New Generation for Christ Community Church, Inc.

21/12/2023

It can be difficult being patient when we want God to move, but it's important to remember that sometimes the wait is for our benefit.

20/12/2023

STANDING AFTER THE STORM

"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)

Just as there are foundations that are dug and laid for buildings, so there are spiritual foundations upon which we can build a strong and unshakeable spiritual life. But if we compromise the standards of our foundation, to that degree we compromise our ability to stand during life's storms.

I've known many people who could prophesy or pray for the sick or sing beautifully in church, but inwardly their spiritual lives were unstable. As soon as difficulties arose, they fell. Why? Something was missing from their inner spiritual life and they crumbled during the storm.

Jesus put it this way:
"Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built" (Luke 6: 47-48).

The question isn't "if" a storm is coming, but when. Life has a way of going from calm and peaceful to suddenly turning turbulent or adversarial. The only way one's house can stand during these times is if it is well built on a true foundation.

In our Lord's teaching, our "house" represents our spiritual life -- what we are made of inwardly. In building this life, our foundation is the first and most important part of the structure. Everything else we build, whether in ministry or gifting or calling, is built upon the inner, hidden foundation laid by Christ.

The problem is compounded because you can't build your house in a storm. Your house must be built before the storm comes.
Thus, Jesus concluded His warning with these words:

"But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great" (Luke 6:49).

I shudder when I recall the many people — good people, mind you — whose house "collapsed" in the storm of temptation or adversity. How true the Savior's words are: "and the ruin of [their] house was great."

Storms Are Coming
As a spiritual father, I am very concerned about the church. In our world it has almost become a joke how dysfunctional we have become. People are proud that their lives are unstructured, as though undisciplined was synonymous with humility. May I speak candidly? I think undisciplined is a form of disobedience.
I'm not saying our salvation depends on our keeping a set of rules and if we fail we lose our salvation. I'm not discussing salvation; I'm talking about spiritual growth. Indeed, Christ's Great Commission to us is that we make converts out of sinners and disciples out of converts. How do we become disciples? By obeying all that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:20 NIV).

You ask, "How can I obey everything Jesus taught?" Frankly, you won't. But you can set your heart toward laying a sure foundation. So set goals and study to show yourself approved. If you stumble, get back up. If you get discouraged, then take courage. The Scripture says that even a righteous man (or woman) falls seven times, but the Lord upholds his hand.

Yes, of course there are times when people need to be loved and healed. I'm not legalistic; I'm realistic.

When I speak of spiritual foundations, I'm talking about old attitudes being excavated from our souls and Christlike attitudes structured. Trusting in ourselves must go; trusting in Christ must be established. Pride must be uprooted; true humility established. Worry, fear and sin must go and prayer must be established.
You see, God calls us to walk as redeemers, patterning our lives after the example of Christ. It is Christ Himself living in us, transforming our hearts, who is the sure and perfect foundation.
The vision of becoming Christlike should be both the focus of leadership and the primary growth pattern of congregations. This has been the Father's purpose from the beginning, and it remains His unchanging goal now at the end of the age (see Genesis 1:26-27 and Romans 8:28-29).

If we build upon the foundations of Christ, we will certainly be found standing after the storm.

29/03/2023

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

27/03/2023

There is a time for everything . . . a time to be silent and a time to speak. — Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7

Silence can be a virtue in some situations. As King Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: . . . a time to be silent and a time to speak” ( Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7).

Silence in the face of bigotry and injustice, however, only enables harm and hurt. Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoeller (jailed in N**i Germany for speaking out) confessed that in a poem he penned after the war. “First they came for the Communists,” he wrote, “but I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.” He added, “Then they came for” the Jews, the Catholics, and others, “but I didn’t speak up.” Finally, “they came for me—and by that time there was no one left to speak up.”

It takes courage—and love—to speak up against injustice. Seeking God’s help, however, we recognize the time to speak is now.

23/03/2023

MOMENT OF TRUTH | The Joy of the Holy Spirit | David Diga Hernandez

13/03/2023

10/03/2023

GOD MADE YOU TO LOVE YOU

“The Lord takes pleasure in His people." — Psalm 149:4 (GNT)

God created you to love you.

The Bible doesn’t say God has love. The Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8 ESV). Love is the essence of His nature.

The Bible says, “For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased” (Revelation 4:11 NLT).

Everything was created because God gets enjoyment out of it. He wanted to love it. God loves every rock, every plant, every animal, every star, and every human being.

As Psalm 149:4 says, “The Lord takes pleasure in His people” (GNT).

God takes pleasure in you ALL THE TIME. Why? He created you. He’s your heavenly Father.

Some people think God is only smiling at them when they’re doing something “religious.” Nothing could be further from the truth. God gets pleasure in watching you be you because He made you YOU.

God planned you for His pleasure, and He wants you to learn to love Him back. Jesus gave the ultimate summary of the Bible when asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36 NIV).

Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV).

Life is all about love. If you don’t get that, you’ve missed the first purpose of your life—to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Before my feet touch the ground each morning, I pray this: “Dear God, it’s another day. And if I don’t get anything else done today, I want to know You a little bit better, and I want to love You a little bit more.”

If you find yourself at the end of an awful day—full of your own mistakes, sin, grief, and pain—but you recognize that you’ve learned to love God just a little bit more, your day isn’t a waste.

You’re doing exactly what God made you to do.

Talk It Over
• Why do you think people struggle to accept the truth that God loves them and takes pleasure in them?
• Why do you think people often miss this first purpose of their life—to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength?
• If you really internalized the fact that life is all about love, how would that change what you prioritized in your day?

07/03/2023

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

07/03/2023

When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. — John 16:13

For many of us, much of Scripture is wrapped in deep mystery. Still, the night before the cross, Jesus promised His followers that He would send the Holy Spirit. He told them, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is shedding light on the truth—including truths behind the mysteries of the Bible.

While we’re not promised absolute understanding of everything given to us in the Scriptures, we can have confidence that by the Spirit we can comprehend everything necessary for us to follow Jesus. He will guide us into those vital truths.

02/03/2023

Have My Heart (by Maverick City Music) | Worship Cover by Steven Moctezuma

02/03/2023

HOW TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST

“We shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature." — Ephesians 4:13 (GNT)

Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ. It’s a journey that will last a lifetime!

This is how it works: Every day God wants you to become a little more like Him. As the Bible says, “You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you” (Colossians 3:10 NCV).

Today people are obsessed with speed. But God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. You might want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. Maybe you’re looking for a sermon, a seminar, or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation, and release you from all growing pains.

But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual. The Bible says, “Our lives gradually [become] brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 The Message).

People often build their identity around their defects. You might even tell yourself you can’t change, saying, “It’s just the way I am.”

The unconscious worry is that if you let go of your habit, your hurt, or your hang-up, you won’t know who you are anymore. This fear can slow, or even stop, your growth.

So how do you let go of those old habits and grow to be more like Christ? How do you conform your character to His? By developing Christ-like habits to replace those old habits.

Your character is the sum total of your habits—and habits take time to develop. You can’t claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind, showing kindness without even thinking about it. You can’t claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character.

There’s just one way to develop the habits of Christ-like character: You have to practice them, over and over, until they become part of your identity. And that takes time!

But over time, you—and the people around you—will see the difference. As Paul urged Timothy, “Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15 GW).

Talk It Over
• What old habit have you been hanging on to? How can you begin to replace it with a Christ-like habit today?
• What is one character trait that you want to be known for?
• Who in your life can help and encourage you as you work to develop that habit of Christ-like character?