I have met many Christians who are hindered today because of the past. They cannot move forward with the Lord because of guilt from yesteryear or from what someone did to them. True, life is not easy. Stuff happens. But today I want to encourage you to get your eyes out of the rear-view mirror. 

1. Learn to laugh at your past. If you did something dumb, repent and move on. Laugh at what a knucklehead you were, at how easily the devil used to trick you. You’re a big boy or girl now. Pick yourself up and keep moving. This has been a big one for me. People have mistreated me (and…gasp…I’ve been ugly to others).  I remember every bad phone call, email, and meeting. But I have learned to take a step of faith, forgive them in my heart, and get my eyes on this season. Laughing at yesterday goes a long way towards helping you enjoy today. 

2. Put your past in the past. It’s over. Gone forever. If you have repented and turned away from the sin, then forget it. The Lord cannot remember your sin. Hebrews 8:12, For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. If the Lord puts our sin in the past, who are we to keep bringing it up and punishing ourselves with guilt? 

3. Minister out of your past. What used to be a hindrance to you can become a beautiful testimony. As you grow in the Lord, you will find Him bringing folks along your path you can share your story with…those that NEED to hear what God has done in you. Over time, your stumbling block will become a stepping stone for others. 

I encourage you to believe God to help you move beyond your past, and get your eyes out of that mirror. Regardless of what you’ve done or where you’ve been, the Lord’s mercy is STRONG ENOUGH for you. Stand up. Dust yourself off. And take a step towards the Lord today.

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1. SKILLS. These are things you have learned or acquired over time. Cooking. Working on cars. Computer hacking skills. Secret ninja moves. Anything you have learned from piano playing to carpet installing.

2. ABILITIES. These are naturally in you. Creativity. Athleticism. Organization or administration. Ability with people. These are not learned, you just have them. Sure, you can develop and mature in your abilities…but you are either creative or you are not. We all have abilities that are hard-wired in us. 

3. GIFTINGS. This is the big one. Gifts are spiritual, not natural. You did NOTHING to earn your gifts from God. Faith. Healing. Grace. Leadership. Giving. You may be a natural (ability!) encourager. It comes out of you easily. But there is also a spiritual gifting of encouragement. A God-given spiritual gift that you operate in within the body of Christ. Like abilities, you can mature in these over time. 

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:6-8, We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 

Think of Paul’s life. He had the skill of tent-making that he learned and used in order to see his needs met. He had natural abilities such as speaking and organizing, which he used with his spiritual gifting as an Apostle (think church planter and overseer). His life is a beautiful blending of natural and spiritual…skills, abilities, and giftings. 

Your life is no different. What makes you special is in you. Right now. You are hard-wired with giftings and abilities. You have skills you’ve picked up over time. God can use these three MIGHTILY in the kingdom. I encourage you to look at the tools the Lord has given you and get to work. I Peter 4:10, each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. Be encouraged! We as the body of Christ NEED YOU and YOUR GIFTS! Your mamma was right…you are special, set apart, and destined.

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First, let me highlight that as believers, we are ALL called to the same thing. To mature and become Christ-like. To strengthen and expand the Kingdom of God. To take as many people to Heaven with us as possible. And regardless of whether you feel a specific calling to be an architect or marine biologist, you ARE called to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is not some preacher’s line, this is a BIG calling! Get out there and grow the Kingdom! Now, for your specific calling I have 3 encouragements for you: 

1. God will always prepare you for your calling. Through Genesis 37-47, we see the life of Joseph unfold from favored son, to slavery, to Potiphar’s home, to saving the entire known world. Joseph’s ultimate calling was to run all of Egypt, feeding many countries, and rescuing his own family. His specialty was growing and collecting grain, which he did so well that they stopped counting the harvest for it was too much to measure. WOW! But before Joseph could manage all the households of Egypt, he had to learn how to manage one household. Enter Potiphar. See Genesis 39. 

Your life is no different. The Lord will prepare you for the days ahead. (Keep in mind we’ll never be FULLY equipped for our work, lest we trust in ourselves and forgo dependence on Jesus). This week you may want to reevaluate your past. Did the Lord bring you through things that worked something into your Spirit? And only now can you look back and see His hand moving you around, in and out of stuff, so that you’ll be prepped for this current season. This reevaluation can also change your attitude about today, and allow you to yield even more to his direction in the days ahead. 

