Filed under: Family, Leadership, Northpark, Resources, Worship, Youth Ministry
No doubt that I am a kid at heart! My wife often says she is a “mother of 3″. Obviously I’m supposedly the third child. To which most often my reply is, “I know you are but what am I?” She loves the sarcasm, trust me. But what can I say? I love video games, GI Joe, and fruit snacks. Does that make me a child? Or could it be the fascination that I have with superheroes? Oh, to be a shape shifter, have super strength, or the ability to fly! So often I watch my five year old son who loves action adventure. Every rock is a grenade and every stick is a sword. You don’t see him playing outside very long without arming himself with both.
I have to admit, I would love to carry a sword with me every where I go. How cool would that be? I’m not talking about a “Zoro” toothpick looking sword. I’m talking about a “Brave Heart” Mel Gibson looking sword. One that strikes fear into the heart of the enemy. Then it hit me – we do have that sword and the result is the same! We strike fear in the heart of the enemy every time we draw it.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. “ Ephesians 6:17 says, “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
As you study the Armor of God that we are encouraged to put on in Ephesians 6, you quickly discover that every piece of that armor is DEFENSIVE. However, in verse 17 we find one offensive weapon in your arsenal. What is it? The sword – God’s Word. You have a mighty weapon that God has placed in your life. So, stop cowering in the corner plagued by your fear. Stand up, stand firm, and step out. Declare God’s Word in your life and family and watch as the enemy cowers in fear for a change. Not because of your might or power, but by His Spirit!
NORTHPARK MEN’S FRATERNITY PAINTBALL EVENT
Saturday, March 14, 2009
visit www.discovernorthpark.com for more details
A special thanks to Anthony Gallo, Evan Lee, and Alex Lee, for this kicking new Northpark Feature Film. Enjoy!
Filed under: Church Planting, Family, Leadership, Northpark, Sermons, Youth Ministry
I was sent the following video clip this week that really grabbed my heart. “How much do I have to hate someone, not to share my faith?” That’s a great question we should all consider today. Then, because we love Christ and others, we should run to a neighbor’s house, walk into a a co-worker’s office, call a family member, and proclaim God’s love for them! After all, every soul matters to God!
Speedy Morris was a basketball coach for LaSalle University. He was shaving one day when his wife called out to tell him he was wanted on the phone by Sports Illustrated. Speedy Morris was so excited by the prospect of national recognition that he nicked himself with his razor and ran –with a mixture of blood and lather on his face—down the hall promptly falling down the stairs. Limping and in some physical distress he finally got to the phone and the voice on the other line said: “For just seventy five cents an issue you can get a one year trial subscription….”
Like Speedy, we can also RUSH ahead in life. The result is often nicks, cuts, and bruises along the way. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve scraped my knee as a leader. We will not get it right every single time. However, if we are patient take time to seek God’s direction, the bruises don’t happen as often! The next time you are faced with a decision, take time to seek God through prayer, seek God’s Word, and seek wise counsel. You will be surprised at what can happen if you don’t RUSH ahead!
Filed under: Uncategorized
YOU DID IT!
Can you imagine how great Bojangle’s will taste in the morning? Not even close to the taste of amazing blessing that God has positioned you for as a result of this fast! As this fast comes to an end in the next few hours, be must in prayer for the Holy Spirit to fall upon our families, our church, and our nation – like NEVER before.
Our world desperately needs the touch of God. Now, you have a hunger and thirst for God to move in your life. There is no turning back. Let’s pray that we might experience God like never before in 2009. May our prayer reflect that hunger. May our worship reflect that hunger. May our witness reflect that hunger. May our lives reflect that hunger!
In your quiet time, reflect on Romans 5:1-4.
Don’t forget about ABLAZE :: a worship experience. Our focus in tomorrow’s service will be on praise and worship, prayer, and testimony. Let’s come ready to worship! God has “ALREADY” released the answers to our prayers – it’s time to RECEIVE them!
