Things to Know (Part 2)

Today's post expands on Things to Know (Part 1) where I list 3 things for Christians to know, for success in this life. Here are a few other things to know: 4. God's ability is in you. This ability enables you to fulfill the Great Commission of reaching those God is directing you to-your part in reaching the world. By having God in you you have His life, nature, and ability working on your behalf. That's a strength, a meekness. Meekness can be defined as "controlled strength". God's your ability and strength. Meekness over weakness.

5. You can do whatever God tells you to do in His Word. Philippians 4:13 reads, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth (strengthens) me."  Not in your own strength, ability, or wisdom, but through Christ.

6. God will supply everything you need to be a success in this life. He supplies the tools you need to get the job done, then helps you do the "digging." Where God guides He provides.

These things to know are simple, basic, foundational truths thoroughly established on God's written Word. Together with my last post they'll help you to succeed in this life.

How many of these 6 things to know are you already practicing? How many are new? Which one)s) would you like further explanation, simplification, or clarification?

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2014-2024

Things to Know (Part 1)

Success, whether in the classroom, workplace, or life in general, depends on knowing some things. Knowing these things spells the difference between success and failure, victory and defeat. As Christians, we need to know some things about who and whose we are, what belongs to us, and what we can do in this life. What are some of those things we need to know?

1. God is your Heavenly Father; you belong to Him, not the devil. You have a new Lord, a new master. His name is Jesus.

2. Through the Holy Spirit, God is now living in you. Not just with you-in you. Having your physical organs in you is more personal and beneficial than just with you. The same is true concerning God.

3. What Jesus accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection He did for you. You are now a part of God's army, helping to enforce Satan's defeat. Whether you feel that way right now or not, it's still true. Christians need to know this truth and act like it. That's not being arrogant or bragging on what you've done. That's bragging on Jesus; that's enforcing Satan's defeat.

These 3 things are of utmost importance to know, in order to live the life God has already planned for you.

My next post will cover a few more things to know. Perhaps they will agree with things you’ve already found and are living out in your own life.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2014-2024

Is All Faith The Same?

Faith. It's one of the most misunderstood words to people today, including Christians as a whole. With so many talking about it, it's surprising just how few people really understand what faith is. To meet this need, why haven't more people made things simple by explaining, in simple language, what faith is?  Hopefully today's post helps bring simplification to faith. Faith is faith. Faith for salvation, faith for healing, faith for prosperity, a new/better job-it's still faith.

How does faith come? By hearing the Word (Romans 10:17) in the area you need faith. Need faith for salvation? Romans 10:9,10, 13 works just fine, a practical application of John 3:16 itself. What about healing? Psalm 103:3, Isaiah 53:4,5, Matthew 8:17, Acts 10:38, I Peter 2:24, and 3 John 2 are but a few good healing scriptures to produce faith in your heart. For prosperity, hear these faith-building scriptures: Deuteronomy 8:18, Psalm 1:1-3, Proverbs 35:27, Isaiah 48:17, Matthew 6:33, Luke 6:33, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, and 3 John 2, among others.

The same gasoline that runs a car's engine will also power a generator, lawnmower, or a motorcycle. Cookie dough at Christmas becomes a star, tree, snowman, or a reindeer. As with faith, the application determines the end result.

Regardless of application, how we get faith remains the same: by hearing what the Bible-God's Word-has to say on a given subject. We do the hearing, God does the providing (of faith).

Is all faith the same? Yes, in that faith is faith, gasoline is gasoline, and cookie dough is, well, cookie dough. No, in that the application of faith will produce salvation, healing, prosperity, or a job, to name a few results. The same faith, applied through different verses, will produce different results.

What other illustrations can you add to make faith simpler to understand?

Thermometer or Thermostat?

Many homes have thermometers, both inside and out.  Outside thermometers are usually in the shade, whereas  central heat/air conditioning units have an indoor thermometers with their thermostats.  Both indoor and outdoor thermometers serve the same function: to measure actual temperature at any given moment.  Thermostats, however, allow occupants to change the surrounding temperature from what is to what is desired-either higher or lower. I have never seen an outside thermostat. If it's 90 degrees in the shade where you live it will remain that way, until weather changes raise or lower the temperature.  As I write this, the outside temperature is 69 degrees at noon, which is great for the middle of May.  For an Oklahoma July or August? Just wishful thinking.

Inside, however, we can change the existing temperature to be either warmer or cooler, depending upon personal preference. We do this by setting our thermostat to the desired temperature, up or down. Thermostats direct the air conditioner or heater to come on, thereby producing a change in temperature-either warmer or cooler. Thank God for working thermostats!

Our tongues can be either a thermometer or a thermostat, telling the way things are (thermometer) or declaring the desired result (thermostat). Telling things the way they are results in things remaining the same, or changing without your permission. Calling for change in your situation demands making a change in your words. From what is to what you desire. From the way things are to the way you want them to be based, of course, on the promises of God's Word.

Perhaps  you're in a situation that needs changing. Whether it's your health, finances, job situation, relationships, or your walk with God, it can change. But as long as you talk about just what is things won't change. Like that thermometer, your words will be an indicator of what is. On the other hand, beginning to speak what God's Word says about your situation will initiate change in your life. Your tongue will be like that thermostat, demanding your circumstances change from what is to what's promised to you by God, in His Word.

Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? Are your words declaring what is or what's desired? What are you doing to see your circumstance change? How has reading this post helped? Who can you share this post with, to see change in someone else's life?

