He Preached John 3:16

Dan Arnold

Henry Moorhouse was a wild young man who by the age of sixteen was a gambler, gang-leader, and thief. But during the Revival of 1859 Henry gave his life to Jesus. He was soon heard preaching the Gospel with all his heart His favorite text was John 3:16. One day in 1867, he met the famed evangelist, D.L. Moody and Henry had the nerve to invite himself to preach in Moody’s church in Chicago.

Sometime later, Moody returned home from a trip and learned that Moorhouse had shown up, started preaching, and was drawing great crowds. “He preached two sermons from John 3:16” Moody’s wife said to him, “and I think you will like him, although he preached a little different from what you do”.

“How is that?” Mr. Moody asked.

“Well, he tells sinners God loves them” his wife replied.

Moody wasn’t too sure about that, but that evening he went to hear Moorhouse preach. The young man stood up in the pulpit and said, “If you will turn to the third chapter of John and the sixteenth verse, you will find my text”. Moody later recalled, “He preached a most extraordinary sermon from that verse. I never knew up to that time that God loved us so much. This heart of mine began to thaw out, and I could not keep back the tears. It was like news from a far country. I just drank it in.”

Night after night, Moorhouse preached from John 3:16 and it had a life-changing effect on D. L. Moody. “I never have forgotten those nights,” Moody said later. “I have preached a different Gospel since, and I have had more power with God and man since then.”

Later, when Moorhouse fell ill and was on his deathbed, he looked up and told his friends, “If it were the Lord’s will to raise me again, I should like to preach from the text, ‘God so loved the world’.

Moorhouse died but God’s truth abideth still in the ministry of D. L. Moody as he continued the work by proclaiming ‘God loved so loved the world’; He preached John 3:16.

(Taken from forward written by Robert Morgan in the book titled Collective Writings and Sermons of Henry Moorhouse: The English Evangelist)

In our generation, John 3:16 may be the best known but the least comprehended verse in the Bible. Best known through bumper stickers and stadium end zone placards, yet seldom used and un-preached in our churches to ‘thaw out’ our cold hard hearts. I have asked mature Christians this question for many years, “Have you ever heard a message on John 3:16 from your church pulpit?” You would be surprised to know that only one person said yes. Yet, in this one verse, all of what is in God’s heart towards this and every generation is poured out. This is the Apostle John’s Magnum Opus verse.  God so loved us that He gave Jesus so that we would not perish but that we would have everlasting life. This is the message God had the Apostle John write and wanted every generation to preach. God gave us John 3:16 as His warm words of love, truth and pardon, to be spoken into the startled ears of rebel sinners condemned to die.

A few weeks ago my mother died. It was expected that I would speak at her funeral and I sought the Lord for the words to honor her. What do you say over the dead body that once was your mother to your grieving family?  What would my mother want me to say to those she deeply loved and are the still living? I decided to tie her great love for us back to its source - God’s love. My message would follow the text “For God so loved that he gave Jesus so that today, my dear mother, though dead, is alive in Heaven.” The morning of the funeral my heart was filled with a great sadness, and as I was pulling my black funeral tie out of the garment bag the Lord spoke this into my spirit, “Today, the news in Heaven that your mother will learn, will give her great honor - that her son preached John 3:16 at her funeral”. You see, nothing so clearly states that a Godly legacy remains when you die than having those that you bore, raised up and invested your life into, continue on without you proclaiming the clear message of the Gospel. Yes, I preached John 3:16 and like news from a far off country, they drank it in.

There are many perfectly suitable verses in the Bible to preach the Gospel from, but none that get right to the heart as quickly as John 3:16.  For we must tell the world that God loves sinners, so much so that He gave Jesus, so that they would not perish, but have everlasting life. The option of perishing remains but the Good News of the Gospel is they don’t have to and neither do you.

So if I should fall ill and on my deathbed be given one last request from God, mine would be summed up in the words of 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” That God’s truth abideth in them still and that they preached John 3:16 over my body and like news from a far off country, sinners and saints drank it in.

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.

Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress is Our God

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Dealing in the Supernatural

By Mitch Huhem

I was a Mormon businessman. I had made my first million by the age of 22 and by the age of 36 my annual income was over 10 million.  By 42 I thought I had lost it all.  My faith story - A Jewish family (that would include me) would convert to Mormonism, later one of the children at the age of 39 would become a Christian (me again).  Today, my wealth is on the rebound and this time it’s not by my hard work but by applying spiritual and Biblical principles to my business life – one of which I want to share with you now.

