Wednesday was a pretty incredible day as I spent some time
with some great people at the REFUEL conference put on by Pastor Jonathan Falwell at Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty
University. The sessions we were
able to attend were led by Pete Wilson
from Nashville, Jimmy
Carroll from Raleigh and a group of great pastors and church planters. I’d like to share some notes that I took.
Pete Wilson from Crosspoint Church in Nashville notes ----
Leading
through trials, adversity and crisis is the reality of really being a leader
and is seen all through scripture. We
come to understand that God cared more about who they were becoming instead of
where they were going.
What would
you do if you were absolutely confident that God is with you?
The greatest
illusion of all leaders is the illusion of control. The more success you have the greater this
illusion is.
We tend to
jump to the conclusion that God isn't with us when things don't go our way, yet
God is most powerfully present when we think he's not there.
We assume if
the Lord is with you that everything will turn out great. That's not what the bible teaches.
Joseph was
stripped of his coat but not of his identity.
Just because
you walk away from temptation doesn't mean that it's gone. Potiphar’s wife went after him day after day.
Remember we
are called to be faithful to God even if it feels like he's abandoned us. Worship him even in tears.
So much of
our so called prayer is not because we want God. It is because of what we want
from him.
He is a God
of resurrections.
Our faith
shouldn't be in God's activity. It
should be in his identity of who he says he is. He knows what's going on.
Psalm
18:2 NLT
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in
whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place
of safety.
Jimmy Carroll
from Journey Church in Raleigh, NC notes:
The
disciples actions said they weren't "all in".
We is always
gonna be better than me. But we cannot
be a substitute for me.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
This verse
teaches us that in Christ we have a new identity. We are no longer defined by what I say, what
others say...
It further
says that we have a new purpose.
Finally it
says we have a new mission (see verses 18-20). We have been given the ministry
of, message of reconciliation. You are you are an ambassador of Christ.
The solution
to lostness in any of our communities is you. Every follower of Jesus embracing
the personal responsibility of being the hands bad feet of Jesus.
Be the
greatest you can be. But that is not who
you are. Your job is not your identity. Be as happy as you can be. But that's not who you are. Be the child of God he made you to be so
others see God and get to know him.
I'm a
pastor. We all are. We are here to help people follow Jesus. How many people are following Jesus because of
you? When was the last tine you cried
for the lost ness in your city?
Discover who
you are and deploy that truth.
Be intentional about helping others find Jesus. Live out the mission that God has given to
you. But imagine what it's like when we
run and work together.
It was great to spend time with Kirk Montgomery from Fairway
Church in our community and Keith Fulcher who is caring from The Community
Fellowship’s facilities. These sessions
and the awesome worship blessed us. I
hope the notes above encourage you!
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