On Saturday morning, July 25th, several of us joined the men from Calvary Chapel Seneca Falls for a wonderful breakfast and two very timely teachings. timely because I think they're right in line with our current study in James, with respect to being mature Christians.
The teachings were from Wes Bentley, head of Far Reaching Ministries, and Lucas Beebe, a pastor who is on board of FRM, and the head of an intelligence office in California.
I've collected a summary of some of the take away notes that were very encouraging and exhortational for me for both teachings, but I've also posted links to the recordings at the end of this post.
If I had to sum up what the Lord said to me from this time, in single sentence, it would be: A reminder to learn to hear and discern God's heart and direction for my life, then purposing to be obedient to all that He calls me to, including being willing to endure suffering and persecution patiently, for Christ's sake. This is amazingly where we've been in our James study.
So here's my notes.
Wes Bentley, Far Reaching Ministries.
1 Kings 18:1-46, 19:1-...
Lucas Beebe, Board Member of FRM, and head of FBI office, Monteray, CA.
Suffering works in us for good:
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
There is a way of knowing Jesus Christ that goes way beyond just knowing about Him historically or knowing His character, or even knowing Him in a theological sense, but to know Him through our own lived connection with Him - That is truly life changing!
Consider how much soldiers form bonds who battle an enemy together; those bonds usually run deep. And so it is when we grow ever closer to our Lord and Savior - and nobody has done more intense battling for us than Him! So how sweet it is, to stand steadfastly for His truth, even in the face if suffering and persecution for His righteousness' sake! Paul was after the prize - that he may win Christ because he truly loved Christ more that all other things!! That's the knowledge I want; that's the relationship I want, to learn to know and hear from Him so easily, but none of the things I have will have a hold on me!
I have a long way to go. Who will go with me? I have decided to follow Jesus!
Wes Bentley
https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelSenecaFalls/videos/1567735153400854/?__so__=channel_tab&__rv__=all_videos_card
Lucas Beebe
https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelSenecaFalls/videos/311447773325671/?__so__=channel_tab&__rv__=all_videos_card
The teachings were from Wes Bentley, head of Far Reaching Ministries, and Lucas Beebe, a pastor who is on board of FRM, and the head of an intelligence office in California.
I've collected a summary of some of the take away notes that were very encouraging and exhortational for me for both teachings, but I've also posted links to the recordings at the end of this post.
If I had to sum up what the Lord said to me from this time, in single sentence, it would be: A reminder to learn to hear and discern God's heart and direction for my life, then purposing to be obedient to all that He calls me to, including being willing to endure suffering and persecution patiently, for Christ's sake. This is amazingly where we've been in our James study.
So here's my notes.
Wes Bentley, Far Reaching Ministries.
- The very act of obedience is a safety net for a Christian.
- As men of God, we need to learn and know (learn how to know) what the Lord is saying to us. This is the mark of a follower if Christ; of a mature Christian; That comes from fully surrendering to Him. This is not just for the Wes Bentley's off the world, or just for the pastors of our churches: This is for EVERY follower / disciple if Jesus Christ.
- It does the world no good for us to hide or faith. We need to live or faith publicly. However, as we live it publicly, our actions should always bring glory to Jesus, NOT ourselves. The world should SEE holiness (set apart-ness) and the live of Christ. That is not likely to happen if we react with an arsenal that's indistinguishable from the world's.
1 Kings 18:1-46, 19:1-...
- By obedience to God, wickedness was wiped out of the nation. Same result from Daniel's obedience.
- Jeremiah 32:6-8 - The Lord wants to work in ALL of us ALL the time; the problem is that many of us Christians are spiritually asleep.
- Remember: God doesn't NEED us to work or fight for Him (if I won't answer the call, He'll find another who is willing); But He wants us to be obedient.
Lucas Beebe, Board Member of FRM, and head of FBI office, Monteray, CA.
- How to suffer with patient endurance (we just covered that in our men's Bible study in James a short time ago).
- We tend to think of suffering and persecution as stuff that happens "somewhere else", like in other countries. That is changing at a rapid pace and is very likely to begin to occur in our own back yards.
- Matthew 16:24
- Matthew 10:21
- 2 Timothy 3:12
- Romans 8:16
- Philippians 1:29
- 2 Timothy 1:8
- John 16:1
- 1 Peter 4:12
- Acts 5:41
- Hebrews 5:8
- 2 Corinthians 11:24
- Colossians 1:24
- Romans 15:4
- James 5:10 - "consider the prophets"
Suffering works in us for good:
- Draws us closer to the Lord
- Opens doors to share the Gospel
- Refines us for His use
- Strengthens us
- Gives us hope
- The sweetest times we tend to remember are the times of the most sufferings, when we had to trust Him the most.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
There is a way of knowing Jesus Christ that goes way beyond just knowing about Him historically or knowing His character, or even knowing Him in a theological sense, but to know Him through our own lived connection with Him - That is truly life changing!
Consider how much soldiers form bonds who battle an enemy together; those bonds usually run deep. And so it is when we grow ever closer to our Lord and Savior - and nobody has done more intense battling for us than Him! So how sweet it is, to stand steadfastly for His truth, even in the face if suffering and persecution for His righteousness' sake! Paul was after the prize - that he may win Christ because he truly loved Christ more that all other things!! That's the knowledge I want; that's the relationship I want, to learn to know and hear from Him so easily, but none of the things I have will have a hold on me!
I have a long way to go. Who will go with me? I have decided to follow Jesus!
Wes Bentley
https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelSenecaFalls/videos/1567735153400854/?__so__=channel_tab&__rv__=all_videos_card
Lucas Beebe
https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelSenecaFalls/videos/311447773325671/?__so__=channel_tab&__rv__=all_videos_card