Hey Friends,

This weekend we finish a series called Deadliest Catch! I’m sure you have seen the T.V. show. The show is about crabbing. Crabs are not dangerous animals, but the environment in which they are caught is. Every year men die trying to catch these great-tasting shell fish.

This weekend we are going to get ready for our huge July 4th celebration. At our celebration will have close to 10,000 people. We will not have any weekend worship services on our main campus on July 3 and 4. We will meet at Pellissippi State Community College from 5:00 – 10:00 pm on the 4th. We will have food, fun and fireworks, and we will have awesome worship and the gospel. It is hard to get many of our friends and family to church, but to a picnic with free food and fireworks, that’s a little easier. When they come, we will give them Jesus and all the love we can.

Back to our series – the thought for the weekend is that we are going after souls and it is a danger deal. A soul is not dangerous in itself, but the environment in which we go after them is spiritual warfare at its finest. Jesus said, “The kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” 

At the end of the day, those without Jesus will spend an eternity in a devil’s hell. That is not O.K.with me nor is it O.K.with Jesus. By prayer we bind the “strongman” and we take what is his – souls. Dangerous? You bet! So, we do everything we can to see the lost come to Jesus. The message this weekend will be encouraging everyone to bring their friends on the 4th and for us to go after all those lost and separated from Him. Do you think that is still our job?

When was the last time you shared your faith? “He that wins souls is wise.” Jesus commanded it.

Love ya,

Pastor Chris

Hey Friends,

You will never understand today’s blog if you don’t check out Monday’s and Tuesday’s first. Please let the Lord use this blog because the topic is too important to miss. We have read a very graphic accounting of the flesh monster that is within us all. Does God have a way for us to win? You’d better believe it and He bought our victory on the cross. The following steps for victory are only for a Christ-follower:

Step 1. Realize you can’t fight alone. Your will is way too weak. Romans 7:18 says, ”for the willing is present in me, but the doing of good is not.” There you have it –  Paul’s will was weak and insufficient to win this war of all wars.

Step 2. Galatians 2:20 says to ”crucify the flesh.” The flesh is like a snake –  if you bring it in, it will bite you.

Step 3. Romans 6:4,6:11-13: “Consider yourself dead to sin.”

Step 4. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit.” This is not a one-time event, but is to happen daily. Surrender and seek Him. “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”

Step 5. Romans13:14: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Stay clear away from anything that would tempt you. 

For me, I try to make Jesus Lord of my heart freshly every morning. I seek to be filled, yielded, and controlled by the Holy Spirit every minute, for the flesh can cause problems in minutes. As leaders, we always have people watching us. They use us as models and follow our faith. We can’t let one of them fall because we failed in the fight. Winning this war is essential for every Christ-follower, especially leaders in the church.

How are you doing in the war that rages inside of you?

Yours to count on,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

If you did not get a chance to read the blog yesterday it would help you to go there and start. This week we are going to build on the previous day’s blog. This topic is tantamount in each of our lives if we are to win the war raging in each one of us. Don’t miss this biblical illustration given by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:24: “Wretched man that I am, who will set me free from this body of death?”

This image is gross but should be simple for every saint to see. In Roman times a murderer that was found guilty was condemned to the Body of Death. The victim of the murder was strapped to the back of the condemned. As the body started to decompose, swell, ooze, and rot, the DEATH would seep into the body of the murderer. This would cause a slow and painful death, as you could only imagine. Remember, the Romans were the same people that invented the cross.

Now imagine you, with a dead body strapped to your back. Gross, yes! But in the spiritual realm that is exactly what we have – every one of us. Our old nature is evil. “The heart is evil and desperately wicked.” This slow death of sin permeates, saturates, and dominates all of us until we turn to Jesus. Let me repeat, once you are saved the two natures war within you. If you would meditate on this it might answer some questions as to why you do some of the things you do.

Paul said, “the things he wanted to do, he did not and the things he did not want to do, he did.” Can you relate to this? We all can. The only way to victory is to open your eyes to the war and surrender to the Spirit of the Living God.

Step one is full disclosure. We all face this war. Sometimes I think thoughts that sicken me. Why? The flesh…

Think about it and how it affects you.

Pastor

P.S.  Leaders, we seem to face even more battles than others. More to come tomorrow.

