This next Sunday I will be bringing the morning message in the big church. It is a look at the personality, character and ‘living out the faith’ in the life of one New Testament person.

It would be interesting to do a series of messages that would include all the persons we meet in the Bible. I ‘googled’ to find all the names of leaders, women and men, young through old, which are mentioned in the New Testament. No responses, I guess no one has done that research. Any volunteers?

Besides Jesus, the person we will study is my personal favorite person. On Sunday morning the message outline will have a place for your own thoughts and choices. As a part of our prep, I would like you to email me with your ‘pre-Sunday’ reactions to some of the questions and choices in this ‘prep.’ Please send them to me at iamhisservant@verizon.net.

Please write down your three favorite N.T. persons and why they stand out in your thoughts. They can be women or men, young or old, with many Bible passages that talk about them or only one verse. Give a reason for your choices. The person I have chosen is a different one than I would have chosen years ago. What might that be saying about me? Are your choices different than they would have been years ago? What caused the change?

If someone was writing about you, what would they say attracts them to you in your personality or character? (You don’t have to turn this part in unless you wish to!) Would it be a different answer if written by your wife, your children, your parent (living or not), co-workers, school mates, etc?

Do you have questions about the character or personality of Bible persons, other people, yourself, that you want answered through the Bible and message? Send them.

Well, we have come to the end of the section on the Beatitudes and Jesus' command to "...let your light shine before men..."  The rest of the sermon on the mount is dedicated to Jesus' teaching about applying this godly character in our everyday life.

And my encouragement for you this week is to watch and see God at work in your life.  He's up to amazing things and He's going to include you in them too!  I believe that He is going to give you several opportunities to let your light shine openly and conspicuously as you interact with people week.  So my hope is that you will join Him and share the hope within you with some who needs the Hope of God?  The question you need to answer is, will you?  Are you willing to help someone in need along the way to salvation?

Remember, you are a changed person.  The light of God within you is a contrast to the world and to someone who is in a dark place and need for you to share your light with them, so that they too can find their way to the cross and the empty tomb.  So, let your light shine, just as someone shared their light with you in your time of need!

And when you feel like you are ashamed of the Gospel or in fear of sharing your light, then I want to ask you to do three things:

1. Admit to God that you need His help... that you can't do this on your own!
2. Surrender your fear, shame and will to God.  Allow Him to control your situation, your emotions and thoughts.
3. Obey His leading.  Do whatever His is leading to do.  To just listen or ask questions or respond appropriately to someone in need.

And remember to point those in need to God as the answer for their life.  You are not the source of salvation, God is!  Therefore, their praise will go to God the Father for sending you at just the time they needed with a testimony of truth, life, comfort and joy.  A life-testimony lived in love, grace and forgiveness.

May this week be fulfilling and blessed as you shine your light before men! 

ASSIGNMENT:  This week burn a candle at work or in your home to remind you to let your light shine before others.  In addition, each day at your evening meal, add a candle for every person you shared the LIGHT within you.

Pastor Dwayne

Light is seen, it illuminates, it attracts and is a source of energy.  Light was not given by God merely for our own private benefit, but God gave light for both the individual and public good of mankind.  Jesus uses this image of light as an example of what results from our personal encounter with the Love, Grace and Forgiveness of the Creator of light and life.  It is at it core the Gospel of God in Jesus Christ born in our hearts and radiating to the world.

This light of the Gospel within us, by the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit, begins to transform our worldly perspectives, attitudes, character and behaviors into Godly ones.  We find ourselves being convicted and compelled to demonstrate the Beatitudes.  Our life is changed and is constantly changing into the image of Christ.  Thus, Jesus teaches us that a follower of Christ who has the light of the Good News within you, that you are placed as a "light" in the world to be seen, to illuminate, to attract and to be energized in your witness. 

And lest we become proud, Jesus reminds us for whose glory and praise your witness is to draw attention to... to God.  For it is truly God who is at work in you and me, and nothing of ourselves! 

