Code Orange Revival Day 5

Day 5 of #CodeOrangeRevival was interesting to say the least. Ed Young was the guest of the night and he had a strong message of following and leading others to Christ. Leading in the sense that as Christians its our job to get our "ass's" in gear and bring/educate/and guide lost people to Christ.

Ed Young has a very cooky way of preaching and I can tell you that it probably isn't accepted by everyone out there... I think when he said "ass" during his sermon my P's almost fell off the couch. He also took a second to plug his book "Sexperiment"... the book is referring to the predominant message of our culture... that it is okay to have sex whenever, wherever, and however we want. He says that sex has become "just sex". But, while society has taken sex too far, the church hasn't taken it far enough (I AGREE). By the way, I am sure my parents thought this was crazy too... Sex talk in church. Young writes God wants us married couples to make love in marriage-with passion, with purpose, and with pleasure. He says marriages aren't experiencing all the benefits that come from a healthy sex life. He also goes on to say couples are facing a barrage of influences that keep them from connecting with each other regularly - the kids, the career, the house, the errands, etc.

"SEXPERIMENT" shows people that sex in marriage is more than just sex, and it's more than a chore. The Youngs believe it's time to get back to understanding the context of sex in marriage and it's time for couples to break down the barriers keeping them from a healthy sexual relationship. Couples ought to experience the benefits of having sex regularly, intentionally, and creatively.

Ed Young is the lead pastor and founder of Fellowship Church in Texas.  He has a passion for making the complex, simple as he speaks truth to people in ways they can understand and apply to their everyday lives

Recap of Day 5... The  Main Points!

• Get ready to "Rescue" because people are drowning without the Lord.
• God has thrown us a life ring and Jesus is the life ring.
• We can all be rescued we just have to take it.
• The radically rescued, rescue radically.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Imagine yourself in the middle of the ocean, drowning... with no life vest or "floatation ring".  That is you in your sin... that is you crying for help... that is you helpless. Seems pretty brutal right... pretty hopeless...  Now imagine yourself with a vest... with a "floating ring"... suddenly it doesn't seem that bad, especially when its being thrown to you by a guy on a boat with food and water.

You probably asking what is the point of that story right?  Well apply that to your belief in Jesus...

• The ring is the thing (and Jesus is the Ring)

God has thrown you Jesus... all you have to do is take Him!  I don't think this is a confusing concept is it? Take the ring.... Accept Jesus!  In one simple choice you could be saved!
Now imagine that that ring that you were just thrown had a rope tied to it...

The hope is the rope. (God the Father is the rope)

When the church has the rope and everybody’s pulling the rope in the right direction, it is obviously going to be easier to bring that person in. We’re saved to share our rescue story.The ring is the thing. The hope is the rope.

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves

Now check this out...

Just as the scripture says its our job to Pull so the house will be full.

The ring is the thing, the hope is the rope, now pull so the house of God will be full.

If everybody is pulling the rope it makes saving much easier:)... Brining people in numbers and go out and tell people the good news... This what Matthew 28 is saying to do.

We are supposed to "Keep on Keeping on"....  We are not supposed to "play it safe" or be afraid to share our story... That means pull the rope!  That means pull people closer to God!

Ask yourself when Jesus played it safe or when did the disciples play it safe?

We all should understand that almost all rescues happen in the deep.

Know that the longer we’re with God the fewer friends we should have that are far from God.  There are two reasons for this. 

• Either You are pulling friends closer to God

or

• Your so called friends have no desire to be close to God (that will happen to...trust me)

Ed Young says "do what you love to do but, do it with more non-believers"... Share your story and do your job as a Christian...it's about reaching others. Its about having God work through you to save others!

• The ring is the thing, the hope is the rope, pull so the house God will be full. Fling the ring.

**In other words: preach the good news, bring those close to you, closer to God, and repeat!

Thanks for reading

Bc

Code Orange Revival Day 4

Now that I am a few days behind on this... I am going to try to play catch up here...

Day 4 of #CodeOrangeRevival was hosted by Christine Caine! She was one of the best speakers I have heard and her testimony alone was worth the viewing... Wow... Christine Caine's message was amazing and to cover it all will be a little difficult for me to do in a blog post (you seriously need to hear her and listen to her testimony). With that said, I'm going to give it a shot!

