Pray For Growth In God

Pray for Growth in God – 1-8-19

Colossians 1:10 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

“Walk” refers to one’s behavior & that it can be accomplished only by making the Cross the Object of one’s Faith, which gives the Holy Spirit the latitude to perfect our “walk”.

Fruitfulness will come if Faith is properly placed in the Cross.

Prayer:

"God, I need You more today than yesterday. I long to learn of Your “ways” so that my “walk” will be fruitful & pleasing in Your sight. Hear my heart Oh God. I cry out to You today – come & search me, try me & dig out anything in my heart that is unlike You. I want to grow."

#PrayerAndFasting2019

For more information, click here: https://www.bfwc.net/2019prayerfasting

Prayer Changes Us

PRAYER CHANGES US - 1-7-19

Psalms 25:4-5 "Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."

• God, I want to know Your ways, be taught Your paths and be led into Your truth.
• Lord, unless You show me your ways, I cannot discern which direction to go.
• If You don’t teach me, I cannot learn.
• If You don’t lead me, I cannot walk.
• Lord, I will wait on you, I will persevere in earnest prayer.

Beginning a fast is exciting & challenging at the same time. The sense of knowing that you’re pushing past the desires of the flesh & expanding the growth of your spirit man. Then there’s the challenge of cravings, habits & routines that must be mastered.

#PrayerAndFasting2019

For more information, click here: https://www.bfwc.net/2019prayerfasting

Dear Pastor

Dear Pastor...

• The real test of life is what you DO with the FAVOR you've been given! I've seen people squander their opportunities, simply by doing UNFAVORABLE things.
• Don't bail just because you're not seeing the results you thought you'd see by now! Most people fail because they lack being RESILIENT. If the favor does not come quick, they leave or give up & forfeit what could have been.
• See, when you can be consistent when nobody is looking, that's when FAVOR publicly promotes you!
• I've also discovered that if God can trust you to walk in His FAVOR when you're WOUNDED & even when you're serving something that isn't serving you...FAVOR will REPAIR you & ADVANCE you at the same time!
• Don't forfeit your FAVOR trying to get even with folks who have hurt you. 1) They can't stop the favor of God on your life. 2) God will take care of them...you just take care of you. 3) God saw what you went through & He trusted you like He did Joseph...by sending you ahead to make provisions for the very ones who tried to throw you in the pit! 4) You will experience accelerated blessings that will outweigh the burdens. 👊🏾

Increase or Decrease in 2019?

You can't sow "DISHONOR" seed & call it a "JUST BEING TRUTHFUL" seed. You may not know the difference but your HARVEST will.

When you LEAD, the same people who honor & BENEFIT from your gift may dishonor & discredit you. Seek validation from God alone.

It aggravates the DISHONORABLE to see those they’ve dishonored being HONORED. Their only recourse is to cast shade.

Mark my words…DISHONOR can never produce by IMITATION what HONOR received by IMPARTATION.

I cannot give AFFIRMATION to anyone who has admittedly been DISHONORABLE but continued UNREPENTANT & UNCHANGED.

Before you start a MINISTRY, CHURCH or BUSINESS…understand that if you begin in strife & dishonor you're doomed to fail. Begin with clean hands & a pure heart & God will BLESS you. Take care of your UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

Dear Sons in the Faith: HONOR is a big deal to God. Master it. Give where it’s due. DISHONOR closes doors & forfeits inheritances.

Business owner, Pastor, Entrepreneur, etc., NEVER & I repeat NEVER pay someone to DISHONOR you. Their familiarity will erode your ability to promote them & their ability to go with you.

Age does not automatically guarantee wisdom. Wisdom is linked to 

HUMILITY, HONOR for God & RESPECT for others. Wise people have learned to take nothing for granted.

You can DECREASE FAVOR in your life when you become…

·      Comfortable

·      Familiar

·      Entitled

·      Apathetic

·      Ungrateful

·      Critical

·      Resentful or

·      Deceived about your importance

Allow God to INCREASE FAVOR in your life in 2019 by living a FAVORABLE life. 

It’s The Day After Christmas...

1. I still have Peace & Joy because I know the Prince Of Peace & the One who said Joy can remain in me. 

2. One day of the year isn’t a “magical” escape from reality for me. I serve a God who is Omnipresent & Who has ordered my steps each & everyday. He has given me good healthy relationships 24/7...not just during a “holiday.”

3. I didn’t go into debt, buying gifts, with hopes of trying to impress people or compete with someone else’s spending spree. I actually bought common things for my family & friends that they already use & needed restocked. 

4. I’m very much content today because I didn’t seek to receive some kind of “emotional high” from an anticipated reaction to whether my gift was appreciated or not. 

