Foundations March 1, 2012

Bible Poetry Reading Plan: Job 1-2
Why Talk about Heaven?
Colossians 1:3-5 3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because
of the hope laid up for you in Heaven. (ESV)

This month, foundations daily devotional is going to be focused on the topic of Heaven. The vast
majority of Christians today would say that their hope is in Heaven. What they mean by that is that
they hope to go to Heaven after they die. That is a very different thing, however, then having your
hope in Heaven. A person whose hope is in Heaven is a person who is actually looking forward to
going to Heaven. Most Western Christians today don’t actually look forward to going to Heaven; they
much prefer their ‘exciting,’ comfortable life in this lifetime to their picture of what Heaven is. This
truth is made obvious by the fact that so few Christians think about Heaven; very few Christians get
up in the morning and long for Heaven; very few Christians make choices to sacrifice in this lifetime
because of their longing for Heaven. The only sense in which most Christians hope in Heaven, is
in the sense that, we all have to die at some point, and so, since that is true, it’s a lot better to go to
Heaven after you die than to Hell. But what kind of a hope is that? That’s more of a default back-up
plan than a hope. The kind of hope Paul is talking about in the Colossians passage above, is real –
the kind of hope that motivates a person to take great steps of faith; the kind of hope that motivates
a person to make huge sacrifices; the kind of hope that infuses everything a person does – the hope
in a real place, called Heaven, which is so wonderful and so amazing that it’s worth sacrificing every
temporal thing in this lifetime in order to be successful and rewarded for all eternity.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you look forward to going to Heaven? Have you ever thought much about this sort of thing?
2. How do you think having your hope in Heaven would change the way that you are living your life
today? What difference would it make?
3. What are some things that you ca

Foundations February 29, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Esther 6-10
2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV); Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed
for His appearing.

Paul tells us that we will be rewarded by Jesus if we long for His appearing. All who have loved
Jesus and eagerly awaited His return will receive a crown of righteousness!

Despite all of the crowns of glory and the rewards and riches of power, possessions, pleasure
and praise, Jesus Himself is the Great Reward. Those who long for His return understand this. To
finally see Jesus face-to-face, to touch Him and talk to Him, and to fully understand Him is a reward
beyond comparison. Those who understand this in this life – that a relationship with Jesus is better
than wealth and power and affirmation and pleasure – are truly prepared for eternal life. These are
the people who are living for the line despite all the temptations to live for the dot.

But what do we do when we don’t long for His coming? Longing for Jesus’ return doesn’t mean that
we have to hate life on earth. We can love life and still long for Him to come back, knowing that
life will get even better than this. The more we press into Jesus and grow in our relationship with
Him, the more we allow Him access into our lives and make Him our functional Lord, seeking His
will and direction, the more we will long for Him. If you do not long for Jesus’ appearing, do not be
discouraged – ask! Pray and ask God to grow your desire to see Jesus.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What are some things that are keeping you from having a genuine longing for Jesus’ return?
Ask Jesus to reveal anything more, and then talk to Him about these things. Be open and
honest with Him.
2. Think about Jesus’ return. What are some things you look forward to when He comes back?
What are some things you long for? In payer, thank Him for the promise of His return.
3. Spend some time praying and asking God to cultivate a longing for His return in you. Ask Jesus
to show you how you can grow in this area.

Foundations February 28, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Esther 1-5
1 Peter 5:2-4 (NIV); Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—
not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for
money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the
flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never
fade away.

This month of devotionals has stemmed from our core value that everyone is a minister. The call
of every believer is to move from trainee to trainer. This doesn’t mean that every single believer
will stand at the pulpit or lead worship or start a cell, but it means that every single believer is
called to help others along in their walk with Christ. This is an order not an option, though Peter
tells us to joyfully choose obedience.

Faithfully stepping up to your calling to be a minister will gain for you an eternal crown of glory.
This is one of the rewards you can get in heaven!

But if we minister and lead others with wicked intent, our reward will surely be taken from us.
If greed and pride are our motivators, we will forfeit the reward. We are called to be examples
to other believers. When our position and authority fuels us to lord our power over others, boss
people around, or treat other believers as inferior, we show that the motive of our heart is impure.
Our goal must be sincere: to help people grow towards a closer relationship with Jesus. If our
heart’s desire is truly to see people come to know Jesus intimately and to do His will, we will
joyfully and faithfully encourage them even as we see them soar.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How does the promise of reward encourage you to step up as a minister?
2. Have you been resentful in your service or ministry at all? Do you ever try to lord over
others? Does jealously or fear that people might “surpass” you ever creep in? Ask Jesus to
speak into these areas and show you any resentment or sinfulness and spend some time
confessing.
3. Who are some of the people you are leading? Take some time praying for them. If no one
comes to mind, ask Jesus to show you who you have an impact on, and pray for them.

Foundations February 27, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 12-13
Revelation 3:11 (ESV); I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize
your crown.

Wouldn’t it be a shame to stand before Jesus and find out that the crowns He so wanted to give
you had been taken from you? There are many ways, Scripture tells us, that we can lose our
rewards. When we do not fulfill God’s plan for our lives we forfeit reward. When we latch onto false
doctrine and even worse, when we teach false doctrine to others, a crown is seized. Acting out of
impure motives also bring loss because Jesus will judge us for more than our actions; He will judge
the thoughts and attitudes of the heart and mind as well.

Loss of reward also comes by not finishing. Many people start well and finish poorly. Quite a
few God-hating atheists were brought up in religious homes, saying “sinner’s prayers”, going to
church and raising their hands in worship. It would seem that these men and women may have
started well but will not cross the finish line. Most people reading this devotional don’t fall under the
category of a God-hating atheist, but many of us could find our names in a Quitter category. When
God calls us to do something and we give up because of obstacles, laziness, fear, etc, our crown
for this calling is seized.