2. Your calling is not necessarily your job. Sure, some folks have a blending of their upward calling and the work of their hands. But the majority of us have careers and jobs that are less about expanding the Kingdom and more about the mortgage and car payment. And that’s ok. Let me lay a big boy scripture on you: 1 Timothy 5:8, If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. If you are working a job that meets the needs of your family, GOOD FOR YOU! Your greatest (GREATEST!) calling is to raise children in a Godly home. You may not feel the angelic call to sit in a cubicle, but it is a means by which you are able to do your ultimate call. Like Paul in Acts 18, the work of your hands allows you grow and strengthen the Kingdom.

3. His timing is NOT our timing. The hard truth of living in the Kingdom is that the Lord seems to move slow. When I feel I am ready for the next step, I usually have to wait another year to see it come to pass. And just when I am about to give up, BAM! God moves. I often say that the Lord moves super fast, in a remarkably slow way. Today, I encourage you to lean back on him and take a deep breath. Be ok with this season you are in. Allow him to prepare you, to mold you, and even to shave off some of your rough spots. 

Next week we will get into more specifics on your wiring and natural abilities. Let me leave you with a challenge to keep going. Don’t give up. Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14. Press on, press on, press on.

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Gideon. Before he blew the trumpet, the Lord asked Gideon to tear down his father’s alter to the god Baal. Gideon was so afraid that he obeyed God in the dark, taking his servants down by night to tear down the idol. Nighttime. Daytime. Doesn’t matter, just step out and obey God! See Judges chapter 6. 

David. When the Lord’s army was afraid of Goliath, the young man David stepped out of the lines, and headed to the battlefield. 1 Samuel 17:40 says David approached the Philistine. It was David, in the power of the Lord, who went towards the enemy. 

Paul. See 2 Corinthians 11:21. Paul outlined the hazards he had been through in serving the Lord. Prison. Floggings. Shipwreck. Stoning. Bandits. Floods. Nakedness. Hunger. And thirst. Paul saw it all. And our big problem is that we are afraid to witness to someone at work, because they may not like us! 

At some point in our walk, we must be willing to take a risk. To climb out on the limb and take a chance. Too many Christians play it safe. Stepping up to the river of God and only dipping in a big toe. Being faithful to attend church, but keeping others at a safe distance. Nominal involvement in the body. A mere semblance of Christian service. Let me encourage you to put yourself in harms way:

 1. Dare to STEP OUT into what God has for you. What are you called to be? Go for it! Yes, you may fail. Yes, you may fall and get your knees skinned up. But you MAY see God move. You MAY see tremendous success in that new job, new ministry, or new business. With wisdom, step out. 

2. Dare to OBEY. If the Lord has spoken something clearly to you, do it. Quickly. Again (are you feeling this part?), proceed with wisdom and counsel, but proceed! When then unction of the Lord comes, too often I have held back for fear of looking silly, or being wrong. I have chosen disobedience in order to feel safe. Truly, we must all get past this. 

3. Dare to REPENT. Too many Christians are afraid to take a step towards the Lord because they are afraid they will stumble back into their old sin. I met a young man once who so wanted to rededicate his life to God, but was waiting, waiting, waiting, until he got his life perfect enough for God to accept him. The Bible says our righteousness (like trying to clean ourselves up) is like a filthy rag to the Lord. We are only clean through His blood. Today, you CAN be free! Repent, turn, and RUN towards the Lord. Yes, you may stumble, but get back up and keep on truckin’.

4. Dare to STUDY. (insert nasal whining) But the Bible is just too difficult to understand and I don’t like to read. Well, cupcake, head down to Lifeway and get you a kid’s Bible. Audio version. Seriously, too many Christians make up excuses for not being a student of the Word. King David said the precepts of the Lord are a DELIGHT! See Psalm 119. The Word is living and active, and it will speak to every situation you face both today and tomorrow. Dare to dust off that Bible. Take a risk at not understanding a passage. Ask God for help. You’ll be pleased at how the Holy Spirit speaks to you, opens your mind and heart, and reveals Himself to you through his Word. 

5. Dare to BELIEVE GOD. Take Him at his Word. Believe that He will do what He said He will do. All of it. Yes, we all have moments of doubt, and we are not all Captain Super Faith all the time. But quietly dare to believe. With wisdom (there’s that word again) take a step of Faith. 

