The Lord Of What's Left

Dear BFWC Family & Friends,

It's been a full week of serving, loving, helping and sharing with our community and covenant family.  Beverly and I would like to thank each of you for stepping up to the plate and serving where needed.  

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we said "see you later" to John Sexton, a loving man in our covenant family, who went home to be with the Lord.  He will be greatly missed here at BFWC.  As often as you remember, please continue to pray for his wife, Judy, that she may find comfort and courage in the days to come.  She has a large family to support her and along with the encouragement and strength she receives from her church family, I believe she'll receive strength.

One thing that I can say about our church body is that there is heartfelt love ingrained in the sweat, labor, tears and work we're doing.  

Thank you for:

• Loving one another unconditionally, 
• Believing the best about one another, 
• Giving a hand up and a hand out when needed, 
• Standing in strength when another is weak, 
• Caring enough to send cards, make phone calls and 
• Truly reaching in love!

As humans, it's easy to see the negative in life's situations.  As Christians, we're instructed to look for the good and then speak life to our circumstances.  When you choose to speak life over people, problems and plans...you're declaring the Rhema Word of God (God breathed word) from your mouth and commanding a BLESSING to be released! 

Friends, I challenge you today to use your MOUTH to speak LIFE. For those of you using social media as a tool to communicate...choose to speak LIFE.  We gain no advancement for the Kingdom of God when we vent our frustrations over the internet, subtweet and take jabs at people.  However, we can build the Kingdom of God when we lovingly speak words that will encourage, inspire, advance and promote unity, harmony and peace.  

Paul said in Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

Recently, a dear friend sent us a sermon called "The Lord of What's Left."  This message was very inspiring and pointed us to take a closer look at the God who can take your fragments and use what remains...for His glory!  See, each of us have fragments and broken pieces left over from battles we've fought, wounds we've incurred and trials that have seemingly depleted our resources. Yet, God in His abundant GRACE & MERCY...picks up what's left in our life and begins to reshape it into something of beauty. Ultimately, it's His desire to use us, entirely, for His glory.  

Perhaps you feel like you're at the bottom instead of on top. Or, you feel discouraged rather than encouraged.  Friend, focus on what God has done already...and believe He can do it again!  Focus on what you HAVE...not what you LOST. Give God praise in advance and allow Him to rebuild your courage, restore your health, reignite your passion, renew your strength and replenish your soul!

Regaining your momentum takes time.  It's a process. Not everyone will understand your decisions, know your journey, be acquainted with your story, agree with your path or believe in your future. That's ok. You're not serving people...you're serving God.  Just keep LOVING.  Remain sweet in your spirit and forgiving when the opportunity to be offended arises. The Scriptures teach us "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:18)

I'm proud of you and the CLIMATE you're creating in this house.  A climate that VALUES PEOPLE and loves them regardless of where they're at, what they've done and who they are.  A climate that is producing a CULTURE of HOPE for people who have been rejected by the religious, overlooked by the elite and discarded by the world.  Truly, BFWC has become a fulfillment of Mark 2:17 to be come a HOSPITAL for the SICK not a HOTEL for the SAINTS!

"They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

As we head into the weekend, please continue your PRAYER & FASTING as we continue to believe for the HURTING to be HEALED, the LOST to be FOUND and the DISCOURAGED to be ENCOURAGED!

In addition to our two morning worship services on Sunday morning (8:30 & 11 AM) we will host our 3one7 Student Ministry Service at 6 PM!  Our National Youth Directors, Randy & Dawn Lawrence, from Dallas, Texas, will be ministering.  Invite a friend! Everyone is welcome to attend!

Saved by grace,

Russell Hylton

Missile Defense System

The Word of God always has nuggets of truth that are just waiting to be uncovered! Obviously, after 2000 years, there is no new revelation...but there are definitely things to be revealed that we do not yet have knowledge of.  

Isaiah 54:17 has long been a passage that has been quoted and used in sermons, testimonies and songs.  Recently, this passage and the verses before it have brought about a greater meaning to me.

• 14. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
• 15. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
• 16. See it is I who have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and produces a weapon fit for it's purpose; I have also created the ravager to destroy.
• 17. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgement. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, says the Lord.