5. I won’t be standing in any lines to return anything. If I can’t use what I’ve received from others, I’ll pass it along to someone I know who can. 

6. My thinking isn’t so distorted to believe that my kid(s) need so many toys & gadgets that I have to cram piles of things into closets & fill entire rooms with what will literally be played with for 3 minutes & forgotten about but will take 6 months to pay for. (Hope no one did that this year.)

7. It’s the day after Christmas & I am still the same person, doing the same thing, living the same Jesus centered life...with an expectation of Christ’s return! 

8. I’m loving my family & friends. I appreciate true covenant relationships & I’m blessed to have breath in my lungs. I’m an old dirty sinner who’s received mercy & grace so that I can inherit eternal life. I’m so thankful!!

9. You don’t have to feel let down today. Go on living the Jesus life! Remain in peace, because you have The Prince Of Peace! Go back to work with the same focus. Be upbeat!

10. Rain or shine, your best days are ahead of you! Each day is bringing you closer to eternity! Live life to the fullest! Love people! Share with others! Be kind! Stay focused! Don’t let anyone drag you back into the past...you have a bright future...because of JESUS!

A Generous Christmas

I have vivid memories during Christmas especially of my father’s generosity. As a boy, my father didn't have much. His parents survived the Great Depression & he was raised at the head of the holler, in the Appalachian mountains. What he lacked in material blessings he made up for in the amount of love & generosity he experienced in his home. 

I am a witness to the empathy my father has to those in need. Other people seem to sense it too. Neighbors & strangers have come out of nowhere & walked right up to my dad as if guided to him by a Heavenly hand. 
I remember one particular Christmas, dad knew about a family that was having a hard time. He loaded up our car with groceries & presents to make sure that family was cared for.  
That was just one example out of many, I witnessed growing up. Dad just seemed to be able to discern where true needs were. It’s the way he’s lived all these years. 
Sadly we live in a day where some people steal what you’re giving away. For example, if the church is giving away turkeys for Thanksgiving, (one per family) some people will sneak & take more than their share without even blinking while doing it. They take from others, disregard the rules & steal. That is the difference between need & greed. 
There will always be people who work the system, know how to pull on your heart strings & mooch off of everyone...but even still...may we remain generous in spirit. God will show us who to help & who is helping themselves. 
My father is a generous man with a giving heart. He believes the best in people & gives them the benefit of the doubt. I’ve seen him share whatever he has everywhere he’s went & discover the true joy of Christmas.
This year, I encourage you to discover the true joy of Christmas by sharing what you have with others. Maybe you aren't in a position to buy someone groceries & presents, but you have something you can give. Even a word of encouragement can mean the world to someone who needs to hear it. Just keep your heart open & look for ways to be a blessing. Let God use you in a special way this Christmas & every day of the year!
"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

The “Art” Of Preaching

When did preaching the Gospel become an "ART"?  

Sure, there are amazing communicators who possess the skill of timing & eloquence who can hit their cues, captivate crowds & garner an emotional response. I'm "all in" when someone skillfully uses their gift to communicate.

However, talent & skill pale in comparison to an AUTHENTIC ANOINTING that is raw & spirit unctioned...where the "anointing" draws out of the deep place within a person & inspires their natural effort to be transformed into a supernatural outflow.

A polished "talk", speech or motivational elocution is ear pleasing & has its place but so does raw & unrehearsed expressions.

Let's not make such a big deal over the "art" of someone's PREACHING to the degree that their "deliverance" is preferred over another persons simply because of "style." 

Whoever God is using to "PREACH" (declare) the WORD...may our hearts be open to receive the engrafted Word of God into our spirit, for the express purpose of REVELATION, INSPIRATION, INSTRUCTION & ACTION irregardless if someone can "hoop" or "holler"!

The ANOINTING shouldn't be defined by the "style" of someone's vocal expression. I'm more concerned about the CONTENT & CONVICTION of what a person has to say then their SHOWMANSHIP or ANTICS.

We are ALL called to preach...some just do it in a pulpit. Let your life PREACH (proclaim the Gospel) in all you do! You don't need a PULPIT with a MIC in your hand to accomplish it. Your PLATFORM for ministry is EVERYWHERE YOU GO, EVERYTHING YOU DO & EVERYTHING YOU SAY.

Sure...we all have our favorite FLAVOR...but Don't fall into the trap of FAVORING someone's FLAVOR over another simply because of their DELIVERY. Mature people can LEARN & GLEAN (I call it "GLEARN") from anyone. 

It's time to GRADUATE from PRE-SCHOOL to at least the ELEMENTARY level in our understanding. 

Pastor Russell Hylton

#IntentionalGrowth

#YouGotThis