Day 1 : Isaiah 59:1-2
Lord, Change Me!
Pastor Bryan L. Carter
As you begin this season of “21 Days To Change,” Isaiah reminds us that there is nothing outside the reach of the Lord’s ability to change. He tells us that the Lord’s arm is not too short to save us, nor his ear too dull to hear us. The Lord does not have arms or ears but Isaiah uses this imagery to help us to understand that the Lord is unlimited.
When we consider our own lives, we are limited in terms of what we can change. We have numerous limitations, but we serve a God who is not limited. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Eph 3:20). Yet with all of the Lord’s awesome ability, there is something that limits his work in our lives and that is our sins.
Verse 2 reveals that the lack of change in their lives was due to their sins. Our sins separate us from God. God hates sin, particularly when his people choose sin over service to Him. Our first step during this season of change is to begin with a time of personal repentance. So many times we move so fast in life that we fail to take an honest look at ourselves in the mirror and ask God’s opinion about our heart and hands.
For many of us, we practice sin management versus sin repentance. We simply cover up our sin rather then confess our sin. We compare ourselves to other Christians and say, “at least I am not that bad” but sin is sin.
How are you dealing with forgiveness, your temper, your money, your sexual sins, your integrity and are you giving God your best? We must confess, stop and begin anew.
Take time today to write out your sins, give them to God and shred them in the name of Jesus.
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Day 2 : Lamentations 3:22-23
New Again
Denise Foxx
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Life has a way of wearing us down, doesn’t it? Just making it through the day-to-day routine of family, work, church and community duties can often leave us physically, spiritually and emotionally spent. Then add to that trouble of any kind—wayward children, difficult employers, health challenges, financial woes, or personal defeats—and we can begin to feel overwhelmed.
Yet, in the third chapter of the book of Lamentation we are told that we can be “new again”. How so? To be new is to be fresh, to be different from the former, to be newly discovered or recognized. Again means to repeat or once more. Consequently, at first blush the term “new again” appears to be an oxymoron. Is it really possible for anything to be “new again”? It’s either new or old and if it’s old, then, it cannot be new, right?
The key to this “new again” lies in the Lord’s great love. The writer of Lamentations wants to convey to us that every single morning provides us with an opportunity to experience God in new ways—to start again with newness.
How reassuring it is to know that no matter how difficult life may be, how downcast we may be or how disobedient we have been God’s love provides for us an invigorating shower that refreshes, restores and refocuses us.
• God refreshes us by providing immediate and full forgiveness
when we ask.
• God restores us by assuring us that His plan for our lives is
indeed good
• God refocuses us by giving us another day to live out His
plan for our lives.
Refreshed, restored, refocused—new again every single morning.
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Day 3 : 1 Corinthians 15:1-3
Keep First Things First
Pastor Fred "Chip" Luter, III
America is a non-stop, quick fix, result driven nation that has no idea of what it means to slow down in order to be more productive. We have become a microwave society that wants everything done in two minutes or less. This way of life has led to many to experience the great state of burnout.
The definition of burnout is a physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. When burnout takes place a person can forget all about the more important things in life such as good health, family, and quality of life. Well, Christians aren’t exempt from this state of being. Unfortunately, there may be more Christians than non-Christians that have this experience.
Christians not only have to follow the laws of the land, but they must also abide by the commandments of God. Some believers have a way of making the Christian life something to be checked off a list. When the Christian life isn’t central it becomes another thing to do, like a hobby. If you want to avoid burnout in the Christian life, then may I suggest you look at what Paul told the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 15. His message was simply to KEEP FIRST THINGS FIRST!
In verses 1-3, Paul mentions that they need to remember the things that are of first importance. The first point he makes is to REMEMBER THE CROSS. Out of all the topics that the apostle Paul taught, why would he choose the source of our salvation as the most important? Well, the reason is that all of our struggles in life ended on the cross.