"Catch and Release" Christianity

Fishing regulations vary from state to state-even from one lake or river to another. Some fishing spots allow a limit of how many fish can be taken, while others enforce a regulation known as "catch and release." This means that whatever fish one catches must be released back into the water; none can be taken and eaten. I'm concerned that this practice of catch and release has carried over into the church world. New converts-new followers of Christ-are too often tossed back into the world, without much, if any, followup. Little or no followup leaves churches and other well-intended ministries with, often, many converts but few disciples.

Jesus never commanded us believers to make converts; He commissioned us to make disciples. There's a difference.

Why isn't more emphasis placed upon biblical, grace-based, discipleship? Perhaps because it's time consuming. Along with having a plan, it requires people and patience.

Over the last 45 years millions have been converted to Christ. I was one of them. Some were celebrities-at least in public. Actors, singers, well-known public figures-at least to some; these were reported to have made professions of Christ. Thank God for all who come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, those in the public eye who come to Christ are all-to-often released back into the environment from which they sought refuge. Rather than given a foundation of God's Word, many celebrity converts were paraded as trophies for Christ, as part of a particular church or other ministry.

Classic "catch and release" Christianity.

Sadly, many of those caught and released converts have grown cold towards God and Christianity. On the other hand those who received a biblical foundation are, for the most part, serving Christ today. Chuck Colson, aide to former President Nixon and well-known Watergate figure, is one example of converts becoming disciples.

We can do more to turn converts into disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. One way this ministry is addressing this need is by offering brief presentations of foundational truth, called LifeChange. These free episodes are available on our website, at hubertgardner.org. I invite you to check them out for yourself, then share them with someone else needing the basics.

What are some things you are doing to strengthen new believers, turning them from converts to disciples?

Choosing the Right Foundation

The world's system of living offers numerous ways to build a life that's "just right for you," one devoid of restraints. Unfortunately, all of these "options" are based on a foundation of selfishness:"what's in it for me?" or "what's best for me?" People spend their entire lives changing lives; discarding one empty life in pursuit of another-each without a proper foundation. A life without restraints is like a house without an enduring foundation. In many countries a dirt foundation is all that's available. Here in America, concrete foundations anchor the majority of homes. The purpose of the foundation is to give solid footing for the rest of the structure to rest on. Restraints of size, weight, and scope of the dwelling are determined by the depth, strength, and other enduring qualities of its foundation.

Are you wanting something that lasts? Make sure the foundation of your life is well able to overcome constant pressure, outside influences, and long-term wear and tear from daily use. The only foundation that can withstand such rigors of life is God's Word. Building a foundation of what God says to and about you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, is paramount to the success God has for you in this life. The enduring foundation of God's written Word, acted upon in your own life, provides the basis for withstanding every wind of doctrine, every storm of persecution, and every temptation, test, and trial the devil throws your way.

What's the foundation of your life? What's the basis for your believing? Is it money, who your parents are, your pastor's sermons, or best friend's beliefs? Only what God's Word says can you afford to be the foundation of your life, for life. Only God's Word can be trusted, regardless of what may come and/or who says what.

God is a perfect Gentleman; He never makes you do anything. The choice of foundation for your life is always yours: the world's ways, your way, or God's way-His Word. What's your choice? How is your choice of foundation working in your life? What challenges have you faced with building your life's foundation?

For more on this, view our Life Change podcasts on building a strong foundation.

Are We Using or Losing Them? Part 2

Continuing our previous post, Are We Using or Losing Them? Part 1: Even in the secular workplace a new addition usually has immediate access to secured databases, protocols, and information tools necessary to doing his/her job. Why not the Church? Why must young people be required to wait to serve in the local church? What are we afraid of? Is it that the "newcomers" will show us up? Will that "new kid on the block" intimidate us older ones with a skill knowledge we can only dream of? Are we serving with a clean heart or to establish "job security?" When will the Church learn that if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted?

Perhaps your church has it all together. The Church as a whole, however, is in desperate need of change. Many of the people coming to your church-especially your youth/young adults-want to be used now, not months or years down the road. If not used now they may not be around months or years from now. Serving on a regular basis is a biblical reason to keep coming.

People make mistakes; it would be a mistake to have someone who's tone deaf run your sound system . After 30+ years of ministry, however, the greater mistake I see is not using the people you have who are waiting to serve right now, especially our youth/young adults. Can the Church really afford to let more young people observe the waters of opportunity, without letting them drink (serve) responsibly? Can the Church really afford to not change? If we don't how many of our talented children will be lost to the devil (and they will) because we were too arrogant, too proud, to afraid, or too stuck to change?

Some say that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders,  the church of tomorrow. Using that line of thinking, what is the minimum age of today's church? At what age will tomorrow's church be eligible for admission into today's? With the church of tomorrow is there, of necessity, the church of yesterday? Who decides who's too young-or too old?

At what point does the next generation become the current generation?

Do the words above describe your church, or merely a perception of the Church at large? What do you see as the answer? Let us know what you have experienced along these lines.

Are We Using or Losing Them? Part 1

Most Christians-specifically youth/young adults-want to serve in their local church. Along with zeal, knowledge, and passion, they want to use their time, gifts, and talents to advance the cause of Christ, if only given the chance. Far too often, however,  churches have a waiting period before allowing "newcomers" to serve in any capacity. The explanation by these churches is it allows leaders to evaluate character, observe faithfulness, and judge whether that (particularly if young) person's skills are both authentic, and relevant to the position that person desires to serve in.

Valid points, for sure.

At the same time, what does one do when the "new kid on the block" knows more than the leadership? As a lifeguard, how many people will drown before you let a qualified (but non-certified) swimmer rescue those you just couldn't get to? Would Michelangelo be forced to go through a paint-by-numbers class before he paints your ceiling?

Does this sound like your church, or one you know of? Check out our next post, Are We Using or Losing Them? Part 2, as we continue to address this issue within the church world.