Sunday I played with the worship team at Agape and then shared briefly in message and song. This blog post also appears on my Missions website. Check out this salvation story that happened within hours of my arrival.

This video has the core of my message on Wholehearted Worship: Putting the First Commandment in First Place. [Sorry the audio is out-of-sync, I’ll try to fix it when I get a chance, the uploads are slow]

[tentblogger-youtube fuji_uPe8iE]

Teaching Points:

In this teaching I discuss the Great Commandment passage from Mark 12:28-32:

  • It’s an important question , still relevant today in any context. “What really matters ?”
  • Jesus says the loving God with all we have, is the first and greatest commandment.
  • I led the musical setting of the scripture, The Shema

Then on the video I discuss how the Bible instructs us in these four areas to offer wholehearted devotion.

  • The Heart – our emotions, out passions.
    • The condition of our heart is important to God.
    • We can chose to direct our hearts affections to Him. Or not.
    • Proverbs 4:23 advises “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life.”
  • The Mind – our thought life, what we contemplate, what we meditate upon.
    • Our self talk, which is often critical
    • We have to replace the lies we tell ourselves or that come from the enemy with Truth
    • That’s one reason why being in the word of God regularly is so important, to bring light to darkness
  • The Soul – sometime explained as the combination of the mind, the will and emotions
    • your personality, your unique self-expression
    • Your identity, often determined by your accomplishments or recognition
    • We need to find our identity in God’s acceptance
    • He delights in us just because we are His children
    • God loves me, I love God = I am successful!
  • All your Strength
    • Our time, talents and treasure
    • When I am weak, He is strong
    • Little is much in the masters hands
    • So we offer what we have as our act of worship

I concluded with the song “What Words Can’t Say”. That “when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.”(Romans 8:26 CEV)

God does work all things for good for those who believe (Romans 8:28 ) if we hang on to the Lord.

Speaking at Agape

I acknowledge the influence of teachings by Mike Bickle and Don Finto in my thinking and some of this message.

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