What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches
"Let all who can hear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Revelation 3:13 (TLB)

What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches by Henry Blackaby, is a small(89 pages) book that tells the true story what God did in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada through a small church. It describes the way a church of ten discouraged people were transformed by the Holy Spirit into a church of people who had an overwhelming impact in their world. This book is about what can happen when a church listen’s to what the Spirit is saying to them.
Last fall the church staff began meeting monthly to study What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches by Henry Blackaby. As a part of this ongoing study (we are only on chapter 4) the staff has begun to ask “What is the Spirit saying to DLBC?” The initial result of our study and prayer is GPS (God’s Positioning System – Giving, Praying, Serving).
Recently I challenged our small group leaders to purchase and read What the Spirit is Saying to the Churches. Now I’m challenging our church to do the same. I am “double-dog-daring” each of us to purchase and read this book. But I don’t want us to just read it and be done, rather, I want us to read it and then begin to ask the question, “Lord, what are you saying to me and to my church?” I strongly believe God is waiting on us, the church at Deltona Lakes, to ask such a question and to ask it in a way that means we will do what HE says.
The following is an excerpt from What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches by Henry Blackaby.
God has been stirring His people. His people today have heard Him give this charge: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Such an assignment seems impossible to achieve, and so it is with men. But with God it is possible–and so the task and calling remain before us, confronting us all. Each person and church must respond.
When Jesus gave the disciples His assignment to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, He added this promise: “And lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). God’s call is not a program, but a Person to be followed, a Person who has given His personal command to be obeyed. And as we obey, He will then accomplish His purposed through us and give every person in our world an opportunity to hear the gospel.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 2 Chronicles 7:14-18 (NIV)
I have 2 prayers:
1. May God grant that the people of Deltona, Florida: hear Him, believe Him, obey Him, adjust our lives to Him, and fully experience Him every day until Christ returns.
2. May the church at Deltona Lakes use our ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us!

To purchase a copy of What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches by Henry Blackaby, contact Brenda Gilmore in the church office. The cost of the book is $8.

HARD TIMES MAY LEAD TO HIDDEN TALENTS
John James Audubon, the famous bird artist, discovered his true potential because of life’s hardships. His life story is one of triumph over adversity.
Audubon was born in Haiti. He was the illegitimate son of a French sea captain and his French mistress. He was sent to America in 1803 to escape conscription (being drafted) into Emperor Napoleon’s army. As an adult, Audubon spent more than a decade in business, setting up a dry-goods store in Henderson, Kentucky. While in Kentucky, his wife gave birth to two sons. The couple also had a daughter who died in infancy. Audubon enjoyed a successful life as a merchant and continued to enjoy his hobby of drawing and studying birds. In 1819, hard times hit again for Audubon when an economic downturn found him bankrupt and in jail (in those days people were jailed for bankruptcy). Hard times forced Audubon to take what was a hobby and convert it to a full-time career. Their economic situation caused Audubon’s wife to seek employment. As a result, she discovered her love of teaching.
Our community is going through a financially difficult time right now. People are out of work or struggling because of reduced pay. What we see as problems and pain is often God’s intervention in our lives. Sometimes he is calling us to trust HIM (Ex. 14:21), sometimes HE is calling on us to return to HIM (1 Sam. 7:3), and sometimes HE is improving us (Ps.66:10). Whatever the case, God is available to overcome what we see as problems, often by exposing a talent we never realized we had. Note God’s interaction with Moses at the burning bush:
Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Exodus 4:10-11 (NIV)
Not every one of us will discover we have a hidden talent as a creative genius. However, difficult times often cause us to open our hearts and minds to those talents we have long ignored. God’s plan for our lives is not always readily apparent to us, but he will always walk beside us, guiding us. Begin to pray that God would send out workers to the various ministries at DLBC. But pray too for GOD to reveal to you the “hidden talent” HE has given you and how to employ that talent at DLBC.

LEADING A BIBLE DRIVEN LIFE
(revisited)
The most fundamental question every person will ever wrestle with is "Why am I here?" Unlike past generations, people today are searching for meaning in life, a purpose for living, something that makes their life worth living. For instance, in Colossians we’re told, "… for everything -- absolutely everything -- above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him” (Colossians 1:16, Msg).
The problem is almost everyone is driven by their feelings. Even in spiritual matters we often defend our position by stating, “I feel like God is . . .” However, Jesus and ALL of the apostles teach something completely different. They teach that our lives are to be Bible Driven. That is to say that we live according to the boundaries established by God, communicated to us through the Bible.
The Bible teaches that God had five purposes in mind when he made each one of us. Discovering and living these purposes is the single most important thing any of us can ever do. Teaching these five purposes to our children is foundational to truly training them in the ways of the Lord.
The Bible states: People ARE CREATED BY GOD TO FOR HIS PURPOSES.
Number 1: WE are planned for God’s pleasure –WORSHIP
Revelation 4:11 (NLT) says, "You, God, created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” We need to build into their lives the precious knowledge that they were created as an object of God’s love. The Bible says "God IS love (1 John 4:16).” It doesn’t say "He has love,” it says "He IS love.” In addition, God created us to know and love HIM. Worship is the activity of loving God. It is the way we respond to God for what HE has done.
Number 2: WE are made for telling others about GOD’s Love–OUTREACH
Jesus said in John 17:18 (Msg), “[Father], in the same way you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” Every believer has a ministry to believers, and a mission to unbelievers. Believers are commanded to encourage each other (Ac 11:23; Col 4:8; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 5:11; 1Th 5:14; Tit 2:4; Heb 3:13) Additionally, we are commanded tell others about God’s love. Studies show people are far more receptive to hearing the gospel from a friend than a stranger.
Number 3: WE are formed to be in God’s family–RELATIONSHIPS
He gave us this longing because his second purpose in creating us was for us to become a member of his family. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) teaches us, “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family.” We need to understand that the Christian life is not just a matter of believing; it’s also about belonging. God didn’t create us to be lonely believers; we’re made to belong to the family of God. This is why the author of Hebrews wrote, Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing . . . Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
Number 4: WE are created to imitate Christ–DISCIPLESHIP
He created each one of us to be like Christ, and we call that discipleship. God made us to transform us into the likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Romans 8:29 (Msg), “God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.”
Number 5: WE are shaped to help each other–SERVICE
God created each of us to serve him, and in the church, we call that ministry. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) teaches, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Every Christian is created to serve, and that means each teen is called to ministry, created for ministry, saved for ministry, and uniquely gifted for ministry. The Bible makes it very clear that every Christian is a minister, regardless of age.
Each of us have the power -- today -- to begin building into the lives of people we know a strong sense of how God created each of them for five specific purposes. Teaching people to be Bible driven in their lives will strengthen them against temptations and discouragement and will help them learn early in life to stay focused and disciplined.