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Nehemiah 4:10 — Removing the Cluster So We Can Live for Christ

William Thompson

“The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”

1. The “Cluster” in Judah: What Was Blocking Their Progress

Judah’s complaint reveals three spiritual barriers that still show up in our lives:

  • Weakness — “The strength of the laborers is failing.”
    They were worn down, stretched thin, and emotionally drained.
  • Weight — “There is much rubbish.”
    The debris from the old ruins cluttered the worksite and slowed the rebuilding.
  • Withdrawal — “We are not able to build the wall.”
    Discouragement made them feel incapable of doing what God had already empowered them to do.

2. The Spiritual Parallel: What Clutter Looks Like in Our Walk With Christ

Just like the rubble around Jerusalem, our lives can fill up with spiritual debris:

  • Old habits that should’ve been thrown out
  • Past hurts that still take up emotional space
  • Negative voices that drain faith
  • Unconfessed sin that blocks intimacy with God
  • Overcommitment that leaves no room for devotion
  • Fear and comparison that paralyze obedience

Christ calls us to live free — but freedom requires clearing the rubble.

3. Why the Enemy Loves Clutter

Sanballat and Tobiah didn’t have to stop the work —
they just had to keep the people discouraged.

The enemy knows:

  • A cluttered mind can’t focus on Christ
  • A cluttered heart can’t receive peace
  • A cluttered schedule can’t make room for prayer
  • A cluttered spirit can’t walk in purpose

If Satan can’t destroy you, he’ll distract you.

4. How Nehemiah Led Them to Remove the Cluster

Nehemiah didn’t deny the rubble — he confronted it with strategy and faith.

A. He refocused them on God (v. 14)

“Remember the Lord, great and awesome.”
Clearing clutter starts with shifting our eyes upward.

B. He reorganized the work (v. 13)

He placed people strategically.
Sometimes the clutter is solved by structure.

C. He reinforced their identity and purpose (v. 14)

“Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters…”
Purpose gives strength that feelings can’t.

D. He rearmed them spiritually (v. 17–18)

Builders worked with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other.
We build and battle at the same time.

5. Removing the Cluster So We Can Live for Christ

Here’s what it looks like today:

A. Remove the rubble of the past

Let go of what God has already forgiven.

B. Remove the rubble of distraction

Not everything is sin — but everything isn’t helpful.

C. Remove the rubble of discouragement

Speak God’s Word louder than your feelings.

D. Remove the rubble of spiritual passivity

Pick up your sword again.
Pick up your assignment again.
Pick up your worship again.

E. Remove the rubble of self-reliance

Christ is the strength you don’t have.

6. The Result: A Life That Can Be Built for Christ

When the rubble is cleared:

  • Vision becomes clearer
  • Prayer becomes stronger
  • Obedience becomes easier
  • Joy becomes fuller
  • Purpose becomes unstoppable

You can’t build on clutter.
You can’t grow on rubble.
You can’t live for Christ while carrying what He died to remove.

A Closing Ministry Thought

Nehemiah teaches us this:
God doesn’t just rebuild walls — He rebuilds people.
But He often starts by helping us clear away what’s been holding us back.

1. Concise Takeaway

Spiritual baggage is the accumulated weight of past experiences, wounds, sins, beliefs, and expectations that follow a person into their present and shape how they see God, themselves, and others.

It is what Christ invites us to lay down so we can walk freely.

2. What Spiritual Baggage Includes

A. Emotional Baggage

  • Unresolved hurt
  • Rejection
  • Betrayal
  • Abandonment
  • Shame
    These create internal narratives like “I’m not enough,” “People always leave,” “God is disappointed in me.”

B. Mental Baggage

  • Negative thought patterns
  • Fear-based thinking
  • Overthinking
  • Self‑condemnation
  • False identities
    This baggage shapes how a person interprets everything around them.

C. Behavioral Baggage

  • Cycles you can’t break
  • Reactions that don’t match the moment
  • Avoidance, isolation, perfectionism
    These are survival habits that became spiritual weights.

D. Spiritual Baggage

  • Guilt from past sin
  • Legalism or religious pressure
  • Misunderstandings about God
  • Trauma connected to church or leadership
  • Feeling unworthy of grace
    This is the baggage that directly interferes with intimacy with God.

3. Where Spiritual Baggage Comes From

1. Past Wounds

Pain that was never processed becomes weight.

