Author: William Thompson

Acts 26:15-17 (KJV)
¹⁵  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
¹⁶  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this PURPOSE, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

 Acts 26:17 (NLT2)
¹⁷  And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles

God was working in your life long before you began working with Him.

The Lord knew you before time began, and He knew what He wanted to do with your life (Jer. 1:5; Ps. 139:13).

Before the Apostle Paul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus, Jesus already knew Paul and had a specific assignment for him.

But Jesus only revealed this assignment after Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:15).

So misguided was Paul that in his sincere efforts to serve God, he had actually been waging war against Christians!

Although God knew what He wanted for Paul, He waited to reveal it to him until He gained his attention and became his Lord.

Our Lord does not come to us to discover our purpose or what we would like to accomplish for Him.

He encounters us in order to reveal His activity and invite us to become involved in His work. An encounter with God requires us to adjust ourselves to the activity of God that has been revealed.

God never communicates with us merely to give us a warm devotional thought for that day. He never speaks to us simply to increase our biblical knowledge.

Our Lord has far more significant things to reveal to us than that! When God shows us what He is doing, He invites us to join Him in the work He is doing.

Are you prepared to meet God today?

Don’t seek to hear from God unless you are ready to ask, as Paul did, “What shall I do Lord?”

 Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (NLT2)
²⁰  But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’
²¹  “But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the LORD?’
²²  If the prophet speaks in the LORD’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the LORD did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.

The message of the Living God will set you free. Luke 4:18 (NLT2)
¹⁸  “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

I am seeing people become disillusion with the church and its message about God’s Kingdom. They are becoming so dishearten that they are existing the church.

There is a Macedonian call to clarify the message not to change the message of the gospel.

The word gospel means “good news,” so the gospel of Christ is the good news of His coming to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe (Colossians 1:14; Romans 10:9). … Because everyone breaks God’s perfect law by committing sin (Romans 3:23), everyone is guilty (Romans 5:18).

The men and women in the pulpit cannot promise what God has not promise. We must be careful to only say what God has said and not add or take away from the WORD.

It is hard to restrain from preaching what is popular but as you see the end coming be more careful to rightly divide the word. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT2)
¹⁵  Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

Our behavior should reflect our release from the present world.

2 Peter 1:4 (NLT2)
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

We must live in this fallen world and not be overtaken by the lustfulness of a fallen world.

James 1:14-15 (NLT2)
¹⁴  Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
¹⁵  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

1 Corinthians 8:1 (NLT2)
¹  Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

Love is more important than knowledge. Knowledge can make us look good and feel important, but we can all too easily develop an arrogant, know-it-all attitude. Many people with strong opinions are unwilling to listen to and learn from God and others. We can obtain God’s knowledge only by loving him (see James 3:17, 18). And we can know and be known by God only when we model him by showing love (1 John 4:7, 8).

2 Peter 1:5 (NLT2)
⁵  In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,

We must continue to grow as Christians in our faith and not just grow in knowledge:

Let’s start adding:

2 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT2)
⁶  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,
⁷  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

We should neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8 (NLT2)
⁸  The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If God permit let’s address the latter blessing:

Job 42:12-13 (ICB)
¹²  The Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life even more than the first part. Job had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels. He had 1,000 pairs of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.
¹³  Job also had seven sons and three daughters.

 After you have read the text in its entirety and you have read what comes before and after the text what would you conclude with?

Did you see suffering precede blessing?

Did to see Job waiting on the blessing?

Did you see Job trusting the one who blesses?

Ephesians 5:16 (NIV)
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The culture of the church has been engrained in the past. We are called to Rethink the church for the twenty-first century.

We are not called to change the message but the method by which we reach the lost and keep the saved in the Kingdom of God.

In order to have a successful church today

An atmosphere of trust must prevail.

A spirit of forgiveness must be present.

A spirit of unconditional love must exist.

A spirit of obedience must live in each of us.

A spirit of working together  for the Kingdom.

There is a greater need to understand the times we live in:

1 Chronicles 12:32 (NLT2)
³²  From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.

•Leadership in the past only needed to know bible verses. “Information”

•Leadership today need to understand human behavior, finance, and rule of law

•The culture of the church has been engrained in the past. We are called to Rethink the church for the twenty-first century.

We are not called to change the message but the method by which we reach the lost and keep the saved in the Kingdom of God.

If we fail to be in the right position we run a great risk of missing the move of God. Proper placement of the gifts that God has placed in the body is very important.

