Should We Stay At The Same Mustard Seed Size Of Faith? Mustard Seed Faith Is Incredible! However, It's A SEED For A Reason. So, Are You Encountering Something Big Right Now? Be Encouraged Today, No Matter What You Face Today, It Cannot Defeat You!

 1 Samuel 17:48-51, "That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine. Hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed face down in the dirt.   That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!   Then David ran up to the Philistine, stood over him, pulled the giant's sword from its sheath, and cut off his Head. When the Philistines saw their great champion dead, they scattered, running for their lives." (MSG)

So, what's the big thing that's making you afraid and discouraged? "These bills are bigger than God." Really? "This crisis is bigger than God." Is it? Really? "This pain, this illness, this family problem; it's bigger than…." Oh, forget it! It's nowhere near bigger than God! Nothing is! I learned to trust God to handle what I can't grasp. And I've watched Him supersede even what I asked of Him in prayer. I learned to look at obstacles, trials, and struggles as only another means of increasing my faith, challenging my hope, and building my trust, dependence, and reliance on Him. I learned that my hardships and hard times were only teaching me to do more than read the Scriptures but to apply them, live them and walk in them.

Listening to a child's perspective is one of the funniest things in the world. After all, the world looks a little different through five-year-old eyes. Chase was five and the grandson of one of my dear friends. One day little Chase was out with his mom, and they drove past this construction site and saw one of those giant cranes. Chase got completely wide-eyed as he watched the humongous, mechanized monster move things around so powerfully! And then, finally, in total amazement, he tried to find a way to express how big that crane looked to him. He said, "Mommy, it's bigger than God!"

This is the thought that brings us to 1 Samuel 17:33. Here, we're watching the army of Israel being intimidated by Goliath, the Philistine giant/bully. Yet David is this little guy who wants to go out and fight him! But Saul, the king, replies in verse 33, "…You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him. For you are [only] a young man, and he has been a warrior since his youth." (AMP). And then, in Verse 37, David says, "…The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you." (AMP)

So, by the time we get to verses 45-47, David Charges the Giant! David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.    This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your Head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands." (NIV).

Like Chase, the Israeli army looked at Goliath and said, "He's bigger than God!" And therefore, they retreated! David seemed the least likely person to take on the giant, but he was the only person there who believed that God was bigger than the giant! So, David, it says, "…ran quickly toward the battle lines to meet him." (NIV).

The Jews of Moses' day and Joshua's day? They made the same mistake when they measured the challenge before them. They looked at the Promised Land and saw walls, cities, and warriors that were bigger than they were. Listen to Numbers 13:31-33, "But the others said, "We can't attack those people; they're way stronger than we are." So they spread scary rumors among the People of Israel. They said, "We scouted out the land from one end to the other—it's a land that swallows' people whole. Everybody we saw was huge. We even saw the Nephilim giants (the Anak giants come from the Nephilim). Alongside them, we felt like grasshoppers. And they looked down on us as if we were grasshoppers." (MSG).

The Contemporary English Version reads: "But the other men replied, "Those people are much too strong for us."    Then they started spreading rumors, saying, "We won't be able to grow anything in that soil. And the people are like giants.    We saw the Nephilim, who are the ancestors of the Anakim. They were so big that we felt as small as grasshoppers." (CEV)

They had men say, in essence, "God's Bigger Than Giants!" But unbelief won the day, so the people got to spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness as a result! Listen to Numbers 32:10-13, "The Lord became very angry. And he said that no one twenty years or older when they left Egypt would enter the land he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE BELIEVED IN THE LORD'S POWER EXCEPT CALEB AND JOSHUA. They remained faithful to the Lord, but he was so angry with the others that he forced them to wander around in the desert for forty years. By that time, everyone who had sinned against him had died." (CEV)

"It's bigger than God!" That's what unbelief says. It's what worry is saying. It's what fear is saying. It's what discouragement is saying. We don't believe that theologically, but practically we seem to. We get beaten by the walls, destroyed by the giants and the obstacles, because we think, "This one's pretty big, maybe too big for God!" But do you want to miss the Promise because you doubt God's Power? Do you want to die in fear because you didn't live in faith? I think not!

So, what's the big thing that's making you afraid and discouraged? "These bills are bigger than God." Really? "This crisis is bigger than God." Is it? Really? "This pain, this illness, this family problem; it's bigger than…." Oh, forget it! It's nowhere near bigger than God! Nothing is! Compared to YOU, the challenge or the obstacle is enormous. But what will you compare to GOD, who created and controls a hundred billion galaxies and everything in them? Why don't you measure your monster next to Him? You'll find your fear turning to faith and your stress melting into peace!

Where is your child-like faith to replace your child-like fear? Why are you responding like little Chase, who doesn't know any better? To him, everything is enormous; even a machine compared to God appeared (in his little mind) as bigger than God. However, you know better, so why is this your response and reaction?

You've seen God heal, you've seen God deliver, you've seen God save, you've seen God do the impossible, and you've seen God turn it around in your favor. So why do you doubt Him now? You've seen God keep a roof over your Head, clothes on your back, food on the table, clothes in the closet. So why do you doubt Him now? You've seen God protect you and provide for you. So why do you doubt Him now? What did the doctors say before didn't stop God from being God…what stops Him now? You've seen God grant you a job, a paycheck, insurance, transportation. So why do you doubt Him now? We need to learn how to measure our giants by the size of our God, not our God by the size of our giants! After all, what can be measured against God?

Psalm 146 reads, "Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God! I'll praise God all my life, singing songs to my God as long as I live. Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; their projects die with them when they die. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God, and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea, and all the fish in it. He always does what he says – defends the wronged and feeds the hungry.

God frees prisoners – he gives sight to the blind; he lifts the fallen. God loves good people, protects strangers, and takes the side of orphans and widows but makes short work of the wicked. God is in Charge – always. Zion's God is God for good! Hallelujah!" (MSG)

Now, that's how we need to view our God! Bigger Than All Things! Always in Charge no matter what becomes out of Control in our lives!

