . . contemporary, traditional, youth, and others . . . each treasuring the message of Jesus’ Name and of salvation only through Him . . . and yet each connecting it to their unique environment . . . because we have truly broken the mold and allowed ourselves to become all things to all men so that by every means we might save some
· And because we need one another . . . and value one another . . . there are opportunities for corporate worship events where all who so desire can come together
I remember years ago when we still had Childs’ family reunions. Sadly the last one was at least 25 years ago.
· I would meet relatives I never knew
· We would discuss people I would never meet
· But there was a common bond of blood because we all knew we were from the same lineage
· And when the evening would come we were reluctant to part . . . because after all . . . we were family
· But when it was over we all traveled back to our homes and our environments
In similar fashion . . .
Great churches are those that rise from obscurity and isolation . . . who overcome rivalries, divisions, jealousies, envies, and prejudices . . . in order to by every means preach the gospel to the whole world . . . and not just to our four and no more.
This is in stark contrast to the unbiblical culture of churches that through fear and peer pressure absolutely refuse to step forth from familiarity and the comfort zones of their anti-evangelistic cultures . . . and step boldly into the realm of potential to validate the true mercies of God in the very world that He came and died for.
We live in an age unlike any other:
· A world in chaos
· Even unbelievers are afraid . . . believing that the end truly could come soon
· And one of its most tragic realities is the flippant choice held over the life and death of the innocent unborn
· The HOPE Center, right here in Granite City . . . will gladly murder anyone’s unborn child and all for the privilege of placing a few more dollars in the bank account
· And the choice of life or death lies with the mother
A baby is being birthed in this church . . .
· It is the one Jesus bled and died for
· The one of which He said, “Whosoever will let Him come unto me . . . “
· There is an unfathomable potential in this baby
· But the choice of whether it lives or dies is the mother’s
The Father has already made His choice . . . LIVE! LIVE! LIVE!
But the mother . . . the Church . . . is the one who makes the choice
Because the yet unborn must come through her
Will she or will she not accept the challenge of motherhood?
Will she allow her baby to come to its potential?
I must warn you . . . birth means there will be discomfort, sacrifice, changes, pressures, loss of sleep, mood swings . . .
Some mothers go to the point of death to deliver their child . . .
· And they don’t even mind
· Because that first glimpse is worth it all
· It is too hard to see the potential at first . . . because you are so caught up with love for that child
But let me remind each of us . . . at one time your mother had to make that same choice for you . . . and for some of them it was not even a choice . . . it was just a resounding YES!
Isa 66:8-9
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
KJV
The missing sound is that of travail. If we want it . . . God can bring it instantly.
It will mean involvement . . . long-term commitment, sacrifice, learning to do the right things, spiritual warfare, stewardship, tolerance of others, patience, stewardship.
I’ll have to ask you to do things and you will have to pull on the Army boots and simply make things happen.
As soon as Zion travails . . . things can happen in one year that didn’t happen in 93 years . . . if the mother will travail
Prayer: Oh Lord birth in us this day a passion to see the potential of the baby!
THE POTENTIAL OF THE BABY
1 Cor 13:11-13
Ps 51:5
Rom 3:23
John 3:1-7
Isa 66:8-9
THE POTENTIAL OF THE BABY
1 Cor 13:11-13
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
KJV
In these verses Paul distinguished his childhood from his adulthood. It is an ongoing analogy.
· There are things you understand as an adult that you didn’t as a child.
· Yet it is in the childhood years that the capacity to learn and adapt is at its optimum.
· Metaphorically . . . there are things we may not understand as a new Christian, but if we input the correct things and disciplines early in our Christian walk (prayer/Word/devotion/consecration/faithfulness, etc.) we will eventually grow and come to understand more and more as we mature.
· For this reason the Church must accept the role of “training up the child in the way that he should go, because if done then when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Life is amazing. The older you get the faster you realize that time has gone by. When you are young you tend to look at the life you hope to have before you, and when you are older you tend to look back at how fast life was swept behind you.