As you prepare to worship this Sunday consider the light within you and how are you using this light.  Ask your self these questions: "When was the last time I shared the hope that is within me with some?"  "What is keeping me from shining God's light before others?" 

Here's my challenge and prayer for you today: that you not only recognize the God given opportunities to share the light with some one, but that you actually walk with God in doing so.

Pastor Dwayne

Are you ready for another week?  Did you start today with the Lord... in His Word... in a reflective time of conversation?  Or has the day already slipped by without a thought of God's presence with you.  Well, He's right there with you... even now as you read my words of encouragement. 

So, be encouraged that God has been walking with you in each moment and you have the opportunity now to says, thanks!  For the rest of today be attentive to God's presence and the Holy Spirit's activity in your life, around you and through you.  I know that if you look, you will be surprised by God's constant activity and you will begin to see the Light of the World making a difference in your life.

Jesus says that you are the light of the world also.  Someone of tremendous worth, as you demonstrate the beatitudes throughout the day and become a light of God's love beaming on a lamp stand for everyone to see.  Today you have a mission and you are not alone.  You are on mission with God to impact the entire world with the Gospel that is in your life today.  Today and this week God will give you many opportunities to influence individuals in seeking out the hope and promise of God's love, grace and forgiveness.

If you're a little nervous about that fact, then let ease your anxiety.  It only takes 2-3 minutes of your sharing.  Sharing a summary of: 1. How you came to accept Christ as your savior, and 2. How Christ has changed your life.  When the opportunity arises just relax and share you experience with compassion for the person you're sharing with.  Be sure and listen for how this person responds and just follow the Holy Spirit's leading from there.

Today... you are God's "BILLBOARD"... so what are you going to display on it today?

You are blessed!  Be a blessing to someone today.

Pastor Dwayne

"You are" the salt of the earth and when your godly "beatitudes" come in contact with others, they experience the very best from that contact.  That person is observing, even experiencing God's work through you, as His ambassador in that divinely appointed personal contact.  You and I are influencers for Christ and God has planned many opportunities for us today and in the days ahead, to demonstrate the eight beatitudes of Jesus' foundational teachings.  We are like "salt shakers" for the Lord.  And in every relationship and contact with others that we have, God's desire for us to shake His flavor agent into that contact, so that His very best will be experienced. 

So, my encouragement to you this week is to take every opportunity as a salt "Shaker" and SHAKE the SALT, so that it can make a difference in someones life.  Be an available and usable shaker for God and shake the salt out where it can do some good!

Last Friday I asked some questions in preparation for Sunday's message.  This week I encourage you to follow up on your answers to those questions and penetrate your culture, your neighborhood, your school or work, etc.  I hope that you will be pro-active and intentional about increasing your spheres of contacts with people who are far from God in your culture.  That you will contact that person in your life that needs a little "beatitude salt" shaken from you onto your relationship.

Remember, salt is to be used... for it does no good unless it actually makes contact with the object you want to influence and bring out the very best flavor.  So please, don't just be a shaker who is storing salt... for you and the salt are of no benefit.  But instead SHAKE the SALT appropriately everywhere God leads you today.  Be His ambassador for a blessed and savory personal relationship.

May God bless you in your walk with Him this week!

Pastor Dwayne

In the ancient world salt was extremely expensive and highly valued.  In the time that Jesus taught salt was considered special in several ways.  There was sea salt from the Mediterranean Sea and mined salt from surrounding countries which traded along the salt route through Israel.  This "pure" salt was used as seasoning and as a preservative; and it was also used as an "offering" to the gods in pagan religions and to God in the Jewish Temple.  In reflection, this symbolizes for the Christian the high value of the gift of purity and the offering of our impure life, which God has made pure through the sacrifice of Christ for our sin.  We are to be the salt of the earth, for God has made us pure and we can now offer ourselves as His ambassador in this impure world.  As salt, we also preserve our purity in the Lord, as we influence the impure world around us.  There is a preservation from the influence of the world upon us, as we are in the world but not of the world.  This salty influence also brings out the best flavor of being a Christ-follower.  It brings out God's love, grace, acceptance and forgiveness being demonstrated through our lives as we "shake the salt" everywhere we go.

