All For God

Just got back from an amazing event in Austin, Texas. Guys from every demographic you can think of came together to draw closer to our Father in heaven and allow Him to change them.

There was NO drama, arguing, or quarreling of any kind. Men were committed to helping one another Advance. They were able to be themselves, laugh, cry, and be encouraged.

They were all on the same team, pursuing to better themselves for their families, friends, and communities. The world was changed for the better!

35 guys committed to study through the first 5 chapters of MISSION POSSIBLE:Living A Life That Matters together!

Join me in praying that these men will draw even closer to God and to each other. May they see themselves as God does and accept their mission He has given the with passion.

#MPWarrior

#nodivision

#changedforever

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Find these posts encouraging? I’m working on a website membership program where you can get access to ALL of my video training series as well as digital downloads that help you on your journey. Every time I create a new digital resource, your membership will automatically give you access!

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MISSION POSSIBLE PAPERBACK

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MP VISION MAPPING TOOLKIT

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Jesus packs powerful prayer in John 17 for himself, the disciples and all of us.  4 things grab my attention:

His Joy made full in us.  I love that Jesus desires that His joy be made full in us.  Think about the depth of joy Jesus must have had to endure the cross for us!  A joy worth dying for.  That’s the joy He prays for us and the joy I want!

Keep them from evil.  He doesn’t pray that we would be taken out of the world to avoid evil.  Instead He prays that we would be kept from it.  This is critical for those around us to see the power of the One true living God at work in us in spit of being surrounded by an evil world. 

 Sanctify them in truth.  God knows and sees all including the lies and truth. Furthermore, He is truth. His word stands forever, is unchanging, and frees us from the bonds of deception.  Ultimately it reveals the truth about who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He is capable of. 

 We are in one in Him.  Unity in the body of Christ is critical. After all, a house divided against itself cannot stand.  Jesus prays that we would be one as He and the Father are one.  How can you get any closer?  They are One.  No space can be found between them.  We are to have unity that they may know the Father sent the Son…so they might have life. For it is the sake of the gospel that should keep us united.  

Reflection

Do you see a desire to be right in you?

Are you able to speak the truth in love when other brothers/sisters are out of line with scripture?

Jesus never compromised love for truth. He loved people with the truth.  Some received and some did not. 

Pray that the LORD would give wisdom and discernment if what to say and how to say it to bring unity and truth. 

Prayer

Father, you have sent Your son, full of grace and truth,  thank you for His example of unity with You.  Thank you For joy, protection, truth, and unity.  Guide us and give us wisdom to walk out this prayer in Your Spirit.  Help us to speak the truth in love.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Verses like the one above help us see that Part of God’s redemptive plan is for us to pursue Him together with others.  Ephesians 4 makes it clear that we need one another in order to grow.  This includes exercising our gifts as well as embracing forgiveness.  So even when others sin, we are afforded the opportunity for growth. We must walk together to fulfill God’s plan for us. 

Personal Reflection

Are you pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace with other true believers?  Or are you trying to make it a me and Jesus production?   Read Ephesians 4 and let His word have its way in your heart about this matter. Step out and trust His design for your growth.  Remember a key here is to make sure you are walking with those that call on Him with a pure heart.  You need genuine Christians to help point you back to Jesus when your mind is not focused on Him. 

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We praise You that your salvation leads us to a place of relationship with you as well as true believers. Help us to see our need for one another and to walk together with them as we pursue You. We trust in You and your perfect plans, in Jesus name we pray, Amen!

#TruthTalk4Life

@brianfriedl

 My heart breaks for God’s church this morning. As I read through this list, I was reminded of story after story I’ve heard on the news confirming all these truths of misdirected affections of our times.  My mind attempted to remind me that those who don’t know God  would not be desiring holiness. 

Deep within me, my mind and heart desires to see God and His goodness triumph; for His church to rise up and stand for truth.  When we get to verse 5; however, Paul pointedly connects empty religion to these affections and so I weep.  For The body of Christ should be carrying with it the love and power of God not a form of godliness without power. 

This passage is powerful because it challenges me personally to Know,Live, and Speak this truth.  I must ensure that my own affections are properly placed in the One true living God.  