Let me ask you a question: Are you willing to risk a Wipeout in order to grow with God? When the Lord prompts you speak to someone at Wal-Mart, ease yourself out on a limb and talk. Yeah, she may roll her eyes at you (oh the humanity!)…but you may just be voice of hope she has been waiting and praying for. Put yourself in harms way.

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Too many Christians are not willing to confront the enemy. Why? Sometimes it has just not been taught. Other times it is uncomfortable to say out loud, GIT! Let me ask you a question: how would you react if a wild raccoon wandered into your kitchen? Torn curtains. Broken light bulbs. Screaming mayhem. You would rough-talk the wild animal until he was gone.

And this is precisely what we need to do with sin and the Devil. Rough-talk him until he is gone.

Let me give you five encouragements from our Wipeout series:

1. Use your words. The tongue has the power of life and death, Proverbs 18:21. Our words are powerful. When stuff comes against you, your marriage, your family, your job…speak to it. Instead of telling those around you how bad things are, tell your problems how big your God is.

2. Repair your walls. How did the enemy get in? If you have allowed yourself to look at stuff you know is wrong, repair that wall. If you have allowed others into your life that are causing you to stumble, take action. See 2 Chronicles 32 on how Hezekiah helped defend God’s people against a very real enemy.

3. Recognize the source. Your next door neighbor, boss, or husband is not the enemy of your soul. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:12. While we can take some natural steps to fight off the enemy, our real struggle is spiritual. The source of conflict, sin, depression, and jealousy is Satan himself.

4. Pray. We talked in church Sunday about never (NEVER!) underestimating the power of prayer. Prayer heals. Prayer softens hearts, Prayer instills self-discipline. Prayer works. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective, James 5:16.

5. Use the name of Jesus. When (not if) you have a moment of facing the enemy (and this can be a single thought or a real, living darkness), speak the name of Jesus. Out loud.  …that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Philippians 2:10.

I encourage you to use these tools. Face the enemy of your life. Not in your own power, but with the help of Christ in you…tell the devil to GIT!

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We’ve all been there. Mired down in the muck of worldliness, carnal thoughts, and good ol’ fashioned sin.  Supposed to be walking the straight and narrow, but instead laying over in the ditch wondering what happened. Who cut in on you? You were running well and BAM!

Let me give you 4 ALWAYS I believe will help and encourage you.

1. The enemy ALWAYS uses your natural appetites to trap you. We have God-given desires for things like food, sleep, and intimacy. But we must keep these in check. In the right timing. And in balance. A young person falling into fornication is only acting on God-given wants, just OUT of His timing and boundaries. In your walk, keep your appetites and desires in check. Look at your balance and timing.

2. The enemy ALWAYS uses your past as a trap. Before we were born again, we were all in the world. Sinning. Some of us were professional heathens! Years and years later, the enemy can bring back to you situations or opportunities to fall back into what held you captive before Jesus set you free. Be WISE! If your trap years ago was jelly donuts, then stay out of the Krispy Kreme! That’s a benign example, but you can take that and look at your own life traps. Stay away from the things and people that used to hold you captive. Innocent as a dove, but shrewd as a snake.

3. The Lord ALWAYS warns you of what’s coming. The Holy Spirit within you will give you a nudge before you get knocked down. It’s never a surprise. See Luke 22:31-32. In order to fall into a trap we have to ignore (!) the Holy Spirit and proceed with our bad decision. He can see things from a long way off. Listen to the Lord and you’ll stay on your feet.

4. The Lord ALWAYS gives you an opportunity to escape. Even once you have fallen into a trap, the Lord will fling open a window and say “jump!” So JUMP when you hear his voice. Take a drastic measure to get yourself free. Simon Peter (not through sin, but through another’s scheming) found himself in prison, his life hanging by a thread. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off… Acts 12:7. When the moment comes that you are struck, and you feel the chains fall off, GET UP AND GET OUT!

No one wakes up one morning and says “Hey, I want to fall into sin today.” We just find ourselves there, sometimes before we even realize what happened. Regardless of whether you are dealing with nagging worry & doubt, or more robust big and nasty sin, I encourage you today to RUN! Pick yourself up, repent, turn, and get back on the straight and narrow! With his strength, you CAN BE FREE!

