Lent: Day 2: Genesis 2:4b-3:24

After reading this passage, I was trying my best to string together some words to convey what I saw in the text. I wanted to sound profound. I wanted my words to be eloquent. I wanted to sound like a prolific theologian with some deep explanation of the text. However, I couldn't come up with any of that. All I could muster was one sentence. One sentence to describe the action that took place during the encounter in the Garden of Eden between God, Adam, Eve, and the serpent with much emphasis on Adam and Eve. If you have any questions about the sentence feel free to email me at michaelswortham@gmail.com. So here is the sentence:

We can sabotage our own blessings by not following instructions.

That is all.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

Lent: Day 1-Psalm 51

David is pouring out his heart to God in Psalm 51. The words of Psalm 51 are born out of a situation in which David has transgressed against God by committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed. David tried different ways to cover his “secret” sins but God has a way of bringing all things done in the dark to the light. Psalm 51 is his plea of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. And a verse that stands out in this Psalm is that of verse 10. It says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”

This time of lent is a time in which we seek God and plea as David did, for God to create in us a clean heart and give us a new and right spirit. This period of consecration is not a time of competition but completion. This period of sacrifice is not a gimmick but a time for growth. This period is a time for God to make us into new creatures. My prayer tonight is that we begin the renewal process. My prayer tonight is that we sacrifice in order that we become something new at end. Lord create in us a clean heart and put in us a new and right spirit.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This....

Weekly Prayer and Scripture Itinerary for Lent

The season of Lent in Christendom begins on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 and ends on Saturday, April 23, 2011. This 40 day period of fasting and prayer (excluding Sundays) has been recognized by the Christian faith for centuries. Below is a prayer and scripture itinerary for this year. This was compiled by my church and I am sharing it with you all in hopes that it can serve as a guide for all of us during this time.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. michaelswortham@gmail.com

God Bless. Minister Mike

Weekly Prayer & Scripture Itinerary

GOD FORGIVES SIN
March 9: Psalm 51:1-12

March 10: Genesis 2:1-3:15

March 11: Psalm 32

March 12: Romans 5:11-17

March 13: Isaiah 53:6 & Joel 2:12-18

GOD DELIGHTS IN SHOWING MERCY

March 14: Psalm 103:17

March 15: Lamentations 3:23

March 16: Luke 6:36

March 17: Titus 3:5

March 18: Proverbs 3:3

March 19: Micah 6:8

March 20: Matthew 5:7

JUSTIFIED BY GOD'S GRACE

March 21: Romans 5:18-21

March 22: Acts 15:11

March 23: Romans 3:22-26

March 24: Titus 2:11-14

March 25: Ephesians 2:6-9

March 26: Philippians 4:19

March 27: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

THE REAL EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH

March 28: Matthew 6:1-4

March 29: Psalm 92:12

March 30: Isaiah 3:10

March 31: Matthew 25:34-40

April 1: Acts 9:36

April 2: Psalm 37:3

April 3: Hebrews 16:16

TRUE FASTING

April 4: Isaiah 58:1-14

April 5: Matthew 6:17-18

April 6: Daniel 10:3

April 7: Acts 13:2-3

April 8: Romans 8:13

April 9: Luke 12:22-34

April 10: Colossians 3:1-10

TRANSFORMATIVE PRAYER

April 11: Ecclesiastes 5:2

April 12: Matthew 6:5-13

April 13: Mark 1:35

April 14: Luke 22:41-42

April 15: Psalm 91:15

April 16: Isaiah 65:24

April 17: Luke 11:9

RESISTING TEMPTATIONS AND VICTORIOUS LIVING

April 18: Matthew 4:1-11

April 19: Hebrews 13:20

April 20: 1 Corinthians 10:13

April 21: James 1:12

April 22: 2 Peter 2:9

April 23: Ephesians 6:13

April 24: 1 Corinthians 15:56-58

The Season of Lent is upon us

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 marks the beginning of Lent for this year. Lent is a period of preparation and consecration for all of Christendom. During this 40-day period (March 9-April 23: excluding Sundays), we engage in a time of fasting and prayer, of self-denial and sacrifice in hopes of strengthening our relationship with the God of our salvation.

The 40 days are representative of the time period that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying while being tempted by Satan. This time in the wilderness occurred prior to his public ministry. Before engaging in ministry, Jesus went through a period of fasting and prayer. Jesus went through a period in which he went into solitude to be with God and eliminated those things that were hindering him from being closer to God. Jesus throughout his ministry found time to get away from everyone and spend time with God. Before we embark on journeys in life it important that we pull ourselves from the things that distract us from hearing God. In order to gain clarity and insight on our life's journey, it is important that we engage in periods of fasting and prayer.

The period of Lent is not a competition. It's not about "who can out fast who." This period of fasting and prayer is between us and God. We do not have to advertise that we are participating in Lent or that we are fasting. We don't have to share with the world what we are giving up. This is about us and God.