This is a friendly reminder for today. You have a history with God. He has brought you through before and He will do it again. Listen, there is absolutely nothing that God can't do except lie and fail! So why are you allowing circumstances to crush your faith? I'll be the first to tell you this is not what I've read but what I've lived. I know what it feels like to feel as though the bills are bigger than God; the pain is bigger; the enemies attack is bigger; the lack of employment is bigger; the lack of money is bigger; the lack of food is bigger—been there! And I know first-hand the response on both sides. I know what it feels like to experience all those things and feel as if God has forgotten you or that your situation is so big that God must figure out a solution to your problem. And I can tell you personally, thoughts like that only bring about fear, worry, lack of sleep, loss of hair, loss of peace and joy, high blood pressure, and the like. In other words, it does not help; it only hurts! You will probably read this and say you have been there and done that, marriage struggles, diagnosis struggle and other struggles But I've also matured and developed into a woman of faith. I learned to trust God to handle what I can't grasp. And I've watched Him supersede even what I asked of Him in prayer. I learned to look at obstacles, trials, and struggles as only another means of increasing my faith, challenging my hope, and building my trust, dependence, and reliance on Him. I learned that my hardships and hard times were only teaching me to do more than read the Scriptures but to apply them, live them and walk in them. You can't walk by faith while standing still in comfort. Stretched faith comes from comfortability and unfamiliarity! Listen to James:

James 1:2-4, "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (MSG)

Tests, Challenges, and Pressures Work FOR You, Not AGAINST You! If we weren't tested or challenged to endure hardship and pressure, our faith would remain the size of a mustard seed for the entirety of our Christian Walk! And is mustard seed faith bad? Not! Listen to Matthew 17:20, "Because you're not taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle." (MSG) How awesome is that?

But should we stay at the same mustard seed size of faith? I think not! Romans 1:16-17, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and the Greek. For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from FAITH AND LEADING TO FAITH [DISCLOSED IN A WAY THAT AWAKENS MORE FAITH]. As it is written and forever remains written, "THE JUST AND UPRIGHT SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (AMP)

Mustard seed faith is incredible! However, it's a SEED for a reason! The word "seed" is defined as "a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another such plant; the beginning or process of something which continues to develop and grow; to stimulate growth and development; designed to produce and reproduce; to stimulate more of; offspring." Some of its related words are: "fountain; spring; well; beginning; birth; genesis; inception; launch; onset; outset; start; threshold; creation; permeate." And that last word "permeate" is defined as "to spread throughout; to pervade." Its Latin Origin "permeare" means to "pass through." In other words, your mustard seed faith should never remain stagnant like a mustard seed. It's a seed for a reason. It's supposed to reproduce, develop, grow; continue; permeate, and spread throughout! It's supposed to pass through from one capacity to another. And if the Scripture says, "… there's nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle", and that's just with mustard seed faith, imagine what else you could handle with increased confidence? In addition, what else would you believe God for if you grew in faith? Maybe then, when the bills come in, you won't lose your mind; perhaps then, when the doctor gives you a report, you'll still believe the report of the Lord; maybe then, when your marriage looks like it's going down for the last time, it will go another round; then perhaps when your children look as if they're leaving the faith you've taught them, you'll trust that what you've trained them, will not be forgotten; maybe then a layoff will cause you to take a leap of faith instead of lagging in fear.

So, are you encountering something big right now? Well, be awed, but not by what's big, but by your God who's bigger! That's what our little friend saw, something that was bigger than he was, so he thought it was bigger than God. Not So! Nothing and No One is, nor will ever be! That's where we take heart and courage! Even when something is bigger than you, it's never bigger than God (who is also IN you!) 1 John 4:4, "Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because HE WHO LIVES IN YOU IS GREATER (MIGHTIER) THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD." (AMPC)

No matter what you face today, it cannot defeat you! Like David, no matter how Goliath came at him, nor what he came at him with the issue. David knew he had the upper hand because He had the Hand of God to hand him his enemies Head! 1 Samuel 17:48-51, "That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding it deeply. The Philistine crashed face down in the dirt.   That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!   Then David ran up to the Philistine, stood over him, pulled the giant's sword from its sheath, and cut off his Head. When the Philistines saw their great champion dead, they scattered, running for their lives." (MSG)

You Serve a Big God, No Matter How Big the Battle You're Facing! Like David, You Will Win! But You Have to Remember to Increase Your Faith and Believe That When God Says I Got You, He's Got You! Hebrews 13:5-6, "…God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?" (MSG)

How dare we ever fear anything when God is bigger than everything, He's Promised NEVER to let us down or walk off and leave us?! But God is ready to help you, so you need to live fearless, with God in you and with you, "Who Or What Can Get to You?!"

Don't make the mistake of missing a miracle because you let something loom larger in your heart than the awesome God of the creation, the awesome God of the cross, the awesome God of an empty tomb, the awesome God of second chances, the awesome God of the universe; the awesome God that's living in you and coming back for you! After all, if the cross, nails, thorns, spear, death, hell, and the grave couldn't stop or hinder God, what makes you think the gas and water bill you can't pay right now can?!

Be encouraged today, knowing there is nothing too big, complicated, or impossible for Your God to Handle! It Is Well, Because, With God, We Win, No Matter What!

Romans 8:31-39, "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? AND WHO WOULD DARE TANGLE WITH GOD BY MESSING WITH ONE OF GOD'S CHOSEN? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to live for us! —is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone will be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, hard times, hatred, hunger, homelessness, bullying threats, backstabbing, or even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN GET BETWEEN US AND GOD'S LOVE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT JESUS OUR MASTER HAS EMBRACED US." (MSG)

BE ENCOURAGED! YOUR GIANT WILL NEVER BE BIGGER THAN YOUR GOD!

Jeremiah 32:17, "O Lord God! You have made the heavens and earth by your great power; nothing is too hard for you!" (TLB)

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Jesus Spoke The Following To A Crowd Suffering From Anxiety: '…Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds." Powerful Lessons To Be Learned Today!

