Going After the Prodigals

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel Osteen!

• We all know people who fell off course after going through something dificult.

The book of James (2:16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?) tells us to be proactive when helping prodigals.

• You don't need to tell them what they are doing wrong, you just need to tell them 3 things: We miss you, we need you, and we love you.

We can't help everyone but we can help someone. God put certain people in our paths for a reason. The closests thing to the hear of God is helping lost people. (Luke 15:9-32)

• In the parable of the Lost Sheep 99 of the sheep were just fine, but 1 was missing. You have to notice who's missing.

• I can ONLY talk to my flock, because that's the group that I have a relationship with.

D.L. Moody and Mr. Kimble

• Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person GENTLY. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

• Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

It's great to celebrate with the people who haven't fallen off, but our real ministry is with those who have. When we go after them, we need to go GENTLY.

• Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

"It's not my job to scare the hell out of people."

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

Acting on The Word

“Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths, Stories I heard from my elders, counsel I learned at my mother's knee. I’m not keeping this to myself, I’m passing it along to the next generation— God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done. [I’m acting on the word.]”

Psalm 78

My grandfather always says, “Baby, how is anyone going to know how good God is if you don’t tell them?”  Many people call it being braggadocios [Wizig Word] but sharing your testimony is acting on the Word. You are a part of God’s drama ministry, let me tell you how. God commands us to share our testimony. 

Rehearse God’s blessings! Judges 5:11 says, ...rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord!” If one word signifies drama ministry, it’s rehearse! The first time you share your testimony it may be hard, but as the adage goes, practice makes perfect! My friend Kaisha adds, “...be careful what you practice”; if you practice NOT sharing your testimony, that is the skill that you were perfect.

Write and distribute a script! Psalm 103:2 says bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Now if you ever get the chance to meet me, you will find out that I love to tell stories and sometimes I repeat the same ones. This is one way that I bless the Lord and remind myself of my benefits. Furthermore, in Exodus 17:14 God commands moses to write down God’s blessings! Sounds like a script to me!

Get over your stage fright! Sharing your testimony is one way to overcome the enemy! Revelation 12:11 says that “they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” Everytime you share God’s goodness you strengthen your faith.

Lights, camera, action! Once you practice and get over your stage fright, it’s off to the stage! 1 Timothy 6:12 says to profess a good profession before many witnesses! Sounds like a performance to me! This is how we pass faith on to others and younger generations. Deuteronomy 6:7 says talk to them when you sit in your house! Sounds like Theater to me!

Practice your monologue. Jesse Adams and Wendell Burton always tell us to have at least  monologues memorized. Jesse tells a story about meeting a casting director and knowing a monologue that he learned in college by heart. That monologue led him to success. Likewise, sharing your testimony will lead you to success in your #1 job found in Matthew 28:18-20:

...Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING them to obey everything Jesus has commanded you...

“Remember, all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and on man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.”

As You Like It Act 2, scene 7, 139-143

Be ready to play your part when the time comes. Get a copy of the script, Rehearse, practice, get over your stage fright, perform, and never forget your lines!

Improving My Vision

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel!

Improving My Vision

• The pictures I have in my mind affect my future. If my vision is limited, the my future will be limited.

Genesis 11:6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

• There was a knee surgery study where they pretended to do the surgery. Years later the subjects reported improvement; the conclusion was that since the brain EXPECTED to get better they got better.

John 5:38-40 There is nothing left in your memory of his Message because you do not take his Messenger seriously. "You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.

• God wanted Abraham to have a picture of the promise so he could be reminded of that promise.

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

• Life may not be fair, but God is fair! Life's plan doesn't get cancelled because of a disappointment or mistake.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

• Let the seeds of greatness God placed on the inside take root.

• If you can see the invisible, then God will do the impossible!

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

• Sometimes you need to get out of your environment to enlarge your vision.

• "Frog in a Well" A frog was born in a well with his family and thought it was the best thing in the world. "We have ALL the water to ourselves. One day he crawled up to the top and saw a pond and realized what he had was just a drop in the bucket compared to what the world had to offer.

• "Rapper Interview" There was a rapper who sang violent and negative lyrics. A reporter asked him why that was so. He said, "Man I'm just rapping about life." The truth is that he was rapping about HIS life. If he had just walked 3 miles out of his neighborhood, then he would have seen a different life!

Joshua hung around Moses and went to the promised land. Elisha hung around Elijah and got a double portion. Sampson hung around compromisers and lost his blessing. Who you hang around has a lot to do with your vision.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

Continually In My Mouth

All rights reserved ByJRochelle(C) 

v. 1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praises shall continually be in my mouth.

This morning, I found myself meditating on this scripture. I thought to myself, How can His praise CONTINUALLY be in my mouth?  It would be silly to suggest that David was insinuating that he was about to embark on a marathon praise session. I believe that he meant that he would praise God through his life at every opportunity. David resolves that he will not focus on his circumstances, but he will instead focus on his God praising Him for who He is and what he does. David was recommending a life of worship. I am to worship God through way I relate to others and react in situations. So during my time of meditation I thought about the things I have planned and practical ways that I could keep his praises continually in my mouth.

I will probably interact with several service providers. By choosing to exercise love as described in 1 Corinthians 13 and if there is a problem I can be sure that my conversation be full of grace and seasoned with salt. If there are any discrepancies I can choose to be honorable.

I will probably drive; now road rage is not a problem for me but sometimes I think I am the cause of road rage. A lot of times I am unsure of my route so I drive slowly and to be honest I usually miss signals. By signals I mean there may be a person who wants to change lanes and I don't notice because I'm so worried . I will bless the Lord by choosing to accept His peace as I drive and do my best not to cause other drivers to stumble.

I will definitely interact with my husband. I will bless the Lord by understanding and supporting my husband in ways that show  my support for Christ. This like the other tasks will require me to take the focus off of myself and put it on God and others. I can't do this in my own strength so right now I just want to commit my day to the Lord so that his praises shall continually be in my mouth.

I encourage you to think of practical ways to worship God in your daily life and let me know what you come up with and how it turns out.