Brian Mark Weller

I've had people get honest with me over the years and tell me, "I just don't have time to pray." and I have to admit that I was one of those people in the past. The type of person that is just so busy with really "important" things that I didn't seem to have time to take time to pray. I sacrificed the most important for the less important — the most needful for the less needful. Since then, I have learned that if I am too busy to take time to pray, I am just too busy! I have learned that the amount of effort I have to put into things without humbly asking God for help cannot make up for the time it takes to pray about everything. Plus, walking through the day feeling disconnected from God is not a pleasant, peaceful, easy feeling! 

God's word tells us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That means throughout the day and regarding all things. We are also taught by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God". That tells me to come into the presence of God with confidence and with a thankful heart, knowing God will do what is needed if I ask Him. Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will." (Mark 11:24). 

The Word of God is full of scriptures like the ones we just read admonishing us to pray. Yet, many Christians seem to function with very little prayer or just throwing up a prayer or two as they go through each day. I pray throughout the day to stay in constant communication with my Heavenly Father. Still, I also know the necessity of taking a special, spiritual "closet" time for prayer each day — the importance of taking time where it is just me alone with God in my prayer closet. 

I want to share two extraordinary things that happen during those times. First, it helps me to shut out all the other voices, including the digital voices coming at us through our cell phones, TVs, the internet, and it is just me and God alone together. He listens to me as I ask for His help with my character and commitments, help to walk in holiness, obey His commands, and overcome evil. Secondly, it is a time of me asking God for help with the practical needs of life and the ministry He has called me to do. It's a time to say, "God, I will do what you ask, but this is what I need to accomplish your calling." I ask in childlike faith and humility, knowing that "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble" 1 Peter 5:5. 

Please don't be like those who come into His presence demanding He does what He promised. I never demand anything from God; I ask humbly. If you don't want God to listen to your prayers, start demanding He does what you want! Instead, come as a child, in childlike faith, asking God your Father for the help you need, and always praying in the heart and character of Jesus, who said: "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:22. 

In closing, please don't be one of those people that don't have time to pray! If we don't have time to humble ourselves and pray, we'll have to make lots of time to deal with the loss of not having God's help. The help that He lovingly waits to give if we would only take time to ask in humility, honesty, and childlike faith.

A good step of faith to take today is to step into your prayer closet and begin communicating with your maker. He loves you and is waiting to listen and to give guidance and help you not only need but genuinely desire!

God bless you today and always, Brian Mark Weller

In the last few days, I've been contemplating whether or not I've consistently counted the cost of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I've asked myself some difficult and challenging questions.  Have I truly considered giving all for the sake of God's call or am I compromising God's will and call on my life for my own comfort and desires?  Have I gotten so comfortable in this life that I am living more for me and "my" world, than for God and His eternal Kingdom?

What if I had truly done unto others, as I would have them, do to me

What if I had forgiven everyone that had offended me and let go of the residue of those offenses in my life?

What if I had truly counted the cost and surrendered everything to the Lord including my time, my resources and my talents?

What if I had risked everything no matter what the cost to help get the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person who has not heard?

What if I had faithfully lived a life of faith and went beyond taking steps of faith to take leaps and dives of faith?

What if I had lived every moment in light of God's mercy seat and God's judgment seat?

What if I had done what I did for the glory of God alone and didn't look for affirmation from others for serving God?

What if I had actually believed the promises of Jesus and acted on them?

What if I had truly lived the commandments of Jesus?

THINK ABOUT IT - What is a Step of Faith?

We hear the term "Step of Faith" all the time in Christian circles, but what truly is a "step of faith"? Here is my definition! A step of faith is a step we take into the will of God, in order to accomplish God's purposes and plans. We take those "steps of faith" trusting God to meet the needs he has asked us to meet without having the resources available at the time He gives the command. As we live our lives taking steps of faith eventually we can truly say as Paul did, that "We walk by faith and not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7.

THINK ABOUT IT:
If we really want to be full of THANKS LIVING this THANKSGIVING we must seek to remember and live out a few very important things!

(Please note: These are meant to be declarations so they are written in the first person because I for one need to remember these things and live them out.)

#1 - LIFE from a heavenly perspective is not about me and my happiness. It is more about the smile I can put on God's face through my times of fellowship with Him, my heart to seek Him, my willingness to surrender to Him and my desire to serve those He calls me to serve in humility and with sincere gratefulness for being entrusted with such amazing opportunities.

#2 - LIFE is not about me feeling fulfilled at what I do, with the title I do or don't have, or how much money I make or don't make. It is more about me fulfilling His plans and purposes with the life He has given me while here on planet earth. It is about living with the hope of hearing Him say one day 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'"

#3 - LIFE is not about my popularity or lack of it. It is not about Facebook likes, Instagram feeds, Twitter followers or the lack thereof. It is more about the likes that I get from the heart of God in response to how much I seek to proclaim His name and share His love with others. Life always goes into overdrive when I am not at the center of everything, but rather when God has center stage in my heart and mind.

#4 - LIFE is about God my Father, Jesus my Lord, and the Holy Spirit indwelling me as the temple of God. It is about living for Him and remembering that to know Him is the greatest privilege known to any man (or woman).

