About The Author

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Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Another Good Message from My friend Justin

The Growing Church

If you've ever read the book of Acts, it's pretty crazy (in my opinion, at least) how fast the church grew. The body of Christ went from about 120 believers to around three thousand believers in just one day (Acts 2:41). And from that point onward, "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47)But the church wasn't growing in numbers from other churches. One reason was simply, there weren't other churches for other members to come from. The main factor in people coming to know the Lord was due to people devoting their lives to preaching the gospel. The numbers being added daily to the church were from the lost; not from other churches.

This makes me wonder why we as the church don't take the ministry of preaching the gospel very seriously; it makes me wonder why I'm not one of the Christians who are daily preaching the gospel. I would love to see the numbers of churches skyrocket due to people coming to know Christ. Wouldn't that be something? But as it is in America, we're not out there preaching the Word. Peter and John were always out preaching the gospel, and in one case the Lord healed a lame man. After persecution, and being told by the authorities to never speak the name of Jesus again, what did Peter and John do? They told their brothers and sisters in Christ what the Lord had done, and prayed for boldness to continue speaking with great boldness, and prayed that the Lord would continue to heal and perform miraculous signs by the name of Jesus. Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 3:1 - 4:31)

I wonder why we don't have that longing to preach the gospel... after persecution, their prayer showed their desire to go back out and keep preaching. Yet sometimes we have a tendency to give up at the first sign of failure. We fail to have the faith to obey the Lord's command to "go and preach the gospel" and trust him to take care of the rest. Even after being warned by the authorities not to preach the gospel, they continued to do it. Then Peter and the apostles were arrested and thrown in prison for doing so. That night, an angel of the Lord set them free from the jail and told them to go in peace, and not to worry about preaching the gospel, right? Wrong. The angel of the Lord told them to go back into the temple courts to keep preaching the "full message of this new life" in Christ. The next day, they were detained again and flogged for preaching the gospel of Jesus. Again, they were ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. The apostles' response? They left "rejoicing ... because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 5:41-42). No one could shut these guys up! They were determined to go and preach the good news that Jesus is the Christ at any cost: imprisonment, flogging, rejection...

The result? "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing..." (Acts 6:1). "So the word of God spread. The numbers of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7). Even the priests, the religious leaders and scholars were being changed by the message of Jesus because people were faithful and committed to taking it wherever they went. That's what I want to be. A witness to the "full message of this new life" in Jesus Christ. And not a watered down version of the gospel... not the message of "believe in Jesus and all your problems go away." The apostles had plenty of problems because they obeyed Jesus. I don't want to preach "Jesus Christ died so that you can be successful in all you do." That's not why He died.Jesus died in order to restore the relationship of creation with the Creator; He died in order to pay the price for my sins in full, and now eternal life with God the Father in heaven is mine. Jesus died so that we could abandon this life and "store up treasures in heaven." Jesus died so that we might die to ourselves, and experience new life in Him."But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Through His death on the cross for our sins we can be reconciled to the one true God. And this is the message that caused the early church to grow in rapid numbers. Jesus is the Christ (not was, He is), and He died, was raised to life again, and through Him we have eternal life. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus is the only way; His name is the only name by which we can be saved. The message that was preached in the early church is the same message we should be speaking. It won't guarantee throngs of people beating down our church doors, but who knows what the Lord could do if we would preach the gospel with the same consistency and determination as the early church. Who knows what the Lord would do if we were praying for boldness and opportunities, if we were praying for the Lord to display his power. And I suppose we'll never know unless we ask.I want to see Jesus lifted high. I want to see the Father glorified. I want to see people coming to Jesus. But the gate is narrow, and this is the gate we should be preaching.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Devotional Reflections

We have all been inoculated with Christianity, and are never likely to take it seriously now!