The only way we have power over the enemy, is the cross that Christ died on for our sins. Rough times will come to every child of God. There are some storms that are rough and some that are soft. So many things can distract us from the important things in life. The most exciting part of a storm is when it’s over. All of the storms and even pleasures of life will be here today and gone tomorrow, but our security in the CROSS remains today, tomorrow, and forever. Always remember that before your career, your spouse, your kids, and even you, there was the CROSS.
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Day 4 : Genesis 6:11 – 7:24
The Flood
Pastor S. Michael Greene
What do you think it was like to be in the great flood? How do you think Noah and his family felt when the rains kept coming down day after day? What would it have been like to repopulate the earth?
Noah and his family knew the ark was a place of safety for them. They had been warned of the torrential rains that were to come. They knew God was blessing them by saving them from the great flood outside. What is the great flood that has come in your life? Or what great flood do you fear is coming?
God sends unpleasant and sometimes painful circumstances our way. God sends us these circumstances to grow us. But like Noah and his family, God will protect us. But even more than protect us God will renew us.
The Bible says Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him, and it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. You know the story. It rained forty days and forty nights.
Maybe you have seen places that were flooded after a heavy rain. If so you have seen a rainbow. God sent the rainbow to be a constant reminder of how He sends water to wash, cleanse and renew. Yes, the flood waters destroyed everything God had created, but all that God had created had become evil. Just like with Noah God wants to destroy everything in our lives that is not pleasing. God will not leave us empty and alone, but He will renew us.
In order for us to be renewed we can learn some things from Noah and his Flood experience.
1. We must be washed of all sinful residues. The great thing is
that He is willing and able to wash us.
2. We must be willing to prepare for the Flood. God gave Noah
specific instructions to build an ark. Praying prepares us for
our flood.
3. We must be patient. The flood was only 40 days and nights but
it was months before the water receded enough for Noah and
his family to leave the ark.
4. We must trust God’s promises. God made a covenant with
Noah and his descendants and sent the rainbow as a sign of
the covenant.
What area of your life do you need God to wash clean and allow you to start fresh?
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Day 5 : Colossians 4:2
The Struggle of Prayer
Pastor Rick Jordan
“Devote yourself to prayer. Keep alert in it, with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Don Currin in his book “Awakening”, talks about the barrenness of a busy life. He describes how our lives are empty, fruitless and unproductive with the things of God. He talks about the schemes of the Devil. He said that Satan and his evil forces called a World-Wide Convention. At this convention, all attackers, deceivers and evil forces were present. Satan was the Keynote Speaker.
In his opening address, he said:
• We can’t keep true Christians from church.
• Let us keep them busy with non-essential things of life.
• Let us invent or create some schemes to occupy their minds.
We can’t keep them from reading the Bible, but we can keep them from forming an intimate relationship with Jesus through prayer.
If they gain connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So, let them go to church; let them read the Bible, but let us steal their time, so that they do not have an intimate relationship with Christ.
How much time do you spend with God?
• Most of our lives are too busy.
• We are over extended with activities.
• We operate on the fruit of the flesh, not the fruit of the Spirit.
George Barna, a Christian Researcher quotes, “Born again Christians spend seven times more watching T.V. than in prayer and Bible study.” Devote yourself to prayer. Keep alert; be on guard; watching for Satan at all times! David said in Psalm 63:1 and 5:3, “Early will I seek thee…and my voice shall thou hear in the morning…”
Set a time for prayer. Set a place for prayer.
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Day 6 : Mark 11:24-26
Forgiveness Benefits the Forgiver
Candy Bradshaw
Is there a hurt or happening that you just can’t seem to forget? Do you remember the situation and the person only to tell yourself “I’ll never forgive that person”? Are you allowing some seemingly unforgettable, yet useless encounter from the past keep you from having joy today? Do you think that you will be declared the loser because you are the one who chooses to forgive?
Think again… The Bible clearly tells us that God will not forgive us if we do not forgive others. When we think about the act of forgiveness, what God is really trying to help us understand is that we need forgiveness from God just as someone needs us to forgive them.
