Jeff Searcy

September 25, 2011

Relentless:

Letting Go

2 Cor 12:9

We have all heard the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” It is right up there with “Pull yourself up by your boot straps.” As guys, we are very familiar with these sayings and attitudes. There is absolutely nothing wrong  with this type of relentless approach and tenacity when facing obstacles, hardships, or challenges. How many  times have we tried to take things on ourselves, in our own strength, and come up short? How do we feel?  Inadequate? Weak? Not up to the challenge? Even the fastest race car and most formidable land mover machines  don’t finish strong without fuel and/or the right operator. I’ve never heard of something that can move tons of  earth with ease referred to as ‘weak’ or ‘inadequate”. And neither are you. Jesus Christ said “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9. Don’t feel you have to take on the challenges of life alone or in your own strength. Let the Omnipresent and Omnipotent God work through you and on your behalf.

Challenge: This is not lip service. Try leaning on God and asking Him to help you with some of your challenges and obstacles. For many of us who find it hard to let go of things or feel the need to maintain control, “letting go and letting God” is one of the toughest things we will come up against. Rest in the fact that the Almighty is up for the task. He wants to show us how faithful and capable He is.

Prayer: Father, I am so thankful that You care about the challenges and struggles in my life. I am also thankful that you are capable of handling anything and faithful to never let me down. Please give me the strength, Lord, to allow you to work through me and on my behalf. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For more information about Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

September 18, 2011

Radical:

“Life Uncompromising”

Daniel 1:8, Ch. 3, 6

It has been said many times that character is what happens when no one is watching. That is absolutely true. Unless we have the self discipline and the inner fortitude to do the right thing when no one is watching (of course, there is One who sees everything), chances are much greater that we will not have what it takes to stand our ground when it counts, when others are watching. In today’s world of instant gratification and eroding ethics, maintaining a high level of principles and living an uncompromising life is deemed, well…radical. The stories of Daniel and the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, being thrown into the fiery furnace are two of the most told stories of the Bible. Both stories end with God showing His faithfulness to those who love Him. But we sometimes forget how they ended up in the lion’s den and the furnace. Both situations resulted from an unwillingness to compromise principles and a commitment to God, despite the potential repercussions. In both stories, it could be argued that their (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) compromise could be justified given the societal perspective and potential outcome …death. That sentiment of “acceptable compromise” is alive and well today. For the majority of us, we will never face a situation where our choice of whether nor not to compromise meant the difference between life and death. However, we have all faced the choice between what we know to be right and what we know to be wrong, despite the choice’s level of “worldly acceptance”.  When there is an audience of only one, the One, it is sometimes easier to do what is right. But when we are out in public, with a group, or even our family, and presented with a choice of whether or not to stand our ground, maintain our principles, doing what we know is right is sometimes more difficult, especially when the only other person in the group that agrees with our position is God.

 Challenge:   Peer and societal pressures, eroding values, and the aforementioned sentiment of “acceptable compromise”, put significant pressure on all of us, especially young men, to maintain a Godly perspective and stand firm in our principles and values. Every day, it seems, we hear of men, many prominent and respected men of faith, succumb to the pressure and compromise their values and ethics. Our challenge…bottom line: “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9. And how do we stand firm? In the power of Jesus. “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13.

Prayer: Lord, every day I face choices. And even though I want to make the right ones, the ones that You would want me to make, I don’t always do it. I am so thankful for your grace and for the fact that there is nothing that could ever separate us from your love. (Rom 8:39). I ask for your power so I can stand firm in my faith when faced with choices large and small. Thank you for your promises. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For more about getting involved and supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.