You put some of the virus of some dreadful illness into a man's arm, and there is a little itchiness, some scratchiness, a slight discomfort-- disagreeable, no doubt, but not the fever of the real disease, the turning and the tossing, and the ebbing strength. And we have all been inoculated with Christianity, more or less. We are on Christ's side, we wish him well, we hope that He will win, and we are even prepared to do something for Him, provided, of course, that He is reasonable, and does not make too much of an upset among our cozy comforts and our customary ways. But there is not the passion of zeal, and the burning enthusiasm, and the eagerness of self-sacrifice, of the real faith that changes character and wins the world.

~ A. J. Gossip (1873-1954), From the Edge of the Crowd [1924]

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

How great is He to me?

There is a remarkable story in the New Testament that really gives us a glimpse into what happens when we get a revelation of the greatness of Christ.

The disciples had been out fishing all night and had caught nothing. They came to shore, and Jesus gets into their boat and says, "Put out from the shore." He then preaches to the people from Peter's boat. While He does this, we get no indication that Peter is astounded or captivated by what he hears. Then Jesus tells them to put out into the water, and let down their nets. First Peter is reluctant to do it, but he yields anyway.

When the nets come up bulging with fish Peter responds by dropping to his knees in the boat and declaring, "Depart from me Lord I am a sinful man."

What just happened here?

Well, I believe until that moment Peter saw Jesus as he would any other man who was a teacher. Until Jesus demonstrated a power over nature itself, revealing His divinity, Peter perhaps considered Jesus to be a commonplace teacher like all the rest. Maybe Jesus was a better story teller but nothing more until............

Our understanding of His greatness impacts our sense of His worth. He is worthy only so much as He is great! It was no coincidence that led John to say, "He must increase and I must decrease."

We live in a generation that has made an art form of lowering Christ to being more like a peer to us than a glorified Savior, God the Son, or King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Although it is true He calls us His friends, the value of that revelation can only be felt to depth we first understand His majesty and splendor.

To have the great King of Glory refer to me as friend does not elevate me, it magnifies His grace and mercy and humbles me. The story of redemption is far less about me and more about His goodness.

He is the hidden treasure in the field, not me. He is the pearl of great price, not me. With a modern Jesus only capable of being our equal, is it any wonder this generation is not beating on the door of the church to be saved?

Friday, July 18, 2008

Beautiful Liberty, Great Risk

I've been considering the fact that, as much as God the Father through the blood of Christ welcomes us to the throne, He also is willing to allow us to move away from the throne. He will not force us to remain before it in worship.

The prodigal was allowed to leave and strike out on his own. There are times when God allows us to have what we think we want or need. He did so for Israel and it brought leanness to their souls.

In an all consuming quest for freedom in this generation of the church, I find an undefined understanding of the concept. Freedom seems to mean anything any particular believer wishes it to mean. However, it all too often would appear there is no fear of God encompassing these claims of freedom. To misunderstand the beautiful truths of what the Bible teaches us about true freedom and misinterpret the character of our God can lead us to think that we have arrived at some place of being "all grown up" and independent spiritually, thinking we do not quite need Him as much as we once did.

Yet the words of Christ still ring true in our times, "unless you humble yourselves as little children."

I want to think like a man not a boy, and at the same time maintain that God-delighting, childlike attitude towards my Father, recognizing my need of Him, and desire to be with Him.

I am soberly reminded that humbling myself under His mighty hand is my responsibility and not His. He woos me with His amazing mercy and shows me light through revealing His truth. Liberty is revealed in that I can bow and worship...or turn and walk away as though He never showed me anything at all.

I think I will bow and enjoy the overwhelming Majesty of my Savior and my God, how about you?

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Are you a friend of Christ?

Some thoughts from my friend Justin McConnel regarding John 15:14-15

There is an awesome song called "Friend of God"; it's a very good song. I rather love it. The chorus goes like this... "I am a friend of God! I am a friend of God! I am a friend of God, He calls me friend!" But Jesus said we are his friends if we obey his commands. If we do what He commands, we are His friends. Jesus doesn't think of obedient ones as mere servants; he calls us friend and reveals the Father's heart to us. We are more than errand boys/girls; we are friends. But the title of friends comes in the context of obedience. Thus, if one does not obey, or do, what Jesus commands, that person is not really a friend of Jesus. However, if Jesus finds we trust Him with what He has given us to do, He will continue to tell us everything the Father has told Him. But He won't just tell his servants; servants have no business knowing the Father's business. He will only tell his friends, i.e., those who trust and obey Jesus with what He's already given them to do.So if we look at our lives, will we find that Jesus will call us friend? Or is Jesus unable to trust us with the Father's business because we won't do what He's already told us?

