WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BEWARE - Sadell Bradley - 03/29/17 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

BEWARE is a word that's not often used. When I saw it, it jumped out to me. It means to be cautious and alert to the dangers of.  It's just saying, "Be Aware." We usually run into this word on signage like, 'Beware of dog!' or in an admonition before we make a purchase, "Buyer beware!" There are many more esoteric things that we ought be wary of like the one above. Ben Franklin said, "Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship," and  "Beware the hobby that eats." Hungarian Composer Franz Liszt said, "Beware of missing chances; otherwise it may be altogether too late some day."   Jesus taught his disciples to beware of one category of people: the Pharisees, teachers of the law and false prophets. As a pastor, it's almost chilling to read what Jesus said about the religious leaders of His day...because it's so similar to what we see now: 45Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, 46"Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 47Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished." Growing up, the men of God (no women) would sit in these seats of honor - pastoral chairs in the pulpit area, higher than and facing the congregation.  Any pastor coming into the church would be ushered up to sit in one of these seats.  Modern churches don't have these, but there are usually reserved seats for leaders...and you better not refuse them, lol! Apostles, Bishops and Pastors get nice seats at banquets and events. People carry them food...and even their bibles and water when they preach. Certainly we've all heard a long prayer or ten. I know Jesus is speaking of motive, but I often wonder on this BEWARE. Jesus doesn't say that every leader is bad...just to beware of the ones that are, because you can tell.  15"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. 19So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Unfortunately today some people in the world believe that all pastors fall under this category: prideful, attention-seeking, money-hungry wolves. They don't realize the majority of us are Jesus and people loving, regular folks who need of the same salvation and grace as the people we lead. Hopefully, our actions speak that. Of all the things that Jesus could tell us to beware of, this is the most startling. There are many people among us who shun 'organized religion' because they've been 'hurt by the church,' received false teaching, or observed some evil behind the scenes activity in a ministry. So we all need to beware. Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us and gave to our 30 for $30 campaign for Missions.  If you'd still like to give $30 or more CLICK HERE SUNDAY Worship 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room Sunday Class 9:30 AM Youth Room Basement at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215 For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - AMBITION - Sadell Bradley 03/22/17 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sake and for our own."
-Cesar Chavez

AMBITION is a strong desire to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work; desire and determination to achieve success. 
We used to sing a song,"A Living Sacrifice" by John Stevenson. The lyrics said, "Lord, I want to be with You, that is my one desire. I want to know You face to face - not from afar. To die to my own will and lay ambition down. To wholly seek your face, while walking in Your grace. Take my life let it be wholly unto Thee, a Living Sacrifice. Lord, I giveYou my life."  That lyric was startling!

I'd grown up in environments that strongly encouraged ambition, success and achievement. Did my ambitions need to be laid at the foot of Jesus? Yes! God was altering my
motives and the course of my life, including my vocation. David had a singular aspiration in Psalm 27:4: "The one thing I ask of the LORD--the thing I seek most--is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in His temple." Paul gave this admonition, "Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship." So is all ambition wrong?

It seems there is more than one kind of ambition in Scripture, so it will require us to check our hearts. James said, 'where you have envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:16) Paul talked a lot about ambition. To the Philippians, he wrote, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." (Phil. 2:3) He said even some preachers preach from selfish ambition, while others preach out of true motives. (Phil. 1:16-18) Dangers lurk where there is jealousy, pride, comparison and competition.

What are positive ambitions? We've established one is to seek the LORD wholeheartedly. Paul instructed, "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you." (1 Thess. 4:11) That directly opposes our live loud and let everybody see it cultural norm. Paul also states his own desire, "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent (from the body), to be pleasing to Him." (2 Cor. 5:9) Live a quiet life, mind your business, work and please the LORD? that can't be enough. I need more impact and notoriety than that! Well, here's a great impact-filled goal for us all. Paul told the Romans, "It has always been my ambition to preach the Gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not build on someone else's foundation." (Romans 15:20) An ambition to preach the Gospel to new people. Rarely have I heard that on a vision list! God says, I want you to go hard...but after the right things.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us and gave to our 30 for $30 campaign for Missions.  If you'd still like to give $30 or more CLICK HERE

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ENCOUNTER - Sadell Bradley - 03/15/17 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Religious life is an encounter with the living God. Sometimes that encounter is preceded by a kind of soul-searching agony that tries desperately not to hear, runs in the opposite direction, and frantically tries to reason itself out of answering the invitation." - Mother Angelica In Churches leaders say, "We are believing for an ENCOUNTER with God" as we are for our upcoming In His Presence Night of Worship, this Friday at 7PM.  Upon hearing the word encounter, some might recall the Stephen Spielberg movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In the story, a guy named Roy Neary's life changes after an encounter with a UFO (unidentified flying object). Remember the 5 note song of the aliens? The pilots that were abducted by them did not age. To ENCOUNTER means to unexpectedly experience or be faced with someone who is an adversary; to come upon face to face; to meet, especially by chance. Those definitions don't seem like what happens with our loving God...or do they? No truer words have been spoken than those to your left. Jacob had a life history of manipulation, lies and con-artistry. In Genesis 32 he's on the run after cheating his uncle Laban over his daughters and inheritance, and deceiving then bribing his brother Esau after stealing his birthright. Alone and afraid in the wilderness, Jacob has an encounter with an Angel, and wrestles with Him throughout the night. He gets a blessing, but also a limp for life. Upon reflection Jacob says, "I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." (vs. 30) His name is changed to Israel, which means, 'one who struggles with God and wins.' An encounter.    Normally when preachers talk about encounters with God, they mean they want people to experience His manifest presence: where signs, wonders and miracles are prevalent. We sing powerful music. We bow in intercession. We want the blind to see, the lame to walk, the dumb to talk, the prophetic to be released and most importantly for people to turn from their sins to Jesus. Aren't these face to face meetings where our Lord reclaims and releases the lives of those the devil has held hostage? I certainly hope so! Saul's encounter on the Damascus road in Acts 9 included a 'chance meeting' with the One he believed was his adversary, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?...I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." (vs. 4-5) Saul, in his religious zeal, was at enmity with Jesus and His followers. The dramatic encounter physically blinded Saul in order to restore his spiritual sight. This violent confrontation with God also prophetically released one of the Church's greatest leaders to one of the most powerful missions in history: the uniting of the New Testament Church - Jews and Gentiles alike, into One New Humanity through Christ. The Apostle Paul's name and life changed that day. . As a pastor, I want people to have encounters with God that radically alter the trajectory of their lives. If Satan has crippled them internally or externally, I want them to be healed. If he's lied to them, I want them to be freed by Truth. If he's stolen from them, I want them restored. If they've been blinded to their call, I want them to receive direction. Their lives and others' lives are at stake. That's why encounters with God matter so much.

