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First Step to Help Mentorless, Fatherless Generation

5/20/2019

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Joe wonders if anyone cares. He picks up his phone and posts on social media. He and his girlfriend Julie, argue constantly. He notices her preoccupation with appearance. Julie feels insecure in her demanding job. Joe faces constant boredom with his.  

Boomer Sam calls his wife to tell her about another late-night meeting with an employee. He feels guilty about a growing distance with his wife and children. Nearing retirement, he wonders about finding something more meaningful than his job. 

June’s last child left home. She wants to make a difference. A friend told her that college age girls at church want to be mentored by someone older. 

Jim, a faithful elder, sees most young people bypassing the church. Older people with experience seems bored and apathetic in their relationship with Christ.

Our culture is feeling the result of a mentorless, fatherless generation with a growing chasm between generations. Luke had a similar passion when writing His gospel. He wanted to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children so the rebellious accept the wisdom of the godly (Luke 1:17).

1.  Be available
Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary gained a greater understanding and an unmatched experience after they were able to see God work first-hand in turning people from darkness to the "way of peace”. We should make ourselves available to others by being living testimonies of His faith (Luke 1:1-4)

2. Turn your heart back to God
Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were old and barren, but walked blamelessly in all God's commandments. Zechariah burned incense in the temple of the Lord. The couple’s prayers were answered and Elizabeth gave birth to a son named John. His future as a forerunner would turn back many of Israel's sons to the Lord (Luke 1:5-17). 

3. Believe that God is real
The angel Gabriel said Zechariah' inability to speak would be the sign that he didn't fully believe his words. His actions were significant, but the intentions and beliefs behind his prayer needed to be the same. Despite his shortcomings, Elizabeth still became pregnant since God looked with favor by taking away disgrace among men (Luke 1:18-25). 

4. Submit to God's word in impossible situations.
Gabriel said virgin Mary would conceive a son named Jesus, be the Son of the Most High and given the throne of His father David to reign over Jacob's house in an eternal kingdom. Mary believed in the ability of God to do the impossible. She accepted her fate in His hands and said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:26-38). 

5. Be humble and praise God for His working
Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord . . . for He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; . . . for the Mighty One has done great things for me; . . . He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. . . . And exalted those who were humble. . . . " (Luke 1:39-55). 

6.  Be a living example of God's work
Elizabeth gave birth and the word got out that the Lord displayed His great mercy toward her. God opened her husband's mouth and he spoke praise of God. Those living around them were in awe at God’s blessings on them and their child. (Lk 1:56-66). 

7. Verbally share God's word as a testimony of His work
Being filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah proclaimed that God had visited them, accomplished redemption for His people, and shone upon those who sit in darkness and shadow of death by guiding their feet into the way of peace. Zachariah was a testament to the workings of faith (Lk 1:67-80). 

Action Steps:
1.   I will engage in God's rescue work by being available, by turning my heart to Him, by responding to signs choosing to believe that God is real.
2.   I will submit to His word in impossible situations, be humble and praise Him for His working, be a living example and verbally share His word as a testimony of His work. 

​

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How to Regain Purpose and Hope

4/29/2019

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Our mission agency, Christ For the City Int’l, spent a day serving during our bi-annual board meetings. During lunch, I sat down next to a man eating alone. I asked, “How’s your day going?”

After an awkward pause, he opened up. I sensed a melancholy spirit. He said his wife of 34 years died in his arms four years ago. She was the love of his life with a “beautiful spirit inside and out.”

This man turned to alcohol and his life spiraled out of control. He remarried, but temporarily lost touch with his second wife. I prayed out loud. Tears seeped out of his eyes. This man once had been a deacon in an evangelical church, but now seemed to have lost all hope.

How do we lose purpose and hope? How do we regain it?

We find a clue in Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, mentioned three times (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-12). He was led by the Spirit and tempted by the devil. The first was self-gratification (lust of the flesh). If you’re the Son of God, meet the physical need by turning stones into bread. Jesus, like us, need God’s word to withstand the temptation (Matthew 4:1-4).

The second temptation was self-promotion (lust of the eyes). The devil had Jesus stand on the highest point of the temple and throw Himself down. The devil twisted Scripture. Jesus said not to put God to the test (Matthew 4:5-7).

The third temptation was self-exaltation (boastful pride of life). The devil showed all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor so Jesus would worship him. Jesus said to worship and serve God only (Matthew 4:8-11).

