- Eight churches in America close their doors every day.
- Less than 20% of Americans now attend church.
- The average church has shrunk to less than 90 people.
- The average church member gives $756 a year!
- Less than 10% of a church’s giving is for any form of outreach.

These numbers confirm what I already know in my heart…..
We need more churches!
We need to get more people saved!
We need to teach more about giving in the church!
We need to get outside the 4 walls of a building to reach those who are on their way to hell!

It is my prayer the 72:12 Church will be active in going against the flow of these stats.

I believe that God gives us wisdom and he also blesses us when we put that wisdom into action.
Being wise with your money is one of the best things that you can do.

Not only will it help you maintain and prosperous lifestyle, it will also you to bless those around you.

My wife and I, along with over 100 other people, have started the 52-week challenge this week.
We decided that we would begin this journey so that we can further develop our life-long habit of saving.

Proverbs 13:22 had me thinking this morning that I should consider more than me and this current generation when I save.
My future grandchildren need to feel the direct results of God’s blessings flowing through me.

So, consider your children’s children and do what’s right with your money.
If you aren’t sure of what route to take, ask God.
Just be prepared to move when He says so.

I Peter 2:9 talks about Christians being a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people…”

Peculiar means to be “distinctive from all others”.we have been called to be different, to be salty.
Salt is defined as a white or colorless crystalline solid, sometimes used as a food seasoning.

Salt is something we add to our food to bring flavor to it.
We also use it as a food purifier.

As Christians we need to be salty.
Don’t worry, it’s okay to be salty.

If we were really salty, we would make people thirsty

What we have should make others hunger and thirst for God.
Do we live in such a way that would compel someone to become a believer?
Our lifestyles should be convicting and attractive to unbelievers.
I Cor. 7:14 talks about a saved spouse winning their mate over to the Lord’s side just by their lifestyle.

If we were really salty, our salt would be released when our container is shake

Extreme situations can happen to anybody.
Divorce, sickness, and job loss do not discriminate.
What’s inside of us will come out when our lives become shaken.

Job is a great example of someone who’s life is turned upside down.
What comes out is his unwavering faith in God.
If Go allowed your life to be shaken, it’s for a reason.
2 Timothy 1:8 tells us that we should not be ashamed of our testimony.
God has allowed you to be shaken, and come through it.

Paul and Silas broke out of jail with praise. This event just wasn’t for them.
The jailkeeper was depending on their salt to get him and his family saved.
Someone’s life is depending on your salt.
Release it.

If we were really salty, we wouldn’t have to be seen, but we would need to be noticed

What kind of container that salt is in is not important.
It’s not about how we dress or what we look like.
Jesus said in John 7:24 “stop making judgments by mere appearance”.
It’s funny how we judge people simply by how they look.
Sam Walton, while a billionaire, was known to drive around in a pick-up truck.
While not looking different, we should act differently.
We should not have situational ethics.
We should always do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

Let’s be salty.
The world is waiting on your flavor.

peace

I refuse to walk in negativity
I refuse to let the spirit of “I can’t” dominate my life
I refuse to believe anything contrary to the word of God
I refuse to speak words that go against the word of God
I refuse to receive lies
I refuse to submit to the pressures of the world and my flesh
I refuse to back down from my anointing
I refuse to be broke
I refuse to be sick
I refuse to be depressed
I refuse to be on the losing side
I refuse to cancel the Blessing on my life
I refuse to cripple my future generations
I refuse to drown in debt
I refuse to be silent in the midst of injustice

I refuse

Whenever I’m on a road trip, I hate to have to follow someone to our destination.
I seem to either drive too slow or I get distracted by the scenery.
Either way, eventually, I lose track of where they are and I inevitably miss a turn.
Who or what we follow has a lot to do with where we end up and how long it takes us to get there.

As you start your day today, who or what are you following?
Are you following the latest trends and losing your identity?
Are you following the money and forgetting your purpose?