2. Past Sin

Forgiven sin can still feel heavy when shame lingers.

3. Words Spoken Over You

Curses, criticism, labels, or expectations that shaped identity.

4. Family Patterns

Generational cycles, emotional inheritance, or learned behaviors.

5. Self‑Imposed Pressure

Trying to be strong, perfect, or “the one who holds everything together.”

4. What Spiritual Baggage Does

  • Distorts how you hear God
  • Limits spiritual growth
  • Creates fear of vulnerability
  • Sabotages relationships
  • Blocks joy and peace
  • Makes simple things feel overwhelming
  • Keeps you tied to old seasons

Spiritual baggage doesn’t just weigh you down — it slows your destiny.

5. What Scripture Says About It

“Cast your burden on the Lord…” (Psalm 55:22)

God never intended for you to carry what He can carry better.

“Lay aside every weight…” (Hebrews 12:1)

Some things aren’t sin — they’re just heavy.

“Come to me… and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

Jesus doesn’t just forgive sin — He lifts burdens.

6. How God Deals With Spiritual Baggage

A. He Reveals It

God exposes what you’ve been carrying so He can heal it.

B. He Reframes It

He shows you the truth about what happened and who you are.

C. He Removes It

Through surrender, confession, forgiveness, and renewal.

D. He Replaces It

He trades:

  • heaviness → praise
  • shame → identity
  • fear → confidence
  • sorrow → joy
  • striving → rest

7. A Practical Framework for Release

1. Name it

You can’t release what you won’t acknowledge.

2. Trace it

Where did it come from? What moment? What lie?

3. Replace it

What truth does God speak over that area?

4. Surrender it

Release it in prayer, worship, or confession.

5. Walk differently

Healing is not just an event — it’s a new pattern.

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REDEEMING THE TIME Ephesians 5:15–17

William Thompson

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

POINT 1 — RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF TIME

Key Idea:
You will not redeem what you do not value.

Time is a divine gift, measured and assigned by God Himself  

Psalm 139:16 NLT

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Why this matters:

  • Time is limited — James 4:14
  • 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  
  •  

Time is accountable — (Romans 14:12).

   So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Time is purpose-filled —(Ephesians 2:10).

  • 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  

Illustration:
Jesus lived only 33 years, yet changed the world because He redeemed the time (John 9:4).

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Jesus understood His assignment and refused distractions.

Application:

  • Stop assuming you have “more time.”
  • Start treating each day as a divine appointment.
  • Ask God each morning: “Lord, help me do something today that matters in eternity.”

POINT 2 — RESIST THE DISTRACTIONS OF THE DAY

“Because the days are evil.” — Ephesians 5:16

Evil days produce wasted lives.

The enemy doesn’t need to destroy you — he only needs to distract you.

What steals time:

  • Foolish living (Ephesians 5:15)
  • Thoughtless decisions (v. 17)
  • Empty, harmful routine (v. 18)
  • Vain pursuits with no eternal value (Titus 3:8)

Truth:
Satan’s greatest weapon is not always sin — sometimes it’s distraction. We just spent our time do nothing!

Examples:

  • Hours lost to scrolling/Wandering
  • Days lost to bitterness
  • Years lost to procrastination
  • Opportunities lost to fear
  • Feelings of regret
  • Looking back rather than looking ahead.

Application:

  • Evaluate unproductive lifestyle
  • Eliminate what drains you spiritually
  • Replace wasted time with Kingdom time
  • Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)

POINT 3 — REDEEM THE MOMENTS GOD GIVES YOU

“Understand what the will of the Lord is.” — Ephesians 5:17

Redeeming the time means intentionally turning ordinary moments into eternal investments.

Place value on people and not things.

God values life and God value time.

How to redeem time:

  • Pray during small pauses
  • Worship during routine tasks
  • Serve others with joy
  • Share Christ when prompted
  • Use your gifts for ministry and not for messing
  • Look for divine opportunities daily
  • Do everything “as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23)

Truth:
What is done for Christ will last (Mark 9:41).
What is done for self will burn (1 Corinthians 3:12–15).

Illustration:
Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” captures the urgency of life — but believers go further.

We live like we were dying for the glory of God, not for earthly thrills.

Application:

  • Live with urgency
  • Live with purpose
  • Live with eternity in mind
  • Live ready to meet God

WHAT WILL PERSIST Of YOUR LIFE When your time is up:

  • Your money will go to someone else
  • Your job will be filled by someone else
  • Your possessions will be divided
  • Your name may fade from memory

But what you invested in eternity will follow you forever.