· You realize the finality of missed opportunities
I have some wonderful brothers and a sister
· But we grew up in a broken home under relatively poor conditions
· And we each had a strong work ethic
· So we hit the ground running and began working at very young ages
· In ways it seems like we were robbed of our youth
But more importantly . . . we have now reached middle age and only get to see each other minutes or hours every year
· And I would love few things more than to spend good, quality, unpressured, non-time restrained time with those siblings I love so dear
But there are other things one discovers as they mature in age
· We can tend to get settled in our ways
· Some can even become grumpy and difficult to put up with . . . of course that doesn’t apply to anyone here
· We have seen too many things come and go to be as gullible as we once were
· We have even lived long enough to see the great movie and music stars of yesteryear become wrinkled and die . . . so we realize the foolishness in getting caught up in media hypes and fads
· We have seen the end result of those who thought they had all the answers
· It happens with every generation
· But no matter what form it takes on in a particular generation . . . this too shall pass and some will never understand it until they have lived and survived enough years
So it is no wonder that given time we become somewhat rigid or less flexible . . . we have seen too much and been there and done that.
We have loved, lost, hurt, and laughed.
We have embraced and reluctantly let go of people, places, and things we cherished.
Organizations . . . businesses . . . even churches . . . go through this same cycle.
In some ways that is good . . . in other ways that is not good . . . because to become too rigid, inflexible or settled could jeopardize the future . . .
· Reciprocally . . . to not heed the wisdom and experience of the elders could also jeopardize the future
· Because both ends of this spectrum of life are both needed and essential in order to be whole
Please put on your thinking caps and try to understand what the Lord is dealing with me about and I am trying as your pastor to reveal to each of us this day.
Our life begins as a single cell zygote that develops in our mother for about 9 months and becomes a new baby born into this world. That baby grows to be a man or woman that has only one lifetime to accomplish his or her life’s work.
There is great potential in a baby.
Infants are formable, teachable, and totally dependent.
Infancy is good . . . especially when it can be coupled with a view of the potential it possesses.
We could never learn as an adult what we can learn as a child.
Similarly . . . the child depends on the adult for its very survival . . . and its teaching.
But the Word of God says:
Ps 51:5
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
KJV
Rom 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
KJV
We are born.
We grow.
And we sin . . . whether to a small or large degree . . . we all have sinned.
And there are things we learn along the journey that only time and experience can teach us.
How could one truly appreciate the depths of God’s love and mercy unless they also had experienced the hopelessness of sin from which God delivered them?
The old song line says:
The love of God means more to me
Than all this world could ever be
It reaches down to every nation
And sets the vilest sinner free
How could one appreciate what God has done if they had missed the journey?
So God in His wisdom developed the perfect plan . . . the old must become new in order to receive what God has for it.
The Bible tells of an event in the life of an aged and wise man named Nicodemus . . .
John 3:1-7
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
KJV
Let me make this simple . . .
Nicodemus . . . an old man with an old body and a lifetime of experience . . . was told that he had to be reborn . . .
It was a God thing . . . to combine the old and the new in order to create a new creature in Christ Jesus.
You can’t become the one without first being the other.
Consider the birthday of the New Testament Church in Acts chapter 2
· People were filled with the Holy Ghost
· But up until that day all of them had lived their entire lifetime without that experience
· Then one day they were there . . . they reached a place of repentance and prayer and soul searching and suddenly there came a sound from heaven . . . and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance.
· Jesus’ Name baptism was applied to everyone for the remission of sins
· In essence a new race of mankind was born . . . the Church of the Firstborn
· Global evangelism began
But look at the people involved:
· Peter was a rough, crude and profane fisherman . . . but after being reborn as a new baby in the Lord he was the man chosen to preach the first message of the New Testament Church . . . he became the Apostle Peter
· Saul of Tarsus . . . a brilliant and learned man . . . but he was a murderous persecutor of Christians . . . but after being reborn he became the Apostle Paul . . . the greatest evangelist in the history of the world . . . and the writer of over ½ of the New Testament
Their message changed the world!
The potential is in the baby . . .
God uses the baby to rectify the past and make the future glorious
Now catch this . . .
· Now the role reverses
· A new babe in Christ Jesus must learn to use the experience of his past without God to propel him to his future potential with God
· The elder serves the younger
· You learned the damage of sin so you can appreciate your need og a Spirit-filled life now
· When led by the Word and the Spirit of God . . . you have an unlimited opportunity to develop and accomplish in the Name of the Lord!