Let us hold fast to what we have – not our possessions, but our callings, our faithful endurance,
Biblical truth and purity of heart. It will not be easy, but through dependence on Jesus Christ and
the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live lives of faithfulness. When we are quick to repent of sin
and get back in the race, God is pleased because we show that we are holding fast.
Crowns of glory await your faithfulness. Keep the faith.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to speak to you about loss of reward. Is there an area in your life where you are
soon to lose yours?
2. What difficult task has God called you to? Do you feel the pressure to give up? Are you quick
to get up and ask for forgiveness when you have failed, or do you wallow in guilt and selfpity?
Spend some time committing yourself to God in prayer.
3. Ask Jesus to develop the fruit of faithfulness in your life so that you can hold fast to your
rewards.

Foundations February 26, 2012

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV); For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal
weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things
that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are
eternal.

What magnificent words! The sufferings we go through on this earth, Paul says, are light and
momentary in contrast to eternity. Again, it is the comparison of the dot to the line. Like childbirth,
the process is excruciating and almost unbearable but when the child is seen – full of life and
purpose and potential – the hours of affliction were light and momentary.

And Paul gives us incredible hope by telling us what it is we can look forward to so that we can
successfully put our suffering into perspective: an eternal weight of glory. Because we suffer in
this lifetime we will have glory on our shoulders forever. A caveat, though – this reward is for those
who have suffered righteously. To complain about our suffering, to use our pain to manipulate
others, to lash out in anger or bitterness because of our affliction is wrong. As James exhorted
us, we are to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials because every trial is a test of faith
that, if we pass, develops steadfastness in us, and steadfastness leads to perfection and a
heavenly crown of life! God wants to use your suffering to perfect His character in you. You will
be unstoppable in the kingdom if you joyfully submit to Him in suffering. And remember your great
reward: an eternal weight of glory as you live in the presence of Christ Jesus.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask Jesus to use today’s scripture passage and devotional to speak to you about an area
of suffering in your life. Converse with Him about how you are feeling and about promises,
convictions, and encouragement He has for you. Use 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 and James 2:1-4,
12 to pray.
2. Spend your remaining time interceding for someone you know who is suffering. Use the
same passages to pray for them.

Foundations February 25, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 10-11
Romans 14:12 (ESV); So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Some of us struggle with offense, bitterness and unforgiveness. When someone does us wrong,
or when we perceive someone has done us wrong, our souls cry out for justice. Forgiveness can
be difficult, but unforgiveness is a pattern that must be broken if we want to be emotionally and
spiritually whole. For those of us who struggle in this area, there is always a “but”. “But she said…!”
“I know I am offended, but do you know what he did to me?!” If this is how you live now, prepare to
be shocked at the judgment seat of Christ. On that day, there will be no one to shove in front of you
to take the blame; there will be no scapegoat. The instant that you come into His presence, all “but
he’s” and “but she’s” will disintegrate. We will feel the weight of sole responsibility for all things that
we are guilty of.

Others of us live life in constant comparison, and somewhere in the backs of our minds there is an
idea that God also lives this way. On the walls of heaven, he hangs our picture next to our rival’s
and determines who is better. We judge ourselves in light of others and think God will do the same.
We wish we could act more like this person, or look more that one, and meanwhile God just wants
us to know that He made US, He likes us and He wants to refine US. To be someone else is futile
because that is not who God is calling you to be! When you come before the judgment seat of
Christ, He is not going to drag your rival or hero into the room and demand, “Why weren’t your more
like this person?!”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you where unforgiveness, offense and blame are problems in your life. How
might these issues affect your eternity?
2. How can you relate to misconceptions about comparison? Ask God to give you His eyes for
you. Ask Him to show you specific people that you are comparing yourself to and how He
wants to change your thinking.
3. Spend time asking the Holy Spirit to show you any other misconceptions you have about God
and His judgment. Ask Him to show you His truth.

Foundations February 24, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 8-9
2 Corinthians 2:10 (ESV); For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that
each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

When we stand before God, we are going to receive whatever is due to us based on what we
did while we were on earth. Our rewards are not a goody bag following a Christmas pageant
– 6 peanuts, 4 chocolate almonds and a Christmas orange for everyone. As much as “equal
treatment for all” is a motto of our times, it will not be the case in heaven. If it were, God could
just sweep us into His arms the moment we say the “sinner’s prayer.” As it is, God actually cares
about how we handle the responsibilities we’ve been given on this earth.

It’s natural to squelch any feelings of panic right now by saying, “Well I’m sure just being in
heaven will be enough. I won’t even care because I’ll be with God.” But the apostle John tells us
that we need to take care to abide in Christ now so that we will not be embarrassed on that day
(1 John 2:28)!

Every human being has common longings. We long for forms of power, possessions, praise
and pleasure. Though we often attempt to satisfy these desires in the wrong places, the desires
themselves are God-given. He placed those longings into you! We can be sure that we will
find the true fulfillment to these longings when we are living in God’s perfect Kingdom. But the
degree to which we will experience these rewards is directly related to what we do in the here
and now. Don’t be short-changed by coddling yourself with excuses.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How is the Holy Spirit moving in your heart through what you have read today? Ask Him to
speak to you clearly through these words.
2. Ask God to show you how the longings for power, possessions, pleasure and praise are
evident in your life now. How do you satisfy them? Ask Him to give you His divine insight –
just a glimpse! – of how He so wants to fulfill these in heaven.
3. How can the things Jesus showed you today change your perspective and the way that
you live? Ask Jesus to give you a longing for His kingdom.

