This past weekend I talked about taking down the giants in life. Too often people believe that when they become a Christ-Follower they get this insurance policy again risk and hurt. Nothing could be more to the contrary- the call to follow Christ is a call to risk, woundedness and challenge. “What”, some will say, “Why follow Christ if He won’t give me stuff”? That is a great question and worth considering. Why do you/I follow Christ? In Jesus day some followed because food, healing or prestige. I have to admit there are times I follow Jesus for “that” and more. But, when I am at the right spot I follow HIM for who He is and because He is worthy. I am at a place where I always have to check my motives and make sure they are right. We all come to Jesus for forgiveness and a relationship with God, I get that and its a great thing… But as we grow shouldn’t our motivations mature? Or are we always like children or adolescents who treat their parents “right” because of what they can get? A final point of honesty- I pray that I can live on the mature side of faith more and more. I don’t need anything else, Jesus has given me more than I need or deserve already. I bet He would even liked to be thanked without an, “and God if you would…”.

So… Why do you follow… if you are honest?

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This past weekend we talked about Benaiah chasing a lion into a pit and killing it. He refused to allow his fears to decide his behavior. Let’s be honest, we all have fears, the difference is some of us choose not to obey our fears and trust God! These are the lion slayers. This weekend we will take a twist and look at what we do when God does not rescue us from the fire (like we had hoped or prayed). Too many times I have heard the “westernized” gospel of prosperity. The belief that if you follow God he will

• keep you healthy
• prosperous financially
• protect your reputation

The problem with this so called Gospel is it is heresy. If you live in China and commit your life to Christ. There is a good chance you will

• loose you health
• loose your wealth
• and be the scourge of society

The truth is the main difference between a Christ follower and someone far from God is not our circumstances but our response to our circumstances. This weekend we are going to look at the story of 3 young teenage boys who followed God and the results were:

• slavery
• ridicule and
• a fiery furnace

So what do you do when God’s best leads you into the fire? When you are following HIM and your circumstances suck? How can you survive? What can you learn in the fire?
That is what this weekend is about.

• So are you in the fire?- plan to attend and get some perspective.
• Not in the fire? – Plan to come and prepare for the fire- because you will go through it.
  
• Know someone in the fire? Bring them with you!

It’s time to Chase the Lion!

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