jroelive

This past week I addressed the Axis Church family of faith regarding my shepherding/pastoring of them as a church. Here is the prayer that I prayed over them (taken straight from 1 Thessalonians 2-3)…

• That we would constantly mention our people in our prayers
• That God would make us worthy of our people’s recognition of what kind of men we proved to be for their sake
• That they would become imitators of us and that we would be worthy of imitation
• That their response would be turning from idols to faithfully serve the living and true God
• That we would have boldness in our God to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of conflict, suffering and trials
• That our appeal – would spring NOT from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive – speaking NOT to please man, but to please God, who tests our hearts
• That God would cleanse our words of flattery and greed
• That we would never seek glory from man and that we would become humble stewards of the authority God has given us
• That we would be gentle to our people – like a nursing mother taking care of her own children
• That we would become affectionately desirous for our people – ready to share not only the gospel, but ourselves because of how dear to us our people have become
• That we would labor and toil so not to be a burden to any of our people
• That our conduct would be holy, righteous and blameless towards our people
• That we would love our people like a father does his children – exhorting, encouraging, and charging them, to walk in a manner worthy of God
• That when our people receive the Word of God from us, they would accept it, not as words from men but as the Word of God
• That we would endeavor eagerly to see our people face-to-face
• That when we meet Jesus face-to-face, that our hope and joy and crown and boasting would be our people – those entrusted to us
• That our people would be our glory and joy.

I love the Axis Church.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jeremy

admin Prayer, Preaching, church planting church planting, Jesus, Prayer, Preaching, The Axis Church, The Gospel

During my studying this past week I was reminded of a story my father likes to tell about an old Nazarene preacher by the name of “Uncle Bud Robinson.” Uncle Bud Robinson was a character.

He would pray…

Lord Jesus; help me to declare war on the devil.
Give me a backbone as big as a saw log,
and ribs like crossties,
and iron shoes along with galvanized breeches,
and give me a rhinoceros hide for a skin,
and hang a barrel full of determination in the gable-end of my soul.

Help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I live.
Help me to beat him as long as I’ve got fists,
and to kick him as long as I’ve got feet,
and to bite him as long as I’ve got teeth.

And when I’m too old to hit him with my fists
and to kick him with my feet,
and when I no longer have a tooth to bit him,
help me to gum him until I die.

All this for Christ’s sake…Amen.

Reuben “Uncle Bud” Robinson 1860-1942 was born in a log cabin in the primitive mountain region of Tennessee. When he was 16, his father died, and his mother sold what little they had and moved to Texas. After an unsuccessful endeavor as a sharecropper, Bud hired out as a ranch hand.

In August of 1880, during a camp meeting, he felt deep conviction for his sin and trusted Christ as his Savior and was gloriously saved. That same night, while lying under the wagon with his hat on a mesquite stump for a pillow, the Lord called him to preach.

Although he had no education and stuttered so badly that he could hardly tell his name, yet in the first year of his ministry he saw about 300 conversions in his meetings. On January 10, 1893, he married Miss Sallie Harper at Georgetown, Texas.

The remaining 60 years of his ministry were given to evangelism. While lacking formal education, Uncle Bud had a wisdom all of his own. It was an unusual insight into the purpose for the redeemed man here on earth, a holy walk, day by day.

During his long ministry, it is estimated that Uncle Bud traveled over 2,000,000 miles, preached over 33,000 ser- mons, witnessed more than 100,000 conversions, personally gave more than $85,000.00 in helping young people with their Christian education.

In spite of his handicaps and physical ailments, speech impediment and lack of education, he made the Who’s Who of California. From Boston to Los Angeles, thousands thronged to hear him, charmed by his homespun wit and his unique presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was one of activity, and his will to his dying hour was to serve his Lord. He went to be with the Lord on November 2, 1942. I guess within the next 50years, or so, I will chill with Uncle Bud in Heaven.

admin Documentary, Great Story, Preaching Jesus, Missions, Preaching, The Gospel

Our thoughts towards materialistic goods–that we are so swamped with–must be like that of Paul who says in Philippians 3:7, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”

We must make sure we appreciate God’s earthly blessing but not worship them/place our confidence, security or hope in:
Romans 1:25 – “They worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”
Proverbs 18:11 – “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city”
Lit., His security and identity was his fortified walls of protection.

Death rules our earthly lives.
We all fade away and become—at best—but a memory here on earth.
So what is our only hope?—Resurrection to new life!! How? Jesus!
How? He died in our place for our sins. (substitutionary atonement)

You see, the cross of Christ lifts up the poor and brings down the high. It is the great leveler of men.

admin Preaching, Sermon Notes, The Gospel idols, James Series, Jesus, Materialism, The Axis Church

admin Economy, Preaching, The Gospel Desiring God, Economy, Preaching, The Gospel, Theology