That is why . . .
The greatest sinner can become the greatest preacher
The greatest loser can become the greatest winner
The drug addict can now live a drug free life with no addictions
The thief can learn to give and not steal
_______________________
I pastor in Granite City . . . this church was established in 1916!
93 years ago!
But we are poised today at a precipice of great destiny and unlimited potential . . .
Because . . . in spite of the age, years, experience, and history of this church . . . we are entering our infancy again!
· The potential lies before us.
· Without a revival in the youth . . . this church might cease to exist in 25 years
· Without the past experience of our elders . . . this church might lean more and more to a message accepted by the world and less and less on the essential message of salvation.
You take most people 55 and above and try to bend them and stick their toe in their mouth and you might easily break a bone, pull a muscle, or dislocate a joint.
But take any normal 3 month old baby and you can bend them and rub their foot or both feet all over their face and they will just laugh and laugh . . .
But when you combine the two . . . my God what a beautiful picture
· A mother playing with her child
· A grandfather playing with his grandchild
Life for a baby is miserable without someone to love and nurture them.
Life for an elder is not fulfilling without someone to pass their love and mentoring to.
But pastor . . . how does this apply to the Church?
Call me crazy . . . call me nuts . . . call me whatever you like
· But I believe God wants to bless and send astounding growth to us.
· And He will if we are flexible enough to become a multiple generation church
· But . . . everything about us has to be re-born.
· The elder has to serve the younger . . . especially through the birth and development stages.
Let’s dream for a minute . . . indulge me in my folly as I share with you my heart
· Just envision any given night and multiple building locations around the city
· In one there is a door . . . and through that door enters an endless stream of parents . . . all with children and young adults still living at home
· And they have the most incredible opportunities for fellowship, relationship, fun, learning, and spiritual breakthrough
· They don’t have to worry . . . because somewhere else their small children are having incredible Christian fun and experiences in a Day Care and young Children’s Center that is absolutely second to no other
· And the youth are immersed in a dream like world that feels almost too good to be true . . . safe . . . secure . . . and engaged in Christian Youth activities in their very own facility that is not rivaled by any other in the greater St. Louis area
· While hundreds of single adults are having the time of their lives in another location with a plethora of meaningful events and sessions planned exclusively for them
· There are various worship events throughout the week for various segments of people . . . contemporary, traditional, youth, and others . . . each treasuring the message of Jesus’ Name and of salvation only through Him . . . and yet each connecting it to their unique environment . . . because we have truly broken the mold and allowed ourselves to become all things to all men so that by every means we might save some
· And because we need one another . . . and value one another . . . there are opportunities for corporate worship events where all who so desire can come together
I remember years ago when we still had Childs’ family reunions. Sadly the last one was at least 25 years ago.
· I would meet relatives I never knew
· We would discuss people I would never meet
· But there was a common bond of blood because we all knew we were from the same lineage
· And when the evening would come we were reluctant to part . . . because after all . . . we were family
· But when it was over we all traveled back to our homes and our environments
In similar fashion . . .
Great churches are those that rise from obscurity and isolation . . . who overcome rivalries, divisions, jealousies, envies, and prejudices . . . in order to by every means preach the gospel to the whole world . . . and not just to our four and no more.
This is in stark contrast to the unbiblical culture of churches that through fear and peer pressure absolutely refuse to step forth from familiarity and the comfort zones of their anti-evangelistic cultures . . . and step boldly into the realm of potential to validate the true mercies of God in the very world that He came and died for.
We live in an age unlike any other:
· A world in chaos
· Even unbelievers are afraid . . . believing that the end truly could come soon
· And one of its most tragic realities is the flippant choice held over the life and death of the innocent unborn
· The HOPE Center, right here in Granite City . . . will gladly murder anyone’s unborn child and all for the privilege of placing a few more dollars in the bank account
· And the choice of life or death lies with the mother
A baby is being birthed in this church . . .
· It is the one Jesus bled and died for
· The one of which He said, “Whosoever will let Him come unto me . . . “
· There is an unfathomable potential in this baby
· But the choice of whether it lives or dies is the mother’s
The Father has already made His choice . . . LIVE! LIVE! LIVE!
But the mother . . . the Church . . . is the one who makes the choice
Because the yet unborn must come through her
Will she or will she not accept the challenge of motherhood?