 Jesus Spoke The Following To A Crowd Suffering From Anxiety: '…Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds." (Matthew 6:25-26 MSG) ,

 For many of you who follow my ministry and teaching, I often use an analogy of an animal in understanding scriptures and God's Word. However, There Are Some Severe Nuggets In Today's Inspirational Reading. Today I want to talk about one of God's beautiful creations who possesses many qualities humans value and strive to attain. 

These Qualities Teach Us To Lay A Firm Foundation Of Faith, So Even When We Stumble And Fall On The Wrong Path Or Our Children, Our Knees Will Recall The Prayer To Get Them Back Up And On The Right Track Again. Qualities & Lessons That Teach Us How To Work Together And Stay Together! How To Encourage And Protect One Another! By Nature, These Creatures Are Independent and Intelligent, and They Teach Us To Do What God Commanded Us To Do; Make Disciples!

You say, 'Yeah, but what can I learn from looking at a bunch of birds?' Well, let's see what lessons the geese can teach us:

A. GEESE FLY UNITED: They don't fly separately, in random style, because no goose alone can go that distance. They're designed to fly in their characteristic 'V' formation. When a bird flaps its wings, the air movement creates an uplift, easing the workload of the bird behind it. Together, their flight range increases by 71 percent. Even the youngest, weakest, and oldest geese can make the trip. They accomplish together what they could never accomplish separately. With that said, the first Scripture the birds teach us is Hebrews 10:25: 'Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another… ‘(NIV). Which means, 'Stay in fellowship with one another, and enjoy the uplift it provides. 'In other words, you're not called to fly solo! The Bible says: 'The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" ‘ (1 Corinthians 12:21 NIV). Birds teach us how to work together and support one another, doing what is always in the best interest of one another. Occasionally, a goose strays off on its own, but look what happens: it soon becomes exhausted, loses altitude, and pulls wearily back into the formation. CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US HOW TO WORK AND STAY TOGETHER!

B. EVERY FORMATION HAS TO HAVE A 'POINT GOOSE' OUT FRONT WHO LEADS AND SETS THE PACE FOR THE OTHERS: It's a tough position because the point goose cuts the headwinds, meets the changing weather conditions, and is first to feel the rain in his face, the snow in his eyes and the ice on his wings. He keeps the formation on target, whatever the situation. It's hard, exhausting, and lonely at times because there's nobody ahead of him to be the wind beneath his wings. The formation depends on him to persevere, stay on track, and get the kin safely to its destination. Every church has its point goose: The Pastor. Each department has its point geese: youth, finance, evangelism, care ministries, etc. They lead, set the pace, and guide those who follow. The church always has two common roles: the under-employed and the over-functioning. Point ministries are the latter, so they tend to burn out frequently. However, just before the point goose is exhausted, a space opens in the formation, and he slips back into it while another bird replaces him, seamlessly becoming the next point goose. Standing in for each other preserves the life of the formation. This is what Paul meant by: 'from whom the whole Body, fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each part, causes the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love. '(Ephesians 4:16 NASB). People of God don't be content to be consumers; instead, be a producer! A great church isn't about paid staff but about volunteers willing to stand in whenever and wherever needed. CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US HOW TO LEAD, FOLLOW AND FILL IN!

C. IN THE WORLD OF GEESE, THE AGED, VERY YOUNG, AND INFIRM ARE KEPT PROTECTED IN THE REAR OF FORMATION: But they aren't isolated, discounted, or considered useless; in fact, they fulfill a vital role. They become the 'honking section' and cheer for the leaders. Inevitably, bad weather threatens the mission. The going gets tough, and the tough are struggling. A lone honk sounds from the rear of the formation, initiating a geese chorus honking encouragement to the point goose. Paul understood this because he admonishes us: "Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11 AMP). He knew we needed a 'honking section' supporting us with uplifting words and prayer. For instance, we need those who say, 'We are behind you. We've got your back covered!' This is why the Bible further admonishes: "And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening]." (2 Thessalonians 3:13 AMP). Many a servant of Christ has crossed their deepest valley on a wing, a prayer, and a honk from some old-scarred, battle-hardened, straggle-feathered, half-bald honker of encouragement who was too stubborn to let a brother or sister quit on their watch! Occasionally, a strident, out-of-tune goose complains loudly and irritatingly. But within moments, the honking section kicks in, drowning out the grumbler, restoring order and unity. The church's problem isn't too many people speaking negatively, and it's too few speaking positively! When someone cries, 'defeat,' honk back, 'victory,' When they call, 'fear,' honk about, 'faith.' A few words of encouragement can overpower a storm of complaints. So join the honking section and be known as a Barnabas, whose name means 'Son of Encouragement ' (Acts 4:36 NIV). CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US HOW TO ENCOURAGE AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER!

D. WITH GEESE, THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS 'TILL DEATH DO US PART': They take it seriously. They're fully committed. At the age of three years, a goose selects a mate for itself. Loyal bird as it is, a goose is known to live with its mate for a long part of its life. Even after the death of anyone from the couple, the other one would live several years alone without engaging with a new partner. And many times, they remain single for the rest of their life. A few birds do not split from their family after breeding season; geese are one of them (if only we would remember this regarding marriage and family). When the ravages of time or circumstances make it impossible for a bird to continue the trip and it begins to lose altitude or fails to keep abreast of the formation, the gaggle provides comfort, nurture, and protection. Two strong geese leave the formation, flying with the 'patient' safely between them, find a sheltered location with food and water, and make a home for the needy bird. Before joining another formation, they'll stay with their ward until it either recovers or dies. For them, caring for another bird goes 'on hold'! What an example of a Christ-like relationship and self-sacrificing love. This is why the Bible says: '…God has combined the members of the Body and given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so there should be no division in the Body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers; if one is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Corinthians 12:24-26 NIV). In today's culture, however, we discount and marginalize people in need, including those no longer functioning as they once did. But God demands that we 'have equal concern for each other, ', especially with those suffering. If a gaggle of birds can do it, surely God's family ought to do it too. 'Look at the birds in the sky!' Jesus directs. If they can do it for each other, '… Aren't you worth more than birds? '(Matthew 6:26 CEV). One of the two greatest commandments (not suggestions) Christ gave us is, '…Love others as well as you love yourself. There is no other commandment that ranks with these." (Mark 12:31 MSG). When word circulates that we love each other in this way, they'll beat down the doors of our church to get in! CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US HOW TO KEEP OUR VOWS TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE AND TO REMAIN IN COVENANT WITH ONE ANOTHER. 'TILL DEATH DO US PART' ISN'T JUST FOR MARRIAGE! JESUS KEPT HIS VOW TO US AND REMAINED IN COVENANT WITH US, BEFORE AND AFTER DEATH!

