OBEDIENCE OVER TEMPTATION

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

A little FACEBOOK post from a friend yesterday…

THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!!! MY PRAYER HAS BEEN ANSWERED !! THE DEVIL WAS WORKING OVERTIME AS I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY BLESSING...MY GOD WAS THERE TO GUIDE MY EVERY STEP AND I AM GRATEFUL !

There is quite the story behind this little exhortation. I may share it down the road with the author’s approval. In short, my friend got a first-hand, front row seat to this truth yesterday. So did I!

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

She spent about an hour smack dab in the middle of an attack from these spiritual forces and she passed the test and emerged blessed and rewarded!

She recognized temptation. She recognized its source. She weighed the consequences and she chose wisely.

SHE CHOSE OBEDIENCE!

We all face it; all day long in all sorts of shapes and sizes; sexual temptation, addiction temptation, gossip opportunities, irritations that lead to anger. The enemy gets up early and stays up late laying challenge after challenge, obstacle after obstacle and trap after trap all in his quest to separate us from our blessings, provision and closeness with GOD.

And while each of us is vulnerable (I know I am), we don’t have to yield to temptation. We can face the enemy and look him dead in the eye and turn him away because we who believe have God’s Spirit living within them–a force that is much more powerful than any attack from the tempter’s hands.

James 4:7

So let God (and HIS SPIRIT) work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper…

1 John 4:4

That’s because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

And scamper he will, just as he did with my FACEBOOK compadre’yesterday.

So like her, we all have a choice. We can say no! And GOD loves it when we do!

Deuteronomy 28:2

If you will obey the Lord your God, all these blessings will come to you and be yours:

Let's never forget that these temptations are opportunities for obedience. And as we can clearly see, obedience leads to blessing.

Today, JOIN ME (because I can certainly use it) in prayer that we would be made sensitive to God’s Spirit whenever we feel the attack of the enemy threatening. Pray that we realize there is a learning process involved in obedience. One my friend experienced first hand!

And like her, this is how we grow and learn to avoid the enemy’s traps and schemes set for us even today.

...blessings will come to you and be yours:

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

WHATEVER YOU DO

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

1 Corinthians 10:31

…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I got up to the offices a little early on Monday. Freedom this past Monday was to be a tough one so I wanted an extra minute or two to collect my thoughts and pray.

While I was there my lil' sis Jenn and I got into one of our chats. When Jenn and I have 30 seconds to chat, they usually turn to CHAAAATTTS.

No different Monday.

But oh how I love our discussions.

Now if you know Jenn you know she is deeply passionate about fitness, nutrition, and wellness; so much so she instructs group exercise something like 349 times a week. She also eats things that are usually fed to gerbils and fish I think in order to stay in balance. Just kidding on the food stuff, but it is way too green for this guy who is still stuck in the 70’s longing for Wonder Bread and hearty bowl of Fruit Loops.

But regardless of her propensity for kale smoothies and all things organic, Jenn is PASSIONATE about what she does. But more importantly she is passionate about allowing her love for Jesus and people to motivate what she does. You see Jenn feels called to MINISTER to others through fitness. She encourages community and accountability among her clients. She embraces this encouragement from scripture!

Hebrews 10:24-25

Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out…spurring each other on…

She offers prayer and motivation via social media and in her classes. She embodies this “whatever”you "do"; do to the glory of GOD perspective!

We all can learn a little from Jenn.

Most of us believe you have to have some “churchy title” to be a minister. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

The scripture tells us to bring GLORY TO GOD or in others words share JESUS via WHATEVER we do.

If you are a nurse, care for your patients to the GLORY OF GOD!

Artist? Paint and sculpt with a passion for expressing GLORY TO GOD!

Drywaller? Do your work with an excellence and honesty that brings GLORY TO GOD through your integrity and attention to detail.

Salesman? Sell fairly and honestly. GOD will be honored!

When we decide to “do what we do” for the glory of GOD, GOD will infuse a passion and an energy that will turn the WORK into MINISTRY. He will provide opportunities to encourage others, lift others up, console and love. He will open avenues for GLORY to Him through our labor.

So like the MESSAGE says...

...do EVERYTHING…heartily and freely to God’s glory

Whatever you have on your plate today, your "to do" list if you will…DO IT HEARTILY, FREELY but most of all do it with PASSION FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

Romans 12:8

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

We can at least DO that right?

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

NO DISAPPEARING ACT...