⭐ The one thing that matters most: your relationship with God

If everything else fell away, the core question becomes: Am I right with God, and have I lived in a way that honors Him?

  1. Not perfection.
  2. Not performance.
  3. But connection — trust, surrender, obedience, love.

Jesus consistently brought people back to this center:

  • “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”
  • “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

At the end of life, what matters most is not what you built, but who you belonged to.

⭐ The second thing that matters: how you loved people

  1. My family
  2. My friends
  3. People I came in contact with

If you were to step into eternity right now, the next question would be: Did I love people well?

  • Not Did I impress them
  • Not Did I please them
  • Not Did I keep up appearances

But:

  • Did I forgive?
  • Did I reconcile?
  • Did I show compassion?
  • Did I leave people better than I found them?

Love is the only earthly thing that crosses over into eternity.

⭐ The third thing that matters: whether you lived your purpose

Purpose isn’t about titles or accomplishments.
It’s about assignment.

If life ended right now, the spiritual reflection becomes: 

Did I do what God put me here to do?

That could be:

  • pouring into your family
  • serving your others
  • encouraging someone
  • using your gifts
  • being faithful in the small things

Purpose is not measured in size — only in obedience.

⭐ The fourth thing that matters: the condition of your heart

When everything external is stripped away, God looks at:

  • your motives
  • your integrity
  • your faith
  • your humility
  • your willingness to repent and grow

A surrendered heart matters more than a successful life.

⭐ So if you died right now, spiritually, what would matter most?

That you knew God, loved people, fulfilled your purpose, and kept your heart aligned with Him.

Everything else — money, status, stress, mistakes, opinions — becomes dust.

Redeem the time.
Redeem the moments.
Redeem your life for the glory of God.

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Living in a Divided World means we are living in a Fallen World!

William Thompson

Are you living by our feelings or by our faith?

The Messiah came with a God plan.

The God plan is not always in man’s playbook.

🌿 John 4:4 — “And he must needs go through Samaria.”

John 4:4 NLT — He had to go through Samaria on the way.

It was in God’s plan to reconcile all his created.

Sin had separated but Grace re-united.

This short verse is loaded with divine intentionality.

It’s not filler.

It’s not geography.

It’s theology.

It reveals the heart, mission, and strategy of Jesus in a single line.

🔥 1. The Divine Must

The phrase “must needs” speaks of:

  • Necessity, not convenience
  • Assignment, not accident
  • Purpose, not preference

Jesus wasn’t wandering.

He was on divine schedule with a divine purpose.

There was a woman… a well… a moment… and a breakthrough waiting.

Application:
When God has a purpose for you, He will arrange your steps—even into places you would normally avoid.

🌍 2. Breaking Barriers

Jews avoided Samaria due to deep ethnic, cultural, and religious hostility.
But Jesus goes where others refuse to go.

He crosses:

  • Racial barriers Black – White – Brown
  • Gender barriers Women even in the pulpit
  • Moral barriers Caught in adultery & Charging too much taxes
  • Religious barriers Denomination

Application:
Grace travels into places tradition avoids.
Jesus steps into the uncomfortable to reach the unreachable.

💧 3. A Divine Appointment with One Person

Jesus went through Samaria for one woman—a broken, thirsty, socially isolated soul.

He didn’t go for the crowds.
He went for the one.

And that one became the key to reaching an entire city.

Application:
Never underestimate the power of one encounter.

God’s greatest moves often begin with one person who feels forgotten.

🔄 4. Purpose Over Preference

Most Jews took the long route around Samaria.
Jesus took the direct route through it.

I think often people of faith is taking the long route to due God’s will.

Sometimes God leads us:

  • Through places we don’t prefer
  • Through seasons we don’t enjoy
  • Through people we don’t understand

But purpose is always on the other side of obedience.

🕊️ 5. The Gospel Goes Where Religion Won’t

Religion avoids Samaria.
Jesus walks straight into it.

This verse reveals:

  • The inclusive heart of God
  • The mission of Christ
  • The reach of grace

Application:
If we follow Jesus, we must be willing to go where He goes—even if it challenges our comfort zones.

📌 Teaching/Preaching Points

Here are ready-to-use points:

1. The Must of Mission

Jesus didn’t go by accident—He went by assignment.