When we refuse to forgive someone, we are in an active state of sin. We know that God has commanded us to forgive. So if we refuse to forgive, we are not only going against God’s will but we are deprived of God’s forgiveness. The model prayer in Matthew 6 reads “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” In other words we are praying that God would forgive us the same way we forgive others. Thus, God is not obligated to forgive us if we don’t forgive others.
Do you want God’s forgiveness that casts your sins as far as the east is from the west? Do you want to be assured that you are in fellowship with God? Do you want the true benefit of forgiveness from God?
Receive God’s forgiveness today by forgiving someone else. Let it go. Ask God to give you whatever you need to see someone else’s fault, frustration and failure as God sees yours. God gives you His loving and forgiving grace. Do the same for others. It’s for your benefit!
Prayer: Dear Lord, give me what I need to forgive (person’s name) for hurting me in the past. Help me to forgive this person, just as you have forgiven me so many times. Whenever the situation comes to my mind, allow your Holy Spirit to remind me that true forgiveness does not hold a grudge. Don’t allow me to let this situation be a stronghold that keeps me from receiving your forgiveness. I pray that you will help me become more like Christ as I learn and display true forgiveness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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Day 7 : Romans 12:1-2
Minister Gaye Arbuckle
I beseech (beg) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies (compassion) of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice (give up), holy (sacred), acceptable (suitable) unto God, which is your reasonable (sensible) service. 2And be not conformed (play the game) to this world: but be ye transformed (changed) by the renewing (restore) of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect (ideal), will of God.
There are fitness centers all over the world. Advertisements about dieting, exercising, plastic surgery are made on TV and billboards (just to name a few). We can be consumed with our outer appearance how people view us instead of how we are viewed by God. I do believe in caring for your bodies and maintain a healthy appetite. But let’s not forget that I Corinthians 6:19 says: “your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you”.
Perhaps earlier in life you went through a bad situation and thought: “When I get married and have children, I will not allow them to experience any of this!” But still there are those who remain where they are because they haven’t forgiven or decided to linger in the negative cycle of despair. It’s time to renew your mind and that change starts with you.
It would seem easy for one to know the power and greatness of God, but not everyone does. Try how perfect He is in all His ways. I dare you to surrender every portion of your life to Him and call it done. So why not ask God what is His purpose for your life and how can your past help you toward a better future. Through sincere prayer, God will reveal himself to you like never before. Start the New Year off with positive thinking and trust that your latter will be greater than your past.
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Day 8 : Psalms 51:9-13
Drifting
Renee Thompson
What happens when we do not pray?
David, a man after God’s heart, gives us a picture of what happens. David found himself drifting away from the battle he should have been leading to a rooftop. There because of doubting God’s providence he made the first of a series of bad decisions that lead to his downfall. Ultimately, he disconnected from God to the point of committing adultery, committing murder and attempting to cover it all up.
What happens when we do not pray?
We drift away. We drift away from meditating on God’s Word. We drift from intimacy with God. Drifting lead us to doubting. Doubting leads to poor decision-making. One poor decision leads to another and another when we do not renew ourselves daily through prayer.
Are you drifting?
If so, pray this prayer:
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
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Day 9 : Zephaniah 3:17
I Want You Back
Denise Foxx
I remember the day our daughter Alicia darted across that busy Chicago street in front of oncoming cars as if it were yesterday and not almost twenty years ago. We had painstakingly taken the time to teach her to “look both ways” before crossing the street and to always “hold the hand” of a trusted adult. But that summer day Alicia did not obey our warnings and out into the dangerous street she went.
Watching her was heartbreaking and scary; but there was little I could do that would really help her. If I yelled at her, she might have become frightened and stopped in front of an oncoming car. If I ran after her, she might have thought I was playing and started running in an erratic fashion resulting in injury to both of us. So I stood on the sidewalk and helplessly watched my precious daughter head toward possible disaster.
Are you headed toward possible danger? Are you headed across a street without looking both ways and holding the hand of our Father? Unlike me, our Father is not helpless. Listen to the echo of His heart to you.
