First Congregational Church of Flagstaff

I KNOW BRAD PITT

• I know he is divorced from Jennifer Aniston
• Married to Angelina Jolie
• Has 7 children, 4 of which are adopted
• Lives in California
• I have seen every movie he has ever been in.
• I have seen the e-true life special about him

So you see I know Brad Pitt. So what if I have never met him in person, talked to him, or even spent time in the same room as him.

OKAY SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW HIM. 

Matthew 7:21 says:
""Not everyone who says to me "Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me "Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in you name and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name" And then will I declare to them, " I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.""

Today I went to the First Congregational Church of Flagstaff.  Normally when I have to challenge the doctrine of a Christian Church I would not mention their name but in this instance I feel that I must issue a warning.  That is, although they say they are Christian and that they know Jesus, they do not.

As I walked in the door I was welcomed with "Peace be with you"  and asked to sign the visitor log.  I felt an overwhelming sense of urgency as I sat down and begain to pray.  Lord I have just read the bullitin and they say that they know you but I then why do I feel so strongly that they do not. God gave me Jeremiah 8: 4-12.  It is pretty long so I encourage you to read it for yourself.  I was overwhelmed and cried out tot he Lord.  GOD GOD HOW COULD THIS BE?

I wept bitterly as the Lord shared with me the brokenness of these people.  The motto of this church is "No matter who, no matter what, no matter where you are on the journey of life, you're Welcome here in this place."  I soon found out that this church is filled with people who have been hurt by other churches in town.  They all have one thing in common: they are all seeking acceptance and they all feel they will find it in one another.  

This church preaches love and peace declaring it in song, action (they are very philanthropic), and word "Peace be with you".  But I did not feel any genuine peace or love.  Now I know what the Love of the Lord feels like, I have been to 10 churches now and in many of them I could feel an overwhelming sense of Love from the moment I walked in the door. Here I did not.  I felt the longing to be loved, I felt pain and fear of rejection, but I did not sense the spirit of God which is Love. 

 It is our pride that causes churches like this to exist.

 "And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were recling with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but the sinners."
Matthew 9:10-13

Are you shuning those who Jesus was called to save?  Are you as bad as the Pharisees? I was like that, but now in the past several years I have decided to reach out to people who are not like me, those who did not grow up in the church the way I did . I have chosen to love them.  I refuse to be the stumbling block for anyone to not recieve God's word.  God said that it is not for us to judge (Matthew 7:1).  Our job is to love others and let him judge the sincerity of their hearts.  How will these people know God if we are unwilling to show them?  Will you? 

Don't take my word for it Pray then read Matthew Chapter 7 -10.  PLEASE.  How can we do what God has asked of us if we do not read the instructions he left for us in his word. 

Lord I don't want to follow anyone but you.  I want my own relationship with God.  I want to be a light to this world and not a hinderance.  I want to learn how to love like you do.  Lord touch the hearts of your people to reach out to a world that is hungering for something and do not realise that that hunger is for you.  Help me to point you out to everyone that I come in contact with.  Lord may this be the conviction of everyone that loves you and knows you.  AMEN
 

Grace Fellowship

I loved the sign posted in their Sancutary

"FLAGSTAFF BELONGS TO THE LORD"

Flagstaff does belong to the Lord.  He is doing a mighty work here and calling all of his people to himself.  He has called me to be faithful to do what he has asked and pray for the saints.  How do I know that he has called me to do this and that it is not a random idea that I thought up?  I ASKED HIM.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SHOULD INCLUDE 2 WAY COMMUNICATION 

Matthew 7:7-8 Says ...
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek , and you will find; knock, and it will be opend to you.  For everyone who asks recieves, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

We all have a purpose and a calling, it was not an accident that God created us for such a time as this. He wants to use us, to mold us into his image, and to spend time with us.  He loves us and wants us to take hold of all that he has for us.  Are we allowing him the opportunity to do so? 

This congregation has amazing love for the Lord they praise him with spirit and enthusiasm.  They worship team starts off with what I like to call "freestyle praise."  For those of you who are not familar with this type of worship it is a time to get your heart right with the Lord and get rid of anything that is hindering you from spending time with God. I particularly enjoyed this as I had a chance to clear my thoughts and listen to what God was telling me. 

After our time of reflection the next song during the worship service went like this. . . YES LORD, YES LORD, YES YES LORD AMEN.  I wonder how many of the congregation actually knew what they were saying yes to?  Had they truly sought after God's will for their life and agreeing with the Lord that they would do it?

I felt like God was telling me: We praise him in the church, we shout his name, declare his glory and thank him for his majesty,  then walk out the doors of our church with no enthusiasm, no excitement to share his word, and frankly no idea how God fits into the rest of our week. 

IMAGINE HOW THE WORLD WOULD BE CHANGED OF WE WOULD JUST LISTEN TO GOD AND MAKE HIM A PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.

SEEK GOD, CALL OUT TO HIM, ASK HIM TO USE YOU,  KNOCK AND GOD WILL ANSWER AND REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU.  Really, Really, it is that simple!  What will you say yes to this week?

Pray for all of God's people that they would be willing to step out in faith and say YES to what God is asking of them.  Pray that God gives us the zeal and excitement to serve him in everything that we do.  Pray that each of us would establish our own 2 way conversation with God and not leave it up to the person at the pulpit to do it for us. 

Calvary Bible Church

THE POWER OF PRAYER

"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken,and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness"
Acts 4:31

When is the last time you prayed...I mean really prayed...Got down on your knees and prayed?
What did you pray for? Did you pray for provision, did you pray for strength, did you pray for patience?
DID YOU PRAY FOR GOD'S POWER?

When the apostles prayed on the day of Pentecost they saw the power of God.  Then they went out with boldness to preach the gospel.  When they were persecuted for preaching this good news they did not give up, instead they prayed.  They prayed for the power of God to move, to change hearts and to give them the strength to continue on. 

Today's times are not that much different.  Everyday Christians are being persecuted for speaking God's truth. Are we asking for the boldness to declare God's good news to the world or are we sitting on our hands waiting for God to perform miracles so we don't have to suffer?  Are we willing to really press into what God's will is for our lives or are we going to be content in sitting on the sidelines?  Are we too afraid of what will happen to us and what we might face?

I know I have been But ....

I want God's Power.  I want the Sovereign God of the Universe on my side.  I want to speak out and declare the Goodness of my God.  This world needs to know him, whatever the cost.   I want to be used.  Church we need to get back to prayer.  We need the prayer that moves mountains, that changes hearts, that heals nations.

What is it that you are struggling with today?  Have you prayed about it?  Have you asked God for his wisdom, for his power, and his mercy?  If not stop right now.  Get on your knees and pray.     

Please pray for Calvary Bible Church this week.  Pray for encouragement of the saints to step out in faith and do what God is asking them to do.  Pray for those in this church who have the wisdom of years of faith to be able to share that wisdom with the younger generations that need it so very much. Pray for God's Power!