Well, we’ve been back from Venezuela for a couple of days now and God is still working in my life and among those who went on the trip.  You know we Americans have so much and not even realize it until we go somewhere else like Venezuela.  Many of us or maybe I should say none of us can be content with where we are or what we have.  But yet so many people around the world are very content and happy with all they have.  But this is not the only thing God showed me or spoke to me about.  The second thing he reminded me or maybe even shown me for the first time is that we as Christians have a “great power” within us.  We hold a very strong key or power and so many times we do not use it or we use this power in the wrong ways. This power we hold or have is the fact that we have Christ.  If we stand back and think about it we have the power for so many things if what we are using it for is of God’s will for our lives.  As we were in Venezuela I saw much of the power I posses in Christ.  We would walk up to a door and say “Burenas” and a person would come to the door.  We were able to see the power we have by watching people weep over the fact that they prayed for someone to come and share Christ with them or how to have what some others had. Or even say “I was hoping someone would bring me a bible, I’ve never had one.”  But to see this power of the Holy Spirit working in lives was amazing.  We see this same power in Moses’ life in Exodus 4:2 when God askes Moses, “What is that in your hand?” and Moses replied “a staff,” this staff Moses had in his hands is a tool God used to free the Israelites from the Egyptians.  We have a tool we can use if only we would use it and that is the Holy Spirit and God’s word.  It was amazing to see people start crying as they realized through the Holy Spirit that the witch craft they were following was not right or the fact that they were separated from God and needed Him for that relationship.  We hold a staff in our hands, the staff of God’s word and the Holy Spirit, and yet we do nothing with it on a daily basis or even a lifetime.  At some point in time we have to realize this “power” we hold as we live our lives for Christ and see other lives changed because of us “using that power” for God’s glory and seeing people come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

So, one question for you. . . . .

Are you using the “power” God has given you to share with others?

Have you ever put something in the wrong place and then it took you forever to find it?  Or maybe you get that new something that you could not live without and in a few short weeks or months you realize you haven’t been using it and think of the fun times you’ve missed not having it?  Well these are some of the questions that come to mind as I was doing my quite time and studying for the message for the students Wed. night.  How many times do we misplace or mishandle our walk with Christ or “misplace” Him and then figure out that we’ve missed out on so much that God’s had for us. 

We look at David’s life and see that he does all of this after conquering the Philistines and getting the Ark of God back.  He puts the Ark in another mans land or house because he is mad at God for killing Uzzah for touching the Ark (II Samuel 6:1-11).  But, David realizes that he has been missing out on all the blessing of God because he does not take care of it himself.  David mishandles his relationship with God by the way he allows the men to carry the Ark even though God was very clear through Moses and Aaron how to handle the Ark.  God is very clear in Exodus and in Numbers on the way the Ark was to be built and handled.  So, what was the big problem?  David mishandles his relationship with God and does not allow it to stay top priority in his life and also he misses out on blessing God could of had for him. 

So I ask again how have we “mishandled our Christianity or our walk with Christ” lately?   From this point on we see that David begins a slight down hill run with the people around him and also with his relationship with God.  And this is usually how it all begins on that slippery icy bunny slope.

Well the week is over, we’ve had our last worship service, and the fun begins.  The fun of getting students to pack and be on time for the bus. . . . Just kidding, I know they will be on time so that we can leave on time, I am sure of it.  Last nights service was very good, Ryan (the camp pastor) spoke on getting out of the cheap seats and getting into life.  His offical title of the message was “God created us to be in the game of life.”  With this title and main point he is saying hey God wants us to be a part of life and this is how we know we are created to be in the game:  Jeremiah 1:4-8

We were:

1. Created by God to be in the Game (Ps. 130:13-14)

2. Considered by God (Ps. 139:16)

3. Chosen by God (Jn. 6:44; II Peter 2:9)

4. Called by God (I Peter 2:9)

5. Covered by God or God says I’VE GOT YOU!!!!!!!

This week has been a good week, yes we’ve had our difficulties, our struggles, our problems but overall God has shown up and shown off this week.  We had 2 students accpet Christ (Chloe Simmons, Emilee Sasser), and we had 4 students say they feel they are called to fulltime ministry (Katina Piland, Heather Simmons, Jackie Simmons, Rick Johnson), plus many other decisions.  But God has also allowed me as a student minister to have to deal with things and adjust to problems in the moment, but not allow Satan to take that moment and use it for himself.  Yes this happened once this week as I shared earlier but God also has allowed growth both in me and the students that I had to go to. 

You know that in just a year we’ve had many adjustments and the adjustments will continue to come for a while to come as we grow and both in numbers and spiritually. 

Well, I guess the next time I talk with you all it will be in Ino, Alabama, so until then keep us in your prayers as we travel today adn also that God will continue to grow us and bring us closer to Himself.