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Our lives are the same. We must put down roots in the body of Christ to thrive. We are to be planted by streams of living water (Psalm 1:3), growing together with other believers. Yet too many Christians try and make it on their own. Trying to survive without roots. Without relationships. Without fellowship, laughter, and the process of community that makes us all stronger.

What makes us think we can do it on our own? Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. Nothing! And part of being connected to Jesus is being connected to his body.

I know it’s not easy. Church life can be tough. But boy, oh boy, IT IS WORTH THE STRUGGLE! I love church. I would not be here if not for the local church. I was born again at home, but it was within the church body that I found my calling, grew in the Lord, and am now raising our kids. I even met my wife in a Sunday morning church service. PRAISE GOD FOR CHURCH!

If you are blessed to have a church family, I encourage you to keep at it. Dig your roots deep. Get involved with others in your sheep pen. Laugh. Eat. Work. Learn. And grow.

And if you are in a place where you are out there on your own, be encouraged! God has a body for you. You belong somewhere. Pray and ask him where you are to be. And when you find it, jump in with both feet. Get yourself planted. Get your roots down and growing.

John 15:4, Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

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As we’ve been working through this series on Expanding the Kingdom, I’ve been thinking of what Jesus told those boys on the riverbank, Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. I love this. As we each are following Christ, we, too, should be fishing for men.  Out there working to bring the lost into the fold. Sharing cold water with the thirsty. A kind word with the hurting.

Funny thing about fishing. Seasons change. Species vary greatly. Water is different from place to place. No two days on the river are ever the same. Successful fishermen change, adapt, and vary their methods accordingly. The goal is always to catch fish, but the how-to changes.

In fishing for men, we, too, must change. What worked in 1980 will not today. Churches used to rely heavily on home visitation. Knocking on a stranger’s door today is more creepy than friendly. Our goal and calling is to bring folks into the Kingdom. How we do it is in constant flux.

As you pray and work on the heart of those you are called to minster to, let me give you a word of encouragement. Ask the Lord what method he would have you use. Preaching on the street used to be more effective than what we see today. Now, actions seem to be more powerful. Even more real. You may be called  this week to bake a pie, mow a lawn, or send a kind email. Evangelism always takes effort, but we do know from both the Bible and experience that it works. People are open to the Gospel. Hungry for what you have.

I encourage you to preach the Gospel today. And only if you must, use words.

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We’ve all felt that way. The uncomfortable feeling before we speak up and talk to someone about the Lord. The perspiration building as we awkwardly tell someone the Good News. And the feeling of failure when we get rejected.

And that’s the problem. We (I do this too!) think it’s about us. That we are trying to sell someone a product, and their reaction is personal. They are rejecting us.

Growing the Kingdom, sharing the Gospel, and pointing others to Christ is a commandment. Jesus only told us once to “go and make disciples,” Matthew 28:19, but once was enough.

My experience is that most Christians want to share their faith, but they feel unequipped. Let me share a few keys of evangelism I believe will help you in the days ahead.

1. People take time. Research shows it takes on average seven times of sharing the Gospel with an individual for them to accept Christ. Seven! This is usually over a number of years with many different people. When you witness, your job may be to just plant a seed in that person’s life. But plant it well!

2. People are open, hungry, hurting, and lost. The world desperately needs what you have. I watched a documentary recently on climbing Mount Everest. A climber in the death zone (above 24,000 feet) passed another climber laying in the snow, out of oxygen and slowly passing from this life. The first climber immediately took her own oxygen off and gave it to the dying man, and worked to get him to safety. Our lives are similar. We carry the one thing that this world needs in order to truly live. When we come in contact with those who are dying, we should instinctively give our lives to help. “Look! I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields and see how they are already white for harvesting.” John 4:35 NIV

3. People are watching. I love sharing my faith without using words. Showing the love of Christ to my neighbor without having to preach to them. Preaching gets old. I’m a preacher and I annoy myself. But what doesn’t grow stale is having a heart to serve, living a life that exemplifies Christ, and gently showing those around you the love of Jesus. The old timers used to say that you may be the only Bible those around you read. True today more than ever.

It’s not easy to share with others, but we must. I encourage you to shine the light of Jesus today. Pray and ask the Lord for open doors. And show someone the love of the Savior.

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