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Momentum Monday - November 7th, 2011
"Youth Leaders sharpening Youth Leaders." ONCOURSE Unboxed: Campus Missions
In this edition of ONCOURSE Unboxed, we'll take a closer look at what happens when stu- dents truly follow Jesus. As leaders, it's important that we empower students to live out their faith, especially at school. As they do, they'll learn to accept personal responsibility to reach the lost of their generation. When we make campus missions a priority, students can live out their faith today and develop a deeper ownership of their beliefs that will last later in life.
2012 Haiti Aim TripJoin Steve Pulis as he leads an AIM trip to Haiti, June 23-30, 2012. We will be partnering with James and Rachael Courter, Missionaries to Haiti and founders of ARISE Haiti. The deadline to register is February 1, 2012. For more information please visit Haiti AIM trip.
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HonorBound Devotion: November 11, 2011
Read Genesis 4:3-7 – And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (NKJV)
Excellence – A Promise to Myself
Giving our best is a key way for us to honor God. In the tragic story of Cain and Abel, it seems Cain’s failure to do what he knew to do launched a series of events from which he would never fully recover. While there is much debate over why Cain’s sacrifice was unworthy, while Abel’s was acceptable to God, it seems evident that Cain knew to do something that he failed to do. He didn’t do what was right. God’s words are striking, “if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.” Is that true with every shortcut we take? If we fail to give our best, does God’s enemy stand ready to lure us into tragic choices? Some have said that doing what is right is its own reward. Certainly good choices bring good things to our lives, but never forget that settling for good when the best is clearly within reach can bring its own tragic road.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: November 10, 2011
Read 1 Samuel 22:13-15 – Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?”
So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.” (NKJV)
Loyalty – A Promise to My God
Saul’s attitude toward David is creating chaos in the ranks. Many feel caught in the middle, unaware of the king’s animosity toward the one who has been his strongest general. Here, Ahimelech is compromised, not realizing that by helping David, he had angered the king. In a few verses Saul will have his demanded vengeance. While this story proves tragic for Ahimelech and the priests, it also underscores David’s integrity. Saul has unjustifiable evil intent toward David, but David has not responded in kind. His support of Saul has been unwavering, even though he cannot understand his master’s anger. Can you be faithful when you’re misunderstood and mistreated? Sometimes, we can even feel that God has been unfair to us. Can you remain faithful and speak well of your Master, even then? This is a true test of faithfulness.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: November 9, 2011
Read 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 - Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (NKJV)
Self-Sacrifice – A Promise to Those I Love
Who are we living for? In this passage, Paul encourages the Corinthians to abandon the road of self-focus and choose to give themselves fully to God and to one another. Self-sacrifice is the principal definition of love in the Bible. We are at our best when we put others ahead of ourselves. That’s why the greatest commandments call us to love God and others—God designed us to achieve our best when we have others in focus. If we live selfishly, we may seem to gain things for ourselves, but at what price? Don’t we seem to lose contact with God amidst our possessions? How many men have lost their families in the pursuit of wealth and position? The evidence is clear. Only when we live for others do we find real life.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: November 8, 2011
Read Proverbs 30:11-13 - There is a generation that curses its father, and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. (NKJV)
Purity – A Promise to My Family
Pride deceives. Sin makes you look foolish. Satan doesn’t warn you that the price of his path includes losing your ability to make sensible decisions. His is a road that steals your intelligence, causing what is down to seem up, and right to seem wrong. The inability to perceive our sin may well be sin’s gravest danger. We do not know the road we are on! Even if we have a wise friend who speaks to us in warning, we do not listen, refusing to believe we could be in danger. We must daily humble ourselves before the standard of righteousness to avoid deceiving ourselves. This is the only road to a righteous life. God has given us the Bible as a standard apart from ourselves so we can see clearly. We must align ourselves with the truth of the Bible or we will convince ourselves that we have no need for help.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: November 4, 2011
Read Proverbs 24:1-5 – Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of troublemaking. Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength. (NKJV)
Excellence – A Promise to Myself
Careful what you wish for! Maybe other people seem to have more stuff or be riding high on life, but if they’ve built their foundation on sin’s instability a crash is coming, and you won’t want to be leaning on their foundation then. Wisdom builds a house, but keep in mind that it builds slowly. The best decisions usually cost us something in the immediate moment, but they have a way of producing over time. Unfortunately, many of us don’t want to wait for wisdom to yield its slow harvest. We want what looks attractive to us and we want it now. If the path of wisdom were fast and easy, the writer of these words would have no reason to offer them. But few people truly trust wisdom and stay on its path. So, He compels us not to abandon the road of wisdom, but trust it to bring a more excellent future—one that’s built on a foundation that will never crumble.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: November 3, 2011