#5 - LIFE is about loving the amazing family God has given me, spending great times with them, creating memories with them and always being grateful for them. After God, they take the biggest place in my heart and I treasure the countless memories we have created together. Lord, help me to give more than I take from them.

In closing, let's remember that life is not about me or you, or just our families and friends. If that is all we live for, chances are we are going to feel somewhat empty and will lack a greater sense of purpose and destiny that God wants us all to have.

As I said before, true life is knowing God and making Him known, which includes caring about, and ministering to the poorest of the poor and ministering to those that are totally lost, hurting and without hope in the darkest corners of the world.

If we want to do some Thanks Living and put a smile on the face of God this Thanksgiving (and Christmas) let's look out on the vast unreached harvest fields of the world and ask God what we can do. Say to Him "I want to do more than I am doing now." Then let's do it and never even consider making an excuse or think to ourselves that someone else will step up to get the job done that He has entrusted to me. He is counting on every believer, so let's quit being religious and playing church. Talk is cheap and accomplishes very little if it isn't followed up by actions! Let's do the first works that Jesus called us too! There is an exciting walk of faith God has called us too. A new adventure for us to fulfill. Let's say "Here I am LORD, Send Me, I will do it!!!"

Say this verse over and over " I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.

Remember this, Thankful people are people who serve, they are people who care and share, they are the doers of the Word. Let that be me and let that be you and together as the children of God we will put a smile on the face of our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and on the faces we reach through our hearts of Thanks Living and Thanks Giving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

PS - During your Thanksgiving meal talks to your family about how you all together can make a difference. Make a plan and do it!

THINK ABOUT IT!
Lukewarm is a word Jesus used to address the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:16 where He says "So because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." This was not a compliment and yes this was Jesus speaking to His church in Laodicea! 

Some might say: Would Jesus really talk to His church that way? or Why would Jesus say such a mean thing? In reality, it is no meaner than the father who tells his son "If you do that again you are going to get punished". The father is teaching his child life lessons to help him grow up and be ready for life. We are told in Hebrews 12:6 "The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." I am so glad the Lord disciplines me when I need it and believe me, I have needed it!

Unfortunately, today we accept the lukewarm church as the normal church and quite often don't want the Lord's discipline. That is truly sad! It means we are not only missing out on God's best but that we are walking in disobedience and in rebellion to God's plans and purposes for His people and His church. God's plan for His church is beautiful and powerful and is meant to display His glory and His message to the world, not the glory or message of a man or woman. It is supposed to be His Church and not ours!

We like it HOT! Isn't it strange that most of us won't accept lukewarm food at a restaurant - and we don't like our soup, coffee or tea lukewarm? Yet for some reason, many are willing to accept the lukewarm church of today as an example of New Testament Christianity, and some even imitate and applaud its so-called success in a world that rejects the Truth as Jesus spoke it. I can understand the world rejecting the words of Jesus, but how can we - the church - reject His words? Isn't it His Church? In the words of that pro football analyst that says COME ON MAN in regards to some of the crazy mishap plays in the NFL. I want to say COME ON MAN in regards to the foolish ways we twist scriptures around to make them fit our lukewarm lifestyles and to affirm our rebellion against God. Jesus warns us in Revelation 3:2 to "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God." He warns us because He loves us!

I want to encourage you to read Revelation 3 and pay close attention to the Church at Philadelphia described in verses 7 to 13. That is the church we should model and these are the words of Jesus to that church and to all those who follow after him.

Revelation 3:10-11 "Since you have kept My command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown." THINK ABOUT IT!

PS - What part of the unreached world should we take out of the Great Commission, so we can sustain the selfish appetites of the lukewarm church? God's answer would be none!

The Judsons would go through trials that make ours seem like a vacation. Adoniram was beaten and hung upside down every night by his feet in a prison for being a Christian. He was rejected, whipped, slandered and oftentimes starved. His children and his wife died from disease. But through all this, he never gave up on Jesus, and he never gave up on the call to bring the gospel to unreached Burma. God had not only placed a call in Adoniram’s heart. God had given him a loving burden for the lost souls he was sent to reach.Because he saw the people through the eyes of God’s heart of love, he kept his hands to the plow of Kingdom service in the face of unbearable trials. Over Adoniram’s many years in Burma, he translated the Bible into Burmese. From what I am told, that translation is still the only one available in the country.

God help us!

1) Help us to be true to you.

2) Help us to always hold your Word as Ultimate Truth and to never compromise its meaning for the sake of political correctness.

3) Help us to always seek to walk in holiness and to not abuse your grace in any way, shape or form.

4) Help us to cling to you in a world where so many are letting go of You and substituting You in their lives with lesser gods.

5) Help us to always love, while realizing love isn't affirming each other when we are wrong, but rather speaking the truth in love as an ambassador of you and Your Kingdom.

6) Help us to remember, it is you who is our judge and not a human court. 

7) Help us to always consult with you and your Word in making decisions regarding our lives.

8) Forgive us for the times we have fallen short in these things and have even committed deliberate sins against you and each other.