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Isaiah 54:10

The mountains may disappear,

and the hills may come to an end,

but my love will never disappear;

my promise of peace will not come to an end,”

says the Lord who shows mercy to you.

Isn’t that wonderful truth?

Isn’t it so reassuring to know that EVERYTHING and I do mean everything can crumble and fall around us yet GOD promises to REMAIN!

Relationships faltering?

GOD’s love never fails.

Financial pressures swelling like a storm off the coast?

GOD’S provision never fails.

Conflict at work causing stress?

GOD’s peace never fails.

GOD is there.

Deuteronomy 31:6

…God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.

Far too many times we are duped into feeling alone maybe even abandoned. The enemy swirls enough “life”and “drama” around us that we feel literally squeezed and isolated by circumstances and chaos.

Yet GOD makes it PERSONALLY clear. I am not going anywhere; ever; always promising peace in spite of the turmoil.

Everything around us can turn to dust, everything around can be obliterated and demolished yet when the smoke clears and the silence returns there is GOD standing where He is always standing…RIGHT NEXT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

I don’t know about you, but that settles my spirit and brings me peace; the peace GOD himself promises.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

So rest assured this day. Embrace that word from Isaiah! Don’t let the world’s pressure dilute the truth!

GOD is with you. GOD is guarding you. And GOD is promising peace!

Embrace it!

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

IS HE WORTH IT?

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Yesterday I had the wonderful honor of attending Briana DuPree’s ordination. What an amazing young woman of faith and true testimony.

Following her service, Bri shared a poignant talk entitled “Glory Shift”. It could have been sub-titled, “It’s Not About Me” as well; and many of you who know me, this little topic of “not about me” strikes a real a resonant chord. It is something I battle and attempt to guard against daily. Not with much success sometimes...

But it wasn’t the title that stuck with me as much as a little passing challenge she levied. I even texted it to myself in the service.

“Is Jesus worth it?”

In my line of ministry, dealing with folks suffering with substance abuse, relational strife and the like, I am often finding myself asking another question over and over again; is IT worth it?

“Is the HIGH worth another stint in jail?”

“Is the 15 minutes with the “other” person worth 20 years of relationship?”

“Is one night on the town worth losing custody of your kids?”

But Bri asks the tougher yet more important question.

Is Jesus worth it?

Is our walk with Him worth it? Are we willing to put up, deal with, hang in with, and suffer through anything for our relationship with Him? Are we willing to take HIS position on the tough choices in life or are we quick to choose the comfortable; the “all about me” avenue when the heat is on?

Peter says we should be for making “Jesus worth it”; it is the true measure of our faith!

1 Peter 1:6-7

…even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime…Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

But ask yourself today. Is Jesus worth it?

Or when life’s pressures mount do we cash out? Go back out? Cave to the peer pressure? Let our faith falter? Make it all out us?

Brutal question huh? To be honest I don’t like it either!

But Jesus is truly worth it!

In tough times? Stick with Him.

Hard decisions? Trust His guidance.

Unforeseen frustrations and trials Pastor Josh? Stay the course!

Why Pastor Eric? HE IS ABLE! Why Bri? He is most definitely worth it!

Matthew 10:22

…don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end.

So let’s ask ourselves that question today. Is this day about us or is this day about demonstrating to those around us that Jesus is worth it?

Is this day about His glory or our comfort?

Thanks again Bri for the tough question.

Thank again Jesus for the hope in the right answer; YOU are certainly worth it!

2 Corinthians 4:14-15

…And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up…Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory…

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Don’t you just loathe it when you call a customer service line in dire need of help and you get the ubiquitous, “Your call is important to us, a customer agent will be with you shortly. Currently you are 8,234^th in line.”

UGH!

Don’t’ they realize that “this is an emergency”. My DISH NETWORK is down and HONEY BOO BOOstarts in 10 minutes.”

LORD HELP US!

We are an impatient lot aren’t we?

Makes this whole walk with GOD thing a little tricky though.

And all that “wait upon the Lord” stuff doesn’t quite line up with our microwaveable nature. A lot of us are like our esteemed Pastor Josh who gets agitated with the delay in his HOT POCKET preparation; wishing it were instantaneous rather than the lengthy 2 minutes it takes for his molten goodness to finish.

But I heard somewhere that PATIENCE is a virtue and it is something that LORD wants to birth in us all.

2 Peter 1:5-9

So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others...