Hey Friends,

Last week we talked about the spiritual war we all experience and the attacks of the devil. No one is immune to his wiles.  This week let’s look at a force and foe we ALL face, called the flesh. It is the enemy within each one of us. There are several names the Bible gives it: “the old man, sin nature, law of sin, wicked heart…” From the moment that you are born again you have within you two natures and they are in direct opposition of each other. As a matter of fact, they hate each other and they will war until the day we die and meet Jesus.

It is critical to our success in life and the Kingdom that we realize and recognize our inner struggle. This is why so many fall by the wayside in the race. One of the keys to winning this war is to daily allow and ask the Lord to take His rightful place as the Lord of our hearts. He should always sit exalted on the throne of our  lives. The problem is that the old nature wants back on the throne. He likes getting his way! The question is - whose will will win?

We blame a lot on the devil when it is the flesh tempting us to do wrong. We know sin will hurt us and yet we are still drawn to it. How many hearts and homes have been torn apart by our old nature wreaking havoc in our lives? As leaders, it is up to us to win the war within us and help those we influence to do the same. I would encourage you to read Galatians 5:19-21 as it lists some of the actions of the flesh.

• Who is on the throne of your heart?
• Are you daily surrendering to the Spirit to have full control of your life?
• Are you daily dying to the old life and living the life purchased for you on the cross?

Tomorrow we will talk more about this evil foe from within.

Think about it!

Pastor

Hey Friends,

All week we have been talking about spiritual warfare and the enemy, Satan. As leaders we must be armed with information and inspiration. The Bible says Satan is a hinderer! This should perk up all of our ears, especially leaders. As leaders we are taking people on a journey to impact the Kingdom and to make a difference. KNOW that the hinderer will block us at every turn.

He does not sleep or take a vacation. He is out to destroy us or at least stop our progress. He does not fight fairly and he fights for keeps. He wants to hinder your family, your private life, your ministry, your walk with God, your leadership, and every other thing you want to do that honors God. So you ask, “Chris, what are we supposed to do?”

Great question. First, you must be aware! Know you have an adversary that wants to hinder you. Second, know his M.O.- how he operates. He has not changed since his first invasion in the Garden of Eden. His M.O. doesn’t change, he is a liar and the father of lies. So, we must  know the truth if we are to stand firm against his schemes.

Don’t forget he wants to hinder your kids, family, coworkers, friends, and everyone you love and long to see progress. Satan loves to stop our forward progress for God. Be ready! Know forward progress is hard. And never think just because it is hard that God is not in it. If it is easy, maybe you have no opposition from the hinderer. Just a thought.

Sadly, saints put more energy in scholastics, sports and success in this world than in preparation for battle. The field is littered with those fallen who disregarded the warning of the Word. Are you ready and covered in the armor of God? Do you think about the war that rages? Have you prepared those you love?

Yours to count on,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

We have been talking about spiritual warfare and the importance of our being ready. If you are a leader, then this topic is even more germane to you. We have talked about the devil and one of the names the Bible calls him is a deceiver. In 2 Cor. 11:14-15 it says, ”No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness…”

Satan can enter undetected as he is an impostor and a deceiver. Every lie we believe has the father of lies as its foundation . Even though God warns us so many times, we are seemingly so easily seduced. God warns us from Genesis to the Revelation. In Ephesians 5:6, He warns us not to be deceived!  The only way not to be deceived by the deceiver is to know the truth. That requires us to get into His Word daily. It is not easy but the payoff is well worth it.

As leaders in the Kingdom we must be ready to swing the Sword of  the Spirit. I watch so many in church who are defeated and discouraged. This is not the life the Lord wants us to live, but the deceiver will twist the Word and make us miss God’s best. As leaders we must blaze the trail for others to follow.

I hope you walk in victory bought for us by the Lord. Do not be deceived and you can win. In the war that rages we have the tools to win!

Yours to count on,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

Let’s think a little more about the devil. He is called our adversary. If you are still struggling with belief in the devil, remember Jesus believed and dealt with him daily. He attacked Jesus when He was at His weakest after 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. The devil does not fight fairly.

Let me ask you again, does your family think much about this tough topic? We forget and we are easily defeated. Remember, we have been warned many times by our Lord.  Too many families are so worried about their kids’ academics and athletics that they ignore the spiritual side of life. Do you? If so, your home is easily invaded.

