Agape Radio

God wants your best. He doesn’t want the leftovers of your energy, time, or resources. When the Bible talks about bringing your “first fruits” to God that’s what it means. So often in our world, it’s exactly the opposite. We put ourselves first. The first question we ask when we get a paycheck or have a day off is “what do I want to do with this?” As Pastor Terry will challenge us in today’s message, you should bring those things before God and ask what He wants to do with them.

There are some gifts that put people in the spotlight, and there are some that keep people behind the scenes. While some are totally okay with that, we get jealous of other people’s gifts at times. We wish we could sing or preach or lead in some capacity. As Pastor Terry will remind us in today’s message, God gifts us and places us where He wants. When you try to step outside of that, seeking glory or praise for yourself, you may get what you want, but you’ll miss your God-given purpose.

We have lots of stuff in this world. God blessed us with an amazing gift of creativity and a desire to make things. Sadly, like with so many good things that God gives, we easily turn these blessings into idols that come between us and God. Ultimately, the stuff we have doesn’t matter that much. It won’t last that long. That new device, outfit, car, house, or whatever it may be, will be outdated and old before you know it. Today, Pastor Terry will encourage us to focus our energy on serving God, not stuff.

When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses didn’t feel like the right man for the job. He told God that He wasn’t a good speaker – kind of an essential for a leader, right? According to human reason, yes, but God loves to use seemingly hopeless situations or incapable people to accomplish His will. It draws our attention to Him. As Pastor Terry will explain in today’s message, the only thing you need to be used greatly by God is a humble, willing heart.

Many of us have a preconceived notion that in order to be a Christian we have to follow rules and be perfect all time. Society tells us that being Christian is about being a good person and doing good things. Today, Pastor Terry wants you to know that all God requires of us as believers are to simply follow Him and do our best. All we are asked of is to have faith and try our best to live for Christ. Don’t be discouraged and give up when you live the way you don’t want to live. Instead, simply give God your best.

Many of us take kindness for granted. Whether it’s being kind to someone we don’t like or being able to show kindness in a tough situation, it often gets lost by the wayside. Today, Pastor Terry wants you to know that as Christians we need to be kind to those around us. Instead of falling prey to reactions that are unkind, we need to follow Jesus and let Him show us true kindness. Stop being kind only when you want to be kind, and let Jesus work through you to become a beacon of kindness to those around you.

We love receiving recognition for achievements in our lives. Whether it’s for being a “good Christian” or a good person, we like to be praised and start to lose sight of our humbleness. In today’s message, Pastor Terry explains that just like David, we need to humble ourselves before the Lord and lose our pride. If we truly want to improve our character and be as strong of a Godly leader as David was, we need to put all of our faithfulness in Him, even when we are at our weakest.

We all have people in our lives that we know we can rely on, but even still, those people don’t always deliver. Today, Pastor Terry wants you to know that God will never fail you and is always by your side if you simply put your trust in him. Even when you’re at the weakest and losing sight of your faithfulness, He will never abandon you. Find restoration, peace, and someone you can always rely on by following God to a life full of promises kept and blessings received.

Learning the basics of sharing the Gospel can be beneficial. But what Pastor Terry finds more practical is sharing how God has directly impacted your life. People want to have something to hope in, victory over their struggles, and joy in their life. Your account will speak to the benefits of a relationship with the Father. After today's message, take some time and craft your journey with the Lord. What are the highs and lows you can share with someone who needs hope, joy, or peace?

Worshiping the Lord at church with inspiring music is easy. But as Pastor Terry shares in today's study, going out into the real world and praising the Lord is hard! You can grow and encourage this skill. Start by directing your thoughts and energy towards the Lord. Remove as many distractions as you can and ask the Spirit to open your heart to His prompting. With practice and patience, you'll find yourself being able to praise His name in the most stressful situations. It's during these times you'll receive His unmatched peace and joy.