September 11, 2011

Real:

“Genuine, imitation…”

Ps 139:13-16

I always smile and laugh a bit at the description of anything that starts with “Genuine, Imitation…”. What does that actually mean? That it’s a genuine…fake? Is that a good thing? I make light of it but when it comes to us, as people, it is no joking matter. Take a fake Rolex watch, for instance. On the surface and at a quick glance, it may look real…genuine. But after a closer look, when it’s really examined, its true identity is revealed. I have to admit that I have a fake Rolex that I bought while on vacation. It’s a fairly nice watch and it looks a lot like a real Rolex. At a quick glance, I may be able to pull it off. However, if you know what to look for, it’s obvious it’s not the real thing. I know it’s not real. And I am even reluctant to wear it in case someone sees it and thinks it’s real. However, I wear it as a reminder that I can fool anyone at first glance, maybe even for a little while, but at some point I’ll be found out. I’m talking about me as much as the watch. And once I am found out, I have lost any and all credibility. When all is said and done, the only thing I set myself up for in trying to be something I am not is failure and let down.

Challenge: In today’s world of maintaining a certain look, status, or lifestyle, we can find ourselves trying to pull off a “genuine, imitation” something as the real thing. Why? Are we trying to be accepted? Fit in? What happens when we are found out? How viable is our credibility? And if by some chance we are able to live out the charade without anyone finding out, it’s all for not because we know the truth. And so does God. Proverbs 10:9 states, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Be who you are. Who you are is exactly what God created. And what He created is perfect. You have an important purpose and a calling.

Prayer: Lord, I face all kinds of pressure to meet certain standards, a lifestyle, or a status, in order to be accepted…to fit in. I know in my heart who I am but sometimes I don’t think it’s good enough. When I have these doubts, remind me of your words in Psalms 139, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful…”…”your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Please give me the strength to be who You created. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Visit www.servantwarriorministries.org. Servant Warrior Ministries is a Real…Radical…Relentless…Relevant movement to reach men of all ages, where they are, and share with them the love of Jesus Christ.

September 5, 2011

Relevant:

“The 6 P’s…”

Proverbs 16:9

Whether you believe it or not, God is always at work in our lives. God’s word says, “In his heart a man plans
 his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Prov 16:9 (NIV). Think about how many steps we take every  day to get from here to there. Think about the plans, or routes, we make for our lives.  As many of us know all  too well, a plan’s first brush with reality usually ends in horrible failure. Failure according to our perspective,  that is. For a road trip, we check the weather, consider traffic patterns, etc… However, there is no way to plan  for the unexpected occurrences that will inevitably happen along the way. I have hundreds of examples of  things that have happened to me while “on the road”. I have no doubt you do as well. And since we cannot  foresee everything that will happen to us during our trip, we have to get as ready as possible. The key is not simply to plan. The key is to plan properly.

Being properly prepared allows us to experience fully and recognize God’s providence in all of the things that will happen while on the road. Rain, while difficult to drive in, fosters a rainbow when it’s done. And detours, while usually inconvenient and annoying, often reveal a much preferable route with breathtaking scenery and unforgettable experiences. Besides, how boring would it be if all our travels were filled with blue skies, warm winds, open roads, and no speed traps?

Challenge: There is a concept of The 6 P’s: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. For our trip, the destination, conditions, and duration will determine the appropriate gear needed…appropriate being the operative term. Having the right gear will keep us from being forced to create some crazy, but no doubt colorful, story about why we packed what we did or didn’t pack what we should’ve. Been there…done that…got the t-shirt. We must be as prepared as possible in order to be able to handle whatever comes our way, both good and bad.

Prayer: Lord, I know that I don’t know what tomorrow brings. However, I do know Your plan is perfect and that You are never surprised. You tell me in Your word that I look to You in all I do, You will make my paths straight. I trust in that because Your promises are always true. Thank you for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   

For more information about Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

August 14, 2011

Real:

“Owning Up”

Exodus 20:16

Let’s be honest. Telling the truth is sometimes the hardest thing to do…especially when there is the potential of bringing a “less than ideal” situation upon us. This really comes into place when we are talking about potentially impacting our livelihood. Let’s say a potential employment opportunity presents itself, one that could certainly meet needs on multiple fronts, i.e., family, money, time, etc… A no-brainer, right? However, during the process you are asked to come and speak to others in the company, thus taking you away from your current place of employment for the day. Keep in mind nothing has been offered and despite the fact that all has gone very well so far during the process, there is always the possibility an offer will not come. What do you do? Do you tell your current boss you need to take a sick day (if you have one), an unpaid day off, call in sick (even though you’re not), go see relatives at the request of your spouse, etc…? Or do you tell your boss the truth. You’re torn. Your conscience (Holy Spirit) tells you one things but your mind, through the sense of self preservation, tells you something else.