Before the temptations, Jesus had a mountain top experience--heaven was opened, saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and heard an affirming voice of unconditional love from heaven (Matthew 3:16-17). When things go well and you feel blessed, beware the devil will blast you with chaos, confusion, and criticism.

After the temptations, Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus told Peter. Andrew, James, and John to follow Him to become fishers of men. (Matthew 4:17-22). The devil doesn’t want you to share the gospel or disciple others. 
 

On the encouraging side, angels, ministering spirits to serve believers, helped Jesus and will attend to you (Mark 1:12-13; Hebrews 1:14).

If we resist temptation, share our faith and begin discipling others, evil forces will come against us. We must walk in Christ’s authority and drive out evil spirits (Mark 1:21-28). 

​Because we’re in a spiritual battle, we must fight with the spiritual weapons of prayer and God’s word.
  • It’s important we follow the example of Jesus and pray, preferably early in the morning (Mark 1:35).
The devil is crafty and leaves us until an opportune time. He knows our weaknesses. In Jesus’ case, everyone praised Him as the word got around (Luke 4:13-15). Seeking the praise of others may prevent us from sharing the gospel and discipling others.   

Don’t love the world, which include the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and boastful pride of life. Those who do God’s will live forever (1 John 2:15-17).

The greatest purpose and hope we have in life are to follow Jesus in catching men for Him.
​

To read past blogs, go to https://www.markpomeroy.com/ 

​
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Counteracting Apathy in Your Relationship with God (Insights in Psalms)

12/1/2011

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It's easy to take God for granted and diminish His attributes. We forget His great works in saving us. We diminish His honor and glory. We overlook how God transforms people. We disregard His presence in our lives. We fail to acknowledge His miracles of provision. To counteract apathy in your relationship with God, study His great works in sending His awesome redemption.  Delight in His commandments in bringing mighty descendants.  Praise His exalted honor and highest glory to transform people. Meditate in His powerful presence in providing miracle provision. 

Great Works

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart in the company of the assembly. His great works are studied and remembered by all who delight in them. He gives food to those who fear Him because the Lord remembers His covenant. He has made known the power of His works by giving territory to His people (Ps. 111:1-6). Study God's great works for provision and territory to fulfill His covenant.

Awesome Redemption
God's works are truth and justice. His precepts are faithful forever. He has sent redemption to His people because His name is holy and awesome. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those who do His commandments have a good understanding (Ps. 111:7-10). Do His commandments with wisdom as response to God's redemption.

Mighty Descendants
How blessed is the man who fears the Lord and greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth. Wealth and riches are in his house, while his righteousness, grace and compassion endure forever (Ps. 112:1-6). Fear the Lord and delight in His commandments to produce descendants, wealth and riches. 

Exalted Honor
He won't fear evil tidings, but trust in the Lord. He gives freely to the poor and will be exalted in honor. The wicked will be angry and melt away (Ps. 112:7-10). Trust in God allows generous giving to the poor. 

Highest Glory
Praise the Lord's name every moment of every day because His glory is above the heavens and all nations (Ps. 113:1-4). Praise God continually because of His glory.  

Transforms People
The Lord is enthroned on high. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to sit with princes. He makes the barren woman be a joyful mother of children (Ps. 113:5-9). God transforms peoples' stations in life. 

Powerful Presence
When Israel left Egypt, Judah became God's sanctuary and Israel, His dominion. The sea fled and Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams (Ps. 114:1-6). God lives through His people.

Miracle Provision
Tremble, O earth, before the Lord who turned the rock into a pool of water and the flint into a fountain of water (Ps. 114:7-8). God gets peoples' attention through miracles of provision. 
To counteract apathy in your relationship with God, consider which of the following is most needed in your life: 
1. Study His great works in sending His awesome redemption  
2. Delight in His commandments in bringing mighty descendants  
3. Praise His exalted honor and highest glory to transform people 
4. Meditate in His powerful presence in providing miracle provision
 


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    Mark Pomeroy

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    My goal is to ignite the hearts of people by explaining God's word in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament consecutively, much like the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32,44). I have been a missionary in Lincoln, NE, for 13 years with Christ For the City Int. and Sync with God.
     

    Sync with God is a highly versatile web app that hosts on-demand, virtual small groups. Sync is designed to connect young seekers in the faith and scripturally-trained mentors, even globally. It offers a safe, engaging interface for Millennials/Gen. Z and is readily adaptable to technical advances well into the future.

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