As you prepare for this Sunday, consider how you or your small group can be "salt" in your neighborhood or community or at school or work or even during your vacation.  Also consider how you can be intentional about increasing your influence with someone or you culture who is far from God.

My prayer is that we can be "salt shakers" in spheres of our influence.  Join me in influencing someone for Christ today!

Pastor Dwayne

Boy, do I need a Monday-morning Jolt of encouragement for the week!  I have found in my life's experience that often what seems to be very simple and easy turns out to be some of the hardest things for me to do.  Like Jesus' instructions recorded in Matthew 22:37-39 to "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ... Love your neighbor as yourself."  Sounds easy but sometimes it is just hard to love.  The Beatitudes are like that too.  However, I find that the more I spend pondering thier meaning and applying them to my personal life the more I find that I am learning, and realize the vast dimension of God's character to which I am to demonstrate in my walk with Him in this world.

So, my encouragement this week as you walk with the Lord is to ponder on just how fortunate you are in being called by God into a righteous relationship with God.  It is a real, vital, essential, transforming and personal relationship... and it is God's gift to you!  Do you get?  You are SPECIAL... you are LOVED... you are FORGIVEN... and you are Christ's Ambassador to your sphere of influence - the people in your world.  Get it yet?  Doesn't it bring a sense of GRATITUDE and JOY... an extreme HAPPINESS?  You don't deserve this gift, but God has given it to you!  Are you jumping up and down yet in holy happiness, gratitude and joy because you are BLESSED?

Now, as a Christ-follower, my hope for you is that this week God will give you multiple opportunities to be poor in spirit, mournful for the results of sin, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker and to stand in the face of persecution.  May your worldly character traits be challenged, and your ungodly attitudes be adjusted by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit within you, so that your witness is the image of Christ. 

Watch out... God is at work!  Join Him this week, won't you?

Pastor Dwayne

wk 1... "Blessed" -  As a Christian you "have entered" into a blessed relationship with God that is real, vital and permanent!  O, the bless of being a Christian!  O, the joy of following Christ! O, the sheer happiness of knowing Jesus as Savior, Master and Lord!  This is the basic character trait that God desires in His followers.  Are you overwhelmingly grateful?  If not, you need to spend some quiet time with your source of life and joy.  Try it, you'll learn to love it!

wk 2... "Poor in Spirit" - Blessed is the person who realizes their own utter helplessness in being righteous and who has put their whole trust in God!  We are so attached to and rich with things in our culture that we have little time, energy and money for our spiritual health and growth.  Isn't it about time for us to begin prioritizing... and begin to detach from unnecessary things and completely attach to and depend on God? 

wk 3... "Mourn" - Blessed are those who are desperately sorry for the sorrow and suffering of this world, and for their own sin.  For out of their sorrow they will find joy.  When we deeply realize the cost of our sin we are brought to a grief that is heartfelt and sincere, and the the Holy Spirit then leads us out of this grief, lifts the burden of our sorrow into an uplifting joy of living in God's Grace, Forgiveness, Peace and Love! 

wk 4... "Meek" - Blessed is the person who is always angry at the right time, who has every instinct, impulse and passion under God's control, and has the humility to realize their own ignorance and weakness, for such is a king or queen among the people.  When we surrender our control of all things to God we discover just how blessed we are!  What is it that is keeping you from surrendering?  Give it over to God and discover just how freeing that is.

wk 5... "Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness" - Blessed is the person who longs for total righteousness as a starving person longs for food, and a perishing person longs for water, for that person will truly be satisfied.  If any of us were to experience either of these situations, we would begin to understand just how important a relationship is with God.  He is life itself!  Taste of Him today... take a long, cool drink of and satisfy hunger by ingesting His Word, surrendering to His Spirit and being refreshed completely.