Let’s say we told a small white one (lie), went and talked to the potential new employers, and an offer is not made. Your current boss doesn’t find out and things go on as normal. All good, right? Your boss may not know the truth but Someone does. Let’s say you tell the white one, go talk, and an offer is made. You accept, come back, and turn in your notice. Your boss asks if you went to speak with this upcoming new employer on the day you took off. What is your response? What if a co-worker asks the same question? Let’s change the environment landscape to a school. Your boss is now a friend. The potential new job is an invitation to a concert you really want to go to and that has been sold out for months. Unfortunately, you already had plans with a friend. Because you don’t want to hurt your friend’s feelings, but really want to go to the show, you make up a story that takes you away from your friend but doesn’t put you at the concert. Same scenario as before. Your friend doesn’t find out, you have a great time at the concert, and things go on as normal. Again, your friend may not know, but Someone knows. Let’s look at the flip side. What happens, in both scenarios, if the person on the receiving end of the lie finds out the truth? A job or friend could be lost. More importantly, if you are a Christian, how does that impact your witness?

Challenge:  As Christians, we are called to live lives that are worthy of God, who calls us into His kingdom and glory. (1Thes 2:12, 2Thes 1:11) We are also commanded not to lie. (Exodus 20:16) In Psalm 34:12 (NLT), we are asked pointblank, “Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?” The way to this life is revealed immediately in verse 13, “Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.” In today’s world of flexible morality and justified embellishments, there is a lack of honesty…responsibility…accountability…a lack of realness. Don’t take the easy road. It takes a real man to be honest…responsible…accountable…to be real. Guys, choose to be who you were called to be and “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT).

Prayer: Lord, You are all powerful, all present, and all knowing. As Your children, we are called to a different standard, a life worthy of You…an all sufficient Savior. Lord, I am so grateful for Your grace and forgiveness as I know that I often let You down. The world makes it easy, in fact encourages, dishonesty. Even when others don’t know the truth…You do. Please help me. Holy Spirit, speak to my heart. Please give me the strength to be honest…to be real…to be the person You have created and called into Your kingdom and glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

For more about getting involved or supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

August 7, 2011

Relevant:

“Lightbulbs”

Mark 4:33-34

Having an impactful message or influencing someone is determined by one thing…the ability to relate to what is being said. There is nothing more painful (or ineffective for that matter), for the speaker or the audience, than to be in the room where a message is not received or understood. You can have the greatest and most applicable and relevant message in the world but if you are not connecting with the audience and getting the nods from the crowd, you had might as well be speaking Swahili to Iowa kindergarten students.  Let me put it into other, more relevant terms. You’re working in a candy store and a 13 year old kid walks up to you and says, “I was in here yesterday and bought some gum for $.25. Today, it’s $.20. Why?” You respond with a full dissertation of retail dynamics, economic theory, and the evolution of the US capitalistic markets over the past 120 years rather than saying, “We wanted to sell more so we put it on sale this morning.” Is the dissertation answer wrong? No. Fundamentally, and if done correctly, we would likely wind up at the spot as the “…we put it on sale this morning” answer. However, which answer is the youngster more likely to relate to and understand? That answer is pretty easy.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He shared the Truths of heaven, eternity, and the will of the Father through parables or stories. In Mark chapter 4, we read a number of parables but more importantly learn why He used parables to teach. In verse 11, Jesus told His disciples, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom – you know how it works. But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.” Verses 33-34 sums it up, “With many stories like these, He (Jesus) presented His message to them (people), fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when He spoke…. ”

Challenge:  A barrier to effective communication is the lack of relatability.  For anyone who has delivered any kind of message, the term “lightbulbs” may have been used. That is referring to the looks on the audience’s faces when the switch is turned on (lightbulb lights up) and they understand what is being said…when they get it. Good teachers become very skilled in the art of modifying a concept and presenting it in as many ways as necessary so that the entire class’s “lightbulbs” light up. Jesus was a great Teacher. As the Creator of the heavens and the earth, He had infinite wisdom and intellect. However, whether He was talking to most or least educated, He shared in a way where the importance of the Message was never lessened and the understandability of it was always maximized. Our challenge is to follow Christ’s example and share what God has put on out heart as well as our knowledge of His word in ways anyone, despite their walk or level of familiarity with Scripture, can understand it.