Jesus wants us to lay down our desires, our motives, what we really want, in order to follow Him.
In return he promises to give us a life that is really worth living.
He is the only way to get to that life.

If you follow Him, you’ll never be lost.

Father, help me to continue to follow the path that You have set before me. Thank you for opening doors of opportunity on a daily basis for me. Help me to look past the distractions of life. I also ask for the wisdom and guidance to be successful in pursuing Your vision for my life.

Amen.

Nevertheless, God has put His imprint on my heart for the people of Joliet.
This area has grown tremendously in the last 10-15 years.
It has also gotten to be incredibly diverse.
Just in my subdivision alone there must be 10 different nationalities represented.

There are also over 15,000 college students within a short drive from my house.

All of these different people have one thing in common:

The need to experience Life in Christ.

With this in mind

72:12 Church is a new church that will be launching in Joliet, Ill in the spring of 2011.

One of the craziest things about this whole process is that I am not scared to jump into this with both feet.
God has called me to do His work and connect people to life in Christ.
This is not my idea but His.
His plan. His purpose.
I am fully committed to seeing the vision come to pass.

I pray that you would consider partnering with us in either prayer, financial contribution, hands-on, or a combination of the 3

God is up to something amazing in our city.

Just living day by day can be stressful.

Instead of stress, we need to create rest in our lives.

Here’s 3 ways:

REJECT THE NEGATIVE (words, people, thinking)

We need to control what enters our minds.

You can see if what you’re thinking is wrong just by comparing it to the word of God.

If you don’t control your thoughts, the enemy can use them to have you SPEAK negative words in the atmosphere.

We should also stay away from negative words and people.
They will just poison you in every way.

Amos 3:3 says that how can 2 walk together unless they agree.

Who are you agreeing with?

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PROTECTION OF GOD

You really have no reason to fear or be stressed out as long as you trust in Gods promises to shield you from danger.

Take a look at these scriptures.

Proverbs 3:25-26
Psalm 56:11
Psalm 91:5-7

We have a right to divine protection and safety when we are firmly established in our righteousness (our right standing with God)

USE PRAISE TO ALTER THE ATMOSPHERE

Praise will change your surroundings.

It’s almost impossible to doubt and praise God at the same time.

Praise puts things in perspective.

It forces you to recognize who God is.

Praise puts you in Gods presence.

In His presence there is fullness of joy.
and peace.
and security.
and answers.

Thats how you create rest instead of being stressed.

peace

What’s next?
Where do you go from here?
How do you turn the corner?
What does life have in store for you?

We have all faced these questions at one time or another.
Life has thrown us a curve ball and we had to jump out of the way.

It’s a miracle that we made it out alive.

After you catch your breath and dust yourself off, you need to do a quick inventory of what you have.
You need to make sure that you highlight the good that is around you.
Don’t take even the smallest item for granted.

Life and breath. Check.
The ability to move around on your own. Check.
Sight. Check.
A mind to think with. Check.
Food and shelter. Check.
Clothing. Check.

Now that we have that out the way, let’s check out what your next move should be.

You should, first and foremost, find yourself on your knees talking to God.
God knows all about the situations that you found yourself in.
He is neither shocked nor surprised at the mess that you made.
What He wants from you now is to come to Him to receive all that you need.

Next you should surround yourself with people who believe in you and want the best for you.

Former college football coach Lou Holtz once said that

“80% of people that you complain to don’t care, and the other 20% are glad something bad happen to you”.

Get around those who will have your back and will keep it real with you when you step out of line.

Lastly, believe in yourself.
We all have screwed up our lives at one time or another.
No one is exempt from failures. You must continue to see yourself as a valued child of God.
You have the great privilege of being able to go to God and ask for forgiveness when we mess up.
And the best thing is, not only does He forgive us, He also cleans us up and removes all the dirt and filth of mistakes and sin.

He makes it so we can start again.

What’s next is we can begin again and we can move forward with God on our side.