Who and what we point at becomes primary

Today’s reading – Psalm 29, John 4:21-24

I have played my fair share of basketball over the years.  One particular time one of my teammates threw me a perfect pass that led to a layup for me.  I scored the points but without the perfect pass no basket would have happened. That is recorded as an assist.  I remember after that pass pointing and nodding to him as if to say, “that was all you.”   God loves it when we succeed and then point at Him as the one who made it happen.  Who is getting the credit in your life?  True worship is living all out for all the glory to go to our Father in heaven.

“We don’t live to get the credit, we live to give the glory.”

The only way we are going to be able to point in the right direction is if our life is guided by the Spirit of God.  This is an everyday continual alignment process.  When we think of worship in our culture most of our thinking goes towards a Sunday worship service, someone giving a sermon, or the music at an organized worship gathering.  But everything in our life everyday is to point to God and his work in our lives.  If we are to fully follow Jesus there will be pain, because there are probably activities in our lives that are not bringing glory and credit to God.  Is there anywhere in your life you are trying to get more credit?  Is there anything that doesn’t give him glory?  Is there clear evidence in your life you follow Christ.

 

 

 

 

Josh

The 40 Day Fasting Explanation

2. Continual Fasting  – A 40 Day Prayer and Fasting Guide for 217church

God has blessed us through incredibly unique circumstances over the last nine years as 217church.  We have baptized over 275 people and been given the unique calling to have a church planting and multiplication vision.  The past 18 months of ministry have led the pastors and elders to call us as a congregation to a season of prayer and fasting.  We want to use this time to understand the depth of God’s heart for us and the next steps he is calling us to.  I trust your heart will be open and God will bring us to a deeper understanding of what it means to “rebuild lives one person at a time.”

We believe God wants us to fast over a period of 40 days.  As a reminder, what you choose to fast is between you and Jesus. But you may want to include some natural encouragement and accountability over this 40 day period.  This may mean you are doing one of the following as an example:

• Skipping a meal or a whole day of meals.
• Eliminating something like sugar, coffee, or meat to remind you of your total dependence on God.
• Encouraging one another in the church family as you pray together and sacrifice your physical sustenance for spiritual direction and focus.

What will God do? I am looking forward to see his direction.

Renewal is on the way – Join me along this process

 

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church meets Sundays at 9:30am & 11:00am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  Visit www.217church.com for more information, or watch a weekend message here.