Game Time - Getting Past the Losses

Have you ever said in your heart that you were not worthy or "good enough" to serve God.. to go to church.. to be used by God... because of your past... or present... You would feel like a hypocrite and the church would crumble or be struck with lightning if you were in attendance???... Than.. ur perfect for service.. why? because God is not looking for perfect people.. he is looking for repentant and humble servants to do His work...

In the book of Isaiah, God was disgusted with his prophets and priests...(ie his church leaders)... here they were at the temple vomiting from drunkeness all over the sacrafice table.. They were leading the worship, screaming "Halleluiah", but were leading an entire generation to failure... They would lead the prayer service with empty words.. when their hearts were far from God.. they had lip service only.. but their actions focused more on pleasing themselves than honoring God..

Many of us cannot forget our past.. and our failures..or the failures of others.. (our church leaders, other Christians)... and use this as an excuse to never enter the church door again.. in this case... the dark forces that be.. are victorious automatically.. cause we forfeited... never showed up.. to fight... to play..

This is sad.. because in life.. we need God.. we need others to encourage us.. we need to do as Paul says "forgetting those things that are behind, and straining toward what is ahead.. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me (Phillipians 3: 13-14).

Paul had alot of "demons".. he had once played for the other team and killed and persecuted Christians... he of all people understood past failures.. Yet God used him to write more books in the New Testament than any of his most loyal disciples.. God is not looking for perfect.. but we cant just sit at home.. and watch Bravo.. or CBS.. and go on living.. and make absolutely no consious effort to fill our spiritual tanks with the things of God... we need to saturate our hearts and minds so that we can be usable.. we must speak up.. and stop being silent.. guard our tongues.. learn to say no.. and at least... try...

thats all He wants is effort.. maybe then... He'll take us off the bench and give us some play time.. If we dont show up for the "practice".. we really cant expect to be used during "the game".

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