FBC Elizabethton: Recent Episodes
Rev. Todd Hallman
In the Christian life, God must be our priority. All else must be surrendered to God and His will. We must give careful thought to our ways, thoughts and actions. In responding to God's call any delayed response or delayed obedience is disobedience.
We are works in progress, and we are all at different stages. We need to be sensitive to other people's needs, and as we interact with our world, our love needs to "abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (v. 9).
This world is not our permanent address. We need to be living in anticipation of Christ! our outlook always determine our outcome.
We must always remember God's salvation! We must be content with God's provision. We must always trust in God's protection!
It is hard for us to imagine all that God can do in us and through us. Sometimes His favor arrives in our wilderness, but only God can bring the "rest" that we need.
This audio is from November 25, 2018 morning service at FBC Elizabethton with Pastor Todd Hallman.
Sometimes the greatest inhibitor to our spiritual growth is a period of spiritual success. We must not fixate on our past failures or successes. We must fixate on Jesus--looking to the prize that lies before us. We must press on and lay claim to that which Christ has laid claim to us.
The story of the Bible is the story of people following in and out of their relationship with God. Our stories likewise share a similar characteristic. Everything (including each of us) is created for a divine purpose. Everything that God creates (including us) is good. Our life journey will have its ups and downs, but our significance must come from the one who "knew us in our mother's womb" and who has "set us a part" for specific purposes. Until we recognize that our significance comes from God, we will always be aimlessly wandering in this life we now live.
The essential decision that each one of us must make is to follow Jesus. This is the single most important choice of our lives. Yet many in the church fail to fully embrace the decision they allegedly make. Now is the time for us to consider our standing before God. We must make sure that we do not equate our service to God with our salvation. We serve as a result of what God has done in our lives. We do NOT serve in order to gain God's favor.
Jesus tells us to "Come" to Him. The disciples all left their comfort zones, their ordinary lives, and were transformed by Jesus. Peter asked to come out on the water and walk to Jesus. As long as he focused his attention on Christ--he succeeded. When he focused on the conventional wisdom and the circumstances of his situation he began to sink. But even though he sank, he was still willing to get out of the boat. So many Christians sit comfortably following Jesus, when he is calling the Church to "Come" to Him. We must get out of our "boat." We must leave our comfortability and follow Him.
God's ultimate desire for us involves our experience of Him, rather than merely watching what is happening. God has not called us to be spectators in this game of life, but to be active participants who are pursuing Him with everything that we are. To that end, may we "come and see" and experience all He has for us.
How often do you pray? Is prayer automatic in your life, or do you tend to pray when you are specific need of something? The scripture teaches that prayer should be as automatic as breathing. Prayer is breath for the soul. As followers of Christ we must pray constantly. We must understand that prayer has consequences, and we must approach prayer confidently and expectantly, knowing that God hears our prayers and every prayer always is answered.
All of us have problems with having the right priorities. In the Christian journey we often will say that "God is number one." But is He? God is not a priority among others. He is THE priority! When we make Him THE priority everything else falls into its rightful place. So whether we are struggling in our marriage, our job, our spiritual journey, or just life in general--put Him first. Seek first His kingdom and flourish in the place--in the position--in the life that He has given you.