WFA.org

open Are you facing a problem that you need to be solved? We can learn a lot about problem solving by reading the miracle Jesus performed in the feeding of the 5,000.

When Jesus and the disciples discovered thousands of hungry people, He asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” (John 6:5) Jesus wasn’t asking for information. He already knew what He was going to do. Verse six tells us “He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”

Jesus was trying to allow Philip to see something that we all need to see and know every day of our lives. We should never assess our problems in the light of our own resources or strength. When we look to our own supply and ability to solve our problems, we will never be successful. We must learn to look to and depend upon the Lord. We have no right to ask the world to believe our message unless there is something about us that is unexplainable and supernatural. There must be a divine dimension to our lives.

What does Proverbs 3:5-6 tell you to do when faced with a problem? “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

What are you facing today that seems impossible to handle? Stop trying to figure out how you will solve the problem, and instead look to the One who has promised to supply ALL your need according to His riches in glory!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.10. Live for God, on purpose, leaning upon His everlasting arms!

living Living by the
Holy Spirit’s Power

No matter how long we have walked with God, our flesh never improves; it never becomes more like the Spirit over time! That’s why we are told to crucify it and walk each day by the power God’s indwelling Spirit provides.

Paul said this to the Galatians – “...obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions... then you will not always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to... we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has His way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures... But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...” (Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23 TLB)

Is such a lifestyle possible? Yes, but you must do four things:

• Recognize that you are a target for the enemy and protect yourself with God’s Word and prayer

• Get rid of the one sin that repeatedly defeats you: “...lay aside... the sin which so easily ensnares...” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)

• Be continually filled with the Spirit’s power. Without it, you lose every time

• Stand in God’s strength, not your own. How? By fighting until you experience victory. His might, plus your choice to obey and keep on fighting, always lead to a clear and lasting victory!

attract Attractional or Missional?

The way you think about “church” is broken if you think getting someone to attend your church is a hindrance to evangelism.

In a lot of church leadership blogs I read, the writers dismiss the so-called “attactional” approach to outreach and advocate what they call a “missional” approach. They contend that we abandon all efforts to invite people to experience the life and worship of a church body (“attractional”) and instead simply live an authentic Christian life in our workplace and neighborhood (“missional”).

It’s either-or, according to many: Either compel the community to “come and see” or compel the church to “go and tell.”

Um... Am I the only one who sees this as a false dichotomy? People veer off course in the whole “missional versus attractional” debate the moment they actually think the word “versus” belongs between those two words.

Should I build a genuine relationship with my neighbors? Yep. Should I live an authentic Christian life in their presence? Yep. Should I serve them? Yep.

But now, keep going: Should I bring my neighbors to sit in with my Bible study group and listen to us believers wrestle with the implications of the text? Yep. Should I pray and work toward the time my neighbors begin to sit with me in a service where real worship is taking place? Yep. Should I enlist my neighbors‘ help on a church mission trip? Yep.

If you think involving people with your church family will hinder your efforts at commending Christ to them, the solution isn’t to quit inviting them to church. No, the solution is to fix what’s broken in your understanding of “church.”

Listen, if we have a church where people are doing all the stuff that a real church ought to be doing — praying for each other, serving each other, forbearing each other, worshipping God, challenging each other with the Word — well, wouldn’t that be absolutely the best environment for the spiritually curious to see the life-changing difference Christ makes?

This Sunday at 10:30, come learn why “church-going” should be part of your outreach efforts. Because, when it comes to the question of whether Jesus wants us “out there” with people or if he wants us bringing people into the Christian community where we share life together, the answer is “yes.”

give Why We Give

According to Forbes magazine’s March 2009 ranking, Bill Gates, retired co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation, is the world’s richest person with a net worth of approximately $40 billion—down from $58 billion in 2008. Suppose you were feeling particularly generous one day and offered Mr. Gates a penny to help with his daily expenses. He might take your penny so as not to offend you, but does he really need it? What is one cent compared to 40 billion dollars?