2. The Path of Purpose Isn’t Always Comfortable

Samaria was avoided, but Jesus walked into it.

3. God Meets Us in the Middle of Our Mess

The woman wasn’t looking for Jesus, but Jesus was looking for her.

4. One Encounter Can Change a City

Her testimony became evangelism.

5. Grace Crosses Every Barrier

Where others see division, Jesus sees destiny.

Jonah struggled with going to Nineveh.

It took a wind

It took a storm

It took a great fish

It took God’s Grace

Jesus didn’t struggle spiritually with the cross.

He said I came to seek and save those who are lost.

Are we actively seeking, reaching, and trying to bring that one to the Lord?

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Study Guide: Satan is Defeated

William Thompson

1. The Problem of Lukewarmness

Key Idea: The church has become comfortable with being average, unlike sports teams that strive to improve.

Warning: Lukewarm attendance and presence in the community reflect spiritual complacency.

Memory Verse: Revelation 3:16 – So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Discussion Questions:

  1. 1. What does spiritual lukewarmness look like in your life?
  2. 2. Why do you think Jesus warns so strongly against being lukewarm?
  3. 3. What practical steps can you take to rekindle your passion for Christ?

2. Victory Over Satan

Core Scripture: Revelation 12:11 – They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.

Two Weapons for Victory:

  • The Blood of Christ – Represents Jesus’ sacrificial death and atonement for sin.
  • Our Testimony – Declaring faith in Christ boldly.

Memory Verse: Romans 8:37 – Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Discussion Questions:

  • 1. How does the blood of Jesus give us victory over Satan?
  • 2. Why is your testimony a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare?
  • 3. Share a time when your testimony encouraged someone else.

3. Satan’s Strategy

Starts in the Mind: Fear, doubt, and negative thoughts are his entry points.

Common Fears: Rejection, unworthiness, failure.

Scripture Defense: Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon formed against you shall prosper; 2 Timothy 1:7 – God has not given us a spirit of fear.

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:8 – Whatsoever things are true… think on these things.

Discussion Questions:

  • 1. Which fear do you struggle with most?
  • 2. How can renewing your mind with God’s Word defeat Satan’s attacks?
  • 3. What practical habits help you guard your thoughts?

4. Understanding Satan

Origin: Once an angel, fell through pride (Isaiah 14:12).

Nature: Accuser, tempter, seeks vulnerable believers.

Limitations: Can only act within God’s permission (Job 1:8-12).

Memory Verse: 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Discussion Questions:

  1. 1. How does knowing Satan’s limitations strengthen your faith?
  2. 2. Why is vigilance important in the Christian life?
  3. 3. What does resisting the devil look like practically?

Satan is Defeated Study Guide

Memory Verses & Discussion Questions

Prepared by Pastor William Thompson

Date: December 18, 2025

Coffee with the Preacher, Uncategorized

Kingdom Awakening Study Guide

William Thompson

Lesson Theme

Rekindling God’s fire in our hearts to accomplish His work with vision, unity, and faith.

Key Scriptures

  • Jeremiah 20:9 – God’s Word is like fire in our bones; it cannot be contained.
  • Nehemiah 2:17–18 – Vision inspires action and unity in rebuilding.
  • 2 Chronicles 7:1–11 – God’s presence brings renewal and worship.
  • 2 Chronicles 7:13–14 – Humility, prayer, and repentance lead to restoration.
  • Mark 16:17–20 – Signs follow those who believe and act in faith.

Lesson Objectives

  • Understand the importance of vision in God’s work.
  • Recognize the role of God’s presence in revival.
  • Learn how unity and teamwork accomplish Kingdom goals.
  • Apply principles of prayer, humility, and obedience for spiritual renewal.

Main Points

  1. God’s Word Ignites Passion – Jeremiah reminds us that God’s Word cannot be silenced—it burns within us. Application: Let Scripture fuel your calling.
  2. Vision Leads to Action – Nehemiah’s clear vision inspired leaders to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Application: Share God-given ideas boldly and trust the Spirit to move others.
  3. God’s Presence Brings Revival – Solomon’s dedication of the Temple shows that worship and sacrifice invite God’s glory. Application: Create space for God’s presence through prayer and praise.
  4. Repentance Restores the Land – God promises healing when His people humble themselves and turn from sin. Application: Personal and corporate repentance precede awakening.
  5. Faith Produces Signs – Believers empowered by Christ demonstrate His authority through miracles. Application: Live boldly in faith, expecting God to confirm His Word.

