Faith Doesn’t Look At Circumstances!

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

circumstances

Photo Credit: halyork.blogspot.com

Faith is about confronting challenges and trusting God to overcome any obstacle. It is acting on God-given dreams and visions. ~ Kirbyjon Caldwell

You know the feeling when you step out by faith and get clobbered by reality. We all have had a situation or time in our lives where we went forward with God and then met with incredible obstacles. For some of us that scenario was too much and our faith folded.

At the core of a faith step is the reality that life isn’t going to get easier immediately. When Jesus calls us to follow Him, it is often into territory and circumstances that are difficult and impossible – that’s why we need faith.

When Jesus called Peter out of the boat to walk with Him on the water, the storm was still raging! That is how God works. He calls us out of our comfort and into the storms of life. What we do next determines our outcomes.

“So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”” (Matthew 14:29–31, NKJV)

We imitate Jesus when …

  • We step out by faith understanding the storm isn’t going to stop raging immediately.

Peter’s initial step of faith wasn’t followed by ANOTHER step of faith. He failed because he looked at the storm and stopped looking to Jesus. Faith keeps its focus on the person of Jesus and believes His word over all obvious impossibilities. Will you keep stepping forward by faith, or will your faith fold and find you drenched in the storm you are seeking to walk out of?

Pastor Matt

 

 

© 2013 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

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Transformed Episode #153 – Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader When it Comes to Money?

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

How Money Works slider

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

5th grade math … many of us have long since graduated from addition, subtraction, division and multiplication of three to seven digits. Using these skills, a 5th grader understands how to count their income, apply that income to their basic needs and account for their expenditures mathematically.

In this study, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California shows us God doesn’t view riches or poverty as permanent conditions in the life of an individual, family, church, or nation. They are variable, and they are related to higher purposes that God achieves through them.

As we open our Bibles, let’s listen as Pastor Smith explains the 4 phases in God’s cycle of riches and poverty for every disciple of King Jesus.

 

We hope you prayed that prayer of confession and request along with Pastor Smith. It is our sincere hope that you will enjoy the contentedness God is seeking to impart to your soul through the tests and blessings He gives to you.

Perhaps you would you consider sharing this message with a friend? God longs to release the captives of our culture into the freedom of faith. Thank you!

If you would like to explore how to enjoy a deeper life with God, one that God is pleased with, Dr. Smith has written a daily devotional book that will help you do just that!

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Today’s episode was recorded live in El Segundo, California and edited by Ryan Longsworth in Los Angeles, California.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

 

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Faith Steps Out!

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Faith Steps outPhoto Credit: vimeo.com

Faith has nothing to do with human logic, mathematics or what we can see, hear, fell, smell, or touch. But it has everything to do with how God operates! Faith disregards the obvious facts and trust that God will do the impossible. ~ K P Yohanan

Sometimes God simply asks the incredible, the ridiculous, the impossible! When we read his Word, we are often tempted to say to ourselves, “That can’t be what God means!” However, the Bible accurately records the words of God and His Son, King Jesus. And yes, often the requests of God break the borders of our current reality.

Such is the case of Jesus calling Peter to get out of the boat onto the storm tossed Sea of Galilee (from which He was standing on)! Often we limit our possibilities because we look at life through our all too human understandings. Peter saw Jesus on the water and realized it MUST be possible to walk on water, despite the fact that his entire life as a fisherman told him otherwise.

“And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” (Matthew 14:28–29, NKJV)

We imitate Jesus when …

  • We step out in obedience to God’s will and whim despite all visual and mental objections.

If we can “see” life through Jesus’ eyes and trust His character as expressed in His words, we will experience life in the abundant! God longs for you to enjoy all that He has for you. However, in order to receive what He is giving, you will have to step out of your boat, despite the storm all around you, and obey what Jesus says. Are you ready and willing to enjoy the supernatural life?

Pastor Matt

 

 

© 2013 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

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Moody Pastors Conference 2013 Discount

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

We are pleased to offer you a per person discount of $50 for Pastors’ Conference 2013. The conference will be held on campus in Chicago from May 20-23, 2013.

Details on the conference can be found here.

Speakers and musicians can be found here.

This discount would apply to any registration type. (It does not apply to spouse meals or the wives mini-conference). This code MUST be entered when registering; it cannot be applied retroactively.

Our discount code for the event is: EAGLES2013

This promotional code and it is now active and you may register here.

It is essential that we spread the word of this discount. In order to receive any discount in future years, Moody will require at least 50 gentlemen to register using this code for this conference. So I am asking you to send this information to every pastor you know that MIGHT possibly have an interest in the conference SO THAT we can continue to offer this discount again in the next years!

Thanks for your help in this matter. I look forward to seeing you and your friends in Chicago in May 2013.

 

Matt

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Know God’s Timing!