And give up something that is going to actually to be a struggle for you. The point of fasting is removing those things that we feel we can't "live without" and replace those things with the One we can't "live without." Jesus fasted from food and water, two things we need to live, but that was replaced with God. For us is may be fried food, candy, fast food, etc. For some it may be twitter, facebook, television, etc. For others it may be alcohol, sex, clubbing, etc. What we must do is search within ourselves and be honest with ourselves and ask "What is it that is hindering me from getting closer to God? What is it that is preventing from hearing the voice of God"

In the next post, I will provide a weekly scripture and prayer itinerary that my church provided for us. We can use this as a guide to help us during this period.

I will be in much prayer for all us during this period. God Bless.

This is Minister Mike, and I want you to Consider This...

"Consider This..." Episode 2: Fear

Choose This Day

14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:14-15

Idolatry is a huge problem in Christianity. If we honestly look at ourselves, we worship everything but God. I’m not one to categorize “sin” but idolatry has to be at the top of the list of most committed sin. God has called and commanded us to worship him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Simply put, God wants us to worship him with our whole being. God understood that we would have other “gods” in our lives, hence the reason we are told not to worship these other “gods” before him. The problem is that we are easily distracted by so many different things in this world. We are distracted by our successes and our failures, our joys and our pains, our ups and downs. So many things vie for our attention and we graciously and willingly give it over to them.

However, God has given his recommendation that we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be given to you as well.” God has warned us that we cannot “serve two masters, because we will love one and hate the other, we will devote ourselves to one and despise the other.” God has advised us that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.” So let us begin to look into our lives and see what it is that we truly worship. What are the “gods” and “idols” in our lives that are preventing us from worshiping God? What is it that is blocking us from having real relationship with God? And then we must answer Joshua’s challenge to the people of Israel: “choose this day who you will serve...but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” So on this day ask yourself “Who will I serve?” I know for me, I will serve the Lord.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

“What Am I Doing?” (Drizzy Voice)

“You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.”- 1 Corinthians 6:12 (New Living Translation)

There was a report that hip-hop artist, Pittsburgh’s own Wiz Khalifa, was arrested on drug charges in Greenville, NC yesterday evening. Wiz Khalifa has now become a part of the revolving door of hip-hop artists who cannot escape their infatuation with criminal justice system. Lil Wayne was just released after serving a little under a year for a weapons charge. TI is headed back to prison for violating his probation after just being released from prison earlier this year. And the list can go on and on about artists who have been in and out of prison. I wonder if them and others ever ask themselves, “What Am I Doing?” (Drizzy Voice)

Now let me turn the light off these artists and focus it on ourselves. What actions are we engaging in that are detrimental to our progress? What actions are we engaging in that can undermine the work that has already taken place? What actions are we engaging in that are just not beneficial for us? “What Are We Doing?” (Drizzy Voice)

The Corinthians text above reminds us that we must be mindful of all of our actions. Just because we are in a position to do anything we want does not mean those actions are beneficial. We cannot continue to undermine the blessings of God by failing to make wise decisions. The above MCs are or have participated in actions that can, have, or will lead to their demise. What actions have we engaged in that can, have, or will lead to our demise? It is time to take assessment of our lives and begin to adjust life accordingly. We must make sure that we do not sabotage the work of God in our lives because of our foolishness. We cripple the body of Christ and ourselves when we live reckless lifestyles. Therefore I encourage us not to become slaves to our vices (drinking, smoking, sex, pride, ego, ambition, men, women,etc.) but remain faithful to the calling that Christ has placed on each of our lives.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

Why Be the Best?

"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty. But humility goes before honor."-Proverbs 18:12 (New American Standard Bible, NASB)

"But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and things will be given to you as well. "-Matthew 6:33 (New Revised Standard Version, NRSV)

I was driving to campus yesterday and en route this thought came across the surface of my mind: Why do we strive to be the best? I began to think to myself, "What would it mean to be recognized as one of the BEST preachers, if not the BEST preacher, in America?" Do I do what I do so I can be recognized as the best? Do I work hard to perfect the craft in efforts to be recognized as the best? What does it mean to be the best?

For me it is preaching, pastoring, and ministry. For others it may be teaching, sports, finance, law, science, singing, rapping, DJing, art, dance, cooking, and various other occupations or trades that one undertakes. In whatever endeavor we pursue, why do we strive to be the best?

Do we strive to be the best in order to receive accolades and praise from others? Do we strive to be the best so that our names will be recognized or to accomplish some semblance of fame? In our pursuit to be the best, do we compromise others who are also in this pursuit to be the best?

I submit today that our strivings to be the best should not be rooted in a pursuit to please and receive praise and accolades from others. Our strivings to be the best should not be motivated in efforts to be recognized or receive praise from others. Our strivings for being the best should be undertaken with humility. Honor is not found by placing ourselves on a pedestal but in humbly perfecting the gift God has placed in us in order to fulfill God's will and give honor, praise and glory to God.

Proverbs 18:12 reminds us that honor is preceded by humility and our haughtiness will bring about our destruction. Our pursuit in being best should be undertaken with the utmost humility and remembering that God is the one who has blessed us with this gift. Therefore we should handle it with care because if we are not careful, we could potentially allow our own selfish pursuits of greatness hinder us from being the best person that God wants us to be and also impacts the effect we can have on the world.