E.  LOST AND STRAYING GEESE ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED INTO THE FORMATION: It's not an exclusive club for the elite. Geese separated from other formations, isolated by weather, accident, or infirmity, are given full family status. The formation will alter its plans, reschedule its arrival time, and inconvenience to accommodate any strangers seeking its acceptance. Many newcomers arrive dirty, bedraggled, and ill-fed. However, they're never turned away. In the same way, God's church isn't a museum for masterpieces – it's a hospital for those who have been hurt by life, even self-inflicted hurt. Jesus said, 'Come to me, ALL of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. '(Matthew 11:28 NLT). "ALL" are accepted! He also says: 'I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They, too, will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. '(John 10:16 NIV). Christ has no higher agenda than recruiting, saving, and adopting the stranger into His flock. You say, 'But they're not my kind of people; they don't look, talk or smell like me!' So what? We don't get to choose our biological or spiritual siblings; God does. If they rub us like sandpaper, they're helping rub off rough edges and polish us up. Want to see the material God builds the church with? Prepare yourself for a shock. 'Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicator… idolaters… adulterers… homosexuals… sodomites, thieves… covetous… drunkards… revilers… extortioners…AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. BUT YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, BUT YOU WERE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD '(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV). We were taken into the formation, washed, sanctified, justified, and given full family status! How dare we do not extend the same grace and mercy to others! CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US HOW TO ACCEPT "ALL" INTO THE FOLD AND FAMILY!

F.  THEY LIVE TOGETHER AND BRING NEW GOSLING EVERY YEAR: Both parental geese take part in the upbringing of the goslings, which is one of the reasons for the high life expectancy in young ones. Geese produce a new generation yearly; wouldn't it be amazing if the church did the same? Selah…The Bible says, "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world." (Matthew 28:18-20 CEV); in addition: "But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name" (John 1:12 AMP) Geese teach us the importance of consistent producing. We should not have, year after year, the same people, with no new faces filling the sanctuary. CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US TO DO WHAT GOD COMMANDED US TO DO… MAKE DISCIPLES!

G. THE MALE GEESE ARE EXTREMELY OVER-PROTECTIVE OF THE FEMALE GEESE: The male community of geese display a caring and protective nature towards their female counterparts and will even stand between danger and her. 1 Timothy 5:2, "…Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters." (MSG). In a day when words like "gentlemen" and "chivalry" are alarmingly becoming extinct, Men of God, it should not be so among you. Male geese care for and protect the female geese. Does that mean you beat up people every time they say something cross to her? Of course, not. But as men, you should always be a protective hedge to your sisters (and sisters in Christ). Protect them from wolves in sheep's clothing; protect them from being belittled, overlooked, and bypassed due to their gender. Support your sisters, make them safe and secure, and let the world know you will stand between her and danger if needed. If geese have enough sense to do this, what excuse can an intelligent man have for not doing it? So, CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US TO CARE FOR, GUARD, AND PROTECT THE WOMEN IN OUR FAMILY (BOTH NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL).

H.  THE FEMALE GOOSE PRODUCES, THE MALE GOOSE PROTECTS: As a part of the reproduction cycle, the female goose lays an egg each day to reach the number of 5 eggs. Once all the eggs are laid off, she incubates eggs in her nest for 30 days. When she goes far from the eggs, she covers them with sticks to make them feel cozy and protected. Meanwhile, the male parent goose keeps the nest protected from a distance so that predators don't get a hint of the nest and eggs. As parents, both natural and spiritual, we must produce and protect. Geese have enough sense to produce gosling (children) and cover and protect them until they're prepared to do it independently. As natural and spiritual parents, we need to follow their example. We are called to develop/train/produce disciples/followers for Christ (as well as natural children to carry on the family legacy) and, at the same time to protect them. For some reason, today, children turn 18 and are considered "grown" (I beg to differ). In the same way, once someone comes to Christ, we disciple them (briefly), then put them on an auxiliary and move on to the next "to-do" on the agenda. Geese take the time to produce seeds and water, feed, nurture, protect, shield, and cover them. How is it possible that we don't do the same? TODAY, CHURCH, LET'S LET THE GEESE TEACH US TO BE PATIENT WITH OUR NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL CHILDREN. GIVE THEM TIME TO SIT AND BE STILL, TO LEARN, TO GROW, TO DEVELOP, TO BE PREPARED, TO BE GROOMED. IN A NUTSHELL: DON'T RUSH THEM UP OR OUT PREMATURELY!

I. THE OLD AND YOUNG GO THROUGH CHANGES TOGETHER: While the gosling (young geese) is Maturing (gaining), the adult geese are Molting (losing). During the maturing time for the goslings, the adult geese do not leave the area. The goslings' maturing period overlaps with the adults' molting season. The molting season runs from early June to late July. Adult geese lose wing feathers during this time and are unable to fly. Geese can fly again approximately six weeks after molting. The key? Maturing for the Young and Molting for the Old Happen at the Same Time. We must learn to embrace change, transition, development, and growth for all ages in our families and churches. The young are gaining, while the older are losing. The young are getting stronger while the older are weakening. However, this will not be a problem if both parties understand, acknowledge, and embrace it, which requires patience and love. The young should never become prideful, and the older should never feel discarded or threatened. CHURCH, LET THE GEESE TEACH US TO EMBRACE ONE ANOTHER AS WE ALL CHANGE IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WILL MAKE US AS A WHOLE BETTER.

Geese possess many of the qualities that humans value and strive to attain. Devoted to each other, goose couples’ mate for life, raise and protect their babies, and care for one another. Geese also use teamwork when flying in formation. They will honk to encourage each other, and if a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two flock mates will stay with the goose until they die or can fly again.