 

Recently I found myself in a stalemate with a controlling partner who wouldn’t budge.  He was cheating and opposing me, even as I was lining up a huge win-win sale for us both. The time was ripe and the asset we owned together (a large piece of real estate) was at its prime…waiting to sell would mean losing  time and money and I needed both. What should have been a no brainer began feeling like a tug of war. The partner held out, stopped returning my phone calls and began disparaging me in his attempt to cover his wrongdoings. Further pressure from my team simply produced a pathetic buyout offer, where the asset was devalued by 80%. I called on other investors to step in and I contemplated legal action to no avail. I looked boldly at my options- I could pressure, I could justify, I could threaten (none of which felt right), but at the end of the day I could not make this man do anything. As someone who likes to win and make things happen, this was not a pleasant situation to be in.

As I finally sunk down to my knees in prayer I heard the Spirit implore to me, “Are you having fun yet? How’s it going for you?” Not so well, I thought. Sitting there exhausted and defeated, I heard the Lord speaking to me yet again about a familiar pattern I seemed to be in, trying to make it happen on my own once again and the truth was I was making absolutely no progress. In the process of asking for forgiveness the Spirit told me to, “Remove myself.” Meaning, I must first go up, to the Supernatural, to make the natural happen. Resign as general manager of my life and stop attaching myself to the situation as though my emotions and self-will had the authority to unleash God’s plans.

Down on my knees, I allowed the “IM” (which is basically taking the “I am” (ME) out of the Impossible which released God’s “possible” to come into fruition. A huge weight dropped off my shoulders and I was reminded that if I would just cast my cares on the Lord, that He would sustain me and never let the righteous be shaken (Psalm 55:22). The story of Moses’ triumph over Pharaoh, of Queen Esther’s intervention to save the Jewish race, of the Red Sea parting to allow the nation of Israel safe passage - vividly flashed through my mind. The Spirit reminded me again that all things are possible in accomplishing God’s purpose. His plans cannot be stopped. So why did I keep on making Him the last resort instead of the first step?

I had truly believed that selling this piece of real estate at this time was God’s will. I had prayed about it and saw that prayer confirmed in my Spirit and through other believers. To top it all off, I was already planning on putting a large portion of the sale towards a huge tithe and offering. So why wasn’t I succeeding? It was so simple, I was almost embarrassed. Beyond surrendering this situation to God and his Supernatural authority which is always first, I had not fully asked to receive (Matthew 7:7). I had not fully laid claim to what was mine by God’s law, and I had not wholly given this over to the Lord from the beginning. I had traded the supernatural in for the natural. How ridiculous is that?  I knew that God could do anything and He was already willing to grant the blessing, but these blessings he is already willing to grant are made conditional upon us asking for them.  We must ask and let the first step towards physical victory accomplishment be won and fought in the spiritual where God’s supernatural power makes the natural happen.

 Well, enough was enough. I finally asked to receive God’s highest and best from this situation, and I sought the Lord’s guidance to find His perfect will and I knocked at the door of the One who makes all things possible so that the right doors might open. Then I claimed the Abrahamic covenant over this situation, which clearly says that God will bless those who bless me and curse those who curse me and I claimed that which was mine in Jeshua’s name.  How often do we forget, that we, by the power of Jeshua of Nazareth by whose stripes we are healed, have the right to access Divine Power? But this power is conditional. First we must be obedient to the commandments and God’s word, then we must seek and we must ask. Just like the courts here on earth, we as the person asking for help, or the one wronged must be the one to make a request for heavenly intercession. So that’s just what I did- immediately. 

First, I gave thanks and praise, as God has called us to do this in ALL situations. I said,” Thank You God, Hallelujah!”  Second, I declared God’s word, recited His promises to Him (knowing that His word does not return void).  Third, in the spirit of John 15:7-8, I asked to receive in a way that much fruit could be born and that God be glorified. Then I handed it over (meaning stopped worrying about it or having any doubt that God’s supernatural sovereignty would not reign supreme) and watched the miracles begin.