This passage has become even more real to me as I've watched the conflict that is presently taking place in Israel.  Israel has a Missile Defense System that has, up till now, been able to counterattack every missile that has been fired against it.

You and I have a Missile Defense System!  God has released His Angels to counterattack every missile that has ever been or ever will be fired at us!

God says that we are ESTABLISHED in RIGHTEOUSNESS!  We are LIFTED ABOVE OPPRESSION and do not have to fear...for TERROR WILL NOT COME NEAR US!

Verse 15 says that whoever is stirring up strife, gossiping about you, running your name down or trying to get others to turn against you...they will FALL as a result of their loose tongue!

God declares to us that it is He who has created the SMITH!  Who is the smith?  Well...it is the HOLY GHOST who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon fit for our purpose.  In addition, the RAVAGER is the ANGEL of the Lord who God has assigned to minister to us and protect us! (Psalm 91:11)

The Angel of the Lord will take out every missile that has been launched against us!  Praise the Lord today that God knows us by name and has declared that ... even when a weapon has been formed by people to try to take us out ... He declares that IT WILL NOT PROSPER and that EVERY TONGUE that has lashed out against us will be shot down in judgment!

God is your VINDICATOR!  Never forget that God has established your heritage to include a MISSLE DEFENSE SYSTEM!

Are Your Steps In Order?

God is a God of order.  Everything that He does is inline and intact.  In fact, the Apostle Paul declared "Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40)

When serving in ministry, we ought to be able to do it with joy. Ministry shouldn't be a drudgery or a downer.  It only becomes laborious when we are out of alignment with God's ordained protocols.  As a result, ministry can become tiresome and wearisome. 

To rid ourselves of this draining dilemma, we have to restore order back into our life.  How? Well, the first step is to start with our relationship with God.  If we allow ourselves to become so taxed with duties that we neglect the intimate relationship afforded to us through our personal relationship with God, we can come to resent ministry and become slothful in our diligence and duties.

• Are you in harmony with HEAVEN?  
• Does your life and ministry have the sound of melody accented with the triad of harmonic balance?  

I've found in my own life, that when my fellowship with God is in order, my spirit man has the ability to be in balance with both the natural and the spiritual world. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I'm able to remain consistent in my spiritual habits which in turn catapults me to greater effectiveness in natural things.

The Results of Order

1. Consolation - comfort in knowing your ducks are in a row.
2. Mutual respect from your peers and leaders.
3. Promotion.
4. Increased performance and results.
5. Decreased stress.
6. Accelerated production.
7. Horizontal and vertical appreciation.
8. Increased anointing.
9. Discernment of people and situations that are out of order. 
10. Cost savings.
11. Synergy with likeminded leaders.

Protocol Precedes Promotion

When you read John's description of Heaven, it is clear that Heaven is a place of order. With that being said, God designs that His church be a place of order as well as our homes. 

Order gives birth to various levels of leadership within organizations that can be hierarchal in nature.  

As long as delegated authority is in place, we will always be cognizant of rank, service, position and authority. Leadership longevity is sustained by maintaining and mastering our rank.

Giving 100% Regardless of Your Rank

1. Giving your all no matter where you serve on the team will increase your level of anointing and increase your desirability within your sphere of influence.
2. Knowing where you fit on the team defines what your level of authority is and is not.
3. No matter the task, washing windows or organizing an event, your rank dictates what projects are assigned to you.
4. Knowing who you are and whose you are frees you from competing with other people's positions and placements.
5. The number of keys on your key ring dictates how much responsibility you've been entrusted with.
6. Serving with faithfulness and fruitfulness will yield a harvest of blessings!  On the other hand, withdrawing, pouting and MIA stirs up a dust cloud of disappointment from those who are cheering for your success.

Colossians 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

Hebrews 13:17 "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

1 Timothy 1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enable me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"

Are You Tough Enough?

There's a saying I grew up hearing that says, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!"  This has indeed been a true statement for anyone who has had to hurdle past obstacles and climb over life's disappointments.

The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 30 that there are four things that are little upon the earth, but they are exceedingly wise. The first is the ANT.  Solomon says they are not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer (v 25).