Friday, July 11, 2008

Do You Have Enough?

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:

My wife Sheila sent me a quote that stirred this in me. Thank you Sheila.

We all know the story of how Peter and John went up to the temple to pray one morning, and there was this crippled beggar there. As always, beggars like to get right where the traffic is. Nothing has changed. So Peter tells this beggar to look at him. That is already different from us. We hate making eye contact with beggars. Eye contact can spell responsibility. But Peter is not afraid, although he has no money to offer.

“Silver and gold have I none.” Peters lack of funds did not deter him from this encounter. “Such as I have” ...now that is loaded. If we have no change, no currency of any sort and we encountered a beggar, what "such as I have" would we be able to offer?

Too often the Kingdom is put on hold due to the, “silver and gold have I none.” Great ideas are shot down on this basis. Generosity only exists amidst flourishing economies and surplus in household budgets. But when such is the case it only serves to prove that our trust was in what we could do without the Holy Ghost and had nothing to do with the values of the Kingdom. If giving to others can only occur when we have plenty left over after all our wants and needs are met, what kingdom value were we walking in to start with? Peter was not hindered by, “silver and gold have I none.” He knew of a resource far greater and more powerful than money or worldly answers.

“In the name” To whom do you belong and whose resources are you utilizing? How much of Jesus are you letting out, how far have you allowed the Holy Spirit to take you in your endeavor to know Jesus? Do you have enough to spare, or are you afraid that if you give away what little you possess you will become a beggar yourself?

He is infinite, His resources are infinite, His love is infinite, His grace is infinite, His power is infinite and His ways past finding out. I dare say you have more than enough.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Is Being Confident Arrogant?

Recently I had lunch with a great brother in the Lord I respect very much. As we enjoyed our salads and soup we were engaged in deep discussion on matters pertaining to Spirit filled believers. The comment arose that often Spirit filled Christians come across as being arrogant in the perception of non Spirit filled believers. That there may be some sort of superiority attitude communicated by those claiming to have been baptized in the Holy Spirit.



Although I could understand the point of this precious brother's position, and his deep concern for others, I could not help but challenge that thinking by flipping the coin, "so to speak."



On the other side of that coin are the attacks of those who do not accept or believe that Holy Spirit baptism is for today. Some go as far as to declare that those believing in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and subsequently, the exercising of the spiritual gifts, are in league with the devil.



I asked him if that would be considered arrogant. I explained that true arrogance is the declaration of independence from any need of the Spirit of God to do His work in the earth. To stand and declare that by my sheer iron will and determination to live righteously I can somehow acheive heavenly goals without the heavenly prescribed help of the Spirit, is to demonstrate arrogance.



After explaining this view I simply asked, "Which is more arrogant, my profound need of the Spirit to the point of total surrender to Him, or someone else's lack of perceived need...to the point of denial?"



I have no desire to spark animosity or contempt for any believer in Christ, as we are commanded to love one another. If I am led by the Spirit, He will no doubt continue to stretch me in that practice. But I am also not inclined to acquiece to the idea that exhibiting confidence in God through trust in Him (for example: to give something as good as the gift of the Spirit and the gifts His Spirit brings with Him), is somehow arrogance.



Jesus responded to the disciples of John when they were sent to ask, "Are you the one or shall we look for another," He said, "the deaf hear, the lame walk, the blind see and the dead are raised and you go tell John that blessed is he who is not offended in Me."



I ask you, was that arrogance or confidence?



Our generation does not need hesitant, timid believers who are too afraid to take a stand for what they believe even when it may appear unpopular.



