Mike McClurg
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1/31/2018

Divine Deliverance

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You have heard it said that there is a battle going on and it is happening even now as I write this devotional. It is in the unseen spiritual realm. We can feel it sometimes more than others as we sense an invisible presence of heaviness in our spirit. There are times when oppression bears down on our mind or our attempts to pray are thwarted. Add to all of that a few sleepless nights and you have a mess on your hands. It isn’t always noticeable but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. I am grateful for Psalm 91. It is about warfare, battles, and conflict. It is a song written to describe the enemies attach yet holds in it the promise of God’s deliverance.
 
The enemy of our soul has lost the battle but he is still trying to convince people that the battle is still up for grabs. In one sense, it is a self fulfilling prophesy. We will determine who actually wins the battle in our sphere by what we choose to do during those oppressive times. Since the enemy is supernatural in strength, we need supernatural help. The good news is that supernatural help is available to all of us. Look with me at Psalm 91:4-7:
    
     4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be yourshield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
 
We have a promise from the Lord of absolute deliverance and protection upon us. Let me encourage you to go and read Psalm 91 today. The Lord declares six “I wills”:
 
I will deliver him (v. 14)
I will set him securely on high (v. 14)
I will answer him (v. 15)
I will be with him in trouble (v. 15)
I will rescue him and honor him (v. 15)
I will satisfy him (v. 16).
 
What a list of promises. If you are a Child of God, they are addressed to you. “Because he loves me… for he acknowledges my name” says the Lord. These promises are given to believers who, by faith, wrap themselves around Jesus. That is the way we ought to live. It reminds me of Isabelle Naylor as she was wanting to get baptized for several years. She couldn’t wait to get dunked under the water as Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Everyone who is baptized is like that. What a great reminder of how our hunger ushers in the deliverance of God on our lives.
 
We will have a video of our baptisms for our first service on Sunday that happened during the second service this past Sunday. We already have 3 more to be baptized after Easter. Let’s continue to anticipate God moving in miraculous ways as we serve Him with all of our hearts. I love my Church…
 
Joy in Jesus!
 
Pastor Mike

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1/24/2018

A Month of Prayer and Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough

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“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Joel 2:12
 
In Mark 9 we read of an incident when Jesus found the disciples unable to cast a demon out of a possessed child. Jesus then shows them the power of perfect faith in an Almighty God and heals the child. The disciples come to Jesus after everything settles down and asks, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting” Mark 9:29.
 

In the month of February, we are calling the church to fast and pray. We are strongly encouraging the whole church to humble themselves in the sight of God and believe that He wants to do a mighty work beyond our comprehension. We are going to pray for miracles, healing, salvation for lost friends, issues that have troubled our spirits and burdens too heavy to bear. Some of the obstacles in people’s live are still there because they have not taken the time to fast and pray. Could it be that our church could see some strongholds disappear when we all agree and fast together during this time? I believe it can happen.
 
I want to encourage you to pick up a brochure on fasting placed in the bulletin this Sunday. If you would like one this week, contact our church office and they will send one to you (office@findlayfirstnaz.org).
 
Our nation, our church, our families, and our individual lives need to humble ourselves and desperately call upon the Lord. Fasting is one way to show God how desperate you are for His presence in your life. It is a biblical way of showing God the how you want His will to be done. It also enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life. The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you.
 
Begin now to pray how the Lord wants you to approach this fast in February. Here are some options of different kinds of fasts:
 
The normal fast is going without food for a definite period during which you ingest only liquids (water and / or juice). The duration can be 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, or all 28 days of February. Extreme care would be taken with longer fasts, which should only be attempted after medical advice from your physician. 

The absolute fast allows no food or water at all, and should be short. Moses fasted for 40 days; but this would kill anyone without supernatural intervention, and should never be attempted without medical supervision. Be sure to test the spirit that tries to talk you into a 40-day fast, even if it includes liquids. 

The partial fast is one that omits certain foods or is on a schedule that includes limited eating.  It may consist of omitting one meal a day.  Eating only fresh vegetables for several days is also a good partial fast.  People who have hypoglycemia or other diseases might consider this kind of fast. 

A rotational fast consists of eating or omitting certain families of foods for designated periods.  For example, grains may be eaten only every fourth day.  The various food families are rotated so that some food is available each day. 
The key in picking your fast is to follow through on what you have decided in your heart. Write it down and pray that you will fulfill your commitment. You may even want to lead your family through Scripture around the dinner table or before bedtime. Again, ask the Lord to show you what to do as you give Him full access to every chamber of your life and discard anything that causes your love for Him to grow cold.
 
May God bless you today as we anticipate our service together on Sunday. We will continue our series, “OnPoint: Living in Missional Rhythm” and celebrate baptism with several people.
 
Joy in Jesus!
 
Pastor Mike

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1/17/2018

Missional Rhythm

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We have been moving through a series of messages we call, “OnPoint: Living in Missional Rhythm.” This past Sunday we looked at our time. It’s amazing how fast time is going. I was just talking to someone who retired 3 years ago and I thought it had been only 3 months. That was what I thought. It seems like that time just slips away. This Sunday I will be speaking on part two of the time portion of our messages.
 
Since this is a New Year filled with many opportunities to grow in relationship with God and others, we felt it would be good to read through the Word together again. I am excited about this because last year we read through the New Testament. This year we will be reading through the Prophets. Books will be available starting on Sunday, January 28.
 