ANTS know that they don't have long to work before the chill of Winter sets in.  So, they gather all they can to feed their colony, while they have strength and opportunity.  ANTS do not wait for an invitation to your picnic.  They show up unannounced and are happy to carry away anything within their reach. 

ANTS are relentless.  ANTS are persistent.  ANTS use every muscle they can muster to carry their fair share of the load.  In the ANT'S world...you've gotta be TOUGH to survive!

How TOUGH are you?

Where did we ever get the idea that everybody would appreciate us?  Certainly not from Jesus!  He said His blessings were reserved for the "persecuted and the reviled" (Matthew 5:10-11).  If you are "thin skinned" you'll have a rough time, because that makes you an easy target for the enemy.

Endurance is the secret; not popularity!  

• Paul endured desertion by his friend.
• Ugly letters from the Corinthians.
• Disappointment with the Galatians.
• Mistreatment in Philippi.
• Mocking in Athens.
• Imprisonment and beheading in Rome.

What do we really have to complain about?  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

1. Watch ye! - "Be on the alert!" - Why?  Because you have an adversary who is out to get you.  What's he after? The DEPOSIT of God that's within you.  You are a SEED, capable of producing a harvest for God in the earth!

2. Stand fast in the faith! - "Be firm!" - Why? Because you can't stand on your feelings, your circumstances, or the opinions of others. Those things change constantly. You can only stand on the Word of God.

3. Quit you like men! - "Act like men!" - Why? Because being childish won't cut it when the battle rages. It's time to grow up! Learn from your mistakes and keep going!

4. Be strong! - "Toughen up!" - Why? Because weakness is an invitation to your enemy. Furthermore, it always precedes surrender, and quitting is not an option for you. God told His people that the Promised Land was theirs, but they had to fight for it. God's saying the same thing to you today!

You don't have to stand in your own strength!  

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

God Grace You!

We often use the phrase "God bless you!" after someone sneezes.  Perhaps saying, "God GRACE you!" is just as fitting. 

God GRACES us in the morning, noon time, evening and at night!  God GRACES us on the left, right and center!  God GRACES us in the past, present and future! GRACE is above me, beneath me and all over me! 

It is the GRACE of God that helps us to come before God with confidence in our hearts. All our deeds, including what we have done or have not done for God and to one another, do not dictate God’s acceptance of us.

We get to be in relationship with God not because of our sincerity, morality, genealogy or our generosity.  It is by the GRACE of God alone.

It is the God of GRACE Who sent Jesus Christ Who came to us and gave His life for us, even while we were sinners, indifferent and helpless. "Salvation" is not a result of good things we’ve done. It is a gift.

We can’t earn it or take credit for it. We just receive what God has done, in faith.

Saved people get to do good works, because of the graciousness of God's presence, strength, mercy and love.

Only IN and THROUGH the God of GRACE alone do we stand completely covered.  May our prayer today be...

"Lord, we acknowledge your GRACE that awakens us to your love, enables us to love others and sustains us in that love. None of us can boast or take credit for what You have done or continue to do for us, in us and through us. By Your GRACE, oh God, may we extend the same unmerited favor, love and mercy we have received from You to our neighbors."

Keeping Confidences

This is a great read from Chuck Swindoll!

June 22, 2014

by Charles R. Swindoll

Psalm 141:3–4

Can you keep a secret?

Can you? Be honest, now. When privileged information passes through one of the gates of your senses, does it remain within the walls of your mind? Or is it only a matter of time before a leak occurs? When the grapevine requests your attention from time to time, do you refuse to help it climb higher, or do you encourage its rapid growth, fertilizing it by your wagging, unguarded tongue? When someone says, "Now this is confidential," do you respect their trust or ignore it . . . either instantly or ultimately?

The longer I live, the more I realize the scarcity of people who can be fully trusted with confidential information. The longer I live, the more I value those rare souls who fall into that category! As a matter of fact, if I were asked to list the essential characteristics that should be found in any member of a church staff or officer on a church board . . . the ability to maintain confidences would rank very near the top. No leader deserves the respect of the people if he or she cannot restrain information that is shared in private.

