Watchful Witness Wednesday February 15 2012

Quotes:

Where work falls short and ability or effort fails, unmerited favor guarantees sufficiency to succeed. Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Grace is more than a long term investment, it is eternal assurance and everlasting life insurance. We are beneficiaries in CHRIST’s policy if we believe   – Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Watching and Praying

HEAVENLY FATHER,

In the matchless name of Y’SHUA the MESSIAH and by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT in thanksgiving, supplication, reverence and humility, we prostrate our spirits, bow our souls and subject and present our bodies as living sacrifices before YOU, LORD. We honor YOU who are worthy of all worship, prayer and praise – True GOD…Uniquely GOD…Wholly GOD….HOLY GOD. We approach you seeking forgiveness for sins, iniquities and transgressions…things done or not done, publically or privately, covertly or overtly, on purpose or accidentally by commission or omission. Just as YOU always make a way for us, we trust YOU to make a place for us as the world more and more becomes foreign land. We ask that YOULORD to continue to be our banner even as our churches are banned from public schools. Please protect the congregations and pastors of these churches and repot them in new soil that they may flourish. Please ABBA, strengthen Christian marriages and families so that they minister hope and stability to the broader society. Please DADDY, increase the levels of creativity, ingenuity and opportunity among your people. Please heal our spirits souls and bodies, Oh LORD. We thank YOU for today LORD. We thank YOU for provision, vision and supervision. We thank YOU for guidance, protection, purpose and relationship. We thank YOU for YOUR Will and YOUR Word. WE thank YOU for YOUR Heart toward those that suffer, YOUR light burden and easy yoke. We love on YOU today LORD and trust YOU in JESUS name Amen

Thought Sparks: Did you notice?

Did You Notice:  the shortness of tempers and the increase complaining lately? Believers, we should quietly listen and address complaints with hope. We are not salty instigators. We are peace-makers

Did You Notice: the way GOD has been using and blessing humble Christian athletes lately? Believers, it is a good time and gateway to further conversation with primarily men about the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST

Men's Ministry Monday February 13, 2012

1 Timothy 4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.


Accountability is a vital part of Christian brotherhood. There are times when we brothers need redirection to right thinking as opposed to desired affirmation. This especially true when emotions are elevated. We do this when we match up how a brother may want to react to a situation to how the wisdom of the Word states we react. The Word ought to be part of the discussion preemptively in some cases. 

In the prior verses, false doctrine and legalism is described. Accountability in these cases redirects our brothers toward the loving and safe boundaries that sound doctrine and the freedom that Grace affords. Brotherhood clearly is good ministry and good ministry involves serious discussion that encourages right thinking...gracious godly thinking. We are not called to be worldly 'enablers' toward hollowness but godly 'encouragers' toward holiness. That is an important part of brotherhood

"We need accountability. Left to our own devices, we will soon devise or succumb to all kinds of evil. As Christians we know that we need other believers to hold us accountable to the standards of Scripture. Passages such as Ecclesiastes 4:12 remind us that “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The Bible tells us that “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17) and that we are to “stir up one another to love and good works…encouraging one another” (Heb. 10:24-25). Life is far too difficult and we are far too sinful to live in solitude. We need community. We need accountability. And God has anticipated our need by giving us the local church as the primary means of this accountability." - Tim Challies in Escaping Anonymity, Tabletalk, April, 2009, p. 70. 

Let's be accountable


I love YOU and I love you


Jeremy A. Maynard