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Timing - GodsPerfectPhoto Credit: jamesmcgahey.blogspot.com

The secret lies in how we handle today, not yesterday or tomorrow.  Today … that special block of time holding the key that locks out yesterday’s nightmares and unlocks tomorrow’s dreams. ~ Charles Swindoll

Do you suffer from impulsiveness? Wikipedia defines it as “a tendency to act on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of consequences. Impulsive actions typically are poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unduly risky, or inappropriate to the situation that often result in undesirable consequences, which imperil long-term goals and strategies for success. A functional variety of impulsivity has also been suggested, which involves action without much forethought in appropriate situations that can and does result in desirable consequences.”

When Jesus fed the 5,000, those very people decided that they liked the free food and wanted to make Him King! However, Jesus knew that their own selfishness and not godly timing drove them, so He rejected the plans of those people for the timing of God.

“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.” (John 6:14–15, NKJV)

We imitate Jesus when …

  • We sense the will of God more than the accolades and popularity of the crowd!

Such wisdom requires a sensitive spirit that knows the voice of God and the Word of God well. Being able to sift the plans of the people from the plans of God is one of the telltale signatures of a godly man or woman. This is only accomplished by a life lived in the Spirit, alone from the distractions of the world.

When we choose to listen to God instead of the majority around us, we know we have come to godliness. God will lift up the humble and submissive in His time for His purposes.

Pastor Matt

 

 

© 2013 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

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Episode 151 – What’s the Big Deal About Debt?

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

How Money Works slider

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

Details matter! This is the whole point of the Biblical principle of “managing,” which is According to a USA Today article about debt, 78% of Baby Boomers have mortgage debt, 59% have credit card debt, and 56% have car payments. It takes a lot of will, discipline, courage and help to slay the debt monster. But it can be done.

In this study, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California shows us that those who desire to be entrusted with the true riches of Heaven understand at least 5 consequences to borrowing.

Let’s open our Bibles and join Pastor Smith as he answers the question, What’s the Big Deal about Debt?

 

 

In that prayer of repentance, Dr. Smith was including you as well. It is our deepest desire that you will become free from the enslavement of debt so you can do the ministry God desires of you!

Would you consider sharing this message with a friend? God wants to release the captives of our culture into the freedom of faith. Thank you!

If you would like to explore how to enjoy a deeper life with God, one that God is pleased with, Dr. Smith has written a daily devotional book that will help you do just that!

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Today’s episode was recorded live in El Segundo, California and edited by Ryan Longsworth in Los Angeles, California.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

 

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Not My Will, But Yours Be Done!

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

will_walking-in-his

Integrity is not what we do so much as who we are.  And who we are, in turn, determines what we do.  Our system of values is so much a part of us we cannot separate it from ourselves.  It becomes the navigating system that guides us.  It establishes priorities in our lives and judges what we will accept or reject.

~ John Maxwell

Wanting to do your own will is easy, and often wrong. Jesus called us to “deny ourselves.” (Matthew 16-24) In this call is the constant denial of the expedient to achieve the eternal. Jesus knew that the Father’s will was of highest importance. He also understood that the Father’s timing was vital to the accomplishment of that will.

When men came to make Him King, Jesus knew this was God’s will, but it was not God’s timing or God’s way. Discernment is a huge aspect of understanding and living the will of God. Note Jesus reaction to this “vote of confidence” by the crowd:

“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.” (John 6:14–15, NKJV)

We imitate Jesus when …

  • We choose to do the will of God, especially when it involves the denial of our own desires!

As Jesus walked away from this “coronation,” He knew He was headed to the cross. Trusting the Father over the will of the majority isn’t easy. Often it involves such emotional agony that one must get away, alone with God. This is exactly what Jesus did. And there on the mountain, alone, Jesus affirmed His desire – to do the Father’s will.

Imitating Jesus is what the Christian life is all about. We become more like Him when we choose the path of God and deny our own. This requires a constant, vibrant walk with God, an ability to listen to His voice in the Bible and hear His voice through the indwelling Spirit. May God grant you the strength and courage to repeatedly say, “Not my will but yours be done!”

Pastor Matt

 

 

© 2013 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

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Give What You Have to Meet the Need!

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

give_you_my_heart

 

“The loving person is a generous person. Generosity is giving your attention, time, abilities, and money freely to others.”  ~ Gary Chapman

How many times have you felt like the little you have isn’t worth contributing to the enormous need before you? You see a family that has nothing, and you think, “But my few dollars won’t make a difference.” You see so many people who are hungry and all you have is your lunch with you. “How could this help?” you ask yourself. We learn from the feeding of the 5,000 a simple truth: Jesus says that we should share what we have – He will do the rest.

“But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.” (Mark 6:37–39, NKJV)

We imitate Jesus when …

  • We give all we have to meet the need before us, trusting God to do the supernatural in making up the difference!

Jesus took those five small barley loaves and two fish and fed 5,000 men and their families! The size of your gift isn’t important. Giving your all is. When this young boy (John 6.9) gave his entire lunch, everyone was satisfied.

Generosity in one becomes the means through which God blesses the many. Where do you need to “let go” of your provisions so that others may enjoy the blessing of being filled by Jesus?

 

 

© 2013 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

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