Who knew Birds could be one of the Best Bible Study Teachers?! I hope You Learned as Much as I Did!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Listen: I Looked At A Valuable Envelope. I Thought It Was Trash; I Threw It Away. I Was Wrong. It Was Worth A Lot. Some People Have Looked At You And Thought You Weren't Worth Much. You've Been Offended & Hurt. They Didn't Know Who You Were.

 Leviticus 26:12-13, "I will walk you and be your God, and you shall be My people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves; and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright [with heads held high as free men]." (AMP)

At one or another time in my life, I did quite a bit of teaching, workshops, seminars, and conferences. But I would have to say one of my most memorable was in Nashville TN. You see, I had just finished up a leadership conference, and one of my associates, Diana, was there with me. We were walking back to our hotel rooms to pack up and leave. Truthfully, I was exhausted and preoccupied when she handed me an envelope. I noticed the email message written on it, and I distinctly remember Diana saying something when she gave it to me, but I was concentrating on the message written on the envelope. I looked at who it was, and I said to myself, "Oh, I already responded to this email." And since I was finished with the message, I threw the envelope away after I got in my room.

Well, when we got back to the office, somebody said, "Where is the check from the directors in Nashville?" They were referring to the check for our teaching from the weekend. I said, "Diana has it." However, when they asked Diana, she said, "I gave it to Janet already." My response? "You did?" Well, if you haven't figured it out by now, the envelope I threw away. It Held the Check! I wish I could say this was the first check that I had thrown away, but it wasn't. Well not on this sizeable check, but I have thrown my check away with the trash, not paying attention to what I was doing. So, in the end, they stopped payment, and they re-issued it. But naturally, I was treated for acute embarrassment! See, I didn't know what the envelope was worth inside, so I just threw it away. In essence, I read the container but took no time to review the contents. I wonder how often so many of us repeat this same mistake in varying areas of our lives!

The good thing about this whole fiasco is that yet another devotional was birthed out of my many blunders in life. This brings us to our text in Leviticus 26:12-13. It's an essential passage for a lot of us who don't realize how valuable we are. See, the people here, the ancient Jews, had been mistreated in Egypt, they'd been used, they'd been hurt, and they'd been belittled (sounds like the testimony of a lot of us.) And so, the awful result is, they started to believe that being treated like cheap labor was what they were worth. And that couldn't be further from the truth.

Listen to what God said to them, and you and me as well. "I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves; and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright [with heads held high as free men]." (AMP)

See, they were out of Egypt, but Egypt wasn't out of them. They were out of bondage, but the bondage wasn't out of them. And I'm afraid that's the very description of many of us today. God has brought people out of domestic violence, addictions; bad habits; bad decisions, and still some act as though they are still where they were! There's nothing worse than being a prisoner for so long that even when the bars open, you remain in bondage!

This reminds me of an old story I'm sure you've heard of: "One day, a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly (I mean, after all, how would you respond if someone were trying to bury you alive?) Then, a few shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely. The farmer peered down into the well and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something unique. He would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of soil. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all the neighbors.

Moral of the Story: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is not to let it burn you but to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping and never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!"

Every time I read that story; I'm amazed by how much it encourages me. Because the truth is, some of us fall and determine that the fall was too great to recover from, so we give up. But then we also experience times when others see how great our fall was, and they round up the neighbors, everyone gets their shovels, and throws dirt in our pit because they simply cannot see a way for us to recover and come up out of what we've gotten ourselves into. All they know for us is an ending. Which makes me wonder, if all the neighbors in the story could all gather their shovels, and come together for the sole purpose of throwing dirt on the donkey, burying him alive, couldn't they all have very well come together and find a way to get him out instead? Isn't that just like some messy folks? They would rather throw dirt on you than help you get clean from a chaotic situation.

Well, today is your day of encouragement because I refuse to allow you to wallow, wilt and die! Neither will you allow yourself or anyone else to bury you before you die! If we are all brutally honest, we all sin daily (and for the rest of us simple church folks, we sin by the nanosecond)! Now, I know some super-spiritual folks tend to act like they sit next to Jesus every day, but then if that were true, why did they need a Savior in the first place? We may not commit the same evil, but we're just as guilty as the next for a crime of corruption! And in case Some Folks Are Under The Impression That Sin Comes In 'Sizes,' Let Me Help You…Sin Has No Size! One Size Fits All! There Are No 'Big And Little Sins.' God Does Not Grade Our Sins By Measures And Levels! God has concluded that both come under His judgment whether one person takes a person's! So, whatever your sin was, be it deliberate and willful, accidental, or even unknown, when you take it to God and repent and ask for forgiveness, it is done in that very instant, and you need not prove levels of righteousness to mere man! Those who you have wronged, you sincerely apologize, make it right in whatever way you can, ask for forgiveness, and walk-in newness going forward determined to be better today than you were yesterday and better tomorrow than you'll be today!

Stop allowing dusty people to throw dirt on you while you bow your head in the ditch and die! I don't care how you got there nor how long you've been there, you can get up, get out and go on! And you need no one's permission or approval to do so! Stop accepting invitations to pity parties celebrating what you could have done, and who you could have been. Do it today, become it today! Shake off the dirt they've thrown on you and at you, use it as a foundation to step on, step up, and step out!

Remember This: John 8:3-11, "The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?" "No one, Master." "Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin." (MSG)

Moral of the Scripture: Until You're SIN-LESS, Remain STONE-LESS! Even Jesus set the record straight. He wrote in dirt; He didn't throw it! So, if anyone approaches you with shovels in hand, don't argue, fuss or fight. Just shake it off, step up, step out and step off! You are no longer under condemnation, nor are you bound in bondage! God has broken the bars of your yoke, and you are now free, so talk, walk, act, and live like it!

Romans 8:1, "Therefore there is now NO condemnation [NO guilty verdict, NO punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]." (AMP)

Psalm 103:12, "He has REMOVED our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west." (TLB)

1 John 1:9, "If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His nature and promises] and will FORGIVE our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]." (AMP)

In other words, you may have gotten yourself down in a dirty ditch, but you don't have to stay there! Therefore, once you're out, let no one treat you like you're still in, not even YOU!