Prayer: Lord, You are all powerful, all present, and all knowing. You were there at the beginning of time and have infinite knowledge and wisdom. Yet, You lower Yourself to us and speak to us so we understand Your life changing and eternal message. I don’t deserve Your grace but I am grateful for Your blessings and Your unconditional love. Lord, please help me share Your love and Message in ways that those I talk to can understand. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

For more about getting involved or supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.  

July 31, 2011

Relentless:

Don’t Die Stupid

John 14:6

Don’t Die Stupid is a saying that has been used by the military for decades. It is simply a statement that makes the point of, well, don’t end up dead because you did something you knew you shouldn’t or didn’t do something you knew you should.In other words, don’t get shot in the head while holding your helmet in your hand. Don’t get shot in the chest with your body armor lying on the floor next to you. Or, don’t get shot in the backside because you didn’t dig your hole deep enough and half of your body could be seen by the enemy. Need I continue?  It is about making sure you do the things necessary to reduce the chances of getting killed in battle. But at the end of the day, dying is inevitable and when God calls us home, we go. However, He also gives us the sense not to assist in a premature earthly exit.

The most important statement ever made…period…by anyone…was made by Jesus Christ when                                                       He told His disciples, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. The Bible is the inerrant and inspired word of God. Spending time in it is how we grow and strengthen our relationship with God and it is how He speaks to us. Bottom line, if nothing else is obtained from time spent in God’s word, you had better get the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven or else an eternity in Hell will be your fate. Period. End of story. Do not pass go and do not collect $200. Do not let the somewhat lighthearted nature of the Monopoly reference reduce the severity of the dying without knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Needless to say, its importance cannot be overstated.

If I may, I would like to share some important research findings. Fact: One out of one people die…with the overwhelming majority having no idea when or where death will occur. Fact: Death is not optional. However, how one dies is. Of course, I am not referring to the manner in which death occurs, but the state of the heart. So…Don’t Die Stupid.

Challenge:  In his letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul said, “Even though I am free from demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized – whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ-but entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). Our goal is to reach anyone and everyone and share with them the most important thing they could ever learn…that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life, and the ONLY way to heaven. (John 14:6). Join in that mission.

Prayer: Lord, You are sovereign. I thank You for Your grace, Your blessings, Your love, and Your forgiveness. Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. Lord, You clearly tell us in your word that no one get to You, the Father, except through Jesus. Please help me be bold in spreading that message. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

For more about getting involved or supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

July 24, 2011

Radical:

“NIMBY…”

Matthew 10:5-6

The term “Mission”, as defined by Webster, means: “the act or an instance of sending.” Webster further defines mission as: “An important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes, typically involving travel.” Spreading the life changing Message of Jesus Christ is something we have all been called to do. In Matthew 28, Christ gives us the great commission, “…go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:19) Often, we see the term ‘nations’ and apply a geographical component so that in order to heed the great commission, we must travel outside our borders and share the Good News. That is absolutely true. But the term ‘nations’ actually means ‘people’. And we don’t have to travel to other countries to share the life changing Message of Jesus Christ . We should be living it out in our daily lives and sharing it  with the people in our own country, communities, and neighborhoods.

Missions is something we see as a trip abroad, building churches, shelters, homes, etc… for people of other countries. While that is true, it also means to share the Message of Christ (be missionaries) to those in our own communities. In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus told His disciples, “…Don’t begin by traveling to some far off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try and be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood.” (MSG). We don’t have to look abroad to see people who are lost, hurting, and in need of a Savior. They live on our street.