Discussion Questions

  • Why is vision essential for accomplishing God’s work?
  • How can we rekindle spiritual fire when discouragement sets in?
  • What practical steps can we take to invite God’s presence into our lives and churches?
  • How does unity among believers impact Kingdom advancement?
  • What does Mark 16 teach us about the power of faith in action?

Action Steps

  • Pray for God to rekindle His fire in your heart.
  • Share your vision for ministry with others.
  • Commit to humility, repentance, and obedience.
  • Work together to accomplish God’s purposes.
  • Expect God to confirm His Word through signs and transformed lives.
Coffee with the Preacher

Study Guide: Spirit-Filled Power

William Thompson

Key Verse

Zechariah 4:6 – ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.

Background

  • • Zerubbabel’s Role: Tasked with rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 3:2, 8; Haggai 1:1; 2:23).
  • • Prophetic Support: Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people spiritually while Zerubbabel oversaw the work.
  • • Core Principle: Success comes through God’s Spirit, not human strength.

Main Theme

Human strength is insufficient for lasting spiritual impact. God’s Spirit empowers believers to accomplish His purposes.

Task:

The call to lead Christ Community Church.

  1. No building to meet in.
  2. Not chartered
  3. Only 12 people to work with.
  4. Bi-vocational
  5. In School to obtain a degree in Pastoral Ministries
  6. Married with three small children

Marks of a Spirit-Filled Life

  • Confidence: Calm under pressure, unshaken in chaos, unworried in times of lack.
  • Transformation: ‘The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you… and you will be turned into another man.’ (1 Samuel 10:6)
  • Fullness: ‘Be filled with the Spirit…’ (Ephesians 5:18)

Results of Spirit-Filling

  • Boldness: ‘They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.’ (Acts 4:31)
  • Hope and Joy: ‘May the God of hope fill you… through the power of the Holy Spirit.’ (Romans 15:13)
  • Examples: Stephen (Acts 6:5), Barnabas (Acts 11:24), Disciples (Acts 13:52)

Practical Applications

  • Controlled by the Spirit: Yielded will, Spirit-led thoughts and actions (Ephesians 5:18).
  • Strength for Life: Produces fruit—love, joy, peace.
  • Spiritual Maturity: Renewed mind, full of faith and wisdom (Acts 6:5; 11:24).
  • Ongoing Process: Daily dependence on God’s power.
  • Manifested in Action: Evident in relationships, work, and spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6).
  • Joyful Witness: Enables effective testimony (Acts 13:52).

Discussion Questions

  1. Why does God emphasize His Spirit over human strength in Zechariah 4:6?
  2. How can you cultivate a Spirit-filled life in practical ways?
  3. Which mark of a Spirit-filled life challenges you most, and why?
  4. How does being Spirit-filled impact your witness to others?
  5. What does ‘Not by might nor by power’ look like in your daily decisions?
  6. How do you recognize when you are relying on your own strength instead of God’s Spirit?
  7. What role does prayer play in staying Spirit-filled?
  8. How can the examples of Stephen, Barnabas, and the early disciples inspire your walk with God?
  9. In what areas of your life do you need boldness from the Holy Spirit?
  10. How can you encourage others to depend on the Spirit rather than their abilities?
Coffee with the Preacher

Church Revitalization Triage

William Thompson

What’s the First Step to Save a Declining Church?

Church revitalization triage helps pastors work logically and not give in to the pressures of people who want their problems fixed.

By Luke Holmes

“We want you to fire the janitor.”

That’s what they told me in my first week on the job at a new church. They had wanted her fired for some time, but seemingly, nobody had the nerve to do it. So they thought they’d wait until they got a new pastor and make him do it. Before I could even unpack a box, they had plans for what I needed to do.

Everybody has an idea about what the new pastor should do first. They want him to fix the thing that’s been bugging them. Sing more new songs or more old songs. Fire the janitor, or quit spending so much. Still, others want the pastor to rewrite the bylaws, fix the leaky roof, or shake some sense into that wayward staff member. Others might want the pastor to start a new Sunday School class, be more evangelistic, or talk about the pressing political issue of the day. The pastor is still new and doesn’t know up from down in this new church; he only knows what people talk to him about.

But the pastor is not just a listener; he’s a leader. How does the pastor decide what to do first? How can a pastor choose where to spend his time, energy, and leadership capital in a church that needs revitalization and renewed organizational and spiritual health?