Will she allow her baby to come to its potential?
I must warn you . . . birth means there will be discomfort, sacrifice, changes, pressures, loss of sleep, mood swings . . .
Some mothers go to the point of death to deliver their child . . .
· And they don’t even mind
· Because that first glimpse is worth it all
· It is too hard to see the potential at first . . . because you are so caught up with love for that child
But let me remind each of us . . . at one time your mother had to make that same choice for you . . . and for some of them it was not even a choice . . . it was just a resounding YES!
Isa 66:8-9
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
KJV
The missing sound is that of travail. If we want it . . . God can bring it instantly.
It will mean involvement . . . long-term commitment, sacrifice, learning to do the right things, spiritual warfare, stewardship, tolerance of others, patience, stewardship.
I’ll have to ask you to do things and you will have to pull on the Army boots and simply make things happen.
As soon as Zion travails . . . things can happen in one year that didn’t happen in 93 years . . . if the mother will travail
Prayer: Oh Lord birth in us this day a passion to see the potential of the baby!
THE POTENTIAL OF THE BABY
1 Cor 13:11-13
Ps 51:5
Rom 3:23
John 3:1-7
Isa 66:8-9
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Purposely Anointed
Purposely Anointed is the message I preached to the Gracepoint church family on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 2008. Please read it and be inspired.
Dr. Fred Childs
Pastor
PURPOSELY ANOINTED
There are several things that experience has taught me:
1. Anointing follows the acceptance and the pursuit of a calling and purpose.
2. Miraculous provision follows the pursuit of a calling and purpose and works in conjunction with the anointing.
All of God’s born-again children have anointing . . . but in this writing I am referring to the unique anointing that comes to someone who is in hot pursuit of a unique calling and purpose originating from God.
Where there is no calling, no acceptance, no pursuit . . . there is no anointing and no need of provision.
A key to tapping into the anointing is timing. God is precise and timely . . . and only if we walk in the steps that He orders, and do and complete His bidding, will we be on His time table.
Many people miss God’s timing and therefore miss their opportunity for anointing.
It is not unlike milking a cow . . . you may be able to milk a cow . . . but you had better do it when the cow is ready to deliver milk. One cannot be out of sink with God and walk in the anointing of God.
Consider David . . . the man that the Bible says was a man after God’s own heart . . .
· He had already done many wonderful works for the Lord
· But for each he was in the right place at the right time with the right challenge when the anointing came . . .
· He was there with the lion . . . and he slew the lion
· He was there with the bear and he slew the bear
· He was not being the arm chair quarterback
· He was there with Goliath and he slew Goliath
There is a wonderful illustration that gives insight to the spiritual sensitivity of David. It is found in both 2 Samuel and in 1 Chron.14.
2 Sam 5:22-24 says:
22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself:
Bestir means to come to a point of decision, to move, to be alert, to point sharply.
In other words God said:
· There is a challenge before you
· Don’t do what you would normally do and when you would normally do it
· But instead . . . follow my lead . . . pay more attention to my voice than anything else
· And when the spirit starts stirring things up
· Be ready to spring into action and follow my lead
1 Chron 14:15-17 says:
15 . . . then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.
17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
KJV
I want to make a point here:
· Too many churches and preachers today are trying to make a fame for themselves (look at our facilities, hear our preacher, check out our programs, hear our music, and so forth.)
· But the real objective must be to follow after God
· We need to be making a fame for God by doing His will as He leads
· And when you do as He has commanded
· His results will follow after you
· And God will see to it that the fame of those results is spread far and wide
Mark 16:17
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe
KJV
It is simple . . . you follow God . . . and His signs follow you.
Signs and wonders never lead the path to revival. If so people would (and have) follow signs and be deceived. The key is to follow the message of truth, and as you apply it the signs follow.
I was asked to serve as pastor in Granite City on May 28, 2006
We moved onsite into a hotel in August as we sold our home in Texas
We bought our home the end of September
We painted and worked on it and moved into it in November
In 2007 we healed spiritually as individuals and as a church
In 2008 we remodeled the Great House of God
It has only been a few years . . . and a lot has been done
And God has begun to gather talents . . .
And many more will be added in the future . . .
