Gen4Jesus Ministries

06/24/2017

Leverage Connections

Fender Guitars! That advertisement on the front of a T-shirt was all I needed to make a connection. I asked the young man if he played the guitar. Excitedly, he talked about his guitars and playing in a band with his buddies. “That’s great!” I exclaimed. Do you know John over there on the register? He’s a good musician and everyone asks him to play in their band. He can play rock, country, bluegrass – anything, plus a lot of different instruments! You could see the young man’s eyes light up. “Go introduce yourself,” I told him. After a little encouragement, the young man walked over and introduced himself. Instant connection!

Jesus wants us to leverage our connections to build God’s kingdom. Excitement and passion is all you need. John proclaimed, “Look, here is the lamb of God!” and two of his disciples defected and followed Jesus. After Andrew spent the day with Jesus, he ran and got his brother Peter and brought him to Jesus. The next day Jesus called Philip and he ran and told Nathaniel. (John 1) Excitement and passion is all you need. The woman at the well dropped her water jar, ran miles back to the city and convinced them to come and see Jesus! (John 4) Levi threw a pig party so everyone could meet Jesus. (Lk 529) The insane, demon possessed man told everyone he met that Jesus healed him! (Mk 5:19-20)

Excitement and passion is all you need to leverage connections for Jesus. How do you get excited and passionately witness for Jesus?
1) Be open to Jesus. What is Jesus doing around you? What is Jesus doing in you?
2) Care about others. Watch for divine appointments. Work established relationships.

06/14/2017

Make America Great Again – Do Your Job!

What is your work ethic? Previous generations believed the Protestant work ethic built America into the world’s most prosperous country. Hard work and discipline is the foundation of our great nation. We can’t change policy in Washington, D.C., but we can influence our culture by our work ethic. Doing a good job, no matter what it is, glorifies God!

Paul exhorted others to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Col. 2:23).

Apathy poisons the work atmosphere. We witness injustice at work and we say, “What’s the use?” We see incompetence promoted, while hard workers are passed over. People are overworked and under appreciated. Too often it isn’t how much you know, or how well you perform – it’s who you know. These things can accumulate and put you in a bad mood. We all have our days, when we have to talk ourselves into a good work attitude.

Work like Jesus is looking over your shoulder! Jesus sees everything and will reward you for your work. Consistently doing a good job brings glory to God. Your work is an expression of your walk with Jesus. You can witness to more people by working to please Jesus, than singing hallelujah or shouting Amen Brother! Do your job to glorify Jesus, and God will make sure people notice. Jesus loves for you to glorify his name.

You can choose to work as if Jesus is your boss can change the tide of apathy at work and renew the Protestant work ethic to make America Great Again!

05/30/2017

Make America Great Again – Pursue Peace!

"I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world," tweeted President Trump after he visited Pope Francis. President Trump made a huge impression on world leaders as he traveled to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Europe. Unfortunately, the mainstream news coverage continued their attack on President Trump at home.

If we want to make America Great Again, PEACE must begin with followers of Jesus. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God (Matt. 5:9).
We are instructed to pursue peace. “As far as it depends on you – live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18). “Pursue peace with everyone…” (Heb. 12:14). We cannot pick and choose the people we make peace with! God’s command was all-inclusive! That means in every situation and with everyone we meet – pursue peace, as far as it depends on you! You are to make the first move and take that first step toward peace.

Jesus came as a peacemaker to share God’s love with us. Jesus stepped out of heaven – filled with love, righteousness and peace (Lk. 2:14) and into a world populated with selfish people – filled with sin (Rom. 3:23). Jesus could have easily been offended but chose to pursue peace with people instead (Eph. 2:14).