Revitalization triage

In these situations, a pastor must learn to practice triage. In medical practice, triage allows doctors to estimate the severity of a patient’s problem quickly. A scraped knee is not as urgent as a gunshot wound to the chest. In times of crisis, doctors must learn what they need to address first.

Theological triage is the idea of differentiating tiers of doctrines and how tightly or loosely we should hold onto them. Theological triage helps Christians and churches address the urgent issues of our times, helps Christians prioritize their theological beliefs and disagreements, and helps us focus on the needs of our cultural moment.

In a similar way, a new pastor at a declining church must practice revitalization triage. This helps a pastor prioritize what issues to focus on first in a church and where to spend his time and effort for the maximum gain. Thinking of the church as a body can help a pastor prioritize his time at a church and focus on things that will make a difference. By thinking through the categories of head, heart, hands, feet, and vision, the pastor can quickly assess the state of the church’s health.

Head

The head or brain of the church is the bylaws and policies of the church that keep it organized. Unhealthy churches love to focus on the process and structure of a church to the detriment of getting real ministry done. These churches often have business meetings that are dominated by talk about the bylaws. Some of them have documents arranged to make it harder for a church to get healthy, such as allowing a small group to control key parts of the church. A church that’s not healthy organizationally will ultimately fail in other areas.

Heart

Many churches don’t have a good spirit or attitude among their people. There might be bickering, fighting, gossip, or even worse. What good is it for a church to have active ministries and programs if people constantly fight with each other? It would be like a man making sure he brushes his teeth every night while suffering heart attacks every day. A bad heart soon affects all other areas of the body. Similarly, a church with a bad heart might have good programs, but the fighting and bad spirit will eventually creep into all areas of the church and bring those good ministries down.

“A church with a bad heart might have good programs, but the fighting and bad spirit will eventually creep into all areas of the church and bring those good ministries down.”

Hands

A church’s hands enable it to get things done in ministry inside and outside its walls. These church programs are often what people think of when it comes to the ministry of a church. Some churches have unhealthy hands because they’re so busy keeping up pet programs they can’t do what needs to be done. A church might have a crystal-clear vision for its future but no ministries to carry out that vision. This church needs to focus not on heart or vision but on effective practical ministry.

Feet

A church’s feet enable it to share the gospel with its community. Some churches are lazy and require great motivation to get up and do the work of ministry. Still, others are perfectly content with the people they have in the church and adopt a country club mentality. These churches often say all the right things and believe all the right things but won’t get up on their feet to be a witness in their own community.

Vision

The vision of a church is what gives it purpose and direction. A visionless church has no real reason for gathering besides habit and custom. This elevates those traditions to a high level and causes strife when they’re changed. Still, other churches suffer from competing visions, with everyone thinking their ministry is the most important and should take precedence over all the others. As a pastor, you have the power to shape and communicate the church’s vision, influencing its direction and purpose.

Take time for triage

Each of these areas of need requires a different approach. As a pastor, it’s your responsibility to assess the church’s needs and prioritize them. A pastor who’s in a church with good feet might have people ready to go, but if they have no vision or direction, they’ll ultimately fail. Another pastor might start working on the bylaws and policies of a church while neglecting the fact that the people have bad hearts and constantly fight with one another. The best bylaws will not help the church that’s constantly at war within itself and has hatred in its heart.

Church revitalization triage is a tool to help pastors assert their leadership and figure out where to focus their time, attention, and energy. By taking time to study for themselves and not just trust what others want them to do, pastors can make sure they spend time on the most pressing matters in the church.

“Church revitalization triage helps pastors work in a logical manner and not give in to the pressures of people who want their problems fixed.”

Maybe the janitor needs to be fired, but it’s a safe bet that’s not the most pressing issue in the church. Pastors need to slow down, observe things for themselves, and make decisions on the most pressing matters to help the church get back to health. Church revitalization triage helps pastors work in a logical manner and not give in to the pressures of people who want their problems fixed. Working this way allows a pastor to stay focused on the issue that matters the most in every church: the spread of the gospel from its neighbors to the nations.

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Don’t anger the Lord

William Thompson

ABANDON (Leave, Desert, Betray)

There is a loud cry for us not to anger the lord by abandoning Him for other gods that cannot help us.

The way to failure and destruction is to abandon the God who gave you all that you have.

Judges 2:6–15 (NLT):

After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.