2009 will see this church make major advancements in:
· Uniting our church body to one common strategic vision
· Preparing ourselves for an ongoing and major harvest
· Launching and connecting new ministries
· Intensifying our future planning and networking
· Evangelism . . . while we are planning strategies for the future . . . we will develop a sense of urgency for the lost of today . . .
It is no longer important that we were settled in our ways and not really ready to manifest the power and glory of God in our midst . . .
· But it is important that we do so now
You can expect a major shift in my leadership . . . for I must be about my Father’s business . . . and I am called to the Kingdom for such a time as this!
· I will be more active, more involved, more exacting, more focused on raising the bar of performance and excellence
· I will be much more focused on raising the spiritual level of our church family
God always develops leaders before He does anything great with His people . . . so we will focus on developing the culture of leadership that is capable of following the leading of the Lord.
With all respect . . . Gracepoint must never get its direction from World Evangelism Center or organizational programs. We will seek and get direction from the Lord
We serve the same God that Daniel served . . .
He was in distress . . . and he prayed fervently unto the Lord for direction . . .
And as He prayed He got results.
Listen to the last words of his prayer:
Dan 9:18-23
18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
KJV
Then Gabriel revealed unto Daniel the vision of the 70 Weeks.
More than anything else we need:
· His presence
· His guidance
· His Word
· His understanding
· His anointing
Because we are purposely anointed!
· We are here by His design and mercy
· Here by His grace and favor
· To accomplish what only He can do through only us
It is time to walk the prayer floors and pray prayers like Daniel prayed:
· Oh God . . . behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
· Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Another translation says, “hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."
We are called to be a city set on a hill. We shall fulfill that calling.
We are called to not be hid among the stuff.
Our light is ordained to shine before this world.
We are called to bear and present His Name to this world.
We have not yet reached our potential . . . but we shall.
We have not yet finished our mission . . . but we shall.
We have not yet arrived . . . we are in our infancy as a church . . . but we shall develop.
· This local church was founded in 1916.
· And yet we are being reborn as an infant with great potential.
· That is not unlike the role of Jesus . . . the young embodiment of the ageless God . . . but He was born into this world with the greatest of purposes.
· He was purposely anointed!
· And so is this church!
Do you know what my biggest hesitancy about building a gymnasium/Family Activity Center outside right now is?
· It is not the room . . . we have plenty of room . . . we can build much more than that on this land.
· And by the way . . . we are debt free with money in the bank!
· My hesitancy is not the economy . . . our God shall supply!
· But my hesitancy lies in the fact that the more buildings we build here the harder it will be to sell when we out grow the property we have now.
· There is not a demand for large church properties out there . . . because a church that could afford this property (if we fully develop it) would probably be looking to build something new in a better location (just as we are).
· AND I AM HESITANT BECAUSE GOD HAS ALREADY TOLD US (THROUGH SPIRITUAL GIFTS) THERE IS ANOTHER LOCATION BEYOND HERE!
God knows what lies ahead . . . therefore we need to be saying:
· OK God . . . what is the direction that you want us to come from?
· Where is the sound of your presence?
· Where are you about to lead us?
Luke 4 gives us insight into a man who was on time, on the mark, in the right place, and totally submitted:
Luke 4:16-22
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.
KJV
We need a this day expectancy!
Please allow me to illustrate how God works with a willing vessel . . .
In Ex 14:13-18 Moses was right where God wanted him to be:
· In a desperate place with no hope but God
· In a situation where his faith and trust could only glorify God
· Where failure was a sure thing by natural means . . . but not an option because the promises of God were at stake
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Listen to that! That is Moses talking. Moses. Moses is about to open a mega door of potential. He is speaking faith against all odds . . . and he is speaking to a bunch of people who are in a state of panic and unbelief.
15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
God is saying:
· You speak . . . and I will speak
· You do . . . and I will do
· You go . . . and I will go before you
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
God said . . . I will if you will!
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
KJV
Let’s go back to where I started tonight’s message:
1. Anointing follows the acceptance and the pursuit of a calling and purpose.
2. Miraculous provision follows the pursuit of a calling and purpose and works in conjunction with the anointing.
All of God’s born-again children have anointing . . . but in this writing I am referring to the unique anointing that comes to someone who is in hot pursuit of a unique calling and purpose originating from God.
