Eric's Blog

Comment from Sunday's Service

I wanted to share with you a comment I received on Monday from Sunday's service. By the way, if you missed the message you should buy the CD or go to our media page at www.newlifetoday.net and listen to it. It was called, "Look at the Fields." It will change your perspective on the way you look at people. Here is the comment...

 

"Sunday's service was awesome. Worship was beautiful. I will never look at people the same again. God really put it into my heart that everyone can be a "whosoever". That I must be ready to do "whatsoever" to reach the "whosoevers" He puts in my path. Wow, God really does want everyone to be a "whosoever". Powerful, powerful word. Still stirring in my spirit today."

Seven Men Named Jesus

This is a article by Jack Kelley at Bible Prophecy Today. It goes along with what we talked about on Sunday. Be sure and read the rest of the article about "The Seven Men Named Jesus."

"A recent poll claimed that about half of all professing Christians don’t believe that Jesus is God, or that the Holy Spirit and Satan even exist. Smaller but still significant percentages don’t believe that Jesus lived a sin free life or that He is the only way to salvation. This has prompted questions about whether this means they aren’t really saved. I remembered an article on this subject that I wrote a number of years ago and in response to these questions I have updated and expanded it. I believe it will explain what you have to believe about Jesus to be saved." Read the rest here.

Praying for those outside the faith - Part Four

There are other Scriptures that we could pray for those who don't know Christ but we are going to end with Nehemiah 1:11.

Nehemiah 1:11
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." NIV

Here is a prayer for this Scripture:

“Lord, let your ear be attentive to my prayer. Give me success today by granting me favor with (insert name).”

We need favor with those we are inviting to our church services and trying to reach for Christ and only God can grant that.

May God hear your prayers this week and grant you favor with those you are praying for and inviting to the Easter service.

Praying for the those outside the faith - Part Three

Acts 26:17B-18
I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' NIV

Acts 26:17-18 17 "'I'm sending you off 18 to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.' (THE MESSAGE)

Wow. The Message paraphase is awesome! Here is a prayer for the lost based off of Acts 26:17-18.

"I command (insert name of one of your three) eyes to be opened and that he/she would turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God, so that he/she may receive forgiveness of his/her sins and a place in the Kingdom of God.”

Praying for those outside the faith - Part Two

Ephesians 4:18 "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts."

There is a lot that could be said about today's Scripture but let's just focus on the last part. Why are people separated from the life of God? Because their heart is hard, which darkens their understanding, which cause them to be ignorant of God's love, plan, and purpose for their lives.

Here are a couple of prayers based off of this Scripture:

“I pray for (insert name) heart to become soft and that he/she would be enlightened in his/her understanding of your (God's) love and plan for his/her life.”

“I command the fallow ground of (insert name) heart to be plowed up (softened) by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that he/she would receive the knowledge of the truth as Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.”

Praying for those outside the faith - Part One

For the next several days we are going to look at Scriptures that show us how to pray for the those outside the faith. I encourage you to read and apply these Scriptures to your prayer life. The first Scripture is 2 Corinthians 4:4.

2 Cor 4:4
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. NIV

2 Cor 4:4
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. New Living Translation

Here is a prayer based off of this Scripture:

“I command the blinding spirits over (insert name) to release his/her mind and that the light of the Gospel of Christ would shine unto him/her.”

Eye Opening Stats

I received the following information in a email this week. Stop and think for a moment about the numbers shared in the first paragraph. It's time for us to "wake up." No one is promised tomorrow.

What in Hell Do You Want?
Consider this: In 2008, 56 million people died and 37 million of them went to Hell!  “How can you say that?” you might ask.  Of the six billion people on earth, those of the Christian faith comprise only 33%. Thus, 66% of the 56 million people who died did not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and therefore Hell is their eternal home.   

A recent Pew report paints a more dire picture:

• Most American Christians believe many religions can lead to eternal life and the majority believe you don’t have to be Christian to go to heaven.
• 65%  of all Christians believe there are multiple paths to eternal life rejecting the exclusivity of Christ’s teaching
• More than half of white mainline Christians and white Catholics say Hinduism can lead to eternal life (33% of white evangelicals and 44% of Black Protestants believe the same)
• 46% of white Christians and white Catholics and 26% of white evangelicals believe that many religions lead to salvation and that even atheism can lead to eternal life.

The Church has a lot to do – and a lot to answer for if so many “Christians” view the path to heaven to be so wide as to include Hinduism and atheism.  The bottom line is that doing things the same way isn’t going to get the job done…
Click Here to Read Full Article

Article

 

Bus For Sale

   

After talking about our vision we have decide to refocus and sale our bus. It is a 48 passenger 1991 International Diesel with 54,600 miles. Sale Price: $5000. It is in great condition. You can email me or leave a comment for more information.

Every Sunday Matters

The Power of Sunday

Sunday is . . . game day . . . impact time . . . evangelism hour . . .resurrection day

. . .prime time . . . focal point . . . the super bowl, world cup and world series all

rolled in one! Sunday matters! THIS Sunday Matters!

 - Quote from Nelson Searcy's Worship Planning Seminar.

It is easy to sleepwalk through a Sunday service but every Sunday Matters! Don't take your ministry lightly. What you do matters. Pray! Prepare! Be on time! Serve with excellence! Don't forget the goal: A Life Transforming Worship Service Each Sunday!

Ministry Opportunity at New Life

Full-time Worship Arts/Praise and Worship Leader:

We are currently looking to fill this position in May. Must be able to lead from the keyboard or guitar and work with new and experienced musicians. Must be able to lead worship at a very high level, bring musical excellence to the service, be creative, and along with music desire to use multiple media elements to bring both those inside and outside the faith closer to God. Email us @ newlifetoday@bellsouth.net for more information.