Signs of the Time

I am not nor have ever been a big end time prophecy guy, but something struck my attention this morning and got me thinking a little about the signs of the times. I saw a facebook post regarding the changing zodiak chart. People were responding to the addition of a new zodiak sign between the constellations Scorpio and Sagittarius. In essence this changes many people’s “sign”. “Hey baby…What’s your sign?……I don’t know”………Well any how I pulled up an article written about it and read this interesting piece.

“According to astrologial principles, the Sun travels from the constellation Scorpius and goes directly into the sign of Sagittarius, but due to the constant motion of the cosmos, the Sun enters, for a few days of the year, the star constellation ‘Ophiuchus’ before entering Sagittarius from Scorpius, thus creating astrologically the birth of a thirteenth sign of the Zodiac, which is named as Ophiuchus the Serpent Holder.
The constellation of Ophiuchus is the only sign of the Zodiac which is linked to a real man. This man lived in ancient Egypt around the 27th century BC, and his name was Imhotep. The attributes of Imhotep can also be found in the Biblical Hebrew man Joseph, son of Jacob.. Imhotep is credited with many accomplishments including the knowledge and use of medicine. It is said of Imhotep that he brought the art of healing to mankind.The symbol of a serpent, which is still widely used today to represent the medical profession, was used to represent Imhotep.”

The reason I don’t like end time prophecy is because although it is rooted in scripture so often much of it is conjecture and creative application. With that said let me do a little conjecture and creative application.

Could it be that we are leaving the age of Aquarius with all it’s excess and loose living and going into an age of Ophiuchus. An age where Christ’s church is rising up and becoming the generation that seeks him. Psalm 24:6 “This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him. Who seek Your face.”

Could it be that His church is rising up with healing in her hands. Could it be that we are entering an age where the church embraces like Joseph of old  that we hold the answer to the famines that plague our world. Physical famines that have resulted in hunger and starvation, could this be an age where the church rises up like never before with compassion and generosity. Spiritual and emotional famines leaving people empty and seeking…could it be that we are entering a season where the masses of people who call themselves followers of Christ will rise up with His message expressed fully in their words, actions, and priorities bringing hope to a starving world.

Like  I said earlier end time prophecy at times is a bit of conjecture, but this sign of the time peaked my curiosity. I just want to ask you one simple question. Could it be?

Dependency on Small Things

Day 2 into our church wide fast I am realizing just how dependent on coffee I am. Such a small thing. A few milligrams of caffeine and my mood, attention, and focus changes immediately. What small thing are you dependent on to satisfy your mood, draw your attention, hold your focus? Today I am thinking that in light of God everything is a small thing. Why do I allow lesser things to have such an appeal that they push out the greater things in my life? Why do you?

Sunday Remix 1-2-11

What a great first service of the new year. I was    surprised at how many guests we had for the first Sunday of the year. We had guests that seen us in the parade, guests that came because of our Christmas Eve event, and guests that came because of the article in the AJC. I am thankful for each guest and every person at Momentum. I believe together we are in for exciting days of growth, impact, and a special touch of God’s hand on our lives in the coming year. To launch the year we kicked off with a teaching called ” The Fast and The Furious”.

The Fast speaks in regards to “a practice” and The Furious speaks in regards to “a people”. Beginning Monday January 3rd Momentum Church will embark on a three week journey in the discipline and practice of fasting. Why? Because we want to be a people who are intense about God, His presence, and His plan showing up in our lives, our church, and our communities. I challenged Momentum saying that years ago I had a Malibu Classic with a custom paint job and chrome everywhere. The problem with that car was it had a very small straight six engine in it. It didn’t have enough power to get out of it’s own way. It was in desperate need of a small block V8. It looked good and it looked fast, but it was anything but furious. If the American Church is not careful we can become something that looks like a hotrod, but be deficient in our powertrain.

Fasting is one discipline that intensifies the focus of the believer on God and God’s plans for one’s life. This intensity of focus leads to an intensity of lifestyle. We as a community of faith have decided to give God the first 3 full weeks of 2011 to seek Him and to declare, “God we are intense, furious followers that want nothing more this year than  what you have for us”. We are choosing to say that what God desires is more important than what we desire. What creature comforts that usually satisfy us we are declaring through the practice of fasting that in this coming year we will find joy, peace, provision, and satisfaction in the desires and will of God.

Yesterday’s teaching was the longest I have preached in months. I really could have taken a few weeks with the subject of fasting, but we are launching a can’t miss series next week. This week had to be a stand alone teaching and because of that it was crammed fulled. I told y’all I would blog some of the things we covered quickly so you could take time with the info and Scriptures.

Jesus’ words regarding fasting are included in His Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6 Jesus refers to three disciplines that are to be a part of every believer’s life. In verse 2  it saying, “when you give….”, in verse 5, “when you pray”, and in verse 16, “when you fast”.  We have all received teaching on giving and prayer, but the discipline of fasting gets neglect. Jesus’ doesn’t say “if” you do these things. He says, “when” you do these practices. This is why we decided to teach on the purpose, power, and practices of fasting at the beginning of this year.

The Purpose: Fasting is way to seek God by denying the physical in order to focus on the spiritual. Fasting is meant to give up something for the sake of something better. We disassociate ourselves with other things for a while so we can focus more on God and what God is saying to us.

The Power: Isaiah 58 points to the the power of true fasting. Connecting to God through fasting and prayer has the power to bring about…..

1. Spiritual breakthrough –(v. 8a, 10b)
2. Wholeness and Strength (v. 8b,11b)
3. God-filled life!!! (v. 8c)
4. Answered Prayer (v. 9)
5. Divine Guidance (v. 11)
6. Satisfaction (v. 11b)
7. Freshness and Growth
8. Effectiveness in life and ministry (v. 12)
9. Joy in the Lord (v. 14).

The Practices: When & Why should one fast. How should one fast.

When & Why:    1. When we feel a special pull, an urge to get alone with God. Psalm 42:1-2

2. There are time when special needs arise. (2 Chr. 20:12-18)

3.There are times when we need to humble ourselves before God

4. There are times when we need a very special power or touch from God

How: Remember Prayer and reading God’s Word are vital during a fast. To do without food, but not turn your attention and focus on the presence and Word of God is to be on a diet, not a fast. We will have 2 times of corporate prayer weekly during the fast. On Wednesdays from 7-8am and from 7-8pm. These options give you the choice to come before work or come after work.

3 Kinds of Fasts.

Normal Fast: Nothing solid only water and/or juices. (Jesus in the Wilderness)

Partial Fast: Abstaining from certain foods. (Daniel) An example would be to eat only vegetarian during the period of fasting. Or abstaining from certain meal times.

Absolute Fast: No food or drink (Moses) recommended only for short fasts.

Daylight Fast: You only eat dinner at night or after a certain time of day.

Physical Pleasures Fast: You choose to give up something that captivates your thoughts, attention, or desires. (Facebook break, media break, etc…)

Please consult your doctor if you have any questions regarding your diet. Or contact us and we will put you in contact with  Barbie Tucker a nurse that attends Momentum.