Foundations February 23, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 7
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (ESV); For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which
is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be
revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone
has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will
suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

The Great White Throne Judgement determines who will spend eternity in God’s kingdom and who
will be cast out into eternal separation from God. Those whose names are written in the book of life,
decreeing them to eternity with Jesus, will continue on to stand before the judgement seat of Christ.
Here we will be judged for our works and the passage out of 1 Corinthians gives us some insight
into this judgment.

Everyone lives by a set of values that determines what is important to them, and we build our lives
upon those things of importance. But Scripture tells us that all foundations apart from Christ Jesus
are faulty. He is the only solid surface upon which we can build our lives. Many people’s lives look
extravagant and wonderful to the eyes of the world, but God will see straight to the foundation. He
could care less about the material things we have to show for ourselves if they were not rooted in
His will. We will see our works pass through fire, and much of what the world thought was valuable
will be revealed as chaff because they were on a faulty foundation. We are told that there will be
some who will be saved by the skin of their teeth, and they will be left with little reward.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Meditate on this passage. What are your thoughts about heavenly reward? Is this something
you think about often? Does it affect your life?
2. Do some listening prayer, asking Jesus what it means for you to build a foundation on Him. Ask
Him to show you ways that you are already doing this. Ask Him to show you other ways where
you need to begin.
3. Thank God for His justice and His good plans. Thank you that all His ways are good.

Foundations February 22, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 4-6
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV); For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your
own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.

As we determined yesterday, salvation is a gift made possible by God’s grace alone, and this gift of
grace has nothing to do with us and our works, because we were still wallowing in sin when Jesus’
sacrifice was made. But faith activates God’s grace in our lives, and faith without works (godly
action) is dead.

Godly actions are not things we need to do to catch God’s attention; rather we were created FOR
works! God created you so that you could DO godly things. Before you were born He had great
plans for you. He has an individualized lifetime plan of good works for each one of us to do, and
He will reward us according to whether or not we do them! One day, Jesus will look at those who
demonstrated their faith by their love for Him, and their love by obedience to Him, and He will say,
“Well done!” Not “well believed”; “well done!”

It is revolutionary when we can actually take hold of this awesome truth that God had ideas for us
before we were born. He thought about you and said, “I think I know just the right thing for her...”
“Aha! I have the perfect thing in mind for him!” When you feel as though you are just going through
the motions or if you feel unimportant or bored with life, meditate on this remarkable truth!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you some of the secret thoughts He has about you. God delighted in
making you, and He delights in you now. Have a conversation with Him about the things He
shows you.
2. God planned works for you to do before you were even born.
a. Ask God which of these works you are accomplishing well.
b. Ask God which works you are lagging behind in.
c. Ask God if there are any new things He wants to call you to.
3. Thank God for His wonderful works (Psalm 139:14) and His high thoughts and ways (Isaiah
55:8-9).

Foundations February 21, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 1-3
2 Timothy 2:12 (NIV); if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also
disown us

Heaven will be populated with people who chose God and His Kingdom because they love and
desire Him! Choosing God is a continual process of endurance that extends through our entire time
on earth. Our culturally conditioned selves want to cry out, “But that’s blasphemy! We are saved by
grace!” Yes, by all means we are saved by grace. It was infinitely gracious of God to send Jesus to
take sin’s penalty for us. We were completely undeserving and without this incredible act of mercy
we would all be destined for hell and the lake of fire. Salvation is possible because of the grace of
God, but we are saved by grace through faith, not a mental faith nor a formulaic prayer of faith, but
faith. And faith requires active demonstration. The act of grace makes salvation available to us; the
demonstration of faith through love and desire activates it in our lives.

Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you,
saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” When we are wandering astray, God graciously gives us the Holy
Spirit, the Bible and sound teaching to rebuke and correct us, reminding us that THIS is the way, now
WALK in it. JESUS is the Way, by grace; now WALK in It with active faith.

Heaven will be populated with people who chose God and His Kingdom because they love and
desire Him. Let us continue, step by step, to love and desire God through obedience to His will.
There is no better life – now or later.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Thank God for His immense grace. Thank Jesus for dying for us while we were still sinners.
2. Do you love and desire to do God’s will? What are one or two areas where you are finding it
very difficult to do God’s will? Spend some time praying about these things and getting insight
from God.
3. Read Psalm 119:176. Sometimes we stray even though we know God’s law and want to do it.
Ask Jesus to help you love God’s will and His ways, and to keep your heart soft to His leading.

Foundations February 20, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Ezra 8-10
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV); The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

When we think of the dot and the line analogy (life on earth as the dot and life after death as the
line), we normally assume the line to be heaven, but the line is eternity. For some that will be
heaven and the new earth, but for many that will be hell and the lake of fire.

This is a sobering truth that much of the church today is embarrassed about, so much so that
renowned Christian leaders in the West are creating their own views about the afterlife. Some
propose that those in hell will continue to receive chances to turn to God and others hold to
the idea that all unbelievers will be forever annihilated. There are other propositions made, but
all are feeble attempts to wiggle around an issue that Jesus made very clear. God does not
want anyone to perish, and He takes no pleasure in casting people from His presence, but He
refuses to strip us of our will to choose. God does everything He can to give people chances to
choose Him. No one will be able to say, “If only You would have given me another 6 months, I
would have chosen You!” In fact, the verse in 2 Peter shows us that Jesus is delaying His return
precisely to give everybody all the time He possibly can so that they will come to Him.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you find yourself embarrassed about the Bible’s teaching on Hell? Do you feel the need
to make excuses for God?
2. Meditate on the verse in 2 Peter, and also spend some time thinking about God’s justice
and praising Him for it. Think about the evil in the world. What would happen if God was
not just? Think about God’s holiness and how we all fall short of it. Think about God’s
mercy and compassion. Think about the love and justice He showed by sending Jesus to
die on the cross.
3. Ask God to give help you feel the weight of eternity and the reality of hell. Ask Him to give
you His heart for the unsaved. How does He want you to act differently in response to what
He’s shown you?
For more information on this subject, check out part 1 of Pastor Ray’s message series: Eternal
Rewards

Foundations February 19, 2012

1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV); If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to
be pitied.