How do you pursue peace? The first step is to not let Jesus’ words offend you (Jn. 6:61). When we develop a daily relationship with Jesus and accept his words of life, we receive a love for the world (Jn. 3:16). Secondly, let God fill you with his love (1 Jn. 4:16). God defines love as an action we choose, over an emotion we feel – choose not to be easily angered (1 Cor. 13:4). Lastly, do not compromise truth to gain peace. Jesus embodied truth (Jn. 14:6) and peace (Isa. 9:6), and knew how to apply both to every situation. For example, Jesus wasn’t offended when the Pharisee (proud religious snob) Nicodemus came to Jesus at night seeking salvation. Jesus patiently and gently attacked his pride by telling him he must be “born again!” Jesus forced Nicodemus to deal with his pride and refused to compromise the truth!

If we want to make America Great Again, we must not be easily offended and pursue peace with everyone!

05/22/2017

Famine for the Word of the Lord…
(Amos 8:11)
What do you think about… Trump? Russian collusion? James Comey? Impeachment? …Fake News, lies and deception… and the list continues! Where do you stand? What is your attitude toward the truth? Amos prophesied to a culture filled with greed and injustice, eventually God would stop talking. In the future people would starve to hear God’s truth and desire a society ruled by love and justice!
What is your attitude toward truth? God’s word pierced wicked King Ahab’s heart and he repented of his evil deeds (1 Kings 21:25-29). But his attitude toward God’s word did not change. Ahab’s character remained deceptive, self-centered and determined to ignore God’s word. Ahab called 400 false prophets to prophesy victory. But Ahab ignored a true prophet for fear God would declare defeat! (1 Kings 22). On the other hand, Jehoshaphat’s “heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord” (2 Chron. 17:6). Jehoshaphat was sincere, devout and discerning. He refused to hear the voice of the majority so he could hear God’s truth spoken by Micaiah (1 Kings 22:5-8). God’s word prevailed and deceptive words lead to death!
In the end times people will refuse the truth and God will send them a strong delusion to believe lies that will lead to destruction (2 Thess. 2:10-11). On the contrary, people who follow Jesus are not to follow the error of lawlessness but grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Pe. 3:18). God’s word will prevail (Isa. 55:11).
There is a spiritual battle raging in America that is fueled by the demonic forces of darkness (Eph. 6:12). We must fight the war with spiritual weapons and destroy spiritual strongholds with God’s word (2 Cor. 10:3-5). We must begin and end with the attitude that God’s word is truth and must be obeyed (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
If we want to make America great again, truth must win in Washington D.C. But more importantly, we must hear and obey what God is saying in Clayton… Rockingham… Harkers Island… Sneads Ferry…NC and Milton… Gillett…PA and VA… and SC... all over America! Your attitude makes all the difference!
Have you had a conversion of your attitude toward Jesus’ word? Jesus didn’t save you so you could do your own thing! Jesus saved you so you would have power to do God’s thing! What is your attitude toward God’s word?

04/03/2017

Game changers!
(from Graham Cooke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p68ykBG-wfM)

Game changers are confident and positive. Game changers are filled with faith that destroys doubt and unbelief. Answering two questions will give you a true perspective on any problem or difficult circumstance. 1) Has God changed? NO! 2) Is anything too hard for God? NO! A great starting point to walk by faith in God and let Him conform you into the image of Jesus. Ask Jesus to make you a game changer today! (Romans 8:28-29)

Graham Cooke 2017 Sermons - Game Changers

03/30/2017

Character starts at home! A good education starts with character. Are you taking the opportunites of life to teach your children valuable life lessons that honor Jesus? (Deut. 6:4-9)

03/15/2017

Coffee & Conversation - the perfect combination! The only thing better than a good smelling cup of coffee is the sweet aroma of Jesus followers meeting together for fellowship. Jesus promised to 'crash the party' and join us! Encouragement, counsel and answered prayer! Matt. 18:19-20

03/11/2017

WOW!!! My first words after tasting this BBQ!
What do people say when they "taste" our relationship with Jesus?
"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 2 Cor. 2:15 May we not be ashamed to invite people to share our fellowship with Jesus!
"O taste and see that the Lord is good..." Ps.34:8

03/10/2017

This new apartment complex on the home page is preparing for new families to move in and gen4jesus ministries is preparing to share Jesus with this generation! "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. Your power and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens."