Born for a Purpose

Open Eyes. Open Heart. Open Hands. | Matthew 10:40-42 Matthew 10:40-42 Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward. During times of persecution, believers are forced to leave their homes and move around the country. They are always in need of food and shelter. Showing hospitality to a believer during these times is considered guilt by association. But in the eyes of Jesus, it is an act of service, and one that will be rewarded. Helping a persecuted believer is the equivalent of welcoming Jesus. Taking care of a prophet or a righteous person results in a prize. Even an insignificant gesture...

Whatever You Need | Matthew 10:17-20 Matthew 10:17-20 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. God will always give you whatever you need in order to do whatever he calls you to do. He will never place you in a situation unaware or unprepared. God will always give us the courage and strength to face any situation. He will not simply give us the words to say; he will speak the words through us. The disciples faced tough times. They endured severe persecution. Each of them, except for John, died a martyr's death. They stood before kings and governors and shared their passion and beliefs. God provided the needed ...

Matthew 9:37-39 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."   I believe that growing believers have five things going on in their lives. We call these the Five Essentials. Word. Regularly reading and studying the Bible. Worship. Private and corporate. Connect. The Christian life is lived in community. Serve. Using your gifts to honor God. Share. Telling others about Jesus. It's the last essential that Jesus addresses in this passage. The opportunities to share are plentiful. Those willing to share are few. Every day people all around us live without Jesus. That means that they are living with a spiritual void. They are heading in the wrong direction. They are serving themselves. And ultimately they will spend an eternity without God in a place the Bible calls "hell." We have the answer! We have the solution! We know the pe...