firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

This week I am visiting Indianapolis, Indiana along with some 30,000 others from across the nation to attend our fellowship’s biennial gathering, the General Council of the Assemblies of God. During this meeting, all of the executive officers of the church will be elected, including a new General Superintendent. As of Thursday evening, the outcome hasn’t been determined, but will be during the Friday morning business meeting. Everyone is now wondering which of the three remaining nominees will be our leader for at least the next two years.

Earlier this week in between meetings, I met my good friend Michael Railing, and together we visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We were able to ride around the track, and also visit the Hall of Fame Museum. In the museum you will not only find a large collection of many of the winning cars, but a wall holding the photos of every winner of the famed Indianapolis 500 race held each May.

Today, as I looked at the names of the hundreds of individuals placed in nomination for General Superintendent, all but one of which will not be elected, I thought of the scores of drivers who over the years have competed at the Indy 500 who never won, but nonetheless, ran the race. All the drivers who have participated in the 500 were gifted at their craft and quite capable of winning. Today, the scores of individuals nominated are all great men of God, even though only one of them will be our next General Superintendent.

This week, I sat in an Indy Car! This week, I sat in the room where the next leader of our fellowship will be elected! I’m never going to race in the Indy 500, and it’s just about as likely as that I won’t ever be the General Superintendent! But, God has created me and uniquely gifted me to do just what He has called me to do! And, my friend, God has also called and gifted you in a very special and unique way! Be faithful to God. Discover your gifting! Follow His leading! Do His will! Run your race, for just as Paul the apostle, you must press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And, as Peter said, “be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.”

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.32. Live for God, on purpose, making the most of every opportunity the Lord brings your way!

Daniel 6:16 says “So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion’s den. The king said to Daniel, ’may your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!’”

No question, Daniel got a rough deal. He was set up by jealous, lesser men who wanted him out of the way. It seemed like they succeeded, except for one thing they overlooked: Daniel’s trust in God.

The interesting thing, however, about Daniel being thrown into the den of lions is that God didn’t deliver him out of the den before Daniel found deliverance in it. Imagine if Daniel had fought against being thrown into the den (which he would have been justified in doing) and gone into the den fighting against it every inch of the way, chances are the lions would have torn him to shreds before he hit the bottom. But Daniel didn’t. He accepted his lot and trusted his life to God who shut the lion’s mouths.

On more than one occasion I have asked God that if I am not going to be delivered out of my “lion’s den” (naming the frustrating situation I’m in), would he please deliver me in it.

Sometimes, like Daniel, God has a lesson for us to learn in our present difficult situation and before he delivers us out of it, like Daniel, we need to find deliverance in it.

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During World War II, hundreds of American soldiers were transported to North Africa on battleships. These ships were heavily armed and represented great military strength. However, one ship encountered a storm so fierce that the wind and waves ripped the heavy cannons right out of the steel decks, leaving gaping holes that seemed to suck in the water. Fortunately, the ship, its crew, and military passengers survived. But the ship was virtually defenseless until it could return home all the way across the Atlantic for repairs.

We Christians often make the mistake of thinking we are safe in our own strength, but all it takes is one bad storm to show us how weak we really are.

Isn’t it possible that God allows storms to come our way so we might recognize just how small and weak we really are and how much we need to depend on Him?

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More than 1 in 5 adults who switch to a new church move away from traditional worship, finds recent LifeWay Research. Church Switchers often choose a new church that is different in several ways from their previous one, and most end up not attending traditional services as they did formerly. 53% attended traditional style worship; of that, only 29% switched to churches with traditional services.

The most popular worship styles among switchers are blended worship (38%) and contemporary worship (33%). 46% move to a larger church while 29% go to a smaller one and 25% find one the same size as their former church. Among those who attended a church of 100 or less, 79% switch to a larger church. Among those who attended a church of more than 500, 57% moved to a smaller church. 54% change denominations when switching. 44% consider denomination an important selection factor.

Among those who have disagreements with their previous church’s teachings or positions on issues, 71% change denominations. Only 4% left a previous church because they could no longer identify with that particular denomination. 87% base their selection on preaching and 90% have found preaching that meets their need for relevance, interest and clarity. 91% consider the preaching at their current church relevant while only 44% say this about their previous church. 91% say their current preacher holds their attention vs. only 37% who claim this about their previous preacher; 86% are challenged by the preaching at their new church to live and think biblically compared to only 39% who were previously so challenged. 97% attend worship at their current church; 84% contribute financially vs. 69% previously; and 64% volunteer compared to 51% before. Also, 60% attend a small group, Sunday school or discipleship class at their new church. Moreover, 74% become a member of their current church vs. 69% at their previous church.

as seen in Church Leaders Intelligence Report, June 27, 2007

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If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I’m a Healer?
If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I’m a Deliverer?
If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?
If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I’m a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I’m forgiving?
If you knew it all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?
If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?
If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what Jesus went through?
If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?
If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?
If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for?

THANK YOU, GOD!

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They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change anything? Oh yes! It really does!

Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances?
No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events.

Does prayer change your financial future?
No, not always, but it does change who you look to for meeting your daily needs.

Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies?
No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and comfort.

Does prayer change your wants and desires?
No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires!

Does prayer change how you view the world?
No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world through.

Does prayer change your regrets from the past?
No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future!

Does prayer change the people around you?
No, not always, but it will change you – the problem isn’t always in others.

Does prayer change your life in ways you can’t explain?
Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out!

So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING?

Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING!

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1. If you feel far away from God, guess who moved?
2. Fear knocked. Faith answered. No one was there.
3. I am God’s melody of life and He sings His song through me.
4. No matter what is happening in your life, know that God is waiting for you with open arms.
5. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
6. Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is awake.
7. God has a purpose and plan for me that no one else can fulfill.
8. The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you.
9. We are responsible for the effort, not the outcome.
10. We set the sail; God makes the wind.
11. Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.
12. Sometimes when God says “no", it’s because He has something better in store for you.
13. The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.
14. Prayer: don’t bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.
15. Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
16. How come you’re always running around looking for God? He’s not lost.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13

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A serviceman once wrote about a moment of comedy he had witnessed in the army. It happened during a company inspection at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

The inspection was being conducted by a full colonel. Everything had gone smoothly until the officer came to a certain soldier, looked him up and down and snapped, “Button that pocket, trooper!”

The soldier, more than a little rattled, stammered, “Right now, sir?”

“Of course, right now!” was the reply.

Whereupon the soldier very carefully reached out and buttoned the flap on the colonel’s shirt pocket. The officer had been quick to note the youngster’s uniform problem, but hadn’t noticed his own.

For some reason, we seem to be the same way. The faults of others stick out like a missing tooth, while our own are often hard to spot. Small specks in other people seem major, while the planks in our own eye seem excusable (Matthew 7:1-5).

Let’s quit dwelling on the faults of others all the time. The church needs builders and workers-not a wrecking crew. Work on your own faults, then seek to help others in a spirit of gentleness.

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An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%.

The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.”

The gentleman replied, “Oh, I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I’ve changed my will three times!”

May your day be blessed by the Lord! Look for opportunities to do great things for Him, and He will surely open the doors for you to walk through!