Pastor's Thoughts & Study

Deepening Your Prayer Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 12:47:00 +0000

Be encouraged. Everyone goes through ups and downs in their prayer and devotional life. It is a very normal part of Christian growth.

As you pray, pray through each of the following areas:

Adoration - Adoration is praise and worship. Before you pray, meditate on God - His qualities and attributes. Think about who He is, and what the Bible says He's like. Psalm 22 reminds us that God inhabits the praises of His people. Other great Psalms to ponder as you adore God are Psalm 35, 150, 19, and Isaiah 9:6. There are many others. Do not tackle them all in one day. Savor them; ponder them; meditate on them - one at a time.

Confession - Confess your sins to God. 1 John 1:9 is a great verse to memorize and pray when confessing sin. Check out Psalm 66:18; Psalm 139:23-24. Here also is where you can ask God (Matthew 6:13) - Keep me from temptation and deliver me from evil. Ask the Holy Spirit to search you and remind you of sin that perhaps you forgot about, and as He does, confess them to God, believing 1 John 1:9, and trust the blood of Jesus to wash them away.

Thanksgiving - This is showing appreciating to God for all He has done in your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 talks about confessing your blessings or counting your blessings. You can confess spiritual blessings, material blessings, physical blessings, and external blessings. Ephesians 5:18, 20 tells us to always give thanks to God for all the things He has done. You may want to thank God in advance of the things He is doing - that is praying with confidence and faith!

Supplication - After you have praised, confessed, and thanked God, it is time to ask God for specific needs. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your care [anxiety] on him because he cares for you." Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us to take everything to God in prayer. James 4:3 says you have not because you ask not. Keep the humble attitude that we do not deserve anything from the Lord, but He hears and answers us because of His great mercy and love. Ask Him for the things that trouble your heart. Ask God to grant your children Divine favor and blessing and to shape them and mold them into godliness. Talk to God about the problems you face. Ask Him questions, and listen for answers (not audible answers), but He will speak to your spirit. You will have ideas and thoughts come into your mind. These thoughts may not come right away. They may come throughout the day or night, but He will answer you. Pray blessings upon you wife or husband. If you are not married, pray blessing on your future spouse. Bless your employees or co-workers. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5-8). Ask God specifically for what you believe needs to take place. Confess your utter dependence on Him, and watch Him come through in ways you cannot imagine! Read Ephesians 3:14-21.

ACTS - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. It is a great formula for prayer.

If you have not already taken CLASS 201 - Discovering Spiritual Maturity, be sure to sign up for the next class. There are many helps on revitalizing your prayer and devotional life.

Other resources that are helpful are The Hour that Changes the World by Dick Eastman and Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels. Both of these books are amazing reads on deepening your prayer life.

Be strengthened, encouraged, and full of wisdom.

South Bay Bible Church is a non-denominational church located at 578 Montauk Highway in East Moriches, NY. For more information, go to www.southbaychurchli.org or call 631-909-8241.

Pastor Martin Hawley

South Bay Bible Church

909-8241

Who are You Going to Invite to National Back to Church Sunday?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 13:30:00 +0000

It’s time to reach out and invite your neighbors to church! People need to know that there is hope and a community of people like our church who will love them and do life with them. South Bay Bible Church is joining the National Back to Church Sunday movement to help "Invite America Back to Church” on Sunday September 15.

According to Lifeway Resources, 82% of unchurched people would attend church if someone invited them! Yet fewer than 2% of Christians ever invite an unchurched person to church! Even if you have never tried inviting someone to church, we are going to make it easy this fall with a special service.

It’s not as hard as it may seem. Did you know that most people who have dropped out of church haven’t lost their faith in God—they simply fell out of the habit of going to church? Some moved, had a change in life circumstances, or had a falling out with their former church and simply drifted away. Most often, life just became too busy. This means many of them are open to returning to church.

We encourage you to step out in faith and invite someone to rediscover church. We are planning a special service on September 15^th so that our new guests will feel welcome and comfortable. Inviting a friend is a simple gesture that could change someone’s life – forever!

By participating in this national movement, we will be joining thousands of other churches across America in helping invite everyone to church. Last year, 13,150 churches from 42 denominations participated, and together they gave out an estimated 7.5 million invitations to church. Our church is one of 20,000 churches participate this year.

This year, let’s reach out to our friends, family, and neighbors with printed invitations, Facebook posts, and emails. Let them know how much it will mean to you if they will join you at church on September 15. We will be handing out invitations this Sunday for you to deliver to your friends and family. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to invite your friends and family to church with you.

Need some inspiration? Check out this promotional video for Back to Church Sunday: http://www.youtube.com/user/BTCsunday.

South Bay Bible Church is a non-denominational church located at 578 Montauk Highway in East Moriches, New York 11940. For more information, go to www.southbaychurchli.org or call (631) 909-8241.

You are loved!
Pastor Martin Hawley
South Bay Bible Church

Are You A Church Hopper?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

What would you think of me if I told my wife on our wedding night that while I really, truly love her, I have other priorities. "My heart will always be here, but as for the rest of me ... well, I will pop in and out as from time to time."