When Jesus returns will He find faith in the earth? Faith that can stand against the flood of political correctness and spiritual deadness? By the grace of God and the power of His Spirit I plan to be a voice. May He uphold me and may He likewise uphold all who are not ashamed to stand!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Holy Spirit Baptism 101

Mark 1:7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John’s ministry was baptizing people with water, Jesus would come and He would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. In another place the term "Holy Ghost and fire" is used.

So much emphasis is placed on the importance of water baptism when someone comes to know Jesus. People are willing to fight to the death over this issue. Ironically, water baptism was the ministry of John the Baptist. Water Baptism is still vital. But the ministry of Jesus was and still is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

How could it be possible that this amazing gift was seen as altogether important and good, so much so that a man could not not even serve as a deacon without it, to being "bad" for believers today?

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead, and as such, just as God is good and incapable of evil, so also the Holy Spirit is good and incapable of evil. Why then are so many terrified of this glorious blessing?

What changed between the first church and now, that supposedly eliminates both our need for the Holy Spirit, and our need for His goodness? The goodness of God that enables our trust and vulnerability? What eliminates our need to offer ourselves in full surrender?

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Something to Consider

"Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing." {#/ASV Psalms 37:8}

Fretting means getting out of sorts mentally or spiritually. It is one thing to say "Fret not," but a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself able not to fret. It sounds so easy to talk about "resting in the Lord" and "waiting patiently for him" until the nest is upset—until we live, as so many are doing, in tumult and anguish, is it possible then to rest in the Lord? If this "do not" does not work there, it will work nowhere. This "do not" must work in days of perplexity as well as in days of peace, or it never will work. Furthermore if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work in anyone else’s case. Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God himself.

Fussing always ends in sin. We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and he was never anxious, because he was not "out" to realize his own ideas; he was "out" to realize God’s ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God.

Have you been bolstering up that stupid soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God? Put all "supposing" on one side and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.


Sincerely Your Servant in Christ,

Pastor Tim Atchley

These devotionals come to you courtesy of Oswald Chambers daily devotional “My Utmost for His Highest.” At times I will interject something of my own and when done I indicate so. Often I let it speak as it did when Oswald penned it. I sincerely hope you are enjoying these devotionals on a daily basis. I find them to be fulfilling and enriching as well as challenging. May the Holy Spirit use them mightily in your walk with the Savior.

My Puppy Rambo

The Love of My Life

On November 8th of 1986 God gave me a great blessing. He gave to me a good thing, a virtuous woman who loves Jesus and loves me. But as always the Father goes beyond the obvious and the status quo. He gave me the most beautiful woman I could ever dream of having.

Sheila is without a doubt the love of my life for we are still very much in love and best friends. She is the mother of our four great children, whom she has honeschooled and succesfully graduated three of them already. I might add with great SAT scores.

She is a writer and amazing woman of God skilled in public speaking and the art of making Christ known.

She is the highlight of my morning when I wake beside her and the highlight of my evening when I arrive home to her opening the front door with puppy in hand and a welcome home kiss for me.

Thank you Jesus for choosing this amazing, gorgeous woman for me! Truly I am a blessed man.









My Woman!













The Real Point

"Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips." {#Isaiah 6:5}

When I get into the presence of God, I do not realize that I am a sinner in an indefinite sense; I realize the concentration of sin in a particular feature of my life. A man will say easily—‘Oh, yes, I know I am a sinner’; but when he gets into the presence of God he cannot get off with that statement. The conviction is concentrated on—I am this, or that, or the other. This is always the sign that a man or woman is in the presence of God.

Oswald Chambers

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Loving Jesus!

"If any man come to me, and hate not...he cannot be my disciple." {#Luke 14:26}

Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not devoted to Jesus Christ. No man on earth has this passionate love to the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Ghost has imparted it to him. We may admire him, we may respect him and reverence him, but we cannot love him. The only lover of the Lord Jesus is the Holy Ghost, and he sheds abroad the very love of God in our hearts.