Challenge: Actively witnessing to those in our own communities and neighborhoods through our conversations, but more importantly, the way we live our lives is a difficult proposition and one many shy away from. It often seems we take the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mindset. Hey, it’s a radical undertaking because it means we must be a living testimony, a daily-living testimony, for Christ. It is easier to go abroad because to people we have never met or will likely never meet again, we can be exactly who we want them to see us as being…which is usually who we truly are. The challenge this week, and every week, is to be the person God created and look for opportunities to be a missionary at home. Because whether you believe it or not, to those you live around and interact with, you already are.

Prayer: Lord, You are sovereign. I thank You for Your grace, Your blessings, Your love, and Your forgiveness. I know You have called me to be a living testimony for You and to share Your love and message of salvation with others. I also know that means share it with people at home as well as abroad. Please help me be the witness You have created and called me to be. In my own strength, I know I fall short. Lord, please be my strength, live through me, and use me to spread Your love and life changing message.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

For more about getting involved or supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

July 17, 2011

Real:

“Side B…”

1 Peter 1:6-9

It hasn’t been that long ago that we listened to music on records or albums, the vinyl type that was played on a record player. I can still hear the 33 played at 78…chipmunks! Those old enough to remember are laughing in nostalgia. We can now get individual songs electronically. Back then, there were smaller, vinyl, records that had an A side and a B side. The A side was the hit song and the B side was another song from the artist’s album and usually not slated to be promoted as a ‘hit single’. It was simply a song to fill the back side of a record. In the life of a new believer in Christ, the A side of the record is this awesome, incredible, eternal new life with Christ and the decision for Him to be their Lord and Savior. The B side, however, is equally as awesome but a bit scary, painful, and not for the marketing posters. When someone accepts Christ into their hearts, their life is changed forever. That decision also propels them right into the middle of an all out war…against them. New Christians, and even older Christians seeking to get closer to the Lord, pose a threat to the devil. And he will do everything he can, as quickly as possible, to stop this life direction and choice. That means he will come with everything he has, from all sides and sources. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us “…the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” And, to use an analogy from the jungle, a baby antelope, or one that is wounded, is much easier prey than one that is older, faster, and/or experienced….and a part of a larger group.

Challenge: As Christians, we need to reach out to, take responsibility for, and be real with people seeking a new life in Christ. They need to know that a decision to accept Christ as the Lord of their life is the greatest decision they will ever make and one that will radically change their life forever. It is one that will bring them into direct and eternal fellowship with the all powerful and sovereign Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Great I Am, the Beginning and the End. They also need to know it is a decision that will bring about an all out spiritual attack intended to stop that ‘life’ before it gets started. They need to know, and we need to remember, that the devil loses (Revelation 20:10), earthly troubles have benefit (1 Peter 1:6-9), Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33), and that believers are heirs to the throne of Glory (Galatians 4:7) and will live forever (1 John 2:17).

Prayer: Lord, You are sovereign. I thank You for Your grace, Your blessings, Your love, and Your forgiveness. Thank you that I am new creation in You and that You are my very present help in times of need. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, beaten down, and discouraged by earthly troubles and the attacks of the devil. Lord, please be my strength as I want to live my life for you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

For more about getting involved or supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

July 10, 2011

Relevant:

Detour Ahead…

Proverbs 14:2

Let’s set it up:  Above you is a sky so bright that it hurts your eyes. The temperature is about 80 degrees. The car, or motorcycle, is washed, waxed, and loaded with essentials for a ride. You drop the top and/or windows, and off you go. There is nothing but open road, fresh air, and…well, you get the picture. All of a sudden, you see brake lights up ahead…and they are not moving. As you get a little closer you see a flashing light and an orange sign that says “Detour Ahead”. Man, oh man. Just when I thought everything was going great, this happens. Sound familiar? By the way, I was referring to your life. Or how about this? You are driving…same blue sky, same fresh air, same shiny machine, and you come to a fork in the road. It’s decision time. What makes you take one way or the other? Past experience?  Knowledge of one road or the other or where they end up? Knowing what you will experience or come across if you go one way? Not sure what will happen if you take the other way?

