Seasoning the Season

What did Jesus mean when he said we are the salt of the earth?

1. He meant it as a command - we ARE to be salt in the earth.
2. He meant for us to enrich the earth and be enriching to those we share our lives with. More speaking and less talking.
3. He meant for us to preserve others by proclaiming truth in love.

By being the salt of the earth we become change agents for his love.

So many times Christians go to the “salt factory” known as Church only to store their saltiness in giant salt storage buildings. We were not called to be the Salt of the Church.

The power of our Christian lives and testimony lies in our ability to be different and distinct from the world. Do we blend into the world or are we different in our approach to life?

Is the world seasoning Christians or is it the other way around? Politically correct folks have lost their salt!

This Christmas Season...be a difference maker. Be a change agent.

Right thinking,

Pastor Steve

Prevailing Proofs…

The last message of the Promise of Awakening series was on Easter Sunday 2010. It was such a significant service. I felt the Holy Spirit fall on me in a very special way.

If you’ll remember, when Jesus was resurrected, people looked for proof of the resurrection. Was the stone rolled away? Was the body gone? Were Jesus’ footprints found on the tomb floor? Of course people wanted proof…this was quite a miracle. If we were there we probably would have wanted to see the proof too.

Not surprisingly, people today are still seeking proof of the resurrection. But, the sad part is, most people seem to be looking for evidence of resurrection in others instead of within themselves.

The question we should be asking is this: “Is there proof of Christ’s resurrection in my life?”

As a Christian, you should have three blaring pieces of evidence of the resurrection in your life.

First, are you moving toward purpose, fulfilling the call on your life? Second, do you outwardly profess your faith in Jesus? Finally, are you exhibiting inward peace that can’t be defined as anything else but the peace of God?

How you answer these questions demonstrates the proof of God’s resurrection power in YOU..

The church will receive the promise of awakening when the people rise up in their resurrection! It’s great to have intellectual knowledge of the resurrection. It’s great to know that Jesus is alive – now PROVE IT!

The proof of awakening is in a church rising up. The proof of awakening is in what you do in your life, the quality of the decisions you make, and in the relationships of the people you touch.

Saints, Jesus has been resurrected… now allow His Holy Spirit to awaken you today.

Love,

Pastor Steve

PS Oh, and don't forget to lie down on the inside sometime.

Protecting the Church…

What do you think would happen if we really understood the fact that we are the church?

Can you imagine the possibilities that would unfold in our lives, business or school if we really understood that fact? I personally believe we would experience a new sense of God’s power and grace in our lives, we’ve never felt before.

The truth is, God’s move in our lives can be limited if we don’t know our role as His chosen. We don’t want to have any doubts about why we do what we do. That’s why I am encouraging you today to think of our church a little differently today…we are not a social club, organization, or even a building. Yes, we have been blessed by God with a new building, but it’s the changes we make in people’s lives that will be noted in heaven.

We have a powerful vision set before us. But, for us to fulfill it…we have to protect the sanctity of the church as a whole. That means keeping our dukes up and protecting the church. We are here to help people…plain and simple. God sent Jesus to earth to give us abundant life now and eternal life after that. Bixby Community Church is a church of refuge, restoring people to live God’s best now.

We have to remain effective. And, there’s no way we can do that unless we as a people protect the church’s reputation. Be careful who you walk, stand and sit with. Think about some of the things we say, the jokes we laugh at, the things we do. We have to be accountable to God and each other for our thoughts and actions.

We also have to protect the people. The currency in the Kingdom of God is relationships. We need each other and the only way we can carry out the vision of Bixby Community Church is through people.

Remember, God wants to increase His power in our lives, but first He needs to know we’ve fully awakened as His people. The promise of what God can do through us and for us, will be fulfilled by protecting the vision and reputation of the church in this community, and by bringing in those who desperately need His hope.

You see, the awakening occurs in our lives because we purpose to wake up. Awakening doesn’t happen just because we attend services. Awakening occurs when we purpose it to happen in our church, our families and in our lives.

Saints of our Lord Jesus ...Awaken to Abundant living!

Love,

Pastor Steve