Christine Caine is a follower of Jesus who happens to be an Aussie wife and mom. She is one of the most passionate and energetic people I've ever heard preach! She teaches God's Word all over the globe and when I say "all over" that is exactly what I mean. In the course of one month, she may very literally be in four or five different countries to share the gospel.



Christine's message really stirred something in me! It was inspiring and convicting....

There were really two basic points in her message:

• There is nothing that our God cannot do! 

I think that at times we all need reminding of that. I think we all need to remember that we need to have faith even when we don't understand what is going on, and that God is still good despite the valleys that we might be walking through. If our God is after our joy.. really...who can stop us? With Him all things are possible... and remember God is greater than anything that might get in our way!

• God doesn’t believe in Expiration dates” 
 
 

There have been promises on your life, and at times they seem impossible... just remember God doesn’t believe in expiration dates.
 It is people who put "Due Dates" on things and that is why we think we have run into broken promises.

All of the promises of God are in Him. God cares about the details in your life. Ask yourself, "When was the last time you believed in God"... "When was the last time you trusted Him, with everything?"

• What is impossible with man is possible for God!!
• God is still the God that parts the Red Sea, That tears down walls, That makes a way!

Christine talked about the story of Abraham & Sarah (here is a quick history lesson for you guys)... Abraham and Sarah his wife were passed child bearing age but, God had promised them a son. They put a due date on this and Sarah told Abraham to take her handmaid, Hagar and sire a son by her, which Abraham did. The son so produced was named Ishmael (Islam Muslim Faith) but, he was not the promised Son. In time, Sarah did conceive and bear a son, Issac (Christian Faith), which was the promised son. Sarah became jealous of Hagar and asked Abraham to get rid of his and her son. Issac was to father Jacob and Jacob was to father twelve sons, some of these to were by handmaids. These twelve sons were the twelve patriarchs, siring the twelve tribes of Israel or the nation of Israel. However, Ishmael also sired twelve sons that became large tribes, these eventually became the enemy of Israel as Ishmael said he was the promised son. Look at what can happen by putting a "due date" onto a promise from God... The conceques of this one action are still affecting our world today. I dont know about you but, for me, that is some serious stuff.

• Never shrink God down to your own experiences.
• Don't confuse our due date with God’s appointed time.

Is anything to hard for God? God doesn’t see His things like we see things. His things are divine and eternal.

God promises are never expired, YOU are the one that puts expiration dates on the promise, God doesn’t see your promise as an expiration date... If what you’re seeing is all you see…believe that is there is a lot more to be seen.

She went onto talk about forgiveness and give her testimony which was so amazing... I was grasping at every word of it and it gave me a sense of appreciation, conviction, and REVIVAL!!

Code Orange Revival Day 3

Day 3 is going to be a bit longer than the posts I have done because of the message that Matt chose to preach on.  This was hard hitting stuff and I can wait to share it with you! I have included the whole video at the bottom because EVERYONE needs to hear... Wow Matt Chandler crushed this one!
Before I get into the message I want to frame this up really quick... as most of you know, I have been looking forward to Elevation Church’s #Codeorangerevival and made the commitment to myself to watch it in its entirety.   Being a weekly attendee of Elevation Church, I knew it wouldn't be to difficult to do since every service I have ever been to has been awesome! It has seriously been like everyone of these sermons that Pastor Steven is preaching have been specific for my ears so, I couldn’t wait to hear all the guest speakers they had lined up!

I want you guys to actually think about this really quickly... this didn’t hit me until last night... we have 12 days of “Revival”, plus 2 Sunday services… that’s basically 14 times I am attending church within a 12 day period. That is close to 3 and a half months of Church Service in just a week and a half… amazing when I think of it like this.

The point of that wasn’t to toot my own horn but, when I started to think about that it really hit me… It's Insane and I love it!

I have hosted all 3 (now 4) nights of #Codeorangerevival hoping to lean farther in, wanting, hoping, and praying to hear what God has to say through some powerful voices of our day and possibly bring my friends and family closer to God.... On day 3 Matt Chandler was the speaker.