On the road, you never know what you are going to experience and you never know when you will have to take a detour or come to a fork. Sometimes God gives us forks, where we are given the opportunity to choose a direction. One way is the direction that will take us toward Him, another way takes us away from Him, and another takes us back home. Other times, He will drop a detour in our path where we lose a directional option leaving us to go either forward in the direction He has determined or back to where we were.

Challenge: Think about some of the detours and forks you have come upon in your life. Each one impacts us differently and causes us to go in one direction or another. Depending on the severity of an event, occurrence, situation, decision, it is often times very difficult to take the road that takes us close to God. If something has happened that really turned your life upside, or that hurt you significantly, or created a circumstance that is very painful or one that if you ever revisit again it will be too soon, choosing to go in a direction that we know will inevitably bring us face to face with whatever it is that caused the course change is, in many people’s eyes, on the side of being a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. God says different. In His word, God speaks through the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans and tells us that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Rom 8:37 NIV) Paul goes on to say that “neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39 NIV). Christ told us in the book of John, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV).

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your grace, Your love, and Your forgiveness. I am grateful for Your sovereignty, Your guidance, and for the fact that nothing ever happens to me that has not already passed through Your hands. So often, the road I find myself on is dictated by circumstances beyond my control.  Other times, it is all my doing. Lord, as my life changes direction, I pray that You will take over the driving as well as navigational responsibilities. Please give me the strength to relinquish my grip on the wheel. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

For more about getting involved and supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

July 3, 2011

Relentless:

Freedom’s Cost

Galatians 5:1

This week, week of July 4^th, we celebrate our nation’s freedom. Unlike the Founding Fathers and patriots of the early colonies, we do not live under the tyrannical rule of an evil king. We do, however, live in a world ruled by one who, by the way is as real as King George III, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), who lies and deceives (John 8:44), and who would like nothing more than for us to remain chained to the sins and destructive ways that keep us from experiencing the freedom that comes with God’s grace and love. There is absolute freedom in the grace given to us through Christ…but the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23).

We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for crushing the chains that have held us captive. We thank Him for setting us free from sin through His shed blood. (Rev 1:5) His death, burial, and resurrection have given eternal life to and made the crimson stain of sin as white as snow for those who call on Him and ask Him into their heart as their Lord and Savior. He has given us ultimate freedom through His unconditional love and grace. We bring everything to Him at the foot of the cross…and walk in victory and in freedom through the redemptive power of Almighty God. Amen.

Challenge:  The battles men face on a daily basis and the chains of pride, fear, lust, arrogance, failure, idolatry, and others that men struggle to free themselves from are no different today than they were in the beginning. However, we are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice and that He “…has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” (Galatians 5:1, MSG) The plight for freedom throughout history resonates through the words of Scripture, through patriots, and warriors, and is a battle cry for the men of today.

Prayer: Lord, Your word tells us “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NIV) We know that the fight for freedom has ultimately been won. We march today under that great banner of victory, washed by the blood, armed with the Word, dressed in the armor of righteousness, believing and thanking You for what You are going to do. We pray that we will recognize who the enemy is and claim victory as we are ready to face every challenge by Your causative and overcoming power. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

June 26, 2011

Radical

“Too simple?”

Luke 18:17; John 3:16, 20:29; 2 Cor 4:18

“Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Luke 18:17 (MSG) Why do we have such a hard accepting the simple message of grace, unconditional love, and salvation? The word “simple” is not used to denote easy, it is used to mean uncomplicated…transparent. I interpret the words Christ spoke about God’s kingdom to say that unless we accept the message of grace, love, and salvation at face value, without clouding it up with any analytical, scholarly, or intellectual insight, we will miss the point entirely and could very well find ourselves on the outside looking in. It is difficult to relate to loving unconditionally and extending unconditional forgiveness to those we know, like, and love, much less those we don’t know, don’t like, don’t like us, etc…Why? As we go through life, the filter we see the things through is impacted by our experiences, knowledge, etc…Children, on the other hand, do not have those filters. They don’t look at anything beyond its face value…its simplicity. Isn’t it funny that the more knowledge we acquire, the less we are able to accept the most simple, basic, and transparent concepts.