Well, it’s the start of the last day, and that comes with mixed emotions.  I never want to leave camp because I know that as soon as we get on the bus and arrive at home the real world is there waiting on the students.  But, I also know that we have to come home to follow through with decision and actions we’ve committed to doing.  We also have to come home to spread the gospel to our Judea, Samaria, and all the ends of the world. This week for me as a student minister has been the most influental and impacting. To see many of these students broken before God and wanting to get back to share what they have learned is exciting. 

Last night we heard an awesome message on the difference in a “youth ministry” and a “youth group.” There are 7 key markers of a student ministry:          Ephesians 4:1-3

1. Humility

2. Gentleness

3. Patience

4. Bearing

5. Love

6. Unity — “eager to maintain the unity” (v. 2)

7. Peace

 The main difference is a big enemy and monster that goes by the name “UnforGIVEness.”  This means unforgiveness of those in the student ministry, staff, family, friends, parents etc.  When there is true forgivness a youth group transforms into a student ministry.  We expect people to ask us for forgiveness in every situation, but we forget that the word has the key to true “forGIVEness.”  The greek word for forgivness is Aphesis which means, “release from bondage or imprisonment; Let go as if it never happened.” 

Forgivness was:

1. Created by God — Ps. 103:2-3; 130:3-4; I Jn 1:9

2. Commanded by God — Mt 6:14-15; Lk 17:3-4; Eph 4:32

3. Enabled by God — Col. 3:12-13

After this message many of your students called and asked for forgivness from you as parents.  I saw much brokeness in the students and even in my own life.  And I look forward to see our “youth group” turn fully into a student ministry.

Well, I guess we will see you all tomrrow night, but I will post one more time tonight.

Wow, Wow, Wow,

God is showing up and showing off this week, we have had two that’s made decisions this week so far Emilee Sasser and Chloe Simmons, and we are expecting God to work even more!!!!  Each day the messages in both Bible Study and the main service have been getting better as the week goes on!!!!  And the experiences of being on the mission field has allowed student to realize that their life is not quite as bad off as they thought it was. 

I will say that for me personally I have learned a lot as a student minister.  For now lets just say that your student minister has been broken down spiritually and allowed satan to be at work in my life but I have allowed God to restore as well.  I sould say that at no point at time does being upset make a point that, other than the fact that you have to learn and practice humility and forgivness. 

Please keep us in prayer because we are all tired and warn out!! And also please Keep the Kilcrease family in your prayers, Mrs. Sara Kilcrease was put back into the hospital and not doing great.  Holli Kilcrease is with us (Sara’s granddaughter) and for the first time while I have been off I had to pass the news to a student, so please keep her and the rest of us in your prayers.

Day two has finished and closed with a bang, that bang a nice thunderstorm.  So this is why this blog is coming this morning.  Sorry no students wanted to get up early enough to fill you all in on their day so maybe tonight I will grab some students and they will won’t to say hi to all of y’all.  I heard nothing but positive things from the students on their first day on site.  Many of our students were talking about working with children and were surprised how fun it is to work with them. 

I don’t won’t to bust anyone’s bubble but we did have one student last night accept Christ!!!!!!!! That is very exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will let the student tell you all later on.  Please be in prayer because God is working on students in an aggressive way.  The main theme for last night was when we except Christ we are changed from the inside out.  Christ does not care about the outside in until the inside is taking care of.  The Pharisees only looked at the outside and what they can do to follow the “laws” which many of those laws they made up or exaggerated.   How many times do we do that as a church?

Well, day 2 has started and Lord willing it will be as good or better than yesterday!!

Well we made the trip over with no problems at all, well unless you count the slight problem of motion sickness (no worries, we had plenty of moms on the bus to take care of the problem).    The first night is coming to an end as I sit on the porch of the coffee shop.  I will say this has been a very good first night.  Yes, we are all very tired and ready for bed because it has been a long day but ready for God to work.  Not that anything special happened but just the fact that the door is open for God to work.  I layed out my hope and prayer for the week, that God will show up and show off in their lives.  Not only in experiences, even though experiences are very important to a growing process but not all to our Christian growth.  I am looking forward to all that God is going to do this week in not only the student lives but my relationship with Christ and as a student minister. 

Just to keep you up to date on what is being taught in the main service I am trying to take the best notes I can and then pass them on to you.  Please be in prayer this week! 

June 23, 2008

Matthew 13:11

4 keys for the week:

1.  Know Jesus more deeply

2.  Follow Jesus more closely

3.  Worship Jesus more honestly

4. Share Jesus more clearly

Fuge is all about JESUS!

“If we don’t get Him (Jesus) we missed IT (Him)!!!!

Now What??

Matthew 7:7-8

Highlight these words in these verses:

1.  ASk

2. Seek

3. Knock

4. Receive

5. Find

6. Opened

What about this week do we need to do to connect and hear from the Holy Spirit??

Ask that He show’s up and show’s off, seek that He is showing, knock to find that answer, receive the answer He brings, find ways to apply it to our lives, and be open to what He is going to do.

I will talk with you all tomorrow night and maybe I will have a student or two come and join me.

Be in prayer and be in expectation!!!!

