A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them . . . and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia. . . Acts 16:9-12

Paul had wanted to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit told him no and sent him to Macedonia instead. Amazing things came from not following a good idea but going with God’s idea. The effective Philippian church began from this missionary journey.

THE TURNING POINT. “A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14). This entrepreneurial woman was the first person to get saved in Europe. Western civilization would be forever changed by her decision.

ANNOYANCES ON THE WAY. Sometimes in the middle of the breakthrough, attack happens. Following the wonderful salvation of Lydia and her entire household, a demon-possessed slave girl started harassing Paul while he was on his way to a prayer meeting. He cast the demon out of her, which angered her masters because her fortune-telling had made them so much money. As a result, Paul and his companions got beaten and thrown in jail.

THE JAILER. While Paul and Silas were singing praises to God, all the prison doors opened and the chains were unfastened. The jailer assumed everyone had fled and was about to kill himself. Paul, instead of holding this guy in contempt, started to minister to him. “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” (Acts 16:28). God’s presence was so strong that this hard-boiled jailer asked how to be saved. Paul responded with one of the most thunderous sentences throughout the centuries:

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. Acts 16:31

CONTINUED IMPACT. Like Paul, God wants to use you to be a shock absorber in a troubled world and tell all types of people not to bring harm to themselves. There is a world crying out like the Macedonian man in Paul’s dream. We must be sensitive to the moment we’re in and overcome the invisible barrier of fear to reach our generation. We owe our lives to what this Philippian church did. They funded a furtherance of the gospel in city after city. Just as the hinge point of western civilization is seen in the fruit of Paul’s obedience, so God wants us to be the turning point for our time and see hundreds of millions of people come to Jesus.

Press on.
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Let’s find out what is pleasing to the Lord and do it. If we dedicate ourselves to pursuing what God likes, we will stop comparing ourselves to others and accomplish God’s plan for each of our lives.

Do justice. God has called us to do what is right. We live in a world that is aimless and frivolous. But God has called us to translate our days into fruitfulness. Jesus said: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8). I’m not talking about workaholism or using good works to become good — God looks at the heart. And He loves people who do what’s right just because it’s the right thing to do.

The people who know their God will display strength and take action. Daniel 11:32b

Love kindness. To walk in love means to regard others as valuable. Knowing God and how much value He places on people will help your attitude toward others. If your attitude goes sour, keep telling yourself: “That person is someone for whom Christ died.”

Walk humbly with God. Get close to God. Talk with Him, walk with Him. Throw yourself into God’s grace, expecting clarity to come. It’s time to get back to the root of the matter — knowing God. Jesus, in freeing us from sin, has made it possible for us to walk and fellowship with God!

There are more miracles that God wants to display through you more of the time. And it is these moments of obedience that will precipitate change in an entire city, across a nation, and throughout the whole world. Obeying God — what a noble way to spend a life.

Press on!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” And [he is] the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. Romans 4:1, 3, 12

I met a modern day prospector on the beaches of California. He had a metal detector and a fanny pack full of his precious-metal findings. Fascinated, I asked him, “What did you find?” He excitedly began to show me his treasure of gold rings, watches, and old coins. When we go to God’s Word, the same question is posed: What has Abraham found? What treasure did he find concerning God’s character, about coping, about overcoming when he failed? He found that his justification before God came through grace and not by works. Even when things look “as good as dead,” there is still hope! (Romans 4:19).

Abraham developed a lifestyle of listening to God and obeying Him. We are called to learn from Abraham and walk in his footsteps (Romans 4:12 NET*). This is not just a fanny pack full of gold; it’s far more significant for our lives.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

Let God be your preoccupation. Abraham had such confidence in where God was leading his life that he let his nephew, Lot, take what seemed like a better land choice. Lot became so focused on the here and now that he lost out in the long run. Don’t be attached to the stuff of this world, because it’s stifling to the larger things God has called you to. Abraham knew he wouldn’t lose out, and neither will you as you follow God.

“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). I’ve found that the best times in my life are when I’m walking by faith and obeying God. So turn your eyes on Jesus. As you do, it will cause rightness to flourish in your life and help you to overcome wicked temptation and get up one more time than you fall. God is trustworthy. He will equip you to do His will (Hebrews 13:21). When we step out in obedience, He is there.

Press on!
Pastor Jeff

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *New English Translation Bible (NET) Copyright © 1996-2009 by Biblical Studies Press (BSP), L.L.C. and the authors. All rights reserved.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

God has called us to an effective, significant life, and in order to fulfill this call we need love. Without love, our actions become white noise (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Love is a force that we can apply to the challenges in our lives to move past obstacles to the next level.

Do not give the devil a foothold . . . and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:27, 30-32

A huge part of the love walk is forgiveness. Said President Ronald Reagan of his assailant less than 48 hours after being shot: “I know that my healing depends on forgiving him.”* Your breakthrough may be dependent on your willingness to shut the door to bitterness. The Holy Spirit is right there to help you forgive: “Whom God calls He equips”—even the hardest calling of walking in love (Hebrews 13:21; 2 Timothy 3:17).

A door of opportunity is opening, and God is preparing us as individuals and as a church body with this daily life of love and forgiveness. That’s why simple acts of obedience—choosing love instead of anger or bitterness—must be the highest priority in an effective Christian life.

We love because God first loved us!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *Time Magazine April 17, 2000.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

You may have been meditating on some pretty weird stuff, but God wants us to focus on things that are excellent and worthy of praise. If we are really going to revolutionize the world, we’ve got to be different in our thinking. Shake off the heaviness and fear by focusing on who Jesus is and by renewing your mind in the Word. Here are some scriptures that will help you press past the mind-numbing attacks of the devil and remember that God is faithful. He will calm whatever storm you’re in and get you to the other side (Matthew 8:24-28).

Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! Luke 12:24

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28-29 NKJV

Now is not the time to vacillate. It’s time to be intent on one purpose, with hearts and minds in one accord with the Master’s work. While the world is anxiously looking for answers, you carry the truth. Don’t shrink back but learn to abide under the shadow of the Most High, where you can rest and find strength and renewed confidence for the
journey (Psalm 91:1).

Press on!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command. 1 Chronicles 12:32

Like Issachar’s tribe, God wants to sensitize us to His timing. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that “there is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (3:1). It’s essential to understand the times in order to prepare for God’s calling.

God is bringing the nations to our doorstep and we must rouse ourselves. We’re getting ready to expand as a church, despite the fluctuating economy. It’s the right time to move forward. The church is not subject to the world’s ebb and flow because “we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28). When darkness encroaches, we’ll step up and bring the light. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Get Alone With God: 1. In Prayer 2. In Quietness 3. In the Bible 4. In Praise. Esther prepared for her “such a time as this.” There are things that God wants to do through your life that you must prepare for. Between birth and death you have this thing called life, which is your season on earth to champion the cause of Christ: to manifest the love of God, to exhibit kindness, to press on through the battles, to achieve the great accomplishments for which you’ve been set apart.

Above all else, we must be sensitized to God’s timing and to what He is saying. During the dark time in her nation Esther relied on prayer and fasting. In the next month or so, some of the most significant decisions are going to be made for our land. We must pray now. Don’t lethargically wait to see what happens. Be an active doer of the Word. There are people attached to your obedience to pray big prayers, to avoid sin, to press on and not grow weary in well doing. As you push aside distraction and seek God in prayer, what was meant for harm God will turn around for good (Genesis 50:20).

Let’s move forward,

Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2008 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.