Matt Chandler serves as lead pastor of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX. He describes his 7 year tenure at The Village as a re-planting effort where he was involved in changing the theological and philosophical culture of the congregation. The church has witnessed a tremendous response growing from 160 people to over 5,000 including two satellite campuses (Denton and Northway).  Prior to accepting the pastorate at The Village, Matt had a vibrant itinerant ministry for over ten years where he spoke to hundreds of thousands of people in America and abroad about the glory of God and beauty of Jesus.

Matt’s story and faith are unreal, his ministry and preaching anointed, and he gave me a real feeling of conviction.

When Pastor Matt was on stage, I tweeted several times about his service and I am still floored by his message… Wow... he was amazing, it left me speechless, and it totally blew me away

I think there main thing that Chandler wanted us to hear comes from Psalm 23

Read Psalm 23… If you read it wrong however, you’ll think that the point is that God is all about You, that’s 100% wrong:

The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. I won’t be in want. The deepest needs of my want and my soul will be satisfied in my Shepherd. He MAKES me lie down in green pastures. You can lie down or be MADE to lie down. You will bow or you’ WILL bow. He leads me besides still waters. He brings us into peace. He restores my soul. And he leads me in paths of righteousness...

Sounds like he is REALLY INTO ME doesn't it... leading me besides still waters, paths of righteousness… but why?  Look at the motivation… Its for His names sake. His provision and love and passion about you – the motivation for this isn’t that YOU are great but, that HE IS GREAT. The motivation is His Name, His renown, His glory.

See, everything in our culture says you are valuable, its all about you...well I have bad news...it's all about God.

Chandler also really hit home when he said God is here for your joy… notice He didn’t say HAPPINESS. Happiness can be taken from you in a second. Happiness is cheap and will not sustain you for the journey that God has for you. “I am after your joy, but sometimes getting to joy STINGS”.

Don’t live on a superficial plane because that will not sustain you.  If you live long enough you’ll bleed. You’ll experience loss. Your strength will fail you.

Non believers have this misconception... break the rules, do and don’t type of idea... like God is Santa.

Evangelicals misconception is that... God is all about US and ME...That creation is all about... God being lonely so He created ME… Me and Jesus are best friends type things. Bottom line is God is about God.

God’s motivation is always His glory, His name, His renown. All through the Scriptures, the works of God are expressed “for the glory of HIS name”.

Here are a few more highlights of Matt Chandlers message at #Codeorangerevival are shoe God is for God

• Isaiah 43 God created us for His glory
• Isaiah 49 God called Israel for His glory
• 2 Samuel 7 God gave Israel victory, for his glory.
• 1 Samuel 12 He does not throw his people away for the glory of His name
• Ez 36 restored Israel from exile for the glory of his name
• John 7:18 Jesus sought the glory of his father in all he did
• Matt 5:16 and 1 Peter 2:12 do good works for the glory of his name
• John 14 Jesus answers prayer so that God may be glorified
• John 12 and John 17 Jesus endured his final hours of suffering for the glory of God.
• Romans 3:25-26 God gave his son to vindicate the glory of his righteousness – does anyone have a problem that God forgave David WITHOUT Jesus, David was a adulterer and murderer. God is holy. How was David a man after God’s heart? he was a sinner! how is that possible, because Jesus vindicated ALL the forgiveness of ALL the people in OT and NT and now
• John 16:14 the minister of the Holy Spirit is to glorify God
• 1 Peter 4 serve in a way that will glorify him
• 2 Thess 1 Jesus is coming again for the glory of god
• John 17 Jesus ultimate aim for us is that we will see and enjoy his glory
• Hab 2 the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God
• Romans 11 everything that happens will redound to the glory of God
• Rev 21:23 the glory of God will replace the sun – when I make all things new, we wont need the sun anymore. Jesus will be the sun, warmth, light, growth, life… what the sun does I WILL DO

From genesis to revelation – the story of The Bible, God is for the glory of His name, He is reconciling and reclaiming all things to Himself. The Bible is not about YOU. The bible is about JESUS. 

Yes, it does have instructions but, its not the road map to life.

If you don’t get this, you’ll be reading it the wrong way. You’ll keep infusing yourself into the stories of the bible like you’re the hero.

