Well, it's been a full week since we got back from the Gauntlet, so I figure I've had enough time to process what we learned, saw, and did while in Daytona Beach, Fl. Last year was my very first Gauntlet, and I really had no idea what to expect. I came back with my mind absolutely blown and completely on fire for Jesus, so my expectations for this year were very high. Gauntlet 2011 did not disappoint. Check out Brad Cooper's blog for recaps, videos, and the messages that we heard. Otherwise, keep reading to see the three biggest take-aways I had.
1. Running from God always leads to regret in life, and you know if you are running from God. This was muy importante to me because I have first hand experience on the regret that comes with running from God. It's a bad place to be in because when you walk away from God's plan, you are also walking away from his protection. The reminder I was given through this point, however, was that nothing can separate us from God's love once we have accepted Him as our Lord. No matter how far and hard we run, God will never give up on us or stop loving us. Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." That is a beautiful truth. But remember that someone who confesses Jesus as Lord follows Him with both his lips and his lifestyle. People should be able to look at your life and KNOW you are different. This won't happen if you are running from God.
2. Idolatry will ruin your clarity. Perry defined idolatry as "anyone or anything that you love more than Jesus." For some people, this is sports. For others it's dating, jobs, or maybe even Facebook. No matter what it is, one thing is for sure - idols can destroy your relationship with Christ. There is so much that we can do for the kingdom of God when we are focused solely on Jesus...idols distract us from that complete clarity and hinder us from doing the work that the Lord has set out for us to do. Idols are deceitful, offensive, and destructive, and the world will never be able to offer us anything that will satisfy us permanently. Make the most out of your relationship with Christ and lay down the idols that are keeping you from seeing Him with complete clarity.
3. Obedience to God - even when it's hard - leads to the blessings of God. Obedience and discipline take perseverance and can be very hard. Whether it's reading your Bible, saying no to a party, or staying sexually pure, being obedient to God through spiritual discipline is something that we are going to have to make a decision about every single day in one form or another. Hebrews 12:11 says, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." This is a verse to hide in your heart for the daily moments in which you are being called to make a decision. Will you choose your self or your Savior? God is not going to pour blessings out on those who will not steward them well, but He will pour out blessings on those who are obedient and disciplined.
The Lord truly used Gauntlet to speak to me in some unbelievable ways, and I could continue writing for days about all I heard from Him, but I will leave you with this: 2,000 years ago a small group of 12 men decided they'd get serious about God and they turned the world upside down...what are you doing?
Acts 20:24 - "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
1. Running from God always leads to regret in life, and you know if you are running from God. This was muy importante to me because I have first hand experience on the regret that comes with running from God. It's a bad place to be in because when you walk away from God's plan, you are also walking away from his protection. The reminder I was given through this point, however, was that nothing can separate us from God's love once we have accepted Him as our Lord. No matter how far and hard we run, God will never give up on us or stop loving us. Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." That is a beautiful truth. But remember that someone who confesses Jesus as Lord follows Him with both his lips and his lifestyle. People should be able to look at your life and KNOW you are different. This won't happen if you are running from God.
2. Idolatry will ruin your clarity. Perry defined idolatry as "anyone or anything that you love more than Jesus." For some people, this is sports. For others it's dating, jobs, or maybe even Facebook. No matter what it is, one thing is for sure - idols can destroy your relationship with Christ. There is so much that we can do for the kingdom of God when we are focused solely on Jesus...idols distract us from that complete clarity and hinder us from doing the work that the Lord has set out for us to do. Idols are deceitful, offensive, and destructive, and the world will never be able to offer us anything that will satisfy us permanently. Make the most out of your relationship with Christ and lay down the idols that are keeping you from seeing Him with complete clarity.
3. Obedience to God - even when it's hard - leads to the blessings of God. Obedience and discipline take perseverance and can be very hard. Whether it's reading your Bible, saying no to a party, or staying sexually pure, being obedient to God through spiritual discipline is something that we are going to have to make a decision about every single day in one form or another. Hebrews 12:11 says, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." This is a verse to hide in your heart for the daily moments in which you are being called to make a decision. Will you choose your self or your Savior? God is not going to pour blessings out on those who will not steward them well, but He will pour out blessings on those who are obedient and disciplined.
The Lord truly used Gauntlet to speak to me in some unbelievable ways, and I could continue writing for days about all I heard from Him, but I will leave you with this: 2,000 years ago a small group of 12 men decided they'd get serious about God and they turned the world upside down...what are you doing?
Acts 20:24 - "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
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