My child, when you obey me I am with you. I will fight your battles and win. I will cradle you in my arms, protect you and sing love songs to you. I love you, my child. Return to me. I want you back.
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Day 10 : Proverbs 22:7
The Discipline of Debt Free Living
Pastor Rick Jordan
One evening a Christian father was up late one night trying to pay the family bills; house payment, credit cards and all the rest. He was trying to juggle which to pay or not to pay. His soul was troubled. He finally went to bed. He was tormented by a nightmare. In his nightmare, he dreamed about creatures confined into a cage in his back yard.
The man had to feed the beast. As long as he fed the beast, the beast was quiet and still, but little by little, the beast began to grow and grow. Before long, the beast outgrew the cage.
One day, he went out to feed the beast and found the cage empty. The door had been ripped off. The beast could not stand the cage anymore. Suddenly, the man was grabbed from behind and thrown into the cage. The beast slammed the door and locked the man in the cage.
This story may seem like a nightmare, but in reality, it happens to thousands of people every day. We are imprisoned by our own debts. Our financial debts have grown into a monster that will imprison us.
Proverbs 22:7 says that “…the borrower becomes a slave to the lender.” Larry Burkett, a Christian Economist says the following:
• In 1929, 95% of homes were bought with cash, and only 5% were financed.
• In 1945, practically no car was financed.
• Today, the average credit debt is $5,000.00.
• 72% of people don’t pay off their credit cards.
The debt begins to grow and becomes a monster. Christ calls us to be free from financial debt. Free men practice Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
• Free to serve Him in our homes.
• Free to be available to our families.
• Free to discipline our children.
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Day 11 : Revelation 2:1-5
Repossessing The Passion
Pastor Fred "Chip" Luter, III
If there’s one statement that I will never forget it is, “Don’t forget where you came from!” This phrase has been told to my friends and me from those grown-ups in our church that always had something to tell us about our lives. As teenagers we never wanted to hear the wisdom of the elders, but the more I grow up I realize how important that statement really is to my spiritual life.
In this passage God commends and criticizes a church at the same time. He commends them in verses 1-3 for their good works, discernment of false teachers, and perseverance through troubles. Then, He immediately criticizes them for getting ONE thing wrong. He says in verse 4, “You have forsaken your first love.” He lists about three great things they were good at, but the ONE thing that they got wrong negated the great things.
From the outside looking in the church had a dynamic image. This was a church that endured hardships, they didn’t allow the word of God to be perverted, and they served their community well; however, God picked on them about the ONE area that only HE can see, and that was the condition of the heart. God always looks on the inside before the outside.
For those who are active in ministry, there are times when your activity in ministry replaces your devotion to the Lord. Never let the public activity of the church replace the private relationship you have with the Lord. In verse 5, God tells the church in Ephesus to do three things to get back to their first love; REMEMBER, REPENT, and DO. REMEMBER what sins led to this fall, REPENT from those sins, and DO the things you did first that stirred you affections to the Lord.
May we learn from the example of this church. Don’t let your private relationship with the Lord become sour because of the public work you do for Him. “Don’t ever forget where you came from!”
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Day 12 : The Book of Job
My Servant
Pastor S. Michael Greene
What would it be like to know that God was proud of you? What would it be like to know that God allowed Satan to torment you? What would it feel like for God to restore you and renew you after losing everything?
All of these extreme situations were experienced by Job. The book of Job begins with a description of how faithful Job was to God. And shortly afterwards in verse 6 things change. God allows Satan to attack Job’s family, possessions and eventually his health.
God does let bad things happen to good people, but it does not mean that they are being punished for some indescribable sin. It just means that God wants us to demonstrate our trust in Him.
And if we just trust God he will renew and restore us. Job did not listen to his wife or his friends Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. He questioned God but he remained faithful. And because he remained faithful, God gave Job back all that he had and more. God gave Job joy.
There are areas of our life that we give freely to God and his will. There are areas of our life that we reserve to be lead by our own will. When we play in God’s game the rules are different. God cannot be a member on our team who we pass the ball to when we are being blocked. He cannot even serve as the go to person on our team. God has to be leading or he is not even in the game. God has to lead in every area of our lives.