• You’re not David. You’re trouble in life is not goliath.
• Jesus is the greater David, the greater Moses, the greater Abraham.
• Jesus is the greater then.
• Jesus is David, goliath is sin and death.

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

God tends to use people that it doesn’t make a lot of sense to use.  He chooses to make much of Himself through us. Because he loves us so much he saves us and transforms us and wounds us and heals us.

Why is it such good news that GOD IS FOR GOD over God being FOR YOU? His motivation is for the sake of His own name, not our own glory. Since God is for God and since God is ultimately about the praise of His glorious grace, God is not after my begrudging submission but, after my joy. God is ferociously about my joy, because the more I enjoy him the more His grace is gloried in. 

See God is not after me, like “I better do what he says or he’ll send me to hell.” God wants me to enjoy Him. That’s why He gives me the law. Chandler talked about The Law and The Pharisees.  He spoke about David delighted in the law, he sung about the law. Because God is for God and not our begrudging submission.

The commands of God are meant to lead us into greater life and greater joy and to line us up with how He designed things to work rather than for us to have it our way... which doesn’t work. God doesn’t suggest things, because he knows how things work, He does it because he created it… rest, money, marriage, sex etc. Greater life (John 10:10) is found in our obedience to how He wired the universe to work, rather than how we think the universe should work... we are own worse enemies, we are the problem, God’s law leads us into life. We are supposed to believe his law and His commands lead to greater joy and life.

Now we’re not going to keep that law perfectly... thats the implication of God being about God. If God is about God that means we are not the center of the universe... 

Almost all the conflict in our life is predicated upon the belief that the world is about me. Road rage = the world is about me. Marriage conflict = the world is about me. Work issues = the world is about me. The more the world is about you, the more angry and tired you will be, the more it is NOT about you, the more free you are. (this is right on point)

The Apostle Paul was an unfazed, untouchable man... though in prison, beaten, left for dead, and shipwrecked 3 times… Lord are you serious! Confident in Jesus... how is that possible? Because his righteousness was from Jesus.

Despite me, despite my continued failures, despite my foolish heart and shortcomings, God because of the imputed righteousness of Christ to me and his wrath absorbing death on the cross and his resurrection now sees me as perfect and spotless and holy, not because I am but, because HE IS.

That is why Ephesians 2 says that even the faith I had to believe in was given to me was given by God, it is a gift, so God so owns the glory, that everything is His, that is why no one should walk with a swagger or with a limp, because we are His. Don’t touch His glory... He guides us and shepherds us and leads us for His names sake. 

Our old man wants creation over the Creator – even in the church. Yes, God loves you but, God is ultimately after the praise of His glorious grace.

Trying to earn your righteousness will make your exhausted...We are all liars, thieves, adulterers, murderers. We are infinitely guilty but, Christ has made a way. Our hope is in Christ’s perfection. God is not in love with some future version of you, its not in the us of tomorrow that he loves or when we get our act together... if you believe that, you dismiss the cross of Christ.

The cross is a glaringly acknowledgement of our sin, that we fall short, that we’re not perfect (noone is except Jesus), that we’re screw ups. The cross says yes I know, I’ve made provision, I’ve handled that... There’s no sin in our past, present, or future that has more power than the cross of Jesus Christ. Christ absorbs God’s wrath on the cross, so serious was our transgressions that a price had to pay and the resurrection shows us that it was paid in full, that’s why Romans 8 says there is no condemnation for those in Christ.

God gives freely to those who will ask for it, who will humble themselves in repentance... There is no wound He cannot heal. The cross is the evidence that God knows. He knows our sinfulness. God responds when His people cry out for mercy.

Let us humble ourselves.

Love you guys,

BC

Code Orange Revival Day 2

Last night was the second night of Elevation Church’s “#CodeOrangeRevival". Without question the theme was of God’s faithfulness to us.

As usual the night was packed with crazy lines and people were eager to get in! Standing room only at both locations:)

There was another phenomenal worship experience from Elevation Worship. It's so awesome that Elevation Church goes above and beyond anything I have seen with their band and stage show that leads into the actual sermon.