Where there is no calling, no acceptance, no pursuit . . . there is no anointing and no need of provision.
A key to tapping into the anointing is timing. God is precise and timely . . . and only if we walk in the steps that He orders, and do and complete His bidding, will we be on His time table.
Many people miss God’s timing and therefore miss their opportunity for anointing.
Who wants to discover their purpose?
Who wants to find their place of anointing?
Fulfill the will of God for their lives?
Who is ready to be filled with the Holy Ghost?
Who wants to be involved in making ministry happen?
Then get ready Gracepoint. There is an unbelievable experience ahead for you. We are come to the Kingdom just for such a time as this.
Dr. Fred Childs
Pastor
PURPOSELY ANOINTED
There are several things that experience has taught me:
1. Anointing follows the acceptance and the pursuit of a calling and purpose.
2. Miraculous provision follows the pursuit of a calling and purpose and works in conjunction with the anointing.
All of God’s born-again children have anointing . . . but in this writing I am referring to the unique anointing that comes to someone who is in hot pursuit of a unique calling and purpose originating from God.
Where there is no calling, no acceptance, no pursuit . . . there is no anointing and no need of provision.
A key to tapping into the anointing is timing. God is precise and timely . . . and only if we walk in the steps that He orders, and do and complete His bidding, will we be on His time table.
Many people miss God’s timing and therefore miss their opportunity for anointing.
It is not unlike milking a cow . . . you may be able to milk a cow . . . but you had better do it when the cow is ready to deliver milk. One cannot be out of sink with God and walk in the anointing of God.
Consider David . . . the man that the Bible says was a man after God’s own heart . . .
· He had already done many wonderful works for the Lord
· But for each he was in the right place at the right time with the right challenge when the anointing came . . .
· He was there with the lion . . . and he slew the lion
· He was there with the bear and he slew the bear
· He was not being the arm chair quarterback
· He was there with Goliath and he slew Goliath
There is a wonderful illustration that gives insight to the spiritual sensitivity of David. It is found in both 2 Samuel and in 1 Chron.14.
2 Sam 5:22-24 says:
22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself:
Bestir means to come to a point of decision, to move, to be alert, to point sharply.
In other words God said:
· There is a challenge before you
· Don’t do what you would normally do and when you would normally do it
· But instead . . . follow my lead . . . pay more attention to my voice than anything else
· And when the spirit starts stirring things up
· Be ready to spring into action and follow my lead
1 Chron 14:15-17 says:
15 . . . then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.
17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
KJV
I want to make a point here:
· Too many churches and preachers today are trying to make a fame for themselves (look at our facilities, hear our preacher, check out our programs, hear our music, and so forth.)
· But the real objective must be to follow after God
· We need to be making a fame for God by doing His will as He leads
· And when you do as He has commanded
· His results will follow after you
· And God will see to it that the fame of those results is spread far and wide
Mark 16:17
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe
KJV
It is simple . . . you follow God . . . and His signs follow you.
Signs and wonders never lead the path to revival. If so people would (and have) follow signs and be deceived. The key is to follow the message of truth, and as you apply it the signs follow.
I was asked to serve as pastor in Granite City on May 28, 2006
We moved onsite into a hotel in August as we sold our home in Texas
We bought our home the end of September
We painted and worked on it and moved into it in November
In 2007 we healed spiritually as individuals and as a church
In 2008 we remodeled the Great House of God
It has only been a few years . . . and a lot has been done
And God has begun to gather talents . . .
And many more will be added in the future . . .
2009 will see this church make major advancements in:
· Uniting our church body to one common strategic vision
· Preparing ourselves for an ongoing and major harvest
· Launching and connecting new ministries
· Intensifying our future planning and networking
· Evangelism . . . while we are planning strategies for the future . . . we will develop a sense of urgency for the lost of today . . .
It is no longer important that we were settled in our ways and not really ready to manifest the power and glory of God in our midst . . .
· But it is important that we do so now
You can expect a major shift in my leadership . . . for I must be about my Father’s business . . . and I am called to the Kingdom for such a time as this!
· I will be more active, more involved, more exacting, more focused on raising the bar of performance and excellence
· I will be much more focused on raising the spiritual level of our church family
God always develops leaders before He does anything great with His people . . . so we will focus on developing the culture of leadership that is capable of following the leading of the Lord.