The reason why God has to lead is because He knows what is best for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God knows the plans that he has for us…plans to give us hope and a future. If he can allow a trial to come, and if he can protect us in a trial, then surely God can renew us after a trial.
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Day 13 : 2 Kings 23:1-3
Elder Johnnie Welborne
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD -to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
The greatest spiritual reformation in the history of Judah and Jerusalem took place under the leadership of King Josiah. The catalyst for the reformation was God’s word and God’s promise of judgment and impending destruction due to their having forsaken Him.
King Josiah began by calling together the elders, priest and all the people great and small. Secondly, he renewed the covenant in God’s presence, committed to keeping God’s command, and doing it with all his heart. Lastly, he proceeded to rid the land of idols, idolatry and its relics. Josiah began with the temple, spread to the towns, and then to the hillside.
The underlying issue is these were God’s people, but idolatry and idol worship had become such an intrinsic part of their lives and culture that they looked no different than the heathen nations which they were commissioned to destroy, and over time gradually, but assuredly forsook God.
Our Pastor has challenged us to seek spiritual reformation corporately and individually. During this period of reformation, let’s commit to self-examination and pray that the Holy Spirit reveal to us those areas of our lives in which we have forsaken God’s word and taken on the world’s standard.
Secondly, pray for strength and guidance to rid ourselves of such hindrances. Let’s list our areas of improvement. Establish a timeline for results. Be willing to be held accountable by family, friends, small group members, Men’s Fraternity brothers, etc.
Thirdly, let’s do it with all our heart and soul, with all possible care and caution, sincerity, vigor, courage, and resolution.
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Day 14 : 2 Corinthians 5:17
Are You In?
Pastor Stephen G. Brown
“If you are IN Christ, you are a new creature…”
I love good marketing, and Verizon Wireless has tapped into a phenomenal marketing campaign asking the simple question, “Are you in?” The question is suggesting that if you are “in,” then you have access to the best in the wireless phone network. On the contrary, if you are “not in,” then you are missing out on the best, thus compromising your mobile experience.
The Apostle Paul extended the same challenge to the believers at Corinth, and believers everywhere. He suggests that if you are “IN” the Christ network, then you have access to all that Christ made available through his birth, death, resurrection, and ascension. To be “in” Christ’s network is to be a new creature; new life, new love, new purpose, new freedom, new person!
As we walk through the newness of 2008, it is most appropriate to renew your relationship with Christ, to reaffirm your commitment to Him, and to respond to that relationship each day with the newness of the Spirit-filled life.
This newness never becomes old! Everything that the Lord does is always fresh, exciting, and new! Therefore, we have the privilege of renewing each day!
Our relationship with Christ makes us new! Let us live each day with the confidence that we are “in” the best network!
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Day 15 : Isaiah 40:28-31
Pastor Ross Wyche, Jr.
Many of us find ourselves day in and day out running from here to there taking care of business. It seems as if life is filled with an important endless list of things to do. One moment we’re handling this emergency and the next moment handling that emergency. We find ourselves putting out this fire and putting out that fire. We’ve become masters of juggling family, career, church, school, budget and anything else that life throws our way.
No matter how we go about our responsibilities one thing is for sure we will get weary, we will get tired and we will get weak. Life is hard, life is exhausting and life is challenging. The text above clearly indicates that even those who have an abundance energy such as youth and young men can and do get tired, “Even youths grow tired and weary” and “young men stumble and fall”. There is no such thing as a Christian superman or superwoman. We all get tired, drained and fatigued.
As we enter into this season of renewal let us be reminded that there is someone that never gets tired. Let us not forget that there is someone that never gets weary and never loses sight of what we need. He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. He’s the Creator and is Everlasting. If you’re looking to be renewed this season take heed to the scripture that tells us, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength”. If you look to the Lord with confidence and anticipation, He will give you power to “run again”, He’ll give you power to “soar” again and you’ll be able “walk and not faint”. Be renewed this season and put your hope in the Lord and Him alone.