God Bless,

Rev

Emergency Exit

"No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." -1 Corinthians 10:13

I remember being in school and in the building they would have posted on the walls the directions we should take in the event an emergency should happen. All arrows pointed to the closest door with the sign lit in red that spelled E-X-I-T. We all knew that in the event of an emergency if we were able to make it to the exit we would be safe.

In life we will be faced with tests and temptations, but in the event of these emergencies God has provided and will always provide an emergency exit. The text tells that we will all face different tests and that facing tests is nothing new. Also the text tells us that God will not give us a test we are not able to handle and the reason we are able to handle it is because has provided and emergency exit. The beauty is that the text tells us that God is faithful in that the testing will not beyond our strength and God will provide an escape route.

My question is will we be faithful to God and use the emergency exit that God provides. I have noticed that many us like to take a walk on the wild side. We like the thrill of danger and instead of taking the emergency exit we sit there and enjoy the fire too long. God's grace and mercy is abundant and it renews on a daily basis but we must not take this for granted. God is faithful enough to provide an emergency exit when we face danger, let us be faithful and trust God and take advantage of the grace and mercy that God has extended.

God Bless,

Rev

Scripture and Prayer Guide for Lent

Below is the weekly itinerary that my church (Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA) is following during this season of Lent. The guide is composed of different scripture passages for each day of Lent that can be used in your time of meditation and devotion. I hope this helps during this time of prayer, fasting, and consecration. And see some Baptist churches do observe Lent lol. I am praying for all of us.

God Bless,

Rev

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE & PRAYER ITINERARY

Resisting Temptation:

Wed. 2/17: Matthew 4

Thurs. 2/18: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Frid. 2/19: Romans 5:12-19

Sat. 2/20: Psalm 91:1-2; 9:16

God's Promises to Believers:

Mon. 2/22: John 3:1-17

Tues. 2/23: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

Wed. 2/24: Psalm 27

Thurs. 2/25: Genesis 12:1-4a

Fri. 2/26: Mark 9:14-23

Sat. 2/27: John 9:32-40

Hunger for God

Mon. 3/1: John 4:5-42

Tues. 3/2: Psalm 42

Wed. 3/3: Isaiah 55:1-9

Thurs. 3/4: Psalm 63:1-8

Fri. 3/5: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sat. 3/6: Isaiah 41:17

The Riches of God's Grace

Mon. 3/8: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tues. 3/9: Romans 3:1-24

Wed. 3/10: Titus 2:11-15

Thurs. 3/11: Psalm 23

Fri. 3/12: Psalm 84

Sat. 3/13: 1 Peter 4:1-10

Fasting

Mon. 3/15: Joel 1:14

Tues. 3/16: Matthew 6:17-18

Wed. 3/17: Exodus 34:28

Thurs. 3/18: Daniel 10:2-3

Fri. 3/19: Luke 4:1-2

Sat. 3/20: Zechariah 7:4-10

Praying Power

Mon. 3/22: Isaiah 56:7

Tues. 3/23: Matthew 6:9-13

Wed. 3/24: Matthew 26:41

Thurs. 3/25: Romans 8:26-27

Fri. 3/26: Ephesians 6:18

Sat. 3/27: 1 Samuel 1:9-27

Self-Sacrifice

Mon. 3/29: Hebrews 9:11-15

Tues. 3/30: Galatians 6: 14-17

Wed. 3/31: Hebrews 12:1-3

Thurs. 4/1: John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Fri. 4/2: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Sat. 4/3: Psalm 16

Transformative Power of Lent

Tomorrow will begin the season of Lent. Lent is a liturgical season that precedes the holiest period on the Christian Calendar, Easter. This 40 day period is a time for the church universal to fast and prayer together in anticipation and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus which is celebrated on Easter.

This 40 day period is also a time for the church universal to commit and dedicate itself to the Lord through the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer. Fasting is a spiritual discipline in which we deprive ourselves of desires in efforts to deepen and strengthen our relationship with God. Those desires we deprive ourselves are replaced with prayer, meditation, and scripture in efforts to become closer to God.

This 40 day period of fasting and prayer is representative of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying prior to his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). I am convinced that the 40 day period was necessary preparation for Jesus so he would be able to fulfill the task that God placed before him. There are also other references in the gospels in which Jesus went to be alone. It is important that we reserve time in which we spend intimate time with God so we can remain clear on what God's will for us in this world.

I encourage us all to take this time serious. Let us not give up something for 40 days, pat ourselves on the back, and then go back to business as usual. In the words of my big sis (shout out to Allyson Smith) Lent is not about giving up things in efforts to "prove how hardcore you are for God" but with hopes of getting closer to God.

We should come out the season of Lent transformed and renewed. We should better coming out of Lent than we did coming in. I encourage us to allow the transformative work of God to take place in all us during this season of Lent in hopes that we will be more dedicated and committed to the work of God just as Christ was when he descended from that mountain after 40 days of fasting and prayer.

I'm praying for you all.

God Bless,

Rev