Tommy Mitchell / The Rurban Church Blog

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Immeasurably More!

Last night at a Prayer and Praise preparation for revival, I shared these verses with the congregation.
²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   Ephesians 3:20-21  

This has long been a favorite verse for me! It is easy to see why! What a promise! We have a "can do" God who "is able" to "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine!"   WOW!  What an offer! And what He can do is unlimited - because it is according to His power! 

But then comes another very important phrase - "that is a work within us!"    Interesting isn't it?  God has this unlimited ability "to do" more than we ask - more than even we imagine - by His power working in us! 

To give this perspective, I got to thinking about Paul!  After all - he wrote it or said it!  When we read what he wrote, I know it is easy for us to think about God providing funds for our ministries, or supplies that are needed, or the job that we want, or the right person for a relationship!  Have you ever thought about the verse from Paul's perspective?  What had Paul seen God do that led Paul to write such a powerful statement? 

Paul had seen God deliver him from death - numerous times! He had encountered God on the road to Dasmacus when Paul was a threatening persecutor of the church!  Paul had encountered the holiness of God that was immeasurably more than Paul's zealous self-righteouness!  Paul had encountered the Lord's amazing power, working through him, to bring the Gospel to gentiles throughout his world!  He had seen the Lord deliver him from hostile crowds, hostile seas, and hostile religiious leaders! He had seen God establish His church in city after city!

Sometimes when you wonder why you don't see more of Ephesians 3:20-21 working in your life, you might ponder what kind of things God wants to be doing through your life!  I'm not so sure that God is terribly interested in giving us immeasurably more stuff than we already have! But I am pretty sure that He is incredibly interested in reconciling the world to Himself! 

So, if we are interested in seeing the "immeasurable power" of God at work in our lives, we might begin by sharing the Gospel, loving the unloved, helping the weak, bringing help and comfort to the sick! We might see this incredible display of God's might if we attack the darkness with the light of the Gospel! 

The words of these verses may indeed mean some material provision will come from Him.  But even more - God is interested in doing immeasurably more to bring the Gospel to the world!  Don't miss the opportunity to see His mighty power at work within us!

Walking and Talking!

Today (almost yesterday since it is 11:45 pm) was a long but productive day!  So much is coming together in the effort to continue our ABC march to fulfilling the mission of God in the world!  God has been so good today! 

Getting home after 5:00pm, I immediately set out to clean some weeds out of our flower beds. It needed to be done - but a little more urgency was there since we are hosting a prayer meeting on Thursday night and the flower beds looked atrocious! 

Then came something that truly is one of my favorite things to do - 30 minutes of walking / talking!  I am either talking out loud - to the Lord - or about the Lord!  While walking I talked myself almost all the way through a sermon I am working on for the Sunday after our revival. 

For some reason - beginning in college and continuing through seminary, I found that I could do my best studying by walking and talking!  I have gotten lots of stares through the years for carrying a notebook while walking around talking through my notes.  As a matter of fact, I used to put my notes for a test in an outline form and then I would basically "preach" the notes to myself.  I seldom forgot anything that I studied in this method.

What is so wonderful about the walking time is that the Lord really brings things to my attention during these walks.  I walk and talk through problems.  I walk and talk through opportunities.  I walk and talk through messages.  I walk and talk through my general thoughts. 

If rabbits ever learn to talk - I may be in trouble! They hear all my thoughts - good and bad - weak and strong - dumb and wise!  

God is so good! What a privilege He has given us to be able to communicate regularly and instantly with Him!  And I get the bonus of burning a few calories! 

Are You Running on Empty?

With gas prices high, I have heard several folks talk about the fact that they seldom "fill up" anymore.  They might if going on a trip, but usually they just try to get by on a certain dollar amount.  That is pretty much what I do.  I just put in enough to get through my anticipated schedule of places I am going.

I won't bore you with a lot of car facts, but you really need to keep about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car. The gas lubricates your fuel pump! The lower you run your gas, the hotter your fuel pump gets. The shorter it lives! Then - expensive repairs. 

Which brings me to the point! How full is your spiritual tank?  Are you running on empty spiritually.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine where your spiritual gas gauge is…

1 – When was the last time you clearly heard God speak? The longer it has been - the closer you are to empty.

2 – When was the last time you read something in Scripture that leaped off the page at you, even though you had read it before?

3 – Who was the last person you told about Jesus?  When did you do it?  How often do you invite someone to Christ? to church?

4 – When the church is singing praise to God on Sunday mornings, are you frozen or free? Do you sing - or gripe about what is being sung? Is your heart full of praise or criticism?

5 – Do you see spiritual progress taking place in your life?  Do you look at yourself with amazement at how far God has brought you - related to any subject?

6 – Do people who are closest to you see Jesus in you?

7 – Do you serve God because you have to - or because you love Him? Is your service out of necessity or is it from the overflow of passion for God?

8 - Are you a good steward? Do you tithe? Give generously to the Kingdom of God?  Nothing gives away our spiritual fuel level faster than the record of our expenditures!