Comparing America’s smallest coin with the world’s largest fortune doesn’t come close to equaling the disparity between God’s wealth and our tithes and offerings. Does the God who owns everything (Job 41:11b; Haggai 2:8) need our money? Of course not.

Why, then, do we give? We give a tenth (or more) of everything to the Lord as a reminder that nothing belongs to us – that everything we have comes from Him and belongs to Him. “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30) Giving is an obedient act of worship that reveals what we believe about that which we call “ours.”

God doesn’t need us to give for His sake, but we need to give for ours. Giving is how we remember how much we have been given.

Are you giving God what is right or what is left?

Learning from the Prodigal Son

There are some important things we can learn from the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son didn’t get into trouble until he left the safety of his father’s house. Jesus pointed out four things about him:

“He wasted his substance.” Satan is a fraudster. If you heed his call to come out and play, you’ll end up losing the very substance of who you are and what God’s called you to be.

“He went and joined himself to a citizen of that country.” Want to know where you are spiritually? Look at who you hang out with and take advice from. Who do you call, who calls you? Solomon writes, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them” (Proverbs 1:10).

“He began to be in want.” Something’s wrong! In his father’s house he never missed a meal, now he’s eating what pigs eat. He’s trying to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. Are you doing that? David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Who’s that promise for? Those who live in the safety of the sheepfold and stay close to the Shepherd.

“He came to himself.” When his elevator could not go any lower he decided to get off. Mercifully, he still could. Some never can.

The Bible says, “Today, [not tomorrow] if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). It wasn’t too late for the prodigal – and it’s not too late for you. He admitted, “Father, I have sinned.” (Luke 15:18) That must be our confession, too.

The moment he changed his prayer from “give me” to “forgive me,” His father opened His arms, welcomed him home and restored him to son-ship. And God will do the same for you, if you let Him.

Remember Me, O My God

Nehemiah’s name means “the Lord’s Comfort.” He was a prayer-warrior in every sense of the word. Whenever a situation arose, Nehemiah went straight to the Lord. We don’t see him faltering or wavering. What we see is constant open communication with God.

Nehemiah spent most of his prayer time praying for others. In the first chapter of Nehemiah, we hear his heartfelt cry for Israel. “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4) It isn’t until the end of his prayer that he asks for the privilege of being used by God.

Nehemiah trusted in the Lord. He knew God would make a way for the protective wall around Jerusalem to be rebuilt. Was it easy? No! Nehemiah and his people were taunted, attacked and burdened with an economic crisis almost to the point of failure. They endured the verbal and physical scorns from their opposition. “Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.” (Nehemiah 4:17-18) But, Nehemiah always reminded them that God would fight their battles. He kept encouraging them.

With the wall completed Nehemiah gathered the people and had Ezra the priest, read the “Book of The Law.” Israel realized the error of their ways, confessed their sins and repented. Nehemiah once again had pointed the people to God.

Intercessory prayer is so important in our life. It takes the focus off self and places it on God. Are your prayers more focused on your own requests or those of others? Who do you consistently pray for? If your intercessory prayer life needs help, why not start today by making a commitment to pray for others around you? And like Nehemiah you will find favor in God’s eyes!

Theology in Five Lines

God formed man,
Sin deformed him,
Education informs him,
Religion may reform him,
Only Jesus Christ can transform him.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘I tell you the truth, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (John 3:13)

last The Last Impression

The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having.

“Goat,” the little boy replied.

“Goat?” replied the startled man of the cloth, “Are you sure about that?”

“Yep,” said the youngster. “I heard Dad say to Mom, ‘Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner.’”

Well, at last week’s Missions Banquet here at WFA, I actually did eat some goat! But, it wasn’t old, and in fact, it was delicious! No “old goat” will be served this week at WFA, but there will be a healthy portion of praise and worship, as well as some very nutritional meat from the Word of God! Come and get filled up this Sunday!