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Day 16 : 1 Acts 2:42-47
Commitment to the Purposes of God
Pastor Myron Hardy
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The early church experienced spiritual renewal, tremendous growth and unparalleled favor from God because they ordered their lives around a few faithful fundamentals. They committed themselves to the purposes of God, likewise, we can experience the same. When you do things God’s way you get God’s results.
During this time of setting your annual goals or making resolutions, included in your praying and fasting, ask God daily to give you a fresh desire and insight into how you can engage or re-engage a pathway of spiritual maturity. The early church carried out a great plan. It was just as personal as it was corporate. Maturity doesn’t happen by happenstance or accident. We must have a plan.
Let us commit ourselves daily to the study of God’s Word. Ask God to help you to commit this year to a regular bible study time particularly through ministry of the Concord Church
Let us commit ourselves daily to a small group. Ask God to help you to commit this year to explore and engage this wonderful community and faith building enterprise.
Let us commit ourselves daily to evangelism. Ask God to help you to commit this year to intentionally lead someone to faith in Christ.
Let us commit ourselves daily to a regular worship attendance. Ask God to help you to commit this year to not miss a Sunday.
Let us commit ourselves daily to prayer. Ask God to help you to commit a regular time of personal and corporate prayer.
After all of this and there is more, God will allow others to see His favor on your life.
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Day 17 : Philippians 1:6
He Is Not Finished
Pastor Stephen G. Brown
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
In the 1970’s, James Cleveland released a hit on the Gospel Charts, “Please be patient with me, God is not through with me yet, Oh no!” This song captured the essence of the Christian’s journey. All of us are being worked on! The song is telling somebody whose expectations are too high, “Back off, I know I’ve got some issues, and God is dealing with me!” Isn’t that what we want to tell some people? “Back Off!”
Regardless of how good or bad you feel about your life today, the good news is, God has not finished building you, yet!
The Apostle Paul was deeply concerned about the people of Philippi. He wrote to them to remind them that God was still developing each of them into the people that He had created, saved, and called into His service. Paul also wanted them to know that God would never just stop pouring His love and life into them, until the day of Christ Jesus; which means the return of our Savior, Christ Jesus! Jesus is coming back!
The reality for us in 2008 is our need to continually allow God to work on us! It’s time for all of us to take our life, faith, ministry, relationships, and dreams to the NEXT LEVEL! God has planted into our very lives the gift of salvation (for those who have received it)! It would be criminal to waste the blood of Jesus on a life filled with sin and stupidity….CRIMINAL! Get in your heart, mind, and soul that you are a work in progress.
You are headed somewhere for God….LET’S GO!
• God Started It: He is the initiates and implements salvation.
Do you have your BC date?
• God Controls It: He has the whole world in His hands..
NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!
• God Will Finish It: He will never forsake or leave you!
Apply It:
• Vs. 9: Increase in love and knowledge! (You must grow UP)!
• Vs. 10: Improve your decisions! Pray and think!
• Vs. 11: Ignite a real flame for God! LIVE RIGHT!
Reflect It:
This very moment is the beginning of your true spiritual walk with God! Seize It!
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Day 18 : Philippians’ 4:10, 15-16
Elder Johnnie Welborne
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.
Throughout time man has always enjoyed pairing things together whether its people, characters, animals or activities. Some examples are Adam and Eve, bacon and eggs, birds and the bees, and walking and talking. In this passage of scripture we find Paul paired two dynamic actions together which are renewal and rejoicing.
Upon examining the passage in its proper context, we see Paul is voicing his joy over the Philippians’ recent contribution to him. In verses 15-16, Paul recalled some earlier demonstrations of their love for him. However time had passed and now communication is being renewed after a period of no contact. The principle is that the Philippians’ renewed contact led to Paul greatly rejoicing in the Lord.
In 2008, Concord’s theme is MAGNIFICATION! Is there any better way to kick off a year of MAGNIFICATION than with a period of spiritual renewal? No God forbid!
