The Shepherd’s Desk will bring you monthly encouragement that provides information concerning current, local, national, and international events. Staff pastors will contribute regularly to help you recognize God’s will in these events. It is our belief that we are in the “Last Days” prior to the second advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To this end we believe that we must be aware of the “signs of the times”, and encourage souls in preparation of His coming. This is not intended to be Biblical prophecy, but a word of comfort to His saints in these troubling times.
Encouragement You Can Count On
Bishop Nelson has been involved in the study of God’s word for over twenty six years. In that time his heart for encouraging the people of God has grown in proportion to Christ grace towards him. Bishop Nelson and the leadership staff at F.O.T.S. thank those who love the Father. We would appreciate your comments and suggestions at any time. Please feel free to use the visitor’s information link for this.
MAKING LIFE CHOICES
When ministry is not working, we have to make hard choices. A religious activity alone without a transformed life is a life with very little movement in the spirit. God does the reshaping of a life once we choose to walk in his perfect will and in the calling he has for us. Christianity without discipleship is Christianity without Christ. Many Christians believe the right things about Jesus in their heads but do not follow Him. The solution is discipleship. Believing what Jesus believed, living the way Jesus lived, and loving the way Jesus loved is the model he set for every believer. Through prayer, study and meditating on the Word of God we can hear his voice and know his mind.
We are called to follow Jesus and to be transformed into his image and his likeness. We must have transformed minds, transformed character, and a transformed relationship with the Father. This is done through Jesus Christ and him only. Loving as Christ loves breaks down the walls that separate us from the Father, and brings healing to our brokenness. We are to love each other as Christ has loved us. Jesus’ service and influence will show forth through the spirit of our character if we have the mind of Christ.
The trouble with our evangelism is that we have raised Christians who do not understand repentance, commitment, and regeneration power. Many of our modern churches have lost sight of Jesus as its leader. The single greatest need of spiritual leaders today is to ignore the voice of the flesh and learn to hear the voice of God. The barriers we face in true growth as Christians is lacking passion, prospection, priorities, and perseverance to develop ourselves spiritual. Church attendance is declining because the peoples real passions lie somewhere else. We are too busy with our own schedules to form a commitment to follow Jesus. The church has done a good job of promoting the importance of spiritual maturity but they have failed to provide an environment in which spiritual growth is a lifestyle.
Many of our churches are declining, because of the lack of discipleship and lack of pray. Financially the Christians are self-indulging with what belongs to God. Our teaching must come back to the obedience of Gods truth and manifesting of his great commission as he told his disciples to do at the foundation of the church. Having salvation and choosing the life Jesus required through discipleship or spiritual formation is the work the church must do, or else our life will be like chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:26). A disciple is a learner who is to become like his teacher. We have taught discipleship is optional causing the church to experience only a temporary after thought that does not last. A weekend non-reproductive gospel is not what Jesus taught. Separating salvation from discipleship has caused the church to descend into boredom. Attendance has slipped and church work no longer stimulates the people. When we once again choose to follow Jesus’ teaching, we will experience a spiritual transformation and the body of Christ will become alive again. We must make a serious commitment to follow leaders who are following Christ.
Too many of us insist on leading our own life. We must humble ourselves and ask God to lead us with the understanding that when he leads we have to follow. Choosing to live the life Jesus gave to us by His sacrifice will liberate us and cause us to serve one master. We must choose one or the other (Matthew 6:24). Following Christ is a life of self-denial and submission to others. Following Christ is a conscious decision we make to live by faith. We choose to join others who have committed to follow Jesus. Surrendering our right to control our own life is seeking to fit in the life Jesus has chosen for us.
Jesus calls on us to use the gifts and talents he has provided for the work of the ministry. To obey Jesus’ will is showing forth the evidence of our love to and for him and the ones he loves. He will reveal himself to us more and more as we carry out the mission he has set for our life in him. He will help us identify our strengths and the leadership vision he has placed in us. When our mission fails to produce fruit, we must still follow and submit because he is doing something that will help us be even more fruitful in the future. When we seriously answer the call to follow Jesus, there are great rewards. In keeping the faith, “There will be a crown of righteousness and a reward at that day” (II Timothy 4:6-8).
Discipleship is about the transformation of our character and Christ being formed in us. When the church goes deeper into the things of God, we will receive real transformation. Revival will take place and spiritual reproduction will increase, bringing forth real Christian growth. We will have become the disciple tools of Jesus Christ for the body of Christ. We will be transformed by the renewing our minds, and transformed into Jesus’ likeness. Our character is formed by the Holy Spirit and the word of God. The road to godliness is one of discipline and we do not walk it alone. We are social beings; therefore, it is good to connect with other people. We say we are going into the deep of God, but unless we submit to help others, we will not respond as Jesus did. Jesus always responded to the needs of others. The high cost that the church has paid and is still paying comes from non-discipleship being the normal condition in many of our churches. Our churches have become cold and we accept this as the status quo, but change is on the way, because God will have a people who will worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus called us to take up our crosses daily and follow him. We now live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself a ransom for us. Becoming Gods tools transforms us as we willingly respond and submit to his leadership. Choosing to live the life of Christ will determine the growth and power of the ministry you are called to work in.
Evangelist Shirley Hall