9 - Are you discipling someone?  Jesus taught us to make disciples! Are you leading someone? Are you praying for and with someone?

10. Are you on God's daily mission in the world?

At the least, it is not smart to drive a car on empty - at worst, it may even be dangerous!  It is not smart and it is dangerous to run on empty spiritually!

So, What's Your Plan?

The world is in a mess! The country is facing serious challenges!  People are hurting for work!  Jobs are not readily available!  What's your plan?  That's right! Your plan?

From what I have seen so far, I would not be too invested in the government doing anything positive about the circumstances we face.  So what is your plan?

We really should have a plan!  It should look remarkably like the Lord's plan!  You know, the one to be SALT and LIGHT out in the world!  The plan to LOVE unconditionally - to FORGIVE fully - to PROCLAIM the most amazing news ever - the news of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST! 

So - what is your plan? How are you going to engage people - I mean - DELIBERATELY engage people TODAY to make some kind of difference in their lives? 

In October at ABC, we are going to be looking for 5 weeks at  ourMission! Yep, it is spelled right!  ourMission!
It is my prayer that everyone will develop simple, straightforward, measurable plan to engage this world right where it is - and see it transformed before their very eyes!  

So, what's your plan??????

Seasons of Refreshing!

There is just something about that FIRST day of cooler fall weather!  There is so much joy in experiencing that first break in the stifling heat of a south Mississippi summer!  Everything is so much different on that first day! You open the door - and just stand there!  The air is not oppressive! It does not suck the air out of your lungs and replace it with thick, humid, hot, almost visible air!   The cool air just .....well....sort of hugs and refreshes your face all at once!  It is wonderful.

It is a reminder that oppressive heat, just like biting cold, does not last forever!  Everything and everyone seem to do better in those fresh, fall temperatures.  Your pets are happy and bounding around the yard! You are even tempted to join them in that bounding.  Sitting on the porch becomes pleasant while fans and large amounts of cold water become unneeded!   God is good!

We need this change in the seasons - just as we needs seasons of refreshing in our own lives!  We get accustomed to living in the red hot environment of stress, troubles, challenges and sin!  Then, if we are faithful to the Lord, He will send times of refreshing!  Our soul is uplifted - our outlook is changed - our walk with Him is quickened. 

We can do nothing about the changing of the seasons!  When they change - they change!  However, we do have some influence in times of refreshing from the Lord!  It is true that when He acts - He acts - and in His time! However, we also have the ability and responsibility to walk in fellowship with Him.  The more we do that - the mroe refreshed our souls will be! 

Join us at Agricola Baptist Church for a time of refreshing September 18 - 21!  You will be glad you did!

Random 1:00 AM Thoughts!

So, it is another seemingly sleepless night for me!  Here are a few totally RANDOM thoughts.....

1. An abundance of information does not necessarily mean an abundance of knowledge!

2. Ideas are wonderful things.....but are not that much good unless put into action!

3. Seldom do people form an opinion and believe it is wrong!

4. The more you think about sleep the wider awake you become!!

5. Deep thinkers often betray their ignorance!

6. The legalist will eventually collapse upon the false pride they have created!

7. A little bit of sin in our life is like a little bit of vomit on our clothes - smells bad and looks bad!

 

 

Criticism!

A friend's post got me to look up this quote.

“Fear of criticism kills spontaneity; it prevents men from showing themselves and expressing themselves freely, as they are.  Much courage is needed to paint a picture, to write a book, to erect a building designed along new architectural lines, or to formulate an independent opinion or an original idea.

Any new concept, any creation, falls foul of a host of critics.  Those who criticize the most are the ones who create nothing.”

Paul Tournier, Guilt and Grace (New York, 1962), page 98.

All I can add to that is to say "How true!"   If we are not careful, we allow critics who often know nothing of us or what we are doing, to silence or stop the good that would be done!  Take courage!

Tropical Storm - Lots of Rain - What to Do!!!!

With 3 days of Tropical Storm Lee at hand - I have been contemplating on some things to do!

1. Raise a window!  Love listening to rain!

2. Sit on the back porch!  So long as it is not raining real hard - I won't get wet!

3. Take a nap!  - in same room with window open!!!!

4. Play in the shop!  It will be cool - probably a couple of small projects worth tackling!

5. Cook something good!  Rain makes me hungry!

 

Something is Missing!

How about having heart surgery without a surgeon?  How about having surgery without an anesthesiologist? How about having an election without candidates? How about having school in session without teachers?  How about having a war without an army?  How about having everyone gather to watch a football game without a football?

Ok - well now that I have worn you out with silliness - how about one more..   How about having a memorial in New York commemorating the loss of life and attack on our country on 9/11 - but banning prayer, clergy, and the New York Police and Fire Departments?  Well - as unbelievable as that sounds - that is exactly what Mayor Bloomberg is planning!

We shouldn't be surprised! This is increasingly a country without any thought of God!  Memorial - but no prayer! No clergy! And absent the very people who rushed into the inferno!  I don't use this word lightly - idiocy!