7 And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.

8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110.

9 They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

10 After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.

11 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal.

12 They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord.

13 They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.

14 This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.

15 Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.

ABANDONING GOD

How can people, once they are aware of God, even consider abandoning him?

King rehoboam was an example of one who knew the lord and then abandon him.

 But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin. (2 Chronicles 12:1)

“Israel” refers to Judah, the southern kingdom.

During his first three years on the throne, Rehoboam made an attempt to obey God, and as a result, Judah prospered.

But then, at his peak of popularity and power, he abandoned God.

The result was destruction because God allowed Judah to be conquered by Egypt.

Reasons why we abandon God.

At the height of his popularity and power, the king abandoned the Lord.

What happened?

Often it is more difficult to be a believer in good times than in bad.

Tough times push us toward God; but easy times can make us feel self-sufficient and self-satisfied.

When everything is going right, guard your faith.

Personal consequences when we abandon God.

Popularity and power, the two benefits that Rehoboam chose above God, were the first two things he lost when the Egyptians invaded the land.

Through Rehoboam we discover the real price to be paid for rejecting God.

Even though Rehoboam later confessed his sin, the damage had already been done.

He was not destroyed, but much of what was precious to him was lost.

His reign could have been as glorious as the golden shields in Solomon’s temple, which the Egyptians took.

Rehoboam inherited a unified kingdom but his abandonment of God caused him to lose it.

Consequences for others when we abandon God.

We don’t have to be a king, like Rehoboam, before our actions deeply affect the lives of others.

Rehoboam’s abandonment of God led to the humiliation of his people.

How does the quality of your relationship with God affect those around you?

1 Timothy 4:1–2 (NLT)

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)
12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Matthew 24:10 (KJV)
10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Rehoboam had a foundation that was questionable.

2 Chronicles 10:1–11 (NLT): Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king.

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt, for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon.

3 The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak with Rehoboam.

4 “Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.”

5 Rehoboam replied, “Come back in three days for my answer.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”

7 The older counselors replied, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”

8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.

9 “What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?”

10 The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!

11 Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’ ”

The way to help prevent abandonment of God is to keep a heart for God.

Heart of love for all people

Heart of forgiveness

Heart of mercy

Heart of gratefulness

Heart of longsuffering

Heart of peace

Heart of joy

Heart of kindness

Coffee with the Preacher

Pray the Right Way

William Thompson

Pray first for the Spirit to make the intercession through you.

  1. Pray to be Guided
  2. Pray to be Guarded
  3. Pray to be Groomed

Jesus promised that the Father would send the helper which is the Holy Spirit.

In this life time you will find opportunities to quit the position you hold or the place you stand in.

In this life there will be hard times and trails that you will pray for God to let you leave!

Pressure today comes to Christians in an even greater intensity than we have ever experience.

When you pray the right way, it will make a difference.

  1. Strength you to stand
  2. Strength you to go on.
  3. Strength you to resist Satan will come forth.

Praying the Right way comes from developing the heart that seeks after God.

King David was known as a man whose heart followed after God.

David goal and greatest desire.

  1. Was not to be the greatest king.
  2. Was not to be the greatest musician.
  3. Was not to be the wealthiest man.
  4. Was not to be successful.
  5. Was not to be popular.

David’s goal and greatest desire can be found in a Psalm he wrote.

Psalm 27:4 (KJV)

4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

David’s search in life was to have God’s heart.

If we are to pray right, we must first know the ministry of Glorifying and Honoring God.

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV)

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Jesus being our great example taught us to make Prayer a habit.

Right prayer was the key to His Anointing, Wisdom, and Endurance.

Luke 22:39–40 (NLT)

39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

The Prophet Daniel understood the Habit of Prayer.

Daniel 6:10–11 (NLT)

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.

I had to pray to the Spirit to help me get my Prayer life Right so the rest of my life could be Right.

Right Prayer contains 4 ingredients.

  1. Adoration to God. Praise
  2. Confession of Sin. My short comings
  3. Thankfulness for what God has already done.
  4. Supplication. Asking God to meet a need or a desire.

Right Prayer places us in alignment with God’s desire for us.

2 Kings 4:1–6 (NLT)

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?”

“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.

3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”

5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.

6 Soon every container was full to the brim!

“Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons.

“There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.

The widow woman had a choice.

She could gather many vessels or she could gather a few vessels.

This story teaches us the power of obedience.

When did the oil stop?