wk 6... "Merciful" - Blessed is the person who gets right inside other people and sees things through their eyes, thinks their thoughts, feels their feelings, for they will find others doing the same for them and will know that is what God in Jesus Christ has done for them.  When you find yourself angry, critical or judgmental today, check to see if you are really considering what is going on with the object of your frustration.  Maybe you can be the very instrument that God wants to use to impact that situation for His glory?  Will you be merciful or selfish?

wk 7... "Pure in Heart" - Blessed is the person whose motives are absolutely pure, for they will some day be able to see God.  We are reminded that it is only by God's grace that we can keep our hearts clean by Christ blood sacrifice on the cross... God has done that work!  However, we also have to continually check our motives in the renewing of our minds from sinful influences to the image of Christ.  Be attentive to the Holy Spirit's ministry in your thoughts, feelings and behaviors... may your motives be pure.

wk 8... "Peace Makers" - Blessed are those who produce right relationships between people for they are doing a godlike work!  Reconciliation is a key principle in the Kingdom of God and yet many believers have such a hard time with this.  Is your pride, selfishness, ungodliness coming between a strained or broken relationship?  If so, today is the day of confession, surrender and reaching out.  God has forgiven you... you have no legitimate reason to not forgive and try to make peace.

wk 9... "Persecuted" - Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, because the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs!  Being a Christ follower will disrupt every department of your life... your work, social, home, ethics, morals, etc.!  You will stand out as someone who is living counter-culturally and you will be criticized, harassed, or mistreated in some way.  Your loyality to Christ will be tested and tried.  Just remember... you are a citizen of heaven already today and your future reward is great in heaven is great and your are apart of an amazing team of believers!  So, celebrate and rejoice and be glad for you are blessed!

GOD LOVES YOU AND IS BLESSING YOU TOTALLY ALWAYS!  As you review this teaching of Jesus, may you surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit and so that your character will reflect God's and your attitudes be adjusted to represent His!  Be a light on a hill in a dark world and salt in an unsavory world!

Pastor Dwayne

Life is full of challenges in every area of our living.  I want to encourage you this week as you face decisions regarding voicing or demonstrating your loyalty to Jesus Christ.  Take courage and draw upon the Holy Spirit's ministry in you for each opportunity that comes your way this week at work, school, play, in your family, neighborhood or city!  You are blessed by God as a citizen of His kingdom, and as one engaged in and being supported by an tremendous team of believers.  Now, share your love for Christ in all that you do, say and think this week... give Him all the glory!

Pastor Dwayne

In preparation for the coming weeks scripture and message I encourage you to ponder over these next few questions in light of the passage above.  Have you ever been insulted, persecuted, or falsely accused because of your faith in Jesus Christ?  If so, how did you react and how did you feel at that time?  How do you feel now about that experience and the way in which you responded?  What have you learned about yourself and God through it all?

When someone commits to be a Christ-follower, Jesus clearly lets us know that it will be costly in every area of our lives.  If we truly follow the teachings of Jesus, then every aspect of our life will be counter to our culture because you are different!  Your values, morals, ethics and principles will be different.  As a result you should expect tension and resistance from those who do not believe in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  So, as you live as Christ's Ambassador, you too can expect criticism, hatred, and rejection, just as Jesus did.

And the good news is that you are a citizen of heaven and you are not alone.  God is ever present in you and you are in the Body of Christ.  You have the best support system ever!  You can rejoice in knowing that you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven now and you can also look forward because you have a great reward in heaven in the future.

Rejoice today and in the days ahead... for no matter what your days are like you are not alone and all you have to do is call upon those in your spiritual support group.

Pastor Dwayne

It seems like there are battles raging all the time all over the world between countries, groups of people, families and within each of us.  There are times that in our lives that there just seems to be no peace anywhere!  But God has a way out of our despair!  When we come to realize that the war is a spiritual one within ourselves, and we repent of our sin, trust God that He provided for our forgiveness and has removed our penalty through Jesus Christ's death on the cross, and join Him in His transforming work in us... we find a peace from God that will change how we act and react to others.  This Good News and a spirit of Peace has to be shared with others... you just can't keep it in!  You will find that reconciliation with others is possible... there can be true peace between you and that once hated person.  You will discover that your daily transformation into the image of Christ is being demonstrated through you... you are an Ambassador of Christ, bring the peace of God into every relationship for His Kingdom purposes.