Why do we do this? I am so glad you asked. Bible availability is on the rise, but Bible reading is on the decline. Did you know that 4 out of 5 people do not have resources to understand the Bible? Many times we jump around to different verses. There is no problem with doing that but if that is all you do then you miss out on the historical context and many times take them down the wrong path. We want to read big, read real, and read together. So there are opportunities to share your findings in a small group. Contact the church office and find out how you can discuss your readings with other people.
 
Your book for the journey will be available for two Sundays before we begin the journey. Resources are for a suggested $5 donation and you can keep them for future readings. We want everyone engaged in the Bible so plan to join us beginning February 5 and leading up to Easter on April 1. That is no April fools joke.
 
We will also be fasting and praying during the month of February. We have been doing this for several years now. Inserts will be available on Sunday to prepare for our February fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough. Have I told you that I am excited to see what the Lord is going to do in the lives of our families and our church? It’s going to be great!
 
One more thing, I know you are overwhelmed by all of this growth talk but hang in there with me. On Sunday, January 28 we will have a Baptism in the morning services. If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and have not participated in a Believers Baptism, then contact the church office and let us know. We will have a class on Wednesday, January 24 to talk about what all is involved. Many times we have children and teens baptized but it is not just for the young. It is for all those who have not been baptized in the faith. It is a wonderful experience and obedient step that precludes many more Spirit-filled days.
 
I am looking forward to growing with you in this New Year and getting in the rhythm God has set before us to grow up in the faith. Be blessed!
 
Joy in Jesus!
 
Pastor Mike

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1/10/2018

Acting Lessons

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Have you ever been in a situation that made you feel so uncomfortable that you wished you could turn around and run, but you knew you had to stay? How did you act in front of those you were with? Did you kick and scream, throw a fit, yell at the top of your lungs? Or did you speak to yourself, telling yourself to get a grip and work through this? I know what you did. You made the choice to grit your teeth, put a smile on your face, and act like you were happy to be there, although you felt a little different than that. If you didn’t make that choice then things probably escalated to the point of getting out of control.
 
Have you ever been depressed but didn’t feel close enough to the people you were with so you chose to laugh or act as if everything was fine? How about this one – you were in a heated debate at home with one of your family members and the phone rang. You had to answer it so you changed the tone and reflection of your voice to sound like a cheerful welcoming committee. They didn’t know how you were feeling on the other end of the phone.
 
To disguise what you were feeling in these different situations required you to act. All of us have found ourselves in similar situations. We all have the ability to act. If you don’t do a very good job with that then you probably deal with a lot more stress in your relationship with others than you need to.
 
In Ephesians 5:1-2, the Apostle Paul wrote these words: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The word “follow” or “followers” is the Greek word mimetes. It means to mimic someone or imitate what they are doing. It was used to describe professional actors. Paul goes on to describe what that entailed.
 
This Greek word mimetes is used in the New Testament many times. Paul also used it in Corinthians (1 Cor. 4:16) when he urged them to act like him. In Thessalonians (2 Thess. 3:7) he used it again for them to replicate what they saw him doing. The Hebrew writer also uses mimetes in Hebrews 13:7 when he says to do what they do, say what they say, and act as they act as he was pointing out faithful leaders before them.
 
Just as a professional actor is all about capturing the emotions, looks, voice, character, and even the appearance of the person he is portraying, we are to put our whole heart and soul into imitating God in every sphere of our lives. So we must make the decision to act like God. To go to the extreme and be constantly in the process of becoming more like God. We must make it our aim to act like Him, duplicate Him, and to copy Him in every area of your life.
 
We learn very early in life that we have to act a certain way in order to get certain things. My kids learned that on their own. Whenever they wanted something, they would be so nice. They would do just about anything. It’s something we all come into naturally, it’s just fun to point it out in our children.
 
So why don’t you make the decision to take up acting? Resolve today that in every situation, that you’re going to imitate your Heavenly Father, the greatest Role Model of all. Let me warn you though, your world will drastically change around you. Problems will appear very small, you will believe that you can overcome every one of them. You would also have sufficient love, patience, and forgiveness for every unloving person. That sounds good to me!
 
This Sunday we are going to continue in our series, “OnPoint: Living in Missional Rhythm.” Come and invite someone the Lord lays on your heart. God is on the move….
 
Joy in Jesus!
 
Pastor Mike

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1/3/2018

Is It Time For a Change?

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Dick Vermeil became head coach of the St. Louis Rams in 1997 after a fifteen year absence from all of coaching. He was infamous for 3 to 4 hour practices in full pads every day of the week.
 
He worked his players so hard that before one game in 1998 against the Bears, the entire team had a meeting about whether they should even play! They had 9 wins in 2 years. So Coach Vermeil decided to change. He had the courage to change even though he had always done it the same every year. Obviously it wasn’t working.
 
His new practice plan was to cut down the practices to 1.5 hours no matter the situation and made sure his players were fresh heading into Sunday.
 
The result was astounding. They won the Super Bowl in 1999.
 
How many times have we fallen into a rut and have done the same thing over and over again, only to find ourselves struggling with the same things. Why not make a change?
 
Look what it says in Isaiah 43:19,
     “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
 
Starting this Sunday, I will begin a new series called, “On Point: Living in Missional Rhythm.” We will be looking at all aspects of our life and seeing if we are in rhythm with what God is doing. It will be a series you will want to be a part of as you evaluate your life compared to where you have been and where God is leading you.
 
We have experienced a wonderful Christmas Advent and New Year. Many new faces, new friends, and new opportunities before us as a church. Let us embrace the moment and live life full of divine moments.
 
Joy in Jesus!
 
Pastor Mike

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    Rev. Mike McClurg

    Senior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene

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