Front Porch Confessional

Who are we listening to?  It's a great question because it starts to help us understand what we are following.  Jesus lays out for us the right direction for our lives.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

How would your life change if you knew that Jesus knows your sins, is praying for you to overcome it through faith, and then commissioning you to strengthen others through your failures?  This is not the way we see it go (normally), but this is how it is.  It changed Peters life and it can change yours as well.


Luke 27:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

I did it again...I tried doing things on my own.  Why is it that we reject the help of God when he so freely wants to give it to us?  Jesus let us know that The Helper is here and near and ready to help us do greater things than Jesus.  Why do we run from this help rather than finding life in it?

Hosea 12:6 “So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

God hears us...he even hears us after we rebel and go our own way.  When we start realigning our hearts with us, we will find him.  Isn't that what we are all hoping for, to find God? To find his will and way for our lives? 

Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

We have so many plans, but so does God.  What happens when we realize that in the good and bad God is working things out for our good?  What happens when we realize that even when we rebel, he has not abandoned us?

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

We have have a focus problem, and Pastor Paul wants to help us.  So much of what we spend time focusing on leads to death when the Spirit of God want to lead us to life and life to the full.

Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

They way we love each other matters...it will actually point them to Jesus or away?  I believe we all need to wear the weight of what we say and do to one another.  It was a BIG DEAL to Jesus and it should be a big deal to us.

John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This passage is so convicting...Paul is reminding us of what it means when we agreed with the Spirit to follow Jesus.  Does your life reflect the decision, because if it does it will be a weapon in the world.

Philippians 1:27-28  Only let your manner of life be worthy[h] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,  and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Jesus directs our attention...do you see the need?  We are a busy people and we are missing the very reason why we are here on earth.  It's his people and it always has been...but do we seen them or are we distracted?

Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

We are blinded by our busyness and it's breaking Jesus' heart.  He has compassion on those who are helpless, hurting, and needing guidance.  He is inviting us in to his compassion for his people.

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.