Oswald Chambers

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

A Mission and Vision That Lasts For All Time


I was speaking with some pastors in Florida just this week and amidst the discussion was the matter of church vision. It seems churches everywhere have a vast array of visions.

There are churches who feel they are called to be prophetic, others feel they are called to be prayer centers others feel they are called to be healing centers and on and on it goes.

I wonder at all this because when we approach this kind of thinking we by default create situations where to get healed you must shop for the special healing church, to get prophesied over you must shop for the special prophesy church, to get serious about prayer one must shop for the special prayer church.

Yet all these matters just mentioned were to be realized in every church with no particular church that I can find in Scripture specializing in any one particular area.

But was it Christ’ intention that churches be singled out in such a manner?

Is there something uniform in Scripture regarding a churches vision and mission that we can embrace for all time?

In my discussion with the other pastors in Florida I asked them if they thought a vision was given by the Lord before His departure that should be able to stand the test of all time. My point being that the church has a commander in chief, there is no changing of the guard for the church. Jesus was the head, is still the head and will always be the head of the church.

That means He has no replacement, and that is reassuring in that since He will always be the head of the church and since Scripture declares He is the same yesterday, today and forever, whatever Jesus gave as the vision before His departure remains the vision in our day as well. It is a vision for all time.

That is good news because it does not require that any church leaders seek to find the will of God for the body they lead, it has already been made known and has never changed. It’s just a matter of walking it out.

What was it that Jesus stated would be the mission of the church He would establish in the earth?

Matthew 28
16 ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Vs 17 says, “all authority” In other words Jesus has the right to commission because He was given that right by God the Father.

You cannot get higher than the Father in authority. But not only is it clear that Jesus was given authority here, it is also clear where His authority works and what kind of authority it is, and where that authority works.

We understand authority in specific locations, for instance the county police can arrest within the city or the county whereas the city has it’s jurisdiction within the city. UT police only have jurisdiction on the campus of UT. If they need to pursue a case beyond the campus borders they must seek help from the city or county police.


But it’s not that way with Jesus and his authority. Here we have Jesus given all authority and then He explains where it works. It works in heaven and in earth!

David Wilson said it so well last week when he quoted Psalm 24:
1 ¶ A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

Who does it all belong to?

All authority belongs to the Lord, in heaven and in earth, the earth is the Lords and who dwell therein!

How much of the earth? All of it’s fullness! No matter how much it may change it is still the Lords.

All who dwell therein means all at any given moment in time!

Because this is true Jesus possesses this authority, He is able to confidently commission something that can outlast the ages. He defines how the church shall be established, where it will be established, and for how long it shall be this way. We are told what kind of people are to make up the church and what they are to be taught.

The church is to be establish in all the earth by making disciples for Christ! We are to teach them to obey all that Jesus commanded! This we are to do for the rest of our lives and the church is to do this till the end of time.

Another part of that commission was the practical side of it.

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Some important things are noted here. There is a need to receive power. Why? The gospel although it is the power of God unto Salvation, will be the reason the devil will incite his followers who reject it to persecute those carrying it.

It is like when someone is asked to be a defense witness in a trial. The defense attorney calls the witness in order to establish a testimony regarding the validity of his client. The prosecuting attorney however also gets to take his shot at that same witness and unless the witness is well prepared the prosecuting attorney will break him down and destroy his testimony.

Being a witness that is effective requires power. It takes boldness to stand against such scrutiny and opposition to the truth. It takes power to stand under the pressure of opposition.

Think about it, those first believers were going to have to face the entrenched religion of the Jews who were under the Old Covenant and their leaders. They had to face a multitude of different religions of pagan cultures who worshiped other gods.

They had to be able to declare their message as the one true message with confidence in the midst of opposition. That takes power!

Where were they going to have to do this?

At home (Jerusalem) in nearby towns (Judea) in the more distant outreaches of their territory not so appealing and friendly (Samaria) and to the pagan territories of the world they had never before encountered.