CAMP IS FINALLY HERE!!!

Hopefully all of you have been in prayer for camp and all that God has instore for you (the student) and you (the parent), if not this is a great time to start! God can change live at anytime but I will say that God uses camps and retreats to help that process along in students so many times.  Yo can ask many pators, missionaries, and even great Christian, “when did you get serious about your relationship with God?”, and many of them answer in the same way, “camp.”  As I’ve told you all and the church that in a week of camp you can be influnced and impacted by the Bible and the Holy Spirit working through the week more than I can in an entire year.  Camp is one of those experinces that either kick starts a relationship with Christ, kicks the heat up in the relationship with Christ, or makes you just sit back and experince something fresh and anew. 

I am enclosing the camp emergencey number which is only to be used in extreme emergencies and only if you can not get hold of myself first or another adult.  When we leave on Monday I am going to have a print out of all the phone numbers for the week, also Kate will have all the numbers here at the church office as well incase you misplace your copy.

CAMP: (615) 429-2153

MY CELL PHONE: (334) 504-1849

like I said earlier I will have all the phone numbers on Monday.

Prayer Request as we leave:

1.  Students growth in Christ.

2. Adults growth in Christ.

3. Saftey for all of us (travel and while we are there).

4. Students attitudes toward authority (camp staff, adult leaders, etc.).

5. Adults attitude toward students, that it will be in love and anticipation for God to work.

6. Homesickness — students and adults

Finally, I want all of you to know how excited I am about camp and the time I have with each student, please continue to be in prayer for all of us this week.

In Christ,

Bro. Matt

You know, so many times I have people come up to me and say something like this, “you know those children you teach need to __________”.  They still see the students in the student ministry as children and I guess technically they are correct in saying that because you all are not 18 yet.  But I also ask my self this question, “If students set an example of how to act as Christians and showed the adults how they should act what would they say then?”  In case you did not know that there is a verse in the Bible that talks about this very subject, there is and it is found in I Timothy 4:12.  And it reads like this, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”  If you as students lived this example what do you think the adults would say about you then?  I think they would look at you as an example or even look up to you as a spiritual leader and just maybe they would become the spiritual leaders you need in your life.  Now I’m not saying put all your video games away, quite playing sports, or anything like that, but what I am saying is be the example, raise the bar in your house, show your parents that hey it’s ok to be Christian and to stand out of the crowd. 

Can the students in Ino Student Ministry be the “trend” setters in our church and in our community or will we just follow along and never step up to the plate and be that example Paul is telling Timothy to be?  My prayer is that people see Ino Student Ministry and say “wow, these students are not like most, they care about their relationship with Christ and are leaders.” 

Let’s step up and raise the bar at Ino Baptist Church and be the Christian leaders!!

Mrs. Robin and I love you all and can’t be more excited about being here and being your student minister.

I haven’t made the time in quite a while to write what’s been going on.  But in this blog I want to share with you something God has been showing me and helping me get a better understanding.  So many times as pastors we think we are doing the right thing by sharing the gospel and then leading someone through a prayer, but are we really doing anything?  I guess the reason this has been working on my heart for so long now is because of watching new converts, they feel like all there is to “Christianity” is a prayer then they are free to do whatever they either were doing or whatever they decide they can do in the future.  Well, as God has been working through scripture to help me come to this conviction and new thought he has also taken me to “the wood shed” on other issues as well. 

We can go back and look throughout scripture and see that Christ never once told his disciples to pray a prayer.  For instance, Matthew 4:18 - 22 Jesus is calling His first disciples to follow Him.  Matthew says, “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who as called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.  Going on from there He saw two other brothers James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”  This is the case with all of His disciples, they dropped everything and followed Christ where ever He took the. 

Now, before everyone starts to label me a heretic or something along those lines I do believe there is a time for a prayer because Paul said in Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Yes, we have to confess with our mouths at some point in time but, is that all there is to salvation?  We see throughout Paul’s writing that there should be evidence’s of salvation in people’s lives. How will we know someone is genuinely saved? By the way they “walk.”  Nothing better says who a person says they are by watching the way they walk their everyday life.  What is in someones heart at some point in time will come out of their mouth, according to Matthew 15:18, ”But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.” Not to mention Jesus says in John 13:35, “by this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  And in Matthew 7:16 Jesus says, “You will know them by their fruits. . .”

 The more I study this and look at scripture the more I see that the prayer is only the start of the Christian walk.  The walk down the isle is only the first step of letting people know what has happened in your life.  The baptism is the first act of obedience to the Lord because He himself has set the standard for us to follow.  Baptism is also picture to those in the church and the others around of what has happened on the inside, but after telling the church body about the decision you have made and then following the Lord in immersion baptism then the battle of showing and “working out your salvation” starts. Our walk with Christ is not about us it is about “And He was saying to them all, “if anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

A quote I have come up with that I use in the Student Ministry all the time and I believe it sums up salvation.

“ It’s not about me, it’s about the God who created me.”  Can you say this on a daily basis about your salvation?