Back to our text, God told them what royalty they were and that it was about time they started living like the treasure they were. Maybe that's what God is trying to say to you today. You've been making the same mistake about your worth that I did with that valuable envelope; you think it's trash, but it's not, and neither are you, no matter what you've done, how many times, with who, when where or why!

My friends, you are more valuable than you give yourself credit for!

But maybe you've felt like a loser, a reject, a victim. So, you've been throwing yourself away, and there are a lot of ways to do that. You can throw yourself away academically by not trying, not working very hard, by getting sexually involved, maybe throwing yourself away chemically or alcoholically. You could be trashing yourself by what you do for pleasure, what you listen to, or watch, by putting yourself down, by settling for bad relationships. Maybe you've even thought about suicide. It could be you don't try because you don't believe you are worth it.

Well, I've stopped by to drop off a vital message to you today: YOU'RE WRONG!

God is saying to you today: You are My handmade creation! My people are no longer slaves to their enemies; you can now walk with your head held high! And yet, so many of you are still making a mistake that breaks the heart of your Creator. You believe you are trash because some people treated you like trash. But no, you are who your Creator says you are. God created you. God loves you. God purchases you through the death of His Son. You belong to God. You are not trash!

You've got to keep moving. Whatever you let sit will go bad. When you have an assignment from God, even when you are hurt, keep moving, keep serving, keep giving, you keep moving. Whatever sits goes bad, you sit long enough your legs will go to sleep; your hands will go to sleep. If your battery sits, your battery will go bad. your car, automobile, if you don't drive, it will go bad. Let your mind sit; it will go bad. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Let meat sit, let fruit sit, let eggs sit and it will go bad. Whatever you let sit will go bad. We are designed to move, so keep moving.

Feed yourself on another level for where you are going. Listen, I know you have been offended, I know you have been hurt, sometimes you have been rejected in a place where they do not see your worth & value, and they have made you feel some way about yourself, but you will go to another place and find there are such great values. You will be surprised who needs what's in you. But you've got to keep moving. I don't care how hard you were slammed to the ground, keep moving, take your time to get up, re-invent yourself, look up, anoint up, dress up, worship up, you got to keep moving, eat up, restore what was lost in you.

Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship [His masterwork, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set] so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]." (AMP)

THAT'S WHO YOU ARE!

Listen: I Looked At A Valuable Envelope. I Thought It Was Trash; I Threw It Away. I Was Wrong. It Was Worth A Lot. Maybe Some People Have Looked At You And Thought You Weren't Worth Much, And They Treated You Like Trash. Well, They Didn't Know Who You Were. They Had No Idea Of The Value You Carry Within. 2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty] so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves." (AMP) You carry treasure, and you are God's treasure! And just because they didn't know it doesn't mean anything. You need to know it! Don't break God's heart anymore by throwing away what He thinks is worth so much He would die for you. He would die for the very wrong things you have done, for every rebellion against Him in your life. You were worth the life of Jesus Christ, His Son.

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Complacency Is Everywhere. Our Churches Are Infected With It. Your Lord Is Trying To Move You Into A New Season Of Your Life; But You’ll Miss It If You Insist On Staying Where It’s Safe! Financially, Geographically , Occupationally & Spiritually Safe

 Proverbs 1:32, “…Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills: COMPLACENCY IS MURDER…” (MSG).

A friend of mine had a ringside seat on a family of birds. They decided to nest under the roof on the porch. The fun part was watching the birth and development of those baby birds. My friend got to see them hatching out and then settling down into their nest. They all fit very nicely in there – AT FIRST! See, Mama Bird kept filling their open mouths with more and more food, and the little birdies didn’t stay little for very long! THEY STRETCHED AND THE NEST SHRUNK! As it got increasingly crowded, each baby did more and more wiggling around to kind of keep his position in the nest. Then they feathered out, and they forgot about all of them sitting in the nest comfortably ever again! They began to perch on the edges of the nest until they were pushed off the edge by their siblings in a battle for whatever food Mama brought. One by one, as crowding pushed those little birds to the edge – and then over the edge – THEY WERE FORCED WITH THE DECISION TO EITHER FLY OR DIE! They decided to fly! However, the last nester stayed in the nest for another full week, being fed as an only child by Mama Bird. Finally, though, Mama Bird must have gotten disgusted with her nest-addicted child. So, she quit feeding him! First, there was a lot of squawking and fussing, and then he even abandoned the nest to finally touch the sky!

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” (Helen Keller).

We all know what those baby birds must discover – that they weren’t made to just hunker down in their comfortable nest until complacency finally kills them! AND NEITHER ARE WE! “The spirit that does not soar is destined to grovel.” (Benjamin Disraeli). AND CERTAINLY, OUR GOD DIDN’T GO THROUGH GUARDS, GRAVES, AND GOLGOTHA, JUST FOR US TO GROVEL ON THE GROUND! You see, those birds are DESTINED to leave where it’s safe so they can finally soar, AND SO ARE WE!

Mike Apicello said it best: “Complacency is our worst enemy.”

One of the definitions I found interesting about the word ‘complacency’ is: “to be pleased with oneself or one’s merits, advantages, situation, and often without awareness of some potential danger to being self-satisfied.” Did you catch that? ‘complacency’ makes you so comfortable in a situation that you don’t even realize that DANGER is lurking nearby! When you become ‘complacent’ you let your guard down; your convictions are easily compromised; your sensitivity wanes; your discernment is weakened; your expectations are lowered; your high standards fall low, you negotiate with the choices and consequences of sin, and the things and people you ought to accept or reject become so entwined that your judgment is faulty!

The Bible clearly warns us about the DANGERS of ‘Complacency’:

“…Fools are DESTROYED by their own COMPLACENCY.” (Proverbs 1:32 NLT);

Zephaniah 1:12 should really pierce your ‘COMPLACENCY’: “…On Judgment Day, I’ll search through every closet and alley in Jerusalem. I’LL FIND AND PUNISH THOSE WHO ARE SITTING IT OUT, FAT AND LAZY, amusing themselves and TAKING IT EASY, Who think, ‘God doesn’t do anything, good or bad. He isn’t involved, so neither are we.’ But just wait. They’ll lose everything they have, money and houses, and land. They’ll build a house and never move in. They’ll plant vineyards and never taste the wine.” (MSG).