You are Love,
Pastor Anthony
Filed under: Uncategorized
Whether done corporately or individually, fasting is a personal, private discipline. It is born out of expectancy! I firmly believe that God honors our prayers and our sacrifice. I’m extremely proud of each of you that have been walking this journey with us. God will honor your prayer and I know that He is about to blow our minds! Let’s look with great anticipation for what God is going to do!
The Bible says that we are “over-comers” by the word of our testimony. So, when God does something in your life – speak up! We would love to hear what He is doing in your life as a result of this 21-day fast!
Today’s Prayer Focus – Focus your prayers on our partners in ministry. Let’s join together and pray for our missionaries and other church planters around the world.
I QUIT!
Have you ever said those words? Some of us have wanted to scream them during this fast – especially when we see the neighborhood pizza delivery guy visiting our next door neighbor. Suddenly, thoughts like, “Would it be wrong to attack a pizza delivery guy, beat him down, then take his pizza from him?” come flooding into our minds! You haven’t had those thoughts? Oh, me neither!
A few days ago, I did scream those words, but it had nothing to do with quitting the fast. It had everything to do with my decision to QUIT worrying! God doesn’t want us to worry. He wants us to trust that He is in control of our lives and allow Him to guide us through our daily challenges. And believe me, there are daily challenges!
If you are struggling with worry or doubt, call upon Him today! Maybe you are even worried that He will not answer the prayers that you have prayed during this fast. Perhaps the very reason you are fasting is becoming blurred because of your doubt that God will do anything about your need. QUIT! Quit worrying! Instead of worrying, meditate to the following verse of Scripture and let God do what He does best!
Psalm 34:3-4 – “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Today, make a commitment to Christ and scream, “I quit!”
God has given you gifts to use for His purposes. It makes me think of Abraham and the five dynamics that brought him into the place of ministry, the place of destiny that God had for him. First, he could HEAR God. Secondly, Abraham BELIEVED what he heard. Third, he came to a place of DENOUNCING his comfort zone to follow God’s leading. Fourth, Abraham had the courage to FOLLOW God’s direction for His life. And finally, he had the tenacity to FOCUS on the promise and not the problems that stood in his way.
-Jentezen Franklin
So on this day of the fast, I encourage you to pray and seek God about His purpose and plan for your life, your ministry unto Him.
Matthew 16:24 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
In Psalm 42, we find this really strange phrase, “Deep calls unto deep.” Exactly what was that all about? While fasting, David’s hunger and thirst for God was greater than his natural desire for food. As a result, he reached a place where he could cray out from the depths of his spirit to the depths of God, even during the roughest times of his life. Once you experience true intimacy with God, your worship will change. As we enter into worship during our weekend gatherings, let’s make a new commitment to give God our radical worship and praise. Let’s hold nothing back, because God certainly doesn’t want to hold anything back from us!
Physical and Spiritual Effect:
During this point of the fast you may experience the following:
-Weight loss continues.
-Bad breath continues – if someone offers you a mint, TAKE IT!
-Cravings can be strong at times. Believe me. I have actually been watching cooking infomercials all morning. I can’t look away! I almost even purchased the Express 101 Kitchen Appliance! What? It was only two payments of $19.95 and if you called within 2 minutes, you received a second one free! What a deal! As I said, “cravings can be strong at times.”
I can’t tell you how proud I am of our church family. You have demonstrated your desire to see God move like never before in our church. God will honor that! There is no turning back now!
By the way, don’t forget our BURN PRAYER SEMINAR, that will be held on Saturday, January 24. We will begin at Right Track Academy at 10:00 a.m. and will conclude by noon. Our guest speaker is Pastor Rod Trusty. Pastor Rod is an incredible speaker and will bring a timely and relevant message from the Lord. Please, as your pastor, I encourage you – we all need to be at this event. Our church must be a house of prayer! One that is praying first, always, and continually!