Within one week, the whole situation had supernaturally been turned around. The partner “miraculously” had a change of heart. No legal intervention was required. He cooperated, started returning my phone calls and handed the details over to me and the broker I had chosen – no push back, no questions, and no more stalemate. The Spirit had led me to pray over this sale offensively and defensively, that it would move forward at a great price and that the process and people would be protected on all sides. Within one week we had a bidding war going between 5 different companies, all offering top dollar.  As we came down to the final day, I saw God’s favor so clearly that I was once again brought to my knees, but this time in holy gratitude and worship at God’s greatness. In His power, The Lord had brought in a cash offer from our favorite company at double what we thought the property was originally worth, turning this into an 8 figure sale- a record breaker on all levels, meaning there had not been such a high multiple on a sale in this industry in 7 years.  As I signed the acceptance letter all I could say, think and feel was, Thank You God, Hallelujah!

                     

Do you have anything that seems impossible in your life? A business, a relationship, a child gone astray, a marriage, an addiction? You name it. Just know that whatever it is in your life, nothing is impossible for God. But first you must deal with it in the supernatural if you want results in the natural. If you do, He will turn your “test” into a testimony, and your “mess” into a message to encourage and uplift others. Perhaps you are called to be an intercessor for someone you love, or you yourself find that you are being attacked for no reason at all. God wants to Lord in all areas of your life, not just business, but also the personal.

In 2 Chronicles, verse 15 we are told, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but the Lords.” In 2 Kings, we see King Hezekiah call out in faith to the Lord as he also faces annihilation, and that night 185,000 men are struck down by the angel of the Lord, not allowing even one of them to enter into the gates of the city. We serve that same God today, the God of the Possible. He loves us and cares about even the most mundane details of our lives. We can trust him for the small and the big, the parking place and the army of 185,000. I believe so many more miracles are possible for believers if we would only praise him, no matter what. And then ask to receive that He may be glorified through our faith. If we would just let go and give it up to God and deal in the Supernatural before acting in the natural, who knows what extraordinary blessings might come. With just the faith of a mustard seed, and God’s sovereign power, all things are possible.

Thank You God, Hallelujah!

Mitch Huhem is an entrepreneur who lives in Orlando Fl. He has started and led numerous businesses including those focused on professional seminars, financial education, real estate, direct selling, and marketing.  Mitch was voted Entrepreneur of the state of Utah, was the youngest Eagle Scout in America and was a Founder of the Marriott School of Business. Mitch is a former Mormon but now enjoys a rich relationship as a true Christian.

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Giving vs. Kingdom Building

Giving vs. Kingdom Building

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, so that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the Hobby Lobby office complex in Oklahoma City and meet with its founder David Green. As I drove down the street to the main office building for the meeting I saw building after building encompassed in this 3.4 million square foot corporate complex and I in my awe came to this conclusion: God wants us all to be David Greens!  If we can get the building blocks right, as Mr. Green did, God would Bless us in the same manner. That’s saying a lot as Hobby Lobby has 575 stores and annual sales of 2.8 billion with 21,000 employees.

In this writing I would like to present one of those building blocks: becoming a Kingdom Builder and not just a ‘giver’.

We all know what it is to be a giver. Whether in the church offering plate or through the mail we all have ample chance and opportunity to be faithful in our giving as the saying goes. But what is Kingdom Building? That’s what Mr. Green is – A Kingdom Builder and that is why I think the Lord is Blessing him so much. Giving can be brainless and rote. It can be a responsibility or obligation.  Kingdom Building is intentional and is in partnership with God’s heart.  To be a Kingdom Builder we must hold our resources and give only where God has directed us to. We must show God that He can trust us not to give but to be directed. We must stop funding other men’s ministries and start funding our own ministries and our calling!

Nehemiah instructed the priest to build the portion of the wall directly in front of their homes. Nehemiah 3:28 “Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house”. The ‘Givers’ are so busy helping others build their portion of the wall they do not even see or inquire about their own wall assignment. All of us have our assignment in wall building – Kingdom Building. Few of us know what it is and where we should put our time, energy, talents and money. God cannot give or trust us with great wealth because with the wealth comes a large assignment and a large portion of wall. We have got to be busy with our own assignment and when we are and as we complete it God will give us more wall to build and more resources to do it with. There is a lot of EXRTA wall to build because too many workers are bunched together. So much so, that no one can even see the wall that they are all concentrating themselves around. Because they can’t even see the wall, they can’t tell if any real progress is being made in building. Let me restate it this way: Large ministries are soaking up all the money so gifted masons are unemployed or underemployed. Very little Kingdom Building work is really getting done. Nothing against large ministries provided they are accomplishing Kingdom Building work, but what about your calling and your wall?

