Father's Day Thank You Letter to My Mentors

On Father’s Day of 2016, I read the following letters to 5 men who greatly invested in my life!

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

Relentless Joy 5 - The Mindset of the Mature

Philippians 3

Philippians 3:5 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

Relentless Joy 4 - The Key To Unity

Philippians 1:27 - 2:3

Philippians 1:27 - 2:5 NIV

1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[e] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Relentless Joy 2: God is working behind the scenes!

Philippians 1:1-11

Key Verses: 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Relentless Joy: Jailhouse Rock and Prison Praise

Background to the book of Philippians - Acts 16

Acts 16:1-40

The birth of a church with an interesting mix of people.

1) The wealthy woman selling designer purple cloth.

2) The demon possessed fortune teller slave girl

3) The blue collar (probably ex-military) county sherif at the jail

The powerful witness comes not on our best days but when we can praise on our worst days.

Someone needs to know that you are still hear for them.

The promise: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!

Breaking Free: Part 1

Luke 13:10-17. ESV

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

The Chase - Jonah 1

Kingdom Come Part 3: New Covenant Fasting and Prayer

Mark 2:18-22 NIV

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New Covenant Fasting

Mark 2:18-22, Luke 4:1-2,14

1) Fasting is a tool that cultivates a hunger for God and a homesickness for his presence.

2) Religious fasting is like wineskins without wine. There is a form of godliness but it lacks the power.

2 Timothy 3:5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.  

3) Spirit-led fasting often results in a Spirit-empowered life.

Luke 4:1-2  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Luke 4:14 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Jesus lived about 30 years and as far as we know did not do any miracles.  He gets baptized and then the first thing God does is lead him to the rocky desert wilderness to fast. 

Ask the Holy Spirit: what do you lead me to do? 

Kingdom Come Part 2: Going Without, Growing Within

The Story of Daniel and his passion to seek God: Daniel chapters 6, 1, & 10

Many believers want a Daniel chapter 6 experience where we are delivered from the Lion's Den. But before Daniel 6 comes Daniel chapter 1 and perhaps the most impactful part of Daniel's life is when he is doing a partial fast in his old age.

The irony is I first heard the phrase “Going without in order to grow within.” by a friend named “Daniel.” Thank you Danny Lopez for all the great conversations over the years and being a lifelong friend that I know I can call whenever I need prayer.

Kingdom Come Part 1: Getting Ready for Greater Things

Pastor Dwayne Eslick, December 29th, 3012. Joshua 3:1 - 4:2, preached at New Life Rogers Park in Chicago.

Joshua 3:5 (NIV): Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

1) Clean House.

What is God’s standard? Holiness. No Compromise with sin and the world.

Consecrate yourselves.

1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

2 Timothy 2:20-21 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

The water is in flood stages. As the priests step in the water, about 17 miles upstream God stops the water. We don’t know how long it took for the water to stop upstream and clear to the point where they were crossing.

Joshua 3:15-16 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah(that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
Sometimes you feel like you are stepping into something and you are in over your head and waiting for God move. That is exactly where God wants you to be to wait on him.

2) Take a step of faith.

3) Write down what God is doing.

Hebrews 12:1-2a Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…

Jacob's Story and Coming to a Point of Brokenness.

Jacob deceives his father to steal his brothers blessing. Esau, his twin brother get so angry he begins to plot his brother’s murder. Jacob takes his mothers advice to run to a far away land and live with his Uncle Laban. After 20+ years God tells Jacob to go back to the promise land and he must face his greatest fear… his brother Esau.

Jacob ends up wrestling with a man who turns out to be God taking on a human suit. Jacob wrestles with God and says he won’t stop wrestling until God blesses him. But before the blessing can come, the one who has been known as deceiver has his identity changed with a new name from God. And before Jacob gets his name changed, the wrestler touches Jacob in the hip and knocks it out of its socket.

Before God could bless him, he had to change his identity.

Before he could change his identity, he had to be broken.

It is better for us to humble ourselves and bend out knees before we have to be broken and walk with a limp.

—> the message was recorded in a gym and the quality wasn’t the greatest. The beginning was also cut off. Preached on October 26th, 2013.

5- 2 Christians Lay It All Down and Watch God Move

This is an extended mix of a message I preached on the boy who gave Jesus 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. He played it all down and watched God move.

5 and 2 may seem like insignificant small numbers, but God use the small insignificant gifts we give to impact thousands. What do you have that seems insignificant but if you gave it to God, he could do big things?

JOHN 6:1-14 NIV

 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Don't Get Punked By The Devil

Don’t Let the Devil Rob You

To get punked - to have something taken from you and publicly be made a fool of in the process.

The Devil is wanting to paralyze you from using your gifts and talents. He wants to take from you all that God has given you and publicly make you look like a fool in the process.

Paul is writing to Timothy to encourage him. Timothy had a great spiritual heritage that lead to a sincere faith. His mother and grandmother were believers. He was personally mentored in ministry by the Apostle Paul. Paul starts out his letter to make sure that his passion wasn’t growing cold nor his fear paralyzing him from being bold. Timothy was young and had a great start in ministry, but that does not guarantee him boldly finishing well. 2 Timothy definitely challenges and encourages us to live fearlessly and finish well.

Four questions to ask to make sure you don’t get punked by the enemy:

1) Is your faith sincere?

“I am reminded of your sincere faith”

2) Is your gift on fire?

“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”

3) Is your fear conquered? 

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

4) Am I more on fire for God now than ever before in my life?

(This message was preached at the 9am service at New Life Community Church - Midway that was at the time lead by Pastor Mike Berry. It was preached in September of 2006 or 2007.)