May each of this week surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and bring God's love, grace and forgiveness into every encounter so that peace will reign in that relationship!

Pastor Dwayne

It features a live band, dinner and, of course, root beer!!  This event is free and open to the Bellflower community.

Have you ever let your emotions, or thoughts get in the way of seeing God's presence or activity in your life?  God is constantly and in multiple ways, revealing Himself, His purpose, and His ways to you.  But we often cloud our spiritual eyes from seeing His activity because of our selfishness or ungodly thoughts or emotion.  We sometimes let our worldly thoughts and emotions determine our ungodly actions and we miss what God was doing. 

In the coming days, may you and I be very attentive to our hearts condition and surrender the unclean portions to God's transforming power through the Holy Spirit... and let Him purify your heart... and you will see God doing miracles!  Miracles in you and through you to others.  Your life will be blessed to be a blessing!

Pastor Dwayne

Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

As we walked through this scripture yesterday and throughout this week trying to find ways to better apply it to our lives, we need to ask ourselves the question again. Does my life truly reflect a carbon copy of what Jesus my King calls me to be in regards to Mercy and Christian Character?

To live out Mercy is harder to do than to receive Mercy. In order to live out Mercy and seek true Hope and Joy in this world, I must be willing to sacrifice it all for Christ my King. He laid down his life and now I am called to live accordingly and then and only then will I receive God’s Blessings in his timing.
Will I face hardship, will I face pain, will I face opposition as I live mercifully? Yes, that would be a definite thing. But to live as Christ is to gain more than this world can ever offer. God tells us to store up our treasures in heaven where neither moth, nor rust or thief can steal or destroy. As we seek to be merciful, we are adding more than jewels to our crowns. We are making this world a better place and expanding God’s Kingdom on earth so that more may come to know Him and His Grace.

So I challenge you this week to truly apply this blessing of mercy and live it out this week and throughout your lives.

Grace and Peace…

Elder Ian Bent

This Sunday's scripture: Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."   As you continue to passionately hunger and thirst for a more intimate relationship with Christ today and tomorrow in preparation for worship this Sunday, may you begin to think on the word "mercy."  I believe that mercy is more than an act of compassion or restraint.  I believe that mercy is demonstrated when a person looks right inside someone and see things through their eyes, think their thoughts, feel their feelings and comes to realize that is what God in Jesus Christ has done for them!  And in those moments mercy is experienced by both parties.  You, the giver of mercy, receives reassurance of God's mercy in you life and sense a deep gratitude for His love, mercy and grace.  It is a win-win experience!  May God give you opportunity to demonstrate mercy in the coming days.

Be blessed!

Pastor Dwayne

Registrations forms available.

I doubt that many of us have such a desire or passion for water or food as one who is at the point of death.  This is the type of desire that Jesus is teaching about.  A passion for God and His righteousness that supersede everything else in the world.  A radical, fully SURRENDERED life to God.  Do you know a Christian who demonstrates that kind of comment?  Has someone in your life's journey impacted your life for Christ because of they had a hunger and thirst for righteousness, which filled their life and over-flowed into yours?

In the next couple of days, I challenge you to read the sermon on the mount and then re-read the Beatitudes and focus on this most important teaching of Jesus.  As you do, write down the names of the people who have influenced you in your spiritual journey.  Then try and reach them by phone, note, card, email, etc. to let them know that their passion for Christ made a difference in your life... and thank them for sharing God's love with you.

May we all grow deeper in love and longing for this vital relationship with God!

Pastor Dwayne 

This Sunday morning, we will be able to hear from Don Pruett about his experiences on this mission!  God worked miraculously and amazingly in so many varied ways which are life-time memories for him.  He will be sharing a couple of his experiences with us, so I hope you will be able to attend and be blessed.  God is sooooo good!  Welcome back Don!

Dwayne

Blessings!  Dwayne

Dwayne