But we are often inclined to go the other way. Instead of developing patience we express some real attitude gems. Things like irritation. That is a good one. How about agitation? That never happens does it? How about frustration? That is a sweet little by-product of impatience now isn't it?

Yet GOD says wait. Why?

Because BLESSING and STRENGTH come to those who learn to wait.

Proverbs 8:34

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.

Watching. Waiting. Listening = blessing.

Watching waiting and listening = strength.

Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength.

The strength needed to endure the waiting!

So remember today when you are tempted to become impatient or agitated, the Lord looks favorably on those who are steadfast in the waiting.

So wait.

Be patient. Be watchful.

Here is a little prayer to help...

…May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

Have a blessed weekend…

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

LET'S GET GROWING!

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

My wife had a harrowing experience yesterday. She was being “confirmed” in her role as a professor at Cedarville University. The process entailed an interview in front of the Board of Trustees of the University.

It was a little nerve-wracking for Beth for sure. But she survived!

And as she and I were unpacking the interview over a little dinner last night she said one of the more intriguing questions was regarding “SPIRITUAL MATURITY”.

Pretty heady topic. Pretty heady question.

Beth felt she answered it solidly but the question got me thinking about today’s little DISPATCH encouragement.

How are we doing in the maturation department?

Are we truly seeking to know GOD better today than yesterday?

Are we “growing in our faith”; maturing in our gifts and grace?

It sure is easy to get stagnant isn’t it?

Yet GOD wants us to PROGRESS and GROW each day to be more like JESUS. Just ask Natalie Jones.

We ARE to be actively maturing in our faith and love each and every day! That is what the WORD says!

2 Peter 3:18

…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So ask yourself…

Have you noticed any change in your life and character since the day you were saved? Can you detect spiritual growth over the last month or year?

If you feel as if you are stagnated or are “kinda stuck”, let’s take an encouragement from Paul this morning that is designed to “get us growing”again!

Romans 12:2

…fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Our heavenly Father wants to mature us! And what does He want from us in order to do that?

He wants us to listen to Him by reading His Word. Communicate with Him via prayer and meditation. Cooperate with His perfect path and will. Be quick to confess; quick to repent; quick to change course when needed!

GOD says He will be faithful to “mature” us if we do! He will as PAUL said, bring out the best in us!

So what should we do?

1 Timothy 4:15

Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it.

So friends, let's get growing!

I love you all!

Be blessed today…

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney

CHURNS YOUR BUTTER

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

What lights your fire? Churns your butter? Get’s your juices flowing? Jazzes you up?

Now before you answer and perhaps embarrass yourself, remember this is the DAILY DISPATCH…

Really what I am asking is what are you passionate about; what has priority for you?

Is it your work?

Maybe it is your family or social status.

Might even be your golf game or that favorite team.

What is that thing you prioritize, write in ink on your schedule, or miss a meeting for?

Come on be honest Buckeye fans; Wildcat and Tide faithful. Be honest Zumba-ites!

What really trips your trigger?

Serving JESUS come to mind?

OUCH!

I know I just said ouch to myself. I don’t like it when these little snippets in the morning get ME in their crosshairs and score a direct hit.

But be honest with yourself this morning. Are you passionate about your relationship with Jesus? Willing to ink Him into the day planner? Willing to miss a meeting in lieu of a session with the Savior of the planet?

Sometimes we need to reset don’t we? Re-evaluate our passions and priorities a smidgen.

I meand can we claim the same kind of passion David showed today?

Psalm 63

God, you are my God.

I am searching so hard to find you.

Body and soul, I thirst for you

in this dry and weary land without water.

2 Yes, I have seen you in your Temple.

I have seen your strength and glory.

3 Your faithful love is better than life,

so my lips praise you.

4 By my life, I will praise you.

In your name, I lift my hands in prayer.

5 When I sit down to satisfy my hunger,

my joyful lips hunger to praise you!

6 I remember you while lying on my bed.

I think about you in the middle of the night.

7 That is because you are the one who helps me.

It makes me happy to be under your protection!

8 I stay close to you,

and you hold me with your powerful arm.

Now that is passion!

Perhaps today is a good day to take a step back from life and reset a priority or two. Perhaps this morning is a good time to re-stoke our passion for the GOD who gives us life and opportunity.

Perhaps today we need to...

1 Chronicles 28:9

…get to know...God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he’ll make sure you find him…

Sounds like a plan for me.

You?

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney