Twice in Paul's letters to Timothy he referred to "the gift that is in you" (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).  Paul called it, "the gift of God."  He gave Timothy two words of advice concerning this gift of God: 1) don't neglect it, 2) stir it up.
I used to love building fires in our fireplace back in Kansas.  I could sit for hours just messing around with the fire and watching it burn.  I learned something about fires.  I learned that for a fire to go out I didn't have to pour water on it, or smother it with dirt or ashes.  Actually, I didn't have to do anything.  All I had to do was leave it alone and eventually the fire would go out.  

The same is true of the gifts God has given to us.  It may be the gift of a relationship.  It may be the gift of a wonderful opportunity.  It may be the gift of a special talent or ability; something you can do better than 99% of the general population because God gave you the gift.  All you have to do to waste the gift is neglect it.  Just do nothing. Just leave it alone and it will be lost.

Back to the fire illustration.  So you neglect the fire and it all but dies out.  There are just a few glowing embers left. Now, what happens when you begin to stir it up?  What happens when you begin to add some more fuel to the fire? I will tell you what happens.  When you start messing with the fire it comes back to life!  That's why Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift inside of him.  Don't let it die out.  Stir it up.  And that which was almost dead will come back to life.

I heard a commercial the other day on the radio.  The announcer was talking to men about how they used to be energetic, in great shape, and attrative to the opposite sex.  But now they are sitting on the couch, overweight, and have lost their sex appeal.  Then the announcer made a strong statement.  He said, "DON'T BE THAT GUY!"

Maybe you were once passionate, driven in your ambition for God, on top of your game.  But now you have become apathetic, spiritually lazy, and you are neglecting the gift of God in your life.  You are literally watching your gift die. Listen to me today - DON'T BE THAT GUY!  DON'T BE THAT GAL!  Say a great big NO to a life of mediocrity.  God gave you the gift, but you have to stir it up.  So start stirring!  Start messing with that fire that may be dying from neglect.  It will come back to life, and can burn stronger and brighter than ever before.

Pastor Todd Weston

It happened on the 5th hole of a golf course on the plains of South Central Nebraska.  I had just sent a pitching-wedge shot flying toward heaven like a homesick angel.  Picking up my golf bag I began walking toward the green when I noticed a strange sensation.  Something was crawling up my arm.  This was one of those times when you want to look, and yet don’t want to look for fear of what you might see.

I couldn’t stand the suspense, so I looked and there it was!  A snake had crawled out of my golf bag and was crawling up my arm.  What happened next would have made great footage for American’s Funniest Home Videos.  Simultaneous with numerous verbal outbursts and physical gyrations, the snake went sailing through the air along with my golf bag.  My golf clubs were scattered from hither and yon across the 5th fairway.  And I ended up in the Chiropractor’s office with a strained neck and wrenched back! 

Did I already mention that I hate snakes?  So did the Jews in Numbers 21.  As the story goes, they got a little mouthy with Moses.  God heard it and sent poisonous snakes among them.  Talk about revival!  Those people couldn’t repent fast enough.  But what about the venomous snake bites?  God instructed Moses to fashion a serpent of brass and put it on a pole so everyone could see.  If a person was bit, all he or she had to do was look in faith at the serpent on the pole and they would be miraculously healed.

Did you know that sin is like a poisonous snake bite?  It’s just as painful and deadly.  And every human being has been bitten.    Thankfully, God has a remedy.  God’s solution to the bite of sin is the Savior lifted up on the cross.  The shed blood of Jesus Christ is the only antidote to the poison of sin.  It’s the only remedy powerful enough to counteract the lethal effects of sin.

The dying Hebrews were instructed to look to the serpent of brass on the pole.  Likewise, we are instructed by God’s Word to look to Jesus (Isaiah 45:22; John 3:14-16).  Look to Him in faith believing.  He is our only hope.

Jesus is the answer for the snake bite of sin.  Look to Jesus and live!