With all respect . . . Gracepoint must never get its direction from World Evangelism Center or organizational programs. We will seek and get direction from the Lord
We serve the same God that Daniel served . . .
He was in distress . . . and he prayed fervently unto the Lord for direction . . .
And as He prayed He got results.
Listen to the last words of his prayer:
Dan 9:18-23
18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
KJV
Then Gabriel revealed unto Daniel the vision of the 70 Weeks.
More than anything else we need:
· His presence
· His guidance
· His Word
· His understanding
· His anointing
Because we are purposely anointed!
· We are here by His design and mercy
· Here by His grace and favor
· To accomplish what only He can do through only us
It is time to walk the prayer floors and pray prayers like Daniel prayed:
· Oh God . . . behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
· Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Another translation says, “hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."
We are called to be a city set on a hill. We shall fulfill that calling.
We are called to not be hid among the stuff.
Our light is ordained to shine before this world.
We are called to bear and present His Name to this world.
We have not yet reached our potential . . . but we shall.
We have not yet finished our mission . . . but we shall.
We have not yet arrived . . . we are in our infancy as a church . . . but we shall develop.
· This local church was founded in 1916.
· And yet we are being reborn as an infant with great potential.
· That is not unlike the role of Jesus . . . the young embodiment of the ageless God . . . but He was born into this world with the greatest of purposes.
· He was purposely anointed!
· And so is this church!
Do you know what my biggest hesitancy about building a gymnasium/Family Activity Center outside right now is?
· It is not the room . . . we have plenty of room . . . we can build much more than that on this land.
· And by the way . . . we are debt free with money in the bank!
· My hesitancy is not the economy . . . our God shall supply!
· But my hesitancy lies in the fact that the more buildings we build here the harder it will be to sell when we out grow the property we have now.
· There is not a demand for large church properties out there . . . because a church that could afford this property (if we fully develop it) would probably be looking to build something new in a better location (just as we are).
· AND I AM HESITANT BECAUSE GOD HAS ALREADY TOLD US (THROUGH SPIRITUAL GIFTS) THERE IS ANOTHER LOCATION BEYOND HERE!
God knows what lies ahead . . . therefore we need to be saying:
· OK God . . . what is the direction that you want us to come from?
· Where is the sound of your presence?
· Where are you about to lead us?
Luke 4 gives us insight into a man who was on time, on the mark, in the right place, and totally submitted:
Luke 4:16-22
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.
KJV
We need a this day expectancy!
Please allow me to illustrate how God works with a willing vessel . . .
In Ex 14:13-18 Moses was right where God wanted him to be:
· In a desperate place with no hope but God
· In a situation where his faith and trust could only glorify God
· Where failure was a sure thing by natural means . . . but not an option because the promises of God were at stake
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Listen to that! That is Moses talking. Moses. Moses is about to open a mega door of potential. He is speaking faith against all odds . . . and he is speaking to a bunch of people who are in a state of panic and unbelief.
15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
God is saying:
· You speak . . . and I will speak
· You do . . . and I will do
· You go . . . and I will go before you
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
God said . . . I will if you will!
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
KJV
Let’s go back to where I started tonight’s message:
1. Anointing follows the acceptance and the pursuit of a calling and purpose.
2. Miraculous provision follows the pursuit of a calling and purpose and works in conjunction with the anointing.
All of God’s born-again children have anointing . . . but in this writing I am referring to the unique anointing that comes to someone who is in hot pursuit of a unique calling and purpose originating from God.
Where there is no calling, no acceptance, no pursuit . . . there is no anointing and no need of provision.
A key to tapping into the anointing is timing. God is precise and timely . . . and only if we walk in the steps that He orders, and do and complete His bidding, will we be on His time table.
Many people miss God’s timing and therefore miss their opportunity for anointing.
Who wants to discover their purpose?
Who wants to find their place of anointing?
Fulfill the will of God for their lives?
Who is ready to be filled with the Holy Ghost?
Who wants to be involved in making ministry happen?
Then get ready Gracepoint. There is an unbelievable experience ahead for you. We are come to the Kingdom just for such a time as this.
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A Note From Pastor Childs
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