And of course, the book of Revelation brings it home: “I know you inside and out and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! YOU’RE STALE. YOU’RE STAGNANT. YOU MAKE ME WANT TO VOMIT. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact, you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.” (3:15 MSG).

Yes, ’COMPLACENCY’ will cost you BIG! WHICH IS WHY GOD LOVES US ENOUGH TO NUDGE US OUT OF THE NEST!

Your Lord Is Trying To Move You Into A New Season Of Your Life Where You Can Make A Far Greater Difference Than You’ve Ever Made Before! But You’ll Miss It If You Insist On Staying Where It’s Safe! Financially Safe, Geographically Safe, Occupationally Safe, Where It’s Methodologically Safe, Socially Safe, Emotionally Safe, Mentally Safe, Spiritually Safe.  Complacency Is Everywhere. Our Churches Are Infected With It. Our ministries are hindered by it. Our passions are dampened by complacency. Complacency describes the state of so many. They are complacent in their work, relationships, and ambitions. All without realizing that they are headed toward destruction. Complacent Christians are a win for the Devil. DON’T LET COMFORTABILITY, CARELESSNESS AND COMPLACENCY KILL YOUR CALLING! 

Read His Description of His loving plan for our lives: (Deuteronomy 32:10-11 ). The New Living Translation reads like this: “He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes. LIKE AN EAGLE THAT ROUSES HER CHICKS and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions.” (NLT). I love that word ’rouses’, it means: “to bring or come out of sleep; to awaken or wake up; to bring out of inactivity; to excite or provoke.” THAT’S WHAT OUR LOVING FATHER DOES FOR US! He ‘rouses’ us, because HE LOVES US TOO MUCH TO LET US SLEEP THROUGH OUR PURPOSE; BECOME IMMOBILE AND INACTIVE IN OUR CALLING; BORED WITH OUR GIFTS OR DULLED IN OUR DESIRE TO FULFILL OUR DESTINY!

Not to mention our Father also rouses us because He knows the enemy desires that we remain comfortably asleep! 1 Peter 5:8-11, “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You are not the only ones plunged into these challenging times. It is the same with Christians all over the world. So, keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering will not last forever. It will not be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are! —will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” (MSG)

The mother eagle removes all the cushioning in her nest, and that leaves her eaglets living on just the rocks and the sticks underneath it! WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE! The stirring of that nest leads to their willingness to leave the nest where they had been so comfortable, and ultimately to take to the sky. Think about it, maybe your nest isn’t quite as COMFY as it once was. Things are stirring that use to be still and changing where they used to be quite COMFORTABLE, remaining the same. In your environment and in your heart there’s this gnawing RESTLESSNESS that seems to say, “GOD’S GOT MORE FOR YOU THAN THIS”! Well, He does, and He is making you RESTLESS for it because RESTLESSNESS always precedes a great work of God! Your Lord is trying to move you into a new season of your life where you can make a far greater difference than you have ever made before!

He’s NUDGING YOU OUT OF THE NEST so you can Soar to the place where: “His blessings overtake you; soar till you’re blessed in the city and the field; soar till the fruit of your body is blessed; soar till the fruit of your ground is blessed; soar till the fruit of your cattle is blessed; soar till your basket and store are blessed; soar till your blessed coming in and going out; soar till your enemies that rose up against you are smitten before your face; soar till those that came at you one way, flee from you seven ways; soar till your storehouses are filled; soar till everything your hands touch prosper; soar till He blesses the land He gave you; soar till he establishes you as His holy people; soar till all the people of the earth are afraid of you; soar till He makes your goods plenty; soar till He opens His good treasure to you, rains on your land in season and blesses the work of your hands; soar till He makes you the lender and not the borrower; soar till He makes you the head; soar till He makes you above only”!  (Gleaned from Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

HE’S NUDGING YOU OUT OF THE NEST, NOT SO YOU CAN FALL, BUT SO YOU CAN FINALLY FLY!

But you will miss it if you insist on staying where it’s safe! Financially safe, geographically safe, occupationally safe, where it’s methodologically safe, socially safe, emotionally safe, mentally safe, and spiritually safe.

AW Tozer, a biblical teacher states like this complacency is easy and it is the enemy of spiritual growth. There are several Biblical references we see on how complacent the people were, for example Lot who had a complacent life, in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, he agreed on to give his daughters to adultery. Then we see about King David who was complacent in his Christian life, where he being a king knowing the truth committed adultery with Bathsheba and send to kill Uriah. The issue of complacency comes to highlight in our Christian lives when we face a situation, but today let me ask you how much are you investing in your Christian lives to avoid complacency. How much time of the day do you invest in reading the Bible and in meditation? How much time you invest in prayer to God? Our Christian life should be a life of relationship to God that grows every day. How do you expect your Christian lives to be successful if you have no investment in your Christian lives? And here is where we see the problem of complacency in Christian lives.

The summary of all this we can evaluate that we see how these characters and the other such people took their Christian life very leniently. So according to the Bible we can conclude that complacency is when the believer has reached a point of satisfaction in which he/ she becomes comfortable in their faith and don’t feel the need to move forward in their Christian life and SIN slowly starts to influence in his or her Christian life.

 Complacency is everywhere. Our churches are infected with it. Our ministries are hindered by it. Our passions are dampened by complacency.

Complacency is the feeling of self-satisfaction without knowledge or awareness of the dangers that are lurking or the deficiencies lurking within oneself. Complacency describes the state of so many. They are complacent in their work, relationships, and ambitions. All without realizing that they are headed toward destruction. So many have not thought through where the drifting through life is taking them, and the answer is nowhere good. 