Read Numbers 12:5-8 – Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?” (NKJV)
Loyalty – A Promise to My God
You have to admire Moses’ connection to God. He knew God’s voice in such a way that he could lead an entire nation toward the future God was giving. Face-to-face sounds like an amazing relationship to have with the Creator, doesn’t it? Apparently, there was much in that relationship to admire, or even covet, because Aaron and Miriam want a piece of that action. But God didn’t establish that connection with Moses carelessly. Moses was faithful. Aaron and Miriam wanted a shortcut to the closeness Moses had discovered with God, but no such paths are available. Only through faithfulness can we arrive at a place where we truly know God in the deepest possible ways.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: November 2, 2011
Read 2 Timothy 2:7-10 – Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (NKJV)
Self-Sacrifice – A Promise to Those I Love
The Apostle Paul’s list of suffering is legendary. He went through amazing challenges, literally risking his life on numerous occasions, to bring the gospel to Jews and Gentiles throughout the Mediterranean region. His story would make an amazing mini-series that would keep viewers glued to the screen for every episode. But why? What possessed this man to face such hardships? Paul wasn’t looking to be a star or get people to admire him for his bruises. In these verses he tells us his core motive. First, he wanted to be faithful to the message he’d been given by his suffering Savior. Second, he sacrificed so that others might find what he had found. He faced such amazing opposition, knowing that his efforts could open Heaven to others—even people he had never met. That’s self-sacrifice in its finest form.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: November 1, 2011
Read Proverbs 22:8-11 – He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail. He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; yes, strife and reproach will cease. He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend. (NKJV)
Purity – A Promise to My Family
Our ability to understand farming metaphors isn’t what it used to be. We live in a push button society where we often get what we want with little investment or effort. And such ease of access has probably taught us some bad habits. However, you still reap what you sow. If you put carrot seeds in the ground, you can still expect carrots to emerge after awhile. And even though we might wish for something else, you can still expect impure seeds to produce a negative crop. In this passage we’re reminded that seeds of purity grow too. They bring an attractive harvest that’s both bountiful and fun to be around. Even the king wants to be your friend!
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
HonorBound Devotion: October 31, 2011
Read James 5:17-18 – Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (NKJV)
Prayer Partners
There are times that we get the idea that people who are powerful in prayer are members of an elite group. However, notice that the scripture says Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. He was just an ordinary man who served a Powerful God. Every man can be powerful in prayer because God is powerful. Elijah’s servant was with him when he was praying for rain. Elijah understood the power of partnership in prayer. While we all need our “alone” times in prayer, we also need those times when we pray with someone and they pray for us. Be a prayer partner to another man.
– Cecil Culbreth serves as the Arkansas District Secretary and Missions Director. He also leads Men’s Prayer Force in partnership with national Men’s Ministries.
National Men’s Leadership Conference: March 8-10, 2012 . Dallas, Texas . www.men.ag.org
Steps of faith lead to TV license
AG missionaries and consultants join with the Malawi Assemblies of God in taking steps of faith and a rare television broadcast license is granted to the Malawi AG.
Ultimate Men's Ministry Commercial Contest
Assemblies of God Men's Ministries is accepting submissions for commercial contest, of which the winner receives up to five free registrations to the 2012 National Men's Ministries Leadership Conference and a $100 Bass Pro Shops gift card.
STL theme 'Relentless'
The new Speed the Light theme for 2011-2012 is "Relentless: After the One," from Luke 15:4.
Prayer for persecuted church video offered
AG World Missions has created a brief video that churches can download for free and use this Sunday, which is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
Global University launching China Bible College
Global University, an accredited distance education university of the Assemblies of God, is launching China Bible College in collaboration with AGWM.
Making THE Difference Scholarships awarded
A total of $120,000 in Making THE Difference Scholarships were awarded to students attending U.S. AG-endorsed colleges and universities this fall.
Orientation trains new AGWM missionaries
Twenty-five career missionary candidates and 17 missionary associates met October 12-22 for the 2011 fall AG World Missions candidate orientation.
Flash mob -- preparing chaplains to respond
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and the AG national Chaplaincy Department teamed together to help chaplaincy students experience the demands of a crisis event, by organizing a simulated violent flash mob incident.
Capitol Commission state director urges prayer, not criticism
Paul Meinsen, director of Capitol Commission for the state of Missouri, offers advice to Christians that may have a bitter attitude towards politcal candidates.
This week in AG history -- November 8, 1924
Featured in this week's November 8, 1924, issue of the Pentecostal Evangel are articles by W. Jethro Walthall, Florence L. Personeus, Donald Gee and others!
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