1 Peter 4:10
¹⁰  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The gifts are for the body:

Ephesians 4:12 (KJV)
¹²  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:1-7 (KJV)
¹  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
²  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
³  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
⁴  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
⁵  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
⁶  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
⁷  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

God promises us an abundant life, but we can’t have abundance unless we position ourself in the greatness of God.

The failure to live an abundant life comes from being out of position with God?

He wants the church to conqueror the world. He wants to give you a new belief and expression of the power of prayer in your own life. He wants to give you a new freedom in your walk with Him. God is preparing you. He wants to impart to you new life. His training is supernatural training. You and I are in the process of becoming. We are changed from glory to glory as we grow into a Christ-like person.

I need you to get this. It is not natural abilities but spiritual giftedness that will touch the heart of God. It will be what God placed in you. It will be your obedience to him.

We need to be able to attract people to the organization that’s going somewhere, that’s doing something. And that want to changing the world. Some of those people will be like:

Peter

Paul

James and John

Even a few Judas

Are you ready for abundance?

If the answer is yes then you need to locate the Cheese. Truly the cheese has been moved. People are not as committed as they were in the past. People don’t attend as regular as they did in the past. They don’t give at the level they once did. Your congregation is aging.

Each year you come up with a new vision yet nothing seems to change.

There was a well known book published by author Spencer Johnson. The book is about a simple parable about change. It is about 4 characters in a maze. Two were little people and two were mice. The two mice were Sniff and Scurry. The two little people were Hem and Haw. They lived inside the maze and they enjoyed a life of easy to obtain cheese.

One day the cheese ran out.

The metaphor is whether you have a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, health, or spiritual peace of mind. You can lose it!

And the maze of the cheese is where you look for what you want – the job, family, marriage, church, or friendships.

In the story the characters were faced with unexpected change. The two mice just did what their names implied, the Sniffed and Scurried about until one of them discovered where the cheese had been moved to.

The two little people never could get beyond the past to locate new place where the cheese was located. They used their brains. They reached conclusions based on human knowledge. They after much reason but failed to move on!

The mice Hem and Haw after a time of delay got up and went searching for the cheese.

Have you giving thought to looking at your situation from a different view point. I am now coming up on my second year as a retired pastor. I had discovered that seating in the pew is different from seating in the pulpit.

I see things not as the pastor but as the members. This is difficult to do just like driving your automobile and seeing the scenery along the highway. Sometimes if you want to see the countryside you need to take the bus.

I would love to have a one on one discussion about your 2020 expectations.

I want to give you a simple secret as how to enter the New Year with expectation, excitement, and a greater hope than you finished 2019.

To all of you who get caught up in past failures, mistakes, hurts, rejections, lost, pain, and cannot live a full life in the present and therefore have lost sight on the future this word is for you.

Jeremiah told the people to seek to understand the faithfully love of God.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Many you have read and place this scripture in your hearts but I ask you to seal it with another prophetic word from the Prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 52:12 (NLT2)
You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the LORD will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.

Get this!!!

At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise from remembering the yesterdays. If 2019 have grown you in any way then you will understand what I am about to say.

Isaiah 65:17 (KJV)
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isaiah spoke of a New Time coming. I am speaking of a New Year coming. The Lord is going ahead of you into 2020. Not only is he going ahead of you but he is going to protect your rear.

If there are any true worshippers reading this you have my permission to shout now. I am leaving the past in the past and taking the future up starting with January 1.

My best praise is set for 2020.

My best relationships are set for 2020.

My best financial year is set for 2020.

My best health is set for 2020.

My best peace is set for 2020.

My best joy is set for 2020.

It’s your move!!!

Your best is yet to come!

A picture can say a lot but only God can truly say who we really are.

1 Samuel 17:40 (NLT2)
He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

David was fresh out of the field attending the sheep when the call came.

How many of you didn’t have formal training when you got the call?

DAVID’S PREPARATION DIDN’T COME ON THE BATTLE FIELD BUT IN THE SHEEP FIELD.

1. DAVID KEEP THE FLOCK’S WELFARE ON HIS MIND

• A shepherd’s primary responsibility was the safety and welfare of the flock.
• A shepherd would direct the flock to an area of green grass
• A shepherd would keep a watchful eye out for poisonous plants, other animal and serpents. 

Shepherds would even sleep near the sheep. The shepherd knows that there is a need to be close to the animals to protect and provide for them.

Sheepherders were on call around the clock. 

