Come Alive (Audio)

How do you serve God realistically? In today's message from Pastor Mark, he teaches you that there are three things you need to learn, to serve God realistically. You need to learn how to wait on Him, how to work with people, and how to deal with problems that come your way. When you serve the Lord, you will face many problems. The enemy will throw all sorts of problems your way, and it's important that you are able to face them. When you learn to wait on the Lord to direct you within your problems, and are able to work well with those around you, you will be able to handle the problems that come your way with love and grace.

Are you planning, while you are praying? In today's message from Pastor Mark, he teaches you the importance of both praying and planning. Many Christians think it is unspiritual to plan, because they think that if they plan, they are not trusting in the Lord. However, God desires that we both plan and pray. You need to seek God's will in everything, but also ask Him how to go about what it is you are seeking. Try to plan how you think the Lord is leading you, and then bring it to Him in prayer. Don't be afraid to wait for His timing. When you wait for Him, He will give you the peace that you need, to move forward with His plans for your life.

If you are serving the Lord without any sacrifice on your part, you are missing an important part of worship. In his message today, Pastor Mark encourages you to seek the Lord and ask if there is an area of your life that could be better spent serving Him. You might be spending a lot of time in a certain area that God didn't call you to, and He is asking you to worship Him by giving it up. If you try and sacrifice something that doesn't cost you anything, then it is not a true sacrifice. Sacrifices will always cost you something initially, but the pay off will be a richer and fuller relationship with the Lord.

One of the ways God works through a believer's life is by allowing Satan to challenge them. As Pastor Mark explains, God doesn't do this because He is unsure of the outcome; He does this as a way to further the purification of a believer. God is sovereign; He knows the beginning, middle and end of your life. But sometimes you need a little nudge or a challenge to grow your faith in God. Even when Satan is allowed in your life, God is in control. Today, you'll look at the life of King David and Job and see that even though Satan brought destruction to their life, they both continued to worship God.

King David's mighty men were there to serve their king at any cost. When King David makes a passing comment that he would like some spring water, the mighty men jump into action and get what their King wants. In his message today, Pastor Mark asks if you are willing to sacrifice for your King. Do you even know what God longs for and wants? It's easy to see the heart of Jesus; you only need to open his fathers' word, the Bible. Once you learn what your Father wants, are you willing to make the sacrifice like King David's mighty men? Use today as a starting point to seek after God's heart and fulfill His commandments.

here are a lot of little things that you can do to positively impact an individual's daily life. You can smile at a stranger, call a friend and give a word of encouragement, or even return the shopping cart to the store. What stops you from making these small gestures throughout your day? In Pastor Mark's message today, he will encourage you to get with God to make it happen. The Lord is the one who will give you strength daily to do small acts that can seem mighty to other people. You will be encouraged to go to God often for strength. Even as you finish one task, ask Him again and ask for wisdom regarding your next move.

Do you take refuge and find strength in the Lord? In today's message from Pastor Mark, he teaches that when you are in the midst of a problem, God is willing and able to help you. You don't need to figure a way out of your problem by yourself. God will give you a way out, if you turn to Him and ask. Often times when we are in the thick of our trials, we can forget that we have a God who loves and cares for us. Remember that God is for you in the midst of your trials. Turn to Him in prayer, and ask that He would help you to find a way out, and that He would be your source of strength. He is faithful to help you, in your times of need!

What are the topics of your conversation? In today's message from Pastor Mark, he teaches that there is a weight, witness, and worth to the things you talk about. If you think about it, you can learn a lot about others, by listening to what comes out of their mouths. Based off of the words people speak, you can begin to understand what drives them. Consider the topics you talk about, and evaluate whether or not they are kingdom driven. We want our speech to be declaring the goodness of the Lord, and what He had done within our lives. Do your words show this? Be mindful of your words, because they carry a lot of weight.

God is your support! In today's message from Pastor Mark, he teaches that God is a God, who helps you. When you receive the Lord as your Savior, you are no longer fighting your battles by yourself. God is now with you, helping you to defeat the giants within your life. Unbelievers, are constantly striving to do everything on their own. However, those who have Christ, always have a helper who will support them. You never have to feel like you are alone, when you have Christ. He is always there to help you in your time of need. When you are pursuing God's will, He is there to help you accomplish it. You are not alone!

Did you know there are many ways in which God can speak to you? In today's message from Pastor Mark, he teaches that one of the ways God can speak to you, is through His creation. God uses nature, to speak to you about who He is. God can speak to you through a beautiful sunrise or sunset. God can use any of His creation, to get your attention and lead you into praising Him. God knows exactly how He made you to be, and will speak to you in these specific ways. Take time to think to yourself, the ways in which God speaks to you personally. Thank Him for speaking to you, and praise Him when you hear Him speak!