The oil stopped when the widow ran out of jars.

She held the key to her miracle.

If she had gathered more jars, she would have had more oil to sell.

If she had gathered less jars, she would have less oil to sell.

The widow could have used excuses, It is hot today and I will gather only enough jars to show Elijah I need help.

She could have said I have been under so much stress I don’t feel well.

She could have said I don’t have many friends so I can’t find many jars.

Elijah didn’t tell her where to get the Jars from.

The key to the Right Prayers is Faith!

Why pray if you lack the faith to do what you can.

Holy Spirit, I believe but help me with my unbelief.

Just like Solomon when we pray, we should learn to pray the Right prayer.

Solomon did not ask for riches or the life of his enemies but for wisdom.

Are you praying the Right Prayers.

Thou Kingdom come, thy will be done through me and in me.

Coffee with the Preacher

God has a Purpose for your Pain

William Thompson

God has assigned a Purpose to your Pain

Numbers 14:23–24 (KJV)

23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

The pains of life should not cancel out your purpose in life.

Your purpose has more to do with where you were born and raised than you might expect.

You may have spent the large part of your life seeing it as an evil, yet God meant it for good.

All your life experiences, which may be ups and downs, have only been shaping you for your purpose.

God had led the people to edge of the land he promised to give them, but the lack of faith and doubt hindered them from entering.

There was one man that God pointed out as having another spirit in the KJV but in the Living Bible it is translated different attitude.

Caleb knew and understood that God had a purpose for his life.

God has a purpose in all our lives for us to fulfill.

You are not here by accident.

Your birth will not define your destiny.

You have a destiny in God to fulfill.

The way you find your purpose is in seeking God.

Once you find your purpose you must make the decisions to fulfill that purpose God created you for.

Your purpose was God ordained, and your purpose was God-destined time.

The people God called to go into the Promised Land had a God-destiny timetable and they were God ordain to possess the land.

They wasted forty years out of disobedience.

They were born in Egypt, raised in slavery, and traveled in the wilderness yet God had a purpose behind their whole existence.

Because of doubt and the lack of faith they missed their purpose in life.

For forty years they had walked in circles in the wilderness.

All the males older than twenty had died.

People with no purpose seem to walk in circles blaming their failures on God and everyone who crosses their path in life.

They walk until they dig holes for themselves and eventually die.

So often the die without living and they die full of bitterness, mad at other people, the world, and without saying it out loud mad at God.

Caleb who walks in the circle with Joshua had another spirit.

Caleb and Joshua knew they had a purpose and a calling on their lives.

They knew will God’s help they could possess the land.

They had to wait forty years to fulfill their destiny, but they never lost faith in God to for-fill the promise.

Yes, they could have enjoyed their destiny/purpose, but they had to wait on the rebellious one to die out.

Now don’t get discourage when the people go has placed in your life rebel against God just remember.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Lack of faith will make you abandon your purpose     and move ahead of God or move away from God.

2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV)

 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

When you know and understand your purpose comes from God you have the patience to see it come to fruit fulness.

Hebrews says in Sundry times God spoke.

When the time was right. A certain times. A different times.

God told Esther through Mordecai who knows your purpose was not for such a time as this.

Your birth, your being without parents, your adoption, your opportunity to be queen was to save your people Israel.

Not this is not the time to hold your peace.

1 Peter 5:6 (NLT)

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Your purpose is tied to time.

At the right time God will call you to your life purpose will you be in the place to hear the call.

The wrong place is the place of bitterness, doubting, and fear.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)

10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

While eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace, each of us will still be judged by Christ.

He will reward us for how we have lived.

God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience.

All Christians must give account on the day of judgment of how they have lived.

Are you walking in your purpose.

Age, education, location, should not keep you from walking in your purpose.

Caleb waited 40 years and at the age of 85 when the land was being divided Caleb didn’t ask God for favoritism due to his age.

Caleb didn’t ask for a handicap sticker or a special seat in the church.

Caleb understood his purpose and asked for the mountain where the giants live.

Stop seeing yourself as less than or not good enough.

Many are called but few are chosen and if you have been chosen for a job by God refuse to allow fear or anyone to stop you or block you from your purpose.

Your purpose reaches beyond your happiness and well-being.

Finding your purpose.

  1. Find out what drives you.  
  2. Find out what energizes you.  
  3. Find out what you are willing to sacrifice for.  
  4. Find out who you want to help.