If Christianity is just a crutch, as some call it, without any solid foundation of truth then Christians
are the most deceived people on the planet. If there is no eternal future for us, then our lives have
no real meaning or value. Christianity has never been built upon fluffy feelings and nice ideas;
Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be the Son of God, was put to death on a cross and rose from the
grave by the power of God! This is what Paul is preaching in 1 Corinthians 15. We know we have
eternity in store – that we will be resurrected one day – because Jesus was resurrected. And
because of this, we have an eternal hope in an eternal future and so we are, of all people, most to
be envied!

The promise of eternity is real, but we treat it as something distant, otherworldly, and frankly,
irrelevant for today. In reality, your life on earth is a dot; your 0 – 90 years are a speck. After death
comes the line – the never-ending line of eternity. The size of the dot is nothing compared to the
line, though what happens in the dot has everything to do with the line. We live for the dot when
we should be living for the line. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus said to Pilate, and yet
everything Jesus did in this world was for the sake of that kingdom.

We have a real faith in a real promise. Let us begin to live intentionally in the light of that promise,
clinging to the hope of a glorious future. Because of Christ we have hope in this life and in the next.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. In what ways are you living for the dot rather than the line?
2. How can you switch your focus and intention off of the dot and onto the line? What lifestyle
and thought changes will this require?
3. Meditate on the verse and the truth that we have hope for today and for the future because of
Christ. How can your life proclaim this truth?

Foundations February 18, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Ezra 4-7
Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV); Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will
he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one
who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

If you plant carrots, you’re not going to get beans. You will always reap exactly what you sowed.
God is orderly, and so this is a principle of the physical world as well as the spiritual. And this is why
we should sit up when we read Jesus’ warnings: if you do not forgive your neighbour, your Father in
heaven will not forgive you, and by the measure you judge you will also be judged.

This principle adds an element of seriousness to our lives, especially when we recognize that we
have an eternity ahead of us. The law of reaping and sowing extends to the next life; in fact it only
makes sense in light of eternity. The psalmist asked more than once, “Why do the wicked prosper?”
Because God is just, the wicked will not always prosper. What was sown in this world will be reaped
in the next.

We cheer about this when we think about people like Hitler or Stalin, but we don’t like to think that
we would fall under the same rule. But our lives are not the standard to determine good sowing
from bad. The one and only standard is God’s complete holiness; compared to Him we all fall short
of goodness. Therefore, obedience to Him results in good seed, while rebellion results in bad. We
are all guilty of sowing some bad seed, but it is the patterns we develop that will determine what we
reap. If we consistently sow into the flesh (the sinful nature), we will reap corruption, but if we sow
into the Spirit we will reap eternal life!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. We often subtly justify our behaviour because it’s “not as bad” as someone else’s. Ask the Holy
Spirit to show you how you do this. Ask Him what He has to say about it.
2. Ask God to reveal ways you are “sowing into the flesh.” Confess as necessary. Ask Him to
show you where He is proud of you for “sowing into the Spirit.”
3. Is there an area or relationship of your life where you just want to see justice served? Bring this
to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help you trust His justice.

Foundations February 17, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: Ezra 1-3
2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV); We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the
knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ

The thought life is something that many of us lack the motivation to control. We can aim for
intentionality with people, but we only have to be with people for so many hours of the day. Our
thoughts, on the other hand, are incessantly intrusive; they don’t even allow us the privilege of going
to the bathroom in privacy!

Really, the mind is a wonderful thing and we would all much rather be with it than without it, but to be
intentional even in our thought life is quite a challenge. The mind is a world of its own, and much can
be done in there to the exclusion of all others… except of course, God. Right. We forget about Him
sometimes. Lust, anger, offense, unforgiveness, apathy – these thoughts seem to cloud our minds,
hiding Him from the forefront; but He’s still there, and He knows every thought – wicked or worthy.

It takes hard work to be intentional with our thoughts, but it is so important because evil thoughts
are just a step away from evil actions. And so we must take seriously the words in 2 Corinthians.
Our weapons are not of the flesh; they are divine and have divine power to demolish strongholds in
our lives – strongholds of jealousy or sarcasm or whatever it is. We must notice whenever a thought
enters our territory that goes against what we know about God through Scripture and the Spirit.
Then we must take that thought and cast it before Jesus Christ who Himself is the Truth and who will
reveal truth to us.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you how you have sinned in your thought life and confess these things. What
are some of the common sins of your thought life that cause you to forget that God is allseeing?
2. Ask God for His strategy for you in this area. How do you take your thoughts captive and bring
them to Him? Ask Him the clarifying questions that will enable you to live differently because of
this verse.

Foundations February 16, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 35-36
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV); Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.

There are so many things we do, so many patterns in our lives that we don’t even think about doing
them with intentionality. We need to learn how to be intentional in ordinary situations.
It’s natural to think of church as a place where we get fed. Each weekend we come together as
a body to corporately receive food for the spirit, and this commitment is a vital part of spiritual
wholeness. And many people go way beyond weekly attendance, committing themselves to faithful
service within the church, embracing the core value that everyone is a minister. But even so, many
of us allow ourselves to get “off our game” when we are not officially serving. But if God is calling us
to live intentional, purpose-filled lives, then we should be looking to serve and minister even when
we’re not “on duty”.