So here is my advice to those who want to graduate from being a ‘giver’ into becoming a Kingdom Builder.

1. Set up a tithing account and put all your tithes as you receive them into that account. I tithe on the cash that I take out of my business not on what the business makes nor my net worth gain- one day, when the business or investment is sold, then that also will be tithed by me but until then I feel the Lord has told me to ‘let it well up’.  Make your gifts from this account. IMPORTANT: Once you have placed the money in the separate tithe account, YOU HAVE paid the Tithe. Also, note, It is my experience that the Devil has permission to steal the unpaid tithe (think about that).
2. Make distributions once a month from your tithe account. I send a disbursement summary by the 5th of every month to my account manager which is National Christian Foundation   https://www.nationalchristian.com/ . It was easy to set up and they do all the work. All funds that are turned over to my own account at National Christian are tax deductible on the turnover, even if they are not dispersed right away. By making distributions once a month I have set up a process line so I can spend my time generating money and not the giving of money. I keep a balance in this account so that I can be generous on every occasion with a pledge of a gift (see 2 Corinthians 9:11).
3. Fund around your calling. Ask the Lord to make clear ‘the wall’ he has put before you and give to that. Hold all ministries accountable to results and only give to those who are highly effective.  Partner with other donors with matching grants and pledges so that your money is multiplied and the ministries must expand the donors involved. Finding like- called Christians and partnering is very effective. Kingdom builders do support their local church but thoughtfully - the main focus of a Kingdom Builders giving is calling. Let me give this example: After hearing that the major Seminaries do not have curriculums in evangelistic preaching, I have started to approach the top schools with an offer to chair a professor if he will offer a course that teaches evangelistic preaching as an elective at the seminary. This is a new work and has immense leverage in fulfilling my calling. Here is another example of funding your own calling: My friend Tim Burke graduated from a ‘giver’ to becoming a Kingdom Builder.  After being underutilized by a big ministry, Tim used his money to start The Transfer Foundation and today ministers to over 10 million people a day on Facebook.
4. Look for and support those who have the same calling as you do. If we all give to the same big ministries who will employ and send todays called and gifted? If you are mindful of this, The Lord will bring them to you. My passion and calling is around evangelism to the Nations so I am always looking to launch new ministers and ideas that do that. The impact and multiplication is enormous and having funded the beginning, the launching, I will share in all the rewards of what is later accomplished. Make your support limited in time so you can move on when needed. Think of your tithe money as venture capital. We want our gifts planted into ‘good ground’. Reread the Parable of the Sower, exchanging the word farmer with donor, and seed with money and you will get the point.
5. Set goals. Kingdom Builders know their calling and are focused in their giving towards goals.  I would have a faith goal of three souls per dollar donated. Highly effective miniseries are able to reach one soul per dollar and by faith we trust that one would reach at least two family members in their lifetime; therefore someone who gives $25,000 a year should have a goal of not less than 1,500,000 souls in 20 years! That is Kingdom Building! The goals are around our Calling and we need numbers to manage and guide us. Numbers keep us focused.  The bottom line is that when you have a goal you will not want to give where the money is not needed or give so someone else doesn’t have to do so - this is the kind of ‘giving’ Kingdom Builders avoid.

Finally, 2 Samuel 7 has one of the most touching and warm chapters in the Bible. King David decides to build a house for God - “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” God is moved by David’s concern and willingness to invest himself for God’s Glory.  He gives David incredible promises and commitments. We can see in this chapter why God said in Acts 13:22 ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart” Kingdom Builders work for God out of a heart of gratitude. Their heart says “Lord, extend the kingdom of Thy dear Son Jesus’’ (Spurgeon Morning and Evening Apri2).

It is that gratitude that causes them to cry out, “Is there not a cause?” They are realizing that so much more can and should be done for The Kingdom of Jesus in their generation.  It is that same gratitude that causes us to step out of ranks of the professionals and seek God’s glory with just a sling-shot. Gratitude compels action and action with God’s direction is when we become Kingdom Builders, “wise master builders” according to the grace that God has given (1 Corinthians 3:10).

King David dedicated silver and gold from all he subdued. David was a Kingdom Builder, Nehemiah was a wall builder – which are you?

‘’Get all you can, give all you can” John D. Rockefeller, a Kingdom Builder.