As we embark on this journey, let’s make some renewed contact with God through self-examination, confession, repentance, prayer, meditation and renewed spiritual commitments.
Finally, be prepared to MAGNIFY AND REJOICE in Him together as He blesses us for honoring Him.
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Day 19: 1 John 3:2-3
Renewed To Be Like Him
Pastor Myron Hardy
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as He is…
I heard the story of an old farmer who loaded his wife and son in the truck and went to the big city. Now this old farmer had never seen an elevator. When he went to the hotel to check in, he left his wife in the truck and he and his son walked into the lobby. Across from the registration desk, he caught his first glimpse of a modern elevator, although he did not know what it was. There were two beautiful shiny brass doors that he watched open. He saw an elderly gentleman get into the tiny room and the doors closed. He saw the lights above the elevator light up one after the other and then a few minutes later the doors opened again. Out stepped a young handsome man. This time an elderly lady stepped in and the doors closed behind her. Again the lights above the elevator lit up one at a time and finally the doors opened again. This time, out stepped a beautiful young woman. Then the old farmer turned to his son and said, “Son, go get Mama.”
There are times that all of would like a change for the better. All of us would like to use that elevator for ourselves at times. None of us have arrived at the place where we want to be. We are all still on the journey.
But while we are not what we want to be ultimately, we are not what we were either. We are on the way. We have made some progress. We are not what we were. This should give us great hope. We are being transformed more and more each day as we follow Christ. Being conformable to Christ is not always comfortable but this is the power of the Christian life. This is the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ working within our lives. Christianity is all about transformation. Christianity is all about change. If we are not changing and renewing then we are not living.
Our text records for us the truth that there is a great day of ultimate renewal coming. It will be a day of great transformation for us. Then we will step out of the elevator with a new spiritual body and a brand new existence will begin.
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Day 20 : Philippians 3: 12-14
Reset
Pastor H. L. Edwards
I must say that I am a novice when it comes to video games. I’m not good at them. In fact, my wife purchased me a video game two years ago for Christmas. I think I have played it a total of six or seven times. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the gift, it just I am not good at playing the games. You see, when I play the games, I hate to lose. In fact, if I am playing a game that has three lives, if I lose one of them, I simply push reset and start all over again.
Imagine what it would be like if we could do LIFE that way. If all else fails, push reset. Let’s face it, life at times can be challenging. There are times when we fail to accomplish our goals, there are times when we’ve made bad decisions, there are even times when we have said, “God, if you get me out of this mess I will never do it again!” but when the time comes, we find ourselves in the same predicament.
The Apostle Paul was committed to do whatever he needed in order to fully follow Christ. His goal was to please God. He chose not to focus in on his past because in his past he knew that he had been in error. Paul’s says I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward--to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back. In essence, Paul had pushed the reset button in his life. Now that he has a new game, his focus is on Jesus and pleasing God the Father.
The Apostle Paul teaches us a very important lesson in life. Our failures are not final, our bad decisions can be corrected, and the mess that we have made for ourselves can be cleaned up. Despite what you may be enduring in life, it is never too late to press the reset button The bible says in Philippians 1:6 for I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. You are a work in progress.
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Day 21 : Congratulations
Pastor Bryan L. Carter
Wow! You have reached the finish line. Congratulations on your accomplishment! The Lord is so faithful. I want to express to you my great admiration for you staying with this effort for twenty one days. This is a monumental accomplishment. I hope that the Lord has changed your heart toward him as you have worked through this journey. Truly you have witnessed God in new ways as you have prayed and fasted for three weeks. As we conclude this time, let me encourage you to take time to answer the following questions.
What has God taught you about Himself during these three weeks? (Are there certain Scriptures that come to mind?)
What has God taught you about yourself during these three weeks?
What has changed for you in this season of three weeks?
What lesson will you take with you about the power of prayer and fasting?
I encourage you to find someone and share your experience with them or to email them to us through the church website so that we can share in your journey.
Don’t let this be the end of your journey but now is a great time for you to join a small group or bible study so that the journey can continue. This is the start of something great!!!
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