Let’s meet the challenge and start to be intentional the moment we step out of our cars at church.
When you go to church on the weekends, walk through the doors with the intention to welcome,
encourage and love others. As a family, choose that you will bless people at church by talking to
someone you don’t know or buying coffee for a few people, or whatever it is God puts on your heart.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God how you can be more intentional when you come to church on the weekends. If you
have a family, perhaps you want to take this question to the dinner table or family devotions
and listen in prayer together.
2. What are some common fears you think many people have when coming into the church? How
could you help to ease these fears? (another question you could take to the dinner table)
3. Ask God to speak to you about your place in the church body.
If you are not committed to regular church attendance or an area of service, ask God to help you
make this a priority.

Foundations February 15, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 32-34
Leviticus 19:18b (ESV); ...but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD.

We need to be aware of ourselves, not in a self-conscious or selfish way, but in a conscientious
way. It is important to be aware of the way we act in different situations and around different people.
If we are selfishly aware of ourselves we will be unaware of others and their needs. We may walk
past someone without acknowledging them, or blow off conversation because we’re too absorbed
with our tasks. If we are self-consciously aware of ourselves, we will assume that everyone else is
also aware of us and we will naturally draw into ourselves, feeding off of our fear and insecurity.
It might be surprising to know the number of people we offend in a week because we are unaware
of how we’ve come across. Of course, if someone is offended, the sin of offense is their own, but
we are not off the hook if we have failed to love our neighbours.

We need to be aware of ourselves if we want to effectively live out Jesus’ second commandment.
Self-awareness requires us to admit our weaknesses and insecurities and to challenge
ourselves on strengthening those areas. It requires us to be aware of our surroundings and the
people therein. Above all, we must be aware of God as we go through our day. This is where
communicative relationship with Jesus is so important. We need to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s
voice in our life, because if we are really listening to Him, we will notice the nudges He gives us
towards loving our neighbours.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to speak to you about self-awareness. Are you selfishly absorbed with yourself?
Are you self-consciously aware of yourself? What kinds of surroundings cause you to be
negatively self-aware? Ask God how this may be affecting your testimony.
2. Ask God how He wants you to work on self-awareness this week.
3. Do you find yourself communicating with God often throughout your day? Do you sense the
Holy Spirit nudging you to do different things? Ask God to increase your awareness of Him
and to increase your ability to hear Him. And continue to make listening prayer a regular part
of your devotional life so that you can grow in hearing.

Foundations February 14, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 28-31
Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV); Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every
opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may
know how to answer everyone.

There are many people in this world who are passionate about life and try to make the most of
every opportunity. There are people who aim to be gracious towards others. But as Christians we
have a seasoning agent that is unique to us, and we have a wisdom that comes from Someone
much greater than us.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul talks about a “mystery” that was hidden and has now been
revealed. It is the mystery of Christ in us – Jesus made a way for every person to have a direct
and personal relationship with God. God has promised to be present in the life of every believer.
Therefore, we have access to His immeasurable wisdom, which He says we need only to ask
for and He will give freely! And we have the salt of a transformed and Spirit-filled life to affect our
interactions with people. This is something that only the Christian can lay claim to. Unfortunately
many Christians do not seek the wisdom of God, nor do they live transformed, Spirit-filled lives,
and so they have lost their saltiness and gotten mixed up in the ways of the world. And some are
even in danger of losing their salvation.

Imagine what God could do through you if you took these verses to heart! We need to
intentionally share the mystery of the gospel with others, telling them that Jesus has full life to
offer them! And we must remain plugged into the Holy Spirit if we are going to be effective.

PRAYER and MEDITATION1. Go through the verses, and examine yourself to see if you are doing the things Paul urges.
Confess as necessary, and listen in prayer for ways God might want you to make changes.
a. Are you wise in the way you act to and around unbelievers?
b. Do you attempt to make the most of every opportunity in terms of leading people closer
to Jesus?
c. Are you gracious towards others?
d. Do you think you are salty? (Do you think your life exudes something different because
you follow Christ?)

Foundations February 13, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 25-27
Colossians 3:17 (ESV); And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Sometimes we long for God to call us to BIG things. We see incredible leaders in the church or in
business and we wish God would just get on our page and call us to greatness, too.

The fact is, God does call us all to greatness, but greatness might look different in His eyes than
ours. God wants humble servants. Some people can humbly serve Him from a platform in front of
thousands, but others would be destroyed by the platform. They would look great to the world but
God would see the underlying motives of the heart and their service would be of little value to Him.

Whatever we are doing, it is to be done for the sake of Christ. Joseph learned this lesson through
much suffering. He learned humble service in the dungeons of Egypt before He was made great in
the eyes of man. And when he was finally promoted to a position beyond his wildest dreams for all
to see, he remained great in the eyes of the Lord because He had a heart of true humility.

What God finds great is when we choose Him over ourselves. When we step up to His challenge
and choose to obey even when it costs us something is true victory. Maybe God is telling you to
be brave and talk to someone that you see every day but have never spoken to. When you feel
nervous but choose to say “hello” God is pleased. Maybe God’s been telling you to up your giving.
When you write that cheque in faith even though it is difficult, you are honouring God. Do not
despise the little steps. God is calling you to greatness RIGHT NOW!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God what His steps towards greatness are for you today. What is difficult about these
steps? Intentionally choose to apply Colossians 3:17 to your decisions today.
2. Ask God to show you areas of obedience in your life that He is very pleased about. Ask Him to
tell you His feelings.
3. Do you find yourself jealously longing for the positions that others hold? If so, bring your
feelings honestly before God and ask Him to give you His perspective of greatness.