Challenge:  There are those that tout a belief in the reality of heaven, grace, unconditional love, salvation, absolute truth, an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and loving God, and an all sufficient Savior who hung on a cross and died for the sins of humanity, past-present-future, is a naïve, uneducated, and simpleton perspective and point of view. The world tell us that things that sound “too good to be true”…usually are. However, we are clearly told in God’s word that it will take a childlike faith in order to enter heaven. If we will humble ourselves and seek His wisdom ,and not our own, He will reveal a message of grace, forgiveness, freedom, salvation, and eternal life that truly is…“just that simple.”

Prayer: Lord, You are so worthy of my praise. Thank You so much for loving me…for Your grace and forgiveness. Lord, I know that from You comes all things. That includes knowledge, perspective, and wisdom. In today’s world of information overload, please help me accept Your life changing and eternal message of grace, love, and salvation as truth, and as You intended. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   

For more about getting involved and supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

June 19, 2011

Real:

Who am I kidding?

Psalm 139:13-16

In this day of “never let’em see you sweat” and “don’t show all your cards”, the permeating sentiment among men in our country is that we need to look a certain way, talk a certain way, act a certain way, in other words…be who we are not. Why? Is it because society tells us to? Is it because we have created expectations that we need to live up to? Is it because we feel if we don’t, we won’t fit in at the neighborhood pool, at work, at school, or at church? Why do we put on an act for those around us when the One who we will ultimately stand before as He judges all of creation, who knew us before the world began, who formed us in the womb, who knows every hair on our head, who knows our heart and our motives, sees us for who we truly are? Who are we fooling?  God, in His sovereignty, created us and gave us personalities, talents, characteristics…gifts, to specifications unlike any other – past, present, future – has set forth a plan for us….a perfect plan, and has given us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in heaven if we will accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord of our life. All of this leads me to a question: Why in the world would we put on an act and seek the approval and acceptance of the people in the world rather than be who we truly are, be who we were created and called to be, accept the unconditional love and grace of Almighty God and live a life worthy of Him?

Challenge:  The pressures to be accepted, both self imposed and of the world, have a significant impact on how we act, how we portray ourselves, and how we want others to see us. This is true across age segments, especially in our youth. The more we try to be what we are not, or what we think we need to be, the more we are setting ourselves up for failure and a life unfulfilled. Why? Because it’s not from God. He tells me “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” And that, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:14,16 (NIV).  This week, take a good look at yourself, your life, and ask yourself: Am I authentic and real with myself and others or am I an actor? Are the lenses I see myself in mine, the world’s, or God’s”? Know this: He will never let us down and we are the apple of His eye.

Prayer: Lord, thank you so much for loving me. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness. The pressures I face to succeed, to fit in, live up to an expectation, are sometimes overwhelming. And You know my struggle as You faced those same pressures while You were on earth. Help me see me as You see me. Help me see Your plan for my life. Please give me the courage to be who You have created me to be. I know that through You, I can do all things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

For more about getting involved and supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

June 12, 2011

Relevant:

“I don’t feel like it.”

Proverbs 12:27

At some point or another, it is safe to say that we have all come to a point where we don’t feel like doing something we either know we should or are supposed to do. The list is endless so there is really no need to begin naming the things that we, at some point or another, “don’t feel like doing.” However, we know that if we give into our feelings and not do something we should or are supposed to do, there will be repercussions. While the repercussions can certainly vary in levels of seriousness, many times the results are feelings of stress, hurriedness, fear, remorse, or unpreparedness. Let’s take a school or work project, for instance. We usually have an amount of lead time that we are given before we have to turn in and/or present the project. When looking at methods of addressing the work at hand, we have a number of options but at its essence, how we go about completing the assignment can be in placed in one of two camps: incremental or crammed. Many of us know the crammed method…wait until the last minute to try and knock out a project that is due…Monday…when just starting on it the Friday before. Let me speak from experience: inconvenience because now I have to likely stay up half the weekend focusing solely on the project (no fun), I’m stressed, wishing I had worked on it more over the past month, fear that I will not finish in time, and then when Monday rolls around and I am in front of my class or colleagues, I feel wholly unprepared to present. Sound familiar? Of course, this is the best case scenario…finishing the project. What about the spot where we wait until the last minute and something happens, beyond our control, that keeps us from working on the project and thus it does not get completed on time. And when our name is called to take front and center… the point of truth…we have to tell the teacher, professor, boss, client, etc…, “I am not ready.” I can think of a couple of results to the last scenario: bad grade, being fired, losing a client, just to name a few. Proverbs 12:24 says, “The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.”(MSG) What if we went the incremental path…like we know we are really supposed to? Yes, it could mean over the next month we have to head to the office or quiet spot at home more than we may like (forgoing more pleasurable activities), get up early, stay up late, etc… in order to knock out some work on the project. Despite whether we feel like it or not…we do it. Why? Because of the potential outcome. It is no different with our time with God and in prayer. However, in the case of life, we are not given a “due date” for the life project He assigns us.