This is still the mission of the church. It has never changed and never will for all time. Until Jesus returns this is what we are to be doing.

These were told not to go out until they had been filled with power. Men who had seen the risen Christ were still not sufficiently equipped for what lay ahead until they had been filled.


Later in the New Testament Paul tells us by inspiration of the Spirit in Ephesians 5:17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. 18 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. 19 Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ.

Now we all know that drunkenness leads people to losing their inhibitions. Drunks are bold and loud. They may enter the bar quietly but more often than not everyone knows they are there after a few drinks.

We are told to allow the Spirit to fill us daily. We need to be soaking up the Holy Ghost in order to achieve the place of confidence that allows us to have a voice and take a stand for Christ in the culture.

Now that brings me to matter of what prohibits us from being filled.

It is hard to fill that which already has contents. That’s right we are like sponges absorbing many things. Those things that come in contact with a sponge get soaked up.

For us there are things we soak in that lead toward a deeper reflection upon God’s character and nature, and upon His ways and will. A soaking that empowers a deeper regard for our responsibility in allowing these things to take root in our hearts so that obedience to Christ is produced in our lives.

Likewise there are things we soak up that lead to a lesser reflection of these important matters, and as a result, distract us from the truly worthwhile and powerful things we should spend time considering and doing. Our heart sponge will soak up what we give it.

I am not meditating on the Lord when I am absorbing things that are merely preaching worldliness and self-awareness to me.
Music and entertainment are powerful tools. They can occupy our thoughts and shape our values. They create imagined circumstances and outcomes that may, or may not, be rooted in Scripture and may, or may not, contradict what God says about certain behaviors, situations and attitudes.

It can create an unreal perspective on real life, and while it is doing so it is taking from us the time we might otherwise be being filled with His Spirit through spending time with Him and being in His word. There are ways to fill your sponge of a heart with good things!

When we are not being filled with His power we are not equipped to do what He commanded us to do. We fall short of the obedience He desires from us. We are not in place to realize opportunities that present themselves, we are not walking in tune with His Spirit and aware of our surroundings as a result.

Filling our sponge with wrong things leads to missing out on eternal adventures because we end up in a state of stupor captivated by the trappings of this worlds amusements and allurements. We think that in our liberty in Christ we can give ourselves to these things and not be effected. But one need only look at the condition of modern Christianity in America, it tells us otherwise.

It is not that worldly things will send us to hell. It is that they intend to steal from us the time and joy of pursuing Christ and allowing ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

When a church forgets it’s mission it loses the motivation for seeking His power in the first place. We do not seek power for the sake of power. Power has a purpose.

Losing our vision and becoming numb to our mission leads to a loss of burden.

Burden is now become a word of the past. You just don’t hear it much anymore. But burden presses us into seeking the Lord for
power that enables us to act in obedience with His will for our lives.

Much of what Jesus did while He walked the earth was rooted in burden. He did miracles from a place of compassion, he healed out of compassion. He came to seek and save that which was lost. His obedience was the fruit of a burden to do the will of the Father!

The Lord desires to use His church just the same if not more than He did the early church. But for that to happen the church must be going! As we go, our goal is to make disciples!

If we fail to get back on mission in America we will continue to witness the steady decline of our country to the point of a nation falling into ruin spiritually, morally, socially, and politically. America can and will be taken over if the church does not respond as it should to God.

The Lord still judges nations He is as He was, He does not change.

The day California legalized gay marriage wildfires sparked by massive storms ignited all over that state and are still raging costing the state millions and creating havoc and disaster. Is it a coincidence? I don’t think so. Over a 1000 fires burn.

This country, our state, our city, our neighborhoods, our schools, our work places, our families all need Jesus.

But how shall they be saved without a preacher?
How shall they hear without someone to declare and how shall we muster the boldness to declare without being filled?

We fill up by daily seeking Him and establishing the discipline to be in His word and act in obedience to what we have heard.

He promises to go with us to the ends of the earth! There is no safer place to be than in the center of His will fulfilling His burden!