Remember Adam and Eve in the Garden of  Eden? Satan slithered in like a snake. This was the first home invasion in the Bible. He ruined the great deal they had going there with God. He stole their innocence. He is a Guerilla fighter.  His desire and delight is to destroy and defeat us.

The Greek word “diabolos” which we translate as devil means to oppose. He opposes you. He is the antagonist against God and His plans. You are a part of His plans so he opposes you. He never stops! Do you ever notice the war raging?

The devil is not to blame for everything bad. As a matter of fact, many times he gets too much credit. He is not omnipresent nor is he omniscient. Next week we will build more on this thought of our flesh and its problems.

God’s goal for us is in Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”

My goal for this series and these blogs is for all of us to be alert and aware, to recognize and realize our power to win, and to know the war is raging all around us – for you to be an overcomer and not a P.O.W.

Love ya,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

You guys are great!  I just got the analytics for last month’s blog which showed almost 3,000 visits from 22 countries. I stand amazed.

Two weekends ago we presented the drama, Home Invasion-Sacred Storm. The reviews were great and the team did an awesome job. This past weekend we started a four-week series called Home Invasion where we looked at the devil and what he does. God is moving at FPC and it is so cool to watch. If you are not an attender at Faith Promise I encourage you to go to our Faith Promise Church website and listen to the message. There are multiple warnings in the Bible telling us to be ready and prepared for spiritual attacks. I Peter 5:8 says, ”Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour…” And there are so many more.

I hope you are in the crowd that believes in spiritual warfare. So many do not believe and they are easy prey for the forces of hell. Are you ready and prepared for his schemes? Do you wear your armor? Do you think much about the war that rages?

50% of Americans surveyed say they do not believe in a literal devil, do you? He loves our disbelief because it makes his job easier.  He comes  to “steal, kill, and destroy.” That means you and me. Our homes and families are at risk and we must be aware.

What do you do to be ready? How do you prepare your kids? What do you do to protect your marriage? We are warned to be ready, alert, and to stand strong. Are you?

More this week about our enemy.

Yours to count on,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

Many of you know this because you were at FPC this past weekend, but God moved in a powerful way. We presented a full-length drama written in-house called, Home Invasion: Sacred Storm. The depiction was of a modern-day family and how the enemy enters homes and engages us. It was so awesome as people by the thousands got to see a part of the unseen world of spiritual warfare. Please pray with me for the two thousand visitors who came, that God will draw them back and into His Kingdom.

Most of you who read this blog know of the war that rages; we see the outward evidence of it daily. We all watch families fragment, drugs and alcohol use multiply, violence increase, our country divide, and see thousands of other ways that the enemy wins. It must stop and we are the only ones that can make a difference. We Christ-followers are the only ones with the answers. We must get it in gear and move out into the community.

We start a new series this coming weekend on spiritual warfare. I hope you will either come or download the messages so you will be prepared for any home invasions the enemy attempts at your house. We must be aware and alert, at least that is what our Lord said. Are you ready? Have you experienced spiritual warfare? How do you protect yourself, your family and your church against the onslaught of hell unleashed against us? Stand firm and ready for an advancement by the enemy.

Praying for you,

Pastor

Hey Friends,

This is a question that I have been asked for years: “Can I celebrate Halloween?” I have watched many serious theological battles fought over this issue. It is amazing how we as Christ-followers can differ on this topic.

What are we doing here at FPC? We are going on the offensive. This weekend we are going to have a drama about spiritual warfare. It will be a drama somewhat like our past Sacred Storms. This one is set in a modern home with a modern-day family. It will be a depiction of how our homes are invaded by the enemy of God and his people.

It is a hard-driving and very serious look at how families fall apart in the midst of the warfare that surrounds us. I hope and pray you will make it to one of our 5 services:

Tonight  – 7:00 pm

Saturday – 4:00 pm & 6:00 pm

Sunday – 9:45 am & 11:45 am

We will follow up the drama with a four-week series on the warfare depicted in the drama. This is a very important issue that affects us all. I hope and pray you will catch one of  the services. Pray about who you should bring. To be blinded to the warfare that is all around us is to be an easy target for the enemy. Jesus believed in the devil, do you?

See ya there,

Pastor

P.S. No matter how you feel about Halloween, this is something we can all participate in with our families. The drama is not suitable for kids up through 5th grade so we have planned a huge event for them in all five services called Pirates and Princesses. They will love it!