Complacency is dangerous because it is easy. All you must do is sit back and go with the flow. To go against the flow requires work and conflict might be involved. To be complacent is to get along. Complacency does not require discipline. It doesn’t require accountability. It doesn’t require action. And because of that it is all too often appealing to too many of us. But we can’t be complacent. We are commanded to discipline, action, and accountability. We are commanded to watch ourselves and our doctrine closely. Hebrews 2:1 urges us “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” We need to pay much closer attention to what we know to be true so we can live accordingly and not be in a complacent drift.

This is personal. You either are growing closer to Christ and maturing in His ways or you are drifting away. This means we cannot be complacent in our devotional life or our spiritual disciplines. We must work at them and be in the Word and be applying the truth to our lives every single day. Look around the church and you will see many believers complacent in their spiritual growth.

They believe and they try to live it out and are satisfied with that. But we are called too much more. We are called to be conformed to the image of the Son. We are called to strive with all of God’s might working inside of us to become increasingly like Christ. That does not sound like a complacent attitude or a complacent walk with Christ. It is Paul saying he is pressing on. It is the saint falling to her knees in prayer every day. It is the bible worn out from our frequent handling. It is the life changed by grace that is now lived out for others.

This is relational. Our society trains us to be complacent in how others live. “You do you and I will do me” is the motto of a whole generation. But the gospel does not allow us to be complacent in relationships. We don’t let relationships just drift along, we pursue people for Christ, and we help one another be build up in Christ. This means we hold our brothers and sisters accountable. We seek to be held accountable by our brothers and sisters. We want to stumble together toward Christ in all we do. This is not a complacent community by God’s vibrant loving community.

This is worship. We are not complacent to sit back and be presented at a worship service. We want to be involved and experience the worship service. This does not necessarily mean any certain movement on our part or look the same for everyone. But it does involve the congregation not being passive but active participants. We are not complacent consumers but active worshippers.

This is evangelical. We are not complacent anymore to watch people head toward hell and do nothing about it. We pray, we share, we go, we love, and we trust God is working in those around us to bring them to faith. Too often Christians can be complacent with people’s eternity, and we can no longer live in such a way.

Complacent Christians are a win for the Devil. So, throw off complacency and follow Christ. 

LOOK AT IT THIS WAY: Abraham Would Never Have Discovered God’s Amazing Plans For His Life Unless He Was first Willing To LEAVE The SAFETY And Prosperity Of A familiar and secure place! The Disciples Would Have Always Been Just Another Bunch Of Fishermen Unless They Had Been Willing To Abandon The Security Of Their Career For The Call Of Jesus! Noah Would Have Never Reaped The Blessings From Obediently Building The Ark if he waited comfortably for God to send the rain before he read the blueprints! Ruth would have missed Boaz if she remained under Naomi’s arms instead of obeying Naomi’s instructions to lay at his feet until he arose! Deborah Would Have No Song To Sing If she sat back complacently and told Barack, just go on without me, you got this! If Mary Waited For The Plan Of God To Make Sense To Everybody Around Her Before She stepped out and made the bold declaration, let it be to me as you have spoken, she would have missed out on being the mother of Jesus! Peter could never have known what it was to walk on water if he had not climbed out of what comfortably CARRIED HIM! Imagine If Samuel Asked Jesse For Any More Of His Sons, And They Went Out To Get David, That David’s Response Was, no thanks, that whole king, kingdom, crown, and anointing thing seems like a lot of work and headache. I’ll just stick to what I know and stay comfortable in this here pasture! What about Paul? We could easily understand if he decided to say, God, you, and I both know where I come from and what I did. It is nice that you want to use me regardless, but I do not think I want to deal with the hassle of all the critics addressing my past. I will just write a letter or two on your behalf, to your churches, behind the scenes and sign it anonymously! Just Imagine If Jesus Said I’ll WAIT FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE METHOD OF SALVATION FOR THE WORLD, THAT CROWN AND CROSS, THOSE NAILS AND SPEARS, ALL LOOK A BIT TOO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME TO BEAR!  

Listen: God has much more of Him that He wants you to experience, but it will ONLY happen as you move beyond all your usual security blankets and abandon yourself to total trust in Him! He has so much more He wants to do with your life, BUT IT’S BEYOND YOUR COMFORT ZONE! Like those baby birds, you were not created to just hunker down in a safe, secure little nest – a nest that is becoming increasingly uncomfortably small! No, you are destined to soar! Therefore, do not let the comfortability of the nest kill you!

After examining the topic of complacency, I have personally realized that it is easy to fall into the sin of complacency. The creator of the universe calls us to glorify Him, in our worship, praises, devotions and we struggle to attend church or spend time in study and prayer. We take what is holy and treat it as mundane.

DANIEL – a man who was under the rule of three major rulers, yet he led a life of humbleness and never let complacency overtook him. Because of the power he had people around him, started envying him, and placed traps to remove him and we know the rest of the story. So, we need to start asking ourselves when we compare ourselves with Daniel. Are we leaving a complacent life in the offices? Do people in the office or workplace know this is not you - you will not compromise on bribe, lie, go against your moral standards. It is not because you are great but because it is the God whom we serve is great and we belong to him and that is why we hold our moral standard high or where you study, do they know who you are? What is not negotiable with Daniel, they knew it very well? And they started to use that against Daniel. Daniel teaches that all throughout his life his priority was God. Honor God and He will add Glory to you.

Listen, complacency is a serious matter, and this is a sin. We must confess our sin to the Lord and allow Him to purify us of that which taints our lives and souls. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” This promise still holds true for all of us even today. So repent, break free from complacency, and bring honor to God.

DON’T LET COMFORTABILITY, CARELESSNESS, AND COMPLACENCY KILL YOUR CALLING!

Write the book; preach the sermon; teach the lesson; play the instrument; travel the land; go back to school; apply for the mortgage, the scholarship, the grant; the loan; start the business…whatever it is, stop procrastinating! Just because the opportunity came once, is no guarantee it will come again!

In a Nutshell: All you have is TODAY! Tomorrow is promised to NO MAN! Therefore, stop deferring till the morning what you can do TODAY! When the Spirit gives you a GO, do not allow your Flesh to STOP you! Do not make excuses; don’t blame others or point fingers to accuse. No, this is your life, the only one you get, so make the best and most of it!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com