Foundations February 12, 2012

Psalm 57:2 (ESV); I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

God has great purpose for you, but if you do not seek it out you may not live it out. As David cried
out to God and pursued God regularly, we must pursue God’s purpose for our lives. Without a goal
and a clearly defined purpose we will eventually find ourselves floundering. It could come when
all of the busyness dies down and we suddenly feel unimportant; or it can come when we’re in the
centre of the action and, though we have a vital role to play, we start to feel empty. In prayer, we
need to seek God to give us vision and purpose. If we look to anyone or anything else to find it, we
will end up placing our value in that person or thing and there will certainly come a day when we feel
insignificant. Only God, who sees the entirety of our lives, can give us a clear vision. Only He can
give sound purpose to people in a world that is always changing.

God wants to infuse your life with meaning as you find your worth in Him. You have a number of
roles, and some of these roles come and go over time. God has valuable wisdom and purpose for
your life in every role. For each hat you wear, He has things that He wants to help you accomplish.
As you discover these things and work through the challenges that your Creator has set before you,
your whole life will fill with meaning!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Take a few moments to jot down 3 or 4 of your roles (spouse, parent, child, employee, cell
leader, etc).
2. In listening prayer, pray through each of these roles. Ask God to show you your purpose in
each one. What does He want you to accomplish in these areas (You will probably want to use
your journal for this.) Spend some time writing out clear purpose statements/paragraphs.
3. Pray about these things, asking God to enable you to live by the vision He has given you.
Make it a point to regularly check in to see if you are living in line with what God has shown
you. And as your roles shift, continue to go back to prayer, asking God for His vision in each
season.

Foundations February 11, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 21-24
John 10:10 (ESV); I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 18:37 (ESV); Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason
I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth
listens to Me.”
Isaiah 61:1-3 (ESV); He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the
captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and
the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve
in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Jesus had a number of “purpose statements” – statements that defined His purpose for coming into
the world. Because He knew His purpose, Jesus was able to live the most intentional life of anyone
who has ever walked the planet. He knew WHERE He had come from, He knew WHY He was on
the earth and WHAT He was called to do and WHERE His future lay. Nothing could deter Him from
proclaiming the truth. Jesus is the Truth. He testifies to the truthfulness, the power, the authority,
the character and the existence of God the Father. And because He was one with the Father He
could bring healing and freedom and comfort. And because He obeyed, endured and conquered He
brought the hope of eternal life to all people. The Root of Jesse is the Son of David. The Lamb of
God is the Lion of Judah. He knew His purpose.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend time in worship and thanksgiving. Thank Jesus for fulfilling His purpose. Worship Him for
who He is in Scripture and who He is in your life.
2. Think through some of the Bible characters you know of. Did they have a purpose statement?
What do you think was their purpose and did they accomplish it? If so, how do you think they
were able to fulfill it? If not, what held them back? Ask God how He wants to speak to you
through your study.

Foundations February 10, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 18-20
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV); For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

To be intentional is to do something with design and purpose; not accidental. As Christians we
actually have a solid reason why intentionality is important. If we were just a result of a random,
evolutionary process, we wouldn’t even be able to be intentional! But because we find our
beginnings in a purposeful God, we can live a life full of purpose! Isn’t God amazing?!

Pride and selfishness are the oldest sins in the book. The charge of the sinful nature is to
become the centre of your own universe. We need to intentionally deny our nature and die to
ourselves. This takes hard work, as is always the case when one wants to go against the grain.
We must put our faith in the power of God and rely on His grace because we are sure to fail at
some point, and if we deny our sinful nature out of our own power alone, we are sure to burn
out. But God has graciously given us the Holy Spirit to be our Helper.

We need to live our lives on purpose because we have a REASON for purpose. Our lives must
look different than the lives of those around us. If we don’t feel joyful and purposeful, let us
make those important prayer points in our times with the Lord! God made you BY Himself and
FOR Himself. He consciously chose the ingredients that would combine to form you. You are
His unique workmanship, created with the intention to do the works of God!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you feel that your life and your perspective truly are different than that of the non-
Christians around you? If so, how? If not, ask God to show you why.
2. Ask God to show you areas where you are seeking to be the centre of your own universe
and confess.
3. Ask God to tell you what he enjoyed creating in you. Journal about His response or have a
dialogue with Him.

Foundations February 9, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 13-17
1 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV); if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and
seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin
and heal their land.

At Southland, the motto of our building campaign is “Building for the Harvest.” The point of our building
expansion is not to have a big flashy meeting place or about racking up our numbers for numbers’
sake. It is about the kingdom. It is about souls. The church continues to grow because people are
pursuing a passionate relationship with God and are making Jesus the functional Lord of their lives.
We are so excited about what God is doing, and for the vision He has given us about what is to come!
As ministers in this church, we need to commit ourselves to prayer! As a body of believers, we need to
pray for our local church and the leaders within. Today, spend time listening and praying for Southland.
See the list below for some ideas:

INTERCESSORY PRAYER: Building for the Harvest
• Pray for safety on the job site, as the work is in full-swing
• Pray for Pastor Ray – wisdom and direction as he listens to God’s vision for Southland
• Pray for various church ministries, including the staff members in charge of those ministries and
the incredible volunteers (Kidzland, Middle School, High School, Young Adult, Single moms,
Selah, Marketplace leaders, Seniors, Cells, Worship, Welcome, etc.)
• Evangelism – pray that the church would catch God’s heart for the lost and would begin to boldly
share their faith with others
• Pray that Southland would grow in intimacy with Jesus
• Pray for Southland’s local, national and international ministries – Four Winds (local), Church
Renewal (national) and Tupendane Africana (international)