You probably would not think to much of me, would you? But that is exactly what a church-hopper does, isn't it? They say the love Jesus, but they do not want to be past of His local body. For sincere followers of Christ, the Bible does not allow for such a disconnect. "If you and I identify with and love the idea of church, we must consider how we can identify with and love an actual church (45)."

"One thing a local congregation does best is to show your non-Christian neighbors that the new life made available through Jesus' death on the cross is also the foundation for a new society." In the new society called the church, we are able to show greater levels of relationships, generosity, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, service, and reconciliation. "Others will not be able to see this larger picture if we remain detached from each other and go our separate ways (48)."

Challenge: Commit to being a regular part of the church fellowship.

The Church - The Bride of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

On November 6, 1993, I clearly, as if it happened yesterday, remember looking down the long isle of the church seeing my bride on our wedding day. My heart was pounding and leaping at the same time. She was so beautiful! Years have past, but the beauty has not faded.

There are many pictures of the church in the Bible, but one of the most striking is that we are the bride of Christ. Ephesians 5:25-32 tells us what this means: "He loves us so much that He gave Himself up for us. He laid down His very life to redeem us. And now He is continually at work to cleanse and prepare us for eternity (29)."

Jesus intercedes for us constantly before the Father. He nourishes, cherishes, sustains, and protects us. He views us as His own body. One flesh! Think of that. The Church is the physical manifestation of Jesus Himself on earth today. We are His hands. We are His feet. We are His heart. Not just on Sunday morning, but everyday of the week.

Challenge: Keep this thought fresh in your mind, and act accordingly.

What's At Stake?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

We are in a cosmic conflict against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). "At some point in the future, every human being alive today will be dead, and there will be an accounting. Every one of the six billion souls on earth will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. That's why every human being alive today need to hear the Good News of the gospel (19)!"

"The church is vehicle that Jesus chose to take the message of the gospel to every generation and people (20)."

Paul David Tripp writes, "Your life is much bigger than a good job, and understanding spouse, and non-delinquent kids. It is bigger than beautiful gardens, nice vacations, and fashionable clothes. In reality, you are part of something immense, something that began before you were born and will continue after you die. God is rescuing fallen humanity, transporting them into his kingdom, and progressively shaping them into his likeness-and he wants you to be a part of it."

The lives of men and women get transformed through the empowering work and anointing God places and works through the local church. The mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the love of God belongs to the church, which is the people (you and me). It is our duty. It is our calling. It is our privilege.

Help Me to Judge Rightly

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:48:00 +0000

Help Me to Judge Rightly

Lord, help me to judge others

as I want them to judge me:

Charitably, not critically,

Privately, not publicaly

Gently, not harshly,

In humility, not pride.

Help me to believe the best about others,

until facts prove otherwise-

To assume nothing,

to seek all sides of the story,

And to judge no one until I've removed

the log from my own eye.

May I never bring only the Law,

to find fault and condemn.

Help me always to being the Gospel,

to give hope and deliverance,

As you, my Judge and Friend,

have so graciously done for me.

--Ken Sande

www.peacemaker.net

Are You A Church Dater?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Take the Church-Dater test.

Is your attitude toward the church me-centered? What can I get out of the church? What's in it for me?
Do you think of yourself as being independent? Do you go to church because that's what Christians are supposed to do? Do you go through the motions? Do you really invest yourself in the church?
Are you critical about the church? Are you quick to find fault in the church? Do you have a 'consumer mentality' looking for the best product for the price of 'your Sunday morning'? Are you like a lover with a wandering eye, always on the hunt for something better?

Joshua Harris said, "I'm writing this book because I want to share ... the profound blessings that come with living a life committed to the church. I want you to catch a glimpse of the beauty of God's plan for the church in each believer's life and the unimaginable power that could be unleashed through even one generation embracing that plan (18)."

The Church, Whose Idea?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

I too used to think I knew all there was to know about the church, and I enjoyed spending my hour on Sunday, but that was the end of my commitment, and even that was half-hearted. But, I really did not know much of the church at all.

As Joshua points out, "the church was actually God's idea-not some plan or program invented by humans (15)." It is the only institution God promised to sustain forever. The church is "the visible 'body of Christ' in the world." God's plan is for each of us to be wholeheartedly committed to a local church because it is the bride of Christ, and through the church, he provides the key to spiritual health and growth for you - Christian.

There are profound blessings that come with living a life committed to the church.

Stop Dating the Church Fall in Love with the Family of God

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:59:00 +0000

I am reading a book by Joshua Harris titled Stop Dating the Church Fall in Love with the Family of God. This title caught my eye because I have been so saddened by the lack of commitment in the American church. Their is more commitment in most local civic organizations (Rotary, Lion's Club, etc) than today's church; even though, the church is the greatest work on the face of the earth because God uses the church to spread the message of the redemption of mankind.

This book seems to awaken the need for fresh, passionate commitment to His church, and I look forward to sharing in this blog what I read and study in this promising book.

You can preview and purchase this book at Amazon.