RAISE THE STANDARD!

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 says, If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 

1. Humble- make lower; James 4:6, He gives grace to the humble, but rejects the proud. 

2. Pray- James 5:16 , the earnest and fervent heartfelt prayers of a righteous man makes tremendous power available and dynamic in its working. 

3. Seek My Face- to reach for; James 4:8, Come close to God and He will come close to you. God is waiting on us, we're not waiting on Him. Our heart and will must be yielded and broken to God . Not asking but seeking. 

4. Turn from our wicked ways- a change of mind, then a change of purpose; a taking off of the old and a putting on of the new (Colossians 3:8). A fresh start, forgetting what is behind and pressing ahead. 

In Christ,

Chris Jacobs

GOING BEYOND THE 4 WALLS OF THE CHURCH

If you were to Google churches in your area you would find out that there are probably hundreds in your zip code. We see beautiful historical churches in our downtown regions and non for profit agencies claiming to be doing the Lord's work. Yet there still looms statistical facts that are disheartening and tragic. Joblessness and homelessness are still on the rise and many people are struggling. In our economic times families are becoming homeless and more children are on the streets. When you visit many churches you will also find out that they are not evangelism driven. Some churches would rather you come to them than they go to you. Even the word evangelism seems as if it is an offensive word in the church today. We may have a toy drive around Christmas and maybe a summer outreach depending on the church budget. Evangelism has been gravely neglected and rejected by the 21st century church. We are more interested in building our own personal kingdoms and buildings rather than doing true Kingdom work just as Jesus modeled. The church must adopt an evangelism mindset and go beyond the four walls of their comfortable, air conditioned sanctuaries and reach a lost, dying generation. 

Jesus COMMANDED that we GO into ALL the world and PREACH the gospel to EVERY creature (Mark 16:15). This was not a suggestion but it was clearly a command. Over the years the church has become too comfortable and quite lackadaisical behind her walls. The church was not designed to be a country club for  elite leaders and self righteous Christians.  It was designed to be a hospital for a broken and dying world. If we are not IMPACTING the community that our church is located in, then what are we doing? If every family within a 10 mile radius does not know that we are available to them and their community, then what are we doing? We must tear down the wall that separates the church and community and began to GO so people will KNOW!

I challenge you today to become evangelism minded. Think outside the four walls of your church building to see how you can impact the people around you. It's time reach out to this hurting, dying world to let them know that Jesus Christ can heal and help them in every area of their lives.

God Bless, 

Evangelist Chris Jacobs

Please support Operation Thirst as we take on the summer heat in Houston and minister the love of God to the homeless. Donate by clicking the link below:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/REACH-MINISTRY.html?soid=1113703040038&aid=VHR6Mzfkc4A 

MOVE FORWARD!

I would like to start this blog by saying Happy New Year to everyone. I believe that this year is going to be one of the greatest years of your life. This is your year, this is your moment and God is going to show forth His goodness in your life. The thing I love about a new year is the fresh start. For many of you 2012 was challenging, difficult and troublesome. But thanks be to God that we serve a God of new beginnings. You can leave 2012 where it is, in the past. Paul says in Philippians 3:13, "... forgetting those things which are behind and reaching FORWARD to those things which are ahead." This is the year to move forward toward  the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Our God's tender-mercies and loving-kindness are new every single morning. God gives us a fresh start everyday of our lives. What a wonderful and comforting thought. No matter the mistakes, setbacks, sins, struggles  or disappointments you experienced in your past you can MOVE FORWARD with God's grace and mercy. 

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and one of his must effective tactics is to keep you locked in the prison of your past. By doing so, he debilitates you from reaching the expected end that God has for you (Jeremiah 29:11). His lies entrap us in fear and cripples us from fulfilling the purposes of God for our life. Once we get the revelation that we have the right to a fresh start and a new beginning we can accomplish all that God has placed in us to accomplish. When the enemy reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future. You combat every one of his lies with the truth of God's word. You have a future in Christ Jesus!

So beloved, receive that fresh start and new beginning that the Lord has for you. As we start this new year choose to press FORWARD and escape the prison of your past. You are forgiven, redeemed and released from the mistakes of yesterday. Second Corinthians says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; old things are passed away; behold all things have become NEW."  So I encourage you to Keep MOVING FORWARD, NO LOOKING BACK!

In Christ,

Chris Jacobs