Foundations February 8, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 9-12
John 4:34-35 (ESV); Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to
accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look,
I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”

There is a harvest of people ready to hear the gospel. Jesus once urged His disciples to pray that
that Lord of the harvest would send more workers to harvest the fields of people whose hearts are
ready to receive the message of Christ. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (See
Mat. 9) Immediately following this passage, Jesus sent out is twelve disciples and gave them
authority to drive out evil spirits and heal every sickness and disease. “The kingdom of heaven is
near.” He said. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received, freely give.” (See Mat. 10)

To merely pray for workers of the harvest without throwing ourselves into the work as well is
futile. Those prayers will be weak and ineffective. We cannot hide behind prayer. Rather, in faith,
we must go out and work in the fields, while bathing all we do in prayer. The fields are white,
Jesus said. The people who need the gospel are like ripened wheat, but they need someone to
come and harvest them – to bring them into the truth. Every interaction we have with others is an
opportunity to plant seeds, but sometimes we use this as an excuse so that we don’t have to go
out of our comfort zone. We cannot ONLY think of ourselves as the seed-planters and waterers.
As ministers, we also MUST be harvesters. We cannot rely on acts of kindness alone to point
others to Jesus. We must boldly share our faith and the testimony of Christ in our lives in hopes of
leading people to Jesus. There is a crown of glory awaiting the harvesters!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to speak to you about how you are a harvester. Do you ever hide behind the
excuse of being “just” a seed-planter? Ask Him how He would like to challenge you in this
area of being a harvester. How are you going to walk out His challenge?
2. What are some things that might stand in the way of you being an effective minister and
harvester? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things and then talk to Him about those and ask for
His help.

Foundations February 7, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 6-8
Matthew 25:28-29 (NIV); Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For
everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even
what he has will be taken from him.

These verses come out of a sobering parable Jesus told to His disciples. A master went on a journey
but before he left, he entrusted his servants with his property and varying amounts of money. To one
he gave 5 talents (one talent was the equivalent of about twenty year’s wages) to another 2 and to
the third servant he gave 1. They did not know when the master would return, and so the first two
servants worked hard to increase the money they’d been given. The third servant, however, had
misconceptions about his master, and in fear and laziness he hid his talent in the ground. Upon return,
the master commended the two servants who had worked hard and cursed the one who had been so
lazy.

Though this parable is about money, the deeper focus is stewardship in general. What are we doing
with the things we have been given? Whether it is our money, our time, our possessions, our gifting –
how are we handling these things? Are we acting out of entitlement, forgetting that our Master was the
One who entrusted us with these things in the first place? Or are we working hard to wisely steward
these things, using them to serve others and thus to serve our Master?

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Meditate on the warning in the verses. Has God ever removed gifts from you because you have
been a poor steward? Has He blessed you because you’ve stewarded well? Thank God for the
lessons He has taught you. Thank Him that He has your best in mind.
2. Ask God to show you if you have hidden anything in the ground. In these areas of time and
fellowship, talents, and money and possessions, is there anything that you have buried and
hidden because of fear or a misconception of God? Heed the warning of the verse, and ask God
how you can work to multiply what you’ve been given.
3. Ask God to show you if there is an area in your life where He wants to tell you, “Well done!”

Foundations February 6, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Chronicles 2-5
1 John 1:7 (NIV); But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

Our ministry can only be as healthy as we are. If we are hiding in darkness in any way, we will
certainly lack effectiveness. Dealing with sin is an integral part of Christianity. Christ died to set us
free, but we cannot claim freedom if we are living in sin! We can hold onto the promise, though, that
WHEN we confess our sins to Him, He WILL forgive us and make us clean. This truth brings life,
though many choose to ignore it for the sake of their own comfort. But no matter how comfortable
one may feel in sin right now, they will feel nothing but discomfort when giving account of it before
God one day.

Light can be blindingly painful when one is coming out of a long period in darkness, but once
the eyes adjust, light beats darkness hands down. Light brings a new perspective, greater
understanding and freedom to move without fear of getting hurt. This analogy moves easily from
the physical to the spiritual. When our sins are brought to light, we are released from the confusion,
guilt, and fear that consumed the darkness and we are given a new outlook on God and ourselves.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Are there any sins, or character issues in your life that you feel may contribute to ineffective
ministry? Ask God if He would search your heart for any that you do not think of right away.
2. Do you want freedom from these things? Are you willing to move into the light even though the
process could be painful? Spend time in repentance for the things God has brought to mind.
If you have reoccurring issues, make an appointment to meet with a cell leader or prayer
minister, or go to after-service prayer on the weekend.
3. Ask God to soften your heat and your conscience towards Him. Ask Him to help you catch
areas of sin right away so that you can deal with things quickly without hiding in darkness.
4. Thank Jesus that He is the Revealer of light and that He brings freedom and forgiveness.

Foundations February 5, 2012

Exodus 4:10, 13-14a (ESV); But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either
in the past or since You have spoken to Your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue… Oh,
my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses…

God has fashioned each of us in a unique way, with ingredients unique to our character. He has
endowed us with abilities and aptitudes that enable us to fulfil the great purposes He has for us.
Some of our talents are natural skills that we are born with and others are given to us at specific
times for specific purposes. That was the case when God called Moses to deliver the Israelites.
Moses had never thought of Himself as a dominant leader who could use persuasive speech to gain
followers, but the God of the universe was before him, assuring him that he would be given what
was necessary to do God’s will. Yet the word of the Almighty was not enough and Moses begged
for the calling to be removed from him. But before Moses was born, God knew the plans He had for
him.