In the mighty all-powerful name of Jesus, Amen

Paul Harvey the great radio and television commentator once said to his audience, and to Christians throughout  the United States: “We’ve strayed from being Fishers of Men to being keepers of the aquarium.” Unfortunately, his statement is even truer today than it was when he spoke it many years ago.  In light of this, it is truly time for Christians and Christian churches in the USA to make some big changes before it is too late.

Did you know that on average churches in the USA spend 85% of all donations, on salaries, building expenses, and supplies? That is a very sad reality and one that doesn’t seem to bother many believers; which makes this statistic even more disheartening. We must all ask ourselves, “Is this what Jesus meant for us to do when He commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.  Most of the world lives outside of the United States. Only about 5% of the population of the world lives in the USA.  Did you know that approximately 2.9 billion people who live outside of the USA have never even heard about Jesus for the first time? Most of those people live in the 10/40 window.  As a matter of fact, 85% of all unreached people groups live in the 10/40 Window.

The question is, what are you and I going to do to help initiate some changes.  It has to start with us!  We can’t just wait hoping someone else will step forward and make the necessary changes.  We must do something now! Yes, we have to start today and we have to put many other things on hold so that we can do the most important thing. The most important thing is working toward the fulfillment of God’s Great Commission to Go into All the World!!  John Piper said we must “Go, Send or Disobey!”

Don’t wait for someone else to lead the way.

Don’t wait for the building program at your church to be completed. 

Don’t wait until your car or house is paid off. 

Don’t wait until your pastor gets a world vision. 

I hate to say it, but that may never happen!  Are we supposed to let people die in their sins in parts of the world, without ever warning them by sending them the gospel?  Of course not!  God’s commission always trumps a man or woman’s vision that does not line up with God’s.  Read the Word not your church's vision statement, unless it lines up with God’s.

There is no time to waste. Do something now!  Do you know of a missionary working in the 10/40 window? Step forward and offer to help.  If you don’t know of anyone, write to me and I will get you connected with people that are living and dying to complete God’s Great Commission in that part of the world.

Do it now or the cares of this life will come and distract you once again.  By God’s grace, power and authority we must Go forward saying “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13  We can and we must!

In His service,  Brian Weller

www.messageministries.org

As I sit at my desk today, the Holy Spirit has filled my heart with some thoughts. Please let me share with you what God is challenging me with this morning!

• I’m thinking about the almost 3 billion unreached people in the world today.

• I’m thinking about those who have no hope and have not even heard the message of salvation found in Jesus Christ.

• I’m thinking about how so much more could be done if we would just get our eyes off ourselves, our own desires, our own things, and truly surrender all to Jesus Christ.

• I’m thinking about how much more we could accomplish if we could come to the place where we only kept for ourselves what we truly need and rose to the level of giving the rest away to reach the unreached peoples of the world and help those who live in squalor.

The true spiritual reality is that God “made us alive together with Christ (“by grace, you have been saved”), raised us up together, and brought us “to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-6). If we would seek to see things from God’s heavenly point of view, our whole way of thinking would change and we would be all about fulfilling God's plan – most of the time and not just some of the time.

• Isn’t it time we begin to live that way?

• Isn’t it time we begin to count the cost of what it means to truly be His disciple?

• Isn’t it time we begin to take up our cross in truth, deny ourselves, and follow Him daily?

• Isn’t it time we begin to let go of the things of the world that give us too much comfort and distract us from God and His purposes?

Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Isn’t it time for us to live in freedom! I have lived in bondage and I have lived in freedom and freedom is always better. To live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ instead of the Lordship of myself and my desires is so much better. It’s better for me, for those directly around me, and for those God has called me to reach.

As believers, we have been saved by grace, yet we will all give an account of our lives before our Heavenly Father. At this point, we should ask ourselves an important question: “Will I be embarrassed before the Lord regarding my service to the one who gave so much to gain our freedom and salvation?” Let’s think about it now and ask ourselves: “What would we change if we knew Jesus was returning in the next day, week, month or year?” Write it down, and then move towards change. We all must repent of our spiritual sloth and laziness.

The precious life God has given us is meant to be spent – poured out – on Him and His divine purposes. Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 22:42: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”  To live for anything else is futile; it will only bear fruit that is rotten and worth little or nothing. I have lived that way at times in my life, and in those times I was filled with anxiety, worry, fear, and selfishness. I accomplished very little for the glory of God. Can you identify with that? Is that where you are now? If it is, what will you do to make the changes necessary to see the fulfillment of God’s will for your life?

Matthew 6:33 tells us God’s will: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  When we seek first His Kingdom, it means we have to deliberately dethrone ourselves from the Kingdom of Self. We truly have to give it all to Jesus. That is when things change and when we realize that our time is God’s time, our resources are God’s resources, and all of our gifts from His throne of Grace. Will we release them back to Him or grasp them tightly until He comes? Is Jesus going to be Lord of my life, or am I going to stay seated on the throne making my own life decisions based on what I want instead of what He wants? We are free to choose our paths. The Holy Spirit will lead me, but He won’t “make” me change!

I pray sincerely that every one of us will choose His will as we move forward in life.

Brian Mark Weller