HAVE ANYONE EXPERIENCE THAT PASTORING IS 24/7 JOB?

1. PROTECTING THEM FROM PREDATORS WAS A MAIN OBJECTIVE

1. PROVIDING A HEALTH CARE FOR THE SHEEP WAS AN OBJECTIVE
2. THE SHEPHERD MUST SHEARING THE FLOCK

Unlike other animals that shed their hair in the spring, many breeds of sheep must be shorn – have their fleece cut off with shears or clippers.   

Metaphorically, the term “shepherd” is used for God, especially in the Judeo-Christian tradition (e.g. Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34), and in Christianity especially for Jesus, who called himself the Good Shepherd. The Ancient Israelites were a pastoral people and there were many shepherds among them.

THEY HAD A FULL GRASP ON PSALMS 23.. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

NOT ALL SHEPHERDS HAD THE SAME GIFTEDNESS. THERFORE WE MUST KEEP FULL KNOWLEDGE OF OUR AREAS OF GIFTEDNESS.

YOUR CALLING IS TIED TO YOUR GIFT(S)

EACH MAN HAS BEEN GIVEN TALENTS ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES.

Matthew 25:15 (KJV)
 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Why was the king so hard on the man who had not gained more money? He punished the man because

(1) He didn’t share his master’s interest in the kingdom;

(2) He didn’t trust his master’s intentions; and

(3) His only loyalty was to himself. Like the king in this story, God has given you gifts to use for the benefit of his kingdom.

1. Do you want the kingdom to grow?
2. Do you trust God to govern it fairly?
3. Are you as concerned for the welfare of others as for your own?

If you can answer yes to these questions, you are faithfully using what he has entrusted to you.

David picked up what he was familiar with 5 stones (1 Samuel 17:40). … David didn’t need 20 stones but just as many as he could handle.

It was David’s skills and abilities that he learned as a shepherd boy, which God maximized with Grace, which gave him the unexpected advantage over his enemy.

EACH STONE DAVID PICKED UP HAD A DESIGNED PURPOSE:

1. He had one for faith,
2. one for obedience,
3. one for service, and
4. one for his prayer life
5. one for the Spirit of the Lord which meant he possess the Right Attitude. 
6. The first smooth stone that David picked up may represent the first pillar of the gospel, the principle of faith.

David demonstrated great faith in God as he took on the giant named Goliath. Verses 33-37:

• The second smooth stone that David picked up may be the stone of obedience.

Obedience is the second of the gospel.

Through obedience we exercise the principle of faith. David was in the right place at the right time, because he obeyed his father.

If David had not obeyed his father, Israel would have been under siege for a longer period of time. Let’s read verse 20 of I Samuel 17:n

• The third smooth stone that David picked up may well be the pillar of Service. Without service the stones of faith and obedience will have no power or strength.

Service is the action associated with faith and the implementation of obedience.  

When David arrived at the army with the food for his brothers, he heard Goliath issue his challenge and watched as the soldiers all shrank from their assigned duty. In verses 26-29 David asked some very pointed questions to the soldiers and of his brothers. Essentially David ask them why they weren’t doing their duty, their service to their country and family.

Too many pastors have given in to the Lukewarm of just going through the motion of leadership without truly believing that with God all things are possible.

In verse 28 his own brother scolds him and says that David is proud and boastful. To which David replies in verse 29 and 32 exhibiting his willingness to serve:

Yes I have been criticized for being different!

• The fourth smooth stone that David picked up may represent the pillar of an active prayer life. As David went to meet Goliath he had a prayer in his heart. Let’s read verse 45: 1 Samuel 17:45b (KJV)
  but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
• The final smooth stone that David picked up was the pillar of right attitude.

He not only had faith, obedience, service, and prayed, but he had the proper attitude in the Lord.

Because of his faith, obedience, service, and prayer life with God and the right attitude in the Lord David was able to defeat his enemy. 

You know as well as I do that the Holy Ghost cannot stay with us and guide us if we are not “behaving” ourselves wisely. In order to have the right attitude you need the Holy Ghost to aid us in behaving wisely. 1 Samuel 18:14 (KJV)
 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

1. What are your Goliaths?
2. How many Goliaths have you faced in your ministry life?
3. How many times have you heard the words of Goliath “I defy the armies and the God of Israel this day”?
4. Modern day Goliaths may be in the form of a fear of others opinion of you, fear that people will not follow without you compromising, or fear of a disconnect between you and the congregation age wise.