Challenge: Proverbs 12:27 says, “A lazy life is an empty life, but ‘early to rise’ gets the job done.”(MSG) Not doing something because we “don’t feel like it” obviously brings with it potential consequences and repercussions. Life is the ultimate project and contains more “unlikeable” assignments and tasks than any workplace or academic institution could ever dream of. But in the end, if we will do the things we know we should, regardless of whether we feel like it or not (that is especially true about our time talking to and getting to know our Heavenly Father), when we are called front and center or faced with a challenge, we are likely to be more prepared, fulfilled, less stressed, and less impacted by uncontrollable circumstances that will inevitably arise along the way.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that You are faithful and always there when I need You. I want to have more consistent time with You, regardless of my circumstances or feelings. Please help me. I know there are and will be times I feel unworthy, faithless, and just plain ungodly. In those times, please fill me with your grace, forgiveness, and redemptive power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For more about getting involved and supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.   

June 5, 2011

Relentless:

“Being pursued…”

1 Peter 5:8-9

Do you like horror movies? I’m really not a fan of them at all. Of course, that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen my fair share. Despite the differences in plots, characters, etc…across the “horror movie spectrum”, there is one thing the majority of them all have in common: a chase scene. And I’m not talking about a good old fashion car chase, I’m talking about a bad guy, murderer, monster, alien, etc…chasing a seemingly helpless victim. And despite the fact that the victim always runs, and of course trips over something because the chase usually occurs at night…through the woods…in the fog…etc…, the monster never has to run but always seems to catch him or her. The soon-to-be victim is usually frantic, disoriented, fearful, helpless, etc… Enough of Hollywood’s make-believe. There is a REAL monster, murderer, liar, deceiver, and evil one who pursues us relentlessly. His name is Satan. And despite the fact that we cannot actually see him, like the victims see their pursuer in the movies, the fruits of his labor are seen every day in the world we live in through the things he deploys in his attempt to separate us from God. Take heart, men of God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39). We, the pursued, are NOT to be frantic, disoriented, fearful, or helpless. “God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline.” (2 Tim 1:7) Additionally, “…we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom 8:37). How can we be assured that we can withstand the attacks Satan deploys against us in this world? Our strength does not come from us but from the One who overcame the world. Christ knew we would face trials and attacks. That is why He told His disciples and us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Challenge: It is so easy to allow the evil one to get the best of us through his lies, deceptions, and tactics. Satan knows exactly where the soft spots in the armor are and he knows the best times to hit us. However, we are called to stand firm in the faith, to be men of courage, to be strong (1 Cor 16:13). We are told to “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Pet 5:8-9). Stand firm against Satan’s attacks and don’t run from him. Stand firm in the faith in, and promise of, Almighty God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the Great I Am. He tells us just as He told Joshua He “…will never leave us nor forsake us.” (Joshua 1:5)

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and your grace. Thank you for giving me a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline. Lord, there are times that I allow the devil to get the best of me. But your grace abounds. I am so grateful that I can rest in your strength and stand firm against the devil’s schemes through your causative and overcoming power. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

For more about getting involved and supporting Servant Warrior Ministries, visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.