Our minds might be compared to a cemetery, filled with graves that refuse to be opened. The information, no matter how juicy or dry, must rest in peace in its coffin, sealed in silence beneath the epitaph "Shared in confidence—Kept in confidence."

You and I wouldn't give a plugged nickel for a doctor who ran off at the mouth. The same applies to a minister or an attorney or a counselor or a judge or a teacher or a secretary . . . or a close, trusted friend for that matter. No business ever grows and remains strong unless those in leadership are people of confidence. No school maintains public respect without an administration and faculty committed to the mutual guarding of one another's worlds. When leaks occur, it is often a sign of character weakness, and action is usually taken to discover the person who has allowed his or her mental coffin to be exhumed and examined.

Information is powerful. The person who receives it and dispenses it bit by bit often does it so that others might be impressed because he or she is "in the know." Few things are more satisfying to the old ego than having others stare wide-eyed, drop open the jaw, and say, "My, I didn't know that!" or "Why, that's hard to believe!" or "How in the world did you find that out?"

Solomon writes strong and wise words concerning this subject in Proverbs. Listen to his counsel:

Wise men store up knowledge,
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand. (10:14)

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. (10:19)

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. (11:13)

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (13:3)

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip. (20:19)

Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit. (25:28)

From now on, let's establish four practical ground rules:

1. Whatever you're told in confidence, do not repeat.
2. Whenever you're tempted to talk, do not yield.
3. Whenever you're discussing people, do not gossip.
4. However you're prone to disagree, do not slander.

Honestly now, can you keep a secret? Prove it.

10 Incredible Tips from Hart Ramsey

Here are some incredible tips from Hart Ramsey:

1. The best way to end strife is to refuse to participate in it. Tit for tat is so juvenile. Let your response be a simple smile.

2. Practice speaking well of people who speak ill of you. It confuses talebearers. Say something complimentary & let them run & tell dat.

3. It takes at least two prideful people to keep a beef going. Glorify The Lord with your silence. Let Him respond for you.

4. Being a peace seeker doesn't make you any weaker. It takes strength to be the bigger person. And GOD will make it up to you.

5. Could it be that GOD allowed this situation so that you could prove your maturity? Suppose this is your passage to promotion.

6. Keeping your heart free from offense & hatred is more important that getting even or defending yourself. Peace is priceless.

7. In every conflict there's an opportunity for growth & an open door to learn more about Jesus. Don't miss it trying to get even.

8. Your heart is your most valuable asset. Protect it! When someone breaks it, give it to The Lord so He can repair & upgrade it.

9. Don't automatically believe it when you hear that someone spoke ill of you. Pray. Then approach them with questions, not accusations.

10. Don't let anyone pull you into a useless war of words or a meaningless conflict. Your life has purpose. You don't have time to fight.

2014 Bike & Hike

We are planning a BFWC BIKE & HIKE on Sunday, June 22nd, at 3:00 PM.  The Purpose is to get HEALTHY and have FUN with our church FAMILY & FRIENDS, while invading downtown Indianapolis with our BFWC presence!

The plan is to meet at White River State Park at 2:30 PM, and ride along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Paid parking is available at the Visitors Center, as well as the Indiana State Museum.

Along the trail, we are going to have a picture scavenger hunt! (BIKERS will ride a designated trail in the city, while HIKERS will walk the trail along the canal.)  We'll convene back at White River State Park for Fellowship around 5 PM. (Pack a lunch and drink). We're asking everyone to wear their RED BFWC SHIRTS!  This will definitely be a FUN TEAM BUILDING activity, as well as something for the WHOLE FAMILY to enjoy. 

Whether you bike, hike or just show up to cheer on everyone, there'll be plenty of fun things to do at the canal!  (Consider packing a folding chair or a blanket to picnic with afterward!) (Bike & Hike at your own risk.)

Register Here!

http://indyculturaltrail.org/

There's No Expiration Date On Your Anointing!

When I was around eight years old, I watched my father kill a rattlesnake at my grandparent's house in Eastern Kentucky. He shot it and cut it's head off with a garden hoe.  Afterward, he took the rattler as a souvenir. I was so proud of my dad and his heroic effort, that I asked him if I could take the rattler to school for show and tell.
  