2 Timothy 1:1-7

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

 To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

We can taste and see that the Lord is good even in our troubles.

Psalm 34:8

Intro to Psalm - Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

Verse 8 - Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Verse 19 - The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

Verse 22 - The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Jeremiah 2:13. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

This was the final part of a tag team message.

Jesus Up Close and Personal Part 1: Whatever It Takes!

(Message from the Grand Opening of New Life Community Church in Rogers Park, Chicago)

Jesus Up Close and Personal / Whatever It Takes

Luke 5:17-26

17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.

18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”

21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[d] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

WHATEVER IT TAKES:

1. We will wait on God with expectant faith and exuberant praise.

God loves to move in places where there is expectant faith.

2.  We will not be comfortable standing with a crowd but push through to get close to Jesus.

3.  We will not get stuck in a religious rut but recognize a relationship with Jesus is what matters most.

4.  We will creatively work hard together to help others get closer to Jesus.

• creatively - find solutions

• work hard - committed 

• together - teamwork

• to help others - not self-centered

The Call To Every Disciple: Follow Jesus and Fish for People

Mark 1:16-20 ESV

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

What is a disciple? As Jim Putman points out… “The definition is in invitation.”

A disciple is someone who:

1. Follows Jesus. - “Follow Me” - This is knowing who He is and following Him as the leader in your life. (HEAD)

2. Being Formed by Jesus. - “I Will Make You” - This is allowing Him to transform you from the inside out. (HEART)

3. Is on Mission with Jesus. - “Fishers of men” - This is the inevitable result for every disciple. You can not know who Jesus is and not be on mission for him.

In modern American Christianity, we have separated evangelism from disciple-making. Evangelism is the starting point of making a disciple. In separating into two separate categories “Evangelism and Discipleship,” churches and believers within them have gravitated towards focussing the largest part of their energy and resources towards believers and not the lost. The tendency is to do what we are more comfortable with and since we are not comfortable sharing our faith we neglect that area. We rationalize away this responsibility with the excuse that we “don’t have the gift of evangelism.” (The Bible actually doesn’t every mention a gift of “evangelism” to an individual but mentions the office of evangelist as a corporate gift to the body of Christ to the church. The call of the evangelist is to equip the church for the works of ministry as related to evangelism.)

The Scriptures are clear that every believer is called to “share good news.” (Evangelism = Share Good News!) Here is a 12 pack of verses from 12 different books of the New Testament and from at 6 different authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and Peter.)

There is obviously no doubt that the early church clearly expected every believer to be “sharers of Good News.”

Matthew 28:19-20 -  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 13:10  - And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

Luke 24:47 - and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

John 20:21 - Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Romans 10:13-16 - for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

1 Corinthians 11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17,20 - herefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! … We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Philippians 1:14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answerto everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

As God calls everyone to follow him, the inevitable result is that we would become fishers of men. Our bait in this fishing is the gospel. When Jesus was done with his 3 year project of making disciples he calls them to go and make disciples.

There is a need. God is calling. Will you go?

There is a need - “Go into the world.” - When we look at the world, there is a tremendous need.

God is calling - “ Make Disciples.” - This is the great commission, not a the great suggestion. It is a command in the imperative and not an option. God’s solution is that disciples would make disciples who would make disciples. That is solution to the need of the world. And he is calling those who already follow him to make new followers of him.

Will you go? - “Behold, I am with you.” - Jesu is with you. Will you go and make disciples. Couch potatoes will not fulfill the great commission. Will go and live on mission for him?

Multiply Small Groups and Mentor Strong Disciples

Message from New Life Community Church in Rogers Park on the one year anniversary. A clear challenge is given that the future of the church would be known for small groups that multiply and mentor strong disciples.

Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The First Steps Books mentioned in the message are cyclical in that they are designed to help train a new believer to become a disciple maker themselves. They were written by Pastor Mark Jobe for New Life Community Church in Chicago.

BLUE BOOK: Faith, Repentance and Baptism

GREEN BOOK: Six disciplines of a disciple seen in the early church as described in Acts 2:42-47. (The Word, Fellowship, Lord’s Supper, Prayer, Giving, & Praise.)

PURPOSE BOOK: The Disciple-Making Christian. (The Call to Make Disciples, True or False Conversion, First Steps of a Disciple, Mentoring a Young Believer, The Mentor as a Model, and the Disciple’s Perseverance.)

Towards the end of the Purple First Steps Book a dream for disciple-making is given:

“Remember that making disciples is God’s plan for reaching the world. If one evangelist won a person to Christ every day of the year for 32 years straight, he would end up reaching 11,680 people for Christ. On the other hand, if one disciple made just one other disciple a year who in turn would make just one other disciple a year, in 32 years the world’s population of over 5 billion would be reached for Christ.

Contrast of an evangelist who reaches one person a day compared with someone who disciples someone so well that a disciple making movement is created. (From First Steps Purple Book)

The Daniel Fast: A Hunger For More

Daniel is seen to be a man of fasting and prayer from the time he was a teenager until the time he was a senior citizen. There are some great principles we can learn on to impact the world around you more than it is impacting you.

3 Diagnostic Questions To Know If You Impacting the World More Than It Impacts You

1) Are you able to make up your mind and follow through? (Daniel Chapter 1)

2) Are you revolving your life around God or God around your life? (Daniel chapter 6)

3) Are you content with where you are at spiritually or do hunger for more? (Daniel chapter 10)

Daniel 1:8

NIV But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

NLT But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

NASB But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

NKJV But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel 6:10 NIV

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Daniel 10:2-3 NIV

At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

Daniel 10:11

NIV He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

NLT And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

ESV And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

HCSB He said to me, "Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. Understand the words that I'm saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you." After he said this to me, I stood trembling."