Pastor Todd Weston

Do you like storm stories? John 6 tells a good one.  The disciples were caught in a mega storm on the Sea of Galilee (John 6:15-21).  The strange thing about it is that they were there because Jesus had specifically directed them to get in the boat and cross over to the other side.  Didn’t Jesus know a storm was brewing?

When we find ourselves in the middle of a storm, we may be tempted to think that somewhere along the way we missed God’s will.  It’s like the old Bugs Bunny line spoken whenever things didn’t work out the way he had planned, ”I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque.”  We question our decisions and if we really heard from God.  Surely, we cannot be in a storm and in the center of God’s will.  Right?

Think again.  In John 6 that is exactly where the disciples were.  But they were not alone, and neither are you.  Jesus saw them while He was up on the mountain praying.  And then He came to them walking on the water.  He told them to cheer up because He was there.  And the next thing the disciples knew, the storm was over and they were at land!

When you are caught in a storm, don’t immediately jump to the conclusion that you’ve missed God’s will somewhere along the way.  The whole you-went-left-when-you-should-have-gone-right thing.  Remember that while you may not be able to see the Lord in the midst of your storm, He can see you!  Not only that, He will draw near to you (Psalm 34:18).  And He can deliver you out of the storm suddenly!

God never promised us smooth sailing.  He promised us a safe landing. 

Pastor Todd Weston

Kissing and clinging?  That’s what the Bible says!  “Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth clung to her” (Ruth 1:14).  Clinging.  It’s the same word used in Genesis 2:24 in the law of marriage, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.”  The word is found again in Joshua 23:8 where the people were commanded to cleave to the Lord their God.  And it occurs again in Psalm 63:8 where David cried out to God, “My soul follows close behind You.”

The Hebrew word (dabaq) means to cling to, hold fast, follow close behind, be joined to, to catch by pursuit, or to stick to.

Orpah and Ruth are examples of two types of Christians. 

·        kissers and clingers
·        professors and possessors
·        hearers and doers
·        starters and finishers

Ruth and Orpah both made a profession of sorts.  They said to Naomi, “Surely we will return with you to your people” (Ruth 1:10).  But when the critical moment of truth arrived, Orpah’s profession failed.  She went back on her promise.  She kissed her mother-in-law and went back to her old life (Ruth 1:14-15).  But Ruth clung to Naomi.  She possessed genuine faith that proved itself by works.

Read Ruth 1:14 again and ask yourself –

·        Am I a kisser or a clinger?
·        Am I a flirt or a faithful follower?

The example of Ruth tells us to lay hold of Jesus and never let go.  For that is what Jesus has done for us.  He is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Pastor Todd Weston

Last week we conducted our third annual Summer Vacation Bash.  This was an all-church outreach event at Stoneybrook to children in our community.  An incredible multigenerational team of servant-leaders from RLA ministered the love of Jesus to over 120 children.  It was like doing a missions trip in our own backyard.  Actually, it was a missions trip in our own backyard!

Speaking of missions trips, in less than two weeks another multigenerational team of twenty from RLA will be traveling to the Dominican Republic to work with Hope International Ministries.  While there we will be doing medical missions, evangelism, humanitarian outreach, ministry in local churches, a conference for area pastors, and more.  The youngest team member from RLA going to the DR is six.  The oldest team member is….several decades older than six!

The Great Commission starts at home and goes out from there.  Jerusalem.  Judea. Samaria.  To the ends of the earth.  It also involves the whole church.  Everyone can do missions.  At the Summer Vacation Bash it might be working security, or helping with crafts, or coaching a team of kids.  In the DR it might be helping someone through the clinic, or participating in street evangelism to kids, or giving a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.

Another thing we can all do for missions is give.  You (the RLA family) are doing such a great job giving to missions that RLA is now within the top 500 missions giving churches in the Assemblies of God nationwide!  Out of 9,000 A/G churches that support missions, RLA is #457.  How cool is that?! 

Here’s the deal.  Whatever we do at RLA we will do together, we will do it with all our might, and we will do it for God’s glory!

Pastor Todd