I've never liked snakes!  

The Apostle Paul had an encounter with a snake when he was shipwrecked on the Island called Melita (Acts 28:1-6).  While gathering wood for a fire, he is bitten by a venomous snake. As soon as the natives of the island see this viper hanging on Paul's hand, they go to forecasting his death. 

Isn't that just like people?  There are some people around you that know who you've been going through something, and know the devil has attacked you, and right now they're forecasting your death.  This might shock you, but there are some people around you that are happy you got bit.  They are taking pleasure in your pain.

It happened to Joseph. (Genesis 37)  After Joseph's brothers threw him in a pit and left him there to die, they sat down on the side of the pit and had lunch.  They entertained themselves, listening to Joseph's cries for help.

There are some people around you that are enjoying your pain, they are glad you got bit and they're saying things like ... "I knew they weren't going to make it; I knew that marriage wouldn't last; I knew they couldn't afford that house; I knew they would never make it in ministry; I knew they weren't qualified for that job; I knew their children were going to end up on drugs or in prison...."

They began to prophecy Paul's death and expected him to die.  But he disappointed them! I want you to know today that you're getting ready to disappoint some people!  They already had you dead, prophesied your death, wrote your epitaph and celebrated your expiration...but guess what?  You didn't die!

There's no expiration date
on your anointing!

I'm not saying you'll never be bit again, never have to fight another battle, never cry another tear or never spend another sleepless night.  I am saying that through it all YOU WILL BEAT THE DEVIL!

The devil tried to kill you with sickness, debt, family problems & marriage problems.  He's tried to kill your faith, peace, joy and dreams!  But I want you to look back over your shoulder and see what God has already brought you through!

You've been lied on, falsely accused, rejected, went through divorce, foreclosure, repossession, loss of work, stabbed in the back by "so-called" friends, got sick and thought you were going to die...but guess what?  YOU'RE STILL HERE!

Paul didn't die and neither will you!  That viper sunk his fangs into Paul's flesh and shot that poison into his body, but when the poison hit the anointing...that poison died!  In other words, Paul's anointing went to another level!

The vipers of hell have been unleashed against you, because of the anointing on your life! However, the bite still hurts!  The fangs are real and they're sharp!  But you're not going to die!

• You're going to shake it off and keep moving!
• You're going to another level in the anointing!
• Your testimony is going to another level!
• You're going to walk with a greater anointing and a greater authority than ever before!
• You're going to cast out bigger devils than before!
• Your faith is going to take you to places you could never go before!
• The scars from the bite will serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness!

The anointing does not exempt you from the bite of the viper, but it does give you power over the poison!  Not only did Paul shake the viper off and survive...he shook it off into the FIRE! 

The anointing destroyed the viper!

What the devil meant for evil, God means for good!  God is going to increase your anointing! You're not expiring...you're refiring! Go ahead and give God praise, because the bite of the viper cannot & will not kill you!

You are anointed!

Isaiah 10:27 "In that day: (This day) The burden shall depart from off thy shoulder and the yoke from off thy neck, because the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing!"

Memorial Day Weekend

Good Morning Friends & Family! 

Many of you will celebrate this Memorial Day, with your families and close friends, making memories and catching up on old times.  As you're finishing off that delicious cheeseburger, potato salad and sweet tea, I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on the qualities of the people you are in relationship with.  Just spending time together can help keep your hearts warm toward each other.

Oftentimes, the busyness of life can cause us to drift apart in our relationships where we don't feel as connected as we once did.  As you're connecting with people/family today, why not use this as an opportunity to express to each other the positive qualities you admire, respect and appreciate in each other?

Here's something you can try...play "I Have a Memory" game in which each of you think of a fun time from your past and you have 20 questions with which to guess the memory.  The point is to relive the moment, at least in your memories, of a special time you experienced together.

Today, we wave the flag of freedom and remember those who have given their life for our great nation.  Pause and reflect on their contribution and say a prayer for our country and leaders.

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day and a lifetime of making wonderful and fun memories!

Pastor Hylton