The speaker of the night was Pastor Jentezen Franklin, founder and lead pastor of Free Chapel. He started out stating that he decided to scrap his originally planned sermon to talk about God’s faithfulness. During last night sermon there is no question that the biggest take away from the message was “When one generation is faithful, it’s possible to store up mercy for the next generation."

He used his time to preach about the covenant David had with God... and talked about this faithfulness to him... He talked the linage from Solomon to Josiah and how after hundreds of years God stayed faithful. Pastor Franklin made the point you were created for God and His hand is on your life.

Just as David’s linage was blessed because of his covenant, he preached that when the head of the house is faithful to God the rest of the family usually is.... he called it, the prodigal’s advantage. “If you’re a child that has been raised in church you might get pulled away, but the prodigal always knows the way back home.” I believe that what we as parents do now is not just affecting the here and now. As you serve God you have to decide between storing up iniquity or mercy for your families. I believe we can affect our children for generations to come. Our lives can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks.

I thought this was fitting as all great things have small beginnings... weather its the start of a business, relationship, local church or a career...


Of coarse, Pastor Steven wrapped up the night with a few encouraging words and talked about how many people actually tuned in... One thing that caught my attention was that #Codeorangerevival was one of the top hash tag symbols used on Twitter over the last few nights. He went on to talk about how important it is to support your local church, finding a local church, and as always filling out prayer requests so that Elevation Church can pray for you. What an amazing night... looking forward to tonight's service!

Code Orange Revival Day 1

The Code Orange Revival hosted by my Church "Elevation Church" is here.  12 nights of knock-down dragout preaching...from some of the top preachers in the world.  Yes, in the WORLD.  


The night started out with some of the most amazing worship songs I have seen to date.  Elevation Worship blew the doors off last night and I want to say... it really got me ready to hear some great preaching!

The opening night started with Lifechurch.tv's lead pastor Craig Groeschel.  It was pretty incredible. 

Recap...

The sermon was packed with content and challenges.

At one point, Pastor Craig was talking about how he went in front of an ordination board and was rejected. They said he was too wild. Maybe not conservative enough. Clearly, God was not done with him. Pastor Craig then went on to talk about how so many churches have three primary restrictions when looking for a pastor:

• Must have at least five years experience. 
• Must have a degree from seminary. 
• Must be married. 

If this were the case, then Jesus himself, wouldn’t meet the criteria to pastor their churches. What’s my point? The point is that we need to stop looking for approval from society and the worldly standards. Romans 8:28 says that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” We are all qualified to spread the Gospel. There is no degree required to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I would say, for me.. the biggest point though came when Pastor Craig spoke about generosity. He talked about a visit to a 3rd world country and how the woman he stayed with saved for 6 months to provide him a piece of meat for dinner (trust me this wasn't filet) and how that kind of generosity is absent in most of our lives. He spoke about how instead of scheming on how to GET more, we should be scheming of ways that we can GIVE more. It was a total inspiration for me in regard to my families general finances and the appreciation I have for my country. 

There are still ELEVEN nights left. Seriously do not miss this...

Each night will be streamed live online at the Elevation Network with the pre-show beginning at 6:12pm each night. 

I'm excited to tune from the comfort of my home. You can bet I'll be on my couch - pen and paper in hand - ready to soak up all the wisdom that I can and prepare my mind and heart to be the best husband, friend, and person I can be in 2012.

Code Orange Revival... The Start of my 2012

Hey guys my home church, Elevation Church is doing a revival conference that started last nigh... 12 days to start off 2012 It’s called Code Orange Revival :) It’s pretty amazing worship and teaching! You can watch online every night starting at 7 pm for the next 12 days I would love to hear your feedback on it:) COME WATCH … 

http://elevationnetwork.com 

Hearts could be touched and lives will be changed by Jesus forever.

Out... Bc

Notes from a Christian...

Man, so its been a while since I have posted on here... probably due to the everyday nonsense of life and the road blocks it throws at us all... With that said, I have decided to take this thing in a whole new direction.

I have come to the realization that I don't want to just type to type... write to write... well you get the point.  

I want to transform this blog into a "note taking session" on our weekly sermons at Elevation Church...  I will get into what Elevation Church is and where it is located in the next few posts.  

I hope you all enjoy the blog and read it weekly!

Bc