Painful memories also resurface as I recall seeing my former home church move toward  an empty religion environment.  I watched as the leadership subtly moved from a place of love and grace dependent on God, to a place of performance dependent on “attracting and assigning the right people”.  It became about doing our best instead of seeing God’s best.  I attempted at first to jump through hoops but though I would satisfy every point, it wasn’t enough.   Not long after it was “recommended” that I resign.  My heart still grieves over this.  I miss my brothers and sisters in Christ there that genuinely desired to Know, Live, and Speak the truth.  At the same time I am truly thankful that we are worshipping somewhere where Jesus is center stage; not just in Word but also in action. I am free to fully minister with affections properly placed. 

Personal Reflection

Where are your affections placed?  Are you abandoning everything that sets itself against God?  Are you subtly trusting in your power and strength rather than Jesus’ finished work at the cross?  If your affections are misplaced, confess and repent today!  For there is work to be done by His power!

Prayer Focus

Father, may we as Your church never show a form of godliness but deny Your power. Let us live only by the truth of Your Word. Help us to keep Jesus at the center of everything on the throne that He has righty earned!  May our affections be for You above all else, in Jesus Name, Anen!

It’s also no surprise that we also see fruit of the Spirit mentioned.  Our walk and forebearing with one another requires us to walk in the Spirit. Unity requires diligence to preserve it.  There is work involved.  Damage happens in any body of believers. Forgiveness and forebearance are necessary. Remember, even the disciples argued over greatness.

We must walk in a manner worthy of our calling…We must walk in the Spirit, in love, forebearing with one another, preserving unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Personal Reflection

It’s necessary that we are part of a local body of believers and this is just one reason.  How do we learn to forbear with one another if we are not together?   It’s easy to get along with someone you never have to spend time with, but then we are never challenged to grow either.  

You may have been hurt by a congregation that did not live this passage out. I can certainly empathize as I have been hurt as well. I have come to find that we cannot let the failure of man keep us from living the truth of God. 

Find a bible-believing church to attend this week.  God wants to grow you in love and unity.

Prayer Focus

Gracious God, no where have we seen this passage more true than with you.  You have been so patient in your love and have jealously desired the Spirit which you have made to dwell in us. Please keep us walking in your spirit that we may walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have called us.  We pray this in the powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#walkworthy #walkintheSpirit #truthtalk4life

This burden is not meant to be carried alone.  Together, we are to walk out this life.  This means investing in the lives of those around us; doing good especially to the followers of Christ.

Personal Reflection

Find someone today that you can invest in.  Who is God nudging you to walk with and pray for in their journey.  You have been given gifts, skills and experiences that have equipped you for this ministry.  Pray that God would reveal this person to you and that he would strengthen you heart to bear with them.

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, may your grace abound in our lives always!  Reveal to us your truth and teach us to walk in your ways.  Father, we ask that you might show us who we are to bear burdens with.  As we invest, let us not grow weary while doing good.  Break our hearts for what breaks yours and fill us with your joy, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!

 When I started my journey as a new believer I didn’t understand the family I was adopted into. I knew the people who had discipled me were awesome and I was thankful, but that didn’t even begin to describe the unity and shared mind of Christ that I have experienced since. 
I’ve had the privilege traveling the country for years and more recently have expanded these travels internationally.  The unity of believers is second to none.  I have been the recipient of hospitality,  love and prayer by what some would say are complete strangers.  The depth of Christ’s love permeates all of these relationships.  I’m left with a grateful heart that desires unity to serve one another in the cause of Christ 

Personal Reflection

The Christian life is meant to be unified with the body of Christ.  A me and God only mentality is not biblical and actually hinders growth.  Check out Ephesians 4 for more details.  Are your relationships with other believers unified in Christ?  Are you considering others as yourself?   God is challenging us to reach out to encourage our local body of  as well as those we meet at work, the gas station and across the globe. 

Prayer Focus

LORD, you know our shortcomings and yet you have adopted us and have called us to live in unity for you and your good purposes.  Equip us  to live in harmony with one another in the Gospel of Jesus. May it be so and may all who see know that we are Christians by our love for you and each member of Your household. In the unifying Name of Christ, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#unifiedbelievers #mindofChrist #truthtalk4life