God knows the plans and purposes He has for you, and they are fantastic. Following the will of God
– no matter how small and insignificant it may seem in your perspective – is essential in discovering
and living out your purpose. Your abilities should not lie dormant when God is calling you to exercise
them! There are, though, times when God asks us to set aside some skill in order to test our humility
or to grow us in a different area. And, like Moses, there are times when God calls us into a place
where we must start with nothing but faith and obedience.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Pride easily becomes a motivator, urging us to use our talents for our own glory, or in falsehumility,
causing us to hide them. With a repentant heart, ask God to show you areas of pride
that are affecting your ability to minister.
a. What does God want from you in response to what He has shown you?
2. Ask God to show you if you are using your time wisely as a minister. Are you putting enough
time into your areas of ministry? Are you putting in so much time that you are neglecting family
or other areas of importance?

Foundations February 4, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 1/2 Chronicles 28-1
Acts 2:42 (ESV); And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers.

As ministers, we must be devoted to serving the body of Christ, not only through giving and
generosity, but through fellowship! God created humans with a need for friendship and community.
We long to know that we are valuable to someone else, and that our presence, involvement and
opinion matters. We generally prefer sharing a meal together with friends and family to eating a
warmed-up TV-dinner with the television. This need for fellowship is universal but especially strong
in eastern culture. Jesus grew up in the thick of this community-focused environment, but we in
the west have strayed further and further into independency and isolation. We see people trying to
prove their success and superiority to family and friends, creating hostility and competition rather
than love and support.

As ministers of the gospel, we should be working to go against the grain of worldliness. Let’s devote
ourselves to fellowshipping with others, just as the Acts church did! God wants our time, and that
doesn’t just mean time for devotions. We give our time to God by showing hospitality to people, by
having a new church family over for supper, by taking a co-worker out for lunch, by loving on your
child’s friend who comes from an unfortunate home-life. There are tons of ways to serve the body of
Christ through fellowship!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God how you need to grow in the area of fellowship with a) family, b) friends, and c) others
What is something specific you need to do this week?
2. Ask God to show you a relationship where you are seeking to prove yourself to the other
person, or where you are being unnecessarily competitive. Spend time in repentance and ask
God how He wants you to start acting differently. Pray that He’d empower you to do so.
3. In prayer, ask God to open your eyes to lonely people. When you see someone, make a point
to talk to them and show them their value: that they are precious because they are made in
God’s image. And if you struggle with loneliness, this is a great way to combat it!

Foundations February 3, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Chronicles 25-27
Mark 8:34-35 (NIV); Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “If anyone
would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever
wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it.”

We are told to get equipped for ministry so that we can SERVE. The words of John the Baptist
were interesting when he said of Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John
3:30) Jesus was indeed greater – infinitely so – but His greatness was attained without grandeur.
Jesus was the greatest servant, laying down all of His rights for the sake of sinful man. Jesus
demonstrated that greatness in the Father’s kingdom is entirely contrary to the greatness of earthly
kingdoms.

We have been given the lens of Christ, and through it we see the REAL reality. To serve, to walk in
humility, to consider others better than ourselves, to stand righteously in the face of injustice – these
things make for a glorious reward in an eternal kingdom. And when this lens is focused, one area
that is put into perspective is that of possessions. Reality TV has shown us the grotesque results
of what hoarding possessions does to a person, but perhaps if Christ was behind the camera and
turned it onto us, something just as monstrous would be revealed. For some of us, the hoarded
loot is neatly tucked away in our bank accounts, unseen to the world but very visible in the spiritual
realm. For others the plunder is in our closets or our collections or our hearts. One may have very
little to show by way of money and possessions and still be among the worst of hoarders on the
inside. It is time we become fully like the Acts church, willing to sell our possessions to help those in
need. If we cannot obediently release the fleeting things of this world, how can our love for God and
for His Kingdom ever reach its fullest potential?

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you any ways that you are hoarding. Confess this to Him and ask Him how
He wants you to serve. Will you obey?
2. Ask God to give you His perspective on your money and possessions. Admit your fears to Him
and put your trust in Him.

Foundations February 2, 2012

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Chronicles 22-24
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT); Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s
people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

In order to be effective ministers of the gospel, we must get equipped. It would be to his demise if a
soldier went into battle without armour and weapons. Likewise, many Christians have gone out into
the world unequipped and have shipwrecked their faith. Neglect in this area has contributed to the
statistic that 80% of youth and young adults leave the church after graduation never to return. This,
along with statistics of failing economy and increased persecution, etc, prove that if there was ever
a time to get equipped it is now! People need the gospel!
As believers we need continual learning in our walk with God, and our training and equipment for
ministry. We cannot gain a relationship with God by piggybacking on someone else’s experience.
Personal quiet time with Him, reading His Word and communicating through prayer is fundamental
for getting spiritually equipped. But being a part of the church offers a variety of other ways to quip
ourselves for effective ministry. Cell groups are an integral part of who we are as a church. It is in
a cell group where you will find community, accountability, teaching and application and fellowship.
Southland also stresses its two core retreats: Encounter God and Empower Ministers. And the
commitment to prayer and listening prayer is a tie that binds all things together. After-service prayer,
personal ministry appointments and weekend intercession all aide in equipping ministers to do
God’s work!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you the next step you need to take in getting equipped for ministry at
Southland. (Note: If you do not attend Southland, ask God how to get equipped through your
church.)
2. We are all called to minister through prayer, and it is important to pray for our local church.
School of Ministers is Southland’s discipleship school, equipping young adults to minister in
the church, workplace, home and wherever else God calls them. Spend some time praying for
the ministry of the school, for the students and for director, Chris Puhach.