LAST WEEK of our Annual 30 for $30 Giving Campaign for Missions Projects for 2017.  If you'd like to give $30 or more CLICK HERE

SUNDAY Worship 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room Sunday Class 9:30 AM Youth Room Basement at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215 For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - INDIGNATION - Sadell Bradley - 03/08/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Moral indignation in most cases is 2% moral, 48% indignation, and 50% envy." - Vittorio De Sica - Actor/Director "Anger is just a cowardly extension of sadness. It's a lot easier to be angry at someone than it is to tell them that you're hurt."  -Tom Gates  - Author/Illustrator I am sad to say that I recently experienced some Elder brother feelings.  You know, the ones described in the account of the lost or Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Prodigal means to spend resources recklessly. The younger son asks his father for his inheritance early and wastes it all on prostitutes and riotous living. After coming to himself, he returns to his father repentant: desiring only to become a hired servant in the house. Instead, his father runs to greet his lost son and celebrates with a huge party; giving him a ring, a robe and a feast.  The elder brother was, as they say today, 'in his feelings' about it. INDIGNATION is anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment. 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' Was the elder brother upset because of the celebration being held for his sibling? Was it frustration for years of sadness, trauma or over-responsibility? Did he wish he'd been the one to go philandering and wasting? Or was it that he'd never taken full advantage of the opportunities that were freely offered to him by his father in the same house? It could be all of the above. That word angry from the Greek 'orge' means a settled anger rising from a fixed opposition. It proceeds from an internal disposition which steadfastly opposes someone based on extended personal exposure, i.e. solidifying what the beholder considers wrong (unjust, evil). The elder brother was not just angry at that moment, he'd been indignant for some time over this  injustice. He'd done everything 'right' but seemed not to be getting the Father's love and favor that his younger, but less responsible brother received.  31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me,and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"Have you ever felt like you've done 'everything right' but are not getting anywhere? Of course you know you haven't done everything right, but that's how you feel. Have you watched others break rules, and do what they're big and bad enough to do and still get ahead? Has that caused you indignation with injustice, or even envy over time? When I identified these feelings, it took me straight to the prayer closet. The Elder Brother Syndrome needs to be checked. The Father loves us ALL and all that He has is available to us.

Today starts our Annual 30 for $30 Giving Campaign for Missions Projects for 2017.  If you'd like to give $30 or more CLICK HERE

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - FATIGUE - Sadell Bradley - 03/01/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Our fatigue is often caused not by work; but by worry, frustration and resentment."  Dale Carnegie 

Everybody knows what FATIGUE is: extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness. Fatigue is a reduction in the efficiency of a muscle or group after prolonged activity. It is the lessening of one's response to, or enthusiasm for something, typically as a result of over exposure to it. I've often thought about and experienced the first definition. According to the International Labor Organization, "Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, 260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers."  That's just work, not family life or extra-curricular activities. We are tired, ya'll, but it's so pervasive and stressful that it's become the norm. For more information on this sad phenomenon, CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE.

Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) He gives the solution for the mental and emotional fatigue that often accompanies an over-stressed life. A tired soul will find its rest in the presence of the Savior. So just take a few breaths, now. In His presence is the fullness of joy.  At His right hand are pleasures ever more. (Psalm 16:11) The soul that is weary from sin can repent and turn away from evil and find times of refreshing from the presence of the LORD. (Acts 3:19) Any time invested with a focus on Him brings life, joy, peace and rest. It also brings wisdom and instruction as He makes known to us the path that leads to life, and guides with His eye upon us. (Psalm 16:11; 32:8)

 

I love the presence of God! when alone or in corporate worship.  Even as I write this Word, I can feel an infusion of His grace and strength. I've gotten up early with excitement in all kinds of weather to gather with the assembly of the saints. There is an anticipation of the Holy Spirit's move, what the Lord will say through His Word, and a joy of fellowship with those we love

. The psalmist said, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." (Psalm 84:10) However, in dry seasons, that anticipation can turn to the second definition of fatigue: the lessening of one's response to or enthusiasm for...the presence of God.  I want to encourage you...don't let times in His presence become perfunctory:carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection. Keep your awe and wonder at His beauty, majesty and power.  Let your embrace of your brothers and sisters in Christ be genuine, vulnerable and transparent. Don't let fatigue rob you. Open yourself to another infusion of His grace and allow yourself the freedom for which He gave His life. (Gal. 5:1)   

Today starts our Annual 30 for $30 Giving Campaign for Missions Projects for 2017.  If you'd like to give $30 or more CLICK HERE

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131