TODAY’S PASTOR’S FACE FEARS:

• Not being able to reach a multi-generational church
• A generation of people who question everything
• A generation that demands more from the church
• A generation who values have shifted from church centered to self centered.
• A generation who worship time.

THE GOLIATH OF DAVID’S TIME STATED THE CONDITIONS OF THE BATTLE:

If he won, the Israelites would become slaves to the Philistines.

If the Israelite challenger won, the Philistines would be slaves to the Israelites.

Modern day Goliaths issue the same conditions with their challenge, if they win we will become slaves to a behavior that will not allow us to live out the Great Commandment or the Great Commission.

If Goliath wins the church will given into the worldly ways?

Remember you have been called to make a difference.

Remember you have been called to the battle.

Remember you have been call for such a time as this.

IF IT WAS NOT FOR YOUR CALLING YOUR GOLIATH WOULD WIN.

But because of your calling you have not been given the spirit of fear but of love power and sound mind.

You have been called to this conference to go back and make a difference.

When David first got the call to face Goliath he first attempted to arm himself with the modern weaponry available to him.

He put on the helmet and coat of mail of Saul. Then he strapped the sword of Saul around his waist. But David was not familiar with these protections, nor was he able to move about in them very well. Note his words at the end of verse 39:

“…And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.”

Instead of using the armor of Saul, David turned to something that was familiar to him and something that he had proved before. Let’s read verse 40:

“And he took his staff in his hand and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”

So armed with a shepherds staff, his sling in his hand, and five smooth stones in his shepherd’s bag David went to meet Goliath. We know the result of that meeting.

May I also suggest that the method that David selected was proven gospel which is written in the word of God the bible. The gospel based principles have been proven and tested on Goliaths of the past and present and will work in the future?

 Prepare yourselves with these Pillars:

1. Faith
2. Obedience to God
3. Mind to serve
4. Active prayer life
5. Keeping the right attitude with God

The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. (Lament. 3:22-23)

In the midst of hopelessness, Jeremiah clung to God’s faithfulness. Jeremiah saw one ray of hope in all the sin and sorrow surrounding him: “The unfailing love of the Lord never ends!

By his mercies we have been kept from complete ruin.” Jeremiah knew from personal experience about God’s faithfulness.

God had promised that punishment would follow disobedience, and it did.

But God also had promised future restoration and blessing, and Jeremiah knew that God would keep that promise also.

God has promised to return to rapture those that trust in Him. I still believe Jesus will return and take me back with him.

Trusting in God’s faithfulness day by day makes us confident in his great promises for the future.

It is so important to learn to live in God-reality, God-initiative, and God-provisions in order to find perfect peace and eternal security.

At times you will have to decrease so that God can increase.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The way to finding God’s will and peace is through asking His Holy Spirit to come into your life this very moment to lead, guide, and direct your daily thoughts and actions.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” show us that God has given directions as to the way his people should walk (i.e., live) in this world. God’s Word is our road map for the Christian life. Everything God wants us to know is found within its covers.

Psalm 37:23-25 (GW)
²³  A person’s steps are directed by the LORD, and the LORD delights in his way.
²⁴  When he falls, he will not be thrown down headfirst because the LORD holds on to his hand.
²⁵  I have been young, and now I am old, but I have never seen a righteous person abandoned or his descendants begging for food.

Last week I visited Hospice to support a friend and I went to the hospital to support a friend and his family. It doesn’t matter how high you are flying today you will descend. When you descend you will need an eternal hand to pick you up.

Dear Lord I thank you for your grace and mercy that I have already experienced. Father I thank you for your unfailing love for me and my family. Father please send your Holy Spirit into my life this morning to direct my steps this day.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (MSG)
GOD’s Message: “Don’t let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag of their riches.
²⁴  If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I’m GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks.” GOD’s Decree.

Knowing about God is not the same as knowing him personally. People tend to admire these qualities in others: human intelligence, might, thoughtfulness, and possessions.

But God puts a higher priority on knowing him personally and living a life that reflects his impartiality and righteousness.  James in the scriptures says, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

We live in a time when men boast of their wisdom about God, salvation, and heaven yet we live in a time when we see love growing cold and hate for fellowmen at a high. We see little mercy in the land. We see each individual seeking his own and trying to make his pile greater.

There is no greatness apart from God’s mercy, justice and righteousness. To attempt to be great away from God is foolishness.

Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (MSG)
and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.